Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-02-17
REMUNERATION.

Mn Ep1ToR:-Being conscious of my ac-
countability to God, and duty to my country.
and posterity, cannot consistently any long-i
er forbear stating to the public my former and
present views of the masonic institution. was
made mason in a true lodge in Charlestown,I
NH. about the year 1909, or 1910, < was rails
ed to the sublime degree ofmaster mason Att
that time, being in an atheistical state OF mind
| expected to find light that would be of service
to me, but being disappointed in each step, u
was told that the light was still in the higher
degrees. You must go further in order to OBJ
tain the desired object. During this time while
undetermined about going forward IN the high
err degrees, our agent returned from visit to
ths Grand Lodge f the State. Some inquiry
was made concerning the prosperityof the lodge
&c among other things our agent told us that
there was brother under trial for unmasonic
conduct, and would probably be expelled from
the lodge, simply for the crime of stating to
some perso that the degrees of masonry above
the third, were merely nominal. As was con-
vinced that the three first we've such, it struck
my mind forcibly that the man told the truth
Therefore concluded not to follow the phan-
tom any further, but determined to search for
light from some other source. Soon after this
I was led to examine the Bible for this had
heretofore much neglected.) Here | found a
glorious light which will eventually illuminate
the world. viewing masonry by this light, |
found it to be total darkness, g. could no long
CT have any fellowship with it, for this reason;
after having passed through series of trials
inendeavoring to keep fellowship with the das-
hing principles Of two oPpoosites (which for me
was impossible went before the Lodge and
asked for dismission; accordingly received
the following certificate:
Faithful Lodge, No. te,
Secretary's office, at Charleston,
Jan 1920.
certify that the bearer of this, br. Nathan
ie Villas. has been regularly admitted to the
third degree of masonry, and being member
of the Lodge, in good standing, & having paid
all dues. was at his own request, on the 28th
December A. ID. 1919, honorably discharged
Signed, LUTHER HAMMOND,
Secretary.
This gave my mind some relief, but still, al
times was much tried, especially when heart
my christian brethren advocating the cause o.
masonry: and more particularly professed min
listers of the gospel In conversing with some
of them upon the subject of masonry, l founc
a few who could sympathise with me, but al
We could not for fear of the indignation of thu
fraternity, burst the shackles which bound III
TO the Institution, we concluded that there wa
When Morgan's exposition of the three frs
degrees of masonry made its appearance fel
rcjoiccd, hoping that the snare of masonry wa
broken, and very many would be prevents
from entangIing in it. Whatever might hay
been in former times. as to its being the hand
maid of hdelity--with regard to its morality
needs no comment, the institution itself rcquir
much prevarication to support its secrets, an
its limits are circumscrbed within their ow
circle like its chastity to brother mason's mc
ther, wife and daughters.
Concerning its boosted charity and benevc
lence, of the large sums received, perhaps fly
par cent goes for those purposes.
Relative to the oaths and obligations whit
are taken, think their profanity and impie
are obvious: and ike that of the 40 who buur
themselves neither to eat nor to drink till TIL
had slain Paul. they had better be repented
than adhered to.
Respecting the secrets of masonry, when