MORALS and DOGMA
by: Albert Pike
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p. 237
CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX
XV.
KNIGHT OF THE
EAST OR OF THE SWORD
[Knight of the
East, of the Sword, or of the Eagle.]
THIS Degree, like all others in
Masonry, is symbolical. Based upon historical truth and authentic tradition,
it is still an allegory. The leading lesson of this Degree is Fidelity to
obligation, and Constancy and Perseverance under difficulties and
discouragement.
Masonry is engaged in her
crusade, against ignorance, intolerance, fanaticism, superstition,
uncharitableness, and error. She does not sail with the trade-winds, upon a
smooth sea, with a steady free breeze, fair for a welcoming harbor; but meets
and must overcome many opposing currents, baffling winds, and dead calms.
The chief obstacles to her
success are the apathy and faithlessness of her own selfish children, and the
supine indifference of the world. In the roar and crush and hurry of life and
business, and the tumult and uproar of politics, the quiet voice of Masonry is
unheard and unheeded. The first lesson which one learns, who engages in any
great work of reform or beneficence, is, that men are essentially careless,
lukewarm, and indifferent as to everything that does not concern their own
personal and immediate
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welfare. It is to single men,
and not to the united efforts of many, that all the great works of man,
struggling toward perfection, are owing. The enthusiast, who imagines that he
can inspire with his own enthusiasm the multitude that eddies around him, or
even the few who have associated themselves with him as co-workers, is
grievously mistaken; and most often the conviction of his own mistake is
followed by discouragement and disgust. To do all, to pay all, and to suffer
all, and then, when despite all obstacles and hindrances, success is
accomplished, and a great work done, to see those who opposed or looked coldly
on it, claim and reap all the praise and reward, is the common and almost
universal lot of the benefactor of his kind.
He who endeavors to serve, to
benefit, and improve the world, is like a swimmer, who struggles against a
rapid current, in a river lashed into angry waves by the winds. Often they
roar over his head, often they beat him back and baffle him. Most men yield to
the stress of the current, and float with it to the shore, or are swept over
the rapids; and only here and there the stout, strong heart and vigorous arms
struggle on toward ultimate success.
It is the motionless and
stationary that most frets and impedes the current of progress; the solid rock
or stupid dead tree, rested firmly on the bottom; and around which the river
whirls and eddies: the Masons that doubt and hesitate and are discouraged;
that disbelieve in the capability of man to improve; that are not disposed to
toil and labor for the interest and well-being of general humanity; that
expect others to do all, even of that which they do not oppose or ridicule;
while they sit, applauding and doing nothing, or perhaps prognosticating
failure.
There were many such at the
rebuilding of the Temple. There were prophets of evil and misfortune--the
lukewarm and the in-different and the apathetic; those who stood by and
sneered; and those who thought they did God service enough if they now and
then faintly applauded. There were ravens croaking ill omen, and murmurers who
preached the folly and futility of the attempt. The world is made up of such;
and they were as abundant then as they are now.
But gloomy and discouraging as
was the prospect, with lukewarmness within and bitter opposition without, our
ancient brethren persevered. Let us leave them engaged in the good work, and
whenever to us, as to them, success is uncertain, remote, and
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contingent, let us still
remember that the only question for us to ask, as true men and Masons, is,
what does duty require; and not what will be the result and our reward if we
do our duty. Work on, with the Sword in one hand, and the Trowel in the other!
Masonry teaches that God is a
Paternal Being, and has an interest in his creatures, such as is expressed in
the title Father; an interest unknown to all the systems of Paganism,
untaught in all the theories of philosophy; an interest not only in the
glorious beings of other spheres, the Sons of Light, the dwellers in Heavenly
worlds, but in us, poor, ignorant, and unworthy; that He has pity for the
erring, pardon for the guilty, love for the pure, knowledge for the humble,
and promises of immortal life for those who trust in and obey Him.
Without a belief in Him, life
is miserable, the world is dark, the Universe disrobed of its splendors, the
intellectual tie to nature broken, the charm of existence dissolved, the great
hope of being lost; and the mind, like a star struck from its sphere, wanders
through the infinite desert of its conceptions, without attraction, tendency,
destiny, or end.
Masonry teaches, that, of all
the events and actions, that take place in the universe of worlds and the
eternal succession of ages, there is not one, even the minutest, which God did
not forever foresee, with all the distinctness of immediate vision, combining
all, so that man's free will should be His instrument, like all the other
forces of, nature.
It teaches that the soul of man
is formed by Him for a purpose; that, built up in its proportions, and
fashioned in every part, by infinite skill, an emanation from His spirit, its
nature, necessity, and design are virtue. It is so formed, so moulded, so
fashioned, so exactly balanced, so exquisitely proportioned in every part,
that sin introduced into it is misery; that vicious thoughts fall upon it like
drops of poison; and guilty desires, breathing on its delicate fibres, make
plague-spots there, deadly as those of pestilence upon the body. It is made
for virtue, and not for vice; for purity, as its end, rest, and happiness. Not
more vainly would we attempt to make the mountain sink to the level of the
valley, the waves of the angry sea turn back from its shores and cease to
thunder upon the beach, the stars to halt in their swift courses, than to
change any one law of our own nature. And one of those laws, uttered by God's
voice, and speaking through every nerve
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and fibre, every force and
element, of the moral constitution He has given us, is that we must be upright
and virtuous; that if tempted we must resist; that we must govern our unruly
passions, and hold in hand our sensual appetites. And this is not the dictate
of an arbitrary will, nor of some stern and impracticable law; but it is part
of the great firm law of harmony that binds the Universe together: not the
mere enactment of arbitrary will; but the dictate of Infinite Wisdom.
We know that God is good, and
that what He does is right. This known, the works of creation, the changes of
life, the destinies of eternity, are all spread before us, as the
dispensations and counsels of infinite love. This known, we then know that the
love of God is working to issues, like itself, beyond all thought and
imagination good and glorious; and that the only reason why we do not
understand it, is that it is too glorious for us to understand. God's
love takes care for all, and nothing is neglected. It watches over all,
provides for all, makes wise adaptations for all; for age, for infancy, for
maturity, for childhood; in every scene of this or another world; for want,
weakness, joy, sorrow, and even for sin. All is good and well and right; and
shall be so forever. Through the eternal ages the light of God's beneficence
shall shine hereafter, disclosing all, consummating all, rewarding all that
deserve reward. Then we shall see, what now we can only believe. The cloud
will be lifted up, the gate of mystery be passed, and the full light shine
forever; the light of which that of the Lodge is a symbol. Then that which
caused us trial shall yield us triumph; and that which made our heart ache
shall fill us with gladness; and we shall then feel that there, as here, the
only true happiness is to learn, to advance, and to improve; which could not
happen unless we had commenced with error, ignorance, and imperfection. We
must pass through the darkness, to reach the light.
Next: XVI. Prince of Jerusalem