New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-08

For the future in the distance,
And the good that can do.
The Legality Of ColOred Odd-Fel-
lows and M:sOns in the
Emitted States.
RICHMOND, VA, July l, 1872.
To the Public:
The object of the writer of this article is
to reply to a letter which appeared in the
Richmond Dispatch, June 10, 1872. from n
person writing under the name of "NORTH
OF THE Potomac" This letter misrepre-
sents the COlored Odd-Fellows and Masonic
Fratenities in this country, by denying that
such secret Orders have legal existence
here, on account of curse which he pre-
tends rests on the colored race, and which,
he alleges, was imposed by God. The whole
story, as related and commented upon by
"NORTH OF THE Potomac is here refutcd
and set aside as having been falsely and ig-
norantly gotten up. The plain facts may be
relied upon, for they are facts of sacred and
profane record, which ''NORTH OF POTO-
MAC' does not contradict, if the facts appear
with his comments. Though few in number,
they are the products of many more which
may be brought in use, whenever called
upon, to make clear other facts relative to
Masons in the United States. The record,
too, of Noah's sons, the parts of the country
where they settled, their wealth, their glory,
and their work in Speculative and Operative
Masonry. 1t is not our wish to fight over
this matter, but when men allow their preju-
dices to lead them to advocate false issues,
thus pandering to their hate, they will ever
find those who will advocate the truth, and
set themselves right, fearless Consequences.
ONE WHO READS.
RICHMOND, Va, juno 90, 1872.
Mr.. EDIrOR:-An article, or letter, APP
peared in the Dispatch of the 10th instant,
from a person calling himself NORTH OF
THE POTOMAC" protesting to correct an err
ror into which he said You had fallen, by al
ludng to us as "Odd-FelIows." He stated
that there were ''no COlOred Odd-Fellows in
tho United States, or recognized. by the
Grand Lodge of the United States. The Eng
lish Odd-FellOws may have granted charters
to negroes in the United States-I say, may
have granted charters to negroes in the
United States-but, if so, the act would have
been a gross invasion of jurisdiction, and
consequently would cause the Lodges so
chartered to be regarded as illegal, spurious,
and clandestine. The ancient societies, on
the secret principle from which Odd-Fellow-
ship claims to have descended, admitted only
descendants members of free races. The
African race, or descendants of Canaan, the
son of Noah, was by curse pronounced by
God himself a servile race, (see Gen., chap.
tx doomed to perpetual slavery, or servile
life. They never were admitted into the an
cient associations, being excluded by per-
petual slavery. They were bearers of bur-
dens. If admitted by the modern lineal sue
eessOrs of those ancient societies, such adj
mission would vitiate the line of descent from
free races, and destroy the succession. There
can be no negro Odd-Fellows."
The same assertions are made relative to
negro MasOns. The writer Of that article is
vastly mistaken, and if his idea of the matter
were accepted, it would lead to the grossest
error, and a very serious reflection upon his
knowledge of the Scripture he quotes, and an
ignorance of ancient history. If he admits
the latter, can pardon him, and ask COM
miseration for him, as many are better ac-
quainted with the Scripture and the origin of
the societies about which he presumes to
write. 1 desire to call the attention of the
writer (and all who may be acquainted with
the history of the negrO) to the following
facts, and his connection with all that has
given life and interest to the world:
First. 1 deny that God did himself curse
Canaan, for the language used does not say
that God cursed Canaan, but Noah said,
"Cursed be Canaan. A servant of servants
shall he be unto his brethren" According
to authentic sacred and profane history,
Moses, the Prophet, speaking of Nimrod,
whose lineage may be traced to Ham, tells
us that che was mighty hunter before the
Lord" The Septuagent renders the words,
"a mighty hunter, a hunting giant" Gen.
X chap, Sth and 9th W In Whelpley's
Compend. We find that ''Nimrod laid the
foundation of the city and of the kingdom of
Babylon. The beginning of the kingdom was
Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh,
in the land of Shinar. Nimrod was the son
of Cush, grandson Of Ham, and great-grand-
son of Noah. Nimrod's son and successor,
Minus, with Semiramis his Queen, rendered
themselves famous by the exploits they are
said to have done. Minus enlarged the city
Of Nineveh, which is said to have been sixty
miles in circumference, closed by a wall one
hundred feet high, and fortified with one
thousand five hundred towers, two hundred
feet high. He extended his cOnguests east
ward, for he is said to have led his armies in
to India. Semiramis, his Queen, rendered her
name immortal, by adding to Babylon many
superb structures, in the building of which
she employed two million of men. Menes,
the son of Ham, was the first King Of Egypt,
to which country we are now indebted for the
renowned school for wisdom and politics.
1t was there that illustrious men of Greece.
such as Homer, Pythagoras, and Plato, and
even its Legislators, Lycurgus and Solan,
rcsorted to complete their studies and to
draw from that fountain its rare advantages.
1t is also conceded by all historians, that
Menes instituted the worship of the gods, and
the ceremonies of sacrifices. Rev. j. New
ton Brown, in his Encyclopedia of Religious
knowledge, revised by Rev. George Z. Ty-
Ter, makes the following statement: "Sidon,
the eldest son of Canaan, founded the city of
Sidon, and was father Of the Sidonians and
Phonecians. Canaan had ten other sons,
who were fathers of many tribes dwelling
in Palestine and Syria, namely: the Hcttitcs,
the Jebusites, the AmOrites, the Girgasitcs,
the Invites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the
Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hema-
thites. 1t is believed that Canaan lived and
died in Palestine, which from him was called
the land OF Canaan; notwithstanding, the
curse is directed against Canaan. the son. and
not against Ham, the father. IL is often
supposed that all the prosperity of Ham were
placed under the maledction, Cursed lac
Canaan, servant of servants shall he be
unto his brethren But the true reason why
Canaan only was mentioned probably is, that