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Article THE POPE'S ALLOCUTION AND THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEMASONRY. ← Page 3 of 3 Article THE POPE'S ALLOCUTION AND THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEMASONRY. Page 3 of 3 Article THE MASONIC LADDER. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Pope's Allocution And The Principles Of Freemasonry.
But among the many features of our Oriler Avhich claim special attention , is brotherly love and affection . These are the croAvning principles of the fraternity—they stand out in bold relief on every page of Masonic history . " Do good unto
all men , and especially unto those of the household of faith , '" is a Divine command ; and Avith Masons it is the Alpha ancl Omega , the beginning ancl the ¦ ending of all their deliberations . We recognise this principle , when first
introduced into the vestibule of our lodge rooms , ancl ¦ as , step by step , we are initiated in the secret working of the Order , we discover that brotherly
love is the grand arch-stone of the Masonic superstructure . It is visible everywhere throughout the fraternity , and it is only with those Avho can carry out this divine principle of humanity that we desire an association . Hearts that beat in
unison with this principle ahvays find a cordial welcome . Is there not something ennobling and divine in such principles ? Could humanity , with all its imperfections and perfections have devised a theory
more exalted and humane ? Brother recognising brother—calling up from the very depths of the heart ' s Avarmesfc recess , the ties , the endearments , and the sympathies of home .
Children are born in the Avorld , and as the infant mind begins to expand—as the first rays of intellectuality begin to inspire its tender mind , and to develope its loveliness and beauty—the most sacred , the most surpassingly sublime of ail its first intonations are those in Avhich we recognise the fraternal accents .
There is no tie on earth stronger than that which unites a family together . There is a halo , emanating from around the sacred family circle , which no poisoned breath can effectually eradicate . It is the tie of brotherhood—having its
height , length , depth , and breadth in pure fraternity . Shielded thus , each member of the household is as effectually bound together as thous'h an adamantine chain Avas throAvn around o them .
With this innate principle thus developed ancl strengthened , Ave can easily perceive the grand nucleus which attracts , as a magnet , our sympathies and our attachments , our hopes and our fears , around the fireside of our families and
kindred . It is here that the purest fountains of the heart are opened—that Ave drink deep , and are refreshed , from the cup that knows no bitter-
The Pope's Allocution And The Principles Of Freemasonry.
ness to the heart susceptible and careful of its influence . Talk of seminaries of learning , of colleges and schools ! All essential , 'tis true ; but the seminary and the institution in Avhich the child first
learns to lisp its fraternal accents exercises a more powerful influence on the morals of the age than them all . Does that mother realise this fact ? At the sacred altar of our homes and firesides Ave Avere first inducted into the pure principles of
fraternity ; ancl as reason began to assume an ascendancy over the passions and vanities of youth , we Avent forth , seeking an affinity Avith those Avho have been thus cultured , and Avith whom a fellowship would prove SAveet . And then , leaving the
cares and trials incident to a life of business behind , Ave enter , once a week or once a month , the sacred atmosphere of our lodge rooms , to advance the interests of Masonry , and to exchange salutations with the brotherhood .
A place rendered sacred by such reminiscences will never become the theatre of personal vituperation ancl abuse . Those cardinal virtues of the human mind , Faith , Hope , ancl Charity , should here reign supreme . Oh ! that these words Avere
Avritten in letters of gold , and -hung out in the heavens , so that all could read them ! Other associations may split and divide , but ours should be one and indivisible . Unity should be visible everyAvhere throughout its borders , and , as a solid phalanx , we should occupy the position assigned to us by the providence of God .
The Masonic Ladder.
THE MASONIC LADDER .
Faith is the true prophet of the soul , and ever beholds a spiritual life , spiritual relations , labours and joys . Its office is to teach man that he is a sph-itual being , that he has an inward life enshrined in this material casement , an immortal
gem set now in an earthly casket . It assures man that he lives not for this life alone , but for another , superior to this , more glorious and real . It dignifies humanity with immortality . It dAvells ever upon an unseen Avorld , announcing * ahvays
that unseen realities are eternal . Virtue , knoAVledge , Avisdom , mercy , love , ri ghteousness , and Avorship are among its immortal unseen realities . Lofty , dignified , transcendingly glorious are its teachings , and equally so are its moral influences . It is a faculty of the human soul too much neglected . The things of time and sense—earth and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Pope's Allocution And The Principles Of Freemasonry.
But among the many features of our Oriler Avhich claim special attention , is brotherly love and affection . These are the croAvning principles of the fraternity—they stand out in bold relief on every page of Masonic history . " Do good unto
all men , and especially unto those of the household of faith , '" is a Divine command ; and Avith Masons it is the Alpha ancl Omega , the beginning ancl the ¦ ending of all their deliberations . We recognise this principle , when first
introduced into the vestibule of our lodge rooms , ancl ¦ as , step by step , we are initiated in the secret working of the Order , we discover that brotherly
love is the grand arch-stone of the Masonic superstructure . It is visible everywhere throughout the fraternity , and it is only with those Avho can carry out this divine principle of humanity that we desire an association . Hearts that beat in
unison with this principle ahvays find a cordial welcome . Is there not something ennobling and divine in such principles ? Could humanity , with all its imperfections and perfections have devised a theory
more exalted and humane ? Brother recognising brother—calling up from the very depths of the heart ' s Avarmesfc recess , the ties , the endearments , and the sympathies of home .
Children are born in the Avorld , and as the infant mind begins to expand—as the first rays of intellectuality begin to inspire its tender mind , and to develope its loveliness and beauty—the most sacred , the most surpassingly sublime of ail its first intonations are those in Avhich we recognise the fraternal accents .
There is no tie on earth stronger than that which unites a family together . There is a halo , emanating from around the sacred family circle , which no poisoned breath can effectually eradicate . It is the tie of brotherhood—having its
height , length , depth , and breadth in pure fraternity . Shielded thus , each member of the household is as effectually bound together as thous'h an adamantine chain Avas throAvn around o them .
With this innate principle thus developed ancl strengthened , Ave can easily perceive the grand nucleus which attracts , as a magnet , our sympathies and our attachments , our hopes and our fears , around the fireside of our families and
kindred . It is here that the purest fountains of the heart are opened—that Ave drink deep , and are refreshed , from the cup that knows no bitter-
The Pope's Allocution And The Principles Of Freemasonry.
ness to the heart susceptible and careful of its influence . Talk of seminaries of learning , of colleges and schools ! All essential , 'tis true ; but the seminary and the institution in Avhich the child first
learns to lisp its fraternal accents exercises a more powerful influence on the morals of the age than them all . Does that mother realise this fact ? At the sacred altar of our homes and firesides Ave Avere first inducted into the pure principles of
fraternity ; ancl as reason began to assume an ascendancy over the passions and vanities of youth , we Avent forth , seeking an affinity Avith those Avho have been thus cultured , and Avith whom a fellowship would prove SAveet . And then , leaving the
cares and trials incident to a life of business behind , Ave enter , once a week or once a month , the sacred atmosphere of our lodge rooms , to advance the interests of Masonry , and to exchange salutations with the brotherhood .
A place rendered sacred by such reminiscences will never become the theatre of personal vituperation ancl abuse . Those cardinal virtues of the human mind , Faith , Hope , ancl Charity , should here reign supreme . Oh ! that these words Avere
Avritten in letters of gold , and -hung out in the heavens , so that all could read them ! Other associations may split and divide , but ours should be one and indivisible . Unity should be visible everyAvhere throughout its borders , and , as a solid phalanx , we should occupy the position assigned to us by the providence of God .
The Masonic Ladder.
THE MASONIC LADDER .
Faith is the true prophet of the soul , and ever beholds a spiritual life , spiritual relations , labours and joys . Its office is to teach man that he is a sph-itual being , that he has an inward life enshrined in this material casement , an immortal
gem set now in an earthly casket . It assures man that he lives not for this life alone , but for another , superior to this , more glorious and real . It dignifies humanity with immortality . It dAvells ever upon an unseen Avorld , announcing * ahvays
that unseen realities are eternal . Virtue , knoAVledge , Avisdom , mercy , love , ri ghteousness , and Avorship are among its immortal unseen realities . Lofty , dignified , transcendingly glorious are its teachings , and equally so are its moral influences . It is a faculty of the human soul too much neglected . The things of time and sense—earth and