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

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Introduction.
such work; it is introductory, and, to some extent,
explanatory, but by no means exhaustive. It is not
based upon any authority beyond the author's sincere
convictions and capacity to apprehend the subject.
The Mason who is ready to dig deeper and
fill in the outline here furnished is recommended to
read carefully, if he has not already done so, Albert
Pike's great book. Morals and Dogma.
The historical method of research is not followed
in the compilation or writing of this book, although
historical facts are herein recorded. It is of far less
importance to determine whence Masonry has been
derived, than what it really teaches. In answering
this question, it may be justly charged that the author
has put his own interpretation forward, not
against facts or history, but in the face of what may
be regarded as insufficient historical proof. To such
a charge he would reply, first, that no well-authenticated
history of Masonry is known to exist; there
being only isolated facts, or fragments, recording the
existence of certain organizations or movements at
different times, and their disappearance on account
of inward dissension or outward persecution. Then
another movement would spring up, at another time
and place, and perhaps under a different name,
though evidently working on the same general lines.