Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-11-04
ADDRESS,
OF THE NATIONAL AHTI-MAsoNIc CONVENTION
To the Peopieof the United States.
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To the Peopieef the United States.
[coSctuDEp)
Compare this society with F'eemasonry, in
its motives, its origin, its degrading ceremo-
MES, its accumulation of titles, its numerous
expressive though fantastic badges; its exact
ing obedience in the lower degrees, and ire
sponsible authority in the higher; its secrecy;
its oaths; its penalties, its claims to exclusive
allegiance, its long list of degrees, its means
of private recognition, command, and univer-
sal concert, its utilization with members in all
foreign countries, its numbers, its boosted
power, its crimes,s and the pertnacity with
which tits sustained, by its adhering members,
and it is impossible not to be convinced, that
it is exceedingly dangerous, and that those who
were willing to renounce the Cincinnati Soci-
ETY., would be compelled, by the same patriotic
motives, which controlled them, in that act, if
they had lived tilfnow, to rcuounce freemason-
~. They would have insisted upon its total
abrogation 1t must be abrogated.
The unavoidable inference drawn by every
prudent man, from observing the conduct Of its
best members, in all past times, is, that its
character is bad. This inference is greatly
strengthenedbyt ineligible hints and friend-
" advice of the most trustworthy among
them. 1t should be rpened into uuhesitating
conviction, by consideration of the secrecy
which it enioins. Standing secrecy always im-
plies shame and guilt. 1t is utterly inconsistent
with social Improvement. confidence, and hap
piness. All the descendants of Adam inherit
his nature. While he was innocent, he was
ingenious, communicative, without the need
OF the desire of concealment. For the first
crime he committed, even before the sentence
of punishment from Paradise, was pronounced
upon him, he sought concealment.
Rut are uof isft q Our own reasonable
differences, or to hints, and few honest but
guarded expressions, from its best members, tc
decide upon the character OF freemasonry.
That character has been revealed, under oath,
BY it's adhering members, and by great band
Of seceders. And how does it stand? Infa-
nous beyond all parallel in human annals. It'
principles are vicious, murderoris, reasonable
and so far as they prevail, fatally hostile tt
those of our government,
In the first degree, the candidate pledge
himself under oath, and upon forfeiture of hi
life If he does not redeem the pledge, to eve
conceal and never reveal the secrets of freema
sonry, which he has then received, is about Il
receive, or may thereafter be instructed in
Among the secrets, which the candidate may
and must be instructed in, If be takes the Sc
cord degree, is that of his pledge of passiv
obedience to the laws of the lodge, and all re
pular summonses sent him BY brother OF tina
degree. If he takes the third degree, anon
those secrets are pledges to fly to the relief c
a brother of that degree, when masonically re
CURED SO to do, at the risk of bis life, shout
there be greater probability of saving the Iii
OF the brother requiring, than of losing hi
own-to apprize brother OF all approachin
danger if possible--and TO conceal the secre
of a brother master mason, when comnunie
sed to him as such, murder and treason on
excepted, and they left at his discretion. Ar
s~;f he takes the Royal Arch degree, amor
those secrets are pledges-to esstricate br
ther of that degree from danger, if he ca
whether that brother be right or wrong
promotes his political preferment before III
Of all others of equal quali6cations-and
conceal his secrets, murder and treason n
excepted. Thus is the concealmcnt OF Grim
made masonic duty; and the candidates c
nressly disclain all eqnivocation, mental rest
cation, or evasion Of mind, both IN the h
degree, and in the last. -'
How do these parts of masonry affect
MORAL character Of it's members? In the Fl
degree, and every other, no man knows any
;ts obligations. till after he was sworn to &C
ceal them. 1t is FIRST principle an mora
chat there is no accountability without kno
ledge and free will, Such oaths, thereto
are not binding, and no forms, or objects
.H...- .r- -. So, :,
.rbs pedgc is sometimes omitted in the Regal arch deg
and ,ometimes excluded In The masters degree