The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-04-08

| shriued in the hearts Of his country
men, was ono Of the greatest orua
ments of the fraternity. Identified
as he was, with the institution, IL i
had been an;agoniStic in its priuci
pie or practice to republican govern
mcht, would he have conteuted him.
self with president al chair when h,
might have mounted a royal throne
The wiseacres of Ohio, whost
minds it may be impossible to IRA
date with the light of truth, also as.
sort, that fIr long time, Masonic
societies have directed their efforts
in this country, towards the support
of slavery and the inception OF re.
bellion in its behalf. In reply u
this, suffice it to say that every mason
is strictly oWoiued TO be a l,cace,ul
auo quiet citizen, true to his country
aud his government not to cJuute-
rance disloyalty or rebellion, but
patiently to submit to legal authority.
aud conform with chesrluluess, to the
government of the country 10 which
he lives The charge of melting to
rebellion, &c, is, therefore. as flse
as that of "pcryertug The natinn, aud
iorbidding to give tribute to Cesar, 80
which was brought against the fuuu.
der of Christianity.
Who does not know that the essen
tial Characteristic of Masonry, when
not perverted, is charity. aud that
Brotheriy lore, Reiicf dad Truth, are
the corner stones of the Masonic
Temple? How then can that be u
prosidceyy institution, which teaches
its members to aid iu tho erection OF
that universal and eternal temple,
which will, one day enclose all ha-
mdiy within its precincts p
The petitioners say that Freema-
sons are "bound by barbarous oaths
repugnant to law, human aud di-
vine"
THIS is another Infamous filsehood
TIL solemn obligations which ma
sons voluntarily assume have been
entered into by some of the wisest
aud most virtuous meu of all ages
aud countries since the days of King
solomon. Would they have bound
themselves by "barbar Gus and uu
Lawful oaths?
Again, it is charged by tho peti-
tioncrsi that the you h of the country
are taught in masonic lodges 1.-The
pernicious practice of conspiracy
lnd that these institutions, through
the use of vague signs aud symbols,
Insiduously calculated to deceive,
'habituato the yomg and Innocent to
he ways Of dupicity aud DO 4 oraliz-
ltion.' The allusion to the young |
md innocent is easily disposed of, as
40 one not Of Lawful age can be made
/ Mason.
As to the rest, we have the best au.
hority for stating that desire of
knowledge aud a siuoore wish of bo-
ng serviceable to his fellow creatures
% every masonic lodge on tho face OF
he globe, aud If any evil thing be
liscounteuanced by Frcemasonry,
{ is disloyalty, or conspiracy against
awful government. Its signs aud
ymbols constitute n universal Ian
.uage, understood by all Masous.-
True, they are secret and inviolable
This, however, is manifest necessity,
or were it otherwise, how could one
i ason know ano;her with whom he
vas previously unacquaintod, with
certainty? The signs and symbols
re only vague to the uninitiated, but
o Masuns instructed in those duties
oward God aud man which Masonry
nculcates. they are full of meaning,
ruth and power. Wherever the light
# knowledge has dispellod the mists
f ignorance, Or the torch of science
eveultd the hidden wonders Of cree
tion, or an altar been erected to the
,reat Architect of the Universe, there
'Iasonry exerts its benign influence
lniIing men in an adamuntine bond
# "brotherly love-"
''Thut sacred lic which vlrtuous spirits binds
hat golden chain which links immortal Min ids
Vague signs aud symbols, do
hey call them "Heuce,7 says a
veil informed Masonic author, "many
dvantages are derived the distant
Jhinese. the wild Arab, and the
american savage, win embrace u
Brother Briton, aud know that, he
Iides the common ties of humanity,
here is still stronger obligation to
induce him to perform kind and friend
y Offices. In fine the sacred tenets of
he order are SO entirely incompati-
Die with impiety and immortality that
none but truly good man can be
HOOD MAsoN.-N T. Ec.