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

Conclusion. 265
without oppression; Religion without superstition;
Universal Liberty, Toleration and Fraternity ;
Universal
Compassion; Peace on Earth, and Good-will
to Man.
Of course it is in the province of Masonry to
elect, if it chooses, that its symbols shall have only
a superficial meaning in the Lodge. It may admit
that it has adopted from the ancient mysteries the
glyphs and parables that once served to embody
and convey the most complete and profound philosophy,
and, while adopting these symbols and the
ancient art-speech, confine their use and interpretation
to such lessons of equity, morality, and fraternity,
as are to be found in all exoteric religions.
The author of this book would be the last to
ignore or to belittle the value of ethical or moral
precepts. But these are the basis of conduct, not
the crown of existence; the beginning, not the end
if
wisdom,
Man'-s "general infancy," as Browning puts it,
only begins when his code of ethics is complete, and
when he is perfected as man. To spend the greater
part of his days in
transgression and repentance is
not Man's "object served, his end Attained, his
genuine strength put fairly forth."
Masonry not only nowhere denies this deeper