MASONRY. 
499 
of that fe<5l, and their deviation from the F.nglifli lodges; 
but between the genuine mafons of Germany and their 
brethren in England, there has long fubfilted the mod 
friendly intercourfe ; and it cannot be otherwife, in any 
count] - )' where Mafonry is conduced according to the 
pure principles of the inltitution. 
The next publication which claims our attention is a 
work entitled, “ Proofs of a Confpiracy agajnft all the Re¬ 
ligions and Governments of Europe, carried on in the fe- 
c.et Meetings of Free Mafons, Illuminati, and Reading 
Societies. By John Robifon, M.A. Profeflor of Natural 
IRlvilofopIiy, and Secretary to the RoyaLSociety of Edin¬ 
burgh.” This work, like the former, aims at proving 
that a fecret affociation had been formed, and for many 
years carried on, for rooting out all the religious eftablifh- 
joents, and overturning all the exilfing governments, of 
Europe ; and that this alfociation had employed, as its 
chief inftruments, the lodges of mafons, who were under 
the direction of unknown fuperiors, and whofe emiffaries 
were every-where bufy to complete the fehetne. Of the 
rife and progrefs of this fociety in France he affedts to 
give an account, which agrees in the main with that of 
the abbe Barruei—by alleging that feveral of its moft in¬ 
genious and indefatigable members were adtive mafons, 
who fpread their infectious principles in moft of the ma- 
fons’ lodges in Europe. 
It is, however, fays Dr. Watkins, another intelligent 
writer on the inltitution of Mafonry, a matter of little 
moment to the man who is well acquainted with the prin¬ 
ciples of his fociety, what ambitious or corrupt minds 
may have devifed in imitation of it. It is enough for him 
to know, that the dodtrines of the inftitution to whicli he 
belongs are fimply good, and have no natural tendency to 
evil. If bad men have perverted the external parts of the 
fyftem to wicked purpofes, he laments the depravity of 
human nature, and regards the genuine principles of his 
order with greater affection. The bell of dodtrines has 
been corrupted, and the moft facred of all inftitutions 
proftituted to bafe and unworthy purpofes. The genuine 
Mafon, duly conlidering this, finds a confolation in the 
midft of reproach and apoftacy ; and, while he defpifes the 
one, will endeavour, by his own example, to refute the 
Other. Freemajcns' Mag. vol. x. 
It is to be regretted that a lecturer in natural philofo- 
phy, of whom his country has the moft favourable opi¬ 
nion, (hould have produced a work which can do fo little 
credit to his character either for knowledge or judgment. 
Were his volume to be ftript of its declamation and con- 
Jedture, the remainder would be too infignificant to merit 
inveftigation. 
In a poftfcript to the fecond edition, the profeffor, in 
imitation of the abbe Barruei, has condefcended to except 
the Englifh lodges from the charge of difloyalty, or want of 
■attachment to 1 lie government. He admits the innocence 
and inoffenfivenefs of their meetings, and acknowledges 
the benevolent principles of the inltitution as pradlifed 
by them. This, however, is but a fiimfy evafion ; it being 
evident from the whole tenor of his book, that he intended 
to found the trumpet of alarm in the ears of his maje'ffy’s 
min liters, by his extraordinary denunciations. We per¬ 
ceive, however, that, after all the proofs againll the ma- 
ions which he has attempted to produce, none of their 
alluftrious patrons were induced on that account to defert 
the fociety. On the contrary, at the Grand Lodge on the 
3d of June, i 3 oo, we find the earl of Moira thus addrefling 
the brethren : “ Certain modern publications have been 
Iiolding forth to the world the fociety of mafons as in a 
league againlt conftituted authorities; an imputation the 
more fecure, becaufe the known conftitutions of our fel- 
lowfliip make it certain that no anfwer can be publiflied. 
It is not to be difputed, that in countries where impolitic 
prohibitions reftrict the communication of fentiment, the 
activityiof the human mind may, among other means of 
baffling controul, have reforted to the artifice of bor¬ 
rowing the denomination of Mafons, to cover meetings 
for feditiouvpurpofes, jull as any other defcription 
_be_ affumed for the fame objedt. But, in the firft place, 
it is the invaluable diltindtioii of this free country, that 
fuch a juft intercourfe of opinions exifts without reilraint, 
as cannot leave to any number of men the defire of form¬ 
ing or frequenting thofe difguifed l'ocieties where danger¬ 
ous difpofitions may be imbibed. And, fecondly, the 
profligate dodtrines, which may have been nurtured its 
any fuch felf-eltablifhed aflemblies, could never have been 
tolerated fora moment in any lodge meeting under regu- 
lar authorityWe aver, therefore, not only that fuch 
laxity of opinion has no fort of connection with the tenets 
of Mafonry, but that it is diametrically oppofi'te to the in¬ 
junction which we regard as the foundation-flone of the 
ledge; namely, Fear God, and honour the King. In 
confirmation of this folemn aflertion, what can we advance 
more irrefiagably, than that fo many of his majelty’s il- 
lu(trious family (tand in the highelt order of Mafonry, are 
fully inftrufted in all its tendencies, and have an intimate 
knowledge of every particular in its current adminiltra- 
tion under the Grand Lodge of England ?” 
It is evident alfo, that his rrlajelty’s minifters were in 
no degree jealous of the profeffors of Mafonry: for, when, 
on the lath ot July, 1799, an aft of parliament was palled 
for the more effectual luppreflion of focieties eltablifhed 
for feditious and treafonable purpofes, the following claufe 
in favour of the fociety of Mafons was inferted, exempt¬ 
ing their lodges from the penalties of the aft: “ And 
whereas certain focieties have been long accultorrted to 
be holden in this kingdom under the denomination of 
Lodges of Free Mafons, the meetings whereof have been 
in great meafure direfted to charitable purpofes; be it 
therefore.enafted, that nothing in this aft (hall extend to 
the meetings of any fuch fociety or lodge, which fhal), 
before the pafiing of this aft, have been ufually holden 
under the faid denomination, and in conformity to the 
rules prevailing among the faid focieties of Free Mafons.” 
The Mafons had an opportunity of alluding, with gra¬ 
titude, to this indulgence, upon the occafion of the Ad- 
drefs which was prelented to his majefty on his efcape 
from the well-direfted piltol of Hadfield ; (fee vol. xiii. 
p. 129.) The following are the terms of this Addrefs, 
which was unanimoufly voted at a Special Grand Lodge 
at Freemafons’ Hall, oft Hie 3d of June, 1800; and was 
afterwards prefented te his majefty by the prince of 
Wales in perfon, at the firft levee : 
“ Moft gracious Sovereign ; The danger to which your 
Majefty was expofed in the atrocious attempt lately made 
againll your facred perfon, whilft it filled the hearts of 
all in this country with alarm and abhorrence, has au- 
thorifed every clafs of your fubjefts to offer at your throne 
the expreflions of their ardent attachment, without fear 
of incurring the charge of intrufion. 
“ Vouchfafe, Sire, under this conltruction, to admit the 
homage of a defcription of men who, in ordinary circum- 
Itances, could not as a body tender the profeflion of that 
devotion to your royal perfon and to your government, 
which it is their boaft to cherilh, not iji their individual 
capacities alone, but in their peculiar affociation. 
“The law, by permitting, under certain regulations, 
the meetings of Free Mafons, has defined the exiftence of 
the fociety ; binding, at the fame time, the members of 
it, by a new obligation of gratitude for the confidence ex¬ 
tended toward them, to labour, as far as their fe«bJe 
powers may apply, in inculcating loyalty to the king,and 
reverence to the ineltimable fabric of the Britifti conlti- 
tution. 
“Being fo acknowledged, we fhould think our/elves 
■wanting in the firft duty towards your Majefty, and to¬ 
wards that conftitution, did we not approach your Ma¬ 
jefty with the tefthnony of our feelings on this awful oc¬ 
cafion. Your Majefty is therefore implored to receive 
the humble congratulations of the Grand Lodge of Free¬ 
mafons under the Cpnilitution of England, (the Repre- 
fentative Affembly of all the Lodges under that Conftitu- 
tion,)i 
