The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-20
acknowledgement,


Tho rope ""
Tho Freemasons assembled in conven'
dian al Lausanne, Switzerland, have
thought proper to reply to the attacks
s.I insults leyeled against them, chiefly
Nv The Pope and the organs of the Pa
1.,, in France, by the publication OF q
declaration Of principles. We subioin
,ho,e,t Of this curious document;
aF,eemasonry proclaims as it has al
,iv unclaimed from the time Of its
'saJI the existence OF a creative princi-
oI In'snnder The name of Great Architect oil
iS H. Universe. Itplaces no limits to the
W, ,a.carch Of truth, and i! Is in order to
an,rantee that liberty to all that It exacta
S. a all liberation. In its workshops it
mm,"bibi,s all political and religious dis
t,,.,ion. il receives all the profane, what
srsr be the religious or political opinions
wbieb are things that do not concern it
NN, g that they should be free and
ibsir morality good. The object
o " Freemasonry is to fight intoler.
" Vnc, IN every shape; it is a mutual
school whose programme may be
,S"v' summed up: TO obey the
law. Of ones country; live in conformity
Win the precepts Of honor; love ones
Oa;"bborn work necessarily to promote
,Sr happiness Of mankind, and prosecute
n, " n" and peaceful emancipa.
Ian These are the rules Freemasonry
,5onts and the adoption Of which it I'M
a nov npon those who wish to belong to
ibs Masonic family, But simultaneously
With hi. declaration Of principles, the
convent deems it necessary to proclaim
,Sotrnth, and doctrines on which Mason
wi, founded; it desires that every man
.boulJ know them. To raise man in his
"wn ewes to render him worthy Of his
mi..ion upon earth, Masonrylays down
,bs prinCiple that the Creator has given
him liberty az the most precious Of all
blesings-liberty the patrimony OF the
whole Of mankind, array from above which
no power has the rightto diminish or sup
nress and which is the source Of all feel
ms, Of honor and dignity. From the
preparation for the first degree to the
attainment Of the highest degree in Scotch
MaWnry the first condition, without
which nothing sgrantCd to the claimant,
|, an unblemished reputation for honor
and honesty, TO these men, for whom
religion ia q supreme consolation, Ma
sonTy says, Practice your religion with:
out let or hindrance; follow the dictates OF
your conscience. l'reemasOnry il not q
religion; ithas no form OF Worship; there.
fore, it wishes for the establishment Of
Law education, and It's doctrine may be
summed up in the beautiful tenet-loye
thy neighbor. To those who dread with
so much reason political dissensions,
FrCemaonry says, 4 Danish all discus
sions from my meetings; be for thy Coun-
try faithful and devoted servant; thou
hast no account to render u.s. The Coun-
try moreover, aCcOrds with the practice
of all virtues. Masonry has been charg.
oil with immortality! Our morality Is
the purest morality, the holiest morality
II Is based on the first Of all virtues
humanity. The real Mason does good; he
extends his benevOlenCe to all the I'm.
fortunate without distinction within
the limits Of his means; he therefore re-
iect. immortality with disgust and con.
tempt. Such are the foundations on
which I'reemasOnry is buiItup, and which
secure among all members Of that great
family the closest union, whatever be the
distance that separates the various coun'
tries they dwell in, fratOrnal love reigns
among them. What can better prove
that truth than the meeting OF our
convent, unknown to each other
coming from widely different cOun'
triCs2 Hardly had we exchanged the
int words Of welcome when the moSI
intimate union prevailed between usi
hands were fratCrnally grasped, and II
was in the midst Of the most touching
concord that our most important resOlu-
tons were passed with unanimous assent.
Ffeemasons Of all countries, citizens Of
all nations, such are the preCepts, such
are the laws Of FreemAsOnry, such are
its mysteries Against ii the effects OF
Calumny will remain unavailing, and In
suits without an echo; marching peace
fully from victory to victory Freemason.
ry will extend each day its civiliiing
and moral influence over the world"