Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-04-28
A NEW soCIETr-eAllsD rnx
ngLR.RxAuHNnNG oocIRrY.

Among NE many Socettes estnoiy1hcd In
our country. 10 extend the principles Of Chris
tisnity. and 70 improve The norah Of the pso-
pls IL large. h h subject Of real regret, that
while 20 laudabls zeal 70 msnifsstsd, and 90
much pains taken 70 remove the mole out Of
our neighbors eyes, thsrs should be no socis-
~ formed, no psibs taken, 10 induce men Gysf
70 cast the bssss out Of their own; or In other
words. socety whose end and aim should Be
TO examine our own hearts and lives. and See
IL We ourselves are not guilty OF some habits
and vices that need reform, which are equally
n bad ~ those which we are SO ready 20 dis
cover In oar peighbors. This society. u would
seem, ought TO take the lead Of all others; and
u should be the first object Of our exertions 10
suppress the vices and follies Of mankind
" Physician heal myself" IL an admontion
coming from the highest authority. and h %
applicable 10 the scribss and Phsrisees Nos %
u was 1900 years ago. Did The members Of
our popular societies., % well ~ others, take
half the pains 70 examine themselves, and cor
rect their own faults. that they do TO hunt up
and expose the faults and follies Of Others,
how much more like Christians would they
scti How much more happy aud pescssbie
would be the condition Of every community
and neighborhood! And were q society for
seif-examination once instituted, In this or any
other place, and made ~ popular ~ our Tenn
perence Societies and many Others now are,
how much less running 10 and fro, OF Of num-
bers standing In the corners Of the streets,
God that they are not like other men,
should we then bcholdi
THE CONSTITUTION.
Art. LIST. This Society shall be known
by the name Of the Self. Examining So
ciety, and shall be composed Of men,
bers Of both sexes, whose heads and
hearts are capable Of moral improve
ment.
Art. ID. The object Of this Society
shall be, while we may see all others
faults, TO feel and correct our own. To
suppress all manner Of deceit and n.y.
pocrisy, SANDER and defamation, back
biting and evil speaking. with all that
tends to iniure or defraud our neighbor,
either Of his property or character.
Art. Sd. This Society shall be inde-
pendent OF all other SocietieS-each
member shall be vested with full pow
ers aud privileges TO attend to his own
concerns. and he shall make il his du-
ty to mind his own business and let
Others alone. And no Presidents, Vice
Presidents, Secretaries, Spies, Inform
ers, Committee. nor Delegates, shall
ever be chosen by this Society, 10
watch over the conduct Of others, or
make reports Of their neighbor's misdo-
ings, until such work Of Charity shall
have been begun at home.
Art. 9TH. There shall be no public OIL
private meetings Of this Society on any
appointed days to manage their con-
Germs. or TO hear lectures delivered be.
fore il, but il shall be the duty Of every
member 10 meet himself alone every
day, and listen to the lectures Of his
own conscience.
Art. 9th. No money shall be raised
from time TO time, for funds to support
this Society, nor to circulate self-exam-
lining tracts or self-examining alma
nacks, or pay the Ministers or Lawyers
for delivering addresses, 10 convince NJ
how much easier il is TO examine Others
than IL is TO examine ourselves.
Art. 9Th. Every member Of the So
ciety shall pay due regard TO temper.
ance in eating and drinking aud in eve.
ry thing else. But he shall be his own
judge what he shall eat, and what he
shall drink, and wherewithsl he shall
be clothed-while gluttony and drunk
enneSs, and tight lsc,ng, shall be lefi
to the cravings Of conscience and the
consumption, with ell that popular re-
proach they deserve, without the bene-
fit Of the clergy, or the votes. or lee
lures Of temperance society.
Art. 7th. Every thing shall be called
by its right name. Men shall not put
bitter for sweet, nor sweet for bitter
nor call for Beer when they mean Rum,
nor for Cider or Wine when they mean
Brandy or Gin. And no Inn-keepeI
shall put new Wine into old bottles Of
French Brandy. for the use Of his TEN
perance customers-snd no grocer OF
merchant shall sell preparations Of
Whiskey Tor Malaga or Madeira Wine
or ST. CFoix Rum.
Art. 6th. Every member Of this So.
ciety shall be allowed to drink tea OF
coffee, cold water or hot water, butter
milk or lemonsde. as suils him best. OF
TO chew or smoke tobacco, or take snuff,
when not ofensive to the company be
is in, without being accommodated
from good society. OF delivered over 10
the b0fIsting Of Pharisees.
Art. 9th. No member Of the society
shall ever set himself up above his Eel.
lows or seek TO establish his own ehsF-
aetsF and consequences by blackening
bis nsighboF's good name, to make
his own appeaF the WhIleF bot u shall
be The duty Of every one TO examine
their own hesFts and dispositions. end
set . double guard agsinst the SIN that
most easily besets themselves.
AT. 10Th. This society shall form no
christian party IN politics, and no po-
lilical parry undeT the nsme oftbs self
sxsmining society. Il shall have no
thing 70 do wiih Masonry o. Aah-ma-
sonFy, Calculation o. Anti-slavery,
Missionary. Bible, o. Tract Societies.
~ beng IN any naoBsr connected
With u; noF shall aay religious Creed.
Test, o. isquisitioa, Coanei ~ Sysod,
ever BE- established % eountsnasesd