Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

DEISM. 235
mystic union; or rather may, become acquainted with each
other by this union, and strengthen each other, and the
cause of Deism, by the facilities for intercourse afforded by
the secret words and signs of the craft, but they never can
be united with pagans or Christians.
Free Masonry has no inherent good to create factions.
When it is made the servant of a Dektical party, as it was
by Voltaire and his crew, before the French Revolution; or
of political factions, as it is at this time in Mexico; or of
vanity and pompous show, as is common in our own country,
Free Masonry derived some consequence from the use
made of it: but that it has no natural stamina upon which
men may divide; no inherent virtue or benefit for which it
is possible to excite a passionate desire, is manifest from
the cheapness of her favours, and from the readiness with
which she accommodates herself to all classes and conditions
of men^ pagans or savages.
None quarrel for the dirt which is trodden under foot by
every passenger; it is the silver and the gold, the precious
treasures, which excite men to disgraceful bickerings. Frail
man will yet rudely contend for an unequal portion of eve-*
ry earthly good; and no strife of this kind being found within
the lodges, is a clear demonstration of the fact, that
Free Masonry is a senseless thing, incapable of exciting the
natural passions of the soul.
But the history of Free Masonry shows that the use of
tian to excuse their indocility; (Voltaire) but justice obliges us to acknowledge,
that this is the only sect of all others, (Deists,) that has not disturbed
society by its disputes; and which, though erroneous, has always been dear
of fanaticism. It is, indeed, impossible that such a sect should be other than
peaceable, since jts followers are united with all mankind in the principle
common to all ages and all countries; namely, the worship of one only
God; allowing for the diversity of opinion in others, and seldom discovering
their own. They say, that their pure religion is as old as the world,"
kc—Voltaire, Mcmntrt arid Spirits if Nalumty chap. 183.
The Deist is a judge of Deism, and Voltaire, here describing Deism, doSs
exactly describe the religious character of Free Masonry.