Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

CONCLUSION. 395
tAe fraternity," and to whom " the ancient land-marks of the
vrder are intrusted ;" as one charged " never to suffer a deviation
from the established usages and customs of the fraternity,"
and to "let no motive make me swerve from duty,
violate my vows, or betray my trust;" to address you,
brethren, freely, as I have done in this volume, upon the
subject of Masonry. None can deny it: but I renounce
the harlot, I serve a better master, obey a holier commandment,
and address you in the name of your country, and of
your religion, your children, and your immortal hopes.
I have no apology to make for disrespect to Masonry;
but if, in the heat of the battle, or in the ardour of the
pursuit, I have once been unkind toward brethren, my
countrymen, and my friends, I regret it Lodges and grand
lodges with their seals, authors and orators with their efforts,
are her organs, and have necessarily shared more or
less with her in condemnation. As organs of Free Masonry,
I can proffer no apology to them; but, if at any moment,
sentiments have been uttered disrespectful to them,
except as the organs of Free Masonry, I regret it.
You, reader, may be free to laugh at Free Masons, but
the writer is not He was lawfully made, in a legally constituted
lodge of Free Masons, and has never openly signified
to his lodge, nor to any lodge, that he should have no
more concern with the Daughter of the Night Until he
has so signified to his lodge, his name supports the fraternity
$ and he will not revile the men. who compose it He
will respect and honour them. They have been led in by a
good motive, and have not yet seen cause for so extreme
measures as attend a public disavowal of Free Masonry.
But the writer has seen cause, and will take an early opportunity,
formally to withdraw his name from the lodge.
Others, having studied the subject, as he ha* studied it, will
revolt from it too: even reading the result of his labours,
they will have less relish for the lodges, less zeal for the
chapters, less eagerness in pursuit of the secret, less ambition
to become great Masons, less love of Masonic pomp,
aprons, and sashes, and titles.