Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

14(5 FREE MASONRY'.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Containing a Sketch of the great delusions which have prevailed
in different ages of the world; and answering the
question, how could Free Masonry be endured so long?
" He taketli the cypress and the oak ; he burnetii part thereof in the fire;
yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire;
and the residue thereof he maketh a God,even his graven image; he falleth
down unto it and worahippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver
me,/w thou art my God."—Isaiah.
ONE difficulty remains to perplex the reader, viz. " If
this is Free Masonry, how has it been endured so long?"
A hard question, which admits of an answer. But suppose
it do not admit of an answer ? Is it, therefore, to overset
a series of well established facts ? Because we can not
tell how the Franklin rod attracts the lightning, shall we
doubt its attractive power ? The fact is established, be the
explanation what it may.
Again, the question may admit of an answer, and yet
through infirmity, the writer may fail to give it.
The planets cease not to run their several circuits, though
Des Cartes' theory of their motions was never satisfactory,
and is now quite exploded. Should I fail, then, in an attempt
to answer this question, the facts stated with respect to it
remain unabated; and should the following argument seem
as hypothetical as Des Cartes 9 theory, the planets are not
more true to the sun, than the facts of this treatise are to
Free Masonry.
" How then has it been endured so long ?"
Men have been ever fond of strange things. A glance
at their follies will show that Free Masonry is not the most
incredible fault of which they have been guilty. Begin-