angels desire to look: (1 Pet. i. 12.) a mystery full of import to immortal souls: and Free Masonry dares to insinuate through her pretended Egyptian priests, that this mystery of the gospel is incredible. "Go, wondrous Creature! mount where science guides, "Go, measure earth, weigh air, and state the tides ;--- "Then drop into thyself, and be a fool!" But the apostle's exclamation is to the point: "without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Tim. iii. 16.) CHAPTER XLIV. Abbé Barruel and Professor Robison. "Whom will the Lord permit to dwell "The men that walk in pious ways, "That work with righteous hands; "That trust their Maker's promises, "And follow his commands; "That speak the meaning of their heart, "Nor slander with their tongue; "Will scarce believe an ill report, "Or do their neighbour wrong." This work commenced with the consideration of some ancient pretensions of Free Masonry; with a view of her Book of Constitutions, and her emblems. It next discussed her scientific claims in the fellow craft's degree, and then the faithfulness of her tradition in her sublime degree of Master Mason; and gave a summary view of her contradictions, and arts, and absurdities within the lodges, with the royal arch for the climax. A claim trumpeted through her chosen works, and by her numerous orators, to be the teacher of religion among the arts, has attracted our notice, and the manner in which she has performed that part of her duty through the Grand Chaplain and the Grand Chapter of New-York, has been fully examined. What has followed since that, I leave to the recollection of the reader. "Is it, therefore, to be supposed that the Free Masonry of our country, our lodges, grand lodges, &c. aim at the diffusion of infidelity?" I believe no such thing. This age and country could not bear it. But if the emptiness of Free Masonry has been in other countries, and in other times, filled to the brim with all that is hostile to revelation, and to sound principles, it will be no recommendation to its general use here ; better throw it away, as a vessel more used to dishonour, than to honour, whatever it might have been made for. Not to multiply words, it is my object in this work to lay before the public, facts and authorities illustrative of the nature of Free Masonry, and its capacity for abuse. My quotations have been, hitherto, almost confined to the writers who are admirers of Free Masonry. If, from their statements, the reader is ready to be provoked with its ridiculous vanity, and excessive ostentation, he may prepare to be further disgusted with the impiety and folly which remains to be discovered. It does not concern the writer what inferences men draw from the character of these documents. It is his duty to put them in these pages; let the reader judge. If it seem unfriendly to the great masonic body of our country, that is wrong; I am not unfriendly. Having entered the lodge in pursuit of light, and finding none, is it unkind to be instrumental of sending a ray there? "Perhaps the writer is the blind man, who supposes the rest of mankind to have lost their vision, while he himself sees clearly?" Once it might have been so feared, but times have changed. Many doubt the excellence of Masonry, who, not long since, were partially attached to it, and they will be glad to see what will settle their doubts. Messrs. Barruel and Robison wrote at the same era, without mutual consultation, not having the same sources of information, one a French clergyman, the other a Scottish professor, and both Free Masons. They came, with manifest reluctance, both to the same conclusion: that there then existed a conspiracy against all government and religion; that this was mighty through the false guise it assumed, and that a principal instrument of its operations was Free Masonry, especially the higher degrees. Perhaps these were very foolish men, Messrs. B. and R., but surely they were learned men, candid men, lovers of their country, who had a reverence for truth and religion.. They give the reasons of their opinions; they quote their authorities, naming the author and page, like honest people; they both had a wish to rescue British Masonry from the condemnation and fellowship of continental Masonry, and appear to be sincerely actuated with the desire of doing good, by giving their labours to the public. Nevertheless, for thirty years last past, their honoured names, through the influence of Free Masonry, have been made to stand for every thing that is base; and so far was even the writer of this article carried away by the flood of vituperation poured after Barruel and Robison, (it is with shame, and grief, and indignation, I confess it,) that their title-pages were fearful to him; that wishing calmly and candidly to investigate the character of Free Masonry, he refused, for months, while in the investigation, to call for 276 their volumes, lest the purity of truth, in its sources, might be contaminated with the streams of falsehood; and it was not until an advanced stage of the inquiry made him bold, that he ventured to drink at their fountains; professor Robison's work never coming into his hands until December, 1827, and the Abbé Barruel's, then the first time for perusal; and he was astonished to find they show a manifest tenderness toward Free Masonry, levelling their shafts mainly at her abuses in the higher degrees. Then was remembered the proverb of the spaniel, which no respect for Free Masonry prevents repeating here. Oh, it should make one weep to know how the pure motives of these men have been blackened; how the arduous labours of these patriotic men have been calumniated ; how these honourable names have been slandered by honourable men; these learned names have been traduced by learned men, and these pious names have been depreciated by pious men ; that the upright have often been constrained to number them with the offscouring of the earth. "And what has persuaded just men to do so foul wickedness?" My reader, without malice, it is Free Masonry; it is Free Masonry who has jaundiced the eyes, has dipped the arrows in gall, and sent them in flights that have darkened heaven. Rejoice over her, ye righteous! Be glad, Barruel and Robison! faithful servants of your generation; let your hearts exult upon earth; your pure spirits triumph, if martyrs to the truth, ye have ascended to heaven! Your adversary is brought low; the sun of Free Masonry declines in the west, and soon your names shall shine, and shine for ever, beautiful stars in the firmament of truth! The reader shall have a taste of their style. In testifying upon this subject, the Abbé will begin, and he shall speak for himself. One entire chapter from his work, treating of the higher degrees of Masonry, will serve to declare his opinion, and to exhibit his interesting manner and amiable spirit. He will say some things not relevant to the Masonry of this country; something which the wickedness of " the reign of terror" could better justify; but let him not be interrupted or despised. He is not a man to declare, as undeniably true, what he knows to be a gross error;* nor to mistake Free Masonry for evangelical truth. CHAPTER XLV. "The world is in pain "Our secrets to gain, "And still let them wonder and gaze on; "They ne'er can divine "The word or the sign, "Of a Free and an Accepted Mason; ""Tis this and 'tis that, They cannot tell what, "Nor why the great men of the nation "Should aprons put on, "And make themselves one "With a Free and an Accepted Mason."-Old Song. Abbé Barruel's Memoirs of Jacobinism, vol. ii. p. 152. CHAP. IX.—“ During the last twenty years it was difficult, especially in Paris, to meet persons who did not be * Sovereign inspector general; tradition of the master's degree, p. 97. of this volume. |