The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-05-24

is figure representing an irradiating CEN
tire Of light, in which is inscribed, in He
brew Characters, the word Jehovah, indi-
eating that through these mysteries Ma
sons are led to a more perfect knowledge
of God, toward the most Holy of Holes.
But they forget that lie of whom all the
ancient rites of Israel were but types and
symbols, hung upon the cross, and died
for the redemption of man, that then all
their types and >ymbols were lost in the
fulfillment of that which they fOreshad-
owed. When the Saviour hung upon the
cross and gave up the Ghost, then the vail
of the Temple was rent in twain from the
top to the bottom; in it, the last mystical
vail that concealed knowledge of God
was taken away, and now all can come to
the living God through this open way
My friends, the way to pure knowledge
of God, is lot through mystery.
Again, we are forced to enquirc--what
ttNtt4 :iuiwcter Of that Information that
seals the lips Of the father, on these sub
jccts, even to his own son?-and the hus.
baud to the wGe2 do nntSay tbAt they
are impure or improper, but that they are
calculated to produce questioning and
doubt, if not suspicion. And we see that
because good and true men, in the varied
walks Of life, are numbered amopg their
members, docs not satisfy the questionings
that arise but rather produces new and
more perpleXing ones.
Shall We judge of the wisdom and in
strnction that is thus impaired, by those
who are their members? But it is the
boast Of these secret societies, that tffcy
embrace of AL nations of the earth, and
all classes Of society. If the American
Indian, and the enlightened statesman, the
one uututorcd, and the other with mind
highly refined and cultivated by educa-
ton, can meet OH common level, then it
cannot lay special ciNMn <N prof0un6ness
Of wisdom. If the semi civilized tribes Of
the old world, in their unlcttered state,
can understand its mysteries, then we
must look somewhere else for the great
bond by which it unites in a common
brotherhood all nations, and all creeds Of
men. Investigate this element Of secrecy
as we may, when it is connected with in
struction, think we will be forced to say
it is an Antiquated principle, thing Of
the past, an element in society once of
great strength and power; but nova cause
Of doubt and suspicion.
All the Secret Societies lay great stress,
and make no little show of the symbols by
which they are reminded of fraternal du-
ties, and great moral principles. Their
initiatory services as they advance from
degree to degree, profess to use these mys-
tic and symbolic forms, in Increasing gran
deur and impreSsfvenesS. The Compass,
the Square, the Plumb, the Guage, the
All-sceing Eye, the Brazcn Serpent, the
claspcd hands, the hour-glass, the coffin,
and the irradiating center Of light, sym
bol Of Jehovah's presence all these sym
bolS, both ancient and modern, once pow
erful rs the primitive alphabet Of knowl
edge, are now deficient in power; for the
world in its progressive march has left
them far behind. The Bible for ages, al
most sealed book because written in a
language that but small portion Of the
people could understand, is now an open
volume, profferIng its sacred instructions
to all who will receive it. And with an
open Bible, in which every emblem and
symbol of truth of prophetic nature have
had their fulfilment, and clearer channels
of knowledge, by which the mind is ena-
bled to see the truth, either moral or more
strictly religious, in simpler and hence
more clearer forms, their symbols are
powcrless.
The Altar Of Sacrifice has long since
been superseded by the great sacrifice on
Calvary The Brazen Serpent, with its
healing power, has faded before the greater
healing power Of Him of whom it was but
type.
These ancient types, symbols and en-
blenS, may serve TO show the different
stages of progress and Development,
which the human mind has made; they
are valuable as historical record, but
have long agoI lost their vitality. Perhaps
this is making an assertion too broad in
its scopc,-for am here reminded that
these secret societies embrace minds OF
every grade, as we'll rs men OF every ma
ton but of one thing | think We are
sure, that such q mode of instruction
would meet with but little favor at the
present day if presented to the public
If wc desire to impart knowledge of the
apple, will you take the seed and descant
abstruSely in regard to the various stages
OF development? or will you take the tree
itself, first in blossom, and then laden
with maturing frait? Or will you 60
back to tie tcG-kettie, with sputtcring
spout and rattling lid, in order to illus
tratc the great power of steam, when you
have the massive steam engine proprlling
I steamboats, and railroad cars, and prodn-
cling the motive power for mills and ma
chine shops? Will you pause wondering
and specializing over the e"c"en-i FROM
which the butterfly has flown, and forget
the golden-winged insect fitting from
flower to flower?
The apple-Seed, the cocoon and spout
ing tea-kettle are but the birth-places
llom which have Spiung greater dcvel
opnent. And he who would make n righ
use Of the present, haS to 90 with the
progressive. These societies themselves
are carrying out in some measure the
progressive spirit Of the age: and that is
( by the shortest and, in many respects
! the most efficient method of rendering
/ mutual assistance, one to the other anc
in this lies their strength. These soc!e'
/ ties have lodges in almost every popuou,
centre in our country, and these are Office.
for the dispensing Of aid to needy bro
ther. Also, as society for mutual pro
lection, it is pra teal, and the numerous
instances that MaSonS and Odd Fellow,
are ready to advance, Of its power being
felt at a critic al period, cXtricatinr from
places of danger and atfordng aid, viii
soon convince the most skeptical that, a.
a great mutual relief society, they art
perhaps as efficient as any organization
of the kind extant.
But when we go beyond this, we ar,
on questionable ground. We are OF
ground that is purely speculative. As q
moral institution, whose principles arr
vital and binding, think all will say
they are not efficient; and that in mora
point Of view their standard has sadly
fallen. BY some strange direction, thu