The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-15
Bricklayers National Union.

a report was auopteQ. IeteiItH& tucSiSut-
hour law to the local unions without the ins
fluence Of che National Union. So. q
Reports were read from all The unions re-
presented,
&. NJ. Jones. OF Union No. 1, Richmond,
Va, reported 48 members as belonging 10 his
lodge; cash on hand 800, and work doll du-
ring the past season. ,.5
ADMISSION OF coLoREp BEIcHLAYERs.
Meredith Moore, of Syracuse, N. Y, pre-
sidcnt Kirby IN the chair,) stated that at the
bany, n. T., in 1872, it WINS ordered that the
question Of admitting eoIored brIeklayers
into full membership Of the Union be re-
ferred to the session Of 1874; he therefore.
while not in favor Of accepting colored
hrick,ayers into the Union, called up the
question with the view OF having it acted
upon.
The Chair stated the question, and upon
it being placed before the Convention 1t was
decided By vote Of = yeas to 40 nays that
colorcd bricklayerS would not I've admitted
TO the Union. The result Of the vote was
received with considerable applause.
THE NEW RITUAL QUESTION.
Lewis Carpenter, of Cincinnati, Ohio,
called up the question of adopting new
ritual for the National Union.
David Lewis, of Washington, did not favor
the agitation OF the question in open conyen-
ton, aud moved that the convention 50 into
executive session.
The Chair stated that the proposition
could not be entertained.
Meredith Moore, Of Syracuse. favored
discussion in open session OF the SUBJECT,
and hoped that the ritual question would oe
hot
never again see daylight. He denounced the
ritual question as damnabie in its intentions,
and that it had its birth in New Iork--a city
voted all over the civilized world as place
of pollution.
Mr.. Carpenter, OF Ohio, saw no necessity
for discussion OF the subject, rs the dele
gates were fully prepared to vote upon the
question.
George Largdon, Of Washington, favored
a discussion Of the question. IF the local
unions of New York, those who are trying
10 foist this new ritual on the National
Union, had come to Baltimore and claimed
fellowship with the National Union, and
reasoned at its deliberations on the subject
Of the new ritual, perhaps the delegates Of
the National Union might have been con.
WINGED that the ritual was good thing; but
they have not only failed to send represen-
tatiyes to Baltimore, but have treated in a
most contemptuollS manner the delegates OF
the National Union. They have organized
secret organization different from the Ma
tional Union, and claim to be power above
the Union. The speaker concluded by say
| inc that secret organizations were curse
and in opposition to true republican prlncl-
pies.
s. 4. Carr, Of Albany; n. Y, claimed that
the unions Of New York arc striving to have
! that place recognized as the working centre
| of the United States. The idea of organizing
4 secret union in New York originated with
shrewd politicians, who under the guise Of
labor sought to ride iuto public office.
The speaker was opposed to such intrlgu-
| ing, and believed that the aim of the National
| Union was to elevate the morals Of the brick
LAYERS and better their financial condition.
! In conclusion, he denounced the ritual as q
| fraud. and gotten up only for sclE-agsran-
dizcment.
! David Lewis, of Washington, opposed the
| adoption Of the ritual from the fact that
those members now belonging to the New
York order proclaim that its workings are a
failure.
Charles II. Rihl, OF Indianapolis, Ind,
deemed it strange that those delegates who
| had come to the Convention instructed to
vote for the ritual had remained silent upon
| the subject.
Mr.. ii. Scott, from Kentucky, claimed that
| the principles Of the ritual were intended as
stab to those bricklayers members of the
| Catholic Church.
Joseph Cassidy, of indianapolis, Ind, IA
yored the adoption CT the ritual, and claimed
that the obligations set forth in the new
order could be conscientiously subscribed to
by any member of the Catholic Church. He
| thanked God that he had no religion and
belonged to no church. He never had reli-
| gion showed into him, but grew up with
ideas of his own.
| j. P. Ostrander, Of Terre Haute, Ind,
| thought that undue influence was being
used in connecting the question OF the adop-
ton of the ritual with that Of Catholicism.
He intended to support the new departure,
believing that if it is adopted it will work
great benefit to the National Union.
| w. W. Meeks. Of Baltimore, said that
| Union No. /, of Baltimore, was opposed to
TIE ritual.
James Dooley, of Cohoes, n. Y, favored
the ritual on the ground that it would add
strength to the National Union.
Michael Niles, of Troy, N. Y, was in
structed to vote for the ritual, and deemed
| IL Strange tudG Tue OppoucutS VI tIlc ucasutC
had resorted to the Catholic dodge for the
purpose of defeating the question. He was
satisfied that the ritual question was similar
to the negro question. Sooner or later it
must be adopted.
Lewis Carpenter, of Cincinnati, said that
the National Union had made no progress
since its organization, and he was satisfied
that it only can progress by something more
than it now possesses to build it up and
push It forward. He claimed that as the
National Union was In a measure secret
organization, Catholic members could COM
NIT no sin in subscribing to the provisions
of the new ritual. 8t1a
j Mr.. Kirby, chairman of the Convention,
denied that the National u Mon was decreas.
ing in its usefulness and power, and claimed
that the New York disorganizers had
brought disgrace upon the unions of brick
layers. He had presented the rituatto Arch
bishop spalding and others of the Catholic
clergy of Baltimore, and they refused to per-
NIT male members of. their churches to sub
scribe to it.
Pending the discussion of the question
the Convention adjourned until 8 o'clock
this morning. Baltimore Sun, 14h.
Nh. CUsHINa's UNFORTUNATE LETTER.-It
| ia letter introducing MIR, Archibald ROane,