The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-21

and recently master of the lodge in Eas
Greenwich, was examined next, Mr.. w
has taken three degrees, and has never Sc
coded. lie was, however, known 10 he
willing 10 state his masonic obligations
when legally called upon. These he rave
with much readiness as he had administer.
ed them, agreeing IN substance with those
SAID to be furnished from st. Johns Lodge
with some additional clauses there omitted
particularly land that left at nv option.'
a'ter murder and treason excepted, in the
masters oath. He also stated that he new
er knew any explanation TO be given Of the
penalties.
FIFTH DAY.
John Brown, Esq, who had taken three
oegrees nut never seeded, was examined
on the oaths and lectures of those degrees,
till noon.
Mr.. Hazard, the Chairman, expressed his
regret that any publication of the deposi-
tons taken by the committee had been
made. 1t was stated to him that this had
been done in the Journal without IL knowl-
edge of the wishes Of the Committee. Mr..
H. then repeated the request stating that
1t would be unfair to ward the Witnesses to
give part of their testimony without the
ion upon the merits.
BY request of the Chairman, the examina-
ton Of Abraham Wilkinson was resumed
mainly in reference to a belief he bad ex-
pressed that masonry had caused the death
Of hundreds. Mr. Wilkinson appeared
with a mass of printed documents, upon
which he founded his conviction, and they
were received by the committee for exami-
nation.
SIXTH DAY.
The whole day wns occupied in the ex-
animation of William Wilkinson, Esq, a
citizen of high respectability, and the old
est Royal Arch Mason in the State, having
been first initiated in 1892. He has taken
twelve degrees. has been Master of IL
Lodge, Grand Master, High Priest, and
Grand Commander. Also an officer in the
United States Grand Chapter. Mr.. w.
stated the obligations, so far as he could re-
collect them, up to the Knight Templar's
degree Inclusive, but declined answering
questions touching the ceremonies and
signs of the several degrees which he con-
sidered were the secrets of masonry,
and having reference to masons alone as
such. So far as the witness felt at liberty
to answer the questions proposed to him, his
statements were made in apparent frank
ness and candor. He gave very clear
and full account Of the differ mt Orders and
relations of masonic bodies. The examina-
ton was very interesting. Much more SO
than any that has preceded it.
SEVENTH DAY.
1t has given us great pleasure to find that
masonry exists in the best forms it can ex-
ist, in Rhode Island, where it has generally
been controlled by those whose moral sense
could not he made suhservient to masonic
sense but the fact that such weak and wick
ed mummerles could interest and awe the
minds OF our best citizens, presents one of the
strongest reasons we have yet seen fordread-
ing its dangerous influence in the hands of
weak and wicked men. The examination
has been rather into the character of Rhode
Island masons than of masonry, and in this
respect it is as creditable to them as is con-
sistent with their adherence to such an in
stitution. During the sitting. Messrs. Bar
zillai Cranston, Philip Allen, Samuel Greene
and William Russell, Gathering masons.
were examined.
EIGHTH DAY.
The witnesses examined were John Hall
Lewis l.. Brown, John Gardner and John
Prentice.