THE BUILDER FEBRUARY 1929

The Cosmology of the Freemason

Translated from Die Baguette by E. RAMMELMEYER, Utah

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.
