Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-02-24

SEvENTH.-That the members of those cor
porations had taken illegal oaths, which they
considered binding, administered in a form
contrary to law, and with penalties wholly I'M
known to judicial proceedings, forever to con-
ceal the customs, penalties. obligations and
proceedings by which their secret code of Laws
is administered. and that the penalties sane
toned by those oaths. for disclosure Of the
secrets OF masons. or masonry, involve the
punishment of death in variety of savage
forms.
EIeHTH.-That the members of those cor.
,porations are bound by their masonic relations
and secret oaths, to give preference to each
other over the rest of mankind: to obey all
signs, tokens and summons sent or given from
one to another, if within certain mystic bounds
and that such signs can be conveyed, in a way
hitherto known only to masons, thus giving
them the power to communicate with each 9th.
Ier in Courts of Justice, or elsewhere, without
detection.
NINTH.--That the members have solemnly
sworn to apprise each other of all approaching
danger il in their power, to conceal the secrets
of the craft and of each other, embracing every
description of crime or offence, except only
murder and treason in some degrees, and those
at their own option; and in other degrees, with.
out any exception whatever; and to help each
other out of difficulty, without inquiring whe.
ther the brother in such difficulty was right OF
wrong.
TENTH.--That these Corporations are con-
nected with others, not in this State, by secret
ties, obligations. and homage-that they con.
stitute portion of an Empire of Masonry es.
tablshed in this Republic. dangerous to the
rights of the Citizens. not belonging to the fra
ternity, and fearful obstacle to the impartial
administration of the laws and dispensation
|of justice to masonic offenders.
ELEvENTH,--T That the oaths, regulations and
acquisitions of masonry were in direct violati.
on of the civil oaths, and the duty of witness
es, Jurors and public officers: and consequent,
amounted to forfeiture of their Charters, ac
cording to the provision of their enactment.
Taking it then foi granted, that these wer
principal charges and allegations which hat
grown out of the excitement mentioned in tht
resolution, and were to I've investigated, with
view to allay that excitement. the undersigned
would state the grounds upon which he believes
them to have been established by this investi
CATION, except in some particulars where the
evidence is not distinctly given.
l. The General Assembly will recollect, tina
the petitions Of all these Corporations, repres
entrd them as being associated together main
lily for charitable purposes. The undersigned
have seen no evidence that this INSTITUTION
Except some few instances has ever relieved
members from its funds TO the extent they hat
contributed to those funds by their fees. One
witness, John Brown of East Greenwich. sta
ted that he believed there was one instance il
King Solomon's Lodge where member hat
received more than he paid in; but he could no
Il al. 7.
1 Vernon Lodge in Providence, had dispensed a
bout S54 per annum to its members, for tn
last SO years: but the Secretary who produces
this statement, offered no proof as to the ap
Iplioation Of that sum, and though questione
on that point, made no statement of the relativ
,Icxpenses and receipts of the Lodge during ths
/. period. 1t is believed from these and othe
: facts which might be stated, that it will be,
e all cases found. that the useless expenses
s|conducting the ceremonies of Lodges & ChaI
tiers, exceed the dispensation of relief to distre
81 sed members SO greatly, as to render them e
h rirely incompatible with the design of CHAIR
n able Society; especially when it is the avowt
i principle of the Society. that it admits no mer
l. bers who are not expected to pay large fl
A. (clergymen excepted,) and excludes all mfr
il and disabled persons,-thus combining itself
IS those least likely to require charitable assis
ance. 1t is also believed, that the right exert
L. sed by these Corporations to !expel membe
of|not guilty of violating any moral obligation,
e. ldepriving them of all right to the funds tn
,d|have contributed to raise, without returni
,e what they originally paid in, is wholly incor
,dl patible with the principles of benevolence al
charity.
lie 2. The second allegation, that the charact
h. Of the institution was not disclosed to the L
r. gislature, at the time of granting the Charter
he is too obvious to require remark: and 1t is &C
of fdently believed that from the disclosul
I'd made, no such acts of incorporation, ifnow
at ked for, would be granted by the General a
sembly.
e. 8. The question, whether masons ought to
We protected from disclosure on civil oath,
o. their oaths, secrets, mysteries, and proceedir
ell is one on which the Undersigned has differ
ad from a majority of the Committee, except
lr- far as the oaths are concerned. AS is stated
a preceding part of this report, the undersigr