Blanchard J (anti-masonic) - Scotch Rite Masonry Illustrated Part I

w248 GRAND MASTER ARCHITECT.TheThe Sector.Protractor.Fourth—The Sector enables us toadapt our proportions to the limits assigned.This teaches us to reduce ourdesigns to the measure of our~ meansand time.Fifth—The Protractor enables us todraw angled from a given point and toprotract and measure lines at all distances.This shows the necessity of having a fixed and surebeginning in order to discover truth, or to act withconfidence.Sixth—The North Star demonstrates the universalharmony and stability of the works of the Grand Architectof the Universe. In fact the whole planetary systempresents a field worthy the attention of the whole civi-Iized population of the globe, and more particularly themembers of the masonic institution—which was originallya school of science.Each and every planet has by the Grand Architect ofthe Universe been assigned to ~omedefinite position andall of them so arranged b’y divine wisdom to act in concertwith each oth&; the combination of which producesto our view an arrangement, the extent of whichthe human mind cannot comprehend. Some of them aredesigned to shed light to this planet, earth, and amongthose and the greatest of all is the Sun which spreadslight and lustre to all within its circle.You, my worthy brother, having passed through theintermediate degrees and having been endorsed bythese Grand Master Architects who now surround you,and among whom you are now admitted a member, itINITIATION. 240becomes my duty as the Most Powerful to call your at~tention to that great power of attraction known as theNorth Star, and although it does not shed as brilliantrays of light as others, yet it is of equal importance, andin fact, without its assistance all mankind would be likea blind man groping his way over the trackless ocean orthrough the prairies of forests, which stand as temporarybarriers to the walks of man and the waves in theexercise of their irresistible power, advance or recede asnature or God directs, and as the needle is ever true tothe pole by which the mariner can at all times knowthe course be is pursuing. Let it teach you this moral:You are now on board the ship of life, tossed abouton the boisterous sea of trouble, bound for eternity. Thebreakers of malice and pei~secution surround your craft,the quicksands of deceit and hypocrisy are beneathyou, close under your lee are the rocks of perdition.Now my illustrious brother, is the auspicous moment,place your trust in the Great Architect of Heaven andEarth, take justice for yoir Polar Star, prudence at thehelm, temperance for your guide, let your sails fill withthe gentle breeze of charity and you will in the endfind yourself moored in that peaceful harbor, wherethe wicked cease from troubling and the weary are atrest. (Shuts the case of instrumenta.)My brother, apply these to all things, moral, mental,social, religious and political and then we will be proudof you as a Grand Master Architect, to which dignityyou are now admitted and to which you are now devoted,which will procure you knowledge sufficient totake away the veil from before your eyes which yet remainsthere and will enable you to arrive at the perfectand sublime degree. By practicing the many valuablelessons you have learned in the preceding grades, andabove all the study of geometry, and by making virtueyour guide through the journey through life, we hopeand trust that you will be fitted for the dirties of aGrand Master Architect, and gain admission into the