The Russellville Democrat., 1884-02-14
Resolutions Of Mt. Zion Lodge
No. $50 b. Of r.

No. $50 b. OF r..
To the officers and members of Mt.
Zion Lodge No. 180 B. of F.:
We, your committee heretofore APP
pointed, beg leave to present the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions and
recommend the adoption of the same:
Whereas, An educated people can
not be enslaved, and an ignorant peo
pie never long remained free, and we
verify believe that in a government
whose form is republican, that each
citizen is one Of the factors that con-
stitute said government, and that in
such a government ignorance OF the
great fundamental principles is
crime, and that the great masses Of
our people are laborers whose inter-
ests for years have not been protect
ed, but on the contrary, all legisla-
tion has been in the interest Of capi-
tai and for the purpose of making
labor subservient to capital and mo-
nopolies; therefore be it
Resolved, That we view with fear
and alarm the tendency Of such leg
islation and that we recommend to
this lodge and to the order the great
necessity Of adopting system of ed
ucation in our lodges in the following
way and manner: that at each regu-
lar meeting OF this lodge it shall be
the duty of the president to appoint
some member whose duty it shall be
to submit in writing at the next
meeting an article for discussion on
some leading subject of interest to
the Brothers Of Freedom.
Resolved, That the tariff imposed
upon US by the merchants is but q
small part of the evils complained Of,
therefore recommend that all the
brethren take and read some leading
political paper SO they may the bet
ter understand the enormous burdens
that we bear.
Resolved, That after having fully
considered the interests Of farmers
and laborers In general, we hereby
set the the seal Of our disapproval
and forever condemn the custom of
executing chattel mortgages by far
mers as basis for credit and buy
ing goods from merchants at enorm-
Gus and extravagant prices, is detri-
mental and ruinous TO the interests
of all laborers; therefore, we most
earnestly recommend that our far
mers refrain from such custom as far
as possible and use their utmost en-
deavors to keep out Of debt, and that
each brother keep diary of his bust
ness for the year.
Resolved, That the call cotton"
idea be buried in the grave with our
forefathers and that our farmers in
general, and this lodge in particular,
dlverge from the old plan Of farming
and try the experiment for once OF
raising at home what they consume;
therefore, recommend the planting of
plenty Of corn, oats, peas, potatoes,
navy beans, sorghum cane and such
things as are necessary for home con-
sumption, and then raise what cotton
you can within your own means by
your own labor, remembering to sow
rye, barley and grass this fall for
stock.
Resolved, That we will improve
our land by gathering up and apply
ing all the manure about the barn,
lots, ash banks and any other domes-
tic fertilizer, and as the time is near
at hand for farm work to begin, and
as slime is money" recommend that
all farming tools and other necessary
repairs be done a. once.
All OF which was unanimously
adopted by the lodge.
S. G. BoGGAN,
j. NJ. HENRY,
M. G. HEARN,
Committee.