THE SOCIAL VIRTUES OF MASONRY.

THE MASONIC REVIEW - 1854

A Lecture delivered in Cornwall, England, in 1752, before
Lodge No. 151, by Bro. ISAAC HEAD.

As I have the honor of being distinguished by a badge of
office in this regularly constituted Lodge, I have made choice
of this opportunity to assure you that I will use my best
endeavors to execute the trust that you have reposed in me
with freedom, fervency, and zeal: and I beg the favor of your
attention for a few minutes, while I exhort you to consider,
with a becoming seriousness, some useful hints which
concern all of us. And first, I beg leave to recommend an
unwearied diligence and assiduity in the great work wherein
you are immediately concerned, to be upon your guard at all
times, and on all occasions, especially before strangers, who
will certainly watch every opportunity to extract from you that
secret which has for ages and generations been hid from
those who are unqualified to receive it. The proper
observance and diligent execution of this part of your duty
will recommend you to the notice of the world in general, and
the regard of this Lodge in particular.

Be ye also careful, my brethren, to avoid every action which
has the least tendency to brand you with the odious name
and character of a covetous man, which our holy brother the
Apostle Paul, has with great reason declared to be idolatry.
For what, my brethren, can be expected from the man who
makes gold his hope, and places his confidence in his
riches? what!  but that he will be deaf to the cries of the
destitute orphan, and intreaties of the distressed widow? Let
the contrary disposition prevail with us, and let not our
charity be circumscribed within a narrow circle; but like that
glorious luminary which opens the day, dispense its kindly
influence to all around us. Indeed, if we are good Masons,
we cannot be capable of abusing the means with which
Providence has supplied us to do good unto all men, as
opportunity shall offer, and in a more especial manner the
miserable and distressed. These are objects which not only
deserve our commisseration, but also claim relief at our
hands; let the grand principles of brotherly love, relief, and
truth, at all times distinguish us in the world, and ever prevail
amongst us. This compassionate temper cannot fail of
obtaining the love and esteem of all good and wise men;
and, what is of infinitely greater importance, the approbation
of that gracious Being whose favor is better than life.

Let us also be resolutely fixed in the great duty of sobriety,
and not suffer liquor to get the ascendency of our reason; it
is reason, my brethren, informs us that we are creatures
every way adapted to and fitted for society; and that God has
given us knowledge and understanding superior to other
beings on the habitable globe, who all tend by a natural
impulse to answer in their respective spheres the end of their
creation; and shall the creatures thus fulfil, with the greatest
regularity, the different purposes to which Providence
assigned them, and man, the glory of this lower world,
pervert the gracious designs of his Creator in appointing
proper liquids to satisfy his thirst, and exhilarate his heart, by
abusing the means, and forgetting the end of their
appointment, use them beyond the bounds of moderation,
and thereby render himself equal, I had/ almost said inferior
to the beastly swine? Did we but rightly and seriously
consider the many mischiefs to which this vice exposes us,
we should certainly be very cautious of drinking to excess,
well knowing the fatal consequences which attend it, that it
lays our reason asleep, and rouses the many, too often,
predominant passions which disturb the mind of main.

And whilst we are careful to avoid the shameful sin of
drunkenness, let us at the same time remember that we are
in duty bound to abstain from another vice, which is too
common in the present age, I mean the detestable practice
of swearing by, and invoking the solemn name of the great
and glorious God on the most trifling occasions. This vice,
my brethren, has not one motive or inducement, that I know
of, to support the practice of it. Is it practised by the great
vulgar? It is forbid by the positive command of an Almighty
God, who is ever jealous of his, honor, and will not hold any
guiltless who taketh his holy name in vain. This vice is a
scandal to society, and degrades the man below the level of
the brutal tribe, who all join with the feathered choir in the
praises of their great Creator. Let us, if it be possible, live
peaceably with all men; let us keep our passions in constant
subjection; by this means we shall be enabled to
demonstrate to the world that we are good men and true,
that we aim at no other character than that of piety towards
God, and unfeigned love to one another. Love, my brethren,
is the bond of perfectness; it is this divine temper which
enables us to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of
peace, and makes us like him, who is the pure and
inexhaustible fountain of it. Stand fast in one spirit, and be
perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same
judgment; let us consider that this is a duty incumbent on us,
that it is recommended to our notice and imitation by our
great Leader and Exemplar, who came to seek and to save
that which was lost, and laid down his life even for his
enemies. What a powerful motive and inducement have we
in this unparalleled instance of Divine love opened to our
view for our instruction and government in this state of trial,
unto which we shall do well if we take heed as unto a light
shining in a dark place. And I hope there is not one member
of this community who dons not endeavor, to the utmost of
his power, to discharge thin duty as it behoves every good
and wise man ; truly sensible of the necessity we lie under to
fulfil thin great, this important part of an obligation, which is
an indissoluble bond by which the particular members are
united and cemented in one body. Let us support and
recommend this great and laudable virtue by examples
worthy the imitation of mankind. This is the moat effectual
method we can pursue to silence the illnatured suggestions
of the proud, the wicked, and the vain part of our species,
who, though they are by no means proper to be members of
our well-governed community, yet must by this means be
induced (as it were forcibly) to own, and secretly to admire,
the benign influence of that love and unity which naturally
produce peace and harmony amongst brethren.

I must also beg leave to recommend a proper regard to be
paid to the laws, constitutions, and orders of our moat
ancient and honorable fraternity, and due deference and
respect to the particular officers thereof in their respective
places, whose business it is to carry them into execution;
and I hope the only contention among you will be a laudable
emulation in cultivating the royal art, and striving to excel
each other in everything which is great and good. Let us
convince the unbelieving multitude that no private, sordid, or
lucrative views can ever prevail upon us to admit into the
number of those who are acquainted with the knowledge of
our mysteries, the unworthy, the profane, or contentious part
of mankind; but that we will stand fast in that liberty with
which God hath blessed us, and join, with one heart, and
one voice, in excluding such wolves from our peaceable fold.
In a word, let all of us endeavor, in our respective stations,
so to regulate our whole conduct as not to give just occasion
for offence in any thing. Let us be submissive to superiors,
courteous and affable to equals, kind and condescending to
inferiors; and let our whole deportment testify for us that we
have formed our lives upon the perfect model of God's
revealed Will, exhibited to us in the Holy Bible; that this book
is the basin of all our craft, and that it is by this piece of
divine furniture, so essential to our society, that we are
taught wisdom to contrive in all our doings such means as
may conduce to His honor, and the salvation of our immortal
souls; strength to support us in all difficulties and distresses;
and beauty to polish the rough unhewn block of the mere
natural man, and bring it into the likeness of our Maker. Let
us run with patience the race that is set before us, and by an
unwearied perseverence in yell-doing, put to silence the
ignorance and malice of foolish men; and the wise and great
will think it no disparagement to be influenced by our
example, when we shall let our light shine before men, that
they, seeing by our good works, may be also induced to
glorify the Supreme and Almighty Architect of the universe.
Let us approve ourselves faithful stewards of those things
committed to our charge, that whensoever it shall please our
great Creator to demand of us an account of those talents
which He, in His infinite wisdom, has thought fit to bestow
upon us, we may be found ready to render it up with joy,
may have our loins girded up, and our lights burning, and we
ourselves be as men waiting for the kingdom of God, and in
that morning when the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with
healing on his wings, we may be allotted to a house not
made with hands, in the happy regions of eternal day - may
hear this welcome salutation of the Redeemer in the
presence of men and angels" Well done, thou good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a few things; I will
make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of
thy Lord." O happy day! when the faithful shall outlive the
world and all its fading glories, shall see the sun, moon, and
stars obliterated from the concave of heaven, and himself
employed, swallowed up in the never-fading glories of a
boundless eternity.

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