A Plea For Freemasonry.

but succeeded only in exposing their own ignorance of the science they were discussing . Time , which is continually evolving truth out of every intellectual conflict , has long since shoAvn that the German philosophers were rig ht and that their

Scottish critics were wrong . How common is it , even at this day , to hear men deriding alchemy as a system of folly and imposture , cultivated only by madmen and knaves , when the researches of those Avho have investigated the subject without

prejudice , but with patient learning , have shown , without any possibility of doubt , that these old alchemists , so long the objects of derision to the ignorant , Avere religious philosophers , and that their science had really nothing to do with the

discovery of an elixir of life or the transmutation of the baser metals into gold , but that they , like the Freemasons , with Avhom they have a strong affinity , concealed under profound symbols , intelligible only to themselves , the search after Divine Truth and the doctrine of immortal life .

Truth was the gold which they eliminated from all mundane things , and the immortality of the soul was the elixir of everlasting life , which perpetually reneAved youth and took away the power of death . So it is with Freemasonry . Those AVIIO abuse

it know nothing of its inner spirit , of its profound philosophy , of the pure religious life that it inculcates . And hence , as they do not profess to be opposed to philosophy or religion , their abuse of the Masonic institution must arise from their utter

ignorance of its true character . Ifc is to be deplored that all men are not governed by fche simple rule of common sense , never fco discuss any subject which they do not understand . We should thus have been spared

much vituperation thafc is offensive , and much folly that is absurd . " Answer a fool , " says the AVISO king of Israel , " according to his folly . " But to ansAver these declaimers against Freemasonry , with a wisdom proportioned only to the folly which

they exhibit , is a task whose difficulties unhappily preclude the possibility of success . How shall Ave reply to statements that are not founded on facts , or how controvert deductions that have not one

particle of logic in their elements ? Random assertion is not proof , and in an argument , sophistry and scurrility are unanswerable , simply because they are umvorthy of an answer . If we are told that Freemasonry is evil in its tendencies , thafc it is the antagonist of true religion , or that it gives en-

A Plea For Freemasonry.

couragement to vice , AVO point , m response , to the long and proud record of pious prelates , of virtuous statesmen , of upright Christians of all classes of society who have been members of the Fraternity , and who have zealously given to it , throughout

their lives , their friendship and support . We thus show , by implication , fche incongruity and absurdity of supposing that such men could either publicly or secretly hold communion Avifch a pernicious or irreligious association . And Ave rest ,

as Ave have a right to do , on this reply fco the the general calumny , until our antagonists and vilifiers shall particularize some positive and palpable evil in which the Institution is obnoxious , or

some actual crime of which it has been guilty . When the charge is made in this tangible Avay , and when ifc comes to us supported , not by idle abuse or heedless declamation , bufc by the production of some substantial authority , or some attempt

afc historical testimony , then Ave will meet it as ifc should be met , charge after charge , specification after specification , and the authority will be sifted and the testimony cross-examined , so that " the truth , the whole truth , and nothing but the truth , "

shall be elicited . Until then let the general charge be met by a general denial , and thus will the fool be answered " according to his folly . "

Bufc if I am disposed , looking at the mode in which the revilers of Freemasonry conduct iheir arguments , to pass them over in silence , or afc least without elaborate reply , I ivill not hesitate to enter a plea for the institution which will claim

thafc its design , its history and its philosophy are entitled to the respect of the world , aud are Avorthy of the careful researches of scholars . But to support this plea it is necessary that I should first show Avhat the history of Freemasonry is .

At the very first glance , Freemasonry presents itself to any one who is at all acquainted Avith its organization , under two very different aspects . First , as a secret society distinguished by a peculiar ritual :

And secondly , as a society having a philosophy on which ifc is founded , and Avhich ib proposes fco teach fco its disciples . These , by ivay of distinction , may be called the ritualistic and the philosophical elements of

Freemasonry . The ritualistic elements of Freemasonry is that which relates to the due performance of the rites and ceremonies of the Order . Like the rubrics of