The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-11-24
For the JOURNAL
MasOais and Politics.


Mr.. TAYLoR:-It is sometimes well to
correct false IMPRESSIONS especially if
individuals or associations may be unjust
ly eensured thereby.
From many open remarks recently
made, with reference to influences brought
to bear upon oul recent local election, it
is evident, that the Masonic Order hero
has been unjustly charged with collision
to favor or defeat certain local candidates.
Some are doubtless honest in the impress
ion that such was tho case. Now we
wish to say that there is no foundation
whatever for such an imputation. 1t is
true, that at the tim, certain political
meetings were held here, the Lodge here
! met for several consecutive evenings. But
its sessions had 20 regard to anything COLI
nected with politics, nor was there any
allusien made to such matters during its
entire sessions. Were people generally
better acquainted with the aims of Ma
sorry and its history, they would never
regard it as a political organization, or
as having anything to do with political
questions, either general or local. 1t has
certainly never been obtrusive or agrees
i've when attempts have been made to
force s.ch issues upon it. Every one
who joins our orderis especially assured,
at the outset, that he will never by SO do.
ing, compromise any opinions, creods, or
tenets, he may hold with reference to
politics or religion. We ask no religi-
Gus test, unless it. be to assure ourselves
that the candidate is not an Atheist, as
no protested Atheist can ever be admit
ted to our order. He is assured that his
connection with us shall never interfere
WITH any duty that he may CONSCIENTIOUS
ly owe to his God, his country or his
family. Our order thus leaves every
member entirely free to discharge every
personal and relative duty.
Besides all this, an moments reflection
will show, that there is scarcely any Coun-
ty election in the Union, ohere the oppo-
sing candidates, for at least some one Of
fee, are not Masons.
Wien we come to State or National
elections, this is SILL more generally true.
Washington, whose respect for the order
was marked, through all his public career,
never allowed Lis connection with it to
influence his appointments, when one Of
of the candidates happened TO be Masonic,
and bis competitor anti Masonic; and he
was in theory and practic, true Mason.
Many Of the opposing nominees fer the
Presidency have been Masons, as Clay
and Jackson Cass and Scott, Buchanan
and Fremont, and others; an / it is well
known that the order have always been
divided in their suffrage, even when one
nominee has been Mason, aud the other
an opposer of the order.
A gr<at proportion of the statesmen of
England are Masons; and it is certain
that there is no class Of men more diverse
in their views of public policy than these
men; and their support Of. or opposition
to crown measures, is about numerically
equal.
These facts ought of themselves, to con-
vince intelligent men, that Masons do not
combine or collide in politics; and that
such coalitions are entirely at variance
with their principles and practice.
CONE OF THEM"
River Falls, Nov. Esd, 1858.