Masonry Is Identical With The Ancient Mysteries

Before God Manifested Himself, When All Things Were Still Hidden In Him... He Began By Forming An Imperceptible Point; That Was His Own Thought. With This Thought He Then Began To Construct A Mysterious And Holy Form... The Universe.

Strange And Mysterious Name To Give To The Spirit Of Darkness! Lucifer, The Son Of The Morning! Is It He Who Bears The Light, And With Its Splendors Intolerable Blinds Feeble, Sensual, Or Selfish Souls? Doubt It Not!

Force, Unregulated Or Ill-regulated, Is Not Only Wasted In The Void, Like That Of Gunpowder Burned In The Open Air, And Steam Unconfined By Science; But, Striking In The Dark, And Its Blows Meeting Only The Air, They Recoil, And Bruise Itself.

Two Forms Of Government Are Favorable To The Prevalence Of Falsehood And Deceit. Under A Despotism, Men Are False, Treacherous, And Deceitful Through Fear, Like Slaves Dreading The Lash. Under A Democracy They Are So As A Means Of Attaining Popularity And Office, And Because Of The Greed For Wealth.

We Masons Are Among The Fortunate Ones Who Are Taught To Meet Together With Others Opposing Convictions Or Competitive Ideas And Yet Respect Each Other As Brothers.