The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-09-28
From the Boston r'ess'
CORRESPONDENCE
RnsroN, SET. s, 1881


copernOr Lincoln,
MS G1's Sonvention of the Antimasonic
ae,be Senate and House of Repre-
i.:s ofthis Commonwealth, holden at the
sehta' I,e,,ss in Boston, on the evening OF the
80 .f Inue last, it was recommended by Re-
I'a 20 the State Antimasonic Committee of
s%3..'ss,chusetts, to call a Convention at such
time and place and IN such form as to them
sb.II seem expedient, for the purpose of nomi-
rafing candidates TO be supported by the Anti
masonic party at the Gubernatorial Election in
November next.
The subject thus committed to the under
stoned Committee, necessarily involves high
and very delicate responsibilities The frank.
ness Of your character, and your known Repub.
lican principles are a sure guarantee, that you
will not withhold from the people an explicit
avowal of your sentiments, on all subjects
where their rights and liberties are concerned.
You are aware that for five years past, dis
closures have been made of the nature and
principles of Freemasonry, calculated to excite
establishment and alarm among a free people,
These disclosures have occupied the attention
of various State Legislatures, of numerous
County and State Conventions and of one Con-
vention Of eleven States of this Union. About
sixty members of the fraternity have been in
dicted, after the greatest difficulties, for crimes
of the most odious character. These supposed
have been brought to the courts of law; but
not to justice Freemasonry occupied the seat
and Justice was no longer there!
The same Masonic Government, the same
oaths, obligations and psnaltiEss. ,h St.,o go
sioned those Tr--.Ss M heis roo.iHg 9taIc' Ga
monweal:h, and so long as Freemasons will
adhere to them, the community is not safe. An
timasons therefore are frank to avow their SEN
timents. They believe the existence of FREQ
masonry to be dangerous to liberty, injurious
TO morality, detrimental to religion and wholly
incompatible with our free institutions. They
wish, by peaceable, lawful and honorable means,
60 destroy the Masonic Institution, and not to
ipiure Freemasons !; but to bring them, as men
and good citizens, back to their country.
The means they propose are free and public
discussion-the truth and nothing but the truth,
published and circulated on the subject of ma
sonry and antimasonry-and the use of the bal
lot box But their suffrages cannot be given
merely for the honor or profit of any Antima-
SON. They have much higher objects ia view
in the use Of the ballot box. In addition to
supplying the most suitable men, for the vari
GUS offices Of government, it is to hold up the
subject of masonry at every election, until
public sentiment shall decree its humiliation.
The profound respect and personal regard,
entertained for yourself by the Antimasons of
Massachusetts,, now Increasing in ratio un-
paralleled IN the history OF parties, lnduce the
undersigned, in their behalf, to solicit, at least
brief expression ofyour sentiments, in reply to
the following questions, with permission to use
the same in such manner as may be deemed ad
Visable.
Do you consider Freemasonry positive evil:
And if so, are you disposed to unite with the
Antimasonic party in the use of peaceable, law
full and honorable means, not inconsistent with
the station you now occupy, in order to free
our country from the dominion and influence of
Fresmasonry
Your compliance with this request as soon as
your convenience shall allow, will confer re-
newed obligations upon,
Sir, very respectfully,
your fellow citizens,
ABSER PHELPs, Wm. MARsToN,
GEORGE ODIoRNE, DANIEL WELD,
JOHN D. WILLIAMS, JACOB HALL,
HENRY GAssETT, BENZ v FRENCH,
, BENZ. w. LAMB, john P WHITwELL,
THOMAS VALLEY, JONATHAN french