- Transcription
Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of North Carolina
Free and Accepted Ancient Masons
Grand Master's Office
Lexington, N.C.,
7-11-'19
To His Excellency,
Gov. T. W. Bickett,
Executive Mansion,
Raleigh.
Honored Sir:-
Just returning from the "Methodist Centenary" I find in my mail certain Newspapers containing accounts of the efforts of one "Tex Richie" to form an organization of very doubtful expediency in our State, as I also find an account of your declination to encourage the same. As a citizen of the state, and as the executive officer of some twelve thousand fraternity men who include the most intelligent, law abiding, industrious, progressive and peaceful negroes in North Carolina, I most respectfully enter my protest against the organization of any such society in our beloved State. I desire that Your Excellency know how very much I and those I represent appreciate your strong stand against this threatened evil. Further, that we are grateful to you and those you represent- our white friends- in this state for your kind and thoughtful consideration of our [illegible], our [illegible] and our moral welfare.
We pledge to you our best efforts in every possible way for the mutual good of all our people of both races, and particularly for the condemnation and exposure of crime and the upholding of the majesty of the Law.
Very respectfully Yours,
