gave it appearing to be in distress, I will fly to his relief at the risk of my life, should there be a greater probability of saving his life than of losing my own." 'Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that a master mason's secrets, given to me in charge as such, and I knowing them to be such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast as in his own, when communicated to me, murder and treason excepted; and they left to my own election." Now who would expect, that a master mason, feeling himself bound by his masonic oath, would disclose "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," when called to testify against a brother in a court of justice, especially when he saw from that brother "the grand hailing sign of distress?" But, let us hear the Royal Arch mason. "Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will aid and assist a companion Royal Arch mason, when engaged in any difficulty; and espouse his cause so far as to extricate him from the same, if in my power, whether he be right or wrong. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that a companion Royal Arch mason's secrets, given me in charge as such, and I knowing them to be such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast as in his own, murder and treason not excepted;" or, as it is administered in some Chapters, "in all cases without exception." We now ask any citizen, who is not a mason, if, engaged in litigation with one of the fraternity, he is willing his cause should be submitted to a jury, bound under no less penalty, than to have each his skull smote off," that they will aid and assist their " companion, when engaged in any difficulty, and espouse his cause, so far as to extricate him from the same, whether

he be right or wrong? ?" If the jurors have any regard to the masonic oath, will they not feel bound to render a verdict in favor of their brother or companion, whether just or unjust? This is no more than a fair and literal expression of the Royal Arch obligation; and we have the testimony of men, who have been familiar with masonic usages, and whose integrity has long been establishin view of the public, that the cause of justice has been thwarted repeatedly through the influence of masonic oaths.

Freemasonry tends to defeat the design of the civil law,

and to paralize the arm of justice in the punishment of crime.

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Freemasons are not only sworn to keep their brother's secrets, and to defend and espouse his cause, whether right or wrong, but to warn him of approaching danger, and, if possible, effect his escape. The force of such ob ligations, regarded by the brotherhood, must afford a broad covering for the blackest crimes, and lay the foundation for many a villain to elude the stroke of justice. In demonstration of this fact, we appeal to the MORGAN conspiracy. The success and facility, with which many, engaged in that barbarous transaction, have insulted and set at defiance the majesty of the civil law, afford melancholy proof, that masonic obligations are but too well observed. It affords an affecting illustration of those unhallowed words, to keep a companion's secrets, in all cases whatsoever, and to espouse his cause, and grant him aid in any difficulty so far as to extricate him from the same, whether he be right or wrong." It cannot be denied, nor ought to be concealed, that whole lodges, chapters and encampments, and even the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of one of the States, have been prompt to relieve their criminal brethren and companions in distress; and have not hesitated to bestow of their funds, to thwart the exertions, and paralize the effects of the civil power. Even those Freemasons, who have been convicted of the foulest crimes against the laws of their country, have had their prisons turned to palaces, their hearts cheered with every desirable luxury, and are still owned by the fraternity, as trusty companions and worthy brothers. It is indeed, mockery, and adding insult to injury, for any to pretend, in the face of these stubborn facts," that Freemasons do not mean to shield one another from the arm of the civil law.

It is an alarming consideration that the public press. has been so much under the control of masonic influence. A free press may be considered the very bulwark of our civil and religious liberties. Who are our sentinels and watchmen, but those who manage the public press? But our editors, with a few honorable exceptions, relative to this subject, have been, as it appears to us, unreasonably reserved. Bating a few, who have been continually.

chanting the praises of Freemasonry, and pouring forth abuse and Billingsgate on all who dare oppose; and here and there a champion for the truth, who had the temerity, in opposition to masonic threats and masonic corruption, to sound the alarm, and tell aloud the tale of wo, which had yet scarce been whispered to the western zephyr; almost the whole corps seemed to be mute with astonishment. Masonic bribery had almost effectually poisoned all our streams of public information. No one could know the truth; no one could tell what to believe. Were it not for the anti-masonic presses, which have sprung up, almost simultaneously, like here and there a star to "glitter upon the mantle of night;" our political horizon would still have been left in worse than Egyptian darkness. But from the demonstration we have had of masonic control over the public press, a free people have reason to be jealous, and take the alarm. If the fountains of intelligence must either be stopped, or corrupted, by a powerful, secret combination, we may as well barter away our birthright for a mess of pottage, or sell our liberties at auction, like the Roman empire, despoiled of its strength, opulence and glory.

We cannot but learn, with serious apprehensions for our dearest rights, the artful and insidious measures, with which Freemasons have been thrust into offices of power and trust. In looking at these offices, in places where, perhaps, one eighth of the freeholders are masons, we shall find more than seven eighths of the offices in possession of the brotherhood. Where, fellow citizens, will you find a public key, of any considerable importance, that is not in the hands of a mason? Where will you find an important public office, of any considerable lucrative encouragement, that is not filled by a mason? We are sure, that the disparity in official appointments, as divided between Freemasons and other classes of our fellow citizens, is so great, that it could not have been the result of accident. Whoever will examine this part of the subject, will find that facts speak for themselves, and that their testimony is irresistible.

Now, although we would not deny to Freemasons, as men, in common with others, any right, prerogative or perquisite, of civil community, to which talents and in

tegrity may justly entitle them; yet we are constrained to consider any secret or clandestine measures, which they take to thrust their own members into office, as altogether a usurpation; and such an one as is directly calculated to subvert the very first principles of our confederate republic.

We do not feel ourselves at liberty to conclude this document, without urging our fellow citizens to reflect upon the awful imprecations of Freemasonry. These are so numerous, that we could not give a full view of their horrid and blasphemous import, without transcribing a very considerable part of every masonic "obligation." We will select, as an example only the following, from one of the Knight's degrees. In receiving his libation from a human skull, the candidate swears, May this libation appear as a witness against me, both here and hereafter, and as the sins of the world were laid upon the head of the Saviour, so may all the sins committed by the person whose skull this was, be heaped upon my head, in addition to my own, should I ever knowingly or wilfully violate or transgress any obligation that I have heretofore taken, take at this time, or shall, at any future period, take in relation to any degree of masonry, or order of knighthood." Upon such imprecations as these, let every citizen make his own comment.

We also feel it our duty, though with great reluctance, to advert to the malignant and persecuting spirit, inculcated in some of the first principles of Freemasonry, and which has been too faithfully carried into effect against all those, who have had the temerity to transgress her secret and mysterious laws. Take, as an example, an extract from an obligation administered to the Thrice Illustrious Knight of the Red Cross. "You further swear, that should you know another to violate any essential point of this obligation, you will use your most decided endeavors, by the blessing of God, to bring such person to the strictest and most condign punishment, agreeably to the rules and usages of our most ancient fraternity; and this by pointing him out to the world as an unworthy vagabond; by opposing his interest, by deranging his business, by transferring his character after him wherever he may go, and exposing him to the contempt of the

whole fraternity and the world, but of our illustrious order more especially, during his whole natural life." Here too, let our fellow citizens judge, whether such a spirit as this, enforced by a sanguinary law, becomes a 66 handmaid of religion," or of an institution professing to inculcate the first principles of "charity," "universal philanthropy," and sound "morality." As it respects ourselves, we are fully satisfied, that such obligations as the above will account for the scandal and reproach, which, without discrimination, have been heaped upon all those who have burst the bonds of the masonic institution, and borne testimony against its secret principles of iniquity.

There are several other topics, relative to this subject, which we think deserve the serious consideration of our fellow citizens; but this protracted address must come to a close, and leave much unsaid, which we could wish to have discussed. We cannot, however, sum up what we have already suggested, and what we might still desire to lay before the citizens of this Commonwealth, in more appropriate language, than that of the Le Roy Convention, in their anti-masonic declaration of independence.

"That it (the masonic institution) is opposed to the genius and design of this government, the spirit and precepts of our holy religion, and the welfare of society generally, will appear from the following considerations:

"It exercises jurisdiction over the persons and lives of citizens of the republic.

"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.

"It encourages the commission of crime, by affording to the guilty facilities of escape.

"It affords opportunities for the corrupt and designing to form plans against government, and the lives and characters of individuals.

"It assumes titles and dignities incompatible with a republican form of government, and enjoins an obedience to them derogatory to republican principles.

"It destroys all principles of equality, by bestowing