True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-29
For the True American,
refer to him again.

MR. RAGAN In the American Union
Of July 8, we see an article headed GREY
Larimer on Ragan." This we thought a
strange caption, but after reading the ar
ticle through, we thought it equally So
But we design to notice only a few things
| in this communication, as they mostly re-
fer to yourself, and you may dispose Of
them as you think proper. We will trst
notice the following Article of the a. H.
Churches creed, as given by Mr.. Larlmer
"All associations whether formed for
political or benevolent purposes which bind
their members by oath to obey and keep
secret laws and principles the nature and
tendency of which are not known to them
when they take such oath are inconsistent
with the spirit and genius of Christianity,
and are to be avoided as ensnaring and
dangerous.
After Mr.. L. giving this article as above,
he asks the question: Did I take higher
grounds on that subject than our church
has done? We answer this question affirm
atively. For this article can have refer
ence to none but secret oaths taken by per-
sons who are unacquainted with the prin-
ciple, nature and tendency of the same.
If we are not very much mistaken, Mr. l..
did not read this article to his congrega-
ton; but stated that he had the Rituals
of the Know Nothing order in his posses
sion. This unqualified declaration came
from Mr.. L. in the pulpit: "Ies, my
Christian hearers, perhaps some Of you
have sworn to keep the secrets Of this Or
der, without understanding its objects, its
nature and tendency. Not that any of its
objects are in themselves sinful but it is
secret society," have their Rituals. r"
But Mr.. L., as Invisible said, was pleased
not to exhibit them to his congregation
For well he knew that his author would
have disgraced him, therefore he passed
the assertion on the strength of his OWL
veracity. If there are any such Rituals
in existence, Mr. L. must have been the
depository for some society and betrayed
bis trust, and violated solemn oath by
revealing things which he had sworn mos
solelnnly not to reveal, or he has taken hi'
ritual, which he has published in the
Union, from perjured scoundrel. Any
one can see by Mr.. LIS Ritual, if it b
true, that no member has right, or cal
expose any law of the Order withou
violating solemn oath. Now one Of those
things is evidently true, viz: Mr.. L. Of
the author of his ritual have perjured them
selves, or the said ritual is false. Which
of these things are true, we will not taxi
the responsibility of deciding. But mak'
the best of it, and Mr.. L.. could not hav'
been in possession of facts sufficient to war
rant him in making the declarations HI
did make in the pulpit, for he did not know
them to be true. If he had said that h
was in possession of ritual purporting tt
be the ritual of the order commonly term
ed Know Nothings, which ritual he be
lieved to be true, and If true, persons be
longing to said order could not enjoy til,
privileges of the church, the case woulC
have been quite different. From issuin!
Bull that any person belonging to th'
order designated or called Know NOthings
could not enjoy the privileges of the church
we cannot but think Mr.. i. was in thi
case acting tyranicaL and that the rules 0
the church of which he is a minister di,
not require such action at his hands. Thi
we think is just as plain as the fact that
ritual, or any thing else, cannot be secre
and at the same time public.
We would not wish to dictate cours
for our Rev. friend to pursue, but only t
drop few ideas, hoping they may prov
useful to him, if not here, when he goes t
the West to form new acquaintance an
give an example Of truth, honor and hon