THE BUILDER February, 1917

"SCOTTISH RITE PHILOSOPHY"

Dear Sir and Brother:--The letter under the above title, and over
the initial signature, "L. S. G.," appearing on page 382 of the
December, 1916, issue of The Builder, prompts me to risk being
called presumptuous, when I attempt to write a few words that may
possibly cast a ray of light across the what seems to be a dark
horizon, to many men who admit and claim allegiance to the
marvelous Scottish Rite. Unfortunately for the stability and
radiance of Masonry, there be many men, who, even though
enlightened with all the education that modern universities can
bestow upon them, yet they are absolutely unable to speak the first
word in the answer to the "riddle of the sphinx," "Why, Whence, and
Whither." The correct answer to this time old riddle is truly the
"Holy Doctrine" as well as "the long lost Master's Word.".

I am indeed sorry to observe that the editor of The Builder, in his
reply or comments on the letter of Brother "L. S. G.," is inclined
to cast regrets and rather critical innuendoes at the form and the
philosophy of Morals and Dogma. To some members of the Rite it
would be as impossible to add to or subtract from the beauties and
sublimity and profundity of Morals and Dogma, as it would be to
change for the better the verbiage of the "Great Light." Any one
that fails to discover these wonderful features of that great book
should never cast aspersions at the work, for that plainly
indicates their own inability to comprehend and grasp its deeper
and hidden meanings. We are assured in its pages that exoteric
Masonry is made in such way that the profane may not know its
hidden meaning. It must be read "between the lines" by the one who
would grasp its full and deepest meaning.

I hope that I will not be deemed pedantic, if I attempt to tell
Brother "L. S. G." of the "rough and rugged road" over which I
traveled, and through which the symbolism and the philosophy of
Morals and Dogma, and in fact the whole symbolism of Masonry, was
made plain to me. Not that I pretend or assume that I am able to
unravel and have mastered each and every feature of their unlimited
intricacies, for such "Mastership" I believe to be beyond the
ability of any one finite mentality. But I do believe and feel that
much of the hidden treasures are perceptible to me, and those that
I have not mastered remain unrevealed because of lack of
opportunity and mental ability on my part. The revered and lamented
Pike, and the brilliant Richardson, each spent a lifetime in the
study of these hidden treasures, and were not able to plumb their
most profound depths. Then why should I presume to be even able to
feel and see their most hidden beauties. Masonry I conceive to be
a rich mine, and the deeper the seeker delves, the richer the
jewels that he will bring to light.

It was my good fortune, to receive the degrees of Ancient Craft
Masonry, very early in my young manhood. The Capitular and Cryptic
degrees soon followed, and in due time I was made a Knight Templar.
Soon after completing the degrees of the York or American Rite, I
was fortunately led into a course of reading, that for me, held an
almost irresistible attraction. I presume that my inherent love of
the study of Ancient History was the real reason that I took up the
line of study that I here mention. I will not name the many books
that I read that took rank as collateral reading, but will mention
only what I now view as the central work around which all others
but radiated and held second place. I refer to the writings of
Madame H. P. Blavatsky. Now do not throw up your hands in "holy
horror" for I am not going to advocate a full course in
"Theosophy," or of any other cult, as such. I believe that no one
should undertake the reading and study of such deep and intricate
philosophy, until that reader is able to read the text, and exclude
from his mind the personality and the crotchets of the author. Then
and only then, will the student be able to reap the rich harvest
that is sometimes almost completely overshadowed by some erratic
views and personal whims of the author.

The two volumes entitled "Isis Unveiled," and the three volumes,
"The Secret Doctrine," constitute a mine of wisdom, that in my
humble opinion has never been equalled in an equal number of
'volumes. After reading these volumes a number of times, together
with many other books such as I before termed collateral, then it
was my good fortune to be elected to receive the degrees and the
philosophical teachings of the Scottish Rite. When I finally
arrived at summit, then I devoutly thanked my lucky stars that my
reading and study of the many previous years had been cast in the
lines that had fallen to my lot.

As the entrancing beauties of the Scottish Rite degrees were
unfolded to my wondering eyes, their matchless philosophy expounded
to my astounded and charmed mind, my thoughts harked back to the
invaluable and innumerable facts and truths of ancient religions,
and the traditions of ancient mythology, all so lucidly and clearly
and indisputably dragged forth from their forgotten crypts by the
wonderful erudition and learning of Blavatsky, to become a
background and shading for the wonderful picture as painted by the
hand of Albert Pike. Soon I read the pages of Morals and Dogma, and
I was forced to marvel at the wonderful harmony that exists in its
philosophy. By a combination of the teachings from these two great
teachers, the symbolism and the philosophy of Masonry became to me,
perfectly satisfactory and complete. The, that to me, is the "long
lost Master's Word," came like a flash from a noonday sun. The
"Why," "Whence" and "Whither," was answered to my entire
satisfaction, and the purposes, the objects or reasons for
existence became perfectly satisfactory to my mind, while the
future was entirely stripped of all previous dread. This same
course may not remove the clouds from the minds of others, for we
are told in our rituals, "let each apply the answer best suited to
his own mind." But to me, it has acted in a way that I conceive to
be very much like the orthodox condition called by its adherents,
"Sanctification." Life and its trials and temptations, its
victories and its disappointments, all are viewed as part of the
vast scheme of the cosmos, guided and directed by the same unerring
laws of Nature, or in other words, by the same hand of God. This
induces a man to endeavor with redoubled effort, to "live the life"
and render his own heart a fit dwelling place for the "Most High
God." It is worth the effort.
Fraternally,
H. L Henderson, Oregon.

(Now ye editor has not been casting innuendoes or aspirations at
"Morals and Dogma" or its author, nor is he inclined to do so. Far
from it. He holds the great book and its great author in high
esteem, but he does not believe in the infallibility of either.
Instead of belittling the book he has been trying to "read between
the lines," as our Brother suggests, and if he has not found those
unfathomable depths of truth which no mortal thought may sound, he
has at least endeavored to make the wise and good and beautiful
philosophy of the Scottish Rite more lucid. He insists that "Morals
and Dogma" needs revision-- needs it badly--and he is ready any
time to give a bill of particulars, plans and specifications, or
whatever else may be needed to show that he is right. He is
insistent, not because he is an enemy of the Rite--God forbid--but
the more earnestly because he loves it, believes in it, and is
certain that it is one of the greatest instrumentalities for
teaching men the truth that exists upon earth. Because this is so,
because of its unmeasured possibilities, it ought to seek a higher
efficiency for its high ends. When it does so, more men will find
it what Brother Henderson has found, albeit perhaps not in just the
same way--a House of Truth for the habitation and comfort of the
intellect, a Temple of Faith in which to strengthen and fortify the
soul. No, we do not hold up our hands "in horror" at Madame
Blavatsky, or at any one else who has labored to enrich and exalt
the human mind--never! That is not the spirit of the Scottish Rite.
As life runs on we find ourselves more eager to welcome every
helper, more willing to listen to every sweet voice that speaks of
the things that matter most, rejoicing in the truth, wherever it is
found--as we rejoice with our Brother in his hard-won assurance and
peace of heart.)
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