ON MASONRY AND ANTI-MASONRY, ADDRESSED TO THE HON. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. BY WILLIAM L. STONE. "What I know to be true, that I will declare; and what I feel it to be my duty to re- NEW-YORK: O. HALSTED, CORNER OF NASSAU AND CEDAR STREETS. ASTOR LIC MOV 1870 ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, in the year 1832, by O. HALSTED, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York, in the Second Circuit. ROBERTSON, PRINT CONTENTS. Introductory-Glance at the recent state of Political Parties-Origin of Anti-masonry-Pre- liminary view of the Excitement. Erratum.-Last line but one, in the last sen- tence of this letter, for " inhabitants," read "institutions." Speculative Free-masonry-Author's initiation into the Degree of Entered Apprentice- Feelings of disappointment-Emblems and lessons of the Degree-Fellow Craft's De- gree-Pleasing solemnity of the opening-Regularity and order of the Lodge-Refutation of charges of riotous carousals-Emblems and instructions of the Degree. Freemasonry continued-Sublime Degree of Master Mason-Affecting Ritual-Ceremonies and emblems-Shakspeare-A striking coincidence-This a favorite degree-Absurdity of its history-Its legends an imposture-Opinion of Grand Master Dalcho-Of Profes- sor Stuart-Dramatic character of its action-Dangerous tendency of its obligations- Freemasonry continued-Mark Master's degree-Belongs to the fellow-craft-More than three degrees prohibited by law in England-The same in Scotland-Causes of multipli- cation of degrees-Opening of a Mark Lodge-Its ceremonies-Scriptural allegory-Its application-Degree of Past Master-Its ceremonies-Awkward predicament-Lecture Freemasonry continued-Degree of Most Excellent Master-Its ceremonies-Dedication of the temple-Solomon's prayer-Locke-Disputed manuscript of Henry VI.-Exaltation to the degree of Royal Arch-Reasons for persevering-History and traditions on which it is founded-Jos ah-Hilkiah-Huldab-Josephus-Ezra-Zerubbabel, & c.-Introduction of the candidate-Emblems -Scenic Representations-Decorations--Attractive pagean- try-Absurdity of its legends-Real history of the degree-Edward Charles Stuart-Illu- minism-Mistake of Abbe Barruel-Introduction of the Royal Arch into America--M. Hayes-The Duke of Orleans-Scotch Masonry-Knight of St. Andrew. Degrees of Knighthood-Royal and Select Masters-The ineffable degrees-French Ma- Eonry-Infidelity-Knight of Red Cross-Its history-Court of Darius-Apocryphal le- gend--Imposing scenic representations-Knights of Malta-Shipwreck of Paul-Hospi tallers--Knights of St. John-Of Rhodes-History-Raymond De Puy-d' Aubresson- The Templars-History of the order--Hugo de Paganis-Instituted during the Crusades-- Pailip the Fair-Clement V-Order suppressed--French Templars-- Anti-christian-Not Examination of the nature of the masonic obligations-Bernard's Light-Old manuscript- LETTER VIII. Rapid sketch of the history of Freemasonry-Fondness even of Republicans for the merit of LETTER IX. Same subject continued-Nicholas Stone-The Druids-The Romans-Picts-Scots-Dr. LETTER X. Refutation of the charges of infidelity-Absurd notions of double significations and inter- LETTER XI. William Morgan-His life-Marriage with Lucinda Pendleton-His character-Origin of LETTER XII. Rumors of the intended publication-Attempts of the Masons to negociate with Morgan- LETTER XIII. Indiscreet newspaper publications-General Lafayette-Conspiracy for the destruction of LETTER XIV. Gathering of conspirators in Batavia -Arrest and abduction of Miller-His imprisonment in LETTER XV. Charity to Mrs. Morgan-An agent sent to Canandaigua-Mysterious letter to Mrs. Mor- LETTER XVI. Publication of Morgan's disclosures- Conduct of Morgan-Inquiry into its morality-Arch- LETTER XVII. False reports respecting Morgan's absence--Doubts among honest Masons-Variety of ru- |