Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

X PREFACB.
ties exist they often hurt: for the reader's attention will be
turned from the argument to the orator, from truth immutable
and eternal, to the frail and peccable mortal uttering it
And this is an evil, whether in friends or foes; for the undivided
attention necessary to discern and appreciate truth, is
distracted with prejudice, or partiality towards the speaker.
The opinions of the writer cannot be mistaken; but they
have no value that you do not give them; and if they are
not justified by a perusal of the copious authorities within
the two covers of this book, neither his nor any other name
will justify them. He asks no credit for facts, or for assertions:
these are made and furnished by Webb, Town,
Cross, Preston, Hutchinson, Cole, Lawrie, Dermott, Smith,
Greenleaf, Dalcho, Tannehill, Hardie, and the various
grand officers and grand lodges, who have sanctioned their
labours. The writer is a compiler from their pages, with
only the remarks suitable for refreshment; and, if Free
Masonry is condemned, it must be from just quotations of
her own commentators, the title and page in every instance
accompanying the quotation.
The whole merit of the question lies between faithful
extracts of masonic authors here given, and the truth. The
attorney collects, arranges, and illustrates facts; the reader
is to decide the case; the reader is the judge; and if your
attorney appear before you in a respectful manner, address
you in plain English, and argue his case diligently, not travelling
out of the record, I trust you will give him a patient
hearing; and, believe, if his name could be valuable
to you, it should be forthcoming with the promptness
of truth, and without fear of the mystery whose doctrine is
VENGEANCE, and whose daring defies both the laws of God
and of man.
" Yet all are not satisfied."
All cannot be satisfied. Having carefully sought to
know, what is duty, the writer is satisfied, any name beneath
the starry heavens would be a detriment attached to*his
volume. Suppose for a moment, reader, it were TruthweU.