in the December No. of the Covenant, in which we said, "there has been some manifestation of a disposition to crush the Covenant, or wrest it from the control of the Grand Lodge, and thereby open the door, and encourage the increase of papers by the brotherhood. But it is to be feared, that many of the papers that would have sprung up, if the Covenant had ceased, would not be conducted by brethren possessing a sufficient knowledge of the Order,—its principles and wants, and that through them the Order would be made to languish and suffer in public estimation."

What does the Editor of the Odd-Fellow find in all this to arouse his suspicions and cause him to vent his ill humor upon our head? We little thought when penning that article that we were applying a gimblet to the fingers of a cask whose contents were so highly fermented, and so bitter withal.

We made no allusion to the paper that has attacked us with such violence, nor to any other paper, unless it be one that "would have sprung up if the Covenant had ceased," and as the tenth number of the third vol. of the Odd Fellow has been issued-and the 3d volume of the Covenant has just commenced it is reasonable to conclude that the former did not spring up after the decease of the latter; or since September last, and therefore it was not referred to at all.

Why then, this cry about an "attempt to put down other periodicals ?" When was that attempt made?

We know but little of the Odd-Fellow, whether it has been well conducted or not, as we have seldom seen a copy of it. We had, however, supposed that it was endeavoring to be useful to the Order, and presume that it is so generally. But we very much doubt if such effusions as the one under consideration are calculated to benefit the Order, or the paper for whose columns it was written. We repeat, we did not in the article from which he quoted, and which so roused his choler, say any thing to discredit his, or any other periodical in existence, and none but an individual seeking for opportunity to file his declaration of "war" would have imagined that we made any attempt to "put down" the Independent OddFellow, or any other periodical. We stated certain facts, which his misstatements, cannot affect, and we presumed to state what was to be apprehended in case the "Official" was discontinued. We made no attempt to supplant any periodical in existence. The Editor of the OddFellow, has not been called "to submit" to any thing of the kind at our hands, and as he has taken the precaution after a careful view of the shadow he supposed he saw, to prepare for 'war,' he may sheathe his dagger and be at peace if there is not a superabundance of spleen rankling in his bosom to prevent it.

What we said respecting the "serious attention and consideration" the Representatives gave the Covenant question is not affected by the assertion in Bro. Ford's note, so disrespectful to the Committee and the Grand Lodge. The committee did not keep back the report, but the worthy and talented chairman thereof labored diligently to collect the materials, that the report might be framed as early as possible. And the moment he was enabled to do so, it was presented. If all the members were not present it was the fault (if fault it be called) of the individuals absenting themselves, and not of the body, or the committee. That it was "shoved through, when the Lodge was thin" does not appear from the number of votes given when the report was adopted.

The worthy Editor of the Odd Fellow says "if it would not be betraying the secrets of the confessional, in some sense, we could a tale unfold, *** and let him (Bro. Case) doubtless into some secrets of the Order with which he has never been made acquainted." Well, if there be 'some secrets of the Order,' with which we have not been invested, we will wait with patience till we can receive them in a legal manner. We belong to the Official' and want no spurious Odd-Fellowship, nor are we desirous of arriving at the true, in any other but the true and constitutional way.— If Bro. Ford can satisfy us that he has important secrets of the Order, not revealed to us, and can give them officially, legally and constitutionally, we are ready to be instructed. But we would not have him betray the "secrets of the confessional" for the purpose of "lauding and magnifying his own superior intelligence," or gratifying us. If however, he is in possession of awful secrets "with regard to the wire-working to continue the Covenant," we wish he would let us have them. Speak out brother but be cautious, lest in conducting us through the woods, you yourself approach a stream you are not able to ford!

Really, we are much surprised at the article to which we have alluded, coming as it does, with all its surmises and threats, from one who would claim to be a friend, and desire to live in peace. Away with such pretensions of friendship; there is no truth in them, and as for love, it thinketh no evil,' 'worketh no ill to its neighbor,' and never dictated that unprovoked assault upon us.

WE have (by mere accident) seen the February number of this paper, and are somewhat surprised that it sees in our article (at which the Independent Odd-Fellow took umbrage) the 'idea' expressed "that all other publications in the country, devoted to a like object, must crumble and fall before the imagined power" of the Covenant. The Symbol has discovered a beautiful idea, in the Odd-Fellow's attack upon us, and reiterates the whole of that scurrilous article.

Aye more! It swallows down, and gulps out the note of the OddFellow, so full of falsehood and abuse to the respected committee on the Covenant, and so disrespectful to the Grand Lodge.

Where either of those periodicals discover an attempt or wish on our part to "put them down," or cause them to "crumble and fall," we are unable to discover. So far from expressing any such 'idea,' we said not a word respecting any paper in existence, save the one for which we were writing. Nothing but a squeamish jealousy on their part could have led them to misrepresent us in the manner they did. That the Symbol should aid in circulating the false and erroneous impression attempted to be made by the Odd-Fellow, will doubtless be matter of surprise to many. We had expected the leading Editor would have pursued a more high and honorable course; but in echoing the splenetic effusion of the Odd-Fellow, he has paved the way for a "distinction" which he may attain by perseverance, whether he aspires to it or not.

If we mistake not it would require but a few more phillipics of a similar character from the Odd-Fellow, accompanied by the mistaken and false imaginings of that Bishop of the Symbol, to gain for it an unenviable "distinction" with the brotherhood.

On a second reading of the remarks in the Symbol we think we discover some evidence that the leading Editor was averse to saying amen, to the unjustifiable article in the Odd-Fellow, and was induced through the apprehensiveness of his advisors, to speak out against the decisions of his own better judgment, as he was aware that "much comment" was "unnecessary." The reason why he imagines he discovered that "idea" is too plain, it cannot be hidden by the shallow veil with which he attempts to cover it. His symbolic language will be understood in a different light from that in which he has the vanity to suppose, and the reflection will be equally as unpleasant as the uncalled for and unauthorized assault was ungenerous and unkind.

We shall not be daunted by the threats, misrepresentation or ridicule of the uneasy spirits that have banded together, and waged war upon us, but shall pursue the even tenor of our way satisfied, if we are enabled to promote the interests of our beloved Order by our devotion to the Covenant and Official Magazine!

THE flourishing condition of our Order, the multitudes that are constantly applying for admission into our Lodges are matters of gratulation to every good Odd-Fellow, and should lead us to consider well the course of action to be pursued on the different applications that come before us. We would not have our Lodges thrown open to the admission of all indiscriminately who may apply; nor would we knowingly bar the door to any man of good moral character. In balloting for applicants we should act from principle, and not be swayed by any petty jealousy or private pique. To the upright honorable man, a rejection on the part of our honorable society is truly mortifying, and is calculated to arouse suspicions against us, and injure the Order. His friends will be dissatisfied-aye grieved, and perhaps withdraw from an institution whose object is the promotion of honesty, benevolence and good-fellowship. But on the other hand we should scrutinize well the character, and if it be such an one as the wise and good do not approve-such as we are confident would not be benefitted by, but be an injury to the Order, it becomes our duty to refuse his application.

Doubtless there have been men of good moral character and fair standing in the community, who have been prevented from enlisting under the banner of our Order, in consequence of some false supposition or private pique, engendered in the bosom of a member. It becomes us all to be cautious in this particular, lest we abuse our privilege, and injure the Lodge by an act which is extremely unpleasant, to the applicant, his family and friends, and perhaps to a great mass of the brotherhood. The man of honor, of good moral character, considers his reputation safe in our

hands- no matter whether he be rich or poor, if he entrusts it to our decision, let us not take advantage of the confidence he reposes in us, to injure him. It may be that during a long acquaintance some trifling dispute or hasty word has intruded to mar for the moment our good feeling, and that this is all we know against him. It is not wise, it is not proper, then that we should cherish a remembrance of that and allow it to outweigh all his good actions, and overbalance the virtues of his character. It may have been our fault or his, that the dispute arose,-the hasty word was uttered-and if his, it may have been deeply regretted. How wrong in us then to harbor ill-will, and manifest it, when he voluntarily places himself in our power? Let us remember that if

To err is human,
To forgive is divine,

and convince him that we that mercy show, which in turn, we would desire from him.

I have often been inquired of, if it is proper to reject an applicant on account of some private pique, or personal hatred, for which a reason cannot be given. And I have as often enjoined upon Lodges and brothers that it was not. Such a course would create unfriendly feelings among the brethren, and jealousy and suspicion in the minds of men without the Lodge. It might prevent many good men and true, who would be an honor to the Lodge, from allowing us to judge and decide upon their fitness to enter. A few such instances would be sufficient to bring the Lodge to a stand-still, if it did not cause its decline.

The writer has often said in different Lodges, that he would not cause an applicant to be rejected without he had what he deemed a sufficient reason, and that reason not of so trifling a character but that he could lay it before the Lodge. In all honesty and sincerity he would inform his brethren what were his reasons, and if they were not sound,-let them be explained away, and let no false supposition bar the door against the worthy and true.

FROM D. D. G. S. ALBERT CASE.

To Jas. L. Ridgely, Esq., R. W. Grand Secretary.

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER:-On the 7th November I visited Sylvan Lodge No. 4, at Milledgeville, Georgia, received its Dispensation, delivered the charter, and received its returns for the quarter ending 30th September. You will perceive the Lodge had chosen Sylvan, for its name, which was inserted in the charter. W. S. Rockwell is the only P. G.

Mitchell is N. G. for the current quarter.

Nov. 9th, visited Franklin Lodge No. 2, at Macon, received the Dispensation under which it had previously worked; and delivered its charter. This Lodge has 131 contributing members and an increasing fund. I received its returns of quarter ending 30th Sept. Officers for the current quarter.

Capt. ISAAC HOLMES, N. G.

JOHN J. GRESHAM, V. G.

J. M. KIBBEE, Secretary.
JAMES A. NISBET, Treasurer.

E. WOODRUFF PENN, Secretary.
GUY L. WARREN, and

Hon. E. A. NISBET, P. G.'s.

Nov. 10th. Met the applicants for United Brothers' Lodge No. 5, at Odd-Fellows' Hall in Macon, and instituted said Lodge.

The officers for the present quarter are:

JAMES WOOD, M.D., N. G.

CURTISS R. PARSONS, V. G.
FRANCIS J. OGDEN, Secretary.
JAS. B. CARBACT, Treasurer.

Six Brothers were admitted by card-eight gentlemen were proposed for initiation and three were initiated.

Friday evening, Nov. 10th, assisted by Patriarch's George A. Kimberly, J. R. Howell and John J. Jones, I conferred the Encampment degrees on the following brothers-applicants for Ocmulgee Encampment No. 2, at Macon-James Wood, W. A. Robertson, Francis J. Ogden, W. B. Carbact, C. R. Parsons, James H. Bishop, Ebenezer C. Grannis, Jackson Barnes, and J. M. Kibbee.

Received application from the newly made Patriarchs, and G. A. Kimberly, J. R. Howell and John J. Jones, for the charter. An Encampment was then opened, the officers were elected and installed, and the Encampment was instituted in due and ancient form. After which seven brothers were proposed for exaltation, and at a meeting on the following night five were exalted to the R. P. D.

The officers for the current term are:

JAMES WOOD, M.D., C. P.

W. A. ROBERTSON, H. P.
JACKSON BARNES, S. W.
FRANCIS J. OGDEN, Scribe.
C. R. PARSONS, Treasurer.

JOHN J. JONES, J. W.

EBENEZER C. GRANNIS, Guardian.
J. R. HOWELL, Guide.

Nov. 13th. Received Dispensation from Live Oak Lodge at Savannah, delivered charter, and received its returns to 30th Sept., this Lodge has 69 members.

Nov. 13th. Received Dispensation from Magnolia Encampment No. 1, at Savannah, and delivered its charter. This Encampment is in a prosperous condition-it was formed in August last, and has 30 members.

On the evening of 13th Nov. I met the following P. G.'s at Washington Hall, Savannah, and instituted the R. W. Grand Lodge of Georgia.Alvan N. Miller, John Dorsett, Gilbert Butler, and E. S. Kempton, of Oglethorpe No. 1; Guy L. Warren, of Franklin No. 2; Elisha Parsons, George W. Miller and Edward J. Jones of Live Oak No. 3.