Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-12-01

What creed is safe from scctarian zeal
Happy in the enjoyment of our civil and
rele ious liberty-let us preserve it.
!, Nothing is more to be feared than nm
intolerant spirit; it is not only the great
est enemy to public liberty, but 1t be-
comes vile, ianatical, and prosecuting
| spirit, and will be, as It always has been,
the dread and the scourge Of the peo-
pie.
! If Masonry is now to be sacrificed on
the altar of political ambition, what shall
next be offered up to appease the anger
! of popular faction? IL masons are to be
bound and handed over to a ruthless
prescription, who next shall be immolat-
cd! Who is safe or what is sacred?-
Who shall stay its course or set bounds to
its power?
Political parties are founded upon the
elementary princi pies Of Government, and
separated from all the affairs Of Church
and all other cxtraneous matter; but ad-
NIT this Intervention with the private
rights OF the people and connect it with
the legislation Of the country, the ad
ministration of the Government, and the
organization Of political parties, and soon
there will be religious party in politics
and political party in religion. Poll
tics and religion and morals will mingle
in every form Of combination, to obtain
ascendancy anC power. Civil liberty
can only be preserved by keeping the
Government free from all other influen-
ces, and that principle lies at the toun-
daton of our Government.
These views present themselves in the
abstract, and are altogether disconnect-
cd with the merits of Masonry, and are
equally true whether there he any thing
in it good or evil 1t is, at best, perhaps
merely Indifferent having many connect
ed with it that seem unmeaning and abb
surd forms and emonials-unworthy
the serious attention of sensible men, and
perhaps the age in which we live.
1t has no object that cannot be obtain
ed in some other way. There can be
no motive for secrecy in n free Govern
mont, whatcvor thero may have boon in
despotic ones.
There is perhaps no primo pie worth
clinSing to, none worth struggling for
1t may be abandoned without any sacri-
flee, it had been almost Indifferent, and
in few years would have become OBJ
solete. But this crusade against the
members OF this order will rouse their
pride, provoke their Indignation, and put
them on their defence, and violent
conflict will ensue. These two parties
thus arrayed against each other, will
connect themselves with the great polti-
cal party, and the operations of Govern
ment, portion of their malignant and
vindictive spilit.
But without entering into the defence
of masonry-can an institution that has
existed so long, which has received the
sanction and support OF the wise and
good of every country, and which claims
in our own the most distinguished names
for piety, patriotism, and talents, be toun-
dcd in any principles dangerous to the
rights of the body of the people, or inju-
rious to public morals? Can it have
stood the test ottime, the scrutiny of good
and enlightened men, and the vigilance
Of society, if its principles are bad, its
practices evil, or its tendency immoral
or dangerous? Can good and virtuous
men and citizens unite for a secret, wick
ed, unlawful purpose, and for what OBJ
ject3 The injurious effects of their
precepts, or their example upon the ad-
ministration of justice, or on popular G.
lections, cannot be seen or traced.
They have no distinguished marks of
character, or peculiar habits OF life, no
system of morals or politics or no relig-
ious principles. They are of every par
ty, of every sect, OF every profession, OF
every condition., neither better, worse,
nor essentially different from other peo-
pie. They have the same interest-the
same affections and passions-the same
friendship and hatred. They contend
openly and violenly, with each other in
personal affairs, in courts OF justice and
ior public office. There appears in their
nte curse in society and in their con-
duct to each other, rather want OF broth :
I ery love which constitutes the moral
beauty OF the order, which has seized on
the imagination and warmed the hearts
Of so many Of its votarics.
The murder of Morgan is an abomina-
ton. But worse crimes have been COM
mittcd in the name of God, and for the
cause ofrcligion, by fools and fanatics
The crime is disavowcd by the society
lt Is an outrage committed by a few OBJ
scure and ignorant individuals agains
the public peace and the law of the land
The society claim no exemption from the
laws, and pretend no right or power tc
punish by death offences against its owl
f laws, no such violation has before oc.
cured, and perhaps never will again