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

justifying it read the volume of EIder Stearns, to be had at the bookstores, and he
will find evidence enough of the fact.
CHAPTER IX
AWFUL PROFANITY OF MASONIC
OATHS
IN the degree of Templar and Knight of Malta, as found in the seventh edition of
"Light on Masonry," page 182, in a lecture in which the candidate is giving an
account of what he had passed through, he says: "I then took the cup (the upper
part of the human skull) in my hand, and repeated, after the Grand Commander,
the following obligation: 'This pure wine I now take in testimony of my belief in
the mortality of the body and the immortality of the soul--and may this libation
appear as a witness against me both here and hereafter--and as the sins of the
world were laid upon the head of the Savior, so may all the sins committed by the
person whose skull this was be heaped upon my head, in addition to my own,
should I ever, knowingly or willfully, violate or transgress any obligation that I
have heretofore taken, take at this time, or shall at any future period take, in
relation to any degree of Masonry or order of Knighthood. So help me God?'"
Now, observe what a horrid imprecation is here. These Knights Templar and
Knights of Malta take their oaths sustained by such a horrid penalty as this. They
say that they will incur this penalty, not merely if they violate the peculiar
obligation of this degree, but "any obligation that I have heretofore taken, take at
this time, or shall at any future period take, in relation to any degree of Masonry
or order of Knighthood." This is called "the sealed obligation." Here, in the most
solemn manner, the candidate, drinking wine out of a human skull, takes upon
himself this obligation, under the penalty of a double damnation. What can exceed
the profanity and wickedness of this?
On the 185th page of the same book, we find a note quoted from the work of
Brother Allyn, who renounced Masonry and published on the subject. I will quote
the note entire. Mr. Allyn says of the fifth libation, or sealed obligation, it "is
referred to by Templars in confidential communications, relative to matters of
great importance, when other Masonic obligations seem insufficient to secure
secresy, silence, and safety. Such, for instance, was the murder of William
Morgan, which was communicated from one Templar to another, under the
pledge, and upon this sealed obligation." He also remarks, in another place:
"When I received this degree I objected to drink from the human skull, and to take
the profane oath required by the rules of the order. I observed to the Most
Eminent that I supposed that that part of the ceremonies would be dispensed with.
The Sir Knights charged upon me, and the Most Eminent said: 'Pilgrim, you here
see the swords of your companions drawn to defend you in the discharge of every
duty we require of you. They are also drawn to avenge any violation of the rules