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tian, I could not have fellowship with members in the church, who would attend Lodges."

Josiah Fowler, minister of the gospel, Conesus, February 7th, 1828. "I feel it my duty to renounce all connexion with the institution. I am convinced, that it sustains the mark and image of the beast; and that it is injurious to the progress of religion, in a christian. I am further convinced that Masonry is so closely connected with mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and abomination of the earth,' that it must inevitably fall. I feel it my duty to warn all christians, of all denominations, and especially all Ministers of the gospel, to flee from the tottering fabric, least it prove their final overthrow."

Abraham Cherry, Rochester, Feb. 1828.--" I have taken six degrees in Masonry; but being disgusted with its ceremonies, and disappointed in its principles, I have not attended its orgies for several years. I consider the institution as demoralizing, profane, and dangerous. The obligations are unnatural, illegal, and blasphemous, and are imposed on man, in a manner which destroys all their binding force. I hold myself free to think, and speak the sentiments and language of truth and justice, about the absurd and heathenish institution. Those who wish for proofs of the truth of what I aver, will find them by reading Morgan's Illustrations, which I solemnly declare to be a true history of the three first degrees of Masonry.'

A. W. Ainsworth, Navarino, Dec. 8th 1828, Mark Master.--"In all my researches after the sublime mysteries of Masonry, I have only arrived at the knowledge, that it is all a vain pretence and no better than a lure to draw credulous and unwary people into obligations of dreadful injustice, and fix a profound quietus upon a guilty conscience. I'mention this circumstance to show wherein I have been deceived, and probably should have remained in that deception, had not Masons themselves coolly and deliberately formed and executed a dark plan of cold blooded murder, upon a respectable and unoffending citizen. This atrocious scheme was the bitter fruit of their united midnight conclaves in council. And was carried into effect by unprincipled villains delegated for that purpose. It appears to me that the voice of pure religion is crying Come out of her my people' And I really believe, when a just Lot has departed, the Sodom of Masonry will be destroyed. I do know that the secrets of the institution, as they were taught to me in the lodges, are substantially disclosed to the 4th degree. And if Masons have the unprincipled hardihood to deny this truth to others, they will endanger their veracity by denying it to me. The book published by Morgan, gives the lectures on the 3 first degrees of masonry, more correct than one mason out of twenty could do. It is truly pitiable to observe the writhing and twisting among masons to evade the truth, and establish falsehood and fraud. Mene Tekel' is written on the walls of the institution."

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Rev. Mr. Parker, Rochester, Royal Arch Mason, Thanksgiving Sermon, December, 4th 1828.--After answering objections to the disclosures of masonry he observes:--" Freemasonry is an imposture. It pretends to have been instituted by good men in an early age, and scripture history is perverted to make it speak in its favour. And yet, it appears to have originated in a mechanic's society, in the city of London, not one hundred and fifty years ago. It pretends to be Divine,' yet, 'it originated in a company of brick-layers, and there is no evidence, that it has existed more than one hundred and fifty years.' (Meaning undoubtedly in its present form.) Masonry pretends to give a clue at least to some important knowledge; it talks of geometry, and astronomy as if it were its design to give some important help to these sciences; yet there is not so much knowledge of the sciences exhibited in the first seven degrees, as may be learnfrom one page of Webster's Speling book. Masonry teaches the art of finding out new arts, and enables men to foretell future events," according to the masonic catechism, published under the sanction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Whether such imposing pretensions, founded on the most unblushing falsehood entitle this institution to be considered the handmaid of religion, or whether they be the marks of the beast, characterising the institution as an imposture, candid and intelligent men, will judge.'

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"Its religious worship is purely Theistical. Freemasonry makes many prayers, but they are prayers offered without the acknowledgment of a Saviour." Henry D. Ward, New York, Master Mason; author of a most excellent publication entitled "Freemasonry"--and editor of a Magazine, called the "Anti-Masonic Review." These publications we recommend to the careful perusal of

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every person who wishes for a knowledge of Freemasonry. On page 158, 159, of his volume, entitled Freemasonry, we find the following:

"O, could this voice reach the ears of the honest fraternity, how distinctly would we cry, 'Freemasonry is a fiend, a legion of foul spirits; a wonder, likethe smoke coming up from the bottomless pit, that darkens the sun and air. Full of all subtlety and craftiness, she takes the profession of angel of light, and yet dwells unseen in darkness. She plants herself upon the same co-eternal and unshaken foundation, with christianity, as taught by divine revelation; thus comparing her midnight face with the church, 'clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.' She dwells in the midst of deceit, teaching her children to 'bend their tongues like their bows for lies.' Professing to "embrace in body and substance the whole duty of man as a moral being. Professing to be the inimitable language of the scripture, a fountain of living waters; she is, indeed, hewn out with men's hands, a broken cistern, than can hold no water." conclusive reasons given by Mr. Ward, for his renuciation of masonry, you may find in the first No. of the 'Anti-Masonic Review,' where, after giving his reasons he says:-"Freemasonry we wedded, as the truth of God, we repudiate it as the falsehood of the devil. In an extensive and thorough, a protracted and patient examination of the subject, we have found Freemasonry, by its own showing, carefully collected from its approved writers, and books of constitutions to be the synagogue of Satan." We gave it the pledge of our right hand, believing it to be a blessing from the Lord, fraught with heavenly mercies, we withdraw that pledge, upon finding Freemasonry to be the work of the father of lies and fraught with hidden mischief."

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John Davez, Paintville, Ohio, September 1st, 1828.-"I ave been a Freemason since 1821, and for two years held the office of Junior Warden. I declare that the three first degrees, as published, are substantially correct; and that the oaths of these degrees have their influence on masons who serve as public officers and jurors. They will turn, and have turned them from their luty to their country and their office, to serve a brother in distress, whether right or wrong!

CONCLUSION.

In concluding our reply, you will permit us to observe, dear sir, that we rereived your letter just before the meeting of the Consociation in October lastwhen arrangements were made to answer it. But soon after this, we were surprised to find another edition of your letter clandestinely published in Rochester, by a Mason, which was industriously circulated to a considerable extent; in consequence of which, we shall publish a larger edition of our reply than was originally intended."

We hope, sir, you will be disposed to admit, after candidly perusing our answer, that we considered the subject well before we acted; that on the whole, Masonry must be given up for lost; that we are no persecutors that seek "the blood of a brother's character," merely because we tell the truth; that if blame is to be attached to any set of men, it does not so properly belong to us, as to your dear masonic brethren in the ministry, who are our witnesses in the case; and that if controversy is to be prolonged on this question, it is no longer between yourself and this Consociation, but between yourself and your renouncing brethren in the ministry.

In the preparation of this answer, the labour was divided between a number of our members. It was made the duty of one, to procure affidavits; and of another, to answer your letter. This statement is due to us, on account of the repetition, in a few instances, of the same ideas.

As a matter of convenience, the affidavits were obtained principally from gentlemen residing in the same place; one is from a minister of the gospel, others from deacons and members of churches-and all of them from men who are respected for their veracity. A greater amount of testimony of the same nature might have been obtained with great facility; but that which we here submit to you and the public is deemed amply sufficient for our purpose, for if men are so fatally set against the truth "neither would they believe, tho' one were to rise from the dead."

Such kind of proof as the affidavits furnish, was not necessary to satisfy the public mind in this region where the people had had a knowledge of these singular events from the beginning, and we should not have adduced it, if you had rashly preferred against us the charge of acting on insufficient ground. The

matter of the answer is almost wholly new. It lays before the public, a mass of testimony in a new form, and for the most important of all objects with which we can be concerned in this present world, the purity of the gospel ministry and of the church of Christ.-Such and only such, being the object of this Consociation, we do, with feelings of fraternal kindness, invite your attention to our answer, and to the main question anew; and hoping that you will bring to it a free mind and right heart, we take an affectionate leave, with this assurance, that we extend to you that "charity which hopeth all things." and that we remain your brethren in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.

By order of the Consociation.

JOHN TAYLOR, Moderator,
SILAS PRATT, Clerk.

"The preceding was submitted to the Consociation by the committee appointed on the 7th of October last, at Brighton, to prepare an answer to the letter of the Rev. Joseph Emerson, of Wethersfield Conn. on the subject of Speculative Free Masonry; which report was accepted and adopted; and the same committee was authorised to procure the publication of the answer as soon as practicable, and to forward a copy of the same to Mr. Emerson." The above is a true extract form the minutes of the Genesee Consociation at its session in Bergen, Jan. 6th 1829. Attest. SILAS PRATT.

Session of the Genesee Consociation at Brighton, Oct. 7th 1828. "A printed letter from the Rev. Joseph Emerson of Wethersfield Conn. was read; in consideration of which, the following resolution was adopted, viz:That in our opinion, this letter addressed so particularly and exclusive to this body, calls for a full and explicit answer in justification of the resolution complained of in the letter; for if we have erred, the letter does not convince us of our error; and if we are right, the cause of truth and the purity of the Christian ministry requires a more ample discussion of the question for the purpose of counteracting the unfavourable constructions upon our resolutions. And if by means of this temperate and public discussion of the subject, we may be convinced of any considerable error, we are ready to rescind our resolutions. Therefore Resolved, that Messrs. Kendric, Pratt and Raymond, Ministers, and Messrs. Joseph Bloss of Brighton, Abijah Gould of Henrietta, Theodore Ingersol of Ogden, Abel C. Ward of Bergen, and Deacon Morse of Stafford, be a committee to answer said letter as soon as practicable, and that they give Mr. Emerson immediate notice that his letter has been received and is under consideration, and that a Reply will be prepared as soon as practicable."

A true extract from the minutes.

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Rev. Wm. P. Kendrick, Shelby Orleans co.
Rev. Milton Huxley, Stafford Genesee co.

Deacon

Morse,

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Silas Pratt, Brighton,

Abel C. Ward, Bergen, Genesee co.

Ezra Coon, Byron, Genesee co.

Rev. Elihu Mason, Bergen

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Rev. Herman Halsey, Bergen Genesee co.
Deacon Joseph Bloss, Brighton Monroe co.

Abijah Gould, Henrietta

Theodore Ingersoll, Ogden,

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Rev. E. Raymond, N. Bristol, Ontario co.

Rev. Julius Steel, East Bloomfield "

Rev. John F. Bliss, Gainsville, Genesee co.

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PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF "THE SUN,”
No. 7, Franklin Place, near the Post-office,

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