Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

382 ILLUMINISM IN THE
from the pious men belonging to the masonic priesthood;
and when they know that the crafty Weishaupt was merry
at the reception his degrees met from the grave and learned
divines of England and Germany, they will know what to
do; they will make haste to clear their skirts of this perversion
of the scriptures, and this defamation of the Lord,
who alone is a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck.
" 20°. Grand Master of all Symbolic Lodges."
It was a part of Weishaupt's plan, " Make your inferiors
believe, that all other secret societies, particularly that of
Free Masonry, are secretly directed by us." (B. p. 204.)
This order of grand masters may, or may not, have connexion
with the plan of Weishaupt; but, certainly, it has
none with the symbolic lodges of North America.
" 21°. Patriarch Noachite, or Chevalier Prussian."
I am very sorry to suspect evil of any thing pretending
to purity; probably this degree has an object better than
that of introducing Weishaupt's patriarchal state, " when
each father shall, like Abraham and the patriarchs, become
the priest and absolute sovereign of his own family, and
princes and nations shall disappear from the face of the
earth, and that without any violence."
" Or Prussian Chevalier," or knight. If this degree of
Free Masonry has been rightly named Prussian, Frederick
is certainly intended, and it is prudent to doubt its being
founded in evangelical truth.
" 22°. Prince of Libanus."
" 23°. Chief of the Tabernacle."
" 24°. Prince of the Tabernacle."
The tabernacle was constructed by Moses for the covering
of the ark of the covenant; it was the holy dwelling
place of the Divine glory.
It were better not to trifle with its sanctity, by constituting
masonic chiefs and princes over it.-
" 25°. Prince of Mercy."
" 26°. Knight of the Brazen Serpent."