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AN ABSTRACT 
 
 PROCEEDINGS 
 
 ANTinrASONIC S7ATZ3 CONVEN'TXOnr 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 mtirt in iFantttfl ?©aU, 
 
 BOSTON, 
 
 MAY 19 & 20, 1831. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE BOSTON PRESS, 
 
 FOR THE PUBLISHING COMMITTEE. 
 
 1831. 
 

 12 
 
MASSACKUSXSTTS CONVENTZOM'. 
 
 Thursday, May 19, 1831. 
 
 A Convention of Delegates, elected in conformity to a 
 recommendation of the Antimasonic State Committee of Massachu- 
 setts assembled this day at Faneuii Hall, in the City of Boston, 
 agreeable to previous arrangements. Two hundred and forty- 
 five members were present. 
 
 The Convention was called to order by Hon. George Odiorne, 
 the oldest member from Suffolk. 
 
 On motion, it was 
 
 Voted^ That Messrs. Amasa Walker of Suffolk, «nd William B. 
 Breed of Essex, be a Committee to receive and examine the cre- 
 dentials of the Delegates to this Convention. 
 
 The following gentlemen were nominated and elected Officers 
 of the Convention. 
 
 Hon. TIMOTHY FULLER, of Middlesex, PrciiVe/tf. 
 
 Gen. Stephen P. Gardner, of Worcester,^ 
 
 t)oct. Abner Phelps, of Suffolk ^.^^ Presideiifs. 
 
 Gen. Epaphras Hoyt, ot Prankim, 
 
 MicAH H, Ruggles, Esq. of Bristol, J 
 
 John Burrage, of Bristol, "] 
 
 Col. Gardner Burbank, of Worcester, | ^g^^g^^^^-^, 
 
 Thomas W. Ward, Jr., of Worcester, i 
 
 Nathaniel Fisher Ames, of Suffolk, J 
 
 Voted^ That this Convention will now attend prayers, and that 
 lire Rev. Mr. Goffe, of Worcester, be requested to officiate. 
 
 That Benjamin F. Hallett, Esq., of Rhode Island, be invited 
 to a seat as an honorary member. 
 
 That a Committee of one from each County, to wit,— 
 Messrs. Hall, of Suffolk, Oliver, of Essex, Ames, of Plymouth, 
 Brinley, of Norfolk, Bowman of Middlesex, Bennett, of Bristol, 
 Starkweather, of Hampshire, Hoar, of Hampden, and Wells, of 
 Franklin, be a Committee to invite snch gentlemen of their respec- 
 tive Counties as are present, to take seats as honorary members oT 
 this Convention. 
 
 m229;S70 
 
4 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 That a Committee of five, to wit,— Messrs. Rice, of Wor- 
 cester, Bailey, of Norfolk, Barnes of Suffolk, Gifford, of Bris- 
 tol, and Breed, of Essex, be chosen to propose rules and orders 
 for the government of this Convention. 
 
 That the Antimasonic State Committee be requested to report 
 on such matters as they may deem pertinent to the cause of Anti- 
 masonry. 
 
 Doctor Abner Phelps, Chairman of said Committee, then made 
 the following 
 
 REPORT. 
 Mr. President, 
 
 AND Gentlemen of the Convention, 
 In compliance with your call on the State Committee, 1 am di- 
 rected to answer. 
 
 The patriotic citizens of Massachusetts are here assembled by 
 their Delegates. No common occurrence; no trivial event; no 
 ambitious project, has occnsioned it. Intelligence and cool delib- 
 eration counteract and forbid unnecepciry excitement. But this nu- 
 merous and punctual attendance from distant Counties ; this vener- 
 able appearance and crowded auditory, evince public sentiment 
 upon a subject worthy of grave contemplation. 
 
 We have come up to Faneuil Hall, which our Fathers conse- 
 crated to Liberty. Here was inspired American Independence; 
 here it was fostered in its Cradle, and here were roused those mighty 
 energies which strangled the British Lion. 
 
 W^e enter this place to day, with holy devotion, and anxious so- 
 licitude, as we humbly trust, for the political salvation of our coun- 
 try. We come '' to consult upon the common good, seek redress of 
 wrongs and grievances suffered"''^ from Secret Societies. 
 
 Wrongs the most cruel and criminal have been committed, and 
 multiplied grievances arisen, that can be no longer endured. 
 On looking round for the cause of these evils, we are struck with 
 astonishment and alarm at the disclosures. So much has been pub- 
 lished already, that your Committee apprehend a brief statement 
 of facts will, at this time be most acceptable to the Convention. 
 
 The Suffolk Committee were first appointed by a numerous 
 body of their fellow citizens in August, 1829, " <o investigate the 
 nature, principles, and tendency of Freemasonry." No member of 
 the Board had ever been initiated. They felt the kindest feelings 
 towards many members of the Fraternity ; and they still cherish 
 those feelings. They entertained a sincere desire to discharge 
 their duty without injury to any man, impartially and faithfully to 
 the public. Had considerations of a private or personal nature 
 been suffered to operate on their minds, they would have declined 
 the labour, expense and difficulties of the investigation. 
 
 Various methods were resorted to, by influential members of the 
 Fraternity, to induce all, or nearly every individual of the Commit- 
 tee to withdraw. A specimen, or two, may be mentioned, merely 
 to show the character of the opposition. Some were told that the 
 Institution is very charitable, very ancient and honourable, the 
 handmaid of religion; that the good, the wise, and the great of all 
 . ages had belonged to it. That Washington, Franklin, and Lafayette 
 
Massachusetts antimasottic con\"ention. 5 
 
 ^vere masons. Would they, it was asked, belong- to a bad Institu- 
 tion ? Others were told that the greatest and most respectable men 
 in the nation, civil and military, learned divines^ pious clergymen, 
 and other highly esteemed citizens were noiji: Masons. " Please,"" 
 said they, ^^ look at their characters, and judge of the Institution ot" 
 Freemasonry. There's no need of any inquiry ; there surely is 
 no necessity (or further investigation." 
 
 To this, in substance, was replied, ''^ These things may be so; 
 the Institution may be very ancient; but every good system is ben- 
 efitted by close examination. The public, however, seem to 
 demand, at least, probable evidence that Freemasonry is very an- 
 cient. If it has existed from Anno Lncis, as it pretends, or from 
 the days of Solomon, or from the time of St. John, or from any 
 other period previous to the last century, there must be evidence 
 of the fact. One would suppose some ancient history must have 
 recorded it; customs and ceremonies alluded to it ; and that ancient 
 relics, masonic plates, inscriptions and emblems from foundations of 
 old monuments, castles and temples must now exist to demonstrate 
 it. And further ; great and good men have no doubt been made 
 masons. We admire their characters, and will inquire whether 
 they became initiates from what they before kriew of the Institu- 
 tion, or from what they were previouslj' told by interested men : 
 whether Freemasonry made or tended to make them great and 
 good ? and in proof, whether such men, generally^ have been the 
 most thorough Lodge-going Masons? Or, whether, after a short 
 acquaintance with the secrets and mysteries of the order, they have 
 not ceased to attend ? For if so, this neglect yVom such men, must 
 be evidence against the concern. We cannot suppose that Wash- 
 ington, Franklin, or Lafayette would have neglected a good Insti- 
 tution* 
 
 Such suggestions as these were by no means satisfactory to indi- 
 viduals of the Fraternity. The Masons appeared to dread more 
 than any thing an investigation of their Institution. Sometimes, 
 intimations were thrown out, calculated to operate on the fears of 
 the Committee. They were told of the great numbers, the tre- 
 mendous power and influence of the Fraternity : that Boston con- 
 tained GOOO Freemasons, and the United States more than 350,000 : 
 that if th" Committee proceeded, a host of enemies would rise up 
 against them : that desperate fellows ixere in the Lnstitutiox ! and 
 it could not be put down ! " Toil and labour cannot affect it. No 
 man can stand before it." With significant looks an(^ gestures, they 
 said, "Your business and occupations will be injured. Your inter- 
 ests and prospects will be cut off; a civil war will be created; 
 there will be blood ! Your characters and reputations will be 
 ruined." 
 
 " If such," said the Committee, '* be the tower and disposition 
 of Freemasonry, there'' s no hfsitaliun — zve give ourselves to the rcork — 
 we will make the attempt., and try to go through it. — It is the cause of 
 mir common country and of niaukind. IficefalU lei it be so: if xae 
 arc sacrificed^ it will be on the altar of patriotism. This Ixstitttion 
 
 ML'^T BE EXAMINED, ITS GATES THROWN OPEN ITS COVERING TAKEN OFF 
 
 ITS WAI IS TAKEN DOWN : THE BROAD LIGHT OF DAY LET INTO ITS 
 
6 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 MYSTERIOUS VAULTS: ITS PRISONERS SET FREE, AND ITS DARK SECRETS 
 EXPOSED." 
 
 With these resolutions, and these warnings, the Suffolk Commit- 
 tee commenced the undertaking. They were aware of their 
 responsibility. Their characters, public and private, known for 
 near half a century, and again confided in on this occasion, had 
 nothing to do with the controversy. They left every thing to the 
 care, candour, and discretion of their fellow citizens. However 
 dear their characters might be to them, they early resolved to take 
 no notice of any attack upon that quarter. It would only divert 
 attention from " the nature^ principles and tendency o{ Freemasonry," 
 to personal altercations, irrelative to the subject. There was 
 much to be done : there was no time ; their numbers were too 
 few, to stop and dress the wounded, (should such there be,) in the 
 heat of contest. 
 
 Measures were immediately taken to elicit '' the truth, the whole 
 truth, and nothing but the truth," respecting Freemasonry. An 
 office was procured, a Masonic and Antimasonic Library com- 
 menced, and a correspondence opened with gentlemen of high 
 standing in various parts of the country. 
 
 On the evening of the 8th of September, 1829, twelve days after 
 the Committee were appointed, was held, what has been denom- 
 inated, from its numbers and respectability, " The Great Meeting 
 at Faneuil Hall." The information communicated, and the elo- 
 quence displayed, on that occasion, will be long remembered. The 
 most appalling disclosures were made. A number of high minded 
 and honourable seceding Masons came boldly forward, and bore 
 testimony to the truth of what they had seen and heard. They 
 testified that Freemasonry is the same in Massachusetts as in the 
 State of New York ; and this was in part confirmed by the noise 
 ^nd riotous conduct of some of the Fraternity present. 
 
 A Resolution, calling a State Convention on the 30th of Decem- 
 ber following, was there passed by an immense majority. 
 
 The effects of that meeting were highly beneficial to the cause, 
 though the conduct of Masons was much more orderly than on sub- 
 sequent occasions. They appeared then to act more without con- 
 cert, and not so much by superior authority. 
 
 Arrangements were soon after made in the several Counties for 
 the State Convention, and numerous indications were given that 
 information was only wanted to induce the people to act with 
 promptness and decision. 
 
 Among the correspondence of the Committee which followed, 
 may be mentioned the very able and valuable letter of Sheriff 
 SuxMNER. No man in this community stood higher in the esteem, 
 or enjoyed more sincerely the confidence, love and respect of the 
 public, than the Sheriff of Suffolk. His benevolent feelings ; 
 his commanding talents, and unimpeachable character, had secured 
 for him, as was supposed, an elevation too consecrated for malice 
 to attempt. But no sooner was this letter published, than the off- 
 spring of malevolence, slander, and defamation were let loose from 
 the Lodge-room. They aimed at his Jair fame but they " bit a 
 file :" they spit their poison but against the wind to recoil on them- 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 7, 
 
 selves. His own merited elevation they could not reach, or breathe 
 the pure atmosphere in which he lived. 
 
 The same remarks apply to another distinguished gentleman in 
 the County of Worcester, Col. Puny Merrick. He stood in public 
 estimation and regard with Sheriff Sumner. But his powerful and 
 convincing letter to the Committee of that county, was no 
 sooner published, than the same furies were sent forth from the 
 same place to destroy him. They made the attempt, and sorely 
 have Masons regretted their presumption. They have been dis- 
 mayed at the lightnings of his eloquence, and struck down with the 
 thunderbolts of truth. It has beamed upon their unaccus- 
 tomed eyes, and upon Masonry, such a refulgence, that they are 
 unable to look up or retreat. They lie prostrate, in despair of 
 reaching him. He is calm and serene, moving on in public favour, 
 without a cloud '' to the clear upper sky." 
 
 The researches of the Suffolk Committee, relative to the anti- 
 quity of Freemasonry, have been highly satisfactory. They have 
 examined for themselves extensively, and sought assistance from 
 the highest sources of information in the country, with a belief that 
 much depends upon a correct decision of the question. They have 
 discovered no book on Freemasonry written prior to 1723 ; ten years 
 previous to its establishment in Boston, and near 300 years after 
 the discovery of printing. But in order to render this subject 
 mor&^Rtisfactory, the Committee proposed the following question 
 to the President and Professors of Harvard University, and also to 
 the President and Professors of the Theological Seminary at An- 
 dover: — 
 
 "Is there any known history to justify the belief that Specula- 
 tive, or Freemasonry had existence prior to the last century?" 
 
 After raore than a month, the following letter was received from 
 the President of Harvard College, who is a Mason. 
 
 Harvard University^ Cambridge^ Dec. 5th., 1829. 
 
 To the Gentlemen of the Suffolk Committee. 
 
 Gentlemen, — I have received, and laid before the Faculty of 
 Harvard University, your letter, requesting an expression of their 
 sentiments on the question, " Is there any known history to justify 
 the belief that Speculative, or Freemasonry had existence prior to. 
 the last century?" In reply, I have the honour, by request of the 
 Faculty, to state., that they have no knowledge of any such history. 
 On inquiry of the Librarian of the University, and on examining 
 the Catalogue of Books, no such has been found. The subject is 
 one, however, on which the members of the Faculty profess to have 
 no precise information, it having never before been presented to 
 them as an object of interest and inquiry. 
 
 Should any books in the College Library be found to be impor- 
 tant for your purposes in the coarse of your investigation, they wiH, 
 without doubt, on application, be placed at the command of any 
 person engaged under your authority, in the research you have- 
 instituted. 
 
 Very respectfully. Gentlemen, 
 
 I am your obedient servant, 
 
 JOSIAH QUINCr, 
 President of Harvard University. 
 
8 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASOMC CONVENTION. 
 
 In answer to the same question, the Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. 
 Professor of the Theological Seminary at Andover, writes, — " I 
 have never seen or heard of any evidence of any kind or degree, 
 in support of the pretended antiquity of Freemasonry ; and I sup- 
 pose the same is true of all others. What then can we do consist- 
 ently with reason and common sense, but to withhold our belief" 
 
 The Rev. Professor Stuart writes : — 
 
 " Gentlemen, — In answer to your inquiries respecting any (races 
 of the history of Freemasonry in ancient times, 1 reply, that it has 
 not been my lot to tind any thing of this nature in any book that I 
 have ever perused, either in any of the Asiatic or European lan- 
 guages. I take it to be a point conceded by all literary men, that 
 no such traces exist in any ancient record whatever. The pretence 
 that Freemasonry was known in the lime of Solomon is refuted by 
 the internal evidence "which Masonic books themselves contain." 
 
 Where, your Committee would ask, can a question, on any sub- 
 ject relating to antiquity, be more fully and satisfactorily settled, 
 iu this country, than at the oldest and most extensive libraries? 
 Who can better decide, what those libraries contain, than the nu- 
 merous and learned professors and presidents, who have spent their 
 long and laborious lives in their perusal and examination? Who 
 can better tell the ancient manners and customs of nations and indi- 
 viduals, tribes and confederacies, than the great masters of oriental 
 languages and literature ? Is it to be supposed that all the great 
 and learned men of antiquity, could have belonged to a society of 
 such exalted excellence as Freemasons pretend theirs to be, with- 
 out its being so much as once mentioned, or even alluded to? To 
 your Committee the thing is incredible. The inquiry has not been 
 as to the time when operative Masonry began, more than any other 
 mechanical employment. But when were the tools of an operative 
 Mason first used^ '' as free and accepted masons" say, ''''/'or the more 
 noble and glorious purposed When did Speculative, or Freemason- 
 ry, as we now see it, commence? When were its "ancient land- 
 marks" Jirst fixed, "■ which," as they say, " no man, or body of 
 men, has power to alter ?" Were they fixed by the wise King 
 Solomon? We have the best evidence the nature of the case ad- 
 mits, that all antiquity for 56 centuries is silent on this subject. 
 What prevented such " a noble and meritorious Institution, patron- 
 ized by Prophets^ Apostles^ and Wise Men,'^'' from ever being once 
 spoken of or mentioned in writing ? Was it because it did not ex- 
 ist^ or was it because all antiquity was ashamed to mention it? 
 Why, again, we ask, is all antiquity siient on this subject? Why 
 is there no mention of splendid x^Iasonic Processions, the Laying of 
 Corner Stones^ and the deposit of Plates, previous to the last cen- 
 tury? And where are those plates? Amidst all the vast ruins of 
 so many ages, and so many countries, not one is known to have 
 been discovered. The future historian will have ample materials 
 to prove the existence of Freemasonry from 1717 to the present 
 time ; and, from present appearances, he will be able to show the 
 cause of its destruction. 
 
 For these, and similar reasons, your Committee most fully concur 
 in the accurate and welt drawn conclusions, of that learned and 
 
liiASSACHtrSETTS ANTIHASONTC COlTVTaffTXoK* 9 
 
 distinguished citizen, Henrj D. Ward, Esq., of New York, on this 
 subject, " That Freemasonry c/ici not exist prior to the last century." 
 The important truth that follows irresistibly and conclusively is 
 this, that Freemasonry, with all its pretensions, fs a modern forg- 
 ery, an J, of course, an infamous imposture. What other conclusions 
 can be drawn ? A deed, a nt3te, a bond, or any other instrument 
 forged^ is not only declared null and void, but its author, bis aiders 
 and abettors are subject to infamous punishment Lik-e a spurious 
 coin. Freemasonry is proved a counterfeit. Many, with pure mo- 
 tives, have heretofore given it currency; but now it is detected and 
 exposed, every honest man will assist in nailing it to the counter. 
 
 After the Suffolk Committee had ascertained the truth, and the 
 whole truth, as to the origin of the Masonic Institution, prepara- 
 tions were made for the First Antimasonic State Convention of 
 Massachusetts. That body assembled in this Hall, on the 30th of 
 December, 1829; and consisted of about 200 members, from eight 
 counties of this Commonwealth. They proceeded in great har- 
 mony, and their doings have been well received, and extensively 
 useful to the public. 
 
 That Convention took measures to diffuse information, and 
 appointed various committees for that purpose. They Resolved, 
 that the gentlemen composing '' the Suffolk Committee" be "ihe 
 State Committee," with power to carry into effect the objects of 
 that body. 
 
 Among the numerous disclosures made to your Committee, wa« 
 the deposition of Mr. Samuel G. Anderton, of this city. The im- 
 portance of that document is such, that it demands the closest scru- 
 tiny. About six or eight months before, a gentlemen of undoubted 
 veracity and respectability, stated, that his neighbour, Mr. Ander- 
 ton, a Knight Templar, and a man with whom he had been long 
 acquainted, told him, in conversation on the subject of Freemason- 
 ry, that " he once saw something in the Lodge-room, that induced 
 him, on going to sea, soon after, to throw his apron, and all his 
 masonic certiticates, overboard, and that he had not been in a 
 Lodge-room since. But that Mr. Anderton refused to tell what it 
 was." After the death of Mr. Artemas Kennedy, of Milton, a seced- 
 ing Knight Templar, who was found dead, '' at low water mark^^"* on 
 the morning of the 27th of February, 1830, and under circumstan- 
 ces, which created strong suspicions, in the minds of many, that he 
 was murdered by persons unknown, Mr. Anderton informed the 
 gentleman before alluded to, of the Belfast Murder, of which he 
 was an eye witness; and that he was ready and desirous of making 
 an affidavit to the same. He also stated in a public meeting, at 
 Merchants' Hall soon after, the substance of his narrative. Inquir- 
 ies were made, and a committee raised immediately, to investigate 
 his character for truth and veracity. His uniform character was 
 that of a frank, openhearted, honest seaman. No one could be 
 found, who ever doubted his word, or ever beard his character for 
 Irath and veracity called in qiiostioa. His deposition, dated on tr*^ 
 15th of March, and several reports on his character, and the evi- 
 dence that has since appeared in support of his testimoRy, are 
 before the public. 
 
 2 
 
^ MASSA<iHUSETT« ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 Mr. Anderton has fared as other seceders havedone, " who have 
 gone the way before him." Every attempt has been made to' 
 weaken and destroy the credibility of his testimony. But in this 
 respect, all the efforts of the Fraternity, hitherto, have only tended 
 to strengthen and confirm the truth of his statement. Many facts 
 yet remain to be brought out respecting that horrid transaction. 
 Several witnesses are known, but the fear of masonic vengeance 
 from the brotherhood, prevents them; as yet, from giving their 
 testimony. At present, your Committee consider it proved beyond 
 a reasonable doubt, that William Miller, of Belfast, Ireland^ was 
 MURDERED in a Royal Arch Chapter of Freemasons, as sworn to by 
 Mr. Samuel G. Anderton: that his ^^ dead body'''' was seen "on 
 Lime Kiln Dock, the next day, by a concourse of spectators," as 
 sworn to by Mrs. Agnes Bell, who says she " touched it with her 
 foot:'''' that the testimony of these two credible, and eye witnesses, 
 has been corroborated by the statements made by eight or ten 
 other persons now in the United States, but then in Ireland, — and 
 that no witness has yet appeared to disprove any part of this tes- 
 timony. Masons at Belfast have denied it, so far as they were con- 
 cerned. But their statement will be found, on close examination, 
 to be a quibble upon words, and, in several important points, con- 
 firmatory of Anderton's testimony.* 
 
 At the April and May elections for 1830, Antimasonry in Massa- 
 chusetts again appeared at the polls. In the Senate, composed of 
 forty members, were tiIree Antimasons, and from twenty to twenty- 
 five members in the House, out of four hundred and fifty-one. The 
 meritorious services of these patriots are remembered. But the 
 conspicuous part taken, the eminent talents displayed, and the pow- 
 erful effect produced by one reverend and honorable gentleman in 
 the Senate, cannot he forgotten. His name need not be mentioned, 
 for it is engraven on our hearts, and is destined to live in the his- 
 tory of our country. He has led the forlorn hope of Antimasonry 
 in Massachusetts, and gone up over his enemies in triumph. He 
 has poured destruction along the ranks of the Fraternity, marshalled 
 for his overthrow, and put them to flight. He has destroyed the 
 bonds of their obligations, and freed many from their allegiance to- 
 masonic tyranny. In proportion to his eminent services, have all 
 the formidable engines of falsehood and slander been brought out 
 against him. But the blamelessness of his life, and the purity of 
 his character have been his protection. He has the honour of first 
 moving in the Senate " a Prohibition of Extra Judicial Oaths," 
 of maintaining his ground ; of overwhelming the champion of the 
 order, and of fearlessly vindicating the liberties of his country. 
 
 The part taken by Samuel French, Esq., of Berkley, in the 
 House, was highly honourable, and has been duly appreciated by 
 the intelligent citizens of the County of Bristol, in their late elec- 
 tions to the Senate. 
 
 And the honour of stripping the Monster, Freemasonry, of its 
 false guises, when introduced to the House, by the Grand Lodge, 
 is justly due to those talented gentlemen, Messrs. Lazell and Brig- 
 htim. -Like giants, they spared not till its naked deformity was 
 disclosed. 
 
 * See the last ab)« report of lh« Boston Inveotigating Committee on this subject. 
 
^USSACHt^SETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 11 
 
 In compliance with a Resolve of the last Antimasonic Conven- 
 "tion of Massachusetts, the State Committee transmitted the follow- 
 ing documents to the Grand Council, the Grand Encampment of 
 Knights Templars, the Grand Chapter and Grand Lodge of this 
 Commonwealth. The following was addressed to the Grand En- 
 campment: 
 
 Boston^ June \st^ 1830. 
 '' Gentlemen, — By a Resolve, passed by the Antimasonic Conven- 
 tion of Massachusetts at Faneuil Hall, on the 1st of January last, 
 the undersigned Committee were directed respectfully to lay before 
 you the following Resolutions of that body. The performance of 
 this duty has hitherto been deferred from a belief that the present 
 month of June would afford the most convenient opportunity for 
 the several Grand Fraternities to consider and act upon these Re- 
 solves. The Grand Encampment of Massachusetts, &c., is to assem- 
 ble, for the first time, as is understood, since the Convention. Reg- 
 ular communications are to be held, and a general attendance of 
 gentlemen expected. If, under these circumstances, the Grand 
 Encampment should, in their wisdom, return an answer which 
 should tend to allay public excitement in this Commonwealth, it 
 would, no doubt, be duly appreciated by the Convention. 
 
 With a high respect for many members of the Grand Encamp- 
 ment, as individual gentlemen, and with no personal feelings against 
 any one, the Committee beg leave to subscribe themselves 
 Your most obedient servants, 
 Abner Phelps, Daniel Weld, 
 
 John D. Williams, Henry Gassktt, 
 
 George Odiorne, John P. Whit well, 
 
 Benjamin W. Lamb, Jonathan French, 
 
 William Marston, Thomas Walley. 
 
 Isaac Porter, Assistant Secretary. 
 
 '' In Convention, at Faneuil Hall, Boston, January 1st, 1830, the 
 following Resolutions were adopted. 
 
 Resolved., That all Societies should be open and amenable to the 
 public, and that the existence of any Association, whose objects, 
 principles, and measures are secret and concealed, is hostile to the 
 spirit of our free Institutions. 
 
 Resolved., That the disclosures of Freemasonry made by William 
 Morgan, by the Le Roy Convention, and by Elder Bernard, and 
 others, show the system to be selfish, revengeful, and impious, and 
 its oaths to be dangerous to our private rights and our public 
 interests. 
 
 Resolved., That there is evidence before this Convention that 
 Royal Arch Freemasons, impelled by a sense of their Masonic obli- 
 gations, have robbed their country of the services of a free citizen, 
 that the Institution retains within its bosom the men who have 
 done this violence, and that the Grand Lodge of New York has 
 contributed of its funds to pay the expenses of the same, and that 
 Chapters and subordinate Lodges have also appropriated liberally 
 of their goods to support the perpetrators of kidnapping and 
 alleged murder. 
 
12 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASOmc CONVENTIOIf, 
 
 Resolved, That the system is one and indivisible, whether con- 
 sisting of three degrees or fifty, that it is erected on the same foun- 
 dation, constructed in the same form, inhabited by the same spirit, 
 and governed by the same laws ; that the acts of exalted Free- 
 masons, and of Lodges and Chapters in one State, are the respon- 
 sible acts of the whole system in the United States, and that it is 
 proper to make Freemasonry answer for the conduct of its consti- 
 tuted authorities wherever they are situated. 
 
 Resolved^ That in view of the premises, we respectfully request 
 the Grand Fraternities of Freemasons m the State of Massachu- 
 setts, to disfetlowship the Grand Lodge, the Grand Chapter, and the 
 Grand Encampment of the State of New York, which hold in their 
 masonic embrace the perpetrators of the violence upon William 
 Morgan, and either to deny the truth of the above named disclo- 
 gures, or to renounce the system, and the oaths of Freemasonry, 
 which have been palmed upon the honest Freemasons of the 
 present generation, as the favourite work of the wise king Solomon, 
 and of their tutelar, St. John. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Antimasonic State Committee be directed to 
 furnish each one of the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge and the 
 Grand Chapter, and the Grand Encampment, and the Grand Council 
 of the Freemasons in this State with a copy of these Resolutions, 
 particularly urging this our earnest request, and that when this 
 Convention adjourns, it be to some day convenient to receive their 
 answer, in the hope that the wisdom of their reply will relieve the 
 public mind of any anxiety respecting the Institution of Speculative 
 Freemasonry. 
 
 Resolved^ That in the opinion of this Convention, the oaths im- 
 posed by Freemasonry are, in a very high degree, profane, and 
 entirely destitute of any moral obligation, or legal binding force." 
 
 The above was enclosed in the following letter to the Encamp- 
 ment: 
 
 Boston, June 2, 1 830. 
 John J. Loring, Esq., Grand Commander of the Grand Encamp- 
 ment of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 
 
 Sir, — I am directed by the ; Committee within named, to request 
 you to lay the enclosed communications before the Grand Encamp- 
 ment of Knights Templars of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, at 
 their next meeting, over whom you have the honour to preside, 
 for their deliberation, and respectful consideration. 
 
 In the performance of this duty, be pleased to allow me to assure 
 you, With the highest respect, 
 
 That I am your most obedient servant, 
 
 ISAAC PORTER, 
 Assistant Secretary ofthe Antimasonic 
 
 State Committee of Massachusetts. 
 
 After the meeting of Knights Templars, these documents were 
 returned through the medium of the Post Office, without note or 
 comment. Other similar communications, of the same date, were 
 addressed, with appropriate titles, to Abraham A, Dame, and Joseph 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 13 
 
 Jenkins, of this city, and to Samuel Clark, of Princeton. But from 
 neither of these has any answer been received. The public will, 
 no doubt, inquire, and determine, the true cause of tfiis silence, on 
 the part of the whole Fraternity of Freemasons in Massachusetts. 
 The charges of kidnapping and murder in the State of New York, 
 by Freemasons, in conformity to masonic law, and in obedience to 
 masonic government, have been legally substantiated. That same 
 government and that same law, extends over this Commonwealth, 
 with equal authority, and equal binding force. It is Freemasonry, 
 here and every where the same. Under these circumstances, is^ho in 
 in Massachusetts was not liable every hour, by night or bj' day, to 
 have a father, a brother, a friend, a connection, or a neighbour, 
 kidnapped and murdered? No one was safe! The people became 
 alarmed. Various meetings were called, and Delegates assembled 
 to deliberate. They unanimously and respectfully laid before the 
 authorities of the masonic order, the cause of their complaint. 
 They spoke by their Committee, in the name of the people, and 
 respectfully requested the Fraternities of Massachusetts, in sub- 
 stance, to disfellowship masonic kidnappers and murderers, dis- 
 prove the disclosures, or renounce the system and oaths of 
 Freemasonry. The objects of that request were honestly to ascer- 
 tain THE truth, and THE WHOLE TRUTH, whether the people of Mas- 
 sachusetts were safe from violence and outrage : whether the ma- 
 sonic government, its officers, and through them, the great body of 
 adhering Freemasons in this Commonwealth, approved or disap- 
 proved of the outrages in the State of New York. There, Freema- 
 sons had been proved guilty of kidnapping and murder, of arson 
 and perjury, of obstructing the course of justice, and of screening 
 the guilty from punishment ; and here, in Massachusetts, no objec- 
 tion is made to it, no murmurs are heard from the brotherhood ! 
 They acquiesce with fraternal feelings, continue fellowship with 
 the guilty ; greet them as brothers, ''good men and true, worthy 
 and well qualified ;" sympathize with " the Western Sufferers ;" 
 hold themselves bound " to conceal and never reveal ;" " to fly to 
 their assistance ;" " to extricate them from difficulty, right or 
 wrong, murder and treason not excepted ;" suppress the truth ; 
 labour to muzzle the press; pour contempt and ridicule on the 
 men, who honestly inquire into these transactions; create disturb- 
 ance and riot, to prevent the people from hearing information ; and 
 when respectfully questioned, they are silent, and give you no 
 answer. But " Grand Master'^'' Joseph Jenkins, in his address to 
 the Grand Lodge, says, " If our Institution is ever to be abolished, 
 it must be done by ourselves ; none else are able to do it, and cer- 
 tainly none else are competent to decide whether it should be 
 abolished or not. Therefore," he says, ''I would advise these 
 volunteers in the crusade against us, to give up the work of super- 
 erogating, [supererogation,] and leave Masons to manage their 
 own affairs in their own way." [! ! !] Very modest ! " Volunteer 
 Hidvice y" And it remains to be seen, how far the people of this 
 country will follow it, since they have discovered how " Masons 
 manage their affairs," when they do it '' in their own tioayP 
 
14 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONV'ENTTOK. 
 
 In proof that Freemasons in this State have no intention to re- 
 linquish their Institution, one fact may be stated. At their meeting 
 m June, or soon after the Grand Lodg-e received the communica- 
 tions of your Committee, they voted to erect a building estimated 
 to cost ^40>,000, in this city, for their accommodation. The corner 
 stone was laid, with a well kno^\n falsehood engraved on the plate, 
 on the 14th of October last, and the building is now in a state of 
 forwardness. The masonic procession, on that occasion, did not 
 much if any exceed 900, as counted by some of your Committee, and 
 other persons. But the number published in the Masonic Mirror 
 was 2267. Other very exaggerated accounts, as to the number of 
 persons in the procession, appeared in other papers. In proof of 
 the falsehood engraved on the plate, your Committee beg leave to 
 refer to their published correspondence with Governor Lincoln 
 and the honourable Mayor of this city. 
 
 The last Fourth of July was very happily improved by a number 
 of orators, who distinguished themselves, and rendered an impor- 
 tant service to the cause of Antimasonry, on that occasion. A con- 
 tinuance of this practice is respectfully recommended. All that 
 appears necessary to insure a complete triumph of the cause, is a 
 general diffusion of correct information. This alone has been the 
 object of your Committee. The exhibitions of Masonry by Mr. 
 Avery Allyn have been highly important. His valuable publica- 
 tion merits the patronage of the public. And had purity of char- 
 acter, modest and unassuming manners, and amiable deportment, 
 afforded any security against the violence and abuse of the order, 
 Mr. Allyn would have escaped. But he has done much, and suf- 
 fered much in the cause. He has been again and again assailed by 
 masonic mobs ; twice stabbed by the masonic dagger, and fifteen 
 times vexatiously arrested under process of law, from masonic 
 malice, without the courage of once bringing him to trial. Such 
 4s the ample testimony of adhering Freemasons themselves in favour 
 of the correctness of Mr- Allyn's disclosures. 
 
 Another gentleman, distinguished in the cause, whose services 
 in disseminating information by lectures, but whose presence on 
 this occasion forbids the mention of his name, [Samuel D. Greene,] 
 has been extensively useful. He was a member of the Lodge 
 irom which Morgan was taken, was on the spot at the time when 
 ihe outrage was committed ; gave the information which saved 
 Col. Miller ; was a member of that band of patriots, the Le Roy 
 Convention, and from that day to the present, has been zealously 
 spreading important intelligence upon the subject. He has done 
 much, and has been assailed by vindictive malice accordingly. 
 But his character and his statements have stood the test of critical 
 investigation. 
 
 " The right of the people peaceably to assemble, consult upon 
 the common good," give and receive information, is secured in our 
 Bill of Rights, and is one of the most sacred privileges of freemen. 
 It is the right of free discussion. In this is necessarily included 
 the right to preserve order in such meetings. The right to assem- 
 ble, without the right to preserve order, would be nugatory. This 
 right, like the sun in the heavens, is the great centre in the system 
 
BtASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASOMC CONVENTIOBT. 15 
 
 of freedom, about which all other rights revolve. It preserve?, 
 regulates, and controls the whole. The very existence of all 
 our free institutions depends upon its salutary influence. And that 
 man^ who would deliberately destroy freedom of discussion, or 
 aid and abet the same, must necessarily be considered an en- 
 emy to the liberties of his country. But Freemasonry has openly 
 and publicly attacked this all iinporiant right of the people., by vio- 
 lence and outrage. It has endeavoured^ for more than four and a 
 half years past, to destroy it. When (he people have been peace- 
 ably assembled in various States, in different places in those States, 
 in many towns wiih'mthis Commonwealth., and even uiih.in these utalls^ 
 for the great PURrosE oj" discussing subjects, in mhich the liberties 
 OF THEIR COUNTRY, and all they held dear on earth xvere deeply inter- 
 ested ; they have been assailed, either by vexatious prosecutions, 
 masonic mobs, riots, noise, or confusion. 
 
 The first engine made use of was under the ostensible form of 
 law. All the first public exhibitors of Freemasonry were vexa- 
 tiously prosecuted. The system was uniform in ail the States. 
 Warrants were issued by masonic magistrates;, and served by ma- 
 sonic sheriffs, to put down and prevent free discussion. No law 
 had been violated but the laws of Freemasonry, and for this reason 
 trials were very seldom had. Witness the daring violation of the 
 rights of the people at Lynn, at Fieading, and at i\Iillbury, where 
 honest Jacob Allen exhibited "" the Charitable Institution /" Mr. 
 Allen was repeatedly arrested but discharged after vexation and 
 expenses. His services were highly beneficial at an important 
 period, and entitle him to favour. 
 
 The next attempt of the order to destroy the right of free dis- 
 cussion was to disturb public meetings by noise and riots., or to 
 attack them by masonic mobs. The former course we have seen 
 abandoned simultaneously all over our country. Two masonic 
 prosecutions only are recollected since the General Communications 
 of the Fraternities in June last ; and those in places where little 
 was bel'ore known on the subject. But now masonic riots, noise, 
 mobs, and confusion, are the orders of Freemasonry. Your Com- 
 mittee are forced by facts to this conclusion. The well known 
 faces of Freemasons seen in those riots, the active part taken by 
 many members of the Fraternity ; their sons, connections, and de- 
 pendants, the open declarations made, and the threatening language 
 used by them on those occasions, are but parts of the evidence. 
 
 " Secrecy^'' and " obedience^'' are required by the oaths of Free- 
 masonry. If " summoned'^'' '' to go on a Mason's errand," and that 
 errand be to create disturbance in a public meeting, or /om in a riot, 
 *'^ within the length of their cable tow," Masons are sworn, under 
 penalties of c?ea<A, to obey. Under these circumstances, your Com^ 
 niittee respectfully recommend the Inquiry, How far Freemasons 
 themselves, who still adhere to^their blood stained Institution., ought to 
 be held responsible for riots, where Freemasonry is publicly exhibited^ 
 or its nature and principles discussed. 
 
 Can it be supposed that these mobs and riots, this noise and con- 
 fusion, would have taken place, where Freemasonry was the sub- 
 ject under consideration, without being instigated and encouraged 
 
J^ MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 by zealous members high in the government of the order ? 
 Whence this sympathy for a Secret Society, in some individuals, 
 who acknowledge their ignorance of its nature and principles? 
 Would they, uninjiuenced by the Fraternity^ manifest such solicitude 
 to suppress inquiry into a secret association of no public or private 
 utility ? Would they join in masonic mobs^ expose and disgrace 
 themselves in riots, merely to prevent an honest investigation of 
 the truth ? Such a supposition appears contrary in its nature to all 
 those known principles and motives, which usually govern the ac- 
 tions of mankind. 
 
 But Masons express great confidence In the permctnence of their 
 order. They say, "the present attempt to overthrow it will utterly 
 fail ;" that, " it will only rouse the energies of the Institution, and," 
 that, " after the present trial. Freemasonry will increase beyond 
 all former example." That such results followed the disclosures 
 of Prichard, in 1730; of Smith, in '62, and of Robinson and Bar- 
 ruel, in '97, cannot be denied. And such, no doubt, would again 
 be the result, were the present contest conducted in the same 
 manner as at each of those periods. Much was then done with a 
 view to destroy the Institution. Books, and pamphlets, and even 
 the sacred desk^ teemed with the subject. But all in vain. The 
 Fraternity then, as at present, relied upon the same weapons. 
 Prichard and Smith were assassinated^ and the character of every 
 man, who presumed to question the nature and principles of Free- 
 masonry, was visited with the grossest calumny and falsehood. 
 The cry was raised then, as at present, " Let Freemasonry alone — 
 it is all published : it will die of itself You are going too fast : 
 don't take it to the polls." Unfortunately for mankind, these mis- 
 taken sentiments, uttered from pure motives, but with little knowl- 
 edge upon the subject, and less reflection, prevailed. The time 
 of trial to the Fraternity was short ; the excitement passed over ; 
 Masonry revived; its initiates increased. They went up over all 
 countries, "like the pestilence which walketh in darkness, and the 
 destruction that wasteth at noonday." 
 
 The NECESSITY of taking this subject to the Ballot Box, nf car- 
 rying it into all- our elections and appointments has thus been three 
 iimes j^roved by experience. What then are we to expect from such 
 a course ? At the Polls Freemasonry may be met in all its Protean 
 shapes. Like an arrant impostor, it always assumes some other 
 name than its own. All its false pretensions may there be stripped 
 off. Its nature, principles, and oaths will be discussed at every 
 election^ and thus the real character of the Institution will be hung 
 up to be gazed^ at and abhorred., from generation to generation. And 
 who can justly complain of such a measure ? It is a peaceable, 
 legal, and constitutional mode of resistance. • Aiid there is cause for 
 resistance. The Laws of our Country have been violated and set 
 aside ; Justice has been trampled under foot ; and the Government 
 itself has been chained as a Captive iothe Ca?. o/*Mason?.y ' Ylho 
 but a slave, a poltroon, or a traitor, is ready to exchange 
 the government and laws of this country for the odious and 
 secret despotism, and laws of Freemasonry ? If the Masonic Fra- 
 ternity, who have done it, and sworn allegiance to the Masonic 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. VJ 
 
 Empire, it is no reason why the rest of tlie people should not re- 
 sist. If adhering Freemasons choose to support the Government 
 and Laws of the Masonic Empire in opposition to the Laws and 
 Government of these States, ihey can surely have no just reason 
 to cry '"''persecution^^ and ^^ proscription^''^ if the people withhold 
 their suffrages from them, unlil they abjure masonic allegiance 
 and return to their allegiance to the Republic. The horrid crimes 
 committed by the Fraternity, in obedience to their oaths and obli- 
 gations, are still unavenged. In vain have the people applied for 
 justice. Again and again have they solicited the courts of law for 
 near five years for relief In vain have they reasoned with ma- 
 sonic magistrates and officers, and urged them to perform those 
 civil duties intrusted them by the people. But they have refused 
 or neglected to perform those duties. They have acted no further 
 than Masonry is concerned, and only for the benefit of the Craft. 
 
 Where, then, the injustice of refusing to vote for such men, even 
 if they were not Masons? But the power of suffrage is sovereign, 
 and belongs to the people. No man can justly claim it as a right. 
 Wherever suffrages can be claimed as a right, or controlled by a 
 secret society, the people are not free. 
 
 The cause we espouse has been driven by necessity to the Bal- 
 lot Box. It is an open appeal to Public Oplmon, tor redress of 
 wrongs the most aggravated, after all other means have been ex- 
 hausted in vain, short of ''''the last resort of injured 7iations.^^ Anli- 
 masons have not taken this course '' without counting the cost." 
 They are aware the contest may be long ; that it may continue 
 during the present century and the next. But. even this circum- 
 stance alone is sure to accomplish the destruction of Freemasonry. 
 Already the number of new initiates to the lodges " have become 
 very seldom and far between." Like an army surrounded and cut 
 off from all recruits, the number of Masons must necessarily dimin- 
 ish, so long as the present contest continues. A great National 
 Party, opposed to all Secret Societies, and founded on the pure, 
 patriotic principles of Antimasonry, will be very likely to outlive 
 the last Masonic adherent. Antimasonry never tires. Invigorated 
 at the Ballot Box, at every election, it will become immortal. 
 It invites public discussion, while Masonry shrinks back with guilt 
 and shame Irom investigation. Success or defeat at an election on 
 our side, is equally sure to add to our numbers. Truth, patriot- 
 ism, and all those sacred principles of virtue, '' which hold the 
 elements of the moral world together," are on our side ; while 
 crimes of blood, falsehood, and deception, without any thing to 
 save, are on the other. 
 
 Antimasonry has no use for any office seeking, selfish^ time serv- 
 ing politician. An Antimason by profession merely to obtain votes ; 
 but a Mason afterward in practice. No use for " three, six months, 
 or three years men :" but for men engaged for life, '"' and their 
 households after them.^^ Men who will make no truce or comprom- 
 ise with any men — Clay men, Jackson men, Working men, Young 
 men, or any other party, or set of men, while they support adher- 
 ing Freemasons^ iherv cAf.'ers or ahe'ioTs — and who are determined to 
 
tS Massachusetts antI'masoni'c convfjitiok. 
 
 *' sink or swim^ live or die^ survive or perish^''' to free our degraded 
 country — our insulted government and laws, from the dominion^, 
 influence, and slavery of Fkee-aiasgnry. 
 
 But the confidence of Masons in the permanence of their Institu- 
 tion, is founded more especially, in the organization and extent of 
 the order. Freemasonry, as a whole, constitutes a separate, inde- 
 pendenf^ strongly organized government of itself. It extends over 
 all countries; each nation is a provlnce, </7iri the whole is termed^ 
 ''TUE HOLY EMPIRE!! Well may such a discovery excite 
 astonishment and alarm ! Secret in its operations, as if situated in 
 the vast cavity of the globe, its subjects are in all places of busi- 
 ness, in many places of trust, in most places of power. It has in 
 a great measure secured the Press : and that mighty engine, 
 instead of being directed against Freemasonry and its crimes, has 
 either tamely acquiesced, or been directed against the rights and 
 liberties of mankind. This empire was established by the cele- 
 brated Frederick, King of Prussia, or by his intidel associates. 
 Frederick was tlie first " Most Sublime Thrice Puissant Sovereign 
 OF Sovereigns." Or by others, '"' Thrice Puissant Sovereign 
 Grand Master." The organization of " The Holy Empire" is one 
 of the most curions in Masonry. Each nation we have »rvid is a 
 province, and is governed by Sovereign Grand Inspectors General^ 
 whose number, according to Bernard, and other writers, may not 
 exceed nine. They are appointed for life, with power to apporat 
 their successors, and are the Sovereigns of Masonry. 
 
 It appears on masonic authority, that the Grand Consistory of 
 Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, were convened at Paris on 
 the 27th of August, 1761. At that Grand and Supreme Council of 
 the Most Puissant Sovereigns, the King of Prussia presided by his 
 deputy, Chaillon de Johnville. That august body gave high pow- 
 ers to Stephen Moren, who appointed Henry Andrews Franken 
 *' Deputy Grand Inspector Geneilil, Knight of Kadosh, &c. &,c. 
 over all Lodges in the New World." Franken appointed Mosea 
 Michael Flays, a well known Jew, who for a number of years re- 
 sided in Boston, and was several times elected Grand Master of 
 the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. 
 
 By the term '' deputy^''' it would seem the highest powers of 
 Masonry in this country, are under the jurisdiction of foreign 
 powers, the same as a Lodge in Demerara is under the jurisdic- 
 tion of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. [See Major Russell's 
 affidavit.] 
 
 Doct. Isaac Auld, in 1825, was Sovereign Grand Commander of 
 the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 
 United States of America. Frederick Dalcho, Past Grand Com- 
 mander ; Moses C. Levy, Treasurer General of ''The Holy Em- 
 pire." 
 
 Your Committee allude to these facts, that the whole subject 
 and extent of Freemasonry may be brought into view. They feel 
 unable to express their astonishment and alarm, that 100,000 men. 
 within these United States, tOOO of them in this Commonwealth, 
 should be found, who have secretly sworn allegiance to this Ma* 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMaSONIC CONVENTION. 19 
 
 «onic Empire ! Do these men, whd still adhere, consider their 
 masonic oaths paramount to all other oaths, masonic laws para- 
 mount to all other laws, and obligations to Freemasonry above 
 their obligations to their country ? Many, no doubt, entertain 
 those mistaken sentiments. Infatuated men ! They are objects of 
 our compassionate sympathies. They have been brought so sud- 
 denly from darkness to the strong light that now beams upon Ma- 
 sonry, that no wonder they are unable to endure it. But is this a 
 cause of anger or resentment? Far otherwise. Let us comfort 
 them — not vciih o^ce till they can see — but encourage them 
 that they will see. Tell them what others see. Administer the 
 light to them as they are able to bear it, and all will be well. The 
 sole objects of Antimasons will be achieved. The Masonic Insti- 
 tution will be destroyed, liberty will be preserved, and Freema- 
 sons as men and good citizens brought back to their country. 
 
 Your Committee beg leave to congratulate this Convention upon 
 the cheering prospects before them. The good cause is progress- 
 ing over our whole country. The doings of the National Conven- 
 tion at Philadelphin, in September last, have had a favourable 
 influence. The number of Antimasonic votes has increased at the 
 rate of near twofold every twelve months, a gain honourable to 
 the people of these States^ and believed to be unparalleled in the 
 history of national parlies. But this ratio of increase cannot be much 
 longer expected on account of the Inrge and respectable numbers of 
 Antimasons now in the United States. Should the number of their 
 votes amount to 500,000 the present year, [1831,] it ought, in the 
 opinion of the undersigned, to equal every reasonable expectation. 
 
 But a knowledge of the abominations of Freemasonry is not 
 confined to this Union. It is spreading over the American Conti- 
 nent. To the North and the East, the British Provinces are 
 awaking to the subject. In a number of places already, elections 
 have been carried on Antimasonic principles. And among our 
 sister Republics at the South, and even in Old Spain itself, a 
 Spanish edition of Morgan has been circulated and eagerly sought 
 for. Antimasonic publications have been taken to various parts of 
 Europe, and even to Asia, many times by foreigners, sometimes by 
 Masons, and in one instance, as your Committee have been cred- 
 ibly informed, twenty seven numbers of the ""Boston Free Press" 
 were obtained by an Englishman and sold at Liverpool for one 
 dollar each. These facts are mentioned merely to shew that 
 the cause we advocate is spreading over the whole Empire of 
 Masonry. 
 
 Your Committee beg leave, in conclusion, to express the deep 
 sense of obligation they feel themselves under to the several Coun- 
 ty, Town, Ward and District Committees, who have assisted them, 
 and especially to those private seceders^ who have daringly volun- 
 tered, at so much risk and sacritice, to remain /or a most important 
 and patriotic purpose. 
 
 Information is loudly called for. And there is every encourage- 
 ment that perseverance, steadiness, moderation, but firmness, under 
 the blessing of that Almighty Being, who watched over our fathers 
 
go MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 in the days of their tribulation,. will save our liberties, secure 
 equal privileges to the people of these States, — the only object of 
 all our toils, sufferings, and dangers. 
 
 ABNER PHELPS, 
 GEORGE ODIORNE, 
 JOHN D. WILLIAMS, 
 WILLIAM MARSTON, 
 JACOB HALL, 
 THOMAS WALLEY, 
 BENJ. W. LAMB, 
 HENRY GASSETT, 
 DANIEL WELD, 
 BENJ. V. FRENCH, 
 JNO. P. WHITWELL. 
 
 Ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 Voted, That the Committee on rules and regulations present 
 their report. Whereupon it vi^as presented and adopted. 
 That this Convention now adjourn, till 3 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Thursday Afternoon, 3 o'clock. 
 
 Convention met according to adjournment. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Goffe, it was 
 
 Resolved, That that gentleman, together with Messrs. White, 
 Colburn, Sanborn, and Farnsworth, be a committee to inquire 
 whether intelligent Christians or churches can knowingly fellow- 
 ship with Freemasonry, or its adhering members, without becoming 
 accessaries after the fact ; thus pnrticipating in the horrid crimes 
 of which the Masonic Institution is proved guilty— which was com- 
 mitted. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Gibson, of Suffolk, it was 
 
 Resolved, That Messrs. Gibson, of Suffolk, Churchill of Norfolk, 
 Chaplin, of Middlesex, Hobart, of Worcester, and Hardy, of Mid- 
 dlesex, be a Committee to take into consideration the state of the 
 public press, and report thereon to this Convention. 
 
 Voted, That all Committees appointed hereafter in this Conven- 
 tion consist of live members. 
 
 Voted, That the rules and regulations of thi?; Convention be read 
 from the Chair. 
 
 Voted, That it be a standing rule of this Convention that Com- 
 mittees have leave to retire and consult on the business allotted 
 them without a formal order therefor. 
 
 On motion of the Hon. John Bailey, of Norfolk, it was 
 
 Resolved, That Messrs, Bailey, of Norfolk, Reed, of Bristol, 
 Clark, of Middlesex, Odiorne, of Suffolk, and Lazell, of Plymouth, 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONTC CONVEINTIO4V. 2'1> 
 
 be a Committee to consider and report what measures are proper 
 to be recommended to the people of this Commonwealth, to guard 
 the equal rights of its citizens, and secure the faithful administra- 
 tion of justice. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Walker, it was 
 
 Resolved^ That Messrs. Walker, of Suffolk, Barker, of Essex, 
 Henry, of Worcester, Starkweather, of Hampden, and Pierce, of 
 Suffolk, be a Committee to take into consideration the correspond- 
 ence of the State Committee with the Masonic fraternities in this 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 Voted, That any member of this Convention may propose the 
 names of gentlemen whom he may wish to take a seat in this Con- 
 vention. 
 
 Votcd^ That Messrs. Allen Partridge, of Norfolk, Avery Allyn, of 
 New York, Abijah Blanchard, of Suffolk, Allen Newhali, of Wor- 
 cester, Jacob Allen, of Braintree, Ar.temas Lane, of Monson, and 
 Mr. Ransom, of Vermont, take seat^ in this Convention as honorary 
 members. 
 
 Messrs. Jos. W. Bennett, and Jos. A. Flyde, of Bridge water, and 
 Hiram Manly, of Easton, were proposed by the Committee as 
 honorary members. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Bigelow, of Middlesex, it was 
 
 Resolved^ That !\Iessrs. Bigelow, Green, of Suffolk, Buffum, of 
 Essex, Carey, of Worcester, and Curtis, of Plymouth, be a Commit- 
 tee to embody, and report to this Convention, what facts have been 
 disclosed in the recent trials of the Morgan conspirators in the 
 State of New York, and what new evidence has been elicited in re- 
 lation to the oaths or obligations and ceremonies of Freemasonry. 
 
 On the motion of Gen. Hoyt, of Franklin, it was 
 
 Resolved^ That a Committee of one from each of the Counties of 
 the Commonwealth, represented in this Convention, to wit, — 
 Messrs. Hoyt, of Franklin, French, of Suffolk, Gardner, of Worces- 
 ter, Webb, of Norfolk, Durfee, of Bristol, Yale, of Middlesex, Sloan, 
 of Hampden, Starkweather, of Hampshire, Turner, of Plymouth, 
 F. S. Newhall, of Essex, be appointed to nominate Delegates to 
 attend the United States Antimasonic Convention, in Baltimore, on 
 the 26th day of September next, and that the whole number nom- 
 inated in the State be equal to the number of Senators and Repre- 
 sentatives in both houses of Congress from Massachusetts. 
 
 On motion, 
 
 Voted, That all reports made by Committees to this Convention, 
 be laid on the table for consideration. 
 
 The Committee on the Rev. Mr. Goffe's resolution made a re- 
 port by their Chairman, which was laid on the table, agreeable to 
 order. 
 
 The following Report was read to the Convention, and ordered 
 to lie on the table. By a subsequent resolve it was referred to the 
 
«t MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 Publishing Committee, to be disposed of as they should deem pro- 
 per. The Committee, after n careful examination, believe it to he 
 a valuable document and deserving of extensive circulation, and 
 therefore publish the same, with the doings of the Convention, 
 although this report was not formally adopted by that body. 
 
 The Committee appointed by this Convention, to inquire, 
 ' whether inteliigent Christians or churches can knowingly fellow- 
 ship Freemasonry, or its adhering members, without becoming ac- 
 cessaries, after the fact, and participating in the horrid crimes of 
 which the Masonic Institution is now proved guilty ;' having taken 
 the subject into their serious consideration, ask leave to submit the 
 following 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 Your Committee feel themselves fully authorized to assume it as 
 an undeniable fact^ that the recent disclosures which have been 
 made of the forms, ceremonies, principles, oaths, penalties, and ten- 
 dencies of Freemasonry, are correct. It is now, indeed, much too 
 late to call in question, or even to c/om^/, that the dark mysteries of 
 the Lodge Room are laid open to the view of the world. This has 
 been done by those who have personally explored the inmost re- 
 cesses of the mystic temple, and even worshipped in its holiest 
 places. And since they have heen laid before the public in almost 
 every form, attested by hundreds and thousands of credible wit- 
 nesses ; by judicial records ; by the testimony of adhering Masons, 
 and sealed by them in the blood of Morgan and others, no candid 
 man need be ignorant, and no intelligent Christian or church ought 
 to be ignorant of them. Ignorance on this subject is highly culpa- 
 ble, and nothing but the madness of-folly can deny their truth. 
 
 On the ground, then, of the truth of these disclosures, your com- 
 mittee proceed to say, that they are totally unable to discover how 
 any understanding Christian^ or any church of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 organized on Gospel principles, actuated by a Gospel spirit, and 
 walking by Gospel rules, can, consistently with their duty, hold any 
 fellowship whatever with the Masonic Institution, or with its ad- 
 hering members and supporters. In past times, when the nature 
 and operations of that mystic society were enveloped in darkness, 
 and its deluded members trumpeted its praises in every ear, as em- 
 bracing every thing great and good, as a scientific, moral, and char- 
 itable institution, descended from heaven, and the handmaid of re- 
 ligion, if not religion itself, both Christians and churches had some 
 excuse for passing it by unnoticed. But now, since the veil of se- 
 crecy has been removed, and the whole arcana of the Lodge-room, 
 Chapter, Council, Consistory, &c., with all their follies and crimes, 
 have been revealed and exposed to the public gaze, the plea of ig- 
 norance can no longer avail. There is now no cloak to cover their 
 sins: but every adherent and defender of that unholy cause, shows 
 himself an accomplice in all the guilt and atrocities with which the 
 Masonic Institution stands justly charged. To be guilty of fraud, 
 perjury, murder, arson, or any other crimes, it is not necessary that 
 a person actually commit those crimes. If he approve oj" and jus- 
 tify them when committed by others, and hold in his affections and 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 23 
 
 fellowship the perpetrators of them, he thereby becomes an acces' 
 sary to those crimes, if not in a legal, yet certainly in a moral and 
 religious view: he voluntarily makes himself a partaker of other 
 men's sins, and stands justly condemned by all the rules of morality, 
 justice, truth, and the Christian religion. 
 
 This we are not unapprised is a bold assertion, and may involve 
 many otherwise respectable men, in a guilt of which, perhaps, they 
 are little aware; and we should not dare thus publicly to advance 
 it, were we not convinced of being sustained by the plainest dic- 
 tates of morality, common sense, and the oracles of God. If he 
 who sees a thief and consenlcth with him, is considered in the eyes 
 of the omniscient Judge, as guilty of theft, shall he be accounted 
 innocent who countenances, justifies, and conceals the most atro- 
 cious crimes? Shall he be considered as blameless who consents to 
 the unlawful shedding of human blood? Shall he be uncondemned 
 who justifies and approves of other men's sins, and holds fellow- 
 ship with those who he knows are guilty of deeds of darkness, of 
 which it is a shame to speak? By no means: he thereby involves 
 himself in the same guilt. If this be so, what an accumulated load 
 of guilt beara^^'jjpon the whole masonic Institution, and upon all 
 those Christians and churches who retain in their fellowship, and 
 admit to their communion, the obstinate adherents of that blood 
 stained order! They bring upon themselves the blood of Morgan 
 and all those martyrs who have fallen sacrifices to masonic ven- 
 geance, and though, by deception and falsehood, they may escape 
 punishment from men, yet how shall they escape the righteous 
 judgment of God ? 
 
 Let the two Institutions, the Church and Masonry, be compared 
 and contrasted in their origin, nature and spirit, and the conviction, it 
 seems, must fasten itself, with an iron grasp, upon the understanding 
 and conscience of every fair minded man, that there ought not, and 
 cannot be any real sympathy or harmony between them. They 
 are directly opposed to each other in every respect, and there is 
 no common principle upon which they can meet or harmonize. 
 They, therefore, who attempt to blend them, (and they are not a 
 few,) and make them the same or kindred Institutions, and the one 
 a helper or handmaid of the other, attempt an impossibility. They 
 might as well mingle light with darkness, or fire with water, and 
 make them the same or kindred elements. 
 
 What is the Church? It is a holy society, incorporated by the 
 God of heaven, sustained by his power and grace from the begin- 
 ning of the world to the present time, and destined to flourish for- 
 ever in the world of glory. It is the kingdom of heaven upon 
 earth ; the temple of the living God, or habitation of the Spirit ; 
 and the School of Christ, in which immortal souls, by spiritual cul- 
 ture, are trained up and prepared for their heavenly inheritance. 
 The church is the pillar and grotind of the truth; the salt of the 
 earth; the light of the world, and the glory of Jehovah; the ful- 
 ness of him that filleth all in all. 
 
 On the other hand, — What is Masonry ? It is an earthborn Insti- 
 tution ; self created, by a company of brick layers and stone cut- 
 ters: formed in London, June 24, 1717 : upheld by terror— pro- 
 
24 MASSACHUSETI'S AN'J'IMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 pagated by deception ; guarded by a sword ; shrouded in darkness ; 
 covered with crimes; stained with blood; filled with blasphemies, 
 and breathing forth a spirit of vengeance and destruction against 
 all who renounce their allegiance to this mystery of abominations. 
 Masonry, in its whole length and breadth, is as Anti- Christian as it 
 is Anti-republican, its tendency is to corrupt, and, ultimately, to 
 undermine and destroy all our civil and religious institutions, and 
 to spread infidelity, despotism, and misery through the earth. 
 
 Such being the nature and spirit of the two Institutions, what 
 fellowship can there be between them ? They are diametrically 
 opposed to each other, and are as wide asunder as heaven and the 
 kingdom of darkness. The strong and pointed interrogatories of 
 an inspired apostle almost fail to express the utter impossibility of 
 any companionship between them. ^' Be not unequally yoked 
 together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness 
 with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with dark- 
 ness? and 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?" 
 
 The church of Christ never desired or sought any^connection or 
 fellowship with Masonry. It is a kingdom not of this world ; pecu- 
 liar in its nature, spirit, and object: high, spiritual, and holy, and 
 therefore cannot be mingled with the institutions of men without 
 corrupting its principles^, defiling its purity, and so far defeating the 
 sublime and glorious designs of its creation. But Masonry has de- 
 sired, and sought, and actually obtained, to a lamentable extent, 
 a union with the cliurch. To give itself a sanctified appearance 
 in the view of the world, that it might disarm suspicion, and better 
 attain its own selfish objects, it has stolen shreds and patches from 
 the livery of Heaven, to hide its native deformity, and thus com- 
 mend itself to the friends of God and the Redeemer. To accom- 
 plish his own destructive purposes of deception and ruin, Satan 
 can easily transform himself into the appearance of an angel of 
 light, and even present himself before the Lord^ and among his faith- 
 ful subjects and worshippers. And. under the same delusive ap- 
 pearance, he has insinuated himself into the churches of Christ, 
 and seduced many of his disciples and followers to join in the un- 
 hallowed orgies of his midnight assemblies. For many years after 
 the origin of Masonry, but few if any of the members of the lodge 
 were found in the churches of Christ. The Institution was then 
 considered as connected with the black arts of magic and witch- 
 craft, and holding an intimate communion ^vi(h the Prince of Dark- 
 ness. But not many years since the Grand Lodge, moved by sug- 
 gestions from beneath, opened the doors of all the subordinate 
 Lodges for the gratuitous admission of the ministers of religion to all 
 the mysteries and privileges of the Craft. Prompted by a vain 
 curiosity, enticed by the trappings of the harlot, and the flattering 
 encomiums passed on Masonry, and doubtless by the selfish hopes 
 of personal advantage and distinction, they degradingly submitted 
 to the hoodwink and halter, crowded into the mystic temple, which 
 is full of dead men's skulls, and all uncleanness ; and there — O hor- 
 rid! personally bound themselves by the most savage imprecations 
 to promote its interests, and forever conceal ali its abomioitions. 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. tb 
 
 The pastors of churches being thus gained, an appearance of 
 sanctity was thrown around the Institution, which gave it a credit 
 and currency with serious people, which it had never before ob- 
 tained. Encouraged by the example of their Christian leaders, 
 the officers and members of churches followed in their train, 
 and thus swelled the ranks of the fraternity. Multitudes around 
 them, emboldened by such examples, viewed the histitution with a 
 favourable eye. They argued that the Institution must be good^ 
 or so many great and good men — ministers, professors, and others, 
 never would have joined and supported it, and therefore they 
 pressed forward to its unhallowed embrace, where they were bound 
 by the strong cords of iniquity, and where they were taught the 
 sublime science contained in Boaz^ Jachin, and Mah-hah'bone — and 
 many of them the sublime mysteries of Jah-buh-lun and Ma-her- 
 sha-lal-hash-baz. 
 
 This satisfactorily accounts for the unexampled spread of Ma- 
 sonry through our country of late years ; and also shews very 
 clearly how the masonic Institution has crept into and defiled the 
 Church. The same persons are members of both institutions, and 
 thus form the connecting link between the Church and the Lodge. 
 They usually hold a good standing in both institutions. They are 
 feilowshipped in both parties, and in this way the Church and the 
 Lodge are drawn into communion with each other. Thus the 
 church becomes polluted, and by suffering this unholy connection 
 to exist, she brings upon herself the guilt and crimes of which 
 Masonry now stands fully convicted. With all the light now shed 
 into the dark caverns of the widow's son, and the mysteries of 
 iniquity there performed, and exposed to public view. The church, 
 by her connivance at such abominations, becomes accessary^ and 
 involves herself in all the blasphemies, perjuries and crimes which 
 now characterize the wunderwurking brotherhood. By such a 
 connection the church is deliled, her glory is tarnished, her disci- 
 pline is obstructed, her energies are paralyzed, and she is made 
 the mere tool and supporter of the lodge. While men slept the 
 enemy sowed these tares, but now, in the light of day, they ought 
 not to be suffered to grow. They must be rooted up or the har- 
 vest will be blasted. 
 
 With what holy indignation must the Great Head of the Church 
 look upon this unnatural alliance, surreptitiously formed between- 
 his holy kingdom and the kingdom of darkness and sin ! No won, 
 der he frowns upon his churches, and sends delusions, divisions 
 heresies and strife into their sacred enclosures, and unless they 
 awake, and separate themselves from this abomination, still sorer 
 judgments may be expected. And what an awful responsibility 
 rests upon those ministers and Christian professors who have sworn 
 allegiance to a foreign dominion, and still adhere to a system of 
 government and laws, paramount, in their view, to the authority 
 and government of Christ ! They have profaned the name and 
 polluted the sanctuary of the Lord. Their example has deceived 
 and destroyed many, and they have brought the stain of blood 
 into the hallowed abodes of parity and love. Ey their conduct 
 Chnst is wounded 'n the hoihS6 of his professed friends, and his 
 4 
 
i^ ><A6SACHCSETT3 ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 holy name and religion greatly dishonoured. An enlightefletl 
 community, seeing their inconsistency in endeavouring to sustainr 
 both the church and the lodge, are naturally led to conclude there 
 is nothing valuable in that religion which they profess; and are 
 thus hardened in their unbelief and sin. The ministers and mem- 
 bers of churches who have bowed the knee to that image of jeal- 
 ousy, are now the main pillars which support the masonic build- 
 ing. Let them not merely withdra-si'^ but dissolve their connection 
 with that secret assembly, and in this enlightened age, the whole 
 mystic fabric would soon crumble to its base. By their obstinate 
 adherence to an institution so degrading and wicked, they are an- 
 swerable for ail the mischiefs which Masonry has done and will 
 do, and deserve to be rejected and disowned by the church and 
 the world. 
 
 But in the present state of things, and as matters now stand, 
 what are the churches to do ? How are they to acquit themselves 
 from blame, and be rid of the evil which now presses so heavily 
 upon them ? These are important queries, and demand a plain 
 and explicit answer; and happily the answer is at hand, and the 
 path of their duty is obvious. Every organized church possesses 
 in herself the power of her own purification and preservation. The 
 sword of the Spirit is in her own hands, and under the direction of 
 her Lord, she can and ought to separate from her body every 
 incorrigible member of the masonic fraternity. She is invested 
 with the power of discipline^ which affords an ample remedy for 
 this great and sore evil. In the spirit of meekness and brotherly 
 love, let her institute a process of Christian discipline with every 
 brother who is a member of the lodge, and call him to an account 
 for his conduct. There is no want of just ground for complaint. 
 The institution of Masonry affords numerous points of Scriptural 
 discipline and final excision, and if, after due process and forbear- 
 ance, he prove obstinate and irreclaimable, let him be separated 
 from the body and turned over to his own company, and even if 
 the offender be the pastor of the church, let him be dealt with, 
 and impeached before a tribunal of his peers. His sacred office 
 ought not to screen him from the just censures of the church. But, 
 if unhappily, as is sometimes the case, a majority of the church be 
 Masons, or under masonic influence, so that the process of discipline 
 be arrested, and its end defeated, and the guilty protected, let the 
 minority, after due deliberation and consultation, peaceably ■with- 
 draw^ in obedience to the divine commands, ^' Wherefore, come 
 out from among them, and be ye separate, saith (he Lord, and 
 touch not the unclean thing. — Have no fellowship with the un- 
 fruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. — Be not a par- 
 taker of other men's sins; keep thjself pure." It is important 
 that Christians do this; otherwise by partaking of their sins, they 
 will also be made partakers of their plagues. 
 
 We are not insensible that discipline upon this subject, introduced 
 into the churches and carried to its ultimate results, would create 
 .great excitement in the community, and be attended with many un- 
 pleasant aad troubiescme things. The angry passions of the whole 
 masonic fraternity, and of their obsequious minion'^, wordd he ox- 
 
s MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 27 
 
 cited, — the cry of pergecution would be raised, and much alterca- 
 tion, division, and disturbance might ensue. But what if all this, 
 and more than this, should be the case, shall the churches be still, 
 and neglect their duty, because Satan will rage? Shall they suf- 
 fer that idolatrous Jezebel to touch and to seduce the servants of 
 God, because the senseless clamor of persecution and proscription 
 will be raised? The fearful and unbelieving may flinch from their 
 duty through dread of consequences, but let the righteous be bold 
 as a lion in the discharge of duty, and leave all consequences with 
 God. What great reformation in morals, politics, or religion, was 
 ever effected in the world without opposition and disturbance ? 
 Excitement on such a subject as this is good and commendable. 
 An apostle has said, " It is good to be zealously affected always in 
 a good thing." And what better thing can awaken the zeal, and 
 engage the warm efforts of Christians, than the purification of the 
 churches from the pollutions induced by masonic connection ? Ex- 
 citement in this case is not to be dreaded or shunned. Like the 
 winds, thunders and storms in the natural world, they would purify 
 the moral atmosphere, and conduce to the health and vigor of the 
 body of Christ. 
 
 Whether the time has yet come, and the public mind is suffi- 
 ciently prepared for the commencement of this great and necessary 
 work in this region, may be a matter of doubt. Of this every 
 church must judge for herself. But that the time must come, and 
 will soon come, when the unholy connection between the Church 
 and Masonry will be totally dissolved, there can be no <juestion. 
 The good work of separation has already begun in various parts of 
 our land, and among several denominations of professed ChrlstiaJis, 
 and it must and will progress, until every adhering Mason shall be 
 excluded from the pulpit and the church, and no more be ordained 
 or admitted as members of the body, who hold any communion 
 with that mystery of abominations. O happy day, when the 
 church, purified from her present guilt and defilement, shall shine 
 in all the beauty of hoHness, and " look forth as the morning, fair as 
 the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.'* 
 
 All which is humbly submitted. 
 
 On motion, 
 
 Foted^ That the Committee on Nominations be instructed that 
 this Convention expect no gentleman of that Committee will deem 
 his membership any excuse for his not being named as a Delegate 
 to the United States Antimasonic Convention. 
 
 On motion of Benjamin F. Hallett, Esq., of R. Island, it was 
 
 Resolved^ That Messrs. Hallett, and Walley and Pike, of Suffolk, 
 be a Committee to examine a pamphlet herewith presented, be- 
 lieved to have been designed and published in cypher, by Masons, 
 as a guide for Masters of Lodges to procure uniformity in the work- 
 ing of the first three degrees in Masonry, and that they report to 
 this Convention how far the same confirms the disclosures that have 
 
28 MASSACHUSETT* ANTIMASONIC COMVENTION. 
 
 been made, touching the first three degrees, together with their 
 opinions on such other original masonic documents as may be pre- 
 sented for their consideration. 
 
 On motion, 
 
 Foted^ That the standing rules and regulations of this Conven- 
 tion be so modified as to allow the Committee on Mr. Hallett's 
 Resolution to consist of three instead of five. 
 
 On motion of Doctor Porter, of Suffolk, it was 
 
 Resolved^ That Messrs. Porter, Cutter, of Middlesex, Breed of 
 Essex, Ward, of Worcester, and R. French, of Bristol, be a com- 
 mittee to take into consideration the alarming evils and threaten- 
 ing dangers to our republican institutions from the existence and 
 continuance of an adherence to the masonic obligations by some of 
 our fellow citizens connected with the masonic Institution, with 
 instructions to report measures for their prevention, for the con- 
 sideration of this Convention. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Walker, of Boston, 
 
 Resolved^ That when this Convention adjourn, it adjourn to 
 reassemble at 8 o'clock, a. m., tomorrow. 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 Friday, May 20, 1831. 
 
 The Convention reassembled at 8 o'clock, according to adjourn- 
 ment. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Sanborn was requested to ofier prayers in behalf of the 
 Convention. 
 
 Proceedings of yesterday read. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Rice, of Worcester, it was 
 
 Resolved^ That Messrs. Rice, Clough, of Suffolk, Richardson, of 
 Bristol, Munroe, of Middlesex, Woodbury, of Franklin, Pool, of 
 Plymouth, Pratt, of Essex, Mann, of Norfolk, and Dawes, of Hamp- 
 shire, be a Committee of Finance to raise funds for defraying the 
 incidental expenses of the Convention, and for aiding the Sufiblk 
 Committee in diffusing information on the subject of Freemasonry. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Rice of Worcester, it was 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be expressed to 
 the Hon. RICHARD RUSH, of Pennsylvania, for his able and 
 patriotic exposition of the character and effects of Masonry, and 
 that the President and Vice Presidents of this Convention address 
 him a letter to that effect in their behalf. 
 
 On motion, 
 
 yoted. That the Committee on the Nomination of Delegates to 
 the United States Antimasonic Convention be instructed to report a 
 list of names for an Executive Antimasonic State Committee. 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIM-4S0NIC CONVENTION. 29 
 
 On motion of Hon. Mr. Gardner, of Worcester, it was 
 
 Resolved, That Messrs. Thacher, of Norfolk, Halletf, of R. I., 
 Whitney, of Suffolk, Reed, of Bristol, and Oliver, of Essex, be a 
 committee to report on Resolutions expressing the views of this 
 Convention relative to the masonic Institution. 
 
 The Report on Mr. Bailev's Resolution read and laid on the 
 table. 
 
 The Report by Mr. Goflfe, relative to Church Membership, was 
 taken up, and its recommitment moved. Mr. Hallett, of Rhode ..^ 
 Island moved that the committee be instructed to report that it is 
 inexpedient to act upon that subject. After discussion, the Report 
 was recommitted generally. 
 
 Mr. Goflfe, from that committee, subsequently reported a Re- 
 solve, "That the said Report be revised by the Chairman, and re- 
 ferred to the Publishing Committee to be appointed by this Con- 
 vention. 
 
 Mr. Bailey's Report was called up, adopted, and committed to 
 the Publishing Committee. 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 The Committee, appointed to consider and report what measures 
 it is proper to recommend to the people of this commonwealth, to 
 guard the equal rights of our citizens, and the faithful administra- 
 tion of justice, — have attended to the duty assigned to them, with 
 that candor and justice, they trust, which it always becomes one 
 class of citizens to bring to the consideration of questions, connec- 
 ted with the rights, and interests, and feelings, of another class. 
 Your Committee would not knowingly recommend any measure, 
 which would infringe those rights, or which would, beyond what 
 the public welfare demands, interfere with those interests and 
 those feelings. They believe that justice is at the basis of all 
 good character, and all wise government : and while they are un- 
 willing to see fostered in our community an Institution, the 
 general tendency of which is to operate unjustly against themselves 
 and other citizens not connected with it, they do most sincerely 
 wish to avoid the slightest shade of injustice, either in their repre- 
 sentations of that Institution, or in the measures which they may 
 recommend to be adopted in self-defence against its encroachments. 
 Their appeal would be, not to the excited passions and sinister cal- 
 culations of individuals, but to the good sense, calm judgment, and 
 enlightened conscience of the public. 
 
 Under such impressions, your Committee would suggest, that the 
 following measures be recommended to the people of this com- 
 monwealth : 
 
 1 . That the people, in giving their suffrages at the polls, should 
 express their disapprobation of the masonic institution. 
 
 Whether this should be done by withholding altogether their 
 suffrages from its members, or by a discrimination among them, on 
 the ground of a weaker or stronger adhesion to its principles, and 
 
30 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVKNTION. 
 
 of more or less uprightness of general character, must be left to the 
 judgment and conscience of every individual citizen. There are 
 those among us who think that this discrimination should be made ; 
 while others believe, that the object of us all, the abolition of the 
 institution, cannot be effected but by withholding all support from 
 its adhering members, whether this adhesion be more or less strong, 
 or their characters, otherwise, more or less unimpeachable, and 
 believe, too, that this is perfectly fair and just, since a continued 
 adhesion to masonry is a condition wholly voluntary, and termina- 
 ble at will. 
 
 We are not forgetful, that this measure, whether in its more 
 rigid, or in its more mitigated form, has been censured as intole- 
 rant. It has been pronounced to be wrong, to bring the question 
 of masonry into political concerns at all; that "political anti- 
 masonry," as it has been called, is inconsistent with the benign and 
 tolerant principles of our government, which guarantees to alb 
 equal rights. 
 
 This objection your Committee believe to be wholly groundless; 
 and they are confident of satisfying every candid mind that it is so. 
 
 It is Masonry, and not Anti-masonry, that infringes equal 
 rights. Masonry, by its tremendous oaths, requires certain of its 
 members to aid each other in any difficulty, and to extricate each 
 other from the same, whether right or wrong ; and furthermore, to 
 keep secret what is given as such, murder and treason not excepted. 
 Obedience to these oaths most palpably infringes equal rights. — 
 And it is to abolish these oaths, that Antimasonry exerts itself. 
 It is therefore not Antimasonry, but masonry, that infringes equal 
 rights. 
 
 But how does — how can a resolution not to vote for a man, in- 
 fringe equal rights ? No man has a right to an office, when the 
 people, in whose gift it iS; choose to confer it on another. We call 
 the people of this country sovereign ; and they are so. But in 
 what does this sovereignty consist? He is a sovereign, who is 
 bound by no law but his own sense of right and wrong. How then 
 are the people of this country sovereign ? It is in voting. Here, 
 in this act, lies the eminent sovereignty of the people. In their 
 speech — fti their commercial transactions — in the varied business 
 of life — they are not sovereign. They are not sovereign when 
 they enter a court of justice, in a case of litigation ; they are not 
 left to the sole direction of their own sense of right and wrong, but 
 are compelled to submit to the laws of the land, as applied to their 
 case by the judgment of their peers. But in the act of x^o^'n^, the 
 people are truly sovereign : for it they are accountable to no 
 human tribunal. No man therefore has a right to demand the vote 
 of another. To the sovereign judgment of the people, every candi- 
 date for office stands or falls. 
 
 By this it is not intended to be denied, that a vote, though a 
 sovereign act, may be an illiberal one. It is illiberal, when it is 
 withheld from a candidate for an insufficient reason. But if the 
 reason for it be sufficient, there is no illiberality. Take an exam- 
 ple. One citizen determines to vote for no one who is opposed to 
 the present administration of the general government- Another 
 
Massachusetts antimasonic convention. 31 
 
 determines with equal firmness to vote for no one who is in favor of 
 it. Now if the former in truth believes, that the administration is 
 one of unequalled wisdom, virtue, and honor — and if the latter in 
 equal truth believes that it is the most weak, selfish, and profli- 
 gate, that ever deluded a confiding people — can either be called 
 illiberal for his determination respecting his votes? 
 
 The question then reverts — are the objections to Freemasonry 
 svjfficientio authorize this mode of opposition to its extension and 
 power? We say it is. Freemasons say it is not. But they surely 
 will allow us the same right of judgment, which they exercise 
 themselves. We say it is sufficient, because freemasonry is an in- 
 stitution productive of not one valuable result, beyond what might 
 be easily obtained without its existence ; and is at the same time 
 liable to great and most pernicious political abuses, to say nothing 
 of the moral character of its oaths and injunctions. 
 
 But it is, say some, "" proscription." This is only a change of 
 the term, and scarcely needs a distinct notice. We may however 
 be permitted to remark, that the term proscription is applied to the 
 acts of a government. The case under consideration is totally dif- 
 ferent. The chief executive magistrate of a republic is not a sove- 
 reign. He is but a servant of the real sovereigns, the people. An 
 executive act is therefore distinct it its nature from the act of voting. 
 The voter, acting as a sovereign, is bound to consult only his own 
 sense of right. The chief magistrate, acting for the people, is 
 hound to consult their wishes and rights. It is no more proscrip- 
 tion, to oppose political masonry at the polls, than it is to oppose 
 any political party, whose course and principles we think injurious 
 to the public good. 
 
 But the censure thrown on "political Antimasonry," is susceptible 
 of a more complete and triumphant reply. Antimasonry was not 
 " political,'"' till after Masonry had become itself political ; till it bad 
 entered " the holiest of holies" of our political ark, and profaned 
 it by its own political abominations. Political Antimasonry was 
 not known till after the abduction of Morgan. Soon after this ab- 
 duction, prosecutions were commenced against the supposed culprits. 
 And how were these prosecutions met ? Masonic influence baffled 
 every step. Witnesses were secreted ; others were mute ; and 
 others again took on themselves the fearful weight of perjury. — 
 Sheriffs and jurors were faithless to their civil oath, that they 
 might keep faith with their lawless masonic oaths. Such proceed- 
 ings have, up to this day, veiled in legal darkness the last scene of 
 unquestionable murder. And if at times the scales of justice have 
 been freed from the profane hands that thrall their movements, and 
 sentence has been passed on some minor offence in the dark series 
 of wickedness, even here masonic countenance and sympathy and 
 funds, have come in to the relief of the offender, and the defeat of 
 justice. 
 
 Thus was Masonry itself '' political," before Antimasonry was 
 such. But will it be said that these were judicial proceedings, and 
 therefore not political:^ Is then our judiciary no part of our politi- 
 cal system ? Is it not rather the most dear, the most important, the 
 
32 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC COIfVENTlOri. 
 
 most sacred part of Ihe system ? It unquestionably is. Political 
 Masonry then was prior to political Antimasonry. It was from this 
 exhibition of Masonry, that many of the enlightened citizens of 
 New York, seeing a canker at the very heart of their political sys- 
 tem, determined to apply the only remedy that promised the least 
 success. Other remedies had failed. This alone remained. As 
 Masonry had thus become manifestly political, they resolved to op- 
 pose it politically — to verify the words, that " they that take the 
 sword, shall perish with the sword.'* 
 
 If further proof were needed, that Masonry was political before 
 Antimasonry was so, we find it in the published confession of De 
 Witt Clinton, the Fligh Priest of Masonry; who, before the out- 
 rage on Morgan, declared " that Freemasonry is sometimes perverted 
 and applied to (he acquisition of political power.'''' This is confirm- 
 ed, if confirmation were needed^ by the testimony of Hiram B. 
 Hopkins, that in 1825, before the abduction of Morgan, Sheriff 
 Bruce avowed to him that he (Bruce) was bound as a mason to sup- 
 port a mason in preference to him, (Hopkins) who was, then, not 
 a mason. 
 
 On this one confession of Mr. Clinton, political Antimasonry may 
 rest its entire justification. The acknowledged use of masonry as 
 a political engine, fully justified opposition to it at the polls. 
 
 To these considerations might be added some recent facts, prov- 
 ing the strong political character of the order. 
 
 At the election in New York in November last, we have the 
 testimony of a mason, that masons devoted themselves '' to the dark 
 work of political management and intrigue" — " Masons, adjusting 
 their plans in lodges, and pledging themselves secretly through the 
 country, by written instruments." 
 
 In the recent elections in our own State, we have abundant proof 
 that Freemasonry is political. The " National Republican" nom- 
 ination (so called) of Representatives in this city, is a striking in- 
 stance of its influence. The term " National Republican," we 
 understand, is used to designate the friends of the late National Ad- 
 ministration, and the opponents of the present. In all party nom- 
 inations, it is a well known object to embrace as many subordinate 
 interests as practicable, in order to concentrate the greatest possible 
 strength. The Antimasonic party in Boston numbers about 800 
 votes. Was the slightest movement made to unite these votes 
 with the so called National Republican votes? Not the slightest. 
 On the contrary, there was a most pointed mark of reprobation set 
 on them. In the late representation there was one individual, who 
 stands prominent among the opposers of Freemasonry, and who is 
 at the same time one of the most respectable and public-spirited 
 citizens of the community. This gentleman's name was dropt ; and 
 in such a way as to leave not a doubt, that it was done through 
 the influence of Masonry. A principal citizen, it is said, seeing 
 the strong impropriety of the omission of such a name, enquired 
 the cause ; and was told it was done by " an oxersight^ But this 
 plea is not true. If it had been true, there was an occasion presented 
 for correcting the oversight. After the first trial, seven vacancies 
 
MASSACHU»KTTS ANTIMASONIC CONT£NTI01f. 83 
 
 remained; and seven candidates were nominated for them. Was 
 this citizen then taken up? No.- Though three new candidates, 
 out of the seven, were required, this " oversight" was too precious 
 to be disturbed. By the same " oversight" as at first — that is, by 
 fixed and inveterate purpose to put down the opposers of Masonry — 
 this most respectable citizen was again put by ; showing most 
 clearly, that the falsely called National Republican nomination, 
 was in truth controlled throughout by the influence of Masonry. 
 
 These facts are stated, as mere illustrations of the political char- 
 acter of Masonry. The proceedings in other portions of the State, 
 in the late election^ speak the same language most unequivocally ; 
 but further facts are superfluous. Who then can doubt the propri- 
 ety, when Masonry is thus proved to be political, of meeting it en 
 its own political ground, and breasting it— calmly, judiciously— yet 
 firmly, and unconquerably ? 
 
 Having dwelt at length on this point, your Committee would 
 very briefly suggest some other measures to be recommended to 
 the consideration of the people of this Commonwealth. 
 
 2. That membership of the masonic fraternity, should be made, 
 by statute, a sufiicient ground for challenging a juror, when on* 
 party is a mason, and the other is not. 
 
 Our Fathers, both in this country, and in that from which we 
 have mainly descended, took earnest and continued care to preserve 
 the inestimable privilege of trial by jury pure, and free from the 
 contaminating influence of passion and interest. It has been re- 
 cently established, by the legal testimony of masons themselves, 
 that Royal Arch Masons take an oath to aid a brother when in any 
 difficulty, and extricate him from it if within their power. This 
 oath is plainly inconsistent with that of the juror, to do impartial 
 justice between man and man. In other degrees of Masonry, oaths 
 are administered, which may often, if not necessarily, sway the 
 judgment of the person taking them from that equity of purpose, 
 which marks a pure and impartial jury. The taking of such oaths, 
 then, is a fit ground of challenge, and should be so declared by law. 
 
 3. That extra-judicial oaths be made by statute penal. 
 
 The preceding measure might be adequate to the protection of 
 juries from sinister bias. But by the same testimony as has been 
 just cited, it has been legally established, that in one degree of 
 Masonry, at least, an oath is taken to keep a brother's secret, given 
 as such, inviolable, murder and treason not excepted. This oath 
 destroys the purity of the very fountain of justice, by its vitiation 
 of evidence. A witness who has taken this oath, and obeys it, is 
 induced, under certain circumstances, to violate his civil oath, and 
 abet the acquittal and escape of the most blood-stained crimioal. 
 Such vicious oaths should never be taken ; and the taking or ad- 
 ministering of them should be made penal by law. 
 5 
 
34 MASSACHUSETTS AKTIMASOMC CONVENTION. 
 
 4. That the patronage of the people be extended to such 
 presses, as give to the public the facts connected with the princi- 
 ples, operations, and tendencies of Freemasonry. 
 
 It is a remarkable — it is even an alarming fact, that a large por- 
 tion of the newspapers of our country preserve a death-like silence 
 on this certainly important subject. Why is this done ? These 
 papers are political, and this subject is, now at least, confessedly 
 political. Do they pursue this course on other political questions? 
 No. If ^' nullification" be threateued in the distant State of South 
 Carolina — if the Cherokees be treat(3d unjustly by Georgia — if a veto 
 be put on a road in Kentucky — if a notorious alien swindler be 
 irregularly arrested in any portion of the Union — we hear of these 
 things from day to day^ from month to month, and through length- 
 ening years. But the lawless abduction of a free citizen of an ad- 
 joining State — his cruel incarceration, and his atrocious murder — 
 the efforts of justice to punish the outrage, and the endless and 
 successful labors of the fraternity to baffle these efforts — till at 
 length, despairing of preserving to the country the sanctity of the 
 laws by any other resort, two hundred thousand citizens of various 
 States have resolved to accomplish the overthrow of a society, 
 whose oaths consecrate and whose shield protects such daring 
 wickedness — all this has been proceeding in its course, year after 
 year, and yet the readers of many of our newspapers, if their know- 
 ledge of the events of the day is limited to the facts furnished by 
 these columns, are almoj^i as ignorant of the question which thus 
 agitates a large portion of our wide republic, as they are of the 
 persons, habits, and contests of the beings inhabiting another planet. 
 
 And why is this ? It is because JV/o^onry wills it. Its devotees 
 well know that this ignorance is their power. Were all the facts 
 of the case spread before the public, can we believe that the apa- 
 thy which now prevails to a great extent, would still prevail ? No. 
 Many an honest man, who is kept in ignorance of these facts, won- 
 ders why any one should trouble himself about Masonry. He 
 knows that a neighbor of his is a Mason, and that that neighbor is 
 an excellent citizen and an honorable man. But he does not know, 
 or does not recollect, that this excellent citizen and honorable man 
 entered the pale of the institution betore he knew its character and 
 tendencies, and that a host of obstacles prevent his retreat. He 
 may dislike its forms, despise its frivolities,, mock in his heart at 
 its pretentions, and sicken at its nothingness; — he may even abhor 
 its impieties and shudder at its wickedness ; and yet the fearful 
 oaths he has taken— the possible infliction on himself of the bloody 
 penalties attached to their violation— the apprehension, notwith- 
 standing the extraordinary charity and brotherly kindness of the 
 institution, of having his business deranged, on which perhaps a 
 family depends for sustenance— and even the shame that would at- 
 tend an acknowledgement before the world, that he had been the 
 dupe of a worthless and unholy institution — all combine to deter 
 him from quitting a position where, one would think, an intelligent 
 mind and a good heart can never lind satisfaction. To stand still, 
 or even to advance, he finds easier than to retreat. 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. S5 
 
 Now, is the good character of some of the members—and many 
 of good character we admit with pleasure are found — any proof 
 that the institution itself is good ? And yet such is the easy infer- 
 ence of many an honest man, from whom a knowledge of the char- 
 acter of freemasonry is withheld. He sees not, he knows not, any 
 thing wrong in Masonry, save its foolish titles and parades. When 
 therefore he hears of an Antimason^ he is at a loss to comprehend 
 his motive for opposing so frivolous an association. But when a 
 Mason whispers in his ear, that the Antimason has no other object 
 than an o-ffice^ our honest citizen swallows at once the falsehood, 
 and inveighs against Antimasonry as a selfish and hypocritical spirit, 
 a persecutor of good men, and a disturber of the peace of society. 
 
 It is for the purpose of practising such deceptions, on the public, 
 that Masonry seeks to hush to silence the press; directly, where 
 it is in its own hands, and by threats where it is not. And its suc- 
 cess has been great. It is then for the people to speak. It is for 
 them to say, whether they will patronize a press, which withholds 
 from the public important political facts. Their language, when 
 uttered, will be heard; and it will be obeyed- 
 
 Mr. Bigelow, from the Committee on the Trials of the Morgan 
 Conspirators, &c., made a report, and was reading it, when a mo- 
 tion was made to adjourn. 
 
 Adjourned to 3, p. m. 
 
 Friday Afternoon, 3 o'clock. 
 
 The Convention reassembled according to adjournment. 
 
 Mr. Bigelow resumed and concluded his report, which was laid 
 on the table. 
 
 Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to report to this Con- 
 vention what facts have been disclosed, in the recent trials of the 
 Morgan Conspirators, in the State of New York ; and what evi- 
 dence has been elicited in relation to the oaths, obligations, and 
 ceremonies of Freemasonry. 
 
 The committee appointed under the foregoing Resolve, have 
 attended to the subject matter therein contained, and ask leave to 
 submit the following 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 In the investigation of this subject,, your committee are strongly 
 impressed with the conviction, that the masonic Fraternity embrac- 
 es two classes, which arc, and ought to be, distinctly designated. 
 The one consists of the virtuous, high minded, and patriotic mem- 
 bers, whose declarations and general conduct assure us that they 
 
36 MABSACHU8ETTS ANllMAgONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 do not entertain the most profound respect for the obligations and 
 ceremonies of the order, and who believe they have other and 
 higher duties to perform than those resulting from masonic oaths 
 and obligations. 
 
 The other class embraces those who adhere with great zeal, 
 pertinacity, and exactness to the oaths, obligations, rules and bye- 
 laws of the Institution; believe them paramount to all otherS;, and 
 "govern themselves accordingly." 
 
 Your committee, in order to show the binding effect of masonic 
 oaths, on a part of the Fraternity, and their contempt for the au- 
 Ihority of our Judicial Courts, ask the attention of the Convention 
 to a number of trials held in New York in the year 1830. The 
 first to be noticed is the case of Calvin Cook, a seceding Mason^ 
 vs. Harvey Cook, a Mason. 
 
 In this case, Erastus Day being called as a v/itness, and asked if 
 he was a Mason, peremptorily told the Court that " they would not 
 be able to get any thing out of him about Masonry." The court 
 decided that the question was proper, and the witness must answer 
 it. He then testified that he had taken 17 degrees in Masonry. 
 He was asked if he had taken the usual oaths or obligations, from 
 the Entered Apprentice's up to the Royal Arch. He refused to 
 answer, though told by the court he must. Said " he considered 
 his masonic obligations binding, and would not violate them for 
 any courtP As to obeying signs, summonses, and tokens ; flying to 
 the relief of one giving the grand hailing sign of distress ; also as 
 to aiding, assisting, and extricating a companion from difficulty, 
 right or wrong, he wholly refused to answer, and said he could not 
 without criminating himself He would not answer as to keeping 
 the secrets of a brother, murder and treason not excepted ; and told 
 the court, he considered his masonic oaths superior to the oath he 
 had just taken before the court ! 
 
 Sylvanus Cone was next called, to whom the same questions were 
 put, as to Day, also some others, and he wholly refused to answer, 
 although told by the court that they were proper, and he must an- 
 swer them ; and said, " You an't a going to get me into the trap 
 Mr. Day was in," (that is, swear to tell the truth, and then can't do 
 it without revealing the secrets of Masonry,) you can't catch me so." 
 
 Elisha M. Forbes was sworn. He then said, " I'll tell anything 
 that is'nt Masonry, but anything that is, i won't." He was asked 
 as to keeping all secrets, helping out of difficulty, promoting polit- 
 ical preferment, obeying signs, summonses, &c., and peremptorily 
 refused to answer any of them. 
 
 '"''JohnT. Carr^ Samuel T. Bush^ Samuel Cook^ and Luther Bavin 
 stubbornly refused to be sworn." 
 
 Nathaniel Glover testified, that he "did take an oath, which, 
 upon reflection, he was satisfied, was designed, and directly calcu- 
 lated to set the laws of God and man at defiance. 
 
 In the trial of Ezekiel Jewett, in 1830, one of the Morgan con- 
 spirators, Orsamus Turner^ refused to answer questions, for which 
 the court imposed. a fine of ^?£)0, and ordered him to be imprisoned 
 30 days for such contempt. 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 37 
 
 *' John Jackson^ who went to the magazine with Giddins, while 
 
 Morgan was in it, had a nonmi recorJo for almost every question." 
 
 " Eli Bruce^ Sheriffs and John Whitney^ both refused to be 
 
 sworn, and Whitney was fined ^250, and each were imprisoned 
 
 30 days. 
 
 We next notice the case of vs. . 
 
 The case was this. The plaintiff sold defendant Bernard's Light 
 on Masonry for ^1 50, warranting that the book contained the se- 
 crets of Masonry. A Mason told defendant it did not contain Ma- 
 sonry, and when plaintiff called for the purchase nnoney, defendant, 
 on account of the deception, refused payment ; whereupon plain- 
 tiff brought this action. — Among other witnesses summoned was 
 Benjamin Enos^ Grand King of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of 
 the State of New York, who being sworn refused to answer the 
 questions put to him. The court told the witness he must answer. 
 The witness then said, '*' No court can impose upon me an oath to 
 make me violate any previous promise or obligation ; therefore, I 
 will answer no more questions." 
 
 The committee cannot help remarking, that the Grand King, &c. 
 is a high officer in the masonic ranks, and likely to understand and 
 give the true construction to the obligations he had both taken and 
 administered. This construction upon a most important point he 
 has furnished ; and an intelligent community will, it is believed, 
 make the appropriate comments. 
 
 Were not all these witnesses sworn to tell the truth, the whoh 
 truth, and nothing but the truth ? And did they not refuse to tell 
 the truth when thus sworn ? And have they not been guilty of 
 perjury in so refusing ? And what but their masonic obligations led 
 to the commission of this offence? 
 
 Yet Masons still deny that the obligations and principles of their 
 Institution interfere with the administration of justice. To your 
 committee, this denial of a fact thus fully proved, appears to be 
 required by the following part of the oath of an Entered Appren- 
 tice Mason, viz. : " I, &c. do hereby solemnly swear, that I will 
 always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal, any part, or parts, art, or 
 arts, point or points, of the secrets," &.C. 
 
 Since the commencement of the year 1831, several persons, 
 having been previously indicted for participating in the conspiracy 
 for the forcible abduction of William Morgan, have received their 
 trials before a Special Circuit Court, in the State of New York. 
 The facts elicited on these trials cannot fail deeply to interest 
 every patriot and friend to the good order, peace, and well being 
 of society. They exhibit Freemasonry in a garb, if possible, more 
 appalling and odious than heretofore. The great difficulty of pro- 
 curing the attendance of witnesses in these, as well as in the for- 
 mer trials, of those implicated in the unlawful abduction, confine- 
 ment and murder of a fellow citizen, owing to the secret interfer- 
 ence of those who have sworn to protect a companion in difficulty, 
 " and extricate him from the same, if in their power, whether he 
 be right or wrong," is just cause of alarm to a free people, and is 
 sufficient to fix a stain upon the principles of any institution, that 
 
38 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 ages cannot remove. The dangerous influence of the masonic ob- 
 ligations, has been so fully verified in these trials, that longer to 
 doubt this fact must be considered unreasonable scepticism. The 
 palpable perjury of witnesses, to protect and shield their unworthy 
 associates in the conspiracy, furnishes incontestible proof of the 
 horrible influence and tendency of the oaths administered in the 
 Lodge and Chapter upon the minds of a portion of the Fraternity. 
 And what renders this circut^stance the more appalling is, that 
 their influence extends not merely to the ignorant and unlettered, 
 but to men of education, of high standing and respectability; men, 
 who but for these unfortunate associations, might have occupied 
 and adorned the highest stations in society. 
 
 In the trial of Elisha Adams at Lockport in the State of New 
 York, in the month of February last, indicted for an assault and 
 battery, and false imprisonment of William Morgan, the following 
 among many other important facts were disclosed : That a free 
 fellow citizen of Batavia, in the State of New York, was seized by 
 a band of Freemasons, in the day time, and transported in a close 
 carriage more than one hundred and fifty miles; his arms bound, 
 a handkerchief over his eyes, and confined in the United States 
 magazine at Fort Niagara. The first night after his seizure, he 
 was lodged in the gaol at Canandaigua, thence taken and by force 
 transported to and confined in the magazine. Here he remained 
 from the 13th of September, 1826, till the night between the 18th 
 and 19th, when he was removed privately and sunk in the river 
 Niagara. Most of the fiicts proved in this are substantially the 
 same as developed in the former trials of the Morgan conspirators. 
 An extensive concert was proved to have existed previous to this 
 outrage among the Lodges, Chapters and Encampments in New 
 York and Canada ; a variety of plans were proposed and discussed 
 for the fulfilment of their unlawful purposes, in which Masons of 
 the highest standing took an active part. Among these were Judges 
 of the Courts, Lawyers, Clergymen, Physicians, Generals and Sher- 
 iffs. The testimony of Edward Giddins, John Jackson, Eli Bruce, 
 and James A. Shed, (all implicated in the conspiracy and abduction 
 of Morgan, by their own testimony,) if entitled to credit, proves the 
 facts of the conspiracy, the abduction, the confinement in the mag- 
 azine, and subsequent murder, beyond a doubt. 
 
 The judge, in charging the jury, said, " The defendant, if guilty 
 at all, was guilty of an assault and battery, and false imprisonment 
 of William Morgan, and of a conspiracy actually carried into effect. 
 And the guilt or innocence of defendant depended on the testimony 
 of Edward Giddins, John Jackson, Eli Bruce, and James A. Shed. 
 That if Giddins and Shed are to be believed, no doubt remained of 
 the guilt of the defendant. That Shed's testimony corroborated 
 Giddins' on material points. If Giddins was not to be believed, 
 Shed's testimony, if entitled to credit, was ample evidence to make 
 out the conspiracy. And although great efforts were made to im- 
 peach Giddins, his moral character seemed to be beyond reproach. 
 It was indeed conceded that his character for truth and veracity 
 was unimpeachable." The court also stated that the testimony 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANT1MA60NIC CONVESTIOW. 38 
 
 of Bruce and Jackson in part corroborated that of Giddins and 
 Shed. Of Shed, Judge Nelson said, " He was free to admit that 
 the frank manner in which he confessed Iiis own participation in 
 the affiiir, inspired the court with confidence in his testimony." 
 Eleven of the jury, on retiring, immediately agreed that the defend- 
 ant was guilty ; but William Wilson^ of Lewiston, a Master Mason, 
 would not agree to convict him, and the jury were dismissed. 
 
 In the trial of Parkhurst Whitney, Noah Beach, S. M. Chub- 
 buck, Timothy Shaw, and William Miller, before the same court, 
 for a like offence, the facts proved were substantially the same as 
 in the case of Adams, with some additions. It was proved that 
 George Garside^ a butcher, from Canada, and a Mason, requested 
 an introduction to a Mason of high standing, that he might obtain 
 permission to put Morgan to death. Also, that when Morgan ar- 
 rived at Niagara, a person, one of his keepers, called up the ferry- 
 man, to whom he said, ^^ We have got the damned perjured rascal, 
 bound, hoodwinked, and under guard." That water was asked for, 
 as the poor wretch was almost tarnished, and complained that the 
 handkerchief (over his eyes) hurt him intolerably. Morgan was 
 asked if he did not know that he deserved death, and that it was 
 their duty^ as Masons^ to take his life. Several modes of destruc- 
 tion were proposed during his confinement, and he was informed, 
 that " they would send to the Grand Lodge then sitting at Jerusa- 
 lem, to know what to do with him. That William Miller said he 
 could prove from Scripture that it was right to put Morgan to 
 death, and quoted a passage for that purpose subsequently : and 
 after the 19tJi, Jewett said they had murdered that man. Garside had 
 requested that Morgan might be brought to the Canada side and 
 tied to a tree, and said, '*■ / will find a man who will put a ball 
 through him ; or take him cut in a boat and make him walk a plank ; 
 or take him down to low water mark and inflict upon him the penult}/ 
 ofhisjirst obligation.'''' After Morgan was dead, Garside said to one 
 of the witnesses, "We caught a bass t'other night, by which he 
 was understood, destroyed him. King and Jewett requested Giddins 
 to walk the bank oj" the river, and if he found the body he would know 
 as a Mason what to do with it. Kihg said a Knight Templar came 
 from the East, who declared he "came to put the quietus upon Mor- 
 gan ; and 'shew his authority. King informed him he was too late ; 
 it was all over, and he might return. It was testified, also, that 
 Morgan was, by agreement, to be sunk with a stone or weight. 
 That there were stone weights with rings at the fort; one of these 
 was fished out of the river next season. The Masons offered Giddins 
 any sum of money to quit the country and not disclose; that he 
 proposed to receive ^2000, the expense of removing his family and 
 have his debts of about ^800 paid. Masons said the lodge funds 
 had been much exhausted, and they could raise only ^250, which 
 was enough. Giddins told them they were a band of cutthroats 
 and midnight assassins, with whom he would have nothing more 
 to do. Adams told Giddins that the money was or would be raised 
 by the Grand Lodge. There was testimony in the case that Elisha 
 Adams^ the defendant, said, he concealed himself under a lime 
 house near the eddy ; that he discovered a boat there from Can- 
 
40 MASSACHUSKTTS AICTlMASONIC CONVKMlOW. 
 
 ada. He saw three men come down the hill with Morgan ; all 
 went into the boat and he saw no more of them. The next season 
 when they were dragging the river for the body, Garside said, 
 " They will get him, for they are dragging in the very spot; there 
 is the place we put him. 'Of tlie defendants, two, Shaw and Mil- 
 ler, were acquitted, as to the others the jury did not agree. 
 
 In the case of the People vs. Shepherd and Maxwell, tried at 
 the same court, Jona. K. Barlow testified that he attended a meet- 
 ing of the Chapter at Batavia, in August, 1826, when the book that 
 Morgan was expected to publish was mentioned. He stated that he 
 had attended two or three previous meetings upon the same sub- 
 ject. A committee of the Chapter, who said they had been to 
 Rochester, Buffalo, and Canandaigua, presented their report, and 
 asked to whom they should present their bill to be audited. They 
 were told by the High Priest to present it to the auditing com- 
 mittee. The reporter, while reading, was stopped by the Rev. 
 Lucius Smith, the High Priest, and ordered not to proceed as there 
 might be traitors present. No other name was mentioned in the 
 report but Morgan's. The committee stated that they assembled 
 the companions at Rochester, and informed them what Morgan was 
 about to publish. On hearing this the High Priest pulled off his 
 coat, stripped up his sleeves, and said, " Bring me the man who 
 dares to do that thing, and I will show you what to do with him." 
 At the time the report was presented, all were cautioned to be dis- 
 creet, careful, and to keep what was said. At this meeting, Judge 
 William Mitchell was exalted to the Royal Arch degree. 
 
 William Mitchell was next called as a witness, and confirmed the 
 testimony of Barlow. 
 
 After the trials had closed, the Special Counsel for the people 
 made a report to his Excellency the Governor of New York, in 
 which he says, " The information thus elicited is sufficient, I trust, 
 to satisfy the public mind as to the ultimate fate of Morgan ; that 
 he was taken to the Niagara river in the night, about the 19th of 
 September, (1826,) and there sunk. There is no ground to believe 
 from information which has come to my knowledge, that there is 
 now alive, and within the jurisdiction of any of the United Slates, 
 any one except Elisha Adams, who was present at the death of 
 Morgan. The testimony of Loton Lawson, John Whitney, Ell 
 Bruce, and Isaac Farwell, on these trials, have established beyond 
 the possibility of doubt or contradiction, the forcible abduction of 
 Morgan, and the continuity of such force from the goal at Canan- 
 <laigua to the magazine at Fort Niagara ; and also repelled the pre- 
 tence heretofore set up by the conspirators, that Morgan went 
 voluntarily. The witness, Lawson, who first seized Morgan^ and 
 who claimed to have obtained such consent, was constrained to ad- 
 mit, upon the stand;, that there was no ground for such a pretence." 
 
 Thus we perceive that the laws are set at defiance by the authors 
 of an audacious and bloody conspiracy. Where masonic efforts are 
 concentrated, our Judiciary, the pride and boast of the country, is 
 inefiicient and wholly unequal to the exigency. In these transac- 
 tions have been displayed some of the true principles and power. of 
 Masonry. The agents, embracing men of education in all the 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASOXIC CONTENTIOW. 41 
 
 learned professions, acted in strict accordance with the literal and 
 reasonable construction of the masonic oaths and obligations. 
 
 The attention of the Convention is solicited to one more trial, 
 held in New York in April Inst. 
 
 This was an action brought by the plaintifls, Overseers of the 
 Toor of New Berlin, in the County of Chenango r*. Harlow C. 
 A^iiherell for rxhihiting the first seven degrees of Masonry, at the 
 house of Lodowicli Crandall. The trial was before a JVIjigistrate. 
 The dcfendani's counsel called for a jury, which being summoned 
 and returned, wr.3 challenged by defendant's counsel on the ground 
 that the Constable was a Mason^ some of the juror* were Masons, and 
 one of the plaintiffs. 
 
 They offered to prove that the masonic t)bligations are of 
 such a nature as to disqualify its members from acting impartially 
 in a case of this kind. The Court decided that witnesses might be 
 called to show the interest existing between tbe constable and 
 the masonic plaintiff, and the nature of the masonic obligations. 
 
 Eihaard C. Willinns testified that he is a Free-mason of three 
 degrees, knows Downing and Simonds to be Masons from report. 
 
 John Pike testiiied that he is a Mason, and knows Simonds is a 
 Mason of three degrees, and Dozining a Royal Arch Mason. 
 
 William C. Gree«/cf'/ testified thai he is a Mason of three degrees, 
 has taken the oath of a Master Mason substantially as it is in Ber- 
 nard's Light on Masonry, and has heard the same obligation, in 
 substance, found in that book, administered a number of times in 
 lodges; was agitated when he was initiated; has reflected deeply 
 on the nature of the oath; it was the nature and tendency of the 
 oath of a Master Mason that led him to that reflection; that the 
 oath was improper; and could go no farther. First and second 
 cle_^rees were sui>stantially as in Bernard's book. 
 
 Cross-examined. Witness says, he is opposed to mnsonry, i*? an 
 Anti-mason in principle, and was so before tbe abduction of Mor- 
 gan. '\h<?. oath liinds a Mason to keep certain secrets; believed 
 the mas(»nic obligations would conflict with the laws of tbe country 
 an I tbe duty he owed to tbose laws; tbe penalty of the Master 
 Aa-on's degree is "to have bis body severed in two" &.c. and his 
 lile taken, A\ ;ul(l be reveal tbe secrjtsi f maso iry ; was told before 
 his initiation, that there wtre ^'reaf /?rn!i e,^e5 in m.isonry; led on 
 step by step, knew not the penalty until the last; was blindfolded, 
 &c. when he was initiated. A Master Mason swears not to violate 
 the chastity of a Master Mason's wife, mother, sister or daughter, 
 knowing tliem to be such ; and thinks this obligation a privilege 
 elsewhere; joined tbe lodge he thinks in 1815 or 1816; the lec- 
 tures inculcate morality ; separate fron) the oaths, they are good. 
 'J'he oaths and penalties were not explained away to him in the 
 lectures or in the locige. To the question by the plaintiffs counsel, 
 where did you get your masonry ? in the Anti-masonic Almanac, 
 in the Papers, or in Bernard's iiook ? Witness answered, ''in a just 
 and lawfully constituted lodge." 
 
 The plaintiffs counsel not wishing to go further into the question 
 the array was quashed by the Court, and a new venire issued to 
 6 
 
«i iiASSACHUSETTS AN! IMASOISIt CON VICNTIOrf. 
 
 another Cons<table who returned a jury less objectionable. The 
 jury being empannelled, plaintiffs counsel stated the nature of the 
 prosecution and the grounds on which they claimed a verdict; that 
 Witherell's exhibition was an idle show and came under that pro- 
 Tiision of the statute which prohibits idle shows, such as common 
 showmen, mountebanks or jugglers, usually exhibit; that masonry 
 was a distinct society, unlike other societies. They first called 
 .^sa M. Calkins who testified that he was at Crandall's on the 7th. 
 and saw the exhibition of Wltherell as advertised in the handbill. 
 Witness said he had seen several performances; but never saw 
 common showmen, mountebanks or jugglers give such an exhibition. 
 Plaintiffs counsel then called Jeremiah Phillips who testified that he 
 saw Witherell's exhibition ; a man was blindfolded, brought into the 
 room, with drawers and slip on, shirt partly on, rope round his 
 neck, led round the room a number of times, and knelt down. 
 ■ Cross-examined. He said that point of the compass was pressed 
 to his naked breast; man had an apron on; oath administered; 
 prayers were repeated ; when candidate was brought to light, mas- 
 ter of lodge exclaimed, '"and God said let there be light and there 
 was light ;" and at the same time the bandage was jerked off the 
 eyes of the candidate; and men clapped hands and stamped togeth- 
 er on the floor, &c. he also gave the leading points on the ceremo- 
 nies of the Royal Arch degree. Here the counsel for plaintiffs 
 rested their cause. 
 
 In opening the defence the counsel denied that Witherell's exhi- 
 bition came under the clause in the statute which prohibits the 
 exhibitions of common showmen, mountebanks or jugglers, and 
 stated that it was a true and genuine exhibition of Free-masonry 
 and relied upon the proof of this fact for the acquittal of the de- 
 fendant. 
 
 Asa M. Calkins^ testified particularly and minutely to the exhrbi- 
 tjon and confirmed what Mi\ Phillips had said. 
 
 Williom C. Greenleaf was called, and plaintiffs counsel objected 
 to having masons called to prove their secrets and ceremonies^ 
 which was argued by both sides, and overruled by the Court. The 
 witness then stated that the three first degrees were exhibited 
 as described by Phillips and Calkins ; were generally ciorrect, and 
 the same as he had seen in lodges at different times. He has been 
 told by miisons th^t Jachin and Boaz was masonry ; knows that 
 alterations have been made in that work ; thinks masonic ceremo- 
 nies "solemn mockery,^' as the bible was used in the lodge. 
 
 Gen. Augustus ^e/c.^, (Sheriff of the county) testified that he is 
 ft Royal Arch Mason, that the door is tyled by a man with a drawn 
 sword, to keep off cowans and eavesdroppers; candidate is nearly 
 divested of his clothing ; has drawers on, neck naked, cable-tow 
 round it, bandage over his eyes, is led around the room, kneels at 
 the altar and takes the oath ; thinks it is in the obligation not to 
 speak evil of a brother master mason, but to apprise him of all ap- 
 proaching danger, if in his poAver ; to obey signs, summonses, &,c. 
 to keep a worthy master mason's secrets, murder and treason ex- 
 cepted and they left at my own election ; to aid and assist all poor, 
 indigent master masons^ their wives and orphans ; if any part of this 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTIOK. H 
 
 obligation is omitted the candidate swears that he noill hold himself 
 amenable thereto rschen informed ; Hiram Abiff is represented as 
 killed and buried ; search is made and he is found, a sprig of cassia 
 by his head; brethren attempt to raise him; first and second grip 
 fail; the third ( lions grip ) raises him. In the Mark Master's 
 degree, a mark is pretended to be put on the candidate; mallet, 
 chissel, and a bowl slajned in imitation of blood is produced ; chissel 
 is applied near the breast and a blow given with the mallet. 
 In one degree the master resigns his place to the candidate, and 
 other offices become vacant; the lodge is thrown into great confu- 
 sion and noise ; candidate is ridiculed for assuming a station for 
 which he is not qualified. Penalty in the master mason's degree is 
 "to have the body severed in two in the midst and divided to the 
 north and south, the bowels burnt to ashes, and tlie ashes scattered 
 to the four winds of heaven," &c. In the Royal Arch degree the 
 witness testified that he took the following oaths, viz. '^I will not 
 give the grand omnific Royal Arch word which I shall hereafter 
 receive, in the chapter or out, except in the presence of two com- 
 panion Royal Arch masons, myself making three, and then by three 
 times three under a living arch not above my breath ;" — '*' I will 
 not reveal the inefiable characters belonging to this degree, or 
 retain the key to them in my possession, but destroy it whenever 
 it comes to my sight." Witness thinks he swore the following, "1 
 will not wrong this chapter nor a companion of this degree to the 
 value of anything, knowingly myself, or sufier it to be done by .oth- 
 ers if in my power to prevent." "I will not be at the exaltation 
 of a candidate to this degree, at a clandestine chapter, I knowing it 
 to be such ; I will not assist or be present at the exaltation of a 
 candidate to this degree, who has not regularly received the degree 
 of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, 
 Pasi Master and Most Excellent Master, to the best of my knowlr 
 edgc and belief; I will not assist or see mere or less than three 
 candidates exalted at one and the same time ; I will not be present 
 at the forming or opening of a Royal Arch chapter, unless there 
 be present nine regular Royal Arch Masons; That / will not speak 
 evil of a companion Royal Jirch Mason, neither behind his back nor 
 before his face^ but will apprize him of all approaching danger if in 
 my power ; I will not strike a companion Royal Arch Mason ip 
 anger so as to draw blood ; I will support the Constitution of the 
 General Grand Royal Arcli Chapter of the Stale under which this 
 Chapter is held, and conform to all the bye-laws, rules and regula- 
 tions x)f this or any other Chapter of which I may become a mem- 
 ber ; I will obey all regular signs, summonses, or tokens given, 
 handed, sent or thrown to me, iVom the hand of a companion Royal 
 Arch Mason, or from the body of a lawfully constituted chapter of 
 such, provided it be within the length of my cable tow ; '' 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," which was 
 explained by being told his duty w\as, to get him away out of the 
 difficulty or quarrel if he could ; — that a companion Royal Arch 
 Mason's secrets, given me in charge ?i? such, and I Ii;nowing thetp 
 
44 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVEKTTOX. 
 
 to be such, shall remain as secure and inviolate in my breast as in 
 his own, ^Vf//rc^er and Treason not excepted; witness believes he 
 took the following: '' I will aid and assist all poor, indigent Koyal 
 Arch Masons, their widows and orphans," and believes the penalty 
 was as follows: "All which I most solemnly promise and swear 
 with a firm and steady resolution to perform the same, without any 
 eqnivocjition, mental reservation, or self evasion of mind whatever, 
 binding myself under no less penalty, than that of having my skull 
 smote off, and my brains exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, 
 should I ever knowingly or willfully, violate or transgress, any jjarl 
 of this my solemn oath or obligation, of a Koyal Arch Mason. So 
 help me God and keep me steadfast in the performance of the 
 same." In the Royal Arch ceremonies, the candidates have to go 
 under the '*' living arch," formed by two rows of Masons joining 
 hands; some one says in a low tone, ''stoop low brother, stoop 
 low ;" Ihoy then lower their hands, and the candidates are brought 
 down on their bands and knees; as they crawl through, ihey are 
 told they must pass through rugged ways; and chairs and other 
 obstacles are put before them to climb over. There is a repre- 
 sentation of the destruction of Jerusalem, at which a great noise is 
 m^de ; also a representation of the 6i/rn/'»g 6J/5/1; and inonepirt 
 of the ceremony this question is put : ^' Are you a Koyal Arch Ma- 
 son ?" Which answer is, " I am that 1 am " 
 
 JoAn Pifee, (a justice of the peace) testified that he became a 
 Mason about 14 years ago; is a Royal Arch and has taken 15 de- 
 grees, in masonry. Fart of the Master Mason's oath which has 
 been read is correct and a part is not. The substance is the same, 
 and knows of no idea materially different from the book. I have 
 taken the substance ofthis obligation : " Fuithermore do I 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 accom- 
 panying 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 losing my own." I 
 have sworn not to wrong the lodge or a brother of this degree 
 to the value of one cent knowingly ; nor to be at the initiating of a 
 young man in his nonage, an atheist, irreligious libertine, idiot or 
 woman ; and "to apprize a brother Master Mason of approaching 
 danger; that a Master 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, when communicated to me, 
 murder and treason excepted ; and they left to my own election ; 
 to aid and assist all poor and indigent Master Mason's, their wives 
 and daughters. The penalty is to have my body severed in two 
 in the midst, and divided to "the north and south, my bowels burnt 
 to ashes, and the ashes scattered to the four winds of Heaven." 
 In the ceremony in the lodge, the master exclaims, 'Smd God 
 said let there be light and there was light," at the same time the 
 bandage over the eyes of the candidate is quickly pulled off; there 
 is a clapping of hands and stiimping of feet on the ffoor; a small 
 cord was round my neck when 1 was initiated. In the Mark 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVEKTIOW. 45 
 
 Master's? dogrce a mallet and chisel are used to mark the candi- 
 date ; a howl is producpd as if to catch the blood, anri has some- 
 times the appearance of being stained with blood. The chisel is 
 placed near ihc breast and a blow sfiven with the mallet. In 
 an other degree there is a represenlatinn of killing Hiram Ai)iff, 
 lie is buried, and after considerable search is found with a sprig of 
 cassia by his head ; is raised from the grave, &c. The obligatioi.s 
 of the Royal Arch, as stated by General Welch^ are substantially 
 correct. 1 have taken the obligation "to aid and assist a compan- 
 ion Royal Arch mason, when engaged in any difficulty ; and es- 
 pouse his cause, so far as to extricate him from the same, if in my 
 power, whether he he right or wrong."" This was explained when 
 taken as General Welch has testitied. I took the following obliga- 
 tion : '"• 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 inviobitde in my breast as in his own. Murder and Trea- 
 son not cxce/ited.'"^ The penally is the same as was stated by Gen. 
 Welch. To the question in some part of the ceremonies, are you 
 a Royal Arch Mason? the answer is in the language of God to 
 Moses, " I am that I am." The question in the ceremonies "" who 
 comes there?" was put seven times. In the i^^yal Arch degree 
 the candidates pass under a living arch made of hands, so h)w that 
 they have to crawl. On a cross examination, witness says he 
 believes he is not compelled as a witness or juror, by his oath and 
 eh;irges together, to favor a brother mason ; charges are consider- 
 ed to explain the duties of a mason. 
 
 Bouse Clark testified that he is a free mason, but don't know 
 how many degrees "he has taken ; is a Royal Arch and higher. — 
 Here the counsel for plaintiffs admitted that Clark would swear to. 
 the same obligations as Messrs. Welch and Pike had sworn to, and 
 earnestly entreated counsel for defendant to examine no further. 
 A few questions however were put and answered. (:^uestion, have 
 you taken the following obligation in the Master's degree : "" Fur- 
 thermore do I promise and swear, that a Master Mason's secrets, 
 given me in charge as such, and 1 knowing them to be such, shall 
 renjain as secure and inviolable in my breast as in his own, when 
 communicated to me, murder and treason excepted, and they hft to 
 my election.'''' Answer, '' 1 have taken one similar to that." I 
 have taken one to assist a companion Royal Arch Mfison^whether he 
 be rioht or urnng ; it was explained as stated by Gen. Welch. 1 
 have taken the following in substance in the Royal Arch obligation, 
 '" Furthermore do 1 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. Being cross-ex- 
 amined, said '^ he thinks the chnrsrcs and lecturer are moral. An- 
 otheT witness was called but the Court said it was unnecessary to, 
 go further, as the testimony was not controverted by the plaintiffs. 
 The cause went to the Jury about 6 o'clock. A- M. on Thursday, 
 who retired, and not being able to agree were discharged about 9, 
 five being in favor of acquitting defendant, and one for convicting. 
 
46 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVKNTION. 
 
 The Committee deem the foregoing trial important, not because 
 of the disclosure of any new facts in regard to the masonic obliga- 
 tions and ceremonies, but from the circumstance that the facts were 
 proved by adhering members of the fraternity, who are friendly to 
 the institution ; and are the same as published and confirmed by 
 seceders. These Masons too, the witnesses, were of high standing 
 among the fraternity and in the community, and no attempt was 
 made to impeach their credibility. And whoever shall hereafter 
 read the disclosures of masonry and the evidence of their truth, and 
 still doubts as to their genuineness, will be entitled to the sympa- 
 thy of their more fortunate fellow citizens, who are blessed with 
 sound minds, or ranked among the apologists for outrage upon life 
 and liberty. 
 
 Mr Hallett, from the Committee on a Pamphlet in character and 
 cypher, &.c. presented a Report, which was read and laid on the 
 table. A part of the accompanying pamphlet was read, as tran- 
 scribed from the original. 
 
 The Committee to whom was referred a pamphlet published in 
 -characters and cypher, purporting to be a publication put forth by 
 adhering Masons, beg leave to 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 That the pamphlet in question, which is herewith presented as 
 A part ol this Report, is without title or date, and consists of an 
 ingeniously devised system of short hand, by omitting consonants, 
 inverting their order and the occasional use of arbitrary signs, with 
 other guards against detection, sufficient to render the decypher- 
 ing of the work hardly possible, without the aid of the disclosures 
 that have been made of the lectures and obligations of the three 
 first degrees, which are fully comprised in this publication. It 
 therefore might have been put forth, at the time it is believed to 
 have been devised, with perfect confidence that through it the 
 secrets of Masonry could not become intelligible to the world, 
 though your Committee infer from certain references to the devi- 
 sers of this and similar systems of rendering the masters of lodges 
 bright Masons, that it was not seconded with approbation by the 
 higher orders of the Fraternity. 
 
 The evidence on which the Committee found their belief that 
 this pamphlet contains original Masonry in the three first degrees, 
 as administered in the New England lodges, is circumstantial, but 
 of a nature that must convince every candid mind. Such circum- 
 stantial evidence is as conclusive as positive testimony, and on it 
 rests the proof of the origin of the most celebrated works of an- 
 tiquity, and in a great degree, the authority of the Scriptures 
 themselves. 
 
 Your Committee have the fact, that this pamphlet was the 
 property of an adhering Mason, a citizen of Providence, R. I. who 
 xlied at sea, and that it was found among his papers after his 
 decease, several years before the abduction of William Morgan, 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 41 
 
 and of course before Antimasonry had an existence. This fact 
 might be directly substantiated, but from the circumstance that H 
 requires a presentation to the public of the names of females, who 
 would naturally shrink from such an exhibition. Independent of 
 this fact, the internal evidence of age, in the appearance of the 
 type, letter, &c. a criterion by which a printer or antiquarian would 
 fix the age of a work with very tolerable accuracy, is entirely sat- 
 isfactory, that the origin of the publication must be carried back to 
 a period often, fifteen and perhaps twenty years. It could also be 
 shown that a Past Master of a lodge in Rhode Island, a warm ad- 
 hering Mason, has repeatedly admitted, on examination of the work^ 
 that he had seen it in the lodge, over which he presided, in 1820, 
 and that he believed it to be genuine Masonry, as it was adminis- 
 tered in that lodge, but that no person, not a mason, would ever 
 be the wiser for it. We have also satisfactory evidence of the 
 fact, that another copy of this work is in the possession of an ad- 
 hering Mason, of Newport, R. I. by whom it has been shown to 
 gentlemen in that town, and pronounced by him to be genuine Ma- 
 sonry, devised for the purpose of enabling Masters of lodges, to 
 whom alone the Key was entrusted, to perform the ceremonies 
 and administer the oaths with accuracy and uniformity. Your 
 Committee therefore, on every principle of evidence, are satisfied 
 of the fact that this work was published several years before anj 
 inquiry had been made in this country, affecting the character of 
 Freemasonry. 
 
 Having thus fixed the period of publication, beyond the origin of 
 the present investigations into Masonry, it is obvious that the book 
 in question must have been piiblished from one of two motives — 
 Either by adhering Masons for the purpose of affording aid in de- 
 livering the lectures and administering the oaths, and thereby pro- 
 ducing uniformity in the work of the lodge room — or, that it was 
 published by the enemies of Masonry, for the purpose of disclosing 
 the secrets of the Order. 
 
 The last of these grounds is wholly untenable from the consider- 
 ation that had the author of the work intended to disclose the real 
 or pretended secrets of the order, he never would have been at the 
 labor and expense of publishing it in a form as unintelligible to the 
 uninitiated as were the symbols and devices which had already 
 been published and approved by masonic chapters and lodges. — 
 To disclose the secrets of Masonry, out of the lodge room, could 
 not therefore, by any plausible construction, have been the design 
 of a publication so carefully shrouded in mystery, as to render it a 
 sealed book to the uninitiated. 
 
 The only possible conclusion then to arrive at, is that the work 
 was designed and published by Masons, and for the use of Masons. 
 The Committee challenge a refutation of this position by the ad- 
 vocates of the Order, for which purpose the work in question is 
 offered to the examination of members of the Fraternity. That 
 the work has not been generally known by Masons, (excepting 
 perhaps, Masters of Lodges) is presumed from the fact that your 
 Committee have met with no seceding or other mason, not a Mas- 
 ter of a lodge, who professes any acquaintance with the cypher. 
 
48 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 One seceder, a Past Master of a lodge in Rhode Island, has rccog- 
 ni/.ed the wotk as a s:ni;le by which inisonic oaths were adminis- 
 tered, and Masters ofiodges I'rightened in their duties. 
 
 A strong evidence (-f the authenticity of this work, has hef»n de- 
 rived i'y testing the eflect of a repetition of its oatiis upon adlierin'jf 
 masons. Many wlio have sheltered themselves behind the sli>::ht- 
 est variation in terms, to deny the whole obligation as cited from 
 Berniird, in peremptory phrase, have shrunk from the test of the 
 oath when presented to them from what your Committee would 
 designate by way of distinction, "The Masons Own Book" In 
 no instance within our knowledge, has an a<lhering Mason denied 
 the terms of the oaths as transcribed from this book. Should it he 
 ol JGcted to the authenticity of this book, that its publication by 
 Masons, would be a violation of the Kntered Apprentices ojith, not 
 to cut, carve, print, &c. the answer is plain, th;it the same obligi- 
 tion would apply with equal fut"te to the Monitor of Wel>b, the 
 Chart of Jeremy L. Cross, and the whole collection of Masonic 
 Mirrors, Charts and Emblems, published under the express sanction 
 of the highest masonic bodies in this country.* 
 
 Having thus fairly established the masonic origin and authenticity 
 of this work, the next is, what does it disclose, and how do the 
 statements here given by adhering Masons correspond with those 
 given by seceding Masons? On this point the work in question is 
 entirely satisfactory and conclusive, as will be seen by a transbition, 
 herewith presented, of the three first lectures in the three Hrst 
 degrees. It will be found that while every substantial poijit in the 
 obligation, is here expressly contirmed, there are repeated varia- 
 tions in language and arrangement, irom the disclosures made by 
 other sources of information, such as must inevitably occur, in oral 
 repetitions, for which the Masters of different lodges rely upon 
 memory alone. 
 
 It is reniarkable that in all the lectures here given, there is not 
 the slightest allusion to the civil laws, nor is the candidate any 
 where asked, as in the lectures given by Bernard, whether he Is 
 willing to take an oath that will not interfere with his civil and 
 religious duties. On the other hand he is taiight in the lectures 
 that ■"* he must be prepared to lay down his life rather than to 
 reveal any of the secrets of Freemasonry that have been communi- 
 cated to him." The significant allusion to the penally of the obli- 
 gation in the first section of the .Apprentices Lecture, is another 
 evidence of the understanding of the candidate that his life must be 
 forfeited by a disclosure of the secrets of Masonry. The selfish and 
 exclusive nature of the Institution is made apparent by the answers 
 in two of the lectures, in which the cindidate states that bis motive 
 in becoming a mason was, "'• that he might obtain ways the better 
 to support himself." 
 
 In all the oaths as here given, the candidate swears that he will 
 not only abide by and support the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, 
 but will abide by and support the general regulations of Ma- 
 
 * Masonic Chart, J. L. Cross, p. 159. 
 
MABSACHtJSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 49 
 
 30NRy. These general regulations, we have the highest masonic 
 authority for saying, are uniform throughout the world and not 
 succeptible of change. Of course then the New England Mason 
 swears to abide by the general regulations of Masonry in New 
 York, which prompt and justify the murder of a citizen disclosing 
 the secrets of Masonry, and require of jurors and witnesses to pro- 
 tect such offenders in direct violation of their civil oaths. 
 
 Another consideration of some importance, connected with this 
 representation of Masonry by Masons, is that it doubtless gives in 
 the three tirst degrees all the morality and science comprised in 
 those degrees. This would be the most important point to impress 
 upon the minds, if the Institution really were what its advocates 
 pretend. As to the mornlity embraced in the statements in this 
 book, your Committee are wholly unable to discover it. On the 
 contrary, a selfish principle, and an utter disregard of civil relations 
 and duties, are the leading principles recognized in both the oaths 
 and lectures. The information developed is doubtless highly im- 
 posing. After the repetition of mumeries more childish than the 
 most frivolous plays of infancy, the candidate is brought to light, 
 and the prodigious discovery made that one point or both points of 
 the compass are bare, according to his advance in this wonderful 
 science. He is also taught with the solemnity becoming so momen- 
 tous a matter, how to tuck up or how to tuck down his apron ; and 
 here his jdiscoveries end. The curtain of science falls upon his as- 
 tonished and disappointed sight ; and he must go through new 
 terrors and follies, and incur new expenses before he can have fur- 
 ther light shed on his benighted mind. 
 
 The Committee would here close their suggestions with the 
 remark that in their opinion the work they have examined fully 
 and circumstantially establishes the fact that the three first de- 
 grees of the Order are faithfully revealed to the world, by seced- 
 ing Masons, and that the information of the disclosures in Uhese 
 degrees, by this evidence drawn from Masonic authority, is strong 
 collateral evidence that the disclosures made by them of the ad- 
 vanced degrees, are equally correct. The fact that Masons and 
 their adherents deny to this day that the secrets of the three first 
 degrees are before the public, while their own Book, in their own 
 figures and devices convicts them of misrepresentation, furnishes 
 fair ground for the belief that they are equally disingenuous and 
 reckless in denying the truth of the disclosures in the advanced 
 degrees. 
 
 Annexed to this Report is a correct translation of the three first 
 Lectures, comprised in the pamphlet under consideration, all of 
 which is submitted for the disposition of the Convention. 
 
 A Report from Mr. Walker, Chairman of the Committee on the 
 correspondence between the Antimasonic State Committee and the 
 Masonic Fraternity, was read and laid on the table. 
 7 
 
60 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASOKIC COtiVENttOS. 
 
 REPORT. ^^sf^fm-A 
 
 The Committee appointed to take into consideration the corres« 
 pondence of the Antimasonic State Committee with the Masonic 
 Fraternity of this Commonwealth, having given such attention to 
 the subject as the brevity of the time allotted them will permit, 
 ask leave to report. That in compliance with certain resolutions 
 adopted by the late Convention holden in this place, the State 
 Committee (as appears by their reportr submitted to this body,) 
 addressed the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapte, Grand Encampment and 
 Grand Council of Freemasons, communicating the said resolutions 
 and respectfully and urgently requesting their attention to the same. 
 To this reasonable and as your committee believe, very becoming 
 petition, these Masonic Fraternities have not yet condescended to 
 pay any deference, or return any answer whatever. This result, 
 however, much it might, from the nature and spirit of the Masonic 
 Institution, have been anticipated, js yet, as your Committee feel, 
 to be most sincerely and deeply regretted. 
 
 A fond, though a faint hope was indulged that the Masonic Fra- 
 ternitres, impelled by a sense of justice to an outraged public senti- 
 ment, of deference to the violated laws of their country, and of a 
 decent respect to the Conventron wou-ld have deigned to give some 
 explanation of their conduct, or at least, if they feel themselves in- 
 nocent, deny the charges, which were preferred against them. 
 The petition though couched in the most respectful terms has 
 been treated with insult, and all our expectations of a fair and hoa- 
 orable defence of their conduct are destroyed. 
 
 The great objects of the first Convention were an investigation 
 of the facts and circumstances, respecting the nature and tendency 
 of the Masonic Institution, both in its theoretical organization and 
 practical effects. That investigation resulted in the belief expres- 
 sed in the resolutions alluded to, and the only measure adopted by 
 that body was to present the petition to which, we refer. This 
 was then, and is undoubtedly still thought a proper measure. It 
 was in character wifh the spirit of the times, and in accordance 
 with the practice of our fore -fathers when suffering under unjust 
 oppression. 
 
 To remonstrate against an arbitrary and unconstitutional exercise 
 of power, to protest against an infringement of their dearest rights, 
 and to petition for a redress of grievances has ever in this republic 
 been considered, not only the right, but the duty of a free people. 
 This we have done, but our petitions, like those presented by our 
 patriotic sires at the foot of Royal insolence, have been treated 
 with contumely and neglect, and the Masonic Bodies of this Com- 
 monwealth have practically declared that the voice of an offended, 
 injured and suflering people, as expressed by their representatives 
 in Convention assembled, is beneath their notice and unworthy their 
 regard. 
 
 Thai the Masonic Fraternities of New-York in their associated 
 capacity, planned, instigated and executed the abduction of William 
 Morgan does not admit of a doubt, and that they aided and assisted 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 51 
 
 the perpetrators by their funds and influence to escape the just re- 
 tribution of violated law, is equally true. That these facts are 
 known to the Masonic Fraternities of this Commonwealth cannot 
 admit of a reasonable doubt, it seemed, therefore, of great impor- 
 tance that the public should know, whether the Masons of this 
 State could under these circumstances continue their fellowship 
 with those lodges, immediately and directly engaged in the most 
 attrocious conspiracy, that ever disgraced the annals of our own, or 
 any other civilized community. A single outrage upon personal 
 liberty, or a solitary murder may in itself be considered a circum- 
 stance of but small importance when it occurs in the ordinary way 
 by the hand of a highwayman, or midnight assassin, but when ex- 
 tensive associations of men in their collective and official character 
 do with the utmost deliberation and preconcert and in full view of 
 the nature of the act, with a perfect knowledge of civil law, and in 
 open defiance of civil authorily presume to take upon themselves 
 the daring responsibility of such flagrant iniquity, it becomes an 
 event of most portentous character, and deserves to be regarded 
 with universal solicitude and alarm ; and your committee think 
 with the Hon. Mr. Rush, that " Morgan's cause is no common one. 
 It is of great and inspiring magnitude — looked at by itself it may 
 be called detached and little, by those who little know how to 
 think, or are determined not to think.- But properly weighed by 
 its principles as well as its facts, it is momentous as well as appal- 
 ling. It is no case for county Courts but for the Nation. That is 
 the proper tribunal." 
 
 In the hap^y constitution of our country a safe and sure remedy 
 for all political evils is provided. A power is left with the people 
 in the exercise of which they can without the aid of the bayonet, 
 or the shedding of human blood, redress their wrongs, and preserve 
 their liberties, laws and institutions. The right of elective fran- 
 chise, furnishes a powerful and efficient weapon, wherewith to 
 level all unrighteous combinations, and a saving energy is found in 
 the strong and resistless voice of public sentiment, expressed at the 
 Ballot Box. Your committee are deeply impressed with the con- 
 viction that the conduct of the Masonic Fraternity of this State in 
 the case referred to, forms an era in the history of our cause, and 
 indicates that new and more vigorous measures must be adopted and 
 pursued to exterminate the dangerous power and influence of an 
 Institution, which regards not the laws of our country, or the re- 
 monstrances of our citizens. 
 
 Mild and quiet measures have been tried, they have been un- 
 heeded, and otir puny efforts have only excited the contempt of 
 the Brotherhood. Inflated with their imaginary invincibility they 
 laugh to scorn our feeble attacks, proud in their boasted strength 
 they bid defiance " to a world in arms." One power there is whicl| 
 alone can make the oppressor tremble, and break the sceptre of 
 his unrighteous dominion. That power is the right and privilege 
 which every free citizen enjoys of recording his opinion at the Bal- 
 let Box, to that^ and to thai alone do we look, as affording a safe, 
 and certain antidote for the insidious poison, which Masonry 
 has so successfully infused into the body politic. That alope is a 
 
52 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 safe remedy for the nameless evils, which this anti-republican insti- 
 tution has brought upon our otherwise favored and happy country. 
 All which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Peckham of Worcester, it was resolved, that 
 he State Antlmasonic Committee be requested to inquire how 
 many Justices of the Peace and other civil officers of this Common- 
 wealth are adhering Freemasons, and to report thereon through 
 the press at a future time, 
 
 Mr. Rice of the Financial Committee offered a report, which was 
 read and accepted. 
 
 Dr. Porter of the Committee, " to take into consideration the 
 alarming evils and threatening dangers to our republican institutions 
 from the existence of an adherence to Masonic obligations," offered 
 the following report which was read and laid on the table. 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 " When in the course of human events," the accustomed safe- 
 guards of society are destroyed, the usual guarantees for the se- 
 cure enjoyment and protection of life, liberty, character, and the 
 pursuits of happiness are impaired, and an appeal to the laws of the 
 land administered by the constituted authorities, for the protection 
 and defence of injured innocence is fruitless and unavailing. When 
 the crimes of murder, arson, kidnapping, perjury and violence go 
 unpunished, and the guilty go free, when the temple of justice is 
 profaned by perjury, and the ermine of the judge menaced by con- 
 temptuous and mute witnesses, when the legal administration of 
 public justice is paralyzed and all confidence in its protection is 
 gone, when the temple of justice may well be represented by the 
 virgin weeping and leaning on its broken columns and pouring forth 
 her lamentations in vain over its ruins. 
 
 When the press, which has been in time past, called freedom's 
 Sentinel, is palsied and dumb, no longer giving the alarm from free- 
 dom's watch-tower, or if uttering a word, it is the traitorous signal, 
 in this case, '' All is well." 
 
 In this alarming state of our boasted free country, clearly and 
 fearfully exemplified, in the events which have transpired antece- 
 dent and subsequent to the forcible abduction and atrocious mur- 
 der of William Morgan, a native citizen of^Virginia, a former Cap- 
 tain of a military company in the army of the United States, and 
 fighting its battles at the memorable victory of New-Orleans in 
 1815, and in 1822 then residing at the village of Batavia, in the 
 State of New-York, and entitled to the protection of its laws. 1 he 
 fruitless attempts, hitherto after upward of fofe years diligent, pa- 
 tient, persevering efforts of its prosecuting officers, backed with all 
 the aid that legislative and executive influence would give. But 
 still ail has been impotent, and justice has been obliged to cower 
 before the menace, the power and influence of a secret power, 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 53- 
 
 which is above the law, and the prosecuting authorities, and which 
 now insultingly, and arrogantly proclaims its triumph. 
 
 When we see a man, the murdered victim of his remorseless and 
 unrelenting persecutors, and all the exertions of the administrators 
 of public justice contemned, despised and thwarted by a proud, ar- 
 rogant, vindictive, guilty and powerful aggressor. Our sympathies, 
 our best feelings are directed to the honored few^ who arise to pro- 
 tect the rights, avenge the wrongs of feeble oppressed humanity. 
 Their cause animates the best and holiest feelings of the human 
 heart. It is then that the spirit of man, assumes its elevated pre- 
 tensions, a tone truly ethereal. It is then, that men of independent 
 minds, fearless honesty, and moral courage, of energy and decision 
 bursts the bands of diffidence, uncertainty and despair, and regard- 
 less of personal considerations, move onward to the discharge of 
 their duties to their fellow men and their God, and pay their hom- 
 age, only to the immutable principle of truth, justice and mercy. 
 Animated with the consciousness of the justice of their cause, of its 
 consanguinity with every tie, that can bind man to his fellow man, 
 they look down from their proud elevation, with the most profound 
 contempt on the guilty aggressor. 
 
 Taking counsel from these feelings and sentiments, inspiring an 
 ardent wish, to preserve our free institutions, and to transmit theni 
 to our posterity, in the same purity and simplicity, as we have re- 
 ceived them from our fathers, as a sacred trust only as a life estate 
 and to be used without waste or destruction. 
 
 We have endeavored, uninfluenced by fear, favor or affection, 
 and without prejudice, calmly and dispassionately, to trace the 
 causes of the alarming evils which exist in our land, which has de- 
 graded our national character, polluted our land by the shedding of 
 innocent blood, and defiled the temples of justice, and made the 
 forms of law the sanctuary and protection of crime, which causes 
 waters of bitterness to flow through our streets, instead of those of 
 righteousness, justice and truth, which has destroyed the confidence 
 of our citizens in the securitj^and protection of the laws. With these 
 views, we have carefully watched the progress of events, in the 
 State of New-York, the seat of this unparalleled outrage and mur- 
 der, the trials before the courts, the conduct of Freemasons, both 
 there and here, the sympathies and feelings, emphatically express- 
 ed, on many occasions too distinctly to be soon forgotten. And with- 
 out the fear of offending, or the wish to inflict pain, or injury on 
 the persons, characters or feelings of any individual of the Masonic 
 Institution. We shall proceed to give our views of the cause of 
 these alarming evils and threatening dangers, and the only remedy^ 
 that will dry up the fountain of these bitter waters, and give secu- 
 rity and stability to our republican Institutions, and confidence ia 
 the secure, equal and impartial administration of justice, and ren- 
 der the laws of equal operation, over every description of persons, 
 high or low, rich or poor, powerful or weak, and *"' a terror to evil 
 doers, and a praise to those that do well. " 
 
 It needs but little argument and statement of facts, to demonstrate, 
 these threatening and alarming evils. We will state those which 
 
64 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 have been developed, and are established past contradiction. A 
 murder has been committed, a most foul, aggravated and premedita- 
 ted case, the murderers as principals and accessaries before the fact, 
 not a few, men of character, influence and standing, the deed not 
 done in a moment of passion and of frenzy, but cool, premeditated, 
 calculating and prepared for, with much meditation and counsel, 
 and perpetrated by men of high standing in society, as well as with 
 the order, composed of Clergymen, Lawyers, Physicians, Magis- 
 trates, Sheriffs, sworn to preserve the peace, and execute the laws, 
 the outrage ending in as an inhuman a murder as ever was record- 
 ed in the annals of crime in any country, and perpetrated by the 
 most blood tliirsty banditti. The outrage was continued for a num- 
 ber of days, extending and continued through a number of counties 
 inhabited not by wild men ofthe forest, but by a dense and high spir- 
 ited and enlightened population. And this violence, requiring the 
 aid, concurrence and assistance of many individuals, the names of 
 many hundreds, stand before the world implicated in the knowledge 
 of tbis violence and murder. 
 
 The murdered victim stands confessedly by Masons themselves 
 accused of no crime, known to our laws, his only offence was, his 
 lifting the frightful veil from mystery, wickedness and folly. 
 
 Every one implicated, as principal or accessary before the fact, 
 are undeniably masons. Every one implicated, as accessary after 
 the fact; every one, who aids, a-^sists and sympathizes with the 
 guilty, giving them aid and comfort, are members of the order. 
 Whence is it, and how is it, that murder, which is so terrible a 
 secret, that it will out at /os/, and can scarcely be kept in the con- 
 fines ot one guilty breast, should so long have remained secure in 
 the guilty brer^sts of so many, as must have been cognisant of this 
 atrocious deed ? What magic charm has blinded the eyes, has 
 seared the conscience, that usual unerring secret monitor, and made 
 them so blind and so callous to all the entreaties of suffering, ex- 
 piring humanity — and so to change the usual sympathies and feel- 
 ings of men? It is a solecism, which the disclosures ofthe masonic 
 obligations, the mock miracles, the solemn mockeries in their pro- 
 fane mysteries, in the mystic conclaves and the infatuation and 
 fanaticism thereby engendered, with their barbarous penalties and 
 their too frequent secret execution, can alone solve. In these secret 
 conclaves the initiates are taught to believe the masons are a 
 peculiar, select and chosen people, the order patronized from times 
 of old, by prophets, priests and kings, the order faithful to each 
 other on all occasions, '''' right or wrong, murder and treason not 
 excepted." That the masonic oath and obligations are paramount 
 and superior to every other oath and obligation, and their secrecy 
 is protected and enforced on every mason, by ancient immemorial 
 usage and custom, that no violator ever goes unpunished — that 
 the sword of justice pursues and pierces the heart of every traitor 
 to the masonic order, and that no man will be suffered to live, who 
 Is unfaithful to his masonic obligations, and that the tongue of slan- 
 der, abuse and vituperation will pursue him, during his whole 
 natural life, wherever he may go, and when dead, his memory 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 65 
 
 shall rot, and no trace or remembrance of him be left with his 
 fellow men and with masons especially. That offences against the 
 laws, committed to promote the interests of the order, are virtues in 
 the masonic brother, and entitle him to the appellation of "worthy, 
 faithful and true." It is to the influence of this infatuation, and of 
 an adherence to these obligations, and the gross fanaticism and infat- 
 uation produced by their pernicious influence, over the minds of 
 masons, that the usual sources of charity, brotherly love and the 
 forgiveness of injuries deeply implanted in the breast of man, by 
 that God "in whom we live, move and have our being," have been 
 dried up. And all its purifying waters changed to those of bitter- 
 ness, wrath, envy and evil feelings. 
 
 It is through the pernicious influence of these masonic obliga- 
 tions, which prevented the whole body of the citizens, in the 
 neighborhood of the outrage and] violence, from rising en masse, 
 and indentifying themselves with the constituted authorities and 
 exerting their utmost efforts for the suppression of the outrage and 
 the detection and condign punishment of the aggressors. It was 
 that influence which caused ireaaon in those sworn to afford protec- 
 tion to the persecuted victim, which caused them to look with com- 
 placency on this high handed violence, on the insulted and trampled 
 majesty of the laws, and to commit perjury, as regards their oaths 
 of office and duties as citizens. It was that influence, which has 
 rendered witnesses base and perjured, or mute and contemptuous, 
 before the courts in the trials of the guilty offenders, it was that 
 influence, which has rendered futile all the forms of indictment and 
 prosecution on trial before juries, some of whom adhered to these 
 obligations, whereby the guilty have gone free. It is this influ- 
 ence, which has made the trial by a jury a mere mockery, and the 
 administration of justice has thereby been impeded and obstructed. 
 It has been that influence, which has rendered men guilty of inten- 
 tional perjury, in attempting to sit on the jury when they felt 
 within their own hearts, the force of their masonic obligation, ^^ to 
 extricate a brother mason from difficulty, right or wrong," and 
 which constrained them to become unfaithful to their oath to their 
 country, " to decide without favor, affection or partiality between 
 the prisoner at the bar and the people, according to the law and 
 the evidence." It has been that influence, which has bound the 
 press, the usual herald of freedom, in its magic spell, its servile 
 chains, which has prevented the knowledge of this high-handed 
 offence and violence, on the liberties and life of William Morgan, 
 from flying like lightning through our country, and in a moment 
 electrifying the people of these States from Maine to Missouri. It 
 was this influence, which caused a fear of creating an excite- 
 ment among the people in favor of the wrongs of oppressed hu- 
 manity. It was this influence^ which enshrouded the public mind, 
 through the silence of the press, with masonic " caution, silence, 
 secrecy and darkness." It is that influence, which now operates 
 on many of our public presses, and which has prevented the whole 
 facts, in the cases elicited judicially in the late New York trials, 
 from being brought home to the knowledge of every person in the 
 
56 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 commnnily. In what country do we live, in Asia or America ? 
 This state of things smells strong of Turkish despotism, where 
 no enquiry is made into the executions of the Grand Seignor— 
 none durst enquire. Each is contented to hug his chains, provi- 
 ded they are made of silver. No murders must be enquired into, 
 no secret and mysterious deaths developed, no missing cases re- 
 ported, but the sovereigns of masonry are excited, lest their servile 
 vassals, the hewers of wood and drawers of water of masonry, 
 should be disturbed in their quiet and peaceable drudgery. No 
 sorrow, no sympathy discovered for the unfortunate victims. No, 
 they are arrogant and authoritative, they must not be enquired 
 into, they are but " mere hoaxes" and " humbugs." 
 
 While so many of our citizens act under this delusion, many 
 the servile adherents, the willing vassals of this worse than Asiatic 
 dominion of masonry. What can be done to arrest the evil and to 
 preserve the liberties of our country from being prostrated, before 
 its secret fearful influence and power, leaving us only the name and 
 "the forms of freedom, while the substance, the reality, leaving only 
 the shadow, is gone torever, being stolen away by night by the 
 mystic conclave of the sworn brotherhood, responsible to no known 
 public open tribunal for its decrees, its decisions, its secret execu- 
 tions and its crimes. 
 
 The remedy that we would propose is, we think, the only sure 
 corrective of these alarming evils, the only effectual preventative, 
 against these threatening dangers. It is in the hands of the people 
 to be effected by them, quietly, peaceably and constitutionally, in 
 their primary assemblies, and solely at the Ballot Box. The cor- 
 rect, enlightened and careful use of the right of suffrage there 
 possesses a redeeming spirit, which is capable of restoring health 
 and vigor to our Republican institutions. Let our citizens, that 
 would live and die freemen, repair to this Ark of refuge, for our 
 political safety, and there enregister their irrevocable decree, that 
 an adherence to the masonic obligation^ in any man, disqunHjies him 
 J'or any office of trust, power, influence or emolument, in the gift of 
 the people. Public sentiment so expressed, will carry with it force, 
 sanction, validity. It will extract the teeth from the monster ma- 
 sonry, and deprive it of the power to inflict the poison of its fangs. 
 This course must eventually arrest the evils of masonry and accele- 
 rate the downfall of the institution, whose great object has been, 
 to obtain unfair advantages for its members, by signs, grips, words, 
 and tokens, and will put an extinguisher on all such sinister hopes 
 and wicked expectations. 
 
 The masonic obligation by the patriotic exertions of W^illiam 
 Morgan, the unfortunate victim and attestor of their truth, and duly 
 authenticated by the masonic institution, of its "own free will and 
 accord," with its own bloody seal, and the disclosures of the higher 
 degrees, by others, influenced by his praise worthy example, are 
 before the world, their fearful import, alarming spirit and tendency, 
 have been judicially established, and their correctness fully proved, 
 and too distinctly illustrated by the practice and crimes of the 
 faithful adherents of the order, to need further illustration. Those 
 who in the dark, and as the sworn brotherhood say, of their '' own 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 67 
 
 free will and accord," went into the secret conclave, and took 
 these oaths, may now in the open day come out and not remain the 
 partakers in the sins of the institution, sustained, emancipated and 
 disenthralled by enlightened public sentiment and correct moral 
 feeling, without having their motives impugned, or their characters 
 assailed, except from masons, whose masonic censures are praises, 
 and whose masonic praises are censures and disgrace. 
 
 And if there are any high-minded, virtuous men, who, on a full 
 examination, should hesitate, we would entreat them to consider 
 this subject, candidly, carefully and discreetly. Why should they 
 continue to lend their names to an institution, sought for by them 
 to gratify no sinister motives, or to acquire unfair advantages? What 
 utility has the institution ever been to any country during its age 
 of 114 years, throughout the civilized world? If it has been ever 
 to any individual a shield, might it not with equal facility have be- 
 come a two edged-sword ? Has it not been in most republics, states, 
 kingdoms and empires, in Europe and the new republic of Mexico 
 in South America, a source of constant broil, sometimes between 
 different lodges of the charitable brotherhood ? Has it not caused 
 trouble and vexation to the rulers and magistrates, much caution 
 and vigilance in most of them, and an entire and complete inter- 
 diction in others ? Will all its boasted charities, its moral lectures, 
 a mere pretence, be but as the dust in the balance, compared with 
 the positive evils of this institution? 
 
 We well know that the unusual situation in which we are 
 placed, by the secret usurpations of masonry, the proposed measures 
 and responsibilities we must assume in discharging faithfully our 
 duty to our country, and as the tax or price on the enjoyment of 
 the continuance of its freedom are imposed on us, by no ordinary 
 considerations, the measures proposed will cause offence to many 
 individuals, and incur the vengeance, malevolence, angry passions, 
 the slander and abuse of the adherents of the order, capable of be- 
 ing directed and managed by the efforts of a few^ and possessing all 
 the means of acting in concert and in secret, of "striking and con- 
 cealing the hand," these are well understood and estimated. 
 
 But we can make no surrender of personal honor and indepen- 
 dence, truth and patriotism, to accommodate the blind servility of 
 the masonic empire. Who gave it dominion over us? We can 
 make no sacrifice of the duty we owe our country, our children 
 and our God, to gain the favor or the smiles of any of the servile 
 adherents to masonic obligations, ceremonies, wickedness and 
 folly. 
 
 The safety of our republic is the supreme law. And with an 
 eye steadily fixed to preserve the independence of our country, 
 the freedom, the spirit and the principles of its republican institu- 
 tions, to secure the equal, impartial and prompt administration of 
 justice, the purity of our elections and all the rights of free, un- 
 biased suffrage, we are determined, through evil report and good re- 
 port, to put forth our utmost efforts to effect, peaceably and con- 
 stitutionally, according to the laws, the entire abolition of masonry 
 in our country, at whatever hazard to our lives, fortunes, or char- 
 8 
 
68 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVEKTIOST. 
 
 acter, which may be incurred from the efforts of the vassals of 
 masonic despotism. 
 
 In taking this course at the ballot box, dictated and approved by 
 a full consideration of the errors and losses occasioned by a relaxa- 
 tion of an adherence to the great aptimasonic principle of masonic 
 disqualification for office, we earnestly entreat our fellow citizens 
 to examine the subject, and act according to the dictates of truth 
 and reason, regardless of personal considerations, and make one 
 general effort, one and all to sacrifice all personal feelings on the 
 altar of patriotism, and by one mighty effort, to shake from us, this 
 degrading influence and dominion — the approbrium, which has 
 affixed a bloody stain on our republic, which all the waters of Niag- 
 ara's famed flood can never wash out. 
 
 We have every reason from past History to encourage us, that 
 truth will triumph over error. Where are the Eleusinian myste- 
 ries? They are all revealed in History, in the same chapter with 
 ils debaucheries, its crimes and folly. Where are the disciples of 
 Manicheus, their temples and proselyting mystagogues scattered 
 and extended over the whole civilized world for several centuries ? 
 Gone, forever gone. Their oaths, signs, words and tokens, now 
 only exist in History as an evidence of the delusion and crimes of 
 those errorists. 
 
 Some may object that the exercise of the proposed measure at 
 the Ballot Box will exclude men, perhaps some friend or relative, 
 who is considered honest, meritorious, and above the influence of 
 unworthy motives ofanykindor nature. To this we would reply, 
 that all general rules and principles are liable to exceptions, but 
 these exceptions must not form the general rule, that very few 
 citizens, worthy and well qualified for places of power and trust, 
 who will examine the subject, will be wanting in their duty to 
 their country on this occasion. If they will not examine the subject, 
 they " do not add to their virtue, knowledge ;" if they are impelled 
 by personal considerations, interests or", fear, to come out and act 
 with decision, they are '' weighed in the balance and found want- 
 ing" in manly courage, independence, public spirit, to be qualified 
 to be the watchful and vigilant guardians, to take care " that the 
 republic receive no detriment." If they choose to adhere to mason- 
 ry, " it is of their own free will and accord." The calm duties 
 of retired life are more suitable to their feelings and sentiment*, 
 and the republic will be the gainer, by reforming the administra- 
 tion of the selfish, sordid, the vacillating, time-serving character, 
 and bring ijito the service, the uncompromising, the able, watch- 
 ful and effective guardians of public liberty and Freedom, men, ''who 
 dare to be honest in the worst of times. In collecting soldiers for 
 active service, no one should complain if he was passed by, be- 
 cause he had broken a limb by accident, or by incautiously " taking 
 a leap in the dark." In this age of wonders and period of revolu- 
 tions in Europe, and when our own institutions are assaulted by 
 a secret power, arrogantly claiming the power and ability, that 
 "^ whether for good or for evil, we must take it as it is," " it must 
 he permitted to manage its own affairs in its own way," and the 
 " world united in arms cannoit put it down." A power so high it 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 69 
 
 cannot be reached, but peradventure, its foundations are not so 
 deep but that they, by valor, perseverance and diligence, may be 
 approached and sapped. For this effective service, the republic 
 want vigilant, faithful, active, vigorous men, working men — no 
 drones, lame, halt or blind. Those who have '^ taken a leap in 
 the dark,'' and have become shorn of their locks, by the masonic 
 harlot, and deprived of their eflfective power, can make no com- 
 plaint, nor have cause to make any if they are passed by and 
 neglected by the people. 
 
 We would entreat our fellow citizens to exert themselves to ex- 
 tend the information and to strive to enlighten the public mind on 
 the nature, tendency, spirit and principles of the masonic obliga- 
 tions. We do know many high-minded and honorable men, who 
 have long been convinced of the gross imposture, and have abhor- 
 red its oaths, its ceremonies and crimes, but their lips were sealed, 
 through fear of the mystic, sworn, infatuated brotherhood. They 
 are looking with impatience for the manifestation of public senti- 
 ment, sufficient to shield them on, their open avowal from the 
 vengeance of the order, their slander and rage, and for their chil- 
 dren's sake, they cannot now incur the great personal sacrifice at- 
 tendant on the loss of their business, and the derangement of their 
 business concerns, the certain consequences of being fjiithful to the 
 country^ which is treason to the masonic empire, to be followed 
 with the most condign punishment, followed and pursued by all 
 the adherents of the order, and sure to pursue them wherever they 
 may go. There are in the secret conclave, leaking vessels, who 
 confidentially give secret information of the movements of the 
 secret conclave, and the wonder-working of the operatives on this 
 Babel of wickedness and folly ; in this way they are rendering 
 essential service and are making expiation and atonement for their 
 past instrumentality in assisting to raise the elevated and danger- 
 ous monument, founded in the sand, and by assisting in taking it 
 down and exploring its secret, winding labyrinth, they may much 
 assist to bring the poor deluded inmates to the light, and restore 
 them to their country. And this monument now tottering and 
 threatening to fall, and overwhelm in its ruins, not only the wonder- 
 working deluded operatives themselves, hurried on with their 
 work, labor and refreshments, and insensible to their imminent 
 dangers, but likewise dangerous to those attracted to its vicinage 
 by ardent curiosity or the wondering gaze of stupidity, promises 
 much through their continued assistance, to be quietly taken down, 
 and save its deluded inmates, workmen, and their friends, from 
 danger and harm. 
 
 And in this season of alarm, of danger and trial, may every good 
 citizen endeavor to instil into the public mind an elevated moral 
 feeling, a correct enlightened public sentiment, that the people 
 may become awake to the dangers that threaten, and the means of 
 escape, and incited to put forth their utmost exertions, by all lawful 
 means, to fortify as many brave and patriotic hearts as possible, 
 to do all that men can do, for the preservation of our country. 
 
 And with a firm reliance on the God of our fathers, His continued 
 favor and blessing on all our lawful endeavors in the cause ojf 
 
62 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 stereotype such important publications, such as the oaths, obliga- 
 tions and penalties of the several degrees of freemasonry, as shall 
 be found most necessary to instruct the people, in the nature, ten- 
 dency, and spirit of the masonic institution. For it is vain to think 
 that " Freemasonry will die of itself" It is to much allied to the 
 selfish desires of the human heart to expect this. And we never 
 can be safe, as a Nation, from its influence, even if driven from this 
 land by the united voice of the people, loaded with the language of 
 scorn and execration, while it continues to exist among other Na- 
 tions, with whom we have intercourse. If in our day and genera- 
 tion the victory is achieved, the moment the sons of men slumber 
 and sleep, it will again steal on their confiding security, and silently 
 overspread the land, like an overwhelming flood. Therefore it 
 is all important, that the present generation should be taught, one 
 and all, the danger of Secret Societies, and an abhorrence of the 
 oaths of Masonry, and prepare them to teach it to their children, 
 and so from generation to generation. 
 
 The course is dictated from the necessity of the case, as the Press 
 of our country is in a state of factitious dumbness, and is either silent 
 on the subject of masonry, or lends an influence unfavorable to the 
 promulgation of truth and the detection of error. To supply this 
 lamentable and alarming deficiency in the usual channels of com- 
 municating knowledge, and to produce union of feeling and senti- 
 ment on this subject, your Committee recommend, for the consid- 
 eration of this Convention, the raising a Publishing Fund, by con- 
 tribution, under the direction of the Antimasonic State Committee, 
 for the purpose of combining the means and eflbrts, to extend the 
 knowledge of the designs and the deceptive arts of Freemasonry 
 into every part of this Commonwealth, and to assist our fellow 
 citizens in other parts of the United States engaged in this National 
 .cause. 
 
 All which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 Mr. Thacher from the Committee on Resolutions made a report 
 .which was read and accepted. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 Resolvedy That our civil institutions, and our political and religious 
 jights are based on truth, which never shuns the light, nor seeks to Gonceal 
 its operations — therefore those associations or combinations which bind 
 by oath to perpetual secrecy, and seek the covert of night, cannot be 
 vCongenial with the spirit and fundamental principles of a Republican Gov- 
 jernment. 
 
 Resolved, That the Constitution of Masonry, as it exists in this coun- 
 try, (founded upon its oaths of secrecy and of allegiance to a power un- 
 known to the laws ; sanctioned as are those oaths by barbarous and san- 
 guinary penalties,) essentially establishes a distinct, independent, and irre- 
 sponsible government in the heart of this Republic— therefore, its organi- 
 zation and existence are indirect opposition to the Constitution of the 
 United States. 
 
 Resolved, That zealous adhering Masons, having sworn unqualified 
 allegiance to a power of the above description ; so long as they persist in- 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 63 
 
 acknowledging that allegiance, do thereby disqualify themselves for the 
 faithful and impartial discharge of any office of power or trust, under our 
 National or State governments. 
 
 Resolved, That the rites and obligations of Freemasonry, as they have 
 been disclosed by seceding masons, and proved in courts" of law, by the 
 most conclusive testimony, are subversive of the rights of humanity and 
 the equal operation of the laws ; opposed to the principles of moral virtue, 
 and peculiarly adapted to foster and protect crime. 
 
 Resolved, That as Freemasons have sustained and are sustaining their 
 distinct and independent government, chiefly by that franchise which our 
 political institutions guarantee to our own citizens who acknowledge alle- 
 giance to but one human power, therefore, it is not only lawful but the 
 imperious duty of citizens faithful to the laws and the constitution, to use 
 their franchise (which they have not alienated) in order to check and ulti- 
 mately suppress this secret political domination. 
 
 Whereas Freemasonry claims to be religious, while its fundamental 
 principles are opposed to the precepts of the gospel, and the duty we owe 
 to our country, therefore 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention view with regret and disapprobation 
 the direct or tacit encouragement rendered to that institution by many 
 the Clergy and other members of the Christian Church, in almost everjr, 
 religious denomination.* 
 
 Resolved, That as no Lodge, Chapter, or Encampment, Grand Lodge, 
 Grand Chapter, or Grand Encampment, has expelled, censured or dis- 
 countenanced any individual or individuals, of the numerous members of 
 those bodies, who have been tried or convicted of conspiracy in the abduc- 
 tion of William Morgan, followed by his murder, by such members or 
 their brethren ; therefore we have the right, in strict justice, to charge 
 the abduction and murder of that citizen upon the Masonic Fraternity^ 
 as the legitimate operation of the principles of the Order to which they 
 adhere. 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention duly appreciates and highly approves 
 the meritorious services of those members of the Massachusetts Legisla- 
 ture, during its past session, who opposed the attempts of the Masonic 
 Institution to obtain an extension of Legislative patronage. 
 
 
 * The extensive communion of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church and the whole So- 
 ciety of Friends are free from this imputation. The former do not admit of Freema- 
 flonry in their Clergy or Churches : and the latter for many years, have made a con- 
 nexion with the Masonic Society an invariable cause of exclusion from their meetings^ 
 
 On motion of Mr. Walker of Suffolk. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be presented to the 
 Hon. the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Bostan, for the use of 
 Faneuil Hall on this occasion. 
 
 On motion of the Hon. Mr. Odiome of Suffolk, 
 
 Voted, That the thanks of this Convention be presented to the 
 Hon. Timothy Fuller, for the able and dignified roanncF in which 
 he has presided over its deliberations. 
 
64 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTIOff. 
 
 Mr Fuller rose and addressed the Convention, in substance as 
 follows : 
 
 Gentlemen of the Convention, — 
 
 The lionour of presiding in this truly patriotic and respectable assem- 
 bly, being equally ilnsought and unexpected, would not fail to inspire on 
 my part a high sense of obligation, to discharge the duties of the station 
 with fidelity and zeal. The harmony of action which has been so emi- 
 nently displayed by its members, the natural result of the laudable and ex- 
 alted objects, which we assembled to accomplish, has rendered those du- 
 ties easy to myself, and I am gratified to believe, that they have been wit- 
 nessed with favor and approbation by the Convention. 
 
 In expres5?ing my thanks, for the expression by your vote of that appro- 
 bation, permit me particularly to acknowledge the kindness of the iion- 
 ourable mover ; and to add ray earnest and devout hope, that you will 
 experience in returning to your constituents and to your homes, the de- 
 light and satisfaction of having essentially contributed, by your disinter- 
 ested labours, to the emancipation of our country from a great and invet- 
 erate evil. May your future efforts, encouraged by the good and virtu- 
 ous, be finally crowned with complete success, and receive the unlailing 
 reward of generous sacrifices and persevering labours for the happiness of 
 mankind. 
 
 On motion, 
 
 Voted, That the doings of this Convention be committed to the 
 State Committee, to be revised and published under their direction; 
 
 Prayer by the Rev. Mr Thacher of Norfolk. 
 
 The Convention adjourned sine die. 
 
L.IST OP DELEGATES 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Massachusetts antimasonic convention, 
 
 SUFFOLK COUNTY 
 
 John D. Williams 
 George Odiome 
 Jacob Hall 
 Dr. Abner Phelps 
 Henry Gassett 
 William Marston 
 Daniel Weld 
 Jonathan French 
 Benjamin W. Lamb 
 Benjamin V; French 
 John P. Whitwell 
 Thomas Walley 
 Joel Thayer 
 Ephraim Hall 
 Ebenezer Clough 
 Israel Ames 
 Thomas Barnes 
 Dr. Isaac F. Appleton 
 Amasa Walker 
 Nathaniel F. Ames 
 Dr. Isaac Porter 
 Silas Pierce 
 Amos Farnsworth 
 Noah Lincoln 
 Simon K. Hewins 
 John Sullivan 
 Jonathan Carleton 
 David Tilden 
 Samuel D. Greene 
 Thomas A. Davis 
 Israel Martin 
 Richard S. Roberts 
 George Sutherland 
 
 John Reed, Jr. 
 Samuel Gulliver 
 Aaron Lincoln 
 Luther Short 
 John Burrage 
 William Coffin 
 Micah H. Rugbies 
 Asa P. French 
 Philip R. Bennett 
 I>uther Lincoln 
 9 
 
 Horatio N. Crane 
 Stephen Child, Jr. 
 Sargent S. Littlehale 
 Martin Packard 
 Caleb Stimson 
 Daniel Gregg 
 Otis Tileston 
 Daniel Ballard 
 Edward Smith 
 Isaac F. Rowe 
 James Pike 
 William Simonds 
 Ezra Chamberlain 
 Moses Whitney, Jr. 
 Aaron Bancroft 
 George Williams 
 Joshua Norton 
 Thomas Warren 
 George W. Adams 
 James Cheever 
 Josiah Hait 
 George Gibson 
 Daniel Dickinson 
 Joseph Urann 
 John Marsh 
 Samuel Stimson 
 Amos Wood 
 Stephen Bates 
 Nathaniel Budd 
 Benjamin Sweetser 
 Daniel Wild, Jr. 
 Newell Withington— 
 
 BRISTOL COUNTY. 
 
 £ddy Lincoln 
 Rodney French 
 Moses Richardson 
 Jonathan Peck 
 Charles A. Morton 
 Joseph DurfeCj Jr. 
 James Dickerman 
 Sampson Perkins 
 Simeon White, Jr. 
 A bner B. Giffojii 
 
 -65 
 
66 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 PLYMOUTH COUNTY. 
 
 Horace Ames, 
 Micah Pool 
 Abner Curtis 
 Elijah Kingman 
 Lysander Hcvari 
 Elijah Ames 
 
 Isaiah Alden 
 
 Henry Soule 
 
 "William Morse 
 
 Joseph Chamberlain. Jr. 
 
 L. Smith 
 
 John B, Turner 
 
 Samuel Tolman, Jr. 
 
 yf */ t : HAMPDEN COUNTY 
 
 John Hoar 
 
 HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 
 Jonathan Davis Martin Kingman 
 
 Rev. Augustus B. Reed Charles Starkweather 
 
 Nathaniel Tower 
 
 WORCESTER COUNTY. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Goff 
 Gen. Caleb Burbank 
 Joseph Cloyes 
 Jonathan Gary 
 John Ho hart 
 Asaph Rice 
 Lovett Peters 
 Thomas W. Ward, Jr. 
 Stephen P. Gardner 
 
 H. Rock wood 
 Gardner Burbank 
 Abel Goodall 
 Charles Board man 
 John Johnson 
 Silas Henry 
 Zebulon Gary 
 Robert Peckham 
 
 NORFOLK COUNTY. 
 
 Hon. John Bailey 
 Col. Edward Foster 
 Oliver Davenport 
 Henry G. Dnrell 
 Otis Shopard 
 Isaac Howe 
 John Heath 
 Samuel Langley 
 Nathan Smith 
 Francis Brinley 
 Aaron D. Williams 
 Mark P. Smith 
 Gilman Hook 
 Ebenezer Wild 
 Dr. Appleton Hows 
 Lemuel Humphrey 
 Asa Webb 
 Christopher Webb 
 Vinson Tirrell 
 Abner W. Paine 
 Richard Ciapp 
 Pliny Bingham 
 Hsritnan Mann 
 Abner Ellis 
 John Guild 
 Joseph Clarke 
 Daniel Chickering- 
 Asaph Churchill 
 Seth D. Whitney 
 Joseph Ellis 
 
 Joseph Morton 
 Joseph Porter 
 Moses Thacher 
 Ebenezer Blake 
 Lebeus Porter 
 Elisha A. Jones 
 Samuel Allen 
 Charles Packard 
 Noah Curtis 
 Abner W' illet 
 Micah Orcutt 
 Thomas Taylor 
 Micah W^iite 
 Seth Mann 
 Zenas French 
 Elijah Adams 
 Isaac Honon 
 Joseph Downts 
 Jedediah Tucker 
 Tisdale Drake 
 D. R. Lalhrop 
 Luther Metcalf 
 Lemuel D. He wins 
 Joseph Bugbee 
 Enoch Hewitt 
 Aaron Mason 
 Christopher Slocumb 
 Hammond Rogers 
 Henry J. Turner 
 Siephen Sanford 
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTIMASONIC CONVENTION. 
 
 67 
 
 Epaphras Hoyt 
 Noah Wells 
 Michael M'Clennan 
 David Purrington 
 Rufus Day 
 
 FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
 
 William Smith 
 Isaac Woodbury 
 Jonathan Brown 
 Ephraim Williams 
 Edmund Langley 
 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 
 
 Irad Fitch 
 
 Abijah Munroe 
 
 Charles Gordon 
 
 Edwin Munroe 
 
 Abraham R. Thompson 
 
 Timothy Fuller (President) 
 
 Francis Bowman 
 
 Samson Tarbell 
 
 F. A. Staples 
 
 William Chaplin 
 
 JohnB. Merriam 
 
 Ebenezer Smith 
 
 Cyrus Smith 
 
 Eliab Parter, Jr. 
 
 Peter Sanborne 
 
 Amos Evans 
 
 Ambrose Kingman 
 
 Nathan Adams 
 
 Nathaniel Jaqueth 
 
 ESSEX 
 
 Winthrop Newhall 
 William B. Breed 
 Stephen Oliver 
 Jonathan Buffum 
 Jonathan Stone 
 William Phillips 
 Amos King 
 William Bassett 
 
 Rufus Straton 
 Stephen Pope 
 David Tuttle 
 Charles B. Davis 
 Timothy Johnson 
 Josiah Bacon 
 Joseph Bacon 
 Elijah Adams 
 Dr. N. Cutler 
 Burrage Yale 
 James Steel 
 John Clarke 
 George Coolidge 
 Thomas Barnes 
 Nahum Hardy 
 Amos Harrington 
 Ephraim Stetson 
 Alpheus Bigelow, Jr. 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 F. S. Newhall 
 Joshua Hawks 
 Benjamin Coleman 
 Stephen Barker, 2d 
 M. C. Pratt 
 James Pratt 
 David Fuller 
 
 Whole number present 245. 
 
 HONORARY MEMBERS. 
 
 B. F. Hallettj of Providence, R. l] Luther Metcalf, Med way, Mass. 
 
 Allen Partridge, Bellingham ; Stephen Sanford, ; Avery Allyn, 
 
 of New York ; Abijah Bloodgood, Boston ; Allen Newell, Brookfield j 
 James Allen, Warren Miller, Lockport, N. Y.3 Artemas Lane, Munson , 
 Mr. Ranson, of Vermont — 11. 
 
 :» 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 LETTER TO MR. RUSH. 
 
 BosTox, 21 Mat, 1831. 
 
 Ho.M. RiCHAKU Ri;sH — 
 
 'Sir — The Convention of Delegates from the various parts of this Com- 
 monwealth, lately assembled in this city to adopt such measures as might 
 conduce to the suppression or counteraciion of Freemasonry, have deputed 
 the undersigned, as their organs, to express to you the high sense enter- 
 tained by themselves and by the numerous class of their fellow citizens, 
 whom they represented in that body, of your powerful and eloquent ex- 
 position in your recent letter, of the same* portentous evil. The infatua- 
 tion of a numerous bod}' ol men in a free country and in an enlightened 
 state of society, which could trample upon the rights of humanity and 
 silence the voice of reason and the suggestions of conscience, so far as to 
 shed the blood of its victim, is by your pen depicted in colors so glowing, 
 as to impress conviction upon every mind. 
 
 It must inspire our fellow citizens through the Union, with increasing 
 confidence in the ultimate success as well as in the rectitude of their cause, 
 when they find themselves sustained by the sagacity, learning, and experi- 
 ence ot the most eminent statesmen and scholars of our country. If the 
 Press lias been bribed or awed into silence, and has suffered the community 
 to slumber in delusive security with an enemy lurking among them and 
 clandestinely seizing the strong holds of their liberty ; it is to fhe wisdom, 
 and virtue, and eloquence of those, whose counsels have hitherto always 
 been heard with deference and followed with success, that the people must 
 look to enlighten and to guide them. 
 
 While we recoil with horror at the depravity and wickedness, which 
 led to the immolation of a devoted martyr by a horde of desperate ruffians, 
 instigated by a iraternit}^ arrogating to itself the privileges of despotic 
 power over its deluded subjects; and believe with you, that violations of 
 private and personal right less flagrant would in the glorious era of our 
 early history, even in the absence of other grievances, have kindled the 
 flame of revoiuiion ; permit us to advert to other evils, which have long 
 existed, though but partially perceived by the community, in which we 
 live, and which have arisen and grown uj) in the exuberant soil of Free- 
 Oiasonry. Not to mention the prod.gal waste of time, nor the consurap 
 tionof the means required, for purposes of Charity, in vain display or 
 convivial indulgences^, we cannot but regard the process of induction and 
 initiation through the various degrees of the craft, as unfolding a series of 
 ceremonies, equally puerile and degrading. These are objections to the or- 
 der of masonry, which are chiefly confined to the members themselves, and 
 to their families. There are others, which reach the whole community, and 
 which tend to contaminate the streams of social intercourse, and to poison 
 the sources of confidence and integrity in every part. In every city and 
 village the combined support and patronage of an affiliated corps, known 
 to each other by concerted si;?nals of recognition, but unknown to all beside, 
 
LETTEB TO MB. RUSH. 69 
 
 acting ia concert against the unconscious ranks of their lellow citizens, 
 must speedily produce the most striiiing results, in elevating the objects of 
 their preference to office and wealth, and in depiessing their comjietitors 
 in the same j)roportion. 
 
 Such a course oi' action and such results have long been discernable 
 through the wide extent Of masonic influence. Nor is it doubted, that 
 advantages of the nature alluded to have been among the strongest allure- 
 ments, especially to youthful and aspiring candidates, to seek its protection 
 and its aid in the acquisition of patronage and promotion, to the exclusion 
 of others of equal or superior pretensions, but whose merits have thus 
 been left to languish in obscurity and despondence. The strong tempta- 
 tion thus held out to seize the fruit without the labor of its cultivation has 
 probably been the chief incentive to the votaries of the order. The tedi- 
 ous repetition of senseless forms and the endurance of degrading mummeries 
 wouk] never have been submitted to by so many aspirants, from mere 
 curiosity to explore the vaunted mysleries of the craft, without the stimu- 
 lus of benefits, more certain and substantial. Here too we may easily 
 discern the real magnet, which even now sustains and holds together the 
 congregated massof freemasons through our land, overcoming the strong 
 disapprobation daily more audible in the utterance of public opinion. Of 
 public opinion masonry has no fear ; for its decrees masonry has no res- 
 pect. Arrayed in panoply of mysterious temper, shrouded in impenetra- 
 ble secresy, surrounded by thousands of blind adherents, and in posses- 
 sion of the strong holds of power and patronage, she liurls defiance and 
 threatens destruction to her assailants. " She fears nothing from violence, 
 for she has every means to counteract, defeat and punish it." 
 
 To intimate the possibility that masonic oaths and obligations have en- 
 tered the halls of justice, and mingled their abominations in the purity of 
 its administration, has been thought too bold a suggestion. And surely 
 the quiet of society must be fatally disturbed, if the suspicion is awaken- 
 ed, that the security of our property, and our lives is to be sported with by 
 such pernicious influences. Yet certainly the murderers of one victim 
 have been screened by those influences. Hence it is evident the danger 
 exists, and hence the vigilance of all, who seek their rights in Courts of 
 Justice, is inevitably aroused, and their eye anxiousl.y roves through the 
 list of those, who are to deternu'ne the controversy. Beyond the imme- 
 diate limits of the scenes alluded to in a sister Stated these dangerous ten- 
 dencies of masonic obligations have not been equally obvious, perhaps to 
 very great extent may not have existed. Yet henceforth those corrupt 
 trials, sanctioned as they seem to be, certainly not disavowed, by the fra- 
 ternity, must infuse the i)oison of their example through the entire sphere 
 of its influence. The danger is neither imaginary nor trifling ; and even 
 the jealousies, engendered by the morbid condition of communities where 
 masonry blends its uncongenial principles with the elements of society, 
 must materially weaken the veneration of the public for judicial dicisions, 
 and thus endanger one of the strongest pillars of our happy institutions. 
 
 With the deceptive character of the pretensions of masonry to scien- 
 tific excellence and to extraordinary chaiity, the public have been made 
 fully acquainted by the disclosures of some of the most candid and respec- 
 table of its members, who have had the courage to abjure their allegiance. 
 These comparatively harmless boasts, and even its puerile ceremonies 
 and its ridiculous pageantry, we willingly leave to be quietly practised and 
 enjoyed in the recesses of the Lodge. But the evils we would avert or 
 exterminate, and to which we have before alluded, are of such a nature, 
 that the fabric of society is endangered by their countinuance. Gladly 
 will we hail the day, when masons shall renounce their exclusive privileges^ 
 and abjure the oaths and obligations which conflict with their duties as 
 
70 LETTER TO MR. RUSH, 
 
 citizens and christians. Their lellow citizens would receive them with 
 cordiality, and restore them to their confidence and esteem. Hitherto 
 seceders from their ranks have encountered the hatred and obloquy of the 
 whole order, by their intrepid and virtuous course. The independence 
 and courage required to form and execute a resolution to secede, can only 
 be found in a few superior minds. Without doubt the great majority of 
 the fraternity, less interested and less prejudiced than their privileged and 
 exalted dignitaries, would be easily induced to relinquish the ties and the 
 trappings, v^rith which they find themselves encumbered. But the arts 
 and exertions of the few inflame their pride and their prejudices, by 
 misrepresenting our efforts and chaiging us with proscription and perse- 
 cution. We trust, however, the day approaches when the public voice 
 shall be so loud and so unanimous, that the infatuated and spell-bound 
 devotees of masonic delusion shall be awakened to reason, and shall joy- 
 fully fly from the dangers which beset them, to the long deserted ranks of 
 their fellow citizens and friends. 
 
 In the pleasure and satisfaction at such a result of their labors, the op- 
 ponents of masonry will forget the unmerited reproaches so often repeated, 
 of being disturbers of the quietof their neighbors, promoters of quarrels, 
 fomenters ofjealousies, selfishly ambitious of honor and office, and what- 
 ever else the desi)eration of masonic zealots now alleges against them. It 
 will be for them a high reward to see their present adversaries liberated 
 from the meshes of a mischievous delusion, and their country relieved from 
 an inveterate evil. This pleasure will be greatly heightened by the reflec- 
 tion that in effecting their object they have coincided in the views, and in 
 a humble degree contributed to the success, which yourself and other 
 eminent and highly gifted citizens have been so conspicuous in accom- 
 plishing. 
 
 Wetender you. Sir, in behalf of the Convention, the assurance of our 
 high respect and consideration. 
 
 TIMOTHY FULLER, President. 
 
 Vice Presidents- 
 
 Stephen P. Gardner, "I 
 Abner Phelps, | 
 
 Epaphras Hoyt, ^ 
 
 MiCAH H. RUGGLES. J 
 
MR. RUSH'S ANSWER. 
 
 York, Penasyi.vat^ia, June 30, 1831 
 
 Gentlevien: — Your cointnuuicatioTi dated the 2l8t of May, and bearing the 
 Boston post-mark of the 21st of this month, reached me on the 26lh instant, 
 which 1 mention as it will account for what might otherwise seem a long in- 
 terval between its date and this acknowledgement. 
 
 The favorable sentiments which, as Delegates of a Convention lately assem- 
 bled in Boston from various parts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to 
 adopt measures for the suppression of Freemasonry, you have been pleased to 
 express of the views which I have given to the public upon this subject, yield 
 me a very solid satisfaction. They naturally and powerfully tend to confirm 
 in my own mind the soundness of those views. They demand all my acknow- 
 ledgements, which I beg leave to tender to you, fully and sincerely. You 
 have yourselves presented views of the subject, other than those which I took, 
 that are full of importance. The subject indeed is of great extent, and may be 
 usefully discussed under a variety of aspects, as different minds may be differ- 
 ently affected towards it; and thus the aggregate of separate contributions 
 will in good time make up the entire volume of light with which it ought to be 
 encompassed. 
 
 In the letter which has drawn forth your obliging communication to mc, it 
 was my object to hold up tho dansjers of Masonry as seen in the contest it has 
 waged with the Law in Morgan's case, and the victory it has won. That part 
 of the subject, and, in direct connexion wiih it, the enslavement of so great a 
 portion of our Newspaper press to Masonry, were those upon which alone I 
 meant to dwell. I thougijt these points plain and practical, and the ground 
 under each so slrong^, that it was impossible not to stand firmly upon it. As 
 farther refioction leacis me to think it still stronger than at first, and as I have 
 now, in addition, your valued approbation, besides that of others of my fellow 
 citizens whose approbation cannot but be flattering, I will claim your indul. 
 gencc whilst 1 throw out a few more ideas under the same heads, and perhaps 
 incidentally upon some others. It is of the Law of which I chiefly desire to 
 speak, in its connexion with Masonry, because it is of the utmost moment that 
 its true doctrines should be understood. Not only do all onr civil rights de- 
 pend upon the true understanding of them, but also our public liberty. First 
 however, of the Press. 
 
 The thraldom of the press was evinced by its general silence under the foul 
 deed of Morgan's abduction and murder; or by the absence of that decided in- 
 dignation with which it ought to have followed it up, such as the press is sure 
 to manifest in other cases where great crimes are perpetrated ; or, what was 
 more disreputable still, by not unfrequenily treating the whole subject with 
 levity, making it the occasion of coarse ribaldry and unseemly merriment. 
 The friends of the press will have cause to blush, as often as this part ofitg 
 history in our country is recalled. They will feel shame in recollecting, that 
 when tho liberty and life of a citizen were struck down by a conspiracy of eit- 
 traordinary boldness and malignity, an iirjmenso majority of the American 
 press, as far as I had any means of knowing, to repeat the expression of my 
 former letter, if it spoke at all, would not speak out ; that against all its nature 
 and habits, it grew tame ; or even if at first, to save appearances, it did make 
 •?ome demonstrations, and show a guarded indignation, that it soon grew in, 
 becoming indifferent, becoming blind, to an unspeakable outrage, that it knew 
 to be still unavenged. In fact, that it laid down its vigilance, its intelligence 
 and its spirit, at the footstool of Freemasonry. More reprehensible than all : — 
 that, reversing its true dutier, it absolutely exerted its spirit and launched forth 
 its virtuous horror only against those who embarked in the pursuit of justice, by 
 branding that pursuit as an unnecessary " excitement ;'' and that finally, in ef- 
 fect, it passed over — the necessary consequences of its measured step against 
 tbe rrime in the beginning -to the side of the offending party, where now it i* 
 
72 
 
 seen in full jux'a position, adminiptoring to Masonry Ihe comfort which it 
 needs in tliis remarkable fellowship. Such, in a word, has been the course of 
 the press. Often, in other times and countries, it has been silenced by arbitra- 
 ry will, or bought up by corrupting gold; but in this country, it has been be- 
 strodden by Masonry. Servitude under any circumstances, is humiliating ; 
 but in the lowest depth, there is a lower deep ; and that our press should have 
 bowed down in worship to this Idol, is the step into that deep. A late writer 
 on the " Principles of Morality," Dymond, whose early death those who stand 
 high in letters in Britam deplore as a public loss, whilst discussing the subject 
 of newspapers, utters this .striking opinion; "that there are some creditable 
 editors loko do harm in the world, to an extent in comparison vnth ichich robber- 
 ies and treason are as nothing." I g;ive the passage in his own emphatic 
 words. If this searching writer, as he has been called, — he was of the society 
 of Friends and an honor to that society, — could have witnessed in the United 
 States the subjection of a large band of editors to Masonry, ho would not sure- 
 ly have revoked his opinion. On the contrary, astonishment and disgust must 
 have taken possession of his bosom at perceiving how the press in a country 
 proud of its freedotn, could have come under such a yoke ; and, being under 
 it, how it could pass from absurdity to absurdity, at one time losing itself in a 
 confusion of the understanding, at another in a tornado of passion, in attempts to 
 excuse itself for not doing its duty to the public under an event as authentic as 
 ever arose in any country, for drawing out all its honest and most uncomprom- 
 ising indignation. 
 
 The National Intelligencer of the llth of this month, now lies before me. 
 This newspaper has long been published in the capital of the Union. For high 
 and various merit, I do not believe tliat it is exceeded by any journal in this, 
 or in any country. Its conductors do honor to a profession as noble and useful 
 in its honorable exercise, as it is mischievous and unworthy in its abuse. Ele- 
 vated in mind, they never, whatever their own views of subjects, fail to state 
 fairly the views of those from whom they differ, and never to my remembrance 
 have they, in the whole course of their career, soiled their columns v/ith person- 
 al indecorums. Yet, what do my eyes behold ? This paper, candid as it is, faith- 
 fully as it desseminates all other information, ably as it discusses all other ques- 
 tions, will not touch that of Aniimascnry. It will not permit itself" to be instru- 
 mental in fomenting an excitement, ichich, prevailing extensiTcly in some parts 
 of the country, had its origiji in the indignation justly excited by the abduction 
 some years ago, of a peison by the name of Morgan .'" A person by the name 
 OF MoRG.\N ! ! Thus do these experienced editors speak of the case as if it 
 were still new to a large part of their numerous readers ; which probably, was 
 the fact. It seems to have been the first time that they had meddled with it, 
 and it is intimated that their press will meddle with it no more. Is not this 
 enough to shock us .^ Will more proof be called for, except by the infatuated, 
 of the bowing down of the press before the unseen, wide-sweeping scourge of 
 the Masonic'institution ? The estimable citizens no less than acco-^plished 
 editors to whom, and to whose press, I here venture to allude in furtherance of 
 the principle I have in hand, may be well assured that it is done in not the 
 slightest spirit of personal disesteem. They are themselves, I dare to say, un- 
 aware of the controlling influences under which they labor ; they do not per- 
 ceive how tiiey breathe them in with the social atmosphere ; how they are 
 dripping with the deleterious damps of Masonry, without knowing how they 
 come, any more than the damps of the night. 
 
 As to the Law, never in any age or nation was it more coinpletely laid pros- 
 trate by any power, than masonry has done it in the case of Morgan. If this 
 be not enough to consign it to reprobation in a free state, there is nothing else 
 that will. We have been wont to talk of the law being sovereign with us ; 
 but it is Masonry that is sovereign, as things now stand. This is no uncon- 
 sidered assertion. I shall proceed to the proof, with a confidence than which 
 the human mind never would be justified in feeling more, on any moral propo- 
 sition. It rests on evidence strong as adamant, though it be not all technical 
 evidence. It rests on piinciples co-extensive with the civilized world ; princi- 
 ples out of which empires have arisen, and will arise again. Did our father* 
 of '76 consult Gilbert's law of evidence, or the chapter in Hawkins, to know if 
 every act of oppression against them could be technically proved in court.' 
 
73 
 
 Did the English of 1688, or the French of last .Tuly, stand upon such c'octrine ? 
 The public safety is not thus to be cavilled away, it is not, as Lord Chatham 
 said, to depend upon books with tlie leaves turned down in dogs ears. Every 
 successive day, that finds the murder of Morgan unavenged, marks a continua- 
 tion of the outrage which the longer existence of Masonry in our country, car» 
 ries with it ; as the Masons who coinmilted it, or who knew of it, still ehide 
 punishment by clinging to their Masonic obligations, which they hold to be 
 superior to the law. Though it be even admitted, that this arises from fana- 
 ticism in them, which perverts the true intention of the Masonic obligation, 
 society equally suffers and is equally outraged. When the institution, affect- 
 ing to complain of" -persecution,'' exclainis, " punish the guilty, but not the in- 
 nocent," it falls into a mockery, which affronts society anew ; lor it is the very 
 Masonic obligation itseW, which never would have place but for the Institution, 
 that enables the guilty to elude tlie law. When, too, the Institution, rearing 
 its presumptuous crest to a parallel with Christianity, tells us that crimes com- 
 mitted in the name of the latter are not allowed to recoil upon religion, and 
 claims tor Masonry tho same indulgence, it advances a claim more audacious 
 than absurd ; a claim that no unbiassed mind will notice, unless to remark 
 upon its greater sacrilege than sophistry ; as it the oaths, and grips, and mys- 
 teries, and titles, and the whole train of anticks, in alliance with which Mason- 
 ry finds it indispensable to perform her charities, were all of sacred origin ; all 
 jure divino, like the claim of monarchs of old to their thrones. The thoughts 
 of such a parallel, make Masonry doubly hateful, showing that it is blown up 
 by itnpious inflation; that not content with causing murder upon earth, it is 
 for mounting up afterwards into heaven. 
 
 But its pretensions to religion form a branch of tho discussion into which I 
 did not go, nor do 1 desire to go. The only concern that society at large can 
 have with Masonry politically, is on the ground of its doing a positive injury 
 to society. What its predilections may incite it to cherish in theory or enact 
 in practice, within its own walls, those outside need npt care about. Let it 
 employ itself as any other benevolent, or festive, or theological brotherhood, if 
 any or all such it constitutes, with its own duties and pastimes, as long as it 
 keeps within its own limits. But the line must never be passed. It exists 
 permissively, under the license of society. The continuance of its charter, 
 depends upon its innocent conduct. Tliis must be unequivocal and invariable. 
 There must be no exception collaterally, any more than directly. The mo» 
 mont it is discovered that perjons belonging to this brotherhood can conspire 
 against the liberty alnd life of a citizen who had broken no law ot the land, but 
 merely some of its own edicts, and when these persons can escape detection 
 by persuariing themselves that the voluntary oaths and other self-assumed ob- 
 ligations which bind them to the brotherhood are of higher authority than the 
 laws, no matter under what mistaken notions of those oaths and obligations 
 they act, from that moment the whole Institution, from which such rank delu- 
 sions and tremendous perils proceed, assumes a new relation to society. It is 
 placed in the attitude of an aggressor. It ridas over the laws. It is guilty ; 
 constructively if you will, but obviously and legally guilty. It stands respon- 
 sible for the blood of a citizen. In vain it may allege that its precepts incul- 
 cate obedience to the laws, whilst its ignorant or wicked members violate theni 
 through a feehng which the Institution generates, in their minds at least. 
 The cry that it is " persecuted," is a contradiction to common sense. It can 
 no longer claim protection like other bodies of nien,ainited for their own pur- 
 poses. Society and such an Institution cannot exist m safety together, and the 
 latter must give way. The first principles of society, all the securities that 
 keep it from frying asunder, stamp this reasoning with truth. It spiings from 
 the first impulses of the mind, and is ratified by the covenants of every code. 
 No lawyer, no judge, no publicist, in whatever clime he may live, unless his 
 understanding be subdued by Masonry, can gainsay its force. The master id 
 answerable for the servant, the superior for the interior, the party pararnounts 
 ^<:)r him who acts under infiuenca. The very dog unchained, \vho does injury 
 in the streets, fixes liability upon the owner. These are primordial maxims of 
 jurisprudence, locally and universally. They He at the foundation of individ- 
 ual, social, and political safety. No governments, no communities, pone of the 
 links of civil life, could bold together a day without their f>hield. They aro 
 
 10 
 
14 MH. rush's answer. 
 
 the cement of each within I'self, and of all to each other. Let it not be said 
 that the responsibility is for civil misconduct, not crime. This is a distinction 
 that can avail Masonry nothing. Nobody dreams of indicting innocent Ma- 
 sons for the mm der ot Morgan ; but only of putting an end to the Institution 
 for 'the sufficient reason that guilty Masons took his life through an ignorant 
 misunderstanding or corrupt perversion of their ties to that Institution. It is 
 this that brings legal guilt home to the Institution, on the question now raised 
 as between itself and society. It shows the Institution to have been the moV" 
 ing spring to the crime ; the influence paramount that instigated it; the supe* 
 rior power, I do not say that commanded — this is not necessary to the argu- 
 ment — but that caused the crime. Here is enough, (unless indeed this fungus 
 of human device, this mere craft of man, is to go on wiih its claim to co-equal- 
 ity with Christianity,) quite enough, to bring it under the broad conservative 
 maxim of the law to which I appeal. We must look at the maxim in its high- 
 est reason ; not merely as one to be pleaded in a court of common law, but 
 designed, in the far wider range of its dignity and justice, to throw its protec- 
 tion over mankind. We make Masonry amenable to it, in the only way in 
 which the American people in their collective capacity, can apply its saving 
 efficacy ; viz : by insisting that the Institution which caused the crime, be 
 dissolved. The great coronev of the nation — such would the press have been 
 on this emergency if it had not shamefully deserted its post — holding an in- 
 quest over the dead body of Morgan, could render no other verdict, if the ver- 
 dict covered the whole ground, than that he came to his- death by Masons, and 
 tkrovgk Maso7iry. If the verdict were qualified by saying the bad spirit of 
 Masonry, not its good, what difference would this make to the nation, seeing 
 that Masonry, in some form or other, was the source ot the whole transaction. 
 To the nation therefore is Ma,sonry, upon the soundest principles of law, ac- 
 countable for his death. The safety of the people is the supreme law, 
 which will disdain all shadowy distinctions in a case of this magnitude and 
 concern. It is from Masonry that the Commonwealth has received detriment 
 in the destruction of a citizen, and the old custom of Rome should be revived ; 
 the people must take care that it receives no more. 
 
 This conservative maxim of jurisprudence, i«i seen in its broadest application 
 when in force between nation and nation. The entire family of independent 
 nations, acknowledge its indisputable validity. Hence goverments, and conse- 
 quently nations, are held responsible for a mere indignity offered to the person 
 of a citizen of another nation, although the nation, collectively within whoso 
 limits the indignity may have been committed, be free from all imputation of 
 an intentional guilt. History abounds with such facts, and with accounts of 
 wars, followed up to the overthrow of nations, growing out of them. I might 
 mention, as a very fresh illustration of the general doctrine, the course just 
 pursued by France in despatching a squadron to the Tagus, to avenge the de- 
 grading treatment shown to a French subject in Lisbon, although it would ap« 
 pear to have been denied that the Portuguese King (Don Miguel) had given 
 any sanction to the outrage ; for the French Minister's note of reclamation, 
 does not undertake positively to say that it had his sanction. Had Lisbon even 
 been bombarded and its innocent inhabitants suffered, it would be nothing 
 more than we have seen, in effect, in analagous cases among independent na- 
 tions. Yet Masonry, in defiance of all this, in defiance of the absorbing and 
 transcendant nature of public rights, v/hether as claimed and exercised so in- 
 variably by states within themselves, or internationally, affects to thmk that it 
 is not to answer for an offence committed by the immediate members of its own 
 body, acting from a spirit infused into them by that body. The latter ingredi- 
 ent makes the case tar stronger than the one just cited, or any other likely to 
 occur between States ; not to mention other enormities in the case of Morgan 
 that recoil de jure, and, as we shall see presently, de facto too, upon the 
 Lodge. But what am I saying ? Why do I forget myself.? With governments 
 masonry will hold no parallel ; with nations it will hold no parallel ; nothing 
 but Christianity is its compeer ! The Lodge and the Church, are ever in ce- 
 lestial glory coupled. Christianity is not answerable for the bad deeds of 
 Christians} therefore, masonry must not be answerablo for the bad deeds of 
 masons I Such is the consummate blasphemy of masonic logick. Sometimes^ 
 indeed, it will stoop, a little. It will transiently condescend to compara itself 
 
76 
 
 with the Senate of ihe United Slates ; or, being fond of old things, to the old 
 Revolutionary Congress. It is in the matter of ^ecrec^, that it thus comes be- 
 low its heavenly aspirations. The comparison purports, that as nations some- 
 times transact their affairs with closed doors, the nation of Freemasons have 
 also a good r\%h\. to close theirs eternally, with the superadiiition, en bagatelle^ 
 of eternal oaths, and penalties, lest they con)e to be opened. 
 
 Let us look into the moving spring of all this sell exaltat:on. It may not 
 lie so much below the surfacj as that common peneti\iiion cannot easily get to 
 it, if it will but be exerted, I am unwilling to transgress upon your kindness 
 by makine: my letter too long ; but the subject is fufl of interest. 
 
 The public have so long been familiarized t(^the name of Freemasonry, and 
 it urges its claims upon the public so imperiously, that we have not yet learned 
 to treat it as it deserves to be treated ; that is with nothing more nor less than 
 justice. Through the same cause, its own sensibilities have got into the worst 
 state of morbidness, so as to be vulnerable to the slightest touch. Wrapping 
 itself up in itsexclusiveness, it has no ear lor the truths of this world. It 
 seems as if neither its understanding nor its moral faculty, could be reached 
 by them. It asi?s a standard by which to be judged applicable to no associa- 
 tion of individuals of subordinate and secular organization, in existence, If 
 this standard be denied, it puts forth complaints of hardship, and anon falls in- 
 to paroxysms of fury, as if the foundations of tlje world were struck at ; 
 
 Assumes the God, 
 
 Affects to nod, 
 
 And seems to shake the spheres. 
 
 This is ever its magisterial port. Remote ages are invoked, and names of re- 
 nown among the quick and the dead ; the cardinal virtues are marshalled as 
 testimonials, beaming like the fires of Elusis, to overpower the scepticism or 
 silence the contumacy of all who presume to breathe a doubt against its puri- 
 ty or raise a finger against its sway. It is fit says Bacon, that we sometimes 
 burn incense where bad odours have been raised. So it is with masonry 
 Thousands who join it by crossing the threshold o( a lodge but once in their 
 lives, because they find that once enough, know no more of what passes there 
 afterwards, than of what is going on in "the regions to which Ulysses descend- 
 ed. But by setting out these names, by dwelling upon bye-gone centuri.e9, 
 and unrolling the faded catalogue of its other merits, which the uninitiated are 
 to take upon the credit of its own knights in buckler, it seeks to draw aside the 
 understanding from a scrutiny into iis more recent achievements, and all its 
 existing deserts. It may be profitable to detach ourselves, for a moment, from 
 these demands upon our reverence and look at the case before us under a 
 change in the outward circumstances, but of none whatever in the real sub- 
 stance. This mode of viewincr it, may open an avenue through which the 
 judgment can pa?s, without the common hindrance*, to right conclusions on 
 the character and deeds of Masonry, 
 
 Let us suppose then, that a new society had been forrned in the United 
 States about five years ago, under a- name before unknown to us, and mod- 
 elled, we will also say, after one abroad ; for example, in Constantino^jle, 
 For convenience, we will give it a name. We will suppose it to have been 
 called, " The Brethren of the Sun and Moon, companions of the Stars, and 
 Knights of the crimson turban. Let us suppose that some of the members of 
 this society, a dozen we will say, had, with the aid of certain signs known 
 among themselves, and to all moslems, but of which others knew nothing, laid 
 a conspiracy against the liberty and life of one of our people and destroyed both, 
 for breaking some of its own self-created rules. Our supposition includes the 
 idea of secrecy, as fundamental to their rules; and it regards the society as 
 composed of Americans as well as foreigners. Let us further and lastly sup- 
 pose, that these titled and turbaned associators had them, by virtue of certain 
 cabalistical vows that bound them to their society and to each other with an 
 energy as if inscribed on the banner of the prophet, continued to defy, for full 
 four years out of the five of the society's existence, all our courts and juries to 
 convict them of this conspiracy and murder, although their guilt was ?o fla- 
 grant that no intelligent mind would think of doubting it:— what would not 
 nave been the feeling of the people every where against such a eociety, and 
 
76 MR- hush's answer. 
 
 what lawful means would have been left untried for its suppression ? Now, 
 here is the case of Morgan and Masonry, simply butsubstauiially staled. The 
 only defect is, that, for brevity's sake, I concede too much to Masomy in the 
 case assumed. 
 
 And, is tht're any thing in the masonic society that should exempt' it from 
 the fate to wliich such a new-born society would have been exposed? What 
 is it that gives to the former, privileges beyorui any other association of men, 
 that we sliou'd not honestly and fearlessly denounce it, and trample upon it, 
 as its »)wn adherents trample upon the law ? What is the meaning of the 
 statutes oi prcrmnihe, of which the horn-books of the law give us an accoimi? 
 Do we not know, that the essence of the offence at which they were levelled, 
 consisted in introducing into the land a power above the law ; something that 
 prevented its fair execuuon ? Jfind has not masonry done this very thing in 
 Morgan's case ? W ho will say that prohibitory statutes might not be enacted 
 against the Institution in New York ? There would have been little hesita- 
 tion, we may be assuied, in bringing the Turkish society, the case of which I 
 have put, under the sharpest i»enal legislation, if it had not been made to dis- 
 appear under more immediate bursts of public detestation. And on what plea 
 should masonry escape ? Its antiquity ? This is precisely the strongest reason 
 for putting it down. Ancient abusfs are sure to be the most formidable, in 
 every comnjunity disfigured by their existence. They make a claim to sanc- 
 tity on this ground, like the English rotten borough system, and work evil the 
 more fatally under every form. Time is a power which the artful play off 
 upon the credulity of mankind. Do we requite the proof .^ How else could 
 it have happened, that masonry has stood even to this day in a country like 
 purs, whilst indulging itself in pageantries and taking to itself titles, that have 
 not only been banished from European countries, but that surpa^-s all Asiatic 
 exaggeration, and have been forced to seek refuge in the uncivilized or ruffian 
 tastes of such courts asTin)buctoo and Algiers ? Positively, there is an excess 
 in them, a picture of elaborate burlesque, revolting to all rationality, and that 
 might well startle the fabled Momus, could he raise his visor to behold them 
 Tne explanation is historical, but where is any longer the excuse, whatever 
 the more recent date of its regular formation in Britain ? Masonry rose up in 
 Europe, in times full of barbarism. It has remained at anchor, surrounded by 
 its prejudices, whilst the current has boms the rest of society onward, enlight' 
 ening it in all ways, but in none more than in getting rid of mysticism and 
 pomposity, not only in government, but in all the concerns ol" life. To these 
 two attributes masonry clings with an especial tenacity. She would have the 
 world imagine, that the charity which other societies can dispense with a 
 simplicity befitting this virtue, and which Heaven teaches every man to 
 bestow with open palm upon his brother man, though he be no brother mason, 
 must all be performed in conjunction with mimic signs, the memorials of a 
 rude and tyrannous age. It was an age when the strength of the human un- 
 derstandhig was displayed by its belief in astrology ; vi'hen freedom was 
 shown by the va.«salage of the common people ; and when barons and bishops 
 pot being able to write their names, made their significant marks instead 
 thereof; after the fashion, we may suppose, of some of the siill enduring 
 symbols of freemasonry I Such was its peculiar age, such the advancement of 
 intellect, such the condition of civil liberty in the atmosphere of which it in- 
 haled its nutriment. An appropriate and beneficial pattern, for moulding the 
 principle^ and warming the affections of American republicans! 
 
 The follies over which time throws its mantle in the case of this Institution, 
 are egregious and grotesque. Any mind that will contemplate them in the 
 abstract rather than the concrete, must get awake to their exorbitancy. But 
 these miurht be overlooked perhaps, on the principle of leaving all men to the 
 fi uition of their own taste*;, did not time do much more for masonry. Its awful 
 hoar becomes a cover for its downright enormities. This is a strong expres- 
 sion, but not too strong — not strong enough — as what I am now to state 
 will prove. The fiends who actually took the life of Morgan, have not, 
 as we know, to this hour been discovered ; but some of the brother- 
 hood who had a hand in the conspiracy, have been convicted and sent to 
 prison. Will it be credited, that these convicts are still permitted to retain 
 l^eir membership in the New York Lodges - This if the fact. They are the 
 
MR. RUSHES AN6WEK 77 
 
 companions of felony in the jail, and of masonry out of it ; one day consorting 
 with the brotherhood of malefactors ; tho next, with their own brotherhood ! 
 You, gentlemen, are probably aware of this fart. I derive it not from the 
 antimasonic newspapers alone, but, recently, through other channels ; for at 
 first I thounrht there inust be some mistake, and abstained from mentioning it in 
 my former letter. It seemed too much for belief. Would not lani;uage have 
 failed to convey the sense of universal iisdifination, had any other society than 
 that of ancient freeina.«onry fallen into such conduct .' Would not any other 
 have been blasted by every tongue, every pen, everj' press, in the nation ? 
 Let the presses devoted to masonry answer. But how many of them have 
 blazoned to the world thi^ masonic enormity ? Perhaps they have not known 
 of it? benighted sentinels, they are always in ignorance ! Perhaps they wait 
 for the technical evidence .'' cautious sentinels, they are never too quick in 
 firing! no, not o^ masonry, for the world ; but O how prompt, how valiant, 
 how terrible, the discharjie at its foes ! how the trumpet of war sounds ! how 
 the clans assemble ! liow (he towers of the Lodge-universal are manned ! 
 what signals are given out! what chivalry is poured forth I how 
 
 Masonic driiras, enthusiastic, 
 
 Are beat wid» types, instead of a-stick. 
 
 The last conflagration itself seems approaching when masonry is threatened. 
 This is all in virtue of its antiquity. Its liege subjects bow down in homaae, 
 and being " ungirt and uncovered" after the olden time, pledge to their Idol 
 "life and limb and terrenne honor." This is ancient masonry. This is the 
 Institution that claims respect for its antiquity, reverenee for its purity, and 
 support because it is^ ^'persecuted ;"" the Institutiou that takes convicts to its 
 arms, receives them into its holiest places ! If a Juvenal should rise up a- 
 mong us, here is a masonic sceoe worthy of immortal verse, or there is none 
 suchto be found in the satires of (he Roman bard. 
 
 A few more reflections, and I will conclude. When masonry calls the name 
 of Washington to its aid, it commits a profanation rivalling, in its way, the 
 murder of Morgan as a public crime. It is difficult to speak of it and maintain 
 a proper decorum ; as if that matchless patriot and hero, he who founded our 
 Republic and therefore gave it its laws, who led us through the countless trials 
 of a seven years war without a single violation of the law, as if he, could he 
 have lived to see the day when a band of conspirators from the brotherhood 
 would ferociously murder a citizen and then defy the law, under oaths and 
 salvoes which but for masonry they never would have dreamed of, — as if he 
 would not have been the very first to uproot all its foundations, could he have 
 witnessed this spectacle. As surely as he always vindicated the supremacy 
 of the law, so surely would he have given up masonry when he found it strong- 
 er than the law. As surely as he tore to pieces his oath of allegiance to. 
 George III. that once bound him to monarchy, so surely would he have given 
 to the winds all the extra-judicial and bombastical oaths that once bound him. 
 to masonry. There are some persons belonging to this Institution, who cannot 
 or who will not reason upon the subject of it; but from enlightened and can- 
 did masons we may hope otherwise ; and before the great body of the public 
 we have a right to expect, that it will be considered and treated like any other 
 source of danger to the public. Its charity, like all other virtue, would sur- 
 vive the stroke of death, and find other channels through which to diffuse its 
 relief among the sons of men. Above all, masonry is out of place, in the 
 United States. It is a hideous exotic. It is foreign in its original conception, 
 and in all its present habits. Its complication and concealmenfs are not 
 American, nor its ceremonial, nor any part of its l)yperboIical nonienclature. 
 An atmospheie of political freedom and openness, is not its element. It baa 
 nothing fanly to do here, and as its spirit is active, it will be doing mischief. 
 The wonder is, that it should have existed as long as it has done under insti- 
 tutions so totally opposite in genius, to its entire creed and operations. If is 
 loo exclusive, too demanding, too intense in its sympathies within its own 
 orbit, to have favor with a people jealous of all movements apatt from their 
 own body, where no oaths tie down, no mysteries darken the path of conduct. 
 It has escaped the hand of Ajuerican reform chiefly because, to the bulk of the 
 people, it hag remained unknown ; but now that a stupendous crime agrainst 
 
78 MR rush's answer. 
 
 society committed through masonry, and remaining unpunished through ma- 
 sonry, has inexorably fastened public scrutiny upon the Institution, its num- 
 berless other incongruities with our system, political and social, are driven one 
 after another from their lurking places, and the glory of its overthrow it is 
 hoped, will be added to the many other victories of American good sense, over 
 ancient abuses. May it be swept trom our land, like the rotten boroujrh 
 system from England ; which, in its tiine, has had as stout defenders. The privi- 
 leges of such a relic ot'otlier days as old Sarum, the ultra aristocracy used to 
 say weie as valuable there, as some amongst us would have it believed those 
 of the lodge are here ; but as they are about to have their jubilee in England 
 for the extirpation of the one monster, let us have ours for the extirpation of 
 the other. Each celebration would attest the triumph of reason over folly, 
 tyranny, and craft; and their simultaneous echoes, could they be heard 
 together, Vsrould alike redound to the honor as well as durable advantage of 
 both Nations. 
 
 I have the honor to remain with great respect, your obedient servant, 
 
 RICHARD RUSH 
 
 To THE Hon. TIMOTHY FULLER, 
 
 President, and 
 
 Stephen P. Gardner — Abner Phelps — 
 JElpAPHRAs HoYT and M. H. Ruggles, Esquires, 
 Vice Presidents of the Antimasonic Convention 
 of Massachusetts. 
 
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