The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-01-11
From the Franklin Pay Telegraph.
MASONIC.

At special meeting of the members of
George Washington Lodge and Gcorpe
Washington Royal Arch Chapter, at their
Hall. in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on
the Both of November, 1881, the following
resolution and declarations we're adopted.
ordered to be entered on their minutes, and
published.
Resolved, That the Charters of George
Washington Lodge No. 49, and of George
Washington Chapter No. 1873, be returned
to their parent institutions on the 9th of
December next and that the said Lodge
and Chapter the,ceforth be discontinued.
The members of George Washington
Lodge and George Washington Chapter,
in dssolving their associations, have been
aetuated by q proper regard for the opn-
ions of Il portion of their fellow citizens
That there are many who believe that the
institution is dangerous to society, and who
apprehend the most serious consequences
if it is continued, is undeniable-while
there are some who avail themselves of
this honest opinion to advance their private
views. We do not complain Of this, for so
it always has been and ever will he but
we do desire, as far as we can, by remov-
ing the cause, to remove with it the iniuri-
Gus opinion that prevails against the Ma
sonic fraternity. In thus yielding defer
ence to the community around us, we ask
leave to say, that Freemasonry, as we have
known it, and seen it practised, contains no
obligation or injunction inconsistent with
the most full discharge of our social, politi.
cal, civil and religious duties-and that we
have never known it perverted and prosti-.
tuted fer electioneering purposes, or the
political advancement of a member of the
order. Conformity with its precepts, will,
as we think, promote and aid the cause Of
charity, rnorals, and religion; but at the same
time we do not wish to conceal the fact,
that unworthy men have become members
of it, and probably. abused ito say so is
only TO assert that which is true of every
association under the sun.
If the greatest crime has been commit
ted in neighboring State under the name,
and by the PROSTITUTION of Masonry to the
most fell purposes, land perhaps it has) no
member of the community in which we live
condemns with more just indignation and
severity than does each of US, and every
Mason we have ever heard mention il. the
guilty men vino perpetrated it,-nor would
the hand of punishment be, msre heavily
laid upon them by any of our fellow citi-
zens than by ourselves. We ask that we
may not be contaminated by guilt, of which
it is impossible we could have been person.
ally partakers, and which we solemnly aver
has not, and could not reach US by any Ma
sonic duty, obligation, injunction or con-
nection, with which we are acquainted. If
Masonry then 10 what it is charged 10 be
by those opposed to it, we can only repeat,
it is not the Masonry we have tcen taught,
nor that which we have communicated to
others. We know no duty which requires
Of us to continue an association, when such
continuance may distract society-and sep
arate those who ought to be friends: nor |
are we aware of any beneficial results like
" 10 flow from an adherence to the order,
that will not be more than ccunterbaIanced
by the excitement which such an adherence
may perpetuate.
In this spirit we have come 10 the deter
nination expressed in the foregoing rcsoiu-
ion.