Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-09-23
= ANTI MASONIC.
From the Boston Free Press.
RENUN CIATIO N.

X T. ~ " N = "A L " M
To all Free and Accepted Masons, of all
degrees, and TO all whom this may come
That /, CHARLES c. Cone, Of the Town and
County of New-London, Connecticut.--se-
duced by the Misrepresentation of masons, and
by my own curiosity, insthe month
of November, 1916, was made member OIL
EASTERN STAR LoDGc of Freemasons inI
Windham, Connecticut, by being initiated,
passed and raised to the Sublime Degree of
Master Mason. In doing this took the oaths
and submitted to the obligations as disclosed
BY Morgan. And / am impelled to acknowl-
edge that the nature and tendency OF Speeu-
lative Freemasonry are not only hostile to he-l
igion. but to the civil institutions OF our coun-
try--to the regular and equitable administra-
ton Of Justice, and to the general diffusion OF
social happiness. | was told that masonry
was calculated to promote the interests OF So
cial happiness. was told that masonry was
calculated to promote the interests Of society,
and shat it was also charitable institution,
and that it was ancient &c. &c. then I'M
proved part of my time Lecturing with ma
sons, until / met with JEREMY /. Cross, in
Chester, where he was employed by Worcester
Lofige, and there learned all the beauties OF
Freemasonry, which consisted in stripping a
man to his Shirt hoodwinking and hatering
him, and then administering to him, as pirate
does to his accomplices, blasphemous and
bloody oath, under the penalty of a most hor-
ribe death, which at once.severs the bonds OF
all society, and makes murder duty, defama-
ton a system, and vengeance a sworn obliga-
ton. As to its charity, it is all selhshness.
Where they bestow one dollar on any brother,
they receive fifty. But thank God, the time
lis come that they will gull no more out Of
their hard earnings their Grand Master appears
to be missing, and there is no work laid out on
the Trestle Board, whereby to pursue their
labours. Is it necessary that any set of men
/ to be charitable should do their deeds by night!
I conclude they choose darkness rather than
/ light because their deeds are evil. not only
renounce, but denounce masonry OF my OWE
/ free will and accord, without any mental re.
Iservation or secret evasion whatever. Lee
him who prefers it cling to the institution, i
he has not sense or honesty enough to quit it
: for public sentiment is already deluging thu
t country, and masonry will soon find that sh
has not even an Arrarat to rest her foot upon
4 For every man adhering to the institution j
A bound to justify the kidnapping of Morgan
under the penalty of having his throat Gu
across &c. For while he upholds the institu
tion he must maintain its principles, and b
: bound by its oaths.
now solemnly declare the oaths, obligations
secrets, signs, grips, passwords and principle
, of masonry, to the third degree, to be all tru
deliniated by Morgan, which account
now consider myself as breaking no masoni
obligation, and only asserting to truth alread
published to the world by hundreds Of wit
!; nesses. The facts above stated are the rea
!, sons why have omitted to attend a I.odg
for ten wears. have for long time conclu
, ded that leaving the lodge and expressing m
opinion to individuals should be my only re
nunciation, but for the last few months hay
] reflected more seriously on the subject, and d
r consider it duty owe to God and to M
!, country, to make this my more public renun
Fl citation of AT connection with Speculativ
! Freemasonry, forever.
4 CHARLES c. CONE.
5 New-London, August 10, 1891.