CHAPTER VII.

On Secrecy.

THIS, amongst free-masons, as has been already observed, is a prerequisite indispensibly necessary. Some of those, however, who are opposed to the institution, assert that there ought to be no secrets, and that if the institution were good, its principles ought not to be concealed from the world. But its principles are not concealed. Benevolence, charity, humanity, and all the other virtues are its professed objects, and though there be many who do not adhere to the rules, prescribed for the conduct of the craft, and thereby disgrace the order, it does not follow, that the rest of the fraternity should be vilified on that account; we might as well stigmatize the twelve apostles, because one of them proved a traitor, or the divine religion of the blessed Jesus, because many of its professors deviate from its holy precepts.

God in the manifestation, which he hath made of himself to mankind, hath distinguished himself as the most amiable of beings, and that his essence is love. He hath declared, that our best service consists in the exercise of this affection towards him, and prefers a voluntary service to the most costly oblation. "Perfect love (saith the apostle), casteth out

fear;" and the whole tenour of scripture represents complacency and acquiescence in the Divine attributes and conditions, as the highest perfection of rational beings; so as the poet well observes,

"He, who but wishes to subvert the laws

Of order, sins against the eternal cause."

And with us, let it be the subject of our unremitting endeavours, to take off the guise from impostors, who would pass themselves upon us under the title of men of honour and humanity, and let the business of our future lives be to cultivate humanity and

"Grasp the whole world of reason, life and sense, In one close system of benevolence."

SECRECY, however, we maintain to be a virtue of primary importance, and believe, that we establish the position from sacred as well as profane history. In both, it will be found, that a great number of virtuous attempts never reached their designed ends, through defect of concealment, and that infinite evils have thereby ensued.

But before all other examples, let us consider that, which surpasseth all the rest, being derived from the great God himself, who especially preserves his own secrets, so that he never lets any man know what is to happen on to-morrow; nor could the wise men in ages past foretel what would befal us in the present day. The following passages from the sacred scriptures abundantly shew, that there

is no evil in keeping secrets; but that on the contrary, secrecy is, in certain cases, a duty incumbent on us. A tale bearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit, concealeth the matter. Proverbs xi. 13. Proverbs xi. 13. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself, and discov er not a secret to another, least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. Proverbs xxv. 9. Surely the Lord God will do nothing; but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets. Amos iii. 7. But when thou doest alms, let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret, and thy father which seeth in secret may reward thee openly. Mat. iv. 3. and 4. To the same purport, many more passages might be adduced; but it is presumed, that these will suffice. On the whole, we may learn, that God himself is well pleased with secrecy, and although for the good of his creatures, he has been pleased to reveal some things; yet his counsels will, at all times, firmly stand; for he is the same, yesterday, to day, and forever.

We read that Cato often said to his friends, that of three things he had great reason to repent, if he ever neglected the true performance of them. The first, if he divulged any secret; the second, if he ventured on the water when he might stay on dry land; and the third, if he should let any day pass, in which he did not perform some good action. The two last are well worthy of observation;

but the first, at present, more especially demands our attention.

Alexander the Great, having received several letters of much importance from his mother, after he had read them in the presence of his dear friend Ephestion alone, drew forth his signet, and without speaking, set it on Ephestion's lips, thereby intimating, that he, in whose bosom a man deposits his secrets, should have his lips so locked up, that he might never reveal them.

Among other instances on record, which point out the propriety of secrecy, it may not be disagreeable to the reader, to peruse the following story as related by Aulus Gellius, in his Attic nights.

The senators of ancient Rome had established it as a rule, that the son of each member might be admitted to hear the debates; a practice, which was found to be productive of great utility, as youth were thus initiated into the principles of government, enabled to become good statesmen, and taught the truly important duty of keeping secrets.

It happened upon one occasion, that this venerable body being engaged in the discussion of a subject of more than usual importance, continued their sitting to a very late hour. No decision, however, took place on that night, and the body was adjourned till the following day, with an express injunction of secrecy. Amongst the other young Romans, who had attended at this interesting

debate, was the son of Papirius, whose family was one of the most illustrious in Rome.

The young man having come home, his mother with that curiosity, which is natural to her sex, was anxious to ascertain the weighty business, which had kept the senate so many hours longer in session than usual. He told her in the most courteous manner, that it was a matter, which it was not in his power to reveal, as he, in common with others, had been laid under the most solemn injunction of secrecy.

His refusal made her more importunate, and nothing short of the information, which she required could satisfy her. By caresses and liberal promises, she endeavoured to extort the secret; but her efforts were to no purpose, nor was she more successful, when she resorted to blows.

The young man finding a mother's threats to be very unpleasant, and her stripes still more so, began to contrast the love, which he owed to her, with the duty, which he owed to his father and to his country. He placed her and her insatiable curiosity in one scale, and his own honour, and the solemn injunction to secrecy in the other, when he found her intrinsic weight lighter than air; but in order to appease her, he invented the following ingenious fiction.

Dear mother, you may well blame the senate for their long sitting, at least for calling in question a case so important; for except

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