Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-31
NUMBER 1863.

~ ~ lVlJs
Review Of Article ON g Secret societies ;,
Observation-Disclosures - &C., contained in
the Lutheran Observer Of Feb. 16, 1855.
ALAMAScE Co, N, G., May "a, 1855.
Editor Of he"American Organ"
DEAR SIR Though do net belong to the or
ganization OF Know-N Nothings, nor am / a regular
supporter OF your paper, yet, II for the sake of
frnfh you feel disposed to give publicity to tLis
communication, you are at liberty.
/ do not profess to hold the pen of readv
| writer, neither to think as accurately and logic.
ally as others may who have written, and what
ask, with all becoming Difference, more light
As the article alluded to is from the pen of the e,
cellent editor OF the Observer, in reply to a que
ton propounded to him as to the ground Of his
objection to " secret societies" Know Nothnes,, /,
&c. a question, upon the proper understanding
and explaining OF which, depends very materially
the future prosperity and destiny Of our country,
ipaught with Importance As the Observer has at
present It's ten thousand readers its editor has
appeared on this subject, and as he will WELD an
important influence either pro or con- and as he i
able and willing to hold forth truth blazing 6riqL
we would be much pleased to hear from him again;
not for controversy, but for truth IF the editor
should think this worth a notice, we would 10
pleased for the sake of the readers Of the Observer
If he insert the article in his paper with such en-
plantations as he may think in place.
we understand the editors position, it Is this:
| He does not object To secrecy and secret soci
ties In the abstract" but in the !. concrete
Secrecy or secret society is not per se"-in IL
self or by itself" sinful" Now, we would hum
bly, ask Is there any principle, virtue, or vice,
seriously objectionable or commendable In the ab.
strnct in ITSELF separated from the rational senti-
ent beings In which 1t may exist, and whom il may
affecty Can secrecy possibly do any harm when
not connected with intellectual beings and things
Where then a basis for this position? The first
| part OF the proposition we conceive has no mean
| ing at ALL
But in the concrete they are Objectionable.
And even in this light, when connected with men
and things, the ingenious editor admits that they
emay be based on sound Christian principles"
"and may be eminently useful" He once head
OF pious mother, son, and three daughters, who
entered into secret agreement to pray stately
in their closets "for the conversion Of the infdel
| and ungodly husband and father" The result WIS
glorious! Perhaps If the infide had gotten hint
of their intentions, they would not have succeeded
quite so well. He also knew three men who
were exceedingly anxious for the conversion of a
fourth, because this fourth, If converted would
| be giant for good. In secret they met IN secret
they covenanted, in secret they prayed and in Sc
cret God heard, and rewarded them openly. Would
to God there were more such secret associations
lessness of the dove.
Continues the editor: "But they differ from the
common class of such associations, in that they
were formed with but one special object in view.
and were not to be permanent" the object con-
templated accomplished, they were dissolved
Now we ask, may not Know-Nothngism conten-
plate but one general and grand object This being
accomplished, the organization may be dissolved.
But "the abuse Of thing does not necessarily
abolish its lawful use.' The editor replies "This
Is true but then the question arises, whether the
habitual and dangerous abuse Of a thing in itself
lawful may not be just ground of objection to il,
and for its entire disuse. We must here make
distinction between fundamentals and non-funda-
mentals-things essential and things Indifferent"
" A fundamental duty may not be abrogated on
account OF abuses incidentally connected with It
but matters not essential, or Indifferent, may and
often should be-" He continues To illustrate:
a cross on the church steeple, crucifx and can
dies on the altar, exorcism at baptism &C. are not
per SINFUL but In their tendency &c. Who
will undertake to prove that dancing ninc-pins,
dramatic representations &C. are per &c sinful "
But look at their antecedents, accompaniments,
and consequences; their uses and combinations
and then let any intelligent Christian judge of their
"lawfulness" &c. We would simply say here we
think the excellent writer has, in the first ilustra.
ton at least taken the species for the genus,
lkened a part to the whole, forgetting that part
will not contain the whole. Crucifxes exorcisms,
&c, are but so many appendages belonging to the
organization, not the organization or church itself
From this it appears, too, that evils can exist in
connexion with organizations into which secrecy
does not materially enter, OF which are not nomi-
nally 50. Know-Nothingism Is an organization, not
an appendage,
But to the past note Ethereal oil or cam
phene Is, per N an innocent article used prudent.
y, and on suitable occasions Is not only harmless,
h,,th h;ollv valuahIa Va L. IL
families, and prefer II to sperm OIL or any other
burning huid. But in imprudent hands IL Is ex-
tremely dangerous &c. 1.-THE same view may
be taken Of secret societies"
Rather grave and complimentary. Good things
must be in prudent hands, or they prove runous;
but all men are not prudent therefore none should
use them lest they encourage evil. Yet the edi-
tor uses ethereal oil. Happy Is he that con.
demneth not himself in that thing which he allow.
eth"
But again; Secret societies or secrecy " may
be legally employed for a wise and good purpose"
But their uses, their applications, aud their comb
nations may become exceedingly dangerous-po-
ltically, morally, and religously. And, all things
considered, we think there Is naturally downward
tendency an aptness TO detcriorate and to be pros
tituted 70 unlawful ends We answer, though the
principal be good and lawful, yet there is natu
rally downward tendency" because connected
with human fallbility. But human fallibilty Is
connected with all we do hence we are naturally
inclined TO dsteriorate; therefore, we win attempt
nothing good. The primitive church pure in
principle, but in consequence OF human fallibility
connected with il, there was a natural down
ward tendency In II, as subsequently proven
therefore, prudent men stood aloof
| From what has been stated, we think the follow
ing is obvious
l. Secrecy and secret societies, per se, in them
selves, are not sinful, but become so only when
| prostituted to sinful ends.
+ O. The abuse Of good thing is no argument
against its proper use.
3. There may be occasions when secrecy, and
secret society," is not only admissible, but highly
commendable and loudly called for, and when.
perhaps, not to encorage them Is criminal, or at
least blapable.
Now, how will this apply to the organization Of
Know-Nothings "
It's grand design is open and avowed in It's plat.
form secret only In some Of its operations TO at
tain the great end contemplated Even their op-
ponents admit their principles in general to be
| ,xa~d thay ara .h.f tl.ow nrafsaa m ba III Won