MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!

ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), S-ORT BIOGRAP-.

Albert P /e# born December 01# )*21# 3as the oldest of s 4 ch ldren born to Ben5am n and Sarah Andre3s P /e, P /e 3as ra sed n a %hr st an home and attended an E! sco!al ch$rch, P /e !assed the entrance e4am nat on at -ar6ard %ollege 3hen he 3as )7 years old# b$t co$ld not attend beca$se he had no f$nds, After tra6el ng as far 3est as Santa "e# P /e settled n Ar/ansas# 3here he 3or/ed as ed tor of a ne3s!a!er before be ng adm tted to the bar, In Ar/ansas# he met Mary Ann -am lton# and marr ed her on 8o6ember 0*# )*9:, To th s $n on 3ere born )) ch ldren, -e 3as :) years old 3hen he a!!l ed for adm ss on n the ;estern Star Lodge 8o, 0 n L ttle Roc/# Ar/,# n )*72, Act 6e n the Grand Lodge of Ar/ansas# P /e too/ the )2 degrees of the .or/ R te from )*72 to )*79, -e rece 6ed the 01 degrees of the Scott sh R te n March )*79 from Albert Gallat n Mac/ey n %harleston# S,%, The Scott sh R te had been ntrod$ced n the 'n ted States n )+*9, %harleston 3as the locat on of the f rst S$!reme %o$nc l# 3h ch go6erned the Scott sh R te n the 'n ted States# $nt l a 8orthern S$!reme %o$nc l 3as establ shed n 8e3 .or/ % ty n )*)9, The bo$ndary bet3een the So$thern and 8orthern &$r sd ct ons# st ll recogn <ed today# 3as f rmly establ shed n )*0*, Mac/ey n6 ted P /e to 5o n the S$!reme %o$nc l for the So$thern &$r sd ct on n )*7* n %harleston# and he became the Grand %ommander of the S$!reme %o$nc l the follo3 ng year, P /e held that off ce $nt l h s death# 3h le s$!!ort ng h mself n 6ar o$s occ$!at ons s$ch as ed tor of the Mem!h s Da ly A!!eal from "ebr$ary )*=+ to Se!tember )*=*# as 3ell as h s la3 !ract ce, P /e later o!ened a la3 off ce n ;ash ngton# D,%,# and arg$ed a n$mber of cases before the ',S, S$!reme %o$rt, -o3e6er#

P /e 3as m!o6er shed by the % 6 l ;ar and rema ned so m$ch of h s l fe# often borro3 ng money for bas c l 6 ng e4!enses from the S$!reme %o$nc l before the co$nc l 6oted h m an ann$ ty n )*+1 of >)#022 a year for the rema nder of h s l fe, -e d ed on A!r l 0# )*10# n ;ash ngton# D,%, Real < ng that a re6 s on of the r t$al 3as necessary f Scott sh R te "reemasonry 3ere to s$r6 6e# Mac/ey enco$raged P /e to re6 se the r t$al to !rod$ce a standard r t$al for $se n all states n the So$thern &$r sd ct on, Re6 s on began n )*77# and after some changes# the S$!reme %o$nc l endorsed P /e?s re6 s on n )*=), M nor changes 3ere made n t3o degrees n )*+9 after the .or/ R te bod es n M sso$r ob5ected that the 01th and 92th degrees re6ealed secrets of the .or/ R te, P /e s best /no3n for h s ma5or 3or/# Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry# !$bl shed n )*+), Morals and Dogma sho$ld not be conf$sed 3 th P /e?s re6 s on of the Scott sh R te r t$al, They are se!arate 3or/s, ;alter Lee Bro3n 3r tes that P /e @ ntended t AMorals and DogmaB to be a s$!!lement to that great ?connected system of moral# rel g o$s and !h loso!h cal nstr$ct on? that he had de6elo!ed n h s re6 s on of the Scott sh r t$al,@ Morals and Dogma 3as trad t onally g 6en to the cand date $!on h s rece !t of the ):th degree of the Scott sh R te, Th s !ract ce 3as sto!!ed n )1+:, Morals and Dogma has not been g 6en to cand dates s nce )1+:, A Br dge to L ght# by Re4 R, -$tchens# s !ro6 ded to cand dates today, -$tchens laments that Morals and Dogma s read by so fe3 Masons, A Br dge to L ght 3as 3r tten to be @a br dge bet3een the ceremon es of the degrees and the r lect$res n Morals and Dogma,@

TITLES O" DEGREES

)C D A!!rent ce

0C D "ello3Dcraft 9C D Master :C D Secret Master 7C D Perfect Master =C D Int mate Secretary +C D Pro6ost and &$dge *C D Intendant of the B$ ld ng 1C D El$ of the 8 ne )2C D El$ of the " fteen ))C D El$ of the T3el6e )0C D Master Arch tect )9C D Royal Arch of Solomon ):C D Perfect El$ )7C D Kn ght of the East )=C D Pr nce of &er$salem )+C D Kn ght of the East and ;est )*C D Kn ght Rose %ro 4

)1C D Pont ff 02C D Master of the Symbol c Lodge 0)C D 8oach te or Pr$ss an Kn ght 00C D Kn ght of the Royal A4e or Pr nce of L ban$s 09C D %h ef of the Tabernacle 0:C D Pr nce of the Tabernacle 07C D Kn ght of the Bra<en Ser!ent 0=C D Pr nce of Mercy 0+C D Kn ght %ommander of the Tem!le 0*C D Kn ght of the S$n or Pr nce Ade!t 01C D Scott sh Kn ght of St, Andre3 92C D Kn ght Kadosh 9)C D Ins!ector InE$ stor 90C D Master of the Royal Secret

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), )C D A!!rent ce

T-E T;ELFEDI8%- R'LE A8D T-E %OMMO8 GAFEL,

"OR%E# $nreg$lated or llDreg$lated# s not only 3asted n the 6o d# l /e that of g$n!o3der b$rned n the o!en a r# and steam $nconf ned by sc enceG b$t# str / ng n the dar/# and ts blo3s meet ng only the a r# they reco l and br$ se tself, It s destr$ct on and r$ n, It s the 6olcano# the earthE$a/e# the cycloneGDnot gro3th and !rogress, It s Poly!hem$s bl nded# str / ng at random# and fall ng headlong among the shar! roc/s by the m!et$s of h s o3n blo3s, The bl nd "orce of the !eo!le s a "orce that m$st be econom <ed# and also managed# as the bl nd "orce of steam# l ft ng the !ondero$s ron arms and t$rn ng the large 3heels# s made to bore and r fle the cannon and to 3ea6e the most del cate lace, It m$st be reg$lated by Intellect, Intellect s to the !eo!le and the !eo!le?s "orce# 3hat the slender needle of the com!ass s to the sh !DD ts so$l# al3ays co$nsell ng the h$ge mass of 3ood and ron# and al3ays !o nt ng to the north, To attac/ the c tadels b$ lt $! on all s des aga nst the h$man race by s$!erst t ons# des!ot sms# and !re5$d ces# the "orce m$st ha6e a bra n and a la3, Then ts deeds of dar ng !rod$ce !ermanent res$lts# and there s real !rogress, Then there are s$bl me conE$ests, Tho$ght s a force# and !h loso!hy sho$ld be an energy# f nd ng ts a m and ts effects n the amel orat on of man/ nd, The t3o great motors are Tr$th and Lo6e, ;hen all these "orces are comb ned#

and g$ ded by the Intellect# and reg$lated by the R'LE of R ght# and &$st ce# and of comb ned and systemat c mo6ement and effort# the great re6ol$t on !re!ared for by the ages 3 ll beg n to march, The PO;ER of the De ty - mself s n eE$ l br $m 3 th - s ;ISDOM, -ence the only res$lts are -ARMO8., It s beca$se "orce s ll reg$lated# that re6ol$t ons !ro6e fa l$res, Therefore t s that so often ns$rrect ons# com ng from those h gh mo$nta ns that dom neer o6er the moral hor <on# &$st ce# ; sdom# Reason# R ght# b$ lt of the !$rest sno3 of the deal after a long fall from roc/ to roc/# after ha6 ng reflected the s/y n the r trans!arency# and been s3ollen by a h$ndred affl$ents# n the ma5est c !ath of tr $m!h# s$ddenly lose themsel6es n E$agm res# l /e a %al forn a r 6er n the sands, The on3ard march of the h$man race reE$ res that the he ghts aro$nd t sho$ld bla<e 3 th noble and end$r ng lessons of co$rage, Deeds of dar ng da<<le h story# and form one class of the g$ d ng l ghts of man, They are the stars and cor$scat ons from that great sea of electr c ty# the "orce nherent n the !eo!le, To str 6e# to bra6e all r s/s# to !er sh# to !erse6ere# to be tr$e to one?s self# to gra!!le body to body 3 th dest ny# to s$r!r se defeat by the l ttle terror t ns! res# no3 to confront $nr ghteo$s !o3er# no3 to defy nto4 cated tr $m!hDDthese are the e4am!les that the nat ons need and the l ght that electr f es them, There are mmense "orces n the great ca6erns of e6 l beneath soc etyG n the h deo$s degradat on# sE$alor# 3retchedness and dest t$t on# 6 ces and cr mes that ree/ and s mmer n the dar/ness n that !o!$lace belo3 the !eo!le# of great c t es, There d s nterestedness 6an shes# e6ery one ho3ls# searches# gro!es# and gna3s for h mself, Ideas are gnored# and of !rogress there s no tho$ght, Th s !o!$lace has t3o mothers# both of them ste!mothersDDIgnorance and M sery, ;ant s the r only g$ deDDfor the a!!et te alone they cra6e sat sfact on, .et e6en these may be em!loyed, The lo3ly sand 3e tram!le $!on# cast nto the f$rnace# melted# !$r f ed by f re# may become res!lendent crystal, They ha6e the br$te force of the -AMMER# b$t the r blo3s hel! on the great ca$se# 3hen str$c/ 3 th n the l nes traced by the R'LE held by 3 sdom and d scret on, .et t s th s 6ery "orce of the !eo!le# th s T tan c !o3er of the g ants# that b$ lds the fort f cat ons of tyrants# and s embod ed n the r arm es, -ence the !oss b l ty of s$ch tyrann es as those of 3h ch t has been sa d# that @Rome smells 3orse $nder F tell $s than $nder S$lla, 'nder %la$d $s

and $nder Dom t an there s a deform ty of baseness corres!ond ng to the $gl nessDof the tyranny, The fo$lness of the sla6es s a d rect res$lt of the atroc o$s baseness of the des!ot, A m asma e4hales from these cro$ch ng consc ences that reflect the masterG the !$bl c a$thor t es are $nclean# hearts are colla!sed# consc ences shr$n/en# so$ls !$ny, Th s s so $nder %aracalla# t s so $nder %ommod$s# t s so $nder -el ogabal$s# 3h le fro m the Roman senate# $nder %aesar# there comes only the ran/ odo$r !ec$l ar to the eagle?s eyr e,@

It s the force of the !eo!le that s$sta ns all these des!ot sms# the basest as 3ell as the best, That force acts thro$gh arm esG and these oftener ensla6e than l berate, Des!ot sm there a!!l es the R'LE, "orce s the MA%E of steel at the saddleDbo3 of the /n ght or of the b sho! n armo$r, Pass 6e obed ence by force s$!!orts thrones and ol garch es# S!an sh / ngs# and Fenet an senates, M ght# n an army 3 elded by tyranny# s the enormo$s s$m total of $tter 3ea/nessG and so -$man ty 3ages 3ar aga nst -$man ty# n des! te of -$man ty, So a !eo!le 3 ll ngly s$bm ts to des!ot sm# and ts 3or/men s$bm t to be des! sed# and ts sold ers to be 3h !!edG therefore t s that battles lost by a nat on are often !rogress atta ned, Less glory s more l berty, ;hen the dr$m s s lent# reason somet mes s!ea/s,

Tyrants $se the force of the !eo!le to cha n and s$b5$gateDDthat s# enyo/e the !eo!le, Then they !lo$gh 3 th them as men do 3 th o4en yo/ed, Th$s the s! r t of l berty and nno6at on s red$ced by bayonets# and !r nc !les are str$c/ d$mb by cannonshotG 3h le the mon/s m ngle 3 th the troo!ers# and the %h$rch m l tant and 5$b lant# %athol c or P$r tan# s ngs Te De$ms for 6 ctor es o6er rebell on,

The m l tary !o3er# not s$bord nate to the c 6 l !o3er# aga n the -AMMER or MA%E of "OR%E# nde!endent of the R'LE# s an armed tyranny# born f$llDgro3n# as Athene s!r$ng from the bra n of He$s, It s!a3ns a dynasty# and beg ns 3 th %aesar to rot nto F tell $s and

%o mmod$s, At the !resent day t ncl nes to beg n 3here formerly dynast es ended,

%onstantly the !eo!le !$t forth mmense strength# only to end n mmense 3ea/ness, The force of the !eo!le s e4ha$sted n ndef n tely !rolong ng th ngs long s nce deadG n go6ern ng man/ nd by embalm ng old dead tyrann es of "a thG restor ng d la! dated dogmasG reg ld ng faded# 3ormD eaten shr nesG 3h ten ng and ro$g ng anc ent and barren s$!erst t onsG sa6 ng soc ety by m$lt !ly ng !aras tesG !er!et$at ng s$!erann$ated nst t$t onsG enforc ng the 3orsh ! of symbols as the act$al means of sal6at onG and ty ng the dead cor!se of the Past# mo$th to mo$th# 3 th the l 6 ng Present, Therefore t s that t s one of the fatal t es of -$man ty to be condemned to eternal str$ggles 3 th !hantoms# 3 th s$!erst t ons# b gotr es# hy!ocr s es# !re5$d ces# the form$las of error# and the !leas of tyranny, Des!ot sms# seen n the !ast# become res!ectable# as the mo$nta n# br stl ng 3 th 6olcan c roc/# r$gged and horr d# seen thro$gh the ha<e of d stance s bl$e and smooth and bea$t f$l, The s ght of a s ngle d$ngeon of tyranny s 3orth more# to d s!el ll$s ons# and create a holy hatred of des!ot sm# and to d rect "OR%E ar ght# than the most eloE$ent 6ol$mes, The "rench sho$ld ha6e !reser6ed the Bast le as a !er!et$al lessonG Italy sho$ld not destroy the d$ngeons of the InE$ s t on, The "orce of the !eo!le ma nta ned the Po3er that b$ lt ts gloomy cells# and !laced the l 6 ng n the r gran te se!$lchres,

The "OR%E of the !eo!le cannot# by ts $nrestra ned and f tf$l act on# ma nta n and cont n$e n act on and e4 stence a free Go6ernment once created, That "orce m$st be l m ted# restra ned# con6eyed by d str b$t on nto d fferent channels# and by ro$ndabo$t co$rses# to o$tlets# 3hence t s to ss$e as the la3# act on# and dec s on of the StateG as the 3 se old Egy!t an / ngs con6eyed n d fferent canals# by s$bDd 6 s on# the s3ell ng 3aters of the 8 le# and com!elled them to fert l <e and not de6astate the land, There m$st be the 5$s et norma# the la3 and R$le# or Ga$ge# of const t$t on and la3# 3 th n 3h ch the !$bl c force m$st act, Ma/e a breach n e ther# and the great steamDhammer# 3 th ts s3 ft and !ondero$s blo3s# cr$shes all the mach nery to atoms# and# at last# 3rench ng tself a3ay# l es nert and dead am d the r$ n t has 3ro$ght,

The "OR%E of the !eo!le# or the !o!$lar 3 ll# n act on and e4erted# symbol <ed by the GAFEL# reg$lated and g$ ded by and act ng 3 th n the l m ts of LA; and ORDER# symbol <ed by the T;E8T.D"O'RDI8%R'LE# has for ts fr$ t LIBERT.# EI'ALIT.# and "RATER8IT.#DDl berty reg$lated by la3G eE$al ty of r ghts n the eye of the la3G brotherhood 3 th ts d$t es and obl gat ons as 3ell as ts benef ts,

.o$ 3 ll hear shortly of the Ro$gh AS-LAR and the Perfect AS-LAR# as !art of the 5e3els of the Lodge, The ro$gh Ashlar s sa d to be @a stone# as ta/en from the E$arry# n ts r$de and nat$ral state,@ The !erfect Ashlar s sa d to be @a stone made ready by the hands of the 3or/men# to be ad5$sted by the 3or/ ngDtools of the "ello3D%raft,@ ;e shall not re!eat the e4!lanat ons of these symbols g 6en by the .or/ R te, .o$ may read them n ts !r nted mon tors, They are declared to all$de to the selfD m!ro6ement of the nd 6 d$al craftsman#DDa cont n$at on of the same s$!erf c al nter!retat on,

The ro$gh Ashlar s the PEOPLE# as a mass# r$de and $norgan <ed, The !erfect Ashlar# or c$b cal stone# symbol of !erfect on# s the STATE# the r$lers der 6 ng the r !o3ers from the consent of the go6ernedG the const t$t on and la3s s!ea/ ng the 3 ll of the !eo!leG the go6ernment harmon o$s# symmetr cal# eff c ent# DD ts !o3ers !ro!erly d str b$ted and d$ly ad5$sted n eE$ l br $m,

If 3e del neate a c$be on a !lane s$rface th$s(

3e ha6e 6 s ble three faces# and n ne e4ternal l nes# dra3n bet3een se6en !o nts, The com!lete c$be has three more faces# ma/ ng s 4G three more

l nes# ma/ ng t3el6eG and one more !o nt# ma/ ng e ght, As the n$mber )0 ncl$des the sacred n$mbers# 9# 7# +# and 9 t mes 9# or 1# and s !rod$ced by add ng the sacred n$mber 9 to 1G 3h le ts o3n t3o f g$res# )# 0# the $n t or monad# and d$ad# added together# ma/e the same sacred n$mber 9G t 3as called the !erfect n$mberG and the c$be became the symbol of !erfect on,

Prod$ced by "OR%E# act ng by R'LEG hammered n accordance 3 th l nes meas$red by the Ga$ge# o$t of the ro$gh Ashlar# t s an a!!ro!r ate symbol of the "orce of the !eo!le# e4!ressed as the const t$t on and la3 of the StateG and of the State tself the three 6 s ble faces re!resent the three de!artments#DDthe E4ec$t 6e# 3h ch e4ec$tes the la3sG the Leg slat 6e# 3h ch ma/es the la3sG the &$d c ary# 3h ch nter!rets the la3s# a!!l es and enforces them# bet3een man and man# bet3een the State and the c t <ens, The three n6 s ble faces# are L berty# EE$al ty# and "ratern ty# the threefold so$l of the StateDD ts 6 tal ty# s! r t# and ntellect,

Tho$gh Masonry ne ther $s$r!s the !lace of# nor a!es rel g on# !rayer s an essent al !art of o$r ceremon es, It s the as! rat on of the so$l to3ard the Absol$te and Inf n te Intell gence# 3h ch s the One S$!reme De ty# most feebly and m s$nderstand ngly character <ed as an @AR%-ITE%T,@ %erta n fac$lt es of man are d rected to3ard the 'n/no3nDDtho$ght# med tat on# !rayer, The $n/no3n s an ocean# of 3h ch consc ence s the com!ass, Tho$ght# med tat on# !rayer# are the great myster o$s !o nt ngs of the needle, It s a s! r t$al magnet sm that th$s connects the h$man so$l 3 th the De ty, These ma5est c rrad at ons of the so$l ! erce thro$gh the shado3 to3ard the l ght,

It s b$t a shallo3 scoff to say that !rayer s abs$rd# beca$se t s not !oss ble for $s# by means of t# to !ers$ade God to change - s !lans, -e !rod$ces fore/no3n and fore ntended effects# by the nstr$mental ty of the forces of nat$re# all of 3h ch are - s forces, O$r o3n are !art of these, O$r free agency and o$r 3 ll are forces, ;e do not abs$rdly cease to ma/e efforts to atta n 3ealth or ha!! ness# !rolong l fe# and cont n$e health#

beca$se 3e cannot by any effort change 3hat s !redest ned, If the effort also s !redest ned# t s not the less o$r effort# made of o$r free 3 ll, So# l /e3 se# 3e !ray, ; ll s a force, Tho$ght s a force, Prayer s a force, ;hy sho$ld t not be of the la3 of God# that !rayer# l /e "a th and Lo6e# sho$ld ha6e ts effectsJ Man s not to be com!rehended as a start ngD !o nt# or !rogress as a goal# 3 tho$t those t3o great forces# "a th and Lo6e, Prayer s s$bl me, Or sons that beg and clamo$r are ! t f$l, To deny the eff cacy of !rayer# s to deny that of "a th# Lo6e# and Effort, .et the effects !rod$ced# 3hen o$r hand# mo6ed by o$r 3 ll# la$nches a !ebble nto the ocean# ne6er ceaseG and e6ery $ttered 3ord s reg stered for etern ty $!on the n6 s ble a r,

E6ery Lodge s a Tem!le# and as a 3hole# and n ts deta ls symbol c, The 'n 6erse tself s$!!l ed man 3 th the model for the f rst tem!les reared to the D 6 n ty, The arrangement of the Tem!le of Solomon# the symbol c ornaments 3h ch formed ts ch ef decorat ons# and the dress of the - ghD Pr est# all had reference to the order of the 'n 6erse# as then $nderstood, The Tem!le conta ned many emblems of the seasonsDDthe s$n# the moon# the !lanets# the constellat ons 'rsa Ma5or and M nor# the <od ac# the elements# and the other !arts of the 3orld, It s the Master of th s Lodge# of the 'n 6erse# -ermes# of 3hom Kh$r$m s the re!resentat 6e# that s one of the l ghts of the Lodge,

"or f$rther nstr$ct on as to the symbol sm of the hea6enly bod es# and of the sacred n$mbers# and of the tem!le and ts deta ls# yo$ m$st 3a t !at ently $nt l yo$ ad6ance n Masonry# n the mean t me e4erc s ng yo$r ntellect n st$dy ng them for yo$rself, To st$dy and see/ to nter!ret correctly the symbols of the 'n 6erse# s the 3or/ of the sage and !h loso!her, It s to dec !her the 3r t ng of God# and !enetrate nto - s tho$ghts,

Th s s 3hat s as/ed and ans3ered n o$r catech sm# n regard to the Lodge,

K K K K K K

A @Lodge@ s def ned to be @an assemblage of "reemasons# d$ly congregated# ha6 ng the sacred 3r t ngs# sE$are# and com!ass# and a charter# or 3arrant of const t$t on# a$thor < ng them to 3or/,@ The room or !lace n 3h ch they meet# re!resent ng some !art of K ng Solomon?s Tem!le# s also called the LodgeG and t s that 3e are no3 cons der ng,

It s sa d to be s$!!orted by three great col$mns# ;ISDOM# "OR%E or STRE8GT-# and BEA'T.# re!resented by the Master# the Sen or ;arden# and the &$n or ;ardenG and these are sa d to be the col$mns that s$!!ort the Lodge# @beca$se ; sdom# Strength# and Bea$ty# are the !erfect ons of e6eryth ng# and noth ng can end$re 3 tho$t them,@ @Beca$se#@ the .or/ R te says# @ t s necessary that there sho$ld be ; sdom to conce 6e# Strength to s$!!ort# and Bea$ty to adorn# all great and m!ortant $nderta/ ngs,@ @Kno3 ye not#@ says the A!ostle Pa$l# @that ye are the tem!le of God# and that the S! r t of God d3elleth n yo$J If any man desecrate the tem!le of God# h m shall God destroy# for the tem!le of God s holy# 3h ch tem!le ye are,@

The ; sdom and Po3er of the De ty are n eE$ l br $m, The la3s of nat$re and the moral la3s are not the mere des!ot c mandates of - s Omn !otent 3 llG for# then they m ght be changed by - m# and order become d sorder# and good and r ght become e6 l and 3rongG honesty and loyalty# 6 cesG and fra$d# ngrat t$de# and 6 ce# 6 rt$es, Omn !otent !o3er# nf n te# and e4 st ng alone# 3o$ld necessar ly not be constra ned to cons stency, Its decrees and la3s co$ld not be mm$table, The la3s of God are not obl gatory on $s beca$se they are the enactments of - s PO;ER# or the e4!ress on of - s ;ILLG b$t beca$se they e4!ress - s nf n te ;ISDOM, They are not r ght beca$se they are - s la3s# b$t - s la3s beca$se they are r ght, "rom the eE$ l br $m of nf n te 3 sdom and nf n te force# res$lts !erfect harmony# n !hys cs and n the moral $n 6erse, ; sdom# ro3er# and -armony const t$te one Mason c tr ad, They ha6e other and !rofo$nder mean ngs# that may at some t me be $n6e led to yo$,

As to the ord nary and common!lace e4!lanat on# t may be added# that the 3 sdom of the Arch tect s d s!layed n comb n ng# as only a s/ llf$l Arch tect can do# and as God has done e6ery3here#DDfor e4am!le# n the tree# the h$man frame# the egg# the cells of the honeycombDDstrength# 3 th grace# bea$ty# symmetry# !ro!ort on# l ghtness# ornamentat on, That# too# s the !erfect on of the orator and !oetDDto comb ne force# strength# energy# 3 th grace of style# m$s cal cadences# the bea$ty of f g$res# the !lay and rrad at on of mag nat on and fancyG and so# n a State# the 3arl /e and nd$str al force of the !eo!le# and the r T tan c strength# m$st be comb ned 3 th the bea$ty of the arts# the sc ences# and the ntellect# f the State 3o$ld scale the he ghts of e4cellence# and the !eo!le be really free, -armony n th s# as n all the D 6 ne# the mater al# and the h$man# s the res$lt of eE$ l br $m# of the sym!athy and o!!os te act on of contrar esG a s ngle ; sdom abo6e them hold ng the beam of the scales, To reconc le the moral la3# h$man res!ons b l ty# freeD3 ll# 3 th the absol$te !o3er of GodG and the e4 stence of e6 l 3 th - s absol$te 3 sdom# and goodness# and mercy#DD these are the great en gmas of the S!hyn4,

.o$ entered the Lodge bet3een t3o col$mns, They re!resent the t3o 3h ch stood n the !orch of the Tem!le# on each s de of the great eastern gate3ay, These ! llars# of bron<e# fo$r f ngers breadth n th c/ness# 3ere# accord ng to the most a$thent c acco$ntDDthat n the " rst and that n the Second Boo/ of K ngs# conf rmed n &erem ahDD e ghteen c$b ts h gh# 3 th a ca! tal f 6e c$b ts h gh, The shaft of each 3as fo$r c$b ts n d ameter, A c$b t s one foot and +2+L)222, That s# the shaft of each 3as a l ttle o6er th rty feet e ght nches n he ght# the ca! tal of each a l ttle o6er e ght feet s 4 nches n he ght# and the d ameter of the shaft s 4 feet ten nches, The ca! tals 3ere enr ched by !omegranates of bron<e# co6ered by bron<e netD 3or/# and ornamented 3 th 3reaths of bron<eG and a!!ear to ha6e m tated the sha!e of the seedD6essel of the lot$s or Egy!t an l ly# a sacred symbol to the - nd$s and Egy!t ans, The ! llar or col$mn on the r ght# or n the so$th# 3as named# as the -ebre3 3ord s rendered n o$r translat on of the B ble# &A%-I8( and that on the left BOAH, O$r translators say that the f rst 3ord means# @-e shall establ shG@ and the second# @In t s strength,@

These col$mns 3ere m tat ons# by Kh$r$m# the Tyr an art st# of the great col$mns consecrated to the ; nds and " re# at the entrance to the famo$s Tem!le of Mal/arth# n the c ty of Tyre, It s c$stomary# n Lodges of the .or/ R te# to see a celest al globe on one# and a terrestr al globe on the otherG b$t these are not 3arranted# f the ob5ect be to m tate the or g nal t3o col$mns of the Tem!le, The symbol c mean ng of these col$mns 3e shall lea6e for the !resent $ne4!la ned# only add ng that Entered A!!rent ces /ee! the r 3or/ ngDtools n the col$mn &A%-I8G and g 6 ng yo$ the etymology and l teral mean ng of the t3o names,

The 3ord &A%-I8# n -ebre3# !robably !rono$nced .aD/ayan# and meant# as a 6erbal no$n# -e that strengthensG and thence# f rm# stable# $!r ght,

The 3ord Boa< s Baa< 3h ch means Strong# Strength# Po3er# M ght# Ref$ge# So$rce of Strength# a "ort, The !ref 4 means @3 th@ or @ n#@ and g 6es the 3ord the force of the Lat n ger$nd# roborandoDDStrengthen ng

The former 3ord also means he 3 ll establ sh# or !lant n an erect !os t onDDfrom the 6erb K$n# he stood erect, It !robably meant Act 6e and F 6 fy ng Energy and "orceG and Boa<# Stab l ty# Permanence# n the !ass 6e sense,

The D mens ons of the Lodge# o$r Brethren of the .or/ R te say# @are $nl m ted# and ts co6er ng no less than the cano!y of -ea6en,@ @To th s ob5ect#@ they say# @the mason?s m nd s cont n$ally d rected# and th ther he ho!es at last to arr 6e by the a d of the theolog cal ladder 3h ch &acob n h s 6 s on sa3 ascend ng from earth to -ea6enG the three !r nc !al ro$nds of 3h ch are denom nated "a th# -o!e# and %har tyG and 3h ch admon sh $s to ha6e "a th n God# -o!e n Immortal ty# and %har ty to all man/ nd,@ Accord ngly a ladder# somet mes 3 th n ne ro$nds# s seen on the chart#

rest ng at the bottom on the earth# ts to! n the clo$ds# the stars sh n ng abo6e tG and th s s deemed to re!resent that myst c ladder# 3h ch &acob sa3 n h s dream# set $! on the earth# and the to! of t reach ng to -ea6en# 3 th the angels of God ascend ng and descend ng on t, The add t on of the three !r nc !al ro$nds to the symbol sm# s 3holly modern and ncongr$o$s,

The anc ents co$nted se6en !lanets# th$s arranged( the Moon# Merc$ry# Fen$s# the S$n# Mars# &$! ter# and Sat$rn, There 3ere se6en hea6ens and se6en s!heres of these !lanetsG on all the mon$ments of M thras are se6en altars or !yres# consecrated to the se6en !lanets# as 3ere the se6en lam!s of the golden candelabr$m n the Tem!le, That these re!resented the !lanets# 3e are ass$red by %lemens of Ale4andr a# n h s Stromata# and by Ph lo &$dae$s,

To ret$rn to ts so$rce n the Inf n te# the h$man so$l# the anc ents held# had to ascend# as t had descended# thro$gh the se6en s!heres, The Ladder by 3h ch t reascends# has# accord ng to Mars l $s " c n$s# n h s %o mmentary on the Ennead of Plot n$s# se6en degrees or ste!sG and n the Myster es of M thras# carr ed to Rome $nder the Em!erors# the ladder# 3 th ts se6en ro$nds# 3as a symbol referr ng to th s ascent thro$gh the s!heres of the se6en !lanets, &acob sa3 the S! r ts of God ascend ng and descend ng on tG and abo6e t the De ty - mself, The M thra c Myster es 3ere celebrated n ca6es# 3here gates 3ere mar/ed at the fo$r eE$ noct al and solst t al !o nts of the Hod acG and the se6en !lanetary s!heres 3ere re!resented# 3h ch so$ls needs m$st tra6erse n descend ng from the hea6en of the f 4ed stars to the elements that en6elo! the earthG and se6en gates 3ere mar/ed# one for each !lanet# thro$gh 3h ch they !ass# n descend ng or ret$rn ng,

;e learn th s from %els$s# n Or gen# 3ho says that the symbol c mage of th s !assage among the stars# $sed n the M thra c Myster es# 3as a ladder reach ng from earth to -ea6en# d 6 ded nto se6en ste!s or stages# to each of 3h ch 3as a gate# and at the s$mm t an e ghth one# that of the f 4ed

stars, The symbol 3as the same as that of the se6en stages of Bors !!a# the Pyram d of 6 tr f ed br c/# near Babylon# b$ lt of se6en stages# and each of a d fferent colo$r, In the M thra c ceremon es# the cand date 3ent thro$gh se6en stages of n t at on# !ass ng thro$gh many fearf$l tr alsDDand of these the h gh ladder 3 th se6en ro$nds or ste!s 3as the symbol,

.o$ see the Lodge# ts deta ls and ornaments# by ts L ghts, .o$ ha6e already heard 3hat these L ghts# the greater and lesser# are sa d to be# and ho3 they are s!o/en of by o$r Brethren of the .or/ R te,

The -oly B ble# SE$are# and %om!asses# are not only styled the Great L ghts n Masonry# b$t they are also techn cally called the "$rn t$re of the LodgeG and# as yo$ ha6e seen# t s held that there s no Lodge 3 tho$t them, Th s has somet mes been made a !rete4t for e4cl$d ng &e3s from o$r Lodges# beca$se they cannot regard the 8e3 Testament as a holy boo/, The B ble s an nd s!ensable !art of the f$rn t$re of a %hr st an Lodge# only beca$se t s the sacred boo/ of the %hr st an rel g on, The -ebre3 Pentate$ch n a -ebre3 Lodge# and the Koran n a Mohammedan one# belong on the AltarG and one of these# and the SE$are and %om!ass# !ro!erly $nderstood# are the Great L ghts by 3h ch a Mason m$st 3al/ and 3or/,

The obl gat on of the cand date s al3ays to be ta/en on the sacred boo/ or boo/s of h s rel g on# that he may deem t more solemn and b nd ngG and therefore t 3as that yo$ 3ere as/ed of 3hat rel g on yo$ 3ere, ;e ha6e no other concern 3 th yo$r rel g o$s creed,

The SE$are s a r ght angle# formed by t3o r ght l nes, It s ada!ted only to a !lane s$rface# and belongs only to geometry# earthDmeas$rement# that tr gonometry 3h ch deals only 3 th !lanes# and 3 th the earth# 3h ch the

anc ents s$!!osed to be a !lane, The %om!ass descr bes c rcles# and deals 3 th s!her cal tr gonometry# the sc ence of the s!heres andDhea6ens, The former# therefore# s an emblem of 3hat concerns the earth and the bodyG the latter of 3hat concerns the hea6ens and the so$l, .et the %om!ass s also $sed n !lane tr gonometry# as n erect ng !er!end c$larsG and# therefore# yo$ are rem nded that# altho$gh n th s Degree both !o nts of the %om!ass are $nder the SE$are# and yo$ are no3 deal ng only 3 th the moral and !ol t cal mean ng of the symbols# and not 3 th the r !h loso!h cal and s! r t$al mean ngs# st ll the d 6 ne e6er m ngles 3 th the h$manG 3 th the earthly the s! r t$al nterm 4esG and there s someth ng s! r t$al n the commonest d$t es of l fe, The nat ons are not bod es !ol t c alone# b$t also so$lsD!ol t cG and 3oe to that !eo!le 3h ch# see/ ng the mater al only# forgets that t has a so$l, Then 3e ha6e a race# !etr f ed n dogma# 3h ch !res$!!oses the absence of a so$l and the !resence only of memory and nst nct# or demoral <ed by l$cre, S$ch a nat$re can ne6er lead c 6 l <at on, Gen$fle4 on before the dol or the dollar atro!h es the m$scle 3h ch 3al/s and the 3 ll 3h ch mo6es, - erat c or mercant le absor!t on d m n shes the rad ance of a !eo!le# lo3ers ts hor <on by lo3er ng ts le6el# and de!r 6es t of that $nderstand ng of the $n 6ersal a m# at the same t me h$man and d 6 ne# 3h ch ma/es the m ss onary nat ons, A free !eo!le# forgett ng that t has a so$l to be cared for# de6otes all ts energ es to ts mater al ad6ancement, If t ma/es 3ar# t s to s$bser6e ts commerc al nterests, The c t <ens co!y after the State# and regard 3ealth# !om!# and l$4$ry as the great goods of l fe, S$ch a nat on creates 3ealth ra! dly# and d str b$tes t badly, Thence the t3o e4tremes# of monstro$s o!$lence and monstro$s m seryG all the en5oyment to a fe3# all the !r 6at ons to the rest# that s to say# to the !eo!leG Pr 6 lege# E4ce!t on# Mono!oly# "e$dal ty# s!r ng ng $! fro m Labo$r tself( a false and dangero$s s t$at on# 3h ch# ma/ ng Labo$r a bl nded and cha ned %yclo!s# n the m ne# at the forge# n the 3or/sho!# at the loom# n the f eld# o6er !o sono$s f$mes# n m asmat c cells# n $n6ent lated factor es# fo$nds !$bl c !o3er $!on !r 6ate m sery# and !lants the greatness of the State n the s$ffer ng of the nd 6 d$al, It s a greatness ll const t$ted# n 3h ch all the mater al elements are comb ned# and nto 3h ch no moral element enters, If a !eo!le# l /e a star# has the r ght of ecl !se# the l ght o$ght to ret$rn, The ecl !se sho$ld not degenerate nto n ght,

The three lesser# or the S$bl me L ghts# yo$ ha6e heard# are the S$n# the Moon# and the Master of the LodgeG and yo$ ha6e heard 3hat o$r Brethren

of the .or/ R te say n regard to them# and 3hy they hold them to be L ghts of the Lodge, B$t the S$n and Moon do n no sense l ght the Lodge# $nless t be symbol cally# and then the l ghts are not they# b$t those th ngs of 3h ch they are the symbols, Of 3hat they are the symbols the Mason n that R te s not told, 8or does the Moon n any sense r$le the n ght 3 th reg$lar ty,

The S$n s the anc ent symbol of the l feDg 6 ng and generat 6e !o3er of the De ty, To the anc ents# l ght 3as the ca$se of l feG and God 3as the so$rce from 3h ch all l ght flo3edG the essence of L ght# the In6 s ble " re# de6elo!ed as "lame man fested as l ght and s!lendo$r, The S$n 3as - s man festat on and 6 s ble mageG and the Sabaeans 3orsh !! ng the L ghtDDGod# seemed to 3orsh ! the S$n# n 3hom they sa3 the man festat on of the De ty,

The Moon 3as the symbol of the !ass 6e ca!ac ty of nat$re to !rod$ce# the female# of 3h ch the l feDg 6 ng !o3er and energy 3as the male, It 3as the symbol of Is s# Astarte# and Artem s# or D ana, The @Master of L fe@ 3as the S$!reme De ty# abo6e both# and man fested thro$gh bothG He$s# the Son of Sat$rn# become K ng of the GodsG -or$s# son of Os r s and Is s# become the Master of L feG D on$sos or Bacch$s# l /e M thras# become the a$thor of L ght and L fe and Tr$th,

K K K K K

The Master of L ght and L fe# the S$n and the Moon# are symbol <ed n e6ery Lodge by the Master and ;ardens( and th s ma/es t the d$ty of the

Master to d s!ense l ght to the Brethren# by h mself# and thro$gh the ;ardens# 3ho are h s m n sters,

@Thy s$n#@ says ISAIA- to &er$salem# @shall no more go do3n# ne ther shall thy moon 3 thdra3 tselfG for the LORD shall be th ne e6erlast ng l ght# and the days of thy mo$rn ng shall be ended, Thy !eo!le also shall be all r ghteo$sG they shall nher t the land fore6er,@ S$ch s the ty!e of a free !eo!le,

O$r northern ancestors 3orsh !!ed th s tr D$ne De tyG ODI8# the Alm ghty "AT-ERG "REA# h s 3 fe# emblem of $n 6ersal matterG and T-OR# h s son# the med ator, B$t abo6e all these 3as the S$!reme God# @the a$thor of e6eryth ng that e4 steth# the Eternal# the Anc ent# the L 6 ng and A3f$l Be ng# the Searcher nto concealed th ngs# the Be ng that ne6er changeth,@ In the Tem!le of Ele$s s Ma sanct$ary l ghted only by a 3 ndo3 n the roof# and re!resent ng the 'n 6erseN# the mages of the S$n# Moon# and Merc$ry# 3ere re!resented,

@The S$n and Moon#@ says the learned Bro,?, DELA'8A.# @re!resent the t3o grand !r nc !les of all generat ons# the act 6e and !ass 6e# the male and the female, The S$n re!resents the act$al l ght, -e !o$rs $!on the Moon h s fec$ndat ng raysG both shed the r l ght $!on the r offs!r ng# the Bla< ng Star# or -OR'S# and the three form the great EE$ lateral Tr angle# n the centre of 3h ch s the omn f c letter of the Kabalah# by 3h ch creat on s sa d to ha6e been effected,@

The OR8AME8TS of a Lodge are sa d to be @the Mosa c Pa6ement# the Indented Tessel# and the Bla< ng Star,@ The Mosa c Pa6ement# cheE$ered n sE$ares or lo<enges# s sa d to re!resent the gro$ndDfloor of K ng Solomon?s Tem!leG and the Indented Tessel @that bea$t f$l tessellated

border 3h ch s$rro$nded t,@ The Bla< ng Star n the centre s sa d to be @an emblem of D 6 ne Pro6 dence# and commemorat 6e of the star 3h ch a!!eared to g$ de the 3 se men of the East to the !lace of o$r Sa6 o$r?s nat 6 ty,@ B$t @there 3as no stone seen@ 3 th n the Tem!le, The 3alls 3ere co6ered 3 th !lan/s of cedar# and the floor 3as co6ered 3 th !lan/s of f r, There s no e6 dence that there 3as s$ch a !a6ement or floor n the Tem!le# or s$ch a border ng, In England# anc ently# the Trac ngDBoard 3as s$rro$nded 3 th an ndented borderG and t s only n Amer ca that s$ch a border s !$t aro$nd the Mosa c !a6ement, The tesserae# ndeed# are the sE$ares or lo<enges of the !a6ement, In England# also# @the ndented or dent c$lated border@ s called @tessellated#@ beca$se t has fo$r @tassels#@ sa d to re!resent Tem!erance# "ort t$de# Pr$dence# and &$st ce, It 3as termed the Indented TrasselG b$t th s s a m s$se of 3ords, It s a tesserated !a6ement# 3 th an ndented border ro$nd t,

The !a6ement# alternately blac/ and 3h te# symbol <es# 3hether so ntended or not# the Good and E6 l Pr nc !les of the Egy!t an and Pers an creed, It s the 3arfare of M chael and Satan# of the Gods and T tans# of Balder and Lo/G bet3een l ght and shado3# 3h ch s dar/nessG Day and 8 ghtG "reedom and Des!ot smG Rel g o$s L berty and the Arb trary Dogmas of a %h$rch that th n/s for ts 6otar es# and 3hose Pont ff cla ms to be nfall ble# and the decretals of ts %o$nc ls to const t$te a gos!el,

The edges of th s !a6ement# f n lo<enges# 3 ll necessar ly be ndented or dent c$lated# toothed l /e a sa3G and to com!lete and f n sh t a border ng s necessary, It s com!leted by tassels as ornaments at the corners, If these and the border ng ha6e any symbol c mean ng# t s fanc f$l and arb trary,

To f nd n the BLAHI8G STAR of f 6e !o nts an all$s on to the D 6 ne Pro6 dence# s also fanc f$lG and to ma/e t commemorat 6e of the Star that s sa d to ha6e g$ ded the Mag # s to g 6e t a mean ng com!arat 6ely modern, Or g nally t re!resented SIRI'S# or the DogDstar# the forer$nner of the n$ndat on of the 8 leG the God A8'BIS# com!an on of ISIS n her

search for the body of OSIRIS# her brother and h$sband, Then t became the mage of -OR'S# the son of OSIRIS# h mself symbol <ed also by the S$n# the a$thor of the Seasons# and the God of T meG Son of ISIS# 3ho 3as the $n 6ersal nat$re# h mself the !r m t 6e matter# ne4ha$st ble so$rce of L fe# s!ar/ of $ncreated f re# $n 6ersal seed of all be ngs, It 3as -ERMES# also# the Master of Learn ng# 3hose name n Gree/ s that of the God Merc$ry, It became the sacred and !otent s gn or character of the Mag # the PE8TALP-A# and s the s gn f cant emblem of L berty and "reedom# bla< ng 3 th a steady rad ance am d the 3elter ng elements of good and e6 l of Re6ol$t ons# and !rom s ng serene s/ es and fert le seasons to the nat ons# after the storms of change and t$m$lt,

In the East of the Lodge# o6er the Master# nclosed n a tr angle# s the -ebre3 letter .OD, In the Engl sh and Amer can Lodges the Letter G,?, s s$bst t$ted for th s# as the n t al of the 3ord GOD# 3 th as l ttle reason as f the letter D,# n t al of DIE'# 3ere $sed n "rench Lodges nstead of the !ro!er letter, .OD s# n the Kabalah# the symbol of 'n ty# of the S$!reme De ty# the f rst letter of the -oly 8ameG and also a symbol of the Great Kabal st c Tr ads, To $nderstand ts myst c mean ngs# yo$ m$st o!en the !ages of the Sohar and S !hra de Hen $tha# and other /abal st c boo/s# and !onder dee!ly on the r mean ng, It m$st s$ff ce to say# that t s the %reat 6e Energy of the De ty# s re!resented as a !o nt# and that !o nt n the centre of the % rcle of mmens ty, It s to $s n th s Degree# the symbol of that $nman fested De ty# the Absol$te# 3ho has no name,

O$r "rench Brethren !lace th s letter .OD n the centre of the Bla< ng Star, And n the old Lect$res# o$r anc ent Engl sh Brethren sa d# @The Bla< ng Star or Glory n the centre refers $s to that grand l$m nary# the S$n# 3h ch enl ghtens the earth# and by ts gen al nfl$ence d s!enses bless ngs to man/ nd,@ They called t also n the same lect$res# an emblem of PR'DE8%E, The 3ord Pr$dent a means# n ts or g nal and f$llest s gn f cat on# "ores ghtG and# accord ngly# the Bla< ng Star has been regarded as an emblem of Omn sc ence# or the AllDsee ng Eye# 3h ch to the Egy!t an In t ates 3as the emblem of Os r s# the %reator, ; th the .OD n the centre# t has the /abal st c mean ng of the D 6 ne Energy# man fested as L ght# creat ng the 'n 6erse,

The &e3els of the Lodge are sa d to be s 4 n n$mber, Three are called @Mo6able#@ and three @Immo6able,@ The SI'ARE# the LEFEL# and the PL'MB 3ere anc ently and !ro!erly called the Mo6able &e3els# beca$se they !ass from one Brother to another, It s a modern nno6at on to call them mmo6able# beca$se they m$st al3ays be !resent n the Lodge, The mmo6able 5e3els are the RO'G- AS-LAR# the PER"E%T AS-LAR or %'BI%AL# STO8E# or# n some R t$als# the DO'BLE %'BE# and the TRA%I8GDBOARD# or TRESTLEDBOARD,

Of these 5e3els o$r Brethren of the .or/ R te say( @The SE$are nc$lcates Moral tyG the Le6el# EE$al tyG and the Pl$mb# Rect t$de of %ond$ct,@ The r e4!lanat on of the mmo6able &e3els may be read n the r mon tors,

O$r Brethren of the .or/ R te say that @there s re!resented n e6ery 3ellD go6erned Lodge# a certa n !o nt# 3 th n a c rcleG the !o nt re!resent ng an nd 6 d$al BrotherG the % rcle# the bo$ndary l ne of h s cond$ct# beyond 3h ch he s ne6er to s$ffer h s !re5$d ces or !ass ons to betray h m,@

Th s s not to nter!ret the symbols of Masonry, It s sa d by some# 3 th a nearer a!!roach to nter!retat on# that the !o nt 3 th n the c rcle re!resents God n the centre of the 'n 6erse, It s a common Egy!t an s gn for the S$n and Os r s# and s st ll $sed as the astronom cal s gn of the great l$m nary, In the Kabalah the !o nt s .OD# the %reat 6e Energy of God# rrad at ng 3 th l ght the c rc$lar s!ace 3h ch God# the $n 6ersal L ght# left 6acant# 3here n to create the 3orlds# by 3 thdra3 ng - s s$bstance of L ght bac/ on all s des from one !o nt,

O$r Brethren add that# @th s c rcle s embordered by t3o !er!end c$lar !arallel l nes# re!resent ng Sa nt &ohn the Ba!t st and Sa nt &ohn the E6angel st# and $!on the to! rest the -oly Scr !t$res@ Man o!en boo/N, @In go ng ro$nd th s c rcle#@ they say# @3e necessar ly to$ch $!on these t3o l nes as 3ell as $!on the -oly Scr !t$resG and 3h le a Mason /ee!s h mself c rc$mscr bed 3 th n the r !rece!ts# t s m!oss ble that he sho$ld mater ally err,@

It 3o$ld be a 3aste of t me to comment $!on th s, Some 3r ters ha6e mag ned that the !arallel l nes re!resent the Tro! cs of %ancer and %a!r corn# 3h ch the S$n alternately to$ches $!on at the S$mmer and ; nter solst ces, B$t the tro! cs are not !er!end c$lar l nes# and the dea s merely fanc f$l, If the !arallel l nes e6er belonged to the anc ent symbol# they had some more recond te and more fr$ tf$l mean ng, They !robably had the same mean ng as the t3 n col$mns &ach n and Boa<, That mean ng s not for the A!!rent ce, The ade!t may f nd t n the Kabalah, The &'STI%E and MER%. of God are n eE$ l br $m# and the res$lt s -ARMO8.# beca$se a S ngle and Perfect ; sdom !res des o6er both,

The -oly Scr !t$res are an ent rely modern add t on to the symbol# l /e the terrestr al and celest al globes on the col$mns of the !ort co, Th$s the anc ent symbol has been denat$ral <ed by ncongr$o$s add t ons# l /e that of Is s 3ee! ng o6er the bro/en col$mn conta n ng the rema ns of Os r s at Byblos,

K K K K K K

Masonry has ts decalog$e# 3h ch s a la3 to ts In t ates, These are ts Ten %ommandments(

I, God s the Eternal# Omn !otent# Imm$table ;ISDOM and S$!reme I8TELLIGE8%E and E4ha$stless Lo6e, Tho$ shalt adore# re6ere# and lo6e - m O Tho$ shalt hono$r - m by !ract s ng the 6 rt$esO

II, Thy rel g on shall be# to do good beca$se t s a !leas$re to thee# and not merely beca$se t s a d$ty, That tho$ mayest become the fr end of the 3 se man# tho$ shalt obey h s !rece!ts O Thy so$l s mmortal O Tho$ shalt do noth ng to degrade t O

III, Tho$ shalt $nceas ngly 3ar aga nst 6 ceO Tho$ shalt not do $nto others that 3h ch tho$ 3o$ldst not 3 sh them to do $nto thee O Tho$ shalt be s$bm ss 6e to thy fort$nes# and /ee! b$rn ng the l ght of 3 sdom O

IF, Tho$ shalt hono$r thy !arents O Tho$ shalt !ay res!ect and homage to the agedO

Tho$ shalt nstr$ct the yo$ngO Tho$ shalt !rotect and defend nfancy and nnocence O

F, Tho$ shalt cher sh thy 3 fe and thy ch ldrenO Tho$ shalt lo6e thy co$ntry# and obey ts la3sO

FI, Thy fr end shall be to thee a second self O M sfort$ne shall not estrange thee from h m O Tho$ shalt do for h s memory 3hate6er tho$ 3o$ldst do for h m# f he 3ere l 6 ngO

FII, Tho$ shalt a6o d and flee from ns ncere fr endsh !s O Tho$ shalt n e6eryth ng refra n from e4cess, Tho$ shalt fear to be the ca$se of a sta n on thy memoryO

FIII, Tho$ shalt allo3 no !ass ons to become thy master O Tho$ shalt ma/e the !ass ons of others !rof table lessons to thyselfO

Tho$ shalt be nd$lgent to error O

IP, Tho$ shalt hear m$ch( Tho$ shalt s!ea/ l ttle( Tho$ shalt act 3ell O Tho$ shalt forget n5$r esO Tho$ shalt render good for e6 l O Tho$ shalt not m s$se e ther thy strength or thy s$!er or ty O

P, Tho$ shalt st$dy to /no3 menG that thereby tho$ mayest learn to /no3 thyself O Tho$ shalt e6er see/ after 6 rt$e O Tho$ shalt be 5$stO Tho$ shalt a6o d dleness O

B$t the great commandment of Masonry s th s( @A ne3 commandment g 6e I $nto yo$( that ye lo6e one anotherO -e that sa th he s n the l ght# and hateth h s brother# rema neth st ll n the dar/ness,@

S$ch are the moral d$t es of a Mason, B$t t s also the d$ty of Masonry to ass st n ele6at ng the moral and ntellect$al le6el of soc etyG n co n ng /no3ledge# br ng ng deas nto c rc$lat on# and ca$s ng the m nd of yo$th to gro3G and n !$tt ng# grad$ally# by the teach ngs of a4 oms and the !rom$lgat on of !os t 6e la3s# the h$man race n harmony 3 th ts dest n es,

To th s d$ty and 3or/ the In t ate s a!!rent ced, -e m$st not mag ne that he can effect noth ng# and# therefore# des!a r ng# become nert, It s n th s# as n a man?s da ly l fe, Many great deeds are done n the small str$ggles of l fe, There s# 3e are told# a determ ned tho$gh $nseen bra6ery# 3h ch defends tself# foot to foot# n the dar/ness# aga nst the fatal n6as on of necess ty and of baseness, There are noble and myster o$s tr $m!hs# 3h ch no eye sees# 3h ch no reno3n re3ards# 3h ch no flo$r sh of tr$m!ets sal$tes, L fe# m sfort$ne# solat on# abandonment# !o6erty# are battleDf elds# 3h ch ha6e the r heroes#DDheroes obsc$re# b$t somet mes greater than those 3ho become ll$str o$s, The Mason sho$ld str$ggle n the same manner# and 3 th the same bra6ery# aga nst those n6as ons of necess ty and baseness# 3h ch come to nat ons as 3ell as to men, -e sho$ld meet them# too# foot to foot# e6en n the dar/ness# and !rotest aga nst the nat onal 3rongs and foll esG aga nst $s$r!at on and the f rst nroads of that hydra# Tyranny, There s no more so6ere gn eloE$ence than the tr$th n nd gnat on, It s more d ff c$lt for a !eo!le to /ee! than to ga n the r freedom, The Protests of Tr$th are al3ays needed, %ont n$ally# the r ght m$st !rotest aga nst the fact, There s# n fact# Etern ty n the R ght, The Mason sho$ld be the Pr est and Sold er of that R ght, If h s co$ntry sho$ld be robbed of her l bert es# he sho$ld st ll not des!a r, The !rotest of the R ght aga nst the "act !ers sts fore6er, The robbery of a !eo!le ne6er becomes !rescr !t 6e, Reclamat on of ts r ghts s barred by no length of t me, ;arsa3 can no more be Tartar than Fen ce can be Te$ton c, A !eo!le may end$re m l tary $s$r!at on# and s$b5$gated States /neel to States and 3ear the yo/e# 3h le $nder the stress of necess tyG b$t 3hen the necess ty d sa!!ears# f the !eo!le s f t to be free# the s$bmerged co$ntry 3 ll float to the s$rface and rea!!ear# and Tyranny be ad5$dged by - story to ha6e m$rdered ts 6 ct ms,

;hate6er occ$rs# 3e sho$ld ha6e "a th n the &$st ce and o6err$l ng ; sdom of God# and -o!e for the "$t$re# and Lo6 ng/ ndness for those 3ho are n error, God ma/es 6 s ble to men - s 3 ll n e6entsG an obsc$re te4t# 3r tten n a myster o$s lang$age, Men ma/e the r translat ons of t forth3 th# hasty# ncorrect# f$ll of fa$lts# om ss ons# and m sread ngs, ;e see so short a 3ay along the arc of the great c rcleO "e3 m nds com!rehend the D 6 ne tong$e, The most sagac o$s# the most calm# the most !rofo$nd# dec !her the h erogly!hs slo3lyG and 3hen they arr 6e 3 th the r te4t# !erha!s the need has long gone byG there are already t3enty translat ons n the !$bl c sE$areDDthe most ncorrect be ng# as of co$rse# the most acce!ted and !o!$lar, "rom each translat on# a !arty s bornG and fro m each m sread ng# a fact on, Each !arty bel e6es or !retends that t has the only tr$e te4t# and each fact on bel e6es or !retends that t alone !ossesses the l ght, Moreo6er# fact ons are bl nd men# 3ho a m stra ght# errors are e4cellent !ro5ect les# str / ng s/ llf$lly# and 3 th all the 6 olence that s!r ngs from false reason ng# 3here6er a 3ant of log c n those 3ho defend the r ght# l /e a defect n a c$ rass# ma/es them 6$lnerable,

Therefore t s that 3e shall often be d scomf ted n combat ng error before the !eo!le, Antae$s long res sted -erc$lesG and the heads of the -ydra gre3 as fast as they 3ere c$t off, It s abs$rd to say that Error# 3o$nded# 3r thes n !a n# and d es am d her 3orsh !!ers, Tr$th conE$ers slo3ly, There s a 3ondro$s 6 tal ty n Error, Tr$th# ndeed# for the most !art# shoots o6er the heads of the massesG or f an error s !rostrated for a moment# t s $! aga n n a moment# and as 6 goro$s as e6er, It 3 ll not d e 3hen the bra ns are o$t# and the most st$! d and rrat onal errors are the longestDl 6ed,

8e6ertheless# Masonry# 3h ch s Moral ty and Ph loso!hy# m$st not cease to do ts d$ty, ;e ne6er /no3 at 3hat moment s$ccess a3a ts o$r effortsDD generally 3hen most $ne4!ectedDDnor 3 th 3hat effect o$r efforts are or are not to be attended, S$cceed or fa l# Masonry m$st not bo3 to error# or s$cc$mb $nder d sco$ragement, There 3ere at Rome a fe3 %arthag n an sold ers# ta/en !r soners# 3ho ref$sed to bo3 to "lam n $s# and had a l ttle of -ann bal?s magnan m ty, Masons sho$ld !ossess an eE$al greatness of so$l, Masonry sho$ld be an energyG f nd ng ts a m and effect

n the amel orat on of man/ nd, Socrates sho$ld enter nto Adam# and !rod$ce Marc$s A$rel $s# n other 3ords# br ng forth from the man of en5oyments# the man of 3 sdom, Masonry sho$ld not be a mere 3atchD to3er# b$ lt $!on mystery# from 3h ch to ga<e at ease $!on the 3orld# 3 th no other res$lt than to be a con6en ence for the c$r o$s, To hold the f$ll c$! of tho$ght to the th rsty l !s of menG to g 6e to all the tr$e deas of De tyG to harmon <e consc ence and sc ence# are the !ro6 nce of Ph loso!hy, Moral ty s "a th n f$ll bloom, %ontem!lat on sho$ld lead to act on# and the absol$te be !ract calG the deal be made a r and food and dr n/ to the h$man m nd, ; sdom s a sacred comm$n on, It s only on that cond t on that t ceases to be a ster le lo6e of Sc ence# and becomes the one and s$!reme method by 3h ch to $n te -$man ty and aro$se t to concerted act on, Then Ph loso!hy becomes Rel g on,

And Masonry# l /e - story and Ph loso!hy# has eternal d$t esDD eternal# and# at the same t me# s m!leDDto o!!ose %a a!has as B sho!# Draco or &effer es as &$dge# Tr malc on as Leg slator# and T ber $s as Em!eror, These are the symbols of the tyranny that degrades and cr$shes# and the corr$!t on that def les and nfests, In the 3or/s !$bl shed for the $se of the %raft 3e are told that the three great tenets of a Mason?s !rofess on# are Brotherly Lo6e# Rel ef# and Tr$th, And t s tr$e that a Brotherly affect on and / ndness sho$ld go6ern $s n all o$r nterco$rse and relat ons 3 th o$r brethrenG and a genero$s and l beral !h lanthro!y act$ate $s n regard to all men, To rel e6e the d stressed s !ec$l arly the d$ty of MasonsDDa sacred d$ty# not to be om tted# neglected# or coldly or neff c ently com!l ed 3 th, It s also most tr$e# that Tr$th s a D 6 ne attr b$te and the fo$ndat on of e6ery 6 rt$e, To be tr$e# and to see/ to f nd and learn the Tr$th# are the great ob5ects of e6ery good Mason,

As the Anc ents d d# Masonry styles Tem!erance# "ort t$de# Pr$dence# and &$st ce# the fo$r card nal 6 rt$es, They are as necessary to nat ons as to nd 6 d$als, The !eo!le that 3o$ld be "ree and Inde!endent# m$st !ossess Sagac ty# "oretho$ght# "ores ght# and caref$l % rc$ms!ect on# all 3h ch are ncl$ded n the mean ng of the 3ord Pr$dence, It m$st be tem!erate n assert ng ts r ghts# tem!erate n ts co$nc ls# econom cal n ts e4!ensesG t m$st be bold# bra6e# co$rageo$s# !at ent $nder re6erses# $nd smayed by d sasters# ho!ef$l am d calam t es# l /e Rome 3hen she sold the f eld at

3h ch -ann bal had h s cam!, 8o %annae or Pharsal a or Pa6 a or Ag nco$rt or ;aterloo m$st d sco$rage her, Let her Senate s t n the r seats $nt l the Ga$ls !l$c/ them by the beard, She m$st# abo6e all th ngs# be 5$st# not tr$c/l ng to the strong and 3arr ng on or !l$nder ng the 3ea/G she m$st act on the sE$are 3 th all nat ons# and the feeblest tr besG al3ays /ee! ng her fa th# honest n her leg slat on# $!r ght n all her deal ngs, ;hene6er s$ch a Re!$bl c e4 sts# t 3 ll be mmortal( for rashness# n5$st ce# ntem!erance and l$4$ry n !ros!er ty# and des!a r and d sorder n ad6ers ty# are the ca$ses of the decay and d la! dat on of nat ons,

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), 0C D "ello3Dcraft

In the Anc ent Or ent# all rel g on 3as more or less a mystery and there 3as no d 6orce from t of !h loso!hy, The !o!$lar theology# ta/ ng the m$lt t$de of allegor es and symbols for real t es# degenerated nto a 3orsh ! of the celest al l$m nar es# of mag nary De t es 3 th h$man feel ngs# !ass ons# a!!et tes# and l$sts# of dols# stones# an mals# re!t les, The On on 3as sacred to the Egy!t ans# beca$se ts d fferent layers 3ere a symbol of the concentr c hea6enly s!heres, Of co$rse the !o!$lar rel g on co$ld not sat sfy the dee!er long ngs and tho$ghts# the loft er as! rat ons of the S! r t# or the log c of reason, The f rst# therefore# 3as ta$ght to the n t ated n the Myster es, There# also# t 3as ta$ght by symbols, The 6ag$eness of symbol sm# ca!able of many nter!retat ons# reached 3hat

the !al!able and con6ent onal creed co$ld not, Its ndef n teness ac/no3ledged the abstr$seness of the s$b5ect( t treated that myster o$s s$b5ect myst cally( t endea6ored to ll$strate 3hat t co$ld not e4!la nG to e4c te an a!!ro!r ate feel ng# f t co$ld not de6elo! an adeE$ate deaG and to rma/e the mage a mere s$bord nate con6eyance for the conce!t on# 3h ch tself ne6er became ob6 o$s or fam l ar, Th$s the /no3ledge no3 m!arted by con6eyed by symbolsG and the !r ests r tes and e4h b t ons# 3h ch 3ere not 3ords# b$t often more s$ggest 6e and m nd, boo/s and letters# 3as of old n6ented or !er!et$ated a d s!lay of only more attract 6e to the eye than more !regnant 3 th mean ng to the

Masonry# s$ccessor of the Myster es# st ll follo3s the anc ent manner of teach ng, -er ceremon es are l /e the anc ent myst c sho3s#DDnot the read ng of an essay# b$t the o!en ng of a !roblem# reE$ r ng research# and const t$t ng !h loso!hy the archDe4!o$nder, -er symbols are the nstr$ct on she g 6es, The lect$res are endea6ors# often !art al and oneD s ded# to nter!ret these symbols, -e 3ho 3o$ld become an accom!l shed Mason m$st not be content merely to hear# or e6en to $nderstand# the lect$resG he m$st# a ded by them# and they ha6 ng# as t 3ere# mar/ed o$t the 3ay for h m# st$dy# nter!ret# and de6elo! these symbols for h mself K K K K K K Tho$gh Masonry s dent cal 3 th the anc ent Myster es# t s so only n th s E$al f ed sense( that t !resents b$t an m!erfect mage of the r br ll ancy# the r$ ns only of the r grande$r# and a system that has e4!er enced !rogress 6e alterat ons# the fr$ ts of soc al e6ents# !ol t cal c rc$mstances# and the amb t o$s mbec l ty of ts m!ro6ers, After lea6 ng Egy!t# the Myster es 3ere mod f ed by the hab ts of the d fferent nat ons among 3hom they 3ere ntrod$ced# and es!ec ally by the rel g o$s systems of the co$ntr es nto 3h ch they 3ere trans!lanted, To ma nta n the establ shed go6ernment# la3s# and rel g on# 3as the obl gat on of the In t ate e6ery3hereG and e6ery3here they 3ere the her tage of the !r ests# 3ho 3ere no3here 3 ll ng to ma/e the common !eo!le coD!ro!r etors 3 th themsel6es of !h loso!h cal tr$th, Masonry s not the %ol se$m n r$ ns, It s rather a Roman !alace of the m ddle ages# d sf g$red by moderll arch tect$ral m!ro6ements# yet b$ lt

on a %yclo!cean fo$ndat on la d by the Etr$scans# and 3 th many a stone of the s$!erstr$ct$re ta/en from d3ell ngs and tem!les of the age of -adr an and Anton n$s, %hr st an ty ta$ght the doctr ne of "RATER8IT.G b$t re!$d ated that of !ol t cal EI'ALIT.# by cont n$ally nc$lcat ng obed ence to %aesar# and to those la3f$lly n a$thor ty, Masonry 3as the f rst a!ostle of EI'ALIT., In the Monastery there s fratern ty and eE$al ty# b$t no l berty, Masonry added that also# and cla med for man the threeDfold her tage# LIBERT.# EI'ALIT.# and "RATER8IT., It 3as b$t a de6elo!ment of the or g nal !$r!ose of the Myster es# 3h ch 3as to teach men to /no3 and !ract ce the r d$t es to themsel6es and the r fello3s# the great !ract cal end of all !h loso!hy and all /no3ledge, Tr$ths are the s!r ngs from 3h ch d$t es flo3G and t s b$t a fe3 h$ndred years s nce a ne3 Tr$th began to be d st nctly seenG that MA8 IS S'PREME OFER I8STIT'TIO8S# A8D 8OT T-E. OFER -IM, Man has nat$ral em! re o6er all nst t$t ons, They are for h m# aecord ng to h s de6elo!mentG not he for them, Th s seems to $s a 6ery s m!le statement# one to 3h ch all men# e6ery3here# o$ght to assent, B$t once t 3as a great ne3 Tr$th#DDnot re6ealed $nt l go6ernments had been n e4 stence for at least f 6e tho$sand years, Once re6ealed# t m!osed ne3 d$t es on men, Man o3ed t to h mself to be free, -e o3ed t to h s co$ntry to see/ to g 6e her freedom# or ma nta n her n that !ossess on, It made Tyranny and 's$r!at on the enem es of the -$man Race, It created a general o$tla3ry of Des!ots and Des!ot sms# tem!oral and s! r t$al, The s!here of D$ty 3as mmensely enlarged, Patr ot sm had# henceforth# a ne3 and 3 der mean ng, "ree Go6ernment# "ree Tho$ght# "ree %onsc ence# "ree S!eechO All these came to be nal enable r ghts# 3h ch those 3ho had !arted 3 th them or been robbed of them# or 3hose ancestors had lost them# had the r ght s$mmar ly to reta/e, 'nfort$nately# as Tr$ths al3ays become !er6erted nto falsehoods# and are falsehoods 3hen m sa!!l ed# th s Tr$th became the Gos!el of Anarchy# soon after t 3as f rst !reached, Masonry early com!rehended th s Tr$th# and recogn <ed ts o3n enlarged d$t es, Its symbols then came to ha6e a 3 der mean ngG b$t t also ass$med the mas/ of StoneDmasonry# and borro3ed ts 3or/ ngDtools# and so 3as s$!!l ed 3 th ne3 and a!t symbols, It a ded n br ng ng abo$t the "rench Re6ol$t on# d sa!!eared 3 th the G rond sts# 3as born aga n 3 th the restorat on of order# and s$sta ned 8a!oleon# beca$se# tho$gh

Em!eror# he ac/no3ledged the r ght of the !eo!le to select ts r$lers# and 3as at the head of a nat on ref$s ng to rece 6e bac/ ts old / ngs, -e !leaded# 3 th sabre# m$s/et# and cannon# the great ca$se of the Peo!le aga nst Royalty# the r ght of the "rench !eo!le e6en to ma/e a %ors can General the r Em!eror# f t !leased them, Masonry felt that th s Tr$th had the Omn !otence of God on ts s deG and that ne ther Po!e nor Potentate co$ld o6ercome t, It 3as a tr$th dro!!ed nto the 3orld?s 3 de treas$ry# and form ng a !art of the her tage 3h ch each generat on rece 6es# enlarges# and holds n tr$st# and of necess ty beE$eaths to man/ ndG the !ersonal estate of man# enta led of nat$re to the end of t me, And Masonry early recogn <ed t as tr$e# that to set forth and de6elo! a tr$th# or any h$man e4cellence of g ft or gro3th# s to ma/e greater the s! r t$al glory of the raceG that 3hosoe6er a ds the march of a Tr$th# and ma/es the tho$ght a th ng# 3r tes n the same l ne 3 th MOSES# and 3 th - m 3ho d ed $!on the crossG and has an ntellect$al sym!athy 3 th the De ty - mself, The best g ft 3e can besto3 on man s manhood, It s that 3h ch Masonry s orda ned of God to besto3 on ts 6otar es( not sectar an sm and rel g o$s dogmaG not a r$d mental moral ty# that may be fo$nd n the 3r t ngs of %onf$c $s# Horoaster# Seneca# and the Rabb s# n the Pro6erbs and Eccles astesG not a l ttle and chea! commonDschool /no3ledgeG b$t manhood and sc ence and !h loso!hy, 8ot that Ph loso!hy or Sc ence s n o!!os t on to Rel g on, "or Ph loso!hy s b$t that /no3ledge of God and the So$l# 3h ch s der 6ed fro m obser6at on of the man fested act on of God and the So$l# and from a 3 se analogy, It s the ntellect$al g$ de 3h ch the rel g o$s sent ment needs, The tr$e rel g o$s !h loso!hy of an m!erfect be ng# s not a system of creed# b$t# as SO%RATES tho$ght# an nf n te search or a!!ro4 mat on, Ph loso!hy s that ntellect$al and moral !rogress# 3h ch the rel g o$s sent ment ns! res and ennobles, As to Sc ence# t co$ld not 3al/ alone# 3h le rel g on 3as stat onary, It cons sts of those mat$red nferences from e4!er ence 3h ch all other e4!er ence conf rms, It real <es and $n tes all that 3as tr$ly 6al$able n both the old schemes of med at on#DDone hero c# or the system of act on and effortG and the myst cal theory of s! r t$al# ccntem!lat 6e comm$ll on, @L sten to me#@ says GALE8# @as to the 6o ce of the Ele$s n an - ero!hant# and bel e6e that the st$dy of 8at$re s a mystery no less

m!ortant than the rs# nor less ada!ted to d s!lay the 3 sdom and !o3er of the Great %reator, The r lessons and demonstrat ons 3ere obsc$re# b$t o$rs are clear and $nm sta/able,@ ;e deem that to be the best /no3ledge 3e can obta n of the So$l of another man# 3h ch s f$rn shed by h s act ons and h s l feDlong cond$ct, E6 dence to the contrary# s$!!l ed by 3hat another man nforms $s that th s So$l has sa d to h s# 3o$ld 3e gh l ttle aga nst the former, The f rst Scr !t$res for the h$man race 3ere 3r tten by God on the Earth and -ea6ens, The read ng of these Scr !t$res s Sc ence, "am l ar ty 3 th the grass and trees# the nsects and the nf$sor a# teaches $s dee!er lessons of lo6e and fa th than 3e can glean from the 3r t ngs of "E8ELO8 and A'G'STI8E, The great B ble of God s e6er o!en before man/ nd, Kno3ledge s con6ert ble nto !o3er# and a4 oms nto r$les of $t l ty and d$ty, B$t /no3ledge tself s not Po3er, ; sdom s Po3erG and her Pr me M n ster s &'STI%E# 3h ch s the !erfected la3 of TR'T-, The !$r!ose# therefore# of Ed$cat on and Sc ence s to ma/e a man 3 se, If /no3ledge does not ma/e h m so# t s 3asted# l /e 3ater !o$red on the sands, To /no3 the form$las of Masonry# s of as l ttle 6al$e# by tself# as to /no3 so many 3ords and sentences n some barbaro$s Afr can or A$stralas an d alect, To /no3 e6en the mean ng of the symbols# s b$t l ttle# $nless that adds to o$r 3 sdom# and also to o$r char ty# 3h ch s to 5$st ce l /e one hem s!here of the bra n to the other, Do not lose s ght# then# of the tr$e ob5ect of yo$r st$d es n Masonry, It s to add to yo$r estate of 3 sdom# and not merely to yo$r /no3ledge, A man may s!end a l fet me n st$dy ng a s ngle s!ec alty of /no3ledge#DD botany# conchology# or entomology# for nstance#DD n comm tt ng to memory names der 6ed from the Gree/# and class fy ng and reclass fy ngG and yet be no 3 ser than 3hen he began, It s the great tr$ths as to all that most concerns a man# as to h s r ghts# nterests# and d$t es# that Masonry see/s to teach her In t ates, The 3 ser a man becomes# the less 3 ll he be ncl ned to s$bm t tamely to the m!os t on of fetters or a yo/e# on h s consc ence or h s !erson, "or# by ncrease of 3 sdom he not only better /no3s h s r ghts# b$t the more h ghly 6al$es them# and s more consc o$s of h s 3orth and d gn ty, - s !r de then $rges h m to assert h s nde!endence, -e becomes better able to assert t alsoG and better able to ass st others or h s co$ntry# 3hen they or she sta/e all# e6en e4 stence# $!on the same assert on, B$t mere

/no3ledge ma/es no one nde!endent# nor f ts h m to be free, It often only ma/es h m a more $sef$l sla6e, L berty s a c$rse to the gnorant and br$tal, Pol t cal sc ence has for ts ob5ect to ascerta n n 3hat manner and by means of 3hat nst t$t ons !ol t cal and !ersonal freedom may be sec$red and !er!et$ated( not l cense# or the mere r ght of e6ery man to 6ote# b$t ent re and absol$te freedom of tho$ght and o! n on# al /e free of the des!ot sm of monarch and mob and !relateG freedom of act on 3 th n the l m ts of the general la3 enacted for allG the %o$rts of &$st ce# 3 th m!art al &$dges and 5$r es# o!en to all al /eG 3ea/ness and !o6erty eE$ally !otent n those %o$rt,s as !o3er and 3ealthG the a6en$es to off ce and honor o!en al /e to all the 3orthyG the m l tary !o3ers# n 3ar o. !eaee# n str ct s$bord nat on to the c 6 l !o3erG arb trary arrests for acts not /no3n to the la3 as cr mes# m!oss bleG Rom sh InE$ s t ons# StarD %hambers# M l tary %omm ss ons# $n/no3nG the means of nstr$ct on 3 th n reach of the ch ldren of allG the r ght of "ree S!eechG and acco$ntab l ty of all !$bl c omcers# c 6 l and m l tary, If Masonry needed to be 5$st f ed for m!os ng !ol t cal as 3ell as moral d$t es on ts In t ates# t 3o$ld be eno$gh to !o nt to the sad h story of the 3orld, It 3o$ld not e6en need that she sho$ld t$rn bac/ the !ages of h story to the cha!ters 3r tten by Tac t$s( that she sho$ld rec te the ncred ble horrors of des!ot sm $nder %al g$la and Dom t an# %aracalla and %ommod$s# F tell $s and Ma4 m n, She need only !o nt to the cent$r es of calam ty thro$gh 3h ch the gay "rench nat on !assedG to the long o!!ress on of the fe$dal ages# of the self sh Bo$rbon / ngsG to those t mes 3hen the !easants 3ere robbed and sla$ghtered by the r o3n lords and !r nces# l /e shee!G 3hen the lord cla med the f rstfr$ ts of the !easant?s marr ageDbedG 3hen the ca!t$red c ty 3as g 6en $! to merc less ra!e and massacreG 3hen the StateD!r sons groaned 3 th nnocent 6 ct ms# and the %h$rch blessed the banners of ! t less m$rderers# and sang Te De$ ms for the cro3n ng mercy of the E6e of St, Bartholome3, ;e m ght t$rn o6er the !ages# to a later cha!ter#DDthat of the re gn of the " fteenth Lo$ s# 3hen yo$ng g rls# hardly more than ch ldren# 3ere / dna!!ed to ser6e h s l$stsG 3hen lettres de cachet f lled the Bast le 3 th !ersons acc$sed of no cr me# 3 th h$sbands 3ho 3ere n the 3ay of the !leas$res of lasc 6 o$s 3 6es and of 6 lla ns 3ear ng orders of nob l tyG 3hen the !eo!le 3ere gro$nd bet3een the $!!er and the nether m llstone of ta4es# c$stoms# and e4c sesG and 3hen the Po!e?s 8$nc o and the %ard nal de la RocheDAyman# de6o$tly /neel ng# one on each s de of

Madame d$ Barry# the / ng?s abandoned !rost t$te# !$t the sl !!ers on her na/ed feet# as she rose from the ad$ltero$s bed, Then# ndeed# s$ffer ng and to l 3ere the t3o forms of man# and the !eo!le 3ere b$t beasts of b$rden, The tr$e Mason s he 3ho labors stren$o$sly to hel! h s Order effect ts great !$r!oses, 8ot that the Order can effect them by tselfG b$t that t# too# can hel!, It also s one of God?s nstr$ments, It s a "orce and a Po3erG and shame $!on t# f t d d not e4ert tself# and# f need be# sacr hce ts ch ldren n the ca$se of h$man ty# as Abraham 3as ready to offer $! Isaac on the altar of sacr f ce, It 3 ll not forget that noble allegory of %$rt $s lea! ng# all n armor# nto the great ya3n ng g$lf that o!ened to s3allo3 Rome, It 3 ll TR., It shall not be ts fa$lt f the day ne6er comes 3hen man 3 ll no longer ha6e to fear a conE$est# an n6as on# a $s$r!at on# a r 6alry of nat ons 3 th the armed hand# an nterr$!t on of c 6 l <at on de!end ng on a marr ageDroyal# or a b rth n the hered tary tyrann esG a !art t on of the !eo!les by a %ongress# a d smemberment by the do3nfall of a dynasty# a combat of t3o rel g ons# meet ng head to head# l /e t3o goats of dar/ness on the br dge of the Inf n te( 3hen they 3 ll no longer ha6e to fear fam ne# s!ol at on# !rost t$t on from d stress# m sery from lac/ of 3or/# and all the br gandages of chance n the forest of e6ents( 3hen nat ons 3 ll gra6 tate abo$t the Tr$th# l /e stars abo$t the l ght# each n ts o3n orb t# 3 tho$t clash ng or coll s onG and e6ery3here "reedom# c nct$red 3 th stars# cro3ned 3 th the celest al s!lendors# and 3 th 3 sdom and 5$st ce on e ther hand# 3 ll re gn s$!reme, In yo$r st$d es as a "ello3D%raft yo$ m$st be g$ ded by REASO8# LOFE and "AIT-, ;e do not no3 d sc$ss the d fferences bet3een Reason and "a th# and $nderta/e to def ne the doma n of each, B$t t s necessary to say# that e6en n the ord nary affa rs of l fe 3e are go6erned far more by 3hat 3e bel e6e than by 3hat 3e /no3G by "AIT- and A8ALOG.# than by REASO8, The @Age of Reason@ of the "rench Re6ol$t on ta$ght# 3e /no3# 3hat a folly t s to enthrone Reason by tself as s$!reme, Reason s at fa$lt 3hen t deals 3 th the Inf n te, There 3e m$st re6ere and bel e6e, 8ot3 thstand ng the calam t es of the 6 rt$o$s# the m ser es of the deser6 ng# the !ros!er ty of tyrants and the m$rder of martyrs# 3e m$st bel e6e there s a 3 se# 5$st# merc f$l# and lo6 ng God# an Intell gence and a Pro6 dence# s$!reme o6er all# and car ng for the m n$test th ngs and e6ents, A "a th s a necess ty to man, ;oe to h m 3ho bel e6es noth ngO

;e bel e6e that the so$l of another s of a certa n nat$re and !ossesses certa n E$al t es# that he s genero$s and honest# or !en$r o$s and /na6 sh# that she s 6 rt$o$s and am able# or 6 c o$s and llDtem!ered# from the co$ntenance alone# from l ttle more than a gl m!se of t# 3 tho$t the means of /no3 ng, ;e 6ent$re o$r fort$ne on the s gnat$re of a man on the other s de of the 3orld# 3hom 3e ne6er sa3# $!on the bel ef that he s honest and tr$st3orthy, ;e bel e6e that occ$rrences ha6e ta/en !lace# $!on the assert on of others, ;e bel e6e that one 3 ll acts $!on another# and n the real ty of a m$lt t$de of other !henomena that Reason cannot e4!la n, B$t 3e o$ght not to bel e6e 3hat Reason a$thor tat 6ely den es# that at 3h ch the sense of r ght re6olts# that 3h ch s abs$rd or selfDcontrad ctory# or at ss$e 3 th e4!er ence or sc ence# or that 3h ch degrades the character of the De ty# and 3o$ld ma/e - m re6engef$l# mal gnant# cr$el# or $n5$st, A man?s "a th s as m$ch h s o3n as h s Reason s, - s "reedom cons sts as m$ch n h s fa th be ng free as n h s 3 ll be ng $ncontrolled by !o3er, All the Pr ests and A$g$rs of Rome or Greece had not the r ght to reE$ re % cero or Socrates to bel e6e n the abs$rd mythology of the 6$lgar, All the Ima$ms of Mohammedan sm ha6e not the r ght to reE$ re a Pagan to bel e6e that Gabr el d ctated the Koran to the Pro!het, All the Brahm ns that e6er l 6ed# f assembled n one concla6e l /e the %ard nals# co$ld not ga n a r ght to com!el a s ngle h$man be ng to bel e6e n the - nd$ %osmogony, 8o man or body of men can be nfall ble# and a$thor <ed to dec de 3hat other men shall bel e6e# as to any tenet of fa th, E4ce!t to those 3ho f rst rece 6e t# e6ery rel g on and the tr$th of all ns! red 3r t ngs de!end on h$man test mony and nternal e6 dences# to be 5$dged of by Reason and the 3 se analog es of "a th, Each man m$st necessar ly ha6e the r ght to 5$dge of the r tr$th for h mselfG beca$se no one man can ha6e any h gher or better r ght to 5$dge than another of eE$al nformat on and ntell gence, Dom t an cla med to be the Lord GodG and stat$es and mages of h m# n s l6er and gold# 3ere fo$nd thro$gho$t the /no3n 3orld, -e cla med to be regarded as the God of all menG and# accord ng to S$eton $s# began h s letters th$s( @O$r Lord and God commands that t sho$ld be done so and soG@ and formally decreed that no one sho$ld address h m other3 se# e ther n 3r t ng or by 3ord of mo$th, Palf$r $s S$ra# the !h loso!her# 3ho 3as h s ch ef delator# acc$s ng those 3ho ref$sed to recogn <e h s d 6 n ty# ho3e6er m$ch he may ha6e bel e6ed n that d 6 n ty# had not the r ght to

demand that a s ngle %hr st an n Rome or the !ro6 nces sho$ld do the same, Reason s far from be ng the only g$ de# n morals or n !ol t cal sc ence, Lo6e or lo6 ngD/ ndness m$st /ee! t com!any# to e4cl$de fanat c sm# ntolerance# and !ersec$t on# to all of 3h ch a moral ty too ascet c# and e4treme !ol t cal !r nc !les# n6ar ably lead, ;e m$st also ha6e fa th n o$rsel6es# and n o$r fello3s and the !eo!le# or 3e shall be eas ly d sco$raged by re6erses# and o$r ardor cooled by obstacles, ;e m$st not l sten to Reason alone, "orce comes more from "a tll and Lo6e( and t s by the a d of these that man scales the loft est he ghts of moral ty# or becomes the Sa6 o$r and Redeemer of a Peo!le, Reason m$st hold the helmG b$t these s$!!ly the mot 6e !o3er, They are the 3 ngs of the so$l, Enth$s asm s generally $nreason ngG and 3 tho$t t# and Lo6e and "a th# there 3o$ld ha6e been no RIE8HI# or TELL# or S.D8E.# or any other of the great !atr ots 3hose names are mmortal, If the De ty had been merely and only AllD3 se and AllDm ghty# -e 3o$ld ne6er ha6e created the 'n 6erse, K K K K K K It s GE8I'S that gets Po3erG and ts !r me l e$tenants are "OR%E and ;ISDOM, The $nr$l est of men bend before the leader that has the sense to see and the 3 ll to do, It s Gen $s that r$les 3 th GodDl /e Po3erG that $n6e ls# 3 th ts co$nsellors# the h dden h$man myster es# c$ts as$nder 3 th ts 3ord the h$ge /nots# and b$ lds $! 3 th ts 3ord the cr$mbled r$ ns, At ts glance fall do3n the senseless dols# 3hose altars ha6e been on all the h gh !laces and n all the sacred gro6es, D shonesty and mbec l ty stand abashed before t, Its s ngle .ea or 8ay re6o/es the 3rongs of ages# and s heard among the f$t$re generat ons, Its !o3er s mmense# beca$se ts 3 sdom s mmense, Gen $s s the S$n of the !ol t cal s!here, "orce and ; sdom# ts m n sters# are the orbs that carry ts l ght nto dar/ness# and ans3er t 3 th the r sol d reflect ng Tr$th, De6elo!ment s symbol <ed by the $se of the Mallet and %h selG the de6elo!ment of the energ es and ntellect# of the nd 6 d$al and the !eo!le, Gen $s may !lace tself at the head of an $n ntellect$al# $ned$cated# $nenerget c nat onG b$t n a free co$ntry# to c$lt 6ate the ntellect of those 3ho elect# s the only mode of sec$r ng ntellect and gen $s for r$lers, The 3orld s seldom r$led by the great s! r ts# e4ce!t after d ssol$t on and ne3 b rth, In !er ods of trans t on and con6$ls on#

the Long Parl aments# the Robes! erres and Marats# and the sem D res!ectab l t es of ntellect# too often hold the re ns of !o3er, The %rom3ells and 8a!oleons come later, After Mar $s and S$lla and % cero the rhetor c an# %AESAR, The great ntellect s often too shar! for the gran te of th s l fe, Leg slators may be 6ery ord nary menG for leg slat on s 6ery ord nary 3or/G t s b$t the f nal ss$e of a m ll on m nds, The !o3er of the !$rse or the s3ord# com!ared to that of the s! r t# s !oor and contem!t ble, As to lands# yo$ may ha6e agrar an la3s# and eE$al !art t on, B$t a man?s ntellect s all h s o3n# held d rect from God# an nal enable f ef, It s the most !otent of 3ea!ons n the hands of a !alad n, If the !eo!le com!rehend "orce n the !hys cal sense# ho3 m$ch more do tlley re6elence the ntellect$alO As/ - ldebrand# or L$ther# or Loyola, They fall !rostrate before t# as before an dol, The mastery of m nd o6er m nd s the only conE$est 3orth ha6 ng, The other n5$res both# and d ssol6es at a breathG r$de as t s# the great cable falls do3n and sna!s at last, B$t th s d mly resembles the dom n on of the %reator, It does not need a s$b5ect l /e that of Peter the -erm t, If the stream be b$t br ght and strong# t 3 ll s3ee! l /e a s!r ngDt de to the !o!$lar heart, 8ot n 3ord only# b$t n ntellect$al act l es the fasc nat on, It s the homage to the In6 s ble, Th s !o3er# /notted 3 th Lo6e# s the golden cha n let do3n nto the 3ell of Tr$th# or the n6 s ble cha n that b nds the ran/s of man/ nd together, Infl$ence of man o6er man s a la3 of nat$re# 3hether t be by a great estate n land or n ntellect, It may mean sla6ery# a deference to the em nent h$man 5$dgment, Soc ety hangs s! r t$ally together# l /e the re6o 6 ng s!heres abo6e, The free co$ntry# n 3h ch ntellect and gen $s go6ern# 3 ll end$re, ;here they ser6e# and other nfl$ences go6ern# the nat onal l fe s short, All the nat ons that ha6e tr ed to go6ern themsel6es by the r smallest# by the nca!ables# or merely res!ectables# ha6e come to no$ght, %onst t$t ons and La3s# 3 tho$t Gen $s and Intellect to go6ern# 3 ll not !re6ent decay, In that case they ha6e the dryDrot and the l fe d es o$t of them by degrees, To g 6e a nat on the franch se of the Intellect s the only s$re mode of !er!et$at ng freedom, Th s 3 ll com!el e4ert on and genero$s care for the !eo!le from those on the h gher seats# and honorable and ntell gent alleg ance from those belo3, Then !ol t cal !$bl c l fe 3 ll !rotect all men fro m selfDabasement n sens$al !$rs$ ts# from 6$lgar acts and lo3 greed# by g 6 ng the noble amb t on of 5$st m!er al r$le, To ele6ate the !eo!le by teach ng lo6 ngD/ ndness and 3 sdom# 3 th !o3er to h m 3ho teaches

best( and so to de6elo! the free State from the ro$gh ashlar(DD th s s the great labor n 3h ch Masonry des res to lend a hel! ng hand, All of $s sho$ld labor n b$ ld ng $! the great mon$ment of a nat on# the -oly -o$se of the Tem!le, The card nal 6 rt$es m$st not be !art t oned among men# becom ng the e4cl$s 6e !ro!erty of some# l /e the common crafts, ALL are a!!rent ced to the !artners# D$ty and -onor, Masonry s a march and a str$ggle to3ard the L ght, "or the nd 6 d$al as 3ell as the nat on# L ght s F rt$e# Manl ness# Intell gence# L berty, Tyranny o6er the so$l or body# s dar/ness, The freest !eo!le# l /e the freest man# s al3ays n danger of rela!s ng nto ser6 t$de, ;ars are almost al3ays fatal to Re!$bl cs, They create tyrants# and consol date the r !o3er, They s!r ng# for the most !art# from e6 l co$nsels, ;hen the small and the base are ntr$sted 3 th !o3er# leg slat on and adm n strat on become b$t t3o !arallel ser es of errors and bl$nders# end ng n 3ar# calam ty# and the necess ty for a tyrant, ;hen the nat on feels ts feet sl d ng bac/3ard# as f t 3al/ed on the ce# the t me has come for a s$!reme effort, The magn f cent tyrants of the !ast are b$t the ty!es of those of the f$t$re, Men and nat ons 3 ll al3ays sell themsel6es nto sla6ery# to grat fy the r !ass ons and obta n re6enge, The tyrant?s !lea# necess ty# s al3ays a6a lableG and the tyrant once n !o3er# the necess ty of !ro6 d ng for h s safety ma/es h m sa6age, Rel g on s a !o3er# and he m$st control that, Inde!endent# ts sanct$ar es m ght rebel, Then t becomes $nla3f$l for the !eo!le to 3orsh ! God n the r o3n 3ay# and the old s! r t$al des!ot sms re6 6e, Men m$st bel e6e as Po3er 3 lls# or d eG and e6en f they may bel e6e as they 3 ll# all they ha6e# lands# ho$ses# body# and so$l# are stam!ed 3 th the royal brand, @I am the State#@ sa d Lo$ s the "o$rteenth to h s !easantsG @the 6ery sh rts on yo$r bac/s are m ne# and I can ta/e them f I 3 ll,@ And dynast es so establ shed end$re# l /e that of the %aesars of Rome# of the %aesars of %onstant no!le# of the %al !hs# the St$arts# the S!an ards# the Goths# the Falo s# $nt l the race 3ears o$t# and ends 3 th l$nat cs and d ots# 3ho st ll r$le, There s no concord among men# to end the horr ble bondage, The State falls n3ardly# as 3ell as by the o$t3ard blo3s of the ncoherent elements, The f$r o$s h$man !ass ons# the slee! ng h$man ndolence# the stol d h$man gnorance# the r 6alry of h$man castes# are as good for the / rlgs as the s3ords of the Palad ns, The 3orsh !!ers ha6e all bo3ed so long to the old dol# that they cannot go nto the streets and choose another Grand Llama, And so the effete State floats on do3n the

!$ddled stream of T me# $nt l the tem!est or the t dal sea d sco6ers that the 3orm has cons$med ts strength# and t cr$mbles nto obl 6 on, K K K K K K % 6 l and rel g o$s "reedom m$st go hand n handG and Persec$t on mat$res them both, A !eo!le content 3 th the tho$ghts made for them by the !r ests of a ch$rch 3 ll be content 3 th Royalty by D 6 ne R ght#DD the %h$rch and the Throne m$t$ally s$sta n ng each other, They 3 ll smother sch sm and rea! nf del ty and nd fferenceG and 3h le the battle for freedom goes on aro$nd them# they 3 ll only s n/ the more a!athet cally nto ser6 t$de and a dee! trance# !erha!s occas onally nterr$!ted by f$r o$s f ts of fren<y# follo3ed by hel!less e4ha$st on, Des!ot sm s not d mc$lt n any land that has only /no3n one master from ts ch ldhoodG b$t there s no harder !roblem than to !erfect and !er!et$ate free go6ernment by the !eo!le themsel6esG for t s not one / ng that s needed( all m$st be / ngs, It s easy to set $! Masan ello# that n a fe3 days he may fall lo3er than before, B$t free go6ermnent gro3s slo3ly# l /e the nd 6 d$al h$man fac$lt esG and l /e the forestDtrees# from the nner heart o$t3ard, L berty s not only the common b rthDr ght# b$t t s lost as 3ell by nonD$ser as by m sD$ser, It de!ends far more on the $n 6ersal effort than any other h$man !ro!erty, It has no s ngle shr ne or holy 3ell of ! lgr mage for the nat onG for ts 3aters sho$ld b$rst o$t freely from the 3hole so l, The free !o!$lar !o3er s one that s only /no3n n ts strength n the ho$r of ad6ers ty( for all ts tr als# sacr f ces and e4!ectat ons are ts o3n, It s tra ned to th n/ for tself# and also to act for tself, ;hen the ensla6ed !eo!le !rostrate themsel6es n the d$st before the h$rr cane# l /e the alarmed beasts of the f eld# the free !eo!le stand erect before t# n all the strength of $n ty# n selfDrel ance# n m$t$al rel ance# 3 th effrontery aga nst all b$t the 6 s ble hand of God, It s ne ther cast do3n by calam ty nor elated by s$ccess, Th s 6ast !o3er of end$rance# of forbearance# of !at ence# and of !erformance# s only acE$ red by cont n$al e4erc se of all the f$nct ons# l /e the healthf$l !hys cal h$man 6 gor# l /e the nd 6 d$al moral 6 gor,

And the ma4 m s no less tr$e than old# that eternal 6 g lance s the !r ce of l berty, It s c$r o$s to obser6e the $n 6ersal !rete4t by 3h ch the tyrants of all t mes ta/e a3ay the nat onal l bert es, It s stated n the stat$tes of Ed3ard II,# that the 5$st ces and the sher ff sho$ld no longer be elected by the !eo!le# on acco$nt of the r ots and d ssens ons 3h ch had ar sen, The same reason 3as g 6en long before for the s$!!ress on of !o!$lar elect on of the b sho!sG and there s a 3 tness to th s $ntr$th n the yet older t mes# 3hen Rome lost her freedom# and her nd gnant c t <ens declared that t$m$lt$o$s l berty s better than d sgracef$l tranE$ ll ty, K K K K K K ; th the %om!asses and Scale# 3e can trace all the f g$res $sed n the mathemat cs of !lanes# or n 3hat are called GEOMETR. and TRIGO8OMETR.# t3o 3ords that are themsel6es def c ent n mean ng, GEOMETR.# 3h ch the letter G, n most Lodges s sa d to s gn fy# means meas$rement of land or the earthDDor S$r6ey ngG and TRIGO8OMETR.# the meas$rement of tr angles# or f g$res 3 th three s des or angles, The latter s by far the most a!!ro!r ate name for the sc ence ntended to be e4!ressed by the 3ord @Geometry,@ 8e ther s of a mean ng s$ff c ently 3 de( for altho$gh the 6ast s$r6eys of great s!aces of the earth?s s$rface# and of coasts# by 3h ch sh !3rec/ and calam ty to mar ners are a6o ded# are effected by means of tr ang$lat onGDDtho$gh t 3as by the same method that the "rench astronomers meas$red a degree of lat t$de and so establ shed a scale of meas$res on an mm$table bas sG tho$gh t s by means of the mmense tr angle that has for ts base a l ne dra3n n mag nat on bet3een the !lace of the earth no3 and ts !lace s 4 months hence n s!ace# and for ts a!e4 a !lanet or star# that the d stance of &$! ter or S r $s from the earth s ascerta nedG and tho$gh there s a tr angle st ll more 6ast# ts base e4tend ng e ther 3ay from $s# 3 th and !ast the hor <on nto mmens ty# and ts a!e4 nf n tely d stant abo6e $sG to 3h ch corres!onds a s m lar nf n te tr angle belo3DD3hat s abo6e eE$all ng 3hat s belo3# mmens ty eE$all ng mmens tyG yet the Sc ence of 8$mbers# to 3h ch Pythagoras attached so m$ch m!ortance# and 3hose myster es are fo$nd e6ery3here n the anc ent rel g ons# and most of all n the Kabalah and n the B bBe# s not s$ff c ently e4!ressed by e ther the 3ord @Geometry@ or the 3ord @Tr gonometry,@ "or that sc ence ncl$des these& 3 th Ar thmet c# and also 3 th Algebra# Logar thms# the Integral and D fferent al %alc$l$sG and by means of t are 3or/ed o$t the great !roblems of Astronomy or the La3s of the Stars,

K K K K K K F rt$e s b$t hero c bra6ery# to do the th ng tho$ght to be tr$e# n s! te of all enem es of flesh or s! r t# n des! te of all tem!tat ons or menaces, Man s acco$ntable for the $!r ghtness of h s doctr ne# b$t not for the r ghtness of t, De6o$t enth$s asm s far eas er than a good act on, The end of tho$ght s act onG the sole !$r!ose of Rel g on s an Eth c, Theory# n !ol t cal sc ence# s 3orthless# e4ce!t for the !$r!ose of be ng real <ed n !ract ce, In e6ery credo# rel g o$s or !ol t cal as n the so$l of man# there are t3o reg ons# the D alect c and the Eth cG and t s only 3hen the t3o are harmon o$sly blended# that a !erfect d sc !l ne s e6ol6ed, There are men 3ho d alect cally are %hr st ans# as there are a m$lt t$de 3ho d alect cally are Masons# and yet 3ho are eth cally Inf dels# as these are eth cally of the Profane# n the str ctest sense(DD ntellect$al bel e6ers# b$t !ract cal athe sts(DD men 3ho 3 ll 3r te yo$ @E6 dences#@ n !erfect fa th n the r log c# b$t cannot carry o$t the %hr st an or Mason c doctr ne# o3 ng to the strength# or 3ea/ness# of the flesh, On the other hand# there are many d alect cal s/e!t cs# b$t eth cal bel e6ers# as there are many Masons 3ho ha6e ne6er $ndergone n t at onG and as eth cs are the end and !$r!ose of rel g on# so are eth cal bel e6ers the most 3orthy, -e 3ho does r ght s better than he 3ho th n/s r ght, B$t yo$ m$st not act $!on the hy!othes s that all men are hy!ocr tes# 3hose cond$ct does not sE$are 3 th the r sent ments, 8o 6 ce s more rare# for no tas/ s more d ff c$lt# than systemat c hy!ocr sy, ;hen the Demagog$e becomes a 's$r!er t does not follo3 that he 3as all the t me a hy!ocr te, Shallo3 men only so 5$dge of others, The tr$th s# that creed has# n general# 6ery l ttle nfl$ence on the cond$ctG n rel g on# on that of the nd 6 d$alG n !ol t cs# on that of !arty, As a general th ng# the Mahometan# n the Or ent# s far more honest and tr$st3orthy than the %hr st an, A Gos!el of Lo6e n the mo$th# s an A6atar of Persec$t on n the heart, Men 3ho bel e6e n eternal damnat on and a l teral sea of f re and br mstone# nc$r the certa nty of t# accord ng to the r creed# on the sl ghtest tem!tat on of a!!et te or !ass on, Predest nat on ns sts on the necess ty of good 3or/s, In Masonry# at the least flo3 of !ass on# one s!ea/s ll of another beh nd h s bac/G and so far fro m the @Brotherhood@ of Bl$e Masonry be ng real# and the solemn !ledges conta ned n the $se of the 3ord @Brother@ be ng com!l ed 3 th#

e4traord nary !a ns are ta/en to sho3 that,Masonry s a sort of abstract on# 3h ch scorns to nterfere n 3orldly matters, The r$le may be regarded as $n 6ersal# that# 3here there s a cho ce to be made# a Mason 3 ll g 6e h s 6ote and nfl$ence# n !ol t cs and b$s ness# to the less E$al f ed !rofane n !reference to the better E$al f ed Mason, One 3 ll ta/e an oath to o!!ose any $nla3f$l $s$r!at on of !o3er# and then become the ready and e6en eager nstr$ment of a $s$r!er, Another 3 ll call one @Brother#@ and then !lay to3ard h m the !art of &$das Iscar ot# or str /e h m# as &oab d d Abner# $nder the f fth r b# 3 th a l e 3hose a$thorsh ! s not to be traced, Masonry does not change h$man nat$re# and cannot ma/e honest men o$t of born /na6es, ;h le yo$ are st ll engaged n !re!arat on# and n acc$m$lat ng !r nc !les for f$t$re $se# do not forget the 3ords of the A!ostle &ames( @"or f any be a hearer of the 3ord# and not a doer# he s l /e $nto a man behold ng h s nat$ral face n a glass# for he beholdeth h mself# and goeth a3ay# and stra ght3ay forgetteth 3hat ma)lner of man he 3asG b$t 3hoso loo/eth nto the !erfect la3 of l berty# and cont n$eth# he be ng not a forgetf$l hearer# b$t a doer of the 3or/# th s man shall be blessed n h s 3or/, If any man among yo$ seem to be rel g o$s# and br dleth not h s tong$e# b$t dece 6eth h s o3n heart# th s man?s rel g on s 6a n,,,, "a th# f t hath not 3or/s# s dead# be ng an abstract on, A man s 5$st f ed by 3or/s# and not by fa th only,,,, The de6 ls bel e6e#DDand tremble,,,, As the body 3 tho$t the heart s dead# so s fa th 3 tho$t 3or/s,@ K K K K K K In !ol t cal sc ence# also# free go6ernments are erected and free const t$t ons framed# $!on some s m!le and ntell g ble theory, '!on 3hate6er theory they are based# no so$nd concl$s on s to be reached e4ce!t by carry ng the theory o$t 3 tho$t fl nch ng# both n arg$mcnt on const t$t onal E$cst ons and n !ract ce, Shr n/ from the tr$e theory thro$gh t m d ty# or 3ander from t thro$gll 3ant of the log cal fac$lty# or transgress aga nst t thro$gll !ass on or on the !lea of necess ty or e4!ed ency# and yo$ ha6e den al or n6as on of r ghts# la3s that offend aga nst f rst !r nc !les# $s$r!at on of llegal !o3ers# or abnegat on and abd cat on of leg t mate a$thor ty, Do not forget# e ther# that as the sho3y# s$!erf c al# m!$dent and selfD conce ted 3 ll almost al3ays be !referred# e6en n $tmost stress of danger and calam ty of the State# to the man of sol d learn ng# large ntellect# and

cathol c sym!ath es# beca$se he s nearer the common !o!$lar and leg slat 6e le6el# so the h ghest tr$th s not acce!table to the mass of man/ nd, ;hen SOLO8 3as as/ed f he had g 6en h s co$ntrymen the best la3s# he ans3ered# @The best they are ca!able of rece 6 ng,@ Th s s one of the !rofo$ndest $tterances on recordG and yet l /e all great tr$ths# so s m!le as to be rarely com!rehended, It conta ns the 3hole !h loso!hy of - story, It $tters a tr$th 3h ch# had t been recogn <ed# 3o$ld ha6e sa6ed men an mmens ty of 6a n# dle d s!$tes# and ha6e led them nto the clearer !aths of /no3ledge n the Past, It means th s#DDthat all tr$ths are Tr$ths of Per od# and not tr$ths for etern tyG that 3hate6er great fact has had strength and 6 tal ty eno$gh to ma/e tself real# 3hether of rel g on# morals# go6ernment# or of 3hate6er else# and to f nd !lace n th s 3orld# has been a tr$th for the t me# and as good as men 3ere ca!able of rece 6 ng, So# too# 3 th great men, The ntellect and ca!ac ty of a !eo!le has a s ngle meas$re#DDthat of the great men 3hom Pro6 dence g 6es t# and 3hom t rece 6es, There ha6e al3ays been men too great for the r t me or the r !eo!le, E6ery !eo!le ma/es s$ch men only ts dols# as t s ca!able of com!rehend ng, To m!ose deal tr$th or la3 $!on an nca!able and merely real man# m$st e6er be a 6a n and em!ty s!ec$lat on, The la3s of sym!athy go6ern n th s as they do n regard to men 3ho are !$t at the head, ;e do not /no3# as yet# 3hat E$al f cat ons the shee! ns st on n a leader, ; th men 3ho are too h gh ntellect$ally# the mass ha6e as l ttle sym!athy as they ha6e 3 th the stars, ;hen B'RKE# the 3 sest statesman England e6er had# rose to s!ea/# the -o$se of %ommons 3as de!o!$lated as $!on an agreed s gnal, There s as l ttle sym!athy bet3een the mass and the h ghest TR'T-S, The h ghest tr$th# be ng ncom!rehens ble to the man of real t es# as the h ghest man s# and largely abo6e h s le6el# 3 ll be a great $nreal ty and falsehood to an $n ntellect$al man, The !rofo$ndest doctr nes of %hr st an ty and Ph loso!hy 3o$ld be mere 5argon and babble to a Pota3atom e Ind an, The !o!$lar e4!lanat ons of the symbols of Masonry are f tt ng for the m$lt t$de that ha6e s3armed nto the Tem!les#DDbe ng f$lly $! to the le6el of the r ca!ac ty, %athol c sm 3as a 6 tal tr$th n ts earl est ages# b$t t became obsolete# and Protestant sm arose# flo$r shed# and deter orated, The doctr nes of HOROASTER 3ere the best 3h ch the anc ent Pers ans 3ere f tted to rece 6eG those of %O8"'%I'S 3ere f tted for the %h neseG those of MO-AMMED for the dolatro$s Arabs of h s

age, Each 3as Tr$th for the t me, Each 3as a GOSPEL# !reached by a RE"ORMERG and f any men are so l ttle fort$nate as to rema n content there3 th# 3hen others ha6e atta ned a h gher tr$th# t s the r m sfort$ne and not the r fa$lt, They are to be ! t ed for t# and not !ersec$ted, Do not e4!ect eas ly to con6 nce men of the tr$th# or to lead them to th n/ ar ght, The s$btle h$man ntellect can 3ea6e ts m sts o6er e6en the clearest 6 s on, Remember that t s eccentr c eno$gh to as/ $nan m ty fro m a 5$ryG b$t to as/ t from any large n$mber of men on any !o nt of !ol t cal fa th s ama< ng, .o$ can hardly get t3o men n any %ongress or %on6ent on to agreeGDDnay# yo$ can rarely get one to agree 3 th h mself, The !ol t cal ch$rch 3h ch chances to be s$!reme any3here has an ndef n te n$mber of tong$es, -o3 then can 3e e4!ect men to agree as to matters beyond the cogn <ance of the sensesJ -o3 can 3e com!ass the Inf n tc and the In6 s ble 3 th any cha n of e6 denceJ As/ the small seaD 3a6es 3hat they m$rm$r among the !ebbles O -o3 many of those 3ords that come from the n6 s ble shore are lost# l /e the b rds# n the long !assage J -o3 6a nly do 3e stra n the eyes across the long Inf n te O ;e m$st be content# as the ch ldren are# 3 th the !ebbles that ha6e been stranded# s nce t s forb dden $s to e4!lore the h dden de!ths, The "ello3D%raft s es!ec ally ta$ght by th s not to become 3 se n h s o3n conce t, Pr de n $nso$nd theor es s 3orse than gnorancc, -$m l ty becomes a Mason, Ta/e some E$ et# sober moment of l fe# and add together the t3o deas of Pr de and ManG behold h m# creat$re of a s!an# stal/ ng thro$gh nf n te s!ace n all the grande$r of l ttleness O Perched on a s!ec/ of the 'n 6erse# e6ery 3 nd of -ea6en str /es nto h s blood the coldness of deathG h s so$l floats a66ay from h s body l /e the melody fro m the str ng, Day and n ght# l /e d$st on the 3heel# he s rolled along the hea6ens# thro$gh a labyr nth of 3orlds# and all the creat ons of God are flanl ng on e6ery s de# f$rther than e6en h s mag nat on can reach, Is th s a creat$re to ma/e for h mself a cro3n of glory# to deny h s o3n flesh# to moc/ at h s fello3# s!r$ng 3 th h m from that d$st to 3h ch both 3 ll soon ret$rnJ Does the !ro$d man not errJ Does he not s$fferJ Does he not d eJ ;hen he reasons# s he ne6er sto!!ed short by d ff c$lt es J ;hen he acts# does he ne6er s$cc$mb to the tem!tat ons of !leas$reJ ;hen he l 6es# s he free from !a nJ Do the d seases not cla m h m as the r !reyJ ;hen he d es# can he esca!e the common gra6e J Pr de s not the her tage of man, -$m l ty sho$ld d3ell 3 th fra lty# and atone for gnorance# error and m!erfect on,

8e ther sho$ld the Mason be o6erDan4 o$s for off ce and honor# ho3e6er certa nly he rmay feel that he has the ca!ac ty to ser6e the State, -e sho$ld ne ther see/ nor s!$rn honors, It s good to en5oy the bless ngs of fort$neG t s better to s$bm t 3 tho$t a !ang to the r loss, The greatest deeds are not done n the glare of l ght# and before the eyes of the !o!$lace, -e 3hom God has g fted 3 th a lo6e of ret rement !ossesses# as t 3ere# an add t onal senseG and among the 6ast and noble scenes of nat$re# 3 e f nd the balm for the 3o$nds 3e ha6e rece 6ed among the ! t f$l sh fts of !ol cyG for the attachment to sol t$de s the s$rest !reser6at 6e from the lls of l fe, B$t Res gnat on s the more noble n !ro!ort on as t s the less !ass 6e, Ret rement s only a morb d self shness# f t !roh b t e4ert ons for othersG as t s only d gn f ed and noble# 3hen t s the shade 3hence the oracles ss$e that are to nstr$ct man/ ndG and ret rement of th s nat$re s the sole secl$s on 3h ch a good and 3 se man 3 ll co6et or command, The 6ery !h loso!hy 3h ch ma/es s$ch a man co6et the E$ et# 3 ll ma/e h m esche3 the n$t l ty of the herm tage, Fery l ttle !ra se3orthy 3o$ld LORD BOLI8GBROKE ha6e seemed among h s hayma/ers and !lo$ghmen# f among hayma/ers and !lo$ghmen he had loo/ed 3 th an nd fferent eye $!on a !rofl gate m n ster and a 6enal Parl ament, Fery l ttle nterest 3o$ld ha6e attached to h s beans and 6etches# f beans and 6etches had ca$sed h m to forget that f he 66as ha!! er on a fann he co$ld be more $sef$l n a Senate# and made h m forego# n the s!here of a ba l ff# all care for reDenter ng that of a leg slator, Remember# also# that therc s an ed$cat on 3h ch E$ c/ens the Intellect# and lea6es the heart hollo3er or harder than before, There are eth cal lessons n the la3s of the hea6enly bod es# n the !ro!ert es of earthly elements# n geogra!hy# chem stry# geology# and all the mater al sc ences, Th ngs are symbols of Tr$ths, Pro!ert es are symbols of Tr$ths, Sc ence# not teach ng moral and s! r t$al tr$ths# s dead and dry# of l ttle more real 6al$e than to comm t to the menlory a long ro3 of $nconnected dates# or of the names of b$gs or b$tterfl es, %hr st an ty# t s sa d# beg ns from the b$rn ng of the false gods by the !eo!le themsel6es, Ed$cat on beg ns 3 th the b$rn ng of o$r ntellect$al and moral dols( o$r !re5$d ces# not ons# conce ts# o$r 3orthBess or gnoble !$r!oses, Es!ec ally t s necessary to sha/e off the lo6e of 3orldly ga n, ; th "reedom comes the long ng for 3orldly ad6ancement, In that race men are e6er fall ng# r s ng# r$nn ng# and fall ng aga n, The l$st for 3ealth and the ab5ect dread of !o6erty del6e the f$rro3s on many

a noble bro3, The gambler gro3s old as he 3atches the chances, La3f$l ha<ard dr 6es .o$th a3ay before ts t meG and th s .o$th dra3s hea6y b lls of e4change on Age, Men l 6e# l /e the eng nes# at h gh !ress$re# a h$ndred years n a h$ndred monthsG the ledger becomes the B ble# and the dayDboo/ the Boo/ of the Morn ng Prayer, -ence flo3 o6erreach ngs and shar! !ract ce# heartless traff c n 3h ch the ca! tal st b$ys !rof t 3 th the l 6es of the laborers# s!ec$lat ons that co n a nat on?s agon es nto 3ealth# and all the other de6 l sh cng nery of Mammon, Th s# and greed for off ce# are the t3o col$mns at the entrance to the Tem!le of Moloch, It s do$btf$l 3hether the latter# blossom ng n falsehood# tr c/ery# and fra$d# s not e6en more !ern c o$s than the former, At all e6ents they are t3 ns# and f tly matedG and as e ther ga ns control of the $nfort$nate s$b5ect# h s so$l 3 thers a3ay and decays# and at last d es o$t, The so$ls of half the h$man race lea6e them long before they d e, The t3o greeds are t3 n !lag$es of the le!rosy# and ma/e the man $ncleanG and 3hene6er they brea/ o$t they s!read $nt l @they co6er all the s/ n of h m that hath the !lag$e# from h s head e6en to h s foot,@ E6en the ra3 flesh of the heart becomes $nclean 3 th t, Ale4ander of Macedon has left a say ng beh nd h m 3h ch has s$r6 6ed h s conE$ests( @8oth ng s nobler than 3or/,@ ;or/ only can /ee! e6en / ngs res!ectable, And 3hen a / ng s a / ng ndeed# t s an honorable off ce to g 6e tone to the manners and morals of a nat onG to set the e4am!le of 6 rt$o$s cond$ct# and restore n s! r t the old schools of ch 6alry# n 3h ch the yo$ng manhood may be n$rt$red to real greatness, ;or/ and 3ages 3 ll go together n men?s m nds# n the most royal nst t$t ons, ;e m$st e6er come to the dea of real 3or/, The rest that follo3s labor sho$ld be s3eeter than the rest 3h ch follo3s rest, Let no "ello3D%raft mag ne that the 3or/ of the lo3ly and $n nfl$ent al s not 3orth the do ng, There s no legal l m t to the !oss ble nfl$ences of a good deed or a 3 se 3ord or a genero$s effort, 8oth ng s really small, ;hoe6er s o!en to the dee! !enetrat on of nat$re /no3s th s, Altho$gh# ndeed# no absol$te sat sfact on may be 6o$chsafed to !h loso!hy# any more n c rc$mscr b ng the ca$se than n l m t ng the effect# the man of tho$ght and contem!lat on falls nto $nfathomable ecstac es n 6 e3 of all the decom!os t ons of forces res$lt ng n $n ty, All 3or/s for all, Destr$ct on s not ann h lat on# b$t regenerat on,

Algebra a!!l es to the clo$dsG the rad ance of the star benef ts the roseG no th n/er 3o$ld dare to say that the !erf$me of the ha3thorn s $seless to the constellat ons, ;ho# then# can calc$late the !ath of the molec$leJ -o3 do 3e /no3 that the creat ons of 3orlds are not determ ned by the fall of gra ns of sand J ;ho# then# $nderstands the rec !rocal flo3 and ebb of the nrln tely great and the nf n tely smallG the echo ng of ca$ses n the abysses of beg nn ng# and the a6alanches of creat onJ A flesh3orm s of acco$ntG the small s greatG the great s smallG all s n eE$ l br $m n necess ty, There are mar6ello$s relat ons bet3een be ngs and th ngsG n th s ne4ha$st ble ;hole# from s$n to gr$b# there s no scorn( all need each other, L ght does not carry terrestr al !erf$mes nto the a<$re de!ths# 3 tho$t /no3 ng 3hat t does 3 th themG n ght d str b$tes the stellar essence to the slee! ng !lants, E6ery b rd 3h ch fl es has the thread of the Inf n te n ts cla3, Germ nat on ncl$des the hatch ng of a meteor# and the ta! of a s3allo3?s b ll# brea/ ng the eggG and t leads for3ard the b rth of an earthD3orm and the ad6ent of a Socrates, ;here the telesco!e ends the m crosco!e beg ns, ;h ch of them the grander 6 e3 J A b t of mo$ld s a Ple ad of flo3ers DDa neb$la s an antDh ll of stars, There s the same and a st ll more 3onderf$l nter!enetrat on bet3een the th ngs of the ntellect and the th ngs of matter, Elements and !r nc !les are m ngled# comb ned# es!o$sed# m$lt !l ed one by another to s$ch a degree as to br ng the mater al 3orld and the moral 3orld nto the same l ght, Phenomena are !er!et$ally folded bac/ $!on themsel6es, In the 6ast cosm cal changes the $n 6ersal l fe comes and goes n $n/no3n E$ant t es# en6elo! ng all n the n6 s ble mystery of the emanat ons# los ng no dream fro m no s ngle slee!# so3 ng an an malc$le here# cr$mbl ng a star there# osc llat ng and 3 nd ng n c$r6esG ma/ ng a force of L ght# and an element of Tho$ghtG d ssem nated and nd 6 s ble# d ssol6 ng all sa6e that !o nt 3 tho$t length# breadth# or th c/ness# The M.SE"G red$c ng e6eryth ng to the So$lDatom G ma/ ng e6eryth ng blossom nto GodG entangl ng all act 6 t es# from the h gllest to the lo3est# n the obsc$r ty of a d <<y ng mechan smG hang ng the fl ght of an nsect $!on the mo6ement of the earthG s$bord nat ng# !erha!s# f only by the dent ty of the la3# the eccentr c e6ol$t ons of the comet n the f rmament# to the 3h rl ngs of the nf$sor a n the dro! of 3ater, A mechan sm made of m nd# the f rst motor of 3h ch s the gnat# and ts last 3heel the <od ac, A !easantDboy# g$ d ng Bl$cher by the r ght one of t3o roads# the other be ng m!assable for art llery# enables h m to reach ;aterloo n t me to sa6e ;ell ngton from a defeat that 3o$ld ha6e been a ro$tG and so enables the / ngs to m!r son 8a!oleon on a barren roc/ n m dDocean, An

$nfa thf$l sm th# by the slo6enly shoe ng of a horse# ca$ses h s lameness# and# he st$mbl ng# the career of h s 3orldDconE$er ng r der ends# and the dest n es of em! res are changed, A genero$s off cer !erm ts an m!r soned monarch to end h s game of chess before lead ng h m to the bloc/G and mean3h le the $s$r!er d es# and the !r soner reascends the throne, An $ns/ llf$l 3or/man re!a rs the com!ass# or mal ce or st$! d ty d sarranges t# the sh ! m sta/es her co$rse# the 3a6es s3allo3 a %aesar# and a ne3 cha!ter s 3r tten n the h story of a 3orld, ;hat 3e call acc dent s b$t the adamant ne cha n of nd ssol$ble connect on bet3een all created th ngs, The loc$st# hatched n the Arab an sands# the small 3orm that destroys the cottonDboll# one ma/ ng fam ne n the Or ent# the other clos ng the m lls and star6 ng the 66or/men and the r ch ldren n the Occ dent# 3 th r ots and massacres# are as m$ch the m n sters of God as the earthE$a/eG and the fate of nat ons de!ends more on them than on the ntellect of ts / ngs and leg slators, A c 6 l 3ar n Amer ca 3 ll end n sha/ ng the 3orldG and that 3ar may be ca$sed by the 6ote of some gnorant !r <eDf ghter or cra<ed fanat c n a c ty or n a %ongress# or of some st$! d boor n an obsc$re co$ntry !ar sh, The electr c ty of $n 6ersal sym!athy# of act on and react on# !er6ades e6eryth ng# the !lanets and the motes n the s$nbeam, "A'ST# 3 th h s ty!es# or L'T-ER# 3 th h s sermons# 3or/ed greater res$lts than Ale4ander or -ann bal, A s ngle tho$ght somet mes s$ff ces to o6ert$rn a dynasty, A s lly song d d more to $nseat &ames the Second than the acE$ ttal of the B sho!s, Folta re# %ondorcet# and Ro$ssea$ $ttered 3ords that 3 ll r ng# n change and re6ol$t ons# thro$gho$t all the ages, Remember# that tho$gh l fe s short# Tho$ght and the nfl$ences of 3hat 3e do or say are mmortalG and that no calc$l$s has yet !retended to ascerta n the la3 of !ro!ort on bet3een ca$se and effect, The hammer of an Engl sh blac/sm th# sm t ng do3n an nsolent off c al# led to a rebell on 3h ch came near be ng a re6ol$t on, The 3ord 3ell s!o/en# the deed f tly done# e6en by the feeblest or h$mblest# cannot hel! b$t ha6e the r effect, More or less# the effect s ne6 table and eternal, The echoes of the greatest deeds may d e a3ay l /e the echoes of a cry among the cl ffs# and 3hat has been done seem to the h$man 5$dgment to ha6e been 3 tho$t res$lt, The $ncons dered act of the !oorest of men may f re the tra n that leads to the s$bterranean m ne# and an em! re be rent by the e4!los on, The !o3er of a free !eo!le s often at the d s!osal of a s ngle and seem ngly an $n m!ortant nd 6 d$alGDDa terr ble and tr$thf$l !o3erG for s$ch a !eo!le feel 3 th one heart# and therefore can l ft $! the r myr ad

arms for a s ngle blo3, And# aga n# there s no grad$ated scale for the meas$rement of the nfl$ences of d fferent ntellects $!on the !o!$lar m nd, Peter the -erm t held no off ce# yet 3hat a 3or/ he 3ro$ght O K K K K K K "rom the !ol t cal !o nt of 6 e3 there s b$t a s ngle !r nc !le#DD the so6ere gnty of man o6er h mself, Th s so6ere gnty of one?s self o6er one?s self s called LIBERT., ;here t3o or se6eral of these so6ere gnt es assoc ate# the State beg ns, B$t n th s assoc at on there s no abd cat on, Each so6ere gnty !arts 3 th a certa n !ort on of tself to form the common r ght, That !ort on s the same for all, There s eE$al contr b$t on by all to the 5o nt so6ere gnty, Th s dent ty of concess on 3h ch each ma/es to all# s EI'ALIT., The common r ght s noth ng more or less than the !rotect on of all# !o$r ng ts rays on each, Th s !rotect on of each by all# s "RATER8IT., L berty s the s$mm t# EE$al ty the base, EE$al ty s not all 6egetat on on a le6el# a soc ety of b g s!ears of grass and st$nted oa/s# a ne ghborhood of 5ealo$s es# emasc$lat llg each other, It s# c 6 lly# all a!t t$des ha6 ng eE$al o!!ort$n tyG !ol t cally# all 6otes ha6 ng eE$al 3e ghtG rel g o$sly# all consc ences ha6 ng eE$al r ghts, EE$al ty has an organGDDgrat$ to$s and obl gatory nstr$ct on, ;e m$st beg n 3 th the r ght to the al!habet, The !r mary school obl gatory $!on allG the h gher school offered to all, S$ch s the la3, "rom the same school for all s!r ngs eE$al soc ety, Instr$ct on O L ght O all comes from L ght# and all ret$rns to t, ;e m$st learn the tho$ghts of the common !eo!le# f 3e 3o$ld be 3 se and do any good 3or/, ;e m$st loo/ at men# not so m$ch for 3hat "ort$ne has g 6en to them 3 th her bl nd old eyes# as for the g fts 8at$re has bro$ght n her la!# and for the $se that has been made of them, ;e !rofess to be eE$al n a %h$rch and n the Lodge( 3e shall be eE$al n the s ght of God 3hen -e 5$dges the earth, ;e may 3ell s t on the !a6ement together here# n comm$n on and conference# for the fe3 br ef moments that const t$te l fe, A Democrat c Go6ernment $ndo$btedly has ts defects# beca$se t s made and adm n stered by men# and not by the ; se Gods, It cannot be conc se

and shar!# l /e the des!ot c, ;hen ts re s aro$sed t de6elo!s ts latent strength# and the st$rd est rebel trembles, B$t ts hab t$al domest c r$le s tolerant# !at ent# and ndec s 6e, Men are bro$ght together# f rst to d ffer# and then to agree, Aff rmat on# negat on# d sc$ss on# sol$t on( these are the means of atta n ng tr$th, Often the enemy 3 ll be at the gates before the babble of the d st$rbers s dro3ned n the chor$s of consent, In the Leg slat 6e off ce del berat on 3 ll often defeat dec s on, L berty can !lay the fool l /e the Tyrants Ref ned soc ety reE$ res greater m n$teness of reg$lat onG and the ste!s of all ad6anc ng States are more and more to be ! c/ed among the old r$bb sh and the ne3 matcr als, The d ff c$lty l es n d sco6er ng the r ght !ath thro$gh the chaos of conf$s on, The ad5$stment of m$t$al r ghts and 3rongs s also more d ff c$lt n democrac es, ;e do not see and est mate the relat 6e m!ortance of ob5ects so eas ly and clearly from the le6el or the 3a6 ng and as from the ele6at on of a lone !ea/# to3er ng abo6e the !la nG for each loo/s thro$gh h s o3n m st, Ab5ect de!endence on const t$ents# also# s too common, It s as m serable a th ng as ab5ect de!endence on a m n ster or the fa6or te of a Tyrant, It s rare to f nd a man 3ho can s!ea/ o$t the s m!le tr$th that s n h m# honestly and fran/ly# 3 tho$t fear# fa6or# or affect on# e ther to Em!eror or Peo!le, Moreo6er# n assembl es of men# fa th n each other s almost al3ays 3ant ng# $nless a terr ble !ress$re of calam ty or danger from 3 tho$t !rod$ces cohes on, -ence the constr$ct 6e !o3er of s$ch assembl es s generally def c ent, The ch ef tr $m!hs of modern days# n E$ro!e# ha6e been n !$ll ng do3n and obl terat ngG not n b$ ld ng $!, B$t Re!eal s not Reform, T me m$st br ng 3 th h m the Restorer and Reb$ lder, S!eech# also# s grossly ab$sed n Re!$bl csG and f the $se of s!eech be glor o$s# ts ab$se s the most 6 lla no$s of 6 ces, Rhetor c# Plato says# s the art of r$l ng the m nds of men, B$t n democrac es t s too common to h de tho$ght n 3ords#to o6erlay t# to babble nonsense, The gleams and gl tter of ntellect$al soa!DandD3ater b$bbles are m sta/en for the ra nbo3Dglor es of gen $s, The 3orthless !yr tes s cont n$ally m sta/en for gold, E6en ntellect condescends to ntellect$al 5$gglery# balanc ng tho$ghts as a 5$ggler balances ! !es on h s ch n, In all %ongresses 3e ha6e the ne4ha$st ble flo3 of babble# and "act on?s clamoro$s /na6ery n d sc$ss on# $nt l the d 6 ne !o3er of s!eech# that !r 6 lege of man and

great g ft of God# s no better than the screech of !arrots or the m m cry of mon/eys, The mere tal/er# ho3e6er fl$ent# s barren of deeds n the day of tr al, There are men 6ol$ble as 3omen# and as 3ell s/ lled n fenc ng 3 th the tong$e( !rod g es of s!eech# m sers n deeds, Too m$ch cal/ ng# l /e too m$ch th n/ ng# destroys the !o3er of act on, In h$man nat$re# the tho$ght s only made !erfect by deed, S lence s the mother of both, The tr$m!eter s not the bra6est of the bra6e, Steel and not brass 3 ns the day, The great doer of great deeds s mostly slo3 and slo6enly of s!eech, There are some men born and brcd to betray, Patr ot sm s the r trade# and the r ca! tal s s!eech, B$t no noble s! r t can !lead l /e Pa$l and be false to tself as &$das, Im!ost$re too commonly r$les n re!$bl csG they seem to be e6er n the r m nor tyG the r g$ard ans are selfDa!!o ntedG and tlhe $n5$st thr 6e better than the 5$st, The Des!ot# l /e the n ghtDl on roar ng# dro3ns all the clamor of tong$es at once# and s!eech# the b rthr ght of the free man# becomes the ba$ble of the ensla6ed, It s E$ te tr$e that re!$bl cs only occas onally# and as t 3ere acc dentally# select the r 3 sest# or e6en the less nca!able among the nca!ables# to go6ern them and leg slate for them, If gen $s# armed 3 th learn ng and /no3ledge# 3 ll gras! the re ns# the !eo!le 3 ll re6erence tG f t only modestly offers tself for off ce# t 3 ll be sm tten on the face# e6en 3hen# n the stra ts of d stress and the agon es of calam ty# t s nd s!ensable to the sal6at on of the State, P$t t $!on the trac/ 3 th the sho3y and s$!erf c al# the conce ted# the gnorant# and m!$dent# the tr c/ster and charlatan# and the res$lt shall not be a moment do$btf$l, The 6erd cts of Leg slat$res and the Peo!le are l /e the 6erd cts of 5$r es#DD somet mes r ght by acc dent, Off ces# t s tr$e# are sho3ered# l /e the ra ns of -ea6en# $!on the 5$st and the $n5$st, The Roman A$g$rs that $sed to la$gh n each other?s faces at the s m!l c ty of the 6$lgar# 3ere also t c/led 3 th the r o3n g$ leG b$t no A$g$r s needed to lead the !eo!le astray, They read ly dece 6e themsel6es, Let a Re!$bl c beg n as t may# t 3 ll not be o$t of ts m nor ty before mbec l ty 3 ll be !romoted to h gh !lacesG and shallo3 !retence# gett ng tself !$ffed nto not ce# 3 ll n6ade all the sanct$ar es, The most $nscr$!$lo$s !art sansh ! 3 ll !re6a l# e6en n res!ect to 5$d c al tr$stsG and the most $n5$st a!!o ntments constantly be made#

altho$gh e6ery m!ro!er !romot on not merely confers one $ndeser6ed fa6or# b$t may ma/e a h$ndred honest chee/s smart 3 th n5$st ce,

The co$ntry s stabbed n the front 3hen those are bro$ght nto the stalled seats 3ho sho$ld sl n/ nto the d m gallery, E6ery stam! of -onor# llD cl$tched# s stolen from the Treas$ry of Mer t, .et the entrance nto the !$bl c ser6 ce# and the !romot on n t# affect both the r ghts of nd 6 d$als and those of the nat on, In5$st ce n besto3 ng or 3 thhold ng off ce o$ght to be so ntolerable n democrat c comm$n t es that the least trace of t sho$ld be l /e the scent of Treason, It s not $n 6ersally tr$e that all c t <ens of eE$al character ha6e an eE$al cla m to /noc/ at the door of e6ery !$bl c off ce and demand adm ttance, ;hen any man !resents h mself for ser6 ce he has a r ght to as! re to the h ghest body at once# f he can sho3 h s f tness for s$ch a beg nn ng#DDthat he s f tter than the rest 3ho offer themsel6es for the same !ost, The entry nto t can only 5$stly be made thro$gh the door of mer t, And 3hene6er any one as! res to and atta ns s$ch h gh !ost# es!ec ally f by $nfa r and d sre!$table and ndecent means# and s after3ard fo$nd to be a s gnal fa l$re# he sho$ld at once be beheaded, -e s the 3orst among the !$bl c enem es, ;hen a man s$mc ently re6eals h mself# all others sho$ld be !ro$d to g 6e h m d$e !recedence, ;hen the !o3er of !romot on s ab$sed n the grand !assages of l fe 3hether by Peo!le# Leg slat$re# or E4ec$t 6e# the $n5$st dec s on reco ls on the 5$dge at once, That s not only a gross# b$t a 3 llf$l shortness of s ght# that cannot d sco6er the deser6 ng, If one 3 ll loo/ hard# long# and honestly# he 3 ll not fa l to d scern mer t# gen $s# and E$al f cat onG and the eyes and 6o ce of the Press and P$bl c sho$ld condemn and deno$nce n5$st ce 3here6er she rears her horr d head, @The tools to the 3or/menO@ no other !r nc !le 3 ll sa6e a Re!$bl c from destr$ct on# e ther by c 6 l 3ar or the dryDrot, They tend to decay# do all 3e can to !re6ent t# l /e h$man bod es, If they try the e4!er ment of go6ern ng themsel6es by the r smallest# they sl de do3n3ard to the $na6o dable abyss 3 th tenfold 6eloc tyG and there ne6er has been a Re!$bl c that has not follo3ed that fatal co$rse,

B$t ho3e6er !al!able and gross the nherent defects of democrat c go6ernments# and fatal as the res$lts f nally and ne6 tably are# 3e need only glance at the re gns of T ber $s# 8ero# and %al g$la# of -el ogabal$s and %aracalla# of Dom t an and %ommod$s# to recogn <e that the d fference bet3een freedom and des!ot sm s as 3 de as that bet3een -ea6en and -ell, The cr$elty# baseness# and nsan ty of tyrants are ncred ble, Let h m 3ho com!la ns of the f c/le h$mors and nconstancy of a free !eo!le# read Pl ny?s character of Dom t an, If the great man n a Re!$bl c cannot 3 n omce 3 tho$t descend ng to lo3 arts and 3h n ng beggary and the 5$d c o$s $se of snea/ ng l es# let h m rema n n ret rement# and $se the !en, Tac t$s and &$6enal held no off ce, Let - story and Sat re !$n sh the !retender as they cr$c fy the des!ot, The re6enges of the ntellect are terr ble and 5$st, Let Masonry $se the !en and the !r nt ngD!ress n the free State aga nst the Demagog$eG n the Des!ot sm aga nst the Tyrant, - story offers e4am!les and enco$ragement, All h story# for fo$r tho$sand years# be ng f lled 3 th 6 olated r ghts and the s$ffer ngs of the !eo!le# each !er od of h story br ngs 3 th t s$ch !rotest as s !oss ble to t, 'nder the %aesars there 3as no ns$rrect on# b$t there 3as a &$6enal, The aro$s ng of nd gnat on re!laces the Gracch , 'nder the %aesars there s the e4 le of SyeneG there s also the a$thor of the Annals, As the 8eros re gn dar/ly they sho$ld be ! ct$red so, ;or/ 3 th the gra6er only 3o$ld be !aleG nto the groo6es sho$ld be !o$red a concentrated !rose that b tes, Des!ots are an a d to th n/ers, S!eech encha ned s s!eech terr ble, The 3r ter do$bles and tr !les h s style# 3hen s lence s m!osed by a master $!on the !eo!le, There s!r ngs from th s s lence a certa n myster o$s f$llness# 3h ch f lters and free<es nto brass n the tho$ghts, %om!ress on n the h story !rod$ces conc seness n the h stor an, The gran t c sol d ty of some celebrated !rose s only a condensat on !rod$ced by the Tyrant, Tyranny constra ns the 3r ter to shorten ngs of d ameter 3h ch are ncreases of strength, The % ceron an !er od# hardly s$mc ent $!on Ferres# 3o$ld lose ts edge $!on %al g$la, The Demagog$e s the !redecessor of the Des!ot, One s!r ngs from the other?s lo ns, -e 3ho 3 ll basely fa3n on those 3ho ha6e off ce to besto3# 3 ll betray l /e Iscar ot# and !ro6e a m serable and ! t able fa l$re, Let the ne3 &$n $s lash s$ch men as they deser6e# and - story ma/e them mmortal n nfamyG s nce the r nfl$ences c$lm nate n r$ n, The Re!$bl c that em!loys and honors the shallo3# the s$!erf c al# the base#

@3ho cro$ch 'nto the offal of an off ce !rom sed#@ at last 3ee!s tears of blood for ts fatal error, Of s$ch s$!reme folly# the s$re fr$ t s damnat on, Let the nob l ty of e6ery great heart# condensed nto 5$st ce and tr$th# str /e s$ch creat$res l /e a th$nderbolt O If yo$ can do no more# yo$ can at least condemn by yo$r 6ote# and ostrac se by den$nc at on, It s tr$e that# as the %<ars are absol$te# they ha6e t n the r !o3er to select the best for the !$bl c ser6 ce, It s tr$e that the beg nner of a dynasty generally does soG and that 3hen monarch es are n the r !r me# !retence and shallo3ness do not thr 6e and !ros!er and get !o3er# as they do n Re!$bl cs, All do not gabble n the Parl ament of a K ngdom# as n the %ongress of a Democracy, The nca!ables do not go $ndetected there# all the r l 6es, B$t dynast es s!eed ly decay and r$n o$t, At last they d3 ndle do3n nto mbec l tyG and the d$ll or fl !!ant Members of %ongresses are at least the ntellect$al !eers of the 6ast ma5or ty of / ngs, The great man# the &$l $s %aesar# the %harlemagne# %rom3ell# 8a!oleon# re gns of r ght, -e s the 3 sest and the strongest, The nca!ables and mbec les s$cceed and are $s$r!ersG and fear ma/es them cr$el, After &$l $s came %aracalla and GalbaG after %harlemagne# the l$nat c %harles the S 4th, So the Saracen c dynasty d3 ndled o$tG the %a!ets# the St$arts# the Bo$rbc)nsG the last of these !rod$c ng Bomba# the a!e of Dom t an, Man s by nat$re cr$el# l /e the t gers, The barbar an# and the tool of the tyrant# and the c 6 l <ed fanat c# en5oy the s$ffer ngs of others# as the ch ldren en5oy the contort ons of ma med fl es, Absol$te Po3er# once n fear for the safety of ts ten$re# cannot b$t be cr$el, As to ab l ty# dynast es n6ar ably cease to !ossess any after a fe3 l 6es, They become mere shams# go6erned by m n sters# fa6or tes# or co$rtesans# l /e those old Etr$scan / ngs# sl$mber ng for long ages n the r golden royal robes# d ssol6 ng fore6er at the f rst breath of day, Let h m 3ho com!la ns of the shortcom ngs of democracy as/ h mself f he 3o$ld !refer a D$ Barry or a Pom!ado$r# go6ern ng n the name of a Lo$ s the " fteenth# a %al g$la ma/ ng h s horse a cons$l# a Dom t an# @that most

sa6age monster#@ 3ho somet mes dran/ the blood of relat 6es# somet mes em!loy ng h mself 3 th sla$ghter ng the most d st ng$ shed c t <ens before 3hose gates fear and terror /e!t 3atchG a tyrant of fr ghtf$l as!ect# !r de on h s forehead# f re n h s eye# constantly see/ ng dar/ness and secrecy# and only emerg ng from h s sol t$de to ma/e sol t$de, After all# n a free go6ernment# the La3s and the %onst t$t on are abo6e the Inca!ables# the %o$rts correct the r leg slat on# and !oster ty s the Grand InE$est that !asses 5$dgment on them, ;hat s the e4cl$s on of 3orth and ntellect and /no3ledge from c 6 l off ce com!ared 3 th tr als before &effr es# tort$res n the dar/ ca6erns of the InE$ s t on# Al6ab$tcher es n the 8etherlands# the E6e of Sa nt Bartholome3# and the S c l an Fes!ersJ K K K K K K The Abbe Barr$el n h s Memo rs for the - story of &acob n sm# declares that Masonry n "rance ga6e# as ts secret# the 3ords EE$al ty and L berty# lea6 ng t for e6ery honest and rel g o$s Mason to e4!la n them as 3o$ld best s$ t h s !r nc !lesG b$t reta ned the !r 6 lege of $n6e l ng n the h gher Degrees the mean ng of those 3ords# as nter!reted by the "rench Re6ol$t on, And he also e4ce!ts Engl sh Masons from h s anathemas# beca$se n England a Mason s a !eaceable s$b5ect of the c 6 l a$thor t es# no matter 3here he res des# engag ng n no !lots or cons! rac es aga nst e6en the 3orst go6ernment, England# he says# d sg$sted 3 th an EE$al ty and a L berty# the conseE$ences of 3h ch she had felt n the str$ggles of her Lollards# Anaba!t sts# and Presbyter ans# had @!$rged her Masonry@ fro m all e4!lanat ons tend ng to o6ert$rn em! resG b$t there st ll rema ned ade!ts 3hom d sorgan < ng !r nc !les bo$nd to the Anc ent Myster es, Beca$se tr$e Masonry# $nemasc$lated# bore the banners of "reedom and EE$al R ghts# and 3as n rebell on aga nst tem!oral and s! r t$al tyranny# ts Lodges 3ere !roscr bed n )+97# by an ed ct of the States of -olland, In )+9+# Lo$ s PF, forbade them n "rance, In )+9*# Po!e %lement PII, ss$ed aga nst them h s famo$s B$ll of E4comm$n cat on# 3h ch 3as rene3ed by Bened ct PIF,G and n )+:9 the %o$nc l of Berne also !roscr bed them, The t tle of the R$ll of %lement s# @The %ondemnat on of the Soc ety of %on6ent cles de L ber M$rator # or of the "reemasons# $nder the !enalty of !so facto e4comm$n cat on# the absol$t on from 3h ch s reser6ed to the Po!e alone# e4ce!t at the !o nt of death,@ And by t all b sho!s# ord nar es# and nE$ s tors 3ere em!o3ered to !$n sh "reemasons# @as 6ehemently s$s!ected of heresy#@ and to call n# f necessary# the hel! of the sec$lar armG that s# to ca$se the c 6 l a$thor ty to !$t them to death,

K K K K K K Also# false and sla6 sh !ol t cal theor es end n br$tal < ng the State, "or e4am!le# ado!t the theory that off ces and em!loyments n t are to be g 6en as re3ards for ser6 ces rendered to !arty# and they soon become the !rey and s!o l of fact on# the booty of the 6 ctory of fact onGDDand le!rosy s n the flesh of the State, The body of the common3ealth becomes a mass of corr$!t on# l /e a l 6 ng carcass rotten 3 th sy!h l s, All $nso$nd theor es n the end de6elo! themsel6es n one fo$l and loathsome d sease or other of the body !ol t c, The State# l /e the man# m$st $se constant effort to stay n the !aths of 6 rt$e and manl ness, The hab t of elect oneer ng and begg ng for off ce c$lm nates n br bery 3 th off ce# and corr$!t on n off ce, A chosen man has a 6 s ble tr$st from God# as !la nly as f the comm ss on 3ere engrossed by the notary, A nat on cannot reno$nce the e4ec$torsh ! of the D 6 ne decrees, As l ttle can Masonry, It m$st labor to do ts d$ty /no3 ngly and 3 sely, ;e m$st remember that# n free States# as 3ell as n des!ot sms# In5$st ce# the s!o$se of O!!ress on# s the fr$ tf$l !arent of Dece t# D str$st# -atred# %ons! racy# Treason# and 'nfa thf$lness, E6en n assa l ng Tyranny 3e m$st ha6e Tr$th and Reason as o$r ch ef 3ea!ons, ;e m$st march nto that f ght l /e the old P$r tans# or nto the battle 3 th the ab$ses that s!r ng $! n free go6ernment# 3 th the flam ng s3ord n one hand# and the Oracles of God n the other, The c t <en 3ho cannot accom!l sh 3ell the smaller !$r!oses of !$bl c l fe# cannot com!ass the larger, The 6ast !o3er of end$rance# forbearance# !at ence# and !erformance# of a free !eo!le# s acE$ red only by cont n$al e4erc se of all the f$nct ons# l /e the healthf$l !hys cal h$man 6 gor, If the nd 6 d$al c t <ens ha6e t not# the State m$st eE$ally be 3 tho$t t, It s of the essence of a free go6ernment# that the !eo!le sho$ld not only be concerned n ma/ ng the la3s# b$t also n the r e4ec$t on, 8o man o$ght to be more ready to obey and adm n ster the la3 than he 3ho has hel!ed to ma/e t, The b$s ness of go6ernment s carr ed on for the benef t of all# and e6ery coD!artner sho$ld g 6e co$nsel and coo!erat on, Remember also# as another shoal on 3h ch States are 3rec/ed# that free States al3ays tend to3ard the de!os t ng of the c t <ens n strata# the creat on of castes# the !er!et$at on of the 5$s d 6 n$rn to off ce n fam l es, The more democrat c the State# the more s$re th s res$lt, "or# as free States ad6ance n !o3er# there s a strong tendency to3ard

central <at on# not from del berate e6 l ntent on# b$t from the co$rse of e6ents and the ndolence of h$man nat$re, The e4ec$t 6e !o3ers s3ell and enlarge to nord nate d mens onsG and the E4ec$t 6e s al3ays aggress 6e 3 th res!ect to the nat on, Off ces of all / nds are m$lt !l ed to re3ard !art sansG the br$te force of the se3erage and lo3er strata of the mob obta ns large re!resentat on# f rst n the lo3er off ces# and at last n SenatesG and B$rea$cracy ra ses ts bald head# br stl ng 3 th !ens# g rded 3 th s!ectacles# and b$nched 3 th r bbon, The art of Go6ernment becomes l /e a %raft# and ts g$ lds tend to become e4cl$s 6e# as those of the M ddle Ages, Pol t cal sc ence may be m$ch m!ro6ed as a s$b5ect of s!ec$lat onG b$t t sho$ld ne6er be d 6orced from the act$al nat onal necess ty, The sc ence of go6ern ng men m$st al3ays be !ract cal# rather than !h loso!h cal, There s not the same amo$nt of !os t 6e or $n 6ersal tr$th here as n the abstract sc encesG 3hat s tr$e n one co$ntry may be 6ery false n anotherG 3hat s $ntr$e toDday may become tr$e n another generat on# and the tr$th of toDday be re6ersed by the 5$dgment of toDmorro3, To d st ng$ sh the cas$al from the end$r ng# to se!arate the $ns$ table from the s$ table# and to ma/e !rogress e6en !oss ble# are the !ro!er ends of !ol cy, B$t 3 tho$t act$al /no3ledge and e4!er ence# and comm$n on of labor# the dreams of the !ol t cal doctors may be no better than those of the doctors of d 6 n ty, The re gn of s$ch a caste# 3 th ts myster es# ts myrm dons# and ts corr$!t ng nfl$ence# may be as fatal as that of the des!ots, Th rty tyrants are th rty t mes 3orse than one, Moreo6er# there s a strong tem!tat on for the go6ern ng !eo!le to become as m$ch slothf$l and sl$ggards as the 3ea/est of absol$te / ngs, Only g 6e them the !o3er to get r d# 3hen ca!r ce !rom!ts them# of the great and 3 se men# and elect the l ttle# and as to all the rest they 3 ll rela!se nto ndolence and nd fference, The central !o3er# creat on of the !eo!le# organ <ed and c$nn ng f not enl ghtened# s the !er!et$al tr b$nal set $! by them for the redress of 3rong and the r$le of 5$st ce, It soon s$!!l es tself 3 th all the reE$ s te mach nery# and s ready and a!t for all / nds of nterference, The !eo!le may be a ch ld all ts l fe, The central !o3er may not be able to s$ggest the best sc ent f c sol$t on of a !roblemG b$t t has the eas est means of carry ng an dea nto effect, If the !$r!ose to be atta ned s a large one# t reE$ res a large com!rehens onG t s !ro!er for the act on of the central !o3er, If t be a small one# t may be th3arted by d sagreement, The central !o3er m$st ste! n as an arb trator and !re6ent th s, The !eo!le may be too a6erse to change# too slothf$l n the r o3n

b$s ness# $n5$st to a m nor ty or a ma5or ty, The central !o3er m$st ta/e the re ns 3hen the !eo!le dro! them, "rance became central <ed n ts go6ernment more by the a!athy and gnorance of ts !eo!le than by the tyranny of ts / ngs, ;hen the nmost !ar shDl fe s g 6en $! to the d rect g$ard ansh ! of the State# and the re!a r of the belfry of a co$ntry ch$rch reE$ res a 3r tten order from the central !o3er# a !eo!le s n ts dotage, Men are th$s n$rt$red n mbec l ty# from the da3n of soc al l fe, ;hen the central go6ernment feeds !art of the !eo!le t !re!ares all to be sla6es, ;hen t d rects !ar sh and co$nty affa rs# they are sla6es already, The ne4t ste! s to reg$late labor and ts 3ages, 8e6ertheless# 3hate6er foll es the free !eo!le may comm t# e6en to the !$tt ng of the !o3ers of leg slat on n the hands of the l ttle com!etent and less honest# des!a r not of the f nal res$lt, The terr ble teacher# EPPERIE8%E# 3r t ng h s lessons on hearts desolated 3 th calam ty and 3r$ng by agony# 3 ll ma/e thelll 3 ser n t me, Pretence and gr mace and sord d beggary for 6otes 3 ll some day cease to a6a l, -a6e "AIT-# and str$ggle on# aga nst all e6 l nfl$ences and d sco$ragementsO "AIT- s the Sa6 o$r and Redeemer of nat ons, ;hen %hr st an ty had gro3n 3ea/# !rof tless# and !o3erless# the Arab Restorer and Iconoclast came# l /e a cleans ng h$rr cane, ;hen the battle of Damasc$s 3as abo$t to be fo$ght# the %hr st an b sho!# at the early da3n# n h s robes# at the head of h s clergy# 3 tll trle %ross once so tr $m!hant ra sed n the a r# came do3n to the gates of the c ty# and la d o!en before the army the Testament of %hr st, The %hr st an general# T-OMAS# la d h s hand on the boo/# and sa d# @Oh God O If o$r fa th be tr$e# a d $s# and del 6er $s not nto the hands of ts enem esO@ B$t K-ALED# @the S3ord of God#@ 3ho had marched from 6 ctory to 6 ctory# e4cla med to h s 3ear ed sold ers# @Let no man slee!O There 3 ll be rest eno$gh n the bo3ers of Parad seG s3eet 3 ll be the re!ose ne6er more to be follo3ed by labor,@ The fa th of the Arab had become stronger than that of the %hr st an# and he conE$ered, The S3ord s also# n the B ble# an emblem of SPEE%-# or of the $tterance of tho$ght, Th$s# n that 6 s on or a!ocaly!se of the s$bl me e4 le of Patmos# a !rotest n the name of the deal# o6er3helm ng the real 3orld# a tremendo$s sat re $ttered n the name of Rel g on and L berty# and 3 th ts f ery re6erberat ons sm t ng the throne of the Gesars# a shar! t3oDedged s3ord comes o$t of the mo$th of the Semblance of the Son of Man# enc rcled by the se6en golden candlest c/s# and hold ng n h s r ght hand se6en stars, @The Lord#@ says Isa ah# @hath made my mo$th l /e a

shar! s3ord,@ @I ha6e sla n them#@ says -osea# @by the 3ords of my mo$th,@ @The 3ord of God#@ says the 3r ter of the a!ostol c letter to the -ebre3s# @ s E$ c/ and !o3erf$l# and shar!er than any t3oDedged s3ord# ! erc ng e6en to the d 6 d ng as$nder of so$l and s! r t,@ @The s3ord of the S! r t# 3h ch s the ;ord of God#@ says Pa$l# 3r t ng to the %hr st ans at E!hes$s, @I 3 ll f ght aga nst them 3 th the s3ord of my mo$th#@ t s sa d n the A!ocaly!se# to the angel of the ch$rch at Pergamos, K K K K K K The s!o/en d sco$rse may roll on strongly as the great t dal 3a6eG b$t# l /e the 3a6e# t d es at last feebly on the sands, It s heard by fe3# remembered by st ll fe3er# and fades a3ay# l /e an echo n the mo$nta ns# lea6 ng no to/en of !o3er, It s noth ng to tlle l 6 ng and com ng generat ons of men, It 3as the 3r tten h$lllan s!eech# that ga6e !o3er and !ermanence to h$man tho$ght, It s th s that ma/es the 3hole h$man h story b$t one nd 6 d$al l fe, To 3r te on the roc/ s to 3r te on a sol d !archmentG b$t t reE$ res a ! lgr mage to see t, There s b$t one co!y# and T me 3ears e6en that, To 3r te on s/ ns or !a!yr$s 3as to g 6e# as t 3ere# b$t one tardy ed t on# and the r ch only co$ld !roc$re t, The %h nese stereoty!ed not only the $nchang ng 3 sdom of o d sages# b$t also the !ass ng e6ents, The !rocess tended to s$ffocate tho$ght# and to h nder !rogressG for there s cont n$al 3ander ng n the 3 sest m nds# and Tr$th 3r tes her last 3ords# not on clean tablets# b$t on the scra3l that Error has made and often mended, Pr nt ng made the mo6able letters !rol f c, Thenceforth the orator s!o/e almost 6 s bly to l sten ng nat onsG and the a$thor 3rote# l /e the Po!e# h s cec$men c decrees& $rb et orb # and ordered them to be !osted $! n all the mar/etD!lacesG rema n ng# f he chose# m!er6 o$s to h$man s ght, The doom of tyrann es 3as thenceforth sealed, Sat re and n6ect 6e became !otent as arm es, The $nseen hands of the &$n $ses co$ld la$nch the th$nderbolts# and ma/e the m n sters tremble, One 3h s!er from th s g ant f lls the earth as eas ly as Demosthenes f lled the Agora, It 3 ll soon be heard at the ant !odes as eas ly as n the ne4t street, It tra6els 3 th the l ghtn ng $nder the oceans, It ma/es the mass one man# s!ea/s to t n the same comtnon lang$age# and el c ts a s$re and s ngle res!onse, S!eech !asses nto tho$ght# and thence !rom!tly nto act, A nat on becomes tr$ly one# 3 th one large heart and a s ngle throbb ng !$lse, Men are n6 s bly !resent to each other# as f already s! r t$al be ngsG and the th n/er 3ho

s ts n an Al! ne sol t$de# $n/no3n to or forgotten by all the 3orld# among the s lent herds and h lls# may flash h s 3ords to all tlle c t es and o6er all the seas, Select the th n/ers to be Leg slatorsG and a6o d the gabblers, ; sdom s rarely loE$ac o$s, ;e ght and de!th of tho$gbt are $nfa6orable to 6ol$b l ty, The shallo3 and s$!erf c al are generally 6ol$ble and often !ass for eloE$ent, More 3ords# less tho$ght#DD s the general r$le, The man 3ho endea6ors to say someth ng 3orth remember ng n e6ery sentence# becomes fast d o$s# and condenses l /e Tac t$s, The 6$lgar lo6e a more d ff$se stream, The ornamentat on that does not co6er strength s the ge3ga3s of babble, 8e ther s d alect c s$btlety 6al$able to !$bl c men, The %hr st an fa th has t# had t formerly more than no3G a s$btlety that m ght ha6e entangled Plato# and 3h ch has r 6alled n a fr$ tless fash on the myst c lore of &e3 sh Rabb s and Ind an Sages, It s not th s 3h ch con6erts the heathen, It s a 6a n tas/ to balance the great tho$ghts of the earth# l /e hollo3 stra3s# on the f ngert !s of d s!$tat on, It s not th s / nd of 3arfare 3h cll ma/es the %ross tr $m!hant n the hearts of the $nbel e6ersG b$t the act$al !o3er that l 6es n the "a th, So there s a !ol t cal scholast c sm that s merely $seless, The de4ter t es of s$btle log c rarely st r the hearts of the !eo!le# or con6 nce them, The tr$e a!ostle of L berty# "ratern ty and EE$al ty ma/es t a matter of l fe and death, - s combats are l /e those of Boss$et#DD combats to the death, The tr$e a!ostol c f re s l /e the l ghtn ng( t flashes con6 ct on nto the so$l, The tr$e 3ord s 6er ly a t3oDedged s3ord, Matters of go6ernment and !ol t cal sc ence can be fa rly dealt 3 th only by so$nd reason# and the log c of common sense( not the common sense of the gnorant# b$t of the 3 se, The ac$test th n/ers rarely s$cceed n becom ng leaders of men, A 3atch3ord or a catch3ord s more !otent 3 th the !eo!le than log c# es!ec ally f th s be the least meta!hys cal, ;hen a !ol t cal !ro!het ar ses# to st r the dream ng# stagnant nat on# and hold bac/ ts feet from the rretr e6able descent# to hea6e the land as 3 th an earthE$a/e# and sha/e the s llyDshallo3 dols from the r seats# h s 3ords 66 ll come stra ght from God?s o3n nlo$th# and be th$ndered nto the consc ence, -e 3 ll reason# teach# 3arn# and r$le, The real @S3ord of the S! r t@ s /eener than the br ghtest blade of Damasc$s, S$ch men r$le a land# n the strength of 5$st ce# 3 th 3 sdom and 3 th !o3er, St ll# the men of d alect c s$btlety often r$le 3ell# beca$se n !ract ce they forget the r f nelyDs!$n theor es# and $se the trenchant log c of common sense, B$t

3hen the great heart and large ntellect are left to the r$st n !r 6ate l fe# and small attorneys# bra3lers n !ol t cs# and those 3ho n the c t es 3o$ld be only the cler/s of notar es# or !ract t oners n the d sre!$table co$rts# are made nat onal Leg slators# the co$ntry s n her dotage, e6en f the beard has not yet gro3n $!on her ch n, In a free co$ntry# h$man s!eech m$st needs be freeG and the State m$st l sten to the ma$nder ngs of folly# and the screech ngs of ts geese# and the bray ngs of ts asses# as 3ell as to the golden oracles of ts 3 se and great men, E6en the des!ot c old / ngs allo3ed the r 3 se fools to say 3hat they l /ed, The tr$e alchelll st 3 ll e4tract the lessons of 3 sdom from the babbl ngs of folly, -e 3 ll hear 3hat a man has to say on any g 6en s$b5ect# e6en f the s!ea/er end only n !ro6 ng h mself !r nce of fools, E6en a fool 3 ll somet mes h t the mar/, There s some tr$th n all men 3ho are not com!elled to s$!!ress the r so$ls and s!ea/ other men?s tho$ghts, The f nger e6en of the d ot may !o nt to the great h gh3ay, A !eo!le# as 3ell as the sages# m$st learn to forget, If t ne ther learns the ne3 nor forgets the old# t s fated# e6en f t has been royal for th rty generat ons, To $nlearn s to learnG and also t s somet mes needf$l to learn aga n the forgotten, The ant cs of fools ma/e the c$rrent foll es more !al!able# as fash ons are sho3n to be abs$rd by car cat$res# 3h ch so lead to the r e4t r!at on, The b$ffoon and the <any are $sef$l n the r !laces, The ngen o$s art f cer and craftsman# l /e Solomon# searches the earth for h s mater als# and transforms the m ssha!en matter nto glor o$s 3or/mansh !, The 3orld s conE$ered by the head e6en more than by the hands, 8or 3 ll any assembly tal/ fore6er, After a t me# 3hen t has l stened long eno$gh# t E$ etly !$ts the s lly# the shallo3# and the s$!erf c al to one s de#DD t th n/s# and sets to 3or/, The h$man tho$ght# es!ec ally n !o!$lar assembl es# r$ns n the most s ng$larly croo/ed channels# harder to trace and follo3 than the bl nd c$rrents of the ocean, 8o not on s so abs$rd that t may not f nd a !lace there, The masterD3or/man m$st tra n these not ons and 6agar es 3 th h s t3oDhanded hammer, They t3 st o$t of the 3ay of the s3ordDthr$stsG and are n6$lnerable all o6er# e6en n the heel# aga nst log c, The martel or mace# the battleDa4e# the great do$bleDedged t3oDhanded s3ord m$st deal 3 th foll esG the ra! er s no better aga nst them than a 3and# $nless t be the ra! er of r d c$le,

The S;ORD s also the symbol of 3ar and of the sold er, ;ars# l /e th$nderDstorms# are often necessary to !$r fy the stagnant atmos!here, ;ar s not a demon# 3 tho$t remorse or re3ard, It restores the brotherhood n letters of f re, ;hen men are seated n the r !leasant !laces# s$n/en n ease and ndolence# 3 th Pretence and Inca!ac ty and L ttleness $s$r! ng all the h gh !laces of State# 3ar s the ba!t sm of blood and f re# by 3h ch alone they can be reno6ated, It s the h$rr cane that br ngs the elemental eE$ l br $m# the concord of Po3er and ; sdom, So long as these cont n$e obst nately d 6orced# t 3 ll cont n$e to chasten, In the m$t$al a!!eal of nat ons to God# there s the ac/no3ledgment of - s m ght, It l ghts the beacons of "a th and "reedom# and heats the f$rnace thro$gh 3h ch the earnest and loyal !ass to mmortal glory, There s n 3ar the doom of defeat# the E$enchless sense of D$ty# the st rr ng sense of -onor# the meas$reless solemn sacr f ce of de6otedness# and the ncense of s$ccess, E6en n the flame and smo/e of battle# the Mason d sco6ers h s brother# and f$lf lls the sacred obl gat ons of "ratern ty, T3o# or the D$ad# s the symbol of Antagon smG of Good and E6 l# L ght and Dar/ness, It s %a n and Abel# E6e and L l th# &ach n and Boa<# Orm$<d and Ahr man# Os r s and Ty!hon, T-REE# or the Tr ad# s most s gn f cantly e4!ressed by the eE$ lateral and the r ghtDangled tr angles, There are three !r nc !al colors or rays n the ra nbo3# 3h ch by nterm 4t$re ma/e se6en, The three are the bl$e# the yello;# and the red, The Tr n ty of the De ty# n one mode or other# has been an art cle n all creeds, -e creates# !reser6es# and destroys, -e s the generat 6e !o3er# the !rod$ct 6e ca!ac ty# and the res$lt, The mmater al man# accord ng to the Kabalah# s com!osed of 6 tal ty# or l fe# the breath of l feG of so$l or m nd# and s! r t, Salt# s$l!h$r# and merc$ry are the great symbols of the alchem sts, To them man 3as body# so$l# and s! r t, "O'R s e4!ressed by the sE$are# or fo$rDs ded r ghtDangled f g$re, O$t of the symbol c Garden of Eden flo3ed a r 6er# d 6 d ng nto fo$r streams#DD PISO8# 3h ch flo3s aro$nd the land of gold# or l ghtG GI-O8# 3h ch flo3s aro$nd the land of Eth o! a or Dar/nessG -IDDEKEL# r$nn ng east3ard to Assyr aG and the E'P-RATES, Hechar ah sa3 fo$r char ots com ng o$t from bet3een t3o mo$nta ns of bron<e# n the f rst of 3h ch 3ere red horsesG n the second# blac/G n the th rd# 3h teG and n the fo$rth# gr <<led( @and these 3ere the fo$r 3 nds of the hea6ens# that go forth from stand ng before the Lord of all the earth,@ E<e/ el sa3 the fo$r

l 6 ng creat$res# each 3 th fo$r faces and fo$r 3 ngs# the faces of a man and a l on# an o4 and an eagleG and the fo$r 3heels go ng $!on the r fo$r s desG and Sa nt &ohn beheld the fo$r beasts# f$ll of eyes before and beh nd# the LIO8# the yo$ng O4# the MA8# and the fly ng EAGLE, "o$r 3as the s gnat$re of the Earth, Therefore# n the ):*th Psalm# of those 3ho m$st !ra se the Lord on the land# there are fo$r t mes fo$r# and fo$r n !art c$lar of l 6 ng creat$res, F s ble nat$re s descr bed as the fo$r E$arters of the 3orld# and the fo$r corners of the earth, @There are fo$r#@ says the old &e3 sh say ng# @3h ch ta/e the f rst !lace n th s 3orld( man# among the creat$resG the eagle among b rdsG the o4 among cattleG and the l on among 3 ld beasts,@ Dan el sa3 fo$r great beasts come $! from the sea, "IFE s the D$ad added to the Tr ad, It s e4!ressed by the f 6eD!o nted or bla< ng star# the myster o$s Pental!ha of Pythagoras, It s nd ssol$bly connected 3 th the n$mber se6en, %hr st fed - s d sc !les and the m$lt t$de 3 th f 6e loa6es and t3o f shes# and of the fragments there rema ned t3el6e# that s# f 6e and se6en# bas/ets f$ll, Aga n -e fed them 3 th se6en loa6es and a fe3 l ttle f shes# and there rema ned se6en bas/ets f$ll, The f 6e a!!arently small !lanets# Merc$ry# Fen$s# Mars# &$! ter# and Sat$rn# 3 th the t3o greater ones# the S$n and Moon# const t$ted the se6en celest al s!heres, SEFE8 3as the !ec$l arly sacred n$mber, There 3ere se6en !lanets and s!heres !res ded o6er by se6en archangels, There 3ere se6en colors n the ra nbo3G and the Phoen c an De ty 3as called the -EPTAKIS or God of se6en raysG se6en days of the 3ee/G and se6en and f 6e made the n$mber of months# tr bes# ancl a!ostles, Hechar ah sa3 a golden candlest c/# 3 th se6en lam!s and se6en ! !es to the lam!s# and an ol 6eDtree on each s de, S nce he says# @the se6en eyes of the Lord shall re5o ce# and shall see the !l$mmet n the hand of Her$bbabel,@ &ohn# n the A!ocaly!se# 3r tes se6en e! stles to the se6en ch$rches, In the se6en e! stles there are t3el6e !rom ses, ;hat s sa d of the ch$rches n !ra se or blame# s com!leted n the n$mber three, The refra n# @3ho has ears to hear#@ etc,# has ten 3ords# d 6 ded by three and se6en# and the se6en by three and fo$rG and the se6en e! stles are also so d 6 ded, In the seals# tr$m!ets# and 6 als# also# of th s symbol c 6 s on# the se6en are d 6 ded by fo$r and three, -e 3ho sends h s message to E!hes$s# @holds the se6en stars n h s r ght hand# and 3al/s am d the se6en golden lam!s,@ In s 4 days# or !er ods# God created the 'n 6erse# and !a$sed on the se6enth day, Of clean beasts# 8oah 3as d rected to ta/e by se6ens nto the

ar/G and of fo3ls by se6ensG beca$se n se6en days the ra n 3as to commence, On the se6enteenth day of the month, the ra n beganG on the se6enteenth day of the se6enth month# the ar/ rested on Ararat, ;hen the do6e ret$rned# 8oah 3a ted se6en days before he sent her forth aga nG and aga n se6en# after she ret$rned 3 th the ol 6eDleaf, Enoch 3as the se6enth !atr arch# Adam ncl$ded# and Lamech l 6ed +++ years, There 3ere se6en lam!s n the great candlest c/ of the Tabernacle and Tem!le# re!resent ng the se6en !lanets, Se6en t mes Moses s!r n/led the ano nt ng o l $!on the altar, The days of consecrat on of Aaron and h s sons 3ere se6en n n$mber, A 3oman 3as $nclean se6en days after ch ldD b rthG one nfected 3 th le!rosy 3as sh$t $! se6en daysG se6en t mes the le!er 3as s!r n/led 3 th the blood of a sla n b rdG and se6en days after3ards he m$st rema n abroad o$t of h s tent, Se6en t mes# n !$r fy ng the le!er# the !r est 3as to s!r n/le the consecrated o lG and se6en t mes to s!r n/le 3 th the blood of the sacr f ced b rd the ho$se to be !$r f ed, Se6en t mes the blood of the sla n b$lloc/ 3as s!r n/led on the mercyDseatG and se6en t mes on the altar, The se6enth year 3as a Sabbath of restG and at the end of se6en t mes se6en years came the great year of 5$b lee, Se6en days the !eo!le ate $nlea6ened bread# n the month of Ab b, Se6en 3ee/s 3ere co$nted from the t me of f rst !$tt ng the s c/le to the 3heat, The "east of the Tabernacles lasted se6en days, Israel 3as n the hand of M d an se6en years before G deon del 6ered them, The b$lloc/ sacr f ced by h m 3as se6en years old, Samson told Del lah to b nd h m 3 th se6en green 3 thesG and she 3o6e the se6en loc/s of h s head# and after3ards sha6ed them off, Balaam told Bara/ to b$ ld for h m se6en altars, &acob ser6ed se6en years for Leah and se6en for Rachel, &ob had se6en sons and three da$ghters# ma/ ng the !erfect n$mber ten, -e had also se6en tho$sand shee! and three tho$sand camels, - s fr ends sat do3n 3 th h m se6en days and se6en n ghts, - s fr ends 3ere ordered to sacr f ce se6en b$lloc/s and se6en ramsG and aga n# at the end# he had se6en sons and three da$ghters# and t3 ce se6en tho$sand shee!# and l 6ed an h$ndred and forty# or t3 ce se6en t mes ten years, Pharaoh sa3 n h s dream se6en fat and se6en lean / ne# se6en good ears and se6en blasted ears of 3heatG and there 3ere se6en years of !lenty# and se6en of fam ne, &er cho fell# 3hen se6en !r ests# 3 th se6en tr$m!ets# made the c rc$ t of the c ty on se6en s$ccess 6e daysG once each day for s 4 days# and se6en t mes on the se6enth, @The se6en eyes of the Lord#@ says Hechar ah# @r$n to and fro thro$gh the 3hole earth,@ Solomon 3as se6en years n b$ ld ng the Tem!le, Se6en angels# n the A!ocaly!se# !o$r o$t se6en !lag$es# from se6en 6 als of 3rath, The scarletDcolored beast# on

3h ch the 3oman s ts n the 3 lderness# has se6en heads and ten horns, So also has the beast that r ses '! o$t of the sea, Se6en th$nders $ttered the r 6o ces, Se6en angels so$nded se6en tr$m!ets, Se6en lam!s of f re# the se6en s! r ts of God# b$rned before the throneG and the Lamb that 3as sla n had se6en horns and se6en eyes, EIG-T s the f rst c$be# that of t3o, 8I8E s the sE$are of three# and re!resented by the tr !le tr angle, TE8 ncl$des all the other n$mbers, It s es!ec ally se6en and threeG and s called the n$mber of !erfect on, Pythagoras re!resented t by the TETRA%T.S# 3h ch had many myst c mean ngs, Th s symbol s somet mes com!osed of dots or !o nts# somet mes of commas or yods# and n the Kabalah# of the letters of the name of De ty, It s th$s arranged( # # # # # # # # # # The Patr archs from Adam to 8oah# ncl$s 6e# are ten n n$mber# and the same n$mber s that of the %ommandments, T;ELFE s the n$mber of the l nes of eE$al length that form a c$be, It s the n$mber of the months# the tr bes# and the a!ostlesG of the o4en $nder the Bra<en Sea# of the stones on the breastD!late of the h gh !r est,

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE

Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), 9C D Master

To $nderstand l terally the symbols and allegor es of Or ental boo/s as to anteDh stor cal matters# s 3 llf$lly to close o$r eyes aga nst the L ght, To translate the symbols nto the tr 6 al and common!lace# s the bl$nder ng of med ocr ty, All rel g o$s e4!ress on s symbol smG s nce 3e can descr be only 3hat 3e see# and the tr$e ob5ects of rel g on are T-E SEE8, The earl est nstr$ments of ed$cat on 3ere symbolsG and they and all other rel g o$s forms d ffered and st ll d ffer accord ng to e4ternal c rc$mstances and magery# and accord ng to d fferences of /no3ledge and mental c$lt 6at on, All lang$age s symbol c# so far as t s a!!l ed to mental and s! r t$al !henomena and act on, All 3ords ha6e# !r mar ly# a mater al sense# ho3e6er they may after3ard get# for the gnorant# a s! r t$al nonD sense, @To retract#@ for e4am!le# s to dra3 bac/# and 3hen a!!l ed to a statement# s symbol c# as m$ch so as a ! ct$re of an arm dra3n bac/# to e4!ress the same th ng# 3o$ld be, The 6ery 3ord @s! r t@ means @breath#@ fro m the Lat n 6erb s! ro# breathe, To !resent a 6 s ble symbol to the eye of another s not necessar ly to nform h m of the mean ng 3h ch that symbol has to yo$, -ence the !h loso!her soon s$!eradded to the symbols e4!lanat ons addressed to the ear# s$sce!t ble of more !rec s on# b$t less effect 6e and m!ress 6e than the !a nted or sc$l!t$red forms 3h ch he endea6ored to e4!la n, O$t of these e4!lanat ons gre3 by degrees a 6ar ety of narrat ons# 3hose tr$e ob5ect and mean ng 3ere grad$ally forgotten# or lost n contrad ct ons and ncongr$ t es, And 3hen these 3ere abandoned# and Ph loso!hy resorted to def n t ons and form$las# ts lang$age 3as b$t a more com!l cated symbol sm# attem!t ng n the dar/ to gra!!le 3 th and ! ct$re deas m!oss ble to be e4!ressed, "or as 3 th the 6 s ble symbol# so 3 th the 3ord( to $tter t to yo$ does not nform yo$ of the e4act mean ng 3h ch t has to meG and th$s rel g on and !h loso!hy became to a great e4tent

d s!$tes as to the mean ng of 3ords, The most abstract e4!ress on for DEIT.# 3h ch lang$age can s$!!ly# s b$t a s gn or symbol for an ob5ect beyond o$r com!rehens on# and not more tr$thf$l and adeE$ate than the mages of OSIRIS and FIS-8'# or the r names# e4ce!t as be ng less sens$o$s and e4!l c t, ;e a6o d sens$o$sness only by resort ng to s m!le negat on, ;e come at last to def ne s! r t by say ng that t s not matter, S! r t sDDs! r t, A s ngle e4am!le of the symbol sm of 3ords 3 ll nd cate to yo$ one branch of Mason c st$dy, ;e f nd n the Engl sh R te th s !hrase( @I 3 ll al3ays ha l# e6er conceal# and ne6er re6ealG@ and n the %atech sm# these( I,?, @I ha l,@ A,?, @I conceal#@ and gnorance# m s$nderstand ng the 3ord @ha l#@ has nter!olated the !hrase# @"rom 3hence do yo$ ha l,@ B$t the 3ord s really @hele#@ from the AngloDSa4on 6erb elan# helan# to co6er# h de# or conceal, And th s 3ord s rendered by the Lat n 6erb tegere# to co6er or roof o6er, @That ye fro me no thynge 3oll hele#@ says Go3er, @They hele fro me no !r $yte#@ says the Roma$nt of the Rose, @To heal a ho$se#@ s a common !hrase n S$sse4G and n the 3est of England# he that co6ers a ho$se 3 th slates s called a -ealer, ;herefore# to @heal@ means the same th ng as to @t le#@DD tself symbol c# as mean ng# !r mar ly# to co6er a ho$se 3 th t les#DDand means to co6er# h de# or conceal, Th$s lang$age too s symbol sm# and 3ords are as m$ch m s$nderstood and m s$sed as more mater al symbols are, Symbol sm tended cont n$ally to become more com!l catedG and all the !o3ers of -ea6en 3ere re!rod$ced on earth# $nt l a 3eb of f ct on and allegory 3as 3o6en# !artly by art and !artly by the gnorance of error# 3h ch the 3 t of man# 3 th h s l m ted means of e4!lanat on# 3 ll ne6er $nra6el, E6en the -ebre3 The sm became n6ol6ed n symbol sm and mageD3orsh !# borro3ed !robably from an older creed and remote reg ons of As a#DDthe 3orsh ! of the Great Sem t c 8at$reDGod AL or ELS and ts symbol cal re!resentat ons of &E-OFA - mself 3ere not e6en conf ned to !oet cal or ll$strat 6e lang$age, The !r ests 3ere monothe sts( the !eo!le dolaters,

There are dangers nse!arable from symbol sm# 3h ch afford an m!ress 6e lesson n regard to the s m lar r s/s attendant on the $se of lang$age, The mag nat on# called n to ass st the reason# $s$r!s ts !lace or lea6es ts ally hel!lessly entangled n ts3eb, 8ames 3h ch stand for th ngs are confo$nded 3 th themG the means are m sta/en for the endG the nstr$ment of nter!retat on for the ob5ectG and th$s symbols come to $s$r! an nde!endent character as tr$ths and !ersons, Tho$gh !erha!s a necessary !ath# they 3ere a dangero$s one by 3h ch to a!!roach the De tyG n 3h ch many# says PL'TAR%-# @m sta/ ng the s gn for the th ng s gn f ed# fell nto a r d c$lo$s s$!erst t onG 3h le others# n a6o d ng one e4treme# !l$nged nto the no less h deo$s g$lf of rrel g on and m! ety,@ It s thro$gh the Myster es# %I%ERO says# that 3e ha6e learned the f rst !r nc !les of l feG 3herefore the term @ n t at on@ s $sed 3 th good reasonG and they not only teach $s to l 6e more ha!! ly and agrceably# b$t they soften the !a ns of death by the ho!e of a better l fe hereafter, The Myster es 3ere a Sacred Drama# e4h b t ng some legend s gn f cant of nat$re?s changes# of the 6 s ble 'n 6erse n 3h ch the D 6 n ty s re6ealed# and 3hose m!ort 3as n many res!ects as o!en to the Pagan as to the %hr st an, 8at$re s thc great Teacher of manG for t s the Re6elat on of God, It ne ther dogmat <es nor attem!ts to tyrann <e by com!ell ng to a !art c$lar creed or s!ec al nter!retat on, It !resents ts symbols to $s# and adds noth ng by 3ay of e4!lanat on, It s the te4t 3 tho$t the commentaryG and# as 3e 3ell /no3# t s ch efly the commentary and gloss that lead to error and heresesy and !ersec$t on, The earl est nstr$ctors of man/ nd not only ado!ted the lessons of 8at$re# b$t as far as !oss ble adhered to her method of m!art ng them, In the Myster es# beyond the c$rrent trad t ons or sacred and en g mat c rec tals of the Tem!les# fe3 e4!lanat ons 3ere g 6en to the s!ectators# 3ho 3ere left# as n the school of nat$re# to ma/e nferences for themsel6es, 8o other method co$ld ha6e s$ ted e6ery degree of c$lt 6at on and ca!ac ty, To em!loy nat$re?s $n 6ersal symbol sm nstead of the techn cal t es of lang$age# re3ards the h$mblest nE$ rer# and d scloses ts secrets to e6ery one n !ro!ort on to h s !re!aratory tra n ng and h s !o3er to con)!rellend them, If the r !h loso!h cal mean ng 3as abo6e the coml rellens on of some# the r moral and !ol t cal meanlngs are 3 th n the reach of all, These myst c sho3s and !erformances 3ere not the read ng of a lect$re# b$t the o!en ng of a !roblem, ReE$ r ng research# they 3ere calc$lated to aro$se the dormant ntellect, They m!l ed no host l ty to Ph loso!hy# beca$se Ph loso!hy s the great e4!o$nder of symbol smG altho$gh ts

anc ent nter!retat ons 3ere often llfo$nded and ncorrect, The alterat on fro m symbol to dogma s fatal to bea$ty of e4!ress on# and leads to ntolerance and ass$med nfall b l ty, K K K K K K If# n teach ng the great doctr ne of the d 6 ne nat$re of the So$l# and n str 6 ng to e4!la n ts long ngs after mmortal ty# and n !ro6 ng ts s$!er or ty o6er the so$ls of the an mals# 3h ch ha6e no as! rat ons -ea6en3ard# the anc ents str$ggled n 6a n to e4!ress the nat$re of the so$l# by com!ar ng t to "IRE and LIG-T# t 3 ll be 3ell for $s to cons der 3hether# 3 th all o$r boasted /no3ledge# 3e ha6e any better or clearer dea of ts nat$re# and 3hether 3e ha6e not des!a r ngly ta/en ref$ge n ha6 ng none at all, And f they erred as to ts or g nal !lace of abode# and $nderstood l terally the mode and !ath of ts descent# these 3ere b$t the accessor es of the great Tr$th# and !robably# to the In t ates# mere allegor es# des gned to ma/e the dea more !al!able and m!ress 6e to the m nd, They are at least no more f t to be sm led at by the selfDconce t of a 6a n gnorance# the 3ealth of 3hose /no3ledge cons sts solely n 3ords# than the bosom of Abraham# as a home for the s! r ts of the 5$st deadG the g$lf of act$al f re# for the eternal tort$re of s! r tsG and the % ty of the 8e3 &er$salem# 3 th ts 3alls of 5as!er and ts ed f ces of !$re gold l /e clear glass# ts fo$ndat ons of !rec o$s stones# and ts gates each of a s ngle !earl, @I /ne3 a man#@ says PA'L# @ca$ght $! to the th rd -ea6enG,,,, that he 3as ca$ght $! nto Parad se# and heard neffable 3ords# 3h ch t s not !oss ble for a man to $tter,@ And no3here s the antagon sm and confl ct bet3een the s! r t and body more freE$ently and forc bly ns sted on than n the 3r t ngs of th s a!ostle# no3here the D 6 ne nat$re of the so$l more strongly asserted, @; th the m nd#@ he says# @I ser6e the la3 of GodG b$t 3 th the flesh the la3 of s n,,,,As many as are led by the S! r t of God# are the sons of GOD,,,, The earnest e4!ectat on of the created 3a ts for the man festat on of the sons of God,,,, The created shall be del 6ered from the bondage of corr$!t on# of the flesh l able to decay# nto the glor o$s l berty of the ch ldren of God,@ K K K K K K

T3o forms of go6ernment are fa6orable to the !re6alence of falsehood and dece t, 'nder a Des!ot sm# men are false# treachero$s# and dece tf$l thro$gh fear# l /e sla6es dread ng the lash, 'nder a Democracy they are so as a means of atta n ng !o!$lar ty and off ce# and beca$se of the greed for 3ealth, E4!er ence 3 ll !robably !ro6e that these od o$s and detestable 6 ces 3 ll gro3 most ran/ly and s!read most ra! dly n a Re!$bl c, ;hen off ce and 3ealth become the gods of a !eo!le# and the most $n3orthy and $nf t most as! re to the former# and fra$d becomes the h gh3ay to the latter# the land 3 ll ree/ 3 th falsehood and s3eat l es and ch cane, ;hen the off ces are o!en to all# mer t and stern ntegr ty and the d gn ty of $ns$ll ed honor 3 ll atta n them only rarely and by acc dent, To be able to ser6e the co$ntry 3ell# 3 ll cease to be a reason 3hy the great and 3 se and learned sho$ld be selected to render ser6 ce, Other E$al f cat ons# less honorable# 3 ll be more a6a lable, To ada!t one?s o! n ons to the !o!$lar h$morG to defend# a!olog <e for# and 5$st fy the !o!$lar foll esG to ad6ocate the e4!ed ent and the !la$s bleG to caress# ca5ole# and flatter the electorG to beg l /e a s!an el for h s 6ote# e6en f he be a negro three remo6es from barbar smG to !rofess fr endsh ! for a com!et tor and stab h m by nn$endoG to set on foot that 3h ch at th rd hand shall become a l e# be ng co$s nDgerman to t 3hen $ttered# and yet ca!able of be ng e4!la ned a3ay#DD3ho s there that has not seen these lo3 arts and base a!!l ances !$t nto !ract ce# and becom ng general# $nt l s$ccess cannot be s$rely had by any more honorable means JDDthe res$lt be ng a State r$led and r$ ned by gnorant and shallo3 med ocr ty# !ert selfDconce t# the greenness of $nr !e ntellect# 6a n of a schoolDboy?s smatter ng of /no3ledge, The fa thless and the false n !$bl c and n !ol t cal l fe# 3 ll be fa thless and false n !r 6ate, The 5oc/ey n !ol t cs# l /e the 5oc/ey on the raceD co$rse# s rotten from s/ n to core, E6ery3here he 3 ll see f rst to h s o3n nterests# and 3hoso leans on h m 3 ll be ! erced 3 th a bro/en reed, - s amb t on s gnoble# l /e h mselfG and therefore he 3 ll see/ to atta n omce by gnoble means# as he 3 ll see/ to atta n any other co6eted ob5ect#DDland# money# or re!$tat on, At length# off ce and honor are d 6orced, The !lace that the small and shallo3# the /na6e or the tr c/ster# s deemed com!etent and f t to f ll# ceases to be 3orthy the amb t on of the great and ca!ableG or f not# these shr n/ from a contest# the 3ea!ons to be $sed 3here n are $nf t for a gentleman to handle, Then the hab ts of $n!r nc !led ad6ocates n la3 co$rts are nat$ral <ed n Senates# and !ett foggers 3rangle there# 3hen the fate of the nat on and the l 6es of m ll ons are at sta/e, States are e6en

begotten by 6 lla ny and bro$ght forth by fra$d# and rascal t es are 5$st f ed by leg slators cla m ng to be honorable, Then contested elect ons are dec ded by !er5$red 6otes or !arty cons derat onsG and all the !ract ces of the 3orst t mes of corr$!t on are re6 6ed and e4aggerated n Re!$bl cs, It s strange that re6erence for tr$th# that manl ness and gen$ ne loyalty# and scorn of l ttleness and $nfa r ad6antage# and gen$ ne fa th and godl ness and largeDheartedness sho$ld d m n sh# among statesmen and !eo!le# as c 6 l <at on ad6ances# and freedom becomes more general# and $n 6ersal s$ffrage m!l es $n 6ersal 3orth and f tness O In the age of El <abeth# 3 tho$t $n 6ersal s$ffrage# or Soc et es for the D ff$s on of 'sef$l Kno3ledge# or !o!$lar lect$rers# or Lycaea# the statesman# the merchant# the b$rgher# the sa lor# 3ere all al /e hero c# fear ng God only# and man not at all, Let b$t a h$ndred or t3o years ela!se# and n a Monarchy or Re!$bl c of the same race# noth ng s less hero c than the merchant# the shre3d s!ec$lator# the off ceDsee/er# fear ng man only# and God not at all, Re6erence for greatness d es o$t# and s s$cceeded by base en6y of greatness, E6ery man s n the 3ay of many# e ther n the !ath to !o!$lar ty or 3ealth, There s a general feel ng of sat sfact on 3hen a great statesman s d s!laced# or a general# 3ho has been for h s br ef ho$r the !o!$lar dol# s $nfort$nate and s n/s from h s h gh estate, It becomes a m sfort$ne# f not a cr me# to be abo6e the !o!$lar le6el, ;e sho$ld nat$rally s$!!ose that a nat on n d stress 3o$ld ta/e co$nsel 3 th the 3 sest of ts sons, B$t# on the contrary# great men seem ne6er so scarce as 3hen they are most needed# and small men ne6er so bold to ns st on nfest ng !lace# as 3hen med ocr ty and nca!able !retence and so!homor c greenness# and sho3y and s!r ghtly ncom!etency are most dangero$s, ;hen "rance 3as n the e4trem ty of re6ol$t onary agony# she 3as go6erned by an assembly of !ro6 nc al !ett foggers# and Robes! erre# Marat# and %o$thon r$led n the !lace of M rabea$# Fergn a$d# and %arnot, England 3as go6erned by the R$m! Parl ament# after she had beheaded her / ng, %rom3ell e4t ng$ shed one body# and 8a!oleon the other, "ra$d# falsehood# tr c/ery# and dece t n nat onal affa rs are the s gns of decadence n States and !recede con6$ls ons or !aralys s, To b$lly the 3ea/ and cro$ch to the strong# s the !ol cy of nat ons go6erned by small med ocr ty, The tr c/s of the can6ass for off ce are reDenacted n Senates, The E4ec$t 6e becomes the d s!enser of !atronage# ch efly to the most $n3orthyG and men are br bed 3 th off ces nstead of money# to the greater r$ n of the %ommon3ealth, The D 6 ne n h$man nat$re d sa!!ears# and

nterest# grced# and self shness ta/es t !lace, That s a sad and tr$e allegory 3h ch re!resents the com!an ons of 'lysses changed by the enchantments of % rce nto s3 ne, K K K K K @.e cannot#@ sa d the Great Teacher# @ser6e God and Mammon,@ ;hen the th rst for 3ealth becomes general# t 3 ll be so$ght for as 3ell d shonestly as honestlyG by fra$ds and o6erreach ngs# by the /na6er es of trade# the heartlessness of greedy s!ec$lat on# by gambl ng n stoc/s and commod t es that soon demoral <es a 3hole comm$n ty, Men 3 ll s!ec$late $!on the needs of the r ne ghbors and the d stresses of the r co$ntry, B$bbles that# b$rst ng# m!o6er sh m$lt t$des# 3 ll be blo3n $! by c$nn ng /na6ery# 3 th st$! d cred$l ty as ts ass stants and nstr$ment, -$ge ban/r$!tc es# that startle a co$ntry l /e the earthE$a/es# and are more fatal# fra$d$lent ass gnments# eng$lfment of the sa6 ngs of the !oor# e4!ans ons and colla!ses of the c$rrency# the crash of ban/s# the de!rec at on of Go6ernment sec$r t es# !rey on the sa6 ngs of selfDden al# and tro$ble 3 th the r de!redat ons the f rst no$r shment of nfancy and the last sands of l fe# and f ll 3 th nmates the ch$rchyards and l$nat c asyl$ms, B$t the shar!er and s!ec$lator thr 6es and fattens, If h s co$ntry s f ght ng by a le6y en masse for her 6ery e4 stence# he a ds her by de!rec at ng her !a!er# so that he may acc$m$late fab$lo$s amo$nts 3 th l ttle o$tlay, If h s ne ghbor s d stressed# he b$ys h s !ro!erty for a song, If he adm n sters $!on an estate# t t$rns o$t nsol6ent# and the or!hans are !a$!ers, If h s ban/ e4!lodes# he s fo$nd to ha6e ta/en care of h mself n t me, Soc ety 3orsh !s ts !a!erDandDcred t / ngs# as the old - nd$s and Egy!t ans 3orsh !!ed the r 3orthless dols# and often the most obseE$ o$sly 3hen n act$al sol d 3ealth they are the 6er est !a$!ers, 8o 3onder men th n/ there o$ght to be another 3orld# n 3h ch the n5$st ces of th s may be atoned for# 3hen they see the fr ends of r$ ned fam l es begg ng the 3ealthy shar!ers to g 6e alms to !re6ent the or!haned 6 ct ms fro m star6 ng# $nt l they may f nd3ays of s$!!ort ng themsel6es, K K K K K K States are ch efly a6ar c o$s of commerce and of terr tory, The latter leads to the 6 olat on of treat es# encroachments $!on feeble ne ghbors# and ra!ac ty to3ard the r 3ards 3hose lands are co6eted, Re!$bl cs are# n th s# as ra!ac o$s and $n!r nc !led as Des!ots# ne6er learn ng from h story that nord nate e4!ans on by ra! ne and fra$d has ts ne6 table

conseE$ences n d smen)berment or s$b5$gat on, ;hen a Re!$bl c beg ns to !l$nder ts ne ghbors# the 3ords of doom are already 3r tten on ts 3alls, There s a 5$dgment already !rono$nced of God $!on 3hate6er s $nr ghteo$s n the cond$ct of nat onal affa rs, ;hen c 6 l 3ar tears the 6 tals of a Re!$bl c# let t loo/ bac/ and see f t has not been g$ lty of n5$st cesG and f t has# let t h$mble tself n the d$st O

;hen a nat on becomes !ossessed 3 th a s! r t of commerc al greed# beyond those 5$st and fa r l m ts set by a d$e regard to a moderate and reasonable degree of general and nd 6 d$al !ros!er ty# t s a nat on !ossessed by the de6 l of commerc al a6ar ce# a !ass on as gnoble and demoral < ng as a6ar ce n the nd 6 d$alG and as th s sord d !ass on s baser and more $nscr$!$lo$s than amb t on# so t s more hatef$l# and at last ma/es the nfected nat on to be regarded as the enemy of the h$man race, To gras! at the l on?s share of commerce# has al3ays at last !ro6en the r$ n of States# beca$se t n6ar ably leads to n5$st ces that ma/e a State detestableG to a self shness and croo/ed !ol cy that forb d other nat ons to be the fr ends of a State that cares only for tself, %o mmerc al a6ar ce n Ind a 3as the !arent of more atroc t es and greater ra!ac ty# and cost more h$man l 6es# than the nobler amb t on for e4tended em! re of %ons$lar Rome, The nat on that gras!s at the commerce of the 3orld cannot b$t become self sh# calc$lat ng# dead to the noblest m!$lses and sym!ath es 3h ch o$ght to act$ate States, It 3 ll s$bm t to ns$lts that 3o$nd ts honor# rather than endanger ts commerc al nterests by 3arG 3h le# to s$bser6e those nterests# t 3 ll 3age $n5$st 3ar# on false or fr 6olo$s !rete4ts# ts free !eo!le cheerf$lly ally ng themsel6es 3 th des!ots to cr$sh a commerc al r 6al that has dared to e4 le ts / ngs and elect ts o3n r$ler, Th$s the cold calc$lat ons of a sord d selfD nterest# n nat ons commerc ally a6ar c o$s# al3ays at last d s!lace the sent ments and lofty m!$lses of -onor and Generos ty by 3h ch they rose to greatnessG 3h ch made El <abeth and %rom3ell al /e the !rotectors of Protestants beyond the fo$r seas of England# aga nst cro3ned Tyranny and m tred Persec$t onG and# f they had lasted# 3o$ld ha6e forb dden all ances 3 th %<ars and A$tocrats and Bo$rbons to reDenthrone the Tyrann es of Inca!ac ty# and arm the InE$ s t on ane3 3 th ts nstr$ments of tort$re, The so$l of the a6ar c o$s nat on !etr f es# l /e the so$l of the nd 6 d$al 3ho ma/es gold

h s god, The Des!ot 3 ll occas onally act $!on noble and genero$s m!$lses# and hel! the 3ea/ aga nst the strong# the r ght aga nst the 3rong, B$t commerc al a6ar ce s essent ally egot st c# gras! ng# fa thless# o6erreach ng# crafty# cold# $ngenero$s# self sh# and calc$lat ng# controlled by cons derat ons of selfD nterest alone, -eartless and merc less# t has no sent ments of ! ty# sym!athy# or honor# to ma/e t !a$se n ts remorseless careerG and t cr$shes do3n all that s of m!ed ment n ts 3ay# as ts /eels of commerce cr$sh $nder them the m$rm$r ng and $nheeded 3a6es, A 3ar for a great !r nc !le ennobles a nat on, A 3ar for commerc al s$!remacy# $!on some shallo3 !rete4t# s des! cable# and more than a$ght else demonstrates to 3hat mmeas$rable de!ths of baseness men and nat ons can descend, %ommerc al greed 6al$es the l 6es of men no more than t 6al$es the l 6es of ants, The sla6eDtrade s as acce!table to a !eo!le enthralled by that greed# as the trade n 6ory or s! ces# f the !rof ts are as large, It 3 ll byDandDby endea6or to com!o$nd 3 th God and E$ et ts o3n consc ence# by com!ell ng those to 3hom t sold the sla6es t bo$ght or stole# to set them free# and sla$ghter ng them by hecatombs f they ref$se to obey the ed cts of ts !h lanthro!y, &$st ce n no 3 se cons sts n met ng o$t to another that e4act meas$re of re3ard or !$n shment 3h ch 3e th n/ and decree h s mer t# or 3hat 3e call h s cr me# 3h ch s more often merely h s error# deser6es, The 5$st ce of the father s not ncom!at ble 3 th forg 6eness by h m of the errors and offences of h s ch ld, The Inf n te &$st ce of God does not cons st n met ng o$t e4act meas$res of !$n shment for h$man fra lt es and s ns, ;e are too a!t to erect o$r o3n l ttle and narro3 not ons of 3hat s r ght and 5$st nto the la3 of 5$st ce# and to ns st that God shall ado!t that as - s la3G to meas$re off someth ng 3 th o$r o3n l ttle ta!eDl ne# and call t God?s lo6e of 5$st ce, %ont n$ally 3e see/ to ennoble o$r o3n gnoble lo6e of re6enge and retal at on& by m snam ng t 5$st ce, 8or does 5$st ce cons st n str ctly go6ern ng o$r cond$ct to3ard other men by the r g d r$les of legal r ght, If there 3ere a comm$n ty any3here# n 3h ch all stood $!on the str ctness of th s r$le# there sho$ld be 3r tten o6er ts gates# as a 3arn ng to the $nfort$nates des r ng adm ss on to that nhos! table realm# the 3ords 3h ch DA8TE says are 3r tten o6er the great gate of -ell( LET T-OSE ;-O E8TER -ERE LEAFE -OPE BE-I8D O It s not 5$st to !ay the laborer n f eld or factory or 3or/sho! h s c$rrent 3ages and no more# the lo3est mar/etD6al$e of h s labor# for so long only as 3e need that labor and he s able to 3or/G for 3hen s c/ness or old age o6erta/es h m# that s to lea6e h m and h s fam ly to

star6eG and God 3 ll c$rse 3 th calam ty the !eo!le n 3h ch the ch ldren of the laborer o$t of 3or/ eat the bo led grass of the f eld# and mothers strangle the r ch ldren# that they may b$y food for themsel6es 3 th the char table ! ttance g 6en for b$r al e4!enses, The r$les of 3hat s ord nar ly termed @&$st ce#@ may be !$nct l o$sly obser6ed among the fallen s! r ts that are the ar stocracy of -ell, K K K K K K &$st ce# d 6orced from sym!athy# s self sh nd fference# not n the least more la$dable than m santhro! c solat on, There s sym!athy e6en among the ha rDl /e osc llator as# a tr be of s m!le !lants# arm es of 3h ch may be d sco6ered 3 th the a d of the m crosco!e# n the t n est b t of sc$m from a stagnant !ool, "or these 3 ll !lace themsel6es# as f t 3ere by agreement# n se!arate com!an es# on the s de of a 6essel conta n ng them# and seem march ng $!3ard n ro3sG and 3hen a s3arm gro3s 3eary of ts s t$at on# and has a m nd to change ts E$arters# each army holds on ts 3ay 3 tho$t conf$s on or nterm 4t$re# !roceed ng 3 th great reg$lar ty and order# as f $nder the d rect ons of 3 se leaders, The ants and bees g 6e each other m$t$al ass stance# beyond 3hat s reE$ red by that 3h ch h$man creat$res are a!t to regard as the str ct la3 of 5$st ce, S$rely 3e need b$t reflect a l ttle# to be con6 nced that the nd 6 d$al man s b$t a fract on of the $n t of soc ety# and that he s nd ssol$bly connected 3 th the rest of h s race, 8ot only the act ons# b$t the 3 ll and tho$ghts of other men ma/e or mar h s fort$nes# control h s dest n es# are $nto h m l fe or death# d shonor or honor, The e! dem cs# !hys cal and moral# contag o$s and nfect o$s# !$bl c o! n on# !o!$lar del$s ons# enth$s asms# and the other great electr c !henomena and c$rrents# moral and ntellect$al# !ro6e the $n 6ersal sym!athy, The 6ote of a s ngle and obsc$re n)an# the $tterance of selfD3 ll# gnorance# conce t# or s! te# dec d ng an elect on and !lac ng "olly or Inca!ac ty or Baseness n a Senate# n6ol6es the co$ntry n 3ar# s3ee!s a3ay o$r fort$nes# sla$ghters o$r sons# renders the labors of a l fe $na6a l ng# and !$shes on# hel!less# 3 th all o$r ntellect to res st# nto the gra6e, These cons derat ons o$ght to teach $s that 5$st ce to others and to o$rsel6es s the sameG that 3e cannot def ne o$r d$t es by mathemat cal l nes r$led by the sE$are# b$t m$st f ll 3 th them the great c rcle traced by the com!assesG that the c rcle of h$man ty s the l m t# and 3e are b$t the !o nt n ts centre# the dro!s n the great Atlant c# the atom or !art cle#

bo$nd by a mys ter o$s la3 of attract on 3h ch 3e term sym!athy to e6ery other atom n the massG that the !hys cal and moral 3elfare of others cannot be nd fferent to $sG that 3e ha6e a d rect and mmed ate nterest n the !$bl c moral ty and !o!$lar ntell gence# n the 3ellDbe ng and !hys cal comfort of the !eo!le at large, The gnorance of the !eo!le# the r !a$!er sm and dest t$t on# and conseE$ent degradat on# the r br$tal <at on and demoral <at on# are all d seasesG and 3e cannot r se h gh eno$gh abo6e the !eo!le# nor sh$t o$rsel6es $! from them eno$gh# to esca!e the m asmat c contag on and the great magnet c c$rrents, &$st ce s !ec$l arly nd s!ensable to nat ons, The $n5$st State s doomed of God to calam ty and r$ n, Th s s the teach ng of the Eternal ; sdom and of h story, @R ghteo$sness e4alteth a nat onG b$t 3rong s a re!roach to nat ons,@ @The Throne s establ shed by R ghteo$sness, Let the l !s of the R$ler !rono$nce the sentence that s D 6 neG and h s mo$th do no 3rong n 5$dgment O@ The nat on that adds !ro6 nce to !ro6 nce by fra$d and 6 olence# that encroaches on the 3ea/ and !l$nders ts 3ards# and 6 olates ts treat es and the obl gat on of ts contracts# and for the la3 of honor and fa rDdeal ng s$bst t$tes the e4 genc es of greed and the base !rece!ts of !ol cy and craft and the gnoble tenets of e4!ed ency# s !redest ned to destr$ct onG for here# as 3 th the nd 6 d$al# the conseE$ences of 3rong are ne6 table and eternal, A sentence s 3r tten aga nst all that s $n5$st# 3r tten by God n the nat$re of man and n the nat$re of the 'n 6erse# beca$se t s n the nat$re of the Inf n te God, 8o 3rong s really s$ccessf$l, The ga n of n5$st ce s a lossG ts !leas$re# s$ffer ng, In E$ ty often seems to !ros!er# b$t ts s$ccess s ts defeat and shame, If ts conseE$ences !ass by the doer# they fall $!on and cr$sh h s ch ldren, It s a !h loso!h cal# !hys cal# and moral tr$th# n the form of a threat# that God 6 s ts the n E$ ty of the fathers $!on the ch ldren# to the th rd and fo$rth generat on of those 3ho 6 olate - s la3s, After a long 3h le# the day of rec/on ng al3ays comes# to nat on as to nd 6 d$alG and al3ays the /na6e dece 6es h mself# and !ro6es a fa l$re, -y!ocr sy s the homage that 6 ce and 3rong !ay to 6 rt$e and 5$st ce, It s Satan attem!t ng to clothe h mself n the angel c 6est$re of l ght, It s eE$ally detestable n morals# !ol t cs# and rel g onG n the man and n the nat on, To do n5$st ce $nder the !retence of eE$ ty and fa rnessG to re!ro6e 6 ce n !$bl c and comm t t n !r 6ateG to !retend to char table o! n on and censor o$sly condemnG to !rofess the !r nc !les of Mason c benef cence# and close the ear to the 3a l of d stress and the cry of

s$ffer ngG to e$log <e the ntell gence of the !eo!le# and !lot to dece 6e and betray them by means of the r gnorance and s m!l c tyG to !rate of !$r ty# and !ec$lateG of honor# and basely abandon a s n/ ng ca$seG of d s nterestedness# and sell one?s 6ote for !lace and !o3er# are hy!ocr s es as common as they are nfamo$s and d sgracef$l, To steal the l 6ery of the %o$rt of God to ser6e the De6 l 3 thalG to !retend to bel e6e n a God of mercy and a Redeemer of lo6e# and !ersec$te those of a d fferent fa thG to de6o$r 3 do3s? ho$ses# and for a !retence ma/e long !rayersG to !reach cont nence# and 3allo3 n l$stG to nc$lcate h$m l ty# and n !r de s$r!ass L$c ferG to !ay t the# and om t the 3e ght er matters of the la3# 5$dgment# mercy and fa thG to stra n at a gnat# and s3allo3 a camelG to ma/e clean the o$ts de of the c$! and !latter# /ee! ng them f$ll 3 th n of e4tort on and e4cessG to a!!ear o$t3ardly r ghteo$s $nto men# b$t 3 th n be f$ll of hy!ocr sy and n E$ ty# s ndeed to be l /e $nto 3h ted se!$lchres# 3h ch a!!ear bea$t f$l o$t3ard# b$t are 3 th n f$ll of bones of the dead and of all $ncleanness, The Re!$bl c cloa/s ts amb t on 3 th the !retence of a des re and d$ty to @e4tend the area of freedom#@ and cla ms t as ts @man fest dest ny@ to anne4 other Re!$bl cs or the States or Pro6 nces of others to tself# by o!en 6 olence# or $nder obsolete# em!ty# and fra$d$lent t tles, The Em! re fo$nded by a s$ccessf$l sold er# cla ms ts anc ent or nat$ral bo$ndar es# and ma/es necess ty and ts safety tlle !lea for o!en robbery, The great Merchant 8at on# ga n ng foothold n the Or ent# f nds a cont n$al necess ty for e4tend ng ts dom n on by arms# and s$b5$gates Ind a, The great Royalt es and Des!ot sms# 3 tho$t a !lea# !art t on among themsel6es a K ngdom# d smember Poland# and !re!are to 3rangle o6er the dom n ons of the %rescent, To ma nta n the balance of !o3er s a !lea for the obl terat on of States, %arthage# Genoa# and Fen ce# commerc al % t es only# m$st acE$ re terr tory by force or fra$d# and become States, Ale4ander marches to the Ind$sG Tamerlane see/s $n 6ersal em! reG the Saracens conE$er S!a n and threaten F enna, The th rst for !o3er s ne6er sat sf ed, It s nsat able, 8e ther men nor nat ons e6er ha6e !o3er eno$gh, ;hen Rome 3as the m stress of the 3orld# the Em!erors ca$sed themsel6es to be 3orsh !!ed as gods, The %h$rch of Rome cla med des!ot sm o6er the so$l# and o6er the 3hole l fe fro m the cradle to the gra6e, It ga6e and sold absol$t ons for !ast and f$t$re s ns, It cla med to be nfall ble n matters of fa th, It dec mated E$ro!e to !$rge t of heret cs, It dec mated Amer ca to con6ert the Me4 cans and Per$6 ans, It ga6e and too/ a3ay thronesG and by e4comm$n cat on and nterd ct closed the gates of Parad se aga nst

8at ons# S!a n# ha$ghty 3 th ts dom n on o6er the Ind es# endea6ored to cr$sh o$t Protestant sm n the 8etherlands# 3h le Ph l ! the Second marr ed the I$een of England# and the !a r so$ght to 3 n that / ngdom bac/ to ts alleg ance to the Pa!al throne, After3ard S!a n attem!ted to conE$er t 3 th her @ n6 nc ble@ Armada, 8a!oleon set h s relat 6es and ca!ta ns on thrones# and !arcelled among them half of E$ro!e, The %<ar r$les o6er an em! re more g gant c than Rome, The h story of all s or 3 ll be the same#DDacE$ s t on# d smemberment# r$ n, There s a 5$dgment of God aga nst all that s $n5$st, To see/ to s$b5$gate the 3 ll of others and ta/e the so$l ca!t 6e# beca$se t s the e4erc se of thc h ghest !o3er# seems to be the h ghest ob5ect of h$man amb t on, It s at the bottom of all !roselyt ng and !ro!agand sm# fro m that of Mesmer to that of the %h$rch of Rome and the "rench Re!$bl c, That 3as the a!ostolate al /e of &osh$a and of Mahomet, Masonry alone !reaches Tolerat on# the r ght of man to ab de by h s o3n fa th# the r ght of all States to go6ern themsel6es, It reb$/es al /e the monarch 3ho see/s to e4tend h s dom n ons by conE$est# the %h$rch that cla ms the r ght to re!ress heresy by f re and steel# and the confederat on of States that ns st on ma nta n ng a $n on by force and restor ng brotherhood by sla$ghter and s$b5$gat on, It s nat$ral# 3hen 3e are 3ronged# to des re re6engeG and to !ers$ade o$rsel6es that 3e des re t less for o$r o3n sat sfact on than to !re6ent a re!et t on of the 3rong# to 3h ch the doer 3o$ld be enco$raged by mm$n ty co$!led 3 th the !rof t of the 3rong, To s$bm t to be cheated s to enco$rage the cheater to cont n$eG and 3e are E$ te a!t to regard o$rsel6es as God?s chosen nstr$ments to nfl ct - s 6engeance# and for - m and n - s stead to d sco$rage 3rong by ma/ ng t fr$ tless and ts !$n shment s$re, Re6enge has been sa d to be @a / nd of 3 ld 5$st ceG@ b$t t s al3ays ta/en n anger# and therefore s $n3orthy of a great so$l# 3h ch o$ght not to s$ffer ts eE$an m ty to be d st$rbed by ngrat t$de or 6 lla ny, The n5$r es done $s by the base are as m$ch $n3orthy of o$r angry not ce as those done $s by the nsects and the beastsG and 3hen 3e cr$sh the adder# or slay the 3olf or hyena# 3e sho$ld do t 3 tho$t be ng mo6ed to anger# and 3 th no more feel ng of re6enge than 3e ha6e n root ng $! a no4 o$s 3eed, And f t be not n h$man nat$re not to ta/e re6enge by 3ay of !$n shment# let the Mason tr$ly cons der that n do ng so he s God?s agent# and so let h s re6enge be meas$red by 5$st ce and tem!ered by mercy, The la3 of God s# that the conseE$ences of 3rong and cr$elty and

cr me shall be the r !$n shmentG and the n5$red and the 3ronged and the nd gnant are as m$ch - s nstr$ments to enforce that la3# as the d seases and !$bl c detestat on# and the 6erd ct of h story and the e4ecrat on of !oster ty are, 8o one 3 ll say that the InE$ s tor 3ho has rac/ed and b$rned the nnocentG the S!an ard 3ho he3ed Ind an nfants# l 6 ng# nto ! eces 3 th h s s3ord# and fed the mangled l mbs to h s bloodho$ndsG the m l tary tyrant 3ho has shot men 3 tho$t tr al# the /na6e 3ho has robbed or betrayed h s State# the fra$d$lent ban/er or ban/r$!t 3ho has beggared or!hans# the !$bl c off cer 3ho has 6 olated h s oath# the 5$dge 3ho has sold n5$st ce# the leg slator 3ho has enabled Inca!ac ty to 3or/ the r$ n of the State# o$ght not to be !$n shed, Let them be soG and let the n5$red or the sym!ath < ng be the nstr$ments of God?s 5$st 6engeanceG b$t al3ays o$t of a h gher feel ng than mere !ersonal re6enge, Remember that e6ery moral character st c of man f nds ts !rototy!e an)ong creat$res of lo3er ntell genceG that the cr$el fo$lness of the hyena# the sa6age ra!ac ty of the 3olf# the merc less rage of the t ger# the crafty treachery of the !anther# are fo$nd among man/ nd# and o$ght to e4c te no other emot on# 3hen fo$nd n the man# than 3hen fo$nd n the beast, ;hy sho$ld the tr$e man be angry 3 th the geese that h ss# the !eacoc/s that str$t# the asses that bray# and the a!es that m tate and chatter# altho$gh they 3ear the h$man formJ Al3ays# also# t rema ns tr$e# that t s more noble to forg 6e than to ta/e re6engeG and that# n general# 3e o$ght too m$ch to des! se those 3ho 3rong $s# to feel the emot on of anger# or to des re re6enge, At the s!here of the S$n# yo$ are n the reg on of LIG-T, K K K K The -ebre3 3ord for gold# HA-AB# also means L ght# of 3h ch the S$n s to the Earth the great so$rce, So# n the great Or ental allegory of the -ebre3s# the R 6er PISO8 com!asses the land of Gold or L ghtG and the R 6er GI-O8 the land of Eth o! a or Dar/ness, ;hat l ght s# 3e no more /no3 than the anc ents d d, Accord ng to the modern hy!othes s# t s not com!osed of l$m no$s !art cles shot o$t from the s$n 3 th mmense 6eloc tyG b$t that body only m!resses# on the ether 3h ch f lls all s!ace# a !o3erf$l 6 bratory mo6ement that e4tends# n the form of l$m no$s 3a6es# beyond the most d stant !lanets# s$!!ly ng them 3 th l ght and heat, To the anc ents# t 3as an o$tflo3 ng from the De ty, To $s# as to them# t s the a!t symbol of tr$th and /no3ledge, To $s# also# the $!3ard 5o$rney of the so$l thro$gh the S!heres s symbol calG b$t 3e are as l ttle nformed as they 3hence the so$l comes# 3here t has ts or g n# and 3h ther t goes after death, They endea6ored to ha6e some

bel ef and fa th# some creed# $!on those !o nts, At the !resent day# men are sat sf ed to th n/ noth ng n regard to all that# and only to bel e6e that the so$l s a someth ng se!arate from the body and o$tDl 6 ng t# b$t 3hether e4 st ng before t# ne ther to nE$ re nor care, 8o one as/s 3hether t emanates from the De ty# or s created o$t of noth ng# or s generated l /e the body# and the ss$e of the so$ls of the father and the mother, Let $s not sm le# therefore# at the deas of the anc ents# $nt l 3e ha6e a better bel efG b$t acce!t the r symbols as mean ng that the so$l s of a D 6 ne nat$re# or g nat ng n a s!here nearer the De ty# and ret$rn ng to that 3hen freed from the enthralhment of the bodyG and that t can only ret$rn there 3hen !$r f ed of all the sord dness and s n 3h ch ha6e# as t 3ere# become !art of ts s$bstance# by ts connect on 3 th the body, It s not strange that# tho$sands of years ago# men 3orsh !!ed the S$n# and that toDday that 3orsh ! cont n$es among the Parsees, Or g nally they loo/ed beyond the orb to the n6 s ble God# of 3hom the S$n?s l ght# seem ngly dent cal 3 th generat on and l fe# 3as the man festat on and o$tflo3 ng, Long before the %haldcean she!herds 3atched t on the r !la ns# t came $! reg$larly# as t no3 does# n the morn ng# l /e a god# and aga n san/# l /e a / ng ret r ng# n the 3est# to ret$rn aga n n d$e t me n the same array of ma5esty, ;e 3orsh ! Imm$tab l ty, It 3as that steadfast# mm$table character of the S$n that the men of Baalbec 3orsh !!ed, - s l ghtDg 6 ng and l feDg 6 ng !o3ers 3ere secondary attr b$tes, The one grand dea that com!elled 3orsh ! 3as the character st c of God 3h ch they sa3 reflected n h s l ght# and fanc ed they sa3 n ts or g nal ty the changelessness of De ty, -e had seen thrones cr3nble# earthE$a/es sha/e the 3orld and h$rl do3n mo$nta ns, Beyond Olym!$s# beyond the P llars of -erc$les# he had gone da ly to h s abode# and had come da ly aga n n the morn ng to behold the tem!les they b$ lt to h s 3orsl) !, They !erson f ed h m as BRA-MA# AM'8# OSRIS# BEL# ADO8IS# MALKART-# MIT-RAS# and APOLLOG and the nat ons that d d so gre3 old and d ed, Moss gre3 on the ca! tals of the great col$mns of h s tem!les# and he shone on the moss, Gra n by gra n the d$st of h s tem!les cr$mbled and fell# and 3as borne off on the 3 nd# and st ll he shone on cr$mbl ng col$mn and arch tra6e, The roof fell crash ng on the !a6ement# and he shone n on the -oly of -ol es 3 th $nchang ng rays, It 3as not strange that men 3orsh !!ed the S$n, There s a 3aterD!lant# on 3hose broad lea6es the dro!s of 3ater roll abo$t 3 tho$t $n t ng# l /e dro!s of merc$ry, So arg$ments on !o nts of fa th# n !ol t cs or rel g on# roll o6er the s$rface of the m nd, An arg$ment that con6 nces one m nd has no effect on another, "e3 ntellects#

or so$ls that are the negat ons of ntellect# ha6e any log cal !o3er or ca!ac ty, There s a s ng$lar obl E$ ty n the h$man m nd that ma/es the false log c more effect 6e than the tr$e 3 th n neDtenths of those 3ho are regarded as men of ntellect, E6en among the 5$dges# not one n ten can arg$e log cally, Each m nd sees the tr$th# d storted thro$gh ts o3n med $m, Tr$th# to most men# s l /e matter n the s!hero dal state, L /e a dro! of cold 3ater on the s$rface of a redDhot metal !late# t dances# trembles# and s! ns# and ne6er comes nto contact 3 th tG and the m nd may be !l$nged nto tr$th# as the hand mo stened 3 th s$l!h$ro$s ac d may nto melted metal# and be not e6en 3armed by the mmers on, K K K K K K The 3ord Kha r$m or Kh$r$m s a com!o$nd one, Gesen $s renders Kh$r$m by the 3ord noble or freeDborn( Kh$r mean ng 3h te# noble, It also means the o!en ng of a 3 ndo3# the soc/et of the eye, Khr also means 3h te# or an o!en ngG and Khr s# the orb of the S$n# n &ob 6 , )9 and 4, +, Kr shna s the - nd$ S$nDGod, Kh$r# the Pars 3ord# s the l teral name of the S$n, "rom K$r or Kh$r# the S$n# comes Khora# a name of Lo3er Egy!t, The S$n# Bryant says n h s Mythology# 3as called K$rG and Pl$tarch says that the Pers ans called the S$n K$ros, K$r os# Lord# n Gree/# l /e Adona # Lord# n Phcen c an and -ebre3# 3as a!!l ed to the S$n, Many !laces 3ere sacred to the S$n# and called K$ra# K$r a# K$ro!ol s# K$rene# K$reschata# K$resta# and %or$s a n Scyth a, The Egy!t an De ty called by the Gree/s @-or$s#@ 3as -erDRa# or -arD oer s# -or or -ar# the S$n, -ar s a - nd$ name of the S$n, Ar Dal# ArDes# Ar# Aryaman# Are mon os# the AR mean ng " re or "lame# are of the same / ndred, -e3nes or -arDmes# MAram# Rem$s# -aram# -arame asN# 3as Kad mos# the D 6 ne L ght or ; sdom, MarD/$r # says Mo6ers# s Mar# the S$n, In the -ebre3# AOOR# s L ght# " re# or the S$n, %yr$s# sa d %tes as# 3as so named from K$ros# the S$n, K$r s# -esych $s says# 3as Adon s, A!ollo# the S$nDgod# 3as called K$rra os# from K$rra# a c ty n Phoc s, The !eo!le of K$rene# or g nally Eth o! ans or %$th tes# 3orsh !!ed the S$n $nder the t tle of Achoor and Achor,

;e /no3# thro$gh a !rec se test mony n the anc ent annals of Ts$r# that the !r nc !al fest 6 ty of MalD/arth# the ncarnat on of the S$n at the ; nter Solst ce# held at Ts$r# 3as called h s reb rth or h s a3a/en ng# and that t 3as celebrated by means of a !yre# on 3h ch the god 3as s$!!osed to rega n# thro$gh the a d of f re# a ne3 l fe, Th s fest 6al 3as celebrated n the month Per t $s MBar thN# the second day of 3h ch corres!onded to the 07th of December, K-'RD'M# K ng of Tyre# Mo6ers says# f rst !erformed th s ceremony, These facts 3e learn from &ose!h$s# Ser6 $s on the AEne d# and the D onys acs of 8onn$sG and thro$gh a co nc dence that cannot be fort$ to$s# the same day 3as at Rome the D es 8atal s Sol s In6 ct # the festal day of the n6 nc ble S$n, 'nder th s t tle# -ER%'LES# -ARDacles# 3as 3orsh !!ed at Ts$r, Th$s# 3h le the tem!le 3as be ng erected# the death and res$rrect on of a S$nDGod 3as ann$ally re!resented at Ts$r# by Solomon?s ally# at the 3 nter solst ce# by the !yre of MALD KARI-# the Ts$r an -aracles, AROERIS or -ARDoer s# the elder -OR'S# s from the same old root that n the -ebre3 has the form A$r# or# 3 th the def n te art cle !ref 4ed# -a$r# L ght# or the L ght# s!lendor# flame# the S$n and h s rays, The h erogly!h c of the yo$nger -OR'S 3as the !o nt n a c rcleG of the Elder# a !a r of eyesG and the fest 6al of the th rt eth day of the month E! !h # 3hen the s$n and moon 3ere s$!!osed to be n the same r ght l ne 3 th the earth# 3as called @The b rthDday of the eyes of -or$s,@ In a !a!yr$s !$bl shed by %ham!oll on# th s god s styled @-aroer # Lord of the Solar S! r ts# the benef cent eye of the S$n,@ Pl$tarch calls h m @-arD!ocrates#@ b$t there s no trace of the latter !art of the name n the h erogly!h c legends, -e s the son of OSIRIS and IsrsG and s re!resented s tt ng on a throne s$!!orted by l onsG the same 3ord# n Egy!t an# mean ng L on and S$n, So Solomon made a great throne of 6ory# !lated 3 th gold# 3 th s 4 ste!s# at each arm of 3h ch 3as a l on# and one on each s de to each ste!# ma/ ng se6en on each s de, Aga n# the -ebre33ord Kh # means @l 6 ngG@ and ram# @3as# or shall be# ra sed or l fted $!,@ The latter s the same as room# aroom# har$m# 3hence Aram# for Syr a# or Aramoea# - ghDland, Kha r$m# therefore# 3o$ld mean @3as ra sed $! to l fe# or l 6 ng,@ So# n Arab c# hrm# an $n$sed root# meant# @3as h gh#@ @made great#@ @e4altedG@ and - rm means an o4# the symbol of the S$n n Ta$r$s# at the Fernal EE$ no4,

K-'R'M# therefore# m!ro!erly called - ram# s K-'RDOM# the same as -erDra# -erDmes# and -erDacles# the @-eracles Tyr $s In6 ct$s#@ the !erson f cat on of L ght and the Son# the Med ator# Redeemer# and Sa6 o$r, "rom the Egy!t an 3ord Ra came the %o!t c O$ro# and the -ebre3 A$r# L ght, -arDoer # s -or or -ar# the ch ef or master, -or s also heatG and hora# season or ho$rG and hence n se6eral Afr can d alects# as names of the S$n# A ro# Ayero# eer# $ ro# gh$rrah# and the l /e, The royal name rendered Pharaoh# 3as P-RA# that s# Pa Dra# the S$n, The legend of the contest bet3een -orDra and Set# or SetDn$Db # the same as Bar or Bal# s older than that of the str fe bet3een Os r s and Ty!honG as old# at least# as the n neteenth dynasty, It s called n the Boo/ of the Dead# @The day of the battle bet3een -or$s and Set,@ The later myth connects tself 3 th Phoen c a and Syr a, The body of OSIRIS 3ent ashore at Gebal or Byblos# s 4ty m les abo6e Ts$r, .o$ 3 ll not fa l to not ce that n the name of each m$rderer of Kh$r$m# that of the E6 l God Bal s fo$nd, K K K K K -arDoer 3as the god of TIME# as 3ell as of L fe, The Egy!t an legend 3as that the K ng of Byblos c$t do3n the tamar s/Dtree conta n ng the body of OSIRIS# and made of t a col$mn for h s !alace, Is s# em!loyed n the !alace# obta ned !ossess on of the col$mn# too/ the body o$t of t# and carr ed t a3ay, A!$le $s descr bes her as @a bea$t f$l female# o6er 3hose d 6 ne nec/ her long th c/ ha r h$ng n gracef$l r nglets G@ and n the !rocess on female attendants# 3 th 6ory combs# seemed to dress and ornament the royal ha r of the goddess, The !almDtree# and the lam! n the sha!e of a boat# a!!eared n the !rocess on, If the symbol 3e are s!ea/ ng of s not a mere modern n6ent on# t s to these th ngs t all$des, The dent ty of the legends s also conf rmed by th s h erogly!h c ! ct$re# co! ed from an anc ent Egy!t an mon$ment# 3h ch may also enl ghten yo$ as to the L on?s gr ! and the Master?s ga6el,

n the anc ent Phcen c an character# and n the Samar tan# A B# Mthe t3o letters re!resent ng the n$mbers )# 0# or 'n ty and D$al ty# means "ather# and s a !r m t 6e no$n# common to all the Sem t c lang$ages,

It also means an Ancestor# Or g nator# In6entor# -ead# %h ef or R$ler# Manager# O6erseer# Master# Pr est# Pro!het, s s m!ly "ather# 3hen t s n constr$ct on# that s# 3hen t !recedes another 3ord# and n Engl sh the !re!os t on @of@ s nter!osed# as Ab DAl# the "ather of Al, Also# the f nal .od means @my@G so that by tself means @My father, Da6 d my father# 0 %hron, , 9, MFa6N f nal s the !ossess 6e !rono$n @h s@G and Ab $ M3h ch 3e read @Ab f@N means @of my father?s,@ Its f$ll mean ng# as connected 3 th the name of Kh$r$m# no do$bt s# @formerly one of my father?s ser6ants#@ or @sla6es,@ The name of the Phcen c an art f cer s# n Sam$el and K ngs# A0 Sam, 6, ))G ) K ngs 6, )7G ) K ngs 6 , :2B, In %hron cles t s 3 th the add t on of A0 %hron, , )0BG and of A0 %hron, 6, )=B, It s merely abs$rd to add the 3ord @Ab f#@ or @Ab ff#@ as !art of the name of the art f cer, And t s almost as abs$rd to add the 3ord @Ab #@ 3h ch 3as a t tle and not !art of the name, &ose!h says AGen, 4l6, *B# @God has const t$ted me ?Ab l?Paraah# as "ather to Paraah# ,e,# F < er or Pr me M n ster,@ So -aman 3as called the Second "ather of Arta4er4esG and 3hen K ng Kh$r$m $sed the !hrase @Kh$r$m Ab #@ he meant that the art f cer he sent Schlomoh 3as the !r nc !al or ch ef 3or/man n h s l ne at Ts$r,

A medal co! ed by Montfa$con e4h b ts a female n$rs ng a ch ld# 3 th ears of 3heat n her hand# and the legend MIaoN, She s seated on clo$ds# a star at her head# and three ears of 3heat r s ng from an altar before her, -OR'S 3as the med ator# 3ho 3as b$r ed three days# 3as regenerated# and tr $m!hed o6er the e6 l !r nc !le, The 3ord -ERI# n Sanscr t# means She!herd# as 3ell as Sa6 or, %RIS-8A s called -er # as &es$s called - mself the Good She!herd, Kh$r# means an a!ert$re of a 3 ndo3# a ca6e# or the eye, Also t means 3h te, It also means an o!en ng# and noble# freeDborn# h ghDborn, K-'RM means consecrated# de6otedG n AEth o! c, It s the name of a c ty# A&osh, 4 4, 9*BG and of a man# AE<r, , 90# 4, 9)G 8eh, , ))B, Kh rah# means nob l ty# a noble race, B$ddha s declared to com!rehend n h s o3n !erson the essence of the - nd$ Tr m$rt G and hence the tr Dl teral monosyllable Om or A$m s a!!l ed to h m as be ng essent ally the same as BrahmaDF shn$DS 6a, -e s the same as -ermes# Thoth# Ta$t# and Te$tates, One of h s names s -er D maya or -ermaya# 3h ch are e6 dently the same name as -ermes and Kh rm or Kh$rm, -er # n Sanscr t# means Lord, A learned Brother !laces o6er the t3o symbol c ! llars# from r ght to left# the t3o 3ords I-' and BAL( follo3ed by the h erogly!h c eE$ 6alent# of the S$nDGod# Am$nDra, Is t an acc dental co nc dence# that n the name of each m$rderer are the t3o names of the Good and E6 l De t es of the -ebre3sG for .$Dbel s b$t .eh$DBal or .ehoDBalJ and that the three f nal syllables of the names# a# o# $m# ma/e A,?,',?,M,?, the sacred 3ord of the - ndoos# mean ng the Tr $ne God# L feDg 6 ng# L feD!reser6 ng# L feD destroy ng( re!resented by the myst c character J The gen$ ne acac a# also# s the thorny tamar s/# the same tree 3h ch gre3 $! aro$nd the body of Os r s, It 3as a sacred tree among the Arabs# 3ho

made of t the dol AlD'<<a# 3h ch Mohammed destroyed, It s ab$ndant as a b$sh n the Desert of Th$r( and of t the @cro3n of thorns@ 3as com!osed# 3h ch 3as set on the forehead of &es$s of 8a<areth, It s a f t ty!e of mmortal ty on acco$nt of ts tenac ty of l feG for t has been /no3n# 3hen !lanted as a doorD!ost# to ta/e root aga n and shoot o$t b$dd ng bo$ghs o6er the threshold, K K K K K E6ery common3ealth m$st ha6e ts !er ods of tr al and trans t on# es!ec ally f t engages n 3ar, It s certa n at some t me to be 3holly go6erned by ag tators a!!eal ng to all the baser elements of the !o!$lar nat$reG by moneyed cor!orat onsG by those enr ched by the de!rec at on of go6ernment sec$r t es or !a!erG by small attorneys# schemers# moneyD 5obbers# s!ec$lators and ad6ent$rersDDan gnoble ol garchy# enr ched by the d stresses of the State# and fattened on the m ser es of the !eo!le, Then all the dece tf$l 6 s ons of eE$al ty and the r ghts of man endG and the 3ronged and !l$ndered State can rega n a real l berty only by !ass ng thro$gh @great 6ar et es of $ntr ed be ng#@ !$r f ed n ts transm grat on by f re and blood, In a Re!$bl c# t soon comes to !ass that !art es gather ro$nd the negat 6e and !os t 6e !oles of some o! n on or not on# and that the ntolerant s! r t of a tr $m!hant ma5or ty 3 ll allo3 no de6 at on from the standard of orthodo4y 3h ch t has set $! for tself, "reedom of o! n on 3 ll be !rofessed and !retended to# b$t e6ery one 3 ll e4erc se t at the !er l of be ng ban shed from !ol t cal comm$n on 3 th those 3ho hold the re ns and !rescr be the !ol cy to be !$rs$ed, Sla6 shness to !arty and obseE$ o$sness to the !o!$lar 3h ms go hand n hand, Pol t cal nde!endence only occ$rs n a foss l stateG and men?s o! n ons gro3 o$t of the acts they ha6e been constra ned to do or sanct on, "lattery# e ther of nd 6 d$al or !eo!le# corr$!ts both the rece 6er and the g 6erG and ad$lat on s not of more ser6 ce to the !eo!le than to / ngs, A %cesar# sec$rely seated n !o3er# cares less for t than a free democracyG nor 3 ll h s a!!et te for t gro3 to e4orb tance# as that of a !eo!le 3 ll# $nt l t becomes nsat ate, The effect of l berty to nd 6 d$als s# that they may do 3hat they !leaseG to a !eo!le# t s to a great e4tent the same, If access ble to flattery# as th s s al3ays nterested# and resorted to on lo3 and base mot 6es# and for e6 l !$r!oses# e ther nd 6 d$al or !eo!le s s$re# n do ng 3hat t !leases# to do 3hat n honor and consc ence sho$ld ha6e been left $ndone, One o$ght not e6en to r s/ congrat$lat ons# 3h ch may soon be t$rned nto com!la ntsG and as both nd 6 d$als and !eo!les are

!rone to ma/e a bad $se of !o3er# to flatter them# 3h ch s a s$re 3ay to m slead them# 3ell deser6es to be called a cr me, The f rst !r nc !le n a Re!$bl c o$ght to be# @that no man or set of men s ent tled to e4cl$s 6e or se!arate emol$ments or !r 6 leges from the comm$n ty# b$t n cons derat on of !$bl c ser6 cesG 3h ch not be ng descend ble# ne ther o$ght the omces of mag strate# leg slat$re# nor 5$dge# to be hered tary,@ It s a 6ol$me of Tr$th and ; sdom# a lesson for the st$dy of nat ons# embod ed n a s ngle sentence# and e4!ressed n lang$age 3h ch e6ery man can $nderstand, If a del$ge of des!ot sm 3ere to o6erthro3 the 3orld# and destroy all nst t$t ons $nder 3h ch freedom s !rotected# so that they sho$ld no longer be remembered among men# th s sentence# !reser6ed# 3o$ld be s$ff c ent to re/ ndle the f res of l berty and re6 6e the race of freemen, B$t# to !reser6e l berty# another m$st be added( @that a free State does not confer off ce as a re3ard# es!ec ally for E$est onable ser6 ces# $nless she see/s her o3n r$ nG b$t all off cers are em!loyed by her# n cons derat on solely of the r 3 ll and ab l ty to render ser6 ce n the f$t$reG and therefore that the best and most com!etent are al3ays to be !referred,@ "or# f there s to be any other r$le# that of hered tary s$ccess on s !erha!s as good as any, By no other r$le s t !oss ble to !reser6e the l bert es of the State, By no other to ntr$st the !o3er of ma/ ng the la3s to those only 3ho ha6e that /een nst nct 6e sense of n5$st ce and 3rong 3h ch enables them to detect baseness and corr$!t on n the r most secret h d ngD!laces# and that moral co$rage and genero$s manl ness and gallant nde!endence that ma/e them fearless n dragg ng o$t the !er!etrators to the l ght of day# and call ng do3n $!on them the scorn and nd gnat on of the 3orld, The flatterers of the !eo!le are ne6er s$ch men, On the contrary# a t me al3ays comes to a Re!$bl c# 3hen t s not content# l /e L ber $s# 3 th a s ngle Se5an$s# b$t m$st ha6e a hostG and 3hen those most !rom nent n the lead of affa rs are men 3 tho$t re!$tat on# statesmansh !# ab l ty# or nformat on# the mere hac/s of !arty# o3 ng the r !laces to tr c/ery and 3ant of E$al f cat on# 3 th none of the E$al t es of head or heart that ma/e great and 3 se men# and# at the same t me# f lled 3 th all the narro3 conce!t ons and b tter ntolerance of !ol t cal b gotry, These d eG and the 3orld s none the 3 ser for 3hat they ha6e sa d and done, The r names s n/ n the bottomless ! t of obl 6 onG b$t the r acts of folly or /na6ery c$rse the body !ol t c and at last !ro6e ts r$ n,

Pol t c ans# n a free State# are generally hollo3# heartless# and self sh, The r o3n aggrand sement s the end of the r !atr ot smG and they al3ays loo/ 3 th secret sat sfact on on the d sa!!o ntment or fall of one 3hose loft er gen $s and s$!er or talents o6ershado3 the r o3n selfD m!ortance# or 3hose ntegr ty and ncorr$!t ble honor are n the 3ay of the r self sh ends, The nfl$ence of the small as! rants s al3ays aga nst the great man, - s access on to !o3er may be almost for a l fet me, One of themsel6es 3 ll be more eas ly d s!laced# and each ho!es to s$cceed h mG and so t at length comes to !ass that men m!$dently as! re to and act$ally 3 n the h ghest stat ons# 3ho are $nf t for the lo3est cler/sh !sG and nca!ac ty and med ocr ty become the s$rest !ass!orts to once, The conseE$ence s# that those 3ho feel themsel6es com!etent and E$al f ed to ser6e the !eo!le# ref$se 3 th d g$st to enter nto the str$ggle for off ce# 3here the 3 c/ed and 5es$ t cal doctr ne that all s fa r n !ol t cs s an e4c$se for e6ery s!ec es of lo3 6 lla nyG and those 3ho see/ e6en the h ghest !laces of the State do not rely $!on the !o3er of a magnan mo$s s! r t# on the sym!ath < ng m!$lses of a great so$l# to st r and mo6e the !eo!le to genero$s# noble# and hero c resol6es# and to 3 se and manly act onG b$t# l /e s!an els erect on the r h nd legs# 3 th foreD !a3s obseE$ o$sly s$!!l ant# fa3n# flatter# and act$ally beg for 6otes, Rather than descend to th s# they stand contem!t$o$sly aloof# d sda nf$lly ref$s ng to co$rt the !eo!le# and act ng on the ma4 m# that @man/ nd has no t tle to demand that 3e shall ser6e them n s! te of themsel6es,@ K K K K K K It s lamentable to see a co$ntry s!l t nto fact ons# each follo3 ng th s or that great or bra<enDfronted leader 3 th a bl nd# $nreason ng# $nE$est on ng heroD3orsh !G t s contem!t ble to see t d 6 ded nto !art es# 3hose sole end s the s!o ls of 6 ctory# and the r ch efs the lo3# the base# the 6enal and the snlall, S$ch a co$ntry s n the last stages of decay# and near ts end# no matter ho3 !ros!ero$s t may seem to be, It 3rangles o6er the 6olcano and the earthE$a/e, B$t t s certa n that no go6ernment can be cond$cted by the men of the !eo!le# and for the !eo!le# 3 tho$t a r g d adherence to those !r nc !les 3h ch o$r reason commends as f 4ed and so$nd, These m$st be the tests of !art es# men# and meas$res, Once determ ned# they m$st be ne4orable n the r a!!l cat on# and all m$st e ther come $! to the standard or declare aga nst t, Men may betray( !r nc !les ne6er can, O!!ress on s one n6ar able conseE$ence of m s!laced conf dence n treachero$s man# t s ne6er the res$lt of the 3or/ ng or a!!l cat on of a so$nd# 5$st# 3ellDtr ed !r nc !le, %om!rom ses

3h ch br ng f$ndamental !r nc !les nto do$bt# n order to $n te n one !arty men of antagon st c creeds# are fra$ds# and end n r$ n# the 5$st and nat$ral conseE$ence of fra$d, ;hene6er yo$ ha6e settled $!on yo$r theory and creed# sanct on no de!art$re from t n !ract ce# on any gro$nd of e4!ed ency, It s the Master?s 3ord, . eld t $! ne ther to flattery nor force O Let no defeat or !ersec$t on rob yo$ of tO Bel e6e that he 3ho once bl$ndered n statesmansh ! 3 ll bl$nder aga nG that s$ch bl$nders are as fatal as cr mesG and that !ol t cal nearDs ghtedness does not m!ro6e by age, There are al3ays more m!ostors than seers among !$bl c men# more false !ro!hets than tr$e ones# more !ro!hets of Baal than of &eho6ahG and &er$salem s al3ays n danger from the Assyr ans, Sall$st sa d that after a State has been corr$!ted by l$4$ry and dleness# t may by ts mere greatness bear $! $nder the b$rden of ts 6 ces, B$t e6en 3h le he 3rote# Rome# of 3h ch he s!o/e# had !layed o$t her masE$erade of freedom Other ca$ses than l$4$ry and sloth destroy Re!$bl cs, If small# the r larger ne ghbors e4t ng$ sh thelll by absor!t on, If of great e4tent# the cohes 6e force s too feeble to hold them together# and they fall to ! eces by the r o3n 3e ght, The !altry amb t on of small men d s ntegrates them, The 3ant of 3 sdom n the r co$nc ls creates e4as!erat ng ss$es, 's$r!at on of !o3er !lays ts !art# nca!ac ty seconds corr$!t on# the storm r ses# and the fragments of the ncoherent raft stre3 the sandy shores# read ng to man/ nd another lesson for t to d sregard, The "ortyDse6enth Pro!os t on s older than Pythagoras, It s th s( @In e6ery r ghtDangled tr angle# the s$m of the sE$ares of the base and !er!end c$lar s eE$al to the sE$are of the hy!othen$se,@ The sE$are of a n$mber s the !rod$ct of that n$mber# m$lt !l ed by tself, Th$s# : s the sE$are of 0# and 1 of 9, The f rst ten n$mbers are( )# 0# 9# :# 7# =# +# *# 1# )2G the r sE$ares are ,,,,,,,,,)# :# 1#)=#07#9=#:1#=:#*)#)22G and ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,9#7# +# 1#))#)9#)7#)+# )1 are the d fferences bet3een each sE$are and that 3h ch !recedes tG g 6 ng $s the sacred n$mbers# 9# 7# +# and 1

Of these n$mbers# the sE$are of 9 and :# added together# g 6es the sE$are of 7G and those of = and *# the sE$are of )2G and f a r ghtDangled tr angle be formed# the base meas$r ng 9 or = !arts# and the !er!end c$lar : or * !arts# the hy!othen$se 3 ll be 7 or )2 !artsG and f a sE$are s erected on each s de# these sE$ares be ng s$bd 6 ded nto sE$ares each s de of 3h ch s one !art n length# there 3 ll be as many of these n the sE$are erected on the hy!othen$se as n the other t3o sE$ares together, 8o3 the Egy!t ans arranged the r de t es n Tr ads the "AT-ER or the S! r t or Act 6e Pr nc !le or Generat 6e Po3erG the MOT-ER# or Matter# or the Pass 6e Pr nc !le# or the %once!t 6e Po3erG and the SO8# Iss$e or Prod$ct# the 'n 6erse# !roceed ng from the t3o !r nc !les, These 3ere OSRIS# ISIS# and -OR'S, In the same 3ay# PLATO g 6es $s tho$ght the "atherG Pr m t 6e Matter the MotherG and Kosmos the ;orld# the Son# the 'n 6erse an mated by a so$l, Tr ads of the same / nd are fo$nd n the Kabalah, PL'TAR%- says# n h s boo/ De Is de et Os r de# @B$t the better and d 6 ner nat$re cons sts of three#DDthat 3h ch e4 sts 3 th n the Intellect only# and Matter# and that 3h ch !roceeds from these# 3h ch the Gree/s call KosmosG of 3h ch three# Plato s 3ont to call the Intell g ble# the ?Idea# E4em!lar# and "ather?# Matter# ?the Mother# the 8$rse# and the !lace and rece!tacle of generat on?G and the ss$e of these t3o# ?the Offs!r ng and Genes s#@? the KOSMOS# @a 3ord s gn fy ng eE$ally Bea$ty and Order# or the 'n 6erse tself,@ .o$ 3 ll not fa l to not ce that Bea$ty s symbol <ed by the &$n or ;arden n the So$th, Pl$tarch cont n$es to say that the Egy!t ans com!ared the $n 6ersal nat$re to 3hat they called the most bea$t f$l and !erfect tr angle# as Plato does# n that n$!t al d agram# as t s termed# 3h ch he has ntrod$ced nto h s %ommon3ealth, ;hen he adds that th s tr angle s r ghtDangled# and ts s des res!ect 6ely as 9# :# and 7G and he says# @;e m$st s$!!ose that the !er!end c$lar s des gned by them to re!resent the masc$l ne nat$re# the base the fem n ne# and that the hy!othen$se s to be loo/ed $!on as the offs!r ng of bothG and accord ngly the f rst of them 3 ll a!tly eno$gh re!resent OSIRIS# or the !r me ca$seG the second# ISIS# or the rece!t 6e ca!ac tyG the last# -OR'S# or the common effect of the other t3o, "or 9 s the f rst n$mber 3h ch s com!osed of e6en and oddG and : s a sE$are 3hose s de s eE$al to the e6en n$mber 0G b$t 7# be ng generated# as t 3ere# o$t of the !reced ng n$mbers# 0 and 9# may be sa d to ha6e an eE$al relat on to both of them# as to ts common !arents,@ K K K K K K

The clas!ed hands s another symbol 3h ch 3as $sed by P.T-AGORAS, It re!resented the n$mber )2# the sacred n$mber n 3h ch all the !reced ng n$mbers 3ere conta nedG the n$mber e4!ressed by the myster o$s TERA%T.S# a f g$re borro3ed by h m and the -ebre3 !r ests al /e from the Egy!t an sacred sc ence# and 3h ch o$ght to be re!laced among the symbols of the Master?s degree# 3here t of r ght belongs, The -ebre3s formed t th$s# 3 th the letters of the D 6 ne name( The Tetractys th$s leads yo$# not only to the st$dy of the Pythagorean !h loso!hy as to n$mbers# b$t also to the Kabalah# and 3 ll a d yo$ n d sco6er ng the Tr$e ;ord# and $nderstand ng 3hat 3as meant by @The M$s c of the S!heres,@ Modern sc ence str / ngly conf rms the deas of Pythagoras n regard to the !ro!ert es of n$mbers# and that they go6ern n the 'n 6erse, Long before h s t me# nat$re had e4tracted her c$beDroots and her sE$ares, K K K K K K All the "OR%ES at man?s d s!osal or $nder man?s control# or s$b5ect to man?s nfl$ence# are h s 3or/ ng tools, The fr endsh ! and sym!athy that /n t heart to heart are a force l /e the attract on of cohes on# by 3h ch the sandy !art cles became the sol d roc/, If th s la3 of attract on or cohes on 3ere ta/en a3ay# the mater al 3orlds and s$ns 3o$ld d ssol6e n an nstant nto th n n6 s ble 6a!or, If the t es of fr endsh !# affect on# and lo6e 3ere ann$lled# man/ nd 3o$ld become a rag ng m$lt t$de of 3 ld and sa6age beasts of !rey, The sand hardens nto roc/ $nder the mmense s$!er nc$mbent !ress$re of the ocean# a ded somet mes by the rres st ble energy of f reG and 3hen the !ress$re of calam ty and danger s $!on an order or a co$ntry# the members or the c t <ens o$ght to be the more closely $n ted by the cohes on of sym!athy and nterDde!endence, Moral ty s a force, It s the magnet c attract on of the heart to3ard Tr$th and F rt$e, The needle# mb$ed 3 th th s myst c !ro!erty# and !o nt ng $nerr ngly to the north# carr es the mar ner safely o6er the trac/less ocean# thro$gh storm and dar/ness# $nt l h s glad eyes behold the benef cent beacons that 3elcome h m to safe and hos! table harbor, Then the hearts of those 3ho lo6e h m are gladdened# and h s home made ha!!yG and th s gladness and ha!! ness are d$e to the s lent# $nostentat o$s# $nerr ng mon tor that 3as the sa lor?s g$ de o6er the 3elter ng 3aters, B$t f dr fted too far north3ard# he f nds the needle no longer tr$e# b$t !o nt ng else3here than to the north# 3hat a feel ng of hel!lessness falls $!on the

d smayed mar ner# 3hat $tter loss of energy and co$rage O It s as f the great a4 oms of moral ty 3ere to fa l and be no longer tr$e# lea6 ng the h$man so$l to dr ft hel!lessly# eyeless l /e Promethe$s# at the mercy of the $ncerta n# fa thless c$rrents of the dee!, -onor and D$ty are the !oleDstars of a Mason# the D osc$r # by ne6er los ng s ght of 3h ch he may a6o d d sastro$s sh !3rec/, These Pal n$r$s 3atched# $nt l# o6ercome by slee!# and the 6essel no longer g$ ded tr$ly# he fell nto and 3as s3allo3ed $! by the nsat able sea, So the Mason 3ho loses s ght of these# and s no longer go6erned by the r benef cent and !otent al force# s lost# and s n/ ng o$t of s ght# 3 ll d sa!!ear $nhonored and $n3e!t, The force of electr c ty# analogo$s to that of sym!athy# and by means of 3h ch great tho$ghts or base s$ggest ons# the $tterances of noble or gnoble nat$res# flash nstantaneo$sly o6er the ner6es of nat onsG the force of gro3th# f t ty!e of mmortal ty# Iy ng dormant three tho$sand years n the 3heatDgra ns b$r ed 3 th the r m$mm es by the old Egy!t ansG the forces of e4!ans on and contract on# de6elo!ed n the earthE$a/e and the tornado# and g 6 ng b rth to the 3onderf$l ach e6ements of steam# ha6e the r !arallel sms n the moral 3orld# n nd 6 d$als# and nat ons, Gro3th s a necess ty for nat ons as for men, Its cessat on s the beg nn ng of decay, In the nat on as 3ell as the !lant t s myster o$s# and t s rres st ble, The earthE$a/es that rend nat ons as$nder# o6ert$rn thrones# and eng$lf monarch es and re!$bl cs# ha6e been long !re!ared for# l /e the 6olcan c er$!t on, Re6ol$t ons ha6e long roots n the !ast, The force e4erted s n d rect !ro!ort on to the !re6 o$s restra nt and com!ress on, The tr$e statesman o$ght to see n !rogress the ca$ses that are n d$e t me to !rod$ce themG and he 3ho does not s b$t a bl nd leader of the bl nd, The great changes n nat ons# l /e the geolog cal changes of the earth# are slo3ly and cont n$o$sly 3ro$ght, The 3aters# fall ng from -ea6en as ra n and de3s# slo3ly d s ntegrate the gran te mo$nta nsG abrade the !la ns# lea6 ng h lls and r dges of den$dat on as the r mon$mentsG scoo! o$t the 6alleys# f ll $! the seas# narro3 the r 6ers# and after the la!se of tho$sands on tho$sands of s lent cent$r es# !re!are the great all$6 a for the gro3th of that !lant# the sno3y en6elo!e of 3hose seeds s to em!loy the looms of the 3orld# and the ab$ndance or !en$ry of 3hose cro!s shall determ ne 3hether the 3ea6ers and s! nners of other realms shall ha6e 3or/ to do or star6e,

So P$bl c O! n on s an mmense forceG and ts c$rrents are as nconstant and ncom!rehens ble as those of the atmos!here, 8e6ertheless# n free go6ernments# t s omn !otentG and the b$s ness of the statesman s to f nd the means to sha!e# control# and d rect t, Accord ng as that s done# t s benef c al and conser6at 6e# or destr$ct 6e and r$ no$s, The P$bl c O! n on of the c 6 l <ed 3orld s Internat onal La3G and t s so great a force# tho$gh 3 th no certa n and f 4ed bo$ndar es# that t can e6en constra n the 6 ctor o$s des!ot to be genero$s# and a d an o!!ressed !eo!le n ts str$ggle for nde!endence, -ab t s a great forceG t s second nat$re# e6en n trees, It s as strong n nat ons as n men, So also are Pre5$d ces# 3h ch are g 6en to men and nat ons as the !ass ons are#DDas forces# 6al$able# f !ro!erly and s/ llf$lly a6a led ofG destr$ct 6e# f $ns/ llf$lly handled, Abo6e all# the Lo6e of %o$ntry# State Pr de# the Lo6e of -ome# are forces of mmense !o3er, Enco$rage them all, Ins st $!on them n yo$r !$bl c men, Permanency of home s necessary to !atr ot sm, A m gratory race 3 ll ha6e l ttle lo6e of co$ntry, State !r de s a mere theory and ch mera# 3here men remo6e from State to State 3 th nd fference# l /e the Arabs# 3ho cam! here toDday and there toDmorro3, If yo$ ha6e EloE$ence# t s a m ghty force, See that yo$ $se t for good !$r!osesDDto teach# e4hort# ennoble the !eo!le# and not to m slead and corr$!t them, %orr$!t and 6enal orators are the assass ns of the !$bl c l bert es and of !$bl c morals, The ; ll s a forceG ts l m ts as yet $n/no3n, It s n the !o3er of the 3 ll that 3e ch efly see the s! r t$al and d 6 ne n man, There s a seem ng dent ty bet3een h s 3 ll that mo6es other men# and the %reat 6e ; ll 3hose act on seems so ncom!rehens ble, It s the men of 3 ll and act on# not the men of !$re ntellect# that go6ern the 3orld, " nally# the three greatest moral forces are "AIT-# 3h ch s the only tr$e ;ISDOM# and the 6ery fo$ndat on of all go6ernmentG -OPE# 3h ch s STRE8GT-# and ns$res s$ccessG and %-ARIT.# 3h ch s BEA'T.# and alone ma/es an mated# $n ted effort !oss ble, These forces are 3 th n the reach of all menG and an assoc at on of men# act$ated by them# o$ght to e4erc se an mmense !o3er n the 3orld, If Masonry does not# t s beca$se she has ceased to !ossess them,

; sdom n the man or statesman# n / ng or !r est# largely cons sts n the d$e a!!rec at on of these forcesG and $!on the general nonDa!!rec at on of some of them the fate of nat ons often de!ends, ;hat hecatombs of l 6es often hang $!on the not 3e gh ng or not s$mc ently 3e gh ng the force of an dea# s$ch as# for e4am!le# the re6erence for a flag# or the bl nd attachment to a form or const t$t on of go6ernmentO ;hat errors n !ol t cal economy and statesmansh ! are comm tted n conseE$ence of the o6erDest mat on or $nderDest mat on of !art c$lar 6al$es# or the nonDest mat on of some among them O E6eryth ng# t s asserted# s the !rod$ct of h$man laborG b$t the gold or the d amond 3h ch one acc dentally f nds 3 tho$t labor s not so, ;hat s the 6al$e of the labor besto3ed by the h$sbandman $!on h s cro!s# com!ared 3 th the 6al$e of the s$nsh ne and ra n# 3 tho$t 3h ch h s labor a6a ls noth ngJ %o mmerce carr ed on by the labor of man# adds to the 6al$e of the !rod$cts of the f eld# the m ne# or the 3or/sho!# by the r trans!ortat on to d fferent mar/ctsG b$t ho3 m$ch of th s ncrease s d$e to the r 6ers do3n 3h ch these !rod$cts float# to the 3 nds that $rge the /eels of commerce o6er the ocean O ;ho can est mate the 6al$e of moral ty and manl ness n a State# of moral 3orth and ntellect$al /no3ledge J These are the s$nsh ne and ra n of the State, The 3 nds# 3 th the r changeable# f c/le# fl$ct$at ng c$rrents# are a!t emblems of the f c/le h$mors of the !o!$lace# ts !ass ons# ts hero c m!$lses# ts enth$s asms, ;oe to the statesman 3ho does not est mate these as 6al$es O E6en m$s E6ery nat l 6es than 3ho shall c and song are somet mes fo$nd to ha6e an ncalc$lable 6al$e, on has some song of a !ro6en 6al$e# more eas ly co$nted n dollars, The Marse lla se 3as 3orth to re6ol$t onary "rance# say ho3 many tho$sand menJ

Peace also s a great element of !ros!er ty and 3ealthG a 6al$e not to be calc$lated, Soc al nterco$rse and assoc at on of men n benef cent Orders ha6e a 6al$e not to be est mated n co n, The ll$str o$s e4am!les of the Past of a nat on# the memor es and mmortal tho$ghts of her great and 3 se th n/ers# statesmen# and heroes# are the n6al$able legacy of that Past to the Present and "$t$re, And all these ha6e not only the 6al$es of the loft er and more e4cellent and !r celess / nd# b$t also an act$al moneyD 6al$e# s nce t s only 3hen coDo!erat ng 3 th or a ded or enabled by these# that h$man labor creates 3ealth, They are of the ch ef elements of

mater al 3ealth# as they are of nat onal manl ness# hero sm,# glory# !ros!er ty# and mmortal reno3n, Pro6 dence has a!!o nted the three great d sc !l nes of ;ar# the Monarchy and the Pr esthood# all that the %AMP# the PALA%E# and the TEMPLE may symbol <e# to tra n the m$lt t$des for3ard to ntell gent and !remed tated comb nat ons for all the great !$r!oses of soc ety, The res$lt 3 ll at length be free go6ernments among men# 3hen 6 rt$e and ntell gence become E$al t es of the m$lt t$desG b$t for gnorance s$ch go6ernments are m!oss ble, Man ad6ances only by degrees, The remo6al of one !ress ng calam ty g 6es co$rage to attem!t the remo6al of the rema n ng e6 ls# render ng men more sens t 6e to them# or !erha!s sens t 6e for the f rst t me, Serfs that 3r the $nder the 3h ! are not d sE$ eted abo$t tbe r !ol t cal r ghtsG man$m tted from !ersonal sla6ery# they be come sens t 6e to !ol t cal o!!ress on, L berated from arb trary !o3er# and go6erned by the la3 alone# they beg n to scr$t n <e the la3 tself# and des re to be go6erned# not only by la3# b$t by 3hat they deem the best la3, And 3hen the c 6 l or tem!oral des!ot sm has been set as de# and the m$n c !al la3 has been mo$lded on the !r nc !les of an enl ghtened 5$r s!r$dence# they may 3a/e to the d sco6ery that they are l 6 ng $nder some !r estly or eccles ast cal des!ot sm# and become des ro$s of 3or/ ng a reformat on there also, It s E$ te tr$e that the ad6ance of h$man ty s slo3# and that t often !a$ses and retrogrades, In the / ngdoms of the earth 3e do not see des!ot sms ret r ng and y eld ng the gro$nd to selfDgo6ern ng comm$n t es, ;e do not see the ch$rches and !r esthoods of %hr stendom rel nE$ sh ng the r old tas/ of go6ern ng men by mag nary terrors, 8o3here do 3e see a !o!$lace that co$ld be safely man$m tted from s$ch a go6ernment, ;e do not see the great rel g o$s teachers a m ng to d sco6er tr$th for themsel6es and for othersG b$t st ll r$l ng the 3orld# and contented and com!elled to r$le the 3orld# by 3hate6er dogma s already accred tedG themsel6es as m$ch bo$nd do3n by th s necess ty to go6ern# as the !o!$lace by the r need of go6ernment, Po6erty n all ts most h deo$s forms st ll e4 sts n the great c t esG and the cancer of !a$!er sm has ts roots n the hearts of / ngdoms, Men there ta/e no meas$re of the r 3ants and the r o3n !o3er to s$!!ly them# b$t l 6e and m$lt !ly l /e the beasts of the f eld#DDPro6 dence ha6 ng a!!arently ceased to care for them, Intell gence ne6er 6 s ts these# or t ma/es ts a!!earance as some ne3 de6elo!ment of 6 lla ny, ;ar has not ceasedG st ll there are battles and s eges, -omes are st ll $nha!!y# and tears and anger a$d s! te ma/e hells 3here there sho$ld be hea6ens, So m$ch the more necess ty for Masonry O

So m$ch 3 der the f eld of ts labors O So m$ch the more need for t to beg n to be tr$e to tself# to re6 6e from ts as!hy4 a# to re!ent of ts a!ostasy to ts tr$e creed O

'ndo$btedly# labor and death and the se4$al !ass on are essent al and !ermanent cond t ons of h$man e4 stence# and render !erfect on and a m llenn $m on earth m!oss ble, Al3ays#DD t s the decree of "ate ODDthe 6ast ma5or ty of men m$st to l to l 6e# and cannot f nd t me to c$lt 6ate the ntell gence, Man# /no3 ng he s to d e# 3 ll not sacr f ce the !resent en5oyment for a greater one n the f$t$re, The lo6e of 3oman cannot d e o$tG and t has a terr ble and $ncontrollable fate# ncreased by the ref nements of c 6 l <at on, ;oman s the 6er table syren or goddess of the yo$ng, B$t soc ety can be m!ro6edG and free go6ernment s !oss ble for StatesG and freedom of tho$ght and consc ence s no longer 3holly $to! an, Already 3e see that Em!erors !refer to be elected by $n 6ersal s$ffrageG that States are con6eyed to Em! res by 6oteG and that Em! res are adm n stered 3 th someth ng of the s! r t of a Re!$bl c# be ng l ttle else than democrac es 3 th a s ngle head# r$l ng thro$gh one man# one re!resentat 6e# nstead of an assembly of re!resentat 6es, And f Pr esthoods st ll go6ern# they no3 come before the la ty to !ro6e# by stress of arg$ment# that they o$gllt to go6ern, They are obl ged to e6o/e the 6ery reason 3h ch they are bent on s$!!lant ng, Accord ngly# men become da ly more free# beca$se the freedom of the man l es n h s reason, -e can reflect $!on h s o3n f$t$re cond$ct# and s$mmon $! ts conseE$encesG he can ta/e 3 de 6 e3s of h$man l fe# and lay do3n r$les for constant g$ dance, Th$s he s rel e6ed of the tyranny of sense and !ass on# and enabled at any t me to l 6e accord ng to the 3hole l ght of the /no3ledge that s 3 th n h m# nstead of be ng dr 6en# l /e a dry leaf on the 3 ngs of the 3 nd# by e6ery !resent m!$lse, -ere n l es the freedom of the man as regarded n connect on 3 th the necess ty m!osed by the omn !otence and foreD/no3ledge of God, So m$ch l ght# so m$ch l berty, ;hen em!eror and ch$rch a!!eal to reason there s nat$rally $n 6ersal s$ffrage, Therefore no one need lose co$rage# nor bel e6e that labor n the ca$se of Progress 3 ll be labor 3asted, There s no 3aste n nat$re# e ther of Matter# "orce# Act# or Tho$ght, A Tho$ght s as m$ch the end of l fe as an Act onG and a s ngle Tho$ght somet mes 3or/s greater res$lts than a

Re6ol$t on# e6en Re6ol$t ons themsel6es, St ll there sho$ld not be d 6orce bet3een Tho$ght and Act on, The tr$e Tho$ght s that n 3h ch l fe c$lm nates, B$t all 3 se and tr$e Tho$ght !rod$ces Act on, It s generat 6e# l /e the l ghtG and l ght and the dee! shado3 of the !ass ng clo$d are the g fts of the !ro!hets of the race, Kno3ledge# labor o$sly acE$ red# and nd$c ng hab ts of so$nd Tho$ght#DDthe reflect 6e character#DDm$st necessar ly be rare, The m$lt t$de of laborers cannot acE$ re t, Most men atta n to a 6ery lo3 standard of t, It s ncom!at ble 3 th the ord nary and nd s!ensable a6ocat ons of l fe, A 3hole 3orld of error as 3ell as of labor# go to ma/e one reflect 6e man, In the most ad6anced nat on of E$ro!e there are more gnorant than 3 se# more !oor than r ch# more a$tornat c laborers# the mere creat$res of hab t# than reason ng and reflect 6e men, The !ro!ort on s at least a tho$sand to one, 'nan m ty of o! n on s so obta ned, It only e4 sts among the m$lt t$de 3ho do not th n/# and the !ol t cal or s! r t$al !r esthood 3ho th n/ for that m$lt t$de# 3ho th n/ ho3 to g$ de and go6ern them, ;hen men beg n to reflect# they beg n to d ffer, The great !roblem s to f nd g$ des 3ho 3 ll not see/ to be tyrants, Th s s needed e6en more n res!ect to the heart than the head, 8o3# e6ery man earns h s s!ec al share of the !rod$ce of h$man labor# by an ncessant scramble# by tr c/ery and dece t, 'sef$l /no3ledge# honorably acE$ red# s too often $sed after a fash on not honest or reasonable# so that the st$d es of yo$th are far more noble than the !ract ces of manhood, The labor of the farmer n h s f elds# the genero$s ret$rns of the earth# the ben gnant and fa6or ng s/ es# tend to ma/e h m earnest# !ro6 dent# and gratef$lG the ed$cat on of the mar/etD !lace ma/es h m E$er$lo$s# crafty# en6 o$s# and an ntolerable n ggard, Masonry see/s to be th s benef cent# $namb t o$s# d s nterested g$ deG and t s the 6ery cond t on of all great str$ct$res that the so$nd of the hammer and the cl n/ of the tro3el sho$ld be al3ays heard n some !art of the b$ ld ng, ; th fa th n man# ho!e for the f$t$re of h$man ty# lo6 ngD / ndness for o$r fello3s# Masonry and the Mason m$st al3ays 3or/ and teach, Let each do that for 3h ch he s best f tted, The teacher also s a 3or/man, Pra se3orthy as the act 6e na6 gator s# 3ho comes and goes and ma/es one cl me !arta/e of the treas$res of the other# and one to share the treas$res of all# he 3ho /ee!s the beaconDl ght $!on the h ll s also at h s !ost, Masonry has already hel!ed cast do3n some dols from the r !edestals# and gr nd to m!al!able d$st some of the l n/s of the cha ns that held men?s so$ls n bondage, That there has been !rogress needs no other demonstrat on than that yo$ may no3 reason 3 th men# and $rge $!on

them# 3 tho$t danger of the rac/ or sta/e# that no doctr nes can be a!!rehended as tr$ths f they contrad ct each other# or contrad ct other tr$ths g 6en $s by God, Long before the Reformat on# a mon/# 3ho had fo$nd h s 3ay to heresy 3 tho$t the hel! of Mart n L$ther# not 6ent$r ne to breathe alo$d nto any l 6 ng ear h s ant D!a!al and treasonable doctr nes# 3rote them on !archment# and seal ng $! the!er lo$s record# h d t n the mass 6e 3alls of h s monastery, There 3as no fr end or brother to 3hom he co$ld ntr$st h s secret or !o$r forth h s so$l, It 3as some consolat on to mag ne that n a f$t$re age some one m ght f nd the !archment# and the seed be fo$nd not to ha6e been so3n n 6a n, ;hat f the tr$th sho$ld ha6e to l e dormant as long before germ nat ng as the 3heat n the Egy!t an m$mmy J S!ea/ t# ne6ertheless# aga n and aga n# and let t ta/e ts chance O The rose of &er cho gro3s n the sandy deserts of Arab a and on the Syr an ho$seto!s, Scarcely s 4 nches h gh# t loses ts lea6es after the flo3er ng season# and dr es $! nto the form of a ball, Then t s $!rooted by the 3 nds# and carr ed# blo3n# or tossed across the desert# nto the sea, There# feel ng the contact of the 3ater# t $nfolds tself# e4!ands ts branches# and e4!els ts seeds from the r seedD6essels, These# 3hen sat$rated 3 th 3ater# are carr ed by the t de and la d on the seaDshore, Many are lost# as many nd 6 d$al l 6es of men are $seless, B$t many are thro3n bac/ aga n fro m the seaDshore nto the desert# 3here# by the 6 rt$e of the seaD3ater that they ha6e mb bed# the roots and lea6es s!ro$t and they gro3 nto fr$ tf$l !lants# 3h ch 3 ll# n the r t$rns# l /e the r ancestors# be 3h rled nto the sea, God 3 ll not be less caref$l to !ro6 de for the germ nat on of the tr$ths yo$ may boldly $tter forth, @%ast#@ -e has sa d# @thy bread $!on the 3aters# and after many days t shall ret$rn to thee aga n,@ In t at on does not change( 3e f nd t aga n and aga n# and al3ays the same# thro$gh all the ages, The last d sc !les of Pascal s Mart ne< are st ll the ch ldren of Or!he$sG b$t they adore the real <er of the ant E$e !h loso!hy# the Incarnate ;ord of the %hr st ans, Pythagoras# the great d 6$lger of the !h loso!hy of n$mbers# 6 s ted all the sanct$ar es of the 3orld, -e 3ent nto &$daea# 3here he !roc$red h mself to be c rc$mc sed# that he m ght be adm tted to the secrets of the Kabalah# 3h ch the !ro!hets E<e/ el and Dan el# not 3 tho$t some reser6at ons# comm$n cated to h m, Then# not 3 tho$t some d ff c$lty# he s$cceeded n be ng adm tted to the Egy!t an n t at on# $!on the recommendat on of K ng Amas s, The !o3er of h s gen $s s$!!l ed the

def c enc es of the m!erfect comm$n cat ons of the - ero!hants# and he h mself became a Master and a Re6ealer, Pythagoras def ned God( a L 6 ng and Absol$te Fer ty clothed 3 th L ght, -e sa d that the ;ord 3as 8$mber man fested by "orm, -e made all descend from the Tetyactys# that s to say# from the I$aternary, God# he sa d aga n# s the S$!reme M$s c# the nat$re of 3h ch s -armony, Pythagoras ga6e the mag strates of %rotona th s great rel g o$s# !ol t cal and soc al !rece!t( @There s no e6 l that s not !referable to Anarchy,@ Pythagoras sa d# @E6en as there are three d 6 ne not ons and free ntell g ble reg ons# so there s a tr !le 3ord# for the - erareh cal Order al3ays man fests tself by threes, There are the 3ord s m!le# the 3ord h erogly!h cal# and the 3ord symbol c( n other terms# there are the 3ord that e4!resses# the 3ord that conceals# and the 3ord that s gn f esG the 3hole h erat c ntell gence s n the !erfect /no3ledge of these three degrees,@ Pythagoras en6elo!ed doctr ne 3 th symbols# b$t caref$lly esche3ed !erson f cat ons and mages# 3h ch# he tho$ght# sooner or later !rod$ced dolatry, The -oly Kabalah# or trad t on of the ch ldren of Seth# 3as carr ed from %haldcea by Abraham# ta$ght to the Egy!t an !r esthood by &ose!h# reco6ered and !$r f ed by Moses# concealed $nder symbols n the B ble# re6ealed by the Sa6 o$r to Sa nt &ohn# and conta ned# ent re# $nder h erat c f g$res analogo$s to those of all ant E$ ty# n the A!ocaly!se of that A!ostle,

The Kabal sts cons der God as the Intell gent# An mated# L 6 ng Inf n te, -e s not# for them# e ther the aggregate of e4 stences# or e4 stence n the abstract# or a be ng !h loso!h cally def nable, -e s n all# d st nct from all# and greater than all, - s name e6en s neffableG and yet th s name only e4!resses the h$man deal of - s d 6 n ty, ;hat God s n - mself# t s not g 6en to man to com!rehend, God s the absol$te of "a thG b$t the absol$te of Reason s BEI8G# @I am that I am#@ s a 3retched translat on, Be ng# E4 stence# s by tself# and beca$se t Is, The reason of Be ng# s Be ng tself, ;e may nE$ re# @;hy does someth ng e4 stJ@ that s# @;hy does s$ch or s$ch a th ng e4 stJ@ B$t 3e cannot# 3 tho$t be ng abs$rd# as/# @;hy Is Be ngJ@ That 3o$ld be to s$!!ose Be ng before Be ng, If Be ng had a ca$se# that ca$se 3o$ld necessar ly BeG that s# the ca$se and effect 3o$ld be dent cal, Reason and sc ence demonstrate to $s that the modes of E4 stence and Be ng balance each other n eE$ l br $m accord ng to harmon o$s and h erarch c la3s, B$t a h erarchy s synthet <ed# n ascend ng# and becomes e6er more and more monarch al, .et the reason cannot !a$se at a s mle ch ef# 3 tho$t be ng alarmed at the abysses 3h ch t seems to lea6e abo6e th s S$!reme Monarch, Therefore t s s lent# and g 6es !lace to the "a th t adores, ;hat s certa n# e6en for sc ence and the reason# s# that the dea of God s the grandest# the most holy# and the most $sef$l of all the as! rat ons of manG that $!on th s bel ef moral ty re!oses# 3 th ts eternal sanct on, Th s bel ef# then# s n h$man ty# the most real of the !henomena of be ngG and f t 3ere false# nat$re 3o$ld aff rm the abs$rdG noth ngness 3o$ld g 6e form to l fe# and God 3o$ld at the same t me be and not be, It s to th s !h loso!h c and ncontestable real ty# 3h ch s termed The Idea of God# that the Kabal sts g 6e a name, In th s name all others are conta ned, Its cy!hers conta n all the n$mbersG and the h erogly!h cs of ts letters e4!ress all the la3s and all the th ngs of nat$re, BEI8G IS BEI8G( the reason of Be ng s n Be ng( n the Beg nn ng s the ;ord# and the ;ord n log c form$lated S!eech# the s!o/en ReasonG the ;ord s n God# and s God - mself# man fested to the Intell gence, -ere

s 3hat s abo6e all the !h loso!h es, Th s 3e m$st bel e6e# $nder the !enalty of ne6er tr$ly /no3 ng anyth ng# and rela!s ng nto the abs$rd s/e!t c sm of Pyrrho, The Pr esthood# c$stod an of "a th# 3holly rests $!on th s bas s of /no3ledge# and t s n ts teach ngs 3e m$st recogn <e the D 6 ne Pr nc !le of the Eternal ;ord, L ght s not S! r t# as the Ind an - ero!hants bel e6ed t to beG b$t only the nstr$ment of the S! r t, It s not the body of the Proto!lastes# as the The$rg sts of the school of Ale4andr a ta$ght# b$t the f rst !hys cal man festat on of the D 6 ne afflat$s, God eternally creates t# and man# n the mage of God# mod f es and seems to m$lt !ly t, The h gh mag c s styled @The Sacerdotal Art#@ and @The Royal Art,@ In Egy!t# Greece# and Rome# t co$ld not b$t share the greatnesses and decadences of the Pr esthood and of Royalty, E6ery !h loso!hy host le to the nat onal 3orsh ! and to ts myster es# 3as of necess ty host le to the great !ol t cal !o3ers# 3h chlose the r grande$r# f they cease# n the eyes of the m$lt t$des# to be the mages of the D 6 ne Po3er, E6ery %ro3n s shattered# 3hen t clashes aga nst the T ara, Plato# 3r t ng to D onys $s the .o$nger# n regard to the nat$re of the " rst Pr nc !le# says( @I m$st 3r te to yo$ n en gmas# so that f my letter be nterce!ted by land or sea# he 3ho shall read t may n no degree com!rehend t,@ And then he says# @All th ngs s$rro$nd the r K ngG they are# on acco$nt of - m# and -e alone s the ca$se of good th ngs# Second for the Seconds and Th rd for the Th rds,@ There s n these fe3 3ords a com!lete s$mmary of the Theology of the Se!h roth, @The K ng@ s AI8SOP-# Be ng S$!reme and Absol$te, "rom th s centre# 3h ch s e6ery3here# all th ngs ray forthG b$t 3e es!ec ally conce 6e of t n three manners and n three d fferent s!heres, In the D 6 ne 3orld MAHIL'T-N# 3h ch s that of the " rst %a$se# and 3here n the 3hole Etern ty of Th ngs n the beg nn ng e4 sted as 'n ty# to be after3ard# d$r ng Etern ty $ttered forth# clothed 3 th form# and the attr b$tes that const t$te them matter# the " rst Pr nc !le s S ngle and " rst# and yet not the FER. Ill m table De ty# ncom!rehens ble# $ndef nableG b$t - mself n so far as man fested by the %reat 6e Tho$ght, To com!are l ttleness 3 th nf n ty#DDAr/3r ght# as n6entor of the s! nn ngD5enny# and not the man Ar/3r ght other3 se and beyond that, All 3e can /no3 of the Fery God s# com!ared to - s ;holeness# only as an nf n tes mal fract on of a $n t# com!ared 3 th an nf n ty of 'n ts,

In the ;orld of %reat on# 3h ch s that of Second %a$ses Athe Kabal st c ;orld BRIA-B# the A$tocracy of the " rst Pr nc !le s com!lete# b$t 3e conce 6e of t only as the %a$se of the Second %a$ses, -ere t s man fested by the B nary# and s the %reat 6e Pr nc !le !ass 6e, " nally( n the th rd 3orld# .EHIRA-# or of "ormat on# t s re6ealed n the !erfect "orm# the "orm of "orms# the ;orld# the S$!reme Bea$ty and E4cellence# the %reated Perfect on, Th$s the Pr nc !le s at once the " rst# the Second# and the Th rd# s nce t s All n All# the %entre and %a$se of all, It s not the gen $s of Plato that 3e here adm re, ;e recogn <e only the e4act /no3ledge of the In t ate, The great A!ostle Sa nt &ohn d d not borro3 from the !h loso!hy of Plato the o!en ng of h s Gos!el, Plato# on the contrary# dran/ at the same s!r ngs 3 th Sa nt &ohn and Ph loG and &ohn n the o!en ng 6erses of h s !ara!hrase# states the f rst !r nc !les of a dogma common to many schools# b$t n lang$age es!ec ally belong ng to Bh lo# 3hom t s e6 dent he had read, The !h loso!hy of Plato# the greatest of h$man Re6ealers# co$ld yearn to3ard the ;ord made manG the Gos!el alone co$ld g 6e h m to the 3orld, Do$bt# n !resence of Be ng and ts harmon esG s/e!t c sm# n the face of the eternal mathemat cs and the mm$table la3s of L fe 3h ch ma/e the D 6 n ty !resent and 6 s ble e6ery3here# as the -$man s /no3n and 6 s ble by ts $tterances of 3ord and act#DD s th s not the most fool sh of s$!erst t ons# and the most ne4c$sable as 3ell as the most dangero$s of all cred$l t es J Tho$ght# 3e /no3# s not a res$lt or conseE$ence of the organ <at on of matter# of the chem cal or other act on or react on of ts !art cles# l /e effer6escence and gaseo$s e4!los ons, On the contrary# the fact that Tho$ght s man fested and real <ed n act h$man or act d 6 ne# !ro6es the e4 stence of an Ent ty# or 'n ty# that th n/s, And the 'n 6erse s the Inf n te 'tterance of one of an nf n te n$mber of Inf n te Tho$ghts# 3h ch cannot b$t emanate from an Inf n te and Th n/ ng So$rce, The ca$se s al3ays eE$al# at least# to the effectG and matter cannot th n/# nor co$ld t ca$se tself# or e4 st 3 tho$t ca$se# nor co$ld noth ng !rod$ce e ther forces or th ngsG for n 6o d noth ngness no "orces can nhere, Adm t a selfDe4 stent "orce# and ts Intell gence# or an Intell gent ca$se of t s adm tted# and at once GOD Is, The -ebre3 allegory of the "all of Man# 3h ch s b$t a s!ec al 6ar at on of a $n 6ersal legend# symbol <es one of the grandest and most $n 6ersal allegor es of sc ence,

Moral E6 l s "alsehood n act ons# as "alsehood s %r me n 3ords,

In5$st ce s the essence of "alsehoodG and e6ery false 3ord s an n5$st ce, In5$st ce s the death of the Moral Be ng# as "alsehood s the !o son of the Intell gence, The !erce!t on of the L ght s the da3n of the Eternal L fe# n Be ng, The ;ord of God# 3h ch creates the L ght# seems to be $ttered by e6ery Intell gence that can ta/e cogn <ance of "orms and 3 ll loo/, @Let the L ght BEO The L ght# n fact# e4 sts# n ts cond t on of s!lendor# for those eyes alone that ga<e at tG and the So$l# amoro$s of the s!ectacle of the bea$t es of the 'n 6erse# and a!!ly ng ts attent on to that l$m no$s 3r t ng of the Inf n te Boo/# 3h ch s called @The F s ble#@ seems to $tter# as God d d on the da3n of the f rst day# that s$bl me and creat 6e 3ord# @BEO LIG-T O@ It s not beyond the tomb# b$t n l fe tself# that 3e are to see/ for the myster es of death, Sal6at on or re!robat on beg ns here belo3# and the terrestr al 3orld too has ts -ea6en and ts -ell, Al3ays# e6en here belo3# 6 rt$e s re3ardedG al3ays# e6en here belo3# 6 ce s !3l shedG and that 3h ch ma/es $s somet mes bel e6e n the m!$n ty of e6 lDdoers s that r ches# those nstr$ments of good and of e6 l# seem somet mes to be g 6en them at ha<ard, B$t 3oe to $n5$st men# 3hen they !ossess the /ey of gold O It o!ens# for them# only the gate of the tomb and of -ell, All the tr$e In t ates ha6e recogn <ed the $sef$lness of to l and sorro3, @Sorro3#@ says a German !oet# @ s the dog of that $n/no3n she!herd 3ho g$ des the floc/ of men,@ To learn to s$ffer# to learn to d e# s the d sc !l ne of Etern ty# the mmortal 8o6 t ate, The allegor cal ! ct$re of %ebes# n 3h ch the D 6 ne %omedy of Dante 3as s/etched n Plato?s t me# the descr !t on 3hereof has been !reser6ed for $s# and 3h ch many !a nters of the m ddle age ha6e re!rod$ced by th s descr !t on# s a mon$ment at once !h loso!h cal and mag cal, It s a most com!lete moral synthes s# and at the same t me the most a$dac o$s demonstrat on e6er g 6en of the Grand Arcan$m# of that secret 3hose

re6elat on 3o$ld o6ert$rn Earth and -ea6en, Let no one e4!ect $s to g 6e them ts e4!lanat on O -e 3ho !asses beh nd the 6e l that h des th s mystery# $nderstands that t s n ts 6ery nat$re ne4!l cable# and that t s death to those 3ho 3 n t by s$r!r se# as 3ell as to h m 3ho re6eals t, Th s secret s the Royalty of the Sages# the %ro3n of the In t ate 3hom 3e see redescend 6 ctor o$s from the s$mm t of Tr als# n the f ne allegory of %ebes, The Grand Arcan$n) ma/es h m master of gold and the l ght# 3h ch are at bottom the same th ng# he has sol6ed the !roblem of the E$adrat$re of the c rcle# he d rects the !er!et$al mo6ement# and he !ossesses the !h loso!h cal stone, -ere the Ade!ts 3 ll $nderstand $s, There s ne ther nterr$!t on n the to l of nat$re# nor ga! n her 3or/, The -armon es of -ea6en corres!ond to those of Earth# and the Eternal L fe accom!l shes ts e6ol$t ons n accordance 3 th the same la3s as the l fe of a dog, @God has arranged all th ngs by 3e ght# n$mber# and meas$re#@ says the B bleG and th s l$m no$s doctr ne 3as also that of Plato, -$man ty has ne6er really had b$t one rel g on and one 3orsh !, Th s $n 6ersal l ght has had ts $ncerta n m rages# ts dece tf$l reflect ons# and ts shado3sG b$t al3ays# after the n ghts of Error# 3e see t rea!!ear# one and !$re l /e the S$n, The magn f cences of 3orsh ! are the l fe of rel g on# and f %hr st 3 shes !oor m n sters# - s So6ere gn D 6 n ty does not 3 sh !altry altars, Some Protestants ha6e not com!rehended that 3orsh ! s a teach ng# and that 3e m$st not create n the mag nat on of the m$lt t$de a mean or m serable God, Those orator es that resemble !oorlyDf$rn shed off ces or nns# and those 3orthy m n sters clad l /e notar es or la3yer?s cler/s# do they not necessar ly ca$se rel g on to be regarded as a mere !$r tan c formal ty# and God as a &$st ce of the PeaceJ ;e scoff at the A$g$rs, It s so easy to scoff# and so d ff c$lt 3ell to com!rehend, D d the De ty lea6e the 3hole 3orld 3 tho$t L ght for t3o score cent$r es# to ll$m nate only a l ttle corner of Palest ne and a br$tal# gnorant# and $ngratef$l !eo!leJ ;hy al3ays cal$mn ate God and the Sanct$ary J ;ere there ne6er any others than rog$es among the !r estsJ %o$ld no honest and s ncere men be fo$nd among the - ero!hants of %eres or D ana# of D on$sos or A!ollo# of -ermes or M thras J ;ere these# then# all dece 6ed# l /e the restJ ;ho# then# constantly dece 6ed them# 3 tho$t betray ng themsel6es# d$r ng a ser es of cent$r esJDDfor the cheats are not mmortal O Arago sa d# that o$ts de of the !$re mathemat cs#

he 3ho $tters the 3ord @ m!oss ble#@ s 3ant ng n !r$dence and good sense, The tr$e name of Satan# the Kabal sts say# s that of .ah6eh re6ersedG for Satan s not a blac/ god# b$t the negat on of God, The De6 l s the !erson f cat on of Athe sm or Idolatry, "or the In t ates# th s s not a Person# b$t a "orce# created for good# b$t 3h ch may ser6e for e6 l, It s the nstr$ment of L berty or "ree ; ll, They re!resent th s "orce# 3h ch !res des o6er the !hys cal generat on# $nder the mytholog c and horned form of the God PA8G thence came the heDgoat of the Sabbat# brother of the Anc ent Ser!ent# and the L ghtDbearer or Phos!hor# of 3h ch the !oets ha6e made the false L$c fer of the legend, Gold# to the eyes of the In t ates# s L ght condensed, They style the sacred n$mbers of the Kabalah @golden n$mbers#@ and the moral teach ngs of Pythagoras h s @golden 6erses,@ "or the same reason# a myster o$s boo/ of A!$le $s# n 3h ch an ass f g$res largely# 3as called @The Golden Ass,@ The Pagans acc$sed the %hr st ans of 3orsh !! ng an ass# and they d d not n6ent th s re!roach# b$t t came from the Samar tan &e3s# 3ho# f g$r ng the data of the Kabalah n regard to the D 6 n ty by Egy!t an symbols# also re!resented the Intell gence by the f g$re of the Mag cal Star adored $nder the name of Rem!han# Sc ence $nder the emblem of An$b s# 3hose name they changed to 8 bbas# and the 6$lgar fa th or cred$l ty $nder the f g$re of Thartac# a god re!resented 3 th a boo/# a cloa/# and the head of an ass, Accord ng to the Samar tan Doctors# %hr st an ty 3as the re gn of Thartac# bl nd "a th and 6$lgar cred$l ty erected nto a $n 6ersal oracle# and !referred to Intell gence and Sc ence, Synes $s# B sho! of Ptolema s# a great Kabal st# b$t of do$btf$l orthodo4y# 3rote( @The !eo!le 3 ll al3ays moc/ at th ngs easy to be m s$nderstoodG t m$st needs ha6e m!ost$res,@ @A S! r t#@ he sa d# @that lo6es 3 sdom and contem!lates the Tr$fh close at hand# s forced to d sg$ se t# to nd$ce the m$lt t$des to acce!t t,,,, " ct ons are necessary to the !eo!le# and the Tr$th becomes deadly to

those 3ho are not strong eno$gh to contem!late t n all ts br ll ance, If the sacerdotal la3s allo3ed the reser6at on of 5$dgments and the allegory of 3ords# I 3o$ld acce!t the !ro!osed d gn ty on cond t on that I m ght be a !h loso!her at home# and abroad a narrator of a!olog$es and !arables,,,,, In fact# 3hat can there be n common bet3een the 6 le m$lt t$de and s$bl me 3 sdomJ The tr$th m$st be /e!t secret# and the masses need a teach ng !ro!ort oned to the r m!erfect reason,@ Moral d sorders !rod$ce !hys cal $gl ness# and n some sort real <e those fr ghtf$l faces 3h ch trad t on ass gns to the demons, The f rst Dr$ ds 3ere the tr$e ch ldren of the Mag # and the r n t at on came from Egy!t and %haldaea# that s to say# from the !$re so$rces of the !r m t 6e Kabalah, They adored the Tr n ty $nder the names of Is s or -es$s# the S$!reme -armonyG of Belerl or Bel# 3h ch n Assyr an means Lord# a name corres!ond ng to that of ADO8AIG and of %am$l or %amael# a name that n the Kabalah !erson f es the D 6 ne &$st ce, Belo3 th s tr angle of L ght they s$!!osed a d 6 ne reflect on# also com!osed of three !erson f ed rays( f rst# Te$tates or Te$th# the same as the Thoth of the Egy!t ans# the ;ord# or the Intell gence form$latedG then "orce and Bea$ty# 3hose names 6ar ed l /e the r emblems, " nally# they com!leted the sacred Se!tenary by a myster o$s mage that re!resented the !rogress of the dogma and ts f$t$re real <at ons, Th s 3as a yo$ng g rl 6e led# hold ng a ch ld n her armsG and they ded cated th s mage to @The F rg n 3ho 3 ll become a motherGDDF rg n !ar t$rae,@ -ertha or ;ertha# the yo$ng Is s of Ga$l# I$een of -ea6en# the F rg n 3ho 3as to bear a ch ld# held the s! ndle of the "ates# f lled 3 th 3ool half 3h te and half blac/G beca$se she !res des o6er all forms and all symbols# and 3ea6es the garment of the Ideas, One of the most myster o$s !antacles of the Kabalah# conta ned n the Ench r d on of Leo III,# re!resents an eE$ lateral tr angle re6ersed# nscr bed n a do$ble c rcle, On the tr angle are 3r tten# n s$ch manner as to form the !ro!het c Ta$# the t3o -ebre3 3ords so often fo$nd a!!ended to the Ineffable 8ame# and ALO-A.IM# or the Po3ers# and TSABAOT-# or the starry Arm es and the r g$ d ng s! r tsG 3ords also 3h ch symbol <e the EE$ l br $m of the "orces of 8at$re and the -armony of 8$mbers, To the three s des of the tr angle belong the three great 8ames IA-AFE-# ADO8AI# and AGLA, Abo6e the f rst s 3r tten n Lat n# "ormat o# abo6e the second Reformat o# and abo6e the th rd# Transformat o, So %reat on s

ascr bed to the "AT-ER# Redem!t on or Reformat on to the SO8# and Sanct f cat on or Transformat on to the -OL. SPIRIT# ans3er ng $nto the mathemat cal la3s of Act on# React on# and EE$ l br $m, IA-AFE- s also# n effect# the Genes s or "ormat on of dogma# by the elementary s gn f cat on of the fo$r letters of the Sacred TetragramG ADO8AIG s the real <at on of th s dogma n the -$man "orm# n the F s ble LORD# 3ho s the Son of God or the !erfect ManG and AGLA Mformed of the n t als of the fo$r 3ords Ath Geb$r La$la m Adona N e4!resses the synthes s of the 3hole dogma and the total ty of the Kabal ,st c sc ence# clearly nd cat ng by the h erogly!h cs of 3h ch th s adm rable name s formed the Tr !le Secret of the Great ;or/, Masonry# l /e all the Rel g ons# all the Myster es# -ermet c sm and Alchemy# conceals ts secrets from all e4ce!t the Ade!ts and Sages# or the Elect# and $ses false e4!lanat ons and m s nter!retat ons of ts symbols to m slead those 3ho deser6e only to be m sledG to conceal the Tr$th# 3h ch t calls L ght# from tl)em# and todra3 them a3ay from t, Tr$th s not for those 3ho are $n3orthy or $nable to rece 6e t# or 3o$ld !er6ert t, So God - mself nca!ac tates many men# by colorDbl ndness# to d st ng$ sh colors# and leads the masses a3ay from the h ghest Tr$th# g 6 ng them the !o3er to atta n only so m$ch of t as t s !rof table to them to /no3, E6ery age has had a rel g on s$ ted to ts ca!ac ty,

The Teachers# e6en of %hr st an ty# are# n general# the most gnorant of the tr$e mean ng of that 3h ch they teach, There s no boo/ of 3h ch so l ttle s /no3n as the B ble, To most 3ho read t# t s as ncom!rehens ble as the Sohar, So Masonry 5ealo$sly conceals ts secrets# and ntent onally leads conce ted nter!reters astray, There s no s ght $nder the s$n more ! t f$l and l$d cro$s at once# than the s!ectacle of the Prestons and the ;ebbs# not to ment on the later ncarnat ons of D$llness and %ommon!lace# $nderta/ ng to @e4!la n@ the old symbols of Masonry# and add ng to and @ m!ro6 ng@ them# or n6ent ng ne3 ones, To the % rcle nclos ng the central !o nt# and tself traced bet3een t3o !arallel l nes# a f g$re !$rely Kabal st c# these !ersons ha6e added the s$!er m!osed B ble# and e6en reared on that the ladder 3 th three or n ne

ro$nds# and then g 6en a 6a! d nter!retat on of the 3hole# so !rofo$ndly abs$rd as act$ally to e4c te adm rat on,

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), :C D Secret Master# 7C D Perfect Master# =C D Int mate Secretary +C D Pro6ost and &$dge# *C D Intendant of the B$ ld ng# 1C D El$ of the 8 ne

IF, SE%RET MASTER, MASO8R. s a s$ccess on of allegor es# the mere 6eh cles of great lessons n moral ty and !h loso!hy, .o$ 3 ll more f$lly a!!rec ate ts s! r t# ts ob5ect# ts !$r!oses# as yo$ ad6ance n the d fferent Degrees# 3h ch yo$ 3 ll f nd to const t$te a great# com!lete# and harmon o$s system, If yo$ ha6e been d sa!!o nted n the f rst three Degrees# as yo$ ha6e rece 6ed them# and f t has seemed to yo$ that the !erformance has not come $! to the !rom se# that the lessons of moral ty are not ne3# and the sc ent f c nstr$ct on s b$t r$d mentary# and the symbols are m!erfectly e4!la ned# remember that the ceremon es and lessons of those Degrees ha6e been for ages more and more accommodat ng themsel6es# by c$rta lment and s n/ ng nto common!lace# to the often l m ted memory and ca!ac ty of the Master and Instr$ctor# and to the ntellect and needs of the P$! l and In t ateG that they ha6e come to $s from an age 3hen symbols 3ere $sed# not to re6eal b$t to concealG 3hen the commonest learn ng 3as conf ned to a select fe3# and the s m!lest !r nc !les of moral ty seemed ne3ly d sco6ered tr$thsG and that these ant E$e and

s m!le Degrees no3 stand l /e the bro/en col$mns of a roofless Dr$ d c tem!le# n the r r$de and m$t lated greatnessG n many !arts# also# corr$!ted by t me# and d sf g$red by modern add t ons and abs$rd nter!retat ons, They are b$t the entrance to the great Mason c Tem!le# the tr !le col$mns of the !ort co, .o$ ha6e ta/en the f rst ste! o6er ts threshold# the f rst ste! to3ard the nner sanct$ary and heart of the tem!le, .o$ are n the !ath that leads $! the slo!e of the mo$nta n of Tr$thG and t de!ends $!on yo$r secrecy# obed ence# and f del ty# 3hether yo$ 3 ll ad6ance or rema n stat onary, Imag ne not that yo$ 3 ll become ndeed a Mason by learn ng 3hat s commonly called the @3or/#@ or e6en by becom ng fam l ar 3 th o$r trad t ons, Masonry has a h story# a l terat$re# a !h loso!hy, Its allegor es and trad t ons 3 ll teach yo$ m$chG b$t m$ch s to be so$ght else3here, The streams of learn ng that no3 flo3 f$ll and broad m$st be follo3ed to the r heads n the s!r ngs that 3ell $! n the remote !ast# and yo$ 3 ll there f nd the or g n and mean ng of Masonry, A fe3 r$d mentary lessons n arch tect$re# a fe3 $n 6ersally adm tted ma4 ms of moral ty# a fe3 $n m!ortant trad t ons# 3hose real mean ng s $n/no3n or m s$nderstood# 3 ll no longer sat sfy the earnest nE$ rer after Mason c tr$th, Let 3hoso s content 3 th these# see/ to cl mb no h gher, -e 3ho des res to $nderstand the harmon o$s and bea$t f$l !ro!ort ons of "reemasonry m$st read# st$dy# reflect# d gest# and d scr m nate, The tr$e Mason s an ardent see/er after /no3ledgeG and he /no3s that both boo/s and the ant E$e symbols of Masonry are 6essels 3h ch come do3n to $s f$llDfre ghted 3 th the ntellect$al r ches of the PastG and that n the lad ng of these argos es s m$ch that sheds l ght on the h story of Masonry# and !ro6es ts cla m to be ac/no3ledged the benefactor of man/ nd# born n the 6ery cradle of the race, Kno3ledge s the most gen$ ne and real of h$man treas$resG for t s L ght# as Ignorance s Dar/ness, It s the de6elo!ment of the h$man so$l# and ts acE$ s t on the gro3th of the so$l# 3h ch at the b rth of man /no3s noth ng# and therefore# n one sense# may be sa d to be noth ng, It s the seed# 3h ch has n t the !o3er to gro3# to acE$ re# and by acE$ r ng to be de6elo!ed# as the seed s de6elo!ed nto the shoot# the !lant# the tree, @;e need not !a$se at the common arg$ment that by learn ng man e4celleth man# n that 3here n man e4celleth beastsG that by learn ng man ascendeth to the hea6ens and the r mot ons# 3here n body he cannot come# and the

l /e, Let $s rather regard the d gn ty and e4cellency of /no3ledge and learn ng n that 3here$nto man?s nat$re doth most as! re# 3h ch s mmortal ty or cont n$ance, "or to th s tendeth generat on# and ra s ng of -o$ses and "am l esG to th s b$ ld ngs# fo$ndat ons# and mon$mentsG to th s tendeth the des re of memory# fame# and celebrat on# and n effect the strength of all other h$man des res,@ That o$r nfl$ences shall s$r6 6e $s# and be l 6 ng forces 3hen 3e are n o$r gra6esG and no merely that o$r names shall be rememberedG b$t rather that o$r 3or/s shall be read# o$r acts s!o/en of# o$r names recollected an ment oned 3hen 3e are dead# as e6 dences that those nfl$ences l 6e and r$le# s3ay and control some !ort on of man/ nd and of the 3orld#DDth s s the as! rat on of the h$man so$l, @;e see then ho3 far the mon$ments of gen $s and learn ng are more d$rable than mon$ments of !o3er or of the hands, "or ha6e not the 6erses of -omer cont n$ed t3entyDf 6e h$ndred years or more# 3 tho$t the loss of a syllable or letter# d$r ng 3h ch t me nf n te !alaces# tem!les# castles# c t es# ha6e decayed and been demol shedJ It s no !oss ble to ha6e the tr$e ! ct$res or stat$es of %yr$s# Ale4ander %aesar# no# nor of the K ngs or great !ersonages of m$ch late yearsG for the or g nals cannot last# and the co! es cannot b$t lose of the l fe and tr$th, B$t the mages of men?s gen $s and /no3ledge rema n n boo/s# e4em!ted from the 3rong of t me# and ca!able of !er!et$al reno6at on, 8e ther are they f tly to be called mages# beca$se they generate st ll# and cast the r seeds n the m nds of others# !ro6o/ ng and ca$s ng nf n te act ons and o! n ons n s$cceed ng agesG so that f the n6ent on of the sh ! 3as tho$ght so noble# 3h ch carr eth r ches and commod t es from !lace to !lace# and consoc ateth the most remote reg ons n !art c !at on of the r fr$ ts# ho3 m$ch more are letters to be magn f ed 3h ch# as sh !s# !ass thro$gh the 6ast seas of t me# and ma/e age so d stant to !art c !ate of the 3 sdom# ll$m nat on# and n6ent ons# the one of the other,@ To learn# to atta n /no3ledge# to be 3 se# s a necess ty for e6er tr$ly noble so$lG to teach# to comm$n cate that /no3ledge# to share that 3 sdom 3 th others# and not ch$rl shly to loc/ $! h s e4cheE$er# and !lace a sent nel at the door to dr 6e a3ay the needy# s eE$ally an m!$lse of a noble nat$re# and the 3orth es 3or/ of man, @There 3as a l ttle c ty#@ says the Preacher# the son of Da6 d @and fe3 men 3 th n tG and there came a great K ng aga nst t and bes eged t# and b$ lt great b$l3ar/s aga nst t, 8o3 there 3as fo$nd n t a !oor 3 se man# and he by h s 3 sdom del 6ered the c tyG yet no man remembered that same !oor man, Then sa d I# 3 sdom s better than strength ne6ertheless# the !oor man?s 3 sdom s des! sed# and h s 3ords are not heard,@ If t sho$ld

chance to yo$# my brother# to do man/ nd good ser6 ce# and be re3arded 3 th nd fference and forgetf$lness only# st ll be not d sco$raged# b$t remember the f$rther ad6 ce of the 3 se K ng, @In the morn ng so3 the seed# and n the e6en ng 3 thhold not thy handG for tho$ /no3est not 3h ch shall !ros!er# th s or that# or 3hether both shall be al /e good,@ So3 yo$ the seed# 3hoe6er rea!s, Learn# that yo$ may be enabled to do goodG and do so beca$se t s r ght# f nd ng n the act tself am!le re3ard and recom!ense, To atta n the tr$th# and to ser6e o$r fello3s# o$r co$ntry# and man/ ndDD th s s the noblest dest ny of man, -ereafter and all yo$r l fe t s to be yo$r ob5ect, If yo$ des re to ascend to that dest ny# ad6anceO If yo$ ha6e other and less noble ob5ects# and are contented 3 th a lo3er fl ght# halt here O let others scale the he ghts# and Masonry f$lf ll her m ss on, If yo$ 3 ll ad6ance# g rd $! yo$r lo ns for the str$ggle O for the 3ay s long and to lsome, Pleas$re# all sm les# 3 ll bec/on yo$ on the one hand# and Indolence 3 ll n6 te yo$ to slee! among the flo3ers# $!on the other, Pre!are# by secrecy# obed ence# and f del ty# to res st the all$rements of both O Secrecy s nd s!ensable n a Mason of 3hate6er Degree, It s the f rst and almost the only lesson ta$ght to the Entered A!!rent ce, The obl gat ons 3h ch 3e ha6e each ass$med to3ard e6ery Mason that l 6es# reE$ r ng of $s the !erformance of the most ser o$s and onero$s d$t es to3ard those !ersonally $n/no3n to $s $nt l they demand o$r a d#DD d$t es that m$st be !erformed# e6en at the r s/ of l fe# or o$r solemn oaths be bro/en and 6 olated# and 3e be branded as false Masons and fa thless men# teach $s ho3 !rofo$nd a folly t 3o$ld be to betray o$r secrets to those 3ho# bo$nd to $s by no t e of common obl gat on# m ght# by obta n ng them# call on $s n the r e4trem ty# 3hen the $rgency of the occas on sho$ld allo3 $s no t me for nE$ ry# and the !erem!tory mandate of o$r obl gat on com!el $s to do a brother?s d$ty to a base m!ostor, The secrets of o$r brother# 3hen comm$n cated to $s# m$st be sacred# f they be s$ch as the la3 of o$r co$ntry 3arrants $s to /ee!, ;e are reE$ red to /ee! none other# 3hen the la3 that 3e are called on to obey s ndeed a la3# by ha6 ng emanated from the only so$rce of !o3er# the Peo!le, Ed cts 3h ch emanate from the mere arb trary 3 ll of a des!ot c !o3er# contrary to the la3 of God or the Great La3 of 8at$re# destr$ct 6e of the nherent r ghts of man# 6 olat 6e of the r ght of free tho$ght# free

s!eech# free consc ence# t s la3f$l to rebel aga nst and str 6e to abrogate, "or obed ence to the La3 does not mean s$bm ss on to tyranny nor that# by a !rofl gate sacr f ce of e6ery noble feel ng# 3e sho$ld offer to des!ot sm the homage of ad$lat on, As e6ery ne3 6 ct m falls# 3e may l ft o$r 6o ce n st ll lo$der flattery, ;e may fall at the !ro$d feet# 3e may beg# as a boon# the hono$r of / ss ng that bloody hand 3h ch has been l fted aga nst the hel!less, ;e may do more 3e may br ng the altar and the sacr f ce# and m!lore the God not to ascend too soon to -ea6en, Th s 3e may do# for th s 3e ha6e the sad remembrance that be ngs of a h$man form and so$l ha6e done, B$t th s s all 3e can do, ;e can constra n o$r tong$es to be false# o$r feat$res to bend themsel6es to the semblance of that !ass onate adorat on 3h ch 3e 3 sh to e4!ress# o$r /nees to fall !rostrateG b$t o$r heart 3e cannot constra n, There 6 rt$e m$st st ll ha6e a 6o ce 3h ch s not to be dro3ned by hymns and acclamat onsG there the cr mes 3h ch 3e la$d as 6 rt$es# are cr mes st ll# and he 3hom 3e ha6e made a God s the most contem!t ble of man/ ndG f# ndeed# 3e do not feel# !erha!s# that 3e are o$rsel6es st ll more contem!t ble, B$t that la3 3h ch s the fa r e4!ress on of the 3 ll and 5$dgment of the !eo!le# s the enactment of the 3hole and of e6ery nd 6 d$al, %ons stent 3 th the la3 of God and the great la3 of nat$re# cons stent 3 th !$re and abstract r ght as tem!ered by necess ty and the general nterest# as contraD d st ng$ shed from the !r 6ate nterest of nd 6 d$als# t s obl gatory $!on all# beca$se t s the 3or/ of all# the 3 ll of all# the solemn 5$dgment of all# from 3h ch there s no a!!eal, In th s Degree# my brother# yo$ are es!ec ally to learn the d$ty of obed ence to that la3, There s one tr$e and or g nal la3# conformable to reason and to nat$re# d ff$sed o6er all# n6ar able# eternal# 3h ch calls to the f$lf llment of d$ty and to abst nence from n5$st ce# and calls 3 th that rres st ble 6o ce 3h ch s felt l n all ts a$thor ty 3here6er t s heard, Th s la3 cannot be abrogated or d m n shed# or ts sanct ons affected# by any la3 of man, A 3hole senate# a 3hole !eo!le# cannot d ssent from ts !aramo$nt obl gat on, It reE$ res no commentator to render t d st nctly ntell g ble nor s t one th ng at Rome# another at AthensG one th ng no3# and another n the ages to comeG b$t n all t mes and n all nat ons# t s# and has been# and 3 ll be# one and e6erlast ngGDDone as that God# ts great A$thor and Prom$lgator# 3ho s the %ommon So6ere gn of all man/ nd# s - mself One, 8o man can d sobey t 3 tho$t fly ng# as t 3ere# from h s o3n bosom# and re!$d at ng h s nat$reG and n th s 6ery act he 3 ll nfl ct

on h mself the se6erest of retr b$t ons# e6en tho$gh he esca!e 3hat s regarded as !$n shment, It s o$r d$ty to obey the la3s of o$r co$ntry# and to be caref$l that !re5$d ce or !ass on# fancy or affect on# error and ll$s on# be not m sta/en for consc ence, 8oth ng s more $s$al than to !retend consc ence n all the act ons of man 3h ch are !$bl c and cannot be concealed, The d sobed ent ref$se to s$bm t to the la3s# and they also n many cases !retend consc enceG and so d sobed ence and rebell on become consc ence# n 3h ch there s ne ther /no3ledge nor re6elat on# nor tr$th nor char ty# nor reason nor rel g on, %onsc ence s t ed to la3s, R ght or s$re consc ence s r ght reason red$ced to !ract ce# and cond$ct ng moral act ons# 3h le !er6erse consc ence s seated n the fancy or affect onsDDa hea! of rreg$lar !r nc !les and rreg$lar defectsDD and s the same n consc ence as deform ty s n the body# or !ee6 shness n the affect ons, It s not eno$gh that the consc ence be ta$ght by nat$reG b$t t m$st be ta$ght by God# cond$cted by reason# made o!erat 6e by d sco$rse# ass sted by cho ce# nstr$cted by la3s and sober !r nc !lesG and then t s r ght# and t may be s$re, All the general meas$res of 5$st ce# are the la3s of God# and therefore they const t$te the general r$les of go6ernment for the consc enceG b$t necess ty also hath a large 6o ce n the arrangement of h$man affa rs# and the d s!osal of h$man relat ons# and the d s!os t ons of h$man la3sG and these general meas$res# l /e a great r 6er nto l ttle streams# are ded$ced nto l ttle r 6$lets and !art c$lar t es# by the la3s and c$stoms# by the sentences and agreements of men# and by the absol$te des!ot sm of necess ty# that 3 ll not allo3 !erfect and abstract 5$st ce and eE$ ty to be the sole r$le of c 6 l go6ernment n an m!erfect 3orldG and that m$st needs be la3 3h ch s for the greatest good of the greatest n$mber, ;hen tho$ 6o3est a 6o3 $nto God# defer not to !ay t, It s better tho$ sho$ldest not 6o3 than tho$ sho$ldest 6o3 and not !ay, Be not rash 3 th thy mo$th# and let not th ne heart be hasty to $tter anyth ng before God for God s n -ea6en# and tho$ art $!on earthG therefore let thy 3ords be fe3, ;e gh 3ell 3hat t s yo$ !rom seG b$t once the !rom se and !ledge are g 6en remember that he 3ho s false to h s obl gat on 3 ll be false to h s fam ly# h s fr ends# h s co$ntry# and h s God, " des ser6a lda est "a th !l ghted s e6er to be /e!t# 3as a ma4 m and an a4 om e6en among !agans, The 6 rt$o$s Roman sa d# e ther let not that 3h ch seems e4!ed ent be base# or f t be base# let t not seem e4!ed ent, ;hat s there 3h ch that soDcalled e4!ed ency can br ng# so 6al$able as

that 3h ch t ta/es a3ay# f t de!r 6es yo$ of the name of a good man and robs yo$ of yo$r ntegr ty and hono$rJ In all ages# he 3ho 6 olates h s !l ghted 3ord has been held $ns!ea/ably base, The 3ord of a Mason# l /e the 3ord of a /n ght n the t mes of ch 6alry# once g 6en m$st be sacredG and the 5$dgment of h s brothers# $!on h m 3ho 6 olates h s !ledge# sho$ld be stern as the 5$dgments of the Roman %ensors aga nst h m 3ho 6 olated h s oath, Good fa th s re6ered among Masons as t 3as among the Ro mans# 3ho !laced ts stat$e n the ca! tol# ne4t to that of &$! ter Ma4 m$s O!t m$sG and 3e# l /e them# hold that calam ty sho$ld al3ays be chosen rather than basenessG and 3 th the /n ghts of old# that one sho$ld al3ays d e rather than be d shono$red, Be fa thf$l# therefore# to the !rom ses yo$ ma/e# to the !ledges yo$ g 6e# and to the 6o3s that yo$ ass$me# s nce to brea/ e ther s base and d shono$rable, Be fa thf$l to yo$r fam ly# and !erform all the d$t es of a good father# a good son# a good h$sband# and a good brother, Be fa thf$l to yo$r fr endsG for tr$e fr endsh ! s of a nat$re not only to s$r6 6e thro$gh all the 6 c ss t$des of l fe# b$t to cont n$e thro$gh an endless d$rat onG not only to stand the shoc/ of confl ct ng o! n ons# and the roar of a re6ol$t on that sha/es the 3orld# b$t to last 3hen the hea6ens are no more# and to s!r ng fresh from the r$ ns of the $n 6erse, Be fa thf$l to yo$r co$ntry# and !refer ts d gn ty and hono$r to any degree of !o!$lar ty and hono$r for yo$rselfG cons$lt ng ts nterest rather than yo$r o3n# and rather than the !leas$re and grat f cat on of the !eo!le# 3h ch are often at 6ar ance 3 th the r 3elfare, Be fa thf$l to Masonry# 3h ch s to be fa thf$l to the best nterests of man/ nd, Labo$r# by !rece!t and e4am!le# to ele6ate the standard of Mason c character# to enlarge ts s!here of nfl$ence# to !o!$lar <e ts teach ngs# and to ma/e all men /no3 t for the Great A!ostle of Peace# -armony# and GoodD3 ll on earth among menG of L berty# EE$al ty# and "ratern ty, Masonry s $sef$l to all men to the learned# beca$se t affords them the o!!ort$n ty of e4erc s ng the r talents $!on s$b5ects em nently 3orthy of the r attent onG to the ll terate# beca$se t offers them m!ortant

nstr$ct onG to the yo$ng# beca$se t !resents them 3 th sal$tary !rece!ts and good e4am!les# and acc$stoms them to reflect on the !ro!er mode of l 6 ngG to the man of the 3orld# 3hom t f$rn shes 3 th noble and $sef$l recreat onG to the tra6eller# 3hom t enables to f nd fr ends and brothers n co$ntr es 3here else he 3o$ld be solated and sol taryG to the 3orthy man n m sfort$ne# to 3hom t g 6es ass stanceG to the affl cted# on 3hom t la6 shes consolat onG to the char table man# 3hom t enables to do more good# by $n t ng 3 th those 3ho are char table l /e h mselfG and to all 3ho ha6e so$ls ca!able of a!!rec at ng ts m!ortance# and of en5oy ng the charms of a fr endsh ! fo$nded on the same !r nc !les of rel g on# moral ty# and !h lanthro!y, A "reemason# therefore# sho$ld be a man of hono$r and of consc ence# !referr ng h s d$ty to e6eryth ng bes de# e6en to h s l feG nde!endent n h s o! n ons# and of good morals# s$bm ss 6e to the la3s# de6oted to h$man ty# to h s co$ntry# to h s fam lyG / nd and nd$lgent to h s brethren# fr end of all 6 rt$o$s men# and ready to ass st h s fello3s by all means n h s !o3er, Th$s 3 ll yo$ be fa thf$l to yo$rself# to yo$r fello3s# and to God# and th$s 3 ll yo$ do hono$r to the name and ran/ of SE%RET MASTERG 3h ch# l /e other Mason c hono$rs# degrades f t s not deser6ed,

F, PER"E%T MASTER,

The Master Kh$r$m 3as an nd$str o$s and an honest man, ;hat he 3as em!loyed to do he d d d l gently# and he d d t 3ell and fa thf$lly, -e rece 6ed no 3ages that 3ere not h s d$e, Ind$stry and honesty are the

6 rt$es !ec$l arly nc$lcated n th s Degree, They are common and homely 6 rt$esG b$t not for that beneath o$r not ce, As the bees do not lo6e or res!ect the drones# so Masonry ne ther lo6es nor res!ects the dle and those 3ho l 6e by the r 3 tsG and least of all those !aras t c acar that l 6e $!on themsel6es, "or those 3ho are ndolent are l /ely to become d ss !ated and 6 c o$sG and !erfect honesty# 3h ch o$ght to be the common E$al f cat on of all# s more rare than d amonds, To do earnestly and stead ly# and to do fa thf$lly and honestly that 3h ch 3e ha6e to doDD !erha!s th s 3ants b$t l ttle# 3hen loo/ed at from e6ery !o nt of 6 e3# of ncl$d ng the 3hole body of the moral la3G and e6en n the r commonest and homel est a!!l cat on# these 6 rt$es belong to the character of a Perfect Master,

Idleness s the b$r al of a l 6 ng man, "or an dle !erson s so $seless to any !$r!oses of God and man# that he s l /e one 3ho s dead# $nconcerned n the changes and necess t es of the 3orldG and he only l 6es to s!end h s t me# and eat the fr$ ts of the earth, L /e a 6erm n or a 3olf# 3hen h s t me comes# he d es and !er shes# and n the meant me s no$ght, -e ne ther !lo$ghs nor carr es b$rdens( all that he does s e ther $n!rof table or m sch e6o$s,

It s a 6ast 3or/ that any man may do# f he ne6er be dle( and t s a h$ge 3ay that a man may go n 6 rt$e# f he ne6er go o$t of h s 3ay by a 6 c o$s hab t or a great cr me( and he 3ho !er!et$ally reads good boo/s# f h s !arts be ans3erable# 3 ll ha6e a h$ge stoc/ of /no3ledge,

St, Ambrose# and from h s e4am!le# St, A$g$st ne# d 6 ded e6ery day nto these tert as of em!loyment( e ght ho$rs they s!ent n the necess t es of nat$re and recreat on( e ght ho$rs n char ty# n do ng ass stance to others# d s!atch ng the r b$s ness# reconc l ng the r enm t es# re!ro6 ng the r 6 ces# correct ng the r errors# nstr$ct ng the r gnorance# and n transact ng the affa rs of the r d ocesesG and the other e ght ho$rs they s!ent n st$dy and !rayer,

;e th n/# at the age of t3enty# that l fe s m$ch too long for that 3h ch 3e ha6e to learn and doG and that there s an almost fab$lo$s d stance bet3een o$r age and that of o$r grandfather, B$t 3hen# at the age of s 4ty# f 3e are fort$nate eno$gh to reach t# or $nfort$nate eno$gh# as the case may be# and accord ng as 3e ha6e !rof tably n6ested or 3asted o$r t me# 3e halt# and loo/ bac/ along the 3ay 3e ha6e come# and cast $! and endea6o$r to balance o$r acco$nts 3 th t me and o!!ort$n ty# 3e f nd that 3e ha6e made l fe m$ch too short# and thro3n a3ay a h$ge !ort on of o$r t me, Then 3e# n o$r m nd# ded$ct from the s$m total of o$r years the ho$rs that 3e ha6e needlessly !assed n slee!G the 3or/ ngDho$rs each day# d$r ng 3h ch the s$rface of the m nd?s sl$gg sh !ool has not been st rred or r$ff ed by a s ngle tho$ghtG the days that 3e ha6e gladly got r d of# to atta n some real or fanc ed ob5ect that lay beyond# n the 3ay bet3een $s and 3h ch stood r/somely the nter6en ng daysG the ho$rs 3orse than 3asted n foll es and d ss !at on# or m ss!ent n $seless and $n!rof table st$d esG and 3e ac/no3ledge# 3 th a s gh# that 3e co$ld ha6e learned and done# n half a score of years 3ell s!ent# more than 3e ha6e done n all o$r forty years of manhood,

To learn and to do ODDth s s the so$l?s 3or/ here belo3, The so$l gro3s as tr$ly as an oa/ gro3s, As the tree ta/es the carbon of the a r# the de3# the ra n# and the l ght# and the food that the earth s$!!l es to ts roots# and by ts myster o$s chem stry transm$tes them nto sa! and f bre# nto 3ood and leaf# and flo3er and fr$ t# and colo$r and !erf$me# so the so$l mb bes /no3ledge and by a d 6 ne alchemy changes 3hat t learns nto ts o3n s$bstance# and gro3s from 3 th n o$t3ardly 3 th an nherent force and !o3er l /e those that l e h dden n the gra n of 3heat,

The so$l hath ts senses# l /e the body# that may be c$lt 6ated# enlarged# ref ned# as tself gro3s n stat$re and !ro!ort onG and he 3ho cannot a!!rec ate a f ne !a nt ng or stat$e# a noble !oem# a s3eet harmony# a hero c tho$ght# or a d s nterested act on# or to 3hom the 3 sdom of !h loso!hy s b$t fool shness and babble# and the loft est tr$ths of less m!ortance than the !r ce of stoc/s or cotton# or the ele6at on of baseness

to once# merely l 6es on the le6el of common!lace# and f tly !r des h mself $!on that nfer or ty of the so$l?s senses# 3h ch s the nfer or ty and m!erfect de6elo!ment of the so$l tself,

To slee! l ttle# and to st$dy m$chG to say l ttle# and to hear and th n/ m$chG to learn# that 3e may be able to do# and then to do# earnestly and 6 goro$sly# 3hate6er may be reE$ red of $s by d$ty# and by the good of o$r fello3s# o$r co$ntry# and man/ nd#DD these are the d$t es of e6ery Mason 3ho des res to m tate the Master Kh$r$m,

The d$ty of a Mason as an honest man s !la n and easy, It reE$ res of $s honesty n contracts# s ncer ty n arm ng# s m!l c ty n barga n ng# and fa thf$lness n !erform ng, L e not at all# ne ther n a l ttle th ng nor n a great# ne ther n the s$bstance nor n the c rc$mstance# ne ther n 3ord nor deed( that s# !retend not 3hat s falseG co6er not 3hat s tr$eG and let the meas$re of yo$r aff rmat on or den al be the $nderstand ng of yo$r contractorG for he 3ho dece 6es the b$yer or the seller by s!ea/ ng 3hat s tr$e# n a sense not ntended or $nderstood by the other# s a l ar and a th ef, A Perfect Master m$st a6o d that 3h ch dece 6es# eE$ally 3 th that 3h ch s false,

Let yo$r !r ces be accord ng to that meas$re of good and e6 l 3h ch s establ shed n the fame and common acco$nts of the 3 sest and most merc f$l men# s/ lled n that man$fact$re or commod tyG and the ga n s$ch# 3h ch# 3 tho$t scandal# s allo3ed to !ersons n all the same c rc$mstances,

In nterco$rse 3 th others# do not do all 3h ch tho$ mayest la3f$lly doG b$t /ee! someth ng 3 th n thy !o3erG and# beca$se there s a lat t$de of ga n n b$y ng and sell ng# ta/e not tho$ the $tmost !enny that s la3f$l#

or 3h ch tho$ th n/est soG for altho$gh t be la3f$l# yet t s not safeG and he 3ho ga ns all that he can ga n la3f$lly# th s year# 3 ll !oss bly be tem!ted# ne4t year# to ga n someth ng $nla3f$lly,

Let no man# for h s o3n !o6erty# become more o!!ress ng and cr$el n h s barga nG b$t E$ etly# modestly# d l gently# and !at ently recommend h s estate to God# and follo3 h s nterest# and lea6e the s$ccess to - m,

Deta n not the 3ages of the h rel ngG for e6ery degree of detent on of t beyond the t me# s n5$st ce and $nchar tableness# and gr nds h s face t ll tears and blood come o$tG b$t !ay h m e4actly accord ng to co6enant# or accord ng to h s needs,

Rel g o$sly /ee! all !rom ses and co6enants# tho$gh made to yo$r d sad6antage# tho$gh after3ard yo$ !erce 6e yo$ m ght ha6e done betterG and let not any !recedent act of yo$rs be altered by any afterDacc dent, Let noth ng ma/e yo$ brea/ yo$r !rom se# $nless t be $nla3f$l or m!oss bleG that s# e ther o$t of yo$r nat$re or o$t of yo$r c 6 l !o3er# yo$rself be ng $nder the !o3er of anotherG or that t be ntolerably ncon6en ent to yo$rself# and of no ad6antage to anotherG or that yo$ ha6e lea6e e4!ressed or reasonably !res$med,

Let no man ta/e 3ages or fees for a 3or/ that he cannot do# or cannot 3 th !robab l ty $nderta/eG or n some sense !rof tably# and 3 th ease# or 3 th ad6antage manage, Let no man a!!ro!r ate to h s o3n $se# 3hat God# by a s!ec al mercy# or the Re!$bl c# hath made commonG for that s aga nst both &$st ce and %har ty,

That any man sho$ld be the 3orse for $s# and for o$r d rect act# and by o$r ntent on# s aga nst the r$le of eE$ ty# of 5$st ce# and of char ty, ;e then do not that to others# 3h ch 3e 3o$ld ha6e done to o$rsel6esG for 3e gro3 r cher $!on the r$ ns of the r fort$ne,

It s not honest to rece 6e anyth ng from another 3 tho$t ret$rn ng h m an eE$ 6alent therefor, The gamester 3ho 3 ns the money of another s d shonest, There sho$ld be no s$ch th ng as bets and gam ng among Masons( for no honest man sho$ld des re that for noth ng 3h ch belongs to another, The merchant 3ho sells an nfer or art cle for a so$nd !r ce# the s!ec$lator 3ho ma/es the d stresses and needs of others f ll h s e4cheE$er are ne ther fa r nor honest# b$t base# gnoble# $nf t for mmortal ty,

It sho$ld be the earnest des re of e6ery Perfect Master so to l 6e and deal and act# that 3hen t comes to h m to d e# he may be able to say# and h s consc ence to ad5$dge# that no man on earth s !oorer# beca$se he s r cherG that 3hat he hath he has honestly earned# and no man can go before God# and cla m that by the r$les of eE$ ty adm n stered n - s great chancery# th s ho$se n 3h ch 3e d e# th s land 3e de6 se to o$r he rs th s money that enr ches those 3ho s$r6 6e to bear o$r name# s h s and not o$rs# and 3e n that for$m are only h s tr$stees, "or t s most certa n that God s 5$st# and 3 ll sternly enforce e6ery s$ch tr$stG and that to all 3hom 3e des!o l# to all 3hom 3e defra$d# to all from 3hom 3e ta/e or 3 n anyth ng 3hate6er# 3 tho$t fa r cons derat on and eE$ 6alent# -e 3 ll decree a f$ll and adeE$ate com!ensat on,

Be caref$l# then# that tho$ rece 6e no 3ages# here or else3here# that are not thy d$e O "or f tho$ doest# tho$ 3rongst some one# by ta/ ng that 3h ch n God?s chancery belongs to h mG and 3hether that 3h ch tho$ ta/est th$s be 3ealth# or ran/# or nfl$ence# or re!$tat on or affect on# tho$ 3 lt s$rely be held to ma/e f$ll sat sfact on,

FI, I8TIMATE SE%RETAR., M%onf dent al Secretary,N

.o$ are es!ec ally ta$ght n th s Degree to be <ealo$s and fa thf$lG to be d s nterested and bene6olentG and to act the !eacema/er# n case of d ssens ons# d s!$tes# and E$arrels among the brethren,

D$ty s the moral magnet sm 3h ch controls and g$ des the tr$e Mason?s co$rse o6er the t$m$lt$o$s seas of l fe, ;hether the stars of hono$r# re!$tat on# and re3ard do or do not sh ne# n the l ght of day or n the dar/ness of the n ght of tro$ble and ad6ers ty# n calm or storm# that $nerr ng magnet st ll sho3s h m the tr$e co$rse to steer# and nd cates 3 th certa nty 3hereDa3ay l es the !ort 3h ch not to reach n6ol6es sh !3rec/ and d shono$r, -e follo3s ts s lent b dd ng# as the mar ner# 3hen land s for many days not n s ght# and the ocean 3 tho$t !ath or landmar/ s!reads o$t all aro$nd h m# follo3s the b dd ng of the needle# ne6er do$bt ng that t !o nts tr$ly to the north, To !erform that d$ty# 3hether the !erformance be re3arded or $nre3arded# s h s sole care, And t doth not matter# tho$gh of th s !erformance there may be no 3 tnesses# and tho$gh 3hat he does 3 ll be fore6er $n/no3n to all man/ nd,

A l ttle cons derat on 3 ll teach $s that "ame has other l m ts than mo$nta ns and oceansG and that he 3ho !laces ha!! ness n the freE$ent re!et t on of h s name# may s!end h s l fe n !ro!agat ng t# 3 tho$t any danger of 3ee! ng for ne3 3orlds# or necess ty of !ass ng the Atlant c sea,

If# therefore# he 3ho mag nes the 3orld to be f lled 3 th h s act ons and !ra ses# shall s$bd$ct from the n$mber of h s encom asts all those 3ho are !laced belo3 the fl ght of fame# and 3ho hear n the 6alley of l fe no 6o ce b$t that of necess tyG all those 3ho mag ne themsel6es too m!ortant to regard h m# and cons der the ment on of h s name as a $s$r!at on of the r t meG all 3ho are too m$ch or too l ttle !leased 3 th themsel6es to attend to anyth ng e4ternalG all 3ho are attracted by !leas$re# or cha ned do3n by !a n to $n6ar ed deasG all 3ho are 3 thheld fro m attend ng h s tr $m!h by d fferent !$rs$ tsG and all 3ho sl$mber n $n 6ersal negl genceG he 3 ll f nd h s reno3n stra tened by nearer bo$nds than the roc/s of %a$cas$sG and !erce 6e that no man can be 6enerable or form dable# b$t to a small !art of h s fello3Dcreat$res, And therefore# that 3e may not lang$ sh n o$r endea6ors after e4cellence# t s necessary that# as Afr can$s co$nsels h s descendants# 3e ra se o$r eyes to h gher !ros!ects# and contem!late o$r f$t$re and eternal state# 3 tho$t g 6 ng $! o$r hearts to the !ra se of cro3ds# or f 4 ng o$r ho!es on s$ch re3ards as h$man !o3er can besto3,

;e are not born for o$rsel6es aloneG and o$r co$ntry cla ms her share# and o$r fr ends the r share of $s, As all that the earth !rod$ces s created for the $se of man# so men are created for the sa/e of men# that they may m$t$ally do good to one another, In th s 3e o$ght to ta/e nat$re for o$r g$ de# and thro3 nto the !$bl c stoc/ the o$nces of general $t l ty# by a rec !rocat on of d$t esG somet mes by rece 6 ng# somet mes by g 6 ng# and somet mes to cement h$man soc ety by arts# by nd$stry# and by o$r reso$rces,

S$ffer others to be !ra sed n thy !resence# and enterta n the r good and glory 3 th del ghtG b$t at no hand d s!arage them# or lessen the re!ort# or ma/e an ob5ect onG and th n/ not the ad6ancement of thy brother s a lessen ng of thy 3orth, '!bra d no man?s 3ea/ness to h m to d scomf t h m# ne ther re!ort t to d s!arage h m# ne ther del ght to remember t to lessen h m# or to set thyself abo6e h mG nor e6er !ra se thyself or d s!ra se any man else# $nless some s$ff c ent 3orthy end do hallo3 t,

Remember that 3e $s$ally d s!arage others $!on sl ght gro$nds and l ttle nstancesG and f a man be h ghly recommended# 3e th n/ h m s$ff c ently lessened# f 3e can b$t charge one s n of folly or nfer or ty n h s acco$nt, ;e sho$ld e ther be more se6ere to o$rsel6es# or less so to others# and cons der that 3hatsoe6er good any one can th n/ or say of $s# 3e can tell h m of many $n3orthy and fool sh and !erha!s 3orse act ons of o$rs# any one of 3h ch# done by another# 3o$ld be eno$gh# 3 th $s# to destroy h s re!$tat on,

If 3e th n/ the !eo!le 3 se and sagac o$s# and 5$st and a!!rec at 6e# 3hen they !ra se and ma/e dols of $s# let $s not call them $nlearned and gnorant# and ll and st$! d 5$dges# 3hen o$r ne ghbo$r s cr ed $! by !$bl c fame and !o!$lar no ses,

E6ery man hath n h s o3n l fe s ns eno$gh# n h s o3n m nd tro$ble eno$gh# n h s o3n fort$nes e6 l eno$gh# and n !erformance of h s off ces fa l ngs more than eno$gh# to enterta n h s o3n nE$ ryG so that c$r os ty after the affa rs of others can not be 3 tho$t en6y and an ll m nd, The genero$s man 3 ll be sol c to$s and nE$ s t 6e nto the bea$ty and order of a 3ellDgo6erned fam ly# and after the 6 rt$es of an e4cellent !ersonG b$t anyth ng for 3h ch men /ee! loc/s and bars# or that bl$shes to see the l ght# or that s e ther shamef$l n manner or !r 6ate n nat$re# th s th ng 3 ll not be h s care and b$s ness,

It sho$ld be ob5ect on s$ff c ent to e4cl$de any man from the soc ety of Masons# that he s not d s nterested and genero$s# both n h s acts# and n h s o! n ons of men# and h s constr$ct ons of the r cond$ct, -e 3ho s self sh and gras! ng# or censor o$s and $ngenero$s# 3 ll not long rema n 3 th n the str ct l m ts of honesty and tr$th# b$t 3 ll shortly comm t n5$st ce, -e 3ho lo6es h mself too m$ch m$st needs lo6e others too l ttleG and he 3ho hab t$ally g 6es harsh 5$dgment 3 ll not long delay to g 6e $n5$st 5$dgment,

The genero$s man s not caref$l to ret$rn no more than he rece 6esG b$t !refers that the balances $!on the ledgers of benef ts shall be n h s fa6o$r, -e 3ho hath rece 6ed !ay n f$ll for all the benef ts and fa6o$rs that he has conferred# s l /e a s!endthr ft 3ho has cons$med h s 3hole estate# and laments o6er an em!ty e4cheE$er, -e 3ho reE$ tes my fa6o$rs 3 th ngrat t$de adds to# nstead of d m n sh ng# my 3ealthG and he 3ho cannot ret$rn a fa6o$r s eE$ally !oor# 3hether h s nab l ty ar ses from !o6erty of s! r t# sord dness of so$l# or !ec$n ary nd gence,

If he s 3ealthy 3ho hath large s$ms n6ested# and the mass of 3hose fort$ne cons sts n obl gat ons that b nd other men to !ay h m money# he s st ll more so to 3hom many o3e large ret$rns of / ndnesses and fa6o$rs, Beyond a moderate s$m each year# the 3ealthy man merely n6ests h s means( and that 3h ch he ne6er $ses s st ll l /e fa6o$rs $nret$rned and / ndnesses $nrec !rocated# an act$al and real !ort on of h s fort$ne,

Generos ty and a l beral s! r t ma/e men to be h$mane and gen al# o!enD hearted# fran/# and s ncere# earnest to do good# easy and contented# and 3ellD3 shers of man/ nd, They !rotect the feeble aga nst the strong# and the defenceless aga nst ra!ac ty and craft, They s$cco$r and comfort the !oor# and are the g$ard ans# $nder God# of h s nnocent and hel!less 3ards, They 6al$e fr ends more than r ches or fame# and grat t$de more than money or !o3er, They are noble by God?s !atent# and the r esc$tcheons and E$arter ngs are to be fo$nd n hea6en?s great boo/ of heraldry, 8or can any man any more be a Mason than he can be a

gentleman# $nless he s genero$s# l beral# and d s nterested, To be l beral# b$t only of that 3h ch s o$r o3nG to be genero$s# b$t only 3hen 3e ha6e f rst been 5$stG to g 6e# 3hen to g 6e de!r 6es $s of a l$4$ry or a comfort# th s s Masonry ndeed,

-e 3ho s 3orldly# co6eto$s# or sens$al m$st change before he can be a good Mason, If 3e are go6erned by ncl nat on and not by d$tyG f 3e are $n/ nd# se6ere# censor o$s# or n5$r o$s# n the relat ons or nterco$rse of l feG f 3e are $nfa thf$l !arents or $nd$t f$l ch ldrenG f 3e are harsh masters or fa thless ser6antsG f 3e are treachero$s fr ends or bad ne ghbo$rs or b tter com!et tors or corr$!t $n!r nc !led !ol t c ans or o6erreach ng dealers n b$s ness# 3e are 3ander ng at a great d stance fro m the tr$e Mason c l ght,

Masons m$st be / nd and affect onate one to another, "reE$ent ng the same tem!les# /neel ng at the same altars# they sho$ld feel that res!ect and that / ndness for each other# 3h ch the r common relat on and common a!!roach to one God sho$ld ns! re, There needs to be m$ch more of the s! r t of the anc ent fello3sh ! among $sG more tenderness for each other?s fa$lts# more forg 6eness# more sol c t$de for each other?s m!ro6ement and good fort$neG some3hat of brotherly feel ng# that t be not shame to $se the 3ord @brother,@

8oth ng sho$ld be allo3ed to nterfere 3 th that / ndness and affect on( ne ther the s! r t of b$s ness# absorb ng# eager# and o6erreach ng# $ngenero$s and hard n ts deal ngs# /een and b tter n ts com!et t ons# lo3 and sord d n ts !$r!osesG nor that of amb t on# self sh# mercenary# restless# c rc$m6ent ng# l 6 ng only n the o! n on of others# en6 o$s of the good fort$ne of others# m serably 6a n of ts o3n s$ccess# $n5$st# $nscr$!$lo$s# and slandero$s,

-e that does me a fa6o$r# hath bo$nd me to ma/e h m a ret$rn of than/f$lness, The obl gat on comes not by co6enant# nor by h s o3n e4!ress ntent onG b$t by the nat$re of the th ngG and s a d$ty s!r ng ng $! 3 th n the s! r t of the obl ged !erson# to 3hom t s more nat$ral to lo6e h s fr end# and to do good for good# than to ret$rn e6 l for e6 lG beca$se a man may forg 6e an n5$ry# b$t he m$st ne6er forget a good t$rn, -e that ref$ses to do good to them 3hom he s bo$nd to lo6e# or to lo6e that 3h ch d d h m good# s $nnat$ral and monstro$s n h s affect ons# and th n/s all the 3orld born to m n ster to h mG 3 th a greed ness 3orse than that of the sea# 3h ch# altho$gh t rece 6es all r 6ers nto tself# yet t f$rn shes the clo$ds and s!r ngs 3 th a ret$rn of all they need, O$r d$ty to those 3ho are o$r benefactors s# to esteem and lo6e the r !ersons# to ma/e them !ro!ort onable ret$rns of ser6 ce# or d$ty# or !rof t# accord ng as 3e can# or as they need# or as o!!ort$n ty !resents tselfG and accord ng to the greatness of the r / ndnesses,

The genero$s man cannot b$t regret to see d ssens ons and d s!$tes among h s brethren, Only the base and $ngenero$s del ght n d scord, It s the !oorest occ$!at on of h$man ty to labo$r to ma/e men th n/ 3orse of each other# as the !ress# and too commonly the !$l! t# chang ng !laces 3 th the h$st ngs and the tr b$ne# do, The d$ty of the Mason s to endea6o$r to ma/e man th n/ better of h s ne ghbo$rG to E$ et# nstead of aggra6at ng d ff c$lt esG to br ng together those 3ho are se6ered or estrangedG to /ee! fr ends from becom ng foes# and to !ers$ade foes to become fr ends, To do th s# he m$st needs control h s o3n !ass ons# and be not rash and hasty# nor s3 ft to ta/e offence# nor easy to be angered,

"or anger s a !rofessed enemy to co$nsel, It s a d rect storm# n 3h ch no man can be heard to s!ea/ or call from 3 tho$tG for f yo$ co$nsel gently# yo$ are d sregardedG f yo$ $rge t and be 6ehement# yo$ !ro6o/e t more, It s ne ther manly nor ngen$o$s, It ma/es marr age to be a necessary and $na6o dable tro$bleG fr endsh !s and soc et es and fam l ar t es# to be ntolerable, It m$lt !l es the e6 ls of dr$n/enness# and ma/es the le6 t es of 3 ne to r$n nto madness, It ma/es nnocent 5est ng to be the beg nn ng of traged es, It t$rns fr endsh ! nto hatredG t ma/es a man lose h mself# and h s reason and h s arg$ment# n d s!$tat on, It t$rns the des res of /no3ledge nto an tch of 3rangl ng, It adds nsolency to !o3er, It t$rns

5$st ce nto cr$elty# and 5$dgment nto o!!ress on, It changes d sc !l ne nto ted o$sness and hatred of l beral nst t$t on, It ma/es a !ros!ero$s man to be en6 ed# and the $nfort$nate to be $n! t ed,

See# therefore# that f rst controll ng yo$r o3n tem!er# and go6ern ng yo$r o3n !ass ons# yo$ f t yo$rself to /ee! !eace and harmony among other men# and es!ec ally the brethren, Abo6e all remember that Masonry s the realm of !eace# and that @among Masons there m$st be no d ssens on# b$t only that noble em$lat on,# 3h ch can best 3or/ and best agree,@ ;here6er there s str fe and hatred among the brethren# there s no MasonryG for Masonry s Peace# and Brotherly Lo6e# and %oncord,

Masonry s the great Peace Soc ety of the 3orld, ;here6er t e4 sts# t str$ggles to !re6ent nternat onal d ff c$lt es and d s!$tesG and to b nd Re!$bl cs# K ngdoms# and Em! res together n one great band of !eace and am ty, It 3o$ld not so often str$ggle n 6a n# f Masons /ne3 the r !o3er and 6al$ed the r oaths,

;ho can s$m $! the horrors and 3oes acc$m$lated n a s ngle 3arJ Masonry s not da<<led 3 th all ts !om! and c rc$mstance# all ts gl tter and glory, ;ar comes 3 th ts bloody hand nto o$r 6ery d3ell ngs, It ta/es from ten tho$sand homes those 3ho l 6ed there n !eace and comfort# held by the tender t es of fam ly and / ndred, It drags them a3ay# to d e $ntended# of fe6er or e4!os$re# n nfect o$s cl mesG or to be hac/ed# torn# and mangled n the f erce f ghtG to fall on the gory f eld# to r se no more# or to be borne a3ay# n a3f$l agony# to no some and horr d hos! tals, The groans of the battleDf eld are echoed n s ghs of berea6ement from tho$sands of desolated hearths, There s a s/eleton n e6ery ho$se# a 6acant cha r at e6ery table, Ret$rn ng# the sold er br ngs 3orse sorro3 to h s home# by the nfect on 3h ch he has ca$ght# of cam!D 6 ces, The co$ntry s demoral <ed, The nat onal m nd s bro$ght do3n# fro m the noble nterchange of / nd off ces 3 th another !eo!le# to 3rath and re6enge# and base !r de# and the hab t of meas$r ng br$te strength aga nst br$te strength# n battle, Treas$res are e4!ended# that 3o$ld

s$ff ce to b$ ld ten tho$sand ch$rches# hos! tals# and $n 6ers t es# or r b and t e together a cont nent 3 th ra ls of ron, If that treas$re 3ere s$n/ n the sea# t 3o$ld be calam ty eno$ghG b$t t s !$t to 3orse $seG for t s e4!ended n c$tt ng nto the 6e ns and arter es of h$man l fe# $nt l the earth s del$ged 3 th a sea of blood,

S$ch are the lessons of th s Degree, .o$ ha6e 6o3ed to ma/e them the r$le# the la3# and the g$ de of yo$r l fe and cond$ct, If yo$ do so# yo$ 3 ll be ent tled# beca$se f tted# to ad6ance n Masonry, If yo$ do not# yo$ ha6e already gone too far,

FII, PROFOST A8D &'DGE,

T-E lesson 3h ch th s Degree nc$lcates s &'STI%E# n dec s on and 5$dgment# and n o$r nterco$rse and deal ng 3 th other men,

In a co$ntry 3here tr al by 5$ry s /no3n# e6ery ntell gent man s l able to be called on to act as a 5$dge# e ther of fact alone# or of fact and la3 m ngledG and to ass$me the hea6y res!ons b l t es 3h ch belong to that character,

Those 3ho are n6ested 3 th the !o3er of 5$dgment sho$ld 5$dge the ca$ses of all !ersons $!r ghtly and m!art ally# 3 tho$t any !ersonal cons derat on of the !o3er of the m ghty# or the br be of the r ch# or the needs of the !oor, That s the card nal r$le# 3h ch no one 3 ll d s!$teG tho$gh many fa l to obser6e t, B$t they m$st do more, They m$st d 6est themsel6es of !re5$d ce and !reconce!t on, They m$st hear !at ently# remember acc$rately# and 3e gh caref$lly the facts and the arg$ments offered before them, They m$st not lea! hast ly to concl$s ons# nor form o! n ons before they ha6e heard all, They m$st not !res$me cr me or fra$d, They m$st ne ther be r$led by st$bborn !r de of o! n on# nor be too fac le and y eld ng to the 6 e3s and arg$ments of others, In ded$c ng the mot 6e from the !ro6en act# they m$st not ass gn to the act e ther the best or the 3orst mot 6es# b$t those 3h ch they 3o$ld th n/ t 5$st and fa r for the 3orld to ass gn to t# f they themsel6es had done tG nor m$st they endea6o$r to ma/e many l ttle c rc$mstances# that 3e gh noth ng se!arately# 3e gh m$ch together# to !ro6e the r o3n ac$teness and sagac ty, These are so$nd r$les for e6ery 5$ror# also# to obser6e,

In o$r nterco$rse 3 th others# there are t3o / nds of n5$st ce( the f rst# of those 3ho offer an n5$ryG the second# of those 3ho ha6e t n the r !o3er to a6ert an n5$ry from those to 3hom t s offered# and yet do t not, So act 6e n5$st ce may be done n t3o 3aysDDby force and by fra$d#DD of 3h ch force s l onDl /e# and a$d fo4Dl /e#DDboth $tterly re!$gnant to soc al d$ty# b$t fra$d the more detestable,

E6ery 3rong done by one man to another# 3hether t affect h s !erson# h s !ro!erty# h s ha!! ness# or h s re!$tat on# s an offense aga nst the la3 of 5$st ce, The f eld of th s Degree s therefore a 3 de and 6ast oneG and Masonry see/s for the most m!ress 6e mode of enforc ng the la3 of 5$st ce# and the most effect$al means of !re6ent ng 3rong and n5$st ce,

To th s end t teaches th s great and momento$s tr$th( that 3rong and n5$st ce once done cannot be $ndoneG b$t are eternal n the r conseE$encesG once comm tted# are n$mbered 3 th the rre6ocable PastG that the 3rong that s done conta ns ts o3n retr b$t 6e !enalty as s$rely and as nat$rally as the acorn conta ns the oa/, Its conseE$ences are ts !$n shmentG t needs no other# and can ha6e no hea6 erG they are n6ol6ed n ts comm ss on# and cannot be se!arated from t, A 3rong done to another s an n5$ry done to o$r o3n 8at$re# an offence aga nst o$r o3n so$ls# a d sf g$r ng of the mage of the Bea$t f$l and Good, P$n shment s not the e4ec$t on of a sentence# b$t the occ$rrence of an effect, It s orda ned to follo3 g$ lt# not by the decree of God as a 5$dge# b$t by a la3 enacted by - m as the %reator and Leg slator of the 'n 6erse, It s not an arb trary and art f c al anne4at on# b$t an ord nary and log cal conseE$enceG and therefore m$st be borne by the 3rongDdoer# and thro$gh h m may flo3 on to others, It s the dec s on of the nf n te 5$st ce of God# n the form of la3,

There can be no nterference 3 th# or rem ttance of# or !rotect on from# the nat$ral effects of o$r 3rongf$l acts, God 3 ll not nter!ose bet3een the ca$se and ts conseE$enceG and n that sense there can be no forg 6eness of s ns, The act 3h ch has debased o$r so$l may be re!ented of# may be t$rned fromG b$t the n5$ry s done, The debasement may be redeemed by afterDefforts# the sta n obl terated by b tterer str$ggles and se6erer s$ffer ngsG b$t the efforts and the end$rance 3h ch m ght ha6e ra sed the so$l to the loft est he ghts are no3 e4ha$sted n merely rega n ng 3hat t has lost, There m$st al3ays be a 3 de d fference bet3een h m 3ho only ceases to do e6 l# and h m 3ho has al3ays done 3ell,

-e 3 ll certa nly be a far more scr$!$lo$s 3atcher o6er h s cond$ct# and far more caref$l of h s deeds# 3ho bel e6es that those deeds 3 ll ne6 tably bear the r nat$ral conseE$ences# e4em!t from after nter6ent on# than he 3ho bel e6es that !en tence and !ardon 3 ll at any t me $nl n/ the cha n of seE$ences, S$rely 3e shall do less 3rong and n5$st ce# f the con6 ct on s f 4ed and embedded n o$r so$ls that e6eryth ng done s done rre6ocably# that e6en the Omn !otence of God cannot $ncomm t a deed# cannot ma/e that $ndone 3h ch has been doneG that e6ery act of o$rs

m$st bear ts allotted fr$ t# accord ng to the e6erlast ng la3s# DDm$st rema n fore6er neffaceably nscr bed on the tablets of 'n 6ersal 8at$re,

If yo$ ha6e 3ronged another# yo$ may gr e6e# re!ent# and resol$tely determ ne aga nst any s$ch 3ea/ness n f$t$re, .o$ may# so far as t s !oss ble# ma/e re!arat on, It s 3ell, The n5$red !arty may forg 6e yo$# accord ng to the mean ng of h$man lang$ageG b$t the deed s doneG and all the !o3ers of 8at$re# 3ere they to cons! re n yo$r behalf# co$ld not ma/e t $ndoneG the conseE$ences to the body# the conseE$ences to the so$l# tho$gh no man may !erce 6e them# are there# are 3r tten n the annals of the Past# and m$st re6erberate thro$gho$t all t me,

Re!entance for a 3rong done# bears# l /e e6ery other act# ts o3n fr$ t# the fr$ t of !$r fy ng the heart and amend ng the "$t$re# b$t not of effac ng the Past, The comm ss on of the 3rong s an rre6ocable actG b$t t does not nca!ac tate the so$l to do r ght for the f$t$re, Its conseE$ences cannot be e4!$ngedG b$t ts co$rse need not be !$rs$ed, ;rong and e6 l !er!etrated# tho$gh neffaceable# call for no des!a r# b$t for efforts more energet c than before, Re!entance s st ll as 6al d as e6erG b$t t s 6al d to sec$re the "$t$re# not to obl terate the Past,

E6en the !$lsat ons of the a r# once set n mot on by the h$man 6o ce# cease not to e4 st 3 th the so$nds to 3h ch they ga6e r se, The r E$ c/lyD atten$ated force soon becomes na$d ble to h$man ears, B$t the 3a6es of a r th$s ra sed !eramb$late the s$rface of earth and ocean# and n less than t3enty ho$rs# e6ery atom of the atmos!here ta/es $! the altered mo6ement d$e to that nf n tes mal !ort on of !r m t 6e mot on 3h ch has been con6eyed to t thro$gh co$ntless channels# and 3h ch m$st cont n$e to nfl$ence ts !ath thro$gho$t ts f$t$re e4 stence, The a r s one 6ast l brary# on 3hose !ages s fore6er 3r tten all that man has e6er sa d or e6en 3h s!ered, There# n the r m$table# b$t $nerr ng characters# m 4ed 3 th the earl est# as 3ell as the latest s gns of mortal ty# stand fore6er recorded# 6o3s $nredeemed# !rom ses $nf$lf lledG !er!et$at ng# n the

mo6ements of each !art cle# all n $n son# the test mony of man?s changef$l 3 ll, God reads that boo/# tho$gh 3e cannot,

So earth# a r# and ocean are the eternal 3 tnesses of the acts that 3e ha6e done, 8o mot on m!ressed by nat$ral ca$ses or by h$man agency s e6er obl terated, The trac/ of e6ery /eel 3h ch has e6er d st$rbed the s$rface of the ocean rema ns fore6er reg stered n the f$t$re mo6ements of all s$cceed ng !art cles 3h ch may occ$!y ts !lace, E6ery cr m nal s by the la3s of the Alm ghty rre6ocably cha ned to the test mony of h s cr meG for e6ery atom of h s mortal frame# thro$gh 3hate6er changes ts !art cles may m grate# 3 ll st ll reta n# adher ng to t thro$gh e6ery comb nat on# some mo6ement der 6ed from that 6ery m$sc$lar effort by 3h ch the cr me tself 3as !er!etrated,

;hat f o$r fac$lt es sho$ld be so enhanced n a f$t$re l fe as to enable $s to !erce 6e and trace the neffaceable conseE$ences of o$r dle 3ords and e6 l deeds# and render o$r remorse and gr ef as eternal as those conseE$ences themsel6esJ 8o more fearf$l !$n shment to a s$!er or ntell gence can be conce 6ed# than to see st ll n act on# 3 th the consc o$sness that t m$st cont n$e n act on fore6er# a ca$se of 3rong !$t n mot on by tself ages before,

Masonry# by ts teach ngs# endea6o$rs to restra n men from the comm ss on of n5$st ce and acts of 3rong and o$trage, Tho$gh t does not endea6o$r to $s$r! the !lace of rel g on# st ll ts code of morals !roceeds $!on other !r nc !les than the m$n c !al la3G and t condemns and !$n shes offences 3h ch ne ther that la3 !$n shes nor !$bl c o! n on condemns, In the Mason c la3# to cheat and o6erreach n trade# at the bar# n !ol t cs# are deemed no more 6en al than theftG nor a del berate l e than !er5$ryG nor slander than robberyG nor sed$ct on than m$rder,

Es!ec ally t condemns those 3rongs of 3h ch the doer nd$ces another to !arta/e, -e may re!entG he may# after agon < ng str$ggles# rega n the !ath of 6 rt$eG h s s! r t may reach e6e ts !$r ty thro$gh m$ch ang$ sh# after many str fesG b$t the 3ea/er fello3Dcreat$re 3hom he led astray# 3hom he made a sharer n h s g$ lt# b$t 3hom he cannot ma/e a sharer n h s re!entance and amendment# 3hose do3n3ard co$rse Mthe f rst ste! of 3h ch he ta$ghtN he cannot chec/# b$t s com!elled to 3 tness#DD 3hat forg 6eness of s ns can a6a l h m thereJ There s h s !er!et$al# h s ne6 table !$n shment# 3h ch no re!entance can alle6 ate# and no mercy can rem t,

Let $s be 5$st# also# n 5$dg ng of other men?s mot 6es, ;e /no3 b$t l ttle of the real mer ts or demer ts of any fello3 creat$re, ;e can rarely say 3 th certa nty that th s man s more g$ lty than that# or e6en that th s man s 6ery good or 6ery 3 c/ed, Often the basest men lea6e beh nd them e4cellent re!$tat ons, There s scarcely one of $s 3ho has not# at some t me n h s l fe# been on the edge of the comm ss on of a cr me, E6ery one of $s can loo/ bac/# and sh$dder ng see the t me 3hen o$r feet stood $!on the sl !!ery crags that o6erh$ng the abyss of g$ ltG and 3hen# f tem!tat on had been a l ttle more $rgent# or a l ttle longer cont n$ed# f !en$ry had !ressed $s a l ttle harder# or a l ttle more 3 ne had f$rther d st$rbed o$r ntellect# dethroned o$r 5$dgment# and aro$sed o$r !ass ons# o$r feet 3o$ld ha6e sl !!ed# and 3e sho$ld ha6e fallen# ne6er to r se aga n,

;e may be able to sayDD@Th s man has l ed# has ! lfered# has forged# has embe<<led moneys ntr$sted to h mG and that man has gone thro$gh l fe 3 th clean hands,@ B$t 3e cannot say that the former has not str$ggled long# tho$gh $ns$ccessf$lly# aga nst tem!tat ons $nder 3h ch the second 3o$ld ha6e s$cc$mbed 3 tho$t an effort, ;e can say 3h ch has the cleanest hands before manG b$t not 3h ch has the cleanest so$l before God, ;e may be able to say# th s man has comm tted ad$ltery# and that man has been e6er chasteG b$t 3e cannot tell b$t that the nnocence of one may ha6e been d$e to the coldness of h s heart# to the absence of a mot 6e# to the !resence of a fear# to the sl ght degree of the tem!tat onG nor b$t that the fall of the other may ha6e been !receded by the most 6ehement selfDcontest# ca$sed by the most o6erDmaster ng fren<y# and atoned for by

the most hallo3 ng re!entance, Generos ty as 3ell as n ggardl ness may be a mere y eld ng to nat 6e tem!eramentG and n the eye of -ea6en# a long l fe of benef cence n one man may ha6e cost less effort# and may nd cate less 6 rt$e and less sacr f ce of nterest# than a fe3 rare h dden acts of / ndness 3r$ng by d$ty o$t of the rel$ctant and $nsym!ath < ng nat$re of the other, There may be more real mer t# more selfDsacr f c ng effort# more of the noblest elements of moral grande$r# n a l fe of fa l$re# s n# and shame# than n a career# to o$r eyes# of sta nless ntegr ty,

;hen 3e condemn or ! ty the fallen# ho3 do 3e /no3 that# tem!ted l /e h m# 3e sho$ld not ha6e fallen l /e h m# as soon# and !erha!s 3 th less res stance J -o3 can 3e /no3 3hat 3e sho$ld do f 3e 3ere o$t of em!loyment# fam ne cro$ch ng# ga$nt# and h$ngry# on o$r f reless hearth# and o$r ch ldren 3a l ng for bread J ;e fall not beca$se 3e are not eno$gh tem!tedO -e that hath fallen may be at heart as honest as 3e, -o3 do 3e /no3 that o$r da$ghter# s ster# 3 fe# co$ld res st the abandonment# the desolat on# the d stress# the tem!tat on# that sacr f ced the 6 rt$e of the r !oor abandoned s ster of shameJ Perha!s they also ha6e not fallen# beca$se they ha6e not been sorely tem!tedO ; sely are 3e d rected to !ray that 3e may not be e4!osed to tem!tat on,

-$man 5$st ce m$st be e6er $ncerta n, -o3 many 5$d c al m$rders ha6e been comm tted thro$gh gnorance of the !henomena of nsan ty O -o3 many men h$ng for m$rder 3ho 3ere no more m$rderers at heart than the 5$ry that tr ed and the 5$dge that sentenced themO It may 3ell be do$bted 3hether the adm n strat on of h$man la3s# n e6ery co$ntry# s not one g gant c mass of n5$st ce and 3rong, God seeth not as man seethG and the most abandoned cr m nal# blac/ as he s before the 3orld# may yet ha6e cont n$ed to /ee! some l ttle l ght b$rn ng n a corner of h s so$l# 3h ch 3o$ld long s nce ha6e gone o$t n that of those 3ho 3al/ !ro$dly n the s$nsh ne of mmac$late fame# f they had been tr ed and tem!ted l /e the !oor o$tcast,

;e do not /no3 e6en the o$ts de l fe of men, ;e are not com!etent to !rono$nce e6en on the r deeds, ;e do not /no3 half the acts of 3 c/edness or 6 rt$e# e6en of o$r most mmed ate fello3s, ;e cannot say# 3 th certa nty# e6en of o$r nearest fr end# that he has not comm tted a !art c$lar s n# and bro/en a !art c$lar commandment, Let each man as/ h s o3n heart O Of ho3 many of o$r best and of o$r 3orst acts and E$al t es are o$r most nt mate assoc ates $tterly $nconsc o$s O -o3 many 6 rt$es does not the 3orld g 6e $s cred t for# that 3e do not !ossessG or 6 ces condemn $s for# of 3h ch 3e are not the sla6es O It s b$t a small !ort on of o$r e6 l deeds and tho$ghts that e6er comes to l ghtG and of o$r fe3 redeem ng goodnesses# the largest !ort on s /no3n to God alone,

;e shall# therefore# be 5$st n 5$dg ng of other men# only 3hen 3e are char tableG and 3e sho$ld ass$me the !rerogat 6e of 5$dg ng others only 3hen the d$ty s forced $!on $sG s nce 3e are so almost certa n to err# and the conseE$ences of error are so ser o$s, 8o man need co6et the off ce of 5$dgeG for n ass$m ng t he ass$mes the gra6est and most o!!ress 6e res!ons b l ty, .et yo$ ha6e ass$med tG 3e all ass$me tG for man s e6er ready to 5$dge# and e6er ready to condemn h s ne ghbo$r# 3h le $!on the same state of case he acE$ ts h mself See# therefore# that yo$ e4erc se yo$r once ca$t o$sly and char tably# lest# n !ass ng 5$dgment $!on the cr m nal# yo$ comm t a greater 3rong than that for 3h ch yo$ condemn h m# and the conseE$ences of 3h ch m$st be eternal,

The fa$lts and cr mes and foll es of other men are not $n m!ortant to $sG b$t form a !art of o$r moral d sc !l ne, ;ar and bloodshed at a d stance# and fra$ds 3h ch do not affect o$r !ec$n ary nterest# yet to$ch $s n o$r feel ngs# and concern o$r moral 3elfare, They ha6e m$ch to do 3 th all tho$ghtf$l hearts, The !$bl c eye may loo/ $nconcernedly on the m serable 6 ct m of 6 ce# and that shattered 3rec/ of a man may mo6e the m$lt t$de to la$ghter or to scorn, B$t to the Mason# t s the form of sacred h$man ty that s before h mG t s an err ng fello3Dbe ngG a desolate# forlorn# forsa/en so$lG and h s tho$ghts# enfold ng the !oor 3retch# 3 ll be far dee!er than those of nd fference# r d c$le# or contem!t, All h$man offences# the 3hole system of d shonesty# e6as on# c rc$m6ent ng# forb dden nd$lgence# and ntr g$ ng amb t on# n 3h ch men are str$ggl ng 3 th each other# 3 ll be loo/ed $!on by a tho$ghtf$l

Mason# not merely as a scene of mean to ls and str fes# b$t as the solemn confl cts of mmortal m nds# for ends 6ast and momento$s as the r o3n be ng, It s a sad and $n3orthy str fe# and may 3ell be 6 e3ed 3 th nd gnat onG b$t that nd gnat on m$st melt nto ! ty, "or the sta/es for 3h ch these gamesters !lay are not those 3h ch they mag ne# not those 3h ch are n s ght, "or e4am!le# th s man !lays for a !etty once# and ga ns tG b$t the real sta/e he ga ns s syco!hancy# $nchar tableness# slander# and dece t,

Good men are too !ro$d of the r goodness, They are res!ectableG d shono$r comes not near themG the r co$ntenance has 3e ght and nfl$enceG the r robes are $nsta nedG the !o sono$s breath of cal$mny as ne6er been breathed $!on the r fa r name, -o3 easy t s for them to loo/ do3n 3 th scorn $!on the !oor degraded offenderG to !ass h m by 3 th a lofty ste!G to dra3 $! the folds of the r garment aro$nd them# that they may not be so led by h s to$ch O .et the Great Master of F rt$e d d not soG b$t descended to fam l ar nterco$rse 3 th !$bl cans and s nners# 3 th the Samar tan 3oman# 3 th the o$tcasts and the Par ahs of the -ebre3 3orld,

Many men th n/ themsel6es better# n !ro!ort on as they can detect s n n othersO ;hen they go o6er the catalog$e of the r ne ghbo$r?s $nha!!y derel ct ons of tem!er or cond$ct# they often# am dst m$ch a!!arent concern# feel a secret e4$ltat on# that destroys all the r o3n !retens ons to 3 sdom and moderat on# and e6en to 6 rt$e, Many e6en ta/e act$al !leas$re n the s ns of othersG and th s s the case 3 th e6ery one 3hose tho$ghts are often em!loyed n agreeable com!ar sons of h s o3n 6 rt$es 3 th h s ne ghbo$rs? fa$lts,

The !o3er of gentleness s too l ttle seen n the 3orldG the s$bd$ ng nfl$ences of ! ty# the m ght of lo6e# the control of m ldness o6er !ass on# the command ng ma5esty of that !erfect character 3h ch m ngles gra6e d s!leas$re 3 th gr ef and ! ty for the offender, So t s that a Mason sho$ld treat h s brethren 3ho go astray, 8ot 3 th b tternessG nor yet 3 th goodDnat$red eas ness# nor 3 th 3orldly nd fference# nor 3 th the

!h loso!h c coldness# nor 3 th a la4 ty of consc ence# that acco$nts e6eryth ng 3ell# that !asses $nder the seal of !$bl c o! n onG b$t 3 th char ty# 3 th ! ty ng lo6 ngD/ ndness,

The h$man heart 3 ll not bo3 3 ll ngly to 3hat s nf rm and 3rong n h$man nat$re, If t y elds to $s# t m$st y eld to 3hat s d 6 ne n $s, The 3 c/edness of my ne ghbo$r cannot s$bm t to my 3 c/ednessG h s sens$al ty# for nstance# to my anger aga nst h s 6 ces, My fa$lts are not the nstr$ments that are to arrest h s fa$lts, And therefore m!at ent reformers# and deno$nc ng !reachers# and hasty re!ro6ers# and angry !arents# and rr table relat 6es generally fa l# n the r se6eral de!artments# to recla m the err ng,

A moral offence s s c/ness# !a n# loss# d shono$r# n the mmortal !art of man, It s g$ lt# and m sery added to g$ lt, It s tself calam tyG and br ngs $!on tself# n add t on# the calam ty of God?s d sa!!ro6al# the abhorrence of all 6 rt$o$s men# and the so$l?s o3n abhorrence, Deal fa thf$lly# b$t !at ently and tenderly# 3 th th s e6 l O It s no matter for !etty !ro6ocat on# nor for !ersonal str fe# nor for self sh rr tat on,

S!ea/ / ndly to yo$r err ng brother O God ! t es h m( %hr st has d ed for h m( Pro6 dence 3a ts for h m( -ea6en?s mercy yearns to3ard h mG and -ea6en?s s! r ts are ready to 3elcome h m bac/ 3 th 5oy, Let yo$r 6o ce be n $n son 3 th all those !o3ers that God s $s ng for h s reco6eryO

If one defra$ds yo$# and e4$lts at t# he s the most to be ! t ed of h$man be ngs, -e has done h mself a far dee!er n5$ry than he has done yo$, It s he# and not yo$# 3hom God regards 3 th m ngled d s!leas$re and com!ass onG and - s 5$dgment sho$ld be yo$r la3, Among all the

bened ct ons of the -oly Mo$nt there s not one for th s manG b$t for the merc f$l# the !eacema/ers# and the !ersec$ted they are !o$red o$t freely,

;e are all men of l /e !ass ons# !ro!ens t es# and e4!os$res, There are elements n $s all# 3h ch m ght ha6e been !er6erted# thro$gh the s$ccess 6e !rocesses of moral deter orat on# to the 3orst of cr mes, The 3retch 3hom the e4ecrat on of the throng ng cro3d !$rs$es to the scaffold# s not 3orse than any one of that m$lt t$de m ght ha6e become $nder s m lar c rc$mstances, -e s to be condemned ndeed# b$t also dee!ly to be ! t ed,

It does not become the fra l and s nf$l to be 6 nd ct 6e to3ard e6en the 3orst cr m nals, ;e o3e m$ch to the good Pro6 dence of God# orda n ng for $s a lot more fa6o$rable to 6 rt$e, ;e all had that 3 th n $s# that m ght ha6e been !$shed to the same e4cess( Perha!s 3e sho$ld ha6e fallen as he d d# 3 th less tem!tat on, Perha!s 3e ha6e done acts# that# n !ro!ort on to the tem!tat on or !ro6ocat on# 3ere less e4c$sable than h s great cr me, S lent ! ty and sorro3 for the 6 ct m sho$ld m ngle 3 th o$r detestat on of the g$ lt, E6en the ! rate 3ho m$rders n cold blood on the h gh seas# s s$ch a man as yo$ or I m ght ha6e been, Or!hanage n ch ldhood# or base and d ssol$te and abandoned !arentsG an $nfr ended yo$thG e6 l com!an onsG gnorance and 3ant of moral c$lt 6at onG the tem!tat ons of s nf$l !leas$re or gr nd ng !o6ertyG fam l ar ty 3 th 6 ceG a scorned and bl ghted nameG seared and cr$shed affect onsG des!erate fort$nesG these are ste!s that m ght ha6e led any one among $s to $nf$rl $!on the h gh seas the bloody flag of $n 6ersal def anceG to 3age 3ar 3 th o$r / ndG to l 6e the l fe and d e the death of the rec/less and remorseless freeDbooter, Many affect ng relat onsh !s of h$man ty !lead 3 th $s to ! ty h m, - s head once rested on a mother?s bosom, -e 3as once the ob5ect of s sterly lo6e and domest c endearment, Perha!s h s hand# s nce often red 3 th blood# once clas!ed another l ttle lo6 ng hand at the altar, P ty h m thenG h s bl ghted ho!es and h s cr$shed heartO It s !ro!er that fra l and err ng creat$res l /e $s sho$ld do soG sho$ld feel the cr me# b$t feel t as 3ea/# tem!ted# and resc$ed creat$res sho$ld, It may be that 3hen God 3e ghs men?s cr mes# -e 3 ll ta/e nto cons derat on the tem!tat ons and the ad6erse c rc$mstances that led to them# and the o!!ort$n t es for moral c$lt$re of the offenderG and t may be that o$r o3n offences 3 ll

3e gh hea6 er than 3e th n/# and the m$rderer?s l ghter than accord ng to man?s 5$dgment,

On all acco$nts# therefore# let the tr$e Mason ne6er forget the solemn n5$nct on# necessary to be obser6ed at almost e6ery moment of a b$sy l fe( ?&'DGE 8OT# LEST .O' .O'RSELFES BE &'DGED "OR ;-ATSOEFER &'DGME8T .O' MEAS'RE '8TO OT-ERS# T-E SAME S-ALL I8 T'R8 BE MEAS'RED '8TO .O', S$ch s the lesson ta$ght the Pro6ost and &$dge, of man,

FIII, I8TE8DA8T O" T-E B'ILDI8G,

I8 th s Degree yo$ ha6e been ta$ght the m!ortant lesson# that none are ent tled to ad6ance n the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te# 3ho ha6e not by st$dy and a!!l cat on made themsel6es fam l ar 3 th Mason c learn ng and 5$r s!r$dence, The Degrees of th s R te are not for those 3ho are content 3 th the mere 3or/ and ceremon es# and do not see/ to e4!lore the m nes of 3 sdom that l e b$r ed beneath the s$rface, .o$ st ll ad6ance to3ard the L ght# to3ard that star# bla< ng n the d stance# 3h ch s an emblem of the D 6 ne Tr$th# g 6en by God to the f rst men# and !reser6ed am d all the 6 c ss t$des of ages n the trad t ons and teach ngs of Masonry, -o3 far yo$ 3 ll ad6ance# de!ends $!on yo$rself alone, -ere# as

e6ery3here n the 3orld# Dar/ness str$ggles 3 th L ght# and clo$ds and shado3s nter6ene bet3een yo$ and the Tr$th,

;hen yo$ shall ha6e become mb$ed 3 th the moral ty of Masonry# 3 th 3h ch yo$ yet are# and for some t me 3 ll be e4cl$s 6ely occ$! ed#DD3hen yo$ shall ha6e learned to !ract ce all the 6 rt$es 3h ch t nc$lcatesG 3hen they become fam l ar to yo$ as yo$r -o$sehold GodsG then 3 ll yo$ be !re!ared to rece 6e ts lofty !h loso!h cal nstr$ct on# and to scale the he ghts $!on 3hose s$mm t L ght and Tr$th s t enthroned, Ste! by ste! men m$st ad6ance to3ard Perfect onG and each Mason c Degree s meant to be one of those ste!s, Each s a de6elo!ment of a !art c$lar d$tyG and n the !resent yo$ are ta$ght char ty and bene6olenceG to be to yo$r brethren an e4am!le of 6 rt$eG to correct yo$r o3n fa$ltsG and to endea6o$r to correct those of yo$r brethren,

-ere# as n all the degrees# yo$ meet 3 th the emblems and the names of De ty# the tr$e /no3ledge of 3hose character and attr b$tes t has e6er been a ch ef ob5ect of Masonry to !er!et$ate, To a!!rec ate - s nf n te greatness and goodness# to rely m!l c tly $!on - s Pro6 dence# to re6ere and 6enerate - m as the S$!reme Arch tect# %reator# and Leg slator of the $n 6erse# s the f rst of Mason c d$t es,

The Battery of th s Degree# and the f 6e c rc$ ts 3h ch yo$ made aro$nd the Lodge# all$de to the f 6e !o nts of fello3sh !# and are ntended to recall them 6 6 dly to yo$r m nd, To go $!on a brother?s errand or to h s rel ef# e6en barefoot and $!on fl nty gro$ndG to remember h m n yo$r s$!!l cat ons to the De tyG to clas! h m to yo$r heart# and !rotect h m aga nst mal ce and e6 l s!ea/ ngG to $!hold h m 3hen abo$t to st$mble and fallG and to g 6e h m !r$dent# honest# and fr endly co$nsel# are d$t es !la nly 3r tten $!on the !ages of God?s great code of la3# and f rst among the ord nances of Masonry,

The f rst s gn of the Degree s e4!ress 6e of the d ff dence and h$m l ty 3 th 3h ch 3e nE$ re nto the nat$re and attr b$tes of the De tyG the second# of the !rofo$nd a3e and re6erence 3 th 3h ch 3e contem!late - s glor esG and the th rd# of the sorro3 3 th 3h ch 3e reflect $!on o$r ns$ff c ent obser6ance of o$r d$t es# and o$r m!erfect com!l ance 3 th - s stat$tes,

The d st ng$ sh ng !ro!erty of man s to search for and follo3 after tr$th, Therefore# 3hen rela4ed from o$r necessary cares and concerns# 3e then co6et to see# to hear# and to learn some3hatG and 3e esteem /no3ledge of th ngs# e ther obsc$re or 3onderf$l# to be the nd s!ensable means of l 6 ng ha!! ly, Tr$th# S m!l c ty# and %andor are most agreeable to the nat$re of man/ nd, ;hate6er s 6 rt$o$s cons sts e ther n Sagac ty# and the !erce!t on of Tr$thG or n the !reser6at on of -$man Soc ety# by g 6 ng to e6ery man h s d$e# and obser6 ng the fa th of contractsG or n the greatness and f rmness of an ele6ated and $ns$bd$ed m ndG or n obser6 ng order and reg$lar ty n all o$r 3ords and n all o$r act onsG n 3h ch cons st Moderat on and Tem!erance,

Masonry has n all t mes rel g o$sly !reser6ed that enl ghtened fa th from 3h ch flo3 s$bl me De6otedness# the sent ment of "ratern ty fr$ tf$l of good 3or/s# the s! r t of nd$lgence and !eace# of s3eet ho!es and effect$al consolat onsG and nfle4 b l ty n the accom!l shment of the most !a nf$l and ard$o$s d$t es, It has al3ays !ro!agated t 3 th ardor and !erse6eranceG and therefore t labo$rs at the !resent day more <ealo$sly than e6er, Scarcely a Mason c d sco$rse s !rono$nced# that does not demonstrate the necess ty and ad6antages of th s fa th# and es!ec ally recall the t3o const t$t 6e !r nc !les of rel g on# that ma/e all rel g on#DD lo6e of God# and lo6e of ne ghbo$r, Masons carry these !r nc !les nto the bosoms of the r fam l es and of soc ety, ;h le the Sectar ans of former t mes enfeebled the rel g o$s s! r t# Masonry# form ng one great Peo!le o6er the 3hole globe# and march ng $nder the great banner of %har ty and Bene6olence# !reser6es that rel g o$s feel ng# strengthens t# e4tends t n ts !$r ty and s m!l c ty# as t has al3ays e4 sted n the de!ths of the h$man heart# as t e4 sted e6en $nder the dom n on of the most anc ent forms of 3orsh !# b$t 3here gross and debas ng s$!erst t ons forbade ts recogn t on,

A Mason c Lodge sho$ld resemble a beeDh 6e# n 3h ch all the members 3or/ together 3 th ardor for the common good, Masonry s not made for cold so$ls and narro3 m nds# that do not com!rehend ts lofty m ss on and s$bl me a!ostolate, -ere the anathema aga nst l$/e3arm so$ls a!!l es, To comfort m sfort$nes to !o!$lar <e /no3ledge# to teach 3hate6er s tr$e and !$re n rel g on and !h loso!hy# to acc$stom men to res!ect order and the !ro!r et es of l fe# to !o nt o$t the 3ay to gen$ ne ha!! ness# to !re!are for that fort$nate !er od# 3hen all the fact ons of the -$man "am ly# $n ted by the bonds of Tolerat on and "ratern ty# shall be b$t one ho$sehold#DDthese are labo$rs that may 3ell e4c te <eal and e6en enth$s asm,

;e do not no3 enlarge $!on or elaborate these deas, ;e b$t $tter them to yo$ br efly# as h nts# $!on 3h ch yo$ may at yo$r le s$re reflect, -ereafter# f yo$ cont n$e to ad6ance# they 3 ll be $nfolded# e4!la ned# and de6elo!ed,

Masonry $tters no m!ract cable and e4tra6agant !rece!ts# certa n# beca$se they are so# to be d sregarded, It as/s of ts n t ates noth ng that t s not !oss ble and e6en easy for them to !erform, Its teach ngs are em nently !ract calG and ts stat$tes can be obeyed by e6ery 5$st# $!r ght# and honest man# no matter 3hat h s fa th or creed, Its ob5ect s to atta n the greatest !ract cal good# 3 tho$t see/ ng to ma/e men !erfect, It does not meddle 3 th the doma n of rel g on# nor nE$ re nto the myster es of regenerat on, It teaches those tr$ths that are 3r tten by the f nger of God $!on the heart of man# those 6 e3s of d$ty 3h ch ha6e been bro$ght o$t by the med tat ons of the st$d o$s# conf rmed by the alleg ance of the good and 3 se# and stam!ed as sterl ng by the res!onse they f nd n e6ery $ncorr$!ted m nd, It does not dogmat <e# nor 6a nly mag ne dogmat c certa nty to be atta nable,

Masonry does not occ$!y tself 3 th cry ng do3n th s 3orld# 3 th ts s!lend d bea$ty# ts thr ll ng nterests# ts glor o$s 3or/s# ts noble and holy affect onsG nor e4hort $s to detach o$r hearts from th s earthly l fe# as em!ty# fleet ng# and $n3orthy# and f 4 them $!on -ea6en# as the only s!here deser6 ng the lo6e of the lo6 ng or the med tat on of the 3 se, It teaches that man has h gh d$t es to !erform# and a h gh dest ny to f$lf ll# on th s earthG that th s 3orld s not merely the !ortal to anotherG and that th s l fe# tho$gh not o$r only one# s an ntegral one# and the !art c$lar one 3 th 3h ch 3e are here meant to be concernedG that the Present s o$r scene of act on# and the "$t$re for s!ec$lat on and for tr$stG that man 3as sent $!on the earth to l 6e n t# to en5oy t# to st$dy t# to lo6e t# to embell sh t# to ma/e the most of t, It s h s co$ntry# on 3h ch he sho$ld la6 sh h s affect ons and h s efforts, It s here h s nfl$ences are to o!erate, It s h s ho$se# and not a tentG h s home# and not merely a school, -e s sent nto th s 3orld# not to be constantly han/er ng after# dream ng of# !re!ar ng for anotherG b$t to do h s d$ty and f$lf ll h s dest ny on th s earthG to do all that l es n h s !o3er to m!ro6e t# to render t a scene of ele6ated ha!! ness to h mself# to those aro$nd h m# to those 3ho are to come after h m, - s l fe here s !art of h s mmortal tyG and th s 3orld# also# s among the stars,

And th$s# Masonry teaches $s# 3 ll man best !re!are for that "$t$re 3h ch he ho!es for, The 'nseen cannot hold a h gher !lace n o$r affect ons than the Seen and the "am l ar, The la3 of o$r be ng s Lo6e of L fe# and ts nterests and adornmentsG lo6e of the 3orld n 3h ch o$r lot s cast# engrossment 3 th the nterests and affect ons of earth, 8ot a lo3 or sens$al lo6e# not lo6e of 3ealth# of fame# of ease# of !o3er# of s!lendo$r, 8ot lo3 3orldl nessG b$t the lo6e of Earth as the garden on 3h ch the %reator has la6 shed s$ch m racles of bea$tyG as the hab tat on of h$man ty# the arena of ts confl cts# the scene of ts ll m table !rogress# the d3ell ngD!lace of the 3 se# the good# the act 6e# the lo6 ng# and the dearG the !lace of o!!ort$n ty for the de6elo!ment by means of s n and s$ffer ng and sorro3# of the noblest !ass ons the loft est 6 rt$es# and the tenderest sym!ath es,

They ta/e 6ery $n!rof table !a ns# 3ho endea6o$r to !ers$ade men that they are obl ged 3holly to des! se th s 3orld# and all that s n t# e6en

3h lst they themsel6es l 6e here, God hath not ta/en all that !a ns n form ng and fram ng and f$rn sh ng and adorn ng the 3orld# that they 3ho 3ere made by - m to l 6e n t sho$ld des! se t, It 3 ll be eno$gh# f they do not lo6e t too mmoderately, It s $seless to attem!t to e4t ng$ sh all those affect ons and !ass ons 3h ch are and al3ays 3 ll be nse!arable fro m h$man nat$re, As long as he 3orld lasts# and hono$r and 6 rt$e and nd$stry ha6e re!$tat on n the 3orld# there 3 ll be amb t on and em$lat on and a!!et te n the best and most accom!l shed men n tG and f there 3ere not# more barbar ty and 6 ce and 3 c/edness 3o$ld co6er e6ery nat on of the 3orld# than t no3 s$ffers $nder,

Those only 3ho feel a dee! nterest n# and affect on for# th s 3orld# 3 ll 3or/ resol$tely for ts amel orat on, Those 3ho $nder6al$e th s r fe# nat$rally become E$er$lo$s and d scontented# and lose the r nterest n the 3elfare of the r fello3s, To ser6e them# and so to do o$r d$ty as Masons# 3e m$st feel that the ob5ect s 3orth the e4ert onG and be content 3 th th s 3orld n 3h ch God has !laced $s# $nt l -e !erm ts $s to remo6e to a better one, -e s here 3 th $s# and does not deem th s an $n3orthy 3orld,

It a ser o$s th ng to defame and bel e a 3hole 3orldG to s!ea/ of t as the abode of a !oor# to l ng# dr$dg ng# gnorant# contem!t ble race, .o$ 3o$ld not so d scred t yo$r fam ly# yo$r fr endly c rcle# yo$r 6 llage# yo$r c ty# yo$r co$ntry, The 3orld s not a 3retched and a 3orthless oneG nor s t a m sfort$ne# b$t a th ng to be than/f$l for# to be a man, If l fe s 3orthless# so also s mmortal ty,

In soc ety tself# n that l 6 ng mechan sm of h$man relat onsh !s that s!reads tself o6er the 3orld# there s a f ner essence 3 th n# that as tr$ly mo6es t# as any !o3er# hea6y or e4!ans 6e# mo6es the so$nd ng man$factory or the s3 ftDfly ng car, The manDmach ne h$rr es to and fro $!on the earth# stretches o$t ts hands on e6ery s de# to to l# to barter# to $nn$mbered labo$rs and enter!r sesG and almost al3ays the mot 6e# that 3h ch mo6es t# s someth ng that ta/es hold of the comforts# affect ons# and ho!es of soc al e4 stence, Tr$e# the mechan sm often 3or/s 3 th

d ff c$lty# drags hea6 ly# grates and screams 3 th harsh coll s on, Tr$e# the essence of f ner mot 6e# becom ng nterm 4ed 3 th baser and coarser ngred ents# often clogs# obstr$cts# 5ars# and deranges the free and noble act on of soc al l fe, B$t he s ne ther gratef$l nor 3 se# 3ho loo/s cyn cally on all th s# and loses the f ne sense of soc al good n ts !er6ers ons, That I can be a fr end# that I can ha6e a fr end# tho$gh t 3ere b$t one n the 3orldG that fact# that 3ondro$s good fort$ne# 3e may set aga nst all the s$ffer ngs of o$r soc al nat$re, That there s s$ch a !lace on earth as a home# that resort and sanct$ary of nD3alled and sh elded 5oy# 3e may set aga nst all the s$rro$nd ng desolat ons of l fe, That one can be a tr$e# soc al man# can s!ea/ h s tr$e tho$ghts# am dst all the Tangl ngs of contro6ersy and the 3arr ng of o! n onsG that fact from 3 th n# o$t3e ghs all facts from 3 tho$t,

In the 6 s ble as!ect and act on of soc ety# often re!$ls 6e and annoy ng# 3e are a!t to lose the d$e sense of ts n6 s ble bless ngs, As n 8at$re t s not the coarse and !al!able# not so ls and ra ns# nor e6en f elds and flo3ers# that are so bea$t f$l# as the n6 s ble s! r t of 3 sdom and bea$ty that !er6ades tG so n soc ety# t s the n6 s ble# and therefore $nobser6ed# that s most bea$t f$l,

;hat ner6es the arm of to lJ If man m nded h mself alone# he 3o$ld fl ng do3n the s!ade and a4e# and r$sh to the desertG or roam thro$gh the 3orld as a 3 lderness# and ma/e that 3orld a desert, - s home# 3h ch he sees not# !erha!s# b$t once or t3 ce n a day# s the n6 s ble bond of the 3orld, It s the good# strong# and noble fa th that men ha6e n each other# 3h ch g 6es the loft est character to b$s ness# trade# and commerce, "ra$d occ$rs n the r$sh of b$s nessG b$t t s the e4ce!t on, -onesty s the r$leG and all the fra$ds n the 3orld cannot tear the great bond of h$man conf dence, If they co$ld# commerce 3o$ld f$rl ts sa ls on e6ery sea# and all the c t es of the 3orld 3o$ld cr$mble nto r$ ns, The bare character of a man on the other s de of the 3orld# 3hom yo$ ne6er sa3# 3hom yo$ ne6er 3 ll see# yo$ hold good for a bond of tho$sands, The most str / ng feat$re of the !ol t cal state s not go6ernments# nor const t$t ons# nor la3s# nor enactments# nor the 5$d c al !o3er# nor the !ol ceG b$t the $n 6ersal 3 ll of the !eo!le to be go6erned by the common 3eal, Ta/e off that restra nt# and no go6ernment on earth co$ld stand for an ho$r,

Of the many teach ngs of Masonry# one of the most 6al$able s# that 3e sho$ld not de!rec ate th s l fe, It does not hold# that 3hen 3e reflect on the dest ny that a3a ts man on earth# 3e o$ght to bede3 h s cradle 3 th o$r tearsG b$t# l /e the -ebre3s# t ha ls the b rth of a ch ld 3 th 5oy# and holds that h s b rthday sho$ld be a fest 6al,

It has no sym!athy 3 th those 3ho !rofess to ha6e !ro6ed th s l fe# and fo$nd t l ttle 3orthG 3ho ha6e del berately made $! the r m nds that t s far more m serable than ha!!yG beca$se ts em!loyments are ted o$s# and the r schemes often baffled# the r fr endsh !s bro/en# or the r fr ends dead# ts !leas$res !alled# and ts hono$rs faded# and ts !aths beaten# fam l ar# and d$ll,

Masonry deems t no mar/ of great ! ety to3ard God to d s!arage# f not des! se# the state that -e has orda ned for $s, It does not abs$rdly set $! the cla ms of another 3orld# not n com!ar son merely# b$t n com!et t on# 3 th the cla ms of th s, It loo/s $!on both as !arts of one system, It holds that a man may ma/e the best of th s 3orld and of another at the same t me, It does not teach ts n t ates to th n/ better of other 3or/s and d s!ensat ons of God# by th n/ ng meanly of these, It does not loo/ $!on l fe as so m$ch t me lostG nor regard ts em!loyments as tr fles $n3orthy of mmortal be ngsG nor tell ts follo3ers to fold the r arms# as f n d sda n of the r state and s!ec esG b$t t loo/s soberly and cheerf$lly $!on the 3orld# as a theatre of 3orthy act on# of e4alted $sef$lness# and of rat onal and nnocent en5oyment,

It holds that# 3 th all ts e6 ls# l fe s a bless ng, To deny that s to destroy the bas s of all rel g on# nat$ral and re6ealed, The 6ery fo$ndat on of all rel g on s la d on the f rm bel ef that God s goodG and f th s l fe s an e6 l and a c$rse# no s$ch bel ef can be rat onally enterta ned, To le6el o$r sat re at h$man ty and h$man e4 stence# as mean and contem!t bleG to loo/

on th s 3orld as the hab tat on of a m serable race# f t only for moc/ery and scornG to cons der th s earth as a d$ngeon or a !r son# 3h ch has no bless ng to offer b$t esca!e from t# s to e4t ng$ sh the !r mal l ght of fa th and ho!e and ha!! ness# to destroy the bas s of rel g on# and Tr$th?s fo$ndat on n the goodness of God, If t ndeed be so# then t matters not 3hat else s tr$e or not tr$eG s!ec$lat on s 6a n and fa th s 6a nG and all that belongs to man?s h ghest be ng s b$r ed n the r$ ns of m santhro!y# melancholy# and des!a r,

O$r lo6e of l feG the tenac ty 3 th 3h ch# n sorro3 and s$ffer ng# 3e cl ng to tG o$r attachment to o$r home# to the s!ot that ga6e $s b rth# to any !lace# ho3e6er r$de# $ns ghtly# or barren# on 3h ch the h story of o$r years has been 3r tten# all sho3 ho3 dear are the t es of / ndred and soc ety, M sery ma/es a greater m!ress on $!on $s than ha!! nessG beca$se the former s not the hab t of o$r m nds, It s a strange# $n$s$al g$est# and 3e are more consc o$s of ts !resence, -a!! ness l 6es 3 th $s# and 3e forget t, It does not e4c te $s# nor d st$rb the order and co$rse of o$r tho$ghts, A great agony s an e!och n o$r l fe, ;e remember o$r affl ct ons# as 3e do the storm and earthE$a/e# beca$se they are o$t of the common co$rse of th ngs, They are l /e d sastro$s e6ents# recorded beca$se e4traord naryG and 3 th 3hole and $nnot ced !er ods of !ros!er ty bet3een, ;e mar/ and s gnal <e the t mes of calam tyG b$t many ha!!y days and $nnoted !er ods of en5oyment !ass# that are $nrecorded e ther n the boo/ of memory# or n the scanty annals of o$r than/sg 6 ng, ;e are l ttle d s!osed and less able to call $! from the d m remembrances of o$r !ast years# the !eacef$l moments# the easy sensat ons# the br ght tho$ghts# the E$ et re6er es# the throngs of / nd affect ons n 3h ch l fe flo3ed on# bear ng $s almost $nconsc o$sly $!on ts bosom# beca$se t bore $s calmly and gently,

L fe s not only goodG b$t t has been glor o$s n the e4!er ence of m ll ons, The glory of all h$man 6 rt$e clothes t, The s!lendo$rs of de6otedness# benef cence# and hero sm are $!on tG the cro3n of a tho$sand martyrdoms s $!on ts bro3, The br ghtness of the so$l sh nes thro$gh th s 6 s ble and somet mes dar/ened l feG thro$gh all ts s$rro$nd ng cares and labo$rs, The h$mblest l fe may feel ts connect on 3 th ts Inf n te So$rce, There s someth ng m ghty n the fra l nner manG

someth ng of mmortal ty n th s momentary and trans ent be ng, The m nd stretches a3ay# on e6ery s de# nto nf n ty, Its tho$ghts flash abroad# far nto the bo$ndless# the mmeas$rable# the nf n teG far nto the great# dar/# teem ng f$t$reG and become !o3ers and nfl$ences n other ages, To /no3 ts 3onderf$l A$thor# to br ng do3n 3 sdom from the Eternal Stars# to bear $!3ard ts homage# grat t$de# and lo6e# to the R$ler of all 3orlds# to be mmortal n o$r nfl$ences !ro5ected far nto the slo3Da!!roach ng "$t$re# ma/es l fe most 3orthy and most glor o$s,

L fe s the 3onderf$l creat on of God, It s l ght# s!r$ng from 6o d dar/nessG !o3er# 3a/ed from nertness and m!otenceG be ng created from noth ngG and the contrast may 3ell en/ ndle 3onder and del ght, It s a r ll fro m the nf n te# o6erflo3 ng goodnessG and from the moment 3hen t f rst g$shes $! nto the l ght# to that 3hen t m ngles 3 th the ocean of Etern ty# that Goodness attends t and m n sters to t, It s a great and glor o$s g ft, There s gladness n ts nfant 6o cesG 5oy n the b$oyant ste! of ts yo$thG dee! sat sfact on n ts strong mat$r tyG and !eace n ts E$ et age, There s good for the goodG 6 rt$e for the fa thf$lG and 6 ctory for the 6al ant, There s# e6en n th s h$mble l fe# an nf n ty for those 3hose des res are bo$ndless, There are bless ngs $!on ts b rthG there s ho!e n ts deathG and etern ty n ts !ros!ect, Th$s earth# 3h ch b nds many n cha ns# s to the Mason both the start ngD!lace and goal of mmortal ty# Many t b$r es n the r$bb sh of d$ll cares and 3eary ng 6an t esG b$t to the Mason t s the lofty mo$nt of med tat on# 3here -ea6en# and Inf n ty and Etern ty are s!read before h m and aro$nd h m, To the loftyDm nded# the !$re# and the 6 rt$o$s# th s l fe s the beg nn ng of -ea6en# and a !art of mmortal ty,

God hath a!!o nted one remedy for all the e6 ls n the 3orldG and that s a contented s! r t, ;e may be reconc led to !o6erty and a lo3 fort$ne# f 3e s$ffer contentedness and eE$an m ty to ma/e the !ro!ort ons, 8o man s !oor 3ho doth not th n/ h mself soG b$t f# n a f$ll fort$ne# 3 th m!at ence he des res more# he !rocla ms h s 3ants and h s beggarly cond t on, Th s 6 rt$e of contentedness 3as the s$m of all the old moral !h loso!hy# and s of most $n 6ersal $se n the 3hole co$rse of o$r l 6es# and the only nstr$ment to ease the b$rdens of the 3orld and the enm t es of sad chances, It s the great reasonableness of com!ly ng 3 th the D 6 ne

Pro6 dence# 3h ch go6erns all the 3orld# and hath so ordered $s n the adm n strat on of - s great fam ly, It s f t that God sho$ld d s!ense - s g fts as -e !leasesG and f 3e m$rm$r here# 3e may# at the ne4t melancholy# be tro$bled that -e d d not ma/e $s to be angels or stars,

;e o$rsel6es ma/e o$r fort$nes good or badG and 3hen God lets loose a Tyrant $!on $s# or a s c/ness# or scorn# or a lessened fort$ne# f 3e fear to d e# or /no3 not ho3 to be !at ent# or are !ro$d# or co6eto$s# then the calam ty s ts hea6y on $s, B$t f 3e /no3 ho3 to manage a noble !r nc !le# and fear not death so m$ch as a d shonest act on# and th n/ m!at ence a 3orse e6 l than a fe6er# and !r de to be the greatest d sgrace as 3ell as the greatest folly# and !o6erty far !referable to the torments of a6ar ce# 3e may st ll bear an e6en m nd and sm le at the re6erses of fort$ne and the llDnat$re of "ate,

If tho$ hast lost thy land# do not also lose thy constancyG and f tho$ m$st d e sooner than others# or than tho$ d dst e4!ect# yet do not d e m!at ently, "or no chance s e6 l to h m 3ho s content# and to a man noth ng s m serable $nless t be $nreasonable, 8o man can ma/e another man to be h s sla6e# $nless that other hath f rst ensla6ed h mself to l fe and death# to !leas$re or !a n# to ho!e or fearG command these !ass ons# and yo$ are freer than the Parth an K ngs,

;hen an enemy re!roaches $s# let $s loo/ on h m as an m!art al relator of o$r fa$ltsG for he 3 ll tell $s tr$er than o$r fondest fr end 3 ll# and 3e may forg 6e h s anger# 3h lst 3e ma/e $se of the !la nness of h s declamat on, The o4# 3hen he s 3eary# treads tr$estG and f there be noth ng else n ab$se# b$t that t ma/es $s to 3al/ 3ar ly# and tread s$re for fear of o$r enem es# that s better than to be flattered nto !r de and carelessness,

If tho$ fallest from thy em!loyment n !$bl c# ta/e sanct$ary n an honest ret rement# be ng nd fferent to thy ga n abroad# or thy safety at home, ;hen the north 3 nd blo3s hard# and t ra ns sadly# 3e do not s t do3n n t and cryG b$t defend o$rsel6es aga nst t 3 th a 3arm garment# or a good f re and a dry roof, So 3hen the storm of a sad m schance beats $!on o$r s! r ts# 3e may t$rn t nto someth ng that s good# f 3e resol6e to ma/e t soG and 3 th eE$an m ty and !at ence may shelter o$rsel6es from ts nclement ! t less !elt ng, If t de6elo! o$r !at ence# and g 6e occas on for hero c end$rance# t hath done $s good eno$gh to recom!ense $s s$ff c ently for all the tem!oral affl ct onG for so a 3 se man shall o6err$le h s starsG and ha6e a greater nfl$ence $!on h s o3n content# than all the constellat ons and !lanets of the f rmament,

%o m!are not thy cond t on 3 th the fe3 abo6e thee# b$t to sec$re thy content# loo/ $!on those tho$sands 3 th 3hom tho$ 3o$ldst not# for any nterest# change thy fort$ne and cond t on, A sold er m$st not th n/ h mself $n!ros!ero$s# f he be not s$ccessf$l as Ale4ander or ;ell ngtonG nor any man deem h mself $nfort$nate that he hath not the 3ealth of Rothsch ldG b$t rather let the former re5o ce that he s not lessened l /e the many generals 3ho 3ent do3n horse and man before 8a!oleon# and the latter that he s not the beggar 3ho# bareheaded n the blea/ 3 nter 3 nd holds o$t h s tattered hat for char ty, There may be many 3ho are r cher and more fort$nateG b$t many tho$sands 3ho are 6ery m serable# com!ared to thee,

After the 3orst assa$lts of "ort$ne# there 3 ll be someth ng left to $s#DDa merry co$ntenance# a cheerf$l s! r t# and a good consc ence# the Pro6 dence of God# o$r ho!es of -ea6en# o$r char ty for those 3ho ha6e n5$red $sG !erha!s a lo6 ng 3 fe# and many fr ends to ! ty# and some to rel e6e $sG and l ght and a r# and all the bea$t es of 8at$reG 3e can read# d sco$rse# and med tateG and ha6 ng st ll these bless ngs# 3e sho$ld be m$ch n lo6e 3 th sorro3 and !ee6 shness to lose them all# and !refer to s t do3n on o$r l ttle handf$l of thorns,

En5oy the bless ngs of th s day# f God sends them# and the e6 ls of t bear !at ently and calmlyG for th s day only s o$rs( 3e are dead to yesterday# and 3e are not yet born to the morro3, ;hen o$r fort$nes are 6 olently changed# o$r s! r ts are $nchanged# f they al3ays stood n the s$b$rbs and e4!ectat on of sorro3s and re6erses, The bless ngs of mm$n ty# safeg$ard# l berty# and ntegr ty deser6e the than/sg 6 ng of a 3hole l fe, ;e are E$ t from a tho$sand calam t es# e6ery one of 3h ch# f t 3ere $!on $s# 3o$ld ma/e $s nsens ble of o$r !resent sorro3# and glad to rece 6e t n e4change for that other greater affl ct on,

Meas$re yo$r des res by yo$r fort$ne and cond t on# not yo$r fort$nes by yo$r des res( be go6erned by yo$r needs# not by yo$r fancyG by nat$re# not by e6 l c$stoms and amb t o$s !r nc !les, It s no e6 l to be !oor# b$t to be 6 c o$s and m!at ent, Is that beast better# that hath t3o or three mo$nta ns to gra<e on# than the l ttle bee that feeds on de3 or manna# and l 6es $!on 3hat falls e6ery morn ng from the storeDho$ses of -ea6en# clo$ds and Pro6 dence J

There are some nstances of fort$ne and a fa r cond t on that cannot stand 3 th some othersG b$t f yo$ des re th s# yo$ m$st lose that# and $nless yo$ be content 3 th one# yo$ lose the comfort of both, If yo$ co6et learn ng# yo$ m$st ha6e le s$re and a ret red l feG f hono$rs of State and !ol t cal d st nct ons# yo$ m$st be e6er abroad n !$bl c# and get e4!er ence# and do all men?s b$s ness# and /ee! all com!any# and ha6e no le s$re at all, If yo$ 3 ll be r ch# yo$ m$st be fr$galG f yo$ 3 ll be !o!$lar# yo$ m$st be bo$nt f$lG f a !h loso!her# yo$ m$st des! se r ches, If yo$ 3o$ld be famo$s as E!am nondas# acce!t also h s !o6erty# for t added l$stre to h s !erson# and en6y to h s fort$ne# and h s 6 rt$e 3 tho$t t co$ld not ha6e been so e4cellent, If yo$ 3o$ld ha6e the re!$tat on of a martyr# yo$ m$st needs acce!t h s !ersec$t onG f of a benefactor of the 3orld# the 3orld?s n5$st ceG f tr$ly great# yo$ m$st e4!ect to see the mob !refer lesser men to yo$rself,

God esteems t one of - s glor es# that -e br ngs good o$t of e6 lG and therefore t 3ere b$t reason 3e sho$ld tr$st - m to go6ern - s o3n 3orld as -e !leasesG and that 3e sho$ld !at ently 3a t $nt l the change cometh# or the reason s d sco6ered,

A Mason?s contentedness m$st by no means be a mere contented self shness# l /e h s 3ho# comfortable h mself# s nd fferent to the d scomfort of others, There 3 ll al3ays be n th s 3orld 3rongs to forg 6e# s$ffer ng to alle6 ate# sorro3 as/ ng for sym!athy# necess t es and dest t$t on to rel e6e# and am!le occas on for the e4erc se of act 6e char ty and benef cence, And he 3ho s ts $nconcerned am dst t all# !erha!s en5oy ng h s o3n comforts and l$4$r es the more# by contrast ng them 3 th the h$ngry and ragged dest t$t on and sh 6er ng m sery of h s fello3s# s not contented# b$t self sh and $nfeel ng,

It s the saddest of all s ghts $!on th s earth# that of a man la<y and l$4$r o$s# or hard and !en$r o$s# to 3hom 3ant a!!eals n 6a n# and s$ffer ng cr es n an $n/no3n tong$e, The man 3hose hasty anger h$rr es h m nto 6 olence and cr me s not half so $n3orthy to l 6e, -e s the fa thless ste3ard# that embe<<les 3hat God has g 6en h m n tr$st for the m!o6er shed and s$ffer ng among h s brethren, The tr$e Mason m$st be and m$st ha6e a r ght to be content 3 th h mselfG and he can be so only 3hen he l 6es not for h mself alone# b$t for others also# 3ho need h s ass stance and ha6e a cla m $!on h s sym!athy,

@%har ty s the great channel#@ t has been 3ell sa d# @thro$gh 3h ch God !asses all - s mercy $!on man/ nd, "or 3e rece 6e absol$t on of o$r s ns n !ro!ort on to o$r forg 6 ng o$r brother, Th s s the r$le of o$r ho!es and the meas$re of o$r des re n th s 3orldG and on the day of death and 5$dgment# the great sentence $!on man/ nd shall be transacted accord ng to o$r alms# 3h ch s the other !art of char ty, God h mself s lo6eG and 6ery degree of char ty that d3ells n $s s the !art c !at on of the d 6 ne nat$re,@

These !r nc !les Masonry red$ces to !ract ce, By them t e4!ects yo$ to be hereafter g$ ded and go6erned, It es!ec ally nc$lcates them $!on h m 3ho em!loys the labo$r of others# forb dd ng h m to d scharge them# 3hen to 3ant em!loyment s to star6eG or to contract for the labo$r of man or 3oman at so lo3 a !r ce that by o6erDe4ert on they m$st sell h m the r blood and l fe at the same t me 3 th the labo$r of the r hands,

These Degrees are also ntended to teach more than morals, The symbols and ceremon es of Masonry ha6e more than one mean ng, They rather conceal than d sclose the Tr$th, They h nt t only# at leastG and the r 6ar ed mean ngs are only to be d sco6ered by reflect on and st$dy, Tr$th s not only symbol <ed by L ght# b$t as the ray of l ght s se!arable nto rays of d fferent colo$rs# so s tr$th se!arable nto / nds, It s the !ro6 nce of Masonry to teach all tr$thsDDnot moral tr$th alone# b$t !ol t cal and !h loso!h cal# and e6en rel g o$s tr$th# so far as concerns the great and essent al !r nc !les of each, The s!hyn4 3as a symbol, To 3hom has t d sclosed ts nmost mean ngJ ;ho /no3s the symbol c mean ng of the !yram dsJ

.o$ 3 ll hereafter learn 3ho are the ch ef foes of h$man l berty symbol <ed by the assass ns of the Master Kh$r$mG and n the r fate yo$ may see foreshado3ed that 3h ch 3e earnestly ho!e 3 ll hereafter o6erta/e those enem es of h$man ty# aga nst 3hom Masonry has str$ggled so long,

IP, ELE%T O" T-E 8I8E, AEl$ of the 8 ne,B

ORIGI8ALL. created to re3ard f del ty# obed ence# and de6ot on# th s Degree 3as consecrated to bra6ery# de6otedness# and !atr ot smG and yo$r obl gat on has made /no3n to yo$ the d$t es 3h ch yo$ ha6e ass$med, They are s$mmed $! n the s m!le mandate# @Protect the o!!ressed aga nst the o!!ressorG and de6ote yo$rself to the hono$r and nterests of yo$r %o$ntry,@

Masonry s not @s!ec$lat 6e#@ nor theoret cal# b$t e4!er mentalG not sent mental# b$t !ract cal, It reE$ res selfDren$nc at on and selfDcontrol, It 3ears a stern face to3ard men?s 6 ces# and nterferes 3 th many of o$r !$rs$ ts and o$r fanc ed !leas$res, It !enetrates beyond the reg on of 6ag$e sent mentG beyond the reg ons 3here moral <ers and !h loso!hers ha6e 3o6en the r f ne theor es and elaborated the r bea$t f$l ma4 ms# to the 6ery de!ths of the heart# reb$/ ng o$r l ttlenesses and meannesses# arra gn ng o$r !re5$d ces and !ass ons# and 3arr ng aga nst the arm es of o$r 6 ces,

It 3ars aga nst the !ass ons that s!r ng o$t of the bosom of a 3orld of f ne sent ments# a 3orld of adm rable say ngs and fo$l !ract ces# of good ma4 ms and bad deedsG 3hose dar/er !ass ons are not only restra ned by c$stom and ceremony# b$t h dden e6en from tself by a 6e l of bea$t f$l sent ments, Th s terr ble solec sm has e4 sted n all ages, Rom sh sent mental sm has often co6ered nf del ty and 6 ceG Protestant stra ghtness often la$ds s! r t$al ty and fa th# and neglects homely tr$th# candor# and generos tyG and $ltraDl beral Rat onal st c ref nement somet mes soars to hea6en n ts dreams# and 3allo3s n the m re of earth n ts deeds,

There may be a 3orld of Mason c sent mentG and yet a 3orld of l ttle or no Masonry, In many m nds there s a 6ag$e and general sent ment of Mason c char ty# generos ty# and d s nterestedness# b$t no !ract cal# act 6e 6 rt$e# nor hab t$al / ndness# self sacr f ce# or l beral ty, Masonry !lays abo$t them l /e the cold tho$gh br ll ant l ghts that fl$sh and eddy o6er 8orthern s/ es, There are occas onal flashes of genero$s and manly feel ng# trans tory s!lendo$rs# and momentary gleams of 5$st and noble tho$ght# and trans ent cor$scat ons# that l ght the -ea6en of the r mag nat onG b$t there s no 6 tal 3armth n the heartG and t rema ns as cold and ster le as the Arct c or Antarct c reg ons, They do noth ngG they ga n no 6 ctor es o6er themsel6esG they ma/e no !rogressG they are st ll n the 8ortheast corner of the Lodge# as 3hen they f rst stood there as A!!rent cesG and they do not c$lt 6ate Masonry# 3 th a c$lt 6at on# determ ned# resol$te# and reg$lar# l /e the r c$lt 6at on of the r estate# !rofess on# or /no3ledge, The r Masonry ta/es ts chance n general and neff c ent sent ment# mo$rnf$lly barren of res$ltsG n 3ords and form$las and f ne !rofess ons,

Most men ha6e sent ments# b$t not !r nc !les, The former are tem!orary sensat ons# the latter !ermanent and controll ng m!ress ons of goodness and 6 rt$e, The former are general and n6ol$ntary# and do not r se to the character of 6 rt$e, E6ery one feels them, They flash $! s!ontaneo$sly n e6ery heart, The latter are r$les of act on# and sha!e and control o$r cond$ctG and t s these that Masonry ns sts $!on,

;e a!!ro6e the r ghtG b$t !$rs$e the 3rong, It s the old story of h$man def c ency, 8o one abets or !ra ses n5$st ce# fra$d# o!!ress on# co6eto$sness# re6enge# en6y or slanderG and yet ho3 many 3ho condemn these th ngs# are themsel6es g$ lty of them, It s no rare th ng for h m 3hose nd gnat on s / ndled at a tale of 3 c/ed n5$st ce# cr$el o!!ress on base slander# or m sery nfl cted by $nbr dled nd$lgenceG 3hose anger flames n behalf of the n5$red and r$ ned 6 ct ms of 3rongG to be n some relat on $n5$st# or o!!ress 6e# or en6 o$s# or selfD nd$lgent#

or a careless tal/er of others, -o3 3onderf$lly nd gnant the !en$r o$s man often s# at the a6ar ce or 3ant of !$bl c s! r t of anotherO

A great Preacher 3ell sa d# @Therefore tho$ art ne4c$sable, O Man# 3hosoe6er tho$ art# that 5$dgestG for 3here n tho$ 5$dgest another# tho$ condemnest thyself( for tho$ that 5$dgest# doest the same th ngs,@ It s ama< ng to see ho3 men can tal/ of 6 rt$e and hono$r# 3hose l fe den es both, It s c$r o$s to see 3 th 3hat a mar6ello$s fac l ty many bad men E$ote Scr !t$re, It seems to comfort the r e6 l consc ences# to $se good 3ordsG and to glo<e o6er bad deeds 3 th holy te4ts# 3rested to the r !$r!ose, Often# the more a man tal/s abo$t %har ty and Tolerat on# the less he has of e therG the more he tal/s abo$t F rt$e# the smaller stoc/ he has of t, The mo$th s!ea/s o$t of the ab$ndance of the heartG b$t often the 6ery re6erse of 3hat the man !ract ses, And the 6 c o$s and sens$al often e4!ress# and n a sense feel# strong d sg$st at 6 ce and sens$al ty, -y!ocr sy s not so common as s mag ned,

-ere# n the Lodge# 6 rt$e and 6 ce are matters of reflect on and feel ng only, There s l ttle o!!ort$n ty here# for the !ract ce of e therG and Masons y eld to the arg$ment here# 3 th fac l ty and read nessG beca$se noth ng s to follo3, It s easy# and safe# here# too feel $!on these matters, B$t toDmorro3# 3hen they breathe the atmos!here of 3orldly ga ns and com!et t ons# and the !ass ons are aga n st rred at the o!!ort$n t es of $nla3f$l !leas$re# all the r f ne emot ons abo$t 6 rt$e# all the r genero$s abhorrence of self shness and sens$al ty# melt a3ay l /e a morn ng clo$d,

"or the t me# the r emot ons and sent ments are s ncere and real, Men may be really# n a certa n 3ay# nterested n Masonry# 3h le fatally def c ent n 6 rt$e, It s not al3ays hy!ocr sy, Men !ray most fer6ently and s ncerely# and yet are constantly g$ lty of acts so bad and base# so $ngenero$s and $nr ghteo$s# that the cr mes that cro3d the doc/ets of o$r co$rts are scarcely 3orse,

A man may be a good sort of man n general# and yet a 6ery bad man n !art c$lar( good n the Lodge and bad n the 3orldG good n !$bl c# and bad n h s fam lyG good at home# and bad on a 5o$rney or n a strange c ty, Many a man earnestly des res to be a good Mason, -e says so# and s s ncere, B$t f yo$ reE$ re h m to res st a certa n !ass on# to sacr f ce a certa n nd$lgence# to control h s a!!et te at a !art c$lar feast# or to /ee! h s tem!er n a d s!$te# yo$ 3 ll f nd that he does not 3 sh to be a good Mason# n that !art c$lar caseG or# 3 sh ng# s not able to res st h s 3orst m!$lses,

The d$t es of l fe are more than l fe, The la3 m!oseth t $!on e6ery c t <en# that he !refer the $rgent ser6 ce of h s co$ntry before the safety of h s l fe, If a man be commanded# sa th a great 3r ter# to br ng ordnance or m$n t on to rel e6e any of the K ng?s to3ns that are d stressed# then he cannot for any danger of tem!est 5$st fy the thro3 ng of them o6erboardG for there t holdeth 3h ch 3as s!o/en by the Roman# 3hen the same necess ty of 3eather 3as alleged to hold h m from embar/ ng( @8ecesse est $t eam# non $t 6 6am (@ t needs that I go( t s not necessary I sho$ld l 6e,

-o3 $ngratef$lly he sl n/s a3ay# 3ho d es# and does noth ng to reflect a glory to -ea6en O -o3 barren a tree he s# 3ho l 6es# and s!reads# and c$mbers the gro$nd# yet lea6es not one seed# not one good 3or/ to generate another after h m O All cannot lea6e al /eG yet all may lea6e someth ng# ans3er ng the r !ro!ort ons and the r / nds, Those are dead and 3 thered gra ns of corn# o$t of 3h ch there 3 ll not one ear s!r ng, -e 3 ll hardly f nd the 3ay to -ea6en# 3ho des res to go th ther alone,

Ind$stry s ne6er 3holly $nfr$ tf$l, If t br ng not 5oy 3 th the ncom ng !rof t# t 3 ll yet ban sh m sch ef from thy b$s ed gates, There s a / nd of good angel 3a t ng $!on D l gence that e6er carr es a la$rel n h s hand to

cro3n her, -o3 $n3orthy 3as that man of the 3orld 3ho ne6er d d a$ght# b$t only l 6ed and d edO That 3e ha6e l berty to do anyth ng# 3e sho$ld acco$nt t a g ft from the fa6o$r ng -ea6ensG that 3e ha6e m nds somet mes ncl n ng $s to $se that l berty 3ell# s a great bo$nty of the De ty,

Masonry s act on# and not nertness, It reE$ res ts In t ates to ;ORK# act 6ely and earnestly# for the benef t of the r brethren# the r co$ntry# and man/ nd, It s the !atron of the o!!ressed# as t s the comforter and consoler of the $nfort$nate and 3retched, It seems to t a 3orth er hono$r to be the nstr$ment of ad6ancement and reform# than to en5oy all that ran/ and off ce and lofty t tles can besto3, It s the ad6ocate of the common !eo!le n those th ngs 3h ch concern the best nterests of man/ nd, It hates nsolent !o3er and m!$dent $s$r!at on, It ! t es the !oor# the sorro3 ng# the d sconsolateG t endea6o$rs to ra se and m!ro6e the gnorant# the s$n/en# and the degraded,

Its f del ty to ts m ss on 3 ll be acc$rately e6 denced# by the e4tent of the efforts t em!loys# and the means t sets on foot# to m!ro6e the !eo!le at large and to better the r cond t onG ch efest of 3h ch# 3 th n ts reach# s to a d n the ed$cat on of the ch ldren of the !oor, An ntell gent !eo!le# nformed of ts r ghts# 3 ll soon come to /no3 ts !o3er# and cannot long be o!!ressedG b$t f there be not a so$nd and 6 rt$o$s !o!$lace# the elaborate ornaments at the to! of the !yram d of soc ety 3 ll be a 3retched com!ensat on for the 3ant of sol d ty at the base, It s ne6er safe for a nat on to re!ose on the la! of gnorance( and f there e6er 3as a t me 3hen !$bl c tranE$ ll ty 3as ns$red by the absence of /no3ledge# that season s !ast, 'nth n/ ng st$! d ty cannot slee!# 3 tho$t be ng a!!alled by !hantoms and sha/en by terrors, The m!ro6ement of the mass of the !eo!le s the grand sec$r ty for !o!$lar l bertyG n the neglect of 3h ch# the !ol teness# ref nement# and /no3ledge acc$m$lated n the h gher orders and 3ealth er classes 3 ll some day !er sh l /e dry grass n the hot f re of !o!$lar f$ry,

It s not the m ss on of Masonry to engage n !lots and cons! rac es aga nst the c 6 l go6ernment, It s not the fanat cal !ro!agand st of any creed or theoryG nor does t !rocla m tself the enemy of / ngs, It s the a!ostle of l berty# eE$al ty# and fratern tyG b$t t s no more the h ghD!r est of re!$bl can sm than of const t$t onal monarchy, It contracts no entangl ng all ances 3 th any sect of theor sts# dreamers# or !h loso!hers, It does not /no3 those as ts In t ates 3ho assa l the c 6 l order and all la3f$l a$thor ty# at the same t me that they !ro!ose to de!r 6e the dy ng of the consolat ons of rel g on, It s ts a!art from all sects and creeds# n ts o3n calm and s m!le d gn ty# the same $nder e6ery go6ernment, It s st ll that 3h ch t 3as n the cradle of the h$man race# 3hen no h$man foot had trodden the so l of Assyr a and Egy!t# and no colon es had crossed the - malayas nto So$thern Ind a# Med a# or Etr$r a,

It g 6es no co$ntenance to anarchy and l cent o$snessG and no ll$s on of glory# or e4tra6agant em$lat on of the anc ents nflames t 3 th an $nnat$ral th rst for deal and 'to! an l berty, It teaches that n rect t$de of l fe and sobr ety of hab ts s the only s$re g$arantee for the cont n$ance of !ol t cal freedom# and t s ch efly the sold er of the sanct ty of the la3s and the r ghts of consc ence,

It recogn <es t as a tr$th# that necess ty# as 3ell as abstract r ght and deal 5$st ce# m$st ha6e ts !art n the ma/ ng of la3s# the adm n strat on of affa rs# and the reg$lat on of relat ons n soc ety, It sees# ndeed# that necess ty r$les n all the affa rs of man, It /no3s that 3here any man# or any n$mber or race of men# are so mbec le of ntellect# so degraded# so nca!able of self control# so nfer or n the scale of h$man ty# as to be $nf t to be ntr$sted 3 th the h ghest !rerogat 6es of c t <ensh !# the great la3 of necess ty# for the !eace and safety of the comm$n ty and co$ntry# reE$ res them to rema n $nder the control of those of larger ntellect and s$!er or 3 sdom, It tr$sts and bel e6es that God 3 ll# n h s o3n good t me# 3or/ o$t h s o3n great and 3 se !$r!osesG and t s 3 ll ng to 3a t# 3here t does not see ts o3n 3ay clear to some certa n good,

It ho!es and longs for the day 3hen all the races of men# e6en the lo3est# 3 ll be ele6ated# and become f tted for !ol t cal freedomG 3hen# l /e all other e6 ls that affl ct the earth# !a$!er sm# and bondage or ab5ect de!endence# shall cease and d sa!!ear, B$t t does not !reach re6ol$t on to those 3ho are fond of / ngs# nor rebell on that can end only n d saster and defeat# or n s$bst t$t ng one tyrant for another# or a m$lt t$de of des!ots for one,

;here6er a !eo!le s f t to be free and to go6ern tself# and genero$sly str 6es to be so# there go all ts sym!ath es, It detests the tyrant# the la3less o!!ressor# the m l tary $s$r!er# and h m 3ho ab$ses a la3f$l !o3er, It fro3ns $!on cr$elty# and a 3anton d sregard of the r ghts of h$man ty, It abhors the self sh em!loyer# and e4erts ts nfl$ence to l ghten the b$rdens 3h ch 3ant and de!endence m!ose $!on the 3or/man# and to foster that h$man ty and / ndness 3h ch man o3es to e6en the !oorest and most $nfort$nate brother,

It can ne6er be em!loyed# n any co$ntry $nder -ea6en# to teach a tolerat on for cr$elty# to 3ea/en moral hatred for g$ lt# or to de!ra6e and br$tal <e the h$man m nd, The dread of !$n shment 3 ll ne6er ma/e a Mason an accom!l ce n so corr$!t ng h s co$ntrymen# and a teacher of de!ra6 ty and barbar ty, If any3here# as has heretofore ha!!ened# a tyrant sho$ld send a sat r st on h s tyranny to be con6 cted and !$n shed as a l beller# n a co$rt of 5$st ce# a Mason# f a 5$ror n s$ch a case# tho$gh n s ght of the scaffold stream ng 3 th the blood of the nnocent# and 3 th n hear ng of the clash of the bayonets meant to o6era3e the co$rt# 3o$ld resc$e the ntre! d sat r st from the tyrant?s fangs# and send h s off cers o$t from the co$rt 3 th defeat and d sgrace,

E6en f all la3 and l berty 3ere tram!led $nder the feet of &acob n cal demagog$es or a m l tary band tt # and great cr mes 3ere !er!etrated 3 th a h gh hand aga nst all 3ho 3ere deser6edly the ob5ects of !$bl c 6enerat onG f the !eo!le# o6erthro3 ng la3# roared l /e a sea aro$nd the co$rts of 5$st ce# and demanded the blood of those 3ho# d$r ng the

tem!orary f t of nsan ty and dr$n/en del r $m# had chanced to become od o$s to t# for tr$e 3ords manf$lly s!o/en# or $n!o!$lar acts bra6ely done# the Mason c 5$ror# $na3ed al /e by the s ngle or the manyDheaded tyrant# 3o$ld cons$lt the d ctates of d$ty alone# and stand 3 th a noble f rmness bet3een the h$man t gers and the r co6eted !rey,

The Mason 3o$ld m$ch rather !ass h s l fe h dden n the recesses of the dee!est obsc$r ty# feed ng h s m nd e6en 3 th the 6 s ons and mag nat ons of good deeds and noble act ons# than to be !laced on the most s!lend d throne of the $n 6erse# tantal <ed 3 th a den al of the !ract ce of all 3h ch can ma/e the greatest s t$at on any other than the greatest c$rse, And f he has been enabled to lend the sl ghtest ste! to any great and la$dable des gnsG f he has had any share n any meas$re g 6 ng E$ et to !r 6ate !ro!erty and to !r 6ate consc ence# ma/ ng l ghter the yo/e of !o6erty and de!endence# or rel e6 ng deser6 ng men from o!!ress onG f he has a ded n sec$r ng to h s co$ntrymen that best !ossess on# !eaceG f he has 5o ned n reconc l ng the d fferent sect ons of h s o3n co$ntry to each other# and the !eo!le to the go6ernment of the r o3n creat ngG and n teach ng the c t <en to loo/ for h s !rotect on to the la3s of h s co$ntry# and for h s comfort to the goodD3 ll of h s co$ntrymenG f he has th$s ta/en h s !art 3 th the best of men n the best of the r act ons# he may 3ell sh$t the boo/# e6en f he m ght 3 sh to read a !age or t3o more, It s eno$gh for h s meas$re, -e has not l 6ed n 6a n,

Masonry teaches that all !o3er s delegated for the good# and not for the n5$ry of the Peo!leG and that# 3hen t s !er6erted from the or g nal !$r!ose# the com!act s bro/en# and the r ght o$ght to be res$medG that res stance to !o3er $s$r!ed s not merely a d$ty 3h ch man o3es to h mself and to h s ne ghbo$r# b$t a d$ty 3h ch he o3es to h s God# n assert ng and ma nta n ng the ran/ 3h ch -e ga6e h m n the creat on, Th s !r nc !le ne ther the r$deness of gnorance can st fle nor the ener6at on of ref nement e4t ng$ sh, It ma/es t base for a man to s$ffer 3hen he o$ght to actG and# tend ng to !reser6e to h m the or g nal dest nat ons of Pro6 dence# s!$rns at the arrogant ass$m!t ons of tyrants and 6 nd cates the nde!endent E$al ty of the race of 3h ch 3e are a !art,

The 3 se and 3ellD nformed Mason 3 ll not fa l to be the 6otary of L berty and &$st ce, -e 3 ll be ready to e4ert h mself n the r defence# 3here6er they e4 st, It cannot be a matter of nd fference to h m 3hen# h s o3n l berty and that of other men# 3 th 3hose mer ts and ca!ac t es he s acE$a nted# are n6ol6ed n the e6ent of the str$ggle to be madeG b$t h s attachment 3 ll be to the ca$se# as the ca$se of manG and not merely to the co$ntry, ;here6er there s a !eo!le that $nderstands the 6al$e of !ol t cal 5$st ce# and s !re!ared to assert t# that s h s co$ntryG 3here6er he can most contr b$te to the d ff$s on of these !r nc !les and the real ha!! ness of man/ nd# that s h s co$ntry, 8or does he des re for any co$ntry any other benef t than 5$st ce,

The tr$e Mason dent f es the hono$r of h s co$ntry 3 th h s o3n, 8oth ng more cond$ces to the bea$ty and glory of one?s co$ntry than the !reser6at on aga nst all enem es of ts c 6 l and rel g o$s l berty, The 3orld 3 ll ne6er 3 ll ngly let d e the names of those !atr ots 3ho n her d fferent ages ha6e rece 6ed $!on the r o3n breasts the blo3s a med by nsolent enem es at the bosom of the r co$ntry,

B$t also t cond$ces# and n no small meas$re# to the bea$ty and glory of one?s co$ntry# that 5$st ce sho$ld al3ays be adm n stered there to all al /e# and ne ther den ed# sold# nor delayed to any oneG that the nterest of the !oor sho$ld be loo/ed to# and none star6e or be ho$seless# or clamor n 6a n for 3or/G that the ch ld and the feeble 3oman sho$ld not be o6er3or/ed# or e6en the a!!rent ce or sla6e be st nted of food or o6ertas/ed or merc lessly sco$rgedG and that God?s great la3s of mercy# h$man ty# and com!ass on sho$ld be e6ery3here enforced# not only by the stat$tes# b$t also by the !o3er of !$bl c o! n on, And he 3ho labo$rs# often aga nst re!roach and obloE$y# and oftener aga nst nd fference and a!athy# to br ng abo$t that fort$nate cond t on of th ngs 3hen that great code of d 6 ne la3 shall be e6ery3here and !$nct$ally obeyed# s no less a

!atr ot than he 3ho bares h s bosom to the host le steel n the ran/s of h s co$ntry?s sold ery,

"or fort t$de s not only seen res!lendent on the f eld of battle and am d the clash of arms# b$t he d s!lays ts energy $nder e6ery d ff c$lty and aga nst e6ery assa lant, -e 3ho 3ars aga nst cr$elty# o!!ress on# and hoary ab$ses# f ghts for h s co$ntry?s hono$r# 3h ch these th ngs so lG and her hono$r s as m!ortant as her e4 stence, Often# ndeed# the 3arfare aga nst those ab$ses 3h ch d sgrace one?s co$ntry s E$ te as ha<ardo$s and more d sco$rag ng than that aga nst her enem es n the f eldG and mer ts eE$al# f not greater re3ard,

"or those Gree/s and Romans 3ho are the ob5ects of o$r adm rat on em!loyed hardly any other 6 rt$e n the e4t r!at on of tyrants# than that lo6e of l berty# 3h ch made them !rom!t n se < ng the s3ord# and ga6e them strength to $se t, ; th fac l ty they accom!l sh the $nderta/ ng# am d the general sho$t of !ra se and 5oyG nor d d they engage n the attem!t so m$ch as an enter!r se of !er lo$s and do$btf$l ss$e# as a contest the most glor o$s n 3h ch 6 rt$e co$ld be s gnal <edG 3h ch nfall bly led to !resent recom!enseG 3h ch bo$nd the r bro3s 3 th 3reaths of la$rel# and cons gned the r memor es to mmortal fame,

B$t he 3ho assa ls hoary ab$ses# regarded !erha!s 3 th a s$!erst t o$s re6erence# and aro$nd 3h ch old la3s stand as ram!arts and bast ons to defend themG 3ho deno$nces acts of cr$elty and o$trage on h$man ty 3h ch ma/e e6ery !er!etrator thereof h s !ersonal enemy# and !erha!s ma/e h m loo/ed $!on 3 th s$s! c on by the !eo!le among 3hom he l 6es# as the assa lant of an establ shed order of th ngs of 3h ch he assa ls only the ab$ses# and of la3s of 3h ch he attac/s only the 6 olat ons#DDhe can scarcely loo/ for !resent recom!ense# nor that h s l 6 ng bro3s 3 ll be 3reathed 3 th la$rel, And f# contend ng aga nst a dar/ array of longD rece 6ed o! n ons# s$!erst t ons# obloE$y# and fears# 3h ch most men dread more than they do an army terr ble 3 th banners# the Mason o6ercomes# and emerges from the contest 6 ctor o$sG or f he does not

conE$er# b$t s borne do3n and s3e!t a3ay by the m ghty c$rrent of !re5$d ce# !ass on# and nterestG n e ther case# the loft ness of s! r t 3h ch he d s!lays mer ts for h m more than a med ocr ty of fame, e has already l 6ed too long 3ho has s$r6 6ed the r$ n of h s co$ntryG and he 3ho can en5oy l fe after s$ch an e6ent deser6es not to ha6e l 6ed at all, 8or does he any more deser6e to l 6e 3ho loo/s contentedly $!on ab$ses that d sgrace# and cr$elt es that d shono$r# and scenes of m sery and dest t$t on and br$tal <at on that d sf g$re h s co$ntryG or sord d meanness and gnoble re6enges that ma/e her a byD3ord and a scoff among all genero$s nat onsG and does not endea6o$r to remedy or !re6ent e ther,

8ot often s a co$ntry at 3arG nor can e6ery one be allo3ed the !r 6 lege of offer ng h s heart to the enemy?s b$llets, B$t n these !atr ot c labo$rs of !eace# n !re6ent ng# remedy ng# and reform ng e6 ls# o!!ress ons# 3rongs# cr$elt es# and o$trages# e6ery Mason can $n teG and e6ery one can effect someth ng# and share the hono$r and glory of the res$lt,

"or the card nal names n the h story of the h$man m nd are fe3 and eas ly to be co$nted $!G b$t tho$sands and tens of tho$sands s!end the r days n the !re!arat ons 3h ch are to s!eed the !redest ned change# n gather ng and amass ng the mater als 3h ch are to / ndle and g 6e l ght and 3armth# 3hen the f re from hea6en shall ha6e descended on them, 8$mberless are the s$tlers and ! oneers# the eng neers and art sans# 3ho attend the march of ntellect, Many mo6e for3ard n detachments# and le6el the 3ay o6er 3h ch the char ot s to !ass# and c$t do3n the obstacles that 3o$ld m!ede ts !rogressG and these too ha6e the r re3ard, If they labo$r d l gently and fa thf$lly n the r call ng# not only 3 ll they en5oy that calm contentment 3h ch d l gence n the lo3l est tas/ ne6er fa ls to 3 nG not only 3 ll the s3eat of the r bro3s be s3eet# and the s3eetener of the rest that follo3sG b$t# 3hen the 6 ctory s at last ach e6ed# they 3 ll come n for a share n the gloryG e6en as the meanest sold er 3ho fo$ght at Marathon or at K ng?s Mo$nta n became a sharer n the glory of those sa6 ng daysG and 3 th n h s o3n ho$sehold c rcle# the a!!robat on of 3h ch a!!roaches the nearest to that of an a!!ro6 ng consc ence# 3as loo/ed $!on as the re!resentat 6e of all h s brotherDheroesG and co$ld tell s$ch tales as made the tear gl sten on

the chee/ of h s 3 fe# and B t $! h s boy?,s eyes 3 th an $n3onted s!ar/l ng eagerness, Or# f he fell n the f ght# and h s !lace by the f res de and at the table at home 3as thereafter 6acant# that !lace 3as sacredG and he 3as often tal/ed of there n the long 3 nter e6en ngsG and h s fam ly 3as deemed fort$nate n the ne ghbo$rhood# beca$se t had had a hero n t# 3ho had fallen n defence of h s co$ntry,

Remember that l fe?s length s not meas$red by ts ho$rs and days b$t by that 3h ch 3e ha6e done there n for o$r co$ntry and / nd, A $seless l fe s short, f t last a cent$ryG b$t that of Ale4ander 3as long as the l fe of the oa/# tho$gh he d ed at th rtyDf 6e, ;e may do m$ch n a fe3 years# and 3e may noth ng n a l fet me, If 3e b$t eat and dr n/ and slee!# and e6eryth ng go on aro$nd $s as t !leasesG or f 3e l 6e b$t amass 3ealth or ga n off ce or 3ear t tles# 3e m ght as 3ell not ha6e l 6ed at allG nor ha6e 3e any r ght to e4!ect mmortal ty,

"orget not# therefore# to 3hat yo$ ha6e de6oted yo$rself n th s Degree( defend 3ea/ness aga nst strength# the fr endless aga nst the great# the o!!ressed aga nst the o!!ressor O Be e6er 6 g lant and 3atchf$l of the nterests and hono$r of yo$r co$ntryO and may the Grand Arch tect of the 'n 6erse g 6e yo$ that strength and 3 sdom 3h ch shall enable yo$ 3ell and fa thf$lly to !erform these h gh d$t esO

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), )2C D El$ of the " fteen# ))C D El$ of the T3el6e# )0C D Master Arch tect

)9C D Royal Arch of Solomon# ):C D Perfect El$ P, ILL'STRIO'S ELE%T O" T-E "I"TEE8, AEl$ of the " fteen B

T-IS Degree s de6oted to the same ob5ects as those of the El$ of 8 neG and also to the ca$se of Tolerat on and L beral ty aga nst "anat c s m and Persec$t on# !ol t cal and rel g o$sG and to that of Ed$cat on# Instr$ct on# and Enl ghtenment aga nst Error# Barbar sm# and Ignorance, To these ob5ects yo$ ha6e rre6ocably and fore6er de6oted yo$r hand# yo$r heart# and yo$r ntellectG and 3hene6er n yo$r !resence a %ha!ter of th s Degree s o!ened# yo$ 3 ll be most solemnly rem nded of yo$r 6o3s here ta/en at the altar, Tolerat on# hold ng that e6ery other man has the same r ght to h s o! n on and fa th that 3e ha6e to o$rsG and l beral ty# hold ng that as no h$man be ng can 3 th certa nty say# n the clash and confl ct of host le fa ths and creeds# 3hat s tr$th# or that he s s$rely n !ossess on of t# so e6ery one sho$ld feel that t s E$ te !oss ble that another eE$ally honest and s ncere

3 th h mself# and yet hold ng the contrary o! n on# may h mself be n !ossess on of the tr$th# and that 3hate6er one f rmly and consc ent o$sly bel e6es# s tr$th# to h m D these are the mortal enem es of that fanat c sm 3h ch !ersec$tes for o! n on?s sa/e# and n t ates cr$sades aga nst 3hate6er t# n ts mag nary hol ness# deems to be contrary to the la3 of God or 6er ty of dogma, And ed$cat on# nstr$ct on# and enl ghtenment are the most certa n means by 3h ch fanat c sm and ntolerance can be rendered !o3erless, 8o tr$e Mason scoffs at honest con6 ct ons and an ardent <eal n the ca$se of 3hat one bel e6es to be tr$th and 5$st ce, B$t he does absol$tely deny the r ght of any man to ass$me the !rerogat 6e of De ty# and condemn another?s fa th and o! n ons as deser6 ng to be !$n shed beca$se heret cal, 8or does he a!!ro6e the co$rse of those 3ho endanger the !eace and E$ et of great nat ons# and the best nterest of the r o3n race by nd$lg ng n a ch mer cal and 6 s onary !h lanthro!y D a l$4$ry 3h ch ch efly cons sts n dra3 ng the r robes aro$nd them to a6o d contact 3 th the r fello3s# and !rocla m ng themsel6es hol er than they,

"or he /no3s that s$ch foll es are often more calam to$s than the amb t on of / ngsG and that ntolerance and b gotry ha6e been nf n tely greater c$rses to man/ nd than gnorance and error, Better any error than !ersec$t onO Better any o! n on than the th$mbDscre3# the rac/# and the sta/eO And he /no3s also ho3 $ns!ea/ably abs$rd t s# for a creat$re to 3hom h mself and e6eryth ng aro$nd h m are myster es# to tort$re and slay others# beca$se they cannot th n/ as he does n regard to the !rofo$ndest of those myster es# to $nderstand 3h ch s $tterly beyond the com!rehens on of e ther the !ersec$tor or the !ersec$ted, Masonry s not a rel g on, -e 3ho ma/es of t a rel g o$s bel ef# fals f es and denat$ral <es t, The Brahm n# the &e3# the Mahometan# the %athol c# the Protestant# each !rofess ng h s !ec$l ar rel g on# sanct oned by the la3s# by t me# and by cl mate# m$st needs reta n t# and cannot ha6e t3o rel g onsG for the soc al and sacred la3s ada!ted to the $sages# manners# and !re5$d ces of !art c$lar co$ntr es# are the 3or/ of men, B$t Masonry teaches# and has !reser6ed n the r !$r ty# the card nal tenets of the old !r m t 6e fa th# 3h ch $nderl e and are the fo$ndat on of all

rel g ons, All that e6er e4 sted ha6e had a bas s of tr$thG and all ha6e o6erla d that tr$th 3 th errors, The !r m t 6e tr$ths ta$ght by the Redeemer 3ere sooner corr$!ted# and nterm ngled and alloyed 3 th f ct ons than 3hen ta$ght to the f rst of o$r race, Masonry s the $n 6ersal moral ty 3h ch s s$ table to the nhab tants of e6ery cl me# to the man of e6ery creed, It has ta$ght no doctr nes# e4ce!t those tr$ths that tend d rectly to the 3ellDbe ng of manG and those 3ho ha6e attem!ted to d rect t to3ard $seless 6engeance# !ol t cal ends# and &es$ t sm# ha6e merely !er6erted t to !$r!oses fore gn to ts !$re s! r t and real nat$re, Man/ nd o$tgro3s the sacr f ces and the mytholog es of the ch ldhood of the 3orld, .et t s easy for h$man ndolence to l nger near these hel!s# and ref$se to !ass f$rther on, So the $nad6ent$ro$s 8omad n the Tartar an 3 ld /ee!s h s floc/ n the same closeDcro!!ed c rcle 3here they f rst learned to bro3se# 3h le the !rogress 6e man ro6es e6er forth @to fresh f elds and !ast$res ne3,@ The latter s the tr$e MasonG and the best and ndeed the only good

Mason s he 3ho 3 th the !o3er of b$s ness does the 3or/ of l feG the $!r ght mechan c# merchant# or farmer# the man 3 th the !o3er of tho$ght# of 5$st ce# or of lo6e# he 3hose 3hole l fe s one great act of !erformance of Mason c d$ty, The nat$ral case of the strength of a strong man or the 3 sdom of a 3 se one# s to do the 3or/ of a strong man or a 3 se one, The nat$ral 3or/ of Masonry s !ract cal l feG the $se of all the fac$lt es n the r !ro!er s!heres# and for the r nat$ral f$nct on, Lo6e of Tr$th# 5$st ce# and generos ty as attr b$tes of God# m$st a!!ear n a l fe mar/ed by these E$al t esG that s the only effect$al ord nance of Masonry, A !rofess on of one?s con6 ct ons# 5o n ng the Order# ass$m ng the obl gat ons# ass st ng at the ceremon es# are of the same 6al$e n sc ence as n MasonryG the nat$ral form of Masonry s goodness# moral ty# l 6 ng a tr$e# 5$st# affect onate# selfDfa thf$l l fe# from the mot 6e of a good man, It s loyal obed ence to God?s la3, The good Mason does the good th ng 3h ch comes n h s 3ay# and beca$se t comes n h s 3ayG from a lo6e of d$ty# and not merely beca$se

a la3# enacted by man or God# commands h s 3 ll to do t, -e s tr$e to h s m nd# h s consc ence# heart# and so$l# and feels small tem!tat on to do to others 3hat he 3o$ld not 3 sh to rece 6e from them, -e 3 ll deny h mself for the sa/e of h s brother near at hand, - s des re attracts n the l ne of h s d$ty# both be ng n con5$nct on, 8ot n 6a n does the !oor or the o!!ressed loo/ $! to h m, .o$ f nd s$ch men n all %hr st an sects# Protestant and %athol c# n all the great rel g o$s !art es of the c 6 l <ed 3orld# among B$ddh sts# Mahometans# and &e3s, They are / nd fathers# genero$s c t <ens# $n m!eachable n the r b$s ness# bea$t f$l n the r da ly l 6es, .o$ see the r Masonry n the r 3or/ and n the r !lay, It a!!ears n all the forms of the r act 6 ty# nd 6 d$al# domest c# soc al# eccles ast cal# or !ol t cal, Tr$e Masonry 3 th n m$st be moral ty 3 tho$t, It m$st become em nent moral ty# 3h ch s !h lanthro!y, The tr$e Mason lo6es not only h s / ndred and h s co$ntry# b$t all man/ ndG not only the good# b$t also the e6 l# among h s brethren, -e has more goodness than the channels of h s da ly l fe 3 ll hold, It r$ns o6er the ban/s# to 3ater

and to feed a tho$sand th rsty !lants, 8ot content 3 th the d$ty that l es along h s trac/# he goes o$t to see/ tG not only 3 ll ng# he has a sal ent long ng to do good# to s!read h s tr$th# h s 5$st ce# h s generos ty# h s Masonry o6er all the 3orld, - s da ly l fe s a !rofess on of h s Masonry# !$bl shed n !er!et$al goodD3 ll to men, -e can not be a !ersec$tor, 8ot more nat$rally does the bea6er b$ ld or the moc/ ngDb rd s ng h s o3n 3 ld# g$sh ng melody# than the tr$e Mason l 6es n th s bea$t f$l o$t3ard l fe, So from the !erenn al s!r ng s3ells forth the stream# to E$ c/en the meado3 3 th ne3 access of green# and !erfect bea$ty b$rst ng nto bloom, Th$s Masonry does the 3or/ t 3as meant to do, The Mason does not s gh and 3ee!# and ma/e gr maces, -e l 6es r ght on, If h s l fe s# as 3hose s not# mar/ed 3 th errors# and 3 th s ns# he !lo$ghs o6er the barren s!ot 3 th h s remorse# so3s 3 th ne3 seed# and the old desert blossoms l /e a rose, -e s not conf ned to set forms of tho$ght# of act on# or of feel ng, -e acce!ts 3hat h s m nd regards as tr$e# 3hat h s consc ence dec des s r ght# 3hat h s heart deems genero$s and nobleG and all else he !$ts far from h m, Tho$gh the anc ent and the honorable of

the Earth b d h m bo3 do3n to them# h s st$bborn /nees bend only at the b dd ng of h s manly so$l, - s Masonry s h s freedom before God# not h s bondage $nto men, - s m nd acts after the $n 6ersal la3 of the ntellect# h s consc ence accord ng to the $n 6ersal moral la3# h s affect ons and h s so$l after the $n 6ersal la3 of each# and so he s strong 3 th the strength of God# n th s fo$rDfold 3ay comm$n cat ng 3 th - m, The old theolog es# the !h loso!h es of rel g on of anc ent t mes# 3 ll not s$ff ce $s no3, The d$t es of l fe are to be doneG 3e are to do them# consc o$sly obed ent to the la3 of God# not athe st cally# lo6 ng only o$r self sh ga n, There are s ns of trade to be corrected, E6ery3here moral ty and !h lanthro!y are needed, There are errors to be made 3ay 3 th# and the r !lace s$!!l ed 3 th ne3 tr$ths# rad ant 3 th the glor es of -ea6en, There are great 3rongs and e6 ls# n %h$rch and State# n domest c# soc al# and !$bl c l fe# to be r ghted and o$tgro3n, Masonry cannot n o$r age forsa/e the broad 3ay of l fe, She m$st 5o$rney on n the o!en street# a!!ear n the cro3ded sE$are# and teach men by her deeds# her l fe more eloE$ent than any l !s,

Th s Degree s ch efly de6oted to TOLERATIO8G and t nc$lcates n the strongest manner that great lead ng dea of the Anc ent Art# that a bel ef n the one Tr$e God# and a moral and 6 rt$o$s l fe# const t$te the only rel g o$s reE$ s tes needed to enable a man to be a Mason, Masonry has e6er the most 6 6 d remembrance of the terr ble and art f c al torments that 3ere $sed to !$t do3n ne3 forms of rel g on or e4t ng$ sh the old, It sees 3 th the eye of memory the r$thless e4term nat on of all the !eo!le of all se4es and ages# beca$se t 3as the r m sfort$ne not to /no3 the God of the -ebre3s# or to 3orsh ! - m $nder the 3rong name# by the sa6age troo!s of Moses and &osh$a, It sees the th$mbDscre3s and the rac/s# the 3h !# the gallo3s# and the sta/e# the 6 ct ms of D oclet an and Al6a# the m serable %o6enanters# the 8onD%onform sts# Ser6et$s b$rned# and the $noffend ng I$a/er h$ng, It sees %ranmer hold h s arm# no3 no longer err ng# n the flame $nt l the hand dro!s off n the cons$m ng heat, It sees the !ersec$t ons of Peter and Pa$l# the martyrdom of Ste!hen# the tr als of Ignat $s# Polycar!# &$st n# and IrenQ$sG and then n t$rn the

s$ffer ngs of the 3retched Pagans $nder the %hr st an Em!erors# as of the Pa! sts n Ireland and $nder El <abeth and the bloated -enry, The Roman F rg n na/ed before the h$ngry l onsG yo$ng Margaret Graham t ed to a sta/e at lo3D3ater mar/# and there left to dro3n# s ng ng hymns to God $nt l the sa6age 3aters bro/e o6er her headG and all that n all ages ha6e s$ffered by h$nger and na/edness# !er l and !r son# the rac/# the sta/e# and the s3ord# D t sees them all# and sh$dders at the long roll of h$man atroc t es, And t sees also the o!!ress on st ll !ract sed n the name of rel g on D men shot n a %hr st an 5a l n %hr st an Italy for read ng the %hr st an B bleG n almost e6ery %hr st an State# la3s forb dd ng freedom of s!eech on matters relat ng to %hr st an tyG and the gallo3s reach ng ts arm o6er the !$l! t, The f res of Moloch n Syr a# the harsh m$t lat ons n the name of Astarte# %ybele# &eho6ahG the barbar t es of m!er al Pagan Tort$rersG the st ll grosser torments 3h ch RomanDGoth c %hr st ans n Italy and S!a n hea!ed on the r brotherDmenG the f end sh cr$elt es to 3h ch S3 t<erland#

"rance# the 8etherlands# England# Scotland# Ireland# Amer ca# ha6e been 3 tnesses# are none too !o3erf$l to 3arn man of the $ns!ea/able e6 ls 3h ch follo3 from m sta/es and errors n the matter of rel g on# and es!ec ally from n6est ng the God of Lo6e 3 th the cr$el and 6 nd ct 6e !ass ons of err ng h$man ty# and ma/ ng blood to ha6e a s3eet sa6or n h s nostr ls# and groans of agony to be del c o$s to h s ears, Man ne6er had the r ght to $s$r! the $ne4erc sed !rerogat 6e of God# and condemn and !$n sh another for h s bel ef, Born n a Protestant land# 3e are of that fa th, If 3e had o!ened o$r eyes to the l ght $nder the shado3s of St, Peter?s at Rome# 3e sho$ld ha6e been de6o$t %athol csG born n the &e3 sh E$arter of Ale!!o# 3e sho$ld ha6e contemned %hr st as an m!osterG n %onstant no!le# 3e sho$ld ha6e cr ed @Allah l Allah# God s great and Mahomet s h s !ro!hetO@ B rth# !lace# and ed$cat on g 6e $s o$r fa th, "e3 bel e6e n any rel g on beca$se they ha6e e4am ned the e6 dences of ts a$thent c ty# and made $! a formal 5$dgment# $!on 3e gh ng the test mony, 8ot one man n ten tho$sand /no3s anyth ng

abo$t the !roofs of h s fa th, ;e bel e6e 3hat 3e are ta$ghtG and those are most fanat cal 3ho /no3 least of the e6 dences on 3h ch the r creed s based, "acts and test mony are not# e4ce!t n 6ery rare nstances# the gro$ndD3or/ of fa th, It s an m!erat 6e la3 of God?s Economy# $ny eld ng and nfle4 ble as - mself# that man shall acce!t 3 tho$t E$est on the bel ef of those among 3hom he s born and rearedG the fa th so made a !art of h s nat$re res sts all e6 dence to the contraryG and he 3 ll d sbel e6e e6en the e6 dence of h s o3n senses# rather than y eld $! the rel g o$s bel ef 3h ch has gro3n $! n h m# flesh of h s flesh and bone of h s bone, ;hat s tr$th to me s not tr$th to another, The same arg$ments and e6 dences that con6 nce one m nd ma/e no m!ress on on another, Th s d fference s n men at the r b rth, 8o man s ent tled !os t 6ely to assert that he s r ght# 3here other men# eE$ally ntell gent and eE$ally 3ell nformed# hold d rectly the o!!os te o! n on, Each th n/s t m!oss ble for the other ?to be s ncere# and each# as to that# s eE$ally n error, @;hat s tr$thJ@ 3as a !rofo$nd E$est on# the most s$ggest 6e one e6er !$t to man,

Many bel efs of former and !resent t mes seem ncom!rehens ble, They startle $s 3 th a ne3 gl m!se nto the h$man so$l# that myster o$s th ng more myster o$s the more 3e note ts 3or/ ngs, -ere s a man s$!er or to myself n ntellect and learn ngG and yet he s ncerely bel e6es 3hat seems to me too abs$rd to mer t conf$tat onG and I cannot conce 6e# and s ncerely do not bel e6e#that he s both sane and honest, And yet he s both, - s reason s as !erfect as m ne# and he s as honest as I, The fanc es of a l$nat c are real t es# to h m, O$r dreams are real t es 3h le they lastG and# n the Past# no more $nreal than 3hat 3e ha6e acted n o$r 3a/ ng ho$rs, 8o man can say that he hath as s$re !ossess on of the tr$th as of a chattel, ;hen men enterta n o! n ons d ametr cally o!!osed to each other# and each s honest# 3ho shall dec de 3h ch hath the Tr$thG and ho3 can e ther say 3 th certa nty that he hath tJ ;e /no3 not 3hat s the tr$th, That 3e o$rsel6es bel e6e and feel absol$tely certa n that o$r o3n bel ef s tr$e# s n real ty not the sl ghtest !roof of the fact# seem t ne6er so certa n and nca!able of do$bt to $s, 8o man s res!ons ble for

the r ghtness of h s fa thG b$t only for the $!r ghtness of t, Therefore no man hath or e6er had a r ght to !ersec$te another for h s bel efG for there cannot be t3o antagon st c r ghtsG and f one can !ersec$te another# beca$se he h mself s sat sf ed that the bel ef of that other s erroneo$s# the other has# for the same reason# eE$ally as certa n a r ght to !ersec$te h m, The tr$th comes to $s t nged and colored 3 th o$r !re5$d ces and o$r !reconce!t ons# 3h ch are as old as o$rsel6es# and strong 3 th a d 6 ne force, It comes to $s as the mage of a rod comes to $s thro$gh the 3ater# bent and d storted, An arg$ment s n/s nto and con6 nces the m nd of one man# 3h le from that of another t rebo$nds l /e a ball of 6ory dro!!ed on marble, It s no mer t n a man to ha6e a !art c$lar fa th# e4cellent and so$nd and !h loso!h c as t may be# 3hen he mb bed t 3 th h s mother?s m l/, It s no more a mer t than h s !re5$d ces and h s !ass ons, The s ncere Moslem has as m$ch r ght to !ersec$te $s# as 3e to !ersec$te h mG and therefore Masonry 3 sely reE$ res no more than a bel ef n One Great AllDPo3erf$l De ty# the "ather and Preser6er of the

'n 6erse, Therefore t s she teaches her 6otar es that tolerat on s one of the ch ef d$t es of e6ery good Mason# a com!onent !art of that char ty 3 tho$t 3h ch 3e are mere hollo3 mages of tr$e Masons# mere so$nd ng brass and t n/l ng cymbals, 8o e6 l hath so affl cted the 3orld as ntolerance of rel g o$s o! n on, The h$man be ngs t has sla n n 6ar o$s 3ays# f once and together bro$ght to l fe# 3o$ld ma/e a nat on of !eo!leG left to l 6e and ncrease# 3o$ld ha6e do$bled the !o!$lat on of the c 6 l <ed !ort on of the globeG among 3h ch c 6 l <ed !ort on t ch efly s that rel g o$s 3ars are 3aged, The treas$re and the h$man labor th$s lost 3o$ld ha6e made the earth a garden# n 3h ch# b$t for h s e6 l !ass ons# man m ght no3 be as ha!!y as n Eden, 8o man tr$ly obeys the Mason c la3 3ho merely tolerates those 3hose rel g o$s o! n ons are o!!osed to h s o3n, E6ery man?s o! n ons are h s o3n !r 6ate !ro!erty# and the r ghts of all men to ma nta n each h s o3n are !erfectly eE$al, Merely to tolerate# to bear 3 th an o!!os ng o! n on# s

to ass$me t to be heret calG and assert the r ght to !ersec$te# f 3e 3o$ldG and cla m o$r tolerat on of t as a mer t, The Mason?s creed goes f$rther than that, 8o man# t holds# has any r ght n any 3ay to# nterfere 3 th the rel g o$s bel ef of another, It holds that each matB s absol$tely so6ere gn as to h s o3n bel ef# and that bel ef s a matter absol$tely fore gn to all 3ho do not enterta n the same bel efG and that# f there 3ere any r ght of !ersec$t on at all# t 3o$ld n all cases be a m$t$al r ghtG beca$se one !arty has the same r ght as the other to s t as 5$dge n h s o3n caseG and God s the only mag strate that can r ghtf$lly dec de bet3een them, To )hat great 5$dge# Masonry refers the matterG and o!en ng 3 de ts !ortals# t n6 tes to enter there and l 6e n !eace and harmony# the Protestant# the %athol c# the &e3# the MoslemG e6ery man 3ho 3 ll lead a tr$ly 6 rt$o$s and moral l fe# lo6e h s brethren# s n ster to the s c/ and d stressed# and bel e6e n the O8E# All Po3erf$l# AllD; se# e6ery3here D Present GOD# Arch tect# %reator# and Preser6er of all th ngs# by 3hose $n 6ersal la3 of -armony e6er rolls on th s $n 6erse# the great# 6ast# nf n te c rcle of

s$ccess 6e Death and L fe(D to 3hose I8E""ABLE 8AME let all tr$e Masons !ay !rofo$ndest homageO for 3hose tho$sand bless ngs !o$red $!on $s# let $s feel the s ncerest grat t$de# no3# henceforth# and fore6erO ;e may 3ell be tolerant of each other?s creedG for n e6ery fa th there are e4cellent moral !rece!ts, "ar n the So$th of As a# Horoaster ta$ght th s doctr ne( @On commenc ng a 5o$rney# the "a thf$l sho$ld t$rn h s tho$ghts to3ard Orm$<d# and confess h m# n the !$r ty of h s heart# to be K ng of the ;orldG he sho$ld lo6e h m# do h m homage# and ser6e h m, -e m$st be $!r ght and char table# des! se the !leas$res of the body# and a6o d !r de and ha$ght ness# and 6 ce n all ts forms# and es!ec ally ?falsehood# one of the basest s ns of 3h ch man can be g$ lty, -e m$st forget n5$r es and not a6enge h mself, -e m$st honor the memory of h s !arents and relat 6es, At n ght# before ret r ng to slee!# he sho$ld r goro$sly e4am ne h s consc ence# and re!ent of the fa$lts 3h ch 3ea/ness or llDfort$ne had ca$sed h m to comm t,@ -e 3as reE$ red to !ray for strength to !erse6ere n the Good# and to obta n forg 6eness for h s errors, It 3as h s d$ty to confess h s fa$lts to a Mag$s# or to a layman

reno3ned for h s 6 rt$es# or to the S$n, "ast ng and macerat on 3ere !roh b tedG and# on the contrary# t 3as h s d$ty s$ tably to no$r sh the body and to ma nta n ts 6 gor# that h s so$l m ght be strong to res st the Gen $s of Dar/nessG that he m ght more attent 6ely read the D 6 ne ;ord# and ha6e more co$rage to !erform noble deeds, And n the 8orth of E$ro!e the Dr$ ds ta$ght de6ot on to fr ends# nd$lgence for rec !rocal 3rongs# lo6e of deser6ed !ra se# !r$dence# h$man ty# hos! tal ty# res!ect for old age# d sregard of the f$t$re# tem!erance# contem!t of death# and a ch 6alro$s deference to 3oman, L sten to these ma4 ms from the -a6a Maal# or S$bl me Boo/ of Od n( @If tho$ hast a fr end# 6 s t h m oftenG the !ath 3 ll gro3 o6er 3 th grass# and the trees soon co6er t# f tho$ dost not constantly 3al/ $!on t, -e s a fa thf$l fr end# 3ho# ha6 ng b$t t3o loa6es# g 6es h s fr end one, Be ne6er f rst to brea/ 3 th thy fr endG sorro3 3r ngs the heart of h m 3ho has no one sa6e h mself 3 th 3hom to ta/e co$nsel, There s no 6 rt$o$s man 3ho has not some 6 ce# no bad man 3ho has not some 6 rt$e, -a!!y he

3ho obta ns the !ra se and goodD3 ll of menG for all that de!ends on the 3 ll of another s ha<ardo$s and $ncerta n, R ches fl t a3ay n the t3 n/l ng of an eyeG they are the most nconstant of fr endsG floc/s and herds !er sh# !arents d e# fr ends are not mmortal# tho$ thyself d estG I /no3 b$t one th ng that doth not d e# the 5$dgment that s !assed $!on the dead, Be h$mane to3ard those 3hom tho$ meetest on the road, If the g$est that cometh to thy ho$se s a D cold# g 6e h m f reG the man 3ho has 5o$rneyed o6er the mo$nta ns needs food and dry garments, Moc/ not at the agedG for 3ords f$ll of sense come often from the 3r n/les of age, Be moderately 3 se# and not o6erD!r$dent, Let no one see/ to /no3 h s dest ny# f he 3o$ld slee! tranE$ lly, There s no malady more cr$el than to be d scontented 3 th o$r lot, The gl$tton eats h s o3n deathG and the 3 se man la$ghs at the fool?s greed ness, 8oth ng s more n5$r o$s to the yo$ng than e4cess 6e dr n/ ngG the more one dr n/s the more he loses h s reasonG the b rd of forgetf$lness s ngs before those 3ho nto4 cate themsel6es# and

3 les a3ay the r so$ls, Man de6o d of sense bel e6es he 3 ll l 6e al3ays f he a6o ds 3arG b$t# f the lances s!are h m# old age 3 ll g 6e h m no E$arter, Better l 6e 3ell than l 6e long, ;hen a man l ghts a f re n h s ho$se# death comes before t goes o$t,@ And th$s sa d the Ind an boo/s( @-onor thy father and mother, 8e6er forget the benef ts tho$ hast rece 6ed, Learn 3h le tho$ art yo$ng, Be s$bm ss 6e to the la3s of thy co$ntry, , See/ the com!any of 6 rt$o$s men, S!ea/ not of God b$t 3 th res!ect, L 6e on good terms 3 th thy fello3Dc t <ens, Rema n n thy !ro!er !lace, S!ea/ ll of no one, Moc/ at the bod ly nf rm t es of none, P$rs$e not $nrelent ngly a conE$ered enemy, Str 6e to acE$ re a good re!$tat on, Ta/e co$nsel 3 th 3 se men, The more one learns# the more he acE$ res the fac$lty of learn ng# Kno3ledge s the most !ermanent 3ealth, As 3ell be d$mb as gnorant, The tr$e $se of /no3ledge s to d st ng$ sh good from e6 l, Be not a s$b5ect of shame to thy !arents, ;hat one learns n yo$th end$res l /e the engra6 ng $!on a roc/, -e s 3 se 3ho /no3s h mself, Let thy boo/s be thy best fr ends, ;hen tho$ atta nest an h$ndred years# cease to learn,

; sdom s sol dly !lanted# e6en on the sh ft ng ocean, Dece 6e no one# not e6en th ne enemy, ; sdom s a treas$re that e6ery3here commands ts 6al$e, S!ea/ m ldly# e6en to the !oor, It s s3eeter to forg 6e than to ta/e 6engeance, Gam ng and E$arrels lead to m sery, There s no tr$e mer t 3 tho$t the !ract ce of 6 rt$e, To honor o$r mother s the most f tt ng homage 3e can !ay the D 6 n ty, There s no tranE$ l slee! 3 tho$t a clear consc ence, -e badly $nderstands h s nterest 3ho brea/s h s 3ord,@ T3entyDfo$r cent$r es ago these 3ere the %h nese Eth cs( @The Ph loso!her A%onf$c $sB sa d# ?SA8O my doctr ne s s m!le# and easy to be $nderstood,? T-SE8GDTSE' re!l ed# ?that s certa n,? The Ph loso!her ha6 ng gone o$t# the d sc !les as/ed 3hat the r master had meant to say, T-SE8GDDTSE' res!onded# ?The doctr ne of o$r Master cons sts solely n be ng $!r ght of heart# and lo6 ng o$r ne ghbor as 3e lo6e o$rself,@? Abo$t a cent$ry later# the -ebre3 la3 sa d# @If any man hate h s ne ghbor ,,, then shall ye do $nto h m# as he had tho$ght to do $nto h s brother , , , Better s a ne ghbor that s near# than a, brother

afar off ,,, Tho$ shalt lo6e thy ne ghbor as thyself,@ In the same f fth cent$ry before %hr st# SO%RATES the Grec an sa d# @Tho$ shalt lo6e thy ne ghbor as thyself,@ Three generat ons earl er# HOROASTER had sa d to the Pers ans( @Offer $! thy gratef$l !rayers to the Lord# the most 5$st and !$re Orm$<d# the s$!reme and adorable God# 3ho th$s declared to h s Pro!het Herd$sht( ?-old t not meet to do $nto others 3hat tho$ 3o$ldst not des re done $nto thyselfG do that $nto the !eo!le# 3h ch# 3hen done to thyself# s not d sagreeable $nto thee,@? The same doctr ne had been long ta$ght n the schools of Babylon# Ale4andr a# and &er$salem, A Pagan declared to the Phar see -ILLEL that he 3as ready to embrace the &e3 sh rel g on# f he co$ld ma/e /no3n to h m n a fe3 3ords a s$mmary of the 3hole la3 of Moses, @That 3h ch tho$ l /est not done to thyself#@ sa d - llel# @do t not $nto thy ne ghbor, There n s all the la3( the rest s noth ng b$t the commentary $!on t,@ @8oth ng s more nat$ral#@ sa d %O8"'%I'S# @noth ng more s m!le# than the !r nc !les of that moral ty 3h ch I endea6or# by sal$tary ma4 ms# to

nc$lcate n yo$ , , , It s h$man tyG 3h ch s to say# that $n 6ersal char ty among all of o$r s!ec es# 3 tho$t d st nct on, It s $!r ghtness G that s# that rect t$de of s! r t and of heart# 3h ch ma/eG one see/ for tr$th n e6eryth ng# and des re t# 3 tho$t dece 6 ng one?s self or others, It s# f nally# s ncer ty or good fa thG 3h ch s to say# that fran/ness# that o!enness of heart# tem!ered by selfDrel ance# 3h ch e4cl$des all fe nts and all d sg$ s ng# as m$ch n s!eech as n act on,@ To d ff$se $sef$l nformat on# to f$rther ntellect$al ref nement# s$re forer$nner of moral m!ro6ement# to hasten the com ng of the great day# 3hen the da3n of general /no3ledge shalt #chase a3ay the la<y# l nger ng m sts of gnorance and error# e6en from the base of the great soc al !yram d# s ndeed a h gh call ng# n 3h ch the most s!lend d talents and cons$mmate 6 rt$e may 3ell !ress on3ard# eager to bear a !art, "rom the Mason c ran/s o$ght to go forth those 3hose gen $s and not the r ancestry ennoble them# to o!en to all ran/s the tem!le of sc ence# and by the r o3n e4am!le to ma/e the h$mblest men em$lo$s to cl mb ste!s no

longer naccess ble# and enter the $nfolded gates b$rn ng n the s$n, The h ghest ntellect$al c$lt 6at on s !erfectly com!at ble 3 th the da ly cares and to ls of 3or/ ngDmen, A /een rel sh for the most s$bl me tr$ths of sc ence belongs al /e to e6ery class of Man/ nd, And# as !h loso!hy 3as ta$ght n the sacred gro6es of Athens# and $nder the Port co# and n the old Tem!les of Egy!t and Ind a# so n o$r Lodges o$ght Kno3ledge to be d s!ensed# the Sc ences ta$ght# and the Lect$res become l /e the teach ngs of Socrates and Plato# of Agass < and %o$s n, Real /no3ledge ne6er !erm tted e ther t$rb$lence or $nbel efG b$t ts !rogress s the forer$nner of l beral ty and enl ghtened tolerat on, ;hoso dreads these may 3ell trembleG for he may be 3ell ass$red that the r day s at length come# and m$st !$t to s!eedy fl ght the e6 l s! r ts of tyranny and !ersec$t on# 3h ch ha$nted the long n ght no3 gone do3n the s/y, And t s to be ho!ed that the t me 3 ll soon arr 6e# 3hen# as men 3 ll no longer s$ffer themsel6es to be led bl ndfolded n gnorance# so 3 ll they no more y eld to the 6 le !r nc !le of 5$dg ng and treat ng the r fello3creat$res#

not accord ng to the ntr ns c mer t of the r act ons# b$t accord ng to the acc dental and n6ol$ntary co nc dence of the r o! n ons, ;hene6er 3e come to treat 3 th ent re res!ect those 3ho consc ent o$sly d ffer from o$rsel6es# the only !ract cal effect of a d fference 3 ll be# to ma/e $s enl ghten the gnorance on one s de or the other# from 3h ch t s!r ngs# by nstr$ct ng them# f t be the rsG o$rsel6es# f t be o$r o3nG to the end that the only / nd of $nan m ty may be !rod$ced 3h ch s des rable among rat onal be ngs# D the agreement !roceed ng from f$ll con6 ct on after the freest d sc$ss on, The El$ of " fteen o$ght therefore to ta/e the lead of h s fello3Dc t <en# not n fr 6olo$s am$sements# not n the degrad ng !$rs$ ts of the amb t o$s 6$lgarG b$t n the tr$ly noble tas/ of enl ghten ng the mass of h s co$ntrymen# and of lea6 ng h s o3n name enc rcled# not 3 th barbar c s!lendor# or attached to co$rtly ge3ga3s# b$t ll$strated by the honors most 3orthy of o$r rat onal nat$reG co$!led 3 th the d ff$s on of /no3ledge# and gratef$lly !rono$nced by a fe3# at least# 3hom h s 3 se

benef cence has resc$ed from gnorance and 6 ce, ;e say to h m# n the 3ords of the great Roman( @Men n no res!ect so nearly a!!roach to the De ty# as 3hen they confer benef ts on men, To ser6e and do good to as many as !oss ble# D there s noth ng greater n yo$r fort$ne than that yo$ sho$ld be able# and noth ng f ner n yo$r nat$re# than that yo$ sho$ld be des ro$s to do th s,@ Th s s the tr$e mar/ for the a m of e6ery man and Mason 3ho e ther !r <es the en5oyment of !$re ha!! ness# or sets a r ght 6al$e $!on a h gh and $ns$ll ed reno3n, And f the benefactors of man/ nd# 3hen they rest fro m the r noble labors# shall be !erm tted to en5oy hereafter# as an a!!ro!r ate re3ard of the r 6 rt$e# the !r 6 lege of loo/ ng do3n $!on the bless ngs 3 th 3h ch the r e4ert ons and char t es# and !erha!s the r to ls and s$ffer ngs ha6e clothed the scene of the r former e4 stence# t 3 ll not# n a state of e4alted !$r ty and 3 sdom# be the fo$nders of m ghty dynast es# the conE$erors of ne3 em! res# the %Qsars# Ale4anders# and TamerlanesG nor the mere K ngs and %o$nsellors# Pres dents and Senators# 3ho ha6e l 6ed for the r !arty ch efly# and for the r co$ntry only

nc dentally# often sacr f c ng to the r o3n aggrand <ement or that of the r fact on the good of the r fello3Dcreat$resG D t 3 ll not be they 3ho 3 ll be grat f ed by contem!lat ng the mon$ments of the r nglor o$s fameG b$t those 3 ll en5oy that del ght and march n that tr $m!h# 3ho can trace the remote effects of the r enl ghtened bene6olence n the m!ro6ed cond t on of the r s!ec es# and e4$lt n the reflect on# that the change 3h ch they at last# !erha!s after many years# s$r6ey# 3 th eyes that age and sorro3 can ma/e d m no more# D of Kno3ledge become Po3er# D F rt$e shar ng that Em! re# D S$!erst t on dethroned# and Tyranny e4 led# s# f e6en only n some small and 6ery sl ght degree# yet st ll n some degree# the fr$ t# !rec o$s f costly# and tho$gh late re!a d yet long end$r ng# of the r o3n selfDden al and stren$o$s e4ert on# of the r o3n m te of char ty and a d to ed$cat on 3 sely besto3ed# and of the hardsh !s and ha<ards 3h ch they enco$ntered here belo3, Masonry reE$ res of ts In t ates and 6otar es noth ng that s m!ract cable, It does not demand that they sho$ld $nderta/e to cl mb to those lofty and

s$bl me !ea/s of a theoret cal and mag nary $n!ract cal 6 rt$e# h gh and cold and remote as the eternal sno3s that 3ra! the sho$lders of %h mbora<o# and at least as naccess ble as they, It as/s that alone to be done 3h ch s easy to be done, It o6ertas/s no one?s strength# and as/s no one to go beyond h s means and ca!ac t es, It does not e4!ect one 3hose b$s ness or !rofess on y elds h m l ttle more than the 3ants of h mself and h s fam ly reE$ re# and 3hose t me s necessar ly occ$! ed by h s da ly 6ocat ons# to abandon or neglect the b$s ness by 3h ch he and h s ch ldren l 6e# and de6ote h mself and h s means to the d ff$s on of /no3ledge among men, It does not e4!ect h m to !$bl sh boo/s for the !eo!le# or to lect$re# to the r$ n of h s !r 6ate affa rs# or to fo$nd academ es and colleges# b$ ld $! l brar es# and ent tle h mself to stat$es, B$t t does reE$ re and e4!ect e6ery man of $s to do someth ng# 3 th n and accord ng to h s meansG and there s no Mason 3ho cannot do some th ng# f not alone# then by comb nat on and assoc at on, If a Lodge cannot a d n fo$nd ng a school or an academy t can st ll do

someth ng, It can ed$cate one boy or g rl# at least# the ch ld of some !oor or de!arted brother, And t sho$ld ne6er be forgotten# that n the !oorest $nregarded ch ld that seems abandoned to gnorance and 6 ce may sl$mber the 6 rt$es of a Socrates# the ntellect of a Bacon or a Boss$et# the gen $s of a Sha/es!eare# the ca!ac ty to benef t man/ nd of a ;ash ngtonG and that n resc$ ng h m from the m re n 3h ch he s !l$nged# and g 6 ng h m the means of ed$cat on and de6elo!ment# the Lodge that does t may be the d rect and mmed ate means of conferr ng $!on the 3orld as great a boon as that g 6en t by &ohn "a$st the boy of Ment<G may !er!et$ate the l bert es of a co$ntry and change the dest n es of nat ons# and 3r te a ne3 cha!ter n the h story of the 3orld, "or 3e ne6er /no3 the m!ortance of the act 3e do, The da$ghter of Pharaoh l ttle tho$ght 3hat she 3as do ng for the h$man race# and the 6ast $n mag nable conseE$ences that de!ended on her char table act# 3hen she dre3 the l ttle ch ld of a -ebre3 3oman from among the r$shes that gre3 along the ban/ of the 8 le# and determ ned to rear t as f t 3ere her o3n,

-o3 often has an act of char ty# cost ng the doer l ttle# g 6en to the 3orld a great !a nter# a great m$s c an# a great n6entorO -o3 often has s$ch an act de6elo!ed the ragged boy nto the benefactor of h s raceO On 3hat small and a!!arently $n m!ortant c rc$mstances ha6e t$rned and h nged# the fates of the 3orld?s great conE$erors, There s no la3 that l m ts the ret$rns that shall be rea!ed from a s ngle good deed, The 3 do3?s m te may not only be as acce!table to God# b$t may !rod$ce as great res$lts as the r ch man?s costly offer ng, The !oorest boy# hel!ed by bene6olence# may come to lead arm es# to control senates# to dec de an !eace and 3ar# to d ctate to cab netsG and h s magn f cent tho$ghts and noble 3ords may be la3 many years hereafter to m ll ons of men yet $nborn, B$t the o!!ort$n ty to effect a great good does not often occ$r to any one, It s 3orse than folly for one to l e dle and nert# and e4!ect the acc dent to befall h m# by 3h ch h s nfl$ences shall l 6e fore6er, -e can e4!ect that to ha!!en# only n conseE$ence of one or many or all of a long ser es of acts, -e can e4!ect to benef t the 3orld only as men atta n other res$ltsG by

cont n$ance# by !ers stence# by a steady and $n form hab t of labor ng for the enl ghtenment of the 3orld# to the e4tent of h s means and ca!ac ty, "or t s# n all nstances# by steady labor# by g 6 ng eno$gh of a!!l cat on to o$r 3or/# and ha6 ng eno$gh of t me for the do ng of t# by reg$lar !a nsDta/ ng# and the !ly ng of constant ass d$ t es# and not by any !rocess of legerdema n# that 3e sec$re the strength and the sta!le of real e4cellence, It 3as th$s that Demosthenes# cla$se after cla$se# and sentence after sentence# elaborated to the $ttermost h s mmortal orat ons, It 3as th$s that 8e3ton ! oneered h s 3ay# by the ste!s of an ascend ng geometry# to the mechan sm of the -ea6ens# and Le Ferr er added a !lanet to o$r Solar System, It s a most erroneo$s o! n on that those 3ho ha6e left the most st$!endo$s mon$ments of ntellect beh nd them# 3ere not d fferently e4erc sed from the rest of the s!ec es# b$t only d fferently g ftedG that they s gnal <ed themsel6es only by the r talent# and hardly e6er by the r nd$stryG for t s n tr$th to the most stren$o$s a!!l cat on of those common!lace fac$lt es 3h ch are d ff$sed among all# that they are

ndebted for the glor es 3h ch no3 enc rcle the r remembrance and the r name, ;e m$st not mag ne t to be a 6$lgar < ng of gen $s# that t sho$ld be l ghted $! n any other 3ay than by a d rect ns! rat on from -ea6en nor o6erloo/ the steadfastness of !$r!ose# the de6ot on to some s ngle b$t great ob5ect# the $n3ear edness of labor that s g 6en# not n con6$ls 6e and !reternat$ral throes# b$t by l ttle and l ttle as the strength of the m nd may bear tG the acc$m$lat on of many small efforts# nstead of a fe3 grand and g gant c# b$t !erha!s rreg$lar mo6ements# on the !art of energ es that are mar6ello$sG by 3h ch former alone the great res$lts are bro$ght o$t that 3r te the r end$r ng records on the face of the earth and n the h story of nat ons and of man, ;e m$st not o6erloo/ these elements# to 3h ch gen $s o3es the best and !ro$dest of her ach e6ementsG nor mag ne that E$al t es so generally !ossessed as !at ence and !a nsDta/ ng# and resol$te nd$stry# ha6e no share n $!hold ng a d st nct on so ll$str o$s as that of the benefactor of

h s / nd, ;e m$st not forget that great res$lts are most ord nar ly !rod$ced by an aggregate of many contr b$t ons and e4ert onsG as t s the n6 s ble !art cles of 6a!or# each se!arate and d st nct from the other# that# r s ng fro m the oceans and the r bays and g$lfs# from la/es and r 6ers# and 3 de morasses and o6erflo3ed !la ns# float a3ay as clo$ds# and d st ll $!on the earth n de3s# and fall n sho3ers and ra n and sno3s $!on the broad !la ns and r$de mo$nta ns# and ma/e the great na6 gable streams that are the arter es along 3h ch flo3s the l feDblood of a co$ntry, And so Masonry can do m$ch# f each Mason be content to do h s share# and f the r $n ted efforts are d rected by 3 se co$nsels to a common !$r!ose, @It s for God and for Omn !otency to do m ghty th ngs n a momentG b$t by degrees to gro3 to greatness s the co$rse that -e hath left for man,@ If Masonry 3 ll b$t be tr$e to her m ss on# and Masons to the r !rom ses and obl gat ons D f# reDenter ng 6 goro$sly $!on a career of benef cence# she and they 3 ll b$t !$rs$e t earnestly and $nfalter ngly# remember ng

that o$r contr b$t ons to the ca$se of char ty and ed$cat on then deser6e the greatest cred t 3hen t costs $s someth ng# the c$rta l ng of a comfort or the rel nE$ shment of a l$4$ry# to ma/e them D f 3e 3 ll b$t g 6e a d to 3hat 3ere once Masonry?s great schemes for h$man m!ro6ement# not f tf$lly and s!asmod cally# b$t reg$larly and ncessantly# as the 6a!ors r se and the s!r ngs r$n# and as the s$n r ses and the stars come $! nto the hea6ens# then 3e may be s$re that great res$lts 3 ll be atta ned and a great 3or/ done, And then t 3 ll most s$rely be seen that Masonry s not effete or m!otent# nor degenerated nor droo! ng to a fatal decay,

PI, S'BLIME ELE%T O" T-E T;ELFE OR PRI8%E AMET-,

AEl$ of the T3el6e,B

The d$t es of a Pr nce Ameth are# to be earnest# tr$e# rel able# and s ncereG to !rotect the !eo!le aga nst llegal m!os t ons and e4act onsG to contend for the r !ol t cal r ghts# and to see# as far as he may or can# that those bear the b$rdens 3ho rea! the benef ts of the Go6ernment, .o$ are to be tr$e $nto all men, .o$ are to be fran/ and s ncere n all th ngs, .o$ are to be earnest n do ng 3hate6er t s yo$r d$ty to do, And no man m$st re!ent that he has rel ed $!on yo$r resol6e# yo$r !rofess on# or yo$r 3ord, The great d st ng$ sh ng character st c of a Mason s sym!athy 3 th h s / nd, -e recogn <es n the h$man race one great fam ly# all connected 3 th h mself by those n6 s ble l n/s# and that m ghty netD3or/ of c rc$mstance# forged and 3o6en by God, "eel ng that sym!athy# t s h s f rst Mason c d$ty to ser6e h s fello3Dman,

At h s f rst entrance nto the Order# he ceases to be solated# and becomes one of a great brotherhood# ass$m ng no3 d$t es to3ard e6ery Mason that l 6es# as e6ery Mason at the same moment ass$mes them to3ard h m, 8or are those d$t es on h s !art conf ned to Masons alone, -e ass$mes many n regard to h s co$ntry# and es!ec ally to3ard the great# s$ffer ng masses of the common !eo!leG for they too are h s brethren# and God hears them# nart c$late as the moan ngs of the r m sery are, By all !ro!er means# of !ers$as on and nfl$ence# and other3 se# f the occas on and emergency reE$ re# he s bo$nd to defend them aga nst o!!ress on# and tyrann cal and llegal e4act ons, -e labors eE$ally to defend and to m!ro6e the !eo!le, -e does not flatter them to m slead them# nor fa3n $!on them to r$le them# nor conceal h s o! n ons to h$mor them# nor tell them that they can ne6er err# and that the r 6o ce s the 6o ce of God, -e /no3s that the safety of e6ery free go6ernment# and ts cont n$ance and !er!et$ ty de!end $!on the

6 rt$e and ntell gence of the common !eo!leG and that# $nless the r l berty s of s$ch a / nd as arms can ne ther !roc$re nor ta/e a3ayG $nless t s the fr$ t of manly co$rage# of 5$st ce# tem!erance# and genero$s 6 rt$e D $nless# be ng s$ch# t has ta/en dee! root n the m nds and hearts of the !eo!le at large# there 3 ll not long be 3ant ng those 3ho 3 ll snatch from them by treachery 3hat they ha6e acE$ red by arms or nst t$t ons, -e /no3s that f# after be ng released from the to ls of 3ar# the !eo!le neglect the arts of !eaceG f the r !eace and l berty be a state of 3arfareG f 3ar be the r only 6 rt$e# and the s$mm t of the r !ra se# they 3 ll soon f nd !eace the most ad6erse to the r nterests, It 3 ll be only a more d stress ng 3arG and that 3h ch they mag ned l berty 3 ll be the 3orst of sla6ery, "or# $nless by the means of /no3ledge and moral ty# not frothy and loE$ac o$s# b$t gen$ ne# $nad$lterated# and s ncere# they clear the hor <on of the m nd from those m sts of error and !ass on 3h ch ar se fro m gnorance and 6 ce# they 3 ll al3ays ha6e those 3ho 3 ll bend the r nec/s to the yo/e as f they 3ere br$tesG 3ho# not3 thstand ng all the r tr $m!hs#

3 ll !$t them $! to the h ghest b dder# as f they 3ere mere booty made n 3arG and f nd an e4$berant so$rce of 3ealth and !o3er# n the !eo!le?s gnorance# !re5$d ce# and !ass ons, The !eo!le that does not s$b5$gate the !ro!ens ty of the 3ealthy to a6ar ce# amb t on# and sens$al ty# e4!el l$4$ry from them and the r fam l es# /ee! do3n !a$!er sm# d ff$se /no3ledge among the !oor# and labor to ra se the ab5ect from the m re of 6 ce and lo3 nd$lgence# and to /ee! the nd$str o$s from star6 ng n s ght of l$4$r o$s fest 6als# 3 ll f nd that t has cher shed# n that a6ar ce# amb t on# sens$al ty# self shness# and l$4$ry of the one class# and that degradat on# m sery# dr$n/enness# gnorance# and br$tal <at on of the other# more st$bborn and ntractable des!ots at home than t e6er enco$ntered n the f eldG and e6en ts 6ery bo3els 3 ll be cont n$ally teem ng 3 th the ntolerable !rogeny of tyrants, These are the f rst enem es to be s$bd$edG th s const t$tes the cam!a gn of PeaceG these are tr $m!hs# d ff c$lt ndeed# b$t bloodlessG and far more honorable than those tro!h es 3h ch are !$rchased only by sla$ghter and ra! neG and f not 6 ctors n th s ser6 ce# t s n 6a n to ha6e been

6 ctor o$s o6er the des!ot c enemy n the f eld, "or f any !eo!le th n/s that t s a granderG a more benef c al# or a 3 ser !ol cy# to n6ent s$btle e4!ed ents by stam!s and m!osts# for ncreas ng the re6en$e and dra n ng the l feDblood of an m!o6er shed !eo!leG to m$lt !ly ts na6al and m l tary forceG to r 6al n craft the ambassadors of fore gn statesG to !lot the s3allo3 ng $! of fore gn terr toryG to ma/e crafty treat es and all ancesG to r$le !rostrate states and ab5ect !ro6 nces by fear and forceG than to adm n ster $n!oll$ted 5$st ce to the !eo!le# to rel e6e the cond t on and ra se the estate of the to l ng masses# redress the n5$red and s$ccor the d stressed and conc l ate the d scontented# and s!eed ly restore to e6ery one h s o3nG then that !eo!le s n6ol6ed n a clo$d of error# and 3 ll too late !erce 6e# 3hen the ll$s on of these m ghty benef ts has 6an shed# that n neglect ng these# 3h ch t tho$ght nfer or cons derat ons# t has only been !rec ! tat ng ts o3n r$ n and des!a r, 'nfort$nately# e6ery age !resents ts o3n s!ec al !roblem# most d ff c$lt and often m!oss ble to sol6eG and that 3h ch th s age offers# and forces

$!on the cons derat on of all ch n/ ng men# s th s D ho3# n a !o!$lo$s and 3ealthy co$ntry# blessed 3 th free nst t$t ons and a const t$t onal go6ernment# are the great masses of the man$alDlabor class to be enabled to ha6e steady 3or/ at fa r 3ages# to be /e!t from star6at on# and the r ch ldren from 6 ce and deba$chery# and to be f$rn shed 3 th that degree# not of mere read ng and 3r t ng# b$t of /no3ledge# that shall f t them ntell gently to do the d$t es and e4erc se the !r 6 leges of freemenG e6en to be ntr$sted 3 th the dangero$s r ght of s$ffrageJ "or tho$gh 3e do not /no3 3hy God# be ng nf n tely merc f$l as 3ell as 3 se# has so ordered t# t seems to be $nE$est onably h s la3# that e6en n c 6 l <ed and %hr st an co$ntr es# the large mass of the !o!$lat on shall be fort$nate# f# d$r ng the r 3hole l fe# from nfancy to old age# n health and s c/ness# they ha6e eno$gh of the commonest and coarsest food to /ee! themsel6es and the r ch ldren from the cont n$al gna3 ng of h$nger D eno$gh of the commonest and coarsest cloth ng to !rotect themsel6es and the r l ttle ones from ndecent e4!os$re and the b tter coldG and f they ha6e o6er the r heads

the r$dest shelter, And -e seems to ha6e enacted th s la3 D 3h ch no h$man comm$n ty has yet fo$nd the means to abrogate D that 3hen a co$ntry becomes !o!$lo$s# ca! tal shall concentrate n the hands of a l m ted n$mber of !ersons# and labor become more and more at ts mercy# $nt l mere man$al labor# that of the 3ea6er and ron3or/er# and other art sans# e6ent$ally ceases to be 3orth more than a bare s$bs stence# and often# n great c t es and 6ast e4tents of co$ntry not e6en that# and goes or cra3ls abo$t n rags# begg ng# and star6 ng for 3ant of 3or/, ;h le e6ery o4 and horse can f nd 3or/# and s 3orth be ng fed# t s not al3ays so 3 th man, To be em!loyed# to ha6e a chance to 3or/ at anyth ng l /e fa r 3ages# becomes the great engross ng ob5ect of a man?s l fe, The ca! tal st can l 6e 3 tho$t em!loy ng the laborer# and d scharges h m 3hene6er that labor ceases to be !rof table, At the moment 3hen the 3eather s most nclement# !ro6 s ons dearest# and rents h ghest# he t$rns h m off to star6e, If the dayDlaborer s ta/en s c/# h s 3ages sto!, ;hen old# he has no !ens on to ret re $!on, - s ch ldren cannot be sent to

schoolG for before the r bones are hardened they m$st get to 3or/ lest they star6e, The man# strong and ableDbod ed# 3or/s for a sh ll ng or t3o a day# and the 3oman sh 6er ng o6er her l ttle !an of coals# 3hen the merc$ry dro!s far belo3 <ero# after her h$ngry ch ldren ha6e 3a led themsel6es to slee!# se3s by the d m l ght of her lonely candle# for a bare ! ttance# sell ng her l fe to h m 3ho barga ned only for the 3or/ of her needle, "athers and mothers slay the r ch ldren# to ha6e the b$r alDfees# that 3 th the !r ce of one ch ld?s l fe they may cont n$e l fe n those that s$r6 6e, L ttle g rls 3 th bare feet s3ee! the streetDcross ngs# 3hen the 3 nter 3 nd ! nches them# and beg ! teo$sly for !enn es of those 3ho 3ear 3arm f$rs, %h ldren gro3 $! n sE$al d m sery and br$tal gnoranceG 3ant com!els 6 rg n and 3 fe to !rost t$te themsel6esG 3omen star6e and free<e# and lean $! aga nst the 3alls of 3or/ho$ses# l /e b$ndles of fo$l rags# all n ght long# and n ght after n ght# 3hen the cold ra n falls# and there chances to be no room for them 3 th nG and h$ndreds of fam l es are cro3ded nto a s ngle b$ ld ng# r fe 3 th horrors and teem ng

3 th fo$l a r and !est lenceG 3here men# 3omen and ch ldren h$ddle together n the r f lthG all ages and all colors slee! ng nd scr m nately togetherG 3h le# n a great# free# Re!$bl can State# n the f$ll 6 gor of ts yo$th and strength# one !erson n e6ery se6enteen s a !a$!er rece 6 ng char ty, -o3 to deal 3 th th s a!!arently ne6 table e6 l and mortal d sease s by far the most m!ortant of all soc al !roblems, ;hat s to be done 3 th !a$!er sm and o6erDs$!!ly of laborJ -o3 s the l fe of any co$ntry to last# 3hen br$tal ty and dr$n/en sem Dbarbar sm 6ote# and hold off ces n the r g ft# and by f t re!resentat 6es of themsel6es control a go6ernmentJ -o3# f not 3 sdom and a$thor ty# b$t t$rb$lence and lo3 6 ce are to e4alt to senatorsh !s m screants ree/ ng 3 th the odors and !oll$t on of the hell# the !r <eDr ng# the brothel# and the stoc/De4change# 3here gambl ng s legal <ed and rascal ty s la$dableJ Masonry 3 ll do all n ts !o3er# by d rect e4ert on and coo!erat on# to m!ro6e

and nform as 3ell as to !rotect the !eo!leG to better the r !hys cal cond t on# rel e6e the r m ser es# s$!!ly the r 3ants# and m n ster to the r necess t es, Let e6ery Mason n th s good 3or/ do all that may be n h s !o3er, "or t s tr$e no3# as t al3ays 3as and al3ays 3 ll be# that to be free s the same th ng as to be ! o$s# to be 3 se# to be tem!erate and 5$st# to be fr$gal and abst nent# and to be magnan mo$s and bra6eG and to be the o!!os te of all these s the same as to be a sla6e, And t $s$ally ha!!ens# by the a!!o ntment# and# as t 3ere# retr b$t 6e 5$st ce of the De ty# that that !eo!le 3h ch cannot go6ern themsel6es# and moderate the r !ass ons# b$t cro$ch $nder the sla6ery of the r l$sts and 6 ces# are del 6ered $! to the s3ay of those 3hom they abhor# and made to s$bm t to an n6ol$ntary ser6 t$de, And t s also sanct oned by the d ctates of 5$st ce and by the const t$t on of 8at$re# that he 3ho# from the mbec l ty or derangement of h s ntellect# s nca!able of go6ern ng h mself# sho$ld# l /e a m nor# be comm tted to the

go6ernment of another, Abo6e all th ngs let $s ne6er forget that man/ nd const t$tes one great brotherhoodG all born to enco$nter s$ffer ng and sorro3# and therefore bo$nd to sym!ath <e 3 th each other, "or no to3er of Pr de 3as e6er yet h gh eno$gh to l ft ts !ossessor abo6e the tr als and fears and fra l t es of h$man ty, 8o h$man hand e6er b$ lt the 3all# nor e6er shall# that 3 ll /ee! o$t affl ct on# !a n# and nf rm ty, S c/ness and sorro3# tro$ble and death# are d s!ensat ons that le6el e6eryth ng, They /no3 none# h gh nor lo3, The ch ef 3ants of l fe# the great and gra6e necess t es of the h$man so$l# g 6e e4em!t on to none, They ma/e all !oor# all 3ea/, They !$t s$!!l cat on n the mo$th of e6ery h$man be ng# as tr$ly as n that of the meanest beggar, B$t the !r nc !le of m sery s not an e6 l !r nc !le, ;e err# and the conseE$ences teach $s 3 sdom, All elements# all the la3s of th ngs aro$nd $s# m n ster to th s endG and thro$gh the !aths of !a nf$l error and

m sta/e# t s the des gn of Pro6 dence to lead $s to tr$th and ha!! ness, If err ng only ta$ght $s to errG f m sta/es conf rmed $s n m!r$denceG f the m ser es ca$sed by 6 c o$s nd$lgence had a nat$ral tendency to ma/e $s more ab5ect sla6es of 6 ce# then s$ffer ng 3o$ld be 3holly e6 l, B$t# on the contrary# all tends and s des gned to !rod$ce amendment and m!ro6ement, S$ffer ng s the d sc !l ne of 6 rt$eG of that 3h ch s nf n tely better than ha!! ness# and yet embraces n tself all essent al ha!! ness, It no$r shes# n6 gorates# and !erfects t, F rt$e s the !r <e of the se6erelyDcontested race and hardDfo$ght battleG and t s 3orth all the fat g$e and 3o$nds of the confl ct, Man sho$ld go forth 3 th a bra6e and strong heart# to battle 3 th calam ty, -e s to master t# and not let t become h s master, -e s not to forsa/e the !ost of tr al and of !er lG b$t to stand f rmly n h s lot# $nt l the great 3ord of Pro6 dence shall b d h m fly# or b d h m s n/, ; th resol$t on and co$rage the Mason s to do the 3or/ 3h ch t s a!!o nted for h m to do# loo/ ng thro$gh the dar/ clo$d of

h$man calam ty# to the end that r ses h gh and br ght before h m, The lot of sorro3 s great and s$bl me, 8one s$ffer fore6er# nor for no$ght# nor 3 tho$t !$r!ose, It s the ord nance of God?s 3 sdom# and of - s Inf n te Lo6e# to !roc$re for $s nf n te ha!! ness and glory, F rt$e s the tr$est l bertyG nor s he free 3ho stoo!s to !ass onsG nor he n bondage 3ho ser6es a noble master, E4am!les are the best and most last ng lect$resG 6 rt$e the best e4am!le, -e that hath done good deeds and set good !recedents# n s ncer ty# s ha!!y, T me shall not o$tl 6e h s 3orth, -e l 6es tr$ly after death# 3hose good deeds are h s ! llars of remembranceG and no day b$t adds some gra ns to h s hea! of glory, Good 3or/s are seeds# that after so3 ng ret$rn $s a cont n$al har6estG and the memory of noble act ons s more end$r ng than mon$ments of marble, L fe s a school, The 3orld s ne ther !r son nor !en tent ary# nor a !alace of ease# nor an am!h theatre for games and s!ectaclesG b$t a !lace of nstr$ct on# and d sc !l ne, L fe s g 6en for moral and s! r t$al tra n ngG and the ent re co$rse of the great school of l fe s an ed$cat on for 6 rt$e#

ha!! ness# and a f$t$re e4 stence, The !er ods of L fe are ts termsG all h$man cond t ons# ts formsG all h$man em!loyments# ts lessons, "am l es are the !r mary de!artments of th s moral ed$cat onG the 6ar o$s c rcles of soc ety# ts ad6anced stagesG K ngdoms and Re!$bl cs# ts $n 6ers t es, R ches and Po6erty# Gayet es and Sorro3s# Marr ages and "$nerals# the t es of l fe bo$nd or bro/en# f t and fort$nate# or $nto3ard and !a nf$l# are all lessons, E6ents are not bl ndly and carelessly fl$ng together, Pro6 dence does not school one man# and screen another from the f ery tr al of ts lessons, It has ne ther r ch fa6or tes nor !oor 6 ct ms, One e6ent ha!!eneth to all, One end and one des gn concern and $rge all men, The !ros!ero$s man has been at school, Perha!s he has tho$ght that t 3as a great th ng# and he a great !ersonageG b$t he has been merely a !$! l, -e tho$ght# !erha!s# that he 3as Master# and had noth ng to do# b$t to d rect and commandG b$t there 3as e6er a Master abo6e h m# the Master of L fe, -e loo/s not at o$r s!lend d state# or o$r many !retens ons# nor at the a ds and a!!l ances of o$r learn ngG b$t at o$r

learn ng tself, -e !$ts the !oor and the r ch $!on the same formG and /no3s no d fference bet3een them# b$t the r !rogress, If from !ros!er ty 3e ha6e learned moderat on# tem!erance# candor# modesty# grat t$de to God# and generos ty to man# then 3e are ent tled to be honored and re3arded, If 3e ha6e learned self shness# self nd$lgence# 3rongDdo ng# and 6 ce# to forget and o6erloo/ o$r less fort$nate brother# and to scoff at the !ro6 dence of God# then 3e are $n3orthy and d shonored# tho$gh 3e ha6e been n$rsed n affl$ence# or ta/en o$r degrees from the l neage of an h$ndred noble descentsG as tr$ly so# n the eye of -ea6en# and of all r ghtDth n/ ng men# as tho$gh 3e lay# 6 ct ms of beggary and d sease# n the hos! tal# by the hedge# or on the d$ngDh ll, The most ord nary h$man eE$ ty loo/s not at the school# b$t at the scholarG and the eE$ ty of -ea6en 3 ll not loo/ beneath that mar/, The !oor man also s at school, Let h m ta/e care that he learn# rather than com!la n, Let h m hold to h s ntegr ty# h s candor# and h s / ndness of heart, Let h m be3are of en6y# and of bondage# and /ee! h s selfDres!ect, The body?s to l s noth ng, Let h m be3are of the m nd?s

dr$dgery and degradat on, ;h le he betters h s cond t on f he can# let h m be more an4 o$s to better h s so$l, Let h m be 3 ll ng# 3h le !oor# and e6en f al3ays !oor# to learn !o6erty?s great lessons# fort t$de# cheerf$lness# contentment# and m!l c t conf dence n God?s Pro6 dence, ; th these# and !at ence# calmness# selfDcommand# d s nterestedness# and affect onate / ndness# the h$mble d3ell ng may be hallo3ed# and made more dear and noble than the loft est !alace, Let h m# abo6e all th ngs# see that he lose not h s nde!endence, Let h m not cast h mself# a creat$re !oorer than the !oor# an ndolent# hel!less# des! sed beggar# oft the / ndness of others, E6ery man sho$ld choose to ha6e God for h s Master# rather than manG and esca!e not from th s school# e ther by d shonesty or almsDta/ ng# lest he fall nto that state# 3orse than d sgrace# 3here he can ha6e no res!ect for h mself, The t es of Soc ety teach $s to lo6e one another, That s a m serable soc ety# 3here the absence of affect onate / ndness s so$ght to be s$!!l ed by !$nct l o$s decor$m# gracef$l $rban ty# and !ol shed

ns ncer tyG 3here amb t on# 5ealo$sy# and d str$st r$le# n !lace of s m!l c ty# conf dence# and / ndness, So# too# the soc al state teaches modesty and gentlenessG and from neglect# and not ce $n3orth ly besto3ed on others# and n5$st ce# and the 3orld?s fa l$re to a!!rec ate $s# 3e learn !at ence and E$ etness# to be s$!er or to soc ety?s o! n on# not cyn cal and b tter# b$t gentle# cand d# and affect onate st ll, Death s the great Teacher# stern# cold# ne4orable# rres st bleG 3hom the collected m ght of the 3orld cannot stay or 3ard off, The breath# that !art ng from the l !s of K ng or beggar# scarcely st rs the h$shed a r# cannot be bo$ght# or bro$ght bac/ for a moment# 3 th the 3ealth of Em! res, ;hat a lesson s th s# teach ng o$r fra lty and feebleness# and an Inf n te Po3er beyond $sO It s a fearf$l lesson# that ne6er becomes fam l ar, It 3al/s thro$gh the earth n dread mystery# and lays t hands $!on all, It s a $n 6ersal lesson# that s read e6ery3here and by all men, Its message comes e6ery year and e6ery day, The !ast years are cro3ded 3 th ts sad and solemn mementoesG and death?s f nger traces ts

hand3r t ng $!on the 3alls of e6ery h$man hab tat on, It teaches $s D$tyG to act o$r !art 3ellG to f$lf ll the 3or/ ass gned $s, ;hen one s dy ng# and after he s dead# there s b$t one E$est on( -as he l 6ed 3ellJ There s no e6 l n death b$t that 3h ch l fe ma/es, There are hard lessons n the school of God?s Pro6 denceG and yet the school of l fe s caref$lly ad5$sted# n all ts arrangements and tas/s# to man?s !o3ers and !ass ons, There s no e4tra6agance n ts teach ngsG nor s anyth ng done for ?the sa/e of !resent effect, The 3hole co$rse of h$man l fe s a confl ct 3 th d ff c$lt esG and# f r ghtly cond$cted# a !rogress n m!ro6ement, It s ne6er too late for man to learn, 8ot !art only# b$t the 3hole# of l fe s a school, There ne6er comes a t me# e6en am dst the decays of age# 3hen t s f t to lay as de the eagerness of acE$ s t on# or the cheerf$lness of endea6or, Man 3al/s# all thro$gh the co$rse of l fe# n !at ence and str fe# and somet mes n dar/nessG for# from !at ence s to come !erfect onG from str fe# tr $m!h s to ss$eG from the clo$d of dar/ness the l ghtn ng s to flash that shall o!en the 3ay to etern ty,

Let the Mason be fa thf$l n the school of l fe# and to all ts lessonsO Let h m not learn noth ng# nor care not 3hether he learns or not, Let not the years !ass o6er h m# 3 tnesses of only h s sloth and nd fferenceG or see h m <ealo$s to acE$ re e6eryth ng b$t 6 rt$e, 8or let h m labor only for h mselfG nor forget that the h$mblest man that l 6es s h s brother# and hath a cla m on h s sym!ath es and / nd off cesG and that beneath the ro$gh garments 3h ch labor 3ears may beat hearts as noble as throb $nder the stars of !r nces, God# 3ho co$nts by so$ls# not stat ons# Lo6es and ! t es yo$ and meG "or to - m all 6a n d st nct ons Are as !ebbles on the sea, 8or are the other d$t es nc$lcated n th s Degree of less m!ortance, Tr$th# a Mason s early told# s a D 6 ne attr b$te and the fo$ndat on of e6ery 6 rt$eG and fran/ness# rel ab l ty# s ncer ty# stra ghtfor3ardness# !la nDdeal ng# are b$t d fferent modes n 3h ch Tr$th de6elo!s tself, The dead# the absent# the nnocent# and those that tr$st h m# no Mason 3 ll

dece 6e 3 ll ngly, To all these he o3es a nobler 5$st ce# n that they are the most certa n tr als of h$man EE$ ty, Only the most abandoned of men# sa d % cero# 3 ll dece 6e h m# 3ho 3o$ld ha6e rema ned $n n5$red f he had not tr$sted, All the noble deeds that ha6e beat the r marches thro$gh s$cceed ng ages ha6e !roceeded from men of tr$th and gen$ ne co$rage, The man 3ho s al3ays tr$e s both 6 rt$o$s and 3 seG and th$s !ossesses the greatest g$ards of safety( for the la3 has not !o3er to str /e the 6 rt$o$sG nor can fort$ne s$b6ert the 3 se, The bases of Masonry be ng moral ty and 6 rt$e# t s by st$dy ng one and !ract s ng the other# that the cond$ct of a Mason becomes rre!roachable, The good of -$man ty be ng ts !r nc !al ob5ect# d s nterestedness s one of the f rst 6 rt$es that t reE$ res of ts membersG for that s the so$rce of 5$st ce and benef cence, To ! ty the m sfort$nes of othersG to be h$mble# b$t 3 tho$t meannessG to be !ro$d# b$t 3 tho$t arroganceG to ab5$re e6ery sent ment of hatred and re6engeG to sho3 h mself magnan mo$s and l beral# 3 tho$t ostentat on and

3 tho$t !rof$s onG to be the enemy of 6 ceG to !ay homage to 3 sdom and 6 rt$eG to res!ect nnocenceG to be constant and !at ent n ad6ers ty# and modest n !ros!er tyG to a6o d e6ery rreg$lar ty that sta ns the so$l and d stem!ers the body D t s by follo3 ng these !rece!ts that a Mason 3 ll become a good c t <en# a fa thf$l h$sband# a tender father# an obed ent son# and a tr$e brotherG 3 ll honor fr endsh !# and f$lf ll 3 th ardor the d$t es 3h ch 6 rt$e and the soc al relat ons m!ose $!on h m, It s beca$se Masonry m!oses $!on $s these d$t es that t s !ro!erly and s gn f cantly styled 3or/G and he 3ho mag nes that he becomes a Mason by merely ta/ ng the f rst t3o or three Degrees# and that he may# ha6 ng le s$rely ste!!ed $!on that small ele6at on# thencefor3ard 3orth ly 3ear the honors of Masonry# 3 tho$t labor or e4ert on# or selfDden al or sacr f ce# and that there s noth ng to be done n Masonry# s strangely dece 6ed, Is t tr$e that noth ng rema ns to be done n MasonryJ Does one Brother no longer !roceed by la3 aga nst another Brother of h s Lodge# n regard to matters that co$ld be eas ly settled 3 th n the Mason c

fam ly c rcleJ -as the d$el# that h deo$s her tage of barbar sm# nterd cted among Brethren by o$r f$ndamental la3s# and deno$nced by the m$n c !al code# yet d sa!!eared from the so l 3e nhab tJ Do Masons of h gh ran/ rel g o$sly refra n from tG or do they not# bo3 ng to a corr$!t !$bl c o! n on# s$bm t to ts arb trament# des! te the scandal 3h ch t occas ons to the Order# and n 6 olat on of the feeble restra nt of the r oathJ Do Masons no longer form $nchar table o! n ons of the r Brethren# enter harsh 5$dgments aga nst them# and 5$dge themsel6es by one r$le and the r Brethren by anotherJ -as Masonry any 3ellDreg$lated system of char tyJ -as t done that 3h ch t sho$ld ha6e done for the ca$se of ed$cat onJ ;here are ts schools# ts academ es# ts colleges# ts hos! tals# and nf rmar esJ Are !ol t cal contro6ers es no3 cond$cted 3 th no 6 olence and b tternessJ Do Masons refra n from defam ng and deno$nc ng the r Brethren 3ho d ffer

3 th them n rel g o$s or !ol t cal o! n onsJ ;hat grand soc al !roblems or $sef$l !ro5ects engage o$r attent on at o$r comm$n cat onsJ ;here n o$r Lodges are lect$res hab t$ally del 6ered for the real nstr$ct on of the BrethrenJ Do not o$r sess ons !ass n the d sc$ss on of m nor matters of b$s ness# the settlement of !o nts of order and E$est ons of mere adm n strat on# and the adm ss on and ad6ancement of %and dates# 3hom after the r adm ss on 3e ta/e no !a ns to nstr$ctJ In 3hat Lodge are o$r ceremon es e4!la ned and el$c datedG corr$!ted as they are by t me# $nt l the r tr$e feat$res can scarcely be d st ng$ shedG and 3here are those great !r m t 6e tr$ths of re6elat on ta$ght# 3h ch Masonry has !reser6ed to the 3orldJ ;e ha6e h gh d gn t es and so$nd ng t tles, Do the r !ossessors E$al fy themsel6es to enl ghten the 3orld n res!ect to the a ms and ob5ects of MasonryJ Descendants of those In t ates 3ho go6erned em! res# does yo$r nfl$ence enter nto !ract cal l fe and o!erate eff c ently n behalf of 3ellreg$lated and const t$t onal l bertyJ

.o$r debates sho$ld be b$t fr endly con6ersat ons, .o$ need concord# $n on# and !eace, ;hy then do yo$ reta n among yo$ men 3ho e4c te r 6alr es and 5ealo$s esG 3hy !erm t great and 6 olent contro6ersy and amb t o$s !retens ons?J 8o3 do yo$r o3n 3ords and acts agreeJ If yo$r Masonry s a n$ll ty# ho3 can yo$ e4erc se any nfl$ence on othersJ %ont n$ally yo$ !ra se each other# and $tter elaborate and h gh 3ro$ght e$log es $!on the Order, E6ery3here yo$ ass$me that yo$ are 3hat yo$ sho$ld be# and no3here do yo$ loo/ $!on yo$rsel6es as yo$ are, Is t tr$e that all o$r act ons are so many acts of homage to 6 rt$eJ E4!lore the recesses of yo$r heartsG let $s e4am ne o$rsel6es 3 th an m!art al eye# and ma/e ans3er to o$r o3n E$est on ngO %an 3e bear to o$rsel6es the consol ng test mony that 3e al3ays r g dly !erform o$r d$t esG that 3e e6en half !erform themJ Let $s a3ay 3 th th s od o$s selfDflatteryO Let $s be men# f 3e cannot be sagesO The la3s of Masonry# abo6e others e4cellent# cannot 3holly change men?s nat$res, They enl ghten them# they !o nt o$t the tr$e 3ayG b$t they can lead them n t# only by re!ress ng the f re of the r !ass ons#

and s$b5$gat ng the r self shness, Alas# these conE$er# and Masonry s forgottenO After !ra s ng each other all o$r l 6es# there are al3ays e4cellent Brethren# 3ho# o6er o$r coff ns# sho3er $nl m ted e$log es, E6ery one of $s 3ho d es# ho3e6er $seless h s l fe# has been a model of all the 6 rt$es# a 6ery ch ld of the celest al l ght, In Egy!t# among o$r old Masters# 3here Masonry 3as more c$lt 6ated than 6an ty# no one co$ld ga n adm ttance to the sacred asyl$m of the tomb $nt l he had !assed $nder the most solemn 5$dgment, A gra6e tr b$nal sat n 5$dgment $!on all# e6en the / ngs, They sa d to the dead# @;hoe6er tho$ art# g 6e acco$nt to thy co$ntry of thy act onsO ;hat hast tho$ done 3 th thy t me and l feJ The la3 nterrogates thee# thy co$ntry hears thee# Tr$th s ts n 5$dgment on theeO@ Pr nces came there to be 5$dged# escorted only by the r 6 rt$es and the r 6 ces, A !$bl c acc$ser reco$nted the h story of the dead man?s l fe# and thre3 the bla<e of the torch of tr$th on all h s act ons, If t 3ere ad5$dged that he had led an e6 l l fe# h s memory 3as condemned n the !resence of the

nat on# and h s body 3as den ed the honors of se!$lt$re, ;hat a lesson the old Masonry ta$ght to the sons of the !eo!leO Is t tr$e that Masonry s effeteG that the acac a# 3 thered# affords no shadeG that Masonry no longer marches n the ad6anceDg$ard of Tr$thJ 8o, Is freedom yet $n 6ersalJ -a6e gnorance and !re5$d ce d sa!!eared fro m the earthJ Are there no longer enm t es among menJ Do c$! d ty and falsehood no longer e4 stJ Do tolerat on and harmony !re6a l among rel g o$s and !ol t cal sectsJ There are 3or/s yet left for Masonry to accom!l sh# greater than the t3el6e labors of -erc$les( to ad6ance e6er resol$tely and stead lyG to enl ghten the m nds of the !eo!le# to reconstr$ct soc ety# to reform the la3s# and to m!ro6e the !$bl c morals, The etern ty n front of t s as nf n te as the one beh nd, And Masonry cannot cease to labor n the ca$se of soc al !rogress# 3 tho$t ceas ng to be tr$e to tself# Masonry,

PII, GRA8D MASTER AR%-ITE%T, AMaster Arch tect,B

T-E great d$t es that are nc$lcated by the lessons ta$ght by the 3or/ ng nstr$ments of a Grand Master Arch tect# demand ng so m$ch of $s# and ta/ ng for granted the ca!ac ty to !erform them fa thf$lly and f$lly# br ng $s at once to reflect $!on the d gn ty of h$man nat$re# and the 6ast !o3ers and ca!ac t es of the h$man so$lG and to that theme 3e n6 te yo$r attent on n th s Degree, Let $s beg n to r se from earth to3ard the Stars, E6ermore the h$man so$l str$ggles to3ard the l ght# to3ard God# and the Inf n te, It s es!ec ally so n ts affl ct ons, ;ords go b$t a l ttle 3ay nto the de!ths of sorro3, The tho$ghts that 3r the there n s lence# that go nto the st llness of Inf n t$de and Etern ty# ha6e no emblems, Tho$ghts eno$gh

come there# s$ch as no tong$e e6er $ttered, They do not so m$ch 3ant h$man sym!athy# as h gher hel!, There s a lonel ness n dee! sorro3 3h ch the De ty alone can rel e6e, Alone# the m nd 3restles 3 th the great !roblem of calam ty# and see/s the sol$t on from the Inf n te Pro6 dence of -ea6en# and th$s s led d rectly to God, There are many th ngs n $s of 3h ch 3e are not d st nctly consc o$s, To 3a/en that sl$mber ng consc o$sness nto l fe# and so to lead the so$l $! to the L ght# s one off ce of e6ery great m n strat on to h$man nat$re# 3hether ts 6eh cle be the !en# the !enc l# or the tong$e, ;e are $nconsc o$s of the ntens ty and a3f$lness of the l fe 3 th n $s, -ealth and s c/ness# 5oy and sorro3# s$ccess and d sa!!o ntment# l fe and death# lo6e and loss# are fam l ar 3ords $!on o$r l !sG and 3e do not /no3 to 3hat de!ths they !o nt 3 th n $s, ;e seem ne6er to /no3 3hat any th ng means or s 3orth $nt l 3e ha6e lost t, Many an organ# ner6e# and f bre n o$r bod ly frame !erforms ts s lent !art for years# and 3e are E$ te $nconsc o$s of ts 6al$e, It s not

$nt l t s n5$red that 3e d sco6er that 6al$e# and f nd ho3 essent al t 3as to o$r ha!! ness and comfort, ;e ne6er /no3 the f$ll s gn f cance of the 3ords R!ro!erty#@ @ease#@ and @healthG@ the 3ealth of mean ng n the fond e! thets# @!arent#S Rch ld#@ @belo6ed#@ and @fr end#@ $nt l the th ng or the !erson s ta/en a3ayG $nt l# n !lace of the br ght# 6 s ble be ng# comes the a3f$l and desolate shado3# 3here noth ng s( 3here 3e stretch o$t o$r hands n 6a n# and stra n o$r eyes $!on dar/ and d smal 6ac$ ty, .et# n that 6ac$ ty# 3e do not lose the ob5ect that 3e lo6ed, It becomes only the more real to $s, O$r bless ngs not only br ghten 3hen they de!art# b$t are f 4ed n end$r ng real tyG and lo6e and fr endsh ! rece 6e the r e6erlast ng seal $nder the cold m!ress of death, A d m consc o$sness of nf n te mystery and grande$r l es beneath all the common!lace of l fe, There s an a3f$lness and a ma5esty aro$nd $s# n all o$r l ttle 3orldl ness, The r$de !easant from the A!enn nes# aslee! at the foot of a ! llar n a ma5est c Roman ch$rch# seems not to hear or see# b$t to# dream only of the herd he feeds or the gro$nd he t lls n the

mo$nta ns, B$t the choral sym!hon es fall softly $!on h s ear# and the g lded arches are d mly seen thro$gh h s halfDsl$mber ng eyel ds, So the so$l# ho3e6er g 6en $! to the occ$!at ons of da ly l fe# cannot E$ te lose the sense of 3here t s# and of 3hat s abo6e t and aro$nd t, The scene of ts act$al engagements may be smallG the !ath of ts ste!s# beaten and fam l arG the ob5ects t handles# eas ly s!anned# and E$ te 3orn o$t 3 th da ly $ses, So t may be# and am dst s$ch th ngs that 3e all l 6e, So 3e l 6e o$r l ttle l feG b$t -ea6en s abo6e $s and all aro$nd and close to $sG and Etern ty s before $s and beh nd $sG and s$ns and stars are s lent 3 tnesses and 3atchers o6er $s, ;e are enfolded by Inf n ty, Inf n te Po3ers and Inf n te s!aces l e all aro$nd $s, The dread arch of Mystery s!reads o6er $s# and no 6o ce e6er ! erced t, Etern ty s enthroned am d -ea6en?s myr ad starry he ghtsG and no $tterance or 3ord e6er came from those farDoff and s lent s!aces, Abo6e# s that a3f$l ma5estyG aro$nd $s# e6ery3here# t stretches off nto nf n tyG and beneath t s th s l ttle str$ggle of l fe# th s !oor day?s confl ct# th s b$sy antDh ll of T me,

B$t from that antDh ll# not only the tal/ of the streets# the so$nds of m$s c and re6ell ng# the st r and tread of a m$lt t$de# the sho$t of 5oy and the shr e/ of agony go $! nto the s lent and allDs$rro$nd ng Inf n t$deG b$t also# am dst the st r and no se of 6 s ble l fe# from the nmost bosom of the 6 s ble man# there goes $! an m!lor ng call# a beseech ng cry# an as/ ng# $n$ttered# and $n$tterable# for re6elat on# 3a l ngly and n almost s!eechless agony !ray ng the dread arch of mystery to brea/# and the stars that roll abo6e the 3a6es of mortal tro$ble# to s!ea/G the enthroned ma5esty of those a3f$l he ghts to f nd a 6o ceG the myster o$s and reser6ed hea6ens to come nearG and all to tell $s 3hat they alone /no3G to g 6e $s nformat on of the lo6ed and lostG to ma/e /no3n to $s 3hat 3e are# and 3h ther 3e are go ng, Man s encom!assed 3 th a dome of ncom!rehens ble 3onders, In h m and abo$t h m s that 3h ch sho$ld f ll h s l fe 3 th ma5esty and sacredness, Someth ng of s$bl m ty and sanct ty has th$s flashed do3n fro m hea6en nto the heart of e6ery one that l 6es, There s no be ng so

base and abandoned b$t hath some tra ts of that sacredness left $!on h mG someth ng# so m$ch !erha!s n d scordance 3 th h s general re!$te# that he h des t from all aro$nd h mG some sanct$ary n h s so$l# 3here no one may enterG some sacred nclos$re# 3here the memory of a ch ld s# or the mage of a 6enerated !arent# or the remembrance of a !$re lo6e# or the echo of some 3ord of / ndness once s!o/en to h mG an echo that 3 ll ne6er d e a3ay, L fe s no negat 6e# or s$!erf c al or 3orldly e4 stence, O$r ste!s are e6ermore ha$nted 3 th tho$ghts# far beyond the r o3n range# 3h ch some ha6e regarded as the rem n scences of a !ree4 stent state, So t s 3 th $s all# n the beaten and 3orn trac/ of th s 3orldly ! lgr mage, There s more here# than the 3orld 3e l 6e n, It s not all of l fe to l 6e, An $nseen and nf n te !resence s hereG a sense of someth ng greater than 3e !ossessG a see/ ng# thro$gh all the 6o d 3astes of l fe# for a good beyond tG a cry ng o$t of the heart for nter!retat onG a memory of the dead# to$ch ng cont n$ally some 6 brat ng thread n th s great t ss$e of mystery,

;e all not only ha6e better nt mat ons# b$t are ca!able of better th ngs than 3e /no3, The !ress$re of some great emergency 3o$ld de6elo! n $s !o3ers# beyond the 3orldly b as of o$r s! r tsG and -ea6en so deals 3 th $s# from t me to t me# as to call forth those better th ngs, There s hardly a fam ly n the 3orld go self sh# b$t that# f one n t 3ere doomed to d e D one# to be selected by the others# D t 3o$ld be $tterly m!oss ble for ts members# !arents and ch ldren# to choose o$t that 6 ct mG b$t that each 3o$ld say# @I 3 ll d eG b$t I cannot choose,@ And n ho3 many# f that d re e4trem ty had come# 3o$ld not one and another ste! forth# freed from the 6 le meshes of ord nary self shness# and say# l /e the Roman father and son# @Let the blo3 fall on meO@ There are greater and better th ngs n $s all# than the 3orld ta/es acco$nt of# or than 3e ta/e note ofG f 3e 3o$ld b$t f nd them o$t, And t s one !art of o$r Mason c c$lt$re to f nd these tra ts of !o3er and s$bl me de6ot on# to re6 6e these faded m!ress ons of generos ty and selfDsacr f ce# the almost sE$andered beE$ests of God?s

lo6e and / ndness to o$r so$lsG and to nd$ce $s to y eld o$rsel6es to the r g$ dance and control, '!on all cond t ons of men !resses do3n one m!art al la3, To all s t$at ons# to all fort$nes# h gh or lo3# the m nd g 6es the r character, They are# n effect# not 3hat they are n themsel6es# b$t 3hat they are to the feel ng of the r !ossessors, The K ng may be mean# degraded# m serableG the sla6e of amb t on# fear# 6ol$!t$o$sness# and e6ery lo3 !ass on, The Peasant may be the real Monarch# the moral master of h s fate# a free and lofty be ng# more than a Pr nce n ha!! ness# more than a K ng n honor, Man s no b$bble $!on the sea of h s fort$nes# hel!less and rres!ons ble $!on the t de of e6ents, O$t of the same c rc$mstances# d fferent men br ng totally d fferent res$lts, The same d ff c$lty# d stress# !o6erty# or m sfort$ne# that brea/s do3n one man# b$ lds $! another and ma/es h m strong, It s the 6ery attr b$te and glory of a man# that he can bend the c rc$mstances of h s cond t on to the ntellect$al and moral !$r!oses of h s nat$re# and t s the !o3er and mastery of h s 3 ll that ch efly d st ng$ sh

h m from the br$te, The fac$lty of moral 3 ll# de6elo!ed n the ch ld# s a ne3 element of h s nat$re, It s a ne3 !o3er bro$ght $!on the scene# and a r$l ng !o3er# delegated from -ea6en, 8e6er 3as a h$man be ng s$n/ so lo3 that he had not# by God?s g ft# the !o3er to r se# Beca$se God commands h m to r se# t s certa n that he can r se, E6ery man has the !o3er# and sho$ld $se t# to ma/e all s t$at ons# tr als# and tem!tat ons nstr$ments to !romote h s 6 rt$e and ha!! nessG and s so far from be ng the creat$re of c rc$mstances# that he creates and controls them# ma/ ng them to be all that they are# of e6 l or of good# to h m as a moral be ng, L fe s 3hat 3e ma/e t# and the 3orld s 3hat 3e ma/e t, The eyes of the cheerf$l and of the melancholy man are f 4ed $!on the same creat onG b$t 6ery d fferent are the as!ects 3h ch t bears to them, To the one# t s all bea$ty and gladnessG the 3a6es of ocean roll n l ght# and the mo$nta ns are co6ered 3 th day, L fe# to h m# flashes# re5o c ng# $!on e6ery flo3er

and e6ery tree that trembles n the bree<e, There s more to h m# e6ery3here# than the eye seesG a !resence of !rofo$nd 5oy on h ll and 6alley# and br ght# danc ng 3ater, The other dly or mo$rnf$lly ga<es at the same scene# and e6eryth ng 3ears a d$ll# d m# and s c/ly as!ect, The m$rm$r ng of the broo/s s a d scord to h m# the great roar of the sea has an angry and threaten ng em!has s# the solemn m$s c of the ! nes s ngs the reE$ em of h s de!arted ha!! nessG the cheerf$l l ght sh nes gar shly $!on h s eyes and offends h m, The great tra n of the seasons !asses before h m l /e a f$neral !rocess onG and he s ghs# and t$rns m!at ently a3ay, The eye ma/es that 3h ch t loo/s $!onG the ear ma/es ts o3n melod es and d scordsG the 3orld 3 tho$t reflects the 3orld 3 th n, Let the Mason ne6er forget that l fe and the 3orld are 3hat 3e ma/e them by o$r soc al characterG by o$r ada!tat on# or 3ant of ada!tat on to the soc al cond t ons# relat onsh !s# and !$rs$ ts of the 3orld, To the self sh# the cold# and the nsens ble# to the ha$ghty and !res$m ng# to the !ro$d# 3ho demand more than they are l /ely to rece 6e# to the 5ealo$s# e6er

afra d they shall not rece 6e eno$gh# to those 3ho are $nreasonably sens t 6e abo$t the good or ll o! n ons of others# to all 6 olators of the soc al la3s# the r$de# the 6 olent# the d shonest# and the sens$al# D to all these# the soc al cond t on# from ts 6ery nat$re# 3 ll !resent annoyances# d sa!!o ntments# and !a ns# a!!ro!r ate to the r se6eral characters, The bene6olent affect ons 3 ll not re6ol6e aro$nd self shnessG the coldD hearted m$st e4!ect to meet coldnessG the !ro$d# ha$ght nessG the !ass onate# angerG and the 6 olent# r$deness, Those 3ho forget the r ghts of others# m$st not be s$r!r sed f the r o3n are forgottenG and those 3ho stoo! to the lo3est embraces of sense m$st not 3onder# f others are not concerned to f nd the r !rostrate honor# and l ft t $! to the remembrance and res!ect of the 3orld, To the gentle# many 3 ll be gentleG to the / nd# many 3 ll be / nd, A good man 3 ll f nd that there s goodness n the 3orldG an honest man 3 ll f nd that there s honesty n the 3orldG and a man of !r nc !le 3 ll f nd !r nc !le and ntegr ty n the m nds of others,

There are no bless ngs 3h ch the m nd may not con6ert nto the b tterest of e6 lsG and no tr als 3h ch t may not transform nto the noblest and d 6 nest bless ngs, There are no tem!tat ons from 3h ch assa led 6 rt$e may not ga n strength# nstead of fall ng before them# 6anE$ shed and s$bd$ed, It s tr$e that tem!tat ons ha6e a great !o3er# and 6 rt$e often fallsG b$t the m ght of these tem!tat ons l es not n themsel6es# b$t n the feebleness of o$r o3n 6 rt$e# and the 3ea/ness of o$r o3n hearts, ;e rely too m$ch on the strength of o$r ram!arts and bast ons# and allo3 the enemy to ma/e h s a!!roaches# by trench and !arallel# at h s le s$re, The offer of d shonest ga n and g$ lty !leas$re ma/es the honest man more honest# and the !$re man more !$re, They ra se h s 6 rt$e to the he ght of to3er ng nd gnat on, The fa r occas on# the safe o!!ort$n ty# the tem!t ng chance become the defeat and d sgrace of the tem!ter, The honest and $!r ght man does not 3a t $nt l tem!tat on has made ts a!!roaches and mo$nted ts batter es on the last !arallel, B$t to the m!$re# the d shonest# the falseDhearted# the corr$!t# and the

sens$al# occas ons come e6ery day# and n e6ery scene# and thro$gh e6ery a6en$e of tho$ght and mag nat on, -e s !re!ared to ca! t$late before the f rst a!!roach s commencedG and sends o$t the 3h te flag 3hen the enemy?s ad6ance comes n s ght of h s 3alls, -e ma/es occas onsG or# f o!!ort$n t es come not# e6 l tho$ghts come# and he thro3s 3 de o!en the gates of h s heart and 3elcomes those bad 6 s tors# and enterta ns them 3 th a la6 sh hos! tal ty, The b$s ness of the 3orld absorbs# corr$!ts# and degrades one m nd# 3h le n another t feeds and n$rses the noblest nde!endence# ntegr ty# and generos ty, Pleas$re s a !o son to some# and a healthf$l refreshment to others, To one# the 3orld s a great harmony# l /e a noble stra n of m$s c 3 th nf n te mod$lat onsG to another# t s a h$ge factory# the clash and clang of 3hose mach nery 5ars $!on h s ears and frets h m to madness, L fe s s$bstant ally the same th ng to all 3ho !arta/e of ts lot, .et some r se to 6 rt$e and gloryG 3h le others# $ndergo ng the same d sc !l ne# and en5oy ng the same !r 6 leges# s n/ to shame and !erd t on,

Thoro$gh# fa thf$l# and honest endea6or to m!ro6e# s al3ays s$ccessf$l# and the h ghest ha!! ness, To s gh sent mentally o6er h$man m sfort$ne# s f t only for the m nd?s ch ldhoodG and the m nd?s m sery s ch efly ts o3n fa$ltG a!!o nted# $nder the good Pro6 dence of God# as the !$n sher and corrector of ts fa$lt, In the long r$n# the m nd 3 ll be ha!!y# 5$st n !ro!ort on to ts f del ty and 3 sdom, ;hen t s m serable# t has !lanted the thorns n ts o3n !athG t gras!s them# and cr es o$t n lo$d com!la ntG, and that com!la nt s b$t the lo$der confess on that the thorns 3h ch gre3 there# t !lanted, A certa n / nd and degree of s! r t$al ty enter nto the largest !art of e6en the most ord nary l fe, .o$ can carry on no b$s ness# 3 tho$t some fa th n man, .o$ cannot e6en d g n the gro$nd# 3 tho$t a rel ance on the $nseen res$lt, .o$ cannot th n/ or reason or e6en ste!# 3 tho$t conf d ng n the n3ard# s! r t$al !r nc !les of yo$r nat$re, All the affect ons and bonds# and ho!es and nterests of l fe centre n the s! r t$alG and yo$ /no3 that f that

central bond 3ere bro/en# the 3orld 3o$ld r$sh to chaos, Bel e6e that there s a GodG that -e s o$r fatherG that -e has a !aternal nterest n o$r 3elfare and m!ro6ementG that -e has g 6en $s !o3ers# by means of 3h ch 3e may esca!e from s n and r$ nG that -e has dest ned $s to a f$t$re l fe of endless !rogress to3ard !erfect on and a /no3ledge of - mself D bel e6e th s# as e6ery Mason sho$ld# and yo$ can l 6e calmly# end$re !at ently# labor resol$tely# deny yo$rsel6es cheerf$lly# ho!e steadfastly# and be conE$erors n the great str$ggle of l fe, Ta/e a3ay any one of these !r nc !les# and 3hat rema ns for $sJ Say that there s no GodG or no 3ay o!ened for ho!e and reformat on and tr $m!h# no hea6en to come# no rest for the 3eary# no home n the bosom of God for the affl cted and d sconsolate so$lG or that God s b$t an $gly bl nd %hance that stabs n the dar/G or a some3hat that s# 3hen attem!ted to be def ned# a no3hat# emot onless# !ass onless# the S$!reme A!athy to 3h ch all th ngs# good and e6 l# are al /e nd fferentG or a 5ealo$s God 3ho re6engef$lly 6 s ts the s ns of the fathers on the ch ldren# and 3hen the

fathers ha6e eaten so$r gra!es# sets the ch ldren?s teeth on edgeG an arb trary s$!reme ; ll# that has made t r ght to be 6 rt$o$s# and 3rong to l e and steal# beca$se IT !leased to ma/e t so rather than other3 se# reta n ng the !o3er to re6erse the la3G or a f c/le# 6ac llat ng# nconstant De ty# or a cr$el# bloodth rsty# sa6age -ebre3 or P$r tan c oneG and 3e are b$t the s!ort of chance and the 6 ct ms of des!a rG ha!less 3anderers $!on the face of a desolate# forsa/en# or acc$rsed and hated earthG s$rro$nded by dar/ness# str$ggl ng 3 th obstacles# to l ng for barren res$lts and em!ty !$r!oses# d stracted 3 th do$bts# and m sled by false gleams of l ghtG 3anderers 3 th no 3ay# no !ros!ect# no homeG doomed and deserted mar ners on a dar/ and stormy sea# 3 tho$t com!ass or co$rse# to 3hom no stars a!!earG toss ng helmless $!on the 3elter ng# angry 3a6es# 3 th no blessed ha6en n the d stance 3hose g$ d ngDstar n6 tes $s to ts 3elcome rest, The rel g o$s fa th th$s ta$ght by Masonry s nd s!ensable to the atta nment of the great ends of l feG and m$st therefore ha6e been

des gned to be a !art of t, ;e are made for th s fa thG and there m$st be someth ng# some3here# for $s to bel e6e n, ;e cannot gro3 healthf$lly# nor l 6e ha!! ly# 3 tho$t t, It s therefore tr$e, If 3e co$ld c$t off from any so$l all the !r nc !les ta$ght by Masonry# the fa th n a God# n mmortal ty# n 6 rt$e# n essent al rect t$de# that so$l 3o$ld s n/ nto s n# m sery# dar/ness# and r$ n, If 3e co$ld c$t off all sense of these tr$ths# the man 3o$ld s n/ at once to the grade of the an mal, 8o man can s$ffer and be !at ent# can str$ggle and conE$er# can m!ro6e and be ha!!y# other3 se than as the s3 ne are# 3 tho$t consc ence# 3 tho$t ho!e# 3 tho$t a rel ance on a 5$st# 3 se# and benef cent God, ;e m$st# of necess ty# embrace the great tr$ths ta$ght by Masonry# and l 6e by them# to l 6e ha!! ly, @I !$t my tr$st n God#@ s the !rotest of Masonry aga nst the bel ef n a cr$el# angry# and re6engef$l God# to be feared and not re6erenced by - s creat$res, Soc ety# n ts great relat ons# s as m$ch the creat on of -ea6en as s the

system of the 'n 6erse, If that bond of gra6 tat on that holds all 3orlds and systems together# 3ere s$ddenly se6ered# the $n 6erse 3o$ld fly nto 3 ld and bo$ndless chaos, And f 3e 3ere to se6er all the moral bonds that hold soc ety togetherG f 3e co$ld c$t off from t e6ery con6 ct on of Tr$th and Integr ty# of an a$thor ty abo6e t# and of a consc ence 3 th n t# t 3o$ld mmed ately r$sh to d sorder and fr ghtf$l anarchy and r$ n, The rel g on 3e teach s therefore as really a !r nc !le of th ngs# and as certa n and tr$e# as gra6 tat on, "a th n moral !r nc !les# n 6 rt$e# and n God# s as necessary for the g$ dance of a man# as nst nct s for the g$ dance of an an mal, And therefore th s fa th# as a !r nc !le of man?s nat$re# has a m ss on as tr$ly a$thent c n God?s Pro6 dence# as the !r nc !le of nst nct, The !leas$res of the so$l# too# m$st de!end on certa n !r nc !les, They m$st recogn <e a so$l# ts !ro!ert es and res!ons b l t es# a consc ence# and the sense of an a$thor ty abo6e $sG and these are the !r nc !les of fa th, 8o man can s$ffer and be !at ent# can str$ggle and conE$er# can m!ro6e and be

ha!!y# 3 tho$t consc ence# 3 tho$t ho!e# 3 tho$t a rel ance on a 5$st# 3 se# and benef cent God, ;e m$st of necess ty embrace the great tr$ths ta$ght by Masonry# and l 6e by them# to l 6e ha!! ly, E6eryth ng n the $n 6erse has f 4ed and certa n la3s and !r nc !les for ts act onGD the star n ts orb t# the an mal n ts act 6 ty# the !hys cal man n h s f$nct ons, And he has l /e3 se f 4ed and certa n la3s and !r nc !les as a s! r t$al be ng, - s so$l does not d e for 3ant of al ment or g$ dance, "or the rat onal so$l there s am!le !ro6 s on, "rom the lofty ! ne# roc/ed n the dar/en ng tem!est# the cry of the yo$ng ra6en s heardG and t 3o$ld be most strange f there 3ere no ans3er for the cry and call of the so$l# tort$red by 3ant and sorro3 and agony, The total re5ect on of all moral and rel g o$s bel ef 3o$ld str /e o$t a !r nc !le from h$man nat$re# as essent al to t as gra6 tat on to the stars# nst nct to an mal l fe# the c rc$lat on of the blood to the h$man body, God has orda ned that l fe shall be a soc al state, ;e are members of a

c 6 l comm$n ty, The l fe of that comm$n ty de!ends $!on ts moral cond t on, P$bl c s! r t# ntell gence# $!r ghtness# tem!erance# / ndness# domest c !$r ty# 3 ll ma/e t a ha!!y comm$n ty# and g 6e t !ros!er ty and cont n$ance, ; deDs!read self shness# d shonesty# ntem!erance# l bert n sm# corr$!t on# and cr me# 3 ll ma/e t m serable# and br ng abo$t d ssol$t on and s!eedy r$ n, A 3hole !eo!le l 6es one l feG one m ghty heart hea6es n ts bosomG t s one great !$lse of e4 stence that throbs there, One stream of l fe flo3s there# 3 th ten tho$sand nterm ngled branches and channels# thro$gh all the homes of h$man lo6e, One so$nd as of many 3aters# a ra!t$ro$s 5$b lee or a mo$rnf$l s gh ng# comes $! fro m the congregated d3ell ngs of a 3hole nat on, The P$bl c s no 6ag$e abstract onG nor sho$ld that 3h ch s done aga nst that P$bl c# aga nst !$bl c nterest# la3# or 6 rt$e# !ress b$t l ghtly on the consc ence, It s b$t a 6ast e4!ans on of nd 6 d$al l feG an ocean of tears# an atmos!here of s ghs# or a great 3hole of 5oy and gladness, It s$ffers

3 th the s$ffer ng of m ll onsG t re5o ces 3 th the 5oy of m ll ons, ;hat a 6ast cr me does he comm t# D !r 6ate man or !$bl c man# agent or contractor# leg slator or mag strate# secretary or !res dent#D3ho dares# 3 th nd gn ty and 3rong# to str /e the bosom of the P$bl c ;elfare# to enco$rage 6enal ty and corr$!t on# and shamef$l sale of the elect 6e franch se# or of off ceG to so3 d ssens on# and to 3ea/en the bonds of am ty that b nd a 8at on togetherO ;hat a h$ge n E$ ty# he 3ho# 3 th 6 ces l /e the daggers of a !arr c de# dares to ! erce that m ghty heart# n 3h ch the ocean of e4 stence s flo3 ngO ;hat an $neE$alled nterest l es n the 6 rt$e of e6ery one 3hom 3e lo6eO In h s 6 rt$e# no3here b$t n h s 6 rt$e# s garnered $! the ncom!arable treas$re, ;hat care 3e for brother or fr end# com!ared 3 th 3hat 3e care for h s honor# h s f del ty# h s re!$tat on# h s / ndnessJ -o3 6enerable s the rect t$de of a !arentO -o3 sacred h s re!$tat onO 8o bl ght that can fall $!on a ch ld# s l /e a !arent?s d shonor, -eathen or %hr st an# e6ery !arent 3o$ld ha6e h s ch ld do 3ellG and !o$rs o$t $!on h m all the

f$llness of !arental lo6e# n the one des re that he may do 3ellG that he may be 3orthy of h s cares# and h s freely besto3ed !a nsG that he may 3al/ n the 3ay of honor and ha!! ness, In that 3ay he cannot 3al/ one ste! 3 tho$t 6 rt$e, S$ch s l fe# n ts relat onsh !s, A tho$sand t es embrace t# l /e the f ne ner6es of a del cate organ <at onG l /e the str ngs of an nstr$ment ca!able of s3eet melod es# b$t eas ly !$t o$t of t$ne or bro/en# by r$deness# anger# and self sh nd$lgence, If l fe co$ld# by any !rocess# be made nsens ble to !a n and !leas$reG f the h$man heart 3ere hard as adamant# then a6ar ce# amb t on# and sens$al ty m ght channel o$t the r !aths n t# and ma/e t the r beaten 3ayG and none 3o$ld 3onder or !rotest, If 3e co$ld be !at ent $nder the load of a mere 3orldly l feG f 3e co$ld bear that b$rden as the beasts bear tG then# l /e beasts# 3e m ght bend all o$r tho$ghts to the earthG and no call from the great -ea6ens abo6e $s 3o$ld startle $s from o$r !lodd ng and earthly co$rse, B$t 3e art not nsens ble br$tes# 3ho can ref$se the call of reason and

consc ence, The so$l s ca!able of remorse, ;hen the great d s!ensat ons of l fe !ress do3n $!on $s# 3e 3ee!# and s$ffer and sorro3, And sorro3 and agony des re other com!an onsh !s than 3orldl ness and rrel g on, ;e are not 3 ll ng to bear those b$rdens of the heart# fear# an4 ety# d sa!!o ntment# and tro$ble# 3 tho$t any ob5ect or $se, ;e are not 3 ll ng to s$ffer# to be s c/ and affl cted# to ha6e o$r days and months lost to comfort and 5oy# and o6ershado3ed 3 th calam ty and gr ef# 3 tho$t ad6antage or com!ensat onG to barter a3ay the dearest treas$res# the 6ery s$ffer ngs# of the heartG to sell the l feDblood from fa l ng frame and fad ng chee/# o$r tears of b tterness and groans of ang$ sh# for noth ng, -$man nat$re# fra l# feel ng# sens t 6e# and sorro3 ng# cannot bear to s$ffer for no$ght, E6ery3here# h$man l fe s a great and solemn d s!ensat on, Man# s$ffer ng# en5oy ng# lo6 ng# hat ng# ho! ng# and fear ng# cha ned to the earth and yet e4!lor ng the far recesses of the $n 6erse# has the !o3er to comm$ne 3 th God and - s angels, Aro$nd th s great act on of e4 stence

the c$rta ns of T me are dra3nG b$t there are o!en ngs thro$gh them 3h ch g 6e $s gl m!ses of etern ty, God loo/s do3n $!on th s scene of h$man !robat on, The 3 se and the good n all ages ha6e nter!osed for t 3 th the r teach ngs and the r blood, E6eryth ng that e4 sts aro$nd $s# e6ery mo6ement n nat$re e6ery co$nsel of Pro6 dence# e6ery nter!os t on of God# centres $!on one !o nt D the f del ty of man, And e6en f the ghosts of the de!arted and remembered co$ld come at m dn ght thro$gh the barred doors of o$r d3ell ngs# and the shro$ded dead sho$ld gl de thro$gh the a sles of o$r ch$rches and s t n o$r Mason c Tem!les# the r teach ngs 3o$ld be no more eloE$ent and m!ress 6e than the Great real t es of l feG than those memor es of m ss!ent years# those ghosts of de!arted o!!ort$n t es# that# !o nt ng to o$r consc ence and etern ty cry cont n$ally n o$r ears# @;or/ 3h le the day lastsO for the n ght of death cometh# n 3h ch no man can 3or/,S There are no to/ens of !$bl c mo$rn ng for the calam ty of the so$l, Men 3ee! 3hen the body d esG and 3hen t s borne to ts last rest# they follo3

t 3 th sad and mo$rnf$l !rocess on, B$t for the dy ng so$l there s no o!en lamentat onG for the lost so$l there are no obseE$ es, And yet the m nd and so$l of man ha6e a 6al$e 3h ch noth ng else has, They are 3orth a care 3h ch noth ng else s 3orthG and to the s ngle# sol tary nd 6 d$al# they o$ght to !ossess an nterest 3h ch noth ng else !ossesses, The stored treas$res of the heart# the $nfathomable m nes that are n the so$l to be 3ro$ght# the broad and bo$ndless realms of Tho$ght# the fre ghted argosy of man?s ho!es and best affect ons# are br ghter than gold and dearer than treas$re, And yet the m nd s n real ty l ttle /no3n or cons dered, It s all 3h ch man !ermanently s# h s n3ard be ng# h s d 6 ne energy# h s mmortal tho$ght# h s bo$ndless ca!ac ty# h s nf n te as! rat onG and ne6ertheless# fe3 6al$e t for 3hat t s 3orth, "e3 see a brotherDm nd n others# thro$gh the rags 3 th 3h ch !o6erty has clothed t# beneath the cr$sh ng b$rdens of l fe# am dst the close !ress$re of 3orldly tro$bles# 3ants and sorro3s, "e3

ac/no3ledge and cheer t n that h$mble blot# and feel that the nob l ty of earth# and the commenc ng glory of -ea6en are there, Men do not feel the 3orth of the r o3n so$ls, They are !ro$d of the r mental !o3ersG b$t the ntr ns c# nner# nf n te 3orth of the r o3n m nds they do not !erce 6e, The !oor man# adm tted to a !alace# feels# lofty and mmortal be ng as he s# l /e a mere ord nary th ng am d the s!lendors that s$rro$nd h m, -e sees the carr age of 3ealth roll by h m# and forgets the ntr ns c and eternal d gn ty of h s o3n m nd n a !oor and degrad ng en6y# and feels as an h$mbler creat$re# beca$se others are abo6e h m# not n m nd# b$t n mens$rat on, Men res!ect themsel6es# accord ng as they are more 3ealthy# h gher n ran/ or off ce# loft er n the 3orld?s o! n on# able to command more 6otes# more the fa6or tes of the !eo!le or of Po3er, The d fference among men s not so m$ch n the r nat$re and ntr ns c !o3er# as n the fac$lty of comm$n cat on, Some ha6e the ca!ac ty of $tter ng and embody ng n 3ords the r tho$ghts, All men# more or less# feel

those tho$ghts, The glory of gen $s and the ra!t$re of 6 rt$e# 3hen r ghtly re6ealed# are d ff$sed and shared among $nn$mbered m nds, ;hen eloE$ence and !oetry s!ea/G 3hen those glor o$s arts# stat$ary# !a nt ng# and m$s c# ta/e a$d ble or 6 s ble sha!eG 3hen !atr ot sm# char ty# and 6 rt$e s!ea/ 3 th a thr ll ng !otency# the hearts of tho$sands glo3 3 th a / ndred 5oy and ecstasy, If t 3ere not so# there 3o$ld be no eloE$enceG for eloE$ence s that to 3h ch other hearts res!ondG t s the fac$lty and !o3er of ma/ ng other hearts res!ond, 8o one s so lo3 or degraded# as not somet mes to be to$ched 3 th the bea$ty of goodness, 8o heart s made of mater als so common# or e6en base# as not somet mes to res!ond# thro$gh e6ery chord of t# to the call of honor# !atr ot sm# generos ty# and 6 rt$e, The !oor Afr can Sla6e 3 ll d e for the master, or m stress# or n defence of the ch ldren# 3hom he lo6es, The !oor# lost# scorned# abandoned# o$tcast 3oman 3 ll# 3 tho$t e4!ectat on of re3ard n$rse those 3ho are dy ng on e6ery hand# $tter strangers to her# 3 th a

contag o$s and horr d !est lence, The ! c/!oc/et 3 ll scale b$rn ng 3alls to resc$e ch ld or 3oman# $n/no3n to h m# from the ra6eno$s flames, Most glor o$s s th s ca!ac tyO A !o3er to comm$ne 3 th God and - s AngelsG a reflect on of the 'ncreated L ghtG a m rror that can collect and concentrate $!on tself all the moral s!lendors of the 'n 6erse, It s the so$l alone that g 6es any 6al$e to the th ngs of th s 3orld, and t s only by ra s ng the so$l to ts 5$st ele6at on abo6e all other th ngs# that 3e can loo/ r ghtly $!on the !$r!oses of th s earth, 8o sce!tre nor throne# nor str$ct$re of ages# nor broad em! re# can com!are 3 th the 3onders and grande$rs of a s ngle tho$ght, That alone# of all th ngs that ha6e been made# com!rehends the Ma/er of all, That alone s the /ey 3h ch $nloc/s all the treas$res of the 'n 6erseG the !o3er that re gns o6er S!ace# T me# and Etern ty, That# $nder God# s the So6ere gn D s!enser to man of all the bless ngs and glor es that l e 3 th n the com!ass of !ossess on# or the range of !oss b l ty, F rt$e# -ea6en# and Immortal ty e4 st not# nor e6er 3 ll e4 st for $s e4ce!t as they e4 st and 3 ll e4 st# n the !erce!t on# feel ng#

and tho$ght of the glor o$s m nd, My Brother# n the ho!e that yo$ ha6e l stened to and $nderstood the Instr$ct on and Lect$re of th s Degree# and that yo$ feel the d gn ty of yo$r o3n nat$re and the 6ast ca!ac t es of yo$r o3n so$l for good or e6 l# I !roceed br efly to comm$n cate to yo$ the rema n ng nstr$ct on of th s Degree, The -ebre3 3ord# n the old -ebre3 and Samar tan character# s$s!ended n the East# o6er the f 6e col$mns# s ADO8AT# one of the names of God# $s$ally translated LordG and 3h ch the -ebre3s# n read ng# al3ays s$bst t$te for the Tr$e 8ame# 3h ch s for them neffable, The f 6e col$mns# n the f 6e d fferent orders of arch tect$re# are emblemat cal to $s of the f 6e !r nc !al d 6 s ons of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te( ), D The T$scan# of the three bl$e Degrees# or the !r m t 6e Masonry, 0, D The Dor c# of the neffable Degrees# from the# fo$rth to the fo$rteenth#

ncl$s 6e, 9, D The Ion c# of the f fteenth and s 4teenth# or second tem!le Degrees, :, D The %or nth an# of the se6enteenth and e ghteenth Degrees# or those of the ne3 la3, 7, D The %om!os te# of the !h loso!h cal and ch 6alr c Degrees nterm ngled# from the n neteenth to the th rtyDsecond# ncl$s 6e, The 8orth Star# al3ays f 4ed and mm$table for $s# re!resents the !o nt n the centre of the c rcle# or the De ty n the centre of the 'n 6erse, It s the es!ec al symbol of d$ty and of fa th, To t# and the se6en that cont n$ally re6ol6e aro$nd t# myst cal mean ngs are attached# 3h ch yo$ 3 ll learn hereafter# f yo$ sho$ld be !erm tted to ad6ance# 3hen yo$ are made acE$a nted 3 th the !h loso!h cal doctr nes of the -ebre3s, The Morn ng Star# r s ng n the East# &$! ter# called by the -ebre3s TsadUc or

Tsydy/# &$st# s an emblem to $s of the e6er a!!roach ng da3n of !erfect on and Mason c l ght, The three great l ghts of the Lodge are symbols to $s of the Po3er# ; sdom# and Benef cence of the De ty, They are also symbols of the f rst three Se!h roth# or Emanat ons of the De ty# accord ng to the Kabalah# Kether# the omn !otent d 6 ne 3 llG %hochmah# the d 6 ne ntellect$al !o3er to generate tho$ght# and B nah# the d 6 ne ntellect$al ca!ac ty to !rod$ce t D the t3o latter# $s$ally translated ; sdom and 'nderstand ng# be ng the act 6e and the !ass 6e# the !os t 6e and the negat 6e# 3h ch 3e do not yet endea6or to e4!la n to yo$, They are the col$mns &ach n and Boa<# that stand at the entrance to the Mason c Tem!le, In another as!ect of th s Degree# the %h ef of the Arch tects A # Rab Bana m#B symbol <es the const t$t onal e4ec$t 6e head and ch ef of a free go6ernmentG and the Degree teaches $s that no free go6ernment can long end$re# 3hen the

!eo!le cease to select for the r mag strates the best and the 3 sest of the r statesmenG 3hen# !ass ng these by# they !erm t fact ons or sord d nterests to select for them the small# the lo3# the gnoble# and the obsc$re# and nto s$ch hands comm t the co$ntry?s dest n es, There s# after all# a @d 6 ne r ght@ to go6ernG and t s 6ested n the ablest# 3 sest# best# of e6ery nat on, @%o$nsel s m ne# and so$nd 3 sdom( I am $nderstand ng( I am !o3er( by me / ngs do re gn# and !r nces decree 5$st ceG by me !r nces r$le# and nobles# e6en all the mag strates of the earth,@ "or the !resent# my Brother# let th s s$ff ce, ;e 3elcome yo$ among $s# to th s !eacef$l retreat of 6 rt$e# to a !art c !at on n o$r !r 6 leges# to a share n o$r 5oys and o$r sorro3s,

PIII, RO.AL AR%- O" SOLOMO8,

;-ET-ER the legend and h story of th s Degree are h stor cally tr$e# or b$t an allegory# conta n ng n tself a dee!er tr$th and a !rofo$nder mean ng# 3e shall not no3 debate, If t be b$t a legendary myth# yo$ m$st f nd o$t for yo$rself 3hat t means, It s certa n that the 3ord 3h ch the -ebre3s are not no3 !erm tted to !rono$nce 3as n common $se by Abraham# Lot# Isaac# &acob# Laban# Rebecca# and e6en among tr bes fore gn to the -ebre3s# before the t me of MosesG and that t rec$rs a h$ndred t mes n the lyr cal eff$s ons of Da6 d and other -ebre3 !oets, ;e /no3 that for many cent$r es the -ebre3s ha6e been forb dden to !rono$nce the Sacred 8ameG that 3here6er t occ$rs# they ha6e for ages read the 3ord AdonaV nsteadG and that $nder t# 3hen the masoret c !o nts# 3h ch re!resent the 6o3els# came to be $sed# they !laced those 3h ch belonged to the latter 3ord, The !ossess on of the tr$e !ron$nc at on 3as deemed to confer on h m 3ho had t e4traord nary and

s$!ernat$ral !o3ersG and the ;ord tself# 3orn $!on the !erson# 3as regarded as an am$let# a !rotect on aga nst !ersonal danger# s c/ness# and e6 l s! r ts, ;e /no3 that all th s 3as a 6a n s$!erst t on# nat$ral to a r$de !eo!le# necessar ly d sa!!ear ng as the ntellect of man became enl ghtenedG and 3holly $n3orthy of a Mason, It s not ceable that th s not on of the sanct ty of the D 6 ne 8ame or %reat 6e ;ord 3as common to all the anc ent nat ons, The Sacred ;ord -OM 3as s$!!osed by the anc ent Pers ans M3ho 3ere among the earl est em grants from 8orthern Ind aN to be !regnant 3 th a myster o$s !o3erG and they ta$ght that by ts $tterance the 3orld 3as created, In Ind a t 3as forb dden to !rono$nce the 3ord A'M or OM# the Sacred 8ame of the One De ty# man fested as Brahma# F shna# and See6a, These s$!erst t o$s not ons n regard to the eff cacy of the ;ord# and the !roh b t on aga nst !rono$nc ng t# co$ld# be ng errors# ha6e formed no !art of the !$re !r m t 6e rel g on# or of the esoter c doctr ne ta$ght by Moses# and the f$ll /no3ledge of 3h ch 3as conf ned to the In t atesG

$nless the 3hole 3as b$t an ngen o$s n6ent on for the concealment of some other 8ame or tr$th# the nter!retat on and mean ng 3hereof 3as made /no3n only to the select fe3, If so# the common not ons n regard to the ;ord gre3 $! n the m nds of the !eo!le# l /e other errors and fables among all the anc ent nat ons# o$t of or g nal tr$ths and symbols and allegor es m s$nderstood, So t has al3ays been that allegor es# ntended as 6eh cles of tr$th# to be $nderstood by the sages# ha6e become or bred errors# by be ng l terally acce!ted, It s tr$e# that before the masoret c !o nts 3ere n6ented M3h ch 3as after the beg nn ng of the %hr st an eraN# the !ron$nc at on of a 3ord n the -ebre3 lang$age co$ld not be /no3n from the characters n 3h ch t 3as 3r tten, It 3as# therefore# !oss ble for that of the name of the De ty to ha6e been forgotten and lost, It s certa n that ts tr$e !ron$nc at on s not that re!resented by the 3ord &eho6ahG and therefore that that s not the tr$e name of De ty# nor the Ineffable ;ord, The anc ent symbols and allegor es al3ays had more than one

nter!retat on, They al3ays had a do$ble mean ng# and somet mes more than t3o# one ser6 ng as the en6elo!e of the other, Th$s the !ron$nc at on of the 3ord 3as a symbolG and that !ron$nc at on and the 3ord tself 3ere lost# 3hen the /no3ledge of the tr$e nat$re and attr b$tes of God faded o$t of the m nds of the &e3 sh !eo!le, That s one nter!retat on D tr$e# b$t not the nner and !rofo$ndest one, Men 3ere f g$rat 6ely sa d to forget the name of God# 3hen they lost that /no3ledge# and 3orsh !!ed the heathen de t es# and b$rned ncense to them on the h gh !laces# and !assed the r ch ldren thro$gh the f re to Moloch, Th$s the attem!ts of the anc ent Israel tes and of the In t ates to ascerta n the Tr$e 8ame of the De ty# and ts !ron$nc at on# and the loss of the Tr$e ;ord# are an allegory# n 3h ch are re!resented the general gnorance of the tr$e nat$re and attr b$tes of God# the !roneness of the !eo!le of &$dah and Israel to 3orsh ! other de t es# and the lo3 and erroneo$s and d shonor ng not ons of the Grand

Arch tect of the 'n 6erse# 3h ch all shared e4ce!t a fe3 fa6ored !ersonsG for e6en Solomon b$ lt altars and sacr f ced to Astarat# the goddess of the Ts d$mm# and MalcWm# the AamWn te god# and b$ lt h gh !laces for KamWs# the Moab te de ty# and Malec the god of the Ben DAamWn, The tr$e nat$re of God 3as $n/no3n to them# l /e - s nameG and they 3orsh !!ed the cal6es of &eroboam# as n the desert they d d that made for them by AarWn, The mass of the -ebre3s d d not bel e6e n the e4 stence of one only God $nt l a late !er od n the r h story, The r, early and !o!$lar deas of the De ty 3ere s ng$larly lo3 and $n3orthy, E6en 3h le Moses 3as rece 6 ng the la3 $!on Mo$nt S na # they forced AarWn to ma/e them an mage of the Egy!t an god A! s# and fell do3n and adored t, They 3ere e6er ready to ret$rn to the 3orsh ! of the gods of the M t<ra mG and soon after the death of &osh$a they became de6o$t 3orsh !!ers of the false gods of all the s$rro$nd ng nat ons, @.e ha6e borne#@ Amos# the !ro!het# sa d to them# s!ea/ ng of the r forty years? 5o$rney ng n the desert# $nder Moses#

@the tabernacle of yo$r Malec and Ka Wn yo$r dols# the star of yo$r god# 3h ch ye made to yo$rsel6es,@ Among them# as among other nat ons# the conce!t ons of God formed by nd 6 d$als 6ar ed accord ng to the r ntellect$al and s! r t$al ca!ac t esG !oor and m!erfect# and n6est ng God 3 th the commonest and coarest attr b$tes of h$man ty# among the gnorant and coarseG !$re and lofty among the 6 rt$o$s and r chly g fted, These conce!t ons grad$ally m!ro6ed and became !$r f ed and ennobled# as the nat on ad6anced n c 6 l <at on D be ng lo3est n the h stor cal boo/s# amended n the !ro!het c 3r t ngs# and reach ng the r h ghest ele6at on among the !oets, Among all the anc ent nat ons there 3as one fa th and one dea of De ty for the enl ghtened# ntell gent# and ed$cated# and another for the common !eo!le, To th s r$le the -ebre3s 3ere no e4ce!t on, .eho6ah# to the mass of the !eo!le# 3as l /e the gods of the nat ons aro$nd them# e4ce!t that he 3as the !ec$l ar God# f rst of the fam ly of Abraham# of that of Isaac# and of that of &acob# and after3ard the 8at onal GodG and# as they

bel e6ed# more !o3erf$l than the other gods of the same nat$re 3orsh !!ed by the r ne ghbors D @;ho among the Baal m s l /e $nto thee# O .eho6ahJ@ D e4!ressed the r 3hole creed, The De ty of the early -ebre3s tal/ed to Adam and E6e n the garden of del ght# as he 3al/ed n t n the cool of the dayG he con6ersed 3 th Kay nG he sat and ate 3 th Abraham n h s tentG that !atr arch reE$ red a 6 s ble to/en# before he 3o$ld bel e6e n h s !os t 6e !rom seG he !erm tted Abraham to e4!ost$late 3 th h m# and to nd$ce h m to change h s f rst determ nat on n regard to SodomG he 3restled 3 th &acobG he sho3ed Moses h s !erson# tho$gh not h s faceG he d ctated the m n$test !ol ce reg$lat ons and the d mens ons of the tabernacle and ts f$rn t$re# to the Israel tesG he ns sted on and del ghted n sacr f ces and b$rntDoffer ngsG he 3as angry# 5ealo$s# and re6engef$l# as 3ell as 3a6er ng and rresol$teG he allo3ed Moses to reason h m o$t of h s f 4ed resol$t on $tterly to destroy h s !eo!leG he commanded the !erformance of the most shoc/ ng and

h deo$s acts of cr$elty and barbar ty, -e hardened the heart of PharaohG he re!ented of the e6 l that he had sa d he 3o$ld do $nto the !eo!le of 8 ne6ehG and he d d t not# to the d sg$st and anger of &onah, S$ch 3ere the !o!$lar not ons of the De tyG and e ther the !r ests had none better# or too/ l ttle tro$ble to correct these not onsG or the !o!$lar ntellect 3as not eno$gh enlarged to enable them to enterta n any h gher conce!t ons of the Alm ghty, B$t s$ch 3ere not the deas of the ntellect$al and enl ghtened fe3 among the -ebre3s, It s certa n that they !ossessed a /no3ledge of the tr$e nat$re and attr b$tes of GodG as the same class of men d d among the other nat ons D Horoaster# Men$# %onf$c $s# Socrates# and Plato, B$t the r doctr nes on th s s$b5ect 3ere esoter cG they d d not comm$n cate them to the !eo!le at large# b$t only to a fa6ored fe3G and as they 3ere comm$n cated n Egy!t and Ind a# n Pers a and Phoen c a# n Greece and Samothrace# n the greater myster es# to the In t ates, The comm$n cat on of th s /no3ledge and other secrets# some of 3h ch are !erha!s lost# const t$ted# $nder other names# 3hat 3e no3 call

Masonry# or "ree or "ran/DMasonry, That /no3ledge 3as# n one sense# the Lost ;ord# 3h ch 3as made /no3n to the Grand Elect# Perfect# and S$bl me Masons, It 3o$ld be folly to !retend that the forms of Masonry 3ere the same n those ages as they are no3, The !resent name of the Order# and ts t tles# and the names of the Degrees no3 n $se# 3ere not then /no3n, E6en Bl$e Masonry cannot trace bac/ ts a$thent c h story# 3 th ts !resent Degrees# f$rther than the year )+22# f so far, B$t# by 3hate6er name t 3as /no3n n th s or the other co$ntry# Masonry e4 sted as t no3 e4 sts# the same n s! r t and at heart# not only 3hen Solomon b$ lded the tem!le# b$t cent$r es before D before e6en the f rst colon es em grated nto So$thern Ind a# Pers a# and Egy!t# from the cradle of the h$man race, The S$!reme# SelfDe4 stent# Eternal# AllD3 se# AllD!o3erf$l# Inf n tely Good# P ty ng# Benef cent# and Merc f$l %reator and Preser6er of the 'n 6erse 3as the same# by 3hate6er name he 3as called# to the ntellect$al and

enl ghtened men of all nat ons, The name 3as noth ng# f not a symbol and re!resentat 6e h erogly!h of h s nat$re and attr b$tes, The name AL re!resented h s remoteness abo6e men# h s naccess b l tyG BAL and BALA# h s m ghtG ALO-IM# h s 6ar o$s !otenc esG I-'-# e4 stence and the generat on of th ngs, 8one of h s names# among the Or entals# 3ere the symbols of a d 6 nely nf n te lo6e and tenderness# and allDembrac ng mercy, As MOLO%- or MALEK he 3as b$t an omn !otent monarch# a tremendo$s and rres!ons ble ; llG as ADO8AT# only an arb trary LORD and MasterG as AL ShadaV# !otent and a DESTRO.ER, To comm$n cate tr$e and correct deas n res!ect of the De ty 3as one ch ef ob5ect of the myster es, In them# KhWrWm the K ng# and KhWrWm the Master# obta ned the r /no3ledge of h m and h s attr b$tesG and n them that /no3ledge 3as ta$ght to Moses and Pythagoras, ;herefore noth ng forb ds yo$ to cons der the 3hole legend of th s Degree# l /e that of the Master?s# an allegory# re!resent ng the !er!et$at on of the /no3ledge of the Tr$e God n the sanct$ar es of

n t at on, By the s$bterranean 6a$lts yo$ may $nderstand the !laces of n t at on# 3h ch n the anc ent ceremon es 3ere generally $nder gro$nd, The Tem!le of Solomon !resented a symbol c mage of the 'n 6erseG and resembled# n ts arrangements and f$rn t$re# all the tem!les of the anc ent nat ons that !ract sed the myster es, The system of n$mbers 3as nt mately connected 3 th the r rel g ons and 3orsh !# and has come do3n to $s n MasonryG tho$gh the esoter c mean ng 3 th 3h ch the n$mbers $sed by $s are !regnant s $n/no3n to the 6ast ma5or ty of those 3ho $se them, Those n$mbers 3ere es!ec ally em!loyed that had a reference to the De ty# re!resented h s attr b$tes# or f g$red n the frameD3or/ of the 3orld# n t me and s!ace# and formed more or less the bases of that frameD3or/, These 3ere $n 6ersally regarded as sacred# be ng the e4!ress on of order and ntell gence# the $tterances of D 6 n ty - mself, The -oly of -ol es of the Tem!le formed a c$beG n 3h ch# dra3n on a !lane s$rface# there are : X 9 X 0 Y 1 l nes 6 s ble# and three s des or

faces, It corres!onded 3 th the n$mber fo$r# by 3h ch the anc ents !resented 8at$re# t be ng the n$mber of s$bstances or cor!oreal forms# and of the elements# the card nal !o nts and seasons# and the secondary colors, The n$mber three e6ery3here re!resented the S$!reme Be ng, -ence the name of the De ty# engra6en $!on the tr ang$lar !late# and that s$n/en nto the c$be of agate# ta$ght the anc ent Mason# and teaches $s# that the tr$e /no3ledge of God# of - s nat$re and - s attr b$tes s 3r tten by - m $!on the lea6es of the great Boo/ of 'n 6ersal 8at$re# and may be read there by all 3ho are endo3ed 3 th the reE$ s te amo$nt of ntellect and ntell gence, Th s /no3ledge of God# so 3r tten there# and of 3h ch Masonry has n all ages been the nter!reter# s the Master Mason?s ;ord, ; th n the Tem!le# all the arrangements 3ere myst cally and symbol cally connected 3 th the same system, The 6a$lt or ce l ng# starred l /e the f rmament# 3as s$!!orted by t3el6e col$mns# re!resent ng the t3el6e months of the year, The border that ran aro$nd the col$mns re!resented the <od ac# and one of the t3el6e celest al s gns 3as a!!ro!r ated to each

col$mn, The bra<en sea 3as s$!!orted by t3el6e o4en# three loo/ ng to each card nal !o nt of the com!ass, And so n o$r day e6ery Mason c Lodge re!resents the 'n 6erse, Each e4tends# 3e are told# from the r s ng to the sett ng s$n# from the So$th to the 8orth# from the s$rface of the Earth to the -ea6ens# and from the same to the centre of the globe, In t are re!resented the s$n# moon# and starsG three great torches n the East# ;est# and So$th# form ng a tr angle# g 6e t l ght( and# l /e the Delta or Tr angle s$s!ended n the East# and nclos ng the Ineffable 8ame# nd cate# by the mathemat cal eE$al ty of the angles and s des# the bea$t f$l and harmon o$s !ro!ort ons 3h ch go6ern n the aggregate and deta ls of the 'n 6erseG 3h le those s des and angles re!resent# by the r n$mber# three# the Tr n ty of Po3er# ; sdom# and -armony# 3h ch !res ded at the b$ ld ng of th s mar6ello$s 3or/ These three great l ghts also re!resent the great mystery of the three !r nc !les# of creat on# d ssol$t on or destr$ct on# and re!rod$ct on or regenerat on# consecrated by all creeds n the r n$mero$s

Tr n t es, The l$m no$s !edestal# l ghted by the !er!et$al flame 3 th n# s a symbol of that l ght of Reason# g 6en by God to man# by 3h ch he s enabled to read n the Boo/ of 8at$re the record of the tho$ght# the re6elat on of the attr b$tes of the De ty, The three Masters# Adon ram# &oabert# and Stol/ n# are ty!es of the Tr$e Mason# 3ho see/s for /no3ledge from !$re mot 6es# and that he may be the better enabled to ser6e and benef t h s fello3DmenG 3h le the d scontented and !res$m!t$o$s Masters 3ho 3ere b$r ed n the r$ ns of the arches re!resent those 3ho str 6e to acE$ re t for $nholy !$r!oses# to ga n !o3er o6er the r fello3s# to grat fy the r !r de# the r 6an ty# or the r amb t on, The L on that g$arded the Ar/ and held n h s mo$th the /ey 3here3 th to o!en t# f g$rat 6ely re!resents Solomon# the L on of the Tr be of &$dah# 3ho !reser6ed and comm$n cated the /ey to the tr$e /no3ledge of God# of - s la3s# and of the !rofo$nd myster es of the moral and !hys cal 'n 6erse,

E8O%- A KhanUcB# 3e are told# 3al/ed 3 th God three h$ndred years# after reach ng the age of s 4tyDf 6e D @3al/ed 3 th God# and he 3as no more# for God had ta/en h m,@ - s name s gn f ed n the -ebre3# I8ITIATE or I8ITIATOR, The legend of the col$mns# of gran te and brass or bron<e# erected by h m# s !robably symbol cal, That of bron<e# 3h ch s$r6 6ed the flood# s s$!!osed to symbol <e the myster es# of 3h ch Masonry s the leg t mate s$ccessor D from the earl est t mes the c$stod an and de!os tory of the great !h loso!h cal and rel g o$s tr$ths# $n/no3n to the 3orld at large# and handed do3n from age to age by an $nbro/en c$rrent of trad t on# embod ed n symbols# emblems# and allegor es, The legend of th s Degree s th$s# !art ally# nter!reted, It s of l ttle m!ortance 3hether t s n any3 se h stor cal, "or ts 6al$e cons sts n the lessons 3h ch t nc$lcates# and the d$t es 3h ch t !rescr bes to those 3ho rece 6e t, The !arables and allegor es of the Scr !t$res are not less 6al$able

than h story, 8ay# they are more so# beca$se anc ent h story s l ttle nstr$ct 6e# and tr$ths are concealed n and symbol <ed by the legend and the myth, There are !rofo$nder mean ngs concealed n the symbols of th s Degree# connected 3 th the !h loso!h cal system of the -ebre3 Kabal sts# 3h ch yo$ 3 ll learn hereafter# f yo$ sho$ld be so fort$nate as to ad6ance, They are $nfolded n the h gher Degrees, The l on A Ara # Ara ah# 3h ch also means the altarB st ll holds n h s mo$th the /ey of the en gma of the s!hyn4, B$t there s one a!!l cat on of th s Degree# that yo$ are no3 ent tled to /no3G and 3h ch# remember ng that KhWrWm# the Master# s the symbol of h$man freedom# yo$ 3o$ld !robably d sco6er for yo$rself, It s not eno$gh for a !eo!le to ga n ts l berty, It m$st sec$re t, It m$st not ntr$st t to the /ee! ng# or hold t at the !leas$re# of any one man, The /eystone of the Royal Arch of the great Tem!le of L berty s a f$ndamental

la3# charter# or const t$t onG the e4!ress on of the f 4ed hab ts of tho$ght of the !eo!le# embod ed n a 3r tten nstr$ment# or the res$lt of the slo3 accret ons and the consol dat on of cent$r esG the same n 3ar as n !eaceG that cannot be hast ly changed# nor be 6 olated 3 th m!$n ty# b$t s sacred# l /e the Ar/ of the %o6enant of God# 3h ch none co$ld to$ch and l 6e, A !ermanent const t$t on# rooted n the affect ons# e4!ress ng the 3 ll and 5$dgment# and b$ lt $!on the nst ncts and settled hab ts of tho$ght of the !eo!le# 3 th an nde!endent 5$d c ary# an elect 6e leg slat$re of t3o branches# an e4ec$t 6e res!ons ble to the !eo!le# and the r ght of tr al by 5$ry# 3 ll g$arantee the l bert es of a !eo!le# f t be 6 rt$o$s and tem!erate# 3 tho$t l$4$ry# and 3 tho$t the l$st of conE$est and dom n on# and the foll es of 6 s onary theor es of m!oss ble !erfect on, Masonry teaches ts In t ates that the !$rs$ ts and occ$!at ons of th s l fe# ts act 6 ty# care# and ngen$ ty# the !redest ned de6elo!ments of the

nat$re g 6en $s by God# tend to !romote - s great des gn# n ma/ ng the 3orldG and are not at 3ar 3 th the great !$r!ose of l fe, It teaches that e6eryth ng s bea$t f$l n ts t me# n ts !lace# n ts a!!o nted off ceG that e6eryth ng 3h ch man s !$t to do# f r ghtly and fa thf$lly done# nat$rally hel!s to 3or/ o$t h s sal6at onG that f he obeys the gen$ ne !r nc !les of h s call ng# he 3 ll be a good man( and that t s only by neglect and non!erformance of the tas/ set for h m by -ea6en# by 3ander ng nto dle d ss !at on# or by 6 olat ng the r benef cent and lofty s! r t# that he becomes a bad man, The a!!o nted act on of l fe s the great tra n ng of Pro6 denceG and f man y elds h mself to t# he 3 ll need ne ther ch$rches nor ord nances# e4ce!t for the e4!ress on of h s rel g o$s homage and grat t$de, "or there s a rel g on of to l, It s not all dr$dgery# a mere stretch ng of the l mbs and stra n ng of the s ne3s to tas/s, It has a mean ng and an ntent, A l 6 ng heart !o$rs l feDblood nto the to l ng armG and 3arm affect ons

ns! re and m ngle 3 th man?s labors, They are the home affect ons, Labor to ls aDf eld# or !l es ts tas/ n c t es# or $rges the /eels of commerce o6er 3 de oceansG b$t home s ts centreG and th ther t e6er goes 3 th ts earn ngs# 3 th the means of s$!!ort and comfort for othersG offer ngs sacred to the tho$ght of e6ery tr$e man# as a sacr f ce at a golden shr ne, Many fa$lts there are am dst the to ls of l feG many harsh and hasty 3ords are $tteredG b$t st ll the to ls go on# 3eary and hard and e4as!erat ng as they often are, "or n that home s age or s c/ness# or hel!less nfancy# or gentle ch ldhood# or feeble 3oman# that m$st not 3ant, If man had no other than mere self sh m!$lses# the scene of labor 3h ch 3e behold aro$nd $s 3o$ld not e4 st, The ad6ocate 3ho fa rly and honestly !resents h s case# 3 th feel ng of tr$e selfDres!ect# honor# and consc ence# to hel! the tr b$nal on to3ards the r ght concl$s on# 3 th a con6 ct on that God?s 5$st ce re gns there# s act ng a rel g o$s !art# lead ng that day rel g o$s l feG or else r ght and 5$st ce are no !art of rel g on ;hether# d$r ng all that day# he has once

a!!ealed# n form or n terms# to h s consc ence# or notG 3hether he has once s!o/en of rel g on and God# or notG f there has been the n3ard !$r!ose# the consc o$s ntent and des re# that sacred 5$st ce sho$ld tr $m!h# he has that day led a good and rel g o$s l fe# and made most a essent al contr b$t on to that rel g on of l fe and of soc ety# the ca$se of eE$ ty bet3een man and man# and of tr$th and r ght act on n the 3orld, Boo/s# to be of rel g o$s tendency n the Mason c sense# need not be boo/s of sermons# of ! o$s e4erc ses# or of !rayers, ;hate6er nc$lcates !$re# noble# and !atr ot c sent ments# or to$ches the heart 3 th the bea$ty of 6 rt$e# and the e4cellence of an $!r ght l fe# accords 3 th the rel g on of Masonry# and s the Gos!el of l terat$re and art, That Gos!el s !reached fro m many a boo/ and !a nt ng# from many a !oem and f ct on# and re6 e3 and ne3s!a!erG and t s a !a nf$l error and m serable narro3ness# not to recogn <e these 3 deDs!read agenc es of -ea6en?s !ro6 d ngG not to see and 3elcome these manyDhanded coad5$tors# to the great and good ca$se, The oracles of God do not s!ea/ from the !$l! t alone,

There s also a rel g on of soc ety, In b$s ness# there s m$ch more than sale# e4change# !r ce# !aymentG for there s the sacred fa th of man n man, ;hen 3e re!ose !erfect conf dence n the ntegr ty of anotherG 3hen 3e feel that he 3 ll not s3er6e from the r ght# fran/# stra ghtfor3ard# consc ent o$s co$rse# for any tem!tat onG h s ntegr ty and consc ent o$sness are the mage of God to $sG and 3hen 3e bel e6e n t# t s as great and genero$s an act# as 3hen 3e bel e6e n the rect t$de of the De ty, In gay assembl es for am$sement# the good affect ons of l fe g$sh and m ngle, If they d d not# these gather ngD!laces 3o$ld be as dreary and re!$ls 6e as the ca6es and dens of o$tla3s and robbers, ;hen fr ends meet# and hands are 3armly !ressed# and the eye / ndles and the co$ntenance s s$ff$sed 3 th gladness# there s a rel g on bet3een the r heartsG and each lo6es and 3orsh !s the Tr$e and Good that s n the other, It s not !ol cy# or selfD nterest# or self shness that s!reads s$ch a charm aro$nd that meet ng# b$t the halo of br ght and bea$t f$l affect on,

The same s!lendor of / ndly l / ng# and affect onate regard# sh nes l /e the soft o6erarch ng s/y# o6er all the 3orldG o6er all !laces 3here men meet# and 3al/ or to l togetherG not o6er lo6ers? bo3ers and marr ageDaltars alone# not o6er the homes of !$r ty and tenderness aloneG b$t o6er all t lled f elds# and b$sy 3or/sho!s# and d$sty h gh3ays# and !a6ed streets, There s not a 3orn stone $!on the s de3al/s# b$t has been the altar of s$ch offer ngs of m$t$al / ndnessG nor a 3ooden ! llar or ron ra l ng aga nst 3h ch hearts beat ng 3 th affect on ha6e not leaned, -o3 many soe6er other elements there are n the stream of l fe flo3 ng thro$gh these channels# that s s$rely here and e6ery3hereG honest# heartfelt# d s nterested# ne4!ress ble affect on, E6ery Mason c Lodge s a tem!le of rel g onG and ts teach ngs are nstr$ct on n rel g on, "or here are nc$lcated d s nterestedness# affect on# tolerat on# de6otedness# !atr ot sm# tr$th# a genero$s sym!athy 3 th those 3ho s$ffer and mo$rn# ! ty for the fallen# mercy for the err ng# rel ef for those n 3ant# "a th# -o!e# and %har ty, -ere 3e meet as brethren# to

learn to /no3 and lo6e each other, -ere 3e greet each other gladly# are len ent to each other?s fa$lts# regardf$l of each other?s feel ngs# ready to rel e6e each other?s 3ants, Th s s the tr$e rel g on re6ealed to the anc ent !atr archsG 3h ch Masonry has ta$ght for many cent$r es# and 3h ch t 3 ll cont n$e to teach as long as t me end$res, If $n3orthy !ass ons# or self sh# b tter# or re6engef$l feel ngs# contem!t# d sl /e# hatred# enter here# they are ntr$ders and n t 3elcome# strangers $n n6 ted# and not g$ests, %erta nly there are many e6 ls and bad !ass ons# and m$ch hate and contem!t and $n/ ndness e6ery3here n the 3orld, ;e cannot ref$se to see the e6 l Dthat s n l fe, B$t all s not e6 l, ;e st ll see God n the 3orld, There s good am dst the e6 l, The hand of mercy leads 3ealth to the ho6els of !o6erty and sorro3, Tr$th and s m!l c ty l 6e am d many 3 les and so!h str es, There are good hearts $nderneath gay robes# and $nder tattered garments also, Lo6e clas!s the hand of lo6e# am d all the en6y ngs and d stract ons of

sho3y com!et t onG f del ty# ! ty# and sym!athy hold the long n ghtD3atch by the beds de of the s$ffer ng ne ghbor# am dst the s$rro$nd ng !o6erty and sE$al d m sery, De6oted men go from c ty to c ty to n$rse those sm tten do3n by the terr ble !est lence that rene3s at nter6als ts myster o$s marches, ;omen 3ellDborn and del cately n$rt$red n$rsed the 3o$nded sold ers n hos! tals# before t became fash onable to do soG and e6en !oor lost 3omen# 3hom God alone lo6es and ! t es# tend the !lag$estr c/en 3 th a !at ent and genero$s hero sm, Masonry and ts / ndred Orders teach men to lo6e each other# feed the h$ngry# clothe the na/ed# comfort the s c/# and b$ry the fr endless dead, E6ery3here God f nds and blesses the / ndly off ce# the ! ty ng tho$ght# and the lo6 ng heart, There s an element of good n all men?s la3f$l !$rs$ ts and a d 6 ne s! r t breath ng n all the r la3f$l affect ons, The gro$nd on 3h ch they tread s holy gro$nd, There s a nat$ral rel g on of l fe# ans3er ng# 3 th ho3e6er many a bro/en tone# to the rel g on of nat$re, There s a bea$ty and glory n -$man ty,# n man# ans3er ng# 3 th ho3e6er many a m ngl ng shade# to

the lo6el ness of soft landsca!es and s3ell ng h lls# and the 3ondro$s Men may be 6 rt$o$s# selfD m!ro6 ng# and rel g o$s n the r em!loyments, Prec sely for that# those em!loyments 3ere made, All the r soc al relat ons# fr endsh !# lo6e # the t es of fam ly# 3ere made to be holy, They may be rel g o$s# not by a / nd of !rotest and res stance aga nst the r se6eral 6ocat onsG b$t by conform ty to the r tr$e s! r t, Those 6ocat ons do not e4cl$de rel g onG b$t demand t# for the r o3n !erfect on, They may be rel g o$s laborers# 3hether n f eld or factoryG rel g o$s !hys c ans# la3yers# sc$l!tors# !oets# !a nters# and m$s c ans, They may be rel g o$s n all the to ls and n all the am$sements of l fe, The r l fe may be a rel g onG the broad earth ts altarG ts ncense the 6ery breath of l feG ts f res e6er / ndled by the br ghtness of -ea6en, Bo$nd $! 3 th o$r !oor# fra l l fe# s the m ghty tho$ght that s!$rns the narro3 s!an of all 6 s ble e4 stence, E6er the so$l reaches o$t3ard# and as/s for freedom, It loo/s forth from the narro3 and grated 3 ndo3s of sense# $!on the 3 de mmeas$rable creat onG t /no3s that aro$nd t and

beyond t l e o$tstretched the nf n te and e6erlast ng !aths, E6eryth ng 3 th n $s and 3 tho$t $s o$ght to st r o$r m nds to adm rat on and 3onder, ;e are a mystery encom!assed 3 th myster es, The connect on of m nd 3 th matter s a mysteryG the 3onderf$l telegra!h c comm$n cat on bet3een the bra n and e6ery !art of the body# the !o3er and act on of the 3 ll, E6ery fam l ar ste! s more than a story n a land of enchantment, The !o3er of mo6ement s as myster o$s as the !o3er of tho$ght, Memory# and dreams that are the nd st nct echoes of dead memor es are al /e ne4!l cable, 'n 6ersal harmony s!r ngs from nf n te com!l cat on, The moment$m of e6ery ste! 3e ta/e n o$r d3ell ng contr b$tes n !art to the order of the 'n 6erse, ;e are connected by t es of tho$ght# and e6en of matter and ts forces# 3 th the 3hole bo$ndless 'n 6erse and all the !ast and com ng generat ons of men, The h$mblest ob5ect beneath o$r eye as com!letely def es o$r scr$t ny as the economy of the most d stant star, E6ery leaf and e6ery blade of grass holds 3 th n tself secrets 3h ch no h$man !enetrat on 3 ll e6er fathom, 8o

man can tell 3hat s ts !r nc !le of l fe, 8o man can /no3 3hat h s !o3er of secret on s, Both are nscr$table myster es, ;here6er 3e !lace o$r hand 3e lay t $!on the loc/ed bosom of mystery, Ste! 3here 3e 3 ll# 3e tread $!on 3onders, The seaDsands# the clods of the f eld# the 3aterD3orn !ebbles on the h lls# the r$de masses of roc/# are traced o6er and o6er# n e6ery d rect on# 3 th a hand3r t ng older and more s gn f cant and s$bl me than all the anc ent r$ ns# and all the o6erthro3n and b$r ed c t es that !ast generat ons ha6e left $!on the earthG for t s the hand3r t ng of the Alm ghty, A Mason?s great b$s ness 3 th l fe s to read the boo/ of ts teach ngG to f nd that l fe s not the do ng of dr$dger es# b$t the hear ng of oracles, The old mythology s b$t a leaf n that boo/G for t !eo!led the 3orld 3 th s! r t$al nat$resG and sc ence# manyDlea6ed# st ll s!reads before $s the same tale of 3onder, ;e shall be 5$st as ha!!y hereafter# as 3e are !$re and $!r ght# and no

more# 5$st as ha!!y as o$r character !re!ares $s to be# and no more, O$r moral# l /e o$r mental character# s n$t formed n a momentG t s the hab t of o$r m ndsG the res$lt of many tho$ghts and feel ngs and efforts# bo$nd together by many nat$ral and strong t es, The great la3 of Retr b$t on s# that all com ng e4!er ence s to be affected by e6ery !resent feel ngG e6ery f$t$re moment of be ng m$st ans3er for e6ery !resent momentG one moment# sacr f ced to 6 ce# or lost to m!ro6ement# s fore6er sacr f ced and lostG an ho$r?s delay to enter the r ght !ath# s to !$t $s bac/ so far# n the e6erlast ng !$rs$ t of ha!! nessG and e6ery s n# e6en of the best men# s to be th$s ans3ered for# f not accord ng to the f$ll meas$re of ts lldesert# yet accord ng to a r$le of $nbend ng rect t$de and m!art al ty, The la3 of retr b$t on !resses $!on e6ery m an# 3hether he th n/s of t or not, It !$rs$es h m thro$gh all the co$rses of l fe# 3 th a ste! that ne6er falters nor t res# and 3 th an eye that ne6er slee!s, If t 3ere not so# God?s go6ernment 3o$ld not be m!art alG ?there 3o$ld be no d scr m nat onG no

moral dom n onG no l ght shed $!on the myster es of Pro6 dence, ;hatsoe6er a man so3eth# that# and not someth ng else# shall he rea!, That 3h ch 3e are do ng# good or e6 l# gra6e or gay# that 3h ch 3e do today and shall do toDmorro3G each tho$ght# each feel ng# each act on# each e6entG e6ery !ass ng ho$r# e6ery breath ng momentG all are contr b$t ng to form the character accord ng to 3h ch 3e are to be 5$dged, E6ery !art cle of nfl$ence that goes to form that aggregate# D o$r character# D 3 ll# n that f$t$re scr$t ny# be s fted o$t from the massG and# !art cle by !art cle# 3 th ages !erha!s nter6en ng# fall a d st nct contr b$t on to the s$m of o$r 5oys or 3oes, Th$s e6ery dle 3ord and dle ho$r 3 ll g 6e ans3er n the 5$dgment, Let $s ta/e care# therefore# 3hat 3e so3, An e6 l tem!tat on comes $!on $sG the o!!ort$n ty of $nr ghteo$s ga n# or of $nhallo3ed nd$lgence# e ther n the s!here of b$s ness or !leas$re# of soc ety or sol t$de, ;e y eldG and !lant a seed of b tterness and sorro3, ToDmorro3 t

3 ll threaten d sco6ery, Ag tated and alarmed# 3e co6er the s n# and b$ry t dee! n falsehood and hy!ocr sy, In the bosom 3here t l es concealed# n the fert le so l of / ndred 6 ces# that s n d es not# b$t thr 6es and gro3sG and other and st ll other germs of e6 l gather aro$nd the acc$rsed rootG $nt l# fro m that s ngle seed of corr$!t on# there s!r ngs $! n the so$l all that s horr ble n hab t$al ly ng# /na6ery# or 6 ce, Loath ngly# often# 3e ta/e each do3n3ard ste!G b$t a fr ghtf$l !o3er $rges $s on3ardG and the hell of debt# d sease# gnom ny# or remorse gathers ts shado3s aro$nd O$r ste!s e6en on earthG and are yet b$t the beg nn ngs of sorro3s, The e6 l deed may be done n a s ngle momentG b$t consc ence ne6er d es# memory ne6er slee!sG g$ lt ne6er can become nnocenceG and remorse can ne6er 3h s!er !eace, Be3are# tho$ 3ho art tem!ted to e6 lO Be3are 3hat tho$ layest $! for the f$t$reO Be3are 3hat tho$ layest $! n the arch 6es of etern tyO ;rong not thy ne ghborO lest the tho$ght of h m tho$ n5$rest# and 3ho s$ffers by thy

act# be to thee a !ang 3h ch years 3 ll not de!r 6e of ts b tternessO Brea/ not nto the ho$se of nnocence# to r fle t of ts treas$reG lest 3hen many years ha6e !assed o6er thee# the moan of ts d stress may not ha6e d ed a3ay from th ne earO B$ ld not the desolate throne of amb t on n thy heartG nor be b$sy 3 th de6 ces# and c rc$m6ent ngs# and self sh schem ngsG lest desolat on and lonel ness be on thy !ath# as t stretches nto the long f$t$r tyO L 6e not a $seless# an m! o$s# or an n5$r o$s l feO for bo$nd $! 3 th that l fe s the mm$table !r nc !le of an endless retr b$t on# and elements of God?s creat ng# 3h ch 3 ll ne6er s!end the r force# b$t cont n$e e6er to $nfold 3 th the ages of etern ty, Be not dece 6edO God has formed thy nat$re# th$s to ans3er to the f$t$re, - s la3 can ne6er be abrogated# nor - s 5$st ce el$dedG and fore6er and e6er t 3 ll be tr$e# that @;hatsoe6er a man so3eth# that also he shall rea!,S

PIF, GRA8D ELE%T# PER"E%T# A8D S'BLIME MASO8,

APerfect El$,B

It s for each nd 6 d$al Mason to d sco6er the secret of MaD sonry# by reflect on $!on ts symbols and a 3 se cons derat on and analys s of 3hat s sa d and done n the 3or/, Masonry does not nc$lcate her tr$ths, She states them# once and br eflyG or h nts them# !erha!s# dar/lyG or nter!oses a clo$d bet3een them and eyes that 3o$ld be da<<led by them, @See/# and ye shall f nd#@ /no3ledge and the tr$th, The !ract cal ob5ect of Masonry s the !hys cal and moral amel orat on and the ntellect$al and s! r t$al m!ro6ement of nd 6 d$als and soc ety, 8e ther can be effected# e4ce!t by the d ssem nat on of tr$th, It s falsehood n doctr nes and fallacy

n !r nc !les# to 3h ch most of the m ser es of men and the m sD fort$nes of nat ons are o3 ng, P$bl c o! n on s rarely r ght on any !o ntG and there are and al3ays 3 ll be m!ortant tr$ths to be s$bst t$ted n that o! n on n the !lace of many errors and abs$rd and n5$r o$s !re5$d ces, There are fe3 tr$ths that !$bl c o! n on has not at some t me hated and !ersec$ted as heres esG and fe3 errors that ha6e not at some t me seemed to t tr$ths rad D ant from the mmed ate !resence of God, There are moral malaD d es# also# of man and soc ety# the treatment of 3h ch reE$ res not only boldness# b$t also# and more# !r$dence and d scret onG s nce they are more the fr$ t of false and !ern c o$s doctr nes# moral# !ol t cal# and rel g o$s# than of 6 c o$s ncl nat ons, M$ch of the Mason c secret man fests tself# 3 tho$t s!eech re6eal ng t to h m 3ho e6en !art ally com!rehends all the DeD grees n !ro!ort on as he rece 6es themG and !art c$larly to those 3ho ad6ance to the h ghest Degrees of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te, That R te ra ses a corner of the 6e l# e6en n the

Degree of A!!rent ceG for t there declares that Masonry s a 3orsh !, Masonry labors to m!ro6e the soc al order by enl ghten ng men?s m nds# 3arm ng the r hearts 3 th the lo6e of the good# nD s! r ng them 3 th the great !r nc !le of h$man fratern ty# and reE$ r ng of ts d sc !les that the r lang$age and act ons shall conD form to that !r nc !le# that they shall enl ghten each other# conD trol the r !ass ons# abhor 6 ce# and ! ty the 6 c o$s man as one affl cted 3 th a de!lorable malady, It s the $n 6ersal# eternal# mm$table rel g on# s$ch as God !lanted t n the heart of $n 6ersal h$man ty, 8o creed has e6er been longDl 6ed that 3as not b$ lt on th s fo$ndat on, It s the base# and they are the s$!erstr$ct$re, @P$re rel g on and $ndeD f led before God and the "ather s th s# to 6 s t the fatherless and 3 do3s n the r affl ct on# and to /ee! h mself $ns!otted from the 3orld,@ @Is not th s the fast that I ha6e chosen J to loose the bands of 3 c/edness# to $ndo the hea6y b$rdens# and to let the

o!!ressed go free# and that ye brea/ e6ery yo/e J@ The m n sters of th s rel g on are all Masons 3ho com!rehend t and are de6oted to tG ts sacr f ces to God are good 3or/s# the sacr f ces of the base and d sorderly !ass ons# the offer ng $! of selfD nterest on the altar of h$man ty# and !er!et$al efforts to atta n to all the moral !erfect on of 3h ch man s ca!able, To ma/e honor and d$ty the steady beaconDl ghts that shall g$ de yo$r l feD6essel o6er the stormy seas of t meG to do that 3h ch t s r ght to do# not beca$se t 3 ll ns$re yo$ s$ccess# or br ng 3 th t a re3ard# or ga n the a!!la$se of men# or be @the best !ol cy#@ more !r$dent or more ad6 sableG b$t beca$se t s r ght# and therefore o$ght to be doneG to 3ar ncessantly aga nst error# ntolerance# gnorance# and 6 ce# and yet to ! ty those 3ho err# to be tolerant e6en of ntolerance# to teach the gnorant# and to labor to recla m the 6 c o$s# are some of the d$t es of a Mason, A good Mason s one that can loo/ $!on death# and see ts face 3 th the same co$ntenance 3 th 3h ch he hears ts storyG that

can end$re all the labors of h s l fe 3 th h s so$l s$!!ort ng h s body# that can eE$ally des! se r ches 3hen he hath them and 3hen he hath them notGthat s# not sadder f they are n h s ne ghD bor?s e4cheE$er# nor more l fted $! f they sh ne aro$nd abo$t h s o3n 3allsG one that s not mo6ed 3 th good fort$ne com ng to h m# nor go ng from h mG that can loo/ $!on another man?s lands 3 th eE$an m ty and !leas$re# as f they 3ere h s o3nG and yet loo/ $!on h s o3n# and $se them too# 5$st as f they 3ere another man?sG that ne ther s!ends h s goods !rod gally and fool shly# nor yet /ee!s them a6ar c o$sly and l /e a m serG that 3e ghs not benef ts by 3e ght and n$mber# b$t by the m nd and c rc$mstances of h m 3ho confers themG that ne6er th n/s h s char ty e4!enD s 6e# f a 3orthy !erson be the rece 6erG that does noth ng for o! n on?s sa/e# b$t e6eryth ng for consc ence# be ng as caref$l of h s tho$ghts as of h s act ng n mar/ets and theatres# and n as m$ch a3e of h mself as of a 3hole assemblyG that s# bo$nt f$l and cheerf$l to h s fr ends# and char table and a!t to forg 6e h s

enem esG that lo6es h s co$ntry# cons$lts ts honor# and obeys ts la3s# and des res and endea6ors noth ng more than that he may do h s d$ty and honor God, And s$ch a Mason may rec/on h s l fe to be the l fe of a man# and com!$te h s months# not by the co$rse of the s$n# b$t by the <od ac and c rcle of h s 6 rD t$es, The 3hole 3orld s b$t one re!$bl c# of 3h ch each nat on s a fam ly# and e6ery nd 6 d$al a ch ld, Masonry# not n any3 se derogat ng from the d ffer ng d$t es 3h ch the d 6ers ty of states reE$ res# tends to create a ne3 !eo!le# 3h ch# com!osed of men of many nat ons and tong$es# shall all be bo$nd together by the bonds of sc ence# moral ty# and 6 rt$e, Essent ally !h lanthro! c# !h loso!h cal# and !rogress 6e# t has for the bas s of ts dogma a f rm bel ef n the e4 stence of God and h s !ro6 dence# and of the mmortal ty of the so$lG for ts ob5ect# the d ssem nat on of moral# !ol t cal# !h loso!h cal# and rel g o$s tr$th# and the !ract ce of all the 6 rt$es, In e6ery age#

ts de6 ce has been# @L berty# EE$al ty# "ratern ty#@ 3 th const t$D t onal go6ernment# la3# order# d sc !l ne# and s$bord nat on to leg t mate a$thor tyDDgo6ernment and not anarchy, B$t t s ne ther a !ol t cal !arty nor a rel g o$s sect, It braces all !art es and all sects# to form from among them all a 6ast fraternal assoc at on, It recogn <es the d gn ty of h$man nat$re# and man?s r ght to s$ch freedom as he s f tted forG and t /no3s noth ng that sho$ld !lace one man belo3 another# e4ce!t gnorance# debasement# and cr me# and the necess ty of s$bord naD t on to la3f$l 3 ll and a$thor ty, It s !h lanthro! cG for t recogn <es the great tr$th that all men are of the same or g n# ha6e common nterests# and sho$ld coDo!erate together to the same end, Therefore t teaches ts members to lo6e one another# to g 6e to each other m$t$al ass stance and s$!!ort n all the c rc$mstances of l fe# to share each other?s !a ns and sorro3s# as 3ell as the r 5oys and !leas$resG to g$ard the re!$tat ons# res!ect the o! n ons#

and be !erfectly tolerant of the errors# of each other# n matters of fa th and bel efs, It s !h l so!h cal beca$se t teaches the great Tr$ths concernD ng the nat$re and e4 stence of one S$!reme De ty# and the e4 stD ence and mmortal ty of the so$l, It re6 6es the Academy of Plato and the 3 se teach ngs of Socrates, It re terates the ma4D ms of Pythagoras# %onf$c $s# and Horoaster# and re6erent ally enforces the s$bl me lessons of - m 3ho d ed $!on the %ross, The anc ents tho$ght that $n 6ersal h$man ty acted $nder the nfl$ence of t3o o!!os ng Pr nc !les# the Good and the E6 l( of 3h ch the Good $rged men to3ard Tr$th# Inde!endence# and DeD 6otedness and the E6 l to3ard "alsehood# Ser6 l ty# and Self shD ness, Masonry re!resents the Good Pr nc !le and constantly 3ars aga nst the e6 l one, It s the -erc$les# the Os r s# the A!ollo# the M thras# and the Orm$<d# at e6erlast ng and deadly fe$d 3 th the demons of gnorance# br$tal ty# baseness# falsehood# sla6 shD ness of so$l# ntolerance# s$!erst t on# tyranny# meanness# the nD

solence of 3ealth# and b gotry, ;hen des!ot sm and s$!erst t on# t3 nD!o3ers of e6 l and dar/D ness# re gned e6ery3here and seemed n6 nc ble and mmortal# t n6ented# to a6o d !ersec$t on# the myster es# that s to say# the allegory# the symbol# and the emblem# and transm tted ts docD tr nes by the secret mode of n t at on, 8o3# reta n ng ts anc ent symbols# and n !art ts anc ent ceremon es# t d s!lays n e6ery c 6 l <ed co$ntry ts banner# on 3h ch n letters of l 6 ng l ght ts great !r nc !les are 3r ttenG and t sm les at the !$ny efforts of / ngs and !o!es to cr$sh t o$t by e4comm$n cat on and nterD d ct on, Man?s 6 e3s n regard to God# 3 ll conta n only so m$ch !os D t 6e tr$th as the h$man m nd s ca!able of rece 6 ngG 3hether that tr$th s atta ned by the e4erc se of reason# or comm$n cated by re6elat on, It m$st necessar ly be both l m ted and alloyed# to br ng t 3 th n the com!etence of f n te h$man ntell gence, BeD ng f n te# 3e can form no correct or adeE$ate dea of the Inf n teG

be ng mater al# 3e can form no clear conce!t on of the S! r t$al, ;e do bel e6e n and /no3 the nf n ty of S!ace and T me# and the s! r t$al ty of the So$lG b$t the dea of that nf n ty and s! r t$al ty el$des $s, E6en Omn !otence cannot nf$se nf n te conce!t ons nto f n te m ndsG nor can God# 3 tho$t f rst ent rely chang ng the cond t ons of o$r be ng# !o$r a com!lete and f$ll /no3ledge of - s o3n nat$re and attr b$tes nto the narro3 ca!ac ty of a h$man so$l, -$man ntell gence co$ld not gras! t# nor h$man lang$age e4!ress t, The 6 s ble s# necessar ly# the meas$re of the n6 s ble, The consc o$sness of the nd 6 d$al re6eals tself alone, - s /no3ledge cannot !ass beyond the l m ts of h s o3n be ng, - s conce!t ons of other th ngs and other be ngs are only h s conce!D t ons, They are not those th ngs or be ngs themsel6es, The l 6 ng !r nc !le of a l 6 ng 'n 6erse m$st be I8"I8ITEG 3h le all o$r deas and conce!t ons are f n te# and a!!l cable only to f n te be ngs, The De ty s th$s not an ob5ect of /no3ledge# b$t of fa thG not

to be a!!roached by the $nderstand ng# b$t by the moral senseG not to be conce 6ed# b$t to be felt, All attem!ts to embrace the Inf n te n the conce!t on of the " n te are# and m$st be only acD commodat ons to the fra lty of man, Shro$ded from h$man comD !rehens on n an obsc$r ty from 3h ch a chastened mag nat on s a3ed bac/# and Tho$ght retreats n consc o$s 3ea/ness# the D 6 ne 8at$re s a theme on 3h ch man s l ttle ent tled to dogD mat <e, -ere the !h loso!h c Intellect becomes most !a nf$lly a3are of ts o3n ns$ff c ency, And yet t s here that man most dogmat <es# class f es and deD scr bes God?s attr b$tes# ma/es o$t h s ma! of God?s nat$re# and h s n6entory of God?s E$al t es# feel ngs# m!$lses# and !ass onsG and then hangs and b$rns h s brother# 3ho# as dogmat cally as he# ma/es o$t a d fferent ma! and n6entory, The common $nderD stand ng has no h$m l ty, Its God s an ncarnate D 6 n ty, ImD !erfect on m!oses ts o3n l m tat ons on the Ill m table# and clothes the Inconce 6able S! r t of the 'n 6erse n forms that

come 3 th n the gras! of the senses and the ntellect# and are der 6ed from that nf n te and m!erfect nat$re 3h ch s b$t God?s creat on, ;e are all of $s# tho$gh not all eE$ally# m sta/en, The cherD shed dogmas of each of $s are not# as 3e fondly s$!!ose# the !$re tr$th of GodG b$t s m!ly o$r o3n s!ec al form of error# o$r g$esses at tr$th# the refracted and fragmentary rays of l ght that ha6e fallen $!on o$r o3n m nds, O$r l ttle systems ha6e the r day# and cease to beG they are b$t bro/en l ghts of GodG and -e s more than they, Perfect tr$th s not atta nable any3here, ;e style th s Degree that of Perfect onG and yet 3hat t teaches s m!erfect and defect 6e, .et 3e are not to rela4 n the !$rs$ t of tr$th# nor contentedly acE$ esce n error, It s o$r d$ty al3ays to !ress for3ard n the searchG for tho$gh absol$te tr$th s $natD ta nable# yet the amo$nt of error n o$r 6 e3s s ca!able of !roD gress 6e and !er!et$al d m n$t onG and th$s Masonry s a conD t n$al str$ggle to3ard the l ght,

All errors are not eE$ally nnoc$o$s, That 3h ch s most nD 5$r o$s s to enterta n $n3orthy conce!t ons of the nat$re and attr b$tes of GodG and t s th s that Masonry symbol <es by gnoD rance of the Tr$e ;ord, The tr$e 3ord of a Mason s# not the ent re# !erfect# absol$te tr$th n regard to GodG b$t the h ghest and noblest conce!t on of - m that o$r m nds are ca!able of form ngG and th s 3ord s Ineffable# beca$se one man cannot comm$n cate to another h s o3n conce!t on of De tyG s nce e6ery man?s conce!t on of God m$st be !ro!ort oned to h s mental c$lD t 6at on and ntellect$al !o3ers# and moral e4cellence, God s# as man conce 6es - m# the reflected mage of man h mself, "or e6ery man?s conce!t on of God m$st 6ary 3 th h s mental c$lt 6at on and mental !o3ers, If any one contents h mself 3 th any lo3er mage than h s ntellect s ca!able of gras! ng# then he contents h mself 3 th that 3h ch s false to h m# as 3ell as false n fact, If lo3er than he can reach# he m$st needs feel t to be false, And f 3e# of the n neteenth cent$ry after %hr st# ado!t the conD

ce!t ons of the n neteenth cent$ry before - mG f o$r conce!t ons of God are those of the gnorant# narro3Dm nded# and 6 nd ct 6e Israel teG then 3e th n/ 3orse of God# and ha6e a lo3er# meaner# and more l m ted 6 e3 of - s nat$re# than the fac$lt es 3h ch -e has besto3ed are ca!able of gras! ng, The h ghest 6 e3 3e can form s nearest to the tr$th, If 3e acE$ esce n any lo3er one# 3e acE$ esce n an $ntr$th, ;e feel that t s an affront and an nd gn ty to - m# to conce 6e of - m as cr$el# shortDs ghted# caD !r c o$s# and $n5$stG as a 5ealo$s# an angry# a 6 nd ct 6e Be ng, ;hen 3e e4am ne o$r conce!t ons of - s character# f 3e can conce 6e of a loft er# nobler# h gher# more benef cent# glor o$s# and magn f cent character# then th s latter s to $s the tr$e conce!t on of De tyG for noth ng can be mag ned more e4cellent than -e, Rel g on# to obta n c$rrency and nfl$ence 3 th the great mass of man/ nd# m$st needs be alloyed 3 th s$ch an amo$nt of error as to !lace t far belo3 the standard atta nable by the h gher h$man ca!ac t es, A rel g on as !$re as the loft est and most c$lD

t 6ated h$man reason co$ld d scern# 3o$ld not be com!rehended by# or effect 6e o6er# the less ed$cated !ort on of man/ nd, ;hat s Tr$th to the !h loso!her# 3o$ld not be Tr$th# nor ha6e the effect of Tr$th# to the !easant, The rel g on of the many m$st necessar ly be more ncorrect than that of the ref ned and reflect 6e fe3# not so m$ch n ts essence as n ts forms# not so m$ch n the s! r t$al dea 3h ch l es latent at the bottom of t# as n the symD bols and dogmas n 3h ch that dea s embod ed, The tr$est rel g on 3o$ld# n many !o nts# not be com!rehended by the gnoD rant# nor consolatory to them# nor g$ d ng and s$!!ort ng for them, The doctr nes of the B ble are often not clothed n the lang$age of str ct tr$th# b$t n that 3h ch 3as f ttest to con6ey to a r$de and gnorant !eo!le the !ract cal essent als of the docD tr ne, A !erfectly !$re fa th# free from all e4traneo$s adm 4t$res# a system of noble the sm and lofty moral ty# 3o$ld f nd too l ttle !re!arat on for t n the common m nd and heart# to adm t of !rom!t rece!t on by the masses of man/ ndG and Tr$th m ght

not ha6e reached $s# f t had not borro3ed the 3 ngs of Error, The Mason regards God as a Moral Go6ernor# as 3ell as an Or g nal %reatorG as a God at hand# and not merely one afar off n the d stance of nf n te s!ace# and n the remoteness of Past or "$t$re Etern ty, -e conce 6es of - m as ta/ ng a 3atchf$l and !res d ng nterest n the affa rs of the 3orld# and as nfl$encD ng the hearts and act ons of men, To h m# God s the great So$rce of the ;orld of L fe and MatD terG and man# 3 th h s 3onderf$l cor!oreal and mental frame# - s d rect 3or/, -e bel e6es that God has made men 3 th d fferD ent ntellect$al ca!ac t es# and enabled some# by s$!er or ntellectD $al !o3er# to see and or g nate tr$ths 3h ch are h dden from the mass of men, -e bel e6es that 3hen t s - s 3 ll that man/ nd sho$ld ma/e some great ste! for3ard# or ach e6e some !regnant d sco6ery# -e calls nto be ng some ntellect of more than ord D nary magn t$de and !o3er# to g 6e b rth to ne3 deas# and grander conce!t ons of the Tr$ths 6 tal to -$man ty,

;e hold that God has so ordered matters n th s bea$t f$l and harmon o$s# b$t myster o$slyDgo6erned 'n 6erse# that one great m nd after another 3 ll ar se# from t me to t me# as s$ch are needed# to re6eal to men the tr$ths that are 3anted# and the amo$nt of tr$th than can be borne, -e so arranges# that nat$re and the co$rse of e6ents shall send men nto the 3orld# endo3ed 3 th that h gher mental and moral organ <at on# n 3h ch grand tr$ths# and s$bl me gleams of s! r t$al l ght 3 ll s!ontaneo$sly and ne6 tably ar se, These s!ea/ to men by ns! rat on, ;hate6er - ram really 3as# he s the ty!e# !erha!s an magD nary ty!e# to $s# of h$man ty n ts h ghest !haseG an e4em!lar of 3hat man may and sho$ld become# n the co$rse of ages# n h s !rogress to3ard the real <at on of h s dest nyG an nd 6 d$al g fted 3 th a glor o$s ntellect# a noble so$l# a f ne organ <at on# and a !erfectly balanced moral be ngG an earnest of 3hat h$man ty may be# and 3hat 3e bel e6e t 3 ll hereafter be n God?s good t meG the !oss b l ty of the race made real,

The Mason bel e6es that God has arranged th s glor o$s b$t !erD !le4 ng 3orld 3 th a !$r!ose# and on a !lan, -e holds that e6ery man sent $!on th s earth# and es!ec ally e6ery man of s$!er or ca!ac ty# has a d$ty to !erform# a m ss on to f$lf ll# a ba!t sm to be ba!t <ed 3 thG that e6ery great and good man !ossesses some !ort on of God?s tr$th# 3h ch he m$st !rocla m to the 3orld# and 3h ch m$st bear fr$ t n h s o3n bosom, In a tr$e and s m!le sense# he bel e6es all the !$re# 3 se# and ntellect$al to be ns! red# and to be so for the nstr$ct on# ad6ancement# and ele6at on of man/ nd, That / nd of ns! rat on# l /e God?s omn !resence# s not l m ted to the fe3 3r ters cla med by &e3s# %hr st ans# or Moslems# b$t s coDe4tens 6e 3 th the race, It s the conseE$ence of a fa thf$l $se of o$r fac$lt es, Each man s ts s$b5ect# God s ts so$rce# and Tr$th ts only test, It d ffers n degrees# as the ntellect$al endo3ments# the moral 3ealth of the so$l# and the deD gree of c$lt 6at on of those endo3ments and fac$lt es d ffer, It s l m ted to no sect# age# or nat on, It s 3 de as the 3orld and

common as God, It 3as not g 6en to a fe3 men# n the nfancy of man/ nd# to mono!ol <e ns! rat on# and bar God o$t of the so$l, ;e are not born n the dotage and decay of the 3orld, The stars are bea$t f$l as n the r !r meG the most anc ent -ea6ens are fresh and strong, God s st ll e6ery3here n nat$re, ;herD e6er a heart beats 3 th lo6e# 3here6er "a th and Reason $tter the r oracles# there s God# as formerly n the hearts of seers and !ro!hets, 8o so l on earth s so holy as the good man?s heartG noth ng s so f$ll of God, Th s ns! rat on s not g 6en to the learned alone# not alone to the great and 3 se# b$t to e6ery fa thf$l ch ld of God, %erta n as the o!en eye dr n/s n the l ght# do the !$re n heart see GodG and he 3ho l 6es tr$ly# feels - m as a !resD ence 3 th n the so$l, The consc ence s the 6ery 6o ce of De ty, Masonry# aro$nd 3hose altars the %hr st an# the -ebre3# the Moslem# the Brahm n# the follo3ers of %onf$c $s and Horoaster# can assemble as brethren and $n te n !rayer to the one God 3ho s abo6e all the Baal m# m$st needs lea6e t to each of ts In t ates

to loo/ for the fo$ndat on of h s fa th and ho!e to the 3r tten scr !t$res of h s o3n rel g on, "or tself t f nds those tr$ths def n te eno$gh# 3h ch are 3r tten by the f nger of God $!on the heart of man and on the !ages of the boo/ of nat$re, F e3s of rel g on and d$ty# 3ro$ght o$t by the med tat ons of the st$d o$s# conf rmed by the alleg ance of the good and 3 se# stam!ed as sterl ng by the res!onse they f nd n e6ery $ncorr$!ted m nd# comD mend themsel6es to Masons of e6ery creed# and may 3ell be acD ce!ted by all, The Mason does not !retend to dogmat c certa nty# nor 6a nly mag ne s$ch certa nty atta nable, -e cons ders that f there 3ere no 3r tten re6elat on# he co$ld safely rest the ho!es that an D mate h m and the !r nc !les that g$ de h m# on the ded$ct ons of reason and the con6 ct ons of nst nct and consc o$sness, -e can f nd a s$re fo$ndat on for h s rel g o$s bel ef# n these ded$ct ons of the ntellect and con6 ct ons of the heart, "or reason !ro6es to h m the e4 stence and attr b$tes of GodG and those s! r t$al

nst ncts 3h ch he feels are the 6o ce of God n h s so$l# nf$se nto h s m nd a sense of h s relat on to God# a con6 ct on of the benef cence of h s %reator and Preser6er# and a ho!e of f$t$re e4D stenceG and h s reason and consc ence al /e $nerr ngly !o nt to 6 rt$e as the h ghest good# and the dest ned a m and !$r!ose of man?s l fe, -e st$d es the 3onders of the -ea6ens# the frameD3or/ and re6ol$t ons of the Earth# the myster o$s bea$t es and ada!tat ons of an mal e4 stence# the moral and mater al const t$t on of the h$man creat$re# so fearf$lly and 3onderf$lly madeG and s sat sD f ed that God ISG and that a ; se and Good Be ng s the a$thor of the starry -ea6ens abo6e h m# and of the moral 3orld 3 th n h mG and h s m nd f nds an adeE$ate fo$ndat on for ts ho!es# ts 3orsh !# ts !r nc !les of act on# n the farDstretch ng 'n 6erse# n the glor o$s f rmament# n the dee!# f$ll so$l# b$rst ng 3 th $nD $tterable tho$ghts, These are tr$ths 3h ch e6ery reflect ng m nd 3 ll $nhes tat ngly

rece 6e# as not to be s$r!assed# nor ca!able of m!ro6ementG and f tted# f obeyed# to ma/e earth ndeed a Parad se# and man only a l ttle lo3er than the angels, The 3orthlessness of ceremon al obser6ances# and the necess ty of act 6e 6 rt$eG the enforcement of !$r ty of heart as the sec$r ty for !$r ty of l fe# and of the go6ernment of the tho$ghts# as the or g nators and forer$nners of act onG $n 6ersal !h lanthro!y# reE$ r ng $s to lo6e all men# and to do $nto others that and that only 3h ch 3e sho$ld th n/ t r ght# 5$st# and genero$s for them to do $nto $sG forg 6eness of n5$r esG the necess ty of selfDsacr f ce n the d scharge of d$tyG h$m l tyG gen$ ne s ncer ty# and be ng that 3h ch 3e seem to beG all these s$bl me !rece!ts need no m racle# no 6o ce from the clo$ds# to recommend them to o$r alleg ance# or to ass$re $s of the r d 6 ne or g n, They command obed ence by 6 rt$e of the r nherent rect t$de and bea$tyG and ha6e been# and are# and 3 ll be the la3 n e6ery age and e6ery co$ntry of the 3orld, God re6ealed them to man n the beg nn ng,

To the Mason# God s o$r "ather n -ea6en# to be ;hose es!ec al ch ldren s the s$ff c ent re3ard of the !eacema/ers# to see ;hose face the h ghest ho!e of the !$re n heartG ;ho s e6er at hand to strengthen - s tr$e 3orsh !!ersG to ;hom o$r most ferD 6ent lo6e s d$e# o$r most h$mble and !at ent s$bm ss onG ;hose most acce!table 3orsh ! s a !$re and ! ty ng heart and a benef D cent l feG n ;hose constant !resence 3e l 6e and act# to ;hose merc f$l d s!osal 3e are res gned by that death 3h ch# 3e ho!e and bel e6e# s b$t the entrance to a better l feG and ;hose 3 se decrees forb d a man to la! h s so$l n an elys $m of mere ndolent content, As to o$r feel ngs to3ard - m and o$r cond$ct to3ard man# Masonry teaches l ttle abo$t 3h ch men can d ffer# and l ttle from 3h ch they can d ssent, -e s o$r "atherG and 3e are all brethD ren, Th s m$ch l es o!en to the most gnorant and b$sy# as f$lly as to those 3ho ha6e most le s$re and are most learned, Th s needs no Pr est to teach t# and no a$thor ty to ndorse tG and f

e6ery man d d that only 3h ch s cons stent 3 th t# t 3o$ld e4 le barbar ty# cr$elty# ntolerance# $nchar tableness# !erf dy# treachD ery# re6enge# self shness# and all the r / ndred 6 ces and bad !asD s ons beyond the conf nes of the 3orld, The tr$e Mason# s ncerely hold ng that a S$!reme God created and go6erns th s 3orld# bel e6es also that -e go6erns t by la3s# 3h ch# tho$gh 3 se# 5$st# and benef cent# are yet steady# $n3a6erD ng# ne4orable, -e bel e6es that h s agon es and sorro3s are orD da ned for h s chasten ng# h s strengthen ng# h s elaborat on and de6elo!mentG beca$se they are the necessary res$lts of the o!eraD t on of la3s# the best that co$ld be de6 sed for the ha!! ness and !$r f cat on of the s!ec es# and to g 6e occas on and o!!ort$n ty for the !ract ce of all the 6 rt$es# from the homel est and most common# to the noblest and most s$bl meG or !erha!s not e6en that# b$t the best ada!ted to 3or/ o$t the 6ast# a3f$l# glor o$s# eternal des gns of the Great S! r t of the 'n 6erse, -e bel e6es that the orda ned o!erat ons of nat$re# 3h ch ha6e bro$ght m sery

to h m# ha6e# from the 6ery $ns3er6 ng tranE$ l ty of the r career# sho3ered bless ngs and s$nsh ne $!on many another !athG that the $nrelent ng char ot of T me# 3h ch has cr$shed or ma med h m n ts allotted co$rse# s !ress ng on3ard to the accom!l shD ment of those serene and m ghty !$r!oses# to ha6e contr b$ted to 3h ch# e6en as a 6 ct m# s an honor and a recom!ense, -e ta/es th s 6 e3 of T me and 8at$re and God# and yet bears h s lot 3 thD o$t m$rm$r or d str$stG beca$se t s a !ort on of a system# the best !oss ble# beca$se orda ned by God, -e does not bel e6e that God loses s ght of h m# 3h le s$!er ntend ng the march of the great harmon es of the 'n 6erseG nor that t 3as not foreseen# 3hen the 'n 6erse 3as created# ts la3s enacted# and the long s$cD cess on of ts o!erat ons !reDorda ned# that n the great march of those e6ents# he 3o$ld s$ffer !a n and $ndergo calam ty, -e beD l e6es that h s nd 6 d$al good entered nto God?s cons derat on# as 3ell as the great card nal res$lts to 3h ch the co$rse of all th ngs s tend ng,

Th$s bel e6 ng# he has atta ned an em nence n 6 rt$e# the h ghD est# am d !ass 6e e4cellence# 3h ch h$man ty can reach, -e f nds h s re3ard and h s s$!!ort n the reflect on that he s an $nrel$cD tant and selfDsacr f c ng coDo!erator 3 th the %reator of the 'n D 6erseG and n the noble consc o$sness of be ng 3orthy and ca!able of so s$bl me a conce!t on# yet so sad a dest ny, -e s then tr$ly ent tled to be called a Grand Elect# Perfect# and S$bl me Mason, -e s content to fall early n the battle# f h s body may b$t form a ste!! ngDstone for the f$t$re conE$ests of h$man ty, It cannot be that God# ;ho# 3e are certa n# s !erfectly good# can choose $s to s$ffer !a n# $nless e ther 3e are o$rsel6es to reD ce 6e from t an ant dote to 3hat s e6 l n o$rsel6es# or else as s$ch !a n s a necessary !art n the scheme of the 'n 6erse# 3h ch as a 3hole s good, In e ther case# the Mason rece 6es t 3 th s$bm ss on, -e 3o$ld not s$ffer $nless t 3as ordered so, ;hatD e6er h s creed# f he bel e6es that God s# and that -e cares for - s creat$res# he cannot do$bt thatG nor that t 3o$ld not ha6e

been so ordered# $nless t 3as e ther better for h mself# or for some other !ersons# or for some th ngs, To com!la n and lament s to m$rm$r aga nst God?s 3 ll# and 3orse than $nbel ef, The Mason# 3hose m nd s cast n a nobler mo$ld than those of the gnorant and $nreflect ng# and s nst nct 3 th a d 6 ner l fe#D 3ho lo6es tr$th more than rest# and the !eace of -ea6en rather than the !eace of Eden#DDto 3hom a loft er be ng br ngs se6erer cares#DD3ho /no3s that man does not l 6e by !leas$re or content alone# b$t by the !resence of the !o3er of God#DDm$st cast beD h nd h m the ho!e of any other re!ose or tranE$ ll ty# than that 3h ch s the last re3ard of long agon es of tho$ghtG he m$st reD l nE$ sh all !ros!ect of any -ea6en sa6e that of 3h ch tro$ble s the a6en$e and !ortalG he m$st g rd $! h s lo ns# and tr m h s lam!# for a 3or/ that m$st be done# and m$st not be negl gently done, If he does not l /e to l 6e n the f$rn shed lodg ngs of traD d t on# he m$st b$ ld h s o3n ho$se# h s o3n system of fa th and tho$ght# for h mself,

The ho!e of s$ccess# and not the ho!e of re3ard# sho$ld be o$r st m$lat ng and s$sta n ng !o3er, O$r ob5ect# and not o$rsel6es# sho$ld be o$r ns! r ng tho$ght, Self shness s a s n# 3hen temD !orary# and for t me, S!$n o$t to etern ty# t does not become celest al !r$dence, ;e sho$ld to l and d e# not for -ea6en or Bl ss# b$t for D$ty, In the more freE$ent cases# 3here 3e ha6e to 5o n o$r efforts to those of tho$sands of others# to contr b$te to the carry ng for3ard of a great ca$seG merely to t ll the gro$nd or so3 the seed for a 6ery d stant har6est# or to !re!are the 3ay for the f$t$re ad6ent of some great amendmentG the amo$nt 3h ch each one contr bD $tes to the ach e6ement of $lt mate s$ccess# the !ort on of the !r ce 3h ch 5$st ce sho$ld ass gn to each as h s es!ec al !rod$cD t on# can ne6er be acc$rately ascerta ned, Perha!s fe3 of those 3ho ha6e e6er labored# n the !at ence of secrecy and s lence# to br ng abo$t some !ol t cal or soc al change# 3h ch they felt conD 6 nced 3o$ld $lt mately !ro6e of 6ast ser6 ce to h$man ty# l 6ed

to see the change effected# or the ant c !ated good flo3 from t, "e3er st ll of them 3ere able to !rono$nce 3hat a!!rec able 3e ght the r se6eral efforts contr b$ted to the ach e6ement of the change des red, Many 3 ll do$bt# 3hether# n tr$th# these e4erD t ons ha6e any nfl$ence 3hate6erG and# d sco$raged# cease all act 6e effort, 8ot to be th$s d sco$raged# the Mason m$st labor to ele6ate and !$r fy h s mot 6es# as 3ell as sed$lo$sly cher sh the con6 cD t on# ass$redly a tr$e one# that n th s 3orld there s no s$ch th ng as effort thro3n a3ayG that n all labor there s !rof tG that all s ncere e4ert on# n a r ghteo$s and $nself sh ca$se# s necessar ly follo3ed# n s! te of all a!!earance to the contrary# by an a!!roD !r ate and !ro!ort onate s$ccessG that no bread cast $!on the 3aters can be 3holly lostG that no seed !lanted n the gro$nd can fa l to E$ c/en n d$e t me and meas$reG and that# ho3e6er 3e may# n moments of des!ondency# be a!t to do$bt# not only 3hether o$r ca$se 3 ll tr $m!h# b$t 3hether# f t does# 3e shall

ha6e contr b$ted to ts tr $m!h#DDthere s One# ;ho has not only seen e6ery e4ert on 3e ha6e made# b$t ;ho can ass gn the e4act degree n 3h ch each sold er has ass sted to ga n the great 6 ctory o6er soc al e6 l, 8o good 3or/ s done 3holly n 6a n, The Grand Elect# Perfect# and S$bl me Mason 3 ll n no3 se deser6e that honorable t tle# f he has not that strength# that 3 ll# that selfDs$sta n ng energyG that "a th# that feeds $!on no earthly ho!e# nor e6er th n/s of 6 ctory# b$t# content n ts o3n cons$mD mat on# combats# beca$se t o$ght to combat# re5o c ng f ghts# and st ll re5o c ng falls, The A$gean Stables of the ;orld# the acc$m$lated $ncleanness and m sery of cent$r es# reE$ re a m ghty r 6er to cleanse them thoro$ghly a3ayG e6ery dro! 3e contr b$te a ds to s3ell that r 6er and a$gment ts force# n a degree a!!rec able by God# tho$gh not by manG and he 3hose <eal s dee! and earnest# 3 ll not be o6erDan4 o$s that h s nd 6 d$al dro!s sho$ld be d st nD

g$ shable am d the m ghty mass of cleans ng and fert l < ng 3atersG far less that# for the sa/e of d st nct on# t sho$ld flo3 n neffect 6e s ngleness a3ay, The tr$e Mason 3 ll not be caref$l that h s name sho$ld be nscr bed $!on the m te 3h ch he casts nto the treas$ry of God, It s$ff ces h m to /no3 that f he has labored# 3 th !$r ty of !$rD !ose# n any good ca$se# he m$st ha6e contr b$ted to ts s$ccessG that the degree n 3h ch he has contr b$ted s a matter of nf D n tely small concernG and st ll more# that the consc o$sness of ha6 ng so contr b$ted# ho3e6er obsc$rely and $nnot ced# s h s s$ff c ent# e6en f t be h s sole# re3ard, Let e6ery Grand Elect# Perfect# and S$bl me Mason cher sh th s fa th, It s a d$ty, It s the br ll ant and ne6erDdy ng l ght that sh nes 3 th n and thro$gh the symbol c !edestal of alabaster# on 3h ch re!oses the !erfect c$be of agate# symbol of d$ty# nscr bed 3 th the d 6 ne name of God, -e 3ho nd$str o$sly so3s and rea!s s a good laborer# and 3orthy of h s h re, B$t he 3ho so3s that 3h ch

shall be rea!ed by others# by those 3ho 3 ll /no3 not of and care not for the so3er# s a laborer of a nobler order# and# 3orthy of a more e4cellent re3ard, The Mason does not e4hort others to an ascet c $nder6al$ ng of th s l fe# as an ns gn f cant and $n3orthy !ort on of e4 stenceG for that demands feel ngs 3h ch are $nnat$ral# and 3h ch# thereD fore# f atta ned# m$st be morb d# and f merely !rofessed# ns nD cereG and teaches $s to loo/ rather to a f$t$re l fe for the comD !ensat on of soc al e6 ls# than to th s l fe for the r c$reG and so does n5$ry to the ca$se of 6 rt$e and to that of soc al !rogress, L fe s real# and s earnest# and t s f$ll of d$t es to be !erformed, It s the beg nn ng of o$r mmortal ty, Those only 3ho feel a dee! nterest and affect on for th s 3orld 3 ll 3or/ resol$tely for ts amel orat onG those 3hose affect ons are transferred to -ea6en# eas ly acE$ esce n the m ser es of earth# deem ng them ho!eless# bef tt ng# and orda nedG and console themsel6es 3 th the dea of the ammends 3h ch are one day to be the rs, It s a sad tr$th# that

those most dec dedly g 6en to s! r t$al contem!lat on# and to ma/ ng rel g on r$le n the r hearts# are often most a!athet c toD 3ard all m!ro6ement of th s 3orld?s systems# and n many cases 6 rt$al conser6at 6es of e6 l# and host le to !ol t cal and soc al reD form# as d 6ert ng men?s energ es from etern ty, The Mason does not 3ar 3 th h s o3n nst ncts# macerate the body nto 3ea/ness and d sorder# and d s!arage 3hat he sees to be bea$t f$l# /no3s to be 3onderf$l# and feels to be $ns!ea/ably dear and fasc nat ng, -e does not !$t as de the nat$re 3h ch God has g 6en h m# to str$ggle after one 3h ch -e has not beD sto3ed, -e /no3s that man s sent nto the 3orld# not a s! rD t$al# b$t a com!os te be ng# made $! of body and m nd# the body ha6 ng# as s f t and needf$l n a mater al 3orld# ts f$ll# r ghtf$l# and allotted share, - s l fe s g$ ded by a f$ll recogn t on of th s fact, -e does not deny t n bold 3ords# and adm t t n 3ea/D nesses and ne6 table fa l ngs, -e bel e6es that h s s! r t$al ty 3 ll come n the ne4t stage of h s be ng# 3hen he !$ts on the s! rD

t$al bodyG that h s body 3 ll be dro!!ed at deathG and that# $nt l then# God meant t to be commanded and controlled# b$t not negD lected# des! sed# or gnored by the so$l# $nder !a n of hea6y conD seE$ences, .et the Mason s not nd fferent as to the fate of the so$l# after ts !resent l fe# as to ts cont n$ed and eternal be ng# and the charD acter of the scenes n 3h ch that be ng 3 ll be f$lly de6elo!ed, These are to h m to! cs of the !roro$ndest nterest# and the most ennobl ng and ref n ng contem!lat on, They occ$!y m$ch of h s le s$reG and as he becomes fam l ar 3 th the sorro3s and calam D t es of th s l fe# as h s ho!es are d sa!!o nted and h s 6 s ons of ha!! ness here fade a3ayG 3hen l fe has 3ear ed h m n ts race of ho$rsG 3hen he s harassed and to lD3orn# and the b$rD den of h s years 3e ghs hea6y on h m# the balance of attract on grad$ally ncl nes n fa6or of another l feG and he cl ngs to h s lofty s!ec$lat ons 3 th a tenac ty of nterest 3h ch needs no nD 5$nct on# and 3 ll l sten to no !roh b t on, They are the consolD

ng !r 6 lege of the as! r ng# the 3ay3orn# the 3eary# and the berea6ed, To h m the contem!lat on of the "$t$re lets n l ght $!on the Present# and de6elo!s the h gher !ort ons of h s nat$re, -e enD dea6ors r ghtly to ad5$st the res!ect 6e cla ms of -ea6en and earth $!on h s t me and tho$ght# so as to g 6e the !ro!er !ro!orD t ons thereof to !erform ng the d$t es and enter ng nto the nterD ests of th s 3orld# and to !re!arat on for a betterG to the c$lt 6aD t on and !$r f cat on of h s o3n character# and to the !$bl c ser6 ce of h s fello3Dmen, The Mason does not dogmat <e# b$t enterta n ng and $tter ng h s o3n con6 ct ons# he lea6es e6ery one else free to do the sameG and only ho!es that the t me 3 ll come# e6en f after the la!se of ages# 3hen all men shall form one great fam ly of brethren# and one la3 alone# the la3 of lo6e# shall go6ern God?s 3hole 'n D 6erse, Bel e6e as yo$ may# my brotherG f the 'n 6erse s not# to yo$#

3 tho$t a God# and f man s not l /e the beast that !er shes# b$t hath an mmortal so$l# 3e 3elcome yo$ among $s# to 3ear# as 3e 3ear# 3 th h$m l ty# and consc o$s of yo$r demer ts and shortD com ngs# the t tle of Grand Elect# Perfect# and S$bl me Mason, It s not 3 tho$t a secret mean ng# that t3el6e 3as the n$mD ber of the A!ostles of %hr st# and se6entyDt3o that of h s D sD c !les( that &ohn addressed h s reb$/es and menaces to the Se6en ch$rches# the n$mber of the Archangels and the Planets, At Babylon 3ere the Se6en Stages of Bers !!a# a !yram d of Se6en stor es# and at Ecbatana Se6en concentr c nclos$res# each of a d fferent color, Thebes also had Se6en gates# and the same n$mD ber s re!eated aga n and aga n n the acco$nt of the flood, The Se!h roth# or Emanat ons# ten n n$mber# three n one class# and se6en n the other# re!eat the myst c n$mbers of Pythagoras, Se6en Amschas!ands or !lanetary s! r ts 3ere n6o/ed 3 th Orm$<d( Se6en nfer or R sh s of - nd$stan 3ere sa6ed 3 th the head of the r fam ly n an ar/( and Se6en anc ent !ersonages

alone ret$rned 3 th the Br t sh 5$st man# -$# from the dale of the gr e6o$s 3aters, There 3ere Se6en -el adae# 3hose father -el as# or the S$n# once crossed the sea n a golden c$!G Se6en T tans# ch ldren of the older T tan# Kronos or Sat$rnG Se6en %orybantesG and Se6en %ab r # sons of Sydy/G Se6en !r me6al %elest al s! r ts of the &a!anese# and Se6en Karlesters 3ho esca!ed from the del$ge and began to be the !arents of a ne3 race# on the s$mm t of Mo$nt Albord , Se6en %yclo!es# also# b$ lt the 3alls of T ry$s, %el$s# as E$oted by Or gen# tells $s that the Pers ans re!reD sented by symbols the t3oDfold mot on of the stars# f 4ed and !lanetary# and the !assage of the So$l thro$gh the r s$ccess 6e s!heres, They erected n the r holy ca6es# n 3h ch the myst c r tes of the M thr ac In t at ons 3ere !ract sed# 3hat he denom D nates a h gh ladder# on the Se6en ste!s of 3h ch 3ere Se6en gates or !ortals# accord ng to the n$mber of the Se6en !r nc !al hea6enly bod es, Thro$gh these the as! rants !assed# $nt l they

reached the s$mm t of the 3holeG and th s !assage 3as styled a transm grat on thro$gh the s!heres, &acob sa3 n h s dream a ladder !lanted or set on the earth# and ts to! reach ng to -ea6en# and the Mala/ Aloh m ascend ng and descend ng on t# and abo6e t stood I-'-# declar ng - mself to be Ih$hDAlh Abraham, The 3ord translated ladder# s Salam# from Salal# ra sed# ele6ated# reared $!# e4alted# ! led $! nto a hea!# Aggera6 t, Salalah# means a hea!# ram!art# or other acc$m$lat on of earth or stone# art f c ally madeG and Salaa or Salo# s a roc/ or cl ff or bo$lder# and the name of the c ty of Petra, There s no anc ent -ebre3 3ord to des gnate a !yram d, The symbol c mo$nta n Mer$ 3as ascended by Se6en ste!s or stagesG and all the !yram ds and art f c al t$m$l and h lloc/s thro3n $! n flat co$ntr es 3ere m tat ons of th s fab$lo$s and myst c mo$nta n# for !$r!oses of 3orsh !, These 3ere the @- gh Places@ so often ment oned n the -ebre3 boo/s# on 3h ch the

dolaters sacr f ced to fore gn gods, The !yram ds 3ere somet mes sE$are# and somet mes ro$nd, The sacred Babylon an to3er AMagdolB# ded cated to the great "ather Bal# 3as an art f c al h ll# of !yram dal sha!e# and Se6en stages# b$ lt of br c/# and each stage of a d fferent color# re!resent ng the Se6en !lanetary s!heres by the a!!ro!r ate color of each !lanet, Mer$ tself 3as sa d to be a s ngle mo$nta n# terD m nat ng n three !ea/s# and th$s a symbol of the Tr m$rt , The great Pagoda at Tan5ore 3as of s 4 stor es# s$rmo$nted by a temD !le as the se6enth# and on th s three s! res or to3ers, An anc ent !agoda at Deog$r 3as s$rmo$nted by a to3er# s$sta n ng the myst c egg and a tr dent, -erodot$s tells $s that the Tem!le of Bal at Babylon 3as a to3er com!osed of Se6en to3ers# rest ng on an e ghth that ser6ed as bas s# and s$ccess 6ely d m n sh ng n s <e from the bottom to the to!G and Strabo tells $s t 3as a !yram d, "aber th n/s that the M thr ac ladder 3as really a !yram d 3 th

Se6en stages# each !ro6 ded 3 th a narro3 door or a!ert$re# thro$gh each of 3h ch doors the as! rant !assed# to reach the s$mm t# and then descended thro$gh s m lar doors on the o!!os te s de of the !yram dG the ascent and descent of the So$l be ng th$s re!resented, Each M thr ac ca6e and all the most anc ent tem!les 3ere tended to symbol <e the 'n 6erse# 3h ch tself 3as hab t$ally called the Tem!le and hab tat on of De ty, E6ery tem!le 3as the 3orld n m n at$reG and so the 3hole 3orld 3as one grand tem!le, The most anc ent tem!les 3ere rooflessG and therefore the Pers ans# %elts# and Scyth ans strongly d sl /ed art f c al co6D ered ed f ces, % cero says that Per4es b$rned the Grec an temD !les# on the e4!ress gro$nd that the 3hole 3orld 3as the Magn f D cent Tem!le and -ab tat on of the S$!reme De ty, Macrob $s says that the ent re 'n 6erse 3as 5$d c o$sly deemed by many the Tem!le of God, Plato !rono$nced the real Tem!le of the De ty to be the 3orldG and -eracl t$s declared that the 'n 6erse# 6ar eD

gated 3 th an mals and !lants and stars 3as the only gen$ ne Tem!le of the D 6 n ty, -o3 com!letely the Tem!le of Solomon 3as symbol c# s man fest# not only from the cont n$al re!rod$ct on n t of the sacred n$mbers and of astrolog cal symbols n the h storD cal descr !t ons of tG b$t also# and yet more# from the deD ta ls of the mag nary reconstr$cted ed f ce# seen by E<e/ el n h s 6 s on, The A!ocaly!se com!letes the demonstrat on# and sho3s the /abal st c mean ngs of the 3hole, The SymD bola Arch tecton ca are fo$nd on the most anc ent ed f cesG and these mathemat cal f g$res and nstr$ments# ado!ted by the Tem!lars# and dent cal 3 th those on the gnost c seals and abra4ae# connect the r dogma 3 th the %halda c# Syr ac# and Egy!t an Or ental !h loso!hy, The secret Pythagorean docD tr nes of n$mbers 3ere !reser6ed by the mon/s of Th bet# by the - ero!hants of Egy!t and Ele$s s# at &er$salem# and n the c rc$lar %ha!ters of the Dr$ dsG and they are es!ec ally

consecrated n that myster o$s boo/# the A!ocaly!se of Sa nt &ohn, All tem!les 3ere s$rro$nded by ! llars# record ng the n$mber of the constellat ons# the s gns of the <od ac# or the cycles of the !lanetsG and each one 3as a m crocosm or symbol of the 'n 6erse# ha6 ng for roof or ce l ng the starred 6a$lt of -ea6en, All tem!les 3ere or g nally o!en at the to!# ha6 ng for roof the s/y, T3el6e ! llars descr bed the belt of the <od ac, ;hate6er the n$mber of the ! llars# they 3ere myst cal e6ery3here, At Ab$ry# the Dr$ d c tem!le re!rod$ced all the cycles by ts colD $mns, Aro$nd the tem!les of %h lm nar n Pers a# of Baalbec# and of T$/ht Schlomoh n Tartary# on the front er of %h na# stood forty ! llars, On each s de of the tem!le at Paest$m 3ere fo$rteen# record ng the Egy!t an cycle of the dar/ and l ght s des of the moon# as descr bed by Pl$tarchG the 3hole th rtyDe ght that s$rro$nded them record ng the t3o meteor c cycles so often fo$nd n the Dr$ d c tem!les,

The theatre b$ lt by Sca$r$s# n Greece# 3as s$rro$nded by 9=2 col$mnsG the Tem!le at Mecca# and that at Iona n Scotland# by 9=2 stones,

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), )7C D Kn ght of the East# )=C D Pr nce of &er$salem )+C D Kn ght of the East and ;est# )*C D Kn ght Rose %ro 4 ,

PF, K8IG-T O" T-E EAST OR O" T-E S;ORD

AKn ght of the East# of the S3ord# or of the Eagle,B

Th s Degree# l /e all others n Masonry# s symbol cal, Based $!on h stor cal tr$th and a$thent c trad t on# t s st ll an alleD gory, The lead ng lesson of th s Degree s " del ty to obl gat on# and %onstancy and Perse6erance $nder d ff c$lt es and d sco$rD agement, Masonry s engaged n her cr$sade#DDaga nst gnorance# ntolerD ance# fanat c sm# s$!erst t on# $nchar tableness# and error, She does not sa l 3 th the tradeD3 nds# $!on a smooth sea# 3 th a steady free bree<e# fa r for a 3elcom ng harborG b$t meets and m$st o6ercome many o!!os ng c$rrents# baffl ng 3 nds# and dead calms, The ch ef obstacles to her s$ccess are the a!athy and fa thlessD ness of her o3n self sh ch ldren# and the s$! ne nd fference of the 3orld, In the roar and cr$sh and h$rry of l fe and b$s ness# and the t$m$lt and $!roar of !ol t cs# the E$ et 6o ce of Masonry s $nheard and $nheeded, The f rst lesson 3h ch one learns# 3ho engages n any great 3or/ of reform or benef cence# s# that men

are essent ally careless# l$/e3arm# and nd fferent as to e6eryD th ng that does not concern the r o3n !ersonal and mmed ate 3elfare, It s to s ngle men# and not to the $n ted efforts of many# that all the great 3or/s of man# str$ggl ng to3ard !erfecD t on# are o3 ng, The enth$s ast# 3ho mag nes that he can nD s! re 3 th h s o3n enth$s asm the m$lt t$de that edd es aro$nd h m# or e6en the fe3 3ho ha6e assoc ated themsel6es 3 th h m as coD3or/ers# s gr e6o$sly m sta/enG and most often the con6 ct on of h s o3n m sta/e s follo3ed by d sco$ragement and d sg$st, To do all# to !ay all# and to s$ffer all# and then# 3hen des! te all obstacles and h ndrances# s$ccess s accom!l shed# and a great 3or/ done# to see those 3ho o!!osed or loo/ed coldly on t# cla m and rea! all the !ra se and re3ard# s the common and almost $n D 6ersal lot of the benefactor of h s / nd, -e 3ho endea6ors to ser6e# to benef t# and m!ro6e the 3orld# s l /e a s3 mmer# 3ho str$ggles aga nst a ra! d c$rrent# n a r 6er lashed nto angry 3a6es by the 3 nds, Often they roar o6er h s

head# often they beat h m bac/ and baffle h m, Most men y eld to the stress of the c$rrent# and float 3 th t to the shore# or are s3e!t o6er the ra! dsG and only here and there the sto$t# strong heart and 6 goro$s arms str$ggle on to3ard $lt mate s$ccess, It s the mot onless and stat onary that most frets and m!edes the c$rrent of !rogressG the sol d roc/ or st$! d dead tree# rested f rmly on the bottom# and aro$nd 3h ch the r 6er 3h rls and edd es( the Masons that do$bt and hes tate and are d sco$ragedG that d sbel e6e n the ca!ab l ty of man to m!ro6eG that are not d s!osed to to l and labor for the nterest and 3ellDbe ng of genD eral h$man tyG that e4!ect others to do all# e6en of that 3h ch they do not o!!ose or r d c$leG 3h le they s t# a!!la$d ng and do ng noth ng# or !erha!s !rognost cat ng fa l$re, There 3ere many s$ch at the reb$ ld ng of the Tem!le, There 3ere !ro!hets of e6 l and m sfort$neDDthe l$/e3arm and the nD d fferent and the a!athet cG those 3ho stood by and sneeredG and those 3ho tho$ght they d d God ser6 ce eno$gh f they no3 and

then fa ntly a!!la$ded, There 3ere ra6ens croa/ ng ll omen# and m$rm$rers 3ho !reached the folly and f$t l ty of the attem!t, The 3orld s made $! of s$chG and they 3ere as ab$ndant then as they are no3, B$t gloomy and d sco$rag ng as 3as the !ros!ect# 3 th l$/eD 3armness 3 th n and b tter o!!os t on 3 tho$t# o$r anc ent brethD ren !erse6ered, Let $s lea6e them engaged n the good 3or/# and 3hene6er to $s# as to them# s$ccess s $ncerta n# remote# and cont ngent# let $s st ll remember that the only E$est on for $s to as/# as tr$e men and Masons# s# 3hat does d$ty reE$ reG and not 3hat 3 ll be the res$lt and o$r re3ard f 3e do o$r d$ty, ;or/ on# the S3ord n one hand# and the Tro3el n the otherO Masonry teaches that God s a Paternal Be ng# and has an nD terest n h s creat$res# s$ch as s e4!ressed n the t tle "atherG an nterest $n/no3n to all the systems of Pagan sm# $nta$ght n all the theor es of !h loso!hyG an nterest not only n the glor o$s be ngs of other s!heres# the Sons of L ght# the d3ellers n -ea6D

enly 3orlds# b$t n $s# !oor# gnorant# and $n3orthyG that -e has ! ty for the err ng# !ardon for the g$ lty# lo6e for the !$re# /no3ledge for the h$mble# and !rom ses of mmortal l fe for those 3ho tr$st n and obey - m, ; tho$t a bel ef n - m# l fe s m serable# the 3orld s dar/# the 'n 6erse d srobed of ts s!lendors# the ntellect$al t e to nat$re bro/en# the charm of e4 stence d ssol6ed# the great ho!e of be ng lostG and the m nd# l /e a star str$c/ from ts s!here# 3anders thro$gh the nf n te desert of ts conce!t ons# 3 tho$t attract on# tendency# dest ny# or end, Masonry teaches# that# of all the e6ents and act ons# that ta/e !lace n the $n 6erse of 3orlds and the eternal s$ccess on of ages# there s not one# e6en the m n$test# 3h ch God d d not fore6er forsee 3 th all the d st nctness of mmed ate 6 s on# comb n ng all# so that man?s free 3 ll sho$ld be - s nstr$ment# l /e all the other forces of nat$re, It teaches that the so$l of man s formed by - m for a !$rD

!oseG that# b$ lt $! n ts !ro!ort ons# and fash oned n e6ery !art# by nf n te s/ ll# an emanat on from - s s! r t# ts nat$re# necess ty# and des gn are 6 rt$e, It s so formed# so mo$lded# so fash oned# so e4actly balanced# so e4E$ s tely !ro!ort oned n e6ery !art# that s n ntrod$ced nto t s m seryG that 6 c o$s tho$ghts fall $!on t l /e dro!s of !o sonG and g$ lty des res# breath ng on ts del cate f bres# ma/e !lag$eDs!ots there# deadly as those of !esD t lence $!on the body, It s made for 6 rt$e# and not for 6 ceG for !$r ty# as ts end# rest# and ha!! ness, 8ot more 6a nly 3o$ld 3e attem!t to ma/e the mo$nta n s n/ to the le6el of the 6alley# the 3a6es of the angry sea t$rn bac/ from ts shores and cease to th$nder $!on the beach# the stars to halt n the r s3 ft co$rses# than to change any one la3 of o$r o3n nat$re, And one of those la3s# $ttered by God?s 6o ce# and s!ea/ ng thro$gh e6ery ner6e and f bre# e6ery force and element# of the moral const t$t on -e has g 6en $s# s that 3e m$st be $!r ght and 6 rt$o$sG that f tem!ted 3e m$st res stG that 3e m$st go6ern o$r $nr$ly !asD

s ons# and hold n hand o$r sens$al a!!et tes, And th s s not the d ctate of an arb trary 3 ll# nor of some stern and m!ract cable la3G b$t t s !art of the great f rm la3 of harmony that b nds the 'n 6erse together( not the mere enactment of arb trary 3 llG b$t the d ctate of Inf n te ; sdom, ;e /no3 that God s good# and that 3hat -e does s r ght, Th s /no3n# the 3or/s of creat on# the changes of l fe# the dest D n es of etern ty# are all s!read before $s# as the d s!ensat ons and co$nsels of nf n te lo6e, Th s /no3n# 3e then /no3 that the lo6e of God s 3or/ ng to ss$es# l /e tself# beyond all tho$ght and mag nat on good and glor o$sG and that the only reason 3hy 3e do not $nderstand t# s that t s too glor o$s for $s to $nD derstand, God?s lo6e ta/es care for all# and noth ng s neglected, It 3atches o6er all# !ro6 des for all# ma/es 3 se ada!tat ons for allG for age# for nfancy# for mat$r ty# for ch ldhoodG n e6ery scene of th s or another 3orldG for 3ant# 3ea/ness# 5oy# sorro3# and e6en for s n, All s good and 3ell and r ghtG and shall be so

fore6er, Thro$gh the eternal ages the l ght of God?s benef cence shall sh ne hereafter# d sclos ng all# cons$mmat ng all# re3ard ng all that deser6e re3ard, Then 3e shall see# 3hat no3 3e can only bel e6e, The clo$d 3 ll be l fted $!# the gate of mystery be !assed# and the f$ll l ght sh ne fore6erG the l ght of 3h ch that of the Lodge s a symbol, Then that 3h ch ca$sed $s tr al shall y eld $s tr $m!hG and that 3h ch made o$r heart ache shall f ll $s 3 th gladnessG and 3e shall then feel that there# as here# the only tr$e ha!! ness s to learn# to ad6ance# and to m!ro6eG 3h ch co$ld not ha!!en $nless 3e had commenced 3 th error# gnorance# and m!erfect on, ;e m$st !ass thro$gh the dar/ness# to reach the l ght,

PFI, PRI8%E O" &ER'SALEM,

;e no longer e4!ect to reb$ ld the Tem!le at &er$salem, To $s t has become b$t a symbol, To $s the 3hole 3orld s God?s Tem!le# as s e6ery $!r ght heart, To establ sh all o6er the 3orld the 8e3 La3 and Re gn of Lo6e# Peace# %har ty# and Tolerat on# s to b$ ld that Tem!le# most acce!table to God# n erect ng 3h ch Masonry s no3 engaged, 8o longer need ng to re!a r to &er$saD lem to 3orsh !# nor to offer $! sacr f ces and shed blood to !ro! D t ate the De ty# man may ma/e the 3oods and mo$nta ns h s %h$rches and Tem!les# and 3orsh ! God 3 th a de6o$t grat t$de# and 3 th 3or/s of char ty and benef cence to h s fello3Dmen, ;here6er the h$mble and contr te heart s lently offers $! ts adorat on# $nder the o6erarch ng trees# n the o!en# le6el meado3s# on the h llDs de# n the glen# or n the c ty?s s3arm ng streetsG there

s God?s -o$se and the 8e3 &er$salem, The Pr nces of &er$salem no longer s t as mag strates to 5$dge bet3een the !eo!leG nor s the r n$mber l m ted to f 6e, B$t the r d$t es st ll rema n s$bstant ally the same# and the r ns gn a and symbols reta n the r old s gn f cance, &$st ce and EE$ ty are st ll the r character st cs, To reconc le d s!$tes and heal d sD sens ons# to restore am ty and !eace# to soothe d sl /es and soften# !re5$d ces# are the r !ec$l ar d$t esG and they /no3 that the !eacema/ers are blessed, The r emblems ha6e been already e4!la ned, They are !art of lang$age of MasonryG the same no3 as t 3as 3hen Moses learned t from the Egy!t an - ero!hants, , St ll 3e obser6e the s! r t of the D 6 ne la3# as th$s en$nc ated to o$r anc ent brethren# 3hen the Tem!le 3as reb$ lt# and the boo/ of the la3 aga n o!ened( @E4ec$te tr$e 5$dgmentG and sho3 mercy and com!ass on e6ery man to h s brother, O!!ress not the 3 do3 nor the fatherD

less# the stranger nor the !oorG and let none of yo$ mag ne e6 l aga nst h s brother n h s heart, S!ea/ ye e6ery man the tr$th to h s ne ghborG e4ec$te the 5$dgment of Tr$th and Peace n yo$r gatesG and lo6e no false oathG for all these I hate# sa th the Lord, @Let those 3ho ha6e !o3er r$le n r ghteo$sness# and Pr nces n 5$dgment, And let h m that s a 5$dge be as an h d ngD!lace fro m the 3 nd# and a co6ert from the tem!estG as r 6ers of 3ater n a dry !laceG as the shado3 of a great roc/ n a 3eary land, Then the 6 le !erson shall no more be called l beralG nor the ch$rl bo$nt f$lG and the 3or/ of 5$st ce shall be !eaceG and the effect of 5$st ce# E$ et and sec$r tyG and 3 sdom and /no3ledge shall be the stab l ty of the t mes, ;al/ ye r ghteo$sly and s!ea/ $!r ghtlyG des! se the ga ns of o!!ress on# sha/e from yo$r hands the contam nat on of br besG sto! not yo$r ears aga nst the cr es of the o!!ressed# nor sh$t yo$r eyes that yo$ may not see the cr mes of the greatG and yo$ shall d3ell on h gh# and yo$r !lace

of defence be l /e m$n t ons of roc/s,@ "orget not these !rece!ts of the old La3G and es!ec ally do not forget# as yo$ ad6ance# that e6ery Mason# ho3e6er h$mble# s yo$r brother# and the labor ng man yo$r !eerO Remember al3ays that all Masonry s 3or/# and that the tro3el s an emblem of the Degrees n th s %o$nc l, Labor# 3hen r ghtly $nderstood# s both noble and ennobl ng# and ntended to de6elo! man?s moral and s! r t$al nat$re# and not to be deemed a d sgrace or a m sfort$ne, E6eryth ng aro$nd $s s# n ts bear ngs and nfl$ences# moral, The serene and br ght morn ng# 3hen 3e reco6er o$r consc o$s e4 stence from the embraces of slee!G 3hen# from that mage of Death God calls $s to a ne3 l fe# and aga n g 6es $s e4 stence# and - s merc es 6 s t $s n e6ery br ght ray and glad tho$ght# and call for grat t$de and contentG the s lence of that early da3n# the h$shed s lence# as t 3ere# of e4!ectat onG the holy e6ent de# ts cool ng bree<e# ts lengthen ng shado3s# ts fall ng shades# ts st ll and sober ho$rG the s$ltry noont de and the stern and solemn

m dn ghtG and S!r ngDt me# and chasten ng A$t$mnG and S$mD mer# that $nbars o$r gates# and carr es $s forth am dst the e6erD rene3ed 3onders of the 3orldG and ; nter# that gathers $s aro$nd the e6en ng hearth (DDall these# as they !ass# to$ch by t$rns the s!r ngs of the s! r t$al l fe n $s# and are cond$ct ng that l fe to good or e6 l, The dle 3atchDhand often !o nts to someth ng 3 th n $sG and the shado3 of the gnomon on the d al often falls $!on the consc ence, A l fe of labor s not a state of nfer or ty or degradat on, The Alm ghty has not cast man?s lot beneath the E$ et shades# and am d glad gro6es and lo6ely h lls# 3 th no tas/ to !erformG 3 th noth ng to do b$t to r se $! and eat# and to l e do3n and rest, -e has orda ned that ;or/ shall be done# n all the d3ell ngs of l fe# n e6ery !rod$ct 6e f eld# n e6ery b$sy c ty# and on e6ery 3a6e of e6ery ocean, And th s -e has done# beca$se t has !lrased - m to g 6e man a nat$re dest ned to h gher ends than ndolent re!ose and rres!ons ble !rof tless nd$lgenceG and beD

ca$se# for de6elo! ng the energ es of s$ch a nat$re# 3or/ 3as the necessary and !ro!er element, ;e m ght as 3ell as/ 3hy -e co$ld not ma/e t3o and t3o be s 4# as 3hy -e co$ld not de6elo! these energ es 3 tho$t the nstr$mental ty of 3or/, They are eE$ally m!oss b l t es, Th s Masonry teaches# as a great Tr$thG a great moral landD mar/# that o$ght to g$ de the co$rse of all man/ nd, It teaches ts to l ng ch ldren that the scene of the r da ly l fe s all s! r t$al# that the 6ery m!lements of the r to l# the fabr cs they 3ea6e# the merchand se they barter# are des gned for s! r t$al endsG that so bel e6 ng# the r da ly lot may be to them a s!here for the noblest m!ro6ement, That 3h ch 3e do n o$r nter6als of rela4at on# o$r ch$rchDgo ng# and o$r boo/Dread ng# are es!ec ally des gned to !re!are o$r m nds for the act on of L fe, ;e are to hear and read and med tate# that 3e may act 3ellG and the act on of L fe s tself the great f eld for s! r t$al m!ro6ement, There s no tas/ of nD d$stry or b$s ness# n f eld or forest# on the 3harf or the sh !?s

dec/# n the off ce or the e4change# b$t has s! r t$al ends, There s no care or cross of o$r da ly labor# b$t 3as es!ec ally orda ned to n$rt$re n $s !at ence# calmness# resol$t on# !erse6erance# genD tleness# d s nterestedness# magnan m ty, 8or s there any tool or m!lement of to l# b$t s a !art of the great s! r t$al nstr$menD tal ty, All the relat ons of l fe# those of !arent# ch ld# brother# s ster# fr end# assoc ate# lo6er and belo6ed# h$sband# 3 fe# are moral# thro$gho$t e6ery l 6 ng t e and thr ll ng ner6e that blnd them together, They cannot s$bs st a day nor an ho$r 3 tho$t !$tt ng the m nd to a tr al of ts tr$th# f del ty# forbearance# and d s nterD estedness, A great c ty s one e4tended scene of moral act on, There s blo3 str$c/ n t b$t has a !$r!ose# $lt mately good or bad# and therefore moral, There s no act on !erformed# b$t has a mot 6eG and mot 6es are the s!ec al 5$r sd ct on of moral ty, EE$ !ages# ho$ses# and f$rn t$re are symbols of 3hat s moral#

and they n a tho$sand 3ays m n ster to r ght or 3rong feel ng, E6eryth ng that belongs to $s# m n ster ng to o$r comfort or l$4D $ry# a3a/ens n $s emot ons of !r de or grat t$de# of self shness or 6an tyG tho$ghts of selfD nd$lgence# or merc f$l remembrances of the needy and the dest t$te, E6eryth ng acts $!on and nfl$ences $s, God?s great la3 of sym!athy and harmony s !otent and nfle4 ble as - s la3 of gra6 tat on, A sentence embody ng a noble tho$ght st rs o$r bloodG a no se made by a ch ld frets and e4as!erates $s# and nfl$D ences o$r act ons, A 3orld of s! r t$al ob5ects# nfl$ences# and relat ons l es aro$nd $s all, ;e all 6ag$ely deem t to be soG b$t he only l 6es a charmed l fe# l /e that of gen $s and !oet c ns! rat on# 3ho comD m$nes 3 th the s! r t$al scene aro$nd h m# hears the 6o ce of the s! r t n e6ery so$nd# sees ts s gns n e6ery !ass ng form of th ngs# and feels ts m!$lse n all act on# !ass on# and be ng, Fery near to $s l es the m nes of 3 sdomG $ns$s!ected they l e all

aro$nd $s, There s a secret n the s m!lest th ngs# a 3onder n the !la nest# a charm n the d$llest, ;e are all nat$rally see/ers of 3onders, ;e tra6el far to see the ma5esty of old r$ ns# the 6enerable forms of the hoary mo$nD ta ns# great 3aterDfalls# and galler es of art, And yet the 3orldD 3onder s all aro$nd $sG the 3onder of sett ng s$ns# and e6en ng stars# of the mag c s!r ngDt me# the blossom ng of the trees# the strange transformat ons of the mothG the 3onder of the Inf n te D 6 n ty and of - s bo$ndless re6elat on, There s no s!lendor beyond that 3h ch sets ts morn ng throne n the golden EastG no# dome s$bl me as that of -ea6enG no bea$ty so fa r as that of the 6erdant# blossom ng earthG no !lace# ho3e6er n6ested 3 th the sanct t es of old t me# l /e that home 3h ch s h$shed and folded 3 th n the embrace of the h$mblest 3all and roof, And all these are b$t the symbols of th ngs far greater and h gher, All s b$t the cloth ng of the s! r t, In th s 6est$re of t me s 3ra!!ed the mmortal nat$re( n th s sho3 of c rc$mD

stance and form stands re6ealed the st$!endo$s real ty, Let man b$t be# as he s# a l 6 ng so$l# comm$n ng 3 th h mself and 3 th God# and h s 6 s on becomes etern tyG h s abode# nf n tyG h s home# the bosom of allDembrac ng lo6e, The great !roblem of -$man ty s 3ro$ght o$t n the h$mblest abodesG no more than th s s done n the h ghest, A h$man heart throbs beneath the beggar?s gabard neG and that and no more st rs 3 th ts beat ng the Pr nce?s mantle, The bea$ty of Lo6e# the charm of "r endsh !# the sacredness of Sorro3# the hero sm of Pat ence# the noble SelfDsacr f ce# these and the r l /e# alone# ma/e l fe to be l fe ndeed# and are ts grande$r and ts !o3er, They are the !r celess treas$res and glory of h$man tyG and they are not th ngs of cond t on, All !laces and all scenes are al /e clothed 3 th the grande$r and charm of 6 rt$es s$ch as these, The m ll on occas ons 3 ll come to $s all# n the ord nary !aths of o$r l fe# n o$r homes# and by o$r f res des# 3here n 3e may act as nobly# as f# all o$r l fe long# 3e led arm es# sat n senates#

or 6 s ted beds of s c/ness and !a n, Fary ng e6ery ho$r# the m ll on occas ons 3 ll come n 3h ch 3e may restra n o$r !asD s ons# s$bd$e o$r hearts to gentleness and !at ence# res gn o$r o3n nterst for another?s ad6antage# s!ea/ 3ords of / ndness and 3 sdom# ra se the fallen# cheer the fa nt ng and s c/ n s! r t# and soften and ass$age the 3ear ness and b tterness of the r mortal lot, To e6ery Mason there 3 ll be o!!ort$n ty eno$gh for these, They cannot be 3r tten on h s tombGb$t they 3 ll be 3r tten dee! n the hearts of men# of fr ends# of ch ldren# of / ndred all aro$nd h m# n the boo/ of the great acco$nt# and# n the r eternal nfl$D ences# on the great !ages of the 'n 6erse, To s$ch a dest ny# at least# my Brethren# let $s all as! re O These la3s of Masonry let $s all str 6e to obeyO And so may o$r hearts become tr$e tem!les of the L 6 ng GodO And may -e enco$rage o$r <eal# s$sta n o$r ho!es# and ass$re $s of s$ccessO

PFII, K8IG-T O" T-E EAST A8D ;EST,

Th s s the f rst of the Ph loso!h cal Degrees of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R teG and the beg nn ng of a co$rse of nD str$ct on 3h ch 3 ll f$lly $n6e l to yo$ the heart and nner mysD ter es of Masonry, Do not des!a r beca$se yo$ ha6e often seemed on the !o nt of atta n ng the nmost l ght# and ha6e as often been d sa!!o nted, In all t me# tr$th has been h dden $nder symbols# and often $nder a s$ccess on of allegor es( 3here 6e l after 6e l had to be !enetrated before the tr$e L ght 3as reached# and the essent al tr$th stood re6ealed, The -$man L ght s b$t an mD !erfect reflect on of a ray of the Inf n te and D 6 ne,

;e are abo$t to a!!roach those anc ent Rel g ons 3h ch once r$led the m nds of men# and 3hose r$ ns enc$mber the !la ns of the great Past# as the bro/en col$mns of Palmyra and Tadmor l e bleach ng on the sands of the desert, They r se before $s# those old# strange# myster o$s creeds and fa ths# shro$ded n the m sts of ant E$ ty# and stal/ d mly and $ndef ned along the l ne 3h ch d 6 des T me from Etern tyG and forms of strange# 3 ld# startl ng bea$ty m ngled n the 6ast throngs of f g$res 3 th sha!es monD stro$s# grotesE$e# and h deo$s, The rel g on ta$ght by Moses# 3h ch# l /e the la3s of Egy!t# en$c ated the !r nc !le of e4cl$s on# borro3ed# at e6ery !er od of ts e4 stence# from all the creeds 3 th 3h ch t came n contact, ;h le# by the st$d es of the learned and 3 se# t enr ched tself 3 th the most adm rable !r nc !les of the rel g ons of Egy!t and As a# t 3as changed# n the 3ander ngs of the Peo!le# by e6eryD th ng that 3as most m!$re or sed$ct 6e n the !agan manners and s$!erst t ons, It 3as one th ng n the t mes of Moses and

Aaron# another n those of Da6 d and Solomon# and st ll another n those of Dan el and Ph lo, At the t me 3hen &ohn the Ba!t st made h s a!!earance n the desert# near the shores of the Dead Sea# all the old !h loso!h cal and rel g o$s systems 3ere a!!ro4 mat ng to3ard each other, A general lass t$de ncl ned the m nds of all to3ard the E$ et$de of that amalgamat on of doctr nes for 3h ch the e4!ed t ons of Ale4D ander and the more !eacef$l occ$rrences that follo3ed# 3 th the establ shment n As a and Afr ca of many Grec an dynast es and a great n$mber of Grec an colon es# had !re!ared the 3ay, After the nterm ngl ng of d fferent nat ons# 3h ch res$lted from the 3ars of Ale4ander n threeDE$arters of the globe# the doctr nes of Greece# of Egy!t# of Pers a# and of Ind a# met and nterm ngled e6ery3here, All the barr ers that had formerly /e!t the nat ons a!art# 3ere thro3n do3nG and 3h le the Peo!le of the ;est read ly connected the r fa th 3 th those of the East# those of the Or ent hastened to learn the trad t ons of Rome and the legends

of Athens, ;h le the Ph loso!hers of Greece# all Me4ce!t the d sD c !les of E! c$r$sN more or less Platon sts# se <ed eargerly $!on the bel efs and doctr nes of the East#DDthe &e3s and Egy!t ans# beD fore then the most e4cl$s 6e of all !eo!les# y elded to that eclect D c sm 3h ch !re6a led among the r masters# the Gree/s and Romans, 'nder the same nfl$ences of tolerat on# e6en those 3ho emD braced %hr st an ty# m ngled together the old and the ne3# %hr sD t an ty and Ph loso!hy# the A!ostol c teach ngs and the trad t ons of Mythology The man of ntellect# de6otee of one system# rarely d s!laces t 3 th another n all ts !$r ty, The !eo!le ta/e s$ch a creed as s offered them, Accord ngly# the d st nct on beD t3een the esoter c and the e4oter c doctr ne# mmemor al n other creeds# eas ly ga ned a foothold among many of the %hr st ansG and t 3as held by a 6ast n$mber# e6en d$r ng the !reach ng of Pa$l# that the 3r t ngs of the A!ostles 3ere ncom!leteG that they conta ned only the germs of another doctr ne# 3h ch m$st rece 6e fro m the hands of !h loso!hy# not only the systemat c arrangeD

ment 3h ch 3as 3ant ng# b$t all the de6elo!ment 3h ch lay conD cealed there n, The 3r t ngs of the A!ostles# they sa d# n addressD ng themsel6es to man/ nd n general# en$nc ated only the art cles of the 6$lgar fa thG b$t transm tted the myster es of /no3ledge to s$!er or m nds# to the Elect#DDmyster es handed do3n from genD erat on to generat on n esoter c trad t onsG and to th s sc ence of the myster es they ga6e the name of Gnos s, The Gnost cs der 6ed the r lead ng doctr nes and deas from Plato and Ph lo# the HendDa6esta and the Kabalah# and the Sacred boo/s of Ind a and Egy!tG and th$s ntrod$ced nto the bosom of %hr st an ty the cosmolog cal and theoso!h cal s!ec$lat ons# 3h ch had formed the larger !ort on of the anc ent rel g ons of the Or ent# 5o ned to those of the Egy!t an# Gree/# and &e3 sh doctr nes# 3h ch the 8eoDPlaton sts had eE$ally ado!ted n the Occ dent, Emanat on from the De ty of all s! r t$al be ngs# !rogress 6e degenerat on of these be ngs from emanat on to emanat on# reD

dem!t on and ret$rn of all to the !$r ty of the %reatorG and# after the reDestabl shment of the !r m t 6e harmony of all# a forD t$nate and tr$ly d 6 ne cond t on of all# n the bosom of GodG s$ch 3ere the f$ndamental teach ngs of Gnost c sm, The gen $s of the Or ent# 3 th ts contem!lat ons# rrad at ons# and nt$ t ons# d ctated ts doctr nes, Its lang$age corres!onded to ts or g n, "$ll of magery# t had all the magn f cence# the ncons stenc es# and the mob l ty of the f g$rat 6e style, Behold# t sa d# the l ght# 3h ch emanates from an mmense centre of L ght# that s!reads e6ery3here ts bene6olent raysG so do the s! r ts of L ght emanate from the D 6 ne L ght, Behold# all the s!r ngs 3h ch no$r sh# embell sh# fert l <e# and !$r fy the EarthG they emanate from one and the same oceanG so from the bosom of the D 6 n ty emanate so many streams# 3h ch form and f ll the $n 6erse of ntell gences, Behold n$mbers# 3h ch all emanate from one !r m t 6e n$mber# all resemble t# all are comD !osed of ts essence# and st ll 6ary nf n telyG and $tterances# deD

com!osable nto so many syllables and elements# all conta ned n the !r m t 6e ;ord# and st ll nf n tely 6ar o$sG so the 3orld of Intell gences emanated from a Pr mary Intell gence# and they all resemble t# and yet d s!lay an nf n te 6ar ety of e4 stences, It re6 6ed and comb ned the old doctr nes of the Or ent and the Occ dentG and t fo$nd n many !assages of the Gos!els and the Pastoral letters# a 3arrant for do ng so, %hr st h mself s!o/e n !arables and allegor es# &ohn borro3ed the en gmat cal lang$age of the Platon sts# and Pa$l often nd$lged n ncom!rehens ble rha!sod es# the mean ng of 3h ch co$ld ha6e been clear to the In t ates alone, It s adm tted that the cradle of Gnost c sm s !robably to be loo/ed for n Syr a# and e6en n Palest ne, Most of ts e4!o$ndD ers 3rote n that corr$!ted form of the Gree/ $sed by the -ellenD st c &e3s# and n the Se!t$ag nt and the 8e3 TestamentG and there s a str / ng analogy bet3een the r doctr nes and those of the &$daeoDEgy!t an Ph lo# of Ale4andr aG tself the seat of three

schools# at once !h loso!h c and rel g o$sDDthe Gree/# the Egy!D t an# and the &e3 sh, Pythagoras and Plato# the most myst cal of the Grec an Ph losD o!hers Mthe latter he r to the doctr nes of the formerN# and 3ho had tra6elled# the latter n Egy!t# and the former n Phoen c a# Ind a# and Pers a# also ta$ght the esoter c doctr ne and the d st ncD t on bet3een the n t ated and the !rofane, The dom nant docD tr nes of Platon sm 3ere fo$nd n Gnost c sm, Emanat on of Intell gences from the bosom of the De tyG the go ng astray n error and the s$ffer ngs of s! r ts# so long as they are remote from God# and m!r soned n matterG 6a n and longDcont n$ed efforts to arr 6e at the /no3ledge of the Tr$th# and reDenter nto the r !r m t 6e $n on 3 th the S$!reme Be ngG all ance of a !$re and d 6 ne so$l 3 th an rrat onal so$l# the seat of e6 l des resG angels or demons 3ho d3ell n and go6ern the !lanets# ha6 ng b$t an m!erfect /no3ledge of the deas that !res ded at the creat onG regenerat on of all be ngs by the r ret$rn to the /osmos

noetos# the 3orld of Intell gences# and ts %h ef# the S$!reme Be ngG sole !oss ble mode of reDestabl sh ng that !r m D t 6e harmony of the creat on# of 3h ch the m$s c of the s!heres of Pythagoras 3as the mageG these 3ere the analog es of the t3o systemsG and 3e d sco6er n them some of the deas that form a !art of MasonryG n 3h ch# n the !resent m$t lated cond t on of the symbol c Degrees# they are d sg$ sed and o6erla d 3 th f ct on and abs$rd ty# or !resent themsel6es as cas$al h nts that are !assD ed by 3holly $nnot ced, The d st nct on bet3een the esoter c and e4oter c doctr nes Ma d st nct on !$rely Mason cN# 3as al3ays and from the 6ery earl est t mes !reser6ed among the Gree/s, It remo$nted to the fab$lo$s t mes of Or!he$sG and the myster es of Theoso!hy 3ere fo$nd n all the r trad t ons and myths, And after the t me of Ale4ander# they resorted for nstr$ct on# dogmas# and myster es# to all the schools# to those of Egy!t and As a# as 3ell as those of Anc ent Thrace# S c ly# Etr$r a# and Att ca,

The &e3 shDGree/ School of Ale4andr a s /no3n only by t3o of ts %h efs# Ar stob$l$s and Ph lo# both &e3s of Ale4andr a n Egy!t, Belong ng to As a by ts or g n# to Egy!t by ts res dence# to Greece by ts lang$age and st$d es# t stro6e to sho3 that all tr$ths embedded n the !h loso!h es of other co$ntr es 3ere transD !lanted th ther from Palest ne, Ar stob$l$s declared that all the facts and deta ls of the &e3 sh Scr !t$res 3ere so many allegor es# conceal ng the most !rofo$nd mean ngs# and that Plato had borD ro3ed from them all h s f nest deas, Ph lo# 3ho l 6ed a cent$ry after h m# follo3 ng the same theory# endea6ored to sho3 that the -ebre3 3r t ngs# by the r system of allegor es# 3ere the tr$e so$rce of all rel g o$s and !h loso!h cal doctr nes, Accord ng to h m# the l teral mean ng s for the 6$lgar alone, ;hoe6er has med tated on !h loso!hy# !$r f ed h mself by 6 rt$e# and ra sed h mself by contem!lat on# to God and the ntellect$al 3orld# and rece 6ed the r ns! rat on# ! erces the gross en6elo!e of the letter# d sco6ers a 3holly d fferent order of th ngs# and s n t ated nto

myster es# of 3h ch the elementary or l teral nstr$ct on offers b$t an m!erfect mage, A h stor cal fact# a f g$re# a 3ord# a letter# a n$mber# a r te# a c$stom# the !arable or 6 s on of a !ro!het# 6e ls the most !rofo$nd tr$thsG and he 3ho has the /ey of sc ence 3 ll nter!ret all accord ng to the l ght he !ossesses, Aga n 3e see the symbol sm of Masonry# and the search of the %and date for l ght, @Let men of narro3 m nds 3 thdra3#@ he says# @3 th closed ears, ;e transm t the d 6 ne myster es to those 3ho ha6e rece 6ed the sacred n t at on# to those 3ho !racD t se tr$e ! ety and 3ho are not ensla6ed by the em!ty tra!! ngs of 3ords or the !reconce 6ed o! n ons of the !agans,@ To Ph lo# the S$!reme Be ng 3as the Pr m t 6e L ght# or the Archety!e of L ght# So$rce 3hence the rays emanate that ll$m D nate So$ls, -e 3as also the So$l of the 'n 6erse# and as s$ch acted n all ts !arts, -e - mself f lls and l m ts - s 3hole Be ng, - s Po3ers and F rt$es f ll and !enetrate all, These Po3ers Md$name sN are S! r ts d st nct from God# the @Ideas@

of Plato !erson f ed, -e s 3 tho$t beg nn ng# and l 6es n the !rototy!e of T me Ma onN, - s mage s T-E ;ORD# a form more br ll ant than f reG that not be ng the !$re l ght, Th s LOGOS d3ells n GodG for the S$!reme Be ng ma/es to - mself 3 th n - s Intell gence the ty!es or deas of e6eryth ng that s to become real ty n th s ;orld, The LOGOS s the 6eh cle by 3h ch God acts on the 'n D 6erse# and may be com!ared to the s!eech of man, The LOGOS be ng the ;orld of Ideas# by means 3hereof God has created 6 s ble th ngs# -e s the most anc ent God# n com!ar son 3 th the ;orld# 3h ch s the yo$ngest !roD d$ct on, The LOGOS# %h ef of Intell gence# of 3h ch -e s the general re!resentat 6e# s named Archangel# ty!e and re!resentaD t 6e of all s! r ts# e6en those of mortals, -e s also styled the manDty!e and !r m t 6e man# Adam Kadmon, God only s ; se, The 3 sdom of man s b$t the reflect on and mage of that of God, -e s the "ather# and - s ;ISDOM the

mother of creat on( for -e $n ted - mself 3 th ;ISDOM MSo!h aN# and comm$n cated to t the germ of creat on# and t bro$ght forth the mater al 3orld, -e created the deal 3orld only# and ca$sed the mater al 3orld to be made real after ts ty!e# by - s LOGOS# 3h ch s - s s!eech# and at the same t me the Idea of Ideas# the Intellect$al ;orld, The Intellect$al % ty 3as b$t the Tho$ght of the Arch tect# 3ho med tated the creat on# accordD ng to that !lan of the Mater al % ty, The ;ord s not only the %reator# b$t occ$! es the !lace of the S$!reme Be ng, Thro$gh - m all the Po3ers and Attr b$tes of God act, On the other s de# as f rst re!resentat 6e of the -$man "am ly# -e s the Protector of men and the r She!herd, God g 6es to man the So$l or Intell gence# 3h ch e4 sts before the body# and 3h ch he $n tes 3 th the body, The reason ng Pr nc !le comes from God thro$gh the ;ord# and comm$nes 3 th God and 3 th the ;ordG b$t there s also n man an rrat onal Pr nc !le# that of the ncl nat ons and !ass ons 3h ch !rod$ce

d sorder# emanat ng from nfer or s! r ts 3ho f ll the a r as m n sters of God, The body# ta/en from the Earth# and the rrat onal Pr nc !le that an mates t conc$rrently 3 th the rat onal Pr nc !le# are hated by God# 3h le the rat onal so$l 3h ch -e has g 6en t# s# as t 3ere# ca!t 6e n th s !r son# th s coff n# that encom!asses t, The !resent cond t on of man s not h s !r m D t 6e cond t on# 3hen he 3as the mage of the Logos, -e has fallen from h s f rst estate, B$t he may ra se h mself aga n# by follo3 ng the d rect ons of ;ISDOM and of the Angels 3h ch God has comm ss oned to a d h m n free ng h mself from the bonds of the body# and combat ng E6 l# the e4 stence 3hereof God has !erm tted# to f$rn sh h m the means of e4erc s ng h s l berty, The so$ls that are !$r f ed# not by the La3 b$t by l ght# r se to the -ea6enly reg ons# to en5oy there a !erfect fel c ty, Those that !erse6ere n e6 l go from body to body# the seats of !ass ons and e6 l des res, The fam l ar l neaments of these docD tr nes 3 ll be recogn <ed by all 3ho read the E! stles of St, Pa$l#

3ho 3rote after Ph lo# the latter l 6 ng t ll the re gn of %al g$la# and be ng the contem!orary of %hr st, And the Mason s fam l ar 3 th these doctr nes of Ph lo( that the S$!reme Be ng s a centre of L ght 3hose rays or emanat ons !er6ade the 'n 6erseG for that s the L ght for 3h ch all Mason c 5o$rneys are a search# and of 3h ch the s$n and moon n o$r Lodges are only emblems( that L ght and Dar/ness# ch ef enem es fro m the beg nn ng of T me# d s!$te 3 th each other the em! re of the 3orldG 3h ch 3e symbol <e by the cand date 3ander ng n dar/ness and be ng bro$ght to l ght( that the 3orld 3as created# not by the S$!reme Be ng# b$t by a secondary agent# 3ho s b$t - s ;ORD# and by ty!es 3h ch are b$t h s deas# a ded by an I8TELLIGE8%E# or ;ISDOM# 3h ch g 6es one of - s Attr b$tesG n 3h ch 3e see the occ$lt mean ng of the neD cess ty of reco6er ng @the ;ord@G and of o$r t3o col$mns of STRE8GT- and ;ISDOM# 3h ch are also the t3o !arallel l nes that bo$nd the c rcle re!resent ng the 'n 6erse( that the 6 s ble 3orld

s the mage of the n6 s ble 3orldG that the essence of the -$man So$l s the mage of God# and t e4 sted before the bodyG that the ob5ect of ts terrestr al l fe s to d sengage tself of ts body or ts se!$lchreG and that t 3 ll ascend to the -ea6enly reg ons 3henD e6er t shall be !$r f edG n 3h ch 3e see the mean ng# no3 almost forgotten n o$r Lodges# of the mode of !re!arat on of the cand D date for a!!rent cesh !# and h s tests and !$r f cat ons n the f rst Degree# accord ng to the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te, Ph lo ncor!orated n h s eclect c sm ne ther Egy!t an nor Or ental elements, B$t there 3ere other &e3 sh Teachers n Ale4D andr a 3ho d d both, The &e3s of Egy!t 3ere sl ghtly 5ealo$s of# and a l ttle host le to# those of Palest ne# !art c$larly after the erect on of the sanct$ary at Leonto!ol s by the - ghDPr est On asG and therefore they adm red and magn f ed those sages# 3ho# l /e &erem ah# had res ded n Egy!t, @The 3 sdom of Solomon@ 3as 3r tten at Ale4andr a# and# n the t me of St, &erome# 3as attr bD $ted to Ph loG b$t t conta ns !r nc !les at 6ar ance 3 th h s,

It !erson f es ; sdom# and dra3s bet3een ts ch ldren and the Profane# the same l ne of demarcat on that Egy!t had long before ta$ght to the &e3s, That d st nct on e4 sted at the beg nn ng of the Mosa c creed, Moshah h mself 3as an In t ate n the myster es of Egy!t# as he 3as com!elled to be# as the ado!ted son of the da$ghter of Pharaoh# Tho$or s# da$ghter of Sesostr sDRamsesG 3ho# as her tomb and mon$ments sho3# 3as# n the r ght of her nfant h$sband# Regent of Lo3er Egy!t or the Delta at the t me of the -ebre3 Pro!het?s b rth# re gn ng at -el o!ol s, She 3as also# as the rel efs on her tomb sho3# a Pr estess of -AT-OR and 8EIT-# the t3o great !r me6al goddesses, As her ado!ted son# l 6 ng n her Palace and !resence forty years# and d$r ng that t me scarcely acE$a nted 3 th h s brethren the &e3s# the la3 of Egy!t com!elled h s n t at on( and 3e f nd n many of h s enactD ments the ntent on of !reser6 ng# bet3een the common !eo!le and the In t ates# the l ne of se!arat on 3h ch he fo$nd n Egy!t, Moshah and Ahar$n h s brother# the 3hole ser es of - ghDPr ests#

the %o$nc l of the +2 Elders# Salomoh and the ent re s$ccess on of Pro!hets# 3ere n !ossess on of a h gher sc enceG and of that sc ence Masonry s# at least# the l neal descendant, It 3as fam l D arly /no3n as T-E K8O;LEDGE O" T-E ;ORD, AM'8# at f rst the God of Lo3er Egy!t only# 3here Moshah 3as reared Ma 3ord that n -ebre3 means Tr$thN# 3as the S$D !reme God, -e 3as styled @the %elest al Lord# 3ho sheds L ght on h dden th ngs,@ -e 3as the so$rce of that d 6 ne l fe# of 3h ch the cr$4 ansata s the symbolG and the so$rce of all !o3er, -e $n ted all the attr b$tes that the Anc ent Or ental Theoso!hy ass gned to the S$!reme Be ng, -e 3as the Pleroma# or @"$llness of th ngs#@ for -e com!rehended n - mself e6eryD th ngG and the LIG-TG for he 3as the S$nDGod, -e 3as $nD changeable n the m dst of e6eryth ng !henomenal n h s 3orlds, -e created noth ngG b$t e6eryth ng emanated from - mG and of - m all the other Gods 3ere b$t man festat ons, The Ram 3as - s l 6 ng symbolG 3h ch yo$ see re!rod$ced n

th s Degree# ly ng on the boo/ 3 th se6en seals on the trac ngD board, -e ca$sed the creat on of the 3orld by the Pr m t 6e Tho$ght MEnno aN# or S! r t MPne$maN# that ss$ed from h m by means of h s Fo ce or the ;ORDG and 3h ch Tho$ght or S! r t 3as !erson f ed as the Goddess 8EIT-, She# too# 3as a d 6 n ty of L ght# and mother of the S$nG and the "east of Lam!s 3as celebrated n her honor at Sa s, The %reat 6e Po3er# another man festat on of De ty# !roceed ng to the creat on conce 6ed of n her# the D 6 ne Intell gence# !rod$ced 3 th ts ;ord the 'n 6erse# symbol <ed by an egg ss$ ng from the mo$th of K8EP-G from 3h ch egg came P-T-A# mage of the S$!reme Intell gence as real <ed n the 3orld# and the ty!e of that man D fested n manG the !r nc !al agent# also# of 8at$re# or the creat 6e and !rod$ct 6e " re, P-RE or RS# the S$n# or %elest al L ght# 3hose symbol 3as the !o nt 3 th n a c rcle# 3as the son of P-T-AG and TIP-E# h s 3 fe# or the celest al f rmament# 3 th the se6en celest al bod es# an mated by s! r ts of gen that go6ern

them# 3as re!resented on many of the mon$ments# clad n bl$e or yello3# her garments s!r n/led 3 th stars# and accom!an ed by the s$n# moon# and f 6e !lanetsG and she 3as the ty!e of ; sdom# and they of the Se6en Planetary S! r ts of the Gnost cs# that 3 th her !res ded o6er and go6erned the s$bl$nary 3orld, In th s Degree# $n/no3n for a h$ndred years to those 3ho ha6e !ract sed t# these emblems re!rod$ced refer to these old doctr nes, The lamb# the yello3 hang ngs stre3ed 3 th stars# the se6en col$mns# candlest c/s# and seals all recall them to $s, The L on 3as the symbol of AT-OMDRE# the Great God of '!!er Egy!tG the -a3/# of RA or P-REG the Eagle# of ME8DESG the B$ll# of APISG and three of these are seen $nder the !latform on 3h ch o$r altar stands, The f rst -ERMES 3as the I8TELLIGE8%E# or ;ORD of God, Mo6ed 3 th com!ass on for a race l 6 ng 3 tho$t la3# and 3 sh ng to teach them that they s!rang from - s bosom# and to !o nt o$t to them the 3ay that they sho$ld go Mthe boo/s 3h ch the f rst

-ermes# the same 3 th Enoch# had 3r tten on the myster es of d 6 ne sc ence# n the sacred characters# be ng $n/no3n to those 3ho l 6ed after the floodN# God sent to man OSIRIS and ISIS# acD accom!an ed by T-OT-# the ncarnat on or terrestr al re!et t on of the f rst -ermesG 3ho ta$ght men the arts# sc ence# and the cerD emon es of rel g onG and then ascended to -ea6en or the Moon, OSIRIS 3as the Pr nc !le of Good, T.P-O8# l /e A-RIMA8# 3as the !r nc !le and so$rce of all that s e6 l n the moral and !hys D cal order, L /e the Satan of Gnost c sm# he 3as confo$nded 3 th Matter, "rom Egy!t or Pers a the ne3 Platon sts borro3ed the dea# and the Gnost cs rece 6ed t from them# that man# n h s terresD tr al career# s s$ccess 6ely $nder the nfl$ence of the Moon# of Merc$ry# of Fen$s# of the S$n# of Mars# of &$! ter# and of Sat$rn# $nt l he f nally reaches the Elys an " eldsG an dea aga n symbol <ed n the Se6en Seals, The &e3s of Syr a and &$dea 3ere the d rect !rec$rsors of

Gnost c smG and n the r doctr nes 3ere am!le or ental elements, These &e3s had had 3 th the Or ent# at t3o d fferent !er ods# nt D mate relat ons# fam l ar < ng them 3 th the doctr nes of As a# and es!ec ally of %haldea and Pers aGDDthe r forced res dence n %enD tral As a $nder the Assyr ans and Pers ansG and the r 6ol$ntary d s!ers on o6er the 3hole East# 3hen s$b5ects of the Sele$c dae and the Romans, L 6 ng near t3oDth rds of a cent$ry# and many of them long after3ard# n Meso!otam a# the cradle of the r raceG s!ea/ ng the same lang$age# and the r ch ldren reared 3 th those of the %haldeans# Assyr ans# Medes# and Pers ans# and rece 6 ng fro m them the r names Mas the case of Danayal# 3ho 3as called Baeltasatsar# !ro6esN# they necessar ly ado!ted many of the docD tr nes of the r conE$erors, The r descendants# as A<ra and 8aD hama ah sho3 $s# hardly des red to lea6e Pers a# 3hen they 3ere allo3ed to do so, They had a s!ec al 5$r sd ct on# and go6ernors and 5$dges ta/en from the r o3n !eo!leG many of them held h gh off ce# and the r ch ldren 3ere ed$cated 3 th those of the h ghest

nobles, Danayal 3as the fr end and m n ster of the K ng# and the %h ef of the %ollege of the Mag at BabylonG f 3e may beD l e6e the boo/ 3h ch bears h s name# and tr$st to the nc dents related n ts h ghly f g$rat 6e and mag nat 6e style, Mordeca # too# occ$! ed a h gh stat on# no less than that of Pr me M n ster# and Esther or Astar# h s co$s n# 3as the Monarch?s 3 fe, The Mag of Babylon 3ere e4!o$nders of f g$rat 6e 3r t ngs# nter!reters of nat$re# and of dreams#DDastronomers and d 6 nesG and from the r nfl$ences arose among the &e3s# after the r resc$e fro m ca!t 6 ty# a n$mber of sects# and a ne3 e4!os t on# the mysD t cal nter!retat on# 3 th all ts 3 ld fanc es and nf n te ca!r ces, The A ons of the Gnost cs# the Ideas of Plato# the Angels of the &e3s# and the Demons of the Gree/s# all corres!ond to the "ero$ers of Horoaster, A great n$mber of &e3 sh fam l es rema ned !ermanently n the r ne3 co$ntryG and one of the most celebrated of the r schools 3as at Babylon, They 3ere soon fam l ar <ed 3 th the doctr ne

of Horoaster# 3h ch tself 3as more anc ent than K$ros, "rom the system of the HendDA6esta they borro3ed# and s$bseE$ently ga6e large de6elo!ment to# e6eryth ng that co$ld be reconc led 3 th the r o3n fa thG and these add t ons to the old doctr ne 3ere soon s!read# by the constant nterco$rse of commerce# nto Syr a and Palest ne, In the HendDA6esta# God s Ill m table T me, 8o or g n can be ass gned to - m( -e s so ent rely en6elo!ed n - s glory# - s nat$re and attr b$tes are so naccess ble to h$man Intell gence# that -e can be only the ob5ect of a s lent Fenerat on, %reat on too/ !lace by emanat on from - m, The f rst emanat on 3as the !r m t 6e L ght# and from that the K ng of L ght# ORM'HD, By the @;ORD#@ Orm$<d created the 3orld !$re, -e s ts !reD ser6er and &$dgeG a Be ng -oly and -ea6enlyG Intell gence and Kno3ledgeG the " rstDborn of T me 3 tho$t l m tsG and n6ested 3 th all the Po3ers of the S$!reme Be ng, St ll he s# str ctly s!ea/ ng# the "o$rth Be ng, -e had a

"ero$er# a !reDe4 st ng So$l M n the lang$age of Plato# a ty!e or dealNG and t s sa d of - m# that -e e4 sted from the beg nn ng# n the !r m t 6e L ght, B$t# that L ght be ng b$t an element# and - s "ero$er a ty!e# he s# n ord nary lang$age# the " rstDborn of HERO'A8EDAK-ERE8E, Behold aga n @T-E ;ORD@ of MasonryG the Man# on the Trac ngDBoard of th s DegreeG the LIG-T to3ard 3h ch all Masons tra6el, -e created after h s o3n mage# s 4 Gen called Amshas!ands#

3ho s$rro$nd h s Throne# are h s organs of comm$n cat on 3 th nfer or s! r ts and men# transm t to - m the r !rayers# sol c t for them - s fa6ors# and ser6e them as models of !$r ty and !erfecD t on, Th$s 3e ha6e the Dem o$rgos of Gnost c sm# and the s 4 Gen that ass st h m, These are the -ebre3 Archangels of the

Planets, The names of these Amshas!ands are Bahman# Ard behest# Schar 6er# Sa!andomad# Khordad# and Amerdad, The fo$rth# the -oly SAPA8DOMAD# created the f rst man and

3oman, Then ORM'HD created 0* Iseds# of 3hom MIT-ERAS s the ch ef, They 3atch# 3 th Orm$<d and the Amshas!ands# o6er the ha!! D ness# !$r ty# and !reser6at on of the 3orld# 3h ch s $nder the r go6ernmentG and they are also models for man/ nd and nter!reD ters of men?s !rayers, ; th M thras and Orm$<d# they ma/e a !leroma Mor com!lete n$mberN of 92# corres!ond ng to the th rty A ons of the Gnost cs# and to the ogdoade# dodecade# and decade of the Egy!t ans, M thras 3as the S$nDGod# n6o/ed 3 th# and soon confo$nded 3 th h m# becom ng the ob5ect of a s!ec al 3orD sh !# and ecl !s ng Orm$<d h mself, The th rd order of !$re s! r ts s more n$mero$s, They are the "ero$ers# the T-O'G-TS of Orm$<d# or the IDEAS 3h ch he conce 6ed before !roceed ng to the creat on of th ngs, They too are s$!er or to men, They !rotect them d$r ng the r l fe on earthG they 3 ll !$r fy them from e6 l at the r res$rrect on, They are the r t$telary gen # from the fall to the com!lete regenerat on,

A-RIMA8# secondDborn of the Pr m t 6e L ght# emanated from t# !$re l /e ORM'HDG b$t# !ro$d and amb t o$s# y elded to 5ealD o$sy of the " rstDborn, "or h s hatred and !r de# the Eternal condemned h m to d3ell# for )0#222 years# n that !art of s!ace 3here no ray of l ght reachesG the blac/ em! re of dar/ness, In that !er od the str$ggle bet3een L ght and Dar/ness# Good and E6 l 3 ll be term nated, A-RIMA8 scorned to s$bm t# and too/ the f eld aga nst ORD M'HD, To the good s! r ts created by h s Brother# he o!!osed an nn$merable army of E6 l Ones, To the se6en Amshas!ands he o!!osed se6en Archde6s# attached to the se6en PlanetsG to the I<eds and "ero$ers an eE$al n$mber of De6s# 3h ch bro$ght $!on the 3orld all moral and !hys cal e6 ls, -ence Po6erty# Malad es# Im!$r ty# En6y# %hagr n# Dr$n/enness# "alsehood# %al$mny# and the r horr ble array, The mage of Ahr man 3as the Dragon# confo$nded by the &e3s 3 th Satan and the Ser!entDTem!ter, After a re gn of 9222

years# Orm$<d had created the Mater al ;orld# n s 4 !er ods# call ng s$ccess 6ely nto e4 stence the L ght# ;ater# Earth# !lants# an mals# and Man, B$t Ahr man conc$rred n creatmg the earth and 3aterG for dar/ness 3as already an element# and Orm$<d co$ld not e4cl$de ts Master, So also the t3o conc$rred n !roD d$c ng Man, Orm$<d !rod$ced# by h s ; ll and ;ord# a Be ng that 3as the ty!e and so$rce of $n 6ersal l fe for e6eryth ng that e4 sts $nder -ea6en, -e !laced n man a !$re !r nc !le# or L fe# !roceed ng from the S$!reme Be ng, B$t Ahr man destroyed that !$re !r nc !le# n the form 3here3 th t 3as clothedG and 3hen Orm$<d had made# of ts reco6ered and !$r f ed essence# the f rst man and 3oman# Ahr man sed$ced and tem!ted them 3 th 3 ne and fr$ tsG the 3oman y eld ng f rst, Often# d$r ng the three latter !er ods of 9222 years each# Ahr D man and Dar/ness are# and are to be# tr $m!hant, B$t the !$re so$ls are ass sted by the Good S! r tsG the Tr $m!h of Good s decreed by the S$!reme Be ng# and the !er od of that tr $m!h

3 ll nfall bly arr 6e, ;hen the 3orld shall be most affl cted 3 th the e6 ls !o$red o$t $!on t by the s! r ts of !erd t on# three Pro!hets 3 ll come to br ng rel ef to mortals, SOSIOS%-# the !r nc !al of the Three# 3 ll regenerate the earth# and restore to t ts !r m t 6e bea$ty# strength# and !$r ty, -e 3 ll 5$dge the good and the 3 c/ed, After the $n 6ersal res$rrect on of the good# he 3 ll cond$ct them to a home of e6erlast ng ha!! ness, Ahr man# h s e6 l demons# and all 3 c/ed men# 3 ll also be !$r f ed n a torD rent of melted metal, The la3 of Orm$<d 3 ll re gn e6ery3hereG all men 3 ll be ha!!yG all# en5oy ng $nalterable bl ss# 3 ll s ng 3 th Sos osch the !ra ses of the S$!reme Be ng, These doctr nes# the deta ls of 3h ch 3ere s!ar ngly borro3ed by the Phar sa c &e3s# 3ere m$ch more f$lly ado!ted by the Gnost csG 3ho ta$ght the restorat on of all th ngs# the r ret$rn to the r or g nal !$re cond t on# the ha!! ness of those to be sa6ed# and the r adm ss on to the feast of -ea6enly ; sdom, The doctr nes of Horoaster came or g nally from Bactr a# an

Ind an Pro6 nce of Pers a, 8at$rally# therefore# t 3o$ld ncl$de - nd$ or B$ddh st elements# as t d d, The f$ndamental dea of B$ddh sm 3as# matter s$b5$gat ng the ntell gence# and ntell D gence free ng tself from that sla6ery, Perha!s someth ng came to Gnost c sm from %h na, @Before the chaos 3h ch !receded the b rth of -ea6en and Earth#@ says LaoDTse$# @a s ngle Be ng e4 sted# mmense and s lent# mmo6able and e6er act 6eDDthe mother of the 'n 6erse, I /no3 not ts name( b$t I des gnate t by the 3ord Reason, Man has h s ty!e and model n the EarthG Earth n -ea6enG -ea6en n ReasonG and Reason n Itself,@ -ere aga n are the "ero$ers# the Ideas# the A onsDDthe REASO8 or I8TELLIGE8%E# SILE8%E# ;ORD# and ;ISDOM of the Gnost cs, The dom nant system among the &e3s after the r ca!t 6 ty 3as that of the Pharosch m or Phar sees, ;hether the r name 3as der 6ed from that of the Parsees# or follo3ers of Horoaster# or fro m some other so$rce# t s certa n that they had borro3ed m$ch

of the r doctr ne from the Pers ans, L /e them they cla med to ha6e the e4cl$s 6e and myster o$s /no3ledge# $n/no3n to the mass, L /e them they ta$ght that a constant 3ar 3as 3aged beD t3een the Em! re of Good and that of E6 l, L /e them they atD tr b$ted the s n and fall of man to the demons and the r ch efG and l /e them they adm tted a s!ec al !rotect on of the r ghteo$s by nfer or be ngs# agents of &eho6ah, All the r doctr nes on these s$b5ects 3ere at bottom those of the -oly Boo/sG b$t s ng$larly de6elo!ed and the Or ent 3as e6 dently the so$rce from 3h ch those de6elo!ments came, They styled themsel6es Inter!retersG a name nd cat ng the r cla m to the e4cl$s 6e !ossess on of the tr$e mean ng of the -oly ;r t ngs# by 6 rt$e of the oral trad t on 3h ch Moses had reD ce 6ed on Mo$nt S na # and 3h ch s$ccess 6e generat ons of In D t ates had transm tted# as they cla med# $naltered# $nto them, The r 6ery cost$me# the r bel ef n the nfl$ences of the stars# and n the mmortal ty and transm grat on of so$ls# the r system of

angels and the r astronomy# 3ere all fore gn, Sadd$cee sm arose merely from an o!!os t on essent ally &e3 sh# to these fore gn teach ngs# and that m 4t$re of doctr nes# ado!ted by the Phar sees# and 3h ch const t$ted the !o!$lar creed, ;e come at last to the Essenes and Thera!e$ts# 3 th 3hom th s Degree s !art c$larly concerned, That nterm ngl ng of or ental and occ dental r tes# of Pers an and Pythagorean o! n ons# 3h ch 3e ha6e !o nted o$t n the doctr nes of Ph lo# s $nm sta/D able n the creeds of these t3o sects, They 3ere less d st ng$ shed by meta!hys cal s!ec$lat ons than by s m!le med tat ons and moral !ract ces, B$t the latter al3ays !artoo/ of the Horoastr an !r nc !le# that t 3as necessary to free the so$l from the trammels and nfl$ences of matterG 3h ch led to a system of abst nence and macerat on ent rely o!!osed to the anc ent -ebra c deas# fa6orable as they 3ere to !hys cal !leas$res, In general# the l fe and manners of these myst cal assoc aD t ons# as Ph lo and &ose!h$s descr be them# and !art c$larly the r

!rayers at s$nr se# seem the mage of 3hat the HendDA6esta !reD scr bes to the fa thf$l adorer or Orm$<dG and some of the r obser6ances cannot other3 se be e4!la ned, The Thera!e$ts res ded n Egy!t# n the ne ghborhood of Ale4D andr aG and the Essenes n Palest ne# n the 6 c n ty of the Dead Sea, B$t there 3as ne6ertheless a str / ng co nc dence n the r deas# read ly e4!la ned by attr b$t ng t to a fore gn nfl$ence, The &e3s of Egy!t# $nder the nfl$ence of the School of Ale4anD dr a# endea6ored n general to ma/e the r doctr nes harmon <e 3 th the trad t ons of GreeceG and thence came# n the doctr nes of the Thera!e$ts# as stated by Ph lo# the many analog es bet3een the Pythagorean and Or!h c deas# on one s de# and those of &$D da sm on the other( 3h le the &e3s of Palest ne# ha6 ng less comD m$n cat on 3 th Greece# or contemn ng ts teach ngs# rather mD b bed the Or ental doctr nes# 3h ch they dran/ n at the so$rce and 3 th 3h ch the r relat ons 3 th Pers a made them fam l ar, Th s attachment 3as !art c$larly sho3n n the Kabalah# 3h ch

belonged rather to Palest ne than to Egy!t# tho$gh e4tens 6ely /no3n n the latterG and f$rn shed the Gnost cs 3 th some of the r most str / ng theor es, It s a s gn f cant fact# that 3h le %hr st s!o/e often of the Phar sees and Sadd$cees# -e ne6er once ment oned the Essenes# bet3een 3hose doctr nes and - s there 3as so great a resemD blance# and# n many !o nts# so !erfect an dent ty, Indeed# they are not named# nor e6en d st nctly all$ded to# any3here n the 8e3 Testament, &ohn# the son of a Pr est 3ho m n stered n the Tem!le at &er$salem# and 3hose mother 3as of the fam ly of Ahar$n# 3as n the deserts $nt l the day of h s sho3 ng $nto Israel, -e dran/ ne ther 3 ne nor strong dr n/, %lad n ha rDcloth# and 3 th a g rdle of leather# and feed ng $!on s$ch food as the desert affordD ed# he !reached# n the co$ntry abo$t &ordan# the ba!t sm of reD !entance# for the rem ss on of s nsG that s# the necess ty of re!entD ance !ro6en by reformat on, -e ta$ght the !eo!le char ty and

l beral tyG the !$bl cans# 5$st ce# eE$ ty# and fa r deal ngG the sold ery !eace# tr$th# and contentmentG to do 6 olence to none# acc$se none falsely# and be content 3 th the r !ay, -e nc$lD cated necess ty of a 6 rt$o$s l fe# and the folly of tr$st ng to the r descent from Abraham, -e deno$nced both Phar sees and Sadd$cees as a generat on of 6 !ers threatened 3 th the anger of God, -e ba!t <ed those 3ho confessed the r s ns, -e !reached n the desertG and therefore n the co$ntry 3here the Essenes l 6ed# !rofess ng the same doctr nes, -e 3as m!r soned before %hr st began to !reach, Matthe3 menD t ons h m 3 tho$t !reface or e4!lanat onG as f# a!!arently# h s h story 3as too 3ell /no3n to need any, @In those days#@ he says# @came &ohn the Ba!t st# !reach ng n the 3 lderness of &$dea,@ - s d sc !les freE$ently fastedG for 3e f nd them 3 th the Phar sees com ng to &es$s to nE$ re 3hy - s D sc !les d d not fast as often as theyG and -e d d not deno$nce them# as - s hab t 3as to deno$nce the Phar seesG b$t ans3ered them / ndly

and gently, "rom h s !r son# &ohn sent t3o of h s d sc !les to nE$ re of %hr st( @Art tho$ he that s to come# or do 3e loo/ for another J@ %hr st referred them to h s m racles as an ans3erG and declared to the !eo!le that &ohn 3as a !ro!het# and more than a !ro!het# and that no greater man had e6er been bornG b$t that the h$mD blest %hr st an 3as h s s$!er or, -e declared h m to be El as# 3ho 3as to come, &ohn had deno$nced to -erod h s marr age 3 th h s brother?s 3 fe as $nla3f$lG and for th s he 3as m!r soned# and f nally e4eD c$ted to grat fy her, - s d sc !les b$r ed h mG and -erod and others tho$ght he had r sen from the dead and a!!eared aga n n the !erson of %hr st, The !eo!le all regarded &ohn as a !ro!hetG and %hr st s lenced the Pr ests and Elders by as/ ng them 3hether he 3as ns! red, They feared to e4c te the anger of the !eo!le by say ng that he 3as not, %hr st declared that he came @ n the 3ay of r ghteo$sness@G and that the lo3er classes bel e6ed h m# tho$gh

the Pr ests and Phar sees d d not, Th$s &ohn# 3ho 3as often cons$lted by -erod# and to 3hom that monarch sho3ed great deference and 3as often go6erned by h s ad6 ceG 3hose doctr ne !re6a led 6ery e4tens 6ely among the !eo!le and the !$bl cans# ta$ght some creed older than %hr sD t an ty, That s !la n( and t s eE$ally !la n# that the 6ery large body of the &e3s that ado!ted h s doctr nes# 3ere ne ther Phar D sees nor Sadd$cees# b$t the h$mble# common !eo!le, They m$st# therefore# ha6e been Essenes, It s !la n# too# that %hr st a!!l ed for ba!t sm as a sacred r te# 3ell /no3n and long !ract ced, It 3as becom ng to h m# he sa d# to f$lf ll all r ghteo$sness, In the )*th cha!ter of the Acts of the A!ostles 3e read th$s( @And a certa n &e3# named A!ollos# born at Ale4andr a# an eloD E$ent man# and m ghty n the Scr !t$res# came to E!hes$s, Th s man 3as nstr$cted n the 3ay of the Lord# and# be ng fer6ent n s! r t# he s!a/e and ta$ght d l gently the th ngs of the Lord# /no3D ng only the ba!t sm of &ohnG and he began to s!ea/ boldly n

the synagog$eG 3hom# 3hen AE$ lla and Pr sc lla had heard# they too/ h m $nto them# and e4!o$nded $nto h m the 3ay of God more !erfectly,@ Translat ng th s from the symbol c and f g$rat 6e lang$age nto the tr$e ord nary sense of the Gree/ te4t# t reads th$s( @And a certa n &e3# named A!ollos# an Ale4andr an by b rth# an eloE$ent man# and of e4tens 6e learn ng# came to E!hes$s, -e had learned n the myster es the tr$e doctr ne n regard to GodG and# be ng a <ealo$s enth$s ast# he s!o/e and ta$ght d l gently the tr$ths n regard to the De ty# ha6 ng rece 6ed no other ba!t sm than that of &ohn,@ -e /ne3 noth ng n regard to %hr st an tyG for he had res ded n Ale4andr a# and had 5$st then come to E!hes$sG be ng# !robably# a d sc !le of Ph lo# and a Thera!e$t, @That# n all t mes#@ says St, A$g$st ne# @ s the %hr st an reD l g on# 3h ch to /no3 and follo3 s the most s$re and certa n health# called accord ng to that name# b$t not accord ng to the th ng tself# of 3h ch t s the nameG for the th ng tself# 3h ch

s no3 called the %hr st an rel g on# really 3as /no3n to the AnD c ents# nor 3as 3ant ng at any t me from the beg nn ng of the h$man race# $nt l the t me 3hen %hr st came n the fleshG from 3hence the tr$e rel g on# 3h ch had !re6 o$sly e4 sted# began to be called %hr st anG and th s n o$r days s the %hr st an rel g on# not as ha6 ng been 3ant ng n former t mes# b$t as ha6 ng# n later t mes# rece 6ed th s name,@ The d sc !les 3ere f rst called @%hr st ans#@ at Ant och# 3hen Barnabas and Pa$l began to !reach there, The ;ander ng or It nerant &e3s or E4orc sts# 3ho ass$med to em!loy the Sacred 8ame n e4orc s ng e6 l s! r ts# 3ere no do$bt Thera!e$tae or Essenes, @And t t came to !ass#@ 3e read n the )1th cha!ter of the Acts# 6erses ) to :# @that 3h le A!ollos 3as at %or nth# Pa$l# ha6 ng !assed thro$gh the $!!er !arts of As a M nor# came to E!hes$sG and f nd ng certa n d sc !les# he sa d to them# ?-a6e ye rece 6ed the -oly Ghost s nce ye became Bel e6ers J? And they sa d $nto

h m# ?;e ha6e not so m$ch as heard that there s any -oly Ghost,? And he sa d to them# ?In 3hat# then# 3ere yo$ ba!t <ed J? And they sa d ?In &ohn?s ba!t sm,? Then sa d Pa$l# ?&ohn nD deed ba!t <ed 3 th the ba!t sm of re!entance# say ng to the !eo!le that they sho$ld bel e6e n - m 3ho 3as to come after h m# that s# n &es$s %hr st, ;hen they heard th s# they 3ere ba!t <ed n the name of the Lord &es$s,@ Th s fa th# ta$ght by &ohn# and so nearly %hr st an ty# co$ld ha6e been noth ng b$t the doctr ne of the EssenesG and there can be no do$bt that &ohn belonged to that sect, The !lace 3here he !reached# h s macerat ons and fr$gal d et# the doctr nes he ta$ght# all !ro6e t concl$s 6ely, There 3as no other sect to 3h ch he co$ld ha6e belongedG certa nly none so n$mero$s as h s# e4ce!t the Essenes, ;e f nd# from the t3o letters 3r tten by Pa$l to the brethren at %or nth# that % ty of L$4$ry and %orr$!t on# that there 3ere content ons among them, R 6al sects had already# abo$t the 7+th

year of o$r era# reared the r banners there# as follo3ers# some of Pa$l# some of A!ollos# and some of %e!has, Some of them deD n ed the res$rrect on, Pa$l $rged them to adhere to the doctr nes ta$ght by h mself# and had sent T mothy to them to br ng them afresh to the r recollect on, Accord ng to Pa$l# %hr st 3as to come aga n, -e 3as to !$t an end to all other Pr nc !al t es and Po3ers# and f nally to Death# and then be - mself once more merged n GodG 3ho sho$ld then be all n all, The forms and ceremon es of the Essenes 3ere symbol cal, They had# accord ng to Ph lo the &e3# fo$r DegreesG the members be ng d 6 ded nto t3o Orders# the Pract c and Thera!e$t c G the latter be ng the contem!lat 6e and med cal BrethrenG and the former the act 6e# !ract cal# b$s ness men, They 3ere &e3s by b rthG and had a greater affect on for each other than the memD bers of any other sect, The r brotherly lo6e 3as ntense, They f$lf lled the %hr st an la3# @Lo6e one another,@ They des! sed

r ches, 8o one 3as to be fo$nd among them# ha6 ng more than another, The !ossess ons of one 3ere nterm ngled 3 th those of the othersG so that they all had b$t one !atr mony# and 3ere brethren, The r ! ety to3ard God 3as e4traord nary, Before s$nr se they ne6er s!a/e a 3ord abo$t !rofane mattersG b$t !$t $! certa n !rayers 3h ch they had rece 6ed from the r forefathers, At da3n of day# and before t 3as l ght# the r !rayers and hymns ascended to -ea6en, They 3ere em nently fa thf$l and tr$e# and the M n sters of Peace, They had myster o$s ceremon es# and n t at ons nto the r myster esG and the %and date !rom sed that he 3o$ld e6er !ract se f del ty to all men# and es!ec ally to those n a$thor ty# @beca$se no one obta ns the go6ernment 3 tho$t God?s ass stance,@ ;hate6er they sa d# 3as f rmer than an oathG b$t they a6o ded s3ear ng# and esteemed t 3orse than !er5$ry, They 3ere s m!le n the r d et and mode of l 6 ng# bore tort$re 3 th fort t$de# and des! sed death, They c$lt 6ated the sc ence of med c ne and 3ere

6ery s/ llf$l, They deemed t a good omen to dress n 3h te robes, They had the r o3n co$rts# and !assed r ghteo$s 5$dgments, They /e!t the Sabbath more r goro$sly than the &e3s, The r ch ef to3ns 3ere Engadd # near the Dead Sea# and -ebron, Engadd 3as abo$t 92 m les so$theast from &er$salem# and -ebron abo$t 02 m les so$th of that c ty, &ose!h$s and E$seb $s s!ea/ of them as an anc ent sectG and they 3ere no do$bt the f rst among the &e3s to embrace %hr st an ty( 3 th 3hose fa th and doctr ne the r o3n tenets had so many !o nts of resemblance# and 3ere ndeed n a great meas$re the same, Pl ny regarded them as a 6ery anc ent !eo!le, In the r de6ot ons they t$rned to3ard the r s ng s$nG as the &e3s generally d d to3ard the Tem!le, B$t they 3ere no dolaD tersG for they obser6ed the la3 of Moses 3 th scr$!$lo$s f del ty, They held all th ngs n common# and des! sed r ches# the r 3ants be ng s$!!l ed by the adm n strat on of %$rators or Ste3ards, The Tetractys# com!osed of ro$nd dots nstead of 5ods# 3as reD

6ered among them, Th s be ng a Pythagorean symbol# e6 dently sho3s the r connect on 3 th the school of PythagorasG b$t the r !ec$l ar tenets more resemble those of %onf$c $s and HoroasterG and !robably 3ere ado!ted 3h le they 3ere !r soners n Pers aG 3h ch e4!la ns the r t$rn ng to3ard the S$n n !rayer, The r demeanor 3as sober and chaste, They s$bm tted to the s$!er ntendence of go6ernors 3hom they a!!o nted o6er themD sel6es, The 3hole of the r t me 3as s!ent n labor# med tat on# and !rayerG and they 3ere most sed$lo$sly attent 6e to e6ery call of 5$st ce and h$man ty# and e6ery moral d$ty, They bel e6ed n the $n ty of God, They s$!!osed the so$ls of men to ha6e fallen# by a d sastro$s fate# from the reg ons of !$r ty and l ght# nto the bod es 3h ch they occ$!yG d$r ng the r cont n$ance n 3h ch they cons dered them conf ned as n a !r son, Therefore they d d not bel e6e n the res$rrect on of the bodyG b$t n that of the so$l only, They bel e6ed n a f$t$re state of re3ards and !$n shmentsG and they d sregarded the ceremon es or e4ternal

forms en5o ned n the la3 of Moses to be obser6ed n the 3orsh ! og GodG hold ng that the 3ords of that la3g 6er 3ere to be $nD derstood n a myster o$s and recond te sense# and not accord ng to the r l teral mean ng, They offered no sacr f ces# e4ce!t at homeG and by med tat on they endea6ored# as far as !oss ble# to solate the so$l from the body# and carry t bac/ to God, E$seb $s broadly adm ts @that the anc ent Thera!e$tae 3ere %hr st ansG and that the r anc ent 3r t ngs 3ere o$r Gos!els and E! stles,@ The ESSE8ES 3ere of the Eclect c Sect of Ph loso!hers# and held PLATo n the h ghest esteemG they bel e6ed that tr$e !h losD o!hy# the greatest and most sal$tary g ft of God to mortals# 3as scattered# n 6ar o$s !ort ons# thro$gh all the d fferent SectsG and that t 3as# conseE$ently# the d$ty of e6ery 3 se man to gather t fro m the se6eral E$arters 3here t lay d s!ersed# and to em!loy t# th$s re$n ted# n destroy ng the dom n on of m! ety and 6 ce,

The great fest 6als of the Solst ces 3ere obser6ed n a d st nD g$ shed manner by the EssenesG as 3o$ld nat$rally be s$!!osed# fro m the fact that they re6erenced the S$n# not as a god# b$t as a symbol of l ght and f reG the fo$nta n of 3h ch# the Or entals s$!!osed God to be, They l 6ed n cont nence and abst nence# and had establ slments s m lar to the monaster es of the early %hr st ans, The 3r t ngs of the Essenes 3ere f$ll of myst c sm# !arables# en gmas# and allegor es, They bel e6ed n the esoter c and e4oteD r c mean ngs of the Scr !t$resG and# as 3e ha6e already sa d# they had a 3arrant for that n the Scr !t$res themsel6es, They fo$nd t n the Old Testament# as the Gnost cs fo$nd t n the 8e3, The %hr st an 3r ters# and e6en %hr st h mself# recogn <ed t as a tr$th# that all Scr !t$re had an nner and an o$ter mean ng, Th$s 3e f nd t sa d as follo3s# n one of the Gos!els( @'nto yo$ t s g 6en to /no3 the mystery of the K ngdom of GodG b$t $nto men that are 3 tho$t# all these th ngs are done n

!arablesG that see ng# they may see and not !erce 6e# and hear ng they may hear and not $nderstand ,,,, And the d sc !les came and sa d $nto h m# ?;hy s!ea/est Tho$ the tr$th n !arables J?DD -e ans3ered and sa d $nto them# ?Beca$se t s g 6en $nto yo$ to /no3 the myster es of the K ngdom of -ea6en# b$t to them t s not g 6en,?@ Pa$l# n the :th cha!ter of h s E! stle to the Galat ans# s!ea/D ng of the s m!lest facts of the Old Testament# asserts that they are an allegory, In the 9d cha!ter of the second letter to the %or nth ans# he declares h mself a m n ster of the 8e3 Testament# a!!o nted by GodG @8ot of the letter# b$t of the s! r tG for the letter / lleth,@ Or gen and St, Gregory held that the Gos!els 3ere not to be ta/en n the r l teral senseG and Athanas $s adD mon shes $s that @Sho$ld 3e $nderstand sacred 3r t accord ng to the letter# 3e sho$ld fall nto the most enormo$s blas!hem es,@ E$seb $s sa d# @Those 3ho !res de o6er the -oly Scr !t$res# !h loso!h <e o6er them# and e4!o$nd the r l teral sense by alleD

gory,@ The so$rces of o$r /no3ledge of the Kabal st c doctr nes# are the boo/s of &e< rah and Sohar# the former dra3n $! n the second cent$ry# and the latter a l ttle laterG b$t conta n ng mater als m$ch older than themsel6es, In the r most character st c eleD ments# they go bac/ to the t me of the e4 le, In them# as n the teach ngs of Horoaster# e6eryth ng that e4 sts emanated from a so$rce of nf n te L G-T, Before e6eryth ng# e4 sted T-E A8D %IE8T O" DA.S# the KI8G O" LIG-TG a t tle often g 6en to the %reator n the HendDA6esta and the code of the Sabaeans, ; th the dea so e4!ressed s connected the !anthe sm of Ind a, KI8G O" LIG-T# T-E A8%IE8T# s ALL T-AT IS, -e s not only the real ca$se of all E4 stencesG he s Inf n te MAI8SOP-N, -e s -IMSEL"( there s noth ng n - m that ;e can call Tho$, In the Ind an doctr ne# not only s the S$!reme Be ng the real ca$se of all# b$t he s the only real E4 stence( all the rest s ll$D s on, In the Kabalah# as n the Pers an and Gnost c doctr nes#

-e s the S$!reme Be ng $n/no3n to all# the @'n/no3n "ather,@ The 3orld s h s re6elat on# and s$bs sts only n - m, - s attr D b$tes are re!rod$ced there# 3 th d fferent mod f cat ons# and n d fferent degrees# so that the 'n 6erse s - s -oly S!lendor( t s b$t - s MantleG b$t t m$st be re6ered n s lence, All be ngs ha6e emanated from the S$!reme Be ng( The nearer a be ng s to - m# the more !erfect t sG the more remote n the scale# the less ts !$r ty, A ray of L ght# shot from the De ty# s the ca$se and !r nc !le of all that e4 sts, It s at once "ather and Mother of All# n the s$bl mest sense, It !enetrates e6eryth ngG and 3 tho$t t noth ng can e4 st an nstant, "rom th s do$ble "OR%E# des gnated by the t3o !arts of the 3ord I,Z, -,Z, ',Z, -,Z, emanated the "IRSTDBOR8 of God# the 'n 6ersal "orm# n 3h ch are conta ned all be ngsG the Pers an and Platon c Archety!e of th ngs# $n ted 3 th the Inf n te by the !r m t 6e ray of L ght, Th s " rstDBorn s the %reat 6e Agent# %onser6ator# and an D

mat ng Pr nc !le of the 'n 6erse, It s T-E LIG-T O" LIG-T, It !ossesses the three Pr m t 6e "orces of the D 6 n ty# LIG-T# SPIRIT and LI"E, As t has rece 6ed 3hat t g 6es# L ght and L fe# t s eE$ally cons dered as the genD erat 6e and conce!t 6e Pr nc !le# the Pr m t 6e Man# ADAM KADMO8, As s$ch# t has re6ealed tself n ten emanat ons or Se!h roth# 3h ch are not ten d fferent be ngs# nor e6en be ngs at allG b$t so$rces of l fe# 6essels of Omn !otence# and ty!es of %reD at on, They are So6ere gnty or ; ll# ; sdom# Intell gence# Ben gn ty# Se6er ty# Bea$ty# F ctory# Glory# Permanency# and Em! re, These are attr b$tes of GodG and th s dea# that God reD 6eals - mself by - s attr b$tes# and that the h$man m nd cannot !erce 6e or d scern God - mself# n h s 3or/s# b$t only h s mode of man fest ng - mself# s a !rofo$nd Tr$th, ;e /no3 of the In6 s ble only 3hat the F s ble re6eals, ; sdom 3as called 8O'S and LOGOS# l8D TELLE%T or the ;ORD, Intell gence# so$rce of the o l of ano ntD

ng# res!onds to the -oly Ghost of the %hr st an "a th, Bea$ty s re!resented by green and yello3, F ctory s .AD -OFA-DTSABAOT-# the col$mn on the r ght hand# the col$mn &ach n( Glory s the col$mn Boa<# on the left hand, And th$s o$r symbols a!!ear aga n n the Kabalah, And aga n the LIG-T# the ob5ect of o$r labors# a!!ears as the creat 6e !o3er of De ty, The c rcle# also# 3as the s!ec al symbol of the f rst Se!h rah# Kether# or the %ro3n, ;e do not f$rther follo3 the Kabalah n ts fo$r ;orlds of S! r ts# A< l$th# Br ah# .e< rah# and As ah# or of emanat on# creaD t on# format on# and fabr cat on# one nfer or to and one emerg ng fro m the other# the s$!er or al3ays en6elo! ng the nfer orG ts doctr ne that# n all that e4 sts# there s noth ng !$rely mater alG that all comes from God# and n all -e !roceeds by rrad at onG that e6eryth ng s$bs sts by the D 6 ne ray that !enetrates creaD t onG and all s $n ted by the S! r t of God# 3h ch s the l fe of l feG so that all s GodG the E4 stences that nhab t the fo$r

3orlds# nfer or to each other n !ro!ort on to the r d stance from the Great K ng of L ght( the contest bet3een the good and e6 l Angels and Pr nc !les# to end$re $nt l the Eternal - mself comes to end t and reDestabl sh the !r m t 6e harmonyG the fo$r d st nct !arts of the So$l of ManG and the m grat ons of m!$re so$ls# $nt l they are s$ff c ently !$r f ed to share 3 th the S! r ts of L ght the contem!lat on of the S$!reme Be ng 3hose S!lendor f lls the 'n 6erse, The ;ORD 3as also fo$nd n the Phoen c an %reed, As n all those of As a# a ;ORD of God# 3r tten n starry characters# by the !lanetary D 6 n t es# and comm$n cated by the Dem DGods# as a !rofo$nd mystery# to the h gher classes of the h$man race# to be comm$n cated by them to man/ nd# created the 3orld, The fa th of the Phoen c ans 3as an emanat on from that anc ent 3orsh ! of the Stars# 3h ch n the creed of Horoaster alone# s connected 3 th a fa th n one God, L ght and " re are the most m!ortant agents n the Phoen c an fa th, There s a race of ch ldren of the L ght,

They adored the -ea6en 3 th ts L ghts# deem ng t the S$!reme God, E6eryth ng emanates from a S ngle Pr nc !le# and a Pr m t 6e Lo6e# 3h ch s the Mo6 ng Po3er of All and go6erns all, L ght# by ts $n on 3 th S! r t# 3hereof t s b$t the 6eh cle or symbol# s the L fe of e6eryth ng# and !enetrates e6eryth ng, It sho$ld therefore be res!ected and honored e6ery3hereG for e6ery3here t go6erns and controls, The %halda c and &er$salem Para!hrasts endea6ored to render the !hrase# DEBARD.A-OFA-# the ;ord of God# a !ersonalty# 3here6er they met 3 th t, The !hrase# @And God created man#@ s# n the &er$salem Targ$m# @And the ;ord of I-'- created man,@ So# n 446 , Gen, 02#0)# 3here &acob says( @If God

MI-I- AL-IMN 3 ll be 3 th me,,, then shall I-'- be my AL-IMG '-I- I-'- LI LAL-IMG and th s stone shall be God?s -o$se MI-I- BIT- AL-IMN(

On/elos !ara!hrases t# @If the 3ord of I-'- 3 ll be my hel! , , , , then the 3ord of I-'- shall be my God,@ So# n , Gen, *# for @The Fo ce of the Lord God@

MI-'- AL-IMN# 3e ha6e# @The Fo ce of the ;ord of I-'-,@ In 4, ; sdom# )# @O God of my "athers and Lord of MercyO 3ho has made all th ngs 3 th thy 3ord,@ And n 46 , ; sdom# )7# @Th ne Alm ghty ;ord lea!D

ed do3n from -ea6en,@ Ph lo s!ea/s of the ;ord as be ng the same 3 th God, So n se6eral !laces he calls t the Second D D 6 n tyG the Image of God( the D 6 ne ;ord that made all th ngs( s$bst t$te# of GodG and the l /e, Th$s 3hen &ohn commenced to !reach# had been for ages ag tated# by the Pr ests and Ph loso!hers of the East and ;est# the great E$est ons concern ng the etern ty or creat on of matter( mmed ate or ntermed ate creat on of the 'n 6erse by the S$D !reme GodG the or g n# ob5ect# and f nal e4t nct on of e6 lG the

relat ons bet3een the ntellect$al and mater al 3orlds# and beD t3een God and manG and the creat on# fall# redem!t on# and restorat on to h s f rst estate# of man, The &e3 sh doctr ne# d ffer ng n th s from all the other Or ental creeds# and e6en from the Alohay st c legend 3 th 3h ch the boo/ of Genes s commences# attr b$ted the creat on to the mmed ate act on of the S$!reme Be ng, The Theoso!h sts of the other Eastern Peo!les nter!osed more than one ntermed ary bet3een God and the 3orld, To !lace bet3een them b$t a s ngle Be ng# to s$!!ose for the !rod$ct on of the 3orld b$t a s ngle nterD med ary# 3as# n the r eyes# to lo3er the S$!reme Ma5esty, The nter6al bet3een God# 3ho s !erfect P$r ty# and matter# 3h ch s base and fo$l# 3as too great for them to clear t at a s ngle ste!, E6en n the Occ dent# ne ther Plato nor Ph lo co$ld th$s mD !o6er sh the Intellect$al ;orld, Th$s# %er nth$s of E!hes$s# 3 th most of the Gnost cs# Ph lo# the Kabalah# the HendDA6esta# the P$ranas# and all the Or ent#

deemed the d stance and ant !athy bet3een the S$!reme Be ng and the mater al 3orld too great# to attr b$te to the former the creat on of the latter, Belo3# and emanat ng from# or created by# the Anc ent of Days# the %entral L ght# the Beg nn ng# or " rst Pr nc !le# one# t3o# or more Pr nc !les# E4 stences# or Intellect$al Be ngs 3ere mag ned# to some one or more of 3hom M3 tho$t any mmed ate creat 6e act on the !art of the Great Immo6able# S lent De tyN# the mmed ate creat on of the mater al and mental $n 6erse 3as d$e, ;e ha6e already s!o/en of many of the s!ec$lat ons on th s !o nt, To some# the 3orld 3as created by the LOGOS or ;ORD# f rst man festat on of# or emanat on from# the De ty, To others# the beg nn ng of creat on 3as by the emanat on of a ray of L ght# creat ng the !r nc !le of L ght and L fe, The Pr m t 6e T-O'G-T# creat ng the nfer or De t es# a s$ccess on of I8TELLD GE8%ES# the Iynges of Horoaster# h s Amshas!ands# I<eds# and "ero$ers# the Ideas of Plato# the A ons of the Gnost cs# the

Angels of the &e3s# the 8o$s# the Dem o$rgos# the DIFI8E READ SO8# the Po3ers or "orces of Ph lo# and the Alohay m# "orces or S$!er or Gods of the anc ent legend 3 th 3h ch Genes s beg ns#D to these and other ntermed ar es the creat on 3as o3 ng, 8o reD stra nts 3ere la d on the "ancy and the Imag nat on, The 6er est Abstract ons became E4 stences and Real t es, The attr b$tes of God# !erson f ed# became Po3ers# S! r ts# Intell gences, God 3as the L ght of L ght# D 6 ne " re# the Abstract IntellecD t$al ty# the Root or Germ of the 'n 6erse, S mon Mag$s# fo$nder of the Gnost c fa th# and many of the early &$da < ng %hr st ans# adm tted that the man festat ons of the S$!reme Be ng# as "AT-ER# or &EhOFAh# SO8 or %-RIST# and -OL. SPIRIT# 3ere only so many d fferent modes of E4 stence# or "orces of the same God, To others they 3ere# as 3ere the m$lt t$de of S$bD ord nate Intell gences# real and d st nct be ngs, The Or ental mag nat on re6elled n the creat on of these InD fer or Intell gences# Po3ers of Good and E6 l# and Angels, ;e

ha6e s!o/en of those mag ned by the Pers ans and the Kabal sts, In the Talm$d# e6ery star# e6ery co$ntry# e6ery to3n# and almost e6ery tong$e has a Pr nce of -ea6en as ts Protector, &E-'EL# s the g$ard an of f re# and MI%-AEL of 3ater, Se6en s! r ts ass st eachG those of f re be ng Sera!h el# Gabr el# 8 tr el# Tammael# Tch msch el# -adarn el# and Sarn el, These se6en are re!resented by the sE$are col$mns of th s Degree# 3h le the col$mns &A%-I8 and BOAH re!resent the angels of f re and 3ater, B$t the colD $mns are not re!resentat 6es of these alone, To Bas l des# God 3as 3 tho$t name# $ncreated# at f rst conta nD ng and conceal ng n - mself the Plen t$de of - s Perfect onsG and 3hen these are by - m d s!layed and n an fested# there res$lt as many !art c$lar E4 stences# all analogo$s to - m# and st ll and al3ays - m, To the Essenes and the Gnost cs# the East and the ;est both de6 sed th s fa thG that the Ideas# %once!t ons# or Man festat ons of the De ty 3ere so many %reat ons# so many BeD ngs# all God# noth ng 3 tho$t - m# b$t more than 3hat 3e no3

$nderstand by the 3ord deas, They emanated from and 3ere aga n merged n God, They had a / nd of m ddle e4 stence beD t3een o$r modern deas# and the ntell gences or deas# ele6ated to the ran/ of gen # of the Or ental mythology, These !erson f ed attr b$tes of De ty# n the theory of Bas l des# 3ere the " rstDborn# 8o$s or M nd( from t emanates Logos# or T-E ;ORD from t ( Phrones s# Intellect (from t So!h a# ; sdom (from t D$nam s# Po3er( and from t D /a os$ne# R ghteo$sness( to 3h ch latter the &e3s ga6e the name of E rene# Peace# or %alm# the essent al character st cs of D 6 n ty# and harmon o$s effect of all - s !erfect ons, The 3hole n$mber of s$ccess 6e emanat ons 3as 9=7# e4!ressed by the Gnost cs# n Gree/ letters# by the myst c 3ord Abra4asG des gD nat ng God as man fested# or the aggregate of h s man festat onsG b$t not the S$!reme and Secret God - mself, These three h$nD dred and s 4tyDf 6e Intell gences com!ose altogether the "$llness

or Plen t$de of the D 6 ne Emanat ons, ; th the O!h tes# a sect of the Gnost cs# there 3ere se6en nfeD r or s! r ts M nfer or to Ialdabaoth# the Dem o$rgos or Act$al %reD ator ( M chael# S$r el# Ra!hael# Gabr el# Tha$thabaoth# Erataoth# and Athan el# the gen of the stars called the B$llG the Dog# the

L on# the Bear# the Ser!ent# the Eagle# and the Ass that formerly f g$red n the constellat on %ancer# and symbol <ed res!ect 6ely by those an malsG as Ialdabaoth# Iao# Adona # Elo # Ora # and AsD ta!ha 3ere the gen Fen$s# and Merc$ry, The ;ORD a!!ears n all these creeds, It s the Orm$<d of Horoaster# the A nso!h of the Kabalah# the 8o$s of Platon sm and Ph lon sm# and the So!h a or Dem o$rgos of the Gnost cs, And all these creeds# 3h le adm tt ng these d fferent man festaD t ons of the S$!reme Be ng# held that - s dent ty 3as mm$table and !ermanent, That 3as Plato?s d st nct on bet3een the Be ng al3ays the same and the !er!et$al flo3 of th ngs ncesD of Sat$rn# the Moon# the S$n# &$! ter#

santly chang ng# the Genes s, The bel ef n d$al sm n some sha!e# 3as $n 6ersal, Those 3ho held that e6eryth ng emanated from God# as! red to God# and reDentered nto God# bel e6ed that# among those emanat ons 3ere t3o ad6erse Pr nc !les# of L ght and Dar/ness# Good and E6 l, Th s !re6a led n %entral As a and n Syr aG 3h le n Egy!t t ass$med the form of Gree/ s!ec$lat on, In the former# a second Intellect$al Pr nc !le 3as adm tted# act 6e n ts Em! re of Dar/D ness# a$dac o$s aga nst the Em! re of L ght, So the Pers ans and Sabeans $nderstood t, In Egy!t# th s second Pr nc !le 3as MatD ter# as the 3ord 3as $sed by the Platon c School# 3 th ts sad atD tr b$tes# Fac$ ty# Dar/ness# and Death, In the r theory# matter co$ld be an mated only by the lo3 comm$n cat on of a !r nc !le of d 6 ne l fe, It res sts the nfl$ences that 3o$ld s! r t$al <e t, That res st ng Po3er s Satan# the rebell o$s Matter# Matter that does not !arta/e of God, To many there 3ere t3o Pr nc !lesG the 'n/no3n "ather# or

S$!reme and Eternal God# l 6 ng n the centre of the L ght# ha!!y n the !erfect !$r ty of - s be ngG the other# eternal MatD ter# that nert# sha!eless# dar/some mass# 3h ch they cons dered as the so$rce of all e6 ls# the mother and d3ell ngD!lace of Satan, To Ph lo and the Platon sts# there 3as a So$l of the 3orld# creD at ng 6 s ble th ngs# and act 6e n them# as agent of the S$!reme Intell genceG real < ng there n the deas comm$n cated to - m by that Intell gence# and 3h ch somet mes e4cel - s conce!t ons# b$t 3h ch -e e4ec$tes 3 tho$t com!rehend ng them, The A!ocaly!se or Re6elat ons# by 3home6er 3r tten# belongs to the Or ent and to e4treme ant E$ ty, It re!rod$ces 3hat s far older than tself, It !a nts# 3 th the strongest colors that the Or D ental gen $s e6er em!loyed# the clos ng scenes of the great str$gD gle of L ght# and Tr$th# and Good# aga nst Dar/ness# Error# and E6 lG !erson f ed n that bet3een the 8e3 Rel g on on one s de# and Pagan sm and &$da sm on the other, It s a !art c$lar a!!l D cat on of the anc ent myth of Orm$<d and h s Gen aga nst Ahr D

man and h s De6sG and t celebrates the f nal tr $m!h of Tr$th aga nst the comb ned !o3ers of men and demons, The deas and magery are borro3ed from e6ery E$arterG and all$s ons are fo$nd n t to the doctr nes of all ages, ;e are cont n$ally rem nded of the HendDA6esta# the &e3 sh %odes# Ph lo# and the Gnos s, The Se6en S! r ts s$rro$nd ng the Throne of the Eternal# at the o!en ng of the Grand Drama# and act ng so m!ortant a !art thro$gho$t# e6ery3here the f rst nstr$ments of the D 6 ne ; ll and Fengence# are the Se6en Amshas!ands of Pars smG as the T3entyDfo$r Anc ents# offer ng to the S$!reme Be ng the f rst s$!!l cat ons and the f rst homage# rem nd $s of the Myster o$s %h efs of &$da sm# foreshado3 the Eons of Gnost c sm# and reD !rod$ce the t3entyDfo$r Good S! r ts created by Orm$<d and nD closed n an egg, The %hr st of the A!ocaly!se# " rstDborn of %reat on and of the Res$rrect on s n6ested 3 th the character st cs of the Orm$<d and Sos osch of the HendDA6esta# the A nso!h of the Kabalah

and the %ar! stes of the Gnost cs, The dea that the tr$e In t ates and "a thf$l become K ngs and Pr ests# s at once Pers an# &e3 sh# %hr st an# and Gnost c, And the def n t on of the S$!reme Be ng# that -e s at once Al!ha and Omega# the beD g nn ng and the endDD-e that 3as# and s# and s to come# ,e,# T me ll m table# s Horoaster?s def n t on of Hero$aneDA/D herene, The de!ths of Satan 3h ch no man can meas$reG h s tr $m!h for a t me by fra$d and 6 olenceG h s be ng cha ned by an angelG h s re!robat on and h s !rec ! tat on nto a sea of metalG h s names of the Ser!ent and the DragonG the 3hole confl ct of the Good S! r ts or celest al arm es aga nst the badG are so many deas and des gnat ons fo$nd al /e n the HendDA6esta# the KaD balah# and the Gnos s, ;e e6en f nd n the A!ocaly!se that s ng$lar Pers an dea# 3h ch regards some of the lo3er an mals as so many De6s or 6eD h cles of De6s,

The g$ard ansh ! of the earth by a good angel# the rene3 ng of the earth and hea6ens# and the f nal tr $m!h of !$re and holy men# are the same 6 ctory of Good o6er E6 l# for 3h ch the 3hole Or ent loo/ed, The gold# and 3h te ra ments of the t3entyDfo$r Elders are# as n the Pers an fa th# the s gns of a lofty !erfect on and d 6 ne !$r ty, Th$s the -$man m nd labored and str$ggled and tort$red tself for ages# to e4!la n to tself 3hat t felt# 3 tho$t confess ng t# to be ne4!l cable, A 6ast cro3d of nd st nct abstract ons# ho6er ng n the mag nat on# a tra n of 3ords embody ng no tang ble meanD ng# an ne4tr cable labyr nth of s$btlet es# 3as the res$lt, B$t one grand dea e6er emerged and stood !rom nent and $nD changeable o6er the 3elter ng chaos of conf$s on, God s great# and good# and 3 se, E6 l and !a n and sorro3 are tem!orary# and for 3 se and benef cent !$r!oses, They m$st be cons stent 3 th God?s goodness# !$r ty# and nf n te !erfect onG and there

m$st be a mode of e4!la n ng them# f 3e co$ld b$t f nd t o$tG as# n all 3ays 3e 3 ll endea6or to do, 'lt mately# Good 3 ll !reD 6a l# and E6 l be o6erthro3n, God# alone can do th s# and -e 3 ll do t# by an Emanat on from - mself# ass$m ng the -$man form and redeem ng the 3orld, Behold the ob5ect# the end# the res$lt# of the great s!ec$lat ons and logomach es of ant E$ tyG the $lt mate ann h lat on of e6 l# and restorat on of Man to h s f rst estate# by a Redeemer# a MaD sayah# a %hr stos# the ncarnate ;ord# Reason# or Po3er of De ty, Th s Redeemer s the ;ord or Logos# the Orm$<d of Horoaster# the A nso!h of the Kabalah# the 8o$s of Platon sm and Ph lonD smG -e that 3as n the Beg nn ng 3 th God# and 3as God# and by ;hom e6eryth ng 3as made, That -e 3as loo/ed for by all the Peo!le of the East s ab$ndantly sho3n by the Gos!el of &ohn and the Letters of Pa$lG 3here n scarcely anyth ng seemed necesD sary to be sa d n !roof that s$ch a Redeemer 3as to comeGb$t all the energ es of the 3r ters are de6oted to sho3 ng that &es$s

3as that %hr stos 3hom all the nat ons 3ere e4!ect ngG the @;ord#@ the Masayah# the Ano nted or %onsecrated One, In th s Degree the great contest bet3een good and e6 l# n ant c D !at on of the a!!earance and ad6ent of the ;ord or Redeemer s symbol <edG and the myster o$s esoter c teach ngs of the Essenes and the %abal sts, Of the !ract ces of the former 3e ga n b$t gl m!ses n the anc ent 3r tersG b$t 3e /no3 that# as the r docD tr nes 3ere ta$ght by &ohn the Ba!t st# they greatly resembled those of greater !$r ty and more nearly !erfect# ta$ght by &es$sG and that not only Palest ne 3as f$ll of &ohn?s d sc !les# so that the Pr ests and Phar sees d d not dare to deny &ohn?s ns! rat onG b$t h s doctr ne had e4tended to As a M nor# and had made con6erts n l$4$r o$s E!hes$s# as t also had n Ale4andr a n Egy!tG and that they read ly embraced the %hr st an fa th# of 3h ch they had before not e6en heard, These old contro6ers es ha6e d ed a3ay# and the old fa ths ha6e faded nto obl 6 on, B$t Masonry st ll s$r6 6es# 6 goro$s and

strong# as 3hen !h loso!hy 3as ta$ght n the schools of Ale4anD dr a and $nder the Port coG teach ng the same old tr$ths as the Essenes ta$ght by the shores of the Dead Sea# and as &ohn the Ba!t st !reached n the DesertG tr$ths m!er shable as the De ty# and $nden able as L ght, Those tr$ths 3ere gathered by the Essenes from the doctr nes of the Or ent and the Occ dent# from the HendDA6esta and the Fedas# from Plato and Pythagoras# from Ind a# Pers a# Phoen c a# and Syr a# from Greece and Egy!t# and fro m the -oly Boo/s of the &e3s, -ence 3e are called Kn ghts of the East and ;est# beca$se the r doctr nes came from both, And these doctr nes# the 3heat s fted from the chaff# the Tr$th se!erated from Error# Masonry has garnered $! n her heart of hearts# and thro$gh the f res of !ersec$t on# and the storms of calam ty# has bro$ght them and del 6ered them $nto $s, That God s One# mm$table# $nchangeable# nf n tely 5$st and goodG that L ght 3 ll f nally o6ercome Dar/ness#DDGood conE$er E6 l# and Tr$th be 6 ctor o6er Error GDDthese# re5ect ng all the 3 ld and

$seless s!ec$lat ons of the HendDA6esta# the Kabalah# the Gnost cs# and the Schools# are the rel g on and Ph loso!hy of Masonry, Those s!ec$lat ons and fanc es t s $sef$l to st$dyG that /no3D ng n 3hat 3orthless and $nfr$ tf$l n6est gat ons the m nd may engage# yo$ may the more 6al$e and a!!rec ate the !la n# s m!le# s$bl me# $n 6ersallyDac/no3ledged tr$ths# 3h ch ha6e n all ages been the L ght by 3h ch Masons ha6e been g$ ded on the r 3ayG the ; sdom and Strength that l /e m!er shable col$mns ha6e s$sta ned and 3 ll cont n$e to s$sta n ts glor o$s and magn f cent Tem!le,

PFIII, K8IG-T ROSE %ROIP, APr nce Rose %ro 4,B

Each of $s ma/es s$ch a!!l cat ons to h s o3n fa th and creed# of the symbols and ceremon es of th s Degree# as seems to h m !ro!er, ; th these s!ec al nter!retat ons 3e ha6e here noth ng to do, L /e the legend of the Master Kh$r$m# n 3h ch some see f g$red the condemnat on and s$ffer ngs of %hr stG others those of the $nfort$nate Grand Master of the Tem!larsG others those of the f rst %harles# K ng of EnglandG and others st ll the ann$al descent of the S$n at the 3 nter Solst ce to the reg ons of dar/ness# the bas s of many an anc ent legendG so the ceremon es of th s Degree rece 6e d fferent e4!lanat onsG each nter!ret ng them for h mself# and be ng offended at the nter!retat on of no other, In no other 3ay co$ld Masonry !ossess ts character of 'n 6erD sal tyG that character 3h ch has e6er been !ec$l ar to t from ts or g nG and 3h ch enables t3o K ngs# 3orsh !!ers of d fferent De t es# to s t together as Masters# 3h le the 3alls of the f rst temD

!le aroseG and the men of Gebal# bo3 ng do3n to the Phoen c an Gods# to 3or/ by the s de of the -ebre3s to 3hom those Gods 3ere abom nat onG and to s t 3 th them n the same Lodge as brethren, .o$ ha6e already learned that these ceremon es ha6e one genD eral s gn f cance# to e6ery one# of e6ery fa th# 3ho bel e6es n God# and the so$l?s mmortal ty, The !r m t 6e men met n no Tem!les made 3 th h$man hands, @God#@ sa d Sthe e4 stence of a s ngle $ncreated God# n 3hose bosom e6eryth ng gro3s# s de6elo!ed and transD formed, The 3orsh ! of th s God re!osed $!on the obed ence of all the be ngs -e created, - s feasts 3ere those of the Solst ces, The doctr nes of B$ddha !er6aded Ind a# %h na# and &a!an, The Pr ests of Brahma# !rofess ng a dar/ and bloody creed# br$tal <ed by S$!erst t on# $n ted together aga nst B$ddh sm# and 3 th the a d of Des!ot sm# e4term nated ts follo3ers, B$t the r blood

fert l <ed the ne3 docf rst fall ng themsel6es# and !l$nged n m sery and dar/ness# tem!ted man to h s fall# and bro$ght s n nto the 3orld, All beD l e6ed n a f$t$re l fe# to be atta ned by !$r f cat on and tr alsG n a state or s$ccess 6e states of re3ard and !$n shmentG and n a Med ator or Redeemer# by 3hom the E6 l Pr nc !le 3as to be o6ercome# and the S$!reme De ty reconc led to - s creat$res, The bel ef 3as general# that -e 3as to be born of a F rg n# and s$ffer a !a nf$l death, The Ind ans called h m %hr shnaG the %h nese# K o$nDtseGthe Pers ans# Sos oschG the %haldeans# Dho$D 6ana G the Egy!t ans# -arDOer G Plato# Lo6eG and the Scand naD 6 ans# Balder, %hr shna#the - ndoo Redeemer# 3as cradled and ed$cated among She!herds, A Tyrant# at the t me of h s b rth# ordered all male ch ldren to be sla n, -e !erformed m racles# say h s legends# e6en ra s ng the dead, -e 3ashed the feet of the BrahD m ns# and 3as mee/ and lo3ly of s! r t, -e 3as born of a F rD

g nG descended to -ell# rose aga n# ascended to -ea6en# charged h s d sc !les to teach h s doctr nes# and ga6e them the g ft of m rD acles, The f rst Mason c Leg slator 3hose memory s !reser6ed to $s by h story# 3as B$ddha# 3ho# abo$t a tho$sand years before the %hr st an era# reformed the rel g on of Mano$s, -e called to the Pr esthood all men# 3 tho$t d st nct on of caste# 3ho felt themD sel6es ns! red by God to nstr$ct men, Those 3ho so assoc ated themsel6es formed a Soc ety of Pro!hets $nder the name of SaD maneans, They recogn <ed the e4 stence of a s ngle $ncreated God# n 3hose bosom e6eryth ng gro3s# s de6elo!ed and transD formed, The 3orsh ! of th s God re!osed $!on the obed ence of all the be ngs -e created, - s feasts 3ere those of the Solst ces, The doctr nes of B$ddha !er6aded Ind a# %h na# and &a!an, The Pr ests of Brahma# !rofess ng a dar/ and bloody creed# br$tal <ed by S$!erst t on# $n ted together aga nst B$ddh sm# and 3 th the a d of Des!ot sm# e4term nated ts follo3ers, B$t the r blood

fert l <ed the ne3 doctr ne# 3h ch !rod$ced a ne3 Soc ety $nder the name of Gymnoso!h stsG and a large n$mber# flee ng to Ireland# !lanted the r doctr nes there# and there erected the ro$nd to3ers# some of 3h ch st ll stand# sol d and $nsha/en as at f rst# 6 s ble mon$ments of the remotest ages, The Phoen c an %osmogony# l /e all others n As a# 3as the ;ord of God# 3r tten n astral characters# by the !lanetary D 6 nD t es# and comm$n cated by the Dem Dgods# as a !rofo$nd mystery# to the br ghter ntell gences of -$man ty# to be !ro!agated by them among men, The r doctr nes resembled the Anc ent SabeD sm# and be ng the fa th of - ram the K ng and h s namesa/e the Art st# are of nterest to all Masons, ; th them# the " rst Pr nD c !le 3as half mater al# half s! r t$al# a dar/ a r# an mated and m!regnated by the s! r tG and a d sordered chaos# co6ered 3 th th c/ dar/ness, "rom th s came the ;ord# and thence creat on and generat onG and thence a race of men# ch ldren of l ght# 3ho adored -ea6en and ts Stars as the S$!reme Be ngG and 3hose

d fferent gods 3ere b$t ncarnat ons of the S$n# the Moon# the Stars# and the Ether, %hrysor 3as the great gneo$s !o3er of 8at$re# and Baal and Mala/arth re!resentat ons of the S$n and Moon# the latter 3ord# n -ebre3# mean ng I$een, Man had fallen# b$t not by the tem!t ng of the ser!ent, "or# 3 th the Phoen c ans# the ser!ent 3as deemed to !arta/e of the D 6 ne 8at$re# and 3as sacred# as he 3as n Egy!t, -e 3as deemed to be mmortal# $nless sla n by 6 olence# becom ng yo$ng aga n n h s old age# by enter ng nto and cons$m ng h mself, -ence the Ser!ent n a c rcle# hold ng h s ta l n h s mo$th# 3as an emblem of etern ty, ; th the head of a ha3/ he 3as of a D 6 ne 8at$re# and a symbol of the s$n, -ence one Sect of the Gnost cs too/ h m for the r good gen $s# and hence the bra<en serD !ent reared by Moses n the Desert# on 3h ch the Israel tes loo/ed and l 6ed, @Before the chaos# that !receded the b rth of -ea6en and Earth#@ sa d the %h nese LaoDTse$# @a s ngle Be ng e4 sted# mD

mense and s lent# mm$table and al3ays act ngGthe mother of the 'n 6erse, I /no3 not the name of that Be ng# b$t I des gnate t by the 3ord Reason, Man has h s model n the earth# the earth n -ea6en# -ea6en n Reason# and Reason n tself,@ @I am#@ says Is s# @8at$reG!arent of all th ngs# the so6ere gn of the Elements# the !r m t 6e !rogeny of T me# the most e4alted of the De t es# the f rst of the -ea6enly Gods and Goddesses# the I$een of the Shades# the $n form co$ntenanceG 3ho d s!ose 3 th my rod the n$mero$s l ghts of -ea6en# the sal$br o$s bree<es of the sea# and the mo$rnf$l s lence of the deadG 3hose s ngle D 6 n ty the 3hole 3orld 6enerates n many forms# 3 th 6ar o$s r tes and by many names, The Egy!t ans# s/ lled n anc ent lore# 3orsh ! me 3 th !ro!er ceremon es# and call me by my tr$e name# Is s the I$een,@ The - nd$ Fedas th$s def ne the De ty( @-e 3ho s$r!asses s!eech# and thro$gh 3hose !o3er s!eech s e4!ressed# /no3 tho$ that -e s BrahmaG and not these !er shD

able th ngs that man adores, @-e 3hom Intell gence cannot com!rehend# and -e alone# say the sages# thro$gh 3hose Po3er the nat$re of Intell gence can be $nderstood# /no3 tho$ that -e s BrahmaG and not these !er shD able th ngs that man adores, @-e 3ho cannot be seen by the organ of s ght# and thro$gh 3hose !o3er the organ of see ng sees# /no3 tho$ that -e s BrahmaG and not these !er shable th ngs that man adores, @-e 3ho cannot be heard by the organ of hear ng# and thro$gh 3hose !o3er the organ of hear ng hears# /no3 tho$ that -e s BrahmaG and not these !er shable th ngs that man adores, @-e 3ho cannot be !erce 6ed by the organ of smell ng# and thro$gh 3hose !o3er the organ of smell ng smells# /no3 tho$ that -e s BrahmaG and not these !er shable th ngs that man adores,@ @;hen God resol6ed to create the h$man race#@ sa d Ar $s# @-e made a Be ng that -e called The ;ORD# The Son# ; sdom# to the end that th s Be ng m ght g 6e e4 stence to men,@ Th s

;ORD s the Orm$<d of Horoaster# the A nso!h of the Kabalah# the 8o$s of Plato and Ph lo# the ; sdom or Dem o$rgos of the Gnost cs, That s the Tr$e ;ord# the /no3ledge of 3h ch o$r anc ent brethren so$ght as the !r celess re3ard of the r labors on the -oly Tem!le( the ;ord of L fe# the D 6 ne Reason# @ n 3hom 3as L fe# and that L fe the L ght of men@G@3h ch long shone n dar/ness# and the dar/ness com!rehended t notG@ the Inf n te Reason that s the So$l of 8at$re# mmortal# of 3h ch the ;ord of th s Degree rem nds $sG and to bel e6e 3here n and re6ere t# s the !ec$l ar d$ty of e6ery Mason, @In the beg nn ng#@ says the e4tract from some older 3or/# 3 th 3h ch &ohn commences h s Gos!el# @3as the ;ord# and the ;ord 3as near to God# and the ;ord 3as God, All th ngs 3ere made by - m# and 3 tho$t - m 3as not anyth ng made that 3as made, In - m 3as L fe# and the l fe 3as the L ght of manG and the l ght sh neth n dar/ness# and the dar/ness d d not conta n t,@

It s an old trad t on that th s !assage 3as from an older 3or/, And Ph lostorg $s and 8 ce!hor$s state# that 3hen the Em!eror &$l an $ndertoo/ to reb$ ld the Tem!le# a stone 3as ta/en $!# that co6ered the mo$th of a dee! sE$are ca6e# nto 3h ch one of the laborers# be ng let do3n by a ro!e# fo$nd n the centre of the floor a c$b cal ! llar# on 3h ch lay a roll or boo/# 3ra!!ed n a f ne l nen cloth# n 3h ch# n ca! tal letters# 3as the forego ng !assage, -o3e6er th s may ha6e been# t s !la n that &ohn?s Gos!el s a !olem c aga nst the Gnost csG and# stat ng at the o$tset the c$rrent doctr ne n regard to the creat on by the ;ord# he then addresses h mself to sho3 and $rge that th s ;ord 3as &es$s %hr st, And the f rst sentence# f$lly rendered nto o$r lang$age# 3o$ld read th$s(@;hen the !rocess of emanat on# of creat on or e6ol$D t on of e4 stences nfer or to the S$!reme God began# the ;ord came nto e4 stence and 3as( and th s 3ord 3as near to GodG ,e, the mmed ate or f rst emanat on from God(and

t 3as God - mself# de6elo!ed or man fested n that !art c$lar mode# and n act on, And by that ;ord e6eryth ng that s 3as created,@DAnd th$s Tert$ll an says that God made the ;orld o$t of noth ng# by means of - s ;ord# ; sdom# or Po3er, To Ph lo the &e3# as to the Gnost cs# the S$!reme Be ng 3as the Pr m t 6e L ght# or Archety!e of L ght#DSo$rce 3hence the rays emanate that ll$m nate So$ls, -e s the So$l of the ;orld# and as s$ch acts e6ery3here, -e h mself f lls and bo$nds h s 3hole e4 stence# and h s forces f ll and !enetrate e6eryth ng, - s Image s the ;ORD ALOGOSB# a form more br ll ant than f re# 3h ch s not !$re l ght, Th s ;ORD d3ells n GodG for t s 3 th n - s Intell gence that the S$!reme Be ng frames for - mself the Ty!es of Ideas of all that s to ass$me real ty n the 'n 6erse, The ;ORD s the Feh cle by 3h ch God acts on the 'n 6erseG the ;orld of Ideas by means 3hereof God has created 6 s ble th ngsG the more Anc ent God# as com!ared 3 th the Mater al ;orldG %h ef and General Re!resentat 6e of all Intell gencesG the ArchD

angel and re!resentat 6e of all s! r ts# e6en those of MortalsG the ty!e of ManG the !r m t 6e man h mself, These deas are borro3ed from Plato, And th s ;ord s not only the %reator A@by - m 3as e6eryth ng made that 3as made@B# b$t acts n the !lace of God and thro$gh h m act all the Po3ers and Attr b$tes of God, And also# as f rst re!resentat 6e of the h$man race# he s the !rotector of Men and the r She!herd# the @Ben -?Adam#@ or Son of Man, The act$al cond t on of Man s not h s !r m t 6e cond t on# that n 3h ch he 3as the mage of the ;ord, - s $nr$ly !ass ons ha6e ca$sed h m to fall from h s or g nal lofty estate, B$t he may r se aga n# by follo3 ng the teach ngs of -ea6enly ; sdom# and the Angels 3hom God comm ss ons to a d h m n esca! ng from the entanglements of the bodyG and by f ght ng bra6ely aga nst E6 l# the e4 stence of 3h ch God has allo3ed solely to f$rn sh h m 3 th the means of e4erc s ng h s free 3 ll, The S$!reme Be ng of the Egy!t ans 3as Am$n# a secret and

concealed God# the 'n/no3n "ather of the Gnost cs# the So$rce of D 6 ne L fe# and of all force# the Plen t$de of all# com!rehendD ng all th ngs n - mself# the or g nal L ght, -e creates noth ngG b$t e6eryth ng emanates from - m( and all other Gods are b$t h s man festat ons, "rom - m# by the $tterance of a ;ord# emaD nated 8e th# the D 6 ne Mother of all th ngs# the Pr m t 6e T-O'G-T# the "OR%E that !$ts e6eryth ng n mo6ement# the SPIRIT e6ery3here e4tended# the De ty of L ght and Mother of the S$n, Of th s S$!reme Be ng# Os r s 3as the mage# So$rce of all Good n the moral and !hys cal 3orld# and constant foe of Ty!hon# the Gen $s of E6 l# the Satan of Gnost c s m# br$te matD ter# deemed to be al3ays at fe$d 3 th the s! r t that flo3ed from the De tyG and o6er 3hom -arDOer # the Redeemer# Son of Is s and Os r s# s f nally to !re6a l, In the HendDA6esta of the Pers ans the S$!reme Be ng s T me 3 tho$t l m t# HER'A8E AK-ERE8E,DD8o or g n co$ld be

ass gned to - mG for -e 3as en6elo!ed n - s o3n Glory# and - s 8at$re and Attr b$tes 3ere so naccess ble to h$man Intell D gence# that -e 3as b$t the ob5ect of a s lent 6enerat on, The comD mencement of %reat on 3as by emanat on from - m, The f rst emanat on 3as the Pr m t 6e L ght# and from th s L ght emerged Orm$<d# the K ng oA L ght# 3ho# by the ;ORD# created the ;orld n ts !$r ty# s ts Preser6er and &$dge# a -oly and Sacred BeD ng# Intell gence and Kno3ledge# - mself T me 3 tho$t l m t# and 3 eld ng all the !o3ers of the S$!reme Be ng, In th s Pers an fa th# as ta$ght many cent$r es before o$r era# and embod ed n the HendDA6esta# there 3as n man a !$re Pr nD c !le# !roceed ng from the S$!reme Be ng# !rod$ced by the ; ll and ;ord of Orm$<d, To that 3as $n ted an m!$re !r nc !le# !roceed ng from a fore gn nfl$ence# that of Ahr man# the Dragon# or !r nc !le of E6 l, Tem!ted by Ahr man# the f rst man and 3oman had fallenG and for t3el6e tho$sand years there 3as to be 3ar bet3een Orm$<d and the Good S! r ts created by h m# and

Ahr rnan and the E6 l ones 3hom he had called nto e4 stence, B$t !$re so$ls are ass sted by the Good S! r ts# the Tr $m!h of the Good Pr nc !le s determ ned $!on n the decrees of the S$D !reme Be ng# and the !er od of that tr $m!h 3 ll nfall bly arr 6e, At the moment 3hen the earth shall be most affl cted 3 th the e6 ls bro$ght $!on t by the S! r ts of !erd t on# three Pro!hets 3 ll a!!ear to br ng ass stance to mortals, Sos osch# %h ef of the Three# 3 ll regenerate the 3orld# and restore to t ts !r m t 6e Bea$ty# Strength# and P$r ty, -e 3 ll 5$dge the good and the 3 c/ed, After the $n 6ersal res$rrect on of the Good# the !$re S! r ts 3 ll cond$ct them to an abode of eternal ha!! ness, Ahr D man# h s e6 l Demons# and all the 3orld# 3 ll be !$r f ed n a torD rent of l E$ d b$rn ng metal, The La3 of Orm$<d 3 ll r$le e6ery3here( all men 3 ll be ha!!y( all# en5oy ng an $nalterable bl ss# 3 ll $n te 3 th Sos osch n s ng ng the !ra ses of the S$D !reme Be ng, These doctr nes# 3 th some mod f cat ons# 3ere ado!ted by the

Kabal sts and after3ard by the Gnost cs, A!ollon $s of Tyana says(@;e shall render the most a!!ro!r D ate 3orsh ! to the De ty# 3hen to that God 3hom 3e call the " rst# 3ho s One# and se!arate from all# and after 3hom 3e recogD n <e the others# 3e !resent no offer ngs 3hate6er# / ndle to - m no f re# ded cate to - m no sens ble th ngG for he needs noth ng# e6en of all that nat$res more e4alted than o$rs co$ld g 6e, The earth !rod$ces no !lant# the a r no$r shes no an mal# there s n short noth ng# 3h ch 3o$ld not be m!$re n h s s ght, In adD dress ng o$rsel6es to - m# 3e m$st $se only the h gher 3ord# that# I mean# 3h ch s not e4!ressed by the mo$th#DDthe s lent nner 3ord of the s! r t ,,,,, "rom the most Glor o$s of all Be ngs# 3e m$st see/ for bless ngs# by that 3h ch s most glor o$s n o$rD sel6esG and that s the s! r t# 3h ch needs no organ,@ Strabo says( @Th s one S$!reme Essence s that 3h ch embraces $s all# the 3ater and the land# that 3h ch 3e call the -ea6ens# the ;orld# the 8at$re of th ngs, Th s - ghest Be ng sho$ld be

3orsh !!ed# 3 tho$t any 6 s ble mage# n sacred gro6es, In s$ch retreats the de6o$t sho$ld lay themsel6es do3n to slee!# and e4!ect s gns from God n dreams,@ Ar stolte says(@It has been handed do3n n a myth cal form# fro m the earl est t mes to !oster ty# that there are Gods# and that The D 6 ne com!asses ent re nat$re, All bes des th s has been added# after the myth cal style# for the !$r!ose of !ers$ad ng the m$lt t$de# and for the nterest of the la3s and the ad6antage of the State, Th$s men ha6e g 6en to the Gods h$man forms# and ha6e e6en re!resented them $nder the f g$re of other be ngs# n the tra n of 3h ch f ct ons follo3ed many more of the same sort, B$t f# from all th s# 3e se!arate the or g nal !r nc !le# and conD s der t alone# namely# that the f rst Essences are Gods# 3e shall f nd that th s has been d 6 nely sa dG and s nce t s !robable that !h loso!hy and the arts ha6e been se6eral t mes# so far as that s !oss ble# fo$nd and lost# s$ch doctr nes may ha6e been !reser6ed to o$r t mes as the rema ns of anc ent 3 sdom,@

Por!hyry says( @By mages addressed to sense# the anc ents re!resented God and h s !o3ersDDby the 6 s ble they ty! f ed the n6 s ble for those 3ho had learned to read# n these ty!es# as n a boo/# a treat se on the Gods, ;e need not 3onder f the gnoD rant cons der the mages to be noth ng more than 3ood or stoneG for 5$st so# they 3ho are gnorant of 3r t ng see noth ng n mon$D ments b$t stone# noth ng n tablets b$t 3ood# and n boo/s b$t a t ss$e of !a!yr$s,@ A!ollon $s of Tyana held# that b rth and death are only n a!D !earanceG that 3h ch se!arates tself from the one s$bstance Mthe one D 6 ne essenceN# and s ca$ght $! by matter# seems to be bornG that# aga n# 3h ch releases tself from the bonds of matter# and s re$n ted 3 th the one D 6 ne Essence# seems to d e, There s# at most# an alterat on bet3een becom ng 6 s ble and becom ng nD 6 s ble, In all there s# !ro!erly s!ea/ ng# b$t the one essence# 3h ch alone acts and s$ffers# by becom ng all th ngs to allGthe Eternal God# 3hom men 3rong# 3hen they de!r 6e - m of 3hat

!ro!erly can be attr b$ted to - m only# and transfer t to other names and !ersons, The 8e3 Platon sts s$bst t$ted the dea of the Absol$te# for the S$!reme Essence tselfGDDas the f rst# s m!lest !r nc !le# anteD r or to all e4 stenceG of 3h ch noth ng determ nate can be !red D catedG to 3h ch no consc o$sness# no selfDcontem!lat on can be ascr bedG nasm$ch as to do so# 3o$ld mmed ately m!ly a E$alD ty# a d st nct on of s$b5ect and ob5ect, Th s S$!reme Ent ty can be /no3n only by an ntellect$al nt$ t on of the S! r t# transD scend ng tself# and emanc !at ng tself from ts o3n l m ts, Th s mere log cal tendency# by means of 3h ch men tho$ght to arr 6e at the conce!t on of s$ch an absol$te# the o6# 3as $n ted 3 th a certa n myst c sm# 3h ch# by a transcendent state of feelD ng# comm$n cated# as t 3ere# to th s abstract on 3hat the m nd 3o$ld rece 6e as a real ty, The absor!t on of the S! r t nto that s$!ere4 stence# so as to be ent rely dent f ed 3 th t# or s$ch a re6elat on of the latter to the s! r t

ra sed abo6e tself# 3as regarded as the h ghest end 3h ch the s! r t$al l fe co$ld reach, The 8e3 Platon sts? dea of God# 3as that of One S m!le Or g D nal Essence# e4alted a/es a d st nct on bet3een those 3ho are n the !ro!er sense Sons of God# ha6 ng by means of contem!lat on ra sed themsel6es to the h ghest Be ng# or atta ned to a /no3ledge of - m# n - s mmed ate selfDman festat on# and those 3ho /no3 God only n h s med ate re6elat on thro$gh h s o!erat onDDs$ch as -e declares - mself n creat onDD n the re6elat on st ll 6e led n the letter of Scr !t$reDDthose# n short# 3ho attach themsel6es s m!ly to the Logos# and cons der th s to be the S$!reme GodG 3ho arenG and after t has r d tself fro m all that !erta ns to senseDfrom all man foldness, They are the med ators bet3een man Mama<ed and st$!ef ed by man foldD nessN and the S$!reme 'n ty, Ph lo says(@-e 3ho d sbel e6es the m rac$lo$s# s m!ly as the m rac$lo$s# ne ther /no3s God# nor has he e6er so$ght after - mG

for other3 se he 3o$ld ha6e $nderstood# by loo/ ng at that tr$ly great and a3eD ns! r ng s ght# the m racle of the 'n 6erse# that these m racles M n God?s !ro6 dent al g$ dance of - s !eo!leN are b$t ch ld?s !lay for the D 6 ne Po3er, B$t the tr$ly m rac$lo$s has become des! sed thro$gh fam l ar ty, The $n 6ersal# on the contrary# altho$gh n tself ns gn f cant# yet# thro$gh o$r lo6e of no6elty# trans!orts $s 3 th ama<ement,@ In o!!os t on to the anthro!o!ath sm of the &e3 sh Scr !t$res# the Ale4andr an &e3s endea6ored to !$r fy the dea of God from all adm 4t$re of the -$man, By the e4cl$s on of e6ery h$man !ass on# t 3as s$bl mated to a someth ng de6o d of all attr b$tes# and 3holly transcendentalG and the mere Be ng# the Good# n and by tself# the Absol$te of Platon sm# 3as s$bst t$ted for the !ersonal De ty of the Old Testament, By soar ng $!D 3ard# beyond all created e4 stence# the m nd# d sengag ng tself fro m the Sens ble# atta ns to the ntellect$al nt$ t on of th s AbD sol$te Be ngG of 3hom# ho3e6er# t can !red cate noth ng b$t

e4 stence# and sets as de all other determ nat ons as not ans3er ng to the e4alted nat$re of the S$!reme Essence, Th$s Ph lo ma/es a d st nct on bet3een those 3ho are n the !ro!er sense Sons of God# ha6 ng by means of contem!lat on ra sed themsel6es to the h ghest Be ng# or atta ned to a /no3ledge of - m# n - s mmed ate selfDman festat on# and those 3ho /no3 God only n h s med ate re6elat on thro$gh h s o!erat onDDs$ch as -e declares - mself n creat onDD n the re6elat on st ll 6e led n the letter of Scr !t$reDDthose# n short# 3ho attach themsel6es s m!ly to the Logos# and cons der th s to be the S$!reme GodG 3ho are the sons of the Logos# rather than of the Tr$e Be ng, @God#@ says Pythagoras# @ s ne ther the ob5ect of sense# nor s$b5ect to !ass on# b$t n6 s ble# only ntell g ble# and s$!remely ntell gent, In - s body -e s l /e the l ght# and n - s so$l -e reD sembles tr$th, -e s the $n 6ersal s! r t that !er6ades and d fD f$seth tself o6er all nat$re, All be ngs rece 6e the r l fe from - m, There s b$t one only God# 3ho s not# as some are a!t to

mag ne# seated abo6e the 3orld# beyond the orb of the 'n 6erseG b$t be ng - mself all n all# -e sees all the be ngs that f ll - s mmens tyG the only Pr nc !le# the L ght of -ea6en# the "ather of all, -e !rod$ces e6eryth ngG -e orders and d s!oses e6eryD th ngG -e s the REASO8# the LI"E# and the MOTIO8 of all be ng,@ @I am the LIG-T of the 3orldGhe that follo3eth Me shall not 3al/ n DARK8ESS# b$t shall ha6e the LIG-T of LI"E,@ So sa d the "o$nder of the %hr st an Rel g on# as - s 3ords are re!orted by &ohn the A!ostle, God# say the sacred 3r t ngs of the &e3s# a!!eared to Moses n a "LAME O" "IRE# n the m dst of a b$sh# 3h ch 3as not cons$med, -e descended $!on Mo$nt S na # as the smo/e of a f$rnaceG -e 3ent before the ch ldren of Israel# by day# n a ! llar of clo$d# and# by n ght# n a ! llar of f re# to g 6e them l ght, @%all yo$ on the name of yo$r Gods#@ sa d El 5ah the Pro!het to the Pr ests of Baal# @and I 3 ll call $!on the name of ADO8AIG and the God that ans3ereth by f re# let h m be God,@

Accord ng to the Kabalah# as accord ng to the doctr nes of Horoaster# e6eryth ng that e4 sts has emanated from a so$rce of nf n te l ght, Before all th ngs# e4 sted the Pr m t 6e Be ng# T-E A8%IE8T O" DA.S# the Anc ent K ng of L ghtG a t tle the more remar/able# beca$se t s freE$ently g 6en to the %reator n the HendDA6esta# and n the %ode of the Sabeans# and occ$rs n the &e3 sh Scr !t$res, The 3orld 3as - s Re6elat on# God re6ealedG and s$bs sted only n - m, - s attr b$tes 3ere there re!rod$ced 3 th 6ar o$s mod f cat ons and n d fferent degreesG so that the 'n 6erse 3as - s -oly S!lendor# - s Mantle, -e 3as to be adored n s lenceG and !erfect on cons sted n a nearer a!!roach to - m, Before the creat on of 3orlds# the PRIMITIFE LIG-T f lled all s!ace# so that there 3as no 6o d, ;hen the S$!reme Be ng# e4D st ng n th s L ght# resol6ed to d s!lay - s !erfect ons# or man D fest them n 3orlds# -e 3 thdre3 3 th n - mself# formed aro$nd - m a 6o d s!ace# and shot forth - s f rst emanat on# a ray of

l ghtG the ca$se and !r nc !le of e6eryth ng that e4 sts# $n t ng both the generat 6e and conce!t 6e !o3er# 3h ch !enetrates e6eryD th ng# and 3 tho$t 3h ch noth ng co$ld s$bs st for an nstant, Man fell# sed$ced by the E6 l S! r ts most remote from the Great K ng of L ghtG those of the fo$rth 3orld of s! r ts# As ah# 3hose ch ef 3as Bel al, They 3age ncessant 3ar aga nst the !$re Intell gences of the other 3orlds# 3ho# l /e the Amshas!ands# I<eds# and "ero$ers of the Pers ans are the t$telary g$ard ans of man, In the beg nn ng# all 3as $n son and harmonyG f$ll of the same d 6 ne l ght and !erfect !$r ty, The Se6en K ngs of E6 l fell# and the 'n 6erse 3as tro$bled, Then the %reator too/ from the Se6en K ngs the !r nc !les of Good and of L ght# and d 6 ded them among the fo$r 3orlds of S! r ts# g 6 ng to the f rst three the P$re Intell gences# $n ted n lo6e and harmony# 3h le to the fo$rth 3ere 6o$chsafed only some feeble gl mmer ngs of l ght, ;hen the str fe bet3een these and the good angels shall ha6e cont n$ed the a!!o nted t me# and these S! r ts en6elo!ed n dar/D

ness shall long and n 6a n ha6e endea6ored to absorb the D 6 ne l ght and l fe# then 3 ll the Eternal - mself come to correct them, -e 3 ll del 6er them from the gross en6elo!es of matter that hold them ca!t 6e# 3 ll reDan mate and strengthen the ray of l ght or s! r t$al nat$re 3h ch they ha6e !reser6ed# and reDestabl sh thro$gho$t the 'n 6erse that !r m t 6e -armony 3h ch 3as ts bl ss, Marc on# the Gnost c# sa d# @The So$l of the Tr$e %hr st an# ado!ted as a ch ld by the S$!reme Be ng# to 3hom t has long been a stranger# rece 6es from - m the S! r t and D 6 ne l fe, It s led and conf rmed# by th s g ft# n a !$re and holy l fe# l /e that of GodG and f t so com!letes ts earthly career# n char ty# chast ty# and sanct ty# t 3 ll one day be d sengaged from ts maD ter al en6elo!e# as the r !e gra n s detached from the stra3# and as the yo$ng b rd esca!es from ts shell, L /e the angels# t 3 ll share n the bl ss of the Good and Perfect "ather# reDclothed n an aer al body or organ# and made l /e $nto the Angels n -ea6en,@

.o$ see# my brother# 3hat s the mean ng of Mason c @L ght,@ .o$ see 3hy the EAST of the Lodge# 3here the n t al letter of the 8ame of the De ty o6erhangs the Master# s the !lace of L ght, L ght# as contrad st ng$ shed from dar/ness# s Good# as contrad sD t ng$ shed from E6 l( and t s that L ght# the tr$e /no3ledge of De ty# the Eternal Good# for 3h ch Masons n all ages ha6e so$ght, St ll Masonry marches stead ly on3ard to3ard that L ght that sh nes n the great d stance# the L ght of that day 3hen E6 l# o6ercome and 6anE$ shed# shall fade a3ay and d sa!!ear fore6er# and L fe and L ght be the one la3 of the 'n 6erse# and ts eternal -armony, The Degree of Rose %ro 4 teaches three th ngsGDDthe $n ty# mD m$tab l ty and goodness of GodG the mmortal ty of the So$lG and the $lt mate defeat and e4t nct on of e6 l and 3rong and sorD ro3# by a Redeemer or Mess ah# yet to come# f he has not already a!!eared, It re!laces the three ! llars of the old Tem!le# 3 th three that

ha6e already been e4!la ned to yo$#DD"a th A n God# man/ nd# and man?s selfB# -o!e A n the 6 ctory o6er e6 l# the ad6ancement of -$man ty# and a hereafterB# and %har ty Arel e6 ng the 3ants# and tolerant of the errors and fa$lts of othersB, To be tr$stf$l# to be ho!ef$l# to be nd$lgentG these# n an age of self shness# of ll o! n on of h$man nat$re# of harsh and b tter 5$dgment# are the most m!ortant Mason c F rt$es# and the tr$e s$!!orts of e6ery Mason c Tem!le, And they are the old ! llars of the Tem!le $nder d fferent names, "or he only s 3 se 3ho 5$dges others char tablyG he only s strong 3ho s ho!ef$lG and there s no bea$ty l /e a f rm fa th n God# o$r fello3s and o$rself, The second a!artment# clothed n mo$rn ng# the col$mns of the Tem!le shattered and !rostrate# and the brethren bo3ed do3n n the dee!est de5ect on# re!resents the 3orld $nder the tyranny of the Pr nc !le of E6 lG 3here 6 rt$e s !ersec$ted and 6 ce re3ardD edG 3here the r ghteo$s star6e for bread# and the 3 c/ed l 6e s$m!t$o$sly and dress n !$r!le and f ne l nenG 3here nsolent

gnorance r$les# and learn ng and gen $s ser6eG 3here K ng and Pr est tram!le on l berty and the r ghts of consc enceG 3here freeD dom h des n ca6es and mo$nta ns# and syco!hancy and ser6 l ty fa3n and thr 6eG 3here the cry of the 3 do3 and the or!han star6 ng for 3ant of food# and sh 6er ng 3 th cold# r ses e6er to -ea6en# from a m ll on m serable ho6elsG 3here men# 3 ll ng to labor# and star6 ng# they and the r ch ldren and the 3 6es of the r bosoms# beg !la nt 6ely for 3or/# 3hen the !am!ered ca! tal st sto!s h s m llsG 3here the la3 !$n shes her 3ho# star6 ng# steals a loaf# and lets the sed$cer go freeG 3here the s$ccess of a !arty 5$st f es m$rder# and 6 olence and ra! ne go $n!$n shedG and 3here he 3ho 3 th many years? cheat ng and gr nd ng the faces of the !oor gro3s r ch# rece 6es off ce and honor n l fe# and after death bra6e f$neral and a s!lend d ma$sole$m(DDth s 3orld# 3here# s nce ts ma/ ng# 3ar has ne6er ceased# nor man !a$sed n the sad tas/ of tort$r ng and m$rder ng h s brotherG and of 3h ch amb t on# a6ar ce# en6y# hatred# l$st# and the rest of Ahr man?s

and Ty!hon?s army ma/e a Pandemon $m( th s 3orld# s$n/ n s n# ree/ ng 3 th baseness# clamoro$s 3 th sorro3 and m sery, If any see n t also a ty!e of the sorro3 of the %raft for the death of - ram# the gr ef of the &e3s at the fall of &er$salem# the m sery of the Tem!lars at the r$ n of the r order and the death of De Molay# or the 3orld?s agony and !angs of 3oe at the death of the Redeemer# t s the r ght of each to do so, The th rd a!artment re!resents the conseE$ences of s n and 6 ce# and the hell made of the h$man heart# by ts f ery !ass ons, If any see n t also a ty!e of the -ades of the Gree/s# the Gehenna of the -ebre3s# the Tartar$s of the Romans# or the -ell of the %hr st ans# or only of the agon es of remorse and the torD t$res of an $!bra d ng consc ence# t s the r ght of each to do so, The fo$rth a!artment re!resents the 'n 6erse# freed from the nsolent dom n on and tyranny of the Pr nc !le of E6 l# and br lD l ant 3 th the tr$e L ght that flo3s from the S$!reme De tyG 3hen s n and 3rong# and !a n and sorro3# remorse and m sery

shall be no more fore6erG 3hen the great !lans of Inf n te Eternal ; sdom shall be f$lly de6elo!edG and all God?s creat$res# see ng that all a!!arent e6 l and nd 6 d$al s$ffer ng and 3rong 3ere b$t the dro!s that 3ent to s3ell the great r 6er of nf n te goodD ness# shall /no3 that 6ast as s the !o3er of De ty# - s goodness and benef cence are nf n te as - s !o3er, If any see n t a ty!e of the !ec$l ar myster es of any fa th or creed# or an all$s on to any !ast occ$rrences# t s the r r ght to do so, Let each a!!ly ts symbols as he !leases, To all of $s they ty! fy the $n 6ersal r$le of Masonry#DD of ts three ch ef 6 rt$es# "a th# -o!e and %har tyG of brotherly lo6e and $n 6ersal bene6olence, ;e labor here to no other end, These symbols need no other nter!retat on, The obl gat ons of o$r Anc ent Brethren of the Rose %ro 4 3ere to f$lf ll all the d$t es of fr endsh !# cheerf$lness# char ty# !eace# l bD eral ty# tem!erance and chast ty( and scr$!$lo$sly to a6o d mD !$r ty# ha$ght ness# hatred# anger# and e6ery other / nd of 6 ce, They too/ the r !h loso!hy from the old Theology of the Egy!D

t ans# as Moses and Solomon had done# and borro3ed ts h eroD gly!h cs and the c !hers of the -ebre3s, The r !r nc !al r$les 3ere to e4erc se the !rofess on of med c ne char tably and 3 thD o$t fee# to ad6ance the ca$se of 6 rt$e# enlarge the sc ences# and nd$ce men to l 6e as n the !r m t 6e t mes of the 3orld, ;hen th s Degree had ts or g n# t s not m!ortant to nE$ reG nor 3 th 3hat d fferent r tes t has been !ract sed n d fferent co$ntr es and at 6ar o$s t mes, It s of 6ery h gh ant E$ ty, Its ceremon es d ffer 3 th the degrees of lat t$de and long t$de# and t rece 6es 6ar ant nter!retat ons, If 3e 3ere to e4am ne all the d fferent ceremon als# the r emblems# and the r form$las# 3e sho$ld see that all that belongs to the !r m t 6e and essent al elements of the order# s res!ected n e6ery sanct$ary, All al /e !ract se 6 rt$e# that t may !rod$ce fr$ t, All labor# l /e $s# for the e4D t r!at on of 6 ce# the !$r f cat on of man# the de6elo!ment of the arts and sc ences# and the rel ef of h$man ty, 8one adm t an ade!t to the r lofty !h loso!h cal /no3ledge# and

myster o$s sc ences# $nt l he has been !$r f ed at the altar of the symbol c Degrees, Of 3hat m!ortance are d fferences of o! n on as to the age and genealogy of the Degree# or 6ar ance n the !racD t ce# ceremon al and l t$rgy# or the shade of color of the banner $nder 3h ch each tr be of Israel marched# f all re6ere ?the -oly Arch of the symbol c Degrees# f rst and $nalterable so$rce of "reeD MasonryG f all re6ere o$r conser6at 6e !r nc !les# and are 3 th $s n the great !$r!oses of o$r organ <at on J If# any3here# brethren of a !art c$lar rel g o$s bel ef ha6e been e4cl$ded from th s Degree# t merely sho3s ho3 gra6ely the !$rD !oses and !lan of Masonry may be m s$nderstood, "or 3hene6er the door of any Degree s closed aga nst h m 3ho bel e6es n one God and the so$l?s mmortal ty# on acco$nt of the other tenets of h s fa th# that Degree s Masonry no longer, 8o Mason has the r ght to nter!ret the symbols of th s Degree for another# or to reD f$se h m ts myster es# f he 3 ll not ta/e them 3 th the e4!lanaD t on and commentary s$!eradded,

L sten# my brother# to o$r e4!lanat on of the symbols of the Degree# and then g 6e them s$ch f$rther nter!retat on as yo$ th n/ f t, The %ross has been a sacred symbol from the earl est Ant E$ ty, It s fo$nd $!on all the end$r ng mon$ments of the 3orld# n Egy!t# n Assyr a# n - ndostan# n Pers a# and on the B$ddh st to3ers of Ireland, B$ddha 3as sa d to ha6e d ed $!on t, The Dr$ ds c$t an oa/ nto ts sha!e and held t sacred# and b$ lt the r tem!les n that form, Po nt ng to the fo$r E$arters of the 3orld# t 3as the symbol of $n 6ersal nat$re, It 3as on a cr$c form tree# that %hr shna 3as sa d to ha6e e4! red# ! erced 3 th arro3s, It 3as re6ered n Me4 co, B$t ts !ec$l ar mean ng n th s Degree# s that g 6en to t by the Anc ent Egy!t ans, Tltoth or Ph /a s re!resented on the oldD est mon$ments carry ng n h s hand the %r$4 Ansata# or An/h# Aa Ta$ cross# 3 th a r ng or c rcle o6er tB, -e s so seen on the do$ble tablet of Sh$f$ and 8ob Sh$f$# b$ lders of the greatest of

the Pyram ds# at ;ady Meghara# n the !en ns$la of S na , It 3as the h erogly!h c for l fe# and 3 th a tr angle !ref 4ed meant l feD g 6 ng, To $s therefore t s the symbol of L feDDof that l fe that emanated from the De ty# and of that Eternal L fe for 3h ch 3e all ho!eG thro$gh o$r fa th n God?s nf n te goodness, The ROSE 3as anc ently sacred to A$rora and the S$n, It s a symbol of Da3n# of the res$rrect on of L ght and the rene3al of l fe# and therefore of the da3n of the f rst day# and more !arD t c$larly of the res$rrect on( and the %ross and Rose together are therefore h erogly!h cally to be read# the Da3n of Eternal L fe 3h ch all 8at ons ha6e ho!ed for by the ad6ent of a ReD deemer, The Pel can feed ng her yo$ng s an emblem of the large and bo$nt f$l benef cence of 8at$re# of the Redeemer of fallen man# and of that h$man ty and char ty that o$ght to d st ng$ sh a Kn ght of th s Degree, The Eagle 3as the l 6 ng Symbol of the Egy!t an God Mendes

or Menthra# 3hom Sesostr sDRamses made one 3 th Am$nDRe# the God of Thebes and '!!er Egy!t# and the re!resentat 6e of the S$n# the 3ord RE mean ng S$n or K ng, The %om!ass s$rmo$nted 3 th a cro3n s gn f es that not3 thD stand ng the h gh ran/ atta ned n Masonry by a Kn ght of the Rose %ro 4# eE$ ty and m!art al ty are n6ar ably to go6ern h s cond$ct, To the 3ord I8RI# nscr bed on the %r$4 Ansata o6er the Master?s Seat# many mean ngs ha6e been ass gned, The %hr st an In t ate re6erent ally sees n t the n t als of the nscr !t on $!on the cross on 3h ch %hr st s$fferedDDDIes$s 8a<aren$s Re4 l$dceD or$m, The sages of Ant E$ ty connected t 3 th one of the greatD est secrets of 8at$re# that of $n 6ersal regenerat on, They nterD !reted t th$s# Igne 8at$ra reno6at$r ntegraG Aent re nat$re s reno6ated by f reB( The Alchem cal or -ermet c Masons framed for t th s a!hor sm# Igne n tr$m ror s n6en t$r, And the &esD $ ts are charged 3 th ha6 ng a!!l ed to t th s od o$s a4 om#

&$st$m necare reges m! os, The fo$r letters are the n t als of the -ebre3 3ords that re!resent the fo$r elementsDDlamm m# the seas or 3aterG 8o$r# f reG Ro$ach# the a r# and Iebeschah# the dry earth, -o3 3e read t# I need not re!eat to yo$, The %ROSS# P# 3as the S gn of the %reat 6e ; sdom or Logos# the Son of God, Plato says# @-e e4!ressed h m $!on the 'n D 6erse n the f g$re of the letter P, The ne4t Po3er to the S$D !reme God 3as dec$ssated or f g$red n the sha!e of a %ross on the 'n 6erse,@ M thras s gned h s sold ers on the forehead 3 th a %ross, P s the mar/ of =22# the myster o$s cycle of the IncarD nat ons, ;e constantly see the Ta$ and the Resh $n ted th$s P , These D[D [ t3o letters# n the old Samar tan# as fo$nd n Ar $s# stand# the f rst for :22# the second for 022Y=22, Th s s the Staff of Os r s# also# and h s monogram# and 3as ado!ted by the %hr st ans as a

S gn, On a medal P of %onstan $s s th s nscr !t on# @In hoc P [ s gno 6 ctor er s,@ An nscr !t on n the D$omo at M lan reads# @P, et P, %hr st , 8om na, Sancta, Tene ,@ The Egy!t ans $sed as a S gn of the r God %anob$s# a T or a DlD nd fferently, The Fa shna6as of Ind a ha6e also the same Sacred Ta$# 3h ch they also mar/ 3 th crosses# and 3 th tr angles, The 6estments of the !t ests of -or$s 3ere co6ered 3 th these crosses, So 3as the dress of the Lama of Th bet, The Sectar an mar/s of the &a ns are s m lar, The d st nct 6e badge of the Sect of Pac &aon c$s s the s3ast ca, It s the S gn of "o# dent cal 3 th the %ross of %hr st, On the r$ ns of Mandore# n Ind a# among other myst c emblems# are the myst c tr angle# and the nterlaced tr angle, Th s s also fo$nd on anc ent co ns and medals# e4ca6ated from the r$ ns of Oo5e n and other anc ent c t es of Ind a, .o$ entered here am d gloom and nto shado3# and are clad n

the a!!arel of sorro3, Lament# 3 th $s# the sad cond t on of the -$man race# n th s 6ale of tearsO the calam t es of men and the agon es of nat onsO the dar/ness of the be3 ldered so$l# o!!ressed by do$bt and a!!rehens onO There s no h$man so$l that s not sad at t mes, There s no tho$ghtf$l so$l that does not at t mes des!a r, There s !erha!s none# of all that th n/ at all of anyth ng beyond the needs and nD terests of the body# that s not at t mes startled and terr f ed by the a3f$l E$est ons 3h ch# feel ng as tho$gh t 3ere a g$ lty th ng for do ng so# t 3h s!ers to tself n ts nmost de!ths, Some Demon seems to tort$re t 3 th do$bts# and to cr$sh t 3 th des!a r# as/D ng 3hether# after all# t s certa n that ts con6 ct ons are tr$e# and ts fa th 3ell ro$nded( 3hether t s ndeed s$re that a God of Inf n te Lo6e and Benef cence r$les the 'n 6erse# or only some great remorseless "ate and ron 8ecess ty# h d n m!enetrable gloom# and to 3h ch men and the r s$ffer ngs and sorro3s, the r ho!es and 5oys# the r amb t ons and deeds# are of no more nterest

or m!ortance than the motes that dance n the s$nsh neG or a Be ng that am$ses - mself 3 th the ncred ble 6an ty and folly# the 3r t ngs and contort ons of the ns gn f cant nsects that com!ose -$man ty# and dly mag ne that they resemble the OmD n !otent, @;hat are 3e#@ the Tem!ter as/s# @b$t !$!!ets n a sho3Dbo4 J O Omn !otent dest ny# !$ll o$r str ngs gently O Dance $s merc f$lly off o$r m serable l ttle stage O@ @Is t not#@ the Demon 3h s!ers# @merely the nord nate 6an ty of man that ca$ses h m no3 to !retend to h mself that he s l /e $nto God n ntellect# sym!ath es and !ass ons# as t 3as that 3h ch# at the beg nn ng# made h m bel e6e that he 3as# n h s bod ly sha!e and organs# the 6ery mage of the De ty J Is not h s God merely h s o3n shado3# !ro5ected n g gant c o$tl nes $!on the clo$dsJ Does he not create for h mself a God o$t of h mself# by merely add ng ndef n te e4tens on to h s o3n fac$lt es# !o3ers# and !ass onsJ@ @;ho#@ the Fo ce that 3 ll not be al3ays s lent 3h s!ers# @has

e6er thoro$ghly sat sf ed h mself 3 th h s o3n arg$ments n reD s!ect to h s o3n nat$re J ;ho e6er demonstrated to h mself# 3 th a concl$s 6eness that ele6ated the bel ef to certa nty# that he 3as an mmortal s! r t# d3ell ng only tem!orar ly n the ho$se and en6elo!e of the body# and to l 6e on fore6er after that shall ha6e decayedJ ;ho e6er has demonstrated or e6er can demonstrate that the ntellect of Man d ffers from that of the 3 ser an mals# other3 se than n degree J ;ho has e6er done more than to $tter nonsense and ncoherenc es n regard to the d fference bet3een the nst ncts of the dog and the reason of Man J The horse# the dog# the ele!hant# are as consc o$s of the r dent ty as 3e are, They th n/# dream# remember# arg$e 3 th themsel6es# de6 se# !lan# and reason, ;hat s the ntellect and ntell gence of the man b$t the ntellect of the an mal n a h gher degree or larger E$anD t ty J@ In the real e4!lanat on of a s ngle tho$ght of a dog# all meta!hys cs 3 ll be condensed, And 3 th st ll more terr ble s gn f cance# the Fo ce as/s# n 3hat

res!ect the masses of men# the 6ast s3arms of the h$man race# ha6e !ro6en themsel6es e ther 3 ser or better than the an mals n 3hose eyes a h gher ntell gence sh nes than n the r d$ll# $n ntelD lect$ral orbsG n 3hat res!ect they ha6e !ro6en themsel6es 3orthy of or s$ ted for an mmortal l fe, ;o$ld that be a !r <e of any 6al$e to the 6ast ma5or tyJ Do they sho3# here $!on earth# any ca!ac ty to m!ro6e# any f tness for a state of e4 stence n 3h ch they co$ld not cro$ch to !o3er# l /e ho$nds dread ng the lash# or tyrann <e o6er defenceless 3ea/nessG n 3h ch they co$ld not hate# and !ersec$te# and tort$re# and e4term nateG n 3h ch they co$ld not trade# and s!ec$late# and o6erDreach# and entra! theD$n3ary and cheat the conf d ng and gamble and thr 6e# and sn ff 3 th selfD r ghteo$sness at the shortDcom ngs of others# and than/ God that they 3ere not l /e other menJ ;hat# to mmense n$mbers of men# 3o$ld be the 6al$e of a -ea6en 3here they co$ld not l e and l bel# and !ly base a6ocat ons for !rof table ret$rns J Sadly 3e loo/ aro$nd $s# and read the gloomy and dreary recD

ords of the old dead and rotten ages, More than e ghteen cent$r es ha6e staggered a3ay nto the s!ectral realm of the Past# s nce %hr st# teach ng the Rel g on of Lo6e# 3as cr$c f ed# that t m ght become a Rel g on of -ateG and - s Doctr nes are not yet e6en nom nally acce!ted as tr$e by a fo$rth of man/ nd, S nce - s death# 3hat ncalc$lable s3arms of h$man be ngs ha6e l 6ed and d ed n total $nbel ef of all that 3e deem essent al to Sal6at onO ;hat m$lt t$d no$s myr ads of so$ls# s nce the dar/ness of dolaD tro$s s$!erst t on settled do3n# th c/ and m!enetrable# $!on the earth# ha6e floc/ed $! to3ard the eternal Throne of God# to rece 6e - s 5$dgment J The Rel g on of Lo6e !ro6ed to be# for se6enteen long cenD t$r es# as m$ch the Rel g on of -ate# and nf n tely more the ReD l g on of Persec$t on# than Mahometan sm# ts $nconE$erable r 6al, -eres es gre3 $! before the A!ostles d edG and God hated the 8 cola tans# 3h le &ohn# at Patmos# !rocla med - s com ng 3rath, Sects 3rangled# and each# as t ga ned the !o3er# !ersec$ted

the other# $nt l the so l of the 3hole %hr st an 3orld 3as 3atered 3 th the blood# and fattened on the flesh# and 3h tened 3 th the bones# of martyrs# and h$man ngen$ ty 3as ta4ed to ts $tmost to n6ent ne3 modes by 3h ch tort$res and agon es co$ld be !roD longed and made more e4E$ s te, @By 3hat r ght#@ 3h s!ers the Fo ce# @does th s sa6age# merc D less# !ersec$t ng an mal# to 3h ch the s$ffer ngs and 3r th ngs of others of ts 3retched / nd f$rn sh the most !leas$rable sensaD t ons# and the mass of 3h ch care only to eat# slee!# be clothed# and 3allo3 n sens$al !leas$res# and the best of 3h ch 3rangle# hate# en6y# and# 3 th fe3 e4ce!t ons# regard the r o3n nterests alone#D 3 th 3hat r ght does t endea6or to del$de tself nto the con6 cD t on that t s not an an mal# as the 3olf# the hyena# and the t ger are b$t a some3hat nobler# a s! r t dest ned to be mmortal# a s!ar/ of the essent al L ght# " re and Reason# 3h ch are GodJ ;hat other mmortal ty than one of self shness co$ld th s creat$re en5oyJ Of 3hat other s t ca!ableJ M$st not mmortal ty comD

mence here and s not l fe a !art of tJ -o3 shall death change the base nat$re of the base so$l J ;hy ha6e not those other an D mals that only fa ntly m tate the 3anton# sa6age# h$man cr$elty and th rst for blood# the same r ght as man has# to e4!ect a res$rD rect on and an Etern ty of e4 stence# or a -ea6en of Lo6eJ The 3orld m!ro6es, Man ceases to !ersec$te#DD3hen the !erD sec$ted become too n$mero$s and strong# longer to s$bm t to t, That so$rce of !leas$re closed# men e4erc se the ngen$ t es of the r cr$elty on the an mals and other l 6 ng th ngs belo3 them, To de!r 6e other creat$res of the l fe 3h ch God ga6e them# and th s not only that 3e may eat the r flesh for food# b$t o$t of mere sa6age 3antonness# s the agreeable em!loyment and am$sement of man# 3ho !r des h mself on be ng the Lord of %reat on# and a l ttle lo3er than the Angels, If he can no longer $se the rac/# the g bbet# the ! ncers# and the sta/e# he can hate# and slander# and del ght n the tho$ght that he 3 ll# hereafter# l$4$r o$sly en5oy ng the sens$al beat t$des of -ea6en# see 3 th !leas$re the

3r th ng agon es of those 5$stly damned for dar ng to hold o! nD ons contrary to h s o3n# $!on s$b5ects totally beyond the com!reD hens on both of them and h m, ;here the arm es of the des!ots cease to slay and ra6age# the arm es of @"reedom@ ta/e the r !lace# and# the blac/ and 3h te comm ngled# sla$ghter and b$rn and ra6 sh, Each age reDenacts the cr mes as 3ell as the foll es of ts !redecessors# and st ll 3ar l censes o$trage and t$rns fr$ tf$l lands nto deserts# and God s than/ed n the %h$rches for bloody h$tcher es# and the remorseD less de6astators# e6en 3hen s3ollen by !l$nder# are cro3ned 3 th la$rels and rece 6e o6at ons, Of the 3hole of man/ nd# not one n ten tho$sand has any as! D rat ons beyond the da ly needs of the gross an mal l fe, In th s age and n all others# all men e4ce!t a fe3# n most co$ntr es# are born to be mere beasts of b$rden# coDlaborers 3 th the horse and the o4, Profo$ndly gnorant# e6en n @c 6 l <ed@ lands# they th n/ and reason l /e the an mals by the s de of 3h ch they to l, "or

them# God# So$l# S! r t# Immortal ty# are mere 3ords# 3 tho$t any real mean ng, The God of n neteenDt3ent eths of the %hr st an 3orld s only Bel# Moloch# He$s# or at best Os r s# M thras# or Adona # $nder another name# 3orsh !!ed 3 th the old Pagan cereD mon es and r t$al st c form$las, It s the Stat$e of Olym! an &o6e# 3orsh !!ed as the "ather# n the %hr st an %h$rch that 3as a Pagan Tem!leG t s the Stat$e of Fen$s# become the F rg n Mary, "or the most !art# men do not n the r hearts bel e6e that God s e ther 5$st or merc f$l, They fear and shr n/ from - s l ghtn ngs and dread - s 3rath, "or the most !art# they only th n/ they bel e6e that there s another l fe# a 5$dgment# and a !$n shment for s n, .et they 3 ll none the less !ersec$te as Inf dels and AtheD sts those 3ho do not bel e6e 3hat they themsel6es mag ne they bel e6e# and 3h ch yet they do not bel e6e# beca$se t s ncom!reD hens ble to them n the r gnorance and 3ant of ntellect, To the 6ast ma5or ty of man/ nd# God s b$t the reflected mage# n nf D n te s!ace# of the earthly Tyrant on h s Throne# only more !o3erD

f$l# more nscr$table# and more m!lacable, To c$rse -$man ty# the Des!ot need only be# 3hat the !o!$lar m nd has# n e6ery age# mag ned God, In the great c t es# the lo3er strata of the !o!$lace are eE$ally 3 tho$t fa th and 3 tho$t ho!e, The others ha6e# for the most !art# a mere bl nd fa th# m!osed by ed$cat on and c rc$mstances# and not as !rod$ct 6e of moral e4cellence or e6en common honesty as Mohammedan sm, @.o$r !ro!erty 3 ll be safe here#@ sa d the MoslemG @There are no %hr st ans here,@ The !h loso!h cal and sc ent f c 3orld becomes da ly more and more $nbel e6 ng, "a th and Reason are not o!!os tes# n eE$ l br $mG b$t antagoD n st c and host le to each otherG the res$lt be ng the dar/ness and des!a r of sce!t c sm# a6o3ed# or halfD6e led as rat onal sm, O6er more than threeDfo$rths of the hab table globe# h$man ty st ll /neels# l /e the camels# to ta/e $!on tself the b$rthens to be tamely borne for ts tyrants, If a Re!$bl c occas onally r ses l /e a Star# t hastens 3 th all s!eed to set n blood, The / ngs need not

ma/e 3ar $!on t# to cr$sh t o$t of the r 3ay, It s only necesD sary to let t alone# and t soon lays 6 olent hands $!on tself, And 3hen a !eo!le long ensla6ed sha/e off ts fetters# t may 3ell be ncred$lo$sly as/ed#

Shall the braggart sho$t "or some bl nd gl m!se of "reedom# l n/ tself# Thro$gh madness# hated by the 3 se# to la3# System and Em! reJ

E6ery3here n the 3orld labor s# n some sha!e# the sla6e of ca! talG generally# a sla6e to be fed only so long as he can 3or/G or# rather# only so long as h s 3or/ s !rof table to the o3ner of the h$man chattel, There are fam nes n Ireland# str /es and star6at on n England# !a$!er sm and tenementDdens n 8e3 .or/# m sery# sE$alor# gnorance# dest t$t on# the br$tal ty of 6 ce and the nsens b l ty to shame# of des!a r ng beggary# n all the

h$man cess!ools and se3ers e6ery3here, -ere# a se3 ngD3oman fam shes and free<esG there# mothers m$rder the r ch ldren# that those s!ared may l 6e $!on the bread !$rchased 3 th the b$r al allo3ances of the dead star6el ngG and at the ne4t door yo$ng g rls !rost t$te themsel6es for food, Moreo6er# the Fo ce says# th s besotted race s not sat sf ed 3 th see ng ts m$lt t$des s3e!t a3ay by the great e! dem cs 3hose ca$ses are $n/no3n# and of the 5$st ce or 3 sdom of 3h ch the h$man m nd cannot conce 6e, It m$st also be e6er at 3ar, There has not been a moment s nce men d 6 ded nto Tr bes# 3hen all the 3orld 3as at !eace, Al3ays men ha6e been engaged n m$rD der ng each other some3here, Al3ays the arm es ha6e l 6ed by the to l of the h$sbandman# and 3ar has e4ha$sted the reso$rces# 3asted the energ es# and ended the !ros!er ty of 8at ons, 8o3 t loads $nborn !oster ty 3 th cr$sh ng debt# mortgages all estates# and br ngs $!on States the shame and nfamy of d shonest reD !$d at on,

At t mes# the balef$l f res of 3ar l ght $! half a %ont nent at onceG as 3hen all the Thrones $n te to com!el a !eo!le to rece 6e aga n a hated and detestable dynasty# or States deny States the r ght to d ssol6e an r/some $n on and create for themsel6es a se!erate go6ernment, Then aga n the flames fl c/er and d e a3ay# and the f re smo$lders n ts ashes# to brea/ o$t aga n# after a t me# 3 th rene3ed and a more concentrated f$ry, At t mes# the storm# re6ol6 ng# ho3ls o6er small areas onlyG at t mes ts l ghts are seen# l /e the old beaconDf res on the h lls# belt ng the 3hole globe, 8o sea# b$t hears the roar of cannonG no r 6er# b$t r$ns red 3 th bloodG no !la n# b$t sha/es# tram!led by the hoofs of charg ng sE$adronsG no f eld# b$t s fert l <ed by the blood of the deadG and e6ery3here man slays# the 6$lt$re gorges# and the 3olf ho3ls n the ear of the dy ng sold er, 8o c ty s not tort$red by shot and shellG and no !eo!le fa l to enact the horr d blasD !hemy of than/ ng a God of Lo6e for 6 ctor es and carnage, Te De$ ms are st ll s$ng for the E6e of St, Bartholome3 and the

S c l an Fes!ers, Man?s ngen$ ty s rac/ed# and all h s n6ent 6e !o3ers are tas/ed# to fabr cate the nfernal eng nery of destr$cD t on# by 3h ch h$man bod es may be the more e4!ed t o$sly and effect$ally cr$shed# shattered# torn# and mangledG and yet hy!oD cr t cal -$man ty# dr$n/ 3 th blood and drenched 3 th gore# shr e/s to -ea6en at a s ngle m$rder# !er!etrated to grat fy a reD 6enge not more $nchr st an# or to sat sfy a c$! d ty not more gnoble# than those 3h ch are the !rom!t ngs of the De6 l n the so$ls of 8at ons, ;hen 3e ha6e fondly dreamed of 'to! a and the M llenn $m# 3hen 3e ha6e beg$n almost to bel e6e that man s not# after all# a t ger half tamed# and that the smell of blood 3 ll not 3a/e the sa6D age 3 th n h m# 3e are of a s$dden startled from the del$s 6e dream# to f nd the th n mas/ of c 6 l <at on rent n t3a n and thro3n contem!t$o$sly a3ay, ;e l e do3n to slee!# l /e the !easD ant on the la6aDslo!es of Fes$6 $s, The mo$nta n has been so long nert# that 3e bel e6e ts f res e4t ng$ shed, Ro$nd $s hang

the cl$ster ng gra!es# and the green lea6es of the ol 6e tremble n the soft n ghtDa r o6er $s, Abo6e $s sh ne the !eacef$l# !at ent stars, The crash of a ne3 er$!t on 3a/es $s# the roar of the s$bD terranean th$nders# the stabs of the 6olcan c l ghtn ng nto the shro$ded bosom of the s/yG and 3e see# aghast# the tort$red T tan h$rl ng $! ts f res among the !ale stars# ts great tree of smo/e and clo$d# the red torrents !o$r ng do3n ts s des, The roar and the shr e/ ngs of % 6 l ;ar are all aro$nd $s( the land s a !andeD mon $m( man s aga n a Sa6age, The great arm es roll along the r h deo$s 3a6es# and lea6e beh nd them smo/ ng and de!o!$lated deserts, The ! llager s n e6ery ho$se# !l$c/ ng e6en the morsel of bread from the l !s of the star6 ng ch ld, Gray ha rs are dabbled n blood# and nnocent g rlhood shr e/s n 6a n to L$st for mercy, La3s# %o$rts# %onst t$t ons# %hr st an ty# Mercy# P ty# d sa!!ear, God seems to ha6e abd cated# and Moloch to re gn n - s steadG 3h le Press and P$l! t al /e e4$lt at $n 6ersal m$rder# and $rge the e4term nat on of the %onE$ered# by the s3ord and

the flam ng torchG and to !l$nder and m$rder ent tles the h$man beasts of !rey to the than/s of %hr st an Senates, %o mmerc al greed deadens the ner6es of sym!athy of 8at ons# and ma/es them deaf to the demands of honor# the m!$lses of generos ty# the a!!eals of those 3ho s$ffer $nder n5$st ce, ElseD 3here# the $n 6ersal !$rs$ t of 3ealth dethrones God and !ays d 6 ne honors to Mammon and Baal<eb$b, Self shness r$les s$D !reme( to 3 n 3ealth becomes the 3hole b$s ness of l fe, The 6 llan es of legal <ed gam ng and s!ec$lat on become e! dem cG treacery s b$t e6 dence of shre3dnessG off ce becomes the !rey of s$ccessf$l fact onG the %o$ntry# l /e Actaeon# s torn by ts o3n ho$nds# and the 6 lla ns t has caref$lly ed$cated to the r trade# most greed ly !l$nder t# 3hen t s n e4trem s, By 3hat r ght# the Fo ce demands# does a creat$re al3ays engaged n the 3or/ of m$t$al robbery and sla$ghter# and 3ho ma/es h s o3n nterest h s God# cla m to be of a nat$re s$!er or to the sa6age beasts of 3h ch he s the !rototy!eJ

Then the shado3s of a horr ble do$bt fall $!on the so$l that 3o$ld fa n lo6e# tr$st and bel e6eG a dar/ness# of 3h ch th s that s$rro$nded yo$ 3as a symbol, It do$bts the tr$th of Re6elat on# ts o3n s! r t$al ty# the 6ery e4 stence of a benef cent God, It as/s tself f t s not dle to ho!e for any great !rogress of -$man ty to3ard !erfect on# and 3hether# 3hen t ad6ances n one res!ect# t does not retrogress n some other# by 3ay of comD !ensat on( 3hether ad6ance n c 6 l <at on s not ncrease of selfD shness( 3hether freedom does not necessar ly lead to l cense and anarchy( 3hether the dest t$t on and debasement of the masses does not ne6 tably follo3 ncrease of !o!$lat on and commerc al and man$fact$r ng !ros!er ty, It as/s tself 3hether man s not the s!ort of bl nd# merc less "ate( 3hether all !h loso!h es are not del$s ons# and all rel g ons the fantast c creat ons of h$man 6an ty and selfDconce tG and abo6e all# 3hether# 3hen Reason s abandoned as a g$ de# the fa th of B$ddh st and Brahm n has not the same cla ms to so6ere gnty and m!l c t# $nreason ng credence#

as any other, -e as/s h mself 3hether t s not# after all# the e6 dent and !alD !able n5$st ces of th s l fe# the s$ccess and !ros!er ty of the Bad# the calam t es# o!!ress ons# and m ser es of the Good# that are the bases of all bel efs n a f$t$re state of e4 stenceJ Do$bt ng man?s ca!ac ty for ndef n te !rogress here# he do$bts the !oss b l ty of t any3herG and f he does not do$bt 3hether God e4 sts# and s 5$st and benef cent# he at least cannot s lence the constantly rec$rD r ng 3h s!er# that the m ser es and calam t es of men# the r l 6es and deaths# the r !a ns and sorro3s# the r e4term nat on by 3ar and e! dem cs# are !henomena of no h gher d gn ty# s gn f cance# and m!ortance# n the eye of God# than 3hat th ngs of the same nat$re occ$r to other organ sms of matterG and that the f sh of the anc ent seas# destroyed by myr ads to ma/e room for other s!ec es# the contorted sha!es n 3h ch they are fo$nd as foss ls test fy ng to the r agon esG the coral nsects# the an mals and b rds and 6erm n sla n by man# ha6e as m$ch r ght as he to clamor

at the n5$st ce of the d s!ensat ons of God# and to demand an mmortal ty of l fe n a ne3 $n 6erse# as com!ensat on for the r !a ns and s$ffer ngs and $nt mely death n th s 3orld, Th s s not a ! ct$re !a nted by the mag nat on, Many a tho$ghtf$l m nd has so do$bted and des!a red, -o3 many of $s can say that o$r o3n fa th s so 3ell gro$nded and com!lete that 3e ne6er hear those !a nf$l 3h s!er ngs 3 th n the so$lJ Thr ce blessed are they 3ho ne6er do$bt# 3ho r$m nate n !at ent conD tentment l /e the / ne# or do<e $nder the o! ate of a bl nd fa thG on 3hose so$ls ne6er rests that A3f$l Shado3 3h ch s the abD sence of the D 6 ne L ght, To e4!la n to themsel6es the e4 stence of E6 l and S$ffer ng# the Anc ent Pers ans mag ned that there 3ere t3o Pr nc !les or De t es n the 'n 6erse# the one of Good and the other of E6 l# constantly n confl ct 3 th each other n str$ggle for the mastery# and alternately o6ercom ng and o6ercome, O6er both# for the SAGES# 3as the One S$!remeG and for them L ght 3as n the end

to !re6a l o6er Dar/ness# the Good o6er the E6 l# and e6en Ahr D man and h s Demons to !art 3 th the r 3 c/ed and 6 c o$s nat$res and share the $n 6ersal Sal6at on, It d d not occ$r to them that the e4 stence of the E6 l Pr nc !le# by the consent of the Omn !oD tent S$!reme# !resented the same d ff c$lty# and left the e4 stence of E6 l as $ne4!la ned as before, The h$man m nd s al3ays content# f t can remo6e a d ff c$lty a ste! f$rther off, It cannot bel e6e that the 3orld rests on noth ng# b$t s de6o$tly content 3hen ta$ght that t s borne on the bac/ of an mmense ele!hant# 3ho h mself stands on the bac/ of a torto se, G 6en the torto se# "a th s al3ays sat sf edG and t has been a great so$rce of ha!! D ness to m$lt t$des that they co$ld bel e6e n a De6 l 3ho co$ld rel e6e God of the od $m of be ng the A$thor of S n, B$t not to all s "a th s$ff c ent to o6ercome th s great d ff D c$lty, They say# 3 th the S$!!l ant# @LordO I bel e6eO@DDb$t l /e h m they are constra ned to add# @-el! Tho$ my $nbel efO@DDReaD son m$st# for these# coDo!erate and co nc de 3 th "a th# or they

rema n st ll n the dar/ness of do$bt#DDmost m serable of all conD d t ons of the h$man m nd, Those only# 3ho care for noth ng beyond the nterests and !$rD s$ ts of th s l fe# are $n nterested n these great Problems, The an mals# also# do not cons der them, It s the character st c of an mmortal So$l# that t sho$ld see/ to sat sfy tself of ts mmorD tal ty# and to $nderstand th s great en gma# the 'n 6erse, If the -ottentot and the Pa!$an are not tro$bled and tort$red by these do$bts and s!ec$lat ons# they are not# for that# to be regarded as e ther 3 se or fort$nate, The s3 ne# also# are nd fferent to the great r ddles of the 'n 6erse# and are ha!!y n be ng 3holly $nD a3are that t s the 6ast Re6elat on and Man festat on# n T me and S!ace# of a S ngle Tho$ght of the Inf n te God, E4alt and magn fy "a th as 3e 3 ll# and say that t beg ns 3here Reason ends# t m$st# after all# ha6e a fo$ndat on# e ther n Reason# Analogy# the %onsc o$sness# or h$man test mony, The 3orsh !!er of Brahma also has m!l c t "a th n 3hat seems to

$s !al!ably false and abs$rd, - s fa th rests ne ther n Reason# Analogy# or the %onsc o$sness# b$t on the test mony of h s S! r tD $al teachers# and of the -oly Boo/s, The Moslem also bel e6es# on the !os t 6e test mony of the Pro!hetG and the Mormon also can say# @I bel e6e th s# beca$se t s m!oss ble,@ 8o fa th# ho3D e6er abs$rd or degrad ng# has e6er 3anted these fo$ndat ons# test mony# and the boo/s, M racles# !ro6en by $n m!eachable test mony ha6e been $sed as a fo$ndat on for "a th# n e6ery ageG and the modern m racles are better a$thent cated# a h$ndred t mes# than the anc ent ones, So that# after all# "a th m$st flo3 o$t from some so$rce 3 th n $s# 3hen the e6 dence of that 3h ch 3e are to bel e6e s not !reD sented to o$r senses# or t 3 ll n no case be the ass$rance of the tr$th of 3hat s bel e6ed, The %onsc o$sness# or nher ng and nnate con6 ct on# or the nst nct d 6 nely m!lanted# of the 6er ty of th ngs# s the h ghest !oss ble e6 dence# f not the only real !roof# of the 6er ty of cerD

ta n th ngs# b$t only of tr$ths of a l m ted class, ;hat 3e call the Reason# that s# o$r m!erfect h$man reason# not only may# b$t ass$redly 3 ll# lead $s a3ay from the Tr$th n regard to th ngs n6 s ble and es!ec ally those of the Inf n te# f 3e determ ne to bel e6e noth ng b$t that 3h ch t can demonstrate or not to bel e6e that 3h ch t can by ts !rocesses of log c !ro6e to be contrad ctory# $nreasonable# or abs$rd, Its ta!eDl ne cannot meas$re the arcs of Inf n ty, "or e4am!le# to the -$man reason# an Inf n te &$st ce and an Inf n te Mercy or Lo6e# n the same Be ng# are ncons stent and m!oss ble, One# t can demonstrate# necessar ly e4cl$des the other, So t can demonstrate that as the %reat on had a beg nn ng# t necessar ly follo3s that an Etern ty had ela!sed before the De ty began to create# d$r ng 3h ch -e 3as nact 6e, ;hen 3e ga<e# of a moonless clear n ght# on the -ea6ens gl tD ter ng 3 th stars# and /no3 that each f 4ed star of all the myr ads s a S$n# and each !robably !ossess ng ts ret n$e of 3orlds# all

!eo!led 3 th l 6 ng be ngs# 3e sens bly feel o$r o3n $n m!ortance n the scale of %reat on# and at once reflect that m$ch of 3hat has n d fferent ages been rel g o$s fa th# co$ld ne6er ha6e been beD l e6ed# f the nat$re# s <e# and d stance of those S$ns# and of o$r o3n S$n# Moon# and Planets# had been /no3n to the Anc ents as they are to $s, To them# all the l ghts of the f rmament 3ere created only to g 6e l ght to the earth# as ts lam!s or candles h$ng abo6e t, The earth 3as s$!!osed to be the only nhab ted !ort on of the 'n D 6erse, The 3orld and the 'n 6erse 3ere synonymo$s terms, Of the mmense s <e and d stance of the hea6enly bod es# men had no conce!t on, The Sages had# n %haldaea# Egy!t# Ind a# %h na# and n Pers a# and therefore the sages al3ays had# an esoter c creed# ta$ght only n the myster es and $n/no3n to the 6$lgar, 8o Sage# n e ther co$ntry# or n Greece or Rome# bel e6ed the !o!$lar creed, To them the Gods and the Idols of the Gods 3ere symbols# and symbols of great and myster o$s tr$ths,

The F$lgar mag ned the attent on of the Gods to be cont n$D ally centred $!on the earth and man, The Grec an D 6 n t es nD hab ted Olym!$s# an ns gn f cant mo$nta n of the Earth, There 3as the %o$rt of He$s# to 3h ch 8e!t$ne came from the Sea# and Pl$to and Perse!hone from the glooms of Tartar$s n the $nD fathomable de!ths of the Earth?s bosom, God came do3n from -ea6en and on S na d ctated la3s for the -ebre3s to - s ser6ant Moses, The Stars 3ere the g$ard ans of mortals 3hose fates and fort$nes 3ere to be read n the r mo6ements# con5$nct ons# and o!!os t ons, The Moon 3as the Br de and S ster of the S$n# at the same d stance abo6e the Earth# and# l /e the S$n# made for the ser6 ce of man/ nd alone, If# 3 th the great telesco!e of Lord Rosse# 3e e4am ne the 6ast neb$lae of -erc$les# Or on# and Andromeda# and f nd them reD sol6able nto Stars more n$mero$s than the sands on the seaD shoreG f 3e reflect that each of these Stars s a S$n# l /e and e6en many t mes larger than o$rs#DDeach# beyond a do$bt# 3 th ts

ret n$e of 3orlds s3arm ng 3 th l feG DD f 3e go f$rther n mag D nat on and endea6or to conce 6e of all the nf n t es of s!ace# f lled 3 th s m lar s$ns and 3orlds# 3e seem at once to shr n/ nto an ncred ble ns gn f cance, The 'n 6erse# 3h ch s the $ttered ;ord of God# s nf n te n e4tent, There s no em!ty s!ace beyond creat on on any s de, The 'n 6erse# 3h ch s the Tho$ght of God !rono$nced# ne6er 3as not# s nce God ne6er 3as nertG nor ;AS# 3 tho$t th n/ ng and creat ng, The forms of creat on change# the s$ns and 3orlds l 6e and d e l /e the lea6es and the nsects# b$t the 'n 6erse tself s nf n te and eternal# beca$se God Is# ;as# and ; ll fore6er Be# and ne6er d d not th n/ and create, Reason s fa n to adm t that a S$!reme Intell gence# nf n tely !o3erf$l and 3 se# m$st ha6e created th s bo$ndless 'n 6erseG b$t t also tells $s that 3e are as $n m!ortant n t as the <oo!hytes and ento<oa# or as the n6 s ble !art cles of an mated l fe that float $!on the a r or s3arm n the 3aterDdro!,

The fo$ndat ons of o$r fa th# rest ng $!on the mag ned nterD est of God n o$r race# an nterest eas ly s$!!osable 3hen man bel e6ed h mself the only ntell gent created be ng# and therefore em nently 3orthy the es!ec al care and 3atchf$l an4 ety of a God 3ho had only th s earth to loo/ after# and ts ho$seD/ee! ng alone to s$!er ntend# and 3ho 3as content to create# n all the nf n te 'n 6erse# only one s ngle be ng# !ossess ng a so$l# and not a mere an mal# are r$dely sha/en as the 'n 6erse broadens and e4!ands for $sG and the dar/ness of do$bt and d str$st settles hea6y $!on So$l, The modes n 3h ch t s ord nar ly endea6ored to sat sfy o$r do$bts# only ncrease them, To demonstrate the necess ty for a ca$se of the creat on# s eE$ally to demonstrate the necess ty of a ca$se for that ca$se, The arg$ment from !lan and des gn only remo6es the d ff c$lty a ste! f$rther off, ;e rest the 3orld on the ele!hant# and the ele!hant on the torto se# and the torto se on DDDnoth ng,

To tell $s that the an mals !ossess nst nct only and that ReaD son belongs to $s alone# n no 3ay tends to sat sfy $s of the rad D cal d fference bet3een $s and them, "or f the mental !henomena e4h b ted by an mals that th n/# dream# remember# arg$e from ca$se to effect# !lan# de6 se# comb ne# and comm$n cate the r tho$ghts to each other# so as to act rat onally n concert#DD f the r lo6e# hate# and re6enge# can be conce 6ed of as res$lts of the organ <at on of matter# l /e color and !erf$me# the resort to the hy!othes s of an mmater al So$l to e4!la n !henomena of the same / nd# only more !erfect# man fested by the h$man be ng# s s$!remely abs$rd, That organ <ed matter can th n/ or e6en feel# at all# s the great nsol$ble mystery, @Inst nct@ s b$t a 3ord 3 tho$t a mean ng# or else t means ns! rat on, It s e ther the an mal tself# or God n the an mal# that th n/s# remembers# and reasonsG and nst nct# accord ng to the common acce!tat on of the term# 3o$ld be the greatest and most 3onderf$l of myster es#D no less a th ng than the d rect# mmed ate# and cont n$al !rom!tD

ngs of the De ty#DDfor the an mals are not mach nes# or a$tomata mo6ed by s!r ngs# and the a!e s b$t a d$mb A$stral an, M$st 3e al3ays rema n n th s dar/ness of $ncerta nty# of do$btJ Is there no mode of esca! ng from the labyr nth e4ce!t by means of a bl nd fa th# 3h ch e4!la ns noth ng# and n many creeds# anc ent and modern# sets Reason at def ance# and leads to the bel ef e ther n a God 3 tho$t a 'n 6erse# a 'n 6erse 3 tho$t a God# or a 'n 6erse 3h ch s tself a God J ;e read n the -ebre3 %hron cles that Schlomoh the 3 se K ng ca$sed to be !laced n front of the entrance to the Tem!le t3o h$ge col$mns of bron<e# one of 3h ch 3as called .AKA.I8 and the other BA-AHG and these 3ords are rendered n o$r 6erD s on Strength and Establ shment, The Masonry of the Bl$e Lodges g 6es no e4!lanat on of these symbol c col$mnsG nor do the -ebre3 Boo/s ad6 se $s that they 3ere symbol c, If not so ntended as symbols# they 3ere s$bseE$ently $nderstood to be s$ch,

B$t as 3e are certa n that e6eryth ng 3 th n the Tem!le 3as symbol c# and that the 3hole str$ct$re 3as ntended to re!resent the 'n 6erse# 3e may reasonably concl$de that the col$mns of the !ort co also had a symbol c s gn f cat on, It 3o$ld be ted o$s to re!eat all the nter!retat ons 3h ch fancy or d$llness has fo$nd for them, The /ey to the r tr$e mean ng s not $nd sco6erable, The !erD fect and eternal d st nct on of the t3o !r m t 6e terms of the creD at 6e syllog sm# n order to atta n to the demonstrat on of the r harmony by the analogy of contrar es# s the second grand !r nD c !le of that occ$lt !h loso!hy 6e led $nder the name @Kabalah#@ and nd cated by all the sacred h erogly!hs of the Anc ent Sanct$D ar es# and of the r tes# so l ttle $nderstood by the mass of the In t ates# of the Anc ent and Modern "reeDMasonry, The Sohar declares that e6eryth ng n the 'n 6erse !roceeds by the mystery of @the Balance#@ that s# of EE$ l br $m, Of the Se!h roth# or D 6 ne Emanat ons# ; sdom and 'nderstand ng#

Se6er ty and Ben gn ty# or &$st ce and Mercy# and F ctory and Glory# const t$te !a rs, ; sdom# or the Intellect$al Generat 6e Energy# and 'nderD stand ng# or the %a!ac ty to be m!regnated by the Act 6e Energy and !rod$ce ntellect on or tho$ght# are re!resented symbol cally n the Kabalah as male and female, So also are &$st ce and Mercy, Strength s the ntellect$al Energy or Act 6 tyG EstabD l shment or Stab l ty s the ntellect$al %a!ac ty to !rod$ce# a T!ass 6 ty, They are the PO;ER of generat on and the %APA%IT. of !rod$ct on, By ;ISDOM# t s sa d# God creates# and by '8D DERSTA8DI8G establ shes, These are the t3o %ol$mns of the Tem!le# contrar es l /e the Man and ;oman# l /e Reason and "a th# Omn !otence and L berty# Inf n te &$st ce and Inf n te Mercy# Absol$te Po3er or Strength to do e6en 3hat s most $nD 5$st and $n3 se# and Absol$te ; sdom that ma/es t m!oss ble to do tG R ght and D$ty, They 3ere the col$mns of the ntellect$al and moral 3orld# the mon$mental h erogly!h of the ant nomy

necessary to the grand la3 of creat on, There m$st be for e6ery "orce a Res stance to s$!!ort t# to e6ery l ght a shado3# for e6ery Royalty a Realm to go6ern# for e6ery aff rmat 6e a negat 6e, "or the Kabal sts# L ght re!resents the Act 6e Pr nc !le# and Dar/ness or Shado3 s analogo$s to the Pass 6e Pr nc !le, ThereD fore t 3as that they made of the S$n and Moon emblems of the t3o D 6 ne Se4es and the t3o creat 6e forcesG therefore# that they ascr bed to 3oman the Tem!tat on and the f rst s n# and then the f rst labor# the maternal labor of the redem!t on# beca$se t s fro m the bosom of the dar/ness tself that 3e see the L ght born aga n, The Fo d attracts the "$llG and so t s that the abyss of !o6erty and m sery# the Seem ng E6 l# the seem ng em!ty nothD ngness of l fe# the tem!orary rebell on of the creat$res# eternally attracts the o6erflo3 ng ocean of be ng# of r ches# of ! ty# and of lo6e, %hr st com!leted the Atonement on the %ross by descendD ng nto -ell,

&$st ce and Mercy are contrar es, If each be nf n te# the r coD e4 stence seems m!oss ble# and be ng eE$al# one cannot e6en ann h late the other and re gn alone, The myster es of the D 6 ne 8at$re are beyond o$r f n te com!rehens onG b$t so ndeed are the myster es of o$r o3n f n te nat$reG and t s certa n that n all nat$re harmony and mo6ement are the res$lt of the eE$ l br $m of o!!os ng or contrary forces, The analogy of contrar es g 6es the sol$t on of the most nterD est ng and most d ff c$lt !roblem of modern !h loso!hy#DDthe def n te and !ermanent accord of Reason and "a th# of A$thorD ty and L berty of e4am nat on# of Sc ence and Bel ef# of PerfecD t on n God and Im!erfect on n Man, If sc ence or /no3ledge s the S$n# Bel ef s the ManG t s a reflect on of the day n the n ght, "a th s the 6e led Is s# the S$!!lement of Reason# n the shado3s 3h ch !recede or follo3 Reason, It emanates from the Reason# b$t can ne6er confo$nd t nor be confo$nded 3 th t, The encroachments of Reason $!on "a th# or of "a th on Reason# are

ecl !ses of the S$n or MoonG 3hen they occ$r# they ma/e $seless both the So$rce of L ght and ts reflect on# at once, Sc ence !er shes by systems that are noth ng b$t bel efsG and "a th s$cc$mbs to reason ng, "or the t3o %ol$mns of the TemD !le to $!hold the ed f ce# they m$st rema n se!arated and be !arallel to each other, As soon as t s attem!ted by 6 olence to br ng them together# as Samson d d# they are o6ert$rned# and the 3hole ed f ce falls $!on the head of the rash bl nd man or the re6ol$t on st 3hom !ersonal or nat onal resentments ha6e n adD 6ance de6oted to death, -armony s the res$lt of an alternat ng !re!onderance of forces, ;hene6er th s s 3ant ng n go6ernment# go6ernment s a fa l$re# beca$se t s e ther Des!ot sm or Anarchy, All theoretD cal go6ernments# ho3e6er !la$s ble the theory# end n one or the other, Go6ernments that are to end$re are not made n the closet of Loc/e or Shaftesb$ry# or n a %ongress or a %on6ent on, In a Re!$bl c# forces that seem contrar es# that ndeed are contrar es#

alone g 6e mo6ement and l fe, The S!heres are f eld n the r orb ts and made to re6ol6e harmon o$sly and $nerr ngly# by the conc$rrence# 3h ch seems to be the o!!os t on# of t3o contrary forces, If the centr !etal force sho$ld o6ercome the centr f$gal# the eE$ l br $m of forces cease# the r$sh of the S!heres to the central S$n 3o$ld ann h late the system, Instead of consol daD t on# the 3hole 3o$ld be shattered nto fragments, Man s a free agent# tho$gh Omn !otence s abo6e and all aro$nd h m, To be free to do good# he m$st be free to do e6 l, The L ght necess tates the Shado3, A State s free l /e an nd D 6 d$al n any go6ernment 3orthy of the name, The State s less !otent than the De ty# and therefore the freedom of the nd 6 d$al c t <en s cons stent 3 th ts So6ere gnty, These are o!!os tes# b$t not antagon st c, So# n a $n on of States# the freedom of the states s cons stent 3 th the S$!remacy of the 8at on, ;hen e ther obta ns the !ermanent mastery o6er the other# and they cease to be n eE$ l br o# the encroachment cont n$es 3 th a 6eD

loc ty that s accelerated l /e that of a fall ng body# $nt l the feebler s ann h lated# and then# there be ng no res stance to s$!D !ort the stronger# t r$shes nto r$ n, So# 3hen the eE$ !o se of Reason and "a th# n the nd 6 d$al or the 8at on# and the alternat ng !re!onderance cease# the res$lt s# accord ng as one or the other s !ermanent 6 ctor# Athe sm or S$!erst t on# d sbel ef or bl nd cred$l tyG and the Pr ests e ther of 'nfa th or of "a th become des!ot c, @;homsoe6er God lo6eth# h m he chasteneth#@ s an e4!ress on that form$lates a 3hole dogma, The tr als of l fe are the blessD ngs of l fe# to the nd 6 d$al or the 8at on# f e ther has a So$l that s tr$ly 3orthy of sal6at on, @L ght and dar/ness#@ sa d HOROASTER# @are the 3orld?s eternal 3ays,@ The L ght and the Shado3 are e6ery3here and al3ays n !ro!ort onG the L ght be ng the reason of be ng of the Shado3, It s by tr als only# by the agon es of sorro3 and the shar! d sc !l ne of ad6ers t es# that men and 8at ons atta n n t at on, The agon es of the garden of GethD

semane and those of the %ross on %al6ary !receded the Res$rrecD t on and 3ere the means of Redem!t on, It s 3 th !ros!er ty that God affl cts -$man ty, The Degree of Rose s de6oted to and symbol <es tne f nal tr $m!h of tr$th o6er falsehood# of l berty o6er sla6ery# of l ght o6er dar/ness# of l fe o6er death# and of good o6er e6 l, The great tr$th t nc$lcates s# that not3 thstand ng the e4 stence of E6 l# God s nf n tely 3 se# 5$st# and good( that tho$gh the affa rs of the 3orld !roceed by no r$le of r ght and 3rong /no3n to $s n the narro3ness of o$r 6 e3s# yet all s r ght# for t s the 3or/ of GodG and all e6 ls# all m ser es# all m sfort$nes# are b$t as dro!s n the 6ast c$rrent that s s3ee! ng on3ard# g$ ded by - m# to a great and magn f cent res$lt( that# at the a!!o nted t me# -e 3 ll redeem and regenerate the 3orld# and the Pr nc !le# the Po3er# and the e4 stence of E6 l 3 ll then ceaseG that th s 3 ll be bro$ght abo$t by s$ch means and nstr$ments as -e chooses to em!loyG 3hether by the mer ts of a Redeemer that has already a!!eared#

or a Mess ah that s yet 3a ted for# by an ncarnat on of - mself# or by an ns! red !ro!het# t does not belong to $s as Masons to dec de, Let each 5$dge and bel e6e for h mself, In the mean t me# 3e labor to hasten the com ng of that day, The morals of ant E$ ty# of the la3 of Moses and of %hr st an ty# are o$rs, ;e recogn <e e6ery teacher of Moral ty# e6ery ReformD er# as a brother n th s great 3or/, The Eagle s to $s the symbol of L berty# the %om!asses of EE$al ty# the Pel can of -$man ty,# and o$r order of "ratern ty, Labor ng for these# 3 th "a th# -o!e# and %har ty as o$r armor# 3e 3 ll 3a t 3 th !at ence for the f nal tr $m!h of Good and the com!lete man festat on of the ;ord of God, 8o one Mason has the r ght to meas$re for another# 3 th n the 3alls of a Mason c Tem!le# the degree of 6enerat on 3h ch he shall feel for any Reformer# or the "o$nder of any Rel g on, ;e teach a bel ef n no !art c$lar creed# as 3e teach $nbel ef n none, ;hate6er h gher attr b$tes the "o$nder of the %hr st an "a th

may# n o$r bel ef# ha6e had or not ha6e had# none can deny that -e ta$ght and !ract sed a !$re and ele6ated moral ty# e6en at the r s/ and to the $lt mate loss of - s l fe, -e 3as not only the benefactor of a d s nher ted !eo!le# b$t a model for man/ nd, DeD 6otedly -e lo6ed the ch ldren of Israel, To them -e came# and to them alone -e !reached that Gos!el 3h ch - s d sc !les afterD 3ard carr ed among fore gners, -e 3o$ld fa n ha6e freed the chosen Peo!le from the r s! r t$al bondage of gnorance and degD radat on, As a lo6er of all man/ nd# lay ng do3n - s l fe for the emanc !at on of - s Brethren# -e sho$ld be to all# to %hr st an# to &e3# and to Mahometan# an ob5ect of grat t$de and 6enerat on, The Roman 3orld felt the !angs of a!!roach ng d ssol$t on, Pagan sm# ts Tem!les shattered by Socrates and % cero# had s!o/en ts last 3ord, The God of the -ebre3s 3as $n/no3n beD yond the l m ts of Palest ne, The old rel g ons had fa led to g 6e ha!! ness and !eace to the 3orld, The babbl ng and 3rangl ng !h loso!hers had confo$nded all men?s deas# $nt l they do$bted of

e6eryth ng and had fa th n noth ng( ne ther n God nor n h s goodness and mercy# nor n the 6 rt$e of man# nor n themsel6es, Man/ nd 3as d 6 ded nto t3o great classes#DD the master and the sla6eG the !o3erf$l and the ab5ect# the h gh and the lo3# the tyrants and the mobG and e6en the former 3ere sat ated 3 th the ser6 l ty of the latter# s$n/en by lass t$de and des!a r to the lo3D est de!ths of degradat on, ;hen# lo# a 6o ce# n the ncons derable Roman Pro6 nce of &$dea !rocla ms a ne3 Gos!elDDa ne3 @God?s ;ord#@ to cr$shed# s$ffer ng# bleed ng h$man ty, L berty of Tho$ght# EE$al ty of all men n the eye of God# $n 6ersal "ratern tyO a ne3 doctr ne# a ne3 rel g onG the old Pr m t 6e Tr$th $ttered once aga nO Man s once more ta$ght to loo/ $!3ard to h s God, 8o longer to a God h d n m!enetrable mystery# and nf n tely remote from h$man sym!athy# emerg ng only at nter6als from the dar/ness to sm te and cr$sh h$man ty( b$t a God# good# / nd# benef cent# and merc f$lG a "ather# lo6 ng the creat$res -e has made# 3 th a lo6e

mmeas$rable and e4ha$stlessG ;ho feels for $s# and sym!aD th <es 3 th $s# and sends $s !a n and 3ant and d saster only that they may ser6e to de6elo! n $s the 6 rt$es and e4cellences that bef t $s to l 6e 3 th - m hereafter, &es$s of 8a<areth# the @Son of man#@ s the e4!o$nder of the ne3 La3 of Lo6e, -e calls to - m the h$mble# the !oor# the Para hs of the 3orld, The f rst sentence that -e !rono$nces blesses the 3orld# and anno$nces the ne3 gos!el(@Blessed are they that mo$rn for they shall be comforted,@ -e !o$rs the o l of consolat on and !eace $!on e6ery cr$shed and bleed ng heart, E6ery s$fferer s - s !roselyte, -e shares the r sorro3s# and sy!ath <es 3 th all the r affl ct ons, -e ra ses $! the s nner and the Samar tan 3oman# and teaches them to ho!e for forg 6eness, -e !ardons the 3oman ta/en n ad$ltery, -e selects h s d sc !les not among the Phar sees or the Ph loso!hers# b$t among the lo3 and h$mble# e6en of the f sherD men of Gal lee, -e heals the s c/ and feeds the !oor, -e l 6es

among the dest t$te and the fr endless, @S$ffer l ttle ch ldren#@ -e sa d# @to come $nto meG for of s$ch s the / ngdom of -ea6en O Blessed are the h$mbleDm nded# for the rs s the / ngdom of -ea6enG the mee/# for they shall nher t the EarthG the merc f$l# for they shall obta n mercyG the !$re n heart# for they shall see GodG the !eaceDma/ers# for they shall be called the ch ldren of GodO " rst be reconc led to they brother# and then come and offer thy g ft at the altar, G 6e to h m that as/eth thee# and from h m that 3o$ld borro3 of thee t$rn not a3ayO Lo6e yo$r enem esG bless them that c$rse yo$G do good to them that hate yo$G and !ray for them 3h ch des! tef$lly $se yo$ and !ersec$te yo$O All th ngs 3hatsoe6er ye 3o$ld that men sho$ld do to yo$# do ye also $nto themG for th s s the la3 and the Pro!hetsO -e that ta/eth not h s cross# and follo3eth after Me# s not 3orthy of Me, A ne3 commandment I g 6e $nto yo$# that ye lo6e one another( as I ha6e lo6ed yo$# that ye also lo6e one another( by th s shall all /no3 that ye are My d sc !les, Greater lo6e hath no man than

th s# that a man lay do3n h s l fe for h s fr end,@ The Gos!el of Lo6e -e sealed 3 th - s l fe, The cr$elty of the &e3 sh Pr esthood# the gnorant feroc ty of the mob# and the Ro man nd fference to barbar an blood# na led - m to the cross# and -e e4! red $tter ng bless ngs $!on h$man ty, Dy ng th$s# -e beE$eathed - s teach ngs to man as an nesD t mable nher tance, Per6erted and corr$!ted# they ha6e ser6ed as a bas s for many creeds# and been e6en made the 3arrant for nD tolerance and !ersec$t on, ;e here teach them n the r !$r ty, They are o$r MasonryG for to them good men of all creeds can s$bscr be, That God s good and merc f$l# and lo6es and sym!ath <es 3 th the creat$res -e has madeG that - s f nger s 6 s ble n all the mo6ements of the moral# ntellect$al# and mater al $n 6erseG that 3e are - s ch ldren# the ob5ects of - s !aternal care and regardG that all men are o$r brothers# 3hose 3ants 3e are to s$!!ly# the r errors to !ardon# the r o! n ons to tolerate# the r n5$r es to forD

g 6eG that man has an mmortal so$l# a free 3 ll# a r ght to freeD dom of tho$ght and act onG that all men are eE$al n God?s s ghtG that 3e best ser6e God by h$m l ty# mee/ness# gentleness# / ndD ness# and the other 6 rt$es 3h ch the lo3ly can !ract se as 3ell as the loftyG th s s @the ne3 La3#@ the @;ORD#@ for 3h ch the 3orld had 3a ted and ! ned so longG and e6ery tr$e Kn ght of the Rose X 3 ll re6ere the memory of - m 3ho ta$ght t# and loo/ nd$lgently e6en on those 3ho ass gn to - m a character far abo6e h s o3n conce!t ons or bel ef# e6en to the e4tent of deemD ng - m D 6 ne, -ear Ph lo# the Gree/ &e3, @The contem!lat 6e so$l# $nD eE$ally g$ ded# somet mes to3ard ab$ndance and somet mes toD 3ard barrenness# tho$gh e6er ad6anc ng# s ll$m nated by the !r m t 6e deas# the rays that emanate from the D 6 ne Intell D gence# 3hene6er t ascends to3ard the S$bl me Treas$res, ;hen# on the contrary# t descends# and s barren# t falls 3 th n the doD ma n of those Intell gences that are termed Angels,,, for# 3hen

the so$l s de!r 6ed of the l ght of God# 3h ch leads t to the /no3ledge of th ngs# t no longer en5oys more than a feeble and secondary l ght# 3h ch g 6es t# not the $nderstand ng of th ngs# b$t that of 3ords only# as n th s baser 3orld, @ @, , Let the narro3Dso$led 3 thdra3# ha6 ng the r ears sealed $!O ;e comm$n cate the d 6 ne myster es to those only 3ho ha6e rece 6ed the sacred n t at on# to those 3ho !ract se tr$e ! ety# and 3ho are not ensla6ed by the em!ty !om! of 3ords# or the doctr nes of the !agans, ,@ @,,, O# ye In t ates# ye 3hose ears are !$r f ed# rece 6e th s n yo$r so$ls# as a mystery ne6er to be lostO Re6eal t to no Profane O Kee! and conta n t 3 th n yo$rsel6es# as an ncorr$!t ble treasD $re# not l /e gold or s l6er# b$t more !rec o$s than e6eryth ng bes desG for t s the /no3ledge of the Great %a$se# of 8at$re# and of that 3h ch s born of both, And f yo$ meet an In t ate# beD s ege h m 3 th yo$r !rayers# that he conceal from yo$ no ne3 myster es that he may /no3# and rest not $nt l yo$ ha6e obta ned

themO "or me# altho$gh I 3as n t ated n the Great Myster es by Moses# the "r end of God# yet# ha6 ng seen &erem ah# I recogD n <ed h m not only as an In t ate# b$t as a - ero!hantG and I folD lo3 h s school,@ ;e# l /e h m# recogn <e all In t ates as o$r Brothers, ;e beD long to no one creed or school, In all rel g ons there s a bas s of Tr$thG n all there s !$re Moral ty, All that teach the card nal tenets of Masonry 3e res!ectG all teachers and reformers of manD / nd 3e adm re and re6ere, Masonry also has her m ss on to !erform, ; th her trad t ons reach ng bac/ to the earl est t mes# and her symbols dat ng f$rther bac/ than e6en the mon$mental h story of Egy!t e4tends# she nD 6 tes all men of all rel g ons to enl st $nder her banners and to 3ar aga nst e6 l# gnorance and 3rong, .o$ are no3 her /n ght# and to her ser6 ce yo$r s3ord s consecrated, May yo$ !ro6e a 3orthy sold er n a 3orthy ca$seO

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), )1C D Pont ff 02C D Master of the Symbol c Lodge 0)C D 8oach te or Pr$ss an Kn ght 00C D Kn ght of the Royal A4e or Pr nce of L ban$s 09C D %h ef of the Tabernacle

PIP, GRA8D PO8TI"",

The tr$e Mason labors for the benef t of those 3ho are to come after h m# and for the ad6ancement and m!ro6ement of h s race, That s a !oor amb t on 3h ch contents tself 3 th n the l m ts of a s ngle l fe, All men 3ho deser6e to l 6e# des re to s$r6 6e the r f$nerals# and to l 6e after3ard n the good that they ha6e done

man/ nd# rather than n the fad ng characters 3r tten n men?s memor es, Most men des re to lea6e some 3or/ beh nd them that may o$tlast the r o3n day and br ef generat on, That s an nD st nct 6e m!$lse# g 6en by God# and often fo$nd n the r$dest h$man heartG the s$rest !roof of the so$l?s mmortal ty# and of the f$ndamental d fference bet3een man and the 3 sest br$tes, To !lant the trees that# after 3e are dead# shall shelter o$r ch lD dren# s as nat$ral as to lo6e the shade of those o$r fathers !lanted, The r$dest $nlettered h$sbandman# !a nf$lly consc o$s of h s o3n nfer or ty# the !oorest 3 do3ed mother# g 6 ng her l feDblood to those 3ho !ay only for the 3or/ of her needle# 3 ll to l and st nt themsel6es to ed$cate the r ch ld# that he may ta/e a h gher staD t on n the 3orld than theyGDDand of s$ch are the 3orld?s greatest benefactors, In h s nfl$ences that s$r6 6e h m# man becomes mmortal# beD fore the general res$rrect on, The S!artan mother# 3ho# g 6 ng her son h s sh eld# sa d# @;IT- IT# OR 'PO8 ITO@ after3ard shared

the go6ernment of Lacedaemon 3 th the leg slat on of Lyc$rg$sG for she too made a la3# that l 6ed after herG and she ns! red the S!artan sold ery that after3ard demol shed the 3alls of Athens# and a ded Ale4ander to conE$er the Or ent, The 3 do3 3ho ga6e Mar on the f ery arro3s to b$rn her o3n ho$se# that t m ght no longer shelter the enem es of her nfant co$ntry# the ho$se 3here she had la n $!on her h$sband?s bosom# and 3here her ch ldren had been born# leg slated more effect$ally for her State than Loc/e or Shaftesb$ry# or than many a Leg slat$re has done# s nce that State 3on ts freedom, It 3as of sl ght m!ortance to the K ngs of Egy!t and the Monarchs of Assyr a and Phcen c a# that the son of a &e3 sh 3oman# a fo$ndl ng# ado!ted by the da$ghter of Sesostr s Ramses# sle3 an Egy!t an that o!!ressed a -ebre3 sla6e# and fled nto the desert# to rema n there forty years, B$t Moses# 3ho m ght otherD 3 se ha6e become Regent of Lo3er Egy!t# /no3n to $s only by a tablet on a tomb or mon$ment# became the del 6erer of the &e3s#

and led them forth from Egy!t to the front ers of Palest ne# and made for them a la3# o$t of 3h ch gre3 the %hr st an fa thG and so has sha!ed the dest n es of the 3orld, -e and the old Roman la3yers# 3 th Alfred of England# the Sa4on Thanes and 8orman Barons# the old 5$dges and chancellors# and the ma/ers of the canons# lost n the m sts and shado3s of the Past#DDthese are o$r leg slatorsG and 3e obey the la3s that they enacted, 8a!oleon d ed $!on the barren roc/ of h s e4 le, - s bones# borne to "rance by the son of a K ng# rest n the -o! tal des InD 6al des# n the great c ty on the Se ne, - s Tho$ghts st ll go6ern "rance, -e# and not the Peo!le# dethroned the Bo$rbon# and dro6e the last K ng of the -o$se of Orleans nto e4 le, -e# n h s coff n# and not the Peo!le# 6oted the cro3n to the Th rd 8a!oD leonG and he# and not the Generals of "rance and England# led the r $n ted forces aga nst the gr m 8orthern Des!ot sm, Mahomet anno$nced to the Arab an dolaters the ne3 creed# @There s b$t one God# and Mahomet# l /e Moses and %hr st# s

- s A!ostle,@ "or many years $na ded# then 3 th the hel! of h s fam ly and a fe3 fr ends# then 3 th many d sc !les# and last of all 3 th an army# he ta$ght and !reached the Koran, The rel g on of the 3 ld Arab an enth$s ast con6ert ng the f ery Tr bes of the Great Desert# s!read o6er As a# b$ lt $! the Saracen c dynast es# conE$ered Pers a and Ind a# the Gree/ Em! re# 8orthern Afr ca# and S!a n# and dashed the s$rges of ts f erce sold ery aga nst the battlements of 8orthern %hr stendom, The la3 of Mahomet st ll go6erns a fo$rth of the h$man raceG and T$r/ and Arab# Moor and Pers an and - nd$# st ll obey the Pro!het# and !ray 3 th the r faces t$rned to3ard MeccaG and he# and not the l 6 ng# r$les and re gns n the fa rest !ort ons of the Or ent, %onf$c $s st ll enacts the la3 for %h naG and the tho$ghts and deas of Peter the Great go6ern R$ss a, Plato and the other great Sages of Ant E$ ty st ll re gn as the K ngs of Ph loso!hy# and ha6e dom n on o6er the h$man ntellect, The great Statesmen of the !ast st ll !res de n the %o$nc ls of 8at ons, B$r/e st ll

l ngers n the -o$se of %ommonsG and Berryer?s sonoro$s tones 3 ll long r ng n the Leg slat 6e %hambers of "rance, The nD fl$ences of ;ebster and %alho$n# confl ct ng# rent as$nder the Amer can States# and the doctr ne of each s the la3 and the oracle s!ea/ ng from the -oly of -ol es for h s o3n State and all consoc ated 3 th t( a fa th !reached and !rocla med by each at the cannon?s mo$th and consecrated by r 6ers of blood, It has been 3ell sa d# that 3hen Tamerlane had b$ lded h s !yrD am d of f fty tho$sand h$man s/$lls# and 3heeled a3ay 3 th h s 6ast arm es from the gates of Damasc$s# to f nd ne3 conE$ests# and b$ ld other !yram ds# a l ttle boy 3as !lay ng n the streets of Ment<# son of a !oor art san# 3hose a!!arent m!ortance n the scale of be ngs 3as# com!ared ; th that of Tamerlane# as that of a gra n of sand to the g ant b$l/ of the earthG b$t Tamerlane and all h s shaggy leg ons# that s3e!t o6er the East l /e a h$rr D cane# ha6e !assed a3ay# and become shado3sG 3h le !r nt ng# the 3onderf$l n6ent on of &ohn "a$st# the boy of Ment<# has e4erted

a greater nfl$ence on man?s dest n es and o6ert$rned more thrones and dynast es than all the 6 ctor es of all the bloodDsta ned conD E$erors from 8 mrod to 8a!oleon, Long ages ago# the Tem!le b$ lt by Solomon and o$r Anc ent Brethren san/ nto r$ n# 3hen the Assyr an Arm es sac/ed &er$D salem, The -oly % ty s a mass of ho6els co3er ng $nder the dom n on of the %rescentG and the -oly Land s a desert, The K ngs of Egy!t and Assyr a# 3ho 3ere contem!orar es of SoloD mon# are forgotten# and the r h stor es mere fables, The Anc ent Or ent s a shattered 3rec/# bleach ng on the shores of T me, The ;olf and the &ac/al ho3l among the r$ ns of Thebes and of Tyre# and the sc$l!t$red mages of the Tem!les and Palaces of Babylon and 8 ne6eh are d$g from the r r$ ns and carr ed nto strange lands, B$t the E$ et and !eacef$l Order# of 3h ch the Son of a !oor Phcen c an ; do3 3as one of the Grand Masters# 3 th the K ngs of Israel and Tyre# has cont n$ed to ncrease n stat$re and nfl$ence# defy ng the angry 3a6es of t me and the

storms of !ersec$t on, Age has not 3ea/ened ts 3 de fo$ndaD t ons# nor shattered ts col$mns# nor marred the bea$ty of ts harD mon o$s !ro!ort ons, ;here r$de barbar ans# n the t me of SoloD mon# !eo!led nhos! table ho3l ng 3 ldernesses# n "rance and Br ta n# and n that 8e3 ;orld# not /no3n to &e3 or Gent le# $nt l the glor es of the Or ent had faded# that Order has b$ lded ne3 Tem!les# and teaches to ts m ll ons of In t ates those lessons of !eace# goodD3 ll# and tolerat on# of rel ance on God and conf D dence n man# 3h ch t learned 3hen -ebre3 and G blem te 3or/ed s de by s de on the slo!es of Lebanon# and the Ser6ant of &eho6ah and the Phoen c an ;orsh !!er of Bel sat 3 th the h$mD ble art san n %o$nc l at &er$salem, It s the Dead that go6ern, The L 6 ng only obey, And f the So$l sees# after death# 3hat !asses on th s earth# and 3atches o6er the 3elfare of those t lo6es# then m$st ts greatest ha!! D ness cons st n see ng the c$rrent of ts benef cent nfl$ences 3 den ng o$t from age to age# as r 6$lets 3 den nto r 6ers# and

a d ng to sha!e the dest n es of nd 6 d$als# fam l es# States# the ;orldG and ts b tterest !$n shment# n see ng ts e6 l nfl$ences ca$s ng m sch ef and m sery# and c$rs ng and affl ct ng men# long after the frame t d3elt n has become d$st# and 3hen both name and memory are forgotten, ;e /no3 not 3ho among the Dead control o$r dest n es, The $n 6ersal h$man race s l n/ed and bo$nd together by those nfl$D ences and sym!ath es# 3h ch n the tr$est sense do ma/e men?s fates, -$man ty s the $n t# of 3h ch the man s b$t a fract on, ;hat other men n the Past ha6e done# sa d# tho$ght# ma/es the great ron net3or/ of c rc$mstance that en6 rons and controls $s all, ;e ta/e o$r fa th on tr$st, ;e th n/ and bel e6e as the Old Lords of Tho$ght command $sG and Reason s !o3erless before A$thor ty, ;e 3o$ld ma/e or ann$l a !art c$lar contractG b$t the Tho$ghts of the dead &$dges of England# l 6 ng 3hen the r ashes ha6e been cold for cent$r es# stand bet3een $s and that 3h ch 3e

3o$ld do# and $tterly forb d t, ;e 3o$ld settle o$r estate n a !art c$lar 3ayG b$t the !roh b t on of the Engl sh Parl ament# ts $ttered Tho$ght 3hen the f rst or second Ed3ard re gned# comes echo ng do3n the long a6en$es of t me# and tells $s 3e shall not e4erc se the !o3er of d s!os t on as 3e 3 sh, ;e 3o$ld ga n a !art c$lar ad6antage of anotherG and the tho$ght of the old Roman la3yer 3ho d ed before &$st n an# or that of Rome?s great orator % cero# ann h lates the act# or ma/es the ntent on nD effect$al, Th s act# Moses forb dsGthat# Alfred, ;e 3o$ld sell o$r landG b$t certa n mar/s on a !er shable !a!er tell $s that o$r father or remote ancestor ordered other3 seG and the arm of the dead# emerg ng from the gra6e# 3 th !erem!tory gest$re !roh b ts the al enat on, Abo$t to s n or err# the tho$ght or 3 sh of o$r dead mother# told $s 3hen 3e 3ere ch ldren# by 3ords that d ed $!on the a r n the $tterance# and many a long year 3ere forgotD ten# flashes on o$r memory# and holds $s bac/ 3 th a !o3er that s res stless,

Th$s 3e obey the deadG and th$s shall the l 6 ng# 3hen 3e are dead# for 3eal or 3oe# obey $s, The Tho$ghts of the Past are the La3s of the Present and the "$t$re, That 3h ch 3e say and do# f ts effects last not beyond o$r l 6es# s $n m!ortant, That 3h ch shall l 6e 3hen 3e are dead# as !art of the great body of la3 enacted by the dead# s the only act 3orth do ng# the only Tho$ght 3orth s!ea/ ng, The des re to do someth ng that shall benef t the 3orld# 3hen ne ther !ra se nor obloE$y 3 ll reach $s 3here 3e slee! so$ndly n the gra6e# s the noblest amb t on enD terta ned by man, It s the amb t on of a tr$e and gen$ ne Mason, Kno3 ng the slo3 !rocesses by 3h ch the De ty br ngs abo$t great res$lts# he does not e4!ect to rea! as 3ell as so3# n a s ngle l fet me, It s the nfle4 ble fate and noblest dest ny# 3 th rare e4ce!t ons# of the great and good# to 3or/# and let others rea! the har6est of the r labors, -e 3ho does good# only to be re!a d n / nd# or n than/s and grat t$de# or n re!$tat on and the 3orld?s !ra se# s l /e h m

3ho loans h s money# that he may# after certa n months# rece 6e t bac/ 3 th nterest, To be re!a d for em nent ser6 ces 3 th slanD der# obloE$y# or r d c$le# or at best 3 th st$! d nd fference or cold ngrat t$de# as t s common# so t s no m sfort$ne# e4ce!t to those 3ho lac/ the 3 t to see or sense to a!!rec ate the ser6 ce# or the nob l ty of so$l to than/ and re3ard 3 th e$logy# the benefactor of h s / nd, - s nfl$ences l 6e# and the great "$t$re 3 ll obeyG 3hether t recogn <e or d so3n the la3g 6er, M lt ades 3as fort$nate that he 3as e4 ledG and Ar st des that he 3as ostrac <ed# beca$se men 3ear ed of hear ng h m called @The &$st,@ 8ot the Redeemer 3as $nfort$nateG b$t those only 3ho re!a d - m for the nest mable g ft -e offered them# and for a l fe !assed n to l ng for the r good# by na l ng - m $!on the cross# as tho$gh -e had been a sla6e or malefactor, The !erseD c$tor d es and rots# and Poster ty $tters h s name 3 th e4ecrat on( b$t h s 6 ct m?s memory he has $n ntent onally made glor o$s and mmortal,

If not for slander and !ersec$t on# the Mason 3ho 3o$ld beneD benef t h s race m$st loo/ for a!athy and cold nd fference n those 3hose good he see/s# n those 3ho o$ght to see/ the good of others, E4ce!t 3hen the sl$gg sh de!ths of the -$man M nd are bro/en $! and tossed as 3 th a storm# 3hen at the a!!o nted t me a great Reformer comes# and a ne3 "a th s!r ngs $! and gro3s 3 th s$!ernat$ral energy# the !rogress of Tr$th s slo3er than the gro3th of oa/sG and he 3ho !lants need not e4!ect to gather, The Redeemer# at - s death# had t3el6e d sc !les# and one betrayed and one deserted and den ed - m, It s eno$gh for $s to /no3 that the fr$ t 3 ll come n ts d$e season, ;hen# or 3ho shall gather t# t does not n the least concern $s to /no3, It s o$r b$s ness to !lant the seed, It s God?s r ght to g 6e the fr$ t to 3hom -e !leasesG and f not to $s# then s o$r act on by so m$ch the more noble, To so3# that others may rea!G to 3or/ and !lant for those 3ho are to occ$!y the earth 3hen 3e are deadG to !ro5ect o$r nfl$D

ences far nto the f$t$re# and l 6e beyond o$r t meG to r$le as the K ngs of Tho$ght# o6er men 3ho are yet $nbornG to bless 3 th the glor o$s g fts of Tr$th and L ght and L berty those 3ho 3 ll ne ther /no3 the name of the g 6er# nor care n 3hat gra6e h s $nregarded ashes re!ose# s the tr$e off ce of a Mason and the !ro$dest dest ny of a man, All the great and benef cent o!erat ons of 8at$re are !rod$ced by slo3 and often m!erce!t ble degrees, The 3or/ of destr$ct on and de6astat on only s 6 olent and ra! d, The Folcano and the EarthE$a/e# the Tornado and the A6alanche# lea! s$ddenly nto f$ll l fe and fearf$l energy# and sm te 3 th an $ne4!ected blo3, Fes$6 $s b$r ed Pom!e and -erc$lane$m n a n ghtG and L sD

bon fell !rostrate before God n a breath# 3hen the earth roc/ed and sh$dderedG the Al! ne 6 llage 6an shes and s erased at one bo$nd of the a6alancheGand the anc ent forests fall l /e grass beD fore the mo3er# 3hen the tornado lea!s $!on them, Pest lence slays ts tho$sands n a dayG and the storm n a n ght stre3s the

sand 3 th shattered na6 es, The Go$rd of the Pro!het &onah gre3 $!# and 3as 3 thered# n a n ght, B$t many years ago# before the 8orman %onE$eror stam!ed h s ma led foot on the nec/ of !rostrate Sa4on England# some 3ander ng barbar an# of the cont nent then $n/no3n to the 3orld# n mere dleness# 3 th hand or foot# co6ered an acorn 3 th a l ttle earth# and !assed on regardless# on h s 5o$rney to the d m Past, -e d ed and 3as forgottenG b$t the acorn lay there st ll# the m ghty force 3 th n t act ng n the dar/ness, A tender shoot stole gently $!G and fed by the l ght and a r and freE$ent de3s# !$t forth ts l ttle lea6es# and l 6ed# beca$se the el/ or b$ffalo chanced not to !lace h s foot $!on and cr$sh t, The years marched on3ard# and the shoot became a sa!l ng# and ts green lea6es 3ent and came 3 th S!r ng and A$t$mn, And st ll the years came and !assed a3ay aga n# and ; ll am# the 8orman BasD tard# !arcelled England o$t among h s Barons# and st ll the sa!l ng gre3# and the de3s fed ts lea6es# and the b rds b$ lded the r nests

among ts small l mbs for many generat ons, And st ll the years came and 3ent# and the Ind an h$nter sle!t n the shade of the sa!l ng# and R chard L onD-eart fo$ght at Acre and Ascalon# and &ohn?s bold Barons 3rested from h m the Great %harterG and the sa!l ng had become a treeG and st ll t gre3# and thr$st ts great arms 3 der abroad# and l fted ts head st ll h gher to3ard the -ea6ensG strongDrooted# and def ant of the storms that roared and edd ed thro$gh ts branchesG and 3hen %ol$mb$s !lo$ghed 3 th h s /eels the $n/no3n ;estern Atlant c# and %orte< and P <arro bathed the cross n bloodG and the P$r tan# the -$g$enot# the %a6al er# and the follo3er of Penn so$ght a ref$ge and a restD ngD!lace beyond the ocean# the Great Oa/ st ll stood# f rmDrooted# 6 goro$s# stately# ha$ght ly dom neer ng o6er all the forest# heedD less of all the cent$r es that had h$rr ed !ast s nce the 3 ld Ind an !lanted the l ttle acorn n the forest GDDa sto$t and hale old tree# 3 th 3 de c rc$mference shad ng many a rood of gro$ndG and f t to f$rn sh t mbers for a sh !# to carry the th$nders of the Great

Re!$bl c?s g$ns aro$nd the 3orld, And yet# f one had sat and 3atched t e6ery nstant# from the moment 3hen the feeble shoot f rst !$shed ts 3ay to the l ght $nt l the eagles b$ lt among ts branches# he 3o$ld ne6er ha6e seen the tree or sa!l ng gro3, Many long cent$r es ago# before the %haldaean She!herds 3atched the Stars# or Sh$f$ b$ lt the Pyram ds# one co$ld ha6e sa led n a se6entyDfo$r 3here no3 a tho$sand slands gem the s$rD face of the Ind an OceanG and the dee!Dsea lead 3o$ld no3here ha6e fo$nd any bottom, B$t belo3 these 3a6es 3ere myr ads $!on myr ads# beyond the !o3er of Ar thmet c to n$mber# of m n$te e4 stences# each a !erfect l 6 ng creat$re# made by the AlD m ghty %reator# and fash oned by - m for the 3or/ t had to do There they to led beneath the 3aters# each do ng ts allotted 3or/# and 3holly gnorant of the res$lt 3h ch God ntended, They l 6ed and d ed# ncalc$lable n n$mbers and almost nf n te n the s$ccess on of the r generat ons# each add ng h s m te to the g ganD t c 3or/ that 3ent on there $nder God?s d rect on, Th$s hath -e

chosen to create great %ont nents and IslandsG and st ll the coralD nsects l 6e and 3or/# as 3hen they made the roc/s that $nderl e the 6alley of the Oh o, Th$s God hath chosen to create, ;here no3 s f rm land# once chafed and th$ndered the great !r me6al ocean, "or ages $!on ages the m n$te sh elds of nf n te myr ads of nf$sor a# and the stony stems of encr n tes s$n/ nto ts de!ths# and there# $nder the 6ast !ress$re of ts 3aters# hardened nto l mestone, Ra sed slo3ly from the Profo$nd by - s hand# ts E$arr es $nderl e the so l of all the cont nents# h$ndreds of feet n th c/nessG and 3e# of these rema ns of the co$ntless dead# b$ ld tombs and !alaces# as the Egy!t ans# 3hom 3e call anc ent# b$ lt the r !yram ds, On all the broad la/es and oceans the Great S$n loo/s earnestly and lo6 ngly# and the n6 s ble 6a!ors r se e6er $! to meet h m, 8o eye b$t God?s beholds them as they r se, There# n the $!!er atmos!ere# they are condensed to m st# and gather nto clo$ds# and float and s3 m aro$nd n the amb ent a r, They sa l 3 th ts

c$rrents# and ho6er o6er the ocean# and roll n h$ge masses ro$nd the stony sho$lders of great mo$nta ns, %ondensed st ll more by change of tem!erat$re# they dro! $!on the th rsty earth n gentle sho3ers# or !o$r $!on t n hea6y ra ns# or storm aga nst ts bosom at the angry EE$ noct al, The sho3er# the ra n# and the storm !ass a3ay# the clo$ds 6an sh# and the br ght stars aga n sh ne clearly $!on the glad earth, The ra nDdro!s s n/ nto the gro$nd# and gather n s$bterranean reser6o rs# and r$n n s$bterranean channels# and b$bble $! n s!r ngs and fo$nta nsG and from the mo$nta nDs des and heads of 6alleys the s l6er threads of 3ater beg n the r long 5o$rney to the ocean, 'n t ng# they 3 den nto broo/s and r 6$lets# then nto streams and r 6ersG and# at last# a 8 le# Ganges# a Dan$be# an Ama<on# or a M ss ss !! rolls beD t3een ts ban/s# m ghty# ma5est c# and res stless# creat ng 6ast all$D 6 al 6alleys to be the granar es of the 3orld# !lo$ghed by the tho$sand /eels of commerce and ser6 ng as great h gh3ays# and as the m!assable bo$ndar es of r 6al nat onsG e6er ret$rn ng to

the ocean the dro!s that rose from t n 6a!or# and descended n ra n and sno3 and ha l $!on the le6el !la ns and lofty mo$nD ta nsG and ca$s ng h m to reco l for many a m le before the long r$sh of the r great t de, So t s 3 th the aggregate of -$man endea6or, As the n6 sD ble !art cles of 6a!or comb ne and coalesce to form the m sts and clo$ds that fall n ra n on th rsty cont nents# and bless the great green forests and 3 de grassy !ra r es# the 3a6 ng meado3s and the f elds by 3h ch men l 6eG as the nf n te myr ads of dro!s that the glad earth dr n/s are gathered nto s!r ngs and r 6$lets and r 6ers# to a d n le6ell ng the mo$nta ns and ele6at ng the !la ns# and to feed the large la/es and restless oceansG so all -$man Tho$ght# and S!eech and Act on# all that s done and sa d and tho$ght and s$ffered $!on the Earth comb ne together# and flo3 on3ard n one broad res stless c$rrent to3ard those great res$lts to 3h ch they are determ ned by the 3 ll of God, ;e b$ ld slo3ly and destroy s3 ftly, O$r Anc ent Brethren

3ho b$ lt the Tem!les at &er$salem# 3 th many myr ad blo3s felled# he3ed# and sE$ared the cedars# and E$arr ed the stones# and car6ed the ntr cate ornaments# 3h ch 3ere to be the Tem!les, Stone after stone# by the comb ned effort and long to l of A!!renD t ce# "ello3D%raft# and Master# the 3alls aroseG slo3ly the roof 3as framed and fash onedG and many years ela!sed before# at length# the -o$ses stood f n shed# all f t and ready for the ;orsh ! of God# gorgeo$s n the s$nny s!lendors of the atmos!here of Palest ne, So they 3ere b$ lt, A s ngle mot on of the arm of a r$de# barbaro$s Assyr an S!earman# or dr$n/en Roman or Goth c Leg onary of T t$s# mo6ed by a senseless m!$lse of the br$tal 3 ll# fl$ng n the bla< ng brandG and# 3 th no f$rther h$man agency# a fe3 short ho$rs s$ff ced to cons$me and melt each TemD !le to a smo/ ng mass of blac/ $ns ghtly r$ n, Be !at ent# therefore# my Brother# and 3a tO

The ss$es are 3 th God( To do#

Of r ght belongs to $s,

Therefore fa nt not# nor be 3eary n 3ellDdo ngO Be not d sD co$raged at men?s a!athy# nor d sg$sted 3 th the r foll es# nor t red of the r nd fferenceO %are not for ret$rns and res$ltsGb$t see only 3hat there s to do# and do t# lea6 ng the res$lts to GodO Sold er of the %rossO S3orn Kn ght of &$st ce# Tr$th# and TolD erat onO Good Kn ght and Tr$eObe !at ent and 3or/O The A!ocaly!se# that s$bl me Kabal st c and !ro!het c S$mD mary of all the occ$lt f g$res# d 6 des ts mages nto three Se!D tenar es# after each of 3h ch there s s lence n -ea6en, There are Se6en Seals to be o!ened# that s to say# Se6en myster es to /no3# and Se6en d ff c$lt es to o6ercome# Se6en tr$m!ets to so$nd# and Se6en c$!s to em!ty, The A!ocaly!se s# to those 3ho rece 6e the n neteenth Degree# the A!othes s of that S$bl me "a th 3h ch as! res to God alone# and des! ses all the !om!s and 3or/s of L$c fer, L'%I"ER# the

L ghtDbearerO Strange and myster o$s name to g 6e to the S! r t of Dar/nesssO L$c fer# the Son of the Morn ngO Is t he 3ho bears the L ght# and 3 th ts s!lendors ntolerable bl nds feeble# sens$al or self sh So$ls J Do$bt t notO for trad t ons are f$ll of D 6 ne Re6elat ons and Ins! rat ons( and Ins! rat on s not of one Age nor of one %reed, Plato and Ph lo# also# 3ere ns! red, The A!ocaly!se# ndeed# s a boo/ as obsc$re as the Sohar, It s 3r tten h erogly!h cally 3 th n$mbers and magesG and the A!ostle often a!!eals to the ntell gence of the In t ated, @Let h m 3ho hath /no3ledge# $nderstandO let h m 3ho $nderD stands# calc$late O@ he often says# after an allegory or the ment on of a n$mber, Sa nt &ohn# the fa6or te A!ostle# and the De!os tary of all the Secrets of the Sa6 o$r# therefore d d not 3r te to be $ndertood by the m$lt t$de, The Se!har .e< rah# the Sohar# and the A!ocaly!se are the com!letest embod ments of Occ$lt sm, They conta n more meanD ngs than 3ordsG the r e4!ress ons are f g$rat 6e as !oetry and

e4act as n$mbers, The A!ocaly!se s$ms $!# com!letes# and s$rD !asses all the Sc ence of Abraham and of Solomon, The 6 s ons of E<e/ el# by the r 6er %hebar# and of the ne3 Symbol c Tem!le# are eE$ally myster o$s e4!ress ons# 6e led by f g$res of the en gD mat c dogmas of the Kabalah# and the r symbols are as l ttle $nD derstood by the %ommentators# as those of "ree Masonry, The Se!tenary s the %ro3n of the 8$mbers# beca$se t $n tes the Tr angle of the Idea to the SE$are of the "orm, The more the great - ero!hants 3ere at !a ns to conceal the r absol$te Sc ence# the more they so$ght to add grande$r to and m$lt !ly ts symbols, The h$ge !yram ds# 3 th the r tr ang$lar s des of ele6at on and sE$are bases# re!resented the r Meta!hys cs# fo$nded $!on the /no3ledge of 8at$re, That /no3ledge of 8aD t$re had for ts symbol c /ey the g gant c form of that h$ge S!h n4# 3h ch has hollo3ed ts dee! bed n the sand# 3h le /ee!D ng 3atch at the feet of the Pyram ds, The Se6en grand mon$D ments called the ;onders of the ;orld# 3ere the magn f cent

%o mmentar es on the Se6en l nes that com!osed the Pyram ds# and on the Se6en myst c gates of Thebes, The Se!tenary !h loso!hy of In t at on among the Anc ents may be s$mmed $! th$s( Three Absol$te Pr nc !les 3h ch are b$t One Pr nc !le( fo$r elementary forms 3h ch are b$t oneG all form ng a S ngle ;hole# com!o$nded of the Idea and the "orm, The three Pr nc !les 3ere these( )\, BEI8G IS BEI8G, In Ph loso!hy# dent ty of the Idea and of Be ng or Fer tyG n Rel g on# the f rst Pr nc !le# T-E "AT-ER, 0\, BEI8G IS REAL, In Ph loso!hy# dent ty of Kno3 ng and of Be ng or Real tyG n Rel g on# the LOGOS of Plato# the Dem o$rgos# the ;ORD, 9\, BEI8G IS LOGI%, In Ph loso!hy# dent ty of the Reason and Real tyG n Rel g on# Pro6 dence# the D 6 ne Act on that ma/es real the Good# that

3h ch n %hr st an ty 3e call T-E -oL. SPIRIT, The $n on of all the Se6en colors s the ;h te# the analogo$s symbol of the GOOD( the absence of all s the Blac/# the analogo$s symbol of the EFIL, There are three !r mary colors# Red# .ello3# and Bl$eG and fo$r secondary# Orange# Green# Ind go# and F oD letG and all these God d s!lays to man n the ra nbo3G and they ha6e the r analog es also n the moral and ntellect$al 3orld, The same n$mber# Se6en# cont n$ally rea!!ears n the A!ocaly!se# com!o$nded of three and fo$rG and these n$mbers relate to the last Se6en of the Se!h roth# three ans3er ng to BE8IG8IT. or MER%.# SEFERIT. or &'STI%E# and BEA'T. or -ARMO8.G and fo$r to 8et<ach# -od# .esod# and Mala/oth# FI%TOR.# GLOR.# STABILIT.# and DOMI8ATIO8, The same n$mbers also re!resent the f rst three Se!h roth# KET8ER# K-OKMA-# and BAI8A-# or ; ll# ; sdom# and 'nderstand ng# 3h ch# 3 th DAAT- or IntelD lect on or Tho$ght# are also fo$r# DAAT- not be ng regarded as a Se!h rah# not as the De ty act ng# or as a !otency# energy# or atD

tr b$te# b$t as the D 6 ne Act on, The Se!h roth are commonly f g$red n the Kabalah as const D t$t ng a h$man form# the ADAM# KADMO8 Or MA%RO%OSM, Th$s arranged# the $n 6ersal la3 of EE$ !o se s three t mes e4ern!l D f ed, "rom that of the D 6 ne Intellect$al# Act 6e# Masc$l ne E8ERG.# and the Pass 6e %APA%IT. to !rod$ce Tho$ght# the act on of T-I8KI8G res$lts, "rom that of BE8IG8IT. and SED FERIT.# -ARMO8. flo3sG and from that of FI%TOR. or an Inf D n te o6ercom ng# and GLOR.# 3h ch# be ng Inf n te# 3o$ld seem to forb d the e4 stence of obstacles or o!!os t on# res$lts STABILIT. or PERMA8E8%E# 3h ch s the !erfect DOMI8IO8 Of the Inf n te ;ILL, The last n ne Se!h roth are ncl$ded n# at the same t me that they ha6e flo3ed forth from# the f rst of all# KET-ER# or the %RO;8, Each also# n s$ccess on flo3ed from# and yet st ll reD ma ns ncl$ded n# the one !reced ng t, The ; ll of God ncl$des - s ; sdom# and - s ; sdom s - s ; ll s!ec ally de6elo!ed and

act ng, Th s ; sdom s the LOGOS that creates# m sta/en and !erson f ed by S mon Mag$s and the s$cceed ng Gnost cs, By means of ts $tterance# the letter .OD# t creates the 3orlds# f rst n the D 6 ne Intellect as an Idea# 3h ch n6ested 3 th form beD came the fabr cated ;orld# the 'n 6erse of mater al real ty, .OD and -E# t3o letters of the Ineffable 8ame of the Man fested De ty# re!resent the Male and the "emale# the Act 6e and the Pass 6e n EE$ l br $m# and the FAF com!letes the Tr n ty and the Tr l teral 8ame# the D 6 ne Tr angle# 3h ch 3 th the re!et on of the -e becomes the Tetragrammaton, Th$s the ten Se!h roth conta n all the Sacred 8$mbers# three# f 6e# se6en# and n ne# and the !erfect 8$mber Ten# and corres!ond 3 th the Tetractys of Pythagoras, BEI8G IS BEI8G# Ahayah Asar Ahayah, Th s s the !r nc !le# the @BEGI88I8G,@ In the Beg nn ng 3as# that s to say# IS# ;AS# and ;ILL BE# the ;ORD# that s to say# the REASO8 that S!ea/s,

The ;ord s the reason of bel ef# and n t also s the e4!ress on of the "a th 3h ch ma/es Sc ence a l 6 ng th ng, The ;ord# s the So$rce of Log c, &es$s s the ;ord Incarnate, The accord of the Reason 3 th "a th# of Kno3ledge 3 th Bel ef# of A$thor ty 3 th L berty# has become n modern t mes the 6er table en gma of the S!h n4, It s ;ISDOM that# n the Kabal st c Boo/s of the Pro6erbs and Eccles ast c$s# s the %reat 6e Agent of God, Else3here n the -ebre3 3r t ngs t s Debar Iaha6ah# the ;ord of God, It s by - s $ttered ;ord that God re6eals - mself to $sG alone n the 6 s ble and n6 s ble b$t ntellect$al creat on# b$t n o$r con6 ct ons# consc o$sness# and nst ncts, -ence t s thatO certa n bel efs are $n 6ersal, The con6 ct on of all men that God s good led to a bel ef n a De6 l# the fallen L$c fer or L ghtD bearer# Sha tan the Ad6ersary# Ahr man and T$!hon# as an atD tem!t to e4!la n the e4 stence of E6 l# and ma/e t cons stent 3 th the Inf n te Po3er# ; sdom# and Bene6olence of God,

8oth ng s$r!asses and noth ng eE$als# as a S$mmary of all the doctr nes of the Old ;orld# those br ef 3ords engra6en by -ERMES on a Stone# and /no3n $nder the name of @The Tablet of Emerald(@ the 'n ty of Be ng and the 'n ty of the -armon es# ascend ng and descend ng# the !rogress 6e and !ro!ort onal scale of the ;ordG the mm$table la3 of the EE$ l br $m# and the !ro!ort oned !rogress of the $n 6ersal analog esG the relat on of the Idea to the ;ord# g 6 ng the meas$re of the relat on beD t3een the %reator and the %reated# the necessary mathemat cs of the Inf n te# !ro6ed by the meas$res of a s ngle corner of the " n te GDDall th s s e4!ressed by th s s ngle !ro!os t on of the Great Egy!t an - ero!hant( @;hat s S$!er or s as that 3h ch s Infer or# and 3hat s Belo3 s as that 3h ch s Abo6e# to form the Mar6els of the 'n ty,@

PP, GRA8D MASTER O" ALL S.MBOLI% LODGES,

The tr$e Mason s a !ract cal Ph loso!her# 3ho# $nder rel g o$s emblems# n all ages ado!ted by 3 sdom# b$ lds $!on !lans traced by nat$re and reason the moral ed f ce of /no3ledge, -e o$ght to f nd# n the symmetr cal relat on of all the !arts of th s rat onal ed f ce# the !r nc !le and r$le of all h s d$t es# the so$rce of all h s !leas$res, -e m!ro6es h s moral nat$re# becomes a better man# and f nds n the re$n on of 6 rt$o$s men# assembled 3 th !$re 6 e3s# the means of m$lt !ly ng h s acts of benef cence, Masonry and Ph loso!hy# 3 tho$t be ng one and the same th ng# ha6e the same ob5ect# and !ro!ose to themsel6es the same end# the 3orsh !

of the Grand Arch tect of the 'n 6erse# acE$a ntance and fam l arD ty 3 th the 3onders of nat$re# and the ha!! ness of h$man ty atta ned by the constant !ract ce of all the 6 rt$es, As Grand Master of all Symbol c Lodges# t s yo$r es!ec al d$ty to a d n restor ng Masonry to ts !r m t 6e !$r ty, .o$ ha6e beD come an nstr$ctor, Masonry long 3andered n error, Instead of m!ro6 ng# t degenerated from ts !r m t 6e s m!l c ty# and reD trograded to3ard a system# d storted by st$! d ty and gnorance# 3h ch# $nable to constr$ct a bea$t f$l mach ne# made a com!l D cated one, Less than t3o h$ndred years ago# ts organ <at on 3as s m!le# and altogether moral# ts emblems# allegor es# and ceremoD n es easy to be $nderstood# and the r !$r!ose and ob5ect read ly to be seen, It 3as then conf ned to a 6ery small n$mber of Degrees, Its const t$t ons 3ere l /e those of a Soc ety of Essenes# 3r tten n the f rst cent$ry of o$r era, There co$ld be seen the !r m t 6e %hr st an ty# organ <ed nto Masonry# the school of Pythagoras 3 tho$t ncongr$ t es or abs$rd t esG a Masonry s m!le and s gn f D

cant# n 3h ch t 3as not necessary to tort$re the m nd to d sco6er reasonable nter!retat onsG a Masonry at once rel g o$s and !h loD so!h cal# 3orthy of a good c t <en and an enl ghtened !h lanthroD ! st, Inno6ators and n6entors o6ert$rned that !r m t 6e s m!l c ty, Ignorance engaged n the 3or/ of ma/ ng Degrees# and tr fles and ge3ga3s and !retended myster es# abs$rd or h deo$s# $s$r!ed the !lace of Mason c Tr$th, The ! ct$re of a horr d 6engeance# the !on ard and the bloody head# a!!eared n the !eacef$l Tem!le of Masonry# 3 tho$t s$ff c ent e4!lanat on of the r symbol c mean ng, Oaths o$t of all !ro!ort on 3 th the r ob5ect# shoc/ed the cand D date# and then became r d c$lo$s# and 3ere 3holly d sregarded, Acolytes 3ere e4!osed to tests# and com!elled to !erform acts# 3h ch# f real# 3o$ld ha6e been abom nableG b$t be ng mere ch D meras# 3ere !re!ostero$s# and e4c ted contem!t and la$ghter only, E ght h$ndred Degrees of one / nd and another 3ere n6ented( Inf del ty and e6en &es$ try 3ere ta$ght $nder the mas/ of

Masonry, The r t$als e6en of the res!ectable Degrees# co! ed and m$t lated by gnorant men# became nonsens cal and tr 6 alG and the 3ords so corr$!ted that t has h therto been fo$nd m!oss ble to reco6er many of them at all, %and dates 3ere made to degrade themsel6es# and to s$bm t to ns$lts not tolerable to a man of s! r t and honor, -ence t 3as that# !ract cally# the largest !ort on of the Degrees cla med by the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te# and before t by the R te of Perfect on# fell nto d s$se# 3ere merely comD m$n cated# and the r r t$als became 5e5$ne and ns gn f cant, These R tes resembled those old !alaces and baron al castles# the d fferent !arts of 3h ch# b$ lt at d fferent !er ods remote from one another# $!on !lans and accord ng to tastes that greatly 6ar ed# formed a d scordant and ncongr$o$s 3hole, &$da sm and ch 6alry# s$!erst t on and !h loso!hy# !h lanthro!y and nsane hatred and long ng for 6engeance# a !$re moral ty and $n5$st and llegal re6enge# 3ere fo$nd strangely mated and stand ng hand n

hand 3 th n the Tem!les of Peace and %oncordG and the 3hole system 3as one grotesE$e comm ngl ng of ncongr$o$s th ngs# of contrasts and contrad ct ons# of shoc/ ng and fantast c e4tra6aD gances# of !arts re!$gnant to good taste# and f ne conce!t ons o6erla d and d sf g$red by abs$rd t es engendered by gnorance# fanat c sm# and a senseless myst c sm, An em!ty and ster le !om!# m!oss ble ndeed to be carr ed o$t# and to 3h ch no mean ng 3hate6er 3as attached# 3 th farDfetched e4!lanat ons that 3ere e ther so many st$! d !lat t$des or themD sel6es needed an nter!reterG lofty t tles# arb trar ly ass$med# and to 3h ch the n6entors had not condescended to attach any e4!laD nat on that sho$ld acE$ t them of the folly of ass$m ng tem!oral ran/# !o3er# and t tles of nob l ty# made the 3orld la$gh# and the In t ate feel ashamed, Some of these t tles 3e reta nGb$t they ha6e 3 th $s mean ngs ent rely cons stent 3 th that S! r t of EE$al ty 3h ch s the fo$nD dat on and !erem!tory la3 of ts be ng of all Masonry, The

Kn ght# 3 th $s# s he 3ho de6otes h s hand# h s heart# h s bra n# to the Sc ence of Masonry# and !rofesses h mself the S3orn Sold er of Tr$th( the Pr nce s he 3ho a ms to be %h ef APr nD ce!sB# f rst# leader# among h s eE$als# n 6 rt$e and good deeds( the So6ere gn s he 3ho# one of an order 3hose members are all So6ere gns# s S$!reme only beca$se the la3 and const t$t ons are so# 3h ch he adm n sters# and by 3h ch he# l /e e6ery other brother# s go6erned, The t tles# P$ ssant# Potent# ; se# and FenD erable# nd cate that !o3er of F rt$e# Intell gence# and ; sdom# 3h ch those o$ght to str 6e to atta n 3ho are !laced n h gh off ce by the s$ffrages of the r brethren( and all o$r other t tles and des gnat ons ha6e an esoter c mean ng# cons stent 3 th modesty and eE$al ty# and 3h ch those 3ho rece 6e them sho$ld f$lly $nD derstand, As Master of a Lodge t s yo$r d$ty to nstr$ct yo$r Brethren that they are all so many constant lessons# teach ng the lofty E$al f cat ons 3h ch are reE$ red of those 3ho cla m them# and not merely dle ge3ga3s 3orn n r d c$lo$s m tat on of the

t mes 3hen the 8obles and Pr ests 3ere masters and the !eo!le sla6es( and that# n all tr$e Masonry# the Kn ght# the Pont ff# the Pr nce# and the So6ere gn are b$t the f rst among the r eE$als( and the cordon# the cloth ng# and the 5e3el b$t symbols and emblems of the 6 rt$es reE$ red of all good Masons, The Mason /neels# no longer to !resent h s !et t on for adD m ttance or to rece 6e the ans3er# no longer to a man as h s s$D !er or# 3ho s b$t h s brother# b$t to h s GodGto 3hom he a!!eals for the rect t$de of h s ntent ons# and 3hose a d he as/s to enable h m to /ee! h s 6o3s, 8o one s degraded by bend ng h s /nee to God at the altar# or to rece 6e the honor of Kn ghthood as Bayard and D$ G$escl n /nelt, To /neel for other !$r!oses# Masonry does not reE$ re, God ga6e to man a head to be borne erect# a !ort $!r ght and ma5est c, ;e assemble n o$r Tem!les to cher sh and nc$lcate sent ments that conform to that loft ness of bear ng 3h ch the 5$st and $!r ght man s ent tled to ma nta n# and 3e do not reE$ re those 3ho des re to be adm tted among $s# gnom n D

o$sly to bo3 the head, ;e res!ect man# beca$se 3e res!ect o$rD sel6es that he may conce 6e a lofty dea of h s d gn ty as a h$man be ng free and nde!endent, If modesty s a 6 rt$e# h$m l ty and obseE$ o$sness to man are base( for there s a noble !r de 3h ch s the most real and sol d bas s of 6 rt$e, Man sho$ld h$mble h mD self before the Inf n te GodG b$t not before h s err ng and m!erD fect brother, As Master of a Lodge# yo$ 3 ll therefore be e4ceed ngly caref$l that no %and date# n any Degree# be reE$ red to s$bm t to any degradat on 3hate6erG as has been too m$ch the c$stom n some of the Degrees(and ta/e t as a certa n and nfle4 ble r$le# to 3h ch there s no e4ce!t on# that real Masonry reE$ res of no man anyth ng to 3h ch a Kn ght and Gentleman cannot honorably# and 3 tho$t feel ng o$traged or h$m l ated s$bm t, The S$!reme %o$nc l for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States at length $ndertoo/ the nd s!ensable and longDdeD layed tas/ of re6 s ng and reform ng the 3or/ and r t$als of the

Th rty Degrees $nder ts 5$r sd ct on, Reta n ng the essent als of the Degrees and all the means by 3h ch the members recogn <e one another# t has so$ght o$t and de6elo!ed the lead ng dea of each Degree# re5ected the !$er l t es and abs$rd t es 3 th 3h ch many of them 3ere d sf g$red# and made of them a connected system of moral# rel g o$s# and !h loso!h cal nstr$ct on, Sectar an of no creed# t has yet tho$ght t not m!ro!er to $se the old allegor es# based on occ$rrences deta led n the -ebre3 and %hr st an boo/s# and dra3n from the Anc ent Myster es of Egy!t# Pers a# Greece# Ind a# the Dr$ ds and the Essenes# as 6eh cles to comm$n cate the Great Mason c Tr$thsG as t has $sed the legends of the %r$sades# and the ceremon es of the orders of Kn ghthood, It no longer nc$lcates a cr m nal and 3 c/ed 6engeance, It has not allo3ed Masonry to !lay the assass n( to a6enge the death e ther of - ram# of %harles the )st# or of &aE$es De Molay and the Tem!lars, The Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of MaD sonry has no3 become# 3hat Masonry at f rst 3as meant to be# a

Teacher of Great Tr$ths# ns! red by an $!r ght and enl ghtened reason# a f rm and constant 3 sdom# and an affect onate and l bD eral !h lanthro!y, It s no longer a system# o6er the com!os t on and arrangement of the d fferent !arts of 3h ch# 3ant of reflect on# chance# gnoD rance# and !erha!s mot 6es st ll more gnoble !res dedG a system $ns$ ted to o$r hab ts# o$r manners# o$r deas# or the 3orldD3 de !h lanthro!y and $n 6ersal tolerat on of MasonryG or to bod es small n n$mber# 3hose re6en$es sho$ld be de6oted to the rel ef of the $nfort$nate# and not to em!ty sho3G no longer a heteroD geneo$s aggregate of Degrees# shoc/ ng by ts anachron sms and contrad ct ons# !o3erless to d ssem nate l ght# nformat on# and moral and !h loso!h cal deas, As Master# yo$ 3 ll teach those 3ho are $nder yo$# and to 3hom yo$ 3 ll o3e yo$r off ce# that the decorat ons of many of the DeD grees are to be d s!ensed 3 th# 3hene6er the e4!ense 3o$ld nterD fere 3 th the d$t es of char ty# rel ef# and bene6olenceG and to be

nd$lged n only by 3ealthy bod es that 3 ll thereby do no 3rong to those ent tled to the r ass stance, The essent als of all the DeD grees may be !roc$red at sl ght e4!enseG and t s at the o!t on of e6ery Brother to !roc$re or not to !roc$re# as he !leases# the dress# decorat ons# and 5e3els of any Degree other than the ):th# )*th# 92th# and 90d, ;e teach the tr$th of none of the legends 3e rec te, They are to $s b$t !arables and allegor es# n6ol6 ng and en6elo! ng Mason c nstr$ct onG and 6eh cles of $sef$l and nterest ng nD format on, They re!resent the d fferent !hases of the h$man m nd# ts efforts and str$ggles to com!rehend nat$re# God# the go6ernment of the 'n 6erse# the !erm tted e4 stence of sorro3 and e6 l, To teach $s 3 sdom# and the folly of endea6or ng to e4D !la n to o$rsel6es that 3h ch 3e are not ca!able of $nderstand ng# 3e re!rod$ce the s!ec$lat ons of the Ph loso!hers# the Kabal sts# the Mystagog$es and the Gnost cs, E6ery one be ng at l berty to a!!ly o$r symbols and emblems as he th n/s most cons stent 3 th

tr$th and reason and 3 th h s o3n fa th# 3e g 6e them s$ch an nD ter!retat on only as may be acce!ted by all, O$r Degrees may be conferred n "rance or T$r/ey# at Pe/ n# Is!ahan# Rome# or GeD ne6a# n the c ty of Penn or n %athol c Lo$ s ana# $!on the s$b5ect of an absol$te go6ernment or the c t <en of a "ree State# $!on SecD tar an or The st, To honor the De ty# to regard all men as o$r Brethren# as ch ldren# eE$ally dear to - m# of the S$!reme %reator of the 'n 6erse# and to ma/e h mself $sef$l to soc ety and h mself by h s labor# are ts teach ngs to ts In t ates n all the Degrees, Preacher of L berty# "ratern ty# and EE$al ty# t des res them to be atta ned by ma/ ng men f t to rece 6e them# and by the moral !o3er of an ntell gent and enl ghtened Peo!le, It lays no !lots and cons! rac es, It hatches no !remat$re re6ol$t onsG t enco$rD ages no !eo!le to re6olt aga nst the const t$ted a$thor t esG b$t recogn < ng the great tr$th that freedom follo3s f tness for freeD dom as the corollary follo3s the a4 om# t str 6es to !re!are men to go6ern themsel6es,

;here domest c sla6ery e4 sts# t teaches the master h$man ty and the alle6 at on of the cond t on of h s sla6e# and moderate corD rect on and gentle d sc !l neG as t teaches them to the master of the a!!rent ce( and as t teaches to the em!loyers of other men# n m nes# man$factor es# and 3or/sho!s# cons derat on and h$D man ty for those 3ho de!end $!on the r labor for the r bread# and to 3hom 3ant of em!loyment s star6at on# and o6er3or/ s fe6er# cons$m!t on# and death, As Master of a Lodge# yo$ are to nc$lcate these d$t es on yo$r brethren, Teach the em!loyed to be honest# !$nct$al# and fa thf$l as 3ell as res!ectf$l and obed ent to all !ro!er orders( b$t also teach the em!loyer that e6ery man or 3oman 3ho des res to 3or/# has a r ght to ha6e 3or/ to doG and that they# and those 3ho from s c/ness or feebleness# loss of l mb or of bod ly 6 gor# old age or nfancy# are not able to 3or/# ha6e a r ght to be fed# clothed# and sheltered from the nclement elements( that he comm ts an a3f$l s n aga nst Masonry and n the s ght of God# f he closes h s 3or/D

sho!s or factor es# or ceases to 3or/ h s m nes# 3hen they do not y eld h m 3hat he regards as s$ff c ent !rof t# and so d sm sses h s 3or/men and 3or/3omen to star6eG or 3hen he red$ces the 3ages of man or 3oman to so lo3 a standard that they and the r fam l es cannot be clothed and fed and comfortably ho$sedG or by o6er3or/ m$st g 6e h m the r blood and l fe n e4change for the ! ttance of the r 3ages( and that h s d$ty as a Mason and Brother !erD em!tor ly reE$ res h m to cont n$e to em!loy those 3ho else 3 ll be ! nched 3 th h$nger and cold# or resort to theft and 6 ce( and to !ay them fa r 3ages# tho$gh t may red$ce or ann$l h s !rof ts or e6en eat nto h s ca! talG for God hath b$t loaned h m h s 3ealth# and made h m - s almoner and agent to n6est t, E4ce!t as mere symbols of the moral 6 rt$es and ntellect$al E$al t es# the tools and m!lements of Masonry belong e4cl$s 6ely to the f rst three Degrees, They also# ho3e6er# ser6e to rem nd the Mason 3ho has ad6anced f$rther# that h s ne3 ran/ s based $!on the h$mble labors of the symbol c Degrees# as they are mD

!ro!erly termed# nasm$ch as all the Degrees are symbol c, Th$s the In t ates are ns! red 3 th a 5$st dea of Masonry# toD 3 t# that t s essent ally ;ORKG both teach ng and !ract s ng LABORG and that t s altogether emblemat c, Three / nds of 3or/ are necessary to the !reser6at on and !rotect on of man and soc D ety( man$al labor# s!ec ally belong ng to the three bl$e DegreesG labor n arms# symbol <ed by the Kn ghtly or ch 6alr c DegreesG and ntellect$al labor# belong ng !art c$larly to the Ph loso!h cal Degrees, ;e ha6e !reser6ed and m$lt !l ed s$ch emblems as ha6e a tr$e and !rofo$nd mean ng, ;e re5ect many of the old and senseless e4!lanat ons, ;e ha6e not red$ced Masonry to a cold meta!hyD s cs that e4 les e6eryth ng belong ng to the doma n of the mag naD t on, The gnorant# and those halfD3 se n real ty# b$t o6erD3 se n the r o3n conce t# may assa l o$r symbols 3 th sarcasmsG b$t they are ne6ertheless ngen o$s 6e ls that co6er the Tr$th# res!ectD ed by all 3ho /no3 the means by 3h ch the heart of man s reachD

ed and h s feel ngs enl sted, The Great Moral sts often had reD co$rse to allegor es# n order to nstr$ct men 3 tho$t re!ell ng them, B$t 3e ha6e been caref$l not to allo3 o$r emblems to be too obsc$re# so as to reE$ re farDfetched and forced nter!retaD t ons, In o$r days# and n the enl ghtened land n 3h ch 3e l 6e# 3e do not need to 3ra! o$rsel6es n 6e ls so strange and m!eneD trable# as to !re6ent or h nder nstr$ct on nstead of f$rther ng tG or to nd$ce the s$s! c on that 3e ha6e concealed mean ngs 3h ch 3e comm$n cate only to the most rel able ade!ts# beca$se they are contrary to good order or the 3ellDbe ng of soc ety, The D$t es of the %lass of Instr$ctors# that s# the Masons of the Degrees from the :th to the *th# ncl$s 6e# are# !art c$larly# to !erfect the yo$nger Masons n the 3ords# s gns and to/ens and other 3or/ of the Degrees they ha6e rece 6edG to e4!la n to them the mean ng of the d fferent emblems# and to e4!o$nd the moral nstr$ct on 3h ch they con6ey, And $!on the r re!ort of !roD f c ency alone can the r !$! ls be allo3ed to ad6ance and rece 6e

an ncrease of 3ages, The D rectors of the ;or/# or those of the 1th# l2th# and ))th Degrees are to re!ort to the %ha!ters $!on the reg$lar ty# act 6 ty and !ro!er d rect on of the 3or/ of bod es n the lo3er Degrees# and 3hat s needed to be enacted for the r !ros!er ty and $sef$lD ness, In the Symbol c Lodges# they are !art c$larly charged to st m$late the <eal of the 3or/men# to nd$ce them to engage n ne3 labors and enter!r ses for the good of Masonry# the r co$ntry and man/ nd# and to g 6e them fraternal ad6 ce 3hen they fall short of the r d$tyG or# n cases that reE$ re t# to n6o/e aga nst them the r gor of Mason c la3, The Arch tects# or those of the )0th# )9th# and ):th# sho$ld be selected from none b$t Brothers 3ell nstr$cted n the !reced ng DegreesG <ealo$s# and ca!able of d sco$rs ng $!on that MasonryG ll$strat ng t# and d sc$ss ng the s m!le E$est ons of moral !h lD oso!hy, And one of them# at e6ery comm$n cat on# sho$ld be !reD !ared 3 th a lect$re# comm$n cat ng $sef$l /no3ledge or g 6 ng

good ad6 ce to the Brethren, The Kn ghts# of the )7th and )=th Degrees# 3ear the s3ord, They are bo$nd to !re6ent and re!a r# as far as may be n the r !o3er# all n5$st ce# both n the 3orld and n MasonryG to !rotect the 3ea/ and to br ng o!!ressors to 5$st ce, The r 3or/s and lecD t$res m$st be n th s s! r t, They sho$ld nE$ re 3hether Masonry f$lf lls# as far as t o$ght and can# ts !r nc !al !$r!ose# 3h ch s to s$ccor the $nfort$nate, That t may do so# they sho$ld !reD !are !ro!os t ons to be offered n the Bl$e Lodges calc$lated to atta n that end# to !$t an end to ab$ses# and to !re6ent or correct negl gence, Those n the Lodges 3ho ha6e atta ned the ran/ of Kn ghts# are most f t to be a!!o nted Almoners# and charged to ascerta n and ma/e /no3n 3ho need and are ent tled to the char ty of the Order, In the h gher Degrees those only sho$ld be rece 6ed 3ho ha6e s$ff c ent read ng and nformat on to d sc$ss the great E$est ons of !h loso!hy, "rom them the Orators of the Lodges sho$ld be

selected# as 3ell as those of the %o$nc ls and %ha!ters, They are charged to s$ggest s$ch meas$res as are necessary to ma/e MaD sonry ent rely fa thf$l to the s! r t of ts nst t$t on# both as to ts char table !$r!oses# and the d ff$s on of l ght and /no3ledgeG s$ch as are needed to correct ab$ses that ha6e cre!t n# and ofD fences aga nst the r$les and general s! r t of the OrderG and s$ch as 3 ll tend to ma/e t# as t 3as meant to be# the great Teacher of Man/ nd, As Master of a Lodge# %o$nc l# or %ha!ter# t 3 ll be yo$r d$ty to m!ress $!on the m nds of yo$r Brethren these 6 e3s of the general !lan and se!arate !arts of the Anc ent and Acce!ted ScotD t sh R teG of ts s! r t and des gnG ts harmony and reg$lar tyG of the d$t es of the off cers and membersGand of the !art c$lar lesD sons ntended to be ta$ght by each Degree, Es!ec ally yo$ are not to allo3 any assembly of the body o6er 3h ch yo$ may !res de# to close# 3 tho$t recall ng to the m nds of the Brethren the Mason c 6 rt$es and d$t es 3h ch are re!resented

$!on the Trac ng Board of th s Degree, That s an m!erat 6e d$ty, "orget not that# more than three tho$sand years ago# HOROD ASTER sa d(@Be good# be / nd# be h$mane# and char tableG lo6e yo$r fello3sG console the affl ctedG !ardon those 3ho ha6e done yo$ 3rong,@ 8or that more than t3o tho$sand three h$ndred years ago %O8"'%I'S re!eated# also E$ot ng the lang$age of those 3ho had l 6ed before h mself( @Lo6e thy ne ghbor as thyself( Do not to others 3hat tho$ 3o$ldst not 3 sh sho$ld be done to thyD self( "org 6e n5$r es, "org 6e yo$r enemy# be reconc led to h m# g 6e h m ass stance# n6o/e God n h s behalfO@ Let not the moral ty of yo$r Lodge be nfer or to that of the Pers an or the %h nese Ph loso!her, 'rge $!on yo$r Brethren the teach ng and the $nostentat o$s !ract ce of the moral ty of the Lodge# 3 tho$t regard to t mes# !laces# rel g ons# or !eo!les, 'rge them to lo6e one another# to be de6oted to one another# to be fa thf$l to the co$ntry# the go6ernment# and the la3s( for to

ser6e the co$ntry s to !ay a dear and sacred debt( To res!ect all forms of 3orsh !# to tolerate all !ol t cal and rel g o$s o! n onsG not to blame# and st ll less to condemn the rel g on of others( not to see/ to ma/e con6ertsG b$t to be content f they ha6e the rel g on of SocratesG a 6enerat on for the %reator# the rel g on of good 3or/s# and gratef$l ac/no3ledgment of God?s bless ngs( To fratern <e 3 th all menG to ass st all 3ho are $nfort$nateG and to cheerf$lly !ost!one the r o3n nterests to that of the Order( To ma/e t the constant r$le of the r l 6es# to th n/ 3ell# to s!ea/ 3ell# and to act 3ell( To !lace the sage abo6e the sold er# the noble# or the !r nce( and ta/e the 3 se and good as the r models( To see that the r !rofess ons and !ract ce# the r teach ngs and cond$ct# do al3ays agree( To ma/e th s also the r motto( Do that 3h ch tho$ o$ghtest to doG let the res$lt be 3hat t 3 ll,

S$ch# my Brother# are some of the d$t es of that off ce 3h ch yo$ ha6e so$ght to be E$al f ed to e4erc se, May yo$ !erform them 3ellG and n so do ng ga n honor for yo$rself# and ad6ance the great ca$se of Masonry# -$man ty# and Progress,

PPI, 8OA%-ITE# OR PR'SSIA8 K8IG-T,

.o$ are es!ec ally charged n th s Degree to be modest and h$mble# and not 6a nDglor o$s nor f lled 3 th selfDconce t, Be not 3 ser n yo$r o3n o! n on than the De ty# nor f nd fa$lt 3 th - s 3or/s# nor endea6or to m!ro6e $!on 3hat -e has done, Be

modest also n yo$r nterco$rse 3 th yo$r fello3s# and slo3 to enterta n e6 l tho$ghts of them# and rel$ctant to ascr be to them e6 l ntent ons, A tho$sand !resses# flood ng the co$ntry 3 th the r e6anescent lea6es# are b$s ly and ncessantly engaged n mal gn ng the mot 6es and cond$ct of men and !art es# and n ma/ ng one man th n/ 3orse of anotherG 3h le# alas# scarcely one s fo$nd that e6er# e6en acc dentally# labors to ma/e man th n/ better of h s fello3, Slander and cal$mny 3ere ne6er so nsolently l cent o$s n any co$ntry as they are th s day n o$rs, The most ret r ng d s!os t on# the most $nobtr$s 6e demeanor# s no sh eld aga nst the r !o sonD ed arro3s, The most em nent !$lbl c ser6 ce only ma/es the r 6 t$!erat on and n6ect 6e more eager and more $nscr$!$lo$s# 3hen he 3ho has done s$ch ser6 ce !resents h mself as a cand D date for the !eo!le?s s$ffrages, The e6 l s 3 deDs!read and $n 6ersal, 8o man# no 3oman# no ho$sehold# s sacred or safe from th s ne3 InE$ s t on, 8o act s

so !$re or so !ra se3orthy# that the $nscr$!$lo$s 6ender of l es 3ho l 6es by !ander ng to a corr$!t and morb d !$bl c a!!et te 3 ll not !rocla m t as a cr me, 8o mot 6e s so nnocent or so la$dable# that he 3 ll not hold t $! as 6 lla ny, &o$rnal sm !r es nto the nter or of !r 6ate ho$ses# gloats o6er the deta ls of doD mest c traged es of s n and shame# and del berately n6ents and nd$str o$sly c rc$lates the most $nm t gated and baseless falseD hoods# to co n money for those 3ho !$rs$e t as a trade# or to effect a tem!orary res$lt n the 3ars of fact on, ;e need not enlarge $!on these e6 ls, They are a!!arent to all and lamented o6er by all# and t s the d$ty of a Mason to do all n h s !o3er to lessen# f not to remo6e them, ; th the errors and e6en s ns of other men# that do not !ersonally affect $s or o$rs# and need not o$r condemnat on to be od o$s# 3e ha6e nothD ng to doG and the 5o$rnal st has no !atent that ma/es h m the %ensor of Morals, There s no obl gat on rest ng on $s to tr$m!et forth o$r d sa!!ro6al of e6ery 3rongf$l or n5$d c o$s or mD

!ro!er act that e6ery other man comm ts, One 3o$ld be ashamed to stand on the street corners and reta l them orally for !enn es, One o$ght# n tr$th# to 3r te# or s!ea/ aga nst no other one n th s 3orld, Each man n t has eno$gh to do# to 3atch and /ee! g$ard o6er h mself, Each of $s s s c/ eno$gh n th s great La<aretto( and 5o$rnal sm and !olem cal 3r t ng constantly reD m nd $s of a scene once 3 tnessed n a l ttle hos! talG 3here t 3as horr ble to hear ho3 the !at ents moc/ ngly re!roached each other 3 th the r d sorders and nf rm t es( ho3 one# 3ho 3as 3asted by cons$m!t on# 5eered at another 3ho 3as bloated by dro!sy( ho3 one la$ghed at another?s cancer of the faceG and th s one aga n at h s ne ghbor?s loc/D5a3 or sE$ ntG $nt l at last the del r o$s fe6erD!at ent s!rang o$t of h s bed# and tore a3ay the co6er ngs from the 3o$nded bod es of h s com!an ons# and noth ng 3as to be seen b$t h deo$s m sery and m$t lat on, S$ch s the re6olt ng 3or/ n 3h ch 5o$rnal sm and !ol t cal !art sanD sh !# and half the 3orld o$ts de of Masonry# are engaged,

Fery generally# the cens$re besto3ed $!on men?s acts# by those 3ho ha6e a!!o nted and comm ss oned themsel6es Kee!ers of the P$bl c Morals# s $ndeser6ed, Often t s not only $ndeser6ed# b$t !ra se s deser6ed nstead of cens$re# and# 3hen the latter s not $ndeser6ed# t s al3ays e4tra6agant# and therefore $nD 5$st, A Mason 3 ll 3onder 3hat s! r t they are endo3ed 3 thal# that can basely l bel at a man# e6en# that s fallen, If they had any nob l ty of so$l# they 3o$ld 3 th h m condole h s d sasters# and dro! some tears n ! ty of h s folly and 3retchedness( and f they 3ere merely h$man and not br$tal# 8at$re d d gr e6o$s 3rong to h$man bod es# to c$rse them 3 th so$ls so cr$el as to str 6e to add to a 3retchedness already ntolerable, ;hen a Mason hears of any man that hath fallen nto !$bl c d sgrace# he sho$ld ha6e a m nd to comm serate h s m sha!# and not to ma/e h m more d sD consolate, To en6enom a name by l bels# that already s o!enly ta nted# s to add str !es 3 th an ron rod to one that s flayed 3 th

3h !! ngG and to e6ery 3ellDtem!ered m nd 3 ll seem most nD h$man and $nmanly, E6en the man 3ho does 3rong and comm ts errors often has a E$ et home# a f res de of h s o3n# a gentle# lo6 ng 3 fe and nnoD cent ch ldren# 3ho !erha!s do not /no3 of h s !ast errors and la!sesDD!ast and long re!ented ofG or f they do# they lo6e h m the better# beca$se# be ng mortal# he hath erred# and be ng n the mage of God# he hath re!ented, That e6ery blo3 at th s h$sband and father lacerates the !$re and tender bosoms of that 3 fe and those da$ghters# s a cons derat on that doth not stay the hand of the br$tal 5o$rnal st and !art san( b$t he str /es home at these shr n/ ng# E$ 6er ng# nnocent# tender bosomsG and then goes o$t $!on the great arter es of c t es# 3here the c$rrent of l fe !$lsates# and holds h s head erect# and calls on h s fello3s to la$d h m and adm re h m# for the ch 6alr c act he hath done# n str / ng h s dagger thro$gh one heart nto another tender and tr$st ng one,

If yo$ see/ for h gh and stra ned carr ages# yo$ shall# for the most !art# meet 3 th them n lo3 men, Arrogance s a 3eed that e6er gro3s on a d$ngh ll, It s from the ran/ness of that so l that she hath her he ght and s!read ngs, To be modest and $naffected 3 th o$r s$!er ors s d$tyG 3 th o$r eE$als# co$rtesyG 3 th o$r nD fer ors# nobleness, There s no arrogance so great as the !roD cla m ng of other men?s errors and fa$lts# by those 3ho $nderD stand noth ng b$t the dregs of act ons# and 3ho ma/e t the r b$s ness to besmear deser6 ng fames, P$bl c re!roof s l /e str /D ng a deer n the herd( t not only 3o$nds h m# to the loss of blood# b$t betrays h m to the ho$nd# h s enemy, The occ$!at on of the s!y hath e6er been held d shonorable# and t s none the less so# no3 that 3 th rare e4ce!t ons ed tors and !art sans ha6e become !er!et$al s! es $!on the act ons of ocher men, The r mal ce ma/es them n mbleDeyed# a!t to note a fa$lt and !$bl sh t# and# 3 th a stra ned constr$ct on# to de!ra6e e6en those th ngs n 3h ch the doer?s ntents 3ere honest, L /e

the crocod le# they sl me the 3ay of others# to ma/e them fallG and 3hen that has ha!!ened# they feed the r ns$lt ng en6y on the l feDblood of the !rostrate, They set the 6 ces of other men on h gh# for the ga<e of the 3orld# and !lace the r 6 rt$es $nderD gro$nd# that none may note them, If they cannot 3o$nd $!on !roofs# they 3 ll do t $!on l /el hoods( and f not $!on them# they man$fact$re l es# as God created the 3orld# o$t of noth ngG and so corr$!t the fa r tem!ter of men?s re!$tat onsG /no3 ng that the m$lt t$de 3 ll bel e6e them# beca$se aff rmat ons are a!ter to 3 n bel ef# than negat 6es to $ncred t themG and that a l e tra6els faster than an eagle fl es# 3h le the contrad ct on l m!s after t at a sna l?s !ace# and# halt ng# ne6er o6erta/es t, 8ay# t s conD trary to the moral ty of 5o$rnal sm# to allo3 a l e to be contraD d cted n the !lace that s!a3ned t, And e6en f that great fa6or s conceded# a slander once ra sed 3 ll scarce e6er d e# or fa l of f nd ng many that 3 ll allo3 t both a harbor and tr$st, Th s s# beyond any other# the age of falsehood, Once# to be

s$s!ected of eE$ 6ocat on 3as eno$gh to so l a gentleman?s esc$tD cheonG b$t no3 t has become a strange mer t n a !art san or statesman# al3ays and scr$!$lo$sly to tell the tr$th, L es are !art of the reg$lar amm$n t on of all cam!a gns and contro6ers es# 6al$ed accord ng as they are !rof table and effect 6eG and are stored $! and ha6e a mar/et !r ce# l /e salt!etre and s$l!h$rG be ng e6en more deadly than they, If men 3e ghed the m!erfect ons of h$man ty# they 3o$ld breathe less condemnat on, Ignorance g 6es d s!aragement a lo$der tong$e than /no3ledge does, ; se men had rather /no3# than tell, "reE$ent d s!ra ses are b$t the fa$lts of $nchar table 3 t( and t s from 3here there s no 5$dgment# that the hea6 est 5$dgment comesG for selfDe4am nat on 3o$ld ma/e all 5$dgments char table, If 3e e6en do /no3 6 ces n men# 3e can scarce sho3 o$rsel6es n a nobler 6 rt$e than n the char ty of conceal ng them( f that be not a flattery !ers$ad ng to cont n$ance, And t s the basest off ce man can fall nto# to ma/e h s tong$e the deD

famer of the 3orthy man, There s b$t one r$le for the Mason n th s matter, If there be 6 rt$es# and he s called $!on to s!ea/ of h m 3ho o3ns them# let h m tell them forth m!art ally, And f there be 6 ces m 4ed 3 th them# let h m be content the 3orld shall /no3 them by some other tong$e than h s, "or f the e6 lDdoer deser6e no ! ty# h s 3 fe# h s !arents# or h s ch ldren# or other nnocent !ersons 3ho lo6e h m mayG and the bra6o?s trade# !ract sed by h m 3ho stabs the deD fenceless for a !r ce !a d by nd 6 d$al or !arty# s really no more res!ectable no3 than t 3as a h$ndred years ago# n Fen ce, ;here 3e 3ant e4!er ence# %har ty b ds $s th n/ the best# and lea6e 3hat 3e /no3 not to the Searcher of -eartsG for m sta/es# s$s! c ons# and en6y often n5$re a clear fameG and there s least danger n a char table constr$ct on, And# f nally# the Mason sho$ld be h$mble and modest to3ard the Grand Arch tect of the 'n 6erse# and not m!$gn - s ; sD dom# nor set $! h s o3n m!erfect sense of R ght aga nst - s

Pro6 dence and d s!ensat ons# nor attem!t too rashly to e4!lore the Myster es of God?s Inf n te Essence and nscr$table !lans# and of that Great 8at$re 3h ch 3e are not made ca!able to $nderD stand, Let h m steer far a3ay from all those 6a n !h loso!h es# 3h ch endea6or to acco$nt for all that s# 3 tho$t adm tt ng that there s a God# se!arate and a!art from the 'n 6erse 3h ch s h s 3or/( 3h ch erect 'n 6ersal 8at$re nto a God# and 3orsh ! t alone( 3h ch ann h late S! r t# and bel e6e no test mony e4ce!t that of the bod ly senses(3h ch# by log cal form$las and de4tro$s collocaD t on of 3ords# ma/e the act$al# l 6 ng# g$ d ng# and !rotect ng God fade nto the d m m st ness of a mere abstract on and $nreal ty# tself a mere log cal form$la, 8or let h m ha6e any all ance 3 th those theor sts 3ho ch de the delays of Pro6 dence and b$sy themsel6es to hasten the slo3 march 3h ch t has m!osed $!on e6ents( 3ho neglect the !ract D cal# to str$ggle after m!oss b l t es( 3ho are 3 ser than -ea6enG

/no3 the a ms and !$r!oses of the De ty# and can see a short and more d rect means of atta n ng them# than t !leases - m to emD !loy( 3ho 3o$ld ha6e no d scords n the great harmony of the 'n 6erse of th ngsG b$t eE$al d str b$t on of !ro!erty# no s$b5ecD t on of one man to the 3 ll of another# no com!$lsory labor# and st ll no star6at on# nor dest t$t on# nor !a$!er sm, Let h m not s!end h s l fe# as they do# n b$ ld ng a ne3 To3er of BabelG n attem!t ng to change that 3h ch s f 4ed by an nD fle4 ble la3 of God?s enactment( b$t let h m# y eld ng to the S$!er or ; sdom of Pro6 dence# content to bel e6e that the march of e6ents s r ghtly ordered by an Inf n te ; sdom# and leads# tho$gh 3e cannot see t# to a great and !erfect res$lt#DDlet h m be sat sf ed to follo3 the !ath !o nted o$t by that Pro6 dence# and to labor for the good of the h$man race n that mode n 3h ch God has chosen to enact that that good shall be effected( and abo6e all# let h m b$ ld no To3er of Babel# $nder the bel ef that by ascend ng he 3 ll mo$nt so h gh that God 3 ll d sa!!ear or be

s$!erseded by a great monstro$s aggregate of mater al forces# or mere gl tter ng# log cal form$laG b$t# e6ermore# stand ng h$mbly and re6erently $!on the earth and loo/ ng 3 th a3e and conf D dence to3ard -ea6en# let h m be sat sf ed that there s a real GodG a !erson# and not a form$laG a "ather and a !rotector# 3ho lo6es# and sym!ath <es# and com!ass onatesG and that the eternal 3ays by 3h ch -e r$les the 3orld are nf n tely 3 se# no matter ho3 far they may be abo6e the feeble com!rehens on and l m ted 6 s on of man,

PPII, K8IG-T O" T-E RO.AL APE OR PRI8%E O" LIBA8'S,

S.MPAT-. 3 th the great labor ng classes# res!ect for labor tself# and resol$t on to do some good 3or/ n o$r day and generat on# these are the lessons of th s Degree# and they are !$rely Mason c, Masonry has made a 3or/ ngDman and h s assoc ates the -eroes of her !r nc !al legend# and h mself the com!an on of K ngs, The dea s as s m!le and tr$e as t s s$bl me, "rom f rst to last# Masonry s 3or/, It 6enerates the Grand Arc/ trct of the 'n 6erse, It commemorates the b$ ld ng of a Tem!le, Its !r nc !al emblems are the 3or/ ng fools of Masons and Art sans, It !reser6es the name of the f rst 3or/er n brass and ron as one of ts !assD3ords, ;hen the Brethren meet together# they are at labor, The Master s the o6erseer 3ho sets the craft to 3or/ and g 6es them !ro!er nstr$ct on, Masonry s the a!otheos s of ;or/, It s the hands of bra6e# forgotten men that ha6e made th s great# !o!$lo$s#

c$lt 6ated 3orld a 3orld for $s, It s all 3or/# and forgotten 3or/, The real conE$erors# creators# and eternal !ro!r etors of e6ery great and c 6 l <ed land are all the hero c so$ls that e6er 3ere n t# each n h s degree( all the men that e6er felled a forestDtree or dra ned a marsh# or contr 6ed a 3 se scheme# or d d or sa d a tr$e or 6al ant th ng there n, Gen$ ne 3or/ alone# done fa thf$lly# s eternal# e6en as the Alm ghty "o$nder and ;orldDb$ lder - mself, All 3or/ s noble( a l fe of ease s not for any man# nor for any God, The Alm ghty Ma/er s not l /e one 3ho# n old mmemor al ages# ha6 ng made h s mach ne of a 'n 6erse# s ts e6er s nce# and sees t go, O$t of that bel ef comes Athe sm, The fa th n an In6 s ble# $nnamable# D rect ng De ty# !resent e6ery3here n all that 3e see# and 3or/# and s$ffer# s the essence of all fa th 3hatsoe6er, The l fe of all Gods f g$res tself to $s as a S$bl me Earnest ness#Dof Inf n te battle aga nst Inf n te labor O$r h ghest rel g on s named

the ;orsh ! of Sorro3, "or the Son of Man there s no noble cro3n# 3ellD 3orn# or e6en llD3orn# b$t s a cro3n of thorns, Man?s h ghest dest ny s not to be ha!!y# to lo6e !leasant th ngs and f nd them, - s only tr$e $nha!! ness sho$ld be that he cannot 3or/# and get h s dest ny as a man f$lf lled, The day !asses s3 ftly o6er# o$r l fe !asses s3 ftly o6er# and the n ght cometh# 3here n no man can 3or/, That n ghts once come# o$r ha!! ness and $nha!! ness are 6an shed# and become as th ngs that ne6er 3ere, B$t o$r 3or/ s not abol shed# and has not 6an shed, It rema ns# or the 3ant of t rema ns# for endless T mes and Etern t es, ;hatsoe6er of moral ty and ntell gence G 3hat of !at ence# !erse6erance# fa thf$lness# of method# ns ght# ngen$ ty# energyG n a 3ord# 3hatsoe6er of STRE8GT- a man has n h m# 3 ll l e 3r tten n the ;ORK he does, To 3or/ s to try h mself aga nst 8at$re and her $nerr ng# e6erlast ng la3s ( and they 3 ll

ret$rn tr$e 6erd ct as to h m, The noblest E! c s a m ghty Em! re slo3ly b$ lt together# a m ghty ser es of hero c deeds# a m ghty conE$est o6er chaos, Deeds are greater than 3ords, They ha6e a l fe# m$te# b$t $nden ably G and gro3, They !eo!le the 6ac$ ty of T me# and ma/e t green and 3orthy, Labor s the tr$est emblem of God# the Arch tect and Eternal Ma/erG noble Labor# 3h ch s yet to be the K ng of th s Earth# and s t on the h ghest Throne, Men 3 tho$t d$t es to do# are l /e trees !lanted on !rec ! ces G fro m the roots of 3h ch all the earth has cr$mbled, 8at$re o3ns no man 3ho s not also a Martyr, She scorns the man 3ho s ts screened from all 3or/# from 3ant# danger# hardsh !# the 6 ctory o6er 3h ch s 3or/ G and has all h s 3or/ and battl ng done by other menG and yet there are men 3ho !r de themsel6es that they and the rs ha6e done no 3or/ t me o$t of m nd, So ne ther ha6e the s3 ne, The ch ef of men s he 3ho stands n the 6an of men# front ng the !er l 3h ch

fr ghtens bac/ all others# and f not 6anE$ shed 3o$ld de6o$r them, -erc$les 3as 3orsh !!ed for t3el6e labors, The %<ar of R$ss a became a to l ng sh !3r ght# and 3or/ed 3 th h s a4e n the doc/s of Saardam G and someth ng came of that, %rom3ell 3or/ed# and 8a!oleonG and effected some3hat, There s a !erenn al nobleness and e6en sacredness n 3or/, Be he ne6er so ben ghted and forgetf$l of h s h gh call ng# there s al3ays ho!e n a man 3ho act$ally and earnestly 3or/s ( n Idleness alone s there !er!et$al Des!a r, Man !erfects h mself by 3or/ ng, &$ngles are cleared a3ay, "a r seedDf elds r se nstead# and stately c t es G and 3 thal# the man h mself f rst ceases to be a fo$l $n3holesome 5$ngle and desert thereby, E6en n the meanest sort of labor# the 3hole so$l of man s com!osed nto a / nd of real harmony# the moment he beg ns to 3or/, Do$bt# Des re# Sorro3# Remorse# Ind gnat on# and e6en Des!a r shr n/ m$rm$r ng far off nto the r ca6es# 3hene6er the man bends h mself resol$tely aga nst h s tas/, Labor s l fe, "rom

the nmost heart of the 3or/er r ses h s GodDg 6en "orce# the Sacred %elest al l fe essence# breathed nto h m by Alm ghty God G and a3a/ens h m to all nobleness# as soon as 3or/ f tly beg ns, By t man learns Pat ence# %o$rage# Perse6erance# O!enness to l ght# read ness to o3n h mself m sta/en# resol$t on to do better and m!ro6e, Only by labor 3 ll man cont n$ally learn the 6 rt$es, There s no Rel g on n stagnat on and nact onG b$t only n act 6 ty and e4ert on, There 3as the dee!est tr$th n that say ng of the old mon/s# @laborare est orare,@ @-e !rayeth best 3ho l 6eth best all th ngs both great and smallG@ and can man lo6e e4ce!t by 3or/ ng earnestly to benef t that be ng 3hom he lo6esJ @;or/G and there n ha6e 3ellDbe ng#@ s the oldest of Gos!elsG $n!reached# nart c$late# b$t nerad cable# and end$r ng fore6er, To ma/e D sorder# 3here6er fo$nd# an eternal enemyG to attac/ and s$bd$e h m# and ma/e order of h m# the s$b5ect not of %haos# b$t of Intell gence and D 6 n ty# and of o$rsel6es G to attac/ gnorance# st$! d ty and br$teDm ndedness# 3here6er

fo$nd# to sm te t 3 sely and $n3ear edly# to rest not 3h le 3e l 6e and t l 6es n the name of God# th s s o$r d$ty as MasonsG commanded $s by the - ghest God, E6en -e# 3 th h s $ns!o/en 6o ce# more a3f$l than the th$nders of S na # or the syllabled s!eech of the -$rr cane# s!ea/s to $s, The 'nborn Ages G the old Gra6es# 3 th the r longDmolder ng d$st s!ea/ to $s, The dee! DeathDK ngdoms# the Stars n the r ne6erDrest ng co$rse# all S!ace and all T me# s lently and cont n$ally admon sh $s that 3e too m$st 3or/ 3hore t s called toDday, Labor# 3 de as the Earth# has ts s$mm t n -ea6en, To to l# 3hether 3 th the s3eat of the bro3# or of the bra n or heart# s 3orsh !#D the noblest th ng yet d sco6ered beneath the Stars, Let the 3eary cease to th n/ that labor s a c$rse and doom !rono$nced by De ty, ; tho$t t there co$ld be no tr$e e4cellence n h$man nat$re, ; tho$t t# and !a n# and sorro3# 3here 3o$ld be the h$man 6 rt$esJ ;here Pat ence# Perse6erance# S$b m ss on# Energy# End$rance# "ort t$de# Bra6ery# D s nterestedness# SelfDSacr f ce# the

noblest e4cellenc es of the So$lJ Let h m 3ho to ls com!la n not# nor feel h$m l ated O Let h m, loo/ $!# and see h s fello3D3or/men there# n God?s Etern ty# they alone s$r6 6 ng there, E6en n the 3ea/ h$man memory they long s$r6 6e# as Sa nts# as -eroes# and as Gods ( they alone s$r6 6e# and !eo!le the $nmeas$red sol t$des of T me, To the !r me6al man# 3hatsoe6er good came# descended on h m Mas n mere fact# t e6er doesN d rect from GodG 3hatsoe6er d$ty lay 6 s ble for h m# th s a S$!reme God had !rescr bed, "or the !r me6al man# n 3hom d3elt Tho$ght# th s 'n 6erse 3as all a Tem!le# l fe e6ery3here a ;orsh !, D$ty s 3 th $s e6erG and e6ermore forb ds $s to be dle, To 3or/ 3 th the hands or bra n# accord ng to o$r reE$ rements and o$r ca!ac t es# to do that 3h ch l es before $s to do# s more honorable than ran/ and t tle, Plo$ghers# s! nners and b$ lders# n6entors# and men of sc ence# !oets# ad6ocates# and

3r ters# all stand $!on one common le6el# and form on grand# nn$merable host# march ng e6er on3ard s nce the beg nn ng of the 3orld ( each ent tled to o$r sym!athy and res!ect# each a man and o$r brother, It 3as 3ell to g 6e the earth to man as a dar/ mass# 3hereon to labor, It 3as 3ell to !ro6 de r$de and $!r ghtly mater als n the oreDbed and the forest# for h m to fash on nto s!lendor and bea$ty, It 3as 3ell# not beca$se of that s!lendor and bea$ty G b$t beca$se the act creat ng them s better than the th ngs themsel6esG beca$se e4ert on s nobler than en5oymentG beca$se the laborer s greater and more 3orthy of honor than the dler, Masonry stands $! for the nob l ty of labor, It s -ea6en?s great ord nance for h$man m!ro6ement,, It has been bro/en do3n for ages G and Masonry des res to b$ ld t $! aga n, It has bean bro/en do3n# beca$se men to l only beca$se hey m$st# s$bm tt ng to t as# n some sort# a degrad ng necess tyG and des r ng noth ng

so m$ch on earth as to esca!e from t, They f$lf ll the great la3 of labor n the letter# b$t brea/ t n the s! r t( they f$lf ll t 3 th the m$scles# b$t brea/ t 3 th the m nd, Masonry teaches that e6ery dler o$ght to hasten to some f eld of labor# man$al or mental# as a chosen and co6eted theatre of m!ro6ement G b$t he s not m!elled to do so# $nder the teach ngs of an m!erfect c 6 l <at on, On the contrary# he s ts do3n# folds h s hands# and blesses and glor f es h mself n h s dleness, It s t me that th s o!!robr $m of to l 3ere done a3ay, To be ashamed of to lG of the d ngy 3or/sho! and d$sty laborDf eldG of the hard hand# sta ned 3 th ser6 ce more honorable than that of 3arG of the so led and 3eatherDsta ned garments# on 3h ch Mother 8at$re has stam!ed# m dst s$n and ra n# m dst f re and steam# her o3n herald c honorsG to be ashamed of these to/ens and t tles# and en6 o$s of the fla$nt ng robes of mbec le dleness and 6an ty# s treason to 8at$re# m! ety to -ea6en# a breach of -ea6en?s great Ord nance, To l#N of bra n# heart# or hand# s the only tr$e

manhood and gen$ ne nob l ty, Labor s a more benef cent m n strat on than man?s gnorance com!rehends# or h s com!la n ng 3 ll adm t, E6en 3hen ts end s h dden from h m# t s not mere bl nd dr$dgery# It s all a tra n ng# a d sc !l ne# a de6elo!ment of energ es# a n$rse of 6 rt$es# a school bf m!ro6ement, "rom the !oor boy 3ho gathers a fe3 st c/s for h s mother?s hearth# to the strong man 3ho fells the oa/ or g$ des the sh ! or the steamDcar# e6ery h$man to ler# 3 th e6ery 3eary ste! and e6ery $rgent tas/# s obey ng a 3 sdom far abo6e h s o3n 3 sdom# and f$lf ll ng a des gn far beyond h s o3n des gn, The great la3 of h$man nd$stry s th s ( that nd$stry# 3or/ ng e ther 3 th the hand or the m nd# the a!!l cat on of o$r !o3ers to some tas/# to the ach e6ement of some res$lt# l es at the fo$ndat on of all h$man m!ro6ement, ;e are not sent nto the 3orld l /e an mals# to cro! the s!ontaneo$s herbage of

the f eld# and then to l e do3n n ndolent re!ose( b$t 3e are sent to d g the so l and !lo$gh the seaG to do the b$s ness of c t es and the 3orld of man$factor es, The 3orld s the great and a!!o nted school of nd$stry, In an art f c al state of soc ety# man/ nd s d 6 ded nto the dle and the labor ng classesG b$t s$ch 3as not the des gn of Pro6 dence, Labor s man?s great f$nct on# h s !ec$l ar d st nct on and h s !r 6 lege, "rom be ng an an mal# that eats and dr n/s and slee!s only# to become a 3or/er# and 3 th the hand of ngen$ ty to !o$r h s o3n tho$ghts nto the mo$lds of 8at$re# fash on ng ttorn nto forms of grace and fabr cs of con6en ence# and con6ert ng them to !$r!oses of m!ro6ement and ha!! ness# s the greatest !oss ble ste! n !r 6 lege, The Earth and the Atmos!here are man?s laboratory, ; th s!ade and !lo$gh# 3 th m n ngDshafts and f$rnaces and forges# 3 th f re and steam G m dst the no se and 3h rl of s3 ft and br ght mach nery# and abroad n the s lent

f elds# man 3as made to be e6er 3or/ ng# e6er e4!er ment ng, And 3h le he and all h s d3ell ngs of care and to l are borne on3ard 3 th the c rcl ng s/ es# and the s!lendo$r of -ea6en are aro$nd h m# and the r nf n te de!ths mage and n6 te h s tho$ght# st ll n all the 3orlds of !h loso!hy# n the $n 6erse of ntellect# man m$st be a 3or/er, -e s noth ng# he can be noth ng# can ach e6e noth ng# f$lf ll noth ng# 3 tho$t 3or/ ng, ; tho$t t# he can ga n ne ther lofty m!ro6ement nor tolerable ha!! ness, The dle m$st h$nt do3n the ho$rs as the r !rey, To them T me s an enemy# clothed 3 th armorG and they m$st / ll h m# or (themsel6es d e, It ne6er yet d d ans3er# and t ne6er 3 ll ans3er for any man to do noth ng# to be e4em!t from all care and effort to lo$nge# to 3al/# to r de# and to feast alone, 8o man can l 6e n that 3ay, God made a la3 aga nst t ( 3h ch no h$man !o3er can ann$l# no h$man ngen$ ty e6ade, The dea that a !ro!erty s to be acE$ red n the co$rse of ten or t3enty years# 3h ch shall s$ff ce for the rest of l feG that by some !ros!ero$s

traff c or grand s!ec$lat on# all the labor of a 3hole l fe s to be accom!l shed n a br ef !ort on of tG that by de4tero$s management# a large !art of the term of h$man e4 stence s to be e4onerated from the cares of nd$stry and selfD den al# s fo$nded $!on a gra6e m sta/e# $!on a m sconce!t on of the tr$e nat$re and des gn of b$s ness# and of the cond t ons of h$man 3ell be ng, The des re of acc$m$lat on for the sa/e of sec$r ng a l fe of ease and grat f cat on# of esca! ng from e4ert on and selfDden al# s 3holly 3rong# tho$gh 6ery common, It s better for the Mason to l 6e 3h le he l 6es# and en5oy l fe as t !asses to l 6e r cher and d e !oorer, It s best of all for h m to ban sh from the m nd that em!ty dream of f$t$re ndolence and nd$lgent G to address h mself to the b$s ness of l fe# as the school of h s earthly ed$cat onG to settle t 3 th h mself no3 that nde!endence# f he ga ns t# s not to g 6e h m e4em!t on fro m em!loyment It s best for h m to /no3# that# n order to be a ha!!y man#

he m$st al3ays be a laborer# 3 th the m nd or the body# or 3 th both( and that the reasonable e4ert on of h s !o3ers# bod ly and mental# s not to be regarded as mere dr$dgery# b$t as a good d sc !l ne# a 3 se ord nat on# a tra n ng n th s !r mary school of o$r be ng# for nobler endea6ors# and s!heres of h gher act 6 ty hereafter

There are reasons 3hy a Mason may la3f$lly and e6en earnestly des re a fort$ne, If he can f ll some f ne !alace# tself a 3or/ of art# 3 th the !rod$ct ons of lofty gen $sG f he can be the fr end and hel!er of h$mble 3orthG f he can see/ t o$t# 3here fa l ng health or ad6erse fort$ne !resses t hard# and soften or stay the b tter ho$rs that are hasten ng t to madness or to the gra6eG f he can stand bet3een the o!!ressor and h s !rey# and b d the fetter and the d$ngeon g 6e $! the r 6 ct m G f he can b$ ld $! great nst t$t ons of learn ng# and academ es of art G f he can o!en fo$nta ns of

/no3ledge for the !eo!le# and cond$ct ts streams n the r ght channelsG f he can do better for the !oor th<n to besto3 alms $!on themDe6en to th n/ of them# and de6 se !lans for the r ele6at on n /no3ledge and 6 rt$e# nstead of fore6er o!en ng the # old reser6o rs and reso$rces for the r m!ro6 denceG f he has s$ff c ent heart and so$l to do all th s# or !art of tG f 3ealth 3o$ld be ta h m the handma d of e4ert onG fac l tat ng effort# and g 6 ng s$ccess to endea6orG then may he la3f$lly# and yet 3ar ly and modestly# des re t, B$t f t s to do noth ng for h m# b$t Mo m n ster ease and nd$lgence# and to !lace h s ch ldren n the same bad school# then there s no reason 3hy he sho$ld des re t, ;hat s there glor o$s n the 3orld# that s not the !rod$ct of labor# e ther of the body or of the m ndJ ;hat s h story# b$t ts recordJ ;hat are the treas$res of gen $s and art# b$t ts 3or/J ;hat are c$lt 6ated f elds# b$t ts to lJ The b$sy marts# the r s ng c t es# the enr ched em! res of the 3orld are

b$t the great treas$reDho$ses of labor, The !yram ds of Egy!t# the? castles and to3ers and tem!les of E$ro!e# the b$r ed c t es of Italy and Me4 co# the canals and ra lroads of %hr stendom# are b$t trac/s# all ro$nd the 3orld# of the m ghty footste!s of labor, ; tho$t t ant E$ ty 3o$ld not ha6e been, ; tho$t t# there 3o$ld be no memory of the !ast# and no ho!e for the f$t$re, E6en $tter ndolence re!oses on treas$res that labor at some t me ga ned and gathered, -e that does noth ng# and yet does not star6e# has st ll h s s gn f cance G for he s a stand ng !roof that somebody has at some t me 3or/ed, B$t not to s$ch does Masonry do honor, It honors the ;or/er# the To lerG h m 3ho !rod$ces and not alone cons$mesG h m 3ho !$ts forth h s hand to add to the treas$ry of h$man comforts# and not alone to ta/e a3ay, @ It honors h m 3ho goes forth am d the str$ggl ng elements to f ght h s battle# and 3ho shr n/s not# 3 th co3ardly effem nacy# beh nd ! llo3s of ease, It honors the strong m$scle# and the manly ner6e# and the resol$te and bra6e heart# the

s3eat ng bro3# and the to l ng bra n, It honors the great and bea$t f$l off ces of h$man ty# manhood?s to l and 3oman?s tas/G !aternal nd$stry and maternal 3atch ng and 3ear ness G 3 sdom teach ng and !at ence learn ngG the bro3 of care that !res des o6er the State# and many handed labor that to ls n 3or/sho!# f eld# and st$dy# beneath ts m ld and benef cent s3ay, God has not made a 3orld of r ch menG b$t rather a 3orld of !oor menG or of men# at least# 3ho m$st to l for a s$bs stence, That s# then# the best cond t on for man# and the grand s!here of h$man m!ro6ement,# If the 3hole 3orld co$ld acE$ re 3ealth Mand one man s as m$ch ent tled to t as another# 3hen he s bornN G f the !resent generat on co$ld lay $! a com!lete !ro6 s on for the ne4t# as some men des re to do for the r ch ldrenG the 3orld 3o$ld be destroyed at a s ngle blo3, All nd$stry 3o$ld cease 3 th the necess ty for tG all m!ro6ement 3o$ld sto! 3 th the demand for e4ert onG

the d ss !at on of fort$nes# the m sch ef of 3h ch are no3 co$nter6a led by the healthf$l tone of soc ety# 3o$ld breed $n 6ersal d sease# and 3rea/ o$t nto $n 6ersal l cense G and the, 3orld 3o$ld s n/# rotten as -erod# nto the gra6e of ts o3n loathsome 6 ces, Almost all the noblest th ngs that ha6e been ach e6ed n the 3orld# ha6e been ach e6ed by !oor men G !oor scholars# !oor !rofess onal men# !oor art sans and art sts# !oor !h loso!hers# !oets# and men of gen $s, A certa n sol dness and sobr ety# a certa n moderat on and restra nt# a certa n !ress$re of c rc$mstances# are good for man, l s body 3as not made for l$4$r es, It s c/ens# s n/s# and d es $nder them, - s m nd 3as not made for nd$lger ce, It gro3s 3ea/# effem nate# and d3arf sh# $nder that cond t on, And he 3ho !am!ers h s body 3 th l$4$r es and h s m nd 3 th nd$lgence# beE$eaths the conseE$ences to the m nds and bod es of h s descendants# 3 tho$t the 3ealth

3h ch 3as the r ca$se, "or 3ealth# 3 tho$t a la3 of enta l to hel! t# has al3ays lac/ed the energy e6en to /ee! ts o3n treas$res, They dro! from ts mbec le hand, The th rd generat on almost ne6 tably goes do3n the roll ng 3heel of fort$ne# and there learns the energy necessary to r se aga n# f t r ses at all G he r# as t s# to the bod ly d seases# and mental 3ea/nesses# and the so$l?s 6 ces of ts andestors# and not he r to the r 3ealth, And yet 3e are# almost all of $s# an4 o$s to !$t o$r ch ldren# or to ns$re that o$r grandch ldren shall be !$t# on th s road to nd$lgence# l$4$ry# 6 ce# degradat on# and r$ n G th s headsh ! of hered tary d sease# so$l malady# and mental le!rosy, If 3ealth 3ere em!loyed n !romot ng mental c$lt$re at home and 3or/s of !h lanthro!y abroad G f t 3ere m$lt !ly ng st$d es of art# and b$ ld ng $! nst t$t ons of learn ng aro$nd $sG f t 3ere n e6ery 3ay ra s ng the ntellect$al character of the 3orld# there co$ld scarcely be too m$ch of t, B$t f the $tmost a m# effort# and amb t on of 3ealth be# to !roc$re r ch

f$rn t$re# and !ro6 de costly enterta nments# and b$ ld l$4$r o$s ho$ses# and m n ster to 6an ty# e4tra6agance# and ostentat on# there co$ld scarcely be too l ttle of t, To a certa n e4tent t may la$dably be the m n ster of eleganc es and l$4$r es# and the ser6 tor of hos! tal ty and !hys cal en5oyment( b$t 5$st n !ro!ort on as ts tendenc es# d 6ested of all h gher a ms and tastes# are r$nn ng that 3ay# they are r$nn ng to !er l and e6 l, 8or does that !er l attach to nd 6 d$als and fam l es alone, It stands# a fearf$l beacon# n the e4!er ence of % t es# Re!$bl cs# and Em! res, The lessons of !ast t mes# on th s s$b5ect# are em!hat c and solemn, The h story of 3ealth has al3ays been a h story of corr$!t on and do3nfall, the !eo!le ne6er e4 sted that co$ld stand the tr al, Bo$ndless !rof$s on s too l ttle l /ely to s!read for any !eo!le the theatre of manly energy# r g d selfDden al# and lofty 6 rt$e, .o$ do not loo/ for the bone and s ne3 and strength of a co$ntry# ts

loft est talents and 6 rt$es# ts martyrs to !atr ot sm or rel g on# ts men to meet the days of !er l and d saster# among the ch ldren of ease# nd$lgence# and l$4$ry, In the great march of the races of men o6er the earth# 3e ha6e al3ays seen o!$lence and l$4$ry s n/ ng before !o6erty and to l and hardy n$rt$re, That s the la3 3h ch has !res ded o6er the great !rofess ons of em! re, S don and Tyre# 3hose merchants !ossessed the 3ealth of !r nces G Babylon and Palmyra# the seats of As at c l$4$ry G Rome# laden 3 th the s!o ls of a 3orld# o6er3helmed by her o3n 6 ces more than by the hosts of her enem es G all these# and many more# are e4am!les of the destroyt 6e tendenc es of mmense and $nnat$ral acc$m$lat on ( and men m$st become more genero$s and bene6olent# not more self sh and effem nate# as they become more r ch# or the h story of modern 3ealth 3 ll follo3 n the sad tra n of all !ast e4am!les, All men

des re d st nct on# and feel the need of some ennobl ng ob5ect n l fe, Those !ersons are $s$ally most ha!!y and sat sf ed n the r !$rs$ ts# 3ho ha6e the loft est ends n 6 e3, Art sts# mechan cs# and n6entors# all 3ho see/ to f nd !r nc !les or de6elo! bea$ty n the r 3or/# seem most to en5oy t, The farmer 3ho labors for the bea$t fy ng and sc ent f c c$lt 6at on of h s estate# s more ha!!y n h s labors than one 3ho t lls h s o3n land for a mere s$bs stence, Th s s one of the s gnal test mon es 3h ch all h$man em!loyments g 6e to the h gh demands of o$r nat$re, To gather 3ealth ne6er g 6es s$ch sat sfact on as to br ng the h$mblest ! ece of mach nery to !erfect on ( at least# 3hen 3ealth s so$ght for d s!lay and ostentat on# or mere l$4$ry# and ease# and !leas$re G and not for ends of !h lanthro!y# the rel ef of / ndred# or the !ayment of 5$st debts# or as a means to atta n some other great and noble ob5ect, ; th the !$rs$ ts of m$lt t$des s connected a !a nf$l con6 ct on that they ne ther s$!!ly a s$ff c ent ob5ect# nor confer any sat sfactory honor, ;hy

3or/# f the 3orld s soon not to /no3 that s$ch a be ng e6er e4 sted G and 3hen one can !er!et$ate h s name ne ther on can6as nor on marble# nor n boo/s# nor by lofty eloE$ence# nor statesmansh ! J The ans3er s# that e6ery man has a 3or/ to do n h mself# greater and s$bl med than any 3or/ of gen $s G and 3or/s $!on a nobler mater al than 3ood or marbleD$!on h s o3n so$l and ntellect# and may so atta n the h ghest nobleness and grande$r /no3n on earth or n -ea6enG may so be the greatest of art sts# and of a$thors# and h s l fe# 3h ch s far more than s!eech# may be eloE$ent, The great a$thor or art st only !ortrays 3hat e6ery man sho$ld be, -e conce 6es# 3hat 3e sho$ld do, -e conce 6es# and re!resents moral bea$ty# magnan m ty# fort t$de# lo6e# de6ot on# forg 6eness# the so$l?s greatness, -e !ortrays 6 rt$es# commended to o$r adm rat on and m tat ons, To embody these !ortra t$res n o$r l 6es s fhe !ract cal real <at on of those great deals of art, The magnan m ty of -eroes# celebrated on the h stor c or !oet c !ageG the

constancy and fa th of Tr$th?s martyrs G the bea$ty of lo6e and ! ety glo3 ng on the can6asG the del neat ons of Tr$th and R ght# that flash from the l !s of the EloE$ent# are# n the r essence only that 3h ch e6ery man may feel and !ract ce n the da ly 3al/s of l fe, The 3or/ of 6 rt$e s nobler than any 3or/ of gen $s G for t s a nobler th ng to be a hero than to descr be one to end$re martyrdom than to !a nt t# to do r ght than to !lead for t, Act on s greater than 3r t ng, A good man s a nobler ob5ect of contem!lat on than a great a$thor, There are b$t t3o th ngs 3orth l 6 ng for( to do 3hat s 3orthy of be ng 3r ttenG and to 3r te 3hat s 3orthy of be ng readG and the greater of these s the do ng, E6ery man has to do the noblest th ng that any man can do or descr be, There s a 3 de f eld for the co$rage# cheerf$lness# energy# and d gn ty of h$man e4 stence, Let therefore no Mason deem h s l fe doomed to med ocr ty or

meanness# to 6an ty or $n!rof table to l# or to any ends less than mmortal, 8o one can tr$ly say that the grand !r <es of l fe are for others# and he can do noth ng, 8o matter ho3 magn f cent and noble an act the a$thor can descr be or the art st !a nt#? t 3 ll be st ll nobler for yo$ to go and do that 3h ch one descr bes# or be the model 3h ch the other dra3s, The loft est act on that e6er 3as descr bed s not more magnatemo$s than that 3h ch 3e may f nd occas on to do# n the da ly 3al/s of l feG n tem!tat on# n d stress# n berea6ement# n the solemn a!!roach to death, In the great Pro6 dence of God# n the great ord nances of o$r be ng# there s o!ened to e6ery man a s!here for the noblest act on, It s not e6en n e4traord nary s t$at ons# 3here all eyes are $!on $s# 3here all o$r energy s aro$sed# and all o$r 6 g lance s a3a/e that the h ghest efforts of 6 rt$e are $s$ally demanded of $s G b$t rather n s lence and secl$s on# am dst o$r occ$!at ons and o$r homesG n 3ear ng s c/ness# that ma/es no com!la ntG n sorelyD tr ed honesty# that as/s no !ra se G n s m!le d s nterestedness# h d ng the hand

that res gns ts ad6antage to another, Masonry see/s to ennoble common l fe, Its 3or/ s to go do3n nto the obsc$re and researched records of da ly cond$ct and feel ngG and to !ortray# not the ord nary 6 rt$e of an e4traord nary l feG b$t the more e4traord nary 6 rt$e of ord nary l fe, ;hat s done and borne n the shades of !r 6acy# n the hard and beaten !afh of da ly care and to l# f$ll of recelebrated sacr f cesG n the s$ffer ng# and somet mes ns$lted s$ffer ng# that 3ears to the 3orld a cheerf$l bro3 G n the Iong str fe of the s! r t# res st ng !a n# !en$ry# and neglect# carr ed on n the nmost de!ths of the heartGD3hat s done# and borne# and 3ro$ght# and 3on there# s a h gher glory# and shall nher t a br ghter cro3n, On the 6ol$me of Mason c l fe one br ght 3ord s 3r tten from 3h ch on e6ery s de bla<es an neffable s!lendor, That 3ord s D'T., To a d n sec$r ng to all labor !ermanent em!loyment and ts 5$st re3ard( to hel! to hasten the com ng of that t me 3hen no one shall s$ffer from h$nger or dest t$t on#

beca$se# tho$gh 3 ll ng and able to 3or/# he can f nd no em!loyment# or beca$se he has been o6erta/en by s c/ness n the m dst of h s labor# are !art of yo$r d$t es as a Kn ght of the Royal A4e, And f 3e can s$cceed n ma/ ng some small noo/ of God?s creat on a l ttle more fr$ tf$l and cheerf$l# a l ttle better and more 3orthy of - m#Dor n ma/ ng some one or t3o h$man hearts a l ttle 3 ser# and more manf$l and ho!ef$l and ha!!y# 3e shall ha6e done 3or/# 3orthy of Masons# and acce!table to o$r "ather n -ea6en,

PPIII %-IE" O" T-E TABER8A%LE,

AMO8G most of the Anc ent 8at ons there 3as# n add t on to the r !$bl c 3orsh !# a !r 6ate one styled the Myster es G to 3h ch those only 3ere adm tted 3ho had been !re!ared by certa n ceremon es called n t at ons, The most 3 dely d ssem nated of the anc ent 3orsh !s 3ere those of Is s# Or!he$s# D onys$s# %eres and Math as, Many barbaro$s nat ons rece 6ed the /no3ledge of the Myster es n honor of these d 6 n t es fro m the Egy!t ans# before they arr 6ed n GreeceG and e6en n the Br t sh Isles the Dr$ ds celebrated those of D onys$s# learned by them fro m the Egy!t ans, The Myster es of Ele$s s# celebrated at Athens n honor of %eres# s3allo3ed $! as t 3ere# all the others, All the ne ghbor ng nat ons neglected the r o3n# to celebrate those of Ele$s sG and n a l ttle 3h le all Greece and As a M nor 3ere f lled 3 th the In t ates, They s!read nto the Roman Em! re# and e6en beyond ts l m ts# @those holy and a$g$st Ele$s n an Myster es#@ sa d % cero# @ n 3h ch the !eo!le of the remotest lands are n t ated,@ Hos m$s says that they embraced the

3hole h$man race G and Ar st des termed them the common tem!le of the 3hole 3orld, There 3ere# n the Ele$s n an feasts# t3o sorts of Myster es# the great# and the l ttle, The latter 3ere a / nd of !re!arat on for the former G and e6erybody 3as adm tted to them, Ord nar ly there 3as a no6 t ate of three# and somet mes of fo$r years, %lement of Ale4andr a says that 3hat 3as ta$ght n the great Myster es concerned the 'n 6erse# and 3as the com!let on and !erfect on of all nstr$ct onG 3here n th ngs 3ere seen as they 3ere# and nat$re and her 3or/s 3ere made /no3n, The anc ents sa d that the In t ates 3o$ld be more ha!!y after death than other mortals G and that# 3h le the so$ls of the Profane on lea6 ng the r bod es# 3o$ld be !l$nged n the m re# and rema n b$r ed n dar/ness# those of the In t ates 3o$ld fly to the "ort$nate Isles# the abode of the Gods,

Plato sa d that the ob5ect of the Myster es 3as to reDestabl sh the so$l n ts !r m t 6e !$r ty# and n that state of !erfect on 3h ch t

had lost, E! ctet$s sa d# @3hate6er s met 3 th there n has been nst t$ted by o$r Masters# for the nstr$ct on of man and the correct on of morals,@ Process held that n t at on ele6ated the so$l# from a mater al# sens$al# and !$rely h$man l fe# to a comm$n on and celest al nterco$rse 3 th the Gods G and that a 6ar ety of th ngs# forms# and s!ec es 3ere sho3n In t ates# re!resent ng the f rst generat on of the Gods, P$r ty of morals and ele6at on of so$l 3ere reE$ red of the# In t ates, ?%and dates 3ere reE$ red to be of s!otless re!$tat on and rre!roachable 6 rt$e, 8ero# after m$rder ng h s mother# d d not dare to be !resent at the celebrat on of the Myster es( and Antony !resented h mself to be n t ated# as the most nfall ble mode of !ro6 ng h s nnocence of the death of A6 d $s %ass $s, The In t ates 3ere regarded as the only fort$nate men, @It s $!on $s alone#@ says Ar sto!hanes# @sh neth the benef cent daystar, ;e alone rece 6e !leas$re from the nfl$ence of h s raysG 3e# 3ho are n t ated# and 3ho !ract ce to3ard c t <en and stranger e6ery !oss ble act of

5$st ce and ! ety,@ And t s therefore not s$r!r s ng that# n t me# n t at on came to be cons dered as necessary as ba!t sm after3ard 3as to the %hr st ans G and that not to ha6e been adm tted to the Myster es 3as held a d shonor, @It seems to me#@ says the great orator# !h loso!her# and moral st# % cero# @that Athens# among many e4cellent n6ent ons# d 6 ne and 6ery $sef$l to the h$man fam ly# has !rod$ced none com!arable to the Myster es# 3h ch for a 3 ld and feroc o$s l fe ha6e s$bst t$ted h$man ty and $rban ty of manners, ]It s 3 th good reason they $se the term n t at onG for t s thro$gh them that 3e n real ty ha6e learned the f rst !r nc !les of l feG and they not only teach $s to l 6e n a manner more consol ng and agreeable# b$t they soften the !a ns of death by the ho!e of a better l fe hereafter,@ ;here the Myster es or g nated s not /no3n, It, s s$!!osed that they came from Ind a# by the 3ay of %haldaea# nto Egy!t# and thence 3ere carr ed nto Greece, ;here6er they arose# they 3ere !ract ced among all the anc ent nat onsG and# as 3as $s$al# the Thrac ans# %ret ns# and

Athen ans each cla med the honor of

n6ent on# and each ns sted

that they had borro3ed noth ng from any other !eo!le, In Egy!t and the East# all rel g ons e6en n ts most !oet cal forms# 3as more or less a mysteryG and the ch ef reason 3hy# n Greece# a d st nct name and off ce 3ere ass gned to the Myster es# 3as beca$se the s$!erf c al !o!$lar theology left a 3ant $nsat sf ed# 3h ch rel g on n a 3 der sense alone co$ld s$!!ly, They 3ere !ract cal ac/no3ledgments of the ns$ff c ency of the !o!$lar rel g on to sat sfy the dee!er tho$ghts and as! rat ons of the m nd, The 6ag$eness of symbol sm m ght !erha!s reach 3hat a more !al!able and con6ent onal creed co$ld not, The former# be ts ndef n teness# ac/no3ledged the abstr$seness of ts s$b5ectG t treated a myster o$s s$b5ect myo! cally G t endea6ored to ll$strate 3hat t co$ld not e4!la nG to e4c te an a!!ro!r ate feel ng# f t co$ld not de6elo! an adeE$ate deaG and shade the mage a mere s$bord nate con6eyance for the conce!t on# 3h ch tself ne6er became too ob6 o$s or fam l ar, The nstr$ct on no3 con6eyed by boo/s and letters 3as of old con6eyed

by symbolsG and the !r est had to n6ent or to !er!et$ate a d s!lay of r tes and e4h b t ons# 3h ch 3ere not only more attract 6e to the eye than 3ords# b$t often to the m nd more s$ggest 6e and ^!regnant 3 th mean ng, After3ard# the nst t$t on became rather moral and !ol t cal# than rel g o$s, The c 6 l mag strates sha!ed the ceremon es to !ol t cal ends n Egy!tG the sages 3ho carr ed them from that co$ntry to As a# GreeceG and the 8orth of E$ro!e# 3ere all / ngs or leg slators, #The ch ef mag strate !res ded at those of Ele$s s# re!resented by an off cer styled K ng( and the Pr est !layed b$t a s$bord nate !art, The Po3ers re6ered n the Myster es 3ere all n real ty 8at$red GodsG none of 3hom co$ld be cons stently addressed as mere heroes# beca$se the r nat$re 3as confessedly s$!erDhero c, The Myster es# only n fact a more solemn e4!ress on of the rel g on of the anc ent !oetry# ta$ght that doctr ne of the Theocrac a or D 6 ne Oneness# 3h ch e6en !oetry does not ent rely conceal, They 3ere not n any o!en host l ty 3 th the !o!$lar rel g on# b$t only a more solemn e4h b t on of ts symbolsG or

rather a !art of tself n a more m!ress 6e form, The essence of all Myster es# as of all !olythe sm# cons sts n th s# that the conce!t on of an na!!roachable Be ng# s ngle# eternal# and $nchang ng# and that of a God of 8at$re# 3hose man fold !o3er s mmed ately re6ealed to the senses n the ncessant ro$nd of mo6ement# l fe# and, death# fell as$nder n the treatment# and 3ere se!arately symbol <ed, They offered a !er!et$al !roblem to e4c te c$r os ty# aEd contr b$ted to sat sfy the allD!er6ad ng rel g o$s sent ment# 3h ch f t obta n no no$r shment among the scr$!le and ntell g ble# f nds com!ensat ng e4c tement n a re6erent al contem!lat on of the obsc$re, 8at$re s as free from dogmat sm as from tyrannyG and the earl est nstr$ctors of man/ nd not only ado!ted her lessons# b$t as far as !oss ble adhered to her method of m!art ng them, They attem!ted to reach the $nderstand ng thro$gh the eye G and the greater !art of all rel g o$s teach ng 3as con6eyed thro$gh th s anc ent and most m!ress 6e mode of @e4h b t on@ or demonstrat on, The Myster es 3ere a sacred drama# e4h b t ng some legend s gn f cant of

8at$re?s change# of the 6 s ble 'n 6erse n 3h ch the d 6 n ty s re6ealed# and 3hose m!ort 3as n many res!ects as o!en to the Pagan# as to the %hr st an, Beyond the c$rrent trad t ons or sacred rec tals of the tem!le# fe3 e4!lanat ons 3ere g 6en to the s!ectators# 3ho 3ere left# as n the school of nat$re# to ma/e nferences for themsel6es, The method of nd rect s$ggest on# by allegory or symbol# s a more eff cac o$s nstr$ment of nstr$ct on than !la n d dact c @lang$age G s nce 3e are hab t$ally nd fferent to that 3h ch s acE$ red 3 tho$t effort ( @The n t ated are fe3# tho$gh many bear the thyrs$s,@ And t 3o$ld ha6e been m!oss ble to !ro6 de a lesson s$ ted to e6ery degree of c$lt 6at on and ca!ac ty# $nless t 3ere one framed after 8at$re?s e4am!le# or rather a re!resentat on of 8at$re herself# em!loy ng her $n 6ersal symbol sm nstead of techn cal t es of lang$age# n6 t ng endless research# yet re3ard ng the h$mblest nE$ rer# and d sclos ng ts secrets to e6ery one n !ro!ort on to h s !re!aratory tra n ng and !o3er to com!rehend them,

E6en f dest t$te of any formal or off c al en$nc at on of those m!ortant tr$ths# 3h ch e6en n a c$lt 6ated age t 3as often fo$nd ne4!ed ent to assert e4ce!t $nder a 6e l of allegory# and 3h ch moreo6er lose the r d gn ty and 6al$e n !ro!ort on as they are learned mechan cally as dogmas# the sho3s of the Myster es certa nly conta ned s$ggest ons f not lessons# 3h ch n the o! n on not of one com!etent 3 tness only# b$t f many# 3ere ada!ted to ele6ate the character of the s!ectators# enabl ng them to a$g$r someth ng of the !$r!oses of e4 stence# as 3ell as of the means of em!loy ng t# to l 6e better and to d e ha!! er, 'nl /e the rel g on of boo/s or creeds# these myst c sho3s !erformances 3ere not the read ng of a lect$re# b$t the o!en ng of a !roblem# m!ly ng ne ther e4em!t on from research# nor host l ty to !h loso!hy ( for# on the contrary# !h loso!hy s the great Mystagog$e or ArchDE4!o$nder of symbol sm ( tho$gh the nter!retat ons by the Grec an Ph loso!hy of the old myths and symbols 3ere n many nstances as llDfo$nded# as n others they are correct,

8o better means co$ld be de6 sed to ro$se a dormant ntellect than those m!ress 6e e4h b t ons# 3h ch addressed t thro$gh the mag nat on( 3h ch# nstead of condemn ng t to a !rescr bed ro$t ne of creed# n6 ted t to see/# com!are# and 5$dge, The alterat on from symbol to dogma s as fatal to bea$ty of e4!ress on# as that from fa th to dogma s to tr$th and 3holesomeness of tho$ght The f rst !h loso!hy often re6erted to the nat$ral mode of teach ngG and Socrates# n !art c$lar# s sa d to ha6e esche3ed dogmas# endea6or ng# l /e the Myster es# rather to a3a/en and de6elo! n the m nds of h s hearers the deas 3 th 3h ch they 3ere already endo3ed or !regnant# than to f ll them 3 th readyDmade ad6ent t o$s o! n ons, So Masonry st ll follo3s the anc ent manner of teach ng, -er symbols are the nstr$ct on she g 6es G and the lect$res are b$t often !art al and ns$ff c ent oneDs ded endea6ors to nter!ret those symbols, -e 3ho 3o$ld become an accom!l shed Mason m$st not be content merely to hear or e6en to $nderstand the lect$res# b$t m$st# a ded by them# and they

ha6 ng as t 3ere mar/ed o$t the 3ay for h m# st$dy# nter!ret# and de6elo! the symbols for h mself, The earl est s!ec$lat on endea6ored to e4!ress far more than t co$ld d st nctly com!rehend G and the 6ag$e m!ress ons f the m nd fo$nd n the myster o$s analog es of !henomena the r most a!t and energet c re!resentat ons, The Myster es# l /e the symbols of Masonry# 3ere b$t an mage of the eloE$ent analog es of 8at$reG both those and these re6eal ng no ne3 secret to s$ch as 3ere or are $n!re!ared# or nca!able of nter!ret ng the r s gn f cance, E6ery3here n the old Myster es# and n all the symbol sms and ceremon al of the - ero!hant 3as fo$nd the same myth cal !ersonage# 3ho# l /e -ermes# or Horoaster# $n tes -$man Attr b$tes 3 th D 6 ne# and s h mself the God 3hose 3orsh ! he ntrod$ced# teach ng r$de men the commencements of c 6 l <at on thro$gh the nfl$ence of song# and connect ng 3 th the symbol of h s death# emblemat c of that of 8at$re# the most essent al consolat ons of rel g on,

The Myster es embraced the three great doctr nes of Anc ent Theoso!hy, They treated of God# Man# and 8at$re, D onys$s# 3hose Myster es Or!he$s s sa d to ha6e fo$nded# 3as the God of 8at$re# or of the mo st$re 3h ch s the l fe of 8at$re# 3ho !re!ares n dar/ness the ret$rn of l fe and 6egetat on# or 3ho s h mD self the L ght and %hange e6ol6 ng the r 6ar et es, -e 3as theolog cally one 3 th -ermes# Promethe$s# and Pose don, In the Aegean Islands he s B$tes# Dardan$s# - meros# or Imbros, In %rete he a!!ears as Ias $s or He$s# 3hose 3orsh ! rema n ng $n6e led by the $s$al forms of mystery# betrayed to !rofane c$r os ty the symbols# 3h ch# f rre6erently contem!lated# 3ere s$re to be m s$nderstood, In As a he s the longDstoled Bassare$s coalesc ng 3 th the Saba< $s of the Phryg an %orybantes ( the same 3 th the myst c Iacch$s# n$rsl ng or son of %eres# and 3 th the d smembered Hagre$s# son of Perse!hone, In symbol cal forms the Myster es e4h b ted T-E O8E# of 3h ch T-E MA8I"OLD Is an nf n te ll$strat on# conta n ng a moral lesson#

calc$lated to g$ de the so$l thro$gh l fe# and to cheer t n death, The story of D onys$s 3as !rofo$ndly s gn f cant, -e 3as not only creator of the 3orld# b$t g$ard an# l berator# and Sa6 or of the so$l, God of the manyDcolored mantle# he 3as the res$lt ng man festat on !erson f ed# the all n the many# the 6ar ed year# l fe !ass ng nto nn$merable forms, The s! r t$al regenerat on of man 3as ty! f ed n the Myster es by the second b rth of D onys$s as offs!r ng of the - ghest G and the agents and symbols of that regenerat on 3ere the elements that affected 8at$re?s !er od cal !$r f cat onDthe a r# nd cated by the myst c fan or 3 nno3 G the f re# s gn f ed by the torch G and the ba!t smal 3ater# for 3ater s not only cleanser of all th ngs# b$t the genes s or so$rce of all, Those not ons# clothed n r t$al# s$ggested the so$l?s# reformat on and tra n ng# the moral !$r ty formally !rocla med at Ele$s s, -e only 3as n6 ted to a!!roach# 3ho 3as @of clean hands and ngen$o$s s!eech# free fro m all !oll$t on# and 3 th a clear consc ence,@ D@-a!!y the man#@ say the n t ated n E$r ! des and

Ar sto!hanes# @3ho !$r f es h s l fe# and 3ho re6erently consecrates h s so$l n the th rsts of the God, Let h m ta/e heed to h s l !s that he $tter no !rofane 3ordG let h m be 5$st and / nd to the stranger# and to h s ne ghborG let h m g 6e 3ay to no 6 c o$s e4cess# lest he ma/e d$ll and hea6y the organs of the s! r t, "ar from the myst c dance of the th rsts be the m!$re# the e6 l s!ea/er# the sed t o$s c t <en# the self sh h$nter after ga n# the tra tor G all those# n short# 3hose !ract ces are more a/ n to the r ot of T tans than to the reg$lated l fe of the Or!h c # or the %$retan order of the Pr ests of Idaean He$s,@ The 6otary# ele6ated beyond the s!here of h s ord nary fac$lt es# and $nable to acco$nt for the ag tat on 3h ch o6er!o3ered h m# seemed to become d 6 ne, n !ro!ort on as he ceased to be h$manG to be a demon or god, Already# n mag nat on# the n t ated 3ere n$mbered among the beat f ed, They alone en5oyed the tr$e l fe# the S$n?s tr$e l$stre# 3h le they hymned the r God beneath the myst c gro6es of a m m c Elys $m# and 3ere really reno6ated or regenerated $nder the gen al nfl$ence of the r dances,

@They 3hom Proser! ne g$ des n her myster es#@ t 3as sa d# @3ho mb bed her nstr$ct on and s! r t$al no$r shment# rest from the r labors and /no3 str fe no more, -a!!y they 3ho 3 tness and com!rehend these sacred ceremon es O They are made to /no3 the mean ng of the r ddle of e4 stence by obser6 ng ts a m and term nat on as a!!o nted by He$s G they !arta/e a benef t more 6al$able and end$r ng than the gra n besto3ed by 3ares G for they are e4alted n the scale of ntellect$al e4 stence# and obta n s3eet ho!es to console them at the r death,@ 8o do$bt the ceremon es of n t at on 3ere or g nally fe3 and s m!le, As the great tr$ths of the !r m t 6e re6elat on faded o$t of the memor es of the masses of the Peo!le# and 3 c/edness became r fe $!on the earth# t became necessary to d scr m nate# to reE$ re longer !robat on and sat sfactory tests of the cand dates# and by s!read ng aro$nd 3hat at f rst 3ere rather schools of nstr$ct on than myster es# the 6e l of secrecy# and the !om! of ceremony# to he ghten the o! n on of the r 6al$e and m!ortance, ;hate6er ! ct$res later and es!ec ally %hr st an 3r ters may dra3 of

the Myster es# they m$st# not only or g nally# b$t for many ages# ha6e cont n$ed !$reG and the doctr nes of nat$ral rel g on and morals there ta$ght# ha6e been of the h ghest m!ortanceG beca$se both the most 6 rt$o$s as 3ell as the most learned and !h loso!h c of the anc ents s!ea/ of them n the loft est terms, That they $lt mately became degraded from the r h gh estate# and corr$!ted# 3e /no3, The r tes of n t at on became !rogress 6ely more com!l cated, S gns and to/ens 3ere n6ented by 3h ch the %h ldren of L ght co$ld 3 th fac l ty ma/e themsel6es /no3n to each other, D ffer, ant Degrees 3ere n6ented# as the n$mber of In t ates enlarged# n order that there m ght be n the nner a!artment of the Tem!le a fa6ored fe3# to 3hom alone the more 6al$able secrets 3ere entr$sted# and 3ho co$ld 3 eld effect$ally the nfl$ence and !o3er of the Order, Or g nally the Myster es 3ere meant to be the beg nn ng of a ne3 l fe of reason and 6 rt$e, The n t ated or esoter c com!an ons 3ere ta$ght the doctr ne of the One S$!reme God# the theory of death and etern ty# the h dden myster es of 8at$re# the !ros!ect of the $lt mate restorat on of the so$l to that

state of !erfect on from 3h ch t had fallen# ts mmortal ty# and the states of re3ard and !$n shment after death, The $n n t ated 3ere deemed Profane# $n3orthy of !$bl c em!loyment or !r 6ate conf dence# somet mes !rescr bed as Athe sts# and certa n of e6erlast ng !$n shment beyond the gra6e, All !ersons 3ere n t ated nto the lesser Myster esG b$t fe3 atta ned the greater# n 3h ch the tr$e s! r t of them# and most of the r secret doctr nes 3ere h dden, The 6e l of secrecy 3as m!enetrable# sealed by oaths and !enalt es the most tremendo$s and a!!all ng, It 3as by n t at on only# that a /no3ledge of the - erogly!h cs co$ld be obta ned# 3 th 3h ch the 3alls# col$mns# and ce l ngs of the Tem!les 3ere decorated# and 3h ch# bel e6ed to ha6e been comm$n cated to the Pr ests by re6elat on from the celest al de t es# the yo$th of all ran/s 3ere la$dably amb t o$s of dec !her ng, The ceremon es 3ere !erformed at dead of n ght# generally n a!artments $nderDgro$nd# b$t somet mes n the centre of a 6ast !yram d# 3 th e6ery a!!l ance that co$ld alarm and e4c te the cand date, Inn$merable

ceremon es# 3 ld and romant c# dreadf$l and a!!all ng# had by degrees been added to the fe3 e4!ress 6e symbols of !r m t 6e obser6ances# $nder 3h ch there 3ere nstances n 3h ch the terr f ed as! rant act$ally e4! red 3 th fear, The !yram ds 3ere !robably $sed for the !$r!oses of n t at on# as 3ere ca6erns# !agodas# and labyr nthsG for the ceremon es reE$ red many a!artments and cells# long !assages and 3ells, In Egy!t a !r nc !al !lace for the Myster es 3as the sland of Ph lae on the 8 le# 3here a magn f cent Tem!le of Os r s stood# and h s rel cs 3ere sa d to be !reser6ed, ; th the r nat$ral !rocl 6 t es# the Pr esthood# that select and e4cl$s 6e class# n Egy!t# Ind a# Phoen c a# &$dea and Greece# as 3ell as n Br ta n and Rome# and 3here6er else the Myster es 3ere /no3n# made $se of them to b$ ld 3 der and h gher the fabr c of the r o3n !o3er, The !$r ty of no rel g on cont n$es long, Ran/ and d gn t es s$cceed to the !r m t 6e s m!l c ty, 'n!r nc !led# 6a n# nsolent# corr$!t# and 6enal

men !$t on God?s l 6ery to ser6e the De6 l 3 thal G and l$4$ry# 6 ce# ntolerance# and !r de de!ose fr$gal ty# 6 rt$e# gentleness# and h$m l ty# and change the altar 3here they sho$ld be ser6ants# to a throne on 3h ch they re gn, B$t the K ngs# Ph loso!hers# and Statesmen# the 3 se and great and good 3ho 3ere adm tted to the Myster es# long !ost!oned the r $lt mate selfDdestr$ct on# and restra ned the nat$ral tendenc es of the Pr esthood, And accord ngly Hos m$s tho$ght that the neglect of the Myster es after D oclet an abd cated# 3as the ch ef ca$se of the decl ne of the Roman Em! re G and n the year 9=:# the Procons$l of Greece 3o$ld not close the Myster es# not3 thstand ng a la3 of the Em!eror Falent n an# lest the !eo!le sho$ld be dr 6en to des!erat on# f !re6ented from !erform ng themG $!on 3h ch# as they bel e6ed# the 3elfare of man/ nd 3holly de!ended, They 3ere !ract ced n Athens $nt l the *th cent$ry n Greece and Rome for se6eral cent$r es after %hr stG and n ;ales and Scotland do3n to the )0th cent$ry, The nhab tants of Ind a or g nally !ract ced the Patr archal rel g on,

E6en the later 3orsh ! of F shn$ 3as cheerf$l and soc al G accom!an ed 3 th, the fest 6e song# the s!r ghtly dance# and the reso$nd ng cymbal# 3 th l bat ons of m l/ and honey# garlands# and !erf$mes from aromat c 3oods and g$ms, There !erha!s the Myster es commencedG and n them# $nder allegor es# 3ere ta$ght the !r m t 6e tr$ths, ;e cannot# 3 th n the l m ts of th s lect$re# deta l the ceremon es of n t at onG and shall $se general lang$age# e4ce!t 3here someth ng from those old Myster es st ll rema ns n Masonry, The In t ate 3as n6ested 3 th a cord of three threads# so t3 ned as to ma/e three t mes three# and called <ennar, -ence comes o$r cableDto3, It 3as an emblem of the r tr D$ne De ty# the remembrance of 3hom 3e also !reser6e n the three ch ef off cers of o$r Lodges# !res d ng n the three E$arters of that 'n 6erse 3h ch o$r Lodges re!resentG n o$r three greater and three lesser l ghts# o$r three mo6able and three mmo6able 5e3els# and the three ! llars that s$!!ort o$r Lodges, The Ind an Myster es 3ere celebrated n s$bterranean ca6ern?s and

grottos he3n n the sol d roc/G and the In t ates adored the De ty# symbol <ed by the solar f re, The cand date# long 3ander ng n dar/ness# tr$ly 3anted L ght# and the 3orsh ! ta$ght h m 3as the 3orsh ! of God# the So$rce of L ght, The 6ast Tem!le of Ele!hants# !erha!s the oldest n the 3orld# he3n o$t of the roc/# and )97 feet sE$are# 3as $sed for n t at ons G as 3ere the st ll 6aster ca6erns of Salsette# 3 th the r 922 a!artments, The !er ods of n t at on 3ere reg$lated by the ncrease and decrease of the moon, The Myster es 3ere d 6 ded nto fo$r ste!s or Degrees, The cand date m ght rece 6e the f rst at e ght years of age# 3hen he 3as n6ested 3 th the <ennar, Each Degree d s!ensed someth ng of !erfect on, @Let the 3retched man#@ says the - to!adesa# @!ract ce 6 rt$e# 3hene6er he en5oys one of the three or fo$r rel g o$s Degrees G let h m be e6enDm nded 3 th all created th ngs# and that d s!os t on 3 ll be the so$rce of 6 rt$e,@ After 6ar o$s ceremon es# ch efly relat ng to the $n ty and tr n ty of the Godhead# the cand date 3as clothed n a l nen garment 3 tho$t a

seam# and rema ned $nder the care of a Brahm n $nt l he 3as t3enty years of age# constantly st$dy ng and !ract s ng the most r g d 6 rt$e, Then he $nder3ent the se6erest !robat on for the second Degree# n 3h ch he 3as sanct f ed by the s gn of the cross# 3h ch# !o nt ng to the fo$r E$arters of the com!ass# 3as honored as a str / ng symbol of the 'n 6erse by many nat ons of ant E$ ty# and 3as m tated by the Ind ans n the sha!e of the r tem!les, Then he 3as adm tted to the -oly %a6ern# bla< ng 3 th l ght# 3here# n costly robes# sat# n the East# ;est# and So$th# the three ch ef - ero!hants# re!resent ng the Ind an tr D$ne De ty, The ceremon es there commenced 3 th an anthem to the Great God of 8at$reG and then follo3ed th s a!ostro!he ( @O m ghty !r mal %reatorO Eternal God of GodsO The ;orld?s Mans onO Tho$ art the Incorr$!t ble Be ng# d st nct from all th ngs trans entO Tho$ art before all Gods# the Anc ent Absol$te E4 stence# and the S$!reme S$!!orter of the 'n 6erseO Tho$ art the S$!reme Mans onG and by Thee# O Inf n te "orm# the 'n 6erse 3as s!read abroad,@

The cand date# th$s ta$ght the f rst great !r m t 6e tr$th# 3as called $!on to ma/e a formal declarat on# that he 3o$ld be tractable and obed ent to h s s$!er orsG that he 3o$ld /ee! h s body !$re G, go6ern h s tong$e# and obser6e a !ass 6e obed ence n rece 6 ng the doctr nes and trad t ons of the Order G and the f rmest secrecy n ma nta n ng n6 olable ts h dden and abstr$se myster es, Then he 3as s!r n/led 3 th 3ater M3hence o$r ba!t smN G? certa n 3ords# no3 $n/no3n# 3ere 3h s!ered n h s earG and he 3as d 6ested of h s shoes# and made to go three t mes aro$nd the ca6ern, -ence o$r three c rc$ ts G hence 3e 3ere ne ther barefoot nor shod( and the 3ords 3ere the PassD3ords of that Ind an Degree, The Gymnoso!h st Pr ests came from the ban/s of the E$!hrates nto Eth o! a# and bro$ght 3 th them the r sc ences and the r doctr nes, The r !r nc !al %ollege 3as at Meroe# and the r Myster es 3ere celebrated n the Tem!le of Am$n# reno3ned for h s oracle, Eth o! a 3as then a !o3erf$l State# 3h ch !receded Egy!t n c 6 l <at on# and had a

theocrat c go6ernment, Abo6e the K ng 3as the Pr est# 3ho co$ld !$t h m to death n the name of the De ty, Egy!t 3as then com!osed of the Theba d only, M ddle Egy!t and the Delta 3ere a g$lf of the Med terranean, The 8 le by degrees formed an mmense marsh# 3h ch# after3ard dra ned by the labor of man# formed Lo3er Egy!tG and 3as for many cent$r es go6erned by the Eth o! an Sacerdotal %aste# of Arab c or g n G after3ard d s!laced by a dynasty of 3arr ors, The magn f cent r$ ns of A4 om# 3 th ts obel s/s and h erogly!h cs# tem!les# 6ast tombs and !yram ds# aro$nd anc ent Meroe# are far older than the !yram ds near Mem!h s, The Pr ests# ta$ght by -ermosa embod ed n boo/s the occ$lt and hermet c sc ences# 3 th the r o3n d sco6er es and the re6elat ons of the S byls, They st$d ed !art c$larly the most abstract sc ences# d sco6ered the famo$s geometr cal theorems 3h ch Pythagoras after3ard learned from them# calc$lated ecl !ses# and reg$lated# n neteen cent$r es before %aesar# the &$l an year, They descended to !ract cal n6est gat ons as to the necess t es of l fe# and made /no3n the r

d sco6er es to the !eo!le G they c$lt 6ated the f ne arts# and ns! red the !eo!le 3 th that enth$s asm 3h ch !rod$ced the a6en$es of Thebes# the Labyr nth# the Tem!les of Karnac# Denderah# Edfo$# and Ph lae# the monol th c obel s/s# and the great La/e Morr s# the fert l <er of the co$ntry, The 3 sdom of the Egy!t an In t ates# the h gh sc ences and lofty moral ty 3h ch they ta$ght# and the r mmense /no3ledge# e4c ted the em$lat on of the most em nent men# 3hate6er the r ran/ and fort$ne G and led them# des! te the com!l cated and terr ble tr als to be $ndergone# to see/ adm ss on nto the Myster es of Os r s and Is s, "rom Egy!t# the Myster es 3ent to Phoen c a# and 3ere celebrated at Tyre, Os r s changed h s name# and become Adon or D onysos# st ll the re!resentat 6e of the S$n G and after3ard these Myster es 3ere ntrod$ced s$ccess 6ely nto Assyr a# Babylon# Pers a# Greece# S c ly# and Italy, In Greece and S c ly# Os r s too/ the name of Bacch$s# and Is s that of %eres# %ybele# Rhea and Fen$s, Bar -ebrae$s says ( @Enoch 3as the f rst 3ho n6ented boo/s and

d fferent sorts of 3r t ng, The anc ent Gree/s declare that Enoch s the same as Merc$ry Tr smeg st$s A-ermesB# and that he ta$ght the sons of men the art of b$ ld ng c t es# and enacted some adm rable la3s,,, -e d sco6ered the /no3ledge of the Hod ac# and the co$rse of the Planets G and he !o nted o$t to the sons of men# that they sho$ld 3orsh ! God# that they sho$ld fast# that they sho$ld !ray# that they sho$ld g 6e a ms# 6ot 6e offer ngs# and tenths, -e re!robated abom nable foods and dr$n/enness# and a!!o nted fest 6als for sacr f ces to the S$n# at each of the ?Hod acal S gns,@ Manetho e4tracted h s h story from certa n ! llars 3h ch he d sco6ered n Egy!t# 3hereon nscr !t ons had been made by Thoth# or the f rst Merc$ry Aor -ermesB# n the sacred letters and d alect( b$t 3h ch 3ere after the flood translated from that d alect nto the Gree/ tong$e# and la d $! n the !r 6ate recesses of the Egy!t an Tem!les, These ! llars 3ere fo$nd n s$bterranean ca6erns# near Thebes and beyond the 8 le# not far from the so$nd ng stat$e of Memnon# t a !lace called Syr nges G 3h ch are descr bed to be certa n 3 nd ng a!artments $ndergro$nd G made#

t s sa d# by those 3ho 3ere s/ lled n anc ent r tesG 3ho foresee ng the com ng of the del$ge# and fear ng lest memory of the r cereD mon es sho$ld be obl terated# b$ lt and contr 6ed 6a$lts# d$g 3 th 6ast labor# n se6eral !laces, "rom the bosom of Egy!t s!rang a man of cons$mmate 3 sdom# n t ated n the secret /no3ledge of Ind a# of Pers a# and of Eth o! a# named Thoth or Phtha by h s com!atr ots# Taa$t by the Phoen c ans# -ermes Tr smeg st$s by the Gree/s# and Adr s by the Rabb ns, 8at$re seemed to ha6e chosen h m for her fa6or te# and to ha6e la6 shed on h m all the E$al t es necessary to enable h m to st$dy her and to /no3 her thoro$ghly, The De ty had# so to say# nf$sed nto h m the sc ences and the arts# n order that? he m ght nstr$ct the 3hole 3orld, -e n6ented many th ngs necessary for the $ses of l fe# and ga6e them s$ table names G he ta$ght men ho3 to 3r te do3n the r tho$ghts and arrange the r s!eechG he nst t$ted the ceremon es to be obser6ed n the 3orsh ! of each of the GodsG he obser6ed the co$rse of the starsG he

n6ented m$s c# the d fferent bod ly e4erc ses# ar thmet c# med c ne# the art of 3or/ ng n metals# the lyre 3 th three str ngs G he reg$lated the three tones of the 6o ce# the shar!# ta/en from a$t$mn# the gra6e fro m 3 nter# and the #m ddle from s!r ng# there be ng then b$t three seasons, It 3as he 3ho ta$ght the Gree/s the mode of nter!ret ng terms and th ngs# 3hence they ga6e h m the name of _EeJ JJ A-ermesB# 3h ch s gn f es Inter!reter, In Egy!t he nst t$ted h erogly!h cs( he selected a certa n n$mber of !ersons 3hom he 5$dged f tted to be the de!os tar es of h s secrets# of s$ch only as 3ere ca!able of atta n ng the throne and the f rst off ces n the Myster esG he $n ted them n a body# created them Pr ests of the L 6 ng God# nstr$cted them n the sc ences and arts# and e4!la ned to them the symbols by 3h ch they 3ere 6e led, Egy!t# )722 years before the t me of Moses# re6ered n the Myster es One S'PREME GOD# called the O8L. '8%REATED, 'nder - m t !a d homage to se6en !r nc !al de t es# t s to -ermes# 3ho l 6ed at that !er od# that 3e m$st d str b$te the

concealment or 6e l ng A6elat onB of the Ind an 3orsh !# 3h ch Moses $n6e led or re6ealed# chang ng noth ng of tbe la3s of -ermes# e4ce!t the !l$ral ty of h s myst c Gods, The Egy!t an Pr ests related that -ermes# dy ng# sa d ( @- therto I ha6e l 6ed an e4 le from my tr$e co$ntry( no3 I ret$rn th ther, Do not 3ee! for me ( I ret$rn to that celest al co$ntry 3h ther each goes n h s t$rn# There s God, Th s l fe s b$t a death,@ Th s s !rec sely the creed of the old B$ddh sts of Samaneans# 3ho bel e6ed that fro m t me to t me God sent B$ddha`s on earth# to reform men# to 3ean them from the r 6 ces# and lead them bac/ nto the !aths of 6 rt$e, Among the sc ences ta$ght by -ermes# there 3ere secrets 3h ch he comm$n cated to the In t ates only $!on cond t on that they sho$ld b nd themsel6es# by a terr ble oath# ne6er to d 6$lge them# e4ce!t to those 3ho# after long tr al# sho$ld be fo$nd 3orthy to s$cceed them, The K ngs e6en !roh b ted the re6elat on of them on !a n of death, Th s secret 3as styled the Sacerdotal Art# and ncl$ded alchemy# astrology# magn$m Amag cB# the sc ence of s! r ts# etc, -e ga6e them the /ey to the

- erogly!h cs of all these secret sc ences# 3h ch 3ere regarded as sacred# and /e!t concealed n the roost secret !laces of the Tem!le, The great secrecy obser6ed by the n t ated Pr ests# for many years# and the lofty sc ences 3h ch they !rofessed# ca$sed them to be honored and res!ected thro$gho$t all Egy!t# 3h ch 3as regarded by other nat ons as the college# the sanct$ary# of the sc ences and arts, The mystery 3h ch s$rro$nded them strongly e4c ted c$r os ty, Or!he$s metamor!hosed h mself# so to say# nto an Egy!t an, -e 3as n t ated nto, Theology and Phys cs, And he so com!letely made the deas and season ngs of h s teachers h s o3n# that h s -ymns rather bes!ea/ an Egy!t an Pr est than a Grec an Poet ( and he 3as the f rst 3ho carr ed nto Greece the Egy!t an fables, Pythagoras# e6er th rsty for learn ng# consented e6en to be c rc$mc sed# n order to become one of the In t ates( and the occ$lt sc ences 3ere re6ealed to h m n the nnermost !art of the sanct$ary, The In t ates n a !art c$lar sc ence# ha6 ng been nstr$cted by fables#

en gmas# allegor es# and h erogly!h cs# 3rote myster o$sly 3hene6er n the r 3or/s they to$ched the s$b5ect of the Myster es# and cont n$ed to conceal sc ence $nder a 6e l of f ct ons, ;hen the destr$ct on by %ambyses of many c t es# and the r$ n of nearly all Egy!t# n the year 70* before o$r era# d s!ersed most of the Pr ests nto Greece and else3here# they bore 3 th them the r sc ences# 3h ch they cont n$ed to teach en gmat cally# that s toN say# e6er en6elo!ed n the obsc$r t es of fables and h erogly!h cs G to the end that? the 6$lgar herd# see ng# m ght see noth ng and hear ng# m ght com!rehend noth ng, All the 3r ters dre3 from th s so$rce( b$t these Myster es# concealed $nder so many $ne4!la ned en6elo!es# ended n g 6 ng b rth to a s3arm of abs$rd t es# 3h ch# from Greece# s!read o6er the 3hole earth, In the Grec an Myster es# as establ shed by Pythagoras# there 3ere three Degrees, A !re!arat on of f 6e years? abst nence and s lence 3as reE$ red, If the cand date 3as fo$nd to be !ass onate or ntem!erate# content o$s# or amb t o$s of 3orldly honors and d st nct ons# he 3as re5ected,

In h s lect$res# Pythagoras ta$ght the mathemat cs# as a med $m 3hereby to !ro6e the e4 stence of God from obser6at on and by means of reason G grammar# rhetor c# and log c# to c$lt 6ate and m!ro6e that reason# ar thmet c# beca$se he conce 6ed that the $lt mate benef t of man cons sted n the sc ence of n$mbers# and geometry# m$s c# and astronomy# beca$se he conce 6ed that man s ndebted to them for a /no3ledge of 3hat s really good and $sef$l, -e ta$ght the tr$e method of obta n ng a /no3ledge of the D 6 ne la3s of !$r fy ng the so$l from ts m!erfect ons# of search ng for tr$th# and of !ract c ng 6 rt$eG th$s m tat ng the !erfect ons of God, -e tho$ght h s system 6a n# f t d d not contr b$te to e4!el 6 ce and ntrod$ce 6 rt$e nto the m nd, -e ta$ght that the t3o most e4cellent th ngs 3ere# to s!ea/ the tr$th# and to render benef ts to one another, !art c$larly he nc$lcated S lence# Tem!erance# "ort t$de# Pr$dence# and &$st ce, -e ta$ght? the mmortal ty of the so$l# the Omn !otence of God# and the necess ty of !ersonal hol ness to E$al fy a man for adm ss on nto the Soc ety of the Gods,

Th$s 3e o3e the !art c$lar mode of nstr$ct on n the Degree of "ello3D%raft to Pythagoras G and that Degree s b$t an m!erfect re!rod$ct on of h s lect$res, "rom h m# too# 3e ha6e many of o$r e4!lanat ons of the symbols, -e arranged h s assembl es d$e East and ;est# beca$se he held that Mot on began n the East and !roceeded to the ;est, O$r Lodges are sa d to be d$e East and ;est# beca$se the Master re!resents the r s ng S$n# and of co$rse m$st be n the East, The !yram ds# too# 3ere b$ lt !rec sely by the fo$r card nal !o nts, And o$r e4!ress on, that o$r Lodges e4tend $!3ard to the -ea6ens# comes from the Pers an and Dr$ d c c$stom of ha6 ng to the r Tem!les no roofs b$t the s/y, Plato de6elo!ed and s! r t$al <ed, the !h loso!hy of Pythagoras E6en E$seb $s the %hr st an adm ts# that he reached to the 6est b$le of Tr$th# and stood $!on ts threshold, The Dr$ d cal ceremon es $ndo$btedly came from Ind aG and the Dr$ ds 3ere or g nally B$ddh sts, The 3ord Dr$ d# l /e the 3ord Mag # s gn f es 3 se or learned men G and they 3ere at once !h loso!hers# mag strates# and #d 6 nes,

There 3as a s$r!r s ng $n form ty n the Tem!les# Pr ests# doctr nes# and 3orsh ! of the Pers an Mag and Br t sh Dr$ ds, The Gods of Br ta n 3ere the same as the %ab r of Samothrace, Os r s and Is s a!!eared n the r Myster es# $nder the names of -$ and %er d3enG and l /e those of the !r m t 6e Pers ans# the r Tem!les 3ere enclos$res of h$ge $nhe3n stones# some of 3h ch st ll rema n# and are regarded by the common !eo!le 3 th fear and 6enerat on, They 3ere generally e ther c rc$lar or o6al, Some 3ere n the sha!e of a c rcle to 3h ch a 6ast ser!ent 3as attached, The c rcle 3as an Eastern symbol of the 'n 6erse# go6erned by an Omn !otent De ty 3hose center s e6ery3here# and h s c rc$mference no3here ( and the egg 3as an $n 6ersal symbol of the 3orld, Some of the Tem!les 3ere 3 nged# and some n the sha!e of a crossG the 3 nged ones referr ng to Kne!h# the 3 nged Ser!entDDe ty of Egy!t G 3hence the name of 8a6estoc/# 3here one of them stood, Tem!les n the sha!e of a cross 3ere also fo$nd n Ireland and Scotland, The length of one of these 6ast str$ct$res# n the sha!e of a ser!ent# 3as nearly three m les,, The grand !er ods for n t at on nto the Dr$ d cal Myster es# 3ere

E$arterlyG at the eE$ no4es and solst ces, In the remote t mes 3hen they or g nated# these 3ere the t mes corres!ond ng 3 th the )9th of "ebr$ary# )st of May# )1th of A$g$st# and )st of 8o6ember, The t me of ann$al celebrat on 3as MayDE6e# and the ceremon al !re!arat ons commences at m dn ght# on the 01th of A!r l, ;hen the n t at ons 3ere o6er# on MayDE6e# f res 3ere / ndled on all the ca rns and cromlechs n the sland# 3h ch b$rned all n ght to ntrod$ce the s!orts of MayDday, The fest 6al 3as n honor of the S$n, The n t at ons 3ere !erformed at m dn ght G and there 3ere three Degrees, The Goth c Myster es 3ere carr ed 8orth3ard from the East# by Od n G 3ho# be ng a great 3arr or# modeled and 6ar ed them to s$ t h s !$r!oses and the gen $s of h s !eo!le, -e !laced o6er the r celebrat on t3el6e - ero!hants# 3ho 3ere al /e Pr ests# %o$nselors of State# and &$dges fro m 3hose dec s on there 3as no a!!eal, -e held the n$mbers three and n ne n !ec$l ar 6enerat on# and 3as !robably h mself the Ind an B$ddha, E6ery thr ceDthree months# thr ceDthree 6 ct ms 3ere sacr f ced to the tryD$ne God, The Goths had three great fest 6alsG the most

magn f cent of 3h ch commenced at the 3 nter solst ce# and 3as celebrated n honor of Thor# the Pr nce of the Po3er of the A r, That be ng the longest n ght n the year# and throne after 3h ch the S$n comes 8orth3ard# t 3as commemorat 6e of the %reat on G and they termed t motherDn ght# as the one n 3h ch the creat on of the 3orld and l ght fro m the !r m t 6e dar/ness too/ !lace, Th s 3as the .$le# & t$l# or .eof feast# 3h ch after3ard became %hr stmas, At th s feast the n t at ons 3ere celebrated, Thor 3as the S$n# the Egy!t an Os r s and Kne!h# the Phys c an Bel or Baal, The n t at ons 3ere had n h$geD ntr cate ca6erns# term nat ng# as all the M thr ac ca6erns d d# n a s!ac o$s 6a$lt# 3here the cand date 3as bro$ght to l ght, &ose!h 3as $ndo$btedly n t ated, After he had nter!reted Pharaoh?s dream# that Monarch made h m h s Pr me M n ster# let h m r de n h s second char ot# 3h le they !rocla med before h m# ABRS%-I MKAn Egyt an 3ord#mean ng# @Bo3 do3n,@N and set h m o6er the land of Egy!t, In add t on to th s# the K ng ga6e h d a ne3 name# Tsa!anatDPaana/h# and marr ed h m to Asanat# da$ghter of Pota Par ng# a Pr est of An or

- ero!ol s# 3here 3as the Tem!le of AthomDRe# the Great God of Egy!tG th$s com!letely nat$ral < ng h m, -e co$ld not ha6e contracted th s marr age# nor ha6e e4erc sed that h gh d gn ty# 3 tho$t be ng f rst n t ated n the Myster es, ;hen h s Brethren came to Egy!t the second t me# the Egy!t ans of h s co$rt co$ld not eat 3 th them# as that 3o$ld ha6e been abom nat on# tho$gh they ate 3 th &ose!hG 3ho 3as therefore regarded not as a fore gner# b$t as one of themsel6es( and 3hen he sent and bro$ght h s brethren bac/# and charged them 3 th ta/ ng h s c$!# he sa d# @Kno3 ye not that a man l /e me !ract ces d 6 nat onJ@ th$s ass$m ng the Egy!t an of h gh ran/ n t ated nto the Myster es# sad as s$ch con6ersant 3 th the occ$lt sc ences, So also m$st Moses ha6e been n t ated for he 3as not only bro$ght $! n the co$rt of the K ng# as the ado!ted son of the K ngly da$ghter# $nt l he 3as forty years of age G b$t he 3as nstr$cted n all the learn ng of the Egy!t ans# and marr ed after 3ard the da$ghter of .ethr$# a Pr est of An l /e3 se, Strobo and D odor$s both assert that he 3as h mself a Pr est of -el o!ol s, Before he 3ent nto the Desert#

there 3ere nt mate relat ons bet3een h m and the Pr esthood G and he had s$ccessf$lly commanded# &ose!h$s nforms $s# an army sent by the K ng aga nst the Eth o! ans, S m!l c $s asserts that Moses rece 6ed from the Egy!t ans# n the Myster es# the doctr nes 3h ch he ta$ght to the -ebre3s( and %lement of Ale4andr a and Ph lo say that he 3as a Theolog an and Pro!het# and nter!reter of the Sacred La3s, Manetho# c ted by &ose!h$s# says he 3as a Pr est of -el o!ol s# and that h s tr$e and or g nal MEgy!t anN name 3as Asersa!h or Osars !h, And n the nst t$t on of the -ebre3 Pr esthood# n the !o3ers and !r 6 leges# as 3ell as the mm$n t es and sanct ty 3h ch he conferred $!on them# he closely m tated the Egy!t an nst t$t ons G ma/ ng !$bl c the 3orsh ! of that De ty 3hom the Egy!t an In t ates 3orsh !!ed n !r 6ate G and stren$o$sly endea6or ng to /ee! the !eo!le from rela!s ng nto the r old m 4t$re of %halda c and Egy!t an s$!erst t on and dolD3orsh !# as they 3ere e6er ready and ncl ned to do G e6en Ahar$n# $!on the r f rst clamoro$s d scontent# restor ng the 3orsh ! of A! sG as an mage of 3h ch Egy!t an God he made the golden calf,

The Egy!t an Pr ests ta$ght n the r great Myster es# that there 3as one God# S$!reme and na!!roachable# 3ho had conce 6ed the 'n 6erse y - s Intell gence# before -e created t by - s Po3er and ; ll, They 3ere no Mater al sts nor Panthe sts G b$t ta$ght that Matter 3as not eternal or coDe4 stent 3 th the great " rst %a$se# b$t created by - m, The early %hr st ans# ta$ght by the fo$nder of the r Rel g on# b$t n greater !erfect on# those !r m t 6e tr$ths that from the Egy!t ans had !assed to the &e3s# and been !reser6ed among the latter by the Essenes# rece 6ed also the nst t$t on of the Myster es G ado!t ng as the r ob5ect the b$ ld ng of the symbol c Tem!le# !reser6 ng the old Scr !t$res of the &e3s as the r sacred boo/# and as the f$ndamental la3# 3h ch f$rn shed the ne3 6e l of n t at on 3 th the -ebra c 3ords and form$las# that# corr$!ted and d sf g$red by t me and gnorance# a!!ear n many of o$r Degrees, S$ch# my Brother# s the doctr ne of the f rst Degree of the Myster es# or that of ch ef of the Tabernacle# to 3h ch yo$ ha6e no3 been adm tted# and the moral lesson of 3h ch s# de6ot on to the ser6 ce of

God# and d s nterested <eal and constant endea6or for the 3elfare of men, .o$ ha6e here rece 6ed only h nts of the tr$e ob5ects and !$r!oses of the Myster es, -ereafter# f yo$ are !erm tted to ad6ance# yo$ 3 ll arr 6e at a more com!lete $nderstand ng of them and of the s$bl me doctr nes 3h ch they teach, Be content# therefore# 3 th that 3h ch yo$ ha6e seen and heard# and a3a t !at ently the ad6ent of the greater l ght,

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), 0:C D Pr nce of the Tabernacle

PPIF, PRI8%E O" T-E TABER8A%LE,

S.MBOLS 3ere the almost $n 6ersal lang$age of anc ent theology, They 3ere the most ob6 o$s method of nstr$ct on G for# l /e nat$re herself# they addressed the $nderstand ng thro$gh the eye G and the most anc ent e4!ress ons denot ng comm$n cat on of rel g o$s /no3ledge# s gn fy oc$lar e4h b t on, The f rst teachers of man/ nd borro3ed th s method of nstr$ct on G and t com!r sed an endless store of !regnant h erogly!h cs, These lessons of the olden t me 3ere the r ddles of the S!hyn4# tem!t ng the c$r o$s by the r E$a ntness# b$t n6ol6 ng the !ersonal r s/ of the ad6ent$ro$s nter!reter, @The Gods themsel6es#@ t 3as sa d# @d sclose the r ntent ons to the 3 se# b$t to fools the r teach ng s $n ntell g ble G@ and the K ng of the Del!h c Oracle 3as sa d not to declare# nor onthe other hand to concealG b$t em!hat cally to @ nt mate or s gn fy,@ The Anc ent Sages# both barbar an and Gree/# n6ol6ed the r mean ng n s m lar

nd rect ons and en gmas G the r lessons 3ere con6eyed e ther n 6 s ble symbols# or n those @!arables and dar/ say ngs of old#@ 3h ch the Israel tes cons dered t a sacred d$ty to hand do3n $nchanged to s$ccess 6e generat ons, The e4!lanatory to/ens em!loyed by man# 3hether emblemat cal ob5ects or act ons# symbols or myst c ceremon es# 3ere l /e the myst c s gns and !ortends e ther n dreams or by the 3ays de# s$!!osed to he s gn f cant of the ntent ons of the Gods G both reE$ red the a d of an4 o$s tho$ght and s/ llf$l nter!retat on, It 3as only by a conect a!!rec at on of analogo$s !roblems of nat$re# that the 3 ll of -ea6en co$ld be $nderstood y the D 6 ner# or the lessons of ; sdom become man fest to the Sage, The Myster es 3ere a ser es of symbols G and 3hat 3as s!o/en there cons sted 3holly of accessory e4!lanat ons of the act or mage G sacred commentar es# e4!lanatory of establ shed symbolsG 3 th l ttle of those nde!endent trad t ons

embody ng !hys cal or moral s!ec$lat on# n 3h ch the elements or !lanets 3ere the Sage, actors# and the creat on and re6ol$t ons of the 3orld 3ere nterm ngled 3 th recollect ons of anc ent e6ents( and yet 3 th so m$ch of that also# that nat$re became her o3n e4!os tor thro$gh the med $m of an arb trary symbol cal nstr$ct onG and the anc ent 6 e3s of the relat on bet3een the h$man and d 6 ne rece 6ed dramat c forms, There has e6er been an nt mate all ance bet3een the t3o systems# the symbol c and the !h loso!h cal# n the allegor es of the mon$ments of all ages# n the symbol c 3r t ngs of the !r ests of all nat ons# n the r t$als of all secret and myster o$s soc et esG there has been a constant ser es# an n6ar able $n form ty of !r nc !les# 3h ch come from an aggregate# 6ast m!os ng# and tr$e# com!osed of !arts that f t harmon o$sly only there, Symbol cal nstr$ct on s recommended by the constant and? $n form $sage of

ant E$ ty# D and t has reta ned ts nfl$ence thro$gho$t all ages# as a system of myster o$s comm$n cat on, The De ty# n h s re6elat ons to man# ado!ted the $se of mater al mages for the !$r!ose of enforc ng s$bl me tr$thsG and %hr st ta$ght by symbols and !arables, The myster o$s /no3ledge of the Dr$ ds 3as embod ed n s gns and symbols, Tal es n# descr b ng h s n t at on# says ( @The secrets 3ere m!arted to me by the old G antess M%er d3en# or Is sN# 3 tho$t the $se of a$d ble lang$age,@ And aga n he says# @I am a s lent !rof c ent@ In t at on 3as #a school# n 3h ch 3ere ta$ght the tr$ths of !r m t 6e re6elat on# the e4 stence and attr b$tes of one God# the mmortal ty of the So$l# re3ards and !$n shments n a f$t$re l fe# the !henomena of 8at$re# the arts# the sc ences# moral ty# reg$lat on# !h loso!hy# and !h lanthro!y# and 3hat 3e no3 style !sychology and meta!hys cs# 3 th an mal magnet sm# and the other occ$lt sc ences, All the deas of the Pr ests of - nd$stan# Pers a# Syr a# Arab a# %haldaea#

Phoen c a# 3ere /no3n to the Egy!t an Pr ests, The rat onal Ind an !h loso!hy# after !enetrat ng Pers a and %haldaea# ga6e b rth to the Egy!t an Myster es, ;e f nd that the $se of - erogly!h cs 3as !receded n Egy!t by that of the eas ly $nderstood symbols and f g$res# from the m neral# an mal# and 6egetable / ngdoms# $sed by the Ind ans# Pers ans# and %haldans to e4!ress the r tho$ghtsG and th s !r m t 6e !h loso!hy 3as the bas s of the modern !h loso!hy of Pythagoras and Plato, D All the !h loso!hers and leg slators that made Ant E$ ty ll$str o$s# 3ere !$! ls of the n t at onG and all the benef cent mod f cat ons n the rel g ons of the d fferent !eo!le nstr$cted by them 3ere o3 ng to the r nst t$t on and e4tens on of the Myster es In the chaos of !o!$lar s$!erst t ons# those Myster es alone /e!t man from la!s ng nto absol$te br$t shness, Horoaster and %onf$c $s dre3 the r doctr nes from the Myster es, %lement of Ale4andr a# s!ea/ ng of the Great Myster es# says ( @-ere ends all nstr$ct on, 8at$re and all th ngs are seen and /no3n

moral tr$ths alone been ta$ght the In t ate# the Myster es co$ld ne6er ha6e deser6ed nor rece 6ed the magn f cent e$log $ms of the most enl ghtened al en of Ant E$ ty#Dof P ndar# Pl$tarch# Isocrates# D odor$s# Plato# E$r ! des# Socrates# Ar sto!hanes# % cero# E! ctet$s# Marc$s A$rel $s# and others GD!h loso!hers host le to the Sacerdotal S! r t# or h stor ans de6oted to the n6est gat on of Tr$th, 8o ( all the sc ences 3ere ta$ght there G and those oral on 3r tten trad t ons br efly comm$n cated# 3h ch reached bac/ to the f rst age of the 3orld, Socrates sa d# n the Phaedo of Plato( @It 3ell a!!ears that those 3ho establ shed the Myster es# or secret assembl es of the n t ated# 3ere no contem!t ble !ersonages# b$t men of great gen $s# 3ho n the early ages stro6e to teach $s# $nder en gmas# that he 3ho shall go to the n6 s ble reg ons 3 tho$t be ng !$nf ed# 3 ll be !rec ! tated nto the abyss G 3h le he 3ho arr 6es there# !$rged of the sta ns of th s 3orld# and accom!l shed n 6 rt$e# 3 ll be adm tted to the d3ell ngD!lace of the De ty , The 5n t ated are certa n

to atta n the com!any of the Gods,@ Prete4tat$s# Procons$l of Acha a# a man endo3ed 3 th all the 6 rt$es# sa d# n the :th cent$ry# that to de!r 6e the Gree/s of those Sacred Myster es 3h ch bo$nd together the 3hole h$man race# 3o$ld ma/e l fe ns$!!ortable, In t at on 3as cons dered to be a myst cal death G a descent nto the nfernal reg ons# 3here e6ery !oll$t on# and the sta ns and m!erfect on?s of a corr$!t and e6 l l fe 3ere !$rged a3ay by f re and 3ater G and the !erfect E!o!t 3as then sa d to be regenerated# ne3Dborn# restored to a reno6ated e4 stence of l fe# l ght# and !$r tyG and !laced $nder the D 6 ne Protect on, A ne3 lang$age 3as ada!ted to these celebrat ons# and also a lang$age of h erogly!h cs# $n/no3n to any b$t those 3ho had rece 6ed the h ghest Degree, And to them $lt mately 3ere conf ned the learn ng# the moral ty# and the !ol t cal !o3er# of e6ery !eo!le among 3h ch the Myster es 3ere !ract ced, So effect$ally 3as the /no3ledge of the h erogly!h cs of the h ghest Degree h dden

fro m all b$t a fa6ored fe3# that n !rocess of t me the r mean ng 3as ent rely lost# and none co$ld nter!ret them, If the same h erogly!h cs 3ere em!loyed n the h gher as n the lo3er Degrees# they had a d fferent and more abstr$se and f g$rat 6e mean ng, It 3as !retended# n later t mes# that the sacred h erogly!h cs and lang$age 3ere the same that 3ere $sed by the %elest al De t es, E6eryth ng that co$ld he ghten the mystery of n t at on 3as added# $nt l the 6ery name of the ceremony !ossessed a strange charm# and yet con5$red $! the 3 ldest fears, ache greatest ra!t$re came to be e4!ressed by the 3ord that s gn f ed to !ass thro$gh the Myster es, The Pr esthood !ossessed one th rd of Egy!t, They ga ned m$ch of the r nfl$ence by means of the Myster es# and s!ared no means to m!ress the !eo!le 3 th a f$ll sense of the r m!ortance, They re!resented them as the beg nn ng of a ne3 l fe of reason and 6 rt$e ( the n t ated# or esoter c com!an ons 3ere sa d to enterta n the most agreeable ant c !at ons res!ect ng death and

etern ty# to com!rehend all the h dden myster es of 8at$re# to ha6e the r so$ls restored to the or g nal !erfect on from 3h ch man had fallen G and at the r death to be borne to the celest al mans ons of the Gods, The doctr nes of a f$t$re state of re3ards and !$n shments formed a !rom nent feat$re n the Myster esG and they 3ere also bel e6ed to ass$re m$ch tem!oral ha!! ness and good fort$ne# and afford absol$te sec$r ty aga nst the most mm nent dangers by land and sea, P$bl c od $m 3as cast of those 3ho ref$sed to be n t ated, They 3ere cons dered !rofane# $n3orthy of !$bl c em!loyment or !r 6ate conf denceG and held to be doomed to eternal !$n shment as m! o$s, To betray the secrets of the Myster es# to 3ear on the stage the dress of an In t ate# or to hold the Myster es $! do der s on# 3as to nc$r death at the hands of !$bl c 6engeance, It s certa n that $! to the t me of % cero# the Myster es st ll reta ned m$ch of the r or g nal character of sanct ty and !$r ty, And at a later day# as 3e

/no3# 8ero# after comm tt ng a horr ble cr me# d d not dare# e6en n Greece# to a d n the celebrat on of the Myster es G nor at a st ll later day 3as %onstant ne# the %hr st an Em!eror# allo3ed to do so# after h s m$rder of h s relat 6es, E6ery3here# and n all the r forms# the Myster es 3ere f$nereal G and celebrated the myst cal death and restorat on to l fe of some d 6 ne or hero c !ersonage ( and the deta ls of the legend and the mode of the death 6ar ed n the d fferent %o$ntr es 3here the Myster es 3ere !ract ced, he r e4!lanat on belongs both to astronomy and mythology# and the Legend of the Master?s Degree s b$t another form of that of the Myster es# reach ng bac/# n one sha!e or other# to the remotest ant E$ ty, ;hether Egy!t or g nated the legend# or borro3ed t from Ind a or %haldea# t s no3 m!oss ble to /no3, B$t the -ebre3s rece 6ed the Myster es from the Egy!t ansG and of co$rse 3ere fam l ar 3 th the r legend#D/no3n as t 3as to those Egy!t an In t ates# &ose!h and Moses, It 3as the fable Mor rather the

tr$th clothed n allegory and f g$resN of Os r s# the S$n# So$rce of L ght and Pr nc !le of good# and Ty!hon# the Pr nc !le of Dar/ness# and E6 l, In all the h stor es of the Gods and -eroes lay co$ched and h dden astronom cal deta ls and the h story of the o!erat ons of 6 s ble 8at$reG and those n the r t$rn 3ere also symbols of h gher and !rofo$nder tr$ths, 8one b$t r$de $nc$lt 6ated ntellects co$ld long cons der the S$n and Stars and the Po3ers of 8at$re as D 6 ne# or as f t ob5ects of -$man ;orsh !G and they 3 ll cons der them so 3h le the 3orld lasts G and e6er, rema n gnorant of the great S! r t$al Tr$ths of 3h ch these are the h erogly!h cs and e4!ress ons, A br ef s$mmary of the Egy!t an legend 3 ll ser6e to sho3 the lead ng dea on 3h ch the Myster es among the -ebre3s 3ere based, Os r s# sa d to ha6e been an anc ent K ng of Egy!t# 3as the S$nG and Is s# h s 3 fe# the Moon( and h s h story reco$nts# n !oet cal and f g$rat 6e style# the ann$al 5o$rney of the

Great L$m nary of -ea6en thro$gh the d fferent S gns of the Hod ac, In the absence of Os r s# Ty!hon# h s brother# f lled 3 th en6y and mal ce# so$ght to $s$r! h s throne G b$t h s !lans 3ere fr$strated by Is s, Then he resol6ed to / ll Os r s, Th s he d d#, by !ers$ad ng h m to enter a coff n or sarco!hag$s# 3h ch he then fl$ng nto the 8 le, Alter a Long search# Is s fo$nd the body# and concealed t n the de!ths of a forest G b$t Ty!hon# f nd ng t there# c$t t nto fo$rteen ! eces# and scattered them h ther and th ther, After ted o$s search# Is s fo$nd th rteen ! eces# the f shes ha6 ng oaten the other Mthe !r 6atesN# 3h ch she re!laced of 3ood# and b$r ed the body at Ph laeG 3here a tem!le of s$r!ass ng magn f cence 3as erected n honor of Os r s, Is s# a ded by her son Or$s# -or$s or -arDoer # 3arred aga nst Ty!hon# sle3 h m# re gned glor o$sly# and at her death 3as re$n ted to her h$sband# n the same tomb, Ty!hon 3as re!resented as born of the earth G the $!!er !art of h s

body co6ered 3 th feathers# n stat$re reach ng the clo$ds# h s arms and legs co6ered 3 th scales# ser!ents dart ng from h m on e6ery s de# and f re flash ng fro m h s mo$th, -or$s# 3ho a ded n slay ng h m# became the God of the S$n# ans3er ng to the Grec an A!olloG and Ty!hon s b$t the anagram of Python# the great ser!ent sla n by A!ollo, The 3ord Ty!hon# l /e E6e# s gn f es a ser!ent# and l fe, By ts form the ser!ent symbol <es l fe# 3h ch c rc$lates thro$gh all nat$re, ;hen# to3ard the end of a$t$mn# the ;oman MF rgoN# n the constellat ons seems M$!on the %haldean s!hereN to cr$sh 3 th her heel the head of the ser!ent# th s f g$re foretells the com ng of 3 nter# d$r ng 3h ch l fe seems to ret re from all be ngs# and no longer to c rc$late thro$gh nat$re, Th s s 3hy Ty!hon s gn f es also a ser!ent# the symbol of 3 nter# 3h ch# n the %athol c Tem!les# s re!resented s$rro$nd ng the Terrestr al Globe# 3h ch s$rmo$nts the hea6enly cross# emblem of redem!t on, If the 3ord Ty!hon s der 6ed from T$!o$lN t

s gn f es a tree 3h ch !rod$ces a!!les MmalaN e6 lsN# the &e3 sh or g n of the fall of man( Ty!hon means also one 3ho s$!!lants# and s gn f es the h$man !ass ons# 3h ch e4!el from o$r hearts the lessons of 3 sdom, In the Egy!t an "able# Is s 3rote the sacred 3ord for the nstr$ct on of men# and Ty!hon effaced t as fast as she 3rote t, In morals# h s name s gn f es Pr de# Ignorance and "alsehood, ;hen Is s f rst fo$nd the body# 3here t had floated ashore near Byblos# a shr$b of Er ca or tamar s/ near t had# by the 6 rt$e of the body# shot $! nto a tree aro$nd t# and !rotected tG and hence o$r s!r g of acac a, Is s 3as also a ded n her search by An$b s# n the sha!e of a dog, -e 3as S r $s or the DogDStar# the fr end and co$nselor of Os r s# and the n6entor sf lang$age# grammar# astronomy# s$r6ey ng# ar thmet c# m$s c# and med cal sc enceG the f rst ma/er of la3sG and 3ho ta$ght the 3orsh ! of the Gods# and the b$ ld ng of Tem!les,

In the Myster es# the na l ng $! of the body of Os r s n the chest or ar/ 3as termed the a!han smN or d sa!!earance Aof the S$n at the ; nter Solst ce# belo3 the Tro! c of %a!r cornB# and the reco6ery of the d fferent !arts of h s body by Is s# the E$res s# or f nd ng, The cand date 3ent thro$gh a ceremony re!resent ng th s# n all the Myster es e6ery3here, The ma n facts n the fable 3ere the same n all co$ntr esG and the !rom nent De t es 3ere e6ery3here a male and a female, In Egy!t they 3ere Os r s and Is s( n Ind a# Mahade6a and Bha6an ( n Phoen c a# Thamm$< Mor Adon sN and Astarte( n Phryg a# Atys and %ybele( n Pers a# M thras and As s( n Samothrace and Greece# D onys$s or Saba<e$s and Rhea( n Br ta n# -$ and %er d3en ( and n Scand na6 a# ;oden and "rea( and n e6ery nstance these D 6 n t es re!resented the S$n and the Moon, The myster es of Os r s# Is s# and -or$s# seem to ha6e been the model of all

other ceremon es of n t at on s$bseE$ently establ shed among the d fferent !eo!les of the 3orld, Those of Atys and %ybele# celebrated n Phryg aG those of %eres and Proser! ne# at Ele$s s and many other !laces n Greece# 3ere b$t co! es of them, Th s 3e learn from Pl$tarch# D odor$s S c$l$s# Lactant $s# and other 3r tersG and n the absence of d rect test mony sho$ld necessar ly nfer t from the s m lar ty of the ad6ent$res of these De t es G for the anc ents held that the %eres of he Gree/s 3as the same as the Is s of the Egy!t ansG and D on$sos or Bacch$s as Os r s, In the legend of Os r s and Is s# as g 6en by Pl$tarch# are many deta ls and c rc$mstances other than those that 3e ha6e br efly ment onedG and all of 3h ch 3e need not re!eat here, Os r s marr ed h s s ster Is s G and labored !$bl cly 3 th her to amel orate he lot of men, -e ta$ght them agr c$lt$re# 3h le Is s n6ented la3s, -e b$ lt tem!les to the Gods# and establ shed the r 3orsh !,

Both 3ere the !atrons of art sts and the r $sef$l n6ent ons( and , ntrod$ced the $se of ron for defens 6e 3ea!ons and m!lements of agr c$lt$re# and of gold to adorn the tem!les of the Gods, -e 3ent forth 3 th an army to conE$er men to c 6 l <at on# teach ng he !eo!le 3hom he o6ercame to !lant the 6 ne and so3 gra n for food, Ty!hon# h s brother# sle3 h m 3hen the s$n 3as n the s gn of e Scor! on# that s to say# at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4, They had been r 6al cla mants# says Synes $s# for the throne of Egy!t# as L ght and Dar/ness contend e6er for the em! re of the 3orld, Pl$tarch adds# that at the t me 3hen Os r s 3as sla n# the moon 3as at ts f$llG and therefore t 3as n the s gn o!!os te the Scor! on# that s# the B$ll# the s gn of the Fernal EE$ no4, Pl$tarch ass$res $s that t 3as to re!resent these e6ents and deta ls that Is s establ shed the Myster es# n 3h ch they 3ere re!rod$ced by mages#

symbols# and a rel g o$s ceremon al# 3hereby they 3ere m tated ( and n 3h ch lessons of ! ety 3ere g 6en# and consolat ons $nder the m sfort$nes that affl ct $s here belo3, Those 3ho nst t$ted these Myster es meant to strengthen rel g on and console men n the r sorro3s by the lofty ho!es fo$nd n a rel g o$s fa th# 3hose !r nc !les 3ere re!resented to them co6ered by a !om!o$s ceremon al# and $nder the sacred 6e l of allegory, D odor$s s!ea/s of the famo$s col$mns erected near 8ysa# n Arab a# 3here# t 3as sa d# 3ere t3o of the tombs of Os r s and Is s, On one 3as th s nscr !t on( @I am Is s# I$een of th s co$ntry, I 3as nstr$cted by Merc$ry, 8o one can destroy the la3s 3h ch I ha6e establ shed, I am the eldest da$ghter of Sat$rn# most anc ent of the Gods, I am the 3 fe and s ster of Os r s the K ng, I f rst made /no3n tomortals the $se of 3heat, I am the mother of Or$s the K ng, In my honor 3as the c ty of B$baste b$ lt, Re5o ce# O Egy!t# re5o ce# land that ga6e me b rthO@ ,,, And on the other 3as th s( @I am Os r s the K ng#

3ho led my arm es nto all !arts of the 3orld# to the most th c/ly nhab ted co$ntr es of Ind a# the 8orth# the Dan$be# and the Ocean, I am the eldest son of Sat$rn ( I 3as born of the br ll ant and magn f cent egg# and my s$bstance s of the same nat$re as that 3h ch com!oses l ght, There s no !lace n the 'n 6erse 3here I ha6e not a!!eared# to besto3 my benef ts and ma/e /no3n my d sco6er es,@ The rest 3as lleg ble, To a d her n the search for the body of Os r s# and to n$rse her nfant ch ld -or$s# Is s so$ght o$t and too/ 3 th her An$b s# son of Os r s# and h s s ster 8e!hte, -e# as 3e ha6e sa d# 3as S r $s# the br ghtest star n the -ea6ens, After f nd ng h m# she 3ent to Byblos# and seated herself near a fo$nta nG 3here she had learned that the sacred chest had sto!!ed 3h ch conta ned the body of Os r s, There she sat# sad and s lent# shedd ng a torrent of tears, Th ther came the 3omen of the %=$rt of I$een Astarte# and she s!o/e to them#

and dressed the r he r# !o$r ng $!on t del c o$sly !erf$med ambros a, Th s /no3n to the I$een# Is s 3as engaged as n$rse for her ch ld# n the !alace# one of the col$mns of 3h ch 3as made of the Er ca or tamar s/# that had gro3n $! o6er the chest conta n ng Os r s# c$t do3n by the K ng# and $n/no3n to h m# st ll enclos ng the chest( 3h ch col$mn Is s after3ard demanded# and from t e4tracted the chest and the body# 3h ch# the latter 3ra!!ed n th n dra!ery and !erf$med# she carr ed a3ay 3 th her, Bl$e Masonry# gnorant of ts m!ort# st ll reta ns among ts emblems one of a 3oman 3ee! ng o6er a bro/en col$mn# hold ng n her hand a branch of acac a# myrtle# or tamar s/# 3h le T me# 3e are told# stands beh nd her comb ng o$t the r nglets of her ha r, ;e need not re!eat the 6a! d and tr 6 al e4!lanat on there g 6en# of th s re!resentat on of Is s# 3ee! ng at Byblos# o6er the col$mn torn from the !alace of the l 6 ng# that conta ned the body of Os r s# 3h le

-or$s# the God of T me# !o$rs ambros a on her ha r, 8oth ng of th s rec tal 3as h stor calG b$t the 3hole 3as an allegory or sacred fable# conta n ng a mean ng /no3n only to those 3ho 3ere n t ated nto the Myster es, All the nc dents 3ere astronom cal# 3 th a mean ng st ll dee!er ly ng beh nd that e4!lanat on# and so h dden by a do$ble 6e l, The Myster es n 3h ch these nc dents 3ere re!resented and e4!la ned# 3ere l /e those of Ele$s s n the r ob5ect# of 3h ch Pa$san as# 3ho 3as n t ated# says that the Gree/s# from the remotest ant E$ ty# regarded them as the best calc$lated of all th ngs to lead mental ! ety ( and Ar stotle says they 3ere the most 6al$able of all rel g o$s nst llat ons# and th$s 3ere called myster es !ar e4cellenceG and the Tem!le of Ele$s s 3as regarded as# n some sort# the common sanct$ary of the 3hole earth# 3here rel g on had bro$ght together all that 3as most m!os ng and most a$g$st, The ob5ect of all the Myster es 3as to ns! re men 3 th ! ety# and to console

them n the m ser es of l fe, That consolat on# so afforded# 3as the ho!e of a ha!! er f$t$re# and of !ast ng# after death# to a state of eternal fel c ty, % cero says that the In t ates not only rece 6ed lessons 3h ch made l fe more agreeable# b$t dre3 from the ceremon es ha!!y ho!es for the moment of death, Socrates says that those 3ho 3ere so fort$nate as to be adm tted to the Myster es# !ossessed# 3hen dy ng# the most glor o$s ho!es for etern ty, Ar st des says that they not only !roc$re the In t ates consolat ons n the !resent l fe# and means of del 6erance from the great 3e ght of the r e6 ls# b$t also the !rec o$s ad6antage of !ass ng after death to a ha!! er state, Is s 3as the Goddess of Sa sG and the famo$s "east of L ghts 3as celebrated there n her honor, There 3ere celebrated the Myster es# n 3h ch 3ere re!resented the death and s$bseE$ent restorat on to l fe of the God Os r s# n a secret ceremony and scen c re!resentat on of h s s$ffer ngs# called the Myster es of 8 ght, The K ngs of Egy!t often e4erc sed the f$nct ons of the Pr esthoodG and they

3ere n t ated nto the sacred sc ence as soon as they atta ned the throne, So at Athens# the " rst Mag strate# or ArchonDK ng# s$!er ntended the Myster es,? Th s 3as an mage of the $n on that e4 sted bet3een the Pr esthood and Royalty# n those early t mes 3hen leg slators and / ngs so$ght n rel g on a !otent !ol t cal nstr$ment, -erodot$s says# s!ea/ ng of the reasons 3hy an mals 3ere de f ed n Egy!t( @If I 3ere to e4!la n these reasons# I sho$ld be led to the d sclos$re of those holy matters 3h ch I !art c$larly 3 sh to a6o d# and 3h ch# b$t from necess ty# I sho$ld not lea6e d sc$ssed at all,@ So he says# @The Egy!t ans ha6e at Sa s the tomb of a certa n !ersonage# 3hom I do not th n/ myself !erm tted to s!ec fy, It s beh nd the Tem!le of M ner6a,@ AThe latter# so called by the Gree/s# 3as really Is s# 3hose 3as the oftenDc ted en gmat cal nscr !t on# @I am 3hat 3as and s and s to come, 8o mortal hath yet $n6e led me,@B So aga n

he says( @'!on th s la/e are re!resented by n ght the acc dents 3h ch ha!!ened to h m 3hom I dare not name, The Egy!t ans call them the r Myster es, %oncern ng these# at the same t me that I confess myself s$ff c ently nformed# I feel myself com!elled to be s lent, Of the ceremon es also n honor of %eres I may not 6ent$re to s!ea/# f$rther than the obl gat ons of rel g on 3 ll allo3 me,@ It s easy to see 3hat 3as the great ob5ect of n t at on and the Myster es G 3hose f rst and greatest fr$ t 3as# as all the anc ents test fy# to c 6 l <e sa6age hordes# to soften the r feroc o$s manners# to ntrod$ce among them soc al nterco$rse# and lead them nto a 3ay of l fe more 3orthy of men, % cero cons ders the establ shment of the EIe$s of an Myster es to be the greatest

all the benef ts conferred by Athens on other common3ealths G the r effects 9*) ha6 ng been# he says# to c 6 l <e men# soften the r sa6age and feroc o$s

manners# _and teach them the tr$e !r nc !les of morals# 3h ch n t ate man nto the only / nd of l fe 3orthy of h m, The same !h loso!h c orator# n a !assage 3here he a!ostro!h <es %eres and Proser! ne# says that man/ nd o3es these Goddesses the f rst elements of moral l fe# as 3ell as the f rst means of s$stenance of !hys cal l fe G /no3ledge of the la3s# reg$lat on of morals# and those e4am!les of c 6 l <at on 3h ch ha6e m!ro6ed the manners of men and c t es, Bacch$s n E$r ! des says to Penthe$s# that h s ne3 nst t$t on Mthe D onys an Myster esN deser6ed to be /no3n# and that one of ts great ad6antages 3as# that t !rescr bed all m!$r ty ( that these 3ere the Myster es of ; sdom# of 3h ch t 3o$ld be m!r$dent to s!ea/ to !ersons not n t ated ( that they 3ere establ shed among the Barbar ans# 3ho n that sho3ed greater 3 sdom than the Gree/s# 3ho had not yet rece 6ed them,

Th s do$ble ob5ect# !ol t cal and rel g o$s#Done teach ng o$r d$ty to men# and the other 3hat 3e o3e to the GodsG or rather# res!ect for the Gods calc$lated to ma nta n that 3h ch 3e o3e the la3s# s fo$nd n that 3ellD/no3n 6erse of F rg l# borro3ed by h m from the ceremon es of n t at on ( @Teach me to res!ect &$st ce and the Gods,@ Th s great lesson# 3h ch the - ero!hant m!ressed on the In t ates# after they had 3 tnessed a re!resentat on of the Infernal reg ons# the Poet !laces after h s descr !t on of the d fferent !$n shments s$ffered by the 3 c/ed n Tartar$s# and mmed ately after the descr !t on of that of S sy!h$s,

Pa$san as# l /e3 se# at the close of the re!resentat on of the !$n shments of S sy!h$s and the da$ghters of Dana$s# n the Tem!le at Del!h # ma/es th s reflect on G that the cr me or m! ety 3h ch n them had ch efly mer ted th s !$n shment# 3as the contem!t 3h ch they had sho3n for the Myster es of Ele$s s,

"rom th s reflect on of Pa$san as# 3ho 3as an In t ate# t s easy to see that the Pr ests of Ele$s s# 3ho ta$ght the dogma of !$n shment n Tartar$s# ncl$ded among the great cr mes deser6 ng these !$n shments# contem!t for and d sregard of the -oly Myster esG 3hose ob5ect 3as to lead men to ! ety# and thereby to res!ect for 5$st ce and the la3s# ch ef ob5ect of the r nst t$t on# f not the only one# and to f6h ch the needs and nterest of rel g on tself 3ere s$bord nateG s nce the latter 3as b$t a means to lead more s$rely to the foyer G for the 3hole force of rel g o$s o! n ons be ng n the hands of the leg slators to be 3 elded# they 3ere s$re of be ng better obeyed, The Myster es 3ere not merely s m!le ll$strat ons and the obser6at on of some arb trary form$las and ceremon es G nor a means of rem nd ng men of the anc ent cond t on of the race !r or to c 6 l <at on( b$t they led men to ! ety by nstr$ct on n morals and as to a f$t$re l feG 3h ch at a 6ery early day# f not or g nally# formed the ch ef !ort on of the ceremon al,

Symbols 3ere $sed n the ceremon es# 3h ch referred to agr c$lt$re# as Masonry has !reser6ed the ear of 3heat n a symbol and n one of her 3ordsG b$t the r !r nc !al reference 3as to astronom cal !henomena, M$ch 3as no do$bt sa d as to the cond t on of br$tal ty and degradat on n 3h ch man 3as s$n/ before the nst t$t on of the Myster es G b$t the all$s on 3as rather meta!hys cal# to the gnorance of the $n n t ated# than to the 3 ld l fe of the earl est men, The great ob5ect of the Myster es of Is s# and n general of all the Myster es# 3as a great and tr$ly !ol t c one, It 3as to amel orate o$r race# to !erfect# ts manners and morals# and to restra n soc ety by stronger bonds than those that h$man la3s m!ose, They 3ere the n6ent on of that anc ent sc ence and 3 sdom 3h ch e4ha$sted all ts reso$rces to ma/e leg slat on !erfect G and of that !h loso!hy 3h ch has e6er so$ght to sec$re the ha!! ness of man# by !$r fy ng h s so$l from the !ass ons 3h ch can tro$ble t# and as a necessary

conseE$ence ntrod$ce soc al d sorder, And that they 3ere the 3or/ of gen $s s e6 dent from the r em!loyment of all the sc ences# a !rofo$nd /no3ledge of the h$man heart# and the means of s$bd$ ng t, It s a st ll greater m sta/e to mag ne that they 3ere the n6ent ons of charlatan sm# and means of dece!t on, They may n the la!se of t me ha6e degenerated nto m!ost$re and schools of false deasG b$t they 3ere not so at the beg nn ngG or else the 3 sest and best men of ant E$ ty ha6e $ttered toe most 3 llf$l falsehoods, In !rocess 2f t me the 6ery allegor es of the Myster es themsel6es# Tantal$s and ts !$n shments# M nos and the other 5$dges of the dead, came to be m s$nderstood# and to be false beca$se they 3ere soG 3h le at f rst they 3ere tr$e# beca$se they 3ere recogn <ed as merely the arb trary forms n 3h ch tr$ths 3ere en6elo!ed, The ob5ect of the Myster es 3as to !roc$re for man a real fel c ty on earth by the means of 6 rt$eG and to that end he 3as ta$ght that h s so$l 3as mmortal G

and that error# s n# and 6 ce m$st needs# by an nfle4 ble la3# !rod$ce the r conseE$ences, The r$de re!resentat ons of !hys cal tort$re n Tantal$s 3as b$t an mage of # the certa n# $na6o dable# eternal conseE$ences that flo3 by the la3 of God?s enactment from the s n comm tted and the 6 ce nd$lged n, The !oets and mystagog$es labored to !ro!agate these doctr nes of the so$l?s mmortal ty and the certa n !$n shment of s n and 6 ce# and to accred t them 3 th the !eo!le# by teach ng them the former n the r !oems# and the latter n the sanct$ar esG and they clothed them 3 th the charms# the one of !oetry# and the other of s!ectacles and mag c ll$s ons, They !a nted# a ded by all the reso$rces of art# the 6 rt$o$s man?s ha!!y l f,e after death# and the horrors of the fr ghtf$l !r sons dest ned to !$n sh the 6 c o$s, In the shades of the sanct$ar es# these del ghts and horrors 3ere e4h b ted as s!ectacles# and the In t ates 3 tnessed rel g o$s dramas# $nder

the name of n t at on and myster es, %$r os ty 3as e4c ted by secrecy# by t e d ff c$lty e4!er enced n obta n ng adm ss on# and by the tests to be $ndergone, The cand date 3as am$sed by the 6ar ety of the scenery# the !om! of the decorat ons# the a!!l ances of mach nery, Res!ect 3as ns! red by the gra6 ty and d gn ty of the actors and the ma5esty of the ceremon al G and fear and ho!e# sadness and del ght# 3ere n t$rns e4c ted, The - ero!hants# men of ntellect# and 3ell $nderstand ng the d s!os t on of the !eo!le and the art of controll ng them# $sed e6ery a!!l ance to atta n that ob5ect# and g 6e m!ortance and m!ress 6eness to the r ceremon es, As they co6ered those ceremon es 3 th the 6e l of Secrecy# so they !referred that 8 ght # sho$ld co6er them 3 th ts 3 ngs, Obsc$r ty adds to m!ress 6eness# and ass sts ll$s onG and they $sed t to !rod$ce an effect $!on the aston shed In t ate, The ceremon es 3ere cond$cted n ca6erns d mly l ghted ( th c/ gro6es

3ere !lanted aro$nd the Tem!les# to !rod$ce that gloom that m!resses the m nd 3 th a rel g o$s a3e, The 6ery 3ord mystery# accord ng to Demetr $s Phalere$s# 3as a meta!hor cal e4!ress on that denoted the secret a3e 3h ch dar/ness and gloom ns! red, The n ght 3as almost al3ays the t me f 4ed for the r celebrat on G and they 3ere ord nar ly termed noct$rnal ceremon es, In t at ons nto the Myster es of Samothrace too/!lace at n ght G as d d those of Is s# of 3h ch A!$le $s s!ea/s,

E$r ! des ma/es Bacch$s say# that h s Myster es 3ere celebrated at n ght# beca$se there s n n ght someth ng a$g$st and m!os ng, 8oth ng e4c tes men?s c$r os ty so m$ch as Mystery# conceal ng th ngs 3h ch they des re to /no3 ( and noth ng so m$ch ncreases c$r os ty as obstacles that nter!ose to !re6ent them

fro3n nd$lg ng n the grat f cat on of the r des res, Of th s the Leg slators and - ero!hants too/ ad6antage# to attract the !eo!le to the r sanct$ar es# and to nd$ce them to see/ to obta n lessons from 3h ch they 3o$ld !erha!s ha6e t$rned a3ay 3 th nd fference# f they had been !ressed $!on them, In th s s! r t of mystery they !rofessed to m tate the De ty 3ho h des - mself fro m o$r senses# and conceals from $s the s!r ngs by 3h ch -e mo6es the 'n 6erse, They adm tted that they concealed the h ghest tr$ths $nder the 6e l of allegory# the more to e4c te the c$r os ty of men# and to $rge them to n6est gat on, The secrecy n 3h ch they b$r ed the r Myster es# had that end, Those to 3hom they 3ere conf ded# bo$nd themsel6es# by the most fearf$l oaths# ne6er to re6eal _them, They 3ere not allo3ed e6en to s!ea/ of these m!ortant secrets 3 th any others than the n t ated G and the !enalty of death 3as !rono$nced aga nst any one nd screet eno$gh to re6eal them# or fo$nd n the

Tem!le 3 tho$t be ng an In t ateG and any one 3ho had betrayed those secrets# 3as a6o ded by all# as e4comm$n cated, Ar stotle 3as acc$sed of m! ety# by the - ero!hant E$rymendon# for ha6 ng sacr f ced to the manes of h s 3 fe# accord ng to the r te $sed n the 3orsh ! of %eres, -e 3as com!elled to flee to %halc s G and to !$rge h s memory fro m th s sta n# he d rected# by h s 3 ll# the erect on of a Stat$e to that Goddess, Socrates# dy ng# sacr f ced to Esc$la! $s# to e4c$l!ate h mself from the s$s! c on of Athe sm, A !r ce 3as set on the head of D agoras beca$se he had d 6$lged the Secret of the Myster es, Andoc des 3as acc$sed of the same cr me# as 3as Alc b ades# and both 3ere c ted to ans3er the charge before the nE$ s t on at Athens# 3here the Peo!le 3ere the &$dges( Aeschyl$s the Traged an 3as acc$sed of ha6 ng re!resented the Myster es on the, stage G and 3as acE$ tted only on !ro6 ng that he had ne6er been n t ated, Seneca# com!ar ng Ph loso!hy to n t at on# says that the most sacred

ceremon es co$ld be /no3n to the ada!ts alone ( b$t that man of the r !rece!ts 3ere /no3n e6en to the Profane, S$ch 9*7 3as the case 3 th the doctr ne of a f$t$re l fe# and a state of re3ards and !$n shments beyond the gra6e, The anc ent leg slators clothed th s doctr ne n the !om! of a myster o$s ceremony# n myst c 3ords and mag cal re!resentat ons# to m!ress $!on the m nd the tr$ths they ta$ght# by the strong nfl$ence of s$ch scen c d s!lays $!on the senses and mag nat on, In the same 3ay they ta$ght the or g n of the so$l# ts fall to the earth !ast the s!heres and thro$gh the elements# and ts f nal ret$rn to the !lace of ts or g n# 3hen# d$r ng the cont n$ance of ts $n on 3 th earthly matter# the sacred f re# 3h ch formed ts essence# had contracted no sta ns# and ts br ghtness had not been marred by fore gn !art cles# 3h ch# denat$ral < ng t# 3e ghed t do3n and delayed ts ret$rn, These meta!hys cal deas# 3 th d ff c$lty com!rehended by the mass of the In t ates# 3ere re!resented by f g$res# by symbols# and by allegor cal analog esG no dea be ng so abstract

that men do not see/ to g 6e t e4!ress on by# and translate t nto# sens ble mages, The attract on of Secrecy 3as enhanced by the d ff c$lty of obta n ng adm ss on, Obstacles and s$s!ense redo$bled c$r os ty, Those 3ho as! red to the n t at on of the S$n and n the Myster es of Math as n Pers a# $nder3ent many tr als, _rhey commenced by easy tests and arr 6ed by degrees at those that 3ere most cr$el# n 3h ch the l fe of the cand date 3as often endangered, Gregory 8a< an<en terms them tort$res and myst c !$n shments, 8o one call be n t ated# says S$ das# $nt l after he has !ro6en# by the most terr ble tr als# that he !ossesses a 6 rt$o$s so$l# e4em!t from the s3ay of e6ery !ass on# and at t 3ere m!ass ble, There 3ere t3el6e !r nc !al testsG and some ma/e the n$mber larger, The tr als of the Ele$s n an n t at ons 3ere not so terr ble G b$t they 3ere se6ere G and the s$s!ense# abo6e all n 3h ch the as! rant 3as /e!t for se6eral

years Athe memory of 3h ch s reta ned n Masonry by the ages of those of the d fferent Degrees B# or the nter6al bet3een adm ss on to the nfer or and n t at on n the great Myster es# 3as a s!ec es of tort$re to the c$r os ty 3h ch t 3as des red to e4c te, Th$s the Egy!t an Pr ests tr ed Pythagoras before adm tt ng h m to /no3 the secrets of the sacred sc ence, -e s$cceeded# by h s ncred ble !at ence and the co$rage 3 th 3h ch he s$rmo$nted all obstacles# n obta n ng adm ss on to the r soc ety and rece 6 ng the r lessons, Among the &e3s# the Essenes adm tted none among them# $nt l they had !assed the tests or se6eral Degrees, By n t at on# those 3ho before 3ere fello3Dc t <ens only# became brothers# connected by a closer bond than before# by means, of a rel g o$s fratern ty# 3h ch# br ng ng men nearer together# $n ted them more strongly ( and the 3ea/ and the !oor co$ld more read ly a!!eal for ass stance to the !o3erf$l and the 3ealthy# 3 th 3hom rel g o$s assoc at on ga6e them a closer fello3sh !,

The In t ate 3as regarded as the fa6or te of the Gods, "or h m alone -ea6en o!ened ts treas$res, "ort$nate d$r ng l fe# he co$ld# by 6 rt$e and the fa6or of -ea6en# !rom se h mself after death an eternal fel c ty, The Pr ests of the Island of Samothrace !rom sed fa6orable 3 nds and !ros!ero$s 6oyages to those 3ho 3er n t ated, It 3as !rom sed them that the %ABIRI# and %astor and Poll$4# the D osc$r # sho$ld a!!ear to them 3hen the storm raged# and g 6e them calms and smooth seas( and the Schol ast of Ar sto!hanes says that those n t ated n the Myster es there 3ere 5$st men# 3ho 3ere !r 6 leged to esca!e from great e6 ls and tem!ests, The In t ate n the Myster es of Or!he$s# after he 3as !$r f ed# 3as cons dered as released from the em! re of e6 l# and transferred to a cond t on of l fe 3h ch ga6e h m the ha!! est ho!es, @I ha6e emerged from e6 ls?J he 3as made to say# Rand ha6e atta ned good,@ Those n t ated n the Myster es of Ele$s s bel e6ed that the S$n bla<ed 3 th a !$re s!lendor for them alone, And#

as 3e see n the case of Per cles# they flattered themsel6es that %eres and Proser! ne ns! red them and ga6e them 3 sdom and co$nsel, In t at on d ss !ated errors and ban shed m sfort$ne and after ha6 ng f lled the heart of man 3 th 5oy d$r ng l fe# t ga6e h m the most bl ssf$l ho!es at the moment of da ;e o3e t to the Goddesses of Ele$s s# says Socrates# that 3e do not lead the 3 ld l fe of the earl est men ( and to them are d$e the flatter ng ho!es 3h ch n t at on g 6es $s for the moment of death and for all etern ty, The benef t 3h ch 3e rea! from these a$g$st ceremon es# says Ar st des# s not only !resent 5oy# a del 6erance and enfranch sement from the old lls G b$t also the s3eet ho!e 3h ch 3e ha6e n_ death of !ass ng to a more fort$nate state, And Theon says that !art c !at on of the Myster es s the f nest of all th ngs# and the so$rce of the greatest bless ngs, The ha!! ness !rom sed there 3as not l m ted to th s mortal l fe G b$t t e4tended beyond the gra6e, There a ne3 l fe 3as to commence# d$r ng 3h ch the In t ate 3as to en5oy

a bl ss 3 tho$t alloy and 3 tho$t l m t, The %orybantes !rom sed eternal l fe to the In t ates of the Myster es of %ybele and Atys, A!$le $s re!resents L$c $s# 3h le st ll n the form of an ass# as address ng h s !rayers to Is s# 3hom be s!ea/s of as the same as %eres# Fen$s# D ana# and Proser! ne# and as ll$m nat ng the 3alls of many c t es s m$ltaneo$sly 3 th her fem n ne l$stre# and s$bst t$t ng her E$ 6er ng l ght for the br ght rays of the S$n, She a!!ears to h m n h s 6 s on as a bea$t f$l female# @o6er 3hose d 6 ne nec/ her long th c/ ha r h$ng n gracef$l r nglets@ Address ng h m# she says# @The !arent of 'n 6ersal nat$re attends thy call, The m stress of the Elements# n t at 6e germ of generat ons# S$!reme of De t es# I$een of de!arted s! r ts# f rst nhab tant of -ea6en# and $n form ty!e of all the Gods and Goddesses# !ro! t ated by thy !rayers# s 3 th thee, She go6erns 3 th her nod the l$m no$s he ghts of the f rmament# the sal$br o$s bree<es of the oceanG the

s lent de!lorable de!ths of the shades belo3 G one Sole D 6 nt y $nder ma<y forms# 3orsh !!ed by the d fferent nat ons of the Earth $nder many t tles# and 3 th 6ar o$s a rel g o$s r tes,@ D rect ng h m ho3 to !roceed# at her fest 6al# to reDobta n h s h$man sha!e# she says ( @Thro$gho$t the ent re co$rse of the rema nder of thy l fe# $nt l the 6ery last breath has 6an shed from thy l !s# tho$ art de6oted to my ser6 ce 'nder my !rotect on 3 ll thy l fe be ha!!y and glor o$s( and 3hen# thy, days be ng s!ent# tho$ shall descend to the shades belo3# and nhab t the Elys an f elds# there also# e6en n the s$bterranean hem s!here# shall tho$ !ay freE$ent 3orsh ! fo me# thy !ro! t o$s !atron ( and yet f$rther ( f thro$gh sed$lo$s obed ence# rel g o$s de6ot on to my m n stry# and n6 olable chast ty# tho$ shall !ro6e thyself a 3orthy ob5ect of d 6 ne fa6or# then shall tho$ fell the nfl$ence of the !o3er that I alone !ossess, The n$mber of thy

days shall be !rolonged beyond the ord nary decrees of fate,@ In the !rocess on of the fest 6al# L$c $s sa3 the mage of the Goddess# on e ther s de of 3h ch 3ere female attendants# that# @3 th 6ory combs n the r hands# made bel e6e# by the mot on of the r arms and the d 6est ng of the r f ngers# to comb and ornament the Goddess? royal ha r,@ After3ard# clad n l nen robes# came the n t ated# @The ha r of the 3omen 3as mo stened by !erf$me# and en6elo!ed n a trans!arent co6er ngG b$t the men# terrestr al stars# as t 3ere# of the great rel g on# 3ere thoro$ghly sha6en# and the r bald heads shone e4ceed ngly,@ After3ard came the Pr ests# n robes of 3h te l nen, The f rst bore a lam! n the form of a boat# em tt ng flame from an or f ce n the m ddle ( the second# a small altar ( the th rd# a golden !almtree ( and the fo$rth d s!layed the f g$re of a left hand# the !alm o!en and e4!anded# @re!resent ng thereby a symbol of eE$ ty and fa rDdeal ng# of 3h ch the left hand# as slo3er

than the r ght hand# and more 6o d of s/ ll and craft# s therefore an a!!ro!r ate emblem,@ After L$c $s had# by the grace of Is s# reco6ered h s h$man form# the Pr est sa d to h m# @%alam ty hath no hold on those 3hom o$r Goddess hath chosen for her ser6 ce# and 3hom her ma5esty hath 6 nd cated,@ And the !eo!le declared that he 3as fort$nate to be @th$s after a manner born aga n# and at once betrothed to the ser6 ce of the -oly M n stry,@ ;hen he $rged the %h ef Pr est to n t ate h m# he 3as ans3ered that there 3as not @a s ngle one among the n t ated# of a m nd so degraded# or so bent on h s o3n destr$ct on# as# 3 tho$t rece 6 ng a s!ec al command from Is s# to dare to $nderta/e her m n stry rashly and sacr leg o$sly# and thereby comm t an act certa n to br ng $!on h mself a dreadf$l n5$ry,@ @"or@ cont n$ed the %h ef Pr est#,S the gates of the shades belo3# and the care of o$r l fe be ng n the hands of the Goddess#Dthe ceremony of n t at on nto the Myster es s# as t

3ere# to s$ffer death# 3 th the !recar o$s chance of res$sc tat on, ;herefore the Goddess# n the 3 sdom of her d 6 n ty# hath been acc$stomed to select as !ersons to 3hom the secrets of her rel g on can 3 th !ro!r ety be entr$sted# those 3ho# stand ng as t 3ere on the $tmost l m t of the co$rse of l fe they ha6e com!leted# may thro$gh her Pro6 dence be n a manner born aga n# and commence the career of a ne3 e4 stence,@ ;hen he 3as f nally to be n t ated# he 3as cond$cted to the nearest baths# and after ha6 ng bathed# the Pr est f rst sol c ted forg 6eness of the Gods# and then s!r n/led h m all o6er 3 th the clearest and !$rest 3ater# and cond$cted h m bac/ to the Tem!leG @3here#@ says A!$le $s# @after g 6 ng me some nstr$ct on# that mortal tong$e s not !erm tted t2 re6eal# he bade me for the s$cceed ng ten days restra n my a!!et te# eat no an mal food# and dr n/ no 3 ne,@ These ten days ela!sed# the Pr est led h m nto the nmost recesses of the

Sanct$ary, @And here# st$d o$s reader#@ he cont n$es @!erad6ent$re tho$ 3 lt be s$ffc ently an4 o$s to /no3 all that 3as sa d and done# 3h ch# 3ere t la3f$l to d 6$lge# I 3o$ld? tell theeG and# 3ert tho$ !erm tted to hear# tho$ sho$ldst /no3, 8e6ertheless# altho$gh the d sclos$re 3o$ld aff 4 the !enalty of rash c$r os ty to my tong$e as 3ell as thy ears# yet 3 ll I# for fear tho$ sho$ldst be too long tormented 3 th rel g o$s long ng# and s$ffer the !a n of !rotracted s$s!ense# tell the tr$th not3 thstand ng, L sten then to 3hat I shall relate, I a!!roached the abode of deathG 3 th my foot I !ressed the threshold of Proser! ne?s Palace, I 3as trans!orted thro$gh the elements# and cond$cted bac/ aga n, At m dn ght I sa3 the br ght l ght of the s$n sh n ng, I stood n the !resence of the Gods# the Gods of -ea6en and of the Shades belo3G ay# stood clear and 3ors/ !!ed, And no3 ha6e I told thee s$ch th ngs that# hear ng# tho$ necessar ly canst not $nderstand G and be ng beyond the com!rehens on of the

Profane# I can en$nc ate 3 tho$t comm tt ng a cr me,@ After n ght had !assed# and the morn ng had da3ned# the $s$al ceremon es 3ere at an end, Then he 3as consecrated by t3el6e stoles be ng !$t $!on h m# clothed# cro3ned 3 th !almlea6es# and e4h b ted to the !eo!le, The rema nder of that day 3as celebrated as h s b rthday and !assed n fest 6 t esG and on the th rd day after3ard# the same rel g o$s ceremon es 3ere re!eated# ncl$d ng a rel g o$s brea/fast# @follo3ed by a f nal cons$mmat on of ceremon es,@ A year after3ard# he 3as 3arned to !re!are, for n t at on nto the Myster es of @the Great God# S$!reme Parent of all the other Gods# the n6 nc ble Os r s,@ @"or#@ says A!$le $s# @altho$gh there s a str ct connect on bet3een the rel g ons of both De t es# A8D EFE8 T-E ESSE8%E O" BOTDIFI8ITIES IS IDE8TI%AL# the ceremon es of the res!ect 6e n t at ons are cons derably d fferent,@ %o m!are 3 th th s h nt the follo3 ng lang$age of the !rayer of L$c $s# addressed to Is s G and 3e may 5$dge 3hat doctr nes 3ere ta$ght n the

Myster es# n regard to the De ty( @O -oly and Per!et$al Preser6er of the -$man Race O e6er ready to cher sh mortals by Thy m$n f cence# and to afford Thy s3eet maternal affect on to the 3retched $nder m sfort$ne G ;hose bo$nty s ne6er at rest# ne ther by day nor by n ght# nor thro$gho$t the 6ery m n$test !art cle of d$rat onG Tho$ 3ho stretchest forth Thy healthDbear ng r ght hand o6er the land and o6er the sea for the !rotect on of man/ nd# to d s!erse the storms of l fe# to $nra6el the ne4tr cable entanglement of the 3eb of fate# to m t gate the tem!ests of fort$ne# and restra n the mal gnant nf lences of the stars#Dthe Gods n -ea6en adore Thee# the Gods n the shades belo3 do Thee homage# t/e stars obey Thee# the D 6 n t es re5o ce n Thee# the elements and the re6ol6 ng seasons ser6e TheeO At Thy nod the ; nds breathe# clo$ds gather# seeds gro3# b$ds germ nateG n obed ence to Thee the Earth re6ol6es A8D T-E S'8

GIFES 'S LIG-T, IT IS T-O' ;-O GOFER8EST T-E '8IFERSE A8D TREADEST TARTAR'S '8DER T-. "EET,@ Then he 3as n t ated nto the noct$rnal Myster es of Os r s and Sera! s( and after3ard nto those of %eres at Rome( b$t of the ceremon es n these n t at ons# A!$le $s says noth ng, 'nder the Archonsh ! of E$cl d# bastards and sla6es 3ere e4cl$ded from n t at on G and the same e4cl$s on obta ned aga nst the Mater al sts or E! c$reans 3ho den ed Pro6 dence and conseE$ently the $t l ty of n t at on, By a nat$ral !rogress# t came at length to be cons dered that the gates of Elys $m 3o$ld o!en only for the In t ates# 3hose so$ls had been !$r f ed and regenerated n the sanct$ar es, B$t t 3as ne6er held# on the other hand# that n t at on alone s$ff ced, ;e learn from Plato# that t 3as also necessary for the so$l to be !$r f ed from e6ery sta n( and that the !$r f cat on necessary 3as s$ch as ga6e 6 rt$e# tr$th# 3 sdom# strength# 5$st ce# and tem!erance,

Entrance to the Tem!les 3as forb dden to all 3ho had comm tted hom c de# e6en f t 3ere n6ol$ntary, So t s stated by both Isocrates and Theon, Mag c ans and %harlatans 3ho made tr c/ery a trade# and m!ostors !retend ng to be !ossessed by e6 l s! r ts# 3ere e4cl$ded from the sanct$ar es, E6ery m! o$s !erson and cr m nal 3as re5ected G and Lam!r d $s states that before the celebrat on of the Myster es# !$bl c not ce 3as g 6en# that none need a!!ly to enter b$t those aga nst 3hom the r consc ences $ttered no re!roach# and 3ho 3ere certa n of the r o3n nnocence, It 3as reE$ red of the In t ate that h s heart and hands sho$ld be free from any sta n, Por!hyry says that man?s so$l# at death# sho$ld be enfranch sed fro m all the !ass ons# from hate# en6y# and the othersG and# n a 3ord# be as !$re as t s reE$ red to be n the Myster es, Of co$rse t s not s$r!r s ng that !arr c des and !er/ 5$rors# and others 3ho had comm tted cr mes aga nst God or man# co$ld not be adm tted,

In the Myster es of M thras# a lect$re 3as re!eated to the In t ate on the s$b5ect of &$st ce, And the great moral, Lesson of the Myster es# to 3h ch all the r myst c ceremon al tended# e4!ressed n a s ngle l ne by F rg l# 3as to !ract ce &$st ce and re6ere the De ty# Dth$s recall ng men to 5$st ce# by connect ng t 3 th the 5$st ce of the Gods# 3ho reE$ re t and !$n sh ts nfract on, The In t ate co$ld as! re to the fa6ors of the Gods# only beca$se and 3h le he res!ected the r ghts of soc ety and those of h$man ty, @The s$n#@ says the chor$s of In t ates n Ar sto!hanes# @b$rns 3 th a !$re l ght for $s alone# 3ho# adm tted to the? Myster es# obser6e the la3s of ! ety n o$r nterco$rse 3 th strangers and o$r fello3Dc t <ens,@ The re3ards of n t at on 3ere attached to the !ract ce of the# soc al 6 rt$es, It 3as not eno$gh to be n t ated merely, It 3as necessary to be fa thf$l to the la3s of n t at on# 3h ch m!osed on men d$t es n regard to the r / nd, Bacch$s allo3ed none to !art c !ate n h s Myster es# b$t men 3ho !erformed to the r$les of ! ety and

5$st ce, Sens b l ty# abo6e all# and com!ass on for the m sfort$nes of others# 3ere !rec o$s 6 rt$es# 3h ch n t at on stro6e to enco$rage, @8at$re#@ says &$6enal @has created $s com!ass onate# s nce t has endo3ed $s 3 th tears, Sens b l ty s the most adm rable of o$r senses, ;hat man s tr$ly 3orthy of the torch of the Myster esG 3ho s$ch as the Pr est of %eres reE$ res h m to be# f he regards the m sfort$nes of others as 3holly fore gn to h mselfJ@ All 3ho had not $sed the r endea6ors to defeat a cons! racy# and those 3ho had on the contrary fomented oneG those c t <ens 3ho had betrayed the r co$ntry# 3ho had s$rrendered an ad6antageo$s !ost or !lace# or the 6essels of the State# to the enemyG all 3ho had s$!!l ed the enemy 3 th moneyG and n general# all 3ho had come short of the r d$t es as honest men and good c t <ens,# 3ere e4cl$ded from the Myster es of Ele$s s, To be adm tted there# one m$st ha6e l 6ed eE$ tably# and 3 th s$ffc ent good fort$ne not to be regarded as hated by the Gods,

Th$s the Soc ety of the In t ates 3as# n ts !r nc !le# and accord ng to the tr$e !$r!ose of ts nst t$t on# a soc ety of 6 rt$o$s men# 3ho labored to free the r so$ls from the tyranny of the !ass ons# and to de6elo! the germ of all the soc al 6 rt$es# And th s 3as the mean ng of the dea# after3ard m s$nderstood# that entry nto Elys $m 3as only allo3ed to the In t ates ( beca$se entrance to the sanct$ar es 3as allo3ed to the 6 rt$o$s only# and Elys $m 3as created for 6 rt$o$s so$ls alone, The !rec se nat$re and deta ls of the doctr nes as to a f$t$re l fe# and re3ards and !$n shments there# de6elo!ed n the Myster es# s n a meas$re $ncerta n, L ttle d rect nformat on n regard to t has corme do3n to $s, 8o do$bt# n the ceremon es# there 3as a scen c re!resentat on of Tantal$s and the 5$dgment of the dead# resembl ng that 3h ch 3e f nd n F rg l ( b$t there s as l ttle do$bt hat these re!resentat ons 3ere e4!la ned to be allegor cal, It s not o$r !$r!ose here to re!eat the descr !t ons g 6en ;e are only concerned

3 th the great fact that the Myster es ta$ght the doctr ne of the so$l?s mmortal ty# and that# n some sha!e# s$ffer ng# !a n# remorse# and agony# e6er follo3 s n as ts conseE$ences, -$man ceremon es are ndeed b$t m!erfect symbolsG and the alternate ba!t sms n f re and 3ater ntended to !$r fy $s nto mmortal ty# are e6er n# th s 3orld nterr$!ted at the moment of the r ant c !ated com!let on, L fe ts a m rror 3h ch reflects only to dece 6e# a t ss$e !er!et$ally, Interr$!ted and bro/en# an $rn fore6er fed# yet ne6er f$l), All n t at on s b$t ntrod$ctory to the great change of death, Ba!t sm# ano nt ng# embalm ng# obseE$ es by b$r al or f re# are !re!aratory symbols# l /e the n t at on of -erc$les before descend ng to the Shades# !o nt ng o$t the mental change 3h ch o$ght to !rece:e the rene3al of e4 stence, Death s the tr$e n t at on# to 3h ch slee! s the ntrod$ctory or m nor mystery, It s the f nal r te 3h ch $n ted the Egy!t an 3 th h s God# and 3h ch o!ens the same

!rom se to all 3ho are d$ly !re!ared for t, The body 3as deemed a !r son for the so$lG b$t the latter 3as not condemned to eternal ban shment and m!r sonment, The "ather of the ;orlds !erm ts ts cha ns to be bro/en# and has !ro6 ded n the co$rse of 8at$re the means of ts esca!e, It 3as a doctr ne of mmemor al ant E$ ty# shared al /e by Egy!t ans# Pythagoreans# the Or!h c # and by that character st c Bacch$s Sage# @the Prece!tor of the So$l#@ S lence# that death s far better than l feG that the real death belongs to those 3ho on earth are mmersed n the Lethe of ts !ass ons and fasc nat ons# and that the tr$e l fe commences only 3hen the so$l s emanc !ated for ts ret$rn, And n th s sense# as !res d ng o6er l fe and death# D onys$s s n the h ghest sense the LIBERATOR ( S nce# l /e Os r s# he frees the so$l# and g$ des t n ts m grat ons beyond the gra6e# !reser6 ng t from the r s/ of aga n fall ng $nder the sla6ery of matter or of some nfer or an mal form# the !$rgatory of Metem!sychos s G and e4alt ng and !erfect ng ts nat$re thro$gh

the !$r fy ng d sc !l ne of h s Myster es, @The great cons$mmat on of all !h loso!hy#@ sa d Socrates# !rofessedly E$ot ng from trad t onal and myst c so$rces# @ s Death( -e 3ho !$rs$es !h loso!hy ar ght# s st$dy ng ho3 to d e,@ All so$l s !art of the 'n 6ersal So$l# 3hose total ty s D onys$sG and t s therefore he 3ho# as S! r t of S! r ts# leads bac/ the 6agrant s! r t to ts home# and accom!an es t thro$gh the !$r fy ng !rocesses# both real and symbol cal# of ts earthly thans t, -e s therefore em!hat cally the Myst c or - ero!hant# the great S! r t$al Med ator of Gree/ rel g on, The h$man so$l s tself demon os a God 3 thers the m nd# ca!able thro$gh ts o3n !o3er of r 6al ng the canon <at on of the -ero# of ma/ ng tself mmortal by the !ract ce of the good# and the contem!lat on of the bea$t f$l and tr$e, The remo6al to the -a!!y Islands co$ld only be $nderstood myth callyG e6eryth ng earthly m$st d eG Man# l /e OEd !$s# s 3o$nded from h s b rth# h s realm elys $m can e4 st only beyond the gra6e, D onys$s d ed and descended to

the shades, - s !ass on 3as the great Secret of the Myster es G as Death s the Grand Mystery of e4 stence, - s death# ty! cal of 8at$re?s Death# or of her !er od cal decay and restorat on# eras one of the many symbols of the !al ngenes a or second b rth of man, Man descended from the elemental "orces or T tans AEloh mB# 3ho fed on the body of the Panthe st c De ty creat ng the 'n 6erse by selfDsacr f ce# commemorates n sacramental obser6ance th s myster o$s !ass on G and 3h le !arta/ ng of the ra3 flesh of the 6 ct m# seems to be n6 gorated by a fresh dra$ght from the fo$nta n of $n6ersal l fe# to rece 6e a ne3 !ledge of regenerated e4 stence, Death s the nse!arable antecedent of l feG the seed l es n order to !rod$ce the !lant# and earth shelf s rent as$nder and d es at the b rth of D on$sos, -ence the s gn f cancy of the !hall$s# or of ts noffens 6e s$bst t$te# the obel s/# r s ng as an emblem of res$rrect on by the tomb of b$r ed De ty at Lerna or t Sa s, D onys$sDOr!he$s descended to the Shades to reco6er the lost F rg n of the

Hod ac# to br ng bac/ h s mother to the s/y as ThyoneG or 3hat has the same mean ng# to cons$mmate h s e6entf$l marr age 3 th Perse!hone# thereby sec$r ng# l /e the n$!t als of h s father 3 th Semele or Danae# the !er!et$ ty of 8at$re, - s $nderDearth off ce s the de!ress on of the year# the 3 ntry as!ect n the alternat ons of b$ll and ser!ent# 3hose $n ted_ ser es ma/es $! the cont n$ ty of T me# and n 3h rls# !hys cally s!ea/ ng# the stash and dar/ are e6er the !arents of the bea$t f$l and br ght, the Myster es ( the h$man s$fferer 3as consoled by 3 tness ng the se6erer tr als of the GodsG and the 6 c ss t$des of l fe and death# e4!ressed by a!!os te symbols# s$ch as the sacr f ce or s$bm ss on of the B$ll# the e4t nct on and reD ll$m nat on of the torch# e4c ted corres!ond ng emot ons of alternate gr ef and 5oy# that !lay of !ass on 3h ch 3as !resent at the or g n of 8at$re# and 3h ch accom!an es all her changes, The greater Ele$s n ae 3ere celebrated n the month Boedrom on# 3hen the seed

3as b$r ed n the gro$nd# and 3hen the year# 6erg ng to ts decl ne# d s!oses the m nd to ser o$s reflect on, The f rst days of the ceremon al 3ere !assed n sorro3 and an4 o$s s lence# n fast ng and e4! atory or l$stral off ces, On a s$dden# the scene 3as changed ( sorro3 and lamentat on 3ere d scarded# the glad name of Bacch$s !assed from mo$th to mo$th# the mage of the God# cro3ned 3 th myrtle and bear ng a l ghted torch# 3as borne n #5oyf$l !rocess on from the %eram c$s to Ele$s s# 3here# d$r ng thee ens$ ng n ght# the n t at on 3as com!leted by an m!os ng re6elat on, The f rst scene 3as n the !aonaos# or o$ter co$rt of the sacred enclos$re# 3here am dst $tter dar/ness# or 3h le the med tat ng God# the star ll$m nat ng the 8oct$rnal Mystery# alone carr ed an $ne4t ng$ shed torch# the cand dates 3ere o6era3ed 3 th terr f c so$nds and no ses# 3h le they !a nf$lly gro!ed the r 3ay# as n the gloomy ca6ern of the so$l?s s$b l$nar m grat on G a scene 5$stly com!ared to the !assage of the

Falley of the Shado3 of Death, "or by the mm$table la3 e4em!l f ed n the tr als of Psyche# man m$st !ass thro$gh the terrors of the $nderD3orld# before he can reach the he ght of -ea6en, At length the gates of the adyt$m 3ere thro3n o!en# a s$!ernat$ral l ght streamed from the ll$m nated stat$e 917 of the Goddess# and enchant ng s ghts and so$nds# m ngled 3 th songs and dances# e4alted the comm$n cant to a ra!t$re of s$!reme fel c ty# real < ng# as far as sens$o$s magery co$ld de! ct# the ant c !ated re$n on 3 th the Gods, In the dearth of d rect e6 dence as to the deta l of the ceremon es enacted# or of the mean ngs connected 3 th them# the r tendency m$st be nferred fro m the character st cs of the contem!lated de t es 3 th the r accessory symbols and myth # or from d rect test mony as to the 6al$e of the Myster es generally, The ord nary !henomena of 6egetat on# the death of the seed n g 6 ng b rth to the !lant# connect ng the s$bl mest ho!es 3 th the !la nest

occ$rrences# 3as the s m!le yet bea$t f$l form$la ass$med by the great mystery n almost all rel g ons# from the HendDA6esta to the Gos!el, As Proser! ne# the d 6 ne !o3er s as the seed decay ng and destroyedG as Artem s# she s the !r nc !le of ts destr$ct on G b$t Artem s Proser! ne s also %ore Soter a# the Sa6 o$r# 3ho leads the S! r ts of -erc$les and -yac nth$s to -ea6en, Many other emblems 3ere em!loyed n the Myster es#Das the do6e# the myrtleD3reath# and others# all s gn f cant of l fe r s ng, o$t of death# and of the eE$ 6ocal cond t on of dy ng yet mmortal man, The horrors and !$n shments of Tantal$s# as descr bed n the Phaedo and the AEne d# 3 th a)) the ceremon es of the 5$dgments of M nos# Eac$s# and Rhadamanth$s# 3ere re!resented# somet mes more and somet mes less f$lly# n the Myster esG n order to m!ress $!on the m nds of the In t ates th s great lesson#Dthat 3e sho$ld be e6er !re!ared to a!!ear before the S$!reme &$dge# 3 th a heart !$re and s!otless G as Socrates teaches n the Gorg as, "or the

so$l sta ned 3 th cr mes# he says# to descend to the Shades# s the b tterest ll, To adhere to &$st ce and ; sdom# Plato holds# s o$r d$ty# that 3e may some day ta/e that lofty road that leads to3ard the hea6ens# and a6o d most of , the e6 ls to 3h ch the so$l s e4!osed n ts s$bterranean 5o$rney of a tho$sand years, And so n the Phaedo# Socrates teaches that 3e sho$ld see/ here belo3 to free o$r so$l of ts !ass ons# n order to be ready to enter o$r a!!earance# 3hene6er Dest ny s$mmons $s to the Shades, Th$s the Myster es nc$lcated a great moral tr$th# 6e led 3 th a fable of h$ge !ro!ort ons and the a!!l ances of an m!ress 6e s!ectacle# to #3h ch# e4h b ted n the sanct$ar es art and nat$ral mag c lent all they had that 3as m!os ng, They so$ght to strengthen men aga nst the horrors of death and the fearf$l dea of $tter ann h lat on, Death# says the a$thor of the d alog$e# ent tled A4 och$s# ncl$ded n the 3or/s of Plato# s b$t a !assage to a ha!! er stateG b$t one m$st ha6e l 6ed 3ell# to atta n that most fort$nate res$lt, So that the

doctr ne of the mmortal ty of the so$l 3as consol ng to the 6 rt$o$s and rel g o$s man aloneG 3h le to all others t came 3 th menaces and des!a r# s$rro$nd ng them 3 th@ terrors and alarms that d st$rbed the r re!ose d$r ng all the r l fe, "or the mater al horrors of Tantal$s# allegor cal to the In t ate# 3ere real to the mass of the Profane G nor n latter t mes# d d# !erha!s many I t ates read r ghtly the allebaory, The tr !leD3alled !r son# 3h ch the condemned so$l f rst met# ro$nd 3h ch s3elled and s$rged the f ery 3a6es of Phlegethon# 3here n rolled roar ng# h$ge# bla< ng roc/s G the great gate 3 th col$mns of adamant# 3h ch none sa6e the Gods co$ld cr$shG T s !hone# the r 3arder# 3 th her bloody robes G the lash reso$nd ng on the mangled bod es of the m serable $nfort$nates# the r !la nt 6e groans# m ngled n horr d ?harmony 3 th the clash ng of the r cha nsG the "$r es# lash ng the g$ lty 3 th the r sna/esG the a3f$l abyss 3here -ydra ho3ls 3 th ts h$ndred heads# greedy to de6o$rG T ty$s#

!rostrate# and h s entra ls fed $!on by the cr$el 6$lt$reG S sy!h$s# e6er roll ng h s roc/G I4 on on h s 3heelG Tantal$s tort$red by eternal th rst and h$nger# n the m dst of 3ater and 3 th del c o$s fr$ ts to$ch ng h s head G the da$ghters# of Dana$s at the r eternal# fr$ tless tas/ G beasts b t ng and 6enomo$s re!t les st ng ng G and de6o$r ng flame eternally cons$m ng bod es e6er rene3ed n endless agonyG all these sternly m!ressed $!on the !eo!le the terr ble conseE$ences of s n and 6 ce# and $rged them to !$rs$e the !aths of honesty and 6 rt$e, And f # n the ceremon es of the Myster es# these mater al horrors 3ere e4!la ned to the In t ates as mere symbols of the $n mag nable tort$re# remorse# and agony that 3o$ld rend the mmater al so$l and rac/ the mmortal s! r t# they 3ere feeble and ns$ff c ent n the same mode and meas$re only# as all mater al mages and symbols fall short of that 3h ch s beyond the cogn <ance of o$r senses ( and the gra6e - ero!hant# the magery# the

!a nt ngs# the dramat c horrors# the f$neral sacr f ces# the a$g$st rnyster es# the solemn s lence of the sanct$ar es# 3ere none the less m!ress 6e# beca$se they 3ere /no3n to be b$t symbols# that_ 3 th mater al sho3s and mages made the mag nat on to be the teacher of the ntellect, e4! at onG and the tests of 3ater# a r# and flre 3ere re!resented G by means of 3h ch# d$r ng the march of many years# the so$l co$ld be !$r f ed# and r se to3ard the ethereal reg ons G that ascent be ng more or less ted o$s and labor o$s# accord ng as each so$l 3as more or less clogged by the gross m!ed ments #of ts s ns and 6 ces, -ere n 3as shado3ed forth# Mho3 d st nctly ta$ght the In t ates 3e /no3 notN# the doctr ne that !a n and sorro3# m sfort$ne and remorse# are the ne6 table conseE$ences that flo3 from s n and 6 ce# as effect flo3s from ca$seG that by each s n and e6ery act of 6 ce the so$l dro!s bac/ and loses gro$nd n ts ad6ance to3ard !erfect on ( and that the gro$nd so# lost s and 3 ll be n real ty ne6er so reco6ered as that the

s n shall be as f t ne6er had been comm ttedG b$t that thro$gho$t all the etern ty of ts e4 stence?# each so$l shall be consc o$s that e6ery act of 6 ce or baseness t d d on earth has made the d stance greater bet3een tself and $lt mate !erfect on, ;e see th s tr$th gl mmer ng n the doctr ne# ta$ght n the Myster es# that tho$gh sl ght and ord nary offences co$ld be e4! ated by !enances# re!entance# acts of benef cence# and !rayers# gra6e cr mes 3ere mortal s ns# beyond the reach of all s$ch remed es, Ele$s s closed her gates aga nst 8ero( and the Pagan Pr ests told %onstant ne that among all the r modes of e4! at on there 3as none so !otent as co$ld 3ash from h s so$l the dar/ s!ots left by the m$rder of h s 3 fe# and h s m$lt !l ed !er5$r es and assass nat ons, The ob5ect of the anc ent n t at ons be ng to amel orate man/ nd and to !erfect the ntellect$al !art of man# the nat$re of the h$man so$l# ts or g n# ts dest nat on# ts relat ons to the body and to $n 6ersal nat$re# all formed !art of the myst c sc enceG and to them n !art the lessons g 6en to the

In t ate 3ere d rected, "or t 3as bel e6ed that n t at on tended to h s !erfect on# and to !re6ent ng #the d 6 ne !art 3 th n h m# o6erloaded 3 th# matter gross and earthy# from be ng !l$nged nto gloom# and m!eded n ts ret$rn to the De ty, The so$l# 3 th them# 3as not a mere conce!t on or abstract on G b$t a real ty ncl$d ng n tself l fe and tho$ghtG or# rather# of 3hose essence t 3as to l 6e and th n/, It 3as mater al G b$t not br$te# nert# nact 6e# l feless# mot onless# formless# l ghtless matter, DIt 3as held to be act 6e# reason ng# th n/ ngG ts nat$ral home n the h ghest reg ons of the 'n 6erse# 3hence t descended to ll$m nate# g 6e form and mo6ement to# 6 6 fy# an mate# and carry 3 th tself the baser matterG and 3h ther t $nceas ngly tends to reascend# 3hen and as soon as t can free tself from ts connect on 3 th that matter, "rom that s$bstance# d 6 ne# nf n tely , del cate and act 6e# essent ally l$m no$s# the so$ls of men 3ere formed# and by t alone# $n t ng 3 th and organ < ng the r bod es# men l 6ed, Th s 3as the doctr ne of Pythagoras# 3ho learned t 3hen he rece 6ed the

Egy!t an Myster es ( and t 3as the doctr ne of all 3ho# by means of the ceremon al of n t at on# tho$ght to !$r fy the so$l, F rg l ma/es the s! r t of Arch 6es teach t to AEneas( and all the e4! at ons and l$strat ons 6 sed n the ))9_ster es 3ere b$t symbols of those ntellect$al ol es by 3h ch the so$l 3as to be !$rged of ts 6 ceDs!ots and sta ns# and freed of the enc$mbrance of ts earthly !r son# so that t m ght r se $n m!eded to the so$rce from 3h ch t came, -ence s!r$ng the doctr ne of the transm grat on of so$lsG 3h ch Pythagoras ta$ght as an allegory# and those 3ho came after h m rece 6ed l terally, Plato# l /e h m# dre3# h s doctr nes from the East and the Myster es# and $ndertoo/ to translate the lang$age of the symbols $sed there# nto that of Ph loso!hy G and to !ro6e by arg$ment and !h loso!h cal ded$ct on# 3hat# felt by the consc o$sness# the Myster es ta$ght by Symbols as an nd s!$table fact#D the

mmortal ty of the so$l, % cero d d the same G and follo3ed the Myster es n teach ng that the Gods 3ere b$t mortal men# 3ho for the r great 6 rt$es and s gnal ser6 ces had deser6ed that the r so$ls sho$ld# after death# be ra sed to that lofty ran/, It be ng ta$ght n the Myster es# e ther by 3ay of allegory# the mean ng of 3h ch 3as not made /no3n e4ce!t to a select fe3# or# !erha!s only at a later day# as an act$al real ty# that the so$ls of the 6 c o$s dead !assed nto the bod es of those an mals to 3hose nat$re the r 6 ces had most aff n ty# t 3as also ta$ght that the so$l co$ld a6o d these transm grat ons# often s$ccess 6e and n$mero$s# by the !ract ce of 6 rt$e# 3h ch 3o$ld acE$ t t of thr$m# free t from the c rcle of s$ccess 6e generat ons# and restore t at once to ts so$rce, -ence noth ng 3as so ardently !rayed far by the In t ates# says Procl$s# as th s ha!!y fort$ne# 3h ch# del 6er ng them from the em! re of E6 l#

3o$ld restore them to the r tr$e l fe# and cond$ct them to the !lace of f nal rest, To th s doctr ne !robably referred those f g$res of an mals and monsters 3h ch 3ere e4h b ted to the In t ate# before allo3 ng h m to see the sacred l ght for 3h ch he s ghed,# Plato says# that so$ls 3 ll not reach the term of the r lls# $nt l the re6ol$t ons of the 3orld ha6e restored them to the r !r m t 6e cond t on# and !$r f ed them from the sta ns 3h ch they ha6e contracted by the contag on of f re# earth# and a r, And he held that they co$ld not be allo3ed to enter -ea6en# $nt l they had d st ng$ shed themsel6es by the !ract ce of 6 rt$e n some one of three se6eral bod es, The Man cheans allo3ed f 6e( P ndar# the same, n$mber as PlatoG as d d the &e3s, And % cero says# that the anc ent soothsayers# and the nter!olators of the 3 ll of the Gods# n the r rel g o$s ceremon es and n t at ons# ta$ght that 3e e4! ate here belo3 the cr mes comm tted n a !r or l fe G and for that are born, It 3as ta$ght n these Myster es# that the so$l !asses? thro$gh se6eral states# and that the !a ns and sorro3s of th s l fe are an e4! at on of !r or fa$lts,

Th s doctr ne of transm grat on of so$ls obta ned# as Por!hyry nforms $s# among the Pers ans and Mag , It 3as held n the East and the ;est# and that fro m the remotest ant E$ ty, -erodot$s fo$nd# t among the Egy!t ans# 3ho made the term of the c rcle of m grat ons from one h$man body# thro$gh an mals# f shes# and b rds# to another h$man body#? three tho$sand years, Em!edocles e6en held that so$ls 3ent nto !lants Of these# the la$rel 3as the noblest# as of an mals the l onG both be ng consecrated to the S$n# to 3h ch# t 3as held n the Or ent# 6 rt$o$s so$ls 3ere to ret$rn, The %$rds# the %h nese# the %abbal sts# all held the same doctr ne, So Or g n held# and the B sho! Synes $s# the latter of 3hom had been n t ated# and 3ho th$s !rayed to God ( @O "ather# grant that my so$l# re$n ted to the l ght# may not be !l$nged aga n nto the def lements of earth#@ So the Gnost cs heldG and e6en the D sc !les of %hr st nE$ red f the man 3ho 3as born bl nd# 3as not so !$n shed for some s n

that he had comm tted before h s b rth, F rg l# n the celebrated allegory n 3h ch he de6elo!s the doctr nes ta$ght n the Myster es# en$nc ated the doctr ne# held by@ most of the anc ent !h loso!hers# of the !reDe4 stence of _so$ls# n the eternal f re from 3h ch they emanateG that f re 3h ch an mates the stars# and c rc$lates n e6ery !art of 8at$re( and the !$r f cat ons of the so$l# by f re# 3ater# and a r# of 3h ch he s!ea/s# and 3h ch three modes 3ere em!loyed n the Myster es of Bacch$s# 3ere symbols of the !assage of the so$l nto d fferent bod es, The relat ons of the h$man so$l 3 th the rest of nat$re 3ere a ch ef ob5ect of the sc ence of the Myster es, The man 3as there bro$ght face to face 3 th ent re nat$re# The 3orld# and the s!her cal en6elo!e that s$rro$nds t# 3ere re!resented by a myst c egg# by the s de of the mage of the S$nDGod 3hose Myster es 3ere celebrated, The famo$s Or!h c egg 3as consecrated to Bacch$s n h s Myster es, It 3as# says Pl$tarch# an, mage of the 'n 6erse# 3h ch#

engenders e6eryth ng# and conta ns e6eryth ng n ts bosom,@_%ons$lt#@ says Macrob $s# @the In t ates of theJ Myster es of Bacch$s# 3ho honor 3 th s!ec al 6enerat on the sacred egg,@ The ro$nded and almost s!her cal form of ts shell# he says# 3h ch encloses t on e6ery s de# and conf nes 3 th n tself the !r nc !les of l fe# s a symbol c mage of the 3orld G and the 3orld s the $n 6ersal !r nc !le of all th ngs, Th s symbol 3as borro3ed from the Egy!t ans# 3ho also consecrated the egg to Os r s# germ of L ght# h mself born# sans D odor$s# from that famo$s egg, In Thebes# n '!!er Egy!t# he 3as re!resented as em tt ng t from h s mo$th# and ca$s ng to ss$e from t the f rst !r nc !le of heat and l ght# or the " reDGod# F$lcan# or Phtha, ;e f nd th s egg e6en n &a!an# bet3een the horns of the famo$s M thr ac B$ll#D 3hose attr b$tes Os r s# A! s# and Bacch$s all borro3ed, Or!he$s# a$thor of the Grec an Myster es# 3h ch he carr ed from Egy!t _to

Greece# consecrated th s symbol ( and ta$ght that matter# $ntreated and nformers# e4 sted from all etern ty# $norgan <ed# as chaos G conta n ng n tself the Pr nc !les of all E4 stences conf$sed and nterm ngled# l ght 3 th dar/ness# the dry 3 th the h$m d# heat 3 th coldG from 3h ch# t after long ages (e/ ng the sha!e of an mmense egg# ss$ed the !$rest matter# or " rst s$bstance# and the res d$e 3as d 6 ded nto the fo$r elements# "rom 3h ch !roceeded hea6en and earth and all th ngs else, Th s Grand %osmogon c dea he ta$ght n the Myster esG and th$s the - ero!hant e4!la ned the mean ng of the myst c egg# seen by the n t ates n the Sanct$ary, Th$s ent re 8at$re# n her !r m t 6e organ <at on# 3as !resented :2) to h m 3hom t 3as 3 shed to nstr$ct n her secrets and n t ate n her myster es G and %lement of Ale4andr a m ght 3ell say that n t at on 3as a real !hys ology,

So Phanes# the L ghtDGod# n the Myster es of the 8e3 Or!h cs# emerged fro m the egg of chaos( and the Pers ans had the great egg of Orm$<d, And Sanchon athon tells $s that n the Phoen c an theology# the matter of chaos too/ the form of an eggG and he adds( @S$ch #are the lessons 3h ch the Son of Thab on^ f rst - ero!hant of the Phoen c ans#, t$rned nto allegor es# n 3h ch !hys cs and astronomy nterm ngled# and 3h ch he ta$ght to the other - ero!hants# 3hose d$ty t 3as to !res de at org es and n t at ons G and 3ho# see/ ng to e4c te the aston shment and adm rat on of mortals# fa thf$lly transm tted these th ngs to the r s$ccessors and the In t ates,@ In the Myster es 3as also ta$ght the d 6 s on of the 'n 6ersal %a$se nto an Act 6e and a Pass 6e ca$seG of 3h ch t3o# Os r s and Is s#Dthe hea6ens and the earth 3ere symbols, These t3o ," rst %a$ses# nto 3h ch t 3as held that the great 'n 6ersal " rst %a$se at the beg nn ng of th ngs d 6 ded tself# 3ere the

t3o great D 6 n t es# 3hose 3orsh ! 3as# accord ng to Farro# nc$lcated $!on the In t ates at Samothrace, @As s ta$ght#@ he says# @ n the n t at on nto the Myster es at Samothrace# -ea6en and Earth are regarded as the t3o f rst D 6 n t es, They are the !otent Gods 3orsh !!ed n that Island# and 3hose narr:es are consecrated n the boo/s of o$r A$g$rs, One of them s male and the other femaleG and they bear the same relat on to each other as the so$l does to the body# h$m d ty to dryness,@ The %$rates# n %rete# had b$ lt an altar to -ea6en and to EarthG 3hose Myster es they celebrated at Gnoss$s# n a cy!ress gro6e, These t3o D 6 n t es# the Act 6e and Pass 6e Pr nc !les of the 'n 6erse# 3ere commonly symbol <ed by the generat 6e !asts of man and 3oman G to 3h ch# n remote ayes# no dea of ndecency 3as attached G the Phall$s and %te s# emblems of generat on and !rod$ct on# and 3h ch# as s$ch# a!!eared n

the Myster es, The Ind an L ngam 3as the $n on of both# as 3ere the boat and mast and the !o nt 3 th n a c rcle( all of 3h ch e4!ressed the same !h loso!h cal dea as to the 'n on of the t3o great %a$ses of 8at$re# 3h ch conc$r# one act 6ely and the other !ass 6ely# n the generat on of all be ngs ( 3h ch 3ere symbol <ed by 3hat 3e no3 term Gem n # the T3os# at that remote !er od 3hen the S$n 3as n that S gn at the Fernal EE$ no4# and 3hen they 3ere Male and "emaleG and of 3h ch the Phall$s 3as !erha!s ta/en from the generat 6e organ of the B$ll# 3hen abo$t t3entyDf 6e h$ndred years before o$r era he o!ened that eE$ no4# and became to the Anc ent ;orld the symbol of the creat 6e and generat 6e Po3er, The In t ates at Ele$s s# commenced# Process says# by n6o/ ng the t3o great ca$ses of nat$re# the -ea6ens and the Earth# on 3h ch n s$ccess on they f 4ed the r eyes# address ng to each a !rayer, And they deemed t the r d$ty to do

so# he adds# beca$se they sa3 n them the "ather and Mother of all generat ons, The conco$rse of these t3o agents of the 'n 6erse 3as termed n theolog cal lang$age a marr age, Tert$ll an# acc$s ng the Falent n ans of ha6 ng borro3ed these symbols from the Myster es of Ele$s s# yet adm ts that n those Myster es they 3ere e4!la ned n a manner cons stent 3 th decency# as re!resent ng the !o3ers of nat$re, -e 3as too l ttle of a !h loso!her to com!rehend the s$bl me esoter c mean ng of these embalms# 3h ch 3 ll# f yo$ ad6ance# n other Degrees be $nfolded to yo$, _ The %hr st an "athers contented themsel6es 3 th re6 l ng and r d c$l ng the $se of these emblems, B$t as they n the earl er? t mes created no ndecent deas# and 3ere 3orn al /e by the most nnocent yo$ths and 6 rt$o$s 3omen# t 3 ll be far 3 ser for $s to see/ to !enetrate the r mean ng, 8ot only the Egy!t ans# says D odor$s S n$o$s# b$t e6ery other !eo!le that consecrate th s

symbol Mthe Phall$sN# deem that they thereby do honor to the Act 6e #"orce of the $n 6ersal generat on of all l 6 ng th ngs, "or the same reason# as 3e learn fro m the geogra!her Ptolemy# t 3as re6ered among the Assyr ans and Pers ans, Procl$s remar/s that # n the d str b$t on of the Hod ac among she t3el6e great D 6 n t es# by anc ent astrology# s 4 s gns 3ere ass gned to the male and s 4 to the female !r nc !le, There s another d 6 s on of nat$re# 3h ch has n all ages str$c/ all men# and 3h ch 3as not forgotten n the Myster esG that of L ght and Dar/ness# Day and 8 ght# Good and E6 l G 3h ch m ngle 3 th# and clash aga nst# and !$rs$e or are !$rs$ed by eaeh other thro$gho$t the 'n 6erse, The Great Symbol c Egg d st nctly rem nded the In t ates of th s great d 6 s on of the 3orld, !l$tarch# treat ng of the dogma of a Pro6 dence# and of that of the t3o !r nc !les of L ght and Dar/ness# 3h ch he regarded as the bas s of the Anc ent

Theology# of the Org es and the Myster es# as 3ell among the Gree/s as the Barbar ans#Da doctr ne 3hose or g n# accord ng to h m# s lost n the n ght of t me#Dc tes# n s$!!ort of h s o! n on# the famo$s Myst c Egg of the d sc !les of Horoaster and the In t ates n the Myster es of M thras, To the In t ates n the Myster es of Ele$s s 3as e4h b ted the s!ectacle of these t3o !r nc !les# n the s$ccess 6e scenes of Dar/ness and L ght 3h ch !assed before the r eyes, To the !rofo$ndest dar/ness# accom!an ed 3 th ll$s ons and horr d !hantoms# s$cceeded the most br ll ant l ght# 3hose s!lendor bla<ed ro$nd the stat$e of the Goddess, The cand date# says D on %hrysostom$s# !assed nto a ?myster o$s tem!le# of aston sh ng magn t$de and bea$ty# 3here 3ere e4h b ted to h m many myst c scenesG 3here h s ears 3ere st$nned 3 th many 6o ces G and 3here Dar/ness and L ght s$ccess 6ely !assed before h m, And Them st $s n l /e manner descr bes the In t ate# 3hen abo$t to enter nto that !art of the sanct$ary tenanted by the Goddess# as f lled 3 th

fear and rel g o$s a3e# 3a6er ng# $ncerta n n 3hat d rect on to ad6ance thro$gh the !rofo$nd dar/ness that en6elo!es h m, B$t 3hen the - ero!hant has o!ened the entrance to the nmost sanct$ary# and remo6ed the robe that h des the Goddess# he e4h b ts her to the In t ate# res!lendent 3 th d 6 ne l ght, The th c/ _shado3 and gloomy atmos!here 3h ch had enthroned the cand date 6an sh G he s f lled 3 th a 6 6 d and glo3 ng enth$s as m# that l fts h s so$l o$t of the !rofo$nd de5ect on n 3h ch t 3as # !l$nged G ant the !$rest l ght s$cceeds to the th c/est dar/ness, In a fragment of the same 3r ter# !reser6ed by Stobae$s# 3e learn that the In t ate# $! to the moment 3hen h s n t at on s to be cons$mmated# s alarmed by e6ery / nd of s ght( that aston shment and terror ta/e h s so$l ca!t 6eG he tremblesG cold s3eat flo3s from h s bodyG $nt l the moment 3hen the L ght s sho3n h m#Da most asto$nd hg L ght#DthJ br ll ant scene of Elys $m# 3here he

sees charm ng meado3s o6erarched by a clear s/y# and fest 6als celebrated by dances G 3here he hears harmon o$s 6o ces# and the ma5est c chants of the - ero!hantsG and 6 e3s the sacred s!ectacles, Then# absol$tely free# and enfranch sed from the dom n on of all lls# he m ngles 3 th the cro3d of In t ates# and# cro3ned 3 th flo3ers# celebrates 3 th them the holy org es#? n the br ll ant realms of ether# and the d3ell ngD!lace of Orm$<d, In the Myster es of Is s# the cand date f rst !assed thro$gh the dar/ 6alley of the shado3 of deathG then nto a !lace re!resent ng the elements or s$bl$nary 3orld# 3here the t3o !r nc !les clash and contend G and 3as f nally adm tted to a l$m no$s reg on# 3here the s$n# 3 th h s most br ll ant l ght# !$t to ro$t the shades of n ght, Then he h mself !$t on the cost$me of the S$nDGod# or the F s ble So$rce o?f Ethereal L ght# n 3hose Myster es he 3as n t ated G and !assed from the em! re of dar/ness to that of l ght, After ha6 ng set h s feet on the threshold of the !alace of Pl$to# he ascended to the Em!yrean# to the bosom of the Eternal Pr nc !le of L ght of the 'n 6erse# fro m

3h ch all so$ls and ntell gences emanate, Pl$tarch adm ts that th s theory of t3o Pr nc !les 3as the bas s of all the Myster es# and consecrated n the rel g o$s ceremon es and Myster es of Greece, Os r s and Ty!hon# Orm$<d and Ahr man# Bacch$s and the T tans and G ants# all re!resented these !r nc !les, Phanes# the l$m no$s God that ss$ed from the Sacred Egg# and 8 ght# bore the sce!ters n the Myster es of the 8e3 Bacch$s, 8 ght and Day 3ere t3o of the e ght Gods adored n the Myster es of Os r s, The so5o$rn of Proser! ne and also of Adon s# d$r ng s 4 months of each year n the $!!er 3orld# abode of l ght# and s 4 months n the lo3er or abode of dar/ness# allegor cally re!resented the same d 6 s on of the 'n 6erse, The connect on of theDd fferent n t at ons 3 th the EE$ no4es 3h ch se!arate the Em! re of the 8 ghts from that of the Days# and f 4 the moment 3hen one of these !r nc !les beg ns to !re6a l o6er the other# sho3s that the Myster es

referred to the cont n$al contest bet3een the t3o !r nc !les of l ght and dar/ness# each alternately 6 ctor and 6anE$ shed, The 6ery ob5ect !ro!osed by them sho3s that the r bas s 3as the theory of the t3o !r nc !les and the r relat ons 3 th the so$l, @;e celebrate the a$g$st Myster es of %eres and Proser! ne#@ says the Em!eror &$l an# @at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# to obta n of the Gods that the so$l may not e4!er ence the mal gnant act on of the Po3er#of Dar/ness that s then abo$t to ha6e s3ay and r$le n 8at$re,@ Sall$st the Ph loso!her ma/es almost the same remar/ as to the relat ons of the so$l 3 th the !er od cal march of l ght and dar/ness# d$r ng an ann$al re6ol$t on G and ass$res $s that the myster o$s fest 6als of Greece related to the same, And n all the e4!lanat ons g 6en by Macrob $s of the Sacred "ables n regard to the s$n# adored $nder the names of Os r s# -or$s# Adon s# Atys# Bacch$s# etc,, 3e n6ar ably see that they refer to the theory of the t3o Pr nc !les# L ght and Dar/ness# and the tr $m!hs ga ned by one o6er the other, In A!r l 3as

celebrated the f rst tr $m!h obta ned by the l ght of day o6er the length of the n ghts G and the ceremon es of mo$rn ng and re5o c ng had# Macrob $s says# as the r ob5ect the 6 c ss t$des of the ann$al adm n strat on of the 3orld, Th s br ngs $s nat$rally to the trag c !ort on of these rel g o$s? scenes# and to the allegor cal h story of the d fferent ad6ent$res of the Pr nc !le# L ght# 6 ctor and 6anE$ shed by t$rns# n the combats 3aged 3 th Dar/ness d$r ng each ann$al !er od, -ere 3e reach the most myster o$s !art of the anc ent n t at ons# and that most nterest ng to the Mason 3ho laments the death of h s Grand Master Kh rDOm, O6er t -erodot$s thro3s the a$g$st 6e l of mystery and s lence, S!ea/ ng of the Tem!le of M ner6a# or of that Is s 3ho 3as styled the Mother of the S$nDGod# and 3hose Myster es 3ere termed Is ac# at Sa s# he s!ec/s of a Tomb n the Tem!le# n the rear of the %ha!el and aga nst the 3ell G and says# @It s the tomb of a man# 3hose name res!ect reE$ res me to

conceal, ; th n the Tem!le 3ere great obel s/s of stone A!hall B# and a c rc$lar la/e !a6ed 3 th stones and re6etted 3 th a !ara!et, It seemed to me as large as that at Delos@ Athere the Myster es of A!ollo 3ere celebratedB, @In th s la/e the Egy!t ans celebrate# d$r ng the n ght# 3hat they style the Myster es# n 3h ch are re!resented the s$ffer ngs of the God of 3hom I ha6e s!o/en abo6e,@ , Th s God 3as Os r s# !$t to death by Ty!hon# and 3ho descended to the Shades and 3as restored to l feG of 3h ch he had s!o/en before, ;e are rem nded# by th s !assage# of the Tomb of Kh rDOm# h s death# and h s r s ng from the gra6e# symbol cal of restorat on of l fe G and also of the bra<en Sea n the Tem!le at &er$salem, -erodot$s adds ( @I m!ose $!on myself a !rofo$nd# s lence n regard to these Myster es# 3 th most of 3h ch I am acE$a nted, As l ttle 3 ll I s!ea/ of the n t at ons of %eres# /no3n among the Gree/s as Thesmo!hor a, ;hat I shall say 3 ll not 6 olate the res!ect 3h ch I o3e to rel g on,@

Athenagoras E$otes th s !assage to sho3 that not only the Stat$e b$t the Tomb of Os r s 3as e4h b ted n Egy!t# and a trag c re!resentat on of h s s$ffer ngsG and remar/s that the Egy!t ans had mo$rn ng ceremon es n honor of the r Gods# 3hose deaths they# Lamented G and to 3hom they after3ard sacr f ced as ha6 ng It s# ho3e6er# not d ff c$lt# comb n ng the d fferent rays of l ght that emanate from the d fferent Sanct$ar es# to learn the gen $s and the ob5ect of these secret ceremon es, ;e ha6e h nts# and not deta ls, ;e /no3 that the Egy!t ans 3orsh !!ed the S$n# $nder the name of Os r s, The m sfort$nes and trag cal death of th s God , 3ere an allegory relat ng to the S$n, Ty!hon# l /e Ahr man# re!resented Dar/ness, The s$ffer ngs and death of Os r s n the Myster es of the 8 ght 3ere a myst c mage of the !henomena of 8at$re# and the confl ct of the t3o great Pr nc !le 3h ch share the em! re of 8at$re# and most nf lenced o$r so$ls, the s$n s ne ther born# d es# nor s

ra sed to l fe( and the rec tal of these e6ents 3as b$t an allegory# 6e l ng a, h gher tr$th -or$s# son of Is s# and the same as A!ollo or the S$n# also d ed and 3as restored aga n to# l fe^ and to h s motherG and the !r ests #of Is s celebrated these great e6ents by mo$rn ng and 5oyo$s fest 6al s$cceed ng each other, In the Myster es of Phoen c a# establ shed n honor of Thamm$< or Adon s# also the S$n# the s!ectacle of h s death and res$rrect on 3as e4h b ted to the In t ates, As 3e learn from Me$rs $s and Pl$tarch# a f g$re 3as e4h b ted re!resent ng the cor!se of a yo$ng man, "lo3ers 3ere stre3ed $!on h s body# the 3omen mo$rned for h m G a tomb 3as erected to h m, And these feasts# as 3e learn from Pl$tarch and O6 d# !assed nto Greece, God 3as lamented# and h s res$rrect on 3as celebrated 3 th the most enth$s ast c e4!ress ons of 5oy, A cor!se# 3e, learn from &$l an # 3as sho3n the In t ates# re!resent ng M thras deadG and after3ard h s res$rrect on 3as

anno$ncedG and they 3ere then n6 ted to re5o ce that the dead God 3as restored to l fe# and had by means of h s s$ffer ngs sec$red the r sal6at on, Three months before# h s b rth had been celebrated# $nder the emblem of an nfant# born on the,07th of December# or the e ghth day before the %alends of &an$ary, In Greece# n the myster es of the same God# honored $nder the name of Bacch$s# a re!resentat on 3as g 6en of h s death# sla n by the T tans G of h s descent nto hell# h s #s$bseE$ent res$rrect on# and h s ret$rn to3ard h s Pr nc !le or the !$re abode 3hence he had descended to $n te h mself 3 th matter, In the slands of %h os and Tenedos# h s death 3as re!resented by the sacr f ce of a man#_ act$ally mmolated, The m$t lat on and s$ffer ngs of the same S$nDGod# honored n Phryg a $nder the name of Atys# ca$sed the trag c scenes that 3ere# as 3e learn from D odor$s S c$l$s# re!resented ann$ally n the Myster es of %ybele# mother of the Gods,

An mage 3as borne there# re!resent ng the cor!se of a yo$ng man# o6er 3hose tomb tears 3ere shed# and to 3hom f$neral honors 3ere !a d, At Samothrace# n the Myster es of the %ab r or great Gods# a re!resentat on 3as g 6en of the death of one f them, Th s name 3as g 6en to the S$n# beca$se the Anc ent Astronomers ga6e the name of Gods %ab r # and of Samothrace to the t3o Gods n the %onstellat on Gem n G 3hom others term A!ollo and -erc$les# t3o names of the S$n,, Athen on says that the yo$ng %ab r$s so sla n 3as the same as the D onys$s or Bacch$s of the Gree/s, The Pelasg # anc ent nhab tants of Greece# and 3ho settled Samothrace# celebrated these Myster es# 3hose or g n s $n/no3n ( and they 3orsh !!ed %astor and Poll$4 as !atrons of na6 gat on, The tomb of A!ollo 3as at Del!h # 3here h s body 3as la d# after Python# the Polar Ser!ent that ann$ally heralds the com ng of a$t$mn# cold# dar/ness# and

3 nter# had sla n h m# and o6er 3hom, the God tr $m!hs# on the 07th of March# on h s ret$rn to the lamb of the Fernal EE$ no4, In %rete# &$! ter Ammon# on the S$n n Ar es# !a nted 3 th the attr b$tes of that eE$ noct al s gn# the Ram or Lamb GDthat Ammon 3ho# Mart an$s %o!ella says# s the same as Os r s# Adon # Adon s# Atys# and the other S$nDGods#D had also a tomb# and a rel g o$s n t at on G one of the !r nc !al ceremon es of 3h _ch cons sted n cloth ng the In t ate 3 th the s/ n of a 3h te lamb, And n th s 3e see the or g n of the a!ron of 3h te shee!Ds/ n# $sed n Masonry, All these deaths and res$rrect ons# these f$neral emblems# these ann 6ersar es of mo$rn ng and 5oy# these cenota!hs ra sed n d fferent !laces to the S$nD God# honored $nder d fferent names# had b$t a s ngle ob5ect# the allegor cal narrat on of the e6ents 3h ch ha!!ened here belo3Dto the L ght of 8at$re# that sacred f re from 3h ch o$r so$ls 3ere deemed to emanate# 3arr ng 3 th matter

and the dar/ Pr nc !le res dent there n# e6er at 6ar ance 3 th the Pr nc !le of Good and L ght !o$red $!on tself by the S$!reme D 6 n ty, All these Myster es# says %lement of Ale4andr a# d s!lay ng to $s m$rders and tombs alone# all these rel g o$s traged es# had a common bas s# 6ar o$sly ornamented ( and that bas s 3as the f ct t o$s death and res$rrect on of the S$n# So$l of the ;orld# !r nc !le of l fe and mo6ement n the S$bl$nary ;orld# and so$rce of o$r ntell gences# 3h ch are b$t a !ort on of the Eternal L ght bla< ng n that Star# the r ch ef center, It 3as n the S$n that So$ls# t 3as sa d# 3ere !$r f ed( and to t they re!a red, It 3as one of the gates of the so$l# thro$gh 3h ch the theolog ans# says Por!hyry# say that t reDascends to3ard the home of L ght and the Good, ;herefore# n the Myster es of Ele$s s# the Dado$/os Mthe f rst off cer after the - ero!hant# 3ho re!resented the Grand Dem o$rgos or Ma/er of the 'n 6erseN# 3ho 3as casted n the nter or of the Tem!le# and there rece 6ed the

cand dates# re!resented the S$n, It 3as also held that the 6 c ss t$des e4!er enced by the "ather of L ght had an nfl$ence on the dest ny of so$lsG 3h ch# of the same s$bstance as he# shared h s fort$nes, Th s 3e learn from the Em!eror &$l an and Sall$st the Ph loso!her, They are affl cted 3hen he s$ffers ( they re5o ce 3hen he tr $m!hs o6er the Po3er of Dar/ness 3h ch o!!oses h s s3ay and h nders the ha!! ness of So$ls# to 3hom noth ng s so terr ble as dar/ness, The fr$ t of the s$ffer ngs of the God# father of l ght and >o$ls# sla n,by the %h ef of the Po3ers of Dar/ness# and aga n restored to l fe# 3as rece 6ed n the Myster es, @- s death 3or/s yo$r Sal6at on G@ sa d the - gh Pr est of M thras, That 3as the great secret of th s rel g o$s tragedy# and ts e4!ected fr$ t GDthe res$rrect on of a God# 3ho# re!ossess ng - mself of - s dom n on o6er Dar/ness# sho$ld assoc ate 3 th - m n - s tr $m!h those 6 rt$o$s So$ls that by the r !$r ty 3ere 3orthy to share - s gloryG and that stro6e not aga nst the d 6 ne force that dre3 them to - m# 3hen# -e had th$s conE$ered,

To the In t ate 3ere also d s!layed the s!ectacles of the ch ef agents of the 'n 6ersal %a$se# and of the d str b$t on of the 3orld# n the deta l of ts !arts arranged n most reg$lar order, The 'n 6erse tself s$!!l ed man 3 th the model of the f rst Tem!le reared to the D 6 n ty, The arrangement of the Tem!le of Solomon# the symbol c ornaments 3h ch formed ts ch ef decorat ons# and the dress of the - gh Pr est#Dall# as %lement of Ale4andr a# &ose!h$s and Ph lo state# had reference to #the order of the 3orld, %lement nforms $s that the Tem!le conta ned many emblems of the Seasons# the S$n# the Moon# the !lanets# the constellat ons 'rsa Ma5or and M nor# the <od ac# the elements# and the other !arts of the 3orld,? &ose!h$s# n h s descr !t on of the - gh Pr est?s Festments# !rotest ng aga nst the charge of m! ety bro$ght aga nst the -e bre3s by other nat ^ons# for condemn ng the -eathen D 6 n t es# declares t false# beca$se# n the constr$ct on of the Tabernacle# n the 6estments of the Sacr f cers# and n the

Sacred 6essels# the 3hole ;orld 3as n some sort re!resented, Of the three !arts# he says# nto 3h ch the Tem!le 3as d 6 ded# t3o re!resent Earth and Sea# o!en to all men# and the th rd# -ea6en# God?s d3ell ngD!lace# reser6ed for - m alone, The t3el6e loa6es of She3Dbread s gn fy the t3el6e months of the year, The %andlest c/ re!resented the t3el6e s gns thro$gh 3h ch the Se6en Planets r$n the r co$rsesG and the se6en l ghts# those !lanetsG the 6e ls# of fo$r colors# the fo$r elementsG the t$n c of the - gh Pr est# the earthG the -yac nth# nearly bl$e# the -ea6ens G the, a!h d# of fo$r colors# the 3hole of nat$reG the gold# L ghtG the breastD!late# n the m ddle# th s earth n the center of the 3orld G the t3o Sardony4es# $sed as clas!s# the S$n and Moon G and the t3el6e !rec o$s stones of the breastD!late arranged by threes# l /e the Seasons# the t3el6e months# and the t3el6e s gns of the <od ac, E6en the loa6es 3ere arranged n t3o gro$!s of s 4# l /e the <od acal s gns abo6e and belo3 the

EE$ator, %lement# the learned B sho! of Ale4andr a# and Ph lo# ado!t all these e4!lanat ons, -ermes calls the Hod ac# the Grent Tent#DTabernac$l$m, In the Royal Arch Degree of the Amer can R te# the Tabernacle has fo$r 6e ls# of d fferent colors# to each of 3h ch, Belongs a banner, the colors of the fo$r are ;h te# Bl$e# %r mson# and P$r!le# and the banners bear the mages of the B$ll# the L on# the Man# ant the Eagle# the %onstellat ons ans3er ng 0722 years before o$r era to the EE$ noct al and Solst t al !o nts ( to 3h ch belong fo$r stars# aldebaran# Reg$l$s# "omalha$t# and Antares, At each of these 6e ls there are three 3ords ( and to each d 6 s on of the Hod ac# belong ng to each of these Stars# are three S gns, The fo$r s gns# Ta$r$s# Leo# Scor! o# and AE$ar $s# 3ere termed the f 4ed s gns# and are a!!ro!r ately ass gned to the fo$r 6e ls, _SO the %her$b m# accord ng to %lement and Ph lo#D re!resented the t3o

hem s!heres G the r 3 ngs# the ra! d co$rse of the f rmament# and of t me 3h ch re6ol6es n the Hod ac, @"or the -ea6ens flyG@ says Ph lo# s!ea/ ng of the 3 ngs of the %her$b m ( 3h ch 3ere 3 nged re!resentat ons of the L on# the B$ll# the Eagle# and the ManG of t3o of 3h ch# the h$manDheaded# 3 nged b$lls and l ons# so many ha6e been fo$nd at 8 mrod G ado!ted as benef cent symbols# 3hen the S$n entered Ta$r$s at the Fernal EE$ no4 and Leo at the S$mmer Solst ce ( and 3hen# also# he entered Scor! o# far 3h ch# on acco$nt of ts mal gnant nfl$ences# AE$ la# the eagle 3as s$bst t$ted# at the a$t$mnal eE$ no4G and AE$ar $s Mthe 3aterDbearerN at the ; nter Solst ce, So# %lement says# the candlest c/ 3 th se6en branches re!resented the se6en !lanets# l /e 3h ch the se6en branches 3ere arranged and reg$lated# !reser6 ng that m$s cal !ro!ort on and system of harmony of 3h ch the s$n 3as the centre and connect on, They 3ere arranged# says Ph lo# by threes# l /e the !lanets abo6e and those belo3 the s$nG bet3een 3h ch t3o gro$!s 3as the branch that

re!resented h m# the med ator or moderator of the celest al harmony, -e s# n fact# the fo$rth n the m$s cal scale# as Ph lo remar/s# and Mart an$s %a!ella n h s hymn to the S$n, 8ear the candlest c/ 3ere other emblems re!resent ng the hea6ens# earth# and the 6egetat 6e matter o$t of 3hose bosom the 6a!ors ar se, The 3hole tem!le 3as an abr dged mage of the 3orld, There 3ere candlest c/s 3 th fo$r branches# symbols of the elements and the seasons G 3 th t3el6e# symbols of the s gnsG and e6en 3 th three h$ndred and s 4ty# the n$mber of days n the year# 3 tho$t the s$!!lementary days, Im tat ng the famo$s Tem!le of Tyre# 3here 3ere the great col$mns consecrated to the 3 nds and f re# the Tyr an art st !laced t3o col$mns of bron<e at the entrance of the !orch of the tem!le, The hem s!her cal bra<en sea# s$!!orted by fo$r gro$!s of b$lls# of three each# loo/ ng to the fo$r card nal !o nts of the com!ass# re!resented the b$ll of the Fernal

EE$ no4# and at Tyre 3ere consecrated to AstarteG to 3hom - ram# &ose!h$s says# had b$ lt a tem!le# and 3ho 3ore on her head a helmet bear ng the mage of a b$ll, And the throne of Solomon# 3 th b$lls ado!t ng ts arms# and s$!!orted on l ons# l /e those of -or$s n Egy!t and of the S$n at TyreG l /e3 se referred to the Fernal EE$ no4 and S$mmer Solst ce, Those 3ho n Thr ce adored the s$n# $nder the name of Saba He$s# the Grec an Bacch$s# bl nded to h m# says Macrob $s# a tem!le on Mo$nt Helm sso# ts ro$nd form re!resent ng the 3orld and the s$n, A c rc$lar a!ert$re n the roof adm tted the l ght# and ntrod$ced the mage of the s$n nto the body of the sanct$ary# 3here he seemed to bla<e as n the he ghts of -ea6en# and to d ss !ate the dar/ness 3 th n that tem!le 3h ch 3as a re!resentat on symbol of the 3orld, There the !ass on# death# and res$rrect on of Bacch$s 3ere re!resented, So the Tem!le of Ele$s s 3as l ghted by a 3 ndo3 n the roof, The sanct$ary so

l ghted# D on com!ares to the 'n 6erse# from 3h ch he says t d ffered n s <e aloneG and n t the great l ghts of nat$re !layed a great !art and 3ere myo! cally re!resented, The mages of the S$n# Moon# and Merc$ry 3ere re!resented there# Mthe latter the same as An$b s 3ho accom!an ed Is sN G and they are st ll the three l ghts of a Mason c Lodge G e4ce!t that for Merc$ry# the Master of the Lodge has been abs$rdly s$bst t$ted, E$seb $s names as the !r nc !al M n sters n the Myster es of Ele$s s# f rst# the - ero!hant# clothed 3 th the attr b$tes of the Grand Arch tect MDem o$rgosN of the 'n 6erse, After h m came the Dado$/os# or torchDbearer# re!resentat 6e of the S$n ( then the altarDbearer# re!resent ng the Moon ( and last# the - erocery4# bear ng the cad$ce$s# and re!resent ng Merc$ry, It 3as not !erm ss ble to re6eal the d fferent emblems and the myster o$s !ageantry of n t at on to the ProfaneG and therefore 3e do not, /no3 the attr b$tes# emblems# and ornaments of these and other off cers G of 3h ch A!$le $s and

Pa$san as dared not s!ea/, ;e /no3 only that e6eryth ng reco$nted there 3as mar6elo$sG e6eryth ng done there tended to aston sh the In t ate( and that eyes and ears 3ere eE$ally asto$nded, The - ero!hant# of lofty he ght# and noble feat$res# 3 th long ha r# of a great age# gra6e and d gn f ed# 3 th a 6o ce s3eet and sonoro$s# sat $!on a throne# clad n a long tra l ng robeG as the Mot 6eDGod of 8at$re 3as held to be en6elo!ed n - s 3or/ and h dden $nder a 6e l 3h ch no mortal can ra se, e6en h s name 3as concealed# l /e that of the Dem o$rgos# 3hose name 3as neffable, The Dado$/os also 3ore a long robe# h s ha r long# and a bandea$ on h s forehead, %all as# 3hen hold ng that off ce# f ght ng on the great day of Marathon# clothed 3 th the ns gn a of h s off ce# 3as ta/en by the Barbar ans to be a K ng, The Dado$/os led the !rocess on of the In t ates# and 3as charged 3 th the !$r f cat on,

;E do set /no3 the f$nct ons of the E! bomos or ass stant at the altar# 3ho re!resented the moon, That !lanet 3as one of the t3o homes of so$ls# and one of the t3o great gates by 3h ch they descended and reascended, Merc$ry 3as charged 3 th the cond$ct ng of so$ls thro$gh the t3o great gatesG and n go ng fro m the s$n to the moon they !assed mmed ately by h m, -e adm tted or re5ected them as they 3ere more or less !$re# and therefore the - erocery4 or Sacred -erald# 3ho re!resented Merc$ry# 3as charged 3 th the d$ty of e4cl$d ng the Profane fro m the Myster es, The same offsets are fo$nd n the !rocess on of In t ates of Is s# descr bed by A!$le $s, All clad n robes of 3h te l nen# dra3n t ght across the breast# and closeDf tt ng do3n to the 6ery feet# came# f rst# one bear ng a lam! n the sha!e of a boatG second# one carry ng an altarG and th rd# one carry ng a golden !almDtree and the cad$ce$s, These are he same as the three off cers at

Ele$s s# after the - ero!hant, Then one carry ng an o!en hand# and !o$r ng m l/ on the gro$nd from a golden 6essel n the sha!e of a 3oman?s breast, The hand 3as that of 5$st ce( and the m l/ all$ded to the Gala4y or M l/y ;ay# along 3h ch so$ls descended and remo$nted, T3o others follo3ed# one bear ng a 3 nno3 ng fan# and the other a 3aterD6aseG symbols of the !$r f cat on of so$ls by a r and 3aterG and the th rd !$r f cat on# by earth# 3as re!resented by an mage of the an mal that c$lt 6ates t# the co3 or o4# borne by another off cer, Then follo3ed a chest or ar/# magn f cently ornamented# conta n ng an mage of the organs of generat on of Os r s# or !erha!s of both se4es G emblems of the or g nal generat ng and !rod$c ng Po3ers, ;hen Ty!hon# sa d the Egy!t an fable# c$t $! the body of Os r s nto ! eces# he fl$ng h s gen tals nto the 8 le# 3here a f sh de6o$red them, Atys m$t lated h mself# as h s Pr ests after3ard

d d n m tat on of h mG and Adon s 3as n that !art of h s body 3o$nded by the boar( all of 3h ch re!resented the loss by the S$n of h s 6 6 fy ng and generat 6e !o3er# 3hen he reached the A$t$mnal EE$ no4 Mthe Scor! on that on old mon$ments b tes those !arts of the Fernal B$llN# and descended to3ard the reg on of dar/ness and ; nter, Then# says A!$le $s# came @one 3ho carr ed n h s bosom an ob5ect that re5o ced the heart of the bearer# a 6enerable eff gy of the S$!reme De ty# ne ther bear ng resemblance to man# cattle# b rd# beast# or any l 6 ng creat$re ( an e4E$ s te n6ent on# 6enerable from the no6el or g nal ty of the fash on ngG a 3onderf$l# neffable symbol of rel g o$s myster es# to?be loo/ed $!on n !rofo$nd s lence, S$ch as t 3as# ts f g$re 3as that of a small $rn of b$rn shed gold# hollo3ed 6ery #art st cally# ro$nded at the bottom# and co6ered all o6er the o$ts de 3 th the 3onderf$l h erogly!h cs of the Egy!t ans, The

s!o$t 3as not ele6ated# b$t e4tended laterally# !ro5ect ng l /e a long r 6$letG 3h le on the o!!os te s de 3as the handle# 3h ch# 3 th s m lar lateral e4tens on# bore on ts s$mm t an as!# c$rl ng ts body nto folds# and stretch ng $!3ard# ts 3r n/led# scaly# s3ollen throat,@ The sal ent bas l s/# #or royal ens gn of the Pharaohs# often occ$rs on the mon$mentsDa ser!ent n folds# 3 th h s head ra sed erect abo6e the folds, The bas l s/ 3as the Phoen 4 of the ser!entDtr beG and the 6ase or $rn 3as !robably the 6essel# sha!ed l /e a c$c$mber# 3 th a !ro5ect ng s!o$t# o$t of 3h ch# on the mon$ments of Egy!t# the !r ests are re!resented !o$r ng streams of the %r$< ansasta or Ta$ %ross# and of sce!ters# o6er the / ngs, In the Myster es of M thras# a sacred ca6e# re!resent ng the 3hole arrangement of the 3orld# 3as $sed for the rece!t on of the In t ates, Horoaster# says E$b$l$s# f rst ntrod$ced th s c$stom of consecrat ng ca6es, They 3ere also consecrated# n %rete# to &$! terG n Arcad a# to# the Moon and PanG and n the

Island of 8a4os# to Bacch$s, The Pers ans# n the ca6e 3here the Myster es of M thras 3ere celebrated# f 4ed the seat of , that God# "ather of Generat on# or Dem o$rgos# near the eE$ noct al !o nt of S!r ng# 3 th the 8orthern !ort on of the 3orld on h s r ght# and the So$thern on h s left, M thras# says Por!hyry# !res ded o6er the EE$ no4es# seated on a B$ll the symbol cal an mal of the Dem o$rgos# and bear ng a s3ord, The eE$ no4es 3ere the gates thro$gh 3h ch so$ls !assed to and fro# bet3een the hem s!here of l ght and that of dar/ness, The m l/y 3ay 3as also re!resented# !ass ng near each of these gates( and t 3as# n the old theology# termed the !ath3ay of so$ls, It s# accord ng to Pythagoras# 6ast troo!s of so$ls that form that l$m no$s belt, The ro$te follo3ed by so$ls# accord ng to Por!hyry# or rather the r !rogress 6e march n the 3orld# ly ng thro$gh the f 4ed stars and !lanets# the M thr ac ca6e not only d s!layed the <od acal and other constellat ons# and mar/ed gates at the fo$r eE$ noct al and Solst t al !o nts

of the <od ac# 3hereat so$ls enter nto and esca!e from the 3orld of generat onal and thro$gh 3h ch they !ass to and fro bet3een the realms of l ght and dar/nessG b$t t re!resented the se6en !lanetary s!heres 3h ch they needs m$st tra6erse# n descend ng from the hea6en of the f 4ed stars to the elements that en6elo! the earth G and se6en gates 3ere mar/ed# one for each, !lanet# thro$gh 3h ch they !ass# n descend ng or ret$rn ng, ;e learn th s from %els$s# n Or genG 3ho says that the symbol cal mage of th s !assage among the stars# $sed n the M thr ac Myster es# 3as a ladder# reach ng from earth to -ea6en# d 6 ded nto se6en ste!s or stages# to each of 3h ch 3as a gate# and at the s$mm t an e ghth# that of the f 4ed stars, The f rst gate# says %els$s# 3as that of Sat$rn# and of lead# by the hea6y nat$re 3hereof h s d$ll slo3 !rogress 3as symbol <ed, The second# of t n# 3as that of Fen$s# symbol < ng her soft s!lendor and easy fle4 b l ty, The th rd# of brass# 3as that of &$! ter# emblem of h s sol d ty and dry nat$re, The fo$rth# of

ron# 3as that of Merc$ry# e4!ress ng h s ndefat gable act 6 ty and sagac ty, The #f fth# of co!!er# 3as that of Mars# e4!ress 6e of h s neE$al t es and 6ar able nat$re, The s 4th# of s l6er# 3as that of the Moon( and the se6enth# of gold# that of the S$n, Th s order s not the real order #of these Planet?s b$t a myster o$s one# l /e that of the days of the ;ee/ consecrated to them# commenc ng 3 th Sat$rday# and retrograd ng to S$nday, It 3as d ctated# %els$s says# by certa n harmon c relat ons# those of the fo$rth, Th$s there 3as an nt mate connect on bet3een the Sacred Sc ence of the Myster es# and anc ent astronomy and !hys cs G and the grand s!ectacle of the Sanct$ar es 3as that of the order of the reno3n 'n 6erse# or the s!ectacle of 8at$re tself# s$rro$nd ng the so$l of the In t ate# as t s$rro$nded t 3hen t f rst descended thro$gh the !lanetary gates# and by the eE$ noct al and Solst t al doors# along the M l/y ;ay# to be for the f rst t me mm$red n ts !r sonDho$se of matter, B$t the Myster es also re!resented to the cand date# by

sens ble symbols# the n6 s ble forces 3h ch mo6e th s 6 s ble 'n 6erse# and the 6 rt$es# E$al t es# and !o3ers attached to matter# and 3h ch ma nta n the mar6ello$s order obser6ed there n, Of th s Por!hyry nforms $s, The 3orld# accord ng to the !h loso!hers of ant E$ ty# 3as not a !$rely mater al and mechan cal mach ne, A great So$l# d ff$sed e6ery3here# 6 6 f ed all the members of the mmense body of the 'n 6erse G and an Intell gence# eE$ally great# d rected all ts mo6ements# and ma nta ned the eternal harmony that res$lted therefrom, Th$s the 'n ty of the 'n 6erse# re!resented b6 the symbol c egg# conta ned n tself t3o $n ts the So$l and the Intell gence# 3h ch !er6aded all ts !arts ( and they 3ere to the 'n 6erse#? cons dered as an an mated and ntell gent be ng# 3hat ntell gence and the so$l of l fe are to the nd 6 d$al ty of man, The doctr ne of the 'n ty of God# n th s sense# 3as ta$ght by Or!he$s, Of th s h s hymn or !al node s a !roof G fragments of 3h ch are E$oted by many of

the "athers# as &$st n# Tat an# %lemens of Ale4andr a# %yr l# and Theodoret# and the 3hole by E$seb $s# E$ot ng from Ar stob$l$s, The doctr ne of the Locos M3ordN or the 8oos M ntellectN# h s ncarnat on# death# res$rrect on or transf g$rat on G of h s $n on 3 th matter# h s d 6 s on n the 6 s ble 3orld# 3h ch he !er6ades# h s ret$rn to the or g nal 'n ty# and the 3hole theory relat 6e to the or g n of the so$l and ts dest ny# 3ere ta$ght n the Myster es# f 3h ch they 3ere the # great ob5ect, The Em!eror &$l an e4!la ns the Myster es of Atys and %ybele by the same meta!hys cal !r nc !les# res!ect ng the dem $rg cal Intell gence# ts descent nto matter# and ts ret$rn to ts or g n( and e4tends th s e4!lanat on to those of %eres, And so l /e3 se does Sall$st the Ph loso!her# 3ho adm ts n God a secondary ntell gent "orce# 3h ch descends nto the generat 6e matter to organ <e t, These myst cal deas nat$rally formed a !art of the sacred doctr ne and of the ceremon es of n t at ons the ob5ect of 3h ch# Sall$st remar/s# 3as to $n te man 3 th the ;orld and the De ty# and the f nal term of

!erfect on 3hereof 3as# accord ng to %lemens# the contem!lat on of nat$re# of real be ngs# and of ca$ses, The def n t on of Sall$st s correct, The Myster es 3ere !ract ced as a means of !erfect ng the so$ls of ma/ ng t to /no3 ts o3n d gn ty# of rem nd ng, It of ts noble or g n and mmortal ty# and conseE$ently of ts relat ons 3 th the 'n 6erse and the De ty, ;hat 3as meant by real be ngs# 3as n6 s ble be ngs# gen # the fac$lt es or !o3ers of nat$re G e6eryth ng not a !art of the 6 s ble 3orld# 3h ch 3as called# by 3ay of o!!os t on# a!!arent e4 stence, The theory of Gen # or Po3ers of 8at$re# and ts "orces# !erson f ed# made !art of the Sacred Sc ence of n t at on# and of that rel g o$s s!ectacle of d fferent be ngs e4h b ted n the Sanct$ary, It res$lted from that bel ef n the !ro6 dence and s$!er ntendence of the Gods# 3h ch 3as one of the !r mary bases of n t at on, The adm n strat on of the 'n 6erse by S$baltern Gen # to 6 hom t s conf ded#

and by 3hom good and e6 l are d s!ensed n the 3orld# 3as a conseE$ence of th s dogma# ta$ght n the Myster es of M th as# 3here 3as sho3n that famo$s egg# shared bet3een Orm$<d and Ahr man# each #of 3hom comm ss oned t3entyDfo$r Gen to d s!ense the good and e6 l fo$nd there nG they be ng $nder t3el6e S$!er or Gods# s 4 on the s de of L ght and Good# and s 4 on that of Dar/ness and E6 l, Th s doctr ne of the Gen # de!os tar es of the 'n 6ersal Pro6edence# 3as nt mately connected 3 th the Anc ent Myster es# and ado!ted n the sacr f ces and n t at ons ?both of Gree/s and Barbar ans, Pl$tarch says that the Gods# by means of Gen # 3ho are ntermed ates bet3een them and men# dra3 near to mortals n the # ceremon es of n t at on# at 3h ch the Gods charge them to ass st# and to d str b$te !$n shment and bless ng, Th$s not the De ty# b$t - s m n sters# or a Pr nc !le and Po3er of E6 l# 3ere deemed the a$thors of 6 ce and s n and s$ffer ng( and th$s the Gen l /e or angels d ffered n character

men# some be ng good and some e6 lG some %elest al Gods# Archangels# Angels# and some Infernal Gods# Demons and fallen Angels, At the head of the latter 3as the r %h ef# Ty!hon# Ahr man# or Sha tan# the E6 l Pr nc !le G 3ho# ha6 ng 3ro$ght d sorder n nat$re# bro$ght tro$bles on men by land and sea# and ca$sed the greatest lls# s at last !$n shed for h s cr mes, It 3as these e6ents and nc dents# says Pl$tarch# 3h ch Is s des red to re!resent n the ceremon al #of the Myster es# establ shed by her n memory of her sorro3s and 3ander ngs# 3hereof she e4h b ted an mage and re!resentat on n her Sanct$ar es# 3here also 3ere afforded enco$ragements to ! ety and consolat on n m sfort$ne, The dogma of a Pro6 dence# he says# adm n ster ng the 'n 6erse by means of ntermed ary Po3ers# 3ho ma nta n the connect on of man 3 th the D 6 n ty# 3as eonsecrated n the hlyster es of the Egy!t ans# Phryg ans# and Thrac ans# of the Mag and the D sc !les of HoroasterG as s

!la n by the r n t at ons# n 3h ch mo$rnf$l and f$nereal ceremon es m ngled, It 3as an essent al !art of the lessons g 6en the In t ates# to teach them the relat ons of the r o3n so$ls 3 th 'n 6ersal 8at$re# the greatest lessons of all# meant to d gn fy man n h s o3n eyes# and teach h m h s !lace n the 'n 6erse of th ngs, Th$s the 3hole system of the 'n 6erse 3as d s!layed n all ts !arts to the eyes of the In t ate G and the symbol c ca6e 3h ch re!s resented t 3as adorned and clothed 3 th all the attr b$tes of that 'n 6erse, To th s 3orld so organ <ed# endo3ed 3 th a do$ble force# act 6e and !ass 6e# d 6 ded bet3een l ght and dar/ness# mo6ed by a l 6 ng and ntell gent "orce# go6erned by Gen or Angels 3ho !res de o6er ts d fferent !arts# and 3hose nat$re and character are more lofty or lo3 a !ro!ort on as they !ossess a greater or less !ort on of dar/ matter#Dto th s 3orld descends the so$l# emanat on of the ethereal f re# and e4 led from the l$m no$s reg on abo6e the 3orld, It enters nto th s

dar/ matter# 3here n the host le !r nc !les# each seconded by h s troo!s of Gen # are e6er n con6 ct# there to s$bm t to one or more organ <at ons n the body 3h ch s ts !r son# $nt l t shall at last ret$rn to ts !lace of or g n# ts tr$e nat 6e co$ntry# from 3h ch dar ng th s l fe t s an e4 le, B$t one th ng rema ned#Dto re!resent ts ret$rn# thro$gh the constellat ons and !lanetary s!heres# to ts or g nal home, The celest al f re# the !h loso!hers sa d# so$l of the 3orld and of f re# an $n 6ersal !r nc !le# c rc$lat ng abo6e the -ea6ens# n a reg on nf n tely !$re and 3holly l$m no$s# tself !$re# s m!le# and $nm 4ed# s abo6e the 3orld by ts s!ec f c l ghtness, If any !art of t Msay a h$man so$lN descends# t acts aga nst ts nat$re n do ng so# $rged by an ncons derate des re of the ntell gence# a !erf d o$s lo6e for matter 3h ch ca$ses t to descend# to /no3 3hat !asses here belo3# 3here good and e6 l are n confl ct, The So$l# a s m!le s$bstance# 3hen $nconnected 3 th matter# a ray or !artscle of the D 6 ne " re# 3hose home s n -ea6en# e6er t$rns to3ard that home# 3h le $n ted 3 th the body# and

str$ggles to ret$rn th ther, Teach ng th s# the Myster es stro6e to recall man to h s d 6 ne or g n# and !o nt o$t to h m the means of ret$rn ng th ther, The gr st sc ence acE$ red n the Myster es 3as /no3ledge of man?s self# of the nobleness of h s or g n# the grande$r of h s dest ny# and h s s$!er or ty o6er the an mals# 3h ch can ne6er acE$ re th s /no3ledge# and 3hom he resembles so long as he does not re5ect $!on h s e4 stence and so$nd the de!ths of h s o3n nat$re, By do ng and s$ffer ng# by 6 rt$e and ! ety and good deeds# the so$l 3as enabled at length to free tself from the body# and ascend along the !ath of the M l/y ;ay# by the gate of %a!r corn and by the se6en s!heres, to the !lace 3hence by many grad$at ons and s$ccess 6e la!ses and enthrallments t had descended, And th$s the theory of the s!heres# and of the s gns and ntell gences 3h ch !res de there# and the 3hole system of astronomy# 3ere connected 3 th that of the so$l and ts dest nyG and so 3ere ta$ght n the

Myster es# n 3h ch 3ere de6elo!ed the great !r nc !les of !hys cs and meta!hys cs as to the or g n of the so$l# ts cond t on here belo3# ts dest nat on# and ts f$t$re fate, The Gree/s f 4 the date of the establ shment of the Myster es of Ele$s s at the year ):09 B, %,# d$r ng the re gn of Erechthe$s at Athens, Accord ng to some a$thors# they 3ere nst t$ted by %eres herselfG and accord ng to others# by that Monarch# 3ho bro$ght them from Egy!t# 3here# accord ng to D odor$s of S c ly# he 3as born, Another trad t on 3as# that Or!he$s ntrod$ced them nto Greece# together 3 th the D onys an ceremon es# co!y ng the latter from the Myster es of Os r s# and the former from those of Is s, 8or 3as t at Athens only# that the 3orsh ! and Myster es of Is s# metamor!hosed nto %eres# 3ere establ shed, The Boeot ans 3orsh !!ed the Great or %ab r c %eres# n the recesses of a sacred gro6e# nto 3h ch none b$t In t ates co$ld enterG and the ceremon es there obser6ed# and the sacred trad t ons of the r Myster es# 3ere connected 3 th those of the %ab r n

Samothrace, So n Argos# Phoc s# Arcad a# Acha a# Messen a# %or nth# and many other !arts of Greece# the Myster es 3ere !ract ced# re6eal ng e6ery3here the r Egy!t an or g n and e6ery3here ha6 ng the same general feat$resG b$t those of Ele$s s# n Att ca# Pa$san as nforms $s# had been regarded by the Gree/s# from the earl est t mes# as be ng as far s$!er or to all the others# as the Gods are to mere -eroes, S m lar to these 3ere the Myster es of Bona Dea# the Good Goddess# 3hose name# say % cero and Pl$tarch# t 3as not !erm tted to any man to /no3# celebrated at Ro me frorm the earl est t mes of that c ty, It 3as these Myster es# !ract ced by 3omen alone# the secrecy of 3h ch 3as m! o$sly 6 olated by %la$d $s, They 3ere held at the Kalends of MayG and# accord ng to Pl$tarch# m$ch of the ceremon al greatly resembled that of the Myster es of Bacch$s, The Myster es of Fen$s and Adon s belonged !r nc !ally to Syr a and Phoen c a#

3hence they !assed nto Greece and S c ly, Fen$s or Astarte 3as the Great "emale De ty of the Phoen c ans# as -erc$les# Mel/arth or Adon 3as the r %h ef God, Adon # called by the Gree/s Adon s# 3as the lo6er of Fen$s, Sla n by a 3o$nd n the th gh nfl cted by a 3 ld boar n the chase# the flo3er called anemone s!rang from h s blood, Fen$s rece 6ed the cor!se and obta ned fro m &$! ter the boon that her lo6er sho$ld thereafter !ass s 4 months of each year 3 th her# and the other s 4 n the Shades 3 th Proser! neG an allegor cal descr !t on of the alternate res dence of the S$n n the t3o hem s!heres, In these Myster es h s death 3as re!resented and mo$nted# and after th s macerat on and mo$rn ng 3ere concl$ded# h s res$rrect on and ascent to -ea6en 3ere anno$nced, E<e/ el s!ea/s of the fest 6als of Adon s $nder the name of those of Thamm$<# an Assyr an De ty# 3hom e6ery year the 3omen mo$rned# seated at the doors of the r d3ell ngs, These Myster es# l /e the others# 3ere celebrated n the

S!r ng# at the Fernal EE$ no4# 3hen he 3as restored to l feG at 3h ch t me# 3hen theyD3ere nst t$ted# the S$n MAdon # Lord# or MasterN 3as n the S gn Ta$r$s# the dom c le of Fen$s, -e 3as re!resented 3 th horns# and the hymn of Or!he$s n h s honor styles h m @the t3oDhorned God G@ as n Argos Bacch$s 3as re!resented 3 th the feet of a b$ll, Pl$tarch says that Adon s and Bacch$s 3ere regarded as one? and the same De tyG and that th s o! n on 3as fo$nded on the great s m lar ty n 6ery many res!ects bet3een the Myster es of these t3o Gods, The Myster es of Bacch$s 3ere /no3n as the Saba< an# Or!h c and D onys an "est 6als, They 3ent bac/ to the remotest ant E$ ty among the Gree/s# and 3ere attr b$ted by some to Bacch$s h mself# and by others to Or!he$s, The resemblance n ceremon al bet3een the obser6ances establ shed n honor of Os r s n Egy!t# and those n honor of Bacch$s n Greece# the mytholog cal

trad t ons of the t3o Gods# and the symbols $sed n the fest 6als of each# am!ly !ro6e the r dent ty, 8e ther the name of Bacch$s# nor the 3ord org es a!!l ed to h s feasts# nor the sacred 3ords $sed n h s Myster es# are Gree/# b$t of fore gn or g n, Bacch$s 3as an Or ental De ty# 3orsh !!ed n the East# and h s org es celebrated there# long before the Gree/s ado!ted them, In the earl est t mes he 3as 3orsh !!ed n Ind a# Arab a# and Ba6ar a, -e 3as honored n Greece 3 th !$bl c fest 6als# and n s m!le or com!l cated Myster es# 6ary ng n ceremon al n 6ar o$s !laces# as 3as nat$ral# beca$se h s 3orsh ! had come th ther from d fferent co$ntr es and at d fferent !er ods# The !eo!le 3ho celebrated the com!l cated Myster es 3ere gnorant of the mean ng of, many 3ords 3h ch they $sed# and of many embalms 3h ch they re6ered, In the Saba< an "easts# for e4am!le Afrom SabaDHe$s# an or ental name of th s De tyB# the 3ords EFOI# SABOI# ;ere $sed# 3h ch are n no3 se Gree/G and a ser!ent of

gold 3as thro3n nto the bosom of the In t ate# n all$s on to the fable that &$! ter had# n the form of a ser!ent# had connect on 3 th Proser! ne# and begotten Ba/chos# the b$ll G 3hence the en gmat cal say ng# re!eated to the In t ates# that a b$ll engendered a dragon or ser!ent# and the ser!ent n t$rn engendered the b$ll# 3ho became Ba/chos ( the mean ng f 3h ch 3as# that the b$ll ATa$r$s# 3h ch then o!ened the Fernal EE$ no4# and the S$n n 3h ch S gn# f g$rat 6ely re!resented by the S gn tself# 3as Ba/chos# D onys$s# SabaD He$s# Os r s# etc,B# and the Ser!ent# another constellat on# occ$! ed s$ch relat 6e !os t ons n the -ea6ens# that 3hen one rose the other set# and 6 ce 6ersa, The ser!ent 3as a fam l ar symbol n the Myster es of Ba/chos, The In t ates gras!ed them 3 th the r hands# as Or!h $c$s does on the celest al globe# and the Or!heoDtelestes# or !$r f er of cand dates d d the same# cry ng# as Demosthenes ta$nted, AEsch nes 3 th do ng n !$bl c at the head of the 3omen

3hom h s mother 3as to m tate# EFOI# SAB2I# -.ES ATTE# A8TE# -.ESO The In t ates n these Myster es had !reser6ed the r t$al and ceremon es that accorded 3 th the s m!l c ty of the earl est ages# and the manners of the f rst men, The r$les of Pythagoras 3ere follo3ed there, L /e the Egy!t ans# 3ho held 3ool $nclean# they b$r ed no In t ate n 3oolen garments, They absta ned fro m bloody sacr f cesG and l 6ed on fr$ ts or 6egetables or nan mate th ngs, They m tated the l fe of the contem!lat 6e Sects of the Or entG th$s a!!ro4 mat ng to the tranE$ l ty of the f rst men# 3ho l 6ed e4em!t from tro$ble and cr mes n the bosom of a !rofo$nd !eace, One of the most !rec o$s ad6antages !rom sed by the r n t at on 3as# to !$t a man n comm$n on 3 th the Gods# by !$r fy ng h s so$l of all the !ass ons that nterfere 3 th that en5oyment# and d m the rays of d 6 ne l ght that are comm$n cated to e6ery so$l ca!able of rece 6 ng them# and that m tate the r !$r ty, One of the degrees of n t at on 3as the

state of ns! rat on to 3h ch the ada!ts 3ere cla med to atta n, The In t ates n the Myster es of the Lamb# at Pe!$<a# n Phryg a# !rofessed to be ns! red# and !ro!hes ed and t 3as cla med that the so$l# by means of these rel g o$s ceremon es# !$r f ed of any sta n# co$ld see the Gods n th s l fe# and certa nly# n all cases# after death, The sacred gates of the Tem!le# 3here the ceremon es of n t at on 3ere !erformed# 3ere o!ened b$t once n each year# and no stranger 3as e6er allo3ed to enter, It, n ght thre3 her 6e l o6er these a$g$st Myster es# 3h ch co$ld be re6ealed to no# one, There the s$ffer ngs of Ba/chos 3ere re!resented# 3ho# l /e Os r s# d ed# descended to hell and rose to l fe aga nG and ra3 flesh 3as d str b$ted to the In t ates# 3h ch each ate# n memory of the death df the De ty# torn n ! eces by the T tans, These Myster es also 3ere celebrated at the Fernal EE$ no4G and the emblem of generat on# to e4!ress the act 6e energy and generat 6e !o3er of the D 6 n ty#

3as a !r nc !al symbol, The In t ates 3ore garlands and cro3ns of myrtle and la$rel, In these Myster es# the as! rant 3as /e!t n terror and dar/ness to !erform the three days and n ghtsG and 3as then made AfaJ smos # Of %eremony re!resent ng the death of Ba/chos# the same mytholog cal !ersonage 3 th Os r s, Th s 3as effected by coff n ng h m n a close cell# that he m ght ser o$sly reflect# n sol t$de and dar/ness# on the b$s ness he 3as engaged n ( and h s m nd be !re!ared for the rece!t on of the s$bl me and myster o$s tr$ths of !r m t 6e re6elat on and !h loso!hy, Th s 3as a symbol c death G the del 6erance from t# regenerat on G after 3h ch he 3as called d fnJs or t3 nDborn, ;h le conf ned n the cell# the !$rs$ t of Ty!hon after the mangled body of Os r s# and the search of Rhea or Is s for the same# 3ere enacted n h s hear ngG the n t ated cry ng alo$d the names# of that De ty der 6ed fro m the Sans/r t, Then t 3as anno$nced that the body 3as fo$nd G and the as! rant

3as l berated am d shoots of 5oy and e4$ltat on, Then he !assed thro$gh a re!resentat on of -ell and Elys $m, @Then#@ sa d an anc ent 3r ter# @they are enterta ned 3 th hymns and dances# 3 th the s$bl me doctr nes of sacred /no3ledge# and 3 th 3onderf$l and holy 6 s ons, And no3 become !erfect and n t ated# they are "REE# and no longer $nder restra nt G b$t# cro3ned# and tr $m!hant# they 3al/ $! and do3n the reg ons of the blessed# con6erse 3 th !$re and holy men# and celebrate the sacred Myster es at !leas$re,@ They 3ere ta$ght the nat$re and ob5ects of the Myster es# and the means of ma/ ng themsel6es /no3n# and rece 6ed the name of E!o!tsG 3ere f$lly nstr$cted e the nat$re and attr b$tes of the D 6 n ty# and the doctr ne of a f$t$re stateG and made acE$a nted 3 th the $n ty and attr b$tes of the Grand Arch tect of the 'n 6erse# and the tr$e mean ng of the fables n regard to the Gods of Pagan sm( the great Tr$th be ng often !rocla med# that @He$s s the

!r m t 6e So$rce of all th ngsG there s one GodG one !o3er# and one r$le o6er all,@ And after f$ll e4!lanat on of the many symbols and emblems that s$rro$nded them# they 3ere d sm ssed 3 th the barbaro$s 3ords KogJ Om!aJ# corr$!t ons of the Sans/r t 3ords# Kans/a Aom Pa/schaG mean ng# ob5ect of o$r 3 shes# God# S lence# or ;orsh ! the De ty n S lence, , Among the emblems $sed 3as the rod of Ba/chosG 3h ch once# t 3as sa d# he cast on the gro$nd# and t became a ser!entG and at another t me he str$c/ the r 6ers Orontes and -ydas!es 3 th t#, and the 3aters receded and he !assed o6er dryDshod, ;ater 3as obta ned# d$r ng the ceremon es# by str / ng a roc/ 3 th t, The Ba/chae cro3ned the r heads 3 th ser!ents# carr ed them n 6ases and bas/ets# and at the E6eho s# or f nd ng# of the body of Os r s# cast one# al 6e# nto the as! rant?s bosom, The Myster es of Atys n Phryg a# and those of %ybele h s m stress# l /e the r

3orsh !# m$ch resembled those of Adon s and Ba/chos# Os r s and Is s, The r As at c or g n s $n 6ersally adm tted# and 3as 3 th great !la$s b l ty cla med by Phryg a# 3h ch contested the !alm of ant E$ ty 3 th Egy!t, They# more than any other !eo!le# m ngled allegory 3 th the r, rel g o$s 3orsh !# and 3ere great n6entors of fables G and the r sacred trad t ons as to %ybele and Atys# 3hom all adm t to be Phryg an Gods# 3ere 6ery 6ar o$s, In all# as 3e learn ro m &$l $s " rm c$s# they re!resented by allegory the !henomena #of nat$re# and the s$ccess on of !hys cal facts# $nder the 6e l of a mar6elo$s h story, The r feasts occ$rred at the eE$ no4es# commenc ng 3 th lamentat on# mo$rn ng# groans# and ! t f$l cr es for the heath of AtysG and end ng 3 th re5o c ngs at h s restorat on to l fe, ;e shall not rec te the d fferent 6ers ons of the legend of Atys and %ybele# g 6en by &$l $s " rm c$s# D odor$s# Arnob $s# Lactant $s# Ser6 $s# Sa nt A$g$st ne# and Pa$san as, It s eno$gh to say that t s n s$bstance th s(

that %ybele# a Phryg an Pr ncess# 3ho n6ented m$s cal nstr$ments and dances# 3as enamored of Atys# a yo$thG that e ther he n a f t of fren<y m$t lated h mself or 3as m$t lated by her n a !aro4ysm of 5ealo$sy G that he d ed# and after3ard# l /e Adon s# 3as restored to l fe,? It s the Phoen c an f ct on as to the S$nDGod# e4!ressed n other terms# $nder other ?forms# and 3 th other names,? %ybele 3as 3orsh !!ed n Syr a# $nder the name of Rhea, L$c an says that the Lyd an Atys there establ shed her 3orsh ! and b$ lt her tem!le, The name of Rhea s also fo$nd n the anc ent cosmogony of the Phoen c ans by Sanchon athon, It 3as? Atys the Lyd an# says L$c an# 3ho# ha6 ng been m$t lated# f rst establ shed the Myster es of Rhea# and ta$ght the Phryg ans# the Lyd ans# and the !eo!le of Samothrace to celebrate them, Rhea# l /e %ybele# 3as re!resented dra3n by l ons# bear ng a dr$m# and cro3ned 3 th flo3ers, D Accord ng to Farro# %ybele re!resented the earth, She !artoo/ of the

character st cs of M ner6a# Fen$s# the Moon# D ana# 8emes s# and the "$r es G 3as clad n !rec o$s stones G and her - gh Pr est 3ore a robe of !$r!le and a t ara of gold, _The Grand "east of the Syr an Goddess# l /e that of the Mother of the Gods at Ro me# 3as celebrated at the Fernal EE$ no4, Prec sely at that eE$ no4 the Myster es of Atys 3ere celebrated#? n 3h ch th In t ates 3ere ta$ght to e4!ect the re3ards of a f$t$re l fe# and the fl ght of Atys from the 5ealo$s f$ry of %ybele 3as descr bed# h s concealment n the mo$nta ns and n a ca6e# and, - s selfDm$t lat on n a f t of del r $m G n 3h ch act h s !r ests m tated h m, The feast of the !ass on of Atys cont n$ed three daysG the f rst of 3h ch 3as !assed n mo$rn ng and tearsG to 3h ch after3ard clamoro$s re5o c ngs s$cceeded G by 3h ch# Macrob $s says# the S$n 3as adored $nder the name of Atys, The ceremon es 3ere all allegor cal# some of 3h ch# accord ng to the Em!eror &$l an# co$ld be e4!la ned# b$t more rema ned co6ered 3 th the 6e l

of mystery, Th$s t s that symbols o$tlast the r e4!lanat ons# as many ha6e done n Masonry# and gnorance and rashness s$bst t$te ne3 ones, In another legend# g 6en by Pa$san as# Atys d es# 3o$nded l /e Adon s by a 3 ld boar n the _organs of generat on G a m$t lat on 3 th 3h ch all the legends ended, The ! ne tree $nder 3h ch he 3as sa d to ha6e d ed# 3as sacred to h mG and# 3as fo$nd $!on many mon$ments# 3 th a b$ll and a ram near tG one the s gn of e4altat on of the S$n# and the other of that of the Moon, The 3orsh ! of the S$n $nder the name of M thras belonged to Pers a# 3hence that name came# as d d the er$d te symbols of that 3orsh !, The Pers ans# adorers of " re# regarded the S$n asG the most br ll ant abode of the fec$ndat ng energy of that element# 3h ch g 6es l fe to the earth# and c rc$lates n e6ery !art of the 'n 6erse# of 3h ch t s# as t 3ere# the so$l, Th s 3orsh ! !assed from Pers a nto Armen a# %a!!adoc a# and % l c a# long before t 3as /no3n at Rome, The Myster es of M thras fl$r shed more than any

others n the m!er al c ty, The 3orsh ! of M thras commenced to !re6a l there $nder Tro5an, -adr an !roh b ted these Myster es# on acco$nt of the cr$el scenes re!resented n the r ceremon al ( for h$man 6 ct ms 3ere mmolated there n# and the e6ents of f$t$r ty loo/ed for n the r !al! tat r g entra ls, They rea!!eared n greater s!lendor than e6er $nder %ommod$s# 3ho 3 th h s o3n hand sacr f ced a 6 ct m to M thras ( and they 3ere st ll more !ract ced $nder %onstant ne and h s s$ccessors# 3hen the Pr ests of M thras 3ere fo$nd e6ery3here n the Roman Em! re# and the mon$ments of h s 3orsh ! a!!eared e6en n Br ta n, %a6es 3ere consecrated to M thras# n 3h ch 3ere collected a m$lt t$de of astronom cal emblems G and cr$el tests 3ere reE$ red of the In t ates, The Pers ans b$ lt no tem!les G b$t 3orsh !!ed $!on the s$mm ts of h lls# n enclos$res of $nhe3n stones, They abom nated mages# and made the S$n and " re emblems of the De ty, The &e3s borro3ed th s from them# and re!resented God as

a!!ear ng to Abraham n a flame of f re# and to Moses as a f re at -oreb and on S na , ; th the Pers ans# M thras# ty! f ed n the S$n# 3as the n6 s ble De ty# the Parent of the 'n 6erse# the Med ator, In Horoaster?s ca6e of n t at on# the? S$n and Planets 3ere re!resented o6erhead# n gems and gold# as also 3as the Hod ac, The S$n a!!eared emerg ng from the bac/ of Ta$r$s, Three great ! llars# Etern ty# "ec$nd ty# and A$thor ty# s$!!orted the roofG and the 3hole 3as at emblem of the 'n 6erse, Horoaster# l /e Moses# cla med to ha6e con6ersed face to face# as man 3 th man# 3 th the De tyG and to ha6e rece 6ed from - m a system of !$re 3orsh !# to be comm$n cated only to the 6 rt$e o$s# and those 3ho 3o$ld de6ote themsel6es to the st$dy of Ph loso!hy,D - s fame s!read o6er the 3orld# and !$! ls came to h ^n from e6ery co$ntry, E6en Pythagoras 3as h s scholar, After h s no6 t ate# the cand date entered the ca6ern of n t at on# and 3as

rece 6ed on the !o nt of a s3ord !resented to h s :07 na/ed left breast# by 3h ch he 3as sl ghtly 3o$nded, Be ng cro3ned 3 th ol 6e# ano nted 3 th balsam of ben<o n# and other 3 se !re!ared# he 3as !$r f ed 3 th f re and, ;ater# and 3ent thro$gh se6en stages of n t at on# The symbol of these stages 3as a h gh ladder 3 th se6en ro$nds or ste!s, In them# he 3ent thro$gh many fearf$l tr al?s n 3h ch dar/ness d s!layed a !r nc !al !art, -e sa3 a re!resentat on of the 3 c/ed n - des G and f nally emerged from dar/ness nto l ght, Rece 6ed t a !lace re!resent ng Elys $m# n the br ll ant assembly of the n t ated# 3here the Arch mag$s !res ded# robed n bl$e# he ass$med the obl gat ons of secrecy# and 3as entr$sted 3 th the Sacred ;ords# of 3h ch the Ineffable 8ame of God 3as the ch ef, Then all the nc dents of h s n t at on 3ere e4!la ned to h m( he 3as ta$ght that these ceremon es bro$ght h m nearer the De tyG and that he sho$ld adore

the consecrated " re# the g ft of that De ty and - s 6 s ble res dence, -e 3as ta$ght the sacred characters /no3n only to the n t atedG and nstr$cted n regard to the creat on of , the 3orld# and the tr$e !h loso!h cal mean ng of the 6$lgar mythology G and es!ec ally of the legend of Orm$<d and Ahr man# and the symbol c mean ng of the s 4 Amshas!ands created by the former ( Bahman# the Lord of L ghtG Ard behest# the Gen $s of " re G Shar 6er# the Lord of S!lendor and MetalsG Sta!andomad# the So$rce of "r$ tf$lnessG K/ordad# the Gen $s of ;ater, and T me G and Amerdad# the !rotector of the Fegetable ;orld# and the !r me ca$se of gro3th, And f nally he 3as ta$ght the tr$e nat$re of the S$!reme Be ng# %reator of Orm$<d and Ahr man# the? Absol$te " rst ?%a$se# styled Her$ane A/herene, In the M thr ac n t at on 3ere se6eral Degrees, The f rst# Tert$ll an says# 3as that of Sold er of M thras, The ceremony o rece!t on cons sted n

!resent ng the cand date a cro3n# s$!!orted by a s3ord, It 3as !laced near h s head# and he re!elled t# say ng# @M thras s my #cro3n,@ Then he 3as declared the sold er of M thras# and had the r ght to call the other In t ates fello3 sold ers or com!an ons n arms, -ence the t tle %om!an ons n the Royal Arch Degree of the Amer can R te, Then he !assed# Por!hyry says# thro$gh, the Degree of the L on# the constellat on Leo# dom c le of the S$n and symbol of M thras#, fo$nd on h s mon$ments, These ceremon es 3ere termed at Rome Leont c and -el $m G and %orac a or - eroD%orac a# of :0= -ea6ens belo3 the L on# 3 th the -ydra# and also a!!ear ng on the M thras mon$ments, Thence he !assed to a h gher Degree# 3here the In t ates 3ere ?called Perses and ch ldren of the D S$n, Abo6e them 3ere the "athers# 3hose ch ef or Patr arch 3as styled "ather of "athers# or Pater Patrat$s, The In t ates also bore the t tle of Eagles and -a3/s# b rds consecrated to the S$n n Egy!t# the

former sacred to the God Mendes# and the latter the emblem of the S$n and Royalty, The l ttle sland of Samothrace 3as long the de!os tary of certa n a$g$st Myster es# and many 3ent th ther from all !arts of Greece to be n t ated, It 3as sa d to ha6e been settled by the anc ent Pelasg # early As at c colon sts n Greece, The Gods adored n the Myster es of th s sland 3ere termed %ABIRI# an or ental 3ord# from %aber# great, Farro calls the Gods of Samothrace# Potent MGods, In Arab c# Fen$s s called %aber, Farro says tha the Great De t es 3hose Myster es 3ere !ract ced there# 3ere -ea6en and Earth, These 3ere b$t symbols of the Act 6e and Pass 6e Po3ers or Pr nc !les of $n 6ersal generat on, The t3o T3 n# %astor and Poll$4# or the D osc$r # 3ere also called the Gods of SamothraceG and the Schol ast of A!ollon $s# c t ng Mnaseas# g 6es the names of %eres# Proser! ne# Pl$to# and Merc$ry# as the fo$r %ab r c D 6 n t es

3orsh !!ed at Samothrace# as A4 eros# A4 ocersa# A4 ocers$s# and %asm ll$s, Merc$ry 3as# there as e6ery3here# the m n ster and messenger of the Gods G and the yo$ng ser6 tors of the altars and the ch ldren em!loyed n the Tem!les 3ere called Merc$r es or %asm ll$s# as they 3ere n T$scany# by the Etr$sc and Pelasg # 3ho 3orsh !!ed the Great Gods, TarE$ n the Etr$scan 3as an In t ate of the myster es of SamothraceG and Etr$r a had ts %ab r as Samothrace had, "or the 3orsh ! of the %ab r s!read fro m that sland nto Etr$r a# Phryg a# and As a M nor ( and t !robably came fro m Phoen c a nto Samothrace ( for the %ab r are ment oned by Sanchon athonG and the 3ord %aber belongs to the -ebre3# Phoen c an# and Arab c lang$ages, The D osc$r # t$telary De t es of 8a6 gat on# 3 th Fen$s# 3ere n6o/ed n the Myster es of Samothrace, The constellat on A$r ga# or Phaeton# 3as also honored there 3 th m!os ng ceremon es, '!on the Aerona$t c e4!ed t on# Or!he$s# an

In t ate of these :0+ Myster es# a storm ar s ng# co$nseled h s com!an ons to !$t nto Samothrace, They d d so# the storm ceased# and they 3ere n t ated nto the Myster es there# and sa led aga n 3 th the ass$rance of a fort$nate 6oyage# $nder the a$s! ces of the D osc$r # !atrons of sa lors and na6 gat on, B$t m$ch more than that 3as !rom sed the In t ates, The - ero!hants of Samothrace made someth ng nf n tely greater to be the ob5ect of the r n t at ons G to 3 t# the consecrat on of men to the De ty# by !ledg ng them to 6 rt$e G and the ass$rance of those re3ards 3h ch the 5$st ce of the Gods reser6es for In t ates after death, Th s# abo6e all else# made these ceremon es a$g$st# and ns! red e6ery3here so great a res!ect for them# and so great a des re to be adm tted to them, _that or g nally ca$sed the sland to be styled Sacred, It 3as res!ected by all nat ons, The Romans# 3hen masters of the 3orld# left t ts l berty and la3s, It 3as an

asyl$m for the $nfort$nates and a sanct$ary n6 olable, There men 3ere absol6ed of the cr me of hom c de# f not comm tted n a tem!le, %h ldren of tender age 3ere n t ated there# and n6ested 3 th the sacred robe# the !$r!le t nct$re# and the cro3n of ol 6e# and seated $!on a throne# l /e other In t ates, In the ceremon es 3as re!resented the death f the yo$ngest of the %ab r # sla n by h s brothers# 3ho fled nto Etr$r a# carry ng 3 th them the chest or ar/ that conta ned# h s gen tals( and there the Phall$s and the sacred ar/ 3ere adored,, -erodot$s says that the Samothrac an In t ates $nderstood the ob5ect and or g n of th s re6erence !a d the Phall$s# and 3hy t 3as e4h b ted n the Myster es, %lement of Ale4andr a says that the %ab r ta$ght the T$scany to re6ere t, It 3as consecrated at -el o!ol s n Syr a# 3here the myster es of a D 6 n ty ha6 ng many !o nts of resemblance 3 th, Atys and %ybele 3ere re!resented, The Pelasg connected t 3 th Merc$ry Gand t a!!ears on the mon$ments of Math as G al3ays and e6eryD3here a symbol of

the l feDg 6 ng !o3er of the S$n at the Fernal EE$ no4, In the Ind an Myster es# as the cand date made h s three c rc$ ts# he !a$sed each t me he reached the So$th# and sa d# @I co!y the e4am!le of the S$n# and follo3 h s benef cent co$rse,@ Bl$e Masonry has renamed the % rc$ ts# b$t has $tterly lost the e4!lanat onG 3h ch s# that n the Myster es the cand date n6ar ably re!resented the S$n# descend ng So$th3ard? to3ard the re gn of, :0* the E6 l Pr nc !le# Ahr man# S ta# or Ty!hon Mdar/ness and 3 nterN G there f g$rat 6ely to be sla n# and after a fe3 days to r se aga n from the dead# and commence to ascend to the 8orth3ard, Then the death of S ta 3as be3a led G or that of %ama# sla n by Is3ara# a d comm tted to the 3a6es on a chest# l /e Os r s and Bacch$sG d$r ng 3h ch the cand date 3as terr f ed by !hantoms and horr d no ses, Then he 3as made to !erson fy F shn$# and !erform h s a6atars# or labors, In the f rst t3o he 3as ta$ght n allegor es the legend of the Del$ge( n the f rst he too/ three ste!s at r ght angles# re!resent ng the three h$ge ste!s

ta/en by F shn$ n that a6atarG and hence the three ste!s n the Master?s Degree end ng at r ght angles, The n ne a6atars f n shed# he 3as ta$ght the necess ty of fa th# as s$!er or to sacr f ces# acts of char ty# or mort f cat ons of the flesh, Then he 3as admon shed aga nst f 6e cr mes# and too/ a solemn obl gat on ne6er to comm t them, -e 3as then ntrod$ced nto a re!resentat on of Parad seG the %o m!any of the Members of the Order# magn f cently arrayed# and the Altar 3 th a f re bla< ng $!on t# as an emblem of the De ty, Then a ne3 name 3as g 6en h m# and he 3as n6ested n a 3h te robe and t ara# and rece 6ed the s gns# to/ens# and lect$res, A cross 3as mar/ed on h s forehead# and an n6erted le6el# or the Ta$ %ross# on h s breast, -e rece 6ed the sacred cord# and d 6ers am$lets or tal smansG and 3as then n6ested 3 th the sacred ;ord or S$bl me 8ame# /no3n only to the n t ated# the Tr lateral A, ', M,

Then the m$lt t$de of emblems 3as e4!la ned to the cand date G the arcana of sc ence h dden $nder them# and the d fferent 6 rt$es of 3h ch the mytholog cal f g$res 3ere more !erson f cat ons, And he th$s learne: the mean ng of those symbols# 3h ch# to the $n n t ated# 3ere b$t a ma<e of $n ntell g ble f g$res, :01 Godhead# the ha!! ness of the !atr archs# the destr$ct on by the Del$ge# the de!ra6 ty of the heart# and the necess ty of a med ator# the nstab l ty of l fe# the f nal destr$ct on of all created th ngs# and the restorat on of the 3orld n a more !erfect form, They nc$lcated the Etern ty of the So$l# e4!la ned the mean ng of the doctr ne of the Metem!sychos s# and held theDdoctr ne of a state of f$t$re re3ards and !$n shments( and they also earnestly $rged that s ns co$ld only be atoned for by re!entance# reformat on# and 6ol$ntary !enanceG and not by mere ceremon es and sacr f ces, The Myster es among the %h nese and &a!anese came fro3n Ind a# and 3ere

fo$nded on the same !r nc !les and 3 th s m lar r tes, The 3ord g 6en to the ne3 In t ate 3as ODM DTo "o# n 3h ch 3e recogn <e the or g nal name A, ', M,# co$!led at a m$ch later t me 3 th that of "o# the Ind an B$ddha# to sho3 that he 3as the Great De ty - mself, The eE$ lateral tr angle 3as one of the r symbolsG and so 3as the myst cal .G both all$d ng to the Tr $ne God# and the latter be ng the neffable name of the De ty, A r ng s$!!orted by t3o ser!ents 3as emblemat cal of the 3orld# !rotected by the !o3er and 3 sdom of the %reatorG and that s the or g n of the t3o !arallel l nes M nto 3h ch t me has changed the t3o ser!entsN# that s$!!ort the c rcle n o$r Lodges, Among the &a!anese# the term of !robat on for the h ghest Degree 3as t3enty years, The ma n feat$res of the Dr$ d cal Myster es resembled those of the Or ent,

The ceremon es commenced 3 th a hymn to the s$n, The cand dates 3ere arranged n ran/s of threes# f 6es# and se6ens# accord ng to the r E$al f cat onsG and cond$cted n ne t mes aro$nd the Sanct$ary# from East to ;est, The cand date $nder3ent many tr als# one of 3h ch had d rect reference to the legend of Os r s, -e 3as !laced n a boat# and sent o$t to sea alone# ha6 ng to rely on h s o3n s/ ll and !resence of m nd to reach the o!!os te shore n safety, The death of -$ 3as re!resented n h s hear ng# 3 th e6ery e4ternal mar/ of sorro3# 3h le he 3as n $tter dar/ness, -e met 3 th many obstacles# had to !ro6e h s co$rage# and e4!ose h s l fe aga nst armed enem esG re!resented 6ar o$s an mals# and at last# atta n ng the !ermanent l ght# he 3as nstr$cted by the ArchDDr$ d n regard to the Myster es# and n the moral ty of the th rd Degree 3as a l fe of secl$s on# after the In t ate?s ch ldren 3ere ca!able of !ro6 d ng for themsel6es G !assed n the forest# n the !ract ce of !rayers and

abl$t ons# and l 6 ng only on 6egetables, -e 3as then sa d to be born aga n, The fo$rth 3as absol$te ren$nc at on of the 3orld# selfDcontem!lat on add selfDtort$re G by 3h ch Perfect on 3as tho$ght to be atta ned# and the so$l merged n the De ty, In the second Degree# the In t ate 3as ta$ght the 'n ty of the :92 Order# nc ted to act bra6ely n 3ar# ta$ght the great tr$ths of the mmortal ty of the so$l and a f$t$re state# solemnly en5o ned not to neglect the 3orsh ! of the De ty# nor the !ract ce of r g d moral tyG and to a6o d? sloth# content on# and folly, The as! rant atta ned only the e4oter c /no3ledge n the f rst t3o Degrees, The th rd 3as atta ned only by a fe3# and they !ersons of ran/ and conseE$ence# and after long !$r f cat on# and st$dy of all the arts and sc ences /no3n to the Dr$ ds# n sol t$de# for n ne months, Th s 3as the symbol cal death and b$r al of these_ Myster es, The dangero$s 6oyage $!on the act$al o!en sea# n a small boat co6ered 3 th a

s/ n# on the e6en ng of the 01th of A!r l# 3as the last tr al# and clos ng scene# of n t at on, If he decl ned th s tr al# he 3as d sm ssed 3 th contem!t, If he made t and s$cceeded# he 3as termed thr ceDborn# 3as el g ble to all the d gn t es of the State# and rece 6ed com!lete nstr$ct on n the !h loso!hyY cal and rel g o$s doctr nes of the Dr$ ds, The Gree/s also styled the #E!o! h< TJ gJJoJ# thr ceDbornG and n Ind a !erfect on 3as ass gned to the .og 3ho had accom!l shed many b rths, The general feat$res of the n t at ons among the Goths 3ere the same as n all the Myster es, A long !robat on# of fast ng and mort f cat on# c rc$lar !rocess ons# re!resent ng the march of the celest al bod es# many fearf$l tests and tr als# a descent nto the nfernal reg ons# the / ll ng of the God Balder by the E6 l Pr nc !le# Lo/# the !lac ng of h s body n a boat and send ng t abroad $!on the 3aters G and# n short# the Eastern Legend# $nder d fferent names# and 3 th some 6ar at ons, The Egy!t an An$b s a!!eared there# as the dog g$ard ng the gates of death,

The cand date 3as mm$red n the re!resentat on of a tombG and 3hen released# goes n search of the body of Balder# and f nds h m# at length# restored to l fe# and seated $!on a throne, -e 3as obl gated $!on a na/ed s3ord Mas s st ll the c$stom n the R t ModerneN# and sealed h s obl gat on by dr n/ ng mead o$t of a h$man s/$ll, Then all the anc ent !r m t 6e tr$ths 3ere made /no3n to h m# so far as they had s$r6 6ed the assa$lts of t me( and he 3as nformed as to the generat on of the Gods# the creat on of the 3orld# the del$ge# and the res$rrect on# of 3h ch that of Balder 3as a ty!e, -e 3as mar/ed 3 th the s gn of the cross and a r ng 3as g 6en :9) to h m as a symbol of the D 6 ne Protect onG and also as an emblem of Perfect onG from 3h ch comes the c$stom of g 6 ng a r ng to the As! rant n the ):th Degree, The !o nt 3 th n % rcle# and the %$be# emblem of Od n# 3ere e4!la ned to h mG and lastly# the nat$re of the S$!reme God# @the a$thor of e6eryth ng that

e4 steth# the Eternal# the Anc ent# the L 6 ng and A3f$l Be ng# the Searcher nto concealed th ngs?# the Be ng that ne6er changeth G@ 3 th 3hom Od n the %onE$eror 3as by the 6$lgar confo$nded ( and the Tr $ne God of the Ind ans 3as re!rod$ced# as Od n# the Alm ghty "AT-ER# "REA# MRhea or PhreN# h s 3 fe Memblem of $n 6ersal matterN# and Thor h s son Mthe Med atorN, -ere 3e recogn <e Os r s# Is s# and -or or -or$s, Aro$nd the head of Thor# as f to sho3 h s eastern or g n# t3el6e stars 3ere arranged n a c rcle, -e 3as also ta$ght the $lt mate destr$ct on of the 3orld# and the r s ng of a ne3 one# n 3h ch the bra6e and 6 rt$o$s shall en5oy e6erlast ng ha!! ness and del ght( as the means of sec$r ng 3h ch ha!!y fort$ne# he 3as ta$ght to !ract se the str ctest moral ty and 6 rt$e, The In t ate 3as !re!ared to rece 6e the great lessons of all the Myster es# by long tr als# or by abst nence and chast ty, "or many days he 3as reE$ red to fast and be cont nent# and to dr n/ l E$ ds calc$lated to d m n sh h s !ass ons and /ee!

h m chaste, Abl$t ons 3ere also reE$ red# symbol cal of the !$r ty necessary to enable the so$l to esca!e from ts bondage n matter, Sacred b$tts and !re!aratory ba!t sms 3ere $sed# l$strat ons# mmers ons# l$stral s!r n/l ngs# and !$r f cat ons of e6ery / nd, At Athens they bathed n the Il ss$s# 3h ch thence became a sacred r 6erG and before enter ngthe Tem!le of Ele$s s# all 3ere reE$ red to 3ash the r hands n a 6ase of l$stral 3ater !laced near the entrance, %lean hands and a !$re heart 3ere reE$ red of the cand dates, A!$le $s bathed se6en t mes n the sea# symbol cal of the Se6en S!heres thro$gh 3h ch the So$l m$st reascend G add the - nd$s m$st bathe n the sacred r 6er Ganges, %lement of Ale4andr a c tes a !assage of Meander# 3ho s!ea/s of a !$r f cat on by s!r n/l ng three t mes 3 th salt and 3ater S$l!h$r# res n# and the la$rel also ser6ed for !$r f cat on as d d a r# earth# 3ater# and f re, The In t ates at -el o!ol s# n Syr a# says L$c an# sacr f ced the sacred lamb# symbol of

Ar es# then the s gn of the Fernal EE$ no4 G ate h s flesh# as the Israel tes, d d at the Passo6erG and then to$ched h s head and feet to the rs# and /nelt $!on the fleece, Then they bathed n 3arm 3ater# dran/ of the same# and sle!t $!on the gro$nd, There 3as a d st nct on bet3een the lesser and greater Myster es, One m$st ha6e been for some years adm tted to the former#? before he co$ld rece 6e the latter# 3h ch 3ere b$t a !re!arat on for them# the Fest b$le of the tem!le# of 3h ch those of Ele$s s 3ere the Sanct$ary, There# n the lesser Myster es# they 3ere !re!ared to rece 6e the holy tr$ths ta$ght n the greater, The In t ates n the lesser 3ere called s m!ly Myst c# or In t ates G b$t those n the greater# E!o!tsN or Seers, An anc ent !oet says that the former 3ere an m!erfect shado3 of the latter# as slee! s of Death, After adm ss on to the former# the In t ate 3as ta$ght lessons of moral ty# and the r$d ments of the sacred sc ence# the most s$bl me and secret !art of 3h ch 3as reser6ed for the

E!o!t# 3ho sa3 the Tr$th n ts na/edness# 3h le the Myst c only 6 e3ed t thro$gh a 6e l and $nder emblems f tter to e4c te than to sat sfy h s c$r os ty, Before comm$n cat ng the f rst secrets and !r mary dogmas of n t at on# the !r ests reE$ red the cand date to ta/e a fearf$l oath ne6er to d 6$lge the secrets, Then he made h s 6o3s# !rayers# and sacr f ces to the Gods, The s/ ns of the 6 ct ms consecrated to &$! ter 3ere s!read on the gro$nd# and he 3as made to set h s feet $!on them, -e 3as then ta$ght some en gmat c form$las# as ans3ers to E$est ons# by 3h ch to ma/e h mself /no3n, -e 3as then enthroned# n6ested 3 th a !$r!le t nct$re# and cro3ned 3 th flo3ers# or branches of !alm or ol 6e, ;e do not certa nly /no3 the t me that 3as reE$ red to ela!se bet3een the adm ss on to the Lesser and Greater Myster es of Ele$s s, Most 3r ters f 4 t

at f 6e years, It 3as a s ng$lar mar/ of fa6or 3hen Demetr $s 3as made Myst c and E!o!t n one and the same ceremony, ;hen at length adm tted to the Degree of !erfect on# the In t ate 3as bro$ght face to face 3 th ent re nat$re# and learned that the so$l 3as the 3hole of manG that earth 3as b$t h s !lace of e4 leG that -ea6en 3as h s nat 6e co$ntryG that for the so$l to be born s really to d eG and that death 3as for t the ret$rn to a ne3 l fe, Then he entered the sanct$aryG b$t he d d not rece 6e the 3hole nstr$ct on at once, It cont n$ed thro$gh se6eral years, There 3ere# as t 3ere# many a!artments# thro$gh 3h ch be ad6anced by degrees# and bet3een 3h ch th c/ 6e ls nter6ened, There 3ere Stat$es and Pa nt ngs# says Procl$s# n the nmost sanct$ary# sho3 ng the forms ass$med by the Gods, " nally the last 6e l fell# the sacred co6er ng dro!!ed from the mage of the Goddess# and she stood re6ealed n all her s!lendor# Ds$rro$nded by a d 6 ne l ght# 3h ch# f ll ng the 3hole sanct$ary# da<<led the eyes and !enetrated the so$l of the In t ate, Th$s s

symbol <ed the f nal re6elat on of the tr$e doctr ne as to the nat$re of De ty and of the so$l# and of the relat ons of each to matter, Th s 3as !receded by fr ghtf$l scenes# alternat ons of fear and 5oy# of l ght and dar/nessG by gl tter ng l ghtn ng and the crashed th$nder# and a!!ar t ons of s!ecters# or mag cal ll$s ons# m!ress ng at once the eyes and ears, Th s %la$d an descr bes# n h s !oem on the ra!e of Proser! ne# 3here he all$des to 3hat !assed n her Myster es, @The tem!le s sha/en#@ he cr esG Rf ercely gleams the l ghtn ng# by 3h ch the De ty anno$nces h s !resence, Earth trembles G and a terr ble no se s heard n the m dst of these terrors, The Tem!le of the Son of %ecro!s reso$nds 3 th longDcont n$ed roarsG Ele$s s $!l fts her sacred torches G the ser!ents of Tr !tolem$s are heard to h ss G and fearf$l -ecate a!!ears afar,@ The celebrat on of the Gree/ Myster es cont n$ed# accord ng to the better o! n on# for n ne days, On the f rst the In t ates met, It 3as the day of the

f$ll moon# of the month Boedrom on G 3hen the moon 3as f$ll at the end of the s gn Ar es# near the Ple ades and the !lace of her e4altat on n Ta$r$s, The second day there 3as a !rocess on to the sea# for !$r f cat on by bath ng, The th rd 3as occ$! ed 3 th offer ngs# e4! atory sacr f ces# and other rel g o$s r tes# s$ch as fast ng# mo$rn ng# cont nence# etc,A m$llet 3as mmolated# and offer ngs of gra n and l 6 ng an mals made, On the fo$rth they carr ed n !rocess on the myst c 3reath of flo3ers# re!resent ng that 3h ch Proser! ne dro!!ed 3hen se <ed by Pl$to# and the %ro3n of Ar adne n the -ea6ens, It 3as borne on a tr $m!hal car dra3n by o4enG and 3omen follo3ed bear ng myst c chests or bo4es# 3ra!!ed 3 th !$r!le clothe# ca!ta n ng gra ns of sesame# !yram dal b sc$ ts# salt# !omegranates and the myster o$s ser!ent# and !erha!s the myst c !hall$s, On the f fth 3as the s$!erb !rocess on of torches# commemorat 6e of the search for Proser! ne by %eres G the In t ates march ng by tr os# and each bear ng a torchG 3h le at the head of the

!rocess on marched the Dado$/os, The s 4th 3as consecrated to Ia/chos# the yo$ng L ghtDGod# son of %eres# reared n the sanct$ar es and bear ng the torch of the S$nDGod, The chor$s n Ar sto!hanes terms h m the l$m no$s star that l ghts the noct$rnal n t at on, -e 3as bro$ght from the sanct$ary# h s head cro3ned 3 th myrtle# and borne from the gate of the %eram c$s to Ele$s s# along the sacred 3ay# am d dances# sacred songs# e6ery mar/ of 5oy# and myst c cr es of Ia/chos, On the se6enth there 3ere gymnast c e4erc ses and combats# the 6 ctors n 3h ch 3ere cro3ned and re3arded, On the e ghth 3as the feast of AEsc$la! $s, On the n nth the famo$s l bat on 3as made for the so$ls of the de!arted, The Pr ests# accord ng to Athena$s# f lled t3o 6ases# !laced one n the East and one n the ;est# to3ard the gates of day and n ght# and o6ert$rned them# !rono$nc ng a form$la of myster o$s !rayers, Th$s they n6o/ed L ght and Dar/ness# the t3o great? !r nc !les of nat$re,

D$r ng all these days no one co$ld be arrested# nor any s$ t bro$ght# on !a n of death# or at least a hea6y f ne( and no one 3as allo3ed# by the d s!lay of $n$s$al 3ealth or magn f cence# to endea6or to r 6al th s sacred !om!, E6eryth ng 3as for rel g on, S$ch 3ere the Myster es G and s$ch the Old Tho$ght# as n scattered and 3 dely se!arated fragments t has come do3n to $s, The h$man m nd st ll s!ec$lates $!on the great myster es of nat$re# and st ll f nds ts deas ant c !ated by the anc ents# 3hose !rofo$ndest tho$ghts are to be loo/ed for# not n _the r !h loso!h es# b$t n the r symbols# by 3h ch they endea6ored to e4!ress the great deas that 6a nly str$ggled for $tterance n 3ords# as they 6 e3ed fhe great c rcle of !henomena#DB rth# L fe# Death# or Decom!os t on# and 8e3 L fe o$t of Death and Rottenness#D to them the greatest of myster es, Remember# 3h le yo$ st$dy the r symbols# that they had a

!rofo$nder sense of these 3onders than 3e ha6e, To them the transformat ons of the 3orm 3ere a greater 3onder than the starsG and hence the !oor d$mb scarabae$s or beetle 3as sacred to them, Th$s the r fa ths are condensed nto symbols or e4!anded nto allegor es# 3h ch they $nderstood# b$t 3ere not al3ays able to e4!la n n lang$ageG for there are tho$ghts and deas 3h ch no lang$age e6er s!o/en by man has 3ords to e4!ress MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), 07C D Kn ght of the Bra<en Ser!ent M Part ) N

PPF 8IG-T O" T-E BRAHE8 SERPE8T,

Th s Degree s both !h loso!h cal and moral, ;h le t teaches the

necess ty of reformat on as 3ell as re!entance# as a means of obta n ng mercy and forg 6eness# t s also de6oted to an e4!lanat on of the symbols of MasonryG and es!ec ally to those 3h ch are connected 3 th that anc ent and $n 6ersal legend# of 3h ch that of Kh rDOm Ab b$t a 6ar at onG that legend 3h ch# re!resent ng a m$rder or a death# and a restorat on to l fe# by a drama n 3h ch f g$re Os r s# Is s and -or$s# Atys and %ybele# Adon s and Fen$s# the %ab r # D on$sos# and many another re!resentat 6e of the act 6e and !ass 6e Po3ers of 8at$re# ta$ght the In t ates n the Myster es that the r$le of E6 l and Dar/ness s b$t tem!orary# and that that of L ght and Good 3 ll be eternal, Ma mon des says( @In the days of Enos# the son of Seth# men fell nto gr e6o$s errors# and e6en Enos h mself !artoo/ of the r nfat$at on, The r lang$age 3as# that s nce God has !laced on h gh the hea6enly bod es# and $sed them as - s m n sters# t 3as e6 dently - s 3 ll that they sho$ld rece 6e from man the same 6enerat on as the ser6ants of a great !r nce 5$stly cla m from the s

s$b5ect m$lt t$de, Im!ressed 3 th th s not on# they began to b$ ld tem!les to the Stars# to sacr f ce to them# and to 3orsh ! them# n the 6a n e4!ectat on that they sho$ld th$s !lease the %reator of all th ngs, At f rst# ndeed, they d d not s$!!ose the Stars to be the only De t es# b$t adored n con5$nct on 3 th them the Lord God Omn !otent, In !rocess of t me# ho3e6er# that great and 6enerable 8ame 3as totally forgotten# and the 3hole h$man race reta ned no other rel g on than the dolatro$s 3orsh ! of the -ost of -ea6en,@ The f rst learn ng n the 3orld cons sted ch efly n symbols, The 3 sdom of the %haldQans# Phbn c ans# Egy!t ans# &e3sG of Horoaster# Sanchon athon# Pherecydes# Syr$s# Pythagoras# Socrates# Plato# of all the anc ents# that s come to o$r hand# s symbol c, It 3as the mode# says Serran$s on Plato?s Sym!os $m# of the Anc ent Ph loso!hers# to re!resent tr$th by certa n symbols and h dden mages, @All that can be sa d concern ng the Gods#@ says Strabo# @m$st be by the e4!os t on of old o! n ons and fablesG t be ng the c$stom of the anc ents to 3ra! $! n en gma and allegory the r tho$ghts and

d sco$rses concern ng 8at$reG 3h ch are therefore not eas ly e4!la ned,@ As yo$ learned n the 0:th Degree# my Brother# the anc ent Ph loso!hers regarded the so$l of man as ha6 ng had ts or g n n -ea6en, That 3as# Macrob $s says# a settled o! n on among them allG and they held t to be the only tr$e 3 sdom# for the so$l# 3h le $n ted 3 th the body# to loo/ e6er to3ard ts so$rce# and str 6e to ret$rn to the !lace 3hence t came, Among the f 4ed stars t d3elt# $nt l# sed$ced by the des re of an mat ng a body# t descended to be m!r soned n matter, Thencefor3ard t has no other reso$rce than recollect on# and s e6er attracted to to3ard ts b rthD!lace and home, The means of ret$rn are to be so$ght for n tself, To reDascend to ts so$rce# t m$st do and s$ffer n the body, Th$s the Myster es ta$ght the great doctr ne of the d 6 ne nat$re and long ngs after mmortal ty of the so$l# of the nob l ty of ts or g n# the grande$r of ts dest ny# ts s$!er or ty o6er the an mals 3ho ha6e no as! rat ons hea6en3ard, If they str$ggled n 6a n to e4!ress ts nat$re#

by com!ar ng t to " re and L ght# D f they erred as to ts or g nal !lace of abode# and the mode of t descent# and the !ath 3h ch# descend ng and ascend ng# t !$rs$ed among the stars and s!heres# these 3ere the accessor es of the Great Tr$th# and mere allegor es des gned to ma/e the dea more m!ress 6e# and# as t 3ere# tang ble# to the h$man m nd, Let $s# n order to $nderstand th s old Tho$ght# f rst follo3 the so$l n ts descent, The s!here or -ea6en of the f 4ed stars 3as that -oly Reg on# and those Elys an " elds# that 3ere the nat 6e dom c le of so$ls# and the !lace to 3h ch they reDascended# 3hen they had reco6ered the r !r m t 6e !$r ty and s m!l c ty, "rom that l$m no$s reg on the so$l set forth# 3hen t 5o$rneyed to3ard the bodyG a dest nat on 3h ch t d d not reach $nt l t had $ndergone three degradat ons# des gnated by the name of DeathsG and $nt l t had !assed thro$gh the se6eral s!heres and the elements, All so$ls rema ned n !ossess on of -ea6en and of ha!! ness# so long as they 3ere 3 se eno$gh to a6o d the contag on of the body# and to /ee!

themsel6es from any contact 3 th matter, B$t those 3ho# from that lofty abode# 3here they 3ere la!!ed n eternal l ght# ha6e loo/ed long ngly to3ard the body# and to3ard that 3h ch 3e here belo3 call l fe# b$t 3h ch s to the so$l a real deathG and 3ho ha6e conce 6ed for t a secret des re#D those so$ls# 6 ct ms of the r conc$! scence# are attracted by degrees to3ard the nfer or reg ons of the 3orld# by the mere 3e ght of tho$ght and of that terrestr al des re, The so$l# !erfectly ncor!oreal# does not at once n6est tself 3 th the gross en6elo!e of the body# b$t l ttle by l ttle# by s$ccess 6e and nsens ble alterat ons# and n !ro!ort on as t remo6es f$rther and f$rther from the s m!le and !erfect s$bstance n 3h ch t d3elt at f rst, It f rst s$rro$nds tself 3 th a body com!osed of the s$bstance of the starsG and after3ard# as t descends thro$gh the se6eral s!heres# 3 th ethereal matter more and more gross# th$s by degrees descend ng to an earthly bodyG and ts n$mber of degradat ons or deaths be ng the same as that of the s!heres 3h ch t tra6erses, The Gala4y# Macrob $s says# crosses the Hod ac n t3o o!!os te

!o nts# %ancer and %a!r corn# ?the tro! cal !o nts n the s$n?s co$rse# ord nar ly called the Gates of the S$n, These t3o tro! cs# before h s t me# corres!onded 3 th those constellat ons# b$t n h s day 3 th Gem n and Sag ttar $s# n conseE$ence of the !recess on of the eE$ no4esG b$t the s gns of the Hod ac rema ned $nchangedG and the M l/y ;ay crossed at the s gns %ancer and %a!r corn# tho$gh not at those constellat ons, Thro$gh these gates so$ls 3ere s$!!osed to descend to earth and reascend to -ea6en, One# Macrob $s says# n h s dream of Sc ! o# 3as styled the Gate of MenG and the other# the Gate of the Gods, %ancer 3as the former# beca$se so$ls descended by t to the earthG and %a!r corn the latter# beca$se by t they reascended to the r seats of mmortal ty# and became Gods, "rom the M l/y ;ay# accord ng to Pythagoras# d 6erged the ro$te to the dom n ons of Pl$to, 'nt l they left the Gala4y# they 3ere not deemed to ha6e commenced to descend to3ard the terrestr al bod es, "rom that they de!arted# and to that they ret$rned, 'nt l they reached the s gn %ancer# they had not left t# and

3ere st ll Gods, ;hen they reached Leo# they commenced the r a!!rent cesh ! for the r f$t$re cond t onG and 3hen they 3ere at AE$ar $s# the s gn o!!os te Leo# they 3ere f$rthest remo6ed from h$man l fe, The so$l# descend ng from the celest al l m ts# 3here the Hod ac and Gala4y $n te# loses ts s!her cal sha!e# the sha!e of all D 6 ne 8at$re# and s lengthened nto a cone# as a !o nt s lengthened nto a l neG and then# an nd 6 s ble monad before# t d 6 des tself and becomes a d$ad D that s# $n ty becomes d 6 s on# d st$rbance# and confl ct, Then t beg ns to e4!er ence the d sorder 3h ch re gns n matter# to 3h ch t $n tes tself# becom ng# as t 3ere# nto4 cated by dra$ghts of grosser matter( of 3h ch nebr at on the c$! of Ba/chos# bet3een %ancer and Leo# s a symbol, It s for them the c$! of forgetf$lness, They assemble# says Plato# n the f elds of obl 6 on# to dr n/ there the 3ater of the r 6er Ameles# 3h ch ca$ses men to forget e6eryth ng, Th s f ct on s also fo$nd n F rg l, @If so$ls#@ says Macrob $s# @carr ed 3 th them nto the bod es they occ$!y all the /no3ledge 3h ch they had acE$ red of

d 6 ne th ngs# d$r ng the r so5o$rn n the -ea6ens# men 3o$ld not d ffer n o! n on as to the De tyG b$t some of them forget more# and some less# of that 3h ch they had learned,@ ;e sm le at these not ons of the anc entsG b$t 3e m$st learn to loo/ thro$gh these mater al mages and allegor es# to the deas# str$ggl ng for $tterance# the great s!eechless tho$ghts 3h ch they en6elo!( and t s 3ell for $s to cons der 3hether 3e o$rsel6es ha6e yet fo$nd o$t any better 3ay of re!resent ng to o$rsel6es the so$l?s or g n and ts ad6ent nto th s body# so ent rely fore gn to tG f# ndeed# 3e ha6e e6er tho$ght abo$t t at allG or ha6e not ceased to th n/# n des!a r, The h ghest and !$rest !ort on of matter# 3h ch no$r shes and const t$tes d 6 ne e4 stences# s 3hat the !oets term nectar# the be6erage of the Gods, The lo3er# more d st$rbed and grosser !ort on# s 3hat nto4 cates so$ls, The anc ents symbol <ed t as the R 6er Lethe# dar/ stream of obl 6 on, -o3 de 3e e4!la n the so$l?s forgetf$lness of ts antecedents# or reconc le that $tter absence of remembrance of ts former cond t on# 3 th ts essent al mmortal tyJ In tr$th# 3e for the most

!art dread and shr n/ from any attem!t at e4!lanat on of t to o$rsel6es, Dragged do3n by the hea6 ness !rod$ced by th s nebr at ng dra$ght# the so$l falls along the <od ac and the m l/y 3ay to the lo3er s!heres# and n ts descent not only ta/es# n each s!here# a ne3 en6elo!e of the mater al com!os ng the l$m no$s bod es of the !lanets# b$t rece 6es there the d fferent fac$lt es 3h ch t s to e4erc se 3h le t nhab ts the body, In Sat$rn# t acE$ res the !o3er of reason ng and ntell gence# or 3hat s termed the log cal and contem!lat 6e fac$lty, "rom &$! ter t rece 6es the !o3er of act on, Mars g 6es t 6alor# enter!r se# and m!et$os ty, "rom the S$n t rece 6es the senses and mag nat on# 3h ch !rod$ce sensat on# !erce!t on# and tho$ght, Fen$s ns! res t 3 th des res, Merc$ry g 6es t the fac$lty of e4!ress ng and en$nc at ng 3hat t th n/s and feels, And# on enter ng the s!here of the Moon# t acE$ res the force of generat on and gro3th, Th s l$nary s!here# lo3est and basest to d 6 ne bod es# s f rst and h ghest to terrestr al bod es, And the l$nary body there ass$med by the so$l# 3h le# as t 3ere# the sed ment of

celest al matter# s also the f rst s$bstance of an mal matter, The celest al bod es# -ea6en# the Stars# and the other D 6 ne elements# e6er as! re to r se, The so$l reach ng the reg on 3h ch mortal ty nhab ts# tends to3ard terrestr al bod es# and s deemed to d e, Let no one# says Macrob $s# be s$r!r sed that 3e so freE$ently s!ea/ of the death of th s so$l# 3h ch yet 3e call mmortal, It s ne ther ann$lled nor destroyed by s$ch death( b$t merely enfeebled for a t meG and does not thereby forfe t ts !rerogat 6e of mmortal tyG for after3ard# freed from the body# 3hen t has been !$r f ed from the 6 ceDsta ns contracted d$r ng that connect on# t s reDestabl shed n all ts !r 6 leges# and ret$rns to the l$m no$s abode of ts mmortal ty, On ts ret$rn# t restores to each s!here thro$gh 3h ch t ascends# the !ass ons and earthly fac$lt es rece 6ed from them( to the Moon# the fac$lty of ncrease and d m n$t on of the bodyG to Merc$ry# fra$d# the arch tect of e6 lsG to Fen$s# the sed$ct 6e lo6e of !leas$reG to the S$n# the !ass on for greatness and em! reG to Mars# a$dac ty and temer tyG to &$! ter# a6ar ceG and to Sat$rn# falsehood and

dece t( and at last# rel e6ed of all# t enters na/ed and !$re nto the e ghth s!here or h ghest -ea6en, All th s agrees 3 th the doctr ne of Plato# that the so$l cannot reDenter nto -ea6en# $nt l the re6ol$t ons of the 'n 6erse shall ha6e restored t to ts !r m t 6e cond t on# and !$r f ed t from the effects of ts contact 3 th the fo$r elements, Th s o! n on of the !reDe4 stence of so$ls# as !$re and celest al s$bstances# before the r $n on 3 th o$r bod es# to !$t on and an mate 3h ch they descend from -ea6en# s one of great ant E$ ty, A modern Rabb # Manasseh Ben Israel# says t 3as al3ays the bel ef of the -ebre3s, It 3as that of most !h loso!hers 3ho adm tted the mmortal ty of the so$l( and therefore t 3as ta$ght n the Myster esG for# as Lactant $s says# they co$ld not see ho3 t 3as !oss ble that the so$l sho$ld e4 st after the body# f t had and not e4 sted before t# and f ts nat$re 3as not nde!endent of that of the body, The same doctr ne 3as ado!ted by the most learned of the Gree/ "athers# and by many of the Lat ns( and t 3o$ld !robably !re6a l largely at the !resent day# f men

tro$bled themsel6es to th n/ $!on th s s$b5ect at all# and to nE$ re 3hether the so$l?s mmortal ty n6ol6ed ts !r or e4 stence, Some !h loso!hers held that the so$l 3as ncarcerated n the body# by 3ay of !$n shment for s ns comm tted by t n a !r or state, -o3 they reconc led th s 3 th the same so$l?s $nconsc o$sness of any s$ch !r or state# or of s n comm tted there# does not a!!ear, Others held that God# of h s mere 3 ll# sent the so$l to nhab t the body, The Kabal sts $n ted the t3o o! n ons, They held that there are fo$r 3orlds# A< l$th# Br arth# &e< rath# and A< athG the 3orld of emanat on# that of creat on# that of forms# and the mater al 3orldG one abo6e and more !erfect than the other# n that order# both as regards the r o3n nat$re and that of the be ngs 3ho nhab t them, All so$ls are or g nally n the 3orld A< l$th# the S$!reme -ea6en# abode of God# and of !$re and mmortal s! r ts, Those 3ho descend from t 3 tho$t fa$lt of the r o3n# by God?s order# are g fted 3 th a d 6 ne f re# 3h ch !reser6es them from the contag on of matter# and restores them to -ea6en so soon as the r m ss on s ended, Those 3ho descend thro$gh

the r o3n fa$lt# go from 3orld to 3orld# nsens bly los ng the r lo6e of D 6 ne th ngs# and the r selfDcontem!lat onG $nt l they reach the 3orld A< ath# fall ng by the r o3n 3e ght, Th s s a !$re Platon sm# clothed 3 th the mages and 3ords !ec$l ar to the Kabal sts, It 3as the doctr ne of the Essenes# 3ho# says Por!hyry# @bel e6e that so$ls descend from the most s$bt le ether# attracted to bod es by the sed$ct ons of matter,@ It 3as n s$bstance the doctr ne of Or genG and t came from the %haldQans# 3ho largely st$d ed the theory of the -ea6ens# the s!heres# and the nfl$ences of the s gns and constellat ons, The Gnost cs made so$ls ascend and descend thro$gh e ght -ea6ens# n each of 3h ch 3ere certa n Po3ers that o!!osed the r ret$rn# and often dro6e them bac/ to earth# 3hen not s$ff c ently !$r f ed, The last of these Po3ers# nearest the l$m no$s abode of so$ls# 3as a ser!ent or dragon, In the anc ent doctr ne# certa n Gen 3ere charged 3 th the d$ty of

cond$ct ng so$ls to the bod es dest ned to rece 6e them# and of 3 thdra3 ng them from those bod es, Accord ng to Pl$tarch# these 3ere

the f$nct ons of Proser! ne and Merc$ry, In Plato# a fam l ar Gen $s accom!an es man at h s b rth# follo3s and 3atches h m all h s l fe# and at death cond$cts h m to the tr b$nal of the Great 5$dge, These Gen are

the med a of comm$n cat on bet3een man and the GodsG and the so$l s e6er n the r !resence, Th s doctr ne s ta$ght n the oracles of Horoaster( and these Gen 3ere the Intell gences that res ded n the !lanets,

Th$s the secret sc ence and myster o$s emblems of n t at on 3ere connected 3 th the -ea6ens# the S!heres# and the %onstellat ons( and th s connect on m$st be st$d ed by 3homsoe6er 3o$ld $nderstand the anc ent m nd# and be enabled to nter!ret the allegor es# and e4!lore the mean ng of the symbols# n 3h ch the old sages endea6ored to del neate the deas that str$ggled 3 th n them for $tterance# and co$ld be b$t ns$ff c ently and nadeE$ately e4!ressed by lang$age# 3hose 3ords are mages of those th ngs alone that can be gras!ed by and are 3 th n the em! re of the senses, It s not !oss ble for $s thoro$ghly to a!!rec ate the# feel ngs 3 th 3h ch the anc ents regarded the -ea6enly bod es# and the deas to 3h ch the r

obser6at on of the -ea6ens ga6e r se# beca$se 3e cannot !$t o$rsel6es n the r !laces# loo/ at the stars 3 th the r eyes n the 3orld?s yo$th# and d 6est o$rsel6es of the /no3ledge 3h ch e6en the commonest of $s ha6e# that ma/es $s regard the Stars and Planets and all the 'n 6erse of S$ns and ;orlds# as a mere nan mate mach ne and aggregate of senseless orbs# no more aston sh ng# e4ce!t n degree# than a cloc/ or an orrery, ;e 3onder and are ama<ed at the Po3er and ; sdom Mto most men t seems only a / nd of Inf n te Ingen$ tyN of the MAKER( they 3ondered at the ;or/# and endo3ed t 3 th L fe and "orce and myster o$s Po3ers and m ghty Infl$ences, Mem!h s# n Egy!t# 3as n Lat t$de 01C 7@ 8orth# and n Long t$de 92C )*? East, ThebQ# n '!!er Egy!t# n Lat t$de 07C :7? 8orth# and Long t$de 90C :9? East, Babylon 3as n Lat t$de 90C 92? 8orth# and Long t$de ::C 09? East( 3h le Saba# the anc ent 3 th SabQan ca! tal of Eth o! a# 3as abo$t n Lat t$de )7C 8orth,

Thro$gh Egy!t ran the great R 6er 8 le# com ng from beyond Eth o! a# ts so$rce n reg ons 3holly $n/no3n# n the abodes of heat and f re# and ts co$rse from So$th to 8orth, Its n$ndat ons had formed the all$6 al lands of '!!er and Lo3er Egy!t# 3h ch they cont n$ed to ra se h gher and h gher# and to fert l <e by the r de!os ts, At f rst# as n all ne3lyDsettled co$ntr es# those n$ndat ons# occ$rr ng ann$ally and al3ays at the same !er od of the year# 3ere calam t es( $nt l# by means of le6ees and dra ns and art f c al la/es for rr gat on# they became bless ngs# and 3ere loo/ed for 3 th 5oyf$l ant c !at on# as they had before been a3a ted 3 th terror, '!on the de!os t left by the Sacred R 6er# as t 3 thdre3 nto ts ban/s# the h$sbandman so3ed h s seedG and the r ch so l and the gen al s$n ns$red h m an ab$ndant har6est, Babylon lay on the E$!hrates# 3h ch ran from So$theast to 8orth3est# bless ng# as all r 6ers n the Or ent do# the ar d co$ntry thro$gh 3h ch t flo3edG b$t ts ra! d and $ncerta n o6erflo3s br ng ng terror and d saster,

To the anc ents# as yet n6entors of no astronom cal nstr$ments# and loo/ ng at the -ea6ens 3 th the eyes of ch ldren# th s earth 3as a le6el !la n of $n/no3n e4tent, Abo$t ts bo$ndar es there 3as s!ec$lat on# b$t no /no3ledge, The neE$al t es of ts s$rface 3ere the rreg$lar t es of a !lane, That t 3as a globe# or that anyth ng l 6ed on ts $nder s$rface# or on 3hat t rested they had no dea, E6ery t3entyDfo$r ho$rs the s$n came $! from beyond the Eastern r m of the 3orld# and tra6elled across the s/y# o6er the earth# al3ays So$th of# b$t somet mes nearer and somet mes f$rther from the !o nt o6erDheadG and s$n/ belo3 the 3orld?s ;estern r m, ; th h m 3ent l ght# and after h m follo3ed dar/ness, And e6ery t3entyDfo$r ho$rs a!!eared n the -ea6ens another body# 6 s ble ch efly at n ght# b$t somet mes e6en 3hen the s$n shone# 3h ch l /e3 se# as f follo3 ng the s$n at a greater or less d stance# tra6elled across the s/yG somet mes as a th n crescent# and thence ncreas ng to a

f$ll orb res!lendent 3 th s l6er l ghtG and somet mes more and somet mes less to the So$th3ard of the !o nt o6erhead# 3 th n the same l m ts as the S$n, Man# en6elo!ed by the th c/ dar/ness of !rofo$ndest n ght# 3hen e6eryth ng aro$nd h m has d sa!!eared# and he seems alone 3 th h mself and the blac/ shades that s$rro$nd h m# feels h s e4 stence a blan/ and noth ngness# e4ce!t so far as memory recalls h m the glor es and s!lendors of l ght, E6eryth ng s dead to h m# and he# as t 3ere# to 8at$re, -o3 cr$sh ng and o6er3helm ng the tho$ght# the fear# the dread# that !erha!s that dar/ness may be eternal# and that day may !oss bly ne6er ret$rnG f t e6er occ$rs to h s m nd# 3h le the sol d gloom closes $! aga nst h m l /e a 3allO ;hat then can restore h m to l /e# to energy# to act 6 ty# to fello3sh ! and comm$n on 3 th the great 3orld 3h ch God has s!read aro$nd h m# and 3h ch !erha!s n the dar/ness may be !ass ng a3ayJ LIG-T restores h m to h mself and to nat$re 3h ch seemed lost to h m, 8at$rally# therefore# the !r m t 6e men regarded l ght as the !r nc !le

of the r real e4 stence# 3 tho$t 3h ch l fe 3o$ld be b$t one cont n$ed 3ear ness and des!a r, Th s necess ty for l ght# and ts act$al creat 6e energy# 3ere felt by all men( and noth ng 3as more alarm ng to them than ts absence, It became the r f rst D 6 n ty# a s ngle ray of 3h ch# flash ng nto the dar/ t$m$lt$o$s bosom of chaos# ca$sed man and all the 'n 6erse to emerge from t, So all the !oets s$ng 3ho mag ned %osmogon esG s$ch 3as the f rst dogma of Or!he$s# Moses# and the Theolog ans, L ght 3as Orm$<d# adored by the Pers ans# and Dar/ness Ahr man# or g n of all e6 ls, L ght 3as the l fe of the 'n 6erse# the fr end of man# the s$bstance of the Gods and of the So$l, The s/y 3as to them a great# sol d# conca6e archG a hem s!here of $n/no3n mater al# at an $n/no3n d stance abo6e the flat le6el earthG and along t 5o$rneyed n the r co$rses the S$n# the Moon# the Planets# and the Stars, The S$n 3as to them a great globe of f re# of $n/no3n d men s ons# at an $n/no3n d stance, The Moon 3as a mass of softer l ghtG the

stars and !lanets l$cent bod es# armed 3 th $n/no3n and s$!ernat$ral nfl$ences, It co$ld not fa l to be soon obser6ed# that at reg$lar nter6als the days and n ghts 3ere eE$alG and that t3o of these nter6als meas$red the same s!ace of t me as ela!sed bet3een the s$ccess 6e n$ndat ons# and bet3een the ret$rns of s!r ngDt me and har6est, 8or co$ld t fa l to be !erce 6ed that the changes of the moon occ$rred reg$larlyG the same n$mber of days al3ays ela!s ng bet3een the f rst a!!earance of her s l6er crescent n the ;est at e6en ng and that of her f$ll orb r s ng n the East at the same ho$rG and the same aga n# bet3een that and the ne3 a!!earance of the crescent n the ;est, It 3as also soon obser6ed that the S$n crossed the -ea6ens n a d fferent l ne each day# the days be ng longest and the n ghts shortest 3hen the l ne of h s !assage 3as f$rthest 8orth# and the days shortest and n ghts longest 3hen that l ne 3as f$rthest So$th( that h s !rogress 8orth and So$th 3as !erfectly reg$lar# mar/ ng fo$r !er ods that 3ere al3ays the same# D those 3hen the days and n ghts 3ere eE$al# or the Fernal and

A$t$mnal EE$ no4esG that 3hen the days 3ere longest# or the S$mmer Solst ceG and that 3hen they 3ere shortest# or the ; nter Solst ce, ; th the Fernal EE$ no4# or abo$t the 07th of March of o$r %alendar# they fo$nd that there $nerr ngly came soft 3 nds# the ret$rn of 3armth# ca$sed by the S$n t$rn ng bac/ to the 8orth3ard from the m ddle gro$nd of h s co$rse# the 6egetat on of the ne3 year# and the m!$lse to amatory act on on the !art of the an mal creat on, Then the B$ll and the Ram# an mals most 6al$able to the agr c$lt$r st# and symbols themsel6es of 6 goro$s generat 6e !o3er# reco6ered the r 6 gor# the b rds mated and b$ lded the r nests# the seeds germ nated# the grass gre3# and the trees !$t forth lea6es, ; th the S$mmer Solst ce# 3hen the S$n reached the e4treme northern l m t of h s co$rse# came great heat# and b$rn ng 3 nds# and lass t$de and e4ha$st onG then 6egetat on 3 thered# man longed for the cool bree<es of S!r ng and A$t$mn# and the cool 3ater of the 3 ntry 8 le or E$!hrates# and the L on so$ght for that element far from h s home n the desert,

; th the A$t$mnal EE$ no4 came r !e har6ests# and fr$ ts of the tree and 6 ne# and fall ng lea6es# and cold e6en ngs !resag ng 3 ntry frostsG and the Pr nc !le and Po3ers of Dar/ness# !re 6a l ng o6er those of L ght# dro6e the S$n f$rther to the So$th# so that the n ghts gre3 longer than the days, And at the ; nter Solst ce the earth 3as 3r n/led 3 th frost# the trees 3ere leafless# and the S$n# reach ng the most So$thern !o nt n h s career# seemed to hes tate 3hether to cont n$e descend ng# to lea6e the 3orld to dar/ness and des!a r# or to t$rn $!on h s ste!s and retrace h s co$rse to the 8orth3ard# br ng ng bac/ seedDt me and S!r ng# and green lea6es and flo3ers# and all the del ghts of lo6e, Th$s# nat$rally and necessar ly# t me 3as d 6 ded# f rst nto days# and then nto moons or months# and yearsG and 3 th these d 6 s ons and the mo6ements of the -ea6enly bod es that mar/ed them# 3ere assoc ated and connected all men?s !hys cal en5oyments and !r 6at ons, ;holly agr c$lt$ral# and n the r fra l hab tat ons greatly at the mercy of the elements and the chang ng seasons# the !r m t 6e !eo!le of the Or ent

3ere most dee!ly nterested n the rec$rrence of the !er od cal !henomena !resented by the t3o great l$m nar es of -ea6en# on 3hose reg$lar ty all the r !ros!er ty de!ended, And the attent 6e obser6er soon not ced that the smaller l ghts of -ea6en 3ere# a!!arently# e6en more reg$lar than the S$n and Moon# and foretold 3 th $nerr ng certa nty# by the r r s ngs and sett ngs# the !er ods of rec$rrence of the d fferent !henomena and seasons on 3h ch the !hys cal 3ellDbe ng of all men de!ended, They soon felt the necess ty of d st ng$ sh ng the nd 6 d$al stars# or gro$!s of stars# and g 6 ng them names# that they m ght $nderstand each other# 3hen referr ng to and des gnat ng them, 8ecess ty !rod$ced des gnat ons at once nat$ral and art f c al, Obser6 ng that# n the c rcle of the year# the rene3al and !er od cal a!!earance of the !rod$ct ons of the earth 3ere constantly assoc ated# not only 3 th the co$rses of the S$n# b$t also 3 th the r s ng and sett ng of certa n Stars# and 3 th the r !os t on relat 6ely to the S$n# the centre to 3h ch they referred the 3hole starry host# the m nd nat$rally connected the celest al and terrestr al ob5ects

that 3ere n fact connected( and they commenced by g 6 ng to !art c$lar Stars or gro$!s of Stars the names of those terrestr al ob5ects 3h ch seemed connected 3 th them and for those 3h ch st ll rema ned $nnamed by th s nomenclat$re# they# to com!lete a system# ass$med arb trary and fanc f$l names, Th$s the Eth o! an of Thebes or Saba styled those Stars $nder 3h ch the 8 le commenced to o6erflo3# Stars of In$ndat on# or that !o$red o$t 3ater MAI'ARI'SN, Those Stars among 3h ch the S$n 3as# 3hen he had reached the 8orthern Tro! c and began to retreat So$th3ard# 3ere termed# from h s retrograde mot on# the %rab M%A8%ERN, As he a!!roached# n A$t$mn# the m ddle !o nt bet3een the 8orthern and So$thern e4tremes of h s 5o$rney ng# the days and n ghts became eE$alG and the Stars among 3h ch he 3as then fo$nd 3ere called Stars of the Balance MLIBRAN, Those stars among 3h ch the S$n 3as# 3hen the L on# dr 6en from the Desert by

th rst# came to sla/e t at the 8 le# 3ere called Stars of the L on MLEON, Those among 3h ch the S$n 3as at har6est# 3ere called those of the Glean ng F rg n# hold ng a Sheaf of ;heat MFIRGON, Those among 3h ch he 3as fo$nd n "ebr$ary# 3hen the E3es bro$ght forth the r yo$ng# 3ere called Stars of the Lamb MARIESN, Those n March# 3hen t 3as t me to !lo$gh# 3ere called Stars of the O4 MTA'R'SN, Those $nder 3h ch hot and b$rn ng 3 nds came from the desert# 6enomo$s l /e !o sono$s re!t les# 3ere called Stars of the Scor! on MS%ORPION, Obser6 ng that the ann$al ret$rn of the r s ng of the 8 le 3as al3ays accom!an ed by the a!!earance of a bea$t f$l Star# 3h ch at that !er od sho3ed tself n the d rect on of the so$rces of that r 6er# and seemed to 3arn the h$sbandman to be caref$l not to be s$r!r sed by the n$ndat on# the Eth o! an com!ared th s act of that Star to that of the An mal 3h ch by bar/ ng g 6es 3arn ng of danger# and styled t the Dog MSIRI'SN,

Th$s commenc ng# and as astronomy came to be more st$d ed# mag nary f g$res 3ere traced all o6er the -ea6ens# to 3h ch the d fferent Stars 3ere ass gned, %h ef among them 3ere those that lay along the !ath 3h ch the S$n tra6elled as he cl mbed to3ard the 8orth and descended to the So$th( ly ng 3 th n certa n l m ts and e4tend ng to an eE$al d stance on each s de of the l ne of eE$al n ghts and days, Th s belt# c$r6 ng l /e a Ser!ent# 3as termed the Hod ac# and d 6 ded nto t3el6e S gns, At the Fernal EE$ no4# 0:77 years before o$r Era# the S$n 3as enter ng the s gn and constellat on Ta$r$s# or the B$llG ha6 ng !assed thro$gh# s nce he commenced# at the ; nter Solst ce# to ascend 8orth3ard, the S gns AE$ar $s# P sces and Ar esG on enter ng the f rst of 3h ch he reached the lo3est l m t of h s 5o$rney So$th3ard, "rom TA'R'S# he !assed thro$gh Gem n and %ancer# and reached LEO 3hen he arr 6ed at the term n$s of h s 5o$rney 8orth3ard, Thence# thro$gh Leo# F rgo# and L bra# he entered S%ORPIO at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# and

5o$rneyed So$th3ard thro$gh Scor! a# Sag ttar $s# and %a!r corn$s to AI'ARI'S# the term n$s of h s 5o$rney So$th, The !ath by 3h ch he 5o$rneyed thro$gh these s gns became the Ecl !t cG and that 3h ch !asses thro$gh the t3o eE$ no4es# the EE$ator, They /ne3 noth ng of the mm$table la3s of nat$reG and 3hene6er the S$n commenced to tend So$th3ard# they feared lest he m ght cont n$e to do so# and by degrees d sa!!ear fore6er# lea6 ng the earth to be r$led fore6er by dar/ness# storm# and cold, -ence they re5o ced 3hen he commenced to reDascend after the ; nter Solst ce# str$ggl ng aga nst the mal gn nfl$ences of AE$ar $s and P sces# and am cably rece 6ed by the Lamb, And 3hen at the Fernal EE$ no4 he entered Ta$r$s# they st ll more re5o ced at the ass$rance that the days 3o$ld aga n be longer than the n ghts# that the season of seedDt me had come# and the S$mmer and har6est 3o$ld follo3,

And they lamented 3hen# after the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# the mal gn nfl$ence of the 6enomo$s Scor! on# and 6 nd ct 6e Archer# and the f lthy and llD omened -eDGoat dragged h m do3n to3ard the ; nter Solst ce, Arr 6 ng there# they sa d he had been sla n# and had gone to the realm of dar/ness, Rema n ng there three days# he rose aga n# and aga n ascended 8orth3ard n the hea6ens# to redeem the earth from the gloom and dar/ness of ; nter# 3h ch soon became emblemat cal of s n# and e6 l# and s$ffer ngG as the S!r ng# S$mmer# and A$t$mn became emblems of ha!! ness and mmortal ty, Soon they !erson f ed the S$n# and 3orsh !!ed h m $nder the name of OSIRIS# and transm$ted the legend of h s descent among the ; nter S gns# nto a fable of h s death# h s descent nto the nfernal reg ons# and h s res$rrect on, The Moon became Is s# the 3 fe of Os r sG and ; nter# as 3ell as the desert or the ocean nto 3h ch the S$n descended# became T.P-O8# the S! r t or

Pr nc !le of E6 l# 3arr ng aga nst and destroy ng Os r s, "rom the 5o$rney of the S$n thro$gh the t3el6e s gns came the legend of the t3el6e labors of -erc$les# and the ncarnat ons of F shn$ and B$ddha, -ence came the legend of the m$rder of KhWrWm# re!resentat 6e of the S$n# by the three "ello3Dcrafts# symbols of the three ; nter s gns# %a!r corn$s# AE$ar $s# and P sces# 3ho assa led h m at the three gates of -ea6en and sle3 h m at the ; nter Solst ce, -ence the search for h m by the n ne "ello3crafts# the other n ne s gns# h s f nd ng# b$r al# and res$rrect on, The celest al Ta$r$s# o!en ng the ne3 year# 3as the %reat 6e of B$ll of the - nd$s and &a!anese# brea/ ng 3 th h s horn the egg o$t of 3h ch the 3orld s born, -ence the b$ll APIS 3as 3orsh !!ed by the Egy!t ans# and re!rod$ced as a golden calf by Aaron n the desert, -ence the co3 3as sacred to the - nd$s, -ence# from the sacred and benef cent s gns of Ta$r$s and Leo# the h$manDheaded 3 nged l ons and b$lls n the !alaces at

Ko$yo$n5 / and 8 mro$d# l /e 3h ch 3ere the %her$b m set by Solomen n h s Tem!le( and hence the t3el6e bra<en or bron<e o4en# on 3h ch the layer of brass 3as s$!!orted, The %elest al F$lt$re or Eagle# r s ng and sett ng 3 th the Scor! on# 3as s$bst t$ted n ts !lace# n many cases# on acco$nt of the mal gn nfl$ences of the latter( and th$s the fo$r great !er ods the of the year 3ere ma led by the B$ll# the L on# the Man MAE$ar $sN and the EagleG 3h ch 3ere $!on the res!ect 6e standards of E!hra m# &$dah# Re$ben# and DanG and st ll a!!ear on the sh eld of Amer can Royal Arch Masonry, After3ard the Ram or Lamb became an ob5ect of adorat on# 3hen# n h s t$rn# he o!ened the eE$ no4# to del 6er the 3orld from the 3 ntry re gn of dar/ness and e6 l, Aro$nd the central and s m!le dea of the ann$al death and res$rrect on of the S$n a m$lt t$de of c rc$mstant al deta ls soon cl$stered, Some 3ere

der 6ed from other astronom cal !henomenaG 3h le many 3ere merely !oet cal ornaments and n6ent ons, Bes des the S$n and Moon# those anc ents also sa3 a bea$t f$l Star# sh n ng 3 th a soft# s l6ery l ght# al3ays follo3 ng the S$n at no great d stance 3hen he set# or !reced ng h m 3hen he rose, Another of a red and angry color# and st ll another more / ngly and br ll ant than all# early attracted the r attent on# by the r free mo6ements among the f 4ed hosts of -ea6en( and the latter by h s $n$s$al br ll ancy# and the reg$lar ty 3 th 3h ch he rose and set# These 3ere Fen$s# Mars# and &$! ter, Merc$ry and Sat$rn co$ld scarcely ha6e been not ced n the 3orld?s nfancy# or $nt l astronomy began to ass$me the !ro!ort ons of a sc ence, In the !ro5ect on of the celest al s!here by the astronom cal !r ests# the <od ac and constellat ons# arranged n a c rcle# !resented the r hal6es n d ametr cal o!!os t onG and the hem s!here of ; nter 3as sa d to be ad6erse# o!!osed# contrary# to that of sle3 h m S$mmer, O6er the

angels of the latter r$led a / ng MOSIRIS or ORM'HDN# enl ghtened# ntell gent# creat 6e# and benef cent, O6er the fallen angels or e6 l gen of the former# the demons or De6s of the s$bterranean em! re of dar/ness and sorro3# and ts stars# r$led also a ch ef, In Egy!t the Scor! on f rst r$led# the s gn ne4t the Balance# and long the ch ef of the ; nter s gnsG and then the Polar Bear or Ass# called Ty!hon# that s# del$ge# on acco$nt of the ra ns 3h ch n$ndated the earth 3h le that constellat on dom neered, In Pers a# at a later day# t 3as the ser!ent# 3h ch# !erson f ed as Ahr man# 3as the E6 l Pr nc !le of the rel g on of Horoaster, The S$n does not arr 6e at the same moment n each year at the eE$ noct al !o nt on the eE$ator, The e4!lanat on of h s ant c !at ng that !o nt belongs to the sc ence of astronomyG and to that 3e refer yo$ for t, The conseE$ence s# 3hat s termed the !recess on of the eE$ no4es# by means of 3h ch the S$n s constantly chang ng h s !lace n the <od ac# at each 6ernal eE$ no4G so that no3# the s gns reta n ng the names 3h ch they had 922 years before %hr st# they and the

constellat ons do not corres!ondG the S$n be ng# no3 n the constellat on P sces# 3hen he s n the s gn Ar es, The ann$al amo$nt of !recess on s 72 seconds and a l ttle o6er A72@ ),B, The !er od of a com!lete Re6ol$t on of the EE$ no4es# 07#*7= years, The !recess on amo$nts to 92C or a s gn# n 0)77,= years, So that# as the s$n no3 enters P sces at the Fernal EE$ no4# he entered Ar es at that !er od# 922 years B,%,# and Ta$r$s 0:77 B,%, And the d 6 s on of the Ecl !t c# no3 called Ta$r$s# l es n the %onstellat on Ar esG 3h le the s gn Gem n s n the %onstellat on Ta$r$s, "o$r

tho$sand s 4 h$ndred and ten years before %hr st# the s$n entered Gem n at the Fernal EE$ no4, At the t3o !er ods# 0:77 and 922 years before %hr st and no3# the entrances of the s$n at the EE$ no4es and Solst ces nto the s gns# 3ere and are as follo3s(D B,%, 0:77, Leo Scor! o

AE$ar $s Fern, EE$ no4# he entered Ta$r$s S$mmer Solst ce A$t$mnal EE$ no4 ; nter Solst ce B,%, 922, Ar es %ancer L bra %a!r corn$s Fern, EE S$mmer Sols A$t$mn EE ; nter Sols )*+0, P sces Gem n

F rgo Sag ttar $s Fern, EE S$m, Sols A$t, EE ; nter Sols "rom confo$nd ng s gns 3 th ca$ses came the 3orsh ! of the s$n and stars, @If#@ says 5ob# @I beheld the s$n 3hen t sh ned# or the moon !rogress 6e n br ghtnessG and my heart hath been secretly ent ced# or my mo$th hath / ssed my hand# th s 3ere an n E$ ty to be !$n shed by the 5$dgeG for I sho$ld ha6e den ed the God that s abo6e,@ Perha!s 3e are not# on the 3hole# m$ch 3 ser than those s m!le men of the old t me, "or 3hat do 3e /no3 of effect and ca$se# e4ce!t that one th ng reg$larly or hab t$ally follo3s anotherJ

So# beca$se the hel acal r s ng of S r $s !receded the r s ng of the 8 le# t 3as deemed to ca$se tG and other stars 3ere n l /e manner held to ca$se e4treme heat# b tter cold# and 3atery storm, A rel g o$s re6erence for the <od acal B$ll ATA'R'SB a!!ears# from a 6ery early !er od# to ha6e been !retty general# D !erha!s t 3as $n 6ersal# thro$gho$t As aG fro m that cha n or reg on of %a$cas$s to 3h ch t ga6e nameG and 3h ch s st ll /no3n $nder the a!!ellat on of Mo$nt Ta$r$s# to the So$thern e4trem t es of the Ind an Pen ns$laG e4tend ng tself also nto E$ro!e# and thro$gh the Eastern !arts of Afr ca, Th s e6 dently or g nated d$r ng those remote ages of the 3orld# 3hen the col$re of the 6ernal eE$ no4 !assed across the stars n the head of the s gn fro m Ar es, fro m %ancer, fro m L bra,

fro m %a!r corn$s, fro m P sces, fro m Gem n , fro m F rgo, fro m Sag ttar $s, fro m AE$ar $s, fro m Ta$r$s, fro m Leo, fro m Scor! o,

Ta$r$s Aamong 3h ch 3as AldebarcnBG a !er od 3hen# as the most anc ent mon$ments of all the or ental nat ons attest# the l ght of arts and letters f rst shone forth, The Arab an 3ord ALDDEDBARd8# means the foremost# or lead ng star( and t co$ld only ha6e been so named# 3hen t d d !recede# or lead# all others, The year then o!ened 3 th the s$n n Ta$r$sG and the m$lt t$de of anc ent

sc$l!t$res# both n Assyr a and Egy!t# 3here n the b$ll a!!ears 3 th l$nette or crescent horns# and the d s/ of the s$n bet3een them# are d rect all$s ons to the m!ortant fest 6al of the f rst ne3 moon of the year( and there 3as e6ery3here an ann$al celebrat on of the fest 6al of the f rst ne3 moon# 3hen the year o!ened 3 th Sol and L$na n Ta$r$s, Da6 d s ngs( @Blo3 the tr$m!et n the 8e3 MoonG n the t me a!!o ntedG on o$r solemn feastDday( for th s s a stat$te $nto Israel# and a la3 of the God of &acob, Th s he orda ned to &ose!h# for a test mony# 3hen he came o$t of the land of Egy!t,@ The re6erence !a d to Ta$r$s cont n$ed long after# by the !recess on of the EE$ no4es# the col$re of the 6ernal eE$ no4 had come to !ass thro$gh Ar es, The %h nese st ll ha6e a tem!le# called @The Palace of the horned B$ll@ and the same symbol s 3orsh !!ed n &a!an and all o6er - ndostan, The % mbr ans

carr ed a bra<en b$ll 3 th them# as the mage of the r God# 3hen they o6erran S!a n and Ga$lG and the re!resentat on of the %reat on# by the De ty n the sha!e of a b$ll# brea/ ng the shell of an egg 3 th h s horns# meant Ta$r$s# o!en ng the year# and b$rst ng the symbol cal shell of the ann$allyD rec$rr ng orb of the ne3 year, Theo!h l$s says that the Os r s of Egy!t 3as s$!!osed to be dead or absent f fty days n each year, Landseer th n/s that th s 3as beca$se the SabQan !r ests 3ere acc$stomed to see# n the lo3er lat t$des of Egy!t and Eth o! a# the f rst or ch ef stars of the -$sbandman ABOeTESB s n/ achron cally beneath the ;estern hor <onG and then to beg n the r lamentat ons# or hold forth the s gnal for others to 3ee!( and 3hen h s !rol f c 6 rt$es 3ere s$!!osed to be transferred to the 6ernal s$n# bacchanal an re6elry became de6ot on, Before the col$re of the Fernal EE$ no4 had !assed nto Ar es# and after t had

left Aldebarcn and the -yades# the Ple ades 3ere# for se6en or e ght cent$r es# the lead ng stars of the SabQan year, And th$s 3e see# on the mon$ments# the d s/ and crescent# symbols of the s$n and moon n con5$nct on# a!!ear s$ccess 6ely# D f rst on the head# and then on the nec/ and bac/ of the Hod acal B$ll# and more recently on the forehead of the Ram, The d agrammat cal character or symbol# st ll n $se to denote Ta$r$s# # s th s 6ery crescent and d s/( a symbol that has come do3n to $s from those remote ages 3hen th s memorable con5$nct on n Ta$r$s# by mar/ ng the commencement# at once of the SabQan year and of the cycle of the %haldean Saros# so !reDem nently d st ng$ shed that s gn as to become ts character st c symbol, On a bron<e b$ll from %h na# the crescent s attached to the bac/ of the B$ll# by means of a clo$d# and a c$r6ed groo6e s !ro6 ded for the occas onal ntrod$ct on of the d s/ of the s$n# 3hen solar and l$nar t me 3ere co nc dent and con5$nct 6e# at the commencement of the year# and

of the l$nar cycle, ;hen that 3as made# the year d d not o!en 3 th the stars n the head of the B$ll# b$t 3hen the col$re of the 6ernal eE$ no4 !assed across the m ddle or later degrees of the aster sm Ta$r$s# and the Ple ades 3ere# n %h na# as n %anaan# the lead ng stars of the year, The crescent and d s/ comb ned al3ays re!resent the con5$nct 6e S$n and MoonG and 3hen !laced on the head of the Hod acal B$ll# the commencement of the cycle termed SAROS by the %haldeans# and Meton c by the Gree/sG and s$!!osed to be all$ded to n 5ob# by the !hrase# @Ma<<aroth n h s season@G that s to say# 3hen the f rst ne3 Moon and ne3 S$n of the year 3ere co nc dent# 3h ch ha!!ened once n e ghteen years and a fract on, On the sarco!hag$s of Ale4ander# the same symbol a!!ears on the head of a Ram# 3h ch# n the t me of that monarch# 3as the lead ng s gn, So too n the sc$l!t$red tem!les of the '!!er 8 le# the crescent and d s/ a!!ear# not on the head of Ta$r$s# b$t on the forehead of the Ram or the RamDheaded God# 3hom the Grec an Mytholog sts called &$! ter Ammon# really the S$n n

Ar es, If 3e no3 loo/ for a moment at the nd 6 d$al stars 3h ch com!osed and 3ere near to the res!ect 6e constellat ons# 3e may f nd someth ng that 3 ll connect tself 3 th the symbols of the Anc ent Myster es and of Masonry, It s to be not ced that 3hen the S$n s n a !art c$lar constellat on# no !art of that constellat on 3 ll be seen# e4ce!t 5$st before s$nr se and 5$st after s$nsetG and then only the edge of t( b$t the constellat ons o!!os te to t 3 ll be 6 s ble, ;hen the S$n s n Ta$r$s# for e4am!le# that s# 3hen Ta$r$s sets 3 th the S$n# Scor! o r ses as he sets# and cont n$es 6 s ble thro$gho$t the n ght, And f Ta$r$s r ses and sets 3 th the S$n toDday# he 3 ll# s 4 months hence# r se at s$nset and set at s$nr seG for the stars th$s ga n on the S$n t3o ho$rs a month, Go ng bac/ to the t me 3hen# 3atched by the %haldean she!herds# and the h$sbandmen of Eth o! a and Egy!t#

@The m l/D3h te P$ll 3 th golden horns @Led on the ne3Dborn year#@ 3e see n the nec/ of TA'R'S# the Ple ades# and n h s face the -yades# @3h ch Grec a from the r sho3er ng names#@ and of 3hom the br ll ant Aldebarcn s the ch ef G 3h le to the so$th3est3ard s that most s!lend d of all the constellat ons# Or on# 3 th Betelg$e$4 n h s r ght sho$lder# Bellatr 4 n h s left sho$lder# R gel on the left foot# and n h s belt the three stars /no3n as the Three K ngs# and no3 as the .ard and Ell, Or on# ran the legend# !ersec$ted the Ple adesG and to sa6e them from h s f$ry# &$! ter !laced them n the -ea6ens# 3here he st ll !$rs$es them# b$t n 6a n, They# 3 th Arct$r$s and the Bands of Or on# are ment oned n the Boo/ of &ob, They are $s$ally called the Se6en Stars# and t s sa d there 3ere se6en# before the fall of TroyG tho$gh no3 only s 4 are 6 s ble, The Ple ades 3ere so named from a Gree/ 3ord s gn fy ng to sa l, In all ages

they ha6e been obser6ed for s gns and seasons, F rg l says that the sa lors ga6e names to @the Ple ades# -yades# and the 8orthern %ar( Ple adas# -yadas# %laramE$e Lycaon s Arcton,@ And Pal n$r$s# he says# Arct$r$m# !l$6 asE$e -yadas# Gem nosE$e Tr ones# Armat$mE$e a$ro c rc$ms! c t Or ona D st$d ed Arct$r$s and the ra ny -yades and the T3 n Tr ones# and Or on c nct$red 3 th gold, Ta$r$s 3as the !r nce and leader of the celest al host for more than t3o tho$sand yearsG and 3hen h s head set 3 th the S$n abo$t the last of May# the Scor! on 3as seen to r se n the So$theast, The Ple ades 3ere somet mes called Ferg l b# or the F rg ns of S!r ngG beca$se the S$n entered th s cl$ster of stars n the season of blossoms, The r Syr an name 3as S$ccoth# or S$ccothbeneth# der 6ed from a %haldean 3ord s gn fy ng to s!ec$late or obser6e, The -yades are f 6e stars n the form of a F# ))C so$theast of

the Ple ades, The Gree/s co$nted them as se6en, ;hen the Fernal EE$ no4 3as n Ta$r$s# Aldebarcn led $! the starry hostG and as he rose n the East# Ar es 3as abo$t 0+C h gh, ;hen he 3as close $!on the mer d an# the -ea6ens !resented the r most magn f cent a!!earance, %a!ella 3as a l ttle f$rther from the mer d an# to the northG and Or on st ll f$rther from t to the so$th3ard, Procyon# S r $s# %astor and Poll$4 had cl mbed abo$t halfD3ay from the hor <on to the mer d an, Reg$l$s had 5$st r sen $!on the ecl !t c, The F rg n st ll l ngered belo3 the hor <on, "omalha$t 3as halfD3ay to the mer d an n the So$th3estG and to the 8orth3est 3ere the br ll ant constellat ons# Perse$s# %e!he$s# %ass o!e a# and AndromedaG 3h le the Ple ades had 5$st !assed the mer d an, ORIO8 s 6 s ble to all the hab table 3orld, The eE$ noct al l ne !asses thro$gh the centre of t, ;hen Aldebarcn rose n the East# the Three K ngs n Or on follo3ed h mG and as Ta$r$s set# the Scor! on# by 3hose st ng t 3as sa d

Or on d ed# rose n the East, Or on r ses at noon abo$t the 1th of March, - s r s ng 3as accom!an ed 3 th great ra ns and storms# and t became 6ery terr ble to mar ners, In Boftes# called by the anc ent Gree/s Lycaon# from l$/os# a 3olf# and by the -ebre3s# %aleb An$bach# the Bar/ ng Dog# s the Great Star AR%T'R'S# 3h ch# 3hen Ta$r$s o!ened the year# corres!onded 3 th a season remar/able for ts great heat, 8e4t comes GEMI8I# the T3 ns# t3o h$man f g$res# n the heads of 3h ch are the br ght Stars %ASTOR and POLL'P# the D osc$r # and the %ab r of Samothrace# !atrons of na6 gat onG 3h le So$th of Poll$4 are the br ll ant Stars SIRI'S and PRO%.O8# the greater and lesser Dog( and st ll f$rther So$th# %ano!$s# n the Sh ! Argo, S r $s s a!!arently the largest and br ghtest Star n the -ea6ens, ;hen the Fernal EE$ no4 3as n Ta$r$s# he rose hel acally# that s# 5$st before the S$n#

3hen# at the S$mmer Solst ce# the S$n entered Leo# abo$t the 0)st of &$ne# f fteen days !re6 o$s to the s3ell ng of the 8 le, The hel acal r s ng of %ano!$s 3as also a !rec$rsor of the r s ng of the 8 le, Procyon 3as the forer$nner of S r $s# and rose before h m, There are no m!ortant Stars n %A8%ER, In the Hod acs of Esne and Dendera# and n most of the astrolog cal rema ns of Egy!t# the s gn of th s constellat on 3as a beetle MScarabb$sN# 3h ch thence became sacred# as an emblem of the gate thro$gh 3h ch so$ls descended from -ea6en, In the crest of %ancer s a cl$ster of Stars formerly called Prbse!e# the Manger# on each s de of 3h ch s a small Star# the t3o of 3h ch 3ere called Asell l ttle asses, In Leo are the s!lend d Stars# REG'L'S# d rectly on the ecl !t c# and DE8EBOLA n the L on?s ta l, So$theast of Reg$l$s s the f ne Star %OR -.DRg, The combat of -erc$les 3 th the 8emQan l on 3as h s f rst labor, It 3as the f rst s gn nto 3h ch the S$n !assed# after fall ng belo3 the S$mmer

Solst ceG from 3h ch t me he str$ggled to reDascend, The 8 le o6erflo3ed n th s s gn, It stands f rst n the Hod ac of Dendera# and s n all the Ind an and Egy!t an Hod acs, In the left hand of FIRGO MIs s or %eresN s the bea$t f$l Star SPI%A F rg n s# a l ttle So$th of the ecl !t c, FI8DEMIATRIP# of less magn t$de# s n the r ght armG and 8orth3est of S! ca# n Boftes Mthe h$sbandman# Os r sN# s the s!lend d star AR%T'R'S, The d 6 s on of the f rst Decan of the F rg n# Aben E<ra says# re!resents a bea$t f$l F rg n 3 th flo3 ng ha r# s tt ng n a cha r# 3 th t3o ears of corn n her hand# and s$c/l ng an nfant, In an Arab an MS, n the Royal L brary at Par s# s a ! ct$re of the T3el6e S gns, That of F rgo s a yo$ng g rl 3 th an nfant by her s de, F rgo 3as Is sG and her re!resentat on carry ng a ch ld M-or$sN n her arms# e4h b ted n her tem!le# 3as accom!an ed by th s nscr !t on( @I AM ALL T-AT IS# T-AT ;AS# A8D T-AT S-ALL BEG and the fr$ t 3h ch I bro$ght forth s the S$n,@

8 ne months after the S$n enters F rgo# he reaches the T3 ns, ;hen Scor! o beg ns to r se# Or on sets( 3hen Scor! o comes to the mer d an# Leo beg ns to set# Ty!hon re gns# Os r s s sla n# and Is s Mthe F rg nN h s s ster and 3 fe# follo3s h m to the tomb# 3ee! ng, The F rg n and Boftes# sett ng hel acally at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# del 6ered the 3orld to the 3 ntry constellat ons# and ntrod$ced nto t the gen $s of E6 l# re!resented by O!h $c$s# the Ser!ent, At the moment of the ; nter Solst ce# the F rg n rose hel acally M3 th the S$nN# ha6 ng the S$n M-or$sN n her bosom, In LIBRA are fo$r Stars of the second and th rd magn t$de# 3h ch 3e shall ment on hereafter, They are H$benDesD%hamal # H$benDelDGemab # H$benD ha/Drab # and H$benDelDG$b , 8ear the last of these s the br ll ant and mal gn Star# A8TARES n Scor! o, In S%ORPIO# A8TARES# of the )st magn t$de# and remar/ably red# 3as one of the fo$r great Stars# "OMAL-A'T# n %et$s# ALDEBARA8 n Ta$r$s# REG'L'S n Leo# and A8TARES# that formerly ans3ered to the

Solst t al and EE$ noct al !o nts# and 3ere m$ch not ced by astronomers, Th s s gn 3as somet mes re!resented by a Sna/e# and somet mes by a %rocod le# b$t generally by a Scor! on# 3h ch last s fo$nd on the M thr ac Mon$ments# and on the Hod ac of Dendera, It 3as cons dered a s gn acc$rsed# and the entrance of the S$n nto t commenced the re gn of Ty!hon, In Sag ttar $s# %a!r corn$s# and AE$ar $s there are no Stars of m!ortance, 8ear P sces s the br ll ant Star "OMAL-A'T, 8o s gn n the Hod ac s cons dered of more mal gnant nfl$ence than th s, It 3as deemed nd cat 6e of F olence and Death, Both the Syr ans and Egy!t ans absta ned from eat ng f sh# o$t of dread and abhorrenceG and 3hen the latter 3o$ld re!resent anyth ng as od o$s# or e4!ress hatred by - erogly!h cs# they !a nted a f sh, In A$r ga s the br ght Star %APELLA# 3h ch to the Egy!t ans ne6er set, And# c rcl ng e6er ro$nd the 8orth Pole are Se6en Stars# /no3n as 'rsa Ma5or# or the Great Bear# 3h ch ha6e been an ob5ect of $n 6ersal

obser6at on n all ages of the 3orld, They 3ere 6enerated al /e by the Pr ests of Bel# the Mag of Pers a# the She!herds of %haldea# and the Phbn c an na6 gators# as 3ell as by the astronomers of Egy!t, T3o of them# MERAK and D'B-E# al3ays !o nt to the 8orth Pole, The Phbn c an and Egy!t ans# says E$seb $s# 3ere the f rst 3ho ascr bed d 6 n ty to the S$n# Moon# and Stars# and regarded them as the sole ca$ses of the !rod$ct on and destr$ct on of all be ngs, "rom them 3ent abroad o6er all the 3orld all /no3n o! n ons as to the generat on and descent of the Gods, Only the -ebre3s loo/ed beyond the 6 s ble 3orld to an n6 s ble %reator, All the rest of the 3orld regarded as Gods those l$m no$s bod es that bla<e n the f rmament# offered them sacr f ces# bo3ed do3n before them# and ra sed ne ther the r so$ls nor the r 3orsh ! abo6e the 6 s ble hea6ens,

The %haldeans# %anaan tes# and Syr ans# among 3hom Abraham l 6ed# d d the same, The %anaan tes consecrated horses and char ots to the

S$n, The nhab tants of Emesa n Phbn c an adored h m $nder the name of Elagabal$sG and the S$n# as -erc$les# 3as the great De ty of the Tyr ans, The Syr ans 3orsh !!ed# 3 th fear and dread# the Stars of the %onstellat on P sces# and consecrated mages of them n the r tem!les, The S$n as Adon s 3as 3orsh !!ed n Byblos and abo$t Mo$nt L ban$s, There 3as a magn f cent Tem!le of the S$n at Palmyra# 3h ch 3as ! llaged by the sold ers of A$rel an# 3ho reb$ lt t and ded cated t ane3, The Ple ades# $nder the name of S$ccothDBeneth# 3ere 3orsh !!ed by the Babylon an colon sts 3ho settled n the co$ntry of the Samar tans, Sat$rn# $nder the name of Rem!han# 3as 3orsh !!ed among the %o!ts, The !lanet &$! ter 3as 3orsh !!ed as Bel or BaalG Mars as Malec# Melech# or MolochG Fen$s as Ashtaroth or Astarte# and Merc$ry as 8ebo# among the Syr ans# Assyr ans# Phbn c ans# and %anaan tes, ? Sanchon athon says that the earl est Phoen c ans adored the S$n# 3hom they deemed sole Lord of the -ea6ensG and honored h m $nder the name of BEELDSAMI8# s gn fy ng K ng of -ea6en, They ra sed col$mns to the elements# f re# and a r or 3 nd# and 3orsh !!ed themG and SabQ sm# or

the 3orsh ! of the Stars# flo$r shed e6ery3here n Babylon a, The Arabs# $nder a s/y al3ays clear and serene# adored the S$n# Moon# and Stars, Ab$lfarag $s so nforms $s# and that each of the t3el6e Arab Tr bes n6o/ed a !art c$lar Star as ts Patron, The Tr be -amyar 3as consecrated to the S$n# the Tr be %ennah to the MoonG the Tr be M sa 3as $nder the !rotect on of the bea$t f$l Star n Ta$r$s# AldebarcnG the Tr be Ta $nder that of %ano!$sG the Tr be Ka s# of S r $sG the Tr bes Lacham$s and Idam$s# of &$! terG the Tr be Asad# of Merc$ryG and so on, The Saracens# n the t me of -eracl $s# 3orsh !!ed Fen$s# 3hom they called %ABAR# or The GreatG and they s3ore by the S$n# Moon# and Stars, Shahr stan# an Arab c a$thor# says that the Arabs and Ind ans before h s t me had tem!les ded cated to the se6en Planets, Ab$lfarag $s says that the se6en great !r m t 6e nat ons# from 3hom all others descended# the Pers ans# %haldQans# Gree/s# Egy!t ans# T$r/s# Ind ans# and %h nese# all or g nally 3ere SabQ sts# and 3orsh !!ed the Stars, They all# he says# l /e the %haldQans# !rayed t$rn ng to3ard the 8orth Pole

three t mes a day# at S$nr se# 8oon# and S$nset# bo3 ng themsel6es three t mes before the S$n, They n6o/ed the Stars and the Intell gences 3h ch nhab ted them# offered them sacr f ces# and called the f 4ed stars and !lanets gods, Ph lo says that the %haldQans regarded the stars as so6ere gn arb ters of the order of the 3orld# and d d not loo/ beyond the 6 s ble ca$ses to any n6 s ble and ntellect$al be ng, They regarded 8AT'RE as the great d 6 n ty# that e4erc sed ts !o3ers thro$gh the act on of ts !arts# the S$n# Moon# Planets# and " 4ed Stars# the s$ccess 6e re6ol$t ons of the seasons# and the comb ned act on of -ea6en and Earth, The great feast of the SabQans 3as 3hen the S$n reached the Fernal EE$ no4( and they had f 6e other feasts# at the t mes 3hen the f 6e m nor !lanets entered the s gns n 3h ch they had the r e4altat on, D odor$s S c$l$s nforms $s that the Egy!t ans recogn <ed t3o great D 6 n t es# !r mary and eternal# the S$n and Moon# 3h ch they tho$ght go6erned the 3orld# and from 3h ch e6eryth ng rece 6es ts no$r shment and gro3th( that on them de!ended all and the great 3or/ of generat on#

and the !erfect on of all effects !rod$ced n nat$re, ;e /no3 that the t3o great D 6 n t es of Egy!t 3ere Os r s and Is s# the greatest agents of nat$reG accord ng to some# the S$n and Moon# and accord ng to others# -ea6en and Earth# or the act 6e and !ass 6e !r nc !les of generat on# And 3e learn from Por!hyry that %hQremon# a learned !r est of Egy!t# and many other learned men of that nat on# sa d that the Egy!t ans recogn <ed as gods the stars com!os ng the <od ac# and all those that by the r r s ng or sett ng mar/ed ts d 6 s onsG the s$bd 6 s ons of the s gns nto decans# the horosco!e and the stars that !res ded there n# and 3h ch 3ere called Potent %h efs -ea6en( that cons der ng the S$n as the Great God# Arch tect# and R$ler of the ;orld# they e4!la ned not only the fable of Os r s and Is s# b$t generally all the r sacred legends# by the stars# by the r a!!earance and d sa!!earance# by the r ascens on# by the !hases of the moon# and the ncrease and d m n$t on of her# l ghtG by the march of the s$n# the d 6 s on of t me and the hea6ens nto t3o !arts# one ass gned to dar/ness and the other to l ghtG by the 8 le and# n f ne# by the 3hole ro$nd of !hys cal ca$ses,

L$c an tells $s that the b$ll A! s# sacred to the Egy!t ans# 3as the mage of the celest al B$ll# or Ta$r$sG and that &$! ter Ammon# horned l /e a ram# 3as an mage of the constellat on Ar es, And %lemens of Ale4andr a ass$res $s that the fo$r !r nc !al sacred an mals# carr ed n the r !rocess ons# 3ere emblems of the fo$r s gns or card nal !o nts 3h ch f 4ed the seasons at the eE$ no4es and solst ces# and d 6 ded nto fo$r !arts the yearly march of the s$n, They 3orsh !!ed f re also# and 3ater# and the 8 le# 3h ch r 6er they styled "ather# Preser6er of Egy!t# sacred emanat on from the Great God Os r sG and n the r hymns n 3h ch they called t the god cro3ned 3 th m llet M3h ch gra n# re!resented by the !schent# 3as !art of the headdress of the r / ngsN# br ng ng 3 th h m ab$ndance, The other elements 3ere also re6ered by them( and the Great Gods# 3hose names are fo$nd nscr bed on an anc ent col$mn# are the A r# -ea6en# the Earth# the S$n# the Moon# 8 ght# and Day, And# n f ne# as E$seb $s says# they regarded the 'n 6erse as a great De ty# com!osed of a great n$mber of gods# the d fferent !arts of tself,

The same 3orsh ! of the -ea6enly -ost e4tended nto e6ery !art of E$ro!e# nto As a M nor# and among the T$r/s# Scyth ans# and Tartars, The anc ent Pers ans adored the S$n as M thras# and also the Moon# Fen$s# " re# Earth# A r# and ;aterG and# ha6 ng no stat$es or altars# they sacr f ced on h gh !laces to the -ea6ens and to the S$n, On se6en anc ent !yrea they b$rned ncense to the Se6en Planets# and cons dered the elements to be d 6 n t es, In the HendDA6esta 3e f nd n6ocat ons addressed to M thras# the stars# the elements# trees# mo$nta ns# and e6ery !art of nat$re, The %elest al B$ll s n6o/ed there# to 3h ch the Moon $n tes herselfG and the fo$r great stars# Taschter# Sate6 s# -aftorang# and Fenant# the great Star Ra! tan# and the other constellat ons 3h ch 3atch o6er the d fferent !ort ons of the earth, The Mag # l /e a m$lt t$de of anc ent nat ons# 3orsh !!ed f re# abo6e all the other elements and !o3ers of nat$re, In Ind a# the Ganges and the Ind$s 3ere 3orsh !!ed# and the S$n 3as the Great D 6 n ty, They 3orsh !!ed the Moon also# and /e!t $! the sacred f re, In %eylon# the S$n# Moon# and other !lanets 3ere 3orsh !!ed( n S$matra# the S$n#

called Ir # and the Moon# called -anda, And the %h nese b$ lt Tem!les to -ea6en# the Earth# and gen of the a r# of the 3ater# of the mo$nta ns#

and of the stars# to the seaDdragon# and to the !lanet Mars, The celebrated Labyr nth 3as b$ lt n honor of the S$nG and ts t3el6e !alaces# l /e the t3el6e s$!erb col$mns of the Tem!le s# at - ero!ol s# co6ered 3 th symbols relat ng to the t3el6e s gns and the occ$lt E$al t es of the elements# 3ere consecrated to the t3el6e gods or t$telary gen of the s gns of the Hod ac, The

f g$re of the !yram d and that of the obel s/# resembl ng the sha!e of a flame# ca$sed these mon$ments to be consecrated to the S$n and to " re, And T mQ$s of Locr a says( @The eE$ lateral tr angle enters nto the com!os t on of the !yram d# 3h ch has fo$r eE$al faces and eE$al angles# and 3h ch n th s s l /e f re# the most s$btle and mob le of the elements,@ They and the obel s/s 3ere erected n honor of the S$n# termed n an nscr !t on $!on one of the latter# translated by the Egy!t an -erma! on# and to be fo$nd n Amm an$s Marcell n$s# @A!ollo the strong# Son of God# he 3ho made the 3orld# tr$e Lord of the

d adems# 3ho !ossesses Egy!t and f lls t 3 th - s glory,@ The t3o most famo$s d 6 s ons of the -ea6ens# by se6en# 3h ch s that of the !lanets# and by t3el6e# 3h ch s that of the s gns# are fo$nd on the rel g o$s mon$ments of all the !eo!le of the anc ent 3orld, The t3el6e Great Gods of Egy!t are met 3 th e6ery3here, They 3ere ado!ted by the Gree/s and RomansG and the latter ass gned one of them to each s gn of the Hod ac, The r mages 3ere seen at Athens# 3here an altar 3as erected to eachG and they 3ere !a nted on the !ort cos, The Peo!le of the 8orth had the r t3el6e A<es# or Senate of t3el6e great gods# of 3hom Od n 3as ch ef, The &a!anese had the same n$mber# and l /e the Egy!t ans d 6 ded them nto classes# se6en# 3ho 3ere the most anc ent# and f 6e# after3ard added( both of 3h ch n$mbers are 3ell /no3n and consecrated n Masonry, There s no more str / ng !roof of the $n 6ersal adorat on !a d the stars and constellat ons# than the arrangement of the -ebre3 cam! n the Desert# and the allegory n regard to the t3el6e Tr bes of Israel# ascr bed n the -ebre3 legends to &acob, The -ebre3 cam! 3as a

E$adr lateral# n s 4teen d 6 s ons# of 3h ch the central fo$r 3ere occ$! ed by mages of the fo$r elements, The fo$r d 6 s ons at the fo$r angles of the E$adr lateral e4h b ted the fo$r s gns that the astrologers called f 4ed# and 3h ch they regard as s$b5ect to the nfl$ence of the fo$r great Royal Stars# Reg$l$s n Leo# Aldebaran n Ta$r$s# Antares n Scor! o# and "omalha$t n the mo$th of P sces# on 3h ch falls the 3ater !o$red o$t by AE$ar $sG of 3h ch constellat ons the Scor! on 3as re!resented n the -ebre3 bla<onry by the %elest al F$lt$re or Eagle# that r ses at the same t me 3 th t and s ts !aranatellon, The other s gns 3ere arranged on the fo$r faces of the E$ad lateral# and n the !arallel and nter or d 6 s ons, There s an aston sh ng co nc dence bet3een the character st cs ass gned by &acob to h s sons# and those of the s gns of the Hod ac# or the !lanets that ha6e the r dom c le n those s gns, Re$ben s com!ared to r$nn ng 3ater# $nstable# and that cannot e4celG and he

ans3ers to AE$ar $s# h s ens gn be ng a man, The 3ater !o$red o$t by AE$ar $s flo3s to3ard the So$th Pole# and t s the f rst of the fo$r Royal S gns# ascend ng fro m the ; nter Solst ce, The L on MLeoN s the de6 ce of &$dahG and &acob com!ares h m to that an mal# 3hose constellat on n the -ea6ens s the dom c le of the S$nG the L on of the Tr be of &$dahG by 3hose gr !# 3hen that of a!!rent ce and that of fello3D craft# D of AE$ar $s at the ; nter Solst ce and of %ancer at the Fernal EE$ no4# D had not s$cceeded n ra s ng h m# KhWrWm 3as l fted o$t of the gra6e, E!hra m# on 3hose ens gn a!!ears the %elest al B$ll# &acob com!ares to the o4, Dan# bear ng as h s de6 ce a Scor! on# he com!ares to the %erastes or horned Ser!ent# synonymo$s n astrolog cal lang$age 3 th the 6$lt$re or !o$nc ng eagleG and 3h ch b rd 3as often s$bst t$ted on the flag of Dan# n !lace of the 6enomo$s scor! on# on acco$nt of the terror 3h ch that re!t le ns! red# as the

symbol of Ty!hon and h s mal gn nfl$encesG 3herefore the Eagle# as ts !aranatellon# that s# r s ng and sett ng at the same t me 3 th t# 3as nat$rally $sed n ts stead, -ence the fo$r famo$s f g$res n the sacred ! ct$res of the &e3s and %hr st ans# and n Royal Arch Masonry# of the L on# the O4# the Man# and the Eagle# the fo$r creat$res of the A!ocaly!se# co! ed there from E<e/ el# n 3hose re6er es and rha!sod es they are seen re6ol6 ng aro$nd bla< ng c rcles, The Ram# dom c le of Mars# ch ef of the %elest al Sold ery and of the t3el6e S gns# s the de6 ce of Gad# 3hom &acob character <es as a 3arr or# ch ef of h s army, %ancer# n 3h ch are the stars termed Asell # or l ttle asses# s the de6 ce of the flag of Issachar# 3hom &acob com!ares to an ass, %a!r corn# of old re!resented 3 th the ta l of a f sh# and called by astronomers

the Son of 8e!t$ne# s the de6 ce of Heb$lon# of 3hom &acob says that he d3ells on the shore of the sea, Sag ttar $s# chas ng the %elest al ;olf# s the emblem of Ben5am n# 3hom &acob com!ares to a h$nter( and n that constellat on the Romans !laced the dom c le of D ana the h$ntress, F rgo# the dom c le of Merc$ry# s borne on the flag of 8a!htal # 3hose eloE$ence and ag l ty &acob magn f es# both of 3h ch are attr b$tes of the %o$r er of the Gods, And of S meon and Le6 he s!ea/s as $n ted# as are the t3o f shes that ma/e the %onstellat on P sces# 3h ch s the r armor al emblem, Plato# n h s Re!$bl c# follo3ed the d 6 s ons of the Hod ac and the !lanets, So also d d Lyc$rg$s at S!arta# and %ecro!s n the Athen an %o mmon3ealth, %h$n# the %h nese leg slator# d 6 ded %h na nto t3el6e Tcheo$# and s!ec ally des gnated t3el6e mo$nta ns, The Etr$scans d 6 ded themsel6es nto t3el6e %antons, Rom$l$s a!!o nted t3el6e L ctors, There 3ere t3el6e tr bes of Ishmael and t3el6e d sc !les of the

-ebre3 Reformer, The 8e3 &er$salem of the A!ocaly!se has t3el6e gates, The So$c et# a %h nese boo/# s!ea/s of a !alace com!osed of fo$r b$ ld ngs# 3hose gates loo/ed to3ard the fo$r corners of the 3orld, That on the East 3as ded cated to the ne3 moons of the months of S!r ngG that on the ;est to those of A$t$mnG that on the So$th to those of S$mmerG and that on the 8orth to those of ; nter( and n th s# !alace the Em!eror and h s grandees sacr f ced a lamb# the an mal that re!resented the S$n at the Fernal EE$ no4, Among the Gree/s# the march of the %hor$ses n the r theatres re!resented the mo6ements of the -ea6ens and the !lanets# and the Stro!he and Ant DStro!he m tated# Ar sto4enes says# the mo6ements of the Stars, The n$mber f 6e 3as sacred among the %h nese# as that of the !lanets other than the S$n and Moon, Astrology consecrated the n$mbers t3el6e# se6en# th rty# and three h$ndred and s 4tyG and e6ery3here se6en# the n$mber of the !lanets# 3as as sacred as t3el6e# that of the s gns# the months# the or ental cycles# and the sect ons of the hor <on, ;e shall

s!ea/ more at large hereafter# n another Degree# as to these and other n$mbers# to 3h ch the anc ents ascr bed myster o$s !o3ers, The S gns of the Hod ac and the Stars a!!eared on many of the anc ent co ns and medals, On the !$bl c seal of the Locr ans# O<oles 3as -es!er$s# or the !lanet Fen$s, On the medals of Ant och on the Orontes 3as the ram and crescentG and the Ram 3as the s!ec al De ty of Syr a# ass gned to t n the d 6 s on of the earth among the t3el6e s gns, On the %retan co ns 3as the EE$ noct al B$llG and he also a!!eared on those of the Mamert ns and of Athens, Sag ttar $s a!!eared on those of the Pers ans, In Ind a the t3el6e s gns a!!eared $!on the anc ent co ns, The Scor! on 3as engra6ed on the medals of the K ngs of %omagena# and %a!r corn on those of He$gn a# Ana<orba# and other c t es, On the medals of Anton n$s are fo$nd nearly all the s gns of the Hod ac, Astrology 3as !ract sed among all the anc ent nat ons, In Egy!t# the boo/ of Astrology 3as borne re6erent ally n the rel g o$s !rocess onsG n 3h ch the fe3 sacred an mals 3ere also carr ed# as emblems of the

eE$ no4es and solst ces, The same sc ence flo$r shed among the %haldeans# and o6er the 3hole of As a and Afr ca, ;hen Ale4ander n6aded Ind a# the astrologers of the O4ydraces came to h m to d sclose the secrets of the r sc ence of -ea6en and the Stars, The Brah m ns 3hom A!ollon $s cons$lted# ta$ght h m the secrets of Astronomy# 3 th the ceremon es and !rayers 3hereby to a!!ease the gods and learn the f$t$re from the stars, In %h na# astrology ta$ght the mode of go6ern ng the State and fam l es, In Arab a t 3as deemed the mother of the sc encesG and old l brar es are f$ll of Arab c boo/s on th s !retended sc ence, It flo$r shed at Rome, %onstant ne had h s horosco!e dra3n by the astrologer Falens, It 3as a sc ence n the m ddle ages# and e6en to th s day s ne ther forgotten nor $n!ract sed, %ather ne de Med c 3as fond of t, Lo$ s PIF, cons$lted h s horosco!e# and the learned %as n commenced h s career as an astrologer, The anc ent SabQans establ shed feasts n honor of each !lanet# on the day# for each# 3hen t entered ts !lace of e4altat on# or reached the !art c$lar degree n the !art c$lar s gn of the <od ac n 3h ch astrology

had f 4ed the !lace of ts e4altat onG that s# the !lace n the -ea6ens 3here ts nfl$ence 3as s$!!osed to be greatest# and 3here t acted on 8at$re 3 th the greatest energy, The !lace of e4altat on of the S$n 3as n Ar es# beca$se# reach ng that !o nt# he a3a/ens all 8at$re# and 3arms nto l fe all the germs of 6egetat onG and therefore h s most solemn feast among all nat ons# for many years before o$r Era# 3as f 4ed at the t me of h s entrance nto that s gn, In Egy!t# t 3as called the "east of " re and L ght, It 3as the Passo6er# 3hen the Paschal Lamb 3as sla n and eaten# among the &e3s# and 8e$ro$< among the Pers ans, The Romans !referred the !lace of dom c le to that of e4altat onG and celebrated the feasts of the !lanets $nder the s gns that 3ere the r ho$ses, The %haldeans# 3hom and not the Egy!t ans# the SabQans follo3ed n th s# !referred the !laces of e4altat on, Sat$rn# from the length of t me reE$ red for h s a!!arent re6ol$t on# 3as cons dered the most remote# and the Moon the nearest !lanet, After the Moon came Merc$ry and Fen$s# then the S$n# and then Mars# &$! ter# and Sat$rn,

So the r s ngs and sett ngs of the " 4ed Stars# and the r con5$nct ons 3 th the S$n# and the r f rst a!!earance as they emerged from h s rays# f 4ed the e!ochs for the feasts nst t$ted n the r honorG and the Sacred %alendars of the anc ents 3ere reg$lated accord ngly, In the Roman games of the c rc$s# celebrated n honor of the S$n and of ent re 8at$re# the S$n# Moon# Planets# Hod ac# Elements# and the most a!!arent !arts and !otent agents of 8at$re 3ere !erson f ed and re!resented# and the co$rses of the S$n n the -ea6ens 3ere m tated n the - !!odromeG h s char ot be ng dra3n by fo$r horses of d fferent colors# re!resent ng the fo$r elements and seasons, The co$rses 3ere fro m East to ;est# l /e the c rc$ ts ro$nd the Lodge# and se6en n n$mber# to corres!ond 3 th the n$mber of !lanets, The mo6ements of the Se6en Stars that re6ol6e aro$nd the !ole 3ere also re!resented# as 3ere those of %a!ella# 3h ch by ts hel acal r s ng at the moment 3hen the S$n reached the Ple ades# n Ta$r$s# anno$nced the commencement of the ann$al re6ol$t on of the S$n, The ntersect on of the Hod ac by the col$res at the EE$ noct al and

Solst t al !o nts# f 4ed fo$r !er ods# each of 3h ch has# by one or more nat ons# and n some cases by the same nat on at d fferent !er ods# been ta/en for the commencement of the year, Some ado!ted the Fernal EE$ no4# beca$se then day began to !re6a l o6er n ght# and l ght ga ned a 6 ctory o6er dar/ness, Somet mes the S$mmer Solst ce 3as !referredG beca$se then day atta ned ts ma4 m$m of d$rat on# and the acme of ts glory and !erfect on, In Egy!t# another reason 3as# that then the 8 le began to o6erflo3# at the hel acal r s ng of S r $s, Some !referred the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# beca$se then the har6ests 3ere gathered# and the ho!es of a ne3 cro! 3ere de!os ted n the bosom of the earth, And some !referred the ; nter Solst ce# beca$se then# the shortest day ha6 ng arr 6ed# the r length commenced to ncrease# and L ght began the career dest ned to end n 6 ctory at the Fernal EE$ no4, The S$n 3as f g$rat 6ely sa d to d e and be born aga n at the ; nter Solst ceG the games of the % rc$s# n honor of the n6 nc ble GodDS$n# 3ere then celebrated# and the Roman year estab l shed or reformed by 8$ma# commenced, Many !eo!les of Italy

commenced the r year# Macrob $s says# at that t meG and re!resented by the fo$r ages of man the grad$al s$ccess on of !er od cal ncrease and d m n$t on of day# and the l ght of the S$nG l /en ng h m to an nfant born at the ; nter Solst ce# a yo$ng man at the Fernal EE$ no4# a rob$st man at the S$mmer Solst ce# and an old man at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4, Th s dea 3as borro3ed from the Egy!t ans# 3ho adored the S$n at the ; nter Solst ce# $nder the f g$re of an nfant, The mage of the S gn n 3h ch each of the fo$r seasons commenced# became the form $nder 3h ch 3as f g$red the S$n of that !art c$lar season, The L on?s s/ n 3as 3orn by -erc$lesG the horns of the B$ll adorned the forehead of Bacch$sG and the a$t$mnal ser!ent 3o$nd ts long folds ro$nd the Stat$e of Sera! s# 0722 years before o$r eraG 3hen those S gns corres!onded 3 th the commencement of the Seasons, ;hen other constellat ons re!laced them at those !o nts# by means of the !recess on of the EE$ no4es# those attr b$tes 3ere changed, Then the Ram f$rn shed the horns for the head of the S$n# $nder the name of &$! ter Ammon, -e 3as no longer born e4!osed to the 3aters of

AE$ar $s# l /e Bacch$s# nor enclosed n an $rn l /e the God %ano!$sG b$t n the Stables of A$geas or the %elest al Goat, -e then com!leted h s tr $m!h# mo$nted on an ass# n the constellat on %ancer# 3h ch then occ$! ed the Solst t al !o nt of S$mmer, Other attr b$tes the mages of the S$n borro3ed from the constellat ons 3h ch# by the r r s ng and sett ng# f 4ed the !o nts of de!art$re of the year# and the commencements of ts fo$r !r nc !al d 6 s ons, " rst the B$ll and after3ard the Ram Mcalled by the Pers ans the LambN# 3as regarded as the regenerator of 8at$re# thro$gh h s $n on 3 th the S$n, Each# n h s t$rn# 3as an emblem of the S$n o6ercom ng the 3 nter dar/ness# and re!a r ng the d sorders of 8at$re# 3h ch e6ery year 3as regenerated $nder these S gns# after the Scor! on and Ser!ent of A$t$mn had bro$ght $!on t barrenness# d saster# and dar/ness, M thras 3as re!resented s tt ng on a B$llG and that an mal 3as an mage of Os r s( 3h le the Gree/ Bacch$s armed h s front 3 th ts horns# and 3as ! ct$red 3 th ts ta l and feet, The %onstellat ons also became note3orthy to the h$sbandman# 3h ch

by the r r s ng or sett ng# at morn ng or e6en ng# nd cated the com ng of th s !er od of rene3ed fr$ tf$lness and ne3 l fe, %a!ella# or the / d Amalthea# 3hose horn s called that of ab$ndance# a3l 3hose !lace s o6er the eE$ noct al !o nt# or Ta$r$sG and the Ple ades# that long nd cated the Seasons# and ga6e r se to a m$lt t$de of !oet c fables# 3ere the most obser6ed and most celebrated n ant E$ ty, The or g nal Roman year commenced at the Fernal EE$ no4, &$ly 3as formerly called I$ nt l s# the 7th month# and A$g$st Se4t l s# the =th# as Se!tember s st ll the +th month# October the *th# and so on, The Pers ans commenced the r year at the same t me# and celebrated the r great feast of 8e$ro$< 3hen the S$n entered Ar es and the %onstellat on Perse$s rose# D Perse$s# 3ho f rst bro$ght do3n to earth the hea6enly f re consecrated n the r tem!les( and all the ceremon es then !ract sed rem nded men of the reno6at on of 8at$re and the tr $m!h of Orm$<d# the L ghtDGod# o6er the !o3ers of Dar/ness and Ahr man the r %h ef, The Leg slator of the &e3s f 4ed the commencement of the r year n the

month 8 san# at the Fernal EE$ no4# at 3h ch season the Israel tes marched o$t of Egy!t and 3ere rel e6ed of the r long bondageG n commemorat on of 3h ch E4od$s# they ate the Paschal Lamb at that EE$ no4, And 3hen Bacch$s and h s army had long marched n b$rn ng deserts# they 3ere led by a Lamb or Ram nto bea$t f$l meado3s# and to the S!r ngs that 3atered the Tem!le of &$! ter Ammon, "or# to the Arabs and Eth o! ans# 3hose great D 6 n ty Bacch$s 3as# noth ng 3as so !erfect a ty!e of Elys $m as a %o$ntry abo$nd ng n s!r ngs and r 6$lets, Or on# on the same mer d an 3 th the Stars of Ta$r$s# d ed of the st ng of the celest al Scor! on# that r ses 3hen he setsG as d es the B$ll of M thras n A$t$mn( and n the Stars that corres!ond 3 th the A$t$mnal EE$ no4 3e f nd those male6olent gen good# that e6er 3ar aga nst the Pr nc !le of

and that ta/e from the S$n and the -ea6ens the fr$ tD!rod$c ng !o3er that they comm$n cate to the earth, ; th the Fernal EE$ no4# dear to the sa lor as to the h$sbandman# came the Stars that# 3 th the S$n# o!en na6 gat on# and r$le the stormy Seas,

Then the T3 ns !l$nge nto the solar f res# or d sa!!ear at sett ng# go ng do3n 3 th the S$n nto the bosom of the 3aters, And these t$telary D 6 n t es of mar ners# the D osc$r or %h ef %ah r of Samothrace# sa led 3 th &ason to !ossess themsel6es of the goldenDfleeced ram# or Ar es# 3hose r s ng n the morn ng anno$nced the S$n?s entry nto Ta$r$s# 3hen the Ser!entbearer &ason rose n the e6en ng# and# n as!ect 3 th the D osc$r # 3as deemed the r brother, And Or on# son of 8e!t$ne# and most !otent controller of the tem!estDtort$red ocean# anno$nc ng somet mes calm and somet mes tem!est# rose after Ta$r$s# re5o c ng n the forehead of the ne3 year, The S$mmer Solst ce 3as not less an m!ortant !o nt n the S$n?s march than the Fernal EE$ no4# es!ec ally to the Egy!t ans# to 3hom t not only mar/ed the end and term of the ncreas ng length of the days and of the dom nat on of l ght# and the ma4 m$m of the S$n?s ele6at onG b$t also the ann$al rec$rrence of that !henomenon !ec$l ar to Egy!t# the r s ng of the 8 le# 3h ch# e6er accom!any ng the S$n n h s co$rse#

seemed to r se and fall as the days gre3 longer and shorter# be ng lo3est at the ; nter Solst ce# and h ghest at that of S$mmer, Th$s the S$n seemed to reg$late ts s3ell ngG and the t me of h s arr 6al at the solst t al !o nt be ng that of the f rst r s ng of the 8 le# 3as selected by the Egy!t ans as the beg nn ng of a year 3h ch they called the .ear of God# and of the Soth ac Per od# or the !er od of Soth s# the DogDStar# 3ho# r s ng n the morn ng# f 4ed that e!och# so m!ortant to the !eo!le of Egy!t, Th s year 3as also called the -el ac# that s the Solar year# and the %an c$lar yearG and t cons sted of three h$ndred and s 4tyDf 6e days# 3 tho$t ntercalat onG so that at the end of fo$r years# or of fo$r t mes three h$ndred and s 4tyDf 6e days# ma/ ng ):=2 days# t needed to add a day# to ma/e fo$r com!lete re6ol$t ons of the S$n, To correct th s# some 8at ons made e6ery fo$rth year cons st# as 3e do no3# of 9== days( b$t the Egy!t ans !referred to add noth ng to the year of 9=7 days# 3h ch# at the end of )02 years# or of 92 t mes : years# 3as short 92 days or a monthG that s to say# t reE$ red a month more to com!lete the )02 re6ol$t ons of the S$n# tho$gh so many 3ere co$nted# that s#

so many years, Of co$rse the commencement of the )0)st year 3o$ld not corres!ond 3 th the S$mmer Solst ce# b$t 3o$ld !recede t by a month( so that# 3hen the S$n arr 6ed at the Solst t al !o nt 3hence he at f rst set o$t# and 3hereto he m$st needs ret$rn# to ma/e n real ty )02 years# or )02 com!lete re6ol$t ons# the f rst month of the )0)st year 3o$ld ha6e ended, Th$s# f the commencement of the year 3ent bac/ 92 days e6ery )02 years# th s commencement of the year# cont n$ ng to recede# 3o$ld# at the end of )0 t mes )02 years# or of ):=2 years# get bac/ to the Solst t al !o nt# or !r m t 6e !o nt of de!art$re of the !er od, The S$n 3o$ld then ha6e made b$t ):71 re6ol$t ons# tho$gh ):=2 3ere co$ntedG to ma/e $! 3h ch# a year more 3o$ld need to be added, So that the S$n 3o$ld not ha6e made h s ):=2 re6ol$t ons $nt l the end of ):=) years of 9=7 days each# D each re6ol$t on be ng n real ty not 9=7 days e4actly# b$t 9=7 h, Th s !er od of ):=) years# each of 9=7 days# br ng ng bac/ the commencement of the Solar year to the Solst t al !o nt# at the r s ng of

S r $s# after ):=2 com!lete Solar re6ol$t ons# 3as called n Egy!t the Soth ac !er od# the !o nt of de!art$re 3hereof 3as the S$mmer Solst ce# f rst occ$! ed by the L on and after3ard by %ancer# $nder 3h ch s gn s S r $s# 3h ch o!ened the !er od, It 3as# says Por!hyry# at th s Solst t al 8e3 Moon# accom!an ed by the r s ng of Seth or the DogD Star# that the beg nn ng of the year 3as f 4ed# and that of the generat on of all th ngs# or# as t 3ere# the natal ho$r of the 3orld, 8ot S r $s alone determ ned the !er od of the r s ng of the 8 le# AE$ar $s# h s $rn# and the stream flo3 ng from t# n o!!os t on to the s gn of the S$mmer Solst ce then occ$! ed by the S$n# o!ened n the e6en ng the march of 8 ght# and rece 6ed the f$ll Moon n h s c$!, Abo6e h m and 3 th h m rose the feet of Pegas$s# str$c/ 3here3 th the 3aters flo3 forth that the M$ses dr n/, The L on and# the Dog# nd cat ng# 3ere s$!!osed to ca$se the n$ndat on# and so 3ere 3orsh !!ed, ;h le the S$n !assed thro$gh Leo# the 3aters do$bled the r de!thG and the sacred fo$nta ns !o$red the r streams thro$gh the heads of l ons, -ydra# r s ng bet3een S r $s and Leo# e4tended $nder

three s gns, Its ?head rose 3 th %ancer# and ts ta l 3 th the feet of the F rg n and the beg nn ng of L braG and the n$ndat on cont n$ed 3h le the S$n !assed along ts 3hole e4tent, The s$ccess 6e contest of l ght and dar/ness for the !ossess on of the l$nar d s/# each be ng by t$rns 6 ctor and 6anE$ shed# e4actly resembled 3hat !assed $!on the earth by he act on of the S$n and h s 5o$rneys from one Solst ce to the other, The l$nary re6ol$t on !resented the same !er ods of l ght and dar/ness as the year# and 3as the ob5ect of the same rel g o$s f ct ons, Abo6e the Moon# Pl ny sa d# e6eryth ng s !$re# and f lled 3 th eternal l ght, There ends the cone of shado3 3h ch the earth !ro5ects# and 3h ch !rod$ces n ghtG there ends the so5o$rn of n ght and dar/nessG to t the a r e4tendsG b$t there 3e enter the !$re s$bstance, The Egy!t ans ass gned to the Moon the dem $rg c or creat 6e force of Os r s# 3ho $n ted h mself to her n the s!r ng# 3hen the S$n comm$n cated to her the !r nc !les of generat on 3h ch she after3ard d ssem nated n the a r and all the elements, The Pers ans cons dered

the Moon to ha6e been m!regnated by the %elest al B$ll# f rst of the s gns of s!r ng, In all ages# the Moon has been s$!!osed to ha6e great nfl$ence $!on 6egetat on# and the b rth and gro3th of an malsG and the bel ef s as 3 dely enterta ned no3 as e6er# and that nfl$ence regarded as a myster o$s and ne4!l cable one, 8ot the astrologers alone# b$t 8at$ral sts l /e Pl ny# Ph loso!hers l /e Pl$tarch and % cero# Theolog ans l /e the Egy!t an Pr ests# and Meta!hys c ans l /e Procl$s# bel e6ed f rmly n these l$nar nfl$ences, @The Egy!t ans#@ says D odor$s S c$l$s# @ac/no3ledged t3o great gods# the S$n and Moon# or Os r s and Is s# 3ho go6ern the 3orld and reg$late ts adm n strat on by the d s!ensat on of the seasons , , , , S$ch s the nat$re of these t3o great D 6 n t es# that they m!ress an act 6e and fec$ndat ng force# by 3h ch the generat on of be ngs n effectedG the S$n# by heat and that s! r t$al !r nc !le that forms the breath of the 3 ndsG the Moon by h$m d ty and drynessG and both by the forces of the a r 3h ch they share n common, By th s benef c al nfl$ence e6eryth ng s born# gro3s# and 6egetates, ;herefore th s

3hole h$ge body# n 3h ch nat$re res des# s ma nta ned by the comb ned act on of the S$n and Moon# and the r f 6e E$al t es# D the !r nc !les s! r t$al# f ery# dry# h$m d# and a ry,@ So f 6e !r m t 6e !o3ers# elements# or elementary E$al t es# are $n ted 3 th the S$n and Moon n the Ind an theology# D a r# s! r t# f re# 3ater# and earth( and the same f 6e elements are recogn <ed by the %h nese, The Phbn c ans# l /e the Egy!t ans# regarded the S$n and Moon and Stars as sole ca$ses of generat on and destr$ct on here belo3, The Moon# l /e the S$n# changed cont n$ally the trac/ n 3h ch she crossed the -ea6ens# mo6 ng e6er to and fro bet3een the $!!er and lo3er l m ts of the Hod acG and her d fferent !laces# !hases# and as!ects there# and her relat ons 3 th the S$n and the constellat ons# ha6e been a fr$ tf$l so$rce of mytholog cal fables, All the !lanets had 3hat astrology termed the r ho$ses# n the Hod ac, The -o$se of the S$n 3as n Leo# and that of the Moon n %ancer, Each other !lanet had t3o# s gnsG Merc$ry had Gem n and F rgoG Fen$s# Ta$r$s and L braG Mars# Ar es and Scor! oG &$! ter#

P sces and Sag ttar $sG and Sat$rn# AE$ar $s and %a!r corn$s, "rom th s d str b$t on of the s gns also came many mytholog cal emblems and fablesG as also many came from the !laces of e4altat on of the !lanets, D ana of E!hes$s# the Moon# 3ore the mage of a crab on her bosom# beca$se n that s gn 3as the Moon?s dom c leG and l ons bore $! the throne of -or$s# the Egy!t an A!ollo# the S$n !erson f ed# for a l /e reason( 3h le the Egy!t ans consecrated the ta$r forn scarabQs to the Moon# beca$se she had her !lace of e4altat on n Ta$r$sG and for the same reason Merc$ry s sa d to ha6e !resented Is s 3 th a helmet l /e a b$ll?s head, A f$rther d 6 s on of the Hod ac 3as of each s gn nto three !arts of )2C each# called Decans# or# n the 3hole Hod ac# 9= !arts# among 3h ch the se6en !lanets 3ere a!!ort oned ane3# each !lanet ha6 ng an eE$al n$mber of Decans# e4ce!t the f rst# 3h ch# o!en ng and clos ng the ser es of !lanets f 6e t mes re!eated# necessar ly had one Decan more than the others, Th s s$bd 6 s on 3as not n6ented $nt l after Ar es o!ened the Fernal EE$ no4G and accord ngly Mars# ha6 ng h s

ho$se n Ar es# o!ens the ser es of decans and closes tG the !lanets follo3 ng each other# f 6e t mes n s$ccess on# n the follo3 ng order# Mars# the S$n# Fen$s# Merc$ry# the Moon# Sat$rn# &$! ter# Mars# etc,G so that to each s gn are ass gned three !lanets# each occ$!y ng )2 degrees, To each Decan a God or Gen $s 3as ass gned# ma/ ng th rtys 4 n all# one of 3hom# the %haldeans sa d# came do3n $!on earth e6ery ten days# rema ned so many days# and reDascended to -ea6en, Th s d 6 s on s fo$nd on the Ind an s!here# the Pers an# and that Barbar c one 3h ch Aben E<ra descr bes, Each gen $s of the Decans had a name and s!ec al character st cs, They conc$r and a d n the effects !rod$ced by the S$n# Moon# and other !lanets charged 3 th the adm n strat on of the 3orld( and the doctr ne n regard to them# secret and a$g$st as t 3as held# 3as cons dered of the gra6est m!ortanceG and ts !r nc !les# " rm c$s says# 3ere not entr$sted by the anc ents# ns! red as they 3ere by the De ty# to any b$t the In t ates# and to them only 3 th great reser6e# and a / nd of fear# and 3hen ca$t o$sly en6elo!ed 3 th an obsc$re 6e l# that they m ght not come to be /no3n

by the !rofane, ; th these Decans 3ere connected the !aranatellons or those stars o$ts de of the Hod ac# that r se and set at the same moment 3 th the se6eral d 6 s ons of )2C of each s gn, As there 3ere anc ently only fortye ght celest al f g$res or constellat ons# of 3h ch t3el6e 3ere n the Hod ac# t follo3s that there 3ere# o$ts de of the Hod ac# th rtyDs 4 other aster sms# !aranatellons of the se6eral th rtyDs 4 Decans, "or e4am!le# as 3hen %a!r corn set# S r $s and Procyon# or %an s Ma5or and %an s M nor# rose# they 3ere the Paranatellons of %a!r corn# tho$gh at a great d stance from t n the hea6ens, The r s ng of %ancer 3as /no3n fro m the sett ng of %orona Boreal s and the r s ng of the Great and L ttle Dog# ts three !aranatellons, The r s ngs and sett ngs of the Stars are al3ays s!o/en of as connected 3 th the S$n, In that connect on there are three / nds of them# cosm cal# achron cal# and hel acal# m!ortant to be d st ng$ shed by all 3ho 3o$ld $nderstand th s anc ent learn ng,

;hen any Star r ses or sets 3 th the same degree of the same s gn of the Hod ac that the S$n occ$! es at the t me# t r ses and sets s m$ltaneo$sly 3 th the S$n# and th s s termed r s ng or sett ng cosm callyG b$t a star that so r ses and sets can ne6er be seen# on acco$nt of the l ght that !recedes# and s left beh nd by the S$n, It s therefore necessary# n order to /no3 h s !lace n the Hod ac# to obser6e stars that r se 5$st before or set 5$st after h m, A Star that s n the "ast 3hen n ght commences# and n the ;est 3hen t ends# s sa d to r se and set achron cally, A Star so r s ng or sett ng 3as n o!!os t on to the S$n# r s ng at the end of e6en ng t3 l ght# and sett ng at the beg nn ng of morn ng t3 l ght# and th s ha!!ened to each Star b$t once a year# beca$se the S$n mo6es from ;est to "ast# 3 th reference to the Stars# one degree a day, ;hen a Star r ses as n ght ends n the morn ng# or sets as n ght commences n the e6en ng# t s sa d to r se or set hel acally# beca$se the S$n M-el osN seems to to$ch t 3 th h s l$m no$s atmos!here, A Star th$s reDa!!ears after a d sa!!earance# often# of se6eral months#

and thencefor3ard t r ses an ho$r earl er each day# grad$ally emerg ng from the S$n?s rays# $nt l at the end of three months t !recedes the S$n s 4 ho$rs# and r ses at m dn ght, A Star sets hel acally# 3hen no longer rema n ng 6 s ble abo6e the 3estern hor <on after s$nset# the day arr 6es 3hen they cease to be seen sett ng n the ;est, They so rema n n6 s ble# $nt l the S$n !asses so far to the East3ard as not to ecl !se them 3 th h s l ghtG and then they reDa!!ear# b$t n the East# abo$t an ho$r and a half before s$nr se( and th s s the r hel acal r s ng, In th s nter6al# the cosm cal r s ng and sett ng ta/e !lace, Bes des the relat ons of the constellat ons and the r !aranatelIons 3 th the ho$ses and !laces of e4altat on of the Planets# and 3 th the r !laces n the res!ect 6e S gns and Decans# the Stars 3ere s$!!osed to !rod$ce d fferent effects accord ng as they rose or set# and accord ng as they d d so e ther cosm cally# achron cany# or hel acallyG and also accord ng to the d fferent seasons of the year n 3h ch these !henomena occ$rredG and these d fferences 3ere caref$lly mar/ed on

the old %alendarsG and many th ngs n the anc ent allegor es are referable to them, Another and most m!ortant d 6 s on of the Stars 3as nto good and bad# benef cent and male6olent, ; th the Pers ans# the former# of the Hod acal %onstellat ons# 3ere from Ar es to F rgo# ncl$s 6eG and the latter from L bra to P sces# ncl$s 6e, -ence the good Angels and Gen # and the bad Angels# De6s# E6 l Gen # De6 ls# "allen Angels# T tans# and G ants of the Mythology, The other th rtyDs 4 %onstellat ons 3ere eE$ally d 6 ded# e ghteen on each s de# or# 3 th those of the Hod ac# t3entyDfo$r, Th$s the symbol c Egg# that ss$ed from the mo$th of the n6 s ble Egy!t an God K8EP-G /no3n n the Grec an Myster es as the Or!h c EggG from 3h ch ss$ed the God %-'MO8G of the %ores ans# and the Egy!t an OSIRISS# and P-A8ES# God and Pr nc !le of L ghtG from 3h ch# bro/en by the Sacred B$ll of the &a!anese# the 3orld emergedG and 3h ch the Gree/s !laced at the feet of BA%%-'S TA'RID%OR8'SG the Mag an Egg of ORM'HD# from 3h ch came the Amshas!ands and De6sG 3as d 6 ded nto t3o hal6es# and eE$ally a!!ort oned bet3een the

Good and E6 l %onstellat ons and Angels, Those of S!r ng# as for e4am!le Ar es and Ta$r$s# A$r ga and %a!ella# 3ere the benef cent starsG and those of A$t$mn# as the Balance# Scor! o# the Ser!ent of O!h $c$s# and the Dragon of the -es!er des# 3ere ty!es and s$b5ects of the E6 l Pr nc !le# and regarded as male6olent ca$ses of the ll effects e4!er enced n A$t$mn and ; nter, Th$s are e4!la ned the myster es of the 5o$rney ngs of the h$man so$l thro$gh the s!heres# 3hen t descends to the earth by the S gn of the Ser!ent# and ret$rns to the Em! re of l ght by that of the Lamb or B$ll, The creat 6e act on of -ea6en 3as man fested# and all ts dem $rg c energy de6elo!ed# most of all at the Fernal EE$ no4# to 3h ch refer all the fables that ty! fy the 6 ctory of L ght o6er Dar/ness# by the tr $m!hs of &$! ter# Os r s# Orm$<d# and A!ollo, Al3ays the tr $m!hant god ta/es the form of the B$ll# the Ram# or the Lamb, Then &$! ter 3rests fro m Ty!hon h s th$nderbolts# of 3h ch that mal gnant De ty had !ossessed h mself d$r ng the ; nter, Then the God of L ght o6er3helms h s foe# ! ct$red as a h$ge Ser!ent, Then ; nter endsG the

S$n# seated on the B$ll and accom!an ed by Or on# bla<es n the -ea6ens, All nat$re re5o ces at the 6 ctoryG and Order and -armony are e6ery3here reDestabl shed# n !lace of the d re conf$s on that re gned 3h le gloomy Ty!hon dom neered# and Ahr man !re6a led aga nst Orm$<d, The $n 6ersal So$l of the ;orld# mot 6e !o3er of -ea6en and of the S!heres# t 3as held# e4erc ses ts creat 6e energy ch efly thro$gh the med $m of the S$n# d$r ng h s re6ol$t on along the s gns of the Hod ac# 3 th 3h ch s gns $n te the !aranatellons that mod fy the r nfl$ence# and conc$r n f$rn sh ng the symbol c attr b$tes of the Great L$m nary that reg$lates 8at$re and s the de!os tory of her greatest !o3ers, The act on of th s 'n 6ersal So$l of the ;orld s d s!layed n the mo6ements of the S!heres# and abo6e all n that of the S$n# n the s$ccess ons of the r s ngs and sett ngs of the Stars# and n the r !er od cal ret$rns, By these are e4!la nable all the metamor!hoses of that So$l# !erson f ed as &$! ter# as Bacch$s# as F shn$# or as B$ddha# and all the 6ar o$s attr b$tes ascr bed to tG and also the 3orsh ! of

those an mals that 3ere consecrated n the anc ent Tem!les# re!resentat 6es on earth of the %elest al S gns# and s$!!osed to rece 6e by transm ss on from them the rays and emanat ons 3h ch n them flo3 from the 'n 6ersal So$l, All the old Adorers of 8at$re# the Theolog ans# Astrologers# and Poets# as 3ell as the most d st ng$ shed Ph loso!hers# s$!!osed that the Stars 3ere so many an mated and ntell gent be ngs# or eternal bod es# act 6e ca$ses of effect here belo3# an mated by a l 6 ng !r nc !le# and d rected by an ntell gence that 3as tself b$t an emanat on from and a !art of the l fe and $n 6ersal ntell gence of the 3orld( and 3e f nd n the h erarch cal order and d str b$t on of the r eternal and d 6 ne Intell gences# /no3n by the names of Gods# Angels# and Gen # the same d str b$t ons and the same d 6 s ons as those by 3h ch the anc ents d 6 ded the 6 s ble 'n 6erse and d str b$ted ts !arts, And the famo$s d 6 s ons by se6en and by t3el6e# a!!erta n ng to the !lanets and the s gns of the <od ac# s e6ery3here fo$nd n the h erarch cal order of the Gods# and Angels#

and the other M n sters that are the de!os tar es of that D 6 ne "orce 3h ch mo6es and r$les the 3orld, These# and the other Intell gences ass gned to the other Stars# ha6e absol$te dom n on o6er all !arts of 8at$reG o6er the elements# the an mal and 6egetable / ngdoms# o6er man and all h s act ons# o6er h s 6 rt$es and 6 ces# and o6er good and e6 l# 3h ch d 6 de bet3een them h s l fe, The !ass ons of h s so$l and the malad es of h s body# D these and the ent re man are de!endent on the hea6ens and the gen that

there nhab t# 3ho !res de at h s b rth# control h s fort$nes d$r ng l fe# and rece 6e h s so$l or act 6e and ntell gent !art 3hen t s to be re$n ted to the !$re l fe of the lofty Stars, And all thro$gh the great body of the 3orld are d ssem nated !ort ons of the $n 6ersal So$l# m!ress ng mo6ement on e6eryth ng that seems to mo6e of tself# g 6 ng l fe to the !lants and trees# d rect ng by a reg$lar and settled !lan the organ <at on and de6elo!ment of the r germs# m!art ng constant mob l ty to the r$nn ng 3aters and ma nta n ng the r eternal mot on# m!ell ng the 3 nds and chang ng the r d rect on or st ll ng them#

calm ng and aro$s ng the ocean# $ncha n ng the storm !o$r ng o$t the f res of 6olcanoes# or 3 th earthE$a/es sha/ ng the roots of h$ge mo$nta ns and the fo$ndat ons of 6ast cont nentsG by means of a force that# belong ng to 8at$re# s a mystery to man, And these n6 s ble Intell gences# l /e the stars# are marshalled n t3o great d 6 s ons# $nder the banners of the t3o Pr nc !les of Good and E6 l# L ght and Dar/nessG $nder Orm$<d and Ahr man# Os r s and Ty!hon, The E6 l Pr nc !le 3as the mot 6e !o3er of br$te matterG and t# !erson f ed as Ahr man and Ty!hon# had ts hosts and arm es of De6s and Gen # "allen Angels and Male6olent S! r ts# 3ho 3aged cont n$al 3age 3 th the Good Pr nc !le# the Pr nc !le of Em!yreal L ght and S!lendor# Os r s# Orm$<d# &$! ter or D on$sos# 3 th h s br ght hosts of Amshas!ands# I<eds# Angels# and ArchangelsG a 3arfare that goes on from b rth $nt l death# n the so$l of e6ery man that l 6es, ;e ha6e heretofore# n the 0:th Degree rec ted the !r nc !al nc dents n the legend of Os r s and Is s# and t rema ns b$t to !o nt o$t the astronom cal !henomena 3h ch t has con6erted nto mytholog cal

facts, The S$n# at the Fernal EE$ no4# 3as the fr$ tDcom!ell ng star that by h s 3armth !ro6o/ed generat on and !o$red $!on the s$bl$nary 3orld all the bless ngs of -ea6enG the benef cent god# t$telary gen $s of $n 6ersal 6egetat on# that comm$n cates to the d$ll earth ne3 act 6 ty# and st rs her great heart# long ch lled by ; nter and h s frosts# $nt l from her bosom b$rst all the greenness and !erf$me of s!r ng# ma/ ng her re5o ce n leafy forests and grassy la3ns and flo3erDenamelled meado3s# and the !rom se of ab$ndant cro!s of gra n and fr$ ts and !$r!le gra!es n the r d$e season, -e 3as then called Os r s# -$sband of Is s# God of %$lt 6at on and Benefactor of Men# !o$r ng on them and on the earth the cho cest bless ngs 3 th n the g ft of the D 6 n ty, O!!osed to h m 3as Ty!hon# h s antagon st n the Egy!t an mythology# as Ahr man 3as the foe of Orm$<d# the Good Pr nc !le# n the theology of the Pers ans, The f rst nhab tants of Egy!t and Eth o! a# as D odor$s S c$l$s nforms $s# sa3 n the -ea6ens t3o f rst eternal ca$ses of th ngs# or great D 6 n t es#

one the S$n# 3hom they called Os r s# and the other the Moon# 3hom they called Is sG and these they cons dered the ca$ses of all the generat ons of earth, Th s dea# 3e learn from E$seb $s# 3as the same as that of the Phbn c ans, On these t3o great D 6 n t es the adm n strat on of the 3orld de!ended, All s$bl$nary bod es rece 6ed from them the r no$r shment and ncrease# d$r ng the ann$al re6ol$t on 3h ch they controlled# and the d fferent seasons nto 3h ch t 3as d 6 ded, To Os r s and Is s# t 3as held# 3ere o3 ng c 6 l <at on# the d sco6ery of agr c$lt$re# la3s# arts of all / nds# rel g o$s 3orsh !# tem!les# the n6ent on of letters# astronomy# the gymnast c arts# and m$s cG and th$s they 3ere the $n 6ersal benefactors, Os r s tra6elled to c 6 l <e the co$ntr es 3h ch he !assed thro$gh# and comm$n cate to them h s 6al$able d sco6er es, -e b$ lt c t es# and ta$ght men to c$lt 6ate the earth, ;heat and 3 ne 3ere h s f rst !resents to men, E$ro!e# As a# and Afr ca !artoo/ of the bless ngs 3h ch he comm$n cated# and the most remote reg ons of Ind a remembered

h m# and cla med h m as one of the r great gods, .o$ ha6e learned ho3 Ty!hon# h s brother# sle3 h m, - s body 3as c$t nto ! eces# all of 3h ch 3ere collected by Is s# e4ce!t h s organs of generat on# 3h ch had been thro3n nto and de6o$red n the 3aters of the r 6er that e6ery year fert l <ed Egy!t, The other !ort ons 3ere b$r ed by Is s# and o6er them she erected a tomb, Thereafter she rema ned s ngle# load ng her s$b5ects 3 th bless ngs, She c$red the s c/# restored s ght to the bl nd# made the !aralyt c 3hole# and e6en ra sed the dead, "rom her -or$s or A!ollo learned d 6 nat on and the sc ence of med c ne, Th$s the Egy!t ans ! ct$red the benef cent act on of the t3o l$m nar es that# from the bosom of the elements# !rod$ced all an mals and men# and all bod es that are born# gro3# and d e n the eternal c rcle of generat on and destr$ct on here belo3, ;hen the %elest al B$ll o!ened the ne3 year at the Fernal EE$ no4# Os r s# $n ted 3 th the Moon# comm$n cated to her the seeds of fr$ tf$lness 3h ch

she !o$red $!on the a r# and there3 th m!regnated the generat 6e !r nc !les 3h ch ga6e act 6 ty to $n 6ersal 6egetat on, A! s# re!resented by a b$ll# 3as the l 6 ng and sens ble mage of the S$n or Os r s# 3hen n $n on 3 th Is s or the Moon at the Fernal EE$ no4# conc$rr ng 3 th her n !ro6o/ ng e6eryth ng that l 6es to generat on, Th s con5$nct on of the S$n 3 th the Moon at the Fernal EE$ no4# n the constellat on Ta$r$s# reE$ red the B$ll A! s to ha6e on h s sho$lder a mar/ resembl ng the %rescent Moon, And the fec$ndat ng nfl$ence of these t3o l$m nar es 3as e4!ressed by mages that 3o$ld no3 be deemed gross and ndecent# b$t 3h ch then 3ere not m s$nderstood, E6eryth ng good n 8at$re comes from Os r s# D order# harmony# and the fa6orable tem!erat$re of the seasons and celest al !er ods, "rom Ty!hon come the stormy !ass ons and rreg$lar m!$lses that ag tate the br$te and mater al !art of manG malad es of the body# and 6 olent shoc/s that n5$re the health and derange the systemG nclement 3eather# derangement of the

seasons# and ecl !ses, Os r s and Ty!hon 3ere the Orm$<d and Ahr man of the Pers ansG !r nc !les of good and e6 l# of l ght and dar/ness# e6er at 3ar n the adm n strat on of the 'n 6erse, Os r s 3as the mage of generat 6e !o3er, Th s 3as e4!ressed by h s symbol c stat$es# and by the s gn nto 3h ch he entered at the Fernal EE$ no4, -e es!ec ally d s!ensed the h$m d !r nc !le of 8at$re# generat 6e element of all th ngsG and the 8 le and all mo st$re 3ere regarded as emanat ons from h m# 3 tho$t 3h ch there co$ld be no 6egetat on, That Os r s and Is s 3ere the S$n and Moon# s attested by many anc ent 3r tersG by D ogenes Laert $s# Pl$tarch# L$c an# S$ das# Macrob $s# Mart an$s %a!ella# and others, - s !o3er 3as symbol <ed by an Eye o6er a Sce!tre, The S$n 3as termed by the Gree/s the Eye of &$! ter# and the Eye of the ;orldG and h s s the AllDSee ng Eye n o$r Lodges, The oracle of %laros styled h m K ng of the Stars and of the Eternal " re# that engenders the year and the seasons# d s!enses ra n and 3 nds# and br ngs abo$t daybrea/ and n ght, And Os r s 3as

n6o/ed as the God that res des n the S$n and s en6elo!ed by h s rays# the n6 s ble and eternal force that mod f es the s$bl$nary 3orld by means of the S$n, Os r s 3as the same God /no3n as Bacch$s# D on$sos# and Sera! s, Sera! s s the a$thor of the reg$lar ty and harmony of the 3orld, Bacch$s# 5o ntly 3 th %eres M dent f ed by -erodot$s 3 th Is sN !res des o6er the d str b$t on of all o$r bless ngsG and from the t3o emanates e6eryth ng bea$t f$l and good n 8at$re, One f$rn shes the germ and !r nc !le of e6ery goodG the other rece 6es and !reser6es t as a de!os tG and the latter s the f$nct on of the Moon n the theology of the Pers ans, In each theology# Pers an and Egy!t an# the Moon acts d rectly on the earthG b$t she s fec$ndated# n one by the %elest al B$ll and n the other by Os r s# 3 th 3hom she s $n ted at the Fernal EE$ no4# n the s gn Ta$r$s# the !lace of her e4altat on or greatest nfl$ence on the earth, The force of Os r s# says Pl$tarch# s e4erc sed thro$gh the Moon, She s the !ass 6e ca$se relat 6ely to h m# and the act 6e ca$se relat 6ely to the earth# to 3h ch she transm ts the germs of

fr$ tf$lness rece 6ed from h m, In Egy!t the earl est mo6ement n the 3aters of the 8 le began to a!!ear at the Fernal EE$ no4# 3hen the ne3 Moon occ$rred at the entrance of the S$n nto the constellat on Ta$r$sG and th$s the 8 le 3as held to rece 6e ts fert l < ng !o3er from the comb ned act on of the eE$ noct al S$n and the ne3 Moon# meet ng n Ta$r$s, Os r s 3as often confo$nded 3 th the 8 le# and Is s 3 th the earthG and Os r s 3as deemed to act on the earth# and to transm t to t h s emanat ons# thro$gh both the Moon and the 8 leG 3hence the fable that h s generat 6e organs 3ere thro3n nto that r 6er, Ty!hon# on the other hand# 3as the !r nc !le of ar d ty and barrennessG and by h s m$t lat on of Os r s 3as meant that, dro$ght 3h ch ca$sed the 8 le to ret re 3 th n h s bed and shr n/ $! n A$t$mn, Else3here than n Egy!t# Os r s 3as the symbol of the refresh ng ra ns that descend to fert l <e the earthG and Ty!hon the b$rn ng 3 nds of A$t$mnG the stormy ra ns that rot the flo3ers# the !lants# and lea6esG the short# cold daysG and e6eryth ng n5$r o$s n 8at$re# and that

!rod$ces corr$!t on and destr$ct on, In short# Ty!hon s the !r nc !le of corr$!t on# of dar/ness# of the lo3er 3orld from 3h ch come earthE$a/es# t$m$lt$o$s commot ons of the a r# b$rn ng heat# l ghtn ng# and f ery meteors# and !lag$e and !est lence, S$ch too 3as the Ahr man of the Pers ansG and th s re6olt of the E6 l Pr nc !le aga nst the Pr nc !le of Good and L ght# has been re!resented n e6ery cosmogony# $nder many 6ary ng forms, Os r s# on the contrary# by the ntermed at on of Is s# f lls the mater al 3orld 3 th ha!! ness# !$r ty# and order# by 3h ch the harmony of 8at$re s ma nta ned, t 3as sa d that he d ed at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# 3hen Ta$r$s or the Ple ades rose n the e6en ng# and that he rose to l fe aga n n @l e S!r ng# 3hen 6egetat on 3as ns! red 3 th ne3 act 6 ty, Of co$rse the t3o s gns of Ta$r$s and Scor! o 3 ll f g$re most largely n the mytholog cal h story of Os r s# for they mar/ed the t3o eE$ no4es# 0722 years before o$r EraG and ne4t to them the other constellat ons# near the eE$ no4es# that f 4ed the l m ts of the d$rat on of the fert l < ng act on of the S$nG and t s also to be remar/ed that Fen$s# the

Goddess of Generat on# has her dom c le n Ta$r$s# as the Moon has there her !lace of e4altat on, ;hen the S$n 3as n Scor! o# Os r s lost h s l fe# and that fr$ tf$lness 3h ch# $nder the form of the B$ll# he had comm$n cated# thro$gh the Moon# to the Earth, Ty!hon# h s hands and feet horr d 3 th ser!ents# and 3hose hab tat n the Egy!t an !lan s!here 3as $nder Scor! o# conf ned h m n a chest and fl$ng h m nto the 8 le# $nder the )+th degree of Scor! o, 'nder that s gn he lost h s l fe and 6 r l tyG and he reco6ered them n the S!r ng# 3hen he had connect on 3 th the Moon, ;hen he entered Scor! o# h s l ght d m n shed# 8 ght reass$med her dom n on# the 8 le shr$n/ 3 th n ts ban/s# and the earth lost her 6erd$re and the trees the r lea6es, Therefore t s that on the M thr ac Mon$ments# the Scor! on b tes the test cles of the EE$ noct al B$ll# on 3h ch s ts M thras# the S$n of S!r ng and God of Generat onG and that# on the same mon$ments# 3e see t3o trees# one co6ered 3 th yo$ng lea6es# and at ts foot a l ttle b$ll and a torch b$rn ngG and the other loaded 3 th fr$ t# and at ts foot a Scor! on# and a torch re6ersed

and e4t ng$ shed, Orm$<d or Os r s# the benef cent Pr nc !le that g 6es the 3orld l ght# 3as !erson f ed by the S$n# a!!arent so$rce of l ght, Dar/ness# !erson f ed by Ty!hon or Ahr man# 3as h s nat$ral enemy, The Sages of Egy!t descr bed the necessary and eternal r 6alry or o!!os t on of these !r nc !les# e6er !$rs$ ng one the other# and one dethron ng the other n e6ery ann$al re6ol$t on# and at a !art c$lar !er od# one n the S!r ng $nder the B$ll# and the other n A$t$mn $nder the Scor! on# by the legendary h story of Os r s and Ty!hon# deta led to $s by D odor$s and Synes $sG n 3h ch h story 3ere also !erson f ed the Stars and constellat ons Or on# %a!ella# the T3 ns# the ;olf# S r $s# and -erc$les# 3hose r s ngs and sett ngs noted the ad6ent of one or the other eE$ no4, Pl$tarch g 6es $s the !os t ons n the -ea6ens of the S$n and Moon# at the moment 3hen Os r s 3as m$rdered by Ty!hon, The S$n# he says# 3as n the S gn of the Scor! on# 3h ch he then entered at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4, The Moon 3as f$ll# he addsG and conseE$ently# as t rose at

s$nset# t occ$! ed Ta$r$s# 3h ch# o!!os te to Scor! o# rose as t and the S$n san/ together# so that she 3as then fo$nd alone n the s gn Ta$r$s# 3here# s 4 months before# she had been n $n on or con5$nct on 3 th Os r s# the S$n# rece 6 ng from h m those germs of $n 6ersal fert l <at on 3h ch he comm$n cated to her, It 3as the s gn thro$gh 3h ch Os r s f rst ascended nto h s em! re of l ght and good, It rose 3 th the S$n on the day of the Fernal EE$ no4G t rema ned s 4 months n the l$m no$s hem s!here# e6er !reced ng the S$n and abo6e the hor <on d$r ng the dayG $nt l n A$t$mn# the S$n arr 6 ng at Scor! o# Ta$r$s 3as n com!lete o!!os t on 3 th h m# rose 3hen he set# and com!leted ts ent re co$rse abo6e the hor <on d$r ng the n ghtG !res d ng# by r s ng n the e6en ng# o6er the commencement of the long n ghts, -ence n the sad ceremon es commemorat ng the death of Os r s# there 3as borne n !rocess on a golden b$ll co6ered 3 th blac/ cra!e# mage of the dar/ness nto 3h ch the fam l ar s gn of Os r s 3as enter ng# and 3h ch 3as to s!read o6er the 8orthern reg ons# 3h le the S$n# !rolong ng the n ghts# 3as to be absent# and each to rema n

$nder the dom n on of Ty!hon# Pr nc !le of E6 l and Dar/ness, Sett ng o$t from the s gn Ta$r$s# Is s# as the Moon# 3ent see/ ng for Os r s thro$gh all the s$!er or s gns# n each of 3h ch she became f$ll n the s$ccess 6e months from the A$t$mnal to the Fernal EE$ no4# 3 tho$t f nd ng h m n e ther, Let $s follo3 her n her allegor cal 3ander ngs, Os r s 3as sla n by Ty!hon h s r 6al# 3 th 3hom cons! red a I$een of Eth o! a# by 3hom# says Pl$tarch# 3ere des gnated the 3 nds, The !aranatellons of Scor! o# the s gn occ$! ed by the S$n 3hen Os r s 3as sla n# 3ere the Ser!ents# re!t les 3h ch s$!!l ed the attr b$tes of the E6 l Gen and of Ty!hon# 3ho h mself bore the form of a ser!ent n the

Egy!t an !lan s!here, And n the d 6 s on of Scor! o s also fo$nd %ass o!e a# I$een of Eth o! a# 3hose sett ng br ngs stormy 3 nds, Os r s descended to the shades or nfernal reg ons, There he too/ the name of Sera! s# dent cal 3 th Pl$to# and ass$med h s nat$re, -e 3as then n con5$nct on 3 th Ser!entar $s# dent cal 3 th gsc$la! $s# 3hose form he too/ n h s !assage to the lo3er s gns# 3here he ta/es the names

of Pl$to and Ades, Then Is s 3e!t for the death of Os r s# and the golden b$ll co6ered 3 th cra!e 3as carr ed n !rocess on, 8at$re mo$rned the m!end ng loss of her S$mmer glor es# and the ad6ent of the em! re of n ght# the 3 thdra3 ng of the 3aters# made fr$ tf$l by the B$ll n S!r ng# the cessat on of the 3 nds that bro$ght ra ns to s3ell the 8 le# the shorten ng of the days# and the des!o l ng of the earth, Then Ta$r$s# d rectly o!!os te the S$n# entered nto the cone of shado3 3h ch the earth !ro5ects# by 3h ch the Moon s ecl !sed at f$ll# and 3 th 3h ch# ma/ ng n ght# the B$ll r ses and descends as f co6ered 3 th a 6e l# 3h le he rema ns abo6e o$r hor <on, The body of Os r s# enclosed n a chest or coff n# 3as cast nto the 8 le, Pan and the Satyrs# near %hemm s# f rst d sco6ered h s death# anno$nced t by the r cr es# and e6ery3here created sorro3 and alarm, Ta$r$s# 3 th the f$ll Moon# then entered nto the cone of shado3# and $nder h m 3as the %elest al R 6er# most !ro!erly called the 8 le# and belo3# Perse$s# the God of %hemm s# and A$r ga# lead ng a sheDgoat# h mself dent cal 3 th

Pan# 3hose 3 fe A ga the sheDgoat 3as styled, Then Is s 3ent n search of the body, She f rst met certa n ch ldren 3ho had seen t# rece 6ed from them the r nformat on# and ga6e them n ret$rn the g ft of d 6 nat on, The second f$ll Moon occ$rred n Gem n # the T3 ns# 3ho !res ded o6er the oracles of D dym$s# and one of 3hom 3as A!ollo# the God of D 6 nat on, She learned that Os r s had# thro$gh m sta/e# had connect on 3 th her s ster 8e!hte# 3h ch she d sco6ered by a cro3n of lea6es of the mel lot# 3h ch he had left beh nd h m, Of th s connect on a ch ld 3as born# 3hom Is s# a ded by her dogs# so$ght for# fo$nd# reared# and attached to herself# by the name of An$b s# her fa thf$l g$ard an, The th rd f$ll Moon occ$rs n %ancer# dom c le of the Moon, The !aranatellons of that s gn are# the cro3n of Ar adne or Proser! ne# made of lea6es of the mel lot# Procyon and %an s Ma5or# one star of 3h ch 3as called the Star of Is s# 3h le S r $s h mself 3as honored n Egy!t $nder the name of An$b s, Is s re!a red to Byblos# and seated herself near a fo$nta n# 3here she

3as fo$nd by the 3omen of the %o$rt of a K ng, She 3as nd$ced to 6 s t h s %o$rt# and became the n$rse of h s son, The fo$rth f$ll Moon 3as n Leo# dom c le of the S$n# or of Adon s# K ng of Byblos, The !aranatellons of th s s gn are the flo3 ng 3ater of AE$ar $s# and %e!hens# K ng of Eth o! a# called Reg$l$s# or s m!ly The K ng, Beh nd h m r se %ass o!e a h s 3 fe# I$een of Eth o! a# Andromeda h s da$ghter# and Perse$s h s sonD nDla3# all !aranatellons n !art of th s s gn# and n !art of F rgo, Is s s$c/led the ch ld# not at her breast# b$t 3 th the end of her f nger# at n ght, She b$rned all the mortal !arts of ts body# and then# ta/ ng the sha!e of a s3allo3# she fle3 to the great col$mn of the !alace# made of the tamar s/Dtree that gre3 $! ro$nd the coff n conta n ng the body of Os r s# and 3 th n 3h ch t 3as st ll enclosed, The f fth f$ll Moon occ$rred n F rgo# the tr$e mage of Is s# and 3h ch Eratosthenes calls by that name, It ! ct$red a 3oman s$c/l ng an nfant# the son of Is s# born near the ; nter Solst ce, Th s s gn has for !aranatellons the mast of the %elest al Sh !# and the s3allo3Dta led f sh or s3allo3 abo6e t#

and a !ort on of Perse$s# sonD nDla3 of the K ng of Eth o! a, Is s# ha6 ng reco6ered the sacred coffer# sa led from Byblos n a 6essel 3 th the eldest son of the K ng# to3ard Bo$tos# 3here An$b s 3as# ha6 ng charge of her son -or$sG and n the morn ng dr ed $! a r 6er# 3hence arose a strong 3 nd, Land ng# she h d the coffer n a forest, Ty!hon# h$nt ng a 3 ld boar by moonl ght# d sco6ered t# recogn <ed the body of h s r 6al# and c$t t nto fo$rteen ! eces# the n$mber of days bet3een the f$ll and ne3 Moon# and n e6ery one of 3h ch days the Moon loses a !ort on of the l ght that at the commencement f lled her 3hole d s/, The s 4th f$ll Moon occ$rred n L bra o6er the d 6 s ons se!arat ng 3h ch fro m F rgo are the %elest al Sh !# Perse$s# son of the K ng of Eth o! a and Boftes# sa d to ha6e n$rsed -or$s, The r 6er of Or on that sets n the morn ng s also a !aranatellon of L bra# as are 'rsa Ma5or# the Great Bear or ; ld Boar of Erymanth$s# and the Dragon of the 8orth Pole or the celebrated Python from 3h ch the attr b$tes of Ty!hon 3ere borro3ed, All these s$rro$nd the f$ll Moon of L bra# last of the S$!er or

S gns# and the one that !recedes the ne3 Moon of S!r ng# abo$t to be re!rod$ced n Ta$r$s# and there be once more n con5$nct on 3 th the S$n, Is s collects the scattered fragments of the body of Os r s# b$r es them# and consecrates the !hall$s# carr ed n !om! at the Pamyl a# or feasts of the Fernal EE$ no4# at 3h ch t me the congress of Os r s and the Moon 3as celebrated, Then Os r s had ret$rned from the shades# to a d -or$s h s son and Is s h s 3 fe aga nst the forces of Ty!hon, -e th$s rea!!eared# say some# $nder the form of a 3olf# or# others say# $nder that of a horse, The Moon# fo$rteen days after she s f$ll n L bra# arr 6es at Ta$r$s and $n tes herself to the S$n# 3hose f res she thereafter for fo$rteen days cont n$es to acc$m$late on her d s/ from ne3 Moon to f$ll, Then she $n tes 3 th herself all the months n that s$!er or !ort on of the 3orld 3here l ght al3ays re gns# 3 th harmony and order# and she borro3s from h m the force 3h ch s to destroy the germs of e6 l that Ty!hon had# d$r ng the 3 nter# !lanted e6ery3here n nat$re, Th s !assage of the S$n nto Ta$r$s# 3hose attr b$tes he

ass$mes on h s ret$rn from the lo3er hem s!here or the shades# s mar/ed by the r s ng n the e6en ng of the ;olf and the %enta$r# and by the hel acal sett ng of Or on# called the Star of -or$s# and 3h ch thencefor3ard s n con5$nct on 3 th the S$n of S!r ng# n h s tr $m!h o6er the dar/ness or Ty!hon, Is s# d$r ng the absence of Os r s# and after she had h dden the coffer n the !lace 3here Ty!hon fo$nd t# had re5o ned that mal gnant enemyG nd gnant at 3h ch# -or$s her son de!r 6ed her of her anc ent d adem 3hen she re5o ned Os r s as l e 3as abo$t to attac/ Ty!hon( b$t Merc$ry ga6e her n ts !lace a helmet sha!ed l /e the head of a b$ll, Then -or$s# as a m ghty 3arr or# s$ch as Or on 3as descr bed# fo$ght 3 th and defeated Ty!honG 3ho# n the sha!e of the Ser!ent or Dragon of the Pole# had assa led h s father, So# n O6 d# A!ollo destroys the same Python# 3hen Io# fasc nated by &$! ter# s metamor!hosed nto a co3# and !laced n the s gn of the %elest al B$ll# 3here she becomes Is s, The eE$ noct al year ends at the moment 3hen the S$n and Moon# at the Fernal

EE$ no4# are $n ted 3 th Or on# the Star of -orns# !laced of n the -ea6ens $nder Ta$r$s, The ne3 Moon becomes yo$ng aga n n Ta$r$s# and sho3s herself as a crescent# for the f rst t me# n the ne4t s gn# Gem n # the dom c le of Merc$ry, Then Or on# n con5$nct on 3 th the S$n# 3 th 3hom he r ses# !rec ! tates the Scor! on# h s r 6al# nto the shades of n ght# ca$s ng h m to set he 3hene6er he h mself rea!!ears on the eastern hor <on# 3 th the S$n, Day lengthens and the germs of e6 l are by degrees erad cated( and -or$s Mfrom A$r# L ghtN re gns tr $m!hant# symbol < ng# by h s s$ccess on to the character st cs of Os r s# the eternal rene3al of the S$n?s yo$th and creat 6e 6 gor at the Fernal of EE$ no4, MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), 07C D Kn ght of the Bra<en Ser!ent M Part 0 N

S$ch are the co nc dences of astronom cal !henomena 3 th the legend of Os r s and Is sG s$ff c ng to sho3 the or g n of the he legend# o6erloaded as t became at length 3 th all the ornamentat on nat$ral to the !oet cal and f g$rat 6e gen $s of the Or ent, 8ot only nto th s legend# b$t nto those of all the anc ent nat ons# enter the B$ll# the Lamb# the L on# and the Scor! on or the Ser!entG and traces of the 3orsh ! of the S$n yet l nger n all rel g ons, E6ery3here# e6en n o$r Order# s$r6 6e the eE$ noct al and solst t al feasts, O$r ce l ngs st ll gl tter 3 th the greater and lesser l$m nar es of the -ea6ens# and o$r l ghts# n the r n$mber and arrangement# ha6e astronom cal references, In all ch$rches and cha!els# as n all Pagan tem!les and !agodas# the altar s n the EastG and the 6y o6er the east 3 ndo3s of old ch$rches s the -edera -el 4 of Bacch$s, E6en the cross had an astronom cal or g nG and o$r Lodges are f$ll of the anc ent symbols, The learned a$thor of the SabQan Researches# Landseer# ad6ances another theory n regard to the legend of Os r sG n 3h ch he ma/es the

constellat on Boftes !lay a lead ng !art, -e obser6es that# as none of the stars 3ere 6 s ble at the same t me 3 th the S$n# h s act$al !lace n the Hod ac# at any g 6en co$ld only be ascerta ned by the SabQan astronomers by the r obser6at ons of the stars# and of the r hel acal and achron cal r s ngs and s sett ngs, There 3ere many solar fest 6als among the SabQans# and !art of them agr c$lt$ral onesG and the concom tant s gns of those fest 6als 3ere the r s ngs and sett ngs of the stars of the -$sbandman# BearDdr 6er# or -$nter# BOeTES, - s stars 3ere# among the - ero!hants# the establ shed noct$rnal nd ces or s gns of the S$n?s !lace n the ecl !t c at d fferent seasons of the year# and the fest 6als 3ere named# one# that of the A!han sm or d sa!!earanceG another# that of the Hetes s# or search# etc,# of Os r s or Adon s# that s# of Boftes, The ret$rns of certa n stars# as connected 3 th the r concom tant seasons of s!r ng Mor seedDt meN and har6est# seemed to the anc ents# 3ho had not yet d sco6ered that grad$al change# res$lt ng from the a!!arent mo6ement of the stars n long t$de# 3h ch bas been termed the

!recess on of the eE$ no4es# to be eternal and mm$tableG and those !er od cal ret$rns 3ere to the n t ated# e6en more than to the 6$lgar# celest al oracles# anno$nc ng the a!!roach of those m!ortant changes# $!on 3h ch the !ros!er ty# and e6en the 6ery e4 stence of man m$st e6er de!endG and the oldest of the SabQan constellat ons seem to ha6e been# an astronom cal Pr est# a K ng# a I$een# a -$sbandman# and a ;arr orG and these more freE$ently rec$r on the SabQan cyl nders than any other constellat ons 3hate6er, The K ng 3as %e!he$s or %he!he$s of Eth o! a( the -$sbandman# Os r s# Bacch$s# Saba<e$s# 8oah or Boftes, To the latter s gn# the Egy!t ans 3ere nat onally# trad t onally and hab t$ally gratef$lG for they conce 6ed that from Os r s all the greatest of terrestr al en5oyments 3ere der 6ed, The stars of the -$sbandman 3ere the s gnal for those s$ccess 6e agr c$lt$ral labors on 3h ch the ann$al !rod$ce of the so l de!endedG and they came n conseE$ence to be cons dered and ha led# n Egy!t and Eth o! a# as the gen al stars of terrestr al !rod$ct 6enessG to 3h ch the oblat ons# !rayers# and 6o3s of the ! o$s SabQan 3ere reg$larly offered $!,

Landseer says that the stars n Boftes# rec/on ng do3n to those of the 7th magn t$de ncl$s 6e# are t3entyDs 4# 3h ch# seem ng achron cally to d sa!!ear n s$ccess on# !rod$ced the fable of the c$tt ng of Os r s nto t3entyDs 4 ! eces by Ty!hon, There are more stars than th s n the constellat onG b$t no more that the anc ent 6otar es of Os r s# e6en n the clear atmos!here of the SabQan cl mates# co$ld obser6e 3 tho$t telesco!es, Pl$tarch says Os r s 3as c$t nto fo$rteen ! eces( D odor$s# nto t3entys 4G n regard to 3h ch# and to the 3hole legend# Landseer?s deas# 6ary ng from those commonly enterta ned# are as follo3s( Ty!hon# Landseer th n/s# 3as the ocean# 3h ch the anc ents fabled or bel e6ed s$rro$nded the Earth# and nto 3h ch all the stars n the r t$rn a!!ear s$ccess 6ely to s n/G A!erha!s t 3as DARK8ESS !erson f ed# 3h ch the anc ents called T.P-O8, -e 3as h$nt ng by moonl ght# says the old legend# 3hen he met 3 th Os r sB, The anc ent Saba m$st ha6e been near lat t$de )7C? north, A4o$m s

nearly n ):C# and the ;estern Saba or Meroi s to the north of that, "ortyDe ght cent$r es ago# Aldebaran the lead ng star of the year# had# at the Fernal EE$ no4# atta ned at dayl ght n the morn ng# an ele6at on of abo$t ): degrees# s$ff c ent for h m to ha6e ceased to be comb$st# that s# to ha6e emerged from the S$n?s rays# so as to be 6 s ble, The anc ents allo3ed t3el6e days for a star of the f rst magn t$de to emerge fro m the solar rays and there s less t3 l ght# the f$rther So$th 3e go, At the same !er od# too# %ynos$ra 3as not the !oleDstar# b$t Al!ha Dracon s 3asG and the stars rose and set 3 th 6ery d fferent degrees of obl E$ ty from those of the r !resent r s ngs and sett ngs, By ha6 ng a globe constr$cted 3 th c rc$m6ol6 ng !oles# ca!able of any ad5$stment 3 th regard to the col$res# Mr, Landseer ascerta ned that# at that remote !er od# n lat, )7C north# the 0= stars n Boftes# or 0+# ncl$d ng Arct$r$s# d d not set anchron cally n s$ccess onG b$t se6eral set s m$ltaneo$sly n co$!les# and s 4 by threes s m$ltaneo$slyG so that# n all# there 3ere b$t fo$rteen se!arate sett ngs or d sa!!earances# corres!ond ng 3 th the fo$rteen ! eces nto 3h ch Os r s 3as c$t#

accord ng to Pl$tarch, Ka!!a# Iota# and Theta# n the $!l fted 3estern hand# d sa!!eared together# and last of all, They really s/ rted the hor <onG b$t 3ere n6 s ble n that lo3 lat t$de# for the three or fo$r days ment oned n some of the 6ers onsG 3h le the Hetes s or search 3as !roceed ng# and the 3omen of Phbn c a and &er$salem sat 3ee! ng for the ;onder# Thamm$<G after 3h ch they mmed ately rea!!eared# belo3 and to the east3ard of a Dracon s, And# on the 6ery morn ng after the achron cal de!art$re of the last star of the -$sbandman# Aldebaran rose hel acally# and became 6 s ble n the East n the morn ng before day, And !rec sely at the moment of the hel acal r s ng of Arct$r$s# also rose S! ca F rg n s, One s near the m ddle of the -$sbandman# and the other near that of the F rg nG and Arct$r$s may ha6e been the !art of Os r s 3h ch Is s d d not reco6er 3 th the other ! eces of the body, At Dedan and Saba t 3as th rtyDs 4 days# from the beg nn ng of the a!han sm# ,e,# the d sa!!earances of these stars# to the hel acal r s ng of Aldebaran, D$r ng these days# or forty at Med na# or a fe3 more at

Babylon and Byblos# the stars of the -$sbandman s$ccess 6ely san/ o$t of s ght# d$r ng the cre!$sc$l$m or shortDl 6ed morn ng t3 l ght of those So$thern cl mes, They d sa!!ear d$r ng the glanc ngs of the da3n# the s!ec al season of anc ent s dereal obser6at on, Th$s the forty days of mo$rn ng for Os r s 3ere meas$red o$t by the !er od of the de!art$re of h s Stars, ;hen the last had s$n/en o$t of s ght# the 6ernal season 3as $shered nG and the S$n arose 3 th the s!lend d Aldebaran# the Ta$r c leader of the 3hole -osts of -ea6enG and the 3hole East re5o ced and /e!t hol day, ; th the e4ce!t on of the Stars and # Boftes d d not beg n to rea!!ear n the Eastern E$arter of the -ea6ens t ll after the la!se of abo$t fo$r months, Then the Stars of Ta$r$s had decl ned ;est3ard# and F rgo 3as r s ng hel acally, In that lat t$de# also# the Stars of 'rsa Ma5or Atermed anc ently the Ar/ of Os r sB setG and Benetnasch# the last of them# ret$rned to the Eastern hor <on# 3 th those n the head of Leo# a l ttle before the S$mmer Solst ce, In abo$t a month# follo3ed the Stars of the -$sbandmanG the ch ef of them# Ras# M rach# and Arct$r$s

be ng 6ery nearly s m$ltaneo$s n the r hel acal r s ng, Th$s the Stars of Boftes rose n the East mmed ately after F ndem atr 4# and as f $nder the gen al nfl$ence of ts raysG he had h s ann$al career of !ros!er tyG he re6elled or entally for a E$arter of a year# and atta ned h s mer d an alt t$de 3 th F rgoG and then# as the Stars of the ;aterD'rn rose# and AE$ar $s began to !o$r forth h s ann$al del$ge# he decl ned ;est3ard# !receded by the Ar/ of Os r s, In the East# he 3as the s gn of that ha!! ness n 3h ch 8at$re# the great Goddess of !ass 6e !rod$ct on# re5o ced, 8o3# n the ;est# as he decl nes to3ard the 8orth3estern hor <on# h s generat 6e 6 gor grad$ally abatesG the Solar year gro3s oldG and as h s Stars descend beneath the ;estern ;a6e# Os r s d es# and the 3orld mo$rns, The Anc ent Astronomers sa3 all the great Symbols of Masonry n the Stars, S r $s st ll gl tters n o$r Lodges as the Bla< ng Star# MI?Eto le "lamboyanteN, The S$n s st ll symbol <ed by the !o nt 3 th n a % rcleG and# 3 th the Moon and Merc$ry or An$b s# n the three Great L ghts of the Lodge, 8ot only to these# b$t

to the f g$res and n$mbers e4h b ted by the Stars# 3ere ascr bed !ec$l ar and d 6 ne !o3ers, The 6enerat on !a d to n$mbers had ts so$rce there, The three K ngs n Or on are n a stra ght l ne# and eE$ d stant from each other# the t3o e4treme Stars be ng 9C a!art# and each of the three d stant from the one nearest t )C 92?, And as the n$mber three s !ec$l ar to a!!rent ces# so the stra ght l ne s the f rst !r nc !le of Geometry# ha6 ng length b$t no breadth# and be ng b$t the e4tens on of a !o nt# and an emblem of 'n ty# and th$s of Good# as the d 6 ded or bro/en l ne s of D$al ty or E6 l, 8ear these Stars are the -yades# f 6e n n$mber# a!!ro!r ate to the "ello3D%raftG and close to them the Ple ades# of the master?s n$mber# se6enG and th$s these three sacred n$mbers# consecrated n Masonry as they 3ere n the Pythagorean !h loso!hy# al3ays a!!ear together n the -ea6ens# 3hen the B$ll# emblem of fert l ty and !rod$ct on# gl tters among the Stars# and Aldebaran leads the -osts of -ea6en MTsba$thN, Algen b n Perse$s and Almaach and Algol n Andromeda form a r ghtangled

tr angle# ll$strate the :+th !roblem# and d s!lay the Grand Master?s sE$are $!on the s/ es, Denebola n Leo# Arct$r$s n Boftes# and S! ca n F rgo form an eE$ lateral tr angle# $n 6ersal emblem of Perfect on# and the De ty 3 th - s Tr n ty of Inf n te Attr b$tes# ; sdom# Po3er# and -armonyG and that other# the generat 6e# !reser6 ng# and destroy ng Po3ers, The Three K ngs form# 3 th R gel n Or on# t3o tr angles ncl$ded n one( and %a!ella and Men/al na n A$r ga# 3 th Bellatr 4 and Betelg$e$4 n Or on# form t3o sosceles tr angles 3 th j Ta$r # that s eE$ d stant from each !a rG 3h le the f rst fo$r ma/e a r ghtDangled !arallelogram# D the oblong sE$are so often ment oned n o$r Degrees, &$l $s " rm c$s# n h s descr !t on of the Myster es# says# @B$t n those f$nerals and lamentat ons 3h ch are ann$ally celebrated n honor of Os r s# the r defenders !retend a !hys cal reason, They call the seeds of fr$ t# Os r sG the Earth# Is sG the nat$ral heat# Ty!hon( and beca$se the fr$ ts are r !ened by the nat$ral heat# and collected for the l fe of man# and are se!arated from the r marr age to the earth# and are so3n

aga n 3hen ; nter a!!roaches# th s they 3o$ld ha6e to be the death of Os r s( b$t 3hen the fr$ ts# by the gen al foster ng of the earth# beg n aga n to be generated by a ne3 !rocreat on# th s s the f nd ng of Os r s,@ 8o do$bt the decay of 6egetat on and the fall ng of the lea6es, emblems of d ssol$t on and e6 dences of the act on of that Po3er that changes L fe nto Death# n order to br ng L fe aga n o$t of Death# 3ere regarded as s gns of that Death that seemed com ng $!on all 8at$reG as the s!r ng ng of lea6es and b$ds and flo3ers n the s!r ng 3as a s gn of restorat on to l fe( b$t these 3ere all secondary# and referred to the S$n as f rst ca$se, It 3as h s f g$rat 6e death that 3as mo$rned# and not the rsG and that 3 th that death# as 3 th h s ret$rn to l fe# many of the stars 3ere connected, ;e ha6e already all$ded to the relat ons 3h ch the t3el6e s gns of the Hod ac bear to the legend of the Master?s Degree, Some other co nc dences may ha6e s$ff c ent nterest to 3arrant ment on,

Kh rDOm 3as assa led at the East# ;est# and So$th Gates of the Tem!le, The t3o eE$ no4es 3ere called# 3e ha6e seen# by all the Anc ents# the Gates of -ea6en# and the Syr ans and Egy!t ans cons dered the " sh Mthe %onstellat on near AE$ar $s# and one of the Stars 3hereof s "omalha$tN to be nd cat 6e of 6 olence and death, Kh rDOm lay se6eral days n the gra6eG and# at the ; nter Solst ce# for f 6e or s 4 days# the length of the days d d not !erce!t bly ncrease, Then# the S$n commenc ng aga n to cl mb 8orth3ard# as Os r s 3as sa d to ar se fro m the dead# so Kh rDOm 3as ra sed# by the !o3erf$l attract on of the L on MLeoN# 3ho 3a ted for h m at the S$mmer Solst ce# and dre3 h m to h mself, The names of the three assass ns may ha6e been ado!ted from three Stars that 3e ha6e already named, ;e search n 6a n n the -ebre3 or Arab c for the names &$belo# &$bela# and &$bel$m, They embody an $tter abs$rd ty# and are ca!able of no e4!lanat on n those lang$ages, 8or are the names G bs# Gra6elot# -obhen# and the l /e# n the Anc ent and Acce!ted R te# any

more !la$s ble# or better referable to any anc ent lang$age, B$t 3hen# by the !recess on of the EE$ no4es# the S$n 3as n L bra at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# he met n that s gn# 3here the re gn of Ty!hon commenced# three Stars form ng a tr angle# D H$benDes %hamal Rab n the East# and H$benDEIDG$b n the ;est# H$benD-a/D

n the So$th# the latter mmed ately belo3

the Tro! c of %a!r corn# and so 3 th n the realm of Dar/ness, "rom these names# those of the m$rderers ha6e !erha!s been corr$!ted, In H$benD -a/DRab 3e may see the or g nal of &$bel$m A/ ro!G and n H$benD ;G$b # that of &$belo G bs( and t me and gnorance may e6en ha6e transm$ted the 3ords Es %hamal nto one as l ttle l /e them as Gra6elot,

Is s# the Moon !erson f ed# sorro3 ng so$ght for her h$sband, 8 ne or t3el6e "ello3D%rafts Mthe R tes 6ary as to the n$mberN# n 3h te a!rons# 3ere sent to search for Kh rDOm# n the Legend of the Master?s DegreeG or# n th s R te# the 8 ne Kn ghts El$, Along the !ath that the Moon tra6els are n ne cons! c$o$s Stars# by 3h ch na$t cal men determ ne the r long t$de at SeaG D Ar et s# Aldebaran# Poll$4# Reg$l$s# S! ca

F rg n s# Antares# Alta r# "omalha$t# and Mar/ab, These m ght 3ell be sa d to accom!any Is s n her search, In the .or/ R te# t3el6e "ello3D%rafts 3ere sent to search for the body of Kh rDOm and the m$rderers, The r n$mber corres!onds 3 th that of the Ple ades and -yades n Ta$r$s# among 3h ch Stars the S$n 3as fo$nd 3hen L ght began to !re6a l o6er Dar/ness# and the Myster es 3ere held, These Stars# 3e ha6e sho3n# rece 6ed early and !art c$lar attent on from the astronomers and !oets, The Ple ades 3ere the Stars of the ocean to the ben ghted mar nerG the F rg ns of S!r ng# herald ng the season of blossoms, As s 4 Ple ades only are no3 6 s ble# the n$mber t3el6e may ha6e been obta ned by them# 3 th Aldebaran# and f 6e far more br ll ant Stars than any other of the -yades# n the same reg on of the -ea6ens# and 3h ch 3ere al3ays s!o/en of n connect on 3 th the Ple adesG D the Three K ngs n the belt of Or on, and Bellatr 4 and Betelg$e$4 on h s sho$ldersG br ghtest of the flash ng starry hosts, @%anst tho$#@ as/s 5ob# @b nd the s3eet nfl$ences of the Ple ades or

loose the bands of Or onJ@ And n the boo/ of Amos 3e f nd these Stars connected 3 th the 6 ctory of L ght o6er Dar/ness( @See/ - m#@ says that Seer# @that ma/eth the Se6en Stars Mthe fam l ar name of the Ple adesN# and Or on# A8D T'R8ET- T-E S-ADO; O" DEATI8TO MOR8I8G,@ An old legend n Masonry says that a dog led the 8 ne El$s to the ca6ern 3here Ab ram 3as h d, Boftes 3as anc ently called %aleb An$bach# a Bar/ ng DogG and 3as !erson f ed n An$b s# 3ho bore the head of a dog# and a ded Is s n her search, Arct$r$s# one of h s Stars# f ery red# as f fer6ent and <ealo$s# s also connected by 5ob 3 th the Ple ades and Or on, ;hen Ta$r$s o!ened the year# Arct$r$s rose after the S$n# at the t me of the ; nter Solst ce# and seemed search ng h m thro$gh the dar/ness# $nt l, s 4ty days after3ard# he rose at the same ho$r, Or on then also# at the ; nter Solst ce# rose at noon# and at n ght seemed to be n search of the S$n, So# referr ng aga n to the t me 3hen the S$n entered the A$t$mnal

EE$ no4# there are n ne remar/able Stars that come to the mer d an nearly at the same t me# r s ng as L bra sets# and so seem ng to chase that %onstellat on, They are %a!ella and Men/al na n the %har oteer# Aldebaran n Ta$r$s# Bellatr 4# Betelg$e$4# the Three K ngs# and R gel n Or on, Aldebaran !asses the mer d an f rst# nd cat ng h s r ght to h s !ec$l ar t tle of Leader, 8o3here n the hea6ens are there# near the same mer d an# so many s!lend d Stars, And close beh nd them# b$t f$rther So$th# follo3s S r $s# the DogDStar# 3ho sho3ed the n ne El$s the 3ay to the m$rderer?s ca6e, Bes des the d 6 s on of the s gns nto the ascend ng and descend ng ser es Mreferr ng to the $!3ard and do3n3ard !rogress of the so$lN# the latter from %ancer to %a!r corn# and the former from %a!r corn to %ancer# there 3as another d 6 s on of them not less m!ortantG that of the s 4 s$!er or and s 4 nfer or s gnsG the former# 0:77 years before o$r era# from Ta$r$s to Scor! o# and 922 years before o$r era# from Ar es to L braG and the latter# 0:77 years B,%, from Scor! o to Ta$r$s# and 922 years B,%, from L bra to Ar esG of 3h ch 3e ha6e already

s!o/en# as the t3o -em s!heres# or K ngdoms of Good and E6 l# L ght and Dar/nessG of Orm$<d and Ahr man among the Pers ans# and Os r s and Ty!hon among the Egy!t ans, ; th the Pers ans# the f rst s 4 Gen # created by Orm$<d# !res ded o6er the f rst s 4 s gns# Ar es# Ta$r$s# Gem n # %ancer# Leo# and F rgo( and the s 4 e6 l Gen # or De6s# created by Ahr man# o6er the s 4 others# L bra# Scor! o# Sag ttar $s# %a!r corn$s# AE$ar $s# and P sces, The so$l 3as fort$nate and ha!!y $nder the Em! re of the f rst s 4G and began to be sens ble of e6 l# 3hen t !assed $nder the Balance or L bra# the se6enth s gn, Th$s the so$l entered the realm of E6 l and Dar/ness 3hen t !assed nto the %onstellat ons that belong to and s$cceed the A$t$mnal EE$ no4G and t reDentered the realm of Good and L ght# 3hen t arr 6ed# ret$rn ng# at those of the Fernal EE$ no4, It lost ts fel c ty by means of the Balance# and rega ned t by means of the Lamb, Th s s a necessary conseE$ence of the !rem sesG and t s conf rmed by the a$thor t es and by emblems st ll e4tant, Sall$st the Ph loso!her# s!ea/ ng of the "easts of Re5o c ng

celebrated at the Fernal EE$ no4# and those of Mo$rn ng# n memory of the ra!e of Proser! ne# at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# says that the former 3ere celebrated# beca$se then s effected# as t 3ere# the ret$rn of the so$l to3ard the GodsG that the t me 3hen the !r nc !le of L ght reco6ered ts s$!er or ty o6er that of Dar/ness# or day o6er n ght# 3as the most fa6orable one for so$ls that tend to reDascend to the r Pr nc !leG and that 3hen Dar/ness and the 8 ght aga n become 6 ctors# 3as most fa6orable to the descent of so$ls to3ard the nfernal reg ons, "or that reason# the old astrologers# as " rm c$s states# f 4ed the local ty of the r 6er Sty4 n the *th degree of the Balance, And he th n/s that by Sty4 3as allegor cally meant the earth, The Em!eror &$l an g 6es the same e4!lanat on# b$t more f$lly de6elo!ed, -e states# as a reason 3hy the a$g$st Myster es of %eres and Proser! ne 3ere celebrated at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# that at that !er od of the year men feared lest the m! o$s and dar/ !o3er of the E6 l Pr nc !le# then commenc ng to conE$er# sho$ld do harm to the r so$ls, They 3ere a !reca$t on and means of safety# tho$ght to be

necessary at the moment 3hen the God of L ght 3as !ass ng nto the o!!os te or ad6erse reg on of the 3orldG 3h le at the Fernal EE$ no4 there 3as less to be feared# beca$se then that God# !resent n one !ort on of the 3orld# recalled so$ls to - m# he says# and sho3ed - mself to be the r Sa6 o$r, -e had a l ttle before de6elo!ed that theolog cal dea# of the attract 6e force 3h ch the S$n e4erc ses o6er so$ls# dra3 ng them to h m and ra s ng them to h s l$m no$s s!here, -e attr b$tes th s effect to h m at the feasts of Atys# dead and restored to l fe# or the feasts of Re5o c ng# 3h ch at the end of three days s$cceeded the mo$rn ng for that deathG and he nE$ res 3hy those Myster es 3ere celebrated at the Fernal EE$ no4, The reason# he says# s e6 dent, As the s$n# arr 6 ng at the eE$ noct al !o nt of S!r ng# dra3 ng nearer to $s# ncreases the length of the days# that !er od seems most a!!ro!r ate for those ceremon es, "or# bes des that there s a great aff n ty bet3een the s$bstance of L ght and the nat$re of the Gods# the S$n has that occ$lt force of attract on# by 3h ch he dra3s matter to3ard h mself# by means of h s 3armth# ma/ ng !lants to shoot

and gro3# etc,G and 3hy can he not# by the same d 6 ne and !$re act on of h s rays# attract and dra3 to h m fort$nate so$lsJ Then# as l ght s analogo$s to the D 6 ne 8at$re# and fa6orable to so$ls str$ggl ng to ret$rn to the r " rst Pr nc !le# and as that l ght so ncreases at the Fernal EE$ no4# that the days !re6a l n d$rat on o6er the n ghts# and as the S$n has an attract 6e force# bes des the 6 s ble energy of h s rays# t follo3s that so$ls are attracted to3ard the solar l ght, -e does not f$rther !$rs$e the e4!lanat onG beca$se# he says# t belongs to a myster o$s doctr ne# beyond the reach of the 6$lgar and /no3n only to those 3ho $nderstand the mode of act on of De ty# l /e the %haldean a$thor 3hom he c tes# 3ho had treated of the Myster es of L ght# or the God 3 th se6en rays, So$ls# the Anc ents held# ha6 ng emanated from the Pr nc !le of L ght# !arta/ ng of ts dest ny here belo3# cannot be nd fferent to nor $naffected by these re6ol$t ons of the Great L$m nary# alternately 6 ctor and o6ercome d$r ng e6ery Solar re6ol$t on,

Th s 3 ll be fo$nd to be conf rmed by an e4am nat on of some of the Symbols $sed n the Myster es, One of the most famo$s of these 3as T-E SERPE8T# the !ec$l ar Symbol also of th s Degree, The %osmogony of the -ebre3s and that of the Gnost cs des gnated th s re!t le as the a$thor of the fate of So$ls, It 3as consecrated n the Myster es of Bacch$s and n those of Ele$s s, Pl$to o6ercame the 6 rt$e of Proser! ne $nder the form of a ser!entG and# l /e the Egy!t an God Sera! s# 3as al3ays ! ct$red seated on a ser!ent# or 3 th that re!t le ent3 ned abo$t h m, It s fo$nd on the M thr ac Mon$ments# and s$!!l ed 3 th attr b$tes of Ty!hon to the Egy!t ans, The sacred bas l sc# n co l# 3 th head and nec/ erect# 3as the royal ens gn of the Pharaohs, T3o of them 3ere ent3 ned aro$nd and h$ng s$s!ended fro m the 3 nged Globe on the Egy!t an Mon$ments, On a tablet n one of the Tombs at Thebes# a God 3 th a s!ear ! erces a ser!ent?s head, On a tablet from the Tem!le of Os r s at Ph lQ s a tree# 3 th a man on one s de# and a 3oman on the other# and n front of the 3oman an erect bas l sc# 3 th horns on ts head and a d s/ bet3een the horns,

The head of Med$sa 3as enc rcled by 3 nged sna/es# 3h ch# the head remo6ed# left the - erogram or Sacred %y!her of the O!h tes or Ser!entD3orsh !!ers, And the Ser!ent# n connect on 3 th the Globe or c rcle# s fo$nd $!on the mon$ments of all the Anc ent 8at ons, O6er L bra# the s gn thro$gh 3h ch so$ls 3ere sa d to descend or fall# s fo$nd# on the %elest al Globe# the Ser!ent# gras!ed by Ser!entar $s# the Ser!entDbearer, The head of the re!t le s t nder %orona Boreal s# the 8orthern %ro3n# called by O6 d# L bera# or Proser! neG and the t3o %onstellat ons r se# 3 th the Balance# after the F rg n Mor Is sN# 3hose feet rest on the eastern hor <on at S$nr se on the day of the eE$ no4, As the Ser!ent e4tends o6er both s gns# L bra and Scor! o# t has been the gate thro$gh 3h ch so$ls descend# d$r ng the 3hole t me that those t3o s gns n s$ccess on mar/ed the A$t$mnal EE$ no4, To th s all$ded the Ser!ent# 3h ch# n the Myster es of Bacch$s SabaDHe$s 3as fl$ng nto the bosom of the In t ate, And hence came the en gmat cal e4!ress on# the Ser!ent engenders the B$ll# and the B$ll the Ser!entG all$d ng to the t3o ad6erse

constellat ons# ans3er ng to the t3o eE$ no4es# one of 3h ch rose as the other set# and 3h ch 3ere at the t3o !o nts of the hea6ens thro$gh 3h ch so$ls !assed# ascend ng and descend ng, By the Ser!ent of A$t$mn# so$ls fellG and they 3ere regenerated aga n by the B$ll on 3h ch M thras sate# and 3hose attr b$tes Bacch$sDHagre$s and the Egy!t an Os r s ass$med# n the r Myster es# 3here n 3ere re!resented the fall and regenerat on of so$ls# by the B$ll sla n and restored to l fe, After3ard the regenerat ng S$n ass$med the attr b$tes of Ar es or the LambG and n the Myster es of Ammon# so$ls 3ere regenerated by !ass ng thro$gh that s gn# after ha6 ng fallen thro$gh the Ser!ent, The Ser!entDbearer# or O!h c$s# 3as gsc$la! $s# God of -eal ng, In the Myster es of Ele$s s# that %onstellat on 3as !laced n the e ghth -ea6en( and on the e ghth day of those Myster es# the feast of gsc$la! $s 3as celebrated, It 3as also termed E! da$r$s# or the feast of the Ser!ent of E! da$r$s, The Ser!ent 3as sacred to gsc$la! $sG and 3as connected n 6ar o$s 3ays 3 th the mytholog cal ad6ent$res of %eres,

So the l bat ons to So$ls# by !o$r ng 3 ne on the gro$nd# and loo/ ng to3ard the t3o gates of -ea6en# those of day and n ght# referred to the ascent and descent of So$ls, %eres and the Ser!ent# &$! ter Ammon and the B$ll# all f g$red n the Myster es of Bacch$s, S$!!ose Ar es# or &$! ter Ammon occ$! ed by the S$n sett ng n the ;estG D F rgo M%eresN 3 ll be on the Eastern hor <on# and n her tra n the %ro3n# or Proser! ne, S$!!ose Ta$r$s sett ngG D then the Ser!ent s n the EastG and rec !rocallyG so that &$! ter Ammon# or the S$n of Ar es# ca$ses the %ro3n to r se after the F rg n# n the tra n of 3h ch comes the Ser!ent, Place rec !rocally the S$n at the other eE$ no4# 3 th the balance n the ;est# n con5$nct on 3 th the Ser!ent $nder the %ro3nG and 3e shall see the B$ll and the Ple ades r se n the East, Th$s are e4!la ned all the fables as to the generat on of the B$ll by the Ser!ent and of the Ser!ent by the B$ll# the b t ng of the test cles of the B$ll by the Scor! on# on the M thr ac Mon$mentsG and that &$! ter made %eres 3 th ch ld by toss ng nto her bosom the test cles of a Ram,

In the Myster es of the b$llDhorned Bacch$s# the off cers held ser!ents n the r hands# ra sed them abo6e the r heads# and cr ed alo$d @E6aO@ the gener c or ental name of the ser!ent# and the !art c$lar name of the constellat on n 3h ch the Pers ans !laced E6e and the ser!ent, The Arab ans call t -e6an# O!h $c$s h mself# -a3a# and the br ll ant star n h s head# RasDalD-a3a, The $se of th s 3ord E6a or E6oi ca$sed %lemens of Ale4andr a to say that the !r ests n the Myster es n6o/ed E6e# by 3hom e6 l 3as bro$ght nto the 3orld, The myst c 3 nno3 ngDfan# enc rcled by ser!ents# 3as $sed n the feasts of Bacch$s, In the Is ac Myster es a bas l sc t3 ned ro$nd the handle of the myst c 6ase, The O!h tes fed a ser!ent n a myster o$s ar/# from 3h ch they too/ h m 3hen they celebrated the Myster es# and allo3ed h m to gl de among the sacred bread, The Romans /e!t ser!ents n the Tem!les of Bona Dea and gsc$la! $s, In the Myster es of A!ollo# the !$rs$ t of Latona by the ser!ent Python 3as re!resented, In the Egy!t an Myster es# the dragon Ty!hon !$rs$ed Is s, Accord ng to Sanchon athon# TAA'T# the nter!reter of -ea6en to men#

attr b$ted someth ng d 6 ne to the nat$re of the dragon and ser!ents# n 3h ch the Phoen c ans and Egy!t ans follo3ed h m, They ha6e more 6 tal ty# more s! r t$al force# than any other creat$reG of a f ery nat$re# sho3n by the ra! d ty of the r mot ons# 3 tho$t the l mbs of other an mals, They ass$me many sha!es and att t$des# and dart 3 th e4traord nary E$ c/ness and force, ;hen they ha6e reached old age# they thro3 off that age and are yo$ng aga n# and ncrease n s <e and strength# for a certa n !er od of years, The Egy!t an Pr ests fed the sacred ser!ents n the tem!le at Thebes, Taa$t h mself had n h s 3r t ngs d sc$ssed these myster es n regard to the ser!ent, Sanchon athon sa d n another 3or/# that the ser!ent 3as mmortal# and reDentered nto h mselfG 3h ch# accord ng to some anc ent theoso!h sts# !art c$larly those of Ind a# 3as an attr b$te of the De ty, And he also sa d that the e ser!ent ne6er d ed# $nless by a 6 olent death, The Phoen c ans called the ser!ent Agathodemon Athe good s! r tBG and Kne!h

3as the Ser!entDGod of the Egy!t ans, The Egy!t ans# Sanchon athon sa d# re!resented the ser!ent 3 th the head of a ha3/# on acco$nt of the s3 ft fl ght of that b rd( and the ch ef - ero!hant# the sacred nter!reter# ga6e 6ery myster o$s e4!lanat ons of that symbolG say ng that s$ch a ser!ent 3as a 6ery d 6 ne creat$re# and that# o!en ng h s eyes# he l ghted 3 th the r rays the 3hole of f rstDborn s!ace( 3hen he closes them# t s dar/ness aga n, In real ty# the ha3/Dheaded ser!ent# gen $s of l ght# or good gen $s# 3as the symbol of the S$n, In the h erogly!h c characters# a sna/e 3as the letter T or D&, It occ$rs many t mes on the Rosetta stone, The horned ser!ent 3as the h erogly!h c for a God, Accord ng to E$seb $s# the Egy!t ans re!resented the 3orld by a bl$e c rcle# s!r n/led 3 th flames# 3 th n 3h ch 3as e4tended a ser!ent 3 th the head of a ha3/, Procl$s says they re!resented the fo$r E$arters of the 3orld by a cross#

and the so$l of the 3orld# or Kne!h# by a ser!ent s$rro$nd ng t n the form of a c rcle, ;e read n Ana4agoras# that Or!he$s sa d# that the 3ater# and the 6essel that !rod$ced t# 3ere the !r m t 6e !r nc !les of th ngs# and together ga6e e4 stence to an an mated be ng# 3h ch 3as a ser!ent# 3 th t3o heads# one of a l on and the other of a b$ll# bet3een a 3h ch 3as the f g$re of a God 3hose name 3as -erc$les or Kronos( that from -erc$les came the egg of the 3orld# 3h ch !rod$ced -ea6en and earth# by d 6 d ng tself nto t3o hem s!heres( and that the God Phanes# 3h ch ss$ed from that egg# 3as n the sha!e of a ser!ent, The Egy!t an Goddess Ken# re!resented stand ng na/ed on a l on# held t3o ser!ents n her hand, She s the same as the Astarte or Ashtaroth of the Assyr ans, -era# 3orsh !!ed n the Great Tem!le at Babylon# held n her r ght hand a ser!ent by the headG and near Khea# also 3orsh !!ed there# 3ere t3o large s l6er ser!ents,

In a sc$l!t$re from Ko$y$n5 /# t3o ser!ents attached to !oles are near a f realtar# at 3h ch t3o e$n$chs are stand ng, '!on t s the sacred f re# and a bearded f g$re leads a 3 ld goat to the sacr f ce, The ser!ent of the Tem!le of E! da$r$s 3as sacred to gsc$la! $s# the God of Med c ne# and :=0 years after the b$ ld ng of the c ty# 3as ta/en to Rome after a !est lence, The Phoen c ans re!resented the God 8om$ MKne!h or Am$nDKne!hN by a ser!ent, In Egy!t# a S$n s$!!orted by t3o as!s 3as the emblem of -orhat the good gen $sG and the ser!ent 3 th the 3 nged globe 3as !laced o6er the doors and 3 ndo3s of the Tem!les as a t$telary God, Ant !ater of S don calls Am$n @the reno3ned Ser!ent#@ and the %erastes s often fo$nd embalmed n the Theba d, On anc ent Tyr an co ns and Ind an medals# a ser!ent 3as re!resented# co led ro$nd the tr$n/ of a tree, Python# the Ser!ent De ty# 3as esteemed orac$larG

and the tr !od at Del!h 3as a tr !leDheaded ser!ent of gold, The !ortals of all the Egy!t an Tem!les are decorated 3 th the h erogram of the % rcle and the Ser!ent, It s also fo$nd $!on the Tem!le of 8a/ D R$stan n Pers aG on the tr $m!hal arch at Pech n# n %h naG o6er the gates of the great Tem!le of %ha$nd Tee6a# n &a6aG $!on the 3alls of AthensG and n the Tem!le of M ner6a at Tegea, The Me4 can h erogram 3as formed by the ntersect ng of t3o great Ser!ents# 3h ch descr bed the c rcle 3 th the r bod es# and had each a h$man head n ts mo$th, All the B$ddh sts crosses n Ireland had ser!ents car6ed $!on them, ;reaths of sna/es are on the col$mns of the anc ent - nd$ Tem!le at B$r3ahD Sangor, Among the Egy!t ans# t 3as a symbol of D 6 ne ; sdom# 3hen e4tended at lengthG and# 3 th ts ta l n ts mo$th# of Etern ty, In the r t$al of Horoaster# the Ser!ent 3as a symbol of the 'n 6erse, In %h na#

the r ng bet3een t3o Ser!ents 3as the symbol of the 3orld go6erned by the !o3er and 3 sdom of the %reator, The Bacchanals carr ed ser!ents n the r hands or ro$nd the r heads, The Ser!ent ent3 ned ro$nd an Egg# 3as a symbol common to the Ind ans# the Egy!t ans# and the Dr$ ds, It referred to the creat on of the 'n 6erse, A Ser!ent 3 th an egg n h s mo$th 3as a symbol of the 'n 6erse conta n ng 3 th n tself the germ of all th ngs that the S$n de6elo!s, The !ro!erty !ossessed by the Ser!ent# of cast ng ts s/ n# and a!!arently rene3 ng ts yo$th# made t an emblem of etern ty and mmortal ty, The Syr an 3omen st ll em!loy t as a charm aga nst barrenness# as d d the de6otees of M thras and SabaDHe$s, The Earthborn c 6 l <ers of the early 3orld# "oh # %ecro!s# and Erechthe$s# 3ere halfDman# halfDser!ent, The sna/e 3as the g$ard an of the Athen an Acro!ol s, 8AK-'STA8# the bra<en ser!ent of the 3 lderness# became nat$ral <ed among the -ebre3s as a to/en of heal ng !o3er, @Be ye#@

sa d %hr st# @3 se as ser!ents# and harmless as do6es,@ The Ser!ent 3as as often a symbol of male6olence and enm ty, It a!!ears among the emblems of S 6aDRo$dra# the !o3er of desolat on and death( t s the bane of Ai!yt$s# Idom# Archemor$s# and Ph loctetes( t gna3s the roots of the tree of l fe n the Eddas# and b tes the heel of $nfort$nate E$ryd ce, In -ebre3 3r ters t s generally a ty!e of e6 lG and s !art c$larly so n the Ind an and Pers an Mytholog es, ;hen the Sea s ch$rned by Mo$nt Mandar rotat ng 3 th n the co ls of the %osm cal Ser!ent Faso$/ # to !rod$ce the Amr ta or 3ater of mmortal ty# the ser!ent 6om ts a h deo$s !o son# 3h ch s!reads thro$gh and nfects the 'n 6erse# b$t 3h ch F shn$ renders harmless by s3allo3 ng t, Ahr man n ser!entDform n6ades the realm of Orm$<dG and the B$ll# emblem of l fe# s 3o$nded by h m and d es, It 3as therefore a rel g o$s obl gat on 3 th e6ery de6o$t follo3er of Horoaster to e4term nate re!t les# and other m!$re an mals# es!ec ally ser!ents, The moral and astronom cal s gn f cance of the Ser!ent 3ere connected, It became a ma4 m of the HendDA6esta# that Ahr man# the

Pr nc !le of E6 l# made the Great Ser!ent of ; nter# 3ho assa$lted the creat on of Orm$<d, A ser!entDr ng 3as a 3ellD/no3n symbol of t me( and to e4!ress dramat cally ho3 t me !reys $!on tself# the Egy!t an !r ests fed 6 !ers n a s$bterranean chamber# as t 3ere n the s$n?s ; nter abode on the fat of b$lls# or the year?s !lenteo$sness, The dragon of ; nter !$rs$es Ammon# the golden ram# to Mo$nt %as $s, The F rg n of the <od ac s b tten n the heel by Ser!ens# 3ho# 3 th Scor! o# r ses mmed ately beh nd herG and as honey# the emblem of !$r ty and sal6at on# 3as tho$ght to be an ant dote to the ser!ent?s b te# so the bees of Ar stQ$s# the emblems of nat$re?s ab$ndance# are destroyed thro$gh the agency of the ser!ent# and regenerated 3 th n the entra ls of the Fernal B$ll, The S$nDGod s f nally 6 ctor o$s, %hr shna cr$shes the head of the ser!ent %aly aG A!ollo destroys Python# and -erc$les that LernQan monster 3hose !o son festered n the foot of Ph loctetes# of Mo!s$s# of %h ron# or of Sag ttar $s, The nfant -erc$les destroys the !ern c o$s sna/es detested of the gods# and e6er# l /e St, George

of England and M chael the Archangel# 3ars aga nst hydras and dragons, The ecl !ses of the s$n and moon 3ere bel e6ed by the Or entals to be ca$sed by the assa$lts of a dQmon n dragonDformG and they endea6ored to scare a3ay the ntr$der by sho$ts and menaces, Th s 3as the or g nal Le6 athan or %roo/ed Ser!ent of old# transf 4ed n the olden t me by the !o3er of &eho6ah# and s$s!ended as a gl tter ng tro!hy n the s/yG yet also the Po3er of Dar/ness s$!!osed to be e6er n !$rs$ t of the S$n and Moon, ;hen t f nally o6erta/es them# t 3 ll ent3 ne them n ts folds# and !re6ent the r sh n ng, In the last Ind an A6atara# as n the Eddas# a ser!ent 6om t ng flames s e4!ected to destroy the 3orld, The ser!ent !res des o6er the close of the year# 3here t g$ards the a!!roach to the golden fleece of Ar es# and the three a!!les or seasons of the -es!er desG !resent ng a form dable obstacle to the career of the S$nDGod, The Great Destroyer of sna/es s occas onally marr ed to themG -erc$les 3 th the northern dragon begets the three ancestors of Scyth aG for the S$n seems at one t me to

r se 6 ctor o$s from the contest 3 th dar/ness# and at another to s n/ nto ts embraces, The northern constellat on Draco# 3hose s n$os t es 3 nd l /e a r 6er thro$gh the 3 ntry bear# 3as made the astronom cal c nct$re of the 'n 6erse# as the ser!ent enc rcles the m$ndane egg n Egy!t an h erogly!h cs, The Pers an Ahr man 3as called @The old ser!ent# the l ar from the beg nn ng# the Pr nce of Dar/ness# and the ro6er $! and do3n,@ The Dragon 3as a 3ellD/no3n symbol of the 3aters and of great r 6ersG and t 3as nat$ral that by the !astoral As at c Tr bes# the !o3erf$l nat ons of the all$6 al !la ns n the r ne ghborhood 3ho adored the dragon or " sh# sho$ld themsel6es be symbol <ed $nder the form of dragonsG and o6ercome by the s$!er or m ght of the -ebre3 God# as monstro$s Le6 athans ma med and destroyed by h m, O!h one$s# n the old Gree/ Theology# 3arred aga nst Kronos# and 3as o6ercome and cast nto h s !ro!er element# the sea, There he s nstalled as the SeaDGod Oannes or Dragon# the Le6 athan of the 3atery half of creat on# the dragon 3ho 6om ted a flood of 3ater after the !ersec$ted 3oman of the

A!ocaly!se# the monster 3ho threatened to de6o$r -es one and Andromeda# and 3ho for a t me became the gra6e of -erc$les and &onahG and he corres!onds 3 th the obsc$re name of Rahab# 3hom &eho6ah s sa d n &ob to ha6e transf 4ed and o6ercome, In the S!r ng# the year or S$nDGod a!!ears as M thras or E$ro!a mo$nted on the B$llG b$t n the o!!os te half of the Hod ac he r des the emblem of the 3aters# the 3 nged horse of 8estor or Pose don( and the Ser!ent# r s ng hel acally at the A$t$mnal EE$ no4# besett ng 3 th !o sono$s nfl$ence the cold constellat on Sag ttar $s# s e4!la ned as the re!t le n the !ath 3ho @b tes the horse?s heels# so that h s r der falls bac/3ard,@ The same ser!ent# the Oannes A!hrenos or M$saros of Syncell$s# 3as the M dgard Ser!ent 3h ch Od n s$n/ beneath the sea# b$t 3h ch gre3 to s$ch a s <e as to enc rcle the 3hole earth, "or these As at c symbols of the contest of the S$nDGod 3 th the Dragon of dar/ness and ; nter 3ere m!orted not only nto the Hod ac# b$t nto the more homely c rcle of E$ro!ean legendG and both Thor and Od n f ght 3 th dragons# as A!ollo d d 3 th Python# the great scaly

sna/e# Ach lles 3 th the Scamander# and Bellero!hon 3 th the %h mQra, In the a!ocry!hal boo/ of Esther# dragons herald @a day of dar/ness and obsc$r ty@G and St, George of England# a !roblemat c %a!!adoc an Pr nce# 3as or g nally only a 6ary ng form of M thras, &eho6ah s sa d to ha6e @c$t Rahab and 3o$nded the dragon,@ The latter s not only the ty!e of earthly desolat on# the dragon of the dee! 3aters# b$t also the leader of the banded cons! rators of the s/y# of the rebell o$s stars# 3h ch# accord ng to Enoch# @came not at the r ght t me@G and h s ta l dre3 a th rd !art of the -ost of -ea6en# and cast them to the earth, &eho6ah @d 6 ded the sea by h s strength# and bro/e the heads of the Dragons n the 3aters,@ And accord ng to the &e3 sh and Pers an bel ef# the Dragon 3o$ld# n the latter days# the ; nter of t me# en5oy a short !er od of l censed m!$n ty# 3h ch 3o$ld be a season of the greatest s$ffer ng to the !eo!le of the earthG b$t he 3o$ld f nally be bo$nd or destroyed n the great battle of Mess ahG or# as t seems nt mated by the Rabb n cal f g$re of be ng eaten by the fa thf$l# be# l /e Ahr man or Faso$/ # $lt mately absorbed by and $n ted

3 th the Pr nc !le of good, 8ear the mage of Rhea# n the Tem!le of Bel at Babylon# 3ere t3o large ser!ents of s l6er# says D odor$s# each 3e gh ng th rty talentsG and n the same tem!le 3as an mage of &$no# hold ng n her r ght hand the head of a ser!ent, The Gree/s called Bel Bel arG and -esych $s nter!rets that 3ord to mean a dragon or great ser!ent, ;e learn from the boo/ of Bel and the Dragon# that n Babylon 3as /e!t a great# l 6e ser!ent# 3h ch the !eo!le 3orsh !!ed, The Assyr ans# the Em!erors of %onstant no!le# the Parth ans# Scyth ans# Sa4ons# %h nese# and Danes all bore the ser!ent as a standard# and among the s!o ls ta/en by A$rel an from Henob a 3ere s$ch standards# Pers c Dracones, The Pers ans re!resented Orm$<d and Ahr man by t3o ser!ents# contend ng for the m$ndane egg, M thras s re!resented 3 th a l on?s head and h$man body# enc rcled by a ser!ent, In the Sadder s th s !rece!t( @;hen yo$ / ll ser!ents# yo$ 3 ll re!eat the HendDA6esta# and thence yo$ 3 ll obta n great mer tG for t s the same as f yo$ had / lled so many de6 ls,@

Ser!ents enc rcl ng r ngs and globes# and ss$ ng from globes# are common n the Pers an# Egy!t an# %h nese# and Ind an mon$ments, F shn$ s re!resented, re!os ng on a co led ser!ent# 3hose folds form a cano!y o6er h m, Mahade6a s re!resented 3 th a sna/e aro$nd h s nec/# one aro$nd h s ha r# and armlets of ser!ents on both arms, Bha ra6a s ts on the co ls of a ser!ent# 3hose head r ses abo6e h s o3n, Par6at has sna/es abo$t her nec/ and 3a st, F shn$ s the Preser6 ng S! r t# Mahade6a s S 6a# the E6 l Pr nc !le# Bha ra6a s h s son# and Par6at h s consort, The K ng of E6 l Demons 3as called n - nd O Mythology# 8aga# the K ng of Ser!ents# n 3h ch name 3e trace the -ebre3 8achash# ser!ent, In %ashmere 3ere se6en h$ndred !laces 3here car6ed mages of ser!ents 3ere 3orsh !!edG and n Th bet the great %h nese Dragon ornamented the Tem!les of the Grand Lama, In %h na# the dragon 3as the stam! and symbol of royalty# sc$l!t$red n all the Tem!les# bla<oned on the f$rn t$re of the ho$ses# and nter3o6en 3 th the 6estments of the ch ef nob l ty, The Em!eror bears t as h s armor al

de6 ceG t s engra6ed on h s sce!tre and d adem# and on all the 6ases of the m!er al !alace, The %h nese bel e6e that there s a dragon of e4traord nary strength and so6ere gn !o3er# n -ea6en# n the a r# on the 3aters# and on the mo$nta ns, The God "oh s sa d to ha6e had

the form of a man# term nat ng n the ta l of a sna/e# a comb nat on to be more f$lly e4!la ned to yo$ n a s$bseE$ent Degree, The dragon and ser!ent are the 7th and =th s gns of the %h nese Hod acG and the - nd$s and %h nese bel e6e that# at e6ery ecl !se# the s$n or moon s se <ed by a h$ge ser!ent or dragon# the ser!ent Asootee of the - nd$s# 3h ch enfolds the globe and the constellat on DracoG to 3h ch also refers @the ;ar n -ea6en# 3hen M chael and h s Angels fo$ght aga nst the dragon,@ Sanchon athon says that Taa$t 3as the a$thor of the 3orsh ! of ser!ents among the Phoen c ans, -e @consecrated#@ he says# @the s!ec es of dragons and ser!entsG and the Phbn c ans and Egy!t ans follo3ed h m n th s s$!erst t on,@ -e 3as @the f rst 3ho made an mage of %bl$s@G that s#

3ho re!resented the -ea6enly -osts of Stars by 6 s ble symbolsG and 3as !robably the same as the Egy!t an Thoth, On the Tyr an co ns of the age of Ale4ander# ser!ents are re!resented n many !os t ons and att t$des# co led aro$nd trees# erect n front of altars# and cr$shed by the Syr an -erc$les, The se6enth letter of the Egy!t an al!habet# called He$ta or L fe# 3as sacred to Thoth# and 3as e4!ressed by a ser!ent stand ng on h s ta lG and that De ty# the God of heal ng# l /e gsc$la! $s# to 3hom the ser!ent 3as consecrated# leans on a /notted st c/ aro$nd 3h ch co ls a sna/e, The Is ac tablet# descr b ng the Myster es of Is s# s charged 3 th ser!ents n e6ery !art# as her emblems, The As! 3as s!ec ally ded cated to her# and s seen on the heads of her stat$es# on the bonnets of her !r ests# and on the t aras of the K ngs of Egy!t, Sera! s 3as somet mes re!resented 3 th a h$man head and ser!ent ne ta l( and n one engra6 ng t3o m nor Gods are re!resented 3 th h m# one by a ser!ent 3 th a b$ll?s head# and the other by a ser!ent 3 th the rad ated head of a l on, On an anc ent sacr f c al 6essel fo$nd n Denmar/# ha6 ng se6eral

com!artments# a ser!ent s re!resented attac/ ng a /neel ng boy# !$rs$ ng h m# retreat ng before h m# a!!ealed to beseech ngly by h m# and con6ers ng 3 th h m, ;e are at once rem nded of the S$n at the ne3 year re!resented by a ch ld s tt ng on a lot$s# and of the relat ons of the S$n of S!r ng 3 th the A$t$mnal Ser!ent# !$rs$ed by and !$rs$ ng h m# and n con5$nct on 3 th h m, Other f g$res on th s 6essel belong to the Hod ac, The base of the tr !od of the Pyth an Pr estess 3as a tr !le headed ser!ent of brass# 3hose body# folded n c rcles gro3 ng 3 der and 3 der to3ard the gro$nd# formed a con cal col$mn# 3h le the three heads# d s!osed tr ang$larly# $!held the tr !od of gold, A s m lar col$mn 3as !laced on a ! llar n the - !!odro ne at %onstant no!le# by the fo$nder of that c tyG one of the heads of 3h ch s sa d to ha6e been bro/en off by Mahomet the Second# by a blo3 3 th h s ron mace, The Br t sh God -$ 3as called @The DragonDR$ler of the ;orld#@ and h s car 3as dra3n by ser!ents, - s m n sters 3ere styled adders, A Dr$ d n a

!oem of Tal ess n says# @I am a Dr$ d# I am an Arch tect# I am a Pro!het# I am a Ser!ent MGnad N,@ The %ar of the Goddess %er d3en also 3as dra3n by ser!ents, In the elegy of 'ther Pendragon# th s !assage occ$rs n a descr !t on of the rel g o$s r tes of the Dr$ ds( @;h le the Sanct$ary s earnestly n6o/ ng The Gl d ng K ng# before 3hom the "a r One retreats# $!on the e6 l that co6ers the h$ge stonesG 3h lst the Dragon mo6es ro$nd o6er the !laces 3h ch conta n 6essels of dr n/Doffer ng# 3h lst the dr n/Doffer ng s n the Golden -ornsGS n 3h ch 3e read ly d sco6er the myst c and obsc$re all$s on to the A$t$mnal Ser!ent !$rs$ ng the S$n along the c rcle of the Hod ac# to the celest al c$! or crater# and the Golden horns of F rg l?s m l/D3h te b$llG and# a l ne or t3o f$rther on# 3e f nd the Pr est m!lor ng the 6 ctor o$s Bel # the S$nDGod of the Babylon ans, ; th the ser!ent# n the Anc ent Mon$ments# s 6ery often fo$nd assoc ated

the %ross, The Ser!ent $!on a %ross 3as an Egy!t an Standard, It occ$rs re!eatedly $!on the Grand Sta rcase of the Tem!le of Os r s at Ph lQG and on the !yram d of Gh <eh are re!resented t3o /neel ng f g$res erect ng a %ross# on the to! of 3h ch s a ser!ent erect, The %r$4 Ansata 3as a %ross 3 th a co led Ser!ent abo6e tG and t s !erha!s the most common of all emblems on the Egy!t an Mon$ments# carr ed n the hand of almost e6ery f g$re of a De ty or a Pr est, It 3as# as 3e learn by the mon$ments# the form of the ron tetherD! ns# $sed for ma/ ng fast to the gro$nd the cords by 3h ch yo$ng an mals 3ere conf ned( and as $sed by she!herds# became a symbol of Royalty to the She!herd K ngs, A %ross l /e a Te$ton c or Maltese one# formed by fo$r c$r6ed l nes 3 th n a c rcle# s also common on the Mon$ments# and re!resented the Tro! cs and the %ol$res, The %ad$ce$s# borne by -ermes or Merc$ry# and also by %ybele# M ner6a# An$b s# -erc$les Og n $s the God of the %elts# and the !erson f ed

%onstellat on F rgo# 3as a 3 nged 3and# ent3 ned by t3o ser!ents, It 3as or g nally a s m!le %ross# symbol < ng the eE$ator and eE$ noct al %ol$re# and the fo$r elements !roceed ng from a common centre, Th s %ross# s$rmo$nted by a c rcle# and that by a crescent# became an emblem of the S$!reme De ty D or of the act 6e !o3er of generat on and the !ass 6e !o3er of !rod$ct on con5o ned# D and 3as a!!ro!r ated to Thoth or Merc$ry, It then ass$med an m!ro6ed form# the arms of the %ross be ng changed nto 3 ngs# and the c rcle and crescent be ng formed by t3o sna/es# s!r ng ng from the 3and# form ng a c rcle by cross ng each other# and the r heads ma/ ng the horns of the crescentG n 3h ch form t s seen n the hands of An$b s, The tr !le Ta$# n the centre of a c rcle and a tr angle# ty! f es the Sacred 8ameG and re!resents the Sacred Tr ad# the %reat ng# Preser6 ng# and Destroy ng Po3ersG as 3ell as the three great l ghts of Masonry, If to the

Mason c !o nt 3 th n a % rcle# and the t3o !arallel l nes# 3e add the s ngle Ta$ %ross# 3e ha6e the Anc ent Egy!t an Tr !le Ta$, A col$mn n the form of a cross# 3 th a c rcle o6er t# 3as $sed by the Egy!t ans to meas$re the ncrease of the n$ndat ons of the 8 le, The Ta$ and Tr !le Ta$ are fo$nd n many Anc ent Al!habets, ; th the Ta$ or the Tr !le Ta$ may be connected# 3 th n t3o c rcles# the do$ble c$be# or !erfect onG or the !erfect ashlar, The %r$4 Ansata s fo$nd on the sc$l!t$res of KhorsabadG on the 6or es fro m 8 mro$d# of the same age# carr ed by an Assyr an MonarchG and on cyl nders of the later Assyr an !er od, As the s ngle Ta$ re!resents the one God# so# no do$bt# the Tr !le Ta$# the or g n of 3h ch cannot be traced# 3as meant to re!resent the Tr n ty of h s attr b$tes# the three Mason c ! llars# ;ISDOM# STRE8GT-# and -ARMO8., The Pro!het E<e/ el# n the :th 6erse of the 1th cha!ter# says( @And the Lord

sa d $nto h m# ?Go thro$gh the m dst of the c ty# thro$gh the m dst of &er$salem# and mar/ the letter TA' $!on the foreheads of those that s gh and mo$rn for all the abom nat ons that be done n the m dst thereof,@ So the Lat n F$lgate# and the !robably most anc ent co! es of the Se!t$ag nt translate the !assage, Th s Ta$ 3as n the form of the cross of th s Degree# and t 3as the emblem of l fe and sal6at on, The Samar tan Ta$ and the Eth o! c Ta66 are the e6 dent !rototy!e of the Gree/ tG and 3e learn fro m Tert$ll an# Or gen# and St, &erome that the -ebre3 Ta$ 3as anc ently 3r tten n the form of a %ross, In anc ent t mes the mar/ Ta$ 3as set on those 3ho had been acE$ tted by the r 5$dges# as a symbol of nnocence, The m l tary commanders !laced t on sold ers 3ho esca!ed $nh$rt from the f eld of battle# as a s gn of the r safety $nder the D 6 ne Protect on, It 3as a sacred symbol among the Dr$ ds, D 6est ng a tree of !art of ts branches#

they left t n the sha!e of a Ta$ %ross# !reser6ed t caref$lly# and consecrated t 3 th solemn ceremon es, On the tree they c$t dee!ly the 3ord T-A'# by 3h ch they meant God, On the r ght arm of the %ross# they nscr bed the 3ord -ES'LS# on the left BELE8 or BELE8'S# and on the m ddle of the tr$n/ T-ARAMIS, Th s re!resented the sacred Tr ad, It s certa n that the Ind ans# Egy!t ans# and Arab ans !a d 6enerat on to the s gn of the %ross# tho$sands of years before the com ng of %hr st, E6ery3here t 3as a sacred symbol, The - nd$s and the %elt c Dr$ ds b$ lt many of the r Tem!les n the form of a %ross# as the r$ ns st ll rema n ng clearly sho3# and !art c$larly the anc ent Dr$ d cal Tem!le at %lassern ss n the Island of Le3 s n Scotland, The % rcle s of )0 Stones, On each of the s des# east# 3est# and so$th# are three, In the centre 3as the mage of the De tyG and on the north an a6en$e of t3 ce

n neteen stones# and one at the entrance, The S$!ernal Pagoda at Benares s n the form of a %rossG and the Dr$ d cal s$bterranean grotto at 8e3 Grange n Ireland, The Stat$e of Os r s at Rome had the same emblem, Is s and %eres also bore tG and the ca6erns of n t at on 3ere constr$cted n that sha!e 3 th a !yram d o6er the Sacell$m, %rosses 3ere c$t n the stones of the Tem!le of Sera! s n Ale4andr aG and many Ta$ %rosses are to be seen n the sc$l!t$res of Alabast on and Esnk# n Egy!t, On co ns# the symbol of the Egy!t an God Kne!h 3as a %ross 3 th n a % rcle, The %r$4 Ansata 3as the !art c$lar emblem of Os r s# and h s sce!tre ended 3 th that f g$re, It 3as also the emblem of -ermes# and 3as cons dered a S$bl me - erogly!h c# !ossess ng myster o$s !o3ers and 6 rt$es# as a 3onderD 3or/ ng am$let,

The Sacred Ta$ occ$rs n the hands of the m$mmyDsha!ed f g$res bet3een the forelegs of the ro3 of S!hyn4es# n the great a6en$e lead ng from L$4or to Karnac, By the Ta$ %ross the %abal sts e4!ressed the n$mber )2# a !erfect n$mber# denot ng hea6en# and the Pythagorean Tetractys# or ncomm$n cable name of God, The Ta$ %ross s also fo$nd on the stones n front of the door# of the Tem!le of Am$noth III# at Thebes# 3ho re gned abo$t the t me 3hen the Israel tes too/ !ossess on of %anaan( and the Egy!t an Pr ests carr ed t n all the sacred !rocess ons, Tert$ll an# 3ho had been n t ated# nforms $s that the Ta$ 3as nscr bed on the forehead of e6ery !erson 3ho had been adm tted nto the Myster es of M thras, As the s m!le Ta$ re!resented L fe# so# 3hen the % rcle# symbol of Etern ty# 3as added# t re!resented Eternal L fe, At the In t at on of a K ng# the Ta$# as the emblem of l fe and /ey of the Myster es#

3as m!ressed $!on h s l !s, In the Ind an Myster es# the Ta$ %ross# $nder the name of T l$/# 3as mar/ed $!on the body of the cand date# as a s gn that he 3as set a!art for the Sacred Myster es, On the $!r ght tablet of the K ng# d sco6ered at 8 mro$d# are the names of th rteen Great Gods Mamong 3h ch are .AF and BELNG and the leftDhand character of e6ery one s a cross com!osed of t3o c$ne form characters, The %ross a!!ears $!on an Anc ent Phbn c an medal fo$nd n the r$ ns of % t $mG on the 6ery anc ent B$ddh st Obel s/ near "erns n RossDsh reG on the B$ddh st Ro$nd To3ers n Ireland# and $!on the s!lend d obel s/ of the same era at "orres n Scotland, '!on the falade of a tem!le at Kalabche n 8$b a are three regal f g$res# each hold ng a %r$4 Ansata, L /e the S$bterranean M thr at c Tem!le at 8e3 Grange n Scotland# the Pagodas of

Benares and Math$ra 3ere n the form of a %ross, Magn f cent B$ddh st %rosses 3ere erected# and are st ll stand ng# at %lonmacno se# " nglas# and K lc$llen n Ireland, ;here6er the mon$ments of B$ddh sm are fo$nd# n Ind a# %eyIon# or Ireland# 3e f nd the %ross( for B$ddha or Bo$dh 3as re!resented to ha6e been cr$c f ed, All the !lanets /no3n to the Anc ents 3ere d st ng$ shed by the Myst c %ross# n con5$nct on 3 th the solar or l$nar symbolsG Sat$rn by a cross o6er a crescent# &$! ter by a cross $nder a crescent# Mars by a cross rest ng obl E$ely on a c rcle# Fen$s by a cross $nder a c rcle# and Merc$ry by a cross s$rmo$nted by a c rcle and that by a crescent, The Solst ces# %ancer and %a!r corn# the t3o Gates of -ea6en# are the t3o ! llars of -erc$les# beyond 3h ch he# the S$n# ne6er 5o$rneyed( and they st ll a!!ear n o$r Lodges# as the t3o great col$mns# &ach n and Boa<# and also as the t3o !arallel l nes that bo$nd the c rcle# 3 th a !o nt

n the centre# emblem of the S$n# bet3een the t3o tro! cs of %ancer and %a!r corn, The bla< ng Star n o$r Lodges# 3e ha6e already sa d# re!resents S r $s# An$b s# or Merc$ry# G$ard an and G$ de of So$ls, O$r Anc ent Engl sh brethren also cons dered t an emblem of the S$n, In the old Lect$res they sa d( @The Bla< ng Star or Glory n the centre refers $s to that Grand L$m nary the S$n# 3h ch enl ghtens the Earth# and by ts gen al nfl$ence d s!enses bless ngs to man/ nd,@ It s also sa d n those lect$res to be an emblem of Pr$dence, The 3ord Pr$dent a means# n ts or g nal and f$llest s gn f cat on# "ores ght( and accord ngly the Bla< ng Star has been regarded as an emblem of Omn sc ence# or the AllDSee ng Eye# 3h ch to the Anc ents 3as the S$n, E6en the Dagger of the El$ of 8 ne s that $sed n the Myster es of M thrasG ;h ch# 3 th ts blade blac/ and h lt 3h te# 3as an emblem of the t3o !r nc !les of L ght and Dar/ness, Is s# the same as %eres# 3as# as 3e learn from Eratosthenes# the

%onstellat on F rgo# re!resented by a 3oman hold ng an ear of 3heat, The d fferent emblems 3h ch accom!any her n the descr !t on g 6en by A!$le $s# a ser!ent on e ther s de# a golden 6ase# 3 th a ser!ent t3 ned ro$nd the handle# and the an mals that marched n !rocess on# the bear# the a!e# and Pegas$s# re!resented the %onstellat ons that# r s ng 3 th the F rg n# 3hen on the day of the Fernal EE$ no4 she stood n the Or ental gate of -ea6en# br ll ant 3 th the rays of the f$ll moon# seemed to march n her tra n, The c$!# consecrated n the Myster es both of Is s and Ele$s s# 3as the %onstellat on %rater or the %$!, The sacred 6essel of the Is ac ceremony f nds ts co$nter!art n the -ea6ens, The Olym! c robe !resented to the In t ate# a magn f cent mantle# co6ered 3 th f g$res of ser!ents and an mals# and $nder 3h ch 3ere t3el6e other sacred robes# 3here3 th he 3as clothed n the sanct$ary# all$ded to the starry -ea6en and the t3el6e s gns( 3h le the se6en !re!aratory mmers ons n the sea all$ded to the se6en s!heres# thro$gh 3h ch the so$l !l$nged# to arr 6e here belo3 and ta/e $! ts abode n a body,

The %elest al F rg n# d$r ng the last three cent$r es that !receded the %hr st an era# occ$! ed the horosco!e or Or ental !o nt# and that gate of -ea6en thro$gh 3h ch the S$n and Moon ascended abo6e the hor <on at the t3o eE$ no4es, Aga n t occ$! ed t at m dn ght# at the ; nter Solst ce# the !rec se moment 3hen the year commenced, Th$s t 3as essent ally connected 3 th the march of t mes and seasons# of the S$n# the Moon# and day and n ght# at the !r nc !al e!ochs of the year, At the eE$ no4es 3ere celebrated the greater and lesser Myster es of %eres, ;hen so$ls descended !ast the Balance# at the moment 3hen the S$n occ$! ed that !o nt# the F rg n rose before h mG she stood at the gates of day and o!ened them to h m, -er br ll ant Star# S! ca F rg n s# and Arct$r$s# n Boftes# north3est of t# heralded h s com ng, ;hen he had ret$rned to the Fernal EE$ no4# at the moment 3hen so$ls 3ere generated# aga n t 3as the %elest al F rg n that led the march of the s gns of n ghtG and n her stars came the bea$t f$l f$ll moon of that month, 8 ght and day 3ere n s$ccess on ntrod$ced by her# 3hen they began to d m n sh n lengthG and so$ls#

before arr 6 ng at the gates of -ell# 3ere also led by her, In go ng thro$gh these s gns# they !assed the Sty4 n the *th Degree of L bra, She 3as the famo$s S byl 3ho n t ated Eneas# and o!ened to h m the 3ay to the nfernal reg ons, Th s !ec$l ar s t$at on of the %onstellat on F rgo# has ca$sed t to enter nto all the sacred fables n regard to nat$re# $nder d fferent names and the most 6ar ed forms, It often ta/es the name of Is s or the Moon# 3h ch# 3hen at ts f$ll at the Fernal EE$ no4# 3as n $n on 3 th t or beneath ts feet, Merc$ry Mor An$b sN ha6 ng h s dom c le and e4altat on n the s gn F rgo# 3as# n all the sacred fables and Sanct$ar es# the nse!arable com!an on of Is s# 3 tho$t 3hose co$nsels she d d noth ng, Th s relat on bet3een the emblems and myster o$s rec tals of the n t at ons# and the -ea6enly bod es and order of the 3orld# 3as st ll more clear n the Myster es of M thras# adored as the S$n n As a M nor# %a!!adoc a# Armen a# and Pers a# and 3hose Myster es 3ent to Ro me n the t me of Sylla, Th s s am!ly !ro6ed by the descr !t ons 3e

ha6e of the M thr ac ca6e# n 3h ch 3ere f g$red the t3o mo6ements of the -ea6ens# that of the f 4ed Stars and that of the Planets# the %onstellat ons# the e ght myst c gates of the s!heres# and the symbols of the elements, So on a celebrated mon$ment of that rel g on# fo$nd at Ro me# 3ere f g$red# the Ser!ent or -ydra t nder Leo# as n the -ea6ens# the %elest al Dog# the B$ll# the Scor! on# the Se6en Planets# re!resented by se6en altars# the S$n# Moon# and emblems relat ng to L ght# to Dar/ness# and to the r s$ccess on d$r ng the year# 3here each n t$rn tr $m!hs for s 4 months, The Myster es of Atys 3ere celebrated 3hen the S$n entered Ar esG and among the emblems 3as a ram at the foot of a tree 3h ch 3as be ng c$t do3n, Th$s# f not the 3hole tr$th# t s yet a large !art of t# that the -eathen Pantheon# n ts nf n te d 6ers ty of names and !erson f cat ons# 3as b$t a m$lt t$d no$s# tho$gh n ts or g n $nconsc o$s allegory# of 3h ch !hys cal !henomena# and !r nc !ally the -ea6enly Bod es# 3ere the

f$ndamental ty!es, The glor o$s mages of D 6 n ty 3h ch formed &eho6ah?s -ost# 3ere the D 6 ne Dynasty or real theocracy 3h ch go6erned the early 3orldG and the men of the golden age# 3hose loo/s held commerce 3 th the s/ es# and 3ho 3atched the rad ant r$lers br ng ng ; nter and S$mmer to mortals# m ght be sa d 3 th !oet c tr$th to l 6e n mmed ate comm$n cat on 3 th -ea6en# and# l /e the -ebre3 Patr archs# to see God face to face, Then the Gods ntrod$ced the r o3n 3orsh ! among man/ nd( then Oannes# Oe or AE$ar $s rose from the Red Sea to m!art sc ence to the Babylon ansG then the br ght B$ll leg slated for Ind a and %reteG and the L ghts of -ea6en# !erson f ed as L ber and %eres# h$ng the Bbot an h lls 3 th 6 neyards# and ga6e the golden sheaf to Ele$s s, The ch ldren of men 3ere# n a sense# all ed or marr ed to those sons of God 3ho sang the 5$b lee of creat onG and the enc rcl ng 6a$lt 3 th ts co$ntless Stars# 3h ch to the e4c ted mag nat on of the sol tary %haldean 3anderer a!!eared as an mated ntell gences# m ght nat$rally be com!ared to a g gant c ladder# on 3h ch# n the r r s ng and sett ng# the Angel l$m nar es a!!eared to be

ascend ng and descend ng bet3een earth and -ea6en, The or g nal re6elat on d ed o$t of men?s memor esG they 3orsh !!ed the %reat$re nstead of the %reatorG and hold ng all earthly th ngs as connected by eternal l n/s of harmony and sym!athy 3 th the hea6enly bod es# they $n ted n one 6 e3 astronomy# astrology# and rel g on, Long 3ander ng th$s n error# they at length ceased to loo/ $!on the Stars and e4ternal nat$re as GodsG and by d rect ng the r attent on to the m crocosm or narro3er 3orld of self# they aga n became acE$a nted 3 th the Tr$e R$ler and G$ de of the 'n 6erse# and $sed the old fables and s$!erst t ons as symbols and allegor es# by 3h ch to con6ey and $nder 3h ch to h de the great tr$ths 3h ch had faded o$t of most men?s remembrance, In the -ebre3 3r t ngs# the term @-ea6enly -osts@ ncl$des not only the co$nsellors and em ssar es of &eho6ah# b$t also the celest al l$m nar esG and the stars# mag ned n the East to be an mated ntell gences# !res d ng o6er h$man 3eal and 3oe# are dent f ed 3 th the more d st nctly m!ersonated messengers or angels# 3ho e4ec$te

the D 6 ne decrees# and 3hose !redom nance n -ea6en s n myster o$s corres!ondence and relat on 3 th the !o3ers and dom n ons of the earth, In 5ob# the Morn ng Stars and the Sons of God are dent f edG they 5o n n the same chor$s of !ra se to the Alm ghtyG they are both s$sce!t ble of 5oyG they 3al/ n br ghtness# and are l able to m!$r ty and m!erfect on n the s ght of God, The Eloh m or g nally ncl$ded hot only fore gn s$!erst t o$s forms# b$t also all that host of -ea6en 3h ch 3as re6ealed n !oetry to the she!herds of the desert# no3 as an encam!ment of 3arr ors# no3 as career ng n char ots of f re# and no3 as 3 nged messengers# ascend ng and descend ng the 6a$lt of -ea6en# to comm$n cate the 3 ll of God to man/ nd, @The Eternal#@ says the Beresh th Rabba to Genes s# @called forth Abraham and h s !oster ty o$t of the dom n on of the starsG by nat$re# the Israel te 3as a ser6ant to the stars# and born $nder the r nfl$ence# as are the heathenG b$t by 6 rt$e of the la3 g 6en on Mo$nt S na # he became l berated from th s degrad ng ser6 t$de,@ The Arabs had a s m lar legend, The Pro!het Amos e4!l c tly asserts that the Israel tes#

n the desert# 3orsh !!ed# not &eho6ah# b$t Moloch# or a StarDGod# eE$ 6alent to Sat$rn, The Gods El or &eho6ah 3ere not merely !lanetary or solar, The r symbol sm# l /e that of e6ery other De ty# 3as coe4tens 6e 3 th nat$re# and 3 th the m nd of man, .et the astrolog cal character s ass gned e6en to &eho6ah, -e s descr bed as seated on the ! nnacle of the 'n 6erse# lead ng forth the -osts of -ea6en# and tell ng them $nerr ngly by name and n$mber, - s stars are - s sons and - s eyes# 3h ch r$n thro$gh the 3hole 3orld# /ee! ng 3atch o6er men`s deeds, The stars and !lanets 3ere !ro!erly the angels, In Phar sa c trad t on# as n the !hraseology of the 8e3 Testament# the -ea6enly -ost a!!ears as an Angel c Army# d 6 ded nto reg ments and br gades# $nder the command of mag nary ch efs# s$ch as Massaloth# Leg on# Kartor G stra# etc,# D each G stra be ng ca!ta n of 9=7#222 myr ads of stars, The Se6en S! r ts 3h ch stand before the throne# s!o/en of by se6eral &e3 sh 3r ters# and generally !res$med to ha6e been mmed ately der 6ed from the, Pers an Amshas!ands# 3ere $lt mately the se6en !lanetary ntell gences# the

or g nal model of the se6enDbranched golden candlest c/ e4h b ted to Moses on God?s mo$nta n, The stars 3ere mag ned to ha6e fo$ght n the r co$rses aga nst S sera, The hea6ens 3ere s!o/en of as hold ng a !redom nance o6er earth# as go6ern ng t by s gns and ord nances# and as conta n ng the elements of that astrolog cal 3 sdom# more es!ec ally c$lt 6ated by the Babylon ans and Egy!t ans, Each nat on 3as s$!!osed by the -ebre3s to ha6e ts o3n g$ard an angel# and ts o3n !ro6 nc al star, One of the ch efs of the %elest al Po3ers# at f rst &eho6ah - mself n the character of the S$n# stand ng n the he ght of -ea6en# o6erloo/ ng and go6ern ng all th ngs# after3ard one of the angels or s$bord nate !lanetary gen of Babylon an or Pers an

mythology# 3as the !atron and !rotector of the r o3n nat on# @the Pr nce that standeth for the ch ldren of thy !eo!le,@ The d scords of earth 3ere accom!an ed by a 3arfare n the s/yG and no !eo!le $nder3ent the 6 s tat on of the Alm ghty# 3 tho$t a corres!ond ng chast sement be ng nfl cted on ts t$telary angel, The fallen Angels 3ere also fallen StarsG and the f rst all$s on to a fe$d

among the s! r t$al !o3ers n early -ebre3 Mythology# 3here Rahab and h s confederates are defeated# l /e the T tans n a battle aga nst the Gods# seems to dent fy the rebell o$s S! r ts as !art of the 6 s ble -ea6ens# 3here the @h gh ones on h gh@ are !$n shed or cha ned# as a s gnal !roof of God?s !o3er and 5$st ce, God# t s sa d m @St rs the sea 3 th - s m ght D by - s $nderstand ng -e smote Rahab D - s breath clears the face of -ea6en D - s hand ! erced the croo/ed Ser!ent ,,,, God 3 thdra3s not - s angerG beneath - m bo3 the confederates of Rahab,@ Rahab al3ays means a seaDmonster( !robably some s$ch legendary monstro$s dragon# as n almost all mytholog es s the ad6ersary of -ea6en and demon of ecl !se# n 3hose belly# s gn f cantly called the belly of -ell# -erc$les# l /e &onah# !assed three days# $lt mately esca! ng 3 th the loss of h s ha r or rays, %hes l# the rebell o$s g ant Or on# re!resented n &ob as r 6eted to the s/y# 3as com!ared to 8 n$s or 8 mrod# the myth cal fo$nder of 8 ne6eh

M% ty of " shN the m ghty h$nter# 3ho sle3 l ons and !anthers before the Lord, Rahab?s confederates are !robably the @- gh ones on - gh#@ the %hes l m or constellat ons n Isa ah# the -ea6enly -ost or -ea6enly Po3ers# among 3hose n$mber 3ere fo$nd folly and d sobed ence, @I beheld#@ says Pse$doDEnoch# @se6en stars l /e great bla< ng mo$nta ns# and l /e S! r ts# entreat ng me, And the angel sa d# Th s !lace# $nt l the cons$mmat on of -ea6en and Earth# 3 ll be the !r son of the Stars and of the -ost of -ea6en, These are the Stars 3h ch o6erste!!ed God?s command before the r t me arr 6edG and came not at the r !ro!er seasonG therefore 3as he offended 3 th them# and bo$nd them# $nt l the t me of the cons$mmat on of the r cr mes n the secret year,@ And aga n( @These Se6en Stars are those 3h ch ha6e transgressed the commandment of the Most - gh God# and 3h ch are here bo$nd $nt l the n$mber of the days of the r cr mes be com!leted,@ The &e3 sh and early %hr st an 3r ters loo/ed on the 3orsh ! of the s$n and the elements 3 th com!arat 6e nd$lgence, &$st n Martyr and %lemens of Ale4andr a adm t that God had a!!o nted the stars as

leg t mate ob5ects of heathen 3orsh !# n order to !reser6e thro$gho$t the 3orld some tolerable not ons of nat$ral rel g on, It seemed a m ddle !o nt bet3een -eathen sm and %hr st an tyG and to t certa n emblems and ord nances of that fa th seemed to relate, The ad6ent of %hr st 3as anno$nced by a Star from the EastG and - s nat 6 ty 3as celebrated on the shortest day of the &$l an %alendar# the day 3hen# n the !hys cal commemorat ons of Pers a and Egy!t# M thras or Os r s 3as ne3ly fo$nd, It 3as then that the acclamat ons of the -ost of -ea6en# the $nfa l ng attendants of the S$n# s$rro$nded# as at the s!r ngDda3n of creat on# the cradle of - s b rthD!lace# and that# n the 3ords of Ignat $s# @a star# 3 th l ght ne4!ress ble# shone forth n the -ea6ens# to destroy the !o3er of mag c and the bonds of 3 c/ednessG for God - mself had a!!eared# n the form of man# for the rene3al of eternal l fe,@ B$t ho3e6er nf n te the 6ar ety of ob5ects 3h ch hel!ed to de6elo! the not on of De ty# and e6ent$ally ass$med ts !lace# s$bst t$t ng the 3orsh ! of the creat$re for that of the creatorG of !arts of the body# for

that of the so$l# of the 'n 6erse# st ll the not on tself 3as essent ally one of $n ty, The dea of one God# of a creat 6e# !rod$ct 6e# go6ern ng $n ty# res ded n the earl est e4ert on of tho$ght( and th s monothe sm of the !r m t 6e ages# ma/es e6ery s$cceed ng e!och# $nless t be the !resent# a!!ear only as a stage n the !rogress of degeneracy and aberrat on, E6ery3here n the old fa ths 3e f nd the dea of a s$!reme or !res d ng De ty, Am$n or Os r s !res des among the many gods of Egy!tG Pan# 3 th the m$s c of h s ! !e# d rects the chor$s of the constellat ons# as He$s leads the solemn !rocess on of the celest al troo!s n the astronom cal theology of the Pythagoreans, @Am dst an nf n te d 6ers ty of o! n ons on all other s$b5ects#@ says Ma4 m$s Tyr $s# @the 3hole 3orld s $nan mo$s n the bel ef of one only alm ghty K ng and "ather of all,@ There s al3ays a So6ere gn Po3er# a He$s or De$s# Mahade6a or Ad de6a# to 3hom belongs the ma ntenance of the order of the 'n 6erse, Among the tho$sand gods of Ind a# the doctr ne of D 6 ne 'n ty s ne6er lost s ght ofG and the ethereal &o6e# 3orsh !!ed by the

Pers an n an age long before Peno!hanes or Ana4agoras# a!!ears as s$!remely com!rehens 6e and nde!endent of !lanetary or elemental s$bd 6 s ons# as the @Fast One@ or @Great So$l@ of the Fedas, B$t the s m!l c ty of bel ef of the !atr archs d d not e4cl$de the em!loyment of symbol cal re!resentat ons, The m nd ne6er rests sat sf ed 3 th a mere feel ng, That feel ng e6er str 6es to ass$me !rec s on and d$rab l ty as an dea# by some o$t3ard del neat on of ts tho$ght, E6en the deas that are abo6e and beyond the senses# as all deas of God are# reE$ re the a d of the senses for the r e4!ress on and comm$n cat on, -ence come the re!resentat 6e forms and symbols 3h ch const t$te the e4ternal n6est t$re of e6ery rel g onG attem!ts to e4!ress a rel g o$s sent ment that s essent ally one# and that 6a nly str$ggles for adeE$ate e4ternal $tterance# str 6 ng to tell to one man# to !a nt to h m# an dea e4 st ng n the m nd of another# and essent ally nca!able of $tterance or descr !t on# n a lang$age all the 3ords of 3h ch ha6e a sens$o$s mean ng, Th$s# the dea be ng !erha!s the same n all# ts e4!ress ons and $tterances are nf n tely 6ar o$s# and

branch nto an nf n te d 6ers ty of creeds and sects, All rel g o$s e4!ress on s symbol smG s nce 3e can descr be only 3hat 3e seeG and the tr$e ob5ects of rel g on are $nseen, The earl est nstr$ments of ed$cat on 3ere symbolsG and they and all other rel g o$s forms d ffered and st ll d ffer accord ng to e4ternal c rc$mstances and magery# and accord ng to d fferences of /no3ledge and mental c$lt 6at on, To !resent a 6 s ble symbol to the eye of another s not to nform h m of the mean ng 3h ch that symbol has to yo$, -ence the !h loso!her soon s$!erDadded to these symbols# e4!lanat ons addressed to the ear# s$sce!t ble of more !rec s on# b$t less effect 6e# ob6 o$s# and m!ress 6e than the !a nted or sc$l!t$red forms 3h ch he des! sed, O$t of these e4!lanat ons gre3 by degrees a 6ar ety of narrat 6es# 3hose tr$e ob5ect and mean ng 3ere grad$ally forgotten, And 3hen these 3ere abandoned# and !h loso!hy resorted to def n t ons and form$las# ts lang$age 3as b$t a more ref ned symbol sm# gra!!l ng 3 th and attem!t ng to ! ct$re deas m!oss ble to be e4!ressed, "or the most abstract e4!ress on for De ty 3h ch

lang$age can s$!!ly# s b$t a s gn or symbol for an ob5ect $n/no3n# and no more tr$thf$l and adeE$ate than the terms Os r s and F shn$# e4ce!t as be ng less sens$o$s and e4!l c t, To say that -e s a S! r t# s b$t to say that -e s not matter, ;hat s! r t s# 3e can only def ne as the Anc ents d d# by resort ng# as f n des!a r# to some s$bl m <ed s!ec es of matter# as L ght# " re# or Ether, 8o symbol of De ty can be a!!ro!r ate or d$rable e4ce!t n a relat 6e or moral sense, ;e cannot e4alt 3ords that ha6e only a sens$o$s mean ng# abo6e sense, To call - m a Po3er or a "orce# or an Intell gence# s merely to dece 6e o$rsel6es nto the bel ef that 3e $se 3ords that ha6e a mean ng to $s# 3hen they ha6e none# or at least no more than the anc ent 6 s ble symbols had, To call - m So6ere gn# "ather# Grand Arch tect of the 'n 6erse# E4tens on# T me# Beg nn ng# M ddle# and End# 3hose face s t$rned on all s des# the So$rce of l fe and death# s b$t to !resent other men 3 th symbols by 3h ch 3e 6a nly endea6or to comm$n cate to them the same 6ag$e deas 3h ch men n all ages ha6e m!otently str$ggled to e4!ress, And t may be do$bted

3hether 3e ha6e s$cceeded e ther n comm$n cat ng# or n form ng n o$r o3n m nds# any more d st nct and def n te and tr$e and adeE$ate dea of the De ty# 3 th all o$r meta!hys cal conce ts and log cal s$btlet es# than the r$de anc ents d d# 3ho endea6ored to symbol <e and so to e4!ress - s attr b$tes# by the " re# the L ght# the S$n and Stars# the Lot$s and the ScarabQ$sG all of them ty!es of 3hat# e4ce!t by ty!es# more or less s$ff c ent# co$ld not be e4!ressed at all, The Pr m t 6e man recogn <ed the D 6 ne Presence $nder a 6ar ety of a!!earances# 3 tho$t los ng h s fa th n th s $n ty and S$!remacy, The n6 s ble God# man fested and on one of - s many s des 6 s ble# d d not cease to be God to h m, -e recogn <ed - m n the e6en ng bree<e of Eden# n the 3h rl3 nd of S na # n he Stone of BethD El,( and dent f ed - m 3 th the f re or th$nder or the mmo6able roc/ adored n Anc ent Arab a, To h m the mage of the De ty 3as reflected n all that 3as !reDem nent n e4cellence, -e sa3 &eho6ah# l /e Os r s and Bel# n the S$n as 3ell as n the Stars# 3h ch 3ere - s ch ldren# - s eyes# @3h ch r$n thro$gh the 3hole 3orld# and 3atch o6er the Sacred

So l of Palest ne# from the year?s commencement to ts close,@ -e 3as the sacred f re of Mo$nt S na # of the b$rn ng b$sh# of the Pers ans# those P$r tans of Pagan sm, 8at$rally t follo3ed that Symbol sm soon became more com!l cated# and all the !o3ers of -ea6en 3ere re!rod$ced on earth# $nt l a 3eb of f ct on and allegory 3as 3o6en# 3h ch the 3 t of man# 3 th h s l m ted means of e4!lanat on# 3 ll ne6er $nra6el, -ebre3 The sm tself became n6ol6ed n symbol sm and mageD3orsh !# to 3h ch all rel g ons e6er tend, ;e ha6e already seen 3hat 3as the symbol sm of the Tabernacle# the Tem!le# and the Ar/, The -ebre3 establ shment tolerated not only the $se of emblemat c 6essels# 6estments# and cher$bs# of Sacred P llars and Sera!h m# b$t symbol cal re!resentat ons of &eho6ah - mself# not e6en conf ned to !oet cal or ll$strat 6e lang$age, @Among the Ad tyas#@ says %hr shna# n the Bag6at Gh ta# @I am F shn$# the rad ant S$n among the StarsG among the 3aters# am oceanG among the mo$nta ns# the - malayaG and among the mo$nta nDto!s# Mer$,@

The Psal ns and Isa ah are f$ll of s m lar attem!ts to con6ey to the m nd deas of God# by ascr b ng to - m sens$al !ro!ort ons, -e r des on the clo$ds# and s ts on the 3 ngs of the 3 nd, -ea6en s - s !a6 l on# and o$t of - s mo$th ss$e l ghtn ngs, Men cannot 3orsh ! a mere abstract on, They reE$ re some o$t3ard form n 3h ch to clothe the r conce!t ons# and n6est the r sym!ath es, If they do not sha!e and car6e or !a nt 6 s ble mages# they ha6e n6 s ble ones# !erha!s E$ te as nadeE$ate and $nfa thf$l# 3 th n the r o3n m nds, The ncongr$o$s and monstro$s n the Or ental mages came from the des re to embody the Inf n te# and to con6ey by m$lt !l ed# beca$se nd 6 d$ally nadeE$ate symbols# a not on of the D 6 ne Attr b$tes to the $nderstand ng, Perha!s 3e sho$ld f nd that 3e mentally do the same th ng# and ma/e 3 th n o$rsel6es mages E$ te as ncongr$o$s# f 5$dged of by o$r o3n l m ted conce!t ons# f 3e 3ere to $nderta/e to analy<e and ga n a clear dea of the mass of nf n te attr b$tes 3h ch 3e ass gn to the De tyG and e6en of - s nf n te 5$st ce and nf n te Mercy and Lo6e,

;e may 3ell say# n the lang$age of Ma4 m$s Tyr $s( @If# n the des re to obta n some fa nt conce!t on of the 'n 6ersal "ather# the 8ameless La3g 6er# men had reco$rse to 3ords or names# to s l6er or gold# to an mals or !lants# to mo$nta nDto!s or flo3 ng r 6ers# e6ery one nscr b ng the most 6al$ed and most bea$t f$l th ngs 3 th the name of De ty# and 3 th the fondness of a lo6er cl ng ng 3 th ra!t$re to each tr 6 al rem n scence of the Belo6ed# 3hy sho$ld 3e see/ to red$ce th s $n 6ersal !ract ce of symbol sm# necessary# ndeed# s nce the m nd often needs the e4c tement of the mag nat on to ro$se t nto act 6 ty# to one monotono$s standard of formal !ro!r etyJ Only let the mage d$ly !erform ts tas/# and br ng the d 6 ne dea 3 th 6 6 dness and tr$th before the mental eyeG f th s be effected# 3hether by the art of Ph d as# the !oetry of -omer# the Egy!t an - erogly!h# or the Pers an element# 3e need not ca6 l at e4ternal d fferences# or lament the seem ng fert l ty of $nfam l ar creeds# so long as the great essent al s atta ned# T-AT ME8 ARE MADE TO REMEMBER# TO '8DERSTA8D# A8D TO LOFE,S

%erta nly# 3hen men regarded L ght and " re as someth ng s! r t$al# and abo6e all the corr$!t ons and e4em!t from all the decay of matterG 3hen they loo/ed $!on the S$n and Stars and Planets as com!osed of th s f ner element# and as themsel6es great and myster o$s Intell gences# nf n tely s$!er or to man# l 6 ng E4 stences# g fted 3 th m ghty !o3ers and 3 eld ng 6ast nfl$ences# those elements and bod es con6eyed to them# 3hen $sed as symbols of De ty# a far more adeE$ate dea than they can no3 do to $s# or than 3e can com!rehend# no3 that " re and L ght are fam l ar to $s as a r and 3ater# and the -ea6enly L$m nar es are l feless 3orlds l /e o$r o3n, Perha!s they ga6e them deas as adeE$ate as 3e obta n from the mere 3ords by 3h ch 3e endea6or to symbol <e and shado3 forth the neffable myster es and nf n te attr b$tes of God, There are# t s tr$e# dangers nse!arable from symbol sm# 3h ch co$nter6a l ts ad6antages# and afford an m!ress 6e lesson n regard to the s m lar r s/s attendant on the $se of lang$age, The mag nat on# n6 ted to ass st the reason# $s$r!s ts !lace# or lea6es ts

ally hel!lessly entangled n ts 3eb, 8ames 3h ch stand for th ngs are confo$nded 3 th themG the means are m sta/en for the end( the nstr$ment of nter!retat on for the ob5ectG and th$s symbols come to $s$r! an nde!endent character as tr$ths and !ersons, Tho$gh !erha!s a necessary !ath# they 3ere a dangero$s one by 3h ch to a!!roach the De tyG n 3h ch @many#@ says Pl$tarch# @m sta/ ng the s gn for the th ng s gn f ed# fell nto a r d c$lo$s s$!erst t onG 3h le others# n a6o d ng one e4treme# !l$nged nto the no less h deo$s g$lf of rrel g on and m! ety,@ All great Reformers ha6e 3arred aga nst th s e6 l# dee!ly feel ng the ntellect$al m sch ef ar s ng o$t of a degraded dea of the S$!reme Be ngG and ha6e cla med for the r o3n God an e4 stence or !ersonal ty d st nct from the ob5ects of anc ent s$!erst t onG d so3n ng n - s name the symbols and mages that had !rofaned - s Tem!le, B$t they ha6e not seen that the $tmost 3h ch can be effected by h$man effort# s to s$bst t$te m!ress ons relat 6ely correct# for others 3hose falsehood has been detected# and to re!lace a gross symbol sm by a !$rer one,

E6ery man# 3 tho$t be ng a3are of t# 3orsh !s a conce!t on of h s o3n m ndG for all symbol sm# as 3ell as all lang$age# shares the s$b5ect 6e character of the deas t re!resents, The e! thets 3e a!!ly to God only recall e ther 6 s ble or ntellect$al symbols to the eye or m nd, The modes or forms of man festat on of the re6erent al feel ng that const t$tes the rel g o$s sent ment# are ncom!lete and !rogress 6eG each term and symbol !red cates a !art al tr$th# rema n ng al3ays amenable to m!ro6ement or mod f cat on# and# n ts t$rn# to be s$!erseded by others more acc$rate and com!rehens 6e, Idolatry cons sts n confo$nd ng the symbol 3 th the th ng s gn f ed# the s$bst t$t on of a mater al for a mental ob5ect of 3orsh !# after a h gher s! r t$al sm has become !oss bleG an llD5$dged !reference of the nfer or to the s$!er or symbol# an nadeE$ate and sens$al conce!t on of the De ty( and e6ery rel g on and e6ery conce!t on of God s dolatro$s# n so far as t s m!erfect# and as t s$bst t$tes a feeble and tem!orary dea n the shr ne of that 'nd sco6erable Be ng 3ho can be /no3n only n !art# and 3ho can therefore be honored# e6en by the

most enl ghtened among - s 3orsh !!ers# only n !ro!ort on to the r l m ted !o3ers of $nderstand ng and mag n ng to themsel6es - s !erfect ons, L /e the bel ef n a De ty# the bel ef n the so$l?s mmortal ty s rather a nat$ral feel ng# an ad5$nct of selfDconsc o$sness# than a dogma belong ng to any !art c$lar age or co$ntry, It g 6es etern ty to man?s nat$re# and reconc les ts seem ng anomal es and contrad ct onsG t ma/es h m strong n 3ea/ness and !erfectable n m!erfect onG and t alone g 6es an adeE$ate ob5ect for h s ho!es and energ es# and 6al$e and d gn ty to h s !$rs$ ts, It s conc$rrent 3 th the bel ef n an nf n te# eternal S! r t# s nce t s ch efly thro$gh consc o$sness of the d gn ty of the m nd 3 th n $s# that 3e learn to a!!rec ate ts e6 dences n the 'n 6erse, To fort fy# and as far as !oss ble to m!art th s ho!e# 3as the great a m of anc ent 3 sdom# 3hether e4!ressed n forms of !oetry or !h loso!hyG as t 3as of the Myster es# and as t s of Masonry, L fe r s ng o$t of death 3as the great mystery# 3h ch symbol sm del ghted to re!resent

$nder a tho$sand ngen o$s forms, 8at$re 3as ransac/ed for attestat ons to the grand tr$th 3h ch seems to transcend all other g fts of mag nat on# or rather to be the r essence and cons$mmat on, S$ch e6 dences 3ere eas ly d sco6ered, They 3ere fo$nd n the ol 6e and the lot$s# n the e6ergreen myrtle of the Mystb# and of the gra6e of Polydor$s# n the deadly b$t selfDrene3 ng ser!ent# the 3onderf$l moth emerg ng from the coff n of the 3orm# the !henomena of germ nat on# the sett ngs and r s ngs of the s$n and stars# the dar/en ng and gro3th of the moon# and n slee!# @the m nor mystery of death,@ The stor es of the b rth of A!ollo from Latona# and of dead heroes# l /e Gla$c$s# res$sc tated n ca6es# 3ere allegor es of the nat$ral alternat ons of l fe and death n nat$re# changes that are b$t e4!ed ents to !reser6e her 6 rg n ty and !$r ty n6 olable n the general s$m of her o!erat ons# 3hose aggregate !resents only a ma5est c calm# reb$/ ng al /e man?s !res$m!t on and h s des!a r, The ty! cal death of the 8at$reDGod# Os r s# Atys# Adon s# - ram# 3as a !rofo$nd b$t consolatory mystery( the heal ng charms of Or!he$s 3ere connected

3 th h s destr$ct onG and h s bones# those 6al$ed !ledges of fert l ty and 6 ctory# 3ere# by a bea$t f$l contr 6ance# often b$r ed 3 th n the sacred !rec ncts of h s mmortal eE$ 6alent, In the r doctr nes as to the mmortal ty of the so$l# the Gree/ Ph loso!hers merely stated 3 th more !rec s on deas long before e4tant nde!endently among themsel6es# n the form of symbol cal s$ggest on, Egy!t and Eth o! a n these matters learned from Ind a# 3here# as e6ery3here else# the or g n of the doctr ne 3as as remote and $ntraceable as the or g n of man h mself, Its nat$ral e4!ress on s fo$nd n the lang$age of %hr shna# n the Bag6at Gh ta( @I myself ne6er 3as nonDe4 stent# nor tho$# nor these !r nces of the EarthG nor shall 3e e6er hereafter cease to be, The so$l s not a th ng of 3h ch a man may say# t hath been# or s abo$t to be# or s to be hereafterG for t s a th ng 3 tho$t b rthG t s !reDe4 stent# changeless# eternal# and s not to be destroyed 3 th th s mortal frame,@ Accord ng to the dogma of ant E$ ty# the throng ng forms of l fe are a

ser es of !$r fy ng m grat ons# thro$gh 3h ch the d 6 ne !r nc !le reascends to the $n ty of ts so$rce, Inebr ated n the bo3l of D on$sos# and da<<led n the m rror of e4 stence# the so$ls# those fragments or s!ar/s of the 'n 6ersal Intell gence# forgot the r nat 6e d gn ty# and !assed nto the terrestr al frames they co6eted, The most $s$al ty!e of the s! r t?s descent 3as s$ggested by the s n/ ng of the S$n and Stars fro m the $!!er to the lo3er hem s!here, ;hen t arr 6ed 3 th n the !ortals of the !ro!er em! re of D on$sos# the God of th s ;orld# the scene of del$s on and change# ts nd 6 d$al ty became clothed n a mater al formG and as nd 6 d$al bod es 3ere com!ared to a garment# the 3orld 3as the n6est t$re of the 'n 6ersal S! r t, Aga n# the body 3as com!ared to a 6ase or $rn# the so$l?s rec ! entG the 3orld be ng the m ghty bo3l 3h ch rece 6ed the descend ng De ty, In another mage# anc ent as the Grottoes of the Mag and the den$nc at ons of E<e/ el# the 3orld 3as as a d mly ll$m nated ca6ern# 3here shado3s seem real t es# and 3here the so$l becomes forgetf$l of ts celest al or g n n

!ro!ort on to ts !roneness to mater al fasc nat ons, By another# the !er od of the So$l?s embod ment s as 3hen e4halat ons are condensed# and the aer al element ass$mes the grosser form of 3ater, B$t f 6a!or falls n 3ater# t 3as held# 3ater s aga n the b rth of 6a!ors# 3h ch ascend and adorn the -ea6ens, If o$r mortal e4 stence be the death of the s! r t# o$r death may be the rene3al of ts l feG as !hys cal bod es are e4alted from earth to 3ater# from 3ater to a r# from a r to f re# so the man may r se nto the -ero# the -ero nto the God, In the co$rse of 8at$re# the so$l# to reco6er ts lost estate# m$st !ass thro$gh a ser es of tr als and m grat ons, The scene of those tr als s the Grand Sanct$ary of In t at ons# the 3orld( the r !r mary agents are the elementsG and D on$sos# as So6ere gn of 8at$re# or the sens$o$s 3orld !erson f ed# s off c al Arb ter of the Myster es# and g$ de of the so$l# 3h ch he ntrod$ces nto the body and d sm sses from t, -e s the S$n# that l berator of the elements# and h s s! r t$al med at on 3as s$ggested by the same magery 3h ch made the Hod ac the s$!!osed !ath of the

s! r ts n the r descent and the r ret$rn# and %ancer and %a!r corn the gates thro$gh 3h ch they !assed, -e 3as not only %reator of the ;orld# b$t g$ard an# l berator# and Sa6 o$r of the So$l, 'shered nto the 3orld am dst l ghtn ng and th$nder he became the L berator celebrated n the Myster es of Thebes# del 6er ng earth from ; nter?s cha n# cond$ct ng the n ghtly chor$s of the Stars and the celest al re6ol$t on of the year, - s symbol sm 3as the ne4ha$st ble magery em!loyed to f ll $! the stellar de6 ces of the Hod ac( he 3as the Fernal B$ll# the L on# the Ram# the A$t$mnal Goat# the Ser!ent( n short# the 6ar ed De ty# the res$lt ng man festat on !erson f ed# the all n the many# the 6ar ed year# l fe !ass ng nto nn$merable formsG essent ally nfer or to none# yet chang ng 3 th the seasons# and $ndergo ng the r !er od cal decay, -e med ates and ntercedes for man# and reconc les the 'n 6ersal 'nseen M nd 3 th the nd 6 d$al <ed s! r t of 3h ch he s em!hat cally the PerfecterG a cons$mmat on 3h ch he effects# f rst thro$gh the 6 c ss t$des of the elemental ordeal# the alternate f re of S$mmer and

the sho3ers of ; nter# @the tr als or test of an mmortal 8at$re@G and secondar ly and symbol cally thro$gh the Myster es, -e holds not only the c$! of generat on# b$t also that of 3 sdom or n t at on# 3hose nfl$ence s contrary to that of the former# ca$s ng the so$l to abhor ts mater al bonds# and to long for ts ret$rn, The f rst 3as the %$! of "orgetf$lnessG 3h le the second s the 'rn of AE$ar $s# E$affed by the ret$rn ng s! r t# as by the ret$rn ng S$n at the ; nter Solst ce# and emblemat c of the e4change of 3ordly m!ress ons for the reco6ered recollect ons of the glor o$s s ghts and en5oyments of ts !ree4 stence, ;ater no$r shes and !$r f esG and the $rn from 3h ch t flo3s 3as tho$ght 3orthy to be a symbol of De ty# as of the Os r sD%anob$s 3ho 3 th l 6 ng 3ater rr gated the so l of Egy!tG and also an emblem of -o!e that sho$ld cheer the d3ell ngs of the dead, The second b rth of D on$sos# l /e the r s ng of Os r s and Atys from the dead# and the ra s ng of KhWrWm# s a ty!e of the s! r t$al regenerat on of man, Psyche Mthe So$lN# l /e Ar adne# had t3o lo6ers# an earthly and an mmortal one, The mmortal s$ tor s

D on$sos# the ErosDPhanes of the Or!h c # grad$ally e4alted by the !rogress of tho$ght# o$t of the symbol of Sens$al ty nto the torchbearer of the 8$!t als of the GodsG the D 6 ne Infl$ence 3h ch !hys cally called the 3orld nto be ng# and 3h ch# a3a/en ng the so$l fro m ts Styg an trance# restores t from earth to -ea6en, Th$s the sc ent f c theor es of the anc ents# e4!o$nded n the Myster es# as to the or g n of the so$l# ts descent# ts so5o$rn here belo3# and ts ret$rn# 3ere not a mere barren contem!lat on of the nat$re of the 3orld# and of the ntell gent be ngs e4 st ng there, They 3ere not an dle s!ec$lat on as to the order of the 3orld# and abo$t the so$l# b$t a st$dy of the means for arr 6 ng at the great ob5ect !ro!osed# D the !erfect ng of the so$lG and# as a necessary conseE$ence# that of morals and soc ety, Th s Earth# to them# 3as not the So$l?s home# b$t ts !lace of e4 le, -ea6en 3as ts home# and there 3as ts b rthD!lace, To t# t o$ght ncessantly to t$rn ts eyes, Man 3as not a terrestr al !lant, - s roots 3ere n -ea6en, The so$l had lost ts 3 ngs# clogged by the 6 scos ty of matter, It 3o$ld reco6er them 3hen t e4tr cated tself

fro m matter and commenced ts $!3ard fl ght, Matter be ng# n the r 6 e3# as t 3as n that of St, Pa$l# the !r nc !le of all the !ass ons that tro$ble reason# m slead the ntell gence# and sta n the !$r ty of the so$l# the Myster es ta$ght man ho3 to enfeeble the act on of matter on the so$l# and to restore to the latter ts nat$ral dom n on, And lest the sta ns so contracted sho$ld cont n$e after death# l$strat ons 3ere $sed# fast ngs# e4! at ons# macerat ons# cont nence# and abo6e all# n t at ons, Many of these !ract ces 3ere at f rst merely symbol cal# D mater al s gns nd cat ng the moral !$r ty reE$ red of the In t atesG b$t they after3ard came to be regarded as act$al !rod$ct 6e ca$ses of that !$r ty, The effect of n t at on 3as meant to be the same as that of !h loso!hy# to !$r fy the so$l of ts !ass ons# to 3ea/en the em! re of the body o6er the d 6 ne !ort on of man# and to g 6e h m here belo3 a ha!! ness ant c !atory of the fel c ty to be one day en5oyed by h m# and of the f$t$re 6 s on by h m of the D 6 ne Be ngs, And therefore Procl$s and the other Platon sts ta$ght @that the Myster es and n t at ons 3 thdre3

so$ls from th s mortal and mater al l fe# to reD$n te them to the godsG and d ss !ated for the ade!ts the shades of gnorance ?by the s!lendors of the De ty,@ S$ch 3ere the !rec o$s fr$ ts of the last Degree of the Myst c Sc ence# D to see 8at$re n her s!r ngs and so$rces# and to become fam l ar 3 th the ca$ses of th ngs and 3 th real e4 stences, % cero says that the so$l m$st e4erc se tself n the !ract ce of the 6 rt$es# f t 3o$ld s!eed ly ret$rn to ts !lace of or g n, It sho$ld# 3h le m!r soned n the body# free tself therefrom by the contem!lat on of s$!er or be ngs# and n some sort be d 6orced from the body and the senses, Those 3ho rema n ensla6ed# s$b5$gated by the r !ass ons and 6 olat ng the sacred la3s of rel g on and soc ety# 3 ll reDascend to -ea6en# only after they shall ha6e been !$r f ed thro$gh a long s$ccess on of ages, The In t ate 3as reE$ red to emanc !ate h mself from h s !ass ons# and to free h mself from the h ndrances of the senses and of matter# n order that he m ght r se to the contem!lat on of the De ty# or of that

ncor!oreal and $nchang ng l ght n 3h ch l 6e and s$bs st the ca$ses of created nat$res, @;e m$st#@ says Por!hyry# @flee from e6eryth ng sens$al# that the so$l may 3 th ease reD$n te tself 3 th God# and l 6e ha!! ly 3 th - m,@ @Th s s the great 3or/ of n t at on#@ says - erocles# D Rto recall the so$l to 3hat s tr$ly good and bea$t f$l# and ma/e t fam l ar there3 th# and they ts o3nG to del 6er t from the !a ns and lls t end$res here belo3# encha ned n matter as n a dar/ !r sonG to fac l tate ts ret$rn to the celest al s!lendors# and to establ sh t n the "ort$nate Isles# by restor ng t to ts f rst estate, Thereby# 3hen the ho$r of death arr 6es# the so$l# freed of ts mortal garment ng# 3h ch t lea6es beh nd t as a legacy to earth# 3 ll r se b$oyantly to ts home among the Stars# there to reDta/e ts anc ent cond t on# and a!!roach to3ard the D 6 ne nat$re as far as man may do,@ Pl$tarch com!ares Is s to /no3ledge# and Ty!hon to gnorance# obsc$r ng the l ght of the sacred doctr ne 3hose bla<e l ghts the so$l of the In t ate, 8o g ft of the gods# he holds# s so !rec o$s as the

/no3ledge of the Tr$th# and that of the 8at$re of the gods# so far as o$r l m ted ca!ac t es allo3 $s to r se to3ard them, The Falent n ans termed n t at on LIG-T, The In t ate# says Psell$s# becomes an E!o!t# 3hen adm tted to see T-E DIFI8E LIG-TS, %lemens of Ale4andr a# m tat ng the lang$age of an In t ate n the Myster es of Bacch$s# and n6 t ng th s In t ate# 3hom he terms bl nd l /e T res as# to come to see %hr st# ;ho 3 ll bla<e $!on h s eyes 3 th greater glory than the S$n# e4cla ms( @Oh Myster es most tr$ly holyO Oh !$re L ghtO ;hen the torch of the Dado$/os gleams# -ea6en and the De ty are d s!layed to my eyesO I am n t ated# and become holyO@ Th s 3as the tr$e ob5ect of n t at onG to be sanct f ed# and TO SEE# that s# to ha6e 5$st and fa thf$l conce!t ons of the De ty# the /no3ledge of ;hom 3as T-E LIG-T of the Myster es, It 3as !rom sed the In t ate at Samothrace# that he sho$ld become !$re and 5$st, %lemens says that by ba!t sm# so$ls are ll$m nated# and led to the !$re l ght 3 th 3h ch m ngles no dar/ness# nor anyth ng mater al, The In t ate# become an E!o!t# 3as called A SEER, @-AIL# 8E;BOR8

LIG-TO@ the In t ates cr ed n the Myster es of Bacch$s, S$ch 3as held to be the effect of com!lete n t at on, It l ghted $! the so$l 3 th rays from the D 6 n ty# and became for t# as t 3ere# the eye 3 th 3h ch# accord ng to the Pythagoreans# t contem!lates the f eld of Tr$thG n ts myst cal abstract ons# 3here n t r ses s$!er or to the body# 3hose act on on t# t ann$ls for the t me# to reDenter nto tself# so as ent rely to occ$!y tself 3 th the 6 e3 of the D 6 n ty# and the means of com ng to resemble - m, Th$s enfeebl ng the dom n on of the senses and the !ass ons o6er the so$l# and as t 3ere free ng the latter from a sord d sla6ery# and by the steady !ract ce of all the 6 rt$es# act 6e and contem!lat 6e# o$r anc ent brethren stro6e to f t themsel6es to ret$rn to the bosom of the De ty, Let not o$r ob5ects as Masons fall belo3 the rs, ;e $se the symbols 3h ch they $sedG and teach the same great card nal doctr nes that they ta$ght# of the e4 stence of an ntellect$al God# and the mmortal ty of the so$l of man, If the deta ls of the r doctr nes as to the so$l seem to $s to 6erge on abs$rd ty# let $s com!are them 3 th the common not ons

of o$r o3n day# and be s lent, If t seems to $s that they regarded the symbol n some cases as the th ng symbol <ed# and 3orsh !!ed the s gn as f t 3ere tself De ty# let $s reflect ho3 ns$ff c ent are o$r o3n deas of De ty# and ho3 3e 3orsh ! those deas and mages formed and fash oned n o$r o3n m nds# and not the De ty - mself( and f 3e are ncl ned to sm le at the m!ortance they attached to l$strat ons and fasts# let $s !a$se and nE$ re 3hether the same 3ea/ness of h$man nat$re does not e4 st toDday# ca$s ng r tes and ceremon es to be regarded as act 6ely eff c ent for the sal6at on of so$ls, And let $s e6er remember the 3ords of an old 3r ter# 3 th 3h ch 3e concl$de th s lect$re( @It s a !leas$re to stand on the shore# and to see sh !s tossed $!on the sea( a !leas$re to stand n the 3 ndo3 of a castle# and see a battle and the ad6ent$res thereof( b$t no !leas$re s com!arable to the stand ng on the 6antageDgro$nd of TR'T- Ma h ll not to be commanded# and 3here the a r s al3ays clear and sereneN# and to see the errors and 3ander ngs# and m sts and tem!ests# n the 6ale belo3G so al3ays that th s !ros!ect be 3 th ! ty# and not 3 th s3ell ng or

!r de, %erta nly t s -ea6en $!on Earth to ha6e a man?s m nd mo6e n char ty# rest n Pro6 dence# A8D T'R8 'PO8 T-E POLES O" TR'T-,@ MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), 0=C D Pr nce of Mercy

PPFI, PRI8%E O" MER%.# OR S%OTTIS- TRI8ITARIA8,

;-ILE yo$ 3ere 6e led n dar/ness# yo$ heard re!eated by the Fo ce of the Great Past ts most anc ent doctr nes, 8one has the r ght to ob5ect# f the %hr st an Mason sees foreshado3ed n %hr shna and Sos osch# n M thras and Os r s# the D 6 ne ;ORD that# as he bel e6es# became Man# and d ed $!on the cross to redeem a fallen race, 8or can he ob5ect f

others see re!rod$ced# n the ;ORD of the belo6ed D sc !le# that 3as n the beg nn ng 3 th God# and that 3as God# and by ;hom e6eryth ng 3as made# only the LOGOS of Plato# and the ;ORD or 'ttered T-O'G-T or f rst Emanat on of LIG-T# or the Perfect REASO8 of the Great# S lent# S$!reme# 'ncreated De ty# bel e6ed n and adored by all, ;e do not $nder6al$e the m!ortance of any Tr$th, ;e $tter no 3ord that can be deemed rre6erent by any one of any fa th, ;e do not tell the Moslem that t s only m!ortant for h m to bel e6e that there s b$t one God# and 3holly $nessent al 3hether Mahomet 3as - s !ro!het, ;e do not tell the -ebre3 that the Mess ah 3hom he e4!ects 3as born n Bethlehem nearly t3o tho$sand years agoG and that he s a heret c beca$se he 3 ll not so bel e6e, And as l ttle do 3e tell the s ncere %hr st an that &es$s of 8a<areth 3as b$t a man l /e $s# or - s h story b$t the $nreal re6 6al of an older legend, To do e ther s beyond o$r 5$r sd ct on, Masonry# of no one age# belongs to all t meG of no one rel g on# t f nds ts great tr$ths n all, To e6ery Mason# there s a GODG O8E# S$!reme# Inf n te n Goodness#

; sdom# "ores ght# 5$st ce# and Bene6olenceG %reator# D s!oser# and Preser6er of all th ngs, -o3# or by 3hat ntermed ates -e creates and acts# and n 3hat 3ay -e $nfolds and man fests - mself# Masonry lea6es to creeds and Rel g ons to nE$ re, To e6ery Mason# the so$l of man s mmortal, ;hether t emanates from and 3 ll ret$rn to God# and 3hat ts cont n$ed mode of e4 stence hereafter# each 5$dges for h mself, Masonry 3as not made to settle that, To e6ery Mason# ;ISDOM or I8TELLIGE8%E# "OR%E or STRE8GT-# and -ARMO8.# or "IT8ESS and BEA'T.# are the Tr n ty of the attr b$tes of God, ; th the s$btlet es of Ph loso!hy concern ng them Masonry does not meddle# nor dec de as to the real ty of the s$!!osed E4 stences 3h ch are the r Person f cat ons( nor 3hether the %hr st an Tr n ty be s$ch a !erson f cat on# or a Real ty of the gra6est m!ort and s gn f cance, To e6ery Mason# the Inf n te 5$st ce and Bene6olence of God g 6e am!le ass$rance that E6 l 3 ll $lt mately be dethroned# and the Good# the Tr$e#

and the Bea$t f$l re gn tr $m!hant and eternal, It teaches# as t feels and /no3s# that E6 l# and Pa n# and Sorro3 e4 st as !art of a 3 se and benef cent !lan# all the !arts of 3h ch 3or/ together $nder God?s eye to a res$lt 3h ch shall be !erfect on, ;hether the e4 stence of e6 l s r ghtly e4!la ned n th s creed or n that# by Ty!hon the Great Ser!ent# by Ahr man and h s Arm es of ; c/ed S! r ts# by the G ants and T tans that 3ar aga nst -ea6en# by the t3o coDe4 stent Pr nc !les of Good and E6 l# by Satan?s tem!tat on and the fall of Man# by Lo/ and the Ser!ent "enr s# t s beyond the doma n of Masonry to dec de# nor does t need to nE$ re, 8or s t 3 th n ts Pro6 nce to determ ne ho3 the $lt mate tr $m!h of L ght and Tr$th and Good# o6er Dar/ness and Error and E6 l# s to be ach e6edG nor 3hether the Redeemer# loo/ed and longed for by all nat ons# hath a!!eared n &$dea# or s yet to come, It re6erences all the great reformers, It sees n Moses# the La3g 6er of the &e3s# n %onf$c $s and Horoaster# n &es$s of 8a<areth# and n the Arab an Iconoclast# Great Teachers of Moral ty# and Em nent Reformers# f

no more( and allo3s e6ery brother of the Order to ass gn to each s$ch h gher and e6en D 6 ne %haracter as h s %reed and Tr$th reE$ re, Th$s Masonry d sbel e6es no tr$th# and teaches $nbel ef n no creed# e4ce!t so far as s$ch creed may lo3er ts lofty est mate of the De ty# degrade - m to the le6el of the !ass ons of h$man ty# deny the h gh dest ny of man# m!$gn the goodness and bene6olence of the S$!reme God# str /e at those great col$mns of Masonry# "a th# -o!e# and %har ty# or nc$lcate mmoral ty# and d sregard of the act 6e d$t es of the Order, Masonry s a 3orsh !G b$t one n 3h ch all c 6 l <ed men can $n teG for t does not $nderta/e to e4!la n or dogmat cally to settle those great myster es# that are abo6e the feeble com!rehens on of o$r h$man ntellect, It tr$sts n God# and -OPESG t BELIEFES# l /e a ch ld# and s h$mble, It dra3s no s3ord to com!el others to ado!t ts bel ef# or to be ha!!y 3 th ts ho!es, Ar d t ;AITS 3 th !at ence to $nderstand the myster es of 8at$re and 8at$re?s God hereafter, The greatest myster es n the 'n 6erse are those 3h ch are e6er go ng on aro$nd $sG so tr te and common to $s that 3e ne6er note them nor reflect

$!on them, ; se men tell $s of the la3s that reg$late the mot ons of the s!heres# 3h ch# flash ng n h$ge c rcles and s! nn ng on the r a4es# are also e6er dart ng 3 th nconce 6able ra! d ty thro$gh the nf n t es of S!aceG 3h le 3e atoms s t here# and dream that all 3as made for $s, They tell $s learnedly of centr !etal and centr f$gal forces# gra6 ty and attract on# and all the other so$nd ng terms n6ented to h de a 3ant of mean ng, There are other forces n the 'n 6erse than those that are mechan cal, -ere are t3o m n$te seeds# not m$ch $nl /e n a!!earance# and t3o of larger s <e, -and them to the learned P$nd t# %hem stry# 3ho tells $s ho3 comb$st on goes on n the l$ngs# and !lants are fed 3 th !hos!hor$s and carbon# and the al/al es and s le4, Let her decom!ose them# analy<e them# tort$re them n all the 3ays she /no3s, The net res$lt of each s a l ttle s$gar# a l ttle f br n# a l ttle 3ater D carbon# !otass $m# sod $m# and the l /e D one cares not to /no3 3hat, ;e h de them n the gro$nd( and the sl ght ra ns mo sten them# and the S$n sh nes $!on them# and l ttle slender shoots s!r ng $! and gro3G D and

3hat a m racle s the mere gro3thO D the force# the !o3er# the ca!ac ty by 3h ch the l ttle feeble shoot# that a small 3orm can n ! off 3 th a s ngle sna! of ts mand bles# e4tracts from the earth and a r and 3ater the d fferent elements# so learnedly catalog$ed# 3 th 3h ch t ncreases n stat$re# and r ses m!erce!t bly to3ard the s/y, One gro3s to be a slender# frag le# feeble stal/# soft of te4t$re# l /e an ord nary 3eedG another a strong b$sh# of 3oody f bre# armed 3 th thorns# and st$rdy eno$gh to b d def ance to the 3 nds ( the th rd a tender tree# s$b5ect to be bl ghted by the frost# and loo/ed do3n $!on by all the forestG 3h le another s!reads ts r$gged arms abroad# and cares for ne ther frost nor ce# nor the sno3s that for months l e aro$nd ts roots, B$t loO o$t of the bro3n fo$l earth# and colorless n6 s ble a r# and l m! d ra nD3ater# the chem stry of the seeds has e4tracted colors D fo$r d fferent shades of green# that !a nt the lea6es 3h ch !$t forth n the s!r ng $!on o$r !lants# o$r shr$bs# and o$r trees, Later st ll come the flo3ers D the 6 6 d

colors of the rose# the bea$t f$l br ll ance of the carnat on# the modest bl$sh of the a!!le# and the s!lend d 3h te of the orange, ;hence come the colors of the lea6es and flo3ersJ By 3hat !rocess of chem stry are they e4tracted fro m the carbon# the !hos!hor$s# and the l meJ Is t any greater m racle to ma/e someth ng o$t of noth ngJ Pl$c/ the flo3ers, Inhale the del c o$s !erf$mesG each !erfect# and all del c o$s, ;hence ha6e they comeJ By 3hat comb nat on of ac ds and al/al es co$ld the chem st?s laboratory !rod$ce themJ And no3 on t3o comes the fr$ t D the r$ddy a!!le and the golden orange, Pl$c/ them D o!en themO The te4t$re and fabr c ho3 totally d fferentO The taste ho3 ent rely d ss m lar D the !erf$me of each d st nct from ts flo3er and from the other, ;hence the taste and th s ne3 !erf$meJ The same earth and a r and 3ater ha6e been made to f$rn sh a d fferent taste to each fr$ t# a d fferent !erf$me not only to each fr$ t# b$t to each fr$ t and ts o3n flo3er,

Is t any more a !roblem 3hence come tho$ght and 3 ll and !erce!t on and all the !henomena of the m nd# than th s# 3hence come the colors# the !erf$mes# the taste# of the fr$ t and flo3erJ And loO n each fr$ t ne3 seeds# each g fted 3 th the same 3ondro$s !o3er of re!rod$ct on D each 3 th the same 3ondro$s forces 3ra!!ed $! n t to be aga n n t$rn e6ol6ed, "orces that had l 6ed three tho$sand years n the gra n of 3heat fo$nd n the 3ra!! ngs of an Egy!t an m$mmyG forces of 3h ch learn ng and sc ence and 3 sdom /no3 no more than they do of the nat$re and la3s of act on of God, ;hat can 3e /no3 of the nat$re# and ho3 can 3e $nderstand the !o3ers and mode of o!erat on of the h$man so$l# 3hen the glossy lea6es# the !earlD3h te flo3er# and the golden fr$ t of the orange are m racles 3holly beyond o$r com!rehens onJ ;e b$t h de o$r gnorance n a clo$d of 3ordsG D and the 3ords too often are mere comb nat ons of so$nds 3 tho$t any mean ng, ;hat s the centr f$gal forceJ A tendency to go n a !art c$lar d rect onO ;hat

e4ternal @force#@ then# !rod$ces that tendencyJ ;hat force dra3s the needle ro$nd to the northJ ;hat force mo6es the m$scle that ra ses the arm# 3hen the 3 ll determ nes t shall r seJ ;hence comes the 3 ll tselfJ Is t s!ontaneo$s D a f rst ca$se# or an effectJ These too are m raclesG ne4!l cable as the creat on# or the e4 stence and selfDe4 stence of God, ;ho 3 ll e4!la n to $s the !ass on# the !ee6 shness# the anger# the memory# and affect ons of the small canaryD3renJ the consc o$sness of dent ty and the dreams of the dogJ the reason ng !o3ers of the ele!hantJ the 3ondro$s nst ncts# !ass ons# go6ernment# and c 6 l !ol cy# and modes of comm$n cat on of deas of the ant and beeJ ;ho has yet made $s to $nderstand# 3 th all h s learned 3ords# ho3 heat comes to $s from the S$n# and l ght from the remote Stars# sett ng o$t $!on ts 5o$rney earthD3ard from some# at the t me the %haldeans commenced to b$ ld the To3er

of BabelJ Or ho3 the mage of an e4ternal ob5ect comes to and f 4es tself $!on the ret na of the eyeG and 3hen there# ho3 that mere em!ty# $ns$bstant al mage becomes transm$ted nto the 3ondro$s th ng that 3e call SIG-TJ Or ho3 the 3a6es of the atmos!here str / ng $!on the tym!an$m of the ear D those th n# n6 s ble 3a6es D !rod$ce the eE$ally 3ondro$s !henomenon of -EARI8G# and become the roar of the tornado# the crash of the th$nder# the m ghty 6o ce of the ocean# the ch r! ng of the cr c/et# the del cate s3eet notes and e4E$ s te tr lls and 6ar at ons of the 3ren and moc/ ngDb rd# or the mag c melody of the nstr$ment of Pagan n J O$r senses are myster es to $s# and 3e are myster es to o$rsel6es, Ph loso!hy has ta$ght $s noth ng as to the nat$re of o$r sensat ons# o$r !erce!t ons# o$r cogn <ances# the or g n of o$r tho$ghts and deas# b$t 3ords, By no effort or degree of reflect on# ne6er so long cont n$ed# can man become consc o$s of a

!ersonal dent ty n h mself# se!arate and d st nct from h s body and h s bra n, ;e tort$re o$rsel6es n the effort to ga n an dea of o$rsel6es# and 3eary 3 th the e4ert on, ;ho has yet made $s $nderstand ho3# from the contact 3 th a fore gn body# the mage n the eye# the 3a6e of a r m! ng ng on the ear# !art c$lar !art cles enter ng the nostr ls# and com ng n contact 3 th the !alate# come sensat ons n the ner6es# and from that# !erce!t on n the m nd# of the an mal or the manJ ;hat do 3e /no3 of S$bstanceJ Men e6en do$bt yet 3hether t e4 sts, Ph loso!hers tell $s that o$r senses ma/e /no3n to $s only the attr b$tes of s$bstance# e4tens on# hardness# color# and the l /eG b$t not the th ng tself that s e4tended# sol d# blac/ or 3h teG as 3e /no3 the attr b$tes of the So$l# ts tho$ghts and ts !erce!t ons# and not the So$l tself 3h ch !erce 6es and th n/s, ;hat a 3ondro$s mystery s there n heat and l ght# e4 st ng# 3e /no3 not ho3#

3 th n certa n l m ts# narro3 n com!ar son 3 th nf n ty# beyond 3h ch on e6ery s de stretch o$t nf n te s!ace and the blac/ness of $n mag nable dar/ness# and the ntens ty of nconce 6able coldO Th n/ only of the m ghty Po3er reE$ red to ma nta n 3armth and l ght n the central !o nt of s$ch an nf n ty# to 3hose dar/ness that of M dn ght# to 3hose cold that of the last Arct c Island s noth ng, And yet GOD s e6ery3here, And 3hat a mystery are the effects of heat and cold $!on the 3ondro$s fl$ d that 3e call 3aterO ;hat a mystery l es h dden n e6ery fla/e of sno3 and n e6ery crystal of ce# and n the r f nal transformat on nto the n6 s ble 6a!or that r ses fro m the ocean or the land# and floats abo6e the s$mm ts of the mo$nta nsO ;hat a m$lt t$de of 3onders# ndeed# has chem stry $n6e led to o$r eyesO Th n/ only that f some s ngle la3 enacted by God 3ere at once re!ealed# that of attract on or aff n ty or cohes on# for e4am!le# the 3hole mater al 3orld# 3 th ts

sol d gran te and adamant# ts 6e ns of gold and s l6er# ts tra! and !or!hyry# ts h$ge beds of coal# o$r o3n frames and the 6ery r bs and bones of th s a!!arently ndestr$ct ble earth# 3o$ld nstantaneo$sly d ssol6e# 3 th all S$ns and Stars and ;orlds thro$gho$t all the 'n 6erse of God# nto a th n n6 s ble 6a!or of nf n tely m n$te !art cles or atoms# d ff$sed thro$gho$t nf n te s!aceG and 3 th them l ght and heat 3o$ld d sa!!earG $nless the De ty - mself be# as the Anc ent Pers ans tho$ght# the Eternal L ght and the Immortal " re, The myster es of the Great 'n 6erse of GodO -o3 can 3e 3 th o$r l m ted mental 6 s on e4!ect to gras! and com!rehend themO Inf n te SPA%E# stretch ng o$t fro m $s e6ery 3ay# 3 tho$t l m t( nf n te TIME# 3 tho$t beg nn ng or endG and ;E# -ERE# and 8O;# n the centre of eachO An nf n ty of s$ns# the nearest of 3h ch only d m n sh n s <e# 6 e3ed 3 th the most !o3erf$l telesco!e( each 3 th ts ret n$e of 3orldsG nf n te n$mbers of s$ch s$ns# so remote from $s that the r

l ght 3o$ld not reach $s# 5o$rney ng d$r ng an nf n ty of t me# 3h le the l ght that has reached $s# from some that 3e seem to see# has been $!on ts 5o$rney for f fty cent$r es( o$r 3orld s! nn ng $!on ts a4 s# and r$sh ng e6er n ts c rc$ t ro$nd the s$nG and t# the s$n# and all o$r system re6ol6 ng ro$nd some great central !o ntG and that# and s$ns# stars# and 3orlds e6ermore flash ng on3ard 3 th ncred ble ra! d ty thro$gh ll m table s!ace( and then# n e6ery dro! of 3ater that 3e dr n/# n e6ery morsel of m$ch of o$r food# n the a r# n the earth# n the sea# ncred ble m$lt t$des of l 6 ng creat$res# n6 s ble to the na/ed eye# of a m n$teness beyond bel ef# yet organ <ed# l 6 ng# feed ng# !erha!s 3 th consc o$sness of dent ty# and memory and nst nct, S$ch are some of the myster es of the great 'n 6erse of God, And yet 3e# 3hose l fe and that of the 3orld on 3h ch 3e l 6e form b$t a !o nt n the centre of nf n te T me( 3e# 3ho no$r sh an malc$lQ 3 th n# and on 3hom 6egetables gro3 3 tho$t# 3o$ld fa n learn ho3 God created th s 'n 6erse#

3o$ld $nderstand - s Po3ers# - s Attr b$tes# - s Emanat ons# - s Mode of E4 stence and of Act onG 3o$ld fa n /no3 the !lan accord ng to 3h ch all e6ents !roceed# that !lan !rofo$nd as God - mselfG 3o$ld /no3 the la3s by 3h ch -e controls - s 'n 6erseG 3o$ld fa n see and tal/ to - m face to face# as man tal/s to man( and 3e try not to bel e6e# beca$se 3e do not $nderstand, -e commands $s to lo6e one another# to lo6e o$r ne ghbor as o$rselfG and 3e d s!$te and 3rangle# and hate and slay each other# beca$se 3e cannot be of one o! n on as to the Essence of - s 8at$re# as to - s Attr b$tesG 3hether -e became man born of a 3oman# and 3as cr$c f edG 3hether the -oly Ghost s of the same s$bstance 3 th the "ather# or only of a s m lar s$bstanceG 3hether a feeble old man s God?s F cegerentG 3hether some are elected from all etern ty to be sa6ed# and others to be condemned and !$n shedG 3hether !$n shment of the 3 c/ed after death s to be eternalG 3hether th s doctr ne or the other be heresy or tr$thGD drench ng the 3orld 3 th blood# de!o!$lat ng realms# and t$rn ng fert le

lands nto desertsG $nt l# for rel g o$s 3ar# !ersec$t on# and bloodshed# the Earth for many a cent$ry has rolled ro$nd the S$n# a charnelDho$se# steam ng and ree/ ng 3 th h$man gore# the blood of brother sla n by brother for o! n on?s sa/e# that has soa/ed nto and !oll$ted all her 6e ns# and made her a horror to her s sters of the 'n 6erse, And f men 3ere all Masons# and obeyed 3 th all the r heart her m ld and gentle# teach ngs# that 3orld 3o$ld be a !arad seG 3h le ntolerance and !ersec$t on ma/e of t a hell, "or th s s the Mason c %reed( BELIEFE# n God?s Inf n te Bene6olence# ; sdom# and &$st ce( -OPE# for the f nal tr $m!h of Good o6er E6 l# and for Perfect -armony as the f nal res$lt of all the concords and d scords of the 'n 6erse( and be %-ARITABLE as God s# to3ard the $nfa th# the errors# the foll es# and the fa$lts of men( for all ma/e one great brotherhood, I8STR'%TIO8, Sen,n, ;,n, Brother &$n or ;arden# are yo$ a Pr nce of MercyJ &$n,n, ;,n, I ha6e seen the Delta and the -oly 8AMES $!on t# and am an

AMET- l /e yo$rself# n the TRIPLE %OFE8A8T# Of 3h ch 3e bear the mar/, I$,n, ;hat s the f rst ;ord $!on the DeltaJ Ans,n, The Ineffable 8ame of De ty# the tr$e mystery of 3h ch s /no3n to the Ameth alone, I$,n, ;hat do the three s des of the Delta denote to $sJ Ans,n, To $s# and to all Masons# the three Great Attr b$tes or De6elo!ments of the Essence of the De tyG ;ISDOM# or the Reflect 6e and Des gn ng Po3er# n 3h ch# 3hen there 3as na$ght b$t God# the Plan and Idea of the 'n 6erse 3as sha!ed and "ormed( "OR%E# or the E4ec$t ng and %reat ng Po3er# 3h ch nstantaneo$sly act ng# real <ed the Ty!e and Idea framed by ; sdomG and the 'n 6erse# and all Stars and ;orlds# and L ght and L fe# and Men and Angels and all l 6 ng creat$res ;EREG and -ARMO8.# or the Preser6 ng Po3er# Order# and Bea$ty# ma nta n ng the 'n 6erse n ts State# and const t$t ng the la3 of -armony# Mot on# Pro!ort on# and Progress on(D ;ISDOM# 3h ch tho$ght the !lanG

STRE8GT-# 3h ch created( -ARMO8.# 3h ch $!holds and !reser6es(D the Mason c Tr n ty# three Po3ers and one Essence( the three col$mns 3h ch s$!!ort the 'n 6erse# Phys cal# Intellect$al# and S! r t$al# of 3h ch e6ery Mason c Lodge s a ty!e and symbol(D 3h le to the %hr st an Mason# they re!resent the Three that bear record n -ea6en# the "AT-ER ;ORD# and the -OL. SPIRIT# 3h ch three are O8E, I$,n, ;hat do the three Gree/ letters $!on the Delta# I,n,-,n, ,n, AIota# Eta# and S gmaB re!resentJ Ans,n, Three of the 8ames of the S$!reme De ty among the Syr ans, Phbn c ans and -ebre3so, I-'- A B SelfDE4 stence ,,, AL A B the 8at$reDGod# or So$l of the 'n 6erse,,, S-ADAI A B S$!reme Po3er, Also three of the S 4 %h ef Attr b$tes of God# among the Kabbal sts(D ;ISDOM AIE-B# the Intellect# M N of the Egy!t ans# the ;ord M N of the Platon sts# and the ; sdom M N of the Gnost cs( MAG8I"I%E8%E AALB# the Symbol of 3h ch 3as the L on?s -ead( and FI%TOR. and GLOR. ATsabaothB# 3h ch are the t3o col$mns

&A%-I8 and BOAH# that stand n the Port co of the Tem!le of Masonry, To the %hr st an Mason they are the f rst three letters of the name of the Son of God# ;ho d ed $!on the cross to redeem man/ nd, I$,n, ;hat s the f rst of the T-REE %OFE8A8TS# of 3h ch 3e bear the mar/J Ans,n, That 3h ch God made 3 th 8oahG 3hen -e sa d# @I 3 ll not aga n c$rse the earth any more for man?s sa/e# ne ther 3 ll I sm te any more e6eryth ng l 6 ng as I ha6e done, ;h le the Earth rema neth# seedDt me and har6est# and cold and heat# and ; nter and S$mmer# and day and n ght shall not cease, I 3 ll establ sh My co6enant 3 th yo$# and 3 th yo$r seed after yo$# and 3 th e6ery l 6 ng creat$re, All man/ nd shall no more be c$t off by the 3aters of a flood# nor shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth, Th s s the to/en of My co6enant( I do set My bo3 n the clo$d# and t shall be for a to/en of a co6enant bet3een Me and the earth( an e6erlast ng co6enant bet3een Me and e6ery l 6 ng creat$re on the earth,@

I$,n, ;hat s the second of the Three %o6enantsJ Ans,n, That 3h ch God made 3 th AbrahamG 3hen -e sa d# @I am the Absol$te 'ncreated God, I 3 ll ma/e My co6enant bet3een Me and thee# and tho$ shalt be the "ather of Many 8at ons# and K ngs shall come from thy lo ns, I 3 ll establ sh My co6enant bet3een Me and thee# and thy descendants after thee# to the remotest generat ons# for an e6erlast ng co6enantG and I 3 ll be thy God and the r God# and 3 ll g 6e thee the land of %anaan for an e6erlast ng !ossess on,@ I$,n, ;hat s the th rd %o6enantJ Ans,n, That 3h ch God made 3 th all men by - s !ro!hetsG 3hen -e sa d( @I 3 ll gather all nat ons and tong$es# and they shall come and see My Glory, I 3 ll create ne3 -ea6ens and a ne3 earthG and the former shall not be remembered# nor come nto m nd, The S$n shall no more sh ne by day# nor the Moon by n ghtG b$t the Lord shall be an e6erlast ng l ght and s!lendor# - s S! r t and - s ;ord shall rema n 3 th men fore6er, The hea6ens shall

6an sh a3ay l /e 6a!or# and the earth shall 3a4 old l /e a garment# and they that d3ell there n shall d eG b$t my sal6at on shall be fore6er# and my r ghteo$sness shall not endG and there shall be L ght among the Gent les# and sal6at on $nto the ends of the earth, The redeemed of the Lord shall ret$rn# and e6erlast ng 5oy be on the r heads# and sorro3 and mo$rn ng shall flee a3ay,@ I$,n, ;hat s the symbol of the Tr !le %o6enantJ Ans,n, The Tr !le Tr angle, I$,n, Of 3hat else s t the symbol to $sJ Ans,n, Of the Tr n ty of Attr b$tes of the De tyG and of the tr !le essence of Man# the Pr nc !le of L fe# the Intellect$al Po3er# and the So$l or Immortal Emanat on from the De ty, I$,n, ;hat s the f rst great Tr$th of the Sacred Myster esJ Ans,n, 8o man hath seen God at any t me, -e s One# Eternal# AllD Po3erf$l# AllD; se# Inf n tely 5$st# Merc f$l# Bene6olent# and %o m!ass onate# %reator and Preser6er of all th ngs# the So$rce of L ght

and L fe# coe4tens 6e 3 th T me and S!aceG ;ho tho$ght# and 3 th the Tho$ght created the 'n 6erse and all l 6 ng th ngs# and the so$ls of men( T-AT IS( D the PERMA8E8TG 3h le e6eryth ng bes de s a !er!et$al genes s, I$,n, ?@That s the second great Tr$th of the Sacred Myster esJ Ans,n, The So$l of Man s ImmortalG not the res$lt of organ <at on# nor an aggregate of modes of act on of matter# nor a s$ccess on of !henomena and !erce!t onsG b$t an EPISTE8%E# one and dent cal# a l 6 ng s! r t# a s!ar/ of the Great %entral L ght# that hath entered nfo and d3ells n the bodyG to be se!arated therefrom at death# and ret$rn to God 3ho ga6e t( that doth not d s!erse nor 6an sh at death# l /e breath or a smo/e# nor can be ann h latedG b$t st ll e4 sts and !ossesses act 6 ty and ntell gence# e6en as t e4 sted n God# before t 3as en6elo!ed n the body, I$,n, ;hat s the th rd great Tr$th n MasonryJ Ans,n, The m!$lse 3h ch d rects to r ght cond$ct# and deters from cr me# s not only older than the ages of nat ons and c t es# b$t coe6al 3 th that D 6 ne Be ng ;ho sees and r$les both -ea6en and earth, 8or d d TarE$ n

less 6 olate that Eternal La3# tho$gh n h s re gn there m ght ha6e been no 3r tten la3 at Rome aga nst s$ch 6 olenceG for the !r nc !le that m!els $s to r ght cond$ct# and 3arns $s aga nst g$ lt# s!r ngs o$t of the nat$re of th ngs, It d d not beg n to be la3 3hen t 3as f rst 3r tten# nor 3as t or g natedG b$t t s coe6al 3 th the D 6 ne Intell gence tself, The conseE$ence of 6 rt$e s not to be made the end thereof G and la$dable !erformances m$st ha6e dee!er roots# mot 6es# and nst gat ons# to g 6e them the stam! of 6 rt$es, I$,n, ;hat s the fo$rth great Tr$th n MasonryJ Ans,n, The moral tr$ths are as absol$te as the meta!hys cal tr$ths, E6en the De ty cannot ma/e t that there sho$ld be effects 3 tho$t a ca$se# or !henomena 3 tho$t s$bstance, As l ttle co$ld he ma/e t to be s nf$l and e6 l to res!ect o$r !ledged 3ord# to lo6e tr$th# to moderate o$r !ass ons, The !r nc !les of Moral ty are a4 oms# l /e the !r nc !les of Geometry, The moral la3s are the necessary relat ons that flo3 from the nat$re of th ngs# and they are not created by# b$t ha6e e4 sted eternally n God, The r

cont n$ed e4 stence does not de!end $!on the e4erc se of - s ;ILL, Tr$th and &$st ce are of - s ESSE8%E, 8ot beca$se 3e are feeble and God omn !otent# s t o$r d$ty to obey - s la3, ;e may be forced# b$t are not $nder obl gat on# to obey the stronger, God s the !r nc !le of Moral ty# b$t not by - s mere 3 ll# 3h ch# abstracted from all other of - s attr b$tes# 3o$ld be ne ther 5$st nor $n5$st, Good s the e4!ress on of - s 3 ll# n so far as that 3 ll s tself the e4!ress on of eternal# absol$te# $ncreated 5$st ce# 3h ch s n God# 3h ch - s 3 ll d d not createG b$t 3h ch t e4ec$tes and !rom$lgates# as o$r 3 ll !rocla ms and !rom$lgates and e4ec$tes the dea of the good 3h ch s n $s, -e has g 6en $s the la3 of Tr$th and 5$st ceG b$t -e has not arb trar ly nst t$ted that la3, 5$st ce s nherent n - s 3 ll# beca$se t s conta ned n - s ntell gence and 3 sdom# n - s 6ery nat$re and most nt mate essence, I$,n, ;hat s the f fth great Tr$th n MasonryJ Ans,n, There s an essent al d st nct on bet3een Good and E6 l# 3hat s 5$st and 3hat s $n5$stG and to th s d st nct on s attached# for e6ery

ntell gent and free creat$re# the absol$te obl gat on of conform ng to 3hat s good and 5$st, Man s an ntell gent and free be ng# D free# beca$se he s consc o$s that t s h s d$ty# and beca$se t s made h s d$ty# to obey the d ctates of tr$th and 5$st ce# and therefore he m$st necessar ly ha6e the !o3er of do ng so# 3h ch n6ol6es the !o3er of not do ng soG D ca!able of com!rehend ng the d st nct on bet3een good and e6 l# 5$st ce and n5$st ce# and the obl gat on 3h ch accom!an es t# and of nat$rally adher ng to that obl gat on# nde!endently of any conD tract or !os t 6e la3G ca!able also of res st ng the tem!tat ons 3h ch $rge h m to3ard e6 l and n5$st ce# and of com!ly ng 3 th the sacred la3 of eternal 5$st ce, That man s not go6erned by a res stless "ate or ne4orable Dest nyG b$t s free to choose bet3een the e6 l and the good( that 5$st ce and R ght# the Good and Bea$t f$l# are of the essence of the D 6 n ty# l /e - s Inf n t$deG and therefore they are la3s to man( that 3e are consc o$s of o$r freedom to act# as 3e are consc o$s of o$r dent ty# and the

cont n$ance and connectedness of o$r e4 stenceG and ha6e the same e6 dence of one as of the otherG and f 3e can !$t one n do$bt# 3e ha6e no certa nty of e ther# and e6eryth ng s $nreal( that 3e can deny o$r free 3 ll and free agency# only $!on the gro$nd that they are n the nat$re of th ngs m!oss bleG 3h ch 3o$ld be to deny the Omn !otence of God, I$,n, ;hat s the s 4th great Tr$th of MasonryJ Ans,n, The necess ty of !ract s ng the moral tr$ths# s obl gat on, The moral tr$ths# necessary n the eye of reason# are obl gatory on the 3 ll, The moral obl gat on# l /e the moral tr$th that s ts fo$ndat on# s absol$te, As the necessary tr$ths are not more or less necessary# so the obl gat on s not more or less obl gatory, There are degrees of m!ortance among d fferent obl gat onsG b$t none n the obl gat on tself, ;e are not nearly obl ged# almost obl ged, ;e are 3holly so# or not at all, If there be any !lace of ref$ge to 3h ch 3e can esca!e from the obl gat on# t ceases to e4 st, If the obl gat on s absol$te# t s mm$table and $n 6ersal, "or f that of toDday may not be that of toDmorro3# f 3hat s obl gatory on me may not

be obl gatory on yo$# the obl gat on 3o$ld d ffer from tself# and be 6ar able and cont ngent, Th s fact s the !r nc !le of all moral ty, That e6ery act contrary to r ght and 5$st ce# deser6es to be re!ressed by force# and !$n shed 3hen comm tted# eE$ally n the absence of any la3 or contract( that man nat$rally recogn <es the d st nct on bet3een the mer t and demer t of act ons# as he does that bet3een 5$st ce and n5$st ce# honesty and d shonestyG and feels# 3 tho$t be ng ta$ght# and n the absence of la3 or contract# that t s 3rong for 6 ce to be re3arded or go $n!$n shed# and for 6 rt$e to be !$n shed or left $nre3arded( and that# the De ty be ng nf n tely 5$st and good# t m$st follo3 as a necessary and nfle4 ble la3 that !$n shment shall be the res$lt of S n# ts ne6 table and nat$ral effect and corollary# and not a mere arb trary 6engeance, I$,n, ;hat s the se6enth great Tr$th n MasonryJ Ans,n, The mm$table la3 of God reE$ res# that bes des res!ect ng the absol$te r ghts of others# and be ng merely 5$st# 3e sho$ld do good# be char table# and obey the d ctates of the genero$s and noble sent ments of

the so$l, %har ty s a la3# beca$se o$r consc ence s not sat sf ed nor at ease f 3e ha6e not rel e6ed the s$ffer ng# the d stressed# and the dest t$te, It s to g 6e that 3h ch he to 3hom yo$ g 6e has no r ght to ta/e or demand, To be char table s obl gatory on $s, ;e are the Almoners of God?s bo$nt es, B$t the obl gat on s not so !rec se and nfle4 ble as the obl gat on to be 5$st, %har ty /no3s ne ther r$le nor l m t, It goes beyond all obl gat on, Its bea$ty cons sts n ts l berty, @-e that lo6eth not# /no3eth not GodG "OR GOD IS LOFE, If 3e lo6e one another# God d3elleth n $s# and - s lo6e s !erfected n $s, God s lo6eG and he that d3elleth n lo6e# d3elleth n God# and God n h m,@ To be / ndly affect oned one to another 3 th brotherly lo6eG to rel e6e the necess t es of the needy# and be genero$s# l beral# and hos! tableG to ret$rn to no man e6 l for e6 l G to re5o ce at the good fort$ne of others# and sym!ath <e 3 th them n the r sorro3s and re6ersesG to l 6e !eaceably 3 th all men# and re!ay n5$r es 3 th benef ts and / ndnessG these are the s$bl me d ctates of the Moral La3# ta$ght from the nfancy of the 3orld# by Masonry,

I$,n, ;hat s the e ghth great Tr$th n MasonryJ Ans,n, That the la3 3h ch control and reg$late the 'n 6erse of God# are those of mot on and harmony, ;e see only the solated# nc dents of th ngs# and 3 th o$r feeble and l m ted ca!ac ty and# 6 s on cannot d scern the r connect on# nor the m ghty chords# that ma/e the a!!arent d scord !erfect harmony, E6 l s merely a!!arent# and all s n real ty good and !erfect, "or !a n and sorro3# !ersec$t on and hardsh !s# affl ct on and dest t$t on# s c/ness and death are b$t the means# by 3h ch alone the noblest# 6 rt$es co$ld be de6elo!ed, ; tho$t them# and 3 tho$t s n and error# and 3rong and o$trage# as there can be no effect 3 tho$t an adeE$ate ca$se# there co$ld be ne ther !at ence $nder s$ffer ng and d stressG nor !r$dence n d ff c$ltyG nor tem!erance to a6o d e4cessG nor co$rage to meet dangerG nor tr$th# 3hen to s!ea/ the tr$th s ha<ardo$sG nor lo6e# 3hen t s met 3 th ngrat t$deG nor char ty for the needy and dest t$teG nor forbearance and forg 6eness of n5$r esG nor tolerat on of erroneo$s o! n onsG nor char table 5$dgment and constr$ct on of men?s

mot 6es and act onsG nor !atr ot sm# nor hero sm# nor honor# nor selfDden al# nor generos ty, These and most other 6 rt$es and e4cellenc es 3o$ld ha6e no e4 stence# and e6en the r names be $n/no3nG and the !oor 6 rt$es that st ll e4 sted# 3o$ld scarce deser6e the nameG for l fe 3o$ld be one flat# dead# lo3 le6el# abo6e 3h ch none of the lofty elements of h$man nat$re 3o$ld emergeG and man 3o$ld l e la!!ed n contented ndolence and dleness# a mere 3orthless negat 6e# nstead of the bra6e# strong sold er aga nst the gr m leg ons of E6 l and r$de D ff c$lty, I$,n, ;hat s the n nth great Tr$th n MasonryJ Ans,n, The great lead ng doctr ne of th s DegreeGD that the &'STI%E# the ;ISDOM# and the MER%. of God are al /e nf n te# al /e !erfect# and yet do not n the least 5ar nor confl ct one 3 th the otherG b$t form a Great Perfect Tr n ty of Attr b$tes# three and yet one( that# the !r nc !le of mer t and demer t be ng absol$te# and e6ery good act on deser6 ng to be re3arded# and e6ery bad one to be !$n shed# and God be ng as 5$st as

-e s goodG and yet the cases constantly rec$rr ng n th s 3orld# n 3h ch cr me and cr$elty# o!!ress on# tyranny# and n5$st ce are !ros!ero$s# ha!!y# fort$nate# and selfDcontented# and r$le and re gn# and en5oy all the bless ngs of God?s benef cence# 3h le the 6 rt$o$s and good are $nfort$nate# m serable# dest t$te# ! n ng a3ay n d$ngeons# !er sh ng 3 th cold# and fam sh ng 3 th h$nger# sla6es of o!!ress on# and nstr$ments and 6 ct ms of the m screants that go6ernG so that th s 3orld# f there 3ere no e4 stence beyond t# 3o$ld be one great theatre of 3rong and n5$st ce# !ro6 ng God 3holly d sregardf$l of - s o3n necessary la3 of mer t and demer tG D t follo3s that there m$st be another l fe n 3h ch these a!!arent 3rongs shall be re!a red( That all the !o3ers of man?s so$l tend to nf n tyG and h s ndom table nst nct of mmortal ty# and the $n 6ersal ho!e of another l fe# test f ed by all creeds# all !oetry# all trad t ons# establ sh ts certa ntyG for man s not an or!hanG b$t hath a "ather near at hand( and the day m$st come 3hen L ght and Tr$th# and the 5$st and Good shall be

6 ctor o$s# and Dar/ness# Error# ;rong# and E6 l be ann h lated# and /no3n no more fore6er( That the 'n 6erse s one great -armony# n 3h ch# accord ng to the fa th of all nat ons# dee!Drooted n all hearts n the !r m t 6e ages# L ght 3 ll $lt mately !re6a l o6er Dar/ness# and the Good Pr nc !le o6er the E6 l( and the myr ad so$ls that ha6e emanated from the D 6 n ty# !$r f ed and ennobled by the str$ggle here belo3# 3 ll aga n ret$rn to !erfect bl ss n the bosom of God# to offend aga nst ;hose la3s 3 ll then be no longer !oss ble, I$,n, ;hat# then# s the one great lesson ta$ght to $s# as Masons# n th s DegreeJ Ans,n, That to that state and realm of L ght and Tr$th and Perfect on# 3h ch s absol$tely certa n# all the good men on earth are tend ngG and f there s a la3 from 3hose o!erat on none are e4em!t# 3h ch ne6 tably con6eys the r bod es to dar/ness and to d$st# there s another not less certa n nor less !o3erf$l# 3h ch cond$cts the r s! r ts to that state of -a!! ness and

S!lendor and Perfect on# the bosom of the r "ather and the r God, The 3heels of 8at$re are not made to roll bac/3ard, E6eryth ng !resses on to Etern ty, "rom the b rth of T me an m!et$o$s c$rrent has set n# 3h ch bears all the sons of men to3ard that nterm nable ocean, Mean3h le# -ea6en s attract ng to tself 3hate6er s cogen al to ts nat$re# s enr ch ng tself by the s!o ls of the Earth# and collect ng 3 th n ts ca!ac o$s bosom 3hate6er s !$re# !ermanent# and d 6 ne# lea6 ng noth ng for the last f re to cons$me b$t the gross matter that creates conc$! scenceG 3h le e6eryth ng f t for that good fort$ne shall be gathered and selected from the r$ ns of the 3orld# to adorn that Eternal % ty, Let e6ery Mason then obey the 6o ce that calls h m th ther, Let $s see/ the th ngs that are abo6e# and be not content 3 th a 3orld that m$st shortly !er sh# and 3h ch 3e m$st s!eed ly E$ t# 3h le 3e neglect to !re!are for that n 3h ch 3e are n6 ted to d3ell fore6er, ;h le e6eryth ng 3 th n $s and

aro$nd $s rem nds $s of the a!!roach of death# and conc$rs to teach $s that th s s,# not o$r rest# let $s hasten o$r !re!arat ons for another 3orld# and earnestly m!lore that hel! and strength from o$r "ather# 3h ch alone can !$t an end to that fatal 3ar 3h ch o$r des res ha6e too long 3aged 3 th o$r dest ny, ;hen these mo6e n the same# d rect on# and that 3h ch God?s 3 ll renders $na6o dable shall become o$r cho ce# all th ngs 3 ll be o$rsG l fe 3 ll be d 6ested of ts 6an ty# and death d sarmed of ts terrors, I$,n, ;hat are the symbols of the !$r f cat on necessary to ma/e $s !erfect MasonsJ Ans,n, La6at on 3 th !$re 3ater# or ba!t smG beca$se to cleanse the body s emblemat cal of !$r fy ng the so$lG and beca$se t cond$ces to the bod ly health# and 6 rt$e s the health of the so$l# as s n and 6 ce are ts malady and s c/ness(D $nct on# or ano ntD ng 3 th o lG beca$se thereby 3e are set a!art and ded cated to the ser6 ce and !r esthood of the Bea$t f$l# the Tr$e# and the Good(D and

robes of 3h te# emblems of candor# !$r ty# and tr$th, I$,n, ;hat s to $s the ch ef symbol of man?s $lt mate redem!t on and regenerat onJ Ans,n, The fraternal s$!!er# of bread 3h ch no$r shes# and of 3 ne 3h ch refreshes and e4h larates# symbol cal of the t me 3h ch s to come# 3hen all man/ nd shall be one great harmon o$s brotherhoodG and teach ng $s these great lessons( that as matter changes e6er# b$t no s ngle atom s ann h lated# t s not rat onal to s$!!ose that the far nobler so$l does not cont n$e to e4 st beyond the gra6e( that many tho$sands 3ho ha6e d ed before $s m ght cla m to be 5o nt o3ners 3 th o$rsel6es of the !art cles that com!ose o$r mortal bod esG for matter e6er forms ne3 comb nat onsG and the bod es of the anc ent dead# the !atr archs before and s nce the flood# the / ngs and common !eo!le of all ages# resol6ed nto the r const t$ent elements# are carr ed $!on the 3 nd o6er all cont nents# and cont n$ally enter nto and form !art of the hab tat ons of ne3 so$ls# creat ng ne3 bonds of sym!athy and brotherhood bet3een each man that l 6es and all h s race, And th$s# n the bread 3e eat# and n the 3 ne 3e

dr n/ toDn ght may enter nto and form !art of $s the dent cal !art cles of matter that once formed !arts of the mater al bod es called Moses# %onf$c $s# Plato# Socrates# or &es$s of 8a<areth, In the tr$est sense# 3e eat and dr n/ the bod es of the deadG and cannot say that there s a s ngle atom of o$r blood or body# the o3nersh ! of 3h ch some other so$l m ght not d s!$te 3 th $s, It teaches $s also the nf n te benef cence of God 3ho sends $s seedt me and har6est each n ts season# and ma/es - s sho3ers to fall and - s s$n to sh ne al /e $!on the e6 l and the good( besto3 ng $!on $s $nsol c ted - s nn$merable bless ngs# and as/ ng no ret$rn, "or there are no angels stat oned $!on the 3atchto3ers of creat on to call the 3orld to !rayer and sacr f ceG b$t -e besto3s - s benef ts n s lence# l /e a / nd fr end 3ho comes at n ght# and# lea6 ng h s g fts at the door# to be fo$nd by $s n the morn ng# goes E$ etly a3ay and as/s no than/s# nor ceases h s / nd off ces for o$r ngrat t$de, And th$s the bread and 3 ne teach $s that o$r Mortal Body s no more ;E than the ho$se n 3h ch 3e l 6e# or the garments that 3e 3earG b$t the So$l s I# the O8E# dent cal# $nchangeable# mmortal emanat on from the D ety# to

ret$rn to God and be fore6er ha!!y# n - s good t meG as o$r mortal bod es# d ssol6 ng# ret$rn to the elements from 3h ch they came# the r !art cles co n ng and go ng e6er n !er!et$al genes s, To o$r &e3 sh Brethren# th s s$!!er s symbol cal of the Passo6er( to the %hr st an Mason# of that eaten by %hr st and - s D sc !les# 3hen# celebrat ng the Passo6er# -e bro/e bread and ga6e t to them# say ng# @Ta/eO eatO th s s My body(@ and g 6 ng them the c$!# -e sa d# @Dr n/ ye all of tO for th s s My blood of the 8e3 Testament# 3h ch s shed for many for the rem ss on of s nsG@ th$s symbol < ng the !erfect harmony and $n on bet3een - mself and the fa thf$lG and - s death $!on the cross for the sal6at on of man, The h story of Masonry s the h story of Ph loso!hy, Masons do not !retend to set themsel6es $! for nstr$ctors of the h$man race( b$t# tho$gh As a !rod$ced and !reser6ed the Myster es# Masonry has# n E$ro!e and Amer ca# g 6en reg$lar ty to the r doctr nes# s! r t# and act on# and de6elo!ed the moral ad6antages 3h ch man/ nd may rea! from them, More cons stent# and more s m!le n ts mode of !roced$re# t has !$t an

end to the 6ast allegor cal !antheon of anc ent mytholog es# and tself become a sc ence, 8one can deny that %hr st ta$ght a lofty moral ty, @Lo6e one another( forg 6e those that des! tef$lly $se yo$ and !ersec$te yo$( be !$re of heart# mee/# h$mble# contented( lay not $! r ches on earth# b$t n -ea6en( s$bm t to the !o3ers la3f$lly o6er yo$( become l /e these l ttle ch ldren# or ye cannot be sa6ed# for of s$ch s the K ngdom of -ea6en( forg 6e the re!entantG and cast no stone at the s nner# f yo$ too ha6e s nned( do $nto others as ye 3o$ld ha6e others do $nto yo$(@ s$ch# and not abstr$se E$est ons of theology# 3ere - s s m!le and s$bl me teach ngs, The early %hr st ans follo3ed n - s footste!s, The f rst !reachers of the fa th had no tho$ght of dom nat on, Ent rely an mated by - s say ng# that he among them sho$ld be f rst# 3ho sho$ld ser6e 3 th the greatest de6ot on# they 3ere h$mble# modest# and char table# and they /ne3 ho3 to comm$n cate th s s! r t of the nner man to the ch$rches $nder the r d rect on, These ch$rches 3ere at f rst b$t s!ontaneo$s meet ngs of all

%hr st ans nhab t ng the same local ty, A !$re and se6ere moral ty# m ngled 3 th rel g o$s enth$s asm# 3as the character st c of each# and e4c ted the adm rat on e6en of the r !ersec$tors, E6eryth ng 3as n common among themG the r !ro!erty# the r 5oys# and the r sorro3s, In the s lence of n ght they met for nstr$ct on and to !ray together, The r lo6eDfeasts# or fraternal re!asts# ended these re$n ons# n 3h ch all d fferences n soc al !os t on and ran/ 3ere effaced n the !resence of a !aternal D 6 n ty, The r sole ob5ect 3as to ma/e men better# by br ng ng them bac/ to a s m!le 3orsh !# of 3h ch $n 6ersal moral ty 3as the bas sG and to end those n$mero$s and cr$el sacr f ces 3h ch e6ery3here n$ndated 3 th blood the altars of the gods, Th$s d d %hr st an ty reform the 3orld# and obey the teach ngs of ts fo$nder, It ga6e to 3oman her !ro!er ran/ and nfl$enceG t reg$lated domest c l feG and by adm tt ng the sla6es to the lo6eDfeasts# t by degrees ra sed them abo6e that o!!ress on $nder 3h ch half of man/ nd had groaned for ages, Th s# n ts !$r ty# as ta$ght by %hr st - mself# 3as the tr$e !r m t 6e rel g on# as comm$n cated by God to the Patr archs, It 3as no ne3

rel g on# b$t the re!rod$ct on of the oldest of allG and ts tr$e and !erfect moral ty s the moral ty of Masonry# as s the moral ty of e6ery creed of ant E$ ty, In the early days of %hr st an ty# there 3as an n t at on l /e those of the !agans, Persons 3ere adm tted on s!ec al cond t ons only, To arr 6e at a com!lete /no3ledge of the doctr ne# they had to !ass three degrees of nstr$ct on, The n t ates 3ere conseE$ently d 6 ded nto three classesG the f rst# A$d tors# the second# %atech$mens# and the th rd# the "a thf$l, The A$d tors 3ere a sort of no6 ces# 3ho 3ere !re!ared by certa n ceremon es and certa n nstr$ct on to rece 6e the dogmas of %hr st an ty, A !ort on of these dogmas 3as made /no3n to the %atech$mensG 3ho# after !art c$lar !$r f cat ons# rece 6ed ba!t sm# or the n t at on of the theogenes s Md 6 ne generat onNG b$t n the grand myster es of that rel g on# the ncarnat on# nat 6 ty# !ass on# and res$rrect on of %hr st# none 3ere n t ated b$t the "a thf$l, These doctr nes# and the celebrat on of the -oly Sacraments# !art c$larly the E$char st# 3ere /e!t 3 th !rofo$nd

secrecy, These Myster es 3ere d 6 ded nto t3o !artsG the f rst styled the Mass of the %atech$mensG the second# the Mass of the "a thf$l, The celebrat on of the Myster es of M thras 3as also styled a massG and the ceremon es $sed 3ere the same, There 3ere fo$nd all the sacraments of the %athol c %h$rch# e6en the breath of conf rmat on, The Pr est of M thras !rom sed the In t ates del 6erance from s n# by means

of confess on and ba!t sm# and a f$t$re l fe of ha!! ness or m sery, -e celebrated the oblat on of bread# mage of the res$rrect on, The ba!t sm of ne3lyDborn ch ldren# e4treme $nct on# confess on of s ns# D all belonged to the M thr ac r tes, The cand date 3as !$r f ed by a s!ec es of ba!t sm# a mar/ 3as m!ressed $!on h s forehead# he offered bread and 3ater# !rono$nc ng certa n myster o$s 3ords, D$r ng the !ersec$t ons n the early ages of %hr st an ty# the %hr st ans too/ ref$ge n the 6ast cataco mbs 3h ch stretched for m les n e6ery d rect on $nder the c ty of Rome# and are s$!!osed to ha6e been of

Etr$scan or g n, There# am d labyr nth ne 3 nd ngs# dee! ca6erns# h dden chambers# cha!els# and tombs# the !ersec$ted f$g t 6es fo$nd ref$ge# and there they !erformed the ceremon es of the Myster es, The Bas l deans# a sect of %hr st ans that arose soon after the t me of the A!ostles# !ract sed the Myster es# 3 th the old Egy!t an legend, They symbol <ed Os r s by the S$n# Is s by the Moon# and Ty!hon by Scor! oG and 3ore crystals bear ng these emblems# as am$lets or tal smans to !rotect them from dangerG $!on 3h ch 3ere also a br ll ant star and the ser!ent, They 3ere co! ed from the tal smans of Pers a and Arab a# and g 6en to e6ery cand date# at h s n t at on, IrenQa$s tells $s that the S mon ans# one of the earl est sects of the Gnost cs# had a Pr esthood of the Myster es, Tert$ll an tells $s that the Falent n ans# the most celebrated of all the Gnost c schools# m tated# or rather !er6erted# the Myster es of Ele$s s, IrenQa$s nforms $s# n se6eral c$r o$s cha!ters# of the Myster es !ract sed by the Marcos ansG and Or gen g 6es# m$ch nformat on as to the Myster es of the O!h tesG and there s no do$bt that all the Gnost c

sects had Myster es and an n t at on, They all cla med to !ossess a secret doctr ne# com ng to them d rectly from &es$s %hr st# d fferent from that of the Gos!els and E! stles# and s$!er or to those comm$n cat ons# 3h ch n the r eyes# 3ere merely e4oter c, Th s secret doctr ne they d d not comm$n cate to e6ery oneG and among the e4tens 6e sect of the Bas l deans hardly one n a tho$sand /ne3 t# as 3e learn from IrenQa$s, ;e /no3 the name of only the h ghest class of the r In t ates, They 3ere B# and Strangers to the ;orld A styled Elect or El$s A B, They had at lest three Degrees D the Mater al# the Intellect$al# and the S! r t$al and the lesser and greater Myster esG and the n$mber of those 3ho atta ned the h ghest Degree 3as E$ te small, Ba!t sm 3as one of the r most m!ortant ceremon esG and the Bas l deans celebrated the )2th of &an$ary# as the ann 6ersary of the day on 3h ch %hr st 3as ba!t <ed n &ordan,

They had the ceremony of lay ng on of hands# by 3ay of !$r f cat onG and that of the myst c banE$et# emblem of that to 3h ch they bel e6ed the -ea6enly ; sdom 3o$ld B, one day adm t them# n the f$llness of th ngs A The r ceremon es 3ere m$ch more l /e those of the %hr st ans than those of GreeceG b$t they m ngled 3 th them m$ch that 3as borro3ed from the Or ent and Egy!t( and ta$ght the !r m t 6e tr$ths# m 4ed 3 th a m$lt t$de of fantast c errors and f ct ons, The d sc !l ne of the secret 3as the concealment Mocc$ltat oN of certa n tenets and ceremon es, So says %lemens of Ale4andr a, To a6o d !ersec$t on# the early %hr st ans 3ere com!elled to $se great !reca$t on# and to hold meet ngs of the "a thf$l Aof the -o$sehold of "a thB n !r 6ate !laces# $nder concealment by dar/ness# They assembled n the n ght# and they g$arded aga nst the ntr$s on of false brethren and !rofane !ersons# s! es 3ho m ght ca$se the r arrest, They con6ersed together f g$rat 6ely# and by the $se of symbols# lest

co3ans and ea6esdro!!ers m ght o6erhear( and there e4 sted among them a fa6ored class# or Order# 3ho 3ere n t ated nto certa n Myster es 3h ch they 3ere bo$nd by solemn !rom se not to d sclose# or e6en con6erse abo$t# e4ce!t 3 th s$ch as had rece 6ed them $nder the same sanct on, They 3ere called Brethren# the "a thf$l# Ste3ards of the Myster es# S$!er ntendents# De6otees of the Secret# and AR%-ITE%TS, In the - erarch b# attr b$ted to St, D onys $s the Areo!ag te# the f rst B sho! of Athens# the trad t on of the sacrament s sa d to ha6e been d 6 ded nto three Degrees# or grades# !$r f cat on# n t at on# and accom!l shment or !erfect onG and t ment ons also# as !art of the ceremony# the br ng ng to s ght, The A!ostol c %onst t$t ons# attr b$ted to %lemens# B sho! of Rome# descr be the early ch$rch# and say( @These reg$lat ons m$st on no acco$nt be comm$n cated to all sorts of !ersons# beca$se of the Myster es conta ned n them,@ They s!ea/ of the

Deacon?s d$ty to /ee! the doors# that none $n n t ated sho$ld enter at the oblat on, Ost ar # or door/ee!ers# /e!t g$ard# and ga6e not ce of the t me of !rayer and ch$rchassembl esG and also by !r 6ate s gnal# n t mes of !ersec$t on# ga6e not ce to those 3 th n# toe able them to a6o d danger, The Myster es 3ere o!en to the " deles or "a thf$l onlyG and no s!ectators 3ere allo3ed at the comm$n on, Tert$ll an# 3ho d ed abo$t A, D, 0)=# says n h s A!ology( @8one are adm tted to the rel g o$s Myster es 3 tho$t an oath of secrecy, ;e a!!eal to yo$r Thrac an and Ele$s n an Myster esG and 3e are es!ec ally bo$nd to th s ca$t on# beca$se f 3e !ro6e fa thless# 3e sho$ld not only !ro6o/e -ea6en# b$t dra3 $!on o$r heads the $tmost r gor of h$man d s!leas$re, And sho$ld strangers betray $sJ They /no3 noth ng b$t by re!ort and hearsay, "ar hence# ye ProfaneO s the !roh b t on fro m all holy Myster es,@

%lemens# B sho! of Ale4andr a# born abo$t A,D, )1)# says# n h s Stromata# that he cannot e4!la n the Myster es# beca$se he sho$ld thereby# accord ng to the old !ro6erb# !$t a s3ord nto the hands of a ch ld, -e freE$ently com!ares the D sc !l ne of the Secret 3 th the heathen Myster es# as to the r nternal and recond te 3 sdom, ;hene6er the early %hr st ans ha!!ened to be n com!any 3 th strangers# more !ro!erly termed the Profane# they ne6er s!o/e of the r sacraments# b$t nd cated to one another 3hat they meant by means of symbols and secret 3atch3ords# d sg$ sedly# and as by d rect comm$n cat on of m nd 3 th m nd# and by en gmas, Or gen# born A,D, )9: or )97# ans3er ng %els$s# 3ho had ob5ected that the %hr st ans had a concealed doctr ne sa d( @Inasm$ch as the essent al and m!ortant doctr nes and !r nc !les of %hr st an ty are o!enly ta$ght# t s fool sh to ob5ect that there are other th ngs that are recond teG for th s s common to %hr st an

d sc !l ne 3 th that of those !h loso!hers n 3hose teach ng some th ngs 3ere e4oter c and some esoter c( and t s eno$gh to say that t 3as so 3 th some of the d sc !les of Pythagoras,@ The form$la 3h ch the !r m t 6e ch$rch !rono$nced at the moment of celebrat ng ts Myster es# 3as th s( @De!art# ye ProfaneO Let the %atech$mens# and those 3ho ha6e not been adm tted or n t ated# go forth,@ Archela$s# B sho! of %ascara n Meso!otam a# 3ho# n the year 0+*# cond$cted a contro6ersy 3 th the Man chaeans# sa d( @These Myster es the ch$rch no3 comm$n cates to h m 3ho has !assed thro$gh the ntrod$ctory Degree, They are not e4!la ned to the Gent les at allG nor are they ta$ght o!enly n the hear ng of %atech$mens( b$t m$ch that s s!o/en s n d sg$ sed terms that the "a thf$l A B# 3ho !ossess the /no3ledge# may be st ll more nformed# and those 3ho are not acE$a nted 3 th t# may s$ffer no d sad6antage,@ %yr l# B sho! of &er$salem# 3as born n the year 9)7# and d ed n 9*=, In

h s %ateches s he says( @The Lord s!a/e n !arables to - s hearers n generalG b$t to - s d sc !les -e e4!la ned n !r 6ate the !arables and allegor es 3h ch -e s!o/e n !$bl c, The s!lendor of glory s for those 3ho are early enl ghtened( obsc$r ty and dar/ness are the !ort on of the $nbel e6ers and gnorant, &$st so the ch$rch d sco6ers ts Myster es to those 3ho ha6e ad6anced beyond the class of %atech$mens( 3e em!loy obsc$re terms 3 th others,@ St, Bas l# the Great B sho! of %Qsarea# born n the year 90=# and dy ng n the year 9+=# says( @;e rece 6e the dogmas transm tted to $s by 3r t ng# and those 3h ch ha6e descended to $s from the A!ostles# beneath the mystery of oral trad t on( for se6eral th ngs ha6e been handed to $s 3 tho$t 3r t ng# lest the 6$lgar# too fam l ar 3 th o$r dogmas# sho$ld lose a d$e res!ect for them, , , , Th s s 3hat the $n n t ated are not !erm tted to contem!lateG and ho3 sho$ld t e6er be !ro!er to 3r te and c rc$late among the !eo!le an acco$nt of themJ@ St, Gregory 8a< an<en# B sho! of %onstant no!le# A,D, 9+1# says( @.o$

ha6e heard as m$ch of the Mystery as 3e are allo3ed to s!ea/ o!enly n the ears of allG the rest 3 ll be comm$n cated to yo$ n !r 6ateG and that yo$ m$st reta n 3 th n yo$rself, o, O$r Myster es are not to be made /no3n to strangers,@ St, Ambrose# Archb sho! of M lan# 3ho 3as born n 9:2# and d ed n 919# says n h s 3or/ De Myster s( @All the Mystery sho$ld be /e!t concealed# g$arded by fa thf$l s lence# lest t sho$ld be ncons derately d 6$lged to the ears of the Profane , , , , , It s not g 6en to all to contem!late the de!ths of o$r Myster es o, that they may not be seen by those 3ho o$ght not to behold themG nor rece 6ed by those 3ho cannot !reser6e them,@ And n another 3or/( @-e s ns aga nst God# 3ho d 6$lges to the $n3orthy the Myster es conf ded to h m, The danger s not merely n 6 olat ng tr$th# b$t n tell ng tr$th# f he allo3 h mself to g 6e h nts of them to those fro m 3hom they o$ght to be concealed Be3are of cast ng !earls before s3 neO ,,,, E6ery Mystery o$ght to be /e!t secretG and# as t 3ere# to be co6ered o6er by s lence# lest t sho$ld rashly

be d 6$lged to the ears of the Profane, Ta/e heed that yo$ do not nca$t o$sly re6eal the Myster esO@ St, A$g$st ne# B sho! of - !!o# 3ho 3as born n 9:+# and d ed n :92# says n one of h s d sco$rses( @-a6 ng d sm ssed the %atech$mens# 3e ha6e reta ned yo$ only to be o$r hearersG beca$se# bes des those th ngs 3h ch belong to all %hr st ans n common# 3e are no3 to d sco$rse to yo$ of s$bl me Myster es# 3h ch none are E$al f ed to hear# b$t those 3ho# by the Master?s fa6or# are made !arta/ers of themo,To ha6e ta$ght them o!enly# 3o$ld ha6e been to betray them,@ And he refers to the Ar/ of the %o6enant# and says that t s gn f ed a Mystery# or secret of God# shado3ed o6er by the cher$b m of glory# and honored by be ng 6e led, St, %hrysostom and St, A$g$st ne s!ea/ of n t at on more than f fty t mes, St, Ambrose 3r tes to those 3ho are n t atedG and n t at on 3as not merely ba!t sm# or adm ss on nto the ch$rch# b$t t referred to n t at on nto the Myster es, To the ba!t <ed and n t ated the Myster es of rel g on 3ere

$n6e ledG they 3ere /e!t secret from the %atech$mensG 3ho 3ere !erm tted to hear the Scr !t$res read and the ord nary d sco$rses del 6ered# n 3h ch the Myster es# reser6ed for the "a thf$l# 3ere ne6er treated of, ;hen the ser6 ces and !rayers 3ere ended# the %atech$mens and s!ectators all 3 thdre3, %hrysostom# B sho! of %onstant no!le# 3as born n 97:# and d ed n :)+, -e says( @I 3 sh to s!ea/ o!enly( b$t I dare not# on acco$nt of those 3ho are not n t ated, I shall therefore a6a l myself of d sg$ sed terms# d sco$rs ng n a shado3y manner ,,,,, ;here the holy Myster es are celebrated# 3e dr 6e a3ay all $n n t ated !ersons# and then close the doors,@ -e ment ons the acclamat ons of the n t atedG @3h ch#@ he says# @I here !ass o6er n s lenceG for t s forb dden to d sclose s$ch th ngs to the Profane,@ Pallad $s# n h s l fe of %hrysostom# records# as a great o$trage# that# a t$m$lt ha6 ng been e4c ted aga nst h m by h s enem es# they forced the r 3ay nto the !enetral a# 3here the $n n t ated beheld 3hat 3as not !ro!er for them to seeG and

%hrysostom ment ons the same c rc$mstance n h s e! stle to Po!e Innocent, St, %yr l of Ale4andr a# 3ho 3as made B sho! n :)0# and d ed n :::# says n h s +th Boo/ aga nst &$l an( @These Myster es are so !rofo$nd and so e4alted# that they can be com!rehended by those only 3ho are enl ghtened, I shall not# therefore# attem!t to s!ea/ of 3hat s so adm rable n them# lest by d sco6er ng them to the $n n t ated# I sho$ld offend aga nst the n5$nct on not to g 6e 3hat s holy to the m!$re# nor cast !earls before s$ch as cannot est mate the r 3ortho,, I sho$ld say m$ch more# f I 3ere not afra d of be ng heard by those 3ho are $n n t ated( beca$se men are a!t to der de 3hat they do not $nderstand, And the gnorant# not be ng a3are of the 3ea/ness of the r m nds# condemn 3hat they o$ght most to 6enerate,@ Theodoret# B sho! of %yro!ol s n Syr a# 3as born n 919# and made B sho! n :02, In one of h s three D alog$es# called the Imm$table# he ntrod$ces Orthodo4$s# s!ea/ ng th$s( @Ans3er me# f yo$ !lease# n myst cal or obsc$re terms( for !erha!s there are some !ersons !resent

3ho are not n t ated nto the Myster es,@ And n h s !reface to E<e/ el# trac ng $! the secret d sc !l ne to the commencement of the %hr st an era# he says( @These Myster es are so a$g$st# that 3e o$ght to /ee! them 3 th the greatest ca$t on,@ M n$c $s "el 4# an em nent la3yer of Rome# 3ho l 6ed n 0)0# and 3rote a defence of %hr st an ty# says( @Many of them Athe %hr st ansB /no3 each other by to/ens and s gns Mnot s et ns gn b$sN# and they form a fr endsh ! for each other# almost before they become acE$a nted,@ The Lat n ;ord# tessera# or g nally meant a sE$are ! ece of 3ood or stone# $sed n ma/ ng tesselated !a6ementsG after3ard a tablet on 3h ch anyth ng 3as 3r tten# and then a c$be or d e, Its most general $se 3as to des gnate a ! ece of metal or 3ood# sE$are n sha!e# on 3h ch the 3atch3ord of an Army 3as nscr bedG 3hence tessera came to mean the 3atch3ord tself, There 3as also a tessera hos! tal s# 3h ch 3as a ! ece of 3ood c$t nto t3o !arts# as a !ledge of fr endsh !, Each !arty /e!t one of the !artsG and they s3ore m$t$al f del ty by &$! ter, To brea/ the

tessera 3as cons dered a d ssol$t on of the fr endsh !, The early %hr st ans $sed t as a Mar/# the 3atch3ord of fr endsh !, ; th them t 3as generally n the sha!e of a f sh# and made of bone, On ts face 3as nscr bed the 3ord # a f sh# the n t als of 3h ch re!resented the Gree/ 3ords# G &es$s %hr st# the Son of God# the Sa6 o$r, St, A$g$st ne Mde " de et S6mbol sN says( @Th s s the fa th 3h ch n a fe3 3ords s g 6en to the 8o6 ces to be /e!t by a symbolG these fe3 3ords are /no3n to all the "a thf$lG that by bel e6 ng they may be s$bm ss 6e to GodG by be ng th$s s$bm ss 6e# they may l 6e r ghtlyG by l 6 ng r ghtly# they may !$r fy the r hearts and 3 th a !$re heart may $nderstand 3hat they bel e6e,@ Ma4 m$s Ta$r n$s says( @The tessera s a symbol and s gn by 3h ch to d st ng$ sh bet3een the "a thf$l and the Profane,@ There are three Degrees n Bl$e MasonryG and n add t on to the t3o 3ords of t3o syllables each# embody ng the b nary# three# of three syllables each, There 3ere

three Grand Masters# the t3o K ngs# and Kh rDOm the Art f cer, The cand date ga ns adm ss on by three ra!s# and three ra!s call $! the Brethren, There are three !r nc !al off cers of the Lodge# three l ghts at the Altar# three gates Dof the Tem!le# all n the East# ;est# and So$th, The three l ghts re!resent the S$n# the Moon# and Merc$ryG Os r s# Is s# and -or$sG the "ather# the Mother# and the %h ldG ; sdom# Strength# and Bea$tyG -a/amah# B nah# and DaathG Ged$lah# Geb$rah# nd Te!areth, The cand date ma/es three c rc$ ts of the Lodge( there 3ere three assass ns of Kh rDOm# and he 3as sla n by three blo3s 3h le see/ ng to esca!e by the three gates of the Tem!le, The e5ac$lat on at h s gra6e 3as re!eated three t mes, There are threeK d 6 s ons of the Tem!le# and three# f 6e# and se6en Ste!s, A Master 3or/s 3 th %hal/# %harcoal# and a 6essel of %layG there are D,hree mo6able and three mmo6able 5e3els, The Tr angle a!!ears among the Symbols( the t3o

!arallel l nes enclos ng the c rcle are connected at to!# as are the %ol$mns &ach n and Boa<# symbol < ng the eE$ l br $m 3h ch e4!la ns the great Myster es of 8at$re, Th s cont n$al re!rod$ct on of the n$mber three s not acc dental# nor 3 tho$t a !rofo$nd mean ng( and 3e shall f nd the same re!eated n all the Anc ent !h loso!h es, The Egy!t an Gods formed Tr ads# the th rd member n each !roceed ng fro m the other t3o, Th$s 3e ha6e the Tr ad of Thebes# Am$n# Ma$t# and KharsoG that of Ph lae# Os r s# Is s# and -or$sG that of Ele!hant ni and the %ataracts# 8e!h# Sate# and Ano$/i, Os r s# Is s# and -or$s 3ere the "ather# Mother# and SonG the latter be ng L ght# the So$l of the ;orld# the Son# the Protogonos or " rstDBegotten, Somet mes th s Tr ad 3as regarded as SPIRIT# or the act 6e Pr nc !le or Generat 6e Po3erG MATTER# or the PASSIFE Pr nc !le or Prod$ct 6e %a!ac tyG and the

'n 6erse# 3h ch !roceeds from the t3o Pr nc !les, ;e also f nd n Egy!t th s Tr ad or Tr n tyG AmmonDRa# the %reator( Os r sDRa, the G 6er of "r$ tf$lness( -or$sDRa the I$eller of L ghtG symbol <ed by the S$mmer# A$t$mn# and S!r ng S$n, "or the Egy!t ans had b$t three Seasons# the three gates of the Tem!leG and on acco$nt of the d fferent effects of the S$n on those three Seasons# the De ty a!!ears n these three forms, The Phoen c an Tr n ty 3as 'lomos# %h$soros# and the Egg o$t of 3h ch the 'n 6erse !roceeded, The %haldean Tr ad cons sted of Bel# Athe Pers an Her6ana A/heranaB# Oromasdes# and Ahr manG the Good and E6 l Pr nc !le al /e o$tflo3 ng from the "ather# by the r eE$ l br $m and alternat ng !re!onderance to !rod$ce harmony, Each 3as to r$le# n t$rn# for eE$al !er ods# $nt l f nally the E6 l Pr nc !le sho$ld tself become good,

The %haldean and Pers an oracles of Horoaster g 6e $s the Tr ad# " re# L ght# and Ether, Or!he$s celebrates the Tr ad of Phanes# O$ranos# and Kronos, %orry says the Or!h c Tr n ty cons sted of Met s# Phanes# and Er ca!ae$sG ; ll# L ght or Lo6e# and L fe, Ac$s la$s ma/es t cons st of Met s# Eros# and gther( ; ll# Lo6e# and Ether, Phereyc des of Syros# of " re# ;ater# and A r or S! r t, In the t3o former 3e read ly recogn <e Os r s and Is s# the S$n and the 8 le, The f rst three of the Pers an Amshas!ands 3ere BA-MA8# the Lord of LIG-TG Ard behest# the Lord Of "IREG and Shar 6er# the Lord of SPLE8DOR, These at once lead $s bac/ to the Kabala, Pl$tarch says( @The better and d 6 ner nat$re cons sts of threeG the Intell g ble M ,e, that and 3h ch e4 sts 3 th n the Intellect only as yetN# and MatterG # and that 3h ch !roceeds from these# 3h ch the Gree/s call Kosmos( of 3h ch Plato calls the

Intell g ble# the Idea# the E4em!lar# the "ather( Matter# the Mother# the 8$rse# and the rece!tacle and !lace of generat on( and the ss$e of these t3o# the Offs!r ng and Genes s,@ The Pythagorean fragments say( @Therefore# before the -ea6en 3as made# there e4 sted Idea and Matter# and God the Dem o$rgos A3or/man or act 6e nstr$mentB# of the former, -e made the 3orld o$t of matter# !erfect# onlyDbegotten# 3 th a so$l and ntellect# and const t$ted t a d 6 n ty,@ Plato g 6es $s Tho$ght# the "atherG Pr m t 6e Matter# the MotherG and Kosmos# the Son# the ss$e of the t3o Pr nc !les, Kosmos s the enso$led 'n 6erse, ; th the later Platon sts# the Tr ad 3as Potence# Intellect# and S! r t# Ph lo re!resents Sanchon athon?s as " re# L ght# and "lame# the three Sons of GenosG b$t th s s the Ale4andr an# not the Phbn c an dea, A$rel $s says the Dem o$rgos or %reator s tr !le# and the three Intellects

are the three K ngs( -e 3ho e4 stsG -e 3ho !ossessesG -e 3ho beholds, The f rst s that 3h ch e4 sts by ts essenceG the second e4 sts n the f rst# and conta ns or !ossesses n tself the 'n 6ersal of th ngsG all that after3ard becomes( the th rd beholds th s 'n 6ersal# formed and fash oned ntellect$ally# and so ha6 ng a se!arate e4 stence, The Th rd e4 sts n the Second# and the Second n the " rst, The most anc ent Tr n tar an doctr ne on record s that of the Brahm ns, The Eternal S$!reme Essence# called PARABRA-MA# BRA-M# PARATMA# !rod$ced the 'n 6erse by selfDreflect on# and f rst re6ealed h mself as BRA-MA# the %reat ng Po3er# then as FIS-8'# the Preser6 ng Po3er# and lastly as SIFA# the Destroy ng and Reno6at ng Po3erG the three Modes n 3h ch the S$!reme Essence re6eals h mself n the mater al 'n 6erseG b$t 3h ch soon to be regarded as three d st nct De t es, These three De t es came they styled the TRIM'RTI# or TRIAD, The Pers ans rece 6ed from the Ind ans the doctr ne of the three !r nc !les# and changed t to that of a !r nc !le of L fe# 3h ch 3as

nd 6 d$al <ed by the S$n# and a !r nc !le of Death# 3h ch 3as symbol <ed by cold and dar/nessG !arallel of the moral 3orldG and n 3h ch the cont n$al and alternat ng str$ggle bet3een l ght and dar/ness# l fe and death# seemed b$t a !hase of the great str$ggle bet3een the good and e6 l !r nc !les# embod ed n the legend of ORM'HD and A-RIMA8, MIT-RAS# a Med an reformer# 3as de f ed after h s death# and n6ested 3 th the attr b$tes of the S$nG the d fferent astronom cal !henomena be ng f g$rat 6ely deta led as act$al nc dents of h s l feG n the same manner as the h story of B'DD-A 3as n6ented among the - ndWs, The Tr n ty of the - ndWs became among the Eth o! ans and Abyss n ans 8EP-DAMO8# P-T-A# and 8EIT- D the God %REATOR# 3hose emblem 3as a ram D MATTER# or the !r m t 6e m$d# symbol <ed by a globe or an egg# and T-O'G-T# or the LIG-T 3h ch conta ns the germ of e6eryth ngG tr !le man festat on of one and the same God MAT-OMN# cons dered n three as!ects# as the creat 6e !o3er# goodness# and 3 sdom, Other De t es 3ere s!eed ly n6entedG and among them OSTRIS# re!resented by

the S$n# ISIS# h s 3 fe# by the Moon or Earth# T.P-O8# h s Brother# the Pr nc !le of E6 l and Dar/ness# 3ho 3as the son of Os r s and Is s, And the Tr n ty of OSIRIS# ISIS# and -OR'S became s$bseE$ently the %h ef Gods and ob5ects of 3orsh ! of the Egy!t ans, The anc ent Etr$scans Ma race that em grated from the RhQt an Al!s nto Italy# along 3hose ro$te e6 dences of the r m grat on ha6e been d sco6ered# and 3hose lang$age none ha6e yet s$cceeded n read ngN ac/no3ledged only one S$!reme GodG b$t they had mages for - s d fferent attr b$tes# and tem!les to these mages, Each to3n had one 8at onal Tem!le# ded cated to the three great attr b$tes of God# STRE8GT-# RI%-ES# and ;ISDOM# or T na# Talna# and M ner6a, The 8at onal De ty 3as al3ays a Tr ad $nder one roofG and t 3as the same n Egy!t# 3here one S$!reme God alone 3as ac/no3ledged# b$t 3as 3orsh !!ed as a Tr ad# 3 th d fferent names n each d fferent home, Each c ty n Etr$r a m ght ha6e as many gods and gates and tem!les as t !leasedG b$t three sacred gates# and one Tem!le to three D 6 ne

Attr b$tes 3ere obl gatory# 3here6er the la3s of Tages Mor Ta$nt or ThothN 3ere rece 6ed, The only gate that rema ns n Italy# of the olden t me# $ndestroyed# s the Porta del % rco at FolterraG and t has $!on t the three heads of the three 8at onal D 6 n t es# one $!on the /eystone of ts magn f cent arch# and one abo6e each s deD! llar, The B$ddh sts hold that the God SAK.A of the - ndWs# called n %eylon# GA'TAMA# n Ind a beyond the Ganges# SOMO8AKODOM# and n %h na# %-.DKIA# or "o# const t$ted a Tr n ty ATRIRAT8AB# of B'DD-A# D-ARMA# and SA8GA# D Intell gence# La3# and 'n on or -armony, The %h nese SabQans re!resented the S$!reme De ty as com!osed of %-A8GDTI# the S$!reme So6ere gnG TIE8# the -ea6ensG and TAO# the 'n 6ersal S$!reme Reason and Pr nc !le of "a thG and that from %haos# an mmense s lence# an mmeas$rable 6o d, 3 tho$t !erce!t ble forms# alone# nf n te# mm$table# mo6 ng n a c rcle n ll m table s!ace# 3 tho$t change or alterat on# 3hen 6 6 f ed by the Pr nc !le of Tr$th# ss$ed all Be ngs# $nder the nfl$ence of TAO# Pr nc !le of "a th# 3ho !rod$ced one#

one !rod$ced t3o# t3o !rod$ced three# and three !rod$ced all that s, The Scla6onoDFendes ty! f ed the Tr n ty by the three heads of the God TRIGLAFG and the Pr$c< or Pr$ss ans by the Tr D$ne God# PERKO'8# PIKOLLOS# and POTRIMPOS# the De t es of L ght and Th$nder# of -ell and the Earth# ts fr$ ts and an mals( and the Scand na6 ans by ODI8# "REA# and T-OR, In the KABALA-# or the -ebre3 trad t onal !h loso!hy# the Inf n te De ty# beyond the reach of the -$man Intellect# and 3 tho$t 8ame# "orm# or L m tat on# 3as re!resented as de6elo! ng - mself# n order to create# and by selfDl m tat on# n ten emanat ons or o$tDflo3 ngs# called SEP-IROT-# or rays# The f rst of these# n the 3orld AHIL'T-# that s# 3 th n the De ty# 3as KET-ER# or the %ro3n# by 3h ch 3e $nderstand the D 6 ne ; ll or Potency, 8e4t came# as a !a r# -AI@#MA- and BAI8A-# ord nar ly translated @; sdom@ and @Intell gence#@ the former termed the "AT-ER# and the latter the MOT-ER, -AKEMA- s the act 6e Po3er or Energy of De ty# by 3h ch -e !rod$ces 3 th n - mself Intellect on or Th n/ ng( and

BAI8A-# the !ass 6e %a!ac ty# from 3h ch# acted on by the Po3er# the Intellect on flo3s, Th s Intellect on s called DAAT-( and t s the @;ORD#@ of Plato and the Gnost csG the $n$ttered 3ord# 3 th n the De ty, -ere s the or g n of the Tr n ty of the "ather# the Mother or -oly S! r t# and the Son or ;ord, Another Tr n ty 3as com!osed of the fo$rth Se!h rah# GED'LA- or K-AS;# Ben gn ty or Mercy# also termed "AT-ER MAbaNG the f fth# GEB'RA-# Se6er ty or Str ct &$st ce# also termed the MOT-ER MImmaNG and the s 4th# the SO8 or Iss$e of these# TIP-ARET-# Bea$ty or -armony, @E6eryth ng#@ says the SO-AR# R!roceeds accord ng to the Mystery of the Balance@ D that s# by the eE$ l br $m of O!!os tes( and th$s from the Inf n te Mercy and the Inf n te 5$st ce# n eE$ l br $m# flo3s the !erfect -armony of the 'n 6erse, Inf n te PO;ER# 3h ch s La3less# and Inf n te ;ISDOM# n EE$ l br $m# also !rod$ce BEA'T. or -ARMO8.# as Son# Iss$e# or Res$lt D the ;ord# or $tterance of the Tho$ght of God, Po3er and &$st ce or Se6er ty are the same( ; sdom

and Mercy or Ben gn ty are the sameG D n the Inf n te D 6 ne 8at$re, Accord ng to Ph lo of Ale4andr a# the S$!reme Be ng# Pr m t 6e L ght or Archety!e of L ght# $n t ng 3 th ;ISDOM A B# the mother of %reat on# forms n - mself the ty!es of all th ngs# and acts $!on the 'n 6erse thro$gh the ;ORD A , , LogosB# 3ho d3ells n God# and n 3hom all - s !o3ers and attr b$tes de6elo! themsel6esG a doctr ne borro3ed by h m from Plato, S mon Mag$s and h s d sc !les ta$ght that the S$!reme Be ng or %entre of L ght !rod$ced f rst of all# three co$!les of $n ted E4 stences# of both se4es# A ,,, S$<$g asB# 3h ch 3ere the or g ns of all th ngs( REASO8 and I8FE8TIFE8ESSG SPEE%- and T-O'G-TG and and # %AL%'LATIO8 and RE"LE%TIO8( A and # o 8f$s and E! no a# Phfne and Enno a# Log smos and Enth$mis sBG of 3h ch Enno a or ;ISDOM 3as the f rst !rod$ced# and Mother

of all that e4 sts, Other D sc !les of S mon# and 3 th them most of the Gnost cs# ado!t ng and o Plerfma# or PLE8IT'DE of mod fy ng the doctr ne# ta$ght that the S$!er or Intell gences# ha6 ng the S$!reme Be ng at the r head# 3as com!osed of e ght Eons A , , A fnesB of d fferent se4esG , , PRO"'8DIT. and SILE8%EG SPIRIT and TR'T-G the ;ORD and LI"EG MA8 and the G and G and and ( and %-'R%-( A o, B$thos and S giG Pne$ma and Alethe aG Logos and and HfeG Anthrf!os and E//lis aB, Bardesanes# 3hose doctr nes the Syr an %hr st ans long embraced# ta$ght that the $n/no3n "ather# ha!!y n the Plen t$de of - s L fe and Perfect ons# f rst !rod$ced a %om!an on for - mself A ,,, S$<$gosB# 3hom -e !laced n the %elest al Parad se and 3ho became# by - m# the Mother of %-RISTOS# Son of the L 6 ng God( ,e, Mlay ng as de the allegoryN# that the Eternal conce 6ed# n the s lence of - s decrees# the Tho$ght of re6eal ng - mself by

a Be ng 3ho sho$ld be - s mage or - s Son( that to the Son s$cceeded h s S ster and S!o$se# the -oly S! r t# and they !rod$ced fo$r S! r ts of the elements# male and female# Ma o and &abseho# 8o$ro and R$choG then Se6en Myst c %o$!les of S! r ts# and -ea6en and Earth# and all that sG then se6en s! r ts go6ern ng the !lanets# t3el6e go6ern ng the %onstellat ons of the Hod ac# and th rtyDs 4 Starry Intell gences 3hom he called Deacons( 3h le the -oly S! r t ASo!h a AchamothB# be ng both the -oly Intell gence and the So$l of the !hys cal 3orld# 3ent from the Plerfma nto that mater al 3orld and there mo$rned her degradat on# $nt l %-RISTOS# her former s!o$se# com ng to her 3 th h s D 6 ne L ght and Lo6e# g$ ded her n the 3ay to !$r f cat on# and she aga n $n ted herself 3 th h m as h s !r m t 6e %om!an on, Bas l des# the %hr st an Gnost c# ta$ght that there 3ere se6en emanat ons fro m the S$!reme Be ng( The " rstDborn# Tho$ght# the ;ord# Reflect on# # # # # # ; sdom# Po3er# and R ghteo$sness A #

and Protogonos# 8o$s# Logos# Phrones s# So!h a# D$nam s# and D /aros$niBG from 3hom emanated other Intell gences n s$ccess on# to the n$mber# n all# of three h$ndred and s 4tyDf 6eG 3h ch 3ere God man fested# and com!osed the Plen t$de of the D 6 ne Emanat ons# or the God Abra4asG of 3h ch the Tho$ght Aor Intellect# , , 8o$sB $n ted tself# by ba!t sm n the r 6er &ordan# 3 th the man &es$s# ser6ant A , D a/onosB of the h$man raceG b$t d d not s$ffer 3 th - mG and the d sc !les of Bas l des ta$ght that the # !$t on the a!!earance only of h$man ty# and that S mon of %yrene 3as cr$c f ed n - s stead and ascended nto -ea6en, Bas l des held that o$t of the $nre6ealed God# 3ho s at the head# of the 3orld of emanat ons# and e4alted abo6e all conce!t on or des gnat on A B# 3ere e6ol6ed se6en l 6 ng# selfDs$bs stent# e6erDact 6e hy!osat <ed !o3ers( )st, 8O'S ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 0d, LOGOS ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

9d, Phrones s ,,,,,,,,,,,, :th, So!h a,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, SE%O8D( T-E A%TIFE OR OPERATIFE PO;ER, 7th, D$nam s,,,,,,,,,,,,, =th, D /a os$ni ,,,,,,,,, +th, E rini,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, These Se6en Po3ers M ,, D$name sN# 3 th the Pr mal Gro$nd o$t of 3h ch they 3ere e6ol6ed# const t$ted n h s scheme the AProte OgdoasB# or " rst Octa6e# the root of all E4 stence, "rom th s !o nt# the s! r t$al l fe !roceeded to e6ol6e o$t of tself cont n$ally many gradat ons of e4 stence# each lo3er one be ng st ll the m!ress on# the antety!e# of the mmed ate h gher one, -e s$!!osed there 3ere 9=7 of these reg ons or gradat ons# e4!ressed by the myst cal 3ord

"IRST( T-E I8TELLE%T'AL PO;ERS,

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, The M nd, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, The Reason, ,,,,,,,,,,, The Th n/ ng Po3er, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ; sdom, ,,,,,,,,,,,, M ght# accom!l sh ng the !$r!oses of ; sdom, T-IRD( T-E MORAL ATTRIB'TES, ,,,,,, -ol ness or Moral Perfect on, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, In3ard TranE$ l ty, AAbra4asB, The s th$s nter!reted# by the $s$al method of rec/on ng Gree/ letters n$mer callyo,, a#) ,, b#) o,5#)22 o, a#) o, 4#=2,, a#) , , 4#022 Y 9=7( 3h ch s the 3hole Emanat onD;orld# as the de6elo!ment of the S$!reme Be ng, In the system of Bas l des# L ght# L fe# So$l# and Good 3ere o!!osed to Dar/ness# Death# Matter# and E6 l# thro$gho$t the 3hole co$rse of the 'n 6erse, Accord ng to the Gnost c 6 e3# God 3as re!resented as the mmanent#

ncom!rehens ble and or g nal so$rce of all !erfect onG the $nfathomable AB.SS M , , b$thosN# accord ng to Falent n$s# e4alted abo6e all !oss b l ty of des gnat onG of 3hom# !ro!erly s!ea/ ng# noth ng can be !red catedG the of Bas l des# the of Ph lo, "rom th s ncom!rehens ble Essence of God# an mmed ate trans t on to f n te th ngs s nconce 6able, SelfD l m tat on s the f rst beg nn ng of a comm$n cat on of l fe on the !art of God D the f rst !ass ng of the h dden De ty nto man festat onG and from th s !roceeds all f$rther selfDde6elo! ng man festat on of the D 6 ne Essence, "rom th s !r mal l n/ n the cha n of l fe there are e6ol6ed# n the f rst !lace# the man fold !o3ers or attr b$tes nherent n the d 6 ne Essence# 3h ch# $nt l that f rst selfcom!rehens on# 3ere all h dden n the Abyss of - s Essence, Each of these attr b$tes !resents the 3hole d 6 ne Essence $nder one !art c$lar as!ectG and to each# therefore# n th s res!ect# the t tle of God may a!!ro!r ately be a!!l ed, These D 6 ne Po3ers e6ol6 ng themsel6es to selfDs$bs stence# become

there$!on the germs and !r nc !les of all f$rther de6elo!ments of l fe, The l fe conta ned n them $nfolds and nd 6 d$al <es tself more and more# b$t n s$ch a 3ay that the s$ccess 6e grades of th s e6ol$t on of l fe cont n$ally s n/ lo3er and lo3erG the s! r ts become feebler# the f$rther they are remo6ed from the f rst l n/ n the ser es, The f rst man festat on they termed hea$to$B or 3as hy!ostat cally re!resented n a or A!roti /atali!s s A!roton /atali!ton to$ Theo$BG 3h ch A8o$s or LogosB, In the Ale4andr an Gnos s# the Platon c not on of the A-$liB !redom nates, Th s s the dead# the $ns$bstant al D the bo$ndary that l m ts from 3 tho$t the e6ol$t on of l fe n ts grad$ally ad6anc ng !rogress on# 3hereby the Perfect s

e6er e6ol6 ng tself nto the less Perfect, Th s aga n# s re!resented $nder 6ar o$s magesG D at one t me as the dar/ness that e4 sts alongs de of the l ghtG at another# as the 6o d A # ,,,, Kenoma# KenonB# n o!!os t on to the "$llness# A ,,,, PliromaB of the D 6 ne L feG or as the shado3 that accom!an es the l ghtG or as the chaos# or the sl$gg sh# stagnant# dar/ 3ater, Th s matter# dead n tself# !ossesses by ts o3n nat$re no nherent tendencyG as l fe of e6ery sort s fore gn to t# tself ma/es no encroachment on the D 6 ne, As# ho3e6er# the e6ol$t ons of the D 6 ne L fe Mthe essences de6elo! ng themsel6es o$t of the !rogress 6e emanat onN become feebler# the f$rther they are remo6ed from the f rst l n/ n the ser esG and as the r connect on 3 th the f rst becomes looser at each s$ccess 6e ste!# there ar ses at the last ste! of the e6ol$t on# an m!erfect# defect 6e !rod$ct# 3h ch# $nable to reta n ts connect on 3 th the cha n of D 6 ne L fe# s n/s from the ;orld of Eons nto the mater al chaos( or# accord ng to the same not on# some3hat d fferently e4!ressed Aaccord ng to the O!h tes and to BardesanesB# a

dro! from the f$llness of the D 6 ne l fe b$bbles o6er nto the border ng 6o d, -ere$!on the dead matter# by comm 4t$re 3 th the l 6 ng !r nc !le# 3h ch t 3anted# f rst of all rece 6es an mat on, B$t# at the same t me# also# the d 6 ne# the l 6 ng# becomes corr$!ted by m ngl ng 3 th the chaot c mass, E4 stence no3 m$lt !l es tself, There ar ses a s$bord nate# defect 6e l feG there s gro$nd for a ne3 3orldG a creat on starts nto be ng# beyond the conf nes of the 3orld of emanat on, B$t# on the other hand# s nce the chaot c !r nc !le of matter has acE$ red 6 tal ty# there no3 ar ses a more d st nct and more act 6e o!!os t on to the GodDl /e D a barely negat 6e# bl nd# $ngodly nat$reD!o3er# 3h ch obst nately res sts all nfl$ence of the D 6 neG hence# as !rod$cts of the s! r t of the Mof the ,, Pne$ma -$l /onN# are Satan# mal gnant s! r ts# 3 c/ed men# n none of 3hom s there any reasonable or moral !r nc !le# or any !r nc !le of a rat onal 3 llG b$t bl nd !ass ons alone ha6e the ascendency, In them there s the same confl ct# as the scheme of Platon sm s$!!oses# bet3een the so$l $nder the g$ dance of D 6 ne reason Athe , , 8o$sB#

and the so$l bl ndly res st ng reason D bet3een the A!rono aB and the AanagiB# the D 6 ne Pr nc !le and the nat$ral, The Syr an Gnos s ass$med the e4 stence of an act 6e# t$rb$lent / ngdom of e6 l# or of dar/ness# 3h ch# by ts encroachments on the / ngdom of l ght# bro$ght abo$t a comm 4t$re of the l ght 3 th the dar/ness# of the GodDl /e 3 th the $ngodl /e, E6en among the Platon sts# some tho$ght that along 3 th an organ <ed# nert matter# the s$bstrat$m of the cor!oreal 3orld# there e4 sted from the beg nn ng a bl nd# la3less mot 6e !o3er# an $ngodl /e so$l# as ts or g nal mot 6e and act 6e !r nc !le, As the norgan c matter 3as organ <ed nto a cor!oreal 3orld# by the !last c !o3er of the De ty# so# by the same !o3er# la3 and reason 3ere comm$n cated to that t$rb$lent# rrat onal so$l, Th$s the chaos of the 3as transformed nto an organ <ed 3orld# and that bl nd so$l nto a rat onal !r nc !le# a m$ndane so$l# an mat ng the 'n 6erse, As from the latter !roceeds all rat onal# s! r t$al l fe n h$man ty# so from the former !roceeds all that s rrat onal# all that s $nder the bl nd s3ay of !ass on and a!!et teG and all

mal gnant s! r ts are ts !rogeny, In one res!ect all the Gnost cs agreed( they all held# that there 3as a 3orld !$rely emanat ng o$t of the 6 tal de6elo!ment of God# a creat on e6ol6ed d rectly o$t of the D 6 ne Essence# far e4alted abo6e any o$t3ard creat on !rod$ced by God?s !last c !o3er# and cond t oned by !reDe4 st ng matter, They agreed n hold ng that the framer of th s lo3er 3orld 3as not the "ather of that h gher 3orld of emanat onG b$t the Dem $rge A D B# a be ng of a / ndred nat$re 3 th the 'n 6erse framed and go6erned by h m# and far nfer or to that h gher system and the "ather of t, B$t some# sett ng o$t from deas 3h ch had long !re6a led among certa n &e3s of Ale4andr a# s$!!osed that the S$!reme God created and go6erned the 3orld by - s m n ster ng s! r ts# by the angels, At the head of these angels stood one 3ho had the d rect on and control of allG therefore called the Art f cer and Go6ernor of the ;orld, Th s Dem $rge they com!ared 3 th the !last c# an mat ng# m$ndane s! r t of Plato and o,De$teros TheosG the Platon sts Athe o, Theos GenetosB# 3ho# moreo6er# accord ng to the T mQ$s of Plato# str 6es to

re!resent the IDEA of the D 6 ne Reason# n that 3h ch s becom ng Mas contrad st ng$ shed from that 3h ch sN and tem!oral, Th s angel s a re!resentat 6e of the S$!reme God# on the lo3er stage of e4 stence( he does not act nde!endently# b$t merely accord ng to the deas ns! red n h m by the S$!reme GodG 5$st as the !last c# m$ndane so$l of the Platon sts creates all th ngs after the !attern of the deas comm$n cated ,,,, 8o$s D the by the S$!reme ,Reason A ,,, ho est <fon D the !arade gma# of the D 6 ne Reason hy!ostat <edB, B$t these deas transcend h s l m ted essenceG he cannot $nderstand themG he s merely the r $nconsc o$s organG and therefore s $nable h mself to com!rehend the 3hole sco!e and mean ng of the 3or/ 3h ch l e !erforms, As an organ $nder the g$ dance of a h gher ns! rat on# he re6eals h gher tr$ths than he h mself can com!rehend, The mass of the &e3s# they held# recogn <ed not the angel# by 3hom# n all the Theo!han es of the Old Testament# God re6ealed - mself G they /ne3 not the Dem $rge n h s tr$e relat on to the h dden S$!reme God# 3ho ne6er re6eals - mself n the sens ble 3orld, They confo$nded the ty!e and the

archety!e# the symbol and the dea, They rose no h gher than the Dem $rgeG they too/ h m to be the S$!reme God - mself, B$t the s! r t$al men among them# on the contrary# clearly !erce 6ed# or at least d 6 ned# the deas 6e led $nder &$da smG they rose beyond the Dem $rge# to a /no3ledge of the S$!reme GodG and are therefore !ro!erly - s , , Thera!e$ta B, 3orsh !!ers A Other Gnost cs# 3ho had not been follo3ers of the Mosa c rel g on# b$t 3ho had# at an earl er !er od# framed to themsel6es an or ental Gnos s# regarded the Dem $rge as a be ng absol$tely host le to the S$!reme God, -e and h s angels# not3 thstand ng the r f n te nat$re# 3 sh to establ sh the r nde!endence( they 3 ll tolerate no fore gn r$le 3 th n the r realm, ;hate6er of a h gher nat$re descends nto the r / ngdom# they see/ to hold m!r soned there# lest t sho$ld ra se tself abo6e the r narro3 !rec ncts, Probably# n th s system# the / ngdom of the Dem $rg c Angels corres!onded# for the most !art# 3 th that of the dece tf$l StarDS! r ts# 3ho see/ to rob man of h s freedom# to beg$ le h m by 6ar o$s arts of

dece!t on# and 3ho e4erc se a tyrann cal s3ay o6er the th ngs of th s 3orld, Accord ngly# n the system of these SabQans# the se6en PlanetD S! r ts# and the t3el6e StarDS! r ts of the <od ac# 3ho s!rang from an rreg$lar connect on bet3een the cheated "etah l and the S! r t of Dar/ness# !lay an m!ortant !art n e6eryth ng that s bad, The Dem $rge s a l m ted and l m t ng be ng# !ro$d# 5ealo$s# and re6engef$lG and th s h s character betrays tself n the Old Testament# 3h ch# the Gnost cs held# came from h m, They transferred to the Dem $rge h mself# 3hate6er n the dea of God# as !resented by the Old Testament# a!!eared to them defect 6e, Aga nst h s 3 ll and r$le the 3as cont n$ally rebell ng# re6olt ng 3 tho$t control aga nst the dom n on 3h ch he# the fash oner# 3o$ld e4erc se o6er t# cast ng off the yo/e m!osed on t# and destroy ng the 3or/ he had beg$n, The same 5ealo$s be ng# l m ted n h s !o3er# r$l ng 3 th des!ot c s3ay# they mag ned they sa3 n nat$re, -e str 6es to chec/ the germ nat on of the d 6 ne seeds of l fe 3h ch the S$!reme God of -ol ness and Lo6e#

3ho has no connect on 3hate6er 3 th the sens ble 3orld# has scattered among men, That !erfect God 3as at most /no3n and 3orsh !!ed n Myster es by a fe3 s! r t$al men, The Gos!el of St, &ohn s n great meas$re a !olem c aga nst the Gnost cs# 3hose d fferent sects# to sol6e the great !roblems# the creat on of a mater al 3orld by an mmater al Be ng# the fall of man# the ncarnat on# the redem!t on and restorat on of the s! r ts called men# adm tted a long ser es of ntell gences# nter6en ng n a ser es of s! r t$al o!erat onsG and 3h ch they des gnated by the names# The Beg nn ng# the ;ord# the OnlyDBegotten# L fe# L ght# and S! r t AGhostB( n Gree/# # # MoD and AArchi# Logos# Monogenis# Hfe# # Phfs# and Pne$maB, St, &ohn# at the beg nn ng of h s Gos!el# a6ers that t 3as &es$s %hr st 3ho e4 sted n the Beg nn ngG that -e 3as the ;ORD of God by 3h ch e6eryth ng 3as madeG that -e 3as the OnlyDBegotten# the L fe and the L ght# and that -e d ff$ses among men the -oly S! r t Aor GhostB# the D 6 ne L fe and L ght, So the Pliroma A B# Plen t$de or "$llness# 3as a fa6or te term 3 th

the Gnost cs# and Tr$th and Grace 3ere the Gnost c EonsG and the S mon ans# Do/itis# and other Gnost cs held that the Eon %hr st &es$s 3as ne6er really# b$t only a!!arently clothed 3 th a h$man body( b$t St, &ohn re!l es that the ;ord d d really become "lesh# and d3elt among $sG and that n - m 3ere the Pliroma and Tr$th and Grace, In the doctr ne of Falent n$s# reared a %hr st an at Ale4andr a# God 3as a !erfect Be ng# an Abyss A , , B$thosB# 3h ch no ntell gence co$ld so$nd# beca$se no eye co$ld reach the n6 s ble and neffable he ghts on 3h ch -e d3elt# and no m nd co$ld com!rehend the d$rat on of - s e4 stenceG -e has al3ays beenG -e s the Pr m t 6e "ather and Beg nn ng and Athe , , Pro!atfr and ProarchiB( -e 3 ll BE al3ays# and does not gro3 old, The de6elo!ment of - s Perfect ons !rod$ced the ntellect$al 3orld, After ha6 ng !assed nf n te ages n re!ose and s lence# -e man fested - mself by - s Tho$ght# so$rce of all - s man festat ons# and 3h ch rece 6ed from - m the germ of - s ,, Enno aB s also creat ons, Be ng of - s Be ng# - s Tho$ght A

termed A%har sB# Grace or &oy# and # or AS gi or ArritonB# S lence or the Ineffable, Its f rst man festat on 3as A8o$sB# the Intell gence# f rst of the Eons# commencement of all th ngs# f rst re6elat on of the D 6 n ty# the AMonogenisB# or OnlyDBegotten( ne4t# Tr$th A D o Alithe aB# h s com!an on, The r man festat ons 3ere the ;ord o,HoiB and the rs# Man and the %h$rch and ,, LogosB and L fe A A A and o, Anthrf!os and E//lis aB( and from these# other t3el6e# s 4 of 3hom 3ere -o!e# "a th# %har ty# Intell gence# -a!! ness# and ; sdomG or# n the -ebre3# Kesten# K na# Am!he# O$anan m# Thaedes# and O$b na, The harmony of the Eons# str$ggl ng to /no3 and be $n ted to the Pr m t 6e God# 3as d st$rbed# and to redeem and restore them# the Intell gence A B !rod$ced %hr st and the -oly S! r t - s com!an onG 3ho restored them to the r f rst estate of ha!! ness and harmonyG and there$!on they formed the Eon &es$s# born of a F rg n# to 3hom the %hr stos $n ted h mself n ba!t sm and 3ho# 3 th h s %o m!an on So!h aDAchamoth# sa6ed and redeemed the 3orld,

The Marcos ans ta$ght that the S$!reme De ty !rod$ced by - s 3ords the ALogosB or Plen t$de of Eons( - s f rst $tterance 3as a syllable of fo$r letters# each of 3h ch became a be ngG - s second of fo$r# - s th rd of ten# and - s fo$rth of t3el6e( th rty n all# 3h ch const t$ted the f APliromaB, The Falent n ans# and others of the Gnost cs# d st ng$ shed three orders of e4 stences( D )st, The d 6 ne germs of l fe# e4alted by the r nat$re abo6e matter# and a/ n to the MSo!h aB# to the m$ndane so$l and to the Pliroma(D the s! r t$al nat$res# APh$se s Pne$mat /a B( 0d, The nat$res or g nat ng n the l fe# d 6 ded from the former by the m 4t$re # D the !sych cal nat$res# of the APh$se s Ps$ch /a BG 3 th 3h ch beg ns a !erfectly ne3 order of e4 stence# an mage of that h gher m nd and system# n a s$bord nate gradeG and f nally# 9d, The 'ngodl /e or -yl c 8at$re# 3h ch res sts all amel orat on# and 3hose tendency s only to destroy D the nat$re of bl nd l$st and !ass on, The nat$re of the

relat onsh ! 3 th God Mthe A!ne$mat /onB# the s! r t$al# s essent al o, -omoDo$s on tf ThefN( hence the l fe of 'n ty# the $nd 6 ded# the # absol$tely s m!le M o, O$s a hen /e# monoe desN, A!s$ch /o N s d sr$!t on nto m$lt !l c ty# The essence of the man foldnessG 3h ch# ho3e6er# s s$bord nate to a h gher $n ty# by 3h ch t allo3s tself to be g$ ded# f rst $nconsc o$sly# then consc o$sly, The essence of the A-$l /o B Mof 3hom Satan s the headN# s the d rect o!!os te to all $n tyG d sr$!t on and d s$n on n tself# 3 tho$t the least sym!athy# 3 tho$t any !o nt of coalescence 3hate6er for $n tyG together 3 th an effort to destroy all $n ty# to e4tend ts o3n nherent d s$n on to e6eryth ng# and to rend e6eryth ng as$nder, Th s !r nc !le has no !o3er to !os t anyth ngG b$t only to negat 6e( t s $nable to create# to !rod$ce# to form# b$t only to destroy# to decom!ose, By Marc$s# the d sc !le of Falent n$s# the dea of a ALogos

To$ OntosB# of a ;ORD# man fest ng the h dden D 6 ne Essence# n the %reat on# 3as s!$n o$t nto the most s$btle deta ls D the ent re creat on be ng# n h s 6 e3# a cont n$o$s $tterance of the Ineffable, The 3ay n 3h ch the germs of d 6 ne l fe Athe o, s!ermata !ne$mat /aB# 3h ch l e sh$t $! n the Eons# cont n$ally $nfold and nd 6 d$al <e them sel6es more and more# s re!resented as a s!ontaneo$s analys s of the se6eral names of the Ineffable# nto the r se6eral so$nds, An echo of the Pliroma falls do3n nto the A-$IiB# and becomes the form ng of a ne3 b$t lo3er creat on, One form$la of the !ne$mat cal ba!t sm among the Gnost cs ran th$s( @In the 8AME 3h ch s h dden from all the D 6 n t es and Po3ers@ Aof the Dem $rgeB# @The 8ame of Tr$th@ Athe AAlethe al# selfDman festat on of the B$thosB# 3h ch &es$s of 8a<areth has !$t on n the l ghtD<ones of %hr st# the l 6 ng %hr st# thro$gh the -oly Ghost# for the redem!t on of the angels# D the 8ame by 3h ch all th ngs atta n to Perfect on,@ The cand date then sa d( @I am establ shed and redeemedG I am redeemed n my so$l

fro m th s 3orld# and from all that belongs to t# by the name of # 3ho has redeemed the So$l of &es$s by the l 6 ng %hr st,@ The assembly then sa d( @Peace Mor Sal6at onN to all on 3hom th s name restsO@ The boy D on$sos# torn n ! eces# accord ng to the Bacch c Myster es# by the T tans# 3as cons dered by the Man cheans as s m!ly re!resent ng the So$l# s3allo3ed $! by the !o3ers of dar/D ness# D the d 6 ne l fe rent nto fragments by matter( D that !art of the l$m no$s essence of the !r m t 6e man Athe AProtos Anthro!osB of Man # the APrafn Anthrf!osB of the Falent n ans# the Adam Kadmon of the KabalahG and the Kalomorts of the Henda6estaB# s3allo3ed $! by the !o3ers of dar/nessG the M$ndane So$l# m 4ed 3 th matter D the seed of d 6 ne l fe# 3h ch had fallen nto matter# and had thence to $ndergo a !rocess of !$r f cat on and de6elo!ment, The AGnos sB of %ar!ocrates and h s son E! !hanes cons sted n the /no3ledge of one S$!reme Or g nal be ng# the h ghest $n ty# from 3hom all e4 stence has emanated# and to 3hom t str 6es to ret$rn, The

f n te s! r ts that r$le o6er the se6eral !ort ons of the Earth# see/ to co$nteract th s $n 6ersal tendency to $n tyG and from the r nfl$ence# the r la3s# and arrangements# !roceeds all that chec/s# d st$rbs# or l m ts the or g nal comm$n on# 3h ch s the bas s of nat$re# as the o$t3ard man festat on of that h ghest 'n ty, These s! r ts# moreo6er# see/ to reta n $nder the r dom n on the so$ls 3h ch# emanat ng from the h ghest 'n ty# and st ll !arta/ ng of ts nat$re# ha6e la!sed nto the cor!oreal 3orld# and ha6e there been m!r soned n bod es# n order# $nder the r dom n on# to be /e!t 3 th n the cycle of m grat on, "rom these f n te s! r ts# the !o!$lar rel g ons of d fferent nat ons der 6e the r or g n, B$t the so$ls 3h ch# fro m a rem n scence of the r former cond t on# soar $!3ard to the contem!lat on of that h gher 'n ty# reach to s$ch !erfect freedom and re!ose# as noth ng after3ard can d st$rb or l m t# and r se s$!er or to the !o!$lar de t es and rel g ons, As e4am!les of th s sort# they named Pythagoras# Plato# Ar stotle# and %hr st, They made no d st nct on

bet3een the latter and the 3 se and good men of e6ery nat on, They ta$ght that any other so$l 3h ch co$ld soar to the same he ght of contem!lat on# m ght be regarded as eE$al 3 th - m, The O!h tes commenced the r system 3 th a S$!reme Be ng# long $n/no3n to the -$man race# and st ll so the greater n$mber of menG the AB$thosB# or Prof$nd ty# So$rce of L ght# and of AdamDKadmon# the Pr m t 6e Man# made by the Dem o$rgos# b$t !erfected by the S$!reme God by the comm$n cat on to h m of the S! r t A , , Pne$maB, The f rst emanat on 3as the Tho$ght of the S$!reme De ty Athe ,, Enno aB# the conce!t on of the 'n 6erse n the Tho$ght of God, Th s Tho$ght# called also S lence M , , S giN# !rod$ced the S! r t A ,, Pne$maB# Mother of the L 6 ng# and ; sdom of God, Together 3 th th s Pr m t 6e E4 stence# Matter e4 sted also Mthe ;aters# Dar/ness# Abyss# and %haosN# eternal l /e the S! r t$al Pr nc !le, B$thos and - s Tho$ght# $n t ng 3 th ; sdom# made her fr$ tf$l by the D 6 ne L ght# and she !rod$ced a !erfect and an m!erfect be ng# %hr stos# and a Second and nfer or 3 sdom# So!h aDAchamoth# 3ho fall ng nto chaos rema ned

entangled there# became enfeebled# and lost all /no3ledge of the S$!er or ; sdom that ga6e her b rth, %omm$n cat ng mo6ement to %haos# she !rod$ced Ialdabaoth# the Dem o$rgos# Agent of Mater al %reat on# and then ascended to3ard her f rst !lace n the scale of creat on, laldabaoth !rod$ced an angel that 3as h s mage# and th s a second# and so on n s$ccess on to the s 4th after the Dem o$rgos( the se6en be ng reflect ons one of the other# yet d fferent and nhab t ng se6en d st nct reg ons, The names of the s 4 th$s !rod$ced 3ere IAO# SABAOT-# ADO8AI# ELOI# ORAI# and ASTAP-AL Ialdabaoth# to become nde!endent of h s mother# and to !ass for the S$!reme Be ng# made the 3orld# and man# n h s o3n mageG and h s mother ca$sed the S! r t$al !r nc !le to !ass from h m nto man so madeG and hencefor3ard the contest bet3een the Dem o$rgos and h s mother# bet3een l ght and dar/ness# good and e6 l# 3as concentrated n manG and the mage of Ialdabaoth# reflected $!on matter# became the Ser!entDS! r t# Satan# the E6 l Intell gence, E6e# created by Ialdabaoth# had by 's Sons ch ldren

that 3ere angels l /e themsel6es, The S! r t$al l ght 3as 3 thdra3n from man by So!h a# and the 3orld s$rrendered to the nfl$ence of e6 lG $nt l the S! r t# $rged by the entreat es of ; sdom# nd$ced the S$!reme Be ng to send %hr stos to redeem t, %om!elled# des! te h mself# by h s Mother# Ialdabaoth ca$sed the man &es$s to be born of a F rg n# and the %elest al Sa6 o$r# $n t ng 3 th h s S ster# ; sdom# descended thro$gh the reg ons of the se6en angels# a!!eared n each $nder the form of ts ch ef# concealed h s o3n# and entered 3 th h s s ster nto the man &es$s at the ba!t sm n &ordan, Ialdabaoth# f nd ng that &es$s 3as destroy ng h s em! re and abol sh ng h s 3orsh !# ca$sed the &e3s to hate and cr$c fy - mG before 3h ch ha!!ened# %hr stos and ; sdom had ascended to the celest al reg ons, They restored &es$s to l fe and ga6e - m an ethereal body# n 3h ch -e rema ned e ghteen months on earth# and rece 6 ng from ; sdom the !erD fect /no3ledge A o,,Gnos sB# comm$n cated t to a small n$mber of - s a!ostles# and then arose to the ntermed ate reg on nhab ted by laldabaoth# 3here# $n/no3n to h m# -e s ts at h s r ght hand# ta/ ng from

h m the So$ls of L ght !$r f ed by %hr stos, ;hen noth ng of the S! r t$al 3orld shall rema n s$b5ect to laldabaoth# the redem!t on 3 ll be accom!l shed# and the end of the 3orld# the com!let on of the ret$rn of L ght nto the Plen t$de# 3 ll occ$r, Tat an ado!ted the theory of Emanat on# of Eons# of the e4 stence of a God too s$bl me to allo3 - mself to be /no3n# b$t d s!lay ng - mself by Intell gences emanat ng from - s bosom, The f rst of these 3as - s s! r t A o,, Pne$maB# God - mself# God th n/ ng# God conce 6 ng the 'n 6erse, The second 3as the ;ord A o LogosB# no longer merely the Tho$ght or %once!t on# b$t the %reat 6e 'tterance# man festat on of the D 6 n ty# b$t emanat ng from the Tho$ght or S! r tG the " rstDBegotten# a$thor of the 6 s ble creat on, Th s 3as the Tr n ty# com!osed of the "ather# S! r t# and ;ord, The El4aVtes ado!ted the Se6en S! r ts of the Gnost csG b$t named them -ea6en# ;ater# S! r t# The -oly Angels of Prayer# O l# Salt# and the Earth, The o! n on of the Do/etes as to the h$man nat$re of &es$s %hr st# 3as

that most generally rece 6ed among the Gnost cs, They deemed the ntell gences of the S$!er or ;orld too !$re and too m$ch the antagon sts of matter# to be 3 ll ng to $n te 3 th t( and held that %hr st# an Intell gence of the f rst ran/# n a!!ear ng $!on the earth# d d not become confo$nded 3 th matter# b$t too/ $!on - mself only the a!!earance of a body# or at the most $sed t only as an en6elo!e, 8oit$s termed the Son the f rst 'tterance of the "atherG the ;ord# not by - mself# as an Intell gence# and $nconnected 3 th the flesh# a real SonG b$t a ;ord# and a !erfect OnlyDBegottenG l ght emanated from the L ghtG 3ater flo3 ng from ts s!r ngG a ray emanated from the S$n, Pa$l of Samosata ta$ght that &es$s %hr st 3as the Son of &ose!h and MaryG b$t that the ;ord# ; sdom# or Intell gence of God# the A8o$sB of the Gnost cs# had $n ted tself 3 th - m# so that -e m ght be sa d to be at once the Son of God# and God - mself, Ar $s called the Sa6 o$r the f rst of creat$res# nonDemanated from God# b$t really created# by the d rect 3 ll of God# before t me

and the ages, Accord ng to the %h$rch# %hr st 3as of the same nat$re as GodG accord ng to some d ssenters# of the same nat$re as man, Ar $s ado!ted the theory of a nat$re analogo$s to both, ;hen God resol6ed to create the -$man race# -e made a Be ng 3h ch -e called T-E ;ORD# T-E SO8# ;ISDOM A # # o, Logos# ' os# So!h aB# to the end that -e m ght g 6e e4 stence to men, Th s ;ORD s the Orm$<d of Horoaster# the Enso!h of the Kabalah# the G of Platon sm and Ph lon sm# and the or ASo!h a or Dem o$rgosB of the Gnost cs, -e d st ng$ shed the Infer or ; sdom# or the da$ghter# from the S$!er or ; sdomG the latter be ng n God# nherent n - s nat$re# and nca!able of comm$n cat on to any creat$re( the second# by 3h ch the Son 3as made# comm$n cated tself to - m# and therefore -e - mself 3as ent tled to be called the ;ord and the Son, Manes# fo$nder of the Sect of the Man cheans# 3ho had l 6ed and been d st ng$ shed among the Pers an Mag # !rof ted by the doctr nes of Scyth an$s# a Kabal st or &$da < ng Gnost c of the t mes of the A!ostlesG

and /no3 ng those of Bardesanes and -armon $s# der 6ed h s doctr nes fro m Horoaster sm# %hr st an ty# and Gnost c sm, -e cla med to be the APara/lptosB or %omforter# n the Sense of a Teacher# organ of the De ty# b$t not n that of the -oly S! r t or -oly Ghost( and commenced h s E! stola "$ndament n these 3ords( @Manes# A!ostle of &es$s %hr st#

elect of God the "atherG Behold the ;ords of Sal6at on# emanat ng from the l 6 ng and eternal fo$nta n,@ The dom nant dea of h s doctr ne 3as Panthe sm# der 6ed by h m from ts so$rce n the reg ons of Ind a and on the conf nes of %h na( that the ca$se of all that e4 sts s n GodG and at last# God s all n all, All so$ls are eE$al D God s n all# n men# an mals# and !lants, There are t3o Gods# one of Good and the other of E6 l# each nde!endent# eternal# ch ef of a d st nct Em! reG necessar ly# and of the r 6ery nat$res# host le to one another, The E6 l God# Satan# s the Gen $s of matter alone, The God of Good s nf n tely h s S$!er or# the Tr$e GodG 3h le the other s b$t the ch ef of all that s the Enemy of God# and m$st n the end s$cc$mb to - s Po3er, The Em! re of L ght alone s eternal and

tr$eG and th s Em! re s a great cha n of Emanat ons# all connected 3 th the S$!reme Be ng 3h ch they ma/e man festG all - m# $nder d fferent forms# chosen for one end# the tr $m!h of the Good, In each of - s members l e h dden tho$sands of neffable treas$res, E4cellent n - s Glory# ncom!rehens ble n - s Greatness# the "ather has 5o ned to - mself those fort$nate# and glor o$s Eons A , , A onpsB# 3hose Po3er and 8$mber t s m!oss ble to determ ne, Th s s S! no<a?s Inf n ty of Inf n te Attr b$tes of God, T3el6e %h ef Eons# at the head of all# 3ere the Gen Manes# of the t3el6e %onstellat ons of the Hod ac# and called by

Olam n, Satan# also# Lord of the Em! re of Dar/ness# had an Army of Eons or Demons# emanat ng from h s Essence# and reflect ng more or less h s mage# b$t d 6 ded and nharmon o$s among themsel6es, A 3ar among them bro$ght them to the conf nes of the Realm of L ght, Del ghted# they so$ght to conE$er t, B$t the %h ef of the %elest al Em! re created a Po3er 3h ch he !laced on the front ers of -ea6en to !rotect h s Eons# and destroy the Em! re of E6 l, Th s 3as the Mother of L fe# the

So$l of the ;orld# an Emanat on from the S$!reme Be ng# too !$re to come n mmed ate contact 3 th matter, It rema ned n the h ghest reg onG b$t !rod$ced a Son# the f rst Man Athe Ka omorts# AdamDKadmon# AProtos Anthro!os#B and - 6 lDH 6ahG of the HendDA6esta# the Kabalah# the Gnos s# and Sabe smBG 3ho commenced the contest 3 th the Po3ers of E6 l# b$t# los ng !art of h s !ano!ly# of h s L ght# h s Son and many so$ls born of the L ght# 3ho 3ere de6o$red by the dar/ness# God sent to h s ass stance the l 6 ng S! r t# or the Son of the " rst Man A , , , ' os Anthro!o$B# or &es$s %hr st, The Mother of L fe# general Pr nc !le of D 6 ne L fe# and the f rst Man# Pr m t 6e be ng that re6eals the D 6 ne L fe# are too s$bl me to be connected 3 th the Em! re of Dar/ness, The Son of Man or So$l of the ;orld# enters nto the Dar/ness# becomes ts ca!t 6e# to end by tem!er ng and soften ng ts sa6age nat$re, The D 6 ne S! r t# after ha6 ng bro$ght bac/ the Pr m t 6e Man to the Em! re of L ght# ra ses abo6e the 3orld that !art of the %elest al So$l that rema ned $naffected by be ng m ngled 3 th the Em! re of Dar/ness, Placed n the

reg on of the S$n and Moon# th s !$re so$l# the Son of Man# the Redeemer or %hr st# labors to del 6er and attract to - mself that !art of the L ght or of the So$l of the " rst Man d ff$sed thro$gh matterG 3h ch done# the 3orld 3 ll cease to e4 st, To reta n the rays of L ght st ll rema n ng among h s Eons# and e6er tend ng to esca!e and ret$rn# by concentrat ng them# the Pr nce of Dar/ness# 3 th the r consent# made Adam# 3hose so$l 3as of the D 6 ne L ght# contr b$ted by the Eons# and h s body of matter# so that he belonged to both Em! res# that of L ght and that of Dar/ness, To !re6ent the l ght from esca! ng at once# the Demons forbade Adam to eat the fr$ t of @/no3ledge of good and e6 l#@ by 3h ch he 3o$ld ha6e /no3n the Em! re of L ght and that of Dar/ness, -e obeyedG an Angel of L ght nd$ced h m to transgress# and ga6e h m the means of 6 ctoryG b$t the Demons created E6e# 3ho sed$ced h m nto an act of Sens$al sm# that enfeebled h m# and bo$nd h m ane3 n the bonds of matter, Th s s re!eated n the case of e6ery man that l 6es, To del 6er the so$l# ca!t 6e n dar/ness# the Pr nc !le of L ght# or Gen $s

of the S$n# charged to redeem the Intellect$al ;orld# of 3h ch he s the ty!e# came to man fest - mself among men, L ght a!!eared n the dar/ness# b$t the dar/ness com!rehended t notG accord ng to the 3ords of St, &ohn, The L ght co$ld not $n te 3 th the dar/ness, It b$t !$t on the a!!earance of a h$man body# and too/ the name of %hr st n the Mess ah# only to accommodate tself to the lang$age of the &e3s, The L ght d d ts 3or/# t$rn ng the &e3s from the adorat on of the E6 l Pr nc !le# and the Pagans from the 3orsh ! of Demons, B$t the %h ef of the Em! re of Dar/ness ca$sed - m to be cr$c f ed by the &e3s, St ll -e s$ffered n a!!earance only# and - s death ga6e to all so$ls the symbol of the r enfranch sement, The !erson of &es$s ha6 ng d sa!!eared# there 3as seen n - s !lace a cross of L ght# o6er 3h ch a celest al 6o ce !rono$nced these 3ords( @The cross of L ght s called The ;ord# %hr st# The Gate# &oy# The Bread# The S$n# The Res$rrect on# &es$s# The "ather# The S! r t# L fe# Tr$th# and Grace,@ ; th the Pr sc ll an sts there 3ere t3o !r nc !les# one the D 6 n ty# the other# Pr m t 6e Matter and Dar/nessG each eternal, Satan s the son and

lord of matterG and the secondary angels and demons# ch ldren of matter, Satan created and go6erns the 6 s ble 3orld, B$t the so$l of man emanated from God# and s of the same s$bstance 3 th God, Sed$ced by the e6 l s! r ts# t !asses thro$gh 6ar o$s bod es# $nt l# !$r f ed and reformed# t r ses to God and s strengthened by - s l ght, These !o3ers of e6 l hold man/ nd n ledgeG and to redeem th s !ledge# the Sa6 o$r# %hr st the Redeemer# came and d ed $!on the cross of e4! at on# th$s d scharg ng the 3r tten obl gat on, -e# l /e all so$ls# 3as of the same s$bstance 3 th God# a man festat on of the D 6 n ty# no form ng a second !ersonG $nborn# l /e the D 6 n ty# and noth ng else than the D 6 n ty $nder another form, It s $seless to trace these 6agar es f$rtherG and 3e sto! at the front ers of the realm of the three h$ndred and s 4tyDf 6e tho$sand emanat ons of the Mandaqtes from the Pr m t 6e L ght# " ra or "erho and .a6arG and ret$rn contentedly to the s m!le and s$bl me creed of Masonry, S$ch 3ere some of the anc ent not ons concern ng the De ty and ta/en n connect on 3 th 3hat has been deta led n the !reced ng Degrees# th s

Lect$re affords yo$ a tr$e ! ct$re of the anc ent s!ec$lat ons, "rom the beg nn ng $nt l no3# those 3ho ha6e $nderta/en to sol6e the great mystery of the creat on of a mater al $n 6erse by an Immater al De ty# ha6e nter!osed bet3een the t3o# and bet3een God and man# d 6ers man festat ons of# or emanat ons from# or !erson f ed attr b$tes or agents of# the Great S$!reme God# 3ho s coe4 stent 3 th T me and coe4tens 6e 3 th S!ace, The $n 6ersal bel ef of the Or ent 3as# that the S$!reme Be ng d d not - mself create e ther the earth or man, The fragment 3h ch commences the Boo/ of Genes s# cons st ng of the f rst cha!ter and the three f rst 6erses of the second# ass gns the creat on or rather the format on or modell ng of the 3orld from matter already e4 st ng n conf$s on# not to l-'-# b$t to the AL-IM# 3ell /no3n as S$bord nate De t es# "orces# or Man festat ons# among the Phbn c ans, The second fragment m!$tes t to I-'-DAL-IM#K and St, &ohn ass gns the creat on to the or ;ORDG and asserts that %-RIST 3as that ;ORD# as 3ell as LIG-T and LI"E# other emanat ons from the Great Pr me6al De ty# to 3h ch other fa ths had

ass gned the 3or/ of creat on, An absol$te e4 stence# 3holly mmater al# n no 3ay 3 th n the reach of o$r sensesG a ca$se# b$t not an effect that ne6er 3as not# b$t e4 sted d$r ng an nf n ty of etern t es# before there 3as anyth ng else e4ce!t T me and S!ace# s 3holly beyond the reach of o$r conce!t ons, The m nd of man has 3ear ed tself n s!ec$lat ons as to - s nat$re# - s essence# - s attr b$tesG and ended n be ng no 3 ser than t began, In the m!oss b l ty of conce 6 ng of mmater al ty# 3e feel at sea and lost 3hene6er 3e go beyond the doma n of matter, And yet 3e /no3 that there are Po3er K The S$bstance# or Fery Self# of 3h ch the Alohay m are the man festat ons, "orces# %a$ses# that are themsel6es not matter, ;e g 6e them names# b$t 3hat they really are# and 3hat the r essence# 3e are 3holly gnorant, B$t# fort$nately# t does not follo3 that 3e may not bel e6e# or e6en /no3# that 3h ch 3e cannot e4!la n to o$rsel6es# or that 3h ch s beyond the reach of o$r com!rehens on, If 3e bel e6ed only that 3h ch o$r ntellect can gras!# meas$re# com!rehend# and ha6e d st nct and clear deas of#

3e sho$ld bel e6e scarce anyth ng, The senses are not the 3 tnesses that bear test mony to $s of the loft est tr$ths, O$r greatest d ff c$lty s# that lang$age s not adeE$ate to e4!ress o$r deasG beca$se o$r 3ords refer to th ngs# and are mages of 3hat s s$bstant al and mater al, If 3e $se the 3ord Remanat on#@ o$r m nd n6ol$ntar ly rec$rs to someth ng mater al# flo3 ng o$t of some other th ng that s mater alG and f 3e re5ect th s dea of mater al ty# noth ng s left of the emanat on b$t an $nreal ty, The 3ord @th ng@ tself s$ggests to $s that 3h ch s mater al and 3 th n the cogn <ance and 5$r sd ct on of the senses, If 3e c$t a3ay from t the dea of mater al ty# t !resents tself to $s as no th ng# b$t an ntang ble $nreal ty# 3h ch the m nd 6a nly endea6ors to gras!, E4 stence and Be ng are terms that ha6e the same color of mater al tyG and 3hen 3e s!ea/ of a Po3er or "orce# the m nd mmed ately mages to tself one !hys cal and mater al th ng act ng $!on another, El m nate that deaG and the Po3er or "orce# de6o d of !hys cal character st cs# seems as $nreal as the shado3 that dances on a 3all#

tself a mere absence of l ghtG as s! r t s to $s merely that 3h ch s not matter, Inf n te s!ace and nf n te t me are the t3o !r mary deas, ;e form$l <e them th$s( add body to body and s!here to s!here# $nt l the mag nat on 3ear esG and st ll there 3 ll rema n beyond# a6o d# em!ty# $nocc$! ed SPA%E# l m tless# beca$se t s 6o d, Add e6ent to e6ent n cont n$o$s s$ccess on# fore6er and fore6er# and there 3 ll st ll rema n# before and after# a TIME n 3h ch there 3as and 3 ll be no e6ent# and also endless beca$se t too s 6o d, Th$s these t3o deas of the bo$ndlessness of s!ace and the endlessness of t me seem to n6ol6e the deas that matter and e6ents are l m ted and f n te, ;e cannot conce 6e of an nf n ty of 3orlds or of e6entsG b$t only of an ndef n te n$mber of eachG for, as 3e str$ggle to conce 6e of the r nf n ty# the tho$ght e6er occ$rs n des! te of all o$r efforts D there m$st be s!ace n 3h ch there are no 3orldsG there m$st ha6e been t me 3hen there 3ere no e6ents,

;e cannot conce 6e ho3# f th s earth mo6es m ll ons of m ll ons of m les a m ll on t mes re!eated# t s st ll n the centre of s!aceG nor ho3# f 3e l 6ed m ll ons of m ll ons of ages and cent$r es# 3e sho$ld st ll be n the centre of etern ty D 3 th st ll as m$ch s!ace on one s de as on the otherG 3 th st ll as m$ch t me before $s as beh ndG for that seems to say that the 3orld has not mo6ed nor 3e l 6ed at all, 8or can 3e com!rehend ho3 an nf n te ser es of 3orlds# added together# s no larger than an nf n te ser es of atomsG or an nf n te ser es of cent$r es no longer than an nf n te ser es of secondsG both be ng al /e nf n te# and therefore one ser es conta n ng no more nor fe3er $n ts than the other, 8or ha6e 3e the ca!ac ty to form n o$rsel6es any dea of that 3h ch s mmater al, ;e $se the 3ord# b$t t con6eys to $s on)6 the dea of the absence and negat on of mater al tyG 3h ch 6an sh ng# S!ace and T me alone# nf n te and bo$ndless# seem to $s to be left, ;e cannot form any conce!t on of an effect 3 tho$t a ca$se, ;e cannot

b$t bel e6e# ndeed 3e /no3# that# ho3 far soe6er 3e may ha6e to r$n bac/ along the cha n of effects and ca$ses# t cannot be nf n teG b$t 3e m$st come at last to someth ng 3h ch s not an effect# b$t the f rst ca$se( and 6et the fact s l teralt6 beyond o$r com!rehens on, The m nd ref$ses to gras! the dea of selfDe4 stence# of e4 stence 3 tho$t a beg nn ng, As 3ell e4!ect the ha r that gro3s $!on o$r head to $nderstand the nat$re and mmortal ty of the so$l, It does not need to go so far n search of myster esG nor ha6e 3e any r ght to d sbel e6e or do$bt the e4 stence of a Great " rst %a$se# tself no effect# beca$se 3e cannot com!rehend tG beca$se the 3ords 3e $se do not e6en e4!ress t to $s adeE$ately, ;e r$b a needle for a l ttle 3h le# on a dar/# nert mass of ron ore# that had la n dle n the earth for many cent$r es, Someth ng s thereby comm$n cated to the steel D 3e term t a 6 rt$e# a !o3er# or a E$al ty D and

then 3e balance t $!on a ! 6otG and# loO dra3n by some n6 s ble# myster o$s Po3er# one !ole of the needle t$rns to the 8orth# and there the same Po3er /ee!s the same !ole for days and yearsG 3 ll /ee! t there# !erha!s# as long as the 3orld lasts# carry the needle 3here yo$ 3 ll# and no matter 3hat seas or mo$nta ns nter6ene bet3een t and the 8orth Pole of the 3orld, And th s Po3er# th$s act ng# and nd cat ng to the mar ner h s co$rse o6er the trac/less ocean# 3hen the stars sh ne not for many days# sa6es 6essels fro m sh !3rec/# fam l es from d stress# and those from s$dden death on 3hose l 6es the fate of nat ons and the !eace of the 3orld de!end, B$t for t# 8a!oleon m ght ne6er ha6e reached the !orts of "rance on h s ret$rn fro m Egy!t# nor 8elson l 6ed to f ght and 3 n at Trafalgar, Men call th s Po3er Magnet sm# and then com!lacently th n/ that they ha6e e4!la ned t allG and yet they ha6e b$t g 6en a ne3 name to an $n/no3n th ng# to h de the r gnorance, ;hat s th s 3onderf$l Po3erJ It s a real# act$al# act 6e Po3er( that 3e /no3 and see, B$t 3hat ts essence s# or ho3 t

acts# 3e do not /no3# any more than 3e /no3 the essence or the mode of act on of the %reat 6e Tho$ght and ;ord of God, And aga n# 3hat s that 3h ch 3e term gal6an sm and electr c ty# D 3h ch# e6ol6ed by the act on of a l ttle ac d on t3o metals# a ded by a magnet# c rcles the earth n a second# send ng from land to land the Tho$ghts that go6ern the transact ons of nd 6 d$als and nat onsJ The m nd has formed no not on of matter# that 3 ll ncl$de tG and no name that 3e can g 6e t# hel!s $s to $nderstand ts essence and ts be ng, It s a Po3er# l /e Tho$ght and the ; ll, ;e /no3 no more, ;hat s th s !o3er of gra6 tat on that ma/es e6eryth ng $!on the earth tend to the centreJ -o3 does t reach o$t ts n6 s ble hands to3ard the errat c meteorDstones# arrest them n the r s3 ft co$rse# and dra3 them do3n to the earth?s bosomJ It s a !o3er, ;e /no3 no more, ;hat s that heat 3h ch !lays so 3onderf$l a !art n the 3orld?s economyJ D that calor c# latent e6ery3here# 3 th n $s and 3 tho$t $s# !rod$ced by comb$st on# by ntense !ress$re# and by s3 ft mot onJ Is t s$bstance#

matter# s! r t# or mmater al# a mere "orce or State of MatterJ And 3hat s l ghtJ A s$bstance# say the boo/s# D matter# that tra6els to $s fro m the s$n and stars# each ray se!arable nto se6en# by the !r sm# of d st nct colors# and 3 th d st nct !ec$l ar E$al t es and act ons, And f a s$bstance# 3hat s ts essence# and 3hat !o3er s nherent n t# by 3h ch t 5o$rneys ncalc$lable myr ads of m les# and reaches $s ten tho$sand years or more after t lea6es the starsJ All !o3er s eE$ally a mystery, A!!ly ntense cold to a dro! of 3ater n the centre of a globe of ron# and the globe s shattered as the 3ater free<es, %onf ne a l ttle of the same l m! d element n a cyl nder 3h ch Encelad$s or Ty!hon co$ld not ha6e r sen as$nder# and a!!ly to t ntense heat# and the 6ast !o3er that co$ched latent n the 3ater sh 6ers the cyl nder to atoms, A l ttle shoot from a m n$te seed# a shoot so soft and tender that the least br$ se 3o$ld / ll t# forces ts 3ay do3n3ard nto the hard# earth# to the de!th of many feet# 3 th an energy 3holly ncom!rehens ble, ;hat are these m ghty forces# loc/ed $! n the small seed and the dro! of 3aterJ

8ay# 3hat s LI"E tself# 3 th all ts 3ondro$s# m ghty energ es# D that !o3er 3h ch ma nta ns the heat 3 th n $s# and !re6ents o$r bod es# that decay so soon 3 tho$t t# from resol$t on nto the r or g nal elements D L fe# that constant m racle# the nat$re and essence 3hereof ha6e el$ded all the !h loso!hersG and all the r learned d ssertat ons on t are a mere 5argon of 3ordsJ 8o 3onder the anc ent Pers ans tho$ght that L ght and L fe 3ere one# D both emanat ons from the S$!reme De ty# the archety!e of l ght, 8o 3onder that n the r gnorance they 3orsh !!ed the S$n, God breathed nto man the s! r t of l fe# D not matter# b$t an emanat on from - mselfG not a creat$re made by - m# nor a d st nct e4 stence# b$t a Po3er# l /e - s o3n Tho$ght( and l ght# to those greatDso$led anc ents# also seemed no creat$re# and no gross mater al s$bstance# b$t a !$re emanat on from the De ty# mmortal and ndestr$ct ble l /e - mself, ;hat# ndeed# s REALIT.J O$r dreams are as real# 3h le they last# as the

occ$rrences of the dayt me, ;e see# hear# feel# act# e4!er ence !leas$re and s$ffer !a n# as 6 6 dly and act$ally n a dream as 3hen a3a/e, The occ$rrences and transact ons of a year are cro3ded nto the l m ts of a second( and the dream remembered s as real as the !ast occ$rrences of l fe, The !h loso!hers tell $s that 3e ha6e no cogn <ance of s$bstance tself# b$t only of ts attr b$tes( that 3hen 3e see that 3h ch 3e call a bloc/ of marble# o$r !erce!t ons g 6e $s nformat on only of someth ng e4tended# sol d# colored# hea6y# and the l /eG b$t not of the 6ery th ng tself# to 3h ch these attr b$tes belong, And yet the attr b$tes do not e4 st 3 tho$t the s$bstance, They are not s$bstances# b$t ad5ect 6es, There s no s$ch th ng or e4 stence as hardness# 3e ght or color# by tself# detached from any s$b5ect# mo6 ng f rst here# then there# and attach ng tself to th s and to the other s$b5ect, And yet# they say# the attr b$tes are not the s$b5ect, So Tho$ght# Fol t on# and Perce!t on are not the so$l# b$t ts attr b$tesG

and 3e ha6e no cogn <ance of the so$l tself# b$t only of them# ts man festat ons, 8or of GodG b$t only of - s ; sdom# Po3er# Magn f cence# Tr$th# and other attr b$tes, And yet 3e /no3 that there s matter# a so$l 3 th n o$r body# a God that l 6es n the 'n 6erse, Ta/e# then# the attr b$tes of the so$l, I am consc o$s that I e4 st and am the same dent cal !erson that I 3as t3enty years ago, I am consc o$s that my body s not I# D that f my arms 3ere lo!!ed a3ay# th s !erson that I call ME# 3o$ld st ll rema n# com!lete# ent re# dent cal as before, B$t I cannot ascerta n# by the most ntense and longDcont n$ed reflect on# 3hat I am# nor 3here 3 th n my body I res de# nor 3hether I am a !o nt# or an e4!anded s$bstance, I ha6e no !o3er to e4am ne and ns!ect, I e4 st# 3 ll# th n/# !erce 6e, That I /no3# and noth ng more, I th n/ a noble and s$bl me Tho$ght, ;hat s that Tho$ghtJ It s not Matter# nor S! r t, It s not a Th ngG b$t a Po3er and "orce, I ma/e $!on a !a!er certa n con6ent onal mar/s# that re!resent that Tho$ght, There s no Po3er or

F rt$e n the mar/s I 3r te# b$t only n the Tho$ght 3h ch they tell to others, I d e# b$t the Tho$ght st ll l 6es, It s a Po3er, It acts on men# e4c tes them to enth$s asm# ns! res !atr ot sm# go6erns the r cond$ct# controls the r dest n es# d s!oses of l fe and death, The 3ords I s!ea/ are b$t a certa n s$ccess on of !art c$lar so$nds# that by con6ent onal arrangement comm$n cate to others the Immater al# Intang ble# Eternal Tho$ght, The fact that Tho$ght cont n$es to e4 st an nstant# after t ma/es ts a!!earance n the so$l# !ro6es t mmortal( for there s noth ng conce 6able that can destroy t, The s!o/en 3ords# be ng mere so$nds# may 6an sh nto th n a r# and the 3r tten ones# mere mar/s# be b$rned# erased# destroyed( b$t the T-O'G-T tself l 6es st ll# and m$st l 6e on fore6er, A -$man Tho$ght# then# s an act$al EPISTE8%E# and a "OR%E and PO;ER# ca!able of act ng $!on and controll ng matter as 3ell as m nd, Is not the e4 stence of a God# 3ho s the mmater al so$l of the 'n 6erse# and 3hose T-O'G-T# embod ed or not embod ed n - s ;ORD# s an

Inf n te Po3er# of %reat on and !roD d$ct on# destr$ct on and !reser6at on# E$ te as com!rehens ble as the e4 stence of a So$l# of a Tho$ght se!arated from the So$l# of the Po3er of that Tho$ght to mo$ld the fate and nfl$ence the Dest n es of -$man tyJ And yet 3e /no3 not 3hen that Tho$ght comes# nor 3hat t s, It s not ;E, ;e do not mo$ld t# sha!e t# fash on t, It s ne ther o$r mechan sm nor o$r n6ent on, It a!!ears s!ontaneo$sly# flash ng# as t 3ere# nto the so$l# ma/ ng that so$l the n6ol$ntary nstr$ment of ts $tterance to the 3orld, It comes to $s# and seems a stranger to $s# see/ ng a home, As l ttle can 3e e4!la n the m ghty !o3er of the h$man ;ILL# Fol t on# l /e Tho$ght# seems s!ontaneo$s# an effect 3 tho$t a ca$se, % rc$mstances !ro6o/e t# and ser6e as ts occas on# b$t do not !rod$ce t, It s!r ngs $! n the so$l# l /e Tho$ght# as the 3aters g$sh $!3ard n a s!r ng, Is t the man festat on of the so$l# merely ma/ ng a!!arent 3hat !asses 3 th n the so$l# or an emanat on from t# go ng abroad and act ng o$t3ardly# tself a

real E4 stence# as t s an adm tted Po3erJ ;e can b$t o3n o$r gnorance, It s certa n that t acts on other so$ls# controls# d rects them# sha!es the r act on# leg slates for men and nat ons( and yet t s not mater al nor 6 s bleG and the la3s t 3r tes merely n one so$l of 3hat has !assed 3 th n another, God# therefore# s a mystery# only as e6eryth ng that s$rro$nds $s# and as 3e o$rsel6es# are myster es, ;e /no3 that there s and m$st be a "IRST %A'SE, - s attr b$tes# se6ered from - mself# are $nreal t es, As color and e4tens on# 3e ght and hardness# do not e4 st a!art from matter as se!arate e4 stences and s$bstant 6es# s! r t$al or mmater alG so the Goodness# ; sdom# 5$st ce# Mercy# and Bene6olence of God are not nde!endent e4 stences# !erson fy them as men may# b$t attr b$tes of the De ty# the ad5ect 6es of One Great S$bstant 6e, B$t 3e /no3 that -e m$st be Good# Tr$e# ; se# &$st# Bene6olent# Merc f$l( and n all these# and all - s other attr b$tes# Perfect and Inf n teG beca$se 3e are consc o$s that these are la3s m!osed on $s by the 6ery nat$re of th ngs# necessary#

and 3 tho$t 3h ch the 'n 6erse 3o$ld be conf$s on and the e4 stence of a God ncred ble, They are of - s essence# and necessary# as - s e4 stence s, , , EstosB# of S mon Mag$s# the -e s the L 6 ng# Th n/ ng# Intell gent SO'L of the 'n 6erse# the PERMA8E8T# the STATIO8AR.A O8E that al3ays s ATo To O8B of Plato# as contrad st ng$ shed from the !er!et$al fl$4 and refl$4# or Genes s# of th ngs, And# as the Tho$ght of the So$l# emanat ng from the So$l# becomes a$d ble and 6 s ble n ;ords# so d d T-E T-O'G-T O" GOD# s!r ng ng $! 3 th n - mself# mmortal as - mself# 3hen once conce 6ed# D mmortal before# beca$se n - mself# $tter Itself n T-E ;ORD# ts man festat on and mode of comm$n cat on# and th$s create the Mater al# Mental# S! r t$al 'n 6erse# 3h ch# l /e - m# ne6er began to e4 st, Th s s the real dea of the Anc ent 8at ons( GOD# the Alm ghty "ather# and

So$rce of AllG - s T-O'G-T# conce 6 ng the 3hole 'n 6erse# and 3 ll ng ts creat on( - s ;ORD# $tter ng that T-O'G-T# and th$s becom ng the %reator or Dem o$rgos# n the 3hom 3as L fe and L ght# and that L ght the L fe of the 'n 6erse, 8or d d that ;ord cease at the s ngle act of %reat onG and ha6 ng set go ng the great mach ne# and enacted the la3s of ts mot on and !rogress on# of b rth and l fe# and change and death# cease to e4 st# or rema n thereafter n nert dleness, "OR T-E T-O'G-T O" GOD LIFES A8D IS IMMORTAL, Embod ed n the ;ORD# s not only created# b$t t !reser6es, It cond$cts and controls the 'n 6erse# all s!heres# all 3orlds# all act ons of man/ nd# and of e6ery an mate and nan mate creat$re, It s!ea/s n the so$l of e6ery man 3ho l 6es, The Stars# the Earth# the Trees# the ; nds# the $n 6ersal 6o ce of 8at$re# tem!est# and a6alanche# the Sea?s roar and the gra6e 6o ce of the 3aterfall# the hoarse

th$nder and the lo3 3h s!er of the broo/# the song of b rds# the 6o ce of lo6e# the s!eech of men# all are the al!habet n 3h ch t comm$n cates tself to men# and nforms them of the 3 ll and la3 of God# the So$l of the 'n 6erse, And th$s most tr$ly d d @T-E ;ORD BE%OME PLES- A8D D;ELL AMO8G ME8,@ God# the $n/no3n "AT-ER A oPater AgnUstosB# /no3n to $s only by - s Attr b$tesG the ABSOL'TE I AM(,, The T-O'G-T of God A , Enno aB# and the ;ORD A ,,,, LogosB# Man festat on and e4!ress on of the Tho$ghtG , , , , Behold T-E TR'E MASO8I% TRI8IT.G the '8IFERSAL SO'L# the T-O'G-T n the So$l# the ;ORD# or Tho$ght e4!ressedG the T-REE T8 O8E# of a Tr n tar an Ecossa s, -ere Masonry !a$ses# and lea6es ts In t ates to carry o$t and de6elo! these great Tr$ths n s$ch manner as to each may seem most accordant 3 th reason# !h loso!hy# tr$th# and h s rel g o$s fa th, It decl nes to act as Arb ter bet3een them, It loo/s calmly on# 3h le each

m$lt !l es the ntermed ates bet3een the De ty and Matter# and the !erson f cat ons of God?s man festat ons and attr b$tes# to 3hate6er e4tent h s reason# h s con6 ct on# or h s fancy d ctates, ;h le the Ind an tells $s that PARABRA-MA# BRA-M# and PARATMA 3ere the f rst Tr $ne God# re6eal ng - mself as BRA-MA# FIS-8'# and SIFA# %reator# Preser6er# and DestroyerG ,,,, The Egy!t an# of AM'8DRE# 8EIT-# and P-T-A# %reator# Matter# Tho$ght or L ghtG the Pers an of h s Tr n ty of Three Po3ers n ORM'HD# So$rces of L ght# " re# and ;aterG the B$ddh sts of the God SAK.A# a Tr n ty com!osed of B'DD-A# D-ARM and SA8GA# D Intell gence# La3# and 'n on or -armonyG the %h nese Sabeans of the r Tr n ty of %hangDt # the S$!reme So6ere gnG T en# the -ea6ensG and Tao# the 'n 6ersal S$!reme Reason and Pr nc !le of all th ngsG 3ho !rod$ced the 'n tG that# t3oG t3o# threeG and three# all that sG ,,,, ;h le the Scla6onoDFend ty! f es h s Tr n ty by the three heads of the God

Tr gla6G the Anc ent Pr$ss an !o nts to h s Tr $ne God# Per/o$n# P /ollos# and Potr m!os# De t es of L ght and Th$nder# of -ell and of the EarthG the Anc ent Scand na6 an to Od n# "rea# and ThorG and the old Etr$scans to TI8A# TAL8A# and MI8IMFA# Strength# Ab$ndance# and ; sdomG ,,,, ;h le Plato tells $s of the S$!reme Good# the Reason or Intellect# and the B# and the So$l or S! r tG and Ph lo of the Archety!e of L ght# ; sdom A os the Kabal sts# of the Tr ads of the Se!h rothG , ;ord A ;h le the d sc !les of S mon Mag$s# and the many sects of the Gnost cs# conf$se $s 3 th the r Eons# Emanat ons# Po3ers# ; sdom S$!er or and Infer or# Ialdabaoth# AdamDKadmon# e6en to the three h$ndred and s 4tyf 6e tho$sand emanat ons of the Malda tesG ,,,, And 3h le the ! o$s %hr st an bel e6es that the ;ORD d3elt n the Mortal Body of &es$s of 8a<areth# and s$ffered $!on the %rossG and that the -OL. G-OST 3as !o$red o$t $!on the A!ostles# and no3 ns! res e6ery tr$ly %hr st an So$l( , , , , ;h le all these fa ths assert the r cla ms to the e4cl$s 6e !ossess on of the

Tr$th# Masonry nc$lcates ts old doctr ne# and no more( ,,,, That God s O8EG that - s T-O'G-T $ttered n - s ;ORD# created the 'n 6erse# and !reser6es t by those Eternal La3s 3h ch are the e4!ress on of that Tho$ght( that the So$l of Man# breathed nto h m by God# s mmortal as - s Tho$ghts areG that he s free to do e6 l or to choose good# res!ons ble for h s acts and !$n shable for h s s ns( that all e6 l and 3rong and s$ffer ng are b$t tem!orary# the d scords of one great -armony# and that n - s good t me they 3 ll lead by nf n te mod$lat ons to the great# harmon c f nal chord and cadence of Tr$th# Lo6e# Peace# and -a!! ness# that 3 ll r ng fore6er and e6er $nder the Arches of -ea6en# among all the Stars and ;orlds# and n all so$ls of men and Angels, MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE Morals and Dogma of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of "reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$nc l of the Th rty Th rd Degree for the So$thern &$r sd ct on of the 'n ted States( %harleston# )*+), 0+C D Kn ght %ommander of the Tem!le

PPFII, K8IG-T %OMMA8DER O" T-E EMPIRE

T-IS s the f rst of the really %h 6alr c Degrees of the Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te, It occ$! es th s !lace n the %alendar of the Degrees bet3een the 0=th and the last of the Ph loso!h cal Degrees# n order# by brea/ ng the cont n$ ty of these# to rel e6e 3hat m ght other3 se become 3ear someG and also to rem nd that# 3h le engaged 3 th the s!ec$lat ons and abstract ons of !h loso!hy and creeds# the Mason s also to cont n$e engaged n act 6e d$t es of th s great 3arfare of l fe, -e s not only a Moral st and Ph loso!her# b$t a Sold er# the S$ccessor of those Kn ghts of the M ddle Age# 3ho# 3h le they 3ore the %ross# also 3 elded the S3ord# and 3ere the Sold ers of -onor# Loyalty# and D$ty,

T mes change# and c rc$mstancesG b$t F rt$e and D$ty rema n the same, The E6 ls to be 3arred aga nst b$t ta/e another sha!e and are de6elo!ed n a d fferent form,

There s the same need no3 of tr$th and loyalty as n the days of "reder c Barbarossa,

The characters# rel g o$s and m l tary# attent on to the s c/ and 3o$nded n the -os! tal# and 3ar aga nst the Inf del n the f eld are no longer blendedG b$t the same d$t es# to be !erformed n another sha!e# cont n$e to e4 st and to en6 ron $s all,

The nnocent 6 rg n s no longer at the mercy of the br$tal Baron or l cent o$s manDatDarmsG b$t !$r ty and nnocence st ll need !rotectors,

;ar s no longer the a!!arently nat$ral State of Soc etyG and for most men t s an em!ty obl gat on to ass$me# that they 3 ll not recede before the enemyG b$t the same h gh d$ty and obl gat on st ll rest $!on all men,

Tr$th# n act# !rofess on# and o! n on# s rarer no3 than n days of ch 6alry, "alsehood has become a c$rrent co n# and c rc$lates 3 th a certa n degree of res!ectab l tyG beca$se t has an act$al 6al$e, It s ndeed the great F ce of the AgeDD t# and ts t3 nDs ster# D shonesty, Men# for !ol t cal !referment# !rofess 3hate6er !r nc !les are e4!ed ent and !rof table, At the bar# n the !$l! t# and n the halls of leg slat on# men arg$e aga nst the r o3n con6 ct ons# and# 3 th 3hat they term log c# !ro6e to the sat sfact on of others that 3h ch they do not themsel6es bel e6e, Ins ncer ty and d$!l c ty are 6al$able to the r !ossessors# l /e estates n stoc/s# that y eld a certa n re6en$e( and t s no longer the tr$th of an o! n on or a !r nc !le# b$t the net !rof t that may be real <ed from t# 3h ch s the meas$re of ts 6al$e,

The Press s the great so3er of falsehood, To slander a !ol t cal antagon st# to m sre!resent all that he says# and# f that be m!oss ble# to n6ent for h m 3hat he does not sayG to !$t n c rc$lat on 3hate6er baseless cal$mn es aga nst h m are necessary to defeat h m#DDthese are hab ts so common as to ha6e ceased to not ce or comment# m$ch less s$r!r se or d sg$st,

There 3as a t me 3hen a Kn ght 3o$ld d e rather than $tter a l e or brea/ h s Kn ghtly 3ord, The Kn ght %ommander of the Tem!le re6 6es the old Kn ghtly s! r tG and de6otes h mself to the Kn ghtly 3orsh ! of Tr$th, 8o

!rofess on of an o! n on not h s o3n# for e4!ed ency?s sa/e or !rof t# or thro$gh fear of the 3orld?s d sfa6orG no slander of e6en an enemyG no color ng or !er6ers on of the say ngs or acts of other menG no ns ncere s!eech and arg$ment for any !$r!ose# or $nder any !rete4t# m$st so l h s fa r esc$tcheon, O$t of the %ha!ter# as 3ell as n t# he m$st s!ea/ the Tr$th# and all the Tr$th# no more and no lessG or else s!ea/ not at all,

To !$r ty and nnocence e6ery3here# the Kn ght %ommander o3es !rotect on# as of oldG aga nst bold 6 olence# or those# more g$ lty than m$rderers# 3ho by art and treachery see/ to slay the so$lG and aga nst that 3ant and dest t$t on that dr 6e too many to sell the r honor and nnocence for food,

In no age of the 3orld has man had better o!!ort$n ty than no3 to d s!lay those lofty 6 rt$es and that noble hero sm that so d st ng$ shed the three great m l tary and rel g o$s Orders# n the r yo$th# before they became corr$!t and 6 t ated by !ros!er ty and !o3er,

;hen a fearf$l e! dem c ra6ages a c ty# and death s nhaled 3 th the a r men breatheG 3hen the l 6 ng scarcely s$ff ce to b$ry the deadDDmost men flee n ab5ect terror# to ret$rn and l 6e# res!ectable and nfl$ent al# 3hen the danger has !assed a3ay, B$t the old Kn ghtly s! r t of de6ot on and d s nterestedness and contem!t of death st ll l 6es# and s not e4t nct n the h$man heart, E6ery3here a fe3 are fo$nd to stand f rmly and $nfl nch ngly at the r !osts# to front and defy the danger# not for money# or to be honored for t# or to !rotect the r o3n ho$seholdG b$t from mere h$man ty# and to obey the $nerr ng d ctates of d$ty, They n$rse the s c/# breath ng the !est lent al atmos!here of the hos! tal, They e4!lore the abodes of 3ant and m sery, ; th the gentlenes of 3oman# they soften the !a ns of the dy ng# and feed the lam! of l fe n the con6alescent, They !erform the last sad off ces the deadG and they see/ no other re3ard than the a!!ro6al the r o3n consc ences,

These are the tr$e Kn ghts of the !resent age( these# and ca!ta n 3ho rema ns at h s !ost on board h s shattered sh ! $n the last boat# loaded to the 3ater?s edge 3 th !assengers and cre3# has !arted from her s deG and then goes calmly do3n 3 th her nto the myster o$s de!ths of the ocean(DD the ! lot 3ho stands at the 3heel 3h le the s3 ft flames eddy ro$nd h m and scorch a3ay h s l fe(DDthe f reman 3ho ascends the bla< ng 3alls# and !l$nges am d the flames to sa6e the !ro!erty or l 6es of those 3ho ha6e $!on h m no cla m by t e of blood# or fr endsh !# or e6en of ord nary acE$a ntance(DDthese# and others l /e these(DDall men# 3ho# set at the !ost of d$ty# stand there manf$llyG to d e# f need be# b$t not to desert the r !ost( for these# too# are s3orn not to recede before the enemy,

To the !erformance of d$t es and of acts of hero sm l /e these# yo$ ha6e de6oted yo$rself# my Brother# by becom ng a Kn ght %ommander of the Tem!le, Sold er of the Tr$th and of LoyaltyO Protector of P$r ty and Innocence O Def er of Plag$e and Pest lence O 8$rser of the S c/ and B$r er of the Dead O Kn ght# !referr ng Death to abandonment of the Post of D$tyO ;elcome the bosom of th s Order O