Southern telegraph., 1838-10-31
Yours truly,
To the Editors of the Telegraph.

~ TtC GOttOIo " HtC 1CttSTuPH.
GENTLEMEN;-ln your paper of the Bird
inst. was a communication over the sigma
ture of 'Reschid.' intende d, we presume, as
a reply to the piece which appeared on the
26ih ult. over the signature of Anxious =
Whether it be complete refutation of the
statements made in that piece, or whether it
possesses more "ertrdOrdinary merit."i is for
the public TO say. That it is not covert
attack upon the institution and principles of
Masonry is evident from tho face of the
piece itself; and if the gentleman had given
it a candid and impartial reading and had not
been so ready to embrace an opportunity to
pronounce an euogy upon the 'time honored
ORDER we think he would be far from call
it a "corert attack" upon Masonry. We
know but little about Masonry, and there
fore say bat little.
The gentleman wishes not to discuss the
relative merits of Masonry ard Christianity,
nor to defend the former but simply to tell su
that Masonry andC Christianity are not incom-
patibIe, that man may be devout Chris
tian and worthy member of the fraternity
This we learned long since. But there are
some things connected with the subject which
we do not comprehend fully and which We
hope the kindness and poiteness of the gen.
tleman will lead him TO explain to us, par
ticusrly as he and Mr.. Mafiit differ on the
subject. MIR. Mafit says, Masonry is Union
he says Union is all important Mr.. Maffi
tells us, Masonry is Charity; he, that Char
ity is the Keystone. Mr.. Maflit tells us
Masonry is Art; he says it is an "Edifce
the COnder and admiration of the whole
world, crowned with the gem of uniyersa
beneyolence." Let the gentleman tell u:
how Masonry can be Charity and Charity a
the same time the keystone of Masonry
or how thing can be ITSELF and at the same
time part Of itself.
We would suppose that one who can speal
so highly in favor Of an institution as he ha,
done, would certainly know whence it dig
mated. But cloud of darkness seems to
hang over his mind on this subject. lie
seems TO be in doubt "wheher it came from
Divinity directly, or whether it be The crea
ton of mans ingenuity, or the offspring oil
prejudice and disafection, or the pure es.
sence of uncreated intelligence.' The fol.
lowing, connected with this by a-dash, we
are at a loss to understand. We give it as
it stands-"We are constrained to admire
the beauty and order and harmony with
which it has for five thousand years main
tanned its identity, survived oppression, and
the rapid advances being made towards an
eutire overthrow of prejudice, ignorance and
opposition" What Interpretation the gen.
tleman intended to be put upon this, we
know not.
The remarks 'Reschd' makes about Sec
tarians and sectarianism and And-Masons.
we presume he intended as blow against
Christianity. There are a great many
things charged upon Christianity which are
to be charged to a want oft. Christianity
is not to be blamed for the unworthy conduct
ofthose who profess 10 be governed by its
holy principles, while they are under the
influence ofmotives entirely different from
those ofthe Gospel. Masonry may be good
institution, but it is not Christianity. 1t does