sons because of their religion or place of birth; they merely
require the brethren never to vote for, or give their influence
in support of any man, for any office, who is not a native
born citizen, or who may be a Roman Catholic! This, it is
said, does not proscribe them. Oh ! no. These Catholics and
naturalized citizens are still to be allowed to live in the land,
to cultivate the soil, to work at the mechanic arts or trades,
to engage in merchandising if they please; nay, they may
even pursue any of the learned professions if they can, and
prefer to do so. The people of both these classes may live
and labor, and earn a subsistence, or even prosper and grow
rich by their industry, if they can,—provided, always, that
all offices of honor, profit or trust are bestowed only upon the
members of "the particular order," amongst whom even, in
one of the above forms of oaths, it is stipulated a prefer-
ence shall always be given to members of the third degree!!
If to brand a man, or classes of men, with disqualification
from all offices of every kind—to stigmatize him or the class
to which he belongs as not worthy to be trusted—to degrade
and reduce him below the level of those with whom he asso-
ciates, and amongst whom he lives, is not a proscription of
that man or class, then the ocean does not roll its waves, nor
does the sun shine in the heavens!!

Again, we find in the papers referred to, it is stipulated
in the oath of the first degree, that the member, in all politi-
cal matters, so far as the order is concerned, shall comply with
the will of the majority, though it may conflict with his per-
sonal preference ? And in the second degree oath, it is stipu-
lated that the member will support, in all political matters
for all political offices, members of this order in preference to
all other persons. This not only proscribes and proposes to
exclude from all offices, Catholics and citizens not of native
birth, but all other persons who are not members of the order, so
far as the votes of the order have power to do it, and mem-
bers of the order can be found to be candidates. This is not
a "wild hunt after office," but rather shows a purpose to
monopolize all offices. But to return. The third degree oath
contains this clause: "that he, (the member,) will vote for
and support, for all political offices, third or union degree
members of this order in preference to all others." Now, how
much of political liberty is left to the poor man who has ta-
ken these obligations, or those only of the first and second
degrees ? Why literally none ! He is no longer a freeman !
He is bound by the forms of an oath or oaths, which he is
taught to believe is sacred and binding, to comply in all po-
litical matters, so far as the order is concerned, with the will

21