Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

CROSS'S MASONIC CHART. 61
CHAPTER XI.
" Mark you this, Bassanio,
u The devil can quote scripture fer hla purpose.
«* An evil soul, producing holy witness,
"Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;
" A goodly apple, rotten at the heart.
" O, what a goodly outside falsehood bath!"
Merck, of Venice.
I COME next to sixteen pages of hieroglyphics in Royal
Arch Masonry. These it belongs not to a Master Mason to
explain; but their extraordinary character will not suffer
me to pass them unnoticed. The tabernacle of the Lord
built by Moses, and its utensils; the ark of the covenant and
its contents; the pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded,
and the two tables of the law-, the cherubim oyer the
mercy seat; the table of show bread, the altar, the golden
candlestick, the pot of incense, and the pontifical garments,
consecrated by the Most High to his own peculiar service
in the family of Aaron; constitute three fifths of the emblems
in Royal Arch Masonry!
While Masonry confines itself, as it does for the most
part in the three first degrees, to compasses, plumb lines,
setting malls, scythes, bee hives, &c. &c. no fault can be
found with the emblems, but only with the explanations of
them; if such simple tools will preach morality to rational
creatures, it is harmless at least; but when men take the
things of the Most High, dedicated to his service, and use
them as emblems of a mystical science, put they what explanation
upon the emblems they may, the mind revolts
from the sacrilege.
Free Masonry is welcome to a trowel and a twenty-four
inch gauge, or two foot rule; but not to the holy bible, not