THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

no escape from these conclusions.
5. The candidate in this oath swears, "I will not wrong this lodge, nor a brother of this
degree to the value of one cent, knowingly myself, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in
my power to prevent." Now observe, he makes this promise "under no less penalty, than
to have my body severed in two in the midst, and divided to the north and south, my
bowels burnt to ashes in the center, and scattered before the four winds of heaven, that
there might not the least track or trace of remembrance remain among men or Masons of
so vile or perjured a wretch as I should be, were I ever to prove willfully guilty of
violating any part of this my solemn oath or obligation as Master Mason. So help me
God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same." Now, observe, one part
of this Master's obligation is that which I have just quoted, that he will not wrong the
lodge, nor a brother of this degree to the value of one cent. For doing this, he solemnly
agrees to incur the awful penalty just above written. Is this just, as between man and
man? Has any man a right to take such an oath under such penalties? Christian
Freemason, can you see nothing wrong in this? Is not this profane, abominable,
monstrous?
6. Observe, upon the same penalty, the candidate proceeds: "Furthermore do I promise
and swear, that I will not be at the initiating, passing, and raising a candidate at one
communication without a regular dispensation from the Grand Lodge for the same."
Observe, then, to do this is so great a crime among Masons as to incur this awful penalty.
The candidate proceeds: "Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not be at the
initiating of an old man in his dotage, a young man in his nonage, an atheist, irreligious
libertine, idiot, madman, hermaphrodite, nor woman." To do this, observe, is so great a
crime among Masons as to incur the awful penalty attached to this oath. And this is
Masonic benevolence! It professes to be a saving institution, and excludes the greater part
of mankind from its benefits! The candidate proceeds: "Furthermore do I promise and
swear, that I will not speak evil of a brother Master Mason, neither behind his back, nor
before his face." Now, observe again, to do this is to incur this awful penalty, for this is
one part of the oath. But who does not know that Freemasons violate this part of the oath,
as well as that which relates to wronging each other, almost continually? The candidate
proceeds: "Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not violate the chastity of a
Master Mason's wife, sister, or daughter, I knowing them to be such, nor suffer it to be
done by others, if in my power to prevent." But why not promise this in respect to all
women? If this oath had included all women, it would have the appearance of justice and
benevolence, but as it is, it is only an odious partiality, and does not imply even the
semblance of virtue. The candidate proceeds: "Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I
will support the constitution of the Grand Lodge of the State of--------, under which this
lodge is held, and conform to all the by-laws, rules, and regulations of this or any other
lodge of which I may, at any time hereafter, become a member" Observe that to violate
this part of the obligation is to incur the awful penalty attached to this oath. The candidate
proceeds: "Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will obey all regular signs,
summonses, or tokens given, handed, sent, or thrown to me from the hand of a brother
Master Mason, or from the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of such,
provided it be within the length of my cable tow." This, indeed, puts a rope around the
neck of every offending brother. He is under oath to answer any sign or summons given
him from a brother Master Mason, or from a lodge. If he refuses or neglects to respond to