M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-08-03

of their conduct. 4.
Il The result of my deliberations ant
! observations as to the effect OF thi,
secret organization inclines me 10 in.
dorse the sentiment already advanced
by several worthy divines in relation
to this subject, and that is, tina: nc
man can be member of this Know
Nothing council, live up to and follow
its dictates and at the same time be a
Christian. t
am FULLY conscious that the above
is broad declaration-that it reflects
seriously upon the Christian character
of many Of my Brethren, and lear
even includes many OF the Otiiciary of
our church; yet believe that by lin>
ing the curtain that hides from the
world the secret midnight doings OF
that secret OATH bound Order aud con-
trasting them with the principles of a
Republican Government and the duties
OF a Christian, ii will be apparentthat
there is more truth than romance ID the
assertion.
How can a member oflhat Order ex-
cuse himself from the unholy desecra
lion OF the Bible in coniessing the de-
grees in a Know Nothing lodg?-
Why attempt to use the precious gift
Iof God TO man, for the purpose of
sealing and rendering more sacred a
Unreasonable oath-an oath which binds
the party lst TO deny the fact that he
is member; secondly,not TO disclose
the names Of any who are members;
Thirdly, to oppose Catholics and all
loreign-born citizens; touthly, to vote
for whoever is put in nomination BY
that Order; filthy, to defend aud shield
their brethern-members OF that Order
sc, &C.?
Now Tor all illustration of the ele-
ments and principles (if principles
they may be called Of this secret
oath,bonnd society: Let Us suppose
that some OF the office. holders of Wind
ton county belong TO the Order, that
in accordance with the Constitution
and laws OF our State they have taken
and subscribed solemn oath to sup.
port the Constitution and laws of the
United States and Of the State of Ohio;
refer then TO these sacred Instruments
they have sworn to support; read the
liberal and humane principles therein
incorporated, lst, "That all men have
a natural and indefeasible right to wor,
ship Almighty God according to the
dictates OF their own conscience. ."-I
cOndly--"No person shall be com,
PEELED TO attend, erect or support any
place Of worship, or maintain any form
of worship against his consent; and no
preference shall be given by law to
any religious society, nor shall any in
reference with the right OF conscience
be permiIted;" and, Thirdly-"No
religious test shall be required as a
qualification for Office" &C.; add to-
thls the iacl, our law gives to every
naturalized foreigner a right TO vote, |
hold office, DC, the same as natural 4
born citizen. Now, follow this office
holder and acOrthy member OF the Or.
der to the Know Nothing lodge; there
witness his humble position in font
of the political altar; see his hands
crossed upon the Bible, and hear him
bind himself by solemn oath to op.
pose loreign-born citizens, Catholics,
and the very spirit and letter of that 3
Constitution which he has sworn to
support! Suppose, again, that this a
otiice-holder and Know Nothing is aIt
leading member OF the Methodist or !
any other Of the Protestant Churches e
follow him { if you please) to the !
place of public worship or TO the class S
room; behold him there assuming tile I
humble attitude of worshiper Of the a
living and true God; hear him pouring
out his soul in thanks to God, for the c
blessings of religious and political lib !
erty; contrast the sentiments there Ut. S
cred with his oath and practice as r
Know Nothing, in attempting to de- ;
orlve large portion of our citizens Of t
all the privileges and immunities that d
we enjoy, simply because they han. e
'ened TO be born in foreign country, !
Ind like our Pilgrim Fathers, have a
'ought an asylum in this hitherto land 1
ot liberty! Again, (if you please, Il
ollow a member of that Order into. a a
Jourt OF justice-place him in the Ju. P
y Box or on the witness stand-sup. u
lose one OF the parties to the suit be-
Dg tried is a Brother Know Nothing, .
he other Catholic or Anti. Know
Nothing, in what kind of a position
S our 'oorthy friend of the Order .
'laced--in view OF the solemn and le-
,al oath thus taken, and the sacriligious
Ind illegal one taken in the Council. 4
Dom, and which will he adhere to v
'r regard most binding upon him?-let d
past events and the history of some OF
'ur judicial proceedings answer. o
Now, it may be said that | have
presumed too much, and tt.at the mem. t
)ers OF that order are not thus strong.
y bound by the obligation which they
axe; my answer to that is this: have
'een told by persons who acknowl. g
,dged that they were members OF the ,