THE MYSTERY OF MASONRY.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 141, 3 April 1873, Page 2

THE MYSTERY OF MASONRY.

" A MABON," writing to the editor of the Grey River Argus, thus lavs bnr« the mjst cries of the mystic art :— " Aa Dr Morau lias partly lifted a corner of tbe veil winch lias for ages obscured the mysteries of Freemasonry, most men will think now that further attempt at concealment are unless ; that it burl better be torn away altogether, and in order that tbe Bishop may be enabled to do so eiloctually, the following revelations fire gratuitously offered, being fully us authontic as those already disclosed. At initiations, the novice is tnken into the lodg<\ led backwards on all fours, tlic right wrist and left ankle hobbled with a swivel chain ; a Ei-ntetl iron muzzle 19 placed over his mouth, through the bars of which the chaplain (who must bo ordained) inserts a pair of red hot tweezers, and pulls out the superfluous hairs from tho nostrils- The no\ice, "ho is 111 nalurce punbnr, naturally shrinks backwards at this process, 13 branded with the letters D.W.C. (Down with Chribtianity;) a Past Master then breathes the spirit of tha order through his own nose into that of the candidate. This is the reason why so many of the Hebrew persuasion aro Post Masters, the noses of this peoplo being found best adapted for this portion of the rite; a large cro<s, madfc of the wood prickly acacia, is now brought m , on which the novice is seated astride, with the brands dow nwards ; a billy-goat is harnessed thereto, and he is dragged seven times round the lodge, hopping seven times to make obeisance to an effig} ; his feet and legs are then placed in a pan- of red stockings, and the Tyler places a conical shaped hat on his head, like those worn i»> Spain by heretics. (From this practice Lata have long beeiv designated tiles). A puncture is matte in the left breast o£ the novice, and the blood trickling therefrom is caught in a human skull f.ishioned like a cup, and all the brethren partake oi it. Tins is called tho 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 brejwt, and with his own blood sign the bonds of the order. If the novice should refuse to take tins oath, ho is at once slaughtered ami his body burnt on the great altar, it being well known th.it four of assassination prevents his friends seeking to learn his f.ite. The clothed figure is then divested of its raiment, ■^upended lo a triangle, and is made to revolve by a species of bottlrjack. while the white novices flagellate the effigy, the Master Masons meanwhile pelting the figure with a&safatida* pellet*, and he v*ho makes the best hit is entitled to the degree of Mark Mason. This ceremony concludes the first decree ; tho others can be revealed if desired.