Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

REV. MR. STEARNS 1 INQUIRY. 223
praise of God. If a spirit of meekness and gentleness is
found in individuals of the brotherhood, it belongs to Christianity,
and not to Masonry. How can Masonry produce or
nourish this spirit, when it is said to unite men of the most
opposite tenets, and of the most contradictory opinions ?
u The spirit of Masonry is the spirit of the world, and
not of Christ. Christianity lays aside every needless ornament,
every thing that glitters, and every thing the world
admires, and passes through it like a still small voice; often
unobserved by the great, except as an object of ridicule
and contempt. Not so with Masonry ; its parade is well
known, and is often seen, jn pompous ceremonies, and emblems,
and splendid attire, which dazzle the eyes of gazing
multitudes. The world has no war with this; it is perfectly
congenial with its spirit But how far, how very far from
the spirit of Christianity. Call a man a high priest of Masonry
; clothe him in all the insignia of his office; write HO­
LINESS TO THE LORD on his front; does he look like an humble
disciple of Jesus?
" Christianity teaches the doctrine and precepts of morality
in plain language, in a plain simple manner; but
Masonry pretends to teach them by a routine' of ceremonies.
The former is God's method; the latter is man's.
" Masons may tell us, that certain things in their institution
are designed to teach certain truths, and to be emblems
of certain virtues; but by whose authority ? and what instruction
can they give us from these things ? Where has
the Lord informed us, in his word, that a chisel, a mallet, a
square, a compass, a troivel, a scythe, and a white leather
apron, are emblems of the virtues of the human heart, and
are designed to inculcate moral truth ? Mr. Town tells us,
1 that a habitual practice of every commendable virtue, is
taught by suitable and appropriate masonic emblems; 9
also, ' in a word, the history of nature and grace is most
beautifully prefigured in a hvely display of masonic symbols.'
(pp. 184.24.)
u Now, the Almighty has taught us these things in his