work; and they are such considerations as he believes will induce thousands of honest, honourable and patriotic men to encourage it. The minions of the Order have propagated an opinion, wherever they could do it successfully, that he is insane-"mad as a March hare!" But he despises their calumny, at the same time that he pities sincerely their miserable ignorance, that makes them the dupes of a foul im-posture. If he be mad, however, he is determined there shall be method in his madness. A certain noble-minded, ancient and Christian philosopher, was charged with the same infirmi-· ty when combatting similar if not equally atro~~ cious impositions and wickedness. "I am not mad, most noble Festus, (said the Christian champion) but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." Now, if the writer of the "SOLEMN WARNING," shall not "speak forth the words of truth and soberness," in the estimation of all who have the smallest regard for truth, freedom and righteousness, he will consent to be called "mad" by them, as well as by the fanatical, blind and stupid, or impiously wicked and corrupt apologists of Morgan's abduction and murder. On this ground is he perfectly willing to stand or fall, when the following work shall come before the public; and he cannot but hope, that all parents and guardians, who have sufficient confidence in his

talents to perform this task, and who think as he does of the Masonic Order, may see and feel the necessity and importance of encouraging the work.

All who are disposed to purchase this publication, will please address their orders, for any number of copies, to the author at Albany, inelosing the amount, and paying postage; and the pamphlets shall be forwarded according to direction, at three shillings single, or three dollars per single dozen. Two dollars and fifty cents per dozen, for any number not less than six dozen.

ALBANY, October 9th, 1827.

A SOLEMN WARNING.

TO THE YOUNG MEN OF THE UNITED STATES.

MY YOUNG Countrymen :

It is on your account, and not on my own, that without preface or apology, I claim of you a patient and a candid hearing, in what I am now about to lay before you: And this I am satisfied, notwithstanding but few indeed of you can know any thing of me, that you will cheerfully award; for although experience may not have taught you much, as she is a slow teacher, whom we are obliged to follow long before she answers half the questions we have to put to her; and too often, alas! does she leave the wisest of us to sink into the grave the victims of ignorance, error and delusion; yet the native good sense, as well as good feeling, of American youth, will at all times, I believe, as they ever have done, induce them to listen with candour and patience to whatever is intended to promote their own happiness, and render them worthy of themselves, of their country, and her high destinies.

I am well aware how almost impossible it is to put old heads upon young shoulders. The brightest and the dullest youth are equally in want of experience; and without some experience, it is difficult, if not impossible, for any human being calmly to survey the dangers that

encompass him, and clearly to perceive the means of averting them.

The youth of bright intellect and sound na tive judgment, it is true, will sooner arrive at the necessary information, to enable him to steer his bark safely through the stormy ocean of life, than he to whom Nature has been less bountiful in mental or intellectual endowments: But still both may need the monitions of the aged, of those who have had experience, to enable them to start the more fairly in the race which is to terminate in their temporal and eternal salvation or destruction.

It certainly is not from arrogant presumption, on my part, that I now address you. Nor is it from any wish to court your favour, or render you subservient to any selfish purposes of my. own. Ambitious of power I am not at this time of life; for I have calmly surveyed the heights of political elevation, and know full well, that however fascinating they may be at some times, and under certain circumstances, they possess but few if any charms for him who has lived long, been chastened by adversity,* as I have been, and seen much of mankind. Covetous of wealth. I am not; for I have tasted, or rather tested, both extremes of prosperity and adversity; and full well have I learned, that in pursuit of riches there is a happy medium, at which every wise man will aim; and that however necessary it may be to arrive at that, for our temporal comfort and convenience-yet it is not that alone-and still less is it the possession of power, that can ensure the tranquillity or happiness of a rational and immortal being.

* See Appendix, Note 1.

I have said thus much of myself, because I am well aware that the subject, to which I wish to call your attention-and especially the honest, just, bold and proper manner in which a sacred sense of duty to God and my country demands of me to treat it-are calculated at this peculiar crisis, to bring no small share of odium upon my head from a certain quarter. Those who have already basely misrepresented my motives, malignantly slandered my reputation, and attempted by means far from honorable, to injure my interest, on account of my editorial exertions, feeble and inefficient, it is true, but Heaven knows virtuous and sincere, to bring to light the foul conspirators, who, in the language of Judge Throop, (when he sentenced four of them to a punishment by far, very far, too mild for the enormity of their crime,)" have robbed the state of a citizen, a citizen of his liberty, a wife of her husband, and a family of helpless children of the endearments and protecting care of a parent:" Those, I say, who on this account have pursued me with their slander and malignity, will be equally busy, I have a right to presume, in persuading you, that this address is the dictate of a selfish heart, or an unsound head.

From these remarks, my young countrymen, you will perceive, that FREE MASONRY is to be the theme of this Address. It is so-and it is to warn you most seriously and solemnly against that ORDER, as one fraught with incalculable mischief to all your dearest interests in this life, as well as in that which is to come, that I have taken up my pen on this occasion. It is to convince you, if I can, that your safety and your duty, your happiness and your glory, equal