“The mode of life of our first Patriarchs, who were created and reared in the bosom of Perfection, presents a very different picture from that of our modern manners. In those fortunate times, Purity, Innocence and Candour naturally led the heart towards Justice and Perfection; but the depravation of morals, caused by the irregularities of the heart and intellect, have in process of time destroyed all the virtues; Innocence and Candour, which are their basis, insensibly disappeared, and left the human race a prey to the horrors of misery, injustice and imperfection. But, nevertheless, vice did not generally prevail among our Venerable Patriarchs; our first Knights avoided the multitude of shoals that threatened them with shipwreck; they maintained themselves in that happy condition of innocence, justice and perfection which they fortunately transmitted to their posterity from age to age, revealing the sacred mysteries to those only whom they judged worthy; into such mysteries the Eternal has been pleased to allow us to be initiated”.
