Revile Not Masonry For Its Secrecy.

often denied , so often sought for—has been inculcated and practised . " It is , '' says one of our best Masonic writers , " a secrecy which has never been exposed by letter ( though numerous efforts have been made to expose it ) and never can be . The

enlightened of our Fraternity smile in derision at the idea of its destruction by publication ; for they know it can neither be published or destroyed . The zealous Mason never wearies in the investigation of the science of Masonry , for it reveals

treasures at every step . It is the nucleus of a system broad as the mind , exalted as the soul , profound as wisdom itself , and indestructible as 4 he divine principle of Truth . " It is true that some of our secrets might be revealed , but we choose to hide them . For instance , should a brother in distress seek relief , it

is a secret , for " Charity vaunteth not itself . Has a brother erred and gone astray , and been admonished , it is a secret , for " Charity is kind . ' If , possibly , little difficulties , feuds , or animosities , should invade our peaceful walls , they are still

kept secret , for " Charity sufferetli long , is not easily provoked , thinketh no evil . " And should the distresses of a Mason ' s widow be relieved , and the tears of his orphan be wiped away , it is an inviolable secret , for " Charity is not puffed up . "

But we shall not pursue this subject further ; and will only say , that we are known to be a Secret Society . It is a fixed Masonic principle that no one enters our Fraternity save " by his own free will

and accord ; " and all who thus become attached are voluntarily pledged to preserve this secrecy inviolate .

But many object to the use of an oath , and a great deal of time has been wasted in speaking and writing : about what are called extra-judicial in * i oaths . Now , let us ask our readers , what is an oath ? We assert that it comprehends a solemn

invocation of the name of God , the Supreme Omnipotent Being , not only as a witness of what is promised , but likewise as the Judge and certain Avenger of deceit , falsehood , and perjury . Who , we will ask , will be hardy enough to assert that

the performance of the oath does not , as a matter of course , come within the cognisance of His Omniscience , and that His justice and power will will not fail to pour out the vial of His threatened vengeance upon the execrated head of him who has dared invoke his name in vain ? Or , we

would ask , why were those solemn adjurations introduced into civil society ? We would answer , simply because the natural obligations of justice and equity , even when assisted by fear of civil punishment , are found insufficient to correct the

depravity of the human mind , and prevent a bias to self-interest in the performance of human contracts . It was necessary , thei'efore , to call in the aid of religion , and upon the faith of an oath to establish a mutual trust . It will hardly be denied ,

that every sane man , especially if he be a Mason , believes in a future state of rewards and punishments , and that most men would shrink appalled from the dreadful consequences of a violated oath . We therefore ask , can the Masonic Society

be blamed for taking advantage of an obligation so potent , to defend and preserve from the prurient gaze of the idle its mysteries We , therefore , boldly and fearlessly assert the innocence of such oaths , and for such a purpose cannot be doubted ;

and their very necessity sanctions and justifies their use . But a third objection has been , as we have stated , urged against our Society , and that is , its antagonism to religion , because it is regarded by

its votaries as a substitute therefor . While we know this assertion is . often made , we do not think it can ever be seriously entertained by any one possessing the rudiments of Masonic knowledge . Masonry claims not now , nor ever has

claimed an inspired origin further than this : that the code of moral law recognised as binding by its members , is contained in the Holy Bible , which the Fraternity acknowledge as the great fountain of Masonic light , and which all Masons are

instructed to regard as the "inestimable gift from God to man , " given to us to be the rule and guide of our faith and practice . What antagonism , we would therefore ask , can by any possibility exist between an institution whose fundamental

principles are Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , and the system of even Christianity , the advent of whose founder on earth was lauded by a heavenly choir , proclaiming " peace upon earth and good will toward men ? " Surely , in this respect at

least , there is an identity of object , whereby each may claim the sympathy and co-operation of the other ; and Masonry and Religion , whether of the old or new dispensation , hand in hand , may traverse the world , ministering to the wants , mitigating the sorrows , and assuaging the grief of the .