Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

418 SUULIME PRINCE OF THE ROYAL 5ECRI~T.
them bow their necks to wear the yoke, and hng the
chains and manacles that dishonor them. It is the potent
auxiliary of tyrants and hypocrites, by which they
keep in bondage lh.e souls and bodies of the children of
God, who need~buteducation to inform them that they
are not of an inferior stock, nor born to toil, that power
and craft may live in luxury, and rank and privilege be
paid and pensioned by the public.
Let us then labor to eradicate ignorance, and to expose
those who deceive and delude the people, and our
Father in Heaven will smile upon our efforts. (At this
moment a second gun is fired.)
Commander in Chief—The signal is again given.
Courage, my brother, and march upon your second
campaign. We will in silence offer up our prayers for
your success. (The candidate is again conducted, by the
Grand Master of Ceremonies, three times round the
camp, and again halts, facing the Illustrious Commander
in Chief.)
Master of Ceremonies—IlluStriOuS Commander in
Chief, the candidate has returned in safety from his
second campaign. ~
Commander in Chief—The second formidable enemy,
against which Masonry has to contend, is superstitiOfl,
side by side with which ever marches its twin-brother
fanaticism. Superstition is the offspring of ignorance,
and nothing has more contributed to the degradation of
our race. By its influence alone, nations once resplendent
with civilization, and from which, as centres, science
and arts, and all that enlightens and elevates man, flowed
abroad into all the countries of the world, are now
sunken in stupid somnolence and asphyxia, or have
become almost idiotic.
The spirit of fanaticism still lives, and is active and
L
IN ITIATION. 419
vigorous everywhere. It seems almost to be an essential
element of human nature.
Against those ancient enemies of the light, we make
•mvar, panoplied with the armour of the doctrine of the
great teacher of Nazareth, which is the doctriie of Masonry.
These doctrines must ultimately conquer, all intelligences,
and Masonry will eventually rule the world,
because its only arms are charity and persuasion and
that intelligent logic, of which your sword is the symbol,
and because it rebukes and disallows intolerance
and persecution. (At this moment a third gun is fired.)
Commander in Chief—The signal is again given. De
part my brother, on your third campaign, while we
again pray in silence for your success. (The candidate
is again conducted three times around the camp, and
halted again facing the Illustrious Commander in
Chief.)
Master of Ceremonies—Illustrious Commander in
Chief, the candidate has returned in safety from his
third campaign.
Commander in Chief—My brother, if you had actually,
instead of symbolically, undertaken this third campaign,
for the purpose of measuring your strength
against despotism and ambition, you would not have returned
to us in safety. For while despotism, upon its
ancient thrones, guarded by ignorance, superstition,
fanaticism, privilege and rank, is too formidable to be
so overthrown, it is, at the same time, timid and cowardly,
and therefore merciless. lIt forgives no attempt
against itself. The influence that will ultimately overthrow
it must gain ground by slow and imperceptible
degrees. The tree of liberty grows everywhere, watered
by the blood of patriots. Alone you can do little, nor is
it now in the power of Masonry to lead revolutions, and