The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-06-15
RICHARD RUSH'S LETTER ON
MASONRY.
WON the YOrk, (Penn. RepubIican.


VINO entertain the opinions which we profess t,
know, VINO are ior' and who against US. Therefore
as it has on the one hand been stated in n pubIi,
newspaper that you are member of the Institution
which mas again by others been denied we topeth
or with many other of our fellow citizens will fee
thankful TO you, for such information upon the sub
lcct as you may think proper to communicate anC
likewise, your views with respect to the ouestio,
between Masonry and its opponents Addressn,
you as We do, III the character of a public body i
is of course our desire that the reply Should be 1nb
lie also.
With sentiments of high respect and esteem,
we remain, Sir, your obt serv'ts.
WILLIAM M'ILyAIN,
! JOHN KAUFFELT,
| HUGH M DONALD,
| THOMAS G. namely.
Anti Masonic Committee Of Correspondence 10,
York County.
! York, PENN May 4th, 1881,
| Gentlemen: have received the communication
OF the Goth April, which, as Committee of Cor
respondence of Anti-Masens for this County. Won
! have done me the honor to address to me on The
general subject of Masonry, and Anti-ATasonrv and
making some inquiries of me in relation to it, lido
not know that the views which entertain upon
either topic, be of more Importance. than those
OF any other private individual, who may have TAX
ell the trouble to inform himself on the PASSING
events OF the day, and to reflect upon them RIf
as you are pleased to invite expression of those
! VIII uot WlluHOlu them. w hPE citizen
may nave adopted, on sufficient deliberation opin
IONS upon any public question, they seem of RIGHT
10 belong to whomsoever may think them worth
asking for. My opinions having been made I'm
neither hastily nor very recently on those which
your letter embraces, willingly proceed. without
occupying time by any further introduction to nre
sent them to you, with the grounds on which thew
are founded '
see objections to secret societies because. mr.
suing objects not known to the public through
means not known to the public, they act under d.
mnlshed responsibilities to the public. If the OBJ
Jects be good, why not state THEN if bad thew
ought to be known. Our legislative halls are ali
OPEN and our courts all the acts Of our peo
pie, that may come to effect the interests of the
body political, or social. Not u bridge company.
not turnpike company, no bank scarcely an asso-
Grafton OF any kind for whatever purpose existing
whether for the advancement of charity or learn
ing, or religion, or any of the common business of
NE, and whether incorporated by the laws or not
but renders its statements to the public either vol
UNFAIRLY or by command of the laws. If the latter
do not positively enoin publicity a competent
share OF information regarding the objects of anv
such associations, JIG rarely or ever withheld, on
proper inquiry being made. Societies then. pro
foundly secret, by the first element of their consti-
tuition, whatever their ostensbe ends cannot he too
closely watched, in a country whose primary prin-
clples OF political and social action are all in the
lace OF day. The mystery should appear to have
good cause and be free from all suspicion of abuse
1t such societies guard their secrets by strong pen
altes; IT they have numbers and antiquity on their
sides; II their visible out-posts are but links of
cham stretching from nation to nation if the sense
OF affiliated attachment and MON among them is ner.
celved to be exceedingly energetic and Jealous; if
therwhole scheme OF discipline, improved through
out ages, has become in degree imposing even
terrifying their operations will naturally have the
more scope, and should be watched with the more
care. Free Masonry is such society. Great and
nd mo hOT Holl E,Frolf
long 10 it, at this moment; yet recent disclosures
IN the United States, have, think shown the
danger OF which the society may become the parent
through the agency ofb9d men. OF all governments
existing, ours is the one which would be most ius-
titled in watching, with constant and scrubuious
care, the conduct of societies profoundly secret
Most, all other governments admit the principle
OF secrecy and themselves practice it, at least to
some extent. Ours, never. All its operations are
sooner or later, laid before the grand, original con
stituent body-the people ; the only fountain with
us, of all influence and sovereignty and power.
These are obvious principles of our system Free
Masonry puts forth an exception to them. 1t is
hence, the right and duty the people to exercise
strict censorship over 4 body, which owes in an
element so contrary to their own. They are the
higher, and entitled to the undsputed control 1t
is as much general truth in morals as in govern.
ment, that it is vice, not virtue, which needs veil
In saying that recent disclosures have shown the
dangers of masonry in the United States let us sec
1t am not right. desire to be guided by facts
and look at them vigorously. Your inquiries are
broad and should be met broadly But facts shall be
my basis, and wish to deal with them practically
as have really behcld them. You apply to me as
citizens, taking actual part in the affairs around
am to answer you in that capacity as member
Of the same community.
The public all know that certain trials have been
, held from time to time in the State of New York
for the discovery of the authors of the abduction
and murder of William Morgan. Against this mans
liberty and life, extensive and formidable con-
spiracy had been laid which ended in the destuc-
ton of both' He native of Virginia, and had
3 removed into New York. 1t was there, it seems,
that he committed certain offence, not against the
LAWS of his country, but the Code of Masonry name
w. that of revealing its secrets; and this is the Of
. fence for which he was made to suffer death. The
conspirator neither laid against him. nor pretended
= any other. The case is therefore purely masonic il
its origin and termination. There is nothing ex
traneous TO embarass the Judgment or lead ava
the thoughts
When remark that the public all know of tn
trials mean that they have heard of them reher
ally; for do not believe that one person in fft
knows any thing more about them. I have follow
" ed up the account of them as far as have had til
means; and especially those that have taken plac
!. at Lockport, within the last few months hay
done SO in no prejudced spirit, but with an earne
I desire to understand the whole case rightly The
appear to me to unfold one the most extraordn,
f ry incidents that mas ever TRANSFERRED. All the eli
cumstances considered, know not where we sha
seek for its counterpart. 1t is seen from these TT
= ais that the laws of the land cannot be execute
y upon the authors of an audacious and bloody CO
u spiracy, although its entire theatre was in one
u the most populous parts of the Union although
d tempts have been made to enforce them in all pra
ticable ways for period now exceeding four yeal
Is although the government OF the State Of New 70
has aided, by its Immediate countenance and dire
tion the public prosecutions besides having ISSUE
commissions of special investigation and, what
=. more astonishing than all although the conspir
" tors with their aiders and albeit ors are in all pro
. ability, known to more than one hundred perso
i belonging to the masonic body, if not a larger nu
= Der. That they are certainly known to gre
- many nasons, if to fewer than one hundred is plu
IL from lights that must bring conviction home
eyerN dispassnnate and sound mind.