Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-09-07

teries in its words and symbols
as the Aichemists and Hermetit
philosophers did in their seeming jargon
1t is Isis, wearing her mask impenetra
bile except to the adopts. Those whose
Master : Is clad IN bLlte and gold, ought
to know why 1t is termed Scottish
Masonry, and understand the meaning
of the word Rddosch, and know the way
that leads to the mountain OF HeTOdODl
HeredODl OF HerOdea ia Scotland. They
should know the significance oi
Chochmah as q Password, and the
real meaning of the mystic lad
der, and why the Seventeeth Degree
embodles the most mysterious portions
of the Apocalypse and the solution OF
the enigma of Father Adam and Brother
Truth, and OF the Ministeriug Archangels
and Sylphs. The true Adept knows the
occult Specification of the Triads and
] Sacred numbers Of the Blue Degrees, and
/ of the two columns at the entrance TO
/ the Temple; and the Sun, the Moon and
the Master of Life, the three lights Of his
| Lodge, reveal to him the ancient dogma
of the Eastern Ssges.
! Do we fully appreciate what it
/ is to be the Hieropbants of the
/ Greater Mysteries? Those who OF old
| deserve that title, ruling by the Divine
right of intellect and will, did not di-
vulge the inmost secrets Of the Sanctuary
| to all who asked to receive them; nor
did they undertake to teach what they
did not themselves understand. They
| did not sell Truth in open market.
When Free Masonry appeared in Eu-
rope in the Middle Age, it had q
mission that exposed it to per-
secutiOn, and that accounts for the
solemnity of the obligations Of its
Lesser Mysteries. IF it had then
been only what Blue Masonry now ia in
England and America, its obligations,
being out Of all proportion to its objects
and unnecessary, would have been mex
cusable or absurd. The objects 10 which
the Order owed its existence, were aban-
doned in England about the time when
il crossed the Atlantic; and, continuing
TO be charitable and mutual beneficial
association. it became the ally and sup
porter Of the English Goverumsnt and
Church. It carefully avoids giving Of
fense TO Power, and is dumb to all pOliti-
cal truth, combining itself in its teach
ings, within the domain of morality
alone.
But Scottish Masonry and the Ancient
and Accepted Rite have not changed,
nor denaturaliZed or perverted the mean
ing Of their symbols. Now, as in the
days Of Dante, its mission is, to aid
Humanity IN setting its foot upon Des-
PotisHl, and treddiHg Under foot Spiritual
Tyranny and IutOlerG1ce.' The Cap Of
Liberty is the symbol to US of the SOve-
reignty of the People and the Law, and !
of Constitutional Government and the |
Crook, Of the only spiritual power that
God has committed to man; Since the /
Good Shepherd gjUeth his life for his .
sheep, and the Minister Of Religion can |
Of right teach and pltrsuade alone
Not hostile to any form Of free govern |
ment, it is also not hostile to any creed (
or church. 1t receives in its Sanctusries /
the Catholic as readily as the Protestant,
the Moslem as the Hebrew. 1t denies
nothing in the Catholic creed but only
teaches that no man or Church has the
right to dictate what another shall be-
lieve. The late alloeutiOn OF the Pope,
reviving the Bull Of Benedict
and Clement, harms it as little as the
Indian arrows DO the sun, and only
proves that the contest in which it en-
gagged 50 many years ago against Intole-
rance and persecution still re-
Iuires the exertiOn Of all its en-
srgies. Abandoned by Blue
in the two gTeat free countries
lf the world, it is nevertheless content to
cave it to perform its chosen duties Z
and it adheTes against all the world, to
Is Ancient Motto, LIBERTY, with Lar
md order; EQUALITY, with Obedience
md Loyalty FRATERNITY, with Stt50F-
iindtjOgs.! 1t will not abandon the cause
II Human Liberty, on any such poor pre-
ext as that Masonry does not NEEDLE
With politics. nor seek to become pOpu-
ar by becoming inert, and imposing DO
)uruhens upon its initiates.
Assuredly we have no apologies to
make to Blue Masonry for daring to de-
'ote ourselves to so holy a cause. Truth
) many-slded; and political Truth also
} Light and the Gold OF Alchemy. We
10 not reply 20 the ridicule or invectives
f those, nor seek to eOnfgte or enIighten
hem, who are content with the Masonry
( the Blue Lodges. What they write
gaInst the higher degrees can deter :
one from seeking our Sauctuaries, who
re fit to enter them and are wanted.