Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-11-16

SufPfiSe-tndt wicked men nave Slanuereu ant
prosecuted MS, proves only that We are not
eihpted from the common lot of benevolent insti
tutions, Tor what one among oil the creeds ant
systems that have stood the test of centuries and
survived TO bless mankind has been able to pro-
tect Its followers from the darts of rdcule and
the fanes OF persecution! The more valuable
The institution, and the better adapted 10 the
wants OF men, the more fiery the ordeal it has
been forced TO undergo. Ii is the dispensaiion OF
our Supreme Grand Master that perfection here
must ever be attained by the most unwearied and
unremi,ting TOLL and the road to its attainment is
most frequently the "rugged ocay" of danger and
OF pain. If the chosen people Of God were adj
united TO The land of promise only after forty
years soJourn in the bowling wilderness-if 1.-The
Faith once delivered 10 the saints" has been hand
cd down through the tempest and the flame, pre-
served pure in spite of the torture and the stake
and sealed with the blood of its martyrs, surely
men should not wonder if Freemasonry has had
to " come up through great tTlbulation"
That such men Gibbon, Votare, Volney
and Tom Paine, should have attempted to cast
obloquy upon Masonry, is natural. Christianity,
according TO them, was fable not even cunning
ly DEVISED and the poisoned shafts of their inf
del sarcasm were levelled 1t every thing that
tended to eXait and ennoble human nature and
to raise man above tho level of the brutes that
perish. That corrupt Popes and bigoied councils
should have Numbered their ana,hemas against
her and consigned her professors to the tender
mercles OF the Holy lnquisiton, is not more sur
prlsing, for she prescribes "the Holy Scriptures
as the role and guide of the life and conduct of
her members, and her children are commanded TO
read and enquire diligently concerning the things
which they teach. 1t was in character with the
morose and cruel oppressor of Poland, by an i'm
perial ukase, backed by the terrors of the knout
and the horrors o. Siberian exile, TO endeavor TO
eXtirpate Masonry from his domnons-for ty-
rants have ever been her fierce and implacable
enemles-because she incucates truths little pa
atable to a tyrant'S ear. BuDnanarte ranouccad
her when she refused TO become the instrument of
his unholy ambltion-and need not say why par
y in our own land, too corrupt to be long tolerated
even in these days of corruption-fXed upon Ma
sonry as fit theme of vituperation for the agra
ran and the demagogue. Oh, what dark period
In the history OF our country was that, when
lodges were closed, and pious and good men were
compelled to shrink a(rghted from The fury of the
mob, whilst such apostles of liberty as Fanny
Wright rallied against Masonry, Muiviage, and
Christianity,
But we do not wonder, when men actuated by
purer principles than those of the worthless to
whom have alluded, look through the iaundiced
optics OF sectarian prejudice, with coldness upon
us-tor, In strict accordance with the views of
her founders, Masonry processes creed in poll
tics or religion other than that laid down on the
grand tresselboard of Divine Revelation She
wears no party badge-she recognizes no secta-
rian Shiboleth but extends the hand of fellowship
to all who recognize the authority of our Supreme
pidhu hdSteIs anu DOW 20 MS government. She
prescrlbes the offering of pure and conlrite
heart, bat she is indifferent whether The homage
Is paid beneath the lofty dome OF the gorgeous
temple, or under the cloudy canopy and starry
vault oil Heaven. I" 1t Is upon this principle that
She uniteS men of every sect, country and OPT
Mon, and conciIiales true friendship amongst men
who might otherwise have remained at perpe-
tual distance. But when, as is sometimes the
case, men of undoubted philanthropy and un-
bounded charity, are found laboring at the same
Car with oil, H.. IL
Paine, IN their efforts to suppress Freemasonry,
am tempted to nfure with all reverence, What
evil hath she done - Our Book of Constitu.
tons is published to the world, be pleased to
point out the doctrine therein contained, that is
calculated to draw of the mind from the pursuit
of virtue, direct it to allurements of vice
W hch one among all the emblems emblazoned
there is incapable of irnpressing upon the mind
some lesson for good Or which of the virtues
they shadow forth do you consider unworthy of a
place among the jewels OF well-spentlife We
confess and the confession grieves us to the heart
that many an unworthy man has worn our badge
and been seated in our midst. We have been
imposed upon-for MaSons are falible men-and
the pure gold of our jewels, like all things else
that are valuable In This world of ours, has been
corrupted. But you would not be willing TO
Judge all other institutions by the rule that is so
often and so uncharitably applied to u.s. for
when, since the foundation Of the Christian
Church, were the tares entirely winnowed from
the wheat, and the sanctuary secure from the in
tTuslon OF the unsanctifed and the unclcan. But
let me not be misunderstood. Masonry does not
profess the power to change the hearts of men;
the utmost she can do is to point them 10 the
I Holy Scriptures and leave the rest to the nlu-
ences OF Spirit mighiier than any earthly power.
! We may, however, he pard lned for the remark,
! that the world has seldom seen bad Mason be-
come d good Christian.
/ As have adverted to some Of the most promi-
nont opposers OF Masonry, it may not be amiss
/ to point to the names of few of its illusirious
| supporers-not to dwell upon our distinguished
brethren OF the old world, where among her vota-
res are enrolled the names of such men as Milne
I Porieus, Chalmers, Sir matter Scott, &C., let us
see how many of those who claim the gratitude
! and admiration Of the patriots of our own land,
delighted to be hailed as - free and accepted Ma
sons" Of lie signerS IF Tire DecLaraijon NJ inde-
rPcndence, all erccPt fur members of our fra
ternlty. OF tie General Officers of the Revolu-
ton, all were Masons tut one, and That one ,cGs
! Benedict Arnold No one who was few years
since in the habit Of attending upon the siings of
the Grand Lodge Of Virginia, has failed to OBJ
observe venerable man seated amongst its mem
bers, unobtrusive indeed in his manners as he was
mild and dignified in debate, but exhibiting on
every occasion his deep interest in all that con-
cerned the welfare Of the fraternity had he been
a stranger there, the respect and veneration with
which every word and act of that aged brother
was received, would have convinced the visiter
that he stood in the presence of John Marshall.
/ am sorry to be compelled to acknowledge that
amongst the farer and better part of creation, we
occasionally meet with an OpPoser Of oar order.
IL is natural that woman should conceive herself
= sighted III being denied participation in our
deeds OF charity, and AIN free to confess that,
did we exclude them from such participation, we