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Secret Societies

DELIVERED AT

WOODSTOCK, CONN.,

September 11 1829.

BY

REV. DANIEL DOW,

PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN THOMPSON, CONN Text: If ye will inquire, inquire ye Isaiah, XXI 12.

REPUBLISHED BY SPECIAL REQUEST.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EZRA A. COOK, PUBLISHER.

AN ABLE ARGUMENT FOR FREE INQUIRY.

A discourse at Woodstock, Conn., Sept. 11, 1829, by Daniei Dow, Pastor of the church in Thompson.

If ye will inquire, inquire ye.—Is. xxi. 12.

God has endowed the human mind with the faculty of inquiring, reasoning, and, in this way, arriving at the knowledge of truth. This faculty, it is conceived, was not given to lie dormant; but to be exercised. And it would seem inferable from the very constitution of our nature, that nothing ought to be believed; and that nothing ought to be done, for which no reason can be assigned. Hence it is generally conceded, that free inquiry is the common privilege of all mankind;and that in regard to all subjects, so far as is needful to form a proper estimation of them, and to act accordingly.

It is further to be observed, that God himself, not only allows, but enjoins, the exercises of free inquiry, even upon subjects the most momentous. He does not require us to attend to the concerns of our everlasting salvation, without a rational inquiry. "Come let us reason together, saith the Lord." Saith our Saviour. "Why even of yourselves, judge ye not what is right?" Again, God calls upon his people, to judge of the equity of his government: "And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal ?” And even an appeal is made to reason, by an inspired apostle, to prove the Divine existence: "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." While on the other hand, such as deny the supremacy of Jehovah, are expressly called upon, to bring forth their strong reasons. It is not displeasing, then, to the Almighty, that mankind should exercise their reason in the investigation of truth. But on the contrary: the belief of any doctrine, or the practice of any supposed duty,for which no reason could be given either from the light of nature, or from the Word of God,would not be acceptable in his sight.

Accordingly, all subjects are farely opened to free inquiry. And who will dispute the right? Were we, this day, to search into the merits of any question, relating either to natural philosophy, history, civil jurisprudence, ethics or theology; were we to in quire concerning any object either in heaven, or on earth, either in the natural, or moral world, and were to do it with a right temper, observing proper decorum, our right to do so, by this enlightened assembly would not be disputed, If the subject of Freemasonry be an exception, it is the only subject there is, about which it is unlawful to inquire. And even to say, that it is unlawful to inquire about this, requires a reason to be given, which I for one, have never been able to discover. I take it for granted, then, that it is as lawful to inquire about this subject as any other.

2. Freemasonry is a subject which merits inquiry. If it be what its friends have represented; of all subjects in the world, it is most worthy of attention. Its most able abettors, Mr. Town, Mr. Preston, Mr. Webb, and others, whose writings have been approved and recommended by the higher authorities of the order, declare it to be not merely the handmaid of religion, but to be Christianity itself-the highest kind of Christianity, even the perfection of it. If this be true, it certainly demands inquiry. It should be looked into most carefully, by every one who has any faith in Christianity, and who would ever wish to attain to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. All who can, possibly gain admittance, ought immediately to take their standing in the lodge. And if one.half of the human race, even all females must unavoidably be forever excluded from participating of its blessings and its privileges, it certainly is not too trivial to inquire after the evidences, if not the reasonableness, of so mysterious a dispensation.

If it be, or be not, what its enemies represent, it is a subject which merits inquiry. Its enemies aver that all its pretentions to to religion are sheer hypocrisy, that whilst it professes to be Christianity, it is in fact nothing but infidelity; that it profanes the Word of God and the ordinances of religion by applying them to the vilest of purposes; that its oaths are bloody and blasphemous; that its object is wholly selfish, its ceremonies most degrading, and that it is an institution which has not only a tendency to make infidels, but to corrupt the morals of society. All this, and more is asserted by its enemies. Now whether all, or even any of these charges be either true or false, it is a subject which mer its inquiry If they are not true; inquiry ought to proceed, in order that the foul slander may be wiped away. If any of these charges are true, inquiry ought to proceed, in order that the imposture may be deected, and its deleterious influence counteracted.

Or if it be a subject which in itself as indifferent, of no kind of importance, still it is a subject which merits inquiry. Some there are who consider it as a mere trifle calculated to do neither good nor hurt. If it be so, still very trifling subjects besome important, because they are esteemed important, and the minds of men are as much agitated about them as though they were so; and hence it becomes needful to inquire into them in order that they may be duly appreciated. Thus with Freemasonry, whatever it may be in itself, it certainly is a subject which has been considered by many as being vastly important; by some, for its good; by others, for its bad tendency. There are many here present, who will bear me witness, that it is a subject capable of agitating, and which does agitate the minds of men. Even admitting, then, what some aver, that is a subject of a very trivial nature, inquiry ought to proceed, in order that it may appear such; and that thus all unhappy excitement may be allayed, as it certainly will be, when the people become convicted that the occassion of it is a subject of little or no consequence. Whether Freemasonry, therefore be as it is represented by its friends; or as bad as it is represented by its enemies; or as trifling as any one who feels indifferent has esteemed it; the inquiry ought to be made. What is this novel and alarming subject, which has been the occasion of so much excitement? For until it be duly weighed and appreciated, you may rest assured the excitement will not abate.

This subject merits inquiry, in view of the condition in which it has involved the churches of Christ. It is well known that, at the present time, there are many professing Christians who really believe that Freemasonry is an anti-Christ. At the same time there are members of the Christian church,in all denominations, who belong to that fraternity. Now it would seem from the necessity of the case, that some inquiry should be made, that we may be able, understandingly, to discharge our duty. For how will it be possible for any one to determine, which of the two is in the wrong, or to exercise that Christian watchfulness, which the Gospel requires, without serious inquiry into the merits of the case. It would seem, that no Christian church, at this day, can do their duty to their brethren, either in vindicating or reproving them, without inquiry. For without this, they would be as likely to And to sit down and do nothing, when duty calls to action, would be to sustain the character, and to fall under the condemnation, of a slothful servant. The present condition of the churches, evinces that inquiry on this subject is needful.

censure.

But perhaps, some will say, all those remarks might be pertinent were the subjects of such a nature as to admit of inquiry. But

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