In the Coils of the Coming Conflict ~ William Cooper

"In the Coils of the Coming Conflict" ► The Mysteries Pt 27 ►William Cooper ► 08.17.
"The first duty of the reader of this synopsis is to obey the edicts of this Grand Lodge. Right or wrong, his very existence as a Mason hangs upon obedience to the power immediately set above him. Failure in this must infallibly bring down expulsion, which as a Masonic death, ends all. The one unpardonable crime in a Mason is contumacy, or disobedience."

"Disobedience is so subversive of the ground work of Masonry, in which obedience is so strongly inculcated, that the Mason who disobeys subjects himself to severe penalties." -- Ibid.

"A Grand Lodge is invested with power and authority over all the craft within its jurisdiction. It is the Supreme Court of Appeals in all Masonic cases, and to its decrees unlimited obedience must be paid by every lodge and every Mason situated within its control. The government of Grand Lodges is, therefore, completely despotic. While a Grand Lodge exists, its edicts must be respected and obeyed without examination by its subordinated lodges." [That's from] Mackey, Lexicon of Freemasonry, page 183.

"For ourselves, we deny as Masons that any civil government on earth has the right to divide or curtail Masonic jurisdiction when once established. It can only be done by competent Masonic authority and in accordance with Masonic usage." -- [From the] Grand Lodge Report.