The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-06-27

mel four miles to the west, rolling on its
sweet winding way just as though nothing
had happened. Il. w. p.
For The Register.
Human progress is awonderful "Insti-
tion." With surprise and admiration we
have observed its workings. Men preach
and toll and fight to establish some valu-
able object, some great principle, some
much needed reform, in morals, religion
politics, or established form of govern
ment, whose very exercise must promote
the public good, and scarcely do its ad-
vocates draw one easy breath after its
completion, before some evil hand is rails
ed to demolish the structure. Little care
they how much toll, treasure, or blood
even, it has cost,or whether anything bet
ter can take its place. Nothing human
we take it, is perfect. And there is
nothing, however good its nature or OBJ
jcct, but may be assailed with some plea
of justice. While it is assailed with great
volence,it may be useful and much need
ed, and if destroyed, will be the occasion
of injury to the people, and prejudice to
the government.
We have been led to these thoughts by
Finney's work on Freemasonry, which we
have seen of late. Personally we never
knew the author, but have long had, and
have often read his discourses and Theo-
logical Lectures. We have regarded the
author with much esteem as a writer aud
theologian, and have respected him for
his dignity and learning, and the great
aud worthy objects to which he has devo-
ted his life. But now in his dotagc he
is out in a genuinum trangere, a verita-
BILE dentem rodere, in which he reviles
bitterly, and we fear he is moved thereto
by malice that he is little conscious Of
1t is not easy to assign motives, and it is
difficult to immagine what has brought him
out in such waspish melee. Hitherto
We have known of him only a. college
professor, and a learned theologian, hon
ored among the learned, and esteemed by
all. Now he is an idle misanthropc, q
very Polyphemus, in frog pond, wound
ing and killing the reptiles.
1t would be relief to know that some
great temptation has beset him, or that
he was assaicd by some sad reverses Of
fortune, or that some provoking disap-
pointment has thwarted him from his us
ual equanimity and disposed him to write
such a work, is feeble production, and
every way unworthy of him, and reminds
us of the fable Of the old sick lion, that
had been long the terror of the forest,
but was at length overcome by his ieeblest
foes. But we must not retort upon him
such untriendly epithets as he has been
pleased to hurl The benignity of philos-
ophy has softenel the infirmities of tenn
per, and we would rather restore men to
goodness by precept and persuasion than
by force OF abuse, or even ridicule. Eve
ry word We utter on this subject therefore
shall be tempered with moderation, and
although We cannot expect to reach a
man who has written book, and such a
book we would on no account return such
a temper as he has manifested. lie un-
hesitatingly charges Freemasons with
shams, impostures, hypocrasies, falshoods
blasphemies, and know not what other
s villainies.
0 Now the masonic lodges are largely
o composed of intelligent men in all the
r learned professions, and many Of them
c are members of Christian churches, and
f a very strange feeling comes over them
e as they read these pages. If this is
:. frcemasonry as here presented why have
e they not been impressed and Mortified
}, as was our author? Answer, because
!. they do not read. But these men are
c officers in the lodges, and have given tc
e others the degrees from month to month
Do they not know them Alas if the
h charges were made indiscriminately
). against freemasons and christian churches
c | suppose the members would dispas.
e sionatey say belong to both and
|, have constantly attended the meeting
y of both, but have yet to learn that
a such characters as are assigned attach tC
d to either of them. Did not the masons
}. kill William Morgan? it is asked in tri
IS umph. Did not the Calvinists kill Ser
i. vetus? We ask in turn. But the ma
g sons were bound by oath to do SO
t No, not in pursuance of any oath eveI
o heard in the lodge. Well they do xii
e renouncing masons, and persecute them
IF and ruin them in character and business
e do they not ? 1t may have been done
N and SO the congregationalists persecutet
e. Roger Williams, and drove him from
1t civilized society, beyond the waters o
Of the Naragansett. So let US put both up
s. on the same basis, and bring the sam'
Of charges against both. But the lodges re
le ject Christ. Perhaps some do, but no
10 necessarily. How is it with churches
is Some do, and others do not.
" Masonic lodges are secret societies. anC
is are dangerous to the commonwealth. w
$. admit them to be exclusive. Perhaps i
O were better if they were not. But tn
rs Methodist discipline makes both thei
" class meeting and love feast secret in tn
ct sense of exclusiveness. Are they dan
is gerous? We also notice that our court
IN charge the grand jury upon oath to keel
ry all matters submitted to them, pro
ct found secret, if they find no cause o
III action. What danger occurs ? All thes
Ii wonderful expositions of masonry remin
u. us of verse in an old lovers song
lis - 'Tou roaring over loud, Clyde water,
w Thou art roaring over strang;
- Gle me thy rock, whence l come back,
IN But spare me when gang"
tx CHRISTOPHER CoLuMBUs.