Page:Karel Čapek - The Absolute at Large (1927).djvu/151

 "Brothers," said the Worshipful Master after a while, "I have summoned this unusual meeting for this  er  unusual labour, which in  er  unusual opposition to the secret precepts of our Order  is no mere formality. I know  that I am violating the solemn and consecrated form of our labour  in asking you to come to a decision upon  a really serious  and public matter  of the highest importance."

"The Worshipful Master in the Chair has the right to order our labour," declared the Judex Formidabilis, causing general agitation among his hearers.

"Well, then," began G. H. Bondy, "it concerns the systematic attacks upon our Order recently begun  by the Clerical party. They state that our secret activities  of the last hundred years  are connected with certain extraordinary  and regrettable occurrences  in the industrial and spiritual field. The Clericalist papers assert that the Masonic Lodges  have brought about  deliberately  this unfettering of demoniacal powers. I ask you  what we ought to do  in the present time of calamity  for the benefit of mankind  and for the honour of the Most High. This subject is now open for discussion."

After a moment's solemn silence the Junior Warden arose.