M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-10-17
MisttIIautoas,
MASONIC CIRCULAR.

Tohs P,esent and Past Grand Xdsttfs Of an lie
Grand Aclges D, Free Aas0isfn dtLthe States !;
BRETHREN: The administration of
the affairs of Freemasonry, within the
Territory which was but lately our
happy and united country, has been
committed to your hands by the suff,
RACES Of your brethren, because they
thought you were wise, intelligent,
just, honorable and conservative men.
The trusts committed to you were OF
high moment, and the positions occu.
pied by you have been dignified and
elevated. There is among you at
least al much, and perhaps more, Of
the elements Of justice, TRUTH charity
and conservatism. aud l add patriot
ism, as can be found among a similar
number of men in tile whole world.
There is also as much ofintelligence
matured by age and tempered by the
constant habit of cherishing kind ard
benevolent dispositions.
The Order over which yon have
presided, and are now presiding,
numbering hall million of good
men, has not merely tolerated, but
proclaimed perfect freedom Of politi,
cal and religious opinions; and among
its votaries may be found all shades
Of sentiments, except such as are ath,
eistical aud libertine. AS an organi.
zation they have never engaged in
political or partizan warfare, but lay.
ing aside all conflicting sentiments on
such questions, they have harmonious
ly united to cultivate the benign in
4uenees Of relief, truth, brotherly love
and charity to all mankind. But they
have 60 taught, fostered and cherished
q strong profound and abiding patri
otism as the duty and exalted privil-
ege of every citizen. VI 9'9' "a
Holding the positions, then, which
you do, when immense perils to hon.
ored institutions, to civil liberty, and
to the hopes of progress among man
kind, are impending over us, you can
not, in view Of yonr own tremendous
responsibilities, resist the grand duty
of making sincere and honest efforts
10 save a sinking a country from the
wreck, ruin and dissolution, now not
only threatening our own great anG
beloved land, but actually sweeping
over it. -raT "a s7Es.adoT ,iaai .'qsz
z 1t must be evident, sconspicuously
so, to every observant and refecting
citizen, thai the politicians who claim
to be our statesmen, both South aud
North; are hnrrying on this great ma.
tion to speedy ruin and dissolution
The positions taken by both parties
are such that no adjustment between
them can possibly occur. So far from
| it, TIE breaches are every day WIDEN.
ing and deepenipg;--and unless tbet
ter dispositions shall shortly be mani
tested, every ves:ige of hope Offset
tlement, except in extermipatipg war,
must be lost forever onio p ,, ga l q 81 ,'3''
t"C Can it'bethere Is no balm 70, the
bleeding wounds of Cur hation i? Is
kthereno hand to hold out the olive
branch?-no Savior to still the troub-
led watersi SIT Al ssas.Ed or i0ei .lqsS
I,saSiiently, ,soTowsnllyrand sadly,
have been contemplating the heart
rending condition of the country, and
h ave been casting about to fud some
body Of men EIio might form a 'hd
icle1s atouhd Which the peace, loving
and peace seeking conservatism ofthe
nation might rally, and | have come
tothe conclusion dat, ii such a body
of men exist in the whole land, you
are thstbob baofamenI o'Youa are mot
! politiciahss hbat rpatfi6ls, who love
your country, its glory and prosperi
ty, and embrace all the American
people in the outstretched arms, of, az
exPaanlsslye ioyef a. esgslsa pk d
1t will not be necessary or proper
for you to form yourselves into a po
! litical party, or to seek political posi-