Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-04-09

with cheerfulness. 10 the government
of the country in which be lives"
The charge of melting to rebellion. &C..
is, therefore, as false as that of "per-
verting the nation, and forbidding to
give tribute to Cesar" which was
brought against the founder of Chris
| tianity.
Who does not know that the essential
characteristic of Masonry. when not per-
verted, is charity. and that Brotherly
love. Relief and Truth, are the corner
stones of the Masonic Tomple? How
then can that be pro slavery institu-
| ton, which teaches its members to aid
in the erection of that universal and eter-
nal temple, which will, one day. enclose
all humanity within its precincts!"
The petitioners say that Freemasons
are bound by barbarous oaths repug
nant to law, human and divine"
This is another infamous falsehood.
The solemn obligations which masons
voluntarily assume have been entered in.
to by some of the wisest and most virtu-
GUS men of all ages since the days of
King Solomon. Would they have bound
themselves by f" barbarous and unlawful
oaths!"
Again it is charged by the petitioners
that the youth of the country are taught
in masonic lodges " the pernicious prac-
tees of conspiracy" and that these in.
stitutions, through the use of vague signs
and symbols, insidiously calculated to
deceive, " habituate the young and IN
nocent to the ways of duplicity and de-
moralzation." The alIusion to the young
and innocent is easily disposed of as no
one not Of LAWFUL age can be made n
mason.
As to the rest, we have the best au-
thority for stating that desire of knowl
edge and sincere wish of being service
able to his fellow creatures is the :. open
sesame" for every man to every masonic
lodge on the face of the globe, and if
any evil thing he discountenanced by
Freemasorry, moro than another, it is
disloyalty, or conspiracy against, lawful
government. Its signs and symbols,
constitute universal language under
stood by all Masons. True. they are
secret and inviolable. This, however,
is a manifest necessity, for were it other
wise, how could one mason know anoth-
or with whom ho was previously -unac-
quainted, with certainty. The signs and
symbols are onl y vague to the animated,
| but to mascns instructed in those duties
towards Cod and man which masonry
inculcates, they are full of meaning,
truth and power. Wherever the light
of knowledge has dispelled the mists of
| ignorance, or the torch of science reveal
ed the hidden wonders of creation, or
an altar hnon erected to tho sro~t h,oh-
itcct of the Universe, there masonry
exerts its benign influence uniting men
in an admantine bond Of " 5rotherly
lore"
THAT sacred tie which vrtuous spirits bind.
| That golden chain which links immortal minds"
"Vague signs and symbols" do they
call them! Hence, says well in
formed masonic author" many advan-
tages are derived; the distant Chinese,
the wild Arab, and the American say
age, will embrace Brother Briton, and
| know that, besides the common ties of
humanity, there is still stronger obi.
cation to induce him to perform KIM
and friendly offices. In fine, the sacred
tenets of the order are so entirely in
compatible with impiety and Immortality
that none but truly good man can be a
GOOD MAsoS.-New York Mercantile
Journal.