The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-10-05

criminal obligations. have, thence forward. con- /
tlnually regarded Masonry nothing more than 4
social and charitable club designed for the promo
ton Of GOOD feeling among its members and for the
p2cunIary relief of their INDECENT brethren. have.
indeed, thought very little about it for thirty wears.
II had dropped from my mind completely that |
do not believe that should have been able to gain
adm,tancc into any lodge at all strict IN their ex-
aminations, where should have had to depend
alone on my memory; and 50 little consequence
did attach to it, that whenever Masonry has been
occasionally introduced as subject of CONVERSE
ton, have felt more disposed to smile than to
irown. Thinking thus of it, nothing has more sur
prised me than TO see II blown into consequence in
the Northern and Eastern States as apoitical en-
CINE and the whole community excited against it
as an affair oil serious Importance. had heard, in
deed, the general rumor that Morgan had been kid
nap?ed and very probably murdered by Masons, for
diyulglng their secrets ut supposed it to be the
act of a few ignorant and ferocious despcradoes,
moved by their own impulse singly, without the
sanction or knowledge of their lodges and thus
thinking, have repeatedly and continually, both
in conversation and letters of friendship spoken of
Masonry and Anti- Masonry as filter subject for
farce than tragedy. and have been greved at see
ing some Of my friends involved in what appeared
to me such wild and bitter and unit persecu-
ton against so harmless an institution as Free
Masonry. have thought and repeatedly said that
] considered Masonry as having no more to do with
politics than any of the numerous clubs so hui
merously celebrated in the Spectator: and that
with regard TO the crime in Morgan's case, it was
quite as unjust to charge that on Masonry as it
would be 20 charge the private delinqnencies oil
some protesting Christians on Christianity itself
Thus have thought and thus have continually
spoken and written in my private letters to several
Of my private friends 1t was not until the period
ofyour assembling here that on the occasion oil a
friendly visit from of your members, ana my
taking the liberty to rally him on the excessive
zeal which had been excited on an occasion so in
nIo t,ot ~ plac hafp fora mo
some of the proceedings on the trials OF the con-
spirators against Morgan: when for the hrst Time,
saw the Masonic oaths established by the testl-
mony both of adherng and seeding NlasonS on the
trials in New York. observed that in one oil them
(caed the Royal Arch) the candidate swears
among other things that he will aid and assist a
! Royal Arch Mason in distress, and espouse his
cause far as to extricate him from the same, 1t
In his power, whether he be right or wrong, and
that he will conceal the secrets of 4 companion
Royal Arch Mason given him in charge as sGcA,
murder and treason not excepted and in other
oaths, in still higher degrees also observe that
the candidate binds himself to avenge the violated
secrets ofthe Lodge by the intliction OF death on
the offender. and revenge the wrongs OF broth
er to the utmost extremity; and the whole mixed
up with the most horrible imprecatons and bias
phemous mockeries of the rites and tenets of the
! Christian Religion.
In the details of the trials in the OF Morgan
it became manifest that these oaths are not consld-
cred by those who impose and take them as mere
idle and unmeanng words but that they are view
ed as solemn obligations which are to be practical
ly enforced, and which in the case OF Morgan there
is too much reason to believe were trdgIcdly en-
forced. According to the reports OF the details OF
that trial as given some of your former meetings
and given at greater length at your meetings III
this city, lat one of which in common with other
citizens, was presently those oaths are understood
literally, and literally enforced; and according 10
the exhibition of the evidence made in those re-
ports, the conspiracy against Morgan was not, as
has been commonly supposed the act OF a Jew lg'
norant men, alone; but was engendered IN the
lodges themselves, enforced under their direction
and supported at their expense; the conspiracy
! embracing within its sweep, men of all degrees
: of the learned professions, farmers and me-
chanies; with too much reason to believe that the
secret energy the Masonic spirit had entered and
polluted even the temples of Justice; and with the
most demonstrative proof that the persons who had
entered into these nnhallowed oaths, considered
their allegiance to the lodges as of higher obliga
ton than their allegiance to the laws of their coun
try. 1t this be masonry, as according to this un
| contradcted evidence it seems to be, have nc
| hesitation in saying, that | consider it at war witt
! the fundamental principles of the social com
| pact, treason against society. and as a wicked
| conspiracy against the laws Of God and man, which
| ought to be put down.
| But, gentlemen, this was not, and could not b.
masonry as understoodby Washington The thing
L
! Nor can believe that in The quarter of tho Unioi
| with which am best acquainted, intelligent mel
! OF high and honorable character if they have beer
/ drawn in to take these shocking and mpious oaths
can consider them as paramount to their duties t.
their God and their country. 1t is true that afte
! the practical exhibition of Masonry which we have
/ had in New York, no man of common prudence
| can sleep over these discoveries, and every maj
! will take care in every of doubt to inquire
Butboth justice and prudence demand discrmina
ton for the powers of a President aught not, il
my opinion, to be prostituted to the purpose of
blind and unjust prescription, involving innocence
| and honor with guilt and treason, and man il
worthy Of nomination TO this high Office in whose
! Judgment and patriotism, confidence cannot BIZ
! placed to make the proper distinction between
! them. In the view of all honorable men he would
deseryedly become an object of disgust :fhe coulC
stoop to commit himself by any pledge, in a case
| like this, as the price of his nomination.
If with these views of my opinions, it is the
pleasure of your convention to change the nomina
ton, can assure you very sincerely that shall re
tire from it with far more pleasure than SHOULD
acceptit If on the contrary it be their choice t.
abide by it, | have only to add that in govern
ment like ours, consider citizen at liberty to
reject a nomination by respectable body, upor
personal considerations.
Be the final determination of your Convention
what it may shall ever retain grateful sense o.
the honor conferred on mo by this nomination anc
! ! beg the Anti-Masonic Convention to accept the
assurance of my respect for them and for thei
cause. do not address them party, because
understand the principle of their union to be, IL
assert The supremacy ouer the Laios which trus
/ is, and ever will be the sacred and imnutable
| principle of our common country.
WM. WRIT.
Messrs. RUTHERFORD, SLOAN and ELDER,
Committee Of the National Arpti- Masonic Con
Gention
The reports of the several Committees hav
ing been made and accepted, and the usua
votes of thanks to the officers passed, at abon
l2 at night, the Convention adjourned SINE dc