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tians, all agree in the essentials of Free Masonry! A most lovely institution!

P. 176. "It is a sacred truth, and weighty as eternity, that the present and everlasting well being of mankind is solely intended; and, if we may safely infer the future from the past, a happy masonic millenial period will soon commence, to the inexpressible joy of all the inhabitants of the earth. [0, for a nobler speech than English use. "Commorabitur lupus cum agno-et leo sicut bos commedet stramen."] Why should such an opinion be considered hypothetical? why rejected as altogether improbable? The analogy between Speculative Free Masonry and Christianity, is not partial, but complete. It is not imaginary, but real."

Our author is in his senses, and Masons are not enough in a passion with his shameless absurdities. I hope they will bear the exposure of this extravagance with the same equanimity. (p. 178.) "It is believed a glorious millenial period will soon be experienced in the church, and this belief is founded on Divine testimony. In view, therefore, of the foregoing comparisons, [omitted here,] have we not the same reasons to believe an era similar in some respects, will soon commence in the masonic world!"

I do not intend to be unjust to Free Masonry; to quote to her prejudice the conduct or remarks of single individuals, however exalted in rank, or ennobled by virtue, or degraded by vice. But for the treatises published by her ablest advocates, and officially sanctioned by her highest authorities, Free Masonry is responsible.

Nor am I unjust to Mr. Town and his masonic sponsors, in the quotations taken from his Speculative Masonry. I have given his thoughts in the order and words which he himself has used, and that too with a generous hand. It has been my wish to place as much as possible of the Grand Chaplain's text before my readers, and to leave every one to make his own comments. Hear him. (p. 140.)

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"In relation to modern Speculative Free Masonry," says Mr. T., “it is abundantly evident to the world, that the great doctrines of morality and religion, [Judaism, Islamism, Paganism, and Christianity,] are summarily comprised in the lectures, and taught in the lodges. In travelling back to the remote ages of antiquity, no period can be found when masonic customs, ceremonies, and tenets, were not in substance the same as at present."

N. B. Free Masonry is a summary of "the great doctrines of morality and religion ;" and its "tenets," or essential doctrines, have ever been the same. These are said to have

been cordially embraced by men commonly believed to be of very different tenets; e. g. Herod the Great and John the Evangelist, Nebuchadnezzar and Julius Cæsar, "the great heathen king Zopholet," and the humble follower of the cross. But hear our author's conclusion.

"If, therefore, no characteristic change for many hundred years can be proved, why may it not be true, that those fundamental and characteristic principles did actually originate in the earliest periods of time?”

"Then call from East to West the world;

"The mystic banners are unfurled!

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From premises enabling our author to infer the early origin of masonic principles, it may be inferred, that Free Masonry has no principles at all; but she has one, viz.: to glorify herself at any expense, enrolling the great and good men of all ages under her banner, whether they will or not; and pretending to a most cordial intimacy with Christianity and Judaism, with Mahomet, and Juba, and Jupiter; and to an influence, too, capable of reconciling these several systems and characters, and of making them, in her lovely self, absolutely one, both in tenets and principles !

Verily, the Grand Chapter must think

"The world is naturally averse

"To all the truth it sees or hears,
"But swallows nonsense, and (O! fie!)
“With greediness and gluttony.”

CHAPTER XXXIV.

"The madness of Don Quixotte here soars to the highest pitch of extravagance that can be imagined, and even by two bow shots, at least, exceeds all credit and conception."

Chap. 13. p. 147. "Masonic Word, or Divine Logos: how transmitted."

I fear the reader will think too much time has been already devoted to our author: but remembering how I became acquainted with this treatise, I cannot lightly pass it by.

A reverend and respected friend, who has taken more degrees in Masonry than I can repeat without a prompter, hearing some objections made to the great institution, in the first place, advised to advance higher for my own satisfaction; and when that advice was replied to, he recommended the perusal of this work, "Town's Speculative Masonry," and kindly put me in a way to procure it. Justice requires a thorough examination of the work; and seeing the approbation with which it was first heard by the grand chapter, and the kind reception with which it has since met from the multitude of the fraternity, into whose hands it has fallen, the reader may be assured, that it has a very high masonic reputation, and deserves every possible attention.*

* A second edition, in 1822, was added to the 4,500 copies subscribed for in the first edition.

The novelty and importance of this head of the work, gravely put forth by the Grand Chaplain, and unanimously approved by the Grand Chapter, will demand copious extracts; and these will, at least, show the genius of Masonry; though copied as published, "not for its elegance of composition, but for truth." (Pref. to Town's Spec. Free Mas.)

"By tracing masonic customs, and comparing certain ceremonies in the economy of the institution," says Mr. T., "there appears to be an existing fact, indicative not only of the antiquity, but high object of ancient Masonry. From this fact it appears, that ancient Masons were in possession of the appropriate name of the promised Messias, termed in the New Testament, the LOGOS or WORD. The knowledge of this WORD was an object of great moment, and sought with all diligence by members of the institution. This divine WORD has, in every age of the world, been held sacred, and faithfully transmitted from one to another in ancient form, to the present day." (p. 147.) Doubted.

"Quoth Masonry, it is no part

"Of prudence, to cry down an art,
"And what it may perform, deny,
"Because you understand not why."

Let Mr. Town proceed with "the arte of wunder-wurkynge."

(P. 150.) "Previous to the regular organization of the masonic institution, a knowledge of this name might have constituted that mark of distinction amongst our ancient brethren, by which they did recognise and fellowship each other. To the world this may appear hypothetical, but to well informed brethren, who are sufficiently advanced, there can be scarcely a doubt of its correctness.

"That a knowledge of the divine Locos, or WORD, should have been the object of so much religious research, from time immemorial, adds not a little to the honour of

Speculative Free Masonry. The same WORD which breathed the spirit of life into Adam, and which appeared in the flesh for the salvation of man, has been peculiar to the masonic institution, since its organization by Solomon, and probably to the patrons of masonic principles [or the principles of geometry] since the days of Enoch."* (p. 151.)

(P. 152.) "From the whole masonic economy, it ap pears that one great point in that dispensation was, to attain and preserve the true knowledge of the MYS-TER-IES of this WORD. [How like you that, Jew?] The fact now existing amongst all Masons, however remote in country, is strong presumptive evidence, that the same hath been from ancient times." His highness at Trinchinipolly, “Omditul Omrah Bahander, eldest son of the nabob of the Carnatic," is said to be a Mason, and therefore has, or as a Mason might have, a true knowledge of the mysteries of the Divine Logos! This is Free Masonry.

(P. 154.) “Adam," says Mr. T., "must be supposed to communicate the name of his Creator, which St. John calls the Logos, in some intelligible manner to his posterity, and they to theirs, down to the time of Noah. Noah and his sons, who repeopled the earth, would be inclined to adopt the same course, not only in preserving the name

*This boast is not unpopular with a certain class of the fraternity, and is fully set forth in the following lines:

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"And his holy name we know."

Mas. Mir. and Mech. Intelligencer, vol. ii. p. 34.

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