Baphomet.pdf

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Freemasonry! Secret Societies! Baphomet!

The Lodge! 33rdDegree!

I. NAME AND DEFINITION

Leaving aside various fanciful derivations we maytrace the word masonto the French maonLatin matioor machio!" #a $uilder of walls# or #a stone%cutter# cf.&erman Steinmetz" from metzen" #to cut#' and Dutch

vrijmetselaar!.

The com(ound term Freemasonoccurs first in )*+, %%according to a recently found writing" even (rior to )),,-) %% and" contrary to &ould -/ means (rimarily a masonof su(erior s0ill" though later it also designated one whoen1oyed the freedom" or the (rivilege" of a trade guild.-* In the former sense it is commonly derived fromfreestone-mason" a mason hewing or $uilding in freeornamental! stone in o((osition to a rough stone!mason. -2 This derivation" though harmoni3ing with themeaning of the term" seemed unsatisfactory to somescholars. 4ence 5(eth (ro(osed to inter(ret the wordfreemasons as referring to those masons claiminge6em(tion from the control of local guildsof the towns"where they tem(orarily settled. -, In accordance withthis suggestion the #New English Dictionary of the

7hilological 5ociety# O6ford" )898! favours theinter(retation of freemasonsas s0illed artisans"emanci(ated according to the medieval(ractice fromthe restrictions and control of local guildsin order thatthey might $e a$le to travel and render services"wherever any great $uilding cathedral" etc.! was in
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(rocess of construction. These freemasons formed auniversal craft for themselves" with a system of secretsigns and (asswords $y which a craftsman" who had$een admitted on giving evidence of com(etent s0ill"

could $e recogni3ed. On the decline of &othicarchitecturethis craft coalesced with the mason guilds.-:

;uite recently "the word has $een universally and e6clusivelyunderstood" dates only from the constitution of the&rand Lodge of England" )+)+. In this acce(tationFreemasonry" according to the official English" 5cottish"American" etc." craft rituals" is most generally defined?#A (eculiar -some say #(articular# or #$eautiful# systemof morality veiled in allegory and illustrated $ysym$ols.# Mac0ey -)> declares the $est definition ofFreemasonry to $e? #A science which is engaged in thesearch after the divine truth.# The &erman encyclo(ediaof Freemasonry" #4and$uch# -)) defines Freemasonry

as #the activity of closely united men who" em(loyingsym$olical forms $orrowed (rinci(ally from the mason@strade and from architecture" wor0 for the welfare ofman0ind" striving morally to enno$le themselves andothers and there$y to $ring a$out a universal league ofman0ind -Menschheitsbund" which they as(ire to
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e6hi$it even now on a small scale#. The three editionswhich this #4and$uch# niversal Manual ofFreemasonry! has had since )8// are most valua$le" thewor0 having $een declared $y English%s(ea0ing

Masonic critics $y far the $est Masonic Encyclo(ediaever (u$lished. -)/

II. OBI&IN AND EABLC 4I5TOBC

=efore entering u(on this and the following divisionsof our su$1ect it is necessary to (remise that the verynature of Freemasonry as a secret societyma0es itdifficult to $e sure even of its re(uted documents andauthorities" and therefore we have consulted only thosewhich are ac0nowledged and recommended $yres(onsi$le mem$ers of the craft" as stated in the$i$liogra(hy a((ended to this article. #It is theo((ro$rium of Freemasonry#" says Mac0ey -)*

that its history has never yet been written in a spirit of critical

truth; that credulity . . . has been the foundation on which all

masonic historical investigations have been built, . . . that themissing links of a chain of evidence have been frequently

supplied by gratuitous invention and that statements of vast

importance have been carelessly sustained by the testimony of

documents whose authenticity has not been proved.

#The historical (ortion of old records#" he adds -)2

as written by Anderson, Preston, Smith, Calcott and other

writers of that generation, was little more than a collection offables, so absurd as to ecite the smile of every reader.

The germs of nearly all these fantastic theories arecontained in Anderson@s #The onstitutions of FreeMasons# )+/*" )+*8! which ma0es Freemasonry
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coe6tensive with geometry and the arts $ased on it'insinuates that &od" the &reat Architect" foundedFreemasonry" and that it had for (atrons" Adam" the7atriarchs" the 0ings and (hiloso(hers of old. Even

esus hristis included in the list as &rand Master ofthe hristian hurch. Masonry is credited with the$uilding of Noah@s Ar0" the Tower of =a$el" the7yramids" and 5olomon@s Tem(le. 5u$seuent authorsfind the origin of Masonry in the Egy(tian" Dionysiac"Eleusinian" Mithraic" and Druidicmysteries' in sects andschools such as the 7ythagoreans" Essenes" uldees"Goroastrians" and &nostics' in the Evangelical societies

that (receded the Beformation' in the orders of0nighthoodohannites" Tem(lars!' among thealchemists" Bosicrucians" and a$$alists' in hineseand Ara$ic secret societies. It is claimed also that7ythagorasfounded the Druidicinstitution and hencethat Masonry (ro$a$ly e6isted in England ,>> years$efore the hristian Era. 5ome authors" consideringgeological finds as Masonic em$lems" trace Masonry to

the Miocene H! 7eriod -), while others (retend thatMasonic science #e6isted $efore the creation of thisglo$e" diffused amidst the numerous systems withwhich the grand em(yreum of universal s(ace isfurnished#. -):

It is not then difficult to understand that the attem(t to(rove the antiuity of Freemasonry with evidencesu((lied $y such monuments of the (ast as the

7yramids and the O$elis0 removed to New Cor0 in)8+9! should have resulted in an e6tensive literatureconcerning these o$1ects. -)+ Though many intelligentMasons regard these claims as $aseless" the ma1ority ofthe craft -)8 still acce(t the statement contained in the#harge# after initiation? #Ancient no dou$t it is" having
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su$sisted from time immemorial. In every age monarchs-American rituals? #the greatest and $est men of allages# have $een (romoters of the art" have not thoughtit derogatory to their dignity to e6change the sce(tre for

the trowel" have (artici(ated in our mysteries and 1oinedin our assem$lies#. -)9 It is true that in earlier timesgentlemen who were neither o(erative masons norarchitects" the so%called geomatic Masons -/> 1oinedwith the o(erative" or dogmatic" Masons in their lodges"o$served ceremonies of admission" and had their signsof recognition. =ut this Masonry is $y no means the#s(eculative# Masonry of modern times" i.e." a

systematic method of teaching morality $y means ofsuch (rinci(les of sym$ols according to the (rinci(lesof modern Freemasonry after )+/*. As the $est &ermanauthorities admit -/) s(eculative Masonry $egan withthe foundation of the &rand Lodge of England" /2 une")+)+" and its essential organi3ation was com(leted in)+// $y the ado(tion of the new #=oo0 of onstitutions#and of the three degrees? a((rentice" fellow" master. All

the a$lest and most conscientious investigations $ycom(etent Masonic historians show" that in )+)+ the oldlodges had almost ceased to e6ist. The new lodges$egan as convivial societies" and their characteristicMasonic s(irit develo(ed $ut slowly. This s(irit" finally"as e6hi$ited in the new constitutions was incontradiction to that which animated the earlier Masons.These facts (rove that modern Masonry is not" as &ould-// 4ughan -/* and Mac0ey -/2 contend" a revival ofthe older system" $ut rather that it is a new order of nogreater antiuity than the first uarter of the eighteenthcentury.

III. FNDAMENTAL 7BINI7LE5 AND 57IBIT


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There have $een many controversies among Masonsas to the essential (oints of Masonry. English%s(ea0ingMasons style them #landmar0s#" a term ta0en fromDeuteronomy )9?)2" and signifying #the $oundaries of

Masonic freedom#" or the unaltera$le limits within whichall Masons have to confine themselves. Mac0ey -/,s(ecifies no less than twenty%five landmar0s. The samenum$er is ado(ted $y


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and sixth articles of the "%ld &harges" concerning religion$ in the

texts of the first two /nglish editions 012+3 and 123,4 of

'nderson(s "&onstitutions". 5hese texts$ though differing slightly$

are identical as to their essential tenor. 5hat of 12+3$ as the original

text$ restored by the Grand Lodge of /ngland in the editions of the"&onstitutions"$ 126781,13$ and inserted later in the ")ooks of

&onstitutions" of nearly all the other Grand Lodges$ is the most

authoritative; but the text of 123,$ which was adoted and used for

a long time by many Grand Lodges$ is also of great imortance in

itself and as a further illustration of the text of 12+3.

n the latter$ the first article of the "%ld &harges" containing the

fundamental law and the essence of modern !reemasonry runs 0thetext is given exactly as rinted in the original$ 12+349

!. Concerning GodandReligion. AMasonis obliged by his

"enure, to obey the moral law# and if he rightly understands

the Art, he will never be a stupidAtheist$%othic letters& nor an

irreligiousLibertine$%othic letters&. 'ut though in ancient

times (asons were charged in every country to be of the

religion of that country or nation, whatever it was, yet )tis now

thought more epedient only to oblige them to that religion inwhich all men agree, leaving their particular *pinions to

themselves# that is, to begood men and trueor (en of +onour

and +onesty, by whatever enominations or Persuasions they

may be distinguished; whereby (asonry becomes the entre o

"nionand the (eans of conciliating true -riendship among

Persons that must have remained at a perpetual istance.

nder Article I" / Masons@ $ehaviour after the Lodge isclosed and the =rethren not gone! is added?

!n order to preserve peace and harmony no private piques or

quarrels must be brought within the door of the odge, far less

any quarrels about /eligion or 0ations or State Policy, we

being only, as (asons, of the Catholick /eligion, above
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mentioned, we are also of all 0ations, "ongues, 1indreds and

anguages and are resolved against all Politicks $printed in the

original in %othic letters& as what never yet conduced to the

welfare of the odge nor ever will. "his charge has been always

strictly en2oin)d and observ)d; but especially ever since the/eformation in 'ritain or the dissent and secessionof these

0ationsrom the communion o Rome.

In the te6t of )+*8 the same articles run variation fromthe edition of )+/* are given in italics!?

!. Concerning %odand /eligion. A (ason is obliged by his

"enure to observe the moral law as true#oahida3sons of 0oah,

the first name of -reemasons4 and if he rightly understands the

craft, he will never be a stupid atheistor an irreligious libertine

nor act against conscience. !n ancient times the hristian

masons were charged to comply with the hristianusagesof

each country where they travelled or worked; but (asonry

being found in all nations, e$en o di$erse religions, they are

now generally charged to adhere to that religion, in which all

men agree, 3lea$ing each Brotherhis own particular opinion4,

that is, to be good men and true, men of honour and honesty,by whatever names% religionsor persuasions they may be

distinguished;or they all agree in the three great articles o

#oah% enough to preser$e the cement o the lodge. "hus

(asonry is the centre of theirunion and the happymeans of

conciliating true friendship among persons who other&isemust

have remained at a perpetual distance.

5!. 6. 'ehaviour in the odge before closing# . . . 0o private

piques nor quarrels about nations,amilies, religions or politics

must by any means or under any colour or pretence &hatsoe$er

be brought within the doors of the lodge; for as (asons we are

of the most ancient catholic religion, above mentioned and o

all nations upon the s'uare% le$el and plumb( and li)e our
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predecessors in all ageswe are resolved against political

disputes, as contrary to the peace and welfare of the odge.

In order to a((reciate rightly these te6ts

characteri3ing modern #s(eculative# Freemasonry it isnecessary to com(are them with the corres(ondingin1unction of the #&othic# hristian! onstitutionsregulating the old lodges of #o(erative# Masonry till andafter )+2+. These in1unctions are uniformly summed u(in the sim(le words? #The first charge is this that you $etrue to &odand 4oly hurch and use no error orheresy#. -/9 The radical contrast $etween the two ty(es

is o$vious. It occurs in a Masonic address of )+2+. -*) Otherwatchwords are #tolerance#" #unsectarian#"#cosmo(olitan#. The hristiancharacter of the societyunder the o(erative rJgime of former centuries" says

4ughan -*/ #was e6changed for the unsectarianregulations which were to include under its wing thevotaries of all sects" without res(ect to their differencesof colour or clime" (rovided the sim(le conditions wereo$served of morality" mature age and an a((roved$allot#. -** In ontinental Masonry the same notions


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are e6(ressed $y the words #neutrality#" #laKcitJ#"#onfessionslosig0eit#" etc. In the te6t of )+*8 (articularstress is laid on #freedom of conscience# and theuniversal" non%hristian character of Masonry is

em(hasi3ed. The Mason is called a #true Noahida#" i.e.an adherent of the (re%hristian and (re%Mosaic systemof undivided man0ind. The #* articles of Noah# are most(ro$a$ly #the duties towards &od" the neigh$our andhimself# inculcated from older times in the #harge to anewly made =rother#. They might also refer to#$rotherly love" relief and truth#" generally with#religion# styled the #great cement# of the fraternity and

called $y Mac0ey -*2 #the motto of our order and thecharacteristic of our (rofession#.

Of the ancient Masons" it is no longer said that theywere o$liged to #$e of the religion# $ut only #to com(lywith the hristianusages of each ountry#. Thedesignation of the said #unsectarian# religion as the#ancient catholic0# $etrays the attem(t to o((ose thisreligion of #4umanity# to the Boman atholicas theonly true" genuine" and originally atholic. Theunsectarian character of Masonry is also im(lied in theera chosen on the title (age? #In the year of Masonry,+/*# and in the #4istory#. As to the #4istory# Andersonhimself remar0s in the (reface )+*8!?

*nly an e*pert Brother, by the true light, canreadilyind many

useul hints in almost e$ery page o this boo)which Cowans and

others not initiated 3also among (asons4 cannotdiscern.

4ence" concludes rause -*, Anderson@s #4istory# isallegorically written in #ci(her language#. A(art" then"from #mere childish allusions to the minor secrets#" the
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general tendency of this #4istory# is to e6hi$it the#unsectarianism# of Masonry.

Two (oints deserve s(ecial mention? the utterances

on the #Augustan# and the #&othic# style of architectureand the identification of Masonry with geometry. The#Augustan# which is (raised a$ove all other stylesalludes to #4umanism#" while the #&othic# which ischarged with ignorance and narrow%mindedness" refersto hristianand (articularly Boman atholicorthodo6y.The identification of Masonry with geometry $rings outthe naturalisticcharacter of the former. Li0e the Boyal

5ociety" of which a large and most influential (ro(ortionof the first Freemasons were mem$ers -*: Masonry(rofesses the em(iric or #(ositivist# geometricalmethod of reason and deduction in the investigation oftruth. -*+ In general it a((ears that the founders ofMasonry intended to follow the same methods for theirsocial (ur(oses which were chosen $y the Boyal5ociety for its scientific researches. -*8 #&eometry as amethodis (articularly recommended to the attention ofMasons.# #In this light" &eometry may very (ro(erly $econsidered as a natural logic' for as truth is everconsistent" invaria$le and uniform" all truths may $einvestigated in the same manner. Moral and religiousdefinitions" a6ioms and (ro(ositions have as regularand certain de(endence u(on each other as any in(hysics or mathematics.# #Let me recommend you to(ursue such 0nowledge and cultivate such dis(ositions

as will secure you the =rotherly res(ect of this societyand the honour of your further advancement in it#. -*9 Itis merely through inconsistency that some &randLodges of North America insist on $elief in the Divineins(iration of the =i$le as a necessary ualification andthat not a few Masons in America and &ermany declare


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Masonry an essentially #hristianinstitution#.According to the &erman &rand Lodges" hrist is only#the wise and virtuous (ure man#par excellence" the(rinci(al model and teacher of #4umanity#. -2> In the

5wedish system" (ractised $y the &erman ountry&rand Lodge" hrist is said to have taught $esides thee6oteric hristian doctrine" destined for the (eo(le andthe duller mass of his disci(les" an esotericdoctrine forhis chosen disci(les" such as 5t. ohn" in which 4edenied that 4e was &od. -2) Freemasonry" it is held" isthe descendant of the hristiansecret society" in whichthis esoteric doctrine was (ro(agated. It is evident"

however" that even in this restricted sense of#unsectarian# hristianity" Freemasonry is not ahristianinstitution" as it ac0nowledges many (re%hristian models and teachers of #4umanity#. Allinstructed Masons agree in the o$1ective im(ort of thisMasonic (rinci(le of #4umanity#" according to which$elief in dogmas is a matter of secondary im(ortance" oreven (re1udicial to the law of universal love and

tolerance. Freemasonry" therefore" is o((osed not onlyto atholicism and hristianity" $ut also to the wholesystem of su(ernatural truth.

The only serious discre(ancies among Masonsregarding the inter(retation of the te6ts of )+/* and)+*8 refer to the words? #And if he rightly understandsthe Art" he will never be a stupidAtheistor an irreligiousibertine#. The controversy as to the meaning of these

words has $een (articularly shar( since )* 5e(tem$er")8++" when the &rand Orient of France erased the(aragra(h" introduced in )8,2 into its onstitutions" $ywhich the e6istence of &odand the immortality of soulwere declared the $asis of Freemasonry -2/ and gave tothe first article of its new onstitutions the following
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tenor? #Freemasonry" an essentially (hilanthro(ic"philosophicnaturalist" adogmatic! andprogressiveinstitution" has for its o$1ect the search after truth" thestudy of universal moralit!" of the sciences and arts and

the (ractice of $eneficence. It has for its (rinci(lesabsolute libert! of conscienceand human solidarit!. "texcludes none on account of his belief. Its device isLi$erty" Euality" Fraternity.# On )> 5e(tem$er" )8+8"the &rand Orient" moreover" decreed to e6(unge fromthe Bituals and the lodge (roceedings all allusions toreligious dogmas as the sym$ols of the &rand Architect"the =i$le" etc. These measures called out solemn

(rotests from nearly all the Anglo%American and &ermanorgans and led to a ru(ture $etween the Anglo%American &rand Lodges and the &rand Orient of France.As many freethin0ing Masons $oth in America and inEuro(e sym(athi3e in this struggle with the French" aworld%wide $reach resulted. ;uite recently many &randLodges of the nited 5tates refused to recogni3e the&rand Lodge of 5wit3erland as a regular $ody" for the

reason that it entertains friendly relations with theatheistical&rand Orient of France. -2* This ru(turemight seem to show" that in the a$ove (aragra(h of the#Old harges# the $elief in a (ersonal &odis declaredthe most essential (rereuisite and duty of a Mason andthat Anglo%American Masonry" at least" is anuncom(romising cham(ion of this $elief against theim(iety of Latin Masonry.

=ut in truth all Masonry is full of am$iguity. The te6tsof )+/* and )+*8 of the fundamental law concerningAtheismare (ur(osely am$iguous. Atheismis not(ositively condemned" $ut 1ust sufficiently disavowed tomeet the e6igencies of the time" when an o(enadmission of it would have $een fatal to Masonry. It is
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not said that Atheistscannot $e admitted" or that noMason can $e an Atheist" $ut merely that ifhe rightl!understands the Art" he will never $e a stupidAtheist"etc." i.e." he will not hold or (rofess Atheismin a stu(id

way" $y statements" for instance that shoc0 religiousfeeling and $ring Masonry into $ad re(ute. And evensuch a stu(id Atheistincurs no stronger censure thanthe sim(le ascertaining of the fact that he does notrightly understand the art" a merely theoretical 1udgmentwithout any (ractical sanction. 5uch a disavowal tendsrather to encourage modern (ositivist or scientificAtheism. 5carcely more serious is the re1ection of

Atheism$y the =ritish" American and some &erman&rand Lodges in their struggle with the &rand Orient ofFrance. The English &rand Lodge" it is true" in itsuarterly communication of : March" )8+8 -22 ado(tedfour resolutions" in which $elief in the &reat Architect ofthe niverse is declared to $e the most im(ortantancient landmar0 of the order" and an e6(licit (rofessionof that $elief is reuired of visiting $rethren $elonging to

the &rand Orient of France" as a condition for entranceinto the English lodges. 5imilar measures were ta0en $ythe Irish" 5cottish" and North American &rand Lodges.=ut this $elief in a &reat Architect is so vague andsym$olical" that almost every 0ind of Atheismand evenof #stu(id# Atheismmay $e covered $y it. Moreover"=ritish and American &rand Lodges declare that theyare fully satisfied with such a vague" in fact merelyver$al declaration" without further inuiry into the natureof this $elief" and that they do not dream of claiming forFreemasonry that it is a #church#" a #council#" a#synod#. onseuently even those are ac0nowledged asMasons who with 5(encer and other Naturalist(hiloso(hers of the age call &odthe hidden all%(owerful(rinci(le wor0ing in nature" or" li0e the followers of
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#4and$uch# -2, maintain as the two (illars of religion#the sentiment of man@s littleness in the immensity ofs(ace and time#" and #the assurance that whatever isreal has its origin from the good and whatever ha((ens

must $e for the $est#.

An American &rand Orator Ga$ris0ie Ari3ona! on )*Novem$er" )889" (roclaimed" that #individual mem$ersmay $elieve in many gods" if their conscience and

1udgment so dictate#. -2: Limousin -2+ a((roved $y&erman Masons -28 says? #The ma1ority of menconceive &odin the sense of e6oteric religions as an all%

(owerful man' others conceive &odas the highest ideaa man can form in the sense of esoteric religions.# Thelatter are called Atheistsaccording to the e6otericnotion of &odre(udiated $y science" $ut they are notAtheistsaccording to the esoteric and true notion of&od. On the contrary" add others -29 they are lessAtheiststhan churchmen" from whom they differ only $yholding a higher idea of &odor the Divine. In this senseThevenot" &rand 5ecretary of the &rand Orient ofFrance" in an official letter to the &rand Lodge of5cotland *> anuary" )8+8!" states? #French Masonrydoes not $elieve that there e6ist Atheistsin the a$solutesense of the word# -,> and 7i0e himself -,) avows?

A man who has a higher conception of %odthan those about

him and who denies that their conception is %od, is very likely

to be called an Atheistby men who are really far less believers

in %odthan he, etc.

Thus the whole controversy turns out to $e merelynominal and formal. Moreover" it is to $e noticed that theclause declaring $elief in the great Architect a conditionof admission" was introduced into the te6t of the
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onstitutions of the &rand Lodge of England" only in)8), and that the same te6t says? #A Mason therefore is

particularl!$ound never to act against the dictates ofhis conscience#" where$y the &rand Lodge of England

seems to ac0nowledge that li$erty of conscience is thesovereign (rinci(le of Freemasonry (revailing over allothers when in conflict with them. The same su(remacyof the li$erty of conscience is im(lied also in theunsectarian character" which Anglo%American Masonsrecogni3e as the innermost essence of masonry. #Two(rinci(les#" said the &erman Em(eror Frederic0 III" in asolemn address to Masons at 5tras$urg on )/

5e(tem$er" )88:" #characteri3e a$ove all our (ur(oses"vi3." li$erty of conscience and tolerance#' and the#4and$uch# -,/ 1ustly o$serves that li$erty ofconscience and tolerance were there$y (roclaimed thefoundation of Masonry $y the highest Masonic authorityin &ermany.

Thus the &rand Orient of France is right from theMasonic (oint of view as to the su$stance of theuestion' $ut it has deviated from tradition $ydiscarding sym$ols and sym$olical formul" which" ifrightly understood" in no way im(ly dogmatic assertionsand which cannot $e re1ected without in1uring the wor0of Masonry" since this has need of am$iguous religiousformul ada(ta$le to every sort of $elief and every(hase of moral develo(ment. From this (oint of view thesym$ol of the &rand Architect of the niverse and of the

=i$le are indeed of the utmost im(ortance for Masonry.4ence" several &rand Lodges which at first weresu((osed to imitate the radicalism of the French"eventually retained these sym$ols. A re(resentative ofthe &rand Lodge of France writes in this sense toFindel? #


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dogmas" either (ositive or negative" as radicallycontradictory to Masonry" the teaching of which mustonly $e (ro(agated $y sym$ols. And the sym$ols mayand must $e e6(lained $y each one according to his

own understanding' there$y they serve to maintainconcord. 4ence our &rand Lodge facultatively retainsthe 5ym$ol of the &rand Architect of the niverse"$ecause every one can conceive it in conformity withhis (ersonal convictions. -Lodges are allowed to retainthe sym$ols" $ut there is no o$ligation at all of doing so"and many do not. To e6communicate each other onaccount of meta(hysical uestions" a((ears to us the

most unworthy thing Masons can do#. -,* The officialorgan of Italian Masonry even em(hasi3es? #The formulaof the &rand Architect" which is re(roached to Masonryas am$iguous and a$surd" is the most large%minded andrighteous affirmation of the immense (rinci(le ofe6istence and may re(resent as well the revolutionary!&odof Ma33ini as the 5atan of &iosue arducci in hiscele$rated hymn to 5atan!' &od" as the fountain of love"

not of hatred' 5atan" as the genius of the good" not ofthe $ad#. -,2 In $oth inter(retations it is in reality the(rinci(le of Bevolution that is adored $y Italian Masonry.

I. 7BO7A&ATION AND EOLTION OF MA5ONBC

The mem$ers of the &rand Lodge formed in )+)+ $ythe union of four old lodges" were till )+/) few innum$er and inferior in uality. The entrance of several

mem$ers of the Boyal 5ociety and of the no$ilitychanged the situation. 5ince )+/) it has s(read overEuro(e. -,, This ra(id (ro(agation was chiefly due tothe s(irit of the age which" tiring of religious uarrels"restive under ecclesiastical authority and discontentedwith e6isting social conditions" turned for enlightenment


18/85

and relief to the ancient mysteries and sought" $yuniting men of 0indred tendencies" to reconstructsociety on a (urely human $asis. In this situationFreemasonry with its vagueness and elasticity" seemed

to many an e6cellent remedy. To meet the needs ofdifferent countries and classes of society" the originalsystem )+)+%/*! underwent more or less (rofoundmodifications. In )+)+" contrary to &ould -,: only onesim(le ceremony of admission or one degree seems tohave $een in use -,+ in )+/* two a((ear as recogni3ed$y the &rand Lodge of England? #Entered A((rentice#and #Fellow raft or Master#. The three degree system"

first (ractised a$out )+/," $ecame universal and officialonly after )+*>. -,8 The sym$ols and ritualistic forms"as they were (ractised from )+)+ till the introduction offurther degrees after )+*8" together with the #Oldharges# of )+/* or )+*8" are considered as the original(ure Freemasonry. A fourth" the #Boyal Arch# degree-,9 in use at least since )+2>" is first mentioned in )+2*"and though e6traneous to the system of (ure and

ancient Masonry -:> is most characteristic of the laterAnglo%5a6on Masonry. In )+,) a rival &rand Lodge ofEngland #according to the Old Institutions# wasesta$lished" and through the activity of its &rand5ecretary" Lawrence Dermott" soon sur(assed the&rand Lodge of )+)+. The mem$ers of this &rand Lodgeare 0nown $y the designation of #Ancient Masons#.They are also called #Cor0 Masons# with reference" notto the e(hemeral &rand Lodge of all England in Cor0"mentioned in )+/: and revived in )+:)" $ut to the(retended first &rand Lodge of England assem$led in9/: at Cor0. -:) They finally o$tained control" thenited &rand Lodge of England ado(ting in )8)* theirritualistic forms.


19/85

In its religious s(irit Anglo%5a6on Masonry after )+*>undou$tedly retrograded towards $i$lical hristianorthodo6y. -:/ This movement is attested $y thehristiani3ationof the rituals and $y the (o(ularity of

the wor0s of 4utchinson" 7reston" and Oliver withAnglo%American Masons. It is (rinci(ally due to theconservatism of English%s(ea0ing society in religiousmatters" to the influence of ecclesiastical mem$ers andto the institution of #lodge cha(lains# mentioned inEnglish records since )+**. -:* The reform $rought $ythe articles of union $etween the two &rand Lodges ofEngland ) Decem$er" )8)*! consisted a$ove all in the

restoration of the unsectarian character" in accordancewith which all allusions to a (articular hristian!religion must $e omitted in lodge (roceedings. It wasfurther decreed #there shall $e the most (erfect unity ofo$ligation of disci(line" or wor0ing . . . according to thegenuine landmar0s" laws and traditions . . . throughoutthe masonic world" from the day and date of the saidunion ) Decem$er" )8)*! until time shall $e no more#.

-:2 In ta0ing this action the nited &rand Lodgeoverrated its authority. Its decree was com(lied with" toa certain e6tent" in the nited 5tates" where Masonry"first introduced a$out )+*>" followed in general thestages of Masonic evolution in the mother country.

The title of Mother%&rand Lodge of the nited 5tateswas the o$1ect of a long and ardent controversy$etween the &rand Lodges of 7ennsylvania and

Massachusetts. The (revailing o(inion at (resent is" thatfrom time immemorial" i.e." (rior to &rand Lodgewarrants -:, there e6isted in 7hiladel(hia a regularlodge with records dating from )+*). -:: In )+*2=en1amin Fran0lin (u$lished an edition of the English#=oo0 of onstitutions#. The (rinci(al agents of the


20/85

modern &rand Lodge of England in the nited 5tateswere o6e and 7rice. 5everal lodges were chartered $ythe &rand Lodge of 5cotland. After )+,8" es(eciallyduring the " however" as occult scienceswere ascri$ed to the Tem(lars" their system was readily
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ada(ta$le to all 0inds of Bosicrucian (ur(oses and tosuch (ractices as alchemy" magic" ca$$ala" s(iritism"and necromancy. The su((ression of the order with thestory of the &rand Master ames Molay and its

(retended revival in Masonry" re(roduced in the 4iramlegend" re(resenting the fall and the resurrection of the

1ust or the su((ression and the restoration of thenatural rights of man" fitted in admira$ly with $othhristianand revolutionary high grade systems. The(rinci(al Tem(lar systems of the eighteenth centurywere the system of the #5trict O$servance#" organi3ed$y the swindler Bosa and (ro(agated $y the enthusiast

von 4undt' and the 5wedish system" made u( of Frenchand 5cottish degrees in 5weden.

In $oth systems o$edience to un0nown su(eriors was(romised. The su(reme head of these Tem(lar systems"which were rivals to each other" was falsely su((osed to$e the aco$ite 7retender" harles Edward" who himselfdeclared in )+++" that he had never $een a Mason. -:9Almost all the lodges of &ermany" Austria" 4ungary"7oland" and Bussia were" in the second half of theeighteenth century" involved in the struggle $etweenthese two systems. In the lodges of France and othercountries -+> the admission of women to lodgemeetings occasioned a scandalousimmorality. -+) Therevolutionary s(irit manifested itself early in FrenchMasonry. Already in )+2: in the $oo0 #La Franc%Maonnerie" JcrasJe#" an e6(erienced e6%Mason" who"

when a Mason" had visited many lodges in France andEngland" and consulted high Masons in official (osition"descri$ed as the true Masonic (rogramme a (rogrammewhich" according to =oos" the historian of Freemasonry(. )9/!" in an astonishing degree coincides with the(rogramme of the great French Bevolutionof )+89. In
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)++: this revolutionary s(irit was $rought into &ermany$y


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The (rinci(al system in the nited 5tates harleston"5outh arolina! is the so%called Ancient and Acce(ted5cottish Bite" organi3ed in )8>) on the $asis of theFrench 5cottish Bite of (erfection" which was

esta$lished $y the ouncil of the Em(erors of the Eastand ' olon" for


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25/85

most e6clusive society" the more so as it is a secretsociety" closed off from the (rofane world of commonmortals. #Freemasonry#" says the #eystone# of7hiladel(hia -+8

7has no right to be popular. !t is a secret society. !t is for the

few, not the many, for the select, not for the masses.7

7ractically" it is true" the (rescri(tions concerning theintellectual and moral endowments are not rigourouslyo$eyed?

70umbers are being admitted . . . whose sole ob2ect is to make

their membership a means for advancing their pecuniaryinterest7. $89&

7"here are a goodly number again, who value -reemasonry

solely for the convivial meetings attached to it.7

7Again ! have heard men say openly, that they had 2oined to

gain introduction to a certain class of individuals as a trading

matter and that they were forced to do so because every one

did so. "hen there is the great class who 2oin it out of curiosity

or perhaps, because somebody in a position above them is a

mason.7

70ear akin to this is that class of individuals who wish for

congenial society7. $:&

7!n (asonry they find the means of ready access to society,

which is denied to them by social conventionalities. "hey havewealth but neither by birth nor education are they eligible for

polite and fine intercourse.7

7"he shop is never absent from their words and deeds.7
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7"he (asonic body includes a large number of publicans.7

$:6&

Of the Masonic rule %% $rotherly love" relief" and truth %%

certainly the two former" es(ecially as understood in thesense of mutual assistance in all the emergencies of life"is for most of the candidates the (rinci(al reason for

1oining. This mutual assistance" es(ecially sym$oli3ed$y the five (oints of fellowshi( and the #grand hailingsign of distress# in the third degree" is one of the mostfundamental characteristics of Freemasonry. =y hisoath the Master Mason is (ledged to maintain and

u(hold the five (oints of fellowshi( in act as well as inwords" i.e." to assist a Master Mason on every occasionaccording to his a$ility" and (articularly when he ma0esthe sign of distress. In Duncan" #American Bitual# //9!"the Boyal Arch%Mason even swears?

! will assist a companion /oyal Arch


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$efore Freemasonry" which is (erha(s the most stri0ing(roof of its (ower. A sign sufficed to sto( the slaughter'the com$atants threw away their arms" em$raced eachother fraternally and at once $ecame friends and

=rethren as their oaths (rescri$ed#" and the#4and$uch# -82 declares? #this sign has had $eneficialeffect" (articularly in times of war" where it oftendisarms the $itterest enemies" so that they listen to thevoice of humanity and give each other mutualassistance instead of 0illing each other#. -8, Even thewidely s(read sus(icion" that 1ustice is sometimesthwarted and Masonic criminals saved from due

(unishment" cannot $e deemed groundless. The said(ractice of mutual assistance is so re(rehensi$le thatMasonic authors themselves -8: condemn it severely.#If#" says =ro. Mar$ach /*!" #Freemasonry really could$e an association and even a secret one of men of themost different ran0s of society" assisting and advancingeach other" it would $e an iniuitous association" andthe (olice would have no more urgent duty than to

e6terminate it.#Another characteristic of Masonic law is that

#treason# and #re$ellion# against civil authority aredeclared only (olitical crimes" which affect the goodstanding of a =rother no more than heresy" and furnishno ground for a Masonic trial. -8+ The im(ortance whichMasonry attaches to this (oint is manifest from the factthat it is set forth in the Article II of the #Old harges#"

which defines the duties of a Freemason with res(ect tothe 5tate and civil (owers. om(ared with thecorres(onding in1unction of the #&othic# constitutionsof o(erative masonry" it is no less am$iguous thanArticle I concerning &odand religion. The old &othiconstitutions candidly en1oined? #Also you shall $e true
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liegemen to the ing without treason or falsehood andthat you shall 0now no treason $ut you mend it" if youmay" or else warn the ing or his council thereof#. -88The second article of modern s(eculative Freemasonry

)+/*! runs?

*f the civil magistrates, supreme and subordinate. A (ason is

a peaceable sub2ect to the Civil Powers, wherever he resides or

works, and is never to be concerned in Plots and Conspiracies

against the peace and welfare of the 0ation, nor to behave

himself undutifully to inferior (agistrates; for as (asonry

hath always been in2ured by =ar, 'loodshed and Confusion so

ancient 1ings and Princes have been much disposed toencourage the craftsmen, because of their Peaceableness and

oyalty, whereby they practically answer)d the Cavils of their

adversaries and promoted the +onour of -raternity, who ever

flourished in "imes of Peace. So that if a 'rother should be a

/ebel against the State, he is not to be countenanc)d in his

/ebellion, however he may be pitied as an unhappy man; and,

if convicted of no other Crime, though the loyal 'rotherhood

must and ought to disown his /ebellion, and give no >mbrage

or %round of political ?ealousy to the %overnment for the time

being; they cannot epel him from the odge and his /elation

to it remains indefeasible.

4ence re$ellion $y modern s(eculative Masonry isonly disa((roved when (lots are directed against the(eace and welfare of the nation. The $rotherhood oughtto disown the re$ellion" $ut only in order to (reserve the

fraternity from annoyance $y the civil authorities. A$rother" then" guilty of re$ellion cannot $e e6(elled fromthe lodge' on the contrary" his fellow Masons are(articularly o$liged to have (ity on his misfortune whenhe in (rison or $efore the courts! has to suffer from theconseuences of his re$ellion" and give him $rotherly


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assistance as far as they can. Freemasonry itself as a$ody is very (eacea$le and loyal" $ut it does notdisa((rove' on the contrary" it commends those$rethren who through love of freedom and the national

welfare successfully (lot against monarchs and otherdes(otic rulers" while as an association of (u$lic utilityit claims (rivilege and (rotection through 0ings" (rinces"and other high dignitaries for the success of its (eacefulwor0. #Loyalty to freedom#" says #Freemason@shronicle# -89 #overrides all other considerations#. Thewisdom of this regulation" remar0s Mac0ey -9> #will $ea((arent when we consider" that if treason or re$ellion

were masonic crimes" almost every mason in the nitedolonies" in )++:" would have $een su$1ect to e6(ulsionand every Lodge to a forfeiture of its warrant $y the&rand Lodges of England and 5cotland" under whose

1urisdiction they were at the time#.

A misleading adage is #once a Mason always aMason#. This is often ta0en to mean that #the Masonictie is indissolu$le" that there is no a$solution from itsconseuences# -9) or #O$ligations# -9/ that not evendeath can sever the connection of a Mason withFreemasonry. -9* =ut certainly a Mason has the #rightof demission# -92 and this right" whatever $e theo(inion of Masonic 1uris(rudence" according to theinaliena$le natural rights of man" e6tends to a com(letewithdrawal not only from the lodge $ut also from the$rotherhood. In the scale of Masonic (enalties"

#e6(ulsion# is the most severe. -9, =esides those whohave $een e6(elled or who have resigned there aremany #unaffiliated# Masons who have ceased to $e#active# mem$ers of a lodge" $ut" according to Masoniclaw" which" of course" can o$lige no more than isauthori3ed $y the general rules of morality" they remain


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su$1ect to the lodge within the 1urisdiction of which theyreside.

As to unity" Masonic authorities unanimously affirm

that Freemasonry throughout the world is one" and thatall Freemasons form in reality $ut one lodge' thatdistinct lodges e6ist only for the sa0e of convenience"and that conseuently every regular Mason is entitled to$e received in every regular lodge of the world as a$rother" and" if in distress" to $e relieved. The goodunderstanding among Masons of different countries isfurthered $y (ersonal intercourse and $y

corres(ondence" es(ecially $etween the grand secretaryoffices and international congresses -9: which led tothe esta$lishment" in )9>*" of a (ermanent internationaloffice at NeuchQtel" 5wit3erland. -9+ There is no general&rand Lodge or direction of Freemasonry" thoughvarious attem(ts have $een made in nearly every largerstate or country to esta$lish one. Incessant dissensions$etween Masonic systems and $odies are characteristicof Freemasonry in all countries and times. =ut thefederative unity of Freemasonry suffices to (rove a truesolidarity among Masons and Masonic $odiesthroughout the world' hence the charge of com(licity inthe machinations which some of them carry on. Thissolidarity is o(enly avowed $y Masonic authorities.7i0e" for instance" writes -98

=hen the 2ournal in ondon which speaks of the -reemasonry

of the %rand odge of @ngland, deprecatingly protested thatthe @nglish -reemasonry was innocent of the charges

preferred by the Papal 'ull 3@ncycl. 6::4 against

-reemasonry, when it declared that @nglish -reemasonry had

no opinions political or religious, and that it did not in the least

degree sympathiBe with the loose opinions and etravagant


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utterances of part of the Continental -reemasonry, it was very

2ustly and very conclusively checkmated by the /omish *rgans

with the reply, )!t is idle for you to protest. ou are

-reemasons and you recogniBe them as -reemasons. ou give

them countenance, encouragement and support and you are2ointly responsible with them and cannot shirk that

responsibility).

As accurate statistics are not always to $e had andthe methods of enumeration differ in different countries"total num$ers can only $e a((ro6imated. Thus in mostof the Lodges of the nited 5tates only the Masters

third degree! are counted" while in other countries thea((rentices and fellows are added. There are $esidesmany unaffiliated Masons having ceased to $emem$ers of a lodge! who are not included. Theirnum$er may $e estimated at two%thirds of that of theactive Masons. In England a Mason may act as mem$erof many lodges. onfirming our statement as to theactive mem$ers of the strictly Masonic $odies" which incalendars and year $oo0s are registered as such" wemay" u(on recent and relia$le sources -99 estimate theactual state of Freemasonry as follows? &rand Orients"&rand Lodges" 5u(reme ouncils" and other 5cottish &.=odies" )8*' lodges /:",>>' Masons" a$out /">>>">>>'the num$er of the &rand ha(ters of Boyal Arch is? inthe nited 5tates" /9:8 su$ordinate cha(ters" under one&eneral &rand ha(ter' England" 2: &rand ha(terswith )>), su$ordinate cha(ters' English colonies and

foreign Masonic centres" )8 &rand ha(ters with ),>su$ordinate cha(ters. The census of craft masonry is asfollows?

Great Britain and Colonies (excluding Canada)::$72 lodges;

+7+$761 members


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&anada9 2+2 lodges; 7$2+, members

17 lodges; 1$+3$16> members

$2 members'frica9 63 lodges; +$16 members

5otal9 ++$>32 lodges; 1$272$3,, members

I. INNEB * #is the very soul of


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Masonry.# And =oyd" the &rand Orator of Missouri"confirms? #It is from the $eginning to the end sym$ol"sym$ol" sym$ol#. -)>2

The (rinci(al advantages of this sym$olism" which isnot (eculiar to Freemasonry $ut refers to the mysteriesand doctrines of all ages and of all factors of civili3ation"are the following? )! As it is ada(ta$le to all (ossi$leo(inions" doctrines" and tastes" it attracts the candidateand fascinates the initiated. /! It (reserves theunsectarian unity of Freemasonry in s(ite of (rofounddifferences in religion" race" national feeling" and

individual tendencies. *! It sums u( the theoretical and(ractical wisdom of all ages and nations in a universallyintelligi$le language. 2! It trains the Mason to considere6isting institutions" religious" (olitical" and social" as(assing (hases of human evolution and to discover $yhis own study the reforms to $e reali3ed in $ehalf ofMasonic (rogress" and the means to reali3e them. ,! Itteaches him to see in (revailing doctrines and dogmasmerely su$1ective conce(tions or changing sym$ols of adee(er universal truth in the sense of Masonic ideals. :!It allows Freemasonry to conceal its real (ur(oses fromthe (rofane and even from those among the initiated"who are una$le to a((reciate those aims" as Masonryintends. #Masonry#" says 7i0e" #1ealously conceals itssecrets and intentionally leads conceited inter(retersastray#. -)>, #7art of the 5ym$ols are dis(layed . . . tothe Initiated" $ut he is intentionally misled $y false

inter(retations#. -)>: #The initiated are few thoughmany hear the Thyrsus#. -)>+ #The meaning of the5ym$ols is not unfolded at once. 8 #It is for eachindividual Mason to discover the secret of Masonry $y


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e6(lained the two (illars =oa3 and achin' theBosecroi6 a cross with a rose in the centre!' the (ointwithin the circle' the #vesica (iscis#" the well%0nownsign for the 5aviour' the tri(le Tau' 5un and Moon'

4iram and hrist Osiris!' the coffin' the Middleham$er and even the 5ancta 5anctorum" as adyta ormost holy (arts of each tem(le" usually containedhideous o$1ects of (hallic worshi(. -))8

As Masons even in their official lectures and rituals"generally claim an Egy(tian origin for Masonicsym$olism and a close #affinity# of #masonic usages

and customs with those of the Ancient Egy(tians# -))9such inter(retations are to $e deemed officiallyauthori3ed. 7i0e says" moreover" that #almost every oneof the ancient Masonic sym$ols# has #four distinctmeanings" one as it were within the other" the moral"(olitical" (hiloso(hical and s(iritual meaning#. -)/>From the (olitical (oint of view 7i0e with many otherAnglo%American 5cotch Masons inter(rets all Masonicsym$olism in the sense of a systematic struggle againstevery 0ind of (olitical and religious #des(otism#. 4iram"hrist" Molay are regarded only as re(resentatives of#4umanity# the #A(ostles of Li$erty" Euality"Fraternity#. -)/) The ross a dou$le or uadru(lesuare! is #no s(ecific hristiansym$ol#" #to all of us itis an em$lem of Nature and of Eternal life' whether ofthem only let each say for himself#. -)// The ross Rhrist! was the 5ign of the reative


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love! of Masonry" as a (urely naturalisticinstitution.-)/2 #The first assassin of 4iram is %o!alt!as thecommon ty(e of tyranny#" stri0ing #with its rule of ironat the throat of 4iram and ma0ing freedom of s(eech

treason.# The second assassin is the 7ontificate7a(acy! #aiming the suare of steel at the heart of thevictim#. -)/, hrist dying on alvaryis for Masonry#the greatest among the a(ostles of 4umanity" $ravingBoman des(otism and the fanaticism and $igotry of the(riesthood#. -)/: nder the sym$ol of the ross" #thelegions of freedom shall march to victory#. -)/+

The adosh thirtieth degree!" tram(ling on the (a(altiaraand the royal crown" is destined to wrea0 a 1ustvengeance on these #high criminals# for the murder ofMolay-)/8 and #as the a(ostle of truth and the rights ofman# -)/9 to deliver man0ind #from the $ondage ofDes(otism and the thraldom of s(iritual Tyranny#. -)*>#In most rituals of this degree everything $reathesvengeance# against religious and (olitical #Des(otism#.-)*) Thus Masonic sym$ols are said to $e #radiant ofideas" which should (enetrate the soul of every Masonand $e clearly reflected in his character and conduct" tillhe $ecome a (illar of strength to the fraternity#. -)*/#There is no iota of Masonic Bitual#" adds the #oice# ofhicago" #which is void of significance#. -)** Theseinter(retations" it is true" are not officially ado(ted inAnglo%American craft rituals' $ut they a((ear in fullyauthori3ed" though not the only ones authori3ed even $y

its system and $y the first two articles of the #Oldharge# )+/*!" which contains the fundamental law ofFreemasonry. As to the unsectarian character ofMasonry and its sym$olism" 7i0e 1ustly remar0s?#Masonry (ro(agates no creed" e6ce(t its own mostsim(le and su$lime one taught $y Nature and Beason.
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There has never $een a false Beligion on the world. The(ermanent one universal revelation is written in visi$leNature and e6(lained $y the Beason and is com(leted$y the wise analogies of faith. There is $ut one true

religion" one dogma" one legitimate $elief#. -)*2onseuently" also" the =i$leas a Masonic sym$ol" is to$e inter(reted as a sym$ol of the =oo0 of Nature or ofthe ode of human reason and conscience" whilehristianand other dogmas have for Freemasonry $utthe im(ort of changing sym$ols veiling the one(ermanent truth" of which Masonic #5cience# and #Arts#are a #(rogressive revelation#" and a((lication. -)*,

It should $e noted" that the great ma1ority of Masonsare far from $eing #initiated# and #are groveling inEgy(tian dar0ness#. -)*: #The Masonry of the higherdegrees#" says 7i0e -)*+ #teaches the great truths ofintellectual science' $ut as to these" even as to therudiments and first (rinci(les" =lue Masonry isa$solutely dum$. Its dramas seem intended to teach theresurrection of the $ody#. #The (retended (ossession ofmysterious secrets" has ena$led =lue Masonry tonum$er its initiates $y tens of thousands. Never wereany (retences to the (ossession of mysterious0nowledge so $aseless and so a$surd as those of the=lue and Boyal Arch ha(ter Degrees#. -)*8 #The a(inghristianityof =lue Masonry made it sim(ly anemasculated and im(otent society with large andsounding (retences and slender (erformances. And yet

its multitudes adhere to it" $ecause initiation is anecessity for the 4uman 5oul' and $ecause itinstinctively longs for a union of the many under thecontrol of a single will" in things s(iritual as well as inthings tem(oral" for a 4ierarchy and a Monarch#. -)*9#It is for the Ade(t to understand the meaning of the


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5ym$ols -)2> and Oliver declares? #=rethren" high inran0 and office" are often unacuainted with theelementary (rinci(les of the science#. -)2) Masons#may $e fifty years Masters of the hair and yet not

learn the secret of the =rotherhood. This secret is" in itsown nature" invulnera$le' for the Mason" to whom it has$ecome 0nown" can only have guessed it and certainlynot have received it from any one' he has discovered it"$ecause he has $een in the lodge" mar0ed" learned andinwardly digested.


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(enalties attached" are ta0en in the advanced degrees.The (rinci(le contents of the (romises are according to7i0e? eighteenth degree? #I o$ligate and (ledge myselfalways to sustain" that it $elongs to Masonry to teach

the great unsectarian truths" that do not e6clusively$elong to any religion and ac0nowledge that I have noright whatever to e6act from others the acce(tation ofany (articular inter(retation of masonic sym$ols" that Imay attri$ute to them $y the virtue of my (ersonal $elief.I o$ligate and solemnly (ledge myself to res(ect andsustain $y all means and under any circumstancesLi$erty of 5(eech" Li$erty of Thought and Li$erty of

onscience in religious and (olitical matters#. -)2*Thirtieth Degree? A. %% #I solemnly and freely vowo$edience to all the laws and regulations of the Order"whose $elief will $e my $elief" I (romise o$edience to allmy regular su(eriors. . . . I (ledge myself to $e devoted"soul and $ody" to the (rotection of innocence" thevindication of right" the crushing of o((ression and the(unishment of every infraction against the law of

4umanity and of Man@s rights . . . never" either $yinterest or $y fear" or even to save my e6istence" tosu$mit to nor suffer any material des(otism" that mayenslave or o((ress humanity $y the usur(ation or a$useof (ower. I vow never to su$mit to or tolerate anyintellectual Des(otism" that may (retend to chain orfetter free thought" etc.# =. #I solemnly vow toconsecrate my life to the ends of the Order of nights ofadosh" and to co%o(erate most efficaciously $y allmeans (rescri$ed $y the constituted authorities of theorder to attain them. I solemnly vow and consecrate" tothese ends" my words" my (ower" my strength" myinfluence" my intelligence and my life. I vow to considermyself henceforward and forever as the A(ostle of Truthand of the rights of man.# . #I vow myself to the utmost


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to $ring due (unishment u(on the o((ressors" theusur(ers and the wic0ed' I (ledge myself never to harma night adosh" either $y word or deed . . .' I vow that ifI find him as a foe in the $attlefield" I will save his life"

when he ma0es me the 5ign of Distress" and that I willfree him from (rison and confinement u(on land orwater" even to the ris0 of my own life or my own li$erty. I(ledge myself to vindicate right and truth even $y mightand violence" if necessary and duly ordered $y myregular su(eriors.# D. #I (ledge myself to o$ey withouthesitation any order whatever it may $e of my regular5u(eriors in the Order#. -)22

II. OTEB


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$y which Masons (retend to (romote the welfare ofman0ind' and if Masons" (articularly in atholiccountries" occasionally devote themselves to charita$lewor0s as ordinarily understood" their aim is to gain

sym(athy and there$y further their real (ur(oses. InNorth America" es(ecially in the nited 5tates" acharacteristic feature of the outer wor0 is the tendencytoward dis(lay in the construction of sum(tuousMasonic #tem(les#" in Masonic (rocessions" at thelaying of cornerstones and the dedication of (u$lic$uildings and even of hristianchurches. This tendencyhas freuently $een re$u0ed $y Masonic writers. #The

Masonry of this continent has gone mad after highdegreeism and grand titleism.


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contem(oraneous Masonry in the Latin countries and $ymany 5u(reme ouncils of the Ancient and Acce(ted5cottish system" $y the &rand Lodge of 4ungary' the&rand Orient of =elgium" etc. It was and is (ractically

re1ected also $y &erman and even $y American andEnglish Masonry. Thus American Masonic lodges" atleast so leading Masonic authors o(enly claim" had a(re(onderant (art in the movement for inde(endence"the lodges of the #Ancients# in general (romoting thismovement and those of the #moderns# siding with &reat=ritain. -)2+ According to the #Masonic Beview#Freemasonry was instrumental in forming the American

nion )++:!" claiming fifty%two -)28 or even fifty%five-)29 out of the fifty%si6 of the #signers of theDeclaration of Inde(endence as mem$ers of the Order#.Other Masonic (eriodicals" however" claim that only si6of the signers -),> and only nine of the (residents ofthe nited 5tates were Freemasons. -),) In the FrenchBevolution)+89! and the later revolutionarymovements in France" Italy" 5(ain" 7ortugal" entral and

5outh America" Masonic $odies" it is claimed" too0 amore or less active (art" as is stated $y (rominentre(resentatives of the &rand Lodges in the severalcountries and in many cases $y #(rofane# im(artialhistorians. -),/ In Bussia also Freemasonry finallyturned out to $e a #(olitical cons(iracy# of Masonicallyorgani3ed clu$s that covered the land.

Even with regard to the most recent Tur0ish

Bevolution" it seems certain that the Coung Tur0ish(arty" which made and directed the Bevolution" wasguided $y Masons" and that Masonry" es(ecially the&rand Orients of Italy and France" had a (re(onderantrle in this Bevolution. -),* In conducting this wor0Freemasonry (ro(agates (rinci(les which" logically


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develo(ed" as shown a$ove" are essentiallyrevolutionary and serve as a $asis for all 0inds ofrevolutionary movements. Directing Masons to find outfor themselves (ractical reforms in conformity with

Masonic ideals and to wor0 for their reali3ation" itfosters in its mem$ers and through them in society atlarge the s(irit of innovation. As an a((arently harmlessand even $eneficent association" which in reality is"through its secrecy and am$iguous sym$olism" su$1ectto the most different influences" it furnishes in criticaltimes a shelter for cons(iracy" and" even when itslodges themselves are not transformed into cons(iracy

clu$s" Masons are trained and encouraged to found newassociations for such (ur(oses or to ma0e use ofe6isting associations. Thus" Freemasonry in theeighteenth century" as a (owerful ally of infidelity"(re(ared the French Bevolution. The alliance ofFreemasonry with (hiloso(hy was (u$licly sealed $ythe solemn initiation of oltaire" the chief of these(hiloso(hers" + Fe$ruary" )++8" and his rece(tion of the

Masonic gar$ from the famous materialist =ro.4elvetius. -),2 7rior to the Bevolutionvariouscons(iratory societies arose in connection withFreemasonry from which they $orrowed its forms andmethods' Illuminati" clu$s of aco$ins" etc. A relativelylarge num$er of the leading revolutionistsweremem$ers of Masonic lodges" trained $y lodge life fortheir (olitical career. Even the (rogramme of theBevolutione6(ressed in the #rights of man# was" asshown a$ove" drawn from Masonic (rinci(les" and itsdevice? #Li$erty" Euality" Fraternity# is the very deviceof Freemasonry. 5imilarly" Freemasonry" together withthe ar$onari" coo(erated in the Italian revolutionarymovement of the nineteenth century. Nearly all the(rominent leaders and among them Ma33ini and
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(rinci(les of Freemasonry in (ractical life and to defendthe ethical foundations of human society" whensoeverthese are assailed. The Federation of the &erman &randLodges will (rovide" that every year uestions of

actuality $e (ro(osed to all lodges for discussion anduniform action#. -),, &erman Freemasons (ut forthuntiring efforts to e6ert a decisive influence on thewhole life of the nation in 0ee(ing with Masonic(rinci(les" thus maintaining a (er(etual silent#ultur0am(f#. The (rinci(al means which they em(loyare (o(ular li$raries" conferences" the affiliation of0indred associations and institutions" the creation"

where necessary" of new institutions" through which theMasonic s(irit (ermeates the nation. -),: A similaractivity is dis(layed $y the Austrian Freemasons.

The chief organi3ation which in France secured thesuccess of Freemasonry was the famous #League ofinstruction# founded in )8:+ $y =ro. F. MacJ" later amem$er of the 5enate. This league affiliated and im(liedwith its s(irit many other associations. French Masonryand a$ove all the &rand Orient of France has dis(layedthe most systematic activity as the dominating (oliticalelement in the French #ultur0am(f# since )8++. -),+From the official documents of French Masonrycontained (rinci(ally in the official #=ulletin# and#om(te%rendu# of the &rand Orient it has $een (rovedthat all the anti%clerical measures (assed in the French7arliament were decreed $eforehand in the Masonic

lodges and e6ecuted under the direction of the &randOrient" whose avowed aim is to control everything andevery$ody in France. -),8 #I said in the assem$ly of)898#" states the de(uty MassJ" the official orator of theAssem$ly of )9>*" #that it is the su(reme duty ofFreemasonry to interfere each day more and more in


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(olitical and (rofane struggles#. #5uccess in the anti%clerical com$at! is in a large measure due toFreemasonry' for it is its s(irit" its (rogramme" itsmethods" that have trium(hed.# #If the 'lochas $een

esta$lished" this is owing to Freemasonry and to thedisci(line learned in the lodges. The measures we havenow to urge are the se(aration of hurch and 5tate anda law concerning instruction. Let us (ut our trust in theword of our =ro. om$es#. #For a long timeFreemasonry has $een sim(ly the re(u$lic in disguise#"i.e." the secret (arliament and government ofFreemasonry in reality rule France' the (rofane 5tate"

7arliament" and &overnment merely e6ecute its decrees.#/" #that we would have $eendefeated $y our well%organi3ed o((onents" ifFreemasonry had not s(read over the whole country#.-):>


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Along with this (olitical activity Freemasonryem(loyed against its adversaries" whether real orsu((osed" a system of s(ying and false accusation" thee6(osure of which $rought a$out the downfall of the

masonic ca$inet of om$es. In truth all the #anti%clerical# Masonic reforms carried out in France since)8++" such as the seculari3ation of education" measuresagainst (rivate hristianschools and charita$leesta$lishments" the su((ression of the religious ordersand the s(oliation of the hurch" (rofessedly culminatein an anti%hristian and irreligious reorgani3ation ofhuman society" not only in France $ut throughout the

world. Thus French Freemasonry" as the standard%$earer of all Freemasonry" (retends to inaugurate thegolden era of the Masonic universal re(u$lic"com(rising in Masonic $rotherhood all men and allnations. #The trium(h of the &alilean#" said the(resident of the &rand Orient" 5enator Del(ech" on />5e(tem$er" )9>/" #has lasted twenty centuries. =ut nowhe dies in his turn. The mysterious voice" announcing

to ulian the A(ostate! the death of 7an" to%dayannounces the death of the im(ostor &odwho (romisedan era of 1ustice and (eace to those who $elieve in him.The illusion has lasted a long time. The mendacious&odis now disa((earing in his turn' he (asses away to

1oin in the dust of ages the divinities of India" Egy(t"&reece" and Bome" who saw so many creatures(rostrate $efore their altars. =ro. Masons" we re1oice tostate that we are not without our share in this overthrowof the false (ro(hets. The Bomish hurch" founded onthe &alilean myth" $egan to decay ra(idly from the veryday on which the Masonic Association wasesta$lished#. -):)
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The assertion of the French Masons? #:the ma1ority of the votes were against the Masonic 'loc"

and even the result in )9>: does not (rove that the 'loc"or Masonry" in its anti% clerical measures and (ur(osesre(resents the will of the nation" since the contrary isevident from many other facts. Much less does itre(resent the #conscience# of the nation. The fact is"that the 'locin )9>: secured a ma1ority only $ecausethe greater (art of this ma1ority voted against their#conscience#. No dou$t the claims of Freemasonry in

France are highly e6aggerated" and such success asthey have had is due chiefly to the lowering of the moraltone in (rivate and (u$lic life" facilitated $y the disunione6isting among atholics and $y the serious (olitical$lunders which they committed. ;uite similar is theouter wor0 of the &rand Orient of Italy which li0ewise(retends to $e the standard%$earer of Freemasonry inthe secular struggle of Masonic light and freedom

against the (owers of #s(iritual dar0ness and $ondage#"alluding of course to the (a(acy" and dreams of theesta$lishment of a new and universal re(u$lican em(irewith a Masonic Bome" su((lanting the (a(al andsarean as metro(olis. The &rand Orient of Italy hasoften declared that it is enthusiastically followed in thisstruggle $y the Freemasonry of the entire world andes(ecially $y the Masonic centres at 7aris" =erlin"London" Madrid" alcutta"


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(olitical influence" owing to the difference of thesurrounding social conditions" is less (owerful. Thesame is to $e said of the =elgian and the 4ungarian&rand Lodges" which also consider the &rand Orient of

France as their (olitical model.

5ince )889" the date of the international Masoniccongress" assem$led at 7aris" ): and )+ uly" )889" $ythe &rand Orient of France" systematic and incessantefforts have $een made to $ring a$out a closer union ofuniversal Freemasonry in order to reali3e efficaciouslyand ra(idly the Masonic ideals. The s(ecial allies of the

&rand Orient in this underta0ing are? the 5u(remeouncil and the 5ym$olical &rand Lodge of France andthe Masonic &rand Lodges of 5wit3erland" =elgium"Italy" 5(ain" 4ungary" 7ortugal" &reece' the &randLodges of Massachusetts and of =ra3il were alsore(resented at the congress. The (rogramme (ursued$y the &rand Orient of France" in its main lines" runsthus? #Masonry" which (re(ared the Bevolution of )+89"has the duty to continue its wor0#. -):* This tas0 is to$e accom(lished $y the thoroughly and rigidlyconsistent a((lication of the (rinci(les of theBevolutionto all the de(artments of the religious" moral"

1udicial" legal" (olitical" and social order. The necessary(olitical reforms $eing reali3ed in most of their essential(oints" henceforth the consistent a((lication of therevolutionary (rinci(les to the social conditions ofman0ind is the main tas0 of Masonry. The universal

social re(u$lic" in which" after the overthrow of every0ind of s(iritual and (olitical tyranny#" of #theocratical#and dynastical (owers and class (rivileges" reigns thegreatest (ossi$le individual li$erty and social andeconomical euality conforma$ly to French Masonicideals" the real ultimate aims of this social wor0.


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The following are deemed the (rinci(al means? )! Todestroy radically $y o(en (ersecution of the hurch or$y a hy(ocriticalfraudulent system of se(aration$etween 5tate and hurch" all social influence of the

hurch and of religion" insidiously called #clericalism#"and" as far as (ossi$le" to destroy the hurch and alltrue" i.e." su(erhuman religion" which is more than avague cult of fatherland and of humanity' /! To laici3e"or seculari3e" $y a li0ewise hy(ocriticalfraudulentsystem of #unsectarianism#" all (u$lic and (rivate lifeand" a$ove all" (o(ular instruction and education.#nsectarianism# as understood $y the &rand Orient

(arty is anti%atholic and even anti%hristian" atheistic"(ositivistic" or agnostic sectarianism in the gar$ ofunsectarianism. Freedom of thought and conscience ofthe children has to $e develo(ed systematically in thechild at school and (rotected" as far as (ossi$le" againstall distur$ing influences" not only of the hurch and(riests" $ut also of the children@s own (arents" ifnecessary" even $y means of moral and (hysical

com(ulsion. The &rand Orient (arty considers itindis(ensa$le and an infalli$ly sure way to the finalesta$lishment of the universal social re(u$lic and of the(retended world (eace" as they fancy them" and of theglorious era of human solidarity and of unsur(assa$lehuman ha((iness in the reign of li$erty and 1ustice.-):2

The efforts to $ring a$out a closer union with Anglo%

American and &erman Freemasonry were made(rinci(ally $y the 5ym$olical &rand Lodge of Franceand the #International Masonic Agency# at NeuchQteldirected $y the 5wiss 7ast &rand Master ;uartier%LaTente!" attached to the little &rand Lodge #Al(ina# of5wit3erland. These two &rand Lodges" as disguised


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agents of the &rand Orient of France" act as mediators$etween this and the Masonic $odies of English%s(ea0ing and &erman countries. 9" $y , votes to *" torestore the same relations with the &rand Orient ofFrance. This latter decree e6cited the greatestmanifestations of 1oy" trium(h and 1u$ilation in the&rand Orient (arty" which considered it as an event of

great historic im(ort. =ut in the meantime a (u$lic (ressdiscussion was $rought a$out $y some incisive articlesof the #&ermania# -):8 with the result" that the three old7russian &rand Lodges" com(rising *+")98 $rotherscontrolled $y the (rotectorate" a$andoned theiram$iguous attitude and energetically condemned the


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on the contrary, mutual concessions and harmonious co>These (rotestations of English and AmericanFreemasons in general may $e deemed sincere" as faras their own countries and actual governments are

concerned. Not even the revolutionary &rand Orient ofFrance thin0s of overthrowing the actual (olitical orderin France" which is in entire conformity with its wishes.The uestion is" whether Freemasons res(ect a lawful&overnment in their own and other countries" when it isnot ins(ired $y Masonic (rinci(les. In this res(ect $othEnglish and American Freemasons" $y their (rinci(lesand conduct" (rovo0e the condemnatory verdict of

enlightened and im(artial (u$lic o(inion.


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5uch language would eually suit every anarchisticmovement. The utterances uoted were made in defenceof (lotting 5(anish Masons. Only a (age further thesame English Masonic maga3ine writes? #Assuredly

Italian Masonry" which has rendered such invalua$leservice in the regeneration of that magnificent country#"#is worthy of the highest (raise#. -/>/ #A Freemason"moved $y lofty (rinci(les#" says the #oice# hicago!"#may rightly stri0e a $low at tyranny and may consortwith others to $ring a$out needed relief" in ways that arenot ordinarily 1ustifia$le. 4istory affords numerousinstances of acts which have $een 1ustified $y

su$seuent events" and none of us" whether Masons ornot" are inclined to condemn the (lots hatched $etween7aul Bevere" Dr. . * #No Freemason# said Bight Bev. 4.. 7otter on the

centenary of the &rand ha(ter of Boyal Arch" NewCor0" #may honoura$ly $end the 0nee to any foreign(otentate not even to ing Edward II of England! civilor ecclesiastical the 7o(e! or yield allegiance to anyalien sovereignty" tem(oral or s(iritual#. -/>2 From thisutterance it is evident that according to 7otter noatholic can $e a Mason. In conformity with these(rinci(les American and English Freemasons su((ortedthe leaders of the revolutionary movement on theEuro(ean continent. ossuth" who #had $een leader inthe re$ellion against Austrian tyranny#" wasenthusiastically received $y American Masons"solemnly initiated into Freemasonry at incinnati" /)A(ril" )8,/" and (resented with a generous gift as a(roof #that on the altar of 5t. ohn@s Lodge the fire of


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$ecause as the 5u(erior ourt of Administration" /*anuary" )9>," rightly declared" a Masonic association"even though esta$lished in accordance with law" #would$e a mem$er of a large international! organi3ation in

reality ruled $y the @Old harges@" etc. according togeneral Masonic (rinci(les and aims!" the trueregulations of which would $e 0e(t secret from the civilauthorities" so that the activity of the mem$ers could not$e controlled#. -/)> It is indeed to $e (resumed thatAustro%4ungarian Masons" whatever statutes they might(resent to the Austrian &overnment in order to securetheir authori3ation would in fact continue to regard the

French &rand Orient as their true (attern" and the=rothers ossuth" &ari$aldi" and Ma33ini as the heroes"whom they would strive to imitate. The 7russian edict of)+98 interdicted Freemasonry in general" e6ce(ting thethree old 7russian &rand Lodges which the (rotectoratesu$1ected to severe control $y the &overnment. Thisedict" though 1uridically a$rogated $y the edict of :A(ril" )828" (ractically" according to a decision of the

5u(reme ourt of // A(ril" )89*" $y an erroneousinter(retation of the organs of administration" remainedin force till )89*. 5imilarly" in England an Act of7arliament was (assed on )/ uly" )+98 for the #moreeffectual su((ression of societies esta$lished forseditions and treasona$le (ur(oses and for (reventingtreasona$le and seditious (ractices#. =y this ActMasonic associations and meetings in general wereinterdicted" and only the lodges e6isting on )/ uly")+98" and ruled according to the old regulations of theMasonry of the 0ingdom were tolerated" on conditionthat two re(resentatives of the lodge should ma0e oath$efore the magistrates" that the lodge e6isted and wasruled as the Act en1oined. -/)) During the (eriod)8/+%*2" measures were ta0en against Freemasonry in


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some of the nited 5tates of America. As to Euro(eancountries it may $e stated" that all those &overnments"which had not originated in the revolutionary movement"strove to (rotect themselves against Masonic secret

societies.

The action of the hurch is summed u( in the (a(al(ronouncements against Freemasonry since )+*8" themost im(ortant of which are?

&lement ?$ &onst. "n /minenti"$ +, 'ril$ 123,;

)enedict ?V$ "@rovidas"$ 1, May$ 1261;

@ius V$ "/cclesiam"$ 13 Setember$ 1,+1;

Leo ?$ "Auo graviora"$ 13 March$ 1,+6;

@ius V$ /ncycl. "5raditi"$ +1 May$ 1,+>;

Gregory ?V$ "Mirari"$ 16 'ugust$ 1,3+;

@ius ?$ /ncycl. "Aui luribus"$ > Bovember$ 1,:7;

@ius ?$ 'lloc. "Auibus quantisque malis"$ + 'ril$ 1,:>;

@ius ?$ /ncycl. "Auanta cura"$ , Cecember$ 1,7:;

@ius ?$ 'lloc. "Multilices inter"$ +6 Setember$ 1,76;

@ius ?$ &onst. "'ostolicD Sedis"$ 1+ %ctober$ 1,7>;

@ius ?$ /ncycl. "/tsi multa"$ +1 Bovember$ 1,23; Leo ?$ /ncycl. "Eumanum genus"$ + 'ril$ 1,,:;

Leo ?$ "@rDclara"$ + Fune$ 1,>:;

Leo ?$ "'nnum ingressi"$ 1, March$ 1>+ 0against talian

!reemasonry4;

Leo ?$ /ncycl. "/ts nos"$ 16 !ebruary$ 1,,+;

Leo ?$ "'b 'ostolici"$ 16 %ctober$ 1,>.

5hese ontifical utterances from first to last are in comleteaccord$ the latter reiterating the earlier with such develoments as

were called for by the growth of !reemasonry and other secretsocieties.

lement RIIaccurately indicates the (rinci(al reasonswhy Masonic associations from the atholic" hristian"
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14071b.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14071b.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04030a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02432a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12132a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09167a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12134a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07006a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12134b.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12134b.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12134b.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12134b.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12134b.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12134b.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09169a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/ca

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