Prejudice Against Freemasonry.

How far Freemasonry interferes with the affairs of government will be best ascertained by one or two extracts from the Book of Constitutions . Such an appeal "to the law and to the testimony" is the more necessary , because this has lately become a subject of serious alarm , and because our institutes and rules , orders and ceremonies , though printed and published , are seldom consultedbut by the brethren . Others do not read them from indifference ; our

, enemies will not from contempt ; or else they fear to bring their assertions to this light , lest they should be reproved or confuted . This volume , curious for its articles of remote antiquity , and interesting for its instructive documents , contains the following principles : " Whoever would be a true Mason is to know that , by the privileges of his order , his obligations as a subject aud citizen will not be relaxed , but enforced . He is to be a lover of peace , and

obedient to the civil powers which yield him protection , and are set over him where he resides or works . Nor can a real craftsman ever be concerned in conspiracies against the State , or be disrespectful to the magistrate , because the welfare of his country is his most happy object . " * No man can be invested with the office of master of a lodge until he has signified his assent to those charges and regulations which point out the duty of that station , and promise

to submit ancl support them , " as masters have clone in all ages . " Among other particulars are these : " You agree to be a peaceable subject , and cheerfull y to conform to the laws of the country in which you reside . " " You promise not to be concerned in plots or conspiracies against government , but patiently to submit to the decisions of the supreme legislature . " " You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrateto work diligentlylive in

, , credit , and act honourabl y with all men . "t Lastly , every candidate , upon admission , is thus charged : " In the State you are to be a quiet and peaceable subject . You are never to countenance disloyalty or rebellion , but yield yourself , and encourage in others , a cheerful conformity to the government under which you live . " t

How strange is it , my hearers , that an institution , thus guarded and fenced against political disobedience , should be suspected of being " the hot-bed of sedition ! " Or that anyone should think of imputing to men bound by these ties , governed by these laws , and under these restrictions , " plans of disorganization and rebellion ! " Do these principles lead to conspiracy ? Are they not diametrically opposite to all disaffection towards " the powers that be , whether it be to the king as supreme or unto governors ? " Do they not

more resemble the good old loyal doctrine of passive obedience and nonresistance ?§ We blush for the ignorance and wonder at the perversit y of those who declare that they " view the brotherhood as a hoard of conspirators , who have long waited only for the baleful genius of a Weishaupt to launch out into all the crimes of a revolution . " )) That an institution which is founded on love to God and love to man , whose glory is to reward in its members those peaceful virtues which are most friendl y to their own internal tranquility and most beneficient and happy to the world ,