FACING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY Our Country: Its power and peril by James King

FACING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Our Country: Its power and peril

The POWER of Our Country, generated by Anglo-Saxon civilization
and made effective through the American institutions of State,
Church, and School. '

The PERIL of Our Country, manifest in the claims of Politico-Ecclesiastical
Romanism to universal dominion, and in its relations
to political parties, politicians, platforms, legislation, schools,
charities, labor, and war.

The Republic FACES the twentieth century with the power to avert
the peril when both power and peril are recognized.


AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

The Republic, with the momentum secured in making more
than a century of glorious history, is about to move into the
twentieth century and work out its manifest destiny in
extending civil and religious liberty to the millions which
come under its benign rule.

Without attempting an elaborate discussion of any one of
the themes here considered, I have essayed to give a brief
survey of the sources of our civilization, of the institutions
which conserve and promote this civilization; of the peril
which menaces these institutions, and of the legal, organic,
and moral forces Avhich may be depended upon to protect
them.

I hope to contribute a mite in producing that disposition
of mind and poise of Judgment among citizens which are
indispensable to a people confronted with difficult problems
for solution, and who have great responsibilities to meet and
priceless liberties to perpetuate.

I desire to reach that honest citizen on the farm, in the
workshop, in the factory, and in the different departments of
industry in city and village, who does his own thinking and
voting, and who counts one in the class of citizens who give
character to American citizenship and vigor to American
patriotism.

I seek to inspire that kind of patriotic pride of country,
which is based upon an intelligent conception of the cost and
character of our institutions, and Avhich is jealously alert
against the insidious approaches of any foe that would either
compromise or undermine our constitutional liberties.
We are living in a seriously interesting and instructive
period of both national and international history. The men
who created the Republic faced their responsibilities
effectively and magnificently. We shall have both the
courage and ability to face our broader responsibilities if
we adhere to the principle that the safe method of procedure
is for a nation to act from high-minded and unselfish motives.

James King

New York, January, 1899.

THE BALANCE OF POWER "Genius Of Freemasonry and The Twentieth Century Crusade

THE BALANCE OF POWER.

Money today, in this country, holds the balance of power. Our national divinity is Mammon.

By the "balance of power" is meant any principle, agency, or power that is capable of influencing the trend of events, shaping the policy of the nation, or controlling the activities of the majority of the people.

As a country at large our financial and commercial prosperity is unprecedented. Money is massed by millions in the hands of a comparatively few individuals. This money has been gathered in a comparatively short time, in manufacture, trade, transportation, commerce, and by utilizing discoveries in the arts and sciences. Many gigantic fortunes have been made by "watering stocks" and giving fictitious values to the assets of corporations, and yet so rapid has been the growth in all directions that even these fictitious values have often been realized and made good by the growth of industries.

The agents and representatives of these immense money interests have shaped legislation, organized and consolidated their wealth and often pooled their interests for mutual profits. Hence there has arisen a centralization of the money power far beyond the interests of the country or of the whole people. The people are said to be the governing power in a Republic, and whenever this power is centered in one, or in even a few individuals, no matter under what name or pretext, the welfare of the people, as a whole, is jeopardized.

Coincident with this rapid accumulation of wealth has been the growth of great cities, and hence has grown up another agency for centralization of power. The representatives of great fortunes, concentrated in these large cities, have realized their dependence upon the State Legislatures, which make laws for cities, and have influenced, controlled, bought, or exploited them accordingly.

At present the General Government is taking a hand in endeavoring to check these abuses. But this is likely in the end to prove a still more dangerous centralization of power, even though the measures proposed may seem a pressing necessity and appeal to the people as justified under present conditions.

The remedy is very simple. It lies in a direct appeal to the people, in a restoration of power to the source of its creation, the people themselves. They really have the power, but have been tricked out of it by laws, usages, customs and abuses that have grown up with the increase of wealth and population. The remedy here lies directly and specifically in what is known as the Initiative and Referendum.

The purpose here, however, is not to discuss politics, but rather to illustrate the principles that dominate society, shape public policy, and so involve the well-being of every citizen as well as every Mason.

In its last analysis, the Balance of Power lies in the will, the intelligence, the strength
and the influence of the majority of the citizens at any given time. True, a single individual
may so appeal to or influence the people of a city or a nation as to control the majority.

Such an appeal would have to be made in a form that seemed at least to promise general benefits to all concerned. The appeal would here be to the self-interest of the majority. Hence, a promise or a prospect of securing peace, higher wages, greater prosperity and the like, would meet with response in proportion to the confidence in, or reasonableness of, the man or the measures proposed.

Tyrants, despots, rulers, and those greedy for power in all ages have resisted the necessity and avoided as far as possible any appeal to the people at all. So long as it was admitted that they had hereditary rights belonging only to the few, or the claim was admitted that they ruled "by the Grace of God," the people were never taken into council.

With the increase of intelligence and the growth of civilization, the hereditary prerogatives, and special privilege have slowly disappeared till in democratic countries and would-be Republics money power, as above referred to, has usurped their place and equally exploited the people.

In the meantime, there is still another source of power by which the people may be exploited and the majority ruled. That is by appeal to ignorance, superstition and fear.

In a republican form of government where votes count, if the influence of wealth can be added to that of superstition and fear the strongest possible combination is secured for exploiting the many in the interests of the few through the control of votes. In such a case it is not necessary that a majority of the whole people at any time should be so exploited.

If, for example, a solid vote of say 2,000,000 electors can be securely counted on and dictated by one head regardless of all political issues or parties, by shifting that vote in any general election and by compromising on minor questions in order to secure special aims or results, the party so controlling the 2,000,000 votes would hold the balance of power as securely as any despot ever held the reins of government. That is precisely what the Pope of Rome through his agencies and minions is doing in America today.

No Free people, no Democracy, no real Republic will ever get rid of this question of the balance of power. It is inevitable in the nature of things and organic in all human associations. This is not only proven by all history, but demonstrated every day by organizations such as the Dowieites, the Eddyites, and hundreds of communities all over the country.

People are appealed to, organized, dominated, or exploited by an Idea, by some real or fancied gain, by some promise or expectation held out by an individual or represented by an Idea. If then, this balance of power cannot be gotten rid of, the question is For what purpose shall it be used, and who shall hold it?

Suppose this influential factor could be divested of all personal ambitions, all selfish
interests, aims or ends, whatsoever, and held solely for the common good of all alike. This would constitute it a Sacred Trust, an influence for civilization, the uplift
of humanity as a whole.

This is by no means inconceivable. It is altogether rational, provided the 2,000,000 voters, as before, held the balance of power and used it for this purpose and in this way. Not, however, dominated by anyone individual, but by a Grand Idea; say,b the Golden Rule, or the genuine principle of Brotherhood based on common needs and inspired by a common duty. Can any one fail to see here a great opportunity?

Now, we have in this country today over two million voters who are Freemasons. Every one of them has given his voluntary assent and pledged his allegiance to precisely this Grand Idea, viz., the common, unqualified and universal Brotherhood of Man.

True, they belong, as individuals, to different political parties, to different religions,
or they profess no religion at all. They are found in every trade, occupation or line of reputable business and in every walk in life. Can they urge self-interest or indifference to their obligations as an excuse for ignoring all their solemn obligations as men and Masons? If every one of them adhered to his obligation and did his duty would they not hold today the balance of power?

No such appeal can be made elsewhere to any such body of men, for the reason that it nowhere else exists. Organization into a body of voters is neither desirable nor contemplated. Masonry, as an Institution, has no business in politics. Masons as individuals, regarding their obligations, adhering to their principles and doing their duty, is another proposition entirely.

Can any one who has once been a Mason and assumed these obligations give a single reason why he should not discharge them? Was there in any case mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind? Or was it provided and determined that there should be wholesaled and unequivocal assent to every obligation assumed? If this be true and I challenge any regular Mason to deny it let him not suggest that I am reading into Masonry any new or foreign interpretation.

Let any Brother Mason contemplate for a moment how he would feel if he could realize that he was one of a body of 2,000,000 voters who had held the balance of power in a recent election, and by standing solely for equity, justice and right, had turned the tide against usurpation and wrong. Would he not feel as he always does when he has done his whole duty as a man, with clean hands, a warm heart and an approving conscience ? Would he find in his heart any cause for shame or regret?

Now, my Brother, some one individual, some body of men, some principle, or some Idea, always does and always will hold the balance of power in this country. Who shall it be, and for what purpose if Only the man who has no principles and recognizes no obligations can truthfully say, "I do not care."

At the present moment this balance of power in America is held by an Italian who has condemned every one of our Free Institutions, for he enforces and confirms the decrees of his predecessors. He has the most colossal, compact, powerful and secret organization on earth today. The College of Cardinals are his Ministers of State, and the Order of Jesuits are his secret minions and emissaries.

This Italian Despot has the pledged allegiance of every Bishop, Priest and Communicant in America. He proposes to use a solid Catholic vote to make America Catholic, destroy every one of our Free Institutions, make the Catholic Religion the religion of the State to the exclusion of all other religions," and he, the " Infallible Pope, become the dictator of this government. He holds today in this country the balance of power for this avowed purpose, and pledged to this end.

No use saying, "He cannot do it." He is doing it, and slowly but surely accomplishing his purpose. Bead "Facing the Twentieth Century," and see. The only question is, at what point are we going to call a halt. Shall it be now, or after every one of our Free Institutions has been undermined by Jesuitry and nothing but a religious civil war will enable us to regain our freedom? No freeman can escape this issue, this Impending Crisis, nor his Personal Responsibility regarding it.

Why this special appeal to Freemasons? Simply because they constitute the only body of men in the world pledged from beginning to end to the reverse of every precept and principle in the policy of the Roman Pontiff. If these fail to do their duty what are we to expect from others ?

This balance of power is like the ballast of a great ship. If allowed to shift around in a disorderly way it may help to sink the ship. But shifted wisely and judiciously when the ship rolls or is in danger, it helps to right it and secure safety.

Two million Catholic voters (and this is a very low estimate) under the control of one dictator, held by superstition and fear to the dogma of obedience, and obeying blindly regardless of all else, is a most dangerous menace indeed. Freed from this dogma of obedience and this exploitation the Catholic citizen and voter deserves no criticism. But massed, dominated and exploited, these voters add nothing to the prosperity and perpetuity of our country. On the contrary, they are a shifting ballast and a dead weight that may sink our Ship of State at any time. They not only do nothing to conserve our liberties, but are continually used to annul and undermine them.

One of their strongest points of attack is our Free Secular Schools. These they everywhere seek to undermine and destroy and to substitute for them the inefficient sectarian Parochial School. Notwithstanding the hostility of the Pope and his representatives everywhere expressed toward our Free Schools, in the cities of Chicago and Boston, more than two-thirds of the teachers in the Public Schools are Catholics. These teachers as good Catholics are the avowed enemies of the very schools in which they are employed to teach.

Any one innocent enough to see no design back of this condition of things had better read the History of the Jesuits and the "Double Doctrine of the Church of Rome. They might supplement these with Father Crowley's "The Parochial School."

If we should read of these things in the History of some ancient Kepublic, showing how it went to pieces or was converted to a form of absolute Despotism, we would feel indignation. But this is the very history we are making in this country today.

When Catholics get in other cities and in this country at large what they already have in Chicago and Boston, our Free Schools will be a thing of the past. The Parochial School will have taken their place. The dogma of obedience will be drilled into every youth of the land by the dark Sons of Loyola, who long ago declared, Give us the education of the child for the first seven years, and we care not what follows."

Now, for the peace and perpetuity of this Republic, it is necessary to neutralize this balance of power that is already in the hands of Clericalism. This can be done only by opposing to it continually not only an equal number but a majority of voters who can be equally relied upon to oppose all such ambitions and exploitation of the ignorant masses.

This opposition must be by voluntary impulse from individuals who realize the danger and the necessity of eternal vigilance regarding the common danger, and with whom the sense of civic duty and personal responsibility is sufficiently strong to keep them continually active.

The only sufficient body of men who from their voluntary obligation and intelligence along these lines could be expected to do this work is the Order of Freemasons. True, they will find many assistants and co-operators, for which they will be fraternally grateful. Chief among these is the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, who realize the danger and are already active in neutralizing it.

The object is not to create hatred and strife but to prevent unjust legislation and injury to our Free Institutions. In the long run the rank and file of our opponents will really be benefited more than any others. Their eyes will eventually be opened to the real character of their dictators and the injustice done to them under the name and garb of religion. This will result in forcing them from the degrading bondage of superstition and fear, whereupon they will bless their liberators and join with them as in France and Italy they are now doing.

If we are ever to realize an Ideal Republic composed of every people, kindred and tongue, where Justice shall reign and be secured to all, it will have to be built up slowly and at some sacrifice from all. Freemasons ought to be foremost in realizing all this. They should do their utmost in promoting it.

As elsewhere indicated, Peace on Earth and good will to man will never be realized except on a basis of ethics and economics. In the absence of universal justice in all secular affairs a Universal Religion can only be inaugurated through force or Jesuitry. Clericalism has invariably employed both, and the more they succeed the less religion there is and the farther we are from peace and justice. Secure in these, Universal Religion will be already here.

The most hopeful sign of the times is the fact that the interest in and discussion of ethical and economic problems was never so great as today. Except in the rigid conformity
and obedience of Roman Catholics in attending churches, the real interest in Churches and so-called religion has steadily decreased as interest in ethical and economic problems has increased. Those who
represent the latter now hold the balance of power instead of those who represent so-called religion.

This means that a new basis for religion was demanded by the people. First become reconciled to thy Brother first be just, equitable and right and then offer thy adoration to Deity. The reign of the Christ can only come after economic justice. Before this, he brings a sword !

The "religion" of unjust men has ever been a fetish or Moloch, according to their political power. The union of Church and State has never once in the history of man failed to enthrone Moloch, and to exploit, rob and murder the people in the name of Religion.

Political Parties, Eeligions, Theories of Government, Institutions of all kinds, are on trial. They will be sifted to the last analysis and tried by the Law of Use and the greatest good to the whole of mankind. There can be no lasting concealment, no lasting evasion of this Law. Freemasonry can claim no exemption and seeks no evasion.

Take the lowest estimate that the most ignorant and superficial Mason may put upon the Order, viz., that of a merely social organization for the purpose of securing a "good time." If that were admitted, then we would have to explain the necessity of having the Bible on the altar, of invoking the name of Deity, and of otherwise profaning the most holy things. The Bacchanal of barbarians could go little further. The "Judicial Congress" added only lust and profligacy.

No man was ever "prepared" and "qualified" and made first a Mason in his heart, who does not know that such an estimate of Freemasonry is not only a profane caricature, but a wicked lie. If any Mason, so-called, holds it, he should hide his head in shame. It is solely the creation of his own heart and depraved imagination.

And so Masonry itself is on trial, like all other Institutions of man. What can it offer for the education of the people? How does it deal with ethics and economics? What does it offer for the common weal? What can it add to the commonwealth?

In the day that is dawning every Mason will be compelled to answer these pertinent questions. Why not answer them now, and array ourselves on the side of Liberty, Fraternity and Light, and so hold and use the Balance of Power?

JD BUCK 1907

The Sacred Vault of The 14TH Degree "Degree of Perfection" by By ROBERT MACOY, 33°

GEAND ELECT, PEEPECT AND SUBLIME MASON.

The 14th degree of the Ancient and Accepted rite, sometimes
called the "Degree of Perfection." In Prance it is called
" Grand Scotch Mason of Perfection of the Sacred Vault
of James YI." The degree " is considered to be the
ultimate rite of ancient Masonry, as it is the last of the
Ineffable degrees that refer to the first temple. The Masons
who had been employed in constructing the temple acquired
immortal honor. Their association became more uniformly
established and regulated after the completion of the temple
than it had been before. In the admission of new members
their prudence and caution had produced great respect, as
merit alone was required of every candidate. With these
principles firmly established many of the Grand Elect left
the temple after its dedication, and, traveling into other
countries, disseminated the knowledge they had acquired,
and instructed in the sublime degrees of ancient Craft
Masonry all who applied and were found worthy. The
Lodge is styled the Secret Vault. The hangings are crimson,
with white columns at regular intervals. 24 lights—9 in the
East; 7 in the West; 5 in the South; and 3 in the North. "The
apron is white, lined with crimson; in the middle is a square
flat stone, in which is an iron ring. The collar is crimson; the
jewel, a gold compass, open on a circle of forty-five degrees;
between the legs of the compass is a medal representing the
sun on one side, on the other the fiaming star. On the circle is
engraved the figures 3, 5, 7, 9. The compass is surmounted
with a pointed crown. The ring of alliance is of gold. On
the inside is engraved: "Virtue unites what death cannot
separate;" with the name and date of initiation of the owner.

By ROBERT MACOY, 33°

THE MAGNETIC ELEMENT of THE GREAT PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIME

CHAPTER XIII

THE MAGNETIC ELEMENT

Man is a triune being. He is composed of
a physical body, a spiritual body, and a Soul.
The physical body is that part of man concerning
which most men are best informed.
Many do not know that they have a spiritual
body, and a good many others are in grave
doubt as to whether there is such a thing as a
Soul. This, however, does not alter the facts.
The physical body is composed of physical
material. The spiritual body is composed of
spiritual matter. The Soul is the intelligent
entity which operates both bodies. What it is
in essence we do not know. All we know of
it are its manifestations. We know that it
manifests itself through its material bodies.
Whether or not it also is "material" we do
not know.

One body is composed of physical material,
coarse in particle and slow in vibratory
activity. The other is composed of spiritual
material, fine in particle and rapid in vibratory
activity. These two material bodies
occupy the same material area or volume,
though not absolutely the same "space," as
this term is used by physical science. They
interblend in a manner somewhat analogous
to the interblending of the "muscular man"
and the "nerve man" of the physical organism.
A more fitting illustration, perhaps,
would be suggested by the manner in which
water and sand interpenetrate when placed in
the same vessel. The water, being finer of
particle than sand, runs into the interstices
between the particles of the sand. Owing
entirely to this difference in the degree of
fineness of their particles, a cup full of sand
will also hold at the same time a considerable
quantity of water.

After many centuries of experimentation
the Great School of the Masters has demonstrated,
with what would appear to be absolute
scientific certainty, that there are an
Electro-Magnetic Life Element and a Vito-
Chemical Life Element of Nature, both of
which interpenetrate the two material bodies
of man during his physical life. From all
the evidence at command it is determined
that the presence of these two Life Elements
is necessary to constitute a perfect material
link of connection in man between the coarse
physical body and the refined spiritual body.

Whilst this Magnetic Element individualizes
itself in the organism of man, it is also
what would seem to be a universal Element
of Nature. It is finer of particle than what
we know as physical matter, and not so fine
as spiritual matter. It has been proven with
scientific certainty that this Magnetic Element
within man's individual composition is
subject to the control of his individual Will.

Every physically embodied Soul has two
material bodies, a physical body and a spiritual
body. These are held in definite relation
to each other during physical life by
what Natural Science designates the "Magnetic
Element."

This Magnetic Element is double in its
essential relation to the two bodies. There is
a definite line of cleavage. That which lies
below this line in its degree of refinement and
vibratory activity seems to partake more
strongly of the condition of physical matter.
It is, for this reason, termed "Physical Magnetism."
That which lies above the line of
cleavage seems to partake more strongly of
the nature and condition of spiritual matter.
For this reason it is designated as "Spiritual
Magnetism."

Physical Magnetism, during physical life,
has a strong attraction for the physical body.

Spiritual Magnetism has an equally strong
attraction for the spiritual body.

Physical Magnetism and Spiritual Magnetism
have a strong attraction for each other.
Here is a distinct threefold magnetic attraction
in peculiar combination. Study it a
moment.

A simple experiment with four physical
magnets will furnish us an illustration which
will help those who may not be familiar with
the subject to understand what occurs at the
point of physical death.

Take four magnetic bars (Fig. 1) so magnetically
related that when lying side by side
No. 1 and No. 2 are strongly attracted to each
other; No. 3 and No. 4 are equally attracted
to each other; and No. 2 and No. 3 are likewise
attracted to each other. Bring them together in
that order, and it will be found that
the four bars are at once bound together as
if by a common bond of sympathy.

DIAGRAM:

Let us suppose that, by a process under
your own control, you can break or destroy
the attraction between No. 2 and No. 3
— what will be the physical result? Simply this,
that the couplet 1 and 2 will separate from
the couplet 3 and 4. (Fig. 2.)

Let us suppose that you restore them to
their original condition, and then break the
attraction benveen No. 3 and No. 4. What
is the result? In this event No. 4 falls away
from the other three, and Nos. 1, 2 and 3 remain
bound together in the common bond.
(Fig. 3.)

Let us assume that No. 1 represents the
Spiritual Body of a living, physically embodied
man. No. 2 represents the Spiritual
Magnetism. No. 3 represents the Physical
Magnetism, and No. 4 represents the Physical
Body of Man. (Fig. 4.)

Let us suppose, again, that by some process
of nature the bond of attraction between Nos.
2 and 3 is broken. What happens? The Spiritual
Body with its Spiritual NLignetism separates
from the Physical Body and its Physical
Magnetism. (Fig. S.) Now in this
instance, let us also suppose the Spiritual
Body is still inhabited by the Soul. What
then? In this event we have the Soul with its
Spiritual Body and its Spiritual Magnetism
(Spiritual Magnetic Body) liberated entirely
from the Physical Body and its Physical
Magnetism (Physical Magnetic Body).

In this case the Soul has parted from all
that binds it to earth's conditions, and it rises
at once into the realm of pure Spiritual Conditions
unencumbered.

Now let us suppose that the four elements
are once more united in physical life, and
that by some natural process the attraction is
broken beuveen Xos. 3 and 4. What then?
The Physical Body alone falls away from the
combination, and leaves the other three elements
bound together. (Fig. 6.)

Assuming that the Soul still inhabits the
Spiritual Body after this separation, we then
have the Soul with its Spiritual Body and
Spiritual Magnetism still bound to and encumbered
by its original Physical Magnetism
(the Physical Magnetic Body).

Thus encumbered, the Soul is unable to rise
to the level of the pure Spiritual Condition,
or Plane. As a result, it remains in the realm
of the Magnetic Field until such time as it is
able to cast off its Physical Magnetic Body.
Its Physical Magnetic Body gives to the combination
a ''Gravity'' which binds it closely
to the plane of earth. While in this condition
the Soul remains in what has been designated
as an ^'earth-bound" condition. While it remains
in this condition it is known as an
"earth-bound Soul."

In course of time, however, if it continues
its evolutionary struggle it will be able to cast
oflF its Physical Magnetic Body, and we then
have the analogy for Fig. 7.

In this case the Physical Magnetic Body,
being detached from all its moorings, floats
in the Magnetic Field until it is finally dissolved
by the processes of Nature and is resolved
back into the elements from which it
was originally formed.

J.E Richardson 1908

The Great Psychological Crime Vol II By J. E. RICHARDSON,

'Fools Deride, Philosophers Investigate'

CHAPTER I

THE DESTRUCTIVE PRINCIPLE

1. That which dispels, disintegrates, dissipates
or destroys any of Nature's constructive
individualities, v^hether they be physical,
spiritual, mental, moral or psychical, is The
Destructive Principle of Nature in Individual
Life.

2. That which deprives the Intelligent
Soul, or essential Entity of Man, of any of
the inalienable rights, privileges, benefits,
powers or possibilities with which God or
Nature has invested it, is A Psychological
Crime.

3. That which subjects the Will, Voluntary
Powers and Sensory Organism of the
Intelligent Soul, or essential Entity of Man,
to the Will and Domination of another, is
The Great Psychological Crime,

By J. E. RICHARDSON

THE GRAND ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE

The conception of the Builder is basic
and everywhere manifest in Freemasonry.
Hiram, the Master Builder, who drew the
plans of the temple and day by day placed
the "designs on the trestleboard", is taken
as a human symbol of the Designer and
Creator of the Cosmos. The relation of
Hiram to the Temple symbolizes the relation
of the G. A. 0. T. U. to the Universe
itself.

In the building of the Temple the work
of construction fell to the Entered Apprentices
and Fellowcrafts. When the Temple
was completed these also were to become
Masters and receive the Word. The progressive
science of human life, and the
natural, orderly and progressive relation
of man to God, were thus involved and
ingrained, without dogmatizing or theologizing.
It was illustrated and left to the
apprehension and intelligence of the candidate.

This method of teaching, and the lesson
taught, is the supremacy of human wisdom.
It involves the idea of progressive intelligence
which, loyal to truth, duty and obligation,
assures the higher and still higher
evolution of man. It is based on the
facts of human observation and experience.
Man is an Individual Intelligence; God
the Universal Intelligence. The growth
of intelligence in man; his conformity to
law and order; his allegiance to duty and
obligation ; his proficiency in all preceding
work or degrees give him the right, and
secure for him the benefit of higher degrees
of knowledge, power and privilege.
This is not "argued out". It is illustrated
by a personal experience, and demonstrated
at every step. The personal experience
that is thus secured brings the
man constantly nearer to the Master, as it
brings the Master nearer to God.
What our ancient brethren in the Greater
Mysteries called "the Immortal Gods",
were simply perfected by this normal human
evolution. " First a man, then a
Master, then a God.

The theologians who have made such a
caricature or a fetish of Jesus, were ignorant
of this normal, progressive, higher
evolution of man. No man of intelligence
nowadays will assume that the practice of
the precepts under consideration can have
any other result than this higher evolution.
Neither can he determine any limits to the
process and possibilities of such evolution,
Hence, the theologian has created an impassable
gulf between the man Jesus and
the Christ ; or between man and God ; thus
annulling the wages of an upright life. To
patch up the inconsistency and bridge the
gulf thus created, they invented the Vicarious
Atonement, the application of which
Clericalism proceeded to preempt and to
monopolize. Preach and theorize as they
may, they make an upright life and a dissolute
one practically equal.

The just and upright man, who, nevertheless,
denies the creed and refuses tithes
for Mass, if murdered by a villain, or by
priests under the charge of heresy, is
bound for hades; while his murderer, by
confession and "fixing" it up with the
cleric, gains absolution and goes to heaven.

No greater abomination in morals was
ever practiced upon the children of men.
The "sinner" sees the point, compromises
with his conscience and his sense of personal
responsibility, and "takes his
chances". Such a doctrine can have but
one result, viz., to blunt the moral sense.

Strictly speaking, there is no theology
in Freemasonry. It does not speculate regarding
the Being of God. It recognizes
certain self-evident propositions. As Intelligence
designs the Temple, so Intelligence
designs, builds, governs and beautifies
the Universe. The analogy is self-evident.
What Intelligence is, we do not know.
What it does, we see everywhere around
us. We see how it grows, to what uses it
can be applied, and how the highest and
noblest results can be attained. We learn
this beyond all controversy from the facts
of human experience.

Selfishness, debauchery and uncharitableness
degrade man toward the brute.
Self-control, the recognition of personal
responsibility and loving-kindness lead
man upward to Mastership and toward
Divinity.

The analogy is complete between man as
the builder of character through self-control;
man, the builder of temples from intelligent
designs; man, the builder of society
through Brotherly Love, Belief and
Truth; and God, the Builder of Worlds
the " Grand Architect of the Universe", in
all, through all, and over all.

Man everywhere and at all times creates
his own concept, his own idea of God.
Every nation and each religion has its
Divinity. Philosophers, and even poets,
like Watts, are God-builders. Listen to
Watts:

"His nostrils breathe out living flames.
He's a consuming fire,
His jealous eyes his wrath inflames
To raise his vengeance higher."

"Infants not a span long" would indeed
be a "dainty dish" for such a being.
Could man have done much worse had he
never heard or dreamed of God at all?

The atheist, however, in trying to escape
from these caricatures of Deity, and in
denying Divinity altogether, is wholly illogical.
The atheist is also the creation of
theologians. The antithesis does not lie
between the "God of the heathen", or of
Watts, and no God; but between the God
of Fear and Superstition, and the God of
Love, Reason and Justice.

The postulate of Divinity, this concept
of the Grand Architect of the Universe
found in Freemasonry, is, like all others,
the creation of man. As an incentive to
adoration and worship, as a conception apprehensible
to the human mind, and implying
a relation to man that constantly
draws him nearer to God and forms the
basis of ethics for the building of character,
it has no equal in the history of
human thought, or the intelligent conception
of man.

While theologies are going to pieces, and
men imagine they can get along without
God and are willing to be called "atheists",
here lies the strongest bulwark for
the preservation of that spirit of reverence
and devotion which elevates and ennobles
man. Such a concept is indeed a "strong
anchor" to the human soul.

This recognition of Divinity in Masonry
is of such a character and is used in such a
way as to give no offense to a Brother of
any religious faith, be he Jew, Christian,
Buddhist, or a believer in any other of
the world's great religions. Coming as it
does from remote antiquity, the concept
worked out by Masters of human thought
and noble living in the Greater Mysteries
of antiquity, and commensurate with the
highest intelligence of any age; avoiding
crass materialism and atheism on the one
hand, and fanaticism and fetishism on the
other ; it stands as a boon, a priceless jewel
to the human race.

This does not imply that the intelligent
mind, the reverent and devout soul, cannot
enlarge on the concept. The range of human
intelligence as a spark of Divinity "
seems practically infinite. It does mean,
however, that it stands as a consistent,
wise and inspiring theorem, a consensus of
human thought, reverent, reasonable, consistent
and uplifting.

This recognition of Divinity is never
overlooked nor forgotten in the Lodge
room. It can never there be degraded to
a fetish. It is not involved in words and
ceremonies that can ever degenerate into
"lip service". As already shown, it can
never give offense nor excite controversy
except by misinterpretation, and by being
misapplied; and this would be wholly un-
Masonic.

There has been a tendency, at certain
times and in certain directions to "Christianize"
certain Masonic degrees. Any sectarian
or religious bias given to any degree
in Masonry is wholly un-Masonic and
wholly opposed to the real Genius of Freemasonry.

The whole of true Masonry is potentially
embodied in the first three degrees.
Beautiful, impressive and sublime as are
some of the so-called higher degrees, they
all have their root in, and take their rise
from the Blue Lodge, and must be held consistent
with that body.

There are not only many concepts of
the Supreme Being, but many names by
which these concepts have been designated.
Among the Jews from whom a great deal
of the Masonic ritual is derived and legends
adapted, there were several of these
God-names involving certain attributes of
Deity. The same is true of the Hindoo,
Persian and many other ancient peoples
and religions. To give any one of these
words, or God-names, supremacy above all
others and call it the true word, or the
"real word", with no reason or explanation
therefor, is a mere conceit bordering
on dogma.

The real Word is not a mere matter of
phonetics, an empty sound "signifying
nothing". Words, at best, and at most,
are symbols of the intelligent concepts of
man; and as Bro. Albert Pike abundantly
showed, if any one word known to man in
any language can convey the meaning of
the "Lost Word", it is the Sanscrit A U M.

But this involves a whole philosophy of
man and the Universe. It also involves the
science of Phonetics, up to Marconi and
beyond; the synchronous vibration of the
being of man with both God and Nature.
It were better for the enlightenment of
the Craft had no attempt been made to enlarge
or improve upon the concept of
G. A. O. T. U., and that every just and upright
Mason should remember, apprehend
and reverence the Builder and the Sustainer
of man, the Light of the Universe.

If the sincere and thoughtful Mason
would "take notice" of the symbolism and
the use made everywhere in the Lodge of
the word "Light", and remember that the
real Initiates are called also "the Illuminati",
(Sons of Light), those who are
illumined, and who in turn illuminate,
he might gather clues of, not only the
whole symbolism of Masonry, but also of
the real "Word".

Light and Love are the most significant
omnific words. Nor is this true in a figurative
sense only. Often has the refined spiritual
vision of men "discerned a light",
and presently, a "radiant Being in the
midst thereof", when it was seen that the
Being emanated the light. The halo around
the heads of saints is not a purely human
invention, and the transfiguration of Jesus
will one day be explained and apprehended
as naturally as the "waves" of Marconi.

The concepts of the human mind are
everywhere undergoing refinement, as man
rises in the scale of human evolution. With
all this progress and refinement, and with
these wonderful discoveries regarding
"Nature's Finer Forces", it will still be
found that in the symbolism of Freemasonry
there was planted a real knowledge
capable of unfolding, and destined to unfold
for, lo, these many generations.

To all of these profound secrets, the concept
of "the Grand Architect of the Universe"
stands, and will forever remain the
' ' Rock of Ages ' '
; the acme and the epitome
of human wisdom as a concept of Divinity.

JD BUCK 1907