Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-02-24
ANTI. MASONIC.
REPORT
OF A MINORITY OF THE COMMITTEE,

e
CHARGES AGAINST FREEMASONRY.
The undersigned, one of the Committee APP
pointed by the General Assembly, at its Oc-
tober Session, to inquire into the grounds OF
the charges and allegations against masonry
and masons in this State, begs leave to present
to the General Assembly, general view OF
the course of that investigation, and OF the
conclusion arrived at, on the part OF the under
signed, by the testimony that has been deveio"
ped
The Committee met at Providence on the
9Th day of December: the undersigned being
prescnt:-No mode of proceeding was deter
mined upon by any vote of Committee, pre-
vious to or during the investigation, while the
undersigned was presen; except, that 1t was
understood, that no question. presented by
persons not on the Committee. was to be put
by the committee, unless the same was handed
TO them in wrting--subiect to the decision OF
the committee. whether it should be put to the
witness or not. 1t was also understood, and
assented to, on the part of those of the COM
mittee present, that the masonic witnesses
were to be required to testify what their oatls
and obligations as masons, were; and to be
compelled so to do, ESQ far as the power of the
committee could compel them if they refused
In reference to the disclosures of the secrets
Of the institution, there was no understanding
on the part Of the undersigned. that masons
w re to be protected from answering all ques-
tions that might be put to them: and further.
that such questions as the committee thought
proper to put to any of the witnesses, should
te standing interrogatores in wrting-prepa-
red by them, 1t was also understood, that
masonic bodies should, IL deemed necessary
by the committee. produce and submit to them
the Books, Records and Papers OF their seYe.
raj Lodges; and the Books and Records O
several of the Lodges, were there for that pur
pose.
Neither at the commencement. nor at am
subsequent period of the examination, wa
there full meeting of the committee; but i
seemed to be considered by those present, tina
under their appointment by the General As
sembly, majority Of them might proceed il
the investigation and examination of witnes
ses:-Subsequently, less than majority OF III
committee, exercised the same power; and
great part of the evidence was finally taken b
Individual members of the committee sittin
alone,
The only part of the investigation, at whic
the undersigned was present, was that held !
Providence, from the 9TH to the 18th OF De-
When the examination was commenced. tw
of the first witnesses produced, were eXamll
ed as to their masonic oaths. from their ow
recollection and from the forms of those oatl
published in Demands Light on Masonry
and Allyn's Ritual Books published by me
who had been masons but had seeded; all Il
latter witnesses examined, were furnished wi
manuscript forms of oaths, handed to the cor
mittee, BY a committee from the Grand Lod
of this State; or after being so informed
this committee, were questioned as to the
oaths, from such forms and were not requir
to repeat their oaths from their own recollc
ton. or from having them read from the abo
named Books.
tits believed to have been the intention
the General Assembly. in appointing this COZ
IN zee. and assigning to them this imPorts
duty that the evidence on this subject, shou
b. taken in the legal and common form Of
positions, so as to be submitted to this body
conclusive legal evidence OF the facts there
stated and contained; and of all the facts wi
in the knowledge of the witnesses; but in
heated instances, masons were not sworn in
common form to tell the truth, the VIII
truth, and nothing but the truth, but mer
sworn true answers to make, to such gu
lions, as should be put to them by the co
mittee.' And the undersigned learned IN
runrse of the investigation, that majority