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Article UNIVERSALITY OF FREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONRY IN TASMANIA. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Universality Of Freemasonry.
or of the first ? It is not I that limit Freemasonry , but those who insist upon its Christian character . May I say a word or two more for ' myself and my views , which have been , I think , misunderstood by the " Provincial Grand Chaplain . " He seems to assume that Unitarians are not Christians . They are Christians , for they acknowledge Christ as the Messiah ; they have chapels of their own , where of course they do not refuse to attendin those chapels Christand Christ
, , crucified , is preached ; and when they are prevented from worshipping in their own churches , they join in the worship in other churches , rather than not worship at all . Those therefore who are universalists ( at least I speak for myself ) do not claim universalism for Freemasonry on this ground , but on a far higher and wider one . May I say also that my short note some weeks back was not a published defiance . It is not intended for anything of the sort . It may rather be
called a protest—a protest against ill disguised sneers at my own genuine convictions ( as in " W . PL's" letter ) on the one hand , and against such utterly unfounded misstatements as appears in the letter of "A Masonic Tyro" on the other . I must at the same time acknowledge that I have not been myself entirely free from the blame of imparting into this discussion extraneous matter . I hope * , if so , a simple acknowledgment may be sufficient , and tlie point may be confined within its due limits for the future . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Jan . 13 , 1859 . A UNIVERSALIS- !' .
P . S . —I may perhaps be further allowed to say that my non-acquaintance with "Pearson on the Creed" is merely matter of accident , but I have , I trust , studied the Scriptures before professing any belief , as I hold that every man must make his creed for himself , and not receive it at second hand . But I should be sorry to think I had commenced such a study , with a " determination not to be convinced , " however I might feel inclined to believe that Bishop Pearson commenced his exposition with his mind made
up ; and that I am always open , on conviction , to alter my views . If I . have not read Pearson ' s book , however , I have probably read all the arguments in it in some other form , and I am certainly not convinced yet . However , it shall no longer be matter of reproach to me that I have not read " one of the best works on the creed ever published ; " I shall at any rate read it at as early an opportunity as possible . [ This correspondence must stop here , as we cannot allow the Magazine to become an arena for theological controversy—the one subject , which of all others is the most likely to breed dissension in the Craft ; as it constantly does in the outer world . —ED . ]
Masonry In Tasmania.
MASONRY IN TASMANIA .
TO MIE EDITOR OE THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AM ) MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —I forward you an extract from the ffohart . Town Courier of the 23 rd October , 1858 , and a copy of a letter from the Tasmauian Operative Lodge , No . 345 , 1 . C , relative to the sudden death of Bro . J . Smith , surgeon , who was initiated in Adam ' s Lodge , No . 181 , Sheerness . V . 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Universality Of Freemasonry.
or of the first ? It is not I that limit Freemasonry , but those who insist upon its Christian character . May I say a word or two more for ' myself and my views , which have been , I think , misunderstood by the " Provincial Grand Chaplain . " He seems to assume that Unitarians are not Christians . They are Christians , for they acknowledge Christ as the Messiah ; they have chapels of their own , where of course they do not refuse to attendin those chapels Christand Christ
, , crucified , is preached ; and when they are prevented from worshipping in their own churches , they join in the worship in other churches , rather than not worship at all . Those therefore who are universalists ( at least I speak for myself ) do not claim universalism for Freemasonry on this ground , but on a far higher and wider one . May I say also that my short note some weeks back was not a published defiance . It is not intended for anything of the sort . It may rather be
called a protest—a protest against ill disguised sneers at my own genuine convictions ( as in " W . PL's" letter ) on the one hand , and against such utterly unfounded misstatements as appears in the letter of "A Masonic Tyro" on the other . I must at the same time acknowledge that I have not been myself entirely free from the blame of imparting into this discussion extraneous matter . I hope * , if so , a simple acknowledgment may be sufficient , and tlie point may be confined within its due limits for the future . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Jan . 13 , 1859 . A UNIVERSALIS- !' .
P . S . —I may perhaps be further allowed to say that my non-acquaintance with "Pearson on the Creed" is merely matter of accident , but I have , I trust , studied the Scriptures before professing any belief , as I hold that every man must make his creed for himself , and not receive it at second hand . But I should be sorry to think I had commenced such a study , with a " determination not to be convinced , " however I might feel inclined to believe that Bishop Pearson commenced his exposition with his mind made
up ; and that I am always open , on conviction , to alter my views . If I . have not read Pearson ' s book , however , I have probably read all the arguments in it in some other form , and I am certainly not convinced yet . However , it shall no longer be matter of reproach to me that I have not read " one of the best works on the creed ever published ; " I shall at any rate read it at as early an opportunity as possible . [ This correspondence must stop here , as we cannot allow the Magazine to become an arena for theological controversy—the one subject , which of all others is the most likely to breed dissension in the Craft ; as it constantly does in the outer world . —ED . ]
Masonry In Tasmania.
MASONRY IN TASMANIA .
TO MIE EDITOR OE THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AM ) MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —I forward you an extract from the ffohart . Town Courier of the 23 rd October , 1858 , and a copy of a letter from the Tasmauian Operative Lodge , No . 345 , 1 . C , relative to the sudden death of Bro . J . Smith , surgeon , who was initiated in Adam ' s Lodge , No . 181 , Sheerness . V . 2