vour of Masonry, that, whatever imperfections are found among its professors, the institution countenances no deviation from the rules of right reason. Those who violate the laws, or infringe on good order, are kindly admonished by secret monitors; when these means have not the intended effect, public reprehension becomes necessary; and, at last, when every mild endeavour to effect a reformation in their conduct is of no avail, they are expelled the lodge, as unfit members of the society.

Vain, therefore, is each idle surmise against the plan of our government: while the laws of the Craft are properly supported, they will be proof against every attack. Men are not aware, that by decrying any laudable institution, they derogate from the dignity of human nature itself, and from that good order, and wise disposition of things, which the almighty Author of the world has framed for the government of mankind, and established as the basis of the moral system. Friendship and social delights can never be the object of reproach; nor can that wisdom which hoary Time has sanctified be a subject for ridicule. Whoever attempts to censure what he does not comprehend, degrades himself; and the generous heart will pity the mistakes of such ignorant presumption.

SECT. VIII.

Charity the distinguishing Characteristic of Masons.

CHARITY is the chief of all the social virtues, and the distinguishing characteristic of Masons. This virtue includes a supreme degree of love to the great Creator and Governor of the universe, and an unlimited affection to the beings of his creation, of all characters and of every denomination.

This last duty is forcibly inculcated by the example of the Deity himself, who liberally dispenses his beneficence to unnumbered worlds.

It is not particularly our province to enter into a disquisition of every branch of this amiable virtue; we shall, therefore, only briefly state the happy effects of a benevolent disposition toward mankind; and show, that charity, exerted on proper objects, is the greatest pleasure man can possibly enjoy.

The bounds of the greatest nation or the most extensive empire cannot circumscribe the generosity of a liberal mind. Men, in whatever situation they are placed, are still, in a great measure, the same. They are exposed to similar dangers and misfortunes; they have not wisdom to foresee, or power to prevent, the evils incident to human nature; they hang, as it were, in a perpetual suspense between hope and fear, sickness and health, plenty and want. A mutual chain of dependance subsists throughout the animal creation. All of the human species are, therefore, proper objects for the exercise of charity.

Beings who partake of one common nature ought to be actuated by the same motives and interests. Hence, to soothe the unhappy, by sympathising with their misfortunes, and to restore peace and tranquillity to agitated spirits, constitute the general and great ends of the Masonic System. This humane, this generous disposition, fires the breast with manly feelings, and enlivens that spirit of compassion which is the glory of the human frame, and which not only rivals, but outshines every other pleasure that the mind is capable of enjoying.

All human passions, when directed by the superior principle of reason, tend to promote some useful purpose; but compassion toward proper objects is the most beneficial of all the affections, and excites more lasting degrees of happiness; as it

extends to greater numbers, and alleviates the infirmities and evils which are incident to human existence.

Possessed of this amiable, this godlike disposition, Masons are shocked at misery under every form and appearance. When they behold an object pining under the miseries of a distressed body or mind, the healing accents which flow from the tongue mitigate the pain of the unhappy sufferer, and make even adversity, in its dismal state, look gay. When pity is excited, the Mason will assuage grief, and cheerfully relieve distress. If a Brother be in want, every heart is moved; when he is hungry, we feed him; when he is naked, we clothe him; when he is in trouble, we fly to his relief. Thus we confirm the propriety of the title we bear; and convince the world at large, that BROTHER, among Masons, is more than the name.

SECT. IX.

The Discernment displayed by Masons in the Choice of Objects of Charity.

THE most inveterate enemies of Masonry must acknowledge, that no society is more remarkable for the practice of charity, or any association of men more famed for disinterested liberality. It cannot be said, that Masons indulge in convivial

"In 1739, after Pope Eugenius had issued his bull against Freemasonry, one Crudeli, a Freemason, was imprisoned at Florence by the Inquisition, and suffered the most unmerited cruelties for maintaining the innocence of the association. When the Grand Lodge of England was informed of his miserable situation, they recollected that a foreigner, however low his rank, and however distant his abode, had a claim upon their sympathy. They transmitted to him twenty pounds for procuring the necessaries of life, and exerted every nerve for effecting his liberation." (Lawrie, p. 128.)

EDITOR.

mirth while the poor and needy pine for relief. Our charitable establishments and quarterly contributions, exclusive of private subscriptions, to relieve distress, prove that we are ready, with cheerfulness, in proportion to our circumstances, to alleviate the misfortunes of our fellow-creatures. Considering, however, the variety of objects, whose distress the dictates of Nature as well as the ties of Masonry incline us to relieve, we find it necessary sometimes to inquire into the cause of misfortune; lest a misconceived tenderness of disposition, or an impolitic generosity of heart, might prevent us from making a proper distinction in the choice of objects. Though our ears are always open to the distresses of the deserving poor, yet charity is not to be dispensed with a profuse liberality on impostors.* The parents of a numerous offspring, who,

* It is to be regretted that, from the charitable principles of the institution, masonic impostors are very numerous. They prowl about the country with fictitious certificates, and often succeed in deluding the masters of lodges and other benevolent brothers, to the injury of worthy brethren, whose tale of distress proceeds from the genuine workings of a heart oppressed with unmerited misfortune. The difficulty of distinguishing between real and assumed objects of charity may be estimated from such cases as the following, extracted from the Quarterly Communication for December 1823. "A Report from the Board of General Purposes was read, stating that an Individual, calling himself Simon Ramus, had been endeavouring to impose upon Brethren, and to obtain pecuniary Assistance, under colour of a fabricated Certificate, stating him to have been a Member of the Lodge No. 353, formerly No. 280, but which Certificate had been detained from him by the Lodge No. 283, and transmitted to the Grand Lodge. And, also, that another Individual calling himself Miles Marton, but supposed to be one Joseph Larkins, had, in a similar manner, been endeavouring to impose upon Brethren, under colour of a Certificate from the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and a Certificate from the Lodge No. 145, at Norwich, but which certificates had been detained by the S. W. of the Lodge No. 779, and transmitted to the Grand Lodge: the Board stated, that they were induced to make this Report with a View to guard Brethren against further Attempts at Imposition by those Individuals, although their means were, in a great Measure, destroyed by the Detention of the Certificates."

EDITOR.

through age, sickness, infirmity, or any unforeseen accident in life, may be reduced to want, particularly claim our attention, and seldom fail to experience the happy effects of our friendly associations. To such objects, whose situation is more easy to be conceived than expressed, we are induced liberally to extend relief. Hence we give convincing proofs of wisdom and discernment; for though our benevolence, like our laws, be unlimited, yet our hearts glow principally with affection toward the deserving part of mankind.

From this view of the advantages which result from the practice and profession of Masonry, every candid and impartial mind must acknowledge its utility and importance to the state; and surely, if the picture here drawn be just, it must be no trifling acquisition to any Government, to have under its jurisdiction a society of men, who are not only true patriots and loyal subjects, but the patrons of science and the friends of mankind.

SECT. X.

Friendly Admonitions.

As useful knowledge is the great object of our desire, let us diligently apply to the practice of the art, and steadily adhere to the principles which it inculcates. Let not the difficulties that we have to encounter check our progress, or damp our zeal; but let us recollect, that the ways of wisdom are beautiful, and lead to pleasure. Knowledge is attained by degrees, and cannot every where be found. Wisdom seeks the secret shade, the lonely cell, designed for contemplation. There enthroned she sits, delivering her sacred oracles. There let us seek her, and pursue the real bliss. Though