The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-04-09
ANTI 81 asonie.
LITTLE COMPTON, April Cd, 1899.
To the Editors of the X. l. Repliblican,

10 me Editors of the X. L. Repubsican,
You are requested by number Of your sub
scribers, in this town, to insert in your week
ly sheet, the following
~ a meeting of citizens holden hy ad
Journment at the Town House in Little
compton. on the 18th Of March, Ap. 1920.
Tor the purpose of taking into consideration
he character, and tendency ofspeculntive
Freemasonry, Deacon THOMAS BURaEss,
IN tho Chair. and CHARLES WiLBouR, Se-
eretary The following Resolutions were u
unanimously adopted:
Resolyed That all Societies, constituted
iof laudable purposes, can have no possible
motives for concealment in this free and
enlightened land ;-and that those, which,
ike despo,sm. studiously avoid free inqu.
ry and rational investigation. are proper
objects ofsuspicion. and ough, to be scru.
oulousy watched by every true friend of
Liberty.
Resoire3, That whenever secret Soc.
city is found to operate to the civil injury Of
others; and breaks out in overt acts of vio-
lence and oppression, setting the supreme
law ofthe land at defiance--it becomes the
imperative duty of those in whose hands
the sovereign power is vested to take &C.
tive measures for its destruction.
Resolved. That the forcible abduction.
Imprisonment, and final disposition Of vii
liam Morgan, and the Illicit proceedings a.
gainst David e.. Miller, together with The
combined. and perscvering exortions Of ma.
sons to stlfie investigation, and screen the
guilty from punishment. are acts of the
most daring and strocious nature unparnl
eled in our annals--and not To be disre.
garded by freemen jealous Of their rights,
and prompt to vindicate their insulted ma.
jesty.
Resoiped. That taking the life Of any bu
man being by a wilful and premedita,cd
net, is murder: whether effected by persons
acting in their individual character, or as
the agents of self constituted society, dis
tipct from the established government.
Resolred, That a Society, which makes
it the sworn duty ofits members to execute,
and vindicate murder and outrage, is hos
tile to all order and good government, as
we'll as every moral principle, and ought TO
be detestcd by every friend ofvIrtue.
Resolred, That a Society. which impos-
es upon its members such other obligations
as: "assisting brother in difficulty so fur
as to extrcate him whether he be right or
murder and treason not excepted'---.' al
ways eupporting the -uiiifury fnme and 20.
| litical prefernl. Mt Of brother in opposition
to another considering brothers
friends as their friends and his enemies as
their enemies, and dealing out tender kind
ness or vengeance accordingly" carries a
long with it an irresistible internal evi-
dence of the grand purposes OF corruption
for which it was first constituted and Is still
maintained.
Resoleed, That in our opinion, the ma.
sonic institution. by its oaths and ties, Who'll
" units its members for holding any office
or for being q juror, in government, the
object Of which is, to secure equal rights
and impartial justice to all within its Juris
diction
Resolued, That we believe it 10 be du
ty which we owe to God, our country ant
ourselves, to cease hencefor,h from sup
porting masuns known TO be such) for any
public office whatever. And that we mu
tually pledge ourselves to each other ant
shc world, TO act accordingly.
Resolred, That we will use all other jus
and constitutional means within our power
for the suppression of Free masonry.
Resolred, That we recommend to on
fellow citizens thoroughly to investigate
the character, principles and tendency o
Masonry, believing il to be the duty Of all
who wish to pcrpetuate civil rights, an'
maintain inviolate the Constitution OF ou
country.
Messrs. Peleg Bailey and Charles WI
bour. were chosen a committee OF cores
pondence; for the purpose OF communicat
ing with other committees OF similar ma
ture, which are, or may be appointed II
different parts Of the State.
Ry order of the meeting,
THOMAS BURGESS, Chairman
Attest, CHARLEs WILBouR, Sec'ry.
The following address was delivered a
the meeting at which the above resolu
tions were passed.
ANTI. MASONIC ADDRESS,
TsHotc Cifizsns--Tbe purpose for whIc
we have assembled is one Of extrsordlntr r
moment. A secret institution has grow
ND IN our land. and extended itself TO ever
corner of our Republic without our enter
tsininp the least suspicion relative TO th
i,nposltions II was practicing upon us. Bu
its true principles have recently been DIS
closed 10 the world--whereby IT'S evil an
DANGEROUS tendency IS made manifest, an
duty of vital and pressing Importance dc
wolves mon US. Free. ma sonry has hlther
? ~ hoen considered as n benevolent an
. bonoroblp institution. But masonry III
= folded, presents 10 our view another aspcc
Her boasted vrtues transform themselve
-