Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

FOR THE DISSEMINATION OP LIGHT. 369
CHAPTER LV.
WeishaupVs Priest Degree; arid Masonry a frivolous 6wsiness.
"Taall that's good, averse and blind,
u Bat prone to all that's ill;
u What dreadful darkness veils the mind,
" How obstinate the will."—JFaffr.
Spartacus (Weishaupt) to Cato (Zwack.)
(R. p. 11.) " SPARTACUS says," speaking of the priest's
degree, "One would almost imagine that this degree, as I
have managed it, is genuine Christianity, and that its end
was to free the Jews from slavery. I say, that Free Masonry
is concealed Christianity. My explanation of the
hieroglyphics, at least, proceeds on this supposition ; and
as I explain things, no man need be ashamed of being a
Christian. Indeed, I afterwards throw away this name,
and substitute Reason. But I assure you this is no small
affair; a new religion, and a new state government, which
so happily explain one and all of these symbols, and combine
them in one degree. You may think that this is my
chief work; but I have three other degrees, all different, for
my class of higher mysteries, in comparison with which
this is but child's play ; but these I keep for myself, as General,
to be bestowed by me only on the Benemeritissimu
The promoted may be Areopagites, or not. Were you
here, I should give.you this degree without hesitation. But