The Spirit Of Masonry In Moral And Elucidatory Lectures By Wm Hutchinson The Second Edition PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1795 edition. Excerpt: ... A CHARGE DELIVERED BY THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL MASTER, ON HIS RESIGNING THE CHAIR. Worthy Brethren, PROVIDENCE having placed me in such ft sphere in life as to afford me but little time for speculation, I cannot pretend to have made mankind my particular study; yet this I have observed, that curiosity is one of the most prevailing passions in the human breast. The mind of man is kept in a perpetual thirst after knowledge, nor can he bear to be ignorant of what he thinks others know. Any thing secret or nets/ immediately excites an uneasy sensation, and becomes the proper fuel of curiosity, which will be found stronger or weaker in proportion to the, opportunities that individuals have for indulging it. It is observable further, that, when this passion is excited, and not instantly gratified, instead of waiting for better intelligence, and using the proper means of removing the darkness that envelopes the object of it, we precipitately form ideas which are generally in the extremes. If the object promotes pleasure or advantage, we then load it with commendations; if it appears in the opposite view, or if we are ignorant of it, we then absurdly, as well as disingenuously, condemn, and pretend at least to despise it. This, my brethren, has been the fate of the most valuable institution in the world, Christianity excepted, I mean Fret-Masonry. Those who are acquainted with the nature and design of it, cannot, if if they have good heaits, but admire and espouse it; and if those who are in the dark, or whose minds arc disposed to evil, should slight or speak disrespectfully" of it, it certainly is no disgrace. When order shall produce confusion, when harmony shall give rise to discord, and proportion shall be the source of irregularity, then, and...