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

336 GRAND ELECT, PERFECT AND SUDLIME MASON. INITIATION. 337Master Hiram Abiff. They exhorted them to invokethe blessing of the adorable, I am, who was, and is, andwill be the eternal father of those who love him andobey his laws, many of them were initiated agreeableto their wishes.When the Princes of Europe united their forces toconquer the Holy Land and deliver Jerusalem fromthe hands of the barbarians who had it in possessiona number of the Grand Elect with other masons voluntarilyoffered their services in so holy an enterpriseupon condition of being allowed the privilege of choosingtheir own Chief, which was granted them. Theyhoisted their own standard and departed.In the tumult and disorder of war they still retainedand exercised the most virtuous principles, union andharmony reigned in their tents. They lived togetherwithout distinction of rank and acknowledged no generalbut in time of action. They gave mutual assistance toeach other and extended their charity to the indigentand distressed, even among their enemies.In action they were valiant and~enterprising and renicredsuch signal service to~ the confederate army thatthey received from them the highest honors.The Princes were surprised at the prodigies of valorwhich were performed by the masons, and when theylearned that their courage and zeal, their virtue, theirdisinterestedness and union were founded on the broadbasis of the mystic institution they solicited the honorof initiation.The rrinces promised a strict observance of all thelaws and regulations of the Craft and were initiateinto the masonic mysteries. They were instructed isour history and taught the mystery of universal remIigionu and benevolence which binds our members togetherin one band, in every clime and in every stationof life.The great political revolutions which have so frequentlychanged the form of Empires have never affectedour glorious profession. We possess all theprinciples and forms in their pristine purity.Let us, my brother, offer our prayers at the throne ofmercy that we may never be divided. Amen.LECTUBE GRAND ELECT, PERFECT AND SUBLIME MASOH.Thrice Puissant—Brother Senior Grand Warden,what are you?Senior Grand Warden—Thrice Puissant, I am aGrand Elect, rerfect and Sublime Mason. There isnothing but what is revealed to me.Thrice Puissant-Where were you received?Senior Grand Warden—In a place where the raysof the Sun and Moon are not wanted.Thrice Puissant-Where is that place situated?Senior Grand Warden-Under the Sanctum Sanctolet.155.—”The tendency of all true Masonry is towards relillon.If it make any progress. its ~rogrem is to that holy end.its ancient landmarks, its su lime ceremonIes. its profound .ymholasnd allegoriea.—aIl inculcating religious doctrine. commsndlng reilglonsobservance, and teschlng religious truth. and who csn deny that it is’eminentlys religious instItutiOn?Hut, besides, Masonry is, in mU iii forms, thoroughly tinctured witha true devotional spirit, we oven and close our lodges wIth prayer; weinvoke the biessing of the Most High upon all our labors; we demandof our neophytes a profession of trusting belief in the existence and theanperintending care of God; and we teach them to how with humility andreverence at his awtul name, while his holy law is widely opened uponour altars. Freemasonry is thus identified with religion; and althougha man may be eminently relIgious without being a Mason. it is impussihiethat a Mason can be irue and trusty~ to his Order unless he is arespecter of religion and an observer of religious principle.But the relIgion of Masonry is not sectarian, It admits men of everycreed within its hospitable bosom, rejectIng none and approving none foehis peculIar faith. It is not Judaism. though there is nothing in itto offend 5 Jew; it is nut ChristianIty. but there is nothing In It repng•agut to the faIth of a Christian. its religion is that general one ofastare and primitive revelstion.—hsnded down to us from some ancientand patrIarchsi priesthood—in wbieh all men may agree and in whlcbno men can differ.”— Machey’s Eneylmlopinedi* of lreemaaofhl. jyticieReligion of Masonry.