Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-09-09

evils which have long existed, though but partially
perceived by the community in which we live and
which have arisen and grown up in the exuberant soil
ot Freemasonry. Not to mention the prodigal waste
of time, nor the consumption of the means required
tor purposes OF Charity in vain display convival
nduigcnces we cannot but regard the process of in
duction and initiation through the various degrees Of
the craft, as unfolding series of ceremonies equally
= peurile and degrading These are objections to the
order of masonry, which chiefly confined to the
members themselves, and to their families. There are
others which reach the whole community and which
TEND to contamnate the streams of social intercourse
and to poison the sources of confidence and integrity in
levery part In every city and village the combined
support and patronage OF an eliatet corps known o
each other by conce1cd signals of recognition, UNI:
known to all beside, acting in concert against the u
CONSCIOUS ranks OF their eow-citizens, must speedily
produce to most striking results in cleyatng the OBJ
ccts of their preference to Office and wealth. and in
depressing their compettorsn the same proportion
Such course of action and such results have long
been dscernibe through the wide extent of masonic
Influence Nor is it doubted, that advantages Of the
mature alluded to have been among the strongest all
lorcments, especially to youthful and aspiring cand
dates to seek its protection and its aid in the acquisi-
tion Of patronage and promotion to the exclusion If
lothcrs Of equal or superior pretensions but whose
merits have thus been left to langush in obscuity and
dependence. The strong temptation thus held out to
seize the fruit without the labour of its cultivation has
probably been the chief incentive to the votares of the
order The tedious repetition of senseess FORMS and
the endurance Of degrading munmeries would never
have been submitted to by many aspirants, from
craft, without the stimulus of benefits, more certain
and substantial. Here too may easily discern the
real magnet, which even now ststains and holds to-
lScther the congrcgatcd of freemasons through
our land, overcoming the strong disapprobation daily
more audible in the utterance of public opinion. Of
public opinion masonry has fcar for its DEGREES ma
sonry has no respect AITaycd in panoply of mystic
rious temper, shrouded in impenerable secrecy sur
rounded by thousands Of blind adhercnts and in pos
session of the strong holds of power and patronage
she hurs defiance and threatens destruction to her
sailants She fears nothing from violence, for she
has every counteract defeat and punish it
1 10 intimate the possibility that masonic oaths and
obligations haze entered the halls of justice and ming
led their denominations in the purity of its administia
tion, has been thought too bold suggestion. And
surely the quiet of society be fatally disturbed ii
/ 1src;ous Influences Yet certainly the murderers Of
lone victim have been screened by those influences.
Hence, it is evident the danger exists and hence the
vigilance Of all, who seek their rights in courts of JUS
tce, IS inevitably aroused, and their eye anXiousy
roves through the list of those, who are to determine
the controversy. Beyond the immediate limits of the
scenes alluded to sister State these dangerous ten
denotes of masonic obligations have not been cqu lily
obviou7 perhaps to very great extent may not have
existed. Yet hcnceorth those corrupt trials, sane
tiored rs they to be, certainly dsavowed BY
the fraternity, must niuse the poison of their example,
Through the entire sphere of its influence The dan
ger, is neither imaginary nor .traing; and even the
liealouses, cngendeled by their morbid condition of
Communities where masonry blends its uncongenal
principles with the elements of society, must materi-
ally weaken the vcneration Of the public for judicial
decisions ard thus endangerone Of the strongest pillars
lof our happy institutions
With the deceptive character of the pretensons Of
masonry to scientific excellence and to extraordinary
lchary, tac public have been made fully acquainted
lbv the disclosures of of the cindd and
spectacle OF its MEMBERS who have had the courage
to abjure their allegiance. These comparatively harm
Hess boasts, and even its puere ceremonies, and its ri
ldiculous bagcany, willingly leave to be quietly
; N Of he
i But the evils we would avert eXteunnatc and to
which We have before alluded, of such nature,
that the fabric Of society is endangered by their
tnuancc. Gladly will we hail the day, when masons
shall renounce their exclusive privileges and abure
lthe oaths and obligations which conflict with their du
?, ties citizens and christians. Their felowCizens
would receive them with cordialty and restore them
to their confidence and esteem.-Hitherto seceders
IRON their ranks have encountered the hatred and OBJ
oquy of the whole order, by their intrepid and viru
GUS course. The independence and courage required
TO form and execute resolution to secede, only be
found in a few superior minds. Without doubt the
Great majority of the fraternity, less interested and less
preudiced than their privileged and exalted dgnta-
es, would be easily induced to relnquish the ties and
the trappngs with which they find themselves
bered But the arts and eXertions of the e7u nfame
their pride and their preudices by misrepresentng
our Efforts and charging with prescription and per-
y secution. We trust however, the, day approaches
when the public voice shall be loud and unani-
nous, that the nfatuaedand spellbound devotees of
# masonic dcusoH shall be awakened TO reason, and
# shall oyfully fly from the dangers which beset them,
to the long deserted ranks of their feowcitzens and
: friends
# In the pleasure and satisfaction at such result Of
their labous the opponents of masonry will forget the
unmerted reProaches SO often repeated OF being dis
turbcrs of the quiet Of their neighbours promoters Of
quarrcs fomenters of eaouses sehshly ambitious of
honor and Office and whatever else the desperation OF
; masonic zealots alleges against them. 1t will be
for them high reward to see their present avesarics
liberated from the meshes of mschievous delusion,
and their country relieved from an inveterate evil
This pleasure will be greatly heightened by the re-
ded in the views and in humble degree contributed
to the success, which yourself and other eminent and
highly citizens have been conspicuous in accom-
o plishing
We tender you Sir, in behalf of the Convention,
the assurance of our high respect and consideration