Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

AND HIS SECRET SOCIETY. 271
it is suggested that the large and increasing number of the members
of the Rose-Croix degree may be a tacit protest against the
irreligious tendencies of some of the other lodges. l It is possible
that Bacon perceived the beginnings of such deviations as
have been indicated, and that his foresight as to the ultimate
issue caused him to make the Rosy Cross the highest and most
secret degree, the members forming a community of the ablest
and most earnest and influential Christians in the Masonic ranks.
Since the statements and opinions of Masonic writers differ, it
is, of course, impossible for a non-Mason to obtain information
so accurate as to be incapable of contradiction or refutation.
These remarks, therefore, are merely intended to form a basis
for further inquiries and researches. No one book must be taken
as an absolute authority; for if anything is made plain to the
uninitiated student of Masonic literature, it is that comparatively
few Masons know much about the true origin and aims of their
own society. Books ostensibly published for the purpose of giving
information consist, for the most part, of names of persons
and lodges, of places and orders, with very scanty notices on any
subject which will not be found discussed in ordinary cyclopaedias.
The Masonic books are palpably constructed so as to disclose
nothing of any value ; some contradict others, and doubtless they
are only intended to be thoroughly useful to those who have
other and verbal information imparted to them.
Under these circumstances, the most helpful plan which can
be adopted seems to be to ignore recent utterances, and to give
transcripts from a book whose ninth edition was published nearly
a hundred years ago, and which is still continually referred to
in the chief Masonic manuals. The subject is " The Idea of
Masonry," 2 its tenets, objects, and practical works, the place
1 Tn 1881 there were eighty-five Rose Croix chapters on the roll, and the
members numbered nearly 4,000.
2 " Illustrations of Masonry," by Wm. Preston, Past Master of the Lo^ge of
Antiquity, 9th edn., with considerable additions. London: Wilkie, 57 Paternoster
Row, 1796. In the volume before us (carefully preserved as it has been)
abundant "marks" of sis or seven different kinds assure us that the publishers
and printers — yes, and the readers themselves—have wished to draw especial
attention to it as a work of importance to their society.