New-York tribune., 1896-07-26
THEOLOGUE AND FREE MASON.
THE SONS OF LIGHT-THEIR FRIENDS AND
THEIR ENEMIEs-A MASONIC AILEGoRy

The SONS OF LIGHT-THEIR FRIENDS AND
THEIR ENEMIEs-A MASONIC ALLEGoRY.
| certain Priest who dwelt In that part OF tho
| land OF Zeal which lies behind the Mountains ~
Intolerance and borders on the shore Of Bigotry
| being devout and conscientious man. had long
desired to rid the world Of all institutions which no
thought were opposed to good morals and religion.
as he understood them So he set out on a tourney
I for that purpose and being informed that Anclen;
| Craft Masonry was mos subtle and dangerous
thing, and also OF great antiquity he resolved 10 sub
| due ii first. lie came city where there was a
| temple. and gave out that he would on the morrow
discourse to the people. and night with
| friend.
! In the morning he went near the temple and stood
| by a porico having seven steps. from which he in
| tended 10 speak. While waiting ne beheld man OF
venerable and benevolent appearance accompanied
| by others who were listening to his instructions.
The Priest drew and saluted him with great
respect and perceiving that he Of wisdom said
Il am come to put an end to a certain ancient fra
ternity. calling themselves Sons OF Light (Free
Masons), but in lity they are children Of dark
ness, who cease rot TO bul.d up their secret and
wicked system in all countries as they have done
for many ages Thou krowest them and that they
are sons OF Beal. and that OF late they have be-
come much emboldened by the forbearance o. the
wise and good. who abhor such things: wherefore
hope and expect thy counsel and aid in my under
! taking"
| Ana the WorShipful Master answered, saying:
Thou dost we'll TO seek counsel In thy enterprise:
what can do for thy good l will do. but when
dost thou begin?" And the Priest said: Now; be-
hold, here is my stand. and the multitude are
| gathering to hear my discourse" But the w.
| Brother said: art thou fully prepared 10 enter
| on thy work?' And the Priest said Il am; for /
| have studied the writings Of my sect and OF all
those who opposed TO this ancient and obnox-
| ious fraternity. and have the sacred Scriptures
| with which 10 condemn them; moreover have
seen vision, and angel appeared TO me ard
asked me what desired. and when answered
| that l might overthrow all to whom ! am op-
posed. who opposed TO me- he said 10 me:
| Go thy way thou shalt overcome much big
otry and sim So am come hther thou seest."
| But the Mason answered IF thou hadst been
as wise Solomon. King Of Israel when the Lord
appeared to him in Gideon and asked him what he
most desired. thou shoudst have answered and
| said as ne said: More light"
| Then the Priest silent for a moment, and
said to the brother: What. dost thou counsel me?
| And the Mason said: Il have been taught that
| no one should presume TO enter upon any impor-
| tant undertaking without first invoking the bless
| ing Of the Deity" Thou art right" said the
| Priest; this will do" And he knelt and prayed.
| And when his prayer ended he as).ed
| "If thou meet with difficulty In thy nde.taking.
| In whom dost thou trust for assistance" And the
other said: I'm God do trust in all times" Then
| answered the Mason: GO your way and be
not afraid. l will speak to tnee further again Of
this matter"
| But as the Jealous Priest advanced 10 the lower
step OF the platform, came one Of those that stood
| by, and said: Il have somewhat offer thee;
But he looked astonlshed and said: What nave
IL, 10 do with these? Keep them" Nay" said the
which give thee. The gauge will be given thee
IS te for h al or n Ban s0 o This b6
mays{ divide thy. time into parts so tina, one part
for thou dsspae o mo- poron Of hy g tme in de
re IA Of .O1 nj fbc
relief Of distress so that all, even thyself, may be
The gavel will divest thy mind and conscience Of
be he other "s smiled S 15 snd !a m Ay sy %
are are good goo tI,,,. will take them with thanks Truly.
the second siep second one came and said: said 4
could not fully advise thee of Take my plumb,
they sy se to a t shes tho s
Take them for ! am builder. and they are the
that Of Amos. which was shown him by the Lord
nnG VII e to & eenct Gqd %
designs Of virtue and TO judge with equity; and the
ished Priest said Verify should have these also
my Work But as he advanced again thrd oDe 1Oe
c-me and said: Proceed no, further, pray thee,
And the other said: Why what have / to do |
With these? But the ,hra r answeTsd Take them
symbolic trowel is the implement of brotherly love.
assns the act o any re Sa s
teach thee to make thy work correspond with the
all nature the work and glory Of God and initiate
the same; and the compass will circumscribe thy
be moved by Jealousy or envy. or seek thine own
praise to the injury of others. Moreover by this
centre Then answered the other ana said Thou
hast done well my sToher o to b ers with
But a fourth came and said Nay. before thou
again Priest said. Hast thou nothing |
letter to offer me?" But the fourth said: Take
aDd lDd may BY 'h hes thou canrt thy
Instructions on the hearts Of Thy hearers. as on
the duties of man toward God. and one the duty Of
toward his after the The ,,C of
canst enrich and ornament thy work after the de-
signs Of the divine Plan that beauty be Sn R
that gave and stepped upon The; The NTH sSne ,n
present Asa ysn ~ hou ny and
ne take them for Thy perfecn npTepaTat0n bara al
"st But the fifth said: Take them for they pertain
10 frame thy design the treste-board that thou
50 that they Will be true copies Of the d.
The line viii be useful 10 thee, for how. without
x h9a lay h3 s' dssns that Of ny Sa
IN thy work and thou thereby put to
Then he received the gift OF the Nth gladly and
get his foot upon the sixth step when came sixth
~ need not the ark and pot Of incense. said the
,ther; 'let haste and fulfil my mission.
Nay" answered the sixth go not without | .
hem for the ark contains things which are pre-
,ous Here Is the law and testimony which my
ncient brethren preserved through great peril The
,ot of mama which Is the bread OF Heaven which
aile,h not that thou perish not by the way: The
cd OF Aaron. which budded blossomod and bore
rui IL the night. which showeth that each & DAY
Il thy life produce its own perfect fruits; ,
lso the censer, which contains the thoughts ard .
SEPARATIONS OF pure heart and IS blessed where .
ore angels are said 70 appear in the smoke thereof
or the pure In heart see Cod
Then the good Priest took them and advanced on
he seventh step; but here the Free Mason came IN
aste saying: 'Sir. perceive that thou art wholly
npreIared: take my keystone before thou goest 2
urther." But the other answered What Is that? '
no good in 9