Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-06-14

hts own lsnyusg,, on tho suti.e, Of ms-enry. 10 crr
HIS letter 10 = very sbie one, full Of passion
soo ess ia%.don, and - ealedl.'ed TO add greatly 10 The
exei'emsnt arsins, masous and " ssonry. MANY Of the
urged by the dis'in gui.h-d w,it.r sv.ins, the
Institution may, with equal propriesy be brought
against most OF the valuable institutions Of th. conn nv.
The Senate Of the u. States, tho House of R.,r.,sn.
tauves, our grand jusies, and al our political. poS 10
say religious institutions, ere obnoxious TO the came oh
Jeeuons. We silude to the subject OF secrecy. Ma
sorry Is in is nature secret, aud therefore Ii is con.
by MIR. Rush The secrets Of masonry extend
no further than the recognition Of It's members. Tho
scss OF a Lodge cas, at any time, by legal process, DO
sscerta'ned by its records. Every thing done In d
Lodge roomSs q matter Of record. The books Of our
Lodges are open, at all times, to Inspection. IL Il q
g,eat mistake that tho objects Of masonry arc envelop-
ed in secrecy. The great object fs charity. The House
OF Representatives and the Senate of the United Ststes
have beth their secret sessions; all the Instructions "a
public ministers are secret; Grand Jurors are sworn to
preserve inviolably the secrets communicated TO them
by the government or by their fellows. There are se-
crets belonging to every society, to every family, to eve
~ inaividua'' and therefore 1t is hardly fair to condemn
u Lodge beeause II has secrets.
IN the view OF Mr.. Rush. the strocity Of tie Morgsn
murder, with the subsequent circums,shces, sre sufi-
!. 81 70 condemn masonry; Taking h for granted. which
masons in consequence Of his disclosures, we ask snv
christian or candid man il that fact should, Of itself. blast
with infamy the whole institution In every commu-
bigots may be fourd, possessing zeal without know
iedge, and II would have been a glorious trsi, in the sub
lime character Of our holy region, had such enthusiasis
never been found enrolled under :hc christian banner.
LOOK AZ the martyrs that have suffered persecution, -
ven unto death, from a mistaken zeal in the cause IS
religion. Not one, but hundreds of instances mar bo
sdduced; yet, who, in his senses, censuros chfisfaniiy,
III consequence OF the fury and madness Of . few OF is
Morgan may have been murdered by mSsous
Owe have no doubt of the fact, and have frequeaby az
that opinion) but that ought not to condemn
We are told by Mr.. Rush that masons and Lodges
forward in vindication Of those who were se-
cused OF the murder: II they did 80, It was because
they believed them innocent Of tho charge. Masops
knew full well that there is nothing in masonry that
could imPei men to commit so fragrant an outrage ON
tho rights OF a citizen, in violation Of tho law, human
and divine. Who will censure o mason for defending
a mason accused Of so atrocious and detestsble an Of
fence, when he believes the accused Innocent Sup
pose a political friend, Mr.. Rush, for instance, should
DO accused OF intrigue and corruption, and We should
sincerely believe him innocent, ought we to be csnsur.
ed for defending him, until his guilt was provedl Thus
lar have masons gone-we hope no farther. Too much
care IN passing judgment, in cases of great excitement.
cannot baexercised; and Mr.. Rush, with all his talents,
learning s1 experience, must admit that il is dangerous
for tho public press TO condemn an accused individual.
whom a jury Of his country could not, on their oaths,
find guilty.
The mos, serious part Of the letter Of Mr. Rush, h
his unqualified condemnation Of the public press. AZ
Infamous as he considers the murderers Of Mosrar, and
the masons generally, no 10 nevertheless disposed 70 at
tach greater iniany, II possible. to tue free prsss Of the
country. He should have Known before he made tho
ACQUISITION, that at the bYst mysterious disappsaranes
OF Morgan, the fact Of his abduction was rensrallv
denied. The opinion then was, Iha, HE Disappearance
was butts hoesse TO add 10 the sale Of bis book. AZ
= ''h0t ~ PuIfy Wob 2ntIs
masonic papers were establshed,t to Investigate the fact,
TO expose the Transaction, and, il possible, 10 bring 10
light the neiarious actors in the bloody drama. An sx.
element was soon got up-but all the iransaejsus re-.
moined q mystery. Was that the time for the public
press TO come forward in opposition to masonry Z Ii Mr.
Rush was himsslf then convinced that Morg an had
been abducted and murdered, why did he NOT then
send forth his eloquent voice a, no has DOW WHY
did he wait until the All OF May, 1881, before he rave
a public expression OF his opinion , And having smit-
ted his duty so long, how can he, In conscience, cen
sure the press Tor doing exactly as he cid up to the lh
OF Mayf lu our opinion, the Press 10 conducted with
prudence and discretion, ADD the charge made by Mr..
Is iiiberai end unjust. The State Of New York
instituted an inquiry, which terminated
in numerous prosecutions aud convictions. Pending
those prosecutions, ought the Press, with it's aimesi un-
limited influence, TO have volunteered 10 increase the
Certainly not. The Press in this SCUM
try 10 Tree, generally speak ng, from masonic or anti
mastn mic excitement. The anii-masons have bought
over several OF The old established papers, and ssssb.
lished some new ones, for the purpose Of continuing
tho excitement, and putting down Masonry. Look az
tho antf-masonic paper in this town. Net q year hes
elapsed since II espoused the cause Of auti-mssonry.-
When We are convinced that masonry murdered Nor.
gan, we shall freely open our columns against tho In.
stitutioD, without any promise or assurances Of addition.
al patronage. Until then, we shall not de driven from
masonry TO n'i-mssonry, By the iliberal abuse Of %
great a man IS Mr.. Rush, or by 'hs denuaciations Of
the whole anti.mssonic party. All We AK 10 70 be
convinced that the principles OF m Sonry murdered Nor.
gan, and, that I'D asonry 10 dangerous to The rights and
liberties Of our country, and from that moment We
shall oppose il with the zeal OF men determined 10 70
III " kOOu gdurcs
Mr.. Rush has doubtless his motives for expressin~
at this time bis unqualified disspprobation of masonry.
We are on the eve OF an important, national sIsetion.-
The ansi-inasonie party claim = President Of The u.
States, and q Vice President, from their own number.
This shows that anti masonry IL, in Its operation, 20.
meal. 10 the approaching eonte't, II is not ~improbs.
BILE that Mr.. Rush himself may be presented as 4 can.
diiate for the Presidency, 10 opposition 10 bis political
friend, Henry Clay, A fundamental principle OF ami.
masonry IL, that all masons must be removed from Of.
ice, ss is manifest by the conduct Of that party, when.
ever II has had the aseendency, and to this party has
Mr.. Rush attached himself; not, however, without
hrst denouDcing The Press and its conductors. II be
will but look at the character and reputation of those
he has so "uneeremoniously denounced, and draw q
eempari'on between them and bis new friends, he will
have but little cause TO be proud Of his exchange. AL.
with scarcely an exception, OF the reputable old, cub
stat tial presses in the country those who have at all
Zines and under all circumstances, supported the ua-
iional character and regulations; those that have defend.
ed The cause Of morals and religion, are denounced by
MIR. Rush, az being in the mos, criminal manner under
the power OF masonic Influence. What Others, in their
judgment, have considered fair. honest, prudent snd
upright, he considers wicked and criminal.
The press has vie wed with alarm The fsverish OF.
element created by anti-maonic exssgerhien; II has
~snslyzsd the motives OF tho leaders OF tho party, and
with great discretion, has reiu'ed to apply The brand
Of dissord 10 the in6snm,ble materials, that nearly, Of
themselves, produce spontaneous combustion. Mr..
Rush has ihro wn the lighted match among The eombus-
hbici, and will be answsrable for The consciousness. II
should b. the provises Of every good nan 10 al,ay the
prevailing exci,emeni; TO compare the character and
conduct OF tho two p,riisp, and u the public good re-
quires tbst ms.onfy should fall, 10 protect mssons In
heir civil and religious rights, and prevent, their bsiag
immo'sisd on an altar more unhailoosd thsa the ae.
surssd cells Of The ipquisiton. [Propidenes Jsuy.
MdntgdefuTers' Convention and RepUt "A Cen.
vssiioD OF the Woollen Manniactursrs wa, hsld il this
city the week belore last, Tor the parposs Of lpauirinr
Into serttin frauds oil the rsv.nus, sid 10 BE- prac,ised
az the New York Custom Bouse, and Of esnsertiuS
measr res 10 prevent them The proeesdipks htv. int
been published in The nnti-eon mstrist rapk0. 10 vh,eh