Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

In Mystic Masonry this idea of the Universal Brotherhood of Man is one of the Supreme Laws and a Cardinal Principle. Before the Candidate can start out in even the first degree of Mystic Oriental Masonry he must subscribe to the Rules of a Universal Brotherhood, and this is not a dead letter, for the Secret Code will- see to it that he not only Obligates to treat all other members of the Order as Brothers; but that he will do it. There is no exception to this rule, all alike must obey it or pay the natural penalty. There can be no' exception to this rule. Brother for Brother and not Brother against Brother. We live or die together.

"Masonry, nor Mystic Masonry, does not preach a new religion, it but reiterates the New Commandment announced by Jesus, which was also announced by every great reformer or religion since history began. Drop the theological barnacles from the Religion of Jesus, as taught by Him, and by the Essenes and Gnostics of the first centuries, and it becomes (Mystic) Masonry. Masonry, in its purity, derived as it is from the old Kabalah as a part of the Great Universal Wisdom Religion of the remotest Antiquity, stands squarely for the Unqualified and Universal Brotherhood of Man, in all times and in every age. To Christianize Masonry, or to narrow it to the sectarian ^[13] bonds of any Creed, is not only to dwarf and belittle it, but must inevitably result, as among warring sects, has always resulted with religion, in setting brother against brother, and Lodge against Lodge."

Mystic Masonry can recognize neither color nor creed, and in that lies its safety and through this will it gradually bring about the Universal Brotherhood of Man. It not only teaches this but all those who belong to it must practice it. Is there not a wave of Brotherhood sweeping over every land? Do not the reports show that this work is spreading as never before? What then is to prevent it from growing larger and larger until the majority will subscribe to Brotherhood? The fiat is cast, the results are sure.

"So long as the lower mind is held in bondage by desire, man can not seek or discern the Good or the True. He inquires, 'What is good for me?' Freed from Desire, or the personal bias, he inquires after and seeks for that which is good or true in itself. When this condition is reached and habitually maintained, the square is said to be inclosed in the triangle. The lower nature is said to be at one with the Divine, or Spiritual Soul. Man's knowledge and power are no longer confined to, or circumscribed by, the lower plane, or the physical body; but, transcending these by Regeneration (self -conquest), and becoming perfect in Humanity, man attains Divinity. This is the meaning, aim, and consummation of Human Evolution; and this Philosophy defines the one-only process by which it may be attained.

"The Perfect Man is Christ: and Christ is God. ^[14] This is the birth-right and destiny of every human soul. It was taught in all the Greater Mysteries of Antiquity, but the Exoteric creeds of Christiandom derived from the parables and allegories in which this doctrine was concealed from the ignorant and the profane, have accorded this Supreme Consummation to Jesus alone, and made it obscure or impossible for all the rest of humanity. In place of this, the grandest doctrine ever revealed to man, theologians have set up Salvation by Faith in a man-made Creed, and the Authority of the Church to 'bind or lose on Earth or in Heaven.' Law is annulled, Justice dethroned, Merit ignored, Effort discouraged, and Sectarianism, Atheism, and Materialism are the results.

All real Initiation is an internal, not an external process. The outer ceremony is dead and useful only so far as it symbolizes and illustrates, and thereby makes clear the inward change. To transform means to regenerate, and this comes by trial, by effort, by self -conquest, by sorrow, disappointment, failure, and a daily renewal of the conflict. It is thus man must 'work out his own salvation.' The consummation of initiation is the finding of the Christos."