Freemasonry Defended.

quu'e a concealment of their deliberations . Merchants do not expose their books to the free inspection of the community ; laivyers do not detail at the corners of the streets the confidential communications of their clients ; nor do physicians . make the ru'i vate disclosures of their patients the topic

of ordinary conversation ; juries determine in impenetrable privacy on the lives , the fortunes , and the reputations of their fel-IOAV citizens ; and the Senate of the United States discusses the most important questions that involve the policy of the nation ,

in the sacred security of secret session . Wiry , then , from Masonry should this necessary safeguard be witheld ? Why should that practice , which in all other institutions is considered right and proper , be only deemed improper when , pursued

by Masons 1 And Avhy of all men , should Ave alone be disfranchised of the universal privilege to select our OAVU confidants , and to conduct our oivn business in the Avay and manner Avhich , AA'ithont injury to others , Ave deem most beneficial to ourselves ? If by the charge of secrecy our

opponents would accuse us of having invented and preserved' certain modes of recognition confined to ourselves , and by which one Mason may know another in the dark as well as the light , while Ave willingly and proudly admit the accusation ,

Ave boldly deny the criminality of the practice . If in a camp surrounded by enemies it has always been deemed advisable to establish countersigns and watchwords , whereby the weary sentinel may be enabled to distinguish the friendly visit of a comrade from the hostile

incursions of a ioe , by a parity of reasoning every other association has an equal right to secure its privacy and confine its advantages , whatever they may be , within its OAVU bosom , by the adoption of any system Avhich will sufficiently distinguish those

who are its members from those AVIIO are not . When a "University grants a diploma to its graduates , it but carries out this principle , and has furnished to each pupil , in the sheet of parchment which he receives ,

a mode of recognition by which in after times he may be enabled to prove his connection with , the same , his Alma Master . The mode of recognition , or what is the same thing , the proof of membership furnished by Masonry to its disciples , differs

in no respect from this , except that it is far more perfect . The diploma which our institution bestoAVS upon its disciples is far more enduring than a roll of parchmenttime can never efface the imperishable characters inscribed upon it—neither moths

nor rust can corrupt it , nor thieves break through and steal it . As fair and as legible after years of possession , as it Avas on the day of its reception , the zealous and attentive Mason carries it -with him wherever

he moves , and is ready at all times and in all places to prove by his unmistakable authority his claims to the kindness and protection of his brethren . The secrecy of our mode of recognition is its safeguard . It furnishes each

member of tho Craft and the Avhole fraternity with a security against imposition , and by readily aud certainly supplying a means of detection , it prevents the unprincipled and dishonest from falsely assuming the appearance of virtuous poverty , and thus

preserve with the treasury of the society its charitable funds to be more appropriately bestoAved upon the destitute brother , the distressed widow , and the hel pless orphan . As the watchword would cease to be a

protection to the sleeping camp , if it were publicly announced at the head of the army , instead of being confined by a wise precaution to the guard on duty , so the secret mode of recognition among . Masons , if promulgated to the worldwould no

, longer enable us to detect impositions , or to aid true brethren . In this there can be no crime , for Ave thus invade no man ' s right , but only more securely protect our

own . But it is said that Freemasons have certain traditions , and practice certain ceremonies , Avhich Ave religiously preserve from the knoAvledge of all but the in itiated . But unless it would be proved that these traditions were corruptingor

, those ceremonies licentious , Ave know not on what basis a charge of criminality could rest . Yet more : could it even be alleged that the former Avere imaginary , and the latter ludicrous , they still would be simply harmless . But Avhen Ave knoAv that with

the one there is connected a vast fund of historical truth and legendary lore , and that the other symbolically communicates lessons profoundly moral and religious , A \ e best secure their integrity and purity .