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  • ERNEST AND FALK.
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Ernest And Falk.

FALK . Most certainly . Who would counsel the go-cart to a headlong boy because now and then he stumbles . I do not compliment you ; you had gone too far to recede . At the same time no

exception could be made with you . By this road all have to pass . ERNEST . Nor should I regret having entered upon it , dare I but promise myself more on the

rest of the journey . But re-assurances , and again re-assurances , and nothing but re-assurances . FALK . So re-assurances are already at hand And what may you receive by the way of

reassurances r ERNEST . YOU know very well in Scottish Masonry—the Knights Ecossais .

FALK . Yes—quite true . But what have the Knights Ecossais to expect by way of reassurance ?

ERNEST . If any one only knew ! FALK . Do your equals , the other noviciates of the . Order , do they also know nothing ? ERNEST . O they ! they know a vast deal !

One desires to make gold , the second would invoke spirits , the third would restore the Knights Templar—you smile—and only smile ? FALK . What can I do otherwise ?

ERNEST . Show some disgust at such ninnies FALK . Were there not owe thing which reconciled me with them . ERNEST . And that is —?

FALK . That in all these dreams I perceive evidences of an aspiration towards reality—that by all these cross paths it may yet be seen whither the true way leads . ERNEST . Also from the art of gold-making ?

FALK . Also from the art of gold-making . Whether gold can really be made or no—is all the same to me . But 1 am very certain that

reasonable men could only wish to make it in a Masonic sense . And the very first—whosoever he be—who attains the philosopher ' s stone , becomes in the same moment a Freemason . It is

strange also , that this fact is confirmed by all the accounts we have of real or supposed alchymists . ERNEST . And the conjurors ? FALK . The same may well be said of them .

Spirits could never hearken to the voice of any man—not a Freemason . ERNEST . HOW seriously you say such things FALK . By everything sacred ! not more

seriously than they arc in fact . ERNEST . Were it only true ! But finally the new Templars , in God ' s name ! I <\ VLK . Most trul y these !

ERNEST . Do you see ! of these you can say nothing . For Templars once really there weregold-makers and conjurors perhaps never . And

it is more reasonable to say that the Masons were better adapted to such beings of imagination , than of realities .

FALK . I can certainly only express myself by ; i dilemma here—either , or—ERNEST . Good ! Were it only known that ol two expressions one is true . Thc-. ' . dore , either

these Templars would be—F \ LK . Ernest ! Before you utter such a mockery at length ! On my conscience ' . These —actually these are either certainly on the right

way , or they are so far out of it that they have not even the hope remaining ever to reach it again . ERNEST . Am I to listen to such words ? For lo ask you for any more definite explanation—

Ernest And Falk.

FALK . Why not ? Mysteries have been made into a secret long enough . ERNEST . What do you mean ? FALK . The secret of Freemasonry , as I have

already told you , is that which the Mason can not breathe , were it even possible that he desired to breathe it . But mysteries are things easily spoken of , things concealed only at certain times

in certain countries , partly concealed from envy ¦ —partly suppressed from fear , partly secreted from prudence . ERNEST . F ' or instance ?

TALK . For instance . Exactly , this connection between Templars and Freemasons . It is very possible , that at one time , it was necessary and right nothing should have been allowed to

be seen of it—but now—now , on the other hand , it might be highly hurtful to make a secret of this relation any longer . It should rather be loudly

proclaimed , and the only point for decision is in what the Templars were the Freemasons of their time .

ERNEST . May I know in what this point consists ? FALK . Read the history of the Templars with care ! You must guess this . And you will

certainly guess it , and that is the very reason why you should never have become a Freemason . ERNEST . Ah ! were I' only now among my books ! And if I do guess it , will you confess , that I have guessed it ?

TALK . At the same moment you will find that such an admission is unnecessary—but to return to my dilemma . It is just this point whence the decision may be gathered . If all Freemasons ,

now pregnant with the Templars , see and feel this real point , well be it with them ! well he it with the world ! Blessings on all they do ! Blessings on all they leave undone ! But if they

do not see and feel this point : if a mere synonym has misled them ; if a Freemason working in the * * has only brought them as far as the

Templars , if they have only been staring at on the ; if thej-only desire to bring in considerable fat tithes for selves and friends :

then may Heaven lend us sufficient mercy—to keep us from laughter ! ERNEST . Look you ! You can still be warm and bitter !

FALK . Alas ! Thanks for your remark , and I am as cold as ice again . ERNEST . And what think you is the case with these gentlemen under these two trains of

circumstances r FALK . I am afraid the latter ! May I deceive myself ! For were it the first—how could they entertain so singulara design , as to desire to

re-establish theTemplars . The great point in which the Templars were Masons no longer exists . Europe at any rate is far beyond it , and in that requires no extraordinary assistance . What then do they

desire ? Do they desire to become a sponge to be squeezed by tlie great of the earth ? But to whom do I address this question ? And against whom ? Have vou told me—could von tell me

that these fancies of gold-making , conjuring and Templars , are dragged about by others than the noviciates of the Order ? But children grow into men—leave them alone ! Enough , as I

have said , that I already see in the playthings , the weapons which once again will be borne by men with unwavering hands !

Ernest And Falk.

ERNEST . In reality , my friend ! it is not this child ' s play which renders me uneasy . Without supposing that anything serious existed beyond them , I looked far beyond them—tubs , I

thought , thrown to young whales ! But that which gnaws at my soul , is everywhere I see , everywhere I hear , nothing but these inanities ,

and that of thai , of which you raise such anticipations in me , no one will hear a word . Often as I strike this chord—no matter to whom—no

one will harmonise with it , and ever in all directions I find the utmost silence . FALK . YOU mean —? ERNEST . That equality you designated to me

as the fundamental principle of the Order—that equality which filled my soul with such unexpected hope : that I might at last breathe it in

the society of men who could soar in thought above all social modifications , without sinning to the disadvantage of others—FALK . Well ?

ERNEST . Were it still so ? Had it ever been so ? If an enlightened Jew approaches and announces himself . "Yes , " say tlvy , "a Jew ? The Freemason must at least be a Christian . No matter

what hind of a Christian . Without distinction of religion , only means , without distinction of the three religions tolerated in the Holy Roman

Empire . Are you of that opinion ? FVLK . Not I , exactly . ERNEST . Tf an honest shoemaker—who has

enough leisure over his last to have a thought or two ( were it a Jacob Boehme , or a Hans Sachs ) comes , and announces himself , " Yes , " they say- —¦ " certainly , but still a shoemaker ! " If a faithful .

experienced , tried serving man comes and announces himself— "Yes , certainly , such sort of people , who cannot even choose the colour of their coats ; we are such excellent company among ourselves . "

FALK . And arc they such good company then ? liRNEsr . Well ! I have nothing particular to say against it , except that it is such good company , rather tiring in

society—Princes—Counts—My lords—Officers—Councillors—Merchants—Artists , all these swarm through the lodge in wild confusion , still in truth we are all but of one rank , and that surely

is—FALK . In my time , it was not so—yet so it was ! I do not know , I can only counsel . I ain for so long a time out of connection with lodges ,

ol whateverueseription . In the Lodgeof a / nretinu : not to be admitted for a time , and to be excludea from Freemasonry are two distinct things . ERNEST . HOW so ?

FALK . Because the lodge stands in that relation to Freemasonry , as Church does to Faith . From the outward flourishing condition of the Church , there is nothing , absolutely nothing , to be drawn

respecting the faith of the members . Rather , indeed is it a matter of wonder that such a certain outward prosperity could prevail at the same time with true P ' aith . Nor has there ever been

any treaty between them—but the one , as history teach . es , has ever sapped the foundations of the other . And this also—I fear—I fear—ERNEST . What ?

FALK . In short the lodge management , as now conducted , will not at all conform with my thoughts . To have a treasury , to lay it out at interest ; to use the interest to the uttermost far * thing ; to purchase property ; to allow the confvr .

“The Freemason: 1872-05-04, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 31 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_04051872/page/3/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS Article 1
FREEMASONRY AND ISRAELITISM. XXVIII. Article 1
ERNEST AND FALK. Article 2
CONSECRATION of ST. HUBERT LODGE, Ac. 1373, AT ANDOVER, HANTS. Article 4
LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, AT RENFREW. Article 4
Original Correspondence. Article 5
Masonic Tidings. Article 5
Untitled Article 6
Untitled Article 6
Untitled Article 6
Untitled Article 6
THE NEW GRAND OFFICERS. Article 6
GRAND CHAPTER. Article 6
Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 7
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 8
Royal Arch. Article 8
Mark Masonry. Article 9
Knights Templar. Article 9
Red Cross of Constantine. Article 9
Scotland. Article 9
FREEMASONRY : Article 10
Reviews. Article 11
Obituary. Article 11
METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 12
Untitled Ad 12
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Ernest And Falk.

FALK . Most certainly . Who would counsel the go-cart to a headlong boy because now and then he stumbles . I do not compliment you ; you had gone too far to recede . At the same time no

exception could be made with you . By this road all have to pass . ERNEST . Nor should I regret having entered upon it , dare I but promise myself more on the

rest of the journey . But re-assurances , and again re-assurances , and nothing but re-assurances . FALK . So re-assurances are already at hand And what may you receive by the way of

reassurances r ERNEST . YOU know very well in Scottish Masonry—the Knights Ecossais .

FALK . Yes—quite true . But what have the Knights Ecossais to expect by way of reassurance ?

ERNEST . If any one only knew ! FALK . Do your equals , the other noviciates of the . Order , do they also know nothing ? ERNEST . O they ! they know a vast deal !

One desires to make gold , the second would invoke spirits , the third would restore the Knights Templar—you smile—and only smile ? FALK . What can I do otherwise ?

ERNEST . Show some disgust at such ninnies FALK . Were there not owe thing which reconciled me with them . ERNEST . And that is —?

FALK . That in all these dreams I perceive evidences of an aspiration towards reality—that by all these cross paths it may yet be seen whither the true way leads . ERNEST . Also from the art of gold-making ?

FALK . Also from the art of gold-making . Whether gold can really be made or no—is all the same to me . But 1 am very certain that

reasonable men could only wish to make it in a Masonic sense . And the very first—whosoever he be—who attains the philosopher ' s stone , becomes in the same moment a Freemason . It is

strange also , that this fact is confirmed by all the accounts we have of real or supposed alchymists . ERNEST . And the conjurors ? FALK . The same may well be said of them .

Spirits could never hearken to the voice of any man—not a Freemason . ERNEST . HOW seriously you say such things FALK . By everything sacred ! not more

seriously than they arc in fact . ERNEST . Were it only true ! But finally the new Templars , in God ' s name ! I <\ VLK . Most trul y these !

ERNEST . Do you see ! of these you can say nothing . For Templars once really there weregold-makers and conjurors perhaps never . And

it is more reasonable to say that the Masons were better adapted to such beings of imagination , than of realities .

FALK . I can certainly only express myself by ; i dilemma here—either , or—ERNEST . Good ! Were it only known that ol two expressions one is true . Thc-. ' . dore , either

these Templars would be—F \ LK . Ernest ! Before you utter such a mockery at length ! On my conscience ' . These —actually these are either certainly on the right

way , or they are so far out of it that they have not even the hope remaining ever to reach it again . ERNEST . Am I to listen to such words ? For lo ask you for any more definite explanation—

Ernest And Falk.

FALK . Why not ? Mysteries have been made into a secret long enough . ERNEST . What do you mean ? FALK . The secret of Freemasonry , as I have

already told you , is that which the Mason can not breathe , were it even possible that he desired to breathe it . But mysteries are things easily spoken of , things concealed only at certain times

in certain countries , partly concealed from envy ¦ —partly suppressed from fear , partly secreted from prudence . ERNEST . F ' or instance ?

TALK . For instance . Exactly , this connection between Templars and Freemasons . It is very possible , that at one time , it was necessary and right nothing should have been allowed to

be seen of it—but now—now , on the other hand , it might be highly hurtful to make a secret of this relation any longer . It should rather be loudly

proclaimed , and the only point for decision is in what the Templars were the Freemasons of their time .

ERNEST . May I know in what this point consists ? FALK . Read the history of the Templars with care ! You must guess this . And you will

certainly guess it , and that is the very reason why you should never have become a Freemason . ERNEST . Ah ! were I' only now among my books ! And if I do guess it , will you confess , that I have guessed it ?

TALK . At the same moment you will find that such an admission is unnecessary—but to return to my dilemma . It is just this point whence the decision may be gathered . If all Freemasons ,

now pregnant with the Templars , see and feel this real point , well be it with them ! well he it with the world ! Blessings on all they do ! Blessings on all they leave undone ! But if they

do not see and feel this point : if a mere synonym has misled them ; if a Freemason working in the * * has only brought them as far as the

Templars , if they have only been staring at on the ; if thej-only desire to bring in considerable fat tithes for selves and friends :

then may Heaven lend us sufficient mercy—to keep us from laughter ! ERNEST . Look you ! You can still be warm and bitter !

FALK . Alas ! Thanks for your remark , and I am as cold as ice again . ERNEST . And what think you is the case with these gentlemen under these two trains of

circumstances r FALK . I am afraid the latter ! May I deceive myself ! For were it the first—how could they entertain so singulara design , as to desire to

re-establish theTemplars . The great point in which the Templars were Masons no longer exists . Europe at any rate is far beyond it , and in that requires no extraordinary assistance . What then do they

desire ? Do they desire to become a sponge to be squeezed by tlie great of the earth ? But to whom do I address this question ? And against whom ? Have vou told me—could von tell me

that these fancies of gold-making , conjuring and Templars , are dragged about by others than the noviciates of the Order ? But children grow into men—leave them alone ! Enough , as I

have said , that I already see in the playthings , the weapons which once again will be borne by men with unwavering hands !

Ernest And Falk.

ERNEST . In reality , my friend ! it is not this child ' s play which renders me uneasy . Without supposing that anything serious existed beyond them , I looked far beyond them—tubs , I

thought , thrown to young whales ! But that which gnaws at my soul , is everywhere I see , everywhere I hear , nothing but these inanities ,

and that of thai , of which you raise such anticipations in me , no one will hear a word . Often as I strike this chord—no matter to whom—no

one will harmonise with it , and ever in all directions I find the utmost silence . FALK . YOU mean —? ERNEST . That equality you designated to me

as the fundamental principle of the Order—that equality which filled my soul with such unexpected hope : that I might at last breathe it in

the society of men who could soar in thought above all social modifications , without sinning to the disadvantage of others—FALK . Well ?

ERNEST . Were it still so ? Had it ever been so ? If an enlightened Jew approaches and announces himself . "Yes , " say tlvy , "a Jew ? The Freemason must at least be a Christian . No matter

what hind of a Christian . Without distinction of religion , only means , without distinction of the three religions tolerated in the Holy Roman

Empire . Are you of that opinion ? FVLK . Not I , exactly . ERNEST . Tf an honest shoemaker—who has

enough leisure over his last to have a thought or two ( were it a Jacob Boehme , or a Hans Sachs ) comes , and announces himself , " Yes , " they say- —¦ " certainly , but still a shoemaker ! " If a faithful .

experienced , tried serving man comes and announces himself— "Yes , certainly , such sort of people , who cannot even choose the colour of their coats ; we are such excellent company among ourselves . "

FALK . And arc they such good company then ? liRNEsr . Well ! I have nothing particular to say against it , except that it is such good company , rather tiring in

society—Princes—Counts—My lords—Officers—Councillors—Merchants—Artists , all these swarm through the lodge in wild confusion , still in truth we are all but of one rank , and that surely

is—FALK . In my time , it was not so—yet so it was ! I do not know , I can only counsel . I ain for so long a time out of connection with lodges ,

ol whateverueseription . In the Lodgeof a / nretinu : not to be admitted for a time , and to be excludea from Freemasonry are two distinct things . ERNEST . HOW so ?

FALK . Because the lodge stands in that relation to Freemasonry , as Church does to Faith . From the outward flourishing condition of the Church , there is nothing , absolutely nothing , to be drawn

respecting the faith of the members . Rather , indeed is it a matter of wonder that such a certain outward prosperity could prevail at the same time with true P ' aith . Nor has there ever been

any treaty between them—but the one , as history teach . es , has ever sapped the foundations of the other . And this also—I fear—I fear—ERNEST . What ?

FALK . In short the lodge management , as now conducted , will not at all conform with my thoughts . To have a treasury , to lay it out at interest ; to use the interest to the uttermost far * thing ; to purchase property ; to allow the confvr .

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