Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

229."In all the ancient systems this reverence for light, as the symbol of truth, was predominant. In the Mysteries of every nation, the candidate was made to pass, during his initiation, through scenes of utter darkness, and at length terminated his trials by an admission to the splendidly-illuminated sacellum, or sanctuary, where he was said to have attained pure and perfect light, and where he received the necessary instructions which were to invest him with that knowledge of the Divine Truth which it had been the object of all his labors to gain, and the design of the ^[126] institution, into which he had been initiated, to bestow.

230."Light, therefore, became synonymous with truth and knowledge, and darkness with falsehood and ignorance. We find this symbolism pervading riot only the institutions, but the very languages, of antiquity. "*

231."It is a Landmark, that a 'Book of the Law' shall constitute an indispensable part of the furniture of every Lodge. I say advisedly, a Book of the Law, because it is not absolutely required that everywhere the Old and New Testament shall be used. The 'Book of the Law' is that volume which, by the religion of the country, is believed to contain the revealed will of the Great Architect of the Universe. Hence, in all Lodges in Christian countries, the Book of the Law is composed of the Old and New Testaments; in a country where Judaism was the prevailing faith, the Old Testament alone would be sufficient; and in Mohammedan countries, and among Mohammedan Masons the Koran might be substituted. Masonry does not attempt to interfere with the peculiar religious faith of its disciples, except so far as relates to the belief in the existence of God, and what necessarily results from that belief. The Book of Law is to the speculative Mason his spiritual Trestle-board; without this he cannot labour; whatever he believes to be the revealed will of the Grand Architect constitutes for him his Spiritual ^[127] Trestleboard, and must ever be before him in his hours of speculative labor, to be the rule and guide of his conduct. The Landmark, therefore, requires that a Book of the Law, a religious code of some kind, purporting to be an examplar of the revealed will of God, shall form an essential part of the furniture of every Lodge."*

232.The Holy Bible of the Christian is no better to the Christian than is the Koran to the Mohammedan. Each believes that his faith is the only true one and so long as each one does as he truly believes and lets his brother do the same, they are both right. How can the Christian say that his alone is the true religion? Such a thing is foolish and bigoted and there is no Christianity in it. The Oath of the Mohammedan would be of no value if taken on the Holy Bible, because he does not believe in the Bible. Mystic Masonry respects the religion of each and every one, knowing that the foundation of each sect is the same as that of the other.

233.The religious philosophy of Masonry is as old as is the First religion, for Masonry itself is founded on the Mysteries of Antiquity, which was already taught on the lost Atlantis.