timely notice that they may ward off all approaching danger" This simply means that a Master Mason may not only cheat non-Masons with impunity, but that he can also cheat Masons who are of a lower rank than himself. All others
Page 173are lawful prey to him. This is almost identical to the Jewish
KOL NIDRE and has the same effect. When we look at the Ninth Commandment (see
Exodus 20), which reads
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" and
Number Eight which says "Thou shalt not steal, it would appear that we are to so fear and love God, that we would never defraud our fellowmen, whether they are members of our Lodge or not. But a Master Mason, by reason of his oath,
may use any unfair, unscrupulous, fraudulent means to gain advantage and wealth, so long as he does not hurt members of his own, or higher ranks in Freemasonry. The sin is not in the sinning, in Masonry, but in being caught and bringing
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