Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

" SPIRIT OF THE DOCTRINE OF FREE MASONRY." 357
" THE ALTAR OF INCENSE*
" Showed the Hebrews, as it-docs us, that our vows ought
always to be addressed to the 8/. A.*. D.\ L.\ U.% and that
they ought always to be pure, and above human passions.
The remains of ancient altars that we have seen in the museums,
are in the form of a square, or a triangle, or a circle,
having reference under these forms, to the three truths
taught, or to the four elements, or to the Deity: they were »
all excavated in the upper surface to contain the fire."
Thus artfully does this professed Spirit of the Doctrine of
Free Masonry mingle truth with falsehood; making the
form of the altars true, even to the excavation for the fire;
while the doctrine inferred is false, that this form had reference
to certain unknown truths, and to the four elements;
when the altar must of itself indicate a God, she would
have it indicate the elements, that her pupils may become
naturalists. Who she intends by S.\ A.*. D.\ L.\ U.\ I
know not; it is a figure new to me, frequently used by* *
Esprit; and may be, until more perfectly explained, supposed
to mean, " the Being of Beings, of whom each heart
is ftdl;" L e. no God—Atheism.
" Uncharitable!"
Not at all, my friend. If the God of Free Masonry, to
whom our " vows ought always to be addressed," have no
more name than Free Masonry gives him, S.\ A.\ D.\ L.\
U.\, he is without a name; and she is virtually teaching her
children to address an ideal God. Until she gives him a
name, it is no want of charity towards her to suppose him
a mere fancy, and having no real existence.
A secret vastly prized, and deeply covered with mystery;
a secret lauded to the skies, able to make one wise, bringing
" alle comforte8 to the wylde and comfortlesse ;"t which
* Our author gives plates of all hi* emblems.
t Book of Cons. p. 16. Preston, b. 3. s. 1. F. M. Library, p. 9. CaV
cott, Hutchinson, Greenleaf, p. 86.
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