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

O~3 LODGE AXD POPISH SECRECY AND SUBJECTION.higher degrees of Masonry ;“ so-called, are of Popish origin,invented by Jesuits to destroy Protestantism andpopular liberty in Europe. And thus is fulfilled, thesymbolic prophecy of Rev. 13th Chapter. The firstbeast being Rome pagan, and the second Rome Papal.And the Secret Lodge System is a shadowy “image” ofthe iron dcspotism of Rome, made by “them that dwelLon. the earth” promiscuously; not by churchmen, or anyone nationality, but by everybody at large; civilized;barbarous and savage, as we see at the present day.American Masons are not ashamed to boast that barbariansare their brethren, and that their lodge religionis the natural religion of mankind, thus annihilating theChristian religion and ignoring Christian civilization.The namcs givcn by the French to their higher ordersare Popish. “Chapter,” “Templar,” “Knight” “Council,”are all Popish names, first invented by Priests;while “the Image” outdoes the beasts themselves (Paganand Papal Rome) in the grandiloquence of its titles, andthe garishness of its regalia.But the identity of these religions of Antichrist isnot merely outward but inw&rd and moral; the chiefelements being secrecy and despotism. September 27th,1540, Pope Thiul III, established “The Society of Jesus,called Jesuits.” God has said, Isa, 48, 16, “I have notspoken in secret from the beginning,” and Christ repeated,“In secret have I said nothing.” Jno. 18, £0.The secrecy of the Jesuits (Secreta monita) was impenetrable,and Lefevre when told he would die if heattempled to travel, as he was ordered to do, answered,“It is not necessary that I should live; but it isnecessary I should obey.” He went—and died. These.two pillars in the temple of Anti-christ, viz., SecrecyZACH TRYING TO CHARTER, TAX AND aovwr o~runs. 63and Subjection, appear in every “stronghold” of thedevil on’ earth; from the Vatican to the Purroh in anAfrican bush. “We require,” said Powderly, “Secrecyand obedience.” Wherever these are, however flittingand wavering, there is an “Image of the Beast.”But Ramsay boldly copied the lineamenta of theBeabt. We read: “He endeavored to obviate the objectionsof the French nobility to the mechanical origin(Stone Masons) of the institution (Masonry) by assertingthat it arose in the Holy Land during ihe Crusades.”(Macoy Art. Ramsay.) That this origin of Masonrywas known to be false made no difference. Degrees,Chapters and Rites sprung up by thousands and spreadlike pestilence, until the swindle was likely to fail by it~cheapness, and the religious imposture by its insipidity—dispensing with Christ. Then began the struggle tocondense, stratify and monopolize. Ramsay made a Riteof six degrees. Each adventurer strove to overtop, charter,tax, and govern all others. In 1758, this struggleproduced at Paris a “Council of Emperors of the Eastand West.” Its adepta styled themselves “SovereignPrince Masons”.—”Substitutes General of the RoyalArt”—”Grand Superintendents and Officers of theGrand and Sovereign Lodge of St. John of Jerusalem.”Its Rite consisted of twenty-five degrees. (Macoy, p.188.) Four years previous, De Bonneville had instituteda “Rite of Perfection.” in the Jesuit College, containingthese same twenty-five degrees; but this Rite of Perfectionwas merged in The Council of Emperors of theEast and West.” (Mackey Encyc.) No reason for themerging is given.Four years after its origin, in 1761, this “Council ofEmperors” empowered a Jew named Stephen Morin,