Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

" SPIRIT OF THE DOCTRINE OF FREE MASONRY. 1 ' 263
" THE BOOK OF THE TRUE LIGHT.
" (The law and the prophets.) Upon this book we see a
lamb resting, which holds, with one foot advanced, a flag of
triumph, [but on turning to the plate, the figure represents
a lifeless mutton,] the Stekenna, that the Coptie priests regarded
as the symbol of the resurrection "
And here I pause, fc {iow^r of the Lamb, inquiring whe^
ther to give circulation to the words of this blasphemy.
The same emblem, a book with a lifeless lamb .upon it, is
given in .\ .\ .\ . * among the emblems of
,«..-. —^ degree. No doubt it is capable of some
inoffensive explanation, which is common to the Chapters
of this country: yet it may do them service to see what
can be exhibited by speechless symbols, which God has not
ordained to teach moral or religious truth, in the mysteries
of a nocturnal society.
The Spartans, by intoxicating their miserable slaves, and
placing the disgusting creatures before the youth, taught
them to abhor intemperance and excess. Esprit is intoxicated
with hate against" the Lamb of God thai takes away
the sin of the world;" (John, i. 29,) against" the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world" (Rev. xiii. 8.) Truly
it was prophesied of the ever blessed Lord, " they hated
me without a cause. 11 (John, xv. 25.)
And are men taught by Free Masonry to despise--
" Not in this country: no, no. 11
But are men taught by Free Masonry any where;—for
if she can be brought to dp it in Europe, she is not made of
so stubborn stuff that she might not be persuaded to do it
even in America;—are they taught, that " the Coptic priests
regarded this emblem, as a symbol of the resurrection',
or regeneration of the Sun, by his victory over the cold,
which he obtains in the sign of the Ram" i. e. the month of
March ? So says the " Spirit of the Doctrine of Free Masonry."
(p. 42.)
* The editions of 1816 and 1819 are not within reach; and that of 1826.
to the credit of American Free Masonry, omits this emblem.