Rhode Island American And Gazette

From the New York Whig.

"Dying Away!"—So the masons say of anti-masons, and verily the majority of the public this day believe it. Men who declare freemasonry is not fully disclosed, will affirm any thing to suit their purpose. Mark them reader. Men who solemnly aver that they are masons, and "to establish TRUTH and expose FALSEHOOD," also solemnly deny the disclosures of masonry now before the public, are men not careful of their veracity. They will say "antimasonry is dying away," to suit their purposes.

Let us see how stands the health of freemasonry. Three quarters of the public condemn it to death heartily. The only material difference of opinion is, as to the mode of burying it. Antimasonry out of the question; how is it with freemasonry? Does freemasonry thrive? Do new advocates come forth in defence of the order? Does the system make converts? Do the lodges increase? Are the trowels of the brethren bright with the mystic work of the secret temple? Do suppliants for light gather about the lodge-room door? Do the heathen words which are never to be spoken above a whisper, strike with awe upon the ear of the candidate?—No! the stones cry out of the wall and the timbers of the temple echo it—the living arch is broken! the cement of fealty is dissolved! "the grand omnific word" is spoken! JAH-BUL-ON has become a proverb! Ichabod is indented upon the halls of the order! Delusion is discovered written upon the altar of masonry! No—Freemasonry, not antimasonry, is dying away.