THE MYSTERIES OF MASONRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 268, 20 March 1873, Page 6

THE MYSTERIES OF MASONRY.

(To the Editor "Grey River Argus.") Sir — As Dr Moran has partly lifted coraer of the veil which has for ages obscured the mysteries of Freemasonry, most men will think now that further attempts at concealment are useless ; that it had better be torn away- altogether, and in order that the Bishop may be enabled to do so effectually, the following revelations are gratuituusly offered, being fully as authentic as those already disclosed. At initiation, the novice is taken into the lodge led backwards on all-fours, the^ right wrist and left ankle hobbled with a swivel chain ; a grated iron muzzle is placed over his mouth, through the bars of which the chaplain (who must be ordained) inserts a pair of red hot tweezrs, and pulls out the superfluous hairs from the nostrils. The novice (who is in natures puribus) naturally shrinks backwards at this process, is dexterously branded with the letters D. W. C." (Down with Christianity; ; a Past Master then breathes the spirit of the order through his nose into that of the candidate. This is the reason why so many of the Hebrew persuasion are Past Masters, the noses of this people being found best adapted for this portion of the rite ; a large cross,

made of the wood prickly acacia, is now brought in, on which the novice is seated astride, with the brands downwards ; a billy-goat is then harnessed thereto, and he is" dragged seven times round the lodge, hopping seven times to make obeisance to an effigy ; his feet and legs are then placed in a pair of red stockings, and the Tyler places a conical-shaped hat on his head, much like those worn in Spain by heretics. (From this practice hats have long been designated tiles.) A puncture is made in the left breast of the novice, and the blood trickling therefrom is caught in a human skull fashioned like a cup. and all the brethren partake of it. This is called the oath of blood, typifying that all the brotherhood are of the same consanguinity. The novice is then compelled to "dig" the pen into his right breast, and with his own blood sign the bonds of the Order. If the novice should refuse to take this oath, he is at once slaughtered and his body burnt on the grand altar, it being well known that fear of assassination prevents his friends seeking to learn his fate. The clothed figure is then divested of its raiment, suspended from a triangle, and is made to revolve by a species of bottle-jack, while the white novices flagellate the effigy, the Master Masons meanwhile pelting the figure with asafcetida pellets, and he who makes the best hit is entitled to the degree of Mark Mason. This ceremony concludes the first degree ; the others can be revealed, if desired, by A Mason.