North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-04-17
A Hew gocietV.

US 1or re-puDlicatlon the following Constr
tution-of strange society. The paper
upon which it is printed, bears all the
marks and color of antiquity giving color
to the opinion that its author (whose style
is Lorenzo Dowish,) has long since gone
to his reward in Heaven. The new society
he endeayored to establish, had, doubtless,
"gone before" The evidences, if any, of
its existence are very faint indeed, in this
day and generation. But, while even
good societies may be broken up and their
history be lost in the darkness of the past,
principles founded in Mercy, Truth and
Justice will live forever.
We have looked over these twelve ar
ticles of the Constitution and are of the
opinion that it would be good work to
revive this old-fashioned, obsolete society;
especially as there are great many we'll
meaning people who are just now hesitating
about what society, among the numerous
ones now in vogue, they had better join.
We hope at least, that those into whose
hands this constitution falls, will preserve
and read it, once week; or until they
fully understand its principles; to the end,
that rousing revival of them may be
started right here in our midst.
Come right forward brethren and sisters
and Join
THE sE1F-ExAhINING SOCIETY.
And the many Societies established
in our country to extend the principles of
Christianity, and to improve the morals of
the people at large, it is subject of real
regret that while. so laudable a zeal is
manifested, and so mnch pains taken to
remove the mote ont of our neighbor's
eyes, that there should be no society
formed, no pains taken, to induce men
first to cast the beam out Of their own or
in other words, society whose end and
aim should be to examine ours own heart,
and lives, and see if we ourselves are not
guilty of some habits and vices that need
reform, which are equally as bad az those
which we are so ready to discover in our
neighbors. This society, it would seem,
ought to take the lead Of all others; and
itishould be the first object of our exertions
to suppress the vices and follies' of man.
kind. "Physician heal thyself," is au adj
monition coming from the highest author
ity, and is as applicable to the Scribcs and
Pharisees moao as it was eighteen hundred
year ago. Did the members of our popu
lar societies, as well as others, take half
the pains to examine themselves and cor
rect TIL ir own faults, tbat they do to hunt
and expose the faults and follies of others,
how much more like Christians would
they act! How much more happy and
peaceable would be the condition of every
community and neichhorhood And
were society of selfexamination once in
stituted, in this or any other place, and
made as popular as our Temperance Socie-
ties and many others now are, how much
less running to and fro, or of numbers
standing in the corners of the streets,
thanking God that they arc not like other
men, should we then behJ,d.
CONSTITUTION,
Article lst. This Society shall be known
by the name of the SELF EXAMINING So
CIETY, and shall be composed of members
of both sexes whose heads and hearts are
capable of mental Improvement.
Art. 2. The object of this Society shall
be, while we may see all others faults, to
feel and correct our own. To suppress
all manner of deceit and hypocricy, SIAN
der and defamation, backbiting and evil
speaking, with all that tends to iniurc or
defraud our neighbor, ether of his prop
erty or character.
Art. 3. This Society shall be indeipend-
ent of all other Societies each member
shall be vested with full power and he
shall make it his duty to mind his own
business and let others alone. And no
Presidents. Vice Presidents, Secretaries.
Spies, Informers, Committees, nor Dele
gates shall ever be chosen to watch over
the counduct of others. or make reports of
their neighbor's misdoings, until such a
work shall have begun at home.
Art 4. There shall be no public or
pIlVdlS IuCCllu- VI liiio 'DOCletY Oh any
appointed days to manage their concerns,
or to hear lectures delivered before it, but
it shall be the duty of every member, to
meet himself alone every day, and listen
to the lectures of his own conscience.
Art. 5. No money slall be raised from
time to time to support this Society, nor to
circulate self examining tracts, or selfex-
aiming almanacs, or pay the Ministers or
Lawyers for delivering addresses, to con-
vince Us how much easier it is to examine
others than it is to examine ourselves.
Art. 6. Every member Of the Society
shall pay due regard to Temperance in
eating and drinking and in every thing else.
But he shall be his own judge what be
shall eat, and what he shall drink, and
wherewithal he shall be clothed-while
gluttony and drunkenness, and tight lacing