Some Common Objections To Freemasonry.

Lndwig Greismann , a Dominican monk and lecturer on biology , endeavoured to prove , at Aix la Chapelle , in n course of sermons preached durinrj Lent 1779 , that tho Jews who cvuoified Christ wove Freemasons ; that Pilate

and Hprod were Wardens of a Lorlge ; that Judas Iscariot , before he betrayed his Lord and Master , was initiated lithe Synagogue , and that when he returned the thirty pieces of silver to the Priests ho did no more than par the

fees for admission to tho Order . Paul Cullen , Roman Catholic Archbishop and Primate of all Ireland , in November 1851 , declared that " all Catholics who join the society of "Freemasons are subjected to tho penalty of excommunication—cut off as rotten branches from the

Church of God , and if thoy die in this deplorable state are doomed to eternal perdition . " One Major Allyn published some years aero a book , in America , against tho Order , in which he declares : " Its bloody picture exhibits

a combination of principles the most inveterately opposed to free inquiry and individual rights that over stained tho annals of infamy . You may search the blackened character of the Holy Volume , or invoke the archives of the secret

tribunals of Germany , where torture yells and grinds her bloody teeth , but your exertions would be vain , you conld not find a case to match this masterpiece . The Holy Inquisition , that harbinger of Hell's most dreadful

attribute—vengeance , alone may strive for the mastery . ' Major Allyn became an itinerant lecturer against the Order , and spent many months delivering addresses before crowded audiences in New York , Connecticut , Rhode

Island , Massachusetts and Philadelphia . In the course of these lectures he boasted that thousands seceded from tho Order . His barefaced imposition was at last detected , and he was pelted off the stage in disgrace . He pitifully

describes his most suitable reward of violating his Masonic obligations . Declaring himself a man of high standing , he confesses that he was "mobbed , insulted , stoned , imprisoned , abused , while he sought in vain the protection

of the law . " That many-headed body the profanum vulgus generally awards more pelting than pence to falsehood and perjury , and so Major Allyn appears to have found it . It is frequently asserted that Freemasonry encourages

dissipation and intemperance of the worst description , as evidenced to the world by the evil lives of many of its members . I can scarcely imagine that a really unprejudiced and sensible person could admit such an

argument against any community . Can we point through the world to a single Institution so perfect and infallible as to possess the power of excluding from its ranks objectionable members . If Masonic Lodges in

different countries , as is doubtless the case , have in certain instances disgraced their meetings by evil deeds , the blame in all fairness must rest with themselves , and not with the Order whose primary principle it undoubtedly is to urge on

its members with the fear of God . " The practice of every domestic as well as public virtue , that prudence may direct them , temperance chasten them , fortitude support them , and justice be the guide of all their actions . "

Connected also to this objection may be viewed the argument that the fruits of Masonry do not appear in every brother as regards peculiar eminence in the objects proposed by the Craft . I proceed in the next place to notice the

objection that whatever is secret must consequently be bad ; all secrecy , as some would argue , mplying evil . If Masonry be really replete with every moral principle , it is asked by many , —why is it not given indiscriminately to all ,

that all may be benefited by its valuable privileges ? Now I utterly deny that secrecy can fairly be imputed as a crime , inasmuch as every age of the world has considered it an excellence , when judiciously exercised . Are we not

taught by the wisest of men that " a ta'e bearer revealeth secrets , but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter . " Is not secrecy , also , not only desirable , but absolutely requisite in properly conducting all worldly

affairs , and do not all corporated bodies enjoy this liberty without impeachment ? An apprentice , for instance , is bound to keep the secrets of his master , a friend to consult the interests of his company , and not to disclose in

common society the mysteries of his profession ; secret committees and privy councils are solemnly enjoined not to publish abroad their debates and resolutions . In courts martial all the members are bound to secresy , and in many

cases for moro effectual securit y an oath is administered . As we are united in general society by our wants aud infirmities , and a variety of circumstances contributing to our necessary dependence on each other , so particular

Some Common Objections To Freemasonry.

societies , of whatever denomination , are all conjoined b y a sort of cement , by bonds and laws that are peculiar to each of them , from the highest to the lowest . Consequentl y the injunctions of secresy among Masons can be no more

unwarrantable than in the cases and societies alluded to , A . dded to this , were the secrets of Masonry universal ly known , the design of the art , which is to include the honest and virtuous , and those alone , in the bonds of its princi ples

would be utterly subverted , and becoming familiar , like many other important matters , wonld lose its value and speedil y sink into disrepute . " Why , " it has been asked in reference to this very subject , " do men lock up precious things ,

except to keep them from unhallowed hands ? " The universality of our Order , moreover , extended as it is over every division of the habitable globe , must make it requisite that certain tokens and signs should exist by which

brethren of different nations and languages may without difficulty be known to each other , and though we act upon the principle of excluding all known immorality , our Lodges are open to every good and worthy man ,

and our secrets are hidden from none but those whose presence among us would prove fco the Order of doubtful benefit . We do not invite adherence , and therefore none can be disappointed . Ifc is further alleged b y

objectors to our Order that on every occasion of admitting a member we bind him by an oath , under solemn obligations , with heavy penalties , which they stoutly maintain is an unwarrantable proceeding . Now , if certain persons

have bound themselves into an organisation , with the laudable aim of constantl y improving in useful knowledge , and also of promoting universal benevolence and the

social virtues of human life , and have bound themselves b y a solemn obligation to conform to the rules of such Society , where is the folly , immorality or impiety of such a proceeding ? An oath taken under such circumstances is

surely lawful and obligatory . A voluntary oath is more binding from being voluntary , because there is no stricter obligation than thafc which we willingly take upon ourselves . Let us further remember that a person by the fact

of requesting permission to enter Masonry admits our authority as accredited custodians of certain secrets , which secrets we surely have a right to protect . I proceed in the next place to notice the objection that by admitting

Mahoraedans , Jews and Parsees we ignore the great Head of religion . This assertion is based on the generally received but erroneous assumption that while Freemasonry embraces that universal system in which all agree—while

the infidel and atheist are excluded from its pale—it ought fco be viewed as a religious sect . Ifc is simply a peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , uniting its adherents as well in the bonds of

brotherly love , as well as in the constant practice of scientific attainments . It cannot therefore be justly denominated a religious society , except as far as it derives its authority of universal benevolence and charity from such parts of

God ' s word as existed at different periods of time , when the various decrees of the Order were established ; ancient Masonry having come into existence far antecedent to the Christian era , the name of Christ is not consequently

essential to the formulas of fche Craffc or of Royal Arch Masonry . It , has also been gravely asserted by some that our Order is dangerous as a political association ; such an accusation is refuted by quoting the words contained in

the charge to an E . A ., " Your obedience must be proved by abstaining from all topics of political discussion , " & c . " I am to enjoin you as a citizen of the world to be exemplary in the discharge of your civil duties , by never proposing

or afc a !! countenancing any act that may be a tendency fco subvert the peace and good order of society and by paying due obedience to the laws of any State which may for the time become the place of your abode or afford you its

protection . " When societies of Jacobins and disaffected persons were common in England during the sanguinary French revolution the arm of the law was brought into action to put them down ; bufc the Order of Freemasons

vvas especially exempted by the Acfc of Parliament which then was passed , "for the more effectual suppression of societies established for seditious and treasonable purposes . " Well

might it be so when the Government possessed so strong a guarantee for the loyalty ofthe Order as was furnished by the names of snch of its members as the Duke of

Wellington , Canning , and Wilberforce , and well may we point with pride in evidence of its firm devotion to the Throne and the law in these our days to a countless host of worthies so eminent as the Prince of Wales , the Earla of