, 1865-09-25

We puh1fth below a very interesting letter On
the subject OF the recognition by the white lodges OF
Free aud Accepted Mssons, Of the eolored brethren
Of The fraternity In this and other States OF tho
Union It s from The pen OF MI. John Jones, one
Of Chicago,a most respected colofed citizens, who
Is at present and has been for the past tenyea n.
". @. H., Of the colored lodges Of this jusisdlc-
ton The posiion osthe eoorca brethren in the craft
In this county, Is Of colrse familiar to most Of
readers, certainly to all who meet upon the level
and part Gpon the square" and 1t Will be uunsecs
sasy for H. at this time, to enter further into the
merits Of The question than 10 say, that the great
objection In the fraternity, ia and long has been one
Of informally and infsaction OF ancient usage not
Of color: Mr.. Jones speaks "a follows:
From .be commencement OF the world we nsy
trace the foundation Of Masonry. Ever stncc SYM
our Order nas had being. During many ages and
lie 1aFk periods Of antiquity. when literature was
fathers Withheld Hom them thst knowledge wenow
20 amply share. Masonry dldnsed 1ts influence.
Tbs science r. nnEaed ats aFoe eigttoG a t1ok
Ignorance and ba1barism. Government being set
9eeGts ~ sSsa to I'll 4na ss so
the great and the good Wh1le the tenets Of the pro-
fession were attended With nnbounded utility.
country, bnt didased oTe1 The whole terrestrial
globe Wherever asts flourish, there it dourishes
fo0 Add to this that by eecret and tolabe slgns,
c1refn1y preserved among the fraternity throughout
!he world. masonry becomes an universal Language.
chineee, % ,6o wiid Ais6, tho African In Ii. native
home, and The American savage, will embrace
brother Hrttop. Frank or German, End will know
That, besides the common ties Of humanity, there
I'm eh!ign1qnn In to ,i;; induse se i hin ,1 t.
minating priest viii be tanned. and moral
brother, though Of different Persuaasoa, engage y
sonr5. whjch Is reconeiiabe to he best policy ~
those disputes which enbltter Life and sour the
fempcrs or men are avolded, while the common
good, the general design Of the Craft Is zealo1sly
must be sufficiently obvtous. The universal primer
pies Of tho art unite men Of the most opposite ts
nets, Of the most distant countries, and ol The most
contradictory opinions in one ndissoluble bond OF
hiend apd in every elilnate home. Our friend
and brother, the great PJthagoEas, who, U ma
found hospitable homes and. brothers OF whom
be was not aahansd e - reesiys @ ~ the hoxiedSs IT,
african brethren, this wise philosopher {naaont
history tells ns) raised 10 the sublime degree Of
aMnster Mason while travelling through Asia, Aft.
ca and Europe, and ! assert without The haf Of
lime degree Of Masiet Mason In Adca. Then, I
ask, have not the descendants Of Africa right
to the privileges, BENEFITS and ImInunIties OF an
: dcnt Free Mnsonty! The answer of every genuine
ard met on the streets and In the Lodges In a CIV
tl1zed countries az NasonsS The question 4 often
asked from whence we came, and when and "hefe
did we obtain those fnestimAble privileges II Is
d. r. e o1r existence ice II The 1nited sntas i
concerned. Masonry VIA nzst introduced tn tnts
country among eoloEed men By English military
troops In Military Lodges In 1175. who hs1iAt=d