THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

they responsible for the wickedness of the institution as revealed in the higher
degrees? I answer, they would not be responsible at all, if they neither knew
anything of those degrees, nor had any opportunity to know anything of them.
But as these books have been widely circulated, and are secretly kept by Masons,
and are better known to Freemasons at present by far than they are to the outward
world;--those who have taken the lower degrees, if they continue to sustain the
institution, which is in reality a unit, become morally responsible for the
wickedness of the higher degrees. But the obligations in the first three degrees are
by no means innocent. They are such obligations as no man has any right to take
or to administer. To adhere to the institution is to indorse it. But again, why do not
Freemasons now, who have these books, and who know, or ought to know
thoroughly the nature, designs, and tendency of the institution, publicly renounce
the whole thing, confess their sin, and proclaim their independence of the order? I
answer, first--They have seared their consciences by what they have done, and
have, therefore, very little sense of the great sinfulness of remaining a member of
such an abominable institution. I must say that I am utterly amazed at the want of
conscientiousness among Masons on this subject. As I have said, they have put
out the eyes of their moral sense, and do not at all appreciate the awful guilt of
their position. And, secondly--They dare not. And if by their oaths they mean
anything, it is not to be wondered at that they are afraid to renounce Freemasonry.
Why the fraternity are under oath to persecute them, to represent them as perjured
vagabonds, to destroy their characters, their business, and their influence, and to
follow them from place to place, transferring their character after them during
their whole natural life. This surely is enough to deter common men from
renouncing their allegiance to the institution. To be sure, this danger does not
excuse them; but weak as human nature is, it is not wonderful that it has its
influence.
But again, Masons are under oath, if they renounce the order, to seek the
destruction of their lives. And they have given terrible proof that their oaths are
not a dead letter in this respect, not only in the murder of William Morgan, but of
many others who have renounced their allegiance to the brotherhood. In a sermon
which lies before me, delivered by Rev. Moses Thacher, a man well known in the
Christian world, and who has himself taken many degrees of Masonry, he says:
"The institution is dangerous to civil and religious rights. It is stained with blood.
I have reliable historical evidence of not less than seven individuals, including
Morgan, murdered under Masonic law." Since this sermon was preached other
cases have come to light, and are constantly coming to light, in which persons
have been murdered for disclosing Masonic secrets. And if the truth shall ever be
known in this world, I believe it will be found that scores of persons, in this and
other countries, have been murdered for unfaithfulness to Masonic obligations.
Freemasons understand quite well the malignity of the spirit of Freemasonry.
They understand that it will not argue, that it will not discuss the reasonableness
or unreasonableness, the virtue or the sin of the institution; but that its argument is
assassination. I am now daily in the receipt of letters from various parts of the
country, expressing the highest satisfaction that anybody can be found who dares
write against the institution at this day. The fact is, there are a great many men