Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-05-04

masonic system. North of the Potomac. and
northwest of the Ohio, every state, and. the
territory of Michigan is illuminated with the
beacon fame Of a free press, sending light INTO
the dark recess of the lodges. The fraternity
shrink where it comes; their badges OF distlnc-
ton fall off, or they wear them with despe-
rate effort, once 20 lay corner stone OF ma
sonic temple, and again, rarely, 70 celebrate the
day of ancient ST. John.
Sew are left of the brotherhood, in that sec
ton ofthe country where free presses are es-
tablished, who take any pleasure in ayowing
their connection with the order. Commonly
the first words, after confession of being ma
son, are, Il have not been ina lodge these three
five, ten, or even twenty years. leaving us dis
tincity 20 infer, that the confessor wishes that
il were in his power to say he had never been
in lodge.
Wherever anti-masons go, they pron,algate
their opinions, & the facts they On; & who's
ever passes through the antimasonc districts.
will not fail to receive testimony of the crimes
of freemasonry. 1t is due to the blessed spir-
it'--as distinguished judges rightly denomi.
mated the spirit of anti-masonry--to declare,
that it makes eloquent the tongue OF its hum
blest possessor; insomuch that the unsophistl
Gated, but intelligent yeomen, imbued with IT
proves himself, in canal-boat, steamer and
stage-coach; in the house and blythe way-side,
an oyermatch for the learned defenders of the
secret order: few who grapple with such an one
fail of being shamefully worsted in the argu-
ment.
"A cause that enlists the feelings Gifts advo
Gates, and that will bear the test of the strict
est scrutiny; cannot fail to make converts. II
does make converts. Like the towering oak.
the democratic anti-masonic party liftsup itsell
against the aristocrac fraternity, until the free
men of fifteen states are already refreshed with
its salutary influence, & sheltered with its pro-
tecting branches.
sOfthe Presses which, to the number of a.
bout 100, are open to the examination of free
masonry, not one is doubtful upon the nature
of the masonic institutions; and, with few ex-
ccptions, the remaining portion of the public
presses either avoid the subject altogether. OF
revile the new party, as most unprinciped
faction. This presents the curious fact, that
one sixth part ofthe American press is earnest
ly devoted to a new cause, which the remain.
ing FIVE sixths do not consider it important tc
examine. Never, in the history of a free press
have we seen any thing like this before.
sAnother rem arkable peculiarly in the pres
ent state of the American press, is this: where.
ever the cry Of the people becomes imperative
for information upon the subject Of freemason-
ny, 1t is invariably necessary to establish a new
press, or to enter INTO special arrangements
with some old one to give it! No instance has
+ occurred, within our knowledge. ofan old press
having frankly and steadily spoken the opini.
ons of its conductors against the institution Of
freemasonry, unless with some suitable guar
anty against the certain loss of patronage; and
furthermore, every leading paper in the antima-
sonic democratic party, is, in al! the larger
states, ne1u paper, and their names generally
indicate their character as free, in distinction
from those shaekled by masonry, or as furnish
ing Eght npon dark subject. or as reviving
principles, which freemaso,rry has violated am;
trodden under foot,--the Free Press, Sun, Re