Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

232 FREE MASONRY.
close by their pledge of obedience to the general regulations
of the grand lodge, as never to use any other form of
prayer than is prescribed in their Books of Constitutions. I
have heard the name by which we of this favoured land are
called, pronounced in the reverential tone of worship in a
lodge of Master Masons. But that master carried his
religion where he had better not have gone himself, and
obeyed his Lord, rather than the Book of Constitutions,
So, in every case, those who, in a masonic lodge, call upon
the name of Jesus, or lift up their voice through the only
Mediator between God and man, depart from the true masonic
character, and from the wwd masonic manner; the
expression sounds unnatural there. It is not admissible in
lodge meeting, or in a Mason any where, to do, or say,
what will offend an Arab, or brother Turk. " As Masons,
we only pursue that universal religion which unites the most
different principles in one sacred band, and brings together
those who were most distant from one another/ 1 (Book of
Const. 133.) That is pure Deism. " It is now thought
most expedient, that the brethren in general should only
be charged to adhere to the essentials of religion in which
all men agree. 91 (Book of Cons. p. 34.) That is pure
Deism, and is taught in the Book of Constitutions of Free
Masonry. (Vide F. M. L. p. 66.)
It will be answered by some, that " the Holy Bible is the
true masonic register and guide; held sacred in all the
lodges." But, as a clerical friend, who has taken some
twenty degrees in Masonry, lately said of the antiquity of
the craft, " that is a catch ;" the Bible is no more the guide
of Masons, than is the Koran. In masonic processions in
Christian countries, the Bible, with the square and compass,
is carried in the van, by some white-headed gentleman, by
way of sanctity, not because the Bible has any thing to do
with Free Masonry. In Turkey, the Koran would be used
by Masons in the same way, for the same purpose, for effect
only. Free Masonry cares not for the Koran, nor for' the
Bible, but is willing to use either, or both, or neither, accord-