Document set 'Letter from Peter W. Ray to Jacob Norton, 1884 November 23'
(A2011__017__228)
Transcript style:other pages
1 / 4
2 / 4
3 / 4
4 / 4Novr 23/84
My Dear Bro Norton
I have carefully
read your communication of the
19th inst and approve highly of the
sentiments therein contained
and feel under many obligations
to you and your compeers for
the interest you have taken to
combat the unmasonic treatment
rendered by the White Masons of
america toward the colored ones
but you will please excuse me
Nov<sup>r</sup> 23/84
My Dear Bro Norton
<p-bgn>I have carefully
read your communication of the
19<sup>th</sup> inst and approve highly of the
sentiments therein contained
and feel under many obligations
to you and your compeers for
the interest you have taken to
combat the unmasonic treatment
rendered by the White Masons of
america toward the colored ones
but you will please excuse me
My Dear Bro Norton
<p-bgn>I have carefully
read your communication of the
19<sup>th</sup> inst and approve highly of the
sentiments therein contained
and feel under many obligations
to you and your compeers for
the interest you have taken to
combat the unmasonic treatment
rendered by the White Masons of
america toward the colored ones
but you will please excuse me
if I express my opinion as to
wherein the fault lies. it is just
here you admit that you have
not visited your [square symbol] for Thirty Two
years. for what because things
did not go to suit you. Do you
not know that absence never
remidies an evil. Had you off
remained among your Brethern
and combated what you considered
wrong year after year you wasted[?]
off made converts and by this
time would of revolutionized
the whole system of wrong
again had you and others who
if I express my opinion as to
wherein the fault lies. it is just
here you admit that you have
not visited your [square symbol]<note>square symbol</note> for Thirty Two
years. for what because things
did not go to suit you. Do you
not know that absence never
remidies an evil. Had you off
remained among your Brethern
and combated what you considered
wrong year after year <unclear>you wasted</unclear>
off made converts and by this
time would of revolutionized
the whole system of wrong
again had you and others who
wherein the fault lies. it is just
here you admit that you have
not visited your [square symbol]<note>square symbol</note> for Thirty Two
years. for what because things
did not go to suit you. Do you
not know that absence never
remidies an evil. Had you off
remained among your Brethern
and combated what you considered
wrong year after year <unclear>you wasted</unclear>
off made converts and by this
time would of revolutionized
the whole system of wrong
again had you and others who
considered that Colored Masons
are not recognized by the White
in Symbolic [two squares joined] . Clung together
and by agitation gained Converts
by this time your names would
be handed down to posterity as
Masonic Conquerers on this point
but by your absence you have
allowed it to drag and where
do we find it to Day. Why
in the same place where you
left it Thirty Two years ago.
now would it not be well to Commence at the matter in the way that I suggested in my last letter[?] after a considered that Colored Masons
are not recognized by the White
in Symbolic [two squares joined] <note>two squares joined</note>. Clung together
and by agitation gained Converts
by this time your names would
be handed down to posterity as
Masonic Conquerers on this point
but by your absence you have
allowed it to drag and where
do we find it to Day. Why
in the same place where you
left it Thirty Two years ago.<p-end>
<p-bgn>now would it not be
well to Commence at the matter
in the way that I suggested
in my last <unclear>letter</unclear> after a
now would it not be well to Commence at the matter in the way that I suggested in my last letter[?] after a considered that Colored Masons
are not recognized by the White
in Symbolic [two squares joined] <note>two squares joined</note>. Clung together
and by agitation gained Converts
by this time your names would
be handed down to posterity as
Masonic Conquerers on this point
but by your absence you have
allowed it to drag and where
do we find it to Day. Why
in the same place where you
left it Thirty Two years ago.<p-end>
<p-bgn>now would it not be
well to Commence at the matter
in the way that I suggested
in my last <unclear>letter</unclear> after a
consideration with Bro Hayden
and others, and fight the matter
through it ceartainly will Come
but like all other reforms
Soilders[?] are needed in the Camp[?]
If you will set the Ball in
motion in Your state, I will
make a bold drive in this state
and once we set the ball in
motion, it will do as all other
reforms have done. Not go
backwards, but advance
until all is accomplished
Fraternally Yours P W Ray M.D. III consideration with Bro Hayden
and others, and fight the matter
through it ceartainly will Come
but like all other reforms
<unclear>Soilders</unclear> are needed in the <unclear>Camp</unclear>
If you will set the Ball in
motion in Your state, I will
make a bold drive in this state
and once we set the ball in
motion, it will do as all other
reforms have done. Not go
backwards, but advance
until all is accomplished<p-end>
Fraternally Yours
P W Ray M.D. III
Fraternally Yours P W Ray M.D. III consideration with Bro Hayden
and others, and fight the matter
through it ceartainly will Come
but like all other reforms
<unclear>Soilders</unclear> are needed in the <unclear>Camp</unclear>
If you will set the Ball in
motion in Your state, I will
make a bold drive in this state
and once we set the ball in
motion, it will do as all other
reforms have done. Not go
backwards, but advance
until all is accomplished<p-end>
Fraternally Yours
P W Ray M.D. III