Thrice Puissant: "What is it that attracts you here?"
Senior Grand Warden: "The brilliant and adorable Delta."
Thrice Puissant: "How comes the Delta so often mentioned in this degree?"
Senior Grand Warden: "To learn the power, goodness, mercy and majesty of the Grand Architect of the Universe."
EXCERPTS [pg. 118-200]
Masonry, like all the Religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled.
The Teachers, even of Christianity, are, in general, the most ignorant of the true meaning of that which they teach.
You are in the path that leads up the slope of the mountain of Truth; and it depends upon your secrecy, obedience, and fidelity, whether you will advance or remain stationary.
You are especially to learn the duty of obedience to the law.
It is our duty to obey the laws of our country.
There must needs be law which is for the greatest good of the greatest number.
The word of a Mason, like the word of a knight in the times of chivalry, once given must be sacred and the judgment of his brothers, upon him who violates his pledge, should be stern as the judgments of the Roman Censors against him who violated his oath.
Be faithful to your country, and prefer its dignity and honor to any degree of popularity and honor for yourself.
Religiously keep all promises and covenants, though made to your disadvantage,
Let nothing make you break your promise,
Duty is the moral magnetism which controls and guides the true Mason's course over the tumultuous seas of life.
To perform that duty, whether the performance be rewarded or unrewarded, is his sole care.
He who is worldly, covetous, or sensual must change before he can be a good Mason.
Among Masons there must be no dissension.
He will certainly be a far more scrupulous watcher over his conduct, and far more careful of his deeds, who believes that those deeds will inevitably bear their natural consequences.
How far you will advance, depends upon yourself alone.
To go upon a brother's errand or to his relief, even barefoot and upon flinty ground; are duties plainly written upon the pages of God's great code of law, and first among the ordinances of Masonry.
A Masonic Lodge should resemble a bee-hive, in which all the members work together with ardor for the common good.
Be governed by your needs, not by your fancy.
The symbols and ceremonies of Masonry have more than one meaning; they rather conceal than disclose the Truth.
Elu of the Nine Degree: ORIGINALLY created to reward fidelity, obedience, and devotion, this Degree was consecrated to bravery, devotedness, and patriotism.
Devote yourself to the honor and interests of your Country.
Masonry requires self-renunciation and self-control.
For there it holdeth which was spoken by the Roman: "it needs that I go: it is not necessary I should live."
God's great laws should be everywhere enforced.
That great code of divine law shall be everywhere and punctually obeyed.
Those Greeks and Romans are the objects of our admiration and for the cause of virtue have made them prompt in seizing the sword, and gave them strength to use it, which bound their brows with wreaths of laurel, and consigned their memories to immortal fame.
Life's length is not measured by its hours and days, but by that which we have done therein for our country and kind[?].
Masonry teaches the cardinal tenets of the old primitive faith which underlie and are the foundation of all religions.
The sincere Moslem has as much right to persecute us, as we to persecute him; and therefore Masonry wisely requires no more than a belief in One Great All-Powerful Deity, the Father and Preserver of the Universe.
No man has any right in any way to interfere with the religious belief of another.
Zoroaster taught this doctrine: the Faithful should turn his thoughts toward Ormuzd, and confess him in the purity of his heart to be King of the World; he must despise the pleasures of the body. It is his duty to confess his faults to a Magus, or to the Sun.
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