Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-06
be q staggering blow to the institution.
An impartial person might ask, why q more

| severe blow to Masonry than Professionalism
the Marquis having abandoned both. Is
there anything in the faith and practice of the
Protestant church "worthy the attention OF
those who have anything else to do no that
it is renounced by the Marquis? Should
any one or many of the bright lights of the
Free Will Baptist denomination-of " hich the
Star is an able and luminous representative
go out in the darkness of Romanism, or
changing belief on various points, unite with
another Protestant denomination, become a
Baptist, Universalist or Congreeatonalist,
| would it be fair to say that there is nothing in
the faith or practice OF the Free Baptist de-
| nomination "worthy the attention of those
who have anything else to do?"
But beyond all this, is the Star conscious
that the Marquis, as an honest man, in es-
sousing the doctrines Of the Roman Catholic
church, must abandon forever the tenets and
practices of Free Masonry? The two cannot
mix, no more than oil and water; they cannot
affiliate no more than light and darkness. Let
the bloody hand Of Romanism bear aloft the
torch to illuminate the lodge room, and the
sacred light burning steadily upon the humble
Masonic altar the open Bible, on which rests
the square and compass be removed
The triumph Of Catholicism in this country
would be the overthrow of Masonry, Protest
ism, the Bible, and free institutions. All
would perish together, and might properly
form one grand funeral pile for final crema-
ton.
But these remarks we intended merely as
Introductory to the following letter, brought
out by the paragraph in the Star, from the
Rev. C. c. Mason of Kittery the well known
lecturer on Masonry:
Mr.. EDIToR-Being a Free Mason and be-
longing to the Craft of this Jurisdiction, / ask
place in your Journal for few lines concern
ing an article in that very excellent paper, the
"Morning Star" entitled, "a Blow at Mason
ry." And firstly, l wish to say that Editors
opinions concerning matters Of which they
know nothing about, are not authoritative.
Yet do feel that the comments of the Star
affiict me more than apostacy of the
Marquis of Ripon", for the Star is read and
highly appreciated by many good christian
Masons, one of whom think, if its worthy ed
itor knew as much about masonry as be ap-
pears to know, he would know great deal
more than he does. And here is where the en-
dorsement and appreciation of the Marqus's
abandonment of masonry seems entirely out Of
place. The fraternity can afford to have men
of So little moral worth secede from their
ranks, though they have attained to eminence
| in the order; for the loss to the body ct large
will no more be felt than his conversion to
Romanism. His adoption of the catholic faith
is a triumph for that church, but how his re-
nouncing the obligations of Free Masonry,
| and forswearing himself can be of public ad
| vantage Gas the Star intmates) is more than
l can perceive. The fact that the Marquis of
Ripon, Marquis of Butte, or the Grand Orient
King, Prince, or other potentate. have separ-
ated themselves from the community of Free
Masons, does not weaken the tie that binds US
together; for masonry is an organization of
principles, not of men,-of principles drawn
from the highest sources of human reason,
| and divine revelstion-of principles in their
| nature profoundly philosophical, and in their
practice of untold value to the human family.
The man who withdraws from the patronage
of these tenets, and cancels an integrity which
| he vowed 10 maintain, is more 10 be pitied than
| to be envied, even though he be- ''full of hon
ors" and the highest seat at Rome be tender
| ed him, as coronal for his acceptance of the
Roman Catholic Faith. Our great present
| danger is not in secession from our brother.
| hood, but in the popularity of our institution
When our enimies were fierce and cruel, then
our sentinels were watchful and guarded
| now when peace prevails, and men are flock
| ing to our standard, let US each feel and act
| as though the safety and honor Of the Frater
| nifty rested upon US individually, then will
| our portals be secure, and none but good men
| and true ever be able to gain entrance to our
citadel C. c. Mason.