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

Conclusion. 259
Mason admit, merely for the sake of the argument,
that there is another extreme. Suppose it to be true
and easily demonstrable, that the Symbols of Masonry
embody and were originally designed to convey
the most profound Wisdom, and that these symbols
stand unchanged through all the ages, and are
the means by which that wisdom may at any time
be recovered by him who can find their true meaning.
Masonry is, in a special sense, the custodian of
these symbols, and it is its most common tradition
that these and the Ancient Landmarks are to be
preserved unaltered. This is the plainest and most
logical deduction from the whole spirit of Masonry.
These custodians are, in the highest degrees, called
Princes of the Royal Secret—Nay, Sublime Princes
of the Royal Secret ! What a farce, what pretense,
if there is no Royal Secret. Reflect a moment, good
reader, ancf especially good Brother Mason. What
is the most sacred treasure, the most lasting possession
of man? Is it not knowledge? Suppose a
tidal wave should sweep all our seaports on the
Eastern and Western coasts, and that this should
be followed by cyclone and earthquake, so that the
whole country should be completely devastated in a
mohth. A few millions of our people remaining,
with all our resources of knowledge, it might take