Mystic masonry, or, The symbols of freemasonry and the greater ...

232 Mystic Masonry.
trines flourished; but were finally crushed by the
conquests of Constantine, and then came the dark
ages.
The Religion of Jesus was in every respect that
of the Mysteries; it was the same old Wisdom- Religion,
though the ethical features were more pronounced,
as being most needed among what was
called "a generation of vipers," and a "stiff-necked
and rebellious people." The ethical teachings of
Jesus in time give place to Priestcraft and Sacerdotalism;
to worldly power, and conquest; and the religion
of Constantine was finally replaced by the
"Holy Inquisition," a religion of torture and bloodshed.
The Sufis, among the conquering Mohammedans,
knew the Secret Science, but their power paled in
the presence of the "Sword of the Prophet."
Freemasonry, though not a lineal descendant of
the ancient mysteries, may justly be regarded as a
connecting link between the ancient wisdom and
modern times. While imitating many of the ancient
rites and ceremonies, and preserving many of the
ancient landmarks, and transmitting to modern times
a Grand Ideal, Masonry stands as one of the greatest
benefactors of the present age. If it has preserved
only the broken fragments of ancient gran-