The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-11-29
ADvERTIsEMENTl
4 CARD.
ALEXANDRIA, LA..l
Nov. "a, ls7e'|

ALEXANDRIA, La
Nov. q, la7s'
EDITOR DEMOCRAT:
Dear &r-Allow me small sn...
in your columns, that l may give q.
timony of my love for honest .sd
square dealing, to save the principI..
that you and l so much love--ths,
must not nor should not be misrepre.
sented. On last Monday, Novembe,
Goth, 1875, I found the following Ri
ter addressed to myself:
ALEXANDRIA, La. :
Nov. IS, 1876.
W. J. De1.acy, g. W. P. Negro Lodge.
We are aware of your secret organi4,.
ton in this Parish. You can't fool {,
no more-it is only political trick q
your party to swear negroes from votinr
our ticket. We don't want to have any
trouble with your negro Masons or Odd
Fellows meetings, but intend to watch
your secret meetings-not your regular
meetings Of your Grove, as you term Ii,
So BEWARE! Yours,
.'i &C,
u. S. Brotherhood Of Louisiana.
Now, sir, things have come TOD
terrible state of affairs if Masonic
principles have to be pulled down to
suit the ebb Of political life or to suit
the hearts and minds of political a.
.pirants. Sir, Masonic and Odd Eel.
lowship teach men the higher aud.
nobler principles Of self elevation; II
teaches them to love their fellow
man. Sir, it seems to me from the
above document that the secret POI
litical stratagem is on the other leg,
instead of coming from our Benevo.
lent Association. Sir, no politics
ever have entered into the Rapides
Grove Lodge, nor never will. Our
Charter, Constitution and Bylaws
are open for all quaint, queer and In
quisitive person to examine. Sir, il
being a Mason or Odd Fellow be :
crime, then I am guilty. If trying to
elevate myself and others from the
low degraded principles Of Ignorance
to higher and nobler principles Of
mankind be infamous, / also must be
held accountable.
Sir, I don't deny that / am Grand
Worthy Patriarch Of Lodge in
Alexandria, but any man who says
that politics enter into our midst,
tells an untrutll-we dare not dis
cuss politics in our meetings. I
know of no other in Rapides that Is
colored. Sir, the Rapides Grove
Lodge is placed on nobler principles
than polite If any person or per.
sons don't believe this is the truth,
then there is but one remedy-let
them offer an application for mem
bership, recommended by two mem-
bers in good standing; send their ap-
plication into the Lodge with $500
enclosed, and if found worthy alters
due examination, and 40 black hall
appears against said applicant. he
shall be duly initiated and entitled to
the full benefits Of the Order.
Now, sir, / hope that smart fools
may keep themselves in fools pla-
ces. The Rapides Grove nor its
members don't interfere with any
man, nor do they intend. We never
feel jealous of the white Lodges.
Our aim is to elevate ourselves and
others who enlist in the great cause
of human salvation. We woal.l ra'
ther be let alone.
If with the above facts gentlemen
are not satisfied, then all ! can say
is, I must and will find time, place
and opportunity to renounce preju-
diced opinion. Unit. I meet the
public again, believe me to be the
friend of right and justice; the adyo.
cate Of education, industry, Masonic,
l. 0. 0. F and Temperance princi-
pies; the supporter Of honesty, and
the defender of a comman christian
ity. w. JOHN DELAoY. +
InUR NICKLE PLATED SPOONS