The
Cosmology of the Freemason
Translated from Die Baguette by E.
Rammelmeyer,
The Builder - February 1929
THIS
composition came from the pen of a brother Mason who lived in the
18th century in Germany and closed his earthly life as a
comparatively young man, yet rich in writings for the benefit of
the Craft. Of his works one volume consists almost entirely of
Masonic essays. The Freemasonry of this man, full of enthusiasm
and kindly inspiration, took in the large, broad remote horizon
of the profane world. In it there was no harm to anybody, but
much usefulness and inspiration to the brethren. His name was
Aloys Blumauer, born in Steyr, Dec. 21, 1755. He became a Mason
in 1781 in Vienna, Austria, in the Lodge Zur Warren Eintracht.
His "Aeneide" and the "Prayer" had several editions, but his
works are now only known in literary circles. GREAT,
extensive and comprehensive is the goal of the Mason; broad the
sphere of action for his mind and heart; unbounded the field
whereupon he works. When the Mason perceives the light he is
born to truth and humanity, and as far reaching as the expanse
of truth is also the native place of his mind, and as far
reaching as the boundaries of living humanity, so far extended
is the limit of his heart. There is not in the great "All" of
creation a spot which would not give to the searching mind of a
Mason food for contemplation, and there is no place on the
earth's surface where his loving heart would not find an object
and confrontation of his rendering a kindness and service in
another man. Therefore, my brethren, we find in every
zone of this earth Masons, and for this reason a good Mason in
our order must of consequence be in his heart as well as in his
mind a cosmopolite, following the great universal rule. Veracity
is the constituent principle of a Mason, the goal to which his
mind is striving to go, the source of light his soul is
thirsting for. And this element wherein he lives breathes the
fragrant air of the "All" creation of the Architect of the
Universe. Everywhere in the whole visible natural order of
things grows the tree of knowledge and beckons to him to nourish
his mind and be refreshed and strengthened in his thirst after
the truth. As he knows that this gift of heaven is
neither allotted to a certain season or climate of any country,
but sprouts forth everywhere beneath the steps of the attentive
wanderer, he gathers them wherever he finds them, not minding
the adverse light-shy zealot who condemns surroundings
beneficial to the Mason's mind, or any other "Know-All" who
claims to be in sole possession of all truths and human
knowledge. Convinced that the wise hand of the Creator
sowed the seed of all the true and enduring, as well as the seed
of love, goodness and charity throughout all of the creation, so
he never searches for the truth at one particular place only
never swears on the word of a teacher who recommends his
temple as the only source of light, nor does he follow a
swarm of Masonic sectarians who, like the heathens, go on a
pilgrimage to Delphos as the only place in search of
truth. To a Mason every knowledge, every disclosure and
science is gratifying; he has no preference for confident, fixed
or certain truths; he never thinks onesidedly, nor does he lean
to one side more than another. The general tendencies of his
mind follow a firm, steady pace, examining his way to the right
and left, never faltering by flattering or fawning acclamations,
nor being blended by delusive shimmer. In whatever feigned or
gorgeous garment the truth is depicted by anyone to ensnare his
mind, he never hesitates or wavers, knowing that truth has an
undraped body, and how could he love it on account of the
draperies? The Mason does not fear or is timid of unlimited
truth, he loves it, he honors it, even if it would disturb him
out of his sweetest dreams, or should deprive him of the calm
and peace of his life. The glance of his eye is the sight of the
eagle in the sun, never dazzled, never recoiling before the
light of truth, however weaker souls may only enjoy the
mixture between deception and truth and complain of
eye-sores when gazing in the bright rays of truth. But he, with
firm eyes, looks the truth in the face and comforts and
refreshes his light-wonted spirit in its all-glorified godly
shimmer. The Freemason is tolerant against errors. He
knows how difficult it is to free the truth from the dross which
passes through the heads of men and often some of the latter is
firmly attached in the mind to remain there. He knows the
immensity of the sphere of truth and how short the sight and
small and often the wanderer's strength in search grows
weary. He knows deception in all kinds of conventions, which
in hundreds of forms and formalities speak falsely against
truth, and are quite often supported by power and authority,
laws and anathema claiming in the realm of truth an
acknowledged supremacy. Thus, my brethren, the Mason
thinks and ponders and through it, from the intellectuality of
his mind, embracing the truth wherever he finds it, he grows to
be a world citizen. But if the Mason thinks as a world
citizen, so must he also act as such; and the sphere of activity
of his heart can not be less than the sphere of his mind, and it
is impossible for him to esteem every truth without loving all
men. Therein, my brethren, we perceive the great law of
equality, which is one of the brightest pillars of our royal
order. Not to make all men equal, for that would be a mere
chimera, but to love all men alike is the great attainable aim
which the hand of Nature has set up in the heart of the Mason.
The Mason serves humanity, and in all zones, under all forms of
governments, openly and secretly; and therefore how could
one land or one strip of this God's green footstool have the
exclusive claim of his heart? The Mason loves the strict truth
and weighs his fellowmen according to their mental intellect,
and recognizes merit for the measure of his benefactions as
he has no preference to the unworthy, should he be his
brother, but preference only for the worthy. How could he
do otherwise, knowing the universal law that he must divide his
esteem and affection according to the merits of the individual,
and not follow his private inclinations, often detrimental to
righteousness, nor to be too subservient to fraternal demands at
the expense of humanity? Regrettable to say, it is often
a sad occurrence in almost all human societies, brotherhoods and
orders, that the members look only towards the center of their
order, often turning their back to each other; so that the
boundary of their organization becomes the boundary of their
participation and sympathy for humanity. But more even than
this, the social motive, the beneficial, helpful, natural
tendencies of men in the intimate brotherhood of their kind has
contrived from time immemorial hate, persecution and
insurrection. Perpetually the Brahmin hates the Dervish, the
Augur the Haruspex and the black Christian Monk the brown Monk.
This seemingly inevitable course, which leads a multitude of
human societies to become disputing and quarreling fractions
against the well-being of humanity. The laws of our worthy and
honorable Fraternity alleviate this in uniting the members in
symmetrical and universal love for all humanity. Great is
this law, my brethren, but few the number who fulfill it. The
heart of the Mason should take hold of all humanity; but alas,
it often does not even embrace the men of a single country, the
members of a society, the followers of a system, or the brethren
of a lodge; the adept insults the profane; the profane defames
the adept, and within the bounds of universal humanity there are
religious sects accusing each other of heresy without restraint;
while lodges, rendered virtually hostile through petty jealousy
and envy, pursue each other; and some members provoke brother
against brother, who in the very bosom of fraternal charity
revive the intolerant abominations of the Guelfs and
Ghibelines. Brethren, let me turn away from this picture. I
will not criticize any further; considering the high honor of
our Order and the forbearance of those of our noble-minded
brothers whose hearts have never been poisoned by envy or party
spirit. Then let us merit the name we carry let us always be
unbiased Freemasons, men of a free mind and heart, who, with
unembarrassed soul, intercept every ray of truth, and love all
mankind with a clean, uncorruptible heart. back to top
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