MORALS and DOGMA Albert Pike

XV

KNIGHT OF THE EAST OR OF THE SWORD

[Knight of the East, of the Sword, or of the Eagle.]

    This Degree, like all others in Masonry, is symbolical. Based upon
historical truth and authentic tradition, it is still an alle- gory. The
leading lesson of this Degree is Fidelity to obligation, and Constancy
and Perseverance under difficulties and discour- agement.
    Masonry is engaged in her crusade,--against ignorance, intoler-
ance, fanaticism, superstition, uncharitableness, and error.  She does
not sail with the trade-winds, upon a smooth sea, with a steady free
breeze, fair for a welcoming harbor; but meets and must overcome many
opposing currents, baffling winds, and dead calms.
    The chief obstacles to her success are the apathy and faithless-
ness of her own selfish children, and the supine indifference of the
world. In the roar and crush and hurry of life and business, and the
tumult and uproar of politics, the quiet voice of Masonry is unheard and
unheeded. The first lesson which one learns, who engages in any great
work of reform or beneficence, is, that men are essentially careless,
lukewarm, and indifferent as to every- thing that does not concern their
own personal and immediate welfare.  It is to single men, and not to the
united efforts of many, that all the great works of man, struggling
toward perfec- tion, are owing.  The enthusiast, who imagines that he can
in- spire with his own enthusiasm the multitude that eddies around him, or
even the few who have associated themselves with him as co-workers, is
grievously mistaken; and most often the conviction of his own mistake is
followed by discouragement and disgust. To do all, to pay all, and to
suffer all, and then, when despite all obstacles and hindrances, success
is accomplished, and a great work done, to see those who opposed or
looked coldly on it, claim and reap all the praise and reward, is the
common and almost uni- versal lot of the benefactor of his kind.
    He who endeavors to serve, to benefit, and improve the world, is
like a swimmer, who struggles against a rapid current, in a river lashed
into angry waves by the winds.  Often they roar over his head, often they
beat him back and baffle him. Most men yield to the stress of the
current, and float with it to the shore, or are swept over the rapids;
and only here and there the stout, strong heart and vigorous arms
struggle on toward ultimate success.
    It is the motionless and stationary that most frets and impedes the
current of progress; the solid rock or stupid dead tree, rested firmly on
the bottom, and around which the river whirls and eddies: the Masons that
doubt and hesitate and are discouraged; that disbelieve in the capability
of man to improve; that are not disposed to toil and labor for the
interest and well-being of gen- eral humanity; that expect others to do
all, even of that which they do not oppose or ridicule; while they sit,
applauding and doing nothing, or perhaps prognosticating failure.
    There were many such at the rebuilding of the Temple. There were
prophets of evil and misfortune--the lukewarm and the in- different and
the apathetic; those who stood by and sneered; and those who thought they
did God service enough if they now and then faintly applauded.  There
were ravens croaking ill omen, and murmurers who preached the folly and
futility of the attempt. The world is made up of such; and they were as
abundant then as they are now.
    But gloomy and discouraging as was the prospect, with luke- warmness
within and bitter opposition without, our ancient breth- ren persevered. 
Let us leave them engaged in the good work, and whenever to us, as to
them, success is uncertain, remote, and contingent, let us still remember
that the only question for us to ask, as true men and Masons, is, what
does duty require; and not what will be the result and our reward if we
do our duty. Work on, the Sword in one hand, and the Trowel in the
other!
    Masonry teaches that God is a Paternal Being, and has an in- terest
in his creatures, such as is expressed in the title Father; an interest
unknown to all the systems of Paganism, untaught in all the theories of
philosophy; an interest not only in the glorious beings of other spheres,
the Sons of Light, the dwellers in Heav- enly worlds, but in us, poor,
ignorant, and unworthy; that He has pity for the erring, pardon for the
guilty, love for the pure, knowledge for the humble, and promises of
immortal life for those who trust in and obey Him.
    Without a belief in Him, life is miserable, the world is dark, the
Universe disrobed of its splendors, the intellectual tie to nature
broken, the charm of existence dissolved, the great hope of being lost;
and the mind, like a star struck from its sphere, wanders through the
infinite desert of its conceptions, without attraction, tendency,
destiny, or end.
    Masonry teaches, that, of all the events and actions, that take
place in the universe of worlds and the eternal succession of ages, there
is not one, even the minutest, which God did not forever forsee with all
the distinctness of immediate vision, combining all, so that man's free
will should be His instrument, like all the other forces of nature.
    It teaches that the soul of man is formed by Him for a pur- pose;
that, built up in its proportions, and fashioned in every part, by
infinite skill, an emanation from His spirit, its nature, necessity, and
design are virtue. It is so formed, so moulded, so fashioned, so exactly
balanced, so exquisitely proportioned in every part, that sin introduced
into it is misery; that vicious thoughts fall upon it like drops of
poison; and guilty desires, breathing on its delicate fibres, make
plague-spots there, deadly as those of pes- tilence upon the body.  It is
made for virtue, and not for vice; for purity, as its end, rest, and
happiness.  Not more vainly would we attempt to make the mountain sink to
the level of the valley, the waves of the angry sea turn back from its
shores and cease to thunder upon the beach, the stars to halt in their
swift courses, than to change any one law of our own nature. And one of
those laws, uttered by God's voice, and speaking through every nerve and
fibre, every force and element, of the moral constitution He has given
us, is that we must be upright and virtuous; that if tempted we must
resist; that we must govern our unruly pas- sions, and hold in hand our
sensual appetites. And this is not the dictate of an arbitrary will, nor
of some stern and impracticable law; but it is part of the great firm law
of harmony that binds the Universe together: not the mere enactment of
arbitrary will; but the dictate of Infinite Wisdom.
    We know that God is good, and that what He does is right. This
known, the works of creation, the changes of life, the desti- nies of
eternity, are all spread before us, as the dispensations and counsels of
infinite love.  This known, we then know that the love of God is working
to issues, like itself, beyond all thought and imagination good and
glorious; and that the only reason why we do not understand it, is that
it is too glorious for us to un- derstand. God's love takes care for all,
and nothing is neglected. It watches over all, provides for all, makes
wise adaptations for all; for age, for infancy, for maturity, for
childhood; in every scene of this or another world; for want, weakness,
joy, sorrow, and even for sin. All is good and well and right; and shall
be so forever. Through the eternal ages the light of God's beneficence
shall shine hereafter, disclosing all, consummating all, rewarding all
that deserve reward. Then we shall see, what now we can only believe. 
The cloud will be lifted up, the gate of mystery be passed, and the full
light shine forever; the light of which that of the Lodge is a symbol. 
Then that which caused us trial shall yield us triumph; and that which
made our heart ache shall fill us with gladness; and we shall then feel
that there, as here, the only true happiness is to learn, to advance, and
to improve; which could not happen unless we had commenced with error,
ignorance, and imperfection. We must pass through the darkness, to reach
the light.

