Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

366 1LLUM1NI8M.
t copy them with a full persuasion that, if the projectors
of IUuminism could see Mr. Town's Speculative Free Masonry,
and know the reception it has met with, they would
cry out, in the language of Weishaupt, with increased wonder,
" O, man, man ! To what may est thou not be persuaded/"
This is the language of truth and soberness. The very
aim of those dark conspirators of the old world, has been,
in one essential feature, aided materially by the Masons in
the New. I know, brethren, " that through ignorance ye
did it." But what induced that ignorance ? what led to the
unhallowed deed ? what has so long concealed it from the
searchings of conscience, and from the reproof of the just ?
A fond attachment to a nocturnal association, blinding the
eyes, and perverting the heart, is both the source and the
support of this singular delusion.
(B. p, 1524.) " We must, first," says Spartacus, " gradually
explain away all our preparatory pious frauds. And when
persons of discernment find fault, we must desire them to
consider the end of all our labour. This sanctifies our means,
which, at any rate, are harmless,and have been useful, even in
this case; because they procured us a patient hearing, when,
otherwise, men would have turned away from us like petted
children. This will convince them of our sentiments
in all the intervening points; and our ambiguous expressions
will then be interpreted into an endeavour to draw
answers of any kind, which may show us the minds of our
pupils. Second. We must unfold, from history and other
writings, the origin and fabrication of all religious lies whatever
; and then, third, we give a critical history of the order.
But I cannot but laugh, when I think of the ready reception
which aU this has met with from the grave and learneddivities
of Germany, and of England"
Beni meritis«tm2, yea, my countrymen, most deservedly.
What consummate art this man discovers in his attempts
to remove every thing sacred in religion, and desirable in
national policy, from the affections of his pupils! Repeat-