Anti-Masonry.*

resolution , debarred all Freemasons , ivho adhered to the Fraternity , from the ordinances of religion ; and fanaticism , which Mackey justly observes is everywhere the same , stimulated the Divan at Constantinople , in 1748 , to cause a Lodge to be demolished , its jewels and furniture seized , and its members to be arrested ; but they , too , AA * ere released by the intervention of the English Minister , though the GoA ^ ernment prohibited the introduction of the Order into Turkey . Anti-Masonic booksmore or less virulenthave been published bvarious authors

, , y , some by professed seceding Masons , and others by men Avho had no personal knoAvledge of the esoteric work of the Institution . In 1686 , Dr . Robert Plot , in a book called " The Natural History of Staffordshire , " made an attack on Freemasonry . Samuel Pritcharcl was more vindictive , in 1730 , in his attack , Avhich he called " Masonry dissected , being an universal and genuine description of all its branches from the original to the present . " This was replied to by Dr . James Anderson , in 1738 , so successfully

as to secure the recent commendation of Dr . Mackey . Other boolcs and pamphlets f olkrwed under a variety of titles , but all professing to tell something about Masonic mysteries . In 1768 , a sermon was published in London , entitled , " Masonry the Way to Hell ^ a Sermon wherein is clearly proved , both from Reason and Scripture , that all who profess the Mysteries are in a State of Damnation . " This sermon was translated into French and German , but so offensive was it that it called out numerous replies ,

one of Avhich was called " Masonry the Turnpike-Road to Happiness in this Life , and Eternal Happiness Hereafter . " _ In 1707 , John Robinson issued his " Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions _ and GoA ernments of Europe , carried on in the secret meetings of Freemasons , Ilfuminati and Reading Societies ; " this work was the production of a Professor of Natural Philosophy , and Secretary of the Royal Society of Edinburgh ; hence , it is said to be more decorous in language than such books usually are , and the last' of any note published by the Anti-Masonic press of England .

In France several works of like character haA * e appeared ; one in Paris , 1734 , called " La Grande Lumiere , " others at brief intervals , and , in 1797 , the most important of all , by Abbe Barruel , in four volumes , called " Memoires pour servir a , PHistoire du Jacobinisme . " Of this work Dr . Mackey says : " The general scope of his argument Avas the same as that which was pursued by Professor Robinson ; but while both were false in their facts and fallacious in their reasoning , the Scotchman Avas calm and dispassionate , the Frenchman vehement and abusive . . No work , perhaps , was ever printed AA-kich contains so many deliberate misstatements as disgrace the pages of Barruel . "

In Germany the Masonic Institution was less frequently attacked . The Council of Dantzic issued a decree against the Order ; and , in 1764 , a book was published entitled , " Proofs that the Society of Freemasons is in every country not only useless , but , if not restricted , dangerous , and ought to be interdicted . " Other Anti-Masonic publications appeared , but chiefly as pamphlets . In the United States , the Morgan excitement broke out in 1826 , when William

Morgan , who was born in Culpepper County , Virginia , in 1775 , published his famous book , which pretended . to be an Exposition of Masonry . It is very well understood that this book originated in consequence of the refusal of the Masons of Leroy to admit him to membership in their Lodge and Chapter . Of its consequences , and of the Anti-Masonic mania which subsequently prevailed , and Avhich separated friends ; divided and sundered Churches , poisoned politics , scandalized virtuous households , and attacked reputations hitherto unimpeached , Avhich made neighbours to be enemies , and created distrust and fear in all matters of religion as A \ r ell as of politics , Ave shall discuss hereafter .