of discipline must be trodden under foot, to make way for the execution of masonic laws?

Many of the members of our Churches, who have recently become acquainted with these facts, are looking on, with the most bitter grief, because their brethren generally seem so backward to suspect any mischief from this source, that they cannot be persuaded to behold and turn away from such a deadly evil, justly feeling that, so long as the Church continue to fellowship Freemasonry, they must themselves be implicated in the anti-christian character of that institution. Can any one show, how this melancholy inference can justly be avoided? while now there is quite a threatening aspect upon the face of this institution, speaking a language not difficult to be understood, that if the Church will not peaceably retain her in fellowship, she will array all her forces against the Church for its overthrow. This threatening aspect of the institution, from which I would exonerate the character of our masonic Christian brethren, seems to be, perhaps, the most important reason, why there is such an apparent trembling and reluctance to come forward, with many of our brethren in important stations, who appear to see the danger of the Church, and yet stand looking on, as though they were disinterested spectators; or waiting for a general alarm to be given, that all may act in concert, and with the greater safety. This being the situation of the Church, in regard to the masonic institution, how reasonable the command from heaven, "Come out of her my people.”—I pass now to urge some reasons for a compliance, on the part of the Church, with this important command of heaven.

The first reason which I shall notice, for the separation of the Church from the masonic institution, in addition to what may be considered as implied under my former proposition, is that which is first mentioned in the text, “That ye partake not of her sins," that is, that the Church, and its members may not be looked upon, and dealt with from heaven, as participating in the present manifested guilt of Freemasonry. We have already taken something of a view of the evil deeds of this institution as they have, of late, been exhibited, since its veil of darkness and secrecy have been so entirely removed.

Although there have been no small number of men, of moral and religious principles, who have been deceived by the alluring pretensions of that institution to become. its members, who, by their goodly lives, have seemed to enstamp upon it outwardly, the appearance of a humane, moral, and almost a religious institution, yet, from its true character as it has exhibited itself of late, separate from what it has borrowed from the Church, and the character of good men who have been drawn into it, I should think we are safe in considering some of its legitimate fruits to be, falsehood, deception, pride, office, power, profanity, perjury, deism, defamation, murder and treason. Can the Church, living in fellowship with this institution, while such of its characteristics are exhibited to public view, prosper any better than Israel could, when defeated and slain before the inhabitants of Ai, merely because one of their number, Achan, had pilfered a wedge of gold and hid it, while this, no doubt, was a secret to Israel generally? Although it is often said, that the Church has never flourished more than within thirty years past, which is during the very period of the principal growth of Freemasonry in this couutry, as an argument to convince us, that they ought not now to be separated; the argument appears to me unsound, though it is, perhaps, as good as any other which could be produced for the same purpose.--The argument is evidently unsound, because, until a very short time past, the evil or anti-christian character of Freemasonry has been concealed, like a serpent in the grass, so that the Church has not had occasion to suspect but that its professions of humanity and benevolence, were hearty and sincere. Thus it appears, that "God winked at" her "ignorance," in her continuing so long to walk hand in hand with that institution, but now, since her true character is exposed, should the Church continue this fellowship, she must inevitably be a voluntary partaker in all the guilt which is proved against that institution.

A second reason which I would now urge for a compliance on the part of the Church, with the command to come out of the masonic institution, is that which is also contained in the text, " That ye receive not of her plagues.” Nothing, perhaps, is more sure, than that plagues sent

from God, are the just and natural consequences of unrepented iniquity. Such plagues have sometimes been experienced in this world, rather as a premonition of that "fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries." Though we are not to suppose, that God will so abandon his real children, even in their wanderings from him, as finally to give them over to the kingdom of Satan, they may be called to experience very severe sufferings in consequence of their wicked conduct, and feel as though they were actually forsaken of God forever;-and by their examples of wickedness, may be the means of bringing plagues upon their companions and posterity, which shall include the dreadful judgments of the eternal world.

Were I to speak of the temporal plagues of the masonic institution as being alluded to, in the text, I should say, from present appearances, that in connexion with its sins, some of which have been mentioned, as having appeared to public view, they appear to be, alienation, contention, division among the members, or a house most strikingly divided against itself, and an inevitable falling. It is devoutly to be hoped, that the Church may not be called to experience things like these, but I confess, that however some may differ from me in judgment, who are much wiser than myself, I am unable to see, from a long and close examination of the subject, any way by which, these very plagues can be averted from the Church only by her unreserved coming out from that institution according to a command from heaven. I know that this represents the Church and its members as being in a peculiar and trying situation; but certainly, not so apparently beyond remedy, and dangerous to individuals, as in the reformation, when it became necessary for it, to escape the plagues of heaven, to come out from the Romish Church.

In further urging reasons for a compliance with this command, on the part of the Church, I will here notice one fact, which must appear obvious to all who have examined this subject and its bearing upon the Church, and that is, such a general cessation of revivals of religion in our land, since the disclosures of the secrets and character of masonry. Though there may be a few ex

ceptions, I think it will be admitted generally, by those who are familiar with these things, that in all our Churches where Freemasonry exists, and her character is examined by the brethren, they have seemed at once disqualified for any further special manifestation of the Divine Spirit, in the awakening and conversion of the impenitent among them. And is it not apparent, that the Church must sink, and continue to sink, until there shall be a deliverance effected from this melancholy evil? I am well aware of the responses of thousands of voices, where such a question as this may be asked, from those who yet think favorably of Freemasonry; and I shall not question but that multitudes of well meaning persons, who acknowledge and deplore the evil now before us, as much as ourselves, do honestly believe at the same time, that it is not masonry, but anti-masonry, which is the guilty cause. But certainly, if this must be taken for good logic, though revivals in many cases have been observed to be checked, so soon as the masonic question began to be examined, or anti-masonry appeared there, so to speak; then surely it must be equally good reasoning, if there should be some of the most scandalous wickedness, secretly introduced into a Church, perhaps, ignorantly at first, by some of its well meaning members, and should for some time lie concealed, from the Church and the world, while the place might be experiencing a refreshing from the presence of the Lord, to say as before, after this wickedness and scandal shall be uncovered to all the people, if any of the Church shall protest against it, and refuse any fellowship for it, then these are the guilty individuals who have put a stop to the revival, if it shall cease, rather than others who might have introduced the scandal at first, and still persist in retaining and justifying it in the Church.

Must it not be agreed by all, that the Churches of our land, which have began to experience trouble from the subject of Freemasonry, cannot expect to enjoy the smiles of heaven again, until it can somehow be disposed of among them? Then how shall it be disposed of, but by a general withdrawing from the fellowship of the institution? Sure, it can no more be hushed up and forgotten, where it is, and the Churches thus be restored to peace,

than the earth can be stopped in her revolutions and the sun prohibited his shining. But a separation from the masonic institution, is practicable, and expedient, and in my opinion the only way which can be devised, whereby the church can here rest and be built up.

Again, shall not the express commands of heaven be regarded? "What concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord." So in our text, "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her, my people."

ADDRESS OF THE WATERBURY ANTI-MASONIC MEETING.

At a numerous meeting of Freemen opposed to the principles of Speculative Masonry, holden at the Meeting-house in Waterbury, Washington county, Vt. on the 27th of October, 1829, the Hon. EZRA BUTLER, Ex-Governor of Vermont, was chosen President, and CHARLES CALKINS and ELYMUS S. NEWCOMB, Secretaries. The following Address was submitted to the meeting, and adopted.

FELLOW CITIZENS,-In addressing you, we would freely and fearlessly express our 'views concerning Freemasonry-not for the purpose of creating prejudices in your minds against Freemasons, but to show you the nature and tendency of their institution. Our objections to Freemasonry are founded principally on the masonic oaths, such as have been revealed, and are not now denied by masons who adhere to the institution. On a fair construction of these oaths, the following conclusions are deducible:

"It exercises jurisdiction over the persons and lives of its members.

"It arrogates to itself the right of punishing its members for offences unknown to the laws of this or any other nation.

"It requires the concealment of crime, and protects the guilty from punishment.