Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-12-29
From the Boston Patriot.

NEw-YoRK PoLITIcs.-Some time
since we published from the n, Y. Com
mercial Advertiser an article stating that
at the recent election in Newly ork, the
Masons of Rensselaer, County adjusted
their elcctioneering plans Gin Lodges"
and Corrected the secrecy, which covers
their proc oceedings, to the dark work of
political management and intrigue
The Apollo Lodge appointed at COM
mittee to inquire into the truth of this ac-
cusation, and to make a public state
ment of facts
In reply to then circular letter, Col.
Howard, of Stephentown, says-"As
individuals, the Freemasons of Stephen.
town will exercise their right of support
ing such candidates for Office as they
may think proper; but as Frecmasons,
they never have had, and they never
will have, any thing to do with politics
the door Of the Lodge shuts out all
political discussion. have been men,
Der of Friendship Lodge for more than
seventeen years, and, in that time, have
been Master six or seven years; l have
attended erery Lodge meeting for three
years past; and, in all the time that |
have belonged to the Lodge, | never
heard the most remote alusion, in lodge
meeting, to any political subject. have
also attended frequently the Grand Lodge
of this State; and Grand Chapters in
this State and elsewhere; | think know
something of Masons and Masonry-&
| should be as much surprised to hear a
political discussion in a Lodge of Free
masons, as | should to see clergyman
dancing in the aisle of Il church.
The "public statement of facts, signed
Robert ID. Silliman, John ID. Willard
William p. Haskin, Samuel Pitcher, A.
J. Rousseau, Lyman Garfield, Heman
Griswold; Peter Sharpe, John c, Lang
don, Timothy Mann, Lewis Richards,
William ID. Haight, William Pierce.
Ebenezcr Prescott, Matthew Lane Conn
miHee, and dated Troy, n. Y. Dec, l3,
adds-From each of the Lodges in the
county, reply has been received, as
distinct and explicit as the above; and
each of them contain positive answer
in the negative to the questions that
were proposed.
The fraternity, to which it is our pride
to belong, is social and benevolent in
stitution, embracing within its pale, men,
of every religious faith, and of all polit-
cal pcrsuasions. The principles ofequal-
ty, which it inculcates, are doubtless
favorable, lin their tendency, to the growth
and pcrpetuity ofRcpublican institutions;
but political discussions are, by the very
tcncts Of our order, excluded from every
Lodge. AS Frecmasons, we have moth
ing to do with political subjects. But, in
come ectng ourselves with the order, we
have not relinquished or forgotten our
rights and duties as citizens and men;
and, i'm these latter characters, until we
are utterly disfranchised and deprived of
our privileges by the forms of law, VIC
shall continue hereafter, as we have
done heretofore, to give our support, o.
pcnly and fcarlessly, to those candidates
for public Office, whose election, in our
opinion will best promote the public good
l.. s. SENATOR FROM MIssoURI.-Rc-
marking on the election of Mr.. Buckncr
in lieu of Mr. Barton, the baltimore
Patriot says,
From Mr.. Buckner's declaration pre-
yious to the election, it is stated that he
is known to be an unequlyocal friend of
the tariff, of internal improvement, oppos-
ed to the system of prescription adopted
by the present Administration, and the
friend of Henry CIY. Since the