State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-01-12

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to elevate one of the combination, without
merit and depress another not oftbe COM
bnation, however valuable his services, or
exalted his worth, they constitute the very
worst class of those combinations and
associations" against which Washington
raised his warning voice in his Fdre,0eH
.AddreSS. Washington, himself a mason,
but never an officer of any lodge, nor with
in lodge more than once or twice in his
life, though once he was offered the highest
honors of Masonry in Virginia, and again
proposed by the Masons of Pennsylvania,
for Grand Master of the United States
They eminently 'SerUe to organize faction
says that wonderful man, to giUe an ar
tJfciaL aud extraordinary force, TO put IN The
place Qfhe delegated ,riU Of the nation, the
sOM ofd pdriy;' and TO control, counterfeit,
or d,Oe the regular deliberation and action
Of the constituted authorities
History furnishes many examples of the
mischiefs of secret societies but under a
free Government, no example of their use
fulness. The masonic lodges have been in
the last century found in collision with all
the principal Governments of Europe,
France, England, Spain, Portugal, Holland,
Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Russia.
During the current year in England where
Freemasonry is limited to three degrees of
mystery by act of Parliament and is other
wise heavily fettered and trammelled, to
keep it from disturbing the public peace,
prince of the blood who is commander
in chief of the army, and also Grand Mas
ter of the Orange Lodges, has been con-
strained suddenly to leave the Kingdom, TO
avoid the searching inquiries. of a commit
tee of the House of Commons, having first
refused to answer the inquiries of the COM
mittee and the Secretary of the Grand
Lodge also absc onded to evade the pursuit
making for him, to compel the production
of the records of the doings of the Grand
Lodge. So deep was the general convic-
ton of conspiracy in this secret society, or
armed confaderacy of200 900 men, to sub
vert the established order of succession to
the British throne, that all officers and SOL
diers of the army have been forbidden UNI
der the severest penalties, TO join the secret
lodges; the committee of investigation
made their report to the House ofCommons
in September last, recommending that amy
Iperson holding Office under the crown, and
belonging to any society, Joined together by
secret oathS, signs or tokens, skot3d be dis
missed from his Office wnich is preeisely
iy the ground taken in these states by the
lar,sirnasons. In view Of the criminal and
Unreasonable obligations and acts of the
Grand Lodges, antimasons report, recom-
mend, urge, and strive by lawful means to
convince the sovereign people, that any
person holding Office of, or under them,
and belonging to any society joined to-
.gether by secret oaths, signs, and tokens,
should be after proper warning dismissed
from his office for they have seen the
power of Freemasonry displayed in many
aggravated violations of the public law
and have felt its terrible scourge in the
most wanton defamation of their acts and
purposes and good name, and now having
succeeded, by the blessing of heaven in
bringing the State of Pennsylvania, to ell
terrain Just views of the horrid obligations
and monopolzing spirit of the lodges, and
their abettors, Antimasons are encouraged
to proceed boldly, in the hope ere long of
persuading the whole country, to make one
and the same estimate of the emptiness OF
masonic charity, and the selfshness and
J profligacy of masonic factions to one and
the same estimate of that system of folly
which was revealed to the world by the
hand of William Morgan, and was then
, indelibly stamped by the notorious acts Of
Grand Lodges, with the official seal offroc-
masonry, in the life's blood of the same
, VIM. Morgan.
= Many think this is done already, and
that the further efforts of antimasons arc
needless. To them who really think so, i
), can be no hardship that antmasons pro
S coed to act upon the principles which have
, by confession, obtained just and complete
j triumph over the powers of masonic dark
y ness. lfso be fieemasonry is down, neve
= to rise again, that is fact in support of tn,
: prowess of antinasonry, which instead o
y disafming its hosts, should encourage then
s to persevere, while the Grand Lodges AM
b General Grand Chapters, Councils, anl
S Encampmcnts continue to hold their regu
J. lar meetings, from the Capitol of the Uniol
/ to the verge Of the new States Antima
e SONS may well doubt, whether the hatter
r of complete success, paid by many to thei
o cause, is not device of the adversary, in
n tended to lull them into false security, be
e fore they have effected completely thci
y determined purpose. They grappled wit
= tire monstrous power of the secret lodge:
at its full height; and through many
is hard fought battle, and they have gradual
n reduced the proud society TO the necesst
II oflurking i'll its native darkness throughoL
&c a large portion of the United States redu
is ced it to the necessity Establishing OH WIN
ID it has boarded in its former years of pro:
to pority, and to the hard necessity of reyin,
W for the most part, on the arm of defence a
le forded by the more worthless and abal
&c doned of its deluded members.
Il Antimasons cannot forego the advuntag
* they have gained, --cannot lightly thro,
ir away their successes; but they must folio,
or them up to final victory, until Precursor
C. become heartily ashamed of all connexio
r. with the affiliated order, which is sworn
IN 'mUrder and treason only excepted" or "n