Wouldst  thou  rupture  the  spirit  of  self-reliance  within
mortals  by  forcibly  binding  them  to  the  yoke  of  man  with
secret  oaths  and  the  sublime  subtlety  of  a  mystified  faith
under  the  guise  of  naturalism?

Ask  your  own  conscience,  dear  brother!


SECOND    INITIATION

The  second  degree  of  fellowcraft  is  represented  by  the
measurements  of  the  square,  where  the  point  of  the  square
is  applied  to  the  naked  right  breast  of  the  candidate  at
initiation  with  these  instructions :  "  Act  upon  the  square
with  all  mankind,  but  more  especially  with  the  brethren."
Why  the  distinction  of  brethren  when  Divinity  is  a  part
of  each  mortal?  Is  it  a  part  of  Masonic  custom  to  snub
Divinity  within  a  mortal  because  that  mortal  is  not  a
brother  Mason?  Forsooth,  dear  brother,  it  may  be  one
of  those  technical  points  that  is  quite  beyond  the  deep-
thinking  legal  talent,  wherein  Masonry  is  so  conspicuous
and  pronounced.     The  judgment  of  a  judicial  justice.
256  CHRISTIAN    WISDOM

The  second  degree  is  also  interpreted  as  meaning  the
second  assassin,  who  represents  the  pope,  aiming  the  square
of  steel  at  the  heart  of  the  victim  as  the  tyranny  of  the
Church  over  humanity.
Quoting  from  past  and  present  records,  this  square  evi-
dently was  a  measurement  of  crooked  corners  cut  on  the
bias  by  Ananias,  where  the  trusty  level,  now  rusty,  is
very  much  needed  to  true  up  these  blind  corner  conditions
by  demanding  a  more  accurate  accounting  both  as  to  the
material  and  the  spiritual  results,  providing  the  worshipful
master  can  sacrifice  the  time  from  his  worshipful  prayers
and  exalted  devotion  in  the  Sanctum  Sanctorum  or  Holy
of  Holies.
The  second  initiation  was  intended  as  a  moon  condition
from  the  rulings  of  a  self-examination  by  the  candidate.
