Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-01-06

'S' ""u Po"eIiui enemies, VINO nave
employed against i, both arguments and
lnvective. And its defenders have been
compelled to meet those arguments, and
to parry the effects Of inyeciiye.
There is an objection to our insti,u-
ton emanating from a source which en-
titles it to our highest consideration, and
which may not venture to class with
the cavils and ridicule and sneers, which
come from the rougher sex. see by
your counienances, ladies', that am an.
ticipated-that you already understand
me as abiding to the objection, urged by
some OF your sex, that you are excluded
from participation in the labors and
privileges Of our Lodges. This objec
ton has always been treated by our
brotherhood with the highest respect.
On no occasion indeed like the present,
does the Masonic orator deem himself OF
liberty to pass it by unnoticed: and this
is of itself a compliment Of high cha
racter, and one richly merited, too, by
Heavens last, best, gift 10 man. -
And our worthy brethren have often at.
tempted TO present TO your minds salts
factory reasons why you are excluded.
They have reminded you, that you are
excluded from participation in the dan-
gers and the glory Of our Navy, OF tho
"tented field" the honors Of the Senate;
and that you are excluded, also, from q
direct exercise Of the elective franchise,
the boosted privilege Of freemen in eve
ny age and country. They have told
you, that as we'll might you urge these
facts as an objection against our govern
ment as to urge the objection you hold
against our time-honored institution
These reasons are ,rite, j, is true; but
they arc not, on that account, the less
wsighty, nor the less just. But il you
should not deem them satisfactory, I
might say more. ] might remind you,
(of wha, the Bible iaforms vs,) that the
sons of Levi, alone, were, by Divine
commandment, consecrated to the holy
office Of the Priesthood. Nor is there
an instance to be found in the Pentateuch.
or in any portion Of Jewish history,
in which women were permitted to min
lister in the sanctuary. And when the
Saviour himself appeared on earth and
shed upon mans benighted mind the
more brilliant light Of the Gospel, the
rule of the Jewish theocracy was not
altered in this respect. Neither St. John
the Evangelist, to commemorate whose
virtues we have this day assembled, nor
either OF the other Gospel historians in.
form US, that there was female among
the seventy disciples. And when the
Saviour breathed his last INJUNCTION to
the twelve Apostles: $50 ye into all the
world and preach my Gospel to every
creature" not ono of your sex was cloth
ed with this grand and awfully RESPONSE
Bile commission. St. Paul, more than O
quarter Of century afterwards, ex-
pressly forbade women to speak in the
churches. Sand if they will learn any
thing" said he, "let them ask their hus.
bands at home" As well, then, might
you object to Christianity itself, on THE
ground, as to Masonry.
To participate in the duties OF our
Lodges would 10 altogether unsuites to
your gentle nature, and might tend TO
the downfall of Masonry. 1t was the
of your sex into the Eleusi.
an Mysteries, the historian informs US,
which corrupted that solemn festival,
and brought about its entire abolition
under Theodosius the great. Not that
your Presence is, under all circumstances,
to corrupt man. but, when too
great and public familiarity is permitted,
he loses that high and reverential regard
for female character, which has always
been found necessary to check and gov.
ern the vicious tendencies of his nature.
When women preserves her appropriate
sphere in society, it is then that her hea-
venIy influence is felt;-it is then, tha,
she fashions mans character, and indi-
rec:ly governs the world. In conclusion
upon this point, allow me TO say, in the
language of distinguished Mason