Pawtucket Herald, And Independent Inquirer

From the Chautauque Phenix.

IMPORTANT RENUNCIATION.

The Rev. Aaron LeLand, late Lt. Governor of Vermont, and formerly Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of that state, being present at the session of the Hol-Purchase Association on the 26th and in a very able and decided manner Renounced and denounced the Institution of Freemasonry.

In the Report of the Committee on this subject, of which he was a member, he remarked, that he had been led by a vain curiosity, to unite with the Lodge, and had been led on from step to step to the Royal Arch Degree--had been master of a Lodge for five years--had been Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Vermont, and had left the institution about nine or ten years ago. He states that the first objection which presented itself to his mind was, the practice of praying for the soul of a brother mason after he had been dead two, three, and sometimes four days--that he persisted in this practice for a short season to the injury of his conscience--that it was a Romish custom, and he never would preach at the burial of a mason when masonic forms and customs were attended to--that he never would preach to a Lodge of Masons as such. and that he was ashamed that he had ever participated in the principles and practice of the Institution. He declared it as his firm belief, that the blood of Morgan cried to heaven until that moment, and said he would not belong to a society of murderers--not that he would condemn the innocent with the guilty, but that if a church member should be guilty of murder and the church should attempt to conceal it, he would come out and quit his garments of blood--that he had good evidence that a large number were concerned in the abduction if not in the murder of Morgan, and that a greater number were guilty of an attempt to conceal it! He further stated, that Freemasonry had never done any good, but much EVIL that it was calculated to sap the principles of vital piety--and that many, who were not christians, considered it as a Saviour, and by it hoped to arrive at the Grand Lodge above. He declared it evil in its nature and practice--JUDIASM and IDOLATRY +and that he could not fellowship his brethren who were masons unless they left it, not to please him, or because he was grieved, but from principle! He stated that he had never said any thing respecting the truth of Morgan's book, that he did not feel disposed to gratify the curiosity of the people in this respect, but he did not consider himself bound from any oath he had taken; for he would feed any other man as soon as a mason--that he was determined never to know any man as a mason, for he felt himself absolved from all his masonic obligations.