Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-10-14
Erom the Name Free Press
REMUNERATION IN MAINE.

Mr.. Editor;-1n giving my views to the Z
public at this time, in reference to the lnsttu-
ton of Speculative Masonry, am unconelous
of being governed by any sinister motives. 1 ,
consider neutrality on the great question be- ;
tween the Masonic institution aud its opposers ;
to be criminal; if Masonry is that moral, be-
nevolent and scientific Institution which its j
votaries represent it to be, il is the duty OF
every Mason to defend it against the unmerlt-
ed attacks of it's enemies; but if the principles
of Masonry are calculated to thwart the lm-
partial administration of iustice-if its oaths
and obligations conflict with mems obligations
to their God and country, then surely il is the
indispensable duty of every Mason to renounce
forever all allegiance to the Order. h
In September 1925 l joined the MasonlcI
Institution in Belfast in this State, and in the
course of the following winter, was raised tol
the sublime degree of Master Mason; like.
wise had conferred upon me the two honorary
degrees of Secret Monitor and knight of
Constantinople.* Sometime in the winter OF
1896 the test degree was administered to me;
this degree was established to detect book
1 Masons from regularly initiated Masons; its
test word is L, O, S, it being the latin name of
the sun, reversed. | have never been satisfied
with Masonry since taking the first degree, as
many Of my Masonic brethren in Belfast well
know, having frequently expressed my feelings
to them on the subject. On one occasion
when l was officiating as Junior Deacon in.
4 preparing a candidate, l advised him as a
4 friend to stop where he was, and expressly
told him he would be disappointed and dis
satisfied.
4 By examining into the nature, tendency and
of masonry, have for more than
la year thought it was my duty to revoke my
: ALLEGIANCE to, and dissolve all connection with
a the Masonic Institution; and am impelled to
A this course from firm belief that Masonic
0 principles not only justify, but REQUIRE the in
. Fiction Of Masonic penalties far breach 81
i, Masonic Oaths; While resided in Belfast the
n abduction and murder of Morgan was frequent
: Iy subject of conversation in our Lodge
: meetings, and am sorry to be under the Me-
y cessity of saying thai J@ dark transaction
n was JUSTIFIED by many of the members
r present and among them same Of our most re-
o Spectea citizens. / do not state these facts tc
i, iniure the feelings Of any individual or BODY
e of men but merely to show the demoralizing
n influence Masonic oaths have over the minds
el of the best of men; for if Masonic oaths are
el considered binding, the more honest and up.
n right the man. the more scrupulous he will
5. feel about breaking them. / have no doub
j that if any Mason had been detected in writing
:. an exposition of the secrets of Masonry IL
= this section OF the country, previous TO 1926
The would have shared similar fate to Nor
e gan. These are my sober convictions o
: Speculative Masonry, and in giving them t.
;. the public have only discharged duty from
n which years past experience has taught I'M
n there was no reprieve. And whatever tht
IT weight of my name may be, l am not willin;
that it should remain any longer in the seal
ar of Masonry; | therefore publicly declare tina
lel the oaths. obligations and penalties of Ma
d sohry. as no7o before the Public ARE TRUE
ylso far as have received them, and l do nov
ii; solemnly and sincerely renounce all allegianc
,eI to the Masonic Institution, "without an,
lel equivocation. mental reservation or self eva
;. sion of mind in me whatever" and wouIt
'slrespectfuly invite my Masonic brethren t.
ID give the subject careful and candid invcsti
!. cation and then act as conscience may dictate
;! THOMAS JONES.
s Unity, Me. Sept. IL, 1881.
p "A new degree, which has yet been revealed Wi
Mr. Jones haze the goodness to give the Secrets oas,
ceremonies OF this dcSrcel-EDs. A. NJ. INTEL.
nel (C@ The following is an extract from lette,
h, OF ROYAL ARCH MASON, to a gentleman i
n this town, who has not yet publicly renounce
IS. Masonry, but who has wholly discarded it an
is thus bears testimony against it,
DIS 'You know my mind on Masonry, and thu
to 1t IS not new thing for me to be opposed I
to that Institution. left the Lodge four yeal
he before l came here, and that too, before ii
RS Morgan transaction took place. But l di
or not then oclieVe' what nave since found to
IN. true, and what compels me to say that it
or. high time that all Masonic Influence rvas bl
ter d21vn. 1t was clearly proved that Elisl
rs Adams with others was accessory to the al
Dr. duction, (and may we not say murdcr) of Mo
,ur gan; yet Masons have used all their talents
he defeat justice. and that by false swearing an
dis every other kind of wickedness: nor is tn
he confined to persons in the lower orders, nc
lie Masons of high standing, and who held in