Freemasonry > Free-masons pocket-companion

A CHARGE to MASONS. 197
purpofe. Let your light fo Jhine before men, that
they may fee your good "works, was the advice of
him that was a light to lighten the Gentiles. Our
lights are not hid, but placed on candlejlicks ; and
thefe are filent monitors, continually intimating to
us, that as the ancient and honourable badge we
wea» has placed us above the reft of mankind, fo
all our duties to our heavenly mafter, our fdlow-
creatures, and ourfelves, ftiould be formed and
contrived by the wifdom of God’s word; ftrength-
ened and fupported by love, truth, and charity ;
and beautified and adorned by honefty, temperance,
and true politenefs. All mafons that are, or ever
have been, were Jhrwn the light: And though they
cannot forget it, yet, alas ! how faintly does it
Ihine in the hearts of too many ? How is its lu-
ftre fullied, and fplendour diminifhed, by the folly,
ftupidity, and madnefs of irreiigion and impiety ?
—Thefe are the perlbns of whom St John fays.
They -went out from vs : hint they "were not of us :
for if they had been of us, they "would no doubt
have continued -with us : b ut they "went out, that
they might be made manifeji that they "were not all
of us. And thus it is that thole who depart from-
the light bring an evil rep art on the craft.
TRUTH, as it is a div ine attribute, lb is it ths
foundation of all mafonic ‘virtues. It is one of our
grand principles ; for tc > be good men and true is
part of* the firft great k don we are taught; and
at the commencement of our freedom we are ex¬
horted