Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

74
FELLOW CRAFT'S DEGREE,
names in the fraternity; with such a parade of orders of
architecture, of the globes, of the five senses, and of the
seven liberal arts and sciences; together with the claim that
the science of Masonry is the science of nature, the understanding
of the mysteries thereof, &c. [Book of Cons, of
Mass. p. 16. Preston, b. 3. s, 1. and Hardie, p. 203.]
would you not expect on entering a lodge, to find a school
of science and of the arts ? Would you not expect to see
some of the apparatus, by which new truths are discovered
and embellishments ore added to the old? [Book of Cans,
of Mass. p. 1210 Would you not expect to receive lee.
tures upon these subjects, perhaps, in the universal language
of Masons, [F. M. Library, p. 1L Booh of Cons, of Mass.
p. 20. Preston, b. 3. s. 1.] which should discover to you
the glories of science, and give you the clearest understanding
of the operations of nature ? If you should, (and
I see not how you can help it,) that is just what is
wanted.
These scientific appearances are set out, on purpose to
make men believe that Free Masonry has actual fellowship
with the sciences. But the sciences are never mentioned
within the walls of a lodge. I neither have seen nor heard
in all my acquaintance with the lodges, the explanation or
illustration of any the least principle of science. It cannot
be; lodges are for Free Masonry; and schools and colleges
are for the sciences.
Free Masonry does not, and cannot meddle with them:
the folly lies in pretending to do it; which pretence is carried
to a prodigious extent, in order that men may think
it has some spark of reality.
" Talis prima Dares caput altum in proelia tollit,
" Ostenditque humeros latos, alternaque jactat,
" Brachia protendens,et verberat kstibus auras."— VirgU.
* His brawny back and ample breast he shows,
" His lifted arm around his head he throws,
And deals in whistling air his empty blows."—D/yrffn.