been impeded by the machinations of Free Masonry, imperiously demanding of the Executive of New-York, the following message to the Senate:

“ Gentlemen—A large portion of the inhabitants of the state, has been, for more than a year, highly excited by the alleged forcible and clandestine removal of a citizen, and by the uncertainty of his fate. It is believed by many that he has been murdered, and it is certain that, if alive, he is in captivity. This outrage upon our laws has justly alarmed our fellow citizens in that part of the state, and has produced exertions such as might have been expected from freemen, conscious of their rights, and determined to maintain them, to develope the mysterious transaction, and to bring the offenders to justice.

"As yet their efforts have failed. The rewards and inducements heretofore offered for a discovery, have been unavailing. The trials and convictions that have taken place have rather increased the mystery of the transaction. The efforts of individual citizens, stimulated by a patriotic zeal, have not always been guided by discretion, and there is reason to fear, that they have sometimes tended rather to prevent, than promote, a judicious developement of the truth. It is publicly stated, that a witness, while on his way to attend the trial of some of the persons charged with a parti cipation in the original outrage, has suddenly and unaccountably disappeared, and advertisements offering rewards for his discovery, have been extensively circulated.

"If there be any foundation for this suggestion, it affords a strong reason for the adoption of proper measures to quiet the alarms of our fellow citizens."

And he recommends "that a law be passed, authorizing the appointment of a competent person, for the purpose of

as a confederate arrived to his aid, almost at his prison door, and in the night time hurried him into a carriage, &c..”—New-York Commercial Advertiser, second of February, 1827.

investigating the alleged criminal transactions in relation to the removal of William Morgan, and all the incidents connected therewith-with power to perform all acts and duties necessary to a full and fair judicial investigation and determination of the alleged offences.

"NATHANIEL PITCHER, Lieut. Gov.

"Albany, 18th March, 1828."

This proof that the excitement is real and not affected, is put beyond doubt by the vote of the Senate upon the bill authorizing such appointment, which bill was passed 24 to 3; and by the House, where a determined opposition was made, on the ground of its conferring unexampled powers, with a view to foster a political excitement, hostile to one of the candidates in the national election next pending, was passed 66 to 44.

All this trouble is made by Free Masonry; this daring assault upon private rights, this obstinate resistance to the course of public justice; this successful and persevering attempt to restrain the arm of the legal authorities;-all this multiplied evil is produced by Free Masonry.

"What is she?" Every one inquires, "what is Free Masonry ?"

swer.

The very question this volume will help the reader to anWhat is the foundation of Free Masonry, its superstructure, its aim? What is its origin? What are its pretensions, its peculiar principles, its operations in other countries? The reader will find in these pages genuine masonic documents, with references to their source, to aid his understanding upon each of these interesting questions: for the author has not attempted to give " a system of Free Masonry;" but to give the incontestible documents which will enable every reader himself to form a system.

Having seen the title-page, one says, "the writer is trying to destroy Free Masonry."

But it is not so; he is trying to learn its character; its secret he has already. If Free Masonry is destroyed by merely searching its character, that is another thing: and of that every searcher of its character will judge for himself.

Another says, "It is an old institution; its foundation is deep; it is spread all over the world; you cannot shake it.”

Now, again, there is no wish to shake it; but if looking at its foundation shake it, that cannot be helped. We would know what the fabric stands on; and if that be nothing, let it stand; who will care? only there are many who would like to know it.

66

It is a religious and moral institution; carries the Bible with the square and compasses in front; you do wrong to oppose it."

Carry them in welcome; but I persist in knowing why; And for that purpose take up Col. Webb's Monitor.

1

Free Mason's Monitor, Part I. Book I. Chap. I. Origin of Masonry.

"FROM the commencement of the world, we may trace the foundation of Masonry. Ever since symmetry began and harmony displayed her charms, our order has had a being." Preston, chap. i. sec. 3, states this pretension in the same words. So the Book of Constitutions of South Carolina, p. 2.

Masonry, our order, has had a being ever since symmetry began and harmony displayed her charms! These are the first words of the first chapter of a book, professing, although chiefly intended for the use of the ancient and honourable society of free and accepted Masons," to be "also calculated to explain the nature and design of the Masonic Institution to those who may be desirous of becoming acquainted with its principles."

"Ever since symmetry began," &c. This period was, probably, much earlier than the creation of man.

Yet, in

charity, we must suppose the Masonic Reformer* did not intend to date the commencement of our order before the creation of the human species; and (as the words will not bear an interpretation at all suited to any period since the creation of man) I am willing to suppose that the creation of man was the time, when, according to the Monitor, symmetry and the Masonic order had their being; as it is also written, "From the commencement of the world, we may trace the foundation of Masonry."t

This view of the subject is confirmed by the fact that the best authorities place the era of man's creation 4000 years before the Christian era; and Free Masonry, reckoning like the self-styled eternal city, ab urbe condita, makes the year 1828, of the Christian era, to be the year 5828 of its era; that is, the year of light, the anno lucis of Free Masonry, agrees exactly with the year of creation.

In strict accord with this view, the poet sings in lines approved by the constituted authorities of Free Masonry ;

"When earth's foundation first was laid

By the Almighty Artist's hand,
'Twas then our perfect laws were made,

Established by his strict command."

It is plainly, then, one of the pretensions of Free Masonry, that the order of Masonry was established at the period of creation. That (as is asserted in the lines above

*The author of the Free Mason's Monitor, Col. Thos. S. Webb, whose memory lives in the hearts of many of the fraternity, introduced changes so numerous and important into the rules, and habits of work, in the Lodges of America, that he may with propriety be regarded as the great modern Reformer of Masonry. He was deceived; but his object was praiseworthy; his aim was public good-was extensive benevolence. He lived to publish many editions of the Monitor, and succeeded in bringing the work so nearly to suit the wants of the Fraternity, that it has the authority of a most valued text book.

"The first stage of Masonry took its rise in the earliest times, was originated in the mind of Adam, descended pure through the antediluvian ages," &c. &c. Hutchinson's Spirit of Masonry. p. 119.