Masonry, but notwithstanding, their conduct admits it; and although to them the institution was free from immorality, and void of hostility to our civil and religious institutions, it is far otherwise to the public. The public bave unequivocally condemned it. Upon the Masons, we look in this matter, with that deserved kindness, which they undeservedly bestow upon Free Masonry. The institution, in its nature, is evil, and in its practice, is corrupt; it merits neither love nor mercy; but the intelligent and shrewd men, who have been caught in its meshes. who have been grotesquely attired in its short aprons, white, black, and gray, and who, with a halter about thefr necks, have been dubbed knights of the trowel and plumb-line; they are our brethren, prodigal sons, who left their father's house, and went into a far country in pursuit of wisdom. We will not despise their return; we will forgive their wanderings, and receive them as their demeanor prompts. But it had been better for them to say to their country: "Father, I have sinned," than to attempt a defence of the harlot with whom, some of them, have expended a portion of their patrimony.

"A leading principle of the order," they say, "forbids all interference with the political concerns of the country, or intermingling with the same as a political party."

Where the leading principle of a system is falsehood, all other leading principles are to be distrusted. Falsehood is the leading principle of Free Masonry: the system is false in its origin, (from Heaven;) false in its date, (the creation of the world;) false in its record, (Book of Constitutions ;) false in its history, (tale of Hiram Abiff;) false in the inducements it presents to love, (holiness and secrecy, and science;) false its grand object, (Charity.)

And so in the judgment of all dispassionate inquirers, Free Masonry is false in that "leading principle of the order," which forbids an interference with political concerns. It is true, she forbids it; but she is not true, and does not truly forbid it. Free Masonry forbids meddling in politics for her own convenience, as she claims a heavenly origin for her own glory, and as she gives alms for her own gain Let there be a call to meddle in politics, and the mystery is very expert. She sends, in this city, seventy delegates out of eighty, to make a nomination for the Legislature; while the public do not dream that she sends more than ten,

We have recently had occasion to inquire, also in this city, for a Superior or Circuit Judge, to take affidavits deeply interesting, both to the fraternity of Masons and to the public; and we have not been able to find one out of the many, who is not a Mason.Possibly some are not Masons, but we used our diligence several

who is not under the oaths of the order; and we were reluctantly compelled to give up the inquiry. And, generally, the institution sees in secret, her sons advanced to all places of trust and profit; and, at the same time, publicly charges them to avoid meddling in politics.

This circumstance is one which induces a large and increasing party in this state to ask, in relation to every candidate for office, whether he is a Mason or not. That party is called Anti-Mason; and it may be called Federal, or what its enemies please, the strength of its arm, and the purity of its purpose, will discomfit all who oppose it, from the confines of Monroe county, to the utmost borders of our country. Not only Lodges and Chapters, and all other Masonic principalities and powers, quail before it, and in the fair and open field surrender their banners and their charters; but every Mason is individually shaken, and must with his apron, lay off his oath also, to entitle him to equal confidence among his fellowcitizens. An honest jeweller will be mistrusted, if he keep a bag of deceitful weights; and though he promises never to use them, he will be mistrusted still. A false balance is a dangerous instrument in the hands of a multitude, who weigh out public favors. would be hard to say of this, or of that man, “I will not trust him ;” but it is fair to say, the whole company are less trustworthy for their possession of unequal weights; and any one who will be an exception to the company, must not only abandon the order, but also destroy his false balance, and his scant measures.

It

For the Mason to say he has none, will not satisfy. The public decide that he has; that his obligations to the brotherhood are, in relation to his public obligations, like one set of measures with a private seal, which are different from, and therefore at variance with his set of weights and measures having the public seal. And all men know that honesty can neither use, nor possess, two sets of weights and measures; one set for the brotherhood, and another for the profane. The fraternity will not be allowed to retain public confidence, and also, to retain their oblightions to keep a brother's secret, which they would expose in a neighbor; their obligation to apprise a brother of approaching danger, which they would leave to fall on the head of a neighbor; to go on a brother's errand, which they would not go upon for their neighbor; to respect a brother's wife, and sister and daughter, while they are Masonically free to to abuse the family confidence of their neighbor; and to risk their life for a brother, though a barbarian, when they would not risk it for their neighbor and fellow-citizen. These obligations, the public believe and we know, are obligations of Free Masonry; and the reader will judge how far they entitle those who will keep them, to

that perfect confidence, which a candidate for public favor ought to inspire.

The citizens of the Western District of New-York, have decided that these obligations unfit the members of the Masonic fraternity for any place of public trust; and the Masons of Monroe county, have assented to the justice of that decision, by the voluntary surrender of their charters, and by "yielding submission to the imperious judgment, which intolerance, (they say,) has pronounced."— By submission to this “intolerance," they expect to restore themselves to public favor; and by surrendering their charters, they expect to avoid "the sweeping denunciations, which have been so prodigally lavished upon them." The institution of Masonry still remains pure in their sight, and fit to unite them again “in social bonds," whenever "fell suspicion" shall have removed from them "ber jaundiced gaze."

By yielding willingly their charters to reproach, they acknowledge what, by maintaining the purity of Free Masonry, they deny, that the indignation of the public against the institution, is just.The reproaches of which they complain, rest upon them as Free Masons, and not as citizens. So they regard it, and disband their Lodges; so they regard it, and resign their Charters. Thus they think to avoid the odium of Free Masonry; thus they "repair to the threshhold of conciliation and expostulation." There, as AntiMasons, we meet them, and inquire, do you cease to be Free Masons by throwing up your Charters? Are not the oaths of the order, the ties of mystic brotherhood between man and man, still upon you? You have resigned your Charters to avoid the reproach of being Free Masons, and you yet maintain the righteousness of the institution? You acknowledge that the reproach is just; and on whom or on what could it rest? On you, as members of the Lodges, cr as citizens? Not as citizens; for the resignation of your Masonic Charters yet leaves you worthy citizens, and the reproach is, you think, removed. Neither could it have rested on you as individual Masons; for that would imply a personal responsibility, from which the resignation of a Charter could not release you. It must, then, have rested, where it still rests, upon you as members of the mystic order, held by its ties, and bound by its obligations. From these, you are not released by the resignation of a Charter; nor are you by that just act exonerated from the reproach of Free Masonry. You are Free Masons yet, entitled to all the rights and privileges and sympathies of the order. As such, AntiMasons must strenuously, but in a tone of softened feeling, continue to oppose you, altogether resist your claim to public favor, and unhesitatingly prefer others before you for trusts of emolument and posts of official power.

THE

Anti-Masonic Review,

AND

MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

At a meeting of citizens held at No. 66, Nassau-street, on the evening of the 20th instant, Mr. ERASTUS ELLSWORTH was called to the Chair, and C. C. BLATCHLY, chosen Secretary.

On motion of HENRY DANA WARD, Esq. resolved, unanimously, that a committee of three be appointed to address one or more of the most eminent men of this state who are Free Masons, soliciting their opinion upon the general character and tendency of Masonic Societies, accompanied with such explanations and remarks as they may choose to make upon the subject.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Chairman appoint that committee.

Whereupon, MR. ELLSWORTH appointed CoL. RICHARD VARICK, THOMAS FESSENDEN, Esq. and SAMUEL ST. JOHN, Esq. to constitute that committee.

NEW-YORK, APRIL 21st, 1829.

HON. CADWALLADER D. COLDEN,

Sir The undersigned, the committee appointed in pursuance of the above resolutions, recollecting you as a distinguished member of a sagacious and discriminating profession; having reason to remember you with respect and gratitude as Mayor of this city, and as their Legislative Representative at Albany and at Washington; and reposing confidence in you as a MAN; and, being informed, moreover, that you are intimately acquainted with Free Masonry, and have attained to its most elevated degrees, beg leave, in discharge of the trust committed to them, to solicit the communication of your opinion and judgment upon the tendency and effects of that institution, accompanied with such explanations and remarks as you may choose to make upon so interesting a subject. Entertaining opinions unfavorable to Masonic associations, on general principles, with much sincerity, and without a particle of hostility to Masons as individual men, the committee, as well as those they represent, are not only willing but desirous to obtain light and truth upon a question which, at present, so deeply agitates the com

munity, from any quarter, Masonic or others ise, whence it can be communicated, and from which it may be confidently anticipated, it will come unperverted, as far as it is communicated at all.

With great respect, we are,

Your fellow-citizens, and ob't serv'ts.

RICH'D VARICK,

THOMAS FESSENDEN,

SAM'L ST. JOHN.

MR. COLDEN'S ANSWER.

GENTLEMEN,

I do not think I ought to object to communicate in this manner, the sentiments I have long held, and have frequently expressed, in relation to Free Masonry.

It is true that I have been a Mason a great number years, and that I have held very high Masonic offices and honors. It is equally true that I have for a long time ceased to have any connexion with the institution, - because, I have believed, and do now believe, it is productive of much more evil than good. It is also true that I have on no fit occasion hesitated to express this sentiment.

I would not do any thing inconsistent with any obligation I may have, however inconsiderately, assumed. But I know nothing of Masonry to render it so horrible as it would be in my estimation, if it obliged me to be silent when I thought its influences were pernicious. It would be detestable if it did not leave me at liberty to warn others from following my example in becoming a member of an institution, of which from its very nature, I must have been ignorant until I was initiated, and, of which, a just estimate can only be formed from experience.

I shall disclose none of the secrets of Masonry, (if it now has any secrets,) nor shall I say any thing inconsistent with what is due to the eminent living, and illustrious dead, whose names are recorded as members