Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

PRETENSIONS OF FREE MASONRY". 39 '
it known, that the humble writer of these pages is unequal
to the task of weighing Free Masonry in the balance of his
mind, and mistakes egregiously in his estimate of the understandings
of men, and of the value of things.
CHAPTER VIII.
" Good, my lord,—
" But when we in our own viciousness grow hard,
" (O, misery on't!) the wise Gods seal our eyes;
u In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us
" Adore our errors; laugh at us, while we stmt
u To our confusion."—Shaktpcare.
FREE MASONRY is what it will appear to be. Masonry,
or any other craft, may invent its own signs and distinctive
badges, and teach them too, without just cause of offence;
but if it can do no more than this, while it gravely claims a divine
original ;* professes to have infinite stores of knowledge,
* The reader will ask for authorities; and I give them plentcously, each
in his own words:
1. Masonry claims a divine origin.
" Which art (Masonry) the first Masons received from God." Book ef
Constitutions, Mass. p. 19. Richards'Preston, p. 109. GreenleaTs Strict
Inquiry, p. 88. Free Mason's Library, or Book of Const, of Maryland, p.
10. Hutchinson's Spirit of Masonry, p. 6. of the Appendix. Calcott's
Disquisitions, p. 90. All in the same words.
" Certain it is that Free Masonry was a divine gift from God." Ahiman
Reton, p. 13. of the Preface. And Masonic Minstrel, p. 337, in the same
words.
" It is no secret that Masonry is of divine origin." Town's Speculative
Fxee Mas. pp. 37.175.