Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

110 MASONIC DEGREE*.
existence of a God, and our duty to him, and to our fellow
men." Its moral lessons are generally excellent in their
selection, and plain in their application. All their excellence,
however, is as free of Masonry as the cloak is free of
the back it covers; it forms no part of the man, nor does
the character of the wearer affect the value of the cloak.
Masonry has adopted many perfect rules of conduct; but
they will live when she is dead; they will feel no pang when
she expires.
The mockery of truth and Heaven, by the prayer found
in the Book of Constitutions, and Monitor, and Chart, as
already quoted; which is found also in Calcott's Disquisitions,
p. 199. " Endue him with divine wisdom, that he
may, with the secrets of Masonry, be able to unfold the
mysteries of Godliness and Christianity;" found also in the
Masonic Manual, p. 137., is a presumptuous and deceitful
supplication, as every novice does seriously fear by the end
of the first lodge night.
But, bid on all hands to smother his fears, and to advance
to the sublime degree of a Master Mason,* before he indulges
his disappointment, the candidate becomes a fellow
craft.
, This is the degree which treats of the five senses, the five
orders of architecture, and the seven liberal arts and sciences,
if we can believe the testimony of the Chart, Monitors
of all descriptions, Manual of Masonry from p. 169. to
189., and Preston 62. to 72., and Book of Cons. S. C. p. 62.
to 85., and F. M. Library, 165. to 180.; and contains especially,
that singular art of discovering divine truth by geometrical
solutions. (New Mm. p. 157.)
Summing up the particulars taught in this degree, Mr.
Preston gravely adds: " Besides a complete theory of philosophy
and physics, this lecture contains a regular system
* This is the common term among masonic authors for the third degree.