The hydraulic press., 1858-10-16
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DeQuincey, "every body that is by
nature meditative must regard, with
a feeling higher than any vulgar GU
riosity, small fraternities of men form
ing themselves as separate and inner
worthless within the great vortex of So
ciety, communicating silently in broad
daylight by signals not even seen,
but if seen, not understood except
by themselves, and connected by the
link either of purposes not safe to be
avowed, or by the grander link of
awful truths which, merely to shelter
themselves from the hostility of an
age unprepared for their reception,
must retire, perhaps for generations,
behind curtains of secrecy" These
timer worthless which the world
calls secret societies, present a Gu
rious example of the power of associ.
alton, and illustrate the unquenchable
nature of true principles. Origina>
ting at period when to be tolerant
and liberal was a crime, when knowl-
edge had but few disciples, and those
few were prosecuted as enemles to So
ciety, they taught the sublime doc>
trines of equality and fraternity CEN
turtles before the world was ready to
receive them, making the self-provi-
dent instincts of man the bond of
union and devotion to the common
welfare. The necessity for secrecy
never, perhaps, existed in our own
happy country, for the principles else>
where inculcated and maintained by
its aid, early won public support here,
and are the basis Of our free institu-
tons. But although the original mo-
tive to secrecy has passed away, men
cling lovingly to the forms of antiqui-
ty, and now use the ceremonies insti-
tuted for self defence because of their
attractiyeness. The continuance of
the ancient secrecy has a peculiar
fascination for many ignorant persons,
who are thus led by their curiosity
into the support of things whose abb
stract excellence alone would have
no charms for them. But for all this,
the great number and popularity of
the so-called secret societies in re-
publican America, naturally excite
the wonder Of a contemplative mind.
Every cardinal virtue is made the
basis Of some "orier," and is taught
to curious, and sometimes fearful ne
ophytes as sacred mystery, be
hind thick curtains ofsecrecy." Even
the simple lesson of abstinence from
intoxicating drinks is conveyed thro'
the formulas of mysticism, and by all
the complex and arbitrary machinery
of " degrees )" whilst chastity and
benevolence ore inculcated by the
same means, as though they were
virtues unknown to the outside world,
or impossible to practice except under
the strong compulsion of fearful obli-
cations. Some of these "orders "
have the additional charm of great
antiquity, and are reputed to enjoy an
influence which is not limited by geo.
graphical lines. The members Of
such may fatter themselves that they
are directly connected with all the
ages, that into their ears alone the
secrets of the past are whispered,
and that around their affairs CLEAN
lights that have never been extin-
guished. "To be hidden amongst
crouds is sublime-to come down
hidden amongst crouds from distant
generations is doubly sublime"
The aggregate membership Of the
different " orders" in the United
States probably reaches half a mil
lion it can not be certainly known
for the reason that such large pro-
portion Of men belonging to one g Or
der !" are connected with every other.
They have large fund for charitable
uses, and the amount Of good they
do could not be properly estimated
unless they were suddenly wiped out
of existence.
But is their continued existence
necessary? Would not human mis-
cry be relieved without them :? Would
not mutual relief associations without
the element of secrecy and the bind
ing force of solemn VOWS, answer the
same end better? Do not these se>
cret societies contain an element of
danger mot danger to the State,
ynv RI tho ao.1pfru nj lonc. l..l Il