RENOUNCING FREEMASONRY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 17, 21 August 1885, Page 19

RENOUNCING FREEMASONRY.

We {Monitor) take the following from the Iconoclast, a live religions paper, published in Brantford, by a Methodist Minister :—: — To W. M. and members of Lodgo No. 30 of the A. F. A. M. situate in Trenton. Dear Sirs,— Permit me to announce to you my full and complete renunciation of, first, my membership in Lodge, and second, my non-acceptance and rejection of the theories and professed religions character of Freemasonry. I may remind members who witnessed my initiation tea years ago, how I was troubled, when taking my first degree, at the horrible phraseology of the obligation, " Under no less penalty" etc., etc. So my soul revolted with each successive degree until I was made a Master Mason in the lodge. Members will remember I refused to utter the words of the oath until quieted my conscience, I talked with Masons of my inability to the Master of Ceremonies offered an explanation that temporarily reconcile the Masonic oaths, or to make them accord with the spirit and genius of the only religion I accept, viz., the religion of Jesus Ohrist. I furthermore am induced and emboldened to deny "the religion of Masonry " as anti-Christian in its character. Its Christless prayers, its bloody oaths, its lifeless system of morality (lifeless because Christless), I must decisively condemn. I wish also to announce my belief and pwpose. First, that having not " Of my free will and accord " (because I was ignorant of what I was called to pass through ), but unadvisedly been led into the taking of what I can only conceive to be murderous, horrible and wieltedty anti-Christian oaths of the three first degrees of Freemasonry. And, second, hiving for the last eight or nins years been so persuaded concerning the character of siid oaths, and thirdly, chiefly believing that by the authority of the written word of the Lord Jesus, whose I am and who I serve, lam divinely authorized to disavow and refuse to obey or observe said oaths. I proclaim to the Lodge, and to all Masons, everywhere, my freedom, from all obligations to so respect and keep the obligations of the three first degrees of Freemasonry. M y pwrpose is based on the consciousness I have that Our Lord Jesus Christ maketh me free from all obligations to keep the unholy oaths I took in the Lodge, (Matt, v ; 33) ?' Thou shalt not forswear thyself ; bat sbalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths." Second, On the nature of my commission as an ambassador of Christ, "To warn every man," (see Ezek. 33 ; 6, and CoL i ; 28,) which lor another so reminded cannot do, and be true to those oaths. I bold it to be my bounden obligation in the sight of my Divine Master, and my sacred purpose, to prevent by my advice, and by my example, also fso far as seems needful to save men), to fully expose the anti-Christian character of the institution. Ido most positively affirm that in taking this course I have only what I understand to be love, Christian love, towards all men. I take my stand for God, ia the name of Hja Son, my adorable Saviour Jesus Christ, lam aware of the consequences possible in connection with this step I take. " But none of , these things move me." I believe myself true to a good conscience in the sight of the living God, in what lam now 4dlng. I believe I tinned in the first instance towards-

the Christian's God when I bowed at Masonic alfcars and took Masonic oaths. I know myself true to the Christian's God. and the best intereats of my race, m boldly throwing off all allegiar'ea to Freemasonry. By this communication I henceforth stand fully committed in proper light. I enclose a couple of tracts which, if read, may he anadditional expression of my views in part at least. Morgan, Carlisle, Bonajne of Chicago, Rev. Prof. Finney, with many others, have clearly discovered the whole machinery of Freemasonry. A Mason put Carlisle's work ia my hand to study, that I « might be posted " immediately after my joining. In the name of the Lord I shaU apply myself to warn all I can, while 1 lire, against the gigantic > evil that paralyzes justice often, and lulls the consciences of mafy So fancied religious security without Jesus Christ. I am, Gentlemen Srs yours only in the true faith of Jesus Christ. Gentlemen, Sirs, t . , . B. W. Marsh, M. B. Minister l wish now to add that previous to writing the above I had r-ffSLrSrf cx PT res °- f *S? lodße8 ' MVe *hena boy about 13 or r H years old I read some in Morgan's book, that I now know to be true, with tat sl.ghj i verbal changes from the form of word! in the lodges I attended ; changes not in any wise relieving the situation or altermg m substance Masonry the world over; as the exposures go to show. Witness the latest given in public print, that of the el° 2hK°t* 0 £ . P »» 8 '> nn n drie^. giving the cut-throat language of the oaths I took here in Ont. My renunciation was made on the basis and strength of my own interpretations of the institution, theL*rd ™TT 7a7 a e Jr r * UuCoßtU u COBt me mere t0 do whafc I have done, and am ready to do, than perhaps some may think. I have been called liar perjured villain, and I need not say more. God that searchet S Wts and who has declared by His Son that « There is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed," He knoweth I have uttered truths undying truths only, in what I have written of Masonry. If to be && C ™ J? V° leS ! * P f nal - ty l han to hiVB m ? throat oat across! and my tongue torn out," etc., in the first degree, and » My left breast cut open and my heart torn therefrom," etc., in the second, «• My body reSr O| ?/Sl tOmt if eMt ' and burned to'ashesia the centre, etc , in the third degree, the very position of every man who becomes a Master Mason, if, I say, all this and more, Oh VhSTmmS more 1 be right, be of the saints in the light (?) here below and not wr t nt < in nfrU v Ul dark . neßß '" supS^hea I have been wrong m writing my "renunciations" and in publishing as from SToU*? What i £ -" W "i n the cha^ers of their imageryf»GSry o God, I revel in my freedom from the snare. Hlting nobod/ loving, I trust, everybody, I am yours for Christ, and his cfuse Campbellford, March 19, 1885.^ W ' MABfiH > Meth « »«»«■"«■