Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-06-27

4
the laws of God or man. The masons
were dismissed the edict was repeal
ed and the town secretary became a.
member ofthe Lodge, and returning to
court gave so favorable an account of
the practices and the principles of the
society, that all the magistrates sought
initiation and "became Jealous patriots
of the order"
In 1877 the French government a.
1 polished masonic assemblages under the
pretcnce that designs hostile to the
government and the church might be
cloaked under masonic secrets.
In Germany, few ladies', who pos
sesscd curiosity somewhat more I'M
| goyernablc than our females ofthe pre-
sent day, being seized with a desire to
penetrate the secrets of masonry, after
failing in their gentle measures, in
censcd the Empress against the Lodges
IN Vienna, who in hopes ofgratifylng
her own curiosity, and that of her insti-
/ gators, issued an order to surprise all
the Lodges while at work. The En-
Iperor, who was a mason, laughed at
the conception and vouched for the in
nocence of the craft.
i In 1893 the Pope Eugcnius discover
ed as he thought the irreligious tcnden-
cy Of masonry and published bull a.
J gainst it which was followed by an c.
dict in the following year denouncing
the cruel punishments oftho gallcys 81
the rack against any one who would
attend a masonic meeting. An inqui-
sltion was set on foot by which the Sc
crcts of masonry were sought to be
Iextorted from mason while stretched
upon the rack. But this experiment
was in vain.
i Ncxttae Protestant council of Brine in
Switzerland undelt ok the work of per-
secution, and destruction, and issued
an cdict to compel masons to renounce
their obligations, and swear to spun
engagements contracted with the like
Isolemnity.
I The ass )ciate Synod Of Scotland,
caught the affection from the continent
buttheir aat lorIty only extending over
the members of their church, their OPP
position was perfectly harmless.
Fellow Citizens: now turn to the
aspect OF our own favored land of liber-
ty; and | would willingly be spared, d
spare to those who hear me, the rehec-
tons which force themselves upon the
mind in the contemplation of Anti-ma-
sonry as it has existed for several years
past III these United States. Thep
clples, and the injunctions of masonry
strictly forbid any interference in re-
hgious or political disputes by masons
as such. Indeed it could not be other
wise unless the rights and privileges of
the order were confined to a sect or
J, party; and a limitation such as this,
would strike at the fundamental princl-
, pies OF the institution, anj corrupt its
purity. | have said it cannot be other
wise, and will add that all men OF in
telllgence who really seek for the truth
!; and are willing to take common sense,
/, reason and history as their guides in
the investigation, knoo0 that Il is not O.
therwiSe. For the world has seen in
every age, men of every religion, of
every nations and ofevery party, (save
this novel band of Anti-masons) en-
braced by the benevolent spirit of ma.
sonry. Warriors have met upon the
battlefield, fighting for the honor and
glory OF their country, and a mason
has found himself opposed to his bro
Their in the death-grapplo. 1t is true
that the mystic sign from the weak,
rolls back the tide of mercy in the
bosom of his stronger adversary, and
claims a masons mercy and masons
charity. We have seen masons in ev-
cry age opposed to each otherin poiti-
cal struggles, and their duties enjoin
! no combinations, but charity and JUS
tice in their political strife. Even this
land has seen, at different periods,
masons opposed to each other in strug-
giles for high office, and it has seen the
brethren of the craft enlisted under the
BANNER of one who was not mason in
: opposition to brother, thus Disregard
ing masonry in things which do not
pertain to it, and striving for the as
cendancy of their party and the true
glory Of the country. Aye, Fellow
citizens: you have seen in late strug-
gle for the highest office in the gift of
the American people, the two great OPP
posing parties led by two patrons of
the order, the brethren ofthe same in
nocent craft; and in those states where
Anti-masonry has gotten a political
oot-hold, we have seen adhering ma
sons, voting with their opponents, in
the hope, thereby of yancing the
true interests Of their country. With
! thncn fnctc ct n rriu1r tho A .,aon;an. -