1 MASONIC. wherewith he may be well pleased: the very idea of a God, is succeeded with the belief, that he can approve of nothing that is evil; and when first our predecessors professed themselves servants of the Great Architect of the world, as an indispensable duty they professed innocency, and put on white raiment, as a type and characteristic of their conviction, and of their being devoted to his will. To shroud the imperfections of our friend, and cloak his infirmities, is Christian and charitable, and consequently befitting MASON; even the truth should not be told at all times; for where we cannot approve, we should pity in silence. What pleasure or profit can there arise by exposing the errors of a brother? To exhort him is virtuous, to revile him is inhuman, to set him out as an object of ridicule, is infernal. BY-LAWS OF JERUSALEM CHAPTER, No. 8. ARTICLE I. The regular nights of meeting of this chapter shall be the second and fourth Wednesdays in every month; and at such other times as the M. E. H. P. shall, for the benefit of the chapter, think proper; that from the first of October until the first of March, the hour of meeting shall be at six o'clock, and the remaining months at seven o'clock. ARTICLE H. mercy of the chapter for his re-admission. ARTICLE III. No member shall be permitted to rise and speak more than twice on one subject, without permission from the presiding officer. ARTICLE IV. No brother shall be permitted to visit more than once, excepting he be a sojourner, or member of some regular chapter in the United States. ARTICLE V. Any brother applying for advancement, or as an adjoining member, shall be regularly proposed, and seconded, on the one night of meeting, and his name shall be by the secretary handed to the standing committee, who having reported favourably, he shall be balloted for at the next meeting, and two black balls shall exclude him; it shall, however, be discretionary with the presiding officer to send the ballots round again, to ascertain if the black balls were put in through mistake. Should he be admitted, he shall pay at the time of his advancement, or admission, the necessary fees. ARTICLE VI. All committees, not exceeding three, shall be appointed by the presiding officer. ARTICLE VII. The standing committee shall be appointed at the annual election of officers, and shall consist of five persons, whose duty it shall be scrupulously to inquire into the cha Every companion shall observe the strictest decorum while the chap-racter, abilities, and profession, of ter is at labour; and if in default of this observance, he conduct himself in a reprehensible and anti-masonic manner, it shall be the duty of the presiding officer to call him to order, or reprove him: if he persists in his improper conduct, he shall be expelled for the evening, and be at the VOL. H. : 25 all candidates for exaltation, or admission, into the chapter, and to make a faithful report of the same, in writing. Such candidate, or candidates, shall not be balloted for, until the report of the committee shall have been read to, and considered by, the chapter. It shall be proposition in writing, which shall have been previously laid before the chapter at least two weeks. Any officer of this chapter absenting himself from the duties of his office three months, may be superseded by a new election, at the discretion of the chapter. their further duty to inspect the || lar meeting of this chapter, on a books of the treasurer, and secretary, to supervise the finances, to report the state of the funds half yearly, to superintend the necessary preparations for the meeting of the chapter, and to observe that the tyler keeps the room clean, and in good order. A report signed by three of said committee, shall be considered sufficient. Companion Philip Swigert, of Versailles, grand secretary. Companion Oliver G. Waggener, of Frankfort, grand treasurer. Companion Rev. John Ward, of Lexington, grand chaplain. Companion Henry Wingate, of Frankfort, grand master. Companion Charles Scott Bibb, of Frankfort, G. C. G. Companion Edward S. Coleman, of Frankfort, grand steward and tyler. ing; but also, that they should speak well of each other. It is a degree of common justice which honesty itself prompts one to. It is not enough that we refrain from. slander; but it is required of masons that they should speak graciously, and with affection, withholding nothing that can be uttered to a brother's praise or good name with truth. It is a degree of justice which every man has a right to, from his Subordinate chapters may brother, that his virtues be not be expected in our next. SELECT SENTENCES. Charity, in the works of moralists, is defined to be the love of our brethren, or a kind of brotherly affection one towards another. The rule and standard that this habit is to be examined and regulated by among Christians, is the love we bear to ourselves, or that the Me díator bore towards us; that is, it must be unfeigned, constant, and out of no other design than man's happiness. He whose bosom is locked up against compassion is a barbarian; his manners are brutal; his mind gloomy and morose; and his passions as savage as the beasts of the forest. Calumny and slander are detestable crimes against society. Nothing can be viler than to traduce a man behind his back; it is like the villany of an assassin, who has not virtue enough to give his adversary the means of self-defence: but lurking in darkness, stabs him whilst he is unarmed, and unsuspicious of an enemy. concealed. It is of no consequence of what parents any man is born, provided he be a man of merit; or your honours, they are the objects of envy and intemperance, and must ere long be laid in the dust; or your riches, they cannot gratify the wants they create; but be meek and lowly of heart: Masonry reduces all conditions to a pleasing and rational equality; pride was not made for man, and he that humbleth shall be exalted. True pleasure disclaims all connection with indecency and excess; and declines the society of riot roaring in the jollity of heart. A sense of the dignity of human nature always accompanies it, and it admits not of any thing that is degrading. Contempt is perfectly inconsistent with good-breeding, and is entirely averse to it. And if this want of respect be discovered, either in a man's looks, words, or gestures, come it from whom it will, it always brings uneasiness and pain along with it: for nobody can contentedly bear to be slighted. There cannot be a greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse: for if it be It is not only expected of masons, that they should, with a conscientious soul, refrain from evil-speak-not impertinence and folly to answer a man before we know what he has to say, yet it is a plain declaration that we are weary of his discourse; that we disregard what he says, as judging it not fit to entertain the society with; and is in fact little less than a downright desiring that ourselves may have audience, who have something to produce better worth the attention of the company. As this is no ordinary degree of disrespect, it cannot but give always very great offence. To think and speak ill of others, is not only a bad thing, but a sign of a bad man. When men are bad themselves, they are glad of any opportunity to censure others, and endeavour to bring things to a level; hoping it will be some justification of their own faults, if they can but make others appear equally guilty. Some men look with an evil eye upon the good that is in others, and do what they can to discredit their commendable qualities; thinking their own character lessened by them, they greedily entertain, and industriously publish, what may raise themselves upon the ruins of other men's reputations. A mason is a lover of quiet; is always subject to the civil powers; provided they do not infringe upon the limited bounds of religion and reason; and it was never yet known that a real craftsman was concerned in any dark plot, designs, or contrivances against the state, because the welfare of the nation is his peculiar care; so that from the highest to the lowest step of magistracy, due regard and deference is paid by him. In benevolence is comprehended the whole law of society, and whilst we weigh our obligations towards mankind by the divine essay, "love thy neighbour as thyself," we must deduce this second rule, which includes all the moral law, "do unto all men as thou wouldest they should do unto thee." A mason is to treat inferiors as he would have his superiors deal with him, wisely considering that the original of mankind is the same; and though masonry divests no man of his honour, yet does the craft admit that strictly to pursue the paths of virtue, whereby a clear conscience may be preserved, is the only method to make any man noble. TO PREVENT SLANDER. By Archbishop Tillotson. Never say any evil of another, but what you certainly know. Whenever you positively accuse a man of any crime, though it be in private, and among friends, speak as if you were upon your oath, because God sees and hears you. This, not only charity, but justice demands of us. He that easily credits a false report is almost as culpable as the first inventor of it. Therefore, never speak evil of any upon common fame, which, for the most part, is false, but almost always uncertain. Before you speak evil of another, consider whether he hath not obli ged you by some real kindness, and then it is a bad return to speak ill of him that hath done you good. Consider also whether you may not come hereafter to be acquainted with him, related to him, or in want of his favour, whom you have thus injured; and whether it may not be in his power to revenge a spiteful and needless word, by a shrewd turn. So that if a man made no conscience of hurting others, yet he should in prudence have some cor sideration of himself. Let us accustom ourselves to be truly sorry for the faults of men, and then we shall take no pleasure = MASONIC. in publishing them. Common humanity requires this of us, considering the great infirmities of our nature, and that we also are liable to be tempted; considering likewise how severe a punishment every crime is to itself, how terribly it exposeth a man to the wrath of God, both here and hereafter. Whenever we hear any man evil spoken of, if we have heard any good of him, let us say that. It is always more humane and more honourable to vindicate others than to accuse them. Were it necessary that man should be evil spoken of, his good and bad qualities should be represented together, otherwise he may be strangely misrepresented, and an indifferent man may be made a monster. They that will observe nothing in a wise man but his oversights and follies; nothing in a good but his failings and infirmities, may render both despicable. Should we heap together all the passionate speeches, all the imprudent actions of the best man, and present them all at one view, concealing his virtues, he, in this disguise, would look like a man or fury; and yet, if his life were fairly represented in the manner it was led, he would appear to all the world to be an amiable and excellent person. But how numerous soever any man's ill qualities are, it is but just that he should have due praise of his few real virtueş. mad That you may not speak ill, do not delight in hearing it of any. Give no countenance to busy bodies: if you cannot decently reprove them because of their quality, divert the discourse some other way; or by seeming not to mind it, signify that you do not like it. and leave you little time to talk of others. BENEFITS. The misplacing of a benefit is worse than the not receiving of it; for the one is another man's fault, but the other is mine. The errour of the giver does oft times excuse the ingratitude of the receiver; for a favour ill placed is rather a profusion than a benefit. It is the most shameful of losses, an inconsiderate bounty. I will choose a man of integrity, sincere, considerate, grateful, temperate, well-natured, neither covetous nor sordid; and when I have obliged such a man, though not worth a groat in the world, I have gained my end. If we give only to receive, we lose the fairest objects for our charity, the absent, the sick, the captive, and the needy. The rule is, we are to give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers. A benefit should be made acceptable by all possible means, even to the end, that the receiver, who is never to forget it, may bear it in his mind with satisfaction.-SENECA. A mason, in regard to himself, is carefully to avoid all manner of intemperance or excess, which might obstruct him in the performance of the necessary duties of his laudable profession, or lead him into any crimes which would reflect dishonour upon the ancient fraternity. A mason is to be so far benevo lent, as never to shut his ear unkindly to the complaints of wretched poverty; but when a brother is opis in a peculiar manner to listen to his sufferings with attention; in consequence of which, pity must flow from his pressed by want, he Let every man mind his own duty and concern. Do but endeavour, in good earnest, to mend your-breast, and relieve without prejuself, and it will be work enough, dice, aecording to his capacity. |