Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-06-22
[F-onn the Bardstoton Saturday Gasttte.

Who hare joined the Secret Order called Knoac-
Notsings
wish to ask you whether or not it il not incon-
sisent with your obligation as Masons to join or
remain with this new order2 / intend to write
nothing that is not proper to be ,crtten, but give
you plain facts.
Almost the first knowledge impressed upon our
minds in A. Y. Masonry, is the fact that it does
not interfere with religion politics. 1t receives in
its bosom the good of all denominations, Catholic
Protestant, Christian or Jew--it unlike k. n'ism
scorns the Atheist. In its glorious precepts we
taught that We owe to each other fraternal feel
ing, or brotherly love- which should last through
life. We manifest this by attending even to the
long home dead brother, by depositing with his
remains the sprg Of Cassa. Let me ask you if
Masonry does not teach and charge US to be true
to our government And does or not that Govern
ment, in accordance with our beloved princip pies
alluded to- say "that no religious test shall ever be
required as qualification to any Office or public
trust under the United States" To these princi-
pies as laid down, consider myself most solemnly
pledged, and sworn to maintain. l. as q Mason,
consider further, that could not be member OF
this new order, even if found acceptable at their
Council, for / could not agree or swear that l
"1oould vote only for natve born citizens for all off
ces of honor, trust or profit in the gift Of the peo-
pie, to the exclusion of all foreigners, aliens, and Ro
man Catholics IN particular and agithout regard to
party predictions"
As understand Masonry, (snd Ihave been one
for q good many years. its aim is moral improve
ment; its end CHARITY from all nations and creeds,
we profess these same principles. Let me ask you
that if there is native-born American who is my
brother Mason in good standing, who is a Catholic
in belief, or say the husband of Catholic wife, or
another who may be a foreigner and naturaliZed c-
tlzen, how can l, as Mason take an oath to pro-
scribe either, being Mason because of their reli-
gion or birth? III were in need or distress, yea,
i'll am drowning, are they not as much bound to
relieve me or fly to my rescue at the risk OF their
lives, as my native-born brethren of Protestant be-
lief Would they not do so as coon? ask you,
am ! not bound as such to do likewise to or for
them? Do We not meet them upon the level andpart
acith them on the square,
Would or not all this occur, whether in this or
any other continent? II what here say, then, be
not true, then Masonry is nothing know-nothing
ism everything. How can l, then, as a Mason, 90
into lodge council where there is no represen-
tative of the sun at high meridian, the beauty and
glory Of the day, and enter into obligation and com
pact with every description of character Christian
and Atheist, to prevent forever the two brother
Masons described from holding Offices of honor
trust or profit in this, their and my country, even
though they may be more needy and worthy than
their opponents in contest? My conscience, my
obligations to them, my oath to support the Con-
stitution of my country and which they have sworn
to support, forbid it. II | swear to what is re-
quired by this new order, swear against Mason
ry-1 swear against what have swoln-I CON-
NIT, virtually, peJuryi
Consider these few reflections in fraternal spirit,
and come to such conclusions as your own con-
science and better judgment may direct
Fraternally, W.