Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

280 ABBE BAR$UEL
It is not too late as yet I know nothing of your mysteries,
nor do I wish to know more of them. 9
" This answer did not disconcert the venerable in the least,
and he continued to act his part perfectly well; he pressed
me more earnestly, and renewed his threats. I certainly
believed the whole to be a farce; but even in joke I would
not promise obedience to their grand master, especially on
the supposition that his commands could ever be contrary
to those of the sovereign. I replied once more, ' Gentle*
men, or brethren, I told you before, that if there was any
thing in your games, either against honour or conscience,
you should learn whom you had to deal with. We are now
come to the point You may do what you please with me,
but you shall never make me assent to such a proposition ;
and once more I say, no.' Every one kept the most profound
silence, except the venerable, though they were much
amused with the scene.
" It at length grew more serious between the venerable
and me. He would not give up the point; and, renewing
his question over and over again, he was in hopes, by tiring
my patience, to extort a YES. At length I found myself
quite wearied out. I was blindfolded. I tore off the bandage,
threw it upon the ground, and stamping my foot,
called out No, with every sign of impatience. Immediately
the whole lodge clap their hands in sign of applause,
and the venerable compliments me on my constancy.—
' Such are the men for us, men of resolution and courage."
—'What,* said I, 'men of resolution! And how many
do you find who resist your threats! You, yourselves,
gentlemen, have not you all said YES to this question;
and if you have said it, how is it possible that you
can persuade me that your mysteries contain nothing
against honour or conscience V
"The tone I assumed had thrown the lodge into confusion.
The brethren surrounded me, telling me I had taken things
too much in earnest, and in too literal a sense : that they
never had pretended to engage in any thing contrary to the