Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-08-12

We append the correspondence, with ex>
plantations as appears in the Dispatch:
The Junior Order United American Me-
chanics has not been known in this city for
any considerable length of time. Rescue
Council, No. l. was one of the first lodges es-
tablished in Richmond At stated MEETING
of that council on the 18th of June las, in.
formation was given that Mr.. S. Hammett
Allen had applied for charter to open
new council here, the name of which was to
have been called Lee Council, No. 5.
10 this application for a charter Mr.. Al
len received the following reply:
Coffee OF THE NATIONAL SEc'Y Is
E AND STATE COUNCIL OF PENN.
JR. o. U.aA. NJ.
PHILADELPHIA, June II, 1873.
"Mr. S. Han,n.ett Allen:
"Dear Sir and Brother.-I will send YOU
to>day three blank applications for charters,
but will tell you in advance that no charter
for a council to be named after General Lee
will be granted. Hundreds of tho members
of our Order enlisted to preserve the country
from General Lees treason. Many of them
gave up their lives in that cause
cat that time our ritual contained some
very severe illusions to traitors, but at the
close of the rebellion, with the desire of re-
moving all remembrance of that civil strife,
we revised our ritual. We are willing now
to bury the past, but we'll never allow the
memory of any of the southern leaders to be
perpetuated in the history of the Order.
sYours, fraternally,
edward s. DEENEgR,
"National Secretary
This communication was received by Res>
cue Council, but held by them for some little
time for careful consideration and discussion.
at stated meeting held on the goth of June
1t was resolved to invite COL w. G. Carrino>
ton, of the Southern Cross brotherhood. to
meet the members of the Council and dis
cuss the matter on the 9th of June. At
that meeting Colonel Darlington was appoints
ed to draw up and reply to the foregoing
letter
On Friday, July 11th, Rescue Council met
again and resolved to return it's charter and
all property to which the National Council
had claim, and renounce all connection with
the Order 1t was also ordered that the fol-
lowing reply be sent to the letter of the
National Secretary:
'RlcHMoND, Va, July 10. 1873.
"Ea,cnrz7S Deeneer, National Secretarv
Hilaar1phin Pr:
"Yours of 18th June was auly received and
reply delayed for mature consideration.
"Ihe sentiments of your letter awaken our
protoundest indignation and contempt. be-
cause 1T contains false and disreputable allu-
sions to the noblest, purest, and best man who
has honored this continent or the world for
ages All Graue and chipalrous men. even of
your section, who met General +. Il. Lee in
our recent strife, acknow ledge his superior
merit as a soldier. a hero, and Christian gen.
tleman, and ii the Order you represent has
sunk so low as to allow sectional hate to OBJ
scure and absorb admiration for the Dnble and
the good. then our selt-rcspect demands that
we repudiate all connection with it, The
ritual, even as you say it is altered, has allu>
slons looking obscurely to such sentiment as
you avow, yet we had not supposed such ma
iignant venom was concealed behind it. or we
would in the start have taken our present ac-
ton
eve return to you by express, with charges
prepaid, our charter, rituals, and everything
to which your body have claim, and with them
our reputation and condemnation of the nm
manly sentiments you announce.
"You cay your Order is willing to bury the
past but unwilling to perpetuate the msmory
OF any OF the southern leaders. We too are.
willing to bury the past but not at the price
OF our honor, which forbids the perpetuation
OF such noble names and deeds as fiji the his
tory OF our recent struggle when we come
to that degradation We will not desire to and
trust we will not longer live-ft object, for
the slow, unerring finger of scorn to point at
AS evidence of official act, we hereto an
pend the last impression of a seal we hone
will never disgrace decent southern hands. and
to that end shall seek TO publish this cores
pondence SO as to prevent the spread among
honorable men of SO ignoble an Order.
with contempt for your viows and un>
dying admiration of General II. Il. Lee. and
like honorable heroes of all times and nations.
Rescue Council bids you and your Order a
final farewell
OTTo F. WISE, Secretary"
It. is stated that Rescue Council has re-
ceived another communication from Phil
adelphia on the subject of the establishment
OF new council here. but it is hardly prob>
able that the proposition will meet with much
favor after the above correspondence has been
ventilated by the press.
DONALDSON, THE BALLooN1sr.- friend
of Donaldson received letter from him on
Saturday. of which the following is COPY Z:
81 have just returned from Troy. N. Y, with
q paper canoe, Ia feet long, and weighing
hfty-three pounds and half, which am to
take with me on the coming balloon trip across
the ocean. In case the air-ship fails to carry
the four of us constituting the crew. three
people will take the lifeboat and I am to stick
to the balloon as long As it remains in the air.
and II 1t fails to retain its buoyant power I
shall then cut loose with my canoe the instant
the balloon strikes water. Should this be the
last resort L can then bid the rigging of the
air>ship farewell and paddle my own canoe
towards the European shore"
Ireschester (Pa.) Local Ne,os.