The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-11-16
MIR. ADAMs,s LETTER.

The following is Mr. Adans's letter a,ldresse
TO correspondent Of the Boslen Free Press, in re
:, ply 70 note from him. The latter was re yiew win
MIR. Sheppards defence of the Masonic institution
IN the course of il he spoke of Mr. Adims's father
as one who entertained favorable views of the or
der, interrng the CORE of its principles. from
: the taients, virtue, and high standing Of many o
his friends and acouaintauces who WEE ,na,ch.r
of it.
The correspondent of the Press, wr,te for nfor
/, matioa in regard to this point. ~
Quincy, % .4aelst, 1891.
Dir he letter from nv fai her t. the Crane
: lodge oil Massachusetts,, which Mr. Shepparc
has thought proper TO introduce into his address,
|, was complimentary answer to a friendly anc
patriotic address Of the Grand Lodge, TO him
IN IL lie expressly states that he had never bee
initiated IN the order. lie therefore knew
nothing of their Secrets, their Oaths. nor 4bei,
Penalties Far less. had their practical opera
tlon been revealed, by the murder nf William
Morgan Nor had the hand of the Avenger o
plo1a oeen arrested for five long years-and
probably Tor ever, by the centuiTncy of viii.
nesses setting justice. at defiance in her own
sanctuary Nor had the trial of an accomplice
IN guilt marked the Influence of one Juror under
masonic Oaihs upon the verdict of his eleven
+ fellows. wv '
That Mr.. Sheppard should resort to letter
rom my father, prolessedly uninitiated man
10 Ioerate the Masonic Institution from the un.
re'uted charge of unlawful Oaths, of horrible
ana disgusting penalties and secrets, the divulg-
'hg Oh winch has been punished by murder un-
surpassed IN human atrocity, is 10 me passing
strange All that my father knew of masonry
~ i'9S was, that it was favorable TO the sun
PPH o. ci1% authority; and This he Inferred
IRON Inc character of intimate friends of his,
ana excellent men who had been members IF
the society. The inference was surely nntur.
at but he had never seen the civil authority in
connect WITH masonry itself To speak of the
aiasonic institution as favorable to the suppor,
OF civil authority at this day, and in this coun-
Try, would be nockery of the common sense
ana sensibiiity OF mankind
My father says he had known the love of the
hne arts, the delight in hospitality, and the de.
.otlon 10 humanity of the masonic fraternity
All these qualities no doubt then were, and vet
are conspicuous IN many members of the socie.
w. lhey, and qualities of yet higher order,
were not less conspicuous in many Of the Mo-
nastic Orders-n the lnquistidn itself. whose
minister's IN the very act ofburnng the BODY of
inc hereto to death, were always actuated by
'he tenderest and most humane regard for the
salvation of his soul
The use of my fathers name for the purpos.
es to which Mr. Sheppard would now apply il is
an lnjuryto his memory which deem Il INV
duty, as lar as 1t may be in my power TO re-.
Dress. You observe, no says, be never had been
initiated in the Masonic Order. And have
more than once heard from his own lips ,chv he
had never enjoyed that felicity.
Mr. Jeremy Gridley, whom he mentions as
having been his intimate friend. was Grand
Master OF the Massachusetts Grand Lodge.
ne was also the Attorney General of the Crown.
When IN October, 1888, my father having fin.
lshed his law studies, and his school-kee ping at
| w OTCeStRF-
poor, friendless, anu obscure, 10 ask of him the
favor tn present him 10 the Superior Court Of
the Province, then sitting AT Boston, for admis
sion to the Bar-Mr GridIey, in his own office
examined the youthful asprant with regard TO
MS professional requirements gave him ad
vice truly paternal, and dictated by the purest
virtue and then presented him to the Court
WITH declaration that he had himself, exanlin-
cd hun, and could assure their .Honors that his
regal requirements were very considerable, and
iull worthy of the admission which he solicited
| This kindness of Mr. Grdley was never for.
gotten by my father-I trust ii will never be
forgotten by his children. From that day forth
while Mr.. Grldlcy lived, he was the intimate
friend, personal and professional, of my father
lie died in 1867. My father often resorted 10
HIM fer friendly counsel, and as he was Grand
Master OF the Lodge, once asked his advice
whether II was worth his while to become
me mber oil the Society. In the candor of friend
ship, Mr.. Grioley answered Misunderstanding
! that by aggregation to the society young man
might acquire little artificial support; but
mat he did not need it. and that there was no
thing in the Masonic Institution worthy of his
seeking to be associated with it,
Sc SAID, at that time, the Grand Master of
the Massachusetts Masons, Jeremy Gridley ,
and such, have repeatedly heard my father
say, was the reason why he never joined the
lodge.
The use of the name of Washington, to give
an 7odour Of sanctity 10 the Institution as it
Ii2ao stands exposed TO the world, is, in my
opinion, as nnwarrantable as that of my fathers
name. On the mortal side Of human existence
there is no name for which entertain vene.
ration more profound than for that of Wash
ington. But he was never called to consider
the Masonic Order in the light in which it
MUST now be viewed. lfhe had been, we have
a pledge OF what his conduct would have been,
Tar more authoritative than the mere fact Of
his having been a mason can be in favor Of the
brotherhood. If you wish to know what that
pledge is, please TO consult the recently publish
ed writings OF Thomas Jefferson, Vol. :, from
page 4l6 to 1922 and especially the paragraph
beginning at the middle Of the page 4lS.
would earnestly recommend the perusal and
meditation of the whole passage 10 all virtu-
Gus and conscientious masons of whom know
there are great numbers. If they wish to draw
precepts for their own conduct from the exam.
pies and principles of Washington, or from the
deliberate and anxious opinions and solietude
of Jefferson, they will find in those pages les
, sons Of duty for themselves which thew NIGH
, consider it as presumption in me, to offer them
} The application of the principles, in case moi
J technically the same, but in every essentia
, point of argument similar, and in many re
spects from weaker to much stronger basis
, would leave 10 their own discretion, though
, first Invested of its passions. II is in my owr
opinion an unanswerable demonstration Of thu
, duty of every mason in the United States a
this day. ,F ...s.-.e ..g
| never heard and do not believe, that tn,
Rev DR.. Bentley ever delivered or publishc,
$ sermon ccnsuring my father for any thing h
had ever said upon the subject Of Masonry
, The electoral vote Of Massachusetts, IN $50
was unanimous for my father.
You are at liberty TO make what use Of thi
letter you please; giving notice if you publis
IL, that il is in answer to letter of inquiry re
ceived by me.
, | am very respectfully, sir, your obcden
servant. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
ORIENTAL ILLUSTRATORS OF PSALMS xxi,
, 81 confess" said Captain Wilson, /" that sine
my return from India, | have been forcibl
struck with several things, which provo III
, Scriptures to be an eastern book For instanc
the language of one of the Psalms where Dayi