Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-07-10
ANTI-MASoNIC CONTENTION.

The fourth annual meeting of the Wind
ham County An.i-Masonic Society was held
in the Court House, at Fayetteville, on the
Goth ult., and was quite well attended. The
meeting being called to order, a report was
read by J. w. Phelps, setting forth at
length the object, principles and progress of
the Anti Masonic movement.
Officers were then elected for the ensuing
year, the old board being continued. This
board is as follows: Gen. J. w. Phelps of
Brattleboro, President Judge Laban Jones
of Brattleboro and DIR. Joel Holton Of ia
maica, Vice Presidents; Sidney II. Sher-
man of Dover, Secretary.
At the afternoon secession, the meeting
was addressed by Hon. Austin Birchard,
Messrs. Woods and Hines of BrattlebOro,
Muzzy of Jamaica, and others. 1t was de-
cided to nominate candidates for several
county Offices. A list of the nominations
made appears elsewhere.
A series of ten resolutions was adopted,
of which the last three and most important
| are as follows:
Resolved. That We have watched with
growing concern the alarming increase in
| the country, at one and the same time, ul
| the powers of the Masonic Lodge, and
widespread spirit Of prolligacy aud reck-
| lessness among the people: observing that
while presidents and vice presidents resort
| to the hidden powers of the Lodge as Il
| means of influencing government meas
ures while Congress charters Grand Lodges
| that assume to administer oaths and To
punish with death those who break them,
and To oppose assessments under the dnress
| of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Congress is largely
made up of Grand Masters of Grand Ludg-
es and Sir knights, titles unrecognized by
our constitution. and while the presiding
officers of Congress for the last twenty
years have chiefly been high members OF
secret organizations, we notice on the other
hand war excited by Masonic means
against the peoples government that war
slackly managed treason unpublished
vital laws uuvindicated au immense debt
fraught with demoralizng influences I'M
necessarily accumulated the finances de-
ranged currency values ialsited and de-
based the Treasury adversely speculated
on by those who should protect ii ; pecula-
ton, sordid gain, and breaches of trust in
high places irightfully frequent the pub.
lie lands squandered the interests of edu-
cation neglected gross ignorance OF meas
ures OF public utility among men in Office
the government unable to meet its obllga
tons in times of peace taxes made une-
uual and oppressive; character held in lit
tie repute and almost void of value; men
of no character elevated to high positions
successful imposture admired and applaud
ed crafty, tricky, and popular arts es-
teemed, and frank, honest, ennObling quail
tiles deridod anarchy prevalent in con-
siderable part of the country dstrust and
suspicion every where boldly announced
against republican government; Commun-
lists, InternatiOnals, and other secret agen-
cies of foreign governments growing in
their powers as channels of bribery, useless
agitation, and systematic Dissemination
the pul pit, press, and bench under the SER
vile restraint of corrupt interests and secret
acknowledgement ii is our firm conviction,
that the hest remedy for one of these com
plications of evils is to rid The country Of
the olher-that is, in other words, in order
to cure the eIil Of the great and increasing
disorder among us, the best means IS TO be-
gin with abolishug that fruitful source OF
disorder which lies concealed in the Ma
sonic Lodge; and to this end, we will with
hold our votes from all Congressional,
Slate, or other candidates for Office who in
any way, by silent acquiescence or other
wise, aid, abet, or give couutenance to SC.
cret associations.
RESOLVED, That we urgently appeal TO the
freemen of the State, at the coming fall
elections, TO choose such members of the
Legislature as will not be under the control
of the Masonic Lodge, but will fairly rep
resent the interests of their constituents and
OF the State, and will be free to vote for a
law favoring the publication of the Jury
from all undue influence from secret col
fusion, so as to restore that institution to its
ancient purity and vgor as the safeguard
of our personal rights and liberties also
to entitle every freeman to the right Of a
change of Venue whenever his case Is to
come, by course of law, before any Judge
who may have become tainted with sworn
fealty TO the Masonic Lodge.
Resolved, That we are in favor OF equal
and impartial taxation on all real estate of
whatever description, whether owned by
individuals, corporations, or associations,
and that we will endeavor to secure the re-
peal and redress Of the unequal and uncon-
stitutonal law eXempting certain property
from taxation. which the party in power.
under the sinister influence and control of
Masonry has imposed upon the people of
the State.