I think Opinions should be judg'd of by their Influences
and Effects; and if a Man holds none that tend to make him less
Virtuous or more vicious, it may be concluded he holds none that are
dangerous; which I hope is the Case with me. I am sorry you should
have any Uneasiness on my Account, and if it were a thing possible
for one to alter his Opinions in order to please others, I know none
whom I ought more willingly to oblige in that respect than your
selves: But since it is no more in a Man's Power _to think_ than _to
look_ like another, methinks all that should be expected from me is
to keep my Mind open to Conviction, to hear patiently and examine
attentively whatever is offered me for that end; and if after all I
continue in the same Errors, I believe your usual Charity will induce
you rather to pity and excuse than blame me. In the mean time your
Care and Concern for me is what I am very thankful for.
As to the Freemasons, unless she will believe me when I assure
her that they are in general a very harmless sort of People; and have
no principles or Practices that are inconsistent with Religion or
good Manners, I know no Way of giving my Mother a better Opinion of
them than she seems to have at present, (since it is not allow'd that
Women should be admitted into that secret Society). She has, I must
confess, on that Account, some reason to be displeas'd with it; but
for any thing else, I must entreat her to suspend her Judgment till
she is better inform'd, and in the mean time exercise her Charity.
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