The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-06-29
ADDRESS OF THE GRAND LODGE
OF RHODE ISLAND,
To the PeOpLe of that State.
FELLOW CITIZENS,

| "S eOPbe " MH ot0tS.
FELLOW CITIZENS.
We have examined Memorial from the Anti.
Masonic Convention" assembled at Providence
and bearing date Dec. %, 1880; and finding our
selves therein implicated in general with other
Masonic bodies, we deem it an imperious duty to
ourselves, to our institution, and the COMMUNITY to
come forward in our own behalf, and in behalf OF
the Lodges under our Jurisdiction. to vndicate our
selves and them, before the public
The members of this Grand Lodge have no dis
position to question the constitutional and inalen-
aole rlght OF any portion of their fellow citizens
10 memorlalize the Legislative authority against
Puolic abuses, or whatever they may consider as
such. we fully recognize that ri ght in its utmost
extent and bearing of the highest privileges OF
american Freemen A right, by no means to be
reiif4nished but with the utter subversion of our
rcpublieaa institutions. Fully aware also. of Inc
iaet, that nom the different mediums through which
dlnerent persons frequently view the same object,
we are sensible that similar difference must ex-
st IN our perceptions and opinions of the same sub
tject Hence we are prepared to admit. that many
may be honestly opposed to Masonry as an evil
while its advocates as honestly look upon it as a
laudable institution
Fer this reason, while we fully accord to our 3D.
ponents the right of Freemen 10 memorabilia the
government in opposition to our interest. as Ma
sons, we should be wanting in self respect and in
the duty we owe to ourselves and others, did we
not claim and exercise, the equally valuable nat
ural, and inalienable right of self defence, In
common with our fellow citizens, we have rights
to preserve-f necessary, to defend Like many
others, we have corporate privileges conferred by
.le competent authority. Our corporate privileges
however. we consider not inalienable, but holden
only on the express condition, that their nature
ana exercise be IN strict conformity with and cir
cumscrlhed by "the Constitution and laws of the
iana" But we are not prepared to admit that
.nose privileges thus bestowed upon US, and per-
petnaled by solemn legislative act can be forci-
Dy wrested from US, unless fairly proved dangerous
or that the conditions on our part have been brokcr
out oy stretch OF arbitrary power far more alarm
ing ana dangerous as precedent than our institu
ton can be, even if as pernicous as its enemies
suppose. 1t is with these impressions, we now
come FORWARD 10 the public; and with the same
views and feelings, with the same spirit and with
tho same tenacity for our rights shall be ready to
meet any call that may be made upon us by the con-
stltuted authorities of the State
The avowed object Of the Memorialists is to de-
prlve us of our Charters as distinctly set forth in
the Memorial, now before US by means of the leg
lsiatlye authority. The Legislature is called unon
as preparatory step. to investigate our PRINCIPLES
and our doings. And the more readily to effect the
purpose, numerous charges are arrayed against us
OF evil principles and unlawful practices. Which thu
Memerialists gravey say. We are prepared to
show To an examination of the most material Of
these charges, we would now solicit your attention
d
stand and reconcile the following, to US. APPARENT
contradictions in the Memorial The Memo
rlalist call on the Legislature to institute an in
Vestgatlon of all our concerns, but at the Same
time, declares that investigation to be impossible
because the nature of our secret institution will
not admit of it because MaSons other viii uo.
or Care not, and those not Masons cannot diyulue
our secrets. This, we saJ, cannot be true bowey
er, by their own showing because the very perni
cious secrets they have charged us with holding
they have protested to spread before the LeosIa
ture and the world. If the Memorial then con-
tain facts, which its authors say We are prenared
to shew," we seriously inquire, what obstacle ex-
lists TO perfect investigation since the Memorial
lists profess 10 have all the facts in the case in their
own keeping? But, aside from all these consider
atons say 1t is not true that an investigation of
our concerns cannot be had by the Legislature
Nor is 1t treating us with fairness to say so until
such an investigation shall have been called fnr
and refused or evaded. Such a call has never been
made; when it shall have been. will be the proper
time to Judge how it will be met We hold onr
Charters under the Government-We know that
Government has a right to full and comoIete in
yestigation of our concerns-To Cove rnment we
owe and render Subordinatlon-And further tve
know that when our doings shall be found not to be
In strlc. conformity to the Constitution and laws
OF the land our Charters will be- and as honest men
and good citizens, we say ought to be-" forfeit and
void. And fully aware of all this, we solemnlv
ple'sge ourselves to extend to the Legislature eve
ry id and facility in our power, to carry on such an
Investigation; whenever that body shall call unon
us to do so; and cheerfully abide the issue.
Here we might leave the subject, and ouietlv
await the Legislative call But our opponents moi
satisfied with demanding that call, have stepned
forward as voluntary Witnesses brought I'D host
Of charges in awful array against u.s. tried us AZ their
own bar, condemned us unheard, and virtually pro
claimed us to the world, traitors to i" the Consttu-
ton and the laws and the principles Of moral ius
tice. We feel ourselves therefore bound to bro.
coed.
1t is urged in the Memorial, as a special reason
why our Charters never should have been granted
and why they should now be declared . forfeit and
void )" that our secrets not to be disclosed but AT
the hazard of life" will, at all tines place the in
vestigation of our concerns beyond the reach of
legislative power. We have already declared this
statement untrue, and shown it TO be inconsistent
| with other parts ofthe Memorial Yet, from these
premises, the AIemorialists argue that ait never
can be known when we violate the restrictive
clause of our Charters J" and all this, at the same
| time that they say, :" We fully prepared to
shew, J." that they are already violated.
The restrictive clause spoken offs, that we shall
" strictly conform to the Constitution and laws of
the land" As Masons and as citizens, we solemn
" declare that we challenge The strictest scrutiny
and repeat solemn pledge to offer every facili-
" in our power. The books of our recording Off
GERS are sworn to keep no secrets-They will be
| lain open to inspection and frauds or mutations
may be as readily detected in them, as in those of
other bodies. Our book of Constitutions. of Man.
uals, BY Laws and every principle connected with
our institution, are at hand and none of them shall
be withholden We aver, without hesitation, that
no corporate body in Rhode Island, will or can of.
fer greater facilities than these, to an investigation
| of its concerns. Why then, we ask should we be
accused of Withholding them, condemned for Sc
doing, and the return of our Charters demanded
without the requistion having been made, or q
crime proved upon us on the ground of justice
either legal or moral =?
That we have secrets. we frankly acknowledge
but that we have any which cannot be disclosed
but at the hazard of lfe," we deny. We have nc
doubt, the Memorialists in this part of their petit
ton, had their eye on the supposed murder Of vii
! liam Morgan by Masons. Ofthat supposed act. w,
can only say, we can neither affirm nor deny it
because we know nothing about it. Q. We solemn
y aver in the sight Of Heaven, and appeal to tht
Great Searcher OF hearts to test our sincerity tina
we have never received, given, or countenanceC
any obligation, requiring sanctioning the sacri
fee of life, as the penalty for disclosing Masonic
secrets. We further declare, that we know of ne