“I was not trying to draw you, just now. But there is a story in the Bible of the Pharisees testing our Lord with a Roman coin, and he tells them to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. It seemed to me this distinction is the distinction between the political and the nonpolitical. If there is a God, then there is also this distinction. Do Freemasons believe in God?”

“I bound myself to answer. You are speaking of a unity which we seek to bring about, but which today, alas, does not exist. If it comes to exist⁠—and I repeat that we labour with silent assiduity upon this great task⁠—then indeed the religious creed of the Freemason will be unanimous, and it will be ‘ Écrasez l’infame! ’ ”

“Will that be obligatory? It would hardly be tolerant.”

“The problem of tolerance, my dear Engineer, is rather too large for you to tackle. Do not forget that tolerance becomes crime, if extended to evil.”