Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-07-13
Sons of Temperance and COlorphobia.
In The Bugle of Jan. 9Th we published
the following communication;

In The Bugle of Jan. 9Th we published
the following communications
GENEVA, Dec. 30, 1s49
FRIEND JOHNSON In The A. S. Buglc,
Oct. 27, the following Editorial appeared:
"SoNs OF TEMPKRANcE.-This body, though
claiming to be founded on the principle OF fra q.
ternity, is governed by the spirit of caste in its
most odious form. No colored man is admit
ted as member, the Grand Division having
made rule TO that effect some time ago. Rev.
5. II. Ward, an educated man of unimpoacha-
bic character, was admitted to membership,
contrary to the rule, by a local body. Tho act
was reported to the Grand Division, and the
District Deputy who admitted Mr.. Ward was
expelled. Finally, to get rid of the black man,
tho body threw up its charter and organized
anew" &c.
This was read before the "Sons Of Gcncvn
Division, No. 633, last week, and pronounced
to be untrue, by the leading " Sons" that "No
colored man is admitted as member, the
trand Division having made q rule TO that
elect. IL is not true that the " Rev. S. II.
Ward, an educated colorcd man of unimpcach-
able character was admitted to membership con-
trary to the rule, by local body" It is not
true, "Thc act was reported to the Grand Di-
vision, and the District Deputy who admitted
MIR. Ward was expelled" I" Finally" it is not
threw up its charter and organized anew" 1t
was also reported that Divisions composed of
colored men. have Charters granted them by
the Grand Division, and are on equal footing
with the white Sons" Thus YOU sec. Mr.
Editor, you arc placed in no eviable position for
" Lore, Purity, and Fidelity" In reply it was
said, without doubt Mr.. johnson has proof on
hand to sustain the charges. by laying tho
facts before the public, you will obligc lover
of truth.
JOS. HARDING.
To this communication we appended the
following remarks:
awe publish the above very chccrfully. In
the paragraph referred to we stated what VIC
had good reasons to believe true, but we did
not speak from our own knowledge, and may
have been mistaken in regard to the circum-
stances of Mr.. Wards connection with and his
separation from tho Sons of Temperance
On that subject however we shall say nothing
now, but wait for Mr.. Wards story. VIII he
oblige us by either stating tho facts in his own
paper, or sending thcm directly to usi If VIC
have done the Sons any injustice, VIC desire
to make amends.
"I In regard to the main charge which We pre-
ferred against the institution, viz that is gov
erned by the spirit of caste, it is not denied but
confirmed by Mir. Harding. lie says that char
tors are granted to divisions "composea of col-
orea men," In other words, colorcd men are
not permitted to become members of the same
Divisions with white men, but arc treated as a
distinct and separate caste. This proves what
VIC said, viz: that "thc Sons of Temperance,
so far as colorphobia is concerned, are not
whit better than tho popular Churches" 1t is
OF comparatively little Importance whether we
were right or wrong in our own statement re-
specting Mr.. Wards case, since the main ac-
cusation is acknowledged to be true"
Here we thought the matter might well
rest, as one too plain for further controversy.
Our correspondent, however, did not think
so, and subsequently addressed to us tic fol-
lowing communication
FRIEND JOHNSON have looked with much
anxiety into The Dugle for some weeks past in
hope of learning the facts relative to the OK
pulsion of the colored minister Mr.. Ward, and
the other charges you brought against the
Sons of Temperance but up to this time,
have looked in vain. Why is this, Mr.. Editor
In your remarks of Jan. 9TH you say: In re-
gard to the main charge which VIC preferred
against the institution, viz that it is govern
ed by the spirit of caste, it is not denied but
confirmed by Mr.. Harding, He says that
charters are granted to divisions composed of
colored men, In other words, colored mon
arc not permitted to become members of the
same Division with white men, but arc treated
as distinct and separate caste. This proves
what VIC said, viz: that tho Sons of Temper
ancc, so far as colorphobia is concerned, are not
q whit better than tho popular Churches.'-
This, my dear Sir, is rather jumping conclu-
sion, and is called by the back -woodsman, "run-
ming round the stump; but by the more re-
fined "begging the question" You have put
q hasty, if not false construction, on the
words in my communication of Dec 23d, that
charters arc granted to divisions composed of
colored men," 1t is no marvel that they should
desire to have division by themselves, as
are "birds of a feather should Aock together"
But this does not prove that colored men aIo not
permitted to become members with white men
but are treated as distinct and separate caste
must confess, Sir, that this mode of reason-
ing, to my mind is any thing but concluiive.-
You have brought heavy and serious charges
against tho " Sons" and when called upon for
facts, nothing but hcarsay and conjecture has
been the reply. 1t is not merely curiosity that
led me TO desire the truth in this roottor co. 20
tho colored man is not allowed equal rights
with the white Sons, it is no place for me.
Yours for the whole truth,
]. HARDING.
We have delayed the publication of the
above in the hope of hearing directly from
MIR. Ward, but his frequent absence from
his post leaves US at no loss to account for
MS silence. Perhaps the marked paper we
Ia i'm.