Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

FREE MASONRY A PIOUS FRAUD. U
wise, it will become an instrument of much evil in the
hands of the unjust.' 1 *
In reply, I beg pardon of the friends of Masonry for
doubting whether an institution truly described in the preceding
pages, can fairly be said to be productive of much
good. The good seeming to flow from it, is not its own,
and will not perish with Free Masonry. In the hands of
good men it is made useful; in the hands of bad men it is
mischievous. The good would do more good without it,
and the bad will not be strengthened by the retiring of the
virtuous.
But, to make the argument short, every reason which
occurs, or has been offered, for the continued support of an
institution justly described in the preceding pages, is equally
applicable to prove that we may do evil, if good will come;
and this all good men will pronounce to be heresy in a fearful
sense.
Masonry is that boasting thing already described, and on
all the ground over which we have passed, it cannot be denied,
that its great boasting is empty and vain; it is not
supported by the truth, neither can it be. This is an evil;
the most inveterate must allow that this is an evil which has
only one palliation, viz. that it makes men reverence a useful
institution; it is allowed and practised very commonly
with this apology alone, " that it helps to uphold an institution
inculcating divine maxims, and leading to righteousness
and peace;" a little evil done to effect a great good.
So our deceived parent Eve:
" Here grows tbe cure of all; this fruit divine,
44 Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste,
" Of virtue to make wise.'"
* " Men have grown so bad, that we cannot make them come to us, but
we must go to them; otherwise they will forsake us, they will grow worse,
they will become entirely corrupted.''—PatehaFs Jesuit.