That Freemasonry is the personification of secrecy in its most evil form is clearly evidenced by the fact that before any candidate is raised to the degree of Master Mason (3rd degree) he is required to promise, declare, and swear that he will not communicate the secrets of a Master Mason to a Fellowcraft, nor those of a Fellowcraft to an Entered Apprentice, nor those of an Entered Apprentice to the rest of the world, and that, furthermore, he will keep as inviolable the secrets of a brother Master Mason when communicated to him as such, murder and treason excepted, and they being left to his own choice. This type of secrecy is not only required of the candidate in the third degree of the Blue Lodge, but it is also required of the candidate in the higher degrees of both the York and Scottish Rites.
"I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing."2
"Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops."3
Freemasonry forces each candidate to uphold this type of secrecy by requiring that an oath and obligation be administered to him for each degree into which he desires admission.
"I, (here the candidate repeats his own name), of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God and this worshipful lodge erected to Him and dedicated to the Holy Saint [?] John, do hereby and hereon, most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, as I have heretofore done, but with these additions, that I will not communicate the secrets of a Master Mason to a Fellowcraft, nor those of a Fellowcraft to an Entered Apprentice, nor those of an Entered Apprentice to the rest of the world; neither these, nor any of them to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother Mason, or within a just and lawfully constituted lodge of Masons, nor unto him or them until by strict trial, due examination, or lawful information, I shall have found him or them as lawfully entitled to them as I am myself.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will stand to and abide by all the laws, rules, and regulations of a Master Mason's lodge, so far as they shall come to my knowledge.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will answer and obey all due signs and summons sent to me from a lodge of Master Masons or handed me by a brother of this degree, if within the length of my cable-tow.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will aid and assist, all poor distressed brother Master Masons, their widows or orphans, they applying to me as such, and I deeming them worthy.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will keep the secrets of a brother Master Mason communicated to me as such, murder and treason excepted, and they left to my own choice.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will not be present at, nor give my consent to, the making a woman a Mason, and an old man in dotage, a young man in nonage, an atheist, an irreligious libertine, a madman or a fool, knowing them to be such.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will not visit a clandestine lodge of Masons nor converse Masonically with a clandestine Mason, or with one who has been suspended or expelled, while under that sentence, knowing them to be such.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will not cheat, wrong, or defraud a lodge of Master Masons or a brother of this degree, knowing them to be such, but will give them due and timely notice, that they may ward off all approaching danger.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will not violate the chastity of a Master Mason's wife, his mother, sister, or daughter, knowing them to be such.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will not give the Grand Masonic Word (MAH-HAH-BONE) in any other manner than that in which I shall receive it, which will be on the Five Points of Fellowship, and then in a low breath.
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will not give the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress, except it be in cases of the most imminent danger, or suffering in the cause of innocence and virtue, orin a just and lawfully constituted lodge of Master Masons, or in a lodge for instruction, and when I see or hear it given, by a worthy brother in distress, I will fly to the relief of him which gives it, if there be a greater probability of saving his life than losing my own.
"All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to keep and perform the same, without the least equivocation, mental reservation, or self-evasion whatsoever, binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken thence and burned to ashes, and these scattered by the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance may be had among men or Masons of so vile a wretch as I should be, should I, in the least, knowingly or wittingly, violate or transgress this my Master Mason's Obligation. So help me God and keep me steadfast."
The Obligations which Freemasonry requires that all of its candidates keep and perform are immoral. The validity of this statement may be readily seen if any of the Obligations from the Master Mason's Oath and Obligation quoted herein are carefully scrutinized; for instance, examine the Obligation which reads as follows:
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will not cheat, wrong, or defraud a lodge of Master Masons or a brother of this degree, knowing them to be such, but will give them due and timely notice, that they may ward off all approaching danger."
This Obligation requires only that a Master Mason will not cheat, wrong, or defraud a lodge of Master Masons, or a brother Master Mason, if he knows them to be such. What if he does not know them to be Master Masons? What if they are not Master Masons? From the way that this Obligation is worded, it would appear that a Master Mason by his own Obligation is permitted to cheat, wrong, and defraud both those whom he does not know to be Master Masons and those who are not Master Masons. Is this not what this Obligation says?
"Thou shalt not steal."
In order that the validity of this statement may be further seen, scrutinize the following Obligation which was also taken from the Master Mason's Oath and Obligation:
"I furthermore promise and swear that I will not violate the chastity of a Master Mason's wife, his mother, sister or daughter, knowing them to be such."3
This Obligation requires only that a Master Mason will not violate the chastity of a brother Master Mason's wife, mother, sister, or daughter, if he knows them to be such. What if he does not know them to be the wives, mothers, sisters or daughters of Master Masons? What if they are not the wives, mothers, sisters or daughters of Master Masons? From the way that this Obligation is worded, it would appear that a Master Mason by his own Obligation is permitted to violate the chastity of both those whom he does not know to be and those who are not the wives, mothers, sisters, or daughters of Master Masons. Is this not what this Obligation says?
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."
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