A Curious Masonic Tract.

self-preservation from approaching or impendent evil . They trace out , thoroughly weigh , and consider the good or bad consequences , that naturally , or in all probability will attend the commission of such and such actions , and the omission of others . They strongly recommend the observance of all the social virtues , in administring justice impartially , and observing those things which unbiass'd reason dictates , and experience proves to be most advantageous to the whole community . The next head is moral theology . Here they trace and point out cases of

conscience . In the next place they proceed to the teaching the rudiments of geometry and algebra . They discuss and nicely sift , the elements of Euclid ; then they proceed with indefatigable pains to draught and erect in miniature , and to model the stately palaces and buildings of tho antients , agreeable to the taste of former times , and compare them with those of modern times ; by which means they are able to judge of the proportion or disproportion both of the

antient and modern structures . It was agreed on by the Masons , a little before I left them , to have the superb edifices and spacious domes erected by all the known lodges in the world , published , with the laborious translations and remarks of each lodge thereon , so soon as they could be procured from abroad , and the plates finished . For which purpose copies of their resolution have been sent all through Europe , to the lodges in Asia , Africa , and America , that they may send their performances to the year 1756 , so soon as possible to England , from whence they took their charter . But this must be a work of time .

Sometimes they discourse upon the lives of persons of all ranks and characters , in order to excite and stimulate the brotherhood to imitate and emulate the examples of the good , by shewing them the happy end or final exit they always made ; and to give them suitable opinions of the bad , and a strong detestation of vice in general . Notwithstanding all that has been said , which , upon the whole I think ( to judge and speak impartially ) is not much to the discredit of the Masons ; yet

there are several that have been made Masons who have led very profligate lives after . But I must , in spite of my spleen and resentment , in justice tell the world that it is a law universally observed by the Masons if a brother will not be conformable to the precepts and principles of Masonry , but abandon himself to unlawful pleasures , and give himself over to vice , and the commission of enormous crimesand thereby render himself unworthy the societ

, y , and a scandal thereto , they first remonstrate with him , and then , if their admonition proves ineffectual , they immediately exclude him the lodge , and seldom or never receive him again . And though he may by some persons in the town where he was made be known to bear the name of a Mason , yet he is rejected of them as unworthy their society ; and they say he is undeserving of associating with mankind .

During my stay in one lodge I knew four of this bad stamp , and heard of many more ; all which were exiielled the lodge , but one of these four outcasts , who was ejected for being frequently intoxicated , ancl found in many untruths , upon his hearty solicitations for readmission , and solemn promises to amend , was readmitted , and in a short time , after lie had acquir'd a greater and truer knowledge of Masonry , entirely reformed , and became worthy of the societ y and the esteem of mankind .

The reader probably may ask , if the Masons are not bound to secresy by any sacred tye , and so much good in it as they taJk of , why was it not revealed many years ago for the good of the world in general , as many men , upon the least appearance of good in it , would have been fond of coming into the society . I must confess I ever was as much surprized , and as much wondered at it , as any man in the world , both before and since I was a Mason . I cannot pretend to account for the reasons of particular persons , nor of each particular brother , 2 i 2