Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-11-21

beitg pushed to the height vi aosar-
,.''O'. "a as unjust in its operations upon SOME
fr :, men in the communitv. That there
"f 1ouest Masons we are ready and
'T w. ,,,,v odnit--but that the original leaders
% 'I -'r,v were ac,ua,ed by interested views
o '1' .,,;uIy believe. Many rxtravagant tales
sc ", ,broutt relative 10 the oa!hs Of Masonry
-"9 - n have an injurious effect. We are
NJ "r', ~ the most honorable men, that such
Sl'"'. Unknown IN masonry with US. We con-
''.' ,, "a be public duty therefore. assailed as
q" XIV ba, been, on the part OF the press, to
I" fence be heard. The following publica-
q - the point, signed by lsS masons in Mas
i made in the Salem Gazette, to which
9, call attention.
,,dsr,irnel. members Of the Masonic As
iu ,:,a. # this vicinity, having, many Of us Ia
'oEa ~ lsrrees of Masonry that are conferred in
I'a ;.I,e, and Chapters of New England, and
ne L't =. having been admitted into what are
''s - liner orders of Masonry, feel constrsin-
a[ ~ ,.b,r we deem our duty to the public and
p" 100. in consequence of the excitements
80, ,rouud us on the subject OF Free Mason
w. emmy to deciare-That the sole object OF
+ =, 0biga,ions. pledges, rites and laws Of
al w ". Institution, as we have taken, under
" &c nr,c,;,ed and enfoI reed them, is the pro-
'?,' e morality, virtue and piety; the promo.
a''oI. N ,ho,e qualities of the head and heart,
S ID " destitute men good-good as citizens of
'n-1 .,,n,ry and Of the world; good in all the
l' ~, cations and offices Of life;-and that the
a ,.a.nt, Of the Anti Masonic party to the con-
,rr,. are unjust aud untrue That the Pnncl-
L., If the Masonic Institution have had their full
I'D effect on their own lives, the undersisn'
= \, M, assert; neither do they say that they
ga never been perverted, but they do saw that
~ hslieye them to be not more liable to perver-
=: and that they never have been perverted to
- ,oi.ry Of the public, either in this or any other
.o,,ry more frequently than the institutions Of
p,lyca itself; and that, on the whole, Free Ma
',-5 has been productive of much more good than
~ IN every community in which it has flourish
4 CousCientiously entertaining these views of
i, sqbiec,. and having received the laws Of the
.,is,y' and its accumulated funds in sacred
,,l Tar charitable uses they can neither renOunce
-, ,b,ndon it. And should the people of this
,g,O,ry become So infatuated as to deprive Ma
0so( their civil rights, in violation OF their writ
rnrOa,titulions, and the whole spirit Of just laws
and (rre governments, they trust vast majority
i,As fraternity, will still remain firm, conhdins
u God and the rectitude of their intentions for
an,oIatlon, under the trials to which they NAV
sexposed
The undersigned claim no exclusive privilege,
10 exemption from punishment when proved gull.
" Of crimes, no immunity from the just reward
.hlch an injured community bestows on evil do
Els Shen BY their own deeds. it can be shown
hat they are.such, but they protest against being
ldadssd guilty of crimes committed BY others,
or Vi crimes imagined to be the consequence Of
heir Masonic principles.
Finally, We most soiemnIy affirm. that we
annun Of no obligation or principles in Masonry
hat require sduties of its members incompatible
With the laws Of the land. or contrary to our mo-
al OF religious duty 10 man, our country, or our
Gel