The Columbian fountain., 1846-06-15
THE IRIe AND ODD FELLOWS MIRROR.

THE IRle AND ODD FELLOWS MIRROR |
percsive, Messrs Editors, that the Iris and
Odd FeIlows' Mirror Of Saturday last. in an
article under the cAption "Plagisrism, !" sccus-
es you of"wickedand wlful distortion" and Of
making an article published in that paper
"Onelaw shall bind all nations"- "subservient
70 sectarian ends."- Il is true, you did make
the article "apply TO subject entirely different
70 WHAT Z was written for" but, in SO doing,
you did not make yourself amenable to the
charge OF plagiarism, for the editor Of the Iris
must have noticed that every word in said ar
hcle was marked as quotation, except those
which were added to deprive il of its impieiu,
and to give il legitimate and proper consuuc-
ton. The Usage" editor Of the Iris is as much
in the dark as to the meaning Of the word "pla-
giarism" as he is unjust in charging the editor
of the Fountain with making the article il
question "subservent to sectarian endso--its
whole tenor giving direct contradiction TO
the assertion. He is most unfortunate
charge against the Fountain recoils upon him
self-and he has shown himself ignorant Of
the meaning Of the word which heads the ar
ticle containing these charges; and the original
article shows plainly that they subject them
selves to bitter disappointment, who expect
"grapes Of thorns, or figs Of this,les."
| am aware that the Iris is dependent mainly
upon the support it receives from the Order, Of
which it processes to be the organ, and while
| it is right and proper that it should uphold the
Institution against all opponents, and should
defend its interests and aid its successful ope-
ration by all proper and honorable means, l
would have its conductor to understand, that
when he SO far forgets his responsibility TO the
Order itself, his duty to his fellow man, and
his accountability to Heaven, as to place the
Institution Of Odd Fellowship in advance Of
Christianity that he is wofully misrepresent-
ing the Order, and is doing it an injury in.
stead Of benefit.
You will doubtless recollect, Nessrs. Edi-
tors, that previous to the appearance Of the ar
ticle Zone Law shall bind all Nations' in the
Fountain, you expressed to me, in strong
terms, your disapprobation Of il, and said that,
by the substitution of one or two words, the
article would be deprived of its Objectionable
feature. (impious should say and would ex-
press, not only your own, but the sentiments
OF every believer in the Christian religion, as
revealed to man in the New Testament, and
asked my opinion as to the propriety Of so do
ing, observing, at the same time, that it would
thus convey to its author keener reproach,
than could be administered in any other way
coincided with you in opinion-the article
appeared, and hence the charge Of "Plagia-
lrism."
Is the editor ofthat paper aware that the use
|of quotations implies that matter so marked
is not original with the individual who uses
them? Does he not know, that authors thus
Distinguish what is NOT their own, and that ar
ticles thus marked and used, do not subject
their user to the charge Of plagiarism ?.'-
| Does he know the difference between the AL
pha and Omega of a quotation He appears
to be about as well informed in this particular
as in those above alluded to- will now con-
slider. briefly, the charge of "wicked and wiful
distortion" Webster defines the word to be
ga perverton' Of words from their true mean
ing" Now, contend, that the article, as il
appeared in the Fountain, expressed the only
true meaning Of the words composing it. If
this be SO, andI am willing to submit to the
arbitrament Of any unprejudiced man, who is
neither Turk, Jew, Mahommedan, Heather,
or ln6del, the charge Of 'sdistortion" falls to
the ground, where, but for the distorted" ca
put which dis6gures the shoulders Of this Ajax,
and presents an insurmountable obstacle to a
"close hug" he might find himself, enjoying
his "otium cum dig,,itate." advise him TO
"entertain score or two of" coopers-that
head of his will find them ample employment
Distortion indeed-he has only to look in
the "Mirror" to behold the most frightful spec
tacle that can te presented to mortal eyes-a
distorted" head and perverted" mind
II is the peculiar province of the "Four-
TAIN" to purify--to winnow the chaff from the
wheat-how effectually it does this, may be
learned from comparison of the article as il
apDea red in the Tris with that VIZ h ch opnoarod