The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1855-07-25
9f(isttllaueous.

From the BaIdstown Saturday Gazette.
To Masons who have Joined the
Secret Order called Know No
things.
l wish to ask you whether or not it is
not inconsistent with your obligation as Ma
sons to join or remain with this new order!
l intend to write nothing that is not proper
to be written, but give you plain fact.
Almost the first knowledge impressed
upon our minds in A. Y Masonry is the
fact that it does not interfere with religion
or politics. 1t receives in itq bosom the
guod of all denominations, Catholl, or Prot
estant, Christian or Jew; it (unlike know
nothngism) scorns the atheist. In its glo-
rious precepts weare taught that we owe
each other fraternal feeling, or brotherly
love, which should last through life. We
manifest this by attending even to the long
home a dead brother by depositing with
bis remains the sprig of Cassia. Let me
ask you if Masonry does not teach and
charge US TO be true 10 our government. -
and does or does not that government, in
accordance with our beloved principles al
luded to, say ''that no religious test shall
ever be required as qualification to any
Office or public trust ueder the United States.
To these principles as laid downI consider
myself most soemnly pledged and sworn to
maintain. l, as Mason consider farther,
that could not be member of this new
order, even iffound acceptable at their coun
Gil, for could not agree to swear that
"weuld v;te only for nalive born citizens for
all Offices Of honor, trust or profit in tie git
oftAe peaple, to tie erclusi y Of all foreign
ERs, ALIENS, AND ROMAN CATHOLICS IN PAR
mcUGAR, AND WITHOUT REGARD TO PARTY
PREDrLEcT1oN."
AS understand Masonry, (aDd I have
been one for a good many years. its aim
is nloralimproyement; its end, charity; from
all nations and creeds we profess these same
principles. Let me ask you that if these il
a native born American, who is my brother
Mason in good standing, who is a Catholi,
in belief, Or say the husband Of Catholic
wife, or another who may be foreigner
and naturalized citizen, how can /, as
Mason, take an oath to prescribe either,
being Mason, because of their religion Of
birth? LII am in need or distress-yea,
if am drowning-aro they not as much
bound to relieve me or fly to my rescue, al
the risk of their lives, as my native-b borf
baethuen OF Protestant belief Would they
not do so as soon? ask you, am I no
bound as such to do likewise to or for them
10 we not meet them upon the level ant
part with them upon the squire?
Would not all this occur whether upor
this or any other continent? If what her
say, then, be not true, then Masonry is no
thing-know nothingisrn everything. Ifov
can l, then, as a Mason, go into lodge OIL
council Rh ere there is no representative o
the sun at high meridian, the beauty ant
glory of the day, and enter into obligation
and compact with every description of char
acter, Christian and Atheist, to prevent for
ever the two brother Masons describes
from hold ng offices Of honor, trust, or pro
fit in this, their and my country, evel
though they may be more needy and wor
; thy than their opponents in contest? NJ
conscience, my obligatinns to them, my oa'l
to support the constitution my counir
and which they have sworn to suppor
forbid 1t. lfI swear to what is requ
red by this new order, I swear againA
Masonry swear against what hav
sworn-Icommit vitually, peJwy!
Consider these few reflections in a fir;
ternaI spirit, and come to such conclusion
as your own conscience and better judy
ment may direct.
4 Fraternally, w.
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