Ti;Is Heading of This Article May Take Some of Oiir Readers
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[f ;^ Ti;is heading of this article may take some of oiir readers "by surprise, ina prebends m^ thought o£ Been deemed scarcely ww Yet, the question of tte est^ otigbt ever, atoiongst any people, and in any progressive com to lie an object of no trifling consideration. In all times, as history in a multiplicity of instances has proved, the form ation of establishments of this character has not only obtained general approval, but) has been rightly considered matter of paramour importance. This having been so genemlly, the question naturally anseis to us, as Masons, why it should not apply to us part icularly. There is no reason—there can be no reason—why it should not. A system embodying some of the highest theoretical and practical principles which can fairly be said to constitute the existence of science itself, should not, in these onward days, be without its garner of lore, and its storehouse of those actual illustrations of the past which nntiring industry may have gathered, cultivated taste arranged, and religious care preserved. Sincere in these views, we hail with no ordinary degree of satis-, faction the effort which we find is being made towards the formation of a -5* . Masonic Library and Museum." At the forthcoming Grand Lodge, a resolution is to be brought forward relative to the establishment of an institution of the above character. So welUptentioned a step we believe to be one in " the right direction," as $. most valuable adj unct in the advancement of Masonry, and its decided and unquestioned interests. This move* Vol. nr. 4 x i^s nteiit h^ Origin with oixir esteenied <3riind Eegisti^r, Brother Hejiderson^ K is true th^ has certain extent existed but in form in has to a ^ a w^ been i^ from a^ fo£<tes fr^ grounded bjr it is comp^ Brethren iilbw of It is noof :disparagetq of 0nergie^ the toilers & that ^ ffi^ e^r^so W y^ have ion threatened aiid assailed fe their d ^ eypry <?ne of us i^ Still there is ever Waiting s^ refined a^d m w6 ha^ brother mote e;nergefcic^ than Brother Henderson. S alhided, thafe ^ ence of a libraiy a* this^ m seen eye* ^ as iours^^umero influential intdljgeht and rapidly irici*easing in all these ^ ^ ;: ^ualitm not i>ev;- -^ 1^ ordinary advantages which are aj>pirent wherever such institutions as libraries and museums exist, the formation df one in our Order will have increased valued inasmuch as it will form a kind of centre where the Brethren m^ assemble fo conversational and ftiscussional tuatto and interest to the Order ; a place, too where our country Brethren may be enabled to resort at all times^, in prder to their becoming acquainted with whatever is going on in the Masonic world : such as the times and places of Lodge and other meetings, and the various matters which are included in an Order of so comprehensiye a character as that of Freemasonry. It may even become—as we sincerely trust it may—-the nucleus of a Kasonic club, whereat can be discussed such minor differences as may arise between the Brethren, with a view to their settlement and arrangement in a sociht al, friendly, and fraternal manner, instead of *^ r t>€>ing broug crudely before Grand Lodge— a proceeding which but too often gives rise to feelings of undue excitement and ire, which ought not to exist amongst the members of an Order whicli j)rofei3ses to be bound together by the sacred ties of brotherly ' ' ¦ love. ' - ' ¦- ; ' . ' • j e^ will iheet Bind hearty i^ take our Order if it <^ bej carry xjtit the id^ concur ip^e^ de^son 'y ^yery siifedess iii a tasl0 and jud^ent^ an additional lustre bn |h SSJfR^ of tlfe re|ubM ^ fo ^stfc^ s^^ " If Mi.sdl*s have in every Art excell'd, ^ ^^^ ^ W^ If fam'd Progenitors vOf Roy Smir<t on our Graft, and Ba,d* our works be great If to our Hearts, whilst flows the Vital tyde, Each drop that Visits, is to Kings ally'd. This Fame we boast, but court a nobler Praise Which still shall flourish, thro* the length of Days^ <{ The Gilded Dome, and Regal Pride shall turn, To tott'ring ruin, and the Mouldring TJrn\ But Social Virtue, and attractive Grace, What time shall conquer, or what Death efface ]' This purer fire, has shone on Masons past, And still sh all shine,-—'till fate has olos'd the last. 44 Ye Gartered Heroes, who the Craft approve, Whom Brittain Honours, or whom Masons Love, Thro' either World,—assert our Noble Cause Whilst Missionary Brothers, Spread our Laws> And lead in Pomp, to Montagu's '-niild : Reign The leathered Indian, and the Furry Dane. J$q more shall Nation, be from Nation, had, Or unknown Accents, i ntercourse forbid : But by new signs ally'd, and Tokens joyn'd, Friendship shall form the Language of Mankind," This is immediately followed by a Charge, evidently the grouiid * Bade, rk vft> ^ givieit:^ <r '.: ' : ' 5"ou; are now adnaitted by y® unanimous Consent of our ipdge, it 3Fello\v of pur inbst Antieht and ^ to times immemorial; alid ^Honourable> as tending in every j^rilctiiar render a Man so that w^ Monarchs in all Ages as well of JLsia and iLiVica a,s of Europe, have been EhcQuragers of ^ A^ th Rasters over the Masons not inking sii<-M$ lessening to their Imperial Bignities^ t^ : ' I^ASONB^ Sm^ ' : : ' ' :v^ ^ - - 4*The World'a great Architect is our Supreme Master, and the unerring Rule he;: has:'given;^ :ii%-;is:;th *f Beli^^ Cpiriehts and IJnites hien of the most din^re^ and brings together those w^ojv^ fffeEB^ are inculcate; iz^ to (Sod our Nei ; y * ghbour, and pur-selvies ; r< To Gtop, in uever mehtionihg his N^ine but yyitli that jE^yerenti^^we which beconles a &^ SnkuM-BpNUif f which w^ca^ yieyvto regul^ y- C::.. }{^ .;;¦' ¦: .. v.^-: done bvv f ::^ ^ ;>:." To ourselves, in aroiding^ all Ihtenirjerance> whereby we may be rendered in capable of following our Work, or led into Behaviour unbecoming our laudable Profession, and in always keeping within due Bounds, and free from. all Excesses. 44 is to as ul In the State, a Maso^the behave a peaceable and dutif Suly forming chea^fu^ to G " He is to pay a due Deference to his Superiors, and from his Inferiors, he is rather to receive Honotjb with some Beluctance, than to extort it. 44 He is to be a Man of Benevolence and Charity, not sitting down contented while his Fellow Creatures, but much more his Bretlvi'en are in Want ; when it is in his Power, (without prejudicing himself or Eamily,) to relieve them. " In the Lodge, he is to behave with all due Decorum, lest the Beauty or Harmony thereof should be disturbed or broke. 44 He is to he obedient to the Master, Presiding officers , and to apply himself clpsely to the business of Masonry; that he may sooner become a Proficient therein,0 both for his own Credit and that of the Lodge. "He is not to neglect his own necessary Avocations for the sake of Masonry, nor to involve himself in Qnarrels with those who through Ignorance may speak evil of, or ridicule it. 44 He is to be a Lover of the Arts and Sciences, and to take all Opportunities of improving himself therein. "If he recommends a Friend to be made a Mason, he must vouch him to be such as he really believes will Conform to the aforesaid Duties, lest by his Misconduct at any time the Lodge should pass under some evil Imputations. Nothing can prove more shocking to all faithful Masons, than to see any of their Brethren profane or break through the Bules of their Order, and such as can do it they wish had never been admitted." The above ancient Charge, which is upwards of a hundred and thirty years old, will doabtless be interesting to many of our ,t Sic. - BMhreti, as b wMpveii^^ ¦pr^jnvty^ Br; The next.^$i^<sg ^awlinson's Collection is the continuation of a |amphlet^ i^ of Fre^ KThe ^ ;^ : :^- ;The,'^ ^ The Second*, giving an acco^t^ of 4i The Most A^ the of ^ Manner iW ' f Witn a^^^ << Together with t^ ^ without ^by previbtisly undergo thei Form of Degradation ; firs set forth for ^ ^ow t te : ¦ ¦ ; ¦ ; ;: ¦ ;, /,-: * locus' erat* -h :; . ' ;; ' •' ' . < .- y- • . ,-;¦ v > ' V irg. ^My : ¦ 4C London-:; - ¦ 44 Printed b^ A^ M^ A Letter to a Friend GoNCERNiNa the Society of Free-Masons. ^ Sir,—The Command, you have been pleas'd to lay upon me, is not to be dis- charg'd in a few Words : You require of me. To give you an account of the Fra ternity (as you are pleas'd to term it) which call themselves Freemasons - together with my opinion about them, and their Tenets. "•This, Sir, will cause some little Time to be spent ; first, in Enquiry after their Tenets ; and then in maturely judging and reasoning upon 'em : for rash and unpremeditated Determinations in such Matters, will only expose their Authors ; and give Strength and Reputation to the opposite Parties. " As for their Tenets, they seem to be all Riddle and Mystery, to every Body but themselves • and I make a Doubt, whether or no, they be able to give any fair and satisfactory Account of'em. By what I can learn they are under an Oath or some solemn obligatory Tie, not to make known or divulge their Arcavm to any, except to members of their own Society.