Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-10-28

sentiments upon the subject OF Antmasonry, and as
crbe to it "that character which it deserves. Tol
this mode of elictng public opinion, concerning our
opposition to Masonry, we have no objection. Wei
have always felt and expressed earnest desire, that
tn public should make subject OF sober IN
al y and strict examination. course of this kind
will inevitably produce conviction in every honest IN
tegent, and unbiased mind, of the justice, proprety
and necessity, of organizing firm and nnceasng oppo-
sition TO the oath bound Cabal We hope il the cit
liens f this place should convene for the purpose OF
estimating the value character Of Antmasonry that
they will give general notice; because sue feel dispo-
sition aid in the decision Of this important question
We also hope that the meeting will take place in day
iight,--say ''hgh twelve" and without any "Tylng
Of doc s. -
We are much surprised that our opponents not
more pock in the art Of misrepresentation. Iheirl
language is "you are political party without any
honor BILE principle of action; whose object is to per
secute and prcscrbeto dsorganize, and destroy the
peace If socety-to destroy all system and order of
Government,-to crush the Clergy,-to institute a
hierarchy, and to produce general anarchy and con-
fusun' &c Such of the contradictory, i'm
beetle, and gtoundieSs charges Of our "masoncalyl
arful" opponents! All this languages in the abstract
might with equal propriety be used by the pirate the
murderer, or the common drupkard, merely because
the harmony and interest of society demand their e
clusion from all places Of trust honorand because
their centous conduct incurs the moral and legal PEN
aties of warning with the dearest interests OF the so
cial compact. Are these comparisons just! Let us
examine. The libertine complains OF the rigour and
severity Of the code of moral laws which exclude him
from the enjoyment and confidence OF good society
The assassin complains of the scUeffy OF that lawl
which demands his life atoning sacrifice but ne
ther If those persons ATTEMPT to exhibit the injustice
Of those laws by which they are made to suffer Ma
sons say that opposition to the principles OF their
order, is "unust, is persecution is prescription but
those charges they cannot sustain by truth or argu
ment neither do they pretend to do it. Can they de-
ceiye nation of intelligent and jealous freemen by
the secious but false imputaton of political fraud!
VIII the public con6de in the mere hse dSt OF So
ccty, united by 'soaths and penalties which are not
rccSgn zed by any religious moral or civil code of laws
in the unverse-Oaths of the most fearful character
the tenor ne d en 81 ats IN tsr
blasphemous, in the form of administration INDIGENOUS
in the extremcs We ask, will vrtuous, enlighten-
cd, hghnnded and free people, believe the futile and
unsupported accusations of opponents? accusations
withou, the sembance of truth or foundation In abb
stract science always look for evidence for demon
straton Shall mere assertions, concerning subjects of
general or indefinite character, be received as
truth without any kind OF confirmation or testimony!
Surely not When Inasons impeach the motives,
principles conduct Of our party, ask them for the
evdancC--for the why and wherefore. When they
tell you that masonry is from God ask them to show
yorthe imhress of Deity upon it. When they tell you
that masonry is very ancient; ask them to exhibit the
record of its BIRTH. When they tell yon that ma
sonry scientific, "is the art of finding out arts" ask
them fer exhibition of the Intellectual superiority
of its patrons. When they tell youit is charitable;
ask them for the recipients monuments Of its bene-
fcence. When they tell you It is religious; ask them
to show you the practical Goodness Of its members.
When they tell you it is only the " Iantmaid of
iigen; ask them when and where religion ever soil
cited or required the aid of the Iarlot masonry" in
promoting the immortal interests of the human family
We would invite our feow-ctlzens to put these qes-
lions to the infatuated advocates of Freenasonry when
they make an ostentatous display of the tabled atri-
butcs of their loathesome idol The mere circlm-
stance, of advocating the groundess preten-
aons of their order, presupposes degree of moral
turpitude, that would prompt them to misrepresent
the principles of action, and ultimate object OF the
hnti-maEofc party This they have strenuouSly and
perscyCrngly done. 1t will require but little pene
raton to discover and little candour 10 induce eve
ny good man to acknowledge the fact For this rea-
wish the public to enquire into the character O.
the masonic institution, and into the conduct OF it,
members towards us.
Justice aud conscious innocence require no disguise
secrecy, and challenge the st1ctest scrutiny Oh
the other hand, masonry and its advocates fearully
81 rink from light and truth, and can emily exist ant
flourish in the midst Of darkness, secrecy and false
hood. II man ever loses the moral impress or imag
of his Creator, it is when he kneels to assume tn
masonic ollgationi A lower state Of moral degrade
ton is incomprehensble TO the human mind. Ye
these are the persons who presume TO impeach tn
Tcrcly because they will not do homage to that detes
tah'e Harlot, called Fleemasonry.
"Mr. Wirt-w was a mason, but ambition ha
m,de him gia'aV, and he has struck upon roc
thnt seals his boHiical de$tructi9 ion. ;--lNaSoni
In elHgGiccr. . ~ n '-sSr l-s =
Such is the language Of masonry 20 every persoI
who has the tctncrity to bring in question the ridcl
so,s claims Of the " hand-rnaid. Presume to doul
thu truth of masonic fctioh-to call IN question he
di,inty" or suspect the reality Of her boasted an
Or. suinptuaus attributes and you inevitably bccom
the subject of the most malignant mPrecation' an
dire vengeance of the :" brotherhood. f"
What has Mr.. Writ done to merit this political al
nih;laon. Why he has yentnred to disclose the no,
tst conviction Of his intelligent mind concerning Il
an,-republcan nature and iniquitous tendency of Il
masonic institution For the exercise of this unalie
able privilege Of every freeman, Mr. Writ is doomt
aud devoted to political martyrdom, by a society, hr
SmeTicans' .Tfegard with cautious eye" the fact,
l6at free citizen, of a RchubiicaY Government, E