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ARGUMENT XXX.

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED IN A LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EXPULSION OF A MEMBER, WHO HAD BEEN REPEATEDLY, BUT IN VAIN, ADMONISHED FOR THE ILLIBERAL PRACTICE OF BACK BITING AND SLANDERING HIS

BRETHREN.

As in all numerous bodies and societies of men some unworthy will ever be found, it can be no wonder that, notwithstanding the excellent principles and valuable precepts laid down and inculcated by our venerable institution, we have such amongst us-men who, instead of being ornaments or useful members of our body, I am sorry to say, are a shame and disgrace to it!

These are sufficiently characterized by a natural propensity to backbite and slander their brethren: a vice truly detestable in all men, and more peculiarly so in Freemasons, who, by the regulations of their institution, are especially exhorted and enjoined to speak as well of a brother when absent as present; to defend his honour and reputation wherever attacked, as far as truth and justice will permit; and, where they cannot reasonably vindicate him, at least to refrain from contributing to condemn him."

But, alas! regardless of their duty in general,

and of these laudable injunctions in particular, we frequently find such men assiduously employed in traducing the character of their brethren, and— instead of rejoicing at their good fortune, pitying their misfortune, and apologising for their weakness and errors-envying their prosperity; and, unaffected by their adversity, with a secret and malicious pleasure, exploring and publishing their defects and failings: like trading vessels, they pass from place to place, receiving and discharging whatever calumny they can procure from others, or invent themselves.

As we have just now had a mortifying instance of the necessary consequence of such base conduct in the expulsion of one of our members, permit me to deliver to you some sentiments of the great Archbishop Tillotson on the subject. He assigns various causes for this evil, and also furnishes directions which, if adhered to, will greatly contribute to prevent and remedy it.

"If we consider the causes of this evil practice, we shall find one of the most common is ill-nature; and, by a general mistake, ill-nature passes for wit, as cunning does for wisdom; though, in truth, they are as different as vice and virtue.

"There is no greater evidence of the bad temper of mankind than their proneness to evil speaking; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh; and, therefore, we commonly incline, through censoriousness, to the uncharitable side.

"The good spoken of others we easily forget,

or seldom mention; but the evil lies uppermost in our memories, and is ready to be published on all occasions; nay, what is more ill-natured and unjust, though many times we do not believe it ourselves, we tell it to others, and venture it to be believed, according to the charity of those to whom it is told.

"Another cause of the frequency of this vice is that many are so bad themselves: for to think and speak ill of others, is not only a bad thing, but a sign of a bad man. When men are bad themselves they are glad of an opportunity to censure others, and endeavour to bring things to a level, hoping it will be some justification of their own faults if they can but make others appear equally guilty.

"A third cause of evil speaking is malice and revenge. When we are blinded by our passions, we do not consider what is true, but what is mischievous; we care not whether the evil we speak be true or not; nay, many are so base as to invent and raise false reports, on purpose to blast the reputations of those by whom they think themselves injured.

"A fourth cause of this vice is envy. Men look with an evil eye upon the good that is in others, and do what they can to discredit their commendable qualities; thinking their own character lessened by them, they greedily entertain, and industriously publish what may raise themselves upon the ruins of the reputation of other men.

"A fifth cause of evil speaking is impertinence and curiosity, and an itch of talking of affairs which

do not concern us. Some love to mingle themselves in all business, and are loth to seem ignorant of such important news as the faults and follies of men; therefore, with great care they pick up ill stories, to entertain the next company they meet,not perhaps out of malice, but for want of something better to talk of.

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Lastly, many do this out of wantonness and for diversion, so little do they consider that a man's reputation is too great and tender a concern to be jested with, and that a slanderous tongue bites like a serpent and cuts like a sword.

barbarous, next to sporting with a

What can be so

man's life, as to

play with his honour and good name, which to some is better than life.

"Such, and so bad, are the causes of this vice.

"If we consider its pernicious effects, we shall find that to such as are slandered it is a great injury, commonly a high provocation, and always matter of grief.

"It is certainly a great injury; and if the evil which we say of them be not true, it is an injury beyond reparation. It is an injury that descends to a man's children; because the good or evil name of the father is transmitted down to them, and many times the best thing he has to leave them is an unblemished virtue. And do we make no conscience to rob his innocent children of the best part of their small patrimony, and of all the kindness that would have been done them for their father's sake, if his reputation had not been undeservedly

stained? Is it no crime, by the breath of our mouth, at once to blast a man's reputation, and to ruin his children perhaps, to all posterity? Can we jest with so serious a matter—an injury so very hard to be repented of as it ought? because, in such a case, no repentance will be acceptable without restitution, if in our power.

"Even suppose the matter of the slander true, yet no man's reputation is considerably stained, though never so deservedly, without great hurt to him; and it is probable that the charge, by passing through several hands, is aggravated beyond truth, every one being apt to add something to it.

"Beside the injury, it is commonly a high provocation, the consequence of which may be dangerous and desperate quarrels. One way or other, the injured person will hear of it, and will take the first opportunity to revenge it.

"At best, it is always matter of grief to the person defamed; and Christianity, which is the bestnatured institution in the world, forbids us to do those things whereby we may grieve one another.

"A man's character is a tender thing, and a wound there sinks deep into the spirit even of a wise and good man; and the more innocent any man is in this respect, the more sensible he is of this uncharitable treatment; because he never treats others so, nor is he conscious to himself that he has deserved it.

"To ourselves the consequences of this vice are as bad, or worse. He that accustoms himself to speak