Several Masonic Assembly Speeches

provide evidence. Besides this, they were delivered at very different times, and would likely never have been shared with the public if various brothers had not deemed these speeches worthy of their approval and persuaded the author, through frequent requests, to publish them in print. This was done partly to strengthen younger brothers in their zeal for FreemasonryMaurerei—the principles and practices of the Masonic fraternity., and partly to share with kind readers outside the OrderOrden—the Masonic organization. some concept of its noble pursuits, and thereby to somewhat diminish the preconceived ill opinion that some among them have adopted toward it.

Kind readers outside the Order! Allow me, therefore, without overstepping my duties, and without wishing to persuade you to join the Order yourselves, to briefly touch upon the main grievancesoriginal: "Haupt-Gravamina"—a Latin legal term referring to the most serious complaints or burdens of proof brought against a party. that are forced upon it, and to answer them impartially.

First, it is said: the entire purpose of a rational human being is well known; it consists in the glorification of the Creator through the fulfillment of our duties. Our duties are determined by philosophical and Christian morality, and are in relation either to God, to ourselves,