American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-04-11
From the Cahawba (.alabama,) Press.


no connexion with Me.hodis,s in general, but be.
longs to those barbarous days when kissing was
crime, and women in the evening OF lie were apt
10 be piously burnt as witches:
ave, whose names are hercunto subscribed, be-
ing members Of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and belonging to Tuscaloosa station, being informed
that several OF the Preachers Of The Methodist
Church have, within the last year, united them
selves to the Masonic Fraternity, and associated
with them, which is contrary to the custom and
usage Of the Ministers and Members OF the Me-
thodis, Church, as far as our knowlegde extends;
and being satisfied that the Of God, and the sal
vaon of souls will no, be advanced by an union Of
that Fraternity, with our Society nor can they be
united without excluding majority OF the most
pious and devout Members OF our Church, viz. the
Females; and our opinion is that il is bad prece-
dent to be set established in our Church:
"We do therefore Resolre-lst That we, as
Society, and as individuals, will not receive nor ac-
knowledge any man as our Preacher, Pastor, or
Presiding Elder, who has joined that Fraternity
since he has been Preacher, and continues to as
socate with them either directly or indirectly.
Resolue I'd. That if the Preacher appointed to
this station for the year 1896 will not conform with
what is required by the FIRST Resolution, that we
will not consider him as our stationed preacher;
nor shall we feel ourselves bound TO defray any ol
his expenses; nor pay him any quarterage nor a
bde by any Of his acts which he may call official
After the leading principles of masonry were so
well understood it was hardly to be expected, that
either the practice or the precepts o the craft could
be consider ed as dscordant TO the dogmas OF Chris
anity. Among ma,ons as among methodsts, 1t is
true, individuals may be found whose conduct
comports with their profession These delin-
quencies, however, are lar from atesting any vicl-
Gus tendency in the TWO institutions; and repeat
only what all ages and nations have confirmed, that
no discipline, tenets adequate TO the reorma-
tion OF some men.
The exclusion OF women, though their presence
might be matter Of scandal, from the meetings of
the fraternity, seems in the instance under consde
ration, to be the principal objection. From the ar
my and the navy, operative masonry and dissectng
rooms, females are also excluded, without any de-
sire on their par it is presumed, to share such la
bours, or such dangers; and yet these avocations
escape the prescription ol the rigid. Indeed, it may
with confidence be asserted that the ladies have no
cause, and it is surmised that they have disposi
tion, to complain Of freemasonry as, in no institu
tion under heaven, are their rights more surely
guarded, their virtues more revered Yet masonry,
say the resolutionists, is incompatible with metho
dism. Are friendship, charity, beuevolence, the in
cuication Of all the active and passive moral virtues,
irreconcable with the religion OF Christ Are they
| TO be excluded from the methodist society, from a
society whose exertions havo expelled barbarism
and crime from our frontiers, and planted the olive
OF peace on the carnagecovered plains of the sayage
Il hat society, though few of its members may err
through ignorance, cannot be unfriendyto masonry.
That the two institutions are dssimilar in one
point. cannot be denied. Masonry offers adyanta-
ges connected only with an orderly and virtuous
|Ioyment OF temporary blessings, preparatory it is
true to higher state OF existence, but not con
veying directly the express will of the Deity and
therefore implying the right to reject admit as
inclination and convenience may direct. With
regard to religion no such election is invested Its
benefits the boon OF the Almighty offered 10 all
mankind. The heralds are consequently restricted
to the promugation, without having any prohbitory
discretion, except in cases Of fagrancy furnishing
prima tacia evidence OF recklessness or ncorrgible
ness OF heart. Had this distinction occurred 10 The
resolutionsts charity leads TO the conclusion, thai
they would not, could not have, were, fulmina-
ted anathemas against the harmless and attempted
to snatch from unerring Wisdom the prerogative OF
judgment.