XVII + 

The Hammer and Star + 

вАЬBrother Senior Warden, what do you see in the East?вАЭ asked the Worshipful Master. He was dressed all in black, wore the white leather apron, and held the silver gavel in his hand. + 

вАЬI see the Masters assembled in the Temple and ready for labour,вАЭ said the Senior Warden. + 

The Worshipful Master gave a knock with his gavel. + 

вАЬBrother Junior Warden, what do you see in the West?вАЭ + 

вАЬI see the Masters assembled in the Temple and ready for labour.вАЭ + 

The Worshipful Master knocked three times with his gavel. вАЬLet the labour begin.вАЭ + 

The Brothers of the Free French Masonic Lodge, вАЬThe Hammer and Star,вАЭ took their seats, never taking their eyes off the Worshipful Master, G. H. Bondy, who had called them together at such an unusual time. The lodge was as quiet as a church between the black-draped walls with the maxims of the craft woven in the hangings. Bondy, the Worshipful Master, was pale and thoughtful. + 

вАЬBrothers,вАЭ said the Worshipful Master after a while, вАЬI have summoned this unusual meetingвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ for thisвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ erвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ unusual labour, which inвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ erвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ unusual opposition to the secret precepts of our OrderвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ is no mere formality. I knowвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ that I am violating the solemn and consecrated form of our labourвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ in asking you to come to a decision uponвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ a really seriousвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ and public matterвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ of the highest importance.вАЭ + 

вАЬThe Worshipful Master in the Chair has the right to order our labour,вАЭ declared the Judex Formidabilis, causing general agitation among his hearers. + 

вАЬWell, then,вАЭ began G. H. Bondy, вАЬit concerns the systematic attacksвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ upon our Order recently begunвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ by the Clerical party. They state that our secret activitiesвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ of the last hundred yearsвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ are connected with certain extraordinaryвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ and regrettable occurrencesвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ in the industrial and spiritual field. The Clericalist papers assert that the Masonic LodgesвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ have brought aboutвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ deliberatelyвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ this unfettering of demoniacal powers. I ask youвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ what we ought to doвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ in the present time of calamityвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ for the benefit of mankindвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ and for the honour of the Most High. This subject is now open for discussion.вАЭ + 

After a momentвАЩs solemn silence the Junior Warden arose. + 

вАЬBrothers, at this historic moment, I welcome, so to speak, the impressive words uttered by our Worshipful Master. He spoke, so to speak, of regrettable occurrences. And indeed, we who concern ourselves, so to speak, only with the welfare of mankind, are bound to declare all these regrettable miracles, illuminations, fits of love for oneвАЩs neighbour, and other disturbances to be occurrences which are, so to speak, in the highest degree regrettable. We must with all the discretion we owe to our Order decline all connection, so to speak, with these regrettable facts which, so to speak, do not agree with the traditional and progressive principles of our Great Order. Brothers, these regrettable principles are, so to speak, in fundamental disagreement with it, as our Worshipful Master very rightly said, since the Clericals, so to speak, have taken up arms against us, and if we have in mind, so to speak, the highest interests of mankind, I therefore move that we should express our agreement in the fullest sense of the word, as the Worshipful Master in the Chair very rightly said, these regrettable occurrences.вАЭ + 

Judex Formidabilis now rose. + 

вАЬBrother Worshipful Master, I should like to say a few words. I have to observe that certain occurrences have been spoken of here in a very regrettable manner. I am of opinion that those occurrences are not so regrettable as our Brother Junior Warden thinks. I am really not aware which occurrences Brother Junior Warden is alluding to, but if he has in mind the religious meetings which I myself attend, then I am of the opinion that he is mistaken. Indeed, I will say frankly that I consider that he is entirely in error.вАЭ + 

вАЬI move,вАЭ suggested another brother, вАЬthat we should take a vote on whether the said occurrences are regrettable or not.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd I move,вАЭ said another, taking the floor, вАЬthat we elect a smaller committee, of some three members, say, to investigate these regrettable occurrences.вАЭ + 

вАЬI am in favour of five members.вАЭ + 

вАЬI vote for twelve.вАЭ + 

Judex Formidabilis was heard to say, вАЬExcuse me, brothers, I have not yet finished speaking.вАЭ + 

The Worshipful Master rapped with his gavel. + 

вАЬI call upon Brother Judex Formidabilis.вАЭ + 

вАЬBrothers,вАЭ began Judex gently, вАЬwe will not quarrel who is to have the floor. The occurrences concerning which several regrettable opinions have been expressed here are of a character that deserves attention, interest, yes, and even respect. I do not deny that I am a member of several religious circles who have received divine grace in especial power. I trust that this is not inconsistent with the discipline of the Freemason.вАЭ + 

вАЬNot at all,вАЭ said several voices. + 

вАЬMoreover, I have to admit that I myself have been privileged to perform a few minor miracles. I think that this does not conflict with my rank and degree.вАЭ + 

вАЬCertainly not.вАЭ + 

вАЬMay I therefore, speaking from my own experiences, state that the aforesaid occurrences are, on the contrary, praiseworthy, uplifting, and moral, that they contribute to the welfare of mankind and the glory of the Most High, and thereforeвБ†вАФfrom the Masonic standpointвБ†вАФthere can be no objection to them. I move that our Lodge should declare its neutrality with respect to all these manifestations of the divine presence.вАЭ + 

The Senior Warden rose and said: вАЬBrothers, I certainly donвАЩt believe in any of this stuff, and IвАЩve seen nothing of it; all the same IвАЩm in favour of standing up for religion. I donвАЩt think that thereвАЩs anything in it, but is there any reason why we should say so? I therefore move that we secretly let it be known that we have the very best information about the whole business, and that we approve of things going on as they are.вАЭ + 

The Worshipful Master raised his eyes and said: вАЬI call the attention of the brethren to the fact that the Industrial Federation has elected the Absolute as its honorary President. Further, that the M.E.C. shares, the so-called Absolute Stock, may go up still higher. In this connection I may say that a donor who wishes to remain unknown has contributed one thousand shares to the Benevolent Fund of our Lodge. The meeting will now proceed.вАЭ + 

The Junior Warden announced: вАЬI beg to withdraw, so to speak, the regrettable occurrences. From the higher point of view I entirely agree. I move that we discuss the matter from the higher point of view.вАЭ + 

The Worshipful Master raised his eyes and said, вАЬI have to inform you that the Grand Lodge intends to issue instructions relating to the recent occurrences. The Grand Lodge recommends the Masters to join religious circles and organize them in the Masonic sense for the instruction of apprentices in the craft. The new Temples are to be conducted in an enlightened and anticlerical spirit. It is desirable to examine the various doctrinesвБ†вАФmonism, abstinence, Fletcherism, vegetarianism, and so forth. Each circle is to be instructed in a different faith in order to test out practically which is the best for the welfare of mankind and for the glory of the Most High. These activities are obligatory on all Masters by decree of the Grand Lodge. The meeting will now proceed.вАЭ + 