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


ly cast upon its opposers, are hurled back
upon the head of Freemasonry, that self
STYLED ".4rcient and Honorable Fraternity"
which pretends to initiate young men into
the sacred mysteries of all antiquity, and
into fellowship with the revered names of
sages, and heroes, and saints of all countries
and generations; and is itself traced TO an
origin as base as its penalties are barbarous,
in an ale-house, the Apple-Tree I'drern,
in Charles street, Covent Garden, London,
on Mechanics Holiday, 18th of June, l7l7;
whence, both after and before it entered its
teens, it came to meet at "IHe Devit-Idu-
e,n, Temple Bar, London" Antimasons
will "PERsEvERE," until the statute books of
the States can no longer be quoted to pro-
tect and to honor the name of this ale-house
order which binds its members to treason
able acts, under bloody penalties.
"Hitherto, the Antimasons," in the Ian
guage of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, "though
armed with principle as pure as any that
ever animated the heart of man; though
struggling against an institution foul with
midnight murder, perpetrated in strict con-
formty to soul-ensnaring oaths and obi
cations, have yet been 4 iebe and persecu-
ted minority;-p for uttering the
violations of the laws of God and man.;
prosecuted, for summoning the energies of
virtue in the hearts of their fellow citizens,
to extinguish a secret and lawless conspir-
acy, in the heart of the community against
the equal rights of their fcllow-men;" per-
secuted, we add, for their manly opposition
TO an institution of which WIN. Writ SOL
EMMY declared, 81 have no hesitation in
| tl,nH L
fundamental principles of the social com
pact, as treason against society and wick
ed conspiracy against the laws of God and
man, which ought to be put down."
| In putting it down-Antimasons do not
mean to abridge the right of Freemasons,
to play off their secret fooleries, to trumpet
their false mysteries, TO proclaim their puny
charities,to magnify their centennial antiqui-
ty, to sound the praise of their noble and
royal brethren and to glorify their dark
temple; but Antimasons mean only to ex-
press their own opinion of such folly, vain
Boosting, and deception, and to stop the
administration of masonic oaths. They
do not persecute Freemasons.s They allow
| them, TO meet aud to consult, and publicly
TO parade their finery uriruolested, using
only the:rsown unbelievable right, to- judge
u utAu " bDtdh, " uCHDCIutC ANU " 4Ik III
regard to this matter, according 10 the lib
ertY which they have inherited from their
7 fathers, and which the laws of our country
allow. If they reject the names of Free
masons from their ballots, they are not
sworn under penalty of death, to prefer
| Freemasons. 1t is but their free exercise
of freeman's right for which they are
answerable to no man, and least of all to
| IL ,Ioxy tbnir
candidates for public office, they exercise
their rights openly, which the Freemasons
do secretly; and if at this time they should
nominate candidate for the Presidency,
who has been, or who has not been, named
by any other party, they will do it, not to
disparage any candidate who is Indepen-
dent Of the masonic obligations; but solely
to present and to urge upon the people,
the necessity of guarding against an insti-
tuition, which las set foul example OF
violating the dearest rights of freemen
and continues to administer Illegal oatlis
an institution which is defended by MUIR
derous penalties, and stained with the life
blood of an American citizen not ye,
avenged.
Antiniasons are part and parcel of the
Democracy Of the United States, aiming &c
overthrow one of the most powerful and
corrupting institutions Of vain aristOcracy
They are decided opponents of monopolies
and specially so of thar, which in the
name of charity has hoisted its members
into large proportion of the honors, and
trusts, and emoluments of the country
, They pre plain men and simple republicans
, who cannot relish the grand honors, anC
high sounding titles of mock nobility, con
r icrred on the Kings and High Priests o.
} Royal Arch Masonry. AntinasOns con
stitute the purest Democracy, struggling
/ with a secret combination of Influential
men, unlike the Lynch combinations, whicl
are eyanescent, while this grasps the earti
for IFS dominion, and all time for the lcngll
l Of its reign. by their opposition 10 tn
= masonic lodges, antimasons do not sevc
7 tile ties which bind them, heart and hand
! TO the body Of the people, and to the grea
= Democratic party of the nation; but they
= prove themselves most Jealous of the equa
+ rights of the many, and jealous of the Sc
4 cret encroachments of the few; they prove
, themselves among the foremost ufLhi
a Democracy to contend for "TllE SU
y PREMACY OF THE LAWS" and 70
Y Il. protection of individuals in the perfec
i enjoyment of their unalcnable right q
: the freedom Of speech and freedom Of tn
It press, to utter and print, to circulate AM
= expose the mysteries Of iniquity, withou
:, the fear of assassination, or the secret as
= sault of an unlaw fhl mob, or combinato
+ of men: they prove themselves among tn
foremost of the Democracy, to contend 70
c the purity of elections, and the equal ad
" minisraion Of justice, against the CORFU
v influences of a society that pervades til
IS United States, and that chershes in its he
n som obligations of the darkest hue, an'
o also in it's bosom the men who have keI
ot those obligations, nearly TO the letter,