the bandage was taken from his eyes, he saw that it was a Lamb that he had stabbed. Surely, such trials and such wanton cruelty are fit only for training conspirators." And conspirators to assassinate, which are the basest of all conspirators. The man who has felt a tyrant's power, and from a high sense of injustice, incapable of reaching him by law, should strike him dead, is still a good and a great man; but he who can conspire to assassinate even a bad man, even a tyrant, gives evidence, that his is a villain's mind. In another volume, published at Edinburgh, in 1799, shewing the origin of the principles which predominated during the French Revolution, I find the following account of the initiation of the Duke of Orleans into the highest degree of French Masonry. "This degree was called kadosh, from a Hebrew word, which signifies consecration, and sometimes renovation; because the (pretended) intention of raising candidates to this degree was to renew human nature, and restore it from slavery to liberty. The Duke of Orleans was introduced by five brethren into a dark room, at the farther end of which was the representation of a grotto full of bones, which were rendered visible by the glimmering of a sepulchral lamp. In a corner of this apartment stood an effigy decked with all the ensigns of royalty; near which was raised a double ladder. Orleans was ordered to stretch himself on the floor, to recount all the degrees and all the oaths which he had taken. He was then desired to rise, to mount to the top of the ladder, and to let himself fall. He did so; and was told that he had ascended to the highest step of Masonry. Then, armed with a poignard, he was commanded to stab the effigy blood immediately seemed to gush from the wound, which stained the floor. He was then required to cut off its head, and to hold it up in his right hand, while he brandished the poignard in his left. He was then told, that the bones which he had seen in the grotto were the bones of a Grand Master of the order of the Templars, and that the crowned effigy, which he had stabbed and beheaded, represented Philip-le-bel King of France." Mixed up with much that was moral, and praiseworthy, similarly detestable principles were taught throughout Germany, even almost throughout the continent of Europe. And it is evident, from the proofs already adduced, that Freemasonry has been the parent of these detestable associations. On the other hand, we may be assured, that such associations have generated that odious system of police and espionage, which has long infested aud disgraced the continent of Europe, which Castlereagh introduced into Ireland, and, with Sidmouth, sought to introduce it into this country. Where there were no secret associations, spies, and a secret police could not exist. Such a bad example, as the association of Freemasons, is enough to produce the most abominable societies; and it has produced them, in this as well as in other countries. However moral such an association might have been in its origin, there is no guarding against corruptions and abuses; and the history of Freemasonry will shew, that it has been the cloak of the most vile purposes. Even now, I cannot see the members of the Royal Family, so many of the Aristocracy, and so many Priests joining it, without great and painful suspicions. As well as an instrument in France against Kings and Priests, it has been made an instrument by Kings and Priests against the rising power of the people and this I fear is the existing motive in this country. I repeat this with a knowledge, that nearly all my most intimate friends and correspondents have been masonified, and have, from shame, renounced it. Still, this only proves, that the association will be supported by the most ignorant and most wicked of men. In 1820 or 21, there was a menace sent through the papers, that, if the Radicals had proceeded to an insurrection, the association of Masons, though silent on the subject of the politics then under discussion, were waiting to draw their swords, in defence of the King and the abuses by which he is surrounded. This, to my knowledge, would not have been generally the case; though it is possible that a large number of Masons would have been ignorant enough of their own interest in the community of labourers or the producers of property to have done it. Science ought to be taught and reforms ought to be brought about without the aid of this or of any such secret associations. From the volume which I last quoted, I will quote a para graph, the observations of which, with a little exception, though the writer was opposed to me in political principle, are precisely my own ideas. "As secret societies can never be beneficial, though they have it always in their power to be hurtful to a state, they ought to be abolished. No body of men, however respectable, ought to be permitted to administer an oath of secrecy; because no business ought to come before a meeting of private gentlemen that can require such an oath. Whatever is virtuous and honourable is open as the day; and never shuns the public view; but whatever seeks shelter in darkness, and safety in oaths of secrecy, wears a suspicious aspect and warns us to beware of treasons and conspiracies. It ought, therefore, to be an established rule in every regular government, that no person except a public magistrate should be permitted to administer an oath*. There can be no doubt of the propriety of abolishing all political associations, such as that of the Corresponding Societyt, the Constitutional Society, and the Societies of United Irishmen, Englishmen and Scotsmen. But it may be asked, ought these observations to be extended to the Free Masons? Undoubtedly they ought. If free masonry * Not even that. Why are caths useful, if falsehood incurred the same penalty as perjury! † And the Vice Society. R. C. be a good institution, it ought to be made public for the benefit of society if it be liable to censure, it ought to be given up: if it be a trifling amusement, still it ought to be laid aside; because, to bind a man by an oath to conceal what is trifling, is to diminish the value of an obligation of the most solemn nature and of the utmost importance to society. But farther, we are assured, from the example of France, that masonic lodges are vehicles fitted for seditious and treasonable conspiracies; and it is not improbable, that the danger from them may increase when all other secret societies are dissolved. We have satisfactory proofs, that some of the lodges in England and Scotland have been illuminized.. It is credibly reported, that in Edinburgh some democratical masons have lately become uncommonly active in enlisting new members. We know, too, that Weishaupt* borrowed his first ideas of propagating the pernicious doctrines of Illuminism from free masonry, and that it was upon free masonry those villainous schemes were ingrafted which his depraved ingenuity had suggested. In fine, after mature deliberation, we may venture to affirm, that had free masonry never existed, it is more than probable the French Revolution would never have taken place.”—Or, if it had taken place, it would have been conducted more philosophically than by the spawn of secret associations. I return to the description of the ceremony. Noodle is now knocked down and shamming a dead man. The master thus addresses the company:— The brethren will take notice, that, in the recent ceremony, as well as in his present situation, our Brother has been made to represent one of the brightest characters recorded in the annals of Masonry, namely, our Master, Hiram Abiff, who lost his life in consequence of his unshaken fidelity to the sacred trust reposed in him. and I hope this will make a lasting impression on his and your minds, should you ever be placed in a similar state of trial.-Brother Junior Warden, you will endeavour to raise the representative of our master Hiram by the Entered Apprentice's grip. (He takes him by the finger, which slips from his hand.) J. W. It proves a slip, Worshipful Master. W. M. Brother Senior Warden, try the Fellow Craft's grip. S. W. It proves a slip also, Worshipful Master. W. M. Brother Wardens, having both of you failed in your attempts, there yet remains a third method, namely, by taking a firm hold of the sinews of the hand and raising him on the five points of fellowship, of which, with your assistance, I will make a trial. (The master then raises him up by grasping or rather clawing his hand wrist, by putting the right foot to his foot, the knee to his knee, bringing up the right breast to his breast, and with his * The founder of the order of the Illuminati in Germany. kand under the back or over the shoulder. masonry as the five points of fellowship. This is practised in W. M. It is thus all Master Masons are raised from a figurative death to a reunion with the former companions of their toils Let me now beg you to observe that the light of a Master Mason is darkness visible, serving only to express that gloom which rests on the prospect of futurity. It is that mysterious veil which the Eureka of human reason cannot penetrate, unless assisted by that light which is from ́above. Yet even by this feeble ray, you may perceive, that you stand on the very brink of the grave, into which you have just figuratively descended, and which, when this transitory life shall have passed away, will again receive you into its cold bosom. Let the emblems of mortality which lie before you, lead you to contemplate your inevitable destiny and guide your reflection to that most interesting of all human study, the knowledge of yourself. Be careful to perform your allotted task while it is yet day, continue to listen to the voice of nature which bears witness that even in this perishable frame resides a vital and immortal principle, which inspires a holy confidence that the Lord of life will enable us to trample the king of terrors beneath our feet and lift our eyes to the bright morning star whose rising brings peace and salvation to the faithful and obedient of the human race. I cannot better reward the attention you have paid to this exhortation and charge; than by intrusting you with the secrets of this degree. You will advance towards me as a Fellow Craft. Take another pace with your left foot and bring the right heel into its hollow as before. That is the third regular step in FreeMasonry, and it is in this position that the secrets of the degree are communicated. They consist of signs, tokens and words. Of the signs, the first and second are casual, the third is penal. The first casual sign is called the sign of horror, and is given from the Fellow Craft's hailing sign, by dropping the left hand and elevating the right, as if to screen the eyes from a painful sight, at the same time throwing the head over the right shoulder, as a remove or a turning away from that sight. It alludes to the finding of our murdered Master Hiram by the twelve Fellow Crafts. The second casual sign is called the sign of sympathy or sorrow, and is given by bending the head a little forward and by striking the right hand gently on the forehead. called the penal sign; because it alludes to the penalty of your obligation and is given by drawing the hand across the centre of the body, dropping it to the side, and then raising it again to place the point of the thumb on the navel. It implies, that, as a man of honour and a Master Mason, you would rather be severed in two than to improperly divulge the secrets of this degree. The grip or token is the first of the five points of fellowship. The five points of fellowship are first: a grip with the right hand of The third is each other's hand wrist, with the points of the five fingers: second, right foot parellel with right foot on the inside: third, right knee to right knee: fourth, right breast to right breast: fifth, hand over shoulders supporting the back*. It is in this position and this only, except in open lodge, and then but in a whisper, that the word is given. It is MAHABONE† or MACBENACH. The former is the old, the latter the modern, word. You are now at liberty to retire in order to restore yourself to your personal comforts, and, on your return to the lodge, those signs, tokens and words shall be further explained to you. On returning to the lodge, Noodle returns thanks, much after the manner of doing it in the former degree, with the exception, that this is called a raising him to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. He also exchanges the usual salutations with the wardens when the senior Warden presents him to the Master. S. W. Worshipful Master, I present to you, Brother Noodle, on being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, for some further mark of your favour. W. M. Brother Senior Warden, I delegate you to invest him with the distinguishing badge of a Master Mason. S. W. I now invest you with the distinguishing badge of a Master Mason, to shew that you have arrived at that sublime degree. W. M. I must state, that the badge with which you have now been invested, not only points out your rank as a Master Mason; but is meant to remind you of those great duties which you have just solemnly engaged yourself to observe, and while it marks your own superiority, it calls on you to afford assistance and instruction to your brethren in the inferior degrees. (proceeds to the lecture.) We left off at that part of our traditional history which mention ́ed the death of our Master Hiram. A loss so important as that of the principal architect could not fail of being generally and severely felt. The want of those plans and designs, which had hitherto been regularly supplied to the different classes of work *This may not look amiss between one of each sex; but, in my view, it is very unseemly, to see two men hugging in this kind of way. It must have been out of some nonsense of this kind that the revolutionary fraternal hug of France arose into common practice. R. C. None or very few masons know the meaning of this word. One has informed me that it signifies marrow of the bones, another rotton to the bones; but the best account I can get is, that it is a corruption of Macbenach a Hebrew word, and fabled as the first word used by the Fellow Craft Mason, who first discovered the grave of Hiram Abiff. It is pretended that the Master's real word was lost by the death of Hiram Abiff, as it could only be pronounced when he Solomon and Hiram king of Tyre were together. To find out this real master's word is the pretended grand secret of masonry, and, until it be found, Macbenach is to be the substitute! Most important pursuit, to be sure, Freemasons! R. C. |