Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-08-06

ndSOHD-JeHcTson I0dgo, NO lO4, Tn LeW1i county, NewYork, has surrendered its charter to the Grand Lodge, accompanied with the following pre- au.ble and resolutions:
 ''WheredS, benevoence is q primary virtue, and the exercise of it is primary duty it becomes us of: ten to sacrifice private feelings and interests for the good of others and especially for the benefit of com munity at large: And
 " UheredS in this region of country, there has for years existed public excitement on the subject oI free masonry, highly inconsistent with, and destruc- tive of that peace, harmony unanimty, and social
 intercourse, necessary to the mutual comfort and prosperity of all: And
 '' UhereaS this excitement has already existed too long, and done too much to create hnrtfu divisions in neghborhoods in societies, in churches, and even in families; We, therefore, the membersof Jefferson Lodge, No, 164, located in the county of Lewis and State of NewYork in order to do away as much as possible the unhappy excitement just mentioned, have voluntarily sincerely, and generously come to the following resolutions hoping that fellow citizens the other side will as freely and gene rously meet but f they should not, we will frank y do our Otrn dmy, and endeavor to restore peace, harmony, social intercourse, and mutual good feeling, and 1t shall never repent us that we have been the first in righteous causc:'
 "ReSotred, That we always have had and still have full and entire confidence in the purity of the masonic institution righy understood, properly ad- ministered, and scrupulouSty adhered to-" ' Resotred, That we, as citizens, as men, and as neghbors feel it duty to soften rather than irrtate, to concate rather than aggrayate, public excite ments whether they have good or evil for their ob- ject; we have, therefore not for want of confidence in the principles of masonry but of due reoard aad resct 10 pmbiic feeliag and sentiment, and in spirit reconciliation, surrendered up to the grand lodge of the State of New-York the charter of Jefferson Lodge, Mo- 164, and also the tools and implements of the craft
 ResolUed, That while we can respect, and are desirous to concate the feelings, and do fellowship the honest conscientious anti-masons-we also depre- cate the condud of he mason, who from sinister views, for polfca adpantage, or from achateuer Lase and unhalO,ced motres, has lent his aid, and contr- buted his influence, to jun the deadly fire to hdnop up the feelings of lis fetow citizens, dnd Keep are
 the angry spirit o discOrd and contention oniy hat he himseB might reap beneft, and build lis o,cn fortune at the expense and by the ruin 0f others'
 "Resolred, That although we have surrendered these rIghls masons, and although the current of popular opinion may set strong upon us, and breaches may be heaped upon us, yet unmoved we will admire the patriots, the heroes, and the sageS o our rerolmion, who jeopardized their lives, and glo- rousy achieve ed our independence. Their senti- ments we do imbibe, their virtues we will cherish, their examples will initiate and follow the lacs Q our county dnd ,ciH mdiniain; republi- can princpeS irc nW steadily adhere to; repubican institutions dSar as H IS in our pocer mill nnde riatingly support and but ,ci our Hres ,ce surrender no rights as citizens, no rights as ehristians.
 By order of committee of the lodge. Isaac Clinton, chairman. Sylvester Miller, secretary.
 Mdninsburgh, June Sd, 1881.
 We admire the manly and independent feelings which prompted this course but will it satisfy the anti-masons? will have the effect of checking the bitter and relentless of persecution waged a. gainst the craft' will it restore peace and harmony to the communities and families in those districts which have so long been the theatres of vengeul strife No.-We venture the assertion, that the majority of anti-masons would greatly prefer that the excitement should not only continue but increase in bitterness Once annlhilae their HoJby and their prospects of political elevation would be at an end Those who 1atter themselves with the hope of rid ing into office amidst the wild and desolating whr- wind of blind and maddened passions, would rather increase it to tornado, sweeping before it every ob sIacle which stood in their way. We are, however far from attrbutng these feelings to all anti-masons There unquestionably many honest and many good men who without foreseeng the direful effects of anmasonry upon society, have lent their aid to overthrow free masonry. But by this time they are no doubt satisfied that in endeavsring, they thought to eradicate one evil, they have contributed in raising up one of greater magnitude.
 However much we may admire the noble sacrifice ofLewis Lodge, we are far from wishing the example followed throughout the country. In the first place, it would not have the desired effect. Masons would then be hunted down individually; and nothing short of their relnquishing every privilege of freemen, would satisfy their relentless prosecutors. And be- sdes if the Lodges generally were to give up their charters would be attributed to their belief of not Let the opposers of masonry show that they hon est and conscientious in their coursc that the we'll being of the country is their primary object, and then good masons will not be backward in helping to heal up the wound.
 A