Free Thoughts on God, the Universe, Man, Freemasons, Rosicrucians, and the Philosopher's Stone

they are themselves at odds with one another, as each works according to a particular system, etc. etc.

The enlightened times in which we live will increasingly reveal the groundlessness of these anxieties, and thus we shall also be convinced that the prevailing freethinking Original: "Freydenkerey" — a term often used pejoratively by critics of the Enlightenment to describe those who rejected religious dogma, but here reclaimed as a sign of progress., etc., is not nearly as dangerous as one imagines.

Hail to us, that it is becoming bright where it was previously dark, and that the beacon Original: "Pharus" — Latin for lighthouse, specifically referencing the Pharos of Alexandria. of Enlightenment shines for us. Hail to the states where freedom of the press has been introduced, where every social rank must appear before the feared tribunal of the judging public, and where the monarch himself does not wish to be exempt. It is folly and shortsightedness to prophesy dire consequences from the cultivation of the intellect.

For how many centuries did that pure child of heaven, Reason, lie forged in chains, and how oppressive for the thinking man was the yoke that the despotic hierarchy Refers to the power of the church and absolute monarchies that controlled thought and expression. drew around his neck?

We are fortunate to live in the time when the intellect is reinstated into its ancient rights of freedom brought down from heaven; where reason is no longer contraband Original: "Contrebandwaare" — prohibited or smuggled goods; suggesting that books and ideas were once treated like illegal imports., and where it is no longer a crime to think for oneself.

Enlightenment, Freethinking, Freedom of the Press, Reason, Despotic Hierarchy, Intellect