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

was really found in the vault under ground, as Masons pretend, is there any
justifiable reason for concealing from the whole world these facts. I have sought
in vain for a reason to justify the taking of any oaths at all in Masonry. And it is
passing strange that such oaths, under such penalties, should ever have been so
much as dreamed of by Masons as being justified by their secrets. The fact is,
their stringent secrecy must be designed, in part, to excite the curiosity of men,
and draw candidates into the snare. The highest Masonic authority has affirmed
that their secrecy is essential to their existence; and that, if their secrets were
exposed, the institution could not live. Now, this is no doubt true, and is the great
reason, as I conceive, for guarding their secrets with such horrid oaths. But I said,
in an early number, that Masonry is swindle. Where are the important secrets
which they promise to their candidates? For what do the candidates pay their
money but really to be imposed upon? But it may be well asked, why do Masons,
once embarked in Masonry, go on, from one degree to another multiplying their
oaths, obligations, and imprecations? When they are once within a lodge to take a
degree, they dare not do otherwise than to go forward. I could quote numerous
instances from the writings of seceding Masons showing how they have been
urged from step to step, and assured, if they would proceed, that everything would
be explained to their satisfaction. They have been told, as in the case of Mr. Allyn
just noticed, that everything would be qualified and explained to their satisfaction.
Upon Mr. Allyn, as we have seen, the Sir Knights drew their swords when he
hesitated to go forward; and the Most Eminent informed him that he must. go
forward, or their swords would avenge his disobedience.
The fact is, when once within the lodge, they dare not stop short of taking the
obligation belonging to the degree; and they are persuaded by those who have
taken higher degrees, to go forward from one degree to another.
And the great Masonic argument to keep them steadfast in concealing the
imposition that has been practiced upon them, and to persuade them not to
renounce and expose what they have passed through, is, that of having their
throats cut, their tongues torn out by the roots, their heart and vitals torn out and
thrown to the vultures of the air, drowning and murder.
Masons profess not to invite or persuade any to join the lodges; and the
candidates, when they come forward for their degrees, are asked if they come
forward of their own free will and accord. To this, of course, they answer, yes.
But what has made them willing? They have been persuaded to it. They have been
invited to join; --they have been urged to join; motives of self-interest have been
set before them in such a light as to gain their consent. They are thus made
willing; and, therefore, truthfully say, that they do it of their own free will and
accord.
But it is almost, if not quite, the universal testimony of renouncing Masons, that
they were persuaded to it. They were made willing to join by such representations
as overpersuaded them. I do not believe that one in five hundred of those who join
the Masonic lodge, join without being persuaded to do so. But let me say also,
that the great mass of Freemasons have never taken more than the first three
degrees. They may know nothing about the higher degrees. Now in what sense are