Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 47
[As thi» answer is one thing " of real value" in the piece,
and is so monstrous a pretension as to defy credulity itself, I
will give it in the genuine text, excepting only the black letter.]
" Ans. They hemselfe haveth allien the arte of fyndynge
newe arts, whyche art the fyrst Maconnes receaved
from Godde; by whyche they fyndeth whatte arts hem pieseth,
and the trew way of techynge the same. What
odher menne doeth ffynde out ys onelyche by chance, and
herefore but itel I tro." [Allien and onelyche are defined
in the glossary accompanying the antiquity. But to pro- •
ceed.]
" Ques. What dothe the Maconnes conceale and hyde ?
" Ans. They conceal the.art of finding out new arts, and
thai is for their own profit and honour. They conceal the
art of keeping secrets, that so the world may conceal nothing
from them. They conceal the or* of wonder-working,
and offoresaying things to come, that so the same arts may
not be used of the wicked to an evil end. They also conceal
the art of transmutation of metals, the way of winnxng
the f acidly of magic, the skill of becoming good
and perfect without the helpings of fear and hopef and
the universal language of Maconnes."
This is enough, " I trow." No wonder Mr. Locke, in
admiration of the old paper, determined to join the fraternity
immediately. Masonic tradition does not inform us
whether he lived to execute his generous purpose.
Four short and unimportant answers remain.
This story of Peter Gower is sufficiently monstrous to
make a candid reader, doubt, whether the grand officers of
a grand lodge, with the grand chaplain for their guide,
could have set their seals to its authority; but they have;
and now let Free Masonry answer it. Let the art of fore-
* " A Deity believed, will nought avail;
" Rewards, and punishments make God adored;
" And hopes, and fears, give conscience all her power."