The Friend Volume 66 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ...is selfishness. 6th. The blasphemous oaths of Freemasonry are enforced by horrible death penalties. In the first degree, " Binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots, and buried in the rough sands of the sea at lowwater mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours." In the second degree, " Binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my left breast torn open, my heart plucked out, and given as a prey to the wild beasts of the field and the fowls of the air." In the third or Master Mason's degree, "Binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, and the ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven, so that no more trace or remembrance may be had of so vile and perjured a wretch as I, should I ever knowingly or willingly violate this my solemn obligation, as a Master Mason." And in each instance these words are added, "So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same." It is difficult to understand how members of Christian churches and professed ministers of the Gospel can be induced to take such oaths, and consent to the execution upon themselves of such barbarous penalties; but the fact that they do, shows how wrong it would be to conclude that Freemasonry is a good institution becausesome seemingly good men are embraced in its membership. That many members of the Order have regarded their oaths as binding, and their lives forfeited if those oaths were violated, is apparent from the several cases in which it is known that the Masonic penalties have been inflicted. From the strength of the...