The Rise And Purposes Of Speculative Masonry.

Day-star from on high , whose coming bringeth peace and tranquility to the faithful and obedient of the human race . But it would appear that Findel has failed to grasp the magnificent conception which pervaded the fervid imaginations of

Desagul iers and his brother revivalists ; for even as to the erection of King Solomon's Temple , upwards of 217 , 000 craftsmen , of all nations ,

tongues , kindreds , and languages , worked together in order , peace , and harmony , to build an house to the Most High God , so did our devout and ardent brethren of 1717 picture to themselves a future age in Avhich the vast habitable globe should be

studded with symbolic lodges , united , despite of distance and difference of speech or creed , by the universal language of Masonry , and ever to be zealously employed in erecting one catholic and spiritual temple , dedicated to the glory of God and the good of man , of which the materials should be none other than the hearts of the

craftsmen themselves , carved and indented upon , as rough stones fromthe quarry by thesymbolic gavel , twenty-four inch gauge , and chisel , and further tried and adjusted by the figurative square , leve 1 and plumb rule , from Avhich Avere to be learned

¦ morality , equality , and justice , and uprightness of life and actions . A sublime idea , in moral grandeur unsurpassable , and one which has far from altogether failed of fruition ! I am of opinion , also , that Findel conceives the esoteric

secret of Masonry to be pronounced and contained in that portion of his writings which has just bee n quoted . But for that secret I claim a higher definition . Yet , as does Findel , so do I believe , that the true mystery , the absolute pearl of price , of our allegorical craft , consists not in signs ,

tokens , and words , nay , nor in occult ceremonies , all of which are but means whereby men in every age have guarded and given shape to sentimental alliances ; means which merely form that common starting point whence Freemasons practise and

pursue the real object of their obligation and profession . And here , brethren , I may observe that the necessity for such a common protection and point of origin furnishes the true answer to the popular world , when it complains that Masons ,

asserting their possession of valuable secrets , are yet so selfish as to deny them to mankind at large-We deny these secrets to no man who seeks them upon the points of entrance , but we regard these points of entrance , amongst other matters familiar to you , as our common basis of defence , union .

The Rise And Purposes Of Speculative Masonry.

and origin , and as our guarantees for purity of motive on the part of candidates . If we disclosed the Entered Apprentice ' s sign , the symbol known to Fellow Crafts , and the Master Mason ' s legend to the world at large , would not these mysteries be

soon foi'gotten , and how should we discern good brethren and true , deservedly initiated , passed , aud raised , from false hearted wolves in sheep ' s clothing ? Were it in the power of any member of the popular world , upon the mere payment of a

fee of honour , to don an apron and join in our assemblies , would it be long before those solemn truths and invaluable traditions , which have descended to usfromtheveryfountainof time , vanished from amongst mankind ?

But craving pardon for this digression as to the necessity of concealment from the uninitiated of the peculium of the craft , I return to the consideration of what really is the true esoteric secret of

Freemasonry . In the search for this , each brother " must minister to himself ; " at the initiation we state that Ave first became Masons in our hearts , and in our hearts , after a fitting amount of Masonic experience , must Ave seek to know that

which Masonry really is . Examine then your hearts , that you may find written therein thafc " which no man knoweth , saving he that receiveth it . " For myself , I believe that the key to the power and influence so widely exercised by

Masonry arises from its embodiment of natural religion ; the religion of Enoch , Melchisedek , and Job ; that devout practice of the sacred dictates of morality , that reverential love and worship of the Great Architect of the Universe , of the

Most High , of the ineffable Lord and Father of all , and that belief in the immortality of the soul , which we should all cherish , even had the blessings and comforts of Revelation never been vouchsafed

to us . That Speculative Masonry is natural religion , or that instinctive faith in the Eternal , and that innate love for the Good , the Beautiful , and True , which underlie all creeds , I cannot doubt , and to this , in my opinion , its esoteric mystery , do

I attribute its universal acceptance by the human race . Nevertheless , whatever Freemasonry may really be , and yon are well aware , brethren , that tot homines quot sentcntke , it is yet certain that brotherly love , relief , and truth constitute its

watchwords , and that Faith , Hope , and Charity are the ladder rounds by Avhich , as craftsmen , we seek to arrive at those immortal mansions whence all goodness emanates ,