The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-01-27

!
J this extensive and important County,
we take great satisfaction in assuring you,
that, having had perfectly free and full inter-
change of opinions with the editor of the
MASSACHUSETTS YEoMAN," now published
In this town, we can commend that paper to
your attention, as press, which will hereafter
be faithfully devoted to the discussion of the
character, tendency and principles of Specula-
tive Free Masonry.
The character which that paper under the
charge of its present editor, has hitherto sus-
famed, for intelligence, impartiality and ability,
furnishes the most satisfactory assurance that
| the cause of the friends of free discussion will
be judiclously and ably sustained.
! We therefore beg leave to urge upon you the
propriety of extending towards the Ye0man
liberal and generous patronage; and we feel
entire confidence, that every exertion which
you may make in procuring for it as many SUBJ
scribers as you may be able to secure, will be
! amply repaid in the advantages which will re-
suit from a wide diffusion of the most inter.
| esting information.
We are, sir, respectfully,
your obedient servants,
H H ME m' Central Conn rnittee
GARDNER BURBANK, Worcester.
The object of this circular is not disguised,
nor is it to be misunderstood Ii is an appeal
to such individuals as would otherwise prefer
some other paper, to induce them to forego
that preference, in favor of the Yeoman, for
the reasons therein set forth. We would now
ask, whether the signers of that circular are
prepared to see state of feeling produced in
this community, in which the principle on
which that circular is founded, should be uni
versally acted upon. If the publisher of one
paper is to be prescribed, and another exalted,
merely for difference of opinion on a single
subject, why should not the rule become gen.
eral Would the chairman of the committee
think it just and fair, if such, as dsapproved Of
any of the proceedings of those who are oppos-
ed to masonry, should form combination to
induce all who agree with them in opinion to
patronize no lawyer that has been concerned in
those proceedings? Would the other two gen.
tlemen think it proper for US to use our influ-
ence with the public, to prevent them from
purchasing their groceries, their stay tape
and buckram," or their paper of them, merely
because they differed with us in opinion on the
expediency of some specific measure? Yet
such would be the consequence of acting upon
the spirit of that circular.
II any of our subscribers, from comparison
of the papers, prefer the Yeoman or any other
paper to ours, why, then we have not word
to say why their preference should not be graf
flied; we do not want subscriber when he
thinks he can be better accommodated else
where. But, for the benefit of such as NAV be
'mPortunsd to make an exchange, on the
strength of the Certificate of character" re.
published above, we may be allowed to state
few facts to assist them in judging of the esti-
nation in which that recommendation ought
to be held. If advice is to be estimated BY the
d'sinterestedneSS with which it is given, they
may possibly have doubts, in the present in.
stance, of the degree of confidence with which
it is to be received
In the course of the months of November and
December, the Yeoman repeatedly EXPRESSED
IFS opposition to any thing which should in
| crease an excitement on the masonic question.
| in the most decided terms However, during
the last week In December, report was cur
rent in the village, that the County Anti Ma
sonic Committee were in negotiation for the
proPrletorship or control of that paper, and.
when it appeared on Saturday of that week.
an editorial article plainly indicated the course
it was in future to pursue. The next week.
the name of the editor, which had before stood
prietOr, was omitted as proprietor, and retain
ed as editor only, and no indication was given
as to the present proprietorship of it.
| 1t is well known that, for the institution of
masonry, we have no Partially. Our opinions
I oft were formed years ago, before the revela.
tions of Morgan took place, when some, whose
newborn zeal now urges them forward so far,
had found nothing to censure in the institution,
and they have undergone no change. But we
have have seen no reason for engaging in a
political crusade against the members of the
fraternity in this section of the country They
were, under the influence of public opinion,
gradually retiring from their citadel, and suf-
fering it to fall into ruin; their meetings be-
coming less frequent, and were but thinly at
tended, and no neto members toere receired into
the lodges. In this way it would soon have
become extinct. What more could we expect /!
Or what more can we possibly expect to gain
by infaming the public minG, and creating a
partizan warfare in the community 1t IL our
solemn conviction, that, if the institution of
Free Masonry is to be perpetuated, it will be
done by that kind of hostility which makes the
members of it appear as sufferers for opinions
sake.
We shall continue, as we have done hereto