religion of the south,-"There is, however, I imagine, a deeper cause for the want of religion observable here. There is no religion having authority, and thus in democratic countries, and particularly among a hard-headed and unimaginative people, like the Americans, devotional feeling becomes weakened and extinguished, when the outward observance of the rites and ceremonies of religion is in no degree a part of the government of the country." Had this woman been at all acquainted with the history of Christianity she would have known that to make religion a part of government is invariably to kill devotion as well as to degrade the state. She might have seen this too, had she contrasted the present cold, formal, cast-iron religion of England, "as by law established," with the warmer piety and more earnest faith of dissenters there. Or had she looked to the New England states, or in fact to any of the free states, she might have seen religion breathing the warmest, intensest devotion, unpensioned by government or the authority of law. And if we are a "hard-headed, unimaginative people," it will not be unjust for us to say that there are those who write books about us, who will never be accused of having hard heads. Mrs. Houstoun's comments on the manners of the Americans are of the same piece with the extract already quoted. But there is one consideration which should not be overlooked in making up our opinion of this woman; and that is a fact stated in her first chapter, that she left England sick, and her journey was undertaken for the recovery of her health. There can be no doubt of the truth of this statement, for her book bears the clear evidence of having been written by a sick woman. We wonder if her work has not by this time made her American publisher sick too? THE RAINBOW.-This is a new weekly, devoted to "Odd Fellowship and General Literature," published by J. COHN, N. O., at $2.50 per annum. P. G. F. HAYNES, Editor. The numbers before us are filled with good reading, (which is much more than can be said of one-half the publications of the day,) much of which is on the subject of our Order. We wish it success; and from the well known liberality of our southern brethren, we entertain no doubt on that head. Bro. Rainbow, the Gavel has been mailed regularly! 1140 THE ARK AND ODD FELLOWS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.-This excellent Magazine for January has come to hand. We are sorry that the patronage is not sufficient to warrant the increase in the number of pages, as the editors had proposed doing, but still in its present shape it is one of the best and most useful works published. This number is worth the subscription price, $1. ABOLITIONISM AND ODD FELLOWSHIP. WE Copy the following correspondence from the Democratic Freeman, published at Syracuse by Bros. Tucker and Kinney. It is not the first time we have been called upon to notice the persecution of those brothers in consequence of their connection with the Order, and from present appearances we fear it will not be the last. As the extracts below express our views upon the subject we leave the matter, with the suggestion that the members of the Order in this State forward them two new subscribers for every one they lose on account of their connection with us. It can be done. A TIMELY LETTER.-The following letter, most unexpected, yet welcome, we insert at the request of the gentlemen whose names are attached to it. They have our heartfelt acknowledgments, for the substantial sympathy expressed for our influence. Such rays of light, in a dark hour, do not fail to inspire us with fresh hope and cheer, amid the trying loss of friends with whom we have been wont to associate-but who, for reasons of opinion, deem it their duty to abandon us. May the rich blessings of freedom never depart from the fireside of our friends in Albany-no, nor our foes in other places. The peculiar characteristic of "speaking and acting honestly," has in all ages of the world subjected those who do it, to inconveniences; and we have not in our humble sphere expected to escape. The motto at the head of our editorial columns, is a talisman whose power is sufficient for the most trying hour. We shall strive to "work our way through the woods" of this dark world-although somewhat "uneven," in the fond hope of arriving at last to the happy place where the great High Priest of our profession hath gone before us-endeavoring while we tarry to avoid the ravines that error may throw us in the way of falling into-so that in the end we may enjoy a humble place in the celestial lodge above. "To J. N. T. TUCKER: "C Albany, Feb. 5, 1845. "DEAR BROTHER. We the undersigned, brethren of the I. O. of O. F. of the city of Albany, have been deeply interested in the controversy you have sustained through the columns of the "Democratic Freeman," with several gentlemen of the "Liberty party," who are, or were, subscribers to your paper, and who call you in question, as a man, a partisan and a christian in consequence of your connection with the order of which we are members and brethren. We have observed with pleasure, the strong and truly independent course that you have pursued, and admire the manner in which you have treated your unreasonable friends. While you have yielded no points in the controversy, you have sustained yourself as a man, a christian and an "odd-fellow." That your conduct in these respects should have subjected you to a pecuniary loss, in the matter of withdrawals from your subscription list on account of your connection with our noble Order, is a subject of deep regret to us. Sympathizing with you in these things as men and brethren, we have determined to subscribe for your paper for the year to We do this, not because we are "Liberty party" men, or because we agree with you in the objects and sentiments of your Journal, but because we feel ourselves in duty bound to set our faces against the persecutions of a worthy brother "for opinion's sake" merely, and to shield him as far as in our power lies against effect. come. "We bid you "God speed," brother, in your independent and upright course of action in this matter. We trust that Truth will yet prevail over error, and that you will ere long see the scales fall from the eyes that are now blinded by prejudice, and outlive the unjust opposition which you have been subjected to, by those who cannot, or will not recognize the moral excellence, christian character, and benevolent motives and objects of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. "We remain, ever yours in the sacred bonds of "FRIENDSHIP, LOVE & TRUTH.' (Signed) "V. B. Lockrow, A. E. Jenks, Samuel T. Carter, P. M. McCall, David A. Bulson, Matthew Bray, Charles Holt, Jno. F. Shultz, A. J. Church, B. C. True, A. Heyer Brown, Geo. H. Herbert, J. W. Harcourt, David D. Ramsay, J. Gardiner, P. B. Leddy, T. W. I. Groves, Geo. C. Rathburn, J. H. Case, George J. Penchard." THE CEMETERY GROUNDS. WHILE the Order in other places has been at work in buying and dedicating rural Cemeteries under many disadvantages, we have been entirely idle, although every means is at hand. We would suggest the propriety of each Lodge in the city buying one lot or subscribing the amount required therefor, and then uniting as one body in forming an "Odd Fellows' Cemetery for the city of Albany." The Order in the city is at present in an unusually flourishing condition, each Lodge having on hand a large amount of surplus funds, which in our humble opinion could not be better invested; besides how pleasant must be the thought as we are about bidding adieu to all earthly objects of affection, that even in death we shall still sleep side by side with our families, friends and BROTHERS! And while living and enjoying life and all its pleasures, occasionally ramble by the side of our departed Brother, and listen to the chant of the guardian spirit of the dead: Soft, softly here! for on this mound Which pledges charity divine; O give this grave one duteous tear, Thy friend and BROTHER slumbers here!" DIED. On the 14th ult. MARY, infant daughter of Bro. Thos. D. Knower, of American Lodge, No. 32. On Tuesday, 18th ult., of consumption, LYDIA WOOD, wife of Bro. Wm. G. Bishop, of Hope Lodge, No. 3. Married. In East Troy on Monday evening, 27th ult., by Rev. Bro. C. C. Burr, Bro. PHILLIP H. BAERMANN of Troy, and Miss ROSANA PALMER of West Troy. Post Masters are authorized to forward all subscriptions for the Gavel, free of postage. Our friends, by bearing this in mind, would save us a great deal of expense in the way of postage. We can still furnish back numbers of the Gavel to new subscribers. To insure the speedy delivery of communications intended for the Lodges in the city of Albany, correspondents are requested to direct them to the D. D. G. M., V. B. LOCKROW, box 264, post office, Albany. RECORD OF THE ORDER FOR ALBANY. VAN BUREN LOCKROW, DDGM. EN-HAKKORE ENCAMPMENT, No. 5.-John Tanner, CP; V. B. Lockrow, HP; C. Brooks, SW; C. Holt, S; A. Heyer Brown, T; R. H. Pruyn, JW. HOPE LODGE, No. 3.-S. P. Carter, NG; LeGrand Smith, VG; E. H. Bender, QS; G. W. Bell, PS; J. W. Harcourt, T. CITY PHILANTHROPIC LODGE, No. 5.-Wm. Reese, NG; Henry Hainer, VG; William Quested, QS; F. Ingmire, PS; Wm. B. Scott, T. UNION LODGE No. 8.-Alex. Selkirk, NG; Geo. Wallace, VG; George Penchant, Sec; A. Whitney, PS; J. G. Northrup, Treas. GERMAN COLONIAL LODGE, No. 16.—J. Levi, NG ; Julias Paepkie, VG ; Jacob Newburgh, Sec: John Wacher, Treas. FIREMEN'S LODGE, No. 19.-R. S. Howard, NG; S. S. Barns, VG; S. H. Johnson, QS; Wm. Rennie, PS; A. Heyer Brown, T. AMERICAN LODGE, No. 32.-James Muir, NG; Henry Quackenboss, VG; H. M. Hyde, QS; Thos. D. Knower, PS; Walter S. McCulloch, T. PHENIX LODGE, No. 41-E. J. Moseley, NG; H. C. Haskell, VG; Charles P. Page, QS; Peter B. Leddy, PS; Thomas Johns, T. SAMARITAN LODGE, No. 93.-J. M. Hughes, NG; D. S. Davis, VG; Stephen Van Schaack, QS; C. W. Bentley, T. D AGENTS FOR THE GAVEL. NEW YORK.-A. Smith, 197 River st., Troy-Nathaniel J. Cady, HudsonN. Drullard, Schenectady-L. W. Hall & Co. and James Kinny, Syracuse―J. Anthony, Cohoes-Geo. A. Wilkins, Ballston Spa-Geo. Andrews, Saratoga-J. H. Pomeroy, Utica-H. S. Hover, Flushing, L. I.-J H. Van Benthuysen, 223 State street, Lansingburgh-P. T. Heartt 2, Waterford-D. C. McCullum, Rochester— J. B. Devoe, New York city-Benj. H. Ackley, Canandaigua. OHIO.-Robinson & Jones, Cincinnati-J. Cranmer, P. M. Lancaster-J. V. Campbell, Eaton-A. A. Selover, Cleveland-Wilson T. Drake, Middletown. MASSACHUSETTS.-Edward R. Rich, Boston-Geo. S. Wyllie, Ware Village -Geo. Ashworth, Lowell-John B. Goodnow, Charlestown. PENNSYLVANIA.-Colou & Adriance, Philadelphia-Wm. Fox, Pottsville- KENTUCKY.-H. J. Brown, Lancaster-Wm. R. Walker, Cairo. CANADA-David Milligan, Montreal-J. H. Hardie, 30 John street, Quebec. CONNECTICUT.-Horatio N. Hawkins, Derby. TENNESSEE-W. H. Chaplain, Memphis. ONCE upon a time there lived in Hamah a certain Turk called Mustapha, who having accumulated some wealth by carrying on a trade in goat's hair, determined to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. His family consisted of his wife and two slaves; and as the lady insisted on not being left behind, the good man resolved to sell off his stock of goat's hair, to take all his household with him, and to shut up his house till his return. The only difficulty that presented itself was what to do with his money. He did not like to run the risk of being robbed of it in his journey through the Desert; he did not like to leave it in an empty house, and there were not any of his friends to whom he wished to trust the secret of his wealth. After much deliberation, he placed it in separate parcels at the bottom of five large earthern jars, which he then filled up with butter, and on his departure sent them to the house of one of his neighbors, a Jew named Mousa, to keep till his return, telling him it was a stock which he had laid in for winter consumption. The Jew, however, from the weight of the jus and other circumstances, suspected that they contained something more valuable; and as soon as Mustapha was fairly on his way to Damascus to join the caravan, he ventured to open them; when finding his expectations realized, he took out the gold, and filled them up again with butter so carefully that nobody could tell that they had been disturbed. The poor Turk, on his return from the pilgrimage, soon found out the trick that had been practiced upon him; but as the jars were exactly in the same apparent state as when he left them, and as there was no evidence as to their contents, it was plain that no legal process could give him any redress. He therefore set about to devise some other way of punishing the Jew, and of recovering, if possible, his property; and in the mean time he did not communicate his loss to any person but his wife, and enjoined on her the strictest secrecy. After long consideration a plan suggested itself. In one of his visits to the neighboring town of Homs, where he was in the habit of going to sell his goat's hair to the manufacturers of the mashlakhs, for which that place is famous, he fell in with a troop of gipsies, who had with them an ape of extraordinary sagacity. He prevailed on them to sell him this animal; and, conveying it privately to his house at Hamah, |