Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

CRESSET
CROMLECH 185
At the revival of Masonry in 1717, the
Grand Lodge of England set forth the law, as
to the religious creed to be rewired of a
Mason, in the following words, to
found in
the Charges approved by that body.
"In ancient times, Masons were charged
in every country to be of the religion of that
country or nation, whatever it was ; yet it
is now thought more expedient
only to oblige them to that religion
in which all men agree, leaving
their particular opinions to
themselves." (Constitutions, 1723,
P . 50.)
This is now considered universally
as the recognized law on
the subject.
Cresset . An open lamp
formerly having a cross-piece
filled with combustible material
such as naphtha, and recognized
as the symbol of Light and
Truth.
Creuzer, Georg Friederich . George
Frederick Creuzer, who was born in Germany
in 1771 and was a professor at the University
of Heidelberg, devoted himself to the study of
the ancient religions, and, with profound learning,
established a peculiar system on the subject
. His theory was, that the religion and
mythology of the ancient Greeks were borrowed
from a far more ancient people-a body
of priests coming from the East-who received
them as a revelation . The myths and traditions
of this ancient people were adopted by
Hesiod, Homer, and the later poets, although
not without some misunderstanding of them ;
and they were finally preserved in the Mysteries,
and became subjects of investigation
for the philosophers. This theory Creuzer has
developed in his most important work, entitled
Symbolik and Arehaologie der alters
Volker, besonders der Griechen, which was published
at Leipsic in 1819-21 . There is no
translation of this work into English ; but
Guigniaut published at Paris, in 1829, a
paraphrastic translation of it, under the title
of Religions de l'AntiquitE eonsiderees principalement
dane leur Formes Symboliques et
Mythologiques . Creuzer's views throw much
light on the symbolic history of Freemasonry .
He died in 1858 .
Crimes, Masonie. In Masonry, every offense
is a crime, because, in every violation of
a Masonic law there is not only sometimes an
infringement of the rights of an individual, but
always, superinduced upon this, a breach and
violation of public rights and duties, which
affect the whole community of the Order considered
as a community .
The first class of crimes which are laid down
in the Constitutions, as rendering their perpetrators
liable to Masonic jurisdiction, are
offenses against the moral law . "Every
Mason," say the Old Charges of 1722, "is
obliged by his tenure to obey the moral law."
The same charge continues the precept by asserting,
that if he rightly understands the art,
he will never be a stupid atheist, nor an irre-
ligious libertine . Atheism, therefore, which
is a rejection of a supreme, superintending
Creator, and irreligious libertinism, which in
the language of that day, signified a denim of
all moral responsibility, are offensesagainst
the moral law, because they deny its validity
and contemn its sanctions ; and hence they are
to be classed as Masonic crimes .
Again : the moral law inculcates love of
God, love of our neighbor, and duty to ourselves.
Each of these embraces other incidental
duties which are obligatory on every
Mason, and the violation of any one of which
constitutes a Masonic crime .
The love of God implies that we should
abstain from all profanity and irreverent use
of his name . Universal benevolence is the necessary
result of love of our neighbor. Cruelty
to one's inferiors and dependents, uncharitableness
to the poor and needy, and a general
misanthropical neglect of our duty as men to
our fellow-beings, exhibiting itself in extreme
selfishness and indifference to the comfort or
happiness of all others, are offenses against
the moral law, and therefore Masonic crimes .
Next to violations of the moral law, in the
category of Masonic crimes, are to be considered
the transgressions of the municipal law, or
the law of the land . Obedience to constituted
authority is one of the first duties which is
impressed upon the mind of the candidate
and hence he who transgresses the laws of
the government under which he lives violates
the teachings of the Order, and is guilty
of a Masonic crime . But the Order will take
no cognizance of ecclesiastical or political offenses
. And this arises from the very nature of
the society, which eschews all controversies
about national religion or state policy . Hence
apostasy, heresy, and schisms, although considered
in some governments as heinous offenses,
and subject to severe punishment, are
not viewed as Masonic crimes . Lastly, violations
of the Landmarks and Regulations of
the Order are Masonic crimes . Thus, disclosure
of any of the secrets which a Mason has
promised to conceal ; disobedience and want of
respect to Masonic superiors ; the bringing of
"private piques or quarrels" into the Lge;
want of courtesy and kindness to the brethren
; speaking calumniously of a Mason bebind
his back, or in any other way attempting
to injure him, as by striking him except in
self-defense, or violating his domestic honor,
is each a crime in Masonry . Indeed, whatever
is a violation of fidelity to solemn engagements,
a neglect of prescribed duties, or a transgression
of the cardinal principles of friendship,
morality, and brotherly love, is a Masonic
crime .
Crimson. (Crimoysin, O. Eng.) A deepred
color tinged with blue, emblematical of
ferventy and zeal ; belonging to several degrees
of the Scottish Rite as well as to the
Holy Royal Arch.
Cromlech . A large stone resting on two
or more stones, like a table . Cromlechs are
found in Brittany, Denmark, Germany, and
some other parts of Europe, and are sup-