Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-24

state, our happiness chiefly depends. by extend
ing the invisible, the golden eAoin of union fror
state 10 state and ssom kingdom to kingdom, a
mong all worthy rnasons thro' the world, il ha
sNer'ed powerful influence, tho it has been slen
as the laws, which re- vlate the changes of patur
and The harmony Of thu universe,-tho', it ha
been silent, still il has exerted its efficient rowe
IN sottening the preiIdceN banisbiog the ealou
lies, and qrie,ing the annosities and srifes, which
are originated Nv local interests, by parties an.
divisions in politics and religion. 1t has awaken
ell The sympathies of our nature, taught q
feel Tor the dlsresses of his fellow man. and giver
a new impulse to the efforts of charity. Il extends
benev olent hand TO supply the wants of the poor
TO cheer, TO brighten the prospect OF tie lone
widow and 20 dispel the sorrows, and dry the
tears of orphans. Its lberality is not confined 10
the Initiated; the lberality, the charities of some
OF the masonic traternities of our country, have
! already been successfully eSerted in diffuAing the
glorious light OF the gospel among the benighted
heather Of Asia. The field to be surveyed by the
phiiaihrophy Of a mason is as wide as the world,
and virtue in disuess, wherever she is found. and
he benevolent exertions OF religion are entitled
to his hberaily
Whilst masonry has thus been exerting an infiu-
ence friendly 10 some OF the dearest interests of
men; like other good institutions it has been vio-
lentlv reproachtd; the voice OF SANDER has caium-
na'ei it, because it has secrets. Many have
hastily aud ignoranily presumed, that if our
ias hutton were good one, iis secrets should be
published to the world. To this objection we
answer, that the leading prime pes OF masonry are
as public as The Bible; let men read and study the
scriptures more, and they shall know more Of
masonry. 1t ANY sill say that our institution If a
good one, would effect greater good by disclosing
its secrets, and exhibiting al its lights before the
world; we answer that it is the opinion OF iudcious
mssons--and on this subject they are surely better
qualified 20 Judge than otrers-i, is their Gelibe-
rate opinion that greater good may be effected By
faithfully and invio!ahly keeping lis secrets
Again our institution has been denounced 81 a
bad one, because immoral, icen,ious men are mem
bers OF 1t. Here, let be distinctly understood,
that in defending The principles of our Order we
DO not defend the characters of vicous men, We
do not undertake the humilia,ins, the desp;cable
task of shewing-what many wish to believe
OF proving that darkness is lish,,-that vice is
vir'ue,-tlat life passed in vain ren,ious r,e7-
sures j. an honorable life. We offer no apologies
tor the incorporate man, who burns out the "a
uonal and moral powers of his nature with the fire
oil ardent spirits. We have no apology TO offer
for the gambler, who, by his example, would ban
i'h virtue from society; for the though,less vo-
t'ry OF pleasure and fashionable dissipation who is
not only wsglng war with heaven, but is puTsning
course hostile 10 his peace, his rational enjoy
the follie- OF these blinded unhappy, deluded men
by giving them the tender name of frailties The
iraiities OF our nature Let all good men, let all
the friends OF virtue they cannot reclaim them -
is>ien upon them that odium, that stigma of con-
tempt which their vices deserve We acknow-
ledge then, that there immoral, unprincipled
men, who are members of masonic fraternities: lpt
masonic principles did not make them immoral
There are bad men, hypocTes in the Church of
Christ; but the gospel never made a hypocrite or
bad man. Suppose one half the church were i'm
mora men, hypocres; it would be childish in
ference TO conclude, on this account tina, The pre
ceits OF the gospel are of an immoral tendency, or
that christianity is not holy religion. Such a
tact would only prove that one half OF the church
were enemies of christianity, destitute of its shirt
II one would know the holy nature OF christianity.
LET him study it in the sublime doctrines and pre-
ceps OF the gospel. In the same wav, let obiec-
tors learn the excellence of masonry not from The
vices OF It's inconsistent, lis pretended friends but
from It's principles and precep,s, & from the infu-
ence which they are adapted to exert, when cor
daily embraced We do not defend masonry as
another gospel, as method Of salvation TO carry
, man 10 Heaven; bat we defend it a. a moral in
siiiution, embracing in rs principles many of the
great mysteries OF revelation, and intoxicating on
It's members, many Of the benevolent preceps oil
the scriptures. the basis of all true ynorosity,
the source OF all that is eodlite or n,eriforions
IN rirtUe.