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

the like? Can wholesome society continue to exist under the influence of such an
institution as this?
CHAPTER VIII
SWORN TO PERSECUTE
Masons are sworn to "persecute unto death anyone who violates Masonic
obligation. In the oath of the THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER of the CROSS
the candidate swears, as follows, "Light on Masonry," eighth edition, page 199:
"You further swear, that should you know another to violate any essential point of
this obligation, you will use your most decided endeavors, by the blessing of God,
to bring such person to the strictest and most condign punishment, agreeably to
the rules and usages of our ancient fraternity; and this, by pointing him out to the
world as an unworthy vagabond, by opposing his interest, by deranging his
business, by transferring his character after him wherever he may go, and by
exposing him to the contempt of the whole fraternity and of the world, during his
whole natural life." The penalty of this obligation is as follows: "To all and every
part thereof we then bind you, and by ancient usage you bind yourself, under the
no less infamous penalty than dying the death of a traitor, by having a spear, or
other sharp instrument, like our Divine Master, thrust into your left side, bearing
testimony, even in death, to the power and justice of the mark of the Holy Cross."
Upon this obligation I remark:
1. Here we have an explanation of the notorious fact that Freemasons try, in every
way, to ruin the reputation of all who renounce Masonry. The air has almost been
darkened by the immense number of falsehoods that have been circulated, by
Freemasons, to destroy the reputation of every man who has renounced
Freemasonry, and published it to the world, or has written against it. No pains
have been spared to destroy all confidence in the testimony of such men. Does not
this oath render it impossible for us to believe what Freemasons say of the
character of those who violate their obligations? Who of us that lived forty years
ago does not remember how Freemasons endeavored to destroy the reputation of
William Morgan, of Elder Bernard, of EIder Stearns, and also of Mr. Allyn, and
who that is at all acquainted with facts does not know that the utmost pains are
taken to destroy the reputation of every man that dares to take his pen and expose
their institution. When I had occasion to quote Elder Bernard's book, in preaching
on the subject of Freemasonry a few months ago, I was told in the streets, before I
got home, that he was a man of bad character. I knew better, and knew well how
to understand such representations, for this is the way in which the testimony of
all such men is sought to be disposed of by Freemasons. Will this be denied?
What, then, is the meaning of this oath? Are not Masons under oath to do this?
Indeed they are. A few months since I received the following letter. For reasons
which will be appreciated, I omit name and date. The writer says: "About a week
since, a man calling himself Professor W. E. Moore, the great South American
explorer, came to this place, lecturing on Freemasonry. He is a Mason, and has