Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-10-11


every legal voter liberty to vote accord
ing to his own opinion fthe several can
didates for Office; they do not, however,
number the Freemasons among those
who are ineligible. But admitting that
the plan proposed were "constitutiOnal," !"
can it be truly said to be "peaceable!" I"
Can it be Of a peaceful tendency to ex-
hbit in an odious light-as unworthy of
public confidence, men who have for a
longcourse ofyears sustained irreproach. :.
able characters, and have been eminent
ly useful members of society," l do not
plead that such is the character of all ma
sons; am not for chasing the good and
bad together, as objects in whom no con-
fidence can be placed.
AS ground of alarm and objection
against the masonic Institution it ius
been said, "that under the direction Of
unprinciplcd men, il may be applied as u
political engine, by which to influence,
and i'm some instances to control our cleo
tons." This is "A remarkable passage on
more accounts than one. First, would
ask, what human institution or associa-
ton may not "be applied as an engine"
Of mischief, "whcn under the direction
of unprincipled men:" The more capa-
bic any institution is Of being made ex-
tensively useful, when under The dircc-
tion of the wise and benev volcr, the more
capable it is of being made an engine of
extensive mischief "wh en- under the di-
rection Of unprinci pied men," What in
stitutions could be rendered more mis-
chievous, under the direction of such
men, than those of a sacred or ecclcsias
tical character-such as churches and
clerical associations? Indeed how Of
ten in past ages were clerical associa
tions converted into engines of mischief
and persecution! Much olicner perhaps
than It has been known that the Mason
ic institution has been employed for such
purposes. But shall we treat all minis
tcrs Of the gospel as unworthy of public
confidence, because some Of their pro-
fession have been as bad as the murder.
ers of Morgan? Or shall we do this till
they will abandon the practice Of clerical
associations?
l observed that the present objection
was remarkable on more accounts than
one. will then next ask, was it to have
been expected that such an OBJ lection to
the ma sonic Institution would have been
found in letter to an ant-masonic as
sociation, to excite them to do what they
can "to influence" if not ''to contro''
the approaching election? Is the right
"to influence elections" peculiar to anti
masons? Is it so peculiar to them tha:
they may now honorably make their own
institution an "engi line to influence cleo
tions," lest masons should assume SUCH
q right in some future age'
In reply it may perhaps be said, that
the ant-masonic association is not Sc
cret society, and that the secrecy ofthe
institution of masonry is the ground Of
complaint But il the secrets Of masonry
have been rereaied by Morgan, in what
sense is il now secret institution? 9th
er societies, as well as the masonic, Of
ten meet in private or with closed doors,
when they have special business to trans
act. Besides, has it not been common
thing in times of great electioneering en-
citement for associations OF every name
to consult, when the members are to-
gether, on the best means for influencing
an approaching election, especially so, if
the members together happen to be Of
the same political party?
Upright and good men among the ma
sons must have very different opinions OF
their Institution from those which we
possess; and they must conscientiously
believe that we are under mistake, or
that we are dishonest in our objections.
How then do we wish such masons TO
treat US, while they believe the error to
be on our part? When we shall have
honestly decided this question, we may
safely adopt the result, as the rule of our
conduct towards them. Ifthey can con-
vince us that we arc in the wrong, l
hope we have honesty enough to lay a
side our obj ections. If, on the other
hand, we can convince them that the er-
ror is on their part, good masons will un-
doubtedly abandon their Institution
But lat, sir, is less likely to produce
conviction, than menace and reprodch?-
And is it not obvious to you, that men
ATE more likely to be convinced, and to
retract an error, if treated kindly, than
they are if by menace their opponents
place them in such a situation, that they
cannot retreat without being exposed to
the reproach of having been frightened or
dyiren TO take that step3 In my opinion,
the course proposed will have direct
tendency to prolong the life of masonry
in the United States. For think it may
be expected that, after the present ex-
citement shall so Ear subside as to give
place to reflection, sympathy will arise