Secret Societies: An Argument Before the State Congregational Association at Rockford, Ill., Afterwards Delivered in Two Discourses in the First Presbyterian Church, (REV. Mr. BASCOM's) in Galesburg, Ill., June 22, 1850
Secret Societies: An Argument Before the State Congregational Association at Rockford, Ill., Afterwards Delivered in Two Discourses in the First Presbyterian Church, (REV. Mr. BASCOM's) in Galesburg, Ill., June 22, 1850
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ...of the lodge was so universal that, till lately, it was considered a settled point, among Presbyterian and Congregational Christians, that Free Masons were not to be members of our churches, nor fit to be trusted even with the duties of civil office. Now, in this state of the case, a decent respect for their ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ...of the lodge was so universal that, till lately, it was considered a settled point, among Presbyterian and Congregational Christians, that Free Masons were not to be members of our churches, nor fit to be trusted even with the duties of civil office. Now, in this state of the case, a decent respect for their brethren and their covenant obligations should have compelled those Christians who wished to join a secret lodge, to have met their brethren in conference, and given their strong reasons for such step. But I hazard nothing in saying no such course has-ever been taken. No; the people have never been called together, and permitted to hear the reasons for and against the revival of a condemned and contraband institution, but the lodge iiftsdtself up like the wounded beast of the Apocalypse, " whose deadly wound was healed," and enters a town as still as the pestilence, and as fatal to those it touches: so that the man who lives by the door of the lodge, knows nothing but only that it-is. here. Methodist Episcopal Conferences, Congregational Associations, and Presbyteries, have recently repeated against the " Sons of Temperance " their condemnation of the lodge, from which this order is modeled; but, shielded by the one virtue of temperarfce, and animated by the dark and strong spirit of the lodge, it must make progress till its fruits attest its anti-christian nature, or its claims are canvassed by the light of the gospel, and its Condemnation had. "S. We have seen what others say of Masonry: let us see what Masonry says of itself; particularly, what are its religious.pretensions? I quote from Town's "System of Masonry," a book fully endorsed by the Grand Chapter of New York, and individuals distinguished as...
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