-
Articles/Ads
Article REJECTED LETTERS.* ← Page 4 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Rejected Letters.*
conscientiously refusing to take the judicial oath of supremacy in the ecclesiastical affairs of Dissenters and the Roman Catholic church , then imposed by the penal laws . SECOND OBJECTION . WANT OF NECESSITY .
That secret societies are unnecessary ; secret signs are unnecessary ; secret oaths or affirmations are unnecessary ; and Freemasonry is unnecessary , though alleged to be instituted for convivial and charitable purposes , but tending to useless , ruinous , and extravagant expenditure , leading men into scenes of riot , drunkenness , and debauchery—according to the "Tablet , " December SO , 18 » 13 , on the authority of the poet Burns .
Therefore , — Freemasonry , secret oaths , secret signs , and secret societies , being ¦ unnecessary , are immoral . NOT SO , — Because , neither the church in any council , nor any code of morals , affirms that want of necessity alone constitutes that to be immoral which is otherwise moral .
Because such acts have not before been deemed unnecessary or immoral , which the custom of ages have established , as well as the constant practice of millions , from time immemorial over the whole world , by potentates ancl princes , bishops , priests , ancl laymen—the great and the good of all nations . Because the edicts of the popes , prohibiting and condemning the " SECT" of Freemasons ancl other secret societies , "bound by an oath in
an impenetrable bond of secrecy , " from Clement XII ., in 1737 , to that of our present " Vicar of Christ , " have become obsolete from disuse , the term of duration and force , according to the canon law , having expired , without republication—in this country ( I believe ) unlawful , ancl the urgency therefore having generall y long since ceased , by the utter extinction of most of the obnoxious and wicked combinations against Christianity and the laws of civil society . Because such , denunciations against the wicked tenets of infidel , atheistical , anti-social , anti-Christian , ancl anti-Catholic sects , and
unnecessary secret societies , some calling themselves " Freemasons , " as " Illuminati , " " Carbonari , " " Communists , " " Orangeist , " ancl the like , if they exist anywhere , never were professed or promulgated by Freemasons , Odd Fellows , and the like , in these realms , being exclusive of any interference in politics or religion , convivial ancl charitable brotherhoods , innocent in themselves , and perfectly legal , obliged by the constitutions to denounce as criminal , treason , ancl murder . the
Because argument of want of necessity , ruin , riot , debauchery tendency to evil , ancl the like , if allowed to the full extent , according to the words of Scripture , " if thy eye offend thee , pluck it out ; " " if thy arm offend thee , cut it off : " or that the abuse were an argument for disuse , would shut up all our theatres , public houses , gin shops , distilleries , & c ., forbid the use of money , & c , which cannot be denied are all so many awful instruments in the hands of that too often calumniated black fellow , the devil , for damning millions of souls . This argument goes even further , as I believe exemplified by some Brahmins ; would
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Rejected Letters.*
conscientiously refusing to take the judicial oath of supremacy in the ecclesiastical affairs of Dissenters and the Roman Catholic church , then imposed by the penal laws . SECOND OBJECTION . WANT OF NECESSITY .
That secret societies are unnecessary ; secret signs are unnecessary ; secret oaths or affirmations are unnecessary ; and Freemasonry is unnecessary , though alleged to be instituted for convivial and charitable purposes , but tending to useless , ruinous , and extravagant expenditure , leading men into scenes of riot , drunkenness , and debauchery—according to the "Tablet , " December SO , 18 » 13 , on the authority of the poet Burns .
Therefore , — Freemasonry , secret oaths , secret signs , and secret societies , being ¦ unnecessary , are immoral . NOT SO , — Because , neither the church in any council , nor any code of morals , affirms that want of necessity alone constitutes that to be immoral which is otherwise moral .
Because such acts have not before been deemed unnecessary or immoral , which the custom of ages have established , as well as the constant practice of millions , from time immemorial over the whole world , by potentates ancl princes , bishops , priests , ancl laymen—the great and the good of all nations . Because the edicts of the popes , prohibiting and condemning the " SECT" of Freemasons ancl other secret societies , "bound by an oath in
an impenetrable bond of secrecy , " from Clement XII ., in 1737 , to that of our present " Vicar of Christ , " have become obsolete from disuse , the term of duration and force , according to the canon law , having expired , without republication—in this country ( I believe ) unlawful , ancl the urgency therefore having generall y long since ceased , by the utter extinction of most of the obnoxious and wicked combinations against Christianity and the laws of civil society . Because such , denunciations against the wicked tenets of infidel , atheistical , anti-social , anti-Christian , ancl anti-Catholic sects , and
unnecessary secret societies , some calling themselves " Freemasons , " as " Illuminati , " " Carbonari , " " Communists , " " Orangeist , " ancl the like , if they exist anywhere , never were professed or promulgated by Freemasons , Odd Fellows , and the like , in these realms , being exclusive of any interference in politics or religion , convivial ancl charitable brotherhoods , innocent in themselves , and perfectly legal , obliged by the constitutions to denounce as criminal , treason , ancl murder . the
Because argument of want of necessity , ruin , riot , debauchery tendency to evil , ancl the like , if allowed to the full extent , according to the words of Scripture , " if thy eye offend thee , pluck it out ; " " if thy arm offend thee , cut it off : " or that the abuse were an argument for disuse , would shut up all our theatres , public houses , gin shops , distilleries , & c ., forbid the use of money , & c , which cannot be denied are all so many awful instruments in the hands of that too often calumniated black fellow , the devil , for damning millions of souls . This argument goes even further , as I believe exemplified by some Brahmins ; would