Albert - Pike Morals - and .Dogma

MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE
Morals and Dogma of t he Anc ent and Acce!t ed Scot t sh R t e of

"reemasonry # !re!ared for the S$!reme %o$ncl of t he Th rty Thrd
Degree for the So$t hern &$r sd ct on of the 'nted St at es( %harlest on#
)*+),
S-ORT BIOGRAP-.
Al bert P /e# born December 01# )*21# 3as the ol dest of s 4 ch ldren born
t o Ben5 am n and Sarah Andre3s P /e, P /e 3as rased n a %hr stan home
and at tended an E! sco!al ch$rch, P/e !assed the entrance e4amnat on at
-ar6ard %ol l ege 3hen he 3as )7 years ol d# b$t co$ld not at tend beca$se
he had no f$nds, Aft er tra6el ng as far 3est as Santa "e# P /e set t led n
Ar/ansas# 3here he 3or/ed as ed tor of a ne3s!a!er before beng adm t ted
t o t he bar, In Ar/ansas# he met Mary Ann -am lt on# and marred her on
8o6ember 0*# )*9:, To ths $n on 3ere born )) chl dren,
-e 3as :) years ol d 3hen he a!!led for admss on n the ;est ern St ar
Lodge 8o, 0 n L tt le Roc/# Ar/, # n )*72, Act 6e n t he Grand Lodge of
Ar/ansas# P/e too/ the )2 degrees of the .or/ R te from )*72 to )*79,
-e rece 6ed t he 01 degrees of the Scott sh R te n March )*79 from Al bert
Gal lat n Mac/ey n %harlest on# S, %, The Scot t sh Rt e had been
ntrod$ced n the 'n ted Stat es n )+*9, %harl eston 3as the l ocat on of the
frst S$!reme %o$nc l# 3hch go6erned the Scott sh R te n the 'n ted
Stat es# $nt l a 8ort hern S$!reme %o$nc l 3as establ shed n 8e3 .or/
% ty n )*)9, The bo$ndary bet3een the So$t hern and 8ort hern
&$r sd ct ons# st l l recogn <ed today# 3as f rmly establ shed n )*0*,
Mac/ey n6t ed P /e to 5on the S$!reme %o$ncl for the So$t hern
&$r sd ct on n )*7* n %harl est on# and he became the Grand %ommander
of t he S$!reme %o$nc l the foll o3 ng year, P/e hel d that off ce $nt l h s
deat h# 3h le s$!!ort ng h mself n 6ar o$s occ$!at ons s$ch as edt or of
t he Mem!h s Da ly A!!eal from "ebr$ary )*=+ t o Se!tember )*=*# as 3ell
as h s la3 !ract ce, P /e lat er o!ened a l a3 offce n ;ash ngt on# D, %, #
and arg$ed a n$mber of cases before t he ', S, S$!reme %o$rt , -o3e6er#
P/e 3as m!o6er shed by t he % 6 l ;ar and remaned so m$ch of hs l fe#
often borro3 ng money for basc l 6 ng e4!enses from t he S$!reme
%o$nc l before the co$ncl 6oted h m an ann$ ty n )*+1 of >)# 022 a year
for the rema nder of hs l fe, -e d ed on A!r l 0# )*10# n ;ash ngt on#
D, %,
Real < ng that a re6son of the r t$al 3as necessary f Scot t sh R te
"reemasonry 3ere to s$r6 6e# Mac/ey enco$raged P/e to re6se the r t$al
t o !rod$ce a standard rt $al for $se n al l st ates n the So$t hern
&$r sd ct on, Re6s on began n )*77# and after some changes# t he S$!reme
%o$nc l endorsed P /e? s re6 son n )*=), M nor changes 3ere made n
t 3o degrees n )*+9 after t he .or/ R te bodes n Msso$r ob5ect ed t hat
t he 01t h and 92th degrees re6eal ed secrets of the .or/ R te,
P/e s best /no3n for hs ma5 or 3or/# Morals and Dogma of the Ancent
and Acce!ted Scot t sh R te of "reemasonry# !$bl shed n )*+), Morals and
Dogma sho$l d not be conf$sed 3 t h P /e? s re6 son of the Scott sh Rt e
r t $al , They are se!arat e 3or/s, ;al ter Lee Bro3n 3r t es that P /e
@nt ended t AMoral s and DogmaB t o be a s$!!l ement t o t hat great
? connect ed syst em of moral # rel go$s and !hl oso!h cal nst r$ct on? that
he had de6el o!ed n h s re6 son of t he Scott sh r t $al , @
Morals and Dogma 3as t rad t onally g 6en to the canddat e $!on h s
rece!t of the ):t h degree of the Scott sh R te, Ths !ractce 3as st o!!ed
n )1+:, Moral s and Dogma has not been g 6en t o cand dates snce )1+:, A
Brdge to Lght# by Re4 R, -$tchens# s !ro6 ded t o cand dates today,
-$tchens lament s t hat Morals and Dogma s read by so fe3 Masons, A
Brdge to Lght 3as 3r tt en to be @a br dge bet 3een t he ceremon es of the
degrees and t her l ect$res n Moral s and Dogma, @
TITLES O" DEGREES
)C D A!!rent ce
0C D "ell o3Dcraft
9C D Mast er
:C D Secret Mast er
7C D Perfect Mast er
=C D Int mat e Secretary
+C D Pro6ost and &$dge
*C D Intendant of t he B$ l dng
1C D El $ of the 8ne
)2C D El $ of the " ft een
))C D El$ of t he T3el6e
)0C D Master Archt ect
)9C D Royal Arch of Sol omon
):C D Perfect El $
)7C D Kn ght of t he East
)=C D Pr nce of &er$sal em
)+C D Kn ght of t he East and ;est
)*C D Kn ght Rose %ro 4
)1C D Pont ff
02C D Master of t he Symbol c Lodge
0)C D 8oach te or Pr$ss an Knght
00C D Kn ght of t he Royal A4e or Pr nce of Lban$s
09C D %h ef of the Tabernacl e
0:C D Pr nce of t he Tabernacle
07C D Kn ght of t he Bra<en Ser!ent
0=C D Pr nce of Mercy
0+C D Kn ght %ommander of t he Tem!le
0*C D Kn ght of t he S$n or Prnce Ade!t
01C D Scott sh Knght of St, Andre3
92C D Kn ght Kadosh
9)C D Ins!ect or InE$st or
90C D Master of t he Royal Secret
)*+),
)C D A!!rent ce
T-E T;ELFEDI8%- R'LE A8D T-E %OMMO8 GAFEL,
"OR%E# $nreg$lat ed or l lDreg$l at ed# s not only 3ast ed n the 6od# l /e
t hat of g$n!o3der b$rned n the o!en a r# and st eam $nconf ned by
sc enceG b$t # st r/ ng n the dar/# and t s bl o3s meet ng only t he a r# t hey
recol and br$se t sel f, It s dest r$ct on and r$n, It s the 6ol cano# t he
earthE$a/e# t he cycl oneG Dnot gro3t h and !rogress, It s Poly!hem$s
bl nded# st r / ng at random# and fal l ng headlong among the shar! roc/s
by t he m!et$s of h s o3n bl o3s,
The bl nd "orce of the !eo!le s a "orce that m$st be econom <ed# and
al so managed# as t he bl nd "orce of st eam# l ft ng t he !ondero$s ron arms
and t $rn ng t he l arge 3heel s# s made to bore and r fl e the cannon and to
3ea6e the most del cate lace, It m$st be reg$l at ed by Intel lect , Int el l ect s
t o t he !eo!le and t he !eo!l e? s "orce# 3hat t he sl ender needle of the
com!ass s t o the sh!DDt s so$l# al3ays co$nsel l ng the h$ge mass of 3ood
and ron# and al3ays !o nt ng to the nort h, To at tac/ t he c tadel s b$l t $!
on al l sdes aga nst t he h$man race by s$!erst t ons# des!ot sms# and
!re5 $d ces# t he "orce m$st ha6e a bra n and a la3, Then t s deeds of darng
!rod$ce !ermanent res$lt s# and t here s real !rogress, Then t here are
s$bl me conE$ests, Tho$ght s a force# and !hl oso!hy sho$l d be an
energy# f nd ng t s a m and t s effect s n t he amel orat on of man/ nd, The
t 3o great motors are Tr$t h and Lo6e, ;hen all t hese "orces are comb ned#
and g$ ded by the Intel l ect # and reg$l ated by the R'LE of R ght # and
&$st ce# and of combned and syst emat c mo6ement and effort # t he great
re6ol $t on !re!ared for by t he ages 3 ll begn to march, The PO;ER of
t he De ty - mself s n eE$ l br $m 3 t h - s ;ISDOM, -ence the only
res$lt s are -ARMO8.,
It s beca$se "orce s l l reg$l ated# t hat re6ol $t ons !ro6e fa l$res,
Therefore t s that so often ns$rrect ons# comng from t hose hgh
mo$nta ns t hat dom neer o6er t he moral hor<on# &$stce# ;sdom# Reason#
R ght # b$ lt of t he !$rest sno3 of the deal aft er a l ong fal l from roc/ t o
roc/# after ha6 ng reflected t he s/y n t her t rans!arency# and been s3ol l en
by a h$ndred affl $ent s# n t he ma5est c !at h of t r$m!h# s$ddenly l ose
t hemsel 6es n E$agmres# l /e a %al forn a r 6er n t he sands,
The on3ard march of t he h$man race reE$res t hat the he ght s aro$nd t
sho$l d bla<e 3t h noble and end$rng lessons of co$rage, Deeds of darng
da<<l e h story# and form one class of the g$dng l ght s of man, They are
t he st ars and cor$scat ons from that great sea of elect r cty# t he "orce
nherent n t he !eo!l e, To st r 6e# to bra6e al l r s/s# to !ersh# t o !erse6ere#
t o be tr$e to one? s sel f# to gra!!le body t o body 3t h dest ny# to s$r!r se
defeat by the l tt le terror t ns!res# no3 to confront $nr ghteo$s !o3er#
no3 t o defy nto4 cated tr$m!hDDt hese are the e4am!l es t hat the nat ons
need and t he l ght t hat elect r f es t hem,
There are mmense "orces n t he great ca6erns of e6 l beneat h soc etyG n
t he hdeo$s degradat on# sE$al or# 3ret chedness and dest t $t on# 6ces and
cr mes that ree/ and s mmer n t he dar/ness n t hat !o!$lace bel o3 t he
!eo!l e# of great ct es, There d s nt erest edness 6an shes# e6ery one ho3l s#
searches# gro!es# and gna3s for h mself, Ideas are gnored# and of
!rogress t here s no t ho$ght , Ths !o!$lace has t 3o mot hers# bot h of t hem
st e!mot hersDDIgnorance and M sery, ;ant s t he r only g$ deDDfor the
a!!et te alone t hey cra6e sat sfact on, .et e6en t hese may be em!l oyed,
The lo3ly sand 3e tram!le $!on# cast nt o t he f$rnace# melt ed# !$r f ed by
fre# may become res!l endent cryst al, They ha6e t he br$te force of t he
-AMMER# b$t t he r blo3s hel! on the great ca$se# 3hen str$c/ 3t h n the
l nes traced by t he R'LE held by 3sdom and d scret on,
.et t s t h s 6ery "orce of the !eo!le# t hs T tan c !o3er of t he g ants#
t hat b$l ds t he fort f cat ons of tyrant s# and s emboded n t her arm es,
-ence the !oss b l ty of s$ch tyrannes as those of 3hch t has been sad#
t hat @Rome smell s 3orse $nder F tel l $s t han $nder S$ll a, 'nder %la$d $s
and $nder Domt an t here s a deformty of baseness corres!ondng t o t he
$gl nessDof t he tyranny, The fo$l ness of the sl a6es s a d rect res$lt of t he
at roco$s baseness of the des!ot, A masma e4hal es from t hese cro$ch ng
conscences t hat refl ect the masterG the !$bl c a$thor t es are $nclean#
hearts are coll a!sed# consc ences shr$n/en# so$ls !$ny, Th s s so $nder
%aracall a# t s so $nder %ommod$s# t s so $nder -el ogabal $s# 3h le
from the Roman senat e# $nder %aesar# there comes only t he ran/ odo$r
!ec$l ar to the eagle? s eyr e, @
It s t he force of the !eo!le t hat s$st ans all t hese des!ot sms# t he basest
as 3ell as t he best , That force act s thro$gh armesG and these oft ener
ensl a6e than l berate, Des!ot sm t here a!!les the R'LE, "orce s the
MA%E of steel at the saddl eDbo3 of the /nght or of the b sho! n armo$r,
Pass6e obedence by force s$!!ort s thrones and ol garches# S!an sh
/ngs# and Fenet an senates, Mght# n an army 3 elded by tyranny# s the
enormo$s s$m total of $tt er 3ea/nessG and so -$manty 3ages 3ar aga nst
-$man ty# n des!t e of -$manty, So a !eo!le 3ll ngly s$bm t s t o
des!ot sm# and ts 3or/men s$bm t to be des!sed# and ts solders to be
3h!!edG t herefore t s t hat bat tles lost by a nat on are often !rogress
at ta ned, Less gl ory s more l berty, ;hen the dr$m s slent# reason
somet mes s!ea/s,
Tyrant s $se t he force of t he !eo!l e t o chan and s$b5 $gateDDt hat s# enyo/e
t he !eo!l e, Then t hey !lo$gh 3t h them as men do 3t h o4en yo/ed, Th$s
t he s!rt of l berty and nno6at on s red$ced by bayonet s# and !r nc !les
are str$c/ d$mb by cannonshot G 3h l e the mon/s mngle 3t h the troo!ers#
and t he %h$rch m l t ant and 5$b l ant # %athol c or P$r tan# sngs Te De$ms
for 6 ctor es o6er rebel l on,
The m l tary !o3er# not s$bordnate t o the c6l !o3er# aga n t he
-AMMER or MA%E of "OR%E# nde!endent of the R'LE# s an armed
tyranny# born f$l lDgro3n# as At hene s!r$ng from t he bra n of He$s, It
s!a3ns a dynasty# and beg ns 3 th %aesar to rot nto Ft ell $s and
%ommod$s, At the !resent day t ncl nes to begn 3here formerly
dynast es ended,
%onstantly t he !eo!l e !$t fort h mmense st rength# only to end n mmense
3ea/ness, The force of the !eo!le s e4ha$sted n ndef n tely !rol ongng
t h ngs l ong snce deadG n go6ernng man/nd by embal mng ol d dead
tyrann es of "a t hG restor ng d l a! dated dogmasG reg l dng faded# 3ormD
eaten shr nesG 3h ten ng and ro$gng ancent and barren s$!erst t onsG
sa6 ng socety by m$lt !lyng !aras tesG !er!et $at ng s$!erann$at ed
nst t $t onsG enforc ng t he 3orsh! of symbol s as t he act $al means of
sal 6at onG and ty ng t he dead cor!se of the Past # mo$th t o mo$t h# 3 th the
l 6 ng Present , Therefore t s that t s one of the fatal t es of -$manty t o
be condemned t o et ernal st r$ggles 3t h !hant oms# 3 th s$!erst t ons#
bgot r es# hy!ocr s es# !re5 $dces# the form$las of error# and the !l eas of
tyranny, Des!ot sms# seen n the !ast # become res!ect abl e# as the
mo$nta n# br st l ng 3 th 6olcanc roc/# r$gged and horr d# seen t hro$gh
t he ha<e of dst ance s bl $e and smoot h and bea$t f$l , The sght of a
s ngle d$ngeon of tyranny s 3orth more# t o ds!el ll $s ons# and creat e a
holy hat red of des!ot sm# and t o drect "OR%E arght # t han t he most
el oE$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 t he !eo!l e ma nt aned t he Po3er t hat b$l t t s gl oomy cel ls#
and !laced the l 6 ng n t he r gran te se!$l chres,
The "OR%E of the !eo!le cannot # by ts $nrestraned and ft f$l act on#
mant a n and cont n$e n act on and e4 st ence a free Go6ernment once
created, That "orce m$st be l m t ed# restraned# con6eyed by d str b$t on
nt o d fferent channels# and by ro$ndabo$t co$rses# to o$tl et s# 3hence t s
t o ss$e as the la3# act on# and dec s on of t he StateG as t he 3 se ol d
Egy!t an / ngs con6eyed n dfferent canal s# by s$bDd6 son# the s3ell ng
3at ers of the 8 le# and com!ell ed t hem t o fert l <e and not de6astat e t he
l and, There m$st be t he 5 $s et norma# the la3 and R$le# or Ga$ge# of
const t$t on and la3# 3t h n 3hch the !$bl c force m$st act, Ma/e a
breach n et her# and the great steamDhammer# 3 t h ts s3 ft and !ondero$s
blo3s# cr$shes al l the mach nery t o atoms# and# at last # 3rench ng t self
a3ay# les nert and dead am d the r$n t has 3ro$ght ,
The "OR%E of the !eo!le# or the !o!$l ar 3 l l# n act on and e4ert ed#
symbol <ed by t he GAFEL# reg$lat ed and g$ded by and act ng 3 th n the
l mt s of LA; and ORDER# symbol <ed by t he T;E8T.D"O'RDI8%-
R'LE# has for t s fr$t LIBERT.# EI'ALIT.# and "RATER8IT.#DDl berty
reg$lat ed by l a3G eE$al ty of rghts n the eye of the la3G brot herhood 3t h
ts d$t es and obl gat ons as 3el l as t s benef ts,
.o$ 3l l hear shortly of t he Ro$gh AS-LAR and the Perfect AS-LAR# as
!art of t he 5 e3els of the Lodge, The ro$gh Ashl ar s sa d to be @a stone# as
t a/en from the E$arry# n ts r$de and nat $ral st at e,@ The !erfect Ashlar s
sa d t o be @a st one made ready by t he hands of the 3or/men# to be
ad5$st ed by t he 3or/ngDt ool s of t he "ell o3D%raft,@ ;e shal l not re!eat the
e4!l anat ons of t hese symbol s g 6en by t he .or/ R t e, .o$ may read them
n t s !rnted mont ors, They are declared to all $de to the selfD
m!ro6ement of the nd 6d$al craftsman#DDa cont n$at on of t he same
s$!erfc al nt er!ret at on,
The ro$gh Ashl ar s the PEOPLE# as a mass# r$de and $norgan <ed, The
!erfect Ashl ar# or c$b cal st one# symbol of !erfect on# s the STATE# t he
r$l ers der 6 ng t her !o3ers from t he consent of t he go6ernedG the
const t$t on and la3s s!ea/ ng t he 3 ll of the !eo!leG the go6ernment
harmon o$s# symmet r cal# effc ent # DDt s !o3ers !ro!erly dst r b$t ed and
d$ly ad5 $sted n eE$l br $m,
If 3e del neate a c$be on a !l ane s$rface th$s(
3e ha6e 6s ble three faces# and n ne e4t ernal l nes# dra3n bet3een se6en
!onts, The com!l ete c$be has t hree more faces# ma/ ng s 4G t hree more
l nes# ma/ ng t 3el 6eG and one more !ont # ma/ ng eght , As the n$mber )0
ncl $des t he sacred n$mbers# 9# 7# +# and 9 t mes 9# or 1# and s !rod$ced
by addng the sacred n$mber 9 to 1G 3hl e ts o3n t3o f g$res# )# 0# t he
$nt or monad# and d$ad# added t oget her# ma/e the same sacred n$mber 9G
t 3as call ed the !erfect n$mberG and the c$be became t he symbol of
!erfect on,
Prod$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!rat e
symbol of the "orce of t he !eo!l e# e4!ressed as t he const t $t on and l a3
of t he St at eG and of t he State tsel f the three 6s ble faces re!resent the
t hree de!art ment s# DDt he E4ec$t 6e# 3h ch e4ec$t es t he l a3sG the
Leg slat 6e# 3h ch ma/es the la3sG t he &$d cary# 3hch nter!ret s t he
l a3s# a!!l es and enforces t hem# bet 3een man and man# bet 3een the St ate
and t he c t <ens, The three n6 sble faces# are Lberty# EE$al ty# and
"rat ern ty# the threefol d so$l of the St at eDDt s 6t al ty# s!rt # and nt ell ect,
Tho$gh Masonry ne ther $s$r!s t he !lace of# nor a!es rel g on# !rayer s
an essent al !art of o$r ceremones, It s t he as!rat on of the so$l t o3ard
t he Absol$t e and Infnt e Intell gence# 3h ch s t he One S$!reme De ty#
most feebly and ms$nderstand ngly character<ed as an @AR%-ITE%T, @
%erta n fac$l t es of man are d rect ed to3ard the 'n/no3nDDtho$ght#
medt at on# !rayer, The $n/no3n s an ocean# of 3h ch conscence s the
com!ass, Tho$ght # medt at on# !rayer# are t he great myster o$s !ont ngs
of t he needle, It s a s! r t $al magnet sm that th$s connects the h$man
so$l 3t h the Dety, These ma5est c rrad at ons of t he so$l ! erce thro$gh
t he shado3 to3ard the l ght ,
It s b$t a shall o3 scoff t o say that !rayer s abs$rd# beca$se t s not
!ossble for $s# by means of t# to !ers$ade God to change -s !lans, -e
!rod$ces fore/no3n and forentended effect s# by t he nst r$ment al ty of t he
forces of nat $re# al l of 3h ch are - s forces, O$r o3n are !art of t hese,
O$r free agency and o$r 3 ll are forces, ;e do not abs$rdly cease t o ma/e
effort s t o at ta n 3eal th or ha!! ness# !rolong l fe# and cont n$e heal th#
beca$se 3e cannot by any effort change 3hat s !redest ned, If t he effort
al so s !redest ned# t s not t he l ess o$r effort# made of o$r free 3l l , So#
l /e3se# 3e !ray, ; ll s a force, Tho$ght s a force, Prayer s a force,
;hy sho$l d t not be of t he l a3 of God# that !rayer# l /e "a th and Lo6e#
sho$l d ha6e ts effect sJ Man s not t o be com!rehended as a st art ngD
!ont# or !rogress as a goal# 3 tho$t those t 3o great forces# "a th and
Lo6e, Prayer s s$bl me, Or sons t hat beg and cl amo$r are !t f$l , To deny
t he eff cacy of !rayer# s to deny t hat of "a t h# Lo6e# and Effort , .et the
effect s !rod$ced# 3hen o$r hand# mo6ed by o$r 3 ll # la$nches a !ebbl e
nt o t he ocean# ne6er ceaseG and e6ery $tt ered 3ord s regst ered for
et ernty $!on the n6 sbl e ar,
E6ery Lodge s a Tem!le# and as a 3hol e# and n t s det a l s symbol c, The
'n6erse tsel f s$!!l ed man 3 th t he model for t he frst tem!les reared t o
t he D6 n ty, The arrangement of t he Tem!l e of Sol omon# t he symbolc
ornament s 3h ch formed ts ch ef decorat ons# and t he dress of the -ghD
Prest# all had reference t o the order of the 'n 6erse# as then $nderst ood,
The Tem!l e cont a ned many emblems of t he seasonsDDthe s$n# t he moon#
t he !lanet s# the const ell at ons 'rsa Ma5 or and Mnor# the <odac# t he
el ement s# and the other !art s of t he 3orld, It s the Mast er of ths Lodge#
of t he 'n 6erse# -ermes# of 3hom Kh$r$m s the re!resent at 6e# that s
one of t he lght s of the Lodge,
"or f$rt her nstr$ct on as t o t he symbol sm of the hea6enly bodes# and of
t he sacred n$mbers# and of t he t em!l e and ts deta ls# yo$ m$st 3at
!atently $nt l yo$ ad6ance n Masonry# n t he mean t me e4erc s ng yo$r
ntell ect n st $dy ng them for yo$rself, To st $dy and see/ t o nter!ret
correct ly the symbol s of t he 'n6erse# s t he 3or/ of the sage and
!hl oso!her, It s t o dec!her the 3rt ng of God# and !enetrate nt o - s
t ho$ght s,
Th s s 3hat s as/ed and ans3ered n o$r catech sm# n regard to t he
Lodge,
K K K K K K
A @Lodge@ s def ned to be @an assemblage of "reemasons# d$ly
congregated# ha6 ng t he sacred 3r t ngs# sE$are# and com!ass# and a
charter# or 3arrant of const t $t on# a$thor< ng them t o 3or/, @ The room
or !l ace n 3hch t hey meet # re!resent ng some !art of K ng Sol omon? s
Tem!le# s also call ed the LodgeG and t s t hat 3e are no3 consderng,
It s sad to be s$!!ort ed by t hree great col $mns# ;ISDOM# "OR%E or
STRE8GT-# and BEA'T.# re!resented by the Master# the Sen or ;arden#
and t he &$n or ;ardenG and t hese are sad t o be the col $mns t hat s$!!ort
t he Lodge# @beca$se ; sdom# St rength# and Bea$ty# are the !erfect ons of
e6eryt h ng# and not h ng can end$re 3 tho$t t hem, @ @Beca$se# @ the .or/
R te says# @t s necessary that t here sho$ld be ; sdom to conce 6e#
Strengt h t o s$!!ort # and Bea$ty to adorn# all great and m!ort ant
$nderta/ngs, @ @Kno3 ye not#@ says the A!ost le Pa$l# @t hat ye are the
t em!l e of God# and that the S!rt of God d3el let h n yo$J If any man
desecrate the tem!le of God# h m shal l God dest roy# for the tem!l e of God
s holy# 3hch t em!l e ye are, @
The ; sdom and Po3er of the Dety are n eE$l br $m, The la3s of nat $re
and t he moral la3s are not the mere des!ot c mandat es of - s Omn !ot ent
3 ll G for# t hen they m ght be changed by - m# and order become d sorder#
and good and rght become e6 l and 3rongG honesty and l oyal ty# 6 cesG and
fra$d# ngrat t$de# and 6ce# 6 rt $es, Omn!otent !o3er# nf n te# and
e4st ng al one# 3o$ld necessar ly not be const ra ned to cons stency, Its
decrees and la3s co$ld not be mm$table, The l a3s of God are not
obl gatory on $s beca$se they are the enact ment s of -s PO;ER# or t he
e4!ress on of - s ;ILLG b$t beca$se t hey e4!ress -s nf nte ;ISDOM,
They are not rght beca$se they are -s la3s# b$t -s l a3s beca$se they
are r ght , "rom the eE$ l br$m of nf nt e 3 sdom and nfnte force#
res$lt s !erfect harmony# n !hyscs and n the moral $n6erse, ; sdom#
ro3er# and -armony const t$t e one Masonc t rad, They ha6e other and
!rofo$nder meanngs# t hat may at some t me be $n6e led to yo$,
As t o the ord nary and common!l ace e4!lanat on# t may be added# that t he
3 sdom of the Arch tect s d s!layed n comb n ng# as only a s/ l l f$l
Arch tect can do# and as God has done e6ery3here# DDfor e4am!l e# n the
t ree# the h$man frame# the egg# the cell s of t he honeycombDDst rength# 3 th
grace# bea$ty# symmetry# !ro!ort on# l ght ness# ornamentat on, That # too#
s t he !erfect on of t he orator and !oetDDt o combne force# st rengt h#
energy# 3 t h grace of style# m$scal cadences# the bea$ty of f g$res# t he
!lay and rrad at on of mag nat on and fancyG and so# n a St ate# t he
3arl /e and nd$stral force of t he !eo!l e# and t her T t anc strengt h# m$st
be comb ned 3t h t he bea$ty of t he arts# the scences# and t he ntell ect# f
t he State 3o$l d scal e t he he ght s of e4cell ence# and the !eo!le be real ly
free, -armony n t h s# as n all t he D 6 ne# the mat er al# and the h$man# s
t he res$l t of eE$ l br$m# of t he sym!at hy and o!!os t e act on of
contrar esG a sngle ; sdom abo6e them holdng the beam of t he scal es, To
reconc le the moral la3# h$man res!ons bl ty# freeD3l l# 3 th t he absol $te
!o3er of GodG and the e4 stence of e6 l 3 t h -s absol $te 3sdom# and
goodness# and mercy# DD t hese are t he great engmas of t he S!hyn4,
.o$ entered t he Lodge bet 3een t 3o col $mns, They re!resent the t3o
3hch st ood n the !orch of the Tem!le# on each sde of the great eastern
gat e3ay, These !l lars# of bron<e# fo$r fngers breadt h n thc/ness# 3ere#
accord ng t o the most a$thent c acco$ntDDthat n t he "rst and that n the
Second Boo/ of K ngs# confrmed n &eremahDD eghteen c$b ts hgh# 3 t h
a ca! t al f 6e c$bt s hgh, The shaft of each 3as fo$r c$b t s n damet er, A
c$bt s one foot and +2+L)222, That s# the shaft of each 3as a l t t le o6er
t hrty feet e ght nches n heght# the ca! tal of each a l t tle o6er eght feet
s 4 nches n heght # and the dameter of t he shaft s 4 feet ten nches, The
ca! tal s 3ere enrched by !omegranates of bron<e# co6ered by bron<e net D
3or/# and ornamented 3 th 3reaths of bron<eG and a!!ear to ha6e m t ated
t he sha!e of t he seedD6essel of t he l ot $s or Egy!t an l ly# a sacred symbol
t o t he -nd$s and Egy!tans, The ! l l ar or col $mn on t he rght# or n t he
so$th# 3as named# as the -ebre3 3ord s rendered n o$r translat on of the
B ble# &A%-I8( and t hat on t he l eft BOAH, O$r t ranslat ors say t hat the
frst 3ord means# @-e shall establ shG@ and t he second# @In t s st rength, @
These col $mns 3ere mtat ons# by Kh$r$m# the Tyran art st # of the great
col$mns consecrat ed to the ; nds and "re# at the ent rance to t he famo$s
Tem!le of Mal/art h# n the c ty of Tyre, It s c$stomary# n Lodges of t he
.or/ Rt e# to see a cel est al globe on one# and a t errestral gl obe on the
otherG b$t t hese are not 3arranted# f the ob5ect be to m t ate the org nal
t 3o col$mns of t he Tem!le, The symbol c mean ng of t hese col$mns 3e
shal l lea6e for the !resent $ne4!l aned# only addng that Entered
A!!rent ces /ee! ther 3or/ ngDtools n the col $mn &A%-I8G and g6ng
yo$ t he etymology and l t eral meanng of t he t 3o names,
The 3ord &A%-I8# n -ebre3# !robably !rono$nced .aD/ayan# and meant #
as a 6erbal no$n# -e t hat strengthensG and thence# frm# st able# $!r ght ,
The 3ord Boa< s Baa< 3h ch means St rong# St rength# Po3er# Mght#
Ref$ge# So$rce of Strengt h# a "ort , The !ref 4 means @3 th@ or @n#@ and
g 6es t he 3ord t he force of the Lat n ger$nd# roborandoDDStrengthenng
The former 3ord also means he 3l l establ sh# or !lant n an erect
!ost onDDfrom t he 6erb K$n# he st ood erect , It !robably meant Act 6e and
F 6fy ng Energy and "orceG and Boa<# St ab l ty# Permanence# n t he
!ass 6e sense,
The D mens ons of t he Lodge# o$r Brethren of the .or/ R te say# @are
$nl m t ed# and t s co6erng no less than t he cano!y of -ea6en, @ @To t h s
ob5ect # @ they say# @the mason? s m nd s cont n$al ly d rect ed# and th ther he
ho!es at l ast to arr6e by the ad of t he t heol og cal l adder 3hch &acob n
hs 6s on sa3 ascend ng from eart h t o -ea6enG t he t hree !rnc!al ro$nds
of 3hch are denom nated "a th# -o!e# and %hartyG and 3h ch admonsh
$s to ha6e "a th n God# -o!e n Immortal ty# and %harty t o all man/nd, @
Accord ngly a ladder# somet mes 3t h nne ro$nds# s seen on the chart#
rest ng at t he bott om on t he earth# ts to! n t he cl o$ds# the st ars sh nng
abo6e tG and t h s s deemed t o re!resent that myst c l adder# 3h ch &acob
sa3 n h s dream# set $! on the eart h# and the to! of t reachng t o -ea6en#
3 th t he angel s of God ascendng and descendng on t , The add t on of the
t hree !rnc!al ro$nds t o the symbol sm# s 3holly modern and
ncongr$o$s,
The ancents co$nt ed se6en !lanet s# t h$s arranged( t he Moon# Merc$ry#
Fen$s# t he S$n# Mars# &$! ter# and Sat$rn, There 3ere se6en hea6ens and
se6en s!heres of these !lanetsG on all t he mon$ment s of Mt hras are se6en
al tars or !yres# consecrat ed to the se6en !l anets# as 3ere t he se6en lam!s
of t he golden candelabr$m n the Tem!l e, That these re!resent ed t he
!lanet s# 3e are ass$red by %lemens of Al e4andra# n h s St romata# and by
Ph l o &$dae$s,
To ret $rn t o t s so$rce n t he Inf nt e# the h$man so$l # t he anc ent s held#
had t o ascend# as t had descended# t hro$gh t he se6en s!heres, The Ladder
by 3hch t reascends# has# accord ng to Mars l $s "c n$s# n h s
%ommentary on the Ennead of Pl ot n$s# se6en degrees or ste!sG and n t he
Myst er es of M thras# carred to Rome $nder the Em!erors# the ladder#
3 th t s se6en ro$nds# 3as a symbol referr ng to ths ascent t hro$gh t he
s!heres of the se6en !lanet s, &acob sa3 t he S! r t s of God ascend ng and
descendng on t G and abo6e t the Dety - msel f, The M t hra c Myst er es
3ere celebrat ed n ca6es# 3here gat es 3ere mar/ed at the fo$r eE$noct al
and sol st t al !ont s of t he HodacG and the se6en !lanet ary s!heres 3ere
re!resented# 3hch so$l s needs m$st tra6erse n descendng from the
hea6en of the f 4ed st ars t o the el ements that en6elo! t he earthG and se6en
gat es 3ere mar/ed# one for each !l anet # t hro$gh 3hch they !ass# n
descendng or ret$rn ng,
;e learn t h s from %el s$s# n Orgen# 3ho says t hat the symbol c mage of
t h s !assage among the stars# $sed n t he M thra c Mysteres# 3as a ladder
reachng from earth to -ea6en# d6ded nt o se6en ste!s or stages# t o each
of 3hch 3as a gate# and at t he s$mmt an eghth one# t hat of the f 4ed
st ars, The symbol 3as the same as that of the se6en st ages of Bors!!a# the
Pyramd of 6t r f ed brc/# near Babyl on# b$l t of se6en st ages# and each of
a dfferent colo$r, In the M thrac ceremones# t he cand dat e 3ent thro$gh
se6en stages of nt at on# !ass ng thro$gh many fearf$l t ralsDDand of
t hese t he hgh ladder 3t h se6en ro$nds or ste!s 3as t he symbol ,
.o$ see the Lodge# t s det al s and ornament s# by ts Lght s, .o$ ha6e
al ready heard 3hat these Lght s# t he greater and l esser# are sad to be# and
ho3 t hey are s!o/en of by o$r Brethren of the .or/ R te,
The -oly Bble# SE$are# and %om!asses# are not only styled the Great
Lght s n Masonry# b$t they are al so techncal ly call ed the "$rn t$re of the
LodgeG and# as yo$ ha6e seen# t s hel d that t here s no Lodge 3t ho$t
t hem, Th s has somet mes been made a !ret e4t for e4cl$dng &e3s from
o$r Lodges# beca$se they cannot regard t he 8e3 Testament as a holy boo/,
The B bl e s an nds!ensable !art of the f$rn t$re of a %hr st an Lodge#
only beca$se t s the sacred boo/ of the %hrst an rel g on, The -ebre3
Pent ate$ch n a -ebre3 Lodge# and t he Koran n a Mohammedan one#
belong on the Alt arG and one of t hese# and the SE$are and %om!ass#
!ro!erly $nderstood# are the Great Lghts by 3hch a Mason m$st 3al/
and 3or/,
The obl gat on of t he cand date s al3ays t o be t a/en on t he sacred boo/
or boo/s of hs rel gon# that he may deem t more sol emn and b nd ngG
and t herefore t 3as that yo$ 3ere as/ed of 3hat rel g on yo$ 3ere, ;e
ha6e no ot her concern 3t h yo$r rel go$s creed,
The SE$are s a r ght angl e# formed by t3o rght l nes, It s ada!t ed only
t o a !lane s$rface# and bel ongs only t o geometry# earthDmeas$rement # t hat
t rgonomet ry 3h ch deal s only 3 t h !l anes# and 3t h t he earth# 3hch t he
anc ent s s$!!osed to be a !l ane, The %om!ass descr bes c rcl es# and deals
3 th s!her cal t rgonomet ry# the scence of t he s!heres andDhea6ens, The
former# therefore# s an emblem of 3hat concerns the eart h and t he bodyG
t he l att er of 3hat concerns the hea6ens and the so$l , .et t he %om!ass s
al so $sed n !lane trgonomet ry# as n erect ng !er!end c$l arsG and#
t herefore# yo$ are rem nded t hat # al tho$gh n th s Degree bot h !onts of
t he %om!ass are $nder t he SE$are# and yo$ are no3 deal ng only 3 t h t he
moral and !ol t cal meanng of t he symbol s# and not 3 th ther
!hl oso!h cal and s!rt $al meanngs# st l l the d6ne e6er m ngl es 3 th
t he h$manG 3t h the eart hly t he s! r t$al nt erm 4esG and there s
someth ng s!r t$al n the commonest d$t es of l fe, The nat ons are not
bod es !ol t c al one# b$t al so so$l sD!ol t cG and 3oe t o t hat !eo!le 3h ch#
see/ ng the mater al only# forgets t hat t has a so$l, Then 3e ha6e a race#
!etr fed n dogma# 3h ch !res$!!oses the absence of a so$l and t he
!resence only of memory and nst nct# or demoral <ed by l$cre, S$ch a
nat$re can ne6er lead c 6l <at on, Gen$fl e4on before t he dol or the
doll ar atro!hes the m$scl e 3hch 3al/s and the 3 ll 3hch mo6es,
- erat c or mercant le absor!t on d mnshes the rad ance of a !eo!le#
l o3ers t s hor<on by l o3er ng t s le6el # and de!r 6es t of that
$nderstandng of t he $n6ersal a m# at t he same t me h$man and d 6 ne#
3hch ma/es the m ssonary nat ons, A free !eo!le# forget t ng t hat t has a
so$l to be cared for# de6ot es all t s energ es to t s materal ad6ancement,
If t ma/es 3ar# t s t o s$bser6e t s commercal nterest s, The ct <ens
co!y after t he St at e# and regard 3eal th# !om!# and l $4$ry as t he great
goods of l fe, S$ch a nat on creat es 3eal th ra!dly# and dst r b$tes t
badly, Thence the t 3o e4tremes# of monstro$s o!$lence and monst ro$s
mseryG all t he en5 oyment t o a fe3# al l the !r6at ons to the rest # that s to
say# to the !eo!leG Pr 6 lege# E4ce!t on# Mono!oly# "e$dal ty# s!r ngng
$! from Labo$r tsel f( a false and dangero$s s t$at on# 3hch# ma/ng
Labo$r a bl nded and cha ned %yclo!s# n the m ne# at the forge# n t he
3or/sho!# at the l oom# n the f eld# o6er !osono$s f$mes# n m asmat c
cel ls# n $n6ent l ated fact or es# fo$nds !$bl c !o3er $!on !r 6at e m sery#
and !lant s t he greatness of the State n t he s$ffer ng of the nd 6d$al, It s
a greatness l l const t $t ed# n 3h ch al l the mat er al element s are
comb ned# and nto 3hch no moral element ent ers, If a !eo!l e# l /e a star#
has the rght of ecl !se# t he l ght o$ght t o ret$rn, The ecl !se sho$l d not
degenerate nto n ght ,
The three l esser# or t he S$bl me Lght s# yo$ ha6e heard# are the S$n# t he
Moon# and the Mast er of t he LodgeG and yo$ ha6e heard 3hat o$r Bret hren
of t he .or/ R t e say n regard t o t hem# and 3hy t hey hol d t hem t o be
Lght s of the Lodge, B$t t he S$n and Moon do n no sense l ght t he Lodge#
$nless t be symbol cally# and t hen t he l ght s are not t hey# b$t those t h ngs
of 3hch t hey are t he symbol s, Of 3hat they are the symbol s t he Mason n
t hat Rt e s not told, 8or does t he Moon n any sense r$le the nght 3 th
reg$lar ty,
The S$n s t he anc ent symbol of t he l feDg6 ng and generat 6e !o3er of
t he De ty, To the ancents# l ght 3as the ca$se of l feG and God 3as t he
so$rce from 3h ch al l l ght fl o3edG the essence of Lght # t he In6s ble
"re# de6elo!ed as "lame man fested as l ght and s!lendo$r, The S$n 3as
- s manfestat on and 6s ble mageG and the Sabaeans 3orsh !! ng the
LghtDDGod# seemed to 3orsh ! t he S$n# n 3hom they sa3 t he
manfestat on of the Dety,
The Moon 3as t he symbol of the !ass6e ca!ac ty of nat $re to !rod$ce# t he
femal e# of 3hch t he l feDg 6 ng !o3er and energy 3as t he male, It 3as t he
symbol of Is s# Astarte# and Art em s# or Dana, The @Mast er of Lfe@ 3as
t he S$!reme De ty# abo6e bot h# and manfested thro$gh bot hG He$s# t he
Son of Sat $rn# become Kng of t he GodsG -or$s# son of Osr s and Iss#
become the Master of LfeG D on$sos or Bacch$s# l /e Mt hras# become t he
a$thor of Lght and Lfe and Tr$th,
K K K K K
The Mast er of Lght and Lfe# t he S$n and the Moon# are symbol <ed n
e6ery Lodge by t he Master and ;ardens( and t h s ma/es t t he d$ty of t he
Master t o ds!ense l ght t o the Brethren# by h msel f# and thro$gh the
;ardens# 3ho are h s m n sters,
@Thy s$n# @ says ISAIA- to &er$salem# @shal l no more go do3n# net her
shal l thy moon 3 thdra3 t selfG for t he LORD shal l be t h ne e6erl ast ng
l ght # and the days of thy mo$rn ng shal l be ended, Thy !eo!le al so shall
be all rghteo$sG t hey shall nher t t he land fore6er,@ S$ch s t he ty!e of a
free !eo!l e,
O$r northern ancestors 3orsh!!ed th s t r D$ne De tyG ODI8# t he Al mghty
"AT-ERG "REA# h s 3 fe# emblem of $n 6ersal mat terG and T-OR# h s
son# the med ator, B$t abo6e all t hese 3as t he S$!reme God# @t he a$t hor
of e6eryth ng t hat e4st et h# t he Eternal # t he Ancent # the L6ng and A3f$l
Beng# t he Searcher nto conceal ed t h ngs# the Be ng that ne6er changet h, @
In t he Tem!le of El e$s s Ma sanct$ary l ghted only by a 3 ndo3 n t he roof#
and re!resent ng t he 'n6erseN# t he mages of the S$n# Moon# and
Merc$ry# 3ere re!resent ed,
@The S$n and Moon# @ says the learned Bro, ? , DELA'8A.# @re!resent the
t 3o grand !rnc!les of al l generat ons# the act 6e and !ass 6e# the mal e
and t he femal e, The S$n re!resent s the act$al lght, -e !o$rs $!on the
Moon hs fec$ndat ng raysG bot h shed ther l ght $!on ther offs!r ng# the
Bla< ng Star# or -OR'S# and the three form the great EE$ l at eral Tr angle#
n t he centre of 3hch s the omnfc let t er of t he Kabal ah# by 3hch
creat on s sa d to ha6e been effected, @
The OR8AME8TS of a Lodge are sad to be @the Mosa c Pa6ement# the
Indented Tessel# and t he Bla<ng Star, @ The Mosac Pa6ement # cheE$ered
n sE$ares or lo<enges# s sad to re!resent t he gro$ndDfl oor of Kng
Sol omon? s Tem!leG and the Indent ed Tessel @t hat bea$t f$l tessel l at ed
border 3h ch s$rro$nded t, @ The Bla< ng St ar n the cent re s sa d to be
@an emblem of D6ne Pro6 dence# and commemorat 6e of t he star 3hch
a!!eared to g$ de t he 3se men of the East t o the !lace of o$r Sa6 o$r? s
nat 6ty, @ B$t @t here 3as no stone seen@ 3 th n the Tem!le, The 3all s 3ere
co6ered 3 th !lan/s of cedar# and t he fl oor 3as co6ered 3 th !l an/s of f r,
There s no e6 dence t hat t here 3as s$ch a !a6ement or fl oor n t he
Tem!le# or s$ch a border ng, In Engl and# anc ent ly# the Trac ngDBoard 3as
s$rro$nded 3t h an ndent ed borderG and t s only n Amer ca that s$ch a
border s !$t aro$nd t he Mosa c !a6ement , The t esserae# ndeed# are t he
sE$ares or lo<enges of the !a6ement, In England# al so# @t he ndented or
dent c$l ated border@ s cal led @t essel lat ed#@ beca$se t has fo$r @tassel s#@
sa d t o re!resent Tem!erance# "ort t $de# Pr$dence# and &$st ce, It 3as
t ermed t he Indent ed TrasselG b$t th s s a m s$se of 3ords, It s a
t esserated !a6ement # 3 t h an ndented border ro$nd t,
The !a6ement # al ternately blac/ and 3h te# symbol <es# 3het her so
ntended or not # the Good and E6l Pr nc !les of the Egy!t an and Persan
creed, It s the 3arfare of Mchael and Sat an# of the Gods and T tans# of
Balder and Lo/G bet 3een l ght and shado3# 3h ch s dar/nessG Day and
8 ght G "reedom and Des!ot smG Rel go$s Lberty and the Arb trary
Dogmas of a %h$rch that t h n/s for t s 6otares# and 3hose Pont ff cla ms
t o be nfal l bl e# and t he decret al s of t s %o$nc ls t o const t $te a gos!el,
The edges of t h s !a6ement # f n lo<enges# 3 ll necessar ly be ndented or
dent c$l ated# t oot hed l /e a sa3G and to com!let e and fn sh t a border ng
s necessary, It s com!l eted by tassel s as ornament s at the corners, If
t hese and t he border ng ha6e any symbol c mean ng# t s fancf$l and
arbt rary,
To f nd n t he BLAHI8G STAR of f 6e !o nts an al l $son t o t he D 6ne
Pro6 dence# s also fanc f$lG and t o ma/e t commemorat 6e of t he Star
t hat s sa d to ha6e g$ ded the Mag# s to g6e t a mean ng com!arat 6ely
modern, Org nal ly t re!resent ed SIRI'S# or t he DogDst ar# the forer$nner
of t he n$ndat on of the 8l eG the God A8'BIS# com!an on of ISIS n her
search for the body of OSIRIS# her brot her and h$sband, Then t became
t he mage of -OR'S# the son of OSIRIS# h msel f symbol <ed al so by the
S$n# t he a$thor of the Seasons# and the God of T meG Son of ISIS# 3ho
3as the $n 6ersal nat$re# h mself t he !r m t 6e mat ter# ne4ha$st bl e
so$rce of Lfe# s!ar/ of $ncreated fre# $n6ersal seed of all be ngs, It 3as
-ERMES# al so# the Master of Learnng# 3hose name n Gree/ s that of
t he God Merc$ry, It became the sacred and !ot ent sgn or character of t he
Mag # t he PE8TALP-A# and s the sgnfcant embl em of Lberty and
"reedom# bl a<ng 3 th a st eady rad ance amd the 3el terng elements of
good and e6l of Re6ol $t ons# and !roms ng serene s/es and fert l e
seasons to t he nat ons# aft er the st orms of change and t$m$l t,
In t he East of t he Lodge# o6er t he Master# ncl osed n a trangle# s the
-ebre3 let ter .OD, In the Engl sh and Amer can Lodges t he Let ter G, ? , s
s$bst t$ted for th s# as the nt al of t he 3ord GOD# 3 t h as l t tl e reason as
f t he let ter D, # n t al of DIE'# 3ere $sed n "rench Lodges nst ead of the
!ro!er let ter, .OD s# n t he Kabal ah# t he symbol of 'n ty# of the S$!reme
De ty# the f rst l ett er of the -oly 8ameG and also a symbol of t he Great
Kabal st c Trads, To $nderst and t s myst c mean ngs# yo$ m$st o!en t he
!ages of the Sohar and S!hra de Hen $t ha# and other /abal st c boo/s# and
!onder dee!ly on ther meanng, It m$st s$ffce to say# t hat t s t he
%reat 6e Energy of the De ty# s re!resented as a !ont# and that !o nt n
t he centre of t he % rcl e of mmens ty, It s t o $s n t hs Degree# the symbol
of t hat $nmanfested De ty# t he Absol $te# 3ho has no name,
O$r "rench Brethren !lace th s l ett er .OD n the cent re of the Bla< ng
Star, And n t he old Lect$res# o$r anc ent Engl sh Brethren sad# @The
Bla< ng Star or Gl ory n t he centre refers $s t o that grand l$mnary# the
S$n# 3hch enl ghtens the eart h# and by ts genal nfl$ence d s!enses
blessngs to man/ nd, @ They cal led t al so n t he same l ect$res# an emblem
of PR'DE8%E, The 3ord Pr$dent a means# n t s or gnal and f$l lest
sgnfcat on# "oresghtG and# accord ngly# t he Bla<ng Star has been
regarded as an emblem of Omn scence# or t he Al lDsee ng Eye# 3h ch to
t he Egy!tan In t at es 3as the emblem of Os r s# the %reat or, ; t h the
.OD n t he centre# t has t he /abal st c meanng of t he D 6 ne Energy#
manfested as Lght # creat ng t he 'n6erse,
The &e3els of the Lodge are sa d to be s 4 n n$mber, Three are cal led
@Mo6abl e# @ and three @Immo6abl e,@ The SI'ARE# t he LEFEL# and t he
PL'MB 3ere ancently and !ro!erly cal led the Mo6able &e3el s# beca$se
t hey !ass from one Brother t o anot her, It s a modern nno6at on to call
t hem mmo6abl e# beca$se t hey m$st al 3ays be !resent n the Lodge, The
mmo6able 5e3el s are the RO'G- AS-LAR# t he PER"E%T AS-LAR or
%'BI%AL# STO8E# or# n some R t$als# the DO'BLE %'BE# and the
TRA%I8GDBOARD# or TRESTLEDBOARD,
Of t hese 5 e3els o$r Bret hren of the .or/ Rt e say( @The SE$are nc$lcat es
Moral tyG the Le6el# EE$al tyG and the Pl$mb# Rect t $de of %ond$ct , @
The r e4!lanat on of the mmo6abl e &e3el s may be read n t her mon tors,
O$r Brethren of the .or/ R te say that @t here s re!resented n e6ery 3el lD
go6erned Lodge# a certan !o nt # 3 t hn a c rcl eG the !ont re!resent ng an
nd 6 d$al BrotherG t he % rcl e# the bo$ndary l ne of h s cond$ct # beyond
3hch he s ne6er t o s$ffer hs !re5 $d ces or !ass ons to bet ray h m,@
Th s s not t o nter!ret t he symbols of Masonry, It s sa d by some# 3t h a
nearer a!!roach to nter!retat on# that t he !ont 3t h n t he crcle
re!resents God n the cent re of the 'n 6erse, It s a common Egy!t an sgn
for the S$n and Osrs# and s st ll $sed as t he ast ronomcal sgn of t he
great l $mnary, In t he Kabal ah the !o nt s .OD# t he %reat 6e Energy of
God# rradat ng 3t h lght the crc$l ar s!ace 3h ch God# the $n6ersal
Lght # l eft 6acant# 3heren to creat e t he 3orl ds# by 3t hdra3ng - s
s$bstance of Lght bac/ on al l sdes from one !ont ,
O$r Brethren add that# @t hs crcle s embordered by t 3o !er!end c$lar
!aral lel l nes# re!resent ng Sa nt &ohn t he Ba!t st and Sant &ohn the
E6angel st # and $!on t he t o! rest t he -oly Scr !t$res@ Man o!en boo/N, @In
gong ro$nd ths c rcl e# @ they say# @3e necessarly t o$ch $!on these t3o
l nes as 3el l as $!on t he -oly Scr !t $resG and 3hle a Mason /ee!s
h msel f crc$mscr bed 3 t h n t her !rece!t s# t s m!oss bl e t hat he
sho$l d materal ly err, @
It 3o$l d be a 3ast e of t me to comment $!on th s, Some 3r ters ha6e
mag ned that t he !aral lel l nes re!resent the Tro!cs of %ancer and
%a!r corn# 3hch t he S$n alt ernat ely t o$ches $!on at t he S$mmer and
; nter sol st ces, B$t t he tro! cs are not !er!endc$lar l nes# and the dea
s merely fancf$l , If the !arall el l nes e6er belonged t o the ancent
symbol # they had some more recond te and more fr$ t f$l mean ng, They
!robably had the same meanng as the t3n col $mns &achn and Boa<, That
mean ng s not for t he A!!rentce, The ade!t may f nd t n the Kabalah,
The &'STI%E and MER%. of God are n eE$ l br$m# and the res$l t s
-ARMO8.# beca$se a Sngle and Perfect ; sdom !resdes o6er bot h,
The -oly Scr !t $res are an ent rely modern addt on t o the symbol# l /e
t he t errestral and celest al gl obes on the col $mns of t he !ortco, Th$s t he
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 $mn contan ng the remans of Osr s at
Byblos,
K K K K K K
Masonry has ts decalog$e# 3hch s a la3 t o ts Int at es, These are ts
Ten %ommandments(
I, God s the Et ernal# Omn !otent# Imm$t able ;ISDOM and S$!reme
I8TELLIGE8%E and E4ha$st less Lo6e,
Tho$ shalt adore# re6ere# and l o6e - m O
Tho$ shalt hono$r - m by !ract s ng the 6 rt $esO
II, Thy relgon shal l be# to do good beca$se t s a !leas$re t o t hee# and
not merely beca$se t s a d$ty,
That t ho$ mayest become the frend of the 3se man# tho$ shal t obey hs
!rece!t s O
Thy so$l s mmort al O Tho$ shal t do not h ng t o degrade t O
III, Tho$ shalt $nceas ngly 3ar aganst 6ceO
Tho$ shalt not do $nt o others t hat 3h ch tho$ 3o$l dst not 3sh t hem t o do
$nto t hee O
Tho$ shalt be s$bm ss6e t o t hy fort $nes# and /ee! b$rn ng t he l ght of
3 sdom O
IF, Tho$ shal t hono$r thy !arent s O
Tho$ shalt !ay res!ect and homage t o the agedO
Tho$ shalt nstr$ct the yo$ngO
Tho$ shalt !rotect and defend nfancy and nnocence O
F, Tho$ shal t cher sh thy 3 fe and t hy chl drenO
Tho$ shalt lo6e t hy co$ntry# and obey ts l a3sO
FI, Thy fr end shal l be t o t hee a second sel f O
M sfort $ne shal l not est range t hee from h m O
Tho$ shalt do for hs memory 3hate6er t ho$ 3o$ldst do for h m# f he
3ere l 6 ngO
FII, Tho$ shal t a6od and flee from ns ncere frendsh !s O
Tho$ shalt n e6eryt hng refra n from e4cess,
Tho$ shalt fear t o be t he ca$se of a sta n on thy memoryO
FIII, Tho$ shalt all o3 no !ass ons to become t hy master O
Tho$ shalt ma/e the !ass ons of ot hers !roft abl e lessons to t hysel fO
Tho$ shalt be nd$lgent t o error O
IP, Tho$ shal t hear m$ch( Tho$ shal t s!ea/ l t tl e( Tho$ shal t act 3ell O
Tho$ shalt forget n5 $resO
Tho$ shalt render good for e6 l O
Tho$ shalt not ms$se et her t hy st rength or t hy s$!er orty O
P, Tho$ shalt st$dy to /no3 menG that thereby tho$ mayest learn t o /no3
t hysel f O
Tho$ shalt e6er see/ aft er 6rt $e O
Tho$ shalt be 5$st O
Tho$ shalt a6od dl eness O
B$t t he great commandment of Masonry s th s( @A ne3 commandment
g 6e I $nt o yo$( that ye lo6e one anot herO -e that sa th he s n t he lght#
and hat eth h s brot her# remaneth st ll n t he dar/ness, @
S$ch are the moral d$t es of a Mason, B$t t s also the d$ty of Masonry t o
ass st n ele6at ng the moral and nt el lect $al le6el of socetyG n con ng
/no3l edge# brng ng deas nt o crc$lat on# and ca$sng the m nd of yo$t h
t o gro3G and n !$t t ng# grad$ally# by the teachngs of a4 oms and t he
!rom$l gat on of !os t 6e la3s# the h$man race n harmony 3 th ts
dest nes,
To ths d$ty and 3or/ the In tate s a!!rent ced, -e m$st not mag ne t hat
he can effect nothng# and# therefore# des!a r ng# become nert, It s n
t h s# as n a man? s da ly l fe, Many great deeds are done n the smal l
st r$ggles of l fe, There s# 3e are told# a det erm ned tho$gh $nseen
bra6ery# 3hch defends t sel f# foot t o foot# n t he dar/ness# aganst the
fatal n6as on of necessty and of baseness, There are nobl e and
mystero$s t r $m!hs# 3hch no eye sees# 3hch no reno3n re3ards# 3h ch
no flo$rsh of tr$m!et s sal$t es, Lfe# m sfort$ne# sol at on# abandonment #
!o6erty# are batt leDf elds# 3hch ha6e the r heroes#DDheroes obsc$re# b$t
somet mes greater t han those 3ho become l l$stro$s, The Mason sho$l d
st r$ggle n t he same manner# and 3t h the same bra6ery# aga nst those
n6as ons of necessty and baseness# 3hch come t o nat ons as 3ell as t o
men, -e sho$l d meet them# too# foot t o foot # e6en n t he dar/ness# and
!rot est aganst t he nat onal 3rongs and fol l esG aganst $s$r!at on and the
frst nroads of t hat hydra# Tyranny, There s no more so6eregn el oE$ence
t han the tr$t h n ndgnat on, It s more d ffc$lt for a !eo!l e t o /ee! t han
t o ga n the r freedom, The Protest s of Tr$t h are al 3ays needed,
%ont n$ally# t he rght m$st !rot est aga nst t he fact, There s# n fact#
Etern ty n t he R ght , The Mason sho$l d be t he Prest and Solder of t hat
R ght , If h s co$ntry sho$l d be robbed of her l bert es# he sho$ld st ll not
des!ar, The !rot est of t he R ght aga nst the "act !ersst s fore6er, The
robbery of a !eo!l e ne6er becomes !rescr!t 6e, Reclamat on of t s rghts
s barred by no length of t me, ;arsa3 can no more be Tartar than Fence
can be Te$tonc, A !eo!l e may end$re ml t ary $s$r!at on# and s$b5 $gated
Stat es /neel to St ates and 3ear the yo/e# 3hle $nder the stress of
necess tyG b$t 3hen the necess ty dsa!!ears# f t he !eo!l e s f t to be free#
t he s$bmerged co$ntry 3 ll float t o the s$rface and rea!!ear# and Tyranny
be ad5 $dged by - st ory t o ha6e m$rdered t s 6ct ms,
;hate6er occ$rs# 3e sho$l d ha6e "at h n the &$st ce and o6err$l ng
;sdom of God# and -o!e for t he "$t $re# and Lo6ng/ ndness for t hose
3ho are n error, God ma/es 6s bl e t o men -s 3 ll n e6ent sG an obsc$re
t e4t # 3r tt en n a mystero$s l ang$age, Men ma/e t her t ranslat ons of t
forth3t h# hasty# ncorrect # f$ll of fa$l ts# omss ons# and m sreadngs, ;e
see so short a 3ay along t he arc of t he great crcleO "e3 mnds
com!rehend t he D 6 ne t ong$e, The most sagac o$s# t he most cal m# the
most !rofo$nd# dec!her the h erogly!hs sl o3lyG and 3hen they arr6e 3 t h
t her t e4t# !erha!s the need has l ong gone byG there are already t3enty
t ranslat ons n t he !$bl c sE$areDDthe most ncorrect beng# as of co$rse#
t he most acce!ted and !o!$lar, "rom each t ranslat on# a !arty s bornG and
from each m sread ng# a fact on, Each !arty bele6es or !retends that t
has the only tr$e t e4t # and each fact on bel e6es or !ret ends that t alone
!ossesses the l ght , Moreo6er# fact ons are bl nd men# 3ho a m straght#
errors are e4cell ent !ro5ect l es# st r/ ng s/l lf$l ly# and 3t h all the
6ol ence t hat s!rngs from false reason ng# 3here6er a 3ant of l og c n
t hose 3ho defend the rght# l /e a defect n a c$ rass# ma/es them
6$lnerable,
Therefore t s that 3e shall often be d scomft ed n combat ng error
before t he !eo!l e, Ant ae$s l ong res sted -erc$lesG and the heads of t he
-ydra gre3 as fast as t hey 3ere c$t off, It s abs$rd to say t hat Error#
3o$nded# 3r thes n !a n# and d es am d her 3orsh!!ers, Tr$t h conE$ers
sl o3ly, There s a 3ondro$s 6 tal ty n Error, Tr$th# ndeed# for the most
!art # shoot s o6er t he heads of the massesG or f an error s !rostrated for a
moment # t s $! aga n n a moment # and as 6goro$s as e6er, It 3 l l not
de 3hen t he bra ns are o$t# and t he most st$!d and rrat onal errors are
t he l ongest Dl 6ed,
8e6ert heless# Masonry# 3hch s Moral ty and Ph loso!hy# m$st not cease
t o do t s d$ty, ;e ne6er /no3 at 3hat moment s$ccess a3at s o$r effortsDD
generally 3hen most $ne4!ectedDDnor 3 th 3hat effect o$r effort s are or
are not to be at tended, 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 %art hagnan
sold ers# ta/en !r soners# 3ho ref$sed t o bo3 to "l am n $s# and had a
l t tl e of -ann bal? s magnan mty, Masons sho$l d !ossess an eE$al
greatness of so$l , Masonry sho$ld be an energyG fndng ts a m and effect
n t he amel orat on of man/ nd, Socrates sho$l d enter nto Adam# and
!rod$ce Marc$s A$rel $s# n ot her 3ords# brng fort h from the man of
en5oyment s# t he man of 3 sdom, Masonry sho$ld not be a mere 3atchD
t o3er# b$ lt $!on mystery# from 3hch to ga<e at ease $!on t he 3orl d# 3 t h
no other res$lt t han to be a con6enence for the c$r o$s, To hol d t he f$l l
c$! of t ho$ght t o t he t h rsty l !s of menG to g6e t o al l the tr$e deas of
De tyG t o harmon <e consc ence and scence# are t he !ro6nce of
Ph l oso!hy, Moral ty s "at h n f$ll bl oom, %ontem!l at on sho$l d lead to
act on# and t he absol $te be !ract calG t he deal be made ar and food and
dr n/ to the h$man m nd, ; sdom s a sacred comm$n on, It s only on
t hat condt on t hat t ceases t o be a st er le lo6e of Scence# and becomes
t he one and s$!reme met hod by 3hch to $nt e -$man ty and aro$se t to
concert ed act on, Then Ph l oso!hy becomes Rel gon,
And Masonry# l /e -st ory and Phl oso!hy# has et ernal d$t esDD et ernal #
and# at t he same t me# s m!l eDDt o o!!ose %aa!has as B sho!# Draco or
&effer es as &$dge# Tr malc on as Legslator# and T ber$s as Em!eror,
These are t he symbols of the tyranny t hat degrades and cr$shes# and t he
corr$!t on t hat defl es and nfest s, In the 3or/s !$bl shed for t he $se of
t he %raft 3e are tol d that t he t hree great t enets of a Mason? s !rofesson#
are Brotherly Lo6e# Rel ef# and Tr$th, And t s tr$e t hat a Brot herly
affect on and /ndness sho$l d go6ern $s n all o$r nterco$rse and
relat ons 3 th o$r bret hrenG and a genero$s and l beral !hl ant hro!y
act $ate $s n regard t o al l men, To rel e6e the d stressed s !ec$l arly t he
d$ty of MasonsDDa sacred d$ty# not to be om t ted# negl ected# or coldly or
neff cently com!l ed 3 th, It s also most t r$e# t hat Tr$t h s a D 6 ne
at trb$te and the fo$ndat on of e6ery 6 rt$e, To be t r$e# and t o see/ to f nd
and l earn the Tr$t h# are t he great ob5 ects of e6ery good Mason,
As t he Ancents dd# Masonry styles Tem!erance# "ort t$de# Pr$dence# and
&$st ce# t he fo$r card nal 6 rt $es, They are as necessary t o nat ons as t o
nd 6 d$al s, The !eo!l e that 3o$l d be "ree and Inde!endent# m$st !ossess
Sagacty# "oret ho$ght # "ores ght # and caref$l % rc$ms!ect on# all 3hch
are ncl$ded n the meanng of the 3ord Pr$dence, It m$st be t em!erate n
assert ng ts rghts# tem!erate n t s co$ncl s# economcal n t s e4!ensesG
t m$st be bold# bra6e# co$rageo$s# !at ent $nder re6erses# $nd smayed by
dsasters# ho!ef$l amd calamt es# l /e Rome 3hen she sold the f eld at
3hch -ann bal had h s cam!, 8o %annae or Pharsal a or Pa6a or
Ag nco$rt or ;aterl oo m$st d sco$rage her, Let her Senate st n t her
seat s $ntl t he Ga$ls !l $c/ them by t he beard, She m$st# abo6e al l th ngs#
be 5$st# not t r$c/l ng to the strong and 3arr ng on or !l$nder ng the 3ea/G
she m$st act on t he sE$are 3t h al l nat ons# and t he feebl est trbesG al 3ays
/ee!ng her fat h# honest n her leg slat on# $!rght n al l her deal ngs,
;hene6er s$ch a Re!$bl c e4 st s# t 3l l be mmortal( for rashness#
n5 $st ce# nt em!erance and l$4$ry n !ros!er ty# and des!ar and d sorder
n ad6ers ty# are the ca$ses of t he decay and d la!dat on of nat ons,
)*+),
0C D "ell o3Dcraft
In t he Ancent Orent# all rel gon 3as more or less a myst ery and there
3as no d6orce from t of !h loso!hy, The !o!$lar t heol ogy# ta/ ng the
m$l t t $de of al legores and symbol s for real t es# degenerated nt o a
3orsh! of the celest al l $m nares# of mag nary De tes 3t h h$man
feel ngs# !assons# a!!et tes# and l $sts# of dol s# st ones# an mals# re!t l es,
The On on 3as sacred to t he Egy!t ans# beca$se t s dfferent layers 3ere a
symbol of the concentrc hea6enly s!heres, Of co$rse t he !o!$lar rel g on
co$ld not sat sfy t he dee!er long ngs and t ho$ghts# t he l oft er as!rat ons
of t he S! rt # or the logc of reason, The f rst # therefore# 3as ta$ght t o t he
n t ated n the Myst er es, There# al so# t 3as ta$ght by symbol s, The
6ag$eness of symbol sm# ca!abl e of many nt er!ret at ons# reached 3hat
t he !al!able and con6ent onal creed co$ld not , Its ndef nt eness
ac/no3l edged the abstr$seness of the s$b5 ect( t treated that myster o$s
s$b5ect myst cally( t endea6ored t o l l$st rat e 3hat t co$l d not e4!l anG t o
e4ct e an a!!ro!rate feel ng# f t co$l d not de6el o! an adeE$at e deaG and
t o rma/e t he mage a mere s$bordnate con6eyance for the conce!t on#
3hch t self ne6er became ob6o$s or fam l ar,
Th$s the /no3l edge no3 m!art ed by boo/s and let ters# 3as of ol d
con6eyed by symbolsG and t he !r ests n6ented or !er!et $ated a ds!l ay of
r t es and e4hbt ons# 3h ch 3ere not only more at tract 6e t o t he eye than
3ords# b$t often more s$ggest 6e and more !regnant 3t h mean ng to the
mnd,
Masonry# s$ccessor of the Myst eres# st l l fol lo3s t he ancent manner of
t eachng, -er ceremones are l /e the anc ent myst c sho3s# DDnot the
readng of an essay# b$t the o!en ng of a !roblem# reE$rng research# and
const t$t ng !h loso!hy the archDe4!o$nder, -er symbols are t he
nstr$ct on she g6es, The lect $res are endea6ors# oft en !art al and oneD
s ded# to nter!ret these symbols, -e 3ho 3o$l d become an accom!l shed
Mason m$st not be cont ent merely t o hear# or e6en t o $nderstand# the
l ect$resG he m$st # a ded by them# and they ha6 ng# as t 3ere# mar/ed o$t
t he 3ay for h m# st$dy# nter!ret# and de6elo! t hese symbol s for h msel f
K K K K K K
Tho$gh Masonry s dent cal 3t h the ancent Mysteres# t s so only n
t h s E$al f ed sense( t hat t !resent s b$t an m!erfect mage of the r
br ll ancy# the r$ns only of ther grande$r# and a syst em that has
e4!erenced !rogress 6e alt erat ons# t he fr$t s of socal e6ents# !ol t cal
c rc$mstances# and t he ambt o$s mbecl ty of t s m!ro6ers, After
l ea6ng Egy!t # t he Mysteres 3ere mod f ed by t he hab ts of the d fferent
nat ons among 3hom they 3ere ntrod$ced# and es!ecal ly by t he rel go$s
syst ems of the co$ntres nt o 3hch t hey 3ere t rans!lanted, To ma nt a n
t he est abl shed go6ernment # l a3s# and rel g on# 3as t he obl gat on of t he
In t ate e6ery3hereG and e6ery3here t hey 3ere t he her tage of the !rest s#
3ho 3ere no3here 3 l l ng to ma/e t he common !eo!le coD!ro!r etors 3t h
t hemsel 6es of !h loso!hcal tr$t h,
Masonry s not t he %ol se$m n r$ns, It s rat her a Roman !alace of the
mddle ages# dsf g$red by moderll arch tect $ral m!ro6ement s# yet b$ l t
on a %yclo!cean fo$ndat on l ad by the Etr$scans# and 3t h many a stone
of t he s$!erstr$ct$re ta/en from d3ell ngs and tem!les of the age of
-adr an and Ant onn$s,
%hr st an ty ta$ght the doct r ne of "RATER8IT.G b$t re!$dated that of
!ol t cal EI'ALIT.# by cont n$ally nc$lcat ng obedence to %aesar# and
t o t hose la3f$l ly n a$t hor ty, Masonry 3as t he frst a!ost l e of
EI'ALIT., In the Monast ery there s frat ernty and eE$al ty# b$t no
l berty, Masonry added that al so# and cla med for man the threeDfol d
hert age# LIBERT.# EI'ALIT.# and "RATER8IT.,
It 3as b$t a de6el o!ment of the org nal !$r!ose of t he Myst eres# 3hch
3as to teach men to /no3 and !ract ce the r d$t es to themsel 6es and t her
fell o3s# the great !ract cal end of all !h l oso!hy and all /no3ledge,
Tr$t hs are t he s!r ngs from 3hch d$t es fl o3G and t s b$t a fe3 h$ndred
years snce a ne3 Tr$t h began t o be d st nct ly 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!ment G not he for t hem, Th s seems to $s a 6ery s m!l e statement#
one t o 3hch all men# e6ery3here# o$ght to assent , B$t once t 3as a great
ne3 Tr$t h# DDnot re6ealed $nt l go6ernments had been n e4st ence for at
l east f6e t ho$sand years, Once re6ealed# t m!osed ne3 d$tes on men,
Man o3ed t t o h mself t o be free, -e o3ed t t o h s co$ntry t o see/ to
g 6e her freedom# or mant a n her n that !ossess on, It made Tyranny and
's$r!at on the enem es of t he -$man Race, It created a general o$t la3ry
of Des!ot s and Des!ot sms# tem!oral and s!rt $al , The s!here of D$ty
3as mmensely enlarged, Pat r ot sm had# hencefort h# a ne3 and 3der
mean ng, "ree Go6ernment # "ree Tho$ght # "ree %onsc ence# "ree S!eechO
Al l these came t o be nal enable rght s# 3h ch those 3ho had !art ed 3t h
t hem or been robbed of t hem# or 3hose ancestors had l ost them# had the
rght s$mmar ly to ret a/e, 'nfort$nately# as Tr$ths al 3ays become
!er6erted nto falsehoods# and are falsehoods 3hen m sa!!led# th s Tr$th
became t he Gos!el of Anarchy# soon after t 3as f rst !reached,
Masonry early com!rehended t h s Tr$t h# and recogn<ed ts o3n enlarged
d$t es, Its symbol s t hen came t o ha6e a 3der mean ngG b$t t al so
ass$med the mas/ of StoneDmasonry# and borro3ed ts 3or/ngDt ool s# and
so 3as s$!!l ed 3 t h ne3 and a!t symbols, It a ded n br ngng abo$t the
"rench Re6ol$t on# d sa!!eared 3 t h t he Grondst s# 3as born aga n 3t h
t he restorat on of order# and s$st aned 8a!ol eon# beca$se# tho$gh
Em!eror# he ac/no3ledged t he rght of the !eo!le to select t s r$lers# and
3as at t he 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$se of t he Peo!le
aga nst Royal ty# the r ght of t he "rench !eo!le e6en to ma/e a %ors can
General ther Em!eror# f t !l eased t hem,
Masonry fel t that t h s Tr$t h had t he Omn !ot ence of God on t s s deG and
t hat ne ther Po!e nor Potent ate co$l d o6ercome t , It 3as a tr$t h dro!!ed
nt o t he 3orl d? s 3de treas$ry# and formng a !art of t he her tage 3hch
each generat on rece 6es# enl arges# and holds n tr$st # and of necessty
beE$eat hs t o man/ ndG the !ersonal estat e of man# enta led of nat $re t o t he
end of t me, And Masonry early recogn <ed t as t r$e# t hat to set fort h and
de6elo! a tr$th# or any h$man e4cell ence of gft or gro3th# s to ma/e
greater the s! r t$al glory of the raceG that 3hosoe6er ads the march of a
Tr$t h# and ma/es the tho$ght a thng# 3rt es n t he same l ne 3t h
MOSES# and 3 th - m 3ho ded $!on the crossG and has an nt ell ect$al
sym!at hy 3t h t he Dety - msel f,
The best gft 3e can besto3 on man s manhood, It s t hat 3h ch Masonry
s orda ned of God to best o3 on t s 6otares( not sect ar an sm and
rel go$s dogmaG not a r$d ment al moral ty# t hat may be fo$nd n the
3rt ngs of %onf$c$s# Horoaster# Seneca# and t he Rabb s# n t he Pro6erbs
and Eccles astesG not a l tt le and chea! commonDschool /no3ledgeG b$t
manhood and scence and !h l oso!hy,
8ot that Ph loso!hy or Scence s n o!!os t on to Rel g on, "or
Ph l oso!hy s b$t t hat /no3l edge of God and the So$l# 3hch s der 6ed
from obser6at on of t he manfested act on of God and t he So$l# and from a
3 se anal ogy, It s the ntel l ect $al g$ de 3hch the relgo$s sent ment
needs, The tr$e rel g o$s !h loso!hy of an m!erfect be ng# s not a syst em
of creed# b$t # as SO%RATES t ho$ght # an nf n te search or a!!ro4 mat on,
Ph l oso!hy s that nt el l ect $al and moral !rogress# 3h ch t he rel g o$s
sent ment ns! res and ennobles,
As t o Scence# t co$l d not 3al / alone# 3hl e rel gon 3as stat onary, It
cons st s of t hose mat $red nferences from e4!erence 3hch all ot her
e4!erence confrms, It real <es and $n tes all that 3as tr$ly 6al$able n
both t he old schemes of medat on# DDone hero c# or the system of act on
and effort G and the myst cal t heory of s!rt $al # ccntem!lat 6e comm$ll on,
@Lsten t o me# @ says GALE8# @as t o the 6o ce of t he El e$snan
- ero!hant# and bel e6e that t he st $dy of 8at $re s a mystery no l ess
m!ort ant t han the rs# nor less ada!ted to ds!l ay t he 3sdom and !o3er of
t he Great %reat or, The r lessons and demonst rat ons 3ere obsc$re# b$t
o$rs are cl ear and $nm st a/abl e,@
;e deem that t o be t he best /no3ledge 3e can obtan of t he So$l of
another man# 3h ch s f$rn shed by hs act ons and hs l feDl ong cond$ct ,
E6 dence to the contrary# s$!!l ed by 3hat another man nforms $s t hat
t h s So$l has sad to h s# 3o$l d 3egh l tt le aga nst t he former, The frst
Scr !t $res for the h$man race 3ere 3rt ten by God on the Eart h and
-ea6ens, The readng of t hese Scr !t $res s Sc ence, "am l ar ty 3 th the
grass and trees# t he nsect s and the nf$sor a# teaches $s dee!er l essons of
l o6e and fa th than 3e can gl ean from the 3r t ngs of "E8ELO8 and
A'G'STI8E, The great B ble of God s e6er o!en before man/ nd,
Kno3l edge s con6ert ble nt o !o3er# and a4 oms nt o r$l es of $t l ty and
d$ty, B$t /no3ledge t self s not Po3er, ; sdom s Po3erG and her Pr me
M n ster s &'STI%E# 3h ch s t he !erfected la3 of TR'T-, The !$r!ose#
t herefore# of Ed$cat on and Scence s t o ma/e a man 3 se, If /no3ledge
does not ma/e h m so# t s 3asted# l /e 3ater !o$red on t he sands, To
/no3 the form$las of Masonry# s of as l tt le 6al$e# by tsel f# as t o /no3
so many 3ords and sentences n some barbaro$s Afr can or A$stralas an
dalect , To /no3 e6en the meanng of the symbol s# s b$t l tt le# $nless t hat
adds t o o$r 3sdom# and al so t o o$r char ty# 3hch s to 5$stce l /e one
hem s!here of t he bra n t o t he other,
Do not lose s ght # then# of the tr$e ob5ect of yo$r st $d es n Masonry, It s
t o add t o yo$r estate of 3sdom# and not merely t o yo$r /no3l edge, A man
may s!end a l fet me n st $dyng a sngle s!ecalty of /no3ledge# DD
botany# conchol ogy# or ent omology# for nst ance# DDn commt t ng to
memory names der 6ed from t he Gree/# and classfy ng and reclassfy ngG
and yet be no 3 ser t han 3hen he began, It s the great tr$ths as to al l t hat
most concerns a man# as t o hs rght s# nt erests# and d$t es# t hat Masonry
see/s to teach her In tates,
The 3ser a man becomes# the less 3l l he be ncl ned to s$bm t tamely to
t he m!ost on of fet ters or a yo/e# on h s conscence or h s !erson, "or#
by ncrease of 3 sdom he not only bett er /no3s h s rght s# b$t t he more
hghly 6al$es them# and s more consc o$s of h s 3ort h and dgnty, - s
!r de t hen $rges h m t o assert h s nde!endence, -e becomes bett er able to
assert t alsoG and bett er able to assst ot hers or h s co$ntry# 3hen they or
she sta/e all # e6en e4 st ence# $!on t he same assert on, B$t mere
/no3l edge ma/es no one nde!endent# nor ft s h m to be free, It often only
ma/es h m a more $sef$l sla6e, L berty s a c$rse to the gnorant and
br$t al ,
Pol t cal scence has for ts ob5 ect to ascert a 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 $ated( not l cense# or t he mere rght of e6ery man t o 6ot e# b$t
entre and absol$te freedom of t ho$ght and o! n on# al /e free of t he
des!ot sm of monarch and mob and !relateG freedom of act on 3 th n the
l mt s of t he general la3 enacted for all G the %o$rt s of &$st ce# 3t h
m!art al &$dges and 5 $r es# o!en to al l al /eG 3ea/ness and !o6erty
eE$ally !otent n those %o$rt, s as !o3er and 3eal thG the a6en$es to offce
and honor o!en al /e t o al l the 3orthyG the m l t ary !o3ers# n 3ar o.
!eaee# n str ct s$bord nat on t o t he c6 l !o3erG arbt rary arrest s for act s
not /no3n to the la3 as cr mes# m!ossbl eG Romsh InE$s t ons# St arD
%hambers# Ml tary %ommss ons# $n/no3nG t he means of nst r$ct on
3 thn reach of t he chl dren of al lG t he rght of "ree S!eechG and
acco$nt ab l ty of all !$bl c omcers# c 6l and ml t ary,
If Masonry needed t o be 5 $st fed for m!os ng !ol t cal as 3el l as moral
d$t es on ts Int ates# t 3o$l d be eno$gh to !o nt t o the sad h story of t he
3orl d, It 3o$l d not e6en need t hat she sho$ld t$rn bac/ the !ages of
hst ory to t he cha!ters 3r t ten by Tact $s( that she sho$l d rect e the
ncredbl e horrors of des!ot sm $nder %al g$la and Dom t an# %aracal la
and %ommod$s# F t el l $s and Ma4 mn, She need only !o nt to t he
cent $res of calam ty t hro$gh 3h ch t he gay "rench nat on !assedG t o t he
l ong o!!ress on of the fe$dal ages# of t he sel f sh Bo$rbon / ngsG to t hose
t mes 3hen t he !easants 3ere robbed and sl a$ght ered by ther o3n l ords
and !r nces# l /e shee!G 3hen t he lord cla med the f rst fr$ t s of the
!easant? s marrageDbedG 3hen the ca!t$red cty 3as g6en $! t o merc less
ra!e and massacreG 3hen the St at eD!r sons groaned 3 th nnocent 6ct ms#
and t he %h$rch blessed the banners of ! t l ess m$rderers# and sang Te
De$ms for t he cro3nng mercy of t he E6e of St , Bart hol ome3,
;e mght t$rn o6er t he !ages# t o a lat er cha!ter# DDthat of the re gn of the
"fteent h Lo$ s# 3hen yo$ng grls# hardly more than ch ldren# 3ere
/dna!!ed to ser6e hs l $st sG 3hen let tres de cachet f l led t he Bast le 3t h
!ersons acc$sed of no cr me# 3t h h$sbands 3ho 3ere n the 3ay of the
!leas$res of l asc6 o$s 3 6es and of 6l la ns 3earng orders of nobl tyG
3hen t he !eo!l e 3ere gro$nd bet 3een the $!!er and the nether m ll stone
of t a4es# c$st oms# and e4csesG and 3hen t he Po!e? s 8$nco and the
%ard nal de l a RocheDAyman# de6o$tly /neel ng# one on each s de of
Madame d$ Barry# t he / ng? s abandoned !rost t $te# !$t the sl !!ers on her
na/ed feet # as she rose from t he ad$l t ero$s bed, Then# ndeed# s$fferng
and t o l 3ere t he t 3o forms of man# and the !eo!le 3ere b$t beasts of
b$rden,
The tr$e Mason s he 3ho labors st ren$o$sly to hel ! hs Order effect ts
great !$r!oses, 8ot t hat the Order can effect t hem by t selfG b$t t hat t #
t oo# can hel!, It also s one of God? s nstr$ment s, It s a "orce and a
Po3erG and shame $!on t # f t d d not e4ert t self# and# f need be#
sacrhce t s ch l dren n the ca$se of h$man ty# as Abraham 3as ready t o
offer $! Isaac on t he altar of sacr fce, It 3l l not forget that nobl e
al legory of %$rt $s l ea! ng# al l n armor# nto t he great ya3nng g$l f that
o!ened to s3all o3 Rome, It 3 ll TR., It shal l not be t s fa$l t f the day
ne6er comes 3hen man 3 ll no longer ha6e to fear a conE$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!endng on a marr ageDroyal # or a b rt h n
t he hered tary tyrann esG a !art t on of the !eo!les by a %ongress# a
dsmemberment by t he do3nfal l of a dynasty# a combat of t3o rel gons#
meet ng head t o head# l /e t 3o goats of dar/ness on t he br dge of the
Infnt e( 3hen they 3 ll no longer ha6e to fear fam ne# s!ol at on#
!rost t $t on from d st ress# m sery from l ac/ of 3or/# and al l the
brgandages of chance n t he forest of e6ent s( 3hen nat ons 3 ll gra6t ate
abo$t t he Tr$t h# l /e stars abo$t the l ght # each n t s o3n orbt # 3 t ho$t
cl ash ng or coll s onG and e6ery3here "reedom# cnct $red 3t h st ars#
cro3ned 3 th the celest al s!l endors# and 3 th 3 sdom and 5 $st ce on
e ther hand# 3 ll regn s$!reme,
In yo$r st $d es as a "ell o3D%raft yo$ m$st be g$ded by REASO8# LOFE
and "AIT-,
;e do not no3 dsc$ss the d fferences bet3een Reason and "a th# and
$nderta/e to defne the doma n of each, B$t t s necessary t o say# that
e6en n t he ordnary affars of l fe 3e are go6erned far more by 3hat 3e
bele6e t han by 3hat 3e /no3G by "AIT- and A8ALOG.# t han by
REASO8, The @Age of Reason@ of the "rench Re6ol $t on t a$ght # 3e /no3#
3hat a folly t s t o ent hrone Reason by t sel f as s$!reme, Reason s at
fa$l t 3hen t deal s 3 th the Infn te, There 3e m$st re6ere and bel e6e,
8ot3 thstandng the calam t es of the 6 rt$o$s# the m ser es of t he
deser6 ng# the !ros!erty of tyrants and the m$rder of martyrs# 3e m$st
bele6e t here s a 3 se# 5$st# mercf$l # and l o6 ng God# an Intel l gence and
a Pro6 dence# s$!reme o6er al l# and car ng for t he m n$t est t h ngs and
e6ents, A "at h s a necess ty t o man, ;oe to h m 3ho bel e6es not h ngO
;e bel e6e that t he so$l of another s of a certa n nat$re and !ossesses
certa n E$al t es# that he s genero$s and honest # or !en$ro$s and /na6 sh#
t hat she s 6 rt$o$s and amable# or 6 co$s and l l Dt em!ered# from t he
co$nt enance al one# from l tt le more t han a gl m!se of t# 3t ho$t the
means of /no3ng, ;e 6ent $re o$r fort$ne on t he s gnat $re of a man on
t he other s de of the 3orl d# 3hom 3e ne6er sa3# $!on the bel ef that he s
honest and tr$st 3orthy, ;e bel e6e that occ$rrences ha6e ta/en !lace#
$!on the assert on of others, ;e bel e6e t hat one 3 ll acts $!on anot her#
and n t he real ty of a m$l t t$de of other !henomena that Reason cannot
e4!l an,
B$t 3e o$ght not to bel e6e 3hat Reason a$t hor tat 6ely denes# t hat at
3hch the sense of rght re6olt s# that 3hch s abs$rd or sel fDcontradct ory#
or at ss$e 3 th e4!erence or scence# or t hat 3h ch degrades the
character of t he Dety# and 3o$ld ma/e - m re6engef$l # mal gnant# cr$el#
or $n5 $st,
A man? s "at h s as m$ch h s o3n as hs Reason s, -s "reedom cons sts
as m$ch n h s fat h beng free as n hs 3l l be ng $ncont roll ed by !o3er,
Al l the Pr est s and A$g$rs of Rome or Greece had not t he rght to reE$re
% cero or Socrates t o bel e6e n the abs$rd myt hol ogy of the 6$lgar, All
t he Ima$ms of Mohammedan sm ha6e not the r ght t o reE$ re a Pagan t o
bele6e t hat Gabrel d ctat ed t he Koran t o t he Pro!het, All t he Brahm ns
t hat e6er l 6ed# f assembl ed n one concla6e l /e the %ardnals# co$l d not
ga n a rght to com!el a s ngle h$man be ng to bel e6e n t he - nd$
%osmogony, 8o man or body of men can be nfall ble# and a$t hor <ed t o
dec de 3hat ot her men shal l bel e6e# as t o any tenet of fa th, E4ce!t to
t hose 3ho f rst rece6e t # e6ery rel g on and the tr$t h of al l ns!red
3rt ngs de!end on h$man t est mony and nt ernal e6dences# t o be 5 $dged
of by Reason and t he 3 se anal oges of "a th, Each man m$st necessarly
ha6e t he rght t o 5$dge of t her t r$th for h mselfG beca$se no one man can
ha6e any hgher or bet ter rght t o 5$dge than anot her of eE$al nformat on
and ntell gence,
Dom t an cl a med to be t he Lord GodG and st at$es and mages of h m# n
s l6er and gold# 3ere fo$nd t hro$gho$t t he /no3n 3orld, -e cla med t o be
regarded as t he God of al l menG and# accordng t o S$et on $s# began h s
l ett ers th$s( @O$r Lord and God commands that t sho$ld be done so and
soG@ and formal ly decreed t hat no one sho$ld address h m ot her3 se# et her
n 3r t ng or by 3ord of mo$t h, Palf$r$s S$ra# the !hl oso!her# 3ho 3as
hs chef del ator# acc$s ng t hose 3ho ref$sed to recogn <e h s d6 n ty#
ho3e6er m$ch he may ha6e bel e6ed n t hat d 6 n ty# had not t he rght t o
demand t hat a sngle %hr st an n Rome or t he !ro6 nces sho$l d do t he
same,
Reason s far from beng t he only g$ de# n moral s or n !ol t cal scence,
Lo6e or l o6 ngD/ ndness m$st /ee! t com!any# to e4cl $de fanatcsm#
nt olerance# and !ersec$t on# t o al l of 3h ch a moral ty t oo ascet c# and
e4treme !ol t cal !r nc!les# n6arably l ead, ;e m$st also ha6e fa th n
o$rsel 6es# and n o$r fell o3s and the !eo!le# or 3e shall be eas ly
dsco$raged by re6erses# and o$r ardor cool ed by obstacl es, ;e m$st not
l st en t o Reason alone, "orce comes more from "at ll and Lo6e( and t s
by t he a d of these that man scales the loft est he ght s of moral ty# or
becomes the Sa6o$r and Redeemer of a Peo!le, Reason m$st hol d the
hel mG b$t these s$!!ly the mot 6e !o3er, They are the 3 ngs of t he so$l,
Ent h$s asm s general ly $nreason ngG and 3t ho$t t # and Lo6e and "at h#
t here 3o$ld ha6e been no RIE8HI# or TELL# or S.D8E.# or any ot her of
t he great !atrots 3hose names are mmortal , If t he De ty had been merely
and only All D3 se and All Dmghty# -e 3o$ld ne6er ha6e created the
'n6erse,
K K K K K K
It s GE8I'S that get s Po3erG and ts !r me l e$t enant s are "OR%E and
;ISDOM, The $nr$l est of men bend before t he l eader that has t he sense
t o see and the 3l l to do, It s Gen $s t hat r$les 3t h GodDl /e Po3erG that
$n6e ls# 3 th t s co$nsell ors# t he hdden h$man mysteres# c$t s as$nder
3 th t s 3ord t he h$ge /not s# and b$l ds $! 3t h ts 3ord t he cr$mbled
r$ ns, At ts glance fall do3n the senseless dols# 3hose alt ars ha6e been
on al l the hgh !l aces and n al l the sacred gro6es, D shonesty and
mbecl ty stand abashed before t , Its s ngle .ea or 8ay re6o/es t he
3rongs of ages# and s heard among the f$t$re generat ons, Its !o3er s
mmense# beca$se ts 3sdom s mmense, Gen $s s t he S$n of t he
!ol t cal s!here, "orce and ; sdom# ts mnst ers# are the orbs t hat carry
ts lght nto dar/ness# and ans3er t 3 th t her sol d refl ect ng Tr$th,
De6el o!ment s symbol <ed by t he $se of t he Mal let and %h selG t he
de6elo!ment of the energes and nt ell ect# of t he nd 6 d$al and t he
!eo!l e, Gen $s may !lace t self at the head of an $n nt el l ect $al #
$ned$cat ed# $nenerget c nat onG b$t n a free co$ntry# t o c$lt 6ate t he
ntell ect of those 3ho elect # s t he only mode of sec$rng ntel lect and
gen $s for r$l ers, The 3orl d s sel dom r$led by t he great s!r t s# e4ce!t
after d ssol $t on and ne3 brt h, In !erods of transt on and con6$l son#
t he Long Parl ament s# t he Robes! erres and Marats# and the semD
res!ectab l t es of ntell ect # t oo often hol d the re ns of !o3er, The
%rom3el l s and 8a!oleons come l ater, Aft er Mar $s and S$l la and % cero
t he rhet orcan# %AESAR, The great ntel lect s often too shar! for the
grant e of th s l fe, Leg slat ors may be 6ery ordnary menG for leg slat on
s 6ery ord nary 3or/G t s b$t t he fnal ss$e of a m ll on m nds,
The !o3er of t he !$rse or t he s3ord# com!ared t o that of t he s!rt # s
!oor and contem!t bl e, As to lands# yo$ may ha6e agrar an l a3s# and eE$al
!art t on, B$t a man? s ntel lect s all hs o3n# hel d drect from God# an
nal enable fef, It s t he most !ot ent of 3ea!ons n the hands of a !aladn,
If the !eo!l e com!rehend "orce n t he !hyscal sense# ho3 m$ch more do
t ll ey re6elence the ntel lect $al O As/ - ldebrand# or L$t her# or Loyol a,
They fal l !rostrate before t # as before an dol , The mast ery of m nd o6er
mnd s t he only conE$est 3orth ha6ng, The ot her n5$res both# and
dssol 6es at a breat hG r$de as t s# t he great cable fall s do3n and sna!s at
l ast, B$t ths d mly resembles the domnon of the %reat or, It does not
need a s$b5ect l /e that of Pet er the -ermt , If t he st ream be b$t br ght and
st rong# t 3 ll s3ee! l /e a s!r ngDt de t o the !o!$lar heart , 8ot n 3ord
only# b$t n nt ell ect$al act l es the fasc nat on, It s the homage t o t he
In6 s ble, Th s !o3er# /nott ed 3 t h Lo6e# s t he gol den cha n l et do3n nto
t he 3el l of Tr$t h# or t he n6 s ble chan that bnds t he ran/s of man/ nd
t oget her,
Infl$ence of man o6er man s a l a3 of nat$re# 3hether t be by a great
est at e n land or n nt el l ect , It may mean sl a6ery# a deference t o t he
emnent h$man 5$dgment , Socety hangs s! r t $al ly t ogether# l /e the
re6o 6 ng s!heres abo6e, The free co$ntry# n 3hch ntellect and gen $s
go6ern# 3 ll end$re, ;here t hey ser6e# and other nfl $ences go6ern# t he
nat onal l fe s short , All t he nat ons that ha6e tr ed t o go6ern t hemsel 6es
by t her smallest# by the nca!abl es# or merely res!ectables# ha6e come t o
no$ght, %onst t $t ons and La3s# 3t ho$t Gen $s and Intel lect to go6ern#
3 ll not !re6ent decay, In t hat case they ha6e the dryDrot and t he l fe d es
o$t of t hem by degrees,
To g6e a nat on the franch se of t he Intell ect s t he only s$re mode of
!er!et $at ng freedom, Ths 3l l com!el e4ert on and genero$s care for the
!eo!l e from t hose on the hgher seat s# and honorable and nt ell gent
al legance from t hose bel o3, Then !ol t cal !$bl c l fe 3l l !rot ect al l men
from sel fDabasement n sens$al !$rs$t s# from 6$l gar act s and l o3 greed#
by g 6ng t he nobl e ambt on of 5$st m!eral r$l e, To el e6ate the !eo!le
by teachng lo6 ngD/ndness and 3 sdom# 3t h !o3er t o h m 3ho t eaches
best ( and so t o de6el o! the free Stat e from t he ro$gh ashl ar( DD t h s s the
great l abor n 3hch Masonry desres t o l end a hel ! ng hand,
Al l of $s sho$ld labor n b$ l dng $! t he great mon$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 t he e4cl $s6e !ro!erty of some# l /e t he common
craft s, ALL are a!!rent ced t o the !art ners# D$ty and -onor,
Masonry s a march and a str$ggle to3ard the Lght, "or t he nd 6d$al as
3el l as the nat on# Lght s Frt $e# Manl ness# Intel l gence# Lberty,
Tyranny o6er t he so$l or body# s dar/ness, The freest !eo!le# l /e t he
freest man# s al 3ays n danger of rel a!s ng nt o ser6t $de, ;ars are
al most al 3ays fatal t o Re!$bl cs, They create tyrant s# and consol date
t her !o3er, They s!r ng# for the most !art # from e6 l co$nsel s, ;hen the
small and t he base are nt r$sted 3t h !o3er# leg sl at on and admn st rat on
become b$t t 3o !aral lel ser es of errors and bl$nders# endng n 3ar#
calam ty# and the necessty for a tyrant, ;hen t he nat on feel s t s feet
sl dng bac/3ard# as f t 3al/ed on t he ce# the t me has come for a
s$!reme effort , The magn fcent tyrants of the !ast are b$t t he ty!es of
t hose of the f$t$re, Men and nat ons 3l l al3ays sel l themsel 6es nto
sl a6ery# to grat fy the r !assons and obt a n re6enge, The tyrant ? s !l ea#
necess ty# s al3ays a6al ableG and t he tyrant once n !o3er# t he necess ty
of !ro6dng for h s safety ma/es h m sa6age, Rel gon s a !o3er# and he
m$st cont rol that, Inde!endent # t s sanct $ar es m ght rebel , Then t
becomes $nl a3f$l for t he !eo!l e t o 3orsh ! God n t her o3n 3ay# and the
old s!r t$al des!ot sms re66e, Men m$st bel e6e as Po3er 3l l s# or d eG
and e6en f t hey may bel e6e as they 3 ll # al l they ha6e# l ands# ho$ses#
body# and so$l # are stam!ed 3 th the royal brand, @I am t he Stat e#@ sa d
Lo$s the "o$rt eent h t o hs !easantsG @the 6ery sh rt s on yo$r bac/s are
mne# and I can ta/e them f I 3 ll , @
And dynast es so establ shed end$re# l /e t hat of t he %aesars of Rome# of
t he %aesars of %onstant no!le# of t he %al !hs# the St $arts# t he S!an ards#
t he Goths# t he Fal o s# $nt l the race 3ears o$t # and ends 3 th l $nat cs and
d ot s# 3ho st l l r$le, There s no concord among men# t o end the horr bl e
bondage, The St ate fall s n3ardly# as 3el l as by the o$t3ard blo3s of t he
ncoherent el ements, The f$r o$s h$man !assons# the slee!ng h$man
ndolence# t he st ol d h$man gnorance# t he r6alry of h$man castes# are as
good for t he /rlgs as the s3ords of the Pal ad ns, The 3orsh !!ers ha6e al l
bo3ed so l ong to the ol d dol# that t hey cannot go nt o t he st reet s and
choose another Grand Llama, And so t he effet e Stat e floats on do3n the
!$ddled stream of T me# $nt l t he t em!est or the t dal sea d sco6ers t hat
t he 3orm has cons$med t s strengt h# and t cr$mbles nt o obl 6on,
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% 6 l and rel g o$s "reedom m$st go hand n handG and Persec$t on
mat$res t hem bot h, A !eo!le cont ent 3 th the tho$ghts made for t hem by
t he !r ests of a ch$rch 3l l be content 3t h Royal ty by D 6 ne R ght #DD the
%h$rch and t he Throne m$t$ally s$st anng each other, They 3 ll smother
sch sm and rea! nf del ty and nd fferenceG and 3hl e t he batt le for
freedom goes on aro$nd t hem# t hey 3l l only s n/ the more a!at het cal ly
nt o ser6t $de and a dee! t rance# !erha!s occasonally nt err$!t ed by
f$ro$s ft s of fren<y# fol lo3ed by hel !l ess e4ha$st on,
Des!ot sm s not d mc$lt n any land that has only /no3n one mast er from
ts chl dhoodG b$t there s no harder !roblem t han to !erfect and
!er!et $ate free go6ernment by t he !eo!le themsel 6esG for t s not one
/ng that s needed( all m$st be / ngs, It s easy to set $! Masanel lo# t hat
n a fe3 days he may fal l lo3er than before, B$t free go6ermnent gro3s
sl o3ly# l /e the nd 6d$al h$man fac$l t esG and l /e t he forestDtrees# from
t he nner heart o$t3ard, Lberty s not only t he common brthDrght# b$t t
s l ost as 3el l by nonD$ser as by m sD$ser, It de!ends far more on t he
$n6ersal effort than any ot her h$man !ro!erty, It has no sngle shr ne or
holy 3el l of ! l gr mage for t he nat onG for ts 3aters sho$ld b$rst o$t
freely from t he 3hol e so l ,
The free !o!$l ar !o3er s one that s only /no3n n t s strength n the
ho$r of ad6ers ty( for all ts tral s# sacrfces and e4!ect at ons are t s o3n,
It s traned t o t h n/ for tsel f# and also t o act for t self, ;hen the
ensl a6ed !eo!le !rostrat e themsel6es n t he d$st before the h$rr cane# l /e
t he al armed beasts of the f eld# t he free !eo!l e st and erect before t # n all
t he st rength of $n ty# n sel fDrel ance# n m$t $al rel ance# 3 th effront ery
aga nst al l b$t the 6 sbl e hand of God, It s net her cast do3n by calamty
nor elat ed 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 al l the f$nct ons#
l /e the heal thf$l !hyscal h$man 6gor# l /e the nd6 d$al moral 6 gor,
And t he ma4 m s no less tr$e t han ol d# that et ernal 6g lance s t he !r ce
of l berty, It s c$r o$s to obser6e the $n6ersal !ret e4t by 3hch the
tyrant s of all t mes ta/e a3ay t he nat onal l bert es, It s stated n the
st at$tes of Ed3ard II, # t hat the 5 $st ces and the sherff sho$l d no l onger be
el ected by the !eo!l e# on acco$nt of the r ot s and d ssensons 3hch had
arsen, The same reason 3as g6en l ong before for the s$!!resson of
!o!$lar elect on of the bsho!sG and t here s a 3 tness to th s $ntr$t h n
t he yet older t mes# 3hen Rome lost her freedom# and her ndgnant
c t <ens declared t hat t $m$lt $o$s l berty s bet ter than dsgracef$l
t ranE$ ll ty,
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; t h the %om!asses and Scale# 3e can trace all t he fg$res $sed n the
mathemat cs of !lanes# or n 3hat are cal led GEOMETR. and
TRIGO8OMETR.# t 3o 3ords t hat are t hemsel6es defcent n meanng,
GEOMETR.# 3h ch the let t er G, n most Lodges s sa d t o s gn fy# means
meas$rement of l and or the eart hDDor S$r6eyngG and TRIGO8OMETR.#
t he meas$rement of t r angl es# or fg$res 3t h t hree sdes or angl es, The
l att er s by far the most a!!ro!rate name for the sc ence ntended t o be
e4!ressed by the 3ord @Geometry,@ 8et her s of a mean ng s$ffc ently
3 de( for al t ho$gh t he 6ast s$r6eys of great s!aces of the earth? s s$rface#
and of coasts# by 3hch sh !3rec/ and cal am ty to marners are a6oded#
are effected by means of t r ang$l at onG DDt ho$gh t 3as by the same method
t hat the "rench astronomers meas$red a degree of l at t $de and so
est abl shed a scale of meas$res on an mm$table bassG tho$gh t s by
means of t he mmense trangl e t hat has for ts base a l ne dra3n n
mag nat on bet 3een the !lace of the eart h no3 and t s !l ace s 4 mont hs
hence n s!ace# and for t s a!e4 a !lanet or st ar# that t he d st ance of
&$! ter or Sr $s from the eart h s ascert anedG and tho$gh there s a
t r angle st ll more 6ast # ts base e4tendng e ther 3ay from $s# 3 th and
!ast t he hor <on nt o mmens ty# and t s a!e4 nfn t ely dst ant abo6e $sG
t o 3hch corres!onds a s m lar nf n t e trangl e bel o3DD3hat s abo6e
eE$all ng 3hat s bel o3# mmens ty eE$al l ng mmens tyG yet t he Sc ence
of 8$mbers# to 3hch Pythagoras at tached so m$ch m!ort ance# and 3hose
mysteres are fo$nd e6ery3here n the ancent rel g ons# and most of all n
t he Kabal ah and n t he BbBe# s not s$ff c ent ly e4!ressed by et her the
3ord @Geomet ry@ or t he 3ord @Trgonometry,@ "or t hat scence ncl$des
t hese& 3t h Art hmet c# and al so 3 th Algebra# Logar thms# the Int egral
and D fferent al %alc$l$sG and by means of t are 3or/ed o$t the great
!robl ems of Astronomy or t he La3s of the Stars,
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Frt $e s b$t heroc bra6ery# t o do the th ng tho$ght t o be t r$e# n s!t e of
al l enem es of flesh or s! r t# n des!t e of al l tem!tat ons or menaces,
Man s acco$nt abl e for the $!rghtness of h s doctr ne# b$t not for t he
rghtness of t , De6o$t enth$sasm s far easer t han a good act on, The
end of t ho$ght s act onG t he sole !$r!ose of Rel gon s an Et h c, Theory#
n !ol t cal scence# s 3orthless# e4ce!t for t he !$r!ose of be ng real <ed
n !ract ce,
In e6ery credo# rel g o$s or !ol t cal as n t he so$l of man# there are t 3o
regons# t he Dal ectc and the Eth cG and t s only 3hen the t3o are
harmon o$sly blended# that a !erfect d sc!l ne s e6ol 6ed, There are men
3ho dal ectcally are %hrst ans# as t here are a m$lt t $de 3ho d alect cal ly
are Masons# and yet 3ho are ethcal ly Inf dels# as t hese are et hcal ly of the
Profane# n t he st rctest sense( DD ntel lect $al bel e6ers# b$t !ract cal
at hest s(DD men 3ho 3 ll 3r t e yo$ @E6 dences# @ n !erfect fa th n t her
l ogc# b$t cannot carry o$t t he %hrst an or Mason c doctrne# o3 ng to t he
st rengt h# or 3ea/ness# of the fl esh, On t he other hand# t here are many
dalect cal s/e!t cs# b$t eth cal bel e6ers# as there are many Masons 3ho
ha6e ne6er $ndergone nt at onG and as et hcs are t he end and !$r!ose of
rel gon# so are eth cal bel e6ers t he most 3ort hy, -e 3ho does rght s
better t han he 3ho th n/s r ght ,
B$t yo$ m$st not act $!on the hy!ot hess that al l men are hy!ocr tes#
3hose cond$ct does not sE$are 3 th ther sent ment s, 8o 6 ce s more
rare# for no tas/ s more d ff c$lt # than syst emat c hy!ocr sy, ;hen t he
Demagog$e becomes a 's$r!er t does not foll o3 that he 3as al l t he t me
a hy!ocr te, Shall o3 men only so 5 $dge of others,
The tr$th s# t hat creed has# n general# 6ery l t tl e nfl $ence on the
cond$ct G n relgon# on t hat of t he nd6 d$alG n !ol t cs# on that of !arty,
As a general t h ng# the Mahometan# n the Or ent # s far more honest and
t r$st 3ort hy t han the %hr stan, A Gos!el of Lo6e n the mo$t h# s an
A6atar of Persec$t on n t he heart , Men 3ho bel e6e n eternal damnat on
and a l t eral sea of fre and br mst one# nc$r t he certa nty of t # accord ng
t o t he r creed# on the sl ght est tem!tat on of a!!et t e or !ass on,
Predest nat on nsst s on t he necess ty of good 3or/s, In Masonry# at the
l east flo3 of !asson# one s!ea/s ll of anot her beh nd h s bac/G and so far
from the @Brotherhood@ of Bl $e Masonry beng real # and t he sol emn
!ledges contaned n t he $se of t he 3ord @Brother@ be ng com!l ed 3 th#
e4traord nary !a ns are ta/en t o sho3 that, Masonry s a sort of
abst ract on# 3h ch scorns to nterfere n 3orl dly mat ters, The r$le may be
regarded as $n6ersal # t hat # 3here there s a choce to be made# a Mason
3 ll g 6e h s 6ot e and nfl $ence# n !ol t cs and b$sness# t o t he l ess
E$al f ed !rofane n !reference t o the bett er E$al fed Mason, One 3 l l
t a/e an oat h t o o!!ose any $nla3f$l $s$r!at on of !o3er# and then become
t he ready and e6en eager nstr$ment of a $s$r!er, Another 3l l cal l one
@Brot her# @ and then !lay to3ard h m t he !art of &$das Iscarot # or str/e
h m# as &oab d d Abner# $nder t he ffth rb# 3 th a l e 3hose a$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 l e yo$ are st l l engaged n !re!arat on# and n acc$m$l at ng !r nc !l es
for f$t$re $se# do not forget t he 3ords of t he A!ostle &ames( @"or f any be
a hearer of t he 3ord# and not a doer# he s l /e $nt o a man behold ng h s
nat$ral face n a glass# for he behol det h h msel f# and goet h a3ay# and
st raght3ay forgetteth 3hat ma)l ner of man he 3asG b$t 3hoso l oo/et h
nt o t he !erfect la3 of l berty# and cont n$eth# he be ng not a forget f$l
hearer# b$t a doer of the 3or/# t h s man shal l be bl essed n hs 3or/, If
any man among yo$ seem t o be relgo$s# and br dleth not hs t ong$e# b$t
dece 6et h hs o3n heart # th s man? s rel gon s 6an, , , , "a t h# f t hat h not
3or/s# s dead# be ng an abst ract on, A man s 5 $st fed by 3or/s# and not
by fat h only, , , , The de6l s bele6e#DDand t remble, , , , As t he body 3t ho$t
t he heart s dead# so s fat h 3t ho$t 3or/s,@
K K K K K K
In !ol t cal sc ence# al so# free go6ernment s are erected and free
const t$t ons framed# $!on some s m!l e and ntel l g ble theory, '!on
3hate6er t heory t hey are based# no so$nd concl$s on s to be reached
e4ce!t by carry ng the t heory o$t 3t ho$t fl nch ng# bot h n arg$mcnt on
const t$t onal E$cst ons and n !ract ce, Shr n/ from the tr$e t heory
t hro$gh t m d ty# or 3ander from t t hro$gl l 3ant of t he l ogcal fac$l ty# or
t ransgress aganst t t hro$gl l !ass on or on t he !lea of necessty or
e4!edency# and yo$ ha6e den al or n6ason of rghts# la3s that offend
aga nst f rst !r nc!les# $s$r!at on of ll egal !o3ers# or abnegat on and
abdcat on of legt mat e a$t horty,
Do not forget # e ther# t hat as the sho3y# s$!erfc al# m!$dent and sel fD
conce t ed 3 l l al most al 3ays be !referred# e6en n $t most stress of danger
and cal amty of the State# t o t he man of sol d learn ng# large ntel lect # and
cat hol c sym!ath es# beca$se he s nearer t he common !o!$lar and
l egslat 6e l e6el # so the h ghest tr$t h s not acce!t abl e t o the mass of
man/ nd,
;hen SOLO8 3as as/ed f he had g6en hs co$nt rymen the best la3s# he
ans3ered# @The best they are ca!abl e of rece6 ng,@ Th s s one of t he
!rofo$ndest $t t erances on recordG and yet l /e al l great tr$t hs# so s m!l e as
t o be rarely com!rehended, It conta ns t he 3hol e !hl oso!hy of -st ory, It
$tters a tr$t h 3hch# had t been recogn <ed# 3o$ld ha6e sa6ed men an
mmensty of 6a n# dl e ds!$tes# and ha6e led them nt o t he clearer !aths
of /no3ledge n the Past, It means t h s# DDt hat all tr$t hs are Tr$ths of
Per od# and not tr$t hs for etern tyG t hat 3hat e6er great fact has had
st rengt h and 6t al ty eno$gh to ma/e t self real # 3het her of rel g on#
morals# go6ernment# or of 3hate6er else# and t o f nd !lace n ths 3orld#
has been a tr$t h for t he t me# and as good as men 3ere ca!able of
rece6 ng,
So# too# 3t h great men, The ntel lect and ca!acty of a !eo!le has a s ngl e
meas$re# DDthat of t he great men 3hom Pro6 dence g 6es t# and 3hom t
rece6es, There ha6e al 3ays been men too great for t her t me or the r
!eo!l e, E6ery !eo!l e ma/es s$ch men only t s dol s# as t s ca!abl e of
com!rehendng,
To m!ose deal t r$th or l a3 $!on an nca!abl e and merely real man# m$st
e6er be a 6a n and em!ty s!ec$lat on, The l a3s of sym!at hy go6ern n t h s
as t hey do n regard t o men 3ho are !$t at the head, ;e do not /no3# as
yet# 3hat E$al fcat ons t he shee! ns st on n a leader, ; th men 3ho are
t oo hgh ntellect$al ly# the mass ha6e as l tt le sym!at hy as they ha6e 3 t h
t he st ars, ;hen B'RKE# the 3 sest st atesman Engl and e6er had# rose t o
s!ea/# t he -o$se of %ommons 3as de!o!$l at ed as $!on an agreed sgnal,
There s as l t tl e sym!athy bet 3een the mass and t he hghest TR'T-S,
The hghest t r$th# beng ncom!rehensble t o the man of real tes# as t he
hghest man s# and l argely abo6e hs le6el # 3l l be a great $nreal ty and
falsehood to an $n ntellect$al man, The !rofo$ndest doctrnes of
%hr st an ty and Ph l oso!hy 3o$l d be mere 5 argon and babbl e t o a
Pot a3atom e Ind an, The !o!$lar e4!lanat ons of t he symbol s of Masonry
are f t t ng for the m$l t t $de t hat ha6e s3armed nt o t he Tem!l es# DDbe ng
f$l ly $! to the le6el of ther ca!ac ty, %athol c sm 3as a 6 tal tr$t h n t s
earl est ages# b$t t became obsolet e# and Protest ant sm arose# flo$r shed#
and det er orat ed, The doct r nes of HOROASTER 3ere t he best 3hch the
anc ent Pers ans 3ere f t ted to rece 6eG t hose of %O8"'%I'S 3ere f tt ed
for the %h neseG t hose of MO-AMMED for the dolatro$s Arabs of hs
age, Each 3as Tr$t h for t he t me, Each 3as a GOSPEL# !reached by a
RE"ORMERG and f any men are so l tt l e fort $nat e as t o rema n cont ent
t here3t h# 3hen ot hers ha6e at taned a h gher t r$t h# t s t he r msfort$ne
and not ther fa$lt , They are to be ! ted for t # and not !ersec$ted,
Do not e4!ect eas ly to con6nce men of t he t r$t h# or t o lead them t o th n/
arght , The s$btl e h$man ntel lect can 3ea6e ts m st s o6er e6en the
cl earest 6 s on, Remember that t s eccentrc eno$gh t o as/ $nan m ty
from a 5$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 agreeG DDnay# yo$ can rarely get one to agree 3t h h mself,
The !ol t cal ch$rch 3h ch chances t o be s$!reme any3here has an
ndefn t e n$mber of tong$es, -o3 then can 3e e4!ect men to agree as to
matt ers beyond t he cogn <ance of t he sensesJ -o3 can 3e com!ass the
Infnt c and the In6sble 3t h any cha n of e6 denceJ As/ the small seaD
3a6es 3hat t hey m$rm$r among the !ebbles O -o3 many of those 3ords
t hat come from t he n6s ble shore are lost# l /e the brds# n t he l ong
!assage J -o3 6anly do 3e stra n t he eyes across the long Infnte O ;e
m$st be content# as t he chl dren are# 3 th t he !ebbl es that ha6e been
st randed# s nce t s forbdden $s t o e4!l ore the h dden de!ths,
The "ell o3D%raft s es!ecal ly ta$ght by th s not to become 3 se n hs
o3n concet , Prde n $nso$nd t heor es s 3orse than gnorancc, -$m l ty
becomes a Mason, Ta/e some E$ et# sober moment of l fe# and add
t oget her t he t 3o deas of Prde and ManG behold h m# creat $re of a s!an#
st al/ng thro$gh nfn t e s!ace n al l the grande$r of l t tl eness O Perched
on a s!ec/ of the 'n 6erse# e6ery 3 nd of -ea6en str /es nto h s blood
t he coldness of deat hG h s so$l fl oat s a66ay from h s body l /e t he mel ody
from the strng, Day and nght # l /e d$st on t he 3heel# he s roll ed along
t he hea6ens# thro$gh a labyr nt h of 3orl ds# and all t he creat ons of God
are fl anl ng on e6ery s de# f$rt her than e6en h s mag nat on can reach, Is
t h s a creat$re t o ma/e for h msel f a cro3n of glory# to deny h s o3n flesh#
t o moc/ at h s fel lo3# s!r$ng 3 th h m from that d$st to 3hch bot h 3l l
soon ret $rnJ Does t he !ro$d man not errJ Does he not s$fferJ Does he not
deJ ;hen he reasons# s he ne6er sto!!ed short by dffc$l t es J ;hen he
act s# does he ne6er s$cc$mb to the tem!t at ons of !l eas$reJ ;hen he
l 6es# s he free from !a nJ Do t he dseases not cla m h m as t he r !reyJ
;hen he d es# can he esca!e the common gra6e J Prde s not t he her tage
of man, -$m l ty sho$l d d3el l 3t h fra lty# and at one for gnorance# error
and m!erfect on,
8e ther sho$l d the Mason be o6erDan4 o$s for offce and honor# ho3e6er
certa nly he rmay feel t hat he has t he ca!ac ty to ser6e t he Stat e, -e
sho$l d net her see/ nor s!$rn honors, It s good to en5 oy the bl ess ngs of
fort$neG t s bet ter t o s$bm t 3t ho$t a !ang to t her l oss, The greatest
deeds are not done n the glare of l ght# and before the eyes of t he
!o!$lace, -e 3hom God has g ft ed 3t h a lo6e of ret rement !ossesses# as
t 3ere# an add t onal senseG and among t he 6ast and noble scenes of
nat$re# 3 e fnd t he bal m for the 3o$nds 3e ha6e rece 6ed among t he
!t f$l sh ft s of !ol cyG for the att achment to sol t $de s t he s$rest
!reser6at 6e from t he l ls of l fe,
B$t Resgnat on s the more noble n !ro!ort on as t s t he less !ass 6e,
Ret rement s only a morbd sel f shness# f t !roh bt e4ert ons for othersG
as t s only dgn f ed and noble# 3hen t s the shade 3hence the oracl es
ss$e t hat are t o nstr$ct man/ndG and ret rement of ths nat $re s t he sole
secl $son 3hch a good and 3 se man 3 l l co6et or command, The 6ery
!hl oso!hy 3h ch ma/es s$ch a man co6et t he E$ et # 3 l l ma/e h m
esche3 the n$t l ty of t he hermt age, Fery l t tl e !ra se3ort hy 3o$ld
LORD BOLI8GBROKE ha6e seemed among h s hayma/ers and
!lo$ghmen# f among hayma/ers and !lo$ghmen he had loo/ed 3t h an
nd fferent eye $!on a !rofl gate mn st er and a 6enal Parl ament , Fery
l t tl e nterest 3o$ld ha6e at tached t o h s beans and 6etches# f beans and
6etches had ca$sed h m to forget t hat f he 66as ha!!er on a fann he co$l d
be more $sef$l n a Senate# and made h m forego# n t he s!here of a
bal ff# al l care for reDenter ng t hat of a l egsl ator,
Remember# al so# that t herc s an ed$cat on 3h ch E$c/ens t he Intel lect #
and l ea6es t he heart holl o3er or harder t han before, There are et h cal
l essons n the la3s of the hea6enly bodes# n t he !ro!ert es of eart hly
el ement s# n geogra!hy# chem stry# geol ogy# and al l the mat er al scences,
Th ngs are symbol s of Tr$ths, Pro!ert es are symbols of Tr$ths, Sc ence#
not teach ng moral and s!rt $al t r$ths# s dead and dry# of l t tl e more real
6al$e than t o comm t t o t he menl ory a l ong ro3 of $nconnected dat es# or
of t he names of b$gs or b$t terfl es,
%hr st an ty# t s sa d# beg ns from the b$rn ng of the fal se gods by the
!eo!l e themsel 6es, Ed$cat on beg ns 3 th t he b$rnng of o$r nt ell ect$al
and moral dols( o$r !re5 $d ces# not ons# concet s# o$r 3ort hBess or
gnoble !$r!oses, Es!ecal ly t s necessary to sha/e off the lo6e of
3orl dly ga n, ; t h "reedom comes t he longng for 3orldly ad6ancement ,
In t hat race men are e6er fal l ng# r sng# r$nn ng# and fal l ng agan, The
l $st for 3ealt h and t he ab5ect dread of !o6erty del 6e t he f$rro3s on many
a noble bro3, The gambl er gro3s ol d as he 3atches t he chances, La3f$l
ha<ard dr6es .o$t h a3ay before t s t meG and t h s .o$t h dra3s hea6y bl ls
of e4change on Age, Men l 6e# l /e t he eng nes# at hgh !ress$re# a
h$ndred years n a h$ndred monthsG t he l edger becomes t he B ble# and t he
dayDboo/ the Boo/ of t he Mornng Prayer,
-ence fl o3 o6erreach ngs and shar! !ract ce# heart less t raff c n 3hch t he
ca! tal st b$ys !rof t 3 t h t he l 6es of t he l aborers# s!ec$lat ons t hat co n
a nat on? s agon es nt o 3eal th# and al l the ot her de6 l sh cngnery of
Mammon, Ths# and greed for off ce# are the t 3o col$mns at the entrance
t o t he Tem!l e of Mol och, It s do$bt f$l 3het her t he lat ter# bl ossomng n
falsehood# t r c/ery# and fra$d# s not e6en more !ernco$s t han the
former, At all e6ent s t hey are t 3ns# and ft ly mat edG and as e ther ga ns
control of t he $nfort $nate s$b5ect # hs so$l 3 thers a3ay and decays# and
at last des o$t , The so$l s of hal f t he h$man race lea6e them l ong before
t hey de, The t 3o greeds are t3 n !lag$es of the le!rosy# and ma/e t he
man $ncleanG and 3hene6er t hey brea/ o$t they s!read $nt l @t hey co6er
al l the s/n of h m t hat hat h t he !l ag$e# from hs head e6en t o hs foot, @
E6en the ra3 fl esh of the heart becomes $ncl ean 3t h t,
Al e4ander of Macedon has left a sayng behnd h m 3h ch has s$r6 6ed h s
conE$est s( @8ot h ng s nobl er than 3or/,@ ;or/ only can /ee! e6en / ngs
res!ectable, And 3hen a / ng s a /ng ndeed# t s an honorable off ce to
g 6e t one to the manners and moral s of a nat onG t o set t he e4am!le of
6rt$o$s cond$ct# and rest ore n s! r t the ol d school s of ch 6al ry# n 3h ch
t he yo$ng manhood may be n$rt $red to real greatness, ;or/ and 3ages
3 ll go toget her n men? s m nds# n t he most royal nst t$t ons, ;e m$st
e6er come t o the dea of real 3or/, The rest t hat foll o3s l abor sho$l d be
s3eet er than t he rest 3hch fol l o3s rest ,
Let no "el lo3D%raft mag ne t hat t he 3or/ of t he l o3ly and $nnfl $ent al
s not 3orth the do ng, There s no legal l mt t o t he !ossble nfl$ences of
a good deed or a 3 se 3ord or a genero$s effort, 8ot h ng s really small ,
;hoe6er s o!en t o the dee! !enet rat on of nat$re /no3s ths, Al tho$gh#
ndeed# no absol$t e sat sfact on may be 6o$chsafed to !hl oso!hy# any
more n crc$mscr b ng t he ca$se than n l m t ng t he effect # the man of
t ho$ght and cont em!lat on fall s nt o $nfat homabl e ecstac es n 6e3 of all
t he decom!ost ons of forces res$l t ng n $n ty, Al l 3or/s for al l,
Dest r$ct on s not annh lat on# b$t regenerat on,
Al gebra a!!les to the cl o$dsG t he rad ance of the st ar benef ts t he roseG no
t h n/er 3o$l d dare t o say that t he !erf$me of t he ha3thorn s $seless to
t he const el lat ons, ;ho# then# can calc$l at e the !at h of the mol ec$l eJ -o3
do 3e /no3 t hat the creat ons of 3orl ds are not determned by the fall of
grans of sand J ;ho# then# $nderstands t he rec!rocal flo3 and ebb of t he
nrlntely great and the nf n tely smal lG t he echo ng of ca$ses n the
abysses of beg nn ng# and the a6alanches of creat onJ A flesh3orm s of
acco$nt G t he small s greatG the great s smal lG al l s n eE$ l br $m n
necess ty, There are mar6ell o$s rel at ons bet3een be ngs and t h ngsG n
t h s ne4ha$st bl e ;hol e# from s$n to gr$b# there s no scorn( al l need
each ot her, Lght does not carry t errest ral !erf$mes nt o t he a<$re de!t hs#
3 tho$t /no3 ng 3hat t does 3 th themG nght dstr b$t es the st el lar
essence to the slee!ng !lants, E6ery b rd 3h ch fl es has the t hread of t he
Infnt e n t s cla3, Germ nat on ncl $des the hatchng of a meteor# and t he
t a! of a s3all o3? s b ll # brea/ ng the eggG and t leads for3ard t he brth of
an eart hD3orm and t he ad6ent of a Socrat es, ;here the t el esco!e ends the
mcrosco!e beg ns, ;h ch of them t he grander 6e3 J A bt of mo$l d s a
Ple ad of fl o3ers DDa neb$l a s an antDh ll of st ars,
There s the same and a st ll more 3onderf$l nter!enetrat on bet 3een t he
t h ngs of t he nt el l ect and the thngs of mat ter, Element s and !rnc!l es
are m ngl ed# combned# es!o$sed# m$l t !l ed one by anot her to s$ch a
degree as t o br ng the mater al 3orl d and t he moral 3orld nt o t he same
l ght , Phenomena are !er!et $al ly folded bac/ $!on themsel 6es, In the 6ast
cosmcal changes the $n6ersal l fe comes and goes n $n/no3n E$ant t es#
en6elo!ng al l n t he n6s bl e mystery of t he emanat ons# los ng no dream
from no s ngl e slee!# so3ng an an malc$le here# cr$mbl ng a st ar there#
osc ll at ng and 3ndng n c$r6esG ma/ng a force of Lght# and an el ement
of Tho$ghtG d ssem nated and nd 6 sbl e# d ssol6ng all sa6e that !ont
3 tho$t l engt h# breadth# or t h c/ness# The M.SE"G red$c ng e6eryt h ng t o
t he So$lDatom G ma/ ng e6eryth ng blossom nt o GodG ent angl ng all
act 6 t es# from the h gll est to the lo3est# n t he obsc$r ty of a d <<yng
mechan smG hangng the fl ght of an nsect $!on t he mo6ement of the
earthG s$bord nat ng# !erha!s# f only by the dent ty of t he la3# t he
eccent r c e6ol$t ons of the comet n the f rmament# to t he 3hrl ngs of the
nf$sor a n the dro! of 3ater, A mechansm made of mnd# the frst mot or
of 3hch s the gnat # and ts last 3heel t he <od ac,
A !easantDboy# g$ dng Bl$cher by the r ght one of t 3o roads# t he ot her
beng m!assable for art l lery# enables h m t o reach ;at erloo n t me t o
sa6e ;el l ngton from a defeat t hat 3o$ld ha6e been a ro$t G and so enables
t he /ngs to m!r son 8a!oleon on a barren roc/ n m dDocean, An
$nfa thf$l smt h# by the slo6enly shoeng of a horse# ca$ses h s lameness#
and# he st$mbl ng# the career of hs 3orl dDconE$er ng r der ends# and the
dest nes of em! res are changed, A genero$s offcer !erm ts an
m!r soned monarch t o end hs game of chess before lead ng h m t o t he
bloc/G and mean3hl e t he $s$r!er des# and the !r soner reascends the
t hrone, An $ns/ ll f$l 3or/man re!a rs t he com!ass# or mal ce or st$! dty
dsarranges t# t he sh! m st a/es her co$rse# the 3a6es s3al lo3 a %aesar#
and a ne3 cha!ter s 3rt ten n the h story of a 3orl d, ;hat 3e cal l
acc dent s b$t t he adamant ne cha n of ndssol$ble connect on bet 3een
al l created t hngs, The loc$st# hat ched n the Araban sands# the smal l
3orm t hat destroys the cot tonDbol l# one ma/ ng famne n t he Orent# the
other cl osng t he m l l s and star6ng the 66or/men and t her ch l dren n t he
Occ dent # 3 t h r ot s and massacres# are as m$ch t he mnst ers of God as
t he earthE$a/eG and t he fate of nat ons de!ends more on t hem than on t he
ntell ect of t s / ngs and l egslators, A c 6 l 3ar n Amer ca 3 ll end n
sha/ ng the 3orl dG and that 3ar may be ca$sed by t he 6ot e of some
gnorant !r<eDfghter or cra<ed fanat c n a cty or n a %ongress# or of
some st $! d boor n an obsc$re co$ntry !ar sh, The el ectrc ty of $n6ersal
sym!at hy# of act on and react on# !er6ades e6erythng# the !l anet s and the
motes n t he s$nbeam, "A'ST# 3 th hs ty!es# or L'T-ER# 3t h hs
sermons# 3or/ed greater res$l t s t han Al e4ander or -annbal, A s ngl e
t ho$ght somet mes s$ffces to o6ert $rn a dynasty, A sl ly song dd more to
$nseat &ames the Second than t he acE$ t tal of t he B sho!s, Folt are#
%ondorcet # and Ro$ssea$ $tt ered 3ords that 3 l l rng# n change and
re6ol $t ons# thro$gho$t al l the ages,
Remember# t hat tho$gh l fe s short# Tho$ght and the nfl $ences of 3hat
3e do or say are mmort alG and t hat no calc$l$s has yet !retended to
ascert a n t he l a3 of !ro!ort on bet 3een ca$se and effect, The hammer of
an Engl sh blac/sm t h# sm t ng do3n an nsolent off cal # l ed to a
rebel l on 3h ch came near be ng a re6ol$t on, The 3ord 3el l s!o/en# the
deed ft ly done# e6en by the feeblest or h$mblest # cannot hel ! b$t ha6e
t her effect, More or less# the effect s ne6t abl e and eternal , The echoes
of t he greatest deeds may d e a3ay l /e t he echoes of a cry among the
cl ffs# and 3hat has been done seem to the h$man 5$dgment to ha6e been
3 tho$t res$lt , The $ncons dered act of t he !oorest of men may fre the
t ra n t hat leads t o t he s$bterranean mne# and an em!re be rent by t he
e4!l oson,
The !o3er of a free !eo!le s oft en at t he ds!osal of a sngle and
seem ngly an $n m!ortant nd6d$alG DDa t errble and t r$thf$l !o3erG for
s$ch a !eo!l e feel 3t h one heart# and t herefore can l ft $! ther myrad
arms for a s ngl e bl o3, And# agan# t here s no grad$at ed scal e for the
meas$rement of t he nfl$ences of dfferent ntel lect s $!on the !o!$l ar
mnd, Pet er t he -ermt hel d no off ce# yet 3hat a 3or/ he 3ro$ght O
K K K K K K
"rom t he !ol t cal !ont of 6e3 there s b$t a s ngle !r nc !le# DD t he
so6ere gnty of man o6er h msel f, Th s so6eregnty of one? s self o6er one? s
sel f s cal l ed LIBERT., ;here t3o or se6eral of these so6eregnt es
assoc ate# the Stat e beg ns, B$t n ths assoc at on t here s no abdcat on,
Each so6eregnty !art s 3 th a cert an !ort on of t self to form t he common
rght, That !ort on s the same for al l, There s eE$al contr b$t on by al l t o
t he 5 o nt so6eregnty, Ths dent ty of concesson 3hch each ma/es t o al l #
s EI'ALIT., The common rght s nothng more or less t han the
!rot ect on of al l# !o$r ng ts rays on each, Th s !rotect on of each by all #
s "RATER8IT.,
L berty s t he s$mm t # EE$al ty the base, EE$al ty s not all 6egetat on on
a le6el # a socety of bg s!ears of grass and st $nted oa/s# a ne ghborhood
of 5 ealo$ses# emasc$lat l lg each ot her, It s# c6 lly# al l a!t t $des ha6 ng
eE$al o!!ort$n tyG !ol t cal ly# all 6ot es ha6 ng eE$al 3eghtG relgo$sly#
al l consc ences ha6 ng eE$al rght s,
EE$al ty has an organGDDgrat $t o$s and oblgat ory nstr$ct on, ;e m$st
beg n 3t h the rght to t he al !habet, The !r mary school oblgat ory $!on
al lG t he h gher school offered to all , S$ch s the la3, "rom the same school
for al l s!r ngs eE$al socety, Inst r$ct on O Lght O all comes from Lght #
and al l ret $rns t o t,
;e m$st l earn the t ho$ghts of the common !eo!l e# f 3e 3o$ld be 3se
and do any good 3or/, ;e m$st l oo/ at men# not so m$ch for 3hat
"ort $ne has g6en to t hem 3t h her bl nd ol d eyes# as for t he g ft s 8at $re
has bro$ght n her la!# and for the $se that has been made of them, ;e
!rofess t o be eE$al n a %h$rch and n the Lodge( 3e shall be eE$al n the
sght of God 3hen -e 5$dges the earth, ;e may 3el l s t on t he !a6ement
t oget her here# n comm$n on and conference# for the fe3 br ef moments
t hat const t $t e l fe,
A Democrat c Go6ernment $ndo$bt edly has t s defects# beca$se t s made
and adm nst ered by men# and not by t he ; se Gods, It cannot be conc se
and shar!# l /e the des!ot c, ;hen t s re s aro$sed t de6elo!s ts lat ent
st rengt h# and the st $rdest rebel trembl es, B$t ts hab t$al domest c r$le s
t olerant # !at ent # and ndec s6e, Men are bro$ght t oget her# frst to d ffer#
and t hen to agree, Affrmat on# negat on# dsc$ss on# sol $t on( these are
t he means of attan ng tr$th, Oft en t he enemy 3l l be at t he gat es before
t he babbl e of t he dst $rbers s dro3ned n the chor$s of consent , In t he
Leg slat 6e off ce del berat on 3 ll often defeat decs on, Lberty can !l ay
t he fool l /e t he Tyrant s
Refned socety reE$ res greater m n$teness of reg$lat onG and the ste!s of
al l ad6anc ng St ates are more and more t o be ! c/ed among t he old
r$bb sh and the ne3 matcr als, The dff c$l ty l es n dsco6er ng t he rght
!ath thro$gh t he chaos of conf$son, The ad5$st ment of m$t$al rghts and
3rongs s al so more dff c$l t n democrac es, ;e do not see and est mat e
t he relat 6e m!ort ance of ob5ect s so easly and cl early from t he l e6el or
t he 3a6ng and as from the el e6at on of a l one !ea/# to3er ng abo6e the
!la nG for each l oo/s thro$gh hs o3n m st,
Ab5ect de!endence on const t $ent s# also# s too common, It s as mserabl e
a th ng as ab5ect de!endence on a mn ster or the fa6or t e of a Tyrant , It s
rare to f nd a man 3ho can s!ea/ o$t t he s m!le t r$t h t hat s n h m#
honest ly and fran/ly# 3 tho$t fear# fa6or# or affect on# et her to Em!eror
or Peo!l e,
Moreo6er# n assembl es of men# fa th n each ot her s al most al 3ays
3ant ng# $nl ess a t errble !ress$re of cal am ty or danger from 3t ho$t
!rod$ces coheson, -ence t he constr$ct 6e !o3er of s$ch assembl es s
generally def cent , The ch ef tr $m!hs of modern days# n E$ro!e# ha6e
been n !$ll ng do3n and obl t erat ngG not n b$l d ng $!, B$t Re!eal s
not Reform, T me m$st brng 3t h h m t he Rest orer and Reb$ lder,
S!eech# al so# s grossly ab$sed n Re!$bl csG and f the $se of s!eech be
gl oro$s# ts ab$se s t he most 6 ll a no$s of 6 ces, Rhetorc# Plat o says# s
t he art of r$l ng t he mnds of men, B$t n democraces t s too common to
hde tho$ght n 3ords# t o o6erlay t# t o babbl e nonsense, The gl eams and
gl t ter of nt el l ect $al soa!DandD3ater b$bbl es are msta/en for the
ranbo3Dglor es of gen $s, The 3ort hl ess !yrt es s cont n$al ly m sta/en
for gol d, E6en nt ell ect condescends t o nt ell ect$al 5 $gglery# balanc ng
t ho$ght s as a 5 $ggl er balances !!es on h s ch n, In al l %ongresses 3e
ha6e t he ne4ha$st bl e fl o3 of babble# and "act on? s clamoro$s /na6ery n
dsc$ss on# $nt l the d 6ne !o3er of s!eech# that !r6 lege of man and
great gft of God# s no bet ter than t he screech of !arrot s or t he m mcry of
mon/eys, The mere t al /er# ho3e6er fl $ent# s barren of deeds n the day of
t r al,
There are men 6ol$ble as 3omen# and as 3ell s/l led n fencng 3t h the
t ong$e( !rodges of s!eech# m sers n deeds, Too m$ch cal /ng# l /e t oo
m$ch thn/ng# dest roys t he !o3er of act on, In h$man nat$re# the t ho$ght
s only made !erfect by deed, S lence s the mother of bot h, The tr$m!eter
s not the bra6est of the bra6e, St eel and not brass 3 ns t he day, The great
doer of great deeds s most ly sl o3 and sl o6enly of s!eech, There are some
men born and brcd to betray, Pat r ot sm s ther trade# and ther ca! tal s
s!eech, B$t no nobl e s! r t can !lead l /e Pa$l and be fal se t o tsel f as
&$das,
Im!ost $re too commonly r$l es n re!$bl csG t hey seem t o be e6er n t he r
mnor tyG the r g$ardans are selfDa!!o ntedG and tl he $n5$st thr 6e bet ter
t han the 5$st, The Des!ot # l /e the n ght Dl on roarng# dro3ns al l t he
cl amor of tong$es at once# and s!eech# t he brthrght of t he free man#
becomes the ba$ble of the ensla6ed,
It s E$ te tr$e t hat re!$bl cs only occas onal ly# and as t 3ere
acc dent al ly# select t her 3sest# or e6en t he l ess nca!abl e among the
nca!ables# to go6ern them and l egslate for t hem, If gen$s# armed 3t h
l earnng and /no3ledge# 3 ll gras! t he rens# t he !eo!l e 3 ll re6erence t G
f t only modestly offers t self for off ce# t 3 l l be smt ten on t he face#
e6en 3hen# n the stra t s of dst ress and t he agones of calamty# t s
nd s!ensable to the sal6at on of the State, P$t t $!on t he t rac/ 3 th the
sho3y and s$!erfc al# t he concet ed# the gnorant # and m!$dent # t he
t r c/ster and charl at an# and the res$lt shal l not be a moment do$bt f$l , The
6erd cts of Legslat$res and t he Peo!le are l /e the 6erd ct s of 5$res# DD
somet mes rght by accdent,
Offces# t s tr$e# are sho3ered# l /e t he ra ns of -ea6en# $!on t he 5 $st
and t he $n5$st, The Roman A$g$rs t hat $sed to la$gh n each ot her? s faces
at t he s m!l cty of t he 6$lgar# 3ere also t c/l ed 3t h t her o3n g$l eG b$t
no A$g$r s needed t o lead the !eo!le ast ray, They read ly dece 6e
t hemsel 6es, Let a Re!$bl c beg n as t may# t 3l l not be o$t of ts
mnor ty before mbec l ty 3l l be !romot ed to h gh !lacesG and shal lo3
!retence# get t ng t sel f !$ffed nt o not ce# 3l l n6ade al l the sanct $ar es,
The most $nscr$!$l o$s !art sansh ! 3 ll !re6a l# e6en n res!ect to
5 $d cal t r$stsG and the most $n5 $st a!!ont ment s const ant ly be made#
al tho$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 3t h n5 $st ce,
The co$ntry s stabbed n the front 3hen those are bro$ght nt o t he st all ed
seat s 3ho sho$l d sl n/ nto t he d m gall ery, E6ery stam! of -onor# ll D
cl $tched# s st ol en from the Treas$ry of Mert ,
.et t he entrance nto t he !$bl c ser6 ce# and t he !romot on n t # affect
both t he rghts of nd6d$als and those of t he nat on, In5 $st ce n
best o3 ng or 3t hhold ng off ce o$ght t o be so nt ol erabl e n democrat c
comm$n t es t hat the least trace of t sho$l d be l /e t he scent of Treason,
It s not $n6ersal ly tr$e t hat all c t <ens of eE$al character ha6e an eE$al
cl a m t o /noc/ at the door of e6ery !$bl c offce and demand adm tt ance,
;hen any man !resent s h msel f for ser6 ce he has a rght to as!re t o the
hghest body at once# f he can sho3 hs ft ness for s$ch a beg nnng# DDthat
he s f tt er than t he rest 3ho offer themsel 6es for the same !ost , The ent ry
nt o t can only 5$st ly be made thro$gh the door of mert , And 3hene6er
any one as!res t o and atta ns s$ch hgh !ost# es!ecal ly f by $nfar and
dsre!$t able and ndecent means# and s aft er3ard fo$nd to be a sgnal
fal $re# he sho$ld at once be beheaded, -e s t he 3orst among the !$blc
enem es,
;hen a man s$mcent ly re6eals h mself# al l ot hers sho$l d be !ro$d to g6e
h m d$e !recedence, ;hen t he !o3er of !romot on s ab$sed n t he grand
!assages of l fe 3het her by Peo!le# Legslat$re# or E4ec$t 6e# t he $n5 $st
dec s on reco ls on the 5$dge at once, That s not only a gross# b$t a
3 ll f$l shortness of sght# that cannot dsco6er the deser6ng, If one 3l l
l oo/ hard# long# and honestly# he 3l l not fal t o dscern mer t# gen $s# and
E$al f cat onG and t he eyes and 6o ce of t he Press and P$bl c sho$l d
condemn and deno$nce n5$st ce 3here6er she rears her horrd head,
@The tool s to t he 3or/menO@ no ot her !r nc !l e 3l l sa6e a Re!$bl c from
dest r$ct on# e ther by c 6l 3ar or t he dryDrot , They tend t o decay# do al l
3e can t o !re6ent t # l /e h$man bodes, If they try t he e4!er ment of
go6ernng themsel6es by ther smal lest # they sl de do3n3ard to t he
$na6odable abyss 3 th tenfold 6el octyG and there ne6er has been a
Re!$bl c that has not fol lo3ed t hat fatal co$rse,
B$t ho3e6er !al !abl e and gross t he nherent defects of democrat c
go6ernment s# and fatal as the res$l ts f nal ly and ne6t ably are# 3e need
only glance at the re gns of Tber $s# 8ero# and %al g$la# of -el ogabal$s
and %aracalla# of Dom t an and %ommod$s# to recogn<e t hat the
dfference bet3een freedom and des!ot sm s as 3 de as t hat bet 3een
-ea6en and -el l, The cr$el ty# baseness# and nsanty of tyrants are
ncredbl e, Let h m 3ho com!l a ns of t he f c/le h$mors and nconst ancy
of a free !eo!le# read Pl ny? s charact er of Domt an, If t he great man n a
Re!$bl c cannot 3n omce 3t ho$t descendng to lo3 arts and 3hn ng
beggary and t he 5 $dc o$s $se of snea/ng l es# l et h m rema n n
ret rement # and $se the !en, Tac t$s and &$6enal hel d no offce, Let
- story and Sat re !$n sh t he !ret ender as t hey cr$c fy the des!ot, The
re6enges of the ntel lect are terr ble and 5$st,
Let Masonry $se the !en and the !rnt ngD!ress n the free State aga nst
t he Demagog$eG n t he Des!ot sm aganst the Tyrant, - story offers
e4am!l es and enco$ragement , Al l h story# for fo$r t ho$sand years# beng
fl led 3 th 6 olated rghts and the s$fferngs of t he !eo!l e# each !erod of
hst ory brngs 3 th t s$ch !rot est as s !ossble t o t , 'nder t he %aesars
t here 3as no ns$rrect on# b$t t here 3as a &$6enal, The aro$s ng of
nd gnat on re!laces the Gracch, 'nder t he %aesars t here s the e4 l e of
SyeneG t here s also the a$t hor of t he Annals, As the 8eros regn dar/ly
t hey sho$l d be !ct $red so, ;or/ 3t h the gra6er only 3o$ld be !aleG nt o
t he groo6es sho$l d be !o$red a concentrated !rose that bt es,
Des!ots are an a d t o t h n/ers, S!eech enchaned s s!eech terr ble, The
3rt er do$bles and tr!les hs style# 3hen s lence s m!osed by a mast er
$!on the !eo!le, There s!r ngs from t h s sl ence a certan myst er o$s
f$l l ness# 3h ch f lters and free<es nt o brass n t he t ho$ght s, %om!resson
n t he hst ory !rod$ces concseness n the h st or an, The grant c sol d ty
of some cel ebrated !rose s only a condensat on !rod$ced by t he Tyrant ,
Tyranny const ra ns the 3r ter t o short en ngs of dameter 3hch are
ncreases of strengt h, The % ceronan !erod# hardly s$mc ent $!on Ferres#
3o$l d l ose ts edge $!on %al g$l a,
The Demagog$e s the !redecessor of t he Des!ot, One s!r ngs from the
other? s l o ns, -e 3ho 3 l l basely fa3n on those 3ho ha6e offce t o besto3#
3 ll betray l /e Iscarot# and !ro6e a m serable and ! t able fal $re, Let
t he ne3 &$n$s l ash s$ch men as they deser6e# and - story ma/e them
mmortal n nfamyG s nce t her nfl$ences c$l m nate n r$ n, The Re!$bl c
t hat em!loys and honors t he shal lo3# t he s$!erf c al # t he base#
@3ho cro$ch
'nto the offal of an offce !rom sed# @
at last 3ee!s tears of blood for ts fatal error, Of s$ch s$!reme fol ly# the
s$re fr$ t s damnat on, Let t he nob l ty of e6ery great heart # condensed
nt o 5 $st ce and t r$th# st r /e s$ch creat$res l /e a t h$nderbol t O If yo$ can
do no more# yo$ can at least condemn by yo$r 6ote# and ost rac se by
den$nc at on,
It s tr$e t hat # as the %<ars are absol $te# t hey ha6e t n ther !o3er to
sel ect t he best for t he !$bl c ser6ce, It s tr$e that t he begnner of a
dynasty general ly does soG and that 3hen monarches are n t her !r me#
!retence and shal lo3ness do not thr 6e and !ros!er and get !o3er# as they
do n Re!$blcs, All do not gabbl e n t he Parlament of a Kngdom# as n
t he %ongress of a Democracy, The nca!ables do not go $ndetected t here#
al l the r l 6es,
B$t dynast es s!eedly decay and r$n o$t, At last they d3ndle do3n nto
mbecl tyG and the d$l l or fl !!ant Members of %ongresses are at least t he
ntell ect$al !eers of t he 6ast ma5 or ty of /ngs, The great man# t he &$l $s
%aesar# the %harlemagne# %rom3el l# 8a!oleon# regns of rght, -e s the
3 sest and the strongest , The nca!abl es and mbec les s$cceed and are
$s$r!ersG and fear ma/es t hem cr$el, After &$l $s came %aracall a and
Gal baG aft er %harlemagne# the l $nat c %harl es the S 4t h, So the Saracen c
dynasty d3 ndled o$t G the %a!et s# t he St $arts# the Bo$rbc)nsG the last of
t hese !rod$c ng Bomba# the a!e of Dom t an,
Man s by nat$re cr$el # l /e the t gers, The barbar an# and the tool of t he
tyrant # and the c6 l <ed fanat c# en5 oy t he s$ffer ngs of ot hers# as t he
chl dren en5 oy t he cont ort ons of ma med fl es, Absol$t e Po3er# once n
fear for t he safety of t s t en$re# cannot b$t be cr$el ,
As t o ab l ty# dynast es n6ar ably cease t o !ossess any aft er a fe3 l 6es,
They become mere shams# go6erned by m nst ers# fa6ort es# or co$rtesans#
l /e those old Et r$scan /ngs# sl $mber ng for l ong ages n ther gol den
royal robes# d ssol6ng fore6er at t he frst breat h of day, Let h m 3ho
com!l ans of t he short com ngs of democracy as/ h mself f he 3o$ld
!refer a D$ Barry or a Pom!ado$r# go6ern ng n t he name of a Lo$s t he
"fteent h# a %al g$la ma/ ng hs horse a cons$l# a Dom t an# @t hat most
sa6age monst er# @ 3ho somet mes dran/ the bl ood of relat 6es# somet mes
em!loy ng h msel f 3 th sla$ghterng the most dst ng$ shed c t <ens
before 3hose gat es fear and terror /e!t 3at chG a tyrant of frghtf$l as!ect#
!r de on h s forehead# f re n h s eye# const ant ly see/ ng dar/ness and
secrecy# and only emergng from h s sol t $de to ma/e sol t $de, Aft er all #
n a free go6ernment # t he La3s and the %onst t$t on are abo6e the
Inca!ables# the %o$rt s correct t her l egsl at on# and !osterty s t he Grand
InE$est that !asses 5$dgment on them, ;hat s the e4cl $s on of 3ort h and
ntell ect and /no3l edge from c6l off ce com!ared 3 t h t r al s before
&effr es# t ort$res n the dar/ ca6erns of the InE$st on# Al6ab$tcher es n
t he 8et herlands# the E6e of Sant Barthol ome3# and the S c lan Fes!ersJ
K K K K K K
The Abbe Barr$el n hs Memors for t he -st ory of &acob nsm# declares
t hat Masonry n "rance ga6e# as t s secret# the 3ords EE$al ty and Lberty#
l ea6ng t for e6ery honest and relgo$s Mason to e4!lan them as 3o$l d
best s$ t h s !r nc!lesG b$t reta ned the !r6l ege of $n6e l ng n t he
hgher Degrees the meanng of t hose 3ords# as nt er!ret ed by t he "rench
Re6ol $t on, And he also e4ce!t s Engl sh Masons from h s anat hemas#
beca$se n Engl and a Mason s a !eaceable s$b5 ect of the c 6l a$thor t es#
no matt er 3here he resdes# engag ng n no !lot s or cons!races aga nst
e6en t he 3orst go6ernment , Engl and# he says# dsg$st ed 3t h an EE$al ty
and a Lberty# the conseE$ences of 3hch she had fel t n the str$ggles of
her Loll ards# Anaba!t sts# and Presbyter ans# had @!$rged her Masonry@
from all e4!lanat ons tendng to o6ert $rn em!resG b$t t here st ll rema ned
ade!ts 3hom dsorgan < ng !r nc !les bo$nd to the Ancent Mysteres,
Beca$se t r$e Masonry# $nemasc$lat ed# bore t he banners of "reedom and
EE$al R ght s# and 3as n rebell on aga nst tem!oral and s!r t$al tyranny#
ts Lodges 3ere !roscrbed n )+97# by an edct of the St ates of -ol land,
In )+9+# Lo$ s PF, forbade t hem n "rance, In )+9*# Po!e %lement PII,
ss$ed aga nst t hem h s famo$s B$l l of E4comm$ncat on# 3h ch 3as
rene3ed by Benedct PIF, G and n )+:9 the %o$nc l of Berne al so
!roscrbed t hem, The t tl e of t he R$ll of %lement s# @The %ondemnat on
of t he Socety of %on6entcles de L ber M$rat or # or of the "reemasons#
$nder t he !enalty of !so fact o e4comm$n cat on# the absol$t on from
3hch s reser6ed t o the Po!e al one# e4ce!t at the !ont of death,@ And by
t all b sho!s# ord nares# and nE$ st ors 3ere em!o3ered t o !$nsh
"reemasons# @as 6ehemently s$s!ect ed of heresy#@ and t o cal l n# f
necessary# t he hel! of the sec$l ar armG t hat s# t o ca$se the c6 l a$t hor ty
t o !$t t hem to deat h,
K K K K K K
Al so# fal se and sla6sh !ol tcal t heor es end n br$t al <ng t he Stat e, "or
e4am!l e# ado!t t he theory that off ces and em!l oyment s n t are to be
g 6en as re3ards for ser6ces rendered to !arty# and they soon become the
!rey and s!o l of fact on# t he booty of the 6 ctory of fact onGDDand l e!rosy
s n t he flesh of t he State, The body of the common3eal th becomes a
mass of corr$!t on# l /e a l 6 ng carcass rot ten 3 th sy!hl s, All $nso$nd
t heor es n the end de6el o! themsel 6es n one fo$l and l oat hsome d sease
or ot her of the body !ol t c, The Stat e# l /e t he man# m$st $se const ant
effort t o st ay n t he !aths of 6rt $e and manl ness, The hab t of
el ect oneerng and beggng for off ce c$l m nat es n br bery 3t h off ce#
and corr$!t on n offce,
A chosen man has a 6s ble tr$st from God# as !l anly as f t he commss on
3ere engrossed by t he not ary, A nat on cannot reno$nce t he e4ec$t orsh !
of t he D6ne decrees, As l tt l e can Masonry, It m$st labor t o do ts d$ty
/no3 ngly and 3 sely, ;e m$st remember t hat # n free St at es# as 3el l as n
des!ot sms# In5$st ce# the s!o$se of O!!ress on# s t he fr$tf$l !arent of
Dece t # D st r$st # -atred# %ons! racy# Treason# and 'nfa thf$l ness, E6en n
assa l ng Tyranny 3e m$st ha6e Tr$t h and Reason as o$r ch ef 3ea!ons,
;e m$st march nto that fght l /e the old P$rt ans# or nto the bat tl e 3 t h
t he ab$ses t hat s!rng $! n free go6ernment # 3 t h t he flamng s3ord n
one hand# and the Oracl es of God n the ot her,
The ct <en 3ho cannot accom!l sh 3ell t he small er !$r!oses of !$bl c
l fe# cannot com!ass t he larger, The 6ast !o3er of end$rance# forbearance#
!atence# and !erformance# of a free !eo!l e# s acE$red only by cont n$al
e4erc se of al l the f$nct ons# l /e the heal thf$l !hyscal h$man 6 gor, If
t he nd6 d$al c t <ens ha6e t not# t he Stat e m$st eE$al ly be 3t ho$t t , It
s of t he essence of a free go6ernment # that t he !eo!le sho$l d not only be
concerned n ma/ ng t he l a3s# b$t al so n t he r e4ec$t on, 8o man o$ght
t o be more ready to obey and adm n st er the la3 than he 3ho has hel !ed t o
ma/e t, The b$s ness of go6ernment s carr ed on for t he benef t of all #
and e6ery coD!art ner sho$l d g6e co$nsel and coo!erat on,
Remember al so# as another shoal on 3h ch States are 3rec/ed# that free
Stat es al 3ays tend to3ard the de!ost ng of t he c t <ens n strata# the
creat on of castes# the !er!et$at on of the 5 $s d6 n$rn to offce n
fam l es, The more democrat c t he St ate# the more s$re ths res$l t, "or# as
free St at es ad6ance n !o3er# t here s a strong tendency t o3ard
cent ral <at on# not from del berate e6 l nt ent on# b$t from t he co$rse of
e6ents and the ndol ence of h$man nat $re, The e4ec$t 6e !o3ers s3el l and
enlarge to nord nate d mens onsG and t he E4ec$t 6e s al3ays aggress6e
3 th res!ect to the nat on, Offces of all / nds are m$l t !l ed t o re3ard
!art sansG t he br$t e force of t he se3erage and lo3er st rat a of t he mob
obta ns large re!resent at on# frst n the lo3er off ces# and at last n
Senat esG and B$rea$cracy ra ses t s bald head# brst l ng 3 t h !ens# grded
3 th s!ect acles# and b$nched 3t h rbbon, The art of Go6ernment becomes
l /e a %raft # and ts g$ lds tend t o become e4cl $s 6e# as those of t he
M ddl e Ages,
Pol t cal scence may be m$ch m!ro6ed as a s$b5 ect of s!ec$l at onG b$t t
sho$l d ne6er be d6orced from t he act $al nat onal necessty, The sc ence
of go6ern ng men m$st al3ays be !ract cal # rather t han !h loso!hcal ,
There s not t he same amo$nt of !os t 6e or $n 6ersal t r$t h here as n the
abst ract scencesG 3hat s tr$e n one co$nt ry may be 6ery fal se n anotherG
3hat s $ntr$e toDday may become tr$e n another generat on# and t he t r$th
of t oDday be re6ersed by the 5$dgment of toDmorro3, To d st ng$ sh t he
cas$al from t he end$r ng# to se!arat e t he $ns$ t abl e from the s$ tabl e# and
t o ma/e !rogress e6en !ossbl e# are t he !ro!er ends of !olcy, B$t 3 tho$t
act $al /no3ledge and e4!er ence# and comm$n on of l abor# t he dreams of
t he !ol t cal doct ors may be no bet ter than t hose of the doctors of d 6nty,
The regn of s$ch a cast e# 3t h ts myst er es# ts myrm dons# and t s
corr$!t ng nfl $ence# may be as fat al as that of the des!ots, Thrty tyrants
are thrty t mes 3orse than one,
Moreo6er# t here s a strong tem!tat on for t he go6ern ng !eo!le to become
as m$ch slothf$l and sl $ggards as t he 3ea/est of absol $te / ngs, Only g6e
t hem the !o3er to get r d# 3hen ca!r ce !rom!t s t hem# of t he great and
3 se men# and elect the l tt le# and as t o al l the rest t hey 3l l rela!se nto
ndolence and ndfference, The central !o3er# creat on of the !eo!l e#
organ <ed and c$nnng f not enl ghtened# s t he !er!et $al trb$nal set $!
by t hem for t he redress of 3rong and the r$le of 5$stce, It soon s$!!l es
tsel f 3t h al l the reE$ ste machnery# and s ready and a!t for al l /nds of
nterference, The !eo!l e may be a ch ld all t s l fe, The central !o3er may
not be able t o s$ggest the best scent fc sol $t on of a !roblemG b$t t has
t he eas est means of carryng an dea nt o effect, If t he !$r!ose t o be
at ta ned s a large one# t reE$res a l arge com!rehensonG t s !ro!er for
t he act on of the central !o3er, If t be a smal l one# t may be t h3arted by
dsagreement , The central !o3er m$st ste! n as an arb trat or and !re6ent
t h s, The !eo!le may be t oo a6erse to change# too sl ot hf$l n ther o3n
b$sness# $n5$st to a m nor ty or a ma5 or ty, The cent ral !o3er m$st t a/e
t he rens 3hen t he !eo!l e dro! them,
"rance became central <ed n t s go6ernment more by the a!at hy and
gnorance of t s !eo!le than by the tyranny of t s / ngs, ;hen t he nmost
!ar shDl fe s g 6en $! t o the d rect g$ardansh ! of t he St ate# and the
re!ar of the bel fry of a co$nt ry ch$rch reE$res a 3r tt en order from the
cent ral !o3er# a !eo!le s n t s dotage, Men are th$s n$rt$red n
mbecl ty# from t he da3n of soc al l fe, ;hen the cent ral go6ernment
feeds !art of t he !eo!l e t !re!ares al l to be sl a6es, ;hen t drects !ar sh
and co$nty affa rs# they are sla6es already, The ne4t ste! s to reg$late
l abor and t s 3ages,
8e6ert heless# 3hat e6er foll es the free !eo!le may comm t # e6en to the
!$tt ng of t he !o3ers of l egsl at on n the hands of t he l t tl e com!et ent
and l ess honest # des!a r not of the f nal res$lt , The terr bl e teacher#
EPPERIE8%E# 3rt ng h s lessons on heart s desol ated 3 t h cal am ty and
3r$ng by agony# 3l l ma/e thell l 3ser n t me, Pret ence and gr mace and
sord d beggary for 6otes 3l l some day cease to a6a l, -a6e "AIT-# and
st r$ggle on# aga nst al l e6l nfl $ences and dsco$ragement sO "AIT- s the
Sa6 o$r and Redeemer of nat ons, ;hen %hr stanty had gro3n 3ea/#
!roft less# and !o3erl ess# t he Arab Rest orer and Iconoclast came# l /e a
cl eansng h$rrcane, ;hen the batt le of Damasc$s 3as abo$t t o be fo$ght #
t he %hr st an bsho!# at the early da3n# n h s robes# at the head of h s
cl ergy# 3t ll t rl e %ross once so tr$m!hant rased n the ar# came do3n t o
t he gat es of t he c ty# and la d o!en before the army t he Test ament of
%hr st, The %hr st an general # T-OMAS# lad h s hand on t he boo/# and
sa d# @Oh God O If o$r fa th be tr$e# a d $s# and del 6er $s not nt o t he
hands of t s enemesO@ B$t K-ALED# @the S3ord of God#@ 3ho had
marched from 6ct ory t o 6ct ory# e4cl a med to h s 3ear ed solders# @Let
no man sl ee!O There 3 ll be rest eno$gh n the bo3ers of ParadseG s3eet
3 ll be the re!ose ne6er more t o be fol lo3ed by labor,@ The fa th of t he
Arab had become stronger t han t hat of the %hrst an# and he conE$ered,
The S3ord s also# n t he B ble# an embl em of SPEE%-# or of t he
$tterance of tho$ght , Th$s# n t hat 6 son or a!ocaly!se of t he s$bl me
e4l e of Pat mos# a !rotest n t he name of t he deal # o6er3hel m ng t he real
3orl d# a tremendo$s sat re $t tered n the name of Rel g on and Lberty#
and 3 th ts fery re6erberat ons sm t ng t he t hrone of the Gesars# a shar!
t 3oDedged s3ord comes o$t of the mo$t h of t he Sembl ance of the Son of
Man# enc rcl ed by t he se6en gol den candl est c/s# and hol d ng n hs r ght
hand se6en st ars, @The Lord# @ says Isaah# @hat h made my mo$th l /e a
shar! s3ord, @ @I ha6e slan them#@ says -osea# @by t he 3ords of my
mo$t h, @ @The 3ord of God# @ says the 3rt er of the a!ost ol c let ter to t he
-ebre3s# @ s E$c/ and !o3erf$l # and shar!er than any t 3oDedged s3ord#
!ercng e6en to the d 6 dng as$nder of so$l and s!r t , @ @The s3ord of
t he S! rt # 3hch s the ;ord of God# @ says Pa$l# 3r t ng to t he %hr st ans
at E!hes$s, @I 3l l f ght aganst t hem 3 th the s3ord of my mo$t h#@ t s
sa d n the A!ocaly!se# t o the angel of the ch$rch at Pergamos,
K K K K K K
The s!o/en d sco$rse may rol l on st rongly as t he great t dal 3a6eG b$t #
l /e the 3a6e# t des at l ast feebly on t he sands, It s heard by fe3#
remembered by st ll fe3er# and fades a3ay# l /e an echo n t he mo$nta ns#
l ea6ng no t o/en of !o3er, It s not hng to tl le l 6 ng and com ng
generat ons of men, It 3as t he 3r tt en h$l ll an s!eech# t hat ga6e !o3er and
!ermanence t o h$man t ho$ght , It s ths t hat ma/es t he 3hole h$man
hst ory b$t one nd6 d$al l fe,
To 3rte on the roc/ s t o 3r te on a sol d !archmentG b$t t reE$res a
!lgr mage t o see t , There s b$t one co!y# and T me 3ears e6en that, To
3rt e on s/ns or !a!yr$s 3as t o g 6e# as t 3ere# b$t one tardy edt on#
and t he rch only co$l d !roc$re t , The %h nese st ereoty!ed not only t he
$nchang ng 3sdom of o d sages# b$t al so t he !ass ng e6ent s, The !rocess
t ended to s$ffocate tho$ght# and to h nder !rogressG for t here s cont n$al
3ander ng n the 3 sest mnds# and Tr$t h 3rtes her last 3ords# not on
cl ean t ablets# b$t on t he scra3l that Error has made and often mended,
Prnt ng made t he mo6able lett ers !rol f c, Thenceforth the orat or s!o/e
al most 6s bly t o l st en ng nat onsG and the a$t hor 3rot e# l /e t he Po!e# hs
cec$men c decrees& $rb et orb # and ordered them t o be !osted $! n al l
t he mar/etD!l acesG rema nng# f he chose# m!er6o$s t o h$man sght, The
doom of tyrann es 3as t hencefort h sealed, Sat re and n6ect 6e became
!otent as armes, The $nseen hands of the &$n$ses co$ld la$nch the
t h$nderbol ts# and ma/e the m n st ers t remble, One 3h s!er from t h s gant
fl ls t he eart h as eas ly as Demosthenes fl led t he Agora, It 3l l soon be
heard at t he ant !odes as eas ly as n t he ne4t street, It tra6els 3t h the
l ght n ng $nder t he oceans, It ma/es t he mass one man# s!ea/s t o t n the
same comtnon lang$age# and el ct s a s$re and s ngl e res!onse, S!eech
!asses nt o tho$ght # and thence !rom!tly nt o act , A nat on becomes tr$ly
one# 3t h one l arge heart and a s ngl e t hrobb ng !$l se, Men are n6s bly
!resent t o each ot her# as f already s!r t $al be ngsG and t he t h n/er 3ho
s ts n an Al ! ne sol t $de# $n/no3n to or forgott en by al l the 3orld# among
t he s lent herds and h ll s# may flash h s 3ords to all t l l e c tes and o6er al l
t he seas,
Select t he t h n/ers t o be Leg sl atorsG and a6o d the gabbl ers, ; sdom s
rarely l oE$ac o$s, ;e ght and de!t h of t ho$gbt are $nfa6orabl e t o
6ol$b l ty, The shal l o3 and s$!erfc al are generally 6ol $bl e and often
!ass for el oE$ent , More 3ords# l ess t ho$ght# DDs the general r$le, The man
3ho endea6ors t o say someth ng 3orth remember ng n e6ery sent ence#
becomes fast d o$s# and condenses l /e Tac t$s, The 6$l gar lo6e a more
dff$se stream, The ornament at on t hat does not co6er st rength s the
ge3ga3s of babble,
8e ther s dalectc s$bt lety 6al$able to !$bl c men, The %hr stan fat h
has t # had t formerly more than no3G a s$btl ety that mght ha6e ent angled
Plat o# and 3h ch has r6al led n a fr$t less fash on the myst c lore of
&e3sh Rabb s and Indan Sages, It s not ths 3hch con6erts t he heathen,
It s a 6a n t as/ t o balance the great t ho$ght s of t he earth# l /e hol l o3
st ra3s# on the fngert !s of d s!$t at on, It s not ths /nd of 3arfare
3hcl l ma/es the %ross tr $m!hant n t he heart s of t he $nbel e6ersG b$t t he
act $al !o3er t hat l 6es n the "a th,
So there s a !ol t cal schol ast csm t hat s merely $seless, The de4t er t es
of s$bt le l og c rarely st r the hearts of the !eo!le# or con6nce t hem, The
t r$e a!ost le of L berty# "ratern ty and EE$al ty ma/es t a mat ter of l fe
and deat h, - s combats are l /e t hose of Boss$et# DD combat s t o t he death,
The tr$e a!ostol c fre s l /e t he l ght nng( t fl ashes con6 ct on nt o the
so$l, The tr$e 3ord s 6erly a t 3oDedged s3ord, Mat ters of go6ernment
and !ol t cal scence can be fa rly deal t 3 th only by so$nd reason# and t he
l ogc of common sense( not the common sense of the gnorant# b$t of the
3 se, The ac$t est t h n/ers rarely s$cceed n becom ng l eaders of men, A
3at ch3ord or a catch3ord s more !otent 3t h t he !eo!l e t han log c#
es!ec ally f ths be the least meta!hyscal , ;hen a !ol t cal !ro!het
arses# to st r the dream ng# stagnant nat on# and hold bac/ t s feet from
t he rretre6able descent # t o hea6e t he land as 3 t h an eart hE$a/e# and
sha/e t he s llyDshall o3 dols from ther seats# h s 3ords 66 ll come
st raght from God? s o3n nlo$th# and be t h$ndered nt o t he conscence, -e
3 ll reason# teach# 3arn# and r$le, The real @S3ord of the S!rt @ s /eener
t han the brghtest bl ade of Damasc$s, S$ch men r$l e a l and# n t he
st rengt h of 5$st ce# 3 th 3 sdom and 3 th !o3er, St l l # t he men of
dalect c s$bt lety oft en r$l e 3el l # beca$se n !ract ce they forget t he r
fnelyDs!$n t heores# and $se t he t renchant l ogc of common sense, B$t
3hen t he great heart and l arge nt el l ect are l eft t o the r$st n !r 6at e l fe#
and small att orneys# bra3l ers n !ol t cs# and those 3ho n t he c t es
3o$l d be only the cler/s of notar es# or !ract t oners n the d sre!$table
co$rt s# are made nat onal Legsl ators# the co$ntry s n her dot age, e6en f
t he 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 Stat e m$st
l st en t o the ma$nderngs of folly# and t he screechngs of ts geese# and the
bray ngs of t s asses# as 3el l as t o t he golden oracles of t s 3 se and great
men, E6en t he des!ot c ol d /ngs all o3ed ther 3 se fool s to say 3hat they
l /ed, The t r$e alchel ll st 3ll e4t ract the lessons of 3sdom from the
babbl ngs of folly, -e 3 l l hear 3hat a man has t o say on any g 6en
s$b5ect # e6en f the s!ea/er end only n !ro6 ng h mself !r nce of fools,
E6en a fool 3 l l somet mes h t the mar/, There s some tr$th n al l men
3ho are not com!el l ed t o s$!!ress t her so$ls and s!ea/ other men? s
t ho$ght s, The f nger e6en of the dot may !o nt t o t he great hgh3ay,
A !eo!l e# as 3el l as t he sages# m$st l earn to forget, If t ne ther l earns the
ne3 nor forget s the ol d# t s fat ed# e6en f t has been royal for th rty
generat ons, To $nlearn s t o l earnG and al so t s somet mes needf$l t o
l earn agan the forgott en, The ant cs of fool s ma/e t he c$rrent fol l es more
!al!able# as fashons are sho3n t o be abs$rd by carcat $res# 3hch so lead
t o t he r e4t r!at on, The b$ffoon and t he <any are $sef$l n t he r !laces,
The ngeno$s art fcer and craft sman# l /e Solomon# searches the eart h for
hs materal s# and t ransforms the m ssha!en mat ter nt o glor o$s
3or/mansh !, The 3orld s conE$ered by the head e6en more t han by the
hands, 8or 3 ll any assembly tal / fore6er, After a t me# 3hen t has
l st ened long eno$gh# t E$etly !$ts the sl ly# the shal l o3# and the
s$!erfc al to one sde# DDt t h n/s# and sets to 3or/,
The h$man t ho$ght # es!ec ally n !o!$lar assembl es# r$ns n t he most
s ng$l arly croo/ed channel s# harder t o t race and fol l o3 t han the bl nd
c$rrent s of the ocean, 8o not on s so abs$rd that t may not fnd a !lace
t here, The masterD3or/man m$st tra n t hese not ons and 6agar es 3 th h s
t 3oDhanded hammer, They t 3st o$t of the 3ay of the s3ordDthr$st sG and
are n6$l nerabl e all o6er# e6en n the heel# aganst log c, The martel or
mace# t he batt l eDa4e# t he great do$bleDedged t 3oDhanded s3ord m$st deal
3 th fol lesG t he ra! er s no bett er aga nst them than a 3and# $nl ess t be
t he ra! er of r d c$l e,
The S;ORD s al so t he symbol of 3ar and of the sol der, ;ars# l /e
t h$nderDst orms# are oft en necessary t o !$rfy t he st agnant at mos!here, ;ar
s not a demon# 3 t ho$t remorse or re3ard, It rest ores the brot herhood n
l ett ers of f re, ;hen men are seated n t he r !leasant !l aces# s$n/en n
ease and ndolence# 3 th Pret ence and Inca!ac ty and Lt tl eness $s$r! ng
al l the hgh !l aces of State# 3ar s t he ba!t sm of blood and fre# by 3hch
al one they can be reno6at ed, It s t he h$rr cane t hat brngs the elemental
eE$l br $m# t he concord of Po3er and ; sdom, So l ong as t hese cont n$e
obst nat ely d6orced# t 3 ll cont n$e to chasten,
In t he m$t$al a!!eal of nat ons t o God# there s t he ac/no3l edgment of
- s m ght, It l ghts t he beacons of "a th and "reedom# and heat s t he
f$rnace t hro$gh 3h ch t he earnest and loyal !ass t o mmortal gl ory, There
s n 3ar t he doom of defeat # t he E$enchl ess sense of D$ty# t he st rr ng
sense of -onor# the meas$reless solemn sacrfce of de6otedness# and t he
ncense of s$ccess, E6en n t he flame and smo/e of batt le# t he Mason
dsco6ers h s brother# and f$l fl ls the sacred obl gat ons of "raternty,
T3o# or the D$ad# s the symbol of Ant agon smG of Good and E6l # Lght
and Dar/ness, It s %a n and Abel# E6e and L l th# &achn and Boa<#
Orm$<d and Ahr man# Os r s and Ty!hon,
T-REE# or the Trad# s most s gn f cant ly e4!ressed by t he eE$l at eral
and t he rghtDangled tr angles, There are three !r nc!al colors or rays n
t he ranbo3# 3h ch by nterm 4t$re ma/e se6en, The t hree are the bl $e# the
yello;# and t he red, The Tr nty of the De ty# n one mode or ot her# has
been an art cl e n al l creeds, -e creates# !reser6es# and destroys, -e s t he
generat 6e !o3er# the !rod$ct 6e ca!acty# and the res$l t , The mmat eral
man# accord ng to t he Kabalah# s com!osed of 6 tal ty# or l fe# the breath
of l feG of so$l or m nd# and s! r t , Salt # s$l!h$r# and merc$ry are the great
symbol s of the alchemst s, To t hem man 3as body# so$l # and s! rt ,
"O'R s e4!ressed by the sE$are# or fo$rDs ded r ghtDangl ed fg$re, O$t of
t he symbol c Garden of Eden flo3ed a r 6er# d 6dng nto fo$r streams# DD
PISO8# 3hch fl o3s aro$nd the land of gol d# or l ght G GI-O8# 3hch
flo3s aro$nd t he l and of Etho!a or Dar/nessG -IDDEKEL# r$nnng
east 3ard to Assyr aG and the E'P-RATES, Hechar ah sa3 fo$r char ot s
comng o$t from bet 3een t 3o mo$nt ans of bron<e# n the f rst of 3hch
3ere red horsesG n t he second# bl ac/G n t he t hrd# 3hteG and n the
fo$rt h# gr <<led( @and t hese 3ere the fo$r 3 nds of the hea6ens# that go
forth from stand ng before t he Lord of al l t he earth, @ E<e/el sa3 the fo$r
l 6 ng creat $res# each 3t h fo$r faces and fo$r 3 ngs# the faces of a man
and a l on# an o4 and an eagl eG and t he fo$r 3heels go ng $!on ther fo$r
s desG and Sa nt &ohn behel d the fo$r beasts# f$ll of eyes before and
behnd# the LIO8# t he yo$ng O4# the MA8# and t he flyng EAGLE, "o$r
3as the sgnat $re of t he Earth, Therefore# n t he ):*t h Psal m# of those
3ho m$st !rase the Lord on t he l and# t here are fo$r t mes fo$r# and fo$r
n !art c$lar of l 6ng creat $res, Fs ble nat $re s descr bed as t he fo$r
E$art ers of the 3orl d# and t he fo$r corners of the eart h, @There are fo$r#@
says the old &e3 sh sayng# @3hch ta/e t he frst !l ace n th s 3orl d( man#
among the creat $resG t he eagl e among brdsG the o4 among catt leG and t he
l on among 3l d beast s, @ Danel sa3 fo$r great beasts come $! from the
sea,
"IFE s t he D$ad added to the Trad, It s e4!ressed by the f 6eD!o nted or
bla< ng st ar# the myst er o$s Pental !ha of Pythagoras, It s nd ssol $bly
connect ed 3 t h t he n$mber se6en, %hrst fed - s d sc!les and t he
m$l t t $de 3 t h f6e loa6es and t3o fshes# and of t he fragment s there
rema ned t3el 6e# that s# f 6e and se6en# bas/ets f$l l, Agan -e fed t hem
3 th se6en loa6es and a fe3 l t tl e fshes# and t here remaned se6en bas/et s
f$l l , The f6e a!!arent ly smal l !lanets# Merc$ry# Fen$s# Mars# &$!ter# and
Sat$rn# 3 th t he t 3o greater ones# the S$n and Moon# const t $t ed the
se6en celest al s!heres,
SEFE8 3as t he !ec$l arly sacred n$mber, There 3ere se6en !lanets and
s!heres !res ded o6er by se6en archangels, There 3ere se6en colors n the
ranbo3G and t he Phoenc an Dety 3as cal led t he -EPTAKIS or God of
se6en raysG se6en days of t he 3ee/G and se6en and f6e made the n$mber
of months# t r bes# ancl a!ost l es, Hecharah sa3 a golden candlest c/# 3 th
se6en lam!s and se6en !!es to t he l am!s# and an ol 6eDtree on each s de,
Snce he says# @the se6en eyes of the Lord shall re5oce# and shall see t he
!l$mmet n the hand of Her$bbabel ,@ &ohn# n the A!ocaly!se# 3r tes se6en
e!stl es t o t he se6en ch$rches, In the se6en e!st les there are t 3el6e
!romses, ;hat s sa d of the ch$rches n !ra se or bl ame# s com!l et ed n
t he n$mber three, The refran# @3ho has ears to hear#@ et c, # has ten 3ords#
d6 ded by three and se6en# and t he se6en by t hree and fo$rG and t he se6en
e!stl es are also so d6ded, In t he seal s# tr$m!et s# and 6al s# al so# of ths
symbol c 6 s on# the se6en are d6 ded by fo$r and t hree, -e 3ho sends h s
message to E!hes$s# @hol ds t he se6en stars n hs r ght hand# and 3al/s
amd the se6en gol den lam!s, @
In s 4 days# or !er ods# God creat ed the 'n 6erse# and !a$sed on t he
se6enth day, Of cl ean beast s# 8oah 3as drected to ta/e by se6ens nt o the
ar/G and of fo3l s by se6ensG beca$se n se6en days t he ran 3as t o
commence, On t he se6enteenth day of the month, the ra n beganG on the
se6enteent h day of the se6ent h mont h# t he ar/ rested on Ararat, ;hen t he
do6e ret $rned# 8oah 3at ed se6en days before he sent her fort h aga nG and
aga n se6en# after she ret $rned 3t h t he ol 6eDleaf, Enoch 3as the se6ent h
!atr arch# Adam ncl $ded# and Lamech l 6ed +++ years,
There 3ere se6en lam!s n the great candl est c/ of the Tabernacle and
Tem!le# re!resent ng t he se6en !lanet s, Se6en t mes Moses s!rn/l ed t he
anont ng o l $!on the alt ar, The days of consecrat on of Aaron and h s
sons 3ere se6en n n$mber, A 3oman 3as $ncl ean se6en days aft er ch ldD
brthG one nfected 3t h le!rosy 3as sh$t $! se6en daysG se6en t mes t he
l e!er 3as s!r n/l ed 3 th t he blood of a sla n brdG and se6en days
after3ards he m$st rema n abroad o$t of h s tent, Se6en t mes# n
!$r fyng the le!er# t he !r est 3as to s!rn/l e the consecrated o lG and
se6en t mes to s!rn/le 3 th the bl ood of t he sacr fced b rd the ho$se t o
be !$rfed, Se6en t mes the bl ood of the sla n b$ll oc/ 3as s!r n/l ed on
t he mercyDseat G and se6en t mes on the alt ar, The se6enth year 3as a
Sabbath of rest G and at t he end of se6en t mes se6en years came the great
year of 5 $b lee, Se6en days t he !eo!l e at e $nlea6ened bread# n t he mont h
of Abb, Se6en 3ee/s 3ere co$nt ed from t he t me of frst !$tt ng the
s c/le to the 3heat , The "east of t he Tabernacles l asted se6en days,
Israel 3as n the hand of M d an se6en years before Gdeon del 6ered
t hem, The b$l l oc/ sacrfced by h m 3as se6en years old, Samson t ol d
Del l ah to b nd h m 3 t h se6en green 3 thesG and she 3o6e the se6en loc/s
of hs head# and aft er3ards sha6ed them off, Bal aam t ol d Bara/ t o b$ l d
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 al so se6en t ho$sand shee! and t hree tho$sand camels,
- s fr ends sat do3n 3 th h m se6en days and se6en nghts, - s frends
3ere ordered t o sacrfce se6en b$l loc/s and se6en ramsG and aga n# at the
end# he had se6en sons and three da$ghters# and t 3 ce se6en tho$sand
shee!# and l 6ed an h$ndred and forty# or t3ce se6en t mes ten years,
Pharaoh sa3 n hs dream se6en fat and se6en lean / ne# se6en good ears
and se6en bl asted ears of 3heat G and t here 3ere se6en years of !lenty# and
se6en of fam ne, &ercho fel l# 3hen se6en !rest s# 3t h se6en t r$m!et s#
made t he c rc$t of t he c ty on se6en s$ccess6e daysG once each day for
s 4 days# and se6en t mes on t he se6enth, @The se6en eyes of t he Lord#@
says Hecharah# @r$n to and fro thro$gh t he 3hol e earth,@ Sol omon 3as
se6en years n b$l d ng t he Tem!l e, Se6en angel s# n the A!ocaly!se# !o$r
o$t se6en !l ag$es# from se6en 6 al s of 3rat h, The scarletDcolored beast # on
3hch the 3oman st s n t he 3 lderness# has se6en heads and ten horns, So
al so has the beast t hat r ses '! o$t of t he sea, Se6en th$nders $t tered the r
6oces, Se6en angels so$nded se6en tr$m!et s, Se6en lam!s of f re# t he
se6en s! r ts of God# b$rned before t he throneG and t he Lamb that 3as
sl an had se6en horns and se6en eyes,
EIG-T s t he frst c$be# that of t 3o, 8I8E s t he sE$are of three# and
re!resented by the tr !le trangl e,
TE8 ncl $des al l the ot her n$mbers, It s es!ecal ly se6en and threeG and
s call ed the n$mber of !erfect on, Pythagoras re!resented t by t he
TETRA%T.S# 3h ch had many myst c meanngs, Th s symbol s
somet mes com!osed of dots or !o nt s# somet mes of commas or yods# and
n t he Kabalah# of the let ters of t he name of De ty, It s th$s arranged(
#
# #
# # #
# # # #
The Pat r archs from Adam to 8oah# ncl $s 6e# are t en n n$mber# and the
same n$mber s t hat of the %ommandments,
T;ELFE s t he n$mber of t he l nes of eE$al l engt h t hat form a c$be, It s
t he n$mber of the mont hs# the tr bes# and t he a!ostl esG of the o4en $nder
t he Bra<en Sea# of t he st ones on t he breast D!late of t he hgh !rest,

)*+),
9C D Mast er
To $nderst and l terally t he symbols and al legores of Orental boo/s as to
anteDhst orcal mat t ers# s 3ll f$lly to close o$r eyes aga nst the L ght, To
t ranslate the symbol s nt o t he t r 6 al and common!lace# s the bl$nder ng
of med ocrty,
Al l rel g o$s e4!ress on s symbol smG s nce 3e can descr be only 3hat 3e
see# and the tr$e ob5 ects of rel g on are T-E SEE8, The earl est
nstr$ment s of ed$cat on 3ere symbolsG and t hey and al l ot her rel g o$s
forms dffered and st ll d ffer accordng t o e4ternal crc$mstances and
magery# and accordng t o d fferences of /no3ledge and ment al
c$lt 6at on, All lang$age s symbol c# so far as t s a!!l ed t o ment al and
s!rt $al !henomena and act on, All 3ords ha6e# !r marly# a materal
sense# ho3e6er they may after3ard get # for the gnorant# a s! r t$al nonD
sense, @To ret ract # @ for e4am!le# s to dra3 bac/# and 3hen a!!l ed to a
st atement# s symbol c# as m$ch so as a !ct $re of an arm dra3n bac/# to
e4!ress the same th ng# 3o$l d be, The 6ery 3ord @s!r t@ means @breath#@
from the Lat n 6erb s!ro# breathe,
To !resent a 6 sble symbol to the eye of anot her s not necessarly t o
nform h m of t he mean ng 3hch that symbol has t o yo$, -ence the
!hl oso!her soon s$!eradded to the symbol s e4!l anat ons addressed t o t he
ear# s$sce!t ble of more !recs on# b$t less effect 6e and m!ress6e than
t he !anted or sc$l !t$red forms 3hch he endea6ored to e4!la n, O$t of
t hese e4!l anat ons gre3 by degrees a 6ar ety of narrat ons# 3hose tr$e
ob5ect and meanng 3ere grad$ally forgot ten# or l ost n contrad ct ons and
ncongr$ t es, And 3hen t hese 3ere abandoned# and Phl oso!hy resorted t o
def nt ons and form$las# t s lang$age 3as b$t a more com!l cated
symbol sm# att em!t ng n t he dar/ to gra!!l e 3 th and ! ct$re deas
m!ossbl e to be e4!ressed, "or as 3 t h t he 6s ble symbol # so 3 th the
3ord( t o $tt er t t o yo$ does not nform yo$ of t he e4act meanng 3h ch t
has to meG and t h$s rel g on and !h loso!hy became t o a great e4t ent
ds!$tes as to the mean ng of 3ords, The most abst ract e4!resson for
DEIT.# 3hch lang$age can s$!!ly# s b$t a sgn or symbol for an ob5 ect
beyond o$r com!rehens on# and not more tr$t hf$l and adeE$at e t han the
mages of OSIRIS and FIS-8'# or t her names# e4ce!t as beng less
sens$o$s and e4!l c t , ;e a6od sens$o$sness only by resort ng t o s m!le
negat on, ;e come at l ast to defne s!rt by sayng t hat t s not mat ter,
S! r t sDDs! rt ,
A s ngl e e4am!l e of t he symbol sm of 3ords 3ll ndcate to yo$ one
branch of Masonc st $dy, ;e f nd n the Engl sh Rt e t hs !hrase( @I 3 ll
al 3ays ha l# e6er conceal# and ne6er re6eal G @ and n the %atech sm# t hese(
I, ? , @I ha l, @
A, ? , @I conceal # @
and gnorance# m s$nderstand ng t he 3ord @hal #@ has nter!olat ed t he
!hrase# @"rom 3hence do yo$ ha l , @
B$t t he 3ord s real ly @hel e# @ from t he Angl oDSa4on 6erb el an# helan# to
co6er# h de# or conceal, And ths 3ord s rendered by the Lat n 6erb
t egere# to co6er or roof o6er, @That ye fro me no t hynge 3ol l hele# @ says
Go3er, @They hele fro me no !r$yte# @ says the Roma$nt of t he Rose, @To
heal a ho$se# @ s a common !hrase n S$sse4G and n the 3est of Engl and#
he that co6ers a ho$se 3 th slates s cal led a -ealer, ;herefore# t o @heal @
means t he same t hng as t o @t le# @DD tsel f symbolc# as mean ng# !r mar ly#
t o co6er a ho$se 3 t h t l es# DDand means to co6er# hde# or conceal , Th$s
l ang$age t oo s symbol sm# and 3ords are as m$ch ms$nderstood and
ms$sed as more mat er al symbol s are,
Symbol sm t ended cont n$al ly to become more com!l catedG and all the
!o3ers of -ea6en 3ere re!rod$ced on eart h# $nt l a 3eb of fct on and
al legory 3as 3o6en# !art ly by art and !artly by t he gnorance of error#
3hch the 3 t of man# 3 th h s l m t ed means of e4!lanat on# 3l l ne6er
$nra6el, E6en the -ebre3 The sm became n6ol6ed n symbol sm and
mageD3orsh!# borro3ed !robably from an ol der creed and remote reg ons
of As a# DDthe 3orsh ! of the Great Sem t c 8at $reDGod AL or ELS and t s
symbol cal re!resent at ons of &E-OFA - mself 3ere not e6en confned t o
!oet cal or l l$strat 6e l ang$age, The !r ests 3ere monothest s( the !eo!le
dol aters,
There are dangers nse!arable from symbol sm# 3hch afford an
m!ress 6e l esson n regard t o t he s m lar rs/s att endant on the $se of
l ang$age, The mag nat on# cal led n t o ass st the reason# $s$r!s ts !lace
or l ea6es ts al ly hel !l essly entangled n t s3eb, 8ames 3h ch st and for
t h ngs are confo$nded 3 th themG t he means are m sta/en for t he endG the
nstr$ment of nt er!retat on for t he ob5ect G and th$s symbol s come t o
$s$r! an nde!endent charact er as tr$t hs and !ersons, Tho$gh !erha!s a
necessary !at h# they 3ere a dangero$s one by 3hch to a!!roach the DetyG
n 3hch many# says PL'TAR%-# @mst a/ ng t he s gn for t he t h ng
sgnfed# fell nt o a r d c$l o$s s$!erst t onG 3h le ot hers# n a6odng one
e4treme# !l $nged nto t he no l ess h deo$s g$l f of rrel g on and m! ety,@
It s t hro$gh t he Myst er es# %I%ERO says# t hat 3e ha6e l earned t he frst
!r nc !les of l feG 3herefore the term @ nt at on@ s $sed 3t h good
reasonG and t hey not only teach $s t o l 6e more ha!! ly and agrceably# b$t
t hey soft en t he !ans of deat h by t he ho!e of a better l fe hereaft er,
The Mysteres 3ere a Sacred Drama# e4h bt ng some l egend sgn f cant of
nat$re? s changes# of t he 6s bl e 'n6erse n 3hch the D 6nty s re6ealed#
and 3hose m!ort 3as n many res!ects as o!en to t he Pagan as to the
%hr st an, 8at$re s t hc great Teacher of manG for t s t he Re6el at on of
God, It net her dogmat <es nor att em!ts to tyrann<e by com!ell ng to a
!art c$l ar creed or s!ecal nt er!retat on, It !resents ts symbols to $s# and
adds not hng by 3ay of e4!l anat on, It s the te4t 3 tho$t t he commentaryG
and# as 3e 3el l /no3# t s ch efly t he commentary and gloss that l ead t o
error and heresesy and !ersec$t on, The earlest nst r$ctors of man/ nd not
only ado!ted the lessons of 8at$re# b$t as far as !oss bl e adhered to her
method of m!art ng t hem, In the Mysteres# beyond the c$rrent t radt ons
or sacred and en g mat c rect als of the Tem!les# fe3 e4!lanat ons 3ere
g 6en to the s!ect at ors# 3ho 3ere left # as n t he school of nat$re# to ma/e
nferences for t hemsel 6es, 8o other method co$ld ha6e s$t ed e6ery
degree of c$lt 6at on and ca!acty, To em!loy nat $re? s $n6ersal
symbol sm nst ead of t he techncal t es of lang$age# re3ards the h$mbl est
nE$rer# and dscl oses ts secret s t o e6ery one n !ro!ort on t o hs
!re!aratory tran ng and h s !o3er t o con)!rel lend t hem, If ther
!hl oso!h cal mean ng 3as abo6e the coml rel lens on of some# ther moral
and !ol t cal meanl ngs are 3 thn the reach of al l,
These myst c sho3s and !erformances 3ere not the readng of a l ect$re#
b$t the o!enng of a !roblem, ReE$ r ng research# t hey 3ere cal c$lated to
aro$se the dormant nt ell ect, They m!l ed no host l ty to Ph l oso!hy#
beca$se Phl oso!hy s the great e4!o$nder of symbol smG al t ho$gh t s
anc ent nter!retat ons 3ere often ll fo$nded and ncorrect , The alt erat on
from symbol to dogma s fatal to bea$ty of e4!ress on# and leads to
nt olerance and ass$med nfall b l ty,
K K K K K K
If# n t each ng t he great doct r ne of the d 6ne nat $re of t he So$l# and n
st r 6 ng t o e4!l an ts l ongngs after mmort al ty# and n !ro6 ng ts
s$!er or ty o6er the so$l s of t he an mals# 3h ch ha6e no as!rat ons
-ea6en3ard# t he ancents st r$ggled n 6a n t o e4!ress t he nat$re of the
so$l# by com!ar ng t to "IRE and LIG-T# t 3 ll be 3el l for $s to
cons der 3het her# 3 th all o$r boast ed /no3ledge# 3e ha6e any bet ter or
cl earer dea of t s nat$re# and 3het her 3e ha6e not des!ar ngly ta/en
ref$ge n ha6ng none at all , And f they erred as to t s orgnal !lace of
abode# and $nderst ood l teral ly the mode and !at h of t s descent # these
3ere b$t the accessor es of t he great Tr$t h# and !robably# to t he Int ates#
mere allegor es# des gned to ma/e t he dea more !al !abl e and m!ress6e
t o t he mnd,
They are at l east no more ft t o be sm led at by the sel fDconcet of a 6an
gnorance# the 3eal t h of 3hose /no3ledge cons sts solely n 3ords# than
t he bosom of Abraham# as a home for t he s! rt s of t he 5 $st deadG t he g$lf
of act $al f re# for the eternal t ort$re of s!rt sG and the % ty of the 8e3
&er$sal em# 3 th t s 3al ls of 5as!er and ts ed fces of !$re gol d l /e cl ear
glass# t s fo$ndat ons of !rec o$s stones# and t s gates each of a s ngle
!earl , @I /ne3 a man# @ says PA'L# @ca$ght $! to the t hrd -ea6enG , , , , t hat
he 3as ca$ght $! nt o Parad se# and heard neffable 3ords# 3hch t s not
!ossble for a man to $t ter, @ And no3here s the ant agon sm and confl ct
bet3een the s!r t and body more freE$ently and forc bly ns sted on than
n t he 3r t ngs of th s a!ostl e# no3here t he D6 ne nat$re of the so$l more
st rongly asserted, @;t h t he mnd# @ he says# @I ser6e the la3 of GodG b$t
3 th t he fl esh the la3 of s n, , , , As many as are led by the S! r t of God# are
t he sons of GOD, , , , The earnest e4!ect at on of t he created 3at s for the
manfestat on of the sons of God, , , , The creat ed shall be del 6ered from
t he bondage of corr$!t on# of the fl esh l able to decay# nt o t he gl oro$s
l berty of t he chl dren of God, @
K K K K K K
T3o forms of go6ernment are fa6orable to t he !re6al ence of falsehood and
dece t, 'nder a Des!ot sm# men are fal se# t reachero$s# and dece tf$l
t hro$gh fear# l /e sla6es dread ng the lash, 'nder a Democracy they are so
as a means of att a nng !o!$l ar ty and off ce# and beca$se of t he greed for
3eal th, E4!er ence 3l l !robably !ro6e t hat these odo$s and det establ e
6ces 3 l l gro3 most ran/ly and s!read most ra! dly n a Re!$bl c, ;hen
offce and 3ealt h become the gods of a !eo!le# and t he most $n3orthy and
$nf t most as!re t o t he former# and fra$d becomes t he hgh3ay to t he
l att er# t he l and 3 ll ree/ 3 t h fal sehood and s3eat l es and chcane, ;hen
t he offces are o!en to all # mert and stern nt egr ty and the dgn ty of
$ns$l l ed honor 3l l attan them only rarely and by accdent, To be abl e t o
ser6e t he co$nt ry 3ell # 3l l cease to be a reason 3hy t he great and 3 se
and l earned sho$l d be selected t o render ser6ce, Ot her E$al f cat ons# less
honorabl e# 3l l be more a6a labl e, To ada!t one? s o! n ons to the !o!$l ar
h$morG t o defend# a!ol og <e for# and 5 $st fy t he !o!$l ar foll esG t o
ad6ocat e the e4!ed ent and the !l a$s bleG t o caress# ca5 ole# and flat ter the
el ectorG to beg l /e a s!anel for h s 6ot e# e6en f he be a negro t hree
remo6es from barbarsmG to !rofess frendsh ! for a com!et t or and st ab
h m by nn$endoG t o set on foot t hat 3h ch at t hrd hand shal l become a
l e# be ng co$snDgerman to t 3hen $tt ered# and yet ca!able of beng
e4!l aned a3ay# DD3ho s t here that has not seen t hese l o3 arts and base
a!!l ances !$t nto !ract ce# and becom ng general # $nt l s$ccess cannot
be s$rely had by any more honorable means JDDt he res$l t be ng a State
r$l ed and r$ ned by gnorant and shal lo3 medocr ty# !ert sel fDconce t# t he
greenness of $nr!e ntel lect # 6an of a school Dboy? s smatt er ng of
/no3l edge,
The fat hl ess and t he false n !$bl c and n !ol t cal l fe# 3 l l be fat hl ess
and false n !r 6at e, The 5oc/ey n !ol t cs# l /e the 5oc/ey on t he raceD
co$rse# s rotten from s/n to core, E6ery3here he 3 ll see f rst to h s o3n
nterests# and 3hoso l eans on h m 3 l l be ! erced 3 t h a bro/en reed, -s
ambt on s gnoble# l /e h mselfG and therefore he 3 l l see/ to att a n omce
by gnoble means# as he 3l l see/ to at ta n any ot her co6eted ob5 ect# DDland#
money# or re!$tat on,
At l engt h# offce and honor are d 6orced, The !l ace t hat the smal l and
shal lo3# t he /na6e or the trc/ster# s deemed com!etent and f t to f ll #
ceases t o be 3ort hy t he amb t on of t he great and ca!ableG or f not # these
shr n/ from a contest # t he 3ea!ons to be $sed 3here n are $nf t for a
gent leman to handle, Then the hab ts of $n!r nc !l ed ad6ocates n la3
co$rt s are nat $ral <ed n Senates# and !et t foggers 3rangle there# 3hen the
fate of the nat on and t he l 6es of m ll ons are at sta/e, St ates are e6en
begott en by 6l la ny and bro$ght fort h by fra$d# and rascal t es are
5 $st fed by leg sl ators cla mng t o be honorable, Then contest ed el ect ons
are dec ded by !er5 $red 6otes or !arty cons derat onsG and all t he !ract ces
of t he 3orst t mes of corr$!t on are re66ed and e4aggerat ed n Re!$bl cs,
It s strange t hat re6erence for t r$t h# t hat manl ness and gen$ ne loyalty#
and scorn of l tt leness and $nfar ad6ant age# and gen$ne fa th and
godl ness and l argeDheartedness sho$ld d m n sh# among statesmen and
!eo!l e# as c6 l <at on ad6ances# and freedom becomes more general# and
$n6ersal s$ffrage m!l es $n6ersal 3orth and f tness O In t he age of
El <abeth# 3 t ho$t $n6ersal s$ffrage# or Socet es for t he D ff$s on of
'sef$l Kno3ledge# or !o!$l ar lect$rers# or Lycaea# t he st at esman# the
merchant# the b$rgher# t he sa lor# 3ere al l al /e hero c# fear ng God only#
and man not at al l , Let b$t a h$ndred or t3o years ela!se# and n a
Monarchy or Re!$bl c of the same race# not h ng s less heroc than t he
merchant# the shre3d s!ec$lator# t he offceDsee/er# fear ng man only# and
God not at all , Re6erence for greatness des o$t# and s s$cceeded by base
en6y of greatness, E6ery man s n t he 3ay of many# e ther n the !at h t o
!o!$lar ty or 3eal th, There s a general feel ng of sat sfact on 3hen a
great st atesman s ds!l aced# or a general# 3ho has been for hs br ef ho$r
t he !o!$lar dol # s $nfort $nat e and s n/s from h s h gh est ate, It becomes
a m sfort$ne# f not a cr me# t o be abo6e t he !o!$lar le6el,
;e sho$ld nat $ral ly s$!!ose t hat a nat on n d stress 3o$ld ta/e co$nsel
3 th t he 3 sest of t s sons, B$t # on the cont rary# great men seem ne6er so
scarce as 3hen t hey are most needed# and smal l men ne6er so bold to
ns st on nfest ng !lace# as 3hen medocr ty and nca!able !ret ence and
so!homorc greenness# and sho3y and s!rghtly ncom!et ency are most
dangero$s, ;hen "rance 3as n the e4trem ty of re6ol $t onary agony# she
3as go6erned by an assembly of !ro6 nc al !et t foggers# and Robes!erre#
Marat# and %o$t hon r$l ed n the !lace of Mrabea$# Fergn a$d# and
%arnot, England 3as go6erned by t he R$m! Parl ament # aft er she had
beheaded her / ng, %rom3el l e4t ng$shed one body# and 8a!ol eon the
other,
"ra$d# fal sehood# t r c/ery# and dece t n nat onal affa rs are the sgns of
decadence n States and !recede con6$ls ons or !aralys s, To b$l ly t he
3ea/ and cro$ch to the strong# s t he !ol cy of nat ons go6erned by small
medocr ty, The t r c/s of the can6ass for offce are reDenact ed n Senates,
The E4ec$t 6e becomes t he ds!enser of !atronage# ch efly t o the most
$n3orthyG and men are br bed 3t h off ces nstead of money# t o the great er
r$ n of the %ommon3eal t h, The D6 ne n h$man nat$re dsa!!ears# and
nterest# grced# and sel f shness ta/es t !l ace, That s a sad and tr$e
al legory 3hch re!resents t he com!anons of 'lysses changed by t he
enchant ment s of % rce nto s3ne,
K K K K K
@.e cannot# @ sa d t he Great Teacher# @ser6e God and Mammon, @ ;hen t he
t hrst for 3ealt h becomes general # t 3 ll be so$ght for as 3el l d shonest ly
as honest lyG by fra$ds and o6erreachngs# by t he /na6eres of trade# t he
heart lessness of greedy s!ec$lat on# by gambl ng n st oc/s and
commod t es t hat soon demoral <es a 3hol e comm$nty, Men 3 ll
s!ec$lat e $!on the needs of ther ne ghbors and t he dst resses of the r
co$nt ry, B$bbl es t hat# b$rst ng# m!o6ersh m$l t t $des# 3 ll be bl o3n $!
by c$nnng /na6ery# 3t h st$! d cred$l ty as ts assst ant s and nst r$ment,
-$ge ban/r$!tces# that start le a co$ntry l /e the eart hE$a/es# and are
more fat al# fra$d$lent assgnment s# eng$lfment of the sa6 ngs of t he !oor#
e4!ans ons and col la!ses of the c$rrency# the crash of ban/s# the
de!rec at on of Go6ernment sec$rt es# !rey on t he sa6 ngs of selfDdenal #
and t ro$bl e 3 t h ther de!redat ons t he frst no$rshment of nfancy and
t he l ast sands of l fe# and f ll 3 th nmat es t he ch$rchyards and l$nat c
asyl $ms, B$t t he shar!er and s!ec$lat or thr 6es and fat t ens, If hs co$nt ry
s fght ng by a l e6y en masse for her 6ery e4 stence# he ads her by
de!rec at ng her !a!er# so t hat he may acc$m$l ate fab$lo$s amo$nt s 3t h
l t tl e o$tl ay, If h s ne ghbor s dst ressed# he b$ys hs !ro!erty for a song,
If he adm nst ers $!on an estat e# t t$rns o$t nsol6ent# and the or!hans
are !a$!ers, If hs ban/ e4!lodes# he s fo$nd t o ha6e t a/en care of
h msel f n t me, Soc ety 3orsh !s ts !a!erDandDcred t /ngs# as the old
- nd$s and Egy!t ans 3orsh !!ed ther 3ort hless dols# and often the most
obseE$ o$sly 3hen n act$al sol d 3eal th t hey are t he 6erest !a$!ers, 8o
3onder men t h n/ there o$ght t o be another 3orl d# n 3h ch the n5 $st ces
of t h s may be at oned for# 3hen they see t he frends of r$ned fam l es
begg ng the 3eal t hy shar!ers t o g6e al ms to !re6ent t he or!haned 6 ct ms
from st ar6 ng# $nt l they may fnd3ays of s$!!ort ng themsel 6es,
K K K K K K
Stat es are ch efly a6arc o$s of commerce and of t errt ory, The lat ter leads
t o t he 6ol at on of treat es# encroachment s $!on feebl e ne ghbors# and
ra!acty t o3ard the r 3ards 3hose lands are co6eted, Re!$bl cs are# n
t h s# as ra!ac o$s and $n!r nc!l ed as Des!ots# ne6er l earnng from h st ory
t hat nordnate e4!anson by ra! ne and fra$d has t s ne6t abl e
conseE$ences n d smen)berment or s$b5 $gat on, ;hen a Re!$bl c begns
t o !l$nder ts neghbors# t he 3ords of doom are already 3r tt en on ts
3al ls, There s a 5 $dgment already !rono$nced of God $!on 3hate6er s
$nr ght eo$s n the cond$ct of nat onal affa rs, ;hen c 6 l 3ar t ears the
6tals of a Re!$bl c# let t l oo/ bac/ and see f t has not been g$ lty of
n5 $st cesG and f t has# l et t h$mbl e t sel f n the d$st O
;hen a nat on becomes !ossessed 3 th a s!rt of commercal greed#
beyond those 5 $st and fa r l m ts set by a d$e regard t o a moderat e and
reasonabl e degree of general and nd 6d$al !ros!erty# t s a nat on
!ossessed by the de6l of commercal a6arce# a !asson as gnobl e and
demoral < ng as a6ar ce n t he nd6 d$alG and as t hs sordd !ass on s
baser and more $nscr$!$lo$s t han ambt on# so t s more hat ef$l# and at
l ast ma/es the nfected nat on t o be regarded as t he enemy of the h$man
race, To gras! at the l on? s share of commerce# has al 3ays at last !ro6en
t he r$ n of St ates# beca$se t n6arably l eads t o n5 $st ces that ma/e a
Stat e detestableG t o a sel f shness and croo/ed !ol cy that forb d ot her
nat ons to be t he fr ends of a State t hat cares only for tsel f,
%ommerc al a6ar ce n Inda 3as the !arent of more atroct es and greater
ra!acty# and cost more h$man l 6es# than t he nobl er amb t on for e4t ended
em!re of %ons$l ar Rome, The nat on t hat gras!s at the commerce of t he
3orl d cannot b$t become self sh# cal c$lat ng# dead t o the noblest m!$lses
and sym!at hes 3hch o$ght t o act $ate St ates, It 3l l s$bm t t o ns$l t s that
3o$nd ts honor# rather t han endanger t s commerc al nterests by 3arG
3hl e# t o s$bser6e t hose nt erest s# t 3 ll 3age $n5$st 3ar# on fal se or
fr 6olo$s !rete4ts# ts free !eo!le cheerf$lly allyng themsel6es 3 th
des!ot s to cr$sh a commerc al r 6al t hat has dared to e4 le t s /ngs and
el ect ts o3n r$ler,
Th$s the col d cal c$l at ons of a sord d sel fDnterest# n nat ons
commercal ly a6arc o$s# al 3ays at last d s!l ace the sent ment s and lofty
m!$lses of -onor and Generosty by 3hch they rose t o greatnessG 3hch
made El <abeth and %rom3el l al /e t he !rotect ors of Protestants beyond
t he fo$r seas of England# aga nst cro3ned Tyranny and m tred Persec$t onG
and# f they had lasted# 3o$l d ha6e forbdden al l ances 3 th %<ars and
A$tocrats and Bo$rbons to reDent hrone the Tyrann es of Inca!ac ty# and
arm the InE$ st on ane3 3 th ts nstr$ment s of t ort$re, The so$l of the
a6arc o$s nat on !etr fes# l /e t he so$l of t he nd 6 d$al 3ho ma/es gold
hs god, The Des!ot 3 l l occasonal ly act $!on noble and genero$s
m!$lses# and hel ! t he 3ea/ aga nst the strong# t he rght aga nst the
3rong, B$t commercal a6arce s essentally egot st c# gras! ng# fat hless#
o6erreach ng# crafty# cold# $ngenero$s# self sh# and calc$lat ng# control led
by cons derat ons of selfDnt erest al one, -eart less and merc less# t has no
sent ment s of ! ty# sym!at hy# or honor# t o ma/e t !a$se n ts remorsel ess
careerG and t cr$shes do3n all t hat s of m!ed ment n ts 3ay# as t s
/eel s of commerce cr$sh $nder them t he m$rm$r ng and $nheeded 3a6es,
A 3ar for a great !r nc !le ennobles a nat on, A 3ar for commercal
s$!remacy# $!on some shall o3 !rete4t# s des! cabl e# and more than a$ght
el se demonst rat es t o 3hat mmeas$rable de!t hs of baseness men and
nat ons can descend, %ommerc al greed 6al $es t he l 6es of men no more
t han t 6al $es t he l 6es of ants, The sl a6eDtrade s as acce!t able to a
!eo!l e ent hralled by t hat greed# as t he t rade n 6ory or s!ces# f t he
!roft s are as l arge, It 3l l byDandDby endea6or to com!o$nd 3 t h God and
E$et t s o3n consc ence# by com!el l ng those t o 3hom t sol d the sla6es
t bo$ght or stole# to set them free# and sla$ghter ng t hem by hecatombs f
t hey ref$se t o obey t he edct s of ts !h lanthro!y,
&$st ce n no 3 se consst s n met ng o$t to another t hat e4act meas$re of
re3ard or !$n shment 3hch 3e th n/ and decree h s mert # or 3hat 3e
cal l hs cr me# 3h ch s more often merely h s error# deser6es, The 5$st ce
of t he fat her s not ncom!at bl e 3 th forg6eness by h m of the errors and
offences of hs ch l d, The Inf nt e &$st ce of God does not cons st n
met ng o$t e4act meas$res of !$nshment for h$man fral t es and s ns, ;e
are too a!t to erect o$r o3n l tt le and narro3 not ons of 3hat s rght and
5 $st nto t he l a3 of 5 $st ce# and to nsst that God shal l ado!t t hat as - s
l a3G to meas$re off someth ng 3 th o$r o3n l t t le ta!eDl ne# and call t
God? s l o6e of 5 $st ce, %ont n$ally 3e see/ t o ennoble o$r o3n gnoble
l o6e of re6enge and retal at on& by msnam ng t 5$st ce,
8or does 5 $st ce cons st n strctly go6ernng o$r cond$ct to3ard ot her
men by t he rg d r$l es of l egal rght, If there 3ere a comm$n ty any3here#
n 3hch al l st ood $!on the strct ness of th s r$l e# t here sho$ld be 3r tt en
o6er t s gates# as a 3arn ng to the $nfort$nates desr ng admss on to t hat
nhos! tabl e real m# t he 3ords 3hch DA8TE says are 3rtt en o6er t he
great gat e of -el l( LET T-OSE ;-O E8TER -ERE LEAFE -OPE
BE-I8D O It s not 5$st to !ay the laborer n fel d or fact ory or 3or/sho!
hs c$rrent 3ages and no more# the l o3est mar/et D6al $e of h s labor# for
so long only as 3e need t hat labor and he s abl e to 3or/G for 3hen
s c/ness or old age o6ert a/es h m# that s t o l ea6e h m and h s famly to
st ar6eG and God 3 l l c$rse 3 t h cal am ty the !eo!l e n 3h ch t he chl dren
of t he laborer o$t of 3or/ eat t he bol ed grass of t he feld# and mothers
st rangl e t her ch l dren# that t hey may b$y food for t hemsel 6es 3t h t he
char tabl e ! t tance g6en for b$ral e4!enses, The r$l es of 3hat s
ord narly t ermed @&$st ce# @ may be !$nct l o$sly obser6ed among the
fall en s!r t s t hat are t he ar stocracy of -el l,
K K K K K K
&$st ce# d6orced from sym!at hy# s sel f sh nd fference# not n t he l east
more la$dabl e t han m santhro!c solat on, There s sym!at hy e6en among
t he harDl /e osc ll ator as# a trbe of s m!l e !l ant s# arm es of 3hch may be
dsco6ered 3 t h the ad of t he mcrosco!e# n t he t nest bt of sc$m from
a st agnant !ool , "or t hese 3 ll !l ace t hemsel 6es# as f t 3ere by
agreement # n se!arat e com!anes# on the sde of a 6essel conta n ng t hem#
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 t s E$arters# each army hol ds on t s
3ay 3 t ho$t conf$s on or nterm 4t $re# !roceedng 3 th great reg$larty
and order# as f $nder t he drect ons of 3 se leaders, The ant s and bees
g 6e each ot her m$t$al ass stance# beyond 3hat s reE$red by t hat 3h ch
h$man creat $res are a!t to regard as the strct l a3 of 5 $st ce,
S$rely 3e need b$t refl ect a l t tl e# t o be con6 nced that t he nd 6 d$al man
s b$t a fract on of t he $nt of socety# and that he s nd ssol $bly
connect ed 3 t h t he rest of hs race, 8ot only the act ons# b$t t he 3l l and
t ho$ght s of ot her men ma/e or mar h s fort $nes# control h s dest nes# are
$nto h m l fe or deat h# dshonor or honor, The e!demcs# !hyscal and
moral# cont ago$s and nfect o$s# !$bl c o!non# !o!$lar del $s ons#
enth$sasms# and t he ot her great el ectrc !henomena and c$rrents# moral
and ntellect $al # !ro6e t he $n 6ersal sym!at hy, The 6ot e of a sngl e and
obsc$re n)an# the $t terance of sel fD3l l# gnorance# conce t# or s! te#
dec d ng an elect on and !lac ng "olly or Inca!acty or Baseness n a
Senat e# n6ol6es the co$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 !l ess#
3 th al l o$r ntel lect t o resst # nt o t he gra6e,
These consderat ons o$ght t o t each $s that 5$st ce to ot hers and to
o$rsel 6es s t he sameG that 3e cannot def ne o$r d$t es by mathemat cal
l nes r$led by the sE$are# b$t m$st f ll 3 t h them t he great crcle traced by
t he com!assesG t hat the crcle of h$man ty s the l m t# and 3e are b$t the
!ont n t s cent re# t he dro!s n t he great At lantc# t he at om or !art cle#
bo$nd by a mys t er o$s la3 of att ract on 3hch 3e t erm sym!at hy t o e6ery
other at om n t he massG t hat t he !hyscal and moral 3el fare of ot hers
cannot be ndfferent t o $sG that 3e ha6e a drect and mmedate nterest n
t he !$bl c moral ty and !o!$l ar ntell gence# n the 3ell Dbeng and
!hyscal comfort of the !eo!le at l arge, The gnorance of the !eo!le# ther
!a$!ersm and dest t $t on# and conseE$ent degradat on# ther br$t al <at on
and demoral <at on# are al l dseasesG and 3e cannot r se hgh eno$gh
abo6e t he !eo!l e# nor sh$t o$rsel 6es $! from t hem eno$gh# to esca!e t he
masmatc contag on and t he great magnet c c$rrent s,
&$st ce s !ec$l arly nd s!ensabl e t o nat ons, The $n5 $st State s doomed
of God to calamty and r$n, Ths s t he teach ng of the Et ernal ; sdom
and of hst ory, @R ght eo$sness e4al t et h a nat onG b$t 3rong s a re!roach
t o nat ons, @ @The Throne s est abl shed by Rghteo$sness, Let the l !s of
t he R$ler !rono$nce the sent ence t hat s D6neG and hs mo$th do no
3rong n 5 $dgment O@ The nat on that adds !ro6nce t o !ro6nce by fra$d
and 6ol ence# that encroaches on the 3ea/ and !l$nders ts 3ards# and
6ol ates t s treat es and t he obl gat on of ts contract s# and for the la3 of
honor and farDdeal ng s$bst t $tes the e4 genc es of greed and t he base
!rece!t s of !ol cy and craft and t he gnoble t enet s of e4!ed ency# s
!redest ned t o destr$ct onG for here# as 3t h the nd 6d$al # t he
conseE$ences of 3rong are ne6 table and et ernal,
A sentence s 3r tten aga nst al l that s $n5 $st# 3rt ten by God n t he
nat$re of man and n the nat $re of the 'n6erse# beca$se t s n t he nat$re
of t he Inf n te God, 8o 3rong s real ly s$ccessf$l, The gan of n5$st ce s
a lossG ts !l eas$re# s$ffer ng, In E$ ty often seems t o !ros!er# b$t ts
s$ccess s ts defeat and shame, If t s conseE$ences !ass by t he doer# they
fall $!on and cr$sh h s chl dren, It s a !h l oso!h cal # !hys cal# and moral
t r$th# n t he form of a t hreat# that God 6s ts the nE$ty of the fat hers
$!on the ch ldren# t o t he th rd and fo$rth generat on of those 3ho 6olate
- s l a3s, After a l ong 3h le# the day of rec/on ng al 3ays comes# to nat on
as t o nd6d$alG and al 3ays t he /na6e dece 6es h msel f# and !ro6es a
fal $re,
-y!ocrsy s t he homage that 6ce and 3rong !ay to 6 rt $e and 5$st ce, It
s Satan att em!t ng t o clot he h mself n t he angelc 6est $re of l ght , It s
eE$ally detestabl e n moral s# !ol t cs# and rel g onG n t he man and n the
nat on, To do n5$st ce $nder t he !ret ence of eE$ ty and farnessG t o
re!ro6e 6ce n !$bl c and comm t t n !r 6ateG t o !ret end to chart able
o!non and censor o$sly condemnG t o !rofess t he !r nc!les of Masonc
benef cence# and close the ear t o the 3al of dst ress and t he cry of
s$ffer ngG to e$l og <e t he nt ell gence of the !eo!le# and !l ot t o dece6e
and bet ray them by means of the r gnorance and s m!l c tyG t o !rat e of
!$r ty# and !ec$l ateG of honor# and basely abandon a s n/ng ca$seG of
ds nterestedness# and sel l one? s 6ot e for !l ace and !o3er# are hy!ocr ses
as common as they are nfamo$s and d sgracef$l , To steal the l 6ery of the
%o$rt of God to ser6e the De6l 3 thal G to !retend t o bel e6e n a God of
mercy and a Redeemer of lo6e# and !ersec$t e t hose of a d fferent fa thG t o
de6o$r 3do3s? ho$ses# and for a !ret ence ma/e long !rayersG t o !reach
cont nence# and 3al lo3 n l $stG t o nc$lcate h$m l ty# and n !rde s$r!ass
L$cferG to !ay t t he# and om t the 3eght er mat t ers of the la3# 5$dgment#
mercy and fa thG t o st ra n at a gnat# and s3al lo3 a camelG to ma/e cl ean
t he o$t sde of the c$! and !l att er# /ee!ng them f$l l 3 th n of e4t ort on
and e4cessG t o a!!ear o$t3ardly rght eo$s $nto men# b$t 3t h n be f$ll of
hy!ocrsy and nE$ty# s ndeed to be l /e $nto 3hted se!$l chres# 3hch
a!!ear bea$t f$l o$t3ard# b$t are 3 th n f$ll of bones of the dead and of
al l $ncl eanness,
The Re!$blc cloa/s t s amb t on 3 t h the !retence of a desre and d$ty t o
@e4t end the area of freedom# @ and cla ms t as ts @manfest dest ny@ to
anne4 ot her Re!$bl cs or t he St ates or Pro6 nces of ot hers to t self# by
o!en 6olence# or $nder obsolet e# em!ty# and fra$d$l ent t tl es, The Em!re
fo$nded by a s$ccessf$l solder# cla ms ts ancent or nat $ral bo$ndar es#
and ma/es necess ty and t s safety t l l e !lea for o!en robbery, The great
Merchant 8at on# ga n ng foothold n t he Orent# f nds a cont n$al
necess ty for e4t end ng ts dom non by arms# and s$b5 $gates Ind a, The
great Royal tes and Des!ot sms# 3t ho$t a !l ea# !art t on among
t hemsel 6es a K ngdom# d smember Pol and# and !re!are t o 3rangl e o6er
t he dom n ons of t he %rescent, To ma nt an the bal ance of !o3er s a !lea
for the obl terat on of Stat es, %art hage# Genoa# and Fence# commercal
% t es only# m$st acE$re t errt ory by force or fra$d# and become States,
Al e4ander marches t o the Ind$sG Tamerl ane see/s $n6ersal em! reG t he
Saracens conE$er S!a n and t hreat en F enna,
The th rst for !o3er s ne6er sat sf ed, It s nsat abl e, 8e ther men nor
nat ons e6er ha6e !o3er eno$gh, ;hen Rome 3as the m stress of the
3orl d# the Em!erors ca$sed themsel 6es t o be 3orsh !!ed as gods, The
%h$rch of Rome cla med des!ot sm o6er the so$l# and o6er t he 3hol e l fe
from the cradl e t o t he gra6e, It ga6e and sol d absol$t ons for !ast and
f$t $re sns, It cl a med to be nfal l ble n mat ters of fat h, It dec mated
E$ro!e to !$rge t of heret cs, It dec mat ed Amer ca to con6ert t he
Me4 cans and Per$6ans, It ga6e and t oo/ a3ay t hronesG and by
e4comm$ncat on and nt erdct closed t he gat es of Paradse aga nst
8at ons# S!an# ha$ghty 3 th t s dom n on o6er t he Indes# endea6ored t o
cr$sh o$t Protestant sm n t he 8et herlands# 3hl e Ph l ! t he Second
marr ed the I$een of Engl and# and the !a r so$ght to 3 n t hat / ngdom
bac/ t o ts allegance to the Pa!al throne, After3ard S!an att em!ted to
conE$er t 3t h her @ n6 nc ble@ Armada, 8a!ol eon set hs rel at 6es and
ca!t ans on t hrones# and !arcel led among t hem hal f of E$ro!e, The %<ar
r$l es o6er an em!re more ggant c than Rome, The hst ory of al l s or 3l l
be the same# DDacE$ st on# dsmemberment # r$ n, There s a 5$dgment of
God aga nst all t hat s $n5 $st ,
To see/ t o s$b5 $gate the 3 l l of ot hers and ta/e the so$l ca!t 6e# beca$se
t s t he e4ercse of thc hghest !o3er# seems to be t he hghest ob5ect of
h$man ambt on, It s at the bott om of al l !roselytng and !ro!agandsm#
from that of Mesmer to that of the %h$rch of Rome and t he "rench
Re!$bl c, That 3as t he a!ost olat e al /e of &osh$a and of Mahomet,
Masonry alone !reaches Tolerat on# t he rght of man to ab de by h s o3n
fat h# the rght of al l St ates to go6ern themsel6es, It reb$/es al /e the
monarch 3ho see/s t o e4t end h s domn ons by conE$est# t he %h$rch t hat
cl a ms t he rght t o re!ress heresy by f re and steel # and t he confederat on
of St ates t hat nsst on mant anng a $non by force and rest orng
brot herhood by sl a$ght er and s$b5 $gat on,
It s nat$ral # 3hen 3e are 3ronged# to des re re6engeG and t o !ers$ade
o$rsel 6es t hat 3e desre t l ess for o$r o3n sat sfact on than t o !re6ent a
re!et t on of t he 3rong# t o 3hch t he doer 3o$ld be enco$raged by
mm$n ty co$!led 3 th the !roft of t he 3rong, To s$bm t to be cheated s
t o enco$rage the cheat er to cont n$eG and 3e are E$ t e a!t t o regard
o$rsel 6es as God? s chosen nstr$ment s to nfl ct - s 6engeance# and for
- m and n - s stead to d sco$rage 3rong by ma/ ng t fr$ tl ess and t s
!$n shment s$re, Re6enge has been sa d t o be @a / nd of 3 ld 5$stceG@ b$t
t s al 3ays t a/en n anger# and therefore s $n3ort hy of a great so$l#
3hch o$ght not t o s$ffer t s eE$an m ty to be dst $rbed by ngrat t$de or
6l la ny, The n5$r es done $s by the base are as m$ch $n3ort hy of o$r
angry not ce as those done $s by the nsect s and t he beast sG and 3hen 3e
cr$sh the adder# or slay the 3olf or hyena# 3e sho$ld do t 3t ho$t be ng
mo6ed t o anger# and 3 th no more feel ng of re6enge t han 3e ha6e n
root ng $! a no4o$s 3eed,
And f t be not n h$man nat$re not to ta/e re6enge by 3ay of
!$n shment # let t he Mason t r$ly cons der that n do ng so he s God? s
agent # and so let h s re6enge be meas$red by 5 $st ce and tem!ered by
mercy, The la3 of God s# that t he conseE$ences of 3rong and cr$el ty and
cr me shal l be t her !$n shment G and t he n5 $red and t he 3ronged and t he
nd gnant are as m$ch -s nstr$ments to enforce that l a3# as t he dseases
and !$bl c detest at on# and the 6erd ct of h story and t he e4ecrat on of
!osterty are, 8o one 3 ll say that t he InE$ s t or 3ho has rac/ed and
b$rned t he nnocent G t he S!an ard 3ho he3ed Ind an nfant s# l 6ng# nto
!eces 3 th h s s3ord# and fed t he mangl ed l mbs t o h s bl oodho$ndsG t he
m l t ary tyrant 3ho has shot men 3t ho$t tral # t he /na6e 3ho has robbed
or betrayed h s St at e# the fra$d$lent ban/er or ban/r$!t 3ho has beggared
or!hans# the !$bl c offcer 3ho has 6olat ed hs oath# t he 5$dge 3ho has
sold n5$st ce# the legslat or 3ho has enabl ed Inca!acty t o 3or/ t he r$ n
of t he St at e# o$ght not t o be !$n shed, Let them be soG and let t he n5 $red
or t he sym!at h < ng be the nstr$ment s of God? s 5 $st 6engeanceG b$t
al 3ays o$t of a h gher feel ng t han mere !ersonal re6enge,
Remember t hat e6ery moral character st c of man f nds t s !rototy!e
an)ong creat $res of lo3er ntell genceG that t he cr$el fo$l ness of t he
hyena# the sa6age ra!ac ty of t he 3ol f# the mercl ess rage of the t ger# the
crafty t reachery of the !ant her# are fo$nd among man/nd# and o$ght to
e4ct e no other emot on# 3hen fo$nd n the man# t han 3hen fo$nd n t he
beast , ;hy sho$ld t he t r$e man be angry 3t h the geese that hss# the
!eacoc/s t hat str$t # t he asses that bray# and t he a!es that mt ate and
chat ter# al tho$gh they 3ear the h$man formJ Al 3ays# al so# t rema ns tr$e#
t hat t s more nobl e to forg 6e t han to ta/e re6engeG and that# n general #
3e o$ght t oo m$ch t o des! se those 3ho 3rong $s# to feel t he emot on of
anger# or t o des re re6enge,
At t he s!here of the S$n# yo$ are n t he regon of LIG-T, K K K K The
-ebre3 3ord for gol d# HA-AB# also means Lght# of 3h ch the S$n s t o
t he Earth the great so$rce, So# n the great Or ent al al l egory of t he
-ebre3s# the R6er PISO8 com!asses the land of Gold or Lght G and t he
R 6er GI-O8 the land of Et h o! a or Dar/ness,
;hat l ght s# 3e no more /no3 than t he anc ent s d d, Accord ng to the
modern hy!othes s# t s not com!osed of l$mno$s !artcles shot o$t from
t he s$n 3 th mmense 6eloc tyG b$t that body only m!resses# on the et her
3hch f ll s al l s!ace# a !o3erf$l 6brat ory mo6ement that e4t ends# n t he
form of l$mno$s 3a6es# beyond the most dst ant !l anets# s$!!lyng them
3 th l ght and heat , To t he ancents# t 3as an o$tfl o3 ng from t he De ty,
To $s# as to t hem# t s t he a!t symbol of tr$t h and /no3ledge, To $s# also#
t he $!3ard 5 o$rney of the so$l thro$gh t he S!heres s symbolcal G b$t 3e
are as l t tl e nformed as they 3hence the so$l comes# 3here t has t s
orgn# and 3h t her t goes after death, They endea6ored t o ha6e some
belef and fat h# some creed# $!on those !onts, At the !resent day# men
are sat sf ed to thn/ noth ng n regard to all t hat# and only to bel e6e that
t he so$l s a someth ng se!arat e from t he body and o$tDl 6ng t# b$t
3hether e4st ng before t # ne ther t o nE$re nor care, 8o one as/s
3hether t emanat es from t he Dety# or s creat ed o$t of not hng# or s
generated l /e the body# and t he ss$e of t he so$l s of t he father and t he
mother, Let $s not sml e# therefore# at the deas of t he anc ent s# $nt l 3e
ha6e a bett er bel efG b$t acce!t the r symbol s as mean ng that the so$l s
of a D6ne nat $re# org nat ng n a s!here nearer t he De ty# and ret $rn ng
t o t hat 3hen freed from t he ent hralhment of the bodyG and that t can only
ret$rn there 3hen !$rf ed of al l t he sorddness and s n 3h ch ha6e# as t
3ere# become !art of t s s$bst ance# by t s connect on 3 th the body,
It s not strange t hat # tho$sands of years ago# men 3orsh !!ed t he S$n#
and t hat toDday t hat 3orsh ! cont n$es among t he Parsees, Or gnal ly t hey
l oo/ed beyond t he orb to t he n6 s ble God# of 3hom the S$n? s l ght #
seem ngly dent cal 3 th generat on and l fe# 3as t he man fest at on and
o$tfl o3 ng, Long before t he %haldcean she!herds 3atched t on ther
!la ns# t came $! reg$l arly# as t no3 does# n t he morn ng# l /e a god#
and aga n san/# l /e a /ng ret rng# n the 3est# to ret$rn aga n n d$e
t me n t he same array of ma5 esty, ;e 3orsh ! Imm$tabl ty, It 3as that
st eadfast # mm$t abl e character of t he S$n t hat the men of Baalbec
3orsh!!ed, -s lghtDg6ng and l feDg6ng !o3ers 3ere secondary
at trb$tes, The one grand dea that com!ell ed 3orsh! 3as t he
characterst c of God 3h ch they sa3 refl ected n h s l ght # and fanc ed
t hey sa3 n ts or gnalty the changelessness of De ty, -e had seen
t hrones cr3nble# eart hE$a/es sha/e t he 3orl d and h$rl do3n mo$nt ans,
Beyond Olym!$s# beyond the P l lars of -erc$les# he had gone daly t o hs
abode# and had come da ly aga n n the mornng to behold t he t em!l es t hey
b$l t to h s 3orsl )!, They !ersonfed h m as BRA-MA# AM'8# OSRIS#
BEL# ADO8IS# MALKART-# MIT-RAS# and APOLLOG and the nat ons
t hat d d so gre3 ol d and ded, Moss gre3 on the ca! t als of the great
col$mns of h s tem!les# and he shone on the moss, Gra n by gran the d$st
of hs tem!les cr$mbl ed and fell # and 3as borne off on the 3nd# and st ll
he shone on cr$mbl ng col $mn and arch tra6e, The roof fell crashng on
t he !a6ement# and he shone n on the -oly of -ol es 3t h $nchang ng
rays, It 3as not strange t hat men 3orsh !!ed t he S$n,
There s a 3at erD!l ant # on 3hose broad lea6es t he dro!s of 3at er rol l
abo$t 3 tho$t $n t ng# l /e dro!s of merc$ry, So arg$ment s on !onts of
fat h# n !ol t cs or rel gon# rol l o6er t he s$rface of t he mnd, An
arg$ment that con6 nces one mnd has no effect on another, "e3 ntel lect s#
or so$l s that are t he negat ons of ntel lect # ha6e any logcal !o3er or
ca!ac ty, There s a sng$lar obl E$ty n t he h$man m nd t hat ma/es t he
false l og c more effect 6e t han the tr$e 3t h nneDt ent hs of t hose 3ho are
regarded as men of nt ell ect, E6en among t he 5 $dges# not one n ten can
arg$e l og cally, Each mnd sees the tr$t h# dst orted thro$gh t s o3n
med$m, Tr$t h# to most men# s l /e mat ter n t he s!herodal st ate, L /e a
dro! of col d 3ater on t he s$rface of a redDhot met al !l ate# t dances#
t rembles# and s! ns# and ne6er comes nt o contact 3 th t G and the m nd
may be !l $nged nto tr$t h# as t he hand mo st ened 3 th s$l !h$ro$s ac d
may nt o melt ed metal # and be not e6en 3armed by the mmers on,
K K K K K K
The 3ord Khar$m or Kh$r$m s a com!o$nd one, Gesen $s renders
Kh$r$m by the 3ord nobl e or freeDborn( Kh$r mean ng 3h te# noble, It
al so means t he o!en ng of a 3 ndo3# t he soc/et of the eye, Khr al so
means 3ht e# or an o!en ngG and Khr s# the orb of the S$n# n &ob 6 , )9
and 4, +, Kr shna s t he -nd$ S$nDGod, Kh$r# t he Pars 3ord# s t he
l t eral name of t he S$n,
"rom K$r or Kh$r# t he S$n# comes Khora# a name of Lo3er Egy!t , The
S$n# Bryant says n h s Mythology# 3as cal led K$rG and Pl $tarch says t hat
t he Persans cal led t he S$n K$ros, K$ros# Lord# n Gree/# l /e Adona #
Lord# n Phcencan and -ebre3# 3as a!!l ed to t he S$n, Many !l aces
3ere sacred t o t he S$n# and cal led K$ra# K$r a# K$ro!ol s# K$rene#
K$reschat a# K$rest a# and %or$sa n Scyth a,
The Egy!t an De ty cal l ed by t he Gree/s @-or$s# @ 3as -erDRa# or -arD
oer s# -or or -ar# t he S$n, -ar s a - nd$ name of t he S$n, ArDal# ArDes#
Ar# Aryaman# Are monos# t he AR mean ng "re or "lame# are of t he same
/ndred, -e3nes or -arDmes# MAram# Rem$s# -aram# -arame asN# 3as
Kadmos# t he D 6 ne Lght or ; sdom, MarD/$r# says Mo6ers# s Mar# t he
S$n,
In t he -ebre3# AOOR# s Lght # "re# or the S$n, %yr$s# sad %tes as# 3as
so named from K$ros# t he S$n, K$rs# -esych $s says# 3as Adons,
A!ol lo# t he S$nDgod# 3as call ed K$rraos# from K$rra# a c ty n Phocs,
The !eo!le of K$rene# or gnally Et ho!ans or %$t h tes# 3orsh !!ed t he
S$n $nder the t tl e of Achoor and Achor,
;e /no3# t hro$gh a !recse t est mony n the ancent annal s of Ts$r# t hat
t he !r nc !al fest 6ty of Mal D/art h# the ncarnat on of t he S$n at t he
; nter Sol st ce# held at Ts$r# 3as cal l ed hs reb rt h or h s a3a/enng# and
t hat t 3as cel ebrated by means of a !yre# on 3h ch t he god 3as s$!!osed
t o regan# t hro$gh the a d of fre# a ne3 l fe, Th s fest 6al 3as celebrated
n t he month Per t $s MBar thN# the second day of 3h ch corres!onded to
t he 07t h of December, K-'RD'M# Kng of Tyre# Mo6ers says# frst
!erformed th s ceremony, These facts 3e l earn from &ose!h$s# Ser6$s on
t he AEne d# and the Donys acs of 8onn$sG and t hro$gh a co nc dence that
cannot be fort$ t o$s# t he same day 3as at Rome t he D es 8at al s Sol s
In6ct # the fest al day of the n6ncble S$n, 'nder t h s t tl e# -ER%'LES#
-ARDacles# 3as 3orsh!!ed at Ts$r, Th$s# 3h le the tem!l e 3as be ng
erected# t he deat h and res$rrect on of a S$nDGod 3as ann$ally re!resented
at Ts$r# by Sol omon? s al ly# at the 3 nter sol st ce# by t he !yre of MALD
KARI-# t he Ts$r an -aracles,
AROERIS or -ARDoer s# t he elder -OR'S# s from t he same ol d root that
n t he -ebre3 has t he form A$r# or# 3t h t he def n te art cle !ref 4ed#
-a$r# Lght # or t he Lght # s!lendor# fl ame# the S$n and h s rays, The
herogly!h c of t he yo$nger -OR'S 3as t he !o nt n a crcleG of the El der#
a !ar of eyesG and t he fest 6al of t he t hrt et h day of t he mont h E! !h #
3hen t he s$n and moon 3ere s$!!osed to be n the same rght l ne 3t h
t he earth# 3as called @The b rt hDday of the eyes of -or$s,@
In a !a!yr$s !$bl shed by %ham!ol l on# t hs god s styl ed @-aroer# Lord
of t he Sol ar S!r ts# the benefcent eye of t he S$n, @ Pl $t arch call s h m
@-arD!ocrates# @ b$t there s no t race of the lat ter !art of t he name n t he
herogly!h c legends, -e s the son of OSIRIS and IsrsG and s re!resented
s tt ng on a t hrone s$!!ort ed by l onsG the same 3ord# n Egy!t an#
mean ng L on and S$n, So Solomon made a great throne of 6ory# !lat ed
3 th gol d# 3t h s 4 st e!s# at each arm of 3hch 3as a l on# and one on
each sde to each st e!# ma/ng se6en on each sde,
Aga n# the -ebre33ord Kh # means @l 6 ngG@ and ram# @3as# or shal l be#
rased or l fted $!, @ The lat ter s t he same as room# aroom# har$m# 3hence
Aram# for Syr a# or Aramoea# - ghDland, Khar$m# t herefore# 3o$l d mean
@3as ra sed $! t o l fe# or l 6 ng, @
So# n Arabc# hrm# an $n$sed root # meant # @3as h gh# @ @made great# @
@e4al tedG@ and - rm means an o4# t he symbol of the S$n n Ta$r$s# at t he
Fernal EE$no4,
K-'R'M# therefore# m!ro!erly call ed - ram# s K-'RDOM# t he same as
-erDra# -erDmes# and -erDacl es# t he @-eracl es Tyr$s In6 ct$s# @ the
!ersonfcat on of Lght and the Son# t he Med ator# Redeemer# and
Sa6 o$r, "rom t he Egy!t an 3ord Ra came the %o!t c O$ro# and t he
-ebre3 A$r# Lght , -arDoer # s -or or -ar# the ch ef or master, -or s
al so heatG and hora# season or ho$rG and hence n se6eral Afr can d al ect s#
as names of the S$n# A ro# Ayero# eer# $ ro# gh$rrah# and the l /e, The
royal name rendered Pharaoh# 3as P-RA# t hat s# PaDra# the S$n,
The legend of t he contest bet 3een -orDra and Set# or SetDn$Db # the same
as Bar or Bal# s ol der than t hat of t he st r fe bet3een Osr s and Ty!honG
as ol d# at least # as the n neteent h dynasty, It s call ed n the Boo/ of t he
Dead# @The day of the bat tl e bet 3een -or$s and Set,@ The lat er myt h
connect s t self 3 t h Phoenc a and Syr a, The body of OSIRIS 3ent ashore
at Gebal or Byblos# s 4ty ml es abo6e Ts$r, .o$ 3 ll not fa l to not ce that
n t he name of each m$rderer of Kh$r$m# t hat of t he E6 l God Bal s
fo$nd,
K K K K K
-arDoer 3as the god of TIME# as 3el l as of L fe, The Egy!t an legend 3as
t hat the K ng of Byblos c$t do3n t he tamar s/Dt ree cont anng the body of
OSIRIS# and made of t a col $mn for h s !al ace, Is s# em!loyed n the
!alace# obt a ned !ossess on of t he col$mn# too/ the body o$t of t# and
carr ed t a3ay, A!$le $s descrbes her as @a bea$t f$l female# o6er 3hose
d6 ne nec/ her long t h c/ ha r h$ng n gracef$l rnglets G@ and n t he
!rocess on female at tendant s# 3 t h 6ory combs# seemed t o dress and
ornament t he royal ha r of the goddess, The !al mDtree# and t he l am! n t he
sha!e of a boat # a!!eared n t he !rocess on, If the symbol 3e are s!ea/ ng
of s not a mere modern n6ent on# t s to these thngs t al l $des,
The dent ty of the legends s al so conf rmed by t h s h erogly!hc !ct$re#
co!ed from an ancent Egy!t an mon$ment# 3hch may also enl ght en yo$
as t o the Lon? s gr! and the Master? s ga6el ,
n t he ancent Phcenc an charact er# and n t he Samart an# A B# Mthe t3o
l ett ers re!resent ng t he n$mbers )# 0# or 'nty and D$al ty# means "ather#
and s a !r m t 6e no$n# common to all t he Sem t c l ang$ages,
It al so means an Ancest or# Org nator# In6ent or# -ead# %hef 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 t he !re!ost on @of@ s nter!osed# as AbDAl #
t he "ather of Al ,
Al so# the f nal .od means @my@G so that by t self means @My father, Da6d
my father# 0 %hron, , 9,
MFa6N f nal s the !ossess 6e !rono$n @hs@G and Ab $ M3hch 3e read
@Abf@N means @of my fat her? s, @ Its f$l l mean ng# as connect ed 3t h the
name of Kh$r$m# no do$bt s# @formerly one of my fat her? s ser6ants# @ or
@sla6es, @
The name of the Phcen can art f cer s# n Sam$el and Kngs# A0 Sam, 6,
))G ) K ngs 6, )7G ) K ngs 6 , :2B, In %hron cles t s 3t h the add t on of
A0 %hron, , )0BG and of A0 %hron, 6, )=B,
It s merely abs$rd t o add t he 3ord @Ab f# @ or @Ab ff#@ as !art of the name
of t he art fcer, And t s al most as abs$rd to add the 3ord @Ab#@ 3h ch
3as a t t l e and not !art of the name, &ose!h says AGen, 4l 6, *B# @God has
const t$ted me ? Ab l? Paraah# as "ather t o Paraah# , e, # F < er or Pr me
M n ster, @ So -aman 3as call ed the Second "ather of Arta4er4esG and
3hen K ng Kh$r$m $sed the !hrase @Kh$r$m Ab #@ he meant t hat the
art f cer he sent Schl omoh 3as the !rnc!al or ch ef 3or/man n h s l ne
at Ts$r,
A medal co!ed by Mont fa$con e4h b ts a female n$rsng a ch ld# 3t h ears
of 3heat n her hand# and the legend MIaoN, She s seated on cl o$ds# a star
at her head# and t hree ears of 3heat rs ng from an alt ar before her,
-OR'S 3as t he medator# 3ho 3as b$r ed three days# 3as regenerated#
and t r $m!hed o6er t he e6l !r nc!le,
The 3ord -ERI# n Sanscr t# means She!herd# as 3el l as Sa6or, %RIS-8A
s call ed -er # as &es$s cal led - mself t he Good She!herd,
Kh$r# means an a!ert $re of a 3 ndo3# a ca6e# or t he eye, Also t means
3ht e,
It al so means an o!en ng# and noble# freeDborn# hghDborn,
K-'RM means consecrated# de6ot edG n AEth o! c, It s t he name of a
c ty# A&osh, 4 4, 9*BG and of a man# AE<r, , 90# 4, 9)G 8eh, , ))B,
Khrah# means nobl ty# a noble race,
B$ddha s declared t o com!rehend n hs o3n !erson t he essence of t he
- nd$ Tr m$rt G and hence the trDl t eral monosyllabl e Om or A$m s
a!!l ed to h m as be ng essent al ly the same as BrahmaDFshn$DS6a, -e s
t he same as -ermes# Thot h# Ta$t # and Te$tat es, One of hs names s -erD
maya or -ermaya# 3hch are e6dently t he same name as -ermes and
Khrm or Kh$rm, -er # n Sanscrt # means Lord,
A l earned Brother !laces o6er the t 3o symbolc ! ll ars# from rght t o left#
t he t 3o 3ords I-' and BAL( fol lo3ed by t he herogly!h c eE$6al ent # of
t he S$nDGod# Am$nDra, Is t an acc dent al concdence# t hat n t he name of
each m$rderer are t he t3o names of t he Good and E6l De t es of t he
-ebre3sG for .$Dbel s b$t .eh$DBal or .ehoDBal J and that t he t hree f nal
syllables of the names# a# o# $m# ma/e A,? , ',? , M, ? , the sacred 3ord of the
- ndoos# meanng the Tr$ne God# LfeDg 6ng# LfeD!reser6 ng# L feD
dest roy ng( re!resented by t he myst c charact er J
The gen$ ne acaca# al so# s t he t horny tamar s/# the same tree 3h ch gre3
$! aro$nd t he body of Os r s, It 3as a sacred tree among t he Arabs# 3ho
made of t the dol AlD'<<a# 3hch Mohammed dest royed, It s ab$ndant as
a b$sh n the Desert of Th$r( and of t t he @cro3n of t horns@ 3as
com!osed# 3hch 3as set on t he forehead of &es$s of 8a<areth, It s a f t
ty!e of mmort al ty on acco$nt of t s tenac ty of l feG for t has been
/no3n# 3hen !l ant ed as a doorD!ost# t o t a/e root aga n and shoot o$t
b$ddng bo$ghs o6er the threshold,
K K K K K
E6ery common3eal th m$st ha6e t s !erods of t r al and transt on#
es!ec ally f t engages n 3ar, It s cert an at some t me to be 3hol ly
go6erned by agt ators a!!eal ng to all t he baser el ement s of the !o!$l ar
nat$reG by moneyed cor!orat onsG by t hose enrched by t he de!rec at on of
go6ernment sec$r tes or !a!erG by smal l att orneys# schemers# moneyD
5 obbers# s!ec$l ators and ad6ent $rersDDan gnobl e ol garchy# enr ched by
t he dst resses of t he St ate# and fat tened on t he mseres of the !eo!le,
Then all t he decet f$l 6s ons of eE$al ty and t he rghts of man endG and
t he 3ronged and !l$ndered Stat e can rega n a real l berty only by !ass ng
t hro$gh @great 6ar et es of $ntred be ng# @ !$r f ed n t s t ransmgrat on by
fre and bl ood,
In a Re!$bl c# t soon comes t o !ass that !art es gather ro$nd t he negat 6e
and !os t 6e !oles of some o! n on or not on# and that the ntol erant s!rt
of a tr$m!hant ma5 orty 3ll al lo3 no de6at on from the standard of
ort hodo4y 3hch t has set $! for tsel f, "reedom of o!non 3ll be
!rofessed and !ret ended to# b$t e6ery one 3 l l e4erc se t at t he !er l of
beng ban shed from !ol t cal comm$n on 3 th those 3ho hol d t he rens
and !rescr be the !ol cy to be !$rs$ed, Sla6shness to !arty and
obseE$ o$sness t o t he !o!$l ar 3h ms go hand n hand, Pol tcal
nde!endence only occ$rs n a foss l st at eG and men? s o!nons gro3 o$t of
t he act s t hey ha6e been constra ned t o do or sanct on, "l att ery# et her of
nd 6 d$al or !eo!l e# corr$!t s bot h t he rece6er and t he g 6erG and
ad$lat on s not of more ser6 ce t o t he !eo!l e t han to / ngs, A %cesar#
sec$rely seated n !o3er# cares less for t than a free democracyG nor 3l l
hs a!!et te for t gro3 t o e4orb tance# as t hat of a !eo!l e 3 ll # $nt l t
becomes nsat at e, The effect of l berty to nd 6 d$al s s# t hat they may do
3hat they !leaseG t o a !eo!le# t s to a great e4t ent t he same, If access bl e
t o flat tery# as th s s al 3ays nterested# and resort ed to on lo3 and base
mot 6es# and for e6 l !$r!oses# e t her nd 6 d$al or !eo!le s s$re# n
dong 3hat t !l eases# to do 3hat n honor and consc ence sho$l d ha6e
been left $ndone, One o$ght not e6en t o rs/ congrat $lat ons# 3h ch may
soon be t $rned nt o com!la ntsG and as bot h nd6 d$als and !eo!l es are
!rone t o ma/e a bad $se of !o3er# to fl att er t hem# 3hch s a s$re 3ay to
msl ead t hem# 3el l deser6es to be call ed a cr me,
The f rst !rnc!l e n a Re!$bl c o$ght to be# @that no man or set of men s
ent tl ed t o e4cl $s6e or se!arate emol $ments or !r6l eges from t he
comm$n ty# b$t n consderat on of !$blc ser6cesG 3h ch not be ng
descendble# ne ther o$ght t he omces of mag st rat e# legsl at$re# nor 5 $dge#
t o be hered tary, @ It s a 6ol$me of Tr$th and ;sdom# a l esson for the
st $dy of nat ons# embod ed n a sngl e sent ence# and e4!ressed n lang$age
3hch e6ery man can $nderstand, If a del $ge of des!ot sm 3ere to
o6ert hro3 the 3orld# and dest roy al l nst t $t ons $nder 3h ch freedom s
!rot ected# so that they sho$ld no longer be remembered among men# t h s
sent ence# !reser6ed# 3o$l d be s$ff cent to re/ ndle the f res of l berty and
re6 6e t he race of freemen,
B$t # to !reser6e l berty# another m$st be added( @that a free Stat e does not
confer offce as a re3ard# es!ecally for E$est onabl e ser6 ces# $nless she
see/s her o3n r$nG b$t al l offcers are em!loyed by her# n consderat on
solely of t her 3 l l and abl ty t o render ser6ce n t he f$t $reG and
t herefore t hat the best and most com!etent are al 3ays t o be !referred,@
"or# f there s t o be any ot her r$le# that of hered t ary s$ccesson s
!erha!s as good as any, By no other r$l e s t !oss ble to !reser6e the
l bert es of the St ate, By no ot her t o nt r$st the !o3er of ma/ ng t he la3s
t o t hose only 3ho ha6e that /een nst nct 6e sense of n5 $st ce and 3rong
3hch enabl es t hem to det ect baseness and corr$!t on n t her most secret
hd ngD!laces# and that moral co$rage and genero$s manl ness and gall ant
nde!endence that ma/e them fearless n draggng o$t t he !er!etrators t o
t he l ght of day# and cal l ng do3n $!on them t he scorn and ndgnat on of
t he 3orl d, The flat terers of the !eo!le are ne6er s$ch men, On t he
contrary# a t me al3ays comes to a Re!$bl c# 3hen t s not cont ent # l /e
L ber$s# 3 th a sngle Se5 an$s# b$t m$st ha6e a hostG and 3hen t hose
most !romnent n the lead of affa rs are men 3t ho$t re!$tat on#
st atesmansh !# ab l ty# or nformat on# the mere hac/s of !arty# o3 ng the r
!laces t o t r c/ery and 3ant of E$al f cat on# 3 t h none of the E$al t es of
head or heart that ma/e great and 3se men# and# at t he same t me# fl led
3 th al l t he narro3 conce!t ons and bt ter nt olerance of !ol t cal b got ry,
These deG and t he 3orl d s none t he 3 ser for 3hat they ha6e sa d and
done, Ther names s n/ n t he bott omless !t of obl 6 onG b$t t her act s of
fol ly or /na6ery c$rse the body !ol t c and at last !ro6e ts r$ n,
Pol t c ans# n a free St ate# are general ly hol lo3# heartl ess# and sel f sh,
The r o3n aggrandsement s the end of ther !at r ot smG and they al3ays
l oo/ 3 th secret sat sfact on on t he dsa!!o nt ment or fal l of one 3hose
l oft er gen$s and s$!eror talents o6ershado3 t her o3n sel fD m!ortance#
or 3hose nt egr ty and ncorr$!t ble honor are n the 3ay of ther self sh
ends, The nfl $ence of the smal l as!rant s s al3ays aganst t he great man,
- s accesson t o !o3er may be al most for a l fet me, One of t hemsel6es
3 ll be more eas ly d s!laced# and each ho!es to s$cceed h mG and so t at
l engt h comes t o !ass that men m!$dently as!re t o and act $ally 3n the
hghest st at ons# 3ho are $nf t for t he l o3est cler/sh !sG and nca!ac ty
and med ocr ty become t he s$rest !ass!ort s to once,
The conseE$ence s# t hat those 3ho feel themsel 6es com!et ent and
E$al f ed to ser6e the !eo!le# ref$se 3t h dg$st t o enter nto t he st r$ggle
for off ce# 3here the 3c/ed and 5 es$ t cal doctr ne t hat all s far n
!ol t cs s an e4c$se for e6ery s!eces of lo3 6 ll anyG and those 3ho see/
e6en t he hghest !l aces of t he State do not rely $!on t he !o3er of a
magnan mo$s s!rt # on t he sym!at h <ng m!$lses of a great so$l# t o st r
and mo6e t he !eo!le to genero$s# noble# and heroc resol 6es# and to 3 se
and manly act onG b$t # l /e s!anel s erect on t he r hnd legs# 3 th foreD
!a3s obseE$ o$sly s$!!l ant # fa3n# flat ter# and act$ally beg for 6otes,
Rat her than descend to ths# they stand contem!t $o$sly aloof# d sda nf$l ly
ref$sng to co$rt the !eo!le# and act ng on the ma4 m# that @man/nd has
no t t le to demand that 3e shal l ser6e t hem n s! te of themsel 6es, @
K K K K K K
It s lamentable to see a co$ntry s!l t nto fact ons# each foll o3 ng th s or
t hat great or bra<enDfronted leader 3 t h a bl nd# $nreason ng#
$nE$est on ng heroD3orsh !G t s contem!t bl e t o see t d 6 ded nto
!art es# 3hose sole end s t he s!o ls of 6ctory# and t her ch efs the l o3#
t he base# t he 6enal and the snl al l , S$ch a co$nt ry s n the last stages of
decay# and near t s end# no matt er ho3 !ros!ero$s t may seem to be, It
3rangles o6er t he 6olcano and t he eart hE$a/e, B$t t s certa n that no
go6ernment can be cond$cted by the men of t he !eo!le# and for the
!eo!l e# 3 tho$t a rgd adherence t o those !r nc !les 3hch o$r reason
commends as f 4ed and so$nd, These m$st be the test s of !art es# men# and
meas$res, Once determ ned# t hey m$st be ne4orabl e n t he r a!!l cat on#
and al l m$st e ther come $! t o the standard or decl are aga nst t , Men may
betray( !r nc !les ne6er can, O!!ress on s one n6arable conseE$ence of
ms!l aced confdence n t reachero$s man# t s ne6er the res$l t of t he
3or/ng or a!!lcat on of a so$nd# 5$st # 3ell Dtred !rnc !l e, %om!rom ses
3hch brng f$ndamental !r nc !les nto do$bt # n order to $n te n one
!arty men of antagonst c creeds# are fra$ds# and end n r$n# t he 5 $st and
nat$ral conseE$ence of fra$d, ;hene6er yo$ ha6e sett led $!on yo$r t heory
and creed# sanct on no de!art$re from t n !ract ce# on any gro$nd of
e4!edency, It s t he Master? s 3ord, .el d t $! net her t o flat tery nor force
O Let no defeat or !ersec$t on rob yo$ of tO Bel e6e that he 3ho once
bl$ndered n st atesmansh ! 3l l bl $nder aga nG that s$ch bl $nders are as
fatal as cr mesG and t hat !ol t cal nearDsghtedness does not m!ro6e by
age, There are al 3ays more m!ostors t han seers among !$bl c men# more
false !ro!het s t han tr$e ones# more !ro!hets of Baal t han of &eho6ahG and
&er$sal em s al 3ays n danger from t he Assyrans,
Sall $st sa d t hat aft er a St at e has been corr$!t ed by l $4$ry and dleness# t
may by t s mere greatness bear $! $nder the b$rden of t s 6ces, B$t e6en
3hl e he 3rote# Rome# of 3hch he s!o/e# had !layed o$t her masE$erade
of freedom Ot her ca$ses t han l$4$ry and sl ot h destroy Re!$blcs, If smal l#
t her l arger neghbors e4t ng$ sh t hel ll by absor!t on, If of great e4t ent #
t he cohes6e force s t oo feeble t o hol d them t oget her# and t hey fal l t o
!eces by ther o3n 3e ght , The !al try ambt on of smal l men d snt egrat es
t hem, The 3ant of 3 sdom n the r co$ncl s creat es e4as!erat ng ss$es,
's$r!at on of !o3er !lays t s !art# nca!acty seconds corr$!t on# the
st orm r ses# and the fragment s of the ncoherent raft stre3 t he sandy
shores# read ng to man/ nd anot her lesson for t t o dsregard,
The "ortyDse6ent h Pro!ost on s ol der t han Pythagoras, It s t h s( @In
e6ery rghtDangled t r angle# t he s$m of the sE$ares of t he base and
!er!endc$lar s eE$al t o the sE$are of t he hy!ot hen$se,@
The sE$are of a n$mber s the !rod$ct of that n$mber# m$l t !l ed by t sel f,
Th$s# : s the sE$are of 0# and 1 of 9,
The f rst ten n$mbers are( )# 0# 9# :# 7# =# +# *# 1# )2G
t her sE$ares are , , , , , , , , , )# :# 1# )=# 07# 9=# :1# =:# *)# )22G
and , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 9# 7# +# 1# ))# )9# )7# )+# )1
are the d fferences bet 3een each sE$are and t hat 3h ch !recedes t G g6ng
$s the sacred n$mbers# 9# 7# +# and 1
Of t hese n$mbers# the sE$are of 9 and :# added t oget her# g6es t he sE$are
of 7G and those of = and *# the sE$are of )2G and f a rghtDangl ed t r angl e
be formed# the base meas$rng 9 or = !art s# and t he !er!endc$lar : or *
!art s# t he hy!ot hen$se 3 l l be 7 or )2 !art sG and f a sE$are s erected on
each sde# t hese sE$ares be ng s$bd6 ded nto sE$ares each sde of 3hch
s one !art n length# t here 3 l l be as many of t hese n t he sE$are erected
on t he hy!othen$se as n the ot her t 3o sE$ares t oget her,
8o3 t he Egy!tans arranged ther de t es n Tr ads t he "AT-ER or the
S! r t or Act 6e Prnc !l e or Generat 6e Po3erG t he MOT-ER# or Matt er#
or t he Pass 6e Pr nc !l e# 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 t he same 3ay# PLATO g 6es $s tho$ght the
"atherG Pr mt 6e Mat ter the Mot herG and Kosmos t he ;orl d# the Son# t he
'n6erse an mat ed by a so$l , Tr ads of the same /nd are fo$nd n t he
Kabal ah,
PL'TAR%- says# n hs boo/ De Is de et Os r de# @B$t the bet ter and
d6 ner nat $re cons sts of t hree# DDthat 3hch e4st s 3t h n the Intel lect
only# and Matt er# and t hat 3h ch !roceeds from t hese# 3hch t he Gree/s
cal l KosmosG of 3h ch t hree# Pl at o s 3ont t o cal l the Intel l gble# the
? Idea# E4em!l ar# and "ather? # Mat ter# ? t he Mother# t he 8$rse# and the !lace
and rece!tacl e of generat on? G and the ss$e of these t3o# ? the Offs!rng
and Genes s# @? t he KOSMOS# @a 3ord sgnfyng eE$ally Bea$ty and Order#
or t he 'n 6erse t self, @ .o$ 3 ll not fa l to not ce that Bea$ty s
symbol <ed by t he &$n or ;arden n t he So$t h, Pl$tarch cont n$es to say
t hat the Egy!t ans com!ared the $n6ersal nat $re to 3hat t hey cal led t he
most bea$t f$l and !erfect t r angle# as Plato does# n t hat n$!t al dagram#
as t s termed# 3h ch he has ntrod$ced nt o h s %ommon3ealt h, ;hen he
adds t hat ths t rangl e s r ght Dangl ed# and t s s des res!ect 6ely as 9# :#
and 7G and he says# @;e m$st s$!!ose t hat t he !er!endc$lar s desgned
by t hem to re!resent t he masc$l ne nat $re# t he base the fem n ne# and t hat
t he hy!othen$se s to be loo/ed $!on as the offs!r ng of bot hG and
accord ngly t he frst of them 3l l a!tly eno$gh re!resent OSIRIS# or t he
!r me ca$seG t he second# ISIS# or the rece!t 6e ca!ac tyG t he last# -OR'S#
or t he common effect of t he other t 3o, "or 9 s the f rst n$mber 3h ch s
com!osed of e6en and oddG and : s a sE$are 3hose s de s eE$al t o the
e6en n$mber 0G b$t 7# be ng generat ed# as t 3ere# o$t of t he !reced ng
n$mbers# 0 and 9# may be sad t o ha6e an eE$al relat on t o both of t hem#
as t o t s common !arent s, @
K K K K K K
The clas!ed hands s anot her symbol 3hch 3as $sed by P.T-AGORAS,
It re!resent ed t he n$mber )2# t he sacred n$mber n 3h ch al l the !recedng
n$mbers 3ere conta nedG t he n$mber e4!ressed by t he myst er o$s
TERA%T.S# a fg$re borro3ed by h m and t he -ebre3 !r est s al /e from
t he Egy!tan sacred scence# and 3hch o$ght to be re!l aced among the
symbol s of the Mast er? s degree# 3here t of r ght bel ongs, The -ebre3s
formed t t h$s# 3 t h the let ters of t he D6ne name(
The Tetractys th$s leads yo$# not only t o the st$dy of the Pythagorean
!hl oso!hy as to n$mbers# b$t al so t o the Kabalah# and 3l l a d yo$ n
dsco6er ng t he Tr$e ;ord# and $nderst andng 3hat 3as meant by @The
M$s c of t he S!heres, @ Modern scence str/ngly confrms the deas of
Pyt hagoras n regard to the !ro!ert es of n$mbers# and that they go6ern n
t he 'n6erse, Long before hs t me# nat $re had e4t ract ed her c$beDroots
and her sE$ares,
K K K K K K
Al l the "OR%ES at man? s ds!osal or $nder man? s cont rol# or s$b5ect t o
man? s nfl$ence# are hs 3or/ng tool s, The fr endsh ! and sym!at hy that
/nt heart to heart are a force l /e the at tract on of cohes on# by 3h ch the
sandy !art cles became the sol d roc/, If t h s la3 of at tract on or cohes on
3ere ta/en a3ay# the mat er al 3orlds and s$ns 3o$l d d ssol6e n an
nstant nto thn n6 sbl e 6a!or, If the tes of fr endsh!# affect on# and
l o6e 3ere ann$lled# man/ nd 3o$l d become a rag ng m$l t t $de of 3 l d and
sa6age beasts of !rey, The sand hardens nt o roc/ $nder t he mmense
s$!er nc$mbent !ress$re of t he ocean# aded somet mes by t he rres st ble
energy of f reG and 3hen t he !ress$re of cal am ty and danger s $!on an
order or a co$ntry# t he members or the ct <ens o$ght to be the more
cl osely $nted by t he coheson of sym!at hy and nt erDde!endence,
Moral ty s a force, It s t he magnet c attract on of t he heart to3ard Tr$t h
and F rt $e, The needle# mb$ed 3 th t hs myst c !ro!erty# and !o nt ng
$nerrngly to the nort h# carres t he marner safely o6er t he t rac/l ess ocean#
t hro$gh storm and dar/ness# $nt l hs glad eyes behold t he benef cent
beacons t hat 3elcome h m t o safe and hos! tabl e harbor, Then t he heart s
of t hose 3ho lo6e h m are gladdened# and h s home made ha!!yG and th s
gladness and ha!! ness are d$e to t he s lent# $nost ent at o$s# $nerr ng
mon tor that 3as the sa l or? s g$ de o6er the 3el terng 3aters, B$t f
dr fted t oo far nort h3ard# he fnds t he needl e no longer tr$e# b$t !o nt ng
el se3here than t o t he north# 3hat a feel ng of hel !l essness fall s $!on the
dsmayed mar ner# 3hat $t ter l oss of energy and co$rage O It s as f the
great a4oms of moral ty 3ere t o fa l and be no longer tr$e# lea6ng the
h$man so$l to drft hel !lessly# eyeless l /e Promet he$s# at the mercy of
t he $ncert an# fat hl ess c$rrents of the dee!,
-onor and D$ty are t he !ol eDstars of a Mason# the D osc$r# by ne6er
l os ng sght of 3h ch he may a6od d sastro$s sh !3rec/, These Pal n$r$s
3at ched# $nt l# o6ercome by slee!# and t he 6essel no l onger g$ded tr$ly#
he fel l nt o and 3as s3al lo3ed $! by the nsat abl e sea, So the Mason 3ho
l oses sght of t hese# and s no l onger go6erned by ther benefcent and
!otent al force# s l ost # and s n/ ng o$t of sght # 3 ll dsa!!ear $nhonored
and $n3e!t ,
The force of el ectrc ty# analogo$s to that of sym!athy# and by means of
3hch great t ho$ghts or base s$ggest ons# the $t terances of nobl e or
gnoble nat$res# fl ash nstantaneo$sly o6er the ner6es of nat onsG t he force
of gro3t h# f t ty!e of mmortal ty# Iyng dormant t hree tho$sand years n
t he 3heatDgra ns b$r ed 3t h the r m$mm es by t he old Egy!t ansG t he
forces of e4!ans on and cont ract on# de6el o!ed n t he eart hE$a/e and the
t ornado# and g 6 ng b rth to the 3onderf$l ache6ement s of steam# ha6e
t her !aral lel sms n t he moral 3orld# n nd 6 d$al s# and nat ons, Gro3t h
s a necess ty for nat ons as for men, Its cessat on s t he beg nnng of
decay, In t he nat on as 3el l as the !lant t s myst er o$s# and t s
rres st ble, The earthE$a/es t hat rend nat ons as$nder# o6ert$rn t hrones#
and eng$lf monarches and re!$bl cs# ha6e been long !re!ared for# l /e t he
6olcanc er$!t on, Re6ol$t ons ha6e l ong root s n t he !ast , The force
e4ert ed s n drect !ro!ort on t o t he !re6o$s rest ra nt and com!ress on,
The tr$e statesman o$ght to see n !rogress t he ca$ses that are n d$e t me
t o !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 geol ogcal changes of t he earth# are
sl o3ly and cont n$o$sly 3ro$ght, The 3at ers# fall ng from -ea6en as ran
and de3s# sl o3ly d sntegrate t he gran te mo$ntansG abrade the !lans#
l ea6ng h ll s and rdges of den$dat on as t he r mon$mentsG scoo! o$t t he
6alleys# fl l $! the seas# narro3 t he r 6ers# and aft er the la!se of t ho$sands
on t ho$sands of sl ent cent $res# !re!are t he great al l $6 a for t he gro3t h
of t hat !l ant # t he sno3y en6el o!e of 3hose seeds s t o em!l oy the looms
of t he 3orl d# and t he ab$ndance or !en$ry of 3hose cro!s shall determne
3hether t he 3ea6ers and s!nners of ot her real ms shall ha6e 3or/ to do or
st ar6e,
So P$bl c O! non s an mmense forceG and t s c$rrents are as nconstant
and ncom!rehens bl e as t hose of the at mos!here, 8e6erthel ess# n free
go6ernment s# t s omn!otentG and t he b$s ness of t he st atesman s t o fnd
t he means t o sha!e# cont rol# and d rect t , Accordng as that s done# t s
benef cal and conser6at 6e# or destr$ct 6e and r$no$s, The P$bl c
O!non of t he c 6 l <ed 3orld s Internat onal La3G and t s so great a
force# t ho$gh 3 t h no certa n and f 4ed bo$ndares# that t can e6en
const ran the 6 ctor o$s des!ot to be genero$s# and a d an o!!ressed
!eo!l e n ts st r$ggle for nde!endence,
-abt s a great forceG t s second nat $re# e6en n t rees, It s as st rong n
nat ons as n men, So also are Pre5$dces# 3h ch are g 6en to men and
nat ons as the !assons are# DDas forces# 6al$able# f !ro!erly and s/ ll f$lly
a6a led ofG destr$ct 6e# f $ns/l lf$l ly handled,
Abo6e al l # t he Lo6e of %o$ntry# Stat e Pr de# the Lo6e of -ome# are forces
of mmense !o3er, Enco$rage t hem al l, Insst $!on them n yo$r !$bl c
men, Permanency of home s necessary to !at r ot sm, A m gratory race 3 ll
ha6e l t tl e l o6e of co$ntry, Stat e !rde s a mere t heory and ch mera# 3here
men remo6e from St ate to St ate 3t h ndfference# l /e the Arabs# 3ho
cam! here t oDday and t here t oDmorro3,
If yo$ ha6e EloE$ence# t s a mghty force, See that yo$ $se t for good
!$r!osesDDto t each# e4hort # ennoble the !eo!le# and not t o msl ead and
corr$!t t hem, %orr$!t and 6enal orat ors are the assass ns of the !$bl c
l bert es and of !$bl c moral s,
The ; l l s a forceG t s l m ts as yet $n/no3n, It s n t he !o3er of t he 3l l
t hat 3e chefly see the s! r t$al and d6 ne n man, There s a seemng
dent ty bet 3een h s 3 ll t hat mo6es other men# and the %reat 6e ;l l
3hose act on seems so ncom!rehens bl e, It s the men of 3 ll and act on#
not the men of !$re nt el lect # t hat go6ern the 3orld,
"nal ly# the three greatest moral forces are "AIT-# 3h ch s the only tr$e
;ISDOM# and the 6ery fo$ndat on of al l go6ernmentG -OPE# 3hch s
STRE8GT-# and ns$res s$ccessG and %-ARIT.# 3hch s BEA'T.# and
al one ma/es an mat ed# $n ted effort !oss ble, These forces are 3 th n the
reach of al l 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$se she has ceased t o !ossess t hem,
;sdom n t he man or st atesman# n / ng or !rest # l argely cons st s n t he
d$e a!!rec at on of these forcesG and $!on the general nonDa!!recat on of
some of them t he fate of nat ons oft en de!ends, ;hat hecatombs of l 6es
often hang $!on the not 3egh ng or not s$mcently 3egh ng t he force of
an dea# s$ch as# for e4am!le# t he re6erence for a fl ag# or the bl nd
at tachment t o a form or const t$t on of go6ernmentO
;hat errors n !ol t cal economy and st atesmansh ! are comm tt ed n
conseE$ence of t he o6erDest mat on or $nderDest mat on of !art c$lar
6al$es# or t he nonDest mat on of some among them O E6eryt h ng# t s
asserted# s the !rod$ct of h$man laborG b$t the gol d or t he damond 3hch
one acc dentally fnds 3 tho$t l abor s not so, ;hat s the 6al $e of t he
l abor best o3ed by the h$sbandman $!on hs cro!s# com!ared 3t h t he
6al$e of the s$nshne and ra n# 3t ho$t 3h ch hs labor a6a l s not hngJ
%ommerce carr ed on by t he l abor of man# adds to t he 6al$e of the
!rod$ct s of t he f el d# the m ne# or t he 3or/sho!# by ther trans!ortat on t o
dfferent mar/ct sG b$t ho3 m$ch of ths ncrease s d$e to the r6ers do3n
3hch these !rod$ct s fl oat # to t he 3 nds that $rge the /eel s of commerce
o6er the ocean O
;ho can est mat e t he 6al$e of moral ty and manl ness n a Stat e# of moral
3ort h and nt el l ect $al /no3l edge J These are the s$nshne and ra n of the
Stat e, The 3 nds# 3 th ther changeable# f c/l e# fl$ct$at ng c$rrent s# are
a!t emblems of the f c/l e h$mors of t he !o!$l ace# t s !ass ons# ts heroc
m!$lses# t s enth$sasms, ;oe t o t he st atesman 3ho does not est mat e
t hese as 6al$es O
E6en m$sc and song are somet mes fo$nd to ha6e an ncal c$labl e 6al$e,
E6ery nat on has some song of a !ro6en 6al$e# more easly co$nt ed n
l 6es than doll ars, The Marsel la se 3as 3orth to re6ol $t onary "rance#
3ho shall say ho3 many tho$sand menJ
Peace also s a great el ement of !ros!erty and 3eal thG a 6al$e not to be
calc$lat ed, Socal nterco$rse and assoc at on of men n benefcent Orders
ha6e a 6al$e not t o be est mated n co n, The ll $str o$s e4am!l es of the
Past of a nat on# the memores and mmortal t ho$ght s of her great and
3 se t hn/ers# statesmen# and heroes# are the n6al $abl e legacy of that Past
t o t he Present and "$t $re, And al l these ha6e not only the 6al $es of t he
l oft er and more e4cell ent and !rceless / nd# b$t al so an act $al moneyD
6al$e# s nce t s only 3hen coDo!erat ng 3t h or aded or enabled by
t hese# that h$man labor creat es 3eal th, They are of the ch ef elements of
materal 3eal th# as t hey are of nat onal manl ness# hero sm, # gl ory#
!ros!er ty# and mmortal reno3n,
Pro6 dence has a!!o nted the t hree great d sc!l nes of ;ar# t he Monarchy
and t he Pr esthood# all that the %AMP# the PALA%E# and the TEMPLE
may symbol <e# t o tran the m$lt t $des for3ard to ntel lgent and
!remedt ated combnat ons for all t he great !$r!oses of socety, The res$l t
3 ll at l ength be free go6ernment s among men# 3hen 6 rt $e and
ntell gence become E$al tes of t he m$l t t$desG b$t for gnorance s$ch
go6ernment s are m!oss bl e, Man ad6ances only by degrees, The remo6al
of one !ress ng calamty g6es co$rage to at tem!t the remo6al of the
rema n ng e6 ls# render ng men more senst 6e to t hem# or !erha!s
sens t 6e for t he frst t me, Serfs t hat 3r t he $nder the 3h ! are not
dsE$et ed abo$t t ber !ol t cal r ght sG man$m tt ed from !ersonal sla6ery#
t hey be come sens t 6e to !ol t cal o!!resson, Lberated from arbt rary
!o3er# and go6erned by t he l a3 al one# t hey begn to scr$t n <e t he l a3
tsel f# and desre t o be go6erned# not only by la3# b$t by 3hat t hey deem
t he best l a3, And 3hen t he c 6 l or tem!oral des!ot sm has been set as de#
and t he m$n c!al la3 has been mo$l ded on t he !rnc !l es of an
enlghtened 5 $rs!r$dence# t hey may 3a/e t o the d sco6ery that t hey are
l 6 ng $nder some !r estly or eccl esast cal des!ot sm# and become
des ro$s of 3or/ng a reformat on there al so,
It s E$ te tr$e t hat the ad6ance of h$manty s sl o3# and t hat t oft en
!a$ses and ret rogrades, In t he / ngdoms of t he earth 3e do not see
des!ot sms ret r ng and yeldng the gro$nd to selfDgo6ernng
comm$n t es, ;e do not see the ch$rches and !r esthoods of %hrst endom
rel nE$sh ng ther ol d t as/ of go6ern ng men by mag nary terrors,
8o3here do 3e see a !o!$lace that co$ld be safely man$m t ted from s$ch
a go6ernment, ;e do not see t he great rel g o$s t eachers a mng t o
dsco6er t r$t h for themsel 6es and for ot hersG b$t st ll r$l ng the 3orld# and
contented and com!ell ed t o r$le t he 3orl d# by 3hat e6er dogma s already
accredt edG t hemsel 6es as m$ch bo$nd do3n by t h s necessty t o go6ern# as
t he !o!$lace by t her need of go6ernment, Po6erty n all ts most hdeo$s
forms st l l e4 sts n the great c t esG and the cancer of !a$!er sm has ts
root s n t he heart s of / ngdoms, Men there t a/e no meas$re of t her 3ants
and t her o3n !o3er t o s$!!ly t hem# b$t l 6e and m$l t !ly l /e the beast s
of t he f el d# DDPro6dence ha6 ng a!!arent ly ceased t o care for them,
Int el l gence ne6er 6 st s t hese# or t ma/es ts a!!earance as some ne3
de6elo!ment of 6 ll any, ;ar has not ceasedG st l l t here are bat tles and
s eges, -omes are st l l $nha!!y# and t ears and anger a$d s! t e ma/e hel ls
3here t here sho$ld be hea6ens, So m$ch t he more necessty for Masonry O
So m$ch 3 der the fel d of ts labors O So m$ch t he more need for t t o
beg n to be t r$e t o tsel f# to re66e from ts as!hy4a# t o re!ent of t s
a!ost asy to t s t r$e creed O
'ndo$btedly# labor and death and t he se4$al !ass on are essent al and
!ermanent condt ons of h$man e4 st ence# and render !erfect on and a
m l lenn$m on eart h m!ossble, Al 3ays# DDt s the decree of "at e ODDthe
6ast ma5or ty of men m$st tol to l 6e# and cannot f nd t me to c$l t 6ate
t he nt ell gence, Man# /no3 ng he s to d e# 3 l l not sacr f ce the !resent
en5oyment for a greater one n the f$t$re, The lo6e of 3oman cannot de
o$tG and t has a t err ble and $ncontrol lable fate# ncreased by the
ref nements of c6l <at on, ;oman s the 6er table syren or goddess of t he
yo$ng, B$t socety can be m!ro6edG and free go6ernment s !ossbl e for
Stat esG and freedom of t ho$ght and consc ence s no l onger 3holly
$to!an, Already 3e see t hat Em!erors !refer t o be elect ed by $n6ersal
s$ffrageG t hat St ates are con6eyed to Em!res by 6ot eG and that Em!res
are admnstered 3t h somet h ng of the s!rt of a Re!$bl c# beng l t tle
el se than democraces 3t h a sngl e head# r$l ng thro$gh one man# one
re!resentat 6e# nstead of an assembly of re!resent at 6es, And f
Presthoods st l l go6ern# they no3 come before the laty t o !ro6e# by
st ress of arg$ment # that t hey o$gl lt t o go6ern, They are obl ged to e6o/e
t he 6ery reason 3h ch they are bent on s$!!lant ng,
Accord ngly# men become daly more free# beca$se t he freedom of t he man
l es n h s reason, -e can refl ect $!on hs o3n f$t $re cond$ct # and
s$mmon $! t s conseE$encesG he can ta/e 3 de 6e3s of h$man l fe# and
l ay do3n r$les for constant g$ dance, Th$s he s rel e6ed of the tyranny of
sense and !asson# and enabled at any t me to l 6e accord ng to the 3hol e
l ght of the /no3ledge that s 3t hn h m# nstead of be ng dr6en# l /e a
dry leaf on the 3 ngs of t he 3nd# by e6ery !resent m!$lse, -ere n l es
t he freedom of t he man as regarded n connect on 3t h t he necess ty
m!osed by t he omn!otence and foreD/no3l edge of God, So m$ch l ght #
so m$ch l berty, ;hen em!eror and ch$rch a!!eal t o reason there s
nat$rally $n 6ersal s$ffrage,
Therefore no one need l ose co$rage# nor bel e6e t hat labor n t he ca$se of
Progress 3l l be labor 3asted, There s no 3ast e n nat $re# et her of
Mat ter# "orce# Act # or Tho$ght, A Tho$ght s as m$ch t he end of l fe as an
Act onG and a s ngle Tho$ght somet mes 3or/s great er res$l t s than a
Re6ol $t on# e6en Re6ol$t ons themsel 6es, St l l there sho$l d not be d6orce
bet3een Tho$ght and Act on, The t r$e Tho$ght s that n 3h ch l fe
c$l m nat es, B$t al l 3se and tr$e Tho$ght !rod$ces Act on, It s
generat 6e# l /e the lghtG and l ght and t he dee! shado3 of the !ass ng
cl o$d are the gft s of the !ro!hets of the race, Kno3ledge# l aboro$sly
acE$red# and nd$c ng habt s of so$nd Tho$ght # DDt he refl ect 6e
character# DDm$st necessarly be rare, The m$l t t $de of l aborers cannot
acE$re t, Most men att a n t o a 6ery lo3 st andard of t , It s ncom!at ble
3 th t he ord nary and nd s!ensable a6ocat ons of l fe, A 3hole 3orl d of
error as 3ell as of labor# go to ma/e one reflect 6e man, In the most
ad6anced nat on of E$ro!e there are more gnorant than 3 se# more !oor
t han r ch# more a$tornat c laborers# t he mere creat $res of habt # t han
reason ng and refl ect 6e men, The !ro!ort on s at l east a tho$sand t o one,
'nan mty of o! n on s so obta ned, It only e4 st s among the m$l t t $de
3ho do not thn/# and the !ol t cal or s!r t $al !rest hood 3ho th n/ for
t hat m$l t t $de# 3ho t h n/ ho3 to g$ de and go6ern t hem, ;hen men begn
t o refl ect # t hey begn to d ffer, The great !roblem s t o fnd g$des 3ho
3 ll not see/ t o be tyrants, Ths s needed e6en more n res!ect to t he
heart than t he head, 8o3# e6ery man earns h s s!ecal share of the !rod$ce
of h$man l abor# by an ncessant scrambl e# by t r c/ery and dece t, 'sef$l
/no3l edge# honorably acE$ red# s t oo often $sed after a fash on not
honest or reasonabl e# so t hat the st$des of yo$th are far more nobl e than
t he !ract ces of manhood, The labor of t he farmer n h s f elds# t he
genero$s ret $rns of the eart h# the ben gnant and fa6orng s/ es# t end to
ma/e h m earnest# !ro6 dent # and gratef$l G the ed$cat on of the mar/etD
!lace ma/es h m E$er$l o$s# crafty# en6o$s# and an ntolerable nggard,
Masonry see/s t o be th s benefcent # $nambt o$s# d snterest ed g$deG and
t s t he 6ery condt on of all great str$ct $res t hat the so$nd of the hammer
and t he cl n/ of the tro3el sho$ld be al3ays heard n some !art of t he
b$l d ng, ; t h fat h n man# ho!e for t he f$t $re of h$manty# l o6 ngD
/ndness for o$r fell o3s# Masonry and the Mason m$st al 3ays 3or/ and
t each, Let each do that for 3hch he s best f t ted, The teacher al so s a
3or/man, Pra se3orthy as t he act 6e na6 gator s# 3ho comes and goes
and ma/es one cl me !arta/e of the t reas$res of t he ot her# and one to share
t he t reas$res of all # he 3ho /ee!s the beaconDl ght $!on t he hl l s al so at
hs !ost ,
Masonry has al ready hel !ed cast do3n some dol s from t her !edestal s#
and grnd t o m!al !able d$st some of t he l n/s of the cha ns t hat hel d
men? s so$l s n bondage, That there has been !rogress needs no other
demonstrat on than t hat yo$ may no3 reason 3t h men# and $rge $!on
t hem# 3 tho$t danger of the rac/ or st a/e# that no doctrnes can be
a!!rehended as tr$t hs f they contrad ct each ot her# or contradct other
t r$ths g6en $s by God, Long before the Reformat on# a mon/# 3ho had
fo$nd hs 3ay t o heresy 3t ho$t the hel! of Mart n L$ther# not 6ent $rne
t o breat he al o$d nt o any l 6 ng ear hs ant D!a!al and treasonabl e
doctr nes# 3rot e t hem on !archment# and seal ng $! t he!er l o$s record# h d
t n the mass 6e 3all s of h s monast ery, There 3as no fr end or brother to
3hom he co$l d nt r$st hs secret or !o$r fort h hs so$l , It 3as some
consol at on to magne that n a f$t$re age some one mght f nd the
!archment # and t he seed be fo$nd not t o ha6e been so3n n 6an, ;hat f
t he t r$th sho$l d ha6e to l e dormant as long before germnat ng as the
3heat n the Egy!t an m$mmy J S!ea/ t # ne6ert hel ess# aga n and aga n#
and l et t ta/e t s chance O
The rose of &ercho gro3s n the sandy desert s of Araba and on the Syr an
ho$set o!s, Scarcely s 4 nches hgh# t loses t s l ea6es aft er t he flo3er ng
season# and dres $! nto the form of a ball , Then t s $!rooted by the
3 nds# and carred# blo3n# or t ossed across t he desert # nt o t he sea, There#
feel ng t he contact of the 3ater# t $nfolds t self# e4!ands ts branches#
and e4!el s t s seeds from ther seedD6essel s, These# 3hen sat$rated 3 t h
3at er# are carred by the t de and la d on t he seaDshore, Many are lost# as
many nd6d$al l 6es of men are $sel ess, B$t many are t hro3n bac/ agan
from the seaDshore nt o t he desert # 3here# by the 6 rt $e of the seaD3at er
t hat they ha6e mb bed# t he roots and l ea6es s!ro$t and they gro3 nt o
fr$t f$l !l ant s# 3h ch 3 ll # n ther t $rns# l /e t her ancest ors# be 3h rled
nt o t he sea, God 3 l l not be l ess caref$l to !ro6de for the germ nat on of
t he t r$ths yo$ may boldly $t t er fort h, @%ast# @ -e has sa d# @t hy bread $!on
t he 3at ers# and aft er many days t shal l ret $rn t o t hee aga n, @
In t at on does not change( 3e f nd t aga n and aga n# and al3ays the
same# t hro$gh al l t he ages, The l ast dsc !l es of Pascal s Mart ne< are st l l
t he chl dren of Or!he$sG b$t t hey adore the real <er of the ant E$e
!hl oso!hy# t he Incarnate ;ord of t he %hrst ans,
Pyt hagoras# t he great d6$lger of the !h loso!hy of n$mbers# 6 st ed al l
t he sanct$ares of the 3orld, -e 3ent nt o &$daea# 3here he !roc$red
h msel f to be crc$mc sed# that he m ght be admt ted to t he secrets of the
Kabal ah# 3hch the !ro!het s E<e/el and Dan el# not 3t ho$t some
reser6at ons# comm$ncated t o h m, Then# not 3 tho$t some d ff c$l ty# he
s$cceeded n beng adm t ted to the Egy!t an nt at on# $!on t he
recommendat on of K ng Amas s, The !o3er of h s gen $s s$!!l ed the
defcenc es of t he m!erfect comm$n cat ons of t he - ero!hants# and he
h msel f became a Master and a Re6ealer,
Pyt hagoras defned God( a L 6ng and Absol $te Fer ty clothed 3 th Lght,
-e sad that t he ;ord 3as 8$mber manfested by "orm,
-e made all descend from t he Tetyactys# t hat s to say# from the
I$aternary,
God# he sa d aga n# s the S$!reme M$s c# the nat $re of 3h ch s -armony,
Pyt hagoras ga6e t he magst rat es of %rot ona th s great rel g o$s# !ol t cal
and soc al !rece!t(
@There s no e6 l that s not !referabl e to Anarchy,@
Pyt hagoras sa d# @E6en as there are three d6ne not ons and free
ntell g ble reg ons# so there s a t r !l e 3ord# for the -erarehcal Order
al 3ays manfests t self by threes, There are t he 3ord s m!l e# the 3ord
herogly!h cal # and the 3ord symbol c( n ot her terms# there are t he 3ord
t hat e4!resses# the 3ord that conceal s# and the 3ord that sgnfesG t he
3hole h erat c nt el l gence s n the !erfect /no3l edge of t hese t hree
degrees, @
Pyt hagoras en6el o!ed doctrne 3 th symbol s# b$t caref$l ly esche3ed
!ersonfcat ons and mages# 3hch# he t ho$ght# sooner or lat er !rod$ced
dol atry,
The -oly Kabal ah# or trad t on of t he chl dren of Seth# 3as carred from
%hal dcea by Abraham# t a$ght t o the Egy!t an !r est hood by &ose!h#
reco6ered and !$rfed by Moses# concealed $nder symbols n the Bble#
re6ealed by the Sa6o$r t o Sant &ohn# and cont aned# ent re# $nder
herat c f g$res anal ogo$s to t hose of all ant E$ ty# n t he A!ocaly!se of
t hat A!ost le,
The Kabal sts cons der God as t he Intell gent# An mated# L6 ng Inf n t e,
-e s not # for t hem# e ther t he aggregat e of e4st ences# or e4 stence n t he
abst ract # or a be ng !h loso!h cally def nabl e, -e s n all # dst nct from
al l# and great er than all , - s name e6en s neffableG and yet ths name
only e4!resses t he h$man deal of - s d 6 n ty, ;hat God s n - mself# t
s not g6en to man t o com!rehend,
God s t he absol$te of "a thG b$t the absol $t e of Reason s BEI8G# @I am
t hat I am# @ s a 3retched translat on,
Beng# E4st ence# s by t sel f# and beca$se t Is, The reason of Be ng# s
Beng tsel f, ;e may nE$re# @;hy does someth ng e4 st J@ that s# @;hy
does s$ch or s$ch a t h ng e4st J@ B$t 3e cannot# 3t ho$t be ng abs$rd#
as/# @;hy Is Be ngJ@ That 3o$l d be t o s$!!ose Be ng before Be ng, If
Beng had a ca$se# that ca$se 3o$ld necessarly BeG that s# t he ca$se and
effect 3o$ld be dent cal,
Reason and scence demonst rat e t o $s that the modes of E4st ence and
Beng bal ance each ot her n eE$l br $m accordng to harmono$s and
herarch c l a3s, B$t a herarchy s synt het <ed# n ascend ng# and becomes
e6er more and more monarchal , .et the reason cannot !a$se at a s ml e
chef# 3 tho$t beng alarmed at the abysses 3h ch t seems to lea6e abo6e
t h s S$!reme Monarch, Therefore t s s lent # and g6es !lace to the "a th
t adores,
;hat s certa n# e6en for sc ence and t he reason# s# t hat the dea of God s
t he grandest # the most holy# and the most $sef$l of all t he as! rat ons of
manG that $!on t h s bel ef moral ty re!oses# 3 th t s et ernal sanct on, Th s
belef# then# s n h$manty# t he most real of the !henomena of bengG and
f t 3ere fal se# nat$re 3o$l d affrm the abs$rdG noth ngness 3o$l d g6e
form to l fe# and God 3o$l d at the same t me be and not be,
It s t o ths !h loso!hc and ncont estable real ty# 3hch s termed The
Idea of God# t hat the Kabal st s g 6e a name, In t h s name all others are
conta ned, Its cy!hers cont a n al l the n$mbersG and the h erogly!hcs of t s
l ett ers e4!ress al l the la3s and al l the thngs of nat $re,
BEI8G IS BEI8G( t he reason of Beng s n Be ng( n t he Begnn ng s t he
;ord# and t he ;ord n l og c form$l ated S!eech# the s!o/en ReasonG the
;ord s n God# and s God - msel f# manfested to t he Int el l gence, -ere
s 3hat s abo6e al l the !h l oso!hes, Th s 3e m$st bel e6e# $nder t he
!enalty of ne6er tr$ly /no3 ng anyt hng# and rela!s ng nt o t he abs$rd
s/e!t csm of Pyrrho, The Pr esthood# c$stodan of "a th# 3hol ly rest s
$!on ths bas s of /no3ledge# and t s n t s teachngs 3e m$st recogn<e
t he D6 ne Prnc!l e of t he Et ernal ;ord,
Lght s not S!r t# as t he Indan -ero!hant s bel e6ed t to beG b$t only
t he nst r$ment of t he S!rt , It s not t he body of t he Proto!lastes# as the
The$rg sts of the school of Ale4andra ta$ght# b$t t he f rst !hyscal
manfestat on of the D 6ne affl at $s, God et ernal ly creat es t# and man# n
t he mage of God# mod f es and seems to m$lt !ly t ,
The hgh mag c s styled @The Sacerdot al Art # @ and @The Royal Art,@ In
Egy!t # Greece# and Rome# t co$l d not b$t share t he greatnesses and
decadences of t he Prest hood and of Royal ty, E6ery !h loso!hy host le t o
t he nat onal 3orsh ! and to t s mysteres# 3as of necess ty host l e t o the
great !ol t cal !o3ers# 3h chl ose t her grande$r# f they cease# n the eyes
of t he m$l t t $des# to be the mages of t he D 6 ne Po3er, E6ery %ro3n s
shat tered# 3hen t cl ashes aga nst the T ara,
Plat o# 3rt ng to D onys$s the .o$nger# n regard t o the nat $re of the
"rst Prnc!l e# says( @I m$st 3rt e t o yo$ n engmas# so t hat f my l ett er
be nterce!ted by land or sea# he 3ho shall read t may n no degree
com!rehend t, @ And then he says# @Al l t h ngs s$rro$nd t he r KngG t hey
are# on acco$nt of - m# and -e al one s the ca$se of good th ngs# Second
for the Seconds and Th rd for the Thrds, @
There s n t hese fe3 3ords a com!let e s$mmary of the Theol ogy of the
Se!hroth, @The K ng@ s AI8SOP-# Be ng S$!reme and Absol $te, "rom
t h s cent re# 3h ch s e6ery3here# all thngs ray fort hG b$t 3e es!ecal ly
conce 6e of t n three manners and n t hree d fferent s!heres, In the
D 6 ne 3orl d MAHIL'T-N# 3hch s that of the " rst %a$se# and 3heren
t he 3hol e Etern ty of Th ngs n t he begnnng e4sted as 'nty# t o be
after3ard# d$rng Et ernty $tt ered fort h# clot hed 3t h form# and t he
at trb$tes that const t $te them mat t er# t he "rst Prnc!le s S ngle and
"rst # and yet not t he FER. Ill mt abl e De ty# ncom!rehensbl e#
$ndefnableG b$t - mself n so far as man fest ed by t he %reat 6e Tho$ght ,
To com!are l tt leness 3t h nf nty#DDAr/3rght# as n6ent or of t he
s!nnngD5 enny# and not t he man Ar/3rght other3 se and beyond t hat , Al l
3e can /no3 of the Fery God s# com!ared t o -s ;holeness# only as an
nf ntes mal fract on of a $n t# com!ared 3t h an nf n ty of 'n ts,
In t he ;orld of %reat on# 3h ch s that of Second %a$ses At he Kabal st c
;orl d BRIA-B# the A$t ocracy of the " rst Pr nc !l e s com!let e# b$t 3e
conce 6e of t only as t he %a$se of t he Second %a$ses, -ere t s
manfested by the Bnary# and s t he %reat 6e Prnc!le !ass 6e, " nally( n
t he t h rd 3orld# .EHIRA-# or of "ormat on# t s re6eal ed n the !erfect
"orm# t he "orm of "orms# t he ;orld# t he S$!reme Bea$ty and E4cel l ence#
t he %reated Perfect on, Th$s the Pr nc !le s at once t he "rst# the Second#
and t he Th rd# snce t s All n Al l # the %entre and %a$se of al l , It s not
t he gen$s of Plat o t hat 3e here adm re, ;e recogn<e only t he e4act
/no3l edge of the Int at e,
The great A!ost le Sa nt &ohn dd not borro3 from t he !h l oso!hy of Plat o
t he o!en ng of hs Gos!el , Pl ato# on t he cont rary# dran/ at the same
s!r ngs 3 th Sant &ohn and Phl oG and &ohn n t he o!en ng 6erses of hs
!ara!hrase# st ates the f rst !r nc !les of a dogma common to many
school s# b$t n lang$age es!ec ally bel ongng to Bh lo# 3hom t s e6 dent
he had read, The !h loso!hy of Pl at o# t he greatest of h$man Re6ealers#
co$ld yearn t o3ard t he ;ord made manG t he Gos!el al one co$ld g6e h m
t o t he 3orl d,
Do$bt # n !resence of Beng and t s harmon esG s/e!t c sm# n the face of
t he et ernal mathemat cs and t he mm$t abl e la3s of L fe 3hch ma/e t he
D 6 n ty !resent and 6s ble e6ery3here# as the -$man s /no3n and
6s ble by t s $t terances of 3ord and act# DD s th s not the most fool sh of
s$!erst t ons# and the most ne4c$sabl e as 3el l as t he most dangero$s of
al l cred$l t es J Tho$ght # 3e /no3# s not a res$lt or conseE$ence of the
organ <at on of mat ter# of the chemcal or ot her act on or react on of t s
!art cl es# l /e effer6escence and gaseo$s e4!los ons, On t he contrary# the
fact that Tho$ght s man fested and real <ed n act h$man or act d 6 ne#
!ro6es the e4 st ence of an Ent ty# or 'nty# t hat thn/s, And t he 'n6erse
s t he Infnte 't terance of one of an nf n te n$mber of Infn t e Tho$ght s#
3hch cannot b$t emanate from an Inf nt e and Th n/ng So$rce, The
ca$se s al 3ays eE$al# at least # t o the effectG and mat ter cannot t h n/# nor
co$ld t ca$se t self# or e4 st 3t ho$t ca$se# nor co$l d noth ng !rod$ce
e ther forces or t hngsG for n 6o d not hngness no "orces can nhere,
Adm t a selfDe4st ent "orce# and t s Int ell gence# or an Intel l gent ca$se of
t s adm t t ed# and at once GOD Is,
The -ebre3 all egory of t he "all of Man# 3hch s b$t a s!ecal 6arat on
of a $n 6ersal l egend# symbol <es one of t he grandest and most $n 6ersal
al legores of scence,
Moral E6 l s "al sehood n act ons# as "al sehood s %r me n 3ords,
In5 $st ce s t he essence of "al sehoodG and e6ery fal se 3ord s an n5$st ce,
In5 $st ce s t he death of the Moral Be ng# as "al sehood s t he !o son of the
Int el l gence,
The !erce!t on of the Lght s t he da3n of the Eternal Lfe# n Be ng, The
;ord of God# 3h ch creates t he Lght # seems to be $tt ered by e6ery
Int el l gence that can ta/e cogn<ance of "orms and 3 ll l oo/, @Let t he
Lght BEO The Lght # n fact # e4 st s# n t s cond t on of s!l endor# for t hose
eyes alone that ga<e at t G and the So$l # amoro$s of the s!ect acle of the
bea$t es of t he 'n 6erse# and a!!lyng t s at tent on to that l$mno$s
3rt ng of t he Inf nt e Boo/# 3h ch s call ed @The F sbl e#@ seems to $t ter#
as God dd on t he da3n of the f rst day# that s$bl me and creat 6e 3ord#
@BEO LIG-T O@
It s not beyond the t omb# b$t n l fe t self# that 3e are to see/ for the
mysteres of deat h, Sal 6at on or re!robat on beg ns here bel o3# and t he
t errestral 3orl d t oo has ts -ea6en and t s -ell , Al 3ays# e6en here bel o3#
6rt$e s re3ardedG al 3ays# e6en here belo3# 6 ce s !3l shedG and that
3hch ma/es $s somet mes bel e6e n t he m!$n ty of e6 lDdoers s t hat
rches# t hose nst r$ment s of good and of e6 l # seem somet mes t o be g6en
t hem at ha<ard, B$t 3oe t o $n5 $st men# 3hen they !ossess t he /ey of
gold O It o!ens# for t hem# only t he gat e of t he t omb and of -ell ,
Al l the tr$e Int at es ha6e recogn<ed t he $sef$l ness of t ol and sorro3,
@Sorro3# @ says a German !oet# @ s the dog of t hat $n/no3n she!herd 3ho
g$des the fl oc/ of men, @ To learn t o s$ffer# t o learn t o de# s t he
dsc !l ne of Et ernty# t he mmortal 8o6t at e,
The allegor cal !ct $re of %ebes# n 3hch the D 6 ne %omedy of Dante
3as s/etched n Plato? s t me# t he descr!t on 3hereof has been !reser6ed
for $s# and 3h ch many !a nters of t he m ddle age ha6e re!rod$ced by th s
descr!t on# s a mon$ment at once !hl oso!hcal and mag cal , It s a most
com!l ete moral synt hess# and at the same t me the most a$daco$s
demonstrat on e6er g6en of t he Grand Arcan$m# of t hat secret 3hose
re6elat on 3o$l d o6ert$rn Earth and -ea6en, Let no one e4!ect $s t o g6e
t hem t s e4!l anat on O -e 3ho !asses beh nd the 6e l that h des ths
mystery# $nderstands t hat t s n t s 6ery nat $re ne4!l cable# and that t s
deat h to those 3ho 3n t by s$r!rse# as 3ell as to h m 3ho re6eal s t ,
Th s secret s t he Royalty of t he Sages# the %ro3n of the In tate 3hom 3e
see redescend 6 ct or o$s from the s$mm t of Tral s# n the f ne al legory of
%ebes, The Grand Arcan$n) ma/es h m mast er of gol d and t he l ght# 3h ch
are at bot tom the same th ng# he has sol 6ed the !robl em of the E$adrat $re
of t he crcl e# he drect s t he !er!et$al mo6ement # and he !ossesses t he
!hl oso!h cal st one, -ere t he Ade!ts 3 l l $nderstand $s, There s ne ther
nterr$!t on n the tol of nat $re# nor ga! n her 3or/, The -armones of
-ea6en corres!ond t o t hose of Eart h# and the Et ernal Lfe accom!l shes ts
e6ol$t ons n accordance 3t h t he same la3s as t he l fe of a dog, @God has
arranged al l t h ngs by 3eght# n$mber# and meas$re# @ says the Bbl eG and
t h s l$m no$s doctrne 3as al so t hat of Plat o,
-$man ty has ne6er real ly had b$t one rel gon and one 3orsh !, Th s
$n6ersal l ght has had t s $ncertan m rages# t s dece tf$l reflect ons# and
ts shado3sG b$t al3ays# after the n ght s of Error# 3e see t rea!!ear# one
and !$re l /e t he S$n,
The magn f cences of 3orsh! are t he l fe of rel g on# and f %hrst 3shes
!oor m n sters# -s So6eregn D6 n ty does not 3 sh !alt ry al t ars, Some
Protest ant s ha6e not com!rehended t hat 3orsh ! s a teach ng# and that 3e
m$st not create n the magnat on of the m$lt t $de a mean or mserabl e
God, Those orat ores t hat resembl e !oorlyDf$rn shed offces or nns# and
t hose 3orthy m n sters clad l /e notares or l a3yer? s cler/s# do they not
necessarly ca$se rel g on to be regarded as a mere !$r tanc formal ty#
and God as a &$st ce of the PeaceJ
;e scoff at t he A$g$rs, It s so easy t o scoff# and so d ffc$lt 3el l to
com!rehend, D d the Dety lea6e the 3hol e 3orl d 3t ho$t Lght for t3o
score cent $res# to ll $m nat e only a l t tl e corner of Palest ne and a br$t al#
gnorant # and $ngrat ef$l !eo!leJ ;hy al 3ays cal $mnat e God and t he
Sanct $ary J ;ere t here ne6er any ot hers than rog$es among the !rest sJ
%o$ld no honest and sncere men be fo$nd among the -ero!hant s of
%eres or D ana# of D on$sos or A!oll o# of -ermes or M t hras J ;ere
t hese# then# al l dece6ed# l /e t he rest J ;ho# t hen# constant ly dece 6ed
t hem# 3 tho$t betrayng themsel 6es# d$rng a ser es of cent$resJDDfor the
cheat s are not mmortal O Arago sa d# t hat o$ts de of t he !$re mat hemat cs#
he 3ho $t ters t he 3ord @ m!ossble# @ s 3ant ng n !r$dence and good
sense,
The tr$e name of Sat an# the Kabal st s say# s that of .ah6eh re6ersedG for
Satan s not a blac/ god# b$t the negat on of God, The De6l s the
!ersonfcat on of At hesm or Idolat ry,
"or the In t at es# th s s not a Person# b$t a "orce# creat ed for good# b$t
3hch may ser6e for e6 l , It s the nstr$ment of L berty or "ree ; l l, They
re!resent th s "orce# 3h ch !res des o6er the !hyscal generat on# $nder
t he myt hol ogc and horned form of t he God PA8G thence came the heDgoat
of t he Sabbat# brot her of t he Anc ent Ser!ent# and the LghtDbearer or
Phos!hor# of 3hch the !oet s ha6e made t he fal se L$c fer of t he l egend,
Gold# t o t he eyes of t he In t at es# s Lght condensed, They style t he sacred
n$mbers of the Kabal ah @golden n$mbers#@ and t he moral teach ngs of
Pyt hagoras h s @golden 6erses,@ "or t he same reason# a mystero$s boo/ of
A!$le$s# n 3hch an ass fg$res largely# 3as cal l ed @The Golden Ass, @
The Pagans acc$sed t he %hr st ans of 3orsh !! ng an ass# and t hey dd not
n6ent th s re!roach# b$t t came from the Samar tan &e3s# 3ho# fg$r ng
t he data of the Kabal ah n regard to t he D 6 n ty by Egy!t an symbols# al so
re!resented the Int ell gence by t he fg$re of the Magcal Star adored $nder
t he name of Rem!han# Scence $nder t he embl em of An$bs# 3hose name
t hey changed to 8 bbas# and the 6$l gar fa t h or cred$l ty $nder the fg$re
of Thart ac# a god re!resent ed 3 t h a boo/# a cl oa/# and t he head of an ass,
Accord ng to the Samart an Doctors# %hrst an ty 3as t he regn of Thartac#
bl nd "at h and 6$l gar cred$l ty erected nto a $n 6ersal oracle# and
!referred t o Intell gence and Scence,
Synes $s# Bsho! of Pt ol ema s# a great Kabal st# b$t of do$bt f$l
ort hodo4y# 3rote(
@The !eo!le 3l l al3ays moc/ at thngs easy t o be m s$nderst oodG t m$st
needs ha6e m!ost $res, @
@A S!rt # @ he sa d# @t hat lo6es 3 sdom and contem!l ates t he Tr$fh close at
hand# s forced to d sg$se t # t o nd$ce t he m$l t t$des t o acce!t t, , , ,
"ct ons are necessary to the !eo!le# and t he Tr$t h becomes deadly t o
t hose 3ho are not strong eno$gh to cont em!l at e t n all t s br ll ance, If
t he sacerdot al la3s all o3ed the reser6at on of 5 $dgment s and the al l egory
of 3ords# I 3o$l d acce!t t he !ro!osed d gn ty on condt on t hat I m ght be
a !h loso!her at home# and abroad a narrat or of a!olog$es and !arables, , , , ,
In fact # 3hat can t here be n common bet 3een t he 6l e m$lt t $de and
s$bl me 3 sdomJ The t r$th m$st be /e!t secret# and the masses need a
t eachng !ro!ort oned to ther m!erfect reason,@
Moral d sorders !rod$ce !hys cal $gl ness# and n some sort real <e those
frght f$l faces 3h ch tradt on ass gns t o the demons,
The f rst Dr$ds 3ere the t r$e ch ldren of the Mag# and ther nt at on
came from Egy!t and %hal daea# that s t o say# from t he !$re so$rces of t he
!r m t 6e Kabalah, They adored the Trn ty $nder the names of Iss or
-es$s# t he S$!reme -armonyG of Belerl or Bel # 3hch n Assyran means
Lord# a name corres!ondng t o t hat of ADO8AIG and of %am$l or %amael#
a name that n t he Kabalah !erson f es t he D6 ne &$st ce, Bel o3 ths
t r angle of Lght they s$!!osed a d 6 ne refl ect on# al so com!osed of t hree
!ersonfed rays( f rst# Te$t ates or Te$t h# the same as the Thot h of the
Egy!t ans# t he ;ord# or the Int ell gence form$lat edG then "orce and
Bea$ty# 3hose names 6ared l /e the r emblems, "nal ly# they com!l eted
t he sacred Se!t enary by a mystero$s mage t hat re!resented the !rogress
of t he dogma and t s f$t $re real <at ons, Th s 3as a yo$ng grl 6el ed#
holdng a ch ld n her armsG and t hey dedcated th s mage to @The F rgn
3ho 3l l become a motherG DDFrgn !ar t $rae, @
-ertha or ;ertha# t he yo$ng Iss of Ga$l # I$een of -ea6en# the Frg n
3ho 3as to bear a chl d# held t he s! ndle of the "ates# fl l ed 3t h 3ool
half 3h te and half blac/G beca$se she !res des o6er all forms and al l
symbol s# and 3ea6es t he garment of the Ideas,
One of t he most mystero$s !antacles of t he Kabal ah# conta ned n the
Enchrdon of Leo III, # re!resent s an eE$ lat eral t r angle re6ersed#
nscrbed n a do$ble crcle, On t he trangl e are 3rt ten# n s$ch manner as
t o form the !ro!het c Ta$# t he t 3o -ebre3 3ords so often fo$nd a!!ended
t o t he Ineffable 8ame# and ALO-A.IM# or t he Po3ers# and TSABAOT-#
or t he starry Arm es and ther g$ d ng s!rt sG 3ords al so 3hch symbol <e
t he EE$ l br $m of t he "orces of 8at$re and the -armony of 8$mbers, To
t he t hree sdes of t he t r angle bel ong the three great 8ames IA-AFE-#
ADO8AI# and AGLA, Abo6e the f rst s 3rt ten n Lat n# "ormat o# abo6e
t he second Reformat o# and abo6e the thrd# Transformat o, So %reat on s
ascrbed t o t he "AT-ER# Redem!t on or Reformat on to the SO8# and
Sanct f cat on or Transformat on t o the -OL. SPIRIT# ans3er ng $nt o t he
mathemat cal la3s of Act on# React on# and EE$ l br $m, IA-AFE- s
al so# n effect# t he Geness or "ormat on of dogma# by the el ement ary
sgnfcat on of the fo$r let t ers of t he Sacred Tet ragramG ADO8AIG s the
real <at on of t h s dogma n the -$man "orm# n the Fs bl e LORD# 3ho s
t he Son of God or the !erfect ManG and AGLA Mformed of t he nt als of
t he fo$r 3ords Ath Geb$r La$la m Adona N e4!resses t he synthes s of the
3hole dogma and t he t ot al ty of the Kabal , st c scence# cl early nd cat ng
by t he herogly!hcs of 3hch th s admrabl e name s formed the Tr!l e
Secret of t he Great ;or/,
Masonry# l /e al l the Rel gons# all the Mysteres# -ermet c sm and
Al chemy# conceal s ts secrets from all e4ce!t the Ade!t s and Sages# or the
Elect # and $ses fal se e4!lanat ons and m snter!retat ons of ts symbols to
msl ead t hose 3ho deser6e only to be msl edG t o conceal the Tr$t h# 3h ch
t call s Lght# from tl )em# and todra3 them a3ay from t, Tr$th s not for
t hose 3ho are $n3ort hy or $nable t o rece 6e t# or 3o$ld !er6ert t , So
God - msel f nca!act ates many men# by col orDbl ndness# t o d st ng$sh
colors# and l eads t he masses a3ay from the h ghest Tr$t h# g6 ng them t he
!o3er to at ta n only so m$ch of t as t s !roftable to them to /no3,
E6ery age has had a relgon s$ ted t o ts ca!acty,
The Teachers# e6en of %hrst anty# are# n general # t he most gnorant of
t he t r$e meanng of t hat 3h ch t hey teach, There s no boo/ of 3hch so
l t tl e s /no3n as the B ble, To most 3ho read t # t s as ncom!rehensbl e
as t he Sohar,
So Masonry 5eal o$sly conceal s t s secret s# and nt ent onally l eads
conce t ed nt er!ret ers ast ray, There s no sght $nder the s$n more !t f$l
and l $d cro$s at once# t han the s!ectacl e of t he Prestons and t he ;ebbs#
not to ment on the lat er ncarnat ons of D$ll ness and %ommon!lace#
$nderta/ng t o @e4!lan@ t he ol d symbol s of Masonry# and add ng t o and
@ m!ro6 ng@ t hem# or n6ent ng ne3 ones,
To the %rcle nclos ng the central !ont # and t sel f traced bet3een t3o
!aral lel l nes# a fg$re !$rely Kabal st c# t hese !ersons ha6e added t he
s$!er m!osed B bl e# and e6en reared on that t he l adder 3t h t hree or n ne
ro$nds# and then g 6en a 6a! d nt er!ret at on of the 3hole# so !rofo$ndly
abs$rd as act $ally t o e4c te adm rat on,
)*+),
:C D Secret Mast er# 7C D Perfect Master# =C D Int mate Secretary
+C D Pro6ost and &$dge# *C D Intendant of the B$ ld ng# 1C D El$ of t he 8ne
IF, SE%RET MASTER,
MASO8R. s a s$ccesson of allegor es# t he mere 6eh cles of great
l essons n moral ty and !h l oso!hy, .o$ 3 ll more f$lly a!!recate ts
s!rt # ts ob5 ect # t s !$r!oses# as yo$ ad6ance n t he dfferent Degrees#
3hch yo$ 3 ll f nd t o const t$te a great # com!l ete# and harmono$s
syst em,
If yo$ ha6e been d sa!!o nt ed n the f rst t hree Degrees# as yo$ ha6e
rece6ed t hem# and f t has seemed t o yo$ that t he !erformance has not
come $! t o the !rom se# t hat t he l essons of moral ty are not ne3# and the
sc ent f c nst r$ct on s b$t r$d ment ary# and the symbol s are m!erfectly
e4!l aned# remember t hat the ceremon es and lessons of those Degrees
ha6e been for ages more and more accommodat ng themsel6es# by
c$rtal ment and s n/ ng nt o common!lace# to t he often l mt ed memory
and ca!ac ty of the Master and Inst r$ctor# and to t he nt el lect and needs of
t he P$!l and In t ateG t hat they ha6e come to $s from an age 3hen
symbol s 3ere $sed# not to re6eal b$t t o conceal G 3hen t he commonest
l earnng 3as conf ned to a select fe3# and the s m!l est !rnc !l es of
moral ty seemed ne3ly d sco6ered t r$t hsG and t hat t hese ant E$e and
s m!l e Degrees no3 stand l /e t he bro/en col $mns of a roofless Dr$d c
t em!l e# n ther r$de and m$t l ated great nessG n many !art s# al so#
corr$!t ed by t me# and d sfg$red by modern add t ons and abs$rd
nter!retat ons, They are b$t t he entrance to the great Masonc Tem!l e# t he
t r !l e col $mns of t he !ort co,
.o$ ha6e t a/en the f rst st e! o6er t s t hreshold# the frst ste! t o3ard t he
nner sanct $ary and heart of the tem!l e, .o$ are n the !at h that l eads $!
t he sl o!e of the mo$nta n of Tr$thG and t de!ends $!on yo$r secrecy#
obed ence# and f del ty# 3het her yo$ 3 l l ad6ance or rema n st at onary,
Imag ne not t hat yo$ 3l l become ndeed a Mason by learn ng 3hat s
commonly cal led the @3or/# @ or e6en by becom ng faml ar 3 th o$r
t rad t ons, Masonry has a h story# a l terat $re# a !hl oso!hy, It s all egores
and t radt ons 3 l l teach yo$ m$chG b$t m$ch s t o be so$ght el se3here,
The streams of l earnng that no3 fl o3 f$l l and broad m$st be fol l o3ed to
t her heads n t he s!r ngs t hat 3el l $! n the remot e !ast # and yo$ 3 l l
t here f nd the org n and mean ng of Masonry,
A fe3 r$d mentary l essons n arch tect $re# a fe3 $n 6ersal ly adm t ted
ma4 ms of moral ty# a fe3 $n m!ort ant t rad t ons# 3hose real mean ng s
$n/no3n or m s$nderst ood# 3l l no longer sat sfy t he earnest nE$ rer
after Mason c t r$th, Let 3hoso s content 3t h t hese# see/ t o cl mb no
hgher, -e 3ho desres t o $nderstand t he harmon o$s and bea$t f$l
!ro!ort ons of "reemasonry m$st read# st$dy# refl ect# dgest# and
dscr m nat e, The t r$e Mason s an ardent see/er aft er /no3ledgeG and he
/no3s t hat both boo/s and the ant E$e symbol s of Masonry are 6essels
3hch come do3n t o $s f$l lDfreght ed 3t h t he nt ell ect$al r ches of t he
PastG and t hat n t he l adng of t hese argos es s m$ch t hat sheds lght on
t he hst ory of Masonry# and !ro6es ts cla m t o be ac/no3l edged the
benefact or of man/ nd# born n t he 6ery cradl e of t he race,
Kno3l edge s the most gen$ ne and real of h$man treas$resG for t s
Lght # as Ignorance s Dar/ness, It s the de6el o!ment of t he h$man so$l#
and ts acE$ s t on t he gro3t h of the so$l # 3hch at the b rt h of man /no3s
nothng# and t herefore# n one sense# may be sa d to be not h ng, It s t he
seed# 3hch has n t the !o3er to gro3# to acE$re# and by acE$ rng to be
de6elo!ed# as t he seed s de6el o!ed nto the shoot# t he !lant # the tree, @;e
need not !a$se at t he common arg$ment t hat by learn ng man e4cell et h
man# n that 3here n man e4cel let h beastsG that by l earnng man ascendet h
t o t he hea6ens and the r mot ons# 3here n body he cannot come# and the
l /e, Let $s rat her regard t he dgn ty and e4cellency of /no3ledge and
l earnng n that 3here$nt o man? s nat$re dot h most as! re# 3h ch s
mmortal ty or cont n$ance, "or t o t h s tendet h generat on# and ras ng of
-o$ses and "am l esG t o t h s b$l d ngs# fo$ndat ons# and mon$mentsG t o
t h s tendet h t he des re of memory# fame# and celebrat on# and n effect t he
st rengt h of all other h$man des res, @ That o$r nfl $ences shal l s$r6 6e $s#
and be l 6 ng forces 3hen 3e are n o$r gra6esG and no merely t hat o$r
names shal l be rememberedG b$t rather that o$r 3or/s shall be read# o$r
act s s!o/en of# o$r names recol lect ed an ment oned 3hen 3e are dead# as
e6dences that t hose nfl $ences l 6e and r$le# s3ay and cont rol some
!ort on of man/nd and of the 3orld# DDths s t he as!rat on of the h$man
so$l, @;e see then ho3 far the mon$ment s of gen$s and learnng are more
d$rable than mon$ment s of !o3er or of t he hands, "or ha6e not the 6erses
of -omer cont n$ed t 3entyDf6e h$ndred years or more# 3t ho$t the loss of
a syll able or let ter# d$r ng 3h ch t me nf nt e !alaces# tem!les# castl es#
c t es# ha6e decayed and been demol shedJ It s no !ossbl e t o ha6e t he
t r$e ! ct $res or st at $es of %yr$s# Ale4ander %aesar# no# nor of the K ngs
or great !ersonages of m$ch lat e yearsG for t he orgnal s cannot last # and
t he co!es cannot b$t l ose of t he l fe and t r$th, B$t t he mages of men? s
gen $s and /no3ledge reman n boo/s# e4em!t ed from the 3rong of t me#
and ca!able of !er!et $al reno6at on, 8e ther are t hey f tly t o be call ed
mages# beca$se t hey generat e st l l# and cast t he r seeds n t he m nds of
others# !ro6o/ ng and ca$sng nf n te act ons and o! nons n s$cceedng
agesG so t hat f the n6ent on of t he sh! 3as t ho$ght so noble# 3h ch
carr et h r ches and commod t es from !lace t o !lace# and consocat et h the
most remot e regons n !art c!at on of ther fr$t s# ho3 m$ch more are
l ett ers to be magn fed 3hch# as sh!s# !ass thro$gh t he 6ast seas of t me#
and ma/e age so d stant t o !art c !at e of t he 3sdom# l l$m nat on# and
n6ent ons# t he one of t he other,@
To learn# to att an /no3l edge# to be 3se# s a necess ty for e6er tr$ly
nobl e so$lG t o t each# to comm$n cat e that /no3ledge# t o share t hat 3 sdom
3 th ot hers# and not ch$rl shly t o loc/ $! h s e4cheE$er# and !l ace a
sent nel at t he door t o dr6e a3ay t he needy# s eE$ally an m!$l se of a
nobl e nat $re# and t he 3ort h es 3or/ of man,
@There 3as a l tt le c ty# @ says the Preacher# the son of Da6d @and fe3 men
3 thn tG and there came a great Kng aganst t and beseged t # and b$ lt
great b$l 3ar/s aganst t, 8o3 there 3as fo$nd n t a !oor 3se man# and
he by hs 3 sdom del 6ered the ctyG yet no man remembered that same
!oor man, Then sa d I# 3 sdom s bet ter than st rength ne6ertheless# the
!oor man? s 3 sdom s des!sed# and h s 3ords are not heard,@ If t sho$l d
chance to yo$# my brother# t o do man/ nd good ser6ce# and be re3arded
3 th nd fference and forget f$lness only# st l l be not d sco$raged# b$t
remember the f$rt her ad6ce of the 3 se Kng, @In the mornng so3 the
seed# and n t he e6enng 3 thhol d not thy handG for tho$ /no3est not
3hch shall !ros!er# t h s or t hat # or 3hether bot h shall be al /e good, @
So3 yo$ the seed# 3hoe6er rea!s, Learn# t hat yo$ may be enabl ed t o do
goodG and do so beca$se t s rght# fndng n t he act t self am!le re3ard
and recom!ense,
To at t an the t r$t h# and t o ser6e o$r fel lo3s# o$r co$ntry# and man/ ndDD
t h s s the noblest dest ny of man, -ereafter and al l yo$r l fe t s t o be
yo$r ob5 ect , If yo$ des re t o ascend t o that dest ny# ad6anceO If yo$ ha6e
other and l ess noble ob5 ects# and are contented 3 th a l o3er fl ght # hal t
here O l et others scal e t he he ght s# and Masonry f$lf l l her m ss on,
If yo$ 3 ll ad6ance# grd $! yo$r lo ns for the st r$ggle O for t he 3ay s
l ong and to l some, Pleas$re# al l sm les# 3 ll bec/on yo$ on the one hand#
and Indolence 3 ll n6 te yo$ to sl ee! among t he flo3ers# $!on the ot her,
Pre!are# by secrecy# obed ence# and f del ty# to res st the all $rement s of
both O
Secrecy s nds!ensable n a Mason of 3hate6er Degree, It s the f rst and
al most t he only l esson ta$ght t o t he Entered A!!rentce, The obl gat ons
3hch 3e ha6e each ass$med to3ard e6ery Mason that l 6es# reE$rng of
$s the !erformance of t he most sero$s and onero$s d$t es t o3ard t hose
!ersonally $n/no3n to $s $nt l they demand o$r ad# 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
6ol ated# and 3e be branded as fal se Masons and fat hl ess men# t each $s
ho3 !rofo$nd a fol ly t 3o$ld be t o betray o$r secret s to t hose 3ho# bo$nd
t o $s by no t e of common obl gat on# mght # by obt a n ng t hem# call on $s
n t he r e4t remty# 3hen t he $rgency of t he occason sho$l d al lo3 $s no
t me for nE$ ry# and the !erem!t ory mandat e of o$r oblgat on com!el $s
t o do a brot her? s d$ty t o a base m!ost or,
The secrets of o$r brot her# 3hen comm$ncat ed to $s# m$st be sacred# f
t hey be s$ch as t he l a3 of o$r co$ntry 3arrants $s t o /ee!, ;e are
reE$ red t o /ee! none other# 3hen t he l a3 t hat 3e are call ed on to obey s
ndeed a l a3# by ha6ng emanat ed from the only so$rce of !o3er# t he
Peo!le, Ed ct s 3hch emanat e from t he mere arbt rary 3 ll of a des!ot c
!o3er# cont rary t o t he la3 of God or t he Great La3 of 8at $re# dest r$ct 6e
of t he nherent rghts of man# 6ol at 6e of the rght of free tho$ght # free
s!eech# free consc ence# t s la3f$l to rebel aganst and str 6e t o
abrogat e,
"or obed ence to the La3 does not mean s$bmss on to tyranny nor that#
by a !rofl gate sacr f ce of e6ery nobl e feel ng# 3e sho$ld offer t o
des!ot sm the homage of ad$l at on, As e6ery ne3 6 ct m fal ls# 3e may l ft
o$r 6o ce n st l l lo$der flat tery, ;e may fall at t he !ro$d feet # 3e may
beg# as a boon# the hono$r of /ss ng t hat bl oody hand 3hch has been
l fted aganst t he hel!less, ;e may do more 3e may br ng t he al tar and t he
sacrfce# and m!lore the God not to ascend t oo soon t o -ea6en, Ths 3e
may do# for t h s 3e ha6e t he sad remembrance that bengs of a h$man
form and so$l ha6e done, B$t t h s s all 3e can do, ;e can constra n o$r
t ong$es to be fal se# o$r feat $res to bend t hemsel 6es to the sembl ance of
t hat !assonat e adorat on 3h ch 3e 3 sh t o e4!ress# o$r /nees to fall
!rost rat eG b$t o$r heart 3e cannot constra n, There 6rt$e m$st st ll ha6e a
6oce 3hch s not to be dro3ned by hymns and acclamat onsG t here the
cr mes 3h ch 3e la$d as 6rt $es# are cr mes st ll # and he 3hom 3e ha6e
made a God s the most contem!t bl e of man/ndG f# ndeed# 3e do not
feel# !erha!s# that 3e are o$rsel6es st ll more cont em!t ble,
B$t t hat la3 3h ch s t he fa r e4!ress on of t he 3 l l and 5 $dgment of t he
!eo!l e# s t he enact ment of the 3hole and of e6ery nd 6 d$al , %onsst ent
3 th t he l a3 of God and t he great la3 of nat $re# consst ent 3 th !$re and
abst ract rght as tem!ered by necess ty and t he general nterest# as contraD
dst ng$shed from t he !r 6at e nterest of nd6 d$al s# t s obl gatory $!on
al l# beca$se t s the 3or/ of al l # t he 3l l of all # the solemn 5$dgment of
al l# from 3hch there s no a!!eal,
In t hs Degree# my brother# yo$ are es!ecal ly to learn the d$ty of
obed ence t o t hat la3, There s one tr$e and orgnal l a3# conformabl e to
reason and to nat $re# d ff$sed o6er al l# n6arable# eternal# 3hch call s to
t he f$l f ll ment of d$ty and t o abst nence from n5$stce# and cal ls 3 t h t hat
rres st ble 6oce 3h ch s felt l n al l ts a$t hor ty 3here6er t s heard,
Th s la3 cannot be abrogat ed or d mnshed# or t s sanct ons affect ed# by
any la3 of man, A 3hole senate# a 3hol e !eo!le# cannot d ssent from t s
!aramo$nt obl gat on, It reE$ res no commentat or t o render t d st nctly
ntell g ble nor s t one t h ng at Rome# anot her at AthensG one th ng no3#
and another n the ages to comeG b$t n al l t mes and n all nat ons# t s#
and has been# and 3 ll be# one and e6erl ast ngG DDone as that God# ts great
A$thor and Prom$lgator# 3ho s the %ommon So6ere gn of all man/ nd# s
- msel f One, 8o man can dsobey t 3t ho$t flyng# as t 3ere# from hs
o3n bosom# and re!$dat ng h s nat $reG and n ths 6ery act he 3 ll nfl ct
on h msel f the se6erest of ret r b$t ons# e6en tho$gh he esca!e 3hat s
regarded as !$n shment,
It s o$r d$ty to obey t he l a3s of o$r co$ntry# and t o be caref$l t hat
!re5 $d ce or !ass on# fancy or affect on# error and l l $s on# be not
mst a/en for conscence, 8oth ng s more $s$al than t o !retend conscence
n al l the act ons of man 3hch are !$bl c and cannot be conceal ed, The
dsobedent ref$se t o s$bm t to t he l a3s# and t hey also n many cases
!retend conscenceG and so d sobedence and rebel l on become conscence#
n 3hch t here s net her /no3ledge nor re6el at on# nor tr$t h nor charty#
nor reason nor rel g on, %onscence s t ed t o l a3s, Rght or s$re
conscence s rght reason red$ced to !ract ce# and cond$ct ng moral
act ons# 3h l e !er6erse conscence s seated n t he fancy or affect onsDDa
hea! of rreg$lar !r nc !les and rreg$l ar defect sDD and s t he same n
conscence as deform ty s n the body# or !ee6shness n t he affect ons, It
s not eno$gh t hat the consc ence be ta$ght by nat $reG b$t t m$st be
t a$ght by God# cond$cted by reason# made o!erat 6e by d sco$rse# ass sted
by choce# nst r$cted by la3s and sober !rnc!l esG and then t s rght# and
t may be s$re, Al l the general meas$res of 5$st ce# are t he l a3s of God#
and t herefore t hey const t$te t he general r$les of go6ernment for the
conscenceG b$t necessty al so hath a large 6o ce n t he arrangement of
h$man affa rs# and the d s!osal of h$man relat ons# and t he ds!os t ons of
h$man la3sG and t hese general meas$res# l /e a great r 6er nt o l tt l e
st reams# are ded$ced nt o lt t le r 6$l et s and !art c$l art es# by t he la3s
and c$st oms# by t he sentences and agreement s of men# and by the absol $t e
des!ot sm of necess ty# that 3 ll not al l o3 !erfect and abstract 5$st ce and
eE$ty t o be t he sole r$l e of c 6 l go6ernment n an m!erfect 3orl dG and
t hat m$st needs be la3 3h ch s for t he greatest good of t he greatest
n$mber,
;hen tho$ 6o3est a 6o3 $nt o God# defer not to !ay t , It s bet ter tho$
sho$l dest not 6o3 t han tho$ sho$ldest 6o3 and not !ay, Be not rash 3 t h
t hy mo$th# and l et not t hne heart be hasty to $t ter anyth ng before God
for God s n -ea6en# and t ho$ art $!on earthG t herefore l et thy 3ords be
fe3, ;e gh 3ell 3hat t s yo$ !rom seG b$t once t he !romse and !ledge
are g6en remember that he 3ho s fal se t o hs obl gat on 3 l l be false t o
hs fam ly# h s frends# h s co$ntry# and hs God,
"des ser6a lda est "at h !l ght ed s e6er t o be /e!t# 3as a ma4 m and an
a4om e6en among !agans, The 6rt$o$s Roman sa d# et her let not that
3hch seems e4!edent be base# or f t be base# l et t not seem e4!ed ent ,
;hat s there 3hch that soDcal led e4!edency can brng# so 6al$able as
t hat 3h ch t ta/es a3ay# f t de!r 6es yo$ of t he name of a good man and
robs yo$ of yo$r ntegrty and hono$rJ In all ages# he 3ho 6 ol at es hs
!lght ed 3ord has been hel d $ns!ea/ably base, The 3ord of a Mason# l /e
t he 3ord of a /nght n t he t mes of ch 6al ry# once g6en m$st be sacredG
and t he 5 $dgment of hs brothers# $!on h m 3ho 6 ol ates hs !ledge#
sho$l d be stern as the 5$dgments of the Roman %ensors aganst h m 3ho
6ol ated h s oat h, Good fat h s re6ered among Masons as t 3as among the
Romans# 3ho !laced t s stat $e n the ca!t ol # ne4t t o t hat of &$! ter
Ma4 m$s O!t m$sG and 3e# l /e t hem# hold that cal am ty sho$ld al 3ays be
chosen rather than basenessG and 3 th the /nght s of ol d# t hat one sho$ld
al 3ays de rather t han be dshono$red,
Be fa t hf$l# t herefore# t o the !rom ses yo$ ma/e# to the !l edges yo$ g 6e#
and t o t he 6o3s that yo$ ass$me# snce to brea/ e ther s base and
dshono$rable,
Be fa t hf$l to yo$r famly# and !erform al l the d$t es of a good father# a
good son# a good h$sband# and a good brot her,
Be fa t hf$l to yo$r fr endsG for t r$e fr endsh ! s of a nat $re not only t o
s$r6 6e thro$gh al l the 6c sst $des of l fe# b$t to cont n$e thro$gh an
endless d$rat onG not only t o stand t he shoc/ of confl ct ng o! n ons# and
t he roar of a re6ol$t on that sha/es t he 3orl d# b$t t o l ast 3hen the hea6ens
are no more# and to s!rng fresh from the r$ns of t he $n 6erse,
Be fa t hf$l to yo$r co$ntry# and !refer ts dgnty and hono$r to any degree
of !o!$larty and hono$r for yo$rselfG cons$lt ng t s nt erest rat her than
yo$r o3n# and rather t han the !l eas$re and grat fcat on of t he !eo!le#
3hch are oft en at 6ar ance 3 th t her 3el fare,
Be fa t hf$l to Masonry# 3hch s to be fa thf$l t o t he best nterest s of
man/ nd, Labo$r# by !rece!t and e4am!le# to ele6ate the standard of
Masonc character# t o enlarge ts s!here of nfl $ence# to !o!$lar<e t s
t eachngs# and t o ma/e all men /no3 t for the Great A!ost le of Peace#
-armony# and GoodD3 ll on earth among menG of L berty# EE$alty# and
"rat ern ty,
Masonry s $sef$l t o all men t o t he l earned# beca$se t affords t hem t he
o!!ort $n ty of e4erc sng ther tal ent s $!on s$b5 ects emnently 3orthy of
t her at tent onG t o the l l terat e# beca$se t offers t hem m!ortant
nstr$ct onG to t he yo$ng# beca$se t !resent s them 3t h sal $tary !rece!t s
and good e4am!les# and acc$stoms them t o reflect on the !ro!er mode of
l 6 ngG t o the man of the 3orl d# 3hom t f$rn shes 3t h nobl e and $sef$l
recreat onG to the tra6el ler# 3hom t enabl es t o fnd fr ends and brot hers n
co$nt r es 3here el se he 3o$l d be solat ed and sol t aryG to the 3ort hy man
n msfort $ne# t o 3hom t g6es assst anceG to the affl ct ed# on 3hom t
l a6 shes consolat onG to t he char tabl e man# 3hom t enabl es t o do more
good# by $n t ng 3 t h t hose 3ho are char t abl e l /e h msel fG and t o al l 3ho
ha6e so$ls ca!able of a!!recat ng ts m!ortance# and of en5 oyng the
charms of a fr endsh! fo$nded on t he same !r nc!l es of rel g on#
moral ty# and !h lanthro!y,
A "reemason# therefore# sho$ld be a man of hono$r and of consc ence#
!referrng h s d$ty to e6eryth ng besde# e6en t o hs l feG nde!endent n
hs o! nons# and of good moral s# s$bmss 6e t o t he la3s# de6oted to
h$manty# t o hs co$nt ry# to h s fam lyG /nd and nd$lgent t o hs bret hren#
fr end of all 6rt$o$s men# and ready t o ass st hs fel lo3s by al l means n
hs !o3er,
Th$s 3 ll yo$ be fa t hf$l t o yo$rself# t o yo$r fell o3s# and to God# and t h$s
3 ll yo$ do hono$r to t he name and ran/ of SE%RET MASTERG 3h ch#
l /e ot her Mason c hono$rs# degrades f t s not deser6ed,

F, PER"E%T MASTER,
The Mast er Kh$r$m 3as an nd$stro$s and an honest man, ;hat he 3as
em!loyed to do he dd d l gent ly# and he d d t 3el l and fat hf$l ly, -e
rece6ed no 3ages t hat 3ere not hs d$e, Ind$st ry and honesty are t he
6rt$es !ec$l arly nc$lcat ed n th s Degree, They are common and homely
6rt$esG b$t not for t hat beneat h o$r notce, As t he bees do not l o6e or
res!ect the drones# so Masonry ne t her l o6es nor res!ects the dle and
t hose 3ho l 6e by t her 3t sG and l east of all t hose !aras t c acar t hat l 6e
$!on themsel 6es, "or t hose 3ho are ndolent are l /ely to become
dss !at ed and 6 co$sG and !erfect honesty# 3hch o$ght to be the common
E$al f cat on of al l# s more rare than d amonds, To do earnest ly and
st ead ly# and t o do fat hf$l ly and honest ly t hat 3h ch 3e ha6e to doDD
!erha!s ths 3ants b$t l t tl e# 3hen loo/ed at from e6ery !ont of 6e3# of
ncl $d ng t he 3hol e body of the moral la3G and e6en n the r commonest
and homel est a!!l cat on# t hese 6 rt $es belong t o t he charact er of a
Perfect Mast er,
Idl eness s t he b$r al of a l 6ng man, "or an dl e !erson s so $sel ess t o
any !$r!oses of God and man# that he s l /e one 3ho s dead#
$nconcerned n t he changes and necesst es of the 3orldG and he only l 6es
t o s!end hs t me# and eat the fr$ ts of the eart h, L/e a 6erm n or a 3ol f#
3hen hs t me comes# he des and !er shes# and n the meant me s no$ght ,
-e ne t her !l o$ghs nor carres b$rdens( all t hat he does s e ther
$n!roftable or m sch e6o$s,
It s a 6ast 3or/ that any man may do# f he ne6er be dl e( and t s a h$ge
3ay that a man may go n 6rt $e# f he ne6er go o$t of hs 3ay by a 6 c o$s
habt or a great cr me( and he 3ho !er!et $ally reads good boo/s# f h s
!art s be ans3erable# 3l l ha6e a h$ge stoc/ of /no3l edge,
St, Ambrose# and from hs e4am!le# St, A$g$st ne# d6 ded e6ery day nto
t hese t ert as of em!l oyment ( eght ho$rs t hey s!ent n the necess t es of
nat$re and recreat on( e ght ho$rs n charty# n do ng ass stance to ot hers#
ds!at ch ng t her b$s ness# reconc l ng the r enm t es# re!ro6 ng ther
6ces# correct ng t he r errors# nstr$ct ng ther gnorance# and n
t ransact ng t he affa rs of ther d ocesesG and the ot her eght ho$rs t hey
s!ent n st $dy and !rayer,
;e th n/# at t he age of t3enty# that l fe s m$ch t oo long for t hat 3h ch 3e
ha6e t o l earn and doG and t hat there s an al most fab$l o$s d stance
bet3een o$r age and t hat of o$r grandfat her, B$t 3hen# at the age of s 4ty#
f 3e are fort $nat e eno$gh t o reach t # or $nfort$nate eno$gh# as the case
may be# and accord ng as 3e ha6e !rof tably n6est ed or 3asted o$r t me#
3e hal t # and loo/ bac/ al ong the 3ay 3e ha6e come# and cast $! and
endea6o$r to balance o$r acco$nt s 3 th t me and o!!ort $nty# 3e f nd that
3e ha6e made l fe m$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 t he s$m t ot al of o$r years t he
ho$rs t hat 3e ha6e needlessly !assed n slee!G t he 3or/ngDho$rs each day#
d$r ng 3h ch t he s$rface of the m nd? s sl $ggsh !ool has not been st rred
or r$ff ed by a sngle t ho$ght G the days t hat 3e ha6e gl adly got rd of# t o
at ta n some real or fanced ob5 ect that l ay beyond# n the 3ay bet 3een $s
and 3hch stood r/somely the nter6en ng daysG the ho$rs 3orse than
3ast ed n fol l es and d ss!at on# or m ss!ent n $sel ess and $n!rof tabl e
st $d esG and 3e ac/no3ledge# 3 th a s gh# that 3e co$ld ha6e learned and
done# n hal f a score of years 3el l s!ent# more than 3e ha6e done n al l
o$r forty years of manhood,
To learn and t o do ODDt h s s the so$l ? s 3or/ here bel o3, The so$l gro3s as
t r$ly as an oa/ gro3s, As the tree t a/es t he carbon of t he a r# the de3# t he
ran# and t he l ght# and the food that t he eart h s$!!l es t o t s root s# and by
ts myst er o$s chem stry t ransm$t es t hem nto sa! and f bre# nto 3ood
and l eaf# and fl o3er and fr$ t# and col o$r and !erf$me# so the so$l mbbes
/no3l edge and by a d6 ne alchemy changes 3hat t learns nt o t s o3n
s$bstance# and gro3s from 3t h n o$t3ardly 3 t h an nherent force and
!o3er l /e those that le h dden n t he gran of 3heat ,
The so$l hat h t s senses# l /e t he body# that may be c$l t 6ated# enlarged#
ref ned# as tsel f gro3s n stat $re and !ro!ort onG and he 3ho cannot
a!!rec ate a f ne !ant ng or st at$e# a noble !oem# a s3eet harmony# a
hero c t ho$ght # or a ds nt erest ed act on# or to 3hom the 3sdom of
!hl oso!hy s b$t fool shness and babble# and the l oft est t r$ths of less
m!ort ance than the !rce of stoc/s or cott on# or t he el e6at on of baseness
t o once# merely l 6es on t he l e6el of common!l ace# and ft ly !rdes
h msel f $!on that nfer orty of t he so$l? s senses# 3h ch s the nfer or ty
and m!erfect de6elo!ment of the so$l t sel f,
To slee! l t t le# and t o st $dy m$chG to say l t tl e# and to hear and thn/
m$chG t o l earn# t hat 3e may be abl e t o do# and then to do# earnest ly and
6goro$sly# 3hate6er may be reE$red of $s by d$ty# and by the good of
o$r fel lo3s# o$r co$ntry# and man/ nd# DD t hese are t he d$t es of e6ery
Mason 3ho des res to m t ate the Master Kh$r$m,
The d$ty of a Mason as an honest man s !l an and easy, It reE$res of $s
honesty n contracts# sncer ty n armng# s m!l cty n barga n ng# and
fat hf$lness n !erformng, Le not at al l # ne ther n a l t tle thng nor n a
great# ne ther n t he s$bstance nor n the crc$mstance# ne t her n 3ord nor
deed( that s# !ret end not 3hat s falseG co6er not 3hat s t r$eG and l et the
meas$re of yo$r affrmat on or den al be t he $nderstandng of yo$r
contractorG for he 3ho dece 6es the b$yer or the seller by s!ea/ng 3hat s
t r$e# n a sense not ntended or $nderstood by the other# s a l ar and a
t hef, A Perfect Master m$st a6o d that 3hch dece6es# eE$ally 3t h t hat
3hch s fal se,
Let yo$r !rces be accordng to t hat meas$re of good and e6l 3hch s
est abl shed n t he fame and common acco$nts of the 3 sest and most
merc f$l men# s/ ll ed n that man$fact$re or commodtyG and t he gan
s$ch# 3hch# 3t ho$t scandal# s al l o3ed to !ersons n all t he same
c rc$mstances,
In nterco$rse 3 th ot hers# do not do all 3h ch t ho$ mayest la3f$l ly doG
b$t /ee! somet h ng 3t hn t hy !o3erG and# beca$se there s a l at t$de of
ga n n b$yng and sel l ng# ta/e not t ho$ t he $t most !enny t hat s la3f$l #
or 3hch t ho$ thn/est soG for alt ho$gh t be l a3f$l# yet t s not safeG and
he 3ho gans all t hat he can ga n l a3f$lly# t hs year# 3ll !ossbly be
t em!t ed# ne4t year# to gan someth ng $nl a3f$lly,
Let no man# for hs o3n !o6erty# become more o!!ress ng and cr$el n h s
barga nG b$t E$etly# modest ly# dl gently# and !at ently recommend h s
est at e t o God# and fol l o3 h s nterest # and lea6e the s$ccess t o - m,
Det an not the 3ages of t he hrel ngG for e6ery degree of detent on of t
beyond the t me# s n5$st ce and $nchar tableness# and grnds h s face t l l
t ears and blood come o$t G b$t !ay h m e4act ly accordng to co6enant # or
accord ng t o hs needs,
Rel g o$sly /ee! al l !rom ses and co6enant s# t ho$gh made t o yo$r
dsad6ant age# tho$gh aft er3ard yo$ !erce6e yo$ m ght ha6e done bet terG
and l et not any !recedent act of yo$rs be al tered by any afterDaccdent, Let
nothng ma/e yo$ brea/ yo$r !rom se# $nless t be $nla3f$l or m!ossbl eG
t hat s# e ther o$t of yo$r nat$re or o$t of yo$r c 6l !o3er# yo$rself be ng
$nder t he !o3er of anotherG or that t be nt ol erably ncon6enent t o
yo$rsel f# and of no ad6ant age to anotherG or t hat 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
!robabl ty $nderta/eG or n some sense !rof tably# and 3t h ease# or 3 th
ad6antage manage, Let no man a!!ro!r ate to h s o3n $se# 3hat God# by a
s!ec al mercy# or t he Re!$bl c# hat h made commonG for t hat s aganst both
&$st ce and %har ty,
That any man sho$l d be the 3orse for $s# and for o$r d rect act# and by o$r
ntent on# s aganst the r$l e of eE$ ty# of 5$st ce# and of char ty, ;e t hen
do not that t o others# 3h ch 3e 3o$ld ha6e done t o o$rsel 6esG for 3e gro3
rcher $!on t he r$ ns of t he r fort$ne,
It s not honest to rece 6e anyt hng from another 3t ho$t ret $rnng h m an
eE$6alent t herefor, The gamester 3ho 3ns the money of anot her s
dshonest, There sho$l d be no s$ch thng as bet s and gam ng among
Masons( for no honest man sho$ld des re that for nothng 3h ch belongs t o
another, The merchant 3ho sel ls an nfer or art cl e for a so$nd !rce# the
s!ec$lat or 3ho ma/es t he dstresses and needs of ot hers f ll h s e4cheE$er
are ne ther far nor honest# b$t base# gnoble# $nf t for mmortal ty,
It sho$ld be the earnest des re of e6ery Perfect Mast er so t o l 6e and deal
and act # t hat 3hen t comes t o h m t o de# he may be abl e t o say# and hs
conscence to ad5 $dge# that no man on eart h s !oorer# beca$se he s
rcherG that 3hat he hat h he has honestly earned# and no man can go before
God# and cl a m t hat by the r$les of eE$ ty admnstered n - s great
chancery# th s ho$se n 3h ch 3e de# t hs land 3e de6 se to o$r hers t h s
money that enr ches t hose 3ho s$r66e t o bear o$r name# s h s and not
o$rs# and 3e n that for$m are only h s t r$st ees, "or t s most certa n t hat
God s 5 $st # and 3 l l st ernly enforce e6ery s$ch t r$stG and t hat to all 3hom
3e des!ol # t o al l 3hom 3e defra$d# t o all from 3hom 3e t a/e or 3n
anythng 3hate6er# 3t ho$t far consderat on and eE$6alent # -e 3 ll
decree a f$l l and adeE$at e com!ensat on,
Be caref$l # then# t hat t ho$ rece 6e no 3ages# here or el se3here# t hat are
not thy d$e O "or f tho$ doest # t ho$ 3rongst some one# by ta/ ng t hat
3hch n God? s chancery belongs t o h mG and 3het her that 3hch t ho$
t a/est th$s be 3ealt h# or ran/# or nfl $ence# or re!$tat on or affect on#
t ho$ 3 lt s$rely be held t o ma/e f$l l sat sfact on,

FI, I8TIMATE SE%RETAR., M%onf dent al Secretary,N
.o$ are es!ec ally t a$ght n t h s Degree to be <ealo$s and fat hf$lG t o be
ds nterested and bene6olentG and t o act t he !eacema/er# n case of
dssens ons# d s!$t es# and E$arrel s among t he bret hren,
D$ty s the moral magnet sm 3hch control s and g$ des t he t r$e Mason? s
co$rse o6er t he t $m$lt $o$s seas of l fe, ;het her t he st ars of hono$r#
re!$t at on# and re3ard do or do not shne# n the l ght of day or n t he
dar/ness of t he n ght of t ro$bl e and ad6ers ty# n cal m or st orm# that
$nerrng magnet stl l sho3s h m the tr$e co$rse to steer# and ndcates
3 th certa nty 3hereDa3ay l es the !ort 3hch not t o reach n6ol 6es
sh!3rec/ and d shono$r, -e foll o3s t s s lent bddng# as the marner#
3hen l and s for many days not n sght# and the ocean 3 t ho$t !at h or
l andmar/ s!reads o$t all aro$nd h m# fol lo3s t he bddng of t he needle#
ne6er do$bt ng t hat t !o nt s tr$ly t o the nort h, To !erform t hat d$ty#
3hether t he !erformance be re3arded or $nre3arded# s hs sole care, And
t dot h not mat ter# t ho$gh of t h s !erformance t here may be no 3t nesses#
and t ho$gh 3hat he does 3 ll be fore6er $n/no3n to all man/ nd,
A l t tl e consderat on 3 l l t each $s that "ame has ot her l mt s than
mo$nta ns and oceansG and that he 3ho !l aces ha!!ness n the freE$ent
re!et t on of hs name# may s!end h s l fe n !ro!agat ng t# 3t ho$t any
danger of 3ee! ng for ne3 3orlds# or necess ty of !ass ng t he At lantc
sea,
If# t herefore# he 3ho mag nes t he 3orl d to be fl led 3 th h s act ons and
!ra ses# shal l s$bd$ct from the n$mber of h s encomast s al l t hose 3ho are
!laced bel o3 t he fl ght of fame# and 3ho hear n t he 6alley of l fe no
6oce b$t t hat of necess tyG al l t hose 3ho magne t hemsel 6es t oo
m!ort ant t o regard h m# and cons der t he ment on of hs name as a
$s$r!at on of ther t meG all 3ho are too m$ch or too l t tl e !l eased 3 t h
t hemsel 6es to att end to anyth ng e4ternal G all 3ho are att ract ed by
!leas$re# or chaned do3n by !an t o $n6ared deasG al l 3ho are 3t hhel d
from attend ng hs t r $m!h by dfferent !$rs$t sG and all 3ho sl $mber n
$n6ersal negl genceG he 3 l l f nd h s reno3n strat ened by nearer bo$nds
t han the roc/s of %a$cas$sG and !erce 6e that no man can be 6enerable or
form dabl e# b$t to a small !art of h s fell o3Dcreat $res, And therefore# t hat
3e may not l ang$ sh n o$r endea6ors aft er e4cel lence# t s necessary
t hat # as Afr can$s co$nsel s hs descendant s# 3e ra se o$r eyes to h gher
!ros!ects# and cont em!l ate o$r f$t $re and eternal stat e# 3t ho$t g6 ng $!
o$r heart s t o the !ra se of cro3ds# or f 4 ng o$r ho!es on s$ch re3ards as
h$man !o3er can best o3,
;e are not born for o$rsel6es al oneG and o$r co$ntry cla ms her share# and
o$r frends t her share of $s, As all that the eart h !rod$ces s creat ed for
t he $se of man# so men are creat ed for t he sa/e of men# that t hey may
m$t$ally do good to one anot her, In t h s 3e o$ght t o ta/e nat$re for o$r
g$de# and thro3 nt o t he !$bl c st oc/ t he o$nces of general $t l ty# by a
rec!rocat on of d$t esG somet mes by rece 6ng# somet mes by g 6 ng# and
somet mes to cement h$man soc ety by art s# by nd$stry# and by o$r
reso$rces,
S$ffer others t o be !rased n t hy !resence# and ent ert a n ther good and
gl ory 3 th del ghtG b$t at no hand d s!arage t hem# or l essen t he re!ort # or
ma/e an ob5ect onG and th n/ not t he ad6ancement of t hy brother s a
l essenng of t hy 3orth, '!bra d no man? s 3ea/ness to h m t o dscomf t
h m# net her re!ort t to d s!arage h m# net her del ght to remember t to
l essen h m# or t o set t hysel f abo6e h mG nor e6er !rase t hysel f or d s!ra se
any man el se# $nless some s$ff c ent 3ort hy end do hall o3 t ,
Remember t hat 3e $s$ally ds!arage others $!on sl ght gro$nds and l t tle
nstancesG and f a man be hghly recommended# 3e thn/ h m s$ff cent ly
l essened# f 3e can b$t charge one sn of folly or nferorty n hs
acco$nt , ;e sho$l d e t her be more se6ere t o o$rsel6es# or l ess so t o
others# and consder that 3hat soe6er good any one can t hn/ or say of $s#
3e can t ell h m of many $n3orthy and fool sh and !erha!s 3orse act ons
of o$rs# any one of 3hch# done by anot her# 3o$ld be eno$gh# 3t h $s# t o
dest roy hs re!$tat on,
If 3e t h n/ the !eo!l e 3se and sagac o$s# and 5$st and a!!rec at 6e# 3hen
t hey !ra se and ma/e dol s of $s# l et $s not cal l them $nl earned and
gnorant # and ll and st $! d 5$dges# 3hen o$r neghbo$r s cred $! by
!$bl c fame and !o!$lar no ses,
E6ery man hath n h s o3n l fe s ns eno$gh# n hs o3n mnd tro$ble
eno$gh# n hs o3n fort$nes e6l eno$gh# and n !erformance of hs off ces
fal ngs more than eno$gh# to ent ert a n h s o3n nE$ ryG so t hat c$rosty
after t he affa rs of ot hers can not be 3 t ho$t en6y and an ll m nd, The
genero$s man 3 ll be sol ct o$s and nE$ st 6e nto t he bea$ty and order
of a 3ell Dgo6erned fam ly# and aft er the 6rt $es of an e4cellent !ersonG b$t
anythng for 3hch men /ee! loc/s and bars# or that bl$shes t o see the
l ght # or that s e ther shamef$l n manner or !r 6ate n nat $re# t h s thng
3 ll not be h s care and b$s ness,
It sho$ld be ob5 ect on s$ff cent t o e4cl $de any man from the socety of
Masons# t hat he s not d s nterest ed and genero$s# bot h n hs acts# and n
hs o! nons of men# and h s constr$ct ons of t her cond$ct , -e 3ho s
sel f sh and gras!ng# or censor o$s and $ngenero$s# 3 l l not l ong reman
3 thn t he strct l mt s of honesty and t r$th# b$t 3 ll short ly commt
n5 $st ce, -e 3ho l o6es h msel f t oo m$ch m$st needs lo6e ot hers t oo
l t tl eG and he 3ho habt $al ly g6es harsh 5 $dgment 3 ll not long del ay t o
g 6e $n5$st 5$dgment,
The genero$s man s not caref$l to ret $rn no more t han he rece6esG b$t
!refers t hat t he bal ances $!on t he l edgers of beneft s shal l be n hs
fa6o$r, -e 3ho hat h rece 6ed !ay n f$l l for al l the beneft s and fa6o$rs
t hat he has conferred# s l /e a s!endthr ft 3ho has cons$med h s 3hole
est at e# and laments o6er an em!ty e4cheE$er, -e 3ho reE$ tes my fa6o$rs
3 th ngrat t $de adds to# nst ead of d m nsh ng# my 3ealt hG and he 3ho
cannot ret $rn a fa6o$r s eE$al ly !oor# 3het her h s nabl ty arses from
!o6erty of s!r t# sord dness of so$l # or !ec$n ary ndgence,
If he s 3eal thy 3ho hath large s$ms n6est ed# and the mass of 3hose
fort$ne consst s n obl gat ons that bnd ot her men t o !ay h m money# he s
st l l more so to 3hom many o3e large ret$rns of / ndnesses and fa6o$rs,
Beyond a moderat e s$m each year# t he 3eal thy man merely n6est s hs
means( and that 3hch he ne6er $ses s st l l l /e fa6o$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 sncere# earnest t o do good# easy and cont ent ed# and
3el lD3 shers of man/nd, They !rotect the feebl e aga nst t he st rong# and
t he defencel ess aganst ra!ac ty and craft , They s$cco$r and comfort t he
!oor# and are the g$ardans# $nder God# of hs nnocent and hel!l ess
3ards, They 6al$e fr ends more than rches or fame# and grat t $de more
t han money or !o3er, They are nobl e by God? s !at ent # and t he r
esc$t cheons and E$arter ngs are to be fo$nd n hea6en? s great boo/ of
heral dry, 8or can any man any more be a Mason than he can be a
gent leman# $nless he s genero$s# l beral # and d s nt erested, To be l beral#
b$t only of that 3hch s o$r o3nG to be genero$s# b$t only 3hen 3e ha6e
frst been 5$st G to g6e# 3hen t o g6e de!r6es $s of a l$4$ry or a comfort#
t h s s Masonry ndeed,
-e 3ho s 3orl dly# 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 $ro$s# n the rel at ons or nterco$rse of
l feG f 3e are $nfa thf$l !arent s or $nd$t f$l chl drenG f 3e are harsh
masters or fat hless ser6antsG f 3e are treachero$s fr ends or bad
neghbo$rs or b t ter com!et t ors or corr$!t $n!r nc !led !ol t cans or
o6erreach ng deal ers n b$s ness# 3e are 3ander ng at a great d st ance
from the tr$e Masonc lght,
Masons m$st be /nd and affect onate one to anot her, "reE$ent ng t he
same tem!l es# /neel ng at t he same alt ars# t hey sho$l d feel that res!ect
and t hat / ndness for each ot her# 3h ch t he r common rel at on and
common a!!roach to one God sho$ld ns! re, There needs to be m$ch
more of t he s!r t of t he ancent fell o3sh ! among $sG more tenderness for
each ot her? s fa$l t s# more forg 6eness# more sol ct $de for each other? s
m!ro6ement and good fort $neG some3hat of brot herly feel ng# t hat t be
not shame to $se the 3ord @brother, @
8othng sho$ld be al lo3ed to nterfere 3 th that /ndness and affect on(
net her the s!r t of b$s ness# absorb ng# eager# and o6erreachng#
$ngenero$s and hard n ts deal ngs# /een and bt ter n ts com!et t ons#
l o3 and sordd n t s !$r!osesG nor t hat of ambt on# selfsh# mercenary#
restl ess# c rc$m6ent ng# l 6ng only n t he o! non of others# en6 o$s of
t he good fort $ne of ot hers# m serably 6a n of ts o3n s$ccess# $n5 $st#
$nscr$!$l o$s# and slandero$s,
-e that does me a fa6o$r# hath bo$nd me to ma/e h m a ret $rn of
t han/f$lness, The obl gat on comes not by co6enant# nor by h s o3n
e4!ress nt ent onG b$t by the nat$re of the thngG and s a d$ty s!rngng
$! 3 thn t he s! r t of t he obl ged !erson# to 3hom t s more nat$ral to
l o6e h s fr end# and to do good for good# t han to ret$rn e6l for e6 lG
beca$se a man may forg6e an n5 $ry# b$t he m$st ne6er forget a good t $rn,
-e that ref$ses to do good t o t hem 3hom he s bo$nd t o l o6e# or t o lo6e
t hat 3h ch dd h m good# s $nnat $ral and monst ro$s n hs affect ons# and
t h n/s all the 3orl d born t o m nster to h mG 3 th a greedness 3orse than
t hat of t he sea# 3h ch# alt ho$gh t rece 6es all r6ers nt o t self# yet t
f$rnshes the cl o$ds and s!rngs 3t h a ret $rn of all they need, O$r d$ty t o
t hose 3ho are o$r benefact ors s# to esteem and l o6e the r !ersons# to
ma/e t hem !ro!ort onabl e ret $rns of ser6ce# or d$ty# or !rof t# accord ng
as 3e can# or as t hey need# or as o!!ort$n ty !resent s t sel fG and accord ng
t o t he greatness of t her /ndnesses,
The genero$s man cannot b$t regret t o see d ssens ons and d s!$t es among
hs bret hren, Only t he base and $ngenero$s del ght n dscord, It s t he
!oorest occ$!at on of h$man ty to labo$r t o ma/e men th n/ 3orse of each
other# as t he !ress# and too commonly t he !$l! t # chang ng !l aces 3 th the
h$st ngs and t he trb$ne# do, The d$ty of t he Mason s t o endea6o$r to
ma/e man t h n/ bet ter of hs neghbo$rG to E$et # nstead of aggra6at ng
dff c$l t esG to brng toget her t hose 3ho are se6ered or estrangedG t o /ee!
fr ends from becomng foes# and to !ers$ade foes t o become frends, To do
t h s# he m$st needs control hs o3n !assons# and be not rash and hasty#
nor s3ft to ta/e offence# nor easy t o be angered,
"or anger s a !rofessed enemy t o co$nsel , It s a d rect st orm# n 3h ch no
man can be heard to s!ea/ or cal l from 3t ho$t G for f yo$ co$nsel gent ly#
yo$ are d sregardedG f yo$ $rge t and be 6ehement # yo$ !ro6o/e t more,
It s net her manly nor ngen$o$s, It ma/es marr age to be a necessary and
$na6odable t ro$bl eG frendsh !s and socet es and fam l ar t es# t o be
nt olerabl e, It m$lt !l es t he e6 l s of dr$n/enness# and ma/es the le6 t es
of 3ne to r$n nt o madness, It ma/es nnocent 5 est ng t o be t he begnnng
of t ragedes, It t $rns fr endsh! nt o hat redG t ma/es a man l ose h mself#
and hs reason and hs arg$ment # n d s!$t at on, It t$rns the des res of
/no3l edge nt o an tch of 3rangl ng, It adds nsol ency to !o3er, It t$rns
5 $st ce nt o cr$el ty# and 5$dgment nt o o!!resson, It changes d sc!l ne
nt o t ed o$sness and hatred of l beral nst t $t on, It ma/es a !ros!ero$s
man t o be en6 ed# and t he $nfort $nate t o be $n! ted,
See# therefore# that frst cont roll ng yo$r o3n tem!er# and go6ern ng yo$r
o3n !assons# yo$ ft yo$rself t o /ee! !eace and harmony among other
men# and es!ec al ly the brethren, Abo6e all remember that Masonry s the
real m of !eace# and that @among Masons t here m$st be no d ssens on# b$t
only that nobl e em$lat on, # 3hch can best 3or/ and best agree, @ ;here6er
t here s strfe and hat red among t he bret hren# there s no MasonryG for
Masonry s Peace# and Brot herly Lo6e# and %oncord,
Masonry s the great Peace Socety of t he 3orl d, ;here6er t e4 st s# t
st r$ggles t o !re6ent nt ernat onal dff c$l t es and d s!$t esG and to b nd
Re!$bl cs# K ngdoms# and Em! res t oget her n one great band of !eace
and am ty, It 3o$ld not so often st r$ggle n 6a n# f Masons /ne3 t her
!o3er and 6al $ed the r oat hs,
;ho can s$m $! t he horrors and 3oes acc$m$lat ed n a sngle 3arJ
Masonry s not da<<led 3 th all t s !om! and c rc$mst ance# all t s gl t ter
and gl ory, ;ar comes 3 t h t s bloody hand nto o$r 6ery d3el l ngs, It
t a/es from ten tho$sand homes t hose 3ho l 6ed there n !eace and
comfort # held by the t ender t es of fam ly and / ndred, It drags them a3ay#
t o de $nt ended# of fe6er or e4!os$re# n nfect o$s cl mesG or to be
hac/ed# torn# and mangled n t he ferce f ght G to fal l on the gory fel d# to
r se no more# or to be borne a3ay# n a3f$l agony# to nosome and horrd
hos! tal s, The groans of t he batt leDf eld are echoed n sghs of
berea6ement from t ho$sands of desol ated hearths, There s a s/el eton n
e6ery ho$se# a 6acant cha r at e6ery t able, Ret $rnng# t he solder brngs
3orse sorro3 to h s home# by the nfect on 3h ch he has ca$ght # of cam!D
6ces, The co$ntry s demoral <ed, The nat onal m nd s bro$ght do3n#
from the noble nt erchange of /nd off ces 3t h another !eo!l e# to 3rat h
and re6enge# and base !r de# and t he hab t of meas$r ng br$t e strengt h
aga nst br$te strength# n batt le, Treas$res are e4!ended# t hat 3o$ld
s$ffce to b$ l d ten t ho$sand ch$rches# hos! t al s# and $n 6erst es# or rb
and t e toget her a cont nent 3 t h ral s of ron, If t hat treas$re 3ere s$n/ n
t he sea# t 3o$l d be calamty eno$ghG b$t t s !$t to 3orse $seG for t s
e4!ended n c$t t ng nto t he 6ens and arter es of h$man l fe# $nt l the
earth s del$ged 3 th a sea of bl ood,
S$ch are the lessons of t h s Degree, .o$ ha6e 6o3ed to ma/e t hem the
r$l e# t he l a3# and t he g$de of yo$r l fe and cond$ct, If yo$ do so# yo$ 3l l
be ent t led# beca$se f t t ed# to ad6ance n Masonry, If yo$ do not # yo$ ha6e
al ready gone too far,

FII, PROFOST A8D &'DGE,
T-E l esson 3hch t hs Degree nc$lcates s &'STI%E# n dec s on and
5 $dgment # and n o$r nterco$rse and deal ng 3 t h ot her men,
In a co$ntry 3here tral by 5$ry s /no3n# e6ery ntel lgent man s l able to
be call ed on t o act as a 5$dge# et her of fact al one# or of fact and l a3
mngledG and t o ass$me t he hea6y res!onsbl t es 3hch bel ong to t hat
character,
Those 3ho are n6ested 3 th the !o3er of 5$dgment sho$l d 5 $dge t he
ca$ses of all !ersons $!rghtly and m!art al ly# 3t ho$t any !ersonal
cons derat on of t he !o3er of t he mghty# or the brbe of t he rch# or the
needs of t he !oor, That s t he cardnal r$l e# 3h ch no one 3 ll ds!$teG
t ho$gh many fa l to obser6e t, B$t t hey m$st do more, They m$st d6est
t hemsel 6es of !re5$d ce and !reconce!t on, They m$st hear !at ent ly#
remember acc$rat ely# and 3egh caref$l ly the fact s and t he arg$ment s
offered before them, They m$st not lea! hast ly t o concl $s ons# nor form
o!nons before t hey ha6e heard all , They m$st not !res$me cr me or
fra$d, They m$st ne t her be r$led by st$bborn !rde of o!n on# nor be too
facl e and yeld ng to the 6 e3s and arg$ments of ot hers, In ded$c ng t he
mot 6e from t he !ro6en act # t hey m$st not assgn to the act et her the best
or t he 3orst mot 6es# b$t those 3hch they 3o$l d thn/ t 5$st and far for
t he 3orl d to assgn to t # f t hey t hemsel6es had done t G nor m$st they
endea6o$r to ma/e many l t tl e crc$mst ances# t hat 3egh noth ng
se!arately# 3egh m$ch toget her# t o !ro6e t her o3n ac$teness and
sagacty, These are so$nd r$les for e6ery 5$ror# also# t o obser6e,
In o$r nterco$rse 3t h others# there are t 3o / nds of n5 $st ce( the f rst #
of t hose 3ho offer an n5 $ryG t he second# of t hose 3ho ha6e t n t her
!o3er to a6ert an n5 $ry from t hose 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 3hch force s l onDl /e# and a$d fo4Dl /e# DDbot h $t t erly re!$gnant to
soc al d$ty# b$t fra$d the more detest abl e,
E6ery 3rong done by one man to another# 3het her t affect h s !erson# h s
!ro!erty# hs ha!! ness# or h s re!$t at on# s an offense aga nst the la3 of
5 $st ce, The f el d of th s Degree s therefore a 3 de and 6ast oneG and
Masonry see/s for the most m!ress 6e mode of enforcng the la3 of
5 $st ce# and the most effect $al means of !re6ent ng 3rong and n5$stce,
To ths end t teaches ths great and moment o$s tr$t h( that 3rong and
n5 $st ce once done cannot be $ndoneG b$t are et ernal n the r
conseE$encesG once comm tt ed# are n$mbered 3 t h t he rre6ocable Past G
t hat the 3rong t hat s done conta ns t s o3n retr b$t 6e !enal ty as s$rely
and as nat$ral ly as the acorn conta ns t he oa/, Its conseE$ences are t s
!$n shment G t needs no ot her# and can ha6e no hea6erG they are n6ol 6ed
n t s comm ss on# and cannot be se!arat ed from t , A 3rong done to
another s an n5$ry done to o$r o3n 8at $re# an offence aga nst o$r o3n
so$ls# a dsfg$rng of t he mage of the Bea$t f$l and Good, P$nshment s
not the e4ec$t on of a sent ence# b$t t he occ$rrence of an effect , It s
orda ned to foll o3 g$ lt # not by the decree of God as a 5$dge# b$t by a la3
enact ed by - m as t he %reator and Leg slat or of t he 'n6erse, It s not an
arbt rary and art fcal anne4at on# b$t an ord nary and l ogcal
conseE$enceG and t herefore m$st be borne by t he 3rongDdoer# and t hro$gh
h m may fl o3 on to ot hers, It s t he decs on of t he nfnte 5$st ce of God#
n t he form of la3,
There can be no nterference 3t h# or remt tance of# or !rotect on from#
t he nat$ral effect s of o$r 3rongf$l act s, God 3 l l not nt er!ose bet 3een
t he ca$se and t s conseE$enceG and n t hat sense t here can be no
forg6eness of s ns, The act 3h ch has debased o$r so$l may be re!ent ed
of# may be t $rned fromG b$t the n5$ry s done, The debasement may be
redeemed by aft erDeffort s# t he st an obl terated by b t terer str$ggles and
se6erer s$fferngsG b$t the effort s and the end$rance 3h ch mght ha6e
rased the so$l t o the loft est heghts are no3 e4ha$sted n merely
regan ng 3hat t has lost, There m$st al 3ays be a 3 de dfference bet3een
h m 3ho only ceases to do e6 l# and h m 3ho has al 3ays done 3el l ,
-e 3 l l certanly be a far more scr$!$lo$s 3at cher o6er hs cond$ct # and
far more caref$l of hs deeds# 3ho bel e6es that t hose deeds 3l l
ne6 tably bear the r nat $ral conseE$ences# e4em!t from aft er nter6ent on#
t han he 3ho bel e6es t hat !entence and !ardon 3 ll at any t me $nl n/ t he
cha n of seE$ences, S$rely 3e shal l do less 3rong and n5$stce# f the
con6 ct on s f 4ed and embedded n o$r so$l s that e6eryth ng done s
done rre6ocably# that e6en t he Omn !ot ence of God cannot $ncommt a
deed# cannot ma/e t hat $ndone 3h ch has been doneG that e6ery act of o$rs
m$st bear t s al lotted fr$t # accord ng to the e6erlast ng la3s# DDm$st
rema n fore6er neffaceably nscr bed on the tablet s of 'n 6ersal 8at$re,
If yo$ ha6e 3ronged anot her# yo$ may gr e6e# re!ent# and resol $t ely
determne aga nst any s$ch 3ea/ness n f$t $re, .o$ may# so far as t s
!ossble# ma/e re!arat on, It s 3el l , The n5 $red !arty may forg 6e yo$#
accord ng t o the mean ng of h$man lang$ageG b$t the deed s doneG and al l
t he !o3ers of 8at $re# 3ere t hey t o cons! re n yo$r behal f# co$l d not ma/e
t $ndoneG t he conseE$ences to the body# the conseE$ences t o t he so$l #
t ho$gh no man may !erce 6e t hem# are there# are 3r tt en n the annal s of
t he Past# and m$st re6erberate thro$gho$t al l t me,
Re!entance for a 3rong done# bears# l /e e6ery other act # t s o3n fr$ t# the
fr$t of !$r fyng the heart and amendng the "$t $re# b$t not of effacng
t he Past, The comm ss on of t he 3rong s an rre6ocable act G b$t t does
not nca!act ate the so$l t o do rght for t he f$t $re, Its conseE$ences
cannot be e4!$ngedG b$t t s co$rse need not be !$rs$ed, ;rong and e6l
!er!et rat ed# tho$gh neffaceabl e# cal l for no des!ar# b$t for effort s more
energet c t han before, Re!entance s st ll as 6al d as e6erG b$t t s 6al d to
sec$re t he "$t $re# not to obl t erat e t he Past,
E6en the !$lsat ons of t he a r# once set n mot on by t he h$man 6oce#
cease not to e4st 3 th the so$nds to 3h ch t hey ga6e r se, Ther E$c/lyD
at ten$ated force soon becomes na$d bl e t o h$man ears, B$t t he 3a6es of
a r th$s rased !eramb$l ate the s$rface of eart h and ocean# and n l ess t han
t 3enty ho$rs# e6ery atom of t he at mos!here t a/es $! t he al tered mo6ement
d$e t o t hat nf n tes mal !ort on of !r m t 6e mot on 3h ch has been
con6eyed to t t hro$gh co$nt less channel s# and 3hch m$st cont n$e to
nfl $ence t s !ath thro$gho$t t s f$t$re e4 stence, The ar s one 6ast
l brary# on 3hose !ages s fore6er 3r tt en all that man has e6er sa d or
e6en 3h s!ered, There# n t her m$t abl e# b$t $nerrng charact ers# m 4ed
3 th t he earl est# as 3ell as the lat est s gns of mortal ty# st and fore6er
recorded# 6o3s $nredeemed# !rom ses $nf$lfl l edG !er!et $at ng# n t he
mo6ement s of each !art cl e# all n $n son# the test mony of man? s
changef$l 3l l, God reads that boo/# tho$gh 3e cannot,
So eart h# ar# and ocean are t he et ernal 3 tnesses of t he act s 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 t he s$rface
of t he ocean rema ns fore6er reg stered n the f$t $re mo6ement s of al l
s$cceedng !art cl es 3hch may occ$!y ts !lace, E6ery cr m nal s by the
l a3s of t he Al mghty rre6ocably chaned t o t he t est mony of h s cr meG
for e6ery at om of h s mortal frame# t hro$gh 3hate6er changes t s !art cles
may m grate# 3l l st ll reta n# adherng to t thro$gh e6ery comb nat on#
some mo6ement der6ed from that 6ery m$sc$lar effort by 3h ch t he cr me
tsel f 3as !er!etrated,
;hat f o$r fac$l t es sho$l d be so enhanced n a f$t $re l fe as to enable $s
t o !erce 6e and t race t he neffaceable conseE$ences of o$r dle 3ords and
e6l deeds# and render o$r remorse and gref as et ernal as those
conseE$ences themsel 6esJ 8o more fearf$l !$n shment t o a s$!eror
ntell gence can be conce 6ed# than t o see st l l n act on# 3t h the
consco$sness t hat t m$st cont n$e n act on fore6er# a ca$se of 3rong !$t
n mot on by tsel f ages before,
Masonry# by ts teach ngs# endea6o$rs t o restran men from t he
comm sson of n5 $st ce and act s of 3rong and o$trage, Tho$gh t does not
endea6o$r to $s$r! the !lace of rel g on# st l l t s code of moral s !roceeds
$!on ot her !rnc!l es t han the m$n c !al la3G and t condemns and
!$n shes offences 3hch ne ther t hat la3 !$nshes nor !$bl c o! n on
condemns, In t he Mason c l a3# t o cheat and o6erreach n trade# at t he bar#
n !ol t cs# are deemed no more 6en al t han theft G nor a del berate l e than
!er5 $ryG nor slander than robberyG nor sed$ct on t han m$rder,
Es!ecally t condemns those 3rongs of 3hch t he doer nd$ces anot her to
!arta/e, -e may re!entG he may# aft er agon <ng str$ggl es# regan the !at h
of 6rt$eG hs s!rt may reache6e ts !$rty t hro$gh m$ch ang$ sh# after
many st rfesG b$t the 3ea/er fell o3Dcreat $re 3hom he led astray# 3hom he
made a sharer n h s g$l t# b$t 3hom he cannot ma/e a sharer n hs
re!ent ance and amendment # 3hose do3n3ard co$rse Mthe f rst ste! of
3hch he t a$ghtN he cannot chec/# b$t s com!ell ed t o 3t ness#DD 3hat
forg6eness of s ns can a6a l h m t hereJ There s hs !er!et $al # hs
ne6 table !$nshment # 3hch no re!entance can alle6at e# and no mercy
can rem t ,
Let $s be 5 $st# al so# n 5$dgng of other men? s mot 6es, ;e /no3 b$t l tt le
of t he real mer t s or demert s of any fel lo3 creat$re, ;e can rarely say
3 th certa nty that th s man s more g$l ty t han that # or e6en that t h s man
s 6ery good or 6ery 3 c/ed, Often the basest men lea6e behnd t hem
e4cel l ent re!$tat ons, There s scarcely one of $s 3ho has not# at some
t me n hs l fe# been on the edge of t he commss on of a cr me, E6ery one
of $s can loo/ bac/# and sh$dder ng see the t me 3hen o$r feet st ood $!on
t he sl !!ery crags that o6erh$ng the abyss of g$l tG and 3hen# f
t em!t at on had been a l t tl e more $rgent # or a l t t le longer cont n$ed# f
!en$ry had !ressed $s a l t tl e harder# or a l t tl e more 3 ne had f$rt her
dst $rbed o$r ntel lect # dethroned o$r 5$dgment # and aro$sed o$r !ass ons#
o$r feet 3o$ld ha6e sl !!ed# and 3e sho$ld ha6e fal len# ne6er to r se
aga n,
;e may be abl e t o sayDD@Th s man has l ed# has ! lfered# has forged# has
embe<<led moneys nt r$sted to h mG and t hat man has gone t hro$gh l fe
3 th clean hands, @ B$t 3e cannot say t hat t he former has not str$ggl ed
l ong# t ho$gh $ns$ccessf$lly# aganst tem!tat ons $nder 3hch the second
3o$l d ha6e s$cc$mbed 3 t ho$t an effort , ;e can say 3hch has the
cl eanest hands before manG b$t not 3hch has the cleanest so$l before
God, ;e may be able to say# t h s man has commt ted ad$lt ery# and that
man has been e6er chasteG b$t 3e cannot tel l b$t t hat t he nnocence of one
may ha6e been d$e to t he col dness of h s heart# t o t he absence of a mot 6e#
t o t he !resence of a fear# t o t he slght degree of the tem!t at onG nor b$t
t hat the fall of t he other may ha6e been !receded by t he most 6ehement
sel fDcont est# ca$sed by t he most o6erDmast erng fren<y# and atoned for by
t he most hal lo3ng re!entance, Generosty as 3el l as n ggardl ness may be
a mere yeld ng t o nat 6e tem!erament G and n the eye of -ea6en# a long
l fe of benef cence n one man may ha6e cost l ess effort # and may nd cate
l ess 6 rt $e and l ess sacr f ce of nt erest # t han a fe3 rare hdden act s of
/ndness 3r$ng by d$ty o$t of t he rel$ct ant and $nsym!at h < ng nat$re of
t he other, There may be more real mer t # more selfDsacr fcng effort# more
of t he noblest element s of moral grande$r# n a l fe of fa l$re# sn# and
shame# than n a career# t o o$r eyes# of sta nl ess ntegrty,
;hen 3e condemn or !ty t he fall en# ho3 do 3e /no3 t hat # tem!t ed l /e
h m# 3e sho$ld not ha6e fall en l /e h m# as soon# and !erha!s 3t h l ess
resstance J -o3 can 3e /no3 3hat 3e sho$l d do f 3e 3ere o$t of
em!loyment # fam ne cro$ch ng# ga$nt # and h$ngry# on o$r freless heart h#
and o$r ch ldren 3al ng for bread J ;e fal l not beca$se 3e are not
eno$gh tem!tedO -e t hat hat h fall en may be at heart as honest as 3e, -o3
do 3e /no3 t hat o$r da$ght er# s ster# 3fe# co$l d resst t he abandonment#
t he desol at on# the d stress# t he t em!tat on# that sacrfced the 6 rt $e of
t her !oor abandoned s ster of shameJ Perha!s t hey al so ha6e not fal len#
beca$se they ha6e not been sorely t em!t edO ; sely are 3e drected t o !ray
t hat 3e may not be e4!osed t o t em!tat on,
-$man 5$st ce m$st be e6er $ncert an, -o3 many 5$dc al m$rders ha6e
been comm tt ed t hro$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 t han the
5 $ry t hat tred and the 5 $dge t hat sent enced t hemO It may 3el l be do$bted
3hether t he adm nst rat on of h$man la3s# n e6ery co$nt ry# s not one
ggant c mass of n5 $st ce and 3rong, God seeth not as man seethG and t he
most abandoned cr m nal # bl ac/ as he s before the 3orld# may yet ha6e
cont n$ed t o /ee! some l t tl e l ght b$rnng n a corner of h s so$l # 3hch
3o$l d l ong snce ha6e gone o$t n t hat of t hose 3ho 3al/ !ro$dly n the
s$nsh ne of mmac$l ate fame# f they had been tred and tem!t ed l /e the
!oor o$t cast ,
;e do not /no3 e6en the o$t s de l fe of men, ;e are not com!et ent t o
!rono$nce e6en on ther deeds, ;e do not /no3 hal f t he act s of
3 c/edness or 6 rt$e# e6en of o$r most mmedate fell o3s, ;e cannot say#
3 th certa nty# e6en of o$r nearest fr end# that he has not comm tt ed a
!art c$l ar 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$r 3orst act s and E$al t es
are o$r most nt mat e assoc ates $tt erly $nconsco$s O -o3 many 6rt$es
does not the 3orld g6e $s cred t for# t hat 3e do not !ossessG or 6ces
condemn $s for# of 3hch 3e are not the sl a6es O It s b$t a smal l !ort on
of o$r e6 l deeds and t ho$ght s that e6er comes to l ght G and of o$r fe3
redeem ng goodnesses# t he l argest !ort on s /no3n t o God al one,
;e shal l # therefore# be 5 $st n 5 $dg ng of ot her men# only 3hen 3e are
char tabl eG and 3e sho$l d ass$me t he !rerogat 6e of 5$dgng ot hers only
3hen t he d$ty s forced $!on $sG s nce 3e are so al most certa n to err# and
t he conseE$ences of error are so ser o$s, 8o man need co6et t he offce of
5 $dgeG for n ass$mng t he ass$mes the gra6est and most o!!ress 6e
res!ons b l ty, .et yo$ ha6e ass$med t G 3e al l ass$me tG for man s e6er
ready t o 5$dge# and e6er ready to condemn h s ne ghbo$r# 3h le $!on t he
same stat e of case he acE$t s h msel f See# therefore# t hat yo$ e4erc se
yo$r once ca$t o$sly and char tably# lest# n !ass ng 5$dgment $!on t he
cr mnal# yo$ comm t a great er 3rong t han that for 3hch yo$ condemn
h m# and t he conseE$ences of 3hch m$st be eternal ,
The fa$l t s and cr mes and fol l es of other men are not $n m!ort ant t o $sG
b$t form a !art of o$r moral d sc!l ne, ;ar and bloodshed at a d stance#
and fra$ds 3hch do not affect o$r !ec$nary nterest # yet to$ch $s n o$r
feel ngs# and concern o$r moral 3el fare, They ha6e m$ch t o do 3 th al l
t ho$ghtf$l heart s, The !$bl c eye may l oo/ $nconcernedly on t he
mserable 6ct m of 6ce# and t hat shatt ered 3rec/ of a man may mo6e t he
m$l t t $de t o l a$ght er or t o scorn, B$t to t he Mason# t s the form of
sacred h$manty t hat s before h mG t s an err ng fel lo3DbengG a
desol at e# forlorn# forsa/en so$lG and hs t ho$ght s# enfold ng the !oor
3retch# 3 ll be far dee!er t han t hose of nd fference# rd c$l e# or
contem!t , Al l h$man offences# the 3hole syst em of d shonesty# e6ason#
c rc$m6ent ng# forb dden nd$lgence# and ntrg$ ng amb t on# n 3h ch
men are str$ggl ng 3 th each other# 3 ll be loo/ed $!on by a tho$ght f$l
Mason# not merely as a scene of mean tol s and str fes# b$t as t he solemn
confl ct s of mmortal m nds# for ends 6ast and momento$s as t he r o3n
beng, It s a sad and $n3orthy str fe# and may 3ell be 6 e3ed 3 th
nd gnat onG b$t t hat ndgnat on m$st mel t nt o !ty, "or the sta/es for
3hch these gamesters !lay are not those 3hch they mag ne# not t hose
3hch are n sght, "or e4am!le# ths man !lays for a !et ty once# and gans
tG b$t the real sta/e he gans s syco!hancy# $nchartableness# slander# and
dece t,
Good men are too !ro$d of the r goodness, They are res!ect abl eG
dshono$r comes not near t hemG t he r co$ntenance has 3e ght and
nfl $enceG the r robes are $nst anedG the !o sono$s breath of cal$mny as
ne6er been breat hed $!on t he r far name, -o3 easy t s for them to loo/
do3n 3t h scorn $!on the !oor degraded offenderG to !ass h m by 3 th a
l ofty st e!G t o dra3 $! the folds of t her garment aro$nd t hem# t hat t hey
may not be so l ed by h s t o$ch O .et t he Great Master of Frt $e dd not soG
b$t descended t o fam l ar nterco$rse 3 th !$bl cans and s nners# 3t h t he
Samart an 3oman# 3 t h t he o$t casts and t he Parahs of the -ebre3 3orl d,
Many men t hn/ t hemsel6es bet ter# n !ro!ort on as t hey can detect sn n
othersO ;hen t hey go o6er the catal og$e of the r neghbo$r? s $nha!!y
derel ct ons of t em!er or cond$ct # they often# am dst m$ch a!!arent
concern# feel a secret e4$lt at on# t hat destroys all t he r o3n !ret ens ons to
3 sdom and moderat on# and e6en t o 6rt$e, Many e6en ta/e act$al
!leas$re n t he s ns of ot hersG and t hs s the case 3t h e6ery one 3hose
t ho$ght s are oft en em!l oyed n agreeable com!ar sons of h s o3n 6 rt $es
3 th h s neghbo$rs? fa$l ts,
The !o3er of gentl eness s too l t tl e seen n the 3orl dG the s$bd$ ng
nfl $ences of ! ty# the m ght of l o6e# t he control of m l dness o6er !ass on#
t he command ng ma5esty of that !erfect character 3hch m ngles gra6e
ds!l eas$re 3t h gr ef and !ty for t he offender, So t s that a Mason
sho$l d t reat hs bret hren 3ho go astray, 8ot 3 t h bt ternessG nor yet 3 th
goodDnat $red easness# nor 3t h 3orldly nd fference# nor 3 th t he
!hl oso!h c col dness# nor 3t h a la4 ty of conscence# t hat acco$nt s
e6eryt h ng 3el l# that !asses $nder the seal of !$bl c o!nonG b$t 3 th
char ty# 3t h !ty ng lo6 ngD/ ndness,
The h$man heart 3 ll not bo3 3l l ngly t o 3hat s nfrm and 3rong n
h$man nat $re, If t yelds t o $s# t m$st yeld t o 3hat s d 6ne n $s, The
3 c/edness of my ne ghbo$r cannot s$bmt t o my 3c/ednessG h s
sens$al ty# for nstance# to my anger aganst h s 6ces, My fa$lt s are not
t he nst r$ment s t hat are to arrest h s fa$l t s, And therefore m!at ent
reformers# and deno$nc ng !reachers# and hasty re!ro6ers# and angry
!arent s# and rr tabl e relat 6es general ly fa l# n t her se6eral de!art ment s#
t o recla m the errng,
A moral offence s s c/ness# !a n# loss# d shono$r# n t he mmortal !art of
man, It s g$ lt # and msery added to g$ lt , It s t self calamtyG and br ngs
$!on t self# n add t on# t he cal am ty of God? s dsa!!ro6al# the abhorrence
of al l 6 rt $o$s men# and t he so$l? s o3n abhorrence, Deal fa thf$lly# b$t
!atently and t enderly# 3 th th s e6l O It s no mat t er for !etty
!ro6ocat on# nor for !ersonal str fe# nor for self sh rr tat on,
S!ea/ / ndly t o yo$r err ng brother O God !t es h m( %hrst has ded for
h m( Pro6 dence 3at s for h m( -ea6en? s mercy yearns to3ard h mG and
-ea6en? s s! rt s are ready to 3elcome h m bac/ 3 th 5 oy, Let yo$r 6oce
be n $nson 3 th al l t hose !o3ers t hat God s $s ng for h s reco6eryO
If one defra$ds yo$# and e4$l ts at t # he s the most t o be ! t ed of h$man
bengs, -e has done h msel f a far dee!er n5 $ry t han he has done yo$, It s
he# and not yo$# 3hom God regards 3t h mngl ed d s!leas$re and
com!ass onG and - s 5 $dgment sho$ld be yo$r l a3, Among al l the
benedct ons of the -oly Mo$nt t here s not one for th s manG b$t for t he
merc f$l# the !eacema/ers# and the !ersec$ted they are !o$red o$t freely,
;e are al l men of l /e !assons# !ro!ens t es# and e4!os$res, There are
el ement s n $s al l# 3h ch mght ha6e been !er6erted# t hro$gh t he
s$ccess 6e !rocesses of moral deter orat on# to t he 3orst of cr mes, The
3retch 3hom the e4ecrat on of t he t hrong ng cro3d !$rs$es to the
scaffold# s not 3orse than any one of t hat m$l t t $de mght ha6e become
$nder s ml ar crc$mstances, -e s t o be condemned ndeed# b$t also
dee!ly to be !t ed,
It does not become the fral and s nf$l to be 6nd ct 6e t o3ard e6en t he
3orst cr m nal s, ;e o3e m$ch t o the good Pro6dence of God# orda nng
for $s a lot more fa6o$rable t o 6rt $e, ;e al l had t hat 3 th n $s# that
mght ha6e been !$shed to the same e4cess( Perha!s 3e sho$l d ha6e fall en
as he d d# 3t h less t em!tat on, Perha!s 3e ha6e done act s# t hat # n
!ro!ort on to the t em!t at on or !ro6ocat on# 3ere less e4c$sabl e than h s
great cr me, S lent !ty and sorro3 for t he 6ct m sho$ld mngle 3 th o$r
detest at on of the g$ lt , E6en the ! rat e 3ho m$rders n col d blood on the
hgh seas# s s$ch a man as yo$ or I mght ha6e been, Or!hanage n
chl dhood# or base and dssol$t e and abandoned !arent sG an $nfrended
yo$t hG e6l com!anonsG gnorance and 3ant of moral c$lt 6at onG t he
t em!t at ons of s nf$l !leas$re or gr nd ng !o6ertyG fam l arty 3 th 6 ceG a
scorned and bl ghted nameG seared and cr$shed affect onsG des!erat e
fort$nesG these are st e!s t hat m ght ha6e led any one among $s to $nf$rl
$!on the h gh seas the bl oody fl ag of $n 6ersal defanceG to 3age 3ar 3 th
o$r / ndG t o l 6e t he l fe and d e t he deat h of the rec/l ess and remorseless
freeDbooter, Many affect ng relat onsh !s of h$man ty !lead 3 th $s to ! ty
h m, - s head once rest ed on a mother? s bosom, -e 3as once t he ob5ect of
s sterly lo6e and domest c endearment , Perha!s hs hand# s nce often red
3 th bl ood# once clas!ed anot her l t tle lo6 ng hand at t he altar, Pty h m
t henG hs bl ght ed ho!es and hs cr$shed heartO It s !ro!er that fral and
err ng creat$res l /e $s sho$ld do soG sho$ld feel t he cr me# b$t feel t as
3ea/# t em!t ed# and resc$ed creat$res sho$l d, It may be that 3hen God
3eghs men? s cr mes# -e 3 ll ta/e nt o consderat on t he t em!t at ons and
t he ad6erse crc$mst ances t hat led t o t hem# and t he o!!ort $n t es for
moral c$lt $re of t he offenderG and t may be that o$r o3n offences 3 ll
3egh hea6er t han 3e t h n/# and the m$rderer? s l ght er than accord ng t o
man? s 5 $dgment ,
On al l acco$nt s# t herefore# let the tr$e Mason ne6er forget t he solemn
n5 $nct on# necessary to be obser6ed at al most e6ery moment of a b$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$ch s the lesson
t a$ght t he Pro6ost and &$dge,
of man,

FIII, I8TE8DA8T O" T-E B'ILDI8G,
I8 t h s Degree yo$ ha6e been ta$ght the m!ortant lesson# t hat none are
ent tl ed t o ad6ance n the Ancent and Acce!t ed Scot t sh Rt e# 3ho ha6e
not by st$dy and a!!l cat on made themsel6es faml ar 3t h Masonc
l earnng and 5$rs!r$dence, The Degrees of t h s Rt e are not for t hose 3ho
are content 3 th t he mere 3or/ and ceremones# and do not see/ t o e4!l ore
t he mnes of 3 sdom t hat l e b$red beneat h t he s$rface, .o$ st l l ad6ance
t o3ard t he Lght # t o3ard that st ar# bla< ng n the d stance# 3h ch s an
emblem of the D 6ne Tr$t h# g6en by God to t he frst men# and !reser6ed
amd all t he 6c ss t $des of ages n the t rad t ons and teachngs of
Masonry, -o3 far yo$ 3 ll ad6ance# de!ends $!on yo$rsel f al one, -ere# as
e6ery3here n the 3orld# Dar/ness str$ggles 3t h Lght # and cl o$ds and
shado3s nt er6ene bet3een yo$ and the Tr$t h,
;hen yo$ shall ha6e become mb$ed 3 t h the moral ty of Masonry# 3t h
3hch yo$ yet are# and for some t me 3l l be e4cl$s6ely occ$! ed# DD3hen
yo$ shal l ha6e learned to !ract ce al l t he 6rt $es 3h ch t nc$lcat esG 3hen
t hey become faml ar t o yo$ as yo$r -o$sehold GodsG then 3 ll yo$ be
!re!ared t o rece 6e t s l ofty !hl oso!hcal nstr$ct on# and to scale t he
heght s $!on 3hose s$mmt Lght and Tr$t h s t ent hroned, St e! by ste!
men m$st ad6ance t o3ard Perfect onG and each Mason c Degree s meant
t o be one of t hose st e!s, Each s a de6elo!ment of a !art c$l ar d$tyG and n
t he !resent yo$ are ta$ght charty and bene6ol enceG to be to yo$r bret hren
an e4am!l e of 6rt$eG t o correct yo$r o3n fa$l tsG and t o endea6o$r to
correct t hose of yo$r bret hren,
-ere# as n all t he degrees# yo$ meet 3 th the embl ems and the names of
De ty# the tr$e /no3ledge of 3hose charact er and at t r b$t es t has e6er
been a chef ob5ect of Masonry to !er!et$ate, To a!!recate - s nf nt e
greatness and goodness# t o rely m!l c tly $!on - s Pro6dence# to re6ere
and 6enerat e - m as the S$!reme Arch tect # %reat or# and Leg sl ator of the
$n6erse# s the f rst of Mason c d$t es,
The Bat tery of t h s Degree# and t he f6e crc$ t s 3hch yo$ made aro$nd
t he Lodge# all $de t o t he f 6e !o nts of fel lo3sh !# and are nt ended t o
recall them 66dly to yo$r mnd, To go $!on a brother? s errand or t o hs
rel ef# e6en barefoot and $!on fl nty gro$ndG to remember h m n yo$r
s$!!l cat ons t o t he De tyG to clas! h m to yo$r heart # and !rot ect h m
aga nst mal ce and e6l s!ea/ ngG t o $!hold h m 3hen abo$t to st$mbl e
and fall G and to g6e h m !r$dent # honest # and frendly co$nsel# are d$t es
!la nly 3rt ten $!on t he !ages of God? s great code of la3# and frst among
t he ord nances of Masonry,
The f rst sgn of t he Degree s e4!ress 6e of the d ff dence and h$m l ty
3 th 3hch 3e nE$re nt o t he nat $re and at trb$t es of the DetyG t he
second# of the !rofo$nd a3e and re6erence 3t h 3hch 3e cont em!l ate -s
gl oresG and the th rd# of t he sorro3 3 t h 3hch 3e refl ect $!on o$r
ns$ffc ent obser6ance of o$r d$t es# and o$r m!erfect com!l ance 3 th
- s stat$t es,
The dst ng$ shng !ro!erty of man s t o search for and foll o3 after t r$th,
Therefore# 3hen rel a4ed from o$r necessary cares and concerns# 3e then
co6et to see# t o hear# and t o l earn some3hat G and 3e esteem /no3l edge of
t h ngs# et her obsc$re or 3onderf$l# t o be the nd s!ensable means of
l 6 ng ha!! ly, Tr$t h# S m!l c ty# and %andor are most agreeabl e t o t he
nat$re of man/ nd, ;hate6er s 6rt$o$s cons sts et her n Sagac ty# and
t he !erce!t on of Tr$thG or n the !reser6at on of -$man Soc ety# by
g 6 ng t o e6ery man h s d$e# and obser6 ng the fa th of contractsG or n t he
greatness and frmness of an ele6ated and $ns$bd$ed mndG or n
obser6ng order and reg$l ar ty n al l o$r 3ords and n all o$r act onsG n
3hch cons st Moderat on and Tem!erance,
Masonry has n al l t mes rel g o$sly !reser6ed t hat enl ghtened fa th from
3hch fl o3 s$bl me De6otedness# the sent ment of "rat ernty fr$t f$l of
good 3or/s# t he s!rt of nd$lgence and !eace# of s3eet ho!es and
effect $al consolat onsG and nfle4 b l ty n t he accom!l shment of t he most
!anf$l and ard$o$s d$t es, It has al3ays !ro!agated t 3 t h ardor and
!erse6eranceG and therefore t labo$rs at t he !resent day more <ealo$sly
t han e6er, Scarcely a Mason c dsco$rse s !rono$nced# that does not
demonstrate t he necessty and ad6antages of ths fat h# and es!ecal ly
recall the t 3o const t$t 6e !r nc !les of relgon# t hat ma/e al l rel gon# DD
l o6e of God# and l o6e of ne ghbo$r, Masons carry these !rnc!les nt o t he
bosoms of t her fam l es and of socety, ;hl e t he Sectarans of former
t mes enfeebled t he rel go$s s! rt # Masonry# form ng one great Peo!l e
o6er the 3hole globe# and march ng $nder t he great banner of %harty and
Bene6olence# !reser6es that rel g o$s feel ng# strengt hens t # e4tends t n
ts !$r ty and s m!l c ty# as t has al 3ays e4 st ed n the de!t hs of the
h$man heart# as t e4 sted e6en $nder the domnon of t he most anc ent
forms of 3orsh!# b$t 3here gross and debasng s$!erst t ons forbade ts
recogn t on,
A Masonc Lodge sho$l d resemble a beeDh6e# n 3hch al l t he members
3or/ together 3 th ardor for the common good, Masonry s not made for
cold so$l s and narro3 m nds# that do not com!rehend t s lofty m ss on and
s$bl me a!ost olate, -ere the anathema aga nst l$/e3arm so$l s a!!les, To
comfort msfort$nes t o !o!$lar<e /no3l edge# t o t each 3hate6er s t r$e
and !$re n rel g on and !h loso!hy# t o acc$st om men t o res!ect order and
t he !ro!r et es of l fe# to !o nt o$t the 3ay t o gen$ ne ha!! ness# to
!re!are for that fort$nate !erod# 3hen al l the fact ons of the -$man
"amly# $n ted by the bonds of Tol erat on and "ratern ty# shall be b$t one
ho$sehol d# DDt hese are labo$rs t hat may 3ell e4ct e <eal and e6en
enth$sasm,
;e do not no3 enlarge $!on or elaborat e t hese deas, ;e b$t $tt er them to
yo$ br efly# as hnts# $!on 3hch yo$ may at yo$r le s$re reflect ,
-ereaft er# f yo$ cont n$e t o ad6ance# t hey 3 l l be $nfol ded# e4!l aned#
and de6el o!ed,
Masonry $t ters no m!ract cable and e4t ra6agant !rece!ts# cert an#
beca$se they are so# to be d sregarded, It as/s of t s n tates not hng that
t s not !ossbl e and e6en easy for them to !erform, Its teach ngs are
emnently !ract cal G and t s stat $tes can be obeyed by e6ery 5 $st # $!r ght #
and honest man# no matt er 3hat h s fat h or creed, Its ob5ect s t o at ta n
t he greatest !ract cal good# 3 tho$t see/ ng t o ma/e men !erfect , It does
not meddle 3t h the doman of rel gon# nor nE$re nto t he mysteres of
regenerat on, It t eaches t hose tr$ths t hat are 3r tt en by t he fnger of God
$!on the heart of man# t hose 6e3s of d$ty 3h ch ha6e been bro$ght o$t
by t he medt at ons of t he st $d o$s# conf rmed by t he alleg ance of the
good and 3se# and stam!ed as st erl ng by t he 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 t o be att a nable,
Masonry does not occ$!y tsel f 3t h cryng do3n th s 3orl d# 3 th t s
s!lendd bea$ty# ts thr ll ng nterest s# t s glor o$s 3or/s# t s nobl e and
holy affect onsG nor e4hort $s t o detach o$r heart s from t h s eart hly l fe#
as em!ty# fleet ng# and $n3orthy# and f 4 t hem $!on -ea6en# as the only
s!here deser6ng the lo6e of the lo6ng or t he med tat on of t he 3se, It
t eaches t hat man has hgh d$t es to !erform# and a hgh dest ny t o f$l f ll #
on t h s eart hG t hat ths 3orl d s not merely the !ort al to anot herG and t hat
t h s l fe# t ho$gh not o$r only one# s an nt egral one# and t he !art c$l ar
one 3 th 3hch 3e are here meant t o be concernedG that t he Present s o$r
scene of act on# and t he "$t$re for s!ec$l at on and for tr$st G that man 3as
sent $!on the earth to l 6e n t # to en5 oy t# t o st $dy t # to lo6e t# t o
embel l sh t# to ma/e t he most of t, It s hs co$nt ry# on 3h ch he sho$ld
l a6 sh hs affect ons and h s efforts, It s here h s nfl $ences are to
o!erat e, It s h s ho$se# and not a t ent G hs home# and not merely a school ,
-e s sent nt o th s 3orl d# not t o be constant ly han/er ng after# dream ng
of# !re!ar ng for anotherG b$t to do h s d$ty and f$l f ll hs dest ny on th s
earthG t o do al l that les n h s !o3er to m!ro6e t # to render t a scene of
el e6ated ha!! ness to h msel f# t o t hose aro$nd h m# to t hose 3ho are t o
come aft er h m, - s l fe here s !art of h s mmort al tyG and t h s 3orld#
al so# s among the stars,
And t h$s# Masonry teaches $s# 3 l l man best !re!are for t hat "$t $re 3hch
he ho!es for, The 'nseen cannot hold a h gher !l ace n o$r affect ons than
t he Seen and the "am l ar, The l a3 of o$r be ng s Lo6e of L fe# and t s
nterests and adornment sG l o6e of the 3orl d n 3hch o$r l ot s cast #
engrossment 3 th the nterest s and affect ons of eart h, 8ot a l o3 or
sens$al lo6e# not lo6e of 3ealt h# of fame# of ease# of !o3er# of s!lendo$r,
8ot lo3 3orldl nessG b$t t he lo6e of Eart h as the garden on 3h ch the
%reator has la6shed s$ch m racles of bea$tyG as the habtat on of
h$manty# t he arena of t s confl ct s# t he scene of t s ll mt abl e !rogress#
t he d3ell ngD!lace of t he 3se# the good# t he act 6e# t he lo6ng# and t he
dearG the !l ace of o!!ort $n ty for the de6el o!ment by means of s n and
s$ffer ng and sorro3# of the noblest !ass ons the loft est 6 rt $es# and the
t enderest sym!at h es,
They ta/e 6ery $n!rof table !ans# 3ho endea6o$r to !ers$ade men that
t hey are obl ged 3hol ly to des!se t h s 3orld# and al l that s n t # e6en
3hl st they themsel 6es l 6e here, God hath not t a/en all t hat !a ns n
form ng and framng and f$rnsh ng and adornng t he 3orl d# that t hey 3ho
3ere made by - m to l 6e n t sho$ld des!se t, It 3l l be eno$gh# f they
do not lo6e t too mmoderately, It s $seless to att em!t t o e4t ng$sh al l
t hose affect ons and !ass ons 3hch are and al3ays 3l l be nse!arable
from h$man nat$re, As long as he 3orld last s# and hono$r and 6 rt $e and
nd$stry ha6e re!$t at on n the 3orl d# there 3 l l be ambt on and
em$lat on and a!!et te n t he best and most accom!l shed men n tG and f
t here 3ere not # more barbarty and 6ce and 3 c/edness 3o$ld co6er e6ery
nat on of the 3orld# t han t no3 s$ffers $nder,
Those only 3ho feel a dee! nt erest n# and affect on for# ths 3orl d# 3 ll
3or/ resol$t ely for t s amel orat on, Those 3ho $nder6al $e th s rfe#
nat$rally become E$er$l o$s and dscontented# and l ose t her nt erest n t he
3el fare of t her fel lo3s, To ser6e them# and so t o do o$r d$ty as Masons#
3e m$st feel that t he ob5 ect s 3ort h t he e4ert onG and be cont ent 3 th ths
3orl d n 3h ch God has !l aced $s# $nt l -e !erm ts $s t o remo6e to a
better one, -e s here 3 th $s# and does not deem t h s an $n3ort hy 3orl d,
It a sero$s thng t o defame and bel e a 3hol e 3orl dG to s!ea/ of t as t he
abode of a !oor# to l ng# dr$dg ng# gnorant# contem!t bl e race, .o$ 3o$l d
not so dscredt yo$r famly# yo$r fr endly c rcl e# yo$r 6 ll age# yo$r cty#
yo$r co$ntry, The 3orld s not a 3ret ched and a 3ort hless oneG nor s t a
msfort$ne# b$t a t h ng t o be t han/f$l for# to be a man, If l fe s 3ort hl ess#
so al so s mmortal ty,
In socety tsel f# n t hat l 6 ng mechan sm of h$man rel at onsh!s that
s!reads t sel f o6er t he 3orl d# there s a f ner essence 3 thn# t hat as tr$ly
mo6es t # as any !o3er# hea6y or e4!ans 6e# mo6es the so$nd ng
man$fact ory or the s3 ftDflyng car, The manDmachne h$rres t o and fro
$!on the eart h# stretches o$t ts hands on e6ery s de# to tol # t o bart er# t o
$nn$mbered labo$rs and enter!rsesG and al most al 3ays t he mot 6e# t hat
3hch mo6es t# s somet h ng that t a/es hol d of t he comforts# affect ons#
and ho!es of socal e4st ence, Tr$e# t he mechansm often 3or/s 3t h
dff c$l ty# drags hea6 ly# grates and screams 3t h harsh col l son, Tr$e# the
essence of f ner mot 6e# becomng nterm 4ed 3 th baser and coarser
ngredent s# often clogs# obstr$ct s# 5 ars# and deranges the free and nobl e
act on of socal l fe, B$t he s ne t her grat ef$l nor 3 se# 3ho l oo/s
cyncal ly on all th s# and loses the f ne sense of soc al good n t s
!er6ersons, That I can be a fr end# that I can ha6e a fr end# t ho$gh t 3ere
b$t one n the 3orl dG that fact# t hat 3ondro$s good fort $ne# 3e may set
aga nst al l t he s$ffer ngs of o$r soc al nat$re, That there s s$ch a !lace on
earth as a home# t hat resort and sanct $ary of nD3al led and sh elded 5 oy#
3e may set aga nst all t he s$rro$ndng desolat ons of l fe, That one can be
a tr$e# socal man# can s!ea/ h s tr$e t ho$ght s# amdst all t he Tangl ngs of
contro6ersy and t he 3arr ng of o!n onsG that fact from 3 t h n# o$t 3eghs
al l facts from 3 tho$t ,
In t he 6 s bl e as!ect and act on of soc ety# often re!$ls 6e and annoyng#
3e are a!t to lose the d$e sense of t s n6 s bl e bl essngs, As n 8at $re t
s not the coarse and !al!able# not sol s and rans# nor e6en felds and
flo3ers# that are so bea$t f$l # as the n6 sbl e s! rt of 3 sdom and bea$ty
t hat !er6ades t G so n soc ety# t s t he n6 sbl e# and therefore
$nobser6ed# t hat s most bea$t f$l ,
;hat ner6es t he arm of to l J If man m nded h mself al one# he 3o$ld fl ng
do3n the s!ade and a4e# and r$sh t o t he desert G or roam thro$gh t he 3orl d
as a 3l derness# and ma/e that 3orl d a desert , -s home# 3hch he sees
not# !erha!s# b$t once or t3 ce n a day# s t he n6 sble bond of t he 3orl d,
It s t he good# st rong# and nobl e fa t h that men ha6e n each ot her# 3h ch
g 6es t he l oft est charact er to b$s ness# trade# and commerce, "ra$d occ$rs
n t he r$sh of b$snessG b$t t s t he e4ce!t on, -onesty s the r$leG and al l
t he fra$ds n the 3orl d cannot tear the great bond of h$man confdence, If
t hey co$l d# commerce 3o$l d f$rl t s sa ls on e6ery sea# and all t he c t es
of t he 3orl d 3o$l d cr$mbl e nt o r$ ns, The bare character of a man on the
other s de of the 3orl d# 3hom yo$ ne6er sa3# 3hom yo$ ne6er 3l l see#
yo$ hol d good for a bond of t ho$sands, The most st r / ng feat $re of the
!ol t cal stat e s not go6ernments# nor const t$t ons# nor la3s# nor
enact ments# nor t he 5$dc al !o3er# nor t he !ol ceG b$t the $n 6ersal 3l l
of t he !eo!le t o be go6erned by the common 3eal , Ta/e off t hat rest ra nt #
and no go6ernment on earth co$l d stand for an ho$r,
Of t he many teach ngs of Masonry# one of t he most 6al $abl e s# t hat 3e
sho$l d not de!recat e t h s l fe, It does not hol d# t hat 3hen 3e refl ect on
t he dest ny t hat a3a ts man on eart h# 3e o$ght to bede3 h s cradl e 3t h
o$r tearsG b$t # l /e t he -ebre3s# t ha l s the b rt h of a ch ld 3 th 5oy# and
holds t hat h s b rt hday sho$ld be a fest 6al,
It has no sym!at hy 3t h t hose 3ho !rofess to ha6e !ro6ed t hs l fe# and
fo$nd t l tt le 3orthG 3ho ha6e del berately made $! t her m nds t hat t s
far more mserable than ha!!yG beca$se t s em!l oyments are t ed o$s# and
t her schemes often baffled# t he r frendsh !s bro/en# or ther frends dead#
ts !leas$res !alled# and t s hono$rs faded# and t s !at hs beaten# fam l ar#
and d$ll ,
Masonry deems t no mar/ of great !ety t o3ard God t o ds!arage# f not
des! se# the stat e t hat -e has ordaned for $s, It does not abs$rdly set $!
t he cl a ms of anot her 3orld# not n com!ar son merely# b$t n com!et t on#
3 th t he cl a ms of t h s, It loo/s $!on both as !art s of one system, It hol ds
t hat a man may ma/e t he best of ths 3orl d and of anot her at the same
t me, It does not t each ts nt at es to t h n/ bet t er of ot her 3or/s and
ds!ensat ons of God# by thn/ ng meanly of t hese, It does not l oo/ $!on
l fe as so m$ch t me l ost G nor regard t s em!loyment s as t rfles $n3ort hy
of mmort al be ngsG nor tel l t s fol l o3ers t o fol d t her arms# as f n
dsda n of ther stat e and s!ec esG b$t t l oo/s soberly and cheerf$lly $!on
t he 3orl d# as a t heat re of 3orthy act on# of e4alt ed $sef$lness# and of
rat onal and nnocent en5 oyment,
It holds t hat # 3 t h all t s e6 ls# l fe s a bl essng, To deny t hat s to destroy
t he bas s of all rel g on# nat$ral and re6eal ed, The 6ery fo$ndat on of al l
rel gon s lad on the f rm bel ef t hat God s goodG and f t h s l fe s an
e6l and a c$rse# no s$ch belef can be rat onally entert a ned, To le6el o$r
sat re at h$man ty and h$man e4 stence# as mean and contem!t bl eG to l oo/
on t h s 3orld as t he hab tat on of a mserabl e race# ft only for moc/ery
and scornG t o cons der th s earth as a d$ngeon or a !r son# 3hch has no
blessng t o offer b$t esca!e from t # s t o e4t ng$ sh the !r mal l ght of
fat h and ho!e and ha!!ness# to dest roy t he bas s of rel gon# and Tr$th? s
fo$ndat on n t he goodness of God, If t ndeed be so# then t mat ters not
3hat else s tr$e or not t r$eG s!ec$lat on s 6an and fa th s 6a nG and all
t hat bel ongs to man? s h ghest be ng s b$r ed n the r$ns of m sant hro!y#
melancholy# and des!a r,
O$r lo6e of l feG the tenac ty 3 th 3h ch# n sorro3 and s$ffer ng# 3e cl ng
t o t G o$r att achment to o$r home# t o the s!ot t hat ga6e $s b rt h# to any
!lace# ho3e6er r$de# $nsght ly# or barren# on 3hch t he hst ory of o$r
years has been 3r tten# all sho3 ho3 dear are the t es of /ndred and
soc ety, Msery ma/es a greater m!resson $!on $s than ha!! nessG
beca$se the former s not t he habt of o$r m nds, It s a strange# $n$s$al
g$est # and 3e are more consco$s of t s !resence, -a!! ness l 6es 3t h $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 t he st orm and eart hE$a/e# beca$se t hey are o$t of the
common co$rse of t h ngs, They are l /e dsastro$s e6ents# recorded
beca$se e4t raord naryG and 3 th 3hole and $nnot ced !er ods of !ros!erty
bet3een, ;e mar/ and sgnal <e the t mes of calam tyG b$t many ha!!y
days and $nnot ed !er ods of en5 oyment !ass# that are $nrecorded e t her n
t he boo/ of memory# or n the scanty annals of o$r t han/sg6 ng, ;e are
l t tl e ds!osed and less able to call $! from the d m remembrances of o$r
!ast years# t he !eacef$l moments# t he easy sensat ons# the brght tho$ght s#
t he E$et re6eres# the throngs of /nd affect ons n 3hch l fe fl o3ed on#
bear ng $s al most $nconsc o$sly $!on t s bosom# beca$se t bore $s cal mly
and gent ly,
L fe s not only goodG b$t t has been gloro$s n the e4!er ence of
m l l ons, The glory of all h$man 6 rt $e cl ot hes t, The s!lendo$rs of
de6ot edness# benefcence# and hero sm are $!on t G the cro3n of a
t ho$sand martyrdoms s $!on t s bro3, The brghtness of t he so$l shnes
t hro$gh ths 6s bl e and somet mes dar/ened lfeG thro$gh all t s
s$rro$nd ng cares and labo$rs, The h$mbl est l fe may feel t s connect on
3 th t s Inf nt e So$rce, There s somet h ng mghty n the fral nner manG
someth ng of mmortal ty n t h s momentary and t rans ent be ng, The m nd
st ret ches a3ay# on e6ery sde# nt o nfn ty, Its tho$ght s flash abroad# far
nt o t he bo$ndl ess# t he mmeas$rable# the nf n teG far nt o the great # dar/#
t eem ng f$t $reG and become !o3ers and nfl $ences n ot her ages, To /no3
ts 3onderf$l A$thor# to brng do3n 3 sdom from the Eternal St ars# t o
bear $!3ard ts homage# grat t$de# and l o6e# t o t he R$ler of all 3orlds# t o
be mmort al n o$r nfl$ences !ro5 ected far nto t he sl o3Da!!roach ng
"$t$re# ma/es l fe most 3ort hy and most gl oro$s,
L fe s t he 3onderf$l creat on of God, It s l ght# s!r$ng from 6o d
dar/nessG !o3er# 3a/ed from nert ness and m!otenceG beng creat ed from
nothngG and t he contrast may 3ell en/ndle 3onder and del ght , It s a rl l
from the nf nt e# o6erfl o3 ng goodnessG and from the moment 3hen t
frst g$shes $! nt o t he lght # t o t hat 3hen t m ngles 3 t h t he ocean of
Etern ty# that Goodness at tends t and mn sters t o t , It s a great and
gl oro$s g ft , There s gl adness n ts nfant 6ocesG 5 oy n the b$oyant ste!
of t s yo$thG dee! sat sfact on n t s strong mat $r tyG and !eace n t s E$ et
age, There s good for the goodG 6rt $e for the fa thf$lG and 6 ctory for t he
6alant, There s# e6en n t h s h$mbl e l fe# an nf n ty for those 3hose
des res are bo$ndl ess, There are bl ess ngs $!on t s brt hG there s ho!e n
ts deathG and et ernty n ts !ros!ect , Th$s earth# 3hch b nds many n
cha ns# s to the Mason bot h the start ngD!lace and goal of mmort al ty#
Many t b$res n t he r$bb sh of d$l l cares and 3earyng 6an t esG b$t t o
t he Mason t s t he lofty mo$nt of med tat on# 3here -ea6en# and Infnty
and Etern ty are s!read before h m and aro$nd h m, To t he loftyDm nded#
t he !$re# and t he 6rt$o$s# ths l fe s t he beg nnng of -ea6en# and a !art
of mmort al ty,
God hath a!!onted one remedy for al l the e6l s n t he 3orl dG and t hat s a
contented s!r t, ;e may be reconc led to !o6erty and a lo3 fort $ne# f 3e
s$ffer cont entedness and eE$an m ty to ma/e the !ro!ort ons, 8o man s
!oor 3ho doth not th n/ h msel f soG b$t f# n a f$l l fort $ne# 3 t h
m!atence he desres more# he !rocla ms h s 3ant s and h s beggarly
cond t on, Th s 6rt $e of cont ent edness 3as the s$m of al l the ol d moral
!hl oso!hy# and s of most $n6ersal $se n the 3hole co$rse of o$r l 6es#
and t he only nstr$ment to ease t he b$rdens of the 3orld and the enmt es
of sad chances, It s t he great reasonableness of com!ly ng 3 th the D 6 ne
Pro6 dence# 3h ch go6erns al l t he 3orld# and hat h so ordered $s n t he
admnst rat on of - s great famly, It s f t that God sho$l d ds!ense - s
g ft s as -e !leasesG and f 3e m$rm$r here# 3e may# at t he ne4t
melancholy# be tro$bl ed 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 l ets loose a
Tyrant $!on $s# or a sc/ness# or scorn# or a lessened fort$ne# f 3e fear t o
de# or /no3 not ho3 t o be !at ent # or are !ro$d# or co6eto$s# then t he
calam ty s t s hea6y on $s, B$t f 3e /no3 ho3 t o manage a noble
!r nc !le# and fear not deat h so m$ch as a dshonest act on# and t h n/
m!atence a 3orse e6l t han a fe6er# and !r de t o be t he greatest d sgrace
as 3ell as t he greatest folly# and !o6erty far !referable to the t orment s of
a6arce# 3e may st l l bear an e6en m nd and sm l e at the re6erses of
fort$ne and t he ll Dnat$re of "ate,
If tho$ hast lost t hy land# do not al so l ose t hy constancyG and f t ho$ m$st
de sooner t han others# or t han tho$ d dst e4!ect # yet do not d e
m!atently, "or no chance s e6l t o h m 3ho s content # and to a man
nothng s m serabl e $nless t be $nreasonable, 8o man can ma/e another
man t o be hs sl a6e# $nl ess that other hat h frst ensla6ed h msel f to l fe
and deat h# to !l eas$re or !a n# to ho!e or fearG command these !assons#
and yo$ are freer than t he Parthan Kngs,
;hen an enemy re!roaches $s# l et $s l oo/ on h m as an m!artal relat or
of o$r fa$lt sG for he 3 ll tell $s tr$er than o$r fondest frend 3l l # and 3e
may forg6e h s anger# 3h lst 3e ma/e $se of t he !la nness of h s
decl amat on, The o4# 3hen he s 3eary# t reads tr$est G and f there be
nothng else n ab$se# b$t t hat t ma/es $s t o 3al / 3ar ly# and tread s$re
for fear of o$r enemes# that s bett er t han to be flattered nto !rde and
carelessness,
If tho$ fal lest from t hy em!l oyment n !$bl c# ta/e sanct $ary n an honest
ret rement # be ng ndfferent t o t hy gan abroad# or t hy safety at home,
;hen the north 3 nd bl o3s hard# and t rans sadly# 3e do not st do3n n
t and cryG b$t defend o$rsel 6es aga nst t 3 th a 3arm garment # or a good
fre and a dry roof, So 3hen the storm of a sad m schance beats $!on o$r
s!rt s# 3e may t$rn t nto somethng that s good# f 3e resol 6e to ma/e
t soG and 3t h eE$an m ty and !at ence may shelt er o$rsel6es from ts
nclement !t l ess !el t ng, If t de6el o! o$r !at ence# and g 6e occas on for
hero c end$rance# t hat h done $s good eno$gh t o recom!ense $s
s$ffc ently for al l t he tem!oral affl ct onG for so a 3 se man shal l
o6err$l e h s starsG and ha6e a great er nfl$ence $!on h s o3n content# than
al l the const ell at ons and !lanet s of the f rmament ,
%om!are not thy cond t on 3t h the fe3 abo6e thee# b$t to sec$re thy
content# loo/ $!on t hose tho$sands 3 th 3hom tho$ 3o$l dst not# for any
nterest# change thy fort $ne and condt on, A solder m$st not t h n/
h msel f $n!ros!ero$s# f he be not s$ccessf$l as Al e4ander or ;el l ngt onG
nor any man deem h mself $nfort $nate t hat he hat h not the 3ealt h of
Rothschl dG b$t rat her let t he former re5 o ce that he s not lessened l /e
t he many general s 3ho 3ent do3n horse and man before 8a!oleon# and the
l att er that he s not t he beggar 3ho# bareheaded n the bl ea/ 3 nt er 3nd
holds o$t hs tat tered hat for charty, There may be many 3ho are rcher
and more fort $nat eG b$t many tho$sands 3ho are 6ery m serable# com!ared
t o t hee,
After t he 3orst assa$l t s of "ort $ne# there 3ll be somethng left t o $s# DDa
merry co$nt enance# a cheerf$l s!rt # and a good consc ence# the
Pro6 dence of God# o$r ho!es of -ea6en# o$r charty for those 3ho ha6e
n5 $red $sG !erha!s a l o6 ng 3fe# and many frends to !ty# and some to
rel e6e $sG and l ght and ar# and all the bea$tes of 8at $reG 3e can read#
dsco$rse# and med tat eG and ha6 ng st l l these bl essngs# 3e sho$l d be
m$ch n lo6e 3t h sorro3 and !ee6shness t o l ose t hem al l# and !refer to
s t do3n on o$r l tt le handf$l of t horns,
En5 oy the bless ngs of ths day# f God sends t hem# and t he e6l s of t bear
!atently and cal mlyG for th s day only s o$rs( 3e are dead t o yesterday#
and 3e are not yet born to the morro3, ;hen o$r fort $nes are 6ol ent ly
changed# o$r s! rt s are $nchanged# f t hey al 3ays st ood n t he s$b$rbs
and e4!ectat on of sorro3s and re6erses, The bl ess ngs of mm$n ty#
safeg$ard# l berty# and ntegrty deser6e the than/sg 6ng of a 3hol e l fe,
;e are E$ t from a tho$sand cal am t es# e6ery one of 3h ch# f t 3ere
$!on $s# 3o$l d ma/e $s nsensbl e of o$r !resent sorro3# and glad to
rece6e t n e4change for t hat ot her great er affl ct on,
Meas$re yo$r desres 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$s !rnc!l es, It s no e6 l to be !oor# b$t t o be
6c o$s and m!at ent , Is t hat beast bet t er# that hath t 3o or three
mo$nta ns t o gra<e on# than t he l tt le bee that feeds on de3 or manna# and
l 6es $!on 3hat fal ls e6ery morn ng from the st oreDho$ses of -ea6en#
cl o$ds and Pro6dence J
There are some nstances of fort $ne and a fa r cond t on t hat cannot stand
3 th some ot hersG b$t f yo$ desre t h s# yo$ m$st l ose t hat# and $nless yo$
be cont ent 3 th one# yo$ l ose t he comfort of both, If yo$ co6et l earn ng#
yo$ m$st ha6e le s$re and a ret red l feG f hono$rs of State and !ol t cal
dst nct ons# yo$ m$st be e6er abroad n !$bl c# and get e4!erence# and
do al l men? s b$s ness# and /ee! al l com!any# and ha6e no l es$re at al l, If
yo$ 3l l be rch# yo$ m$st be fr$gal G f yo$ 3l l be !o!$lar# yo$ m$st be
bo$nt f$lG f a !h l oso!her# yo$ m$st des! se rches, If yo$ 3o$ld be
famo$s as E!amnondas# acce!t al so h s !o6erty# for t added l $stre t o hs
!erson# and en6y t o hs fort $ne# and h s 6 rt $e 3t ho$t t co$ld not ha6e
been so e4cel lent, If yo$ 3o$l d ha6e t he re!$tat on of a martyr# yo$ m$st
needs acce!t h s !ersec$t onG f of a benefact or of t he 3orld# t he 3orl d? s
n5 $st ceG f t r$ly great # yo$ m$st e4!ect to see the mob !refer lesser men
t o yo$rself,
God est eems t one of - s glor es# t hat -e br ngs good o$t of e6l G and
t herefore t 3ere b$t reason 3e sho$ld tr$st - m to go6ern - s o3n 3orld
as -e !l easesG and t hat 3e sho$l d !at ent ly 3a t $nt l the change comet h#
or t he reason s d sco6ered,
A Mason? s contentedness m$st by no means be a mere contented
sel f shness# l /e hs 3ho# comfort able h msel f# s nd fferent t o t he
dscomfort of ot hers, There 3l l al3ays be n t h s 3orl d 3rongs to forg6e#
s$ffer ng t o alle6at e# sorro3 as/ ng for sym!at hy# necesst es and
dest t $t on t o rel e6e# and am!le occason for the e4erc se of act 6e
char ty and benefcence, And he 3ho s t s $nconcerned am dst t all #
!erha!s en5 oy ng hs o3n comforts and l$4$res the more# by cont rast ng
t hem 3 th the h$ngry and ragged dest t$t on and sh 6er ng m sery of h s
fell o3s# s not contented# b$t sel fsh and $nfeel ng,
It s t he saddest of al l s ght s $!on ths eart h# t hat of a man la<y and
l $4$ro$s# or hard and !en$ro$s# t o 3hom 3ant a!!eals n 6a n# and
s$ffer ng cres n an $n/no3n tong$e, The man 3hose hasty anger h$rres
h m nto 6 ol ence and cr me s not half so $n3ort hy to l 6e, -e s the
fat hl ess ste3ard# that embe<<l es 3hat God has g6en h m n tr$st for the
m!o6ershed and s$ffer ng among hs brethren, The t r$e Mason m$st be
and m$st ha6e a rght t o be cont ent 3 th h msel fG and he can be so only
3hen he l 6es not for h msel f al one# b$t for ot hers al so# 3ho need h s
ass stance and ha6e a cl a m $!on h s sym!at hy,
@%harty s the great channel #@ t has been 3el l sa d# @thro$gh 3hch 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$r brother, Ths s t he r$l e of o$r ho!es
and t he meas$re of o$r desre n t h s 3orldG and on the day of death and
5 $dgment # t he great sentence $!on man/nd shal l be t ransacted accordng
t o o$r al ms# 3hch s the ot her !art of charty, God h mself s lo6eG and
6ery degree of char ty that d3el ls n $s s the !art c !at on of the d 6 ne
nat$re,@
These !r nc !les Masonry red$ces t o !ract ce, By t hem t e4!ect s yo$ t o
be hereafter g$ded and go6erned, It es!ecally nc$l cates t hem $!on h m
3ho em!l oys t he labo$r of ot hers# forb dd ng h m t o dscharge t hem# 3hen
t o 3ant em!l oyment s t o star6eG or t o cont ract for the labo$r of man or
3oman at so l o3 a !rce t hat by o6erDe4ert on t hey m$st sel l h m ther
blood and l fe at t he same t me 3t h the labo$r of t her hands,
These Degrees are also ntended to teach more t han moral s, The symbol s
and ceremon es of Masonry ha6e more than one mean ng, They rat her
conceal than d sclose the Tr$t h, They hnt t only# at l eastG and ther 6ared
mean ngs are only t o be d sco6ered by refl ect on and st$dy, Tr$th s not
only symbol <ed by Lght# b$t as the ray of l ght s se!arable nt o rays of
dfferent col o$rs# so s tr$t h se!arable nt o /nds, It s the !ro6nce of
Masonry to teach all t r$thsDDnot moral t r$th alone# b$t !ol t cal and
!hl oso!h cal# and e6en rel g o$s tr$t h# so far as concerns t he great and
essent al !r nc!les of each, The s!hyn4 3as a symbol , To 3hom has t
dscl osed t s nmost mean ngJ ;ho /no3s the symbol c mean ng of the
!yramdsJ
.o$ 3l l hereafter learn 3ho are t he chef foes of h$man l berty
symbol <ed by t he assass ns of t he Mast er Kh$r$mG and n ther fate yo$
may see foreshado3ed t hat 3h ch 3e earnest ly ho!e 3 l l hereafter
o6ert a/e t hose enem es of h$man ty# aga nst 3hom Masonry has str$ggled
so long,

IP, ELE%T O" T-E 8I8E,
AEl$ of t he 8ne, B
ORIGI8ALL. creat ed to re3ard f del ty# obedence# and de6ot on# t h s
Degree 3as consecrat ed t o bra6ery# de6ot edness# and !at r ot smG and yo$r
obl gat on has made /no3n t o yo$ t he d$t es 3h ch yo$ ha6e ass$med,
They are s$mmed $! n the s m!le mandat e# @Protect t he o!!ressed aga nst
t he o!!ressorG and de6ot e yo$rsel f to the hono$r and nt erest s of yo$r
%o$nt ry, @
Masonry s not @s!ec$lat 6e# @ nor t heoret cal# b$t e4!er ment al G not
sent ment al # b$t !ract cal , It reE$ res sel fDren$nc at on and selfDcontrol , It
3ears a st ern face to3ard men? s 6 ces# and nterferes 3 th many of o$r
!$rs$t s and o$r fanc ed !leas$res, It !enet rates beyond t he regon of
6ag$e sent ment G beyond t he regons 3here moral <ers and !hl oso!hers
ha6e 3o6en the r f ne t heor es and elaborat ed t he r bea$t f$l ma4 ms# to
t he 6ery de!t hs of the heart # reb$/ ng o$r l t t lenesses and meannesses#
arragnng o$r !re5 $dces and !ass ons# and 3arr ng aga nst the armes of
o$r 6 ces,
It 3ars aganst t he !ass ons that s!r ng o$t of t he bosom of a 3orld of fne
sent ment s# a 3orld of admrabl e say ngs and fo$l !ract ces# of good
ma4 ms and bad deedsG 3hose dar/er !ass ons are not only restraned by
c$st om and ceremony# b$t h dden e6en from t self by a 6el of bea$t f$l
sent ment s, Ths terr ble solec sm has e4st ed n all ages, Rom sh
sent ment al sm has often co6ered nf del ty and 6 ceG Prot estant
st raghtness often la$ds s!r t $al ty and fat h# and neglect s homely t r$t h#
candor# and generostyG and $lt raDl beral Rat onal st c refnement
somet mes soars to hea6en n ts dreams# and 3all o3s n the mre of eart h
n t s deeds,
There may be a 3orld of Masonc sent mentG and yet a 3orl d of l tt le or no
Masonry, In many m nds t here s a 6ag$e and general sent ment of
Masonc char ty# generos ty# and d snterestedness# b$t no !ract cal # act 6e
6rt$e# nor hab t$al /ndness# self sacr f ce# or l beral ty, Masonry !l ays
abo$t t hem l /e t he cold tho$gh br ll ant l ghts t hat fl$sh and eddy o6er
8ort hern s/ es, There are occas onal flashes of genero$s and manly
feel ng# transt ory s!lendo$rs# and momentary gleams of 5$st and nobl e
t ho$ght # and t rans ent cor$scat ons# t hat l ght t he -ea6en of the r
mag nat onG b$t t here s no 6t al 3armth n t he heart G and t remans as
cold and st erle as t he Arct c or Ant arct c regons, They do noth ngG t hey
ga n no 6ct ores o6er themsel6esG they ma/e no !rogressG t hey are st l l n
t he 8ort heast corner of t he Lodge# as 3hen they f rst st ood t here as
A!!rent cesG and they do not c$lt 6at e Masonry# 3t h a c$l t 6at on#
determned# resol$t e# and reg$l ar# l /e ther c$l t 6at on of the r estat e#
!rofesson# or /no3ledge, Ther Masonry t a/es ts chance n general and
neff cent sent ment # mo$rnf$lly barren of res$l tsG n 3ords and form$las
and fne !rofess ons,
Most men ha6e sent ment s# b$t not !r nc !les, The former are t em!orary
sensat ons# the lat ter !ermanent and cont rol l ng m!ress ons of goodness
and 6rt $e, The former are general and n6ol $nt ary# and do not rse t o the
character of 6rt$e, E6ery one feels t hem, They flash $! s!ont aneo$sly n
e6ery heart , The lat ter are r$les of act on# and sha!e and cont rol o$r
cond$ct G and t s these t hat Masonry nsst s $!on,
;e a!!ro6e the r ght G b$t !$rs$e the 3rong, It s t he old st ory of h$man
defcency, 8o one abet s or !ra ses n5$st ce# fra$d# o!!resson#
co6eto$sness# re6enge# en6y or slanderG and yet ho3 many 3ho condemn
t hese t h ngs# are t hemsel 6es g$l ty of t hem, It s no rare thng for h m
3hose nd gnat on s / ndled at a tal e of 3 c/ed n5$st ce# cr$el
o!!ress on base sl ander# or msery nfl cted by $nbr dl ed nd$lgenceG
3hose anger fl ames n behal f of t he n5 $red and r$ ned 6ct ms of 3rongG
t o be n some relat on $n5$st# or o!!ress6e# or en6o$s# or selfD nd$lgent#
or a careless tal /er of ot hers, -o3 3onderf$lly nd gnant t he !en$r o$s
man oft en s# at t he a6ar ce or 3ant of !$blc s! r t of anot herO
A great Preacher 3ell sa d# @Therefore t ho$ art ne4c$sabl e, O Man#
3hosoe6er t ho$ art# that 5$dgestG for 3heren tho$ 5$dgest anot her# tho$
condemnest thyself( for t ho$ t hat 5$dgest# doest t he same t h ngs, @ It s
ama<ng t o see ho3 men can t al/ of 6 rt$e and hono$r# 3hose l fe den es
both, It s c$ro$s t o see 3t h 3hat a mar6el lo$s fac l ty many bad men
E$ot e Scr !t $re, It seems t o comfort the r e6l conscences# t o $se good
3ordsG and t o glo<e o6er bad deeds 3 th holy te4t s# 3rested to ther
!$r!ose, Oft en# the more a man tal /s abo$t %har ty and Tol erat on# the
l ess he has of e therG the more he t al/s abo$t Frt$e# t he small er st oc/ he
has of t , The mo$t h s!ea/s o$t of t he ab$ndance of t he heart G b$t often
t he 6ery re6erse of 3hat the man !ract ses, And the 6 co$s and sens$al
often e4!ress# and n a sense feel # strong dsg$st at 6ce and sens$al ty,
-y!ocrsy s not so common as s magned,
-ere# n the Lodge# 6 rt $e and 6ce are matters of reflect on and feel ng
only, There s l t t le o!!ort $n ty here# for t he !ract ce of e t herG and
Masons yeld to the arg$ment here# 3 th fac l ty and readnessG beca$se
nothng s to foll o3, It s easy# and safe# here# too feel $!on these mat ters,
B$t t oDmorro3# 3hen t hey breat he t he at mos!here of 3orl dly ga ns and
com!et t ons# and the !assons are agan st rred at the o!!ort$n t es of
$nla3f$l !leas$re# al l ther f ne emot ons abo$t 6 rt$e# al l t he r genero$s
abhorrence of selfshness and sens$al ty# melt a3ay l /e a morn ng clo$d,
"or the t me# t her emot ons and sent ment s are s ncere and real , Men may
be real ly# n a certa n 3ay# nterest ed n Masonry# 3hle fat ally def cent n
6rt$e, It s not al3ays hy!ocrsy, Men !ray most fer6ently and sncerely#
and yet are const ant ly g$ lty of act s so bad and base# so $ngenero$s and
$nr ght eo$s# that t he cr mes that cro3d the doc/ets of o$r co$rt s are
scarcely 3orse,
A man may be a good sort of man n general # and yet a 6ery bad man n
!art c$l ar( good n the Lodge and bad n the 3orl dG good n !$bl c# and
bad n hs fam lyG good at home# and bad on a 5o$rney or n a strange c ty,
Many a man earnestly desres to be a good Mason, -e says so# and s
s ncere, B$t f yo$ reE$re h m to res st a cert an !ass on# to sacr fce a
certa n nd$lgence# t o control hs a!!et te at a !artc$lar feast# or to /ee!
hs t em!er n a d s!$t e# yo$ 3 l l f nd that he does not 3sh to be a good
Mason# n that !art c$l ar caseG or# 3 sh ng# s not abl e t o resst h s 3orst
m!$lses,
The d$t es of l fe are more than l fe, The l a3 m!oseth t $!on e6ery
c t <en# t hat he !refer t he $rgent ser6 ce of hs co$nt ry before the safety of
hs l fe, If a man be commanded# sa t h a great 3rt er# t o br ng ordnance or
m$n t on t o rel e6e any of t he Kng? s to3ns t hat are d stressed# t hen he
cannot for any danger of tem!est 5 $st fy the t hro3ng of t hem o6erboardG
for there t holdet h 3hch 3as s!o/en by the Roman# 3hen t he same
necess ty of 3eat her 3as all eged t o hol d h m from embar/ ng( @8ecesse
est $t eam# non $t 6 6am (@ t needs t hat I go( t s not necessary I sho$l d
l 6e,
-o3 $ngrat ef$lly he sl n/s a3ay# 3ho d es# and does not h ng t o refl ect a
gl ory t o -ea6en O -o3 barren a t ree he s# 3ho l 6es# and s!reads# and
c$mbers t he gro$nd# yet lea6es not one seed# not one good 3or/ t o
generate anot her aft er h m O Al l cannot l ea6e al /eG yet al l may lea6e
someth ng# ans3er ng t her !ro!ort ons and the r / nds, Those are dead
and 3 thered gra ns of corn# o$t of 3hch there 3 ll not one ear s!r ng, -e
3 ll hardly fnd the 3ay t o -ea6en# 3ho desres t o go t ht her al one,
Ind$stry s ne6er 3hol ly $nfr$t f$l, If t br ng not 5oy 3 th the ncomng
!roft # t 3 l l yet bansh m schef from thy b$sed gates, There s a / nd of
good angel 3a t ng $!on Dl gence that e6er carr es a l a$rel n h s hand to
cro3n her, -o3 $n3orthy 3as t hat man of t he 3orl d 3ho ne6er d d a$ght #
b$t only l 6ed and d edO That 3e ha6e l berty to do anyt h ng# 3e sho$ld
acco$nt t a gft from the fa6o$rng -ea6ensG t hat 3e ha6e m nds
somet mes ncl nng $s to $se t hat l berty 3ell # s a great bo$nty of the
De ty,
Masonry s act on# and not nertness, It reE$res t s Int ates to ;ORK#
act 6ely and earnestly# for t he benef t of ther bret hren# t her co$nt ry# and
man/ nd, It s the !atron of t he o!!ressed# as t s t he comfort er and
consol er of the $nfort$nate and 3ret ched, It seems t o t a 3ort her hono$r
t o be t he nstr$ment of ad6ancement and reform# than t o en5oy all t hat
ran/ and off ce and lofty t t l es can best o3, It s t he ad6ocate of t he
common !eo!le n those thngs 3h ch concern t he best nt erest s of
man/ nd, It hates nsolent !o3er and m!$dent $s$r!at on, It ! tes the
!oor# the sorro3ng# t he dsconsol at eG t endea6o$rs to ra se and m!ro6e
t he gnorant # the s$n/en# and t he degraded,
It s f del ty t o t s m ss on 3 ll be acc$rat ely e6 denced# by the e4tent of the
effort s t em!l oys# and the means t set s on foot # t o m!ro6e the !eo!l e at
l arge and to bett er ther condt onG ch efest of 3hch# 3 thn ts reach# s
t o a d n the ed$cat on of t he chl dren of the !oor, An ntel l gent !eo!l e#
nformed of t s rghts# 3l l soon come t o /no3 t s !o3er# and cannot l ong
be o!!ressedG b$t f t here be not a so$nd and 6rt $o$s !o!$l ace# t he
el aborate ornaments at t he t o! of the !yram d of soc ety 3l l be a
3retched com!ensat on for t he 3ant of sol dty at the base, It s ne6er safe
for a nat on to re!ose on t he l a! of gnorance( and f there e6er 3as a t me
3hen !$bl c tranE$l l ty 3as ns$red by t he absence of /no3l edge# that
season s !ast, 'nth n/ ng st$! dty cannot sl ee!# 3t ho$t be ng a!!al led
by !hantoms and sha/en by terrors, The m!ro6ement of t he mass of t he
!eo!l e s the grand sec$r ty for !o!$l ar l bertyG n the neglect of 3hch#
t he !ol t eness# ref nement # and /no3l edge acc$m$l ated n t he h gher
orders and 3eal th er classes 3 ll some day !ersh l /e dry grass n the hot
fre of !o!$lar f$ry,
It s not t he m ss on of Masonry t o engage n !l ot s and cons!races
aga nst the c6l go6ernment , It s not t he fanat cal !ro!agand st of any
creed or t heoryG nor does t !rocla m t self t he enemy of / ngs, It s the
a!ost l e of l berty# eE$al ty# and fraterntyG b$t t s no more t he hghD!rest
of re!$bl can sm than of const t$t onal monarchy, It contract s no
entangl ng all ances 3 th any sect of t heor st s# dreamers# or !hl oso!hers,
It does not /no3 those as ts Int at es 3ho assal t he c 6 l order and all
l a3f$l a$thorty# at the same t me that t hey !ro!ose to de!r6e the dyng of
t he consol at ons of rel g on, It st s a!art from all sect s and creeds# n ts
o3n cal m and s m!le dgnty# t he same $nder e6ery go6ernment , It s st l l
t hat 3h ch t 3as n t he cradl e of t he h$man race# 3hen no h$man foot had
t rodden the so l of Assyra and Egy!t # and no col ones had crossed the
- mal ayas nt o So$thern Ind a# Med a# or Et r$r a,
It g6es no co$ntenance t o anarchy and l cent o$snessG and no l l$s on of
gl ory# or e4tra6agant em$lat on of the ancents nfl ames t 3t h an
$nnat $ral t h rst for deal and 'to! an l berty, It t eaches t hat n rect t $de of
l fe and sobr ety of hab ts s the only s$re g$arant ee for the cont n$ance of
!ol t cal freedom# and t s chefly the sol d er of the sanct ty of t he l a3s
and t he rght s of conscence,
It recogn<es t as a tr$t h# that necess ty# as 3el l as abstract r ght and deal
5 $st ce# m$st ha6e ts !art n t he ma/ ng of la3s# the admnst rat on of
affa rs# and the reg$lat on of relat ons n socety, It sees# ndeed# t hat
necess ty r$les n all the affa rs of man, It /no3s t hat 3here any man# or
any n$mber or race of men# are so mbec le of ntel lect # so degraded# so
nca!able of sel f cont rol# so nfer or n t he scal e of h$manty# as to be
$nf t to be nt r$sted 3 th the h ghest !rerogat 6es of c t <ensh!# t he great
l a3 of necess ty# for the !eace and safety of the comm$nty and co$ntry#
reE$ res them t o rema n $nder t he cont rol of those of l arger ntellect and
s$!er or 3 sdom, It t r$st s and bel e6es that God 3 l l# n hs o3n good
t me# 3or/ o$t h s o3n great and 3 se !$r!osesG and t s 3l l ng t o 3a t #
3here t does not see ts o3n 3ay cl ear to some cert an good,
It ho!es and longs for t he day 3hen al l t he races of men# e6en the lo3est#
3 ll be ele6ated# and become ft t ed for !ol t cal freedomG 3hen# l /e al l
other e6l s that affl ct the eart h# !a$!er sm# and bondage or ab5ect
de!endence# shal l cease and d sa!!ear, B$t t does not !reach re6ol $t on
t o t hose 3ho are fond of / ngs# nor rebell on t hat can end only n dsaster
and defeat # or n s$bst t $t ng one tyrant for anot her# or a m$lt t $de of
des!ot s for one,
;here6er a !eo!le s ft t o be free and t o go6ern tsel f# and genero$sly
st r 6es t o be so# t here go al l t s sym!athes, It detests the tyrant # the
l a3less o!!ressor# the m l tary $s$r!er# and h m 3ho ab$ses a l a3f$l
!o3er, It fro3ns $!on cr$el ty# and a 3ant on dsregard of t he rghts of
h$manty, It abhors the selfsh em!l oyer# and e4ert s t s nfl$ence t o
l ght en the b$rdens 3h ch 3ant and de!endence m!ose $!on the
3or/man# and to foster t hat h$man ty and / ndness 3h ch man o3es t o
e6en t he !oorest and most $nfort $nat e brot her,
It can ne6er be em!l oyed# n any co$ntry $nder -ea6en# to teach a
t olerat on for cr$el ty# t o 3ea/en moral hatred for g$ lt # or to de!ra6e and
br$t al <e the h$man mnd, The dread of !$n shment 3l l ne6er ma/e a
Mason an accom!lce n so corr$!t ng hs co$nt rymen# and a t eacher of
de!ra6ty and barbarty, If any3here# as has heret ofore ha!!ened# a tyrant
sho$l d send a sat rst on hs tyranny to be con6 cted and !$nshed as a
l bell er# n a co$rt of 5$stce# a Mason# f a 5 $ror n s$ch a case# tho$gh n
sght of t he scaffold stream ng 3 th t he blood of the nnocent # and 3t h n
hear ng of t he cl ash of the bayonets meant t o o6era3e the co$rt # 3o$l d
resc$e t he nt re!d sat r st from the tyrant ? s fangs# and send hs offcers
o$t from t he co$rt 3 th defeat and dsgrace,
E6en f al l la3 and l berty 3ere t ram!led $nder t he feet of &acobn cal
demagog$es or a ml t ary bandt t # and great cr mes 3ere !er!et rat ed 3t h
a hgh hand aga nst all 3ho 3ere deser6edly t he ob5ects of !$blc
6enerat onG f t he !eo!l e# o6erthro3 ng la3# roared l /e a sea aro$nd the
co$rt s of 5 $st ce# and demanded the bl ood of t hose 3ho# d$r ng t he
t em!orary ft of nsanty and dr$n/en del r $m# had chanced t o become
odo$s t o t # for tr$e 3ords manf$lly s!o/en# or $n!o!$lar acts bra6ely
done# the Mason c 5 $ror# $na3ed al /e by t he s ngl e or t he manyDheaded
tyrant # 3o$l d cons$lt t he dct at es of d$ty al one# and stand 3 th a nobl e
frmness bet 3een t he h$man t gers and ther co6eted !rey,
The Mason 3o$l d m$ch rat her !ass h s l fe hdden n the recesses of the
dee!est obsc$rty# feed ng hs m nd e6en 3 th t he 6 s ons and mag nat ons
of good deeds and nobl e act ons# t han to be !laced on t he most s!lend d
t hrone of the $n6erse# t ant al <ed 3t h a den al of the !ract ce of al l 3hch
can ma/e the great est s t $at on any other than t he greatest c$rse, And f he
has been enabl ed t o lend the sl ght est st e! to any great and la$dabl e
des gnsG f he has had any share n any meas$re g6 ng E$ et to !r6at e
!ro!erty and t o !r 6ate consc ence# ma/ ng lghter t he yo/e of !o6erty and
de!endence# or rel e6 ng deser6 ng men from o!!ress onG f he has aded
n sec$r ng t o hs co$ntrymen that best !ossesson# !eaceG f he has 5 o ned
n reconc l ng the d fferent sect ons of hs o3n co$ntry t o each ot her# and
t he !eo!l e t o t he go6ernment of ther o3n creat ngG and n teach ng the
c t <en to loo/ for hs !rotect on t o the la3s of h s co$ntry# and for h s
comfort t o the goodD3 ll of hs co$nt rymenG f he has th$s t a/en h s !art
3 th t he best of men n the best of t her act ons# he may 3el l sh$t t he
boo/# e6en f he m ght 3 sh to read a !age or t3o more, It s eno$gh for
hs meas$re, -e has not l 6ed n 6a n,
Masonry teaches that al l !o3er s del egated for t he good# and not for t he
n5 $ry of t he Peo!leG and that# 3hen t s !er6ert ed from t he org nal
!$r!ose# the com!act s bro/en# and the r ght o$ght to be res$medG t hat
resstance t o !o3er $s$r!ed s not merely a d$ty 3hch man o3es to
h msel f and to h s ne ghbo$r# b$t a d$ty 3h ch he o3es t o hs God# n
assert ng and ma nt an ng the ran/ 3hch -e ga6e h m n the creat on,
Th s !r nc!le net her the r$deness of gnorance can st fl e nor t he
ener6at on of refnement e4t ng$ sh, It ma/es t base for a man t o s$ffer
3hen he o$ght to act G and# t endng to !reser6e to h m the org nal
dest nat ons of Pro6 dence# s!$rns at t he arrogant ass$m!t ons of tyrant s
and 6ndcates the nde!endent E$al ty of t he race of 3hch 3e are a !art,
The 3se and 3el lD nformed Mason 3 ll not fa l to be the 6ot ary of L berty
and &$st ce, -e 3 l l be ready to e4ert h msel f n ther defence# 3here6er
t hey e4 st, It cannot be a mat ter of nd fference to h m 3hen# h s o3n
l berty and t hat of ot her men# 3t h 3hose mer ts and ca!ac t es he s
acE$a nted# are n6ol 6ed n the e6ent of the str$ggle to be madeG b$t h s
at tachment 3 ll be to the ca$se# as t he ca$se of manG and not merely to t he
co$nt ry, ;here6er t here s a !eo!le t hat $nderstands the 6al $e of !ol t cal
5 $st ce# and s !re!ared to assert t # that s h s co$nt ryG 3here6er he can
most cont rb$te to the d ff$s on of t hese !rnc!les and t he real ha!!ness
of man/ nd# t hat s h s co$ntry, 8or does he des re for any co$nt ry any
other benef t than 5 $st ce,
The tr$e Mason dent fes the hono$r of h s co$nt ry 3 th h s o3n, 8oth ng
more cond$ces t o the bea$ty and gl ory of one? s co$ntry than t he
!reser6at on aganst al l enem es of t s c6 l and rel g o$s l berty, The
3orl d 3l l ne6er 3 ll ngly l et de the names of t hose !atrots 3ho n her
dfferent ages ha6e rece 6ed $!on t he r o3n breast s t he bl o3s a med by
nsol ent enem es at t he bosom of t he r co$ntry,
B$t al so t cond$ces# and n no small meas$re# t o t he bea$ty and glory of
one? s co$nt ry# that 5 $st ce sho$l d al3ays be admnstered there t o all al /e#
and ne ther den ed# sold# nor del ayed to any oneG that the nterest of the
!oor sho$l d be loo/ed to# and none star6e or be ho$seless# or clamor n
6an for 3or/G that t he chl d and t he feebl e 3oman sho$ld not be
o6er3or/ed# or e6en the a!!rent ce or sla6e be st nted of food or
o6ert as/ed or mercl essly sco$rgedG and that God? s great la3s of mercy#
h$manty# and com!ass on sho$ld be e6ery3here enforced# not only by the
st at$tes# b$t al so by the !o3er of !$bl c o!non, And he 3ho labo$rs#
often aga nst re!roach and obloE$y# and oft ener aganst nd fference and
a!at hy# to brng abo$t that fort$nate condt on of t h ngs 3hen t hat great
code of d6 ne la3 shall be e6ery3here and !$nct$ally obeyed# s no less a
!atr ot t han he 3ho bares hs bosom t o t he host l e st eel n the ran/s of hs
co$nt ry? s sol dery,
"or fort t $de s not only seen res!lendent on t he fel d of batt le and am d
t he cl ash of arms# b$t he ds!l ays ts energy $nder e6ery d ffc$lty and
aga nst e6ery assa l ant, -e 3ho 3ars aga nst cr$el ty# o!!resson# and
hoary ab$ses# f ght s for h s co$ntry? s hono$r# 3h ch t hese t h ngs so l G and
her hono$r s as m!ortant as her e4st ence, Oft en# ndeed# the 3arfare
aga nst those ab$ses 3h ch dsgrace one? s co$ntry s E$t e as ha<ardo$s
and more d sco$ragng than t hat aganst her enem es n t he fel dG and
mer ts eE$al # f not greater re3ard,
"or those Gree/s and Romans 3ho are the ob5 ects of o$r adm rat on
em!loyed hardly any other 6rt$e n t he e4t r!at on of tyrant s# than t hat
l o6e of l berty# 3h ch made t hem !rom!t n se < ng t he s3ord# and ga6e
t hem strengt h t o $se t, ; t h facl ty t hey accom!l sh t he $nderta/ ng#
amd the general sho$t of !ra se and 5 oyG nor dd they engage n the
at tem!t so m$ch as an enter!rse of !erl o$s and do$btf$l ss$e# as a
contest t he most glor o$s n 3h ch 6rt$e co$ld be s gnal <edG 3hch
nfall bly led to !resent recom!enseG 3hch bo$nd ther bro3s 3t h
3reaths of la$rel # and consgned t he r memores t o mmortal fame,
B$t he 3ho assal s hoary ab$ses# regarded !erha!s 3 th a s$!erst t o$s
re6erence# and aro$nd 3hch ol d la3s st and as ram!art s and bast ons to
defend themG 3ho deno$nces acts of cr$elty and o$t rage on h$man ty
3hch ma/e e6ery !er!et rat or thereof hs !ersonal enemy# and !erha!s
ma/e h m l oo/ed $!on 3t h s$s! con by t he !eo!le among 3hom he l 6es#
as t he assa lant of an est abl shed order of t hngs of 3hch he assa l s only
t he ab$ses# and of la3s of 3hch he att ac/s only the 6 ol at ons# DDhe can
scarcely l oo/ for !resent recom!ense# nor that hs l 6 ng bro3s 3l l be
3reathed 3 th la$rel , And f# contendng aganst a dar/ array of longD
rece6ed o!nons# s$!erst t ons# obl oE$y# and fears# 3h ch most men
dread more t han they do an army terrble 3 th banners# t he Mason
o6ercomes# and emerges from t he contest 6 ct or o$sG or f he does not
conE$er# b$t s borne do3n and s3e!t a3ay by t he mghty c$rrent of
!re5 $d ce# !ass on# and nt erestG n et her case# t he l oft ness of s!r t
3hch he ds!l ays mer ts for h m more than a med ocr ty of fame,
e has already l 6ed too l ong 3ho has s$r66ed the r$ n of hs co$nt ryG and
he 3ho can en5oy l fe aft er s$ch an e6ent deser6es not t o ha6e l 6ed at al l,
8or does he any more deser6e to l 6e 3ho loo/s cont ent edly $!on ab$ses
t hat d sgrace# and cr$el t es t hat d shono$r# and scenes of msery and
dest t $t on and br$tal <at on t hat d sf g$re h s co$ntryG or sord d meanness
and gnoble re6enges t hat ma/e her a byD3ord and a scoff among all
genero$s nat onsG and does not endea6o$r t o remedy or !re6ent et her,
8ot oft en s a co$ntry at 3arG nor can e6ery one be al lo3ed t he !r 6 lege
of offerng hs heart t o the enemy? s b$l l ets, B$t n these !at r ot c l abo$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 $n teG and e6ery one can
effect somet hng# and share t he hono$r and glory of the res$lt ,
"or the cardnal names n the hst ory of the h$man m nd are fe3 and easly
t o be co$nted $!G b$t t ho$sands and t ens of tho$sands s!end t her days n
t he !re!arat ons 3h ch are t o s!eed t he !redest ned change# n gatherng
and amass ng the mater als 3hch are to / ndle and g 6e l ght and 3armt h#
3hen t he fre from hea6en shal l ha6e descended on them, 8$mberl ess are
t he s$tlers and !oneers# the eng neers and art sans# 3ho at tend t he march
of nt el l ect , Many mo6e for3ard n det achments# and le6el t he 3ay o6er
3hch the charot s t o !ass# and c$t do3n the obst acles that 3o$l d m!ede
ts !rogressG and these too ha6e t her re3ard, If t hey l abo$r d lgently and
fat hf$lly n ther cal l ng# not only 3l l they en5 oy t hat cal m content ment
3hch d l gence n t he lo3lest t as/ ne6er fa ls to 3nG not only 3l l the
s3eat of t her bro3s be s3eet# and the s3eetener of the rest that fol l o3sG
b$t# 3hen t he 6ct ory s at last ache6ed# they 3 l l come n for a share n
t he gloryG e6en as the meanest sol der 3ho fo$ght at Marat hon or at K ng? s
Mo$nt an became a sharer n the glory of those sa6ng daysG and 3t h n hs
o3n ho$sehold crcle# t he a!!robat on of 3hch a!!roaches the nearest t o
t hat of an a!!ro6 ng conscence# 3as loo/ed $!on as the re!resent at 6e of
al l hs brot herDheroesG and co$l d tel l s$ch t ales as made the tear gl st en on
t he chee/ of hs 3fe# and B t $! hs boy? , s eyes 3t h an $n3ont ed
s!ar/l ng eagerness, Or# f he fel l n the fght # and hs !lace by t he fres de
and at the table at home 3as t hereafter 6acant# t hat !lace 3as sacredG and
he 3as often t al/ed of t here n t he l ong 3nter e6enngsG and h s fam ly
3as deemed fort $nat e n t he neghbo$rhood# beca$se t had had a hero n
t# 3ho had fallen n defence of h s co$ntry,
Remember t hat l fe? s length s not meas$red by t s ho$rs and days b$t by
t hat 3h ch 3e ha6e done t here n for o$r co$ntry and /nd, A $sel ess l fe s
short , f t l ast a cent $ryG b$t t hat of Ale4ander 3as long as t he l fe of t he
oa/# tho$gh he ded at th rtyDf 6e, ;e may do m$ch n a fe3 years# and 3e
may nothng n a l fet me, If 3e b$t eat and dr n/ and sl ee!# and
e6eryt h ng go on aro$nd $s as t !l easesG or f 3e l 6e b$t amass 3eal th or
ga n offce or 3ear t tl es# 3e mght as 3el l not ha6e l 6ed at all G nor ha6e
3e any rght to e4!ect mmortal ty,
"orget not # t herefore# to 3hat yo$ ha6e de6oted yo$rsel f n ths Degree(
defend 3ea/ness aganst st rengt h# the fr endl ess aganst t he great# t he
o!!ressed aga nst the o!!ressor O Be e6er 6 g lant and 3at chf$l of the
nterests and hono$r of yo$r co$ntryO and may the Grand Arch tect of t he
'n6erse g 6e yo$ t hat strengt h and 3sdom 3hch shal l enabl e yo$ 3el l
and fat hf$l ly t o !erform these hgh d$t esO
)*+),
)2C D El $ of the " ft een# ))C D El$ of t he T3el 6e# )0C D Mast er Arch tect
)9C D Royal Arch of Sol omon# ):C D Perfect El$
P, ILL'STRIO'S ELE%T O" T-E "I"TEE8,
AEl$ of t he "fteen B
T-IS Degree s de6ot ed to the same ob5 ects as those of t he El $ of 8neG
and al so t o t he ca$se of Tolerat on and Lberal ty aganst "anat csm and
Persec$t on# !ol t cal and rel go$sG and to t hat of Ed$cat on# Instr$ct on#
and Enl ghtenment aganst Error# Barbar sm# and Ignorance, To t hese
ob5ect s yo$ ha6e rre6ocably and fore6er de6oted yo$r hand# yo$r heart#
and yo$r nt el lect G and 3hene6er n yo$r !resence a %ha!t er of ths
Degree s o!ened# yo$ 3l l be most sol emnly rem nded of yo$r 6o3s here
t a/en at t he altar,
Tolerat on# hold ng that e6ery other man has t he same rght t o hs o! non
and fat h t hat 3e ha6e t o o$rsG and l beral ty# hold ng that as no h$man
beng can 3 th cert anty say# n t he cl ash and confl ct of host le fa ths and
creeds# 3hat s tr$th# or that he s s$rely n !ossess on of t # so e6ery one
sho$l d feel that t s E$ t e !oss ble that another eE$al ly honest and s ncere
3 th h msel f# and yet hold ng the cont rary o! non# may h mself be n
!ossess on of t he t r$th# and t hat 3hat e6er one f rmly and consc ent o$sly
bele6es# s t r$th# t o h m D these are the mortal enem es of t hat fanatcsm
3hch !ersec$tes for o! non? s sa/e# and nt ates cr$sades aga nst
3hate6er t# n ts mag nary hol ness# deems to be cont rary t o t he la3 of
God or 6er ty of dogma, And ed$cat on# nst r$ct on# and enl ghtenment are
t he most cert an means by 3h ch fanat c sm and nt ol erance can be
rendered !o3erless,
8o tr$e Mason scoffs at honest con6ct ons and an ardent <eal n the
ca$se of 3hat one bel e6es to be tr$t h and 5 $st ce, B$t he
does absol$t ely deny t he rght of any man t o ass$me the !rerogat 6e of
De ty# and condemn anot her? s fa t h and o!nons as deser6 ng to be
!$n shed beca$se heret cal , 8or does he a!!ro6e t he co$rse of those 3ho
endanger the !eace and E$et of great nat ons# and t he best nt erest of
t her o3n race by nd$l g ng n a ch mer cal and 6s onary !h lanthro!y D a
l $4$ry 3hch chefly consst s n dra3ng t her robes aro$nd them to a6o d
contact 3 th ther fell o3s# and !rocla m ng themsel6es hol er t han they,
"or he /no3s that s$ch fol l es are often more cal am t o$s t han the ambt on
of /ngsG and t hat nt olerance and b got ry ha6e been nfnt ely greater
c$rses t o man/ nd t han gnorance and error, Bet t er any error t han
!ersec$t onO Bet ter any o!non t han the th$mbDscre3# t he rac/# and the
st a/eO And he /no3s al so ho3 $ns!ea/ably abs$rd t s# for a creat $re t o
3hom h msel f and e6eryth ng aro$nd h m are mysteres# to tort $re and
sl ay ot hers# beca$se t hey cannot t h n/ as he does n regard to t he
!rofo$ndest of t hose myst er es# t o $nderst and 3hch s $t terly beyond t he
com!rehens on of e ther t he !ersec$t or or t he !ersec$t ed,
Masonry s not a rel gon, -e 3ho ma/es of t a relgo$s bel ef# fal s f es
and denat $ral <es t , The Brahmn# the &e3# t he Mahomet an# the %at hol c#
t he Protest ant # each !rofess ng hs !ec$l ar relgon# sanct oned by the
l a3s# by t me# and by cl mate# m$st needs reta n t # and cannot ha6e t3o
rel gonsG for t he socal and sacred la3s ada!t ed to the $sages# manners#
and !re5 $d ces of !art c$l ar co$nt res# are t he 3or/ of men,
B$t Masonry teaches# and has !reser6ed n t he r !$r ty# the card nal t enets
of t he old !r mt 6e fat h# 3h ch $nderl e and are the fo$ndat on of al l
rel gons, Al l t hat e6er e4 st ed ha6e had a bass of tr$t hG and al l ha6e
o6erl ad t hat tr$t h 3 t h errors, The !r m t 6e t r$ths ta$ght by the
Redeemer
3ere sooner corr$!ted# and nterm ngl ed and all oyed 3t h fct ons t han
3hen t a$ght t o t he frst of o$r race, Masonry s the $n6ersal moral ty
3hch s s$t abl e t o t he nhabt ant s of e6ery cl me# to the man of e6ery
creed, It has ta$ght no doct r nes# e4ce!t t hose tr$t hs t hat tend drectly t o
t he 3el lDbe ng of manG and t hose 3ho ha6e attem!t ed to drect t t o3ard
$sel ess 6engeance# !ol t cal ends# and &es$ t sm# ha6e merely !er6ert ed t
t o !$r!oses foregn to ts !$re s!r t and real nat $re,
Man/ nd o$tgro3s the sacr f ces and the mythologes of the ch ldhood of
t he 3orl d, .et t s easy for h$man ndolence to
l nger near t hese hel!s# and ref$se to !ass f$rther on, So t he
$nad6ent$ro$s 8omad n the Tartaran 3l d /ee!s hs fl oc/ n the same
cl oseDcro!!ed crcl e 3here t hey f rst l earned t o bro3se# 3hle the
!rogress6e man ro6es e6er forth @t o fresh fel ds and !ast $res ne3,@
The latt er s the tr$e MasonG and the best and ndeed the only good
Mason s he 3ho 3t h t he !o3er of b$s ness does the 3or/ of l feG t he
$!r ght mechanc# merchant# or farmer# t he man 3 t h t he !o3er of t ho$ght #
of 5 $st ce# or of l o6e# he 3hose 3hol e l fe s one great act of !erformance
of Masonc d$ty, The nat $ral case of the strength of a strong man or the
3 sdom of a 3se one# s to do the 3or/ of a st rong man or a 3se one,
The nat$ral 3or/ of Masonry s !ract cal l feG t he $se of al l t he fac$l t es
n
t her !ro!er s!heres# and for t her nat$ral f$nct on, Lo6e of Tr$th# 5 $st ce#
and generos ty as att r b$tes of God# m$st a!!ear n a l fe mar/ed by t hese
E$al t esG that s t he only effect $al ordnance of Masonry, A !rofess on of
one? s con6 ct ons# 5o nng the Order# ass$m ng t he obl gat ons# ass st ng at
t he ceremones# are of the same 6al $e n sc ence as n MasonryG the
nat$ral form of Masonry s goodness# moral ty# l 6ng a t r$e# 5 $st #
affect onate# sel fDfa thf$l l fe# from the mot 6e of a good man, It s loyal
obed ence t o God? s la3,
The good Mason does the good thng 3h ch comes n h s 3ay# and
beca$se t comes n h s 3ayG from a l o6e of d$ty# and not merely beca$se
a la3# enact ed by man or God# commands hs 3l l to do t , -e s tr$e t o hs
mnd# hs consc ence# heart # and so$l# and feels small t em!t at on t o do t o
others 3hat he 3o$l d not 3sh to rece 6e from them, -e 3 ll deny h mself
for the sa/e of h s brot her near at hand, - s des re att ract s n t he l ne of
hs d$ty# bot h be ng n con5 $nct on, 8ot n 6a n does t he !oor or t he
o!!ressed l oo/ $! t o h m, .o$ f nd s$ch men n al l %hr st an sect s#
Protest ant and %athol c# n all t he great rel g o$s !art es of the c6l <ed
3orl d# among B$ddh st s# Mahometans# and &e3s, They are /nd fathers#
genero$s c t <ens# $n m!eachabl e n t her b$sness# bea$t f$l n ther da ly
l 6es, .o$ see ther Masonry n ther 3or/ and n the r !l ay, It a!!ears n
al l
t he forms of ther act 6 ty# nd6d$al# domest c# socal# ecclesast cal # or
!ol t cal , Tr$e Masonry 3 t hn m$st be moral ty 3t ho$t, It m$st become
emnent moral ty# 3hch s !h lant hro!y, The t r$e Mason lo6es not only
hs
/ndred and h s co$ntry# b$t all man/ ndG not only
t he good# b$t also the e6 l# among h s bret hren, -e has more goodness
t han the channel s of h s da ly l fe 3l l hol d, It r$ns o6er t he ban/s# to
3at er
and t o feed a tho$sand t hrsty !l ant s, 8ot cont ent 3 th the d$ty that l es
al ong hs trac/# he goes o$t t o see/ t G not only 3 ll ng# he has a salent
l ong ng to do good# t o s!read h s tr$t h# h s 5 $st ce# hs generosty# h s
Masonry o6er al l the 3orld, - s da ly l fe s a !rofess on of h s Masonry#
!$bl shed n !er!et $al goodD3 l l to men, -e can not be a !ersec$tor,
8ot more nat$rally does t he bea6er b$ ld or t he moc/ ngDb rd sng h s o3n
3 ld# g$shng mel ody# t han the tr$e Mason l 6es n t hs bea$t f$l o$t3ard
l fe, So from t he !erennal s!rng s3ell s forth the stream# t o E$c/en t he
meado3 3t h ne3 access of green# and !erfect bea$ty b$rst ng nt o
bloom, Th$s Masonry does t he 3or/ t 3as meant t o do, The Mason does
not sgh and 3ee!# and ma/e gr maces, -e l 6es rght on, If h s l fe s# as
3hose s not# mar/ed 3 th errors# and 3 th s ns# he !l o$ghs o6er the
barren s!ot 3t h h s remorse# so3s 3t h ne3 seed# and t he old desert
blossoms l /e a rose, -e s not confned t o set forms of t ho$ght # of act on#
or of feel ng, -e acce!ts 3hat hs m nd regards as t r$e# 3hat h s
conscence dec des s rght # 3hat h s heart deems genero$s and nobleG
and al l else he !$t s far from h m, Tho$gh t he ancent and t he honorable of
t he Earth b d h m bo3 do3n to them# h s st$bborn /nees bend only at the
bddng of h s manly so$l, -s Masonry s h s freedom before God# not hs
bondage $nt o men, - s m nd acts aft er the $n 6ersal l a3 of the nt ell ect#
hs conscence accord ng to t he $n6ersal moral l a3# h s affect ons and hs
so$l aft er the $n 6ersal l a3 of each# and so he s strong 3 th t he st rengt h
of God# n t h s fo$rDfol d 3ay comm$ncat ng 3 th - m,
The old t heol oges# t he !hl oso!h es of relgon of ancent t mes# 3l l not
s$ffce $s no3, The d$t es of l fe are t o be doneG 3e are t o do t hem#
consco$sly obedent t o t he la3 of God# not athest cal ly# lo6ng only o$r
sel f sh ga n, There are s ns of trade t o be correct ed, E6ery3here moral ty
and !hl ant hro!y are needed, There are errors to be made 3ay 3 th# and
t her !lace s$!!l ed 3 th ne3 tr$t hs# rad ant 3 th the glor es of -ea6en,
There are great 3rongs and e6l s# n %h$rch and State# n domest c#
soc al # and !$bl c l fe# to be rghted and o$t gro3n, Masonry cannot n o$r
age forsa/e t he broad 3ay of l fe, She m$st 5 o$rney on n the o!en st reet #
a!!ear n the cro3ded sE$are# and t each men by her deeds# her l fe more
el oE$ent than any l !s,
Th s Degree s ch efly de6oted to TOLERATIO8G and t nc$lcat es n t he
st rongest manner that great l ead ng dea of the Ancent Art# that a bel ef n
t he one Tr$e God# and a moral and 6rt$o$s l fe# const t$t e t he only
rel go$s reE$ s t es needed t o enabl e a man t o be a Mason,
Masonry has e6er t he most 6 6 d remembrance of the terr bl e and art fc al
t orment s t hat 3ere $sed t o !$t do3n ne3 forms of rel g on or e4t ng$sh
t he old, It sees 3 th the eye of memory the r$thless e4term nat on of all
t he
!eo!l e of al l se4es and ages# beca$se t 3as t her msfort$ne not t o /no3
t he 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 t h$mbDscre3s and t he
rac/s# the 3h !# the gall o3s# and the sta/e# t he 6 ct ms of D ocl et an and
Al 6a# the m serabl e %o6enanters# t he 8onD%onformst s# Ser6et$s b$rned#
and t he $noffend ng I$a/er h$ng, It sees %ranmer hol d hs arm# no3 no
l onger err ng# n the flame $nt l t he hand dro!s off n the cons$m ng heat ,
It
sees t he !ersec$t ons of Pet er and Pa$l# the martyrdom of St e!hen# the
t r als of Ignat $s# Polycar!# &$st n# and IrenQ$sG and t hen n t$rn the
s$ffer ngs of the 3ret ched Pagans $nder the %hrst an Em!erors# as of the
Pa! sts n Ireland and $nder El <abet h and the bl oated -enry, The Roman
Frg n na/ed before the h$ngry l onsG yo$ng Margaret Graham t ed to a
st a/e at l o3D3ater mar/# and there left t o dro3n# sng ng hymns t o God
$nt l the sa6age 3at ers bro/e o6er her headG and al l that n all ages ha6e
s$ffered by h$nger and na/edness# !erl and !r son# the rac/# t he st a/e#
and t he s3ord# D t sees them al l# and sh$dders at t he long rol l of h$man
at roct es, And t sees also the o!!ress on st ll !ract sed n the name of
rel gon D men shot n a %hr st an 5 al n %hr st an Italy for read ng t he
%hr st an B bleG n al most e6ery %hrst an Stat e# l a3s forbdd ng freedom
of
s!eech on mat ters relat ng to %hr st antyG and the gall o3s reach ng ts
arm o6er t he !$l! t ,
The f res of Moloch n Syra# t he harsh m$t l at ons n t he name of Ast art e#
%ybele# &eho6ahG t he barbart es of m!eral Pagan Tort $rersG t he st l l
grosser torments 3h ch RomanDGoth c %hr st ans n Italy and S!a n
hea!ed on t he r brot herDmenG the f end sh cr$el t es to 3hch S3t <erland#
"rance# the 8et herl ands# Engl and# Scotl and# Ireland# Amer ca# ha6e been
3 tnesses# are none t oo !o3erf$l to 3arn man of t he $ns!ea/able e6 ls
3hch foll o3 from m sta/es and errors n t he matt er of rel g on# and
es!ec ally from
n6est ng the God of Lo6e 3 th t he cr$el and 6 nd ct 6e !assons of err ng
h$manty# and ma/ng bl ood t o ha6e a s3eet sa6or n h s nostrl s# and
groans of agony to be del co$s t o hs ears,
Man ne6er had t he rght t o $s$r! t he $ne4erc sed !rerogat 6e of God# and
condemn and !$n sh another for hs bel ef, Born n a Prot estant l and# 3e
are of t hat fa th, If 3e had o!ened o$r eyes to the l ght $nder the shado3s
of St , Peter? s at Rome# 3e sho$l d ha6e been de6o$t %at hol csG born n t he
&e3sh E$arter of Al e!!o# 3e sho$ld ha6e cont emned %hr st as an
m!osterG n %onstant no!le# 3e sho$ld ha6e cred @Al lah l Al lah# God s
great and Mahomet s h s !ro!hetO@ Brth# !l ace# and ed$cat on g6e $s o$r
fat h, "e3 bel e6e n any rel gon beca$se they ha6e e4am ned the
e6dences of t s a$thent cty# and made $! a formal 5 $dgment # $!on
3egh ng t he t est mony, 8ot one man n ten t ho$sand /no3s anyth ng
abo$t t he !roofs of h s fa t h, ;e bel e6e 3hat 3e are t a$ght G and those are
most fanat cal 3ho /no3 least of t he e6dences on 3hch ther creed s
based, "acts and t est mony are not # e4ce!t n 6ery rare nst ances# the
gro$ndD3or/ of fat h, It s an m!erat 6e l a3 of God? s Economy#
$ny eld ng
and nfle4bl e as - mself# t hat man shal l acce!t 3t ho$t E$est on t he
belef
of t hose among 3hom he s born and rearedG t he fat h so made a !art of
hs nat$re resst s all e6 dence to t he contraryG and he 3 ll d sbel e6e e6en
t he e6dence of hs o3n senses# rather t han yel d $! the rel g o$s bel ef
3hch has gro3n $! n h m# flesh of h s flesh and bone of hs bone,
;hat s tr$th t o me s not t r$t h t o another, The same arg$ment s and
e6dences that con6 nce one m nd ma/e no m!ress on on anot her, Th s
dfference s n men at t her brth, 8o man s ent t led !ost 6ely to assert
t hat he s rght # 3here ot her men# eE$al ly nt ell gent and eE$al ly
3el l nformed#
hold d rect ly the o!!os te o! n on, Each t h n/s t m!ossbl e for
t he other ? to be s ncere# and each# as t o t hat # s eE$al ly n error, @;hat s
t r$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
st art le $s 3 th a ne3 gl m!se nto t he h$man so$l# that myst er o$s th ng
more myst ero$s the more 3e note t s 3or/ ngs, -ere s a man s$!eror to
myself n nt ell ect and l earnngG and yet he sncerely bel e6es 3hat seems
t o me t oo abs$rd to mert conf$t at onG and I cannot conce 6e# and
s ncerely do not bel e6e# that he s both sane and honest,
And yet he s bot h, - 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
3hl e
t hey lastG and# n the Past# no more $nreal t han 3hat 3e ha6e act ed n o$r
3a/ng ho$rs, 8o man can say that he hat h as s$re !ossess on of the
t r$th as of a chatt el, ;hen men entert a n o! nons dametrcal ly o!!osed
t o each ot her# and each s honest# 3ho shal l decde 3h ch hath t he Tr$t hG
and ho3 can et her say 3 th certa nty that he hat h t J ;e /no3 not 3hat s
t he t r$th, That 3e o$rsel6es bel e6e and feel absol $t ely cert an that o$r
o3n bel ef s t r$e# s n real ty not t he sl ghtest !roof of the fact # seem t
ne6er so certa n and nca!able of do$bt to $s, 8o man s res!onsble for
t he rghtness of h s fat hG b$t only for the $!rghtness of t,
Therefore no man hath or e6er had a rght to !ersec$te anot her for hs
belefG for there cannot be t3o ant agon st c rght sG and f one can
!ersec$t e another# beca$se he h mself s sat sfed t hat the bel ef of t hat
other s erroneo$s# the ot her has# for the same reason# eE$ally as certa n
a rght to !ersec$te h m,
The tr$th comes t o $s t nged and col ored 3 th o$r !re5 $dces and o$r
!reconce!t ons# 3hch are as ol d as o$rsel6es# and strong 3t h a d 6 ne
force, It comes to $s as the mage of a rod comes t o $s thro$gh the 3ater#
bent and dst orted, An arg$ment s n/s nto and con6 nces the m nd of one
man# 3h le from that of anot her t rebo$nds l /e a ball of 6ory dro!!ed on
marble, It s no mer t n a man t o ha6e a !art c$l ar fa th# e4cel lent and
so$nd and !h loso!h c as t may be# 3hen he mbbed t 3 t h h s mother? s
m l /, It s no more a mer t than h s !re5 $d ces and h s !ass ons,
The sncere Mosl em has as m$ch rght to !ersec$te $s# as 3e t o
!ersec$t e h mG and t herefore Masonry 3sely reE$ res no more t han a
belef n One Great Al lDPo3erf$l Dety# t he "at her and Preser6er of the
'n6erse, Therefore t s she teaches her 6ot ar es t hat tolerat on s one of
t he chef d$tes of e6ery good Mason# a com!onent !art of that char ty
3 tho$t 3hch 3e are mere holl o3 mages of t r$e Masons# mere so$nd ng
brass and t n/l ng cymbal s,
8o e6 l hat h so affl cted t he 3orl d as nt ol erance of relgo$s o!n on, The
h$man be ngs t has sl an n 6aro$s 3ays# f once and t oget her bro$ght t o
l fe# 3o$l d ma/e a nat on of !eo!l eG left t o l 6e and ncrease# 3o$ld ha6e
do$bled the !o!$l at on of the c 6l <ed !ort on of the globeG among 3h ch
c 6 l <ed !ort on t chefly s t hat rel g o$s 3ars are 3aged,
The treas$re and the h$man l abor
t h$s lost 3o$l d ha6e made t he earth a garden# n 3hch# b$t for hs e6l
!ass ons# man mght no3 be as ha!!y as n Eden,
8o man t r$ly obeys the Mason c la3 3ho merely tolerates those 3hose
rel go$s o! nons are o!!osed to h s o3n, E6ery man? s o! n ons are h s
o3n !r 6ate !ro!erty# and the rght s of al l men to ma ntan each hs o3n
are !erfect ly eE$al , Merely to tolerate# to bear 3 th an o!!os ng o!non#
s
t o ass$me t to be heret cal G and assert the r ght t o !ersec$t e# f 3e 3o$ldG
and cl a m o$r tol erat on of t as a mer t, The Mason? s creed goes f$rt her
t han that, 8o man# t hol ds# has any r ght n any 3ay t o# nterfere 3 t h the
rel go$s bel ef of anot her, It hol ds t hat each mat B s absol$tely so6eregn
as t o hs o3n bel ef# and t hat bel ef s a matter absol $tely foregn to al l
3ho
do not entert a n the same bel efG and t hat# f there 3ere any rght of
!ersec$t on at al l# t 3o$ld n al l cases be a m$t $al rght G beca$se one
!arty has the same rght as the ot her to st as 5$dge n hs o3n caseG and
God s t he only mag strate that can rght f$l ly dec de bet3een them, To
)hat great 5$dge# Masonry refers the mat terG and o!enng 3 de ts !ortal s#
t n6t es t o ent er there and l 6e n !eace and harmony# t he Protest ant# t he
%at holc# t he &e3# t he Mosl emG e6ery man 3ho 3l l lead a tr$ly 6rt $o$s
and moral l fe# lo6e h s bret hren# s n st er to t he s c/ and d stressed# and
bele6e n t he O8E# All Po3erf$l # All D; se# e6ery3here D Present GOD#
Arch tect # %reator# and Preser6er of al l th ngs# by 3hose $n 6ersal l a3 of
-armony e6er rol l s on th s $n 6erse# the great # 6ast# nf n te c rcle of
s$ccess 6e Deat h and Lfe( D to 3hose I8E""ABLE 8AME let all t r$e
Masons !ay !rofo$ndest homageO for 3hose t ho$sand bless ngs !o$red
$!on $s# let $s feel t he s ncerest gratt $de# no3# hencefort h# and fore6erO
;e may 3ell be t olerant of each other? s creedG for n e6ery fa t h t here are
e4cel l ent moral !rece!t s, "ar n the So$t h of As a# Horoaster ta$ght t hs
doctr ne( @On commenc ng a 5o$rney# t he "a thf$l sho$ld t$rn h s tho$ghts
t o3ard Orm$<d# and confess h m# n the !$r ty of h s heart# to be Kng of
t he ;orldG he sho$ld l o6e h m# do h m homage# and ser6e h m, -e m$st
be $!rght and char table# des! se t he !leas$res of t he body# and a6o d
!r de and ha$ght ness# and 6 ce n al l t s forms# and es!ec ally ? falsehood#
one of t he basest s ns of 3h ch man can be g$l ty, -e m$st forget n5 $res
and not a6enge h mself, -e m$st honor the memory of
hs !arent s and relat 6es, At nght # before ret r ng t o sl ee!# he sho$l d
rgoro$sly e4amne h s conscence# and re!ent of the fa$lt s 3hch
3ea/ness or ll Dfort $ne had ca$sed h m to comm t, @ -e 3as reE$ red to
!ray for st rengt h to !erse6ere n the Good# and to obta n forg6eness for
hs errors, It 3as h s d$ty to confess h s fa$lt s t o a Mag$s# or to a l ayman
reno3ned for h s 6rt$es# or t o the S$n, "ast ng and macerat on 3ere
!roh btedG and# on t he contrary# t 3as h s d$ty s$tably to no$rsh the
body and to ma ntan t s 6gor# that hs so$l mght be strong to resst the
Gen$s of Dar/nessG that he mght more at tent 6ely read the D 6 ne ;ord#
and ha6e more co$rage to !erform nobl e deeds,
And n the 8orth of E$ro!e the Dr$ ds ta$ght de6ot on to fr ends#
nd$lgence for rec !rocal 3rongs# l o6e of deser6ed !ra se# !r$dence#
h$manty# hos! tal ty# res!ect for ol d age# dsregard of the f$t$re#
t em!erance# cont em!t of deat h# and a ch 6alro$s deference to 3oman,
L sten to t hese ma4 ms from the -a6a Maal # or S$bl me Boo/ of Od n(
@If t ho$ hast a fr end# 6s t h m oftenG the !at h 3 ll gro3 o6er 3 th grass#
and t he t rees soon co6er t # f t ho$ dost not constantly 3al / $!on t , -e s
a
fat hf$l fr end# 3ho# ha6ng b$t t 3o loa6es# g6es h s frend one, Be ne6er
frst to brea/ 3 th t hy frendG sorro3 3r ngs t he heart of h m 3ho has no
one sa6e h msel f 3 th 3hom to ta/e co$nsel, There s no 6 rt $o$s man
3ho has not some 6ce# no bad man 3ho has not some 6 rt$e, -a!!y he
3ho obtans the !rase and goodD3 l l of menG for al l that de!ends on the
3 ll of anot her s ha<ardo$s and $ncerta n, Rches fl t a3ay n t he
t 3n/l ng
of an eyeG they are the most nconstant of frendsG fl oc/s and herds !er sh#
!arent s d e# frends are not mmort al # t ho$ t hysel f dest G I /no3 b$t one
t h ng t hat doth not de# the 5$dgment that s !assed $!on the dead, Be
h$mane t o3ard t hose 3hom t ho$ meet est on the road, If t he g$est t hat
comet h t o t hy ho$se s a D col d# g6e h m freG the man 3ho has 5o$rneyed
o6er the mo$nt ans needs food and dry garment s, Moc/ not at t he agedG
for 3ords f$l l of sense come oft en from the 3rn/l es of age, Be
moderately
3 se# and not o6erD!r$dent , Let no one see/ to /no3 hs dest ny# f he
3o$l d sl ee! t ranE$ lly, There s no mal ady more cr$el t han to be
dscontent ed 3 t h o$r lot , The gl$t t on eat s h s o3n deathG and t he 3se
man l a$ghs at the fool? s greed ness, 8ot h ng s more n5$ro$s t o the
yo$ng than e4cess6e drn/ngG
t he more one drn/s t he more he loses h s reasonG the
brd of forget f$l ness s ngs before t hose 3ho nto4 cate themsel 6es# and
3 les a3ay t her so$ls, Man de6od of sense bel e6es he 3 l l l 6e al 3ays f
he a6o ds 3arG b$t# f t he l ances s!are h m# old age 3 ll g 6e h m no
E$art er, Bet ter l 6e 3ell t han l 6e l ong, ;hen a man l ght s a fre n hs
ho$se# deat h comes before t goes o$t, @
And t h$s sad the Ind an boo/s( @-onor t hy father and mot her, 8e6er
forget the beneft s t ho$ hast rece 6ed, Learn 3h l e tho$ art yo$ng, Be
s$bm ss6e to t he l a3s of t hy co$ntry, , See/ t he com!any of 6rt$o$s
men, S!ea/ not of God b$t 3t h res!ect , L6e on good terms 3t h t hy
fell o3Dc t <ens, Reman n t hy !ro!er !l ace, S!ea/ ll of no one, Moc/ at
t he bod ly nf rmt es of none, P$rs$e not $nrel ent ngly a conE$ered
enemy, Str 6e t o acE$re a good re!$tat on, Ta/e co$nsel 3 th 3 se men,
The more one l earns# t he more he acE$res t he fac$l ty of learn ng#
Kno3l edge s the most !ermanent 3ealt h, As 3ell be d$mb as gnorant,
The tr$e $se of /no3ledge s to d st ng$sh good from e6l , Be not a
s$b5ect of shame t o thy !arents, ;hat one learns n yo$t h end$res l /e the
engra6 ng $!on a roc/, -e s 3 se 3ho /no3s h mself, Let t hy boo/s be
t hy best fr ends, ;hen tho$ at t anest an h$ndred years# cease to learn,
;sdom s sol dly !l ant ed# e6en on the sh ft ng ocean, Dece 6e no one# not
e6en t hne enemy, ; sdom s a t reas$re t hat e6ery3here commands ts
6al$e, S!ea/ m ldly# e6en t o the !oor, It s s3eeter t o forg6e than t o ta/e
6engeance, Gam ng and E$arrels lead t o m sery, There s no tr$e mer t
3 tho$t t he !ract ce of 6rt $e, To honor o$r mother s t he most ft t ng
homage 3e can !ay t he D6 n ty, There s no tranE$l slee! 3 tho$t a cl ear
conscence, -e badly $nderst ands h s nterest 3ho brea/s h s 3ord,@
T3entyDfo$r cent $r es ago these 3ere the %h nese Ethcs(
@The Phl oso!her A%onf$c$sB sad# ? SA8O my doctrne s s m!le# and easy
t o be $nderst ood, ? T-SE8GDTSE' re!led# ? that s certa n,? The
Ph l oso!her ha6 ng gone o$t# the d sc!les as/ed 3hat t he r master had
meant to say, T-SE8GDDTSE' res!onded# ? The doct rne of o$r Mast er
cons st s sol ely n be ng $!r ght of heart # and l o6 ng o$r ne ghbor as 3e
l o6e o$rself, @?
Abo$t a cent $ry later# t he -ebre3 la3 sa d# @If any man hate h s neghbor
, , , then shal l ye do $nto h m# as he had tho$ght t o
do $nto h s brot her , , , Bett er s a neghbor t hat s near# than a, brot her
afar off , , , Tho$ shal t lo6e t hy neghbor as t hysel f, @
In t he same f ft h cent $ry before %hr st # SO%RATES t he Grecan sa d#
@Tho$ shalt l o6e thy neghbor as thyself, @
Three generat ons earl er# HOROASTER had sa d t o t he Persans( @Offer
$! t hy gratef$l !rayers to t he Lord# the most 5$st and !$re Orm$<d# the
s$!reme and adorabl e God# 3ho th$s declared t o hs Pro!het Herd$sht (
? -old t not meet t o do $nt o others 3hat tho$ 3o$l dst not desre done $nto
t hysel fG do t hat $nt o the !eo!le# 3h ch# 3hen done t o t hysel f# s not
dsagreeabl e $nt o t hee, @?
The same doctrne had been long t a$ght n t he school s of Babylon#
Al e4andra# and &er$salem, A Pagan declared t o t he Phar see -ILLEL that
he 3as ready t o embrace t he &e3 sh rel g on# f he co$l d ma/e /no3n to
h m n a fe3 3ords a s$mmary of the 3hole l a3 of Moses, @That 3hch
t ho$ l /est not done t o t hysel f# @ sa d - l l el# @do t not $nt o t hy neghbor,
There n s all t he l a3( the rest s not h ng b$t t he commentary $!on t ,@
@8ot h ng s more nat$ral # @ sad %O8"'%I'S# @not hng more s m!l e# t han
t he !r nc !les of that moral ty 3h ch I endea6or# by sal$tary ma4 ms# t o
nc$l cate n yo$ , , , It s h$mantyG 3h ch s t o say# that $n 6ersal char ty
among al l of o$r s!eces# 3 tho$t d st nct on, It s $!rghtness G that s#
t hat
rect t $de of s!rt and of heart # 3hch ma/eG one see/ for tr$th n
e6eryt h ng# and desre t # 3t ho$t dece6 ng one? s sel f or others, It s#
fnally# s ncer ty or good fat hG 3h ch s t o say# that fran/ness# t hat
o!enness of heart# tem!ered by sel fDrel ance# 3h ch e4cl$des al l fe nt s
and al l dsg$s ng# as m$ch n s!eech as n act on, @
To d ff$se $sef$l nformat on# to f$rt her ntel lect $al ref nement # s$re
forer$nner of moral m!ro6ement# to hast en t he com ng of the great day#
3hen t he da3n of general /no3l edge shal t #chase a3ay t he l a<y# l nger ng
mst s of gnorance and error# e6en from t he base of t he great socal
!yramd# s ndeed a h gh cal l ng# n 3hch the most s!lendd t al ent s and
cons$mmate 6 rt $e may 3el l !ress on3ard# eager to bear a !art , "rom t he
Masonc ran/s o$ght to go forth t hose 3hose gen$s and not t he r
ancest ry ennobl e them# to o!en t o all ran/s t he t em!le of scence# and by
t her o3n e4am!le to ma/e t he h$mblest men em$lo$s t o cl mb ste!s no
l onger naccessbl e# and enter t he $nfol ded gat es b$rn ng n the s$n,
The hghest nt ell ect$al c$lt 6at on s !erfectly com!at ble 3t h
t he daly cares and tol s of 3or/ ngDmen, A /een rel sh for the most
s$bl me tr$t hs of sc ence belongs al /e to e6ery class of Man/ nd, And# as
!hl oso!hy 3as ta$ght n t he sacred gro6es of Athens# and $nder the
Port co# and n the ol d Tem!l es of Egy!t and Inda# so n o$r Lodges o$ght
Kno3l edge t o be d s!ensed# t he Sc ences ta$ght # and t he Lect $res
become l /e t he t each ngs of Socrates and Plato# of Agass< and %o$sn,
Real /no3l edge ne6er !ermt t ed e t her t $rb$l ence or $nbel efG b$t ts
!rogress s the forer$nner of l beral ty and enl ght ened tol erat on, ;hoso
dreads these may 3ell trembleG for he may be 3el l ass$red that t he r day
s at length come# and m$st !$t t o s!eedy fl ght t he e6l s! r ts of tyranny
and !ersec$t on# 3hch ha$nted t he l ong nght no3 gone do3n t he s/y,
And t s to be ho!ed that the t me 3l l soon arr 6e# 3hen# as men 3 ll no
l onger s$ffer themsel6es to be led bl ndfolded n gnorance# so 3l l t hey
no
more yeld to the 6 le !rnc !l e of 5 $dg ng and t reat ng t her
fell o3creat$res#
not accordng to t he nt r nsc mert of t he r act ons# b$t
accord ng t o the accdental and n6ol $ntary co nc dence of ther o!n ons,
;hene6er 3e come to treat 3t h ent re res!ect t hose 3ho consc ent o$sly
dffer from o$rsel6es# the only !ract cal effect of a d fference 3l l be# to
ma/e $s enl ghten the gnorance on one sde or t he other# from 3hch t
s!r ngs# by nstr$ct ng t hem# f t be t he rsG o$rsel 6es# f t be o$r o3nG t o
t he end t hat the only / nd of $nan m ty may be !rod$ced 3hch s
des rable among rat onal be ngs# D the agreement !roceed ng from f$l l
con6 ct on aft er the freest dsc$ss on,
The El $ of "fteen o$ght therefore to t a/e t he l ead of hs fel lo3Dc t <en#
not
n fr6olo$s am$sement s# not n the degradng !$rs$ ts of the ambt o$s
6$lgarG b$t n t he tr$ly noble tas/ of enl ghten ng the mass of hs
co$nt rymen# and of lea6ng h s o3n name enc rcl ed# not 3t h barbarc
s!lendor# or att ached to co$rtly ge3ga3s# b$t l l$st rat ed by t he honors
most 3orthy of o$r rat onal nat $reG co$!l ed 3t h t he dff$son of
/no3l edge# and gratef$l ly !rono$nced by a fe3# at least # 3hom h s 3 se
benef cence has resc$ed from gnorance and 6ce,
;e say t o h m# n t he 3ords of t he great Roman( @Men n no res!ect so
nearly a!!roach to t he De ty# as 3hen t hey confer benef ts on men, To
ser6e and do good t o as many as !ossbl e# D there s nothng greater n
yo$r fort $ne than t hat yo$ sho$ld be able#
and nothng f ner n yo$r nat $re# t han that yo$ sho$l d be des ro$s t o do
t h s, @ Ths s t he tr$e mar/ for the a m of e6ery man and Mason 3ho et her
!r <es t he en5oyment of !$re ha!!ness# or set s a rght 6al$e $!on a hgh
and $ns$l led reno3n, And f the benefactors of man/nd# 3hen they rest
from the r noble labors# shal l be !erm tt ed to en5 oy hereafter# as an
a!!ro!rate re3ard of ther 6 rt $e# the !r6l ege of l oo/ng do3n $!on the
blessngs 3 th 3h ch t he r e4ert ons and char t es# and !erha!s t her t o ls
and s$ffer ngs ha6e cl othed t he scene of t her former e4stence# t 3 ll not#
n a state of e4al t ed !$rty and 3 sdom# be t he fo$nders of m ghty
dynast es# the conE$erors of ne3 em! res# the %Qsars# Ale4anders# and
Tamerl anesG nor t he mere Kngs and %o$nsell ors# Pres dents and
Senat ors# 3ho ha6e l 6ed for ther !arty ch efly# and for ther co$ntry only
nc dent ally# often sacr f cng t o t he r o3n aggrand<ement or t hat of t her
fact on the good of t he r fel lo3Dcreat $resG D t 3l l not be they 3ho 3 l l be
grat f ed by contem!l at ng t he mon$ments of ther nglor o$s fameG b$t
t hose 3 l l en5 oy t hat del ght and march n t hat tr$m!h# 3ho can t race the
remot e effect s of t he r enl ght ened bene6olence n t he m!ro6ed cond t on
of t he r s!eces# and e4$lt n t he reflect on# t hat the change 3h ch t hey at
l ast# !erha!s after many years# s$r6ey# 3 th eyes t hat age and sorro3 can
ma/e d m no more# D of Kno3ledge become Po3er# D Frt $e sharng that
Em!re# D S$!erst t on dethroned# and Tyranny e4l ed# s# f e6en only n
some smal l and 6ery sl ght degree# yet st ll n some degree# the fr$ t#
!rec o$s f cost ly# and t ho$gh lat e re!a d yet long end$rng# of t he r o3n
sel fDden al and stren$o$s e4ert on# of ther o3n m t e of char ty and a d to
ed$cat on 3sely besto3ed# and of the hardsh !s and ha<ards 3h ch t hey
enco$nt ered here bel o3,
Masonry reE$res of ts Int at es and 6otar es nothng t hat s
m!ract cabl e,
It does not demand that they sho$l d $nderta/e to cl mb to t hose lofty and
s$bl me !ea/s of a theoretcal and mag nary $n!ract cal 6 rt$e# h gh and
cold and remote as the eternal sno3s t hat 3ra! t he sho$l ders of
%h mbora<o# and at least as naccessble as they, It as/s that alone t o be
done 3hch s easy t o be done, It o6ert as/s no one? s st rength# and as/s no
one t o go beyond h s means and ca!act es, It does not e4!ect one 3hose
b$sness or !rofesson yelds h m l tt le more t han the 3ant s of h msel f and
hs fam ly reE$re# and 3hose t me s necessarly occ$! ed by h s daly
6ocat ons# t o abandon or neglect the b$s ness
by 3hch he and h s chl dren l 6e# and de6ote h msel f and hs means to the
dff$s on of /no3ledge among men, It does not e4!ect h m to !$bl sh
boo/s for the !eo!le# or t o l ect $re# to the r$ n of hs !r 6ate affars# or to
fo$nd academes and col leges# b$ ld $! l brar es# and ent tle h msel f to
st at$es,
B$t t does reE$re and e4!ect e6ery man of $s to do somet hng# 3 th n
and accord ng t o hs meansG and t here s no Mason 3ho cannot do some
t h ng# f not alone# t hen by comb nat on and assoc at on,
If a Lodge cannot ad n fo$ndng a school or an academy t can st ll do
someth ng, It can ed$cate one boy or grl # at least # the chl d of some !oor
or de!art ed brother, And t sho$ld ne6er be forgot ten# that n t he !oorest
$nregarded ch ld that seems abandoned t o gnorance and 6ce may
sl $mber the 6 rt $es of a Socrat es# t he nt ell ect of a Bacon or a Boss$et #
t he gen$s of a Sha/es!eare# the ca!acty t o benef t man/ nd of a
;ash ngt onG and t hat n resc$ng h m from t he m re n 3hch he s
!l$nged# and g6 ng h m t he means of ed$cat on and de6elo!ment # the
Lodge t hat does t may be the drect and mmed at e means of conferr ng
$!on the 3orl d as great a boon as that g 6en t by &ohn "a$st t he boy of
Ment <G may !er!et $ate the l bert es of a co$nt ry and change the dest n es
of nat ons# and 3rte a ne3 cha!ter n t he hstory of t he 3orl d,
"or 3e ne6er /no3 t he m!ort ance of the act 3e do, The da$ghter of
Pharaoh l tt le tho$ght 3hat she 3as do ng for the h$man race# and the
6ast $n mag nabl e conseE$ences t hat de!ended on her char t able act#
3hen she dre3 t he l t tl e ch ld of a -ebre3 3oman from among t he r$shes
t hat gre3 along t he ban/ of the 8 le# and determ ned to rear t as f t 3ere
her o3n,
-o3 often has an act of char ty# cost ng t he doer l tt le# g 6en to the 3orld
a
great !anter# a great m$s c an# a great n6ent orO -o3 often has s$ch an
act de6el o!ed t he ragged boy nt o the benefactor of hs raceO On 3hat
small and a!!arent ly $n m!ortant c rc$mstances ha6e t$rned and hnged#
t he fates of the 3orld? s great conE$erors, There s no l a3 t hat l m ts the
ret$rns that shall be rea!ed from a s ngl e good deed, The 3 do3? s m t e
may not only be as acce!t abl e to God# b$t may !rod$ce as great res$l ts
as t he r ch man? s cost ly offer ng, The !oorest boy# hel !ed by bene6ol ence#
may come t o l ead arm es# to cont rol senates# to dec de an !eace and 3ar#
t o dct ate to cabnetsG and h s magnfcent tho$ght s and nobl e 3ords may
be la3 many years hereafter t o ml l ons of men yet $nborn,
B$t t he o!!ort $n ty to effect a great good does not often occ$r to any one,
It s 3orse than fol ly for one t o l e dle and nert# and e4!ect the accdent
t o
befal l h m# by 3hch h s nfl $ences shall l 6e fore6er, -e can e4!ect that
t o
ha!!en# only n conseE$ence of one or many or al l of a l ong seres of acts,
-e can e4!ect to benef t the 3orl d only as men att an ot her res$lt sG by
cont n$ance# by !ers st ence# by a steady and $nform habt of labor ng for
t he enlghtenment of the 3orl d# t o the e4t ent of hs means and ca!ac ty,
"or t s# n all nstances# by steady labor# by g 6 ng eno$gh of a!!lcat on
t o o$r 3or/# and ha6 ng eno$gh of t me for the dong of t# by reg$l ar
!ansDta/ng# and t he !ly ng of constant assd$ t es# and not by any
!rocess of legerdema n# that 3e sec$re the strengt h and t he st a!l e of real
e4cel l ence, It 3as th$s t hat Demost henes# cl a$se after cla$se# and
sent ence after sent ence# elaborat ed t o the $t termost hs mmortal orat ons,
It 3as t h$s that 8e3ton ! oneered h s 3ay# by the ste!s of an ascend ng
geometry# t o the mechansm of t he -ea6ens# and Le Ferrer added a
!lanet t o o$r Solar System,
It s a most erroneo$s o!non t hat those 3ho ha6e l eft t he most
st $!endo$s mon$ment s of ntellect behnd them# 3ere not d fferently
e4erc sed from the rest of t he s!eces# b$t only d fferently g ft edG that they
sgnal <ed themsel 6es only by the r tal ent # and hardly e6er by t her
nd$stryG for t s n tr$t h to the most st ren$o$s a!!lcat on of those
common!l ace fac$lt es 3h ch are d ff$sed among all # t hat they are
ndebted for the glores 3h ch no3 encrcl e the r remembrance and t he r
name,
;e m$st not magne t t o be a 6$lgar <ng of gen $s# that t sho$l d be
l ght ed $! n any ot her 3ay t han by a drect ns!rat on from -ea6en nor
o6erl oo/ t he st eadfast ness of !$r!ose# t he de6ot on t o some s ngl e b$t
great ob5ect# the $n3earedness of labor that s g6en# not n con6$ls 6e
and !reternat $ral t hroes# b$t by l t tle and l tt l e as t he st rengt h of the m nd
may bear tG t he acc$m$l at on of many small effort s# nstead of a fe3
grand
and ggant c# b$t !erha!s rreg$lar mo6ements# on the !art of energes
t hat are mar6ell o$sG by 3hch former al one t he great res$l ts are bro$ght
o$t that 3r te t he r end$r ng records on t he face of t he earth and n the
hst ory of nat ons and of man,
;e m$st not o6erl oo/ these element s# t o 3hch gen $s o3es the best and
!ro$dest of her ach e6ement sG nor magne that E$al t es so generally
!ossessed as !at ence and !a nsDta/ng# and resol$t e nd$stry# ha6e no
share n $!holdng a d st nct on so l l $stro$s as t hat of t he benefact or of
hs /nd,
;e m$st not forget t hat great res$lt s are most ordnarly !rod$ced by an
aggregat e of many cont r b$t ons and e4ert onsG as t s the n6s ble
!art cl es of 6a!or# each se!arate and d st nct from the ot her# t hat # r s ng
from the oceans and t her bays and g$l fs# from l a/es and r6ers# and 3de
morasses and o6erfl o3ed !l ans# float a3ay as cl o$ds# and d st ll $!on the
earth n de3s# and fal l n sho3ers and ran and sno3s $!on the broad
!la ns and r$de mo$ntans# and ma/e t he great na6gable st reams t hat are
t he arteres along 3h ch fl o3s t he l feDblood of a co$nt ry,
And so Masonry can do m$ch# f each Mason be content t o do hs share#
and f the r $n ted effort s are drected by 3 se co$nsel s t o a common
!$r!ose, @It s for God and for Omn!otency t o do mghty thngs n a
moment G b$t by degrees to gro3 to greatness s t he co$rse that -e hat h
l eft for man, @
If Masonry 3 ll b$t be tr$e t o her mss on# and Masons to t her !romses
and obl gat ons D f# reDenterng 6goro$sly $!on a career of benef cence#
she and they 3 ll b$t !$rs$e t earnest ly and $nfalt er ngly# remember ng
t hat o$r contr b$t ons t o the ca$se of char ty and ed$cat on then deser6e
t he greatest credt 3hen t costs $s someth ng# t he c$rt al ng of a comfort
or t he rel nE$ shment of a l $4$ry# to ma/e t hem D f 3e 3l l b$t g 6e a d t o
3hat 3ere once Masonry? s great schemes for h$man m!ro6ement# not
ft f$lly and s!asmod cally# b$t reg$larly and ncessant ly# as t he 6a!ors r se
and t he s!r ngs r$n# and as t he s$n rses and t he st ars come $! nt o the
hea6ens# then 3e may be s$re t hat great res$lt s 3 ll be att aned and a
great 3or/ done, And t hen t 3 ll most s$rely be seen that Masonry s not
effet e or m!otent# nor degenerated nor droo! ng t o a fatal decay,

PI, S'BLIME ELE%T O" T-E T;ELFE
OR
PRI8%E AMET-,
AEl$ of t he T3el 6e, B
The d$t es of a Pr nce Ameth are# to be earnest # t r$e# rel abl e# and
s ncereG t o !rotect the !eo!le aganst ll egal m!os t ons and e4act onsG to
contend for t her !ol t cal rght s# and t o see# as far as he may or can# t hat
t hose bear the b$rdens 3ho rea! t he benef ts of the Go6ernment ,
.o$ are t o be tr$e $nt o al l men,
.o$ are t o be fran/ and sncere n all thngs,
.o$ are t o be earnest n do ng 3hat e6er t s yo$r d$ty to do,
And no man m$st re!ent t hat he has rel ed $!on yo$r resol 6e# yo$r
!rofesson# or yo$r 3ord,
The great d st ng$ sh ng characterst c of a Mason s sym!athy 3 th h s
/nd, -e recogn<es n t he h$man race one great famly# al l connect ed
3 th h msel f by those n6 sbl e l n/s# and that mghty netD3or/ of
c rc$mstance# forged and 3o6en by God,
"eel ng t hat sym!athy# t s h s f rst Masonc d$ty to ser6e h s fel lo3Dman,
At hs frst entrance nt o the Order# he ceases to be sol at ed# and
becomes one of a great brot herhood# ass$m ng no3 d$t es to3ard e6ery
Mason t hat l 6es# as e6ery Mason at t he same moment ass$mes them
t o3ard h m,
8or are t hose d$t es on hs !art confned t o Masons al one, -e ass$mes
many n regard t o h s co$ntry# and es!ecal ly to3ard t he great# s$fferng
masses of t he common !eo!l eG for t hey too are h s brethren# and God
hears t hem# nartc$lat e as t he moanngs of ther m sery are, By al l !ro!er
means# of !ers$as on and nfl$ence# and other3 se# f t he occas on
and emergency reE$re# he s bo$nd t o defend t hem aganst o!!ress on#
and tyranncal and ll egal e4act ons,
-e labors eE$al ly to defend and to m!ro6e the !eo!le, -e does not
flat t er t hem to m sl ead t hem# nor fa3n $!on them t o r$l e t hem# nor
conceal h s o! n ons to h$mor t hem# nor tel l them t hat they can ne6er err#
and t hat ther 6oce s t he 6oce of God, -e /no3s t hat the safety of e6ery
free go6ernment# and t s cont n$ance and !er!et $ty de!end $!on the
6rt$e and ntel lgence of t he common !eo!leG and that# $nless t her
l berty
s of s$ch a /nd as arms can net her !roc$re nor ta/e a3ayG $nl ess t s
t he fr$t of manly co$rage# of 5$st ce# t em!erance# and genero$s 6rt$e D
$nless# be ng s$ch# t has t a/en dee! root n the m nds and hearts of the
!eo!l e at large# there 3 l l not long be 3ant ng those 3ho 3l l snatch from
t hem by treachery 3hat t hey ha6e acE$red by arms or nst t$t ons,
-e /no3s t hat f# after beng released from t he t o ls of 3ar# the !eo!l e
negl ect the art s of !eaceG f the r !eace and l berty be a stat e of 3arfareG f
3ar be ther only 6rt $e# and t he s$mmt of the r !rase# they 3 ll soon
fnd
!eace the most ad6erse to ther nterests, It 3l l be only a more
dstress ng 3arG and t hat 3hch they mag ned l berty 3 ll be the 3orst of
sl a6ery, "or# $nless by t he means of /no3l edge and moral ty# not frothy
and l oE$aco$s# b$t gen$ ne# $nad$l t erated# and s ncere# they clear t he
hor <on of the m nd from those m st s of error and !asson 3hch ar se
from
gnorance and 6ce# they 3 ll al3ays ha6e those 3ho 3ll bend the r nec/s
t o t he yo/e as f t hey 3ere br$tesG 3ho# not3t hstand ng al l the r tr$m!hs#
3 ll !$t them $! to the hghest b dder# as f t hey 3ere mere booty made n
3arG and f nd an e4$berant so$rce of 3eal t h and !o3er# n the !eo!le? s
gnorance# !re5$d ce# and !assons,
The !eo!le t hat does not s$b5 $gat e the !ro!ens ty of t he 3eal t hy t o
a6arce# amb t on# and sens$al ty# e4!el l$4$ry from t hem and ther
fam l es# /ee! do3n !a$!er sm# d ff$se /no3ledge among the !oor# and
l abor t o rase t he ab5ect from the m re of 6ce and lo3 nd$lgence# and to
/ee! t he nd$stro$s from st ar6ng n sght of l$4$r o$s fest 6als# 3l l f nd
t hat t has chershed# n that a6arce# amb t on# sens$al ty# self shness#
and l $4$ry of t he one cl ass# and t hat degradat on# m sery# dr$n/enness#
gnorance# and br$tal <at on of the ot her# more st $bborn and nt ract able
des!ot s at home t han t e6er enco$nt ered n t he f el dG and e6en t s 6ery
bo3el s 3l l be cont n$ally t eem ng 3 th t he nt ol erabl e !rogeny of tyrant s,
These are t he frst enem es t o be s$bd$edG t h s const t$t es t he cam!agn
of PeaceG these are tr$m!hs# d ff c$l t ndeed# b$t bloodlessG and far more
honorabl e t han those tro!h es 3h ch are !$rchased only by sla$ghter and
ra! neG and f not 6ct ors n t h s ser6ce# t s n 6a n to ha6e been
6ct or o$s o6er t he des!ot c enemy n t he fel d,
"or f any !eo!le th n/s that t s a granderG a more benefcal # or a 3 ser
!ol cy# t o n6ent s$bt le e4!ed ent s by st am!s and m!ost s# for ncreasng
t he re6en$e and dranng the l feDbl ood of an m!o6er shed !eo!leG t o
m$l t !ly ts na6al and m l tary forceG t o r 6al n craft the ambassadors of
fore gn statesG t o !lot the s3all o3 ng $! of foregn terrt oryG to ma/e
crafty
t reat es and al l ancesG to r$le !rostrate states and ab5ect !ro6nces by fear
and forceG t han to admnster $n!ol l $ted 5 $st ce t o the !eo!le# to rel e6e
t he cond t on and ra se t he est at e of the to l ng masses# redress t he
n5 $red and s$ccor t he dst ressed and conc l ate the d scontented# and
s!eedly rest ore t o e6ery one hs o3nG t hen that !eo!le s n6ol6ed n a
cl o$d of error# and 3 l l t oo lat e !erce6e# 3hen t he ll $s on of these
mghty
benef ts has 6anshed# that n neglect ng these# 3h ch t tho$ght nferor
cons derat ons# t has only been !rec! tat ng ts o3n r$ n and des!ar,
'nfort $nat ely# e6ery age !resents t s o3n s!ec al !robl em# most dffc$lt
and often m!ossbl e t o sol6eG and that 3hch th s age offers# and forces
$!on the cons derat on of al l chn/ ng men# s t h s D ho3# n a !o!$lo$s
and 3eal t hy co$ntry# bl essed 3t h free nst t$t ons and a const t $t onal
go6ernment # are t he great masses of t he man$alDlabor class t o be
enabled to ha6e steady 3or/ at far 3ages# to be /e!t from st ar6at on# and
t her ch l dren from 6ce and deba$chery# and t o be f$rn shed 3t h t hat
degree# not of mere read ng and 3rt ng# b$t of /no3l edge# that shal l f t
t hem ntel l gent ly to do the d$tes and e4erc se the !r 6 leges of freemenG
e6en t o be ntr$sted 3 th t he dangero$s rght of s$ffrageJ
"or tho$gh 3e do not /no3 3hy God# be ng nf n tely merc f$l as 3el l as
3 se# has so ordered t # t seems to be $nE$est onably hs la3# that e6en
n c 6 l <ed and %hrst an co$ntres# the large mass of t he !o!$lat on shal l
be fort $nat e# f# d$r ng the r 3hole l fe# from nfancy to ol d age# n heal t h
and s c/ness# they ha6e eno$gh of the commonest and coarsest food to
/ee! t hemsel 6es and t her
chl dren from t he cont n$al gna3ng of h$nger D eno$gh of the commonest
and coarsest clot h ng t o !rotect t hemsel 6es and t her l tt le ones from
ndecent e4!os$re and the b t t er coldG and f t hey ha6e o6er the r heads
t he r$dest shel ter,
And -e seems t o ha6e enacted th s l a3 D 3hch no h$man comm$n ty has
yet fo$nd t he means to abrogat e D t hat 3hen a co$nt ry becomes
!o!$lo$s# ca! tal shall concentrate n the hands of a l m t ed n$mber of
!ersons# and l abor become more and more at t s mercy# $nt l mere
man$al l abor# that of the 3ea6er and ron3or/er# and ot her art sans#
e6ent$ally ceases t o be 3orth more than a bare s$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 st ar6 ng for 3ant of 3or/,
;h l e e6ery o4 and horse can f nd 3or/# and s 3orth be ng fed# t s not
al 3ays so 3t h man, To be em!l oyed# t o ha6e a chance t o 3or/ at
anythng 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 t he l aborer# and dscharges
h m 3hene6er that l abor ceases t o be !roft abl e, At the moment 3hen the
3eat her s most ncl ement # !ro6 sons dearest # and rents hghest # he t $rns
h m off to st ar6e, If the dayDlaborer s ta/en s c/# h s 3ages st o!, ;hen
old# he has no !enson t o ret re $!on, -s ch ldren cannot be sent to
school G for before t her bones are hardened t hey m$st get to 3or/ lest
t hey st ar6e, The man# st rong and ableDboded# 3or/s for a shl l ng or t3o
a day# and t he 3oman sh 6er ng o6er her l t t l e !an of coal s# 3hen the
merc$ry dro!s far bel o3 <ero# aft er her h$ngry ch l dren ha6e 3al ed
t hemsel 6es to slee!# se3s by t he d m l ght of her lonely candl e# for a bare
!t tance# sel l ng her l fe t o h m 3ho barga ned only for the 3or/ of her
needle,
"athers and mothers sl ay t he r chl dren# to ha6e the b$r al Dfees# t hat 3 th
t he !r ce of one ch ld? s l fe t hey may cont n$e l fe n those t hat s$r6 6e,
L tt le grls 3t h bare feet s3ee! t he street Dcross ngs# 3hen t he 3nter 3 nd
!nches them# and beg !t eo$sly for !ennes of those 3ho 3ear 3arm
f$rs, %hl dren gro3 $! n sE$al d m sery and br$tal gnoranceG 3ant
com!el s 6 rgn and 3fe t o !rost t$t e t hemsel6esG 3omen star6e and
free<e# and lean $! aganst the 3all s of 3or/ho$ses# l /e b$ndles of fo$l
rags# al l nght long# and nght after n ght # 3hen the cold ran fal ls# and
t here chances to be no room for t hem 3 t h nG and h$ndreds of fam l es are
cro3ded nto a s ngl e b$l dng# r fe 3t h horrors and teem ng
3 th fo$l a r and !est lenceG 3here men# 3omen and chl dren h$ddl e
t oget her
n t he r f lt hG all ages and al l colors slee! ng ndscr m nat ely togetherG
3hl e# n
a great# free# Re!$bl can State# n the f$ll 6gor of t s yo$th and strength#
one
!erson n e6ery se6enteen s a !a$!er rece 6ng charty,
-o3 t o deal 3 t h t h s a!!arent ly ne6t abl e e6 l and mort al dsease s by
far the
most m!ortant of all socal !robl ems, ;hat s to be done 3t h !a$!er sm
and
o6erDs$!!ly of l aborJ -o3 s the l fe of any co$ntry t o l ast# 3hen br$t al ty
and
dr$n/en sem Dbarbar sm 6ote# and hold off ces n t her gft # and by f t
re!resentat 6es of themsel 6es control a go6ernment J -o3# f not 3 sdom
and
a$thor ty# b$t t $rb$l ence and l o3 6 ce are t o e4al t to senatorsh!s
mscreant s
ree/ng 3 th t he odors and !oll $t on of t he hell # t he !r <eDr ng# the
brot hel # and
t he st oc/De4change# 3here gambl ng s legal <ed and rascal ty s la$dableJ
Masonry 3l l do all n t s !o3er# by d rect e4ert on and coo!erat on# to
m!ro6e
and nform as 3el l as t o !rotect the !eo!leG t o bett er the r !hyscal
cond t on#
rel e6e t her m seres# s$!!ly ther 3ants# and m nst er to t her necess t es,
Let
e6ery Mason n t h s good 3or/ do all t hat may be n h s !o3er,
"or t s tr$e no3# as t al 3ays 3as and al3ays 3 l l be# t hat t o be free s
t he
same thng as t o be ! o$s# t o be 3 se# t o be tem!erate and 5 $st # t o be
fr$gal
and abst nent # and t o be magnan mo$s and bra6eG and to be the o!!ost e of
al l
t hese s t he same as t o be a sla6e, And t $s$al ly ha!!ens# by t he
a!!o nt ment # and# as t 3ere# ret r b$t 6e 5 $st ce of t he Dety# that that
!eo!l e
3hch cannot go6ern t hemsel6es# and moderat e t her !assons# b$t cro$ch
$nder t he sla6ery of t her l $st s and 6ces# are del 6ered $! to the s3ay of
t hose
3hom they abhor# and made to s$bmt t o an n6ol$ntary ser6 t$de,
And t s also sanct oned by the d ctat es of 5 $st ce and by t he const t$t on
of
8at $re# t hat he 3ho# from t he mbecl ty or derangement of hs nt ell ect# s
nca!able of go6ernng h msel f# sho$l d# l /e a mnor# be comm t ted to t he
go6ernment of anot her,
Abo6e al l thngs let $s ne6er forget that man/ nd const t $t es one great
brot herhoodG all born t o enco$nt er s$fferng and sorro3# and therefore
bo$nd
t o sym!at h <e 3 t h each other,
"or no to3er of Pr de 3as e6er yet hgh eno$gh to l ft ts !ossessor abo6e
t he
t r als and fears and fral t es of h$man ty, 8o h$man hand e6er b$ lt t he
3al l#
nor e6er shal l# that 3l l /ee! o$t
affl ct on# !a n# and nfrm ty, Sc/ness and sorro3# tro$ble and deat h# are
ds!ensat ons that l e6el e6eryth ng, They /no3 none# hgh nor lo3, The
chef 3ant s of l fe# t he great and gra6e necesst es of the h$man so$l # g6e
e4em!t on to none, They ma/e al l !oor# al l 3ea/, They !$t s$!!l cat on n
t he mo$t h of e6ery h$man be ng# as tr$ly as n that of the meanest
beggar,
B$t t he !r nc !le of m sery s not an e6 l !r nc !le, ;e err# and the
conseE$ences teach $s 3sdom, Al l element s# al l the la3s of thngs
aro$nd $s# m nster to th s endG and thro$gh t he !at hs of !a nf$l error and
mst a/e# t s the desgn of Pro6 dence to lead $s to tr$t h and ha!! ness, If
err ng only ta$ght $s to errG f m sta/es confrmed $s n m!r$denceG f t he
mseres ca$sed by 6 c o$s nd$lgence had a nat $ral t endency t o ma/e $s
more ab5 ect sl a6es of 6ce# then s$ffer ng 3o$l d be 3holly e6l , B$t# on
t he
contrary# all tends and s des gned to !rod$ce amendment and
m!ro6ement, S$fferng s the dsc !l ne of 6 rt$eG of t hat 3hch s
nf ntely
better t han ha!!ness# and yet embraces n t self al l essent al ha!! ness,
It no$r shes# n6gorat es# and !erfect s t, Frt$e s the !r<e of t he
se6erelyDcontest ed race and hardDfo$ght bat tleG and t s 3orth all t he
fat g$e and 3o$nds of t he confl ct , Man sho$l d go fort h 3t h a bra6e and
st rong heart# t o bat t le 3t h cal am ty, -e s to mast er t # and not let t
become hs master, -e s not t o forsa/e t he !ost of tral and of !er lG b$t
t o
st and f rmly n h s l ot# $nt l the great 3ord of Pro6dence shal l b d h m
fly#
or b d h m sn/, ; t h resol$t on and co$rage t he Mason s to do the 3or/
3hch t s a!!onted for h m t o do# loo/ ng thro$gh t he dar/ clo$d of
h$man calamty# t o the end that r ses hgh and brght 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 !$r!ose, It s t he ord nance of God? s 3 sdom# and of - s Inf n te
Lo6e# t o !roc$re for $s nf nte ha!!ness and glory,
Frt $e s the t r$est l bertyG nor s he free 3ho stoo!s to !ass onsG nor he n
bondage 3ho ser6es a nobl e mast er, E4am!les are t he best and most
l ast ng l ect$resG 6 rt $e t he best e4am!le, -e that hath done good deeds
and set good !recedent s# n sncer ty# s ha!!y, T me shal l not o$t l 6e hs
3ort h, -e l 6es tr$ly after deat h# 3hose good deeds are hs !l l ars of
remembranceG and no day b$t adds some gra ns t o hs hea! of glory,
Good 3or/s are seeds# that after so3 ng ret $rn $s a cont n$al har6est G
and t he memory of noble act ons s more end$r ng than mon$ment s of
marble,
L fe s a school , The 3orl d s ne t her !rson nor !en tent ary# nor a !al ace
of ease# nor an am!h theat re for games and s!ectaclesG b$t a !lace of
nstr$ct on# and d sc !l ne, Lfe s g6en for moral and s!r t$al t ra n ngG
and t he ent re co$rse of the great school of l fe s an ed$cat on for 6 rt $e#
ha!! ness# and a f$t$re e4st ence, The !er ods of Lfe are t s termsG al l
h$man cond t ons# t s formsG all h$man em!loyments# t s lessons, "am l es
are the !r mary de!art ment s of t h s moral ed$cat onG t he 6ar o$s crcles of
soc ety# t s ad6anced stagesG Kngdoms and Re!$bl cs# t s $n6erst es,
R ches and Po6erty# Gayet es and Sorro3s# Marr ages and "$nerals# the
t es of l fe bo$nd or bro/en# ft and fort$nate# or $nt o3ard and !a nf$l# are
al l lessons, E6ents are not bl ndly and carel essly fl$ng t oget her,
Pro6 dence does not school one man# and screen another from t he fery
t r al of t s l essons, It has ne ther rch fa6ort es nor !oor 6ct ms, One
e6ent
ha!!enet h to all , One end and one desgn concern and $rge al l men,
The !ros!ero$s man has been at school, Perha!s he has t ho$ght that t
3as a great t h ng# and he a great !ersonageG b$t he has been merely a
!$! l, -e t ho$ght # !erha!s# t hat he 3as Master# and had not h ng t o do#
b$t to d rect and commandG b$t t here 3as e6er a Mast er abo6e h m# t he
Master of Lfe, -e loo/s not at o$r s!lendd stat e# or o$r many
!retensons# nor at the a ds and a!!l ances of o$r learn ngG b$t at o$r
l earnng t self, -e !$t s t he !oor and t he rch $!on the same formG and
/no3s no d fference bet3een t hem# b$t ther !rogress,
If from !ros!erty 3e ha6e learned moderat on# tem!erance# candor#
modesty# grat t $de t o God# and generosty t o man# then 3e are ent tl ed to
be honored and re3arded, If 3e ha6e l earned sel f shness# selfnd$l gence#
3rongDdong# and 6 ce# to forget and o6erl oo/ o$r less
fort$nate brother# and t o scoff at the !ro6dence of God# then 3e are
$n3orthy and dshonored# tho$gh 3e ha6e been n$rsed n affl $ence# or
t a/en o$r degrees from t he l neage of an h$ndred nobl e descent sG as tr$ly
so# n t he eye of -ea6en# and of al l r ght Dt h n/ ng men# as t ho$gh 3e lay#
6ct ms of beggary and d sease# n the hos! tal# by the hedge# or on t he
d$ngDh ll , The most ord nary h$man eE$ty l oo/s not at the school# b$t at
t he schol arG and the eE$ ty of -ea6en 3 l l not loo/ beneat h t hat mar/,
The !oor man also s at school , Let h m ta/e care that he
l earn# rat her t han com!l a n, Let h m hol d t o h s nt egr ty# h s candor# and
hs /ndness of heart , Let h m be3are of en6y# and of bondage# and /ee!
hs sel fDres!ect , The body? s tol s not h ng, Let h m be3are of the m nd? s
dr$dgery and degradat on, ;hl e he bet ters h s condt on f he can# l et
h m be more an4 o$s to bet ter h s so$l , Let h m be 3 ll ng# 3hl e !oor#
and
e6en f al3ays !oor# t o l earn !o6erty? s great lessons# fort t $de#
cheerf$lness# content ment# and m!l c t conf dence n God? s Pro6 dence,
; t h these# and !at ence# cal mness# selfDcommand# d snterest edness#
and affect onate / ndness# t he h$mble d3ell ng may be hal l o3ed# and
made more dear and noble than t he l oft est !alace, Let h m# abo6e all
t h ngs# see that he lose not hs nde!endence, Let h m not cast h msel f# a
creat$re !oorer than t he !oor# an ndolent# hel !less# des! sed beggar# oft
t he /ndness of ot hers, E6ery man sho$ld choose t o ha6e God for hs
Master# rather t han manG and esca!e not from t h s school# e ther by
dshonesty or al msDta/ ng# lest he fal l nt o that st ate# 3orse t han dsgrace#
3here he can ha6e no res!ect for h msel f,
The t es of Socety teach $s t o l o6e one anot her, That s a m serabl e
soc ety# 3here t he absence of affect onate /ndness s so$ght t o be
s$!!l ed by !$nct l o$s decor$m# gracef$l $rbanty# and !ol shed
ns ncer tyG 3here amb t on# 5 eal o$sy# and d str$st r$le# n !lace of
s m!l cty# conf dence# and / ndness,
So# too# the soc al st ate teaches modesty and gentl enessG and from
negl ect# and notce $n3orth ly best o3ed on ot hers# and n5$st ce# and t he
3orl d? s fa l$re t o a!!rec ate $s# 3e learn !at ence and E$et ness# to be
s$!er or t o soc ety? s o!n on# not cyn cal and bt t er# b$t gentl e# candd#
and affect onate st ll ,
Deat h s t he great Teacher# st ern# cold# ne4orable# rres st bl eG 3hom t he
collect ed mght of the 3orl d cannot stay or 3ard off, The breat h# t hat
!art ng from the l !s of K ng or beggar# scarcely st rs t he h$shed ar#
cannot be bo$ght# or bro$ght bac/ for a moment # 3t h the 3ealt h of
Em!res, ;hat a l esson s th s# teach ng o$r fral ty and feebl eness# and
an Inf n te Po3er beyond $sO It s a fearf$l lesson# that ne6er becomes
fam l ar, It 3al /s t hro$gh t he earth n dread mystery# and l ays t hands
$!on all , It s a $n 6ersal lesson# that s read e6ery3here and by all men,
It s message comes e6ery year and e6ery day, The !ast years are
cro3ded 3 th t s sad and solemn mementoesG and death? s f nger t races ts
hand3rt ng $!on the 3all s of e6ery h$man hab tat on,
It teaches $s D$tyG t o act o$r !art 3ell G t o f$l f l l the 3or/ assgned $s,
;hen one s dyng# and after he s dead# there s b$t one E$est on( -as
he l 6ed 3ell J There s no e6 l n deat h b$t that 3hch l fe ma/es,
There are hard l essons n the school of God? s Pro6 denceG and yet the
school of l fe s caref$l ly ad5$sted# n al l t s arrangements and tas/s# to
man? s !o3ers and !ass ons, There s no e4t ra6agance n ts teach ngsG
nor s anyt hng done for ? t he sa/e of !resent effect, The 3hol e co$rse of
h$man l fe s a confl ct 3 th d ffc$lt esG and# f rght ly cond$cted# a
!rogress n m!ro6ement, It s ne6er too late for man t o l earn, 8ot !art
only# b$t t he 3hol e# of l fe s a school , There ne6er comes a t me# e6en
amdst t he decays of age# 3hen t s f t to lay as de t he eagerness of
acE$s t on# or t he cheerf$l ness of endea6or, Man 3al /s# al l thro$gh t he
co$rse of l fe# n !at ence and strfe# and somet mes n dar/nessG for# from
!atence s to come !erfect onG from st r fe# tr$m!h s t o ss$eG from t he
cl o$d of dar/ness the l ght n ng s t o flash that shall o!en t he 3ay t o
et ernty,
Let t he Mason be fat hf$l n t he school of l fe# and to all ts l essonsO Let
h m not learn not hng# nor care not 3het her he learns or not, Let not t he
years !ass o6er h m# 3 tnesses of only hs sl ot h and ndfferenceG or see
h m <eal o$s to acE$ re e6eryth ng b$t 6 rt$e, 8or l et h m l abor only for
h msel fG nor forget t hat t he h$mblest man t hat l 6es s h s brot her# and
hath a cla m on h s sym!athes and /nd offcesG and that beneat h t he
ro$gh garment s 3hch labor 3ears may beat heart s as nobl e as t hrob
$nder t he stars of !r nces,
God# 3ho co$nt s by so$ls# not st at ons#
Lo6es and ! t es yo$ and meG
"or to - m al l 6a n dst nct ons
Are as !ebbl es on t he sea,
8or are t he other d$t es nc$l cated n t h s Degree of less m!ortance,
Tr$t h# a Mason s early t old# s a D6 ne att r b$t e and t he fo$ndat on of
e6ery 6rt$eG and fran/ness# rel ab l ty# s ncer ty# straght for3ardness#
!la nDdeal ng# are b$t d fferent modes n 3hch Tr$t h de6el o!s t sel f, The
dead# t he absent # t he nnocent # and t hose t hat t r$st h m# no Mason 3l l
dece 6e 3l l ngly, To all t hese he o3es a nobler 5$st ce# n that t hey are
t he most cert an t r al s of h$man EE$ ty, Only the most abandoned of men#
sa d % cero# 3l l dece6e h m# 3ho 3o$ld ha6e rema ned $n n5$red f he
had not
t r$st ed, All t he nobl e deeds that ha6e beat the r marches t hro$gh
s$cceedng ages ha6e !roceeded from men of t r$th and gen$ ne co$rage,
The man 3ho s al3ays tr$e s both 6 rt $o$s and 3 seG and t h$s !ossesses
t he greatest g$ards of safety( for t he l a3 has not !o3er to str /e t he
6rt$o$sG nor can fort $ne s$b6ert t he 3 se,
The bases of Masonry be ng moral ty and 6rt$e# t s by st $dyng one and
!ract sng t he other# that the cond$ct of a Mason becomes rre!roachabl e,
The good of -$man ty be ng t s !r nc !al ob5ect # dsnterestedness s one
of
t he frst 6 rt $es t hat t reE$ res of t s membersG for that s t he so$rce of
5 $st ce and benef cence,
To ! ty the m sfort $nes of ot hersG t o be h$mble# b$t 3 tho$t meannessG t o
be !ro$d# b$t 3t ho$t arroganceG t o ab5$re e6ery sent ment of hatred and
re6engeG t o sho3 h mself magnan mo$s and l beral# 3 tho$t ost entat on
and
3 tho$t !rof$s onG t o be t he enemy of 6ceG t o !ay homage to 3sdom and
6rt$eG t o res!ect nnocenceG t o be constant and !at ent n ad6ers ty# and
modest n !ros!er tyG t o a6o d e6ery rreg$l ar ty that sta ns t he so$l and
dstem!ers t he body D t s by fol l o3 ng t hese !rece!t s that a Mason 3 l l
become a good c t <en# a fat hf$l h$sband# a t ender father# an obed ent
son#
and a t r$e brot herG 3l l honor frendsh !# and f$lfl l 3t h ardor t he d$t es
3hch 6 rt $e and t he socal rel at ons m!ose $!on h m,
It s beca$se Masonry m!oses $!on $s these d$tes that t s !ro!erly and
sgnfcantly styled 3or/G and he 3ho magnes that he becomes a Mason
by
merely t a/ng t he f rst t3o or t hree Degrees# and that he may# ha6 ng
l es$rely ste!!ed $!on t hat smal l ele6at on# thencefor3ard 3orth ly 3ear
t he honors of Masonry# 3 tho$t l abor or e4ert on# or sel fDden al or
sacrfce#
and t hat there s nothng to be done n Masonry# s st rangely dece 6ed,
Is t tr$e t hat noth ng remans to be done n MasonryJ
Does one Brot her no l onger !roceed by la3 aga nst another Brother of hs
Lodge# n regard t o mat t ers that co$ld be eas ly sett led 3 th n the Mason c
fam ly crcl eJ
-as the d$el # that h deo$s hert age of barbar sm# nterdct ed among
Bret hren by o$r f$ndamental l a3s# and deno$nced by t he m$nc !al code#
yet dsa!!eared from the so l 3e nhab t J Do Masons of hgh ran/
rel go$sly refra n from t G or do they not#
bo3 ng t o a corr$!t !$blc o!n on# s$bm t to ts arb trament # des! te the
scandal 3hch t occas ons t o t he Order# and n 6 ol at on of the feeble
restrant of the r oat hJ
Do Masons no longer form $nchar t abl e o! n ons of ther Bret hren# enter
harsh 5$dgments aga nst them# and 5$dge t hemsel 6es by one r$le and the r
Bret hren by anotherJ
-as Masonry any 3ell Dreg$l ated system of chartyJ -as t done t hat 3h ch
t
sho$l d ha6e done for t he ca$se of ed$cat onJ ;here are t s schools# t s
academes# t s col leges# t s hos! tal s# and nfrmar esJ
Are !ol t cal cont ro6ers es no3 cond$cted 3t h no 6olence and
bt ternessJ
Do Masons refra n from defamng and deno$ncng ther Bret hren 3ho
dffer
3 th t hem n rel g o$s or !ol t cal o! n onsJ
;hat grand soc al !robl ems or $sef$l !ro5ect s engage o$r att ent on at o$r
comm$n cat onsJ ;here n o$r Lodges are l ect$res habt $al ly del 6ered
for
t he real nst r$ct on of t he Bret hrenJ Do not o$r sessons !ass n the
dsc$ss on of m nor matt ers of b$s ness# the sett lement of !ont s of order
and E$est ons of mere admnst rat on# and t he adm ss on and ad6ancement
of %and dates# 3hom aft er the r adm sson 3e ta/e no !a ns t o nst r$ct J
In 3hat Lodge are o$r ceremon es e4!l aned and el $c datedG corr$!t ed as
t hey are by t me# $nt l ther tr$e feat $res can scarcely be d st ng$ shedG
and
3here are t hose great !r mt 6e tr$t hs of re6el at on ta$ght # 3hch Masonry
has !reser6ed to t he 3orl dJ
;e ha6e hgh d gn t es and so$nd ng t t les, Do ther !ossessors E$al fy
t hemsel 6es to enl ght en t he 3orl d n res!ect t o the a ms and ob5ect s of
MasonryJ Descendant s of t hose Int at es 3ho go6erned em!res# does yo$r
nfl $ence ent er nt o !ract cal l fe and o!erate eff c ent ly n behalf of
3el lreg$lated
and const t$t onal l bertyJ
.o$r debat es sho$l d be b$t frendly con6ersat ons, .o$ need concord#
$non# and !eace, ;hy then do yo$ reta n among yo$ men 3ho e4ct e
r6al res and 5 ealo$sesG 3hy !erm t great and 6 olent cont ro6ersy and
ambt o$s !ret ens ons? J 8o3 do yo$r o3n 3ords and act s agreeJ If yo$r
Masonry s a n$l l ty# ho3 can yo$ e4erc se any nfl$ence on ot hersJ
%ont n$ally yo$ !ra se each ot her# and $t ter el aborate and hgh
3ro$ght e$l oges $!on t he Order, E6ery3here yo$ ass$me that yo$ are
3hat yo$ sho$l d be# and no3here do yo$ loo/ $!on yo$rsel 6es as yo$
are, Is t tr$e t hat al l o$r act ons are so many act s of homage to 6 rt $eJ
E4!l ore the recesses of yo$r heartsG l et $s e4am ne o$rsel 6es 3t h an
m!art al eye# and ma/e ans3er to o$r o3n E$est onngO %an 3e bear to
o$rsel 6es t he consol ng test mony t hat 3e al 3ays rg dly !erform o$r
d$t esG that 3e e6en half !erform t hemJ
Let $s a3ay 3 t h ths od o$s selfDflat teryO Let $s be men# f 3e cannot be
sagesO The l a3s of Masonry# abo6e ot hers e4cel lent# cannot 3holly
change men? s nat $res, They enl ghten them# they !ont o$t t he t r$e 3ayG
b$t they can lead them n t # only by re!ressng the fre of t her !ass ons#
and s$b5 $gat ng t her sel f shness, Alas# these conE$er# and Masonry s
forgot tenO
After !ra s ng each ot her all o$r l 6es# there are al 3ays e4cell ent
Bret hren#
3ho# o6er o$r coff ns# sho3er $nl m ted e$l og es, E6ery one of $s 3ho
des# ho3e6er $seless hs l fe# has been a model of all the 6 rt $es# a 6ery
chl d of t he cel est al l ght , In Egy!t# among o$r ol d Mast ers# 3here
Masonry 3as more c$l t 6ated than 6an ty# no one co$l d ga n adm ttance t o
t he sacred asyl$m of t he t omb $nt l he had !assed $nder t he most sol emn
5 $dgment , A gra6e t r b$nal sat n 5 $dgment $!on all # e6en t he /ngs, They
sa d t o the dead# @;hoe6er t ho$ art# g6e acco$nt to thy co$ntry of thy
act onsO ;hat hast t ho$ done 3t h t hy t me and l feJ The la3 nt errogat es
t hee# thy co$ntry hears t hee# Tr$t h s t s n 5$dgment on theeO@ Prnces
came there to be 5 $dged# escorted only by the r 6 rt $es and t her 6 ces, A
!$bl c acc$ser reco$nted t he h story of the dead man? s l fe# and t hre3 t he
bla<e of the torch of t r$th on all h s act ons, If t 3ere ad5 $dged t hat he
had l ed an e6 l l fe# h s memory 3as condemned n t he !resence of the
nat on# and h s body 3as den ed the honors of se!$l t $re, ;hat a lesson
t he old Masonry t a$ght t o the sons of the !eo!leO
Is t tr$e t hat Masonry s effet eG that t he acac a# 3t hered# affords no
shadeG that Masonry no longer marches n t he ad6anceDg$ard of Tr$t hJ
8o, Is freedom yet $n 6ersal J -a6e gnorance and !re5$dce d sa!!eared
from the eart hJ Are there no l onger enmt es among menJ Do c$! d ty
and falsehood no longer e4 st J Do t olerat on and harmony !re6al among
rel go$s and !ol t cal sect sJ There are 3or/s yet l eft for Masonry t o
accom!l sh# greater than t he t3el 6e l abors of -erc$l es( to ad6ance e6er
resol$tely and st ead lyG to enl ght en the m nds of t he !eo!l e# t o
reconst r$ct socety# t o reform the la3s# and t o m!ro6e t he !$bl c moral s,
The etern ty n front of t s as nf nt e as the one beh nd, And Masonry
cannot cease to l abor n t he ca$se of soc al !rogress# 3t ho$t ceas ng to
be tr$e to t self# Masonry,

PII, GRA8D MASTER AR%-ITE%T,
AMaster Arch t ect , B
T-E great d$t es t hat are nc$lcat ed by t he l essons ta$ght by t he
3or/ng nstr$ment s
of a Grand Master Archt ect# demandng so m$ch of $s# and
t a/ ng for granted the ca!acty to !erform them fat hf$l ly and f$l ly# br ng
$s
at once to reflect $!on t he dgn ty of h$man nat $re# and t he 6ast !o3ers
and ca!ac t es of t he h$man so$l G and t o t hat theme 3e n6 te yo$r
at tent on n ths Degree, Let $s beg n t o rse from eart h to3ard the St ars,
E6ermore t he h$man so$l str$ggles to3ard the l ght # to3ard God# and t he
Infnt e, It s es!ecal ly so n t s affl ct ons, ;ords go b$t a l tt le 3ay nt o
t he
de!ths of sorro3, The tho$ghts t hat 3rt he t here n s lence# that go nt o
t he
st l lness of Infn t$de and Etern ty# ha6e no embl ems, Tho$ght s eno$gh
come t here# s$ch as no t ong$e e6er $t tered, They do not so m$ch 3ant
h$man sym!athy# as hgher hel!, There s a l onel ness n dee! sorro3
3hch the De ty alone can rel e6e, Alone# t he mnd 3rest les 3t h t he great
!robl em of cal am ty# and see/s the sol $t on from the Inf n te Pro6 dence
of
-ea6en# and t h$s s led d rect ly to God,
There are many t hngs n $s of 3h ch 3e are not dst nct ly consc o$s, To
3a/en t hat sl$mber ng consco$sness nt o l fe# and so t o l ead t he so$l $!
t o t he Lght # s one offce of e6ery great mn strat on t o h$man nat $re#
3hether ts 6eh cle be t he !en# the !enc l# or t he t ong$e, ;e are
$nconsc o$s of t he nt ensty and a3f$l ness of t he l fe 3t hn $s, -ealt h
and
s c/ness# 5oy and sorro3# s$ccess and dsa!!o nt ment # l fe and deat h#
l o6e and loss# are fam l ar 3ords $!on o$r l !sG and 3e do not /no3 to
3hat
de!ths they !ont 3t h n $s,
;e seem ne6er to /no3 3hat any t h ng means or s 3ort h $nt l 3e ha6e
l ost t , Many an organ# ner6e# and f bre n o$r bod ly frame !erforms t s
s lent !art for years# and 3e are E$te $nconsc o$s of t s 6al $e, It s not
$nt l t s n5$red that 3e d sco6er t hat 6al $e# and f nd ho3 essent al t
3as
t o o$r ha!! ness and comfort , ;e ne6er /no3 the f$ll sgnfcance of t he
3ords R!ro!erty# @ @ease# @ and @healt hG@ t he 3eal t h of meanng n t he fond
e!t hets# @!arent # S Rchl d# @ @belo6ed# @ and @frend# @ $nt l t he t h ng or the
!erson s ta/en a3ayG $nt l # n !lace of the brght # 6 s bl e be ng# comes
t he
a3f$l and desol ate shado3# 3here nothng s( 3here 3e stret ch o$t o$r
hands n 6a n# and st ra n o$r eyes $!on dar/ and dsmal 6ac$ ty, .et # n
t hat 6ac$ ty# 3e do not lose the ob5ect that 3e l o6ed, It becomes only the
more real t o $s, O$r bless ngs not only br ght en 3hen t hey de!art# b$t are
f 4ed n end$r ng real tyG and l o6e and frendsh ! rece6e ther e6erlast ng
seal $nder the col d m!ress of death,
A d m consco$sness of nfn te mystery and grande$r l es beneath al l t he
common!l ace of l fe, There s an a3f$lness and a ma5esty aro$nd $s# n
al l o$r l t tl e 3orl dl ness, The r$de !easant from t he A!enn nes# asl ee! at
t he foot of a ! ll ar n a ma5 est c Roman ch$rch# seems not t o hear or see#
b$t to# dream only of the herd he feeds or t he gro$nd he t l ls n the
mo$nta ns, B$t t he choral sym!hones fall soft ly $!on hs ear# and the
g lded arches are d mly seen thro$gh hs halfDsl $mberng eyel ds,
So the so$l # ho3e6er g6en $! to t he occ$!at ons of da ly l fe# cannot
E$t e
l ose t he sense of 3here t s# and of 3hat s abo6e t and aro$nd t , The
scene of t s act $al engagements may be smal lG t he !ath of t s st e!s#
beat en and fam l arG t he ob5 ects t handles# easly s!anned# and E$t e 3orn
o$t 3t h daly $ses, So t may be# and am dst s$ch thngs that 3e all l 6e,
So 3e l 6e o$r l t tl e l feG b$t -ea6en s abo6e $s and all aro$nd and close
t o $sG and Et ernty s before $s and behnd $sG and s$ns and st ars are
s lent 3t nesses and 3atchers o6er $s, ;e are enfol ded by Inf n ty,
Infnt e
Po3ers and Infn te s!aces l e all aro$nd $s, The dread arch of Myst ery
s!reads o6er $s# and no 6oce e6er !erced t, Eternty s enthroned amd
-ea6en? s myr ad starry heght sG and no $t t erance or 3ord e6er came from
t hose farDoff and s lent s!aces, Abo6e# s t hat a3f$l ma5estyG aro$nd $s#
e6ery3here# t stretches off nt o nf n tyG and beneath t s t hs l tt le
st r$ggle
of l fe# th s !oor day? s confl ct # t h s b$sy ant Dhl l of T me,
B$t from t hat ant Dhl l# not only t he t al/ of t he st reet s# t he so$nds of
m$s c
and re6ell ng# t he str and t read of a m$l t t$de# the sho$t of 5oy and t he
shre/ of agony go $! nto t he s lent and al lDs$rro$nd ng Inf nt $deG b$t
al so# amdst the st r and no se of 6s ble l fe# from t he nmost bosom of
t he
6s ble man# t here goes $! an m!l orng cal l # a beseech ng cry# an as/ ng#
$n$t tered# and $n$tt erabl e# for re6elat on# 3al ngly and n al most
s!eechless agony !rayng t he dread arch of mystery t o brea/# and t he
st ars t hat roll abo6e the 3a6es of mortal t ro$bl e# t o s!ea/G the ent hroned
ma5esty of t hose a3f$l heghts t o f nd a 6o ceG the mystero$s and
reser6ed hea6ens t o come nearG and all t o t ell $s 3hat t hey al one /no3G to
g 6e $s nformat on of the l o6ed and lost G to ma/e /no3n t o $s 3hat 3e
are# and 3ht her 3e are go ng,
Man s encom!assed 3t h a dome of ncom!rehens ble 3onders, In h m
and abo$t h m s that 3hch sho$ld f ll hs lfe 3t h ma5esty and
sacredness, Somet h ng of s$bl m ty and sanct ty has th$s flashed do3n
from hea6en nt o the heart of e6ery one that l 6es, There s no be ng so
base and abandoned b$t hat h some trat s of t hat sacredness left $!on
h mG somet h ng# so m$ch !erha!s n dscordance 3 th h s general re!$t e#
t hat he hdes t from all aro$nd h mG some sanct $ary n hs so$l # 3here no
one may ent erG some sacred ncl os$re# 3here the memory of a chl d s# or
t he mage of a 6enerat ed !arent # or the remembrance of a !$re lo6e# or
t he echo of some 3ord of / ndness once s!o/en to h mG an echo that 3 l l
ne6er de a3ay,
L fe s no negat 6e# or s$!erf cal or 3orl dly e4 st ence, O$r ste!s are
e6ermore ha$nted 3t h tho$ght s# far beyond the r o3n range# 3h ch some
ha6e regarded as t he rem n scences of a !ree4st ent stat e, So t s 3 th $s
al l# n t he beat en and 3orn t rac/ of t hs 3orldly !l gr mage, There s
more
here# than t he 3orl d 3e l 6e n, It s not all of l fe t o l 6e, An $nseen and
nf nte !resence s hereG a sense of somethng great er than 3e !ossessG a
see/ ng# thro$gh all the 6od 3astes of l fe# for a good beyond t G a cryng
o$t of t he heart for nt er!retat onG a memory of t he dead# t o$chng
cont n$ally some 6 brat ng t hread n th s great t ss$e of mystery,
;e all not only ha6e bet ter nt mat ons# b$t are ca!able of bet t er thngs
t han 3e /no3, The !ress$re of some great emergency 3o$ld de6elo! n
$s !o3ers# beyond t he 3orldly bas of o$r s! rt sG and -ea6en so deal s
3 th $s# from t me t o t me# as to call forth those bett er t h ngs, There s
hardly a famly n t he 3orld go sel f sh# b$t t hat # f one n t 3ere doomed
t o
de D one# to be sel ect ed by the ot hers# D t 3o$ld be $t terly m!oss ble for
ts members# !arent s and ch ldren# to choose o$t that 6ct mG b$t t hat each
3o$l d say# @I 3 ll d eG b$t I cannot choose, @ And n ho3 many# f t hat d re
e4trem ty had come# 3o$l d not one and anot her ste! fort h# freed from the
6le meshes of ord nary selfshness# and say# l /e t he Roman fat her and
son# @Let the bl o3 fal l on meO@ There are greater and better t h ngs n $s
al l#
t han the 3orld t a/es acco$nt of# or t han 3e t a/e not e ofG f 3e 3o$l d b$t
fnd t hem o$t, And t s one !art of o$r Masonc c$lt $re to fnd t hese
t ra ts
of !o3er and s$bl me de6ot on# to re66e these faded m!ress ons of
generos ty and selfDsacr f ce# the al most sE$andered beE$ests of God? s
l o6e and /ndness to o$r so$lsG and t o nd$ce $s to yeld o$rsel6es to
t her
g$dance and cont rol,
'!on all condt ons of men !resses do3n one m!art al la3, To all
s t$at ons# to al l fort$nes# hgh or l o3# t he mnd g6es the r charact er,
They
are# n effect# not 3hat they are n themsel6es# b$t 3hat t hey are t o t he
feel ng of the r !ossessors, The K ng may be mean# degraded# mserableG
t he sl a6e of amb t on# fear# 6ol $!t $o$sness# and e6ery lo3 !asson, The
Peasant may be t he real Monarch# the moral mast er of h s fat e# a free and
l ofty be ng# more t han a Pr nce n ha!! ness# more t han a K ng n honor,
Man s no b$bble $!on t he sea of h s fort $nes# hel !l ess and rres!ons ble
$!on the t de of e6ent s, O$t of t he same crc$mstances# d fferent men
br ng t otally d fferent res$lt s, The same d ff c$l ty# d stress# !o6erty# or
msfort$ne# t hat brea/s do3n one man# b$l ds $! anot her and ma/es h m
st rong, It s the 6ery at tr b$te and glory of a man# that he can bend the
c rc$mstances of h s cond t on to t he ntel lect $al and moral !$r!oses of
hs
nat$re# and t s the !o3er and mastery of hs 3 l l that chefly d st ng$sh
h m from t he br$te,
The fac$l ty of moral 3 ll # de6el o!ed n t he chl d# s a ne3 el ement 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 l o3 that he
had not# by God? s g ft # t he !o3er to rse# Beca$se God commands h m to
r se# t s cert an t hat he can r se,
E6ery man has the !o3er# and sho$l d $se t # to ma/e all s t$at ons# tral s#
and t em!t at ons nst r$ments to !romote h s 6 rt $e and ha!! nessG and s
so far from beng the creat $re of c rc$mst ances# t hat he creates and
control s t hem# ma/ng them to be al l that t hey are# of e6 l or of good# to
h m as a moral beng,
L fe s 3hat 3e ma/e t # and the 3orld s 3hat 3e ma/e t , The eyes of
t he
cheerf$l and of the mel ancholy man are f 4ed $!on the same creat onG b$t
6ery dfferent are the as!ect s 3h ch t bears to t hem, To the one# t s al l
bea$ty and gladnessG t he 3a6es of ocean rol l n l ght# and t he mo$nta ns
are co6ered 3t h day, Lfe# to h m# flashes# re5 o cng# $!on e6ery fl o3er
and e6ery t ree that t rembl es n t he bree<e, There s more t o h m#
e6ery3here# than t he eye seesG a !resence of !rofo$nd 5 oy on h l l and
6alley# and brght# danc ng 3at er, The other dly or mo$rnf$l ly ga<es at
t he
same scene# and e6eryth ng 3ears a d$l l# d m# and sc/ly as!ect , The
m$rm$r ng of t he broo/s s a d scord t o h m# t he great roar of t he sea has
an angry and threat en ng em!has s# t he solemn m$sc of t he !nes sngs
t he reE$em of h s de!art ed ha!! nessG the cheerf$l l ght shnes gar shly
$!on h s eyes and offends h m, The great tran of the seasons !asses
before h m l /e a f$neral !rocess onG and he sghs# and t $rns m!at ently
a3ay, The eye ma/es that 3hch t l oo/s $!onG t he ear ma/es t s o3n
melodes and dscordsG t he 3orl d 3t ho$t reflect s the 3orl d 3 th n,
Let t he Mason ne6er forget that l fe and t he 3orl d are 3hat 3e ma/e them
by o$r socal characterG by o$r ada!t at on# or 3ant of ada!tat on t o t he
soc al cond t ons# relat onsh!s# and !$rs$ ts of the 3orl d, To t he sel f sh#
t he cold# and t he nsens ble# t o t he ha$ghty and !res$mng# t o the !ro$d#
3ho demand more than t hey are l /ely to rece 6e# to the 5eal o$s# e6er
afra d t hey shall not rece 6e eno$gh# t o t hose 3ho are $nreasonably
sens t 6e abo$t t he good or l l o! n ons of ot hers# t o all 6 olators of t he
soc al la3s# the r$de# the 6 ol ent # t he dshonest # and t he sens$al# D to all
t hese# the socal cond t on# from ts 6ery nat $re# 3 ll !resent annoyances#
dsa!!ont ment s# and !ans# a!!ro!r at e to ther se6eral charact ers, The
bene6ol ent affect ons 3 ll not re6ol6e aro$nd self shnessG the col dD
hearted
m$st e4!ect to meet col dnessG t he !ro$d# ha$ght nessG the !ass onat e#
angerG and the 6 olent# r$deness, Those 3ho forget t he rghts of ot hers#
m$st not be s$r!rsed f t her o3n are forgot tenG and t hose 3ho st oo! to
t he l o3est embraces of sense m$st not 3onder# f others are not
concerned t o fnd t he r !rostrate honor# and l ft t $! t o the remembrance
and res!ect of the 3orld,
To the gent le# many 3 ll be gentl eG to t he /nd# many 3 l l be /nd, A good
man 3 l l fnd that t here s goodness n t he 3orl dG an honest man 3l l f nd
t hat there s honesty n t he 3orldG and a man of !r nc !l e 3 ll fnd
!r nc !le
and ntegr ty n the m nds of ot hers,
There are no bl ess ngs 3hch t he mnd may not con6ert nt o t he bt terest
of e6l sG and no tral s 3h ch t may not t ransform nto the noblest and
d6 nest bl essngs, There are no tem!t at ons from 3h ch assa led 6 rt $e
may not gan strengt h# nst ead of fal l ng before t hem# 6anE$ shed and
s$bd$ed, It s tr$e that t em!t at ons ha6e a great !o3er# and 6rt $e often
fall sG b$t t he mght of these tem!tat ons l es not n t hemsel 6es# b$t n the
feebleness of o$r o3n 6rt $e# and the 3ea/ness of o$r o3n heart s, ;e
rely too m$ch on the strengt h of o$r ram!arts and bast ons# and all o3 the
enemy t o ma/e h s a!!roaches# by trench and !aral lel # at h s le s$re, The
offer of d shonest ga n and g$l ty !leas$re ma/es the honest man more
honest # and t he !$re man more !$re, They rase hs 6 rt$e to t he heght of
t o3erng ndgnat on, The fa r occason# the safe o!!ort $n ty# the
t em!t ng
chance become t he defeat and d sgrace of the tem!ter, The honest and
$!r ght man does not 3at $nt l tem!t at on has made ts a!!roaches and
mo$nted t s batteres on the last !arall el,
B$t t o t he m!$re# t he dshonest # t he fal seDhearted# t he corr$!t # and t he
sens$al# occasons come e6ery day# and n e6ery scene# and t hro$gh
e6ery a6en$e of tho$ght and mag nat on, -e s !re!ared to ca! t$lat e
before t he frst a!!roach s commencedG and sends o$t t he 3ht e flag
3hen t he enemy? s ad6ance comes n sght of h s 3al ls, -e ma/es
occas onsG or# f o!!ort$nt es come not # e6l t ho$ghts come# and he
t hro3s 3de o!en the gates of h s heart and 3elcomes t hose bad 6s tors#
and ent ert ans t hem 3 t h a la6sh hos!t al ty,
The b$s ness of t he 3orl d absorbs# corr$!ts# and degrades one m nd#
3hl e n another t feeds and n$rses t he nobl est nde!endence# nt egr ty#
and generos ty, Pl eas$re s a !oson t o some# and a heal thf$l refreshment
t o others, To one# the 3orld s a great harmony# l /e a nobl e st ra n of
m$s c 3t h nf nt e mod$lat onsG to anot her# t s a h$ge factory# the clash
and cl ang of 3hose mach nery 5ars $!on h s ears and fret s h m t o
madness, Lfe s s$bst ant al ly
t he same t hng t o al l 3ho !arta/e of t s l ot, .et some r se to 6 rt $e and
gl oryG 3h le others# $ndergong the same d sc !l ne# and en5 oyng t he
same !r 6leges# s n/ to shame and !erdt on,
Thoro$gh# fa thf$l # and honest endea6or t o m!ro6e# s al3ays s$ccessf$l #
and t he hghest ha!! ness, To sgh sent ment ally o6er h$man m sfort $ne#
s ft only for t he mnd? s chl dhoodG and t he mnd? s m sery s chefly t s
o3n
fa$l tG a!!o nted# $nder t he good Pro6 dence of God# as the !$n sher and
correct or of ts fa$lt , In the long r$n# t he mnd 3 l l be ha!!y# 5 $st n
!ro!ort on to t s fdel ty and 3sdom, ;hen t s m serabl e# t has !lanted
t he t horns n t s o3n !athG t gras!s them# and cres o$t n lo$d
com!l antG ,
and t hat com!la nt s b$t the lo$der confess on t hat t he t horns 3hch gre3
t here# t !lanted,
A certa n /nd and degree of s! rt $al ty ent er nt o the largest !art of e6en
t he most ord nary l fe, .o$ can carry on no b$s ness# 3t ho$t some fa th
n
man, .o$ cannot e6en dg n t he gro$nd# 3t ho$t a relance on t he $nseen
res$lt , .o$ cannot t hn/ or reason or e6en st e!# 3t ho$t confd ng n the
n3ard# s!r t$al !r nc!l es of yo$r nat $re, Al l the affect ons and bonds#
and
ho!es and nt erest s of l fe cent re n the s! r t$alG and yo$ /no3 t hat f
t hat
cent ral bond 3ere bro/en# t he 3orl d 3o$l d r$sh t o chaos,
Bel e6e that t here s a GodG that -e s o$r fat herG that -e has a !aternal
nterest n o$r 3el fare and m!ro6ement G t hat -e has g6en $s !o3ers# by
means of 3hch 3e may esca!e from sn and r$ nG that -e has dest ned $s
t o a f$t$re l fe of endless !rogress t o3ard !erfect on and a /no3ledge of
- msel f D bel e6e t h s# as e6ery Mason sho$ld# and yo$ can l 6e cal mly#
end$re !at ently# labor resol$tely# deny yo$rsel 6es cheerf$lly# ho!e
st eadfast ly# and be conE$erors n t he great str$ggle of l fe, Ta/e a3ay any
one of t hese !r nc !les# and 3hat rema ns for $sJ Say t hat t here s no
GodG or no 3ay o!ened for ho!e and reformat on and t r$m!h# no hea6en
t o come# no rest for the 3eary# no home n the bosom of God for the
affl ct ed and d sconsol ate so$lG or that God s b$t an $gly bl nd %hance
t hat stabs n t he dar/G or a some3hat that s# 3hen attem!t ed to be
def ned# a no3hat # emot onless# !ass onl ess# t he S$!reme A!at hy t o
3hch all t h ngs# good and e6l # are al /e nd fferentG or a 5eal o$s God
3ho
re6engef$l ly 6 s t s the sns of t he fathers on t he chl dren# and 3hen the
fathers ha6e eaten
so$r gra!es# sets the ch ldren? s teet h on edgeG an arbt rary s$!reme ; l l #
t hat has made t rght t o be 6 rt $o$s# and 3rong to l e and st eal# beca$se
IT !leased to ma/e t so rat her than ot her3 se# reta n ng t he !o3er to
re6erse the la3G or a f c/le# 6ac ll at ng# nconst ant De ty# or a cr$el#
bloodt hrsty# sa6age -ebre3 or P$r tanc oneG and 3e are b$t the s!ort of
chance and the 6 ct ms of des!a rG ha!less 3anderers $!on t he face of a
desol at e# forsa/en# or acc$rsed and hat ed eart hG s$rro$nded by dar/ness#
st r$ggl ng 3 th obst acles# t ol ng for barren res$l t s and em!ty !$r!oses#
dstracted 3 th do$bt s# and m sl ed by fal se gleams of l ght G 3anderers
3 th
no 3ay# no !ros!ect # no homeG doomed and deserted mar ners on a dar/
and st ormy sea# 3 tho$t com!ass or co$rse# t o 3hom no stars a!!earG
t oss ng hel ml ess $!on the 3elt erng# angry 3a6es# 3 th no bl essed ha6en
n t he dst ance 3hose g$dngDstar n6 tes $s t o ts 3elcome rest ,
The rel g o$s fa th th$s t a$ght by Masonry s nd s!ensable t o the
at ta nment of the great ends of l feG and m$st t herefore ha6e been
des gned to be a !art of t , ;e are made for t hs fa t hG and there m$st be
someth ng# some3here# for $s to bel e6e n, ;e cannot gro3 heal thf$l ly#
nor l 6e ha!! ly# 3 tho$t t , It s t herefore tr$e, If 3e co$l d c$t off from
any
so$l all t he !r nc !les t a$ght by Masonry# the fa t h n a God# n
mmortal ty#
n 6rt$e# n essental rect t$de# that so$l 3o$l d sn/ nt o s n# m sery#
dar/ness# and r$ n, If 3e co$l d c$t off al l sense of t hese t r$ths# t he man
3o$l d s n/ at once t o the grade of the an mal ,
8o man can s$ffer and be !at ent # can str$ggl e and conE$er# can m!ro6e
and be ha!!y# ot her3se than as t he s3 ne are# 3t ho$t consc ence#
3 tho$t ho!e# 3 tho$t a rel ance on a 5$st # 3se# and benefcent God, ;e
m$st # of necess ty# embrace t he great tr$t hs t a$ght by Masonry# and l 6e
by t hem# t o l 6e ha!!ly, @I !$t my t r$st n God# @ s t he !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 $res,
Soc ety# n t s great relat ons# s as m$ch t he creat on of -ea6en as s the
syst em of the 'n 6erse, If that bond of gra6 tat on t hat holds al l 3orlds
and
syst ems toget her# 3ere s$ddenly se6ered# t he $n 6erse 3o$l d fly nt o 3 ld
and bo$ndless chaos, And f 3e 3ere t o se6er al l the moral bonds that
hold soc ety togetherG f 3e co$l d c$t off from t e6ery con6 ct on of
Tr$t h
and Int egr ty# of an a$thor ty abo6e t# and of a conscence 3t h n t # t
3o$l d mmedately r$sh to d sorder and frght f$l anarchy and r$n,
The rel g on 3e teach s therefore as real ly a !r nc!le of th ngs# and as
certa n and t r$e# as gra6 tat on,
"at h n moral !rnc !l es# n 6rt$e# and n God# s as necessary for the
g$dance of a man# as nst nct s for the g$dance of an an mal , And
t herefore t h s fa th# as a !rnc!l e of man? s nat$re# has a m ss on as t r$ly
a$thentc n God? s Pro6 dence# as t he !r nc !le of nst nct, The !leas$res
of t he so$l # t oo# m$st de!end on certa n !r nc !les, They m$st recogn <e a
so$l# ts !ro!ert es and res!ons bl t es# a conscence# and t he sense of an
a$thor ty abo6e $sG and t hese are the !rnc!l es of fat h, 8o man can
s$ffer and be !at ent# can st r$ggle and conE$er# can m!ro6e and be
ha!!y# 3t ho$t conscence# 3t ho$t ho!e# 3 tho$t a rel ance on a 5$st #
3 se# and benef cent God, ;e m$st of necess ty embrace the great t r$ths
t a$ght by Masonry# and l 6e by them# to l 6e ha!!ly, E6erythng n the
$n6erse has f 4ed and certa n l a3s and !r nc!les for ts act onG D the star
n
ts orb t # the an mal n t s act 6ty# t he !hyscal man n hs f$nct ons, And
he
has l /e3 se f 4ed and certa n l a3s and !r nc!les as a s! r t$al beng,
- s
so$l does not d e for 3ant of al ment or g$dance, "or the rat onal so$l
t here s am!l e !ro6s on, "rom t he l ofty ! ne# roc/ed n t he dar/enng
t em!est # t he cry of the yo$ng ra6en s heardG and t 3o$ld be most strange
f t here 3ere no ans3er for t he cry and call of t he so$l # t ort$red by 3ant
and sorro3 and agony, The total re5 ect on of all moral and rel g o$s bel ef
3o$l d st r /e o$t a !r nc!le from h$man nat$re# as essent al to t as
gra6t at on t o t he st ars# nst nct to an mal l fe# t he crc$lat on of the bl ood
t o
t he h$man body,
God has orda ned that l fe shal l be a socal stat e, ;e are members of a
c 6 l comm$n ty, The l fe of that comm$n ty de!ends $!on t s moral
cond t on, P$bl c s! r t# ntel l gence# $!rghtness# tem!erance# /ndness#
domest c !$rty# 3 ll ma/e t a ha!!y comm$n ty# and g6e t !ros!er ty
and
cont n$ance, ; deDs!read self shness# dshonesty# ntem!erance#
l bert n sm# corr$!t on# and cr me# 3l l ma/e t m serable# and br ng
abo$t
dssol $t on and s!eedy r$ n, A 3hole !eo!le l 6es one l feG one mghty
heart hea6es n t s bosomG t s one great !$l se of e4st ence that t hrobs
t here, One stream of l fe fl o3s there# 3t h t en t ho$sand nterm ngl ed
branches and channels# thro$gh al l the homes of h$man l o6e, One so$nd
as of many 3aters# a ra!t$ro$s 5$b l ee or a mo$rnf$l sgh ng# comes $!
from
t he congregat ed d3el l ngs of a 3hol e nat on,
The P$bl c s no 6ag$e abst ract onG nor sho$l d t hat 3h ch s done aga nst
t hat P$bl c# aganst !$bl c nterest # la3# or 6rt $e# !ress b$t l ghtly on t he
conscence, It s b$t a 6ast e4!ans on of nd 6 d$al l feG an ocean of t ears#
an at mos!here of sghs# or a great 3hole of 5oy and gladness, It s$ffers
3 th t he s$ffer ng of m ll onsG t re5o ces 3 th the 5 oy of m ll ons, ;hat a
6ast
cr me does he commt # D !r 6ate man or !$bl c man# agent or contractor#
l egslator or mag st rat e# secretary or !res dent # D3ho dares# 3 th nd gnty
and 3rong# t o st r /e t he bosom of the P$bl c ;elfare# to enco$rage
6enal ty and corr$!t on# and shamef$l sal e of t he elect 6e franch se# or of
offceG t o so3 d ssenson# and to 3ea/en the bonds of am ty that b nd a
8at on t oget herO ;hat a h$ge nE$ ty# he 3ho# 3t h 6ces l /e t he
daggers
of a !arrcde# dares to ! erce that mghty heart # n 3h ch t he ocean of
e4st ence s flo3ngO
;hat an $neE$alled nterest l es n t he 6rt$e of e6ery one 3hom 3e l o6eO
In h s 6rt $e# no3here b$t n hs 6rt $e# s garnered $! the ncom!arable
t reas$re, ;hat care 3e for brot her or fr end# com!ared 3 th 3hat 3e care
for h s honor# h s fdel ty# hs re!$tat on# hs / ndnessJ -o3 6enerable s
t he rect t $de of a !arentO -o3 sacred h s re!$t at onO 8o blght that can
fall
$!on a ch ld# s l /e a !arent ? s dshonor, -eat hen or %hr st an# e6ery
!arent 3o$ld ha6e h s ch ld do 3el lG and !o$rs o$t $!on h m all t he
f$l l ness of !arental l o6e# n t he one des re that he may do 3el lG t hat he
may be 3orthy of hs cares# and hs freely besto3ed !a nsG t hat he may
3al / n the 3ay of honor and ha!!ness, In t hat 3ay he cannot 3al / one
st e! 3 tho$t 6rt$e, S$ch s l fe# n ts relat onsh !s, A tho$sand t es
embrace t # l /e t he fne ner6es of a del cate organ <at onG l /e t he str ngs
of an nstr$ment ca!abl e of s3eet melodes# b$t eas ly !$t o$t of t $ne or
bro/en# by r$deness# anger# and self sh nd$lgence,
If l fe co$l d# by any !rocess# be made nsens ble t o !an and !l eas$reG f
t he h$man heart 3ere hard as adamant # then a6arce# amb t on# and
sens$al ty mght channel o$t t her !aths n t # and ma/e t t her beat en
3ayG and none 3o$l d 3onder or !rotest , If 3e co$l d be !at ent $nder t he
l oad of a mere 3orl dly l feG f 3e co$l d bear t hat b$rden as t he beasts
bear
tG t hen# l /e beasts# 3e mght bend all o$r tho$ght s t o t he eart hG and no
cal l from the great -ea6ens abo6e $s 3o$l d startl e $s from o$r !lodd ng
and earthly co$rse,
B$t 3e art not nsens bl e br$t es# 3ho can ref$se the call of reason and
conscence, The so$l s ca!abl e of remorse, ;hen t he great
ds!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
3orl dl ness and rrel g on, ;e are not 3l l ng to bear those b$rdens of the
heart # fear# an4ety# dsa!!o nt ment # and tro$bl e# 3t ho$t any ob5 ect or
$se, ;e are not 3 ll ng to s$ffer# t o be sc/ and affl ct ed# to ha6e o$r
days
and mont hs lost t o comfort and 5 oy# and o6ershado3ed 3 t h calamty and
gref# 3 t ho$t ad6ant age or com!ensat onG t o barter a3ay the dearest
t reas$res# the 6ery s$fferngs# of the heart G to sell t he l feDbl ood from
fal ng
frame and fadng chee/# o$r tears of b tt erness and groans of ang$sh# for
nothng, -$man nat $re# fra l# feel ng# sens t 6e# and sorro3 ng# cannot
bear
t o s$ffer for no$ght,
E6ery3here# h$man l fe s a great and solemn d s!ensat on, Man#
s$ffer ng# en5 oy ng# l o6ng# hat ng# ho! ng# and fearng# cha ned to t he
earth and yet e4!lor ng t he far recesses of t he $n 6erse# has the !o3er t o
comm$ne 3t h God and -s angels, Aro$nd th s great act on of e4 stence
t he c$rt ans of T me are dra3nG b$t t here are o!en ngs t hro$gh t hem
3hch g6e $s gl m!ses of eternty, God loo/s do3n $!on th s scene of
h$man !robat on, The 3 se and t he good n all ages ha6e nter!osed for t
3 th t her t each ngs and ther blood, E6eryth ng t hat e4st s aro$nd $s#
e6ery mo6ement n nat $re e6ery co$nsel of Pro6 dence# e6ery
nter!ost on of God# cent res $!on one !ont D t he fdel ty of man, And
e6en
f t he ghost s of t he de!arted and remembered co$l d come at m dnght
t hro$gh the barred doors of o$r d3ell ngs# and t he shro$ded dead sho$ld
gl de thro$gh the asl es of o$r ch$rches and s t n o$r Mason c Tem!l es#
t her t each ngs 3o$ld be no more el oE$ent and m!ress6e than t he Great
real t es of l feG than t hose memor es of mss!ent years# those ghosts of
de!art ed o!!ort $nt es# that # !o nt ng to o$r conscence and et ern ty cry
cont n$ally n o$r ears# @;or/ 3h le the day l astsO for the n ght of deat h
comet h# n 3h ch no man can 3or/, S
There are no to/ens of !$bl c mo$rn ng for t he calamty of the so$l , Men
3ee! 3hen the body desG and 3hen t s borne t o ts last rest # they foll o3
t 3t h sad and mo$rnf$l !rocesson, B$t
for the dyng so$l t here s no o!en lamentat onG for the l ost so$l t here are
no obseE$ es,
And yet t he m nd and so$l of man ha6e a 6al $e 3h ch not h ng el se has,
They are 3ort h a care 3hch nothng else s 3ort hG and to t he s ngle#
sol tary nd 6 d$al # t hey o$ght to !ossess an nterest 3h ch not hng else
!ossesses, The stored treas$res of the heart# the $nfat homable m nes
t hat are n the so$l t o be 3ro$ght # t he broad and bo$ndless real ms of
Tho$ght # t he freght ed argosy of man? s ho!es and best affect ons# are
brghter t han gol d and dearer than treas$re,
And yet t he m nd s n real ty l t tle /no3n or cons dered, It s all 3h ch
man
!ermanent ly s# h s n3ard be ng# h s d 6 ne energy# h s mmort al t ho$ght #
hs bo$ndless ca!acty# hs nfn t e as! rat onG and ne6ertheless# fe3
6al$e
t for 3hat t s 3orth, "e3 see a brotherDm nd n ot hers# t hro$gh t he rags
3 th 3hch !o6erty has clothed t # beneat h t he cr$shng b$rdens of l fe#
amdst t he cl ose !ress$re of 3orldly t ro$bl es# 3ants and sorro3s, "e3
ac/no3l edge and cheer t n that h$mbl e bl ot# and feel t hat t he nob l ty of
earth# and t he commencng glory of -ea6en are there,
Men do not feel the 3orth of t her o3n so$ls, They are !ro$d of ther
mental !o3ersG b$t the ntr nsc# nner# nf nt e 3ort h of ther o3n m nds
t hey do not !erce6e, The !oor man# admt t ed t o a !alace# feel s# l ofty and
mmortal be ng as he s# l /e a mere ordnary th ng amd t he s!lendors
t hat
s$rro$nd h m, -e sees the carrage of 3ealt h rol l by h m# and forgets the
ntr nsc and eternal dgnty of h s o3n m nd n a !oor and degrad ng
en6y#
and feels as an h$mbl er creat $re# beca$se ot hers are abo6e h m# not n
mnd# b$t n mens$rat on, Men res!ect t hemsel 6es# accordng as t hey are
more 3eal t hy# hgher n ran/ or offce# l oft er n the 3orld? s o!non# able
t o
command more 6otes# more the fa6or t es of the !eo!le or of Po3er,
The dfference among men s not so m$ch n ther nat $re and ntrns c
!o3er# as n the fac$lty of comm$n cat on, Some ha6e t he ca!ac ty of
$tter ng and embodyng n 3ords the r tho$ghts, All men# more or l ess#
feel
t hose tho$ght s, The gl ory of gen $s and t he ra!t $re of 6rt$e# 3hen
rghtly
re6ealed# are d ff$sed and shared among $nn$mbered m nds, ;hen
el oE$ence and !oetry s!ea/G 3hen those gl or o$s art s# st at$ary# !ant ng#
and m$sc# ta/e a$dble or 6 s bl e sha!eG 3hen !atrot sm# charty# and
6rt$e
s!ea/ 3 th a t hrl l ng !otency# t he hearts of tho$sands gl o3 3t h a
/ndred
5 oy and ecst asy, If t 3ere not so# t here 3o$ld be no eloE$enceG for
el oE$ence s that t o 3h ch ot her heart s res!ondG t s the fac$lty and
!o3er
of ma/ ng other heart s res!ond, 8o one s so l o3 or degraded# as not
somet mes to be to$ched 3 t h the bea$ty of goodness, 8o heart s made
of materal s so common# or e6en base# as not somet mes to res!ond#
t hro$gh e6ery chord of t# to t he call of honor# !atrot sm# generosty# and
6rt$e, The !oor Afr can Sla6e 3 l l de for t he master, or m stress# or n
defence of the ch ldren# 3hom he l o6es, The !oor# l ost# scorned#
abandoned# o$t cast 3oman 3 l l # 3t ho$t e4!ectat on of re3ard n$rse
t hose 3ho are dy ng on e6ery hand# $t ter strangers t o her# 3 th a
contag o$s and horr d !est lence, The !c/!oc/et 3l l scal e b$rnng 3al ls
t o resc$e ch l d or 3oman# $n/no3n t o h m# from the ra6eno$s flames,
Most gl oro$s s ths ca!actyO A !o3er to comm$ne 3t h God and -s
AngelsG a refl ect on of the 'ncreated Lght G a m rror that can col lect and
concentrate $!on t sel f all t he moral s!lendors of t he 'n6erse, It s t he
so$l alone t hat g6es any 6al$e to t he t h ngs of t h s 3orl d, and t s only
by
ras ng t he so$l to t s 5 $st ele6at on abo6e al l other t h ngs# t hat 3e can
l oo/
rghtly $!on the !$r!oses of t hs eart h, 8o sce!tre nor throne# nor
st r$ct$re of ages# nor broad em!re# can com!are 3 th the 3onders and
grande$rs of a sngle t ho$ght , That al one# of al l thngs that ha6e been
made# com!rehends t he Ma/er of all , That alone s the /ey 3h ch $nl oc/s
al l the treas$res of the 'n 6erseG the !o3er t hat re gns o6er S!ace# T me#
and Etern ty, That# $nder God# s t he So6eregn D s!enser t o man of all
t he blessngs and gl or es t hat l e 3 t hn the com!ass of !ossesson# or the
range of !oss bl ty, F rt $e# -ea6en# and Immort al ty e4st not# nor e6er
3 ll
e4st for $s e4ce!t as they e4 st and 3 l l e4 st# n t he !erce!t on# feel ng#
and t ho$ght of t he gl oro$s m nd,
My Brot her# n the ho!e t hat yo$ ha6e l stened t o and $nderstood the
Inst r$ct on and Lect$re of t h s Degree# and that yo$ feel the d gn ty of
yo$r
o3n nat$re and t he 6ast ca!act es of yo$r o3n so$l for good or e6 l# I
!roceed brefly to comm$ncat e t o yo$ the reman ng nst r$ct on of th s
Degree,
The -ebre3 3ord# n t he old -ebre3 and Samart an character# s$s!ended
n t he East # o6er the f6e col $mns# s ADO8AT# one of the names of God#
$s$al ly t ranslated LordG and 3h ch the
-ebre3s# n read ng# al 3ays s$bst t $te for t he Tr$e 8ame# 3h ch s for
t hem
neffabl e,
The f 6e col$mns# n t he f6e d fferent orders of arch tect $re# are
emblemat cal to
$s of t he f6e !r nc !al d6 sons of the Ancent and Acce!ted Scot t sh
R te(
), D The T$scan# of t he t hree bl $e Degrees# or the !r m t 6e Masonry,
0, D The Dorc# of the neffabl e Degrees# from the# fo$rth to t he
fo$rteent h#
ncl $s6e,
9, D The Ionc# of t he f fteenth and s 4teent h# or second tem!le Degrees,
:, D The %ornt h an# of t he se6enteent h and eght eenth Degrees# or t hose of
t he
ne3 la3,
7, D The %om!os te# of t he !hl oso!h cal and ch6alr c Degrees
nterm ngl ed# from
t he nneteent h t o the thrtyDsecond# ncl $s6e,
The 8ort h St ar# al 3ays f 4ed and mm$table for $s# re!resents t he !o nt n
t he
cent re of the crcl e# or t he De ty n t he centre of t he 'n6erse, It s t he
es!ec al
symbol of d$ty and of fat h, To t # and t he se6en t hat cont n$al ly re6ol 6e
aro$nd t #
myst cal mean ngs are at tached# 3hch yo$ 3 ll learn hereafter# f yo$
sho$l d be
!erm tt ed to ad6ance# 3hen yo$ are made acE$ant ed 3t h the
!hl oso!h cal
doctr nes of t he -ebre3s,
The Mornng Star# r sng n the East# &$!t er# cal l ed by the -ebre3s
TsadUc or
Tsydy/# &$st # s an emblem t o $s of t he e6er a!!roach ng da3n of
!erfect on and
Masonc lght ,
The three great l ghts of the Lodge are symbols t o $s of t he Po3er#
;sdom# and
Benef cence of the De ty, They are also symbol s of t he frst three
Se!hroth# or
Emanat ons of the De ty# accordng to the Kabal ah# Kether# t he omn!otent
d6 ne
3 ll G %hochmah# t he d6ne ntel lect $al !o3er t o generat e tho$ght # and
B nah# the
d6 ne nt el l ect $al ca!acty t o !rod$ce t D the t3o latt er# $s$ally
t ranslated
;sdom and 'nderstand ng# be ng t he act 6e and the !ass6e# t he !os t 6e
and
t he negat 6e# 3hch 3e do not yet endea6or to e4!lan to yo$, They are
t he
col$mns &ach n and Boa<# t hat stand at t he ent rance t o t he Masonc
Tem!le,
In anot her as!ect of t hs Degree# the %h ef of the Arch tect s A # Rab
Bana m# B
symbol <es t he const t$t onal e4ec$t 6e head and chef of a free
go6ernment G and
t he Degree teaches $s that no free go6ernment can l ong end$re# 3hen the
!eo!l e cease
t o sel ect for t her mag st rat es t he best and t he 3 sest of ther statesmenG
3hen# !assng these by# they !erm t fact ons or sord d nt erest s t o sel ect
for them t he smal l# the l o3# t he gnoble# and t he obsc$re# and nto s$ch
hands comm t t he co$nt ry? s dest n es, There s# after al l # a @d 6ne rght @
t o
go6ernG and t s 6ested n t he ablest # 3 sest# best # of e6ery nat on,
@%o$nsel s mne# and so$nd 3 sdom( I am $nderstandng( I am !o3er( by
me / ngs do regn# and !r nces decree 5 $st ceG by me !r nces r$le# and
nobl es# e6en al l the mag strates of t he eart h,@
"or the !resent# my Brother# let t h s s$ffce, ;e 3el come yo$ among $s#
t o t h s !eacef$l ret reat of 6rt$e# t o a !art c!at on n o$r !r6l eges# t o a
share n o$r 5oys and o$r sorro3s,

PIII, RO.AL AR%- O" SOLOMO8,
;-ET-ER the legend and h story of ths Degree are h st orcally tr$e# or
b$t an al legory# contan ng n t self a dee!er tr$t h and a !rofo$nder
mean ng# 3e shal l not no3 debate, If t be b$t a l egendary myth# yo$ m$st
fnd o$t for yo$rself 3hat t means, It s certa n that t he 3ord 3h ch the
-ebre3s are not no3 !erm t t ed t o !rono$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$ndred t mes n the lyr cal eff$sons of Da6d and ot her -ebre3 !oets,
;e /no3 t hat for many cent$r es t he -ebre3s ha6e been forbdden to
!rono$nce the Sacred 8ameG t hat 3here6er t occ$rs# they ha6e for ages
read t he 3ord AdonaV nst eadG and t hat $nder t# 3hen t he masoret c
!onts# 3h ch re!resent the 6o3el s# came to be $sed# they !laced t hose
3hch bel onged to t he l att er 3ord, The !ossess on of t he t r$e
!ron$nc at on 3as deemed to confer on h m 3ho had t e4t raordnary and
s$!ernat$ral !o3ersG and the ;ord t sel f# 3orn $!on the !erson# 3as
regarded as an am$let # a !rot ect on aga nst !ersonal danger# sc/ness#
and e6 l s! r t s, ;e /no3 that all ths 3as a 6a n s$!erst t on# nat $ral to a
r$de !eo!le# necessar ly d sa!!earng as the ntel lect of man became
enlghtenedG and 3holly $n3ort hy of a Mason,
It s not ceable t hat t hs not on of the sanct ty of t he D 6 ne 8ame or
%reat 6e ;ord 3as common to al l the ancent nat ons, The Sacred ;ord
-OM 3as s$!!osed by the ancent Persans M3ho 3ere among the
earl est emgrant s from 8ort hern IndaN to
be !regnant 3 th a mystero$s !o3erG and t hey ta$ght that by t s $tterance
t he 3orl d 3as creat ed, In Inda t 3as forb dden to !rono$nce the 3ord
A'M or OM# the Sacred 8ame of t he One Dety# manfested as Brahma#
F shna# and See6a,
These s$!erst t o$s not ons n regard to t he eff cacy of t he ;ord# and the
!roh bt on aga nst !rono$nc ng t # co$l d# be ng errors# ha6e formed no
!art of t he !$re !r mt 6e rel g on# or of the esot erc doct r ne ta$ght by
Moses# and the f$ll /no3l edge of 3hch 3as confned t o t he Int atesG
$nless the 3hole 3as b$t an ngeno$s n6ent on for the conceal ment of
some other 8ame or t r$th# t he nt er!retat on and mean ng 3hereof 3as
made /no3n only to the select fe3, If so# t he common not ons n regard to
t he ;ord gre3 $! n t he m nds of the !eo!le# l /e other errors and fabl es
among al l the anc ent nat ons# o$t of org nal t r$ths and symbol s and
al legores m s$nderst ood, So t has al 3ays been t hat al legores# ntended
as 6ehcles of t r$th# t o be $nderstood by t he sages# ha6e become or bred
errors# by be ng l terally acce!ted,
It s tr$e# that before t he masoretc !ont s 3ere n6ented M3hch 3as after
t he begnnng of t he %hr st an eraN# the !ron$nc at on of a 3ord n t he
-ebre3 lang$age co$l d not be /no3n from the characters n 3h ch t 3as
3rt ten, It 3as# therefore# !oss bl e for that of the name of t he De ty to
ha6e
been forgot ten and lost , It s cert an t hat t s tr$e !ron$ncat on s not that
re!resented by the 3ord &eho6ahG and therefore that t hat s not t he tr$e
name of Dety# nor the Ineffabl e ;ord,
The ancent symbol s and al legor es al3ays had more t han one
nter!retat on, They al 3ays had a do$bl e mean ng# and somet mes more
t han t3o# one ser6 ng as t he en6el o!e of the ot her, Th$s t he !ron$ncat on
of t he 3ord 3as a symbol G and t hat !ron$nc at on and the 3ord t sel f
3ere
l ost # 3hen t he /no3l edge of the tr$e nat$re and at tr b$t es of God faded
o$t of t he m nds of t he &e3 sh !eo!le, That s one nt er!retat on D tr$e#
b$t
not the nner and !rofo$ndest one,
Men 3ere fg$rat 6ely sad to forget t he name of God# 3hen t hey lost t hat
/no3l edge# and 3orsh!!ed the heat hen det es# and b$rned ncense t o
t hem on the h gh !laces# and !assed t he r chl dren t hro$gh t he fre t o
Moloch,
Th$s the at tem!ts of the anc ent Israel tes and of the In t at es t o ascerta n
t he Tr$e 8ame of the De ty# and t s !ron$ncat on# and the loss of t he
Tr$e
;ord# are an all egory# n 3h ch are
re!resented the general gnorance of the tr$e nat$re and at trb$tes of
God# the !roneness of the !eo!le of &$dah and Israel to 3orsh! other
det es# and the lo3 and erroneo$s and dshonor ng not ons of t he Grand
Arch tect of t he 'n6erse# 3hch al l shared e4ce!t a fe3 fa6ored !ersonsG
for e6en Sol omon b$ lt alt ars and sacr fced t o Astarat# t he goddess of t he
Ts d$mm# and MalcWm# the AamWnt e god# and b$l t h gh !laces for
KamWs# the Moab te de ty# and Mal ec t he god of t he Ben DAamWn, The
t r$e
nat$re of God 3as $n/no3n t o them# l /e - s nameG and t hey 3orsh !!ed
t he cal 6es of &eroboam# as n the desert they d d t hat made for them by
AarWn,
The mass of t he -ebre3s d d not bel e6e n the e4 st ence of one only God
$nt l a l at e !er od n ther h st ory, Ther, early and !o!$lar deas of t he
De ty 3ere s ng$larly lo3 and $n3orthy, E6en 3h le Moses 3as rece6 ng
t he l a3 $!on Mo$nt S na # they forced AarWn to ma/e t hem an mage of
t he Egy!tan god A! s# and fell do3n and adored t, They 3ere e6er ready
t o ret$rn to t he 3orsh! of t he gods of t he M t<ra mG and soon after t he
deat h of &osh$a t hey became de6o$t 3orsh!!ers of t he false gods of all
t he s$rro$nd ng nat ons, @.e ha6e borne#@ Amos# t he !ro!het # sa d t o
t hem# s!ea/ng of t her forty years? 5o$rneyng n t he desert# $nder Moses#
@the tabernacl e of yo$r Malec and Ka Wn yo$r dols# the star of yo$r god#
3hch ye made t o yo$rsel6es, @
Among them# as among ot her nat ons# t he conce!t ons of God formed by
nd 6 d$al s 6ar ed accord ng t o the r nt el lect $al and s!rt $al ca!ac t esG
!oor and m!erfect # and n6est ng God 3 th t he commonest and coarest
at trb$tes of h$man ty# among t he gnorant and coarseG !$re and lofty
among the 6 rt $o$s and r chly g ft ed, These conce!t ons grad$ally
m!ro6ed and became !$r fed and ennobl ed# as the nat on ad6anced n
c 6 l <at on D be ng l o3est n t he hst orcal boo/s# amended n the
!ro!het c
3rt ngs# and reachng t her hghest el e6at on among t he !oet s,
Among al l t he anc ent nat ons t here 3as one fat h and one dea of Dety
for the enl ghtened# nt ell gent# and ed$cat ed# and anot her for the
common
!eo!l e, To t hs r$le t he -ebre3s 3ere no e4ce!t on, .eho6ah# t o the
mass of t he !eo!l e# 3as l /e t he gods of the nat ons aro$nd t hem# e4ce!t
t hat he 3as the !ec$lar God# f rst of t he fam ly of Abraham# of that of
Isaac# and of that of &acob# and aft er3ard the 8at onal GodG and# as t hey
bele6ed# more !o3erf$l t han the ot her gods of t he same nat $re
3orsh!!ed
by t her ne ghbors D @;ho among the Baal m s l /e $nto thee# O
.eho6ahJ@ D e4!ressed ther 3hole creed,
The Dety of t he early -ebre3s t al/ed t o Adam and E6e n t he garden of
delght# as he 3al/ed n t n t he cool of the dayG he con6ersed 3t h
KaynG
he sat and ate 3 th Abraham n h s tentG t hat !at r arch reE$red a 6 sble
t o/en# before he 3o$ld bel e6e n h s !os t 6e !romseG he !ermt ted
Abraham t o e4!ost$l at e 3t h h m# and to nd$ce h m t o change hs frst
determnat on n regard to SodomG he 3rest led 3t h &acobG he sho3ed
Moses hs !erson# tho$gh not hs faceG he dct ated the m n$test !olce
reg$lat ons and t he d mens ons of the tabernacl e and ts f$rn t$re# to the
Israel t esG he ns sted on and del ght ed n sacr fces and b$rntDoffer ngsG
he
3as angry# 5eal o$s# and re6engef$l# as 3el l as 3a6erng and rresol $t eG he
al lo3ed Moses to reason h m o$t of h s f 4ed resol $t on $t terly to dest roy
hs !eo!l eG he commanded the !erformance of t he most shoc/ng and
hdeo$s act s of cr$elty and barbar ty, -e hardened the heart of PharaohG
he re!ented of t he e6l t hat he had sa d he 3o$ld do $nt o the !eo!le of
8 ne6ehG and he d d t not# to t he d sg$st and anger of &onah,
S$ch 3ere the !o!$l ar not ons of t he DetyG and et her the !rest s had
none bett er# or too/ l tt le t ro$bl e t o correct these not onsG or the !o!$l ar
ntell ect 3as not eno$gh enl arged to enable t hem t o ent ert an any hgher
conce!t ons of t he Al mghty,
B$t s$ch 3ere not t he deas of the ntel lect $al and enl ght ened fe3 among
t he -ebre3s, It s certa n t hat t hey !ossessed a /no3ledge of the tr$e
nat$re and at trb$tes of GodG as the same cl ass of men dd among t he
other nat ons D Horoaster# Men$# %onf$c$s# Socrates# and Pl ato, B$t t her
doctr nes on ths s$b5 ect 3ere esotercG they d d not comm$n cate t hem t o
t he !eo!l e at large# b$t only to a fa6ored fe3G and as t hey 3ere
comm$n cated n Egy!t and Ind a# n Pers a and Phoen ca# n Greece and
Samothrace# n the great er myst er es# t o the Int at es,
The comm$n cat on of t h s /no3ledge and ot her secret s# some of 3hch
are !erha!s lost # const t $ted# $nder other names# 3hat 3e no3 cal l
Masonry# or "ree or "ran/DMasonry, That /no3ledge 3as# n one sense#
t he Lost ;ord# 3hch 3as made /no3n t o t he Grand Elect# Perfect # and
S$bl me Masons, It 3o$ld be fol ly t o !ret end that t he forms of Masonry
3ere t he same n t hose ages as they are no3, The !resent name of the
Order# and t s t t les# and the names of the Degrees no3 n $se# 3ere not
t hen /no3n,
E6en Bl$e Masonry cannot trace bac/ ts a$t hent c h st ory# 3t h t s
!resent
Degrees# f$rther t han the year )+22# f so far, B$t # by 3hate6er name t
3as /no3n n th s or t he other co$ntry# Masonry e4st ed as t no3 e4st s#
t he same n s!r t and at heart # not only 3hen Solomon b$ lded t he
t em!l e#
b$t cent$r es before D before e6en the f rst colones emgrated nto
So$thern Inda# Pers a# and Egy!t# from the cradle of the h$man race,
The S$!reme# Sel fDe4 stent# Eternal # All D3se# Al lD!o3erf$l # Inf nt ely
Good#
Pty ng# Benefcent# and Merc f$l %reat or and Preser6er of the 'n 6erse
3as the same# by 3hate6er name he 3as cal led# t o the ntel lect $al and
enlghtened men of all nat ons, The name 3as not hng# f not a symbol
and
re!resentat 6e h erogly!h of hs nat $re and at trb$t es, The name AL
re!resented h s remot eness abo6e men# h s naccess b l tyG BAL and
BALA# h s m ght G ALO-IM# h s 6ar o$s !otencesG I-'-# e4 stence and
t he
generat on of t hngs, 8one of hs names# among the Or entals# 3ere the
symbol s of a d 6 nely nf nt e l o6e and tenderness# and al lDembrac ng
mercy, As MOLO%- or MALEK he 3as b$t an omn!otent monarch# a
t remendo$s and rres!ons ble ; l l G as ADO8AT# only an arbt rary LORD
and MasterG as AL ShadaV# !ot ent and a DESTRO.ER,
To comm$ncat e tr$e and correct deas n res!ect of the De ty 3as one
chef ob5ect of the mysteres, In t hem# KhWrWm the K ng# and KhWrWm the
Master# obta ned ther /no3ledge of h m and h s at tr b$tesG and n t hem
t hat /no3ledge 3as t a$ght t o Moses and Pythagoras,
;herefore noth ng forb ds yo$ to cons der t he 3hole legend of t h s
Degree# l /e that of the Master? s# an al legory# re!resent ng t he
!er!et $at on of t he /no3ledge of the Tr$e God n the sanct $ar es of
n t at on, By t he s$bterranean 6a$lt s yo$ may $nderstand t he !laces of
n t at on# 3hch n the anc ent ceremon es 3ere generally $nder gro$nd,
The Tem!l e of Sol omon !resented a symbolc mage of t he 'n6erseG and
resembl ed# n ts arrangement s and f$rnt $re# al l the tem!les of t he
anc ent
nat ons that !ract sed the myst er es, The system of n$mbers 3as
nt mately connected 3 th ther relgons and 3orsh !# and has come do3n
t o $s n MasonryG t ho$gh t he esoterc mean ng 3t h 3hch the n$mbers
$sed by $s are !regnant s $n/no3n to the 6ast ma5 orty of those 3ho $se
t hem, Those n$mbers 3ere es!ec ally em!loyed that had a reference t o
t he De ty# re!resent ed hs attr b$t es# or fg$red n t he
frameD3or/ of t he 3orl d# n t me and s!ace# and formed more or less the
bases of that frameD3or/, These 3ere $n 6ersally regarded as sacred#
beng the e4!ress on of order and ntel l gence# t he $tt erances of D 6 nty
- msel f,
The -oly of -ol es of t he Tem!l e formed a c$beG n 3h ch# dra3n on a
!lane s$rface# t here are : X 9 X 0 Y 1 l nes 6s ble# and three sdes or
faces, It corres!onded 3 th the n$mber fo$r# by 3h ch t he ancents
!resent ed 8at $re# t be ng t he n$mber of s$bst ances or cor!oreal forms#
and of t he element s# the cardnal !o nts and seasons# and the secondary
colors, The n$mber t hree e6ery3here re!resented the S$!reme Be ng,
-ence the name of t he De ty# engra6en $!on t he t r ang$l ar !late# and that
s$n/en nto the c$be of agate# ta$ght the anc ent Mason# and teaches $s#
t hat the tr$e /no3ledge of God# of -s nat$re and -s at trb$t es s 3r tt en
by - m $!on t he l ea6es of the great Boo/ of 'n6ersal 8at$re# and may
be
read t here by all 3ho are endo3ed 3 t h t he reE$s te amo$nt of ntel l ect
and ntell gence, Th s /no3ledge of God# so 3rt ten t here# and of 3hch
Masonry has n al l ages been the nter!reter# s t he Mast er Mason? s ;ord,
; t h n the Tem!le# all t he arrangement s 3ere myst cal ly and symbol cal ly
connect ed 3 t h t he same system, The 6a$lt or ce l ng# st arred l /e t he
frmament # 3as s$!!ort ed by t 3el 6e col $mns# re!resent ng the t3el6e
mont hs of the year, The border that ran aro$nd the col$mns re!resent ed
t he <od ac# and one of the t 3el 6e cel est al s gns 3as a!!ro!r ated to each
col$mn, The bra<en sea 3as s$!!ort ed by t 3el 6e o4en# t hree loo/ ng t o
each card nal !ont of the com!ass,
And so n o$r day e6ery Masonc Lodge re!resent s the 'n 6erse, Each
e4tends# 3e are told# from t he r sng to the sett ng s$n# from t he So$t h t o
t he 8ort h# from t he s$rface of the Eart h to the -ea6ens# and from t he
same to t he cent re of t he gl obe, In t are re!resented the s$n# moon# and
st arsG three great torches n the East# ;est# and So$t h# formng a t r angl e#
g 6e t l ght ( and# l /e t he Delta or Trangle s$s!ended n t he East # and
ncl osng the Ineffable 8ame# ndcat e# by t he mat hemat cal eE$al ty of
t he
angl es and s des# t he bea$t f$l and harmono$s !ro!ort ons 3h ch go6ern
n t he aggregate and deta ls of the 'n 6erseG 3h l e t hose sdes and angles
re!resent# by ther n$mber# three# the Trnty of Po3er# ;sdom# and
-armony# 3hch !resded at t he b$l d ng of th s mar6el l o$s 3or/ These
t hree great l ght s al so re!resent the
great mystery of the three !r nc !les# of creat on# d ssol $t on or
dest r$ct on#
and re!rod$ct on or regenerat on# consecrated by al l creeds n t he r
n$mero$s
Trnt es,
The l$mno$s !edest al# l ght ed by t he !er!et $al flame 3 th n# s a symbol
of
t hat l ght of Reason# g6en by God to man# by 3hch he s enabl ed t o read
n
t he Boo/ of 8at $re t he record of t he tho$ght# the re6elat on of t he
at trb$tes of
t he De ty,
The three Masters# Adon ram# &oabert# and Stol/ n# are ty!es of t he Tr$e
Mason# 3ho see/s for /no3ledge from !$re mot 6es# and t hat he may be
t he
better enabled t o ser6e and benef t hs fel lo3DmenG 3h le the d scont ented
and !res$m!t $o$s Masters 3ho 3ere b$r ed n the r$ns of the arches
re!resent those 3ho str 6e t o acE$re t for $nholy !$r!oses# t o ga n
!o3er
o6er ther fel lo3s# to grat fy t her !r de# ther 6anty# or t her amb t on,
The Lon t hat g$arded t he Ar/ and held n h s mo$t h the /ey 3here3 t h t o
o!en t # fg$rat 6ely re!resents Solomon# t he Lon of t he Tr be of &$dah#
3ho
!reser6ed and comm$n cated the /ey to the tr$e /no3ledge of God# of -s
l a3s# and of the !rofo$nd myst eres of the moral and !hyscal 'n 6erse,
E8O%- A KhanUcB# 3e are told# 3al /ed 3t h God three h$ndred years#
after reachng 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 sgnfed n the -ebre3# I8ITIATE or
I8ITIATOR, The l egend of the col $mns# of grante and brass or bron<e#
erected by h m# s !robably symbol cal , That of bron<e# 3hch s$r6 6ed
t he
flood# s s$!!osed to symbol <e the myst er es# of 3h ch Masonry s the
l egt mate s$ccessor D from the earl est t mes the c$st od an and de!os tory
of
t he great !h l oso!h cal and rel g o$s tr$t hs# $n/no3n t o t he 3orl d at
l arge#
and handed do3n from age to age by an $nbro/en c$rrent of trad t on#
emboded n symbol s# embl ems# and all egores,
The legend of t h s Degree s t h$s# !art ally# nt er!ret ed, It s of l t tl e
m!ort ance 3hether t s n any3se hst or cal, "or t s 6al $e consst s n
t he
l essons 3hch t nc$lcates# and t he d$t es 3hch t !rescr bes t o those
3ho
rece6e t , The !arables and all egor es of t he Scr!t$res are not l ess
6al$able
t han h story, 8ay# they are more so# beca$se anc ent h story s l t tl e
nstr$ct 6e# and t r$ths are concealed n and symbol <ed by t he l egend and
t he
myth,
There are !rofo$nder mean ngs concealed n t he symbols of th s Degree#
connect ed 3 t h t he !hl oso!h cal system of the -ebre3
Kabal st s# 3h ch yo$ 3l l learn hereaft er# f yo$ sho$l d be so fort$nate as
t o ad6ance, They are $nfolded n t he hgher Degrees, The l on A
Ara# Ara ah# 3h ch al so means t he altarB st l l hol ds n h s mo$th t he /ey
of
t he engma of t he s!hyn4,
B$t t here s one a!!l cat on of t h s Degree# t hat yo$ are no3 ent t led to
/no3G and 3hch# remember ng that KhWrWm# t he Master# s the symbol of
h$man freedom# yo$ 3o$l d !robably d sco6er for yo$rself,
It s not eno$gh for a !eo!le t o gan t s l berty, It m$st sec$re t, It m$st
not
ntr$st t to the /ee!ng# or hol d t at t he !leas$re# of any one man, The
/eystone of t he Royal Arch of the great Tem!le of L berty s a
f$ndamental
l a3# charter# or const t$t onG t he e4!resson of t he f 4ed habt s of t ho$ght
of
t he !eo!l e# embod ed n a 3r tt en nst r$ment # or the res$l t of t he sl o3
accret ons and t he consol dat on of cent $resG the same n 3ar as n
!eaceG t hat cannot be hast ly changed# nor be 6 olated 3t h m!$nty# b$t
s
sacred# l /e t he Ar/ of t he %o6enant of God# 3hch none co$ld t o$ch and
l 6e,
A !ermanent const t$t on# rooted n t he affect ons# e4!ress ng t he 3l l
and
5 $dgment # and b$l t $!on the nst nct s and set tl ed hab ts of tho$ght of t he
!eo!l e# 3 th an nde!endent 5$dcary# an elect 6e leg slat $re of t3o
branches# an e4ec$t 6e res!onsbl e t o the !eo!l e# and the rght of t r al by
5 $ry# 3 ll g$arant ee the l bert es of a !eo!l e# f t be 6 rt $o$s and
t em!erate#
3 tho$t l $4$ry# and 3 tho$t t he l $st of conE$est and dom n on# and the
fol l es of 6 sonary t heores of m!oss ble !erfect on,
Masonry teaches t s In tates t hat the !$rs$t s and occ$!at ons of ths l fe#
ts act 6ty# care# and ngen$ ty# t he !redest ned de6elo!ment s of the
nat$re g 6en $s by God# t end to !romote - s great des gn# n ma/ng the
3orl dG and are not at 3ar 3 th the great !$r!ose of l fe, It t eaches t hat
e6eryt h ng s bea$t f$l n ts t me# n ts !lace# n ts a!!o nted off ceG
t hat
e6eryt h ng 3hch man s !$t t o do# f rght ly and fa t hf$lly done#
nat$rally
hel!s to 3or/ o$t h s sal 6at onG t hat f he obeys t he gen$ne !rnc!l es of
hs cal l ng# he 3l l be a good man( and t hat t s only by neglect and
non!erformance
of t he tas/ set for h m by -ea6en# by 3anderng nt o dle
dss !at on# or by 6ol at ng the r benefcent and l ofty s!r t# that he
becomes
a bad man, The a!!o nt ed act on of l fe s t he great tran ng of
Pro6 denceG
and f man yel ds h mself
t o t # he 3l l need net her ch$rches nor ordnances# e4ce!t for the
e4!ress on of hs rel go$s homage and grat t $de,
"or there s a rel gon of t ol , It s not al l dr$dgery# a mere st ret ch ng of
t he
l mbs and st ra n ng of the sne3s to tas/s, It has a mean ng and an ntent,
A l 6ng heart !o$rs l feDblood nt o the tol ng armG and 3arm affect ons
ns! re and m ngle 3t h man? s labors, They are the home affect ons, Labor
t o l s aDf eld# or !l es ts tas/ n ct es# or $rges t he /eels of commerce
o6er
3 de oceansG b$t home s t s centreG and tht her t e6er goes 3 th t s
earnngs# 3t h t he means of s$!!ort and comfort for ot hersG offerngs
sacred t o t he tho$ght of e6ery tr$e man# as a sacrf ce at a golden shrne,
Many fa$l t s t here are amdst the to l s of l feG many harsh and hasty 3ords
are $t teredG b$t st l l the t o l s go on# 3eary and hard and e4as!erat ng as
t hey oft en are, "or n t hat home s age or s c/ness# or hel !l ess nfancy# or
gent le ch ldhood# or feebl e 3oman# t hat m$st not 3ant , If man had no
other t han mere selfsh m!$lses# the scene of labor 3hch 3e behol d
aro$nd $s 3o$ld not e4 st,
The ad6ocat e 3ho fa rly and honest ly !resent s h s case# 3t h feel ng of
t r$e selfDres!ect # honor# and conscence# to hel ! the tr b$nal on t o3ards
t he rght concl $son# 3t h a con6ct on t hat God? s 5 $st ce regns there# s
act ng a relgo$s !art # lead ng that day rel go$s l feG or else rght and
5 $st ce are no !art of rel g on ;hether# d$r ng al l that day# he has once
a!!eal ed# n form or n terms# t o hs conscence# or not G 3het her he has
once s!o/en of rel g on and God# or not G f there has been the n3ard
!$r!ose# the consc o$s ntent and des re# t hat sacred 5 $st ce sho$ld
t r $m!h# he has t hat day led a good and relgo$s l fe# and made most a
essent al contrb$t on t o t hat rel g on of l fe and of soc ety# the ca$se of
eE$ty bet3een man and man# and of tr$th and rght act on n t he 3orl d,
Boo/s# to be of rel g o$s tendency n the Masonc sense# need not be
boo/s of sermons# of !o$s e4erc ses# or of !rayers, ;hat e6er nc$l cates
!$re# noble# and !at r ot c sent ments# or t o$ches the heart 3t h t he bea$ty
of 6rt$e# and t he e4cell ence of an $!r ght l fe# accords 3t h t he rel g on
of
Masonry# and s t he Gos!el of l t erat $re and art , That Gos!el s !reached
from many a boo/ and !a nt ng# from many a !oem and f ct on# and
re6e3
and ne3s!a!erG and t s a !a nf$l error and m serable narro3ness# not to
recogn <e t hese 3deDs!read agenc es of -ea6en? s !ro6 dngG not
t o see and 3elcome t hese manyDhanded coad5$tors# to the great and good
ca$se, The oracl es of God do not s!ea/ from the !$l!t alone,
There s also a relgon of socety, In b$sness# t here s m$ch more than
sal e# e4change# !rce# !ayment G for t here s the sacred fa th of man n
man, ;hen 3e re!ose !erfect conf dence n the ntegrty of anotherG 3hen
3e feel that he 3 ll not s3er6e from t he rght# fran/# st raght for3ard#
conscent o$s co$rse# for any tem!tat onG h s ntegr ty and
conscent o$sness are t he mage of God t o $sG and 3hen 3e bel e6e n t #
t s as great and genero$s an act# as 3hen 3e bel e6e n the rect t $de of
t he De ty,
In gay assembl es for am$sement # t he good affect ons of l fe g$sh and
mngle, If t hey dd not# these gather ngD!laces 3o$l d be as dreary and
re!$l s6e as t he ca6es and dens of o$t la3s and robbers, ;hen frends
meet # and hands are 3armly !ressed# and t he eye / ndl es and t he
co$nt enance s s$ff$sed 3 t h gladness# t here s a rel g on bet3een t her
heartsG and each lo6es and 3orsh !s t he Tr$e and Good t hat s n t he
other, It s not !ol cy# or sel fDnterest# or self shness t hat s!reads s$ch a
charm aro$nd that meet ng# b$t the hal o of br ght and bea$t f$l affect on,
The same s!lendor of / ndly l /ng# and affect onat e regard# sh nes l /e
t he
soft o6erarchng s/y# o6er al l t he 3orldG o6er al l !l aces 3here men meet#
and 3al / or to l togetherG not o6er lo6ers? bo3ers and marr ageDal t ars
al one# not o6er the homes of !$rty and t enderness al oneG b$t o6er al l
t l led f elds# and b$sy 3or/sho!s# and d$sty hgh3ays# and !a6ed streets,
There s not a 3orn st one $!on t he s de3al /s# b$t has been the alt ar of
s$ch offer ngs of m$t $al / ndnessG nor a 3ooden ! ll ar or ron ral ng
aga nst 3h ch heart s beat ng 3t h affect on ha6e not leaned, -o3 many
soe6er other element s there are n t he stream of l fe flo3ng thro$gh t hese
channel s# t hat s s$rely here and e6ery3hereG honest # heartfelt #
ds nterested# ne4!ress bl e affect on,
E6ery Masonc Lodge s a t em!le of rel g onG and t s teach ngs are
nstr$ct on n rel g on, "or here are nc$l cated d snterestedness#
affect on#
t olerat on# de6ot edness# !at r ot sm# t r$th# a genero$s sym!at hy 3 t h t hose
3ho s$ffer and mo$rn# !ty for the fall en# mercy for the err ng# rel ef for
t hose n 3ant # "at h# -o!e# and %harty, -ere 3e meet as bret hren# t o
l earn to /no3 and l o6e each ot her, -ere 3e greet each other gladly# are
l enent to each other? s fa$l ts# regardf$l of each other? s feel ngs# ready t o
rel e6e
each ot her? s 3ant s, Th s s t he t r$e rel g on re6ealed to the anc ent
!atr archsG 3hch Masonry has t a$ght for many cent $res# and 3h ch t
3 ll
cont n$e to teach as l ong as t me end$res, If $n3ort hy !ass ons# or
sel f sh# bt ter# or re6engef$l feel ngs# contem!t # dsl /e# hatred# enter
here#
t hey are ntr$ders and n t 3elcome# strangers $nn6t ed# and not g$est s,
%erta nly t here are many e6 ls and bad !ass ons# and m$ch hate and
contem!t and $n/ndness e6ery3here n the 3orl d, ;e cannot ref$se t o
see t he e6l Dthat s n l fe, B$t all s not e6 l , ;e st ll see God n t he
3orl d,
There s good am dst t he e6l , The hand of mercy leads 3ealt h to the
ho6el s of !o6erty and sorro3, Tr$th and s m!l c ty l 6e amd many 3les
and so!h st res, There are good heart s $nderneath gay robes# and $nder
t att ered garment s also,
Lo6e clas!s t he hand of lo6e# amd al l t he en6yngs and dst ract ons of
sho3y com!et t onG fdelty# !ty# and sym!at hy hol d t he l ong n ghtD3at ch
by t he beds de of t he s$ffer ng neghbor# amdst the s$rro$ndng !o6erty
and sE$al d m sery, De6ot ed men go from c ty to cty t o n$rse those
sm t ten do3n by t he t err ble !est l ence that rene3s at nt er6als ts
mystero$s marches, ;omen 3el lDborn and del cately n$rt $red n$rsed the
3o$nded sol d ers n hos!t al s# before t became fash onabl e t o do soG and
e6en !oor lost 3omen# 3hom God al one lo6es and ! t es# tend t he
!lag$est r c/en
3 th a !at ent and genero$s herosm, Masonry and t s / ndred
Orders teach men t o l o6e each other# feed t he h$ngry# cl othe the na/ed#
comfort t he s c/# and b$ry t he frendless dead, E6ery3here God f nds and
blesses t he /ndly off ce# t he ! ty ng t ho$ght # and t he l o6 ng heart ,
There s an el ement of good n al l men? s la3f$l !$rs$t s and a d 6 ne
s!rt
breat hng n al l the r la3f$l affect ons, The gro$nd on 3hch they tread s
holy gro$nd, There s a nat$ral rel g on of l fe# ans3er ng# 3t h ho3e6er
many a bro/en tone# to the relgon of nat$re, There s a bea$ty and gl ory
n -$manty, # n man# ans3er ng# 3t h ho3e6er many a m ngl ng shade# to
t he l o6el ness of soft landsca!es and s3el l ng hl ls# and the 3ondro$s
Men may be 6rt $o$s# selfD m!ro6ng# and rel go$s n t he r em!l oyment s,
Prec sely for that # those em!loyments 3ere made, Al l ther socal
relat ons#
fr endsh!# l o6e # t he tes of famly# 3ere made t o be holy, They may be
rel go$s# not by a / nd of !rot est
and resst ance aganst the r se6eral 6ocat onsG b$t by conform ty t o ther
t r$e s! r t, Those 6ocat ons do not e4cl $de rel g onG b$t demand t # for
t her
o3n !erfect on, They may be relgo$s l aborers# 3het her n fel d or
factoryG
rel go$s !hysc ans# la3yers# sc$l!tors# !oet s# !a nters# and m$sc ans,
They may be rel go$s n al l the tol s and n al l the am$sement s of l fe,
The r l fe may be a rel gonG the broad eart h ts alt arG ts ncense the 6ery
breat h of l feG t s fres e6er / ndl ed by t he br ght ness of -ea6en,
Bo$nd $! 3 t h o$r !oor# fra l l fe# s t he mghty tho$ght t hat s!$rns the
narro3 s!an of al l 6 sbl e e4st ence, E6er the so$l reaches o$t3ard# and
as/s for freedom, It loo/s fort h from the narro3 and grat ed 3 ndo3s of
sense# $!on the 3de mmeas$rable creat onG t /no3s t hat aro$nd t and
beyond t l e o$t stretched t he nfnte and e6erlast ng !at hs,
E6eryt hng 3 th n $s and 3 tho$t $s o$ght to st r o$r mnds t o adm rat on
and 3onder, ;e are a myst ery encom!assed 3 t h mysteres, The
connect on of m nd 3t h matt er s a myst eryG t he 3onderf$l tel egra!hc
comm$n cat on bet 3een t he bra n and e6ery !art of t he body# the !o3er
and act on of t he 3l l, E6ery faml ar ste! s more than a st ory n a land
of
enchant ment , The !o3er of mo6ement s as myst er o$s as the !o3er of
t ho$ght , Memory# and dreams t hat are the nd st nct echoes of dead
memores are al /e ne4!l cabl e, 'n6ersal harmony s!r ngs from nfnt e
com!l cat on, The moment$m of e6ery ste! 3e ta/e n o$r d3ell ng
contr b$tes n !art to the order of t he 'n6erse, ;e are connected by t es
of t ho$ght # and e6en of matt er and t s forces# 3 th the 3hole bo$ndl ess
'n6erse and al l the !ast and com ng generat ons of men,
The h$mblest ob5ect beneath o$r eye as com!l etely defes o$r scr$t ny as
t he economy of t he most dstant star, E6ery leaf and e6ery blade of grass
holds 3 thn t self secret s 3hch no h$man !enet rat on 3 l l e6er fathom,
8o
man can tel l 3hat s t s !r nc!le of l fe, 8o man can /no3 3hat h s
!o3er
of secret on s, Bot h are nscr$tabl e myster es, ;here6er 3e !l ace o$r
hand 3e lay t $!on the l oc/ed bosom of myst ery, St e! 3here 3e 3 ll # 3e
t read $!on 3onders, The seaDsands# the clods of t he feld# t he 3at erD3orn
!ebbl es on the h ll s# the r$de masses of roc/# are t raced o6er and o6er# n
e6ery drect on# 3 th a hand3rt ng ol der and more sgn f cant and
s$bl me
t han all t he anc ent r$ ns# and al l the o6ert hro3n and b$red ct es t hat
!ast
generat ons
ha6e left $!on the eart hG for t s the hand3rt ng of the Al mghty,
A Mason? s great b$sness 3 th l fe s to read the boo/ of t s teachngG t o
fnd t hat l fe s not t he dong of dr$dger es# b$t the hearng of oracles,
The
old mythology s b$t a leaf n t hat boo/G for t !eo!led t he 3orl d 3t h
s!rt $al nat $resG and scence# manyDlea6ed# st l l s!reads before $s t he
same tal e of 3onder,
;e shal l be 5$st as ha!!y hereaft er# 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$r ment al character# s n$t formed n a momentG t s t he
habt
of o$r m ndsG the res$l t of many t ho$ght s and feel ngs and efforts# bo$nd
t oget her by many nat $ral and strong t es, The great l a3 of Retrb$t on s#
t hat all comng e4!erence s t o be affect ed by e6ery !resent feel ngG
e6ery
f$t $re moment of beng m$st ans3er for e6ery !resent moment G one
moment # sacr fced to 6ce# or l ost t o m!ro6ement# s fore6er sacr f ced
and l ostG an ho$r? s del ay t o enter the rght !ath# s to !$t $s bac/ so far#
n
t he e6erlast ng !$rs$t of ha!! nessG and e6ery sn# e6en of t he best men#
s t o be th$s ans3ered for# f not accord ng t o t he f$l l meas$re of t s
ll desert#
yet accord ng t o a r$le of $nbend ng rect t$de and m!art al ty,
The la3 of ret r b$t on !resses $!on e6ery m an# 3het her he thn/s of t or
not, It !$rs$es h m t hro$gh all t he co$rses of l fe# 3 th a ste! t hat ne6er
falt ers nor t res# and 3 th an eye that ne6er slee!s, If t 3ere not so#
God? s
go6ernment 3o$l d not be m!art al G ? there 3o$l d be no d scr m nat onG no
moral domn onG no lght shed $!on t he myster es of Pro6dence,
;hatsoe6er a man so3et h# that# and not somet h ng el se# shal l he rea!,
That 3hch 3e are dong# good or e6l # gra6e or gay# that 3hch 3e do
t oday
and shal l do toDmorro3G each tho$ght # each feel ng# each act on# each
e6entG e6ery !assng ho$r# e6ery breat h ng momentG al l are contr b$t ng to
form the charact er accordng to 3h ch 3e are to be 5 $dged, E6ery !art cl e
of nfl$ence t hat goes t o form that aggregate# D o$r character# D 3l l# n
t hat
f$t $re scr$t ny# be sfted o$t from the massG and# !art cl e by !art cle# 3t h
ages !erha!s nter6en ng# fal l a d st nct contrb$t on to t he s$m of o$r
5 oys
or 3oes, Th$s e6ery dl e 3ord and dle ho$r 3 ll g6e ans3er n the
5 $dgment ,
Let $s ta/e care# therefore# 3hat 3e so3, An e6l t em!tat on comes $!on
$sG t he o!!ort $n ty of $nr ght eo$s gan# or of $nhal lo3ed
nd$lgence# e ther n t he s!here of b$sness or !l eas$re# of soc ety or
sol t$de, ;e yeldG and !l ant a seed of bt terness and sorro3, ToDmorro3
t
3 ll t hreaten d sco6ery, Ag t ated and alarmed# 3e co6er the s n# and b$ry
t
dee! n falsehood and hy!ocr sy, In the bosom 3here t l es concealed# n
t he fert l e so l of / ndred 6 ces# t hat sn d es not # b$t t hr 6es and gro3sG
and
other and st l l other germs of e6 l gather aro$nd t he acc$rsed rootG $nt l#
from that s ngle seed of corr$!t on# there s!r ngs $! n t he so$l al l t hat s
horr ble n hab t$al lyng# /na6ery# or 6ce, Loath ngly# often# 3e ta/e
each
do3n3ard st e!G b$t a frght f$l !o3er $rges $s on3ardG and the hel l of
debt# d sease# gnomny# or remorse gat hers t s shado3s aro$nd O$r
st e!s e6en on earthG and are yet b$t t he begnnngs of sorro3s, The e6 l
deed may be done n a s ngle moment G b$t conscence ne6er d es#
memory ne6er sl ee!sG g$l t ne6er can become nnocenceG and remorse
can ne6er 3h s!er !eace,
Be3are# t ho$ 3ho art t em!t ed to e6 lO Be3are 3hat t ho$ layest $! for t he
f$t $reO Be3are 3hat t ho$ layest $! n the arch 6es of eterntyO ;rong not
t hy neghborO lest the t ho$ght of h m tho$ n5 $rest# and 3ho s$ffers by
t hy
act # be to t hee a !ang 3hch years 3 l l not de!r 6e of t s b tt ernessO Brea/
not nt o the ho$se of nnocence# to r fl e t of t s t reas$reG lest 3hen many
years ha6e !assed o6er t hee# the moan of ts dst ress may not ha6e d ed
a3ay from thne earO B$ ld not the desol ate throne of ambt on n thy
heart G
nor be b$sy 3t h de6ces# and crc$m6ent ngs# and self sh schemngsG l est
desol at on and l onel ness be on thy !at h# as t st ret ches nt o t he l ong
f$t $rtyO L6e not a $seless# an m! o$s# or an n5 $ro$s l feO for bo$nd $!
3 th t hat l fe s t he mm$t abl e !r nc!le of an endless retr b$t on# and
el ement s of God? s creat ng# 3h ch 3l l ne6er s!end t her force# b$t
cont n$e e6er to $nfol d 3 th the ages of etern ty, Be not dece6edO God
has formed t hy nat$re# th$s t o ans3er to the f$t$re, - s la3 can ne6er be
abrogat ed# nor - s 5 $st ce el $dedG and fore6er and e6er t 3 l l be tr$e#
t hat
@;hat soe6er a man so3eth# t hat also he shall rea!, S

PIF, GRA8D ELE%T# PER"E%T# A8D S'BLIME
MASO8,
APerfect El $, B
It s for each nd 6d$al Mason to d sco6er t he secret of MaD
sonry# by reflect on $!on t s symbol s and a 3 se consderat on and
analys s of 3hat s sa d and done n the 3or/, Masonry does not
nc$l cate her tr$t hs, She stat es t hem# once and breflyG or hnt s
t hem# !erha!s# dar/lyG or nter!oses a cl o$d bet 3een t hem and
eyes that 3o$ld be da<<led by them, @See/# and ye shal l f nd#@
/no3l edge and t he t r$th,
The !ract cal ob5 ect of Masonry s the !hys cal and moral
amel orat on and the nt el lect $al and s!rt $al m!ro6ement of
nd 6 d$al s and soc ety, 8et her can be effect ed# e4ce!t by t he
dssem nat on of tr$th, It s fal sehood n doct r nes and fal l acy
n !r nc !les# t o 3h ch most of the m ser es of men and t he msD
fort$nes of nat ons are o3ng, P$bl c o!n on s rarely rght on
any !ont G and there are and al 3ays 3 l l be m!ortant tr$t hs t o
be s$bst t $t ed n that o!non n the !lace of many errors and
abs$rd and n5$r o$s !re5 $dces, There are fe3 t r$ths that !$blc
o!non has not at some t me hat ed and !ersec$t ed as heres esG
and fe3 errors t hat ha6e not at some t me seemed to t tr$t hs radD
ant from t he mmedate !resence of God, There are moral malaD
des# al so# of man and socety# the treat ment of 3hch reE$res not
only boldness# b$t al so# and more# !r$dence and d scret onG snce
t hey are more the fr$ t of false and !ern co$s doctrnes# moral#
!ol t cal # and relgo$s# t han of 6 co$s ncl nat ons,
M$ch of t he Masonc secret manfests tsel f# 3 tho$t s!eech
re6eal ng t to h m 3ho e6en !art ally com!rehends al l t he DeD
grees n !ro!ort on as he rece6es themG and !art c$larly t o t hose
3ho ad6ance t o the hghest Degrees of the Ancent and Acce!ted
Scot t sh R te, That R t e ra ses a corner of t he 6el # e6en n the
Degree of A!!rent ceG for t t here declares t hat Masonry s a
3orsh!,
Masonry labors t o m!ro6e the socal order by enl ghtenng
men? s m nds# 3armng t her heart s 3t h t he lo6e of t he good# nD
s!rng them 3t h t he great !r nc !le of h$man frat ern ty# and
reE$ r ng of t s d sc!les t hat t her l ang$age and act ons shall conD
form to that !r nc !l e# t hat they shal l enl ght en each ot her# conD
t rol the r !ass ons# abhor 6 ce# and ! ty t he 6 c o$s man as one
affl ct ed 3 t h a de!l orable mal ady,
It s t he $n 6ersal# eternal # mm$t able rel g on# s$ch as God
!lant ed t n t he heart of $n6ersal h$man ty, 8o creed has e6er
been l ongDl 6ed that 3as not b$l t on ths fo$ndat on, It s t he
base# and they are the s$!erst r$ct $re, @P$re rel g on and $ndeD
fl ed before God and t he "ather s t h s# t o 6s t the fat herless and
3 do3s n t her afflct on# and to /ee! h msel f $ns!ott ed from the
3orl d, @ @Is not t hs t he fast t hat I ha6e chosen J to l oose t he
bands of 3 c/edness# to $ndo the hea6y b$rdens# and to l et the
o!!ressed go free# and t hat ye brea/ e6ery yo/e J@ The m n sters
of t h s relgon are all Masons 3ho com!rehend t and are de6oted
t o t G ts sacr fces to God are good 3or/s# t he sacrfces of t he
base and dsorderly !ass ons# t he offer ng $! of sel fD nterest on
t he al tar of h$manty# and !er!et $al effort s to at ta n t o al l the
moral !erfect on of 3h ch man s ca!abl e,
To ma/e honor and d$ty the steady beaconDl ghts t hat shal l
g$de yo$r l feD6essel o6er the stormy seas of t meG to do t hat
3hch t s rght t o do# not beca$se t 3l l ns$re yo$ s$ccess# or
br ng 3 th t a re3ard# or gan t he a!!la$se of men# or be @the
best !ol cy# @ more !r$dent or more ad6sabl eG b$t beca$se t s
rght# and therefore o$ght t o be doneG t o 3ar ncessant ly aga nst
error# nt olerance# gnorance# and 6 ce# and yet t o !ty t hose 3ho
err# t o be t olerant e6en of nt olerance# to teach the gnorant# and
t o l abor t o recla m the 6 co$s# are some of the d$t es of a Mason,
A good Mason s one t hat can l oo/ $!on deat h# and see t s face
3 th t he same co$ntenance 3 t h 3h ch he hears ts st oryG that
can end$re al l the labors of h s l fe 3 th h s so$l s$!!ort ng h s
body# t hat can eE$al ly des! se rches 3hen he hath them and
3hen he hat h t hem notG that s# not sadder f they are n h s ne ghD
bor? s e4cheE$er# nor more l fted $! f t hey shne aro$nd abo$t h s
o3n 3al lsG one t hat s not mo6ed 3 th good fort$ne comng to
h m# nor go ng from h mG that can loo/ $!on anot her man? s lands
3 th eE$an mty and !leas$re# as f t hey 3ere hs o3nG and yet
l oo/ $!on h s o3n# and $se them too# 5 $st as f they 3ere anot her
man? sG t hat ne t her s!ends hs goods !rodgally and fool shly# nor
yet /ee!s them a6ar co$sly and l /e a m serG t hat 3eghs not
benef ts by 3e ght and n$mber# b$t by the m nd and crc$mst ances
of h m 3ho confers t hemG t hat ne6er t h n/s h s charty e4!enD
s 6e# f a 3ort hy !erson be the rece 6erG that does nothng for
o!non? s sa/e# b$t e6eryth ng for conscence# be ng as caref$l of
hs t ho$ght s as of h s act ng n mar/ets and t heatres# and n as
m$ch a3e of h mself as of a 3hol e assemblyG t hat s# bo$nt f$l
and cheerf$l to h s frends# and char table and a!t to forg 6e hs
enem esG t hat lo6es hs co$nt ry# cons$lt s ts honor# and obeys ts
l a3s# and desres and endea6ors not h ng more t han that he may
do hs d$ty and honor God, And s$ch a Mason may rec/on h s
l fe t o be the l fe of a man# and com!$t e h s mont hs# not by
t he co$rse of the s$n# b$t by the <od ac and c rcl e of h s 6rD
t $es,
The 3hol e 3orl d s b$t one re!$bl c# of 3h ch each nat on s a
fam ly# and e6ery nd 6d$al a ch ld, Masonry# not n any3 se
derogat ng from t he dfferng d$t es 3h ch the d 6ers ty of stat es
reE$ res# tends t o create a ne3 !eo!le# 3h ch# com!osed of men of
many nat ons and tong$es# shall al l be bo$nd t oget her by t he
bonds of scence# moral ty# and 6rt$e,
Essent al ly !h lanthro!c# !hl oso!hcal # and !rogress 6e# t has
for the bas s of ts dogma a frm bel ef n t he e4st ence of God
and hs !ro6dence# and of the mmort al ty of the so$lG for t s
ob5ect # the dssemnat on of moral # !ol t cal # !h loso!h cal# and
rel go$s t r$th# and t he !ract ce of al l the 6 rt $es, In e6ery age#
ts de6 ce has been# @L berty# EE$al ty# "rat ern ty#@ 3 t h const t$D
t onal go6ernment# l a3# order# d sc!l ne# and s$bord nat on to
l egt mate a$thortyDDgo6ernment and not anarchy,
B$t t s net her a !ol t cal !arty nor a rel go$s sect , It
braces al l !art es and all sects# to form from among them all a 6ast
frat ernal assoc at on, It recogn<es the d gn ty of h$man nat $re#
and man? s rght to s$ch freedom as he s f tt ed forG and t
/no3s not h ng t hat sho$ld !l ace one man bel o3 anot her# e4ce!t
gnorance# debasement# and cr me# and t he necess ty of s$bordnaD
t on t o la3f$l 3 ll and a$t hor ty,
It s !h lanthro!cG for t recogn <es t he great tr$th t hat all
men are of t he same org n# ha6e common nterests# and sho$ld
coDo!erate together t o the same end,
Therefore t teaches t s members t o l o6e one anot her# to g6e to
each ot her m$t $al ass stance and s$!!ort n al l the crc$mst ances
of l fe# to share each other? s !ans and sorro3s# as 3el l as ther
5 oys and !leas$resG to g$ard t he re!$tat ons# res!ect the o!n ons#
and be !erfect ly tol erant of the errors# of each ot her# n mat ters
of fat h and bel efs,
It s !h l so!hcal beca$se t t eaches t he great Tr$ths concernD
ng t he nat$re and e4st ence of one S$!reme De ty# and the e4 stD
ence and mmort al ty of the so$l, It re6 6es t he Academy of
Plat o and the 3se teach ngs of Socrates, It re terates t he ma4D
ms of Pythagoras# %onf$c $s# and Horoaster# and re6erent ally
enforces t he s$bl me lessons of - m 3ho ded $!on the %ross,
The ancents t ho$ght t hat $n 6ersal h$manty act ed $nder t he
nfl $ence of t 3o o!!osng Pr nc !les# the Good and t he E6 l ( of
3hch the Good $rged men t o3ard Tr$t h# Inde!endence# and DeD
6otedness and t he E6 l to3ard "al sehood# Ser6 l ty# and Sel f shD
ness, Masonry re!resents the Good Pr nc !l e and constant ly 3ars
aga nst the e6 l one, It s t he -erc$l es# t he Os r s# the A!ol lo# t he
M thras# and the Orm$<d# at e6erl ast ng and deadly fe$d 3 th
t he demons of gnorance# br$tal ty# baseness# falsehood# sla6shD
ness of so$l# ntol erance# s$!erst t on# tyranny# meanness# t he nD
solence of 3ealt h# and bgotry,
;hen des!ot sm and s$!erst t on# t 3 nD!o3ers of e6l and dar/D
ness# regned e6ery3here and seemed n6 ncble and mmortal # t
n6ented# t o a6od !ersec$t on# the myst er es# t hat s to say# t he
al legory# t he symbol# and the emblem# and t ransm t t ed ts docD
t r nes by t he secret mode of nt at on, 8o3# ret anng t s anc ent
symbol s# and n !art ts ancent ceremones# t ds!lays n e6ery
c 6 l <ed co$ntry ts banner# on 3h ch n let ters of l 6ng lght t s
great !r nc !les are 3r ttenG and t smles at the !$ny effort s of
/ngs and !o!es to cr$sh t o$t by e4comm$ncat on and nterD
dct on,
Man? s 6 e3s n regard to God# 3l l contan only so m$ch !os D
t 6e tr$t h as the h$man m nd s ca!able of rece 6 ngG 3het her
t hat tr$t h s at ta ned by the e4ercse of reason# or comm$n cated
by re6elat on, It m$st necessar ly be bot h l mt ed and all oyed# to
br ng t 3t h n t he com!etence of f n te h$man ntell gence, BeD
ng f nt e# 3e can form no correct or adeE$ate dea of the Infn teG
beng materal# 3e can form no clear conce!t on of t he S! rt $al,
;e do bel e6e n and /no3 t he nfn ty of S!ace and T me# and
t he s!rt $al ty of t he So$l G b$t the dea of t hat nf n ty and
s!rt $al ty el$des $s, E6en Omn!otence cannot nf$se nf n te
conce!t ons nto fn t e m ndsG nor can God# 3 tho$t frst ent rely
changng the condt ons of o$r be ng# !o$r a com!lete and f$l l
/no3l edge of -s o3n nat$re and attr b$t es nto t he narro3
ca!ac ty of a h$man so$l, -$man nt ell gence co$l d not gras!
t# nor h$man l ang$age e4!ress t , The 6s ble s# necessarly# t he
meas$re of the n6 s ble,
The consc o$sness of the nd 6 d$al re6eals t sel f alone, - s
/no3l edge cannot !ass beyond t he l m t s of hs o3n be ng, -s
conce!t ons of other t h ngs and ot her be ngs are only h s conce!D
t ons, They are not those th ngs or be ngs t hemsel 6es, The l 6ng
!r nc !le of a l 6 ng 'n 6erse m$st be I8"I8ITEG 3h le all o$r
deas and conce!t ons are f n te# and a!!l cable only t o f nte be ngs,
The Dety s th$s not an ob5 ect of /no3ledge# b$t of fa thG not
t o be a!!roached by t he $nderstand ng# b$t by the moral senseG
not to be conce 6ed# b$t t o be felt , Al l attem!t s t o embrace the
Infnt e n t he conce!t on of t he "nt e are# and m$st be only acD
commodat ons t o t he fral ty of man, Shro$ded from h$man comD
!rehenson n an obsc$r ty from 3hch a chastened mag nat on s
a3ed bac/# and Tho$ght retreats n consco$s 3ea/ness# the
D 6 ne 8at $re s a t heme on 3h ch man s l t tl e entt led t o dogD
mat <e, -ere the !h loso!h c Intel lect becomes most !a nf$lly
a3are of ts o3n ns$ffcency,
And yet t s here that man most dogmat <es# class f es and deD
scrbes God? s att r b$tes# ma/es o$t h s ma! of God? s nat $re# and
hs n6entory of God? s E$al t es# feel ngs# m!$l ses# and !assonsG
and t hen hangs and b$rns hs brother# 3ho# as dogmatcally as he#
ma/es o$t a d fferent ma! and n6ent ory, The common $nderD
st and ng has no h$m l ty, Its God s an ncarnat e D 6 nty, ImD
!erfect on m!oses ts o3n l m tat ons on t he Ill m table# and
cl ot hes t he Inconce 6abl e S!rt of t he 'n 6erse n forms that
come 3 t hn t he gras! of t he senses and the ntel l ect # and are
der 6ed from that nfn t e and m!erfect nat $re 3hch s b$t God? s
creat on,
;e are al l of $s# tho$gh not all eE$al ly# m sta/en, The cherD
shed dogmas of each of $s are not# as 3e fondly s$!!ose# the !$re
t r$th of GodG b$t s m!ly o$r o3n s!ec al form of error# o$r
g$esses at t r$th# t he refracted and fragment ary rays of l ght t hat
ha6e fallen $!on o$r o3n mnds, O$r l t t l e syst ems ha6e t he r
day# and cease to beG t hey are b$t bro/en l ght s of GodG and -e
s more than t hey, Perfect tr$t h s not att a nable any3here, ;e
style th s Degree t hat of Perfect onG and yet 3hat t teaches s
m!erfect and defect 6e, .et 3e are not to rela4 n t he !$rs$t
of t r$th# nor content edly acE$esce n error, It s o$r d$ty al 3ays
t o !ress for3ard n t he searchG for tho$gh absol $t e tr$t h s $natD
t anable# yet the amo$nt of error n o$r 6e3s s ca!able of !roD
gress 6e and !er!et$al d m n$t onG and t h$s Masonry s a conD
t n$al str$ggle to3ard the l ght ,
Al l errors are not eE$ally nnoc$o$s, That 3hch s most nD
5 $ro$s s to ent ert an $n3orthy conce!t ons of t he nat $re and
at trb$tes of GodG and t s ths t hat Masonry symbol <es by gnoD
rance of t he Tr$e ;ord, The tr$e 3ord of a Mason s# not t he
entre# !erfect # absol$t e t r$th n regard to GodG b$t t he hghest
and nobl est conce!t on of - m t hat o$r mnds are ca!abl e of
form ngG and ths 3ord s Ineffabl e# beca$se one man cannot
comm$n cate t o anot her h s o3n conce!t on of De tyG s nce e6ery
man? s conce!t on of God m$st be !ro!ort oned t o h s mental c$l D
t 6at on and nt ell ect$al !o3ers# and moral e4cel lence, God s# as
man conce6es - m# the reflect ed mage of man h msel f,
"or e6ery man? s conce!t on of God m$st 6ary 3 t h hs mental
c$lt 6at on and mental !o3ers, If any one cont ent s h msel f 3t h
any lo3er mage than hs nt ell ect s ca!able of gras!ng# t hen he
contents h mself 3 t h that 3hch s fal se t o h m# as 3ell as false n
fact, If l o3er t han he can reach# he m$st needs feel t to be fal se,
And f 3e# of the n neteenth cent $ry aft er %hrst # ado!t t he conD
ce!t ons of the n neteenth cent $ry before - mG f o$r conce!t ons
of God are t hose of the gnorant# narro3Dmnded# and 6 ndct 6e
Israel t eG then 3e th n/ 3orse of God# and ha6e a lo3er# meaner#
and more l m ted 6 e3 of -s nat$re# than t he fac$l tes 3h ch -e
has besto3ed are ca!able of gras! ng, The hghest 6e3 3e can
form s nearest to the tr$th, If 3e acE$esce n any l o3er one#
3e acE$ esce n an $nt r$th, ;e feel t hat t s an affront and an
nd gn ty to - m# to conce 6e of - m as cr$el # shortDsght ed# caD
!r c o$s# and $n5$stG as a 5eal o$s# an angry# a 6 nd ct 6e Be ng,
;hen 3e e4amne o$r conce!t ons of -s charact er# f 3e can
conce 6e of a l oft er# nobl er# hgher# more benefcent# glor o$s# and
magnfcent charact er# t hen ths l at t er s to $s t he tr$e conce!t on
of DetyG for nothng can be mag ned more e4cell ent than -e,
Rel g on# t o obtan c$rrency and nfl $ence 3t h t he great mass
of man/ nd# m$st needs be al l oyed 3 t h s$ch an amo$nt of error
as t o !lace t far belo3 the st andard at ta nabl e by the h gher
h$man ca!ac tes, A rel g on as !$re as the loft est and most c$lD
t 6ated h$man reason co$l d d scern# 3o$ld not be com!rehended
by# or effect 6e o6er# t he l ess ed$cat ed !ort on of man/nd, ;hat
s Tr$t h t o the !h loso!her# 3o$l d not be Tr$th# nor ha6e the
effect of Tr$th# t o t he !easant , The rel g on of the many m$st
necessarly be more ncorrect t han that of the ref ned and refl ect 6e
fe3# not so m$ch n t s essence as n t s forms# not so m$ch n the
s!rt $al dea 3h ch l es lat ent at the bot t om of t # as n t he symD
bols and dogmas n 3hch that dea s emboded, The tr$est
rel gon 3o$l d# n many !onts# not be com!rehended by the gnoD
rant # nor consolat ory to t hem# nor g$ d ng and s$!!ort ng for
t hem, The doct r nes of the Bbl e are often not cl ot hed n the
l ang$age of st rct tr$t h# b$t n t hat 3h ch 3as ft test t o con6ey
t o a r$de and gnorant !eo!le t he !ract cal essent al s of t he docD
t r ne, A !erfectly !$re fa th# free from al l e4traneo$s adm 4t $res#
a system of noble thesm and lofty moral ty# 3o$l d f nd too l t tl e
!re!arat on for t n t he common m nd and heart # to adm t of
!rom!t rece!t on by the masses of man/ndG and Tr$t h m ght
not ha6e reached $s# f t had not borro3ed the 3 ngs of Error,
The Mason regards God as a Moral Go6ernor# as 3ell as an
Org nal %reatorG as a God at hand# and not merely one afar off
n t he dst ance of nfn t e s!ace# and n t he remot eness of Past
or "$t $re Et ernty, -e conce 6es of - m as t a/ng a 3at chf$l
and !resdng nterest n the affars of the 3orld# and as nfl$encD
ng t he heart s and act ons of men,
To h m# God s the great So$rce of the ;orld of L fe and Mat D
t erG and man# 3t h hs 3onderf$l cor!oreal and ment al frame#
- s drect 3or/, -e bel e6es that God has made men 3 th d fferD
ent nt ell ect$al ca!ac t es# and enabled some# by s$!er or ntel lect D
$al !o3er# to see and org nate tr$t hs 3h ch are h dden from t he
mass of men, -e bel e6es that 3hen t s - s 3l l that man/ nd
sho$l d ma/e some great ste! for3ard# or ach e6e some !regnant
dsco6ery# -e cal l s nto be ng some nt ell ect of more than ord D
nary magn t$de and !o3er# to g6e b rt h t o ne3 deas# and
grander conce!t ons of t he Tr$t hs 6 t al to -$man ty,
;e hol d that God has so ordered mat t ers n t h s bea$t f$l and
harmon o$s# b$t myst er o$slyDgo6erned 'n6erse# that one great
mnd after another 3 l l arse# from t me t o t me# as s$ch are
needed# to re6eal t o men the tr$t hs t hat are 3ant ed# and t he
amo$nt of tr$t h t han can be borne, -e so arranges# that nat $re
and t he co$rse of e6ent s shal l send men nto the 3orl d# endo3ed
3 th t hat hgher ment al and moral organ <at on# n 3hch grand
t r$ths# and s$bl me gleams of s! r t$al l ght 3l l s!ont aneo$sly
and ne6 tably ar se, These s!ea/ t o men by ns!rat on,
;hate6er -ram real ly 3as# he s t he ty!e# !erha!s an magD
nary ty!e# t o $s# of h$man ty n ts hghest !haseG an e4em!lar
of 3hat man may and sho$ld become# n the co$rse of ages# n h s
!rogress t o3ard t he real <at on of hs dest nyG an nd 6d$al gfted
3 th a gloro$s ntellect # a noble so$l # a f ne organ<at on# and a
!erfect ly bal anced moral be ngG an earnest of 3hat h$manty may
be# and 3hat 3e bel e6e t 3 ll hereaft er be n God? s good t meG
t he !ossb l ty of the race made real,
The Mason bel e6es t hat God has arranged t h s glor o$s b$t !erD
!le4ng 3orl d 3 th a !$r!ose# and on a !l an, -e holds that e6ery
man sent $!on t h s eart h# and es!ecal ly e6ery man of s$!er or
ca!ac ty# has a d$ty t o !erform# a m sson to f$lfl l# a ba!t sm to
be ba!t <ed 3 t hG that e6ery great and good man !ossesses some
!ort on of God? s tr$t h# 3h ch he m$st !rocla m to the 3orl d# and
3hch m$st bear fr$t n hs o3n bosom, In a tr$e and s m!l e
sense# he bel e6es al l the !$re# 3se# and ntel lect $al to be ns!red#
and t o be so for t he nst r$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 t o t he fe3 3rt ers cla med by &e3s# %hr st ans# or
Mosl ems# b$t s coDe4tens 6e 3t h the race, It s t he conseE$ence
of a fa thf$l $se of o$r fac$l t es, Each man s t s s$b5ect # God s
ts so$rce# and Tr$t h t s only test, It d ffers n degrees# as t he
ntell ect$al endo3ment s# t he moral 3ealt h of t he so$l # and t he deD
gree of c$l t 6at on of those endo3ments and fac$l t es d ffer, It s
l mt ed to no sect# age# or nat on, It s 3 de as the 3orl d and
common as God, It 3as not g6en t o a fe3 men# n t he nfancy
of man/ nd# t o 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 t he 3orl d, The
st ars are bea$t f$l as n ther !r meG the most ancent -ea6ens
are fresh and st rong, God s st ll e6ery3here n nat$re, ;herD
e6er a heart beat s 3 t h l o6e# 3here6er "a th and Reason $t ter
t her oracl es# t here s God# as formerly n the heart s of seers and
!ro!het s, 8o so l on eart h s so holy as the good man? s heartG
nothng s so f$l l of God, Th s ns! rat on s not g6en t o t he
l earned al one# not al one to the great and 3 se# b$t to e6ery fat hf$l
chl d of God, %erta n as t he o!en eye dr n/s n t he l ght # do t he
!$re n heart see GodG and he 3ho l 6es tr$ly# feel s - m as a !resD
ence 3t h n t he so$l , The consc ence s t he 6ery 6o ce of De ty,
Masonry# aro$nd 3hose alt ars the %hrst an# t he -ebre3# the
Mosl em# t he Brahm n# the foll o3ers of %onf$c$s and Horoast er#
can assembl e as bret hren and $nt e n !rayer t o t he one God 3ho
s abo6e al l the Baal m# m$st needs lea6e t t o each of ts Int at es
t o l oo/ for t he fo$ndat on of hs fa t h and ho!e to the 3rt ten
scr!t$res of hs o3n rel g on, "or t sel f t fnds t hose tr$ths
def nt e eno$gh# 3hch are 3r t t en by t he fnger of God $!on t he
heart of man and on t he !ages of the boo/ of nat $re, Fe3s of
rel gon and d$ty# 3ro$ght o$t by the med tat ons of the st $do$s#
conf rmed by t he alleg ance of the good and 3 se# stam!ed as
st erl ng by t he res!onse t hey f nd n e6ery $ncorr$!ted m nd# comD
mend themsel6es t o Masons of e6ery creed# and may 3ell be acD
ce!t ed by al l,
The Mason does not !retend t o dogmat c certanty# nor 6a nly
mag ne s$ch certa nty at t anable, -e cons ders that f there
3ere no 3rt ten re6el at on# he co$l d safely rest the ho!es that anD
mate h m and t he !r nc !les that g$de h m# on the ded$ct ons of
reason and the con6ct ons of nst nct and consco$sness, -e can
fnd a s$re fo$ndat on for hs rel go$s belef# n these ded$ct ons
of t he nt el l ect and con6ct ons of t he heart , "or reason !ro6es
t o h m t he e4st ence and at trb$tes of GodG and those s! r t$al
nst nct s 3hch he feels are t he 6oce of God n hs so$l # nf$se
nt o h s m nd a sense of hs relat on to God# a con6 ct on of t he
benef cence of h s %reat or and Preser6er# and a ho!e of f$t$re e4D
stenceG and h s reason and conscence al /e $nerr ngly !o nt to
6rt$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# t he frameD3or/ and
re6ol $t ons of t he Earth# t he myster o$s bea$t es and ada!tat ons
of an mal e4 stence# t he moral and materal const t$t on of the
h$man creat $re# so fearf$lly and 3onderf$lly madeG and s sat sD
fed that God ISG and that a ;se and Good Be ng s the a$t hor
of t he starry -ea6ens abo6e h m# and of the moral 3orl d 3 thn
h mG and hs mnd f nds an adeE$ate fo$ndat on for ts ho!es# ts
3orsh!# ts !r nc !les of act on# n t he farDstretchng 'n6erse# n
t he gloro$s frmament # n t he dee!# f$ll so$l# b$rst ng 3t h $nD
$tterabl e t ho$ghts,
These are t r$ths 3h ch e6ery reflect ng mnd 3l l $nhest at ngly
rece6e# as not to be s$r!assed# nor ca!abl e of m!ro6ementG and
ft ted# f obeyed# t o ma/e eart h ndeed a Paradse# and man only a
l t tl e l o3er than t he angels, The 3ort hl essness of ceremonal
obser6ances# and t he necess ty of act 6e 6rt $eG the enforcement
of !$rty of heart as t he sec$r ty for !$r ty of l fe# and of the
go6ernment of the tho$ght s# as the org nat ors and forer$nners of
act onG $n 6ersal !h lant hro!y# reE$r ng $s to l o6e all men# and
t o do $nt o ot hers t hat and that only 3hch 3e sho$l d t h n/ t
rght# 5$st# and genero$s for t hem to do $nto $sG forg 6eness of
n5 $resG the necessty of selfDsacr f ce n t he dscharge of d$tyG
h$m l tyG gen$ ne s ncer ty# and be ng t hat 3h ch 3e seem to beG
al l these s$bl me !rece!t s need no mracl e# no 6oce from the
cl o$ds# t o recommend t hem to o$r al legance# or t o ass$re $s of
t her d6ne org n, They command obedence by 6rt$e of t her
nherent rect t$de and bea$tyG and ha6e been# and are# and 3 ll
be the la3 n e6ery age and e6ery co$ntry of t he 3orl d, God
re6ealed t hem to man n t he begnnng,
To the Mason# God s o$r "ather n -ea6en# t o be ;hose
es!ec al chl dren s t he s$ffc ent re3ard of the !eacema/ers# t o see
;hose face t he h ghest ho!e of the !$re n heart G ;ho s e6er at
hand to strengthen -s t r$e 3orsh !!ersG to ;hom o$r most ferD
6ent lo6e s d$e# o$r most h$mbl e and !at ent s$bm ssonG ;hose
most acce!table 3orsh! s a !$re and ! ty ng heart and a benefD
cent l feG n ;hose constant !resence 3e l 6e and act# to ;hose
merc f$l d s!osal 3e are resgned by t hat deat h 3hch# 3e ho!e
and bel e6e# s b$t the ent rance t o a bet t er l feG and ;hose 3 se
decrees forbd a man t o la! h s so$l n an elys$m of mere ndol ent
content,
As t o o$r feel ngs t o3ard - m and o$r cond$ct to3ard man#
Masonry teaches l tt le abo$t 3hch men can dffer# and l t tl e from
3hch they can d ssent, -e s o$r "atherG and 3e are al l bret hD
ren, Ths m$ch l es o!en to the most gnorant and b$sy# as f$lly
as t o those 3ho ha6e most le s$re and are most learned, Ths
needs no Pr est to teach t # and no a$t hor ty t o ndorse tG and f
e6ery man dd t hat only 3hch s cons stent 3t h t# t 3o$l d e4 le
barbar ty# cr$elty# nt ol erance# $nchar tabl eness# !erf dy# treachD
ery# re6enge# selfshness# and al l the r / ndred 6ces and bad !asD
s ons beyond t he confnes of the 3orl d,
The tr$e Mason# s ncerely hol d ng t hat a S$!reme God creat ed
and go6erns ths 3orld# bel e6es also that -e go6erns t by la3s#
3hch# t ho$gh 3 se# 5$st # and benefcent # are yet steady# $n3a6erD
ng# ne4orabl e, -e bel e6es that hs agones and sorro3s are orD
daned for h s chasten ng# hs st rengthen ng# hs el aborat on and
de6elo!ment G beca$se they are the necessary res$lt s of t he o!eraD
t on of la3s# the best that co$l d be de6 sed for t he ha!! ness and
!$r f cat on of t he s!ec es# and t o g6e occason and o!!ort $n ty
for the !ract ce of al l the 6rt $es# from the homel est and most
common# to t he nobl est and most s$bl meG or !erha!s not e6en
t hat # b$t the best ada!ted to 3or/ o$t t he 6ast # a3f$l# glor o$s#
et ernal desgns of the Great S! r t of t he 'n6erse, -e bel e6es
t hat the orda ned o!erat ons of nat $re# 3hch ha6e bro$ght m sery
t o h m# ha6e# from the 6ery $ns3er6ng tranE$ l ty of ther
career# sho3ered bl essngs and s$nsh ne $!on many anot her !at hG
t hat the $nrel ent ng char ot of T me# 3hch has cr$shed or ma med
h m n t s all ot t ed co$rse# s !ress ng on3ard to the accom!l shD
ment of t hose serene and mghty !$r!oses# t o ha6e contrb$ted t o
3hch# e6en as a 6ct m# s an honor and a recom!ense, -e t a/es
t h s 6 e3 of T me and 8at $re and God# and yet bears h s l ot 3 thD
o$t m$rm$r or d str$st G beca$se t s a !ort on of a system# t he
best !ossble# beca$se ordaned by God, -e does not bel e6e t hat
God l oses sght of h m# 3hl e s$!er ntend ng t he march of t he
great harmon es of t he 'n6erseG nor that t 3as not foreseen#
3hen t he 'n 6erse 3as created# t s la3s enacted# and t he l ong s$cD
cesson of t s o!erat ons !reDordaned# t hat n t he great march of
t hose e6ent s# he 3o$ld s$ffer !an and $ndergo calam ty, -e beD
l e6es that hs nd6d$al good ent ered nt o God? s cons derat on# as
3el l as the great cardnal res$l ts to 3h ch the co$rse of al l th ngs
s tend ng,
Th$s bel e6ng# he has att a ned an em nence n 6 rt$e# the h ghD
est # amd !ass 6e e4cell ence# 3h ch h$manty can reach, -e f nds
hs re3ard and h s s$!!ort n t he refl ect on that he s an $nrel $cD
t ant and sel fDsacrfc ng coDo!erat or 3 th the %reat or of t he 'nD
6erseG and n the noble consc o$sness of be ng 3orthy and ca!abl e
of so s$bl me a conce!t on# yet so sad a dest ny, -e s then tr$ly
ent tl ed t o be call ed a Grand El ect# Perfect # and S$bl me Mason,
-e s content to fal l early n t he batt le# f hs body may b$t form
a st e!! ngDstone for t he f$t $re conE$ests of h$man ty,
It cannot be t hat God# ;ho# 3e are certa n# s !erfect ly good#
can choose $s to s$ffer !a n# $nless e ther 3e are o$rsel6es to reD
ce 6e from t an ant dot e t o 3hat s e6l n o$rsel 6es# or el se as
s$ch !a n s a necessary !art n t he scheme of the 'n 6erse# 3hch
as a 3hole s good, In e ther case# the Mason rece 6es t 3t h
s$bm sson, -e 3o$l d not s$ffer $nless t 3as ordered so, ;hat D
e6er hs creed# f he bel e6es that God s# and t hat -e cares for
- s creat $res# he cannot do$bt thatG nor that t 3o$l d not ha6e
been so ordered# $nless t 3as e t her bett er for h mself# or for
some other !ersons# or for some t h ngs, To com!l an and lament
s t o m$rm$r aga nst God? s 3 l l # and 3orse than $nbel ef,
The Mason# 3hose m nd s cast n a nobler mo$l d t han those of
t he gnorant and $nreflect ng# and s nst nct 3 th a d 6 ner l fe# D
3ho l o6es tr$t h more t han rest# and t he !eace of -ea6en rat her
t han the !eace of Eden# DDt o 3hom a l oft er beng br ngs se6erer
cares# DD3ho /no3s t hat man does not l 6e by !l eas$re or content
al one# b$t by t he !resence of the !o3er of God# DDm$st cast beD
hnd h m the ho!e of any other re!ose or tranE$l l ty# than t hat
3hch s the last re3ard of long agones of tho$ghtG he m$st reD
l nE$ sh al l !ros!ect of any -ea6en sa6e t hat of 3hch tro$ble s
t he a6en$e and !ortal G he m$st grd $! hs lo ns# and tr m hs
l am!# for a 3or/ that m$st be done# and m$st not be negl gently
done, If he does not l /e t o l 6e n t he f$rn shed l odgngs of traD
dt on# he m$st b$ ld h s o3n ho$se# h s o3n syst em of fa t h and
t ho$ght # for h msel f,
The ho!e of s$ccess# and not t he ho!e of re3ard# sho$ld be o$r
st m$lat ng and s$st an ng !o3er, O$r ob5 ect # and not o$rsel 6es#
sho$l d be o$r ns!r ng tho$ght, Self shness s a s n# 3hen t emD
!orary# and for t me, S!$n o$t to etern ty# t does not become
celest al !r$dence, ;e sho$l d t o l and de# not for -ea6en or
Bl ss# b$t for D$ty,
In t he more freE$ent cases# 3here 3e ha6e t o 5 o n o$r efforts to
t hose of tho$sands of others# to cont rb$te to the carry ng for3ard
of a great ca$seG merely to t ll t he gro$nd or so3 the seed for a
6ery dst ant har6est# or t o !re!are t he 3ay for the f$t$re ad6ent
of some great amendmentG the amo$nt 3hch each one contr bD
$tes t o the ache6ement of $lt mate s$ccess# t he !ort on of the
!r ce 3h ch 5 $st ce sho$l d ass gn to each as hs es!ecal !rod$cD
t on# can ne6er be acc$rat ely ascerta ned, Perha!s fe3 of those
3ho ha6e e6er l abored# n t he !atence of secrecy and sl ence# to
br ng abo$t some !ol t cal or socal change# 3hch t hey felt conD
6nced 3o$ld $l t mat ely !ro6e of 6ast ser6ce t o h$man ty# l 6ed
t o see the change effected# or t he antc!at ed good fl o3 from t ,
"e3er st l l of t hem 3ere able to !rono$nce 3hat a!!recable
3eght ther se6eral efforts cont r b$t ed to the ache6ement of the
change des red, Many 3 ll do$bt # 3hether# n t r$t h# t hese e4erD
t ons ha6e any nfl $ence 3hate6erG and# dsco$raged# cease al l
act 6e effort,
8ot to be t h$s d sco$raged# the Mason m$st l abor t o el e6ate
and !$r fy h s mot 6es# as 3el l as sed$l o$sly cher sh t he con6 cD
t on# ass$redly a tr$e one# that n th s 3orl d there s no s$ch thng
as effort t hro3n a3ayG that n all labor t here s !rof tG t hat all
s ncere e4ert on# n a r ghteo$s and $nsel fsh ca$se# s necessar ly
fol l o3ed# n s! te of all a!!earance t o the cont rary# by an a!!roD
!r at e and !ro!ort onat e s$ccessG that no bread cast $!on t he
3at ers can be 3holly l ostG t hat no seed !lanted n the gro$nd can
fal t o E$c/en n d$e t me and meas$reG and t hat # ho3e6er 3e
may# n moments of des!ondency# be a!t to do$bt # not only
3hether o$r ca$se 3 l l t r $m!h# b$t 3het her# f t does# 3e shall
ha6e contrb$ted t o ts tr$m!h# DDt here s One# ;ho has not
only seen e6ery e4ert on 3e ha6e made# b$t ;ho can assgn
t he e4act degree n 3h ch each sol der has ass st ed t o gan t he
great 6ct ory o6er soc al e6 l, 8o good 3or/ s done 3holly n
6an,
The Grand Elect # Perfect # and S$bl me Mason 3 ll n no3 se
deser6e that honorabl e t t l e# f he has not that strength# t hat 3 ll #
t hat selfDs$sta nng energyG that "at h# that feeds $!on no earthly
ho!e# nor e6er t h n/s of 6 ct ory# b$t # cont ent n t s o3n cons$mD
mat on# combat s# beca$se t o$ght t o combat # re5 oc ng fght s# and
st l l re5 oc ng fal ls,
The A$gean Stables of the ;orld# t he acc$m$l ated $ncl eanness
and m sery of cent $res# reE$ re a mghty r6er t o cl eanse t hem
t horo$ghly a3ayG e6ery dro! 3e contr b$t e a ds t o s3el l that
r6er and a$gment t s force# n a degree a!!recable by God#
t ho$gh not by manG and he 3hose <eal s dee! and earnest # 3l l
not be o6erDan4 o$s that hs nd6d$al dro!s sho$l d be d st nD
g$shable amd t he mghty mass of cl eansng and fert l < ng
3at ersG far l ess t hat # for the sa/e of dst nct on# t sho$ld fl o3 n
neffect 6e sngleness a3ay,
The tr$e Mason 3 ll not be caref$l t hat h s name sho$l d be
nscrbed $!on the m te 3hch he casts nt o the treas$ry of God,
It s$ff ces h m to /no3 t hat f he has labored# 3 th !$r ty of !$rD
!ose# n any good ca$se# he m$st ha6e contr b$t ed to t s s$ccessG
t hat the degree n 3hch he has contrb$ted s a mat ter of nfD
ntely small concernG and st l l more# that the consc o$sness of
ha6ng so cont r b$t ed# ho3e6er obsc$rely and $nnot ced# s h s
s$ffc ent # e6en f t be hs sole# re3ard, Let e6ery Grand El ect#
Perfect# and S$bl me Mason cher sh th s fat h, It s a d$ty, It
s t he brl l ant and ne6erDdyng lght that shnes 3 th n and
t hro$gh the symbol c !edest al of alabast er# on 3hch re!oses t he
!erfect c$be of agat e# symbol of d$ty# nscrbed 3 th the d 6 ne
name of God, -e 3ho nd$str o$sly so3s and rea!s s a good
l aborer# and 3ort hy of h s h re, B$t he 3ho so3s t hat 3hch
shal l be rea!ed by ot hers# by t hose 3ho 3 ll /no3 not of and care
not for the so3er# s a laborer of a nobler order# and# 3ort hy of a
more e4cel lent re3ard,
The Mason does not e4hort others t o an ascet c $nder6al $ng
of t h s l fe# as an nsgnfcant and $n3orthy !ort on of e4 stenceG
for that demands feel ngs 3h ch are $nnat$ral# and 3h ch# t hereD
fore# f attaned# m$st be morb d# and f merely !rofessed# ns nD
cereG and t eaches $s to l oo/ rat her t o a f$t $re l fe for the comD
!ensat on of soc al e6l s# t han to t hs l fe for t he r c$reG and so
does n5$ry to t he ca$se of 6 rt $e and t o t hat of socal !rogress,
L fe s real # and s earnest # and t s f$l l of d$t es t o be !erformed,
It s t he beg nn ng of o$r mmort al ty, Those only 3ho feel a
dee! nterest and affect on for th s 3orl d 3l l 3or/ resol $tely for
ts amel orat onG t hose 3hose affect ons are transferred t o -ea6en#
easly acE$esce n the m ser es of earth# deemng t hem ho!eless#
bef tt ng# and orda nedG and console themsel 6es 3 th the dea of
t he ammends 3hch are one day t o be t hers, It s a sad tr$t h# that
t hose most decdedly g6en t o s!r t $al cont em!l at on# and to
ma/ng relg on r$le n t her hearts# are often most a!athetc toD
3ard all m!ro6ement of t h s 3orld? s systems# and n many cases
6rt$al conser6at 6es of e6l # and host le to !ol t cal and socal reD
form# as d 6ert ng men? s energ es from et ernty,
The Mason does not 3ar 3t h hs o3n nst nct s# macerate the
body nto 3ea/ness and dsorder# and d s!arage 3hat he sees to be
bea$t f$l# /no3s t o be 3onderf$l# and feel s to be $ns!ea/ably
dear and fascnat ng, -e does not !$t as de the nat $re 3h ch
God has g6en h m# t o str$ggle after one 3hch -e has not beD
st o3ed, -e /no3s that man s sent nt o the 3orld# not a s! rD
t$al# b$t a com!ost e beng# made $! of body and m nd# t he body
ha6ng# as s f t and needf$l n a mat er al 3orld# t s f$l l# rght f$l#
and al lotted share, -s l fe s g$ ded by a f$ll recogn t on of ths
fact, -e does not deny t n bold 3ords# and admt t n 3ea/D
nesses and ne6t able fa l ngs, -e bel e6es that hs s!r t$al ty
3 ll come n the ne4t stage of hs beng# 3hen he !$ts on t he s!rD
t$al bodyG t hat h s body 3 l l be dro!!ed at deathG and that # $nt l
t hen# God meant t t o be commanded and control led# b$t not negD
l ected# des!sed# or gnored by t he so$l# $nder !a n of hea6y conD
seE$ences,
.et t he Mason s not ndfferent as t o t he fate of t he so$l # aft er
ts !resent l fe# as to ts cont n$ed and et ernal beng# and the charD
acter of the scenes n 3hch that beng 3 ll be f$l ly de6el o!ed,
These are t o h m t o! cs of t he !roro$ndest nt erest# and t he most
ennobl ng and ref nng contem!l at on, They occ$!y m$ch of hs
l es$reG and as he becomes faml ar 3 th t he sorro3s and calamD
t es of ths l fe# as h s ho!es are d sa!!ont ed and hs 6 s ons of
ha!! ness here fade a3ayG 3hen l fe has 3ear ed h m n ts
race of ho$rsG 3hen he s harassed and t o l D3orn# and t he b$rD
den of hs years 3e ghs hea6y on h m# the balance of at tract on
grad$al ly ncl nes n fa6or of anot her l feG and he cl ngs t o h s
l ofty s!ec$lat ons 3t h a tenac ty of nterest 3h ch needs no nD
5 $nct on# and 3l l l sten to no !rohb t on, They are the consolD
ng !r 6 lege of the as!rng# t he 3ay3orn# the 3eary# and the
berea6ed,
To h m the cont em!lat on of t he "$t $re let s n l ght $!on t he
Present# and de6el o!s the h gher !ort ons of hs nat$re, -e enD
dea6ors r ght ly to ad5 $st the res!ect 6e cl a ms of -ea6en and
earth $!on hs t me and t ho$ght # so as t o g 6e the !ro!er !ro!orD
t ons t hereof to !erformng the d$t es and enter ng nt o t he nt erD
est s of t hs 3orld# and t o !re!arat on for a bet terG to the c$l t 6aD
t on and !$r f cat on of h s o3n character# and t o t he !$bl c ser6 ce
of hs fel lo3Dmen,
The Mason does not dogmat <e# b$t enterta nng and $t terng
hs o3n con6 ct ons# he lea6es e6ery one else free to do t he sameG
and only ho!es t hat the t me 3 l l come# e6en f aft er t he l a!se of
ages# 3hen all men shal l form one great fam ly of bret hren# and
one l a3 al one# the la3 of l o6e# shal l go6ern God? s 3hol e 'n D
6erse,
Bel e6e as yo$ may# my brotherG f the 'n 6erse s not # t o yo$#
3 tho$t a God# and f man s not l /e the beast t hat !er shes# b$t
hath an mmortal so$l# 3e 3el come yo$ among $s# t o 3ear# as 3e
3ear# 3 th h$ml ty# and consc o$s of yo$r demer ts and shortD
comngs# t he t tle of Grand Elect # Perfect# and S$bl me Mason,
It s not 3 tho$t a secret mean ng# that t3el 6e 3as the n$mD
ber of the A!ost les of %hrst # and se6entyDt3o t hat of h s D sD
c !les( t hat &ohn addressed hs reb$/es and menaces to the Se6en
ch$rches# t he n$mber of the Archangels and t he Pl anet s, At
Babylon 3ere the Se6en St ages of Bers !!a# a !yramd of Se6en
st ores# and at Ecbat ana Se6en concentrc ncl os$res# each of a
dfferent col or, Thebes also had Se6en gat es# and t he same n$mD
ber s re!eated agan and agan n t he acco$nt of t he fl ood, The
Se!hroth# or Emanat ons# ten n n$mber# three n one class# and
se6en n t he ot her# re!eat the myst c n$mbers of Pyt hagoras,
Se6en Amschas!ands or !lanetary s! r t s 3ere n6o/ed 3 th
Orm$<d( Se6en nfer or Rsh s of -nd$stan 3ere sa6ed 3 th the
head of t he r fam ly n an ar/( and Se6en anc ent !ersonages
al one ret $rned 3t h t he Brt sh 5$st man# -$# from t he dale of
t he gre6o$s 3aters, There 3ere Se6en -el adae# 3hose fat her
-el as# or t he S$n# once crossed t he sea n a gol den c$!G Se6en
T tans# chl dren of t he ol der Tt an# Kronos or Sat $rnG Se6en
%orybantesG and Se6en %ab r # sons of Sydy/G Se6en !r me6al
%el est al s!rt s of t he &a!anese# and Se6en Karlest ers 3ho
esca!ed from t he del$ge and began t o be t he !arent s of a ne3
race# on t he s$mmt of Mo$nt Albord, Se6en %yclo!es# al so#
b$l t the 3all s of Try$s,
%el $s# as E$oted by Orgen# tel ls $s t hat t he Pers ans re!reD
sent ed by symbols t he t3oDfold mot on of t he st ars# f 4ed and
!lanet ary# and t he !assage of t he So$l thro$gh t her s$ccess 6e
s!heres, They erected n t her holy ca6es# n 3h ch the myst c
r t es of t he M thr ac In t at ons 3ere !ract sed# 3hat he denom D
nates a hgh ladder# on the Se6en st e!s of 3hch 3ere Se6en
gat es or !ort als# accordng to t he n$mber of the Se6en !r nc !al
hea6enly bodes, Thro$gh t hese t he as!rant s !assed# $nt l t hey
reached the s$mm t of the 3holeG and th s !assage 3as styled a
t ransmgrat on t hro$gh the s!heres,
&acob sa3 n h s dream a ladder !l anted or set on t he earth#
and ts to! reachng to -ea6en# and t he Mal a/ Al oh m ascendng
and descendng on t# and abo6e t st ood I-'-# decl ar ng - msel f
t o be Ih$hDAl h Abraham, The 3ord t ranslated l adder# s
Salam# from Salal # rased# ele6ated# reared $!# e4alted# !l ed
$! nt o a hea!# Aggera6 t, Salalah# means a hea!# ram!art #
or ot her acc$m$l at on of earth or stone# art fc ally madeG and
Salaa or Salo# s a roc/ or cl ff or bo$lder# and the name of
t he c ty of Petra, There s no anc ent -ebre3 3ord t o des gnat e
a !yramd,
The symbol c mo$nta n Mer$ 3as ascended by Se6en ste!s or
st agesG and al l the !yram ds and art f cal t $m$l and hll oc/s
t hro3n $! n fl at co$ntres 3ere m tat ons of th s fab$lo$s and
myst c mo$nt a n# for !$r!oses of 3orsh!, These 3ere the @-gh
Places@ so oft en ment oned n the -ebre3 boo/s# on 3hch the
dol aters sacrfced to foregn gods,
The !yramds 3ere somet mes sE$are# and somet mes ro$nd,
The sacred Babylonan to3er AMagdol B# dedcat ed t o the
great "ather Bal # 3as an art f cal h l l # of !yram dal sha!e# and
Se6en st ages# b$ lt of br c/# and each st age of a dfferent col or#
re!resent ng t he Se6en !l anet ary s!heres by the a!!ro!r ate color
of each !l anet , Mer$ tsel f 3as sad t o be a s ngle mo$ntan# terD
mnat ng n t hree !ea/s# and t h$s a symbol of t he Tr m$rt , The
great Pagoda at Tan5 ore 3as of s 4 stor es# s$rmo$nted by a temD
!le as the se6ent h# and on th s t hree s! res or to3ers, An anc ent
!agoda at Deog$r 3as s$rmo$nt ed by a to3er# s$st an ng the
myst c egg and a trdent, -erodot$s tel ls $s t hat the Tem!le of
Bal at Babylon 3as a to3er com!osed of Se6en t o3ers# rest ng on
an eghth that ser6ed as bas s# and s$ccess 6ely d m n shng n
s <e from the bot tom to the to!G and Strabo tel ls $s t 3as a
!yramd,
"aber th n/s that t he Mt hrac l adder 3as real ly a !yram d 3t h
Se6en st ages# each !ro6ded 3 th a narro3 door or a!ert $re#
t hro$gh each of 3hch doors the as! rant !assed# to reach the
s$mm t # and t hen descended t hro$gh s m l ar doors on t he o!!ost e
s de of the !yramdG the ascent and descent of t he So$l be ng
t h$s re!resent ed,
Each M thr ac ca6e and all the most ancent tem!les 3ere
t ended to symbol <e t he 'n6erse# 3hch tsel f 3as hab t$ally
cal led the Tem!le and hab tat on of Dety, E6ery tem!l e 3as
t he 3orl d n m nat$reG and so t he 3hol e 3orl d 3as one grand
t em!l e, The most anc ent tem!l es 3ere roofl essG and therefore
t he Persans# %elt s# and Scyth ans strongly d sl /ed art fc al co6D
ered edfces, %cero says t hat Per4es b$rned the Grecan temD
!les# on the e4!ress gro$nd that t he 3hol e 3orl d 3as the MagnfD
cent Tem!l e and -ab tat on of t he S$!reme Dety, Macrob $s
says that t he entre 'n 6erse 3as 5$dc o$sly deemed by many t he
Tem!le of God, Pl at o !rono$nced the real Tem!l e of t he De ty
t o be t he 3orl dG and -eracl t $s declared t hat the 'n6erse# 6ar eD
gat ed 3 th an mal s and !l ant s and st ars 3as the only gen$ne
Tem!le of t he D 6 nty,
-o3 com!l etely t he Tem!l e of Sol omon 3as symbol c# s
manfest # not only from t he cont n$al re!rod$ct on n t of
t he sacred n$mbers and of ast rologcal symbol s n t he hst orD
cal descr !t ons of tG b$t also# and yet more# from t he deD
t al s of t he mag nary reconstr$ct ed edfce# seen by E<e/el
n hs 6s on, The A!ocaly!se com!l etes the demonst rat on#
and sho3s t he /abal st c meanngs of t he 3hole, The SymD
bola Arch tect on ca are fo$nd on t he most ancent edfcesG
and t hese mathemat cal f g$res and nst r$ments# ado!ted by
t he Tem!l ars# and dent cal 3t h those on t he gnost c seals and
abra4ae# connect ther dogma 3t h t he %haldac# Syr ac# and
Egy!t an Orental !hl oso!hy, The secret Pythagorean docD
t r nes of n$mbers 3ere !reser6ed by the mon/s of Th bet# by
t he -ero!hants of Egy!t and El e$s s# at &er$sal em# and n
t he c rc$lar %ha!ters of t he Dr$ dsG and they are es!ecal ly
consecrated n t hat myster o$s boo/# t he A!ocaly!se of Sant
&ohn,
Al l tem!les 3ere s$rro$nded by ! llars# record ng the n$mber
of t he constellat ons# the sgns of t he <od ac# or t he cycles of the
!lanet sG and each one 3as a mcrocosm or symbol of t he 'n6erse#
ha6ng for roof or cel ng t he st arred 6a$lt of -ea6en,
Al l tem!les 3ere org nally o!en at t he to!# ha6 ng for roof the
s/y, T3el 6e ! l lars descr bed t he bel t of t he <odac, ;hate6er
t he n$mber of the ! l l ars# t hey 3ere myst cal e6ery3here, At
Ab$ry# the Dr$ dc tem!le re!rod$ced all t he cycl es by t s col D
$mns, Aro$nd t he t em!l es of %hl m nar n Pers a# of Baal bec#
and of T$/ht Schl omoh n Tart ary# on the front er of %hna#
st ood forty !l lars, On each sde of the tem!l e at Paest$m 3ere
fo$rteen# recordng t he Egy!t an cycl e of t he dar/ and lght sdes
of t he moon# as descrbed by Pl$t archG the 3hole t h rtyDeght
t hat s$rro$nded t hem record ng the t3o met eorc cycles so often
fo$nd n t he Dr$dc t em!les,
The theat re b$ lt by Sca$r$s# n Greece# 3as s$rro$nded by
9=2 col$mnsG t he Tem!l e at Mecca# and t hat at Iona n Scotl and#
by 9=2 st ones,
)*+),
)7C D Kn ght of t he East# )=C D Prnce of &er$sal em
)+C D Kn ght of t he East and ;est# )*C D Knght Rose %ro 4 ,
PF, K8IG-T O" T-E EAST OR O" T-E S;ORD
AKnght of the East # of the S3ord# or of the Eagle, B
Th s Degree# l /e all others n Masonry# s symbol cal , Based
$!on h stor cal t r$th and a$t hent c trad t on# t s st l l an all eD
gory, The leadng lesson of t h s Degree s "del ty to oblgat on#
and %onstancy and Perse6erance $nder dff c$l t es and d sco$rD
agement,
Masonry s engaged n her cr$sade# DDaganst gnorance# ntol erD
ance# fanat c sm# s$!erst t on# $nchar tableness# and error, She
does not sal 3t h the tradeD3nds# $!on a smooth sea# 3t h a
st eady free bree<e# far for a 3el com ng harborG b$t meets and
m$st o6ercome many o!!os ng c$rrent s# baffl ng 3 nds# and dead
cal ms,
The chef obstacl es to her s$ccess are t he a!at hy and fa thlessD
ness of her o3n sel f sh chl dren# and t he s$! ne nd fference of
t he 3orl d, In t he roar and cr$sh and h$rry of l fe and b$s ness#
and t he t $m$lt and $!roar of !ol t cs# t he E$et 6oce of Masonry
s $nheard and $nheeded, The f rst lesson 3hch one learns# 3ho
engages n any great 3or/ of reform or benef cence# s# that men
are essent al ly careless# l$/e3arm# and ndfferent as to e6eryD
t h ng t hat does not concern ther o3n !ersonal and mmed ate
3el fare, It s to sngle men# and not to the $nt ed effort s of
many# t hat al l t he great 3or/s of man# str$ggl ng to3ard !erfecD
t on# are o3ng, The ent h$s ast# 3ho magnes t hat he can nD
s!re 3 th h s o3n ent h$s asm the m$lt t $de that eddes aro$nd
h m# or e6en t he fe3 3ho ha6e assocated t hemsel 6es 3t h h m as
coD3or/ers# s gre6o$sly m sta/enG and most oft en t he con6ct on
of hs o3n m st a/e s fol l o3ed by dsco$ragement and d sg$st,
To do al l # to !ay al l# and t o s$ffer all # and t hen# 3hen des! te al l
obstacl es and h ndrances# s$ccess s accom!l shed# and a great
3or/ done# to see those 3ho o!!osed or l oo/ed col dly on t # cl a m
and rea! al l the !rase and re3ard# s t he common and al most $n D
6ersal lot of the benefactor of h s / nd,
-e 3ho endea6ors to ser6e# t o beneft # and m!ro6e t he 3orl d#
s l /e a s3 mmer# 3ho st r$ggles aga nst a ra!d c$rrent # n a r6er
l ashed nt o angry 3a6es by t he 3nds, Often t hey roar o6er h s
head# oft en t hey beat h m bac/ and baffle h m, Most men yeld
t o t he stress of the c$rrent# and fl oat 3 t h t t o t he shore# or are
s3e!t o6er the ra!dsG and only here and t here the st o$t# st rong
heart and 6goro$s arms st r$ggle on to3ard $l t mat e s$ccess,
It s t he mot onl ess and stat onary t hat most fret s and m!edes
t he c$rrent of !rogressG t he sol d roc/ or st $! d dead t ree# rest ed
frmly on t he bot tom# and aro$nd 3h ch t he r 6er 3h rl s and
eddes( t he Masons that do$bt and hest ate and are dsco$ragedG
t hat d sbel e6e n the ca!ab l ty of man t o m!ro6eG that are not
ds!osed t o t o l and labor for t he nt erest and 3el lDbe ng of genD
eral h$mantyG t hat e4!ect others t o do all # e6en of t hat 3h ch
t hey do not o!!ose or r d c$leG 3hl e t hey s t# a!!la$dng and
dong noth ng# or !erha!s !rognostcat ng fal $re,
There 3ere many s$ch at the reb$ ld ng of the Tem!le, There
3ere !ro!hets of e6 l and msfort$neDDt he l $/e3arm and the nD
dfferent and the a!at het cG those 3ho st ood by and sneeredG and
t hose 3ho tho$ght t hey d d God ser6ce eno$gh f they no3 and
t hen fa ntly a!!l a$ded, There 3ere ra6ens croa/ng l l omen#
and m$rm$rers 3ho !reached t he fol ly and f$t l ty of t he at tem!t,
The 3orl d s made $! of s$chG and t hey 3ere as ab$ndant then
as t hey are no3,
B$t gl oomy and dsco$rag ng as 3as the !ros!ect # 3t h l $/eD
3armness 3 th n and bt t er o!!os t on 3 tho$t # o$r anc ent brethD
ren !erse6ered, Let $s lea6e t hem engaged n the good 3or/#
and 3hene6er t o $s# as t o them# s$ccess s $ncerta n# remote# and
cont ngent # let $s st ll remember that t he only E$est on for $s to
as/# as t r$e men and Masons# s# 3hat does d$ty reE$ reG and not
3hat 3l l be t he res$l t and o$r re3ard f 3e do o$r d$ty, ;or/
on# the S3ord n one hand# and the Tro3el n t he otherO
Masonry teaches that God s a Paternal Beng# and has an nD
t erest n hs creat$res# s$ch as s e4!ressed n the t tl e "at herG an
nterest $n/no3n t o all the systems of Pagan sm# $nta$ght n all
t he t heor es of !hl oso!hyG an nt erest not only n the glor o$s
bengs of ot her s!heres# t he Sons of Lght # t he d3ell ers n -ea6D
enly 3orlds# b$t n $s# !oor# gnorant # and $n3ort hyG that -e
has ! ty for t he errng# !ardon for the g$ lty# l o6e for t he !$re#
/no3l edge for t he h$mble# and !rom ses of mmortal l fe for
t hose 3ho tr$st n and obey - m,
; t ho$t a bel ef n - m# l fe s m serable# the 3orl d s dar/# the
'n6erse dsrobed of ts s!lendors# t he nt ell ect$al t e to nat $re
bro/en# the charm of e4 stence d ssol6ed# the great ho!e of beng
l ost G and t he mnd# l /e a star str$c/ from ts s!here# 3anders
t hro$gh the nf n te desert of ts conce!t ons# 3 tho$t att ract on#
t endency# dest ny# or end,
Masonry teaches# that # of al l t he e6ent s and act ons# t hat ta/e
!lace n t he $n 6erse of 3orlds and t he et ernal s$ccess on of ages#
t here s not one# e6en t he m n$test # 3h ch God dd not fore6er
forsee 3t h all the d st nct ness of mmed ate 6s on# comb n ng
al l# so that man? s free 3l l sho$l d be -s nst r$ment # l /e al l the
other forces of nat $re,
It teaches that t he so$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/l l# an emanat on from -s s!r t# t s nat $re#
necess ty# and desgn are 6rt $e, It s so formed# so mo$l ded# so
fashoned# so e4act ly balanced# so e4E$s tely !ro!ort oned n e6ery
!art # t hat sn ntrod$ced nt o t s m seryG t hat 6 co$s t ho$ghts
fall $!on t l /e dro!s of !osonG and g$l ty desres# breat h ng on
ts del cate f bres# ma/e !l ag$eDs!ot s t here# deadly as those of !esD
t l ence $!on the body, It s made for 6rt $e# and not for 6ceG
for !$r ty# as t s end# rest# and ha!!ness, 8ot more 6anly 3o$l d
3e at tem!t t o ma/e the mo$nt an sn/ t o the le6el of the 6all ey#
t he 3a6es of t he angry sea t$rn bac/ from t s shores and cease t o
t h$nder $!on the beach# the st ars t o hal t n t her s3 ft co$rses#
t han to change any one l a3 of o$r o3n nat $re, And one of t hose
l a3s# $t t ered by God? s 6oce# and s!ea/ ng t hro$gh e6ery ner6e
and fbre# e6ery force and el ement# of t he moral const t$t on -e
has g6en $s# s that 3e m$st be $!r ght and 6 rt $o$sG that f
t em!t ed 3e m$st res stG t hat 3e m$st go6ern o$r $nr$ly !asD
s ons# and hold n hand o$r sens$al a!!et tes, And t h s s not t he
dctate of an arbt rary 3l l # nor of some stern and m!ract cabl e
l a3G b$t t s !art of t he great f rm la3 of harmony that bnds
t he 'n6erse t oget her( not the mere enact ment of arbtrary 3 ll G
b$t the d ctat e of Infnt e ; sdom,
;e /no3 t hat God s good# and t hat 3hat -e does s rght,
Th s /no3n# t he 3or/s of creat on# the changes of l fe# t he dest D
nes of eternty# are all s!read before $s# as the d s!ensat ons and
co$nsel s of nf n te lo6e, Ths /no3n# 3e t hen /no3 that the
l o6e of God s 3or/ ng t o ss$es# l /e t sel f# beyond all t ho$ght
and mag nat on good and gl or o$sG and t hat t he only reason
3hy 3e do not $nderst and t# s that t s t oo glor o$s for $s t o $nD
derstand, God? s lo6e t a/es care for all # and not hng s neglected,
It 3atches o6er al l# !ro6 des for al l# ma/es 3 se ada!t at ons for
al lG for age# for nfancy# for mat $r ty# for ch ldhoodG n e6ery
scene of th s or anot her 3orldG for 3ant# 3ea/ness# 5 oy# sorro3#
and e6en for sn, Al l s good and 3el l and rght G and shal l be so
fore6er, Thro$gh the eternal ages the l ght of God? s benefcence
shal l sh ne hereaft er# dscl os ng al l# cons$mmat ng al l# re3ard ng
al l that deser6e re3ard, Then 3e shal l see# 3hat no3 3e can only
bele6e, The clo$d 3l l be l fted $!# the gate of myst ery be
!assed# and t he f$l l lght sh ne fore6erG t he l ght of 3h ch t hat
of t he Lodge s a symbol , Then that 3hch ca$sed $s t r al shal l
yeld $s tr $m!hG and that 3h ch made o$r heart ache shall fl l
$s 3 th gladnessG and 3e shal l t hen feel t hat there# as here# t he
only tr$e ha!! ness s t o learn# t o 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 t he dar/ness# t o reach
t he l ght ,

PFI, PRI8%E O" &ER'SALEM,
;e no longer e4!ect t o reb$ l d t he Tem!l e at &er$sal em, To
$s t has become b$t a symbol , To $s the 3hol e 3orld s God? s
Tem!le# as s e6ery $!rght heart, To establ sh al l o6er t he 3orl d
t he 8e3 La3 and Re gn of Lo6e# Peace# %har ty# and Tolerat on#
s t o b$l d t hat Tem!l e# most acce!table to God# n erect ng 3hch
Masonry s no3 engaged, 8o l onger needng t o re!ar t o &er$saD
l em to 3orsh !# nor t o offer $! sacr f ces and shed blood to !ro!D
t at e t he De ty# man may ma/e the 3oods and mo$nta ns hs
%h$rches and Tem!l es# and 3orsh ! God 3 t h a de6o$t grat t $de#
and 3 th 3or/s of charty and benefcence t o hs fel l o3Dmen,
;here6er t he h$mbl e and cont rte heart s lently offers $! t s
adorat on# $nder the o6erarchng trees# n t he o!en# le6el meado3s#
on t he hl l Dsde# n t he glen# or n t he cty? s s3armng st reet sG t here
s God? s -o$se and t he 8e3 &er$salem,
The Prnces of &er$salem no l onger s t as mag strates t o 5$dge
bet3een the !eo!leG nor s t he r n$mber l m ted t o f6e, B$t
t her d$t es st l l reman s$bst ant al ly the same# and ther nsgna
and symbol s reta n t he r old sgnf cance, &$st ce and EE$ ty
are st ll t he r charact er stcs, To reconcl e d s!$tes and heal d sD
sens ons# t o restore amty and !eace# t o soothe d sl /es and soften#
!re5 $d ces# are ther !ec$l ar d$t esG and t hey /no3 that t he
!eacema/ers are blessed,
The r embl ems ha6e been al ready e4!laned, They are !art of
l ang$age of MasonryG t he same no3 as t 3as 3hen Moses
l earned t from the Egy!t an -ero!hant s, ,
St l l 3e obser6e the s!r t of the D6ne la3# as th$s en$nc ated
t o o$r anc ent brethren# 3hen t he Tem!le 3as reb$ lt # and the
boo/ of t he l a3 aga n o!ened(
@E4ec$t e t r$e 5$dgmentG and sho3 mercy and com!ass on
e6ery man to h s brot her, O!!ress not the 3 do3 nor t he fatherD
l ess# t he st ranger nor the !oorG and l et none of yo$ mag ne e6l
aga nst h s brot her n h s heart, S!ea/ ye e6ery man t he t r$th
t o hs neghborG e4ec$te t he 5$dgment of Tr$th and Peace n
yo$r gatesG and lo6e no false oathG for al l these I hate# sa th the
Lord,
@Let t hose 3ho ha6e !o3er r$l e n rghteo$sness# and Prnces
n 5 $dgment , And l et h m t hat s a 5 $dge be as an h d ngD!lace
from the 3nd# and a co6ert from t he t em!est G as r6ers of 3at er
n a dry !l aceG as the shado3 of a great roc/ n a 3eary land,
Then the 6 l e !erson shall no more be cal led l beralG nor the
ch$rl bo$nt f$l G and the 3or/ of 5$st ce shal l be !eaceG and the
effect of 5 $st ce# E$ et and sec$r tyG and 3sdom and /no3ledge
shal l be t he st ab l ty of t he t mes, ;al/ ye rghteo$sly and s!ea/
$!r ght lyG des!se the gans of o!!ress on# sha/e from yo$r hands
t he contamnat on of brbesG st o! not yo$r ears aganst t he cres
of t he o!!ressed# nor sh$t yo$r eyes that yo$ may not see t he
cr mes of t he greatG and yo$ shal l d3el l on hgh# and yo$r !l ace
of defence be l /e m$n t ons of roc/s,@
"orget not these !rece!ts of the ol d La3G and es!ec al ly do
not forget # as yo$ ad6ance# t hat e6ery Mason# ho3e6er h$mbl e# s
yo$r brot her# and t he labor ng man yo$r !eerO Remember al3ays
t hat all Masonry s 3or/# and t hat t he t ro3el s an embl em of t he
Degrees n t hs %o$ncl , Labor# 3hen rght ly $nderst ood# s both
nobl e and ennobl ng# and ntended to de6elo! man? s moral and
s!rt $al nat $re# and not to be deemed a d sgrace or a m sfort $ne,
E6eryt hng aro$nd $s s# n t s bear ngs and nfl $ences# moral ,
The serene and brght morn ng# 3hen 3e reco6er o$r consco$s
e4st ence from the embraces of sl ee!G 3hen# from that mage of
Deat h God cal ls $s t o a ne3 l fe# and agan g6es $s e4st ence# and
- s merc es 6 st $s n e6ery brght ray and glad tho$ght # and
cal l for grat t$de and contentG the s lence of that early da3n# t he
h$shed sl ence# as t 3ere# of e4!ect at onG the holy e6ent de# t s
cool ng bree<e# ts lengt hen ng shado3s# ts fall ng shades# t s st l l
and sober ho$rG the s$l try noont de and t he st ern and sol emn
mdnghtG and S!rngDt me# and chast en ng A$t $mnG and S$mD
mer# t hat $nbars o$r gat es# and carr es $s forth am dst t he e6erD
rene3ed 3onders of the 3orldG and ; nt er# t hat gat hers $s
aro$nd t he e6en ng hearth (DDall t hese# as they !ass# to$ch by t $rns
t he s!r ngs of t he s!rt $al l fe n $s# and are cond$ct ng that l fe
t o good or e6 l, The dl e 3at chDhand often !o nt s t o somethng
3 thn $sG and t he shado3 of the gnomon on the d al often fal ls
$!on the conscence,
A l fe of l abor s not a stat e of nfer or ty or degradat on, The
Al m ghty has not cast man? s l ot beneat h the E$ et shades# and
amd glad gro6es and l o6ely hl ls# 3 th no tas/ to !erformG 3 t h
nothng to do b$t to r se $! and eat# and t o l e do3n and rest ,
-e has orda ned that ;or/ shall be done# n al l the d3el l ngs of
l fe# n e6ery !rod$ct 6e fel d# n e6ery b$sy c ty# and on e6ery
3a6e of e6ery ocean, And t h s -e has done# beca$se t has
!lrased - m to g6e man a nat$re dest ned t o hgher ends t han
ndolent re!ose and rres!ons ble !roft less nd$lgenceG and beD
ca$se# for de6el o! ng the energes of s$ch a nat$re# 3or/ 3as the
necessary and !ro!er el ement, ;e mght as 3ell as/ 3hy -e
co$ld not ma/e t3o and t 3o be s 4# as 3hy -e co$ld not de6el o!
t hese energ es 3 tho$t the nstr$mental ty of 3or/, They are
eE$ally m!ossb l t es,
Th s Masonry teaches# as a great Tr$thG a great moral landD
mar/# t hat o$ght to g$ de t he co$rse of all man/ nd, It teaches
ts to l ng chl dren t hat t he scene of ther da ly l fe s al l s! r t$al#
t hat the 6ery m!l ements of ther t o l# the fabr cs they 3ea6e# t he
merchand se they bart er# are desgned for s! r t$al endsG t hat so
bele6ng# t her daly l ot may be to them a s!here for the noblest
m!ro6ement, That 3h ch 3e do n o$r nt er6als of rel a4at on#
o$r ch$rchDgo ng# and o$r boo/Dreadng# are es!ecal ly desgned t o
!re!are o$r m nds for t he act on of Lfe, ;e are to hear and read
and med t ate# t hat 3e may act 3el l G and the act on of L fe s tself
t he great f el d for s!r t $al m!ro6ement , There s no t as/ of nD
d$stry or b$s ness# n f eld or forest # on the 3harf or the sh !? s
dec/# n the off ce or t he e4change# b$t has s!rt $al ends, There
s no care or cross of o$r daly l abor# b$t 3as es!ec al ly orda ned
t o n$rt$re n $s !at ence# cal mness# resol$t on# !erse6erance# genD
t leness# d snterestedness# magnan m ty, 8or s there any t ool or
m!lement of tol # b$t s a !art of t he great s!r t $al nstr$menD
t al ty,
Al l the rel at ons of l fe# t hose of !arent# ch ld# brother# sst er#
fr end# assoc ate# lo6er and bel o6ed# h$sband# 3 fe# are moral #
t hro$gho$t e6ery l 6ng t e and t hrll ng ner6e that blnd t hem
t oget her, They cannot s$bsst a day nor an ho$r 3 tho$t !$tt ng
t he mnd t o a tral of t s tr$t h# f del ty# forbearance# and d snterD
est edness,
A great cty s one e4t ended scene of moral act on, There s
blo3 str$c/ n t b$t has a !$r!ose# $lt mately good or bad#
and t herefore moral , There s no act on !erformed# b$t has a
mot 6eG and mot 6es are t he s!ecal 5 $r sd ct on of moral ty,
EE$ !ages# ho$ses# and f$rnt $re are symbol s of 3hat s moral#
and t hey n a tho$sand 3ays m n st er to rght or 3rong feel ng,
E6eryt hng that belongs t o $s# m n st er ng t o o$r comfort or l $4D
$ry# a3a/ens n $s emot ons of !r de or grat t$de# of selfshness
or 6antyG t ho$ghts of sel fD nd$lgence# or merc f$l remembrances
of t he needy and the dest t $te,
E6eryt hng acts $!on and nfl$ences $s, God? s great l a3 of
sym!at hy and harmony s !ot ent and nfl e4 bl e as -s l a3 of
gra6t at on, A sent ence embodyng a nobl e t ho$ght st rs o$r
bloodG a nose made by a ch ld frets and e4as!erat es $s# and nfl$D
ences o$r act ons,
A 3orl d of s!r t$al ob5ect s# nfl$ences# and relat ons l es aro$nd
$s al l , ;e al l 6ag$ely deem t t o 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 3t h the s!r t$al scene aro$nd h m# hears the 6oce of the
s!rt n e6ery so$nd# sees t s sgns n e6ery !ass ng form of
t h ngs# and feels t s m!$l se n all act on# !ass on# and be ng,
Fery near to $s l es t he mnes of 3 sdomG $ns$s!ected they l e al l
aro$nd $s, There s a secret n the s m!l est t h ngs# a 3onder n
t he !la nest# a charm n t he d$ll est ,
;e are al l nat $ral ly see/ers of 3onders, ;e tra6el far t o see
t he ma5esty of old r$ns# t he 6enerable forms of the hoary mo$nD
t ans# great 3at erDfall s# and gal leres of art , And yet the 3orl dD
3onder s all aro$nd $sG the 3onder of sett ng s$ns# and e6enng
st ars# of the mag c s!r ngDt me# the bl ossomng of t he t rees# the
st range transformat ons of t he mothG the 3onder of t he Infn t e
D 6 n ty and of - s bo$ndl ess re6el at on, There s no s!lendor
beyond that 3hch set s t s mornng t hrone n the gol den East G no#
dome s$bl me as t hat of -ea6enG no bea$ty so fa r as that of the
6erdant# bl ossom ng eart hG no !l ace# ho3e6er n6est ed 3t h t he
sanct t es of ol d t me# l /e t hat home 3hch s h$shed and fol ded
3 thn t he embrace of the h$mbl est 3all and roof,
And al l these are b$t the symbol s of t h ngs far greater and
hgher, All s b$t the cloth ng of the s! r t, In t h s 6est $re of
t me s 3ra!!ed the mmort al nat $re( n t h s sho3 of c rc$mD
st ance and form st ands re6eal ed the st$!endo$s real ty, Let man
b$t be# as he s# a l 6 ng so$l # comm$n ng 3t h h msel f and 3 th
God# and hs 6 s on becomes et ern tyG h s abode# nfntyG h s
home# t he bosom of al lDembrac ng l o6e,
The great !robl em of -$man ty s 3ro$ght o$t n the h$mbl est
abodesG no more than t hs s done n the h ghest , A h$man heart
t hrobs beneat h t he beggar? s gabard neG and t hat and no more st rs
3 th t s beat ng t he Prnce? s mantle, The bea$ty of Lo6e# the
charm of "rendsh !# the sacredness of Sorro3# t he hero sm of
Pat ence# the noble Sel fDsacr f ce# t hese and t he r l /e# alone# ma/e
l fe t o be l fe ndeed# and are t s grande$r and t s !o3er, They
are the !rcel ess t reas$res and glory of h$man tyG and t hey are
not th ngs of condt on, Al l !l aces and all scenes are al /e cl othed
3 th t he grande$r and charm of 6 rt$es s$ch as these,
The m ll on occas ons 3 l l come to $s all # n the ordnary !at hs
of o$r l fe# n o$r homes# and by o$r f res des# 3heren 3e may
act as nobly# as f# al l o$r l fe long# 3e led arm es# sat n senat es#
or 6 s t ed beds of sc/ness and !a n, Faryng e6ery ho$r# t he
m l l on occas ons 3l l come n 3h ch 3e may restra n o$r !asD
s ons# s$bd$e o$r hearts to gent leness and !at ence# resgn o$r
o3n nt erst for anot her? s ad6antage# s!ea/ 3ords of /ndness and
3 sdom# ra se the fall en# cheer the fa nt ng and s c/ n s!r t# and
soften and ass$age t he 3ear ness and b tt erness of t her mortal lot,
To e6ery Mason there 3l l be o!!ort $n ty eno$gh for t hese, They
cannot be 3r tt en on hs tombG b$t t hey 3l l be 3rt ten dee! n
t he heart s of men# of frends# of ch ldren# of / ndred all aro$nd
h m# n the boo/ of the great acco$nt# and# n t her 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
l a3s of Masonry let $s all str 6e t o obeyO And so may o$r hearts
become tr$e t em!l es of the L6 ng GodO And may -e enco$rage
o$r <eal # s$st an o$r ho!es# and ass$re $s of s$ccessO

PFII, K8IG-T O" T-E EAST A8D ;EST,
Th s s the frst of the Phl oso!hcal Degrees of t he Anc ent
and Acce!ted Scot t sh R teG and t he begnnng of a co$rse of nD
st r$ct on 3hch 3 ll f$l ly $n6el t o yo$ t he heart and nner mysD
t er es of Masonry, Do not des!a r beca$se yo$ ha6e oft en seemed
on t he !o nt of at t anng the nmost lght# and ha6e as often been
dsa!!onted, In all t me# t r$th has been hdden $nder symbol s#
and often $nder a s$ccess on of al l egores( 3here 6e l aft er 6el
had t o be !enet rated before the tr$e Lght 3as reached# and the
essent al t r$th stood re6eal ed, The -$man Lght s b$t an mD
!erfect refl ect on of a ray of t he Inf nt e and D 6 ne,
;e are abo$t t o a!!roach t hose ancent Rel gons 3hch once
r$l ed t he mnds of men# and 3hose r$ns enc$mber t he !la ns of
t he great Past # as the bro/en col $mns of Pal myra and Tadmor l e
bleach ng on t he sands of the desert , They rse before $s# t hose
old# strange# myst ero$s creeds and fa ths# shro$ded n the m st s
of ant E$ ty# and stal / d mly and $ndef ned along t he l ne 3h ch
d6 des T me from Et erntyG and forms of strange# 3l d# startl ng
bea$ty m ngled n t he 6ast throngs of fg$res 3 th sha!es monD
st ro$s# grot esE$e# and h deo$s,
The rel g on ta$ght by Moses# 3hch# l /e the la3s of Egy!t #
en$cat ed t he !r nc !le of e4cl$s on# borro3ed# at e6ery !er od
of t s e4 stence# from all the creeds 3t h 3h ch t came n cont act,
;h l e# by t he st $des of the learned and 3se# t enrched tsel f
3 th t he most adm rable !rnc!l es of t he rel gons of Egy!t and
As a# t 3as changed# n the 3ander ngs of t he Peo!le# by e6eryD
t h ng t hat 3as most m!$re or sed$ct 6e n the !agan manners
and s$!erst t ons, It 3as one t h ng n the t mes of Moses and
Aaron# another n t hose of Da6d and Solomon# and st l l another
n t hose of Dan el and Ph l o,
At t he t me 3hen &ohn the Ba!t st made h s a!!earance n the
desert# near t he shores of the Dead Sea# al l t he old !hl oso!hcal
and relg o$s syst ems 3ere a!!ro4 mat ng t o3ard each ot her, A
general lasst $de ncl ned the m nds of al l to3ard the E$ et$de of
t hat amal gamat on of doctr nes for 3h ch the e4!edt ons of Al e4D
ander and the more !eacef$l occ$rrences t hat foll o3ed# 3 th t he
est abl shment n Asa and Afr ca of many Grecan dynast es and
a great n$mber of Grecan col on es# had !re!ared the 3ay, Aft er
t he nt erm ngl ng of dfferent nat ons# 3h ch res$l ted from t he
3ars of Al e4ander n threeDE$art ers of t he globe# t he doctrnes of
Greece# of Egy!t# of Pers a# and of Inda# met and ntermngl ed
e6ery3here, Al l the barr ers that had formerly /e!t the nat ons
a!art # 3ere t hro3n do3nG and 3hl e t he Peo!le of the ;est
readly connect ed t he r fa th 3 th those of t he East # t hose of the
Orent hastened t o l earn the trad t ons of Rome and t he legends
of At hens, ;h l e t he Ph loso!hers of Greece# all Me4ce!t t he dsD
c !les of E!c$r$sN more or l ess Pl at on st s# se<ed eargerly $!on
t he bel efs and doctr nes of t he East # DDthe &e3s and Egy!t ans# beD
fore then t he most e4cl$s 6e of al l !eo!l es# yelded t o that eclect D
c sm 3hch !re6a l ed among t her masters# t he Gree/s and Romans,
'nder the same nfl $ences of tol erat on# e6en those 3ho emD
braced %hrst an ty# m ngl ed t oget her the ol d and t he ne3# %hr sD
t anty and Ph loso!hy# the A!ost ol c teach ngs and t he t radt ons
of Mythology The man of ntel lect # de6ot ee of one syst em#
rarely ds!l aces t 3 th another n al l t s !$rty, The !eo!l e t a/e
s$ch a creed as s offered t hem, Accordngly# the d st nct on beD
t 3een t he esoter c and the e4oterc doctr ne# mmemoral n ot her
creeds# eas ly ganed a foothold among many of the %hr st ansG
and t 3as hel d by a 6ast n$mber# e6en d$rng the !reachng of
Pa$l # t hat t he 3rt ngs of t he A!ostl es 3ere ncom!let eG that t hey
conta ned only t he germs of another doctr ne# 3hch m$st rece 6e
from the hands of !hl oso!hy# not only the systemat c arrangeD
ment 3h ch 3as 3ant ng# b$t all t he de6elo!ment 3hch l ay conD
ceal ed t here n, The 3r t ngs of the A!ostl es# they sad# n addressD
ng t hemsel 6es to man/nd n general # en$nc ated only the art cl es
of t he 6$l gar fa thG b$t transm t ted the myster es of /no3ledge to
s$!er or m nds# t o the El ect # DDmyst er es handed do3n from genD
erat on to generat on n esoterc trad t onsG and t o t h s scence of
t he mysteres they ga6e t he name of Gnoss,
The Gnost cs der 6ed ther leadng doctrnes and deas from
Plat o and Ph l o# the HendDa6est a and t he Kabalah# and t he Sacred
boo/s of Ind a and Egy!t G and th$s ntrod$ced nt o the bosom
of %hr st an ty the cosmologcal and theoso!h cal s!ec$lat ons#
3hch had formed t he l arger !ort on of the anc ent rel g ons of
t he Orent# 5 oned t o those of t he Egy!tan# Gree/# and &e3 sh
doctr nes# 3hch the 8eoDPlat on sts had eE$al ly ado!t ed n the
Occ dent ,
Emanat on from t he De ty of all s!rt $al be ngs# !rogress6e
degenerat on of t hese be ngs from emanat on to emanat on# reD
dem!t on and ret$rn of al l t o the !$r ty of the %reat orG and#
after t he reDest abl shment of t he !r m t 6e harmony of all # a forD
t $nat e and t r$ly d6ne condt on of all # n t he bosom of GodG
s$ch 3ere the f$ndament al teach ngs of Gnost c sm, The gen$s
of t he Or ent # 3 th ts contem!l at ons# rradat ons# and nt$ t ons#
dctated t s doctr nes, It s lang$age corres!onded to ts or gn,
"$ll of magery# t had all the magnfcence# t he nconsst ences#
and t he mob l ty of t he fg$rat 6e style,
Behol d# t sa d# the l ght # 3hch emanates from an mmense
cent re of Lght# that s!reads e6ery3here t s bene6ol ent raysG so
do t he s!rt s of Lght emanat e from the D6ne Lght, Behol d#
al l the s!rngs 3hch no$rsh# embel l sh# fert l <e# and !$rfy t he
Eart hG t hey emanate from one and t he same oceanG so from t he
bosom of t he D 6 n ty emanat e so many streams# 3hch form and
fl l the $n6erse of ntell gences, Behol d n$mbers# 3h ch al l
emanate from one !r mt 6e n$mber# al l resemble t # al l are comD
!osed of t s essence# and st l l 6ary nfn telyG and $t terances# deD
com!osable nto so many syll abl es and elements# al l conta ned n
t he !r m t 6e ;ord# and st l l nf n tely 6ar o$sG so the 3orld of
Int el l gences emanat ed from a Pr mary Intell gence# and t hey al l
resembl e t# and yet d s!lay an nfnt e 6arety of e4 stences,
It re66ed and comb ned the ol d doctr nes of t he Orent and the
Occ dent G and t fo$nd n many !assages of t he Gos!el s and the
Pastoral lett ers# a 3arrant for dong so, %hrst h msel f s!o/e n
!arabl es and all egores# &ohn borro3ed t he engmatcal l ang$age
of t he Pl at onst s# and Pa$l oft en nd$lged n ncom!rehens bl e
rha!sodes# t he meanng of 3hch co$l d ha6e been cl ear to the
In t ates alone,
It s adm tt ed t hat t he cradl e of Gnost c sm s !robably to be
l oo/ed for n Syra# and e6en n Palest ne, Most of ts e4!o$ndD
ers 3rote n that corr$!ted form of t he Gree/ $sed by t he -el lenD
st c &e3s# and n t he Se!t $ag nt and the 8e3 Test amentG and
t here s a str/ng anal ogy bet3een ther doctrnes and those of
t he &$daeoDEgy!t an Ph l o# of Ale4andr aG t self the seat of three
school s# at once !hl oso!hc and rel g o$sDDt he Gree/# the Egy!D
t an# and t he &e3sh,
Pyt hagoras and Pl at o# the most myst cal of the Grecan Phl osD
o!hers Mthe lat ter he r to the doctrnes of the formerN# and 3ho
had t ra6el led# t he latt er n Egy!t # and t he former n Phoenca#
Inda# and Persa# also ta$ght the esot er c doctrne and the d st ncD
t on bet3een the nt at ed and t he !rofane, The domnant docD
t r nes of Pl atonsm 3ere fo$nd n Gnost c sm, Emanat on of
Int el l gences from t he bosom of t he De tyG t he gong astray n
error and t he s$fferngs of s!r ts# so l ong as t hey are remot e from
God# and m!rsoned n mat t erG 6an and longDcont n$ed effort s
t o arr 6e at t he /no3ledge of the Tr$t h# and reDenter nt o t he r
!r m t 6e $n on 3t h t he S$!reme BengG all ance of a !$re and
d6 ne so$l 3 th an rrat onal so$l # t he seat of e6 l des resG angel s
or demons 3ho d3ell n and go6ern the !l anet s# ha6ng b$t an
m!erfect /no3ledge of the deas that !res ded at the creat onG
regenerat on of al l be ngs by t her ret$rn to the /osmos
noetos# t he 3orl d of Intel l gences# and t s %h ef# t he
S$!reme BengG sol e !ossble mode of reDestabl sh ng t hat !r m D
t 6e harmony of the creat on# of 3hch t he m$sc of t he s!heres
of Pyt hagoras 3as t he mageG t hese 3ere t he analog es of t he t 3o
syst emsG and 3e dsco6er n them some of the deas that form a
!art of MasonryG n 3hch# n t he !resent m$t l ated condt on of
t he symbol c Degrees# they are d sg$ sed and o6erl ad 3t h f ct on
and abs$rdty# or !resent t hemsel 6es as cas$al hnts that are !assD
ed by 3hol ly $nnot ced,
The dst nct on bet 3een t he esot erc and e4ot er c doctrnes Ma
dst nct on !$rely MasoncN# 3as al3ays and from t he 6ery earl est
t mes !reser6ed among the Gree/s, It remo$nted to t he fab$l o$s
t mes of Or!he$sG and the myst er es of Theoso!hy 3ere fo$nd n
al l the r trad t ons and myt hs, And aft er t he t me of Al e4ander#
t hey resorted for nst r$ct on# dogmas# and myst er es# t o all the
school s# t o t hose of Egy!t and Asa# as 3el l as those of Anc ent
Thrace# S c ly# Etr$ra# and At t ca,
The &e3 shDGree/ School of Ale4andr a s /no3n only by t 3o
of t s %h efs# Ar st ob$l $s and Ph lo# both &e3s of Ale4andra n
Egy!t , Bel ong ng to As a by t s org n# t o Egy!t by ts resdence#
t o Greece by t s l ang$age and st $des# t stro6e to sho3 t hat al l
t r$ths embedded n the !hl oso!hes of ot her co$ntr es 3ere transD
!lant ed th t her from Palest ne, Ar stob$l $s decl ared t hat all t he
facts and deta l s of t he &e3 sh Scr!t $res 3ere so many all egor es#
conceal ng t he most !rofo$nd mean ngs# and that Plat o had borD
ro3ed from t hem all h s f nest deas, Ph l o# 3ho l 6ed a cent $ry
after h m# foll o3 ng the same t heory# endea6ored to sho3 t hat the
-ebre3 3r t ngs# by the r system of al legores# 3ere the tr$e
so$rce of all relgo$s and !hl oso!hcal doctrnes, Accord ng t o
h m# t he l t eral mean ng s for the 6$lgar alone, ;hoe6er has
medt ated on !hl oso!hy# !$rfed h msel f by 6rt $e# and ra sed
h msel f by cont em!l at on# to God and the ntel lect $al 3orld# and
rece6ed t her ns! rat on# !erces t he gross en6elo!e of the let ter#
dsco6ers a 3hol ly d fferent order of th ngs# and s nt at ed nt o
mysteres# of 3h ch the elementary or l teral nst r$ct on offers b$t
an m!erfect mage, A hstor cal fact # a fg$re# a 3ord# a let ter# a
n$mber# a r te# a c$st om# t he !arable or 6 s on of a !ro!het # 6el s
t he most !rofo$nd t r$thsG and he 3ho has the /ey of scence 3 l l
nter!ret all accord ng t o t he lght he !ossesses,
Aga n 3e see the symbol sm of Masonry# and the search of t he
%and dat e for l ght , @Let men of narro3 m nds 3t hdra3# @ he
says# @3 t h cl osed ears, ;e transm t t he d6 ne myst er es to
t hose 3ho ha6e rece 6ed t he sacred n t at on# t o those 3ho !racD
t se tr$e !ety and 3ho are not ensla6ed by the em!ty tra!! ngs
of 3ords or t he !reconce6ed o!nons of t he !agans, @
To Phl o# the S$!reme Be ng 3as the Pr m t 6e Lght # or the
Archety!e of Lght # So$rce 3hence the rays emanat e t hat l l$m D
nate So$ls, -e 3as al so the So$l of t he 'n6erse# and as s$ch
acted n al l t s !arts, -e - mself f ll s and l mt s - s 3hole Be ng,
- s Po3ers and Frt $es fl l and !enetrate al l , These Po3ers
Md$name sN are S! r ts d st nct from God# t he @Ideas@
of Pl at o !erson f ed, -e s 3 tho$t beg nn ng# and l 6es n the
!rot oty!e of T me MaonN,
- s mage s T-E ;ORD# a form more brl l ant t han
freG that not be ng t he !$re l ght , Ths LOGOS d3el ls n GodG
for the S$!reme Be ng ma/es to - mself 3 thn - s Int el l gence
t he ty!es or deas of e6eryt hng that s t o become real ty n th s
;orl d, The LOGOS s the 6eh cle by 3hch God acts on the 'n D
6erse# and may be com!ared t o t he s!eech of man,
The LOGOS be ng t he ;orld of Ideas# by means
3hereof God has creat ed 6s ble thngs# -e s t he most anc ent
God# n com!arson 3 th the ;orl d# 3h ch s t he yo$ngest !roD
d$ct on, The LOGOS# %hef of Intel lgence# of 3hch -e s t he
general re!resent at 6e# s named Archangel# ty!e and re!resent aD
t 6e of all s!rt s# e6en t hose of mort al s, -e s al so styled the
manDty!e and !r mt 6e man# Adam Kadmon,
God only s ; se, The 3sdom of man s b$t t he refl ect on and
mage of that of God, -e s t he "ather# and - s ;ISDOM t he
mother of creat on( for -e $nt ed - msel f 3 th ;ISDOM MSo!haN#
and comm$ncated to t t he germ of creat on# and t
bro$ght fort h the mater al 3orl d, -e creat ed the deal 3orld
only# and ca$sed the mater al 3orl d to be made real aft er t s ty!e#
by - s LOGOS# 3h ch s - s s!eech# and at the same t me the Idea
of Ideas# the Intell ect$al ;orl d, The Intell ect $al % ty 3as b$t
t he Tho$ght of the Arch tect # 3ho med tat ed the creat on# accordD
ng t o that !lan of the Materal % ty,
The ;ord s not only t he %reat or# b$t occ$!es the !l ace of t he
S$!reme Beng, Thro$gh - m all the Po3ers and Att r b$tes of
God act , On t he ot her s de# as f rst re!resentat 6e of t he -$man
"amly# -e s the Prot ect or of men and ther She!herd,
God g6es t o man the So$l or Int el l gence# 3hch e4 sts before
t he body# and 3h ch he $ntes 3 th the body, The reasonng
Prnc !l e comes from God t hro$gh t he ;ord# and comm$nes 3t h
God and 3 th t he ;ordG b$t t here s also n man an rrat onal
Prnc !l e# t hat of t he ncl nat ons and !ass ons 3h ch !rod$ce
dsorder# emanat ng from nfer or s! r t s 3ho f l l t he a r as
mnsters of God, The body# ta/en from the Eart h# and t he
rrat onal Prnc !l e t hat an mates t conc$rrent ly 3t h the rat onal
Prnc !l e# are hat ed by God# 3h l e the rat onal so$l 3hch -e
has g6en t# s# as t 3ere# ca!t 6e n th s !r son# t h s coff n# that
encom!asses t , The !resent condt on of man s not h s !r mD
t 6e condt on# 3hen he 3as the mage of t he Logos, -e has
fall en from hs f rst est at e, B$t he may rase h mself agan# by
fol l o3 ng the d rect ons of ;ISDOM and of t he Angel s
3hch God has comm ss oned t o a d h m n free ng h mself from
t he bonds of t he body# and combat ng E6 l # t he e4 st ence 3hereof
God has !erm t t ed# to f$rn sh h m the means of e4ercs ng hs
l berty, The so$l s that are !$rfed# not by t he La3 b$t by l ght#
r se to the -ea6enly regons# to en5 oy t here a !erfect fel cty,
Those that !erse6ere n e6l go from body t o body# t he seats of
!ass ons and e6 l desres, The fam l ar l neament s of t hese docD
t r nes 3ll be recogn <ed by al l 3ho read the E! st les of St, Pa$l#
3ho 3rot e after Phl o# t he l att er l 6ng t l l the regn of %alg$l a#
and be ng the cont em!orary of %hrst ,
And t he Mason s fam lar 3t h t hese doctr nes of Ph l o( that
t he S$!reme Beng s a cent re of Lght 3hose rays or emanat ons
!er6ade the 'n6erseG for t hat s the Lght for 3h ch all Masonc
5 o$rneys are a search# and of 3hch the s$n and moon n o$r
Lodges are only emblems( that Lght and Dar/ness# ch ef enem es
from the begnn ng of T me# ds!$te 3 t h each ot her the em!re
of t he 3orl dG 3hch 3e symbol <e by t he canddate 3anderng n
dar/ness and be ng bro$ght to l ght ( that t he 3orld 3as creat ed#
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 hs deas#
a ded by an I8TELLIGE8%E# or ;ISDOM# 3h ch g 6es one
of -s At trb$t esG n 3hch 3e see the occ$l t mean ng of the neD
cessty of reco6er ng @the ;ord@G and of o$r t 3o col$mns of
STRE8GT- and ;ISDOM# 3h ch are al so t he t 3o !aral lel l nes that
bo$nd t he c rcl e re!resent ng t he 'n6erse( that the 6 s bl e 3orl d
s t he mage of the n6s bl e 3orl dG that t he essence of t he -$man
So$l s t he mage of God# and t e4 sted before the bodyG that the
ob5ect of t s terrest r al l fe s t o dsengage t sel f of t s body or ts
se!$l chreG and that t 3 ll ascend to the -ea6enly reg ons 3henD
e6er t shall be !$r fedG n 3hch 3e see t he mean ng# no3 al most
forgot ten n o$r Lodges# of the mode of !re!arat on of t he candD
date for a!!rent cesh!# and h s t est s and !$r fcat ons n t he frst
Degree# accord ng t o the Ancent and Acce!t ed Scot t sh Rt e,
Ph l o ncor!orated n h s ecl ectcsm ne t her Egy!t an nor
Orental element s, B$t t here 3ere ot her &e3 sh Teachers n Al e4D
andr a 3ho dd both, The &e3s of Egy!t 3ere sl ghtly 5eal o$s of#
and a l t tl e host l e to# t hose of Palest ne# !art c$l arly after the
erect on of the sanct $ary at Leont o!ol s by the -ghDPr est OnasG
and t herefore t hey admred and magnfed those sages# 3ho# l /e
&erem ah# had res ded n Egy!t , @The 3 sdom of Sol omon@ 3as
3rt ten at Ale4andra# and# n the t me of St , &erome# 3as at trbD
$ted to Ph l oG b$t t cont a ns !r nc !les at 6ar ance 3 th h s,
It !erson f es ; sdom# and dra3s bet3een t s chl dren and the
Profane# t he same l ne of demarcat on t hat Egy!t had long before
t a$ght t o t he &e3s, That dst nct on e4 sted at the beg nn ng of
t he Mosac creed, Moshah h mself 3as an Int ate n the myster es
of Egy!t# as he 3as com!ell ed to be# as the ado!ted son of t he
da$ghter of Pharaoh# Tho$or s# da$ght er of SesostrsDRamsesG
3ho# as her t omb and mon$ment s sho3# 3as# n t he rght of her
nfant h$sband# Regent of Lo3er Egy!t or the Del t a at t he t me
of t he -ebre3 Pro!het? s b rt h# re gn ng at -el o!ol s, She 3as
al so# as the rel efs on her t omb sho3# a Prest ess of -AT-OR and
8EIT-# t he t3o great !r me6al goddesses, As her ado!t ed son#
l 6 ng n her Palace and !resence forty years# and d$r ng t hat
t me scarcely acE$anted 3t h hs brethren the &e3s# the la3 of
Egy!t com!el led h s nt at on( and 3e fnd n many of hs enact D
ment s the ntent on of !reser6 ng# bet 3een t he common !eo!le
and t he Int ates# the l ne of se!arat on 3hch he fo$nd n Egy!t,
Moshah and Ahar$n h s brot her# the 3hol e seres of -ghDPr ests#
t he %o$nc l of t he +2 El ders# Sal omoh and the ent re s$ccess on
of Pro!hets# 3ere n !ossess on of a hgher scenceG and of t hat
sc ence Masonry s# at least# t he l neal descendant , It 3as fam l D
arly /no3n as T-E K8O;LEDGE O" T-E ;ORD,
AM'8# at frst t he God of Lo3er Egy!t only# 3here Moshah
3as reared Ma 3ord that n -ebre3 means Tr$t hN# 3as t he S$D
!reme God, -e 3as styled @t he %el est al Lord# 3ho sheds Lght
on hdden t h ngs, @ -e 3as the so$rce of t hat d 6 ne l fe# of 3h ch
t he cr$4 ansat a s the symbol G and the so$rce of al l !o3er, -e
$nt ed all the att rb$tes that t he Anc ent Orent al Theoso!hy
assgned t o the S$!reme Be ng, -e 3as t he Pleroma#
or @"$l lness of t h ngs# @ for -e com!rehended n - msel f e6eryD
t h ngG and the LIG-TG for he 3as t he S$nDGod, -e 3as $nD
changeable n the m dst of e6eryth ng !henomenal n h s 3orl ds,
-e created not hngG b$t e6erythng emanat ed from - mG and of
- m all t he other Gods 3ere b$t man fest at ons,
The Ram 3as - s l 6 ng symbolG 3h ch yo$ see re!rod$ced n
t h s Degree# lyng on the boo/ 3t h se6en seal s on the tracngD
board, -e ca$sed the creat on of t he 3orl d by t he Pr mt 6e
Tho$ght MEnno aN# or S! r t MPne$maN# t hat
ss$ed from h m by means of hs Fo ce or t he ;ORDG and 3h ch
Tho$ght or S! r t 3as !ersonfed as the Goddess 8EIT-, She#
t oo# 3as a d 6 nty of Lght # and mot her of t he S$nG and t he "east
of Lam!s 3as celebrated n her honor at Sa s, The %reat 6e
Po3er# anot her man festat on of De ty# !roceedng to the creat on
conce 6ed of n her# t he D6 ne Intel l gence# !rod$ced 3 th t s
;ord the 'n 6erse# symbol <ed by an egg ss$ng from t he mo$th
of K8EP-G from 3hch egg came P-T-A# mage of the S$!reme
Int el l gence as real <ed n the 3orld# and t he ty!e of that manD
fested n manG the !rnc !al agent # al so# of 8at $re# or t he creat 6e
and !rod$ct 6e "re, P-RE or RS# t he S$n# or %elest al Lght#
3hose symbol 3as the !ont 3 t hn a c rcl e# 3as the son of
P-T-AG and TIP-E# h s 3 fe# or the celest al f rmament # 3 t h t he
se6en celest al bod es# an mated by s!rt s of gen that go6ern
t hem# 3as re!resented on many of the mon$ment s# cl ad n bl$e
or yell o3# her garments s!r n/l ed 3t h st ars# and accom!an ed by
t he s$n# moon# and f 6e !l anetsG and she 3as the ty!e of ;sdom#
and t hey of the Se6en Planetary S! r ts of the Gnost cs# t hat 3 th
her !res ded o6er and go6erned the s$bl$nary 3orld,
In t hs Degree# $n/no3n for a h$ndred years t o t hose 3ho ha6e
!ract sed t # t hese emblems re!rod$ced refer t o t hese old doct r nes,
The lamb# the yell o3 hang ngs stre3ed 3 th stars# t he se6en
col$mns# candl est c/s# and seal s al l recall t hem t o $s,
The Lon 3as t he symbol of AT-OMDRE# t he Great God of
'!!er Egy!t G t he -a3/# of RA or P-REG the Eagle# of ME8DESG
t he B$l l# of APISG and t hree of these are seen $nder the !l atform
on 3hch o$r al tar stands,
The f rst -ERMES 3as t he I8TELLIGE8%E# or ;ORD of God,
Mo6ed 3t h com!ass on for a race l 6ng 3 tho$t la3# and 3 shng
t o t each t hem t hat they s!rang from -s bosom# and to !ont o$t
t o t hem t he 3ay that t hey sho$l d go Mt he boo/s 3h ch t he frst
-ermes# the same 3t h Enoch# had 3rt ten on the myst er es of
d6 ne sc ence# n t he sacred characters# beng $n/no3n t o t hose
3ho l 6ed after t he floodN# God sent to man OSIRIS and ISIS# acD
accom!aned by T-OT-# t he ncarnat on or terrest ral re!et t on of
t he frst -ermesG 3ho ta$ght men the art s# sc ence# and the cerD
emon es of rel gonG and then ascended t o -ea6en or the Moon,
OSIRIS 3as t he Pr nc !l e of Good, T.P-O8# l /e A-RIMA8# 3as
t he !r nc !le and so$rce of al l that s e6 l n the moral and !hysD
cal order, L /e the Satan of Gnost c sm# he 3as confo$nded
3 th Mat ter,
"rom Egy!t or Persa t he ne3 Platon st s borro3ed the dea#
and t he Gnost cs rece6ed t from them# that man# n h s t erresD
t r al career# s s$ccess 6ely $nder the nfl $ence of the Moon# of
Merc$ry# of Fen$s# of t he S$n# of Mars# of &$! t er# and of
Sat$rn# $nt l he f nally reaches t he Elysan " eldsG an dea agan
symbol <ed n the Se6en Seal s,
The &e3s of Syra and &$dea 3ere the d rect !rec$rsors of
Gnost c smG and n t he r doctr nes 3ere am!l e or ental el ement s,
These &e3s had had 3 th the Orent # at t 3o d fferent !er ods# nt D
mate relat ons# fam l ar < ng them 3t h t he doct r nes of Asa# and
es!ec ally of %haldea and PersaGDDt her forced resdence n %enD
t ral Asa $nder t he Assyrans and PersansG and t he r 6ol $nt ary
ds!erson o6er the 3hole East # 3hen s$b5ect s of t he Sel e$cdae
and t he Romans, L 6 ng near t 3oDthrds of a cent$ry# and many
of t hem l ong after3ard# n Meso!otama# the cradle of the r raceG
s!ea/ng the same lang$age# and t her chl dren reared 3t h those
of t he %haldeans# Assyrans# Medes# and Pers ans# and rece6ng
from them t her names Mas t he case of Danayal# 3ho 3as cal led
Baelt asatsar# !ro6esN# t hey necessarly ado!t ed many of t he docD
t r nes of the r conE$erors, The r descendants# as A<ra and 8aD
hamaah sho3 $s# hardly des red t o l ea6e Pers a# 3hen they 3ere
al lo3ed t o do so, They had a s!ec al 5$r sdct on# and go6ernors
and 5 $dges ta/en from t her o3n !eo!l eG many of t hem hel d hgh
offce# and ther ch ldren 3ere ed$cat ed 3 t h t hose of the h ghest
nobl es, Danayal 3as the frend and m n st er of the K ng# and
t he %hef of t he %oll ege of t he Mag at Babyl onG f 3e may beD
l e6e the boo/ 3hch bears h s name# and tr$st to t he nc dent s
relat ed n t s hghly f g$rat 6e and mag nat 6e style, Mordeca #
t oo# occ$!ed a hgh st at on# no less t han that of Pr me M n st er#
and Esther or Ast ar# hs co$s n# 3as the Monarch? s 3fe,
The Mag of Babylon 3ere e4!o$nders of fg$rat 6e 3r t ngs#
nter!reters of nat$re# and of dreams# DDast ronomers and d6nesG
and from t he r nfl$ences arose among the &e3s# aft er the r resc$e
from ca!t 6 ty# a n$mber of sect s# and a ne3 e4!os t on# t he mysD
t cal nt er!retat on# 3t h al l t s 3 ld fances and nfnte ca!rces,
The A ons of the Gnost cs# t he Ideas of Plat o# the Angels of the
&e3s# and t he Demons of t he Gree/s# all corres!ond to t he
"ero$ers of Horoaster,
A great n$mber of &e3 sh fam l es rema ned !ermanently n
t her ne3 co$ntryG and one of t he most celebrat ed of the r schools
3as at Babylon, They 3ere soon fam l ar <ed 3t h the doct r ne
of Horoaster# 3h ch t sel f 3as more ancent than K$ros, "rom
t he syst em of the HendDA6esta they borro3ed# and s$bseE$ently
ga6e large de6elo!ment to# e6eryt hng that co$l d be reconc led
3 th t her o3n fat hG and t hese addt ons t o t he old doctrne 3ere
soon s!read# by the constant nterco$rse of commerce# nto Syra
and Palest ne,
In t he HendDA6esta# God s Ill mt able T me, 8o org n can be
assgned t o - m( -e s so ent rely en6el o!ed n - s glory# -s
nat$re and at trb$tes are so naccess bl e t o h$man Int ell gence#
t hat -e can be only t he ob5 ect of a slent Fenerat on, %reat on
t oo/ !l ace by emanat on from - m, The frst emanat on 3as the
!r m t 6e Lght # and from that t he K ng of Lght# ORM'HD, By
t he @;ORD# @ Orm$<d creat ed t he 3orld !$re, -e s t s !reD
ser6er and &$dgeG a Be ng -oly and -ea6enlyG Int ell gence and
Kno3l edgeG the " rst Dborn of T me 3 tho$t l mt sG and n6est ed
3 th al l t he Po3ers of the S$!reme Be ng,
St l l he s# str ctly s!ea/ ng# t he "o$rth Beng, -e had a
"ero$er# a !reDe4 st ng So$l M n t he lang$age of Pl at o# a ty!e or
dealNG and t s sad of - m# t hat -e e4st ed from the beg nn ng#
n t he !r m t 6e Lght , B$t # that Lght be ng b$t an element#
and - s "ero$er a ty!e# he s# n ord nary l ang$age# the " rst Dborn
of HERO'A8EDAK-ERE8E, Behol d aga n @T-E ;ORD@
of MasonryG t he Man# on t he Trac ngDBoard of t hs DegreeG the
LIG-T t o3ard 3hch al l Masons t ra6el,
-e created aft er h s o3n mage# s 4 Gen call ed Amshas!ands#
3ho s$rro$nd hs Throne# are hs organs of comm$ncat on 3t h
nfer or s! r ts and men# transmt t o - m ther !rayers# sol c t for
t hem - s fa6ors# and ser6e t hem as model s of !$r ty and !erfecD
t on, Th$s 3e ha6e the Dem o$rgos of Gnost c sm# and the s 4
Gen t hat assst h m, These are t he -ebre3 Archangel s of t he
Planets,
The names of these Amshas!ands are Bahman# Ard behest #
Schar6er# Sa!andomad# Khordad# and Amerdad,
The fo$rt h# the -oly SAPA8DOMAD# creat ed t he frst man and
3oman,
Then ORM'HD creat ed 0* Iseds# of 3hom MIT-ERAS s t he chef,
They 3atch# 3 th Orm$<d and the Amshas!ands# o6er t he ha!! D
ness# !$r ty# and !reser6at on of t he 3orld# 3hch s $nder t her
go6ernment G and they are also models for man/nd and nter!reD
t ers of men? s !rayers, ; t h M t hras and Orm$<d# t hey ma/e a
!leroma Mor com!l et e n$mberN of 92# corres!ondng to t he t h rty
A ons of t he Gnost cs# and t o the ogdoade# dodecade# and decade
of t he Egy!t ans, Mt hras 3as t he S$nDGod# n6o/ed 3 th# and
soon confo$nded 3t h h m# becom ng the ob5ect of a s!ec al 3orD
sh!# and ecl !s ng Orm$<d h msel f,
The th rd order of !$re s! r t s s more n$mero$s, They are
t he "ero$ers# the T-O'G-TS of Orm$<d# or the IDEAS 3hch he
conce 6ed before !roceed ng to the creat on of th ngs, They t oo
are s$!er or to men, They !rot ect them d$r ng the r l fe on eart hG
t hey 3l l !$rfy t hem from e6l at ther res$rrect on, They are
t her t $t elary gen # from t he fal l t o t he com!let e regenerat on,
A-RIMA8# secondDborn of the Pr m t 6e L ght # emanated from
t# !$re l /e ORM'HDG b$t # !ro$d and amb t o$s# yel ded to 5ealD
o$sy of the "rstDborn, "or h s hat red and !rde# t he Eternal
condemned h m t o d3ell # for )0# 222 years# n t hat !art of s!ace
3here no ray of lght reachesG t he blac/ em! re of dar/ness, In
t hat !er od t he st r$ggle bet3een Lght and Dar/ness# Good and
E6 l 3l l be t ermnated,
A-RIMA8 scorned to s$bmt # and too/ t he feld aganst ORD
M'HD, To t he good s!r ts created by h s Brot her# he o!!osed an
nn$merable army of E6l Ones, To the se6en Amshas!ands he
o!!osed se6en Archde6s# attached t o the se6en Pl anet sG t o the
I<eds and "ero$ers an eE$al n$mber of De6s# 3hch bro$ght
$!on the 3orl d al l moral and !hys cal e6 ls, -ence Po6erty#
Mal ad es# Im!$r ty# En6y# %hagrn# Dr$n/enness# "al sehood#
%al $mny# and t he r horr bl e array,
The mage of Ahr man 3as the Dragon# confo$nded by t he
&e3s 3 th Sat an and the Ser!ent DTem!t er, After a regn of 9222
years# Orm$<d had creat ed t he Mat er al ;orld# n s 4 !erods#
cal l ng s$ccess 6ely nto e4st ence t he Lght # ;at er# Earth# !lants#
an mals# and Man, B$t Ahr man conc$rred n creat mg t he earth
and 3at erG for dar/ness 3as already an element # and Orm$<d
co$ld not e4cl $de t s Master, So al so the t3o conc$rred n !roD
d$cng Man, Orm$<d !rod$ced# by h s ; l l and ;ord# a Be ng
t hat 3as t he ty!e and so$rce of $n6ersal l fe for e6eryth ng t hat
e4st s $nder -ea6en, -e !laced n man a !$re !rnc!l e# or Lfe#
!roceedng from t he S$!reme Be ng, B$t Ahr man dest royed
t hat !$re !r nc !le# n t he form 3here3t h t 3as cl othedG and
3hen Orm$<d had made# of ts reco6ered and !$rf ed essence# the
frst man and 3oman# Ahr man sed$ced and tem!t ed t hem 3 th
3 ne and fr$t sG the 3oman yel dng f rst,
Often# d$r ng the three l att er !erods of 9222 years each# Ahr D
man and Dar/ness are# and are t o be# tr$m!hant, B$t t he !$re
so$ls are ass sted by the Good S!r tsG t he Tr $m!h of Good s
decreed by t he S$!reme Beng# and t he !er od of that tr $m!h
3 ll nfall bly arr6e, ;hen the 3orld shall be most affl cted 3 th
t he e6l s !o$red o$t $!on t by the s!rt s of !erdt on# three
Pro!het s 3 ll come t o br ng rel ef to mort als, SOSIOS%-# t he
!r nc !al of the Three# 3 l l regenerat e t he earth# and restore t o t
ts !r m t 6e bea$ty# st rengt h# and !$r ty, -e 3 ll 5$dge t he good
and t he 3 c/ed, Aft er the $n6ersal res$rrect on of the good# he
3 ll cond$ct t hem t o a home of e6erlast ng ha!!ness, Ahr man#
hs e6l demons# and al l 3c/ed men# 3l l al so be !$r f ed n a torD
rent of mel t ed metal , The la3 of Orm$<d 3l l regn e6ery3hereG
al l men 3l l be ha!!yG al l# en5 oy ng $nalt erable bl ss# 3l l s ng
3 th Sos osch the !ra ses of t he S$!reme Beng,
These doctr nes# the det a ls of 3h ch 3ere s!ar ngly borro3ed
by t he Phar sac &e3s# 3ere m$ch more f$l ly ado!t ed by t he
Gnost csG 3ho ta$ght the rest orat on of all t h ngs# the r ret $rn t o
t her or gnal !$re cond t on# the ha!!ness of t hose t o be sa6ed#
and t her adm ss on t o t he feast of -ea6enly ; sdom,
The doct r nes of Horoaster came org nal ly from Bact r a# an
Indan Pro6nce of Persa, 8at $rally# t herefore# t 3o$ld ncl$de
- nd$ or B$ddhst element s# as t d d, The f$ndament al dea of
B$ddh sm 3as# mat t er s$b5 $gat ng the ntel lgence# and nt ell D
gence freeng t self from t hat sla6ery, Perha!s somet h ng came
t o Gnost c sm from %h na, @Before t he chaos 3hch !receded
t he brth of -ea6en and Eart h# @ says LaoDTse$# @a s ngl e Beng
e4st ed# mmense and sl ent # mmo6able and e6er act 6eDDthe
mother of t he 'n6erse, I /no3 not t s name( b$t I des gnate t
by t he 3ord Reason, Man has hs ty!e and model n the Eart hG
Eart h n -ea6enG -ea6en n ReasonG and Reason n Itsel f, @
-ere agan are the "ero$ers# the Ideas# t he A onsDDt he REASO8
or I8TELLIGE8%E# SILE8%E# ;ORD# and
;ISDOM of the Gnostcs,
The domnant system among the &e3s after t her ca!t 6ty 3as
t hat of t he Pharosch m or Phar sees, ;het her ther name 3as
der 6ed from that of the Parsees# or fol lo3ers of Horoast er# or
from some other so$rce# t s certa n that t hey had borro3ed m$ch
of t he r doct r ne from the Persans, L/e t hem t hey cl a med t o
ha6e t he e4cl$s6e and myst er o$s /no3ledge# $n/no3n to the
mass, L/e t hem they t a$ght t hat a constant 3ar 3as 3aged beD
t 3een t he Em! re of Good and t hat of E6 l, L/e them they atD
t r b$ted the s n and fal l of man t o t he demons and t her chefG and
l /e them they admt ted a s!ec al !rotect on of t he rghteo$s by
nfer or be ngs# agent s of &eho6ah, All ther doctrnes on these
s$b5ect s 3ere at bot tom those of t he -oly Boo/sG b$t sng$larly
de6elo!ed and the Or ent 3as e6dently t he so$rce from 3h ch
t hose de6el o!ment s came,
They styled t hemsel6es Inter!retersG a name nd cat ng ther
cl a m t o t he e4cl$s 6e !ossess on of the tr$e meanng of the -oly
;r t ngs# by 6 rt $e of the oral t radt on 3h ch Moses had reD
ce 6ed on Mo$nt S na# and 3h ch s$ccess6e generat ons of InD
t at es had transm t ted# as t hey cla med# $nalt ered# $nto t hem,
The r 6ery cost $me# t her belef n the nfl $ences of the stars# and
n t he mmort al ty and transm grat on of so$l s# t her system of
angel s and t her ast ronomy# 3ere al l foregn,
Sadd$cee sm arose merely from an o!!os t on essent ally &e3 sh#
t o t hese foregn teachngs# and that m 4t $re of doctrnes# ado!t ed
by t he Phar sees# and 3hch const t$ted the !o!$l ar creed,
;e come at last to t he Essenes and Thera!e$t s# 3t h 3hom
t h s Degree s !art c$larly concerned, That nterm ngl ng of
or ent al and occ dental rtes# of Pers an and Pyt hagorean o! nons#
3hch 3e ha6e !onted o$t n the doct r nes of Phl o# s $nmsta/D
able n the creeds of these t3o sects,
They 3ere less dst ng$ shed by met a!hyscal s!ec$l at ons than
by s m!l e medt at ons and moral !ract ces, B$t t he l att er al3ays
!art oo/ of t he Horoastr an !rnc!l e# that t 3as necessary to free
t he so$l from t he t rammel s and nfl $ences of mat terG 3h ch l ed
t o a system of abst nence and macerat on ent rely o!!osed to the
anc ent -ebra cdeas# fa6orable as t hey 3ere t o !hyscal !leas$res,
In general # t he l fe and manners of t hese myst cal assocaD
t ons# as Phl o and &ose!h$s descr be t hem# and !art c$l arly t her
!rayers at s$nrse# seem the mage of 3hat t he HendDA6est a !reD
scrbes to the fat hf$l adorer or Orm$<dG and some of t her
obser6ances cannot ot her3se be e4!la ned,
The Thera!e$ts res ded n Egy!t# n t he neghborhood of Al e4D
andr aG and the Essenes n Palest ne# n t he 6c n ty of the Dead
Sea, B$t t here 3as ne6ert hel ess a st r / ng co nc dence n ther
deas# read ly e4!la ned by at tr b$t ng t t o a foregn nfl$ence,
The &e3s of Egy!t# $nder the nfl $ence of the School of Al e4anD
dr a# endea6ored n general t o ma/e t he r doct r nes harmon <e
3 th t he t radt ons of GreeceG and thence came# n t he doctrnes
of t he Thera!e$ts# as st at ed by Phl o# the many anal og es bet 3een
t he Pyt hagorean and Or!hc deas# on one sde# and t hose of &$D
dasm on the ot her( 3hl e t he &e3s of Palest ne# ha6ng less comD
m$n cat on 3 th Greece# or contemnng ts t each ngs# rat her mD
bbed t he Orental doctrnes# 3hch they dran/ n at the so$rce
and 3 th 3hch the r rel at ons 3 t h Persa made them fam l ar,
Th s at tachment 3as !art c$l arly sho3n n t he Kabalah# 3h ch
belonged rather t o Pal est ne t han to Egy!t # t ho$gh e4tens6ely
/no3n n t he l att erG and f$rnshed t he Gnost cs 3t h some of
t her most str /ng t heores,
It s a sgnf cant fact# that 3h le %hr st s!o/e often of t he
Phar sees and Sadd$cees# -e ne6er once ment oned t he Essenes#
bet3een 3hose doct r nes and -s t here 3as so great a resemD
blance# and# n many !o nt s# so !erfect an dent ty, Indeed# they
are not named# nor e6en dst nctly al l$ded to# any3here n the
8e3 Testament,
&ohn# t he son of a Prest 3ho m n st ered n t he Tem!le at
&er$sal em# and 3hose mother 3as of the fam ly of Ahar$n# 3as
n t he desert s $nt l the day of h s sho3 ng $nt o Israel, -e dran/
net her 3ne nor st rong dr n/, %l ad n harDcloth# and 3 th a
grdle of leat her# 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 remss on of s nsG that s# the necessty 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 far deal ngG t he
sold ery !eace# tr$th# and content ment G to do 6 olence to none#
acc$se none fal sely# and be content 3t h t he r !ay, -e nc$lD
cated necess ty of a 6rt$o$s l fe# and the fol ly of t r$st ng t o
t her descent from Abraham,
-e deno$nced bot h Phar sees and Sadd$cees as a generat on of
6!ers t hreat ened 3 th the anger of God, -e ba!t <ed those 3ho
confessed ther sns, -e !reached n the desert G and therefore n
t he co$nt ry 3here t he Essenes l 6ed# !rofess ng t he same doctr nes,
-e 3as m!rsoned before %hrst began to !reach, Mat the3 menD
t ons h m 3 tho$t !reface or e4!l anat onG as f# a!!arent ly# h s
hst ory 3as t oo 3el l /no3n t o need any, @In those days#@ he
says# @came &ohn the Ba!t st# !reachng n t he 3 lderness of
&$dea, @ - s d sc!les freE$ent ly fast edG for 3e f nd t hem 3t h
t he Phar sees com ng t o &es$s t o nE$ re 3hy - s Dsc!les d d
not fast as often as t heyG and -e dd not deno$nce t hem# as - s
habt 3as to deno$nce the Phar seesG b$t ans3ered t hem / ndly
and gent ly,
"rom h s !r son# &ohn sent t3o of hs dsc !l es to nE$ re of
%hr st( @Art tho$ he t hat s to come# or do 3e l oo/ for anot her J@
%hr st referred t hem to h s m racles as an ans3erG and declared
t o t he !eo!le t hat &ohn 3as a !ro!het # and more than a !ro!het #
and t hat no great er man had e6er been bornG b$t t hat t he h$mD
blest %hrst an 3as hs s$!eror, -e declared h m t o be El as#
3ho 3as to come,
&ohn had deno$nced to -erod h s marr age 3 th h s brot her? s
3 fe as $nl a3f$l G and for t h s he 3as m!rsoned# and f nally e4eD
c$ted to grat fy her, -s d sc !les b$red h mG and -erod and
others t ho$ght he had r sen from t he dead and a!!eared agan n
t he !erson of %hr st, The !eo!l e al l regarded &ohn as a !ro!het G
and %hr st s lenced t he Prest s and El ders by as/ ng t hem 3het her
he 3as ns! red, They feared to e4c te the anger of the !eo!le by
say ng t hat he 3as not, %hrst decl ared that he came @ n t he 3ay
of rghteo$sness@G and t hat the lo3er classes bel e6ed h m# t ho$gh
t he Prests and Phar sees d d not ,
Th$s &ohn# 3ho 3as oft en cons$l t ed by -erod# and to 3hom
t hat monarch sho3ed great deference and 3as often go6erned by
hs ad6ceG 3hose doctrne !re6a led 6ery e4t ens 6ely among the
!eo!l e and the !$bl cans# ta$ght some creed ol der than %hr sD
t anty, That s !l a n( and t s eE$al ly !la n# that the 6ery l arge
body of the &e3s that ado!t ed hs doct r nes# 3ere ne t her Phar D
sees nor Sadd$cees# b$t t he h$mble# common !eo!l e, They m$st#
t herefore# ha6e been Essenes, It s !l an# t oo# t hat %hrst a!!l ed
for ba!t sm as a sacred r t e# 3el l /no3n and l ong !ract ced, It
3as becomng to h m# he sad# t o f$l f l l al l rghteo$sness,
In t he )*t h cha!t er of the Acts of the A!ost les 3e read th$s(
@And a cert an &e3# named A!oll os# born at Ale4andr a# an eloD
E$ent man# and mghty n the Scr !t $res# came to E!hes$s, Th s
man 3as nstr$cted n t he 3ay of t he Lord# and# be ng fer6ent n
s!rt # he s!a/e and ta$ght dl gently t he t h ngs of the Lord# /no3D
ng only t he ba!t sm of &ohnG and he began t o s!ea/ bol dly n
t he synagog$eG 3hom# 3hen AE$l la and Prsc lla had heard# they
t oo/ h m $nto them# and e4!o$nded $nt o h m t he 3ay of God
more !erfect ly, @
Translat ng t h s from t he symbolc and f g$rat 6e l ang$age
nt o t he t r$e ord nary sense of the Gree/ t e4t # t reads th$s( @And
a certa n &e3# named A!ol los# an Al e4andran by brt h# an el oE$ent
man# and of e4t ens 6e l earnng# came to E!hes$s, -e had learned
n t he myst er es the tr$e doct r ne n regard t o GodG and# beng a
<eal o$s ent h$s ast # he s!o/e and ta$ght dl gently t he t r$ths n
regard to the De ty# ha6 ng rece6ed no other ba!t sm than t hat
of &ohn, @ -e /ne3 not hng n regard t o %hrst antyG for he
had resded n Ale4andr a# and had 5 $st then come to E!hes$sG
beng# !robably# a d sc!l e of Phl o# and a Thera!e$t ,
@That# n all t mes# @ says St , A$g$st ne# @ s t he %hrst an reD
l g on# 3h ch to /no3 and fol lo3 s the most s$re and certan
heal th# cal led accord ng t o t hat name# b$t not accordng to the
t h ng tsel f# of 3hch t s the nameG for t he th ng t sel f# 3hch
s no3 call ed the %hr st an rel g on# really 3as /no3n t o the AnD
c ents# nor 3as 3ant ng at any t me from the beg nn ng of the
h$man race# $nt l the t me 3hen %hrst came n the fleshG from
3hence t he t r$e rel g on# 3hch had !re6o$sly e4st ed# began to
be call ed %hr st anG and ths n o$r days s the %hr st an relgon#
not as ha6 ng been 3ant ng n former t mes# b$t as ha6 ng# n
l ater t mes# rece6ed ths name, @ The d sc!les 3ere frst cal led
@%hr st ans# @ at Ant och# 3hen Barnabas and Pa$l began t o
!reach there,
The ;ander ng or Itnerant &e3s or E4orc sts# 3ho ass$med
t o em!l oy the Sacred 8ame n e4orc s ng e6l s! rt s# 3ere no
do$bt Thera!e$tae or Essenes,
@And t t came t o !ass# @ 3e read n t he )1th cha!t er of t he Act s#
6erses ) to :# @that 3hle A!ol los 3as at %or nth# Pa$l # ha6 ng
!assed thro$gh t he $!!er !art s of Asa Mnor# came t o E!hes$sG
and fndng cert a n d sc!l es# he sa d t o them# ? -a6e ye rece 6ed
t he -oly Ghost s nce ye became Bel e6ers J? And t hey sad $nt o
h m# ? ;e ha6e not so m$ch as heard that there s any -oly
Ghost , ? And he sa d to them# ? In 3hat# t hen# 3ere yo$ ba!t <ed J?
And t hey sad ? In &ohn? s ba!t sm, ? Then sa d Pa$l# ? &ohn nD
deed ba!t <ed 3t h the ba!t sm of re!ent ance# sayng to t he !eo!l e
t hat they sho$l d bele6e n - m 3ho 3as t o come aft er h m# that
s# n &es$s %hr st , ;hen they heard t h s# t hey 3ere ba!t <ed n
t he name of the Lord &es$s, @
Th s fat h# ta$ght by &ohn# and so nearly %hrst an ty# co$ld
ha6e been noth ng b$t t he doctrne of t he EssenesG and there can
be no do$bt t hat &ohn belonged t o that sect , The !lace 3here he
!reached# hs macerat ons and fr$gal det # t he doctr nes he ta$ght#
al l !ro6e t concl $s 6ely, There 3as no other sect to 3h ch he
co$ld ha6e bel ongedG certa nly none so n$mero$s as h s# e4ce!t
t he Essenes,
;e f nd# from t he t 3o let ters 3rt ten by Pa$l to the brethren at
%or nt h# t hat % ty of L$4$ry and %orr$!t on# t hat there 3ere
content ons among t hem, R 6al sects had al ready# abo$t the 7+th
year of o$r era# reared t he r banners t here# as fol lo3ers# some of
Pa$l # some of A!ol l os# and some of %e!has, Some of them deD
ned the res$rrect on, Pa$l $rged t hem t o adhere to the doctrnes
t a$ght by h msel f# and had sent T mot hy to t hem to brng t hem
afresh to ther recoll ect on,
Accord ng to Pa$l# %hr st 3as to come agan, -e 3as to !$t
an end to all other Prnc !al t es and Po3ers# and f nally to Death#
and t hen be - msel f once more merged n GodG 3ho sho$l d t hen
be all n al l,
The forms and ceremon es of t he Essenes 3ere symbol cal ,
They had# accordng t o Ph lo t he &e3# fo$r DegreesG t he members
beng d6ded nt o t 3o Orders# the Pract c and Thera!e$t c G
t he l att er be ng t he contem!lat 6e and medcal BrethrenG and the
former the act 6e# !ract cal # b$s ness men, They 3ere &e3s by
brthG and had a greater affect on for each other than the memD
bers of any other sect , The r brot herly l o6e 3as ntense, They
f$l f ll ed t he %hrst an la3# @Lo6e one anot her, @ They des! sed
rches, 8o one 3as t o be fo$nd among them# ha6 ng more than
another, The !ossess ons of one 3ere nterm ngled 3 th those of
t he othersG so t hat t hey al l had b$t one !at r mony# and 3ere
bret hren, Ther ! ety to3ard God 3as e4traord nary, Before
s$nr se t hey ne6er s!a/e a 3ord abo$t !rofane matt ersG b$t !$t
$! certa n !rayers 3h ch they had rece 6ed from ther forefathers,
At da3n of day# and before t 3as l ght # t her !rayers and hymns
ascended t o -ea6en, They 3ere emnently fa t hf$l and tr$e# and
t he M n sters of Peace, They had myst er o$s ceremon es# and
n t at ons nt o ther myster esG and the %and dat e !rom sed that
he 3o$ld e6er !ract se f del ty t o al l men# and es!ec ally t o those
n a$thor ty# @beca$se no one obt a ns t he go6ernment 3 tho$t
God? s ass stance, @
;hate6er t hey sad# 3as frmer t han an oathG b$t they a6oded
s3ear ng# and esteemed t 3orse t han !er5 $ry, They 3ere s m!le
n t he r det and mode of l 6 ng# bore t ort$re 3 t h fort t$de# and
des! sed deat h, They c$lt 6at ed the scence of med cne and 3ere
6ery s/l lf$l , They deemed t a good omen to dress n 3ht e robes,
They had the r o3n co$rt s# and !assed r ght eo$s 5$dgments, They
/e!t the Sabbat h more r goro$sly t han the &e3s,
The r chef t o3ns 3ere Engadd # near the Dead Sea# and
-ebron, Engadd 3as abo$t 92 m les so$theast from &er$sal em#
and -ebron abo$t 02 m les so$t h of that c ty, &ose!h$s and
E$seb$s s!ea/ of them as an anc ent sectG and t hey 3ere no
do$bt t he f rst among t he &e3s t o embrace %hrst anty( 3t h
3hose fat h and doctr ne t her o3n tenet s had so many !ont s of
resembl ance# and 3ere ndeed n a great meas$re t he same, Pl ny
regarded t hem as a 6ery ancent !eo!l e,
In t he r de6ot ons they t $rned t o3ard the r sng s$nG as t he
&e3s generally d d to3ard the Tem!le, B$t they 3ere no dol aD
t ersG for they obser6ed t he l a3 of Moses 3t h scr$!$lo$s fdel ty,
They hel d al l th ngs n common# and des!sed r ches# ther 3ant s
beng s$!!led by t he adm nst rat on of %$rators or Ste3ards,
The Tetractys# com!osed of ro$nd dot s nstead of 5ods# 3as reD
6ered among t hem, Th s be ng a Pythagorean symbol # e6dently
sho3s t her connect on 3 t h t he school of Pyt hagorasG b$t ther
!ec$l ar tenet s more resemble those of %onf$c $s and Horoast erG
and !robably 3ere ado!ted 3h le they 3ere !rsoners n PersaG
3hch e4!la ns t he r t$rn ng to3ard the S$n n !rayer,
The r demeanor 3as sober and chaste, They s$bm t ted to the
s$!er nt endence of go6ernors 3hom t hey a!!o nt ed o6er themD
sel 6es, The 3hole of ther t me 3as s!ent n labor# med tat on#
and !rayerG and t hey 3ere most sed$lo$sly att ent 6e to e6ery cal l
of 5 $st ce and h$man ty# and e6ery moral d$ty, They bel e6ed
n t he $n ty of God, They s$!!osed the so$ls of men to ha6e
fall en# by a d sast ro$s fat e# from t he regons of !$r ty and l ght#
nt o t he bod es 3hch they occ$!yG d$r ng t her cont n$ance n
3hch they consdered them conf ned as n a !r son, Therefore
t hey dd not bel e6e n t he res$rrect on of the bodyG b$t n that
of t he so$l only, They bele6ed n a f$t$re st ate of re3ards and
!$n shment sG and t hey dsregarded the ceremones or e4t ernal
forms en5oned n t he l a3 of Moses to be obser6ed n the 3orsh !
og GodG hol d ng t hat the 3ords of that l a3g 6er 3ere to be $nD
derstood n a myst ero$s and recond t e sense# and not accord ng t o
t her l t eral mean ng, They offered no sacr f ces# e4ce!t at homeG
and by med t at on they endea6ored# as far as !ossble# to solat e
t he so$l from t he body# and carry t bac/ t o God,
E$seb$s broadly admt s @that t he ancent Thera!e$t ae 3ere
%hr st ansG and that t he r ancent 3r t ngs 3ere o$r Gos!el s and
E! stl es, @
The ESSE8ES 3ere of the Ecl ect c Sect of Ph l oso!hers# and
held PLATo n the h ghest esteemG they bel e6ed t hat tr$e !hl osD
o!hy# t he great est and most sal$tary g ft of God t o mortal s# 3as
scatt ered# n 6aro$s !ort ons# thro$gh al l the dfferent SectsG and
t hat t 3as# conseE$ent ly# the d$ty of e6ery 3 se man t o gat her t
from the se6eral E$art ers 3here t l ay d s!ersed# and t o em!l oy
t# t h$s re$n ted# n destroyng the domnon of m! ety and
6ce,
The great fest 6als of the Sol st ces 3ere obser6ed n a d st nD
g$shed manner by t he EssenesG as 3o$l d nat$ral ly be s$!!osed#
from the fact that they re6erenced the S$n# not as a god# b$t as a
symbol of lght and f reG t he fo$nta n of 3h ch# the Or ent als
s$!!osed God t o be, They l 6ed n cont nence and abst nence#
and had establ sl ment s s ml ar to the monaster es of t he early
%hr st ans,
The 3r t ngs of the Essenes 3ere f$ll of myst csm# !arabl es#
engmas# and all egor es, They bel e6ed n the esot er c and e4oteD
rc mean ngs of the Scr!t $resG and# as 3e ha6e already sa d# they
had a 3arrant for t hat n t he Scr !t$res t hemsel 6es, They fo$nd
t n the Ol d Test ament # as the Gnost cs fo$nd t n the 8e3,
The %hrst an 3r ters# and e6en %hr st h msel f# recogn <ed t as a
t r$th# t hat all Scr !t $re had an nner and an o$ter meanng, Th$s
3e f nd t sa d as fol lo3s# n one of the Gos!els(
@'nt o yo$ t s g6en to /no3 the myst ery of t he K ngdom of
GodG b$t $nt o men t hat are 3 tho$t # al l these th ngs are done n
!arabl esG that see ng# they may see and not !erce 6e# and hear ng
t hey may hear and not $nderst and , , , , And t he dsc !les came
and sa d $nt o h m# ? ;hy s!ea/est Tho$ the t r$t h n !arabl es J? DD
-e ans3ered and sad $nto them# ? Beca$se t s g 6en $nt o yo$ to
/no3 the myst er es of t he Kngdom of -ea6en# b$t to t hem t s
not g6en, ? @
Pa$l # n t he :t h cha!ter of hs E!st le t o the Galat ans# s!ea/D
ng of the s m!lest facts of the Ol d Test ament # asserts that t hey
are an allegory, In t he 9d cha!ter of t he second let ter to t he
%or nt hans# he decl ares h mself a m nster of the 8e3 Test ament #
a!!o nted by GodG @8ot of the let ter# b$t of t he s!rt G for the
l ett er /l let h, @ Orgen and St, Gregory hel d t hat the Gos!els
3ere not to be t a/en n t her l t eral senseG and Athanas$s adD
mon shes $s t hat @Sho$l d 3e $nderstand sacred 3rt accord ng t o
t he l ett er# 3e sho$ld fal l nto the most enormo$s blas!hemes, @
E$seb$s sad# @Those 3ho !resde o6er t he -oly Scr !t $res#
!hl oso!h <e o6er them# and e4!o$nd t he r l t eral sense by al l eD
gory, @
The so$rces of o$r /no3ledge of the Kabal st c doct r nes# are
t he boo/s of &e<rah and Sohar# t he former dra3n $! n the second
cent $ry# and t he l at t er a l tt le lat erG b$t cont an ng mat er als
m$ch ol der than t hemsel 6es, In t her most character st c el eD
ment s# t hey go bac/ to t he t me of t he e4l e, In t hem# as n the
t eachngs of Horoaster# e6eryth ng that e4st s emanated from a
so$rce of nf n te LG-T, Before e6eryt hng# e4st ed T-E A8D
%IE8T O" DA.S# t he KI8G O" LIG-TG a t tle often g6en t o t he
%reator n the HendDA6esta and the code of the Sabaeans, ; th
t he dea so e4!ressed s connected the !ant he sm of Ind a,
KI8G O" LIG-T# T-E A8%IE8T# s ALL T-AT IS, -e s not only
t he real ca$se of al l E4st encesG he s Inf nt e MAI8SOP-N, -e s
-IMSEL"( there s noth ng n - m t hat ;e can cal l Tho$,
In t he Ind an doctrne# not only s t he S$!reme Beng t he real
ca$se of all # b$t he s t he only real E4st ence( al l t he rest s l l$D
s on, In t he Kabalah# as n the Persan and Gnost c doct rnes#
-e s t he S$!reme Beng $n/no3n to all # t he @'n/no3n "at her,@
The 3orl d s h s re6el at on# and s$bsst s only n - m, -s att r D
b$tes are re!rod$ced t here# 3 th d fferent modf cat ons# and n
dfferent degrees# so that t he 'n 6erse s - s -oly S!lendor( t
s b$t -s Mantl eG b$t t m$st be re6ered n s l ence, Al l be ngs
ha6e emanated from t he S$!reme Beng( The nearer a beng s
t o - m# t he more !erfect t sG the more remote n t he scale# t he
l ess t s !$r ty,
A ray of Lght # shot from t he De ty# s the ca$se and !r nc !le
of al l that e4 st s, It s at once "at her and Mother of All # n t he
s$bl mest sense, It !enetrates e6erythngG and 3 tho$t t not h ng
can e4 st an nst ant, "rom t h s do$bl e "OR%E# des gnated by t he
t 3o !art s of t he 3ord I, Z, -, Z, ', Z, -, Z, emanat ed t he "IRSTDBOR8
of God# the 'n6ersal "orm# n 3hch are contaned al l bengsG
t he Persan and Pl atonc Archety!e of thngs# $nted 3 th t he
Infnt e by the !r m t 6e ray of Lght ,
Th s " rst DBorn s the %reat 6e Agent# %onser6ator# and an D
mat ng Prnc !l e of t he 'n6erse, It s T-E LIG-T O" LIG-T, It
!ossesses the three Pr m t 6e "orces of the D6nty# LIG-T#
SPIRIT and LI"E, As t has rece 6ed
3hat t g6es# Lght and Lfe# t s eE$al ly cons dered as t he genD
erat 6e and conce!t 6e Prnc!le# the Pr m t 6e Man# ADAM
KADMO8, As s$ch# t has re6eal ed tsel f n ten emanat ons or
Se!hroth# 3hch are not t en dfferent bengs# nor e6en bengs at
al lG b$t so$rces of l fe# 6essel s of Omn !ot ence# and ty!es of %reD
at on, They are So6eregnty or ; l l# ; sdom# Intell gence#
Ben gn ty# Se6er ty# Bea$ty# F ctory# Glory# Permanency# and
Em!re, These are att r b$t es of GodG and ths dea# that God reD
6eal s - msel f by -s at trb$t es# and t hat the h$man m nd cannot
!erce6e or dscern God - msel f# n hs 3or/s# b$t only hs mode
of man fest ng - mself# s a !rofo$nd Tr$t h, ;e /no3 of t he
In6 s ble only 3hat the Fs ble re6eals,
;sdom 3as cal l ed 8O'S and LOGOS# l8D
TELLE%T or the ;ORD, Intel l gence# so$rce of t he ol of anontD
ng# res!onds to the -oly Ghost of t he %hr st an "at h,
Bea$ty s re!resent ed by green and yello3, Fctory s .AD
-OFA-DTSABAOT-# t he col$mn on the rght hand# the col $mn
&achn( Gl ory s t he col$mn Boa<# on the left hand, And t h$s
o$r symbol s a!!ear aga n n t he Kabalah, And agan t he LIG-T#
t he ob5ect of o$r labors# a!!ears as the creat 6e !o3er of Dety,
The crcl e# also# 3as t he s!ecal symbol of t he frst Se!h rah#
Ket her# or the %ro3n,
;e do not f$rther fol lo3 the Kabal ah n t s fo$r ;orl ds of
S! r ts# A<l $t h# Br ah# .e<rah# and Asah# or of emanat on# creaD
t on# format on# and fabr cat on# one nferor to and one emergng
from the ot her# t he s$!eror al 3ays en6el o!ng t he nfer orGt s
doctr ne t hat # n al l that e4st s# there s noth ng !$rely mater al G
t hat all comes from God# and n al l -e !roceeds by rradat onG
t hat e6eryth ng s$bs sts by t he D6 ne ray that !enet rates creaD
t onG and all s $n ted by t he S! r t of God# 3hch s the l fe of
l feG so t hat all s GodG the E4 stences that nhabt t he fo$r
3orl ds# nferor t o each ot her n !ro!ort on to ther d stance from
t he Great Kng of Lght ( t he contest bet3een the good and e6 l
Angels and Prnc !l es# t o end$re $nt l the Eternal - msel f comes
t o end t and reDestabl sh t he !r m t 6e harmonyG t he fo$r dst nct
!art s of t he So$l of ManG and the mgrat ons of m!$re so$l s#
$nt l they are s$ff cently !$r f ed to share 3t h the S!rt s of
Lght the contem!l at on of the S$!reme Be ng 3hose S!l endor
fl ls t he 'n 6erse,
The ;ORD 3as al so fo$nd n the Phoen can %reed, As n all
t hose of As a# a ;ORD of God# 3rt ten n starry charact ers# by the
!lanet ary D6n t es# and comm$ncat ed by t he DemDGods# as a
!rofo$nd myst ery# to the h gher classes of the h$man race# to be
comm$n cated by them t o man/ nd# created the 3orl d, The fat h
of t he Phoen cans 3as an emanat on from that ancent 3orsh! of
t he Stars# 3h ch n the creed of Horoast er alone# s connected 3 th
a fa th n one God, L ght and " re are t he most m!ort ant agent s
n t he Phoen can fa t h, There s a race of chl dren of t he Lght ,
They adored t he -ea6en 3t h ts Lght s# deem ng t the S$!reme
God,
E6eryt hng emanates from a S ngl e Pr nc !le# and a Pr m t 6e
Lo6e# 3hch s the Mo6 ng Po3er of All and go6erns al l , Lght #
by ts $n on 3t h S! rt # 3hereof t s b$t t he 6ehcl e or symbol#
s t he L fe of e6eryth ng# and !enet rat es e6eryt hng, It sho$ld
t herefore be res!ect ed and honored e6ery3hereG for e6ery3here
t go6erns and control s,
The %haldac and &er$salem Para!hrast s endea6ored t o render
t he !hrase# DEBARD.A-OFA-# t he ;ord of God# a
!ersonalty# 3here6er t hey met 3t h t , The !hrase# @And God
created man# @ s# n the &er$salem Targ$m# @And t he ;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 shal l I-'- be my AL-IMG
'-I- I-'- LI LAL-IMG and ths st one
shal l be God? s -o$se MI-I- BIT- AL-IMN(
On/el os !ara!hrases t# @If the 3ord of I-'- 3 ll be my hel !
, , , , then t he 3ord of I-'- shal l be my God, @
So# n , Gen, *# for @The Fo ce of t he Lord God@
MI-'- AL-IMN# 3e ha6e# @The Foce of the ;ord of I-'-,@
In 4, ; sdom# )# @O God of my "at hers and Lord of MercyO
3ho has made al l t h ngs 3 th t hy 3ord,@
And n 46 , ; sdom# )7# @Thne Al mghty ;ord lea!D
ed do3n from -ea6en, @
Ph l o s!ea/s of the ;ord as be ng the same 3t h God, So n
se6eral !laces he cal l s t the Second DD
6n tyG the Image of God( the D 6 ne ;ord t hat
made al l th ngs( s$bst t $te# of GodG and the l /e,
Th$s 3hen &ohn commenced to !reach# had been for ages
ag tated# by t he Prest s and Phl oso!hers of t he East and ;est#
t he great E$est ons concern ng the eternty or creat on of mat t er(
mmedate or nt ermed ate creat on of t he 'n 6erse by t he S$D
!reme GodG the org n# ob5 ect # and f nal e4t nct on of e6 l G t he
relat ons bet 3een the ntel lect $al and mat eral 3orl ds# and beD
t 3een God and manG and t he creat on# fal l# redem!t on# and
restorat on t o hs frst estate# of man,
The &e3 sh doctrne# dfferng n t h s from all t he other Or ental
creeds# and e6en from the Al ohayst c legend 3 th 3h ch t he boo/
of Geness commences# attr b$t ed t he creat on t o t he mmedate
act on of t he S$!reme Beng, The Theoso!h sts of the ot her
Eastern Peo!les nt er!osed more t han one ntermed ary bet 3een
God and t he 3orl d, To !lace bet 3een t hem b$t a sngl e Beng#
t o s$!!ose for the !rod$ct on of the 3orld b$t a sngle nt erD
medary# 3as# n t he r eyes# t o l o3er t he S$!reme Ma5 esty, The
nter6al bet 3een God# 3ho s !erfect P$rty# and mat ter# 3hch s
base and fo$l# 3as t oo great for them to clear t at a s ngle ste!,
E6en n t he Occ dent # net her Plat o nor Ph lo co$l d th$s mD
!o6ersh the Int el lect $al ;orl d,
Th$s# %ernth$s of E!hes$s# 3t h most of t he Gnost cs# Phl o#
t he Kabal ah# t he HendDA6est a# t he P$ranas# and all t he Orent#
deemed the d stance and ant !at hy bet 3een the S$!reme Be ng
and t he mat eral 3orl d t oo great # t o attr b$t e t o t he former t he
creat on of the lat ter, Belo3# and emanat ng from# or created
by# t he Ancent of Days# the %ent ral Lght# t he Begnn ng# or
"rst Prnc!l e# one# t3o# or more Pr nc !l es# E4 st ences#
or Intel lect$al Be ngs 3ere mag ned# to some one or more of
3hom M3t ho$t any mmedate creat 6e act on t he !art of t he
Great Immo6abl e# S lent DetyN# the mmed at e creat on of the
materal and mental $n6erse 3as d$e,
;e ha6e al ready s!o/en of many of t he s!ec$lat ons on t h s
!ont, To some# t he 3orl d 3as creat ed by t he LOGOS or ;ORD#
frst man fest at on of# or emanat on from# the De ty, To others#
t he begnnng of creat on 3as by the emanat on of a ray of
Lght # creat ng t he !r nc !le of Lght and Lfe, The Pr mt 6e
T-O'G-T# creat ng t he nfer or De tes# a s$ccess on of I8TELLD
GE8%ES# the Iynges of Horoast er# hs Amshas!ands# I<eds# and
"ero$ers# the Ideas of Plato# t he Aons of the Gnost cs# t he
Angels of the &e3s# the 8o$s# t he Demo$rgos# the DIFI8E READ
SO8# the Po3ers or "orces of Phl o# and the Alohay m# "orces or
S$!er or Gods of t he anc ent l egend 3t h 3hch Genes s beg ns# D
t o t hese and ot her nt ermedar es the creat on 3as o3 ng, 8o reD
st ra nt s 3ere la d on t he "ancy and t he Imagnat on, The 6er est
Abstract ons became E4st ences and Real t es, The at tr b$t es of
God# !erson fed# became Po3ers# S!rt s# Intel l gences,
God 3as the Lght of Lght # D6ne "re# the Abstract Intel lecD
t $al ty# t he Root or Germ of the 'n 6erse, S mon Mag$s# fo$nder
of t he Gnost c fa th# and many of the early &$da < ng %hr st ans#
admt ted t hat the manfestat ons of t he S$!reme Beng# as
"AT-ER# or &EhOFAh# SO8 or %-RIST# and -OL. SPIRIT# 3ere only
so many d fferent modes of E4st ence# or "orces of t he
same God, To others t hey 3ere# as 3ere the m$l t t $de of S$bD
ord nat e Int ell gences# real and d st nct be ngs,
The Or ent al mag nat on re6ell ed n the creat on of these InD
fer or Int el l gences# Po3ers of Good and E6 l# and Angel s, ;e
ha6e s!o/en of those mag ned by t he Persans and the Kabal st s,
In t he Tal m$d# e6ery st ar# e6ery co$ntry# e6ery t o3n# and al most
e6ery t ong$e has a Pr nce of -ea6en as t s Protect or, &E-'EL# s
t he g$ard an of f re# and MI%-AEL of 3ater, Se6en s!r t s ass st
eachG t hose of f re be ng Sera!hel # Gabr el # 8 trel # Tammael#
Tch mschel # -adarnel # and Sarnel , These se6en are re!resented
by t he sE$are col $mns of th s Degree# 3h le the col$mns &A%-I8
and BOAH re!resent t he angel s of fre and 3at er, B$t the colD
$mns are not re!resent at 6es of these alone,
To Bas l des# God 3as 3 t ho$t name# $ncreated# at frst contanD
ng and conceal ng n - mself t he Plent $de of - s Perfect onsG
and 3hen t hese are by - m ds!l ayed and nanfested# t here res$l t
as many !art c$lar E4stences# al l analogo$s to - m# and st ll and
al 3ays - m, To the Essenes and t he Gnost cs# t he East and t he
;est both de6sed t hs fa t hG t hat the Ideas# %once!t ons# or
Man fest at ons of t he De ty 3ere so many %reat ons# so many BeD
ngs# all God# not hng 3 tho$t - m# b$t more t han 3hat 3e no3
$nderstand by the 3ord deas, They emanat ed from and 3ere
aga n merged n God, They had a /nd of mddl e e4st ence beD
t 3een o$r modern deas# and the nt el lgences or deas# ele6at ed t o
t he ran/ of gen # of t he Orental mythology,
These !erson fed at tr b$tes of Dety# n t he theory of Basl des#
3ere t he "rstDborn# 8o$s or M nd( from
t emanat es Logos# or T-E ;ORD from t (
Phrones s# Intell ect (from t So!ha# ; sdom (from t
D$nam s# Po3er( and from t D/aos$ne#
R ght eo$sness( t o 3hch latter t he &e3s ga6e the name of
Erene# Peace# or %al m# t he essent al characterst cs of D6n ty#
and harmon o$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/ l ett ers# by the myst c 3ord Abra4asG desgD
nat ng God as man fest ed# or the aggregat e of hs man fest at onsG
b$t not t he S$!reme and Secret God - msel f, These t hree h$nD
dred and s 4tyDf6e Intel l gences com!ose al t oget her the "$ll ness
or Plent $de of t he D 6 ne Emanat ons,
; t h the O!htes# a sect of t he Gnost cs# there 3ere se6en nfeD
ror s!rt s Mnferor t o Ial dabaoth# t he Demo$rgos or Act $al %reD
at or ( Mchael # S$r el# Ra!hael # Gabrel # Tha$thabaot h# Erataoth#
and At han el # the gen of the stars call ed the B$ll G the Dog# the
L on# t he Bear# t he Ser!ent # the Eagl e# and t he Ass t hat formerly
fg$red n the const ell at on %ancer# and symbol <ed res!ect 6ely
by t hose an malsG as Ialdabaot h# Iao# Adona # El o# Ora# and AsD
t a!ha 3ere t he gen of Sat$rn# t he Moon# the S$n# &$!t er#
Fen$s# and Merc$ry,
The ;ORD a!!ears n al l these creeds, It s t he Orm$<d of
Horoaster# the Anso!h of the Kabal ah# the 8o$s of Plat onsm
and Ph lon sm# and the So!h a or Demo$rgos of the Gnostcs,
And al l these creeds# 3h le adm t t ng t hese dfferent manfestaD
t ons of t he S$!reme Beng# held that -s dent ty 3as mm$table
and !ermanent , That 3as Pl ato? s d st nct on bet3een the Beng
al 3ays t he same and the !er!et $al fl o3 of thngs ncesD
sant ly chang ng# the Genes s,
The bel ef n d$al sm n some sha!e# 3as $n6ersal , Those
3ho held that e6eryth ng emanated from God# as!red to God# and
reDent ered nto God# bel e6ed that# among t hose emanat ons 3ere
t 3o ad6erse Pr nc!les# of Lght and Dar/ness# Good and E6l ,
Th s !re6a l ed n %ent ral Asa and n Syr aG 3h le n Egy!t t
ass$med the form of Gree/ s!ec$lat on, In t he former# a second
Int el l ect $al Prnc !l e 3as adm t t ed# act 6e n t s Em! re of Dar/D
ness# a$dac o$s aganst t he Em!re of Lght , So t he Pers ans and
Sabeans $nderst ood t , In Egy!t # t h s second Pr nc !l e 3as Mat D
t er# as the 3ord 3as $sed by t he Platonc School # 3 t h ts sad at D
t r b$tes# Fac$ty# Dar/ness# and Death, In ther theory# mat t er
co$ld be an mat ed only by the lo3 comm$ncat on of a !rnc!l e
of d6 ne l fe, It resst s t he nfl$ences t hat 3o$l d s!r t$al <e t,
That resst ng Po3er s Sat an# the rebel l o$s Matt er# Mat ter t hat
does not !art a/e of God,
To many t here 3ere t3o Pr nc !lesG t he 'n/no3n "ather# or
S$!reme and Eternal God# l 6ng n the cent re of the Lght#
ha!!y n the !erfect !$r ty of - s be ngG the ot her# eternal MatD
t er# t hat nert # sha!eless# dar/some mass# 3hch they cons dered as
t he so$rce of all e6l s# t he mot her and d3el l ngD!l ace of Sat an,
To Phl o and the Pl aton st s# there 3as a So$l of t he 3orld# creD
at ng 6 sbl e t h ngs# and act 6e n t hem# as agent of the S$!reme
Int el l genceG real <ng t heren the deas comm$ncat ed t o - m by
t hat Intel l gence# and 3h ch somet mes e4cel - s conce!t ons# b$t
3hch -e e4ec$tes 3t ho$t com!rehend ng them,
The A!ocaly!se or Re6elat ons# by 3home6er 3r tt en# bel ongs
t o t he Or ent and to e4treme ant E$ty, It re!rod$ces 3hat s far
older t han t self, It !a nt s# 3 th t he st rongest colors that t he OrD
ental gen $s e6er em!loyed# the cl osng scenes of the great str$gD
gle of Lght# and Tr$t h# and Good# aga nst Dar/ness# Error# and
E6 lG !ersonfed n t hat bet 3een t he 8e3 Rel gon on one s de#
and Pagan sm and &$da sm on the ot her, It s a !art c$l ar a!!l D
cat on of t he ancent myt h of Orm$<d and h s Gen aganst AhrD
man and h s De6sG and t celebrates the f nal t r $m!h of Tr$t h
aga nst the combned !o3ers of men and demons, The deas and
magery are borro3ed from e6ery E$art erG and all $s ons are fo$nd
n t to t he doctrnes of al l ages, ;e are cont n$al ly remnded
of t he HendDA6esta# the &e3 sh %odes# Phl o# and the Gnoss,
The Se6en S!r ts s$rro$nd ng t he Throne of the Et ernal# at the
o!en ng of the Grand Drama# and act ng so m!ort ant a !art
t hro$gho$t # e6ery3here the f rst nstr$ments of t he D 6 ne ;l l
and Fengence# are the Se6en Amshas!ands of Pars smG as the
T3entyDfo$r Ancents# offer ng to t he S$!reme Beng the f rst
s$!!l cat ons and t he frst homage# rem nd $s of the Mystero$s
%hefs of &$da sm# foreshado3 t he Eons of Gnost c sm# and reD
!rod$ce t he t 3entyDfo$r Good S!r ts creat ed by Orm$<d and nD
cl osed n an egg,
The %hrst of t he A!ocaly!se# " rst Dborn of %reat on and of t he
Res$rrect on s n6est ed 3t h t he charact er st cs of t he Orm$<d
and Sos osch of the HendDA6esta# t he Anso!h of t he Kabalah
and t he %ar! st es of the Gnostcs, The dea that t he
t r$e In tates and "a thf$l become K ngs and Pr ests# s at once
Pers an# &e3 sh# %hrst an# and Gnost c, And t he def nt on of
t he S$!reme Beng# t hat -e s at once Al !ha and Omega# t he beD
g nn ng and t he endDD-e t hat 3as# and s# and s to come#
, e, # T me l l m table# s Horoaster? s def n t on of Hero$aneDA/D
herene,
The de!t hs of Sat an 3hch no man can meas$reG h s tr$m!h
for a t me by fra$d and 6 olenceG hs be ng cha ned by an angel G
hs re!robat on and h s !rec ! tat on nto a sea of met alG h s
names of t he Ser!ent and t he DragonG t he 3hol e confl ct of t he
Good S!rt s or cel est al arm es aga nst the badG are so many
deas and des gnat ons fo$nd al /e n t he HendDA6est a# t he KaD
balah# and the Gnoss,
;e e6en f nd n the A!ocaly!se t hat s ng$lar Pers an dea#
3hch regards some of the lo3er an mals as so many De6s or 6eD
hcles of De6s,
The g$ardansh! of t he eart h by a good angel # the rene3ng of
t he earth and hea6ens# and t he fnal tr$m!h of !$re and holy
men# are t he same 6ct ory of Good o6er E6 l# for 3hch t he 3hol e
Orent loo/ed,
The gold# and 3ht e ra ments of the t 3entyDfo$r El ders are# as
n t he Persan fa t h# t he s gns of a lofty !erfect on and d6ne
!$r ty,
Th$s the -$man m nd labored and str$ggl ed and t ort$red t self
for ages# t o e4!l a n t o t sel f 3hat t felt # 3t ho$t confess ng t # to
be ne4!l cable, A 6ast cro3d of ndst nct abstract ons# ho6er ng
n t he magnat on# a tra n of 3ords embodyng no tang bl e meanD
ng# an ne4trcable l abyrnth of s$btl et es# 3as the res$lt ,
B$t one grand dea e6er emerged and st ood !romnent and $nD
changeable o6er t he 3el terng chaos of conf$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# !$r ty# and nfnt e !erfect onG and there
m$st be a mode of e4!l anng them# f 3e co$l d b$t f nd t o$t G
as# n al l 3ays 3e 3 ll endea6or t o do, 'lt mately# Good 3l l !reD
6al # and E6 l be o6ert hro3n, God# alone can do t hs# and -e 3 ll
do t# by an Emanat on from - msel f# ass$mng the -$man form
and redeem ng the 3orld,
Behol d the ob5ect # t he end# the res$l t # of t he great s!ec$l at ons
and l ogomach es of ant E$ tyG t he $lt mat e annhl at on of e6 l#
and restorat on of Man to h s frst est ate# by a Redeemer# a MaD
sayah# a %hr stos# t he ncarnate ;ord# Reason# or Po3er of Dety,
Th s Redeemer s the ;ord or Logos# the Orm$<d of Horoast er#
t he A nso!h of t he Kabalah# t he 8o$s of Pl aton sm and Ph lonD
smG -e that 3as n the Beg nnng 3t h God# and 3as God# and
by ;hom e6eryt hng 3as made, That -e 3as loo/ed for by al l
t he Peo!le of the East s ab$ndantly sho3n by t he Gos!el of &ohn
and t he Let ters of Pa$l G 3here n scarcely anyth ng seemed necesD
sary t o be sad n !roof that s$ch a Redeemer 3as t o comeG b$t
al l the energes of the 3r ters are de6ot ed to sho3ng that &es$s
3as that %hr stos 3hom al l the nat ons 3ere e4!ect ngG t he
@;ord#@ the Masayah# the Ano nt ed or %onsecrated One,
In t hs Degree t he great contest bet3een good and e6 l# n ant c D
!at on of the a!!earance and ad6ent of t he ;ord or Redeemer s
symbol <edG and t he mystero$s esot er c t each ngs of t he Essenes
and t he %abal sts, Of the !ract ces of t he former 3e ga n b$t
gl m!ses n t he ancent 3r tersG b$t 3e /no3 that # as t her docD
t r nes 3ere t a$ght by &ohn the Ba!t st# t hey greatly resembl ed
t hose of great er !$rty and more nearly !erfect# ta$ght by &es$sG
and t hat not only Pal est ne 3as f$ll of &ohn? s d sc !les# so that t he
Prests and Phar sees d d not dare to deny &ohn? s ns!rat onG b$t
hs doctr ne had e4tended to As a M nor# and had made con6ert s
n l $4$ro$s E!hes$s# as t al so had n Ale4andr a n Egy!tG and
t hat they readly embraced t he %hr st an fa th# of 3h ch they had
before not e6en heard,
These old contro6erses ha6e ded a3ay# and t he old fa ths ha6e
faded nt o obl 6on, B$t Masonry st l l s$r6 6es# 6 goro$s and
st rong# as 3hen !h l oso!hy 3as ta$ght n the schools of Al e4anD
dr a and $nder t he Port coG teach ng t he same old tr$t hs as t he
Essenes t a$ght by t he shores of the Dead Sea# and as &ohn the
Ba!t st !reached n the DesertG tr$t hs m!er shabl e as t he De ty#
and $nden abl e as Lght , Those tr$t hs 3ere gat hered by the
Essenes from the doct r nes of t he Or ent and t he Occ dent # from
t he HendDA6est a and t he Fedas# from Plat o and Pythagoras# from
Inda# Pers a# Phoen c a# and Syra# from Greece and Egy!t# and
from the -oly Boo/s of t he &e3s, -ence 3e are cal led Knghts
of t he East and ;est # beca$se t her doctrnes came from both,
And t hese doctr nes# t he 3heat s fted from t he chaff# t he Tr$th
se!erated from Error# Masonry has garnered $! n her heart of
hearts# and t hro$gh the f res of !ersec$t on# and t he st orms of
calam ty# has bro$ght them and del 6ered t hem $nt o $s, That
God s One# mm$table# $nchangeabl e# nfnt ely 5$st and goodG
t hat Lght 3l l f nally o6ercome Dar/ness# DDGood conE$er E6l #
and Tr$t h be 6 ct or o6er Error G DDthese# re5ect ng al l the 3 ld and
$sel ess s!ec$lat ons of t he HendDA6est a# the Kabalah# t he Gnost cs#
and t he Schools# are the rel g on and Ph l oso!hy of Masonry,
Those s!ec$l at ons and fanc es t s $sef$l t o st $dyG t hat /no3D
ng n 3hat 3ort hless and $nfr$ t f$l n6est gat ons t he m nd may
engage# yo$ may the more 6al $e and a!!rec at e t he !la n# s m!le#
s$bl me# $n6ersal lyDac/no3ledged tr$t hs# 3h ch ha6e n all ages
been t he Lght by 3hch Masons ha6e been g$ ded on t he r 3ayG
t he ; sdom and Strengt h t hat l /e m!ershabl e col$mns ha6e
s$st aned and 3 ll cont n$e t o s$st an ts gloro$s and magnfcent
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 fat h and creed#
of t he symbols and ceremones of t hs Degree# as seems to h m
!ro!er, ; t h t hese s!ec al nt er!ret at ons 3e ha6e here nothng
t o do, L/e the legend of the Mast er Kh$r$m# n 3h ch some
see fg$red the condemnat on and s$fferngs of %hrst G ot hers
t hose of the $nfort $nat e Grand Mast er of the Tem!l arsG ot hers
t hose of the f rst %harl es# Kng of EnglandG and ot hers st l l t he
ann$al descent of t he S$n at t he 3 nt er Solst ce t o the reg ons of
dar/ness# t he bass of many an ancent l egendG so the ceremon es
of t h s Degree rece 6e dfferent e4!l anat onsG each nter!ret ng
t hem for h mself# and beng offended at the nt er!ret at on of no
other,
In no ot her 3ay co$ld Masonry !ossess ts character of 'n 6erD
sal tyG that character 3hch has e6er been !ec$l ar to t from t s
orgnG and 3hch enabl es t 3o Kngs# 3orsh !!ers of d fferent
De t es# t o s t together as Mast ers# 3h le the 3all s of the f rst temD
!le aroseG and the men of Gebal# bo3ng do3n t o t he Phoen can
Gods# t o 3or/ by t he s de of the -ebre3s t o 3hom those Gods
3ere abom nat onG and to st 3 th them n the same Lodge as
bret hren,
.o$ ha6e al ready learned that t hese ceremones ha6e one genD
eral s gn f cance# to e6ery one# of e6ery fa th# 3ho bele6es n God#
and t he so$l? s mmort al ty,
The !r m t 6e men met n no Tem!l es made 3 th h$man hands,
@God# @ sa d St he e4st ence of a sngle $ncreat ed
God# n 3hose bosom e6eryth ng gro3s# s de6el o!ed and t ransD
formed, The 3orsh ! of t h s God re!osed $!on t he obedence of
al l the be ngs -e created, - s feasts 3ere t hose of the Solst ces,
The doct r nes of B$ddha !er6aded Ind a# %hna# and &a!an, The
Prests of Brahma# !rofess ng a dar/ and bl oody creed# br$tal <ed
by S$!erst t on# $nt ed toget her aganst B$ddhsm# and 3 th t he
a d of Des!ot sm# e4termnat ed t s fol l o3ers, B$t t her blood
fert l <ed t he ne3 docf rst fall ng themsel 6es# and !l$nged n msery and
dar/ness#
t em!t ed man to h s fal l # and bro$ght sn nto t he 3orl d, Al l beD
l e6ed n a f$t $re l fe# t o be at ta ned by !$r fcat on and tr al sG n
a st at e or s$ccess6e stat es of re3ard and !$n shmentG and n a
Med at or or Redeemer# by 3hom t he E6l Prnc !l e 3as t o be
o6ercome# and the S$!reme Dety reconc led to - s creat $res,
The bel ef 3as general # that -e 3as t o be born of a F rgn# and
s$ffer a !a nf$l death, The Ind ans cal led h m %hrshnaG t he
%hnese# K o$nDt seGt he Pers ans# SososchG the %hal deans# Dho$D
6anaG t he Egy!t ans# -arDOer G Pl at o# Lo6eG and the Scand naD
6ans# Balder,
%hr shna# the - ndoo Redeemer# 3as cradled and ed$cat ed
among She!herds, A Tyrant # at t he t me of hs brt h# ordered
al l male ch ldren to be sl an, -e !erformed m racles# say h s
l egends# e6en ra sng the dead, -e 3ashed t he feet of t he BrahD
mns# and 3as mee/ and lo3ly of s!r t, -e 3as born of a FrD
g nG descended t o -ell # rose aga n# ascended to -ea6en# charged
hs dsc !les to teach h s doctrnes# and ga6e them t he g ft of mrD
acles,
The f rst Mason c Leg slat or 3hose memory s !reser6ed to $s
by h story# 3as B$ddha# 3ho# abo$t a t ho$sand years before t he
%hr st an era# reformed t he rel g on of Mano$s, -e called t o t he
Presthood all men# 3 tho$t d st nct on of cast e# 3ho felt t hemD
sel 6es ns! red by God to nstr$ct men, Those 3ho so assoc ated
t hemsel 6es formed a Soc ety of Pro!het s $nder the name of SaD
maneans, They recogn<ed the e4st ence of a sngl e $ncreat ed
God# n 3hose bosom e6eryth ng gro3s# s de6el o!ed and t ransD
formed, The 3orsh ! of t h s God re!osed $!on t he obedence of
al l the be ngs -e created, - s feasts 3ere t hose of the Solst ces,
The doct r nes of B$ddha !er6aded Ind a# %hna# and &a!an, The
Prests of Brahma# !rofess ng a dar/ and bl oody creed# br$tal <ed
by S$!erst t on# $nt ed toget her aganst B$ddhsm# and 3 th t he
a d of Des!ot sm# e4termnat ed t s fol l o3ers, B$t t her blood
fert l <ed t he ne3 doctrne# 3hch !rod$ced a ne3 Soc ety $nder
t he name of Gymnoso!h stsG and a large n$mber# flee ng to
Ireland# !lant ed the r doct r nes t here# and t here erect ed t he ro$nd
t o3ers# some of 3hch st l l stand# sol d and $nsha/en as at frst#
6s ble mon$ment s of t he remot est ages,
The Phoen can %osmogony# l /e all ot hers n As a# 3as t he
;ord of God# 3r tt en n astral characters# by t he !lanetary D 6 nD
t es# and comm$n cated by the Dem Dgods# as a !rofo$nd mystery#
t o t he br ght er nt el l gences of -$man ty# to be !ro!agat ed by
t hem among men, Ther doctr nes resembl ed t he Ancent SabeD
sm# and be ng t he fa t h of -ram the K ng and h s namesa/e t he
Art st# are of nterest to all Masons, ; th them# the " rst Pr nD
c !le 3as hal f mat er al # hal f s!rt $al # a dar/ a r# an mated and
m!regnat ed by t he s!rt G and a d sordered chaos# co6ered 3 t h
t hc/ dar/ness, "rom t h s came the ;ord# and thence creat on
and generat onG and t hence a race of men# chl dren of l ght# 3ho
adored -ea6en and t s Stars as t he S$!reme BengG and 3hose
dfferent gods 3ere b$t ncarnat ons of the S$n# t he Moon# the
Stars# and the Et her, %hrysor 3as the great gneo$s !o3er of
8at $re# and Baal and Mal a/arth re!resent at ons of t he S$n and
Moon# the lat ter 3ord# n -ebre3# meanng I$een,
Man had fal l en# b$t not by t he t em!t ng of t he ser!ent, "or#
3 th t he Phoenc ans# the ser!ent 3as deemed t o !art a/e of the
D 6 ne 8at $re# and 3as sacred# as he 3as n Egy!t , -e 3as
deemed to be mmortal # $nl ess sl a n by 6ol ence# becomng yo$ng
aga n n hs old age# by enterng nto and cons$m ng h mself,
-ence the Ser!ent n a crcle# holdng h s ta l n h s mo$t h# 3as
an embl em of et ern ty, ; t h the head of a ha3/ he 3as of a
D 6 ne 8at $re# and a symbol of t he s$n, -ence one Sect of the
Gnost cs t oo/ h m for the r good gen $s# and hence t he bra<en serD
!ent reared by Moses n the Desert # on 3h ch t he Israel t es l oo/ed
and l 6ed,
@Before the chaos# t hat !receded t he brt h of -ea6en and
Eart h# @ sa d t he %h nese LaoDTse$# @a sngle Be ng e4st ed# mD
mense and s lent # mm$t abl e and al 3ays act ngG the mother of
t he 'n6erse, I /no3 not the name of t hat Beng# b$t I desgnat e
t by t he 3ord Reason, Man has hs model n the eart h# the
earth n -ea6en# -ea6en n Reason# and Reason n t sel f, @
@I am# @ says Is s# @8at$reG!arent of al l thngs# t he so6ere gn
of t he El ements# the !r m t 6e !rogeny of T me# t he most e4al ted
of t he Det es# the f rst of the -ea6enly Gods and Goddesses# the
I$een of t he Shades# t he $n form co$ntenanceG 3ho d s!ose
3 th my rod t he n$mero$s l ght s of -ea6en# the sal$bro$s bree<es
of t he sea# and the mo$rnf$l s l ence of the deadG 3hose s ngle
D 6 n ty the 3hol e 3orl d 6enerates n many forms# 3 th 6ar o$s
r t es and by many names, The Egy!t ans# s/ ll ed n ancent lore#
3orsh! me 3 t h !ro!er ceremon es# and cal l me by my t r$e name#
Iss the I$een, @
The -nd$ Fedas th$s def ne t he De ty(
@-e 3ho s$r!asses s!eech# and t hro$gh 3hose !o3er s!eech s
e4!ressed# /no3 tho$ that -e s BrahmaG and not t hese !ershD
able t h ngs t hat man adores,
@-e 3hom Intel l gence cannot com!rehend# and -e al one# say
t he sages# thro$gh 3hose Po3er t he nat$re of Intel l gence can be
$nderstood# /no3 t ho$ t hat -e s BrahmaG and not t hese !er shD
able t h ngs t hat man adores,
@-e 3ho cannot be seen by the organ of sght # and thro$gh
3hose !o3er the organ of seeng sees# /no3 tho$ t hat -e s
BrahmaG and not these !er shabl e t h ngs t hat man adores,
@-e 3ho cannot be heard by t he organ of hear ng# and thro$gh
3hose !o3er the organ of hearng hears# /no3 t ho$ t hat -e s
BrahmaG and not these !er shabl e t h ngs t hat man adores,
@-e 3ho cannot be !erce 6ed by t he organ of smell ng# and
t hro$gh 3hose !o3er the organ of smell ng smel ls# /no3 tho$ t hat
-e s BrahmaG and not these !ershable t h ngs t hat man adores, @
@;hen God resol6ed t o create the h$man race# @ sa d Ar $s#
@-e made a Be ng t hat -e call ed The ;ORD# The Son# ; sdom#
t o t he end that t h s Beng mght g6e e4 stence t o men,@ Th s
;ORD s t he Orm$<d of Horoast er# t he A nso!h of the Kabal ah#
t he 8o$s of Pl ato and Phl o# t he ; sdom or Demo$rgos of t he
Gnost cs,
That s the Tr$e ;ord# the /no3ledge of 3hch o$r ancent
bret hren so$ght as the !rcel ess re3ard of ther l abors on t he
-oly Tem!l e( the ;ord of L fe# the D 6ne Reason# @n 3hom
3as Lfe# and t hat Lfe t he Lght of men@G@3h ch long shone n
dar/ness# and t he dar/ness com!rehended t not G@ the Infn te
Reason t hat s the So$l of 8at $re# mmortal # of 3hch t he ;ord
of t h s Degree remnds $sG and t o bel e6e 3here n and re6ere t # s
t he !ec$l ar d$ty of e6ery Mason,
@In the beg nnng# @ says the e4t ract from some older 3or/#
3 th 3hch &ohn commences h s Gos!el# @3as the ;ord# and t he
;ord 3as near t o God# and the ;ord 3as God, Al l thngs 3ere
made by - m# and 3 tho$t - m 3as not anythng made that 3as
made, In - m 3as Lfe# and t he l fe 3as the Lght of manG and
t he l ght shneth n dar/ness# and the dar/ness dd not cont an t , @
It s an old trad t on that t h s !assage 3as from an older 3or/,
And Ph lostorg $s and 8ce!hor$s stat e# that 3hen t he Em!eror
&$l an $ndert oo/ to reb$ ld the Tem!l e# a st one 3as t a/en $!#
t hat co6ered the mo$th of a dee! sE$are ca6e# nt o 3hch one of
t he l aborers# be ng let do3n by a ro!e# fo$nd n the centre of
t he floor a c$bcal ! ll ar# on 3h ch l ay a rol l or boo/# 3ra!!ed n
a f ne l nen cl oth# n 3h ch# n ca!t al let ters# 3as the forego ng
!assage,
-o3e6er ths may ha6e been# t s !lan that &ohn? s Gos!el s a
!olemc aganst t he Gnost csG and# stat ng at the o$tset t he c$rrent
doctr ne n regard to the creat on by t he ;ord# he t hen addresses
h msel f to sho3 and $rge t hat t hs ;ord 3as &es$s %hr st ,
And t he frst sentence# f$l ly rendered nt o o$r lang$age# 3o$l d
read t h$s( @;hen the !rocess of emanat on# of creat on or e6ol$D
t on of e4 stences nfer or t o t he S$!reme God began# t he ;ord
came nt o e4 stence and 3as( and ths 3ord 3as
near t o GodG , e, the mmedate or frst emanat on from God( and
t 3as God - msel f# de6el o!ed or man fest ed n that !art c$l ar
mode# and n act on, And by that ;ord e6eryth ng t hat s 3as
created, @DAnd th$s Tert$l l an says t hat God made the ;orl d o$t
of not h ng# by means of -s ;ord# ; sdom# or Po3er,
To Phl o the &e3# as to the Gnost cs# t he S$!reme Beng 3as
t he Pr mt 6e Lght# or Archety!e of Lght# DSo$rce 3hence t he
rays emanate that l l $mnate So$ls, -e s t he So$l of the ;orl d#
and as s$ch act s e6ery3here, -e h mself f l ls and bo$nds hs
3hole e4 st ence# and hs forces f ll and !enetrate e6eryth ng, -s
Image s t he ;ORD ALOGOSB# a form more br l lant than f re# 3hch
s not !$re l ght , Th s ;ORD d3el ls n GodG for t s 3 t hn - s
Int el l gence that t he S$!reme Beng frames for - mself the
Ty!es of Ideas of al l that s t o ass$me real ty n t he 'n6erse,
The ;ORD s the Fehcl e by 3hch God act s on t he 'n 6erseG t he
;orl d of Ideas by means 3hereof God has created 6 s ble t h ngsG
t he more Anc ent God# as com!ared 3t h t he Mat er al ;orl dG
%hef and General Re!resent at 6e of al l Intell gencesG t he ArchD
angel and re!resentat 6e of all s!rt s# e6en t hose of Mortal sG
t he ty!e of ManG the !r mt 6e man h mself, These deas are
borro3ed from Plato, And ths ;ord s not only t he %reat or A@by
- m 3as e6eryt hng made t hat 3as made@B# b$t act s n t he !lace
of God and thro$gh h m act all t he Po3ers and Att r b$tes of
God, And al so# as frst re!resentat 6e of t he h$man race# he s
t he !rot ect or of Men and t he r She!herd# the @Ben -? Adam# @ or
Son of Man,
The act $al cond t on of Man s not h s !r mt 6e cond t on# that
n 3hch he 3as the mage of the ;ord, - s $nr$ly !ass ons
ha6e ca$sed h m to fal l from h s org nal l ofty est ate, B$t he may
r se aga n# by fol lo3ng t he t eachngs of -ea6enly ; sdom# and
t he Angel s 3hom God comm ss ons t o a d h m n esca! ng from
t he entangl ement s of t he bodyG and by fght ng bra6ely aga nst
E6 l# t he e4st ence of 3hch God has all o3ed solely to f$rnsh h m
3 th t he means of e4ercsng h s free 3l l ,
The S$!reme Beng of t he Egy!tans 3as Am$n# a secret and
concealed God# t he 'n/no3n "ather of the Gnostcs# t he So$rce
of D6 ne Lfe# and of al l force# the Pl en t$de of al l# com!rehendD
ng al l thngs n - mself# the org nal Lght, -e creat es nothngG
b$t e6eryth ng emanat es from - m( and al l other Gods are b$t
hs man festat ons, "rom - m# by t he $t terance of a ;ord# emaD
nated 8e t h# the D 6ne Mot her of al l th ngs# the Pr m t 6e
T-O'G-T# t he "OR%E t hat !$ts e6eryt h ng n mo6ement # the
SPIRIT e6ery3here e4t ended# t he De ty of L ght and Mot her of
t he S$n,
Of t h s S$!reme Be ng# Osrs 3as the mage# So$rce of al l
Good n the moral and !hyscal 3orl d# and constant foe of
Ty!hon# t he Gen$s of E6 l# the Satan of Gnost csm# br$te mat D
t er# deemed to be al 3ays at fe$d 3t h the s!r t t hat fl o3ed from
t he De tyG and o6er 3hom -arDOer # the Redeemer# Son of Iss
and Os r s# s fnally t o !re6a l ,
In t he HendDA6esta of the Pers ans t he S$!reme Beng s
T me 3t ho$t l m t# HER'A8E AK-ERE8E, DD8o orgn co$ld be
assgned t o - mG for -e 3as en6elo!ed n -s o3n Glory# and
- s 8at $re and Attr b$t es 3ere so naccess ble to h$man Intel l D
gence# t hat -e 3as b$t the ob5ect of a s l ent 6enerat on, The comD
mencement of %reat on 3as by emanat on from - m, The f rst
emanat on 3as t he Pr m t 6e Lght# and from t hs Lght emerged
Orm$<d# t he K ng oA L ght# 3ho# by t he ;ORD# creat ed the ;orld
n t s !$r ty# s t s Preser6er and &$dge# a -oly and Sacred BeD
ng# Intel l gence and Kno3ledge# - mself T me 3t ho$t l m t#
and 3 eldng all t he !o3ers of the S$!reme Be ng,
In t hs Pers an fa th# as t a$ght many cent$res before o$r era#
and embod ed n the HendDA6est a# t here 3as n man a !$re Pr nD
c !le# !roceedng from the S$!reme Be ng# !rod$ced by t he ; l l
and ;ord of Orm$<d, To that 3as $nted an m!$re !r nc !le#
!roceedng from a foregn nfl $ence# that of Ahr man# t he Dragon#
or !r nc !le of E6 l, Tem!t ed by Ahr man# t he frst man and
3oman had fal l enG and for t 3el6e tho$sand years t here 3as t o be
3ar bet 3een Orm$<d and t he Good S!rt s creat ed by h m# and
Ahr rnan and t he E6 l ones 3hom he had call ed nt o e4st ence,
B$t !$re so$l s are ass sted by the Good S!rt s# t he Tr $m!h of
t he Good Pr nc !le s determ ned $!on n the decrees of the S$D
!reme Beng# and the !er od of that t r $m!h 3 l l nfal l bly arr 6e,
At t he moment 3hen the earth shall be most affl cted 3 th the
e6l s bro$ght $!on t by t he S! rt s of !erd t on# t hree Pro!het s
3 ll a!!ear to brng assstance t o mortal s, Sos osch# %h ef of t he
Three# 3l l regenerate t he 3orl d# and rest ore to t t s !r mt 6e
Bea$ty# Strengt h# and P$r ty, -e 3 l l 5 $dge the good and the
3 c/ed, Aft er the $n6ersal res$rrect on of the Good# t he !$re
S! r ts 3l l cond$ct them to an abode of eternal ha!!ness, AhrD
man# h s e6 l Demons# and al l the 3orld# 3 ll be !$r f ed n a torD
rent of l E$d b$rnng met al , The La3 of Orm$<d 3l l r$l e
e6ery3here( all men 3 ll be ha!!y( all # en5oyng an $nal terable
bl ss# 3 ll $nt e 3 th Sososch n sng ng the !rases of t he S$D
!reme Beng,
These doctr nes# 3 t h some modfcat ons# 3ere ado!t ed by t he
Kabal st s and after3ard by the Gnost cs,
A!ol lon$s of Tyana says(@;e shal l render t he most a!!ro!rD
at e 3orsh ! t o the Dety# 3hen t o that God 3hom 3e cal l the
"rst # 3ho s One# and se!arat e from al l # and aft er 3hom 3e recogD
n<e the ot hers# 3e !resent no offer ngs 3hat e6er# /ndle to - m
no fre# ded cat e t o - m no sens ble thngG for he needs not hng#
e6en of al l that nat$res more e4al ted t han o$rs co$ld g6e, The
earth !rod$ces no !l ant# t he a r no$r shes no an mal # there s n
short noth ng# 3h ch 3o$ld not be m!$re n h s sght , In adD
dress ng o$rsel 6es t o - m# 3e m$st $se only the hgher 3ord# that #
I mean# 3h ch s not e4!ressed by t he mo$t h# DDt he s lent nner
3ord of t he s!rt , , , , , "rom t he most Gl or o$s of all Be ngs# 3e
m$st see/ for bl essngs# by t hat 3h ch s most glor o$s n o$rD
sel 6esG and that s t he s!rt # 3h ch needs no organ,@
Strabo says( @Th s one S$!reme Essence s t hat 3hch embraces
$s al l # the 3at er and the land# that 3hch 3e cal l the -ea6ens#
t he ;orld# t he 8at $re of t h ngs, Ths -ghest Beng sho$l d be
3orsh!!ed# 3t ho$t any 6s ble mage# n sacred gro6es, In s$ch
retreat s t he de6o$t sho$ld lay themsel6es do3n to slee!# and
e4!ect sgns from God n dreams, @
Arst ol t e says(@It has been handed do3n n a myth cal form#
from the earl est t mes to !ost er ty# that there are Gods# and t hat
The D6ne com!asses ent re nat $re, Al l besdes th s has been
added# aft er the myth cal styl e# for t he !$r!ose of !ers$adng the
m$l t t $de# and for t he nterest of t he l a3s and t he ad6antage of
t he State, Th$s men ha6e g6en to t he Gods h$man forms# and
ha6e e6en re!resent ed them $nder t he fg$re of other bengs# n
t he t ra n of 3h ch fct ons fol lo3ed many more of the same sort ,
B$t f# from al l th s# 3e se!arate t he or gnal !r nc !le# and conD
s der t al one# namely# that t he frst Essences are Gods# 3e shall
fnd t hat ths has been d 6 nely sa dG and s nce t s !robabl e t hat
!hl oso!hy and the art s ha6e been se6eral t mes# so far as that s
!ossble# fo$nd and lost# s$ch doct r nes may ha6e been !reser6ed
t o o$r t mes as the rema ns of ancent 3 sdom,@
Por!hyry says( @By mages addressed t o sense# the ancents
re!resented God and h s !o3ersDDby t he 6s ble they ty! fed t he
n6 sble for t hose 3ho had learned to read# n t hese ty!es# as n
a boo/# a treat se on the Gods, ;e need not 3onder f the gnoD
rant cons der t he mages t o be not hng more than 3ood or stoneG
for 5$st so# they 3ho are gnorant of 3r t ng see not h ng n mon$D
ment s b$t st one# noth ng n tablet s b$t 3ood# and n boo/s b$t a
t ss$e of !a!yr$s, @
A!ol lon$s of Tyana hel d# that brt h and deat h are only n a!D
!earanceG that 3hch se!arates t sel f from t he one s$bstance Mt he
one D 6 ne essenceN# and s ca$ght $! by mat t er# seems to be bornG
t hat # aga n# 3hch releases tsel f from the bonds of mat ter# and s
re$n t ed 3 t h the one D 6 ne Essence# seems t o de, There s# at
most # an alt erat on bet3een becomng 6 sble and becom ng nD
6s ble, In al l there s# !ro!erly s!ea/ng# b$t the one essence#
3hch alone act s and s$ffers# by becom ng al l thngs to all Gt he
Eternal God# 3hom men 3rong# 3hen t hey de!r6e - m of 3hat
!ro!erly can be at trb$ted t o - m only# and transfer t to ot her
names and !ersons,
The 8e3 Plat on sts s$bst t $t ed t he dea of the Absol $te# for
t he S$!reme Essence tsel fGDDas the frst# s m!lest !r nc !le# ant eD
ror to all e4stenceG of 3h ch not h ng det ermnate can be !redD
catedG to 3h ch no consc o$sness# no selfDcontem!l at on can be
ascrbedG nasm$ch as t o do so# 3o$ld mmedat ely m!ly a E$al D
ty# a d st nct on of s$b5ect and ob5ect , Ths S$!reme Ent ty can
be /no3n only by an ntel lect $al nt $ t on of t he S! r t# t ransD
scendng t self# and emanc !at ng t self from ts o3n l m ts,
Th s mere l og cal t endency# by means of 3hch men tho$ght to
arr 6e at t he conce!t on of s$ch an absol $t e# t he o6# 3as $n ted
3 th a certa n myst c sm# 3h ch# by a transcendent st ate of feel D
ng# comm$ncat ed# as t 3ere# t o th s abst ract on 3hat the m nd
3o$l d rece6e as a real ty, The absor!t on of the S!r t nt o that
s$!ere4st ence# so as to be ent rely
dent fed 3 th t # or s$ch a re6elat on of the lat ter to t he s!r t
rased abo6e tself# 3as regarded as t he h ghest end 3h ch the
s!rt $al l fe co$l d reach,
The 8e3 Plat on sts? dea of God# 3as that of One S m!le OrgD
nal Essence# e4al ted a/es a d st nct on bet 3een t hose 3ho are n the
!ro!er sense Sons of God# ha6ng by means of contem!lat on
rased themsel6es t o t he hghest Beng# or at taned to a /no3l edge
of - m# n -s mmed at e sel fDmanfestat on# and those 3ho /no3
God only n hs medate re6el at on thro$gh hs o!erat onDDs$ch as
-e declares - msel f n creat onDDn t he re6elat on st l l 6e led n
t he l ett er of Scr !t $reDDt hose# n short # 3ho att ach t hemsel 6es
s m!ly to the Logos# and cons der t h s to be the S$!reme GodG
3ho arenG and aft er t has r d tsel f
from all that !ert ans to senseDfrom al l man fol dness, They are
t he medators bet3een man Mama<ed and st$!ef ed by man fol dD
nessN and t he S$!reme 'n ty,
Ph l o says(@-e 3ho dsbel e6es the m rac$lo$s# s m!ly as t he
mrac$l o$s# ne ther /no3s God# nor has he e6er so$ght after - mG
for ot her3se he 3o$ld ha6e $nderst ood# by l oo/ng at that tr$ly
great and a3eDns!r ng sght# t he mracl e of the 'n 6erse# t hat
t hese mracl es M n God? s !ro6 dent al g$ dance of - s !eo!leN are
b$t ch ld? s !l ay for the D 6ne Po3er, B$t t he t r$ly mrac$l o$s
has become des!sed thro$gh fam l ar ty, The $n 6ersal # on the
contrary# alt ho$gh n t self nsgnfcant # yet# thro$gh o$r lo6e of
no6el ty# trans!ort s $s 3t h ama<ement, @
In o!!ost on to the ant hro!o!athsm of t he &e3sh Scr !t$res#
t he Ale4andr an &e3s endea6ored to !$rfy t he dea of God from
al l adm 4t $re of the -$man, By the e4cl$s on of e6ery h$man
!ass on# t 3as s$bl mat ed t o a somet h ng de6o d of all att rb$tes#
and 3holly transcendent al G and t he mere Be ng# the Good#
n and by tsel f# the Absol $t e of Plat onsm# 3as s$bst t $ted for
t he !ersonal De ty of t he Old Testament , By soar ng $!D
3ard# beyond all creat ed e4 st ence# the m nd# dsengag ng tsel f
from the Sensbl e# attans to the ntel lect $al nt$t on of t h s AbD
sol$t e BengG of 3hom# ho3e6er# t can !red cate not h ng b$t
e4st ence# and set s as de al l other determ nat ons as not ans3erng
t o t he e4al ted nat $re of t he S$!reme Essence,
Th$s Phl o ma/es a d st nct on bet 3een those 3ho are n t he
!ro!er sense Sons of God# ha6ng by means of contem!lat on
rased themsel6es t o t he hghest Beng# or at taned to a /no3l edge
of - m# n -s mmed at e sel fDmanfestat on# and those 3ho /no3
God only n hs medate re6el at on thro$gh hs o!erat onDDs$ch as
-e declares - msel f n creat onDDn t he re6elat on st l l 6e led n
t he l ett er of Scr !t $reDDt hose# n short # 3ho att ach t hemsel 6es
s m!ly to the Logos# and cons der t h s to be the S$!reme GodG
3ho are t he sons of t he Logos# rat her than of t he Tr$e Beng,
@God# @ says Pythagoras# @s ne ther t he ob5ect of sense# nor
s$b5ect t o !ass on# b$t n6 s bl e# only ntell g ble# and s$!remely
ntell gent , In - s body -e s l /e t he l ght# and n - s so$l -e reD
sembles tr$t h, -e s the $n6ersal s!rt t hat !er6ades and dfD
f$set h tsel f o6er all nat$re, Al l be ngs rece 6e the r l fe from
- m, There s b$t one only God# 3ho s not # as some are a!t t o
mag ne# seat ed abo6e the 3orld# beyond t he orb of t he 'n6erseG
b$t be ng - msel f all n al l# -e sees al l the be ngs t hat f ll - s
mmenstyG t he only Pr nc !le# the Lght of -ea6en# t he "ather
of al l, -e !rod$ces e6eryth ngG -e orders and ds!oses e6eryD
t h ngG -e s the REASO8# the LI"E# and t he MOTIO8 of all be ng, @
@I am t he LIG-T of the 3orl dGhe t hat fol l o3et h Me shal l not
3al / n DARK8ESS# b$t shall ha6e t he LIG-T of LI"E, @ So sad
t he "o$nder of t he %hr st an Rel g on# as -s 3ords are re!ort ed
by &ohn the A!ost le,
God# say t he sacred 3rt ngs of t he &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 t he smo/e of a f$rnaceG -e
3ent before t he chl dren of Israel# by day# n a ! ll ar of clo$d#
and# by nght # n a ! l lar of f re# t o g6e them l ght, @%al l yo$ on
t he name of yo$r Gods# @ sad El 5ah t he Pro!het t o t he Prest s
of Baal # @and I 3l l call $!on the name of ADO8AIG and the God
t hat ans3eret h by f re# let h m be God, @
Accord ng to the Kabal ah# as accordng t o t he doctr nes of
Horoaster# e6eryth ng that e4 st s has emanat ed from a so$rce of
nf nte l ght , Before all t hngs# e4st ed the Pr mt 6e Beng# T-E
A8%IE8T O" DA.S# the Ancent K ng of LghtG a t t le the more
remar/abl e# beca$se t s freE$ent ly g6en t o t he %reat or n the
HendDA6est a# and n the %ode of the Sabeans# and occ$rs n t he
&e3sh Scr !t$res,
The 3orl d 3as - s Re6el at on# God re6ealedG and s$bs sted
only n - m, - s att r b$tes 3ere t here re!rod$ced 3t h 6ar o$s
mod f cat ons and n d fferent degreesG so that t he 'n 6erse 3as
- s -oly S!lendor# - s Mantl e, -e 3as t o be adored n s lenceG
and !erfect on consst ed n a nearer a!!roach to - m,
Before the creat on of 3orl ds# the PRIMITIFE LIG-T fl led all
s!ace# so that t here 3as no 6od, ;hen the S$!reme Be ng# e4D
st ng n th s Lght # resol6ed t o ds!lay -s !erfect ons# or manD
fest them n 3orl ds# -e 3 t hdre3 3 thn - mself# formed aro$nd
- m a 6od s!ace# and shot fort h -s frst emanat on# a ray of
l ght G the ca$se and !r nc !le of e6eryt hng that e4 sts# $n t ng
both t he generat 6e and conce!t 6e !o3er# 3hch !enet rat es e6eryD
t h ng# and 3t ho$t 3h ch not hng co$l d s$bs st for an nstant ,
Man fel l# sed$ced by the E6l S! r t s most remote from t he
Great Kng of LghtG t hose of the fo$rth 3orld of s!rt s# Asah#
3hose chef 3as Bel al, They 3age ncessant 3ar aga nst t he
!$re Intel l gences of t he ot her 3orlds# 3ho# l /e t he Amshas!ands#
I<eds# and "ero$ers of the Persans are the t$telary g$ardans of
man, In t he beg nnng# al l 3as $n son and harmonyG f$ll of t he
same d 6 ne l ght and !erfect !$rty, The Se6en K ngs of E6 l
fell # and t he 'n6erse 3as tro$bled, Then t he %reator too/ from
t he Se6en K ngs t he !r nc !les of Good and of Lght # and d6 ded
t hem among t he fo$r 3orlds of S!rt s# g6 ng to the f rst t hree
t he P$re Intell gences# $n t ed n lo6e and harmony# 3hl e t o t he
fo$rt h 3ere 6o$chsafed only some feeble gl mmer ngs of l ght,
;hen the str fe bet 3een t hese and t he good angels shall ha6e
cont n$ed t he a!!o nted t me# and t hese S! rt s en6el o!ed n dar/D
ness shal l l ong and n 6a n ha6e endea6ored to absorb t he D6ne
l ght and l fe# then 3 ll t he Eternal - msel f come to correct them,
-e 3 l l del 6er t hem from t he gross en6elo!es of matt er that hol d
t hem ca!t 6e# 3 ll reDan mat e and st rengt hen the ray of l ght or
s!rt $al nat $re 3h ch t hey ha6e !reser6ed# and reDestabl sh
t hro$gho$t t he 'n6erse t hat !r mt 6e -armony 3hch 3as t s
bl ss,
Marcon# t he Gnost c# sad# @The So$l of the Tr$e %hr st an#
ado!t ed as a ch ld by the S$!reme Be ng# to 3hom t has l ong
been a st ranger# rece 6es from - m t he S! r t and D 6ne l fe, It
s led and conf rmed# by th s g ft # n a !$re and holy l fe# l /e that
of GodG and f t so com!l etes t s earthly career# n char ty#
chast ty# and sanct ty# t 3 ll one day be d sengaged from t s maD
t er al en6el o!e# as t he r!e gra n s detached from t he st ra3# and
as t he yo$ng b rd esca!es from t s shel l , L/e the angel s# t 3l l
share n t he bl ss of t he Good and Perfect "ather# reDcl othed n an
aeral body or organ# and made l /e $nt o t he Angel s n -ea6en,@
.o$ see# my brot her# 3hat s the mean ng of Mason c @Lght , @
.o$ see 3hy t he EAST of the Lodge# 3here t he n t al let ter of t he
8ame of t he Dety o6erhangs the Master# s the !l ace of Lght,
Lght # as contrad st ng$ shed from dar/ness# s Good# as cont radsD
t ng$ shed from E6l ( and t s that Lght # t he t r$e /no3l edge of
De ty# the Eternal Good# for 3h ch Masons n all ages ha6e so$ght,
St l l Masonry marches st ead ly on3ard to3ard that Lght that
shnes n the great d st ance# t he Lght of t hat day 3hen E6l #
o6ercome and 6anE$shed# shall fade a3ay and dsa!!ear fore6er#
and L fe and Lght be the one la3 of the 'n 6erse# and ts eternal
-armony,
The Degree of Rose %ro 4 teaches three t h ngsGDDt he $n ty# mD
m$tabl ty and goodness of GodG the mmort al ty of t he So$l G
and t he $lt mate defeat and e4t nct on of e6l and 3rong and sorD
ro3# by a Redeemer or Mess ah# yet to come# f he has not al ready
a!!eared,
It re!laces t he t hree ! l l ars of the ol d Tem!l e# 3t h t hree t hat
ha6e already been e4!la ned to yo$# DD"a th An God# man/nd# and
man? s sel fB# -o!e A n t he 6ct ory o6er e6l # t he ad6ancement of
-$man ty# and a hereaft erB# and %harty Arel e6 ng t he 3ants#
and t olerant of t he errors and fa$l ts of ot hersB, To be tr$stf$l #
t o be ho!ef$l# t o be nd$l gent G these# n an age of sel fshness# of l l
o!non of h$man nat$re# of harsh and b t ter 5$dgment# are the
most m!ortant Mason c Frt $es# and t he tr$e s$!!ort s of e6ery
Masonc Tem!l e, And t hey are t he old ! l l ars of the Tem!le
$nder d fferent names, "or he only s 3 se 3ho 5$dges ot hers
char tablyG he only s strong 3ho s ho!ef$lG and there s no
bea$ty l /e a f rm fa t h n God# o$r fell o3s and o$rself,
The second a!art ment# clot hed n mo$rnng# the col $mns of
t he Tem!l e shat tered and !rostrat e# and the bret hren bo3ed do3n
n t he dee!est de5ect on# re!resent s t he 3orl d $nder t he tyranny of
t he Prnc !l e of E6 lG 3here 6rt $e s !ersec$ted and 6 ce re3ardD
edG 3here the r ght eo$s st ar6e for bread# and t he 3c/ed l 6e
s$m!t $o$sly and dress n !$r!le and fne l nenG 3here nsolent
gnorance r$l es# and l earnng and gen$s ser6eG 3here Kng and
Prest tram!le on l berty and t he rghts of consc enceG 3here freeD
dom h des n ca6es and mo$nt ans# and syco!hancy and ser6 l ty
fa3n and t hr6eG 3here the cry of the 3 do3 and the or!han
st ar6ng for 3ant of food# and sh 6erng 3t h cold# r ses e6er to
-ea6en# from a m l l on m serabl e ho6el sG 3here men# 3 ll ng t o
l abor# and star6 ng# they and ther ch ldren and the 3 6es of t her
bosoms# beg !l ant 6ely for 3or/# 3hen the !am!ered ca! tal st
st o!s h s m ll sG 3here the la3 !$nshes her 3ho# star6ng# st eals a
l oaf# and l ets t he sed$cer go freeG 3here t he s$ccess of a !arty
5 $st fes m$rder# and 6olence and ra! ne go $n!$n shedG and
3here he 3ho 3 t h many years? cheat ng and grndng the faces of
t he !oor gro3s rch# rece6es off ce and honor n l fe# and after
deat h bra6e f$neral and a s!lend d ma$sol e$m(DDt h s 3orld#
3here# s nce t s ma/ng# 3ar has ne6er ceased# nor man !a$sed n
t he sad tas/ of t ort$r ng and m$rder ng hs brotherG and of 3hch
ambt on# a6arce# en6y# hatred# l $st# and the rest of Ahr man? s
and Ty!hon? s army ma/e a Pandemon $m( th s 3orl d# s$n/ n
s n# ree/ ng 3t h baseness# cl amoro$s 3 th sorro3 and m sery, If
any see n t al so a ty!e of the sorro3 of the %raft for the deat h
of -ram# the gref of the &e3s at the fal l of &er$salem# t he msery
of t he Tem!l ars at the r$n of t he r order and t he deat h of De
Molay# or the 3orld? s agony and !angs of 3oe at t he death of t he
Redeemer# t s the r ght of each to do so,
The th rd a!art ment re!resents t he conseE$ences of s n and
6ce# and the hel l made of t he h$man heart # by t s f ery !assons,
If any see n t al so a ty!e of t he -ades of t he Gree/s# t he
Gehenna of the -ebre3s# t he Tart ar$s of the Romans# or t he -el l
of t he %hrst ans# or only of t he agon es of remorse and the torD
t $res of an $!bra d ng conscence# t s t he rght of each t o do so,
The fo$rt h a!art ment re!resents the 'n 6erse# freed from t he
nsol ent dom non and tyranny of t he Pr nc !l e of E6 l# and brl D
l ant 3t h t he t r$e L ght that flo3s from t he S$!reme De tyG
3hen s n and 3rong# and !an and sorro3# remorse and m sery
shal l be no more fore6erG 3hen t he great !lans of Infnte Eternal
;sdom shal l be f$lly de6el o!edG and al l God? s creat $res# see ng
t hat all a!!arent e6l and nd 6 d$al s$ffer ng and 3rong 3ere
b$t the dro!s that 3ent to s3ell t he great r 6er of nf n te goodD
ness# shal l /no3 t hat 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 t he !ec$l ar mysteres of any fat h or creed# or an al l $s on to
any !ast occ$rrences# t s the r rght t o do so, Let each a!!ly t s
symbol s as he !l eases, To al l of $s t hey ty!fy t he $n6ersal r$le
of Masonry# DD of ts t hree ch ef 6rt $es# "at h# -o!e and %hartyG
of brotherly lo6e and $n 6ersal bene6ol ence, ;e l abor here t o
no other end, These symbol s need no ot her nt er!retat on,
The obl gat ons of o$r Anc ent Brethren of the Rose %ro 4 3ere t o
f$l f ll al l t he d$t es of frendsh !# cheerf$l ness# char ty# !eace# l bD
eral ty# tem!erance and chast ty( and scr$!$lo$sly t o a6od mD
!$r ty# ha$ght ness# hatred# anger# and e6ery ot her / nd of 6 ce,
They too/ the r !h loso!hy from the ol d Theology of t he Egy!D
t ans# as Moses and Solomon had done# and borro3ed ts heroD
gly!hcs and t he c !hers of t he -ebre3s, The r !rnc !al r$les
3ere t o e4erc se t he !rofesson of med cne chart ably and 3 thD
o$t fee# to ad6ance t he ca$se of 6 rt $e# enlarge t he sc ences# and
nd$ce men t o l 6e as n t he !r m t 6e t mes of the 3orld,
;hen th s Degree had t s orgn# t s not m!ortant to nE$ reG
nor 3t h 3hat d fferent r tes t has been !ract sed n d fferent
co$nt r es and at 6aro$s t mes, It s of 6ery h gh ant E$ ty, Its
ceremones dffer 3t h t he degrees of lat t $de and l ongt $de# and
t rece 6es 6arant nt er!ret at ons, If 3e 3ere to e4am ne al l the
dfferent ceremon als# t her emblems# and the r form$las# 3e sho$ld
see t hat all t hat bel ongs to the !r mt 6e and essent al element s
of t he order# s res!ect ed n e6ery sanct $ary, All al /e !ract se
6rt$e# t hat t may !rod$ce fr$ t , Al l l abor# l /e $s# for the e4D
t r!at on of 6ce# the !$r fcat on of man# t he de6el o!ment of t he
arts and sc ences# and the rel ef of h$manty,
8one admt an ade!t to the r lofty !hl oso!h cal /no3l edge# and
mystero$s sc ences# $nt l he has been !$r f ed at t he al tar of t he
symbol c Degrees, Of 3hat m!ort ance are d fferences of o!non
as t o the age and geneal ogy of t he Degree# or 6arance n the !racD
t ce# ceremon al and l t$rgy# or the shade of col or of t he banner
$nder 3hch each t r be of Israel marched# f all re6ere ? t he -oly
Arch of the symbol c Degrees# frst and $nal t erabl e so$rce of "reeD
MasonryG f all re6ere o$r conser6at 6e !rnc!les# and are 3 t h $s
n t he great !$r!oses of o$r organ<at on J
If# any3here# bret hren of a !art c$lar rel g o$s bel ef ha6e been
e4cl$ded from ths Degree# t merely sho3s ho3 gra6ely the !$rD
!oses and !l an of Masonry may be m s$nderst ood, "or 3hene6er
t he door of any Degree s closed aganst h m 3ho bel e6es n one
God and t he so$l? s mmort al ty# on acco$nt of the ot her tenets of
hs fat h# that Degree s Masonry no longer, 8o Mason has the
rght t o nt er!ret t he symbol s of th s Degree for anot her# or to reD
f$se h m ts mysteres# f he 3 ll not ta/e them 3t h t he e4!l anaD
t on and commentary s$!eradded,
L sten# my brot her# to o$r e4!l anat on of t he symbol s of the
Degree# and t hen g6e them s$ch f$rther nt er!ret at on as yo$
t h n/ f t,
The %ross has been a sacred symbol from the earl est Ant E$ty,
It s fo$nd $!on al l the end$r ng mon$ment s of the 3orl d# n
Egy!t # n Assyr a# n -ndostan# n Persa# and on the B$ddh st
t o3ers of Ireland, B$ddha 3as sad to ha6e d ed $!on t, The
Dr$ ds c$t an oa/ nto ts sha!e and hel d t sacred# and b$l t ther
t em!l es n that form, Po nt ng t o the fo$r E$arters of t he 3orl d#
t 3as the symbol of $n 6ersal nat $re, It 3as on a cr$c form t ree#
t hat %hrshna 3as sa d to ha6e e4!red# !erced 3 t h arro3s, It
3as re6ered n Me4 co,
B$t ts !ec$l ar mean ng n ths Degree# s that g 6en to t by
t he Anc ent Egy!t ans, Tl tot h or Ph/a s re!resent ed on t he oldD
est mon$ment s carryng n hs hand the %r$4 Ansata# or An/h#
Aa Ta$ cross# 3t h a r ng or crcl e o6er t B, -e s so seen on the
do$ble t abl et of Sh$f$ and 8ob Sh$f$# b$l ders of t he greatest of
t he Pyram ds# at ;ady Meghara# n the !enns$la of S na , It 3as
t he herogly!h c for l fe# and 3 t h a t r angle !ref 4ed meant lfeD
g 6 ng, To $s therefore t s t he symbol of LfeDDof that l fe
t hat emanat ed from the De ty# and of that Et ernal Lfe for 3hch
3e al l ho!eG thro$gh o$r fa th n God? s nfn t e goodness,
The ROSE 3as anc ently sacred t o A$rora and t he S$n, It s
a symbol of Da3n# of t he res$rrect on of L ght and the rene3al
of l fe# and therefore of the da3n of t he frst day# and more !arD
t c$larly of the res$rrect on( and t he %ross and Rose t ogether
are therefore h erogly!hcal ly to be read# t he Da3n of Et ernal
L fe 3hch all 8at ons ha6e ho!ed for by the ad6ent of a ReD
deemer,
The Pel can feedng her yo$ng s an embl em of the large and
bo$nt f$l benef cence of 8at$re# of the Redeemer of fal len man#
and of t hat h$manty and charty t hat o$ght to d st ng$ sh a
Knght of th s Degree,
The Eagl e 3as t he l 6ng Symbol of t he Egy!tan God Mendes
or Menthra# 3hom Sesostr sDRamses made one 3 th Am$nDRe#
t he God of Thebes and '!!er Egy!t # and t he re!resentat 6e of
t he S$n# t he 3ord RE mean ng S$n or K ng,
The %om!ass s$rmo$nt ed 3t h a cro3n sgnfes that not 3 t hD
st and ng t he hgh ran/ atta ned n Masonry by a Knght of the
Rose %ro 4# eE$ ty and m!art al ty are n6ar ably t o go6ern h s
cond$ct ,
To the 3ord I8RI# nscr bed on the %r$4 Ansata o6er t he
Master? s Seat # many mean ngs ha6e been assgned, The %hr st an
In t ate re6erent al ly sees n t t he n t als of the nscr !t on $!on
t he cross on 3hch %hrst s$fferedDDDIes$s 8a<aren$s Re4 l $dceD
or$m, The sages of Ant E$ ty connect ed t 3 th one of t he greatD
est secret s of 8at $re# t hat of $n 6ersal regenerat on, They nt erD
!reted t th$s# Igne 8at$ra reno6at$r nt egraG Aent re nat $re s
reno6ated by freB( The Al chem cal or -ermet c Masons framed
for t t h s a!horsm# Igne nt r$m ror s n6en t $r, And t he &esD
$t s are charged 3 th ha6ng a!!l ed to t th s odo$s a4 om#
&$st$m necare reges m! os, The fo$r lett ers are the nt al s of
t he -ebre3 3ords t hat re!resent t he fo$r elementsDDl amm m#
t he seas or 3aterG 8o$r# f reG Ro$ach# t he a r# and Iebeschah# t he
dry eart h, -o3 3e read t # I need not re!eat t o yo$,
The %ROSS# P# 3as t he Sgn of t he %reat 6e ; sdom or Logos#
t he Son of God, Pl at o says# @-e e4!ressed h m $!on the 'n D
6erse n t he fg$re of the letter P, The ne4t Po3er to the S$D
!reme God 3as dec$ssated or f g$red n the sha!e of a %ross on
t he 'n6erse, @ M thras sgned h s solders on the forehead 3 th a
%ross, P s t he mar/ of =22# the myst er o$s cycle of the IncarD
nat ons,
;e const ant ly see the Ta$ and t he Resh $n t ed th$s P , These
D[ D
[
t 3o let ters# n t he ol d Samart an# as fo$nd n Ar$s# stand# the
frst for :22# t he second for 022Y=22, Ths s t he Staff of Os rs#
al so# and h s monogram# and 3as ado!ted by the %hr stans as a
Sgn, On a medal P of %onst an $s s t h s nscr !t on# @In hoc
P
[
sgno 6ct or ers, @ An nscr !t on n the D$omo at M l an
reads# @P, et P, %hrst , 8om na, Sancta, Tene, @
The Egy!t ans $sed as a S gn of ther God %anob$s# a T or a
DlD nd fferently, The Fashna6as of Inda ha6e also the same
Sacred Ta$# 3h ch t hey also mar/ 3t h crosses# and 3t h trangl es,
The 6est ment s of t he !t est s of -or$s 3ere co6ered 3 t h these crosses,
So 3as t he dress of t he Lama of Thbet , The Sectar an mar/s of the &ans
are s ml ar, The d st nct 6e badge of t he Sect of Pac &aon c$s s t he
s3ast ca, It s t he Sgn of "o# dent cal 3t h the %ross of %hr st,
On t he r$ ns of Mandore# n Inda# among other myst c embl ems# are
t he myst c t r angle# and t he nterl aced t r angle, Th s s also fo$nd
on anc ent co ns and medal s# e4ca6ated from the r$ ns of Oo5 en and
other anc ent c t es of Ind a,
.o$ entered here am d gloom and nto shado3# and are clad n
t he a!!arel of sorro3, Lament # 3t h $s# t he sad condt on of the
-$man race# n t hs 6ale of tearsO the calamt es of men and the
agones of nat onsO the dar/ness of t he be3l dered so$l # o!!ressed
by do$bt and a!!rehens onO
There s no h$man so$l t hat s not sad at t mes, There s no
t ho$ghtf$l so$l that does not at t mes des!ar, There s !erha!s
none# of al l t hat t hn/ at al l of anyt h ng beyond the needs and nD
t erest s of t he body# that s not at t mes st art led and terr f ed by t he
a3f$l E$est ons 3hch# feel ng as tho$gh t 3ere a g$l ty thng for
dong so# t 3hs!ers t o t self n t s nmost de!ths, Some Demon
seems to t ort $re t 3t h do$bt s# and to cr$sh t 3t h des!ar# as/D
ng 3hether# after all # t s cert a n that t s con6ct ons are tr$e#
and ts fa th 3ell ro$nded( 3hether t s ndeed s$re t hat a God of
Infnt e Lo6e and Benef cence r$les the 'n 6erse# or only some
great remorsel ess "ate and ron 8ecessty# hd n m!enetrable
gl oom# and to 3h ch men and t he r s$fferngs and sorro3s, ther
ho!es and 5 oys# ther ambt ons and deeds# are of no more nterest
or m!ortance than t he motes that dance n the s$nshneG or a
Beng t hat am$ses - mself 3 th the ncred ble 6an ty and fol ly#
t he 3rt ngs and contort ons of t he ns gn fcant nsect s t hat
com!ose -$man ty# and dly mag ne that t hey resemble t he OmD
n!otent, @;hat are 3e# @ t he Tem!t er as/s# @b$t !$!!et s n a
sho3Dbo4 J O Omn!ot ent dest ny# !$l l o$r str ngs gent ly O Dance
$s merc f$l ly off o$r mserable l tt le st age O@
@Is t not# @ t he Demon 3h s!ers# @merely the nordnate 6anty
of man that ca$ses h m no3 t o !ret end to h msel f that he s l /e
$nto God n nt el l ect # sym!athes and !ass ons# as t 3as t hat
3hch# at the beg nnng# made h m bel e6e that he 3as# n h s bod ly
sha!e and organs# the 6ery mage of the Dety J Is not h s God
merely hs o3n shado3# !ro5ect ed n ggant c o$t l nes $!on t he
cl o$dsJ Does he not create for h mself a God o$t of h msel f# by
merely addng ndefn te e4t ens on to h s o3n fac$lt es# !o3ers#
and !ass onsJ@
@;ho# @ the Fo ce that 3l l not be al3ays sl ent 3h s!ers# @has
e6er t horo$ghly sat sf ed h mself 3 th h s o3n arg$ment s n reD
s!ect t o hs o3n nat $re J ;ho e6er demonstrated to h msel f# 3 th
a concl $s6eness t hat ele6at ed the bel ef to cert a nty# that he 3as
an mmort al s!r t# d3el l ng only tem!orarly n t he ho$se and
en6elo!e of t he body# and to l 6e on fore6er after t hat shall ha6e
decayedJ ;ho e6er has demonst rat ed or e6er can demonstrat e
t hat the nt el lect of Man d ffers from t hat of the 3 ser an mals#
other3 se than n degree J ;ho has e6er done more than to $tter
nonsense and ncoherenc es n regard t o t he dfference bet3een
t he nst ncts of the dog and the reason of Man J The horse# t he
dog# the ele!hant# are as consc o$s of t her dent ty as 3e are,
They th n/# dream# remember# arg$e 3 th themsel6es# de6se#
!lan# and reason, ;hat s t he ntellect and ntell gence of the man
b$t the nt el lect of t he an mal n a h gher degree or larger E$anD
t ty J@ In t he real e4!l anat on of a sngl e t ho$ght of a dog# all
meta!hyscs 3l l be condensed,
And 3t h st l l more t errbl e s gn f cance# the Fo ce as/s# n 3hat
res!ect the masses of men# t he 6ast s3arms of the h$man race#
ha6e !ro6en t hemsel 6es e t her 3ser or better t han the an mal s n
3hose eyes a hgher ntel lgence sh nes t han n t her d$ll # $n nt elD
l ect$ral orbsG n 3hat res!ect they ha6e !ro6en t hemsel 6es 3ort hy
of or s$t ed for an mmort al l fe, ;o$ld t hat be a !r <e of any
6al$e to the 6ast ma5 ortyJ Do they sho3# here $!on eart h# any
ca!ac ty to m!ro6e# any f tness for a stat e of e4 st ence n 3h ch
t hey co$l d not cro$ch to !o3er# l /e ho$nds dreadng the lash# or
tyrann <e o6er defenceless 3ea/nessG n 3hch t hey co$l d not hate#
and !ersec$te# and t ort$re# and e4termnateG n 3hch they co$ld
not trade# and s!ec$l at e# and o6erDreach# and entra! theD$n3ary
and cheat t he conf d ng and gamble and thr 6e# and snff 3 th sel fD
rghteo$sness at the short Dcom ngs of ot hers# and than/ God t hat
t hey 3ere not l /e other menJ ;hat # t o mmense n$mbers of
men# 3o$l d be t he 6al$e of a -ea6en 3here t hey co$l d not l e and
l bel# and !ly base a6ocat ons for !rof tabl e ret $rns J
Sadly 3e loo/ aro$nd $s# and read the gloomy and dreary recD
ords of the ol d dead and rot t en ages, More t han eght een cent$r es
ha6e staggered a3ay nto the s!ect ral real m of t he Past# s nce
%hr st# teachng the Rel gon of Lo6e# 3as cr$c fed# t hat t mght
become a Rel gon of -ateG and - s Doct r nes are not yet e6en
nom nal ly acce!ted as t r$e by a fo$rth of man/ nd, Snce - s
deat h# 3hat ncalc$l abl e s3arms of h$man be ngs ha6e l 6ed and
ded n tot al $nbel ef of al l t hat 3e deem essent al to Sal 6at onO
;hat m$l t t $d no$s myr ads of so$l s# s nce t he dar/ness of dol aD
t ro$s s$!erst t on set tl ed do3n# t hc/ and m!enetrable# $!on the
earth# ha6e floc/ed $! t o3ard t he eternal Throne of God# t o
rece6e -s 5 $dgment J
The Relgon of Lo6e !ro6ed t o be# for se6enteen long cenD
t $res# as m$ch t he Relgon of -at e# and nfn t ely more t he ReD
l g on of Persec$t on# than Mahomet ansm# t s $nconE$erable r 6al,
-eres es gre3 $! before t he A!ost l es d edG and God hat ed t he
8 col at ans# 3h le &ohn# at Pat mos# !rocla med - s comng 3rath,
Sects 3rangled# and each# as t ga ned t he !o3er# !ersec$ted
t he other# $nt l the so l of the 3hole %hr st an 3orld 3as 3at ered
3 th t he blood# and fat t ened on t he fl esh# and 3htened 3 t h t he
bones# of martyrs# and h$man ngen$ty 3as ta4ed to t s $t most
t o n6ent ne3 modes by 3h ch t ort$res and agones co$l d be !roD
l onged and made more e4E$s te,
@By 3hat rght # @ 3h s!ers the Fo ce# @does ths sa6age# mercD
l ess# !ersec$t ng an mal # t o 3hch t he s$ffer ngs and 3rt h ngs of
others of t s 3ret ched / nd f$rn sh t he most !leas$rable sensaD
t ons# and the mass of 3hch care only t o eat # slee!# be clot hed# and
3al lo3 n sens$al !leas$res# and the best of 3hch 3rangle# hat e#
en6y# and# 3t h fe3 e4ce!t ons# regard t her o3n nt erest s alone# D
3 th 3hat rght does t endea6or to del $de t self nto t he con6 cD
t on t hat t s not an an mal # as the 3olf# t he hyena# and the t ger
are b$t a some3hat nobler# a s! r t dest ned t o be mmort al# a
s!ar/ of the essent al Lght# " re and Reason# 3h ch are GodJ
;hat ot her mmortal ty than one of sel f shness co$l d t h s creat $re
en5oyJ Of 3hat ot her s t ca!ableJ M$st not mmortal ty comD
mence here and s not l fe a !art of t J -o3 shall deat h change
t he base nat $re of the base so$l J ;hy ha6e not those other anD
mal s that only fa nt ly m t ate the 3ant on# sa6age# h$man cr$el ty
and t hrst for blood# t he same rght as man has# t o e4!ect a res$rD
rect on and an Etern ty of e4stence# or a -ea6en of Lo6eJ
The 3orl d m!ro6es, Man ceases t o !ersec$te# DD3hen t he !erD
sec$t ed become too n$mero$s and strong# l onger t o s$bm t to t,
That so$rce of !leas$re cl osed# men e4erc se t he ngen$t es of
t her cr$el ty on the an mal s and ot her l 6 ng t h ngs belo3 them,
To de!r 6e ot her creat $res of t he l fe 3h ch God ga6e t hem# and
t h s not only t hat 3e may eat ther fl esh for food# b$t o$t of mere
sa6age 3antonness# s the agreeabl e em!loyment and am$sement
of man# 3ho !rdes h msel f on beng t he Lord of %reat on# and a
l t tl e l o3er than t he Angel s, If he can no l onger $se the rac/# t he
g bbet # the !ncers# and the sta/e# he can hate# and slander#
and del ght n the t ho$ght that he 3 ll # hereafter# l$4$r o$sly
en5oyng the sens$al beat t $des of -ea6en# see 3 t h !leas$re the
3rt h ng agones of those 5 $st ly damned for dar ng t o hold o!nD
ons cont rary t o hs o3n# $!on s$b5 ects tot ally beyond t he com!reD
hens on both of t hem and h m,
;here t he arm es of the des!ots cease to slay and ra6age# the
arm es of @"reedom@ ta/e t her !lace# and# t he bl ac/ and 3ht e
comm ngl ed# sla$ghter and b$rn and ra6sh, Each age reDenacts
t he cr mes as 3el l as t he foll es of t s !redecessors# and st l l 3ar
l censes o$t rage and t $rns fr$t f$l lands nt o deserts# and God s
t han/ed n the %h$rches for bloody h$t cher es# and t he remorseD
l ess de6ast at ors# e6en 3hen s3ol l en by !l $nder# are cro3ned 3t h
l a$rels and rece6e o6at ons,
Of t he 3hol e of man/ nd# not one n ten tho$sand has any as!D
rat ons beyond t he daly needs of t he gross an mal l fe, In t h s
age and n al l ot hers# al l men e4ce!t a fe3# n most co$nt r es# are
born t o be mere beast s of b$rden# coDlaborers 3 th the horse and
t he o4, Profo$ndly gnorant # e6en n @c 6l <ed@ lands# they thn/
and reason l /e t he an mal s by t he s de of 3hch t hey t o l, "or
t hem# God# So$l# S! r t# Immortal ty# are mere 3ords# 3 tho$t any
real mean ng, The God of nneteenDt 3ent et hs of t he %hr st an
3orl d s only Bel# Mol och# He$s# or at best Os r s# M thras# or
Adona # $nder another name# 3orsh !!ed 3 t h the ol d Pagan cereD
mon es and rt $al st c form$l as, It s t he Stat $e of Olym! an &o6e#
3orsh!!ed as the "ather# n the %hrst an %h$rch that 3as a
Pagan Tem!l eG t s the St at$e of Fen$s# become the Frg n Mary,
"or the most !art # men do not n t he r heart s bel e6e t hat God s
e ther 5 $st or merc f$l, They fear and shr n/ from - s l ghtn ngs
and dread -s 3rat h, "or t he most !art# they only thn/ t hey
bele6e t hat there s another l fe# a 5$dgment# and a !$n shment
for sn, .et they 3 ll none t he less !ersec$te as Infdels and At heD
sts those 3ho do not bel e6e 3hat they themsel 6es mag ne t hey
bele6e# and 3hch yet they do not bel e6e# beca$se t s ncom!reD
hens ble t o them n the r gnorance and 3ant of nt el lect , To the
6ast ma5or ty of man/nd# God s b$t t he refl ected mage# n nf D
nte s!ace# of the eart hly Tyrant on hs Throne# only more !o3erD
f$l # more nscr$t abl e# and more m!l acabl e, To c$rse -$man ty#
t he Des!ot need only be# 3hat the !o!$lar m nd has# n e6ery age#
mag ned God,
In t he great c t es# t he l o3er strata of the !o!$l ace are eE$al ly
3 tho$t fa t h and 3 t ho$t ho!e, The others ha6e# for the most
!art # a mere bl nd fa t h# m!osed by ed$cat on and c rc$mst ances#
and not as !rod$ct 6e of moral e4cel lence or e6en common honesty
as Mohammedansm, @.o$r !ro!erty 3 ll be safe here# @ sa d t he
Mosl emG @There are no %hr stans here,@ The !h loso!h cal
and scent f c 3orl d becomes da ly more and more $nbel e6 ng,
"at h and Reason are not o!!ostes# n eE$ l br$mG b$t antagoD
nst c and host le to each ot herG the res$lt beng the dar/ness and
des!ar of sce!t c sm# a6o3ed# or hal fD6e led as rat onal sm,
O6er more t han threeDfo$rt hs of the hab table globe# h$manty
st l l /neel s# l /e the camel s# to ta/e $!on t sel f the b$rt hens to be
t amely borne for t s tyrants, If a Re!$blc occasonal ly r ses l /e a
Star# t hastens 3t h al l s!eed to set n bl ood, The / ngs need not
ma/e 3ar $!on t # to cr$sh t o$t of t he r 3ay, It s only necesD
sary t o l et t al one# and t soon l ays 6ol ent hands $!on t sel f, And
3hen a !eo!le l ong ensla6ed sha/e off ts fet t ers# t may 3el l be
ncred$l o$sly as/ed#
Shal l t he braggart sho$t
"or some bl nd gl m!se of "reedom# l n/ tsel f#
Thro$gh madness# hated by the 3 se# t o l a3#
System and Em!reJ
E6ery3here n t he 3orl d labor s# n some sha!e# t he sl a6e of
ca! tal G general ly# a sla6e t o be fed only so l ong as he can 3or/G
or# rather# only so l ong as h s 3or/ s !rof table t o the o3ner of
t he h$man chat t el , There are fam nes n Ireland# str/es and
st ar6at on n England# !a$!ersm and t enementDdens n 8e3
.or/# msery# sE$alor# gnorance# dest t$t on# t he br$t al ty of 6 ce
and t he nsens b l ty to shame# of des!ar ng beggary# n al l the
h$man cess!ool s and se3ers e6ery3here, -ere# a se3 ngD3oman
fam shes and free<esG t here# mot hers m$rder t her chl dren# t hat
t hose s!ared may l 6e $!on t he bread !$rchased 3t h the b$ral
al lo3ances of t he dead st ar6el ngG and at t he ne4t door yo$ng
grl s !rost t $te themsel 6es for food,
Moreo6er# t he Foce says# t hs besot ted race s not sat sf ed 3t h
see ng ts m$l t t$des s3e!t a3ay by the great e! demcs 3hose
ca$ses are $n/no3n# and of t he 5 $st ce or 3 sdom of 3h ch the
h$man m nd cannot conce 6e, It m$st also be e6er at 3ar, There
has not been a moment snce men d 6 ded nto Trbes# 3hen al l
t he 3orl d 3as at !eace, Al 3ays men ha6e been engaged n m$rD
der ng each other some3here, Al3ays the armes ha6e l 6ed by
t he t o l of the h$sbandman# and 3ar has e4ha$st ed the reso$rces#
3ast ed t he energ es# and ended the !ros!erty of 8at ons, 8o3 t
l oads $nborn !osterty 3 t h cr$sh ng debt # mortgages al l est ates#
and br ngs $!on St ates the shame and nfamy of dshonest reD
!$d at on,
At t mes# t he bal ef$l f res of 3ar l ght $! hal f a %ont nent at
onceG as 3hen all t he Thrones $n t e t o com!el a !eo!l e t o rece6e
aga n a hat ed and detestabl e dynasty# or States deny States the
rght t o dssol 6e an r/some $non and creat e for themsel 6es a
se!erate go6ernment, Then agan the flames fl c/er and d e a3ay#
and t he fre smo$l ders n ts ashes# t o brea/ o$t aga n# after a
t me# 3t h rene3ed and a more concent rat ed f$ry, At t mes# t he
st orm# re6ol6 ng# ho3l s o6er small areas onlyG at t mes t s l ght s
are seen# l /e t he ol d beaconDfres on t he hl ls# bel t ng t he 3hol e
gl obe, 8o sea# b$t hears the roar of cannonG no r6er# b$t r$ns
red 3t h bl oodG no !l an# b$t sha/es# tram!led by the hoofs of
charg ng sE$adronsG no fel d# b$t s fert l <ed by the bl ood of t he
deadG and e6ery3here man slays# the 6$lt $re gorges# and t he 3ol f
ho3l s n t he ear of t he dyng sol der, 8o c ty s not tort $red
by shot and shell G and no !eo!l e fal t o enact t he horr d bl asD
!hemy of t han/ng a God of Lo6e for 6 ctores and carnage, Te
De$ms are st l l s$ng for t he E6e of St , Bart hol ome3 and the
Sc l an Fes!ers, Man? s ngen$ ty s rac/ed# and all h s n6ent 6e
!o3ers are tas/ed# t o fabrcat e the nfernal eng nery of dest r$cD
t on# by 3hch h$man bodes may be t he more e4!ed t o$sly and
effect $al ly cr$shed# shat t ered# t orn# and mangl edG and yet hy!oD
crt cal -$man ty# dr$n/ 3 th bl ood and drenched 3 th gore#
shre/s t o -ea6en at a s ngle m$rder# !er!et rat ed t o grat fy a reD
6enge not more $nchrst an# or t o sat sfy a c$! d ty not more
gnoble# than t hose 3h ch are t he !rom!t ngs of t he De6l n t he
so$ls of 8at ons,
;hen 3e ha6e fondly dreamed of 't o!a and t he Mll enn $m#
3hen 3e ha6e beg$n al most to bel e6e that man s not # after al l # a
t ger hal f tamed# and that t he smell of blood 3l l not 3a/e the sa6D
age 3 t hn h m# 3e are of a s$dden st art led from t he del $s 6e
dream# t o fnd t he th n mas/ of c6l <at on rent n t 3a n and
t hro3n cont em!t$o$sly a3ay, ;e l e do3n to slee!# l /e t he !easD
ant on t he la6aDslo!es of Fes$6$s, The mo$nt an has been so
l ong nert # t hat 3e bel e6e ts fres e4t ng$shed, Ro$nd $s hang
t he cl $ster ng gra!es# and t he green lea6es of the ol 6e trembl e n
t he soft n ght Da r o6er $s, Abo6e $s shne the !eacef$l # !atent
st ars, The crash of a ne3 er$!t on 3a/es $s# t he roar of t he s$bD
t erranean th$nders# the stabs of the 6olcan c l ghtn ng nt o the
shro$ded bosom of t he s/yG and 3e see# aghast# t he t ort$red T tan
h$rl ng $! ts fres among the !al e stars# ts great tree of smo/e
and cl o$d# t he red torrents !o$r ng do3n t s s des, The roar and
t he shr e/ngs of % 6 l ;ar are all aro$nd $s( t he l and s a !andeD
mon $m( man s aga n a Sa6age, The great armes roll al ong the r
hdeo$s 3a6es# and l ea6e behnd t hem smo/ng and de!o!$lat ed
deserts, The !l lager s n e6ery ho$se# !l $c/ ng e6en t he morsel
of bread from t he l !s of t he st ar6ng chl d, Gray ha rs are
dabbl ed n blood# and nnocent grlhood shre/s n 6a n t o L$st for
mercy, La3s# %o$rts# %onst t $t ons# %hr st an ty# Mercy# P ty#
dsa!!ear, God seems t o ha6e abd cated# and Moloch t o regn n
- s steadG 3h le Press and P$l! t al /e e4$lt at $n6ersal m$rder#
and $rge t he e4t ermnat on of the %onE$ered# by t he s3ord and
t he flamng t orchG and to !l $nder and m$rder ent t les t he h$man
beast s of !rey t o the than/s of %hr st an Senates,
%ommerc al greed deadens the ner6es of sym!at hy of 8at ons#
and ma/es t hem deaf to t he demands of honor# t he m!$l ses of
generos ty# t he a!!eal s of t hose 3ho s$ffer $nder n5$stce, ElseD
3here# the $n6ersal !$rs$ t of 3ealt h dethrones God and !ays
d6 ne honors to Mammon and Baal <eb$b, Selfshness r$les s$D
!reme( t o 3n 3ealt h becomes the 3hole b$s ness of l fe, The
6l lan es of l egal <ed gam ng and s!ec$lat on become e!demcG
t reacery s b$t e6dence of shre3dnessG offce becomes the !rey
of s$ccessf$l fact onG t he %o$nt ry# l /e Act aeon# s torn by t s o3n
ho$nds# and t he 6 l la ns t has caref$l ly ed$cated to t her t rade#
most greedly !l $nder t # 3hen t s n e4trem s,
By 3hat rght # t he Foce demands# does a creat $re al3ays
engaged n t he 3or/ of m$t$al robbery and sla$ghter# and 3ho
ma/es hs o3n nt erest h s God# cla m to be of a nat $re s$!eror
t o t he sa6age beast s of 3hch he s t he !rot oty!eJ
Then the shado3s of a horrbl e do$bt fall $!on the so$l that
3o$l d fan lo6e# tr$st and bel e6eG a dar/ness# of 3h ch t h s that
s$rro$nded yo$ 3as a symbol, It do$bt s t he tr$th of Re6el at on#
ts o3n s!r t$al ty# t he 6ery e4 stence of a benef cent God, It
as/s t self f t s not dle to ho!e for any great !rogress of
-$man ty t o3ard !erfect on# and 3het her# 3hen t ad6ances n
one res!ect# t does not ret rogress n some other# by 3ay of comD
!ensat on( 3het her ad6ance n c6 l <at on s not ncrease of sel fD
shness( 3het her freedom does not necessar ly lead t o l cense and
anarchy( 3hether t he dest t$t on and debasement of the masses
does not ne6t ably foll o3 ncrease of !o!$lat on and commercal
and man$fact$r ng !ros!er ty, It as/s t sel f 3het her man s not
t he s!ort of bl nd# merc less "ate( 3het her al l !h loso!h es are
not del $sons# and all rel g ons the fantast c creat ons of h$man
6anty and sel fDconce tG and abo6e al l# 3het her# 3hen Reason s
abandoned as a g$ de# the fa th of B$ddh st and Brahm n has not
t he same cla ms to so6eregnty and m!l c t# $nreasonng credence#
as any other,
-e as/s h msel f 3het her t s not# aft er all # t he e6dent and !alD
!able n5 $st ces of ths l fe# the s$ccess and !ros!erty of the Bad#
t he cal am t es# o!!ressons# and mseres of the Good# that are t he
bases of all bel efs n a f$t$re state of e4 stenceJ Do$bt ng man? s
ca!ac ty for ndef n te !rogress here# he do$bt s t he !oss bl ty of t
any3herG and f he does not do$bt 3het her God e4 st s# and s
5 $st and benefcent # he at l east cannot s lence the const ant ly rec$rD
rng 3h s!er# that t he mseres and calam t es of men# t he r l 6es
and deat hs# ther !a ns and sorro3s# ther e4t erm nat on by 3ar
and e! dem cs# are !henomena of no h gher d gn ty# s gn f cance#
and m!ort ance# n the eye of God# t han 3hat thngs of the same
nat$re occ$r to ot her organ sms of matt erG and t hat the fsh of
t he ancent seas# destroyed by myrads t o ma/e room for ot her
s!ec es# t he cont orted sha!es n 3hch t hey are fo$nd as foss ls
t est fyng to ther agon esG the coral nsect s# t he an mals and
brds and 6erm n sla n by man# ha6e as m$ch rght as he t o cl amor
at t he n5 $st ce of t he ds!ensat ons of God# and t o demand an
mmortal ty of l fe n a ne3 $n 6erse# as com!ensat on for t her
!ans and s$fferngs and $nt mely deat h n t h s 3orl d,
Th s s not a !ct$re !a nt ed by t he mag nat on, Many a
t ho$ghtf$l m nd has so do$bted and des!a red, -o3 many of $s
can say t hat o$r o3n fa t h s so 3el l gro$nded and com!let e t hat
3e ne6er hear t hose !anf$l 3h s!er ngs 3 th n the so$l J Thr ce
blessed are t hey 3ho ne6er do$bt # 3ho r$mnate n !at ent conD
t ent ment l /e the / ne# or do<e $nder t he o! at e of a bl nd fat hG
on 3hose so$ls ne6er rest s t hat A3f$l Shado3 3hch s t he abD
sence of the D 6ne Lght,
To e4!la n to themsel6es the e4 st ence of E6 l and S$fferng#
t he Anc ent Pers ans mag ned that t here 3ere t3o Pr nc !les or
De t es n t he 'n6erse# the one of Good and t he other of E6l #
const ant ly n confl ct 3 t h each other n str$ggle for the mastery#
and al ternately o6ercom ng and o6ercome, O6er both# for t he
SAGES# 3as the One S$!remeG and for t hem Lght 3as n t he end
t o !re6al o6er Dar/ness# t he Good o6er t he E6 l # and e6en AhrD
man and h s Demons to !art 3 th ther 3 c/ed and 6c o$s nat$res
and share t he $n 6ersal Sal 6at on, It d d not occ$r to t hem that
t he e4st ence of the E6l Prnc !l e# by t he consent of t he Omn !oD
t ent S$!reme# !resented t he same d ffc$lty# and l eft t he e4 st ence
of E6l as $ne4!la ned as before, The h$man mnd s al 3ays
content# f t can remo6e a dff c$l ty a ste! f$rther off, It cannot
bele6e t hat the 3orld rests on nothng# b$t s de6o$tly cont ent
3hen t a$ght t hat t s borne on the bac/ of an mmense ele!hant #
3ho h mself stands on t he bac/ of a tort o se, G 6en the tort o se#
"at h s al3ays sat sf edG and t has been a great so$rce of ha!!D
ness to m$l t t $des that t hey co$l d bel e6e n a De6 l 3ho co$l d
rel e6e God of the od $m of beng the A$thor of Sn,
B$t not to all s "a t h s$ffcent to o6ercome t hs great d ff D
c$lty, They say# 3 th the S$!!l ant # @LordO I bel e6eO@DDb$t l /e
h m they are const raned to add# @-el! Tho$ my $nbel efO@DDReaD
son m$st# for these# coDo!erat e and co ncde 3 th "a t h# or t hey
rema n st l l n the dar/ness of do$bt # DDmost m serable of all conD
dt ons of t he h$man mnd,
Those only# 3ho care for noth ng beyond t he nt erest s and !$rD
s$t s of t hs l fe# are $n nt erested n t hese great Problems, The
an mals# also# do not cons der them, It s t he characterst c of an
mmortal So$l # that t sho$ld see/ t o sat sfy t sel f of t s mmorD
t al ty# and to $nderst and ths great engma# t he 'n 6erse, If the
-ott ent ot and the Pa!$an are not tro$bled and t ort$red by t hese
do$bts and s!ec$lat ons# they are not # for t hat # t o be regarded as
e ther 3se or fort$nate, The s3ne# al so# are nd fferent to t he
great r ddl es of t he 'n 6erse# and are ha!!y n be ng 3hol ly $nD
a3are t hat t s the 6ast Re6el at on and Man festat on# n T me
and S!ace# of a Sngle Tho$ght of the Infn te God,
E4alt and magnfy "at h as 3e 3 ll # and say that t begns
3here Reason ends# t m$st# aft er all # ha6e a fo$ndat on# et her n
Reason# Analogy# the %onsco$sness# or h$man t est mony, The
3orsh!!er of Brahma al so has m!l c t "at h n 3hat seems to
$s !al !ably false and abs$rd, -s fa t h rest s net her n Reason#
Analogy# or t he %onsco$sness# b$t on t he t est mony of h s S!rt D
$al t eachers# and of t he -oly Boo/s, The Moslem al so bel e6es#
on t he !ost 6e t est mony of the Pro!het G and t he Mormon also
can say# @I bel e6e t h s# beca$se t s m!ossbl e,@ 8o fa th# ho3D
e6er abs$rd or degrad ng# has e6er 3ant ed these fo$ndat ons#
t est mony# and t he boo/s, Mracl es# !ro6en by $n m!eachable
t est mony ha6e been $sed as a fo$ndat on for "a th# n e6ery ageG
and t he modern mracles are bett er a$t hent cated# a h$ndred
t mes# t han the anc ent ones,
So that # aft er al l# "a th m$st fl o3 o$t from some so$rce 3 th n
$s# 3hen t he e6dence of t hat 3h ch 3e are to bel e6e s not !reD
sent ed to o$r senses# or t 3l l n no case be the ass$rance of the
t r$th of 3hat s bel e6ed,
The %onsc o$sness# or nher ng and nnat e con6ct on# or t he
nst nct d6 nely m!lant ed# of t he 6er ty of thngs# s the h ghest
!ossble e6dence# f not t he only real !roof# of t he 6er ty of cerD
t an th ngs# b$t only of tr$t hs of a l m ted class,
;hat 3e cal l t he Reason# that s# o$r m!erfect h$man reason#
not only may# b$t ass$redly 3l l# l ead $s a3ay from the Tr$th n
regard to thngs n6 sbl e and es!ec ally t hose of the Infn te# f
3e det erm ne to bel e6e not h ng b$t that 3hch t can demonst rat e
or not to bel e6e t hat 3h ch t can by ts !rocesses of logc !ro6e
t o be contradct ory# $nreasonabl e# or abs$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 &$st ce and an Infn te Mercy or Lo6e# n t he same
Beng# are ncons stent and m!oss bl e, One# t can demonst rate#
necessarly e4cl$des t he ot her, So t can demonstrat e that as the
%reat on had a beg nn ng# t necessarly fol lo3s t hat an Etern ty
had el a!sed before t he Dety began to creat e# d$rng 3h ch -e
3as nact 6e,
;hen 3e ga<e# of a moonless cl ear nght # on the -ea6ens gl tD
t er ng 3 t h st ars# and /no3 t hat each f 4ed star of al l the myrads
s a S$n# and each !robably !ossessng ts ret n$e of 3orl ds# all
!eo!l ed 3 th l 6 ng be ngs# 3e sensbly feel o$r o3n $n m!ortance
n t he scal e of %reat on# and at once refl ect t hat m$ch of 3hat has
n dfferent ages been relgo$s fa t h# co$l d ne6er ha6e been beD
l e6ed# f the nat $re# s <e# and dst ance of t hose S$ns# and of o$r
o3n S$n# Moon# and Planet s# had been /no3n t o t he Ancent s as
t hey are t o $s,
To them# all t he l ghts of the f rmament 3ere created only to
g 6e l ght to the eart h# as ts l am!s or candles h$ng abo6e t , The
earth 3as s$!!osed t o be the only nhab ted !ort on of t he 'nD
6erse, The 3orl d and t he 'n6erse 3ere synonymo$s terms, Of
t he mmense s <e and dst ance of t he hea6enly bod es# men had
no conce!t on, The Sages had# n %haldaea# Egy!t # Inda# %h na#
and n Persa# and therefore the sages al3ays had# an esoterc
creed# ta$ght only n t he mysteres and $n/no3n t o t he 6$l gar,
8o Sage# n e ther co$ntry# or n Greece or Rome# bel e6ed t he
!o!$lar creed, To t hem the Gods and the Idol s of t he Gods 3ere
symbol s# and symbol s of great and mystero$s tr$t hs,
The F$lgar mag ned the attent on of t he Gods t o be cont n$D
al ly centred $!on t he earth and man, The Grec an D6n t es nD
habt ed Olym!$s# an nsgn f cant mo$nt a n of t he Eart h, There
3as the %o$rt of He$s# t o 3hch 8e!t$ne came from the Sea# and
Pl$t o and Perse!hone from the gl ooms of Tartar$s n the $nD
fathomable de!t hs of t he Earth? s bosom, God came do3n from
-ea6en and on Sna dct at ed la3s for the -ebre3s to - s ser6ant
Moses, The St ars 3ere t he g$ardans of mort als 3hose fates and
fort$nes 3ere to be read n ther mo6ement s# con5$nct ons# and
o!!ost ons, The Moon 3as the Brde and Sster of the S$n# at
t he same d stance abo6e t he Eart h# and# l /e the S$n# made for
t he ser6ce of man/ nd al one,
If# 3 th t he great t elesco!e of Lord Rosse# 3e e4am ne t he 6ast
neb$l ae of -erc$les# Or on# and Andromeda# and fnd t hem reD
sol6able nt o St ars more n$mero$s than t he sands on t he seaD
shoreG f 3e reflect t hat each of these St ars s a S$n# l /e and
e6en many t mes l arger t han o$rs# DDeach# beyond a do$bt # 3 t h ts
ret n$e of 3orlds s3armng 3 th l feG DDf 3e go f$rt her n mag D
nat on and endea6or to conce 6e of al l the nf n t es of s!ace#
fl led 3 th s m l ar s$ns and 3orlds# 3e seem at once to shr n/ nt o
an ncred bl e nsgnfcance,
The 'n 6erse# 3h ch s t he $t t ered ;ord of God# s nfn te n
e4tent, There s no em!ty s!ace beyond creat on on any sde,
The 'n 6erse# 3h ch s t he Tho$ght of God !rono$nced# ne6er
3as not # s nce God ne6er 3as nertG nor ;AS# 3 tho$t t h n/ ng
and creat ng, The forms of creat on change# the s$ns and 3orl ds
l 6e and d e l /e the lea6es and the nsect s# b$t t he 'n 6erse t sel f
s nf n te and eternal # beca$se God Is# ;as# and ; l l fore6er Be#
and ne6er dd not th n/ and creat e,
Reason s fa n to admt t hat a S$!reme Intel l gence# nfnt ely
!o3erf$l and 3 se# m$st ha6e creat ed t h s bo$ndless 'n6erseG
b$t t al so t ell s $s that 3e are as $n m!ort ant n t as t he <oo!hyt es
and ent o<oa# or as the n6 sble !art cl es of an mat ed l fe t hat
float $!on t he a r or s3arm n t he 3at erDdro!,
The fo$ndat ons of o$r fat h# rest ng $!on t he mag ned nt erD
est of God n o$r race# an nt erest easly s$!!osable 3hen man
bele6ed h mself t he only ntel l gent creat ed beng# and t herefore
emnently 3ort hy the es!ec al care and 3atchf$l an4 ety of a God
3ho had only ths eart h t o l oo/ aft er# and t s ho$seD/ee! ng al one
t o s$!ernt end# and 3ho 3as cont ent to creat e# n all t he nfn te
'n6erse# only one s ngle be ng# !ossessng a so$l# and not a mere
an mal# are r$dely sha/en as the 'n6erse broadens and e4!ands
for $sG and t he dar/ness of do$bt and d str$st sett les hea6y $!on
So$l,
The modes n 3hch t s ord nar ly endea6ored t o sat sfy o$r
do$bts# only ncrease them, To demonstrate the necessty for a
ca$se of the creat on# s eE$al ly to demonst rat e the necess ty of a
ca$se for t hat ca$se, The arg$ment from !lan and desgn only
remo6es t he d ff c$l ty a ste! f$rt her off, ;e rest t he 3orl d on
t he el e!hant# and the el e!hant on t he t ortose# and the tort o se on
DDDnoth ng,
To tel l $s t hat the an mal s !ossess nst nct only and t hat ReaD
son bel ongs to $s alone# n no 3ay tends to sat sfy $s of t he rad D
cal d fference bet 3een $s and t hem, "or f the ment al !henomena
e4h b ted by an mals that t h n/# dream# remember# arg$e from
ca$se to effect# !l an# de6se# comb ne# and comm$ncat e t he r
t ho$ght s to each other# so as t o act rat onal ly n concert# DDf t her
l o6e# hat e# and re6enge# can be conce6ed of as res$l ts of the
organ <at on of mat ter# l /e col or and !erf$me# t he resort t o the
hy!ot hes s of an mmat er al So$l to e4!lan !henomena of t he
same / nd# only more !erfect # manfested by the h$man be ng# s
s$!remely abs$rd, That organ <ed mat ter can th n/ or e6en feel #
at al l# s the great nsol$ble mystery, @Inst nct@ s b$t a 3ord
3 tho$t a mean ng# or else t means ns! rat on, It s et her t he
an mal tsel f# or God n the an mal# t hat thn/s# remembers# and
reasonsG and nst nct # accord ng t o the common acce!t at on of the
t erm# 3o$l d be t he greatest and most 3onderf$l of mysteres#D
no l ess a t h ng t han t he d rect # mmed at e# and cont n$al !rom!tD
ngs of the Dety# DDfor the an mal s are not machnes# or a$tomat a
mo6ed by s!rngs# and the a!e s b$t a d$mb A$st ral an,
M$st 3e al3ays reman n t hs dar/ness of $ncerta nty# of
do$bt J Is t here no mode of esca!ng from the labyrnt h e4ce!t
by means of a bl nd fa th# 3hch e4!l a ns not h ng# and n many
creeds# ancent and modern# set s Reason at def ance# and l eads t o
t he bel ef et her n a God 3 t ho$t a 'n 6erse# a 'n6erse 3 tho$t
a God# or a 'n6erse 3hch s t self a God J
;e read n the -ebre3 %hroncles t hat Schlomoh t he 3 se
K ng ca$sed t o be !l aced n front of t he entrance t o the Tem!l e
t 3o h$ge col$mns of bron<e# one of 3hch 3as cal led .AKA.I8
and t he other BA-AHG and these 3ords are rendered n o$r 6erD
s on St rength and Est abl shment , The Masonry of the Bl$e
Lodges g6es no e4!lanat on of these symbol c col $mnsG nor do
t he -ebre3 Boo/s ad6 se $s that t hey 3ere symbol c, If not so
ntended as symbol s# t hey 3ere s$bseE$ently $nderst ood to be
s$ch,
B$t as 3e are certa n that e6eryt h ng 3 thn the Tem!l e 3as
symbol c# and t hat the 3hol e st r$ct $re 3as ntended t o re!resent
t he 'n6erse# 3e may reasonably concl$de t hat the col $mns of the
!ort co al so had a symbol c sgnfcat on, It 3o$ld be tedo$s t o
re!eat all t he nt er!retat ons 3hch fancy or d$l lness has fo$nd
for them,
The /ey t o the r tr$e mean ng s not $ndsco6erabl e, The !erD
fect and et ernal dst nct on of the t 3o !r m t 6e terms of the creD
at 6e syl log sm# n order t o at ta n t o the demonstrat on of t he r
harmony by the analogy of contrar es# s t he second grand !rnD
c !le of t hat occ$l t !h loso!hy 6e l ed $nder the name @Kabalah# @
and nd cated by all t he sacred h erogly!hs of the Ancent Sanct $D
ares# and of the rt es# so l tt l e $nderst ood by the mass of the
In t ates# of t he Anc ent and Modern "reeDMasonry,
The Sohar declares t hat e6erythng n the 'n6erse !roceeds by
t he mystery of @t he Balance# @ t hat s# of EE$ l br $m, Of t he
Se!hroth# or D6ne Emanat ons# ; sdom and 'nderstandng#
Se6erty and Bengnty# or &$st ce and Mercy# and Fctory and
Gl ory# const t$te !ars,
;sdom# or the Intel l ect $al Generat 6e Energy# and 'nderD
st and ng# or the %a!ac ty to be m!regnated by the Act 6e Energy
and !rod$ce ntellect on or tho$ght# are re!resented symbol cal ly
n t he Kabalah as male and femal e, So also are &$st ce and
Mercy, Strengt h s the ntel lect $al Energy or Act 6 tyG Est abD
l shment or St ab l ty s t he nt ell ect$al %a!ac ty t o !rod$ce# a
T!ass 6ty, They are the PO;ER of generat on and t he %APA%IT.
of !rod$ct on, By ;ISDOM# t s sa d# God creates# and by '8D
DERSTA8DI8G establ shes, These are the t 3o %ol$mns of t he
Tem!le# contrar es l /e the Man and ;oman# l /e Reason and
"at h# Omn !otence and Lberty# Infn te &$st ce and Inf nt e
Mercy# Absol $t e Po3er or Strengt h t o do e6en 3hat s most $nD
5 $st and $n3se# and Absol$te ; sdom that ma/es t m!oss ble to
do tG R ght and D$ty, They 3ere the col $mns of t he nt ell ect$al
and moral 3orl d# the mon$ment al herogly!h of t he ant nomy
necessary t o t he grand la3 of creat on,
There m$st be for e6ery "orce a Res st ance t o s$!!ort t # to
e6ery l ght a shado3# for e6ery Royalty a Real m to go6ern# for
e6ery affrmat 6e a negat 6e,
"or the Kabal st s# Lght re!resent s t he Act 6e Pr nc !le# and
Dar/ness or Shado3 s anal ogo$s to the Pass6e Pr nc !le, ThereD
fore t 3as that t hey made of the S$n and Moon emblems of t he
t 3o D6ne Se4es and t he t 3o creat 6e forcesG therefore# t hat they
ascrbed t o 3oman the Tem!tat on and t he frst sn# and t hen the
frst labor# t he maternal l abor of t he redem!t on# beca$se t s
from the bosom of the dar/ness t sel f that 3e see the Lght born
aga n, The Fod att ract s the "$l l G and so t s t hat t he abyss of
!o6erty and msery# the Seemng E6l # the seem ng em!ty nothD
ngness of l fe# the tem!orary rebell on of the creat $res# eternal ly
at tracts t he o6erfl o3 ng ocean of beng# of rches# of ! ty# and of
l o6e, %hr st com!l eted t he At onement on the %ross by descendD
ng nt o -ell ,
&$st ce and Mercy are cont rares, If each be nfnt e# t he r coD
e4st ence seems m!oss bl e# and beng eE$al # one cannot e6en
annhl ate the other and regn al one, The myst eres of the D 6 ne
8at $re are beyond o$r f n te com!rehensonG b$t so ndeed are
t he mysteres of o$r o3n f nt e nat$reG and t s cert an that n
al l nat$re harmony and mo6ement are t he res$l t of the eE$l br $m
of o!!osng or contrary forces,
The analogy of contrar es g 6es t he sol$t on of t he most nt erD
est ng and most dff c$l t !robl em of modern !hl oso!hy#DDt he
def nt e and !ermanent accord of Reason and "at h# of A$thorD
ty and Lberty of e4am nat on# of Sc ence and Bel ef# of PerfecD
t on n God and Im!erfect on n Man, If scence or /no3ledge
s t he S$n# Bel ef s the ManG t s a refl ect on of the day n the
nght , "at h s t he 6e l ed Is s# t he S$!!lement of Reason# n the
shado3s 3hch !recede or fol lo3 Reason, It emanates from the
Reason# b$t can ne6er confo$nd t nor be confo$nded 3t h t , The
encroachment s of Reason $!on "a th# or of "at h on Reason# are
ecl !ses of the S$n or MoonG 3hen they occ$r# t hey ma/e $sel ess
both t he So$rce of Lght and t s refl ect on# at once,
Scence !ershes by systems that are nothng b$t bel efsG and
"at h s$cc$mbs to reason ng, "or t he t 3o %ol$mns of t he TemD
!le t o $!hold t he edfce# t hey m$st reman se!arat ed and be
!aral lel to each other, As soon as t s at tem!t ed by 6 olence t o
br ng t hem toget her# as Samson dd# t hey are o6ert $rned# and the
3hole ed fce fal ls $!on t he head of the rash bl nd man or the
re6ol $t onst 3hom !ersonal or nat onal resent ment s ha6e n adD
6ance de6oted t o death,
-armony s t he res$l t of an al ternat ng !re!onderance of
forces, ;hene6er t h s s 3ant ng n go6ernment # go6ernment s
a fa l$re# beca$se t s e t her Des!ot sm or Anarchy, Al l theoret D
cal go6ernments# ho3e6er !l a$sble t he theory# end n one or the
other, Go6ernments t hat are to end$re are not made n t he cl oset
of Loc/e or Shaftesb$ry# or n a %ongress or a %on6ent on, In a
Re!$bl c# forces that seem cont rares# t hat ndeed are contrar es#
al one g6e mo6ement and l fe, The S!heres are f eld n t he r
orb ts and made to re6ol 6e harmon o$sly and $nerr ngly# by the
conc$rrence# 3h ch seems t o be the o!!os t on# of t3o cont rary
forces, If the centr !etal force sho$ld o6ercome t he centrf$gal#
t he eE$l br $m of forces cease# t he r$sh of t he S!heres t o t he
cent ral S$n 3o$ld annh late t he system, Instead of consol daD
t on# t he 3hole 3o$l d be shat tered nt o fragment s,
Man s a free agent # t ho$gh Omn !otence s abo6e and all
aro$nd h m, To be free t o do good# he m$st be free t o do e6l ,
The Lght necess tat es the Shado3, A St ate s free l /e an nd D
6d$al n any go6ernment 3ort hy of t he name, The Stat e s less
!otent than t he De ty# and t herefore the freedom of t he nd 6d$al
c t <en s consst ent 3 th ts So6eregnty, These are o!!os tes#
b$t not antagonst c, So# n a $n on of States# the freedom of t he
st ates s cons stent 3t h the S$!remacy of the 8at on, ;hen
e ther obt a ns the !ermanent mastery o6er the ot her# and t hey
cease t o be n eE$l br o# the encroachment cont n$es 3t h a 6eD
l oc ty that s accelerated l /e that of a fal l ng body# $nt l t he
feebler s annhlated# and then# there beng no res stance t o s$!D
!ort t he st ronger# t r$shes nt o r$ n,
So# 3hen t he eE$!ose of Reason and "at h# n t he nd6 d$al
or t he 8at on# and the al ternat ng !re!onderance cease# the res$lt
s# accord ng as one or the ot her s !ermanent 6ct or# Athe sm or
S$!erst t on# dsbel ef or bl nd cred$l tyG and the Prest s e ther
of 'nfa th or of "at h become des!ot c,
@;homsoe6er God lo6eth# h m he chastenet h#@ s an e4!ress on
t hat form$lates a 3hol e dogma, The tr al s of l fe are the blessD
ngs of lfe# to the nd 6 d$al or t he 8at on# f e ther has a So$l
t hat s tr$ly 3ort hy of sal6at on, @Lght and dar/ness# @ sad
HOROASTER# @are t he 3orl d? s eternal 3ays,@ The Lght and the
Shado3 are e6ery3here and al 3ays n !ro!ort onG t he Lght be ng
t he reason of be ng of the Shado3, It s by tral s only# by the
agones of sorro3 and the shar! d sc !l ne of ad6erst es# that men
and 8at ons at t a n n t at on, The agon es of t he garden of Get hD
semane and t hose of the %ross on %al 6ary !receded the Res$rrecD
t on and 3ere t he means of Redem!t on, It s 3t h !ros!er ty
t hat God affl ct s -$man ty,
The Degree of Rose s de6oted t o and symbol <es t ne fnal
t r $m!h of tr$t h o6er fal sehood# of l berty o6er sl a6ery# of l ght
o6er dar/ness# of l fe o6er deat h# and of good o6er e6 l, The
great t r$th t nc$l cates s# that not 3t hst and ng t he e4 stence of
E6 l# God s nf n tely 3 se# 5 $st # and good( t hat tho$gh the affa rs
of t he 3orl d !roceed by no r$le of rght and 3rong /no3n to $s
n t he narro3ness of o$r 6e3s# yet al l s rght# for t s the 3or/ of
GodG and all e6 ls# al l mseres# all m sfort$nes# are b$t as dro!s n
t he 6ast c$rrent that s s3ee!ng on3ard# g$ ded by - m# t o a
great and magn fcent res$lt ( t hat # at t he a!!o nt ed t me# -e 3 ll
redeem and regenerate the 3orld# and t he Pr nc !l e# t he Po3er#
and t he e4st ence of E6l 3 ll t hen ceaseG t hat ths 3 l l be bro$ght
abo$t by s$ch means and nst r$ments as -e chooses t o em!loyG
3hether by t he 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 - msel f#
or by an ns!red !ro!het # t does not belong t o $s as Masons to
dec de, Let each 5 $dge and bel e6e for h msel f,
In t he mean t me# 3e l abor t o hasten t he comng of t hat day,
The morals of ant E$ 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 brot her n t h s great 3or/, The Eagl e s to $s the symbol
of Lberty# the %om!asses of EE$al ty# the Pel can of -$man ty, #
and o$r order of "rat ern ty, Laborng for t hese# 3t h "at h#
-o!e# and %harty as o$r armor# 3e 3 ll 3a t 3t h !at ence for
t he fnal tr$m!h of Good and the com!l et e manfestat on of t he
;ord of God,
8o one Mason has t he rght to meas$re for another# 3 t hn the
3al ls of a Masonc Tem!l e# t he degree of 6enerat on 3h ch he
shal l feel for any Reformer# or t he "o$nder of any Rel gon, ;e
t each a bel ef n no !art c$lar creed# as 3e t each $nbel ef n none,
;hate6er hgher at tr b$tes the "o$nder of the %hrst an "a th
may# n o$r bel ef# ha6e had or not ha6e had# none can deny that
-e ta$ght and !ract sed a !$re and ele6at ed moral ty# e6en at t he
r s/ and to t he $lt mat e l oss of -s l fe, -e 3as not only the
benefact or of a ds nhert ed !eo!l e# b$t a model for man/ nd, DeD
6otedly -e l o6ed the ch ldren of Israel , To t hem -e came# and
t o t hem al one -e !reached that Gos!el 3h ch - s dsc !les aft erD
3ard carr ed among fore gners, -e 3o$l d fa n ha6e freed the
chosen Peo!le from ther s! r t$al bondage of gnorance and degD
radat on, As a l o6er of all man/ nd# l ayng do3n -s l fe for the
emanc!at on of - s Bret hren# -e sho$ld be to all # t o %hr st an# t o
&e3# and to Mahometan# an ob5 ect of grat t$de and 6enerat on,
The Roman 3orl d felt t he !angs of a!!roach ng dssol $t on,
Pagan sm# t s Tem!les shat tered by Socrat es and % cero# had
s!o/en t s l ast 3ord, The God of t he -ebre3s 3as $n/no3n beD
yond the l m t s of Palest ne, The old relgons had fa led t o g 6e
ha!! ness and !eace to the 3orl d, The babbl ng and 3rangl ng
!hl oso!hers had confo$nded all men? s deas# $nt l t hey do$bted of
e6eryt h ng and had fa th n not hng( net her n God nor n h s
goodness and mercy# nor n the 6 rt $e of man# nor n themsel6es,
Man/ nd 3as d6ded nt o t 3o great classes# DD the mast er and the
sl a6eG the !o3erf$l and the ab5 ect # the h gh and t he lo3# the
tyrant s and t he mobG and e6en t he former 3ere sat at ed 3 t h t he
ser6l ty of the lat ter# s$n/en by l ass t $de and des!ar t o t he lo3D
est de!t hs of degradat on,
;hen# lo# a 6o ce# n the ncons derable Roman Pro6 nce of
&$dea !rocl a ms a ne3 Gos!elDDa ne3 @God? s ;ord# @ to cr$shed#
s$ffer ng# bleed ng h$man ty, Lberty of Tho$ght# EE$al ty of al l
men n the eye of God# $n 6ersal "rat erntyO a ne3 doct r ne# a
ne3 rel g onG the old Pr m t 6e Tr$t h $t tered once aga nO
Man s once more ta$ght t o l oo/ $!3ard t o hs God, 8o longer
t o a God h d n m!enet rable mystery# and nfn tely remote from
h$man sym!athy# emerg ng only at nter6als from t he dar/ness to
sm t e and cr$sh h$manty( b$t a God# good# / nd# benefcent# and
merc f$lG a "ather# lo6 ng t he creat $res -e has made# 3t h a lo6e
mmeas$rable and e4ha$stl essG ;ho feel s for $s# and sym!aD
t h <es 3 th $s# and sends $s !an and 3ant and d sast er only that
t hey may ser6e t o de6el o! n $s the 6rt $es and e4cel lences t hat
bef t $s t o l 6e 3t h - m hereaft er,
&es$s of 8a<aret h# the @Son of man# @ s the e4!o$nder of t he
ne3 La3 of Lo6e, -e call s t o - m t he h$mble# the !oor# the
Para hs of the 3orl d, The f rst sentence that -e !rono$nces
blesses t he 3orl d# and anno$nces t he ne3 gos!el( @Blessed are
t hey that mo$rn for t hey shal l be comforted, @ -e !o$rs the o l
of consol at on and !eace $!on e6ery cr$shed and bleedng heart,
E6ery s$fferer s -s !roselyte, -e shares t he r sorro3s# and
sy!ath <es 3t h al l the r affl ct ons,
-e ra ses $! the snner and the Samartan 3oman# and teaches
t hem to ho!e for forg6eness, -e !ardons the 3oman t a/en n
ad$lt ery, -e select s h s dsc !les not among t he Phar sees or t he
Ph l oso!hers# b$t among the lo3 and h$mbl e# e6en of the f sherD
men of Gal lee, -e heal s t he s c/ and feeds t he !oor, -e l 6es
among the dest t $te and t he frendless, @S$ffer l t tl e chl dren#@
-e sad# @to come $nt o meG for of s$ch s t he /ngdom of -ea6en O
Blessed are the h$mbl eDm nded# for thers s the / ngdom of
-ea6enG the mee/# for t hey shal l nhert the Eart hG the merc f$l #
for they shal l obt a n mercyG t he !$re n heart# for they shall see
GodG the !eaceDma/ers# for t hey shall be called t he chl dren of
GodO " rst be reconc l ed t o they brot her# and t hen come and offer
t hy gft at t he al tar, G 6e t o h m t hat as/et h t hee# and from h m
t hat 3o$ld borro3 of thee t$rn not a3ayO Lo6e yo$r enem esG
bless t hem that c$rse yo$G do good to them t hat hat e yo$G and
!ray for t hem 3h ch des! tef$lly $se yo$ and !ersec$te yo$O Al l
t h ngs 3hatsoe6er ye 3o$ld that men sho$ld do to yo$# do ye also
$nto t hemG for t hs s the la3 and the Pro!hetsO -e that t a/et h
not h s cross# and fol lo3et h aft er Me# s not 3ort hy of Me, A
ne3 commandment I g6e $nt o yo$# t hat ye l o6e one anot her( as
I ha6e l o6ed yo$# t hat ye also lo6e one another( by th s shal l al l
/no3 that ye are My d sc!l es, Greater l o6e hat h no man than
t h s# t hat a man l ay do3n h s l fe for hs frend, @
The Gos!el of Lo6e -e seal ed 3t h -s l fe, The cr$el ty of
t he &e3sh Pr esthood# t he gnorant feroc ty of t he mob# and t he
Roman nd fference to barbar an bl ood# na led - m to the cross#
and -e e4! red $tter ng bl essngs $!on h$man ty,
Dyng th$s# -e beE$eathed - s t eachngs to man as an nesD
t mable nher tance, Per6ert ed and corr$!ted# they ha6e ser6ed as
a bass for many creeds# and been e6en made the 3arrant for nD
t olerance and !ersec$t on, ;e here teach them n t he r !$r ty,
They are o$r MasonryG for to them good men of al l creeds can
s$bscr be,
That God s good and merc f$l# and lo6es and sym!ath<es 3 th
t he creat$res -e has madeG that - s f nger s 6s ble n al l t he
mo6ement s of t he moral# ntel lect $al# and mat eral $n6erseG that
3e are - s chl dren# t he ob5 ect s of -s !aternal care and regardG
t hat all men are o$r brothers# 3hose 3ant s 3e are t o s$!!ly# t her
errors t o !ardon# t her o!nons t o t ol erat e# t he r n5 $res to forD
g 6eG that man has an mmort al so$l # a free 3l l # a rght to freeD
dom of tho$ght and act onG t hat al l men are eE$al n God? s sght G
t hat 3e best ser6e God by h$m l ty# mee/ness# gentl eness# /ndD
ness# and the ot her 6 rt$es 3hch t he l o3ly can !ract se as 3el l as
t he l oftyG t h s s @t he ne3 La3# @ the @;ORD# @ for 3hch t he
3orl d had 3a ted and ! ned so l ongG and e6ery tr$e Knght of
t he Rose X 3 ll re6ere the memory of - m 3ho ta$ght t # and
l oo/ nd$lgent ly e6en on those 3ho assgn t o - m a character far
abo6e hs o3n conce!t ons or bel ef# e6en t o t he e4tent of deemD
ng - m D 6ne,
-ear Ph lo# t he Gree/ &e3, @The contem!lat 6e so$l# $nD
eE$ally g$ded# somet mes to3ard ab$ndance and somet mes t oD
3ard barrenness# tho$gh e6er ad6ancng# s ll $m nat ed by t he
!r m t 6e deas# the rays that emanat e from t he D 6 ne Intell D
gence# 3hene6er t ascends to3ard the S$bl me Treas$res, ;hen#
on t he contrary# t descends# and s barren# t fal l s 3t h n the doD
man of t hose Intel lgences that are t ermed Angel s, , , for# 3hen
t he so$l s de!r6ed of t he lght of God# 3h ch l eads t t o t he
/no3l edge of th ngs# t no l onger en5 oys more t han a feeble and
secondary l ght # 3hch g 6es t# not t he $nderstand ng of t h ngs#
b$t that of 3ords only# as n t h s baser 3orl d, @
@, , Let the narro3Dso$led 3 thdra3# ha6 ng t he r ears sealed
$!O ;e comm$n cate the d 6ne mysteres t o those only 3ho
ha6e rece 6ed the sacred nt at on# to those 3ho !ract se tr$e
!ety# and 3ho are not ensla6ed by the em!ty !om! of 3ords# or
t he doctr nes of t he !agans, , @
@, , , O# ye In t ates# ye 3hose ears are !$r fed# rece6e ths n
yo$r so$ls# as a myst ery ne6er to be l ost O Re6eal t t o no Profane O
Kee! and cont an t 3 t h n yo$rsel 6es# as an ncorr$!t ble treasD
$re# not l /e gol d or sl 6er# b$t more !rec o$s than e6eryth ng
bes desG for t s the /no3l edge of t he Great %a$se# of 8at $re# and
of t hat 3hch s born of bot h, And f yo$ meet an In tate# beD
s ege h m 3t h yo$r !rayers# t hat he conceal from yo$ no ne3
mysteres that he may /no3# and rest not $nt l yo$ ha6e obt a ned
t hemO "or me# alt ho$gh I 3as n tated n the Great Myst er es
by Moses# the "rend of God# yet # ha6ng seen &eremah# I recogD
n<ed h m not only as an Int at e# b$t as a -ero!hantG and I fol D
l o3 hs school, @
;e# l /e h m# recogn<e all In t ates as o$r Brot hers, ;e beD
l ong to no one creed or school, In all rel g ons there s a bass of
Tr$t hG n al l there s !$re Moral ty, All t hat teach the cardnal
t enets of Masonry 3e res!ect G al l t eachers and reformers of manD
/nd 3e adm re and re6ere,
Masonry also has her m ss on to !erform, ; t h her t radt ons
reachng bac/ to t he earl est t mes# and her symbols dat ng f$rt her
bac/ t han e6en t he mon$mental hst ory of Egy!t e4tends# she nD
6tes all men of all rel g ons to enl st $nder her banners and t o
3ar aga nst e6 l # gnorance and 3rong, .o$ are no3 her /nght #
and t o her ser6 ce yo$r s3ord s consecrated, May yo$ !ro6e a
3ort hy solder n a 3orthy ca$seO
)*+),
)1C D Pont ff
02C D Master of t he Symbol c Lodge
0)C D 8oach te or Pr$ss an Knght
00C D Kn ght of t he Royal A4e or Pr nce of Lban$s
09C D %h ef of the Tabernacl e
PIP, GRA8D PO8TI"",
The tr$e Mason labors for the beneft of those 3ho are to come
after h m# and for the ad6ancement and m!ro6ement of hs race,
That s a !oor ambt on 3h ch content s tsel f 3t h n t he l mt s of
a s ngl e l fe, Al l men 3ho deser6e to l 6e# des re to s$r66e t her
f$nerals# and to l 6e aft er3ard n the good t hat they ha6e done
man/ nd# rather t han n t he fadng charact ers 3rt ten n men? s
memores, Most men desre to l ea6e some 3or/ beh nd t hem that
may o$tl ast the r o3n day and bref generat on, That s an nD
st nct 6e m!$lse# g6en by God# and oft en fo$nd n the r$dest
h$man heartG t he s$rest !roof of t he so$l ? s mmortal ty# and of
t he f$ndamental d fference bet 3een man and the 3sest br$t es,
To !l ant the trees t hat # after 3e are dead# shall shel ter o$r ch l D
dren# s as nat $ral as to lo6e t he shade of those o$r fathers !lanted,
The r$dest $nl ett ered h$sbandman# !a nf$lly consc o$s of h s o3n
nfer orty# the !oorest 3do3ed mot her# g6 ng her l feDbl ood t o
t hose 3ho !ay only for the 3or/ of her needle# 3l l tol and st nt
t hemsel 6es to ed$cat e t he r ch ld# that he may ta/e a h gher st aD
t on n the 3orld than t heyGDDand of s$ch are the 3orld? s great est
benefact ors,
In h s nfl $ences t hat s$r6 6e h m# man becomes mmort al# beD
fore the general res$rrect on, The S!artan mother# 3ho# g6 ng
her son hs shel d# sad# @;IT- IT# OR 'PO8 ITO@ aft er3ard shared
t he go6ernment of Lacedaemon 3 t h the legslat on of Lyc$rg$sG
for she too made a l a3# t hat l 6ed aft er herG and she ns!red the
S!art an sol dery that after3ard demol shed the 3al l s of At hens#
and a ded Al e4ander to conE$er t he Orent, The 3do3 3ho ga6e
Maron t he fery arro3s t o b$rn her o3n ho$se# that t m ght no
l onger shel ter t he enemes of her nfant co$ntry# t he ho$se 3here
she had la n $!on her h$sband? s bosom# and 3here her chl dren
had been born# l egslated more effect $al ly for her St ate than Loc/e
or Shaftesb$ry# or t han many a Leg sl at$re has done# snce that
Stat e 3on ts freedom,
It 3as of sl ght m!ortance to t he K ngs of Egy!t and t he
Monarchs of Assyr a and Phcen ca# that the son of a &e3 sh
3oman# a fo$ndl ng# ado!t ed by t he da$ght er of Sesost rs Ramses#
sl e3 an Egy!t an that o!!ressed a -ebre3 sla6e# and fl ed nt o the
desert# t o rema n t here forty years, B$t Moses# 3ho mght otherD
3 se ha6e become Regent of Lo3er Egy!t # /no3n to $s only by a
t ablet on a tomb or mon$ment # became t he del 6erer of the &e3s#
and l ed t hem fort h from Egy!t to t he front ers of Palest ne# and
made for t hem a la3# o$t of 3hch gre3 t he %hr stan fat hG and
so has sha!ed the dest n es of t he 3orl d, -e and t he old Roman
l a3yers# 3 th Al fred of England# the Sa4on Thanes and 8orman
Barons# the ol d 5 $dges and chancell ors# and the ma/ers of t he
canons# lost n the m sts and shado3s of the Past# DDthese are o$r
l egslatorsG and 3e obey t he l a3s t hat they enact ed,
8a!oleon ded $!on the barren roc/ of h s e4 le, -s bones#
borne t o "rance by t he son of a K ng# rest n the -o!t al des InD
6al des# n the great cty on t he Se ne, -s Tho$ght s st ll go6ern
"rance, -e# and not t he Peo!le# det hroned the Bo$rbon# and
dro6e t he l ast Kng of the -o$se of Orleans nt o e4 le, -e# n
hs coffn# and not the Peo!l e# 6ot ed t he cro3n t o t he Thrd 8a!oD
l eonG and he# and not the General s of "rance and England# led
t her $n ted forces aga nst the grm 8orthern Des!ot sm,
Mahomet anno$nced t o t he Araban dol aters t he ne3 creed#
@There s b$t one God# and Mahomet# l /e Moses and %hr st# s
- s A!ostle, @ "or many years $naded# then 3 th the hel ! of h s
fam ly and a fe3 frends# then 3 th many dsc !l es# and last of al l
3 th an army# he ta$ght and !reached t he Koran, The rel g on
of t he 3l d Araban ent h$sast con6ert ng the f ery Trbes of t he
Great Desert # s!read o6er Asa# b$l t $! the Saracenc dynast es#
conE$ered Persa and Inda# the Gree/ Em!re# 8orthern Afr ca#
and S!a n# and dashed the s$rges of ts ferce sold ery aganst t he
batt lements of 8orthern %hr st endom, The la3 of Mahomet st ll
go6erns a fo$rth of t he h$man raceG and T$r/ and Arab# Moor
and Pers an and - nd$# st ll obey t he Pro!het# and !ray 3t h ther
faces t$rned t o3ard MeccaG and he# and not t he l 6ng# r$l es and
regns n the farest !ort ons of the Orent ,
%onf$c$s st l l enacts t he l a3 for %h naG and t he t ho$ght s and
deas of Peter t he Great go6ern R$ssa, Plat o and the other great
Sages of Ant E$ ty st ll re gn as the K ngs of Ph l oso!hy# and
ha6e dom n on o6er t he h$man ntel lect , The great Statesmen
of t he !ast st ll !resde n t he %o$nc ls of 8at ons, B$r/e st l l
l ngers n the -o$se of %ommonsG and Berryer? s sonoro$s tones
3 ll l ong r ng n t he Legsl at 6e %hambers of "rance, The nD
fl$ences of ;ebst er and %al ho$n# confl ct ng# rent as$nder t he
Amer can States# and the doct r ne of each s t he l a3 and t he
oracle s!ea/ ng from the -oly of -ol es for h s o3n Stat e and al l
consocated 3t h t ( a fa th !reached and !rocla med by each at
t he cannon? s mo$t h and consecrat ed by r6ers of blood,
It has been 3el l sad# t hat 3hen Tamerlane had b$l ded h s !yrD
amd of ffty tho$sand h$man s/$ll s# and 3heel ed a3ay 3 th h s
6ast arm es from t he gat es of Damasc$s# to f nd ne3 conE$ests#
and b$l d other !yramds# a l tt le boy 3as !lay ng n t he st reet s
of Ment <# son of a !oor art san# 3hose a!!arent m!ort ance n the
scale of be ngs 3as# com!ared ; th that of Tamerlane# as t hat of
a gran of sand t o t he gant b$l/ of t he earthG b$t Tamerlane
and al l hs shaggy l egons# t hat s3e!t o6er the East l /e a h$rrD
cane# ha6e !assed a3ay# and become shado3sG 3h le !rnt ng# the
3onderf$l n6ent on of &ohn "a$st # the boy of Ment <# has e4ert ed
a greater nfl$ence on man? s dest nes and o6ert$rned more thrones
and dynast es t han all the 6 ctor es of al l the bloodDsta ned conD
E$erors from 8 mrod to 8a!ol eon,
Long ages ago# t he Tem!le b$l t by Sol omon and o$r Anc ent
Bret hren san/ nt o r$ n# 3hen the Assyr an Armes sac/ed &er$D
sal em, The -oly %ty s a mass of ho6el s co3er ng $nder the
dom n on of t he %rescent G and t he -oly Land s a desert , The
K ngs of Egy!t and Assyra# 3ho 3ere contem!orar es of Sol oD
mon# are forgott en# and the r h stores mere fables, The Anc ent
Orent s a shat t ered 3rec/# bleachng on t he shores of T me, The
;olf and t he &ac/al ho3l among the r$ns of Thebes and of
Tyre# and t he sc$l!t$red mages of the Tem!l es and Pal aces of
Babylon and 8 ne6eh are d$g from t he r r$ ns and carr ed nto
st range lands, B$t t he E$ et and !eacef$l Order# of 3h ch the
Son of a !oor Phcen c an ; do3 3as one of t he Grand Masters#
3 th t he K ngs of Israel and Tyre# has cont n$ed t o ncrease n
st at$re and nfl$ence# defy ng t he angry 3a6es of t me and t he
st orms of !ersec$t on, Age has not 3ea/ened ts 3 de fo$ndaD
t ons# nor shat tered t s col $mns# nor marred t he bea$ty of t s harD
mon o$s !ro!ort ons, ;here r$de barbar ans# n the t me of Sol oD
mon# !eo!led nhos! tabl e ho3l ng 3l dernesses# n "rance and
Brtan# and n t hat 8e3 ;orld# not /no3n t o &e3 or Gent le#
$nt l the glor es of t he Orent had faded# t hat Order has b$ lded
ne3 Tem!les# and teaches to t s m l l ons of In t ates t hose lessons
of !eace# goodD3l l# and tolerat on# of rel ance on God and confD
dence n man# 3h ch t learned 3hen -ebre3 and G bl emt e
3or/ed s de by sde on t he sl o!es of Lebanon# and the Ser6ant of
&eho6ah and t he Phoenc an ;orsh !!er of Bel sat 3t h t he h$mD
ble art san n %o$ncl at &er$salem,
It s t he Dead t hat go6ern, The L6ng only obey, And f
t he So$l sees# after deat h# 3hat !asses on t h s eart h# and 3atches
o6er the 3elfare of those t lo6es# t hen m$st t s great est ha!! D
ness cons st n seeng the c$rrent of t s benefcent nfl$ences
3 denng o$t from age to age# as r 6$l ets 3den nto r 6ers# and
a d ng t o sha!e t he dest n es of nd 6d$al s# fam l es# St at es# the
;orl dG and t s bt terest !$n shment# n see ng ts e6l nfl$ences
ca$s ng mschef and m sery# and c$rsng and affl ct ng men# long
after t he frame t d3el t n has become d$st# and 3hen both name
and memory are forgot ten,
;e /no3 not 3ho among t he Dead control o$r dest nes, The
$n6ersal h$man race s l n/ed and bo$nd toget her by those nfl$D
ences and sym!at h es# 3hch n t he t r$est sense do ma/e men? s
fates, -$manty s t he $n t # of 3hch the man s b$t a fract on,
;hat ot her men n t he Past ha6e done# sad# tho$ght # ma/es the
great ron net3or/ of c rc$mstance that en6 rons and control s $s
al l, ;e ta/e o$r fat h on t r$st, ;e t h n/ and bel e6e as the Ol d
Lords of Tho$ght command $sG and Reason s !o3erl ess before
A$thor ty,
;e 3o$l d ma/e or ann$l a !art c$lar contract G b$t the
Tho$ght s of t he dead &$dges of England# l 6ng 3hen ther ashes
ha6e been col d for cent $res# stand bet3een $s and t hat 3h ch 3e
3o$l d do# and $tt erly forb d t, ;e 3o$l d set t le o$r estat e n a
!art c$l ar 3ayG b$t t he !rohb t on of the Engl sh Parlament #
ts $tt ered Tho$ght 3hen t he frst or second Ed3ard regned#
comes echong do3n t he long a6en$es of t me# and t ell s $s 3e
shal l not e4erc se t he !o3er of d s!os t on as 3e 3 sh, ;e 3o$ld
ga n a !art c$lar ad6antage of anot herG and the t ho$ght of the
old Roman l a3yer 3ho d ed before &$st n an# or t hat of Rome? s
great orat or %cero# annh lates t he act # or ma/es the ntent on nD
effect $al , Ths act # Moses forbdsG that# Al fred, ;e 3o$ld sell
o$r landG b$t certa n mar/s on a !er shable !a!er t ell $s that o$r
father or remote ancestor ordered ot her3seG and the arm of t he
dead# emergng from the gra6e# 3t h !erem!tory gest$re !rohbt s
t he al enat on, Abo$t to sn or err# t he t ho$ght or 3 sh of o$r
dead mot her# t ol d $s 3hen 3e 3ere chl dren# by 3ords that ded
$!on the ar n the $t terance# and many a long year 3ere forgotD
t en# fl ashes on o$r memory# and holds $s bac/ 3 th a !o3er that
s res st l ess,
Th$s 3e obey t he deadG and th$s shall the l 6 ng# 3hen 3e are
dead# for 3eal or 3oe# obey $s, The Tho$ght s of t he Past are t he
La3s of the Present and t he "$t$re, That 3h ch 3e say and do#
f t s effect s last not beyond o$r l 6es# s $n m!ort ant , That
3hch shall l 6e 3hen 3e are dead# as !art of the great body of
l a3 enact ed by t he dead# s t he only act 3orth dong# t he only
Tho$ght 3ort h s!ea/ng, The desre t o do somet h ng t hat shal l
benef t the 3orl d# 3hen net her !rase nor obloE$y 3l l reach $s
3here 3e slee! so$ndly n t he gra6e# s the noblest amb t on enD
t ert a ned by man,
It s t he amb t on of a tr$e and gen$ne Mason, Kno3ng t he
sl o3 !rocesses by 3hch t he De ty br ngs abo$t great res$l t s# he
does not e4!ect t o rea! as 3el l as so3# n a sngl e l fet me, It s
t he nfl e4 ble fate and noblest dest ny# 3 t h rare e4ce!t ons# of the
great and good# to 3or/# and let ot hers rea! t he har6est of t he r
l abors, -e 3ho does good# only t o be re!ad n / nd# or n than/s
and grat t $de# or n re!$tat on and t he 3orld? s !rase# s l /e h m
3ho l oans h s money# t hat he may# after certa n months# rece 6e t
bac/ 3 th nterest, To be re!a d for em nent ser6 ces 3t h slanD
der# obloE$y# or r d c$le# or at best 3 th st $! d ndfference or cold
ngrat t$de# as t s common# so t s no m sfort$ne# e4ce!t t o t hose
3ho l ac/ t he 3 t t o see or sense t o a!!rec at e the ser6 ce# or t he
nob l ty of so$l to than/ and re3ard 3 th e$l ogy# the benefactor
of hs /nd, -s nfl $ences l 6e# and t he great "$t $re 3 ll obeyG
3hether t recogn <e or d so3n the la3g6er,
M lt ades 3as fort $nate t hat he 3as e4 l edG and Ar st des t hat
he 3as ost rac <ed# beca$se men 3eared of hearng h m cal led
@The &$st , @ 8ot t he Redeemer 3as $nfort$nateG b$t those only
3ho re!a d - m for the nest mabl e g ft -e offered t hem# and for
a l fe !assed n t o l ng for t her good# by na l ng - m $!on t he
cross# as tho$gh -e had been a sl a6e or malefactor, The !erseD
c$tor d es and rot s# and Poster ty $t ters h s name 3 th e4ecrat on(
b$t h s 6 ct m? s memory he has $nntent onal ly made glor o$s and
mmortal ,
If not for slander and !ersec$t on# t he Mason 3ho 3o$l d beneD
benef t h s race m$st l oo/ for a!at hy and cold ndfference n those
3hose good he see/s# n t hose 3ho o$ght t o see/ t he good of
others, E4ce!t 3hen t he sl $ggsh de!ths of the -$man Mnd
are bro/en $! and t ossed as 3 t h a storm# 3hen at t he a!!o nted
t me a great Reformer comes# and a ne3 "at h s!r ngs $! and
gro3s 3t h s$!ernat$ral energy# t he !rogress of Tr$t h s sl o3er
t han the gro3th of oa/sG and he 3ho !lant s need not e4!ect t o
gat her, The Redeemer# at -s death# had t3el6e d sc !l es# and
one bet rayed and one deserted and den ed - m, It s eno$gh for
$s to /no3 that t he fr$ t 3 ll come n ts d$e season, ;hen# or
3ho shall gather t # t does not n t he l east concern $s to /no3,
It s o$r b$s ness to !l ant the seed, It s God? s rght to g6e the
fr$t t o 3hom -e !leasesG and f not to $s# then s o$r act on by
so m$ch t he more noble,
To so3# that others may rea!G t o 3or/ and !lant for t hose 3ho
are to occ$!y the eart h 3hen 3e are deadG to !ro5 ect o$r nfl $D
ences far nto t he f$t $re# and l 6e beyond o$r t meG t o r$l e as t he
K ngs of Tho$ght # o6er men 3ho are yet $nbornG to bless 3t h
t he gloro$s g ft s of Tr$t h and Lght and L berty t hose 3ho 3l l
net her /no3 t he name of the g6er# nor care n 3hat gra6e h s
$nregarded ashes re!ose# s the tr$e offce of a Mason and the
!ro$dest dest ny of a man,
Al l the great and benefcent o!erat ons of 8at $re are !rod$ced
by sl o3 and often m!erce!t ble degrees, The 3or/ of dest r$ct on
and de6astat on only s 6 olent and ra! d, The Folcano and t he
Eart hE$a/e# the Tornado and t he A6alanche# l ea! s$ddenly nt o
f$l l l fe and fearf$l energy# and smt e 3 t h an $ne4!ected bl o3,
Fes$6$s b$red Pom!e and -erc$lane$m n a nghtG and LsD
bon fel l !rost rate before God n a breath# 3hen t he earth roc/ed
and sh$dderedG t he Al! ne 6 ll age 6an shes and s erased at one
bo$nd of t he a6alancheG and t he ancent forests fall l /e grass beD
fore the mo3er# 3hen the tornado l ea!s $!on t hem, Pest lence
sl ays t s t ho$sands n a dayG and t he st orm n a nght stre3s the
sand 3 t h shat tered na6es,
The Go$rd of the Pro!het &onah gre3 $!# and 3as 3 thered# n
a nght, B$t many years ago# before the 8orman %onE$eror
st am!ed h s mal ed foot on t he nec/ of !rostrat e Sa4on England#
some 3anderng barbar an# of the cont nent t hen $n/no3n t o t he
3orl d# n mere dleness# 3 t h hand or foot# co6ered an acorn 3t h
a l tt le earth# and !assed on regardl ess# on hs 5 o$rney to t he d m
Past, -e d ed and 3as forgott enG b$t the acorn l ay t here st ll #
t he mghty force 3 t hn t act ng n t he dar/ness, A tender shoot
st ole gent ly $!G and fed by the l ght and a r and freE$ent de3s#
!$t fort h ts l t t le lea6es# and l 6ed# beca$se the el/ or b$ffal o
chanced not to !l ace h s foot $!on and cr$sh t, The years
marched on3ard# and t he shoot became a sa!l ng# and t s green
l ea6es 3ent and came 3 th S!rng and A$t $mn, And st ll t he
years came and !assed a3ay aga n# and ; l l am# t he 8orman BasD
t ard# !arcell ed England o$t among h s Barons# and st ll the sa!l ng
gre3# and the de3s fed t s l ea6es# and t he brds b$ lded t her nests
among t s smal l l mbs for many generat ons, And st ll t he years
came and 3ent # and t he Indan h$nter sl e!t n t he shade of t he
sa!l ng# and R chard LonD-eart fo$ght at Acre and Ascalon# and
&ohn? s bold Barons 3rest ed from h m the Great %harterG and
t he sa!l ng had become a treeG and st l l t gre3# and t hr$st t s
great arms 3der abroad# and l ft ed ts head st l l hgher to3ard
t he -ea6ensG strongDrooted# and def ant of t he st orms t hat roared
and edded thro$gh t s branchesG and 3hen %ol $mb$s !l o$ghed
3 th h s /eel s t he $n/no3n ;estern At lant c# and %ort e< and
P <arro bathed t he cross n bloodG and t he P$rt an# the -$g$enot #
t he %a6al er# and t he fol l o3er of Penn so$ght a ref$ge and a restD
ngD!lace beyond t he ocean# the Great Oa/ st ll st ood# frmDroot ed#
6goro$s# stately# ha$ght ly domneer ng o6er all t he forest # heedD
l ess of all t he cent$r es that had h$rr ed !ast s nce t he 3l d Indan
!lant ed the l t t le acorn n t he forest G DDa st o$t and hale old tree#
3 th 3 de c rc$mference shad ng many a rood of gro$ndG and f t
t o f$rn sh t mbers for a sh !# to carry t he th$nders of t he Great
Re!$bl c? s g$ns aro$nd the 3orld, And yet# f one had sat and
3at ched t e6ery nstant# from t he moment 3hen t he feeble shoot
frst !$shed ts 3ay t o t he l ght $nt l t he eagl es b$l t among t s
branches# he 3o$ld ne6er ha6e seen the tree or sa!l ng gro3,
Many long cent$res ago# before the %hal daean She!herds
3at ched the Stars# or Sh$f$ b$ l t the Pyram ds# one co$ld ha6e
sa led n a se6entyDfo$r 3here no3 a tho$sand sl ands gem the s$rD
face of t he Indan OceanG and the dee!Dsea l ead 3o$l d no3here
ha6e fo$nd any bott om, B$t bel o3 these 3a6es 3ere myrads
$!on myrads# beyond t he !o3er of Ar thmet c to n$mber# of
mn$te e4 stences# each a !erfect l 6 ng creat$re# made by the AlD
mghty %reat or# and fash oned by - m for t he 3or/ t had t o do
There t hey t o led beneat h the 3aters# each do ng t s al l ot ted 3or/#
and 3holly gnorant of the res$l t 3h ch God nt ended, They
l 6ed and ded# ncalc$labl e n n$mbers and al most nf nt e n t he
s$ccess on of ther generat ons# each add ng h s mt e t o t he gganD
t c 3or/ t hat 3ent on t here $nder God? s drect on, Th$s hath -e
chosen t o create great %ont nent s and IslandsG and st l l t he coralD
nsect s l 6e and 3or/# as 3hen they made the roc/s t hat $nderle
t he 6all ey of t he Oho,
Th$s God hat h chosen to creat e, ;here no3 s f rm l and# once
chafed and th$ndered t he great !r me6al ocean, "or ages $!on
ages t he m n$te sh elds of nf n te myrads of nf$sora# and the
st ony st ems of encr nt es s$n/ nt o ts de!t hs# and there# $nder
t he 6ast !ress$re of t s 3aters# hardened nt o l mestone, Rased
sl o3ly from t he Profo$nd by - s hand# t s E$arres $nderl e t he
sol of al l t he cont nent s# h$ndreds of feet n t hc/nessG and 3e#
of t hese rema ns of the co$ntl ess dead# b$l d tombs and !alaces#
as t he Egy!t ans# 3hom 3e call anc ent # b$l t ther !yram ds,
On al l t he broad l a/es and oceans t he Great S$n l oo/s earnestly
and l o6 ngly# and t he n6 sble 6a!ors rse e6er $! to meet h m,
8o eye b$t God? s behol ds t hem as t hey rse, There# n t he $!!er
at mos!ere# they are condensed t o m st# and gather nt o clo$ds#
and float and s3 m aro$nd n t he amb ent ar, They sal 3 th t s
c$rrent s# and ho6er o6er t he ocean# and rol l n h$ge masses ro$nd
t he st ony sho$l ders of great mo$nt ans, %ondensed st l l more by
change of t em!erat $re# they dro! $!on the thrsty eart h n gentl e
sho3ers# or !o$r $!on t n hea6y rans# or st orm aganst t s bosom
at t he angry EE$noct al, The sho3er# the ran# and the storm
!ass a3ay# t he cl o$ds 6ansh# and the brght st ars agan sh ne
cl early $!on the glad eart h, The ranDdro!s sn/ nt o the gro$nd#
and gat her n s$bterranean reser6o rs# and r$n n s$bt erranean
channel s# and b$bbl e $! n s!r ngs and fo$nta nsG and from t he
mo$nta nDsdes and heads of 6all eys t he s l6er threads of 3ater
beg n the r long 5 o$rney to t he ocean, 'nt ng# t hey 3den nto
broo/s and r6$l et s# then nt o streams and r 6ersG and# at last# a
8 le# Ganges# a Dan$be# an Ama<on# or a Mss ss!! rol ls beD
t 3een ts ban/s# mghty# ma5est c# and res st l ess# creat ng 6ast al l $D
6al 6al leys to be t he granares of the 3orld# !l o$ghed by the
t ho$sand /eels of commerce and ser6ng as great h gh3ays# and
as t he m!assable bo$ndares of r6al nat onsG e6er ret $rn ng t o
t he ocean t he dro!s t hat rose from t n 6a!or# and descended n
ran and sno3 and ha l $!on t he l e6el !l ans and lofty mo$nD
t ansG and ca$s ng h m t o reco l for many a m le before the
l ong r$sh of t he r great t de,
So t s 3t h the aggregate of -$man endea6or, As the n6sD
ble !art cles of 6a!or comb ne and coalesce t o form the m sts and
cl o$ds that fal l n ra n on t h rsty cont nent s# and bless the great
green forests and 3 de grassy !rares# t he 3a6ng meado3s and
t he fel ds by 3hch men l 6eG as t he nfnt e myr ads of dro!s t hat
t he glad earth drn/s are gat hered nto s!rngs and r 6$lets and
r6ers# to a d n l e6el l ng t he mo$nta ns and el e6at ng the !l ans#
and t o feed t he large la/es and rest less oceansG so al l -$man
Tho$ght # and S!eech and Act on# al l t hat s done and sad and
t ho$ght and s$ffered $!on t he Eart h combne together# and flo3
on3ard n one broad resstl ess c$rrent to3ard those great res$l ts
t o 3hch t hey are det ermned by t he 3 ll of God,
;e b$ ld sl o3ly and dest roy s3 ft ly, O$r Ancent Brethren
3ho b$ lt t he Tem!les at &er$salem# 3 t h many myrad bl o3s
fell ed# he3ed# and sE$ared the cedars# and E$arred the st ones# and
car6ed the ntrcat e ornaments# 3h ch 3ere t o be t he Tem!l es,
Stone after st one# by the combned effort and l ong tol of A!!renD
t ce# "el lo3D%raft # and Mast er# t he 3all s aroseG sl o3ly t he roof
3as framed and fash onedG and many years ela!sed before# at
l engt h# the -o$ses stood fnshed# all f t and ready for the ;orsh !
of God# gorgeo$s n the s$nny s!l endors of t he at mos!here of
Palest ne, So they 3ere b$l t, A s ngl e mot on of t he arm of a
r$de# barbaro$s Assyran S!earman# or dr$n/en Roman or Goth c
Leg onary of Tt $s# mo6ed by a senseless m!$l se of the br$t al
3 ll # fl $ng n the bl a<ng brandG and# 3 th no f$rt her h$man
agency# a fe3 short ho$rs s$ff ced t o cons$me and mel t each TemD
!le t o a smo/ ng mass of bl ac/ $nsghtly r$ n,
Be !at ent # t herefore# my Brother# and 3a tO
The ss$es are 3 th God( To do#
Of rght belongs t o $s,
Therefore fant not # nor be 3eary n 3ell Ddo ngO Be not dsD
co$raged at men? s a!at hy# nor d sg$sted 3 th ther foll es# nor
t red of the r nd fferenceO %are not for ret$rns and res$lt sGb$t
see only 3hat t here s to do# and do t # lea6 ng the res$l t s t o GodO
Sol d er of the %rossO S3orn Kn ght of &$st ce# Tr$th# and TolD
erat onO Good Knght and Tr$eObe !at ent and 3or/O
The A!ocaly!se# t hat s$bl me Kabal st c and !ro!het c S$mD
mary of all t he occ$lt fg$res# d 6des ts mages nt o three Se!D
t enares# after each of 3hch there s sl ence n -ea6en, There
are Se6en Seal s t o be o!ened# that s t o say# Se6en mysteres to
/no3# and Se6en dff c$l tes to o6ercome# Se6en t r$m!et s t o
so$nd# and Se6en c$!s to em!ty,
The A!ocaly!se s# t o t hose 3ho rece 6e t he nneteent h Degree#
t he A!othes s of that S$bl me "at h 3hch as! res to God alone#
and des!ses al l the !om!s and 3or/s of L$cfer, L'%I"ER# t he
LghtDbearerO Strange and myst ero$s name t o g6e to the S! r t
of Dar/nesssO L$cfer# t he Son of t he Morn ngO Is t he 3ho
bears t he Lght # and 3 th ts s!lendors ntol erable bl nds feeble#
sens$al or selfsh So$l s J Do$bt t not O for t radt ons are f$l l of
D 6 ne Re6elat ons and Ins! rat ons( and Ins! rat on s not of
one Age nor of one %reed, Pl at o and Phl o# also# 3ere ns!red,
The A!ocaly!se# ndeed# s a boo/ as obsc$re as t he Sohar,
It s 3r tt en herogly!h cal ly 3t h n$mbers and magesG and
t he A!ostl e often a!!eals t o the nt ell gence of t he Int ated,
@Let h m 3ho hat h /no3l edge# $nderstandO let h m 3ho $nderD
st ands# calc$late O@ he often says# after an allegory or t he ment on
of a n$mber, Sant &ohn# t he fa6or t e A!ostl e# and t he De!os tary
of al l the Secret s of t he Sa6 o$r# therefore d d not 3rte to be
$ndertood by t he m$l t t$de,
The Se!har .e< rah# the Sohar# and the A!ocaly!se are the
com!l etest embod ments of Occ$l t sm, They cont a n more meanD
ngs t han 3ordsG ther e4!ress ons are fg$rat 6e as !oetry and
e4act as n$mbers, The A!ocaly!se s$ms $!# com!l et es# and s$rD
!asses all the Scence of Abraham and of Solomon, The 6 sons
of E<e/el # by t he r6er %hebar# and of the ne3 Symbol c Tem!l e#
are eE$ally mystero$s e4!ress ons# 6e led by f g$res of t he engD
mat c dogmas of the Kabalah# and t he r symbol s are as l tt l e $nD
derstood by the %omment at ors# as t hose of "ree Masonry,
The Se!tenary s t he %ro3n of t he 8$mbers# beca$se t $ntes
t he Tr angle of the Idea t o the SE$are of t he "orm,
The more t he great -ero!hant s 3ere at !ans to conceal t her
absol $te Scence# t he more t hey so$ght t o add grande$r to and
m$l t !ly ts symbols, The h$ge !yramds# 3 th ther t r ang$l ar
s des of el e6at on and sE$are bases# re!resented the r Meta!hyscs#
fo$nded $!on t he /no3ledge of 8at $re, That /no3ledge of 8aD
t $re had for t s symbol c /ey t he ggant c form of that h$ge
S!hn4# 3h ch has holl o3ed t s dee! bed n t he sand# 3h le /ee!D
ng 3at ch at t he feet of the Pyramds, The Se6en grand mon$D
ment s call ed t he ;onders of the ;orl d# 3ere the magn f cent
%ommentar es on the Se6en l nes t hat com!osed the Pyramds#
and on t he Se6en mystc gates of Thebes,
The Se!tenary !h loso!hy of In t at on among t he Anc ents
may be s$mmed $! th$s(
Three Absol $t e Pr nc !les 3h ch are b$t One Pr nc !l e( fo$r
el ement ary forms 3hch are b$t oneG al l form ng a Sngle ;hol e#
com!o$nded of the Idea and the "orm,
The three Pr nc !les 3ere these(
)\, BEI8G IS BEI8G,
In Phl oso!hy# dent ty of the Idea and of Be ng or FertyG n
Rel g on# t he frst Prnc!le# T-E "AT-ER,
0\, BEI8G IS REAL,
In Phl oso!hy# dent ty of Kno3 ng and of Beng or Real tyG
n Relgon# t he LOGOS of Plat o# the Dem o$rgos# t he ;ORD,
9\, BEI8G IS LOGI%,
In Phl oso!hy# dent ty of the Reason and Real tyG n Relg on#
Pro6 dence# the D 6ne Act on that ma/es real the Good# that
3hch n %hr stanty 3e call T-E -oL. SPIRIT,
The $n on of al l t he Se6en col ors s the ;h t e# t he analogo$s
symbol of the GOOD( t he absence of al l s t he Bl ac/# the analogo$s
symbol of the EFIL, There are t hree !r mary col ors# Red# .ell o3#
and Bl$eG and fo$r secondary# Orange# Green# Indgo# and F oD
l etG and al l t hese God ds!lays to man n t he ranbo3G and t hey
ha6e t her analog es al so n t he moral and nt ell ect$al 3orld, The
same n$mber# Se6en# cont n$al ly rea!!ears n t he A!ocaly!se#
com!o$nded of three and fo$rG and these n$mbers rel at e to the
l ast Se6en of t he Se!hrot h# three ans3er ng t o BE8IG8IT. or
MER%.# SEFERIT. or &'STI%E# and BEA'T. or -ARMO8.G and
fo$r t o 8et <ach# -od# .esod# and Mal a/ot h# FI%TOR.# GLOR.#
STABILIT.# and DOMI8ATIO8, The same n$mbers also re!resent
t he frst three Se!hrot h# KET8ER# K-OKMA-# and BAI8A-# or
; l l# ; sdom# and 'nderstand ng# 3h ch# 3 t h DAAT- or IntelD
l ect on or Tho$ght # are also fo$r# DAAT- not beng regarded as a
Se!hrah# not as t he Dety act ng# or as a !ot ency# energy# or atD
t r b$te# b$t as t he D6 ne Act on,
The Se!hrot h are commonly fg$red n the Kabal ah as const D
t $t ng a h$man form# t he ADAM# KADMO8 Or MA%RO%OSM, Th$s
arranged# t he $n 6ersal l a3 of EE$!ose s three t mes e4ern!l D
fed, "rom t hat of t he D 6 ne Intel lect $al # Act 6e# Masc$l ne
E8ERG.# and t he Pass 6e %APA%IT. t o !rod$ce Tho$ght# t he
act on of T-I8KI8G res$l t s, "rom t hat of BE8IG8IT. and SED
FERIT.# -ARMO8. fl o3sG and from t hat of FI%TOR. or an InfD
nte o6ercomng# and GLOR.# 3h ch# be ng Infnte# 3o$l d seem to
forbd t he e4st ence of obst acles or o!!ost on# res$lt s STABILIT.
or PERMA8E8%E# 3hch s t he !erfect DOMI8IO8 Of the Inf n te
;ILL,
The last n ne Se!hrot h are ncl$ded n# at the same t me that
t hey ha6e flo3ed forth from# the f rst of al l# KET-ER# or the
%RO;8, Each also# n s$ccesson flo3ed from# and yet st ll reD
mans ncl $ded n# the one !reced ng t, The ; l l of God ncl $des
- s ; sdom# and -s ; sdom s - s ; l l s!ecal ly de6el o!ed and
act ng, Th s ; sdom s the LOGOS t hat creat es# mst a/en and
!ersonfed by S mon Mag$s and the s$cceed ng Gnost cs, By
means of t s $t terance# t he lett er .OD# t creates the 3orlds# frst
n t he D6ne Intel lect as an Idea# 3hch n6est ed 3 t h form beD
came the fabr cat ed ;orld# t he 'n 6erse of mat er al real ty, .OD
and -E# t3o letters of the Ineffabl e 8ame of t he Man fest ed
De ty# re!resent t he Male and the "emale# the Act 6e and t he
Pass6e n EE$l br $m# and the FAF com!let es t he Tr n ty and
t he Tr l teral 8ame# the D 6ne Trangle# 3h ch 3t h t he
re!et on of t he -e becomes t he Tet ragrammaton,
Th$s the ten Se!hroth conta n al l the Sacred 8$mbers# t hree#
f6e# se6en# and nne# and t he !erfect 8$mber Ten# and corres!ond
3 th t he Tet ractys of Pyt hagoras,
BEI8G IS BEI8G# Ahayah Asar Ahayah, Th s
s t he !r nc!l e# the @BEGI88I8G,@
In t he Beg nnng 3as# t hat s to say# IS# ;AS# and ;ILL BE#
t he ;ORD# that s t o say# the REASO8 t hat S!ea/s,
The ;ord s t he reason of bel ef# and n t also s the e4!ress on
of t he "at h 3h ch ma/es Scence a l 6 ng t hng, The ;ord#
s t he So$rce of Logc, &es$s s t he ;ord Incarnat e, The
accord of the Reason 3 th "a th# of Kno3ledge 3 th Bel ef# of
A$thor ty 3 th Lberty# has become n modern t mes t he 6er table
engma of the S!h n4,
It s ;ISDOM t hat # n t he Kabal st c Boo/s of t he Pro6erbs and
Eccles ast c$s# s t he %reat 6e Agent of God, Else3here n the
-ebre3 3r t ngs t s Debar Iaha6ah# the ;ord of God,
It s by -s $tt ered ;ord that God re6eal s - msel f t o $sG
al one n the 6 sble and n6s ble b$t nt el lect $al creat on# b$t
n o$r con6 ct ons# consc o$sness# and nst nct s, -ence t s t hatO
certa n belefs are $n6ersal , The con6ct on of al l men that God
s good l ed t o a bel ef n a De6l # the fal len L$c fer or LghtD
bearer# Shatan t he Ad6ersary# Ahr man and T$!hon# as an atD
t em!t t o e4!la n t he e4st ence of E6l # and ma/e t cons stent 3t h
t he Inf nt e Po3er# ; sdom# and Bene6olence of God,
8othng s$r!asses and not h ng eE$al s# as a S$mmary of al l t he
doctr nes of t he Ol d ;orld# t hose bref 3ords engra6en by
-ERMES on a Stone# and /no3n $nder t he name of @The Tablet
of Emeral d(@ t he 'nty of Be ng and t he 'nty of the -armon es#
ascendng and descend ng# the !rogress6e and !ro!ort onal
scale of t he ;ordG the mm$tabl e l a3 of t he EE$l br $m# and
t he !ro!ort oned !rogress of t he $n6ersal anal ogesG t he relat on
of t he Idea to t he ;ord# g6 ng t he meas$re of t he relat on beD
t 3een t he %reat or and the %reat ed# the necessary mat hemat cs of
t he Inf nt e# !ro6ed by t he meas$res of a s ngl e corner of t he
"n te GDDal l ths s e4!ressed by ths s ngl e !ro!os t on of the
Great Egy!t an - ero!hant(
@;hat s S$!eror s as t hat 3hch s Inferor# and 3hat s
Belo3 s as t hat 3h ch s Abo6e# to form t he Mar6els of the
'nty, @

PP, GRA8D MASTER O" ALL S.MBOLI% LODGES,
The tr$e Mason s a !ract cal Phl oso!her# 3ho# $nder rel g o$s
emblems# n all ages ado!t ed by 3 sdom# b$ lds $!on !lans traced
by nat $re and reason t he moral edfce of /no3ledge, -e o$ght
t o f nd# n t he symmet r cal relat on of all t he !art s of t hs rat onal
edfce# the !r nc !l e and r$le of all hs d$t es# the so$rce of al l
hs !leas$res, -e m!ro6es h s moral nat $re# becomes a bet ter man#
and fnds n t he re$non of 6rt$o$s men# assembled 3t h !$re
6e3s# the means of m$l t !lyng h s acts of benefcence, Masonry
and Ph loso!hy# 3 t ho$t be ng one and t he same t hng# ha6e t he
same ob5ect # and !ro!ose t o t hemsel6es the same end# the 3orsh !
of t he Grand Archt ect of the 'n 6erse# acE$a ntance and fam l arD
ty 3t h the 3onders of nat $re# and t he ha!! ness of h$manty
at ta ned by t he const ant !ractce of all t he 6rt$es,
As Grand Mast er of all Symbol c Lodges# t s yo$r es!ec al d$ty
t o a d n rest orng Masonry t o ts !r mt 6e !$r ty, .o$ ha6e beD
come an nstr$ct or, Masonry l ong 3andered n error, Instead
of m!ro6 ng# t degenerated from t s !r m t 6e s m!l cty# and reD
t rograded to3ard a syst em# d st ort ed by st $! d ty and gnorance#
3hch# $nable to constr$ct a bea$t f$l mach ne# made a com!l D
cated one, Less than t 3o h$ndred years ago# t s organ <at on 3as
s m!l e# and alt oget her moral# ts emblems# all egor es# and ceremoD
nes easy to be $nderstood# and ther !$r!ose and ob5ect readly t o
be seen, It 3as then conf ned to a 6ery small n$mber of Degrees,
It s const t $t ons 3ere l /e those of a Socety of Essenes# 3r t t en
n t he f rst cent $ry of o$r era, There co$l d be seen the !r m t 6e
%hr st an ty# organ<ed nt o Masonry# the school of Pythagoras
3 tho$t ncongr$t es or abs$rdt esG a Masonry s m!l e and sgnfD
cant # n 3h ch t 3as not necessary t o tort $re the m nd t o dsco6er
reasonabl e nt er!retat onsG a Masonry at once rel go$s and !h l oD
so!h cal # 3orthy of a good ct <en and an enl ght ened !hlanthroD
!st ,
Inno6at ors and n6ent ors o6ert $rned t hat !r mt 6e s m!l cty,
Ignorance engaged n t he 3or/ of ma/ ng Degrees# and t r fl es and
ge3ga3s and !ret ended myster es# abs$rd or hdeo$s# $s$r!ed t he
!lace of Masonc Tr$t h, The ! ct$re of a horrd 6engeance# t he
!on ard and the bl oody head# a!!eared n t he !eacef$l Tem!le of
Masonry# 3t ho$t s$ff c ent e4!l anat on of t he r symbol c mean ng,
Oat hs o$t of al l !ro!ort on 3 th ther ob5ect # shoc/ed the cand D
date# and then became rd c$l o$s# and 3ere 3hol ly d sregarded,
Acolytes 3ere e4!osed to test s# and com!ell ed t o !erform act s#
3hch# f real # 3o$ld ha6e been abomnabl eG b$t be ng mere chD
meras# 3ere !re!ostero$s# and e4c t ed cont em!t and l a$ght er only,
Eght h$ndred Degrees of one / nd and anot her 3ere n6ent ed(
Infdel ty and e6en &es$t ry 3ere ta$ght $nder the mas/ of
Masonry, The rt $al s e6en of the res!ectabl e Degrees# co!ed and
m$t lated by gnorant men# became nonsens cal and tr 6alG and
t he 3ords so corr$!ted that t has ht herto been fo$nd m!oss bl e
t o reco6er many of them at al l, %anddat es 3ere made t o degrade
t hemsel 6es# and to s$bmt to ns$lt s not tolerable to a man of
s!rt and honor,
-ence t 3as that # !ract cal ly# the largest !ort on of t he Degrees
cl a med by t he Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te# and before
t by t he Rt e of Perfect on# fell nto ds$se# 3ere merely comD
m$n cated# and t her r t$al s became 5 e5 $ne and nsgnfcant ,
These R t es resembl ed t hose old !al aces and baron al castles# t he
dfferent !arts of 3h ch# b$ lt at d fferent !erods remot e from
one another# $!on !l ans and accord ng t o tastes that great ly
6ared# formed a dscordant and ncongr$o$s 3hol e, &$da sm and
ch6al ry# s$!erst t on and !hl oso!hy# !hl ant hro!y and nsane
hatred and l ong ng for 6engeance# a !$re moral ty and $n5 $st and
ll egal re6enge# 3ere fo$nd st rangely mated and standng hand n
hand 3t h n t he Tem!l es of Peace and %oncordG and the 3hole
syst em 3as one grotesE$e comm ngl ng of ncongr$o$s t h ngs# of
contrasts and contrad ct ons# of shoc/ ng and fant astc e4t ra6aD
gances# of !art s re!$gnant t o good taste# and fne conce!t ons
o6erl ad and d sf g$red by abs$rd t es engendered by gnorance#
fanat csm# and a senseless myst c sm,
An em!ty and ster l e !om!# m!ossble ndeed t o be carred o$t#
and t o 3hch no meanng 3hat e6er 3as at tached# 3 th farDfet ched
e4!l anat ons that 3ere e t her so many st $!d !l at t$des or t hemD
sel 6es needed an nt er!reterG l ofty t tl es# arb trar ly ass$med# and
t o 3hch t he n6entors had not condescended to att ach any e4!l aD
nat on that sho$l d acE$t t hem of t he fol ly of ass$m ng tem!oral
ran/# !o3er# and t t les of nobl ty# made t he 3orld la$gh# and t he
In t ate feel ashamed,
Some of t hese t t les 3e reta nGb$t they ha6e 3 th $s mean ngs
entrely consstent 3t h that S! r t of EE$al ty 3hch s the fo$nD
dat on and !erem!tory la3 of ts beng of al l Masonry, The
Knght# 3t h $s# s he 3ho de6otes h s hand# h s heart # h s bra n#
t o t he Sc ence of Masonry# and !rofesses h mself t he S3orn
Sol d er of Tr$th( the Pr nce s he 3ho a ms to be %hef APrnD
ce!sB# frst# leader# among hs eE$al s# n 6rt$e and good deeds(
t he So6eregn s he 3ho# one of an order 3hose members are al l
So6eregns# s S$!reme only beca$se t he l a3 and const t$t ons are
so# 3hch he adm nst ers# and by 3h ch he# l /e e6ery ot her
brot her# s go6erned, The t tles# P$ ssant# Pot ent # ; se# and FenD
erable# nd cate that !o3er of Frt $e# Intel lgence# and ;sdom#
3hch those o$ght t o st r 6e t o attan 3ho are !laced n h gh offce
by t he s$ffrages of the r brethren( and all o$r ot her t tl es and
des gnat ons ha6e an esoterc mean ng# cons stent 3 t h modesty
and eE$al ty# and 3hch t hose 3ho rece 6e t hem sho$ld f$lly $nD
derstand, As Master of a Lodge t s yo$r d$ty to nstr$ct yo$r
Bret hren t hat t hey are all so many constant lessons# teachng the
l ofty E$al fcat ons 3hch are reE$red of those 3ho cla m them#
and not merely dl e ge3ga3s 3orn n r dc$lo$s m tat on of t he
t mes 3hen t he 8obles and Prest s 3ere mast ers and the !eo!le
sl a6es( and that # n all t r$e Masonry# t he Knght# the Pont ff# t he
Prnce# and the So6eregn are b$t t he frst among t her eE$als( and
t he cordon# the cloth ng# and t he 5 e3el b$t symbol s and emblems
of t he 6rt $es reE$ red of al l good Masons,
The Mason /neels# no l onger to !resent h s !et t on for adD
m t tance or t o rece6e the ans3er# no longer t o a man as h s s$D
!er or# 3ho s b$t h s brot her# b$t t o h s GodG to 3hom he a!!eals
for the rect t$de of hs nt ent ons# and 3hose a d he as/s to enabl e
h m to /ee! h s 6o3s, 8o one s degraded by bend ng hs /nee to
God at t he al tar# or t o rece6e the honor of Knghthood as Bayard
and D$ G$escl n /nelt , To /neel for ot her !$r!oses# Masonry
does not reE$re, God ga6e t o man a head to be borne erect # a !ort
$!r ght and ma5 est c, ;e assemble n o$r Tem!l es t o chersh and
nc$l cate sent ments t hat conform t o t hat loft ness of bearng
3hch the 5$st and $!rght man s ent tl ed t o manta n# and 3e do
not reE$re t hose 3ho desre t o be admt ted among $s# gnomn D
o$sly to bo3 t he head, ;e res!ect man# beca$se 3e res!ect o$rD
sel 6es t hat he may conce6e a l ofty dea of h s d gn ty as a h$man
beng free and nde!endent , If modesty s a 6 rt$e# h$m l ty and
obseE$ o$sness t o man are base( for there s a noble !r de 3hch
s t he most real and sol d bas s of 6rt $e, Man sho$l d h$mbl e h mD
sel f before t he Inf n te GodG b$t not before h s err ng and m!erD
fect brot her,
As Mast er of a Lodge# yo$ 3l l therefore be e4ceedngly caref$l
t hat no %anddat e# n any Degree# be reE$ red to s$bm t to any
degradat on 3hate6erG as has been t oo m$ch t he c$stom n some
of t he Degrees( and t a/e t as a certa n and nfle4bl e r$l e# to
3hch there s no e4ce!t on# that real Masonry reE$res of no man
anythng to 3h ch a Knght and Gent leman cannot honorably# and
3 tho$t feel ng o$traged or h$ml at ed s$bm t ,
The S$!reme %o$nc l for t he So$thern &$r sdct on of the
'nt ed States at length $ndertoo/ t he nds!ensable and longDdeD
l ayed t as/ of re6sng and reform ng the 3or/ and rt $al s of t he
Th rty Degrees $nder t s 5 $rsd ct on, Ret anng the essent als of
t he Degrees and all t he means by 3hch the members recogn <e one
another# t has so$ght o$t and de6elo!ed the leadng dea of each
Degree# re5ect ed t he !$erl t es and abs$rdt es 3t h 3hch many
of t hem 3ere d sf g$red# and made of them a connected system of
moral# rel g o$s# and !h l oso!hcal nstr$ct on, Sect ar an of no
creed# t has yet t ho$ght t not m!ro!er t o $se t he old all egor es#
based on occ$rrences det a l ed n the -ebre3 and %hr stan boo/s#
and dra3n from t he Anc ent Mysteres of Egy!t# Pers a# Greece#
Inda# the Dr$ds and the Essenes# as 6eh cles to comm$n cate the
Great Masonc Tr$t hsG as t has $sed the legends of t he %r$sades#
and t he ceremones of the orders of Kn ght hood,
It no longer nc$lcat es a cr m nal and 3c/ed 6engeance, It
has not al lo3ed Masonry to !l ay t he assass n( to a6enge the deat h
e ther of -ram# of %harles the )st # or of &aE$es De Molay and
t he Tem!l ars, The Anc ent and Acce!ted Scott sh R te of MaD
sonry has no3 become# 3hat Masonry at f rst 3as meant t o be# a
Teacher of Great Tr$ths# ns!red by an $!rght and enlghtened
reason# a frm and constant 3sdom# and an affect onate and l bD
eral !h l ant hro!y,
It s no l onger a system# o6er the com!os t on and arrangement
of t he dfferent !art s of 3hch# 3ant of reflect on# chance# gnoD
rance# and !erha!s mot 6es st ll more gnobl e !resdedG a system
$ns$ ted to o$r hab t s# o$r manners# o$r deas# or the 3orl dD3 de
!hl ant hro!y and $n 6ersal t ol erat on of MasonryG or to bodes
small n n$mber# 3hose re6en$es sho$l d be de6oted to the relef
of t he $nfort$nate# and not t o em!ty sho3G no l onger a het eroD
geneo$s aggregat e of Degrees# shoc/ ng by ts anachron sms and
contrad ct ons# !o3erl ess to d ssem nate l ght # nformat on# and
moral and !h loso!h cal deas,
As Mast er# yo$ 3l l teach those 3ho are $nder yo$# and t o 3hom
yo$ 3l l o3e yo$r off ce# that t he decorat ons of many of the DeD
grees are to be ds!ensed 3 th# 3hene6er t he e4!ense 3o$ld nterD
fere 3t h t he d$t es of char ty# rel ef# and bene6olenceG and t o be
nd$lged n only by 3ealt hy bod es t hat 3l l thereby do no 3rong
t o t hose ent t led to t her ass stance, The essent al s of al l the DeD
grees may be !roc$red at sl ght e4!enseG and t s at the o!t on
of e6ery Brot her to !roc$re or not t o !roc$re# as he !leases# the
dress# decorat ons# and 5e3el s of any Degree ot her than t he ):t h#
)*th# 92t h# and 90d,
;e teach the tr$t h of none of t he l egends 3e rec te, They are
t o $s b$t !arables and al l egores# n6ol6 ng and en6el o! ng
Masonc nst r$ct onG and 6eh cl es of $sef$l and nterest ng nD
format on, They re!resent the dfferent !hases of t he h$man
mnd# t s effort s and str$ggles to com!rehend nat $re# God# the
go6ernment of the 'n 6erse# the !erm tt ed e4 stence of sorro3
and e6 l, To teach $s 3sdom# and the fol ly of endea6or ng to e4D
!la n t o o$rsel6es that 3hch 3e are not ca!able of $nderst andng#
3e re!rod$ce t he s!ec$lat ons of t he Ph l oso!hers# t he Kabal sts#
t he Myst agog$es and the Gnost cs, E6ery one be ng at l berty to
a!!ly o$r symbols and emblems as he t h n/s most consst ent 3 th
t r$th and reason and 3 th h s o3n fat h# 3e g 6e t hem s$ch an nD
t er!retat on only as may be acce!ted by all , O$r Degrees may be
conferred n "rance or T$r/ey# at Pe/ n# Is!ahan# Rome# or GeD
ne6a# n the cty of Penn or n %athol c Lo$s ana# $!on t he s$b5ect
of an absol $t e go6ernment or the ct <en of a "ree St ate# $!on SecD
t ar an or Thest , To honor t he Dety# t o regard all men as o$r
Bret hren# as ch ldren# eE$ally dear t o - m# of the S$!reme %reator
of t he 'n 6erse# and to ma/e h msel f $sef$l to soc ety and h mself
by h s l abor# are t s teachngs to t s Int ates n all t he Degrees,
Preacher of Lberty# "raternty# and EE$al ty# t des res them t o
be att aned by ma/ ng men f t t o rece6e them# and by t he moral
!o3er of an nt ell gent and enl ght ened Peo!le, It lays no !lots
and cons!races, It hat ches no !remat $re re6ol$t onsG t enco$rD
ages no !eo!l e t o re6ol t aganst t he const t$ted a$t hor tesG b$t
recogn <ng t he great tr$th t hat freedom fol lo3s ft ness for freeD
dom as the corol lary fol l o3s the a4om# t st r 6es t o !re!are men
t o go6ern t hemsel 6es,
;here domest c sla6ery e4 sts# t t eaches t he master h$manty
and t he al le6at on of t he cond t on of hs sl a6e# and moderat e corD
rect on and gentl e dsc!l neG as t teaches t hem t o t he master of
t he a!!rent ce( and as t teaches to t he em!loyers of ot her men#
n m nes# man$factor es# and 3or/sho!s# consderat on and h$D
manty for t hose 3ho de!end $!on t her l abor for ther bread# and
t o 3hom 3ant of em!l oyment s star6at on# and o6er3or/ s fe6er#
cons$m!t on# and death,
As Mast er of a Lodge# yo$ are t o nc$lcate these d$t es on yo$r
bret hren, Teach the em!l oyed to be honest # !$nct $al # and fat hf$l
as 3ell as res!ectf$l and obedent to all !ro!er orders( b$t al so
t each t he em!l oyer that e6ery man or 3oman 3ho des res t o 3or/#
has a rght t o ha6e 3or/ to doG and that t hey# and t hose 3ho from
s c/ness or feebl eness# loss of l mb or of bodly 6 gor# ol d age or
nfancy# are not abl e to 3or/# ha6e a rght t o be fed# cl ot hed# and
shel tered from the nclement element s( t hat he commt s an a3f$l
s n aga nst Masonry and n t he s ght of God# f he closes h s 3or/D
sho!s or fact or es# or ceases t o 3or/ hs m nes# 3hen they do not
yeld h m 3hat he regards as s$ffc ent !roft # and so d sm sses h s
3or/men and 3or/3omen to star6eG or 3hen he red$ces the 3ages
of man or 3oman t o so l o3 a standard that they and ther fam l es
cannot be cl ot hed and fed and comfort ably ho$sedG or by o6er3or/
m$st g6e h m ther bl ood and l fe n e4change for t he !t tance
of t he r 3ages( and t hat h s d$ty as a Mason and Brother !erD
em!tor ly reE$ res h m t o cont n$e to em!loy t hose 3ho else 3l l
be ! nched 3 th h$nger and cold# or resort to theft and 6 ce( and
t o !ay t hem fa r 3ages# t ho$gh t may red$ce or ann$l h s !roft s
or e6en eat nto h s ca! tal G for God hat h b$t loaned h m hs
3eal th# and made h m - s al moner and agent t o n6est t ,
E4ce!t as mere symbols of the moral 6 rt $es and ntell ect$al
E$al t es# the tools and m!lement s of Masonry bel ong e4cl $s6ely
t o t he f rst three Degrees, They al so# ho3e6er# ser6e t o rem nd
t he Mason 3ho has ad6anced f$rther# t hat h s ne3 ran/ s based
$!on the h$mbl e l abors of the symbol c Degrees# as t hey are mD
!ro!erly t ermed# nasm$ch as all t he Degrees are symbol c,
Th$s the In t ates are ns!red 3 th a 5 $st dea of Masonry# t oD
3 t# t hat t s essent al ly ;ORKG bot h t eachng and !ract sng
LABORG and t hat t s al t oget her emblemat c, Three /nds of 3or/
are necessary to t he !reser6at on and !rot ect on of man and socD
ety( man$al labor# s!ecal ly belongng t o t he t hree bl $e DegreesG
l abor n arms# symbol <ed by t he Knghtly or ch6al r c DegreesG
and ntellect $al labor# bel ong ng !art c$larly to the Phl oso!h cal
Degrees,
;e ha6e !reser6ed and m$l t !l ed s$ch emblems as ha6e a t r$e
and !rofo$nd mean ng, ;e re5ect many of the ol d and sensel ess
e4!l anat ons, ;e ha6e not red$ced Masonry t o a col d meta!hyD
s cs that e4 l es e6eryth ng belongng to t he doma n of the magnaD
t on, The gnorant # and t hose halfD3se n real ty# b$t o6erD3se
n t he r o3n conce t# may assal o$r symbols 3t h sarcasmsG b$t
t hey are ne6ert heless ngeno$s 6el s that co6er the Tr$t h# res!ect D
ed by all 3ho /no3 the means by 3hch t he heart of man s reachD
ed and h s feel ngs enl st ed, The Great Moral st s often had reD
co$rse to all egores# n order to nstr$ct men 3 tho$t re!ell ng
t hem, B$t 3e ha6e been caref$l not to al lo3 o$r embl ems to be
t oo obsc$re# so as to reE$re farDfet ched and forced nter!ret aD
t ons, In o$r days# and n the enl ght ened land n 3hch 3e l 6e#
3e do not need t o 3ra! o$rsel 6es n 6e ls so strange and m!eneD
t rabl e# as to !re6ent or hnder nstr$ct on nst ead of f$rther ng tG
or t o nd$ce t he s$s!con t hat 3e ha6e conceal ed mean ngs 3h ch
3e comm$ncate only to the most rel abl e ade!ts# beca$se t hey are
contrary to good order or the 3el l Dbeng of socety,
The D$t es of the %lass of Instr$ct ors# that s# the Masons of
t he Degrees from t he :th to t he *th# ncl $s6e# are# !art c$l arly# t o
!erfect t he yo$nger Masons n t he 3ords# s gns and t o/ens and
other 3or/ of t he Degrees they ha6e rece 6edG t o e4!l a n t o t hem
t he mean ng of t he dfferent embl ems# and to e4!o$nd the moral
nstr$ct on 3h ch t hey con6ey, And $!on ther re!ort of !roD
fc ency al one can t he r !$!l s be all o3ed to ad6ance and rece 6e
an ncrease of 3ages,
The Drectors of the ;or/# or t hose of the 1t h# l2t h# and ))t h
Degrees are to re!ort t o the %ha!t ers $!on t he reg$l ar ty# act 6ty
and !ro!er drect on of t he 3or/ of bodes n t he l o3er Degrees#
and 3hat s needed t o be enact ed for t her !ros!er ty and $sef$lD
ness, In t he Symbol c Lodges# t hey are !art c$l arly charged t o
st m$late t he <eal of the 3or/men# to nd$ce t hem t o engage n
ne3 labors and enter!rses for t he good of Masonry# t he r co$ntry
and man/ nd# and t o g 6e t hem fraternal ad6ce 3hen they fal l
short of t he r d$tyG or# n cases that reE$ re t# to n6o/e aga nst
t hem the rgor of Masonc la3,
The Arch tect s# or t hose of the )0th# )9th# and ):t h# sho$ld be
sel ected from none b$t Brot hers 3ell nst r$cted n the !recedng
DegreesG <ealo$s# and ca!able of d sco$rsng $!on that MasonryG
ll $strat ng t # and dsc$ss ng the s m!le E$est ons of moral !h lD
oso!hy, And one of them# at e6ery comm$ncat on# sho$ld be !reD
!ared 3t h a lect $re# comm$ncat ng $sef$l /no3l edge or g6 ng
good ad6ce to t he Bret hren,
The Knghts# of t he )7th and )=th Degrees# 3ear the s3ord,
They are bo$nd t o !re6ent and re!a r# as far as may be n t her
!o3er# all n5$stce# both n t he 3orl d and n MasonryG to !rotect
t he 3ea/ and to br ng o!!ressors t o 5$st ce, The r 3or/s and l ecD
t $res m$st be n t h s s!r t, They sho$ld nE$ re 3het her Masonry
f$l f ll s# as far as t o$ght and can# ts !r nc !al !$r!ose# 3hch s
t o s$ccor the $nfort $nat e, That t may do so# they sho$ld !reD
!are !ro!os t ons to be offered n t he Bl $e Lodges calc$lat ed t o
at ta n t hat end# t o !$t an end to ab$ses# and to !re6ent or correct
negl gence, Those n t he Lodges 3ho ha6e at ta ned the ran/ of
Knghts# are most ft to be a!!onted Al moners# and charged to
ascert a n and ma/e /no3n 3ho need and are ent tl ed to the char ty
of t he Order,
In t he hgher Degrees t hose only sho$l d be rece6ed 3ho ha6e
s$ffc ent read ng and nformat on to d sc$ss the great E$est ons
of !h l oso!hy, "rom them the Orat ors of t he Lodges sho$ld be
sel ected# as 3el l as those of t he %o$ncl s 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 t o t he s!rt of t s nst t$t on# both as t o ts
char tabl e !$r!oses# and t he d ff$son of lght and /no3l edgeG
s$ch as are needed t o correct ab$ses t hat ha6e cre!t n# and ofD
fences aga nst the r$les and general s!r t of the OrderG and s$ch
as 3l l tend to ma/e t# as t 3as meant to be# t he great Teacher of
Man/ nd,
As Mast er of a Lodge# %o$nc l# or %ha!ter# t 3l l be yo$r d$ty
t o m!ress $!on t he m nds of yo$r Bret hren t hese 6 e3s of the
general !lan and se!arate !art s of t he Anc ent and Acce!ted ScotD
t sh Rt eG of t s s!r t and des gnG ts harmony and reg$l ar tyG of
t he d$t es of the off cers and membersG and of the !art c$lar l esD
sons ntended to be ta$ght by each Degree,
Es!ecally yo$ are not to all o3 any assembly of t he body o6er
3hch yo$ may !resde# t o cl ose# 3t ho$t recal l ng t o t he mnds of
t he Brethren the Mason c 6 rt $es and d$t es 3hch are re!resented
$!on the Tracng Board of t h s Degree, That s an m!erat 6e
d$ty, "orget not that # more t han three t ho$sand years ago# HOROD
ASTER sad(@Be good# be / nd# be h$mane# and char tableG l o6e
yo$r fel lo3sG console t he affl ct edG !ardon those 3ho ha6e done
yo$ 3rong, @ 8or that more t han t3o t ho$sand three h$ndred
years ago %O8"'%I'S re!eat ed# also E$ot ng t he lang$age of those
3ho had l 6ed before h msel f( @Lo6e thy ne ghbor as thyself( Do
not to ot hers 3hat t ho$ 3o$ldst not 3 sh sho$l d be done t o thyD
sel f( "org 6e n5 $res, "org 6e yo$r enemy# be reconcl ed t o h m#
g 6e h m assst ance# n6o/e God n h s behalfO@
Let not the moral ty of yo$r Lodge be nfer or to t hat of the
Pers an or the %h nese Ph loso!her,
'rge $!on yo$r Bret hren the teach ng and the $nostentat o$s
!ract ce of t he moral ty of t he Lodge# 3t ho$t regard t o t mes#
!laces# rel g ons# or !eo!les,
'rge t hem to l o6e one anot her# to be de6ot ed t o one anot her# to
be fa thf$l t o the co$ntry# t he go6ernment # and t he la3s( for to
ser6e t he co$nt ry s to !ay a dear and sacred debt (
To res!ect al l forms of 3orsh !# to t olerate all !ol t cal and
rel go$s o! nonsG not t o blame# and st l l less t o condemn the
rel gon of others( not t o see/ t o ma/e con6ert sG b$t to be cont ent
f t hey ha6e the rel g on of SocratesG a 6enerat on for the %reator#
t he rel gon of good 3or/s# and gratef$l ac/no3l edgment of God? s
blessngs(
To fratern <e 3 th al l menG t o ass st al l 3ho are $nfort$nateG
and t o cheerf$lly !ost !one ther o3n nterest s to that of the Order(
To ma/e t t he constant r$l e of the r l 6es# to th n/ 3el l # t o
s!ea/ 3el l# and to act 3ell (
To !l ace the sage abo6e t he sold er# the noble# or t he !r nce(
and t a/e t he 3 se and good as the r model s(
To see that the r !rofess ons and !ractce# t her t eachngs and
cond$ct # do al3ays agree(
To ma/e ths also the r mott o( Do that 3h ch t ho$ o$ghtest
t o doG let t he res$l t be 3hat t 3 ll ,
S$ch# my Brother# are some of t he d$t es of that offce 3hch
yo$ ha6e so$ght t o be E$al fed t o e4erc se, May yo$ !erform
t hem 3el lG and n so do ng ga n honor for yo$rself# and ad6ance
t he great ca$se of Masonry# -$manty# and Progress,

PPI, 8OA%-ITE# OR PR'SSIA8 K8IG-T,
.o$ are es!ec ally charged n ths Degree t o be modest and
h$mble# and not 6anDgl or o$s nor fl led 3 th selfDconce t , Be not
3 ser n yo$r o3n o! n on than t he De ty# nor fnd fa$l t 3t h -s
3or/s# nor endea6or to m!ro6e $!on 3hat -e has done, Be
modest al so n yo$r nterco$rse 3 th yo$r fel lo3s# and sl o3 to
enterta n e6 l tho$ghts of them# and rel $ctant to ascr be t o t hem
e6l nt ent ons, A tho$sand !resses# fl ood ng t he co$nt ry 3 th
t her e6anescent lea6es# are b$s ly and ncessantly engaged n
malgn ng t he mot 6es and cond$ct of men and !art es# and n
ma/ng one man t h n/ 3orse of anotherG 3h le# alas# scarcely one
s fo$nd t hat e6er# e6en acc dental ly# l abors t o ma/e man thn/
better of hs fel lo3,
Slander and cal$mny 3ere ne6er so nsolently l cent o$s n any
co$nt ry as they are ths day n o$rs, The most ret rng d s!os t on#
t he most $nobt r$s6e demeanor# s no shel d aga nst ther !osonD
ed arro3s, The most em nent !$l bl c ser6 ce only ma/es the r
6t $!erat on and n6ect 6e more eager and more $nscr$!$l o$s#
3hen he 3ho has done s$ch ser6 ce !resent s h msel f as a candD
date for t he !eo!le? s s$ffrages,
The e6l s 3 deDs!read and $n 6ersal, 8o man# no 3oman# no
ho$sehol d# s sacred or safe from t h s ne3 InE$ st on, 8o act s
so !$re or so !rase3ort hy# that t he $nscr$!$l o$s 6ender of l es
3ho l 6es by !ander ng t o a corr$!t and morb d !$blc a!!et t e
3 ll not !rocla m t as a cr me, 8o mot 6e s so nnocent or so
l a$dable# that he 3 ll not hol d t $! as 6 ll any, &o$rnal sm !r es
nt o t he nt er or of !r 6ate ho$ses# gl oats o6er t he deta ls of doD
mest c traged es of s n and shame# and del berately n6ent s and
nd$str o$sly crc$l ates t he most $nm t gated and baseless fal seD
hoods# t o con money for t hose 3ho !$rs$e t as a t rade# or t o
effect a t em!orary res$l t n the 3ars of fact on,
;e need not enl arge $!on t hese e6l s, They are a!!arent to al l
and l ament ed o6er by al l # and t s the d$ty of a Mason to do all
n hs !o3er t o l essen# f not to remo6e them, ; t h t he errors
and e6en s ns of other men# that do not !ersonal ly affect $s or
o$rs# and need not o$r condemnat on to be od o$s# 3e ha6e nothD
ng t o doG and t he 5 o$rnal st has no !atent that ma/es h m the
%ensor of Moral s, There s no obl gat on rest ng on $s to t r$m!et
forth o$r dsa!!ro6al of e6ery 3rongf$l or n5 $d co$s or mD
!ro!er act t hat e6ery other man comm t s, One 3o$l d be ashamed
t o st and on the street corners and reta l them oral ly for !ennes,
One o$ght# n t r$th# t o 3r te# or s!ea/ aganst no other one n
t h s 3orld, Each man n t has eno$gh to do# t o 3at ch and /ee!
g$ard o6er h msel f, Each of $s s s c/ eno$gh n ths great
La<arett o( and 5 o$rnal sm and !ol em cal 3r t ng const ant ly reD
mnd $s of a scene once 3t nessed n a l t tle hos!t alG 3here t
3as horr bl e to hear ho3 t he !at ent s moc/ ngly re!roached each
other 3 t h t her dsorders and nf rmt es( ho3 one# 3ho 3as
3ast ed by cons$m!t on# 5 eered at anot her 3ho 3as bloated by
dro!sy( ho3 one la$ghed at anot her? s cancer of the faceG and
t h s one aga n at hs neghbor? s l oc/D5a3 or sE$ntG $nt l at last
t he del r o$s fe6erD!at ent s!rang o$t of hs bed# and tore a3ay
t he co6er ngs from the 3o$nded bodes of h s com!an ons# and
nothng 3as t o be seen b$t h deo$s m sery and m$t l at on, S$ch
s t he re6ol t ng 3or/ n 3hch 5o$rnal sm and !ol t cal !art sanD
sh!# and hal f the 3orld o$ts de of Masonry# are engaged,
Fery general ly# the cens$re besto3ed $!on men? s acts# by those
3ho ha6e a!!o nt ed and comm ssoned themsel6es Kee!ers of t he
P$bl c Morals# s $ndeser6ed, Often t s not only $ndeser6ed#
b$t !ra se s deser6ed nstead of cens$re# and# 3hen the lat ter
s not $ndeser6ed# t s al 3ays e4tra6agant # and therefore $nD
5 $st ,
A Mason 3 ll 3onder 3hat s!rt t hey are endo3ed 3t hal # t hat
can basely l bel at a man# e6en# that s fal l en, If t hey had any
nob l ty of so$l# they 3o$ld 3 th h m condole h s d sasters# and
dro! some t ears n !ty of hs folly and 3ret chedness( and f t hey
3ere merely h$man and not br$tal # 8at $re d d gre6o$s 3rong t o
h$man bodes# t o c$rse t hem 3 th so$l s so cr$el as to st r6e to add
t o a 3ret chedness already nt ol erabl e, ;hen a Mason hears of
any man t hat hat h fall en nt o !$bl c d sgrace# he sho$l d ha6e a
mnd t o commserat e h s msha!# and not t o ma/e h m more d sD
consol at e, To en6enom a name by l bel s# t hat already s o!enly
t anted# s to add str!es 3 th an ron rod t o one t hat s fl ayed 3t h
3h!!ngG and to e6ery 3el lDtem!ered m nd 3 ll seem most nD
h$man and $nmanly,
E6en the man 3ho does 3rong and comm t s errors oft en has a
E$et home# a fresde of h s o3n# a gent l e# lo6 ng 3 fe and nnoD
cent chl dren# 3ho !erha!s do not /no3 of hs !ast errors and
l a!sesDD!ast and long re!ent ed ofG or f they do# they lo6e h m
t he bett er# beca$se# be ng mortal# he hath erred# and beng n t he
mage of God# he hat h re!ent ed, That e6ery bl o3 at t h s h$sband
and father l acerates the !$re and t ender bosoms of t hat 3 fe and
t hose da$ght ers# s a cons derat on t hat dot h not stay the hand of
t he br$t al 5o$rnal st and !art san( b$t he str /es home at t hese
shr n/ ng# E$ 6erng# nnocent# tender bosomsG and t hen goes o$t
$!on the great arteres of c t es# 3here the c$rrent of l fe !$l sates#
and holds h s head erect # and cal ls on h s fel l o3s t o l a$d h m and
admre h m# for t he ch 6al r c act he hat h done# n str/ng
hs dagger t hro$gh one heart nt o anot her tender and tr$st ng
one,
If yo$ see/ for h gh and stra ned carrages# yo$ shal l# for the
most !art# meet 3 th t hem n lo3 men, Arrogance s a 3eed that
e6er gro3s on a d$ngh ll , It s from the ran/ness of that sol t hat
she hat h her heght and s!read ngs, To be modest and $naffected
3 th o$r s$!er ors s d$tyG 3t h o$r eE$al s# co$rtesyG 3 th o$r nD
fer ors# nobl eness, There s no arrogance so great as t he !roD
cl a mng of ot her men? s errors and fa$l t s# by those 3ho $nderD
st and not h ng b$t the dregs of act ons# and 3ho ma/e t ther
b$sness to besmear deser6ng fames, P$bl c re!roof s l /e st r /D
ng a deer n the herd( t not only 3o$nds h m# t o the loss of
blood# b$t betrays h m to the ho$nd# h s enemy,
The occ$!at on of the s!y hath e6er been hel d d shonorabl e#
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 $!on t he act ons of
ocher men, The r mal ce ma/es t hem n mbleDeyed# a!t to note a
fa$l t and !$bl sh t # and# 3 t h a stra ned const r$ct on# to de!ra6e
e6en t hose th ngs n 3hch t he doer? s ntents 3ere honest , L/e
t he crocodl e# t hey sl me the 3ay of others# to ma/e them fal lG
and 3hen t hat has ha!!ened# they feed ther ns$l t ng en6y on the
l feDblood of the !rostrate, They set the 6ces of ot her men on
hgh# for the ga<e of the 3orld# and !lace t her 6rt $es $nderD
gro$nd# that none may not e t hem, If t hey cannot 3o$nd $!on
!roofs# they 3 ll do t $!on l /el hoods( and f not $!on t hem# t hey
man$fact $re l es# as God created the 3orld# o$t of not hngG and
so corr$!t the fa r tem!ter of men? s re!$tat onsG /no3 ng t hat
t he m$l t t $de 3 l l bel e6e t hem# beca$se aff rmat ons are a!ter to
3 n bel ef# t han negat 6es t o $ncredt t hemG and t hat a l e tra6el s
faster than an eagle fl es# 3h l e the cont radct on l m!s after t at
a snal ? s !ace# and# halt ng# ne6er o6erta/es t , 8ay# t s conD
t rary t o t he moral ty of 5 o$rnal sm# t o all o3 a le to be cont raD
dcted n t he !lace that s!a3ned t, And e6en f t hat great fa6or
s conceded# a slander once ra sed 3 ll scarce e6er d e# or fa l of
fnd ng many t hat 3 l l al lo3 t both a harbor and tr$st ,
Th s s# beyond any ot her# t he age of fal sehood, Once# to be
s$s!ected of eE$6ocat on 3as eno$gh to so l a gentl eman? s esc$t D
cheonG b$t no3 t has become a strange mer t n a !art san or
st atesman# al3ays and scr$!$lo$sly to tell the tr$th, L es are !art
of t he reg$l ar amm$n t on of al l cam!agns and contro6erses#
6al$ed accordng as t hey are !rof tabl e and effect 6eG and are
st ored $! and ha6e a mar/et !r ce# l /e salt !et re and s$l!h$rG
beng e6en more deadly than t hey,
If men 3eghed t he m!erfect ons of h$manty# t hey 3o$l d
breat he less condemnat on, Ignorance g 6es ds!aragement a
l o$der tong$e t han /no3ledge does, ; se men had rat her /no3#
t han tel l, "reE$ent ds!ra ses are b$t t he fa$lt s of $nchar t abl e
3 t( and t s from 3here there s no 5 $dgment # t hat t he hea6 est
5 $dgment comesG for sel fDe4am nat on 3o$ld ma/e all 5 $dgment s
char tabl e, If 3e e6en do /no3 6ces n men# 3e can scarce
sho3 o$rsel 6es n a nobler 6rt$e than n t he char ty of conceal ng
t hem( f that be not a fl att ery !ers$ad ng t o cont n$ance, And t
s t he basest off ce man can fal l nto# t o ma/e hs tong$e the deD
famer of t he 3ort hy man,
There s b$t one r$l e for the Mason n ths matt er, If t here be
6rt$es# and he s cal l ed $!on to s!ea/ of h m 3ho o3ns them# let
h m tel l them forth m!art al ly, And f there be 6ces m 4ed 3 t h
t hem# l et h m be content t he 3orl d shall /no3 them by some ot her
t ong$e than hs, "or f the e6 lDdoer deser6e no !ty# hs 3 fe# hs
!arent s# or hs ch ldren# or ot her 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 nd6 d$al or !arty# s really no more
res!ectable no3 than t 3as a h$ndred years ago# n Fence,
;here 3e 3ant e4!erence# %harty bds $s th n/ t he best # and
l ea6e 3hat 3e /no3 not to t he Searcher of -eart sG for mst a/es#
s$s!c ons# and en6y often n5$re a clear fameG and there s l east
danger n a chart able const r$ct on,
And# f nal ly# the Mason sho$l d be h$mble and modest t o3ard
t he Grand Archtect of the 'n 6erse# and not m!$gn -s ; sD
dom# nor set $! hs o3n m!erfect sense of R ght aga nst -s
Pro6 dence and ds!ensat ons# nor att em!t t oo rashly to e4!lore
t he Myst er es of God? s Inf nt e Essence and nscr$table !lans# and
of t hat Great 8at$re 3hch 3e are not made ca!able to $nderD
st and,
Let h m steer far a3ay from all t hose 6a n !hl oso!hes# 3hch
endea6or t o acco$nt for all t hat s# 3 t ho$t adm t t ng that t here s
a God# se!arate and a!art from t he 'n6erse 3hch s h s 3or/(
3hch erect 'n6ersal 8at$re nt o a God# and 3orsh ! t alone(
3hch ann h lat e S!r t# and bel e6e no test mony e4ce!t that of
t he bod ly senses(3hch# by l ogcal form$l as and de4t ro$s col locaD
t on of 3ords# ma/e the act $al # l 6ng# g$d ng# and !rotect ng God
fade nt o t he d m mst ness of a mere abstract on and $nreal ty#
tsel f a mere l ogcal form$l a,
8or let h m ha6e any al l ance 3 th t hose theor sts 3ho chde the
delays of Pro6 dence and b$sy themsel 6es t o hasten the slo3
march 3h ch t has m!osed $!on e6ent s( 3ho neglect the !ract D
cal # t o st r$ggle after m!ossb l t es( 3ho are 3 ser t han -ea6enG
/no3 the a ms and !$r!oses of t he De ty# and can see a short and
more d rect means of at ta n ng t hem# t han t !l eases - m t o emD
!loy( 3ho 3o$l d ha6e no dscords n the great harmony of the
'n6erse of t h 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 l abor# and
st l l no star6at on# nor dest t $t on# nor !a$!er sm,
Let h m not s!end hs l fe# as they do# n b$ ldng a ne3 To3er
of Babel G n att em!t ng t o change t hat 3hch s f 4ed by an nD
fle4ble la3 of God? s enact ment ( b$t l et h m# yeld ng t o the
S$!er or ; sdom of Pro6 dence# cont ent to bel e6e that the march
of e6ents s rghtly ordered by an Infn te ; sdom# and leads#
t ho$gh 3e cannot see t # t o a great and !erfect res$lt #DDl et h m
be sat sf ed t o fol lo3 t he !ath !ont ed o$t by that Pro6 dence# and
t o l abor for t he good of the h$man race n that mode n 3h ch
God has chosen t o enact t hat that good shal l be effected( and
abo6e al l# let h m b$l d no To3er of Babel # $nder t he belef t hat
by ascend ng he 3 ll mo$nt so hgh that God 3l l dsa!!ear or be
s$!erseded by a great monst ro$s aggregate of materal forces# or
mere gl tt er ng# log cal form$laG b$t# e6ermore# standng h$mbly
and re6erently $!on the eart h and loo/ ng 3 th a3e and conf D
dence t o3ard -ea6en# l et h m be sat sf ed t hat t here s a real GodG
a !erson# and not a form$l aG a "at her and a !rotector# 3ho lo6es#
and sym!at h<es# and com!ass onat esG and that t he et ernal 3ays
by 3hch -e r$les t he 3orld are nf n tely 3 se# no matter ho3
far they may be abo6e the feebl e com!rehens on and l m ted 6 son
of man,

PPII, K8IG-T O" T-E RO.AL APE
OR
PRI8%E O" LIBA8'S,
S.MPAT-. 3t h the great laborng classes# res!ect for labor t self# and
resol$t on to do some good 3or/ n o$r day and generat on# these are t he
l essons of ths Degree# and t hey are !$rely Masonc, Masonry has made a
3or/ngDman and h s assoc ates t he -eroes of her !rnc!al l egend# and
h msel f
t he com!an on of Kngs, The dea s as s m!l e and tr$e as t s s$bl me,
"rom
frst to last # Masonry s 3or/, It 6enerat es t he Grand Arc/ trct of the
'n6erse, It commemorat es the b$ ld ng of a Tem!l e, It s !rnc!al
emblems are
t he 3or/ng fool s of Masons and Art sans, It !reser6es t he name of the
frst
3or/er n brass and ron as one of t s !assD3ords, ;hen t he Brethren meet
t oget her# t hey are at l abor, The Mast er s the o6erseer 3ho sets t he craft t o
3or/ and g6es them !ro!er nstr$ct on, Masonry s the a!ot heos s of
;or/,
It s t he hands of bra6e# forgott en men that ha6e made t h s great #
!o!$lo$s#
c$lt 6at ed 3orl d a 3orl d for $s, It s al l 3or/# and forgot ten 3or/, The
real
conE$erors# creators# and eternal !ro!ret ors of e6ery great and c6 l <ed
l and
are all t he hero c so$ls that e6er 3ere n t # each n h s degree( all the men
t hat e6er fel led a forestDtree or dra ned a marsh# or cont r6ed a 3 se
scheme#
or d d or sa d a tr$e or 6al ant thng there n, Gen$ ne 3or/ al one# done
fat hf$lly# s et ernal # e6en as the Al mghty "o$nder and ;orl dDb$ lder
- msel f,
Al l 3or/ s nobl e( a l fe of ease s not for any man# nor for any God, The
Al m ghty Ma/er s not l /e one 3ho# n ol d mmemor al ages# ha6ng made
hs
mach ne of a 'n 6erse# st s e6er s nce# and sees t go, O$t of t hat bel ef
comes At hesm, The fa th n an In6 sbl e# $nnamable# Drect ng Dety#
!resent
e6ery3here n all that 3e see# and 3or/# and s$ffer# s t he essence of all
fat h 3hatsoe6er,
The l fe of all Gods fg$res tsel f t o $s as a S$bl me Earnest
ness# Dof Inf n t e bat t le aga nst Inf n te labor O$r h ghest rel g on s named
t he ;orsh ! of Sorro3, "or the Son of Man t here s no noble cro3n# 3el lD
3orn#
or e6en ll D3orn# b$t s a cro3n of thorns, Man? s h ghest dest ny s not t o
be
ha!!y# to lo6e !l easant t hngs and f nd them, - s only tr$e $nha!!ness
sho$l d
be that he cannot 3or/# and get hs dest ny as a man f$l f ll ed, The day
!asses
s3 ft ly o6er# o$r l fe !asses s3 ftly o6er# and the nght comet h# 3here n
no
man can 3or/, That n ght s once come# o$r ha!!ness and $nha!! ness are
6anshed# and become as t hngs that ne6er 3ere, B$t o$r 3or/ s not
abol shed#
and has not 6anshed, It rema ns# or the 3ant of t remans# for endless
T mes
and Etern t es,
;hatsoe6er of moral ty and ntell gence G 3hat of !at ence# !erse6erance#
fat hf$lness# of method# nsght# ngen$ ty# energyG n a 3ord# 3hatsoe6er
of
STRE8GT- a man has n h m# 3 l l l e 3r t t en n the ;ORK he does, To
3or/ s to
t ry h msel f aga nst 8at $re and her $nerr ng# e6erlast ng la3s ( and t hey
3 ll
ret$rn tr$e 6erd ct as t o h m, The noblest E! c s a m ghty Em!re sl o3ly
b$l t
t oget her# a mghty ser es of hero c deeds# a mghty conE$est o6er chaos,
Deeds
are great er t han 3ords, They ha6e a l fe# m$te# b$t $ndenably G and gro3,
They
!eo!l e the 6ac$ ty of T me# and ma/e t green and 3orthy,
Labor s t he tr$est embl em of God# the Arch tect and Eternal Ma/erG nobl e
Labor# 3hch s yet to be the K ng of t hs Eart h# and s t on the h ghest
Throne, Men 3t ho$t d$t es to do# are l /e trees !l ant ed on !rec!ces G
from
t he root s of 3hch al l the eart h has cr$mbl ed, 8at $re o3ns no man 3ho s
not
al so a Martyr, She scorns t he man 3ho s ts screened from al l 3or/# from
3ant#
danger# hardsh!# t he 6 ct ory o6er 3hch s 3or/ G and has all hs 3or/ and
batt l ng done by ot her menG and yet there are men 3ho !r de t hemsel6es
t hat
t hey and t he rs ha6e done no 3or/ t me o$t of m nd, So ne ther ha6e t he
s3 ne,
The chef of men s he 3ho stands n the 6an of men# front ng the !erl
3hch
frghtens bac/ al l others# and f not 6anE$ shed 3o$ld de6o$r t hem,
-erc$les
3as 3orsh!!ed for t 3el 6e l abors, The %<ar of R$ss a became a to l ng
sh!3rght# and 3or/ed 3 th h s a4e n t he doc/s of Saardam G and
someth ng
came of t hat , %rom3ell 3or/ed# and 8a!oleonG and effected some3hat ,
There s a !erennal nobleness and e6en sacredness n 3or/, Be he ne6er
so
benghted and forget f$l of hs hgh cal l ng# t here s al3ays ho!e n a
man 3ho act $al ly and earnest ly 3or/s ( n Idleness al one s there
!er!et $al
Des!ar, Man !erfects h mself by 3or/ ng, &$ngl es are cleared a3ay, "a r
seedDf elds rse nst ead# and st ately c t es G and 3 thal # the man h msel f
frst ceases to be a fo$l $n3hol esome 5$ngle and desert t hereby, E6en n
t he
meanest sort of labor# t he 3hol e so$l of man s com!osed nto a / nd of
real
harmony# t he moment he beg ns t o 3or/, Do$bt# Desre# Sorro3# Remorse#
Indgnat on# and e6en Des!ar shr n/ m$rm$r ng far off nto ther ca6es#
3hene6er t he man bends h mself resol$t ely aga nst h s tas/, Labor s l fe,
"rom
t he nmost heart of the 3or/er rses hs GodDg6en "orce# the Sacred
%el est al
l fe essence# breat hed nto h m by Al m ghty God G and a3a/ens h m to all
nobl eness# as soon as 3or/ f tly begns, By t man learns Pat ence#
%o$rage#
Perse6erance# O!enness t o l ght# readness to o3n h msel f m st a/en#
resol$t on
t o do bett er and m!ro6e, Only by labor 3 ll man cont n$al ly learn the
6rt$es,
There s no Rel gon n stagnat on and nact onG b$t only n act 6 ty and
e4ert on, There 3as t he dee!est tr$th n t hat say ng of t he ol d mon/s#
@laborare est orare, @ @-e !rayeth best 3ho l 6et h best all thngs both great
and small G@ and can man l o6e e4ce!t by 3or/ng earnest ly t o benef t that
beng
3hom he lo6esJ
@;or/G and there n ha6e 3el lDbe ng#@ s the ol dest of Gos!elsG $n!reached#
nart c$lat e# b$t neradcabl e# and end$rng fore6er, To ma/e D sorder#
3here6er fo$nd# an et ernal enemyG t o at tac/ and s$bd$e h m# and ma/e
order of
h m# t he s$b5ect not of %haos# b$t of Intell gence and D 6n ty# and of
o$rsel 6es G t o at tac/ gnorance# st $! d ty and br$teDm ndedness# 3here6er
fo$nd# to sm te t 3 sely and $n3earedly# to rest not 3h le 3e l 6e and t
l 6es n t he name of God# ths s o$r d$ty as MasonsG commanded $s by the
- ghest God, E6en -e# 3t h h s $ns!o/en 6oce# more a3f$l t han t he
t h$nders of
Sna# or t he syllabled s!eech of the -$rr cane# s!ea/s to $s, The 'nborn
Ages
G t he old Gra6es# 3 th t her l ongDmolder ng d$st s!ea/ to $s, The dee!
Deat hDKngdoms# t he St ars n ther ne6erDrest ng co$rse# al l S!ace and all
T me# s lent ly and cont n$al ly admonsh $s that 3e too m$st 3or/ 3hore t
s
cal led toDday, Labor# 3 de as t he Eart h# has t s s$mm t n -ea6en, To t o l#
3hether 3 th t he s3eat of t he bro3# or of t he bra n or heart# s 3orsh !# D
t he
nobl est th ng yet dsco6ered beneat h the St ars, Let the 3eary cease to
t h n/
t hat labor s a c$rse and doom !rono$nced by Dety, ; t ho$t t t here co$ld
be
no t r$e e4cel lence n h$man nat $re, ; tho$t t # and !a n# and sorro3#
3here 3o$l d be t he h$man 6 rt $esJ ;here Pat ence# Perse6erance#
S$bm ss on#
Energy# End$rance# "ort t $de# Bra6ery# D s nt erest edness# Sel fDSacr f ce#
t he
nobl est e4cell enc es of t he So$l J
Let h m 3ho to l s com!lan not# nor feel h$ml at ed O Let h m, l oo/ $!#
and
see hs fel lo3D3or/men there# n God? s Eternty# t hey alone s$r6 6 ng
t here,
E6en n t he 3ea/ h$man memory t hey l ong s$r6 6e# as Sa nt s# as -eroes#
and as
Gods ( t hey al one s$r6 6e# and !eo!l e t he $nmeas$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# t h s a
S$!reme God had !rescr bed, "or the !r me6al man# n 3hom d3el t
Tho$ght # t h s
'n6erse 3as all a Tem!le# l fe e6ery3here a ;orsh!,
D$ty s 3t h $s e6erG and e6ermore forbds $s t o be dle, To 3or/ 3t h the
hands or bra n# accordng t o o$r reE$rements and o$r ca!ac t es# t o do
t hat
3hch l es before $s t o do# s more honorable than ran/ and t t le,
Plo$ghers#
s!nners and b$ lders# n6entors# and men of scence# !oet s# ad6ocates#
and
3rt ers# all st and $!on one common le6el # and form on grand# nn$merabl e
host#
marchng e6er on3ard snce t he beg nn ng of the 3orld ( each ent t led t o
o$r
sym!at hy and res!ect # each a man and o$r brother,
It 3as 3el l to g6e the eart h to man as a dar/ mass# 3hereon to labor, It
3as
3el l to !ro6 de r$de and $!rghtly materal s n t he oreDbed and the forest #
for
h m to fashon nt o s!lendor and bea$ty, It 3as 3ell # not beca$se of t hat
s!lendor and bea$ty G b$t beca$se t he act creat ng t hem s bett er than t he
t h ngs t hemsel 6esG beca$se e4ert on s nobler t han en5oymentG beca$se the
l aborer s greater and more 3orthy of honor than the dler, Masonry stands
$!
for the nob l ty of labor, It s -ea6en? s great ordnance for h$man
m!ro6ement, , It has been bro/en do3n for ages G and Masonry desres t o
b$l d
t $! aga n, It has bean bro/en do3n# beca$se men to l only beca$se hey
m$st #
s$bm tt ng t o t as# n some sort # a degradng necess tyG and desr ng
nothng
so m$ch on earth as t o esca!e from t , They f$l f ll t he great la3 of labor
n
t he l ett er# b$t brea/ t n the s! r t( t hey f$l f l l t 3 th the m$scles# b$t
brea/ t 3 t h the m nd,
Masonry teaches that e6ery dl er o$ght t o hasten to some fel d of labor#
man$al or mental# as a chosen and co6eted t heat re of m!ro6ement G b$t he
s
not m!el led to do so# $nder the teachngs of an m!erfect c6 l <at on,
On t he contrary# he s t s do3n# fol ds hs hands# and bl esses and glor f es
h msel f n h s dleness, It s t me t hat t h 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 l aborDf eldG
of
t he hard hand# st aned 3 th ser6ce more honorabl e t han that of 3arG of t he
soled and 3eat herDstaned garment s# on 3hch Mot her 8at $re has
st am!ed# m dst
s$n and ran# m dst fre and steam# her o3n herald c honorsG to be ashamed
of
t hese t o/ens and t tl es# and en6 o$s of the fl a$nt ng robes of mbec le
dleness and 6anty# s treason to 8at $re# m! ety to -ea6en# a breach of
-ea6en? s great Ord nance, Tol # N of bran# heart # or hand# s the only tr$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
hs com!l a nng 3 ll admt , E6en 3hen ts end s hdden from h m# t s
not
mere bl nd dr$dgery# It s al l a t ra n ng# a d sc!l ne# a de6el o!ment of
energes# a n$rse of 6 rt $es# a school bf m!ro6ement , "rom the !oor boy
3ho
gat hers a fe3 st c/s for h s mot her? s hearth# t o t he st rong man 3ho fel ls
t he
oa/ or g$des the sh ! or the steamDcar# e6ery h$man to ler# 3 th e6ery
3eary
st e! and e6ery $rgent tas/# s obeyng a 3 sdom far abo6e hs o3n
3 sdom# and
f$l f ll ng a des gn far beyond hs o3n desgn,
The great la3 of h$man nd$st ry s th s ( t hat nd$st ry# 3or/ng e ther 3 th
t he hand or the m nd# t he a!!l cat on of o$r !o3ers t o some tas/# t o t he
ach e6ement of some res$l t # les at the fo$ndat on of all h$man
m!ro6ement, ;e
are not sent nt o the 3orl d l /e an mal s# t o cro! the s!ontaneo$s herbage
of
t he fel d# and then t o le do3n n ndolent re!ose( b$t 3e are sent t o dg
t he
sol and !l o$gh the seaG to do the b$sness of c t es and the 3orl d of
man$fact or es, The 3orld s the great and a!!onted school of nd$st ry, In
an
art f cal state of socety# man/ nd s d 6ded nt o t he dl e and t he l abor ng
cl assesG b$t s$ch 3as not the desgn of Pro6 dence,
Labor s man? s great f$nct on# hs !ec$l ar d st nct on and h s !r 6l ege,
"rom beng an an mal# that eat s and drn/s and sl ee!s only# to become a
3or/er#
and 3 th t he hand of ngen$ ty to !o$r hs o3n tho$ghts nt o the mo$lds
of
8at $re# fash on ng t torn nto forms of grace and fabr cs of con6en ence#
and
con6ert ng t hem to !$r!oses of m!ro6ement and ha!! ness# s the greatest
!ossble st e! n !r6 lege,
The Earth and the At mos!here are man? s l aborat ory, ; t h s!ade and
!lo$gh# 3t h mn ngDshaft s and f$rnaces and forges# 3t h fre and st eam G
mdst
t he no se and 3h rl of s3 ft and brght machnery# and abroad n t he s lent
fel ds# man 3as made t o be e6er 3or/ ng# e6er e4!er ment ng, And 3hl e
he and
al l hs d3el l ngs of care and t ol are borne on3ard 3t h the crcl ng s/es#
and t he s!l endo$r of -ea6en are aro$nd h m# and t her nfn t e de!t hs
mage and
n6 te h s tho$ght # st ll n all the 3orl ds of !hl oso!hy# n the $n6erse of
ntell ect# man m$st be a 3or/er, -e s not h ng# he can be not hng# can
ach e6e
nothng# f$l f ll nothng# 3 tho$t 3or/ng, ; t ho$t t # he can gan ne ther
l ofty m!ro6ement nor t ol erabl e ha!! ness, The dle m$st h$nt do3n the
ho$rs as
t her !rey, To t hem T me s an enemy# cl ot hed 3t h armorG and t hey m$st
/l l
h m# or (t hemsel 6es de, It ne6er yet d d ans3er# and t ne6er 3 ll ans3er
for
any man t o do nothng# t o be e4em!t from all care and effort to lo$nge# to
3al /# to rde# and to feast al one, 8o man can l 6e n t hat 3ay, God made a
l a3
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 t o be acE$red n the co$rse of t en or t3enty
years# 3hch shal l s$ff ce for the rest of l feG that by some !ros!ero$s
t raff c or grand s!ec$l at on# al l the labor of a 3hole l fe s t o be
accom!l shed n a br ef !ort on of tG t hat by de4tero$s management # a
l arge
!art of t he t erm of h$man e4 st ence s t o be e4onerat ed from the cares of
nd$stry and sel fD denal # s fo$nded $!on a gra6e mst a/e# $!on a
msconce!t on of t he t r$e nat $re and desgn of b$s ness# and of the
cond t ons
of h$man 3el l be ng, The des re of acc$m$l at on for t he sa/e of sec$r ng a
l fe
of ease and grat f cat on# of esca!ng from e4ert on and sel fDdenal# s
3hol ly
3rong# t ho$gh 6ery common,
It s bett er for the Mason t o l 6e 3hl e he l 6es# and en5oy l fe as t !asses
t o l 6e rcher and de !oorer, It s best of al l for h m t o bansh from t he
mnd t hat em!ty dream of f$t $re ndolence and nd$lgent G to address
h msel f to
t he b$sness of l fe# as the school of hs eart hly ed$cat onG t o set tl e t 3t h
h msel f no3 t hat nde!endence# f he gans t # s not to g6e h m
e4em!t on
from em!l oyment It s best for h m to /no3# that # n order to be a ha!!y
man#
he m$st al3ays be a l aborer# 3t h t he mnd or the body# or 3 t h bot h( and
t hat
t he reasonable e4ert on of h s !o3ers# bod ly and mental# s not t o be
regarded
as mere dr$dgery# b$t as a good dsc !l ne# a 3 se ord nat on# a tranng n
t h s !r mary school of o$r beng# for nobl er endea6ors# and s!heres of
hgher
act 6 ty hereaft er
There are reasons 3hy a Mason may la3f$l ly and e6en earnest ly des re a
fort$ne, If he can fl l some f ne !alace# t self a 3or/ of art# 3t h the
!rod$ct ons of l ofty gen$sG f he can be t he frend and hel!er of h$mble
3ort hG f he can see/ t o$t # 3here fal ng heal t h or ad6erse fort$ne
!resses
t hard# and soften or st ay t he bt ter ho$rs t hat are hasten ng t to madness
or t o the gra6eG f he can stand bet3een the o!!ressor and hs !rey# and
bd
t he fett er and t he d$ngeon g6e $! ther 6 ct m G f he can b$l d $! great
nst t $t ons of l earn ng# and academ es of art G f he can o!en fo$nta ns of
/no3l edge for t he !eo!l e# and cond$ct ts st reams n the rght channelsG f
he
can do bet ter for the !oor th<n to besto3 al ms $!on t hemDe6en to t hn/ of
t hem#
and de6se !lans for t he r ele6at on n /no3ledge and 6 rt $e# nstead of
fore6er o!en ng the # old reser6ors and reso$rces for t he r m!ro6 denceG
f
he has s$ff c ent heart and so$l t o do al l th s# or !art of t G f 3ealt h 3o$l d
be ta h m t he handmad of e4ert onG fac l tat ng effort # and g6 ng s$ccess
t o
endea6orG then may he la3f$l ly# and yet 3ar ly and modest ly# des re t , B$t
f
t s t o do not h ng for h m# b$t Mo m n ster ease and nd$lgence# and to
!lace
hs chl dren n t he same bad school# t hen there s no reason 3hy he sho$ld
des re t ,
;hat s there gl or o$s n t he 3orl d# that s not the !rod$ct of labor# et her
of t he body or of t he mndJ ;hat s h story# b$t t s recordJ ;hat are t he
t reas$res of gen$s and art # b$t t s 3or/J ;hat are c$l t 6ated fel ds# b$t
ts
t o l J The b$sy marts# t he rs ng c t es# t he enr ched em! res of the 3orl d
are
b$t the great t reas$reDho$ses of labor, The !yram ds of Egy!t # t he? cast les
and
t o3ers and tem!l es of E$ro!e# t he b$r ed ct es of Italy and Me4co# the
canal s
and ral roads of %hr stendom# are b$t trac/s# all ro$nd t he 3orl d# of the
mghty foot st e!s of labor, ; t ho$t t ant E$ ty 3o$l d not ha6e been,
; t ho$t
t# t here 3o$l d be no memory of the !ast # and no ho!e for t he f$t $re,
E6en $t t er ndolence re!oses on treas$res that labor at some t me ga ned
and
gat hered, -e that does noth ng# and yet does not star6e# has st ll hs
sgnfcance G for he s a st and ng !roof that somebody has at some t me
3or/ed, B$t not to s$ch does Masonry do honor, It honors t he ;or/er# t he
TolerG h m 3ho !rod$ces and not al one cons$mesG h m 3ho !$t s forth h s
hand to
add t o t he treas$ry of h$man comforts# and not alone to ta/e a3ay, @ It
honors
h m 3ho goes fort h amd the str$ggl ng element s to fght h s batt l e# and
3ho
shr n/s not # 3t h co3ardly effemnacy# behnd ! l lo3s of ease, It honors
t he st rong m$scl e# and t he manly ner6e# and the resol$t e and bra6e heart #
t he
s3eat ng bro3# and t he to l ng bra n, It honors the great and bea$t f$l
offces
of h$manty# manhood? s tol and 3oman? s tas/G !aternal nd$st ry and
maternal
3at ch ng and 3ear ness G 3sdom teach ng and !at ence l earnngG t he bro3
of
care that !res des o6er the Stat e# and many handed labor t hat tol s n
3or/sho!# fel d# and st$dy# beneath t s ml d and benef cent s3ay,
God has not made a 3orld of rch menG b$t rather a 3orl d
of !oor menG or of men# at least# 3ho m$st tol for a s$bsst ence, That s#
t hen# t he best cond t on for man# and the grand s!here of h$man
m!ro6ement, #
If the 3hol e 3orld co$l d acE$ re 3eal t h Mand one man s as m$ch ent t l ed
t o t
as anot her# 3hen he s bornN G f the !resent generat on co$l d lay $! a
com!l ete !ro6 son for the ne4t # as some men desre t o do for t her
chl drenG
t he 3orl d 3o$l d be dest royed at a s ngl e bl o3, Al l nd$st ry 3o$ld cease
3 th
t he necess ty for t G all m!ro6ement 3o$ld st o! 3t h t he demand for
e4ert onG
t he dss !at on of fort$nes# t he mschef of 3hch are no3 co$nter6al ed
by t he
heal thf$l tone of soc ety# 3o$l d breed $n6ersal d sease# and 3rea/ o$t
nt o
$n6ersal l cense G and t he, 3orld 3o$ld s n/# rotten as -erod# nt o t he
gra6e
of t s o3n loathsome 6ces,
Al most al l the noblest t h ngs t hat ha6e been ache6ed n
t he 3orl d# ha6e been ache6ed by !oor men G !oor schol ars# !oor
!rofessonal
men# !oor art sans and art sts# !oor !hl oso!hers# !oet s# and men of
gen $s, A
certa n sol dness and sobrety# a certa n moderat on and rest ra nt # a certa n
!ress$re of c rc$mst ances# are good for man, l s body 3as not made for
l $4$res, It s c/ens# s n/s# and des $nder them, - s m nd 3as not made
for
nd$lgerce, It gro3s 3ea/# effem nate# and d3arfsh# $nder that cond t on,
And
he 3ho !am!ers h s body 3t h l $4$res and hs mnd 3t h nd$lgence#
beE$eat hs
t he conseE$ences to t he mnds and bod es of h s descendant s# 3t ho$t t he
3eal th
3hch 3as t her ca$se, "or 3ealt h# 3t ho$t a la3 of ent al t o hel ! t # has
al 3ays l ac/ed the energy e6en to /ee! t s o3n t reas$res, They dro! from
ts
mbecle hand, The thrd generat on al most ne6tably goes do3n the
rol l ng
3heel of fort $ne# and there l earns the energy necessary t o r se agan# f t
r ses at al l G her# as t s# to the bodly dseases# and ment al 3ea/nesses#
and t he so$l? s 6 ces of ts andestors# and not her to t her 3eal th, And yet
3e
are# al most al l of $s# an4 o$s t o !$t o$r chl dren# or to ns$re t hat
o$r grandch ldren shal l be !$t# on ths road to nd$l gence# l$4$ry# 6ce#
degradat on# and r$ n G t h s headsh! of hered tary dsease# so$l mal ady#
and
mental l e!rosy,
If 3ealt h 3ere em!l oyed n !romot ng ment al c$l t $re at home and 3or/s
of
!hl ant hro!y abroad G f t 3ere m$l t !lyng st$des of art # and b$l d ng $!
nst t $t ons of l earn ng aro$nd $sG f t 3ere n e6ery 3ay ras ng the
ntell ect$al character of t he 3orl d# there co$l d scarcely be t oo m$ch of t,
B$t f the $t most a m# effort # and ambt on of 3eal t h be# t o !roc$re rch
f$rnt $re# and !ro6 de cost ly entert a nment s# and b$l d l$4$r o$s ho$ses#
and
mnster t o 6an ty# e4t ra6agance# and ostent at on# t here co$l d scarcely be
t oo
l t tl e of t, To a certa n e4tent t may la$dably be the m n ster of
el eganc es
and l $4$res# and the ser6t or of hos!t al ty and !hyscal en5 oyment( b$t
5 $st
n !ro!ort on as ts t endenc es# d 6ested of al l hgher a ms and tastes# are
r$nn ng that 3ay# t hey are r$nnng to !erl and e6 l,
8or does t hat !erl at t ach to nd 6 d$al s and faml es alone, It stands# a
fearf$l beacon# n the e4!er ence of % t es# Re!$bl cs# and Em!res, The
l essons of !ast t mes# on th s s$b5 ect# are em!hat c and solemn, The
hst ory of
3eal th has al3ays been a hst ory of corr$!t on and do3nfal l, the !eo!le
ne6er
e4st ed that co$ld st and t he tral , Bo$ndl ess !rof$son s t oo l tt le l /ely
t o
s!read for any !eo!le the theatre of manly energy# rg d sel fDden al # and
l ofty
6rt$e, .o$ do not l oo/ for the bone and sne3 and st rengt h of a co$ntry#
ts
l oft est t al ent s and 6rt$es# t s martyrs t o !at rot sm or rel g on# t s men t o
meet the days of !er l and dsast er# among the ch ldren of ease#
nd$lgence#
and l $4$ry,
In t he great march of the races of men o6er t he earth# 3e ha6e al3ays seen
o!$l ence and l $4$ry s n/ ng before !o6erty and tol and hardy n$rt $re,
That s
t he l a3 3hch has !res ded o6er t he great !rofessons of em! re, Sdon
and
Tyre# 3hose merchants !ossessed the 3ealt h of !rnces G Babylon and
Pal myra#
t he seat s of Asat c l$4$ry G Rome# laden 3t h t he s!ol s of a 3orl d#
o6er3hel med by her o3n 6ces more t han by t he host s of her enemes G all
t hese#
and many more# are e4am!les of the destroyt 6e tendenc es of mmense
and
$nnat $ral acc$m$l at on ( and men m$st become more genero$s and
bene6ol ent # not
more sel fsh and effem nat e# as they become more r ch# or t he hst ory of
modern
3eal th 3 ll fol l o3 n the sad tran of al l !ast e4am!les, Al l men
des re d st nct on# and feel the need of some ennobl ng ob5 ect n l fe,
Those
!ersons are $s$al ly most ha!!y and sat sfed n t he r !$rs$ ts# 3ho ha6e
t he
l oft est ends n 6e3, Art sts# mechancs# and n6entors# all 3ho see/ to
fnd
!r nc !les or de6el o! bea$ty n the r 3or/# seem most t o en5oy t , The
farmer
3ho l abors for t he bea$t fyng and sc ent fc c$l t 6at on of h s estat e# s
more ha!!y n hs labors than one 3ho t l ls hs o3n land for a mere
s$bsst ence, Ths s one of the sgnal t est mon es 3hch al l h$man
em!loyment s
g 6e t o the hgh demands of o$r nat$re, To gather 3eal th ne6er g 6es s$ch
sat sfact on as to brng the h$mblest ! ece of machnery to !erfect on ( at
l east # 3hen 3ealt h s so$ght for d s!lay and ost ent at on# or mere l $4$ry#
and
ease# and !leas$re G and not for ends of !h lanthro!y# the rel ef of /ndred#
or t he !ayment of 5$st debt s# or as a means to at ta n some other great and
nobl e ob5ect ,
; t h the !$rs$ t s of m$lt t $des s connect ed a !a nf$l con6ct on t hat they
net her s$!!ly a s$ff cent ob5 ect# nor confer any sat sfact ory honor, ;hy
3or/# f the 3orld s soon not to /no3 t hat s$ch a be ng e6er e4 sted G and
3hen one can !er!et$ate hs name net her on can6as nor on marble# nor n
boo/s#
nor by lofty eloE$ence# nor st at esmansh! J
The ans3er s# that e6ery man has a 3or/ t o do n h msel f# greater and
s$bl med t han any 3or/ of gen $s G and 3or/s $!on a nobler mat er al than
3ood
or marbl eD$!on hs o3n so$l and ntel lect # and may so att a n t he hghest
nobl eness and grande$r /no3n on earth or n -ea6enG may so be the
greatest of
art sts# and of a$t hors# and hs l fe# 3h ch s far more t han s!eech# may be
el oE$ent,
The great a$t hor or art st only !ortrays 3hat e6ery man sho$l d be, -e
conce 6es# 3hat 3e sho$ld do, -e conce 6es# and re!resent s moral bea$ty#
magnan m ty# fort t $de# l o6e# de6ot on# forg6eness# t he so$l? s great ness,
-e
!ort rays 6 rt $es# commended t o o$r admrat on and m t at ons, To embody
t hese
!ort ra t$res n o$r l 6es s fhe !ract cal real <at on of t hose great deals of
art, The magnan m ty of -eroes# celebrated on the h stor c or !oet c !ageG
t he
const ancy and fa th of Tr$th? s martyrs G t he bea$ty of l o6e and !ety
gl o3 ng
on t he can6asG the del neat ons of Tr$th and Rght# that flash from the l !s
of
t he El oE$ent # are# n t he r essence only that 3hch e6ery man may feel and
!ract ce n t he daly 3al /s of l fe, The 3or/ of 6rt$e s nobler t han any
3or/
of gen$s G for t s a nobler t h ng t o be a hero than t o descr be one
t o end$re martyrdom than t o !ant t # t o do rght than t o !lead for t ,
Act on
s great er than 3r t ng, A good man s a nobler ob5ect of contem!lat on
t han a
great a$thor, There are b$t t3o t h ngs 3ort h l 6ng for( t o do 3hat s
3ort hy
of beng 3r t tenG and t o 3rt e 3hat s 3ort hy of be ng readG and the
greater of
t hese s t he dong,
E6ery man has to do t he nobl est th ng that any man can do or descr be,
There s
a 3de f eld for the co$rage# cheerf$l ness# energy# and dgnty of h$man
e4st ence, Let t herefore no Mason deem hs l fe doomed t o med ocrty or
meanness# to 6an ty or $n!roft able tol # or to any ends l ess t han mmortal,
8o
one can tr$ly say t hat t he grand !r <es of l fe are for ot hers# and he can do
nothng, 8o mat ter ho3 magn f cent and noble an act the a$t hor can
descrbe or
t he art st !a nt # ? t 3l l be st l l nobler for yo$ to go and do that 3hch one
descrbes# or be t he model 3hch the ot her dra3s,
The loft est act on that e6er 3as descr bed s not more magnatemo$s than
t hat
3hch 3e may fnd occas on to do# n the da ly 3al/s of l feG n
t em!t at on# n
dstress# n berea6ement# n the sol emn a!!roach t o deat h, In t he great
Pro6 dence of God# n t he great ordnances of o$r be ng# there s o!ened to
e6ery man a s!here for the noblest act on, It s not e6en n e4t raord nary
s t$at ons# 3here al l eyes are $!on $s# 3here al l o$r energy s aro$sed# and
al l o$r 6 gl ance s a3a/e that the hghest effort s of 6rt$e are $s$al ly
demanded of $s G b$t rather n sl ence and secl $s on# amdst o$r
occ$!at ons
and o$r homesG n 3ear ng s c/ness# t hat ma/es no com!la nt G n sorelyD
t r ed
honesty# t hat as/s no !ra se G n s m!le d snterest edness# h d ng t he hand
t hat resgns ts ad6ant age t o anot her,
Masonry see/s t o ennoble common l fe, Its 3or/ s to go do3n nt o t he
obsc$re
and researched records of da ly cond$ct and feel ngG and t o !ortray# not
t he
ord nary 6rt $e of an e4traord nary l feG b$t t he more e4traordnary 6rt $e
of
ord nary l fe, ;hat s done and borne n t he shades of !r 6acy# n t he hard
and
beat en !afh of daly care and to l# f$l l of recelebrat ed sacrfcesG n t he
s$ffer ng# and somet mes ns$l ted s$ffer ng# t hat 3ears to t he 3orl d a
cheerf$l
bro3 G n the Iong strfe of t he s!rt # resst ng !a n# !en$ry# and neglect #
carr ed on n the nmost de!ths of t he heartG D3hat s done# and borne# and
3ro$ght# and 3on t here# s a h gher gl ory# and shal l nhert a brght er
cro3n,
On t he 6ol$me of Mason c l fe one brght 3ord s 3r tt en from 3h ch on
e6ery s de bla<es an neffable s!lendor, That 3ord s D'T., To a d n
sec$rng
t o al l labor !ermanent em!l oyment and t s 5 $st re3ard( t o hel ! to hast en
t he
comng of t hat t me 3hen no one shal l s$ffer from h$nger or dest t $t on#
beca$se# t ho$gh 3l l ng and abl e t o 3or/# he can f nd no em!l oyment # or
beca$se
he has been o6ert a/en by s c/ness n the m dst of hs labor# are !art of
yo$r
d$t es as a Knght of t he Royal A4e, And f 3e can s$cceed n ma/ ng
some smal l
noo/ of God? s creat on a l tt l e more fr$t f$l and cheerf$l # a l tt le bett er
and
more 3orthy of - m# Dor n ma/ng some one or t 3o h$man hearts a l tt le
3 ser#
and more manf$l and ho!ef$l and ha!!y# 3e shall ha6e done 3or/# 3ort hy
of
Masons# and acce!t able to o$r "ather n -ea6en,

PPIII %-IE" O" T-E TABER8A%LE,
AMO8G most of the Ancent 8at ons there 3as# n addt on t o the r
!$bl c 3orsh!# a !r 6at e one styled the Mysteres G to 3h ch t hose only
3ere adm t ted 3ho had been !re!ared by cert an ceremones cal l ed
n t at ons,
The most 3 dely dssem nat ed of the ancent 3orsh!s 3ere those of
Iss# Or!he$s# D onys$s# %eres and Mat has, Many barbaro$s nat ons
rece6ed t he /no3l edge of the Mysteres n honor of these d 6 n tes
from the Egy!t ans# before they arr6ed n GreeceG and e6en n the
Brt sh Isles t he Dr$ ds cel ebrated those of D onys$s# learned by t hem
from the Egy!t ans,
The Mysteres of El e$ss# celebrat ed at Athens n honor of %eres#
s3al l o3ed $! as t 3ere# al l the others, All t he ne ghbor ng nat ons
negl ected ther o3n# to celebrate those of Ele$ssG and n a l tt l e
3hl e al l Greece and Asa M nor 3ere fl led 3 th t he In t ates, They
s!read nt o the Roman Em! re# and e6en beyond ts l mt s# @t hose holy
and a$g$st El e$s nan Mysteres# @ sa d % cero# @n 3hch the !eo!le of
t he remotest lands are nt ated, @ Hos m$s says that they embraced the
3hole h$man race G and Ar st des t ermed them t he common tem!le of t he
3hole 3orld,
There 3ere# n t he El e$s nan feast s# t3o sorts of Mysteres# the
great# and the l t t le, The lat ter 3ere a / nd of !re!arat on for the
former G and e6erybody 3as adm t t ed t o them, Ordnar ly there 3as a
no6 t at e of three# and somet mes of fo$r years, %l ement of Ale4andra
says that 3hat 3as ta$ght n the great Myst er es concerned the 'n 6erse#
and 3as the com!let on and !erfect on of all nstr$ct onG 3heren thngs
3ere seen as they 3ere# and nat $re and her 3or/s 3ere made /no3n,
The ancents sa d t hat t he Int ates 3o$l d be more ha!!y aft er deat h
t han ot her mortals G and t hat # 3h l e the so$ls of the Profane on lea6 ng
t her bod es# 3o$l d be !l $nged n t he mre# and reman b$red n
dar/ness# t hose of the In tates 3o$l d fly to the "ort $nat e Isles# the
abode of the Gods,
Plat o sad that t he ob5 ect of t he Mysteres 3as to reDestabl sh t he
so$l n t s !r m t 6e !$rty# and n t hat stat e of !erfect on 3hch t
had l ost, E! ctet $s sa d# @3hat e6er s met 3 t h t here n has been
nst t $ted by o$r Mast ers# for the nst r$ct on of man and t he correct on
of morals, @
Process hel d t hat nt at on el e6at ed t he so$l # from a mat er al#
sens$al# and !$rely h$man l fe# to a comm$n on and celest al nterco$rse
3 th t he Gods G and t hat a 6arety of th ngs# forms# and s!ec es 3ere
sho3n Int at es# re!resent ng t he frst generat on of the Gods,
P$rty of morals and ele6at on of so$l 3ere reE$red of the# Int ates,
? %and dat es 3ere reE$red t o be of s!otl ess re!$t at on and
rre!roachabl e 6rt$e, 8ero# aft er m$rderng h s mother# dd not dare t o
be !resent at the celebrat on of t he Myst er es( and Ant ony !resented
h msel f to be nt at ed# as the most nfall ble mode of !ro6 ng h s
nnocence of t he death of A6 d $s %ass $s,
The Int at es 3ere regarded as the only fort $nate men, @It s $!on $s
al one# @ says Arst o!hanes# @sh net h t he benef cent daystar, ;e al one
rece6e !leas$re from the nfl $ence of h s raysG 3e# 3ho are n t at ed#
and 3ho !ract ce t o3ard c t <en and stranger e6ery !ossbl e act of
5 $st ce and !ety, @ And t s t herefore not s$r!r s ng that# n t me#
n t at on came t o be consdered as necessary as ba!t sm after3ard 3as
t o t he %hrst ans G and t hat not to ha6e been adm t t ed to the Myster es
3as held a dshonor,
@It seems to me# @ says the great orator# !hl oso!her# and moral st #
% cero# @that At hens# among many e4cell ent n6ent ons# d 6 ne and 6ery
$sef$l t o t he h$man fam ly# has !rod$ced none com!arable to the
Myst er es# 3hch for a 3l d and feroc o$s l fe ha6e s$bst t$ted h$man ty
and $rbanty of manners, ]It s 3t h good reason they $se the term
n t at onG for t s t hro$gh them that 3e n real ty ha6e learned the
frst !rnc !l es of l feG and t hey 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 bet ter l fe hereaft er, @
;here t he Mysteres or gnated s not /no3n, It , s s$!!osed that t hey
came from Inda# by the 3ay of %haldaea# nto Egy!t # and t hence 3ere
carr ed nt o Greece, ;here6er they arose# t hey 3ere !ract ced among al l
t he ancent nat onsG and# as 3as $s$al # the Thrac ans# %ret ns# and
At henans each cla med t he honor of n6ent on# and each ns st ed
t hat they had borro3ed not h ng from any other !eo!le,
In Egy!t and the East # all rel g ons e6en n t s most !oet cal forms#
3as more or l ess a mysteryG and the ch ef reason 3hy# n Greece# a
dst nct name and offce 3ere ass gned to the Mysteres# 3as beca$se t he
s$!erfc al !o!$lar t heol ogy left a 3ant $nsat sf ed# 3hch rel gon n
a 3der sense alone co$l d s$!!ly, They 3ere !ract cal ac/no3ledgment s of
t he ns$ff c ency of t he !o!$l ar rel gon t o sat sfy the dee!er tho$ght s
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 t s ndefnt eness# ac/no3ledged the abst r$seness of t s s$b5ect G t
t reat ed a myst er o$s s$b5 ect myo!cal ly G t endea6ored t o l l$st rat e
3hat t co$ld not e4!l anG t o e4c te an a!!ro!rate feel ng# f t co$ld
not de6el o! an adeE$at e deaG and shade t he mage a mere s$bord nate
con6eyance for t he conce!t on# 3h ch t sel f ne6er became t oo ob6o$s or
fam l ar,
The nst r$ct on no3 con6eyed by boo/s and let ters 3as of old con6eyed
by symbol sG and the !rest had to n6ent or to !er!et$ate a ds!lay of
r t es and e4hbt ons# 3h ch 3ere not only more at tract 6e t o t he eye
t han 3ords# b$t often t o t he mnd more s$ggest 6e and ^!regnant 3 th
mean ng,
After3ard# the nst t$t on became rather moral and !ol t cal # than
rel go$s, The c 6l magst rates sha!ed the ceremon es t o !ol t cal ends
n Egy!tG the sages 3ho carr ed t hem from t hat co$ntry t o As a# GreeceG
and t he 8ort h of E$ro!e# 3ere al l / ngs or l egsl ators, # The chef
magst rate !resded at those of El e$s s# re!resented by an off cer
styled K ng( and the Pr est !layed b$t a s$bordnat e !art,
The Po3ers re6ered n the Mysteres 3ere al l n real ty 8at $red GodsG
none of 3hom co$l d be cons stently addressed as mere heroes# beca$se
t her nat $re 3as confessedly s$!erDheroc, The Mysteres# only n fact a
more sol emn e4!ress on of the relgon of t he ancent !oetry# t a$ght
t hat doctrne of the Theocraca or D 6 ne Oneness# 3hch e6en !oet ry
does not ent rely conceal , They 3ere not n any o!en host l ty 3 t h the
!o!$lar rel g on# b$t only a more solemn e4h b t on of t s symbolsG or
rather a !art of t sel f n a more m!ress6e form, The essence of al l
Myst er es# as of all !olythe sm# cons sts n ths# that the conce!t on
of an na!!roachable Be ng# sngle# eternal# and $nchang ng# and that
of a God of 8at $re# 3hose man fold !o3er s mmedately re6ealed to
t he senses n the ncessant ro$nd of mo6ement # l fe# and, deat h# fel l
as$nder n t he t reat ment# and 3ere se!arately symbol <ed, They offered a
!er!et $al !roblem to e4ct e c$ros ty# aEd contr b$ted to sat sfy t he
al lD!er6ad ng rel go$s sent ment # 3hch f t obt a n no no$rshment
among the scr$!le and nt el l g bl e# f nds com!ensat ng e4ct ement n a
re6erent al cont em!l at on of t he obsc$re,
8at $re s as free from dogmat sm as from tyrannyG and
t he earl est nst r$ctors of man/nd not only ado!t ed her
l essons# b$t as far as !oss ble adhered t o her met hod of m!art ng
t hem, They att em!ted to reach t he $nderstandng thro$gh the eye G and
t he greater !art of all rel go$s t eachng 3as con6eyed thro$gh th s
anc ent and most m!ress 6e mode of @e4hb t on@ or demonst rat on, The
Myst er es 3ere a sacred drama# e4hbt ng some legend s gn f cant of
8at $re? s change# of t he 6s ble 'n 6erse n
3hch the d 6 n ty s re6eal ed# and 3hose m!ort 3as n many res!ect s
as o!en to the Pagan# as to the %hr stan, Beyond the c$rrent t radt ons
or sacred rect als of the tem!l e# fe3 e4!l anat ons 3ere g6en t o the
s!ect ators# 3ho 3ere left# as n t he school of nat$re# to ma/e
nferences for t hemsel 6es,
The method of nd rect s$ggest on# by al legory or symbol # s a more
eff caco$s nstr$ment of nstr$ct on than !l an d dact c @lang$age G
s nce 3e are habt $al ly nd fferent t o that 3hch s acE$ red 3 tho$t
effort ( @The nt at ed are fe3# tho$gh many bear t he t hyrs$s, @ And t
3o$l d ha6e been m!oss bl e t o !ro6de a l esson s$t ed to e6ery degree of
c$lt 6at on and ca!ac ty# $nl ess t 3ere one framed after 8at $re? s
e4am!l e# or rather a re!resentat on of 8at$re herself# em!l oyng her
$n6ersal symbol sm nstead of t echn cal t es of l ang$age# n6t ng
endless research# yet re3ardng the h$mbl est nE$ rer# and d scl os ng
ts secret s to e6ery one n !ro!ort on to h s !re!aratory t ra n ng and
!o3er to com!rehend them,
E6en f destt $t e of any formal or offc al en$nc at on of t hose
m!ort ant t r$ths# 3hch e6en n a c$l t 6ated age t 3as often fo$nd
ne4!ed ent t o assert e4ce!t $nder a 6e l of al legory# and 3hch
moreo6er l ose t her dgn ty and 6al $e n !ro!ort on as t hey are l earned
mechan cally as dogmas# t he sho3s of t he Mysteres certa nly conta ned
s$ggest ons f not l essons# 3h ch n the o! n on not of one com!et ent
3 tness only# b$t f many# 3ere ada!ted t o el e6ate the character of t he
s!ect ators# enabl ng t hem to a$g$r somet h ng of the !$r!oses of
e4st ence# as 3ell as of the means of em!loyng t# to l 6e bett er and
t o de ha!!er,
'nl /e t he rel g on of boo/s or creeds# these myst c sho3s !erformances
3ere not the readng of a lect$re# b$t t he o!en ng of a !robl em#
m!lyng net her e4em!t on from research# nor host l ty to !hl oso!hy (
for# on the cont rary# !h loso!hy s the great Mystagog$e or
ArchDE4!o$nder of symbol sm ( tho$gh the nter!retat ons by t he Grec an
Ph l oso!hy of t he ol d myths and symbol s 3ere n many nstances as
ll Dfo$nded# as n others they are correct,
8o bet ter means co$ld be de6 sed t o ro$se a dormant ntel lect t han
t hose m!ress 6e e4h b t ons# 3hch addressed t thro$gh t he
mag nat on( 3hch# nst ead of condemn ng t to a !rescrbed ro$t ne of
creed# n6t ed t to see/# com!are# and 5 $dge, The al terat on from
symbol t o dogma s as fat al to bea$ty of e4!resson# as t hat from fa t h
t o dogma s to tr$t h and 3hol esomeness of t ho$ght
The f rst !hl oso!hy oft en re6ert ed to t he nat $ral mode of t each ngG
and Socrates# n !art c$lar# s sad t o ha6e esche3ed dogmas#
endea6orng# l /e t he Myst er es# rather t o a3a/en and de6el o! n the
mnds of hs hearers t he deas 3 th 3hch they 3ere already endo3ed or
!regnant# than t o f ll them 3t h readyDmade ad6ent t o$s o!n ons,
So Masonry st l l fol l o3s t he ancent manner of t each ng, -er symbols
are the nstr$ct on she g6es G and the lect $res are b$t often !art al
and ns$ff cent oneDsded endea6ors t o nt er!ret those symbols, -e 3ho
3o$l d become an accom!l shed Mason m$st not be cont ent merely to hear
or
e6en t o $nderstand t he l ect $res# b$t m$st# a ded by t hem# and t hey
ha6ng as t 3ere mar/ed o$t the 3ay for h m# st $dy# nter!ret# and
de6elo! t he symbols for h mself,
The earl est s!ec$l at on endea6ored t o e4!ress far more than t co$l d
dst nct ly com!rehend G and the 6ag$e m!ress ons f t he mnd fo$nd n
t he myster o$s analog es of !henomena the r most a!t and energet c
re!resentat ons, The Myst eres# l /e the symbol s of Masonry# 3ere b$t an
mage of the eloE$ent anal og es of 8at $reG bot h t hose and these
re6eal ng no ne3 secret t o s$ch as 3ere or are $n!re!ared# or nca!abl e
of nt er!ret ng the r sgnfcance,
E6ery3here n t he old Mysteres# and n al l the symbol sms and
ceremonal of t he -ero!hant 3as fo$nd t he same mythcal !ersonage#
3ho#
l /e -ermes# or Horoast er# $nt es -$man Attr b$t es 3t h D 6 ne#
and s h msel f t he God 3hose 3orsh ! he ntrod$ced# teach ng r$de men
t he commencement s of c6 l <at on t hro$gh t he nfl$ence of song# and
connect ng 3t h the symbol of h s deat h# emblematc of t hat of 8at $re#
t he most essent al consolat ons of rel g on,
The Mysteres embraced t he t hree great doctrnes of Ancent Theoso!hy,
They treated of God# Man# and 8at $re, D onys$s# 3hose Mysteres
Or!he$s
s sad t o ha6e fo$nded# 3as t he God of 8at$re# or of t he mo st$re 3hch
s t he l fe of 8at $re# 3ho !re!ares n dar/ness t he ret$rn of l fe and
6eget at on# or 3ho s h mD self the Lght and %hange e6ol 6ng t her
6aret es, -e 3as theologcal ly one 3t h -ermes# Promet he$s# and
Pose don, In the Aegean Islands he s B$tes# Dardan$s# - meros# or
Imbros, In %ret e he a!!ears as Ias$s or He$s# 3hose 3orsh! remanng
$n6e led by the $s$al forms of myst ery# betrayed to !rofane c$ros ty
t he symbol s# 3h ch# f rre6erently contem!lated# 3ere s$re t o be
ms$nderst ood, In Asa he s t he l ongDstoled Bassare$s coalesc ng 3 th
t he Saba<$s of the Phrygan %orybantes ( t he same 3 th the myst c
Iacch$s# n$rsl ng or son of %eres# and 3 th t he dsmembered Hagre$s# son
of Perse!hone,
In symbol cal forms the Mysteres e4hbt ed T-E O8E# of 3hch T-E
MA8I"OLD Is an nfnt e ll $st rat on# contan ng a moral lesson#
calc$lat ed to g$ de t he so$l thro$gh l fe# and to cheer t n death, The
st ory of D onys$s 3as !rofo$ndly s gn f cant , -e 3as not only creator of
t he 3orl d# b$t g$ardan# l berator# and Sa6 or of t he so$l , God of t he
manyDcol ored mant l e# he 3as t he res$l t ng man fest at on !erson f ed# t he
al l n the many# t he 6ared year# l fe !ass ng nto nn$merable forms,
The s!r t $al regenerat on of man 3as ty!fed n t he Myst er es by the
second brth of D onys$s as offs!r ng of t he - ghest G and the agents
and symbol s of t hat regenerat on 3ere t he el ement s t hat affected
8at $re? s !erodcal !$r fcat onDt he a r# ndcated by the myst c fan or
3 nno3 G t he fre# s gn f ed by t he t orch G and t he ba!t smal 3at er# for
3at er s not only cleanser of al l th ngs# b$t t he genes s or so$rce of
al l,
Those not ons# clothed n r t $al # s$ggest ed the so$l ? s# reformat on and
t ra n ng# the moral !$r ty formally !rocl a med at Ele$s s, -e only 3as
n6 ted t o a!!roach# 3ho 3as @of clean hands and ngen$o$s s!eech# free
from all !oll $t on# and 3 th a cl ear
conscence, @ D@-a!!y t he man# @ say the nt at ed n E$r ! des and
Arst o!hanes# @3ho !$r f es hs l fe# and 3ho re6erent ly consecrates hs
so$l n the t hrst s 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 t o t he st ranger# and t o
hs neghborG let h m g6e 3ay t o no 6 c o$s e4cess# lest he ma/e d$l l
and hea6y t he organs of t he s! rt , "ar from the myst c dance of the
t hrst s be the m!$re# the e6l s!ea/er# t he sedt o$s c t <en# the
sel f sh h$nt er after ga n# the tra tor G al l t hose# n short# 3hose
!ract ces are more a/ n t o t he rot of T tans than t o t he reg$l ated l fe
of t he Or!h c # or the %$retan order of t he Pr ests of Idaean He$s,@
The 6ot ary# ele6at ed beyond t he s!here of h s ord nary fac$lt es# and
$nabl e to acco$nt for the agtat on 3h ch o6er!o3ered h m# seemed t o
become d6 ne, n !ro!ort on as he ceased t o be h$manG t o be a demon or
god, Al ready# n mag nat on# t he n t ated 3ere n$mbered among the
beat fed, They al one en5oyed t he tr$e l fe# t he S$n? s t r$e l $stre#
3hl e t hey hymned t her God beneat h t he myst c gro6es of a m mc
Elys$m# and 3ere really reno6ated or regenerat ed $nder t he gen al
nfl $ence of t her dances,
@They 3hom Proser! ne g$ des n her myst er es#@ t 3as sa d# @3ho
mbbed her nstr$ct on and s!rt $al no$r shment# rest from ther
l abors and /no3 st rfe no more, -a!!y t hey 3ho 3t ness and com!rehend
t hese sacred ceremon es O They are made to /no3 t he mean ng of the
rddle of e4st ence by obser6 ng ts a m and term nat on as a!!o nt ed by
He$s G they !arta/e a benef t more 6al$able and end$r ng t han the gra n
best o3ed by 3ares G for t hey are e4alt ed n the scale of nt ell ect$al
e4st ence# and obt an s3eet ho!es to consol e them at t her deat h, @
8o do$bt t he ceremones of nt at on 3ere orgnal ly fe3 and s m!l e,
As t he great tr$t hs of the !r m t 6e re6elat on faded o$t of t he
memores of t he masses of the Peo!l e# and 3c/edness became rfe $!on
t he earth# t became necessary to d scr mnate# t o reE$ re longer
!robat on and sat sfact ory test s of t he cand dat es# and by s!read ng
aro$nd 3hat at frst 3ere rat her school s of nst r$ct on than mysteres#
t he 6el of secrecy# and the !om! of ceremony# to he ght en t he o! non
of t he r 6al$e and m!ort ance,
;hate6er ! ct $res lat er and es!ecal ly %hrst an 3r ters may dra3 of
t he Myst er es# t hey m$st # not only org nal ly# b$t for many ages# ha6e
cont n$ed !$reG and t he doctrnes of nat $ral rel g on and moral s there
t a$ght # ha6e been of t he hghest m!ortanceG beca$se bot h t he
most 6 rt $o$s as 3el l as the most learned and !h l oso!h c of the
anc ent s s!ea/ of t hem n the l oft est t erms, That t hey $l t mately
became degraded from t her hgh est at e# and corr$!ted# 3e /no3,
The r tes of n t at on became !rogress 6ely more com!l cated, Sgns
and t o/ens 3ere n6ent ed by 3hch the %h ldren of Lght co$l d 3t h
facl ty ma/e t hemsel6es /no3n t o each ot her, D ffer, ant Degrees 3ere
n6ented# as t he n$mber of In t ates enlarged# n order that there mght
be n t he nner a!art ment of t he Tem!l e a fa6ored fe3# to 3hom al one the
more 6al $abl e secret s 3ere ent r$sted# and 3ho co$ld 3eld effect $al ly
t he nfl $ence and !o3er of the Order, Or gnally t he Myst er es 3ere
meant to be the beg nn ng of a ne3 l fe of reason and 6 rt $e, The
n t ated or esot er c com!an ons 3ere ta$ght the doct r ne of the One
S$!reme God# t he theory of deat h and et ern ty# the h dden mysteres of
8at $re# t he !ros!ect of the $l t mat e restorat on of t he so$l to that
st ate of !erfect on from 3hch t had fallen# t s mmort al ty# and the
st ates of re3ard and !$n shment aft er death, The $n n t ated 3ere deemed
Profane# $n3orthy of !$bl c em!l oyment or !r 6ate conf dence# somet mes
!rescr bed as Athest s# and certa n of e6erl ast ng !$n shment beyond t he
gra6e,
Al l !ersons 3ere n t ated nto the l esser Myst er esG b$t fe3 att aned
t he greater# n 3h ch the tr$e s!r t of t hem# and most of t her secret
doctr nes 3ere h dden, The 6e l of secrecy 3as m!enet rable# sealed by
oaths and !enal t es the most tremendo$s and a!!al l ng, It 3as by
n t at on only# t hat a /no3l edge of the -erogly!h cs co$ld be
obta ned# 3 th 3hch the 3all s# col $mns# and cel ngs of t he Tem!l es
3ere decorated# and 3hch# bel e6ed to ha6e been comm$n cated t o t he
Prests by re6el at on from t he cel est al det es# the yo$th of al l ran/s
3ere la$dably amb t o$s of dec !herng,
The ceremones 3ere !erformed at dead of n ght # generally n a!art ments
$nderDgro$nd# b$t somet mes n t he centre of a 6ast !yramd# 3t h e6ery
a!!l ance t hat co$ld alarm and e4c t e the cand date, Inn$merable
ceremones# 3 ld and romant c# dreadf$l and a!!al l ng# had by degrees
been added t o the fe3 e4!ress 6e symbol s of !r m t 6e obser6ances# $nder
3hch there 3ere nstances n 3hch the terrfed as!rant act $ally
e4! red 3 th fear, The !yramds 3ere !robably $sed for t he !$r!oses of
n t at on#
as 3ere ca6erns# !agodas# and l abyrnthsG for the ceremon es reE$red
many a!art ment s and cel ls# long !assages and 3el l s, In Egy!t a !rnc!al
!lace for the Myst eres 3as t he sl and of Ph lae on the 8 le# 3here a
magnfcent Tem!l e of Osrs st ood# and hs rel cs 3ere sa d t o be
!reser6ed,
; t h ther nat $ral !rocl 6t es# t he Pr esthood# t hat select and
e4cl$s 6e class# n Egy!t # Inda# Phoen ca# &$dea and Greece# as 3ell
as n Brt an and Rome# and 3here6er else t he Myst er es 3ere /no3n#
made
$se of them t o b$l d 3 der and h gher the fabr c of t he r o3n !o3er, The
!$r ty of no relgon cont n$es long, Ran/ and dgnt es s$cceed t o t he
!r m t 6e s m!l cty, 'n!rnc !l ed# 6an# nsolent # corr$!t # and 6enal
men !$t on God? s l 6ery t o ser6e the De6 l 3 t hal G and l$4$ry# 6ce#
nt olerance# and !r de de!ose fr$gal ty# 6 rt$e# gent leness# and
h$m l ty# and change the alt ar 3here they sho$ld be ser6ants# to a
t hrone on 3hch t hey regn,
B$t t he K ngs# Phl oso!hers# and St at esmen# t he 3 se and great and good
3ho 3ere admt ted t o t he Myster es# long !ost!oned ther $l t mat e
sel fDdestr$ct on# and restra ned t he nat$ral tendenc es of t he
Presthood, And accord ngly Hos m$s t ho$ght that the neglect of t he
Myst er es aft er D ocl et an abd cated# 3as t he chef ca$se of the decl ne
of t he Roman Em!re G and n t he year 9=:# the Procons$l of Greece 3o$ld
not close the Mysteres# not3 thstandng a l a3 of t he Em!eror
Falent nan# lest the !eo!le sho$ld be dr 6en to des!erat on# f
!re6ented from !erformng themG $!on 3h ch# as they bel e6ed# the
3el fare of man/ nd 3holly de!ended, They 3ere !ract ced n At hens $nt l
t he *th cent $ry n Greece and Rome for se6eral cent$r es after %hr stG
and n ;ales and Scot land do3n to the )0th cent $ry,
The nhabt ant s of Inda or gnal ly !ract ced the Pat r archal rel g on,
E6en the later 3orsh ! of F shn$ 3as cheerf$l and socal G accom!aned
3 th, t he fest 6e song# the s!rghtly dance# and t he reso$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 Mysteres commencedG and n t hem#
$nder al legores# 3ere ta$ght the !r mt 6e tr$t hs, ;e cannot # 3t hn
t he l mt s of th s l ect$re# deta l the ceremon es of n t at onG and
shal l $se general lang$age# e4ce!t 3here somet hng from t hose ol d
Myst er es st ll rema ns n Masonry,
The Int at e 3as n6est ed 3t h a cord of t hree threads# so t3 ned
as to ma/e t hree t mes t hree# and cal led <ennar, -ence comes o$r
cabl eDt o3, It 3as an emblem of the r trD$ne Dety# t he remembrance of
3hom 3e al so !reser6e n t he three ch ef off cers of o$r Lodges#
!resdng n t he t hree E$arters of that 'n6erse 3hch o$r Lodges
re!resentG n o$r three greater and t hree lesser l ght s# o$r three
mo6able and t hree mmo6able 5 e3els# and t he t hree ! llars t hat s$!!ort
o$r Lodges,
The Indan Myst eres 3ere celebrated n s$bterranean ca6ern? s and
grot tos he3n n the sol d roc/G and t he In t ates adored t he De ty#
symbol <ed by t he solar fre, The cand date# l ong 3anderng n dar/ness#
t r$ly 3ant ed Lght# and t he 3orsh ! ta$ght h m 3as t he 3orsh ! of God#
t he So$rce of Lght , The 6ast Tem!le of Ele!hant s# !erha!s t he ol dest n
t he 3orl d# he3n o$t of the roc/# and )97 feet sE$are# 3as $sed for
n t at ons G as 3ere the st ll 6ast er ca6erns of Salset te# 3 th ther
922 a!art ments,
The !er ods of nt at on 3ere reg$l at ed by the ncrease and decrease
of t he moon, The Myst er es 3ere d 6 ded nt o fo$r ste!s or Degrees, The
canddate mght rece6e t he frst at eght years of age# 3hen he 3as
n6est ed 3 t h t he <ennar, Each Degree d s!ensed someth ng of !erfect on,
@Let t he 3retched man# @ says the - t o!adesa# @!ract ce 6rt $e# 3hene6er
he en5 oys one of the t hree or fo$r rel g o$s Degrees G let h m be
e6enDm nded 3t h all creat ed t h ngs# and that ds!os t on 3 ll be the
so$rce of 6 rt $e, @
After 6ar o$s ceremones# ch efly relat ng t o t he $nty and t r n ty of
t he Godhead# t he cand date 3as clothed n a l nen garment 3t ho$t a
seam# and rema ned $nder t he care of a Brahmn $nt l he 3as t 3enty years
of age# const ant ly st$dy ng and !ract s ng the most rgd 6 rt $e, Then
he $nder3ent the se6erest !robat on for t he second Degree# n 3h ch he
3as sanct f ed by t he sgn of the cross# 3hch# !ont ng t o t he fo$r
E$art ers of the com!ass# 3as honored as a str/ng symbol of t he
'n6erse by many nat ons of ant E$ ty# and 3as m t at ed by the Indans
n t he sha!e of the r tem!les, Then he 3as adm t ted to t he -oly %a6ern#
bla< ng 3t h l ght# 3here# n costly robes# sat # n t he East # ;est # and
So$th# t he t hree ch ef -ero!hants# re!resent ng t he Indan trD$ne
De ty, The ceremones there commenced 3 th an ant hem to the Great God
of
8at $reG and t hen foll o3ed th s a!ost ro!he ( @O m ghty !r mal
%reatorO Eternal God of GodsO The ;orl d? s MansonO Tho$ art the
Incorr$!t bl e Be ng# dst nct from al l t h ngs t rans ent O Tho$ art before
al l Gods# the Ancent Absol $te E4 stence# and the S$!reme S$!!ort er of
t he 'n6erseO Tho$ art the S$!reme Mans onG and by Thee# O Inf nt e
"orm# t he 'n 6erse 3as s!read abroad,@
The cand date# t h$s ta$ght t he frst great !r m t 6e t r$th# 3as cal led
$!on to ma/e a formal decl arat on# that he 3o$ld be tractabl e and
obed ent to h s s$!er orsG t hat he 3o$ld /ee! hs body !$re G, go6ern
hs t ong$e# and obser6e a !ass 6e obedence n rece 6ng t he doctrnes
and t radt ons of t he Order G and the frmest secrecy n ma nt a nng
n6 ol abl e t s h dden and abstr$se myster es, Then he 3as s!r n/led 3 t h
3at er M3hence o$r ba!t smN G? certan 3ords# no3 $n/no3n# 3ere
3hs!ered
n hs earG and he 3as d 6ested of h s shoes# and made t o go t hree t mes
aro$nd t he ca6ern, -ence o$r t hree crc$ ts G hence 3e 3ere net her
barefoot nor shod( and t he 3ords 3ere the PassD3ords of that Indan
Degree,
The Gymnoso!h st Prests came from the ban/s of t he E$!hrates nt o
Et ho!a# and bro$ght 3t h t hem t her sc ences and t her doctr nes,
The r !rnc !al %ol lege 3as at Meroe# and t her Myst er es 3ere
celebrat ed n the Tem!l e of Am$n# reno3ned for h s oracl e, Et ho!a 3as
t hen a !o3erf$l St at e# 3hch !receded Egy!t n c 6l <at on# and had a
t heocrat c go6ernment , Abo6e the K ng 3as t he Prest # 3ho co$ld !$t h m
t o death n t he name of t he De ty, Egy!t 3as t hen com!osed of t he
Thebad only, M ddl e Egy!t and t he Del ta 3ere a g$l f of the
Med terranean, The 8 le by degrees formed an mmense marsh# 3hch#
after3ard draned by t he l abor of man# formed Lo3er Egy!tG and 3as for
many cent$res go6erned by t he Eth o!an Sacerdot al %ast e# of Arabc
orgn G after3ard d s!l aced by a dynasty of 3arrors, The magnf cent
r$ ns of A4om# 3 th t s obel s/s and herogly!h cs# t em!l es# 6ast tombs
and !yramds# aro$nd anc ent Meroe# are far older than the !yram ds near
Mem!h s,
The Prest s# t a$ght by -ermosa embod ed n boo/s t he occ$lt and
hermetc sc ences# 3 th ther o3n dsco6eres and the re6el at ons of t he
Sbyl s, They st$d ed !art c$l arly t he most abst ract scences# d sco6ered
t he famo$s geometr cal t heorems 3h ch Pyt hagoras aft er3ard learned from
t hem# cal c$l at ed ecl !ses# and reg$l at ed# n neteen cent $res before
%aesar# the &$l an year, They descended t o !ract cal
n6est gat ons as t o t he necesst es of l fe# and made /no3n ther
dsco6eres to t he !eo!l e G they c$l t 6at ed t he fne arts# and ns!red
t he !eo!l e 3 th that enth$sasm 3hch !rod$ced t he a6en$es of Thebes#
t he Labyr nt h# the Tem!l es of Karnac# Denderah# Edfo$# and Ph lae# the
monol th c obel s/s# and the great La/e Morr s# t he fert l <er of the
co$nt ry,
The 3sdom of the Egy!t an Int at es# the hgh scences and lofty
moral ty 3h ch t hey ta$ght # and the r mmense /no3ledge# e4ct ed the
em$lat on of the most em nent men# 3hate6er the r ran/ and fort$ne G and
l ed t hem# des!t e t he com!l cat ed and terr ble tr al s t o be $ndergone#
t o see/ admss on nt o the Mysteres of Osr s and Iss,
"rom Egy!t# the Mysteres 3ent to Phoenca# and 3ere celebrat ed at
Tyre, Os rs changed hs name# and become Adon or D onysos# st l l the
re!resentat 6e of t he S$n G and aft er3ard t hese Myst er es 3ere
ntrod$ced s$ccess6ely nt o Assyra# Babyl on# Persa# Greece# Sc ly#
and Italy, In Greece and Scly# Os r s too/ the name of Bacch$s# and
Iss that of %eres# %ybel e# Rhea and Fen$s,
Bar -ebrae$s says ( @Enoch 3as the frst 3ho n6ent ed boo/s and
dfferent sorts of 3r t ng, The ancent Gree/s declare that Enoch s t he
same as Merc$ry Trsmeg st$s A-ermesB# and that he ta$ght the sons of
men t he art of b$l d ng c t es# and enact ed some adm rable la3s, , , -e
dsco6ered the /no3ledge of t he Hod ac# and t he co$rse of the Pl anets G
and he !o nt ed o$t to t he sons of men# that they sho$ld 3orsh ! God#
t hat they sho$l d fast# that they sho$ld !ray# t hat they sho$ld g 6e
a ms# 6ot 6e offer ngs# and tent hs, -e re!robat ed abom nabl e foods and
dr$n/enness# and a!!o nted fest 6als for sacrfces t o the S$n# at each
of t he ? Hodacal Sgns, @
Manet ho e4t ract ed h s h story from certan ! l l ars 3h ch he dsco6ered
n Egy!t# 3hereon nscr!t ons had been made by Thoth# or the f rst
Merc$ry Aor -ermesB# n the sacred let ters and d alect ( b$t 3hch 3ere
after t he flood translat ed from that d al ect nt o the Gree/ tong$e# and
l ad $! n t he !r 6ate recesses of t he Egy!tan Tem!l es, These !l lars
3ere fo$nd n s$bterranean ca6erns# near Thebes and beyond the 8l e# not
far from the so$nd ng st at$e of Memnon# t a !l ace call ed Syrnges G
3hch are descr bed to be certa n 3 ndng a!art ment s $ndergro$nd G made#
t s sa d# by those 3ho 3ere s/ ll ed n ancent r tesG 3ho foresee ng
t he com ng of the del$ge# and fear ng l est memory of t her cereD
mon es sho$l d be obl terated# b$l t and cont r 6ed 6a$l t s# d$g 3 th 6ast
l abor# n se6eral !laces,
"rom t he bosom of Egy!t s!rang a man of cons$mmat e 3 sdom# n t ated
n
t he secret /no3ledge of Ind a# of Persa# and of Et ho!a# named Thoth
or Pht ha by hs com!atr ots# Taa$t by the Phoencans# -ermes
Tr smegst $s by t he Gree/s# and Adr s by the Rabbns, 8at $re seemed to
ha6e chosen h m for her fa6orte# and t o ha6e l a6shed on h m all t he
E$al t es necessary t o enable h m t o st $dy her and t o /no3 her
t horo$ghly, The De ty had# so to say# nf$sed nt o h m t he sc ences and
t he arts# n order t hat? he mght nstr$ct the 3hole 3orl d,
-e n6ented many th ngs necessary for t he $ses of l fe# and ga6e them
s$table names G he ta$ght men ho3 t o 3r te do3n ther t ho$ghts and
arrange ther s!eechG he nst t$t ed the ceremon es t o be obser6ed n t he
3orsh! of each of the GodsG he obser6ed the co$rse of the starsG he
n6ented m$s c# the d fferent bod ly e4erc ses# art hmetc# medcne#
t he art of 3or/ ng n metals# the lyre 3 th t hree strngs G he reg$lat ed
t he t hree tones of the 6o ce# t he shar!# t a/en from a$t $mn# the gra6e
from 3nt er# and the # m ddle from s!r ng# t here beng t hen b$t t hree
seasons, It 3as he 3ho ta$ght the Gree/s t he mode of nt er!ret ng t erms
and t h ngs# 3hence t hey ga6e h m the name of _EeJJJ A-ermesB# 3hch
sgnfes Inter!reter,
In Egy!t he nst t $ted h erogly!hcs( he select ed a certa n n$mber of
!ersons 3hom he 5 $dged f tt ed t o be t he de!os tares of h s secret s# of
s$ch only as 3ere ca!abl e of at t a n ng t he t hrone and the f rst offces
n t he MysteresG he $n ted them n a body# created them Prest s of t he
L 6 ng God# nst r$cted them n the scences and art s# and e4!laned t o
t hem the symbol s by 3h ch they 3ere 6e l ed, Egy!t # )722 years before the
t me of Moses# re6ered n t he Myst er es One S'PREME GOD# cal led the
O8L.
'8%REATED, 'nder - m t !a d homage to se6en !rnc!al de t es# t s
t o
-ermes# 3ho l 6ed at that !er od# t hat 3e m$st d strb$te the
conceal ment or 6e l ng A6elat onB of t he Indan 3orsh !# 3h ch Moses
$n6e led or re6ealed# changng not h ng of tbe la3s of -ermes# e4ce!t t he
!l$ral ty of hs myst c Gods,
The Egy!t an Prest s rel ated that -ermes# dyng# sa d ( @-t hert o I
ha6e l 6ed an e4 le from my tr$e co$ntry( no3 I ret $rn t h ther, Do not
3ee! for me ( I ret$rn to t hat celest al co$ntry 3ht her each goes n
hs t $rn# There s God, Th s l fe s b$t a deat h,@ Th s s
!recsely t he creed of the ol d B$ddh st s of Samaneans# 3ho bele6ed that
from t me t o t me God sent B$ddha`s on eart h# t o reform men# t o 3ean
t hem from t her 6ces# and lead them bac/ nt o t he !at hs of 6 rt $e,
Among the scences ta$ght by -ermes# t here 3ere secrets 3h ch he
comm$n cated to t he In t ates only $!on condt on t hat they sho$l d b nd
t hemsel 6es# by a terr bl e oat h# ne6er t o d6$lge them# e4ce!t to those
3ho# aft er long tral# sho$ld be fo$nd 3orthy t o s$cceed them, The K ngs
e6en !rohb t ed t he re6el at on of them on !an of deat h, Th s secret 3as
styled the Sacerdotal Art # and ncl $ded al chemy# astrol ogy# magn$m
AmagcB# the scence of s! r ts# etc, -e ga6e them t he /ey t o the
- erogly!hcs of all t hese secret sc ences# 3hch 3ere regarded as
sacred# and /e!t conceal ed n the roost secret !l aces of t he Tem!le,
The great secrecy obser6ed by t he n t ated Pr ests# for many years#
and t he l ofty scences 3hch t hey !rofessed# ca$sed them t o be honored
and res!ected thro$gho$t all Egy!t # 3hch 3as regarded by ot her nat ons
as t he coll ege# t he sanct $ary# of the scences and arts, The myst ery
3hch s$rro$nded t hem strongly e4ct ed c$r os ty, Or!he$s
metamor!hosed
h msel f# so to say# nt o an Egy!t an, -e 3as nt at ed nt o, Theol ogy
and Phys cs, And he so com!l etely made t he deas and season ngs of h s
t eachers h s o3n# t hat h s -ymns rather bes!ea/ an Egy!tan Pr est than
a Grecan Poet ( and he 3as the f rst 3ho carr ed nt o Greece t he
Egy!t an fables,
Pyt hagoras# e6er t hrsty for learn ng# consent ed e6en t o be
c rc$mcsed# n order to become one of t he Int ates( and t he occ$lt
sc ences 3ere re6ealed to h m n the nnermost !art of t he sanct $ary,
The Int at es n a !art c$lar scence# ha6ng been nst r$cted by fables#
engmas# al legores# and herogly!hcs# 3rot e myst er o$sly 3hene6er n
t her 3or/s t hey t o$ched t he s$b5ect of the Mysteres# and cont n$ed to
conceal sc ence $nder a 6el of fct ons, ;hen t he dest r$ct on by
%ambyses of many ct es# and the r$n of nearly al l Egy!t# n the year
70* before o$r era# d s!ersed most of t he Pr ests nto Greece and
el se3here# t hey bore 3t h them t he r sc ences# 3h ch t hey cont n$ed to
t each en gmat cal ly# that s t oN say# e6er en6elo!ed n the obsc$r t es
of fabl es and h erogly!hcs G t o the end that? the 6$l gar herd# see ng#
mght see not h ng and hearng# mght com!rehend not hng, Al l the
3rt ers dre3 from th s so$rce( b$t these Mysteres# concealed
$nder so many $ne4!l a ned en6el o!es# ended n g 6 ng b rth to a s3arm of
abs$rdt es# 3h ch# from Greece# s!read o6er the 3hole eart h, In the
Grecan Myster es# as establ shed by Pythagoras# there
3ere t hree Degrees, A !re!arat on of f6e years? abst nence and sl ence
3as reE$red, If t he canddate 3as fo$nd t o be !ass onat e or
ntem!erate# content o$s# or ambt o$s of 3orl dly honors and
dst nct ons# he 3as re5ected,
In h s lect $res# Pyt hagoras ta$ght the mat hemat cs# as a med $m 3hereby
t o !ro6e t he e4st ence of God from obser6at on and by means of reason G
grammar# rhet or c# and log c# t o c$lt 6ate and m!ro6e t hat reason#
art hmet c# beca$se he conce 6ed t hat t he $lt mate beneft of man
cons st ed n the scence of n$mbers# and geometry# m$s c# and ast ronomy#
beca$se he conce 6ed t hat 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 /no3l edge of the D6ne la3s
of !$rfyng the so$l from t s m!erfect ons# of searchng for t r$t h#
and of !ract c ng 6 rt$eG t h$s mt at ng the !erfect ons of God, -e
t ho$ght h s syst em 6an# f t d d not contrb$te to e4!el 6ce and
ntrod$ce 6rt$e nto t he m nd, -e ta$ght that the t 3o most e4cel lent
t h ngs 3ere# t o s!ea/ t he tr$th# and t o render beneft s to one another,
!art c$l arly he nc$lcated S lence# Tem!erance# "ort t$de# Pr$dence# and
&$st ce, -e ta$ght? the mmort al ty of t he so$l# t he Omn !ot ence of God#
and t he necess ty of !ersonal hol ness t o E$al fy a man for adm sson
nt o t he Soc ety of t he Gods,
Th$s 3e o3e t he !art c$l ar mode of nst r$ct on n the Degree of
"ell o3D%raft to Pythagoras G and t hat Degree s b$t an m!erfect
re!rod$ct on of h s lect $res, "rom h m# t oo# 3e ha6e many of o$r
e4!l anat ons of t he symbols, -e arranged h s assembl es d$e East and
;est # beca$se he hel d t hat Mot on began n t he East and !roceeded to the
;est , O$r Lodges are sa d t o be d$e East and ;est# beca$se the Mast er
re!resents the r sng S$n# and of co$rse m$st be n the East, The
!yramds# t oo# 3ere b$l t !rec sely by t he fo$r card nal !onts, And o$r
e4!ress on, t hat o$r Lodges e4tend $!3ard t o the -ea6ens# comes from t he
Pers an and Dr$ d c c$st om of ha6ng to t her Tem!l es no roofs b$t the
s/y,
Plat o de6el o!ed and s! r t$al <ed, the !hl oso!hy of Pythagoras
E6en E$seb $s t he %hr st an adm t s# t hat he reached to the 6est b$le of
Tr$t h# and stood $!on t s threshol d, The Dr$d cal ceremones
$ndo$bt edly came from Ind aG and the Dr$ ds 3ere org nally B$ddhst s,
The 3ord Dr$ d# l /e t he 3ord Mag # sgnfes 3 se or learned men G and
t hey 3ere at once !h l oso!hers# magstrates# and # d 6nes,
There 3as a s$r!r sng $nform ty n the Tem!les# Pr ests# doct r nes#
and 3orsh ! of the Persan Mag and Br t sh Dr$ ds, The Gods of Brt an
3ere t he same as t he %abr of Samot hrace, Os r s and Iss a!!eared n
t her Myster es# $nder t he names of -$ and %er d3enG and l /e those of
t he !r m t 6e Persans# t her Tem!l es 3ere encl os$res of h$ge $nhe3n
st ones# some of 3hch st l l rema n# and are regarded by the common
!eo!l e 3 th fear and 6enerat on, They 3ere generally e ther c rc$lar or
o6al, Some 3ere n the sha!e of a c rcl e t o 3hch a 6ast ser!ent 3as
at tached, The crcle 3as an East ern symbol of t he 'n6erse# go6erned by
an Omn !otent De ty 3hose center s e6ery3here# and h s crc$mference
no3here ( and the egg 3as an $n6ersal symbol of t he 3orl d, Some of the
Tem!les 3ere 3 nged# and some n the sha!e of a crossG the 3nged ones
referr ng t o Kne!h# t he 3nged Ser!entDDety of Egy!t G 3hence t he name
of 8a6estoc/# 3here one of them st ood, Tem!l es n the sha!e of a cross
3ere al so fo$nd n Ireland and Scot l and, The length of one of t hese 6ast
st r$ct$res# n the sha!e of a ser!ent # 3as nearly t hree m les, ,
The grand !erods for nt at on nt o the Dr$d cal Mysteres# 3ere
E$art erlyG at the eE$ no4es and solst ces, In t he remote t mes 3hen t hey
orgnat ed# these 3ere the t mes corres!ond ng 3 th t he )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 01t h of A!r l , ;hen the n t at ons 3ere
o6er# on MayDE6e# f res 3ere /ndled on all t he ca rns and croml echs n
t he sland# 3hch b$rned al l nght to ntrod$ce t he s!ort s of MayDday,
The fest 6al 3as n honor of t he S$n, The nt at ons 3ere !erformed at
mdnght G and t here 3ere three Degrees,
The Got hc Mysteres 3ere carr ed 8ort h3ard from the East# by Odn G
3ho# be ng a great 3arror# model ed and 6ar ed t hem to s$ t h s !$r!oses
and t he gen$s of h s !eo!le, -e !laced o6er t her cel ebrat on t 3el 6e
- ero!hants# 3ho 3ere al /e Prest s# %o$nsel ors of Stat e# and &$dges
from 3hose decs on there 3as no a!!eal , -e hel d t he n$mbers three
and nne n !ec$l ar 6enerat on# and 3as !robably h mself t he Indan
B$ddha, E6ery thr ceDt hree months# thrceDthree 6ct ms 3ere sacr f ced
t o t he tryD$ne God, The Goths had three great fest 6al sG the most
magnfcent of 3h ch commenced at t he 3nter sol stce# and 3as
celebrat ed n honor of Thor# t he Prnce of the Po3er of t he A r, That
beng the longest nght n the year# and throne aft er 3hch t he S$n
comes 8ort h3ard# t 3as commemorat 6e of the %reat on G and t hey termed
t mot herDnght # as t he one n 3hch the creat on of the 3orl d and l ght
from the !r m t 6e dar/ness t oo/ !lace, Ths 3as the .$le# & t $l # or
.eof feast# 3hch after3ard became %hr st mas, At ths feast the
n t at ons 3ere cel ebrated, Thor 3as the S$n# t he Egy!tan Os r s and
Kne!h# the Phys c an Bel or Baal , The n t at ons 3ere had n
h$geD nt r cate ca6erns# term nat ng# as all the M thrac ca6erns d d# n
a s!aco$s 6a$lt # 3here the cand dat e 3as bro$ght to l ght ,
&ose!h 3as $ndo$btedly nt at ed, After he had nter!reted Pharaoh? s
dream# t hat Monarch made h m hs Pr me M nst er# l et h m r de n h s
second char ot # 3h l e they !rocl a med before h m# ABRS%-I MKAn Egyt an
3ord# meanng# @Bo3 do3n, @N and set h m o6er the land of Egy!t , In
addt on t o th s# the K ng ga6e hd a ne3 name# Tsa!anatDPaana/h# and
marr ed h m t o Asanat # da$ght er of Pot a Parng# a Pr est of An or
- ero!ol s# 3here 3as the Tem!le of At homDRe# t he Great God of Egy!tG
t h$s com!let ely nat $ral <ng h m, -e co$ld not ha6e cont racted t h s
marr age# nor ha6e e4erc sed t hat h gh dgnty# 3 tho$t be ng frst
n t ated n the Myst er es, ;hen h s Bret hren came to Egy!t the second
t me# t he Egy!t ans of h s co$rt co$l d not eat 3 t h them# as that 3o$l d
ha6e been abomnat on# t ho$gh t hey ate 3t h &ose!hG 3ho 3as therefore
regarded not as a fore gner# b$t as one of themsel6es( and 3hen he sent
and bro$ght h s bret hren bac/# and charged t hem 3 th ta/ng h s c$!# he
sa d# @Kno3 ye not t hat a man l /e me !ract ces d6nat onJ@ th$s
ass$mng t he Egy!t an of hgh ran/ n tated nt o the Mysteres# sad as
s$ch con6ersant 3t h t he occ$l t sc ences,
So also m$st Moses ha6e been n t ated for he 3as not only bro$ght $!
n t he co$rt of the K ng# as the ado!ted son of t he K ngly da$ghter#
$nt l he 3as forty years of age G b$t he 3as nst r$ct ed n al l t he
l earnng of the Egy!t ans# and marred after 3ard the da$ghter of
.et hr$# a Pr est of An l /e3se, St robo and Dodor$s bot h assert that he
3as h mself a Pr est of -el o!ol s, Before he 3ent nt o t he Desert#
t here 3ere nt mate rel at ons bet 3een h m and the Pr esthood G and he
had s$ccessf$lly commanded# &ose!h$s nforms $s# an army sent by t he
K ng aga nst the Etho! ans, S m!l c $s assert s that Moses rece 6ed from
t he Egy!tans# n t he Mysteres# the doct rnes 3h ch he ta$ght to t he
-ebre3s( and %lement of Al e4andra and Ph lo say t hat he 3as a
Theolog an and Pro!het# and nter!ret er of the Sacred La3s, Manetho#
c ted by &ose!h$s# says he 3as a Prest of -el o!ol s# and that hs tr$e
and orgnal MEgy!t anN name 3as Asersa!h or Osars !h,
And n the nst t$t on of the -ebre3 Pr esthood# n the !o3ers and
!r 6l eges# as 3ell as t he mm$nt es and sanct ty 3hch he conferred
$!on them# he cl osely m t at ed t he Egy!t an nst t $t ons G ma/ng !$bl c
t he 3orsh! of t hat Dety 3hom the Egy!t an In t at es 3orsh!!ed n
!r 6at e G and st ren$o$sly endea6or ng to /ee! the !eo!le from rel a!sng
nt o t he r old m 4t$re of %hal dac and Egy!t an s$!erst t on and
dol D3orsh!# as they 3ere e6er ready and ncl ned to do G e6en Ahar$n#
$!on ther frst clamoro$s dscontent # rest or ng the 3orsh! of A! sG as
an mage of 3h ch Egy!t an God he made t he golden cal f,
The Egy!t an Prest s ta$ght n ther great Myst er es# t hat t here 3as
one God# S$!reme and na!!roachable# 3ho had conce6ed t he 'n6erse y
- s Int ell gence# before -e created t by - s Po3er and ; l l, They 3ere
no Mat eral sts nor Panthest s G b$t t a$ght t hat Matt er 3as not eternal
or coDe4 st ent 3 t h the great "rst %a$se# b$t creat ed by - m,
The early %hr st ans# t a$ght by t he fo$nder of t her Rel g on# b$t n
greater !erfect on# those !r mt 6e tr$t hs that from the Egy!t ans had
!assed to t he &e3s# and been !reser6ed among the lat ter by the Essenes#
rece6ed al so t he nst t $t on of t he Myster es G ado!t ng as the r
ob5ect t he b$l d ng of the symbol c Tem!l e# !reser6 ng t he old
Scr !t $res of t he &e3s as t her sacred boo/# and as t he f$ndamental la3#
3hch f$rn shed the ne3 6e l of nt at on 3 th t he -ebrac 3ords and
form$l as# that # corr$!ted and dsfg$red by t me and gnorance# a!!ear
n many of o$r Degrees,
S$ch# my Brother# s t he doctrne of t he frst Degree of t he Mysteres#
or t hat of chef of t he Tabernacl e# t o 3h ch yo$ ha6e no3 been
admt ted# and the moral lesson of 3hch s# de6ot on t o t he ser6 ce of
God# and ds nt erest ed <eal and constant endea6or for t he 3el fare of
men, .o$ ha6e here rece 6ed only hnts of the tr$e ob5 ects and !$r!oses
of t he Mysteres, -ereafter# f yo$ are !erm tt ed to ad6ance# yo$ 3 ll
arr 6e at a more com!l ete $nderstand ng of t hem and of t he s$bl me
doctr nes 3h ch they teach, Be content# therefore# 3 t h that 3hch yo$
ha6e seen and heard# and a3a t !at ent ly the ad6ent of the great er
l ght ,
)*+),
0:C D Pr nce of t he Tabernacle
PPIF, PRI8%E O" T-E TABER8A%LE,
S.MBOLS 3ere the al most $n6ersal lang$age of anc ent t heol ogy, They
3ere t he
most ob6o$s method of nstr$ct on G for# l /e nat $re herself# t hey
addressed
t he $nderstandng t hro$gh the eye G and the most ancent e4!ressons
denot ng
comm$n cat on of rel g o$s /no3ledge# s gn fy oc$l ar e4h b t on, The f rst
t eachers of man/nd borro3ed t h s met hod of nst r$ct on G and t
com!rsed an
endless st ore of !regnant herogly!h cs, These lessons of t he ol den t me
3ere
t he rddles of t he S!hyn4# t em!t ng t he c$r o$s by the r E$a nt ness# b$t
n6ol6 ng the !ersonal rs/ of the ad6ent $ro$s nter!reter, @The Gods
t hemsel 6es# @ t 3as sad# @dscl ose t he r nt ent ons t o the 3se# b$t t o
fool s
t her t each ng s $nnt el lgbl e G@ and t he K ng of the Del !h c Oracl e 3as
sa d
not to decl are# nor onthe ot her hand t o concealG b$t em!hat cally t o
@nt mate
or s gn fy, @
The Ancent Sages# bot h barbaran and Gree/# n6ol6ed t he r mean ng n
s m lar
nd rect ons and engmas G the r lessons 3ere con6eyed et her n 6 sble
symbol s# or n t hose @!arables and dar/ say ngs of old# @ 3hch t he
Israel t es
cons dered t a sacred d$ty t o hand do3n $nchanged to s$ccess6e
generat ons,
The e4!l anat ory t o/ens em!loyed by man# 3het her embl emat cal ob5ect s
or
act ons# symbols or myst c ceremon es# 3ere l /e the myst c sgns and
!ort ends
e ther n dreams or by t he 3aysde# s$!!osed to he s gn f cant of t he
ntent ons of t he Gods G both reE$ red the ad of an4 o$s tho$ght and
s/l lf$l
nter!retat on, It 3as only by a conect a!!recat on of analogo$s !roblems
of
nat$re# that t he 3 l l of -ea6en co$l d be $nderst ood y t he D 6 ner# or the
l essons of ; sdom become man fest to the Sage,
The Mysteres 3ere a seres of symbol s G and 3hat 3as s!o/en there
cons st ed
3hol ly of accessory e4!lanat ons of the act or mage G sacred
commentares#
e4!l anat ory of establ shed symbolsG 3 th l t tl e of t hose nde!endent
t rad t ons
embodyng !hyscal or moral s!ec$lat on# n 3h ch the el ements or !l anets
3ere
t he Sage, act ors# and t he creat on and re6ol$t ons of t he 3orl d 3ere
nterm ngl ed 3 t h recol lect ons of ancent e6ent s( and yet 3 th so m$ch of
t hat
al so# that nat$re became her o3n e4!os t or thro$gh the med $m of an
arbt rary
symbol cal nst r$ct onG and the anc ent 6 e3s of t he relat on bet3een the
h$man
and d6 ne rece6ed dramatc forms,
There has e6er been an nt mat e al l ance bet3een the t3o syst ems# the
symbol c
and t he !hl oso!h cal# n t he al legores of the mon$ment s of al l ages# n
t he
symbol c 3rt ngs of the !rest s of al l nat ons# n t he r t$al s of al l secret
and mystero$s soc et esG there has been a const ant seres# an n6arable
$nform ty of !r nc!les# 3h ch come from an aggregat e# 6ast m!os ng#
and
t r$e# com!osed of !art s t hat f t harmon o$sly only t here,
Symbol cal nstr$ct on s recommended by the const ant and? $nform $sage
of
ant E$ ty# D and t has reta ned t s nfl$ence thro$gho$t all ages# as a
syst em
of myster o$s comm$n cat on, The De ty# n h s re6el at ons to man#
ado!t ed t he
$se of mat er al mages for the !$r!ose of enforcng s$bl me t r$thsG and
%hr st
t a$ght by symbol s and !arables, The myst er o$s /no3ledge of t he Dr$ ds
3as
emboded n sgns and symbol s, Tal es n# descr b ng hs nt at on# says (
@The
secret s 3ere m!arted t o me by the ol d Gantess M%er d3en# or Is sN#
3 tho$t
t he $se of a$d ble l ang$age, @ And agan he says# @I am a slent !rofcent@
In t at on 3as # a school# n 3hch 3ere ta$ght the tr$t hs of !r m t 6e
re6elat on# the e4stence and att rb$tes of one God# t he mmortal ty of t he
So$l# re3ards and !$n shment s n a f$t $re l fe# t he !henomena of 8at$re#
t he
arts# the scences# moral ty# reg$l at on# !hl oso!hy# and !h lant hro!y# and
3hat 3e no3 style !sychol ogy and meta!hys cs# 3t h an mal magnet sm#
and t he
other occ$lt scences,
Al l the deas of t he Pr ests of - nd$stan# Persa# Syra# Arab a# %hal daea#
Phoenc a# 3ere /no3n t o t he Egy!t an Prests, The rat onal Indan
!hl oso!hy#
after !enetrat ng Pers a and %haldaea# ga6e brth to t he Egy!tan
Myst er es, ;e
fnd t hat the $se of -erogly!hcs 3as !receded n Egy!t by t hat of t he
easly
$nderstood symbol s and fg$res# from t he m neral # an mal # and 6egetable
/ngdoms# $sed by the Ind ans# Persans# and %haldans t o e4!ress ther
t ho$ght sG and t h s !r m t 6e !hl oso!hy 3as the bas s of t he modern
!hl oso!hy
of Pyt hagoras and Plat o, D Al l the !hl oso!hers and leg sl ators that made
Ant E$ ty l l$str o$s# 3ere !$!l s of t he n tat onG and al l the benefcent
mod f cat ons n t he rel gons of t he dfferent !eo!l e nst r$cted by t hem
3ere
o3ng to t her nst t $t on and e4tens on of t he Myst er es In t he chaos of
!o!$lar s$!erst t ons# t hose Myster es al one /e!t man from la!s ng nt o
absol $te br$t shness, Horoaster and %onf$c $s dre3 t he r doct r nes from
t he
Myst er es, %l ement of Al e4andra# s!ea/ ng of the Great Myst er es# says (
@-ere
ends all nst r$ct on, 8at $re and all th ngs are seen and /no3n
moral t r$ths al one been t a$ght t he Int ate# t he Myst er es co$ld ne6er ha6e
deser6ed nor rece6ed t he magnfcent e$l og$ms of t he most enl ghtened
al en
of Ant E$ ty# Dof Pndar# Pl $tarch# Isocrates# Dodor$s# Pl ato# E$r !des#
Socrates# Ar sto!hanes# %cero# E!ct et$s# Marc$s A$rel $s# and ot hers
G D!hl oso!hers host l e to the Sacerdotal S!r t# or h stor ans de6ot ed t o the
n6est gat on of Tr$th, 8o ( all t he sc ences 3ere ta$ght there G and t hose
oral on 3rt ten trad t ons brefly comm$n cated# 3hch reached bac/ t o t he
frst age of t he 3orl d,
Socrates sa d# n t he Phaedo of Plato( @It 3el l a!!ears that those 3ho
est abl shed the Mysteres# or secret assembl es of t he n t ated# 3ere no
contem!t bl e !ersonages# b$t men of great gen $s# 3ho n t he early ages
st ro6e
t o t each $s# $nder en gmas# that he 3ho shall go to the n6 sbl e regons
3 tho$t beng !$nf ed# 3 l l be !rec !t ated nt o t he abyss G 3h le he 3ho
arr 6es t here# !$rged of t he st ans of t h s 3orld# and accom!l shed n
6rt$e#
3 ll be admt ted to t he d3ell ngD!l ace of t he De ty , The 5 n tated are
certa n
t o at ta n the com!any of the Gods,@
Pret e4t at $s# Procons$l of Achaa# a man endo3ed 3 th al l t he 6rt $es#
sa d# n
t he :th cent $ry# that to de!r 6e t he Gree/s of those Sacred Mysteres
3hch
bo$nd t oget her t he 3hole h$man race# 3o$l d ma/e l fe ns$!!ortable,
In t at on 3as consdered to be a myst cal deat h G a descent nto t he
nfernal
regons# 3here e6ery !oll $t on# and t he st ans and m!erfect on? s of a
corr$!t
and e6 l l fe 3ere !$rged a3ay by f re and 3ater G and the !erfect E!o!t
3as
t hen sa d to be regenerated# ne3Dborn# restored to a reno6ated e4 stence of
l fe# l ght# and !$r tyG and !l aced $nder t he D6 ne Protect on,
A ne3 lang$age 3as ada!ted t o t hese cel ebrat ons# and also a l ang$age of
herogly!h cs# $n/no3n to any b$t t hose 3ho had rece 6ed t he hghest
Degree,
And t o them $lt mately 3ere conf ned the learnng# t he moral ty# and the
!ol t cal !o3er# of e6ery !eo!l e among 3h ch t he Myster es 3ere
!ract ced, So
effect $al ly 3as the /no3l edge of t he h erogly!hcs of t he hghest Degree
hdden
from all b$t a fa6ored fe3# that n !rocess of t me ther meanng 3as
entrely
l ost # and none co$l d nter!ret them, If t he same herogly!hcs 3ere
em!loyed n
t he hgher as n the lo3er Degrees# t hey had a d fferent and more abstr$se
and
fg$rat 6e mean ng, It 3as !retended# n lat er t mes# that the sacred
herogly!h cs and lang$age 3ere the same that 3ere $sed by the %elestal
De t es, E6eryt h ng t hat co$l d heghten the mystery of n t at on 3as
added# $nt l t he 6ery name of t he ceremony !ossessed a st range charm# and
yet
con5$red $! the 3 ldest fears, ache greatest ra!t$re came to be e4!ressed
by
t he 3ord t hat sgn fed to !ass t hro$gh t he Myst eres,
The Prest hood !ossessed one t h rd of Egy!t , They ga ned m$ch of t her
nfl $ence by means of the Myst eres# and s!ared no means t o m!ress the
!eo!l e
3 th a f$l l sense of t her m!ortance, They re!resent ed t hem as t he
beg nnng
of a ne3 l fe of reason and 6 rt $e ( t he n t ated# or esoterc com!anons
3ere
sa d t o enterta n t he most agreeabl e ant c !at ons res!ect ng deat h and
et ernty# to com!rehend al l t he hdden myst er es of 8at $re# t o ha6e t he r
so$ls
restored to the org nal !erfect on from 3hch man had fall en G and at ther
deat h to be borne t o t he cel est al mans ons of t he Gods, The doctrnes of a
f$t $re stat e of re3ards and !$nshment s formed a !rom nent feat $re n the
Myst er esG and t hey 3ere also bel e6ed to ass$re m$ch t em!oral ha!! ness
and
good fort$ne# and afford absol$te sec$r ty aganst t he most mm nent
dangers by
l and and sea, P$bl c od $m 3as cast of t hose 3ho ref$sed to be nt ated,
They
3ere consdered !rofane# $n3orthy of !$bl c em!l oyment or !r 6ate
conf denceG
and hel d to be doomed to et ernal !$nshment as m!o$s, To betray t he
secret s
of t he Mysteres# t o 3ear on the stage t he dress of an Int ate# or t o hol d
t he
Myst er es $! do der s on# 3as t o nc$r death at the hands of !$bl c
6engeance,
It s cert a n that $! t o the t me of %cero# the Mysteres st ll reta ned m$ch
of t he r org nal charact er of sanct ty and !$r ty, And at a l ater day# as 3e
/no3# 8ero# after comm tt ng a horr ble cr me# d d not dare# e6en n
Greece# t o
a d n the celebrat on of t he Myst er es G nor at a st l l lat er day 3as
%onstant ne# the %hr st an Em!eror# al lo3ed t o do so# after h s m$rder of
hs
relat 6es,
E6ery3here# and n all ther forms# the Mysteres 3ere f$nereal G
and cel ebrat ed t he myst cal deat h and restorat on t o l fe of some d 6ne or
hero c !ersonage ( and the det a ls of the legend and t he mode of t he deat h
6ared n t he d fferent %o$nt r es 3here t he Mysteres 3ere !ract ced,
her e4!lanat on bel ongs bot h t o ast ronomy and myt hol ogy# and t he
Legend of
t he Mast er? s Degree s b$t anot her form of t hat of t he Myst er es# reach ng
bac/# n one sha!e or other# t o the remotest ant E$ ty,
;hether Egy!t or gnated the legend# or borro3ed t from Inda or
%hal dea# t
s no3 m!ossble t o /no3, B$t the -ebre3s rece6ed t he Myst er es from
t he
Egy!t ansG and of co$rse 3ere faml ar 3 t h t her l egend# D/no3n as t 3as
t o
t hose Egy!t an Int ates# &ose!h and Moses, It 3as t he fabl e Mor rat her the
t r$th clothed n al legory and fg$resN of Os r s# the S$n# So$rce of Lght
and
Prnc !l e of good# and Ty!hon# the Pr nc !l e of Dar/ness# and E6l , In al l
t he
hst or es of t he Gods and -eroes lay co$ched and h dden astronom cal
deta ls
and t he hst ory of t he o!erat ons of 6s bl e 8at $reG and t hose n ther t $rn
3ere al so symbol s of hgher and !rofo$nder t r$t hs, 8one b$t r$de
$nc$l t 6ated
ntell ects co$ld l ong cons der the S$n and St ars and the Po3ers of 8at$re
as
D 6 ne# or as ft ob5 ect s of -$man ;orsh !G and they 3 ll consder t hem
so
3hl e t he 3orl d l asts G and e6er, rema n gnorant of the great S!r t$al
Tr$t hs
of 3hch t hese are the h erogly!hcs and e4!ressons,
A br ef s$mmary of the Egy!t an legend 3 ll ser6e t o sho3 the lead ng
dea on
3hch the Mysteres among t he -ebre3s 3ere based, Osrs# sad to ha6e
been an
anc ent K ng of Egy!t# 3as t he S$nG and Is s# hs 3 fe# t he Moon( and hs
hst ory reco$nt s# n !oet cal and f g$rat 6e styl e# t he ann$al 5 o$rney of the
Great L$m nary of -ea6en t hro$gh t he dfferent Sgns of the Hodac, In
t he
absence of Os r s# Ty!hon# hs brother# fl led 3 th en6y and mal ce# so$ght
t o
$s$r! h s t hrone G b$t h s !l ans 3ere fr$strated by Is s, Then he resol6ed
t o
/l l Osrs, Ths he dd# , by !ers$ad ng h m to enter a coff n or
sarco!hag$s#
3hch he t hen fl $ng nto t he 8 l e, Alt er a Long search# Iss fo$nd the
body#
and concealed t n t he de!t hs of a forest G b$t Ty!hon# fnd ng t there# c$t
t nto fo$rt een !eces# and scat tered them ht her and tht her, Aft er t ed o$s
search# Is s fo$nd t hrteen !eces# t he f shes ha6 ng oat en t he ot her Mthe
!r 6at esN# 3hch she re!l aced of 3ood# and b$red the body at Ph laeG
3here a
t em!l e of s$r!assng magn f cence 3as erected n honor of Osr s,
Iss# a ded by her son Or$s# -or$s or -arDoer# 3arred aganst Ty!hon#
sl e3
h m# regned gl oro$sly# and at her death 3as re$n ted to her h$sband# n
t he
same tomb, Ty!hon 3as re!resented as born of t he eart h G t he $!!er !art of
hs
body co6ered 3t h feathers# n stat $re reachng the clo$ds# h s arms and
l egs
co6ered 3 th scales# ser!ent s dart ng from h m on e6ery s de# and fre
flashng
from h s mo$th, -or$s# 3ho a ded n slayng h m# became the God of t he
S$n#
ans3er ng t o t he Grecan A!oll oG and Ty!hon s b$t t he anagram of
Pyt hon# t he
great ser!ent sl an by A!ol lo,
The 3ord Ty!hon# l /e E6e# sgn fes a ser!ent# and l fe, By ts form the
ser!ent symbol <es l fe# 3hch crc$lates t hro$gh all nat $re, ;hen# t o3ard
t he
end of a$t$mn# t he ;oman MF rgoN# n t he constel lat ons seems M$!on t he
%hal dean s!hereN to cr$sh 3t h her heel the head of the ser!ent# t hs f g$re
foret el ls t he com ng of 3nter# d$rng 3hch l fe seems t o ret re from all
bengs# and no longer to crc$l ate thro$gh nat $re, Ths s 3hy Ty!hon
sgnfes
al so a ser!ent# the symbol of 3 nt er# 3hch# n t he %athol c Tem!les# s
re!resented s$rro$ndng t he Terrestral Gl obe# 3hch s$rmo$nt s the
hea6enly
cross# embl em of redem!t on, If the 3ord Ty!hon s der6ed from T$!o$l N
t
sgnfes a tree 3hch !rod$ces a!!les Mmal aN e6l sN# t he &e3 sh org n of
t he
fall of man( Ty!hon means also one 3ho s$!!lants# and sgn fes t he
h$man
!ass ons# 3hch e4!el from o$r heart s the lessons of 3sdom, In t he
Egy!t an
"able# Iss 3rot e t he sacred 3ord for the nstr$ct on of men# and Ty!hon
effaced t as fast as she 3rot e t, In morals# h s name sgnf es Prde#
Ignorance and "alsehood,
;hen Is s f rst fo$nd the body# 3here t had fl oated ashore near Byblos# a
shr$b of Erca or t amars/ near t had# by the 6rt $e of t he body# shot $!
nt o
a tree aro$nd t # and !rotect ed tG and hence o$r s!rg of acac a, Is s 3as
al so a ded n her search by An$bs# n the sha!e of a dog, -e 3as Sr $s or
t he
DogDSt ar# the fr end and co$nsel or of Os r s# and the n6ent or sf lang$age#
grammar# ast ronomy# s$r6eyng# ar thmet c# m$s c# and med cal scenceG
t he
frst ma/er of l a3sG and 3ho ta$ght the 3orsh ! of the Gods# and t he
b$l d ng
of Tem!l es,
In t he Mysteres# the na l ng $! of the body of Osr s n the chest or ar/
3as
t ermed t he a!han smN or dsa!!earance Aof the S$n at the ; nt er Sol st ce#
belo3
t he Tro!c of %a!rcornB# and t he reco6ery of t he d fferent !art s of h s
body
by Iss# the E$res s# or f ndng, The cand date 3ent thro$gh a ceremony
re!resent ng t h s# n all the Mysteres e6ery3here, The ma n facts n the
fable
3ere t he same n al l co$nt r esG and the !rom nent Det es 3ere e6ery3here
a
male and a female,
In Egy!t they 3ere Osrs and Is s( n Ind a# Mahade6a and Bha6an ( n
Phoenc a# Thamm$< Mor Adon sN and Ast art e( n Phryga# Atys and %ybele(
n
Pers a# M thras and As s( n Samot hrace and Greece# Donys$s or Saba<e$s
and
Rhea( n Brt an# -$ and %er d3en ( and n Scandna6a# ;oden and "rea(
and n
e6ery nst ance t hese D 6 n t es re!resent ed the S$n and t he Moon,
The myst er es of Osr s# Is s# and -or$s# seem to ha6e been t he model of
al l
other ceremones of nt at on s$bseE$ently establ shed among t he
dfferent
!eo!l es of t he 3orl d, Those of Atys and %ybele# celebrat ed n Phryg aG
t hose of
%eres and Proser! ne# at El e$s s and many ot her !l aces n Greece# 3ere
b$t
co!es of them, Ths 3e l earn from Pl$t arch# D odor$s Sc$l$s# Lact ant $s#
and
other 3rt ersG and n t he absence of drect test mony sho$ld necessar ly
nfer
t from the s m l arty of t he ad6ent $res of t hese De t es G for the ancents
held that t he %eres of he Gree/s 3as the same as the Iss of t he Egy!t ansG
and
D on$sos or Bacch$s as Os r s,
In t he legend of Os r s and Iss# as g 6en by Pl $tarch# are many det al s and
c rc$mstances ot her than t hose that 3e ha6e brefly ment onedG and al l of
3hch
3e need not re!eat here, Osr s marr ed hs sster Is s G and labored
!$bl cly
3 th her t o amel orate he l ot of men, -e ta$ght them agrc$l t $re# 3hl e
Iss
n6ented la3s, -e b$ lt tem!l es t o t he Gods# and establ shed t he r
3orsh!,
Bot h 3ere t he !at rons of art st s and t her $sef$l n6ent ons( and ,
ntrod$ced
t he $se of ron for defens6e 3ea!ons and m!lements of agr c$l t$re# and
of
gold to adorn the tem!l es of t he Gods, -e 3ent forth 3 th an army to
conE$er
men t o c6 l <at on# teach ng he !eo!le 3hom he o6ercame to !l ant t he
6ne and
so3 gra n for food,
Ty!hon# hs brother# sle3 h m 3hen the s$n 3as n t he s gn of e Scor!on#
t hat
s t o say# at t he A$t $mnal EE$ no4, They had been r 6al cla mant s# says
Synes $s# for the throne of Egy!t # as Lght and Dar/ness cont end e6er for
t he
em!re of the 3orl d, Pl$tarch adds# that at t he t me 3hen Os r s 3as sl an#
t he
moon 3as at ts f$l l G and t herefore t 3as n t he s gn o!!os t e the
Scor! on#
t hat s# t he B$l l# the sgn of t he Fernal EE$ no4,
Pl$tarch ass$res $s that t 3as t o re!resent these e6ent s and det a l s t hat
Iss establ shed t he Myst er es# n 3h ch t hey 3ere re!rod$ced by mages#
symbol s# and a rel g o$s ceremon al# 3hereby they 3ere mt ated ( and n
3hch
l essons of !ety 3ere g6en# and consolat ons $nder t he msfort$nes t hat
affl ct $s here bel o3, Those 3ho nst t $ted t hese Myst er es meant to
st rengt hen
rel gon and console men n t her sorro3s by t he l ofty ho!es fo$nd n a
rel go$s fa t h# 3hose !r nc !l es 3ere re!resent ed t o them co6ered by a
!om!o$s
ceremonal # and $nder t he sacred 6el of al legory,
D odor$s s!ea/s of the famo$s col $mns erected near 8ysa# n Arab a#
3here# t
3as sa d# 3ere t3o of t he tombs of Osrs and Is s, On one 3as t h s
nscr!t on( @I am Iss# I$een of t h s co$nt ry, I 3as nst r$cted by Merc$ry,
8o
one can destroy the la3s 3h ch I ha6e est abl shed, I am t he el dest
da$ghter of
Sat$rn# most anc ent of t he Gods, I am t he 3 fe and sst er of Osr s the
K ng,
I frst made /no3n tomortal s t he $se of 3heat , I am t he mot her of Or$s the
K ng, In my honor 3as the cty of B$baste b$ l t , Re5o ce# O Egy!t # re5oce#
l and that ga6e me brt hO@ , , , And on t he other 3as th s( @I am Osr s the
K ng#
3ho l ed my arm es nt o al l !art s of t he 3orld# t o t he most t hc/ly
nhabt ed
co$nt r es of Inda# the 8orth# t he Dan$be# and t he Ocean, I am t he el dest
son
of Sat $rn ( I 3as born of the brl lant and magn f cent egg# and my
s$bstance
s of t he same nat $re as t hat 3h ch com!oses l ght , There s no !lace n
t he
'n6erse 3here I ha6e not a!!eared# to best o3 my benef t s and ma/e
/no3n my
dsco6eres, @ The rest 3as l leg ble,
To ad her n t he search for t he body of Osr s# and t o n$rse her nfant
chl d
-or$s# Iss so$ght o$t and too/ 3 t h her An$b s# son of Osrs# and h s
s ster
8e!hte, -e# as 3e ha6e sa d# 3as Sr $s# t he brghtest st ar n the -ea6ens,
After fndng h m# she 3ent to Byblos# and seated hersel f near a fo$nta nG
3here she had learned that t he sacred chest had st o!!ed 3hch conta ned
t he
body of Osr s, There she sat # sad and s lent# sheddng a torrent of t ears,
Th ther came t he 3omen of t he %=$rt of I$een Ast art e# and she s!o/e t o
t hem#
and dressed t he r he r# !o$rng $!on t del c o$sly !erf$med ambrosa,
Th s
/no3n t o t he I$een# Iss 3as engaged as n$rse for her chl d# n t he !alace#
one
of t he col$mns of 3hch 3as made of t he Erca or tamar s/# that had
gro3n $!
o6er the chest cont a nng Osr s# c$t do3n by the Kng# and $n/no3n to
h m#
st l l enclosng the chest( 3h ch col $mn Is s aft er3ard demanded# and from
t
e4tracted the chest and t he body# 3h ch# the lat ter 3ra!!ed n t hn dra!ery
and
!erf$med# she carred a3ay 3t h her,
Bl $e Masonry# gnorant of t s m!ort # st l l ret a ns among ts embl ems one
of a
3oman 3ee! ng o6er a bro/en col $mn# hold ng n her hand a branch of
acaca#
myrt le# or t amars/# 3h l e T me# 3e are t ol d# st ands behnd her comb ng
o$t the
rnglet s of her ha r, ;e need not re!eat t he 6a! d and t r 6al e4!l anat on
t here g6en# of ths re!resentat on of Iss# 3ee!ng at Byblos# o6er the
col$mn
t orn from the !alace of the l 6 ng# that contaned t he body of Osr s# 3hle
-or$s# t he God of T me# !o$rs ambros a on her ha r,
8othng of ths rec tal 3as hstor calG b$t the 3hole 3as an al legory or
sacred fable# conta n ng a mean ng /no3n only to those 3ho 3ere n t ated
nt o
t he Myst er es, Al l the ncdents 3ere ast ronomcal # 3 t h a mean ng st l l
dee!er
lyng behnd t hat e4!lanat on# and so hdden by a do$ble 6e l, The
Myst er es n
3hch these ncdents 3ere re!resented and e4!la ned# 3ere l /e those of
Ele$ss n ther ob5ect # of 3hch Pa$san as# 3ho 3as nt ated# says that
t he
Gree/s# from the remot est ant E$ty# regarded them as the best calc$lat ed
of
al l th ngs to lead ment al ! ety ( and Arst ot le says they 3ere the most
6al$able of all rel g o$s nst ll at ons# and t h$s 3ere cal led mysteres !ar
e4cel l enceG and the Tem!le of Ele$s s 3as regarded as# n some sort# t he
common
sanct $ary of t he 3hol e earth# 3here rel gon had bro$ght together al l that
3as
most m!os ng and most a$g$st,
The ob5 ect of all t he Myst er es 3as t o ns!re men 3 th ! ety# and to
consol e
t hem n t he mseres of l fe, That consolat on# so afforded# 3as the ho!e of
a
ha!! er f$t $re# and of !ast ng# aft er death# t o a stat e of et ernal fel cty,
% cero says t hat the In t ates not only rece6ed l essons 3hch made l fe
more
agreeable# b$t dre3 from the ceremones ha!!y ho!es for the moment of
deat h,
Socrates says that t hose 3ho 3ere so fort $nat e as to be adm tt ed to the
Myst er es# !ossessed# 3hen dy ng# the most gloro$s ho!es for etern ty,
Arst des says t hat they not only !roc$re the Int at es consolat ons n the
!resent l fe# and means of del 6erance from t he great 3eght of the r e6l s#
b$t also the !reco$s ad6antage of !assng after deat h t o a ha!! er st at e,
Iss 3as t he Goddess of Sa sG and the famo$s "east of Lghts 3as
celebrat ed
t here n her honor, There 3ere celebrat ed t he Mysteres# n 3h ch 3ere
re!resented the deat h and s$bseE$ent restorat on t o l fe of the God Osr s#
n
a secret ceremony and scenc re!resentat on of h s s$fferngs# cal led the
Myst er es of 8ght ,
The Kngs of Egy!t often e4erc sed t he f$nct ons of the Prest hoodG and
t hey
3ere nt at ed nto the sacred scence as soon as t hey at taned the t hrone,
So
at Athens# the "rst Magstrat e# or ArchonDK ng# s$!erntended t he
Myst er es, ?
Th s 3as an mage of t he $n on that e4st ed bet3een t he Presthood and
Royal ty#
n t hose early t mes 3hen legslat ors and / ngs so$ght n rel gon a !ot ent
!ol t cal nst r$ment,
-erodot$s says# s!ea/ ng of t he reasons 3hy an mals 3ere de fed n
Egy!t ( @If
I 3ere t o e4!l an t hese reasons# I sho$ld be l ed to the d sclos$re of those
holy mat ters 3hch I !art c$larly 3 sh t o a6o d# and 3hch# b$t from
necess ty#
I sho$l d not lea6e d sc$ssed at al l, @ So he says# @The Egy!t ans ha6e at
Sas
t he t omb of a cert an !ersonage# 3hom I do not t hn/ mysel f !erm t ted to
s!ec fy, It s behnd t he Tem!l e of M ner6a,@ AThe l att er# so call ed by t he
Gree/s# 3as real ly Iss# 3hose 3as t he oft enDc ted engmat cal nscr !t on#
@I
am 3hat 3as and s and s t o come, 8o mort al hat h yet $n6e led me, @B So
aga n
he says( @'!on t h s la/e are re!resent ed by nght t he acc dent s 3hch
ha!!ened
t o h m 3hom I dare not name, The Egy!tans cal l t hem t her Myst er es,
%oncernng these# at t he same t me that I confess mysel f s$ff cent ly
nformed#
I feel mysel f com!el led t o be sl ent , Of the ceremones also n honor of
%eres
I may not 6ent $re t o s!ea/# f$rt her t han the obl gat ons of rel g on 3 ll
al lo3
me, @
It s easy to see 3hat 3as the great ob5ect of n t at on and the Mysteres G
3hose f rst and greatest fr$t 3as# as all t he ancent s test fy# to c6 l <e
sa6age hordes# to soften ther feroc o$s manners# to ntrod$ce among them
soc al nterco$rse# and l ead t hem nt o a 3ay of l fe more 3orthy of men,
% cero
cons ders t he est abl shment of t he EIe$s an Mysteres to be t he greatest
of
al l the beneft s conferred by At hens on ot her common3ealt hs G t her
effect s
9*) ha6 ng been# he says# to c 6l <e men# soften t her sa6age and
feroco$s
manners# _and teach them t he t r$e !rnc!les of morals# 3h ch n t ate man
nt o
t he only / nd of l fe 3orthy of h m, The same !h loso!hc orat or# n a
!assage
3here he a!ostro!h <es %eres and Proser! ne# says that man/ nd o3es
t hese
Goddesses t he frst element s of moral l fe# as 3ell as t he frst means of
s$st enance of !hyscal l fe G /no3ledge of the la3s# reg$l at on of moral s#
and
t hose e4am!les of c 6l <at on 3h ch ha6e m!ro6ed t he manners of men
and
c t es,
Bacch$s n E$r! des says to Penthe$s# that h s ne3 nst t$t on Mthe
D onysan
Myst er esN deser6ed t o be /no3n# and that one of t s great ad6ant ages 3as#
t hat
t !rescr bed al l m!$rty ( t hat these 3ere the Mysteres of ; sdom# of
3hch
t 3o$l d be m!r$dent to s!ea/ to !ersons not n t at ed ( that t hey 3ere
est abl shed among t he Barbar ans# 3ho n t hat sho3ed great er 3sdom
t han the
Gree/s# 3ho had not yet rece6ed t hem,
Th s do$bl e ob5ect # !ol t cal and rel g o$s# Done t each ng o$r d$ty t o men#
and
t he other 3hat 3e o3e to the GodsG or rat her# res!ect for the Gods
calc$lat ed
t o manta n t hat 3hch 3e o3e the la3s# s fo$nd n t hat 3el lD/no3n 6erse
of
Frg l # borro3ed by h m from the ceremones of nt at on ( @Teach me to
res!ect &$st ce and the Gods, @ Ths great lesson# 3hch the - ero!hant
m!ressed on the Int at es# after t hey had 3t nessed a re!resent at on of the
Infernal regons# the Poet !laces after hs descr !t on of t he dfferent
!$n shment s s$ffered by t he 3 c/ed n Tartar$s# and mmed ately after the
descr!t on of t hat of Ssy!h$s,
Pa$san as# l /e3se# at the cl ose of t he re!resentat on of the !$nshment s
of
Ssy!h$s and the da$ghters of Dana$s# n the Tem!le at Del !h# ma/es ths
refl ect on G that t he cr me or m! ety 3h ch n t hem had chefly mer t ed
t h s
!$n shment # 3as t he contem!t 3h ch they had sho3n for t he Myst er es of
Ele$ss,
"rom t h s reflect on of Pa$sanas# 3ho 3as an In tate# t s easy t o see
t hat
t he Prests of Ele$s s# 3ho ta$ght the dogma of !$n shment n Tartar$s#
ncl $ded among t he great cr mes deser6 ng t hese !$n shments# contem!t
for and
dsregard of the -oly Myster esG 3hose ob5 ect 3as to l ead men t o !ety#
and
t hereby t o res!ect for 5$st ce and the la3s# ch ef ob5 ect of ther nst t$t on#
f not t he only one# and t o f6hch the needs and nt erest of rel gon tsel f
3ere s$bordnateG s nce t he l at t er 3as b$t a means to lead more s$rely t o
t he
foyer G for the 3hole force of relgo$s o!nons be ng n the hands of t he
l egslators t o be 3 elded# t hey 3ere s$re of be ng bet ter obeyed,
The Mysteres 3ere not merely s m!le l l $strat ons and the obser6at on of
some
arbt rary form$las and ceremones G nor a means of remndng men of t he
anc ent
cond t on of the race !ror t o c 6 l <at on( b$t t hey led men to ! ety by
nstr$ct on n morals and as to a f$t $re l feG 3hch at a 6ery early day# f
not org nally# formed the ch ef !ort on of t he ceremon al ,
Symbol s 3ere $sed n t he ceremones# 3h ch referred to agrc$l t$re# as
Masonry
has !reser6ed the ear of 3heat n a symbol and n one of her 3ordsG b$t
t her
!r nc !al reference 3as to astronom cal !henomena, M$ch 3as no do$bt
sa d as to
t he cond t on of br$t al ty and degradat on n 3h ch man 3as s$n/ before
t he
nst t $t on of t he Myst er es G b$t the al l $s on 3as rat her met a!hyscal # t o
t he
gnorance of the $n n t ated# t han to the 3 ld l fe of the earlest men,
The great ob5 ect of the Mysteres of Iss# and n general of all the
Myst er es# 3as a great and tr$ly !ol t c one, It 3as to amel orat e o$r race#
t o
!erfect # t s manners and moral s# and t o restra n soc ety by st ronger bonds
t han
t hose that h$man l a3s m!ose, They 3ere the n6ent on of that ancent
sc ence
and 3 sdom 3hch e4ha$sted al l t s reso$rces to ma/e leg slat on !erfect G
and
of t hat !h l oso!hy 3hch has e6er so$ght to sec$re the ha!!ness of man#
by
!$r fyng h s so$l from the !assons 3hch can tro$ble t# and as a
necessary
conseE$ence ntrod$ce soc al dsorder, And t hat they 3ere the 3or/ of
gen $s s
e6dent from the r em!loyment of all the scences# a !rofo$nd /no3ledge
of t he
h$man heart# and the means of s$bd$ ng t ,
It s a st ll greater m sta/e t o mag ne t hat they 3ere t he n6ent ons of
charlat an sm# and means of dece!t on, They may n the la!se of t me ha6e
degenerated nt o m!ost$re and school s of false deasG b$t they 3ere not
so at
t he begnnngG or else t he 3sest and best men of ant E$ ty ha6e $tt ered
t oe
most 3 ll f$l fal sehoods, In !rocess 2f t me the 6ery al legores of the
Myst er es themsel 6es# Tantal $s and t s !$nshment s# Mnos and the ot her
5 $dges
of t he dead, came t o be ms$nderst ood# and to be fal se beca$se t hey 3ere
soG
3hl e at f rst t hey 3ere t r$e# beca$se t hey 3ere recogn <ed as merely the
arbt rary forms n 3h ch tr$ths 3ere en6elo!ed,
The ob5 ect of the Mysteres 3as to !roc$re for man a real fel c ty on eart h
by
t he means of 6rt $eG and to that end he 3as t a$ght t hat h s so$l 3as
mmortal G
and t hat error# sn# and 6ce m$st needs# by an nfle4ble la3# !rod$ce
t her
conseE$ences, The r$de re!resentat ons of !hyscal t ort$re n Tantal $s 3as
b$t
an mage of # the cert an# $na6odable# et ernal conseE$ences that fl o3 by
t he
l a3 of God? s enact ment from t he s n comm t ted and the 6 ce nd$lged n,
The
!oets and myst agog$es l abored t o !ro!agat e these doctr nes of the so$l? s
mmortal ty and t he certa n !$n shment of sn and 6 ce# and t o accred t
t hem
3 th t he !eo!l e# by teachng them the former n t he r !oems# and the lat ter
n
t he sanct$aresG and t hey cl ot hed them 3 th t he charms# t he one of !oetry#
and
t he other of s!ectacles and mag c l l$sons,
They !a nted# a ded by all the reso$rces of art # the 6rt $o$s man? s ha!!y
l f, e aft er deat h# and the horrors of t he frght f$l !r sons dest ned to !$n sh
t he 6c o$s, In t he shades of t he sanct $ares# t hese del ghts and horrors
3ere
e4h b ted as s!ectacles# and the Int at es 3 t nessed rel g o$s dramas#
$nder
t he name of n t at on and mysteres, %$rosty 3as e4ct ed by secrecy# by
t e
dff c$l ty e4!er enced n obt anng admss on# and by t he test s to be
$ndergone, The cand date 3as am$sed by t he 6ar ety of the scenery# the
!om! of
t he decorat ons# the a!!l ances of machnery, Res!ect 3as ns!red by the
gra6ty and dgnty of t he act ors and the ma5 esty of t he ceremonal G and
fear
and ho!e# sadness and delght# 3ere n t $rns e4ct ed,
The -ero!hants# men of nt ell ect# and 3ell $nderstandng the d s!os t on
of
t he !eo!l e and t he art of cont roll ng them# $sed e6ery a!!l ance t o at ta n
t hat
ob5ect # and g6e m!ortance and m!ress 6eness to ther ceremon es, As
t hey
co6ered those ceremones 3 t h t he 6el of Secrecy# so t hey !referred that
8 ght
# sho$ld co6er t hem 3 th t s 3 ngs, Obsc$r ty adds t o m!ress 6eness# and
ass sts ll $s onG and t hey $sed t to !rod$ce an effect $!on t he ast on shed
In t ate, The ceremones 3ere cond$cted n ca6erns d mly l ght ed ( t h c/
gro6es
3ere !l ant ed aro$nd the Tem!l es# to !rod$ce that gloom that m!resses t he
mnd
3 th a rel go$s a3e,
The 6ery 3ord mystery# accordng to Demet r $s Phalere$s# 3as a
meta!horcal
e4!ress on t hat denot ed the secret a3e 3hch dar/ness and gloom ns!red,
The
nght 3as al most al3ays t he t me f 4ed for ther celebrat on G and they
3ere
ord narly t ermed noct $rnal ceremones, In t at ons nto the Mysteres of
Samothrace t oo/!lace at nght G as d d t hose of Iss# of 3h ch A!$le $s
s!ea/s,
E$r!des ma/es Bacch$s say# that hs Myst er es 3ere celebrated at n ght #
beca$se there s n nght somet h ng a$g$st and m!os ng, 8ot hng e4ct es
men? s
c$r osty so m$ch as Mystery# conceal ng t hngs 3h ch t hey des re t o /no3
( and
nothng so m$ch ncreases c$r osty as obst acles t hat nter!ose to !re6ent
t hem
fro3n nd$lg ng n the grat fcat on of the r desres, Of th s t he
Leg slat ors
and - ero!hants t oo/ ad6ant age# t o at t ract the !eo!le t o the r sanct $ar es#
and
t o nd$ce t hem to see/ to obt a n lessons from 3hch t hey 3o$l d !erha!s
ha6e
t $rned a3ay 3 th nd fference# f they had been !ressed $!on them, In ths
s!rt of mystery t hey !rofessed to mt at e the Dety 3ho hdes - msel f
from
o$r senses# and conceals from $s t he s!r ngs by 3hch -e mo6es the
'n6erse,
They adm tt ed that t hey concealed t he hghest t r$ths $nder the 6el of
al legory# t he more t o e4ct e t he c$r os ty of men# and t o $rge t hem t o
n6est gat on, The secrecy n 3hch they b$red t her Myster es# had t hat
end,
Those to 3hom they 3ere conf ded# bo$nd themsel6es# by t he most fearf$l
oaths#
ne6er to re6eal _them, They 3ere not all o3ed e6en to s!ea/ of these
m!ort ant
secret s 3 th any ot hers than t he n t ated G and the !enal ty of deat h 3as
!rono$nced aga nst any one nd screet eno$gh to re6eal them# or fo$nd n
t he
Tem!le 3t ho$t be ng an Int at eG and any one 3ho had betrayed t hose
secret s#
3as a6o ded by al l# as e4comm$ncat ed,
Arst ot l e 3as acc$sed of m!ety# by t he -ero!hant E$rymendon# for
ha6ng
sacrfced to the manes of hs 3fe# accord ng t o the r te $sed n the
3orsh!
of %eres, -e 3as com!el led t o flee to %halcs G and t o !$rge h s memory
from
t h s sta n# he drected# by h s 3 ll # the erect on of a St at $e to t hat
Goddess,
Socrates# dy ng# sacr fced t o Esc$l a! $s# to e4c$l !at e h mself from t he
s$s!c on of Athesm, A !rce 3as set on the head of Dagoras beca$se he
had
d6$lged the Secret of t he Myst er es, Andocdes 3as acc$sed of t he same
cr me#
as 3as Alc bades# and both 3ere c t ed t o ans3er the charge before t he
nE$s t on at At hens# 3here t he Peo!le 3ere t he &$dges( Aeschyl $s t he
Tragedan 3as acc$sed of ha6ng re!resented the Mysteres on the, stage G
and
3as acE$ tted only on !ro6ng that he had ne6er been nt ated,
Seneca# com!ar ng Ph loso!hy t o n t at on# says that t he most sacred
ceremones co$l d be /no3n to the ada!ts al one ( b$t t hat man of t her
!rece!t s
3ere /no3n e6en to t he Profane, S$ch 9*7 3as t he case 3t h the doct r ne
of a
f$t $re l fe# and a state of re3ards and !$n shment s beyond t he gra6e, The
anc ent legslat ors cl othed t h s doctrne n t he !om! of a myster o$s
ceremony#
n myst c 3ords and mag cal re!resentat ons# to m!ress $!on the m nd t he
t r$ths they t a$ght # by t he strong nfl$ence of s$ch scenc d s!l ays $!on the
senses and mag nat on,
In t he same 3ay they t a$ght t he orgn of t he so$l# t s fall t o t he earth !ast
t he s!heres and thro$gh t he el ements# and t s f nal ret$rn to the !l ace of
ts
orgn# 3hen# d$rng the cont n$ance of t s $non 3t h earthly matt er# the
sacred fre# 3hch formed t s essence# had contracted no sta ns# and t s
brghtness had not been marred by foregn !art cl es# 3hch# denat $ral <ng
t#
3eghed t do3n and del ayed t s ret$rn, These met a!hys cal deas# 3t h
dff c$l ty com!rehended by the mass of the Int at es# 3ere re!resented by
fg$res# by symbols# and by allegor cal analogesG no dea be ng so
abst ract
t hat men do not see/ t o g 6e t e4!ress on by# and t ransl ate t nt o#
sens bl e
mages,
The attract on of Secrecy 3as enhanced by t he dff c$l ty of obta n ng
adm ss on, Obstacl es and s$s!ense redo$bl ed c$ros ty, Those 3ho as!red
t o t he
n t at on of the S$n and n the Myst eres of Math as n Persa# $nder3ent
many
t r als, _rhey commenced by easy tests and arr6ed by degrees at those that
3ere
most cr$el# n 3hch the l fe of the canddat e 3as oft en endangered,
Gregory
8a< an<en t erms t hem tort $res and myst c !$nshment s, 8o one cal l be
n t ated#
says S$ das# $nt l aft er he has !ro6en# by the most terr ble tral s# t hat he
!ossesses a 6 rt $o$s so$l # e4em!t from the s3ay of e6ery !asson# and at t
3ere m!ass ble, There 3ere t 3el6e !rnc!al t est sG and some ma/e t he
n$mber
l arger,
The tral s of t he Ele$snan nt at ons 3ere not so terrble G b$t they 3ere
se6ere G and t he s$s!ense# abo6e all n 3hch the as!rant 3as /e!t for
se6eral
years At he memory of 3hch s reta ned n Masonry by the ages of t hose of
t he
dfferent Degrees B# or t he nt er6al bet3een adm ss on to the nfer or and
n t at on n the great Myst er es# 3as a s!eces of tort $re t o t he c$r osty
3hch t 3as desred t o e4c te, Th$s the Egy!t an Prest s t r ed Pyt hagoras
before admt t ng h m t o /no3 t he secrets of the sacred sc ence, -e
s$cceeded#
by h s ncredble !at ence and t he co$rage 3t h 3h ch he s$rmo$nted al l
obstacl es# n obt an ng adm sson t o the r socety and rece6ng ther
l essons,
Among the &e3s# t he Essenes admt ted none among them# $nt l t hey had
!assed the
t ests or se6eral Degrees,
By n t at on# t hose 3ho before 3ere fel lo3Dc t <ens only# became
brot hers#
connect ed by a cl oser bond t han before# by means, of a rel g o$s fratern ty#
3hch# br ngng men nearer t oget her# $n ted t hem more st rongly ( and the
3ea/
and t he !oor co$ld more read ly a!!eal for assst ance t o t he !o3erf$l and
t he
3eal thy# 3 th 3hom rel g o$s assocat on ga6e them a closer fell o3sh !,
The Int at e 3as regarded as t he fa6or te of the Gods, "or h m al one
-ea6en
o!ened t s t reas$res, "ort$nate d$rng l fe# he co$l d# by 6rt$e and t he
fa6or
of -ea6en# !rom se h msel f aft er death an eternal fel c ty,
The Prest s of t he Isl and of Samot hrace !rom sed fa6orabl e 3 nds and
!ros!ero$s 6oyages to t hose 3ho 3er n t ated, It 3as !rom sed t hem that
t he
%ABIRI# and %ast or and Pol l$4# the D osc$r# sho$ld a!!ear to them 3hen
t he
st orm raged# and g6e them cal ms and smooth seas( and t he Schol ast of
Arst o!hanes says t hat t hose n t ated n t he Mysteres t here 3ere 5$st
men#
3ho 3ere !r 6l eged to esca!e from great e6l s and t em!est s,
The Int at e n t he Myst er es of Or!he$s# after he 3as !$r f ed# 3as
cons dered as rel eased from the em! re of e6 l# and transferred t o a
cond t on
of l fe 3h ch ga6e h m t he ha!! est ho!es, @I ha6e emerged from e6 ls? J he
3as
made t o say# Rand ha6e at ta ned good,@ Those n t ated n t he Myster es of
Ele$ss bel e6ed that t he S$n bla<ed 3 th a !$re s!lendor for them alone,
And#
as 3e see n t he case of Percl es# t hey flattered themsel 6es that %eres and
Proser! ne ns!red them and ga6e them 3 sdom and co$nsel ,
In t at on d ss!at ed errors and ban shed msfort $ne and aft er ha6ng f ll ed
t he heart of man 3 th 5 oy d$rng l fe# t ga6e h m t he most bl ssf$l ho!es
at
t he moment of da ;e o3e t t o the Goddesses of Ele$s s# says Socrat es#
t hat 3e
do not lead the 3 ld l fe of the earl est men ( and t o t hem are d$e the
flat t erng ho!es 3hch n t at on g 6es $s for the moment of deat h and for
al l
et ernty, The beneft 3h ch 3e rea! from t hese a$g$st ceremones# says
Arst des# s not only !resent 5 oy# a del 6erance and enfranch sement from
t he
old l ls G b$t al so t he s3eet ho!e 3hch 3e ha6e n_ death of !ass ng t o a
more
fort$nate st ate, And Theon says t hat !art c!at on of the Mysteres s the
fnest of all thngs# and t he so$rce of the great est bless ngs, The ha!! ness
!romsed t here 3as not l m ted to ths mortal l fe G b$t t e4t ended beyond
t he
gra6e, There a ne3 l fe 3as to commence# d$r ng 3hch t he In t ate 3as to
en5oy
a bl ss 3 t ho$t al loy and 3 tho$t l m t, The %orybantes !romsed eternal
l fe
t o t he Int at es of t he Myst er es of %ybele and Atys,
A!$le$s re!resent s L$c $s# 3h le st l l n the form of an ass# as addressng
hs !rayers t o Iss# 3hom be s!ea/s of as t he same as %eres# Fen$s# Dana#
and
Proser! ne# and as ll $mnat ng t he 3al ls of many c tes s m$l t aneo$sly
3 th
her fem n ne l $st re# and s$bst t $t ng her E$6er ng l ght for t he brght rays
of t he S$n, She a!!ears t o h m n hs 6s on as a bea$t f$l femal e# @o6er
3hose
d6 ne nec/ her long t h c/ ha r h$ng n gracef$l rnglets@ Addressng h m#
she
says# @The !arent of 'n 6ersal nat $re at tends thy cal l, The mst ress of the
Element s# n t at 6e germ of generat ons# S$!reme of De t es# I$een of
de!art ed
s!rt s# f rst nhab tant of -ea6en# and $n form ty!e of all t he Gods and
Goddesses# !ro! t ated by thy !rayers# s 3 th thee, She go6erns 3 th her
nod
t he l $mno$s heghts of the f rmament# the sal $bro$s bree<es of the
oceanG the
s lent de!lorable de!t hs of t he shades belo3 G one Sole D6nt y $nder
ma<y
forms# 3orsh !!ed by the d fferent nat ons of the Eart h $nder many t tles#
and
3 th 6ar o$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 t he ent re co$rse of t he rema nder of t hy l fe# $nt l
t he 6ery last breath has 6an shed from t hy l !s# tho$ art de6oted t o my
ser6ce
'nder my !rotect on 3l l thy l fe be ha!!y and glor o$s( and 3hen# t hy,
days
beng s!ent # t ho$ shal l descend to t he shades bel o3# and nhabt
t he Elysan f el ds# t here also# e6en n t he s$bt erranean hem s!here# shal l
t ho$
!ay freE$ent 3orsh ! fo me# thy !ro! t o$s !at ron ( and yet f$rt her ( f
t hro$gh sed$l o$s obedence# rel go$s de6ot on t o my m nst ry# and
n6 ol abl e
chast ty# t ho$ shal l !ro6e t hyself a 3ort hy ob5 ect of d6ne fa6or# then
shal l
t ho$ fell the nfl $ence of t he !o3er that I alone !ossess, The n$mber of
t hy
days shal l be !rol onged beyond the ord nary decrees of fat e,@ In t he
!rocess on
of t he fest 6al # L$c$s sa3 t he mage of the Goddess# on e ther sde of
3hch
3ere femal e att endants# that# @3 th 6ory combs n ther hands# made
bele6e#
by t he mot on of t he r arms and the d 6est ng of ther f ngers# t o comb and
ornament t he Goddess? royal har,@ After3ard# cl ad n l nen robes# came
t he
n t ated# @The har of the 3omen 3as mo stened by !erf$me# and
en6elo!ed n a trans!arent co6er ngG b$t the men# terrestral stars# as t
3ere# of the great rel g on# 3ere t horo$ghly sha6en# and t her bald heads
shone
e4ceed ngly, @ Aft er3ard came t he Pr est s# n robes of 3hte l nen, The
frst
bore a lam! n the form of a boat # emt t ng fl ame from an or f ce n t he
mddle
( t he second# a smal l alt ar ( t he th rd# a gol den !al mtree ( and the fo$rth
ds!l ayed the f g$re of a l eft hand# the !al m o!en and e4!anded#
@re!resent ng
t hereby a symbol of eE$ty and fa rDdeal ng# of 3hch t he l eft hand# as
sl o3er
t han the r ght hand# and more 6o d of s/ l l and craft # s t herefore an
a!!ro!rate emblem, @
After L$c$s had# by the grace of Is s# reco6ered hs h$man form# t he
Prest
sa d t o h m# @%alam ty hath no hold on those 3hom o$r Goddess hat h
chosen for
her ser6ce# and 3hom her ma5 esty hat h 6ndcat ed,@ And the !eo!le
decl ared
t hat he 3as fort $nat e t o be @t h$s aft er a manner born aga n# and at once
betrot hed t o the ser6 ce of t he -oly Mnst ry,@
;hen he $rged the %h ef Prest t o n t at e h m# he 3as ans3ered that there
3as
not @a s ngle one among t he n t ated# of a m nd so degraded# or so bent on
hs
o3n destr$ct on# as# 3t ho$t rece 6 ng a s!ecal command from Is s# t o
dare t o
$nderta/e her m n stry rashly and sacr leg o$sly# and t hereby comm t an
act
certa n t o br ng $!on h msel f a dreadf$l n5$ry,@ @"or@ cont n$ed t he %hef
Prest# , S t he gates of t he shades bel o3# and the care of o$r l fe be ng n the
hands of the Goddess# Dthe ceremony of nt at on nt o t he Mysteres s# as
t
3ere# t o s$ffer deat h# 3t h the !recaro$s chance of res$sct at on,
;herefore
t he Goddess# n t he 3 sdom of her d 6nty# hath been acc$stomed to select
as
!ersons to 3hom the secret s of her rel gon can 3 th !ro!rety be
entr$sted#
t hose 3ho# stand ng as t 3ere on the $t most l mt of t he co$rse of l fe
t hey
ha6e com!l eted# may t hro$gh her Pro6dence be n a manner born agan#
and
commence t he career of a ne3 e4 stence, @ ;hen he 3as f nal ly to be
n t ated#
he 3as cond$ct ed to the nearest baths# and aft er ha6 ng bathed# the Prest
frst sol c t ed forg 6eness of the Gods# and t hen s!r n/led h m al l o6er
3 th
t he cl earest and !$rest 3ater# and cond$cted h m bac/ to t he Tem!l eG
@3here# @
says A!$le $s# @after g6 ng me some nst r$ct on# t hat mort al tong$e s not
!erm tt ed t2 re6eal # he bade me for the s$cceed ng t en days restran my
a!!et te# eat no an mal food# and drn/ no 3ne, @
These t en days el a!sed# the Pr est led h m nt o t he nmost recesses of the
Sanct $ary, @And here# st $do$s reader#@ he cont n$es @!erad6ent $re tho$
3 lt be
s$ffcently an4o$s to /no3 al l that 3as sa d and done# 3hch# 3ere t
l a3f$l
t o d6$lge# I 3o$ld? t ell t heeG and# 3ert t ho$ !erm t ted to hear# tho$
sho$l dst
/no3, 8e6erthel ess# al tho$gh the d sclos$re 3o$ld aff 4 the !enal ty of
rash
c$r osty t o my tong$e as 3el l as t hy ears# yet 3l l I# for fear tho$ sho$l dst
be too l ong torment ed 3 t h relgo$s long ng# and s$ffer the !a n of
!rot ract ed
s$s!ense# tel l t he tr$t h not3t hstandng, Lsten then t o 3hat I shal l rel at e,
I a!!roached the abode of deat hG 3 th my foot I !ressed t he t hreshol d of
Proser! ne? s Pal ace, I 3as trans!ort ed t hro$gh t he el ement s# and
cond$ct ed bac/
aga n, At m dnght I sa3 the brght l ght of t he s$n sh n ng, I stood n the
!resence of t he Gods# t he Gods of -ea6en and of the Shades belo3G ay#
st ood
cl ear and 3ors/!!ed, And no3 ha6e I tol d t hee s$ch th ngs that # hear ng#
t ho$
necessarly canst not $nderst and G and be ng beyond the com!rehenson of
t he
Profane# I can en$ncat e 3 tho$t comm tt ng a cr me, @ After nght had
!assed#
and t he mornng had da3ned# the $s$al ceremones 3ere at an end, Then
he 3as
consecrated by t 3el6e stoles beng !$t $!on h m# cl othed# cro3ned 3t h
!al ml ea6es# and e4hbted t o the !eo!le, The rema nder of t hat day 3as
celebrat ed as h s b rt hday and !assed n fest 6 t esG and on the thrd day
after3ard# t he same relgo$s ceremon es 3ere re!eated# ncl $d ng a
rel go$s
brea/fast# @fol lo3ed by a f nal cons$mmat on of ceremones, @
A year after3ard# he 3as 3arned to !re!are, for nt at on nt o t he
Myst er es
of @the Great God# S$!reme Parent of all t he other Gods# the n6 ncble
Os r s,@ @"or# @ says A!$l e$s# @alt ho$gh t here s a strct connect on
bet3een
t he rel gons of bot h De t es# A8D EFE8 T-E ESSE8%E O" BOT-
DIFI8ITIES IS
IDE8TI%AL# t he ceremones of the res!ect 6e n t at ons are consderably
dfferent , @
%om!are 3 t h t h s h nt the foll o3 ng lang$age of t he !rayer of L$c $s#
addressed to Iss G and 3e may 5$dge 3hat doctr nes 3ere ta$ght n the
Myst er es# n regard t o t he De ty( @O -oly and Per!et $al Preser6er of the
-$man
Race O e6er ready t o chersh mortals by Thy m$n fcence# and t o afford
Thy
s3eet mat ernal affect on to the 3retched $nder m sfort $ne G ;hose bo$nty
s
ne6er at rest# ne ther by day nor by nght# nor t hro$gho$t t he 6ery mn$t est
!art cl e of d$rat onG Tho$ 3ho st retchest fort h Thy heal thDbearng rght
hand
o6er the land and o6er the sea for the !rot ect on of man/ nd# to d s!erse
t he
st orms of l fe# to $nra6el t he ne4trcable entanglement of the 3eb of fat e#
t o
m t gat e t he t em!est s of fort$ne# and restran t he malgnant nflences of
t he
st ars# Dthe Gods n -ea6en adore Thee# the Gods n the shades bel o3 do
Thee
homage# t/e stars obey Thee# t he D 6 n t es re5 o ce n Thee# the element s
and
t he re6ol6 ng seasons ser6e TheeO At Thy nod the ; nds breat he# clo$ds
gat her#
seeds gro3# b$ds germnateG n obed ence t o Thee the Eart h 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 at ed nt o t he noct $rnal Mysteres of Osrs and Sera!s(
and
after3ard nto t hose of %eres at Rome( b$t of the ceremon es n t hese
n t at ons# A!$l e$s says nothng, 'nder the Archonsh ! of E$cl d#
bast ards
and sl a6es 3ere e4cl$ded from n t at on G and the same e4cl $s on
obta ned
aga nst the Mater al st s or E! c$reans 3ho dened Pro6dence and
conseE$ently
t he $t l ty of n t at on, By a nat $ral !rogress# t came at length to be
cons dered that t he gates of Elys$m 3o$l d o!en only for t he In t ates#
3hose
so$ls had been !$rfed and regenerated n t he sanct $ares, B$t t 3as
ne6er
held# on t he other hand# that n t at on alone s$ffced, ;e learn from
Plat o#
t hat t 3as also necessary for t he so$l to be !$rf ed from e6ery st a n( and
t hat the !$r f cat on necessary 3as s$ch as ga6e 6rt$e# t r$th# 3sdom#
st rengt h# 5$st ce# and t em!erance,
Ent rance to t he Tem!les 3as forb dden to al l 3ho had comm t ted
hom cde# e6en
f t 3ere n6ol $ntary, So t s stated by both Isocrat es and Theon,
Mag c ans
and %harlatans 3ho made trc/ery a trade# and m!ost ors !retend ng t o be
!ossessed by e6 l s!r ts# 3ere e4cl $ded from t he sanct $ares, E6ery
m!o$s
!erson and cr m nal 3as re5ect ed G and Lam!rd $s st ates that before t he
celebrat on of t he Mysteres# !$bl c not ce 3as g6en# t hat none need
a!!ly to
enter b$t t hose aganst 3hom ther conscences $tt ered no re!roach# and
3ho
3ere certa n of t he r o3n nnocence,
It 3as reE$ red of t he Int at e that hs heart and hands sho$l d be free from
any st a n, Por!hyry says that man? s so$l # at deat h# sho$ld be enfranch sed
from
al l the !assons# from hat e# en6y# and t he othersG and# n a 3ord# be as
!$re
as t s reE$red t o be n t he Mysteres, Of co$rse t s not s$r!r sng that
!arrc des and !er/ 5$rors# and others 3ho had comm t ted cr mes aga nst
God or
man# co$l d not be adm t t ed,
In t he Mysteres of M t hras# a l ect$re 3as re!eat ed to the In tate on t he
s$b5ect of &$st ce, And t he great moral, Lesson of t he Myst er es# t o 3hch
al l
t her myst c ceremonal t ended# e4!ressed n a s ngl e l ne by Frgl # 3as to
!ract ce &$st ce and re6ere the Dety# Dth$s recall ng men to 5 $st ce# by
connect ng t 3 th t he 5 $st ce of t he Gods# 3ho reE$ re t and !$n sh t s
nfract on, The In tate co$ld as! re to the fa6ors of t he Gods# only
beca$se
and 3hle he res!ect ed t he rghts of socety and t hose of h$man ty, @The
s$n# @
says the chor$s of Int at es n Ar st o!hanes# @b$rns 3 th a !$re l ght for $s
al one# 3ho# adm t t ed t o the? Myster es# obser6e the la3s of ! ety n o$r
nterco$rse 3t h st rangers and o$r fel lo3Dc t <ens, @ The re3ards of
n t at on
3ere at tached to t he !ract ce of t he# socal 6 rt$es, It 3as not eno$gh t o be
n t ated merely, It 3as necessary to be fat hf$l to t he l a3s of n t at on#
3hch m!osed on men d$t es n regard to t her /nd, Bacch$s all o3ed
none to
!art c !ate n h s Mysteres# b$t men 3ho !erformed t o t he r$l es of !ety
and
5 $st ce, Sens b l ty# abo6e al l # and com!asson for the m sfort$nes of
others#
3ere !reco$s 6rt$es# 3hch nt at on stro6e t o enco$rage, @8at$re#@ says
&$6enal @has created $s com!ass onat e# s nce t has endo3ed $s 3t h tears,
Sens b l ty s t he most admrabl e of o$r senses, ;hat man s t r$ly 3orthy
of
t he t orch of the MysteresG 3ho s$ch as t he Pr est of %eres reE$res h m to
be#
f he regards the m sfort $nes of ot hers as 3hol ly foregn to h msel fJ@
Al l 3ho had not $sed t her endea6ors t o defeat a cons! racy#
and t hose 3ho had on the cont rary foment ed oneG t hose c t <ens 3ho had
betrayed
t her co$nt ry# 3ho had s$rrendered an ad6ant ageo$s !ost or !lace# or the
6essel s of t he State# to the enemyG all 3ho had s$!!l ed the enemy 3 th
moneyG
and n general # al l 3ho had come short of ther d$t es as honest men and
good
c t <ens, # 3ere e4cl$ded from the Mysteres of Ele$s s, To be admt ted
t here#
one m$st ha6e l 6ed eE$ tably# and 3 t h s$ffcent good fort $ne not t o be
regarded as hat ed by t he Gods,
Th$s the Socety of the Int at es 3as# n t s !r nc !le# and accord ng t o t he
t r$e !$r!ose of ts nst t $t on# a soc ety of 6 rt $o$s men# 3ho labored to
free
t her so$ls from t he tyranny of the !assons# and to de6el o! the germ of all
t he soc al 6 rt $es# And t h s 3as t he mean ng of t he dea# after3ard
ms$nderst ood# that entry nt o Elys$m 3as only al lo3ed to the Int at es (
beca$se ent rance to the sanct $ar es 3as all o3ed to the 6 rt $o$s only# and
Elys$m 3as created for 6 rt $o$s so$ls al one,
The !rec se nat $re and det al s of t he doctrnes as t o a f$t $re l fe# and
re3ards and !$nshment s t here# de6elo!ed n the Mysteres# s n a
meas$re
$ncert an, Ltt le drect nformat on n regard t o t has corme do3n to $s,
8o
do$bt# n t he ceremones# there 3as a scenc re!resent at on of Tant al$s and
t he
5 $dgment of t he dead# resembl ng t hat 3hch 3e f nd n F rgl ( b$t t here
s as
l t tl e do$bt hat t hese re!resent at ons 3ere e4!la ned to be allegor cal, It
s
not o$r !$r!ose here t o re!eat t he descr !t ons g6en ;e are only
concerned
3 th t he great fact that t he Mysteres t a$ght t he doctr ne of t he so$l? s
mmortal ty# and t hat# n some sha!e# s$fferng# !a n# remorse# and agony#
e6er
fol l o3 sn as ts conseE$ences,
-$man ceremon es are ndeed b$t m!erfect symbolsG and the alt ernate
ba!t sms
n fre and 3ater ntended to !$r fy $s nt o mmortal ty# are e6er n# th s
3orl d nt err$!t ed at t he moment of t her ant c!ated com!let on, Lfe ts a
mrror 3hch refl ects only t o dece 6e# a t ss$e !er!et$ally, Int err$!t ed and
bro/en# an $rn fore6er fed# yet ne6er f$l),
Al l n t at on s b$t nt rod$ct ory t o the great change of deat h, Ba!t sm#
anont ng# embal m ng# obseE$ es by b$r al or fre# are !re!aratory
symbol s#
l /e the n t at on of -erc$les before descendng t o t he Shades# !ont ng
o$t
t he mental change 3hch o$ght to !rece:e t he rene3al of e4st ence, Death
s t he
t r$e nt at on# to 3h ch sl ee! s t he nt rod$ct ory or mnor mystery, It s
t he
fnal r te 3hch $nted t he Egy!tan 3 th h s God# and 3hch o!ens t he
same
!romse to all 3ho are d$ly !re!ared for t ,
The body 3as deemed a !rson for t he so$lG b$t the lat ter 3as not
condemned to
et ernal banshment and m!r sonment , The "at her of t he ;orl ds !ermt s ts
cha ns to be bro/en# and has !ro6ded n the co$rse of 8at $re the means of
ts
esca!e, It 3as a doctrne of mmemoral ant E$ ty# shared al /e by
Egy!t ans#
Pyt hagoreans# the Or!hc # and by t hat characterst c Bacch$s Sage# @the
Prece!tor of the So$l# @ S lence# t hat deat h s far bett er than l feG t hat t he
real death bel ongs to those 3ho on earth are mmersed n t he Lethe of t s
!ass ons and fasc nat ons# and t hat the tr$e l fe commences only 3hen the
so$l
s emanc!ated for ts ret $rn,
And n th s sense# as !resdng o6er l fe and deat h# D onys$s s n the
hghest sense the LIBERATOR ( Snce# l /e Osrs# he frees the so$l# and
g$des
t n t s m grat ons beyond t he gra6e# !reser6 ng t from t he rs/ of aga n
fall ng $nder the sl a6ery of mat ter or of some nfer or an mal form# the
!$rgat ory of Met em!sychos s G and e4alt ng and !erfect ng t s nat $re
t hro$gh
t he !$r fyng d sc!l ne of hs Mysteres, @The great cons$mmat on of all
!hl oso!hy# @ sad Socrates# !rofessedly E$ot ng from t radt onal and
myst c
so$rces# @ s Deat h( -e 3ho !$rs$es !hl oso!hy arght # s st$dyng ho3 t o
de, @
Al l so$l s !art of the 'n6ersal So$l # 3hose t otalty s Donys$sG and t s
t herefore he 3ho# as S! r t of S!r ts# leads bac/ the 6agrant s! r t to t s
home# and accom!an es t t hro$gh t he !$r fyng !rocesses# both real and
symbol cal # of t s earthly t hanst , -e s t herefore em!hat cal ly the Myst c
or
- ero!hant# the great S! r t $al Medat or of Gree/ rel gon,
The h$man so$l s t self demon os a God 3 thers t he m nd# ca!abl e
t hro$gh t s
o3n !o3er of r6al ng t he canon <at on of t he -ero# of ma/ng tsel f
mmortal
by t he !ract ce of t he good# and t he contem!lat on of the bea$t f$l and
t r$e,
The remo6al t o t he -a!!y Isl ands co$l d only be $nderst ood mythcal lyG
e6eryt h ng eart hly m$st d eG Man# l /e OEd !$s# s 3o$nded from hs
brth# hs
real m elys$m can e4 st only beyond t he gra6e, Donys$s ded and
descended to
t he shades, -s !ass on 3as t he great Secret of the Mysteres G as Death s
t he
Grand Mystery of e4 st ence, - s deat h# ty!cal of 8at $re? s Death# or of her
!er od cal decay and rest orat on# eras one of the many symbols of the
!al ngenesa or second b rth of man,
Man descended from t he el emental "orces or Tt ans AEl oh mB# 3ho fed on
t he
body of the Pant hest c Dety creat ng t he 'n6erse by sel fDsacr fce#
commemorates n sacramental obser6ance t hs myst er o$s !asson G and
3hl e
!arta/ng of t he ra3 flesh of t he 6ct m# seems to be n6gorated by a fresh
dra$ght from the fo$nt an of $n6ersal l fe# to rece 6e a ne3 !ledge of
regenerat ed e4st ence, Death s the nse!arable antecedent of l feG t he seed
l es n order to !rod$ce the !l ant # and earth shelf s rent as$nder and des
at t he brth of D on$sos, -ence t he sgnfcancy of t he !hal l $s# or of t s
noffens6e s$bst t$t e# the obel s/# rs ng as an emblem of res$rrect on by
t he
t omb of b$red Dety at Lerna or t Sas,
D onys$sDOr!he$s descended to the Shades to reco6er the lost F rgn of
t he
Hod ac# t o br ng bac/ hs mot her t o t he s/y as ThyoneG or 3hat has t he
same
mean ng# t o cons$mmat e hs e6entf$l marrage 3t h Perse!hone# t hereby
sec$rng#
l /e the n$!t al s of h s father 3 th Semel e or Danae# t he !er!et $ ty of
8at $re,
- s $nderDearth off ce s t he de!ress on of the year# the 3ntry as!ect n
t he
al ternat ons of b$l l and ser!ent # 3hose $n ted_ ser es ma/es $! the
cont n$ty
of T me# and n 3hrl s# !hyscal ly s!ea/ ng# the stash and dar/ are e6er
t he
!arent s of t he bea$t f$l and brght ,
t he Myst er es ( t he h$man s$fferer 3as consoled by 3 tness ng t he se6erer
t r als of the GodsG and t he 6c ss t $des of l fe and death# e4!ressed by
a!!os te symbols# s$ch as the sacr f ce or s$bm sson of the B$ll # the
e4t nct on and reD ll $mnat on of the torch# e4ct ed corres!ond ng
emot ons of
al ternate gr ef and 5oy# that !l ay of !ass on 3hch 3as !resent at t he orgn
of 8at$re# and 3hch accom!an es all her changes,
The greater Ele$snae 3ere celebrat ed n t he month Boedromon# 3hen
t he seed
3as b$red n t he gro$nd# and 3hen the year# 6erg ng to t s decl ne#
ds!oses
t he mnd t o ser o$s reflect on, The f rst days of t he ceremonal 3ere
!assed n
sorro3 and an4 o$s sl ence# n fast ng and e4!at ory or l $st ral offces, On
a
s$dden# t he scene 3as changed ( sorro3 and lament at on 3ere dscarded#
t he glad
name of Bacch$s !assed from mo$t h t o mo$t h# t he mage of the God#
cro3ned 3 th
myrt le and bear ng a l ght ed t orch# 3as borne n # 5 oyf$l !rocess on from
t he
%eram c$s t o El e$ss# 3here# d$rng t hee ens$ng nght# t he n tat on 3as
com!l eted by an m!osng re6elat on, The frst scene 3as n the !aonaos#
or
o$ter co$rt of t he sacred enclos$re# 3here am dst $t t er dar/ness# or 3h le
t he
medt at ng God# t he st ar l l $m nat ng the 8oct $rnal Mystery# alone carr ed
an
$ne4t ng$ shed torch# the canddat es 3ere o6era3ed 3 th terr f c so$nds
and
noses# 3h le they !a nf$l ly gro!ed t her 3ay# as n t he gloomy ca6ern of
t he
so$l? s s$b l$nar mgrat on G a scene 5$stly com!ared t o the !assage of t he
Fall ey of the Shado3 of Deat h, "or by the mm$table la3 e4em!l f ed n
t he
t r als of Psyche# man m$st !ass thro$gh t he terrors of t he $nderD3orld#
before
he can reach t he heght of -ea6en, At lengt h t he gates of t he adyt $m 3ere
t hro3n o!en# a s$!ernat $ral l ght st reamed from the l l$m nated stat$e 917
of t he Goddess# and enchant ng s ght s and so$nds# m ngl ed 3t h songs and
dances# e4alt ed the comm$ncant t o a ra!t $re of s$!reme fel cty#
real <ng# as
far as sens$o$s magery co$ld de! ct# t he ant c !at ed re$non 3 th the
Gods,
In t he deart h of d rect e6 dence as to t he det al of the ceremones enacted#
or of the meanngs connect ed 3t h t hem# t he r tendency m$st be nferred
from
t he characterst cs of the contem!l at ed det es 3t h the r accessory
symbol s
and myth# or from drect test mony as to t he 6al $e of the
Myst er es generally, The ordnary !henomena of 6eget at on# t he deat h of
t he
seed n
g 6 ng b rth to t he !l ant # connect ng the s$bl mest ho!es 3 th t he !l a nest
occ$rrences# 3as the s m!l e yet bea$t f$l form$la ass$med by the great
mystery
n al most all rel g ons# from t he HendDA6esta t o the Gos!el , As Proser!ne#
t he
d6 ne !o3er s as t he seed decay ng and dest royedG as Art em s# she s the
!r nc !le of t s dest r$ct on G b$t Art em s Proser! ne s al so %ore Sotera#
t he
Sa6 o$r# 3ho l eads t he S! r ts of -erc$les and -yacnth$s to -ea6en,
Many ot her
emblems 3ere em!l oyed n the Mysteres# Das t he do6e# t he myrtleD3reath#
and
others# all sgnfcant of l fe r s ng, o$t of deat h# and of t he eE$ 6ocal
cond t on of dyng yet mmortal man,
The horrors and !$n shments of Tant al$s# as descr bed n the Phaedo and
t he
AEne d# 3 th a)) t he ceremon es of the 5$dgments of Mnos# Eac$s# and
Rhadamanth$s# 3ere re!resented# somet mes more and somet mes less
f$l ly# n the
Myst er esG n order to m!ress $!on the m nds of the In t at es t h s great
l esson# Dt hat 3e sho$l d be e6er !re!ared t o a!!ear before t he S$!reme
&$dge#
3 th a heart !$re and s!otl ess G as Socrates t eaches n the Gorgas, "or t he
so$l sta ned 3t h cr mes# he says# to descend to t he Shades# s the b tt erest
ll , To adhere to &$st ce and ; sdom# Plat o hol ds# s o$r d$ty# t hat 3e may
some day ta/e t hat lofty road that l eads t o3ard t he hea6ens# and a6od
most of
, the e6 ls to 3h ch t he so$l s e4!osed n t s s$bterranean 5 o$rney of a
t ho$sand years, And so n t he Phaedo# Socrat es teaches that 3e sho$ld
see/ here
belo3 to free o$r so$l of t s !assons# n order to be ready to ent er o$r
a!!earance# 3hene6er Dest ny s$mmons $s to the Shades,
Th$s the Mysteres nc$lcat ed a great moral tr$th# 6e led 3 th a fable of
h$ge
!ro!ort ons and the a!!l ances of an m!ress 6e s!ect acle# t o # 3hch#
e4h b ted
n t he sanct $ares art and nat $ral magc lent al l they had that 3as
m!osng,
They so$ght t o strengthen men aga nst the horrors of deat h and t he fearf$l
dea
of $tt er ann h lat on, Death# says t he a$thor of the d alog$e# ent tl ed
A4och$s# ncl $ded n the 3or/s of Plat o# s b$t a !assage to a ha!!er
st ateG
b$t one m$st ha6e l 6ed 3el l# t o at ta n t hat most fort $nat e res$lt , So that
t he
doctr ne of t he mmortal ty of the so$l 3as consol ng t o t he 6rt$o$s and
rel go$s man al oneG 3hl e t o al l ot hers t came 3t h menaces and des!ar#
s$rro$nd ng t hem 3t h@ terrors and al arms t hat d st$rbed t her re!ose
d$r ng
al l the r l fe,
"or the mat er al horrors of Tant al $s# al legorcal t o t he Int ate# 3ere real
t o t he mass of t he Profane G nor n lat ter t mes# dd# !erha!s many
I tates
read rghtly t he al lebaory, The t r !l eD3al led !r son# 3hch t he condemned
so$l
frst met# ro$nd 3hch s3el led and s$rged t he fery 3a6es of Phl egethon#
3here n rol led roar ng# h$ge# bl a<ng roc/s G t he great gate 3t h col$mns
of
adamant # 3hch none sa6e the Gods co$l d cr$shG T s!hone# ther 3arder#
3 th
her bloody robes G t he l ash reso$ndng on t he mangled bodes of t he
mserable
$nfort $nat es# the r !lant 6e groans# m ngled n horr d ? harmony 3 th the
cl ash ng of t her chansG t he "$res# lash ng the g$ lty 3 th ther sna/esG
t he
a3f$l abyss 3here -ydra ho3l s 3t h t s h$ndred heads# greedy to de6o$rG
T ty$s#
!rost rat e# and hs entral s fed $!on by the cr$el 6$l t$reG S sy!h$s# e6er
rol l ng hs roc/G I4on on hs 3heelG Tantal $s t ort $red by eternal th rst and
h$nger# n the m dst of 3at er and 3 t h del co$s fr$t s t o$chng h s head G
t he
da$ghters# of Dana$s at the r eternal # fr$ t less t as/ G beast s bt ng and
6enomo$s re!t l es st ngng G and de6o$r ng flame et ernal ly cons$m ng
bod es
e6er rene3ed n endless agonyG all t hese sternly m!ressed $!on t he !eo!l e
t he
t errble conseE$ences of s n and 6ce# and $rged t hem to !$rs$e the !at hs
of
honesty and 6 rt $e,
And f # n t he ceremon es of t he Myst er es# t hese mater al horrors 3ere
e4!l aned t o t he Int ates as mere symbols of the $n mag nabl e t ort $re#
remorse# and agony that 3o$l d rend the mmat er al so$l and rac/ t he
mmortal
s!rt # t hey 3ere feebl e and ns$ff c ent n the same mode and meas$re
only# as
al l materal mages and symbols fal l short of that 3h ch s beyond t he
cogn<ance of o$r senses ( and the gra6e - ero!hant# the magery# the
!ant ngs# t he dramat c horrors# t he f$neral sacr f ces# t he a$g$st
rnyst er es#
t he solemn s lence of the sanct $ares# 3ere none the less m!ress 6e#
beca$se
t hey 3ere /no3n t o be b$t symbols# that_ 3 t h mat eral sho3s and mages
made
t he mag nat on t o be the teacher of the nt el lect ,
e4! at onG and t he t ests of 3ater# ar# and fl re 3ere re!resented G by means
of 3hch# d$r ng the march of many years# t he so$l co$l d be !$r f ed# and
r se
t o3ard t he ethereal regons G t hat ascent be ng more or less ted o$s and
l abor o$s# accordng as each so$l 3as more or l ess clogged by the gross
m!ed ment s # of t s sns and 6 ces, -eren 3as shado3ed fort h# Mho3
dst nct ly
t a$ght t he Int ates 3e /no3 not N# the doctrne that !an and sorro3#
msfort$ne and remorse# are t he ne6 table conseE$ences t hat fl o3 from
s n and
6ce# as effect fl o3s from ca$seG that by each sn and e6ery act of 6 ce the
so$l dro!s bac/ and l oses gro$nd n t s ad6ance t o3ard !erfect on ( and
t hat
t he gro$nd so# l ost s and 3 ll be n real ty ne6er so reco6ered as that t he
s n shall be as f t ne6er had been comm ttedG b$t t hat t hro$gho$t all t he
et ernty of ts e4 st ence? # each so$l shal l be consco$s t hat e6ery act of
6ce
or baseness t dd on eart h has made t he dstance great er bet 3een tsel f
and
$lt mate !erfect on,
;e see th s t r$th gl mmerng n the doctrne# t a$ght n t he Myster es# that
t ho$gh sl ght and ordnary offences co$l d be e4!at ed by !enances#
re!ent ance#
act s of benef cence# and !rayers# gra6e cr mes 3ere mort al sns# beyond
t he
reach of al l s$ch remed es, El e$s s cl osed her gates aga nst 8ero( and the
Pagan Pr est s told %onst ant ne t hat among al l the r modes of e4! at on
t here
3as none so !otent as co$ld 3ash from h s so$l t he dar/ s!ot s l eft by t he
m$rder of h s 3 fe# and h s m$lt !l ed !er5 $res and assassnat ons,
The ob5 ect of the ancent n t at ons be ng to amel orate man/nd and t o
!erfect t he nt el l ect $al !art of man# the nat $re of the h$man so$l # t s
orgn#
ts dest nat on# t s rel at ons to t he body and to $n 6ersal nat$re# al l formed
!art of t he myst c scenceG and to them n !art t he l essons g6en t o t he
In t ate 3ere drected, "or t 3as bel e6ed that n t at on tended to h s
!erfect on# and to !re6ent ng # t he d6ne !art 3t h n h m# o6erl oaded 3 th#
matt er gross and earthy# from be ng !l $nged nto gloom# and m!eded n
ts
ret$rn to the De ty, The so$l # 3 th them# 3as not a mere conce!t on or
abst ract on G b$t a real ty ncl $dng n t self l fe and t ho$ghtG or# rat her#
of 3hose essence t 3as t o l 6e and t h n/, It 3as mat er al G b$t not br$te#
nert # nact 6e# l feless# mot onl ess# forml ess# lghtl ess mat ter, DIt 3as hel d
t o be act 6e# reason ng# t h n/ ngG ts nat$ral home n the hghest reg ons of
t he 'n6erse# 3hence t descended t o l l$mnate# g6e form and mo6ement
t o#
66 fy# an mat e# and carry 3t h t sel f the baser mat terG and 3h ther t
$nceasngly t ends to reascend# 3hen and as soon as t can free t sel f from
ts
connect on 3 th that mat ter, "rom that s$bstance# d6ne# nfn tely ,
delcat e
and act 6e# essent al ly l$mno$s# t he so$l s of men 3ere formed# and by t
al one# $nt ng 3t h and organ<ng ther bodes# men l 6ed,
Th s 3as t he doct r ne of Pythagoras# 3ho learned t 3hen he rece 6ed t he
Egy!t an Mysteres ( and t 3as t he doctr ne of al l 3ho# by means of t he
ceremonal of n t at on# t ho$ght to !$r fy the so$l , Frgl ma/es t he s!rt
of Arch6es teach t t o AEneas( and al l t he e4! at ons and l$strat ons 6 sed
n
t he ))9_steres 3ere b$t symbol s of t hose nt ell ect$al ol es by 3h ch the
so$l
3as to be !$rged of t s 6 ceDs!ots and st ans# and freed of t he
enc$mbrance of
ts eart hly !rson# so t hat t mght r se $n m!eded to the so$rce from
3hch t
came,
-ence s!r$ng the doct r ne of the transmgrat on of so$l sG 3h ch
Pyt hagoras
t a$ght as an all egory# and t hose 3ho came after h m rece 6ed l teral ly,
Plat o#
l /e h m# dre3# hs doctr nes from t he East and the Mysteres# and
$ndertoo/ to
t ranslate the lang$age of t he symbols $sed t here# nt o t hat of Ph loso!hy G
and
t o !ro6e by arg$ment and !h loso!h cal ded$ct on# 3hat# fel t by t he
consco$sness# the Mysteres ta$ght by Symbol s as an nd s!$t abl e fact # D
t he
mmortal ty of t he so$l , % cero d d the same G and fol lo3ed t he Myst er es
n
t eachng t hat the Gods 3ere b$t mortal men# 3ho for t he r great 6 rt $es
and
sgnal ser6ces had deser6ed that t he r so$l s sho$ld# after deat h# be ra sed
t o
t hat lofty ran/,
It be ng t a$ght n t he Mysteres# et her by 3ay of al l egory# t he mean ng of
3hch 3as not made /no3n e4ce!t t o a select fe3# or# !erha!s only at a
l ater
day# as an act$al real ty# that t he so$l s of t he 6c o$s dead !assed nt o t he
bod es of t hose an mals to 3hose nat $re the r 6 ces had most affn ty# t
3as
al so t a$ght t hat the so$l co$l d a6od t hese transmgrat ons# often
s$ccess 6e
and n$mero$s# by the !ract ce of 6rt$e# 3hch 3o$ld acE$ t t of t hr$m#
free
t from the crcle of s$ccess 6e generat ons# and rest ore t at once t o ts
so$rce, -ence not h ng 3as so ardent ly !rayed far by t he Int ates# says
Procl $s# as t h s ha!!y fort$ne# 3h ch# del 6erng them from the em!re of
E6 l#
3o$l d restore t hem to t her t r$e l fe# and cond$ct t hem to t he !lace of
fnal
rest, To th s doctrne !robably referred those f g$res of an mal s and
monst ers
3hch 3ere e4h bted t o t he Int at e# before al lo3ng h m to see the sacred
l ght for 3hch he s ghed, # Plato says# t hat so$ls 3l l not reach t he t erm of
t her ll s# $nt l t he re6ol$t ons of the 3orld ha6e rest ored t hem to t her
!r m t 6e cond t on# and !$r f ed them from the sta ns 3hch they ha6e
contracted by the cont agon of f re# eart h# and ar, And he held that t hey
co$ld not be al lo3ed t o enter -ea6en# $nt l they had d st ng$shed
t hemsel 6es
by t he !ract ce of 6rt$e n some one of t hree se6eral bod es, The
Man cheans
al lo3ed f6e( P ndar# the same, n$mber as Pl atoG as d d t he &e3s, And
% cero
says# that the ancent soot hsayers# and the nter!olat ors of the 3 ll of t he
Gods# n ther relgo$s ceremon es and n tat ons# ta$ght that 3e e4!at e
here belo3 the cr mes comm tted n a !ror l fe G and for that are born, It
3as
t a$ght n t hese Myst er es# t hat t he so$l !asses? t hro$gh se6eral st ates# and
t hat the !a ns and sorro3s of th s l fe are an e4! at on of !r or fa$lt s,
Th s doctrne of t ransmgrat on of so$ls obt aned# as Por!hyry nforms $s#
among the Persans and Mag, It 3as hel d n the East and t he ;est # and
t hat
from the remot est ant E$ ty, -erodot $s fo$nd# t among the Egy!t ans# 3ho
made
t he t erm of t he crcle of mgrat ons from one h$man body# t hro$gh
an mals#
fshes# and b rds# t o anot her h$man body# ? t hree tho$sand years,
Em!edocl es
e6en hel d that so$l s 3ent nto !l ant s Of these# t he l a$rel 3as the noblest #
as
of an mals the l onG both be ng consecrat ed to the S$n# to 3hch# t 3as
held
n t he Or ent # 6rt$o$s so$l s 3ere to ret $rn, The %$rds# t he %hnese# t he
%abbal sts# al l held the same doct r ne, So Org n held# and t he B sho!
Synes $s# the lat ter of 3hom had been n t at ed# and 3ho th$s !rayed to
God (
@O "at her# grant t hat my so$l# re$n t ed to the l ght # may not be !l$nged
aga n
nt o t he def lements of eart h#@ So the Gnost cs hel dG and e6en the
D sc !les of
%hr st nE$red f t he man 3ho 3as born bl nd# 3as not so !$n shed for
some s n
t hat he had commt ted before h s b rt h,
Frg l # n t he cel ebrat ed al legory n 3h ch he de6el o!s t he doctrnes ta$ght
n t he Mysteres# en$ncated t he doctr ne# held by@ most of the anc ent
!hl oso!hers# of the !reDe4 stence of _so$l s# n t he eternal f re from 3h ch
t hey emanat eG that fre 3hch an mates the stars# and c rc$lates n e6ery
!art
of 8at$re( and the !$r fcat ons of the so$l # by fre# 3ater# and a r# of
3hch
he s!ea/s# and 3h ch t hree modes 3ere em!loyed n the Myst eres of
Bacch$s#
3ere symbol s of t he !assage of the so$l nt o dfferent bod es,
The rel at ons of the h$man so$l 3 th the rest of nat$re 3ere a chef ob5ect
of
t he sc ence of t he Mysteres, The man 3as there bro$ght face to face 3t h
entre nat$re# The 3orl d# and the s!hercal en6elo!e t hat s$rro$nds t #
3ere
re!resented by a mystc egg# by t he s de of the mage of t he S$nDGod
3hose
Myst er es 3ere celebrated, The famo$s Or!h c egg 3as consecrat ed to
Bacch$s n
hs Myst er es, It 3as# says Pl$t arch# an, mage of the 'n 6erse# 3h ch#
engenders e6erythng# and cont a ns e6eryt h ng n ts bosom, @_%ons$lt #@
says
Macrob $s# @t he In t ates of theJ Mysteres of Bacch$s# 3ho honor 3 t h
s!ec al
6enerat on t he sacred egg, @ The ro$nded and al most s!her cal form of t s
shel l#
he says# 3hch encl oses t on e6ery s de# and conf nes 3t hn t sel f t he
!r nc !les of l fe# s a symbol c mage of the 3orl d G and t he 3orl d s t he
$n6ersal !r nc !le of all thngs,
Th s symbol 3as borro3ed from the Egy!t ans# 3ho also consecrated t he
egg t o
Os r s# germ of Lght# h msel f born# sans D odor$s# from t hat famo$s egg,
In
Thebes# n '!!er Egy!t # he 3as re!resented as em t t ng t from h s mo$t h#
and
ca$s ng to ss$e from t t he frst !rnc!l e of heat and l ght# or t he
"reDGod# F$lcan# or Pht ha, ;e f nd t hs egg e6en n &a!an# bet 3een the
horns
of t he famo$s M t hr ac B$l l# D 3hose at trb$tes Osr s# A! s# and Bacch$s
al l
borro3ed,
Or!he$s# a$t hor of the Grecan Mysteres# 3h ch he carred from Egy!t _to
Greece# consecrat ed t h s symbol ( and ta$ght that matt er# $nt reat ed and
nformers# e4st ed from all et ern ty# $norgan <ed# as chaos G cont a n ng n
tsel f the Prnc!les of all E4 stences conf$sed and ntermngled# l ght
3 th
dar/ness# t he dry 3 t h the h$md# heat 3 t h coldG from 3hch# t aft er long
ages ( e/ ng t he sha!e of an mmense egg# ss$ed the !$rest mat t er# or "rst
s$bstance# and t he res d$e 3as d6ded nto t he fo$r el ement s# "rom 3h ch
!roceeded hea6en and earth and all t hngs else, Th s Grand %osmogonc
dea he
t a$ght n t he MysteresG and th$s t he - ero!hant e4!l a ned the mean ng of
t he
myst c egg# seen by the nt at es n t he Sanct $ary,
Th$s ent re 8at $re# n her !r m t 6e organ<at on# 3as !resent ed :2) to
h m
3hom t 3as 3shed t o nst r$ct n her secrets and nt ate n her
mysteres G
and %l ement of Al e4andra mght 3ell say that nt at on 3as a real
!hys ology,
So Phanes# the Lght DGod# n t he Myst er es of t he 8e3 Or!h cs# emerged
from
t he egg of chaos( and the Pers ans had t he great egg of Orm$<d, And
Sanchon athon tel ls $s that n the Phoencan t heol ogy# the matt er of chaos
t oo/ t he form of an eggG and he adds( @S$ch #are the lessons 3hch the Son
of
Thabon^ frst - ero!hant of the Phoenc ans# , t$rned nt o al l egores# n
3hch
!hyscs and ast ronomy nt ermngled# and 3hch he t a$ght t o the other
- ero!hants# 3hose d$ty t 3as t o !res de at org es and nt at ons G and
3ho#
see/ ng to e4c te t he astonshment and admrat on of mortal s# fat hf$l ly
t ransmt ted t hese t h ngs t o t he r s$ccessors and the Int at es, @
In t he Mysteres 3as also ta$ght the d 6 son of t he 'n6ersal %a$se nt o
an
Act 6e and a Pass6e ca$seG of 3h ch t3o# Os r s and Iss# Dt he hea6ens and
t he
earth 3ere symbol s, These t3o ,"rst %a$ses# nt o 3hch t 3as held t hat
t he
great 'n6ersal " rst %a$se at the begnn ng of t h ngs d6ded tsel f# 3ere
t he
t 3o great D6n t es# 3hose 3orsh ! 3as# accordng t o Farro# nc$l cated
$!on
t he Int ates at Samothrace, @As s t a$ght# @ he says# @n the nt at on nt o
t he Myst er es at Samot hrace# -ea6en and Eart h are regarded as t he t 3o
frst
D 6 n t es, They are the !ot ent Gods 3orsh !!ed n t hat Island# and 3hose
narr:es are consecrated n t he boo/s of o$r A$g$rs, One of them s male
and t he
other femal eG and t hey bear the same relat on to each other as t he so$l
does t o
t he body# h$md ty t o dryness,@ The %$rat es# n %rete# had b$ l t an al tar t o
-ea6en and t o EarthG 3hose Myst er es they celebrat ed at Gnoss$s# n a
cy!ress
gro6e,
These t 3o D 6nt es# the Act 6e and Pass 6e Pr nc!les of the
'n6erse# 3ere commonly symbol <ed by the generat 6e !ast s of man and
3oman G
t o 3hch# n remote ayes# no dea of ndecency 3as attached G t he Phal l$s
and
%t es# emblems of generat on and !rod$ct on# and 3h ch# as s$ch#
a!!eared n
t he Myst er es, The Ind an Lngam 3as t he $n on of both# as 3ere t he boat
and
mast and t he !o nt 3 th n a crcle( al l of 3h ch e4!ressed t he same
!hl oso!h cal dea as to t he 'non of t he t 3o great %a$ses of 8at$re#
3hch
conc$r# one act 6ely and the ot her !ass 6ely# n the generat on of al l
bengs (
3hch 3ere symbol <ed by 3hat 3e no3 term Gemn# t he T3os# at t hat
remot e
!er od 3hen the S$n 3as n t hat S gn at t he Fernal EE$ no4# and 3hen
t hey 3ere
Mal e and "emaleG and of 3hch the Phall $s 3as !erha!s t a/en from t he
generat 6e
organ of t he B$l l # 3hen abo$t t3entyDf 6e h$ndred years before o$r era he
o!ened that eE$ no4# and became to the Ancent ;orld the symbol of t he
creat 6e
and generat 6e Po3er,
The Int at es at El e$s s# commenced# Process says# by n6o/ng the t3o
great
ca$ses of nat $re# t he -ea6ens and the Eart h# on 3h ch n s$ccesson t hey
f 4ed
t her eyes# addressng t o each a !rayer, And t hey deemed t t he r d$ty t o do
so# he adds# beca$se they sa3 n t hem t he "ather and Mot her of al l
generat ons,
The conco$rse of these t3o agent s of t he 'n6erse 3as termed n
t heol og cal
l ang$age a marr age, Tert$ll an# acc$s ng t he Fal ent nans of ha6ng
borro3ed
t hese symbols from the Mysteres of El e$s s# yet admt s t hat n t hose
Myst er es
t hey 3ere e4!l aned n a manner cons stent 3t h decency# as re!resent ng
t he
!o3ers of nat $re, -e 3as too lt t le of a !hl oso!her to com!rehend the
s$bl me
esot er c meanng of t hese embal ms# 3h ch 3 ll # f yo$ ad6ance# n ot her
Degrees
be $nfol ded to yo$,
_ The %hr st an "athers contented themsel6es 3 t h re6l ng and rd c$l ng
t he
$se of these emblems, B$t as they n t he earl er? t mes created no ndecent
deas# and 3ere 3orn al /e by t he most nnocent yo$ths and 6rt $o$s
3omen# t
3 ll be far 3 ser for $s to see/ to !enet rat e t her mean ng, 8ot only the
Egy!t ans# says Dodor$s S n$o$s# b$t e6ery ot her !eo!l e t hat consecrate
t h s
symbol Mthe Phal l$sN# deem that t hey thereby do honor to t he Act 6e # "orce
of
t he $n 6ersal generat on of all l 6ng th ngs, "or the same reason# as 3e
l earn
from the geogra!her Pt ol emy# t 3as re6ered among the Assyr ans and
Pers ans,
Procl $s remar/s that # n the d st rb$t on of the Hodac among she t3el 6e
great
D 6 n t es# by anc ent ast rol ogy# s 4 sgns 3ere assgned to t he mal e and
s 4
t o t he female !r nc !le,
There s anot her d 6 s on of nat$re# 3h ch has n all ages st r$c/ al l men#
and
3hch 3as not forgotten n t he MysteresG that of Lght and Dar/ness# Day
and
8 ght # Good and E6l G 3hch m ngle 3 th# and cl ash aganst # and !$rs$e
or are
!$rs$ed by eaeh other thro$gho$t t he 'n 6erse, The Great Symbol c Egg
dst nct ly rem nded the Int at es of t h s great d6 son of the 3orld,
!l$t arch# t reat ng of t he dogma of a Pro6 dence# and of that of the t 3o
!r nc !les of Lght and Dar/ness# 3h ch he regarded as t he bass of the
Ancent
Theology# of the Orges and the Myster es# as 3el l among the Gree/s as
t he
Barbar ans# Da doctrne 3hose org n# accordng to h m# s lost n the n ght
of
t me# Dct es# n s$!!ort of hs o! non# the famo$s Myst c Egg of t he
dsc !les
of Horoaster and t he Int ates n the Mysteres of Mt hras,
To the In t at es n the Mysteres of El e$s s 3as e4h b ted the s!ectacl e of
t hese t 3o !r nc !les# n t he s$ccess 6e scenes of Dar/ness and Lght 3hch
!assed before ther eyes, To the !rofo$ndest dar/ness# accom!aned 3t h
ll $s ons and horr d !hant oms# s$cceeded t he most br ll ant l ght# 3hose
s!lendor bl a<ed ro$nd the stat $e of the Goddess, The cand dat e# says D on
%hrysostom$s# !assed nt o a ? mystero$s t em!l e# of astonshng magnt $de
and
bea$ty# 3here 3ere e4hbted t o h m many myst c scenesG 3here hs ears
3ere
st $nned 3 th many 6o ces G and 3here Dar/ness and Lght s$ccess 6ely
!assed
before h m, And Themst $s n l /e manner descr bes t he Int ate# 3hen
abo$t t o
enter nt o that !art of t he sanct$ary tenanted by the Goddess# as fl led
3 th
fear and rel go$s a3e# 3a6erng# $ncert an n 3hat drect on to ad6ance
t hro$gh the !rofo$nd dar/ness t hat en6el o!es h m, B$t 3hen the
- ero!hant has
o!ened the ent rance to the nmost sanct$ary# and remo6ed the robe t hat
hdes
t he Goddess# he e4h b ts her to t he In t ate# res!lendent 3 th d 6 ne l ght ,
The th c/ _shado3 and gloomy at mos!here 3h ch had enthroned t he
canddate
6ansh G he s fl led 3 th a 6 6 d and glo3 ng enth$sasm# that l fts hs
so$l
o$t of t he !rofo$nd de5ect on n 3hch t 3as # !l$nged G ant the !$rest
l ght
s$cceeds to t he t hc/est dar/ness,
In a fragment of the same 3r ter# !reser6ed by St obae$s# 3e learn t hat t he
In t ate# $! to t he moment 3hen h s nt at on s t o be cons$mmated# s
al armed
by e6ery /nd of s ght( t hat aston shment and terror t a/e hs so$l ca!t 6eG
he
t remblesG cold s3eat fl o3s from h s bodyG $nt l t he moment 3hen t he
Lght s
sho3n h m# Da most asto$ndhg Lght # DthJ brl l ant scene of Elys$m# 3here
he
sees charm ng meado3s o6erarched by a clear s/y# and fest 6al s celebrat ed
by
dances G 3here he hears harmon o$s 6oces# and the ma5 est c chant s of the
- ero!hantsG and 6 e3s t he sacred s!ect acles, Then# absol$t ely free# and
enfranch sed from t he domnon of al l l ls# he m ngles 3t h t he cro3d of
In t ates# and# cro3ned 3 th fl o3ers# cel ebrates 3 t h t hem the holy orges# ?
n
t he br ll ant real ms of et her# and the d3el l ngD!lace of Orm$<d,
In t he Mysteres of Iss# the cand date f rst !assed thro$gh the dar/ 6al ley
of t he shado3 of deat hG t hen nt o a !l ace re!resent ng the el ement s or
s$bl$nary 3orld# 3here the t3o !r nc!les cl ash and contend G and 3as
fnally
admt ted t o a l$mno$s reg on# 3here t he s$n# 3 t h hs most br ll ant lght#
!$t to ro$t t he shades of n ght , Then he h msel f !$t on t he cost $me of t he
S$nDGod# or the F s bl e So$rce o? f Et hereal Lght # n 3hose Myster es he
3as
n t ated G and !assed from the em! re of dar/ness to that of l ght , After
ha6ng set h s feet on t he t hreshol d of the !alace of Pl$t o# he ascended to
t he
Em!yrean# t o the bosom of the Et ernal Pr nc !le of Lght of t he 'n 6erse#
from
3hch all so$ls and nt el l gences emanat e,
Pl$tarch adm t s that t h s theory of t 3o Prnc!les 3as the bass of all t he
Myst er es# and consecrated n t he 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 ant s# al l
re!resented these !rnc!l es, Phanes# t he l $mno$s God that ss$ed from
t he
Sacred Egg# and 8ght # bore the sce!ters n the Mysteres of the 8e3
Bacch$s,
8 ght and Day 3ere t 3o of the eght Gods adored n t he Mysteres of
Os r s, The
so5o$rn of Proser! ne and al so of Adons# d$rng s 4 months of each year
n t he
$!!er 3orl d# abode of l ght # and s 4 mont hs n the l o3er or abode of
dar/ness#
al legorcal ly re!resent ed the same d 6s on of the 'n 6erse,
The connect on of theDd fferent nt at ons 3 th t he EE$no4es 3hch
se!arate
t he Em!re of the 8ghts from that of the Days# and f 4 the moment 3hen
one of
t hese !r nc!les begns to !re6a l o6er the ot her# sho3s that the Mysteres
referred to t he cont n$al contest bet 3een the t3o !r nc!les of lght and
dar/ness# each al ternat ely 6 ctor and 6anE$shed, The 6ery ob5 ect
!ro!osed by
t hem sho3s that the r bass 3as t he t heory of the t3o !rnc!les and t her
relat ons 3 th t he so$l, @;e celebrate t he a$g$st Mysteres of %eres and
Proser! ne# @ says the Em!eror &$l an# @at the A$t $mnal EE$no4# to obt an
of
t he Gods t hat t he so$l may not e4!erence the mal gnant act on of the
Po3er# of
Dar/ness that s t hen abo$t t o ha6e s3ay and r$le n 8at$re,@ Sall $st the
Ph l oso!her ma/es al most the same remar/ as to the relat ons of t he so$l
3 th
t he !er od cal march of l ght and dar/ness# d$r ng an ann$al re6ol $t on G
and
ass$res $s that t he myster o$s fest 6al s of Greece related t o t he same, And
n
al l the e4!lanat ons g6en by Macrob $s of t he Sacred "abl es n regard to
t he
s$n# adored $nder t he names of Os rs# -or$s# Adon s# Atys# Bacch$s# et c, ,
3e
n6ar ably see that they refer to the theory of t he t 3o Prnc!les# Lght and
Dar/ness# and the tr $m!hs ga ned by one o6er the ot her, In A!r l 3as
celebrat ed the frst t r $m!h obt aned by the l ght of day o6er the length of
t he nghts G and t he ceremones of mo$rnng and re5 o cng had# Macrob $s
says#
as t he r ob5 ect the 6css t $des of t he ann$al admn strat on of t he 3orl d,
Th s br ngs $s nat$ral ly to the t ragc !ort on of t hese rel go$s? scenes#
and
t o t he allegor cal hst ory of t he dfferent ad6ent $res of the Pr nc !le#
Lght #
6ct or and 6anE$shed by t $rns# n the combats 3aged 3 th Dar/ness
d$r ng each
ann$al !erod, -ere 3e reach the most myst er o$s !art of the ancent
n t at ons# and that most nt erest ng to the Mason 3ho lament s the deat h
of
hs Grand Master KhrDOm, O6er t -erodot$s t hro3s t he a$g$st 6e l of
mystery
and s lence, S!ea/ ng of the Tem!le of Mner6a# or of t hat Iss 3ho 3as
styled
t he Mother of the S$nDGod# and 3hose Mysteres 3ere termed Isac# at
Sas# he
s!ec/s of a Tomb n t he Tem!l e# n the rear of t he %ha!el and aganst t he
3el l
G and says# @It s t he tomb of a man# 3hose name res!ect reE$ res me t o
conceal, ; t h n t he Tem!l e 3ere great obel s/s of stone A!hall B# and a
c rc$lar la/e !a6ed 3 th stones and re6ett ed 3t h a !ara!et, It seemed to
me as
l arge as that at Del os@ Athere t he Mysteres of A!oll o 3ere cel ebratedB, @In
t h s la/e the Egy!t ans celebrate# d$r ng t he nght# 3hat t hey styl e the
Myst er es# n 3hch are re!resent ed t he s$ffer ngs of the God of 3hom I
ha6e
s!o/en abo6e, @ , Ths God 3as Osrs# !$t to deat h by Ty!hon# and 3ho
descended
t o t he Shades and 3as rest ored to l feG of 3hch he had s!o/en before,
;e are rem nded# by t h s !assage# of the Tomb of Kh rDOm# hs death# and
hs
r s ng from the gra6e# symbol cal of rest orat on of l fe G and al so of t he
bra<en Sea n t he Tem!le at &er$sal em, -erodot $s adds ( @I m!ose $!on
myself a
!rofo$nd# sl ence n regard t o t hese Myst er es# 3t h most of 3hch I am
acE$a nted, As l t t l e 3 ll I s!ea/ of t he n t at ons of %eres# /no3n among
t he
Gree/s as Thesmo!hora, ;hat I shal l say 3 ll not 6olat e the res!ect
3hch I
o3e to relg on, @
At henagoras E$ot es t h s !assage t o sho3 t hat not only t he Stat$e b$t t he
Tomb
of Osrs 3as e4hb t ed n Egy!t# and a tragc re!resent at on of h s
s$ffer ngsG and remar/s that the Egy!t ans had mo$rn ng ceremones n
honor of
t her Gods# 3hose deat hs t hey# Lamented G and to 3hom they after3ard
sacrfced
as ha6 ng It s# ho3e6er# not d ffc$lt # combnng the d fferent rays of
l ght
t hat emanat e from the d fferent Sanct $ares# to learn the gen $s and t he
ob5ect
of t hese secret ceremones, ;e ha6e hnt s# and not deta ls,
;e /no3 t hat the Egy!t ans 3orsh!!ed the S$n# $nder the name of Os r s,
The
msfort$nes and tragcal deat h of ths God , 3ere an all egory rel at ng to
t he
S$n, Ty!hon# l /e Ahr man# re!resent ed Dar/ness, The s$fferngs and
deat h of
Os r s n t he Mysteres of t he 8ght 3ere a myst c mage of the !henomena
of
8at $re# and t he confl ct of the t 3o great Pr nc !l e 3h ch share the em! re
of
8at $re# and most nf lenced o$r so$l s, t he s$n s net her born# d es# nor s
rased to l fe( and t he rec t al of these e6ent s 3as b$t an all egory# 6e l ng a,
hgher t r$th -or$s# son of Iss# and the same as A!ol lo or the S$n# al so
ded
and 3as restored agan to# l fe^ and t o hs mot herG and the !rests # of Iss
celebrat ed these great e6ent s by mo$rnng and 5oyo$s fest 6al s$cceedng
each
other,
In t he Mysteres of Phoen ca# establ shed n honor of Thamm$< or
Adon s# al so
t he S$n# t he s!ect acle of h s deat h and res$rrect on 3as e4h b ted t o t he
In t ates, As 3e l earn from Me$rs$s and Pl$t arch# a f g$re 3as e4h bt ed
re!resent ng t he cor!se of a yo$ng man, "lo3ers 3ere stre3ed $!on hs
body# t he
3omen mo$rned for h m G a t omb 3as erected to h m, And these feast s# as
3e
l earn from Pl$tarch and O6d# !assed nto Greece,
God 3as lamented# and h s res$rrect on 3as cel ebrated 3 th the most
enth$sast c e4!ressons of 5 oy, A cor!se# 3e, learn from &$l an # 3as
sho3n
t he Int ates# re!resent ng M t hras deadG and after3ard h s res$rrect on
3as
anno$ncedG and they 3ere then n6 t ed t o re5 oce that t he dead God 3as
restored
t o l fe# and had by means of h s s$fferngs sec$red ther sal 6at on, Three
mont hs before# h s b rt h had been cel ebrated# $nder the embl em of an
nfant#
born on t he, 07t h of December# or the eghth day before the %al ends of
&an$ary,
In Greece# n the mysteres of the same God# honored $nder t he name of
Bacch$s# a re!resentat on 3as g6en of hs deat h# slan by the T tans G of
hs
descent nt o hel l # hs # s$bseE$ent res$rrect on# and hs ret$rn to3ard h s
Prnc !l e or t he !$re abode 3hence he had descended to $nte h msel f 3t h
matt er, In the slands of %h os and Tenedos# hs death 3as re!resented by
t he
sacrfce of a man# _ act $al ly mmol ated,
The m$t l at on and s$fferngs of t he same S$nDGod# honored n Phryga
$nder
t he name of Atys# ca$sed t he trag c scenes that 3ere# as 3e learn from
D odor$s
Sc$l$s# re!resented ann$al ly n t he Mysteres of %ybele# mother of the
Gods,
An mage 3as borne t here# re!resent ng t he cor!se of a yo$ng man# o6er
3hose
t omb t ears 3ere shed# and to 3hom f$neral honors 3ere !a d,
At Samothrace# n the Mysteres of the %ab r or great Gods# a
re!resentat on
3as g6en of t he death of one f t hem, Th s name 3as g6en t o t he S$n#
beca$se
t he Anc ent Astronomers ga6e the name of Gods %ab r # and of Samot hrace
t o t he
t 3o Gods n the %onstel lat on GemnG 3hom ot hers term A!oll o and
-erc$les# t 3o
names of t he S$n, , Athenon says that t he yo$ng %ab r$s so sl an 3as t he
same
as t he Donys$s or Bacch$s of t he Gree/s, The Pel asg# ancent nhab tant s
of
Greece# and 3ho set tl ed Samothrace# celebrated t hese Myst er es# 3hose
orgn s
$n/no3n ( and they 3orsh !!ed %astor and Pol l $4 as !atrons of
na6gat on,
The tomb of A!ol lo 3as at Del !h # 3here h s body 3as la d# aft er Python#
t he
Pol ar Ser!ent t hat ann$ally heral ds t he com ng of a$t$mn# col d# dar/ness#
and
3 nt er# had slan h m# and o6er 3hom, t he God tr $m!hs# on t he 07t h of
March#
on hs ret$rn to t he l amb of t he Fernal EE$ no4,
In %ret e# &$! ter Ammon# on t he S$n n Ares# !a nted 3 th the at tr b$tes
of
t hat eE$noct al s gn# the Ram or Lamb G Dt hat Ammon 3ho# Mart an$s
%o!el la
says# s the same as Osrs# Adon# Adon s# Atys# and t he ot her S$nDGods# D
had
al so a tomb# and a relgo$s nt at on G one of the !rnc !al ceremon es of
3h_ch conssted n cl ot hng t he In t ate 3t h the s/n of a 3h te l amb,
And n
t h s 3e see t he or gn of t he a!ron of 3ht e shee!Ds/ n# $sed n Masonry,
Al l these deat hs and res$rrect ons# t hese f$neral embl ems# these
ann6ersares
of mo$rn ng and 5oy# these cenot a!hs ra sed n dfferent !laces t o t he S$nD
God#
honored $nder d fferent names# had b$t a s ngle ob5ect# t he al legorcal
narrat on of the e6ent s 3hch ha!!ened here bel o3Dto the Lght of 8at$re#
t hat
sacred fre from 3hch o$r so$ls 3ere deemed t o emanat e# 3arr ng 3 th
matt er
and t he dar/ Pr nc!le resdent there n# e6er at 6ar ance 3t h t he Prnc !l e
of
Good and Lght !o$red $!on tsel f by t he S$!reme D 6nty, Al l t hese
Myst er es#
says %lement of Ale4andr a# d s!l ayng t o $s m$rders and t ombs al one# all
t hese
rel go$s t raged es# had a common bas s# 6ar o$sly ornament ed ( and t hat
bas s
3as the f ct t o$s deat h and res$rrect on of t he S$n# So$l of the ;orl d#
!r nc !le of l fe and mo6ement n the S$bl$nary ;orl d# and so$rce of o$r
ntell gences# 3h ch are b$t a !ort on of t he Et ernal Lght bl a< ng n that
Star# t her ch ef center,
It 3as n t he S$n t hat So$l s# t 3as sa d# 3ere !$rfed( and t o t they
re!ared, It 3as one of t he gat es of the so$l # thro$gh 3hch t he
t heol og ans#
says Por!hyry# say t hat t reDascends to3ard t he home of Lght and t he
Good,
;herefore# n the Mysteres of El e$s s# t he Dado$/os Mthe f rst offcer
after
t he -ero!hant# 3ho re!resented the Grand Demo$rgos or Ma/er of the
'n6erseN#
3ho 3as casted n the nteror of the Tem!le# and there rece6ed t he
canddates# re!resented t he S$n,
It 3as al so held that t he 6c sst $des e4!erenced by t he "at her of Lght
had
an nfl $ence on the dest ny of so$l sG 3h ch# of t he same s$bst ance as he#
shared hs fort $nes, Th s 3e l earn from t he Em!eror &$l an and Sall $st the
Ph l oso!her, They are affl cted 3hen he s$ffers ( they re5oce 3hen he
t r $m!hs
o6er the Po3er of Dar/ness 3h ch o!!oses h s s3ay and h nders t he
ha!! ness of
So$ls# to 3hom not h ng s so terr ble as dar/ness, The fr$t of the
s$ffer ngs
of t he God# father of l ght and >o$ls# sl a n, by t he %hef of t he Po3ers of
Dar/ness# and agan rest ored t o lfe# 3as rece 6ed n t he Myst er es, @-s
deat h
3or/s yo$r Sal 6at on G@ sa d t he -gh Prest of M thras, That 3as t he great
secret of th s rel go$s t ragedy# and t s e4!ected fr$ t GDthe res$rrect on of
a God# 3ho# re!ossess ng - msel f of - s dom n on o6er Dar/ness# sho$l d
assoc ate 3t h - m n - s t r $m!h those 6 rt $o$s So$l s t hat by ther !$r ty
3ere 3ort hy t o share -s gloryG and that st ro6e not aganst t he d6 ne
force
t hat dre3 t hem to - m# 3hen# -e had th$s conE$ered,
To the In t at e 3ere al so ds!l ayed t he s!ectacl es of t he chef agent s of t he
'n6ersal %a$se# and of the d st rb$t on of t he 3orl d# n t he detal of t s
!art s arranged n most reg$l ar order, The 'n6erse tsel f s$!!l ed man
3 th t he
model of t he frst Tem!le reared t o t he D6 n ty, The arrangement of t he
Tem!le
of Sol omon# t he symbolc ornaments 3h ch formed t s ch ef decorat ons#
and t he
dress of t he -gh Prest# Dall # as %lement of Ale4andr a# &ose!h$s and Ph lo
st ate# had reference t o # t he order of the 3orld, %l ement nforms $s t hat the
Tem!le cont aned many embl ems of the Seasons# the S$n# the Moon# the
!lanet s#
t he const el lat ons 'rsa Ma5 or and Mnor# the <od ac# the element s# and t he
other !art s of t he 3orl d, ?
&ose!h$s# n hs descr !t on of the -gh Pr est? s Fest ments# !rotest ng
aga nst the charge of m! ety bro$ght aganst t he -e bre3s by ot her
nat ^ons#
for condemnng the -eat hen D 6 n t es# declares t false# beca$se# n the
const r$ct on of t he Tabernacle# n the 6est ment s of the Sacr fcers# and n
t he
Sacred 6essel s# t he 3hol e ;orld 3as n some sort re!resented, Of the
t hree
!art s# he says# nt o 3hch t he Tem!l e 3as d6 ded# t 3o re!resent Eart h and
Sea#
o!en to all men# and t he th rd# -ea6en# God? s d3el l ngD!lace# reser6ed for
- m
al one, The t3el 6e l oa6es of She3Dbread sgnfy t he t 3el6e mont hs of the
year,
The %andl est c/ re!resented the t 3el6e sgns thro$gh 3hch t he Se6en
Planets
r$n the r co$rsesG and the se6en l ghts# t hose !lanetsG the 6e ls# of fo$r
colors# the fo$r elementsG t he t $nc of the -gh Pr est# the eart hG t he
-yac nt h# nearly bl$e# t he -ea6ens G t he, a!h d# of fo$r col ors# t he 3hol e
of
nat$reG the gol d# Lght G the breastD!lat e# n the m ddle# ths earth n t he
cent er of the 3orl d G t he t 3o Sardony4es# $sed as cl as!s# the S$n and
Moon G
and t he t 3el6e !reco$s st ones of the breast D!lat e arranged by threes# l /e
t he
Seasons# t he t 3el6e months# and the t3el 6e sgns of the <od ac, E6en t he
l oa6es
3ere arranged n t 3o gro$!s of s 4# l /e the <odacal sgns abo6e and
belo3 the
EE$ator, %l ement# the learned Bsho! of Al e4andra# and Ph l o# ado!t all
t hese
e4!l anat ons,
-ermes cal ls the Hodac# the Grent Tent # DTabernac$l$m, In t he Royal Arch
Degree of t he Amer can R te# the Tabernacl e has fo$r 6el s# of d fferent
colors# to each of 3hch, Bel ongs a banner, t he colors of the fo$r are
;h t e#
Bl $e# %r mson# and P$r!l e# and t he banners bear t he mages of the B$ll #
t he
L on# t he Man# ant t he Eagle# t he %onst el lat ons ans3er ng 0722 years
before
o$r era to the EE$ noct al and Sol st t al !o nt s ( to 3hch belong fo$r
st ars#
al debaran# Reg$l $s# "omalha$t# and Antares, At each of these 6e ls t here
are
t hree 3ords ( and t o each d 6 son of t he Hod ac# belongng t o each of
t hese
Stars# are t hree Sgns, The fo$r sgns#
Ta$r$s# Leo# Scor!o# and AE$ar $s# 3ere t ermed t he f 4ed sgns# and are
a!!ro!rately ass gned to the fo$r 6e ls,
_SO the %her$b m# accord ng t o %l ement and Phl o#D re!resent ed the t 3o
hem s!heres G ther 3 ngs# t he ra! d co$rse of t he frmament # and of t me
3hch
re6ol 6es n the Hod ac, @"or the -ea6ens flyG@ says Ph l o# s!ea/ng of t he
3 ngs of the %her$b m ( 3hch 3ere 3 nged re!resentat ons of the L on#
t he
B$l l# t he Eagle# and the ManG of t 3o of 3h ch# the h$manDheaded# 3 nged
b$ll s
and l ons# so many ha6e been fo$nd at 8 mrod G ado!ted as benefcent
symbol s#
3hen t he S$n ent ered Ta$r$s at t he Fernal EE$ no4 and Leo at the S$mmer
Sol st ce ( and 3hen# al so# he entered Scor! o# far 3h ch# on acco$nt of t s
malgnant nfl $ences# AE$l a# t he eagl e 3as s$bst t$ted# at t he a$t $mnal
eE$no4G and AE$ar $s Mt he 3at erDbearerN at the ; nter Sol st ce,
So# %lement says# the candlest c/ 3t h se6en branches re!resent ed t he
se6en
!lanet s# l /e 3hch the se6en branches 3ere arranged and reg$lated#
!reser6ng
t hat m$scal !ro!ort on and syst em of harmony of 3hch t he s$n 3as the
cent re
and connect on, They 3ere arranged# says Ph l o# by t hrees# l /e the !l anet s
abo6e and t hose bel o3 t he s$nG bet 3een 3hch t 3o gro$!s 3as t he branch
t hat
re!resented h m# the medat or or moderator of the celest al harmony, -e
s# n
fact# the fo$rth n t he m$s cal scale# as Ph l o remar/s# and Mart an$s
%a!ell a
n hs hymn t o t he S$n,
8ear t he candl est c/ 3ere ot her embl ems re!resent ng the hea6ens# earth#
and
t he 6egetat 6e mat ter o$t of 3hose bosom the 6a!ors arse, The 3hol e
t em!l e 3as
an abrdged mage of t he 3orld, There 3ere candlest c/s 3 t h fo$r
branches#
symbol s of the elements and the seasons G 3 th t 3el6e# symbol s of t he
sgnsG
and e6en 3 t h three h$ndred and s 4ty# t he n$mber of days n the year#
3 tho$t
t he s$!!l ement ary days, Im tat ng the famo$s Tem!le of Tyre# 3here 3ere
t he
great col$mns consecrated to the 3 nds and f re# the Tyran art st !laced
t 3o
col$mns of bron<e at the entrance of the !orch of the tem!l e, The
hem s!hercal
bra<en sea# s$!!ort ed by fo$r gro$!s of b$ll s# of three each# l oo/ng to the
fo$r card nal !o nt s of t he com!ass# re!resent ed the b$l l of the Fernal
EE$ no4# and at Tyre 3ere consecrated to AstarteG t o 3hom -ram#
&ose!h$s says#
had b$l t a tem!l e# and 3ho 3ore on her head a hel met bear ng t he mage
of a
b$ll , And t he throne of Solomon# 3 th b$l ls ado!t ng t s arms# and
s$!!orted on
l ons# l /e t hose of -or$s n Egy!t and of the S$n at TyreG l /e3se
referred
t o t he Fernal EE$ no4 and S$mmer Sol st ce, Those 3ho n Thr ce adored
t he s$n#
$nder t he name of Saba He$s# the Grecan Bacch$s# bl nded t o h m# says
Macrob $s# a tem!l e on Mo$nt Hel m sso# t s ro$nd form re!resent ng the
3orl d
and t he s$n, A c rc$lar a!ert$re n t he roof adm t t ed the l ght # and
ntrod$ced
t he mage of the s$n nto the body of the sanct $ary# 3here he seemed t o
bla<e
as n the heghts of -ea6en# and t o dss!ate the dar/ness 3 t hn t hat
t em!l e
3hch 3as a re!resentat on symbol of the 3orld, There t he !asson# death#
and
res$rrect on of Bacch$s 3ere re!resented,
So the Tem!le of El e$s s 3as l ghted by a 3 ndo3 n t he roof, The
sanct $ary so
l ght ed# D on com!ares to the 'n 6erse# from 3hch he says t dffered n
s <e
al oneG and n t the great l ght s of nat$re !layed a great !art and 3ere
myo!cal ly re!resented, The mages of t he S$n# Moon# and Merc$ry 3ere
re!resented there# Mt he l at t er the same as An$bs 3ho accom!aned IssN G
and
t hey are st l l t he three l ghts of a Mason c Lodge G e4ce!t that for
Merc$ry#
t he Mast er of the Lodge has been abs$rdly s$bst t $ted,
E$seb$s names as the !r nc !al M n st ers n t he Myster es of Ele$ss#
frst #
t he -ero!hant# clothed 3 th t he at trb$tes of the Grand Arch tect
MDem o$rgosN
of t he 'n 6erse, Aft er h m came the Dado$/os# or torchDbearer#
re!resentat 6e
of t he S$n ( t hen the al t arDbearer# re!resent ng t he Moon ( and last# t he
- erocery4# bear ng the cad$ce$s# and re!resent ng Merc$ry, It 3as not
!erm ss ble to re6eal t he dfferent embl ems and t he myster o$s !ageantry
of
n t at on to the ProfaneG and t herefore 3e do not , /no3 the att r b$tes#
emblems# and ornaments of these and other offcers G of 3hch A!$l e $s
and
Pa$san as dared not s!ea/,
;e /no3 only that e6eryth ng reco$nted there 3as mar6el o$sG e6eryt hng
done
t here tended to astonsh the In t at e( and t hat eyes and ears 3ere eE$ally
ast o$nded, The -ero!hant# of l ofty heght# and noble feat $res# 3 th long
har#
of a great age# gra6e and dgn f ed# 3 th a 6oce s3eet and sonoro$s# sat
$!on
a throne# cl ad n a long t ra l ng robeG as the Mot 6eDGod of 8at $re 3as
held to
be en6el o!ed n - s 3or/ and h dden $nder a 6e l 3h ch no mort al can
rase,
e6en h s name 3as concealed# l /e t hat of t he Demo$rgos# 3hose name
3as
neffabl e,
The Dado$/os also 3ore a l ong robe# hs har l ong# and a bandea$ on h s
forehead, %al l as# 3hen holdng that offce# fght ng on t he great day of
Marathon# clothed 3 th the nsgna of hs off ce# 3as ta/en by t he
Barbar ans
t o be a K ng, The Dado$/os l ed the !rocesson of t he Int ates# and 3as
charged
3 th t he !$r f cat on,
;E do set /no3 the f$nct ons of t he E!bomos or assst ant at the alt ar#
3ho
re!resented the moon, That !lanet 3as one of t he t 3o homes of so$l s# and
one of
t he t 3o great gates by 3h ch they descended and reascended, Merc$ry 3as
charged
3 th t he cond$ct ng of so$ls thro$gh t he t 3o great gatesG and n gong
from the
s$n t o t he moon t hey !assed mmed ately by h m, -e adm t t ed or re5 ected
t hem as
t hey 3ere more or l ess !$re# and t herefore the -erocery4 or Sacred
-erald# 3ho
re!resented Merc$ry# 3as charged 3 t h t he d$ty of e4cl$dng t he Profane
from
t he Myst er es,
The same offsets are fo$nd n t he !rocesson of Int ates of Iss# descr bed
by A!$l e$s, Al l clad n robes of 3ht e l nen# dra3n t ght across t he
breast#
and cl oseDft t ng do3n t o t he 6ery feet # came# frst # one bear ng a l am! n
t he
sha!e of a boat G second# one carry ng an alt arG and thrd# one carry ng a
golden !al mDtree and t he cad$ce$s, These are he same as the three
offcers at
Ele$ss# aft er the -ero!hant , Then one carryng an o!en hand# and
!o$r ng m l/
on t he gro$nd from a gol den 6essel n the sha!e of a 3oman? s breast, The
hand
3as that of 5 $st ce( and t he m l / al l$ded to the Gal a4y or M l /y ;ay#
al ong
3hch so$l s descended and remo$nt ed, T3o ot hers foll o3ed# one bear ng a
3 nno3 ng fan# and the ot her a 3aterD6aseG symbol s of t he !$r f cat on of
so$ls
by ar and 3at erG and t he t h rd !$r fcat on# by eart h# 3as re!resented by
an
mage of the an mal that c$lt 6ates t# t he co3 or o4# borne by anot her
offcer,
Then fol l o3ed a chest or ar/# magnfcent ly ornamented# conta n ng an
mage of
t he organs of generat on of Osr s# or !erha!s of both se4es G embl ems of
t he
orgnal generat ng and !rod$c ng Po3ers, ;hen Ty!hon# sa d t he
Egy!t an fable#
c$t $! t he body of Os r s nto ! eces# he fl$ng h s gen tal s nt o t he 8le#
3here a f sh de6o$red them, Atys m$t l ated h msel f# as hs Prests
after3ard
dd n m t at on of h mG and Adon s 3as n that !art of h s body 3o$nded
by t he
boar( al l of 3h ch re!resented t he l oss by the S$n of h s 66 fyng and
generat 6e !o3er# 3hen he reached the A$t$mnal EE$ no4 Mthe Scor! on
t hat on
old mon$ment s b tes those !arts of the Fernal B$l lN# and descended to3ard
t he
regon of dar/ness and ; nter,
Then# says A!$le $s# came @one 3ho carred n h s bosom an ob5 ect t hat
re5o ced the heart of the bearer# a 6enerable effgy of the S$!reme Dety#
net her bear ng resemblance to man# cat tl e# brd# beast # or any l 6ng
creat$re
( an e4E$s te n6ent on# 6enerable from t he no6el org nal ty of t he
fashon ngG a 3onderf$l# neffable symbol of rel go$s mysteres# to? be
l oo/ed
$!on n !rofo$nd s lence, S$ch as t 3as# t s fg$re 3as t hat of a smal l $rn
of
b$rn shed gol d# holl o3ed 6ery # art st cally# ro$nded at the bot tom# and
co6ered
al l o6er t he o$t s de 3t h t he 3onderf$l herogly!h cs of the Egy!t ans,
The
s!o$t 3as not ele6ated# b$t e4t ended lat eral ly# !ro5ect ng l /e a l ong
r6$let G
3hl e on t he o!!os te s de 3as t he handl e# 3hch# 3 th s m lar lateral
e4tens on# bore on t s s$mm t an as!# c$rl ng t s body nt o folds# and
st ret chng $!3ard# t s 3r n/led# scaly# s3ol len throat , @
The sal ent bas l s/# # or royal ensgn of t he Pharaohs# often occ$rs on t he
mon$ment sDa ser!ent n folds# 3 t h h s head rased erect abo6e t he fol ds,
The
bas l s/ 3as the Phoen 4 of the ser!entDtrbeG and t he 6ase or $rn 3as
!robably
t he 6essel # sha!ed l /e a c$c$mber# 3t h a !ro5ect ng s!o$t # o$t of 3h ch#
on
t he mon$ment s of Egy!t# t he !r est s are re!resent ed !o$r ng st reams of t he
%r$<
ansast a or Ta$ %ross# and of sce!ters# o6er the / ngs,
In t he Mysteres of M t hras# a sacred ca6e# re!resent ng t he 3hol e
arrangement
of t he 3orl d# 3as $sed for t he rece!t on of t he Int ates, Horoast er# says
E$b$l $s# frst ntrod$ced t h s c$st om of consecrat ng ca6es, They 3ere
al so
consecrated# n %ret e# to &$!t erG n Arcada# to# t he Moon and PanG and n
t he
Island of 8a4os# t o Bacch$s, The Persans# n the ca6e 3here t he
Myst er es of
M thras 3ere celebrat ed# f 4ed t he seat of , that God# "at her of
Generat on# or
Dem o$rgos# near the eE$ noctal !o nt of S!rng# 3 t h the 8ort hern
!ort on of
t he 3orl d on h s rght # and t he So$thern on h s left ,
M thras# says Por!hyry# !resded o6er the EE$ no4es# seat ed on a B$l l the
symbol cal an mal of the Dem o$rgos# and bearng a s3ord, The eE$ no4es
3ere
t he gat es t hro$gh 3hch so$l s !assed t o and fro# bet 3een t he hems!here
of
l ght and t hat of dar/ness, The m l /y 3ay 3as also re!resented# !ass ng
near
each of these gates( and t 3as# n t he old theol ogy# t ermed t he !ath3ay of
so$ls, It s# accordng to Pythagoras# 6ast t roo!s of so$l s t hat form that
l $mno$s belt , The ro$t e foll o3ed by so$l s# accordng t o Por!hyry# or
rather
t her !rogress 6e march n the 3orl d# ly ng t hro$gh the f 4ed st ars and
!lanet s# t he M t hr ac ca6e not only d s!layed t he <od acal and other
const el lat ons# and mar/ed gat es at the fo$r eE$noct al and Sol st t al
!onts
of t he <od ac# 3hereat so$ls enter nt o and esca!e from the 3orl d of
generat onal and t hro$gh 3h ch they !ass t o and fro bet 3een t he real ms of
l ght
and dar/nessG b$t t re!resented the se6en !lanetary s!heres 3hch t hey
needs
m$st tra6erse# n descend ng from the hea6en of t he f 4ed stars to the
el ement s
t hat en6el o! the earth G and se6en gat es 3ere mar/ed# one for each, !lanet#
t hro$gh 3h ch they !ass# n descendng or ret $rn ng,
;e learn t h s from %el s$s# n OrgenG 3ho says that t he symbol cal mage
of
t h s !assage among the stars# $sed n t he M thr ac Mysteres# 3as a ladder#
reachng from earth to -ea6en# d6ded nt o se6en ste!s or stages# t o each
of
3hch 3as a gat e# and at t he s$mm t an eght h# that of the f 4ed st ars, The
frst gate# says %els$s# 3as that of Sat $rn# and of lead# by the hea6y nat $re
3hereof hs d$l l sl o3 !rogress 3as symbol <ed, The second# of t n# 3as
t hat of
Fen$s# symbol < ng her soft s!l endor and easy fle4 b l ty, The t hrd# of
brass#
3as that of &$! t er# emblem of hs sol d ty and dry nat $re, The fo$rt h# of
ron# 3as that of Merc$ry# e4!ressng h s ndefatgable act 6ty and
sagacty,
The # f ft h# of co!!er# 3as t hat of Mars# e4!ress 6e of hs neE$al t es and
6arable nat$re, The s 4th# of s l6er# 3as that of t he Moon( and t he
se6enth#
of gold# t hat of t he S$n, Ths order s not the real order # of these Pl anet? s
b$t a mystero$s one# l /e t hat of the days of the ;ee/ consecrated to
t hem#
commencng 3 th Sat $rday# and retrograd ng t o S$nday, It 3as dct ated#
%el s$s
says# by certan harmonc relat ons# those of t he fo$rt h,
Th$s there 3as an nt mate connect on bet3een the Sacred Scence of the
Myst er es# and anc ent astronomy and !hyscs G and t he grand s!ectacl e of
t he
Sanct $ares 3as that of t he order of the reno3n 'n 6erse# or t he s!ectacle
of
8at $re t self# s$rro$nd ng t he so$l of t he Int ate# as t s$rro$nded t 3hen
t f rst descended t hro$gh t he !l anet ary gates# and by t he eE$ noct al and
Sol st t al doors# along t he M l/y ;ay# to be for t he frst t me mm$red n
ts
!r sonDho$se of matter, B$t t he Mysteres al so re!resented to t he
canddate# by
sens bl e symbol s# t he n6s ble forces 3hch mo6e th s 6sble 'n 6erse#
and
t he 6rt$es# E$al t es# and !o3ers at t ached to mat ter# and 3h ch manta n
t he
mar6ell o$s order obser6ed theren, Of t h s Por!hyry nforms $s,
The 3orl d# accord ng t o t he !h loso!hers of ant E$ ty# 3as not a !$rely
materal and mechancal machne, A great So$l # d ff$sed e6ery3here#
66 fed
al l the members of the mmense body of the 'n 6erse G and an
Int el l gence#
eE$ally great# d rect ed al l t s mo6ements# and ma nt aned t he et ernal
harmony
t hat res$lted t herefrom, Th$s t he 'nty of t he 'n6erse# re!resent ed b6 t he
symbol c egg# conta ned n tself t 3o $n ts the So$l and t he Int ell gence#
3hch !er6aded al l ts !art s ( and they 3ere t o t he 'n6erse# ? cons dered as
an
an mated and nt ell gent beng# 3hat nt ell gence and the so$l of l fe are
t o
t he nd6 d$al ty of man,
The doct r ne of the 'n ty of God# n th s sense# 3as t a$ght by Or!he$s, Of
t h s h s hymn or !al node s a !roof G fragment s of 3hch are E$oted by
many of
t he "athers# as &$st n# Tatan# %l emens of Al e4andr a# %yrl# and
Theodoret #
and t he 3hole by E$seb $s# E$ot ng from Arst ob$l$s, The doct r ne of the
Locos
M3ordN or t he 8oos Mnt el lect N# h s ncarnat on# deat h# res$rrect on or
t ransfg$rat on G of h s $n on 3t h matt er# h s d 6 son n t he 6 s bl e
3orl d#
3hch he !er6ades# hs ret $rn t o t he or gnal 'n ty# and t he 3hol e theory
relat 6e to t he orgn of the so$l and t s dest ny# 3ere ta$ght n the
Myst er es# f 3h ch t hey 3ere t he # great ob5 ect,
The Em!eror &$l an e4!lans the Mysteres of Atys and %ybele by the same
meta!hyscal !r nc!les# res!ect ng t he dem$rgcal Intel l gence# t s
descent
nt o mat t er# and ts ret $rn t o ts org n( and e4t ends ths e4!l anat on t o
t hose of %eres, And so l /e3se does Sall $st t he Ph loso!her# 3ho adm ts
n God
a secondary nt el l gent "orce# 3h ch descends nt o the generat 6e mat ter t o
organ <e t , These myst cal deas nat $rally formed a !art of the sacred
doctr ne and of t he ceremones of nt at ons t he ob5ect of 3h ch# Sal l$st
remar/s# 3as to $nt e man 3 th t he ;orl d and the Dety# and t he f nal term
of
!erfect on 3hereof 3as# accord ng t o %l emens# the cont em!lat on of
nat$re# of
real bengs# and of ca$ses, The def n t on of Sall $st s correct, The
Myst er es
3ere !ract ced as a means of !erfect ng the so$ls of ma/ ng t t o /no3 t s
o3n
dgn ty# of remnd ng, It of t s noble org n and mmortal ty# and
conseE$ently
of t s rel at ons 3t h the 'n 6erse and the Dety,
;hat 3as meant by real be ngs# 3as n6 s bl e be ngs# gen # the fac$lt es
or
!o3ers of nat $re G e6eryth ng not a !art of t he 6s ble 3orl d# 3h ch 3as
cal led# by 3ay of o!!ost on# a!!arent e4 st ence, The t heory of Gen # or
Po3ers of 8at $re# and ts "orces# !erson fed# made !art of t he Sacred
Scence
of n t at on# and of t hat relgo$s s!ectacle of dfferent bengs e4h b ted
n
t he Sanct $ary, It res$l ted from t hat bel ef n t he !ro6dence and
s$!er nt endence of the Gods# 3hch 3as one of the !r mary bases of
n t at on,
The adm n strat on of the 'n6erse by S$bal tern Gen # to 6 hom t s
conf ded#
and by 3hom good and e6 l are d s!ensed n t he 3orld# 3as a conseE$ence
of t h s
dogma# ta$ght n t he Myst er es of M th as# 3here 3as sho3n that famo$s
egg#
shared bet 3een Orm$<d and Ahr man# each # of 3hom commss oned
t 3entyDfo$r Gen
t o ds!ense t he good and e6l fo$nd t herenG t hey beng $nder t3el 6e
S$!er or
Gods# s 4 on t he s de of Lght and Good# and s 4 on t hat of Dar/ness and
E6 l,
Th s doctrne of t he Gen # de!os t ares of the 'n 6ersal Pro6edence# 3as
nt mately connected 3 th the Anc ent Mysteres# and ado!ted n the
sacrfces
and n t at ons ? bot h of Gree/s and Barbarans, Pl$tarch says that t he
Gods# by
means of Gen # 3ho are nt ermedates bet3een them and men# dra3 near
t o
mortal s n t he # ceremon es of n t at on# at 3h ch the Gods charge them to
ass st# and to d str b$te !$nshment and bl essng, Th$s not the De ty# b$t
- s
mnsters# or a Pr nc !le and Po3er of E6 l# 3ere deemed t he a$t hors of
6ce
and s n and s$ffer ng( and th$s t he Gen or angels dffered n charact er
l /e
men# some be ng good and some e6l G some %elest al Gods# Archangel s#
Angels#
and some Infernal Gods# Demons and fall en Angel s,
At t he head of t he lat ter 3as t her %hef# Ty!hon# Ahr man# or Shatan# the
E6 l Pr nc !le G 3ho# ha6 ng 3ro$ght d sorder n nat $re# bro$ght tro$bles
on
men by l and and sea# and ca$sed the great est l ls# s at l ast !$nshed for
hs
cr mes, It 3as t hese e6ent s and nc dent s# says Pl $t arch# 3hch Iss desred
t o
re!resent n the ceremon al # of t he Myst er es# est abl shed by her n
memory of
her sorro3s and 3anderngs# 3hereof she e4h b ted an mage and
re!resentat on
n her Sanct$ares# 3here al so 3ere afforded enco$ragement s to ! ety and
consol at on n m sfort $ne, The dogma of a Pro6 dence# he says#
admnst er ng
t he 'n6erse by means of nt ermedary Po3ers# 3ho ma nt an the
connect on of
man 3 t h t he D6 n ty# 3as eonsecrated n t he hlyst er es of t he Egy!tans#
Phrygans# and Thracans# of the Mag and t he Dsc!l es of Horoast erG as s
!la n by t her n t at ons# n 3hch mo$rnf$l and f$nereal ceremon es
mngled,
It 3as an essent al !art of the lessons g6en t he Int ates# t o t each t hem t he
relat ons of t he r o3n so$l s 3 th 'n 6ersal 8at$re# the greatest l essons of
al l# meant to dgnfy man n h s o3n eyes# and teach h m hs !l ace n the
'n6erse of t h ngs,
Th$s the 3hole system of t he 'n6erse 3as ds!layed n al l t s !arts t o
t he eyes of the In tate G and t he symbolc ca6e 3hch re!s resent ed t 3as
adorned and cl ot hed 3t h al l the att r b$tes of that 'n6erse, To t h s 3orl d
so
organ <ed# endo3ed 3 th a do$bl e force# act 6e and !ass 6e# d 6 ded
bet3een
l ght and dar/ness# mo6ed by a l 6 ng and ntel lgent "orce# go6erned by
Gen
or Angel s 3ho !res de o6er t s d fferent !arts# and 3hose nat$re and
character
are more lofty or l o3 a !ro!ort on as t hey !ossess a greater or less
!ort on
of dar/ mat ter# Dt o t h s 3orl d descends t he so$l# emanat on of t he et hereal
fre# and e4l ed from the l $m no$s regon abo6e t he 3orld, It enters nt o
t h s
dar/ mat ter# 3heren the host le !r nc !les# each seconded by h s troo!s of
Gen # are e6er n con6 ct# there to s$bmt t o one or more organ<at ons n
t he
body 3h ch s ts !r son# $nt l t shal l at last ret $rn t o t s !l ace of org n#
ts tr$e nat 6e co$ntry# from 3h ch dar ng t h s l fe t s an e4 le,
B$t one t hng rema ned# Dt o re!resent t s ret $rn# thro$gh t he constell at ons
and !lanet ary s!heres# t o t s org nal home, The celest al fre# the
!hl oso!hers sad# so$l of t he 3orl d and of fre# an $n6ersal !rnc!le#
c rc$lat ng abo6e the -ea6ens# n a reg on nfnt ely !$re and 3holly
l $mno$s#
tsel f !$re# s m!le# and $nm 4ed# s abo6e t he 3orl d by ts s!ecfc
l ght ness,
If any !art of t Msay a h$man so$l N descends# t act s aga nst t s nat $re n
dong so# $rged by an ncons derate desre of t he ntell gence# a !erfd o$s
l o6e for matt er 3h ch ca$ses t t o descend# to /no3 3hat !asses here
belo3#
3here good and e6 l are n confl ct , The So$l # a s m!l e s$bstance# 3hen
$nconnect ed 3t h mat t er# a ray or !artscl e of t he D 6ne "re# 3hose home
s n
-ea6en# e6er t$rns to3ard that home# 3hl e $n t ed 3 th t he body# and
st r$ggles t o ret$rn tht her,
Teach ng t h s# t he Mysteres st ro6e t o recal l man t o hs d 6ne org n# and
!ont o$t t o h m t he means of ret$rnng tht her, The gr st scence acE$red
n
t he Myst er es 3as /no3ledge of man? s self# of the nobl eness of h s orgn#
t he
grande$r of hs dest ny# and h s s$!eror ty o6er t he an mals# 3h ch can
ne6er
acE$re t hs /no3ledge# and 3hom he resembles so l ong as he does not
re5ect
$!on h s e4 st ence and so$nd the de!t hs of h s o3n nat $re,
By do ng and s$ffer ng# by 6rt$e and ! ety and good deeds# t he so$l 3as
enabled at lengt h to free t sel f from the body# and ascend along t he !ath of
t he M l/y ;ay# by the gate of %a!r corn and by t he se6en s!heres, to t he
!lace
3hence by many grad$at ons and s$ccess 6e l a!ses and ent hrall ments t
had
descended, And t h$s t he t heory of the s!heres# and of t he sgns and
ntell gences 3hch !res de t here# and the 3hole system of astronomy#
3ere
connect ed 3 t h t hat of the so$l and ts dest nyG and so 3ere ta$ght n the
Myst er es# n 3hch 3ere de6elo!ed t he great !rnc !l es of !hyscs and
meta!hyscs as to t he orgn of the so$l# t s cond t on here bel o3# ts
dest nat on# and ts f$t $re fat e,
The Gree/s f 4 the dat e of t he est abl shment of t he Myster es of Ele$ss at
t he year ):09 B, %, # d$rng the re gn of Erecht he$s at At hens, Accordng
t o
some a$thors# they 3ere nst t$t ed by %eres hersel fG and accord ng t o
others#
by t hat Monarch# 3ho bro$ght them from Egy!t# 3here# accord ng t o
D odor$s of
Sc ly# he 3as born, Anot her t rad t on 3as# that Or!he$s nt rod$ced them
nt o
Greece# t oget her 3t h the Donys an ceremones# co!yng the lat ter from
t he
Myst er es of Os r s# and t he former from those of Iss,
8or 3as t at At hens only# that the 3orsh! and Mysteres of Iss#
metamor!hosed nt o %eres# 3ere establ shed, The Boeot ans 3orsh!!ed
t he Great
or %abr c %eres# n t he recesses of a sacred gro6e# nto 3h ch none b$t
In t ates co$l d enterG and t he ceremones there obser6ed# and the sacred
t rad t ons of t he r Mysteres# 3ere connect ed 3t h t hose of the %ab r n
Samothrace,
So n Argos# Phocs# Arcada# Acha a# Messen a# %or nt h# and many ot her
!art s
of Greece# the Mysteres 3ere !ract ced# re6eal ng e6ery3here t he r
Egy!t an
orgn and e6ery3here ha6 ng the same general feat $resG b$t those of
Ele$ss#
n At t ca# Pa$san as nforms $s# had been regarded by t he Gree/s# from the
earl est t mes# as be ng as far s$!eror to all t he others# as the Gods are to
mere -eroes,
S ml ar to t hese 3ere the Myst eres of Bona Dea# t he Good Goddess#
3hose name#
say %cero and Pl$tarch# t 3as not !erm tt ed to any man t o /no3#
celebrat ed at
Rome frorm t he earl est t mes of that c ty, It 3as t hese Mysteres#
!ract ced
by 3omen alone# t he secrecy of 3hch 3as m!o$sly 6 olated by %l a$d $s,
They
3ere hel d at t he Kal ends of MayG and# accord ng t o Pl $t arch# m$ch of the
ceremonal great ly resembled t hat of t he Myst er es of Bacch$s,
The Mysteres of Fen$s and Adons bel onged !rnc !al ly to Syr a and
Phoenc a#
3hence t hey !assed nt o Greece and Sc ly, Fen$s or Ast art e 3as t he Great
"emale Dety of the Phoen cans# as -erc$l es# Mel /arth or Adon 3as ther
%hef
God, Adon # call ed by t he Gree/s Adon s# 3as t he lo6er of Fen$s, Sla n by
a
3o$nd n t he t h gh nfl cted by a 3 ld boar n the chase# t he fl o3er call ed
anemone s!rang from h s blood, Fen$s rece 6ed the cor!se and obta ned
from
&$! ter t he boon that her lo6er sho$ld thereafter !ass s 4 months of each
year
3 th her# and the ot her s 4 n the Shades 3t h Proser!neG an all egorcal
descr!t on of t he al ternate res dence of the S$n n the t3o hems!heres,
In
t hese Myst er es h s deat h 3as re!resent ed and mo$nted# and after t hs
macerat on and mo$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 $nder t he name of t hose of
Thamm$<#
an Assyr an De ty# 3hom e6ery year the 3omen mo$rned# seated at the
doors of
t her d3ell ngs, These Mysteres# l /e t he others# 3ere celebrated n t he
S!rng# at t he Fernal EE$ no4# 3hen he 3as rest ored t o l feG at 3hch t me#
3hen t heyD3ere nst t $t ed# the S$n MAdon # Lord# or Mast erN 3as n the
Sgn
Ta$r$s# the dom cl e of Fen$s, -e 3as re!resented 3t h horns# and the
hymn of
Or!he$s n hs honor styl es h m @t he t 3oDhorned God G@ as n Argos
Bacch$s 3as
re!resented 3 th the feet of a b$l l,
Pl$tarch says that Adon s and Bacch$s 3ere regarded as one? and t he same
De tyG and t hat th s o! n on 3as fo$nded on the great s ml ar ty n 6ery
many
res!ect s bet3een t he Myst er es of
t hese t 3o Gods,
The Mysteres of Bacch$s 3ere /no3n as the Saba< an# Or!hc and
D onysan
"est 6als, They 3ent bac/ to the remot est ant E$ty among the Gree/s# and
3ere
at trb$ted by some to Bacch$s h mself# and by ot hers t o Or!he$s, The
resembl ance n ceremonal bet3een t he obser6ances establ shed n honor
of
Os r s n Egy!t# and t hose n honor of Bacch$s n Greece# t he
mythol ogcal
t rad t ons of t he t 3o Gods# and t he symbol s $sed n t he fest 6al s of each#
am!ly !ro6e ther dent ty, 8e t her t he name of Bacch$s# nor t he 3ord
org es
a!!l ed to h s feast s# nor the sacred 3ords $sed n h s Mysteres# are
Gree/#
b$t of foregn or gn, Bacch$s 3as an Or ent al De ty# 3orsh !!ed n t he
East#
and hs org es celebrat ed t here# l ong before the Gree/s ado!ted t hem, In
t he
earl est t mes he 3as 3orsh !!ed n Inda# Araba# and Ba6ara,
-e 3as honored n Greece 3 t h !$bl c fest 6al s# and n s m!le or
com!l cat ed
Myst er es# 6ary ng n ceremon al n 6ar o$s !l aces# as 3as nat $ral #
beca$se h s
3orsh! had come th t her from d fferent co$ntres and at dfferent !er ods#
The
!eo!l e 3ho celebrat ed t he com!lcated Mysteres 3ere gnorant of t he
mean ng
of, many 3ords 3h ch t hey $sed# and of many embal ms 3hch they
re6ered, In the
Saba< an "easts# for e4am!le Afrom SabaDHe$s# an or ental name of t hs
De tyB#
t he 3ords EFOI# SABOI# ;ere $sed# 3h ch are n no3 se Gree/G and a
ser!ent of
gold 3as t hro3n nt o the bosom of the In tate# n all $s on to the fable that
&$! ter had# n the form of a ser!ent # had connect on 3t h Proser!ne# and
begott en Ba/chos# the b$l l G 3hence the engmat cal sayng# re!eated t o
t he
In t ates# that a b$l l engendered a dragon or ser!ent # and t he ser!ent n
t $rn
engendered t he b$ll # 3ho became Ba/chos ( t he mean ng f 3h ch 3as# t hat
t he
b$ll ATa$r$s# 3h ch then o!ened the Fernal EE$no4# and t he S$n n 3hch
Sgn#
fg$rat 6ely re!resented by the Sgn t self# 3as Ba/chos# D onys$s# SabaD
He$s#
Os r s# etc, B# and the Ser!ent# another constel lat on# occ$! ed s$ch relat 6e
!ost ons n the -ea6ens# that 3hen one rose the ot her set# and 6ce 6ersa,
The ser!ent 3as a faml ar symbol n the Mysteres of Ba/chos, The
In t ates
gras!ed them 3 t h t her hands# as Or!h $c$s does on the celest al globe#
and
t he Or!heoDtelest es# or !$r fer of canddates dd t he same# cryng# as
Demost henes t a$nt ed, AEschnes 3t h do ng n !$blc at the head of the
3omen
3hom h s mother 3as to m tat e# EFOI# SAB2I# -.ES ATTE# A8TE#
-.ESO
The Int at es n t hese Myst eres had !reser6ed the rt $al and ceremon es
t hat
accorded 3 th the s m!l c ty of the earl est ages# and the manners of the
frst
men, The r$l es of Pyt hagoras 3ere fol l o3ed there, L/e the Egy!t ans#
3ho held
3ool $nclean# they b$r ed no Int ate n 3oolen garment s, They abst aned
from
bloody sacrfcesG and l 6ed on fr$ t s or 6eget ables or nan mate th ngs,
They
m tat ed t he l fe of the cont em!l at 6e Sect s of t he Or ent G t h$s
a!!ro4 mat ng
t o t he tranE$l ty of t he frst men# 3ho l 6ed e4em!t from t ro$bl e and
cr mes
n t he bosom of a !rofo$nd !eace, One of the most !rec o$s ad6antages
!romsed
by t her n tat on 3as# t o !$t a man n comm$non 3 t h t he Gods# by
!$r fyng
hs so$l of al l t he !assons t hat nterfere 3 th that en5oyment# and d m t he
rays of d6 ne lght that are comm$n cated to e6ery so$l ca!able of
rece6 ng
t hem# and t hat mt ate ther !$r ty, One of the degrees of n t at on 3as the
st ate of ns!rat on to 3h ch t he ada!t s 3ere cl a med t o at t a n, The
In t ates
n t he Mysteres of the Lamb# at Pe!$<a# n Phryga# !rofessed t o be
ns! red#
and !ro!hesed and t 3as cla med that t he so$l # by means of t hese
rel go$s
ceremones# !$r fed of any stan# co$ld see t he Gods n t h s l fe# and
certa nly# n al l cases# aft er death, The sacred gates of the Tem!le# 3here
t he
ceremones of nt at on 3ere !erformed# 3ere o!ened b$t once n each
year# and
no st ranger 3as e6er all o3ed to ent er, It, nght t hre3 her 6el o6er t hese
a$g$st Mysteres# 3hch co$l d be re6eal ed t o no# one, There t he s$ffer ngs
of
Ba/chos 3ere re!resent ed# 3ho# l /e Os r s# ded# descended t o hell and
rose t o
l fe aganG and ra3 fl esh 3as dst r b$ted to the In tates# 3hch each ate#
n
memory of the deat h df the Dety# t orn n !eces by t he Tt ans,
These Myster es al so 3ere celebrat ed at t he Fernal EE$ no4G and t he
emblem of
generat on# t o e4!ress t he act 6e energy and generat 6e !o3er of t he
D 6 n ty#
3as a !r nc !al symbol , The In t at es 3ore garl ands and cro3ns of myrtle
and
l a$rel,
In t hese Mysteres# the as!rant 3as /e!t n t error and dar/ness to !erform
t he t hree days and nghtsG and 3as t hen made AfaJ smos # Of %eremony
re!resent ng t he death of Ba/chos# t he same mythologcal !ersonage 3 t h
Os r s,
Th s 3as effect ed by coffnng h m n a cl ose cell # that he m ght sero$sly
refl ect# n sol t $de and dar/ness# on the b$s ness he 3as engaged n ( and
hs
mnd be !re!ared for the rece!t on of the s$bl me and myster o$s tr$ths of
!r m t 6e re6elat on and !h loso!hy, Th s 3as a symbol c deat h G the
del 6erance from t # regenerat on G aft er 3h ch he 3as cal led dfnJs or
t 3nDborn, ;h le confned n the cell # t he !$rs$t of Ty!hon after t he
mangled
body of Osr s# and t he search of Rhea or Iss for t he same# 3ere enacted
n
hs hear ngG the n t at ed cry ng al o$d the names# of t hat De ty der6ed
from
t he Sans/r t, Then t 3as anno$nced that t he body 3as fo$nd G and t he
as! rant
3as l berat ed amd shoot s of 5 oy and e4$l tat on,
Then he !assed t hro$gh a re!resentat on of -el l and Elys $m, @Then#@ sad
an
anc ent 3rt er# @they are enterta ned 3 th hymns and dances# 3t h t he
s$bl me
doctr nes of sacred /no3l edge# and 3t h 3onderf$l and holy 6s ons, And
no3
become !erfect and n t ated# t hey are "REE# and no longer $nder rest ra nt
G
b$t# cro3ned# and t r $m!hant# they 3al / $! and do3n the reg ons of the
blessed#
con6erse 3t h !$re and holy men# and celebrat e t he sacred Myster es at
!leas$re, @ They 3ere t a$ght t he nat$re and ob5ect s of t he Myst er es# and
t he
means of ma/ ng t hemsel6es /no3n# and rece 6ed the name of E!o!tsG
3ere f$lly
nstr$ct ed e t he nat$re and at trb$tes of the D 6 nty# and t he doct r ne of a
f$t $re stat eG and made acE$a nted 3 th the $n ty and at trb$tes of the
Grand
Arch tect of t he 'n6erse# and the tr$e mean ng of t he fabl es n regard to
t he
Gods of Pagan sm( t he great Tr$th be ng oft en !rocla med# t hat @He$s s
t he
!r m t 6e So$rce of all t hngsG there s one GodG one !o3er# and one r$le
o6er
al l, @ And aft er f$ll e4!lanat on of t he many symbol s and embl ems that
s$rro$nded them# they 3ere dsm ssed 3 th the barbaro$s 3ords KogJ
Om!aJ#
corr$!t ons of t he Sans/r t 3ords# Kans/a Aom Pa/schaG mean ng# ob5 ect
of o$r
3 shes# God# Sl ence# or ;orsh ! the De ty n S lence,
, Among t he 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!ent G and at anot her t me he str$c/
t he
r6ers Orontes and -ydas!es 3 t h t# , and t he 3at ers receded and he
!assed o6er
dryDshod, ;ater 3as obta ned# d$r ng the ceremon es# by str / ng a roc/
3 th
t, The Ba/chae cro3ned ther heads 3 th ser!ents# carred them n 6ases
and
bas/ets# and at the E6eho s# or f nd ng# of t he body of Osr s# cast one#
al 6e# nt o t he as!rant? s bosom,
The Mysteres of Atys n Phryg a# and t hose of %ybel e h s m stress# l /e
t her
3orsh!# m$ch resembled those of Adon s and Ba/chos# Osr s and Iss,
The r
As at c org n s $n 6ersal ly admt t ed# and 3as 3t h great !la$s b l ty
cl a med
by Phryga# 3h ch contest ed the !al m of ant E$ty 3 t h Egy!t , They# more
t han
any ot her !eo!le# m ngl ed allegory 3t h the r, rel g o$s 3orsh!# and 3ere
great n6entors of fables G and t her sacred t radt ons as t o %ybele and
Atys#
3hom al l adm t t o be Phrygan Gods# 3ere 6ery 6ar o$s, In all # as 3e learn
rom
&$l $s "rm c$s# they re!resented by al legory the !henomena # of nat $re#
and t he
s$ccess on of !hyscal fact s# $nder t he 6el of a mar6elo$s hst ory,
The r feasts occ$rred at the eE$no4es# commencng 3t h lamentat on#
mo$rn ng#
groans# and ! t f$l cres for t he heath of AtysG and endng 3 t h re5 o cngs
at
hs restorat on t o l fe,
;e shal l not rec te the dfferent 6ers ons of the legend of Atys and %ybele#
g 6en by &$l $s " rmc$s# D odor$s# Arnob$s# Lactant $s# Ser6 $s# Sa nt
A$g$st ne# and Pa$sanas, It s eno$gh t o say that t s n s$bstance t h s(
t hat %ybel e# a Phrygan Prncess# 3ho n6ent ed m$scal nstr$ments and
dances#
3as enamored of Atys# a yo$t hG that e ther he n a f t of fren<y m$t lat ed
h msel f or 3as m$t l ated by her n a !aro4ysm of 5 eal o$sy G t hat he ded#
and
after3ard# l /e Adons# 3as restored to l fe, ? It s the Phoen c an f ct on as
t o t he S$nDGod# e4!ressed n ot her terms# $nder ot her ? forms# and 3t h
other
names,? %ybel e 3as 3orsh !!ed n Syra# $nder t he name of Rhea,
L$can says that the Lydan Atys t here establ shed her 3orsh ! and b$ l t
her
t em!l e, The name of Rhea s also fo$nd n t he anc ent cosmogony of the
Phoenc ans by Sanchon at hon, It 3as? Atys the Lydan# says L$can# 3ho#
ha6ng
been m$t lated# f rst est abl shed the Myst eres of Rhea# and ta$ght the
Phrygans# t he Lydans# and the !eo!le of Samot hrace to celebrat e t hem,
Rhea#
l /e %ybel e# 3as re!resent ed dra3n by l ons# bear ng a dr$m# and cro3ned
3 th
flo3ers, D Accordng to Farro# %ybel e re!resented the eart h, She !artoo/
of t he
characterst cs of M ner6a# Fen$s# t he Moon# Dana# 8emess# and the
"$r es G
3as clad n !reco$s st ones G and her - gh Prest 3ore a robe of !$r!le
and a
t ara of gold,
_The Grand "east of the Syr an Goddess# l /e t hat of t he Mother of the
Gods at
Rome# 3as celebrat ed at t he Fernal EE$ no4, Prec sely at t hat eE$no4 the
Myst er es of Atys 3ere celebrated# ? n 3h ch t h In tates 3ere t a$ght t o
e4!ect the re3ards of a f$t $re l fe# and the fl ght of Atys from the 5eal o$s
f$ry of %ybele 3as descrbed# hs conceal ment n t he mo$ntans and n a
ca6e#
and, -s sel fDm$t lat on n a f t of del r$m G n 3hch act h s !rest s
m tat ed h m, The feast of t he !ass on of Atys cont n$ed t hree daysG the
frst
of 3hch 3as !assed n mo$rn ng and t earsG t o 3hch aft er3ard clamoro$s
re5o c ngs s$cceeded G by 3h ch# Macrob $s says# t he S$n 3as adored
$nder t he
name of Atys, The ceremon es 3ere al l al legor cal# some of 3hch#
accord ng t o
t he Em!eror &$l an# co$l d be e4!la ned# b$t more rema ned co6ered 3 th
t he 6el
of mystery, Th$s t s that symbol s o$tl ast ther e4!lanat ons# as many
ha6e
done n Masonry# and gnorance and rashness s$bst t$te ne3 ones,
In anot her legend# g6en by Pa$sanas# Atys des# 3o$nded l /e Adons by
a
3 ld boar n the _organs of generat on G a m$t l at on 3 th 3h ch all the
l egends ended, The ! ne t ree $nder 3hch he 3as sad to ha6e ded# 3as
sacred
t o h mG and# 3as fo$nd $!on many mon$ments# 3t h a b$l l and a ram near
tG one
t he sgn of e4al tat on of the S$n# and t he ot her of that of the Moon,
The 3orsh! of t he S$n $nder the name of M thras belonged t o Persa#
3hence
t hat name came# as dd the er$dt e symbols of that 3orsh!, The Persans#
adorers of "re# regarded t he S$n asG the most br ll ant abode of t he
fec$ndat ng energy of that el ement# 3h ch g6es l fe t o the eart h# and
c rc$lates n e6ery !art of the 'n 6erse# of 3hch t s# as t 3ere# the so$l ,
Th s 3orsh ! !assed from Pers a nt o Armena# %a!!adoc a# and % l ca#
l ong
before t 3as /no3n at Rome, The Mysteres of M t hras fl $rshed more
t han any
others n t he m!er al c ty, The 3orsh ! of M thras commenced to !re6al
t here
$nder Tro5 an, -adran !roh b ted these Mysteres# on acco$nt of the cr$el
scenes re!resent ed n t he r ceremonal ( for h$man 6 ct ms 3ere
mmolated
t heren# and the e6ents of f$t $rty l oo/ed for n the r !al ! t at r g ent ral s,
They rea!!eared n great er s!lendor t han e6er $nder %ommod$s# 3ho 3t h
hs o3n
hand sacr fced a 6 ct m to M thras ( and t hey 3ere st l l more !ract ced
$nder
%onstant ne and hs s$ccessors# 3hen the Pr ests of Mt hras 3ere fo$nd
e6ery3here n the Roman Em!re# and t he mon$ments of h s 3orsh !
a!!eared e6en
n Brt a n,
%a6es 3ere consecrated to Mt hras# n 3hch 3ere col lect ed a m$l t t $de of
ast ronomcal embl ems G and cr$el t ests 3ere reE$red of the Int at es, The
Pers ans b$ lt no tem!l es G b$t 3orsh!!ed $!on t he s$mmt s of hl ls# n
encl os$res of $nhe3n st ones, They abomnated mages# and made t he S$n
and "re
emblems of the Dety, The &e3s borro3ed t h s from t hem# and re!resented
God as
a!!ear ng t o Abraham n a fl ame of f re# and to Moses as a f re at -oreb
and on
Sna,
; t h the Persans# M thras# ty!fed n t he S$n# 3as the n6 sbl e De ty#
t he
Parent of the 'n 6erse# t he Medat or, In Horoaster? s ca6e of n t at on# t he?
S$n and Planet s 3ere re!resent ed o6erhead# n gems and gol d# as also 3as
t he
Hod ac, The S$n a!!eared emerg ng from the bac/ of Ta$r$s, Three great
!l lars#
Etern ty# "ec$nd ty# and A$t hor ty# s$!!ort ed the roofG and t he 3hol e 3as
at
emblem of the 'n 6erse,
Horoaster# l /e Moses# cla med t o ha6e con6ersed face to face# as man 3t h
man# 3 t h the De tyG and to ha6e rece 6ed from - m a system of !$re
3orsh!# t o
be comm$ncat ed only t o t he 6rt$e o$s# and t hose 3ho 3o$l d de6ote
t hemsel 6es
t o t he st$dy of Ph loso!hy, D -s fame s!read o6er the 3orl d# and !$! ls
came to
h^n from e6ery co$ntry, E6en Pyt hagoras 3as h s scholar,
After h s no6 t ate# t he canddate entered t he ca6ern of n t at on# and 3as
rece6ed on t he !ont of a s3ord !resented to h s :07 na/ed left breast # by
3hch he 3as sl ght ly 3o$nded, Beng cro3ned 3t h ol 6e# ano nt ed 3 t h
balsam
of ben<on# and other 3 se !re!ared# he 3as !$rfed 3 th f re and, ;at er#
and
3ent thro$gh se6en stages of nt at on# The symbol of t hese st ages 3as a
hgh
l adder 3 th se6en ro$nds or ste!s, In them# he 3ent thro$gh many fearf$l
t r al? s n 3h ch dar/ness d s!l ayed a !r nc !al !art, -e sa3 a
re!resentat on
of t he 3c/ed n - des G and fnally emerged from dar/ness nto l ght ,
Rece 6ed
t a !l ace re!resent ng Elys $m# n t he brl l ant assembly of the nt at ed#
3here t he Arch mag$s !res ded# robed n bl $e# he ass$med t he obl gat ons
of
secrecy# and 3as ent r$sted 3 th the Sacred ;ords# of 3h ch the Ineffabl e
8ame
of God 3as the ch ef,
Then all t he nc dent s of h s n t at on 3ere e4!la ned to h m( he 3as
t a$ght
t hat these ceremon es bro$ght h m nearer t he De tyG and t hat he sho$l d
adore
t he consecrat ed "re# t he gft of that De ty and - s 6 sbl e resdence, -e
3as
t a$ght t he sacred characters /no3n only to the nt at edG and nstr$cted n
regard to the creat on of , t he 3orld# and the tr$e !h loso!hcal meanng of
t he 6$lgar myt hol ogy G and es!ec ally of the legend of Orm$<d and
Ahr man# and
t he symbol c meanng of t he s 4 Amshas!ands created by the former (
Bahman# the
Lord of LghtG Ardbehest # the Gen $s of " re G Shar 6er# t he Lord of
S!l endor
and MetalsG St a!andomad# the So$rce of "r$ tf$l nessG K/ordad# the Gen $s
of
;at er, and T me G and Amerdad# t he !rot ector of t he Fegetabl e ;orl d# and
t he
!r me ca$se of gro3t h, And fnally he 3as ta$ght the tr$e nat $re of the
S$!reme
Beng# %reator of Orm$<d and Ahr man# the? Absol$t e "rst ? %a$se# styl ed
Her$ane
A/herene,
In t he Mt hrac n t at on 3ere se6eral Degrees, The f rst # Tert $l l an says#
3as that of Sol d er of Mt hras, The ceremony o rece!t on cons sted n
!resent ng the canddat e a cro3n# s$!!ort ed by a s3ord, It 3as !laced near
hs
head# and he re!ell ed t# say ng# @Mt hras s my # cro3n,@ Then he 3as
decl ared
t he sold er of M thras# and had t he rght to call t he other Int ates fel lo3
sold ers or com!an ons n arms, -ence t he t t le %om!an ons n the Royal
Arch
Degree of t he Amer can R te,
Then he !assed# Por!hyry says# thro$gh, the Degree of the Lon# the
const el lat on Leo# dom cl e of t he S$n and symbol of M thras# , fo$nd on
hs
mon$ment s, These ceremones 3ere t ermed at Rome Leont c and -el $m G
and
%oraca or - eroD%oraca# of :0= -ea6ens belo3 t he L on# 3 th the -ydra#
and al so a!!ear ng on t he M thras mon$ment s,
Thence he !assed t o a hgher Degree# 3here the In tates 3ere ? cal led
Perses
and ch ldren of t he D S$n, Abo6e t hem 3ere the "at hers# 3hose ch ef or
Patrarch 3as styled "ather of "at hers# or Pater Patrat$s, The Int at es al so
bore the t tl e of Eagles and -a3/s# b rds consecrated to t he S$n n Egy!t #
t he
former sacred to t he God Mendes# and t he lat ter the emblem of t he S$n
and
Royal ty,
The l tt le sland of Samot hrace 3as l ong the de!ostary of cert a n a$g$st
Myst er es# and many 3ent tht her from al l !art s of Greece t o be nt at ed,
It
3as sa d to ha6e been set tl ed by t he ancent Pelasg # early Asat c
colonst s
n Greece, The Gods adored n t he Myst er es of t hs sl and 3ere termed
%ABIRI#
an orental 3ord# from %aber# great , Farro cal ls t he Gods of Samot hrace#
Pot ent
MGods, In Arabc# Fen$s s call ed %aber, Farro says t ha t he Great Det es
3hose Myst er es 3ere !ract ced t here# 3ere -ea6en and Eart h, These 3ere
b$t
symbol s of the Act 6e and Pass 6e Po3ers or Prnc!les of $n 6ersal
generat on,
The t3o T3 n# %astor and Pol l$4# or t he Dosc$r # 3ere al so cal led the
Gods of
SamothraceG and the Schol ast of A!oll on $s# ct ng Mnaseas# g6es the
names of
%eres# Proser!ne# Pl$to# and Merc$ry# as t he fo$r %abr c D6 n t es
3orsh!!ed at Samothrace# as A4eros# A4 ocersa# A4 ocers$s# and
%asm l l$s,
Merc$ry 3as# there as e6ery3here# the m n st er and messenger of the Gods
G and
t he yo$ng ser6t ors of the alt ars and the ch ldren em!l oyed n t he Tem!l es
3ere
cal led Merc$res or %asm ll $s# as t hey 3ere n T$scany# by the Et r$sc and
Pelasg # 3ho 3orsh !!ed t he Great Gods,
TarE$ n the Et r$scan 3as an In t ate of the mysteres of SamothraceG and
Etr$r a had t s %ab r as Samothrace had, "or t he 3orsh! of t he %abr
s!read
from that sland nto Etr$ra# Phryga# and As a M nor ( and t !robably
came
from Phoen ca nt o Samothrace ( for t he %abr are ment oned by
Sanchon athonG
and t he 3ord %aber bel ongs to t he -ebre3# Phoen c an# and Arabc
l ang$ages,
The Dosc$r # t$t elary De t es of 8a6gat on# 3 t h Fen$s# 3ere n6o/ed n
t he
Myst er es of Samothrace, The constel lat on A$rga# or Phaet on# 3as al so
honored
t here 3 th m!os ng ceremones, '!on the Aerona$t c e4!ed t on#
Or!he$s# an
In t ate of these :0+ Myster es# a st orm ar s ng# co$nseled h s com!anons
t o !$t nto Samot hrace, They d d so# the st orm ceased# and they
3ere nt at ed nto the Mysteres there# and sa led agan 3 t h the
ass$rance of a fort $nat e 6oyage# $nder t he a$s!ces of the D osc$r#
!atrons
of sa lors and na6gat on,
B$t m$ch more t han that 3as !rom sed the Int at es, The
- ero!hants of Samot hrace made somet h ng nfn t ely greater t o be t he
ob5ect of
t her n t at ons G to 3 t# the consecrat on of men t o t he Dety# by
!ledg ng t hem t o 6rt$e G and the ass$rance of t hose re3ards 3hch
t he 5 $st ce of the Gods reser6es for In tates after deat h, Th s#
abo6e al l else# made these ceremon es a$g$st# and ns!red
e6ery3here so great a res!ect for them# and so great a desre t o
be adm t ted to t hem, _t hat org nal ly ca$sed t he sland t o be
styled Sacred, It 3as res!ected by all nat ons, The Romans# 3hen
masters of t he 3orl d# left t ts l berty and l a3s, It 3as an
asyl $m for the $nfort$nates and a sanct $ary n6 olable,
There men 3ere absol6ed of t he cr me of hom c de# f not
comm t ted n a t em!l e, %h l dren of tender age 3ere nt at ed t here# and
n6est ed 3 t h t he sacred robe# t he !$r!le t nct$re# and the cro3n of ol 6e#
and
seated $!on a t hrone# l /e other Int ates, In the ceremon es 3as
re!resented the deat h f the yo$ngest of the %ab r# sla n by h s
brot hers# 3ho fl ed nt o Etr$ra# carry ng 3 th t hem the chest or
ar/ t hat conta ned# h s gen tal s( and there t he Phal l$s and the
sacred ar/ 3ere adored, , -erodot $s says that t he Samothrac an
In t ates $nderstood the ob5ect and org n of th s re6erence !a d
t he Phal l$s# and 3hy t 3as e4hbt ed n the Mysteres, %l ement
of Al e4andra says that t he %abr ta$ght the T$scany t o re6ere
t, It 3as consecrated at -el o!ol s n Syra# 3here t he mysteres of a
D 6 n ty ha6 ng many !o nt s of resembl ance 3t h, Atys and %ybele 3ere
re!resented, The Pel asg connect ed t 3 th Merc$ry G and t a!!ears
on t he mon$ment s of Math as G al3ays and e6eryD3here a symbol of
t he l feDg6 ng !o3er of t he S$n at the Fernal EE$no4,
In t he Ind an Myst er es# as the cand date made h s t hree crc$t s# he
!a$sed
each t me he reached t he So$th# and sa d# @I co!y t he e4am!le of the
S$n# and fol l o3 h s benef cent co$rse, @ Bl$e Masonry has renamed
t he % rc$t s# b$t has $tt erly l ost t he e4!l anat onG 3h ch s# t hat n
t he Myst er es t he canddate n6arably re!resent ed t he S$n# descend ng
So$th3ard? to3ard t he regn of, :0* the E6l Prnc !l e# Ahr man#
St a# or Ty!hon Mdar/ness and 3 nterN G there fg$rat 6ely t o be slan# and
after a fe3 days to rse aga n from the dead# and commence to ascend to
t he
8ort h3ard, Then the deat h of St a 3as be3a led G or that of %ama# sla n by
Is3ara# a d comm t ted to the 3a6es on a chest # l /e Osr s and Bacch$sG
d$r ng
3hch the cand dat e 3as t err fed by !hantoms and horr d no ses,
Then he 3as made to !ersonfy F shn$# and !erform h s a6at ars# or l abors,
In
t he frst t3o he 3as ta$ght n al legor es the legend of t he Del$ge( n t he
frst he t oo/ t hree ste!s at rght angles# re!resent ng t he t hree h$ge ste!s
t a/en by F shn$ n t hat a6at arG and hence the three ste!s n the Master? s
Degree end ng at rght angles,
The nne a6at ars f nshed# he 3as ta$ght the necessty of fat h# as s$!er or
t o sacrfces# acts of char ty# or mort fcat ons of the fl esh, Then he 3as
admon shed aganst f 6e cr mes# and t oo/ a solemn obl gat on ne6er t o
comm t
t hem, -e 3as then nt rod$ced nto a re!resentat on of ParadseG t he
%om!any of
t he Members of t he Order# magn f cent ly arrayed# and the Altar 3t h a f re
bla< ng $!on t# as an embl em of t he De ty,
Then a ne3 name 3as g 6en h m# and he 3as n6ested n a 3h t e robe and
t ara#
and rece6ed the sgns# t o/ens# and l ect$res, A cross 3as mar/ed on h s
forehead# and an n6erted le6el# or t he Ta$ %ross# on hs breast , -e
rece6ed
t he sacred cord# and d 6ers am$let s or t al smansG and 3as then n6ested
3 th
t he sacred ;ord or S$bl me 8ame# /no3n only t o the n t ated# the
Trl ateral A,
', M,
Then the m$lt t $de of embl ems 3as e4!l a ned to the cand dat e G the arcana
of
sc ence h dden $nder t hem# and the d fferent 6 rt $es of 3hch t he
mythol ogcal
fg$res 3ere more !erson f cat ons, And he t h$s learne: the meanng of
t hose
symbol s# 3hch# to the $nn t ated# 3ere b$t a ma<e of $n ntel l gble
fg$res, :01 Godhead# the ha!! ness of t he !atrarchs# the destr$ct on by
t he Del $ge# the de!ra6 ty of t he heart # and t he necess ty of a medator# the
nstabl ty of l fe# the f nal dest r$ct on of all created thngs# and the
restorat on of t he 3orl d n a more !erfect form, They nc$l cated the
Etern ty
of t he So$l # e4!l a ned t he meanng of t he doctr ne of t he Met em!sychos s#
and
held theDdoctrne of a st at e of f$t$re re3ards and !$nshment s( and they
al so
earnest ly $rged that sns co$l d only be atoned for by re!entance#
reformat on#
and 6ol$ntary !enanceG and not by mere ceremones and sacr f ces,
The Mysteres among the %h nese and &a!anese came fro3n Inda# and
3ere
fo$nded on the same !r nc !les and 3t h s m lar r tes, The 3ord g6en t o
t he
ne3 In t at e 3as ODM DTo "o# n 3hch 3e recogn <e the org nal name A,
', M, #
co$!l ed at a m$ch lat er t me 3 t h t hat of "o# the Indan B$ddha# to sho3
t hat
he 3as t he Great Dety - msel f,
The eE$ lat eral trangle 3as one of t her symbol sG and so 3as the myst cal
.G
both al l$d ng to t he Tr $ne God# and the latter be ng the neffabl e name of
t he
De ty, A r ng s$!!ort ed by t 3o ser!ent s 3as emblemat cal of t he 3orl d#
!rot ected by the !o3er and 3sdom of the %reat orG and that s t he orgn
of t he
t 3o !aral lel l nes M nt o 3hch t me has changed t he t3o ser!entsN# that
s$!!ort
t he c rcl e n o$r Lodges,
Among the &a!anese# t he t erm of !robat on for the h ghest Degree 3as
t 3enty
years,
The man feat$res of t he Dr$d cal Mysteres resembled those of t he
Orent,
The ceremones commenced 3 th a hymn to the s$n, The cand dat es 3ere
arranged
n ran/s of t hrees# f 6es# and se6ens# accordng t o t her E$al fcat onsG and
cond$ct ed nne t mes aro$nd t he Sanct $ary# from East to ;est , The
canddate
$nder3ent many t r als# one of 3hch had drect reference to the legend of
Os r s, -e 3as !laced n a boat# and sent o$t t o sea alone# ha6 ng t o rely
on
hs o3n s/l l and !resence of m nd t o reach t he o!!ost e shore n safety,
The
deat h of -$ 3as re!resent ed n h s hearng# 3 th e6ery e4ternal mar/ of
sorro3#
3hl e he 3as n $tt er dar/ness, -e met 3 t h many obstacl es# had t o !ro6e
hs
co$rage# and e4!ose hs l fe aga nst armed enemesG re!resented 6aro$s
an mals# and at l ast# att anng the !ermanent l ght # he 3as nstr$ct ed by
t he
ArchDDr$d n regard t o the Mysteres# and n t he moral ty of the t hrd
Degree
3as a l fe of secl$son# after t he Int ate? s ch ldren 3ere ca!able of
!ro6 dng for themsel6es G !assed n the forest # n t he !ract ce of !rayers
and
abl$t ons# and l 6ng only on 6egetables, -e 3as then sad t o be born
aga n,
The fo$rt h 3as absol $t e ren$nc at on of t he 3orl d# selfDcontem!l at on add
sel fDtort $re G by 3hch Perfect on 3as t ho$ght to be atta ned# and t he so$l
merged n t he De ty,
In t he second Degree# the In t ate 3as ta$ght the 'n ty of t he :92 Order#
nc ted to act bra6ely n 3ar# ta$ght the great tr$t hs of the mmortal ty of
t he so$l and a f$t$re state# sol emnly en5 oned not to negl ect the 3orsh!
of
t he De ty# nor t he !ract ce of r gd moral tyG and to a6o d? slot h#
content on#
and fol ly,
The as!rant att aned only t he e4oter c /no3l edge n t he frst t3o Degrees,
The th rd 3as atta ned only by a fe3# and t hey !ersons of ran/ and
conseE$ence#
and after long !$rfcat on# and st $dy of al l the art s and scences /no3n to
t he Dr$ ds# n sol t $de# for n ne mont hs, Th s 3as t he symbol cal death
and
b$r al of these_ Myst eres,
The dangero$s 6oyage $!on t he act $al o!en sea# n a smal l boat co6ered
3 th a
s/n# on t he e6en ng of t he 01th of A!rl # 3as the last t r al# and closng
scene# of n tat on, If he decl ned t h s t ral# he 3as d smssed 3 th
contem!t , If he made t and s$cceeded# he 3as t ermed t hrceDborn# 3as
el g bl e
t o al l the d gn tes of t he Stat e# and rece6ed com!l ete nst r$ct on n t he
!hl oso!hyY cal and relgo$s doctrnes of the Dr$ ds,
The Gree/s al so styled the # E!o! h< TJgJJoJ# thrceDbornG and n Inda
!erfect on 3as assgned t o t he .og 3ho had accom!l shed many brths,
The general feat $res of t he n t at ons among t he Goths 3ere the same as
n
al l the Mysteres, A l ong !robat on# of fast ng and mort fcat on# crc$lar
!rocess ons# re!resent ng t he march of t he celest al bod es# many fearf$l
t ests
and t r al s# a descent nt o t he nfernal reg ons# the / l l ng of t he God
Balder
by t he E6 l Pr nc !le# Lo/# the !l acng of hs body n a boat and send ng t
abroad $!on the 3aters G and# n short# the Eastern Legend# $nder d fferent
names# and 3t h some 6ar at ons,
The Egy!t an An$b s a!!eared there# as t he dog g$ardng the gates of
deat h,
The cand date 3as mm$red n t he re!resentat on of a tombG and 3hen
released#
goes n search of t he body of Balder# and f nds h m# at lengt h# rest ored t o
l fe# and seat ed $!on a t hrone, -e 3as obl gat ed $!on a na/ed s3ord Mas s
st l l t he c$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/$ll ,
Then all t he ancent !r m t 6e t r$ths 3ere made /no3n t o h m# so far as
t hey
had s$r6 6ed the assa$lt s of t me( and he 3as nformed as t o the
generat on of
t he Gods# the creat on of the 3orld# t he del$ge# and the res$rrect on# of
3hch
t hat of Balder 3as a ty!e, -e 3as mar/ed 3 th t he s gn of the cross and a
rng
3as g6en :9) t o h m as a symbol of t he D 6 ne Protect onG and also as an
emblem of Perfect onG from 3hch comes the c$stom of g6 ng a rng to
t he
As!rant n t he ):th Degree,
The !o nt 3 th n %rcle# and the %$be# embl em of Od n# 3ere e4!l a ned to
h mG
and l ast ly# t he nat $re of t he S$!reme God# @the a$t hor of e6eryth ng t hat
e4st eth# t he Et ernal # the Ancent# the L 6ng and A3f$l Beng# the
Searcher
nt o concealed thngs? # t he Be ng t hat ne6er changeth G@ 3 th 3hom Od n
t he
%onE$eror 3as by the 6$l gar confo$nded ( and t he Tr $ne God of t he
Indans 3as
re!rod$ced# as Od n# the Al m ghty "AT-ER# "REA# MRhea or PhreN# hs
3 fe
Membl em of $n6ersal mat terN# and Thor h s son Mt he Med atorN, -ere 3e
recogn <e Os rs# Iss# and -or or -or$s, Aro$nd the head of Thor# as f to
sho3 h s east ern org n# t3el 6e st ars 3ere arranged n a crcle,
-e 3as also t a$ght the $l t mat e dest r$ct on of t he 3orl d# and the rsng of
a
ne3 one# n 3h ch t he bra6e and 6rt$o$s shall en5oy e6erlast ng ha!!ness
and
delght( as t he means of sec$r ng 3hch ha!!y fort$ne# he 3as ta$ght t o
!ract se t he st r ctest moral ty and 6rt$e, The Int at e 3as !re!ared to
rece6e the great lessons of all the Mysteres# by long t r als# or by
abst nence and chast ty, "or many days he 3as reE$red to fast and be
cont nent# and to drn/ l E$ds calc$lat ed t o d mnsh h s !ass ons and
/ee!
h m chaste, Abl $t ons 3ere al so reE$ red# symbol cal of the !$rty
necessary t o
enable the so$l t o esca!e from t s bondage n mat t er, Sacred b$tt s 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 t hey bathed n t he Ilss$s#
3hch
t hence became a sacred r 6erG and before enterngt he Tem!l e of Ele$ss#
al l
3ere reE$ red to 3ash ther hands n a 6ase of l $stral 3ater !laced near
t he
entrance, %l ean hands and a !$re heart 3ere reE$red of the canddat es,
A!$le$s bat hed se6en t mes n t he sea# symbol cal of t he Se6en S!heres
t hro$gh
3hch the So$l m$st reascend G add the - nd$s m$st bathe n t he sacred
r6er
Ganges,
%l ement of Al e4andr a ct es a !assage of Meander# 3ho s!ea/s of a
!$r f cat on
by s!rn/l ng three t mes 3 t h salt and 3at er S$l !h$r# res n# and the la$rel
al so ser6ed for !$rfcat on as dd ar# eart h# 3ater# and f re, The Int at es
at -el o!ol s# n Syra# says L$can# sacrfced the sacred lamb# symbol of
Ares# then t he s gn of the Fernal EE$no4 G ate h s fl esh# as t he Israel t es,
dd at the Passo6erG and t hen to$ched h s head and feet to t hers# and /nel t
$!on the fleece, Then t hey bathed n 3arm 3at er# dran/ of t he same# and
sl e!t
$!on the gro$nd,
There 3as a d st nct on bet 3een t he l esser and greater Myst er es, One
m$st
ha6e been for some years adm t t ed to the former# ? before he co$ld rece 6e
t he
l att er# 3hch 3ere b$t a !re!arat on for them# the Fest b$le of the tem!le#
of
3hch those of Ele$ss 3ere the Sanct$ary, There# n the lesser Myst er es#
t hey
3ere !re!ared t o rece6e the holy tr$t hs t a$ght n t he greater, The Int at es
n t he lesser 3ere cal led s m!ly Myst c# or Int ates G b$t t hose n t he
greater# E!o!t sN or Seers, An anc ent !oet says that t he former 3ere an
m!erfect shado3 of the latter# as sl ee! s of Deat h, After adm sson t o t he
former# the In tat e 3as ta$ght lessons of moral ty# and t he r$d ments of
t he
sacred scence# t he most s$bl me and secret !art of 3h ch 3as reser6ed for
t he
E!o!t # 3ho sa3 the Tr$th n ts na/edness# 3hl e t he Myst c only 6e3ed
t
t hro$gh a 6e l and $nder embl ems f tt er to e4c te than t o sat sfy h s
c$r osty,
Before comm$n cat ng t he f rst secret s and !r mary dogmas of n t at on#
t he
!r ests reE$ red t he canddate t o ta/e a fearf$l oath ne6er t o d6$lge the
secret s, Then he made hs 6o3s# !rayers# and sacr fces to the Gods, The
s/ns
of t he 6ct ms consecrated t o &$! ter 3ere s!read on the gro$nd# and he
3as
made t o set hs feet $!on t hem, -e 3as t hen ta$ght some engmat c
form$l as# as
ans3ers t o E$est ons# by 3hch to ma/e h msel f /no3n, -e 3as then
enthroned#
n6est ed 3 t h a !$r!le t nct $re# and cro3ned 3 th fl o3ers# or branches of
!al m
or ol 6e,
;e do not certa nly /no3 t he t me t hat 3as reE$red t o el a!se bet3een the
adm ss on to t he Lesser and Great er Mysteres of El e$s s, Most 3rt ers f 4
t
at f6e years, It 3as a s ng$lar mar/ of fa6or 3hen Demetr $s 3as made
Myst c
and E!o!t n one and the same ceremony, ;hen at length adm t ted to the
Degree
of !erfect on# t he In t at e 3as bro$ght face t o face 3 th ent re nat $re# and
l earned t hat the so$l 3as the 3hole of manG t hat eart h 3as b$t hs !lace of
e4l eG that -ea6en 3as h s nat 6e co$ntryG that for t he so$l to be born s
really t o deG and that deat h 3as for t the ret $rn t o a ne3 l fe, Then he
entered t he sanct $aryG b$t he d d not rece 6e t he 3hol e nstr$ct on at once,
It
cont n$ed t hro$gh se6eral years, There 3ere# as t 3ere# many a!art ments#
t hro$gh 3h ch be ad6anced by degrees# and bet 3een 3h ch th c/ 6el s
nter6ened,
There 3ere St at $es and Pant ngs# says Procl $s# n t he nmost sanct $ary#
sho3 ng t he forms ass$med by the Gods, " nal ly the last 6e l fel l # the
sacred
co6er ng dro!!ed from t he mage of the Goddess# and she stood re6eal ed
n al l
her s!lendor# Ds$rro$nded by a d6ne l ght # 3hch# fl l ng the 3hol e
sanct $ary# da<<l ed t he eyes and !enetrat ed t he so$l of t he In t ate, Th$s s
symbol <ed the f nal re6elat on of t he t r$e doctrne as t o t he nat$re of
De ty
and of t he so$l # and of t he relat ons of each t o mat t er, Th s 3as !receded
by
frght f$l scenes# al ternat ons of fear and 5 oy# of lght and dar/nessG by
gl t terng l ght n ng and t he crashed th$nder# and a!!ar t ons of s!ecters#
or
magcal l l$sons# m!ress ng at once t he eyes and ears, Ths %l a$d an
descrbes# n h s !oem on t he ra!e of Proser! ne# 3here he al l$des to 3hat
!assed n her Myst er es, @The tem!l e s sha/en# @ he cresG Rfercely gleams
t he
l ght n ng# by 3h ch t he Dety anno$nces h s !resence, Earth trembles G and
a
t errble no se s heard n t he m dst of these terrors, The Tem!l e of t he Son
of
%ecro!s reso$nds 3 t h longDcont n$ed roarsG Ele$ss $!l fts her sacred
t orches
G t he ser!ent s of Tr !tolem$s are heard to h ss G and fearf$l -ecat e a!!ears
afar, @
The cel ebrat on of the Gree/ Myst er es cont n$ed# accord ng t o the bet ter
o!non# for nne days, On the f rst t he Int ates met, It 3as t he day of t he
f$l l moon# of the mont h Boedrom on G 3hen the moon 3as f$l l at t he end
of t he
sgn Ares# near the Pleades and the !l ace of her e4al tat on n Ta$r$s,
The second day t here 3as a !rocesson t o t he sea# for !$rfcat on by
bath ng,
The th rd 3as occ$! ed 3t h offer ngs# e4!at ory sacrfces# and other
rel go$s rt es# s$ch as fast ng# mo$rnng# cont nence# etc, A m$l l et 3as
mmolated# and offer ngs of gran and l 6 ng an mals made, On the fo$rt h
t hey
carr ed n !rocess on the myst c 3reat h of fl o3ers# re!resent ng that 3hch
Proser! ne dro!!ed 3hen se <ed by Pl $to# and t he %ro3n of Aradne n t he
-ea6ens, It 3as borne on a t r$m!hal car dra3n by o4enG and 3omen
fol l o3ed
bear ng myst c chest s or bo4es# 3ra!!ed 3 t h !$r!l e cl othe# ca!ta nng
grans
of sesame# !yramdal bsc$ t s# sal t# !omegranates and t he myster o$s
ser!ent #
and !erha!s the mystc !hall $s, On t he ffth 3as the s$!erb !rocess on of
t orches# commemorat 6e of the search for Proser! ne by %eres G the
In t ates
marchng by t ros# and each bear ng a torchG 3hle at the head of the
!rocess on marched the Dado$/os,
The s 4th 3as consecrat ed t o Ia/chos# the yo$ng LghtDGod# son of %eres#
reared n t he sanct $ares and bear ng t he t orch of t he S$nDGod, The chor$s
n
Arst o!hanes t erms h m the l $m no$s st ar that l ghts t he noct $rnal
n t at on,
-e 3as bro$ght from the sanct $ary# h s head cro3ned 3t h myrtl e# and
borne from
t he gat e of t he %eram c$s to El e$s s# al ong the sacred 3ay# amd dances#
sacred
songs# e6ery mar/ of 5 oy# and myst c cres of Ia/chos,
On t he se6enth there 3ere gymnast c e4erc ses and combat s# t he 6ct ors n
3hch 3ere cro3ned and re3arded,
On t he eghth 3as t he feast of AEsc$la! $s,
On t he nnt h the famo$s l bat on 3as made for t he so$ls of the de!arted,
The
Prests# accord ng t o At hena$s# f l led t3o 6ases# !l aced one n t he East
and
one n t he ;est# to3ard t he gat es of day and nght# and o6ert $rned t hem#
!rono$ncng a form$l a of myster o$s !rayers, Th$s t hey n6o/ed Lght and
Dar/ness# the t 3o great? !rnc !l es of nat $re,
D$r ng al l these days no one co$ld be arrested# nor any s$t bro$ght# on
!an
of death# or at l east a hea6y f ne( and no one 3as al lo3ed# by t he d s!l ay
of
$n$s$al 3eal th or magn fcence# t o
endea6or t o r 6al th s sacred !om!, E6eryt h ng 3as for relgon, S$ch 3ere
t he
Myst er es G and s$ch the Ol d Tho$ght # as n scatt ered and 3dely se!arat ed
fragments t has come do3n t o $s,
The h$man mnd st l l s!ec$l at es $!on t he great mysteres of nat $re# and
st l l
fnds ts deas ant c !ated by the ancents# 3hose !rofo$ndest tho$ght s are
t o
be loo/ed for# not n _the r !h l oso!h es# b$t n t her symbols# by 3h ch
t hey
endea6ored to e4!ress t he great deas that 6anly st r$ggled for $tt erance n
3ords# as t hey 6e3ed fhe great crcl e of !henomena# DBrt h# Lfe# Deat h#
or
Decom!ost on# and 8e3 L fe o$t of Deat h and Rott enness# D t o them t he
greatest
of mysteres, Remember# 3hle yo$ st$dy the r symbol s# t hat they had a
!rofo$nder sense of these 3onders than 3e ha6e, To t hem t he
t ransformat ons of
t he 3orm 3ere a greater 3onder than t he starsG and hence t he !oor d$mb
scarabae$s or beetl e 3as sacred t o them, Th$s t he r fat hs are condensed
nt o
symbol s or e4!anded nto all egores# 3hch t hey $nderstood# b$t 3ere not
al 3ays
able t o e4!l an n l ang$ageG for there are t ho$ghts and deas 3h ch no
l ang$age
e6er s!o/en by man has 3ords to e4!ress
)*+),
07C D Kn ght of t he Bra<en Ser!ent M Part ) N
PPF 8IG-T O" T-E BRAHE8 SERPE8T,
Th s Degree s bot h !h loso!hcal and moral , ;h le t teaches the
necess ty of reformat on as 3ell as re!ent ance# as a means of
obta n ng mercy and forg 6eness# t s also de6ot ed t o an e4!lanat on of
t he symbol s of MasonryG and es!ecal ly to those 3hch are connect ed
3 th t hat ancent and $n 6ersal l egend# of 3hch that of KhrDOm Ab s
b$t a 6arat onG that legend 3h ch# re!resent ng a m$rder or a deat h#
and a rest orat on t o l fe# by a drama n 3hch fg$re Os r s# Is s and
-or$s# Atys and %ybel e# Adon s and Fen$s# t he %abr# D on$sos# and
many anot her re!resent at 6e of the act 6e and !ass 6e Po3ers of
8at $re# t a$ght t he Int ates n the Myster es that t he r$l e of E6 l and
Dar/ness s b$t tem!orary# and that that of Lght and Good 3 l l be
et ernal ,
Ma mon des says( @In t he days of Enos# t he son of Set h# men fell nto
gre6o$s errors# and e6en Enos h msel f !artoo/ of ther nfat $at on,
The r lang$age 3as# that s nce God has !l aced on hgh the hea6enly
bod es# and $sed t hem as - s m n st ers# t 3as e6 dently - s 3 ll t hat
t hey sho$l d rece 6e from man the same
6enerat on as the ser6ants of a great !r nce 5 $stly cl a m from t he
s$b5ect m$l t t $de, Im!ressed 3t h ths not on# they began to b$ ld
t em!l es t o the St ars# to sacrfce t o them# and t o 3orsh! t hem# n t he
6an e4!ect at on t hat they sho$ld t h$s !lease the %reat or of al l th ngs,
At frst # ndeed, t hey d d not s$!!ose the Stars to be the only Det es#
b$t adored n con5 $nct on 3 t h t hem t he Lord God Omn!otent, In
!rocess of t me# ho3e6er# that great and 6enerable 8ame 3as tot ally
forgot ten# and t he 3hole h$man race reta ned no other rel g on t han t he
dol atro$s 3orsh ! of the -ost of -ea6en, @
The f rst learn ng n the 3orld cons sted ch efly n symbols, The 3sdom
of t he %haldQans# Phbn cans# Egy!tans# &e3sG of Horoaster#
Sanchon athon# Pherecydes# Syr$s# Pythagoras# Socrates# Plat o# of al l
t he ancent s# that s come t o o$r hand# s symbol c, It 3as t he mode#
says Serran$s on Pl at o? s Sym!os$m# of the Ancent Phl oso!hers# t o
re!resent tr$th by cert an symbol s and h dden mages,
@All t hat can be sad concern ng t he Gods#@ says St rabo# @m$st be by
t he e4!os t on of old o! nons and fablesG t beng the c$st om of t he
anc ent s t o 3ra! $! n engma and al legory t he r tho$ght s and
dsco$rses concernng 8at$reG 3hch are t herefore not easly
e4!l aned, @
As yo$ learned n the 0:th Degree# my Brother# the anc ent
Ph l oso!hers regarded t he so$l of man as ha6ng had t s orgn n
-ea6en, That 3as# Macrob $s says# a set tled o!non among them al lG
and t hey held t t o be t he only tr$e 3sdom# for the so$l # 3h le $n ted
3 th t he body# to loo/ e6er to3ard t s so$rce# and str6e to ret$rn to the
!lace 3hence t came, Among the f 4ed st ars t d3el t# $nt l # sed$ced by
t he des re of an mat ng a body# t descended t o be m!r soned n
matt er, Thencefor3ard t has no ot her reso$rce t han recollect on# and
s e6er at tracted to to3ard ts brthD!l ace and home, The means of
ret$rn are to be so$ght for n tself, To reDascend t o t s so$rce# t m$st
do and s$ffer n the body,
Th$s the Mysteres ta$ght the great doctrne of t he d6 ne nat$re and
l ong ngs after mmortal ty of t he so$l # of the nob l ty of t s org n# the
grande$r of t s dest ny# t s s$!er orty o6er the an mal s 3ho ha6e no
as! rat ons hea6en3ard, If t hey str$ggled n 6an to e4!ress t s nat $re#
by com!arng t t o "re and Lght# D f t hey erred as t o ts org nal !l ace
of abode# and the mode of t
descent# and the !at h 3hch# descend ng and ascendng# t !$rs$ed
among the stars and s!heres# these 3ere t he accessores of the Great
Tr$t h# and mere all egores desgned t o ma/e t he dea more m!ress 6e#
and# as t 3ere# t ang ble# t o t he h$man mnd,
Let $s# n order t o $nderstand t h s ol d Tho$ght# f rst fol lo3 the so$l n
ts descent, The s!here or -ea6en of t he f 4ed stars 3as t hat -oly
Reg on# and t hose Elysan " el ds# t hat 3ere the nat 6e domc le of
so$ls# and the !l ace t o 3hch they reDascended# 3hen they had
reco6ered t he r !r m t 6e !$rty and s m!l cty, "rom t hat l$m no$s
regon t he so$l set fort h# 3hen t 5o$rneyed to3ard the bodyG a
dest nat on 3h ch t d d not reach $nt l t had $ndergone t hree
degradat ons# desgnat ed by t he name of DeathsG and $nt l t had
!assed thro$gh t he se6eral s!heres and t he element s, 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 cont agon of t he body# and to /ee!
t hemsel 6es from any contact 3t h matt er, B$t t hose 3ho# from that l ofty
abode# 3here t hey 3ere la!!ed n eternal l ght # ha6e loo/ed longngly
t o3ard t he body# and to3ard that 3hch 3e here bel o3 cal l l fe# b$t
3hch s to the so$l a real deat hG and 3ho ha6e conce 6ed for t a
secret desre# D those so$ls# 6 ct ms of ther conc$! scence# are
at tracted by degrees t o3ard the nfer or regons of t he 3orl d# by the
mere 3e ght of t ho$ght and of t hat terrest r al desre, The so$l # !erfect ly
ncor!oreal # does not at once n6est tsel f 3t h t he gross en6el o!e of
t he body# b$t l t tl e by l t tle# by s$ccess 6e and nsens ble al t erat ons#
and n !ro!ort on as t remo6es f$rther and f$rther from the s m!le and
!erfect s$bstance n 3hch t d3el t at f rst , It f rst s$rro$nds t sel f 3t h a
body com!osed of the s$bst ance of the starsG and after3ard# as t
descends t hro$gh the se6eral s!heres# 3 th ethereal mat ter more and
more gross# t h$s by degrees descend ng t o an eart hly bodyG and ts
n$mber of degradat ons or deat hs beng the same as that of the
s!heres 3hch t tra6erses,
The Gala4y# Macrob $s says# crosses the Hodac n t3o o!!os te
!onts# %ancer and %a!rcorn# ? t he tro! cal !o nt s n t he s$n? s co$rse#
ord narly cal led the Gates of t he S$n, These t 3o tro!cs# before hs
t me# corres!onded 3t h t hose const ell at ons# b$t n h s day 3t h
Gem n and Sag ttar $s# n conseE$ence of the !recess on of t he
eE$no4esG b$t t he sgns of t he Hodac rema ned $nchangedG and the
M l/y ;ay crossed at the sgns %ancer and %a!rcorn# t ho$gh not at
t hose const ell at ons,
Thro$gh t hese gates so$l s 3ere s$!!osed to descend t o earth and reascend
t o -ea6en, One# Macrob$s says# n h s dream of Sc ! o# 3as
styled the Gat e of MenG and t he other# t he Gat e of t he Gods, %ancer
3as the former# beca$se so$l s descended by t to the earthG and
%a!r corn t he l att er# beca$se by t t hey reascended t o t her seat s of
mmortal ty# and became Gods, "rom the M l /y ;ay# accord ng t o
Pyt hagoras# d6erged t he ro$te to the dom n ons of Pl $t o, 'nt l t hey left
t he Gal a4y# t hey 3ere not deemed t o ha6e commenced t o descend
t o3ard t he terrestral bod es, "rom t hat t hey de!art ed# and to t hat they
ret$rned, 'nt l they reached t he s gn %ancer# t hey had not left t # and
3ere st l l Gods, ;hen t hey reached Leo# they commenced t her
a!!rentcesh! for the r f$t$re cond t onG and 3hen they 3ere at
AE$ar$s# the sgn o!!os te Leo# they 3ere f$rt hest remo6ed from
h$man l fe,
The so$l # descend ng from the celest al l m t s# 3here t he Hod ac and
Gal a4y $nte# l oses ts s!hercal sha!e# t he sha!e of al l D 6ne 8at$re#
and s lengthened nt o a cone# as a !o nt s lengt hened nto a l neG and
t hen# an nd6s ble monad before# t d 6des t self and becomes a d$ad
D t hat s# $n ty becomes d6s on# d st$rbance# and confl ct , Then t
beg ns to e4!er ence t he d sorder 3hch re gns n mat t er# to 3h ch t
$nt es tsel f# becom ng# as t 3ere# nt o4cat ed by dra$ght s of grosser
matt er( of 3h ch nebrat on t he c$! of Ba/chos# bet3een %ancer and
Leo# s a symbol , It s for them t he c$! of forget f$lness, They assembl e#
says Pl ato# n t he felds of obl 6on# to drn/ t here t he 3at er of the r 6er
Ameles# 3h ch ca$ses men to forget e6eryth ng, Ths f ct on s also
fo$nd n Frgl , @If so$l s# @ says Macrob$s# @carred 3t h them nt o t he
bod es they occ$!y all the /no3l edge 3hch they had acE$red of
d6 ne th ngs# d$r ng t her so5o$rn n t he -ea6ens# men 3o$ld not d ffer
n o! n on as to the De tyG b$t some of them forget more# and some
l ess# of t hat 3h ch they had learned,@
;e sm le at t hese not ons of t he anc ent sG b$t 3e m$st l earn to loo/
t hro$gh these mat er al mages and all egores# to the deas# st r$ggl ng
for $t terance# the great s!eechl ess t ho$ghts 3hch t hey en6el o!( and t
s 3el l for $s to consder 3hether 3e o$rsel 6es ha6e yet fo$nd o$t any
better 3ay of re!resent ng t o o$rsel 6es the so$l ? s orgn and t s ad6ent
nt o t h s body# so ent rely foregn t o tG f# ndeed# 3e ha6e e6er tho$ght
abo$t t at al l G or ha6e not ceased t o t h n/# n des!ar,
The hghest and !$rest !ort on of mat ter# 3h ch no$r shes and
const t$tes d6ne e4 st ences# s 3hat t he !oets term nectar# the
be6erage of the Gods, The lo3er# more d st$rbed and grosser !ort on# s
3hat nt o4cat es so$ls, The ancent s symbol <ed t as t he R 6er Lethe#
dar/ stream of obl 6 on, -o3 de 3e e4!l a n t he so$l? s forget f$lness of t s
antecedent s# or reconcl e t hat $t ter absence of remembrance of t s
former cond t on# 3 th t s essent al mmort al tyJ In t r$th# 3e for t he most
!art dread and shr n/ from any at tem!t at e4!l anat on of t t o o$rsel6es,
Dragged do3n by the hea6 ness !rod$ced by t h s nebrat ng dra$ght #
t he so$l fal ls along t he <odac and the m l/y 3ay to t he l o3er s!heres#
and n ts descent not only t a/es# n each s!here# a ne3 en6el o!e of t he
materal com!os ng the l$mno$s bod es of the !l anet s# b$t rece 6es
t here the d fferent fac$l t es 3hch t s t o e4erc se 3h le t nhabt s t he
body,
In Sat $rn# t acE$res the !o3er of reasonng and ntel l gence# or 3hat s
t ermed t he log cal and contem!l at 6e fac$l ty, "rom &$! t er t rece 6es the
!o3er of act on, Mars g6es t 6al or# ent er!r se# and m!et$osty, "rom
t he S$n t rece 6es the senses and mag nat on# 3hch !rod$ce
sensat on# !erce!t on# and t ho$ght , Fen$s ns!res t 3t h desres,
Merc$ry g6es t t he fac$l ty of e4!ress ng and en$nc at ng 3hat t thn/s
and feels, And# on enter ng t he s!here of the Moon# t acE$res the force
of generat on and gro3t h, Ths l$nary s!here# l o3est and basest t o
d6 ne bodes# s frst and hghest to terrest r al bodes, And t he l$nary
body there ass$med by t he so$l # 3h l e# as t 3ere# t he sed ment of
celest al matt er# s al so t he frst s$bst ance of an mal mat ter,
The cel est al bodes# -ea6en# t he Stars# and t he other D6ne element s#
e6er as! re to r se, The so$l reach ng t he reg on 3hch mortal ty nhabt s#
t ends to3ard terrest r al bodes# and s deemed to d e, Let no one# says
Macrob $s# be s$r!r sed t hat 3e so freE$ently s!ea/ of t he death of ths
so$l# 3hch yet 3e call mmort al , It s ne ther ann$l l ed nor destroyed by
s$ch deat h( b$t merely enfeebled for a t meG and does not t hereby forfe t
ts !rerogat 6e of mmort al tyG for aft er3ard# freed from t he body# 3hen t
has been !$r fed from t he 6ceDsta ns contracted d$r ng t hat connect on#
t s reDest abl shed n al l t s !r6leges# and ret$rns to the l$m no$s abode
of t s mmort al ty,
On ts ret$rn# t rest ores to each s!here thro$gh 3h ch t ascends# t he
!ass ons and eart hly fac$lt es rece6ed from them( to
t he Moon# the fac$l ty of ncrease and d m n$t on of the bodyG to
Merc$ry# fra$d# t he arch tect of e6 lsG t o Fen$s# the sed$ct 6e lo6e of
!leas$reG to the S$n# the !ass on for greatness and em! reG t o Mars#
a$dac ty and t emertyG to &$!t er# a6ar ceG and t o Sat $rn# fal sehood and
dece t( and at last # rel e6ed of al l# t ent ers na/ed and !$re nt o the
eghth s!here or hghest -ea6en,
Al l th s agrees 3 th the doctrne of Plat o# that t he so$l cannot reDenter
nt o -ea6en# $nt l t he re6ol $t ons of the 'n 6erse shall ha6e restored t
t o t s !r mt 6e condt on# and !$rfed t from the effects of t s contact
3 th t he fo$r el ement s,
Th s o!n on of t he !reDe4 stence of so$l s# as !$re and cel est al
s$bstances# before ther $non 3t h o$r bodes# to !$t on and an mat e
3hch they descend from -ea6en# s one of great ant E$ty, A modern
Rabb # Manasseh Ben Israel # says t 3as al 3ays t he bel ef of the
-ebre3s, It 3as that of most !hl oso!hers 3ho admt ted t he mmortal ty
of t he so$l ( and therefore t 3as t a$ght n t he Myster esG for# as
Lact ant $s says# t hey co$ld not see ho3 t 3as !oss ble that the so$l
sho$l d e4 st after t he body# f t had and not e4 sted before t# and f ts
nat$re 3as not nde!endent of t hat of t he body, The same doctrne 3as
ado!t ed by t he most learned of the Gree/ "athers# and by many of the
Lat ns( and t 3o$l d !robably !re6al largely at the !resent day# f men
t ro$bl ed t hemsel6es to thn/ $!on ths s$b5 ect at al l# and to nE$re
3hether t he so$l? s mmort al ty n6ol 6ed ts !r or e4 stence,
Some !hl oso!hers hel d t hat the so$l 3as ncarcerated n the body# by
3ay of !$nshment for s ns comm t ted by t n a !r or stat e, -o3 they
reconc led ths 3t h t he same so$l? s $nconsco$sness of any s$ch !r or
st ate# or of s n comm t ted there# does not a!!ear, Others hel d that
God# of h s mere 3 ll # sent the so$l t o nhab t t he body, The Kabal sts
$nt ed the t3o o!n ons, They hel d that t here are fo$r 3orlds# A< l$t h#
Brart h# &e<rath# and A<athG t he 3orld of emanat on# that of creat on#
t hat of forms# and the mater al 3orldG one abo6e and more !erfect t han
t he other# n t hat order# bot h as regards t her o3n nat$re and t hat of t he
bengs 3ho nhab t them, Al l so$l s are org nal ly n the 3orl d A< l$t h#
t he S$!reme -ea6en# abode of God# and of !$re and mmortal s!r t s,
Those 3ho descend from t 3t ho$t fa$lt of t her o3n# by God? s order#
are gfted 3 t h a d 6 ne f re# 3h ch !reser6es t hem from t he cont ag on of
matt er# and restores t hem to -ea6en so soon as t her m ss on s ended,
Those 3ho descend t hro$gh
t her o3n fa$l t# go from 3orl d t o 3orl d# nsens bly losng ther lo6e of
D 6 ne t h ngs# and the r selfDcontem!lat onG $nt l they reach t he 3orl d
A<at h# fal l ng by t her o3n 3e ght , Th s s a !$re Plat on sm# cl ot hed
3 th t he mages and 3ords !ec$l ar t o the Kabal sts, It 3as t he doctrne
of t he Essenes# 3ho# says Por!hyry# @bel e6e t hat so$l s descend from
t he most s$bt le et her# att ract ed t o bodes by t he sed$ct ons of mat t er, @
It 3as n s$bstance the doctrne of OrgenG and t came from the
%hal dQans# 3ho largely st$ded the t heory of t he -ea6ens# the
s!heres# and the nfl $ences of the sgns and const el l at ons,
The Gnost cs made so$l s ascend and descend thro$gh e ght -ea6ens#
n each of 3hch 3ere certa n Po3ers that o!!osed t her ret$rn# and
often dro6e t hem bac/ to eart h# 3hen not s$ffc ent ly !$rf ed, The last
of t hese Po3ers# nearest t he l $mno$s abode of so$l s# 3as a ser!ent
or dragon,
In t he ancent doct r ne# cert an Gen 3ere charged 3 th the d$ty of
cond$ct ng so$ls to the bodes dest ned to rece 6e t hem# and of
3 thdra3ng them from those bod es, Accord ng t o Pl$tarch# these 3ere
t he f$nct ons of Proser! ne and Merc$ry, In Pl at o# a faml ar Gen$s
accom!anes man at hs brth# fol lo3s and 3atches h m al l h s l fe# and at
deat h cond$ct s h m t o the trb$nal of t he Great 5$dge, These Gen are
t he meda of comm$ncat on bet3een man and t he GodsG and the so$l s
e6er n the r !resence, Ths doctr ne s ta$ght n t he oracles of Horoast er(
and t hese Gen 3ere the Int el l gences t hat resded n t he !lanet s,
Th$s the secret scence and mystero$s emblems of n t at on 3ere
connect ed 3 t h t he -ea6ens# t he S!heres# and the %onstel l at ons( and
t h s connect on m$st be st $d ed by 3homsoe6er 3o$ld $nderst and the
anc ent m nd# and be enabled to nt er!ret t he allegor es# and e4!l ore the
mean ng of t he symbols# n 3hch the ol d sages endea6ored to del neat e
t he deas t hat str$ggl ed 3t hn t hem for $tt erance# and co$ld be b$t
ns$ffc ent ly and nadeE$ately e4!ressed by l ang$age# 3hose 3ords are
mages of those thngs alone t hat can be gras!ed by and are 3 th n the
em!re of the senses,
It s not !ossble for $s thoro$ghly t o a!!recate the# feel ngs 3 th 3hch
t he ancent s regarded the -ea6enly bodes# and the deas to 3hch the r
obser6at on of the -ea6ens ga6e rse# beca$se 3e cannot !$t o$rsel 6es
n t he r !laces# loo/ at the stars 3 th ther eyes n t he 3orld? s yo$th# and
d6est o$rsel 6es of the /no3ledge
3hch e6en the commonest of $s ha6e# that ma/es $s regard t he St ars and
Planets and al l the 'n 6erse of S$ns and ;orlds# as a mere nan mat e
mach ne and aggregat e of sensel ess orbs# no more ast on sh ng# e4ce!t n
degree# than a cl oc/ or an orrery, ;e 3onder and are ama<ed at t he Po3er
and ; sdom Mto most men t seems only a /nd of Inf n te Ingen$ tyN of
t he
MAKER( t hey 3ondered at t he ;or/# and endo3ed t 3 t h Lfe and "orce
and mystero$s Po3ers and m ghty Infl $ences,
Mem!h s# n Egy!t# 3as n Latt $de 01C 7@ 8orth# and n Longt $de 92C
)*?
East, ThebQ# n '!!er Egy!t # n Lat t$de 07C :7? 8ort h# and Long t$de
90C
:9? East, Babylon 3as n Lat t $de 90C 92? 8ort h# and Longt $de ::C 09?
East( 3hl e Saba# the ancent 3t h SabQan ca! tal of Et h o! a# 3as abo$t
n
Lat t $de )7C 8ort h,
Thro$gh Egy!t ran t he great R 6er 8le# com ng from beyond Eth o!a# ts
so$rce n reg ons 3hol ly $n/no3n# n the abodes of heat and fre# and t s
co$rse from So$t h t o 8orth, It s n$ndat ons had formed the al l$6 al lands
of
'!!er and Lo3er Egy!t # 3hch they cont n$ed t o rase hgher and hgher#
and t o fert l <e by ther de!ost s, At frst# as n al l ne3lyDset tl ed
co$nt r es#
t hose n$ndat ons# occ$rr ng ann$al ly and al3ays at the same !er od of
t he
year# 3ere calam t es( $nt l# by means of le6ees and drans and art fcal
l a/es for rrgat on# t hey became bl ess ngs# and 3ere l oo/ed for 3 th
5 oyf$l
antc!at on# as they had before been a3at ed 3t h t error, '!on the
de!os t
l eft by the Sacred R6er# as t 3 thdre3 nto t s ban/s# the h$sbandman
so3ed hs seedG and t he rch so l and the genal s$n ns$red h m an
ab$ndant har6est ,
Babylon lay on the E$!hrat es# 3hch ran from So$t heast t o 8ort h3est #
blessng# as all r 6ers n t he Orent do# t he ard co$ntry t hro$gh 3h ch t
flo3edG b$t t s ra!d and $ncerta n o6erfl o3s br ng ng t error and d saster,
To the anc ents# as yet n6ent ors of no ast ronomcal nst r$ment s# and
l oo/ng at the -ea6ens 3t h the eyes of ch ldren# t h s eart h 3as a l e6el
!la n of $n/no3n e4t ent , Abo$t ts bo$ndares t here 3as s!ec$l at on# b$t
no
/no3l edge, The neE$al t es of t s s$rface 3ere the rreg$l art es of a
!lane,
That t 3as a gl obe# or t hat anyt h ng l 6ed on ts $nder s$rface# or on 3hat
t
rested they had no dea, E6ery t 3entyDfo$r ho$rs t he s$n came $! from
beyond the Eastern r m of the 3orld# and t ra6el led across t he s/y# o6er
t he
earth# al 3ays So$t h of# b$t somet mes nearer and somet mes f$rt her from
t he !o nt o6erDheadG and s$n/ belo3 the
3orl d? s ;estern r m, ; th h m 3ent l ght# and aft er h m fol lo3ed
dar/ness,
And e6ery t3entyDfo$r ho$rs a!!eared n t he -ea6ens another body#
6s ble chefly at nght # b$t somet mes e6en 3hen t he s$n shone# 3h ch
l /e3se# as f fol lo3ng the s$n at a great er or less d st ance# tra6el led
across t he s/yG somet mes as a th n crescent # and t hence ncreasng to a
f$l l orb res!lendent 3 th sl 6er l ght G and somet mes more and somet mes
l ess to t he So$th3ard of the !ont o6erhead# 3 th n the same l mt s as the
S$n,
Man# en6elo!ed by t he t h c/ dar/ness of !rofo$ndest n ght # 3hen
e6eryt h ng aro$nd h m has dsa!!eared# and he seems al one 3t h
h msel f and the bl ac/ shades t hat s$rro$nd h m# feel s h s e4st ence a
blan/ and noth ngness# e4ce!t so far as memory recall s h m the glor es
and s!l endors of l ght , E6eryt h ng s dead to h m# and he# as t 3ere# to
8at $re, -o3 cr$sh ng and o6er3hel mng t he t ho$ght # t he fear# t he dread#
t hat !erha!s that dar/ness may be et ernal# and that day may !oss bly
ne6er ret $rnG f t e6er occ$rs to h s mnd# 3h le t he sol d gloom closes
$!
aga nst h m l /e a 3al lO ;hat t hen can rest ore h m to l /e# t o energy# to
act 6 ty# to fell o3sh ! and comm$n on 3 t h the great 3orl d 3hch God
has
s!read aro$nd h m# and 3h ch !erha!s n t he dar/ness may be !assng
a3ayJ LIG-T rest ores h m t o h mself and t o nat$re 3hch seemed lost to
h m, 8at $rally# t herefore# t he !r m t 6e men regarded lght as t he
!r nc !le
of t he r real e4 stence# 3t ho$t 3h ch l fe 3o$ld be b$t one cont n$ed
3earness and des!a r, Ths necess ty for l ght # and ts act $al creat 6e
energy# 3ere fel t by al l men( and noth ng 3as more alarmng t o t hem
t han t s absence, It became the r f rst D 6 n ty# a sngle ray of 3h ch#
flashng nt o the dar/ t $m$lt $o$s bosom of chaos# ca$sed man and al l
t he 'n6erse t o emerge from t, So al l the !oet s s$ng 3ho mag ned
%osmogonesG s$ch 3as the f rst dogma of Or!he$s# Moses# and the
Theolog ans, Lght 3as Orm$<d# adored by t he Pers ans# and Dar/ness
Ahr man# orgn of all e6l s, Lght 3as t he l fe of t he 'n 6erse# the frend
of
man# the s$bst ance 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 mat er al# at an $n/no3n d st ance abo6e the fl at le6el earthG and
al ong t 5 o$rneyed n ther co$rses t he S$n# the Moon# t he Pl anet s# and
t he Stars,
The S$n 3as to them a great globe of fre# of $n/no3n d men
s ons# at an $n/no3n d stance, The Moon 3as a mass of softer l ghtG t he
st ars and !l anet s l $cent bod es# armed 3t h $n/no3n and s$!ernat $ral
nfl $ences,
It co$l d not fal t o be soon obser6ed# t hat at reg$lar nter6al s the days and
nght s 3ere eE$al G and that t3o of t hese nter6al s meas$red the same
s!ace of t me as ela!sed bet 3een the s$ccess 6e n$ndat ons# and
bet3een the ret $rns of s!r ngDt me and har6est , 8or co$ld t fal t o be
!erce6ed t hat t he changes of t he moon occ$rred reg$larlyG the same
n$mber of days al 3ays el a!sng bet 3een the f rst a!!earance of her
s l6er crescent n the ;est at e6en ng and that of her f$l l orb r s ng n the
East at the same ho$rG and t he same aga n# bet 3een t hat and the ne3
a!!earance of the crescent n the ;est,
It 3as al so soon obser6ed that t he S$n crossed t he -ea6ens n a d fferent
l ne each day# t he days be ng l ongest and t he nght s short est 3hen the
l ne of h s !assage 3as f$rt hest 8orth# and t he days short est and nghts
l ongest 3hen t hat l ne 3as f$rt hest So$t h( that hs !rogress 8orth and
So$th 3as !erfect ly reg$lar# mar/ ng fo$r !er ods that 3ere al3ays the
same# D t hose 3hen the days and nght s 3ere eE$al# or t he Fernal and
A$t$mnal EE$no4esG t hat 3hen t he days 3ere longest# or t he S$mmer
Sol st ceG and that 3hen t hey 3ere shortest# or t he ; nt er Solst ce,
; t h the Fernal EE$ no4# or abo$t t he 07t h of March of o$r %al endar#
t hey
fo$nd t hat t here $nerr ngly came soft 3nds# t he ret $rn of 3armt h# ca$sed
by t he S$n t$rnng bac/ to the 8orth3ard from t he m ddl e gro$nd of hs
co$rse# the 6eget at on of the ne3 year# and t he m!$l se to amatory act on
on t he !art of t he an mal creat on, Then t he B$l l and the Ram# an mal s
most 6al $abl e t o t he agrc$lt $rst # and symbol s t hemsel 6es of 6goro$s
generat 6e !o3er# reco6ered t he r 6gor# the b rds mat ed and b$ lded t her
nest s# the seeds germnated# t he grass gre3# and the trees !$t fort h
l ea6es, ; t h t he S$mmer Sol st ce# 3hen t he S$n reached the e4t reme
nort hern l mt of hs co$rse# came great heat# and b$rn ng 3 nds# and
l ass t $de and e4ha$st onG t hen 6egetat on 3t hered# man longed for t he
cool bree<es of S!rng and A$t$mn# and t he cool 3ater of t he 3 ntry 8 le
or E$!hrates# and t he Lon so$ght for that el ement far from h s home n
t he desert ,
; t h the A$t$mnal EE$no4 came r !e har6est s# and fr$t s of t he tree and
6ne# and fal l ng lea6es# and col d e6enngs !resagng 3 ntry frost sG and
t he Prnc !l e and Po3ers of Dar/ness# !re
6al ng o6er t hose of Lght# dro6e the S$n f$rther t o the So$t h# so t hat
t he nghts gre3 l onger t han the days, And at t he ; nter Sol st ce t he
earth 3as 3rn/led 3 th frost # the trees 3ere leafless# and the S$n#
reachng t he most So$t hern !ont n h s career# seemed to hes tat e
3hether t o cont n$e descendng# t o lea6e the 3orl d to dar/ness and
des!ar# or t o t $rn $!on h s ste!s and retrace h s co$rse t o t he
8ort h3ard# brng ng bac/ seedDt me and S!r ng# and green lea6es and
flo3ers# and all t he delghts of lo6e,
Th$s# nat$rally and necessarly# t me 3as d6 ded# frst nto days# and
t hen nto moons or months# and yearsG and 3t h these d6s ons and the
mo6ement s of t he -ea6enly bodes that mar/ed t hem# 3ere assoc ated
and connected al l men? s !hys cal en5oyments and !r 6at ons, ;hol ly
agrc$l t $ral # and n the r fral habt at ons great ly at the mercy of t he
el ement s and t he changng seasons# the !r mt 6e !eo!le of t he Orent
3ere most dee!ly nt erested n t he rec$rrence of the !erodcal
!henomena !resented by the t3o great l $m nar es of -ea6en# on
3hose reg$lar ty all ther !ros!erty de!ended,
And t he attent 6e obser6er soon notced t hat the smal ler l ghts of
-ea6en 3ere# a!!arently# e6en more reg$l ar than t he S$n and Moon#
and foretol d 3 t h $nerr ng certa nty# by the r r sngs and sett ngs# t he
!er ods of rec$rrence of t he dfferent !henomena and seasons on
3hch the !hyscal 3el lDbeng of al l men de!ended, They soon fel t the
necess ty of d st ng$ sh ng t he nd6d$al stars# or gro$!s of st ars# and
g 6 ng t hem names# t hat they m ght $nderst and each other# 3hen
referr ng t o and desgnat ng t hem, 8ecessty !rod$ced desgnat ons at
once nat $ral and art fcal, Obser6 ng t hat# n t he c rcl e of t he year# t he
rene3al and !erodcal a!!earance of the !rod$ct ons of the eart h
3ere constant ly assoc at ed# not only 3 th t he co$rses of t he S$n# b$t
al so 3 th t he rs ng and set t ng of certan St ars# and 3 t h ther !ost on
relat 6ely to the S$n# the cent re to 3h ch t hey referred t he 3hol e starry
host# t he mnd nat$rally connect ed t he cel est al and terrestral ob5ect s
t hat 3ere n fact connected( and they commenced by g6ng to
!art c$l ar St ars or gro$!s of St ars the names of t hose terrestr al
ob5ect s 3h ch seemed connect ed 3 t h t hem and for those 3hch st l l
rema ned $nnamed by th s nomenclat $re# t hey# t o com!l ete a system#
ass$med arb trary and fanc f$l names,
Th$s the Et ho!an of Thebes or Saba styled t hose St ars $nder
3hch the 8 le commenced to o6erfl o3# St ars of In$ndat on# or that
!o$red o$t 3ater
MAI'ARI'SN,
Those St ars among 3h ch the S$n 3as# 3hen he had reached t he 8ort hern
Tro! c
and began t o retreat So$t h3ard# 3ere t ermed# from h s retrograde mot on#
t he %rab
M%A8%ERN,
As he a!!roached# n A$t $mn# the m ddl e !ont bet3een t he 8ort hern and
So$thern
e4tremes of h s 5 o$rney ng# the days and nght s became eE$alG and t he
Stars among
3hch he 3as then fo$nd 3ere cal led St ars of t he Balance MLIBRAN,
Those st ars among 3hch t he S$n 3as# 3hen the Lon# dr 6en from t he
Desert by
t hrst # came to sla/e t at t he 8l e# 3ere call ed St ars of the L on MLEON,
Those among 3hch the S$n 3as at har6est# 3ere call ed t hose of t he
Gl ean ng F rg n#
holdng a Sheaf of ;heat MFIRGON,
Those among 3hch he 3as fo$nd n "ebr$ary# 3hen the E3es bro$ght
forth ther
yo$ng# 3ere call ed Stars of the Lamb MARIESN,
Those n March# 3hen t 3as t me t o !lo$gh# 3ere cal led Stars of t he O4
MTA'R'SN,
Those $nder 3hch hot and b$rn ng 3nds came from the desert# 6enomo$s
l /e
!osono$s re!t les# 3ere call ed St ars of the Scor!on MS%ORPION,
Obser6 ng that t he ann$al ret$rn of the rsng of t he 8l e 3as al 3ays
accom!aned by
t he a!!earance of a bea$t f$l St ar# 3h ch at that !er od sho3ed t sel f n
t he drect on
of t he so$rces of t hat r 6er# and seemed to 3arn the h$sbandman to be
caref$l not to
be s$r!rsed by t he n$ndat on# the Eth o!an com!ared ths act of that
Star t o that of
t he An mal 3h ch by bar/ng g6es 3arn ng of danger# and styled t t he
Dog MSIRI'SN,
Th$s commenc ng# and as astronomy came t o be more st $d ed# magnary
fg$res
3ere t raced all o6er t he -ea6ens# to 3h ch the dfferent Stars 3ere
assgned, %h ef
among them 3ere t hose that l ay al ong the !at h 3hch the S$n tra6ell ed as
he cl mbed
t o3ard t he 8ort h and descended to t he So$th( ly ng 3 t hn cert an l mt s
and
e4tend ng t o an eE$al dst ance on each s de of the l ne of eE$al nght s and
days, Th s
belt # c$r6 ng l /e a Ser!ent # 3as termed the Hodac# and d 6 ded nto
t 3el6e Sgns,
At t he Fernal EE$ no4# 0:77 years before o$r Era# the S$n 3as ent er ng
t he sgn and
const el lat on Ta$r$s# or t he B$ll G ha6 ng !assed thro$gh# snce he
commenced# at the
; nter Sol st ce# t o ascend 8ort h3ard, the S gns AE$ar$s# Psces and
AresG on
enterng t he f rst of 3hch he reached the l o3est l m t of h s 5 o$rney
So$th3ard,
"rom TA'R'S# he !assed t hro$gh Gem n and %ancer# and reached LEO
3hen he arr6ed at t he t ermn$s of hs 5o$rney 8ort h3ard, Thence#
t hro$gh
Leo# Frgo# and Lbra# he entered S%ORPIO at t he A$t$mnal EE$no4# and
5 o$rneyed So$t h3ard thro$gh Scor!a# Sagt tar $s# and %a!r corn$s t o
AI'ARI'S# t he t erm n$s of h s 5o$rney So$t h,
The !ath by 3h ch he 5 o$rneyed thro$gh t hese s gns became t he Ecl !tcG
and
t hat 3h ch !asses thro$gh the t3o eE$no4es# t he EE$ator,
They /ne3 not h ng of t he mm$table l a3s of nat$reG and 3hene6er the
S$n
commenced t o tend So$t h3ard# they feared lest he mght cont n$e t o do
so#
and by degrees d sa!!ear fore6er# l ea6ng t he earth to be r$l ed fore6er by
dar/ness# st orm# and cold,
-ence they re5o ced 3hen he commenced t o reDascend aft er t he ; nter
Sol st ce# st r$ggl ng aga nst the mal gn nfl $ences of AE$ar$s and P sces#
and
amcably rece6ed by t he Lamb, And 3hen at t he Fernal EE$ no4 he
entered
Ta$r$s# they st l l more re5oced at t he ass$rance that t he days 3o$ld aga n
be
l onger t han t he nghts# t hat the season of seedDt me had come# and the
S$mmer and har6est 3o$l d foll o3,
And t hey lament ed 3hen# after t he A$t $mnal EE$ no4# the mal gn
nfl $ence of
t he 6enomo$s Scor!on# and 6ndct 6e Archer# and t he f l thy and llD
omened
-eDGoat dragged h m do3n to3ard the ; nter Sol st ce,
Arr 6 ng t here# t hey sad he had been slan# and had gone to t he real m of
dar/ness, Reman ng there t hree days# he rose aga n# and agan ascended
8ort h3ard n the hea6ens# t o redeem the eart h from the gloom and
dar/ness of
; nter# 3h ch soon became embl emat cal of s n# and e6 l # and s$fferngG
as t he
S!rng# S$mmer# and A$t$mn became emblems of ha!! ness and
mmortal ty,
Soon t hey !ersonf ed t he S$n# and 3orsh!!ed h m $nder the name of
OSIRIS# and t ransm$ted t he l egend of h s descent among the ; nter
Sgns#
nt o a fabl e of h s death# hs descent nt o the nfernal reg ons# and h s
res$rrect on,
The Moon became Iss# the 3 fe of Os rsG and ; nt er# as 3ell as the
desert or
t he ocean nt o 3hch the S$n descended# became T.P-O8# t he S! r t or
Prnc !l e of E6 l# 3arr ng aga nst and destroyng Os rs,
"rom t he 5 o$rney of t he S$n thro$gh the t3el 6e s gns came t he l egend of
t he
t 3el6e labors of -erc$les# and the ncarnat ons of Fshn$ and B$ddha,
-ence came the legend of t he m$rder of KhWrWm# re!resent at 6e of the
S$n#
by t he t hree "ell o3Dcraft s# symbol s of t he three ; nter s gns#
%a!r corn$s#
AE$ar$s# and Psces# 3ho assa led h m at the three gat es of -ea6en and
sl e3 h m at t he ; nt er Solst ce, -ence the search for h m by the n ne
"ell o3craft s#
t he other n ne sgns# hs fndng# b$ral # and res$rrect on,
The cel est al Ta$r$s# o!enng t he ne3 year# 3as t he %reat 6e of B$ll of
t he
- nd$s and &a!anese# brea/ng 3t h hs horn the egg o$t of 3hch t he
3orl d
s born, -ence the b$l l APIS 3as 3orsh!!ed by the Egy!t ans# and
re!rod$ced as a golden cal f by Aaron n the desert, -ence t he co3 3as
sacred t o t he - nd$s, -ence# from the sacred and benefcent s gns of
Ta$r$s
and Leo# t he h$manDheaded 3 nged l ons and b$l ls n the !al aces at
Ko$yo$n5 / and 8 mro$d# l /e 3h ch 3ere t he %her$b m set by Sol omen
n hs
Tem!le( and hence t he t 3el 6e bra<en or bron<e o4en# on 3h ch the layer
of
brass 3as s$!!ort ed,
The %elest al F$l t $re or Eagl e# rs ng and set t ng 3 t h t he Scor! on# 3as
s$bst t$ted n ts !lace# n many cases# on acco$nt of t he mal gn
nfl $ences of
t he l att er( and t h$s t he fo$r great !er ods t he of t he year 3ere mal ed by
t he
B$l l# t he L on# the Man MAE$ar $sN and t he EagleG 3hch 3ere $!on t he
res!ect 6e st andards of E!hra m# &$dah# Re$ben# and DanG and st l l
a!!ear
on t he shel d of Amer can Royal Arch Masonry,
After3ard t he Ram or Lamb became an ob5ect of adorat on# 3hen# n hs
t $rn#
he o!ened t he eE$ no4# to del 6er t he 3orld from the 3 nt ry regn of
dar/ness
and e6 l,
Aro$nd the central and s m!le dea of t he ann$al deat h and res$rrect on
of
t he S$n a m$l t t $de of c rc$mst ant al det a l s soon cl $stered, Some 3ere
der 6ed from ot her astronom cal !henomenaG 3hl e many 3ere merely
!oet cal ornaments and n6ent ons,
Besdes the S$n and Moon# t hose anc ent s also sa3 a bea$t f$l St ar#
shn ng
3 th a soft # s l6ery lght# al 3ays foll o3 ng the S$n at no great dst ance
3hen
he set# or !reced ng h m 3hen he rose, Anot her of a red and angry col or#
and
st l l anot her more /ngly and brl lant than al l# early at t racted ther
at tent on#
by t her free mo6ement s among t he f 4ed hosts of -ea6en( and t he l at t er
by
hs $n$s$al br ll ancy# and t he reg$larty 3t h 3h ch he rose and set #
These
3ere Fen$s# Mars# and &$! ter, Merc$ry and Sat $rn
co$ld scarcely ha6e been notced n t he 3orld? s nfancy# or $nt l
ast ronomy began t o ass$me t he !ro!ort ons of a scence,
In t he !ro5ect on of the celest al s!here by t he astronomcal !rest s# t he
<od ac and const ell at ons# arranged n a crcl e# !resented ther hal 6es
n dametr cal o!!os t onG and t he hem s!here of ; nt er 3as sa d to be
ad6erse# o!!osed# contrary# to that of sle3 h m S$mmer, O6er t he
angel s of t he lat ter r$led a / ng MOSIRIS or ORM'HDN# enl ght ened#
ntell gent # creat 6e# and benef cent, O6er t he fal l en angels or e6l gen
of t he former# t he demons or De6s of the s$bterranean em!re of
dar/ness and sorro3# and t s stars# r$l ed also a ch ef, In Egy!t t he
Scor! on f rst r$led# t he s gn ne4t t he Bal ance# and long t he ch ef of the
; nter sgnsG and then t he Pol ar Bear or Ass# cal led Ty!hon# t hat s#
del$ge# on acco$nt of the ra ns 3hch n$ndat ed t he earth 3h le that
const el lat on dom neered, In Pers a# at a l ater day# t 3as the ser!ent#
3hch# !ersonfed as Ahr man# 3as the E6 l Prnc!l e of t he rel g on of
Horoaster,
The S$n does not arr6e at the same moment n each year at t he
eE$noct al !ont on t he eE$ator, The e4!lanat on of h s antc!at ng
t hat !ont bel ongs to t he sc ence of ast ronomyG and to that 3e refer yo$
for t , The conseE$ence s# 3hat s t ermed t he !recess on of the
eE$no4es# by means of 3h ch the S$n s constantly changng h s !lace
n t he <od ac# at each 6ernal eE$ no4G so that no3# the sgns ret an ng
t he names 3hch they had 922 years before %hr st# they and t he
const el lat ons do not corres!ondG t he S$n be ng# no3 n t he
const el lat on Psces# 3hen he s n the sgn Ar es,
The ann$al amo$nt of !recess on s 72 seconds and a l t tle o6er A72@
), B, The !erod of a com!let e Re6ol$t on of t he EE$no4es# 07# *7=
years, The !recess on amo$nt s t o 92C or a s gn# n 0)77, = years, So
t hat # as t he s$n no3 enters Psces at t he Fernal EE$ no4# he entered
Ares at t hat !erod# 922 years B, %, # and Ta$r$s 0:77 B, %, And the
d6 son of t he Ecl !t c# no3 called Ta$r$s# l es n the %onst ell at on
AresG 3hle the sgn Gemn s n the %onst ell at on Ta$r$s, "o$r
t ho$sand s 4 h$ndred and ten years before %hr st# t he s$n ent ered
Gem n at t he Fernal EE$ no4,
At t he t 3o !erods# 0:77 and 922 years before %hrst and no3# t he
entrances of t he s$n at t he EE$no4es and Solst ces nt o t he sgns#
3ere and are as foll o3s( D
B, %, 0:77,
Leo
Scor! o
AE$ar$s
Fern, EE$no4# he ent ered Ta$r$s
S$mmer Sol st ce
A$t$mnal EE$no4
; nter Sol st ce
B, %, 922,
Ares
%ancer
L bra
%a!r corn$s
Fern, EE
S$mmer Sol s
A$t$mn EE
; nter Sol s
)*+0,
Psces
Gem n
Frgo
Sagt t ar$s
Fern, EE
S$m, Sol s
A$t, EE
; nter Sol s
"rom confo$nd ng sgns 3 th ca$ses came the 3orsh ! of the s$n and
st ars, @If# @
says 5ob# @I behel d the s$n 3hen t sh ned# or t he moon !rogress6e n
brghtnessG
and my heart hat h been secret ly ent ced# or my mo$t h hat h /ssed my
hand# ths
3ere an nE$ty t o be !$n shed by t he 5 $dgeG for I sho$l d ha6e den ed the
God
t hat s abo6e, @
Perha!s 3e are not # on t he 3hol e# m$ch 3ser t han those s m!l e men of
t he old
t me, "or 3hat do 3e /no3 of effect and ca$se# e4ce!t that one t h ng
reg$larly or
habt $al ly foll o3s anotherJ
So# beca$se the hel acal r sng of Sr$s !receded the r sng of t he 8 le# t
3as
deemed to ca$se tG and ot her stars 3ere n l /e manner hel d t o ca$se
e4treme
heat # bt ter col d# and 3at ery storm,
A rel go$s re6erence for the <odacal B$l l ATA'R'SB a!!ears# from a
6ery early
!er od# to ha6e been !retty general# D !erha!s t 3as $n6ersal # t hro$gho$t
As aG
from that cha n or reg on of %a$cas$s to 3h ch t ga6e nameG and 3h ch s
st l l
/no3n $nder the a!!ellat on of Mo$nt Ta$r$s# t o the So$t hern e4trem t es
of t he
Indan Pen ns$laG e4tend ng tsel f al so nt o E$ro!e# and t hro$gh t he
Eastern !art s
of Afr ca,
Th s e6 dently org nat ed d$r ng those remot e ages of t he 3orld# 3hen t he
col$re of t he 6ernal eE$ no4 !assed across the stars n the head of the
sgn
from Ar es,
from %ancer,
from Lbra,
from %a!r corn$s,
from P sces,
from Gemn,
from F rgo,
from Sag tt ar $s,
from AE$ar $s,
from Ta$r$s,
from Leo,
from Scor! o,
Ta$r$s Aamong 3h ch 3as AldebarcnBG a !er od 3hen# as t he most anc ent
mon$ment s of all the orental nat ons at test # t he lght of art s and l et ters
frst
shone forth,
The Araban 3ord ALDDEDBARd8# means t he foremost# or leadng star(
and t
co$ld only ha6e been so named# 3hen t d d !recede# or lead# all others,
The
year t hen o!ened 3 th the s$n n Ta$r$sG and t he m$l t t$de of anc ent
sc$l !t $res# both n Assyra and Egy!t # 3here n the b$ll a!!ears 3 t h
l $net te or
crescent horns# and the d s/ of the s$n bet3een t hem# are drect all $s ons
t o
t he m!ortant fest 6al of t he frst ne3 moon of t he year( and there 3as
e6ery3here an ann$al celebrat on of t he fest 6al of the frst ne3 moon#
3hen
t he year o!ened 3 t h Sol and L$na n Ta$r$s,
Da6d s ngs( @Bl o3 the tr$m!et n t he 8e3 MoonG n the t me a!!ontedG
on o$r
solemn feastDday( for th s s a st at$t e $nt o Israel # and a la3 of the God of
&acob, Th s he ordaned t o &ose!h# for a test mony# 3hen he came o$t of
t he
l and of Egy!t , @
The re6erence !ad to Ta$r$s cont n$ed l ong aft er# by t he !recesson of
t he
EE$ no4es# t he col$re of t he 6ernal eE$ no4 had come t o !ass thro$gh
Ares,
The %hnese st ll ha6e a tem!le# call ed @The Palace of the horned B$l l@
and t he
same symbol s 3orsh !!ed n &a!an and al l o6er - ndostan, The
% mbr ans
carr ed a bra<en b$ll 3t h t hem# as t he mage of ther God# 3hen they
o6erran
S!a n and Ga$lG and t he re!resentat on of t he %reat on# by t he Dety n
t he
sha!e of a b$l l # brea/ng t he shel l of an egg 3t h hs horns# meant Ta$r$s#
o!en ng t he year# and b$rst ng the symbol cal shel l of the ann$allyD
rec$rr ng
orb of the ne3 year,
Theo!h l $s says t hat the Osr s of Egy!t 3as s$!!osed t o be dead or
absent
ffty days n each year, Landseer t h n/s that t h s 3as beca$se the SabQan
!r ests 3ere acc$st omed t o see# n t he l o3er lat t$des of Egy!t and
Et ho!a#
t he frst or ch ef stars of the -$sbandman ABOeTESB sn/ achroncal ly
beneat h
t he ;est ern hor <onG and then t o begn ther l ament at ons# or hol d forth
t he
sgnal for ot hers t o 3ee!( and 3hen h s !rol f c 6rt$es 3ere s$!!osed to
be
t ransferred to the 6ernal s$n# bacchanal an re6el ry became de6ot on,
Before the col $re of the Fernal EE$ no4 had !assed nt o Ar es# and after t
had
l eft Aldebarcn and the -yades# t he Pleades 3ere# for se6en or e ght
cent $res#
t he l ead ng st ars of the SabQan year, And t h$s 3e see# on t he mon$ments#
t he
ds/ and crescent # symbol s of t he s$n and moon n con5 $nct on# a!!ear
s$ccess 6ely# D f rst on t he head# and t hen on the nec/ and bac/ of the
Hod acal B$ll # and more recently on t he forehead of the Ram,
The dagrammat cal charact er or symbol# st l l n $se t o denot e Ta$r$s# # s
t h s 6ery crescent and d s/( a symbol that has come do3n to $s from those
remot e ages 3hen th s memorabl e con5$nct on n Ta$r$s# by mar/ ng t he
commencement # at once of the SabQan year and of t he cycle of the
%hal dean Saros# so !reDem nently d st ng$shed t hat sgn as t o become t s
characterst c symbol , On a bron<e b$ll from %hna# the crescent s
at tached
t o t he 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 t he ds/ of t he s$n# 3hen solar and
l $nar
t me 3ere co nc dent and con5 $nct 6e# at the commencement of t he year#
and
of t he l$nar cycle, ;hen t hat 3as made# the year d d not o!en 3 th the
st ars
n t he head of the B$ll # b$t 3hen t he col$re of t he 6ernal eE$ no4 !assed
across t he m ddle or later degrees of the aster sm Ta$r$s# and t he Ple ades
3ere# n %hna# as n %anaan# t he l ead ng st ars of the year,
The crescent and d s/ comb ned al3ays re!resent t he con5$nct 6e S$n and
MoonG and 3hen !l aced on t he head of the Hodacal B$l l# the
commencement
of t he cycle t ermed SAROS by the %hal deans# and Met onc by t he Gree/sG
and s$!!osed to be all $ded t o n 5 ob# by t he !hrase# @Ma<<aroth n h s
season@G that s t o say# 3hen the f rst ne3 Moon and ne3 S$n of the year
3ere co nc dent # 3hch ha!!ened once n eghteen years and a fract on,
On t he sarco!hag$s of Ale4ander# t he same symbol a!!ears on t he head of
a Ram# 3h ch# n the t me of t hat monarch# 3as the leadng sgn, So too n
t he
sc$l !t $red t em!les of the '!!er 8 le# t he crescent and ds/ a!!ear# not on
t he head of Ta$r$s# b$t on the forehead of t he Ram or t he RamDheaded
God#
3hom the Grec an Mytholog st s call ed &$! ter Ammon# really the S$n n
Ares,
If 3e no3 l oo/ for a moment at the nd 6d$al st ars 3h ch com!osed and
3ere
near t o the res!ect 6e const ell at ons# 3e may f nd somet h ng t hat 3 ll
connect
tsel f 3t h t he symbols of the Ancent Mysteres and of Masonry,
It s t o be not ced that 3hen t he S$n s n a !art c$lar const el lat on# no
!art of
t hat const ell at on 3 ll be seen# e4ce!t 5 $st before s$nr se and 5$st after
s$nsetG and t hen only t he edge of t ( b$t t he const el lat ons o!!ost e t o t
3 ll
be 6 sbl e, ;hen t he S$n s n Ta$r$s# for e4am!le# t hat s# 3hen Ta$r$s
set s
3 th t he S$n#
Scor! o rses as he set s# and cont n$es 6 sbl e t hro$gho$t t he nght , And
f
Ta$r$s r ses and sets 3t h t he S$n t oDday# he 3l l# s 4 months hence# rse
at
s$nset and set at s$nr seG for t he st ars th$s gan on t he S$n t3o ho$rs a
mont h,
Gong bac/ to the t me 3hen# 3at ched by the %hal dean she!herds# and the
h$sbandmen of Etho!a and Egy!t#
@The m l/D3ht e P$l l 3t h golden horns
@Led on t he ne3Dborn year# @
3e see n the nec/ of TA'R'S# the Ple ades# and n hs face t he -yades#
@3hch
Greca from ther sho3er ng names# @ and of 3hom the brl l ant Al debarcn
s t he
chef G 3h le to the so$t h3est 3ard s that most s!lendd of al l t he
const el lat ons#
Oron# 3t h Bet elg$e$4 n h s rght sho$l der# Bel lat r 4 n hs l eft sho$l der#
R gel
on t he l eft foot # and n h s bel t the three st ars /no3n as the Three Kngs#
and
no3 as the .ard and Ell , Or on# ran t he legend# !ersec$t ed t he Pl eadesG
and t o
sa6e them from h s f$ry# &$! ter !l aced them n the -ea6ens# 3here he
st l l
!$rs$es them# b$t n 6a n, They# 3 t h Arct $r$s and t he Bands of Oron#
are
ment oned n the Boo/ of &ob, They are $s$ally call ed t he Se6en St ars# and
t s
sa d t here 3ere se6en# before the fal l of TroyG t ho$gh no3 only s 4 are
6s ble,
The Pl e ades 3ere so named from a Gree/ 3ord sgnfy ng t o sa l, In al l
ages
t hey ha6e been obser6ed for sgns and seasons, Frg l says that t he sa lors
ga6e
names t o @the Pleades# -yades# and t he 8orthern %ar( Ple adas# -yadas#
%l aramE$e Lycaons Arct on, @ 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 Orona D
st $d ed Arct$r$s and the ra ny -yades and t he T3 n Trones# and Or on
c nct $red 3 th gol d,
Ta$r$s 3as the !rnce and leader of the celest al host for more than t 3o
t ho$sand yearsG and 3hen h s head set 3t h the S$n abo$t t he l ast of May#
t he
Scor! on 3as seen t o r se n t he So$theast ,
The Pl e ades 3ere somet mes cal led Ferg l b# or the Frg ns of S!r ngG
beca$se
t he S$n ent ered th s cl$st er of stars n t he season of blossoms, The r
Syran
name 3as S$ccot h# or S$ccothbenet h# der6ed from a %hal dean 3ord
sgnfy ng
t o s!ec$l at e or obser6e,
The -yades are f 6e stars n t he form of a F# ))C so$t heast of
t he Pleades, The Gree/s co$nted them as se6en, ;hen t he Fernal
EE$ no4
3as n Ta$r$s# Al debarcn led $! the starry host G and as he rose n the East#
Ares 3as abo$t 0+C hgh,
;hen he 3as cl ose $!on t he mer dan# the -ea6ens !resented ther most
magnfcent a!!earance, %a!el l a 3as a l tt le f$rt her from the mer dan# t o
t he
nort hG and Oron st l l f$rt her from t t o t he so$t h3ard, Procyon# S r $s#
%ast or
and Pol l$4 had cl mbed abo$t hal fD3ay from the hor<on to the mer dan,
Reg$l $s had 5$st r sen $!on the ecl !t c, The Frg n st l l l ngered belo3
t he
hor <on, "omalha$t 3as hal fD3ay to the merdan n t he So$th3est G and to
t he
8ort h3est 3ere the brl l ant constel lat ons# Perse$s# %e!he$s# %asso!ea#
and
AndromedaG 3hl e t he Pleades had 5$st !assed the mer dan,
ORIO8 s 6s bl e t o al l the hab table 3orld, The eE$ noct al l ne !asses
t hro$gh
t he centre of t , ;hen Al debarcn rose n the East # t he Three Kngs n
Oron
fol l o3ed h mG and as Ta$r$s set # t he Scor! on# by 3hose st ng t 3as sa d
Oron d ed# rose n the East ,
Oron rses at noon abo$t the 1t h of March, - s rs ng 3as accom!aned
3 th
great rans and storms# and t became 6ery terrbl e t o mar ners,
In Boftes# call ed by t he ancent Gree/s Lycaon# from l$/os# a 3olf# and by
t he
-ebre3s# %aleb An$bach# the Bar/ ng Dog# s t he Great Star AR%T'R'S#
3hch# 3hen Ta$r$s o!ened t he year# corres!onded 3 th a season
remar/abl e
for t s great heat ,
8e4t comes GEMI8I# the T3 ns# t3o h$man f g$res# n the heads of 3h ch
are
t he br ght Stars %ASTOR and POLL'P# t he D osc$r# and t he %abr of
Samothrace# !atrons of na6gat onG 3h l e So$th of Pol l $4 are the brl l ant
Stars
SIRI'S and PRO%.O8# the great er and lesser Dog( and st l l f$rt her
So$th#
%ano!$s# n t he Sh ! Argo,
Sr $s s a!!arent ly the largest and brght est St ar n the -ea6ens, ;hen
t he
Fernal EE$no4 3as n Ta$r$s# he rose helacal ly# that s# 5$st before t he
S$n#
3hen# at t he S$mmer Sol st ce# the S$n entered Leo# abo$t t he 0)st of
&$ne#
ffteen days !re6o$s t o t he s3ell ng of the 8 le, The hel acal r s ng of
%ano!$s
3as also a !rec$rsor of the rs ng of t he 8le, Procyon 3as t he forer$nner
of
Sr $s# and rose before h m,
There are no m!ortant St ars n %A8%ER, In t he Hodacs of Esne and
Dendera# and n most of t he astrol og cal rema ns of
Egy!t # the sgn of ths const ell at on 3as a beetl e MScarabb$sN# 3hch
t hence became sacred# as an embl em of the gate thro$gh 3hch so$ls
descended from -ea6en, In the crest of %ancer s a cl $ster of St ars
formerly cal led Prbse!e# t he Manger# on each s de of 3h ch s a small
Star# t he t 3o of 3h ch 3ere cal led Asel l l t tl e asses,
In Leo are the s!l end d St ars# REG'L'S# drectly on t he ecl !t c# and
DE8EBOLA n t he L on? s ta l , So$t heast of Reg$l $s s t he fne Star %OR
-.DRg,
The combat of -erc$les 3 t h t he 8emQan l on 3as h s frst labor, It 3as
t he frst sgn nto 3h ch the S$n !assed# after fall ng bel o3 the S$mmer
Sol st ceG from 3h ch t me he str$ggl ed t o reDascend,
The 8l e o6erflo3ed n th s sgn, It stands frst n t he Hod ac of Dendera#
and s n al l the Ind an and Egy!t an Hodacs,
In t he left hand of FIRGO MIs s or %eresN s t he bea$t f$l St ar SPI%A
Frg n s# a l t t le So$th of t he ecl !t c, FI8DEMIATRIP# of l ess
magnt $de#
s n t he rght armG and 8ort h3est of S! ca# n Boftes Mt he h$sbandman#
Os r sN# s the s!l end d st ar AR%T'R'S,
The d6 s on of the frst Decan of t he F rgn# Aben E<ra says# re!resents a
bea$t f$l F rgn 3 th fl o3 ng ha r# st t ng n a cha r# 3 t h t 3o ears of corn
n
her hand# and s$c/l ng an nfant , In an Araban MS, n the Royal Lbrary
at Par s# s a !ct $re of t he T3el 6e S gns, That of Frgo s a yo$ng g rl
3 th
an nfant by her s de, Frgo 3as IssG and her re!resent at on carry ng a
chl d M-or$sN n her arms# e4hbt ed n her tem!le# 3as accom!an ed by
t h s nscr !t on( @I AM ALL T-AT IS# T-AT ;AS# A8D T-AT S-ALL
BEG
and t he fr$ t 3hch I bro$ght forth s the S$n, @
8 ne months aft er the S$n enters Frgo# he reaches the T3 ns, ;hen
Scor! o begns to rse# Or on sets( 3hen Scor!o comes t o t he mer dan#
Leo beg ns t o set # Ty!hon regns# Os r s s sla n# and Iss Mthe Frg nN h s
s ster and 3 fe# foll o3s h m t o t he t omb# 3ee! ng,
The Frgn and Boft es# set t ng hel acal ly at the A$t $mnal EE$no4#
del 6ered the 3orl d t o the 3ntry constel lat ons# and nt rod$ced nt o t t he
gen $s of E6l # re!resent ed by O!h$c$s# the Ser!ent ,
At t he moment of t he ; nter Sol st ce# the Frgn rose hel acal ly M3 th t he
S$nN# ha6 ng the S$n M-or$sN n her bosom,
In LIBRA are fo$r Stars of t he second and t h rd magn t $de# 3h ch 3e
shal l
ment on hereaft er, They are H$benDesD%hamal # H$benDelDGemab # H$benD
ha/Drab # and H$benDelDG$b, 8ear the last of these s t he br ll ant and
malgn Star# A8TARES n Scor!o,
In S%ORPIO# A8TARES# of t he )st magnt $de# and remar/ably red# 3as
one of t he fo$r great St ars# "OMAL-A'T# n %et$s# ALDEBARA8 n
Ta$r$s# REG'L'S n Leo# and A8TARES# that formerly ans3ered t o the
Sol st t al and EE$noct al !o nts# and 3ere m$ch notced by astronomers,
Th s sgn 3as somet mes re!resented by a Sna/e# and somet mes by a
%rocodl e# b$t generally by a Scor! on# 3h ch last s fo$nd on the
M thr ac
Mon$ments# and on t he Hod ac of Dendera, It 3as cons dered a sgn
acc$rsed# and the ent rance of the S$n nt o t commenced t he regn of
Ty!hon,
In Sag tt ar $s# %a!rcorn$s# and AE$ar $s t here are no St ars of
m!ort ance,
8ear Psces s t he br l l ant St ar "OMAL-A'T, 8o sgn n t he Hod ac s
cons dered of more mal gnant nfl$ence t han ths, It 3as deemed
nd cat 6e
of F ol ence and Deat h, Both the Syrans and Egy!t ans abst a ned from
eat ng f sh# o$t of dread and abhorrenceG and 3hen the lat ter 3o$l d
re!resent anyt hng as odo$s# or e4!ress hatred by - erogly!hcs# t hey
!ant ed a f sh,
In A$r ga s the brght Star %APELLA# 3h ch to the Egy!t ans ne6er set,
And# crcl ng e6er ro$nd the 8orth Pol e are Se6en St ars# /no3n as 'rsa
Ma5 or# or the Great Bear# 3hch ha6e been an ob5ect of $n 6ersal
obser6at on n all ages of t he 3orld, They 3ere 6enerated al /e by t he
Prests of Bel# the Mag of Persa# t he She!herds of %haldea# and the
Phbnc an na6gat ors# as 3ell as by t he astronomers of Egy!t, T3o of
t hem# MERAK and D'B-E# al 3ays !o nt t o the 8orth Pole,
The Phbncan and Egy!t ans# says E$seb $s# 3ere the f rst 3ho ascrbed
d6 n ty to t he S$n# Moon# and St ars# and regarded them as the sole
ca$ses
of t he !rod$ct on and destr$ct on of al l bengs, "rom t hem 3ent abroad
o6er all t he 3orl d al l /no3n o! n ons as to the generat on and descent of
t he Gods, Only t he -ebre3s loo/ed beyond the 6 s bl e 3orl d t o an
n6 sble
%reator, Al l the rest of t he 3orl d regarded as Gods those l$m no$s bod es
t hat bl a<e n the frmament # offered t hem sacr f ces# bo3ed do3n
before t hem# and rased ne t her t her so$ls nor t her 3orsh! abo6e t he
6s ble hea6ens,
The %haldeans# %anaan tes# and Syr ans# among 3hom Abraham l 6ed#
dd the same, The %anaan tes consecrat ed horses and char ot s to t he
S$n, The nhab tants of Emesa n Phbn c an adored h m $nder the name
of El agabal$sG and t he S$n# as -erc$les# 3as t he great De ty of t he
Tyrans, The Syrans 3orsh!!ed# 3t h fear and dread# t he St ars of the
%onstel lat on P sces# and consecrated mages of t hem n t he r tem!les,
The S$n as Adon s 3as 3orsh!!ed n Byblos and abo$t Mo$nt Lban$s,
There 3as a magn f cent Tem!le of the S$n at Pal myra# 3hch 3as
!l laged by t he solders of A$rel an# 3ho reb$l t t and dedcat ed t ane3,
The Pl e ades# $nder the name of S$ccot hDBeneth# 3ere 3orsh!!ed by
t he Babylonan col on st s 3ho set t led n the co$ntry of the Samartans,
Sat$rn# $nder t he name of Rem!han# 3as 3orsh !!ed among the %o!t s,
The !lanet &$! ter 3as 3orsh !!ed as Bel or Baal G Mars as Mal ec#
Mel ech# or MolochG Fen$s as Ashtarot h or Ast art e# and Merc$ry as 8ebo#
among the Syr ans# Assyrans# Phbnc ans# and %anaan tes, ?
Sanchon athon says that t he earl est Phoen cans adored the S$n# 3hom
t hey deemed sole Lord of the -ea6ensG and honored h m $nder t he name
of BEELDSAMI8# s gn fyng K ng of -ea6en, They ra sed col$mns to the
el ement s# f re# and ar or 3 nd# and 3orsh !!ed t hemG and SabQ sm# or
t he 3orsh! of t he St ars# fl o$rshed e6ery3here n Babylon a, The Arabs#
$nder a s/y al 3ays clear and serene# adored t he S$n# Moon# and St ars,
Ab$l farag $s so nforms $s# and t hat each of t he t3el 6e Arab Tr bes
n6o/ed a !art c$lar Star as t s Patron, The Trbe -amyar 3as
consecrated t o t he S$n# the Trbe %ennah t o t he MoonG t he Tr be M sa
3as $nder t he !rotect on of t he bea$t f$l St ar n Ta$r$s# AldebarcnG t he
Trbe Ta $nder that of %ano!$sG the Trbe Ka s# of S r $sG the Trbes
Lacham$s and Idam$s# of &$! terG t he Tr be Asad# of Merc$ryG and so on,
The Saracens# n the t me of -eracl $s# 3orsh !!ed Fen$s# 3hom t hey
cal led %ABAR# or The Great G and t hey s3ore by the S$n# Moon# and
Stars, Shahr st an# an Arabc a$thor# says that t he Arabs and Indans
before hs t me had tem!l es dedcat ed t o the se6en Pl anets, Ab$l farag$s
says that t he se6en great !r m t 6e nat ons# from 3hom all ot hers
descended# the Pers ans# %haldQans# Gree/s# Egy!tans# T$r/s# Indans#
and %h nese# all orgnal ly 3ere SabQ st s# and 3orsh!!ed the St ars,
They all # he says# l /e t he %haldQans# !rayed t $rnng t o3ard t he 8ort h
Pol e
t hree t mes a day# at S$nr se# 8oon# and S$nset # bo3 ng themsel6es
t hree t mes before the S$n, They n6o/ed the Stars and the Intell gences
3hch nhab ted them# offered t hem sacrfces# and called t he f 4ed stars
and !lanet s gods, Ph l o says t hat the %haldQans regarded the stars as
so6ere gn arb ters of t he order of the 3orl d# and d d not l oo/ beyond the
6s ble ca$ses t o any n6 sbl e and ntellect$al be ng, They regarded
8AT'RE as t he great d 6n ty# t hat e4ercsed ts !o3ers thro$gh the
act on of t s !art s# the S$n# Moon# Planets# and " 4ed Stars# the
s$ccess 6e re6ol $t ons of the seasons# and the combned act on of
-ea6en and Eart h, The great feast of the SabQans 3as 3hen t he S$n
reached the Fernal EE$no4( and t hey had f 6e other feasts# at t he t mes
3hen t he f6e m nor !lanets entered t he s gns n 3h ch t hey had the r
e4alt at on,
D odor$s Sc$l$s nforms $s t hat t he Egy!t ans recogn<ed t 3o great
D 6 n t es# !r mary and eternal # t he S$n and Moon# 3h ch t hey tho$ght
go6erned t he 3orl d# and from 3h ch e6eryth ng rece6es t s no$rshment
and gro3t h( that on them de!ended all and t he great 3or/ of generat on#
and t he !erfect on of all effect s !rod$ced n nat $re, ;e /no3 that the
t 3o great D6n t es of Egy!t 3ere Os rs and Is s# t he greatest agent s of
nat$reG accordng to some# t he S$n and Moon# and accordng to ot hers#
-ea6en and Eart h# or t he act 6e and !ass6e !rnc!l es of generat on#
And 3e learn from Por!hyry t hat %hQremon# a learned !rest of Egy!t #
and many ot her l earned men of that nat on# sa d t hat the Egy!t ans
recogn <ed as gods the stars com!os ng the <odac# and all t hose that by
t her rs ng or sett ng mar/ed t s d 6 sonsG the s$bd6s ons of the sgns
nt o decans# t he horosco!e and the stars t hat !res ded t here n# and
3hch 3ere call ed Pot ent %h efs -ea6en( t hat cons derng the S$n as the
Great God# Archtect# and R$ler of the ;orl d# they e4!la ned not only the
fable of Os r s and Iss# b$t generally al l ther sacred legends# by t he
st ars# by the r a!!earance and dsa!!earance# by the r ascens on# by t he
!hases of t he moon# and t he ncrease and d m n$t on of her# lghtG by t he
march of t he s$n# t he d6s on of t me and the hea6ens nto t 3o !art s# one
assgned t o dar/ness and t he other t o lghtG by t he 8 le and# n fne# by
t he 3hol e ro$nd of !hys cal ca$ses,
L$can tell s $s that the b$l l A!s# sacred to t he Egy!tans# 3as the mage
of t he cel est al B$l l # or Ta$r$sG and that &$! ter Ammon# horned l /e a
ram# 3as an mage of t he constel l at on Ares, And %lemens of Ale4andr a
ass$res $s that t he fo$r !r nc !al
sacred an mal s# carred n ther !rocessons# 3ere embl ems of the
fo$r sgns or card nal !ont s 3h ch f 4ed t he seasons at the eE$no4es
and sol st ces# and d6ded nto fo$r !arts the yearly march of t he s$n,
They 3orsh!!ed f re al so# and 3ater# and t he 8 le# 3h ch r 6er they
styled "at her# Preser6er of Egy!t# sacred emanat on from the Great God
Os r sG and n ther hymns n 3h ch t hey called t the god cro3ned 3t h
m l let M3h ch gran# re!resented by the !schent# 3as !art of the headdress
of t he r /ngsN# br ngng 3t h h m ab$ndance, The ot her element s
3ere al so re6ered by them( and t he Great Gods# 3hose names are
fo$nd nscrbed on an ancent col$mn# are t he Ar# -ea6en# t he Earth#
t he S$n# t he Moon# 8ght # and Day, And# n f ne# as E$seb $s says# t hey
regarded t he 'n6erse as a great Dety# com!osed of a great n$mber of
gods# t he dfferent !art s of tsel f,
The same 3orsh! of the -ea6enly -ost e4t ended nt o e6ery !art of
E$ro!e# nto Asa Mnor# and among the T$r/s# Scythans# and Tartars,
The ancent Persans adored t he S$n as M thras# and also the Moon#
Fen$s# "re# Eart h# Ar# and ;aterG and# ha6ng no stat $es or altars#
t hey sacrfced on h gh !laces t o the -ea6ens and to the S$n, On se6en
anc ent !yrea t hey b$rned ncense to t he Se6en Pl anet s# and
cons dered the element s to be d6nt es, In t he HendDA6est a 3e f nd
n6ocat ons addressed t o M thras# the stars# t he elements# trees#
mo$nta ns# and e6ery !art of nat $re, The %elest al B$ll s n6o/ed there#
t o 3hch t he Moon $n tes hersel fG and the fo$r great st ars# Taschter#
Sate6s# -aft orang# and Fenant # t he great St ar Ra! tan# and t he ot her
const el lat ons 3h ch 3atch o6er the dfferent !ort ons of the eart h,
The Mag # l /e a m$l t t$de of ancent nat ons# 3orsh !!ed fre# abo6e all
t he other el ements and !o3ers of nat $re, In Inda# t he Ganges and the
Ind$s 3ere 3orsh !!ed# and t he S$n 3as the Great D 6 n ty, They
3orsh!!ed t he Moon also# and /e!t $! the sacred f re, In %eylon# t he
S$n# Moon# and ot her !l anets 3ere 3orsh!!ed( n S$matra# the S$n#
cal led Ir # and t he Moon# call ed -anda, And the %hnese b$l t Tem!les
t o -ea6en# the Eart h# and gen of t he a r# of the 3ater# of t he mo$nta ns#
and of t he st ars# t o t he seaDdragon# and to the !l anet Mars,
The cel ebrated Labyrnth 3as b$l t n honor of t he S$nG and t s t3el6e
!alaces# l /e t he t 3el6e s$!erb col $mns of t he Tem!l e s# at - ero!ol s#
co6ered 3 th symbol s rel at ng t o the t3el 6e s gns and t he occ$l t
E$al t es of t he elements# 3ere consecrat ed to the t 3el 6e gods or
t $telary gen of the sgns of t he Hod ac, The
fg$re of the !yram d and t hat of t he obel s/# resembl ng the sha!e of a
flame# ca$sed t hese mon$ment s t o be consecrated t o t he S$n and t o
"re, And T mQ$s of Locr a says( @The eE$l ateral trangle enters nto
t he com!ost on of the !yram d# 3h ch has fo$r eE$al faces and eE$al
angl es# and 3hch n t h s s l /e fre# the most s$btl e and mob le of the
el ement s, @ They and the obel s/s 3ere erected n honor of the S$n#
t ermed n an nscr !t on $!on one of t he l att er# t ranslated by t he
Egy!t an -erma! on# and t o be fo$nd n Amm an$s Marcell n$s# @A!oll o
t he st rong# Son of God# he 3ho made the 3orl d# tr$e Lord of the
dadems# 3ho !ossesses Egy!t and fl ls t 3 th -s glory,@
The t3o most famo$s d6 s ons of the -ea6ens# by se6en# 3hch s that
of t he !lanets# and by t3el 6e# 3hch s that of the sgns# are fo$nd on
t he rel go$s mon$ments of all the !eo!le of t he anc ent 3orl d, The
t 3el6e Great Gods of Egy!t are met 3t h e6ery3here, They 3ere
ado!t ed by t he Gree/s and RomansG and t he l att er ass gned one of
t hem to each sgn of the Hodac, The r mages 3ere seen at At hens#
3here an al tar 3as erected to eachG and they 3ere !a nt ed on t he
!ort cos, The Peo!l e of t he 8ort h had the r t3el 6e A<es# or Senat e of
t 3el6e great gods# of 3hom Odn 3as ch ef, The &a!anese had the
same n$mber# and l /e the Egy!t ans d6ded t hem nto classes# se6en#
3ho 3ere t he most anc ent # and f6e# after3ard added( bot h of 3h ch
n$mbers are 3el l /no3n and consecrat ed n Masonry,
There s no more st r / ng !roof of t he $n6ersal adorat on !a d the stars
and constel l at ons# than t he arrangement of t he -ebre3 cam! n the
Desert # and the all egory n regard to t he t 3el 6e Trbes of Israel #
ascrbed n t he -ebre3 legends to &acob, The -ebre3 cam! 3as a
E$adrl at eral# n s 4t een d6 sons# of 3h ch the central fo$r 3ere
occ$!ed by mages of t he fo$r el ements, The fo$r d6s ons at t he fo$r
angl es of t he E$adr lateral e4hb ted t he fo$r s gns that t he ast rologers
cal led f 4ed# and 3hch t hey regard as s$b5ect to t he nfl$ence of t he
fo$r great Royal Stars# Reg$l$s n Leo# Aldebaran n Ta$r$s# Antares
n Scor! o# and "omal ha$t n t he mo$t h of P sces# on 3hch fall s the
3at er !o$red o$t by AE$ar $sG of 3h ch constel lat ons t he Scor! on 3as
re!resented n t he -ebre3 bla<onry by t he %el est al F$lt $re or Eagle#
t hat rses at the same t me 3t h t and s t s !aranatel lon, The other
sgns 3ere arranged on the fo$r faces of the E$adl ateral# and n t he
!aral lel and nteror d 6s ons,
There s an ast onsh ng co nc dence bet 3een t he character st cs assgned
by
&acob t o h s sons# and those of the sgns of the Hodac# or t he !lanet s t hat
ha6e
t her dom c le n those sgns,
Re$ben s com!ared to r$nn ng 3ater# $nst able# and t hat cannot e4cel G and
he
ans3ers t o AE$ar $s# h s ensgn beng a man, The 3ater !o$red o$t by
AE$ar$s
flo3s t o3ard t he So$th Pole# and t s t he frst of t he fo$r Royal S gns#
ascendng
from the ; nt er Solst ce,
The Lon MLeoN s t he de6 ce of &$dahG and &acob com!ares h m to t hat
an mal#
3hose constel lat on n the -ea6ens s t he domc le of the S$nG t he L on of
t he
Trbe of &$dahG by 3hose gr!# 3hen t hat of a!!rentce and that of fell o3D
craft # D
of AE$ar $s at t he ; nter Solst ce and of %ancer at t he Fernal EE$ no4# D
had not
s$cceeded n ras ng h m# KhWrWm 3as l fted o$t of the gra6e,
E!hra m# on 3hose ensgn a!!ears t he %elest al B$l l# &acob com!ares to
t he o4,
Dan# bear ng as hs de6ce a Scor!on# he com!ares t o t he %erast es or
horned
Ser!ent # synonymo$s n astrol og cal l ang$age 3t h the 6$l t$re or
!o$ncng
eagleG and 3h ch b rd 3as oft en s$bst t$ted on the fl ag of Dan# n !l ace of
t he
6enomo$s scor!on# on acco$nt of t he terror 3hch that re!t l e ns! red# as
t he
symbol of Ty!hon and h s mal gn nfl $encesG 3herefore t he Eagl e# as t s
!aranat ell on# t hat s# rs ng and sett ng at the same t me 3t h t# 3as
nat$rally
$sed n ts st ead, -ence the fo$r famo$s f g$res n the sacred ! ct$res of
t he
&e3s and %hrst ans# and n Royal Arch Masonry# of t he Lon# t he O4# the
Man#
and t he Eagle# t he fo$r creat $res of t he A!ocaly!se# co!ed t here from
E<e/el #
n 3hose re6eres and rha!sodes they are seen re6ol 6 ng aro$nd bla< ng
c rcl es,
The Ram# domcl e of Mars# ch ef of the %elest al Sol d ery and of the
t 3el6e
Sgns# s t he de6ce of Gad# 3hom &acob charact er <es as a 3arr or# chef
of hs
army,
%ancer# n 3hch are the st ars termed Asel l # or l t tl e asses# s t he de6ce
of t he
flag of Issachar# 3hom &acob com!ares to an ass,
%a!r corn# of ol d re!resent ed 3t h the ta l of a fsh# and cal led by
ast ronomers
t he Son of 8e!t$ne# s t he de6ce of Heb$lon# of 3hom &acob says t hat he
d3ell s
on t he shore of the sea,
Sagt t ar$s# chasng the %elest al ;ol f# s t he embl em of Ben5amn# 3hom
&acob
com!ares t o a h$nter( and n that const el lat on t he Romans !l aced t he
dom cl e
of Dana the h$ntress, F rgo#
t he dom c le of Merc$ry# s borne on the fl ag of 8a!htal # 3hose
el oE$ence
and ag l ty &acob magnfes# bot h of 3h ch are att rb$tes of the %o$r er of
t he Gods, And of S meon and Le6 he s!ea/s as $n t ed# as are the t3o
fshes that ma/e the %onst ell at on Psces# 3hch s ther armoral
emblem,
Plat o# n hs Re!$bl c# foll o3ed t he d6 sons of the Hodac and t he
!lanet s, So also d d Lyc$rg$s at S!arta# and %ecro!s n the Athenan
%ommon3eal th, %h$n# t he %hnese leg sl at or# d 6ded %hna nt o t 3el 6e
Tcheo$# and s!ecal ly desgnated t3el 6e mo$ntans, The Et r$scans
d6 ded themsel 6es nt o t 3el6e %ant ons, Rom$l $s a!!o nt ed t3el 6e
L ct ors, There 3ere t3el 6e t r bes of Ishmael and t3el 6e d sc !les of t he
-ebre3 Reformer, The 8e3 &er$sal em of the A!ocaly!se has t 3el 6e
gat es,
The So$cet # a %h nese boo/# s!ea/s of a !alace com!osed of fo$r
b$l d ngs# 3hose gates l oo/ed t o3ard the fo$r corners of the 3orld, That
on t he East 3as dedcat ed t o the ne3 moons of t he months of S!rngG t hat
on t he ;est t o those of A$t $mnG that on the So$th t o those of S$mmerG
and t hat on the 8orth t o t hose of ; nter( and n th s# !alace the Em!eror
and hs grandees sacrfced a l amb# t he an mal that re!resented the S$n
at t he Fernal EE$ no4,
Among the Gree/s# t he march of t he %hor$ses n the r theat res
re!resented the mo6ements of the -ea6ens and the !l anet s# and t he
Stro!he and Ant DStro!he m t ated# Arst o4enes says# the mo6ements of
t he Stars, The n$mber f 6e 3as sacred among the %h nese# as t hat of the
!lanet s ot her t han the S$n and Moon, Astrol ogy consecrat ed t he n$mbers
t 3el6e# se6en# t h rty# and t hree h$ndred and s 4tyG and e6ery3here se6en#
t he n$mber of the !l anet s# 3as as sacred as t3el6e# that of the sgns# t he
mont hs# the orental cycl es# and t he sect ons of t he hor<on, ;e shall
s!ea/ more at large hereafter# n anot her Degree# as to t hese and ot her
n$mbers# to 3hch the ancents ascrbed myster o$s !o3ers,
The S gns of the Hodac and t he St ars a!!eared on many of the ancent
cons and medal s, On t he !$bl c seal of the Locr ans# O<oles 3as
-es!er$s# or t he !lanet Fen$s, On t he medal s of Ant och on t he Orontes
3as the ram and crescentG and the Ram 3as t he s!ecal Dety of Syr a#
assgned t o t n t he d6s on of the eart h among the t 3el6e sgns, On the
%retan co ns 3as the EE$ noct al B$l lG and he also a!!eared on t hose of
t he Mamert ns and of Athens, Sag ttar $s a!!eared on those of the
Pers ans, In
Inda t he t 3el 6e s gns a!!eared $!on the ancent cons, The Scor! on
3as engra6ed on t he medal s of t he K ngs of %omagena# and %a!r corn
on t hose of He$gna# Ana<orba# and ot her c t es, On the medals of
Antonn$s are fo$nd nearly al l t he s gns of the Hodac,
Ast rology 3as !ract sed among al l t he ancent nat ons, In Egy!t# the
boo/ of Ast rol ogy 3as borne re6erent al ly n the rel g o$s !rocessonsG
n 3hch t he fe3 sacred an mal s 3ere also carred# as embl ems of the
eE$no4es and sol stces, The same sc ence flo$r shed among t he
%hal deans# and o6er the 3hole of As a and Afrca, ;hen Ale4ander
n6aded Inda# the astrol ogers of t he O4ydraces came to h m to
dscl ose t he secret s of t he r scence of -ea6en and the St ars, The
Brah mns 3hom A!ol lon$s cons$l t ed# ta$ght h m t he secrets of
Ast ronomy# 3 th t he ceremones and !rayers 3hereby to a!!ease the
gods and l earn the f$t$re from the stars, In %hna# ast rology t a$ght t he
mode of go6ern ng t he St at e and fam l es, In Araba t 3as deemed t he
mother of t he scencesG and old l brar es are f$ll of Arab c boo/s on t h s
!retended scence, It fl o$r shed at Rome, %onst ant ne had h s
horosco!e dra3n by the astrol oger Falens, It 3as a sc ence n the
mddle ages# and e6en to t h s day s net her forgott en nor $n!ract sed,
%at herne de Medc 3as fond of t, Lo$s PIF, cons$lt ed hs horosco!e#
and t he l earned %as n commenced h s career as an astrol oger,
The ancent SabQans establ shed feast s n honor of each !l anet # on
t he day# for each# 3hen t ent ered t s !lace of e4al tat on# or reached the
!art c$l ar degree n the !art c$lar s gn of the <odac n 3h ch ast rology
had f 4ed the !lace of t s e4al t at onG t hat s# t he !lace n the -ea6ens
3here ts nfl $ence 3as s$!!osed to be greatest # and 3here t acted on
8at $re 3 th the great est energy, The !lace of e4al tat on of t he S$n 3as
n Ares# beca$se# reach ng that !ont# he a3a/ens al l 8at$re# and
3arms nto l fe all the germs of 6egetat onG and therefore hs most
solemn feast among al l nat ons# for many years before o$r Era# 3as
f 4ed at t he t me of h s entrance nt o t hat sgn, In Egy!t # t 3as cal led
t he "east of "re and Lght, It 3as t he Passo6er# 3hen the Paschal
Lamb 3as sla n and eat en# among the &e3s# and 8e$ro$< among the
Pers ans, The Romans !referred the !l ace of dom cl e t o t hat of
e4alt at onG and cel ebrated the feast s of t he !l anet s $nder the sgns t hat
3ere t her ho$ses, The %haldeans# 3hom and not the Egy!t ans# the
SabQans foll o3ed n t hs# !referred t he !laces of e4alt at on,
Sat$rn# from the lengt h of t me reE$red for hs a!!arent re6ol$t on# 3as
cons dered the most remote# and the Moon t he nearest !l anet , Aft er
t he Moon came Merc$ry and Fen$s# t hen the S$n# and then Mars#
&$! ter# and Sat $rn,
So the r s ngs and set t ngs of the " 4ed Stars# and the r con5 $nct ons
3 th t he S$n# and t her frst a!!earance as they emerged from h s rays#
f 4ed the e!ochs for the feast s nst t $ted n ther honorG and the Sacred
%al endars of t he ancents 3ere reg$lat ed accordngly,
In t he Roman games of t he c rc$s# celebrat ed n honor of t he S$n and
of ent re 8at$re# the S$n# Moon# Planet s# Hodac# Element s# and t he
most a!!arent !arts and !ot ent agent s of 8at $re 3ere !erson fed and
re!resented# and t he co$rses of the S$n n the -ea6ens 3ere mt ated
n t he -!!odromeG h s charot be ng dra3n by fo$r horses of d fferent
colors# re!resent ng the fo$r element s and seasons, The co$rses 3ere
from East t o ;est # l /e t he c rc$t s ro$nd t he Lodge# and se6en n
n$mber# t o corres!ond 3 t h t he n$mber of !l anets, The mo6ement s of
t he Se6en Stars that re6ol 6e aro$nd t he !ole 3ere also re!resented# as
3ere t hose of %a!el la# 3h ch by ts hel acal rs ng at t he moment 3hen
t he S$n reached t he Pl eades# n Ta$r$s# anno$nced t he
commencement of the ann$al re6ol$t on of the S$n,
The nt ersect on of the Hodac by t he col$res at the EE$ noctal and
Sol st t al !o nt s# f 4ed fo$r !erods# each of 3hch has# by one or more
nat ons# and n some cases by the same nat on at d fferent !er ods#
been ta/en for t he commencement of the year, Some ado!t ed the
Fernal EE$no4# beca$se t hen day began t o !re6al o6er nght # and
l ght ga ned a 6 ctory o6er dar/ness, Somet mes t he S$mmer Sol st ce
3as !referredG beca$se then day att aned ts ma4 m$m of d$rat on# and
t he acme of ts glory and !erfect on, In Egy!t# anot her reason 3as# that
t hen the 8 le began t o o6erflo3# at t he hel acal rs ng of Sr $s, Some
!referred t he A$t $mnal EE$ no4# beca$se then t he har6est s 3ere
gat hered# and t he ho!es of a ne3 cro! 3ere de!ost ed n the bosom of
t he earth, And some !referred t he ; nter Sol st ce# beca$se t hen# the
short est day ha6 ng arr 6ed# ther length commenced t o ncrease# and
Lght began t he career dest ned t o end n 6ct ory at the Fernal EE$no4,
The S$n 3as fg$rat 6ely sad to d e and be born aga n at t he ; nt er
Sol st ceG the games of the %rc$s# n honor of t he n6nc bl e GodDS$n#
3ere t hen cel ebrated# and t he Roman year estab
l shed or reformed by 8$ma# commenced, Many !eo!les of Italy
commenced t he r year# Macrob $s says# at that t meG and re!resent ed by
t he fo$r ages of man the grad$al s$ccesson of !er odcal ncrease and
d mn$t on of day# and the l ght of t he S$nG l /en ng h m t o an nfant born
at t he ; nter Sol st ce# a yo$ng man at t he Fernal EE$ no4# a rob$st man
at t he S$mmer Sol stce# and an ol d man at t he A$t $mnal EE$ no4,
Th s dea 3as borro3ed from the Egy!t ans# 3ho adored the S$n at t he
; nter Sol st ce# $nder t he fg$re of an nfant ,
The mage of the Sgn n 3hch each of t he fo$r seasons commenced#
became t he form $nder 3hch 3as fg$red the S$n of that !art c$lar
season, The Lon? s s/n 3as 3orn by -erc$l esG the horns of the B$l l
adorned t he forehead of Bacch$sG and the a$t $mnal ser!ent 3o$nd t s
l ong fol ds ro$nd the Stat $e of Sera! s# 0722 years before o$r eraG 3hen
t hose S gns corres!onded 3t h t he commencement of the Seasons,
;hen other constellat ons re!l aced t hem at those !o nts# by means of
t he !recesson of t he EE$ no4es# t hose at trb$tes 3ere changed, Then
t he Ram f$rn shed t he horns for t he head of t he S$n# $nder t he name of
&$! ter Ammon, -e 3as no longer born e4!osed to the 3aters of
AE$ar$s# l /e Bacch$s# nor encl osed n an $rn l /e the God %ano!$sG
b$t n t he Stables of A$geas or the %elestal Goat, -e t hen com!let ed
hs t r $m!h# mo$nted on an ass# n t he constel lat on %ancer# 3hch then
occ$!ed t he Sol st t al !o nt of S$mmer,
Ot her at trb$tes the mages of the S$n borro3ed from the const el lat ons
3hch# by ther rs ng and set t ng# f 4ed t he !onts of de!art$re of the
year# and the commencement s of ts fo$r !r nc !al d 6 sons,
"rst t he B$ll and aft er3ard the Ram Mcal led by the Persans the LambN#
3as regarded as the regenerator of 8at$re# thro$gh hs $n on 3t h t he
S$n, Each# n h s t $rn# 3as an embl em of the S$n o6ercom ng the 3 nter
dar/ness# and re!arng t he dsorders of 8at $re# 3hch e6ery year 3as
regenerat ed $nder t hese Sgns# after t he Scor! on and Ser!ent of
A$t$mn had bro$ght $!on t barrenness# d sast er# and dar/ness,
M thras 3as re!resented s tt ng on a B$l lG and t hat an mal 3as an mage
of Osrs( 3h le the Gree/ Bacch$s armed h s front 3 th t s horns# and
3as !ct $red 3 t h ts ta l and feet,
The %onst el l at ons al so became not e3ort hy t o t he h$sbandman# 3hch
by t her rs ng or set t ng# at mornng or e6en ng# ndcat ed
t he com ng of th s !er od of rene3ed fr$t f$l ness and ne3 l fe, %a!ell a#
or
t he /d Amal thea# 3hose horn s called t hat of ab$ndance# a3l 3hose
!lace s o6er the eE$ noct al !ont# or Ta$r$sG and t he Pl e ades# that long
nd cated the Seasons# and ga6e rse to a m$lt t $de of !oet c fables# 3ere
t he most obser6ed and most celebrat ed n ant E$ ty,
The or gnal Roman year commenced at the Fernal EE$no4, &$ly 3as
formerly cal led I$ nt l s# t he 7th month# and A$g$st Se4t l s# the =t h# as
Se!t ember s st l l the +t h mont h# Oct ober t he *t h# and so on, The
Pers ans commenced the r year at t he same t me# and cel ebrated the r
great feast of 8e$ro$< 3hen t he S$n ent ered Ar es and the %onstel l at on
Perse$s rose# D Perse$s# 3ho frst bro$ght do3n to eart h the hea6enly fre
consecrated n t he r tem!les( and al l the ceremones then !ract sed
rem nded men of t he reno6at on of 8at $re and the tr $m!h of Orm$<d# the
LghtDGod# o6er the !o3ers of Dar/ness and Ahr man t he r %hef,
The Leg slat or of t he &e3s f 4ed t he commencement of ther year n t he
mont h 8san# at t he Fernal EE$ no4# at 3hch season the Israel tes
marched o$t of Egy!t and 3ere rel e6ed of t her l ong bondageG n
commemorat on of 3hch E4od$s# they ate the Paschal Lamb at t hat
EE$ no4, And 3hen Bacch$s and hs army had long marched n b$rn ng
deserts# t hey 3ere l ed by a Lamb or Ram nt o bea$t f$l meado3s# and to
t he S!rngs t hat 3atered t he Tem!l e of &$! ter Ammon, "or# to the Arabs
and Eth o!ans# 3hose great D 6n ty Bacch$s 3as# nothng 3as so
!erfect a ty!e of Elys $m as a %o$ntry abo$ndng n s!rngs and r6$let s,
Oron# on the same mer d an 3 t h t he St ars of Ta$r$s# ded of t he st ng of
t he cel est al Scor! on# t hat rses 3hen he setsG as des t he B$l l of M thras
n A$t$mn( and n t he Stars t hat corres!ond 3t h the A$t$mnal EE$no4
3e f nd those mal e6olent gen that e6er 3ar aga nst t he Prnc !l e of
good#
and t hat ta/e from t he S$n and the -ea6ens the fr$tD!rod$cng !o3er
t hat they comm$ncat e t o the eart h,
; t h the Fernal EE$ no4# dear t o the sal or as t o t he h$sbandman# came
t he Stars t hat # 3t h t he S$n# o!en na6 gat on# and r$le the stormy Seas,
Then the T3 ns !l$nge nt o t he solar f res# or dsa!!ear at set t ng# gong
do3n 3t h the S$n nt o the bosom of the 3aters, And t hese t $telary
D 6 n t es of mar ners# t he D osc$r or %h ef %ahr of Samothrace# sal ed
3 th &ason t o !ossess t hemsel 6es of the gol denDfl eeced ram# or Ar es#
3hose rs ng n the
mornng anno$nced t he S$n? s ent ry nto Ta$r$s# 3hen the Ser!entbearer
&ason rose n the e6en ng# and# n as!ect 3 th t he D osc$r# 3as
deemed the r brother, And Oron# son of 8e!t $ne# and most !ot ent
control ler of t he t em!estDtort $red ocean# anno$ncng somet mes cal m
and somet mes tem!est# rose after Ta$r$s# re5 o cng n the forehead of
t he ne3 year,
The S$mmer Sol st ce 3as not l ess an m!ortant !o nt n the S$n? s
march than t he Fernal EE$ no4# es!ecally t o t he Egy!t ans# t o 3hom t
not only mar/ed t he end and t erm of t he ncreasng length of t he days
and of t he domnat on of l ght # and t he ma4 m$m of t he S$n? s ele6at onG
b$t also the ann$al rec$rrence of t hat !henomenon !ec$l ar t o Egy!t#
t he r s ng of the 8 le# 3h ch# e6er accom!any ng t he S$n n hs co$rse#
seemed t o r se and fal l as the days gre3 l onger and short er# beng
l o3est at the ; nter Sol st ce# and h ghest at that of S$mmer, Th$s t he
S$n seemed to reg$lat e ts s3el l ngG and t he t me of h s arr 6al at the
solst t al !ont be ng that of the f rst rs ng of t he 8l e# 3as selected by
t he Egy!tans as t he beg nnng of a year 3hch they call ed the .ear of
God# and of the Sothac Per od# or the !erod of Soth s# the DogDSt ar#
3ho# r sng n t he mornng# f 4ed that e!och# so m!ortant to the !eo!le
of Egy!t, Th s year 3as also cal led the -el ac# t hat s the Solar year#
and t he %anc$lar yearG and t cons st ed of three h$ndred and s 4tyDf6e
days# 3 t ho$t ntercalat onG so that at t he end of fo$r years# or of fo$r
t mes t hree h$ndred and s 4tyDf 6e days# ma/ ng ):=2 days# t needed
t o add a day# t o ma/e fo$r com!let e re6ol $t ons of t he S$n, To correct
t h s# some 8at ons made e6ery fo$rt h year cons st # as 3e do no3# of
9== days( b$t t he Egy!t ans !referred t o add nothng to t he year of 9=7
days# 3hch# at the end of )02 years# or of 92 t mes : years# 3as short
92 days or a mont hG t hat s to say# t reE$ red a mont h more to com!l et e
t he )02 re6ol$t ons of the S$n# t ho$gh so many 3ere co$nted# t hat s#
so many years, Of co$rse the commencement of t he )0)st year 3o$ld
not corres!ond 3t h the S$mmer Solst ce# b$t 3o$l d !recede t by a
mont h( so that# 3hen the S$n arr6ed at t he Sol st t al !o nt 3hence he
at frst set o$t# and 3hereto he m$st needs ret$rn# to ma/e n real ty
)02 years# or )02 com!l ete re6ol$t ons# the frst mont h of t he )0)st
year 3o$ld ha6e ended,
Th$s# f t he commencement of t he year 3ent bac/ 92 days e6ery )02
years# t h s commencement of t he year# cont n$ ng to
recede# 3o$l d# at the end of )0 t mes )02 years# or of ):=2 years# get
bac/ t o t he Sol st t al !ont # or !r m t 6e !ont of de!art$re of the !er od,
The S$n 3o$l d t hen ha6e made b$t ):71 re6ol $t ons# t ho$gh ):=2
3ere co$ntedG to ma/e $! 3h ch# a year more 3o$ld need to be added,
So that t he S$n 3o$l d not ha6e made hs ):=2 re6ol$t ons $nt l t he end
of ):=) years of 9=7 days each# D each re6ol $t on beng n real ty not
9=7 days e4actly# b$t 9=7 h,
Th s !er od of ):=) years# each of 9=7 days# br ng ng bac/ t he
commencement of the Solar year t o t he Sol st t al !o nt # at t he rs ng of
Sr $s# after ):=2 com!lete Sol ar re6ol $t ons# 3as cal led n Egy!t t he
Sot h ac !er od# the !o nt of de!art $re 3hereof 3as t he S$mmer
Sol st ce# frst occ$!ed by the Lon and after3ard by %ancer# $nder
3hch sgn s S r$s# 3h ch o!ened t he !er od, It 3as# says Por!hyry# at
t h s Solst t al 8e3 Moon# accom!aned by the r sng of Set h or t he DogD
Star# t hat the beg nn ng of the year 3as f 4ed# and that of t he
generat on of all t h ngs# or# as t 3ere# t he natal ho$r of t he 3orl d,
8ot S r $s al one det erm ned t he !er od of the r sng of t he 8 le#
AE$ar$s# h s $rn# and the stream fl o3 ng from t # n o!!os t on to the
sgn of the S$mmer Solst ce t hen occ$!ed by the S$n# o!ened n the
e6enng the march of 8ght# and rece 6ed the f$ll Moon n hs c$!,
Abo6e h m and 3 t h h m rose t he feet of Pegas$s# str$c/ 3here3t h the
3at ers fl o3 fort h t hat the M$ses dr n/, The Lon and# t he Dog#
nd cat ng# 3ere s$!!osed to ca$se t he n$ndat on# and so 3ere
3orsh!!ed, ;h le the S$n !assed t hro$gh Leo# t he 3at ers do$bled
t her de!t hG and the sacred fo$nt ans !o$red t her st reams thro$gh the
heads of l ons, -ydra# rs ng bet3een S r$s and Leo# e4t ended $nder
t hree sgns, Its ? head rose 3t h %ancer# and ts ta l 3t h the feet of t he
Frg n and t he begnnng of L braG and t he n$ndat on cont n$ed 3hle
t he S$n !assed along ts 3hol e e4tent,
The s$ccess 6e cont est of l ght and dar/ness for t he !ossesson of t he
l $nar d s/# each be ng by t$rns 6ctor and 6anE$ shed# e4actly
resembl ed 3hat !assed $!on t he earth by he act on of the S$n and hs
5 o$rneys from one Sol st ce to the ot her, The l $nary re6ol$t on
!resent ed t he same !er ods of lght and dar/ness as the year# and 3as
t he ob5ect of the same rel go$s fct ons, Abo6e the Moon# Pl ny sad#
e6eryt h ng s !$re# and f ll ed 3t h et ernal l ght, There ends the cone of
shado3 3hch t he earth !ro5ect s# and 3hch !rod$ces n ght G there ends
t he so5o$rn of n ght and
dar/nessG t o t the ar e4tendsG b$t there 3e enter t he !$re s$bst ance,
The Egy!t ans assgned to the Moon t he dem$rgc or creat 6e force of
Os r s# 3ho $n ted h msel f to her n t he s!r ng# 3hen the S$n
comm$n cated to her t he !r nc!les of generat on 3hch she after3ard
dssem nat ed n the ar and all t he el ements, The Pers ans consdered
t he Moon to ha6e been m!regnated by the %el est al B$l l# f rst of t he
sgns of s!r ng, In al l ages# the Moon has been s$!!osed t o ha6e great
nfl $ence $!on 6egetat on# and the brt h and gro3t h of an malsG and t he
belef s as 3dely enterta ned no3 as e6er# and that nfl$ence regarded
as a myst er o$s and ne4!l cable one, 8ot t he ast rol ogers al one# b$t
8at $ral sts l /e Pl ny# Phl oso!hers l /e Pl $tarch and %cero#
Theolog ans l /e t he Egy!tan Pr ests# and Meta!hysc ans l /e Procl$s#
bele6ed frmly n these l$nar nfl $ences,
@The Egy!t ans# @ says Dodor$s S c$l $s# @ac/no3ledged t 3o great
gods# t he S$n and Moon# or Osr s and Iss# 3ho go6ern the 3orld and
reg$lat e t s adm n strat on by the d s!ensat on of t he seasons , , , ,
S$ch s the nat $re of these t3o great D6n t es# that t hey m!ress an
act 6e and fec$ndat ng force# by 3hch t he generat on of be ngs n
effect edG the S$n# by heat and that s!r t$al !r nc!l e that forms t he
breat h of t he 3ndsG the Moon by h$mdty and drynessG and bot h by
t he forces of t he a r 3hch t hey share n common, By th s benef cal
nfl $ence e6erythng s born# gro3s# and 6eget ates, ;herefore ths
3hole h$ge body# n 3hch nat $re res des# s manta ned by the
comb ned act on of the S$n and Moon# and t her f 6e E$al t es# D t he
!r nc !les s!r t $al # fery# dry# h$m d# and a ry,@
So f 6e !r m t 6e !o3ers# el ement s# or elementary E$al t es# are $n t ed
3 th t he S$n and Moon n t he Indan t heol ogy# D a r# s!r t # fre# 3ater#
and earth( and t he same f6e elements are recogn <ed by the %h nese,
The Phbncans# l /e the Egy!t ans# regarded t he 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$al ly the trac/ n 3h ch she
crossed the -ea6ens# mo6ng e6er t o and fro bet 3een the $!!er and
l o3er l m t s of t he Hod acG and her dfferent !laces# !hases# and
as!ect s t here# and her relat ons 3 th the S$n and the const ell at ons#
ha6e been a fr$t f$l so$rce of mythologcal fabl es,
Al l the !l anets had 3hat astrol ogy termed the r ho$ses# n the
Hod ac, The -o$se of t he S$n 3as n Leo# and t hat of t he Moon n
%ancer, Each other !lanet had t 3o# sgnsG Merc$ry had Gemn and
FrgoG Fen$s# Ta$r$s and L braG Mars# Ar es and Scor!oG &$!ter#
Psces and Sag tt ar $sG and Sat $rn# AE$ar$s and %a!r corn$s, "rom
t h s d str b$t on of t he sgns al so came many myt hol ogcal emblems
and fablesG as al so many came from the !l aces of e4altat on of the
!lanet s, D ana of E!hes$s# t he Moon# 3ore t he mage of a crab on her
bosom# beca$se n t hat sgn 3as t he Moon? s domc leG and l ons bore
$! t he t hrone of -or$s# the Egy!t an A!ol lo# t he S$n !ersonf ed# for a
l /e reason( 3h le the Egy!t ans consecrat ed t he ta$rforn scarabQs to
t he Moon# beca$se she had her !lace of e4alt at on n Ta$r$sG and for
t he same reason Merc$ry s sad to ha6e !resented Iss 3t h a hel met
l /e a b$ll ? s head,
A f$rther d6s on of the Hod ac 3as of each sgn nto three !art s of )2C
each# call ed Decans# or# n the 3hole Hod ac# 9= !art s# among 3h ch
t he se6en !lanet s 3ere a!!ort oned ane3# each !lanet ha6 ng an
eE$al n$mber of Decans# e4ce!t the f rst # 3hch# o!enng and cl os ng
t he seres of !lanet s f 6e t mes re!eated# necessarly had one Decan
more than t he others, Th s s$bd6s on 3as not n6ented $nt l aft er
Ares o!ened t he Fernal EE$ no4G and accordngly Mars# ha6 ng h s
ho$se n Ares# o!ens t he ser es of decans and cl oses tG t he !lanet s
fol l o3 ng each other# f 6e t mes n s$ccesson# n t he foll o3 ng order#
Mars# t he S$n# Fen$s# Merc$ry# t he Moon# Sat$rn# &$!t er# Mars# etc, G
so that to each sgn are assgned t hree !l anets# each occ$!yng )2
degrees, To each Decan a God or Gen $s 3as ass gned# ma/ng t h rtys 4
n al l# one of 3hom# t he %hal deans sad# came do3n $!on earth
e6ery t en days# remaned so many days# and reDascended to -ea6en,
Th s d 6 son s fo$nd on t he Indan s!here# t he Pers an# and t hat
Barbar c one 3h ch Aben E<ra descrbes, Each gen $s of t he Decans
had a name and s!ecal characterst cs, They conc$r and ad n t he
effect s !rod$ced by t he S$n# Moon# and ot her !l anet s charged 3t h t he
admnst rat on of the 3orld( and t he doct r ne n regard t o t hem# secret
and a$g$st as t 3as held# 3as cons dered of t he gra6est m!ortanceG
and ts !r nc !l es# " rmc$s says# 3ere not ent r$sted by the ancents#
ns! red as t hey 3ere by t he De ty# to any b$t t he Int ates# and t o t hem
only 3 th great reser6e# and a / nd of fear# and 3hen ca$t o$sly
en6elo!ed 3 t h an obsc$re 6e l# that t hey mght not come t o be /no3n
by t he !rofane,
; t h these Decans 3ere connected t he !aranat el l ons or those st ars
o$ts de of the Hodac# that r se and set at t he same moment 3t h the
se6eral d 6s ons of )2C of each s gn, As there 3ere anc ent ly only
fortyeght
celest al fg$res or const ell at ons# of 3hch t3el 6e 3ere n the
Hod ac# t foll o3s t hat t here 3ere# o$tsde of t he Hod ac# th rtyDs 4 other
ast er sms# !aranatel lons of t he se6eral thrtyDs 4 Decans, "or e4am!l e#
as 3hen %a!r corn set # Sr $s and Procyon# or %an s Ma5or and %an s
M nor# rose# t hey 3ere the Paranatell ons of %a!rcorn# tho$gh at a
great dst ance from t n t he hea6ens, The r s ng of %ancer 3as /no3n
from the sett ng of %orona Boreal s and the r sng of t he Great and
L tt le Dog# t s three !aranatel lons,
The r s ngs and set t ngs of the Stars are al3ays s!o/en of as
connect ed 3 t h t he S$n, In that connect on t here are three / nds of
t hem# cosmcal # achroncal # and hel acal # m!ortant to be dst ng$ shed
by al l 3ho 3o$l d $nderstand t h s anc ent learn ng,
;hen any Star rses or sets 3t h t he same degree of t he same sgn of
t he Hod ac t hat the S$n occ$!es at t he t me# t r ses and sets
s m$l taneo$sly 3t h t he S$n# and t h s s termed rs ng or set t ng
cosmcal lyG b$t a star that so r ses and sets can ne6er be seen# on
acco$nt of t he l ght t hat !recedes# and s l eft behnd by t he S$n, It s
t herefore necessary# n order t o /no3 h s !l ace n t he Hod ac# t o
obser6e stars t hat r se 5 $st before or set 5$st after h m,
A Star t hat s n t he "ast 3hen nght commences# and n the ;est 3hen
t ends# s sad to rse and set achron cally, A St ar so r s ng or sett ng
3as n o!!os t on to the S$n# r s ng at t he end of e6enng t3l ght # and
set t ng at t he beg nnng of mornng t3l ght # and th s ha!!ened to each
Star b$t once a year# beca$se t he S$n mo6es from ;est to "ast # 3t h
reference t o t he St ars# one degree a day,
;hen a St ar r ses as nght ends n t he morn ng# or sets as nght
commences n t he e6enng# t s sa d to r se or set hel acal ly# beca$se
t he S$n M-el osN seems to to$ch t 3 th h s l$m no$s at mos!here, A
Star t h$s reDa!!ears aft er a d sa!!earance# often# of se6eral mont hs#
and t hencefor3ard t rses an ho$r earl er each day# grad$al ly
emerg ng from the S$n? s rays# $nt l at t he end of three mont hs t
!recedes t he S$n s 4 ho$rs# and r ses at m dnght , A Star set s
helacal ly# 3hen no longer reman ng 6 s bl e abo6e t he 3est ern hor <on
after s$nset # the day arr6es 3hen they cease to
be seen set t ng n the ;est, They so rema n n6 s bl e# $nt l the S$n
!asses so far to the East 3ard as not to ecl !se them 3 th hs l ghtG and
t hen they reDa!!ear# b$t n the East# abo$t an ho$r and a hal f before
s$nr se( and th s s t her helacal rs ng, In t hs nter6al# t he cosm cal
r s ng and set t ng t a/e !lace,
Besdes the relat ons of t he constel lat ons and t her !aranat elIons 3 th
t he ho$ses and !laces of e4al tat on of t he Pl anet s# and 3 th t he r !laces
n t he res!ect 6e S gns and Decans# t he St ars 3ere s$!!osed t o
!rod$ce dfferent effect s accordng as t hey rose or set# and accordng
as t hey d d so et her cosmcal ly# achroncany# or helacal lyG and al so
accord ng t o the dfferent seasons of t he year n 3hch t hese
!henomena occ$rredG and t hese dfferences 3ere caref$l ly mar/ed on
t he old %alendarsG and many th ngs n the ancent all egor es are
referable to them,
Anot her and most m!ortant d6 son of the St ars 3as nto good and bad#
benef cent and mal e6ol ent , ; th t he Pers ans# the former# of the
Hod acal %onst el l at ons# 3ere from Ar es t o F rgo# ncl $s 6eG and the
l att er from Lbra t o P sces# ncl $s6e, -ence the good Angel s and Gen #
and t he bad Angel s# De6s# E6 l Gen # De6 ls# "al len Angels# T tans# and
G ant s of t he Mythology, The other t hrtyDs 4 %onst el lat ons 3ere eE$ally
d6 ded# eghteen on each s de# or# 3 th those of t he Hod ac# t3entyDfo$r,
Th$s the symbol c Egg# that ss$ed from t he mo$t h of the n6 sble
Egy!t an God K8EP-G /no3n n the Grec an Mysteres as the Or!hc
EggG from 3h ch ss$ed the God %-'MO8G of t he %ores ans# and the
Egy!t an OSIRISS# and P-A8ES# God and Pr nc !le of LghtG from
3hch# bro/en by t he Sacred B$l l of the &a!anese# t he 3orl d emergedG
and 3hch the Gree/s !l aced at t he feet of BA%%-'S TA'RID%OR8'SG
t he Mag an Egg of ORM'HD# from 3hch came t he Amshas!ands and
De6sG 3as d 6ded nt o t3o hal 6es# and eE$al ly a!!ort oned bet3een the
Good and E6l %onstel lat ons and Angel s, Those of S!rng# as for
e4am!l e Ar es and Ta$r$s# A$rga and %a!el l a# 3ere t he benefcent
st arsG and those of A$t$mn# as t he Balance# Scor! o# the Ser!ent of
O!h $c$s# and the Dragon of the -es!erdes# 3ere ty!es and s$b5 ects
of t he E6l Pr nc !le# and regarded as mal e6olent ca$ses of the l l effect s
e4!erenced n A$t $mn and ; nt er, Th$s are e4!la ned the mysteres of
t he 5 o$rneyngs of the h$man so$l t hro$gh the s!heres# 3hen t
descends t o t he eart h by the Sgn of t he Ser!ent # and ret$rns to the
Em!re of l ght by t hat of t he Lamb or B$ll ,
The creat 6e act on of -ea6en 3as man fested# and al l t s dem $rgc
energy de6el o!ed# most of al l at t he Fernal EE$ no4# to 3hch refer all
t he fabl es that ty!fy t he 6 ct ory of Lght o6er Dar/ness# by the tr$m!hs
of &$! ter# Osr s# Orm$<d# and A!oll o, Al 3ays t he t r$m!hant god
t a/es t he form of the B$l l# the Ram# or t he Lamb, Then &$! t er 3rest s
from Ty!hon hs th$nderbol t s# of 3h ch t hat mal gnant Dety had
!ossessed h msel f d$r ng t he ; nter, Then t he God of Lght
o6er3hel ms h s foe# !ct$red as a h$ge Ser!ent, Then ; nt er endsG t he
S$n# seat ed on t he B$l l and accom!aned by Or on# bla<es n t he
-ea6ens, Al l nat$re re5 oces at t he 6ct oryG and Order and -armony are
e6ery3here reDest abl shed# n !lace of the d re conf$son t hat regned
3hl e gl oomy Ty!hon dom neered# and Ahr man !re6al ed aga nst
Orm$<d,
The $n 6ersal So$l of the ;orl d# mot 6e !o3er of -ea6en and of t he
S!heres# t 3as held# e4erc ses t s creat 6e energy chefly thro$gh the
med$m of the S$n# d$r ng hs re6ol$t on along t he sgns of t he Hodac#
3 th 3hch sgns $n te the !aranatel lons t hat mod fy ther nfl $ence# and
conc$r n f$rnshng the symbol c attr b$t es of t he Great L$mnary t hat
reg$lat es 8at $re and s t he de!ost ory of her greatest !o3ers, The
act on of t h s 'n6ersal So$l of t he ;orl d s d s!l ayed n the
mo6ement s of t he S!heres# and abo6e all n t hat of t he S$n# n the
s$ccess ons of the rs ngs and set t ngs of t he Stars# and n ther
!er od cal ret $rns, By these are e4!l anable al l the met amor!hoses of
t hat So$l # !erson fed as &$! ter# as Bacch$s# as F shn$# or as B$ddha#
and al l the 6ar o$s att r b$tes ascrbed t o t G and al so t he 3orsh! of
t hose an mals that 3ere consecrated n t he ancent Tem!l es#
re!resentat 6es on eart h of the %el est al Sgns# and s$!!osed to
rece6e by transm sson from them t he rays and emanat ons 3h ch n
t hem fl o3 from t he 'n6ersal So$l ,
Al l the ol d Adorers of 8at $re# t he Theol ogans# Astrol ogers# and Poet s#
as 3ell as t he most d st ng$ shed Ph l oso!hers# s$!!osed t hat the
Stars 3ere so many an mat ed and ntell gent bengs# or et ernal bod es#
act 6e ca$ses of effect here belo3# an mated by a l 6ng !r nc !l e# and
drected by an ntel l gence t hat 3as tsel f b$t an emanat on from and a
!art of t he l fe and $n6ersal ntel lgence of t he 3orl d( and 3e f nd n the
herarch cal order and dst r b$t on of ther eternal and d 6 ne
Int el l gences# /no3n by the names of Gods# Angel s# and Gen # the
same d str b$t ons and
t he same d 6 sons as t hose by 3hch t he ancent s d 6 ded the 6 sble
'n6erse and d str b$t ed ts !arts, And t he famo$s d6s ons by se6en
and by t3el6e# a!!ertan ng to the !l anets and the sgns of t he <odac#
s e6ery3here fo$nd n the herarch cal order of t he Gods# and Angels#
and t he other M n sters that are t he de!os tares of that D6 ne "orce
3hch mo6es and r$les the 3orld,
These# and the ot her Intel l gences assgned to the ot her Stars# ha6e
absol $te dom n on o6er all !art s of 8at$reG o6er t he elements# the
an mal and 6eget abl e / ngdoms# o6er man and all h s act ons# o6er hs
6rt$es and 6ces# and o6er good and e6l # 3hch d6 de bet3een them
hs l fe, The !ass ons of h s so$l and t he malades of h s body# D t hese
and t he ent re man are de!endent on t he hea6ens and the gen that
t here nhab t # 3ho !resde at h s b rt h# control h s fort $nes d$rng l fe#
and rece6e hs so$l or act 6e and nt el l gent !art 3hen t s to be re$n t ed
t o t he !$re l fe of t he l ofty St ars, And all t hro$gh the great body
of t he 3orl d are dssemnated !ort ons of t he $n6ersal So$l #
m!ress ng mo6ement on e6erythng that seems t o mo6e of t self# g6 ng
l fe t o t he !lants and t rees# d rect ng by a reg$lar and sett led !l an t he
organ <at on and de6elo!ment of ther germs# m!art ng const ant
mob l ty t o t he r$nnng 3aters and ma nta nng t her et ernal mot on#
m!ell ng the 3 nds and changng t her drect on or st ll ng them#
cal m ng and aro$s ng t he ocean# $nchan ng the storm !o$r ng o$t t he
fres of 6ol canoes# or 3t h eart hE$a/es sha/ng the roots of h$ge
mo$nta ns and t he fo$ndat ons of 6ast cont nentsG by means of a force
t hat # belongng to 8at $re# s a mystery t o man,
And t hese n6 sbl e Intel l gences# l /e t he st ars# are marshall ed n t3o
great d6 s ons# $nder the banners of the t3o Pr nc !les of Good and
E6 l# Lght and Dar/nessG $nder Orm$<d and Ahr man# Os rs and
Ty!hon, The E6 l Pr nc !l e 3as t he mot 6e !o3er of br$t e mat terG and
t# !erson f ed as Ahr man and Ty!hon# had t s host s and armes of
De6s and Gen # "al len Angels and Mal e6olent S! r ts# 3ho 3aged
cont n$al 3age 3 t h the Good Pr nc !l e# t he Prnc !l e of Em!yreal Lght
and S!l endor# Os r s# Orm$<d# &$! ter or Don$sos# 3 th h s brght
hosts of Amshas!ands# I<eds# Angel s# and Archangel sG a 3arfare that
goes on from b rt h $nt l deat h# n t he so$l of e6ery man t hat l 6es,
;e ha6e heret ofore# n t he 0:t h Degree rec ted t he !r nc!al nc dents
n t he legend of Os r s and Iss# and t rema ns b$t to !ont
o$t the astronom cal !henomena 3h ch t has con6erted nto mythologcal
facts,
The S$n# at t he Fernal EE$no4# 3as t he fr$t Dcom!ell ng star t hat by hs
3armt h !ro6o/ed generat on and !o$red $!on the s$bl$nary 3orld all t he
blessngs of -ea6enG the benefcent god# t$telary gen$s of $n6ersal
6eget at on# t hat comm$ncat es t o t he d$ll earth ne3 act 6 ty# and st rs her
great heart # l ong ch lled by ; nter and hs frosts# $nt l from her bosom
b$rst
al l the greenness and !erf$me of s!r ng# ma/ ng her re5 oce n leafy
forests
and grassy la3ns and flo3erDenamel led meado3s# and the !rom se of
ab$ndant cro!s of gran and fr$ ts and !$r!le gra!es n ther d$e season,
-e 3as then cal led Osr s# -$sband of Iss# God of %$lt 6at on and
Benefactor of Men# !o$rng on t hem and on t he eart h t he cho cest
blessngs 3 th n the gft of the D 6 n ty, O!!osed t o h m 3as Ty!hon# hs
antagonst n t he Egy!t an mythology# as Ahr man 3as the foe of Orm$<d#
t he Good Pr nc !le# n t he t heol ogy of the Persans,
The f rst nhab tants of Egy!t and Et h o! a# as D odor$s S c$l $s nforms
$s#
sa3 n the -ea6ens t3o frst eternal ca$ses of t hngs# or great D6 nt es#
one t he S$n# 3hom t hey cal l ed Osr s# and t he other t he Moon# 3hom they
cal led IssG and these they cons dered t he ca$ses of all t he generat ons of
earth, Th s dea# 3e learn from E$seb $s# 3as t he same as that of the
Phbnc ans, On t hese t 3o great D 6nt es the adm n strat on of t he 3orl d
de!ended, Al l s$bl $nary bod es rece 6ed from t hem ther no$r shment and
ncrease# d$r ng t he ann$al re6ol $t on 3h ch they control led# and t he
dfferent seasons nto 3h ch t 3as d 6 ded,
To Osr s and Iss# t 3as hel d# 3ere o3 ng c6 l <at on# the d sco6ery of
agrc$l t $re# la3s# art s of all / nds# relgo$s 3orsh !# tem!les# t he
n6ent on
of l ett ers# astronomy# the gymnast c arts# and m$s cG and th$s t hey 3ere
t he
$n6ersal benefact ors, Osr s tra6el led to c6l <e the co$ntres 3h ch he
!assed thro$gh# and comm$ncat e t o t hem h s 6al $able dsco6er es, -e
b$l t c t es# and ta$ght men to c$l t 6at e t he earth, ;heat and 3ne 3ere
hs
frst !resents t o men, E$ro!e# Asa# and Afrca !art oo/ of t he blessngs
3hch he comm$n cated# and t he most remot e regons of Inda
remembered
h m# and cl a med h m as one of t he r great gods,
.o$ ha6e l earned ho3 Ty!hon# hs brother# sl e3 h m, - s body 3as c$t
nt o
!eces# all of 3h ch 3ere coll ected by Iss# e4ce!t h s
organs of generat on# 3h ch had been t hro3n nto and de6o$red n the
3at ers of the r 6er t hat e6ery year fert l <ed Egy!t , The ot her !ort ons
3ere
b$r ed by Is s# and o6er them she erected a tomb, Thereafter she remaned
s ngle# l oad ng her s$b5ects 3 t h blessngs, She c$red the sc/# restored
sght to t he bl nd# made the !aralyt c 3hole# and e6en ra sed t he dead,
"rom her -or$s or A!ol l o l earned d6 nat on and t he sc ence of med cne,
Th$s the Egy!t ans !ct$red the benef cent act on of the t3o l$m nares
t hat # from the bosom of the elements# !rod$ced all an mal s and men# and
al l bodes t hat are born# gro3# and d e n t he eternal crcl e of generat on
and dest r$ct on here bel o3,
;hen the %elest al B$ll o!ened the ne3 year at the Fernal EE$no4#
Os r s#
$nt ed 3t h t he Moon# comm$n cated to her t he seeds of fr$ t f$l ness
3hch
she !o$red $!on the ar# and there3 t h m!regnated t he generat 6e
!r nc !les 3hch ga6e act 6ty t o $n 6ersal 6eget at on, A! s# re!resented
by
a b$l l# 3as t he l 6ng and sensble mage of t he S$n or Os r s# 3hen n
$non
3 th Iss or the Moon at the Fernal EE$no4# conc$rrng 3t h her n
!ro6o/ ng e6eryth ng t hat l 6es to generat on, Th s con5$nct on of the S$n
3 th t he Moon at t he Fernal EE$ no4# n t he constel lat on Ta$r$s#
reE$ red
t he B$l l A!s to ha6e on h s sho$lder a mar/ resembl ng t he %rescent
Moon, And the fec$ndat ng nfl $ence of t hese t3o l$m nares 3as
e4!ressed by mages t hat 3o$ld no3 be deemed gross and ndecent # b$t
3hch then 3ere not m s$nderst ood,
E6eryt hng good n 8at $re comes from Os rs# D order# harmony# and the
fa6orabl e tem!erat$re of the seasons and cel estal !er ods, "rom Ty!hon
come t he st ormy !ass ons and rreg$lar m!$l ses that ag tat e t he br$te and
materal !art of manG malades of the body# and 6ol ent shoc/s t hat n5$re
t he healt h and derange the systemG ncl ement 3eat her# derangement of the
seasons# and ecl !ses, Osr s and Ty!hon 3ere the Orm$<d and Ahr man
of
t he PersansG !rnc!les of good and e6 l# of l ght and dar/ness# e6er at
3ar
n t he adm n strat on of the 'n6erse,
Os r s 3as the mage of generat 6e !o3er, Th s 3as e4!ressed by h s
symbol c stat $es# and by t he s gn nt o 3hch he entered at the Fernal
EE$ no4, -e es!ecal ly d s!ensed the h$m d !r nc!le of 8at$re#
generat 6e
el ement of all thngsG and t he 8le and all most $re 3ere regarded as
emanat ons from h m# 3 tho$t 3hch there co$l d be no 6eget at on,
That Os r s and Iss 3ere t he S$n and Moon# s attest ed by
many ancent 3r tersG by D ogenes Laert $s# Pl$t arch# L$can# S$ das#
Macrob $s# Mart an$s %a!el l a# and ot hers, - s !o3er 3as symbol <ed
by an Eye o6er a Sce!t re, The S$n 3as termed by the Gree/s the Eye
of &$! ter# and the Eye of t he ;orldG and hs s t he Al l DSee ng Eye n
o$r Lodges, The oracle of %l aros styled h m K ng of the Stars and of
t he Et ernal "re# t hat engenders t he year and t he seasons# ds!enses
ran and 3 nds# and brngs abo$t daybrea/ and n ght , And Os r s 3as
n6o/ed as the God t hat res des n the S$n and s en6el o!ed by h s
rays# t he n6s ble and eternal force that mod f es t he s$bl$nary 3orl d
by means of t he S$n,
Os r s 3as the same God /no3n as Bacch$s# D on$sos# and Sera! s,
Sera!s s t he a$thor of t he reg$larty and harmony of t he 3orl d,
Bacch$s# 5 ontly 3 t h %eres Mdent f ed by -erodot$s 3 th IssN !resdes
o6er the d strb$t on of al l o$r bl essngsG and from the t 3o emanates
e6eryt h ng bea$t f$l and good n 8at $re, One f$rn shes t he germ and
!r nc !le of e6ery goodG the ot her rece 6es and !reser6es t as a
de!os tG and the latter s t he f$nct on of the Moon n t he theology of t he
Pers ans, In each t heol ogy# Persan and Egy!t an# t he Moon acts
drectly on t he earthG b$t she s fec$ndated# n one by the %el estal B$l l
and n t he other by Os r s# 3t h 3hom she s $n ted at the Fernal
EE$ no4# n t he s gn Ta$r$s# the !lace of her e4altat on or great est
nfl $ence on the earth, The force of Os rs# says Pl$t arch# s e4erc sed
t hro$gh the Moon, She s the !ass 6e ca$se relat 6ely to h m# and t he
act 6e ca$se relat 6ely t o the eart h# to 3h ch she transmt s t he germs of
fr$t f$l ness rece6ed from h m,
In Egy!t the earl est mo6ement n the 3at ers of t he 8l e began t o
a!!ear at t he Fernal EE$ no4# 3hen t he ne3 Moon occ$rred at t he
entrance of t he S$n nt o t he constel lat on Ta$r$sG and t h$s the 8 le
3as held t o rece6e t s fert l < ng !o3er from the comb ned act on of t he
eE$noct al S$n and the ne3 Moon# meet ng n Ta$r$s, Os r s 3as oft en
confo$nded 3 th t he 8 le# and Iss 3 t h t he earthG and Osrs 3as
deemed to act on the eart h# and to transm t to t hs emanat ons#
t hro$gh both the Moon and t he 8 leG 3hence t he fable that hs
generat 6e organs 3ere thro3n nt o that r6er, Ty!hon# on the ot her
hand# 3as t he !r nc !le of ar d ty and barrennessG and by h s m$t lat on
of Osrs 3as meant t hat , dro$ght 3h ch ca$sed t he 8l e to retre 3t hn
hs bed and shr n/ $! n A$t $mn,
El se3here than n Egy!t # Osrs 3as the symbol of t he refresh ng rans
t hat descend to fert l <e the eart hG and Ty!hon t he b$rnng 3 nds of
A$t$mnG t he st ormy ra ns t hat rot the fl o3ers# the !lants# and lea6esG
t he short# col d daysG and e6eryth ng n5 $r o$s n 8at $re# and t hat
!rod$ces corr$!t on and dest r$ct on,
In short # Ty!hon s the !rnc!l e of corr$!t on# of dar/ness# of t he l o3er
3orl d from 3h ch come earthE$a/es# t $m$l t $o$s commot ons of t he a r#
b$rn ng heat # l ghtn ng# and f ery met eors# and !lag$e and !est l ence,
S$ch too 3as the Ahr man of t he PersansG and t h s re6olt of the E6l
Prnc !l e aganst t he Prnc!le of Good and Lght# has been
re!resented n e6ery cosmogony# $nder many 6aryng forms, Osr s# on
t he contrary# by the ntermedat on of Iss# fl ls t he materal 3orl d 3 t h
ha!! ness# !$r ty# and order# by 3hch t he harmony of 8at $re s
mant a ned, t 3as sad t hat he ded at the A$t $mnal EE$no4# 3hen
Ta$r$s or the Pleades rose n t he e6en ng# and t hat he rose to l fe
aga n n @l e S!rng# 3hen 6eget at on 3as ns! red 3 t h ne3 act 6ty,
Of co$rse the t3o sgns of Ta$r$s and Scor!o 3l l f g$re most largely
n t he myt hol og cal h st ory of Os rs# for t hey mar/ed the t3o eE$no4es#
0722 years before o$r EraG and ne4t t o t hem the ot her constel lat ons#
near t he eE$ no4es# that f 4ed the l m ts of the d$rat on of t he fert l <ng
act on of t he S$nG and t s al so to be remar/ed t hat Fen$s# t he
Goddess of Generat on# has her dom c le n Ta$r$s# as the Moon has
t here her !l ace of e4alt at on,
;hen the S$n 3as n Scor!o# Os r s l ost h s l fe# and t hat fr$ tf$l ness
3hch# $nder the form of the B$ll # he had comm$ncat ed# thro$gh the
Moon# to t he Eart h, Ty!hon# h s hands and feet horr d 3t h ser!ents#
and 3hose habt at n the Egy!t an !lans!here 3as $nder Scor!o#
conf ned h m n a chest and fl $ng h m nto the 8 le# $nder the )+t h
degree of Scor! o, 'nder t hat sgn he lost h s l fe and 6rl tyG and he
reco6ered t hem n t he S!rng# 3hen he had connect on 3 th the Moon,
;hen he ent ered Scor! o# hs lght d mnshed# 8ght reass$med her
dom n on# t he 8 le shr$n/ 3 th n t s ban/s# and t he eart h l ost her
6erd$re and t he trees ther lea6es, Therefore t s that on t he Mt hr ac
Mon$ments# t he Scor! on bt es t he t est cles of the EE$ noct al B$l l# on
3hch s t s M thras# the S$n of S!r ng and God of Generat onG and that#
on t he same mon$ment s# 3e see t 3o t rees# one co6ered 3t h yo$ng
l ea6es# and at ts foot a l tt le b$ll and a t orch b$rnngG and t he
other l oaded 3 th fr$ t# and at t s foot a Scor! on# and a t orch re6ersed
and e4t ng$shed,
Orm$<d or Osr s# t he benef cent Pr nc !le that g6es t he 3orld l ght #
3as !ersonf ed by t he S$n# a!!arent so$rce of l ght , Dar/ness#
!ersonfed by Ty!hon or Ahr man# 3as h s nat $ral enemy, The Sages
of Egy!t descr bed the necessary and eternal r 6alry or o!!ost on of
t hese !r nc!les# e6er !$rs$ ng one t he other# and one det hron ng the
other n e6ery ann$al re6ol$t on# and at a !artc$lar !er od# one n t he
S!rng $nder the B$l l# and the ot her n A$t $mn $nder the Scor!on# by
t he l egendary hst ory of Os r s and Ty!hon# deta led to $s by D odor$s
and Synes $sG n 3h ch h st ory 3ere al so !ersonf ed the Stars and
const el lat ons Oron# %a!el la# the T3 ns# the ;ol f# Sr $s# and
-erc$les# 3hose rs ngs and set t ngs noted the ad6ent of one or t he
other eE$no4,
Pl$tarch g6es $s t he !os t ons n the -ea6ens of the S$n and Moon# at
t he moment 3hen Osr s 3as m$rdered by Ty!hon, The S$n# he says#
3as n the Sgn of the Scor! on# 3h ch he t hen entered at t he A$t $mnal
EE$ no4, The Moon 3as f$l l# he addsG and conseE$ent ly# as t rose at
s$nset# t occ$! ed Ta$r$s# 3hch# o!!os t e to Scor!o# rose as t and
t he S$n san/ together# so that she 3as t hen fo$nd alone n the sgn
Ta$r$s# 3here# s 4 mont hs before# she had been n $non or
con5$nct on 3 th Osr s# t he S$n# rece6 ng from h m those germs of
$n6ersal fert l <at on 3hch he comm$ncated t o her, It 3as t he s gn
t hro$gh 3h ch Osr s frst ascended nto h s em!re of l ght and good, It
rose 3 th t he S$n on t he day of t he Fernal EE$ no4G t rema ned s 4
mont hs n the l$m no$s hems!here# e6er !reced ng t he S$n and abo6e
t he hor <on d$rng the dayG $nt l n A$t $mn# t he S$n arr 6 ng at Scor!o#
Ta$r$s 3as n com!l et e o!!ost on 3 t h h m# rose 3hen he set # and
com!l eted t s ent re co$rse abo6e the hor <on d$r ng the nght G
!resdng# by rs ng n t he e6en ng# o6er t he commencement of the long
nght s, -ence n t he sad ceremon es commemorat ng the death of
Os r s# there 3as borne n !rocess on a gol den b$ll co6ered 3t h blac/
cra!e# mage of the dar/ness nto 3h ch t he fam l ar sgn of Os r s 3as
enterng# and 3h ch 3as to s!read o6er the 8ort hern reg ons# 3hle the
S$n# !rolongng the n ght s# 3as to be absent # and each t o reman
$nder t he dom n on of Ty!hon# Prnc !l e of E6 l and Dar/ness,
Sett ng o$t from the sgn Ta$r$s# Iss# as the Moon# 3ent see/ ng for
Os r s t hro$gh all t he s$!er or sgns# n each of 3hch she
became f$ll n the s$ccess6e months from t he A$t$mnal t o t he Fernal
EE$ no4# 3 tho$t fnd ng h m n e ther, Let $s fol l o3 her n her all egor cal
3ander ngs,
Os r s 3as sl an by Ty!hon h s r6al # 3t h 3hom cons!red a I$een of
Et ho!a# by 3hom# says Pl$tarch# 3ere desgnated the 3 nds, The
!aranat ell ons of Scor! o# t he s gn occ$! ed by t he S$n 3hen Os r s 3as
sl an# 3ere t he Ser!ents# re!t les 3h ch s$!!l ed the att rb$tes of the E6 l
Gen and of Ty!hon# 3ho h mself bore the form of a ser!ent n the
Egy!t an !l an s!here, And n t he d6 s on of Scor!o s also fo$nd
%ass o!e a# I$een of Et h o! a# 3hose set t ng brngs stormy 3 nds,
Os r s descended to the shades or nfernal reg ons, There he too/ t he
name of Sera!s# dent cal 3 th Pl$t o# and ass$med hs nat$re, -e 3as
t hen n con5$nct on 3t h Ser!ent ar $s# dent cal 3t h gsc$la! $s# 3hose
form he t oo/ n hs !assage to the lo3er sgns# 3here he ta/es the names
of Pl $to and Ades,
Then Iss 3e!t for t he death of Os r s# and t he golden b$ll co6ered 3 th
cra!e 3as carr ed n !rocesson, 8at$re mo$rned t he m!end ng l oss of
her S$mmer gl ores# and the ad6ent of the em!re of n ght # the
3 thdra3ng
of t he 3aters# made fr$t f$l by t he B$ll n S!r ng# t he cessat on of t he
3 nds
t hat bro$ght ra ns t o s3el l the 8 le# the shortenng of t he days# and t he
des!o l ng of the eart h, Then Ta$r$s# drectly o!!os te the S$n# ent ered
nt o t he cone of shado3 3h ch t he eart h !ro5 ects# by 3h ch t he Moon s
ecl !sed at f$ll # and 3t h 3hch# ma/ ng n ght # t he B$ll r ses and
descends
as f co6ered 3 t h a 6e l # 3h le he rema ns abo6e o$r hor <on,
The body of Os r s# enclosed n a chest or coff n# 3as cast nto the 8 le,
Pan and the Satyrs# near %hemm s# f rst d sco6ered hs deat h# anno$nced
t by t he r cres# and e6ery3here created sorro3 and alarm, Ta$r$s# 3t h
t he f$l l Moon# t hen entered nt o the cone of shado3# and $nder h m 3as
t he %el est al R6er# most !ro!erly call ed t he 8l e# and belo3# Perse$s# the
God of %hemms# and A$rga# lead ng a sheDgoat# h msel f dent cal 3t h
Pan# 3hose 3 fe Aga the sheDgoat 3as styled,
Then Iss 3ent n search of the body, She f rst met certa n ch l dren 3ho
had seen t # rece6ed from t hem t her nformat on# and ga6e them n
ret$rn
t he gft of d6nat on, The second f$l l Moon occ$rred n Gemn# t he
T3 ns#
3ho !res ded o6er t he oracles of D dym$s# and one of 3hom 3as A!oll o#
t he God of D6nat on,
She learned t hat Os r s had# t hro$gh m sta/e# had connect on 3 t h her
s ster 8e!ht e# 3h ch she d sco6ered by a cro3n of l ea6es of t he mel l ot#
3hch he had l eft behnd h m, Of t h s connect on a chl d 3as born# 3hom
Iss# a ded by her dogs# so$ght for# fo$nd# reared# and att ached to
herself# by t he name of An$bs# her fa t hf$l g$ardan, The th rd f$ll Moon
occ$rs n %ancer# dom c le of the Moon, The !aranatell ons of that s gn
are# t he cro3n of Aradne or Proser! ne# made of l ea6es of t he mel lot#
Procyon and %an s Ma5or# one st ar of 3h ch 3as called t he Star of Is s#
3hl e Sr$s h msel f 3as honored n Egy!t $nder t he name of An$bs,
Iss re!a red t o Byblos# and seated hersel f 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 st
hs %o$rt# and became the n$rse of hs son, The fo$rt h f$l l Moon 3as n
Leo# dom cl e of t he S$n# or of Adons# K ng of Bybl os, The
!aranat ell ons of ths sgn are t he fl o3 ng 3at er of AE$ar$s# and
%e!hens# K ng of Et ho!a# cal led Reg$l $s# or s m!ly The Kng, Beh nd
h m r se %ass o!e a h s 3 fe# I$een of Et ho!a# Andromeda hs
da$ghter# and Perse$s h s sonD nDl a3# al l !aranatel lons n !art of t h s
sgn# and n !art of Frgo,
Iss s$c/l ed t he chl d# not at her breast # b$t 3t h the end of her f nger# at
nght , She b$rned al l t he mortal !art s of ts body# and then# ta/ ng t he
sha!e of a s3al l o3# she fl e3 t o the great col $mn of t he !alace# made of
t he t amars/Dt ree t hat gre3 $! ro$nd t he coff n conta nng t he body of
Os r s# and 3 t hn 3hch t 3as st l l encl osed, The ffth f$l l Moon
occ$rred n Frgo# the tr$e mage of Iss# and 3h ch Eratost henes call s
by t hat name, It !ct$red a 3oman s$c/l ng an nfant# t he son of Is s#
born near t he ; nter Sol st ce, Ths sgn has for !aranatel lons t he mast
of t he %elest al Sh!# and t he s3all o3Dta led f sh or s3al l o3 abo6e t #
and a !ort on of Perse$s# sonD nDl a3 of the K ng of Eth o!a,
Iss# ha6ng reco6ered the sacred coffer# sal ed from Bybl os n a 6essel
3 th t he el dest son of the K ng# to3ard Bo$t os# 3here An$bs 3as#
ha6ng charge of her son -or$sG and n the morn ng dred $! a r 6er#
3hence arose a st rong 3nd, Landng# she h d t he coffer n a forest ,
Ty!hon# h$nt ng a 3 ld boar by moonl ght # dsco6ered t # recogn <ed t he
body of h s r6al # and c$t t nto fo$rteen ! eces# t he n$mber of days
bet3een the f$ll and ne3 Moon# and n e6ery one of 3h ch days t he
Moon loses a !ort on of t he l ght that at t he commencement fl led her
3hole d s/, The s 4t h f$l l Moon occ$rred n Lbra o6er the d 6s ons
se!arat ng 3hch
from F rgo are t he %el estal Sh !# Perse$s# son of t he Kng of Et h o!a
and Boft es# sa d to ha6e n$rsed -or$s, The r6er of Or on that set s n
t he morn ng s also a !aranat el l on of L bra# as are 'rsa Ma5or# t he
Great Bear or ; ld Boar of Erymant h$s# and t he Dragon of the 8orth
Pol e or t he cel ebrat ed Python from 3h ch t he at tr b$t es of Ty!hon 3ere
borro3ed, Al l these s$rro$nd the f$l l Moon of Lbra# l ast of the S$!eror
Sgns# and t he one t hat !recedes t he ne3 Moon of S!r ng# abo$t t o be
re!rod$ced n Ta$r$s# and t here be once more n con5 $nct on 3 th the
S$n,
Iss col lects the scatt ered fragments of the body of Os r s# b$r es them#
and consecrates the !hal l $s# carr ed n !om! at t he Pamyl a# or feast s
of t he Fernal EE$ no4# at 3h ch t me t he congress of Osr s and the
Moon 3as celebrated, Then Os r s had ret$rned from t he shades# t o a d
-or$s h s son and Iss hs 3 fe aganst t he forces of Ty!hon, -e th$s
rea!!eared# say some# $nder t he form of a 3olf# or# others say# $nder
t hat of a horse, The Moon# fo$rteen days aft er she s f$ll n Lbra#
arr 6es at Ta$r$s and $n tes hersel f to the S$n# 3hose f res she
t hereafter for fo$rteen days cont n$es t o acc$m$l ate on her ds/ from
ne3 Moon t o f$l l, Then she $n tes 3 t h hersel f al l the months n t hat
s$!er or !ort on of the 3orld 3here l ght al 3ays regns# 3 t h harmony
and order# and she borro3s from h m the force 3hch s t o dest roy t he
germs of e6l t hat Ty!hon had# d$r ng the 3nter# !lanted e6ery3here n
nat$re, Ths !assage of t he S$n nto Ta$r$s# 3hose att r b$tes he
ass$mes on h s ret$rn from t he l o3er hems!here or the shades# s
mar/ed by the rs ng n t he e6en ng of t he ;ol f and the %ent a$r# and
by t he hel acal sett ng of Or on# call ed the St ar of -or$s# and 3h ch
t hencefor3ard s n con5$nct on 3t h the S$n of S!r ng# n h s tr $m!h
o6er the dar/ness or Ty!hon,
Iss# d$r ng t he absence of Os r s# and after she had h dden the coffer
n t he !lace 3here Ty!hon fo$nd t # had re5 oned t hat mal gnant enemyG
nd gnant at 3hch# -or$s her son de!r6ed her of her ancent d adem
3hen she re5 o ned Osr s as l e 3as abo$t t o at tac/ Ty!hon( b$t
Merc$ry ga6e her n t s !l ace a hel met sha!ed l /e t he head of a b$l l ,
Then -or$s# as a mghty 3arror# s$ch as Oron 3as descrbed# fo$ght
3 th and defeated Ty!honG 3ho# n the sha!e of t he Ser!ent or Dragon
of t he Pol e# had assa led h s father, So# n O6 d# A!oll o destroys t he
same Python# 3hen Io# fasc nated by &$! t er# s metamor!hosed nto a
co3# and !l aced n t he s gn of the %elest al B$l l# 3here she becomes
Iss, The eE$
noct al year ends at t he moment 3hen the S$n and Moon# at t he Fernal
EE$ no4# are $nted 3 th Oron# the Star of -orns# !l aced of n the
-ea6ens $nder Ta$r$s, The ne3 Moon becomes yo$ng agan n
Ta$r$s# and sho3s herself as a crescent# for the frst t me# n the ne4t
sgn# Gem n # t he dom c le of Merc$ry, Then Oron# n con5 $nct on 3t h
t he S$n# 3t h 3hom he r ses# !rec !t ates t he Scor! on# hs r 6al# nto
t he shades of nght # ca$sng h m to set he 3hene6er he h mself rea!!ears
on t he east ern hor <on# 3 th t he S$n, Day lengthens and the
germs of e6l are by degrees erad cated( and -or$s Mfrom A$r# Lght N
regns tr$m!hant # symbol <ng# by h s s$ccess on to t he characterst cs
of Osrs# the eternal rene3al of the S$n? s yo$th and creat 6e 6gor at
t he Fernal of EE$ no4,
)*+),
07C D Kn ght of t he Bra<en Ser!ent M Part 0 N
S$ch are the co ncdences of ast ronomcal !henomena 3t h t he l egend
of Osrs and Is sG s$ffc ng t o sho3 the org n of the he l egend#
o6erl oaded as t became at l engt h 3t h al l the ornamentat on nat $ral to
t he !oet cal and f g$rat 6e gen $s of the Orent ,
8ot only nt o t h s legend# b$t nt o t hose of all t he ancent nat ons# ent er
t he B$l l# t he Lamb# the Lon# and the Scor!on or t he Ser!ent G and
t races of the 3orsh! of t he S$n yet l nger n all rel g ons, E6ery3here#
e6en n o$r Order# s$r66e the eE$ noctal and solst t al feast s, O$r
ce l ngs st l l gl tt er 3t h t he greater and lesser l $mnares of the
-ea6ens# and o$r l ght s# n the r n$mber and arrangement# ha6e
ast ronomcal references, In all ch$rches and cha!els# as n al l Pagan
t em!l es and !agodas# t he alt ar s n the East G and the 6y o6er the east
3 ndo3s of old ch$rches s t he -edera -el 4 of Bacch$s, E6en the
cross had an astronom cal or gnG and o$r Lodges are f$l l of the anc ent
symbol s,
The learned a$thor of the SabQan Researches# Landseer# ad6ances
another theory n regard t o the legend of Os r sG n 3h ch he ma/es t he
const el lat on Boftes !lay a leadng !art, -e obser6es that# as none of
t he st ars 3ere 6 s bl e at the same t me 3t h t he S$n# hs act $al !l ace n
t he Hod ac# at any g6en co$ld only be ascert a ned by t he SabQan
ast ronomers by t her obser6at ons of the stars# and of ther hel acal and
achroncal r sngs and s sett ngs, There 3ere many sol ar fest 6als
among the SabQans# and !art of them agrc$l t$ral onesG and the
concom tant sgns of t hose fest 6al s 3ere the rsngs and sett ngs of t he
st ars of the -$sbandman# BearDdr 6er# or -$nter# BOeTES, -s st ars
3ere# among the -ero!hant s# the establ shed noct$rnal ndces or s gns
of t he S$n? s !lace n the ecl !t c at d fferent seasons of the year# and t he
fest 6als 3ere named# one# that of the A!han sm or d sa!!earanceG
another# t hat of t he Hetess# or search# etc, # of Os r s or Adons# t hat s#
of Boftes,
The ret $rns of certa n st ars# as connected 3 t h ther concom tant
seasons of s!rng Mor seedDt meN and har6est# seemed to t he anc ent s#
3ho had not yet d sco6ered t hat grad$al change# res$lt ng from t he
a!!arent mo6ement of t he st ars n l ong t$de# 3hch bas been t ermed the
!recesson of the eE$ no4es# to be eternal and mm$t abl eG and those
!er od cal ret $rns 3ere to t he n t at ed# e6en more than t o t he 6$lgar#
celest al oracles# anno$ncng the a!!roach of t hose m!ortant changes#
$!on 3h ch the !ros!erty# and e6en the 6ery e4st ence of man m$st
e6er de!endG and t he oldest of the SabQan constel lat ons seem t o ha6e
been# an astronom cal Prest # a K ng# a I$een# a -$sbandman# and a
;arr orG and these more freE$ent ly rec$r on t he SabQan cylnders than
any ot her constel lat ons 3hat e6er, The Kng 3as %e!he$s or %he!he$s
of Et h o! a( the -$sbandman# Os rs# Bacch$s# Saba<e$s# 8oah or
Boftes, To the lat ter sgn# t he Egy!t ans 3ere nat onal ly# tradt onal ly
and habt $al ly grat ef$l G for they conce 6ed that from Osrs all the
greatest of terrest ral en5 oyments 3ere der 6ed, The stars of t he
-$sbandman 3ere the sgnal for those s$ccess 6e agrc$lt $ral l abors on
3hch the ann$al !rod$ce of the so l de!endedG and t hey came n
conseE$ence to be cons dered and ha led# n Egy!t and Et ho! a# as the
gen al stars of t errestral !rod$ct 6enessG t o 3h ch the obl at ons#
!rayers# and 6o3s of t he ! o$s SabQan 3ere reg$larly offered $!,
Landseer says that t he st ars n Boft es# rec/onng do3n t o those of t he
7th magnt $de ncl $s 6e# are t 3entyDs 4# 3hch# seem ng achroncally t o
dsa!!ear n s$ccesson# !rod$ced the fable of the c$t t ng of Os rs nt o
t 3entyDs 4 ! eces by Ty!hon, There are more st ars than t hs n the
const el lat onG b$t no more t hat the ancent 6ot ar es of Os r s# e6en n the
cl ear at mos!here of t he SabQan cl mates# co$l d obser6e 3 tho$t
t elesco!es,
Pl$tarch says Osrs 3as c$t nto fo$rteen ! eces( Dodor$s# nt o
t 3entys 4G
n regard to 3hch# and t o t he 3hol e legend# Landseer? s deas#
6ary ng from those commonly ent ert aned# are as fol lo3s(
Ty!hon# Landseer th n/s# 3as the ocean# 3h ch t he anc ent s
fabled or bel e6ed s$rro$nded the Eart h# and nt o 3h ch al l t he stars n
t her t $rn a!!ear s$ccess6ely to sn/G A!erha!s t 3as DARK8ESS
!ersonfed# 3hch the ancents called T.P-O8, -e 3as h$nt ng by
moonl ght # says the ol d l egend# 3hen he met 3 th OsrsB,
The ancent Saba m$st ha6e been near l at t$de )7C? nort h, A4o$m s
nearly n ):C# and t he ;est ern Saba or Meroi s t o the north of t hat ,
"ortyDeght cent $res ago# Al debaran t he lead ng st ar of the year# had#
at t he Fernal EE$ no4# att a ned at daylght n the mornng# an ele6at on
of abo$t ): degrees# s$ffc ent for h m to ha6e ceased to be comb$st #
t hat s# t o ha6e emerged from t he S$n? s rays# so as to be 6 s bl e, The
anc ent s all o3ed t 3el6e days for a st ar of the frst magn t $de t o emerge
from the solar rays and t here s l ess t 3l ght# the f$rt her So$t h 3e go,
At t he same !erod# too# %ynos$ra 3as not t he !ol eDst ar# b$t Al!ha
Dracon s 3asG and t he st ars rose and set 3 th 6ery dfferent degrees of
obl E$ ty from t hose of t her !resent rs ngs and set t ngs, By ha6 ng a
gl obe const r$cted 3t h crc$m6ol6ng !oles# ca!abl e of any ad5 $st ment
3 th regard to the col $res# Mr, Landseer ascert aned t hat # at t hat
remot e !er od# n l at, )7C north# t he 0= st ars n Boft es# or 0+# ncl $dng
Arct$r$s# dd not set anchroncal ly n s$ccessonG b$t se6eral set
s m$l taneo$sly n co$!l es# and s 4 by threes s m$l t aneo$slyG so that# n
al l# there 3ere b$t fo$rteen se!arat e set t ngs or dsa!!earances#
corres!ondng 3 th the fo$rteen !eces nt o 3h ch Os r s 3as c$t#
accord ng t o Pl $tarch, Ka!!a# Iota# and Theta# n t he $!l fted 3estern
hand# d sa!!eared t oget her# and l ast of all , They real ly s/ rt ed the
hor <onG b$t 3ere n6 sble n that l o3 lat t $de# for the three or fo$r days
ment oned n some of the 6ersonsG 3h le the Hetes s or search 3as
!roceedng# and the 3omen of Phbn c a and &er$salem sat 3ee! ng
for the ;onder# Thamm$<G aft er 3hch t hey mmed at ely rea!!eared#
belo3 and to the east3ard of a Dracon s,
And# on the 6ery mornng aft er the achron cal de!art$re of the last star
of t he -$sbandman# Al debaran rose hel acally# and became 6 s ble n
t he East n t he morn ng before day,
And !rec sely at t he moment of t he hel acal rs ng of Arct$r$s# al so rose
S! ca Frg n s, One s near the m ddle of the -$sbandman# and the
other near t hat of t he F rg nG and Arct $r$s may ha6e been the !art of
Os r s 3hch Iss d d not reco6er 3 th t he other !eces of t he body,
At Dedan and Saba t 3as t hrtyDs 4 days# from t he beg nnng of the
a!han sm# , e, # the d sa!!earances of t hese stars# to the hel acal r sng
of Al debaran, D$rng these days# or forty at Med na# or a fe3 more at
Babylon and Bybl os# the st ars of t he -$sbandman s$ccess6ely san/
o$t of sght# d$r ng t he cre!$sc$l $m or shortDl 6ed morn ng t3 l ght of
t hose So$thern cl mes, They d sa!!ear d$r ng t he glanc ngs of t he
da3n# the s!ecal season of anc ent s dereal obser6at on,
Th$s the forty days of mo$rn ng for Os r s 3ere meas$red o$t by t he
!er od of the de!art $re of h s Stars, ;hen the last had s$n/en o$t of
sght# t he 6ernal season 3as $shered nG and the S$n arose 3t h t he
s!lendd Al debaran# t he Ta$r c leader of the 3hole -osts of -ea6enG
and t he 3hole East re5oced and /e!t hol day,
; t h the e4ce!t on of the St ars and # Boftes d d not beg n t o
rea!!ear n t he Eastern E$arter of t he -ea6ens t l l aft er the la!se of
abo$t fo$r mont hs, Then the St ars of Ta$r$s had decl ned ;est3ard#
and F rgo 3as rs ng hel acal ly, In t hat lat t$de# al so# the Stars of 'rsa
Ma5 or Atermed ancently t he Ar/ of Osr sB set G and Benetnasch# t he last
of t hem# ret$rned t o t he East ern hor <on# 3 t h t hose n the head of Leo#
a l tt le before t he S$mmer Sol st ce, In abo$t a mont h# foll o3ed the
Stars of t he -$sbandmanG the chef of them# Ras# Mrach# and Arct $r$s
beng 6ery nearly s m$lt aneo$s n t he r hel acal r s ng,
Th$s the Stars of Boftes rose n the East mmedately aft er
F ndematr 4# and as f $nder t he genal nfl $ence of ts raysG he had hs
ann$al career of !ros!er tyG he re6ell ed or ental ly for a E$arter of a
year# and att aned hs mer dan al t t$de 3 th F rgoG and t hen# as t he
Stars of t he ;aterD'rn rose# and AE$ar $s began t o !o$r forth h s
ann$al del $ge# he decl ned ;est3ard# !receded by t he Ar/ of Os rs,
In t he East # he 3as the sgn of that ha!! ness n 3h ch 8at $re# t he
great Goddess of !ass6e !rod$ct on# re5oced, 8o3# n t he ;est # as he
decl nes t o3ard t he 8ort h3estern hor <on# hs generat 6e 6gor
grad$al ly abatesG t he Sol ar year gro3s ol dG and as h s Stars descend
beneat h the ;est ern ;a6e# Osr s d es# and t he 3orld mo$rns,
The Ancent Astronomers sa3 all the great Symbol s of Masonry n t he
Stars, S r $s st l l gl tt ers n o$r Lodges as t he Bl a<ng St ar# MI? Et ol e
"lamboyanteN, The S$n s st l l symbol <ed by the !o nt 3t hn a % rcleG
and# 3t h t he Moon and Merc$ry or An$b s# n t he three Great Lghts of
t he Lodge, 8ot only to these# b$t
t o t he fg$res and n$mbers e4hbt ed by t he Stars# 3ere ascrbed
!ec$l ar and d6ne !o3ers, The 6enerat on !ad to n$mbers had ts
so$rce there, The t hree Kngs n Or on are n a st ra ght l ne# and
eE$dst ant from each other# t he t 3o e4t reme Stars be ng 9C a!art# and
each of the t hree dst ant from t he one nearest t )C 92? , And as t he
n$mber three s !ec$lar t o a!!rent ces# so t he straght l ne s t he frst
!r nc !le of Geometry# ha6ng length b$t no breadt h# and be ng b$t the
e4tens on of a !o nt # and an emblem of 'nty# and t h$s of Good# as the
d6 ded or bro/en l ne s of D$al ty or E6l , 8ear t hese Stars are the
-yades# f6e n n$mber# a!!ro!r at e to t he "el lo3D%raftG and close to
t hem the Ple ades# of the mast er? s n$mber# se6enG and t h$s these three
sacred n$mbers# consecrated n Masonry as they 3ere n the
Pyt hagorean !hl oso!hy# al 3ays a!!ear together n the -ea6ens# 3hen
t he B$l l# emblem of fertl ty and !rod$ct on# gl tt ers among the Stars#
and Al debaran l eads t he -osts of -ea6en MTsba$thN,
Al gen b n Perse$s and Al maach and Algol n Andromeda form a
rghtangl ed
t r angle# ll $strate the :+th !robl em# and d s!lay t he Grand
Master? s sE$are $!on t he s/es, Denebola n Leo# Arct $r$s n Boft es#
and S! ca n F rgo form an eE$ lat eral t r angle# $n6ersal emblem of
Perfect on# and t he De ty 3t h - s Trn ty of Infn t e Att r b$t es# ; sdom#
Po3er# and -armonyG and that ot her# t he generat 6e# !reser6 ng# and
dest roy ng Po3ers, The Three K ngs form# 3t h Rgel n Or on# t3o
t r angles ncl$ded n one( and %a!el la and Men/al na n A$rga# 3t h
Bell atr 4 and Bet elg$e$4 n Oron# form t3o sosceles t rangl es 3 t h j
Ta$r # t hat s eE$ d stant from each !a rG 3hl e t he frst fo$r ma/e a
rghtDangled !arall elogram# D t he oblong sE$are so oft en ment oned n
o$r Degrees,
&$l $s "rm c$s# n h s descr !t on of t he Myst er es# says# @B$t n t hose
f$nerals and lamentat ons 3hch are ann$ally celebrat ed n honor of
Os r s# the r defenders !retend a !hys cal reason, They call the seeds
of fr$t # OsrsG t he Eart h# IssG the nat $ral heat# Ty!hon( and beca$se
t he fr$t s are r !ened by the nat $ral heat# and col lected for the l fe of
man# and are se!arated from t he r marrage to the earth# and are so3n
aga n 3hen ; nter a!!roaches# th s t hey 3o$l d ha6e t o be t he deat h of
Os r s( b$t 3hen t he fr$ t s# by t he genal fosterng of t he earth# beg n
aga n t o be generated by a ne3 !rocreat on# th s s t he fndng of
Os r s,@
8o do$bt t he decay of 6eget at on and the fal l ng of the lea6es,
emblems of dssol$t on and e6dences of t he act on of t hat Po3er t hat
changes L fe nt o Deat h# n order t o br ng Lfe aga n o$t of Deat h# 3ere
regarded as sgns of t hat Deat h t hat seemed comng $!on all 8at$reG as
t he s!r ng ng of l ea6es and b$ds and flo3ers n the s!rng 3as a s gn of
restorat on t o l fe( b$t t hese 3ere al l secondary# and referred to the S$n
as
frst ca$se, It 3as h s fg$rat 6e deat h t hat 3as mo$rned# and not thersG
and
t hat 3 th that death# as 3t h hs ret$rn to l fe# many of the stars 3ere
connect ed,
;e ha6e al ready al l$ded t o the rel at ons 3h ch t he t 3el 6e sgns of t he
Hod ac bear t o t he l egend of the Master? s Degree, Some other
conc dences
may ha6e s$ff c ent nterest t o 3arrant ment on,
KhrDOm 3as assaled at t he East# ;est # and So$th Gates of the Tem!le,
The t3o eE$no4es 3ere cal led# 3e ha6e seen# by al l the Ancents# the
Gat es of -ea6en# and t he Syrans and Egy!t ans cons dered t he " sh Mt he
%onstel lat on near AE$ar $s# and one of the St ars 3hereof s "omal ha$t N
t o
be ndcat 6e of 6ol ence and deat h,
KhrDOm lay se6eral days n the gra6eG and# at the ; nt er Solst ce# for
f6e
or s 4 days# the length of t he days d d not !erce!t bly ncrease, Then# t he
S$n commencng aga n to cl mb 8ort h3ard# as Osrs 3as sad t o arse
from
t he dead# so KhrDOm 3as ra sed# by t he !o3erf$l attract on of t he Lon
MLeoN# 3ho 3a ted for h m at t he S$mmer Sol st ce# and dre3 h m t o
h msel f,
The names of the three assass ns may ha6e been ado!ted from t hree St ars
t hat 3e ha6e al ready named, ;e search n 6a n n the -ebre3 or Arab c
for
t he names &$bel o# &$bela# and &$bel$m, They embody an $t ter abs$rd ty#
and are ca!abl e of no e4!l anat on n t hose lang$ages, 8or are t he names
G bs# Gra6el ot# -obhen# and the l /e# n t he Anc ent and Acce!ted Rt e#
any
more !l a$sble# or bet ter referable to any ancent lang$age, B$t 3hen# by
t he !recesson of t he EE$ no4es# t he S$n 3as n L bra at t he A$t $mnal
EE$ no4# he met n t hat sgn# 3here the re gn of Ty!hon commenced#
t hree
Stars form ng a trangl e# D H$benDes %hamal n the ;est # H$benD-a/D
Rab
n t he East # and H$benDEIDG$b n the So$t h# t he l at t er mmed ately belo3
t he Tro!c of %a!rcorn# and so 3t h n t he real m of Dar/ness, "rom t hese
names# those of t he m$rderers ha6e !erha!s been corr$!ted, In H$benD
-a/DRab 3e may see the org nal of &$bel $m A/ro!G and n H$benD
;G$b #
t hat of &$bel o G bs( and t me and gnorance may e6en ha6e
t ransm$t ed the 3ords Es %hamal nt o one as l tt le l /e t hem as Gra6el ot,
Iss# t he Moon !ersonfed# sorro3 ng so$ght for her h$sband, 8 ne or
t 3el6e "el lo3D%raft s Mthe Rt es 6ary as to the n$mberN# n 3ht e a!rons#
3ere sent t o search for Kh rDOm# n the Legend of the Master? s DegreeG
or# n t h s R te# the 8 ne Knghts El $, Al ong the !at h t hat t he Moon
t ra6els are n ne cons! c$o$s Stars# by 3hch na$t cal men determ ne
t her l ongt $de at SeaG D Aret s# Aldebaran# Pol l $4# Reg$l$s# S!ca
Frg n s# Ant ares# Alt a r# "omalha$t# and Mar/ab, These m ght 3el l be
sa d t o accom!any Iss n her search,
In t he .or/ Rt e# t3el 6e "ell o3D%raft s 3ere sent to search for t he body
of KhrDOm and the m$rderers, The r n$mber corres!onds 3t h that of
t he Pleades and -yades n Ta$r$s# among 3h ch Stars t he S$n 3as
fo$nd 3hen Lght began to !re6a l o6er Dar/ness# and the Mysteres
3ere hel d, These Stars# 3e ha6e sho3n# rece 6ed early and !art c$lar
at tent on from the astronomers and !oets, The Pl e ades 3ere t he St ars
of t he ocean t o the ben ghted mar nerG t he F rgns of S!r ng# heraldng
t he season of blossoms,
As s 4 Pl e ades only are no3 6 sble# the n$mber t 3el6e may ha6e been
obta ned by them# 3t h Al debaran# and f 6e far more br ll ant St ars than
any ot her of t he -yades# n the same regon of the -ea6ens# and 3h ch
3ere al 3ays s!o/en of n connect on 3 th the Pl eadesG D t he Three
K ngs n the bel t of Or on, and Bell atr 4 and Betelg$e$4 on hs
sho$l dersG brghtest of t he flashng starry host s,
@%anst tho$# @ as/s 5ob# @b nd the s3eet nfl $ences of the Pl eades or
l oose the bands of Or onJ@ And n t he boo/ of Amos 3e f nd these
Stars connected 3 th t he 6ct ory of Lght o6er Dar/ness( @See/ - m# @
says that Seer# @that ma/et h t he Se6en Stars Mthe faml ar name of t he
Ple adesN# and Oron# A8D T'R8ET- T-E S-ADO; O" DEAT-
I8TO MOR8I8G, @
An ol d legend n Masonry says that a dog led the 8 ne El $s t o t he
ca6ern 3here Abram 3as h d, Boft es 3as ancent ly call ed %al eb
An$bach# a Bar/ ng DogG and 3as !erson f ed n An$b s# 3ho bore the
head of a dog# and aded Iss n her search, Arct $r$s# one of h s Stars#
fery red# as f fer6ent and <ealo$s# s also connect ed by 5 ob 3 th the
Ple ades and Or on, ;hen Ta$r$s o!ened t he year# Arct $r$s rose after
t he S$n# at t he t me of t he ; nt er Solst ce# and seemed search ng h m
t hro$gh the dar/ness# $nt l, s 4ty days aft er3ard# he rose at t he same
ho$r, Or on t hen
al so# at t he ; nt er Sol st ce# rose at noon# and at nght seemed t o be n
search of t he S$n,
So# referr ng agan t o t he t me 3hen t he S$n entered t he A$t $mnal
EE$ no4# t here are nne remar/able Stars that come to the merdan
nearly at the same t me# r s ng as L bra sets# and so seem ng to chase
t hat %onst el lat on, They are %a!el la and Men/al na n the %haroteer#
Al debaran n Ta$r$s# Bel lat r 4# Betel g$e$4# the Three K ngs# and Rgel
n Or on, Aldebaran !asses t he mer d an frst# nd cat ng hs rght to h s
!ec$l ar t tl e of Leader, 8o3here n the hea6ens are there# near the
same merdan# so many s!l endd St ars, And close beh nd them# b$t
f$rther So$th# fol lo3s Sr$s# t he DogDSt ar# 3ho sho3ed the nne El$s
t he 3ay to t he m$rderer? s ca6e,
Besdes the d 6 son of t he sgns nt o the ascend ng and descendng
seres Mreferrng t o t he $!3ard and do3n3ard !rogress of the so$l N# t he
l att er from %ancer t o %a!r corn# and t he former from %a!r corn t o
%ancer# t here 3as another d 6s on of them not less m!ortant G t hat of
t he s 4 s$!er or and s 4 nfer or sgnsG t he former# 0:77 years before
o$r era# from Ta$r$s t o Scor!o# and 922 years before o$r era# from
Ares to LbraG and the latter# 0:77 years B, %, from Scor! o to Ta$r$s#
and 922 years B, %, from Lbra t o AresG of 3h ch 3e ha6e already
s!o/en# as t he t 3o -em s!heres# or Kngdoms of Good and E6l # Lght
and Dar/nessG of Orm$<d and Ahr man among t he Persans# and Osr s
and Ty!hon among the Egy!t ans,
; t h the Persans# t he frst s 4 Gen # created by Orm$<d# !res ded o6er
t he frst s 4 s gns# Ares# Ta$r$s# Gem n # %ancer# Leo# and Frgo( and
t he s 4 e6 l Gen # or De6s# creat ed by Ahr man# o6er t he s 4 ot hers#
L bra# Scor! o# Sag tt ar $s# %a!rcorn$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 t o be sensble of e6 l# 3hen t !assed $nder the Balance or
L bra# t he se6enth sgn, Th$s t he so$l entered the real m of E6l and
Dar/ness 3hen t !assed nto the %onst el lat ons t hat bel ong to and
s$cceed the A$t $mnal EE$ no4G and t reDent ered t he real m of Good
and Lght# 3hen t arr6ed# ret$rnng# at those of t he Fernal EE$ no4, It
l ost t s fel cty by means of t he Balance# and reganed t by means of
t he Lamb, Th s s a necessary conseE$ence of the !rem sesG and t s
conf rmed by t he a$thort es and by emblems st l l e4tant,
Sall $st t he Ph loso!her# s!ea/ng of the "east s of Re5 o cng
celebrat ed at t he Fernal EE$ no4# and those of Mo$rnng# n memory of
t he ra!e of Proser!ne# at t he A$t $mnal EE$ no4# says t hat the former
3ere celebrat ed# beca$se t hen s effected# as t 3ere# the ret$rn of the
so$l to3ard the GodsG that t he t me 3hen t he !r nc !le of Lght
reco6ered ts s$!eror ty o6er t hat of Dar/ness# or day o6er nght # 3as
t he most fa6orable one for so$l s that tend to reDascend to t her
Prnc !l eG and t hat 3hen Dar/ness and the 8ght aga n become 6ctors#
3as most fa6orabl e to t he descent of so$l s t o3ard t he nfernal regons,
"or that reason# t he ol d astrol ogers# as " rmc$s states# f 4ed the
l ocal ty of t he r6er Sty4 n t he *th degree of t he Balance, And he th n/s
t hat by Sty4 3as allegor cally meant the eart h,
The Em!eror &$l an g 6es t he same e4!lanat on# b$t more f$l ly
de6elo!ed, -e st ates# as a reason 3hy the a$g$st Mysteres of %eres
and Proser!ne 3ere cel ebrated at the A$t $mnal EE$no4# t hat at that
!er od of the year men feared l est the m! o$s and dar/ !o3er of the
E6 l Pr nc !le# then commencng to conE$er# sho$ld do harm to ther
so$ls, They 3ere a !reca$t on and means of safety# t ho$ght to be
necessary at the moment 3hen the God of Lght 3as !ass ng nt o t he
o!!oste or ad6erse regon of t he 3orl dG 3hl e at the Fernal EE$no4
t here 3as l ess to be feared# beca$se t hen t hat God# !resent n one
!ort on of the 3orld# recall ed so$ls to - m# he says# and sho3ed
- msel f to be the r Sa6o$r, -e had a l t t l e before de6el o!ed that
t heol og cal dea# of t he at tract 6e force 3h ch t he S$n e4erc ses o6er
so$ls# dra3 ng t hem to h m and ra s ng them t o hs l $m no$s s!here,
-e at t r b$t es t hs effect to h m at t he feasts of Atys# dead and rest ored
t o l fe# or the feast s of Re5 o cng# 3hch at the end of three days
s$cceeded t he mo$rn ng for t hat deat hG and he nE$res 3hy t hose
Myst er 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!rng#
dra3 ng nearer to $s# ncreases t he l engt h of the days# that !er od
seems most a!!ro!rat e for those ceremones, "or# bes des t hat t here
s a great affn ty bet 3een the s$bst ance of Lght and the nat $re of t he
Gods# t he S$n has t hat occ$l t force of at tract on# by 3hch he dra3s
matt er to3ard h mself# by means of h s 3armth# ma/ ng !lants t o shoot
and gro3# et c, G and 3hy can he not # by the same d6ne and !$re act on
of hs rays# att ract and dra3 t o h m fort$nate so$l sJ Then# as l ght s
anal ogo$s t o t he D 6ne 8at$re# and fa6orable t o so$l s str$ggl ng to
ret$rn to
t her "rst Prnc!le# and as that lght so ncreases at t he Fernal
EE$ no4# t hat the days !re6al n d$rat on o6er t he nght s# and as the
S$n has an att ract 6e force# bes des t he 6s ble energy of h s rays# t
fol l o3s that so$l s are at t racted t o3ard t he solar l ght , -e does not
f$rther !$rs$e t he e4!lanat onG beca$se# he says# t bel ongs to a
mystero$s doctrne# beyond t he reach of the 6$l gar and /no3n only to
t hose 3ho $nderst and the mode of act on of Dety# l /e the %hal dean
a$thor 3hom he ct es# 3ho had t reat ed of the Mysteres of Lght# or the
God 3t h se6en rays,
So$ls# the Anc ent s held# ha6ng emanat ed from t he Pr nc !l e of Lght#
!arta/ng of ts dest ny here belo3# cannot be nd fferent t o nor
$naffected by these re6ol $t ons of t he Great L$m nary# al ternately
6ct or and o6ercome d$r ng e6ery Sol ar re6ol $t on,
Th s 3 ll be fo$nd to be confrmed by an e4amnat on of some of the
Symbol s $sed n t he Myst er es, One of t he most famo$s of t hese 3as
T-E SERPE8T# the !ec$l ar Symbol al so of ths Degree, The
%osmogony of the -ebre3s and t hat of the Gnost cs des gnated t h s
re!t le as t he a$thor of the fat e of So$ls, It 3as consecrated n t he
Myst er es of Bacch$s and n those of Ele$ss, Pl$t o o6ercame the
6rt$e of Proser! ne $nder t he form of a ser!ent G and# l /e t he Egy!t an
God Sera!s# 3as al 3ays !ct $red seated on a ser!ent # or 3t h that
re!t le ent 3 ned abo$t h m, It s fo$nd on the Mt hr ac Mon$ment s# and
s$!!l ed 3 th att r b$t es of Ty!hon t o the Egy!t ans, The sacred
bas l sc# n co l# 3t h head and nec/ erect# 3as t he royal ens gn of t he
Pharaohs, T3o of t hem 3ere ent3ned aro$nd and h$ng s$s!ended
from the 3nged Gl obe on the Egy!t an Mon$ment s, On a tabl et n one
of t he Tombs at Thebes# a God 3t h a s!ear ! erces a ser!ent ? s head,
On a t ablet from the Tem!le of Osrs at Ph l Q s a t ree# 3 t h a man on
one s de# and a 3oman on t he ot her# and n front of t he 3oman an
erect bas l sc# 3t h horns on ts head and a d s/ bet 3een the horns,
The head of Med$sa 3as encrcled by 3 nged sna/es# 3h ch# t he head
remo6ed# left the -erogram or Sacred %y!her of t he O!h tes or
Ser!entD3orsh !!ers, And t he Ser!ent # n connect on 3 t h t he Globe or
c rcl e# s fo$nd $!on the mon$ment s of al l the Ancent 8at ons,
O6er Lbra# t he s gn thro$gh 3hch so$ls 3ere sa d t o descend or fal l#
s fo$nd# on the %el est al Gl obe# the Ser!ent # gras!ed by Ser!entar $s#
t he Ser!ent Dbearer, The head of t he re!t l e s t nder %orona Boreal s#
t he 8ort hern %ro3n# cal led by O6 d# Lbera# or
Proser! neG and t he t 3o %onst ell at ons r se# 3t h t he Bal ance# after t he
Frg n Mor IssN# 3hose feet rest on the eastern hor<on at S$nr se on
t he day of t he eE$ no4, As the Ser!ent e4t ends o6er both sgns# L bra
and Scor! o# t has been t he gate t hro$gh 3h ch so$l s descend# d$r ng
t he 3hol e t me that those t3o sgns n s$ccess on mar/ed the A$t $mnal
EE$ no4, To t hs all $ded t he Ser!ent# 3hch# n t he Myst er es of
Bacch$s SabaDHe$s 3as fl$ng nt o t he bosom of the Int at e,
And hence came the en gmat cal e4!ress on# t he Ser!ent engenders
t he B$l l# and t he B$l l the Ser!entG all $dng to t he t 3o ad6erse
const el lat ons# ans3er ng to the t 3o eE$no4es# one of 3hch rose as
t he other set # and 3hch 3ere at t he t 3o !o nts of the hea6ens thro$gh
3hch so$l s !assed# ascendng and descendng, By t he Ser!ent of
A$t$mn# so$l s fell G and they 3ere regenerat ed aga n by the B$l l on
3hch M t hras sate# and 3hose att r b$tes Bacch$sDHagre$s and t he
Egy!t an Osr s ass$med# n ther Mysteres# 3heren 3ere re!resent ed
t he fall and regenerat on of so$l s# by t he B$l l sla n and restored to l fe,
After3ard t he regenerat ng S$n ass$med t he at trb$t es of Ares or t he
LambG and n the Myst eres of Ammon# so$l s 3ere regenerated by
!ass ng thro$gh t hat sgn# after ha6ng fal l en thro$gh the Ser!ent,
The Ser!ent Dbearer# or O!hc$s# 3as gsc$l a! $s# God of -eal ng, In
t he Myst er es of Ele$s s# that %onst ell at on 3as !l aced n the eghth
-ea6en( and on the eghth day of t hose Mysteres# t he feast of
gsc$l a!$s 3as cel ebrated, It 3as al so termed E! da$r$s# or t he feast
of t he Ser!ent of E! da$r$s, The Ser!ent 3as sacred to gsc$la!$sG
and 3as connect ed n 6ar o$s 3ays 3t h t he myt hol ogcal ad6ent $res of
%eres,
So the l bat ons t o So$ls# by !o$r ng 3 ne on the gro$nd# and l oo/ ng
t o3ard t he t3o gates of -ea6en# those of day and n ght # referred t o t he
ascent and descent of So$ls,
%eres and the Ser!ent# &$! ter Ammon and the B$ll # al l f g$red n the
Myst er es of Bacch$s, S$!!ose Ares# or &$!t er Ammon occ$! ed by
t he S$n set t ng n t he ;estG D Frgo M%eresN 3l l be on t he East ern
hor <on# and n her tran t he %ro3n# or Proser!ne, S$!!ose Ta$r$s
set t ngG D then t he Ser!ent s n the EastG and rec !rocallyG so that
&$! ter Ammon# or t he S$n of Ares# ca$ses t he %ro3n t o rse aft er t he
Frg n# n the tra n of 3hch comes t he Ser!ent , Place rec !rocally t he
S$n at the ot her eE$ no4# 3 th the bal ance n the ;est# n con5 $nct on
3 th t he Ser!ent $nder the %ro3nG and 3e shall see t he B$l l and the
Ple ades rse n the East, Th$s are e4!l aned al l the fables as to the
generat on of t he B$l l by the Ser!ent and of t he Ser!ent by t he B$l l#
t he bt ng of t he t est cles of the B$ll by t he Scor!on# on the Mt hrac
Mon$mentsG and t hat &$!t er made %eres 3t h chl d by t oss ng nt o her
bosom t he t estcles of a Ram,
In t he Mysteres of the b$llDhorned Bacch$s# t he offcers hel d ser!ent s
n t he r hands# ra sed them abo6e the r heads# and cr ed al o$d @E6aO@
t he generc or ent al name of t he ser!ent # and t he !art c$lar name of t he
const el lat on n 3hch t he Pers ans !laced E6e and t he ser!ent , The
Arab ans cal l t -e6an# O!h $c$s h mself# -a3a# and t he br ll ant st ar n
hs head# RasDalD-a3a, The $se of t h s 3ord E6a or E6oi ca$sed
%l emens of Ale4andr a to say that t he !r ests n the Mysteres n6o/ed
E6e# by 3hom e6l 3as bro$ght nto t he 3orl d,
The myst c 3nno3 ngDfan# enc rcl ed by ser!ent s# 3as $sed n the
feast s of Bacch$s, In the Isac Myst er es a basl sc t 3ned ro$nd the
handl e of t he myst c 6ase, The O!h tes fed a ser!ent n a myster o$s
ar/# from 3h ch they too/ h m 3hen they celebrated t he Myst er es# and
al lo3ed h m t o gl de among t he sacred bread, The Romans /e!t
ser!ent s n t he Tem!l es of Bona Dea and gsc$l a! $s, In the Mysteres
of A!oll o# the !$rs$t of Lat ona by t he ser!ent Pyt hon 3as re!resented,
In t he Egy!t an Mysteres# the dragon Ty!hon !$rs$ed Is s,
Accord ng to Sanchonat hon# TAA'T# t he nter!reter of -ea6en t o men#
at trb$ted somethng d 6 ne t o t he nat$re of the dragon and ser!ent s# n
3hch the Phoencans and Egy!t ans foll o3ed h m, They ha6e more
6tal ty# more s!r t $al force# than any ot her creat $reG of a f ery nat $re#
sho3n by t he ra! d ty of t he r mot ons# 3t ho$t t he l mbs of ot her
an mals, They ass$me many sha!es and at t t$des# and dart 3 th
e4traord nary E$c/ness and force, ;hen t hey ha6e reached old age#
t hey thro3 off that age and are yo$ng aga n# and ncrease n s <e and
st rengt h# for a cert an !erod of years,
The Egy!t an Prest s fed the sacred ser!ent s n t he t em!l e at Thebes,
Taa$t h mself had n h s 3rt ngs d sc$ssed these mysteres n regard
t o t he ser!ent, Sanchonat hon sa d n another 3or/# that t he ser!ent
3as mmort al # and reDentered nt o h mselfG 3h ch# accordng to some
anc ent t heoso!h sts# !art c$l arly those
of Inda# 3as an at t r b$te of the Dety, And he also sa d that t he e ser!ent
ne6er
ded# $nless by a 6olent death,
The Phoen cans cal l ed t he ser!ent Agathodemon At he good s! rt BG and
Kne!h
3as the Ser!ent DGod of the Egy!t ans,
The Egy!t ans# Sanchonat hon sad# re!resented the ser!ent 3 th the head
of a
ha3/# on acco$nt of the s3ft fl ght of that brd( and the ch ef -ero!hant#
t he
sacred nter!reter# ga6e 6ery myst er o$s e4!lanat ons of that symbolG
say ng t hat
s$ch a ser!ent 3as a 6ery d 6 ne creat$re# and that # o!en ng h s eyes# he
l ght ed
3 th t her rays t he 3hol e of frstDborn s!ace( 3hen he cl oses t hem# t s
dar/ness
aga n, In real ty# t he ha3/Dheaded ser!ent# gen $s of lght# or good gen$s#
3as
t he symbol of the S$n,
In t he h erogly!hc characters# a sna/e 3as t he l ett er T or D&, It occ$rs
many
t mes on t he Rosetta st one, The horned ser!ent 3as t he herogly!hc for a
God,
Accord ng to E$seb $s# the Egy!t ans re!resented the 3orl d by a bl$e
c rcl e#
s!r n/l ed 3t h flames# 3 thn 3hch 3as e4tended a ser!ent 3t h t he head
of a
ha3/, Procl $s says they re!resent ed t he fo$r E$art ers of t he 3orl d by a
cross#
and t he so$l of the 3orl d# or Kne!h# by a ser!ent s$rro$nd ng t n the
form of a
c rcl e,
;e read n Ana4agoras# that Or!he$s sa d# that the 3at er# and the 6essel
t hat
!rod$ced t # 3ere t he !r m t 6e !r nc !les of t hngs# and t ogether ga6e
e4st ence
t o an an mat ed be ng# 3hch 3as a ser!ent # 3t h t 3o heads# one of a l on
and t he
other of a b$l l# bet 3een a 3h ch 3as the f g$re of a God 3hose name 3as
-erc$les or Kronos( that from -erc$l es came the egg of t he 3orl d# 3h ch
!rod$ced -ea6en and earth# by d6 d ng tsel f nto t 3o hems!heres( and
t hat the
God Phanes# 3hch ss$ed from t hat egg# 3as n t he sha!e of a ser!ent,
The Egy!t an Goddess Ken# re!resent ed st and ng na/ed on a l on# hel d
t 3o
ser!ent s n her hand, She s t he same as t he Astart e or Ashtarot h of the
Assyrans, -era# 3orsh!!ed n the Great Tem!l e at Babyl on# hel d n her
rght
hand a ser!ent by t he headG and near Khea# also 3orsh !!ed t here# 3ere
t 3o
l arge sl 6er ser!ents,
In a sc$l !t$re from Ko$y$n5 /# t3o ser!ent s att ached to !ol es are near a
freal t ar#
at 3hch t3o e$n$chs are stand ng, '!on t s t he sacred fre# and a
bearded f g$re l eads a 3 ld goat t o t he sacrfce,
The ser!ent of the Tem!le of E!da$r$s 3as sacred t o gsc$l a! $s# the God
of
Med c ne# and :=0 years after t he b$l d ng of the cty# 3as ta/en t o Rome
after
a !est lence,
The Phoen cans re!resent ed t he God 8om$ MKne!h or Am$nDKne!hN by a
ser!ent , In Egy!t # a S$n s$!!orted by t3o as!s 3as t he emblem of -orhat
t he
good gen$sG and t he ser!ent 3 t h t he 3 nged globe 3as !laced o6er t he
doors
and 3 ndo3s of t he Tem!l es as a t$telary God, Ant !at er of Sdon cal ls
Am$n
@the reno3ned Ser!ent # @ and t he %erastes s oft en fo$nd embal med n t he
Thebad,
On anc ent Tyran co ns and Indan medal s# a ser!ent 3as re!resent ed#
coled
ro$nd t he tr$n/ of a t ree, Pyt hon# t he Ser!ent De ty# 3as esteemed
orac$l arG
and t he t r !od at Del !h 3as a tr!l eDheaded ser!ent of gol d,
The !ortal s of al l the Egy!t an Tem!l es are decorated 3 th the h erogram
of
t he % rcle and t he Ser!ent , It s al so fo$nd $!on the Tem!le of 8a/ D
R$stan n
Pers aG on the tr$m!hal arch at Pechn# n %hnaG o6er the gates of the
great
Tem!le of %ha$nd Tee6a# n &a6aG $!on t he 3al l s of AthensG and n the
Tem!le of Mner6a at Tegea, The Me4 can herogram 3as formed by the
ntersect ng of t 3o great Ser!ent s# 3h ch descrbed the crcle 3 th the r
bod es#
and had each a h$man head n t s mo$t h,
Al l the B$ddhst s crosses n Ireland had ser!ent s car6ed $!on them,
;reat hs
of sna/es are on the col $mns of the ancent -nd$ Tem!l e at B$r3ahD
Sangor,
Among the Egy!t ans# t 3as a symbol of D6 ne ; sdom# 3hen e4t ended
at
l engt hG and# 3 th t s t a l n ts mo$th# of Et ernty,
In t he r t$al of Horoaster# t he Ser!ent 3as a symbol of the 'n 6erse, In
%hna#
t he rng bet 3een t3o Ser!ents 3as the symbol of t he 3orl d go6erned by
t he
!o3er and 3sdom of t he %reator, The Bacchanal s carred ser!ents n
t her
hands or ro$nd ther heads,
The Ser!ent ent 3 ned ro$nd an Egg# 3as a symbol common to the Indans#
t he
Egy!t ans# and t he Dr$ ds, It referred t o t he creat on of the 'n6erse, A
Ser!ent
3 th an egg n h s mo$t h 3as a symbol of the 'n 6erse cont anng 3t h n
tsel f
t he germ of all t h ngs t hat the S$n de6el o!s,
The !ro!erty !ossessed by t he Ser!ent # of cast ng t s s/n# and a!!arently
rene3 ng ts yo$t h# made t an embl em of et ernty and mmort al ty, The
Syran
3omen st l l em!l oy t as a charm aganst
barrenness# as d d t he de6ot ees of M thras and SabaDHe$s, The Earthborn
c 6 l <ers of the early 3orl d# "oh# %ecro!s# and Erecht he$s# 3ere
halfDman# halfDser!ent , The sna/e 3as t he g$ardan of the At henan
Acro!ol s, 8AK-'STA8# t he bra<en ser!ent of t he 3l derness# became
nat$ral <ed among t he -ebre3s as a t o/en of heal ng !o3er, @Be ye#@
sa d %hr st # @3 se as ser!ent s# and harmless as do6es, @
The Ser!ent 3as as often a symbol of male6olence and enmty, It
a!!ears among the emblems of S 6aDRo$dra# the !o3er of desolat on
and deat h( t s t he bane of Ai!yt$s# Idom# Archemor$s# and
Ph l octet es( t gna3s t he roots of the tree of l fe n t he Eddas# and bt es
t he heel of $nfort$nate E$rydce, In -ebre3 3r ters t s generally a
ty!e of e6 lG and s !art c$larly so n the Ind an and Pers an
Mytholog es, ;hen the Sea s ch$rned by Mo$nt Mandar rot at ng
3 thn t he co l s of the %osm cal Ser!ent Faso$/# to !rod$ce t he Amr ta
or 3ater of mmortal ty# the ser!ent 6om t s a h deo$s !oson# 3h ch
s!reads thro$gh and nfect s t he 'n6erse# b$t 3hch Fshn$ renders
harml ess by s3al lo3ng t , Ahr man n ser!entDform n6ades the real m
of Orm$<dG and t he B$ll # emblem of l fe# s 3o$nded by h m and des, It
3as therefore a rel g o$s obl gat on 3 t h e6ery de6o$t fol lo3er of
Horoaster to e4term nat e re!t les# and ot her m!$re an mals# es!ecal ly
ser!ent s, The moral and astronom cal sgn fcance of the Ser!ent 3ere
connect ed, It became a ma4 m of t he HendDA6est a# t hat Ahr man# t he
Prnc !l e of E6 l# made t he Great Ser!ent of ; nt er# 3ho assa$l ted t he
creat on of Orm$<d,
A ser!ent Drng 3as a 3ell D/no3n symbol of t me( and to e4!ress
dramatcal ly ho3 t me !reys $!on t self# the Egy!t an !r ests fed 6 !ers
n a s$bt erranean chamber# as t 3ere n the s$n? s ; nter abode on t he
fat of b$l ls# or t he year? s !l ent eo$sness, The dragon of ; nter !$rs$es
Ammon# the gol den ram# t o Mo$nt %as $s, The F rg n of the <odac s
bt ten n the heel by Ser!ens# 3ho# 3 th Scor!o# rses mmedately
behnd herG and as honey# the embl em of !$r ty and sal 6at on# 3as
t ho$ght to be an ant dot e t o t he ser!ent ? s bt e# so the bees of Ar stQ$s#
t he emblems of nat$re? s ab$ndance# are destroyed thro$gh t he agency
of t he ser!ent# and regenerated 3 th n the entra ls of the Fernal B$l l,
The S$nDGod s f nally 6ct oro$s, %hr shna cr$shes the head of t he
ser!ent %alyaG A!oll o destroys Pyt hon# and -erc$l es that LernQan
monst er 3hose !o son fest ered n t he foot of Ph loctet es#
of Mo!s$s# of %h ron# or of Sag tt ar $s, The nfant -erc$l es dest roys
t he !ernc o$s sna/es det ested of t he gods# and e6er# l /e St, George
of Engl and and Mchael t he Archangel # 3ars aga nst hydras and
dragons,
The ecl !ses of t he s$n and moon 3ere bel e6ed by the Or ent al s to be
ca$sed by the assa$lt s of a dQmon n dragonDformG and t hey
endea6ored to scare a3ay the ntr$der by sho$ts and menaces, Th s
3as the org nal Le6at han or %roo/ed Ser!ent of old# transf 4ed n the
olden t me by the !o3er of &eho6ah# and s$s!ended as a gl t terng
t ro!hy n the s/yG yet al so t he Po3er of Dar/ness s$!!osed to be e6er
n !$rs$t of the S$n and Moon, ;hen t f nal ly o6erta/es them# t 3 ll
ent3 ne t hem n ts fol ds# and !re6ent t her shn ng, In t he l ast Indan
A6atara# as n the Eddas# a ser!ent 6om t ng flames s e4!ected to
dest roy t he 3orl d, The ser!ent !res des o6er the close of the year#
3here t g$ards t he a!!roach t o the golden fleece of Ares# and the
t hree a!!l es or seasons of t he -es!er desG !resent ng a formdable
obstacl e t o t he career of the S$nDGod, The Great Dest royer of sna/es
s occas onal ly marr ed t o themG -erc$les 3t h t he northern dragon
beget s t he t hree ancest ors of ScythaG for the S$n seems at one t me to
r se 6ct oro$s from t he cont est 3t h dar/ness# and at anot her t o s n/
nt o ts embraces, The nort hern constel lat on Draco# 3hose sn$os t es
3 nd l /e a r 6er t hro$gh the 3 ntry bear# 3as made the ast ronomcal
c nct $re of the 'n 6erse# as the ser!ent encrcles t he m$ndane egg n
Egy!t an h erogly!hcs,
The Persan Ahr man 3as cal led @The old ser!ent # t he lar from the
beg nnng# t he Prnce of Dar/ness# and t he ro6er $! and do3n, @ The
Dragon 3as a 3el lD/no3n symbol of t he 3at ers and of great r6ersG and
t 3as nat $ral t hat by the !ast oral As at c Trbes# t he !o3erf$l nat ons
of t he all $6 al !la ns n ther neghborhood 3ho adored the dragon or
"sh# sho$ld t hemsel 6es be symbol <ed $nder t he form of dragonsG and
o6ercome by t he s$!er or mght of the -ebre3 God# as monstro$s
Le6 athans ma med and dest royed by h m, O!h one$s# n t he ol d Gree/
Theology# 3arred aga nst Kronos# and 3as o6ercome and cast nt o hs
!ro!er el ement# the sea, There he s nst al led as t he SeaDGod Oannes
or Dragon# t he Le6at han of the 3atery half of creat on# t he dragon 3ho
6om ted a flood of 3ater after t he !ersec$t ed 3oman of t he
A!ocaly!se# t he monst er 3ho t hreat ened to de6o$r -es one and
Andromeda# and 3ho for a t me became t he gra6e of -erc$l es and
&onahG and he corres!onds 3t h the obsc$re name of Rahab# 3hom
&eho6ah s sa d n &ob to ha6e transf 4ed and o6ercome,
In t he S!r ng# the year or S$nDGod a!!ears as M t hras or E$ro!a
mo$nted on the B$l lG b$t n the o!!os te half of t he Hodac he r des t he
emblem of the 3aters# t he 3nged horse of 8estor or Posedon( and the
Ser!ent # rs ng hel acal ly at the A$t $mnal EE$no4# besett ng 3 th
!osono$s nfl $ence the col d constel lat on Sag ttar $s# s e4!l aned as
t he re!t l e n t he !ath 3ho @bt es the horse? s heels# so t hat h s rder fall s
bac/3ard, @ The same ser!ent# t he Oannes A!hrenos or M$saros of
Syncel l$s# 3as the Mdgard Ser!ent 3hch Od n s$n/ beneat h the sea#
b$t 3h ch gre3 t o s$ch a s<e as to enc rcl e t he 3hole eart h,
"or these As at c symbols of the cont est of the S$nDGod 3 th the
Dragon of dar/ness and ; nt er 3ere m!orted not only nto t he Hod ac#
b$t nt o the more homely crcle of E$ro!ean legendG and both Thor and
Odn f ght 3 th dragons# as A!oll o dd 3 th Python# the great scaly
sna/e# Ach ll es 3 th t he Scamander# and Bel lero!hon 3 t h t he
%h mQra, In t he a!ocry!hal boo/ of Esther# dragons herald @a day of
dar/ness and obsc$r ty@G and St , George of England# a !roblemat c
%a!!adocan Prnce# 3as org nally only a 6aryng form of Mt hras,
&eho6ah s sa d to ha6e @c$t Rahab and 3o$nded the dragon, @ The
l att er s not only the ty!e of earthly desolat on# the dragon of the dee!
3at ers# b$t al so the leader of t he banded cons!rators of the s/y# of the
rebel l o$s st ars# 3hch# accord ng t o Enoch# @came not at the rght
t me@G and h s tal dre3 a t h rd !art of the -ost of -ea6en# and cast
t hem to t he earth, &eho6ah @d6ded t he sea by h s st rengt h# and bro/e
t he heads of t he Dragons n t he 3at ers, @ And accord ng t o t he &e3sh
and Pers an bel ef# the Dragon 3o$l d# n t he l att er days# the ; nt er of
t me# en5oy a short !er od of l censed m!$nty# 3hch 3o$l d be a
season of t he greatest s$fferng t o t he !eo!l e of t he earthG b$t he
3o$l d fnally be bo$nd or destroyed n t he great bat tle of MessahG or#
as t seems nt mated by the Rabbn cal f g$re of be ng eat en by t he
fat hf$l# be# l /e Ahr man or Faso$/ # $lt mat ely absorbed by and $nted
3 th t he Prnc !l e of good,
8ear t he mage of Rhea# n the Tem!l e of Bel at Babylon# 3ere t 3o
l arge ser!ents of sl 6er# says D odor$s# each 3e gh ng t h rty t alentsG
and n t he same t em!l e 3as an mage of &$no# hol d ng n her rght
hand the head of a ser!ent, The Gree/s call ed Bel
Bel arG and -esych$s nter!ret s t hat 3ord to mean a dragon or great
ser!ent , ;e learn from the boo/ of Bel and t he Dragon# t hat n Babylon
3as /e!t a great# l 6e ser!ent# 3h ch t he !eo!l e 3orsh !!ed,
The Assyrans# t he Em!erors of %onst ant no!l e# the Parthans#
Scyt hans# Sa4ons# %h nese# and Danes al l bore t he ser!ent as a
st andard# and among t he s!ol s t a/en by A$rel an from Henoba 3ere
s$ch standards# Persc Dracones, The Pers ans re!resented Orm$<d
and Ahr man by t 3o ser!ents# cont end ng for t he m$ndane egg,
M thras s re!resent ed 3t h a l on? s head and h$man body# enc rcl ed by
a ser!ent , In t he Sadder s t h s !rece!t( @;hen yo$ / ll ser!ent s# yo$
3 ll re!eat the HendDA6esta# and t hence yo$ 3 l l obt an great mer tG for
t s t he same as f yo$ had / ll ed so many de6l s, @
Ser!ent s encrcl ng r ngs and gl obes# and ss$ ng from globes# are
common n the Persan# Egy!t an# %hnese# and Indan mon$ment s,
F shn$ s re!resented, re!osng on a co led ser!ent# 3hose folds form
a cano!y o6er h m, Mahade6a s re!resented 3t h a sna/e aro$nd h s
nec/# one aro$nd hs har# and armlet s of ser!ent s on bot h arms,
Bha ra6a st s on t he col s of a ser!ent # 3hose head rses abo6e h s
o3n, Par6at has sna/es abo$t her nec/ and 3ast , F shn$ s the
Preser6 ng S! r t # Mahade6a s S 6a# t he E6 l Pr nc!le# Bhara6a s h s
son# and Par6at hs consort, The Kng of E6 l Demons 3as cal led n
- ndO Myt hol ogy# 8aga# t he K ng of Ser!ent s# n 3h ch name 3e trace
t he -ebre3 8achash# ser!ent,
In %ashmere 3ere se6en h$ndred !l aces 3here car6ed mages of
ser!ent s 3ere 3orsh !!edG and n Thbet the great %h nese Dragon
ornament ed t he Tem!l es of t he Grand Lama, In %hna# t he dragon 3as
t he st am! and symbol of royal ty# sc$l !t$red n all t he Tem!l es#
bla<oned on the f$rnt $re of the ho$ses# and nt er3o6en 3t h the
6est ments of the ch ef nobl ty, The Em!eror bears t as hs armor al
de6ceG t s engra6ed on h s sce!t re and dadem# and on all the 6ases
of t he m!er al !al ace, The %hnese bel e6e that there s a dragon of
e4traord nary strengt h and so6ere gn !o3er# n -ea6en# n t he ar# on
t he 3at ers# and on t he mo$nta ns, The God "oh s sad to ha6e had
t he form of a man# termnat ng n the ta l of a sna/e# a combnat on to
be more f$l ly e4!la ned to yo$ n a s$bseE$ent Degree,
The dragon and ser!ent are the 7t h and =th sgns of t he %h nese
Hod acG and t he -nd$s and %hnese bel e6e that # at e6ery ecl !se# the
s$n or moon s se<ed by a h$ge ser!ent or dragon# t he ser!ent Asootee
of t he -nd$s# 3h ch enfolds the globe and t he constel lat on DracoG t o
3hch also refers @t he ;ar n -ea6en# 3hen Mchael and hs Angel s
fo$ght aga nst t he dragon, @
Sanchon athon says that Taa$t 3as the a$t hor of the 3orsh ! of ser!ent s
among the Phoen cans, -e @consecrat ed#@ he says# @t he s!eces of
dragons and ser!entsG and t he Phbnc ans and Egy!tans foll o3ed h m n
t h s s$!erst t on, @ -e 3as @the f rst 3ho made an mage of %bl$s@G that
s#
3ho re!resented the -ea6enly -ost s of Stars by 6 s ble symbolsG and 3as
!robably t he same as t he Egy!t an Thoth, On the Tyran co ns of the age
of Al e4ander# ser!ents are re!resent ed n many !ost ons and at t t$des#
coled aro$nd t rees# erect n front of al tars# and cr$shed by the Syran
-erc$les,
The se6ent h l ett er of the Egy!t an al!habet # cal led He$t a or Lfe# 3as
sacred t o Thoth# and 3as e4!ressed by a ser!ent standng on h s ta lG and
t hat De ty# t he God of heal ng# l /e gsc$la!$s# to 3hom the ser!ent 3as
consecrated# leans on a /not t ed st c/ aro$nd 3h ch co l s a sna/e, The
Isac tabl et# descrbng the Mysteres of Iss# s charged 3 th ser!ents n
e6ery !art # as her embl ems, The As! 3as s!ecal ly dedcated to her# and
s seen on the heads of her stat $es# on the bonnet s of her !rest s# and on
t he t aras of t he Kngs of Egy!t , Sera!s 3as somet mes re!resent ed 3t h
a h$man head and ser!ent ne ta l( and n one engra6 ng t 3o m nor Gods
are re!resent ed 3t h h m# one by a ser!ent 3t h a b$l l? s head# and the
other by a ser!ent 3 th t he radat ed head of a l on,
On an ancent sacrf c al 6essel fo$nd n Denmar/# ha6 ng se6eral
com!art ment s# a ser!ent s re!resented at t ac/ ng a /neel ng boy#
!$rs$ng h m# ret reat ng before h m# a!!eal ed to beseech ngly by h m#
and con6ers ng 3 t h h m, ;e are at once rem nded of the S$n at t he ne3
year re!resented by a ch ld s t t ng on a lot$s# and of t he relat ons of t he
S$n of S!rng 3 th the A$t$mnal Ser!ent # !$rs$ed by and !$rs$ng h m#
and n con5$nct on 3 th h m, Ot her f g$res on ths 6essel belong t o the
Hod ac,
The base of t he t r !od of the Pyth an Prestess 3as a t r!l e headed
ser!ent of brass# 3hose body# folded n crcles gro3 ng 3 der and 3 der
t o3ard t he gro$nd# formed a con cal col$mn# 3hl e t he t hree heads#
ds!osed t r ang$l arly# $!hel d t he tr !od
of gold, A s m l ar col $mn 3as !laced on a ! ll ar n t he - !!odrone at
%onstant no!le# by the fo$nder of that c tyG one of the heads of 3h ch s
sa d t o ha6e been bro/en off by Mahomet the Second# by a blo3 3 th h s
ron mace,
The Brt sh God -$ 3as cal led @The DragonDR$ler of t he ;orl d# @ and h s
car 3as dra3n by ser!ents, - s m n sters 3ere styled adders, A Dr$d n a
!oem of Tal essn says# @I am a Dr$ d# I am an Archt ect# I am a Pro!het # I
am a Ser!ent MGnad N, @ The %ar of the Goddess %er d3en al so 3as dra3n
by ser!ent s,
In t he elegy of 'ther Pendragon# th s !assage occ$rs n a descr !t on of
t he
rel go$s rt es of t he Dr$ ds( @;hl e t he Sanct $ary s earnest ly n6o/ng
The
Gl dng K ng# before 3hom t he "ar One ret reat s# $!on the e6 l that
co6ers
t he h$ge st onesG 3hl st t he Dragon mo6es ro$nd o6er t he !laces 3hch
conta n 6essels of dr n/Doffer ng# 3h lst t he dr n/Dofferng s n the
Golden
-ornsGS n 3hch 3e read ly d sco6er the myst c and obsc$re al l $s on t o
t he
A$t$mnal Ser!ent !$rs$ ng the S$n al ong the crcle of the Hodac# t o t he
celest al c$! or crater# and the Golden horns of Frg l? s m l/D3ht e b$l l G
and#
a l ne or t 3o f$rt her on# 3e f nd the Prest m!lor ng t he 6ct oro$s Bel #
t he
S$nDGod of the Babylonans,
; t h the ser!ent# n t he Anc ent Mon$ments# s 6ery often fo$nd
assoc ated
t he %ross, The Ser!ent $!on a %ross 3as an Egy!t an Standard, It occ$rs
re!eatedly $!on t he Grand Sta rcase of the Tem!l e of Osrs at Ph l QG and
on t he !yramd of Gh<eh are re!resent ed t3o /neel ng fg$res erect ng a
%ross# on the to! of 3h ch s a ser!ent erect, The %r$4 Ansat a 3as a
%ross
3 th a col ed Ser!ent abo6e tG and t s !erha!s the most common of al l
emblems on t he Egy!tan Mon$ments# carred n t he hand of al most e6ery
fg$re of a Dety or a Pr est, It 3as# as 3e learn by t he mon$ment s# t he
form
of t he ron tet herD!ns# $sed for ma/ ng fast to t he gro$nd t he cords by
3hch yo$ng an mal s 3ere conf ned( and as $sed by she!herds# became a
symbol of Royal ty to the She!herd Kngs,
A %ross l /e a Te$t onc or Mal t ese one# formed by fo$r c$r6ed l nes
3 thn a
c rcl e# s al so common on the Mon$ment s# and re!resented t he Tro!cs
and
t he %ol$res,
The %ad$ce$s# borne by -ermes or Merc$ry# and also by %ybel e# M ner6a#
An$b s# -erc$l es Og n $s t he God of the %elt s# and t he !ersonfed
%onstel lat on F rgo# 3as a 3 nged 3and# ent 3 ned by
t 3o ser!ents, It 3as org nally a s m!le %ross# symbol < ng t he eE$ator
and
eE$noct al %ol $re# and t he fo$r el ements !roceedng from a common
cent re,
Th s %ross# s$rmo$nted by a c rcle# and t hat by a crescent # became an
emblem of the S$!reme De ty D or of t he act 6e !o3er of generat on and
t he
!ass 6e !o3er of !rod$ct on con5oned# D and 3as a!!ro!rat ed to Thot h
or
Merc$ry, It t hen ass$med an m!ro6ed form# the arms of t he %ross beng
changed nt o 3ngs# and the crcl e and crescent be ng formed by t3o
sna/es#
s!r ngng from t he 3and# formng a crcle by cross ng each ot her# and
t her
heads ma/ng the horns of t he crescent G n 3hch form t s seen n t he
hands
of An$b s,
The tr!le Ta$# n the centre of a crcle and a trangl e# ty!fes t he Sacred
8ameG and re!resent s the Sacred Trad# t he %reat ng# Preser6ng# and
Dest royng Po3ersG as 3ell as t he t hree great l ghts of Masonry, If to the
Masonc !o nt 3t h n a %rcle# and t he t 3o !aral lel l nes# 3e add t he
s ngle
Ta$ %ross# 3e ha6e the Ancent Egy!tan Tr !le Ta$,
A col $mn n the form of a cross# 3 t h a c rcle o6er t# 3as $sed by t he
Egy!t ans to meas$re the ncrease of t he n$ndat ons of the 8l e, The Ta$
and Tr !le Ta$ are fo$nd n many Ancent Al !habets,
; t h the Ta$ or the Tr!le Ta$ may be connect ed# 3 t hn t3o crcles# t he
do$ble c$be# or !erfect onG or the !erfect ashl ar,
The %r$4 Ansata s fo$nd on t he sc$l!t$res of KhorsabadG on t he 6ores
from
8 mro$d# of the same age# carr ed by an Assyran MonarchG and on
cylnders
of t he later Assyran !erod,
As t he sngle Ta$ re!resents t he one God# so# no do$bt # t he Tr !l e Ta$#
t he
orgn of 3h ch cannot be traced# 3as meant to re!resent t he Tr n ty of
hs
at trb$tes# t he t hree Mason c ! ll ars# ;ISDOM# STRE8GT-# and
-ARMO8.,
The Pro!het E<e/el # n the :t h 6erse of the 1t h cha!ter# says( @And t he
Lord
sa d $nto h m# ? Go t hro$gh the m dst of t he cty# thro$gh the m dst of
&er$sal em# and mar/ the let ter TA' $!on t he foreheads of t hose that s gh
and mo$rn for al l the abom nat ons that be done n t he mdst thereof,@ So
t he
Lat n F$lgate# and the !robably most anc ent co!es of the Se!t $ag nt
t ranslate the !assage, Ths Ta$ 3as n the form of t he cross of th s
Degree#
and t 3as the emblem of l fe and sal 6at on, The Samar tan Ta$ and the
Et ho!c Ta66 are t he e6 dent !rototy!e of t he Gree/ t G and 3e l earn
from
Tert$ll an# Orgen# and St, &erome
t hat the -ebre3 Ta$ 3as ancent ly 3rt ten n t he form of a %ross,
In ancent t mes t he mar/ Ta$ 3as set on those 3ho had been acE$t ted by
t her
5 $dges# as a symbol of nnocence, The ml tary commanders !laced t on
sold ers
3ho esca!ed $nh$rt from t he fel d of batt l e# as a s gn of ther safety $nder
t he
D 6 ne Protect on,
It 3as a sacred symbol among the Dr$ ds, D6est ng a t ree of !art of t s
branches#
t hey left t n the sha!e of a Ta$ %ross# !reser6ed t caref$l ly# and
consecrated t
3 th sol emn ceremon es, On t he tree they c$t dee!ly the 3ord T-A'# by
3hch
t hey meant God, On t he rght arm of t he %ross# they nscr bed the 3ord
-ES'LS#
on t he l eft BELE8 or BELE8'S# and on the m ddle of the tr$n/
T-ARAMIS, Ths
re!resented the sacred Trad,
It s cert a n that t he Indans# Egy!tans# and Arabans !a d 6enerat on t o
t he sgn
of t he %ross# t ho$sands of years before t he com ng of %hrst , E6ery3here
t 3as a
sacred symbol , The - nd$s and t he %el t c Dr$ ds b$l t many of t her
Tem!les n
t he form of a %ross# as the r$ ns st ll rema n ng cl early sho3# and
!art c$l arly t he
anc ent Dr$ dcal Tem!le at %lassern ss n the Island of Le3 s n Scot land,
The
% rcl e s of )0 Stones, On each of t he s des# east # 3est# and so$t h# are
t hree, In
t he centre 3as t he mage of the De tyG and on the nort h an a6en$e of
t 3ce
nnet een st ones# and one at the ent rance, The S$!ernal Pagoda at Benares
s n
t he form of a %rossG and the Dr$dcal s$bterranean grott o at 8e3 Grange
n
Ireland,
The St at $e of Osr s at Rome had t he same emblem, Is s and %eres al so
bore t G
and t he ca6erns of nt at on 3ere constr$cted n t hat sha!e 3 t h a !yram d
o6er
t he Sacell $m,
%rosses 3ere c$t n the st ones of t he Tem!l e of Sera!s n Al e4andraG and
many
Ta$ %rosses are to be seen n t he sc$l !t $res of Alabast on and Esnk# n
Egy!t ,
On co ns# the symbol of t he Egy!tan God Kne!h 3as a %ross 3t h n a
% rcl e,
The %r$4 Ansata 3as the !art c$lar emblem of Osrs# and h s sce!t re
ended 3 t h
t hat f g$re, It 3as al so t he embl em of -ermes# and 3as cons dered a
S$bl me
- erogly!hc# !ossess ng myst er o$s !o3ers and 6 rt $es# as a 3onderD
3or/ng
am$let,
The Sacred Ta$ occ$rs n the hands of t he m$mmyDsha!ed f g$res bet 3een
t he
forel egs of t he ro3 of S!hyn4es# n t he great a6en$e leadng from L$4or t o
Karnac,
By t he Ta$ %ross the
%abal st s e4!ressed t he n$mber )2# a !erfect n$mber# denot ng hea6en#
and t he
Pyt hagorean Tet ractys# or ncomm$n cabl e name of God, The Ta$ %ross s
al so
fo$nd on t he stones n front of the door# of the Tem!le of Am$not h III# at
Thebes#
3ho regned abo$t t he t me 3hen t he Israel t es t oo/ !ossess on of %anaan(
and t he
Egy!t an Pr ests carr ed t n al l the sacred !rocess ons,
Tert$ll an# 3ho had been nt at ed# nforms $s that t he Ta$ 3as nscrbed
on t he
forehead of e6ery !erson 3ho had been adm tt ed nt o the Mysteres of
M thras,
As t he s m!le Ta$ re!resent ed Lfe# so# 3hen the %rcle# symbol of
Etern ty# 3as
added# t re!resented Et ernal Lfe,
At t he Int at on of a Kng# t he Ta$# as the embl em of l fe and /ey of the
Myst er es#
3as m!ressed $!on h s l !s,
In t he Ind an Myst er es# t he Ta$ %ross# $nder the name of T l$/# 3as
mar/ed $!on
t he body of t he canddate# as a sgn t hat he 3as set a!art for the Sacred
Myst er es,
On t he $!r ght tablet of t he Kng# d sco6ered at 8 mro$d# are the names of
t hrt een
Great Gods Mamong 3hch are .AF and BELNG and t he leftDhand charact er
of e6ery
one s a cross com!osed of t 3o c$ne form characters,
The %ross a!!ears $!on an Anc ent Phbn can medal fo$nd n t he r$ ns of
% t $mG
on t he 6ery ancent B$ddhst Obel s/ near "erns n RossDshreG on the
B$ddh st
Ro$nd To3ers n Ireland# and $!on t he s!l endd obel s/ of t he same era at
"orres
n Scot land,
'!on the falade of a t em!l e at Kal abche n 8$ba are t hree regal f g$res#
each
holdng a %r$4 Ansat a,
L /e t he S$bterranean M thrat c Tem!le at 8e3 Grange n Scot l and# the
Pagodas of
Benares and Math$ra 3ere n the form of a %ross, Magn f cent B$ddh st
%rosses
3ere erect ed# and are stl l st and ng# at %l onmacnose# " nglas# and
K lc$ll en n
Ireland, ;here6er t he mon$ment s 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 t o ha6e
been
cr$c f ed,
Al l the !l anets /no3n to the Ancents 3ere dst ng$shed by t he Myst c
%ross# n
con5$nct on 3 th the sol ar or l$nar symbol sG 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 rcl e#
Fen$s by a cross $nder a crcle# and Merc$ry by a cross s$rmo$nted by a
c rcl e and
t hat by a crescent,
The Sol st ces# %ancer and %a!rcorn# the t 3o Gates of -ea6en# are t he
t 3o !l lars of -erc$l es# beyond 3hch he# t he S$n# ne6er 5 o$rneyed( and
t hey st l l a!!ear n o$r Lodges# as t he t 3o great col $mns# &ach n and
Boa<# and al so as t he t3o !arall el l nes t hat bo$nd the crcle# 3 th a !ont
n t he centre# embl em of the S$n# bet 3een t he t 3o tro!cs of %ancer and
%a!r corn,
The bla<ng St ar n o$r Lodges# 3e ha6e already sad# re!resents Sr $s#
An$b s# or Merc$ry# G$ard an and G$ de of So$l s, O$r Anc ent Engl sh
bret hren al so consdered t an embl em of the S$n, In the old Lect $res
t hey sa d( @The Bla< ng Star or Glory n the cent re refers $s to t hat Grand
L$m nary the S$n# 3hch enl ght ens t he Earth# and by t s gen al nfl $ence
ds!enses bless ngs to man/ nd, @ It s al so sa d n those l ect$res t o be an
emblem of Pr$dence, The 3ord Pr$dent a means# n t s org nal and
f$l lest
sgnfcat on# "oresght( and accord ngly the Bla< ng St ar has been
regarded as an emblem of Omn scence# or t he Al lDSee ng Eye# 3h ch t o
t he Anc ent s 3as t he S$n,
E6en the Dagger of the El$ of 8 ne s t hat $sed n t he Myster es of
M thrasG ;hch# 3 th ts blade blac/ and h l t 3ht e# 3as an embl em of the
t 3o !r nc !les of Lght and Dar/ness,
Iss# t he same as %eres# 3as# as 3e l earn from Eratost henes# the
%onstel lat on F rgo# re!resented by a 3oman hold ng an ear of 3heat ,
The dfferent emblems 3hch accom!any her n t he descr!t on g6en by
A!$le$s# a ser!ent on e ther s de# a gol den 6ase# 3t h a ser!ent t 3 ned
ro$nd t he handle# and the an mals that marched n !rocess on# t he bear#
t he a!e# and Pegas$s# re!resented t he %onst el lat ons that # r sng 3t h the
Frg n# 3hen on the day of the Fernal EE$no4 she st ood n the Orent al
gat e of -ea6en# br ll ant 3t h t he rays of the f$ll moon# seemed t o march
n her tran,
The c$!# consecrated n t he Myster es both of Iss and Ele$ss# 3as t he
%onstel lat on %rater or t he %$!, The sacred 6essel of the Isac ceremony
fnds ts co$nter!art n t he -ea6ens, The Olym!c robe !resent ed t o the
In t ate# a magnfcent mant l e# co6ered 3t h fg$res of ser!ent s and
an mals# and $nder 3hch 3ere t3el 6e other sacred robes# 3here3 th he
3as clot hed n t he sanct $ary# all $ded t o the st arry -ea6en and t he t3el 6e
sgns( 3h le the se6en !re!arat ory mmersons n the sea all $ded t o t he
se6en s!heres# t hro$gh 3hch the so$l !l$nged# to arr 6e here belo3 and
t a/e $! ts abode n a body,
The %elest al Frg n# d$rng the last t hree cent $res t hat !receded the
%hr st an era# occ$! ed t he horosco!e or Orental !ont # and that gat e
of -ea6en t hro$gh 3hch the S$n and Moon ascended abo6e the
hor <on at t he t 3o eE$ no4es, Aga n t occ$! ed t at m dnght# at the
; nter Sol st ce# t he !rec se moment 3hen the year commenced, Th$s
t 3as essent al ly connect ed 3t h t he march of t mes and seasons# of
t he S$n# t he Moon# and day and nght # at the !rnc!al e!ochs of the
year, At the eE$ no4es 3ere cel ebrated the greater and l esser
Myst er es of %eres, ;hen so$l s descended !ast the Bal ance# at the
moment 3hen the S$n occ$!ed that !o nt # t he Frg n rose before h mG
she stood at t he gates of day and o!ened them t o h m, -er br ll ant
Star# S!ca Frg ns# and Arct $r$s# n Boftes# nort h3est of t# heralded
hs com ng, ;hen he had ret $rned t o t he Fernal EE$no4# at t he
moment 3hen so$l s 3ere generated# aga n t 3as the %elestal F rgn
t hat led t he march of the sgns of nght G and n her stars came t he
bea$t f$l f$l l moon of that month, 8 ght and day 3ere n s$ccesson
ntrod$ced by her# 3hen t hey began to d m nsh n l engt hG and so$l s#
before arr 6 ng at the gates of -el l# 3ere al so led by her, In go ng
t hro$gh these sgns# t hey !assed t he Sty4 n t he *th Degree of Lbra,
She 3as the famo$s Sbyl 3ho nt ated Eneas# and o!ened t o h m t he
3ay to the nfernal regons,
Th s !ec$lar s t$at on of t he %onstel lat on F rgo# has ca$sed t t o enter
nt o al l the sacred fables n regard to nat $re# $nder dfferent names and
t he most 6ared forms, It often ta/es t he name of Is s or t he Moon#
3hch# 3hen at ts f$l l at t he Fernal EE$ no4# 3as n $n on 3 th t or
beneat h t s feet , Merc$ry Mor An$bsN ha6ng h s dom cl e and e4al t at on
n t he sgn Frgo# 3as# n all the sacred fables and Sanct $ares# the
nse!arable com!an on of Iss# 3t ho$t 3hose co$nsels she d d
nothng,
Th s relat on bet 3een the embl ems and myst er o$s rec tal s of t he
n t at ons# and the -ea6enly bodes and order of the 3orld# 3as st ll
more clear n t he Myst er es of M t hras# adored as the S$n n As a
M nor# %a!!adoc a# Armen a# and Persa# and 3hose Mysteres 3ent to
Rome n the t me of Syll a, Ths s am!ly !ro6ed by t he descr!t ons 3e
ha6e of t he M thr ac ca6e# n 3h ch 3ere fg$red the t 3o mo6ement s of
t he -ea6ens# that of t he f 4ed Stars and that of the Planet s# the
%onstel lat ons# the eght myst c gat es of t he s!heres# and the symbol s
of t he elements, So on a cel ebrated mon$ment of t hat rel g on# fo$nd at
Rome# 3ere f g$red# the Ser!ent or -ydra t nder Leo#
as n the -ea6ens# t he %el est al Dog#
t he B$l l# t he Scor! on# t he Se6en Pl anet s# re!resented by se6en
al tars# t he S$n# Moon# and emblems relat ng to Lght# to Dar/ness# and
t o t he r s$ccesson d$r ng t he year# 3here each n t $rn tr $m!hs for s 4
mont hs,
The Mysteres of Atys 3ere celebrat ed 3hen t he S$n entered Ar esG
and among the embl ems 3as a ram at the foot of a t ree 3hch 3as
beng c$t do3n,
Th$s# f not t he 3hol e tr$t h# t s yet a l arge !art of t # t hat the -eat hen
Pant heon# n t s nf n te d6ers ty of names and !erson f cat ons# 3as
b$t a m$lt t $dno$s# tho$gh n ts or gn $nconsc o$s al legory# of 3h ch
!hyscal !henomena# and !rnc!al ly the -ea6enly Bodes# 3ere the
f$ndamental ty!es, The glor o$s mages of D 6 nty 3hch formed
&eho6ah? s -ost # 3ere the D6ne Dynasty or real theocracy 3h ch
go6erned t he early 3orl dG and t he men of the gol den age# 3hose l oo/s
held commerce 3t h the s/es# and 3ho 3at ched the radant r$l ers
br ngng ; nter and S$mmer t o mortal s# mght be sad 3 th !oetc tr$t h
t o l 6e n mmedate comm$n cat on 3 th -ea6en# and# l /e the -ebre3
Patrarchs# to see God face to face, Then t he Gods ntrod$ced ther
o3n 3orsh! among man/ nd( t hen Oannes# Oe or AE$ar$s rose from
t he Red Sea t o m!art scence to t he BabylonansG t hen the brght B$l l
l egslated for Inda and %ret eG and t he Lght s of -ea6en# !ersonf ed as
L ber and %eres# h$ng t he Bbot an h l ls 3 t h 6neyards# and ga6e t he
golden sheaf t o Ele$ss, The chl dren of men 3ere# n a sense# al l ed or
marr ed to t hose sons of God 3ho sang t he 5 $blee of creat onG and the
enc rcl ng 6a$lt 3 th t s co$nt less Stars# 3h ch t o the e4c ted
mag nat on of t he sol t ary %haldean 3anderer a!!eared as an mated
ntell gences# m ght nat $rally be com!ared to a ggant c l adder# on
3hch# n t he r r sng and sett ng# t he Angel l $m nares a!!eared t o be
ascendng and descend ng bet3een eart h and -ea6en, The or gnal
re6elat on ded o$t of men? s memoresG t hey 3orsh !!ed t he %reat $re
nstead of t he %reat orG and holdng all earthly t h ngs as connect ed by
et ernal l n/s of harmony and sym!at hy 3 th the hea6enly bod es# they
$nt ed n one 6e3 astronomy# astrol ogy# and rel gon, Long 3anderng
t h$s n error# they at lengt h ceased t o l oo/ $!on the Stars and e4ternal
nat$re as GodsG and by drect ng the r att ent on t o t he mcrocosm or
narro3er 3orld of sel f# they agan became acE$ant ed 3t h t he Tr$e
R$ler and G$ de of the 'n 6erse#
and $sed t he old fabl es and s$!erst t ons as symbol s and al legor es#
by 3hch to con6ey and $nder 3h ch to h de t he great tr$t hs 3hch had
faded o$t of most men? s remembrance,
In t he -ebre3 3rt ngs# t he t erm @-ea6enly -osts@ ncl$des not only t he
co$nsell ors and emssares of &eho6ah# b$t al so t he cel estal
l $mnaresG and t he st ars# magned n t he East t o be an mated
ntell gences# !resd ng o6er h$man 3eal and 3oe# are dent f ed 3 t h
t he more d st nct ly m!ersonated messengers or angel s# 3ho e4ec$te
t he D6 ne decrees# and 3hose !redomnance n -ea6en s n
mystero$s corres!ondence and relat on 3 t h t he !o3ers and
dom n ons of the earth, In 5 ob# t he Mornng St ars and the Sons of God
are dent fedG t hey 5o n n the same chor$s of !ra se t o t he Al m ghtyG
t hey are both s$sce!t bl e of 5oyG they 3al / n br ght ness# and are l able
t o m!$rty and m!erfect on n the sght of God, The El oh m org nal ly
ncl $ded hot only fore gn s$!erst t o$s forms# b$t also al l t hat host of
-ea6en 3hch 3as re6ealed n !oetry t o t he she!herds of the desert#
no3 as an encam!ment of 3arr ors# no3 as career ng n char ot s of fre#
and no3 as 3nged messengers# ascend ng and descendng t he 6a$lt
of -ea6en# to comm$ncat e t he 3 ll of God to man/nd,
@The Eternal# @ says the Beresh th Rabba to Genes s# @call ed fort h
Abraham and h s !osterty o$t of t he dom n on of t he st arsG by nat $re#
t he Israel t e 3as a ser6ant to t he stars# and born $nder t her nfl $ence#
as are t he heathenG b$t by 6 rt $e of the la3 g6en on Mo$nt S na # he
became l berated from t h s degrad ng ser6t $de, @ The Arabs had a
s m lar legend, The Pro!het Amos e4!l c tly asserts t hat t he Israel t es#
n t he desert # 3orsh!!ed# not &eho6ah# b$t Mol och# or a St arDGod#
eE$6alent t o Sat $rn, The Gods El or &eho6ah 3ere not merely
!lanet ary or sol ar, Ther symbol sm# l /e t hat of e6ery other De ty# 3as
coe4tens6e 3 th nat $re# and 3 t h the m nd of man, .et t he ast rolog cal
character s assgned e6en t o &eho6ah, -e s descr bed as seat ed on
t he !nnacle of the 'n 6erse# l ead ng forth the -ost s of -ea6en# and
t ell ng them $nerr ngly by name and n$mber, - s stars are - s sons
and - s eyes# 3h ch r$n thro$gh the 3hol e 3orl d# /ee! ng 3atch o6er
men`s deeds, The stars and !l anet s 3ere !ro!erly the angel s, In
Phar sa c trad t on# as n the !hraseol ogy of the 8e3 Test ament# the
-ea6enly -ost a!!ears as an Angel c Army# d 6ded nt o reg ment s and
brgades# $nder t he command
of mag nary ch efs# s$ch as Massalot h# Leg on# Kart or G stra# et c, # D each
G stra be ng ca!ta n of 9=7# 222 myrads of stars, The Se6en S! rt s 3h ch
st and before the throne# s!o/en of by se6eral &e3sh 3rters# and
generally !res$med to ha6e been mmed ately der 6ed from the, Pers an
Amshas!ands# 3ere $lt mately t he se6en !l anet ary ntel lgences# t he
orgnal model of t he se6enDbranched golden candlest c/ e4h bt ed t o
Moses on God? s mo$nt an, The stars 3ere magned t o ha6e fo$ght n
t her co$rses aganst Ssera, The hea6ens 3ere s!o/en of as hold ng a
!redom nance o6er eart h# as go6ernng t by sgns and ord nances# and
as contan ng the el ements of that ast rologcal 3sdom# more es!ecally
c$lt 6at ed by t he Babylonans and Egy!t ans,
Each nat on 3as s$!!osed by the -ebre3s t o ha6e ts o3n g$ard an
angel # and t s o3n !ro6nc al star, One of the ch efs of t he %elest al
Po3ers# at frst &eho6ah - mself n t he character of the S$n# stand ng n
t he heght of -ea6en# o6erloo/ ng and go6ernng all t h ngs# after3ard one
of t he angels or s$bordnat e !l anet ary gen of Babylonan or Pers an
mythol ogy# 3as the !atron and !rot ector of the r o3n nat on# @the Pr nce
t hat standeth for the ch l dren of thy !eo!l e, @ The dscords of eart h 3ere
accom!aned by a 3arfare n the s/yG and no !eo!le $nder3ent the
6s tat on of t he Al mghty# 3 tho$t a corres!ondng chast sement be ng
nfl cted on t s t $tel ary angel ,
The fall en Angels 3ere al so fall en St arsG and t he frst all $son t o a fe$d
among the s!r t$al !o3ers n early -ebre3 Myt hol ogy# 3here Rahab and
hs confederat es are defeat ed# l /e t he Tt ans n a bat tl e aganst the
Gods# seems t o dent fy the rebell o$s S!r ts as !art of the 6 sbl e
-ea6ens# 3here the @h gh ones on hgh@ are !$nshed or chaned# as a
sgnal !roof of God? s !o3er and 5 $st ce, God# t s sa d m
@St rs t he sea 3t h - s mght D by - s $nderst andng -e smote Rahab D
- s
breat h cl ears t he face of -ea6en D - s hand !erced t he croo/ed Ser!ent
, , , , God 3 thdra3s not - s angerG beneat h - m bo3 t he confederates of
Rahab,@
Rahab al 3ays means a seaDmonster( !robably some s$ch legendary
monst ro$s dragon# as n al most all myt hol oges s the ad6ersary of
-ea6en and demon of ecl !se# n 3hose bel ly# sgnfcant ly call ed t he
belly of -el l# -erc$les# l /e &onah# !assed t hree days# $l t mat ely esca!ng
3 th t he l oss of hs har or rays, %hesl # the rebell o$s g ant Or on#
re!resented n &ob as r 6et ed t o t he s/y#
3as com!ared to 8 n$s or 8 mrod# the mythcal fo$nder of 8ne6eh
M%ty of "shN the mghty h$nter# 3ho sl e3 l ons and !anthers before t he
Lord, Rahab? s confederat es are !robably t he @-gh ones on -gh#@ the
%hesl m or constel l at ons n Isa ah# the -ea6enly -ost or -ea6enly
Po3ers# among 3hose n$mber 3ere fo$nd fol ly and dsobed ence,
@I behel d# @ says Pse$doDEnoch# @se6en stars l /e great bl a<ng
mo$nta ns# and l /e S! r ts# ent reat ng me, And the angel sad# Ths
!lace# $nt l t he cons$mmat on of -ea6en and Earth# 3 l l be the !rson
of t he St ars and of the -ost of -ea6en, These are the St ars 3h ch
o6erst e!!ed God? s command before t he r t me arr6edG and came not at
t her !ro!er seasonG t herefore 3as he offended 3t h them# and bo$nd
t hem# $nt l the t me of t he cons$mmat on of t her cr mes n t he secret
year, @ And agan( @These Se6en St ars are those 3h ch ha6e
t ransgressed t he commandment of t he Most -gh God# and 3hch are
here bo$nd $nt l the n$mber of the days of the r cr mes be com!l eted, @
The &e3 sh and early %hr st an 3r ters l oo/ed on t he 3orsh ! of the
s$n and t he el ement s 3 th com!arat 6e nd$lgence, &$st n Martyr and
%l emens of Ale4andr a adm t t hat God had a!!o nted the stars as
l egt mate ob5 ects of heathen 3orsh !# n order t o !reser6e t hro$gho$t
t he 3orl d some tol erable not ons of nat$ral rel g on, It seemed a m ddle
!ont bet3een -eat hen sm and %hrst an tyG and t o t cert an embl ems
and ord nances of that fa th seemed to rel at e, The ad6ent of %hr st 3as
anno$nced by a St ar from the EastG and -s nat 6 ty 3as cel ebrat ed on
t he shortest day of the &$l an %al endar# the day 3hen# n t he !hys cal
commemorat ons of Pers a and Egy!t # M thras or Os rs 3as ne3ly
fo$nd, It 3as then t hat the acclamat ons of the -ost of -ea6en# the
$nfa l ng at tendant s of t he S$n# s$rro$nded# as at t he s!r ngDda3n of
creat on# the cradle of -s brt hD!lace# and that# n t he 3ords of
Ignat $s# @a star# 3t h lght ne4!ress ble# shone forth n t he -ea6ens# t o
dest roy t he !o3er of magc and t he bonds of 3 c/ednessG for God
- msel f had a!!eared# n the form of man# for the rene3al of eternal
l fe, @
B$t ho3e6er nf n te t he 6arety of ob5ect s 3h ch hel !ed t o de6el o! the
not on of De ty# and e6ent $al ly ass$med t s !l ace# s$bst t $t ng the
3orsh! of the creat $re for that of t he creat orG of !art s of t he body# for
t hat of t he so$l# of t he 'n6erse# st ll t he not on t self 3as essent ally
one of $n ty, The dea of one
God# of a creat 6e# !rod$ct 6e# go6ern ng $nty# res ded n t he earlest
e4ert on of tho$ght ( and ths monothesm of t he !r m t 6e ages# ma/es
e6ery s$cceedng e!och# $nless t be the !resent# a!!ear only as a
st age n t he !rogress of degeneracy and aberrat on, E6ery3here n t he
old fa t hs 3e fnd t he dea of a s$!reme or !resdng Dety, Am$n or
Os r s !resdes among t he many gods of Egy!t G Pan# 3 th the m$sc of
hs !!e# drect s t he chor$s of t he constel lat ons# as He$s leads the
solemn !rocess on of the celest al t roo!s n the astronom cal theology
of t he Pythagoreans, @Amdst an nf n te d 6ers ty of o!n ons on al l
other s$b5ect s# @ says Ma4 m$s Tyr $s# @the 3hole 3orl d s $nan mo$s n
t he bel ef of one only al m ghty K ng and "ather of al l,@
There s al3ays a So6eregn Po3er# a He$s or De$s# Mahade6a or
Adde6a# t o 3hom belongs the ma nt enance of the order of t he
'n6erse, Among the tho$sand gods of Inda# the doctrne of D 6 ne
'nty s ne6er l ost sght ofG and t he ethereal &o6e# 3orsh !!ed by t he
Pers an n an age l ong before Peno!hanes or Ana4agoras# a!!ears as
s$!remely com!rehens6e and nde!endent of !lanet ary or element al
s$bd 6 sons# as the @Fast One@ or @Great So$l@ of t he Fedas,
B$t t he s m!l cty of bel ef of the !at r archs d d not e4cl $de the
em!loyment of symbol cal re!resent at ons, The m nd ne6er rest s
sat sfed 3 t h a mere feel ng, That feel ng e6er str6es to ass$me
!recs on and d$rab l ty as an dea# by some o$t3ard del neat on of ts
t ho$ght , E6en the deas t hat are abo6e and beyond t he senses# as al l
deas of God are# reE$re t he a d of the senses for ther e4!ress on and
comm$n cat on, -ence come the re!resent at 6e forms and symbol s
3hch const t $t e t he e4ternal n6est t $re of e6ery rel gonG at t em!t s t o
e4!ress a relgo$s sent ment t hat s essentally one# and t hat 6a nly
st r$ggles for adeE$ate e4ternal $tterance# str6 ng to t ell t o one man# to
!ant t o h m# an dea e4st ng n t he m nd of anot her# and essentally
nca!able of $tt erance or descr!t on# n a lang$age all t he 3ords of
3hch ha6e a sens$o$s mean ng, Th$s# the dea be ng !erha!s t he
same n al l# t s e4!ress ons and $t t erances are nf n tely 6aro$s# and
branch nto an nf nt e d6ersty of creeds and sect s,
Al l rel g o$s e4!ress on s symbol smG s nce 3e can descr be only 3hat
3e seeG and t he t r$e ob5ect s of relgon are $nseen, The earl est
nstr$ment s of ed$cat on 3ere symbolsG and t hey and al l ot her rel g o$s
forms dffered and st ll d ffer accordng t o
e4ternal crc$mstances and magery# and accord ng to dfferences of
/no3l edge and mental c$lt 6at on, To !resent a 6 sble symbol to the
eye of anot her s not t o nform h m of the mean ng 3h ch t hat symbol
has to yo$, -ence t he !hl oso!her soon s$!erDadded t o t hese symbols#
e4!l anat ons addressed to the ear# s$sce!t bl e of more !recs on# b$t
l ess effect 6e# ob6 o$s# and m!ress 6e than t he !a nt ed or sc$l!t $red
forms 3hch he des! sed, O$t of t hese e4!lanat ons gre3 by degrees a
6arety of narrat 6es# 3hose tr$e ob5 ect and mean ng 3ere grad$al ly
forgot ten, And 3hen these 3ere abandoned# and !hl oso!hy resorted
t o def n t ons and form$las# t s l ang$age 3as b$t a more ref ned
symbol sm# gra!!l ng 3t h and at tem!t ng to ! ct$re deas m!ossble t o
be e4!ressed, "or t he most abstract e4!resson for De ty 3hch
l ang$age can s$!!ly# s b$t a s gn or symbol for an ob5ect $n/no3n#
and no more tr$t hf$l and adeE$ate t han the terms Osrs and Fshn$#
e4ce!t as be ng less sens$o$s and e4!l ct , To say t hat -e s a S!r t #
s b$t to say t hat -e s not matt er, ;hat s!rt s# 3e can only defne as
t he Anc ent s d d# by resort ng# as f n des!a r# t o some s$bl m <ed
s!ec es of mat t er# as Lght # "re# or Et her,
8o symbol of De ty can be a!!ro!r ate or d$rabl e e4ce!t n a relat 6e
or moral sense, ;e cannot e4al t 3ords t hat ha6e only a sens$o$s
mean ng# abo6e sense, To cal l - m a Po3er or a "orce# or an
Int el l gence# s merely to dece 6e o$rsel 6es nt o the bel ef that 3e $se
3ords that ha6e a mean ng to $s# 3hen they ha6e none# or at l east no
more than t he ancent 6s ble symbol s had, To call - m So6eregn#
"ather# Grand Arch tect of t he 'n6erse# E4tenson# T me# Beg nn ng#
M ddl e# and End# 3hose face s t$rned on al l sdes# t he So$rce of l fe
and deat h# s b$t t o !resent other men 3 t h symbols by 3hch 3e 6a nly
endea6or t o comm$n cate to them the same 6ag$e deas 3hch men n
al l ages ha6e m!ot ent ly str$ggled to e4!ress, And t may be do$bt ed
3hether 3e ha6e s$cceeded et her n comm$ncat ng# or n form ng n
o$r o3n m nds# any more dst nct and def n te and tr$e and adeE$at e
dea of the Dety# 3 t h al l o$r met a!hyscal conce ts and log cal
s$btl et es# t han the r$de anc ent s dd# 3ho endea6ored to symbol <e
and so to e4!ress -s attr b$t es# by t he "re# t he Lght # t he S$n and
Stars# the Lot $s and t he ScarabQ$sG al l of t hem ty!es of 3hat# e4ce!t
by ty!es# more or l ess s$ffc ent # co$l d not be e4!ressed at al l ,
The Pr mt 6e man recogn <ed the D 6ne Presence $nder a
6arety of a!!earances# 3t ho$t los ng hs fa th n th s $n ty and
S$!remacy, The n6s ble God# manfested and on one of - s many
s des 6s ble# d d not cease t o be God t o h m, -e recogn<ed - m n the
e6enng bree<e of Eden# n the 3h rl 3 nd of S na # n he St one of Bet hD
El , ( and dent f ed - m 3 th the f re or t h$nder or the mmo6able roc/
adored n Anc ent Arab a, To h m t he mage of the Dety 3as reflected
n al l that 3as !reDem nent n e4cel lence, -e sa3 &eho6ah# l /e Osrs
and Bel# n t he S$n as 3el l as n t he Stars# 3hch 3ere - s ch ldren# - s
eyes# @3hch r$n t hro$gh t he 3hole 3orl d# and 3at ch o6er the Sacred
So l of Palest ne# from t he year? s commencement t o t s close, @ -e 3as
t he sacred fre of Mo$nt Sna# of t he b$rnng b$sh# of the Persans#
t hose P$r t ans of Pagansm,
8at $rally t fol lo3ed that Symbol sm soon became more com!l cated#
and al l the !o3ers of -ea6en 3ere re!rod$ced on eart h# $nt l a 3eb of
fct on and al l egory 3as 3o6en# 3hch t he 3 t of man# 3t h hs l mt ed
means of e4!l anat on# 3l l ne6er $nra6el , -ebre3 The sm t sel f became
n6ol6ed n symbol sm and mageD3orsh !# to 3h ch all rel g ons e6er
t end, ;e ha6e already seen 3hat 3as t he symbol sm of the
Tabernacle# t he Tem!l e# and t he Ar/, The -ebre3 establ shment
t olerat ed not only t he $se of emblemat c 6essel s# 6est ment s# and
cher$bs# of Sacred Pl l ars and Sera!h m# b$t symbolcal
re!resentat ons of &eho6ah - msel f# not e6en confned t o !oet cal or
ll $strat 6e lang$age,
@Among t he Ad tyas# @ says %hrshna# n the Bag6at Ght a# @I am Fshn$#
t he rad ant S$n among the St arsG among t he 3at ers# am oceanG among
t he mo$nta ns# the - malayaG and among the mo$nt a nDt o!s# Mer$,@
The Psal ns and Isa ah are f$l l of s ml ar att em!t s t o con6ey to the m nd
deas of God# by ascr bng t o - m sens$al !ro!ort ons, -e rdes on the
cl o$ds# and s ts on the 3ngs of t he 3 nd, -ea6en s - s !a6 l on# and
o$t of - s mo$th ss$e l ghtn ngs, Men cannot 3orsh ! a mere
abst ract on, They reE$re some o$t3ard form n 3h ch to clothe the r
conce!t ons# and n6est t her sym!at h es, If they do not sha!e and
car6e or !ant 6 s bl e mages# t hey ha6e n6 s bl e ones# !erha!s E$ te
as nadeE$ate and $nfa thf$l # 3 t hn t her o3n mnds,
The ncongr$o$s and monstro$s n t he Orental mages came from t he
des re to embody the Infn te# and t o con6ey by m$l t !l ed# beca$se
nd 6 d$al ly nadeE$ate symbols# a not on of t he D 6 ne At tr b$tes to the
$nderstandng, Perha!s 3e sho$ld f nd
t hat 3e ment al ly do t he same thng# and ma/e 3 t hn o$rsel 6es mages
E$t e as ncongr$o$s# f 5 $dged of by o$r o3n l m ted conce!t ons# f 3e
3ere t o $nderta/e to analy<e and ga n a clear dea of t he mass of
nf nte att r b$tes 3hch 3e assgn t o t he DetyG and e6en of -s nf nt e
5 $st ce and nfn t e Mercy and Lo6e,
;e may 3ell say# n the lang$age of Ma4 m$s Tyr $s( @If# n t he desre
t o obtan some fa nt conce!t on of t he 'n6ersal "at her# t he 8ameless
La3g 6er# men had reco$rse t o 3ords or names# to sl 6er or gold# t o
an mals or !lants# to mo$nt anDt o!s or flo3ng r 6ers# e6ery one
nscrb ng the most 6al$ed and most bea$t f$l thngs 3 th the name of
De ty# and 3t h the fondness of a l o6er cl ng ng 3t h ra!t $re to each
t r 6 al rem n scence of t he Bel o6ed# 3hy sho$l d 3e see/ t o red$ce th s
$n6ersal !ract ce of symbol sm# necessary# ndeed# snce the m nd
often needs t he e4ct ement of the magnat on to ro$se t nt o act 6ty# t o
one monotono$s standard of formal !ro!retyJ Only let t he mage d$ly
!erform ts tas/# and br ng the d 6 ne dea 3 t h 66dness and tr$t h
before t he mental eyeG f th s be effected# 3hether by t he art of Phdas#
t he !oetry of -omer# t he Egy!t an - erogly!h# or the Persan el ement #
3e need not ca6 l at e4ternal dfferences# or lament the seem ng fert l ty
of $nfam l ar creeds# so l ong as t he great essent al s at ta ned# T-AT
ME8 ARE MADE TO REMEMBER# TO '8DERSTA8D# A8D TO
LOFE, S
%erta nly# 3hen men regarded L ght and "re as somet h ng s!r t $al#
and abo6e al l the corr$!t ons and e4em!t from al l the decay of mat terG
3hen t hey loo/ed $!on t he S$n and Stars and Planets as com!osed of
t h s f ner el ement # and as t hemsel6es great and mystero$s
Int el l gences# nf n tely s$!er or t o man# l 6 ng E4st ences# gfted 3 t h
mghty !o3ers and 3 el dng 6ast nfl $ences# those el ement s and
bod es con6eyed to them# 3hen $sed as symbol s of De ty# a far more
adeE$at e dea than t hey can no3 do t o $s# or than 3e can
com!rehend# no3 that "re and Lght are fam l ar to $s as a r and
3at er# and t he -ea6enly L$mnar es are l fel ess 3orlds l /e o$r o3n,
Perha!s t hey ga6e t hem deas as adeE$at e as 3e obt a n from the mere
3ords by 3hch 3e endea6or to symbol <e and shado3 fort h t he
neffabl e mysteres and nfnt e at trb$tes of God,
There are# t s t r$e# dangers nse!arabl e from symbol sm# 3h ch
co$nt er6a l t s ad6antages# and afford an m!ress6e lesson n regard
t o t he s m lar rs/s at tendant on the $se of lang$age, The
mag nat on# n6 ted t o ass st the reason# $s$r!s ts !lace# or lea6es t s
al ly hel !lessly ent angl ed n t s 3eb, 8ames 3h ch st and for t h ngs are
confo$nded 3 th t hemG t he means are mst a/en for t he end( the
nstr$ment of nt er!retat on for t he ob5ect G and th$s symbol s come t o
$s$r! an nde!endent charact er as tr$t hs and !ersons, Tho$gh
!erha!s a necessary !at h# they 3ere a dangero$s one by 3h ch to
a!!roach t he De tyG n 3h ch @many#@ says Pl $tarch# @mst a/ ng t he s gn
for the t hng sgnfed# fell nt o a r dc$l o$s s$!erst t onG 3h le ot hers# n
a6odng one e4t reme# !l$nged nt o the no less h deo$s g$lf of
rrel gon and m!ety, @
Al l great Reformers ha6e 3arred aga nst ths e6l # dee!ly feel ng t he
ntell ect$al msch ef ar sng o$t of a degraded dea of the S$!reme
BengG and ha6e cl a med for t her o3n God an e4st ence or !ersonal ty
dst nct from the ob5 ect s of ancent s$!erst t onG dso3nng n - s name
t he symbol s and mages that had !rofaned -s Tem!l e, B$t they ha6e
not seen t hat the $t most 3hch can be effect ed by h$man effort # s t o
s$bst t$te m!ress ons rel at 6ely correct # for ot hers 3hose falsehood
has been detect ed# and to re!lace a gross symbol sm by a !$rer one,
E6ery man# 3t ho$t be ng a3are of t# 3orsh !s a conce!t on of hs o3n
mndG for all symbol sm# as 3ell as al l lang$age# shares t he s$b5ect 6e
character of t he deas t re!resent s, The e! thets 3e a!!ly t o God only
recall et her 6 s ble or ntel lect $al symbols to the eye or m nd, The
modes or forms of man festat on of the re6erent al feel ng t hat
const t$tes t he rel g o$s sent ment # are ncom!l ete and !rogress 6eG
each term and symbol !redcat es a !art al tr$t h# remanng al3ays
amenabl e t o m!ro6ement or modfcat on# and# n t s t$rn# to be
s$!erseded by ot hers more acc$rate and com!rehens6e,
Idolat ry cons sts n confo$nd ng t he symbol 3t h t he th ng s gn f ed# the
s$bst t$t on of a materal for a mental ob5ect of 3orsh!# after a hgher
s!rt $al sm has become !oss bleG an l lD5 $dged !reference of t he
nfer or to t he s$!er or symbol # an nadeE$ate and sens$al conce!t on
of t he Dety( and e6ery rel g on and e6ery conce!t on of God s
dol atro$s# n so far as t s m!erfect # and as t s$bst t $t es a feeble and
t em!orary dea n t he shr ne of that 'nd sco6erabl e Beng 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 t o t he r
l mt ed !o3ers of $nderstandng and magnng to t hemsel 6es - s
!erfect ons,
L /e t he bel ef n a De ty# the bel ef n t he so$l? s mmortal ty s rat her a
nat$ral feel ng# an ad5 $nct of sel fDconsc o$sness# t han a dogma
belongng to any !art c$lar age or co$nt ry, It g6es eternty t o man? s
nat$re# and reconc les t s seem ng anomal es and cont radct onsG t
ma/es h m strong n 3ea/ness and !erfectable n m!erfect onG and t
al one g6es an adeE$ate ob5ect for hs ho!es and energes# and 6al$e
and dgn ty to h s !$rs$ t s, It s conc$rrent 3t h t he bel ef n an nf nt e#
et ernal S! r t# s nce t s chefly thro$gh consco$sness of the dgnty of
t he mnd 3t hn $s# t hat 3e l earn to a!!recat e ts e6dences n t he
'n6erse,
To fort fy# and as far as !oss bl e t o m!art t h s ho!e# 3as the great a m
of ancent 3 sdom# 3het her e4!ressed n forms of !oetry or !h loso!hyG
as t 3as of t he Mysteres# and as t s of Masonry, Lfe r sng o$t of
deat h 3as the great mystery# 3hch symbol sm del ghted to re!resent
$nder a t ho$sand ngeno$s forms, 8at$re 3as ransac/ed for
at testat ons to the grand t r$th 3h ch seems t o t ranscend al l ot her gfts
of mag nat on# or rat her to be the r essence and cons$mmat on, S$ch
e6dences 3ere eas ly d sco6ered, They 3ere fo$nd n the ol 6e and
t he l ot $s# n the e6ergreen myrt le of the Mystb# and of t he gra6e of
Polydor$s# n t he deadly b$t sel fDrene3ng ser!ent # t he 3onderf$l mot h
emerg ng from the coff n of the 3orm# t he !henomena of germnat on#
t he set t ngs and rs ngs of the s$n and stars# t he dar/enng and gro3th
of t he moon# and n slee!# @the m nor mystery of death, @
The stor es of the b rt h of A!ol lo from Lat ona# and of dead heroes# l /e
Gl a$c$s# res$sc t ated n ca6es# 3ere al legor es of t he nat$ral
al ternat ons of l fe and deat h n nat $re# changes that are b$t
e4!edent s t o !reser6e her 6rgnty and !$r ty n6 olable n the general
s$m of her o!erat ons# 3hose aggregat e !resent s only a ma5 est c cal m#
reb$/ng al /e man? s !res$m!t on and h s des!a r, The ty! cal death of
t he 8at $reDGod# Osrs# Atys# Adons# -ram# 3as a !rofo$nd b$t
consol at ory myst ery( t he heal ng charms of Or!he$s 3ere connect ed
3 th h s dest r$ct onG and hs bones# t hose 6al$ed !l edges of fert l ty
and 6ct ory# 3ere# by a bea$t f$l contr 6ance# often b$r ed 3 t hn the
sacred !rec nct s of h s mmort al eE$ 6al ent ,
In t he r doct r nes as to the mmortal ty of t he so$l# t he Gree/
Ph l oso!hers merely st ated 3 th more !rec son deas l ong before
e4tant nde!endently among themsel 6es# n the form of symbolcal
s$ggest on, Egy!t and Et h o! a n t hese matt ers learned from
Inda# 3here# as e6ery3here else# the org n of t he doct r ne 3as as
remot e and $ntraceable as t he orgn of man h msel f, Its nat $ral
e4!ress on s fo$nd n t he l ang$age of %hr shna# n the Bag6at Gh ta( @I
myself ne6er 3as nonDe4st ent # nor t ho$# nor these !rnces of the Eart hG
nor shal l 3e e6er hereafter cease t o be, The so$l s not a t hng of
3hch a man may say# t hat h been# or s abo$t t o be# or s t o be
hereaft erG for t s a th ng 3 t ho$t brt hG t s !reDe4 st ent # changeless#
et ernal # and s not to be destroyed 3 th ths mortal frame,@
Accord ng to the dogma of ant E$ ty# the t hrong ng forms of l fe are a
seres of !$rfy ng m grat ons# thro$gh 3hch t he d6 ne !rnc !l e
reascends
t o t he $n ty of t s so$rce, Inebrat ed n the bo3l of Don$sos#
and da<<led n t he mrror of e4 st ence# the so$l s# t hose fragments or
s!ar/s of the 'n 6ersal Intel lgence# forgot t her nat 6e d gn ty# and
!assed nto t he t errest ral frames they co6et ed, The most $s$al ty!e of
t he s!rt ? s descent 3as s$ggested by the sn/ ng of t he S$n and Stars
from the $!!er t o the lo3er hem s!here, ;hen t arr 6ed 3 th n the
!ort al s of the !ro!er em! re of Don$sos# t he God of ths ;orl d# t he
scene of del $son and change# t s nd 6d$al ty became clothed n a
materal formG and as nd 6 d$al bodes 3ere com!ared to a garment #
t he 3orl d 3as the n6est t $re of t he 'n6ersal S!rt , Aga n# the body
3as com!ared to a 6ase or $rn# the so$l ? s rec! ent G the 3orl d beng the
mghty bo3l 3hch rece 6ed the descendng Dety, In anot her mage#
anc ent as t he Grot toes of t he Mag and the den$nc at ons of E<e/ el#
t he 3orl d 3as as a d mly l l $m nat ed ca6ern# 3here shado3s seem
real t es# and 3here t he so$l becomes forgetf$l of ts cel est al org n n
!ro!ort on to t s !roneness t o materal fasc nat ons, By anot her# the
!er od of the So$l ? s embod ment s as 3hen e4halat ons are
condensed# and t he aeral element ass$mes t he grosser form of 3at er,
B$t f 6a!or fal l s n 3at er# t 3as hel d# 3ater s aga n t he brth of 6a!ors#
3hch ascend and adorn t he -ea6ens, If o$r mortal e4 stence be t he
deat h of the s! r t # o$r death may be the rene3al of t s l feG as !hys cal
bod es are e4al ted from earth to 3ater# from 3ater to ar# from a r to f re#
so the man may rse nt o t he -ero# t he -ero nt o the God, In the co$rse
of 8at$re# the so$l # t o reco6er t s lost est ate# m$st !ass t hro$gh a
seres of tral s and m grat ons, The scene of those t r als s t he Grand
Sanct $ary of In t at ons# t he 3orl d( ther !r mary agent s are the
el ement sG and Don$sos# as So6ere gn of 8at$re# or the sens$o$s
3orl d !ersonfed#
s offc al Arb ter of t he Myst er es# and g$de of the so$l # 3h ch he
ntrod$ces nt o t he body and d sm sses from t, -e s t he S$n# t hat
l berat or of the element s# and hs s!rt $al medat on 3as s$ggested by
t he same magery 3h ch made the Hodac t he s$!!osed !ath of t he
s!rt s n t her descent and the r ret $rn# and %ancer and %a!rcorn the
gat es thro$gh 3hch t hey !assed,
-e 3as not only %reator of the ;orl d# b$t g$ardan# l berat or# and
Sa6 o$r of the So$l, 'shered nto the 3orld am dst l ght n ng and
t h$nder he became t he Lberator cel ebrated n t he Myst eres of
Thebes# del 6er ng earth from ; nter? s chan# cond$ct ng t he nght ly
chor$s of t he Stars and t he cel est al re6ol$t on of the year, -s
symbol sm 3as the ne4ha$st bl e magery em!loyed t o f l l $! t he st el lar
de6ces of the Hodac( he 3as t he Fernal B$ll # the Lon# t he Ram# the
A$t$mnal Goat # the Ser!ent( n short # the 6ared De ty# t he res$l t ng
manfestat on !ersonfed# t he all n t he many# t he 6ar ed year# l fe
!ass ng nt o nn$merabl e formsG essent ally nfer or t o none# yet
changng 3 th the seasons# and $ndergong ther !erodcal decay,
-e med ates and nt ercedes for man# and reconc les t he 'n6ersal
'nseen M nd 3t h the nd6 d$al <ed s!r t of 3h ch he s em!hat cally
t he PerfecterG a cons$mmat on 3hch he effect s# frst thro$gh the
6c ss t$des of the elemental ordeal # the alternat e fre of S$mmer and
t he sho3ers of ; nter# @t he t r al s or test of an mmort al 8at $re@G and
secondar ly and symbol cal ly thro$gh t he Mysteres, -e holds not only
t he c$! of generat on# b$t also t hat of 3 sdom or n t at on# 3hose
nfl $ence s cont rary t o that of t he former# ca$s ng t he so$l to abhor t s
materal bonds# and to l ong for ts ret $rn, The frst 3as the %$! of
"orgetf$lnessG 3hl e t he second s t he 'rn of AE$ar$s# E$affed by the
ret$rn ng s!rt # as by the ret $rnng S$n at the ; nt er Solst ce# and
emblemat c of the e4change of 3ordly m!ress ons for the reco6ered
recoll ect ons of t he gl oro$s sght s and en5oyments of t s !ree4 stence,
;at er no$r shes and !$r f esG and the $rn from 3hch t fl o3s 3as
t ho$ght 3orthy t o be a symbol of Dety# as of the Osr sD%anob$s 3ho
3 th l 6ng 3at er rrgated t he so l of Egy!t G and al so an emblem of
-o!e t hat sho$l d cheer t he d3ell ngs of t he dead,
The second brt h of Don$sos# l /e the r sng of Os r s and Atys from the
dead# and t he ra s ng of KhWrWm# s a ty!e of t he s! rt $al regenerat on
of man, Psyche Mthe So$l N# l /e Aradne# had
t 3o lo6ers# an earthly and an mmortal one, The mmort al s$ t or s
D on$sos# the ErosDPhanes of the Or!h c# grad$ally e4alt ed by t he
!rogress of t ho$ght # o$t of the symbol of Sens$al ty nto the torchbearer
of t he 8$!t al s of t he GodsG t he D 6 ne Infl $ence 3hch
!hyscal ly cal l ed t he 3orld nto be ng# and 3hch# a3a/en ng t he so$l
from t s Stygan t rance# restores t from eart h t o -ea6en,
Th$s the sc ent f c t heor es of the ancents# e4!o$nded n t he
Myst er es# as to the org n of the so$l # t s descent # ts so5 o$rn here
belo3# and t s ret$rn# 3ere not a mere barren cont em!l at on of t he
nat$re of t he 3orld# and of t he ntell gent be ngs e4 st ng t here, They
3ere not an dle s!ec$l at on as t o t he order of the 3orld# and abo$t t he
so$l# b$t a st $dy of the means for arr6 ng at t he great ob5 ect !ro!osed#
D t he !erfect ng of t he so$l G and# as a necessary conseE$ence# t hat of
morals and socety, Th s Eart h# to them# 3as not the So$l ? s home# b$t
ts !lace of e4 le, -ea6en 3as t s home# and t here 3as ts brt hD!lace,
To t # t o$ght ncessant ly t o t $rn ts eyes, Man 3as not a t errest ral
!lant , -s roots 3ere n -ea6en, The so$l had lost t s 3ngs# cl ogged
by t he 6scos ty of mat ter, It 3o$ld reco6er them 3hen t e4t rcated tsel f
from matt er and commenced t s $!3ard fl ght ,
Mat ter be ng# n ther 6 e3# as t 3as n t hat of St, Pa$l # t he !r nc !le of
al l the !assons t hat tro$ble reason# msl ead the ntel lgence# and st a n
t he !$r ty of t he so$l # t he Myst er es ta$ght man ho3 t o enfeebl e t he
act on of matt er on the so$l # and to rest ore to t he l att er t s nat $ral
dom n on, And lest t he st ans so contracted sho$ld cont n$e aft er
deat h# l$strat ons 3ere $sed# fast ngs# e4!at ons# macerat ons#
cont nence# and abo6e al l# n t at ons, Many of t hese !ract ces 3ere at
frst merely symbol cal# D mat er al s gns ndcat ng the moral !$r ty
reE$ red of t he Int atesG b$t they after3ard came t o be regarded as
act $al !rod$ct 6e ca$ses of that !$rty,
The effect of nt at on 3as meant t o be the same as that of !h l oso!hy#
t o !$rfy t he so$l of t s !ass ons# t o 3ea/en t he em! re of the body o6er
t he d6ne !ort on of man# and to g6e h m here belo3 a ha!! ness
antc!at ory of t he fel c ty to be one day en5 oyed by h m# and of the
f$t $re 6 s on by h m of the D 6ne Bengs, And therefore Procl $s and
t he other Platonst s t a$ght @t hat the Myst eres and n t at ons 3 thdre3
so$ls from ths mortal and materal l fe# t o reD$n te t hem t o t he godsG
and dss!ated
for the ade!ts t he shades of gnorance ? by the s!lendors of t he De ty,@
S$ch 3ere the !reco$s fr$t s of t he l ast Degree of t he Myst c Sc ence#
D t o see 8at $re n her s!r ngs and so$rces# and to become fam l ar 3t h
t he ca$ses of thngs and 3 t h real e4 stences,
% cero says t hat the so$l m$st e4erc se t self n the !ract ce of the
6rt$es# f t 3o$ld s!eed ly ret $rn t o t s !l ace of org n, It sho$l d# 3h le
m!r soned n t he body# free t self t herefrom by the cont em!lat on of
s$!er or be ngs# and n some sort be d6orced from t he body and the
senses, Those 3ho reman ensl a6ed# s$b5$gat ed by t her !assons and
6ol at ng the sacred la3s of rel g on and socety# 3 ll reDascend t o
-ea6en# only after they shal l ha6e been !$rfed thro$gh a long
s$ccess on of ages,
The Int at e 3as reE$ red t o emanc!ate h mself from h s !assons# and
t o free h mself from the h ndrances of t he senses and of mat ter# n
order t hat he mght r se to t he contem!l at on of the De ty# or of t hat
ncor!oreal and $nchangng l ght n 3hch l 6e and s$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$n t e t sel f 3 th God# and l 6e
ha!! ly 3t h - m, @ @Th s s the great 3or/ of nt at on# @ says -erocles#
D
Rt o recall t he so$l to 3hat s tr$ly good and bea$t f$l # and ma/e t
fam l ar there3 th# and t hey ts o3nG t o del 6er t from the !a ns and ll s
t end$res here belo3# encha ned n mat ter as n a dar/ !r sonG t o
facl t at e t s ret $rn t o the celest al s!lendors# and t o establ sh t n the
"ort $nate Isl es# by rest orng t t o t s f rst est at e, Thereby# 3hen t he
ho$r of death arr6es# t he so$l# freed of t s mortal garment ng# 3hch t
l ea6es behnd t as a l egacy to earth# 3 ll rse b$oyantly t o t s home
among the St ars# t here to reDta/e t s ancent cond t on# and a!!roach
t o3ard t he D6ne nat$re as far as man may do, @
Pl$tarch com!ares Iss to /no3ledge# and Ty!hon t o gnorance#
obsc$rng the l ght of t he sacred doctr ne 3hose bla<e lghts the so$l of
t he Int ate, 8o gft of t he gods# he holds# s so !rec o$s as the
/no3l edge of the Tr$t h# and t hat of t he 8at $re of t he gods# so far as
o$r l m ted ca!ac t es all o3 $s t o r se to3ard them, The Fal ent n ans
t ermed n t at on LIG-T, The In tate# says Psell $s# becomes an E!o!t #
3hen admt ted t o see T-E DIFI8E LIG-TS, %lemens of Al e4andra#
m tat ng the lang$age of an In t ate n the Mysteres of Bacch$s# and
n6 t ng th s Int ate# 3hom he t erms bl nd l /e Tres as# to come to see
%hr st# ;ho 3 l l
bla<e $!on hs eyes 3 t h greater gl ory t han the S$n# e4cl a ms( @Oh
Myst er es most tr$ly holyO Oh !$re Lght O ;hen t he t orch of t he
Dado$/os gleams# -ea6en and the Dety are d s!layed t o my eyesO I
am nt at ed# and become holyO@ Ths 3as t he t r$e ob5ect of nt at onG t o
be sanct fed# and TO SEE# t hat s# t o ha6e 5 $st and fa thf$l conce!t ons
of t he Dety# t he /no3l edge of ;hom 3as T-E LIG-T of the Mysteres,
It 3as !romsed the In t at e at Samothrace# that he sho$ld become !$re
and 5 $st, %l emens says t hat by ba!t sm# so$ls are l l$mnated# and l ed
t o t he !$re l ght 3 th 3hch m ngles no dar/ness# nor anythng mater al ,
The Int at e# become an E!o!t # 3as cal led A SEER, @-AIL# 8E;BOR8
LIG-TO@ t he Int ates cred n t he Mysteres of Bacch$s,
S$ch 3as held to be the effect of com!let e n tat on, It lghted $! t he
so$l 3t h rays from the D 6n ty# and became for t # as t 3ere# t he eye
3 th 3hch# accord ng t o t he Pythagoreans# t contem!lates t he fel d of
Tr$t hG n ts myst cal abstract ons# 3here n t r ses s$!er or to t he body#
3hose act on on t # t ann$l s for the t me# t o reDenter nt o t sel f# so as
entrely t o occ$!y t self 3 th the 6 e3 of t he D6n ty# and the means of
comng t o resembl e - m,
Th$s enfeebl ng the domnon of the senses and the !ass ons o6er t he
so$l# and as t 3ere free ng the lat ter from a sord d sla6ery# and by t he
st eady !ract ce of al l the 6 rt $es# act 6e and cont em!l at 6e# o$r anc ent
bret hren stro6e to ft t hemsel 6es t o ret $rn t o t he bosom of t he Dety, Let
not o$r ob5ect s as Masons fall bel o3 the rs, ;e $se t he symbols 3hch
t hey $sedG and teach the same great cardnal doctrnes t hat they
t a$ght # of the e4 stence of an ntel lect $al God# and t he mmortal ty of
t he so$l of man, If t he deta ls of the r doct r nes as to the so$l seem t o
$s to 6erge on abs$rdty# let $s com!are them 3t h t he common not ons
of o$r o3n day# and be s lent, If t seems t o $s t hat they regarded the
symbol n some cases as the thng symbol <ed# and 3orsh !!ed the
sgn as f t 3ere tsel f Dety# l et $s reflect ho3 ns$ffc ent are o$r o3n
deas of Dety# and ho3 3e 3orsh! those deas and mages formed
and fash oned n o$r o3n mnds# and not t he Dety - msel f( and f 3e
are ncl ned to sm le at the m!ortance they at tached t o l $strat ons and
fasts# let $s !a$se and nE$re 3het her t he same 3ea/ness of h$man
nat$re does not e4 st toDday# ca$sng r tes and ceremon es to be
regarded as act 6ely effcent for the sal6at on of so$l s,
And l et $s e6er remember t he 3ords of an old 3rt er# 3 th 3hch 3e
concl$de t h s lect $re( @It s a !leas$re t o st and on the shore# and to see
sh!s t ossed $!on the sea( a !leas$re to stand n t he 3ndo3 of a
castl e# and see a bat tl e and t he ad6ent $res thereof( b$t no !leas$re s
com!arable to t he st and ng on t he 6ant ageDgro$nd of TR'T- Ma hl l not
t o be commanded# and 3here t he a r s al 3ays cl ear and sereneN# and
t o see the errors and 3ander ngs# and mst s and t em!est s# n the 6ale
belo3G so al 3ays that th s !ros!ect be 3 th ! ty# and not 3 th s3el l ng or
!r de, %ert anly t s -ea6en $!on Earth to ha6e a man? s m nd mo6e n
char ty# rest n Pro6dence# A8D T'R8 'PO8 T-E POLES O"
TR'T-, @ MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE
)*+),
0=C D Pr nce of Mercy
PPFI, PRI8%E O" MER%.# OR S%OTTIS- TRI8ITARIA8,
;-ILE yo$ 3ere 6el ed n dar/ness# yo$ heard re!eat ed by t he Fo ce of
t he Great Past ts most anc ent doctrnes, 8one has the rght t o ob5ect # f
t he %hr st an Mason sees foreshado3ed n %hr shna and Sososch# n
M thras and Os r s# the D6 ne ;ORD t hat# as he bel e6es# became Man#
and ded $!on t he cross t o redeem a fall en race, 8or can he ob5 ect f
others see re!rod$ced# n the ;ORD of t he bel o6ed Dsc !le# t hat 3as n
t he begnnng 3 th God# and t hat 3as God# and by ;hom e6eryth ng 3as
made# only t he LOGOS of Plat o# and the ;ORD or 't tered T-O'G-T or
frst Emanat on of LIG-T# or t he Perfect REASO8 of t he Great# Sl ent #
S$!reme# 'ncreated De ty# bel e6ed n and adored by all ,
;e do not $nder6al$e t he m!ort ance of any Tr$th, ;e $tt er no 3ord that
can be deemed rre6erent by any one of any fat h, ;e do not t ell t he
Mosl em that t s only m!ortant for h m to bel e6e that t here s b$t one
God# and 3hol ly $nessent al 3het her Mahomet 3as -s !ro!het, ;e do
not tel l the -ebre3 t hat the Messah 3hom he e4!ects 3as born n
Bethlehem nearly t 3o t ho$sand years agoG and t hat he s a heret c
beca$se he 3 l l not so bel e6e, And as l tt le do 3e t ell t he s ncere
%hr st an t hat &es$s of 8a<aret h 3as b$t a man l /e $s# or - s h story b$t
t he $nreal re6 6al of an older legend, To do e ther s beyond o$r
5 $rsd ct on, Masonry# of no one age# belongs to al l t meG of no one
rel gon# t f nds t s great tr$ths n al l,
To e6ery Mason# t here s a GODG O8E# S$!reme# Inf n te n Goodness#
;sdom# "ores ght # 5 $st ce# and Bene6ol enceG %reat or# Ds!oser# and
Preser6er of al l th ngs, -o3# or by 3hat ntermedates -e creates and
act s# and n 3hat 3ay -e $nfol ds and manfests - mself# Masonry lea6es
t o creeds and Rel g ons to nE$ re,
To e6ery Mason# t he so$l of man s mmort al, ;hether t
emanates from and 3 ll ret $rn t o God# and 3hat ts cont n$ed mode of
e4st ence hereafter# each 5 $dges for h msel f, Masonry 3as not made to
set tle that,
To e6ery Mason# ;ISDOM or I8TELLIGE8%E# "OR%E or STRE8GT-#
and -ARMO8.# or "IT8ESS and BEA'T.# are the Trnty of t he
at trb$tes of God, ; th t he s$bt l et es of Ph loso!hy concern ng them
Masonry does not meddl e# nor dec de as t o the real ty of t he s$!!osed
E4 stences 3hch are t he r Person f cat ons( nor 3het her t he %hr st an
Trnty be s$ch a !erson f cat on# or a Real ty of t he gra6est m!ort and
sgnfcance,
To e6ery Mason# t he Infn t e 5 $st ce and Bene6ol ence of God g 6e am!le
ass$rance t hat E6 l 3l l $lt mat ely be det hroned# and t he Good# t he Tr$e#
and t he Bea$t f$l regn tr$m!hant and eternal , It teaches# as t feel s and
/no3s# t hat E6l # and Pa n# and Sorro3 e4st as !art of a 3 se and
benef cent !l an# all t he !arts of 3h ch 3or/ t oget her $nder God? s eye to a
res$lt 3hch shal l be !erfect on, ;het her t he e4 st ence of e6 l s rghtly
e4!l aned n t h s creed or n t hat # by Ty!hon t he Great Ser!ent# by
Ahr man and h s Arm es of ; c/ed S!r ts# by the Gants and T t ans t hat
3ar aga nst -ea6en# by the t3o coDe4stent Pr nc !les of Good and E6 l#
by Satan? s tem!t at on and the fal l of Man# by Lo/ and t he Ser!ent "enr s#
t s beyond t he doma n of Masonry t o decde# nor does t need to nE$ re,
8or s t 3t h n t s Pro6 nce to det erm ne ho3 t he $lt mat e t r$m!h of
Lght
and Tr$t h and Good# o6er Dar/ness and Error and E6 l# s to be ache6edG
nor 3het her the Redeemer# l oo/ed and l onged for by all nat ons# hath
a!!eared n &$dea# or s yet to come,
It re6erences all the great reformers, It sees n Moses# t he La3g 6er of t he
&e3s# n %onf$c $s and Horoast er# n &es$s of 8a<areth# and n t he
Arab an Iconoclast # Great Teachers of Moral ty# and Emnent Reformers#
f
no more( and al lo3s e6ery brother of t he Order t o ass gn t o each s$ch
hgher and e6en D 6ne %haracter as hs %reed and Tr$th reE$ re,
Th$s Masonry d sbel e6es no tr$t h# and teaches $nbel ef n no creed#
e4ce!t so far as s$ch creed may lo3er t s l ofty est mate of the De ty#
degrade - m t o t he l e6el of t he !ass ons of h$manty# deny t he hgh
dest ny of man# m!$gn t he goodness and bene6olence of t he S$!reme
God# str/e at those great col$mns of Masonry# "a t h# -o!e# and %harty#
or nc$l cate mmoral ty# and d sregard of t he act 6e d$t es of t he Order,
Masonry s a 3orsh !G b$t one n 3hch al l c 6 l <ed men can $n teG for t
does not $nderta/e t o e4!l an or dogmat cal ly to sett le those great
mysteres# that are abo6e the feebl e com!rehens on of o$r h$man
ntell ect, It t r$sts n God# and -OPESG t BELIEFES# l /e a ch l d# and s
h$mble, It dra3s no s3ord t o com!el others t o ado!t ts bel ef# or t o be
ha!!y 3t h t s ho!es, Ar d t ;AITS 3 th !at ence to $nderst and the
mysteres of 8at$re and 8at$re? s God hereafter,
The greatest mysteres n the 'n 6erse are those 3h ch are e6er gong on
aro$nd $sG so t r t e and common to $s that 3e ne6er note them nor reflect
$!on them, ;se men tel l $s of t he la3s t hat reg$lat e t he mot ons of t he
s!heres# 3h ch# fl ash ng n h$ge c rcl es and s! nn ng on t he r a4es# are
al so e6er dart ng 3 th nconce 6abl e ra!d ty t hro$gh the nf n t es of
S!aceG 3h le 3e at oms s t here# and dream t hat al l 3as made for $s, They
t ell $s learnedly of centr!etal and centr f$gal forces# gra6ty and
at tract on# and all t he other so$ndng terms n6ented t o hde a 3ant of
mean ng, There are other forces n the 'n 6erse t han those that are
mechan cal,
-ere are t3o mn$te seeds# not m$ch $nl /e n a!!earance# and t3o of
l arger s <e, -and them t o the learned P$nd t# %hem st ry# 3ho tel l s $s ho3
comb$st on goes on n t he l$ngs# and !lant s are fed 3 th !hos!hor$s and
carbon# and t he al /al es and s le4, Let her decom!ose t hem# analy<e
t hem# t ort $re t hem n al l the 3ays she /no3s, The net res$lt of each s a
l t tl e s$gar# a l t t l e fbr n# a l tt le 3ater D carbon# !otass $m# sod $m# and
t he l /e D one cares not to /no3 3hat ,
;e hde t hem n the gro$nd( and the sl ght ra ns mo sten t hem# and the
S$n sh nes $!on t hem# and l t tle sl ender shoots s!r ng $! and gro3G D and
3hat a m racl e s the mere gro3t hO D the force# the !o3er# t he ca!acty by
3hch the l tt le feeble shoot # that a smal l 3orm can n ! off 3 th a s ngle
sna! of ts mandbl es# e4t ract s from t he earth and ar and 3at er the
dfferent element s# so learnedly cat alog$ed# 3 th 3h ch t ncreases n
st at$re# and r ses m!erce!t bly t o3ard t he s/y,
One gro3s t o be a sl ender# fragl e# feebl e st al /# soft of te4t$re# l /e an
ord nary 3eedG anot her a strong b$sh# of 3oody f bre# armed 3 t h t horns#
and st $rdy eno$gh to b d def ance t o the 3nds ( t he t hrd a t ender t ree#
s$b5ect t o be bl ghted by the frost# and l oo/ed do3n $!on by al l the
forestG
3hl e another s!reads t s
r$gged arms abroad# and cares for ne ther frost nor ce# nor the sno3s t hat
for mont hs l e aro$nd t s root s,
B$t l oO o$t of the bro3n fo$l eart h# and col orl ess n6 sble a r# and l m! d
ranD3at er# t he chem st ry of t he seeds has e4tracted col ors D fo$r d fferent
shades of green# that !a nt t he l ea6es 3h ch !$t forth n t he s!r ng $!on
o$r
!lant s# o$r shr$bs# and o$r trees, Later st l l come the fl o3ers D t he 66 d
colors of t he rose# the bea$t f$l br ll ance of t he carnat on# t he modest
bl$sh
of t he a!!l e# and t he s!lend d 3h te of the orange, ;hence come t he
colors
of t he lea6es and fl o3ersJ By 3hat !rocess of chem st ry are they
e4tracted
from the carbon# the !hos!hor$s# and t he l meJ Is t any great er mracl e
t o
ma/e somet hng o$t of not h ngJ
Pl$c/ t he fl o3ers, Inhal e t he del c o$s !erf$mesG each !erfect # and all
delco$s, ;hence ha6e they comeJ By 3hat comb nat on of ac ds and
al /al es co$l d t he chemst ? s l aboratory !rod$ce themJ
And no3 on t3o comes the fr$ t D the r$ddy a!!l e and t he golden orange,
Pl$c/ t hem D o!en t hemO The te4t $re and fabr c ho3 t ot al ly d fferentO The
t aste ho3 ent rely dss m lar D the !erf$me of each dst nct from ts
flo3er
and from t he other, ;hence the tast e and t hs ne3 !erf$meJ The same
earth and ar and 3ater ha6e been made t o f$rn sh a dfferent t aste to each
fr$t # a dfferent !erf$me not only t o each fr$ t# b$t t o each fr$ t and t s
o3n
flo3er,
Is t any more a !roblem 3hence come t ho$ght and 3l l and !erce!t on
and
al l the !henomena of t he m nd# than t h s# 3hence come t he colors# the
!erf$mes# the tast e# of the fr$ t and fl o3erJ
And l oO n each fr$ t ne3 seeds# each gfted 3t h the same 3ondro$s
!o3er
of re!rod$ct on D each 3 th the same 3ondro$s forces 3ra!!ed $! n t t o
be aga n n t $rn e6ol6ed, "orces that had l 6ed t hree t ho$sand years n t he
gran of 3heat fo$nd n the 3ra!! ngs of an Egy!t an m$mmyG forces of
3hch learn ng and sc ence and 3 sdom /no3 no more t han they do of t he
nat$re and la3s of act on of God, ;hat can 3e /no3 of t he nat $re# and
ho3 can 3e $nderstand t he !o3ers and mode of o!erat on of the h$man
so$l# 3hen t he gl ossy l ea6es# the !earlD3h te flo3er# and t he golden fr$t
of
t he orange are mracles 3hol ly beyond o$r com!rehens onJ
;e b$t hde o$r gnorance n a cl o$d of 3ordsG D and the 3ords t oo often
are
mere comb nat ons of so$nds 3 tho$t any mean ng,
;hat s the centr f$gal forceJ A t endency to go n a !art c$l ar drect onO
;hat
e4ternal @force# @ then# !rod$ces t hat tendencyJ
;hat force dra3s the needl e ro$nd t o t he northJ ;hat force mo6es t he
m$scle
t hat ra ses t he arm# 3hen the 3 ll det ermnes t shall rseJ ;hence comes
t he
3 ll tsel fJ Is t s!ontaneo$s D a frst ca$se# or an effect J These too are
mraclesG
ne4!l cabl e as t he creat on# or t he e4 stence and sel fDe4st ence of God,
;ho 3l l e4!la n t o $s t he !ass on# t he !ee6 shness# the anger# t he
memory# and
affect ons of the smal l canaryD3renJ the consc o$sness of dent ty and t he
dreams of the dogJ the reasonng !o3ers of the ele!hant J the 3ondro$s
nst nct s# !assons# go6ernment # and c6 l !olcy# and modes of
comm$n cat on of
deas of t he ant and beeJ
;ho has yet made $s to $nderst and# 3 th all hs l earned 3ords# ho3 heat
comes
t o $s from t he S$n# and l ght from the remot e St ars# set t ng o$t $!on t s
5 o$rney
earthD3ard from some# at the t me the %hal deans commenced to b$l d t he
To3er
of Babel J Or ho3 t he mage of an e4ternal ob5 ect comes t o and f 4es t sel f
$!on
t he 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
t he
3a6es of t he at mos!here str/ng $!on the tym!an$m of the ear D those
t h n#
n6 sble 3a6es D !rod$ce t he eE$ally 3ondro$s !henomenon of
-EARI8G# and
become the roar of the tornado# the crash of t he t h$nder# the mghty 6oce
of t he
ocean# t he chr! ng of the cr c/et# t he del cat e s3eet notes and e4E$s te
t r ll s
and 6arat ons of the 3ren and moc/ ngDbrd# or t he magc mel ody of the
nstr$ment of Pagan n J
O$r senses are myst er es to $s# and 3e are mysteres to o$rsel6es,
Ph l oso!hy
has ta$ght $s noth ng as t o t he nat$re of o$r sensat ons# o$r !erce!t ons#
o$r
cogn<ances# t he or gn of o$r tho$ght s and deas# b$t 3ords, By no effort
or
degree of refl ect on# ne6er so l ong cont n$ed# can man become consc o$s
of a
!ersonal dent ty n h msel f# se!arat e and dst nct from hs body and h s
bra n,
;e tort $re o$rsel6es n t he effort t o ga n an dea of o$rsel 6es# and 3eary
3 th
t he e4ert on, ;ho has yet made $s $nderstand ho3# from the contact 3 t h
a
fore gn body# t he mage n the eye# t he 3a6e of a r m! ng ng on t he ear#
!art c$l ar !artcles enterng the nost r ls# and comng n contact 3 th the
!alate#
come sensat ons n the ner6es# and from that # !erce!t on n the m nd# of
t he
an mal or the manJ
;hat do 3e /no3 of S$bstanceJ Men e6en do$bt yet 3hether t e4 sts,
Ph l oso!hers t ell $s that o$r senses ma/e /no3n t o $s only the att r b$tes
of
s$bstance# e4tens on# hardness# col or# and the l /eG b$t not t he th ng t sel f
t hat s
e4tended# sol d# blac/ or 3h teG as 3e /no3 t he at tr b$t es of t he So$l# t s
t ho$ght s and t s !erce!t ons# and not the So$l tsel f 3hch !erce6es and
t h n/s,
;hat a 3ondro$s myst ery s t here n heat and l ght# e4 st ng# 3e /no3 not
ho3#
3 thn cert a n l mt s# narro3 n com!ar son 3t h nfnty# beyond 3hch on
e6ery
s de stret ch o$t nf n te s!ace and the bl ac/ness of $n mag nabl e dar/ness#
and
t he nt ensty of nconce 6abl e col dO Th n/ only of the mghty Po3er
reE$ red t o
mant a n 3armt h and lght n the cent ral !ont of s$ch an nfn ty# to
3hose
dar/ness that of Mdnght# to 3hose col d that of t he last Arct c Isl and s
nothng,
And yet GOD s e6ery3here,
And 3hat a mystery are the effects of heat and col d $!on t he 3ondro$s
fl$ d that
3e call 3aterO ;hat a myst ery l es h dden n e6ery fl a/e of sno3 and n
e6ery
crystal of ce# and n the r f nal transformat on nto t he n6 sble 6a!or
t hat rses
from the ocean or the land# and fl oats abo6e the s$mm ts of the
mo$nta nsO
;hat a m$lt t $de of 3onders# ndeed# has chemst ry $n6el ed t o o$r eyesO
Th n/
only that f some s ngle la3 enacted by God 3ere at once re!ealed# t hat of
at tract on or aff nty or cohes on# for e4am!l e# t he 3hol e mat eral 3orld#
3 th t s
sol d grant e and adamant # ts 6e ns of gol d and sl 6er# t s tra! and
!or!hyry# t s
h$ge beds of coal # o$r o3n frames and the 6ery r bs and bones of t h s
a!!arently ndest r$ct ble eart h# 3o$l d nst ant aneo$sly dssol6e# 3 th all
S$ns
and Stars and ;orl ds t hro$gho$t al l t he 'n 6erse of God# nt o a th n
n6 sble
6a!or of nfn tely mn$t e !art cles or atoms# dff$sed thro$gho$t nfnt e
s!aceG
and 3 th t hem l ght and heat 3o$ld d sa!!earG $nl ess the De ty - mself
be# as
t he Anc ent Pers ans t ho$ght # t he Eternal Lght and the Immort al " re,
The myst er es of t he Great 'n 6erse of GodO -o3 can 3e 3 t h o$r l m ted
mental
6s on e4!ect t o gras! and com!rehend t hemO Inf nt e SPA%E# st retchng
o$t
from $s e6ery 3ay# 3t ho$t l m t( nfnte TIME# 3 tho$t beg nn ng or
endG and
;E# -ERE# and 8O;# n t he centre of eachO An nf nty of s$ns# t he
nearest of
3hch only d mnsh n s <e# 6e3ed 3 th the most !o3erf$l tel esco!e(
each 3t h
ts ret n$e of 3orl dsG nf n te n$mbers of s$ch s$ns# so remote from $s
t hat ther
l ght 3o$l d not reach $s# 5o$rney ng d$r ng an nfn ty of t me# 3hl e t he
l ght t hat
has
reached $s# from some that 3e seem to see# has been $!on ts 5o$rney for
ffty cent $r es( o$r 3orl d s!nn ng $!on t s a4 s# and r$shng e6er n ts
c rc$t ro$nd t he s$nG and t # t he s$n# and all o$r system re6ol 6 ng ro$nd
some great central !o nt G and t hat # and s$ns# stars# and 3orl ds e6ermore
flashng on3ard 3t h ncred ble ra!d ty thro$gh l l m table s!ace( and
t hen# n e6ery dro! of 3at er that 3e drn/# n e6ery morsel of m$ch of o$r
food# n t he ar# n t he earth# n t he sea# ncredbl e m$lt t$des of l 6ng
creat$res# n6s ble to t he na/ed eye# of a mn$t eness beyond bel ef# yet
organ <ed# l 6ng# feedng# !erha!s 3 t h consc o$sness of dent ty# and
memory and nst nct,
S$ch are some of the mysteres of the great 'n 6erse of God, And yet 3e#
3hose l fe and t hat of the 3orl d on 3hch 3e l 6e form b$t a !ont n the
cent re of nf n te T me( 3e# 3ho no$r sh an mal c$l Q 3t h n# and on 3hom
6eget abl es gro3 3 t ho$t # 3o$l d fa n l earn ho3 God creat ed th s 'n 6erse#
3o$l d $nderstand - s Po3ers# - s At trb$t es# -s Emanat ons# -s Mode
of E4 st ence and of Act onG 3o$ld fa n /no3 the !l an accordng to 3h ch
al l e6ent s !roceed# that !lan !rofo$nd as God - mselfG 3o$ld /no3 t he
l a3s by 3h ch -e controls -s 'n 6erseG 3o$ld fa n see and tal / to - m
face to face# as man t al /s t o man( and 3e t ry not t o bel e6e# beca$se 3e
do not $nderst and,
-e commands $s t o lo6e one another# t o l o6e o$r neghbor as o$rsel fG
and 3e d s!$te and 3rangle# and hate and slay each ot her# beca$se 3e
cannot be of one o! n on as t o t he Essence of -s 8at$re# as to - s
At tr b$t esG 3hether -e became man born of a 3oman# and 3as cr$c f edG
3hether t he -oly Ghost s of the same s$bstance 3t h the "at her# or only
of a s ml ar s$bst anceG 3het her a feeble old man s God? s F cegerent G
3hether some are elect ed from all et ern ty to be sa6ed# and ot hers to be
condemned and !$nshedG 3het her !$nshment of t he 3 c/ed aft er death
s t o be eternal G 3hether th s doctrne or t he other be heresy or t r$thG D
drenchng the 3orl d 3 th bl ood# de!o!$lat ng real ms# and t $rnng fert le
l ands nt o desert sG $nt l # for rel go$s 3ar# !ersec$t on# and bloodshed#
t he
Eart h for many a cent $ry has rol led ro$nd t he S$n# a charnelDho$se#
st eamng and ree/ng 3 t h h$man gore# t he bl ood of brother sl an by
brot her for o! n on? s sa/e# that has soa/ed nto and !oll $ted al l her 6e ns#
and made her a horror to her s st ers of the 'n 6erse,
And f men 3ere al l Masons# and obeyed 3t h al l the r heart
her ml d and gentl e# t each ngs# that 3orl d 3o$l d be a !arad seG 3h le
nt olerance and !ersec$t on ma/e of t a hel l , "or ths s t he Masonc
%reed( BELIEFE# n God? s Inf n te Bene6ol ence# ; sdom# and &$st ce(
-OPE# for t he f nal tr$m!h of Good o6er E6 l# and for Perfect -armony
as
t he fnal res$l t of all t he concords and d scords of the 'n 6erse( and be
%-ARITABLE as God s# t o3ard the $nfat h# the errors# t he fol l es# and
t he fa$l ts of men( for al l ma/e one great brotherhood,
I8STR'%TIO8,
Sen, n , ;, n , Brot her &$n or ;arden# are yo$ a Pr nce of MercyJ
&$n, n , ;, n , I ha6e seen t he Del ta and the -oly 8AMES $!on t # and am an
AMET- l /e yo$rsel f# n t he TRIPLE %OFE8A8T# Of 3h ch 3e bear the
mar/,
I$, n , ;hat s the f rst ;ord $!on the Del t aJ
Ans, n , The Ineffable 8ame of De ty# t he tr$e mystery of 3hch s /no3n to
t he Amet h alone,
I$, n , ;hat do the three s des of the Delt a denote to $sJ
Ans, n , To $s# and to all Masons# t he t hree Great At tr b$tes or
De6el o!ment s of the Essence of t he De tyG ;ISDOM# or t he Reflect 6e
and Desgnng Po3er# n 3hch# 3hen t here 3as na$ght b$t God# the Pl an
and Idea of the 'n 6erse 3as sha!ed and "ormed( "OR%E# or t he
E4ec$t ng and %reat ng Po3er# 3hch nstantaneo$sly act ng# real <ed t he
Ty!e and Idea framed by ;sdomG and t he 'n 6erse# and all Stars and
;orl ds# and Lght and L fe# and Men and Angel s and all l 6ng creat $res
;EREG and -ARMO8.# or t he Preser6 ng Po3er# Order# and Bea$ty#
mant a nng t he 'n6erse n ts St ate# and const t$t ng t he l a3 of
-armony#
Mot on# Pro!ort on# and Progresson( D ;ISDOM# 3hch tho$ght the !lanG
STRE8GT-# 3hch creat ed( -ARMO8.# 3hch $!hol ds and !reser6es(D
t he Masonc Trn ty# three Po3ers and one Essence( the t hree col $mns
3hch s$!!ort the 'n 6erse# Phys cal# Intel lect $al # and S!r t$al# of
3hch
e6ery Masonc Lodge s a ty!e and symbol (D 3h le to the %hr stan
Mason#
t hey re!resent the Three that bear record n -ea6en# t he "AT-ER
;ORD# and the -OL. SPIRIT# 3hch t hree are O8E,
I$, n , ;hat do the three Gree/ let ters $!on the Del t a# I,n ,-, n , , n , AIota# Eta#
and SgmaB re!resent J
Ans, n , Three of t he 8ames of t he S$!reme De ty among t he Syrans,
Phbnc ans and -ebre3so, I-'- A B SelfDE4
stence , , , AL A B t he 8at $reDGod# or So$l of t he 'n 6erse, , , S-ADAI
A B S$!reme Po3er, Al so t hree of t he S 4 %hef At trb$tes of God#
among the Kabbal st s(D ;ISDOM AIE-B# the Intell ect# M N of the
Egy!t ans# t he ;ord M N of t he Platon st s# and t he ; sdom M N of t he
Gnost cs( MAG8I"I%E8%E AALB# the Symbol of 3h ch 3as the L on? s
-ead( and FI%TOR. and GLOR. ATsabaot hB# 3h ch are t he t 3o col$mns
&A%-I8 and BOAH# t hat stand n t he Port co of t he Tem!le of Masonry,
To the %hrst an Mason they are the frst t hree l et ters of the name of the
Son of God# ;ho ded $!on t he cross t o redeem man/ nd,
I$, n , ;hat s the f rst of t he T-REE %OFE8A8TS# of 3hch 3e bear t he
mar/J
Ans, n , That 3hch God made 3 th 8oahG 3hen -e sad# @I 3l l not aga n
c$rse t he earth any more for man? s sa/e# ne ther 3l l I sm t e any more
e6eryt h ng l 6ng as I ha6e done, ;h le the Earth rema neth# seedDt me
and har6est # and cold and heat# and ; nter and S$mmer# and day and
nght shal l not cease, I 3 l l est abl sh My co6enant 3 t h yo$# and 3 th
yo$r
seed aft er yo$# and 3t h e6ery l 6 ng creat$re, All man/nd shall no more
be c$t off by the 3aters of a fl ood# nor shal l there any more be a fl ood to
dest roy t he earth, Ths s t he t o/en of My co6enant( I do set My bo3 n
t he
cl o$d# and t shall be for a to/en of a co6enant bet 3een Me and the eart h(
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 %o6enant sJ
Ans, n , That 3hch God made 3 th AbrahamG 3hen -e sa d# @I am the
Absol $te 'ncreat ed God, I 3 l l ma/e My co6enant bet3een Me and t hee#
and t ho$ shal t be t he "ather of Many 8at ons# and Kngs shall come from
t hy lo ns, I 3 ll est abl sh My co6enant bet 3een Me and t hee# and thy
descendant s after thee# t o t he remotest generat ons# for an e6erl ast ng
co6enant G and I 3l l be t hy God and ther God# and 3l l g6e thee t he land
of %anaan for an e6erl ast ng !ossesson, @
I$, n , ;hat s the t hrd %o6enant J
Ans, n , That 3hch God made 3 th all men by - s !ro!hetsG 3hen -e sa d(
@I 3l l gather al l nat ons and tong$es# and they shal l come and see My
Gl ory, I 3 ll create ne3 -ea6ens and a ne3 eart hG and t he former shal l
not
be remembered# nor come nt o m nd, The S$n shall no more shne by
day# nor t he Moon by nght G b$t the Lord shall be an e6erlast ng l ght and
s!lendor#
- s S! r t and - s ;ord shal l reman 3 th men fore6er, The hea6ens shal l
6ansh a3ay l /e 6a!or# and the eart h shall 3a4 ol d l /e a garment# and
t hey that d3ell there n shall d eG b$t my sal 6at on shal l be fore6er# and
my
rghteo$sness shal l not endG and there shal l be Lght among t he Gent les#
and sal 6at on $nto the ends of t he eart h, The redeemed of the Lord shal l
ret$rn# and e6erlast ng 5oy be on ther heads# and sorro3 and mo$rn ng
shal l fl ee a3ay, @
I$, n , ;hat s the symbol of the Tr !le %o6enant J
Ans, n , The Tr !l e Trangle,
I$, n , Of 3hat el se s t t he symbol t o $sJ
Ans, n , Of the Tr n ty of At tr b$tes of t he De tyG and of t he tr!l e essence
of
Man# t he Prnc !l e of Lfe# the Int el lect $al Po3er# and the So$l or
Immort al
Emanat on from t he De ty,
I$, n , ;hat s the f rst great Tr$t h of the Sacred MysteresJ
Ans, n , 8o man hat h seen God at any t me, -e s One# Eternal # All D
Po3erf$l # All D; se# Infnt ely 5$st # Mercf$l # Bene6olent# and
%om!ass onat e# %reat or and Preser6er of all t h ngs# t he So$rce of Lght
and L fe# coe4tens 6e 3 t h T me and S!aceG ;ho t ho$ght # and 3 th t he
Tho$ght creat ed the 'n 6erse and all l 6 ng th ngs# and the so$l s of men(
T-AT IS( D t he PERMA8E8TG 3h le e6eryth ng bes de s a !er!et$al
genes s,
I$, n , ? @That s t he second great Tr$th of t he Sacred MysteresJ
Ans, n , The So$l of Man s Immortal G not t he res$l t of organ <at on# nor an
aggregat e of modes of act on of mat t er# nor a s$ccesson of !henomena
and !erce!t onsG b$t an EPISTE8%E# one and dent cal # a l 6 ng s!rt # a
s!ar/ of the Great %ent ral Lght # that hath entered nfo and d3el ls n the
bodyG t o be se!arated therefrom at deat h# and ret $rn t o God 3ho ga6e t(
t hat doth not ds!erse nor 6an sh at deat h# l /e breat h or a smo/e# nor can
be ann h lat edG b$t st l l e4 st s and !ossesses act 6ty and ntel l gence#
e6en as t e4 sted n God# before t 3as en6el o!ed n the body,
I$, n , ;hat s the t hrd great Tr$th n MasonryJ
Ans, n , The m!$l se 3h ch drects t o r ght cond$ct # and deters from cr me#
s not only older t han the ages of nat ons and c t es# b$t coe6al 3 th t hat
D 6 ne Be ng ;ho sees and r$les both -ea6en and eart h, 8or d d TarE$ n
l ess 6 ol at e t hat Eternal La3# t ho$gh n hs regn t here m ght ha6e been
no 3rt ten la3 at Rome aganst s$ch 6olenceG for the !rnc!le t hat
m!els
$s to rght cond$ct # and 3arns $s aga nst g$ lt # s!r ngs o$t of the nat $re
of t h ngs, It dd not begn to be la3 3hen t 3as frst 3r tt en# nor
3as t org natedG b$t t s coe6al 3t h the D 6ne Int ell gence t sel f, 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 root s# mot 6es# and nst gat ons# t o g6e
t hem the stam! of 6 rt $es,
I$, n , ;hat s the fo$rt h great Tr$th n MasonryJ
Ans, n , The moral tr$t hs are as absol $te as the meta!hys cal tr$t hs, E6en
t he De ty cannot ma/e t t hat there sho$l d be effect s 3 t ho$t a ca$se# or
!henomena 3t ho$t s$bstance, As l tt le co$l d he ma/e t t o be s nf$l and
e6l to res!ect o$r !l edged 3ord# to lo6e t r$th# t o moderat e o$r !assons,
The !r nc !les of Moral ty are a4 oms# l /e the !rnc!les of Geomet ry,
The
moral l a3s are t he necessary relat ons t hat fl o3 from the nat $re of t hngs#
and t hey are not created by# b$t ha6e e4st ed et ernally n God, The r
cont n$ed e4st ence does not de!end $!on the e4erc se of - s ;ILL,
Tr$t h and &$st ce are of - s ESSE8%E, 8ot beca$se 3e are feeble and
God omn !otent# s t o$r d$ty t o obey -s l a3, ;e may be forced# b$t are
not $nder obl gat on# to obey the stronger, God s t he !r nc !l e of
Moral ty#
b$t not by - s mere 3 ll # 3h ch# abstracted from al l other of -s
at trb$tes#
3o$l d be ne ther 5 $st nor $n5 $st , Good s t he e4!ress on of -s 3l l# n so
far as that 3l l s t sel f t he e4!ress on of eternal # absol$te# $ncreated
5 $st ce# 3hch s n God# 3h ch - s 3 ll dd not creat eG b$t 3hch t
e4ec$t es and !rom$lgat es# as o$r 3 l l !rocl a ms and !rom$lgat es and
e4ec$t es the dea of t he good 3hch s n $s, -e has g 6en $s t he l a3 of
Tr$t h and 5 $st ceG b$t -e has not arbt rarly nst t $ted t hat la3, 5$stce s
nherent n - s 3 ll # beca$se t s cont a ned n - s ntel l gence and
3 sdom# n - s 6ery nat $re and most nt mate essence,
I$, n , ;hat s the f ft h great Tr$th n MasonryJ
Ans, n , There s an essent al dst nct on bet3een Good and E6 l# 3hat s
5 $st and 3hat s $n5 $st G and to ths dst nct on s attached# for e6ery
ntell gent and free creat$re# the absol $t e obl gat on of conform ng to
3hat
s good and 5 $st , Man s an ntell gent and free beng# D free# beca$se he
s
consco$s t hat t s h s d$ty# and beca$se t s made hs d$ty# t o obey t he
dctates of t r$t h and 5 $st ce# and t herefore he m$st necessar ly ha6e t he
!o3er of dong so# 3h ch n6ol6es the !o3er of not do ng soG D ca!able of
com!rehendng the d st nct on bet3een good and e6 l # 5$st ce and
n5 $st ce# and t he obl gat on 3hch accom!anes t # and of nat $ral ly
adher ng t o t hat obl gat on# nde!endently of any conD
t ract or !os t 6e la3G ca!able also of res st ng the tem!tat ons 3hch $rge
h m to3ard e6 l and n5 $st ce# and of com!lyng 3 th the sacred la3 of
et ernal 5 $st ce,
That man s not go6erned by a res st less "ate or ne4orable Dest nyG b$t
s free t o choose bet3een t he e6l and the good( that 5 $st ce and R ght #
t he Good and Bea$t f$l # are of the essence of t he D6 n ty# l /e - s
Infnt $deG and t herefore t hey are la3s to man( that 3e are consc o$s of
o$r freedom t o act # as 3e are consc o$s of o$r dent ty# and the
cont n$ance and connectedness of o$r e4 stenceG and ha6e t he same
e6dence of one as of t he otherG and f 3e can !$t one n do$bt # 3e ha6e
no certa nty of e ther# and e6eryth ng s $nreal ( t hat 3e can deny o$r free
3 ll and free agency# only $!on t he gro$nd that t hey are n t he nat$re of
t h ngs m!ossbl eG 3h ch 3o$l d be t o deny t he Omn !otence of God,
I$, n , ;hat s the s 4th great Tr$t h of MasonryJ
Ans, n , The necessty of !ract sng t he moral t r$ths# s obl gat on, The
moral t r$ths# necessary n t he eye of reason# are obl gat ory on the 3 ll ,
The moral obl gat on# l /e t he moral tr$t h t hat s t s fo$ndat on# s
absol $te,
As t he necessary tr$t hs are not more or l ess necessary# so the obl gat on
s not more or l ess obl gatory, There are degrees of m!ort ance among
dfferent oblgat onsG b$t none n t he obl gat on t self, ;e are not nearly
obl ged# al most oblged, ;e are 3holly so# or not at al l , If t here be any
!lace of ref$ge to 3hch 3e can esca!e from t he obl gat on# t ceases to
e4st , If t he obl gat on s absol $t e# t s mm$t abl e and $n6ersal, "or f
t hat
of t oDday may not be that of toDmorro3# f 3hat s obl gatory on me may
not
be oblgat ory on yo$# the oblgat on 3o$l d dffer from t sel f# and be
6arable and cont ngent, Th s fact s t he !r nc!le of all moral ty, That
e6ery act contrary to rght and 5 $st ce# deser6es to be re!ressed by force#
and !$n shed 3hen comm t ted# eE$al ly n the absence of any la3 or
contract( t hat man nat $ral ly recogn <es t he dst nct on bet 3een the mer t
and demer t of act ons# as he does that bet 3een 5 $st ce and n5$st ce#
honesty and d shonestyG and feels# 3t ho$t be ng t a$ght # and n the
absence of la3 or contract# t hat t s 3rong for 6ce t o be re3arded or go
$n!$nshed# and for 6rt$e to be !$nshed or l eft $nre3arded( and t hat #
t he De ty be ng nf ntely 5$st and good# t m$st foll o3 as a necessary and
nfle4 ble la3 t hat !$n shment shall be the res$lt of S n# t s ne6t abl e
and
nat$ral effect and coroll ary# and not a mere arb trary 6engeance,
I$, n , ;hat s the se6ent h great Tr$th n MasonryJ
Ans, n , The mm$t abl e la3 of God reE$ res# t hat bes des res!ect ng t he
absol $te rghts of ot hers# and be ng merely 5 $st # 3e sho$ld do good# be
char tabl e# and obey t he dct ates of the genero$s and nobl e sent ment s of
t he so$l, %har ty s a la3# beca$se o$r consc ence s not sat sfed nor at
ease f 3e ha6e not rel e6ed the s$ffer ng# the dst ressed# and t he
dest t $t e, It s to g 6e t hat 3h ch he t o 3hom yo$ g 6e has no rght to ta/e
or demand, To be char t able s obl gat ory on $s, ;e are t he Al moners of
God? s bo$nt es, B$t t he obl gat on s not so !recse and nfle4ble as the
obl gat on to be 5$st , %har ty /no3s net her r$le nor l mt , It goes beyond
al l obl gat on, Its bea$ty cons sts n t s l berty, @-e that l o6et h not #
/no3et h
not GodG "OR GOD IS LOFE, If 3e lo6e one another# God d3el let h n $s#
and - s l o6e s !erfected n $s, God s lo6eG and he t hat d3el l et h n lo6e#
d3ell eth n God# and God n h m, @ To be /ndly affect oned one t o
another
3 th brot herly lo6eG t o rel e6e the necess tes of t he needy# and be
genero$s# l beral # and hos! tabl eG to ret $rn t o no man e6 l for e6 l G to
re5o ce at t he good fort$ne of others# and sym!ath<e 3t h them n t he r
sorro3s and re6ersesG t o l 6e !eaceably 3t h al l men# and re!ay n5 $r es
3 th benef ts and /ndnessG these are the s$bl me dctates of the Moral
La3# ta$ght from the nfancy of t he 3orl d# by Masonry,
I$, n , ;hat s the eght h great Tr$t h n MasonryJ
Ans, n , That t he l a3 3hch cont rol and reg$l at e the 'n 6erse of God# are
t hose of mot on and harmony, ;e see only the sol ated# nc dent s of
t h ngs# and 3t h o$r feeble and l mt ed ca!acty and# 6s on cannot
dscern
t her connect on# nor t he mghty chords# that ma/e t he a!!arent d scord
!erfect harmony, E6l s merely a!!arent # and al l s n real ty good and
!erfect , "or !a n and sorro3# !ersec$t on and hardsh!s# afflct on and
dest t $t on# sc/ness and deat h are b$t the means# by 3h ch al one the
nobl est# 6 rt $es co$ld be de6el o!ed, ; tho$t t hem# and 3 tho$t s n and
error# and 3rong and o$t rage# as t here can be no effect 3 t ho$t an
adeE$at e ca$se# there co$l d be net her !at ence $nder s$fferng and
dstressG nor !r$dence n dffc$l tyG nor tem!erance t o a6o d e4cessG nor
co$rage to meet dangerG nor t r$th# 3hen t o s!ea/ t he tr$th s ha<ardo$sG
nor lo6e# 3hen t s met 3 th ngrat t $deG nor charty for the needy and
dest t $t eG nor forbearance and forg 6eness of n5$resG nor tolerat on of
erroneo$s o! n onsG nor chartable 5$dgment and constr$ct on of men? s
mot 6es and
act onsG nor !at rot sm# nor hero sm# nor honor# nor selfDdenal # nor
generos ty, These and most other 6rt $es and e4cel lences 3o$l d ha6e no
e4st ence# and e6en the r names be $n/no3nG and t he !oor 6rt$es that
st l l e4 sted# 3o$l d scarce deser6e t he nameG for l fe 3o$l d be one fl at#
dead# l o3 le6el # abo6e 3h ch none of the l ofty el ements of h$man nat $re
3o$l d emergeG and man 3o$ld l e la!!ed n cont ented ndolence and
dleness# a mere 3orthless negat 6e# nst ead of the bra6e# st rong solder
aga nst the gr m leg ons of E6 l and r$de Dff c$l ty,
I$, n , ;hat s the n nth great Tr$t h n MasonryJ
Ans, n , The great lead ng doct r ne of th s DegreeGD t hat the &'STI%E# t he
;ISDOM# and the MER%. of God are al /e nfnt e# al /e !erfect # and
yet
do not n t he l east 5 ar nor confl ct one 3 th the ot herG b$t form a Great
Perfect Trn ty of At t rb$t es# three and yet one( that# the !rnc!l e of
mer t
and demer t be ng absol $te# and e6ery good act on deser6 ng t o be
re3arded# and e6ery bad one to be !$n shed# and God be ng as 5$st as
-e s goodG and yet t he cases const ant ly rec$rrng n t h s 3orld# n 3h ch
cr me and cr$elty# o!!resson# tyranny# and n5 $st ce are !ros!ero$s#
ha!!y# fort $nate# and sel fDcont ented# and r$l e and regn# and en5 oy all the
blessngs of God? s benef cence# 3h le the 6rt $o$s and good are
$nfort $nat e# m serabl e# dest t$t e# ! n ng a3ay n d$ngeons# !ersh ng 3t h
cold# and famsh ng 3 th h$nger# sl a6es of o!!resson# and nst r$ments
and 6ct ms of t he m screants that go6ernG so t hat ths 3orld# f t here
3ere
no e4st ence beyond t# 3o$ld be one great theat re of 3rong and n5 $st ce#
!ro6 ng God 3holly dsregardf$l of - s o3n necessary l a3 of mer t and
demert G D t fol l o3s t hat t here m$st be another l fe n 3hch these
a!!arent
3rongs shall be re!ared( That al l t he !o3ers of man? s so$l tend t o
nf ntyG and hs ndomt able nst nct of mmortal ty# and the $n 6ersal
ho!e
of anot her l fe# test fed by all creeds# al l !oet ry# al l t radt ons# est abl sh
ts
certa ntyG for man s not an or!hanG b$t hath a "ather near at hand( and
t he day m$st come 3hen Lght and Tr$th# and t he 5 $st and Good shall be
6ct or o$s# and Dar/ness# Error# ;rong# and E6 l be annhl ated# and
/no3n no more fore6er( That the 'n 6erse s one great -armony# n
3hch# accord ng t o the fa th of al l nat ons# dee!Droot ed n all heart s n
t he
!r m t 6e ages# Lght 3l l $lt mately !re6a l o6er Dar/ness# and the Good
Prnc !l e o6er t he E6 l ( and the myrad so$ls t hat ha6e emanat ed from the
D 6 n ty# !$r fed and ennobl ed by t he st r$ggle
here belo3# 3 ll agan ret $rn t o !erfect bl ss n the bosom of God# t o
offend
aga nst ;hose la3s 3 ll t hen be no l onger !ossbl e,
I$, n , ;hat # t hen# s t he one great lesson t a$ght t o $s# as Masons# n ths
DegreeJ
Ans, n , That t o t hat stat e and real m of Lght and Tr$t h and Perfect on#
3hch
s absol$t ely cert an# al l the good men on earth are tendngG and f t here s
a
l a3 from 3hose o!erat on none are e4em!t# 3hch ne6t ably con6eys
t her
bod es to dar/ness and to d$st# there s another not less certa n nor l ess
!o3erf$l # 3hch cond$ct s t her s!r t s t o t hat stat e of -a!! ness and
S!l endor and Perfect on# the bosom of ther "at her and the r God, The
3heel s of 8at$re are not made to roll bac/3ard, E6eryth ng !resses on to
Etern ty, "rom the b rt h of T me an m!et $o$s c$rrent has set n# 3hch
bears al l the sons of men to3ard t hat nt ermnabl e ocean, Mean3hl e#
-ea6en s att ract ng t o tsel f 3hate6er s cogenal t o ts nat $re# s
enrchng
tsel f by t he s!o ls of the Eart h# and col l ect ng 3 thn t s ca!ac o$s
bosom
3hate6er s !$re# !ermanent # and d 6 ne# lea6 ng not hng for the last fre
t o
cons$me b$t t he gross mat ter that creates conc$!scenceG 3hl e
e6eryt h ng
ft for that good fort $ne shal l be gathered and selected from t he r$ ns of
t he
3orl d# to adorn that Et ernal % ty,
Let e6ery Mason t hen obey the 6o ce t hat call s h m th ther, Let $s see/
t he
t h ngs t hat are abo6e# and be not cont ent 3 t h a 3orld that m$st short ly
!er sh# and 3hch 3e m$st s!eedly E$ t # 3hl e 3e neglect t o !re!are for
t hat n 3hch 3e are n6 ted to d3el l fore6er, ;h l e e6eryth ng 3 thn $s
and
aro$nd $s remnds $s of t he a!!roach of death# and conc$rs to teach $s
t hat th s s, # not o$r rest # let $s hasten o$r !re!arat ons for anot her 3orl d#
and earnestly m!lore t hat hel ! and st rength from o$r "ather# 3hch al one
can !$t an end to t hat fat al 3ar 3hch o$r desres ha6e too l ong 3aged
3 th
o$r dest ny, ;hen t hese mo6e n the same# d rect on# and that 3hch
God? s
3 ll renders $na6o dable shall become o$r cho ce# all thngs 3l l be o$rsG
l fe 3 l l be d 6ested of ts 6an ty# and deat h d sarmed of t s terrors,
I$, n , ;hat are t he 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 fyng the so$l G and beca$se t cond$ces t o t he bod ly
heal th# and 6rt $e s the heal th of t he so$l# as s n and 6ce are ts malady
and s c/ness(D $nct on# or ano nt D
ng 3t h o l G beca$se t hereby 3e are set a!art and ded cated to the
ser6ce and !rest hood of t he Bea$t f$l # the Tr$e# and t he Good(D and
robes of 3h te# emblems of candor# !$rty# and t r$th,
I$, n , ;hat s to $s t he chef symbol of man? s $lt mat e redem!t on and
regenerat onJ
Ans, n , The frat ernal s$!!er# of bread 3h ch no$r shes# and of 3 ne 3hch
refreshes and e4hl arates# symbol cal of the t me 3h ch s t o come# 3hen
al l man/nd shal l be one great harmon o$s brot herhoodG and teach ng $s
t hese great l essons( t hat as mat ter changes e6er# b$t no s ngl e atom s
annhl ated# t s not rat onal to s$!!ose that t he far nobler so$l does not
cont n$e to e4st beyond the gra6e( t hat many t ho$sands 3ho ha6e d ed
before $s mght cla m to be 5o nt o3ners 3t h o$rsel6es of the !art cles
t hat com!ose o$r mort al bodesG for mat ter e6er forms ne3 comb nat onsG
and t he bod es of t he ancent dead# t he !atr archs before and s nce t he
flood# t he / ngs and common !eo!le of all ages# resol 6ed nt o ther
const t$ent element s# are carred $!on the 3 nd o6er all cont nents# and
cont n$ally ent er nt o and form !art of the habtat ons of ne3 so$ls#
creat ng ne3 bonds of sym!athy and brot herhood bet 3een each man t hat
l 6es and al l h s race, And th$s# n the bread 3e eat# and n t he 3 ne 3e
dr n/ toDn ght may ent er nt o and form !art of $s t he dent cal !art cl es of
matt er that once formed !art s of t he mater al bod es cal led Moses#
%onf$c$s# Plato# Socrates# or &es$s of 8a<areth, In the tr$est sense# 3e
eat and drn/ t he bod es of t he deadG and cannot say that there s a s ngle
at om of o$r bl ood or body# t he o3nersh ! of 3hch some ot her so$l mght
not d s!$t e 3 th $s, It t eaches $s also the nf n t e benefcence of God 3ho
sends $s seedt me and har6est each n ts season# and ma/es - s
sho3ers to fal l and - s s$n to sh ne al /e $!on t he e6 l and t he good(
best o3 ng $!on $s $nsol ct ed -s nn$merabl e bl essngs# and as/ ng no
ret$rn, "or t here are no angel s stat oned $!on t he 3at cht o3ers of
creat on to call t he 3orl d t o !rayer and sacrfceG b$t -e best o3s -s
benef ts n sl ence# l /e a / nd frend 3ho comes at n ght # and# lea6 ng hs
g ft s at the door# to be fo$nd by $s n t he mornng# goes E$et ly a3ay and
as/s no than/s# nor ceases h s /nd offces for o$r ngrat t $de, And th$s
t he bread and 3ne teach $s that o$r Mort al Body s no more ;E than t he
ho$se n 3h ch 3e l 6e# or the garment s that 3e 3earG b$t the So$l s I#
t he O8E# dent cal # $nchangeable# mmort al emanat on from the Dety# t o
ret$rn to God and be fore6er ha!!y# n -s good t meG as o$r mort al
bod es# dssol 6 ng# ret $rn t o t he elements from 3h ch t hey came# ther
!art cl es co nng and go ng e6er n !er!et $al genes s, To o$r &e3 sh
Bret hren# th s s$!!er s symbol cal of t he Passo6er( to t he %hr st an
Mason# of that eaten by %hr st and - s D sc!les# 3hen# celebrat ng the
Passo6er# -e bro/e bread and ga6e t t o them# sayng# @Ta/eO eat O th s s
My body(@ and g6ng them the c$!# -e sa d# @Drn/ ye all of tO for ths
s
My blood of t he 8e3 Testament# 3hch s shed for many for t he rem sson
of s nsG @ t h$s symbol < ng the !erfect harmony and $non bet3een
- msel f
and t he fat hf$l G and - s death $!on t he cross for t he sal 6at on of man,
The hst ory of Masonry s the h story of Ph l oso!hy, Masons do not
!retend to set t hemsel6es $! for nstr$ctors of t he h$man race( b$t #
t ho$gh As a !rod$ced and !reser6ed t he Myst er es# Masonry has# n
E$ro!e and Amer ca# g6en reg$lar ty t o t he r doct r nes# s!rt # and
act on#
and de6el o!ed the moral ad6antages 3h ch man/nd may rea! from them,
More consst ent # and more s m!l e n ts mode of !roced$re# t has !$t an
end t o t he 6ast al legor cal !ant heon of anc ent mythologes# and t self
become a sc ence,
8one can deny that %hrst ta$ght a l ofty moral ty, @Lo6e one another(
forg6e those t hat des!tef$l ly $se yo$ and !ersec$t e yo$( be !$re of
heart # mee/# h$mbl e# contented( l ay not $! r ches on earth# b$t n
-ea6en( s$bmt t o t he !o3ers la3f$lly o6er yo$( become l /e t hese l t tl e
chl dren# or ye cannot be sa6ed# for of s$ch s t he K ngdom of -ea6en(
forg6e the re!entantG and cast no stone at t he s nner# f yo$ t oo ha6e
s nned( do $nt o others as ye 3o$ld ha6e ot hers do $nt o yo$(@ s$ch# and
not abstr$se E$est ons of t heol ogy# 3ere - s s m!le and s$bl me
t eachngs,
The early %hr st ans foll o3ed n - s foot ste!s, The f rst !reachers of t he
fat h had no t ho$ght of dom nat on, Ent rely an mated by -s sayng# that
he among t hem sho$ld be frst # 3ho sho$l d ser6e 3 t h the greatest
de6ot on# they 3ere h$mbl e# modest # and char table# and they /ne3 ho3
t o comm$n cate t hs s!rt of t he nner man to the ch$rches $nder t her
drect on, These ch$rches 3ere at f rst b$t s!ont aneo$s meet ngs of al l
%hr st ans nhabt ng the same localty, A !$re and se6ere moral ty#
mngled 3t h rel g o$s ent h$sasm# 3as the charact erst c of each# and
e4ct ed the adm rat on e6en of the r !ersec$tors, E6eryth ng 3as
n common among t hemG t he r !ro!erty# the r 5oys# and t her sorro3s, In
t he s lence of n ght t hey met for nstr$ct on and to !ray together, Ther
l o6eDfeast s# or frat ernal re!ast s# ended these re$n ons# n 3h ch al l
dfferences n socal !os t on and ran/ 3ere effaced n t he !resence of a
!aternal D6n ty, The r sole ob5 ect 3as to ma/e men better# by br ngng
t hem bac/ to a s m!l e 3orsh!# of 3hch $n6ersal moral ty 3as t he bassG
and t o end t hose n$mero$s and cr$el sacr f ces 3h ch e6ery3here
n$ndated 3 th bl ood t he al tars of t he gods, Th$s d d %hr st anty reform
t he 3orl d# and obey the teachngs of t s fo$nder, It ga6e to 3oman her
!ro!er ran/ and nfl $enceG t reg$l ated domest c l feG and by adm tt ng t he
sl a6es t o t he lo6eDfeasts# t by degrees ra sed t hem abo6e t hat o!!ress on
$nder 3hch half of man/nd had groaned for ages,
Th s# n t s !$r ty# as ta$ght by %hrst - msel f# 3as t he t r$e !r m t 6e
rel gon# as comm$ncat ed by God t o t he Pat r archs, It 3as no ne3
rel gon# b$t t he re!rod$ct on of the ol dest of al lG and t s t r$e and !erfect
moral ty s t he moral ty of Masonry# as s the moral ty of e6ery creed of
ant E$ ty,
In t he early days of %hr stanty# t here 3as an n t at on l /e t hose of the
!agans, Persons 3ere admt ted on s!ec al condt ons only, To arr6e at a
com!l ete /no3l edge of t he doctrne# t hey had t o !ass t hree degrees of
nstr$ct on, The n t ates 3ere conseE$ently d 6 ded nto three classesG
t he
frst # A$d t ors# the second# %atech$mens# and the t hrd# t he "a thf$l , The
A$d tors 3ere a sort of no6 ces# 3ho 3ere !re!ared by certa n
ceremones and certa n nst r$ct on to rece 6e t he dogmas of %hr stanty,
A !ort on of these dogmas 3as made /no3n t o the %atech$mensG 3ho#
after !art c$l ar !$rfcat ons# rece6ed ba!t sm# or t he n t at on of t he
t heogenes s Md 6ne generat onNG b$t n the grand myst eres of that
rel gon# the ncarnat on# nat 6 ty# !asson# and res$rrect on of %hrst #
none
3ere nt at ed b$t t he "at hf$l, These doctr nes# and t he cel ebrat on of t he
-oly Sacraments# !artc$larly the E$charst # 3ere /e!t 3 t h !rofo$nd
secrecy, These Myst er es 3ere d 6 ded nt o t3o !artsG t he frst styled t he
Mass of the %atech$mensG t he second# the Mass of t he "a t hf$l , The
celebrat on of t he Mysteres of M t hras 3as al so styled a massG and t he
ceremones $sed 3ere t he same, There 3ere fo$nd al l the sacraments of
t he %at holc %h$rch# e6en t he breat h of confrmat on, The Pr est of
M thras !romsed t he Int ates del 6erance from s n# by means
of confess on and ba!t sm# and a f$t$re l fe of ha!! ness or msery, -e
celebrat ed the obl at on of bread# mage of t he res$rrect on, The ba!t sm
of ne3lyDborn ch ldren# e4treme $nct on# confess on of s ns# D al l
belonged
t o t he Mt hr ac rt es, The cand dat e 3as !$rfed by a s!eces of ba!t sm#
a mar/ 3as m!ressed $!on hs forehead# he offered bread and 3ater#
!rono$ncng cert a n myster o$s 3ords,
D$r ng t he !ersec$t ons n the early ages of %hr st an ty# the %hr st ans
t oo/ ref$ge n the 6ast catacombs 3h ch st ret ched for m l es n e6ery
drect on $nder t he cty of Rome# and are s$!!osed t o ha6e been of
Etr$scan org n, There# am d labyr nt hne 3 nd ngs# dee! ca6erns# hdden
chambers# cha!els# and tombs# t he !ersec$t ed f$g t 6es fo$nd ref$ge#
and t here they !erformed t he ceremones of the Myst er es,
The Bas l deans# a sect of %hr st ans t hat arose soon aft er the t me of t he
A!ost les# !ract sed the Mysteres# 3 th t he ol d Egy!t an l egend, They
symbol <ed Osr s by t he S$n# Is s by the Moon# and Ty!hon by Scor!oG
and 3ore crystal s bear ng t hese emblems# as am$l ets or tal smans to
!rot ect them from dangerG $!on 3hch 3ere also a brl l ant star and t he
ser!ent , They 3ere co!ed from the tal smans of Persa and Arab a# and
g 6en to e6ery canddat e# at hs n t at on,
IrenQa$s t ell s $s that the S monans# one of the earl est sect s of the
Gnost cs# had a Pr est hood of the Mysteres,
Tert$ll an tel ls $s t hat the Falent nans# t he most celebrat ed of all t he
Gnost c school s# m tat ed# or rather !er6ert ed# t he Myster es of Ele$ss,
IrenQa$s nforms $s# n se6eral c$r o$s cha!ters# of the Mysteres
!ract sed by t he MarcosansG and Or gen g6es# m$ch nformat on as t o
t he Myst er es of t he O!h t esG and there s no do$bt that al l the Gnost c
sect s had Mysteres and an nt at on, They all cla med to !ossess a
secret doctr ne# com ng t o them drectly from &es$s %hr st# d fferent from
t hat of t he Gos!els and E!st les# and s$!eror to those comm$ncat ons#
3hch n t her eyes# 3ere merely e4ot erc, Th s secret doctrne they d d
not
comm$n cate t o e6ery oneG and among the e4t ens 6e sect of t he
Basl deans hardly one n a tho$sand /ne3 t # as 3e learn from IrenQa$s,
;e /no3 t he name of only t he hghest cl ass of ther In t ates, They 3ere
B# and St rangers to the ;orl d A styl ed Elect or El $s A B,
They had at l est three Degrees D the Materal # the Intel lect $al# and t he
S! r t$al
and t he l esser and greater Myst eresG and t he n$mber of those 3ho at ta ned
t he
hghest Degree 3as E$t e small ,
Ba!t sm 3as one of the r most m!ortant ceremonesG and t he Bas l deans
celebrat ed
t he )2t h of &an$ary# as t he ann 6ersary of the day on 3hch %hr st 3as
ba!t <ed n
&ordan,
They had the ceremony of layng on of hands# by 3ay of !$r f cat onG and
t hat of t he
myst c banE$et # embl em of that to 3h ch t hey bel e6ed the -ea6enly
;sdom 3o$ld
B, one day adm t them# n the f$ll ness of th ngs A
The r ceremon es 3ere m$ch more l /e those of t he %hr st ans t han those
of GreeceG
b$t they m ngl ed 3t h t hem m$ch that 3as borro3ed from the Or ent and
Egy!t ( and
t a$ght t he !r m t 6e t r$ths# m 4ed 3t h a m$lt t $de of fantast c errors and
fct ons,
The dsc !l ne of t he secret 3as the conceal ment Mocc$l tat oN of cert an
t enets and
ceremones, So says %lemens of Ale4andr a,
To a6o d !ersec$t on# t he early %hrst ans 3ere com!el led t o $se great
!reca$t on#
and t o hol d meet ngs of t he "at hf$l Aof t he -o$sehold of "a thB n !r 6ate
!laces#
$nder conceal ment by dar/ness# They assembled n the n ght # and t hey
g$arded
aga nst the ntr$s on of fal se brethren and !rofane !ersons# s! es 3ho
mght ca$se
t her arrest , They con6ersed t ogether fg$rat 6ely# and by t he $se of
symbol s# lest
co3ans and ea6esdro!!ers mght o6erhear( and t here e4 st ed among them a
fa6ored
cl ass# or Order# 3ho 3ere nt at ed nt o certa n Mysteres 3hch they 3ere
bo$nd by
solemn !rom se not t o dscl ose# or e6en con6erse abo$t # e4ce!t 3 th s$ch
as had
rece6ed t hem $nder the same sanct on, They 3ere cal l ed Bret hren# t he
"at hf$l#
Ste3ards of the Mysteres# S$!erntendent s# De6otees of the Secret # and
AR%-ITE%TS,
In t he -erarchb# at t rb$t ed to St, D onys $s the Areo!ag te# t he frst
B sho! of
At hens# t he t radt on of t he sacrament s sa d t o ha6e been d6 ded nto
t hree
Degrees# or grades# !$rfcat on# n t at on# and accom!l shment or
!erfect onG and t
ment ons al so# as !art of the ceremony# the brng ng to sght ,
The A!ost ol c %onst t $t ons# at trb$ted t o %l emens# Bsho! of Rome#
descrbe t he
early ch$rch# and say( @These reg$lat ons m$st on no acco$nt be
comm$n cated to all
sort s of !ersons# beca$se of the Myst eres cont a ned n them, @ They s!ea/
of t he
Deacon? s d$ty to /ee! the doors# t hat none $nnt at ed sho$l d enter at the
oblat on,
Ost ar # or door/ee!ers# /e!t g$ard# and ga6e not ce of t he t me of !rayer
and ch$rchassembl esG
and al so by !r6ate
sgnal# n t mes of !ersec$t on# ga6e not ce t o t hose 3t h n# toe able them
t o a6o d
danger, The Myst eres 3ere o!en to t he "del es or "at hf$l onlyG and no
s!ect ators
3ere al lo3ed at the comm$non,
Tert$ll an# 3ho ded abo$t A, D, 0)=# says n h s A!ol ogy( @8one are
admt ted t o
t he rel go$s Myst er es 3 tho$t an oat h of secrecy, ;e a!!eal to yo$r
Thrac an
and Ele$sn an MysteresG and 3e are es!ecally bo$nd t o t h s ca$t on#
beca$se f
3e !ro6e fat hl ess# 3e sho$ld not only !ro6o/e -ea6en# b$t dra3 $!on o$r
heads
t he $t most r gor of h$man d s!l eas$re, And sho$ld strangers betray $sJ
They
/no3 not h ng b$t by re!ort and hearsay, "ar hence# ye ProfaneO s the
!roh bt on
from all holy Myster es, @
%l emens# B sho! of Ale4andra# born abo$t A, D, )1)# says# n hs
Stromata# t hat
he cannot e4!l a n t he Myst er es# beca$se he sho$ld thereby# accordng to
t he old
!ro6erb# !$t a s3ord nto the hands of a chl d, -e freE$ent ly com!ares
t he
D sc !l ne of the Secret 3t h t he heathen Myst er es# as to ther nternal
and
recondte 3 sdom,
;hene6er t he early %hr st ans ha!!ened t o be n com!any 3t h st rangers#
more
!ro!erly t ermed t he Profane# they ne6er s!o/e of the r sacrament s# b$t
nd cated
t o one another 3hat they meant by means of symbol s and secret
3at ch3ords#
dsg$ sedly# and as by d rect comm$ncat on of m nd 3t h m nd# and by
engmas,
Orgen# born A, D, )9: or )97# ans3er ng %el s$s# 3ho had ob5 ected that
t he
%hr st ans had a conceal ed doctrne sad( @Inasm$ch as t he essental and
m!ort ant doct rnes and !rnc!l es of %hr st an ty are o!enly t a$ght # t s
fool sh t o
ob5ect t hat there are ot her t h ngs t hat are recondt eG for th s s common t o
%hr st an
dsc !l ne 3t h t hat of t hose !h l oso!hers n 3hose teach ng some t h ngs
3ere
e4ot er c and some esot er c( and t s eno$gh t o say that t 3as so 3t h
some of the
dsc !les of Pythagoras, @
The form$la 3h ch t he !r m t 6e ch$rch !rono$nced at t he moment of
celebrat ng
ts Mysteres# 3as t hs( @De!art # ye ProfaneO Let the %at ech$mens# and
t hose 3ho
ha6e not been adm tt ed or nt at ed# go forth,@
Archela$s# B sho! of %ascara n Meso!otama# 3ho# n the year 0+*#
cond$ct ed a
contro6ersy 3t h t he Manchaeans# sa d( @These Myst er es t he ch$rch no3
comm$n cates t o h m 3ho has !assed thro$gh t he nt rod$ct ory Degree,
They are
not e4!la ned to the Gent l es at al lG nor are t hey t a$ght o!enly n the
hear ng of
%at ech$mens( b$t m$ch t hat s s!o/en s n d sg$ sed terms that the
"at hf$l A B# 3ho !ossess t he /no3ledge# may be st l l more nformed#
and t hose 3ho are not acE$a nt ed 3t h t # may s$ffer no dsad6antage, @
%yr l# Bsho! of &er$salem# 3as born n the year 9)7# and ded n 9*=, In
hs %at eches s he says( @The Lord s!a/e n !arabl es t o -s hearers n
generalG b$t to - s d sc!les -e e4!la ned n !r6at e t he !arabl es and
al legores 3h ch -e s!o/e n !$bl c, The s!l endor of gl ory s for t hose
3ho are early enl ghtened( obsc$r ty and dar/ness are t he !ort on of the
$nbel e6ers and gnorant , &$st so t he ch$rch dsco6ers ts Mysteres t o
t hose 3ho ha6e ad6anced beyond the class of %atech$mens( 3e em!loy
obsc$re terms 3t h others, @
St, Bas l # the Great B sho! of %Qsarea# born n t he year 90=# and dy ng n
t he year 9+=# says( @;e rece6e the dogmas t ransm tt ed t o $s by 3rt ng#
and t hose 3hch ha6e descended t o $s from t he A!ostl es# beneat h t he
mystery of oral t radt on( for se6eral thngs ha6e been handed t o $s
3 tho$t 3r t ng# lest the 6$lgar# too fam lar 3 t h o$r dogmas# sho$ld lose
a
d$e res!ect for t hem, , , , Th s s 3hat the $n n t at ed are not !erm tt ed to
contem!lateG and ho3 sho$ld t e6er be !ro!er to 3r te and crc$lat e
among the !eo!l e an acco$nt of themJ@
St, Gregory 8a< an<en# B sho! of %onstant no!le# A, D, 9+1# says( @.o$
ha6e heard as m$ch of t he Mystery as 3e are al l o3ed t o s!ea/ o!enly n
t he ears of al lG t he rest 3l l be comm$ncated to yo$ n !r 6at eG and t hat
yo$ m$st reta n 3 thn yo$rsel f, o, O$r Myst er es are not t o be made
/no3n t o st rangers, @
St, Ambrose# Archb sho! of M lan# 3ho 3as born n 9:2# and d ed n 919#
says n h s 3or/ De Myster s( @Al l the Mystery sho$l d be /e!t concealed#
g$arded by fa thf$l s lence# lest t sho$ld be nconsderat ely d6$lged t o
t he ears of t he Profane , , , , , It s not g 6en to all t o contem!l ate the
de!ths of o$r Mysteres o, t hat t hey may not be seen by those 3ho o$ght
not to behold t hemG nor rece 6ed by t hose 3ho cannot !reser6e them, @
And n anot her 3or/( @-e sns aganst God# 3ho d 6$l ges t o t he $n3ort hy
t he Myst er es conf ded to h m, The danger s not merely n 6ol at ng
t r$th#
b$t n tel l ng tr$t h# f he all o3 h msel f t o g 6e hnt s of them t o t hose
from
3hom they o$ght to be conceal ed Be3are of cast ng !earl s before s3 neO
, , , , E6ery Mystery o$ght t o be /e!t secretG and# as t 3ere# t o be co6ered
o6er by s lence# l est t sho$l d rashly
be d 6$l ged t o the ears of the Profane, Ta/e heed t hat yo$ do not
nca$t o$sly re6eal the MysteresO@
St, A$g$st ne# B sho! of - !!o# 3ho 3as born n 9:+# and ded n :92#
says
n one of hs d sco$rses( @-a6 ng d sm ssed the %atech$mens# 3e ha6e
reta ned yo$ only t o be o$r hearersG beca$se# besdes t hose t h ngs 3hch
belong to al l %hr st ans n common# 3e are no3 to d sco$rse t o yo$ of
s$bl me Mysteres# 3h ch none are E$al fed to hear# b$t t hose 3ho# by
t he
Master? s fa6or# are made !art a/ers of themo, To ha6e ta$ght them o!enly#
3o$l d ha6e been to bet ray them, @ And he refers t o the Ar/ of the
%o6enant#
and says t hat t s gn f ed a Mystery# or secret of God# shado3ed o6er by
t he
cher$b m of gl ory# and honored by be ng 6el ed,
St, %hrysostom and St, A$g$st ne s!ea/ of nt at on more t han f fty t mes,
St,
Ambrose 3r tes t o t hose 3ho are nt atedG and nt at on 3as not merely
ba!t sm# or adm ss on nt o t he ch$rch# b$t t referred to n t at on nt o the
Myst er es, To t he ba!t <ed and nt at ed t he Myst er es of rel gon 3ere
$n6e ledG t hey 3ere /e!t secret from t he %at ech$mensG 3ho 3ere
!erm tt ed
t o hear the Scr!t$res read and t he ordnary d sco$rses del 6ered# n
3hch
t he Myst er es# reser6ed for the "a thf$l# 3ere ne6er treat ed of, ;hen t he
ser6ces and !rayers 3ere ended# t he %atech$mens and s!ectators al l
3 thdre3, %hrysost om# B sho! of %onstant no!l e# 3as born n 97:# and
ded n :)+, -e
says( @I 3sh to s!ea/ o!enly( b$t I dare not# on acco$nt of those 3ho are
not
n t ated, I shal l therefore a6al myself of dsg$sed terms# d sco$rsng n
a
shado3y manner , , , , , ;here t he holy Myster es are cel ebrated# 3e dr 6e
a3ay all $nnt ated !ersons# and t hen close the doors, @ -e ment ons t he
accl amat ons of t he n t atedG @3h ch#@ he says# @I here !ass o6er n
s lenceG
for t s forb dden to d sclose s$ch th ngs to the Profane, @ Pall ad $s# n h s
l fe
of %hrysost om# records# as a great o$t rage# that# a t $m$lt ha6ng been
e4ct ed aga nst h m by h s enem es# t hey forced t he r 3ay nt o t he
!enetral a#
3here t he $n n t ated behel d 3hat 3as not !ro!er for them t o seeG and
%hrysostom ment ons t he same crc$mst ance n h s e! stl e t o Po!e
Innocent ,
St, %yr l of Al e4andra# 3ho 3as made B sho! n :)0# and ded n :::#
says n
hs +th Boo/ aganst &$l an( @These Mysteres are so !rofo$nd and so
e4alt ed#
t hat they can be com!rehended by t hose only 3ho are enl ghtened, I shal l
not# t herefore# at tem!t t o s!ea/ of 3hat s so admrable n t hem# lest by
dsco6er ng t hem to
t he $n nt at ed# I sho$ld offend aga nst t he n5 $nct on not to g 6e 3hat s
holy to t he m!$re# nor cast !earl s before s$ch as cannot est mat e the r
3ort ho, , I sho$l d say m$ch more# f I 3ere not afra d of beng heard by
t hose 3ho are $n n tated( beca$se men are a!t to derde 3hat t hey do
not $nderst and, And the gnorant# not beng a3are of the 3ea/ness of
t her m nds# condemn 3hat t hey o$ght most to 6enerate,@
Theodoret # Bsho! of %yro!ol s n Syra# 3as born n 919# and made
B sho! n :02, In one of hs t hree Dalog$es# cal led the Imm$table# he
ntrod$ces Orthodo4$s# s!ea/ng t h$s( @Ans3er me# f yo$ !lease# n
myst cal or obsc$re terms( for !erha!s t here are some !ersons !resent
3ho are not n t ated nt o t he Myst er es,@ And n h s !reface t o E<e/el #
t rac ng $! t he secret dsc !l ne to t he commencement of the %hrst an era#
he says( @These Myst er es are so a$g$st# that 3e o$ght to /ee! them 3t h
t he greatest ca$t on, @
M n$c $s "el 4# an em nent l a3yer of Rome# 3ho l 6ed n 0)0# and 3rote
a
defence of %hrst anty# says( @Many of them At he %hrst ansB /no3 each
other by t o/ens and sgns Mnot s et nsgnb$sN# and they form a fr endsh !
for each other# al most before t hey become acE$a nt ed,@
The Lat n ;ord# t essera# org nal ly meant a sE$are !ece of 3ood or
st one# $sed n ma/ng tessel ated !a6ement sG after3ard a tabl et on 3h ch
anythng 3as 3rt ten# and t hen a c$be or d e, Its most general $se 3as to
des gnat e a !ece of metal or 3ood# sE$are n sha!e# on 3h ch the
3at ch3ord of an Army 3as nscr bedG 3hence t essera came t o mean t he
3at ch3ord t self, There 3as also a tessera hos! tal s# 3h ch 3as a ! ece
of 3ood c$t nto t 3o !art s# as a !l edge of fr endsh!, Each !arty /e!t one
of t he !art sG and they s3ore m$t$al f del ty by &$!t er, To brea/ the
t essera 3as cons dered a dssol $t on of the frendsh !, The early
%hr st ans $sed t as a Mar/# t he 3atch3ord of fr endsh!, ; th them t
3as general ly n the sha!e of a fsh# and made of bone, On t s face 3as
nscrbed the 3ord # a f sh# the nt al s of 3h ch re!resent ed t he Gree/
3ords# G &es$s %hrst # the Son of God# t he Sa6 o$r,
St, A$g$st ne Mde "de et S6mbol sN says( @Ths s t he fat h 3h ch n a
fe3
3ords s g6en t o t he 8o6 ces to be /e!t by a symbol G these fe3 3ords are
/no3n t o al l the "at hf$l G that by bel e6 ng they may be s$bm ss 6e t o
GodG by be ng t h$s s$bmss 6e# they
may l 6e r ght lyG by l 6 ng rghtly# t hey may !$rfy t he r heart s and 3 th a
!$re heart
may $nderst and 3hat t hey bel e6e, @
Ma4 m$s Ta$r n$s says( @The t essera s a symbol and s gn by 3h ch t o
dst ng$sh
bet3een the "a thf$l and t he Profane,@
There are three Degrees n Bl $e MasonryG and n addt on t o the t3o 3ords
of t 3o
syllables each# embodyng the b nary# t hree# of t hree syl labl es each, There
3ere
t hree Grand Mast ers# the t3o K ngs# and Kh rDOm t he Art fcer, The
canddate ga ns
adm ss on by three ra!s# and three ra!s cal l $! the Bret hren, There are
t hree
!r nc !al offcers of the Lodge# three l ghts at t he Al tar# three gat es Dof the
Tem!le#
al l n the East# ;est# and So$t h, The three l ght s re!resent the S$n# the
Moon# and
Merc$ryG Osrs# Iss# and -or$sG the "at her# t he Mother# and t he %hl dG
;sdom#
Strengt h# and Bea$tyG -a/amah# Bnah# and Daat hG Ged$lah# Geb$rah# nd
Te!aret h, The cand dat e ma/es t hree crc$t s of t he Lodge( there 3ere
t hree
assassns of KhrDOm# and he 3as sla n by t hree bl o3s 3hl e see/ ng t o
esca!e by
t he t hree gates of the Tem!le, The e5 ac$l at on at hs gra6e 3as re!eated
t hree
t mes, There are t hreeK d 6 s ons of t he Tem!l e# and three# f6e# and se6en
Ste!s, A
Master 3or/s 3 th %hal /# %harcoal # and a 6essel of %l ayG t here are D, hree
mo6able
and t hree mmo6abl e 5e3els, The Tr angle a!!ears among t he Symbols( the
t 3o
!aral lel l nes enclos ng the crcle are connected at to!# as are the %ol $mns
&achn
and Boa<# symbol <ng the eE$l br $m 3h ch e4!l ans t he great Myst er es
of 8at$re,
Th s cont n$al re!rod$ct on of the n$mber t hree s not acc dental# nor
3 tho$t a
!rofo$nd mean ng( and 3e shall f nd t he same re!eated n all t he Anc ent
!hl oso!h es,
The Egy!t an Gods formed Trads# t he t h rd member n each !roceed ng
from the
other t 3o, Th$s 3e ha6e t he Tr ad of Thebes# Am$n# Ma$t # and KharsoG
t hat of
Ph lae# Osr s# Iss# and -or$sG t hat of Ele!hant ni and the %ataracts#
8e!h# Sat e#
and Ano$/i,
Os r s# Is s# and -or$s 3ere the "at her# Mot her# and SonG t he lat ter be ng
Lght # t he
So$l of the ;orl d# the Son# the Prot ogonos or " rstDBegot ten,
Somet mes th s Trad 3as regarded as SPIRIT# or t he act 6e Pr nc !le or
Generat 6e
Po3erG MATTER# or the PASSIFE Prnc!l e or Prod$ct 6e %a!actyG and
t he
'n6erse# 3h ch !roceeds from t he t 3o Prnc!l es,
;e also f nd n Egy!t ths Trad or TrntyG AmmonDRa# t he %reat or(
Os r sDRa, t he
G 6er of "r$ tf$l ness( -or$sDRa t he
I$ell er of Lght G symbol <ed by the S$mmer# A$t$mn# and S!rng S$n, "or
t he
Egy!t ans had b$t t hree Seasons# the t hree gat es of t he Tem!l eG and on
acco$nt of
t he dfferent effect s of t he S$n on t hose t hree Seasons# the De ty a!!ears
n t hese
t hree forms,
The Phoen can Trnty 3as 'l omos# %h$soros# and t he Egg o$t of 3hch
t he 'n6erse
!roceeded,
The %haldean Tr ad cons st ed of Bel # At he Persan Her6ana A/heranaB#
Oromasdes#
and Ahr manG the Good and E6l Pr nc !le al /e o$tfl o3 ng from t he
"ather# by ther
eE$l br $m and al t ernat ng !re!onderance t o !rod$ce harmony, Each 3as
t o r$l e# n
t $rn# for eE$al !erods# $nt l f nal ly the E6 l Prnc!l e sho$l d tsel f
become good,
The %haldean and Pers an oracl es of Horoaster g6e $s the Trad# " re#
Lght # and
Et her,
Or!he$s celebrat es the Trad of Phanes# O$ranos# and Kronos, %orry says
t he Or!hc
Trnty cons st ed of Met s# Phanes# and Er ca!ae$sG ; l l # Lght or Lo6e#
and L fe,
Ac$s l a$s ma/es t cons st of Met s# Eros# and gther( ; ll # Lo6e# and
Et her,
Phereycdes of Syros# of "re# ;ater# and Ar or S! r t, In t he t3o former
3e read ly
recogn <e Os rs and Is s# t he S$n and the 8 le,
The f rst three of the Persan Amshas!ands 3ere BA-MA8# the Lord of
LIG-TG
Ard behest # t he Lord Of "IREG and Shar 6er# the Lord of SPLE8DOR,
These at once
l ead $s bac/ to the Kabal a,
Pl$tarch says( @The bet t er and d 6 ner nat $re cons sts of threeG the
Int el l g bl e M, e, that
and 3hch e4 sts 3t h n t he Intel lect only as yetN# and Mat t erG # and t hat
3hch !roceeds from these# 3hch the Gree/s call Kosmos( of 3hch Pl at o
cal ls t he
Int el l g bl e# t he Idea# t he E4em!l ar# the "ather( Matt er# the Mother# t he
8$rse# and the
rece!tacl e and !l ace of generat on( and t he ss$e of these t3o# t he
Offs!r ng and
Geness, @
The Pythagorean fragment s say( @Therefore# before the -ea6en 3as made#
t here
e4st ed Idea and Matter# and God t he Demo$rgos A3or/man or act 6e
nstr$ment B# of
t he former, -e made the 3orld o$t of matt er# !erfect# onlyDbegot ten# 3 t h
a so$l and
ntell ect# and const t $ted t a d 6 nty,@
Plat o g6es $s Tho$ght # t he "at herG Pr m t 6e Mat t er# t he MotherG and
Kosmos# t he
Son# t he ss$e of the t3o Pr nc !l es, Kosmos s t he enso$l ed 'n 6erse,
; t h the lat er Pl aton sts# the Trad 3as Potence# Intel lect # and S! r t#
Ph l o re!resent s
Sanchon athon? s as "re# Lght# and
"lame# t he t hree Sons of GenosG b$t ths s t he Al e4andran# not the
Phbnc an dea,
A$rel $s says t he Dem o$rgos or %reat or s tr!le# and the three Int el l ect s
are the t hree Kngs( -e 3ho e4st sG -e 3ho !ossessesG -e 3ho behol ds,
The f rst s that 3hch e4 st s by t s essenceG the second e4st s n t he frst#
and conta ns or !ossesses n tsel f the 'n 6ersal of th ngsG all t hat
after3ard becomes( the thrd behol ds th s 'n6ersal # formed and
fashoned ntel lect $ally# and so ha6 ng a se!arat e e4st ence, The Th rd
e4st s n t he Second# and the Second n the " rst ,
The most anc ent Tr n t ar an doct r ne on record s t hat of the Brahmns,
The Et ernal S$!reme Essence# cal led PARABRA-MA# BRA-M#
PARATMA# !rod$ced t he 'n6erse by selfDreflect on# and frst re6eal ed
h msel f as BRA-MA# t he %reat ng Po3er# t hen as FIS-8'# the
Preser6 ng Po3er# and last ly as SIFA# t he Dest roy ng and Reno6at ng
Po3erG the three Modes n 3hch t he S$!reme Essence re6eal s h mself n
t he materal 'n6erseG b$t 3hch soon t o be regarded as three d st nct
De t es, These three Det es came t hey styled the TRIM'RTI# or TRIAD,
The Persans rece 6ed from the Ind ans t he doct r ne of the three
!r nc !les# and changed t t o t hat of a !r nc !le of L fe# 3h ch 3as
nd 6 d$al <ed by t he S$n# and a !rnc !l e of Deat h# 3h ch 3as
symbol <ed
by col d and dar/nessG !aral lel of t he moral 3orldG and n 3h ch t he
cont n$al and al ternat ng str$ggle bet3een l ght and dar/ness# l fe and
deat h# seemed b$t a !hase of the great str$ggl e bet 3een the good and
e6l !rnc!l es# emboded n t he l egend of ORM'HD and A-RIMA8,
MIT-RAS# a Medan reformer# 3as defed aft er hs deat h# and n6est ed
3 th t he at trb$tes of the S$nG t he dfferent astronomcal !henomena
beng
fg$rat 6ely deta led as act$al nc dent s of hs l feG n t he same manner as
t he hst ory of B'DD-A 3as n6ent ed among the - ndWs,
The Tr n ty of t he - ndWs became among t he Et h o! ans and Abyss n ans
8EP-DAMO8# P-T-A# and 8EIT- D the God %REATOR# 3hose embl em
3as a ram D MATTER# or the !r mt 6e m$d# symbol <ed by a gl obe or an
egg# and T-O'G-T# or t he LIG-T 3hch conta ns t he germ of
e6eryt h ngG
t r !l e man festat on of one and t he same God MAT-OMN# cons dered n
t hree as!ects# as t he creat 6e !o3er# goodness# and 3 sdom, Ot her
De t es 3ere s!eed ly n6ent edG and among t hem OSTRIS# re!resent ed by
t he S$n# ISIS# h s 3 fe# by the Moon or Earth# T.P-O8# h s Brother# t he
Prnc !l e of E6 l and Dar/ness# 3ho 3as the son of Os r s and Iss, And
t he Tr n ty of OSIRIS# ISIS# and -OR'S became s$bseE$ent ly the %h ef
Gods and ob5ect s of 3orsh! of the Egy!t ans,
The ancent Et r$scans Ma race t hat em grated from the RhQtan Al !s nt o
It aly# al ong 3hose ro$te e6 dences of the r mgrat on ha6e been
dsco6ered# and 3hose lang$age none ha6e yet s$cceeded n read ngN
ac/no3l edged only one S$!reme GodG b$t t hey had mages for - s
dfferent att rb$tes# and tem!les to these mages, Each to3n had one
8at onal Tem!l e# dedcated t o t he t hree great at trb$t es of God#
STRE8GT-# RI%-ES# and ;ISDOM# or T na# Talna# and Mner6a, The
8at onal Dety 3as al3ays a Trad $nder one roofG and t 3as the same n
Egy!t # 3here one S$!reme God alone 3as ac/no3l edged# b$t 3as
3orsh!!ed as a Trad# 3 th d fferent names n each d fferent home, Each
c ty n Etr$ra mght ha6e as many gods and gates and t em!l es as t
!leasedG b$t three sacred gates# and one Tem!le to three D6 ne
At tr b$t es 3ere obl gat ory# 3here6er t he l a3s of Tages Mor Ta$nt or
Thot hN
3ere rece 6ed, The only gat e t hat remans n Italy# of t he olden t me#
$ndest royed# s t he Porta del % rco at Fol terraG and t has $!on t the t hree
heads of t he t hree 8at onal D 6n t es# one $!on t he /eystone of t s
magnfcent arch# and one abo6e each s deD! ll ar,
The B$ddhst s hol d that t he God SAK.A of the - ndWs# cal led n %eyl on#
GA'TAMA# n Inda beyond t he Ganges# SOMO8AKODOM# and n
%hna# %-.DKIA# or "o# const t $t ed a Trnty ATRIRAT8AB# of B'DD-A#
D-ARMA# and SA8GA# D Int el l gence# La3# and 'n on or -armony,
The %hnese SabQans re!resent ed t he S$!reme De ty as com!osed of
%-A8GDTI# the S$!reme So6eregnG TIE8# t he -ea6ensG and TAO# t he
'n6ersal S$!reme Reason and Prnc !l e of "at hG and that from %haos#
an mmense s l ence# an mmeas$rable 6o d, 3t ho$t !erce!t bl e forms#
al one# nf n te# mm$t able# mo6ng n a crcle n l l m table s!ace#
3 tho$t
change or al terat on# 3hen 6 6 f ed by t he Prnc !l e of Tr$th# ss$ed al l
Bengs# $nder t he nfl$ence of TAO# Pr nc!l e of "a th# 3ho !rod$ced
one#
one !rod$ced t3o# t 3o !rod$ced three# and three !rod$ced all t hat s,
The Scl a6onoDFendes ty! f ed t he Tr n ty by the three heads of t he God
TRIGLAFG and the Pr$c< or Pr$ss ans by t he Tr D$ne God# PERKO'8#
PIKOLLOS# and POTRIMPOS# the De t es of Lght
and Th$nder# of -el l and the Earth# ts fr$ ts and an mals( and the
Scandna6ans by ODI8# "REA# and T-OR,
In t he KABALA-# or the -ebre3 t radt onal !h l oso!hy# t he Inf nt e
De ty#
beyond the reach of t he -$man Int ellect# and 3 t ho$t 8ame# "orm# or
L m tat on# 3as re!resent ed as de6el o!ng - mself# n order to creat e# and
by sel fDl m tat on# n ten emanat ons or o$t Dfl o3ngs# cal led SEP-IROT-#
or rays# The frst of these# n t he 3orl d AHIL'T-# t hat s# 3 th n the
De ty#
3as KET-ER# or t he %ro3n# by 3hch 3e $nderstand the D 6 ne ; ll or
Pot ency, 8e4t came# as a !ar# -AI@# MA- and BAI8A-# ord nar ly
t ranslated @; sdom@ and @Intel l gence#@ the former termed the "AT-ER#
and t he l att er t he MOT-ER, -AKEMA- s the act 6e Po3er or Energy of
De ty# by 3hch -e !rod$ces 3t h n - msel f Intel lect on or Thn/ ng( and
BAI8A-# the !ass 6e %a!acty# from 3hch# acted on by t he Po3er# the
Int el l ect on fl o3s, Th s Int el lect on s cal l ed DAAT-( and t s the
@;ORD# @
of Pl at o and the GnostcsG t he $n$ttered 3ord# 3t h n t he De ty, -ere s
t he or gn of t he Tr nty of the "at her# the Mother or -oly S! r t# and t he
Son or ;ord,
Anot her Trn ty 3as com!osed of the fo$rt h Se!hrah# GED'LA- or
K-AS;# Bengnty or Mercy# al so t ermed "AT-ER MAbaNG the fft h#
GEB'RA-# Se6erty or Strct &$st ce# also termed the MOT-ER MImmaNG
and t he s 4t h# t he SO8 or Iss$e of t hese# TIP-ARET-# Bea$ty or
-armony, @E6eryth ng# @ says t he SO-AR# R!roceeds accordng t o t he
Myst ery of the Balance@ D that s# by the eE$ l br $m of O!!ost es( and
t h$s from the Infnte Mercy and the Inf n te 5$st ce# n eE$ l br $m#
flo3s
t he !erfect -armony of the 'n6erse, Inf nt e PO;ER# 3h ch s La3l ess#
and Infnte ;ISDOM# n EE$ l br$m# also !rod$ce BEA'T. or
-ARMO8.# as Son# Iss$e# or Res$l t D t he ;ord# or $t t erance of t he
Tho$ght of God, Po3er and &$st ce or Se6er ty are the same( ; sdom
and Mercy or Bengn ty are t he sameG D n the Inf n te D 6ne 8at$re,
Accord ng to Ph l o of Ale4andra# the S$!reme Be ng# Pr m t 6e Lght or
Archety!e of Lght # $n t ng 3t h ;ISDOM A B# t he mother of %reat on#
forms n - msel f t he ty!es of al l thngs# and act s $!on the 'n 6erse
t hro$gh
t he ;ORD A , , LogosB# 3ho d3ell s n God# and n 3hom all - s !o3ers
and at tr b$tes de6el o! themsel6esG a doct r ne borro3ed by h m from
Plat o,
S mon Mag$s and hs dsc !les ta$ght that t he S$!reme Beng or %entre
of
Lght !rod$ced frst of al l # three co$!les of $nted
E4 stences# of bot h se4es# A , , , S$<$gasB# 3h ch 3ere t he or gns of al l
t h ngs( REASO8 and I8FE8TIFE8ESSG SPEE%- and T-O'G-TG
and and # %AL%'LATIO8 and RE"LE%TIO8( A
and
#
o 8f$s and E!noa# Phfne and Ennoa# Log smos and
Ent h$missBG of 3hch Enno a or ;ISDOM 3as the f rst !rod$ced# and
Mother
of al l that e4 st s,
Ot her D sc!l es of S mon# and 3 t h t hem most of the Gnost cs# ado!t ng
and
o Pl erfma# or PLE8IT'DE of modfy ng t he doct r ne# t a$ght t hat t he
S$!er or Int el l gences# ha6 ng t he S$!reme Beng at ther head# 3as
com!osed of e ght Eons A , , A fnesB of dfferent se4esG , , PRO"'8DIT.
and SILE8%EG SPIRIT and TR'T-G t he ;ORD and LI"EG MA8 and the
G and G and and ( and %-'R%-( A
o, B$t hos and S giG Pne$ma and Alet heaG Logos and
and HfeG Anthrf!os and E//lisaB,
Bardesanes# 3hose doctr nes t he Syran %hrst ans long embraced# ta$ght
t hat the $n/no3n "ather# ha!!y n the Plen t$de of -s Lfe and
Perfect ons#
frst !rod$ced a %om!anon for - msel f A , , , S$<$gosB# 3hom -e !l aced
n t he %elest al Parad se and 3ho became# by - m# t he Mot her of
%-RISTOS#
Son of t he L6 ng God( , e, Mlayng asde the all egoryN# that the Et ernal
conce 6ed# n the sl ence of -s decrees# the Tho$ght of re6eal ng - msel f
by
a Be ng 3ho sho$l d be - s mage or -s Son( that t o the Son s$cceeded
hs
Sst er and S!o$se# the -oly S!rt # and t hey !rod$ced fo$r S! r t s of the
el ement s# male and female# Mao and &abseho# 8o$ro and R$choG then
Se6en
Myst c %o$!les of S!rt s# and -ea6en and Eart h# and all t hat sG t hen
se6en
s!rt s go6ern ng t he !lanet s# t3el 6e go6ernng t he %onstel lat ons of the
Hod ac# and t hrtyDs 4 St arry Intel l gences 3hom he cal l ed Deacons( 3hl e
t he
-oly S!rt ASo!ha Achamot hB# be ng bot h t he -oly Intel l gence and t he
So$l
of t he !hys cal 3orld# 3ent from t he Pl erfma nt o that materal 3orl d and
t here
mo$rned her degradat on# $nt l %-RISTOS# her former s!o$se# com ng to
her
3 th h s D 6 ne Lght and Lo6e# g$ ded her n t he 3ay to !$r f cat on# and
she
aga n $nt ed hersel f 3t h h m as hs !r m t 6e %om!an on,
Basl des# t he %hr st an Gnost c# ta$ght that there 3ere se6en emanat ons
from the S$!reme Be ng( The "rstDborn# Tho$ght# t he ;ord# Reflect on#
# # # # # ; sdom# Po3er# and Rght eo$sness A #
and Prot ogonos# 8o$s# Logos# Phroness# So!ha# D$nams# and
D /aros$niBG from 3hom emanated ot her Intell gences n s$ccesson# to
t he
n$mber# n al l # of t hree h$ndred and s 4tyDf 6eG 3h ch 3ere God
manfested# and
com!osed t he Plent $de of t he D 6 ne Emanat ons# or t he God Abra4asG of
3hch
t he Tho$ght Aor Intel lect # , , 8o$sB $n ted t self# by ba!t sm n t he r6er
&ordan# 3t h the man &es$s# ser6ant A , Da/onosB of t he h$man raceG b$t
dd not s$ffer 3t h - mG and the dsc !l es of Bas l des ta$ght that the # !$t
on
t he a!!earance only of h$man ty# and that S mon of %yrene 3as cr$cfed
n -s
st ead and ascended nt o -ea6en,
Basl des hel d t hat o$t of the $nre6eal ed God# 3ho s at the head# of t he
3orl d of
emanat ons# and e4alt ed abo6e all conce!t on or des gnat on
A B# 3ere e6ol6ed se6en l 6 ng# selfDs$bsstent# e6erDact 6e
hy!osat <ed !o3ers(
)st, 8O'S , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0d, LOGOS , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
9d, Phroness , , , , , , , , , , , ,
:th, So!ha, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
SE%O8D( T-E A%TIFE OR OPERATIFE PO;ER,
7th, D$nam s, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
=th, D /a os$ni , , , , , , , , ,
+th, Erini, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
These Se6en Po3ers M , , D$name sN# 3t h the Pr mal Gro$nd o$t of
3hch they 3ere e6ol 6ed# const t$ted n hs scheme t he AProte
OgdoasB# or "rst Octa6e# t he root of al l E4 stence, "rom t h s !ont# the
s!rt $al
l fe !roceeded t o e6ol6e o$t of t self cont n$al ly many gradat ons of
e4st ence#
each lo3er one beng st l l t he m!ress on# t he ant ety!e# of t he mmedate
hgher
one, -e s$!!osed there 3ere 9=7 of these reg ons or gradat ons# e4!ressed
by
t he myst cal 3ord
"IRST( T-E I8TELLE%T'AL PO;ERS,
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , The M nd,
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , The Reason,
, , , , , , , , , , , The Thn/ ng Po3er,
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ;sdom,
, , , , , , , , , , , , Mght # accom!l shng t he !$r!oses of
;sdom,
T-IRD( T-E MORAL ATTRIB'TES,
, , , , , , -ol ness or Moral Perfect on,
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , In3ard TranE$ l ty,
AAbra4asB,
The s t h$s nter!reted# by the $s$al method of rec/on ng Gree/ lett ers
n$mercal lyo, , a# ) , , b# ) o, 5# )22 o, a# ) o, 4# =2, , a# ) , , 4# 022 Y 9=7(
3hch s
t he 3hol e Emanat onD;orld# as t he de6el o!ment of t he S$!reme Beng,
In t he system of Basl des# Lght # Lfe# So$l # and Good 3ere o!!osed to
Dar/ness# Deat h# Mat ter# and E6l # thro$gho$t the 3hole co$rse of the
'n6erse,
Accord ng to the Gnostc 6 e3# God 3as re!resented as t he mmanent#
ncom!rehens ble and org nal so$rce of al l !erfect onG the $nfathomable
AB.SS
M , , b$t hosN# accord ng to Falent n$s# e4al ted abo6e al l !oss bl ty of
des gnat onG of 3hom# !ro!erly s!ea/ ng# noth ng can be !redcat edG the
of Basl des# the of Phl o, "rom t hs ncom!rehensble Essence of
God# an mmedate t ranst on t o f n t e t h ngs s nconce 6abl e, Sel fD
l mt at on s
t he frst beg nn ng of a comm$ncat on of l fe on t he !art of God D t he
frst
!ass ng of the h dden De ty nt o man fest at onG and from th s !roceeds all
f$rther
sel fDde6el o! ng man fest at on of t he D 6 ne Essence, "rom ths !r mal l n/
n t he
cha n of l fe there are e6ol 6ed# n the f rst !lace# the man fold !o3ers or
at trb$tes nherent n the d 6 ne Essence# 3hch# $nt l t hat f rst
sel fcom!rehens on#
3ere al l hdden n the Abyss of -s Essence, Each of t hese
at trb$tes !resents the 3hol e d6 ne Essence $nder one !art c$lar as!ectG
and t o
each# t herefore# n th s res!ect# the t t l e of God may a!!ro!rately be
a!!l ed,
These D 6 ne Po3ers e6ol 6 ng t hemsel 6es t o sel fDs$bsstence# become
t here$!on t he germs and !r nc !les of all f$rther de6elo!ments of l fe, The
l fe
conta ned n them $nfol ds and nd 6 d$al <es tsel f more and more# b$t n
s$ch a
3ay that t he s$ccess6e grades of ths e6ol $t on of l fe cont n$al ly sn/
l o3er and
l o3erG the s!r ts become feebl er# the f$rt her they are remo6ed from t he
frst l n/
n t he seres,
The f rst man festat on t hey termed
hea$to$B or
3as hy!ostat cal ly re!resented n a or
A!rot i /at al i!ss
A!rot on /at ali!t on to$ Theo$BG 3hch
A8o$s or LogosB,
In t he Ale4andran Gnoss# the Plat on c not on of t he A-$l iB
!redom nates,
Th s s the dead# t he $ns$bstant al D t he bo$ndary that l mt s from 3 t ho$t
t he
e6ol$t on of l fe n t s grad$al ly ad6ancng !rogress on# 3hereby the
Perfect s
e6er e6ol6ng t self nt o t he l ess Perfect, Th s agan# s re!resented $nder
6ar o$s magesG D at one t me as the dar/ness that e4st s al ongs de of the
l ght G
at another# as t he 6o d A #
, , , , Kenoma# KenonB# n o!!ost on to the "$ll ness# A , , , , PliromaB of
t he D6 ne LfeG or as the shado3 t hat accom!anes the l ght G or as t he
chaos# or the sl$gg sh# stagnant# dar/ 3ater, Th s mat ter# dead n t sel f#
!ossesses by t s o3n nat $re no nherent tendencyG as l fe of e6ery sort s
fore gn to t # t self ma/es no encroachment on the D 6 ne, As# ho3e6er#
t he e6ol$t ons of t he D 6 ne Lfe Mt he essences de6el o! ng t hemsel 6es o$t
of t he !rogress 6e emanat onN become feebler# the f$rt her they are
remo6ed from the f rst l n/ n the seresG and as the r connect on 3 t h t he
frst becomes looser at each s$ccess 6e ste!# there arses at t he l ast st e!
of t he e6ol $t on# an m!erfect # defect 6e !rod$ct# 3h ch# $nabl e to ret an
ts connect on 3t h t he chan of D 6 ne L fe# sn/s from t he ;orld of
Eons
nt o t he mater al chaos( or# accordng to the same not on# some3hat
dfferent ly e4!ressed Aaccordng t o the O!h t es and to BardesanesB# a
dro! from t he f$l lness of t he D 6 ne l fe b$bbles o6er nto the border ng
6od, -ere$!on the dead matt er# by comm 4t$re 3t h t he l 6 ng !r nc !le#
3hch t 3anted# frst of al l rece 6es an mat on, B$t # at t he same t me#
al so#
t he d6ne# t he l 6ng# becomes corr$!t ed by mngl ng 3 th t he chaot c
mass, E4stence no3 m$l t !l es tsel f, There arses a s$bord nate#
defect 6e l feG t here s gro$nd for a ne3 3orl dG a creat on start s nt o
beng#
beyond the conf nes of the 3orld of emanat on, B$t # on t he other hand#
s nce t he chaot c !r nc!le of mat ter has acE$ red 6 tal ty# t here no3
arses
a more dst nct and more act 6e o!!os t on t o t he GodDl /e D a barely
negat 6e# bl nd# $ngodly nat$reD!o3er# 3h ch obst nat ely res sts al l
nfl $ence of t he D 6 neG hence# as !rod$ct s of t he s!rt of t he Mof t he
, , Pne$ma -$l /onN# are Satan# mal gnant s! r ts# 3c/ed men#
n none of 3hom s t here any reasonable or moral !r nc!le# or any
!r nc !le of a rat onal 3 ll G b$t bl nd !ass ons al one ha6e t he ascendency,
In t hem t here s the same confl ct # as t he scheme of Platon sm s$!!oses#
bet3een the so$l $nder t he g$dance of D 6 ne reason At he , , 8o$sB#
and t he so$l bl ndly res st ng reason D bet3een t he A!ronoaB and
t he AanagiB# the D 6 ne Pr nc !l e and the nat $ral,
The Syran Gnoss ass$med the e4 stence of an act 6e# t$rb$lent / ngdom
of e6l # or of dar/ness# 3h ch# by t s encroachments on the / ngdom of
l ght # bro$ght abo$t a comm 4t$re of the l ght 3 th t he dar/ness# of t he
GodDl /e 3 t h t he $ngodl /e,
E6en among t he Platonst s# some tho$ght t hat along 3 th an
organ <ed# nert mat t er# the s$bst rat $m of t he cor!oreal 3orl d# there
e4st ed from the beg nn ng a bl nd# l a3less mot 6e !o3er# an $ngodl /e
so$l# as t s or gnal mot 6e and act 6e !r nc !le, As t he norganc mat t er
3as organ<ed nt o a cor!oreal 3orl d# by the !l astc !o3er of the Dety#
so# by the same !o3er# la3 and reason 3ere comm$n cated to that
t $rb$l ent # rrat onal so$l, Th$s t he chaos of t he 3as transformed nt o
an organ <ed 3orld# and t hat bl nd so$l nt o a rat onal !rnc!l e# a
m$ndane so$l# an mat ng t he 'n6erse, As from the lat ter !roceeds all
rat onal # s!rt $al l fe n h$man ty# so from the former !roceeds al l that s
rrat onal # all t hat s $nder t he bl nd s3ay of !ass on and a!!et teG and all
malgnant s! rt s are t s !rogeny,
In one res!ect al l t he Gnost cs agreed( they al l held# t hat t here 3as a
3orl d !$rely emanat ng o$t of the 6 tal de6elo!ment of God# a creat on
e6ol6ed drectly o$t of the D 6ne Essence# far e4al ted abo6e any o$t 3ard
creat on !rod$ced by God? s !l ast c !o3er# and cond t oned by !reDe4st ng
matt er, They agreed n hol dng that the framer of t h s lo3er 3orld 3as not
t he "ather of that hgher 3orl d of emanat onG b$t t he Dem$rge A D
B# a be ng of a / ndred nat$re 3 t h t he 'n 6erse framed and go6erned
by h m# and far nfer or t o t hat hgher system and t he "at her of t,
B$t some# set t ng o$t from deas 3hch had long !re6aled among certa n
&e3s of Ale4andr a# s$!!osed t hat the S$!reme God created and
go6erned t he 3orl d by -s m nster ng s!rt s# by t he angel s, At t he head
of t hese angels st ood one 3ho had t he drect on and cont rol of all G
t herefore call ed the Art fcer and Go6ernor of the ;orl d, Ths Dem $rge
t hey com!ared 3 t h the !last c# an mat ng# m$ndane s!rt of Plato and
o, De$t eros TheosG t he Platonst s At he o, Theos
Genet osB# 3ho# moreo6er# accordng t o t he T mQ$s of Pl ato# st r6es to
re!resent the IDEA of the D6 ne Reason# n t hat 3h ch s becom ng Mas
contrad st ng$ shed from t hat 3h ch sN and tem!oral , Th s angel s a
re!resentat 6e of t he S$!reme God# on t he l o3er st age of e4 st ence( he
does not act nde!endently# b$t merely accordng to the deas ns! red n
h m by the S$!reme GodG 5 $st as t he !l ast c# m$ndane so$l of t he
Plat on st s creat es all t h ngs after t he !at tern of the deas comm$n cat ed
, , , , 8o$s D the by the S$!reme , Reason A , , , ho est <fon D t he
!arade gma# of t he D 6 ne Reason hy!ost at <edB,
B$t t hese deas t ranscend hs l mt ed essenceG he cannot $nderst and
t hemG he s merely ther $nconsc o$s organG and therefore s $nabl e
h msel f to com!rehend the 3hol e sco!e and mean ng of the 3or/ 3hch
l e !erforms, As an organ $nder the g$ dance of a h gher ns! rat on# he
re6eals hgher tr$t hs t han he h mself can com!rehend, The mass of t he
&e3s# t hey held# recogn <ed not t he angel # by 3hom# n all t he
Theo!hanes of t he Old Testament # God re6eal ed - msel f G they /ne3 not
t he Dem $rge n h s tr$e rel at on to the h dden S$!reme God# 3ho ne6er
re6eals - mself n t he sens ble 3orl d, They confo$nded the ty!e and the
archety!e# the symbol and the dea, They rose no h gher than t he
Dem $rgeG t hey t oo/ h m t o be the S$!reme God - msel f, B$t the
s!rt $al
men among them# on the contrary# cl early !erce 6ed# or at least d 6 ned#
t he deas 6el ed $nder &$da smG they rose beyond t he Dem$rge# to a
/no3l edge of the S$!reme GodG and are therefore !ro!erly -s
, , Thera!e$ta B, 3orsh!!ers A
Ot her Gnost cs# 3ho had not been foll o3ers of t he Mosa c rel gon# b$t
3ho had# at an earl er !er od# framed t o t hemsel6es an orental Gnoss#
regarded t he Dem$rge as a be ng absol$tely host le to t he S$!reme God,
-e and h s angels# not3 thstandng ther fnte nat $re# 3 sh t o est abl sh
t her nde!endence( they 3l l tolerate no foregn r$le 3t h n t her real m,
;hate6er of a h gher nat $re descends nto ther / ngdom# t hey see/ to
hold m!r soned there# lest t sho$l d ra se t self abo6e t her narro3
!rec ncts, Probably# n t h s system# the / ngdom of the Dem $rgc Angels
corres!onded# for t he most !art # 3 t h t hat of the dece tf$l St arDS!rt s#
3ho
see/ to rob man of h s freedom# to beg$ le h m by 6ar o$s art s of
dece!t on# and 3ho e4erc se a tyranncal s3ay o6er t he t h ngs of th s
3orl d, Accordngly# n the system of t hese SabQans# t he se6en PlanetD
S! r ts# and the t 3el 6e StarDS! r ts of the <od ac# 3ho s!rang from an
rreg$lar connect on bet3een the cheated "et ah l and the S!rt of
Dar/ness# !l ay an m!ortant !art n e6eryth ng that s bad, The Dem $rge
s a l mt ed and l m t ng be ng# !ro$d# 5eal o$s# and re6engef$l G and ths
hs
character bet rays t self n t he Old Testament # 3hch# t he Gnost cs held#
came from h m, They transferred t o the Dem $rge h msel f# 3hat e6er n
t he
dea of God# as !resent ed by t he Ol d Testament# a!!eared t o them
defect 6e, Aganst hs 3 ll and r$l e the 3as cont n$ally rebell ng#
re6ol t ng 3t ho$t cont rol aga nst t he dom n on 3h ch he# t he fash oner#
3o$l d e4erc se o6er t #
cast ng off the yo/e m!osed on t# and destroyng the 3or/ he had beg$n,
The same 5 ealo$s be ng# l m ted n h s !o3er# r$l ng 3 t h des!ot c s3ay#
t hey mag ned they sa3 n nat $re, -e st r 6es t o chec/ t he germ nat on of
t he d6ne seeds of l fe 3hch the S$!reme God of -ol ness and Lo6e#
3ho has no connect on 3hat e6er 3t h the sensble 3orl d# has scat tered
among men, That !erfect God 3as at most /no3n and 3orsh !!ed n
Myst er 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 sect s# t o sol6e the great !roblems# t he creat on
of a mater al 3orl d by an mmateral Beng# t he fall of man# the
ncarnat on# t he redem!t on and rest orat on of the s! r ts called men#
admt ted a long ser es of ntell gences# nter6en ng n a ser es of s! rt $al
o!erat onsG and 3h ch t hey desgnated by the names# The Beg nn ng# the
;ord# t he OnlyDBegot ten# L fe# Lght # and S! rt AGhost B( n Gree/# #
# MoD and AArchi# Logos# Monogenis# Hfe# #
Phfs# and Pne$maB, St , &ohn# at t he begnn ng of hs Gos!el# a6ers t hat t
3as &es$s %hr st 3ho e4 sted n t he Beg nn ngG that -e 3as t he ;ORD of
God by 3hch e6erythng 3as madeG that -e 3as the OnlyDBegott en# the
L fe and t he Lght # and t hat -e dff$ses among men the -oly S! r t Aor
Ghost B# t he D 6 ne Lfe and Lght ,
So the Pl iroma A B# Pl en t$de or "$ll ness# 3as a fa6or te t erm 3 th
t he Gnost cs# and Tr$th and Grace 3ere the Gnost c EonsG and the
S monans# Do/itis# and ot her Gnostcs hel d t hat the Eon %hrst &es$s
3as ne6er real ly# b$t only a!!arent ly cl othed 3 th a h$man body( b$t St ,
&ohn re!l es that the ;ord dd really become "lesh# and d3elt among $sG
and t hat n - m 3ere t he Pl iroma and Tr$t h and Grace,
In t he doct r ne of Falent n$s# reared a %hr st an at Al e4andra# God 3as a
!erfect Be ng# an Abyss A , , B$t hosB# 3h ch no nt ell gence co$l d
so$nd# beca$se no eye co$ld reach the n6 sble and neffable heghts on
3hch -e d3elt # and no m nd co$ld com!rehend t he d$rat on of - s
e4st enceG -e has al3ays beenG -e s t he Pr m t 6e "at her and Begnnng
and Athe , , Pro!at fr and ProarchiB( -e 3l l BE al 3ays# and
does not gro3 ol d, The de6elo!ment of - s Perfect ons !rod$ced the
ntell ect$al 3orl d, After ha6ng !assed nf n te ages n re!ose and
s lence#
-e man fest ed - mself by - s Tho$ght# so$rce of all - s manfestat ons#
and 3hch rece 6ed from - m t he germ of - s
, , EnnoaB s also creat ons, Beng of - s Beng# - s Tho$ght A
t ermed A%har sB# Grace or &oy# and # or ASgi or ArritonB#
Sl ence or the Ineffabl e, Its f rst man festat on 3as A8o$sB# t he
Int el l gence# frst of the Eons# commencement of al l th ngs# f rst
re6elat on
of t he D6n ty# the AMonogenisB# or OnlyDBegot ten( ne4t # Tr$th
A D o Alit heaB# h s com!anon, Ther man festat ons 3ere t he ;ord
o, HoiB and thers# Man and the %h$rch and , , LogosB and Lfe A A
A and o, Anthrf!os and E//l isaB( and from t hese# ot her
t 3el6e# s 4 of 3hom 3ere -o!e# "a th# %har ty# Intel l gence# -a!! ness#
and ; sdomG or# n the -ebre3# Kest en# Kna# Am!he# O$anan m#
Thaedes# and O$bna, The harmony of t he Eons# st r$ggl ng t o /no3 and
be $nted t o t he Pr mt 6e God# 3as d st$rbed# and t o redeem and rest ore
t hem# t he Intell gence A B !rod$ced %hrst and t he -oly S!rt - s
com!an onG 3ho rest ored t hem to t her frst est at e of ha!! ness and
harmonyG and t here$!on t hey formed the Eon &es$s# born of a F rg n# to
3hom the %hr st os $n ted h msel f n ba!t sm and 3ho# 3 t h hs
%om!anon So!haDAchamot h# sa6ed and redeemed t he 3orld,
The Marcos ans t a$ght t hat the S$!reme Dety !rod$ced by -s 3ords the
ALogosB or Plent $de of Eons( - s f rst $tt erance 3as a syllable of
fo$r l ett ers# each of 3hch became a bengG - s second of fo$r# -s t hrd
of
t en# and -s fo$rt h of t 3el 6e( t hrty n al l# 3h ch const t $ted the f
APl iromaB,
The Fal ent nans# and ot hers of t he Gnost cs# dst ng$ shed t hree orders
of e4st ences( D )st , The d 6 ne germs of l fe# e4al ted by ther nat $re
abo6e
matt er# and a/n to the MSo!h aB# t o the m$ndane so$l and t o t he
Pliroma(D t he s! rt $al nat $res# APh$se s Pne$mat /a B( 0d,
The nat$res or gnat ng n t he l fe# d 6ded from the former by t he
m 4t$re
# D the !sychcal nat $res# of t he APh$ses Ps$ch/a BG 3 t h
3hch beg ns a !erfectly ne3 order of e4st ence# an mage of that hgher
mnd and syst em# n a s$bord nate gradeG and fnally# 9d, The 'ngodl /e
or -yl c 8at $re# 3hch res sts al l amel orat on# and 3hose t endency s
only to dest roy D t he nat $re of bl nd l$st and !ass on,
The nat$re of the
relat onsh ! 3t h God Mthe
A!ne$mat /onB# t he s!r t $al # s essent al
o, -omoDo$son t f ThefN( hence
t he l fe of 'n ty# t he $nd6 ded# t he
# absol $t ely s m!l e M o, O$sa hen/e# monoedesN,
A!s$ch /o N s dsr$!t on nt o m$l t !l c ty# The essence of the
manfol dnessG 3hch# ho3e6er# s s$bord nat e t o a hgher $n ty# by 3hch
t
al lo3s t sel f t o be g$ ded# frst $nconsco$sly# then consco$sly,
The essence of t he A-$l /o B Mof 3hom Sat an s t he headN# s the
drect o!!oste to al l $n tyG dsr$!t on and ds$n on n tsel f# 3 tho$t t he
l east sym!at hy# 3t ho$t any !o nt of coal escence 3hat e6er for $n tyG
t oget her 3t h an effort t o dest roy al l $n ty# to e4tend ts o3n nherent
ds$non t o e6eryth ng# and to rend e6eryt h ng as$nder, Ths !r nc !l e has
no !o3er to !ost anyth ngG b$t only t o negat 6e( t s $nable to creat e# t o
!rod$ce# to form# b$t only to destroy# to decom!ose,
By Marc$s# the d sc !l e of Fal ent n$s# t he dea of a ALogos
To$ Ont osB# of a ;ORD# manfest ng the hdden D6ne Essence# n the
%reat on# 3as s!$n o$t nt o t he most s$btl e det al s D t he ent re creat on
beng# n hs 6e3# a cont n$o$s $t terance of the Ineffabl e, The 3ay n
3hch the germs of d6ne l fe At he o, s!ermata
!ne$mat /aB# 3hch l e sh$t $! n t he Eons# cont n$ally $nfol d and
nd 6 d$al <e t hem sel6es more and more# s re!resented as a
s!ont aneo$s analys s of t he se6eral names of t he Ineffable# nt o t her
se6eral so$nds, An echo of t he Pl iroma fal l s do3n nt o t he A-$IiB# and
becomes the form ng of a ne3 b$t l o3er creat on,
One form$l a of t he !ne$mat cal ba!t sm among t he Gnost cs ran th$s( @In
t he 8AME 3h ch s h dden from al l the D 6nt es and Po3ers@ Aof the
Dem $rgeB# @The 8ame of Tr$th@ At he AAl etheal # sel fDmanfestat on of
t he B$t hosB# 3hch &es$s of 8a<areth has !$t on n t he l ghtD<ones of
%hr st# the l 6 ng %hrst # t hro$gh the -oly Ghost # for t he redem!t on of
t he
angel s# D t he 8ame by 3hch all t hngs at ta n t o Perfect on, @ The
canddate
t hen sa d( @I am est abl shed and redeemedG I am redeemed n my so$l
from th s 3orl d# and from all t hat bel ongs to t # by t he name of # 3ho
has redeemed the So$l of &es$s by the l 6 ng %hr st , @ The assembly then
sa d( @Peace Mor Sal 6at onN to all on 3hom th s name rest sO@
The boy Don$sos# t orn n !eces# accordng to t he Bacchc Mysteres# by
t he Tt ans# 3as consdered by t he Mancheans as s m!ly re!resent ng the
So$l# s3all o3ed $! by the !o3ers of dar/D
ness# D the d 6 ne l fe rent nto fragments by matt er( D t hat !art of the
l $mno$s essence of the !r mt 6e man At he AProtos
Anthro!osB of Man# the APrafn Ant hrf!osB of t he
Falent nans# the Adam Kadmon of the Kabal ahG and the Kalomort s of t he
Henda6est aB# s3al lo3ed $! by t he !o3ers of dar/nessG t he M$ndane
So$l# m 4ed 3 th mat ter D t he seed of d 6 ne l fe# 3hch had fall en nt o
matt er# and had t hence to $ndergo a !rocess of !$rfcat on and
de6elo!ment ,
The AGnos sB of %ar!ocrates and hs son E!!hanes consst ed n
t he /no3ledge of one S$!reme Org nal be ng# the h ghest $nty# from
3hom al l e4 st ence has emanated# and t o 3hom t str 6es t o ret $rn, The
fn t e s!r ts that r$l e o6er t he se6eral !ort ons of t he Eart h# see/ to
co$nt eract ths $n 6ersal t endency t o $ntyG and from t her nfl$ence#
t her
l a3s# and arrangement s# !roceeds al l t hat chec/s# d st $rbs# or l mt s t he
orgnal comm$n on# 3hch s the bas s of nat $re# as t he o$t 3ard
manfestat on of that hghest 'nty, These s!rt s# moreo6er# see/ to
reta n
$nder t her dom n on the so$ls 3hch# emanat ng from the h ghest 'n ty#
and st l l !art a/ ng of t s nat $re# ha6e la!sed nt o t he cor!oreal 3orl d# and
ha6e t here been m!rsoned n bod es# n order# $nder t her domn on# t o
be /e!t 3 thn t he cycle of mgrat on, "rom t hese fnte s! r t s# the
!o!$lar
rel gons of dfferent nat ons der 6e t he r or gn, B$t t he so$l s 3h ch#
from
a rem n scence of t he r former cond t on# soar $!3ard t o t he
contem!lat on of that hgher 'nty# reach t o s$ch !erfect freedom and
re!ose# as nothng aft er3ard can d st$rb or l m t # and rse s$!er or t o the
!o!$lar de t es and rel g ons, As e4am!les of th s sort # t hey named
Pyt hagoras# Plat o# Ar stot le# and %hr st, They made no dst nct on
bet3een the lat ter and t he 3 se and good men of e6ery nat on, They
t a$ght t hat any other so$l 3hch co$l d soar to the same heght of
contem!lat on# m ght be regarded as eE$al 3 t h - m,
The O!h tes commenced ther system 3 th a S$!reme Beng# l ong
$n/no3n to the -$man race# and st ll so the greater n$mber of menG the
AB$t hosB# or Prof$nd ty# So$rce of Lght# and of AdamDKadmon# the
Pr m t 6e Man# made by the Dem o$rgos# b$t !erfected by the S$!reme
God by t he comm$n cat on to h m of the S!r t A , , Pne$maB, The frst
emanat on 3as t he Tho$ght of the S$!reme De ty At he , , Enno aB#
t he conce!t on of t he 'n 6erse n the Tho$ght of God,
Th s Tho$ght # cal led al so Sl ence M , , S giN# !rod$ced t he S! rt A
, , Pne$maB# Mot her of the L 6ng# and ; sdom of God, Toget her 3t h th s
Pr m t 6e E4 stence# Matt er e4 st ed also Mt he ;aters# Dar/ness# Abyss#
and %haosN# eternal l /e the S!r t$al Pr nc !l e, B$t hos and -s Tho$ght#
$nt ng 3 th ; sdom# made her fr$t f$l by t he D6 ne Lght # and she
!rod$ced a !erfect and an m!erfect beng# %hr stos# and a Second and
nfer or 3sdom# So!haDAchamot h# 3ho fal l ng nt o chaos rema ned
entangl ed t here# became enfeebl ed# and l ost al l /no3l edge of t he
S$!er or ; sdom that ga6e her b rt h, %omm$ncat ng mo6ement t o
%haos# she !rod$ced Ialdabaot h# t he Demo$rgos# Agent of Materal
%reat on# and t hen ascended to3ard her f rst !lace n t he scal e of
creat on, lal dabaoth !rod$ced an angel t hat 3as h s mage# and t hs a
second# and so on n s$ccess on to t he s 4t h aft er t he Dem o$rgos( t he
se6en be ng refl ect ons one of t he ot her# yet d fferent and nhabt ng
se6en d st nct regons, The names of the s 4 th$s !rod$ced 3ere IAO#
SABAOT-# ADO8AI# ELOI# ORAI# and ASTAP-AL Ialdabaot h# to
become
nde!endent of hs mother# and to !ass for t he S$!reme Beng# made t he
3orl d# and man# n hs o3n mageG and hs mot her ca$sed the S!rt $al
!r nc !le to !ass from h m nt o man so madeG and hencefor3ard the
contest bet 3een the Dem o$rgos and h s mother# bet 3een lght and
dar/ness# good and e6l # 3as concentrated n manG and t he mage of
Ialdabaot h# reflect ed $!on mat ter# became t he Ser!entDS!r t# Satan# t he
E6 l Intel l gence, E6e# created by Ial dabaoth# had by 's Sons ch l dren
t hat 3ere angels l /e t hemsel6es, The S! rt $al l ght 3as 3t hdra3n from
man by So!ha# and the 3orl d s$rrendered t o the nfl $ence of e6 l G $nt l
t he S! rt # $rged by the entreat es of ; sdom# nd$ced the S$!reme Be ng
t o send %hr st os to redeem t , %om!elled# des! t e h mself# by hs Mother#
Ialdabaot h ca$sed t he man &es$s t o be born of a F rgn# and t he %el est al
Sa6 o$r# $nt ng 3 th h s Sster# ; sdom# descended thro$gh t he reg ons
of t he se6en angels# a!!eared n each $nder the form of ts chef#
concealed h s o3n# and ent ered 3 th h s s ster nto the man &es$s at the
ba!t sm n &ordan, Ial dabaot h# f ndng that &es$s 3as destroyng hs
em!re and abol sh ng hs 3orsh !# ca$sed t he &e3s to hat e and cr$cfy
- mG before 3hch ha!!ened# %hr st os and ; sdom had ascended t o the
celest al regons, They restored &es$s t o l fe and ga6e - m an et hereal
body# n 3h ch -e remaned eghteen mont hs on earth# and rece6 ng from
;sdom t he !erD
fect /no3ledge A o, , GnossB# comm$ncat ed t to a smal l n$mber of
- s a!ostl es# and t hen arose to the ntermedat e reg on nhab ted by
l aldabaot h# 3here# $n/no3n to h m# -e s ts at hs rght hand# t a/ ng from
h m the So$l s of Lght !$r f ed by %hr stos, ;hen not h ng of the
S! r t$al
3orl d shall reman s$b5ect t o l aldabaot h# the redem!t on 3l l be
accom!l shed# and t he end of the 3orld# t he com!let on of t he ret $rn of
Lght nto the Pl en t $de# 3 ll occ$r,
Tat an ado!t ed the t heory of Emanat on# of Eons# of the e4 stence of a
God t oo s$bl me t o all o3 - msel f to be /no3n# b$t d s!l ay ng - msel f by
Int el l gences emanat ng from - s bosom, The f rst of these 3as - s s!r t
A o, , Pne$maB# God - msel f# God t h n/ ng# God conce 6 ng t he
'n6erse, The second 3as the ;ord A o LogosB# no longer merely t he
Tho$ght or %once!t on# b$t t he %reat 6e 't t erance# manfestat on of the
D 6 n ty# b$t emanat ng from the Tho$ght or S! r t G t he "rstDBegott en#
a$thor of the 6 s ble creat on, Th s 3as the Trn ty# com!osed of t he
"ather# S!r t# and ;ord,
The El 4aVtes ado!ted the Se6en S!rt s of t he Gnost csG b$t named them
-ea6en# ;at er# S!rt # The -oly Angels of Prayer# Ol # Sal t# and the
Eart h,
The o! n on of the Do/et es as t o the h$man nat $re of &es$s %hrst # 3as
t hat most general ly rece 6ed among the Gnost cs, They deemed t he
ntell gences of the S$!er or ;orld too !$re and too m$ch the ant agon sts
of matt er# to be 3 ll ng t o $n te 3t h t( and hel d that %hr st # an
Int el l gence
of t he f rst ran/# n a!!ear ng $!on the eart h# d d not become confo$nded
3 th mat ter# b$t too/ $!on - msel f only t he a!!earance of a body# or at
t he most $sed t only as an en6el o!e,
8oit$s termed the Son the f rst 't terance of the "at herG t he ;ord# not by
- msel f# as an Intel l gence# and $nconnect ed 3 t h t he flesh# a real SonG
b$t a ;ord# and a !erfect OnlyDBegot tenG l ght emanat ed from the Lght G
3at er fl o3 ng from t s s!rngG a ray emanat ed from the S$n,
Pa$l of Samosata ta$ght t hat &es$s %hrst 3as the Son of &ose!h and
MaryG b$t t hat the ;ord# ; sdom# or Intel l gence of God# the A8o$sB
of t he Gnost cs# had $nt ed tsel f 3 t h - m# so that -e m ght be sa d to be
at once the Son of God# and God - mself,
Ar$s call ed the Sa6o$r the f rst of creat$res# nonDemanated from God#
b$t real ly creat ed# by t he d rect 3l l of God# before t me
and t he ages, Accordng to the %h$rch# %hr st 3as of t he same nat $re as
GodG accordng t o some d ssent ers# of t he same nat $re as man, Ar$s
ado!t ed t he t heory of a nat $re anal ogo$s to both, ;hen God resol6ed t o
create t he -$man race# -e made a Beng 3hch -e cal led T-E ;ORD#
T-E SO8# ;ISDOM A # # o, Logos# ' os# So!h aB# to the end
t hat -e mght g6e e4 stence to men, Ths ;ORD s the Orm$<d of
Horoaster# the Enso!h of t he Kabalah# t he G of Pl aton sm and
Ph l on sm# and the or ASo!ha or Dem o$rgosB of the
Gnost cs, -e d st ng$ shed the Infer or ; sdom# or t he da$ght er# from the
S$!er or ; sdomG t he l att er be ng n God# nherent n -s nat $re# and
nca!able of comm$n cat on t o any creat $re( the second# by 3h ch the
Son 3as made# comm$ncated tsel f to - m# and therefore -e - msel f
3as
ent tl ed t o be call ed the ;ord and the Son,
Manes# fo$nder of the Sect of the Mancheans# 3ho had l 6ed and been
dst ng$shed among the Pers an Mag# !rofted by t he doctrnes of
Scyt han$s# a Kabal st or &$da <ng Gnost c of the t mes of the A!ost lesG
and /no3 ng t hose of Bardesanes and -armon$s# der6ed hs doctr nes
from Horoastersm# %hrst an ty# and Gnostcsm, -e cla med to be t he
APara/lpt osB or %omforter# n t he Sense of a Teacher# organ of
t he De ty# b$t not n t hat of t he -oly S!rt or -oly Ghost ( and
commenced
hs E! stola "$ndament n t hese 3ords( @Manes# A!ostl e of &es$s %hr st#
el ect of God the "at herG Behold the ;ords of Sal6at on# emanat ng from
t he l 6 ng and eternal fo$nt an, @ The dom nant dea of h s doct rne 3as
Pant he sm# der6ed by h m from t s so$rce n the reg ons of Ind a and on
t he conf nes of %h na( that the ca$se of al l that e4st s s n GodG and at
l ast# God s all n al l, All so$ls are eE$al D God s n all # n men# an mal s#
and !lant s, There are t 3o Gods# one of Good and t he other of E6l # each
nde!endent# eternal # ch ef of a dst nct Em!reG necessar ly# and of ther
6ery nat$res# host l e t o one another, The E6 l God# Satan# s the Gen $s of
matt er alone, The God of Good s nf nt ely h s S$!eror# t he Tr$e GodG
3hl e t he other s b$t the chef of al l that s t he Enemy of God# and m$st
n
t he end s$cc$mb to - s Po3er, The Em!re of Lght al one s eternal and
t r$eG and t h s Em!re s a great cha n of Emanat ons# al l connected 3 th
t he S$!reme Beng 3h ch t hey ma/e man fest G al l - 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$res, E4cel lent n
- s Gl ory# ncom!rehens ble n - s Great ness# the "at her has 5 o ned to
- msel f those fort$nate# and glor o$s Eons A , , AonpsB# 3hose
Po3er and 8$mber t s m!ossbl e to det ermne, Th s s S! no<a? s
Infnty
of Inf nt e At trb$tes of God, T3el 6e %h ef Eons# at t he head of al l # 3ere
t he Gen of t he t3el 6e %onstel lat ons of the Hodac# and call ed by
Manes#
Ol am n, Satan# al so# Lord of t he Em!re of Dar/ness# had an Army of
Eons or Demons# emanat ng from h s Essence# and refl ect ng more or
l ess h s mage# b$t d 6 ded and nharmon o$s among t hemsel6es, A 3ar
among them bro$ght them to the conf nes of t he Real m of Lght,
Del ghted# t hey so$ght t o conE$er t, B$t t he %hef of t he %el est al
Em!re
created a Po3er 3h ch he !l aced on the front ers of -ea6en t o !rotect h s
Eons# and dest roy t he Em!re of E6l , Ths 3as the Mot her of L fe# the
So$l of the ;orl d# an Emanat on from the S$!reme Be ng# too !$re to
come n mmed ate cont act 3t h matt er, It rema ned n the h ghest reg onG
b$t !rod$ced a Son# the f rst Man At he Kaomort s# AdamDKadmon#
AProtos Anthro!os# B and - 6 l DH6ahG of the HendDA6esta# t he
Kabal ah# t he Gnoss# and SabesmBG 3ho commenced the contest 3 t h the
Po3ers of E6 l# b$t# l osng !art of h s !ano!ly# of hs Lght # hs Son and
many so$l s born of the Lght# 3ho 3ere de6o$red by t he dar/ness# God
sent t o hs ass st ance the l 6 ng S!r t # or the Son of the " rst Man A
, , , ' os Anthro!o$B# or &es$s %hrst , The Mot her of Lfe# general
Prnc !l e of D 6 ne L fe# and the frst Man# Pr m t 6e be ng t hat re6eal s
t he
D 6 ne Lfe# are too s$bl me to be connect ed 3t h t he Em!re of
Dar/ness,
The Son of Man or So$l of the ;orl d# enters nto t he Dar/ness# becomes
ts ca!t 6e# to end by tem!erng and soft en ng ts sa6age nat $re, The
D 6 ne S! rt # after ha6 ng bro$ght bac/ t he Pr m t 6e Man to the Em! re
of
Lght # rases abo6e the 3orld that !art of t he %el est al So$l t hat remaned
$naffected by be ng m ngled 3t h the Em! re of Dar/ness, Pl aced n the
regon of t he S$n and Moon# th s !$re so$l# the Son of Man# the
Redeemer or %hr st # labors t o del 6er and at tract to - mself t hat !art of
t he Lght or of t he So$l of the " rst Man d ff$sed thro$gh mat t erG 3hch
done# the 3orld 3 ll cease t o e4 st , To ret a n the rays of Lght st l l
rema n ng among hs Eons# and e6er tend ng to esca!e and ret$rn# by
concentrat ng them# the Pr nce of Dar/ness# 3 th ther consent# made
Adam# 3hose so$l 3as of the D 6ne Lght# contrb$ted by the Eons# and
hs body of mat ter# so that he bel onged to both Em!res# t hat of L ght and
t hat of Dar/ness, To !re6ent the l ght from esca! ng at once# the Demons
forbade Adam t o eat t he fr$t of @/no3ledge of good and e6 l # @ by 3hch
he
3o$l d ha6e /no3n the Em!re of Lght and that of Dar/ness, -e obeyedG
an Angel of Lght nd$ced h m t o t ransgress# and ga6e h m the means of
6ct oryG b$t the Demons created E6e# 3ho sed$ced h m nto an act of
Sens$al sm# that enfeebl ed h m# and bo$nd h m ane3 n t he bonds of
matt er, Ths s re!eated n t he case of e6ery man t hat l 6es,
To del 6er t he so$l # ca!t 6e n dar/ness# t he Prnc !l e of L ght # or Gen$s
of t he S$n# charged t o redeem the Int ellect $al ;orl d# of 3hch he s t he
ty!e# came to man fest - msel f among men, Lght a!!eared n t he
dar/ness# b$t the dar/ness com!rehended t not G accord ng t o t he 3ords
of St , &ohn, The Lght co$l d not $nte 3 th the dar/ness, It b$t !$t on t he
a!!earance of a h$man body# and t oo/ t he name of %hrst n t he
Messah# only t o accommodate t self t o t he lang$age of the &e3s, The
Lght d d ts 3or/# t$rn ng the &e3s from the adorat on of t he E6 l
Prnc !l e# and t he Pagans from the 3orsh ! of Demons, B$t t he %hef of
t he Em!re of Dar/ness ca$sed - m t o be cr$cfed by the &e3s, St l l -e
s$ffered n a!!earance only# and - s deat h ga6e to al l so$ls the symbol
of t he r enfranchsement, The !erson of &es$s ha6ng d sa!!eared# there
3as seen n - s !lace a cross of Lght # o6er 3hch a celest al 6o ce
!rono$nced t hese 3ords( @The cross of Lght s called The ;ord# %hrst #
The Gate# &oy# The Bread# The S$n# The Res$rrect on# &es$s# The
"ather# The S! rt # Lfe# Tr$t h# and Grace,@
; t h the Pr sc l lanst s t here 3ere t3o !rnc!les# one the D 6n ty# the
other# Pr m t 6e Mat t er and Dar/nessG each eternal, Satan s the son and
l ord of mat t erG and t he secondary angel s and demons# ch ldren of mat ter,
Satan creat ed and go6erns t he 6 sbl e 3orld, B$t t he so$l of man
emanated from God# and s of the same s$bst ance 3 th God, Sed$ced by
t he e6l s! r ts# t !asses thro$gh 6ar o$s bodes# $nt l # !$r fed and
reformed# t rses t o God and s st rengt hened by - s l ght , These !o3ers
of e6l hol d man/nd n ledgeG and t o redeem t h s !ledge# t he Sa6o$r#
%hr st the Redeemer# came and ded $!on the cross of e4!at on# th$s
dschargng t he 3r t ten obl gat on, -e# l /e al l so$l s# 3as of t he
same s$bst ance 3t h God# a manfestat on of the D 6n ty# no formng a
second !ersonG $nborn# l /e t he D 6 n ty# and not h ng el se than t he
D 6 n ty $nder anot her form,
It s $seless to trace these 6agares f$rtherG and 3e st o! at the front ers of
t he real m of t he three h$ndred and s 4tyDf 6e tho$sand emanat ons of the
Mandaqt es from t he Pr mt 6e Lght# " ra or "erho and .a6arG and ret $rn
contentedly t o the s m!le and s$bl me creed of Masonry,
S$ch 3ere some of t he anc ent not ons concern ng t he De ty and ta/en n
connect on 3 th 3hat has been deta led n t he !reced ng Degrees# th s
Lect $re affords yo$ a tr$e !ct $re of t he anc ent s!ec$lat ons, "rom t he
beg nnng $nt l no3# t hose 3ho ha6e $ndert a/en to sol 6e t he great
mystery of the creat on of a materal $n 6erse by an Immateral De ty#
ha6e nter!osed bet 3een the t3o# and bet3een God and man# d 6ers
manfestat ons of# or emanat ons from# or !erson fed at trb$tes or agent s
of# the Great S$!reme God# 3ho s coe4 stent 3t h T me and coe4tens 6e
3 th S!ace,
The $n 6ersal belef of the Or ent 3as# that t he S$!reme Beng d d not
- msel f creat e et her the earth or man, The fragment 3hch commences
t he Boo/ of Geness# consst ng of the frst cha!ter and t he t hree f rst
6erses of t he second# assgns the creat on or rat her the format on or
model l ng of the 3orld from matt er already e4st ng n conf$son# not t o
l -'-# b$t t o the AL-IM# 3el l /no3n as S$bordnate Det es# "orces# or
Man fest at ons# among the Phbn cans, The second fragment m!$tes t
t o I-'-DAL-IM# K and St , &ohn ass gns t he creat on to t he or ;ORDG
and assert s t hat %-RIST 3as t hat ;ORD# as 3el l as LIG-T and LI"E#
other emanat ons from t he Great Pr me6al De ty# to 3h ch other fat hs had
assgned t he 3or/ of creat on,
An absol$t e e4st ence# 3hol ly mmat eral # n no 3ay 3 th n the reach of
o$r sensesG a ca$se# b$t not an effect t hat ne6er 3as not # b$t e4sted
d$r ng an nfn ty of et ern t es# before there 3as anyth ng el se e4ce!t
T me
and S!ace# s 3hol ly beyond the reach of o$r conce!t ons, The m nd of
man has 3ear ed t self n s!ec$l at ons as t o -s nat $re# -s essence# - s
at trb$tesG and ended n beng no 3 ser t han t began, In the m!oss b l ty
of conce6ng of mmateral ty# 3e feel at sea and lost 3hene6er 3e go
beyond the doma n of mat ter, And yet 3e /no3 t hat t here are Po3er
K The S$bstance# or Fery Self# of 3h ch t he Al ohaym are the
manfestat ons,
"orces# %a$ses# that are t hemsel 6es not mat ter, ;e g6e them names#
b$t 3hat t hey really are# and 3hat the r essence# 3e are 3hol ly gnorant,
B$t # fort $nat ely# t does not fol l o3 t hat 3e may not bel e6e# or e6en
/no3#
t hat 3h ch 3e cannot e4!la n t o o$rsel 6es# or t hat 3h ch s beyond the
reach of o$r com!rehens on, If 3e bel e6ed only that 3hch o$r ntel lect
can gras!# meas$re# com!rehend# and ha6e d st nct and clear deas of#
3e sho$l d bel e6e scarce anyth ng, The senses are not t he 3 tnesses that
bear t est mony t o $s of t he loft est tr$t hs,
O$r greatest dff c$l ty s# that l ang$age s not adeE$ate to e4!ress o$r
deasG beca$se o$r 3ords refer t o th ngs# and are mages of 3hat s
s$bstant al and materal , If 3e $se t he 3ord Remanat on# @ o$r m nd
n6ol$ntar ly rec$rs t o somethng mat er al# fl o3 ng o$t of some other
t h ng
t hat s mater alG and f 3e re5 ect th s dea of mater al ty# not hng s left of
t he emanat on b$t an $nreal ty, The 3ord @thng@ tsel f s$ggests t o $s t hat
3hch s materal and 3 t hn t he cogn<ance and 5 $r sd ct on of the
senses,
If 3e c$t a3ay from t the dea of mat er al ty# t !resent s t self t o $s as no
t h ng# b$t an ntang bl e $nreal ty# 3hch the m nd 6a nly endea6ors to
gras!, E4st ence and Be ng are terms that ha6e t he same col or of
materal tyG and 3hen 3e s!ea/ of a Po3er or "orce# t he mnd
mmedately mages t o t sel f one !hys cal and materal t h ng act ng $!on
another, El mnate t hat deaG and the Po3er or "orce# de6od of !hyscal
characterst cs# seems as $nreal as the shado3 t hat dances on a 3al l#
tsel f a mere absence of l ght G as s! r t s t o $s merely t hat 3h ch s not
matt er,
Infnt e s!ace and nfn t e t me are the t3o !r mary deas, ;e form$l <e
t hem th$s( add body t o body and s!here t o s!here# $nt l the magnat on
3earesG and st l l t here 3 ll reman beyond# a6od# em!ty# $nocc$!ed
SPA%E# l m tl ess# 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 l l rema n# before and
after# a TIME n 3h ch there 3as and 3l l be no e6ent# and al so endl ess
beca$se t t oo s 6o d,
Th$s these t 3o deas of t he bo$ndl essness of s!ace and the endl essness
of t me seem to n6ol6e the deas that mat ter and e6ent s are l m ted and
fn t e, ;e cannot conce 6e of an nf n ty of 3orl ds or of e6ent sG b$t only
of
an ndefn t e n$mber of eachG for, as 3e st r$ggle to conce 6e of the r
nf nty# t he t ho$ght e6er occ$rs n des!t e of al l o$r effort s D t here m$st
be
s!ace n 3h ch
t here are no 3orl dsG t here m$st ha6e been t me 3hen t here 3ere no
e6ents,
;e cannot conce6e ho3# f t h s earth mo6es m l l ons of m ll ons of m les
a
m l l on t mes re!eat ed# t s st ll n the centre of s!aceG nor ho3# f 3e
l 6ed
m l l ons of m l l ons of ages and cent $r es# 3e sho$ld st l l be n t he centre
of
et ernty D 3 th st ll as m$ch s!ace on one s de as on t he ot herG 3 th st ll
as
m$ch t me before $s as behndG for that seems t o say that t he 3orl d has
not
mo6ed nor 3e l 6ed at all ,
8or can 3e com!rehend ho3 an nf n t e seres of 3orl ds# added toget her#
s
no l arger t han an nfn t e ser es of at omsG or an nf n te ser es of cent $res
no l onger t han an nfn te ser es of secondsG bot h beng al /e nfn t e# and
t herefore one seres conta n ng no more nor fe3er $n t s than t he ot her,
8or ha6e 3e the ca!ac ty to form n o$rsel 6es any dea of t hat 3hch s
mmateral , ;e $se the 3ord# b$t t con6eys to $s on)6 t he dea of the
absence and negat on of mat eral tyG 3h ch 6anshng# S!ace and T me
al one# nf n te and bo$ndl ess# seem to $s t o be l eft ,
;e cannot form any conce!t on of an effect 3 tho$t a ca$se, ;e cannot
b$t bel e6e# ndeed 3e /no3# that # ho3 far soe6er 3e may ha6e to r$n
bac/
al ong the cha n of effect s and ca$ses# t cannot be nfnt eG b$t 3e m$st
come at l ast t o somet h ng 3hch s not an effect# b$t the f rst ca$se( and
6et
t he fact s l t eral t6 beyond o$r com!rehens on, The m nd ref$ses to gras!
t he dea of sel fDe4st ence# of e4 stence 3 tho$t a beg nnng, As 3el l
e4!ect
t he har t hat gro3s $!on o$r head t o $nderst and t he nat $re and
mmortal ty
of t he so$l ,
It does not need t o go so far n search of mysteresG nor ha6e 3e any rght
t o dsbele6e or do$bt the e4 stence of a Great "rst %a$se# t self no
effect #
beca$se 3e cannot com!rehend t G beca$se the 3ords 3e $se do not e6en
e4!ress t t o $s adeE$ately,
;e r$b a needle for a l tt le 3h le# on a dar/# nert mass of ron ore# that
had
l an dl e n the eart h for many cent$res, Someth ng s thereby
comm$n cated to t he steel D 3e term t a 6 rt$e# a !o3er# or a E$al ty D
and
t hen 3e bal ance t $!on a ! 6ot G and# loO dra3n by some n6 s ble#
mystero$s Po3er# one !ole of the needl e t $rns t o t he 8ort h# and there the
same Po3er /ee!s the same !ol e for days and yearsG 3l l /ee! t t here#
!erha!s# as l ong as t he 3orl d l asts# carry t he needl e 3here yo$ 3 ll # and
no
matt er 3hat seas or
mo$nta ns nt er6ene bet 3een t and the 8ort h Pol e of t he 3orl d, And th s
Po3er# th$s act ng# and nd cat ng to the marner hs co$rse o6er t he
t rac/less ocean# 3hen t he st ars shne not for many days# sa6es 6essel s
from sh!3rec/# fam l es from dstress# and those from s$dden deat h on
3hose l 6es the fat e of nat ons and the !eace of t he 3orl d de!end, B$t for
t# 8a!oleon mght ne6er ha6e reached the !ort s of "rance on hs ret $rn
from Egy!t# nor 8el son l 6ed to fght and 3 n at Trafalgar, Men cal l th s
Po3er Magnet sm# and t hen com!lacently t h n/ that t hey ha6e e4!l aned
t all G and yet t hey ha6e b$t g 6en a ne3 name to an $n/no3n thng# t o
hde ther gnorance, ;hat s ths 3onderf$l Po3erJ It s a real# act$al#
act 6e Po3er( t hat 3e /no3 and see, B$t 3hat t s essence s# or ho3 t
act s# 3e do not /no3# any more than 3e /no3 t he essence or the mode of
act on of t he %reat 6e Tho$ght and ;ord of God,
And aga n# 3hat s that 3hch 3e t erm gal 6an sm and electrc ty# D 3h ch#
e6ol6ed by t he act on of a l tt le ac d on t 3o met als# a ded by a magnet #
c rcl es the eart h n a second# send ng from land to l and t he Tho$ghts that
go6ern the transact ons of nd6 d$al s and nat onsJ The m nd has formed
no not on of matt er# t hat 3l l ncl$de tG and no name t hat 3e can g6e t #
hel!s $s t o $nderstand t s essence and t s be ng, It s a Po3er# l /e
Tho$ght and t he ; l l , ;e /no3 no more,
;hat s th s !o3er of gra6t at on that ma/es e6eryth ng $!on the earth
t end to the cent reJ -o3 does t reach o$t ts n6s ble hands to3ard t he
errat c meteorDst ones# arrest t hem n t he r s3ft co$rse# and dra3 t hem
do3n to the eart h? s bosomJ It s a !o3er, ;e /no3 no more,
;hat s that heat 3hch !l ays so 3onderf$l a !art n t he 3orl d? s
economyJ
D t hat calorc# l atent e6ery3here# 3t h n $s and 3 tho$t $s# !rod$ced by
comb$st on# by ntense !ress$re# and by s3ft mot onJ Is t s$bst ance#
matt er# s! rt # or mmateral# a mere "orce or State of Mat terJ
And 3hat s l ght J A s$bstance# say t he boo/s# D matt er# t hat tra6el s t o $s
from the s$n and st ars# each ray se!arabl e nt o se6en# by t he !r sm# of
dst nct colors# and 3t h dst nct !ec$l ar E$al t es and act ons, And f a
s$bstance# 3hat s ts essence# and 3hat !o3er s nherent n t # by 3hch
t 5 o$rneys ncalc$labl e myr ads of m les# and reaches $s t en t ho$sand
years or more aft er t lea6es t he starsJ
Al l !o3er s eE$ally a mystery, A!!ly ntense col d t o a dro! of 3ater n
t he
cent re of a gl obe of ron# and t he gl obe s shatt ered as t he 3at er free<es,
%onf ne a l tt l e of t he same l m!d element n a cyl nder 3hch Encelad$s
or
Ty!hon co$l d not ha6e rsen as$nder# and a!!ly to t ntense heat # and the
6ast !o3er that co$ched latent n t he 3ater sh 6ers the cyl nder to atoms,
A
l t tl e shoot from a mn$t e seed# a shoot so soft and tender t hat the least
br$ se 3o$ld /ll t# forces t s 3ay do3n3ard nt o t he hard# eart h# to t he
de!th of many feet# 3 th an energy 3holly ncom!rehens ble, ;hat are
t hese mghty forces# l oc/ed $! n t he small seed and the dro! of 3aterJ
8ay# 3hat s LI"E t self# 3t h al l t s 3ondro$s# m ghty energ es# D t hat
!o3er
3hch ma ntans the heat 3 th n $s# and !re6ents o$r bod es# t hat decay
so
soon 3 t ho$t t # from resol $t on nt o t he r or gnal element s D Lfe# that
const ant m racle# t he nat $re and essence 3hereof ha6e el $ded all t he
!hl oso!hersG and al l ther learned d ssertat ons on t are a mere 5 argon of
3ordsJ
8o 3onder the anc ent Persans t ho$ght that Lght and L fe 3ere one# D
both
emanat ons from t he S$!reme Dety# the archety!e of l ght , 8o 3onder
t hat
n t he r gnorance they 3orsh !!ed t he S$n, God breat hed nt o man the
s!rt of l fe# D not mat ter# b$t an emanat on from - msel fG not a creat $re
made by - m# nor a d st nct e4 stence# b$t a Po3er# l /e - s o3n
Tho$ght (
and l ght# to those greatDso$l ed ancent s# also seemed no creat$re# and no
gross materal s$bstance# b$t a !$re emanat on from t he De ty# mmort al
and ndest r$ct ble l /e - mself,
;hat# ndeed# s REALIT.J O$r dreams are as real# 3h le they last # as
t he
occ$rrences of t he dayt me, ;e see# hear# feel # act# e4!er ence !leas$re
and s$ffer !an# as 66dly and act $al ly n a dream as 3hen a3a/e, The
occ$rrences and t ransact ons of a year are cro3ded nt o t he l mt s of a
second( and the dream remembered s as real as the !ast occ$rrences of
l fe,
The !h l oso!hers t ell $s that 3e ha6e no cogn <ance of s$bst ance tsel f#
b$t
only of ts at trb$tes( t hat 3hen 3e see that 3hch 3e cal l a bl oc/ of
marble#
o$r !erce!t ons g6e $s nformat on only of someth ng e4t ended# sol d#
colored# hea6y# and the l /eG b$t not of t he 6ery th ng t sel f# t o 3hch
t hese
at trb$tes bel ong, And yet t he attr b$t es do not e4 st 3t ho$t the
s$bstance,
They are not s$bstances# b$t ad5ect 6es, There s no s$ch th ng or
e4st ence as hardness# 3e ght or color# by t self# detached from any
s$b5ect # mo6 ng f rst here# then t here# and att ach ng t sel f to ths and t o
t he
other s$b5ect , And yet # t hey say# t he att rb$tes are not the s$b5ect ,
So Tho$ght# Fol t on# and Perce!t on are not the so$l # b$t ts at tr b$t esG
and 3e ha6e no cogn <ance of the so$l t sel f# b$t only of t hem# ts
manfestat ons, 8or of GodG b$t only of -s ; sdom# Po3er#
Magn f cence# Tr$th# and other at trb$tes,
And yet 3e /no3 t hat there s matt er# a so$l 3 thn o$r body# a God t hat
l 6es n t he 'n6erse,
Ta/e# t hen# the att rb$tes of the so$l , I am consco$s t hat I e4st and am
t he same dent cal !erson that I 3as t3enty years ago, I am consc o$s
t hat my body s not I# D that f my arms 3ere l o!!ed a3ay# ths !erson t hat
I cal l ME# 3o$ld st l l rema n# com!l et e# ent re# dent cal as before, B$t I
cannot ascert an# by t he most ntense and l ongDcont n$ed refl ect on# 3hat
I am# nor 3here 3 th n my body I resde# nor 3het her I am a !ont# or an
e4!anded s$bstance, I ha6e no !o3er to e4am ne and ns!ect , I e4 st#
3 ll #
t h n/# !erce6e, That I /no3# and not h ng more, I t h n/ a noble and
s$bl me Tho$ght, ;hat s that Tho$ght J It s not Matt er# nor S!r t, It s
not a Th ngG b$t a Po3er and "orce, I ma/e $!on a !a!er cert an
con6ent onal mar/s# that re!resent that Tho$ght, There s no Po3er or
Frt $e n t he mar/s I 3r t e# b$t only n the Tho$ght 3hch they tel l to
others, I d e# b$t the Tho$ght st l l l 6es, It s a Po3er, It act s on men#
e4ct es t hem to ent h$s asm# ns!res !atrot sm# go6erns t he r cond$ct#
control s t her dest nes# d s!oses of l fe and death, The 3ords I s!ea/ are
b$t a cert an s$ccess on of !artc$lar so$nds# t hat by con6ent onal
arrangement comm$n cat e t o ot hers t he Immat er al# Intangbl e# Et ernal
Tho$ght , The fact t hat Tho$ght cont n$es to e4 st an nstant# aft er t
ma/es ts a!!earance n t he so$l# !ro6es t mmortal ( for t here s not h ng
conce 6able t hat can destroy t , The s!o/en 3ords# beng mere so$nds#
may 6an sh nt o thn ar# and t he 3rt ten ones# mere mar/s# be b$rned#
erased# destroyed( b$t the T-O'G-T t self l 6es st ll # and m$st l 6e on
fore6er,
A -$man Tho$ght # t hen# s an act $al EPISTE8%E# and a "OR%E and
PO;ER# ca!abl e of act ng $!on and cont roll ng mat ter as 3el l as m nd,
Is
not the e4 stence of a God# 3ho s the mmat eral so$l of the 'n 6erse#
and 3hose T-O'G-T# emboded or not emboded n -s ;ORD# s an
Infnt e Po3er# of %reat on and !roD
d$ct on# dest r$ct on and !reser6at on# E$ te as com!rehensble as the
e4st ence of a So$l # of a Tho$ght se!arated from the So$l # of the Po3er
of t hat Tho$ght t o mo$l d the fat e and nfl$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$l d t # sha!e t# fashon t, It s ne ther o$r mechan sm
nor o$r n6ent on, It a!!ears s!ontaneo$sly# flashng# as t 3ere# nto the
so$l# ma/ ng that so$l t he n6ol$ntary nstr$ment of t s $t terance t o t he
3orl d, It comes t o $s# and seems a st ranger t o $s# see/ng a home,
As l tt le can 3e e4!l an t he mghty !o3er of t he h$man ;ILL# Fol t on#
l /e
Tho$ght # seems s!ontaneo$s# an effect 3t ho$t a ca$se, %rc$mst ances
!ro6o/e t # and ser6e as t s occas on# b$t do not !rod$ce t , It s!r ngs $!
n t he so$l # l /e Tho$ght # as t he 3aters g$sh $!3ard n a s!r ng, Is t t he
manfestat on of the so$l # merely ma/ ng a!!arent 3hat !asses 3 thn t he
so$l# or an emanat on from t # gong abroad and act ng o$t 3ardly# t sel f a
real E4st ence# as t s an adm tt ed Po3erJ ;e can b$t o3n o$r
gnorance, It s cert a n t hat t act s on ot her so$ls# cont rols# d rect s them#
sha!es ther act on# l egsl ates for men and nat ons( and yet t s not
materal nor 6s bl eG and the la3s t 3rtes merely n one so$l of 3hat has
!assed 3 th n anot her,
God# therefore# s a mystery# only as e6erythng that s$rro$nds $s# and as
3e o$rsel 6es# are myst er es, ;e /no3 that t here s and m$st be a "IRST
%A'SE, -s att r b$t es# se6ered from - msel f# are $nreal t es, As col or
and
e4tens on# 3eght and hardness# do not e4 st a!art from matt er as
se!arate e4 stences and s$bstant 6es# s! r t $al or mmater alG so the
Goodness# ; sdom# 5 $st ce# Mercy# and Bene6olence of God are not
nde!endent e4 st ences# !erson fy them as men may# b$t at tr b$tes of the
De ty# the ad5 ect 6es of One Great S$bstant 6e, B$t 3e /no3 t hat -e m$st
be Good# Tr$e# ; se# &$st# Bene6olent# Merc f$l ( and n al l t hese# and all
- s other at trb$tes# Perfect and Inf n t eG beca$se 3e are consc o$s t hat
t hese are la3s m!osed on $s by the 6ery nat $re of t hngs# necessary#
and 3 tho$t 3hch the 'n 6erse 3o$l d be conf$son and t he e4 stence of
a
God ncredble, They are of -s essence# and necessary# as - s e4 st ence
s,
, , Est osB# of S mon Mag$s# t he
-e s t he L6 ng# Th n/ ng# Intel l gent SO'L of the 'n 6erse# t he
PERMA8E8T# the STATIO8AR.A
O8E that al 3ays s ATo To O8B of Plat o# as
contrad st ng$ shed from t he !er!et $al fl $4 and refl $4# or Geness# of
t h ngs,
And# as the Tho$ght of t he So$l # emanat ng from the So$l # becomes
a$dble and
6s ble n ;ords# so dd T-E T-O'G-T O" GOD# s!rngng $! 3t h n
- msel f#
mmortal as - msel f# 3hen once conce 6ed# D mmortal before# beca$se n
- msel f# $t ter Itsel f n T-E ;ORD# t s manfestat on and mode of
comm$n cat on# and t h$s create the Mat eral # Ment al # S! r t$al 'n6erse#
3hch#
l /e - m# ne6er began to e4st ,
Th s s the real dea of the Ancent 8at ons( GOD# t he Al mghty "at her#
and
So$rce of Al lG - s T-O'G-T# conce6ng the 3hole 'n 6erse# and 3 ll ng
ts
creat on( - s ;ORD# $t ter ng that T-O'G-T# and th$s becomng t he
%reator or
Dem o$rgos# n the 3hom 3as Lfe and Lght# and t hat Lght t he Lfe of
t he
'n6erse,
8or dd t hat ;ord cease at t he sngl e act of %reat onG and ha6ng set gong
t he
great mach ne# and enacted the la3s of ts mot on and !rogresson# of b rt h
and
l fe# and change and deat h# cease to e4st # or rema n t hereaft er n nert
dleness,
"OR T-E T-O'G-T O" GOD LIFES A8D IS IMMORTAL, Embod ed n
t he
;ORD# s not only created# b$t t !reser6es, It cond$ct s and controls the
'n6erse# al l s!heres# all 3orl ds# al l act ons of man/nd# and of e6ery
an mate
and nan mat e creat $re, It s!ea/s n t he so$l of e6ery man 3ho l 6es, The
Stars#
t he Earth# t he Trees# the ; nds# t he $n 6ersal 6oce of 8at $re# tem!est #
and
a6al anche# t he Sea? s roar and the gra6e 6oce of the 3aterfal l# t he hoarse
t h$nder and the lo3 3hs!er of the broo/# t he song of b rds# the 6oce of
l o6e#
t he s!eech of men# all are the al!habet n 3hch t comm$n cat es t sel f to
men#
and nforms t hem of t he 3 ll and l a3 of God# the So$l of t he 'n 6erse,
And t h$s
most tr$ly d d @T-E ;ORD BE%OME PLES- A8D D;ELL AMO8G
ME8, @
God# the $n/no3n "AT-ER A oPater AgnUst osB# /no3n to $s only
by - s Att r b$t esG the ABSOL'TE I AM(, , The T-O'G-T of God A ,
EnnoaB# and t he ;ORD A , , , , LogosB# Manfestat on and e4!ress on of t he
Tho$ght G , , , , Behold T-E TR'E MASO8I% TRI8IT.G the '8IFERSAL
SO'L#
t he T-O'G-T n t he So$l# t he ;ORD# or Tho$ght e4!ressedG the T-REE
T8
O8E# of a Tr n taran Ecossas,
-ere Masonry !a$ses# and lea6es t s In tat es t o carry o$t and de6elo!
t hese
great Tr$ths n s$ch manner as t o each may seem
most accordant 3 t h reason# !h l oso!hy# tr$t h# and h s rel g o$s fa th, It
decl nes t o act as Arbt er bet3een t hem, It loo/s cal mly on# 3h le each
m$l t !l es t he nt ermed at es bet3een the De ty and Mat ter# and the
!ersonfcat ons of God? s man fest at ons and att r b$t es# t o 3hate6er
e4tent
hs reason# h s con6ct on# or hs fancy dct at es,
;h l e t he Indan tel ls $s t hat PARABRA-MA# BRA-M# and PARATMA
3ere t he frst Tr$ne God# re6eal ng - mself as BRA-MA# FIS-8'# and
SIFA# %reat or# Preser6er# and DestroyerG , , , ,
The Egy!t an# of AM'8DRE# 8EIT-# and P-T-A# %reat or# Mat ter#
Tho$ght
or Lght G the Persan of hs Tr nty of Three Po3ers n ORM'HD# So$rces
of
Lght # "re# and ;at erG t he B$ddh st s of the God SAK.A# a Trnty
com!osed of B'DD-A# D-ARM and SA8GA# D Int ell gence# La3# and
'non or -armonyG t he %hnese Sabeans of the r Trn ty of %hangDt # t he
S$!reme So6eregnG Ten# t he -ea6ensG and Tao# the 'n 6ersal S$!reme
Reason and Pr nc !l e of al l t h ngsG 3ho !rod$ced t he 'nt G that# t 3oG t3o#
t hreeG and t hree# al l that sG , , , ,
;h l e t he Scla6onoDFend ty! fes h s Trnty by t he t hree heads of the
God
Trgl a6G t he Anc ent Pr$ss an !o nt s to h s Tr $ne God# Per/o$n# P/ol los#
and Potr m!os# Det es of Lght and Th$nder# of -el l and of the Eart hG the
Ancent Scandna6an to Odn# "rea# and ThorG and t he old Etr$scans to
TI8A# TAL8A# and MI8IMFA# St rength# Ab$ndance# and ; sdomG , , , ,
;h l e Plat o tel ls $s of t he S$!reme Good# the Reason or Intell ect# and the
B# and the So$l or S! rt G and Ph l o of t he Archety!e of Lght # ; sdom A
os the Kabal st s# of the Trads of the Se!h rothG , ;ord A
;h l e t he dsc !les of S mon Mag$s# and t he many sects of the Gnost cs#
conf$se $s 3t h t he r Eons# Emanat ons# Po3ers# ; sdom S$!er or and
Infer or# Ialdabaoth# AdamDKadmon# e6en to the three h$ndred and
s 4tyf6e
t ho$sand emanat ons of the Mal da tesG , , , ,
And 3hl e t he !o$s %hr st an bel e6es t hat the ;ORD d3elt n t he
Mortal
Body of &es$s of 8a<aret h# and s$ffered $!on the %rossG and t hat t he
-OL. G-OST 3as !o$red o$t $!on t he A!ost l es# and no3 ns!res e6ery
t r$ly %hrst an So$l ( , , , ,
;h l e al l these fat hs assert ther cla ms to the e4cl $s 6e !ossess on of
t he
Tr$t h# Masonry nc$l cates t s ol d doctr ne# and no more( , , , , That God s
O8EG t hat -s T-O'G-T $tt ered n - s
;ORD# created t he 'n6erse# and !reser6es t by t hose Eternal La3s
3hch are the e4!ress on of that Tho$ght( t hat the So$l of Man# breathed
nt o h m by God# s mmortal as - s Tho$ght s areG t hat he s free to do
e6l
or t o choose good# res!onsbl e for h s act s and !$nshable for hs sns(
t hat all e6l and 3rong and s$ffer ng are b$t tem!orary# the d scords of
one great -armony# and that n -s good t me t hey 3l l lead by nf nt e
mod$lat ons t o t he great# harmonc f nal chord and cadence of Tr$t h#
Lo6e# Peace# and -a!! ness# that 3 l l rng fore6er and e6er $nder t he
Arches of -ea6en# among al l the St ars and ;orl ds# and n al l so$l s of
men and Angel s, MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE
)*+),
0+C D Kn ght %ommander of t he Tem!le
PPFII, K8IG-T %OMMA8DER O" T-E EMPIRE
T-IS s the f rst of t he real ly %h 6al rc Degrees of the Ancent and
Acce!ted Scott sh Rt e, It occ$! es ths !lace n the %alendar of t he
Degrees bet 3een t he 0=t h and t he l ast of the Ph loso!h cal Degrees# n
order# by brea/ng the cont n$ ty of t hese# to rel e6e 3hat m ght other3 se
become 3ear someG and al so t o rem nd t hat # 3h le engaged 3t h t he
s!ec$lat ons and abst ract ons of !h loso!hy and creeds# t he Mason s also
t o cont n$e engaged n act 6e d$t es of th s great 3arfare of l fe, -e s not
only a Moral st and Ph l oso!her# b$t a Sol d er# t he S$ccessor of those
Knghts of the Mddle Age# 3ho# 3hl e t hey 3ore the %ross# al so 3el ded
t he S3ord# and 3ere the Sold ers of -onor# Loyalty# and D$ty,
T mes change# and c rc$mst ancesG b$t F rt $e and D$ty reman t he same,
The E6l s to be 3arred aga nst b$t ta/e anot her sha!e and are de6elo!ed n
a dfferent form,
There s the same need no3 of tr$t h and l oyal ty as n t he days of "rederc
Barbarossa,
The charact ers# rel g o$s and m l t ary# at tent on to the s c/ and 3o$nded
n t he -os! tal # and 3ar aga nst the Infdel n t he feld are no longer
blendedG b$t t he same d$t es# t o be !erformed n anot her sha!e# cont n$e
t o e4st and t o en6 ron $s all ,
The nnocent 6rgn s no longer at t he mercy of t he br$tal Baron or
l cent o$s manDatDarmsG b$t !$r ty and nnocence st l l need !rot ectors,
;ar s no longer the a!!arent ly nat $ral St at e of SocetyG and for most men
t s an em!ty oblgat on to ass$me# that t hey 3l l not recede before t he
enemyG b$t the same hgh d$ty and obl gat on st l l rest $!on al l men,
Tr$t h# n act # !rofess on# and o! n on# s rarer no3 than n days of
ch6al ry, "al sehood has become a c$rrent co n# and c rc$l at es 3 th a
certa n degree of res!ectabl tyG beca$se t has an act $al 6al $e, It s ndeed
t he great Fce of t he AgeDD t# and t s t 3nDs ster# Dshonesty, Men# for
!ol t cal !referment # !rofess 3hate6er !r nc !les are e4!edent and
!roft abl e, At t he bar# n t he !$l !t # and n the hal ls of leg slat on# men
arg$e aga nst ther o3n con6 ct ons# and# 3 th 3hat t hey term log c# !ro6e
t o t he sat sfact on of ot hers t hat 3h ch t hey do not t hemsel 6es bel e6e,
Ins ncerty and d$!l c ty are 6al$able t o the r !ossessors# l /e est ates n
st oc/s# that y el d a cert a n re6en$e( and t s no l onger the tr$th of an
o!non or a !rnc !l e# b$t t he net !roft t hat may be real <ed from t#
3hch s the meas$re of ts 6al $e,
The Press s the great so3er of fal sehood, To slander a !ol t cal
antagonst # t o msre!resent al l t hat he says# and# f that be m!oss bl e# to
n6ent for h m 3hat he does not sayG t o !$t n crc$l at on 3hat e6er
basel ess cal$mnes aga nst h m are necessary t o defeat h m# DDthese are
habt s so common as t o ha6e ceased to notce or comment# m$ch l ess
s$r!r se or d sg$st,
There 3as a t me 3hen a Kn ght 3o$ld d e rather t han $t ter a l e or brea/
hs Knghtly 3ord, The Knght %ommander of t he Tem!le re66es the ol d
Knghtly s! r tG and de6ot es h msel f to the Kn ght ly 3orsh! of Tr$th, 8o
!rofesson of an o!non not h s o3n# for e4!ed ency? s sa/e or !roft # or
t hro$gh fear of t he 3orld? s d sfa6orG no slander of e6en an enemyG no
color ng or !er6erson of the sayngs or acts of ot her menG no ns ncere
s!eech and arg$ment for any !$r!ose# or $nder any !rete4t# m$st so l hs
far esc$t cheon, O$t of the %ha!ter# as 3el l as n t # he m$st s!ea/ the
Tr$t h# and all t he Tr$t h# no more and no lessG or else s!ea/ not at all ,
To !$r ty and nnocence e6ery3here# the Kn ght %ommander o3es
!rot ect on# as of oldG aganst bold 6 ol ence# or those# more g$ l ty than
m$rderers# 3ho by art and treachery see/ t o sl ay t he so$l G and aga nst that
3ant and dest t $t on that dr 6e t oo many t o sel l the r honor and nnocence
for food,
In no age of the 3orl d has man had bet t er o!!ort$n ty than no3 t o ds!lay
t hose lofty 6 rt $es and t hat nobl e hero sm t hat so dst ng$ shed the three
great m l tary and rel g o$s Orders# n t her yo$t h# before t hey became
corr$!t and 6 t ated by !ros!erty and !o3er,
;hen a fearf$l e! demc ra6ages a cty# and deat h s nhaled 3t h the ar
men breat heG 3hen the l 6 ng scarcely s$ff ce t o b$ry the deadDDmost men
flee n ab5ect t error# to ret $rn and l 6e# res!ectable and nfl$ent al # 3hen
t he danger has !assed a3ay, B$t t he old Kn ght ly s!r t of de6ot on and
ds nterestedness and cont em!t of deat h st l l l 6es# and s not e4t nct n
t he h$man heart, E6ery3here a fe3 are fo$nd t o st and f rmly and
$nfl nch ngly at ther !osts# to front and defy the danger# not for money# or
t o be honored for t# or t o !rotect ther o3n ho$seholdG b$t from mere
h$manty# and t o obey t he $nerr ng dctates of d$ty, They n$rse t he s c/#
breat hng t he !est l ent al at mos!here of the hos!t al, They e4!l ore the
abodes of 3ant and m sery, ; t h t he gent l enes of 3oman# t hey soft en the
!ans of the dyng# and feed the lam! of l fe n the con6alescent, They
!erform t he l ast sad offces the deadG and t hey see/ no ot her re3ard t han
t he a!!ro6al ther o3n conscences,
These are t he t r$e Kn ght s of t he !resent age( these# and ca!t a n 3ho
rema ns at h s !ost on board h s shatt ered sh ! $n t he last boat # loaded t o
t he 3at er? s edge 3 th !assengers and cre3# has !art ed from her sdeG and
t hen goes cal mly do3n 3t h her nt o the myst er o$s de!t hs of the ocean( DD
t he !l ot 3ho stands at t he 3heel 3h le t he s3ft fl ames eddy ro$nd h m
and scorch a3ay h s l fe(DDt he freman 3ho ascends the bl a< ng 3al l s# and
!l$nges am d the fl ames t o sa6e t he !ro!erty or l 6es of t hose 3ho ha6e
$!on h m no cla m by t e of bl ood# or fr endsh!# or e6en of ordnary
acE$a ntance( DDthese# and ot hers l /e these( DDall men# 3ho# set at the !ost
of d$ty# stand t here manf$l lyG to d e# f need be# b$t not to desert t he r
!ost( for these# t oo# are s3orn not t o recede before t he enemy,
To the !erformance of d$t es and of act s of hero sm l /e t hese# yo$ ha6e
de6ot ed yo$rself# my Brother# by becomng a Knght %ommander of the
Tem!le, Sol der of the Tr$th and of LoyaltyO Prot ect or of P$r ty and
Innocence O Defer of Plag$e and Pest lence O 8$rser of the S c/ and
B$rer of t he Dead O Knght # !referrng Deat h t o abandonment of the Post
of D$tyO ;elcome t he bosom of t h s Order O

Albert - Pike Morals - and .Dogma

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Albert - Pike Morals - and .Dogma

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MORALS and DOGMA by ALBERT PIKE

Morals and Dogma of t he Anc ent and Acce!t ed Scot t sh R t e of

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