of those whose especial duty it is to hunt down, persecute and destroy all who have the hardihood to differ with them, on the great and exciting question of speculative free-masonry. Nor will I be seduced from the performance of my duty here, by the sneers of pretended friends, who are not ashamed to receive anti-masonic votes, and yet who always think and say, to discuss the principles of anti-masonry in deliberative bodies, is to throw in a fire brand, and to disturb the harmony of feeling, &c. Sir, I believe with my constituents, that the institution of speculative free-masonry is a great moral and political evil. We believe it to be an engine of tremendous power, in the hands of the corrupt and designing men. We believe it to have been used, and to be still used by the corrupt and designing, for the worst and basest purposes. We believe it to be now in the hands and under the control of men, enthusiastically mad in the cause of masonry; who now, writhing under the effects of popular odium and political defeat, have planted the bloody banner of free-masonry on the outward wall. We see now, sir, on every side, the hum and bustle of preparation. Let it come-we will prepare, as we have often done before we will carry the war into Africa. My constituents were among the first, perhaps the very first, in the commonwealth, who dared to bear the anti-masonic standard of liberty and equality-and to strike for their insulted country, and the supremacy of her prostrate laws! Yes sirwhen masonry boasted that a world in arms,' could not stop her career, my constituents, with noble and patriotic daring, threw themselves into the breach, and so far at least as they were immediately concerned, avenged the wrongs of their country, and restored the mild and equitable sway of the laws. In that preparatory conflict, I had the honor of participating, and I glory in its results. We fight our political battles, not as masonry does, under grand kings, knights, and masters, but as the rank and file of the country.

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Permit me, sir, to investigate some of the arrogant and imputed assumptions of masonry; and first of all, I will for a moment examine her pretensions to antiquity. Masons say that it descended from Heaven." Go with me, if you please, while we examine this subject. As to the origin and descent of masonry, the initiated differ vastly among themselves. Some say it commenced before, and others since the Christian era. Now, I will endeavor to show that it is purely modern, and of vulgar originthat it took its rise from operative masonry--veritable stone, brick, and muddy mortar, with hods, trowls, and all other vulgar impliments,--that it was originally a school of architecture; nothing more than to advance the science of stone, brick and mortar masonry--just what the name imports; and it was not until some choice spirits, blessed with a fondness for conviviality, (yet an attribute of the order) met at the apple tree tavern, in London, in the year 1717, and resolved that they would assume a mystical character, and accordingly invented a serious of oaths and degrees, which having since been improved on, are now the abominations and horror of all thinking classes in every community. For the truth of this fact I refer the convention, not to anti-masonic authority, not to perjured witnesses, as the votaries of the lodge are pleased to call them--but to an author who is still a mason, who avows himself to be the apologist of masony-is still a mason, and has undertaken the defence of the orderI mean W. L. Stone. In his letter to Mr. Adams, page 113 and 114, he gives it as a masonic historical fact; and he further tells us that, the first

masonic procession took place in London, 24th June, 1724, at the installation of the Duke of Richmond, as grand master. Since that time he says "its rites, its mysteries, its ceremonies, and its legends have been gradually accumulating." In fact, sir, we find that the boasted mysteries of the order originally meant no more than the mysteries of any other trade. I will not inquire when Heaven descended-masonry,' as it is called, first made its appearance in this country, the same author gives it historically, that masory first appeared here about the time of the French war, in 1754, while we were colonists. It was introduced by British officers; this is also an historical fact, better known to the masons than to us who are of the uns worn. Yet it is known to us, historically known, truly known, and often proved. I challenge masons to disprove what is here said about the antiquity of free masonry and its introduction here.

Masons tell us that masonry is very beneficial to mankind, yet never gave us the reasons why it is so. I admit, sir, that men have from different motives become masons. Some perhaps suppose that it will reveal to their astonished senses some of the mysteries of the christian religion; others that it may assist them in travelling, some from idle curiosity, but by far the greater number as a matter of speculation; they believe it will give them some superior knowledge, and enable them, by secret signs, grips, and passwords, to obtain that which otherwise would be out of their reach. I admit also, that many good and great men have become masons, but it is a singular fact and wo thy of all observation, that such men have invariably dissolved their connexion with the institution. Look around you if you please, look at the circle of your own immediate acquaintances, and tell me how many good and pious men, who in their youth have become masons, still adhere to the order;-by adhering, I mean, continue their connection with the lodge. I put it, sir, as a practical illustration, and address myself to every member of this body. Let him recall his scattered recollections on this subject, and carry out the suggestions, and my life for it, if he answers truly, he will say that such men have long since withdrawn from the order. To such as have thus withdrawn themselves I take occasion to say, that they have not done enough, they have not cancelled those obligations which we all owe to society; they should openly renounce all connexion that the influence of their example might operate on the rising generation; for it is to the care of the coming generation that we must ere long consign our free institutions, and it is important that they should carefully guard, watch over and preserve from violation the great fundamental principles of liberty. But masons tell us that the institution is of christian origin, and essentially christian in principle; that it inculcates and promotes the pure precepts of christianity. On this question it is not agreeable to me to argue, disapproving much of all discussions on abstract theological questions; but fortunately, it is quite unnecessary to do so. Permit me only to ask the votaries of the order, how can masonry promote christianity, when Jews, Turks, Infidels and Atheistst are admitted into an equal and full participation, in all her rites and mysteries? I call on them to explain this if they can, and if they cannot, let them cease prating about the chris ianity of masonry. Again, who has not heard masons assume the ground that christianity is one of the essentials of masonry. When they tell us that we might as well blame one christian sect for the acts of another, as to blame masonry every where

for the abduction and muder of Morgan; in answer to this permit me to say, we show that the obligations of masonry are the same every where, and that masons in this state, who believe in their binding efficacy, are prepared just to do the same thing that was done in New York, when masonically called upon.

But, again, no sect professing the christian religion are bound together by an oath of any kind; the case put by masons does not apply-no christian sect binds its members to perpetrate murder on backsliding, on recreant members, as masons are bound by their oaths to do. The anology fails, and there is an end of the matter. It is only one of those convenient specious arguments to which the order are obliged to resort to sustain the tottering masonic empire. As soon, however, as its votaries are driven from one ground, they boldly assume another, no mat. ter how untenable. They have told us that masonry does not interfere with the religion or politics of its votaries. I will endeavor to show that this position is equally untenable and absurd. I will prove that it interferes with religion, with politics, and with the laws of the country,-that it is anti-republican in its character, dangerous in its tendency, and an insidious enemy to civil liberty. To prove these positions, I shall in the first place be obliged to submit to the convention some delectable speci mens of the degrading oaths and obligations which men are obliged to take, before they can become bright masons; and will afterwards speak of the authority from whence those oaths are derived, their authenticity, and 80 on. The candidate for masonic honors is first, to use masonic language, "to be duly and truly prepared," that is, in other words, he is to be strip ed nearly naked, a rope put about his neck, called a cable tow, and then hoodwinked in this very decent manner, he is then brought into the lodge, the conductor holding on to the end of the rope around the neck of the candidate. After being gazed at for some time, he is obliged to kneel, and placing his hand on an open Bible, takes the following oath :

"I, A. B. of my own free will and accord, in presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful lodge of free and accepted masons, dedicated to God and held forth to the holy order of St. John, do hereby and hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal any part, or parts, art, or arts, point, or points of the secrets, arts and mysteries of ancient free masonry, which I have received, am about to receive, or may hereafter be instructed in, to any person or persons in the known world, except it be a true and lawful brother mason, or within the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of such, and not unto him, nor unto them whom I shall hear so to be, but unto him and them only whom I shall find so to be, after strict trial and due examination or lawful information. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not write, print, stamp, stain, hew, cut, carve, indent, paint, or engrave on any thing moveable or immoveable, under the whole canopy of heaven, whereby, or whereon the least letter, figure, character, mark, stain, shadow, or resemblence of the same may become legible or intelligible to myself or any other person in the known world, whereby the secrets of masonry may be unlawfully obtained through my unwor thiness. To all which I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, without the least equivocation, mental reservation, or self-evasion of mind in me whatever; binding myself under no less penalty, than to

have my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by the roots, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea, at low water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours; so help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."

I will now read the oath of the FELLOW CRAFT; this is called the second degree. It is somewhat remarkable at every degree to which the candidate is advanced, he is always sworn in addition to his former obligation, thus invoking ten fold vengeance on his head, should he violate any part of the obligation. The oath is as follows:

"I, A. B. of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful lodge of fellow craft masons, dedicated to God, and held forth to the holy order of St. John, do hereby and hereon, most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, in addition to my former obligation, that I will not give the degree of a fellow craft mason to any one of an inferior degree, nor to any other being in the known world, except it be to a true and lawful brother, or brethren fellow craft masons, or within the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of such; and not unto him nor unto them whom I shall hear so to be, but unto him and them only whom I shall find so to be, after strict trial and due examination, or lawful information. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not wrong this lodge, nor a brother of this degree, to the value of two cents, knowingly, myself, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will support the constitution of the grand lodge of the United States, and of the grand lodge of this state, under which this lodge is held, and conform to all the by-laws, rules and regulations of this, or any other lodge, of which I may, at any time hereafter, become a member, as far as in my power. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will obey all regular signs and summons, given, handed, sent, or thrown to me by the hand of a brother fellow craft mason, or from the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of such; provided it be within the length of my cable tow, or a square and angle of my work. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will be aiding and assisting all poor and penny less brethren, fellow crafts, their widows and orphans, wheresoever disposed round the globe, they applying to me as such, as far as in my power, without injuring myself or family. To all which I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, without the least hesitation, mental reservation, or selfevasion of mind in me whatever; binding myself under no less penalty than to have my left breast torn open, and my heart and vitals taken from thence, and thrown over my left shoulder, and carried into the valley of Jehosophat, there to become a prey to the wild beasts of the field, and vultures of the air, if ever I should prove wilfully guilty of violating any part of this my solemn oath or obligation of a fellow craft mason, so keep me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same.' 'Detach your hands, and kiss the book, which is the Holy Bible, twice.' The next degree is that of master mason; in addition to the oaths taken in the preceding degrees, the following clauses are superadded in this:

“Furthermore, I do promise and swear that I will not give the grand hailing sign of distress, except I am in real distress, or for the benefit of the craft when at work; and should I ever see that sign given, or the word accompanying it, and the person who 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 lossing my own. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not wrong this lodge, nor a brother of this degree to the value of one cent, knowingly, myself, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not speak evil of a brother master mason, neither behind his back nor before his face, but will apprize him of all approaching danger, if in my power. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not violate the chastity of a master mason's wife, sister, or daughter, I knowing them to be such, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that a master mason's secrets given to me in charge as such, and I krowing 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. To all of which I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a fixed and steady purpose of mind in me to keep and perform the same, binding myself under no less penalty than to have my body severed in two in the midst, and divided to the north and the south, my bowels burnt to ashes in the centre, and the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven, that there might not the least track or trace of remembrance remain among men or masons of so vile and perjured a wretch as I should be, were I ever to prove wilfully guilty of violating any part of this my solemn oath or obligation of a master mason. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."

From this obligation we learn several important things, that when the grand hailing sign of distress is given, no matter whether it be in the legislative hall, or in a court of justice, if a mason believes in masonry, he is obliged to render assistance to his brother, no matter what sacrifice is to be made, or what scruples of conscience he must overcome, the oath is general and must be so applied. Again he swears not to wrong the lodge, nor a brother of the same degree of the value of one cent. Two things are inferrable from this oath-one that masonry, to keep her votaries honest, is obliged to swear them to be so; another is, that it irresistably implies, that a mason may cheat the whole community, if he can, but not a brother, and yet not be guilty of any masonic offence, and may then give the grand hailing sign to screen himself from punishment by the legal tribunals of the country.

But again: he promises and swears, that he will apprise a brother of all approaching danger, and that he will not violate the chastity of a master mason's wife, mother or daughter Here again the brethren are shielded from all arrests and punishment for their misdeeds if the arresting officer happens to be a master mason, he must violate his oath if he arrests his brother. What will he do? The answer is plain-and masons may, if they please, invade the sanctity of every other man's house, and violate when he can, without being guilty of any niasonio offence. I will pass over the obligation of the mark master and past master, they being nearly the same as that of master mason, and for the purpose of saving the time of this body, will proceed to the consideration of the oath taken by a royal arch mason. The oath itself being very long and diffuse it is not my purpose to read the whole of it, but call the atten