The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-06-02
FreclllaSOnry.

~
Ohio, was presented to the Senate Of
the United States, the latter part Of
last month, praying Congress to re-
fuse charters to ANY secret associations,
and to repeal the law under which the
Masonic Hall Association, Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. obtained its charter.
The petitioners based their hostility
to the ancient institution Of Frcetna-
sonry, on several serious charges,
which, if well founded, would have
fully justified their action. b.. -.
Our duty rs public journalists, loads
us to examine -tllosa oharyoo,- -" thr
organization thus assailcd extends over
all the world, with the praisew orthy
object Of inculcating the practice Of
social and moral virtue. ..
~ careful study Of its history has
convinced us that it is, whnt it pro-
fcsses to be, q beautiful system ofinor-
ality, yelled in alleSory and illustrated
by symbols. There are no secrets rs
to its principles and objects.
The first Of the charges referred to
gcrous to republican governments"
Nothing can be more untrue than this.
Monarchy is hcrcditary-I'rccIna-
Sonry m elective institution. I'M the
one, the sovereign, claiming to rule
by an Inherited right divine, is rcgar-
ded as the fouptain Of all honor and
power; in the other The pc0plc arc
acknowledged 10 be the only source OF
control.
All offices in the masonic fraternity
being in the gift Of the craft, govern
mcnt is strictly elective, and consc::
qucmtly, republican in its form and
character.
Frccmasonry dangerous TO rcpub.
lican institutions! 1t might us well
be asserted that knowledge was dan
gcrous TO Freedom. The true mode!
OLA we'll ordered republic isa just and
duly constituted masonic lodge.
Our own great Washington, the
memory Of whose virtue, ralOr and
patriotism will remain forever ell.
shrined in the hearts Of his country.
men, was one Of The greatest orna.
ments Of the fraternity. Identified,
as he was, with the institution, if il
had been antagOnistic in its principles
or practice to republican government,
would he have contcnted himself with
"a presidential chair when he might
have mounted Il royal throne:
The Wiscacrcs Of Ohio, whose mind:
! il may be impossible TO irradiatc Will
the light OF truth, also assert, that fol
q long time, masonic societies have
directed their efforts. in. this count:
,.,uur,l ne support 0l Saver! nh'
thc inccptiun OF rebellion IN its be-
half In reply to this. suffice ii tt
! say. that every mason Is strictly en-
! Joined "L0 be Il peaceful and quiet cit
izcn, true tn It's gorcTnmcat and .j"S'
10 lis c0nntTV; not to conntcnancC
idisloynlty or rebellion. but patiently
! to submit to legal authority, and con-
form with chrcrIulncss, to the gov
crnmcnt Of the country in which inc
lives" The charge Of melting to
REBELLION, etc. is. therefore, rs false Il.
! that of pcrvcrtinS the nation. and
Forbidden. 10 give tribute TO Cesar
which was brought against the roun'
! der of Christianity.
who does not know the essen.
! tIai ciltHGicIlStlC' h'ii 'i''h '''O''@' :
love, Relief and Truth, are the corner
stones Of Masonic Temple? How
then can that bc Il pfo.Slaccry institu'
tion, which teaches It's members tC
aid in the erection Of that universal
and eternal temple. which will, ono
day, enclose ali humanity within it,
precincts!
The petitioners say tl.at Frccmason'
arc "bound by barbarous oatlls re-
pu.nant to law, human and Ill
viuc.' ,
This is another infamous ialschood
The solemn obligations which maSon'
voluntarily assume have been en-
tered into by some Of the wiscst ant
most virluous men OF all ages ant
countries since the days Of King Solo
mon.
Would they have bound themselves
by "barbarous and unlawful
oathS =
Again, it is charged by the pcti'
TONERS that the youth Of the country
are taught in masonic lodges the
pcrnicious practices Of conspiracy
aud that these institutions, through
the use Of vague signs and symbols
urc insidiously calculated 10 deceive
and habi,uulc the Young md innocent
This is easily disposed Of, ny no one
not Of lawful age, can be made
mason. =.