A STORY OF MASONRY
by Dr. Albert G. Mackey
Taken from the "Mystic Tie"
A reverend gentleman,
residing in one of the towns of the State of - --, having
connected himself with the masonic fraternity, the incident gave
great offence to his ministerial brethren, and he was summoned
before the ecclesiastical tribunal of the church of which he was
a member, for trial. His judges convened at the appointed time
and place; and on his confession of the offence, demanded of him
that be should formally renounce Freemasonry. This
he peremptorily refused to do. It was consequently determined
that he should be excommunicated; and just as they were about to
pass the sentence which was to cut him off from the church, a
venerable minister arose, and suggested that the matter should be
dismissed for the present, and one of the brethren be appointed
to join the masonic fraternity, so as to be able, at the next
meeting, to report the nature of the dark deeds in which the
accused was supposed to have participated.
The suggestion was
considered a good one, and the venerable proposer was himself
appointed to make investigation. Accordingly, he laid his
petition before a lodge, and in due time became a Master Mason,
the brethren knowing nothing of the circumstances which led to
his application to be admitted amongst them. At length the day to
which the ecclesiastical tribunal had been adjourned arrived. The
official functionaries met, and the new Mason was called upon for
his report. It was made; but to their astonishment, perhaps to
their disappointment, the substance of it was - "You had better
dismiss the charge, for there is no evil, but much good, in
Freemasonry."
The effect was astounding, and the consequence was
an immediate adjournment. Freemasonry is a moral order,
instituted by virtuous men, with the praiseworthy design of
recalling to our remembrance the most sublime truths, in the
midst of the most innocent and social pleasures, founded on
liberality, brotherly love and charity. back to top
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