Here are some quotes from what 33 degree Albert Pike wrote in his book, “Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry”:
On page 321 one finds: “To you, Sovereign Grand Instructors General, we say this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st and 30th degrees: ‘the Masonic Religion should be, by all of us initiates of the high degrees, maintained in the purity of the LUCIFERIAN Doctrine.”
On the same page of the same book, he wrote “Lucifer, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendours intolerable, blinds feeble, sensual, or selfish souls? Doubt it not!”
“Masonry, like all the Religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism, and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be mislead; to conceal the Truth, which it calls light, and draw them away from it … So Masonry jealously conceals its secrets and intentionally leads conceited interpreters astray.”
“The Blue Degrees are but the outer court or portico of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand time; but it is intended that he shall imagine he understands them. Their true explication is reserved for the ADEPTS, the PRINCES OF MASONRY The whole body of the Royal and Sacerdotal Art was hidden so carefully, centuries since, in the High Degrees, as that it is even yet impossible to solve many of the enigmas which they contain. It is well enough for the mass of those called Masons, to imagine that all is contained in the BLUE DEGREES: and whose attempts to undeceive them will labour in vain, and without any true reward violate his obligations as an Adept. Masonry is the veritable Sphinx, buried to the head in the sands heaped round by the ages.”
“The primary tradition… has been preserved under the name of the Kabbalah by the priesthood of Israel.”
“Every lodge is a temple of religion, and its teaching instruction in religion… Masonry is the successor to the Mysteries.”
On page 224: “Religion, to obtain currency and influence with the great mass of mankind, must needs be alloyed with such an amount of error …”
On page 105: “Masonry jealously guards its secrets and intentionally leads conceited interpreters astray.”
On page 329: “We teach the truth of none of the legends we recite.”
Talking about the Order of the Knights Templar, on page 817 we read: “The tendencies and tenets of the Order were enveloped in mystery, and it externally professed the most perfect orthodoxy. The chiefs alone know the aim of the Order. The Templars, like all other Secret Orders and Associations, had two doctrines, one concealed and reserved for the Masters and the other public. Thus they deceived the adversaries whom they sought to supplant.”
“A Spirit that loves wisdom and contemplates the Truth close at hand, is forced to disguise it, to induce the multitudes to accept it … Fictions are necessary to the people, and the Truth becomes deadly to those who are not strong enough to contemplate it in all its brilliance.”
