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520 BOOK OF THE A. AND A. KITE.
fioin falling into improper bands, and being .conferred without
the sanction of lawful and constitutional authority.
In respect to this, as well as in all other moral and sc/cial du-
ties, sublime Freemasonry has its rewards and punishments, its
obligations and vows, as well as its fundamental laws and regu-
lations, w T hich every honest and true brother is willing to be gov-
erned and abide by ; and neither in this regard, nor in any other,
can Uiey be broken with impunity.
The mystic mysteries of religion and science which formed the
foundation upon which the superstructure of Ineffable Masonry
has been erected, covered so large a field of investigation and
study, and involved so many abstruse and critical points, that
unless they were set forth in technical and orthodox phraseology,
or at least that certain of the more abstruse portions of the Secret
Directory were preserved in some character, hieroglyphic or
otherwise, their vitality and truthfulness would be destroyed, and
in a few generations no trace or resemblance of their original
character would remain.
Our society is maintained upon the broad principles of render-
ing mutual aid and of exercising mutual love and friendship, as
well as to preserve our adoration of the Almighty Artist, and to
improve our minds with the principles of science.
The history of Masonry, as contained in the higher degrees,
gives an account of events only to be found in the archives of our
sublime institution, which could not be committed to memoiy
without constant application for a lifetime; therefore, had the
same course been adopted in the perpetuation of these degrees as
that prescribed for the symbolic Lodge, they would long ere this
have been lost to the world and have been buried in oblivion.
But as Numa pronounced his sacred writings lifeless, so, be it
remembered, anything which you may find indited, and without
the spirit of ceremonial action, and the soul of exposition diffused
through it, from the breathing, burning voice of the living man
and brother, and the reciprocating thoughts and feelings of the
instructor and the instructed, will be but an inert mass of senseless
matter, and wholly unproductive of any useful or happy result*
and consequences.
The following short ceremony then ensues, ot