“For this end he instituted a secret society, which has subsisted in constantly increasing strength and cohesion to the present hour.  It has collected evidence, conducted experiments, investigated records, studied methodically the abnormal phenomena you call occult or spiritual, and reduced them to something like the certainty of science.  Discoveries from the first curious and interesting have become more and more complete, practical, and effective.  Our results have surpassed the hopes of our Founder, and transcend in importance, while they equal in certainty, the contemporary achievements of physical science,—­some of the chief of which belong to us.  All that profound knowledge of human nature could suggest to bring its weakness to the support of its strength, and enlist both in the work, was done by our Founder, and by those who have carried out his scheme.  The corporate character of the society, its rites and formularies, its grades and ranks, are matter of deep interest to all its members, have linked them together by an inviolable bond, and given them a strength infinitely greater than numbers without such cohesion could possibly have afforded.  The Founder left us no moral code, imposed on us none of his own most cherished ethical convictions, as he pledged us to none of the conclusions which his own occult studies had led him to anticipate, nearly all of which have been verified by later investigation.  Such rules as he imposed were directed only to the cohesion and efficiency of the Order.  Our creed still consists only of the two fundamental doctrines; two settled principles only are laid down by our aboriginal law.  We are taught to cultivate the closest personal affection, the most intimate and binding ties among ourselves; to defend the Order and one another, whether by strenuous resistance or severe reprisals, against all who injure us individually or collectively, and especially against persecutors of the Order.  But the few laws our Founder has left are given in the form of striking precepts, brief, and often even paradoxical.  For example, the law of defence or reprisal is concentrated in one antithetic phrase:—­Gavart dax Zvelta, gavart gedex Zinta [Never let the member strike, never let the Order spare].  As it is a rule with us to embody none of our symbols, forms, or laws in writing, this manner of statement served to impress them on the memory, as well as to leave the utmost freedom in their application, by the gathered experience of ages, and the prudence of those who had to deal with the circumstances of each successive period.  Another maxim says, ’Who kisses a brother’s hand may kick the Campta,’ thus enforcing at once the value of ceremonial courtesy, and the power conferred by union.  We observe more ceremony in family life than others in the most formal public relations.  Their theory of life being utterly utilitarian, no form is observed that serves no distinct practical purpose.  We wish to make life graceful and elegant, as well as easy.  Principles