Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-08-26

john KAuFFELT,
HuGH M'DoNALD,
Tho. c. HAMBLY,
1nti-masonic Committee of Cor-
resp0ndence for Turk County.
YoRK.PA., MAY 18th 1881.
GANTtEMEN--I have received the commune
cation OF the goth April, which, as Committee
Iof Correspondence of Anti-masons for this
county, you have done me the honor to address
Ito me, on the general subject of MASONRY and
IAnti-masonry, and making some inquiries of
me in relation to it, | do not know, that the
Views which entertain upon either topick,
can be of more Importance, than those of any
other private individual; who may have taken
1.-THE trouble to inform himself on the passing
levents of the day, and to reflect upon them.
But as you are pleased to invite an expression
| of those views, | will not withhold them.
When citizen may have adopted on sufficient
ldeliberation, opinions upon any public question,
they seem of right to belong to whomsocver
may think the@ worth asking for. My opin-
ions having been made up neither hastily nor
very recently on those which your letter en-
braces, willingly proceed, without occupying
time by any further Introduction, to present
them to you, with the grounds on which they
are founded.
i ] see objections to secret societies, because.
pursuing objects not known to the public,
Through means not known to the public, they
TACT under diminished responsibilities to the
public. If the objects be good, why not state
them? if bad, they ought to be known. Our
Legislative halls are all open, and our courts:
lso are all the acts OF our people, that may come
Ito effect the interests of the body political, or
'lsocial. Not bridge company, NOT a turnpike
company. no bank, scarcely an association Of
'tany kind, for whatever purpose existing
I whether for the advancement Of charity. OF
Learning. or religion, or any Of the cownon
slbusness Of life, and whether iucorporatA by
1.-The laws or not, but renders its statementsTtc
the public either voluntary, or by command
of the laws. It the latter do not positively en-
ljoin publicity, competent share of informa
ton regarding the objects Of any such associa-
sltions, is rarely or ever withheld, proper IN
Z. lquiry being made. Societies, then, profoundly
lsecret, by the first element Of their constitution
2 whatever their ostensble ends, cannot be toe
slclosely watched, in country whose primary
principles Of political and social action, are al
lin the face Of day. The mystery should APP
!, pear to have good cause, and be free from al
: suspicion of abuse. If such societies guarc
: their secrets by strong penalties if they have
: numbers and antiquity on their side, if thei
visible out-posts are butl links of a chain stretch
ing from nation to nation; if the sense Of aft
"A lated attachment and union among them
- perceived to be exceedingly energetic an
: Jealous; if their whole scheme of discipline
> improved throughout ages, has become in
al high degree imposing, even terrifying, thei
al Operations will naturally have the more scop,
, and should be watched with the more car
;HI Freemasonry is such society. Great an
1e good, men have belonged to it, know; and d
:. belong to it, at this moment; yet, recent di
:. closures in the the United States, have, thinI
shown the dangers of which the society ma
become the parent, through the agency of ba
men. OF all governments existing, ours is I'll