Book Description

From the Introductory: MASONRY, or more properly speaking, Free Masonry, unlike Christian organizations, takes to its mystic altar the rough Ashler — the rough stone out of the quarry — and by its esoteric working tools, fits it for the more noble and glorious design of the Great Master Builder. It is really a wonder, even to its adversaries, that it should have such a world-wide membership, and. accomplish so much in relieving the distressed in every nook and corner of the earth, and not become either Political, National or Sectarian. And yet its moral teachings pervade all, and every department of human society. In Monarchies, in Republics, in States, in Legislatures, in Institutions of Learning, Colleges, Seminaries, Churches — in all orders of society, Masonry has its foot-hold — its altar, and its esoteric school. Fears have been entertained, and the tocsin of alarm sounded, to warn the outside world of its encroachments and its dangerous mysteries. Still, like the Celestial Grand Master of the Order, its reign is pacific, and pre-eminently conducive to the progress of science, morality and virtue. Did Masonry, like religious organizations, receive to its altar only the professedly good, the pure, the spiritual, its great design would be entirely ignored, and its prototype and esoteric working tools, power- less and unmeaning. It is a building school — a school of moral architecture. Speculative it may be called, but not given to speculation, in the common acceptation of the term, but really speculative, that is, given to meditation on the subject of individual and moral rectitude. Its rituals carry the initiated back to the greatest display of architecture ever found in any age — the grandest Temple ever built by mortal hands. A Temple which was to be a prototype of that House not made with hands — eternal in the heavens. That Deity should leave no trace of so stupendous a work in the esoteric school of our architectural natures as the Temple, when He had designed to destroy, and totally efface its exoteric glory and beauty, would almost seem inconsistent with His revelations to man. In some manner, this Temple had a grand design to accomplish. We believe Masonry inheres in the industry that achieved this great work of art — in its Divine relationship to moral rectitude — to subordination — to arts — to sciences — and in the far off cycles of the future, to form a part in the grand accomplishment of peace, harmony and brotherly love throughout the globe. Our highest aim and object in offering this Masonic Gem to the Craft is, to hasten that time — to contribute to that end — to honor our Celestial Grand Master.