Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

278 FRANCIS BACON
to distribute them at a later period for the benefit
of the world
in general.
We observe amongst other peculiarities in Rosicrucian books
the large number of fly-leaves at one or both ends. These, however,
in the old volumes, have been in most instances cut out.
Only one explanation of this singular circumstance seems satisfactory,
namely, that the brethren, by Bacon's original instructions,
took notes of all that they heard or
read, and that these
fly-leaves, or note-books, were thus made the " repositories
treasure stored up, " so that nothing should be lost, but that
ultimately all newly acquired learning should flow into the common
treasury.
" No brother is supplanted, or put out of his work, if he be
capable of filling it. All meekly receive their rewards . . . and
never desert the master till the work is finished. . . . In a lodge
Masons meet as members of the same family, and representatives,
for the time being, of all the brethren throughout the
world. All prejudices, therefore, on account of religion, country,
or private opinion, are removed."
In the charge delivered at the closing of the lodge, the Masons
are instructed to be " very cautious in your words and carriage,
that the most penetrating stranger mag not discover or find out
what is not proper to be intimated, and, if necessary, you are to
waive a discourse, 1 and manage it prudently, for the honour of
the fraternity. ... If a stranger apply . . . beware of giving
him any secret hints of knowledge. " The charge ends with
renewed exhortations to " brotherly love, the foundation and
cap-stone, the cement and glory of this ancient fraternity.
In the first Masonic "lecture," "virtue is painted in the
most beautiful colours,'''' and the duties of morality are strictly
enforced. In it the Masons are prepared for " a regular advancement
in knowledge and philosophy, and these are imprinted on
the memory by lively and sensible images, the lecture being suited
to all capacities, and necessary to be known by every person
who would wish to rank as a Mason.
of
1 This injunction is excellently complied with, and is, no doubt, a chief obstruction
to non-Masons in the attainment of information.