The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-11-28

searches to the world. 10 the mean timc, OBJ !
serve the nierences 10 be drawn from this ex- |
treme diversity of the terms and import of the |
obligations as administered in different Lodges, |
Chapters and Encampmt nts +; but all under the /
SANCTION Of this tremendous Oath of the entered (
apprenticeship secured by this soul Stacking
pledge, given in advance, and in Ignorance OF
what they are TO be and all ryeted by the pen /
atty To which | shall next advert Fourihly
All this, promise and swear-binding my
self under no less penalty than that of having
my throat cot ncruss from ear 10 car, my tongue
torn out by it's roots, and my body oufieu !"
the rough sand of the sea, at low water "'aIh'
where the Tide Gibbs and flows twice IN twenty
four hours"
We have been told over and over again that
this is understood bv Masons TO be merely an
invocaion-and the Committee oil investigation
of the Legislature of Rhode Island. have grave |
iy told the world that the explanation gwen by
MasoEs to this penalty, is, that wouio rathei
have, or sooner have. my throat cut, than 10
veal" &c 1t is unfortunate that thus explain
alton is in direct contradiction to the PLAIN and
unequivocal import of the words OF the Oath
The Oath incurs the penalty LOT It's violation
The explanation promises fidelity, though at
she expense of life The Oath appreciates the
death of a Traitor, as penalty Tor treachery
The explanation claims crown OF martyrdom
for couslancy II Benedict Arnold had been
taken in The act OF treason to his country: he
would have suffered no less penalty than death,
though not the baTbarous and brutal death OF
the masonic obligation. When Joseph Warren
suffered death on Bunkers HILL is there ex
planatory Mason who dare tell you that he sut
fered psaaitg Yet 80 il is, that the Masonic
Oath, and its explanation, contound all moral
distinctions to The degree Of considering the
death of martyr and the death Of traitor as
enc and the same thing.
This explanation of the penalty annexed 10
the entered apprentices Oath, it must be &C.
knowiedged, is not ingenuous-it is not even
ingenious. 1t is grand hailing sign of distress
,,r I is a Masonic Murder of the English Ian
guage.
| say this with the less hesitation, because in
your seventh letter containing your defence of
the Masonic Obligations. you have disdained 10
take this preposterous explanation of the Rode
Island Masons You know too well the import
of words. You candidly avow that the Oaths
and Obligations are out of season-out of rea-
son and ought TO be abolished. will thore-
fore forbear to press upon you the still grosser
absnrdty, of the pretended Rhode Isand OK
PLANTATION, when applied to the Master Mason's
and Royal Arch penalties. The Master Ma
sons penalty is 10 have his body severed in two
in the midst, and divided 10 The North andSouth,
his bowels burnt to ashes in the centre, and the
ashes scattered before The four winds Of Heaven,
that there might not the least track or trace Of
remembrance remain among men or mdSOHs Of
SO nile and pe1JHred a 1cretch, as should be,
And this, according to the Rhode Island expla.
nation, is to be the consequence of his diving
like Hiram Abiff, rather than betray the Mason
&c secrets.
My iHh objection is TO the horrible ideas, Of
which the penalty is composed. It is an oath
of which common cannibal should be asham-
ed. Even in The barbarous ages of antiquity,
Homer tells you, that when Achilles dragged
the dead body of Hector round the walls of
Troy, 1t was a dishonest deed-and Plato Sc
vercly censures Homer for even introducing
this Incident into his poem A inangIed body
alter DEATH was thought disgusting even TO
lieathens. From the very thoughts and
still more from the lips of a Christian, it
should be f"r ever excluded like inGelicacy
from the mouth of a female The Consti-
tulions of the United States, and of Massa-
chusetts, prohibit the infection of cruel or
unusual punishments even by the authority of
the law. But no butcher would mulilate the
carcase Of bullock or swine, as the Masonic
candidate swears consent 10 the mutialion of
his own, fnr The breach Of an absurd and sense
less secret | cannot assent 10 your denomina-
ton Of these penalties idle or unmeaning
words They are words of too much meaning
of hdeous signifcancy. The Masons are
bounc for their own honor 10 expunge them
from their records for ever. Would that they
could be expunged from the Language dishon.
cred by their introduction into its forms of speech
remain very respectfully
Your friend,
J. @ ADAMS.
NoTE. Eight or ten years ago, before ever
heard OF Morgan, proposed in conversations
with some of the Grand Masonic Officers of
this State, to have the obligations revised and
the barbarous penalties and language complain
ed ofby Mr.. Adams expunged. The only objec-
ton raised, was that il would be an innovation
upon Masonic language, which would deprive
the members Of the craft, from this State, orthe
benefits of the institution in other States and
countries-W. l.. S.