Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

346 WEISHAUPT'S IMPRESSIVE VIEWS or
portant requisition ; one that leads many an idle brother to
ruin. Calculating on the custom, the employment, or the
vote of the craft, as in a measure secured to him by the
laws of the institution, he does not always make that effort
to deserve patronage, which those must make, who rely
solely upon their own merits to secure public esteem and support
; and while he is attentive at the lodges, and ready to
teach at the lectures, and decorated with the badges of
Masonic honours, upon the festivals of Free Masonry; his
shop, and trade, and profession, and family, are all mourning
his absence and neglect.
It is important, too, as it gives the Free Mason an undue
advantage over his fellow citizens not mason?. Two men
of a trade or profession, equally deserving public favour, but
one a Free Mason and the other not, the fraternity are bound
by their Masonic obligations, to employ and prefer the brother
Mason. The Mason may think this is quite right; but the
honest mechanic, who is left with a bare support, to contend
both against the hardships of poverty, and the secret influence
of a selfish fraternity, will most certainly complain.
The known advantage of the patronage of the craft, is
undoubtedly the reason why thousands of young men,
feeling about them for supports in the first part of the duties
of life, have entered into the fellowship of the lodges;
and the countenance and support they have received from
acquaintances formed there, will he, perhaps, the most
powerful bond of attachment to the interests of this mysterious
association.
But to return to Weishaupt. The novice in Illuminism
promises, in the conclusion, " to be faithful to all the laws
of his order, and to support it with his counsels, hia fortune,
and all other means *," subjecting himself " to forfeit
his honour, and even his life, should he ever break h»
promise,"
How like Free Masonry is this obligation! Only it is
horribly surpassed in the forms of the forfeiture of life,
which the hoodwinked candidate is called solemnly to repeat
after the clear sighted master.