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

night to think aloud, and il may be, that
shall give utterance only to thoughts
similar to those which have occupied your
own minds, and which you may have ex-
pressed. If utter sentiments that differ
from you, il will afford an opportunity for
us to compare notes, and If we entertain
unjust prcjudices, of correcting, and re.
moving them.
Whatever interests any considerable
portion Of the people, is of sufficient i'm.
pOrtance to claim ibe attention and deserve
the investigation OF all"-is an old adage
and safe rule to follow; and we NAV also
add that he who fails to do this, will fall
behind his age; will be deficient in that
knowledge essential to forming right es-
innate of men; and the influences by
which they are governed.
The sentiment contained in this old
adage, namely, the interest which large
portion Of the people manifest in secret
societies, and thtinfuence which they in
turn exert ON Society, is at once my apol-
ogy and reason for the choice OF my sub.
jcct.
The very nature OF these socities, shows
that any public discussion of them, must
either be an erPOse, or an Outstde Iten
only. have chosen the latter, leaving
the former to renegade members.
So far as the members of the various
/ traternties are concerned. it may be to
, Nmr,n Sm,nl,cSr v, S,,r,>,-,,y>y> >,ry~I>y.>-1s
know what kind Of an outside they pre-
sent. To know what kind Of an estimate is
put upon them by those who are not Of
the Initiate. And we Of the uninitiatrd,
impelled by interest and curiosity, are de-
sirous Of knowing all that We can legiti
mately So that our Gicnds who may be-
long to any, or all Of the Secret Orders,
will please not think us rude, or jostle Us
too hard, if we stand and gaze upon the
Temple which they have reared, aud on
; which they have inscribed their notices
and symbols. 1t may bc, We shall gaze
but to admire and reverence and il in
ignorance, we come to wrong conclusions,
! you may laugh at our folly; but do not
think We intend to miSreprcsent, or are
wilfully deceived. You must remember
our view is but all outside one, and wc too
will not forget it.
+ All know that when straight rod rs
! plunged into clear stream Of water, tina,
the rod seems to be broken or bent, in
that part beneath the surface; and the
smoother and clearer the stream. the bet
ter defined is the appearance, and the
more vivid the deception. 1t is true, it is
bnta deception, 0cCasioncd by the n' dunn
through which the object is seen. 1t is an
outside view, seen through what seems n
perfectly transparent medium; but tn
vision is n refrartr'l, or imperfect one. |
am reminded 10y this fact in Philosophy,
to be cautious in coming to conclusions.
Still it is we'll tn know this fact, to know
that the appearance is deception.
T You know that to many minds, when a
man has entered the portals Of one Of those
I temples on which are inscribed the sym.
bvls of secrecy, that he is considered to
have stepped aside from the straight path
ot rrctitudc and virtue.
am we'll aware that this subject Of Sc
cret Societies is a delicate one. and likely
to produce prejudice and suspicion. viii
say at the outset, fIr the sake Of putting
at rest any suspicious Of this kind that
may be entertained in rrgsrd to my object,
I in speaking of Secret Societies, that it Is
not for the purpose Of attempting TO pry
into, nor vet to find fault, nor riIlculc any
thing pertaining to them. The subject as
announced -" IN outside view of Secret
SocieteS" clearly defines my object, and
consider it perfectly legitimate, and fair
ly within my province.
The aim and object oI any society, may
be called lis life, and if it have organiza
ton it must have an external form, aS well
aS an Internal aim No matter how intri-
cate the machinery, however SO closely
guarded by signs, aud counterSignS, pass
words, aud obligations Of secrecy, by
which its members arc bound together and
protected, still it must have aim and OBJ
iect, and so far as these make claim upon
society for countenance and support, they
challenge investigation.
The orders of Free MaSons, and Odi
Fellows, the best representatives Of Secret
Societies, present their object, claiming to
bestow certain advantages and privileges
on their members. These societies have
increased with amazing rapidity through
out the United States, and exert very
great influence. Much of their power hes
in their secrecy. Their passwords, coun.
! tcrsigns, and degrees, throw around them
an air Of mystery, that proves strong at
traction to many.
There is often times attributed to them
! a much greater power for good, or evil
than those best conversant with their
workings will claim for them. A brief
glance at their origin, and the various
stages of development which they have
undergone, which have long since become
matters of history, may serve to remove
much of the superstitious awe and fear.
with which they are often regarded; and
also show that their object is one in COM
mon with many other associations around
| which there are no vows of secrecy.
| shall not attempt to solve the ques-
tion of the date of the founding Of Free
Masonry. since among MaSonS themselves
there is such variety of opinion in re-
gard to it. A few would say, that like
the date of the creation of man, it fade
into mystery; that there has not been
time when it did not exist; when its
principles have not been known and ac
knowledged. But the majority of Mason
ic writer's, although acknowledging the
mystery and secrecy pertaining to it at
present, give it an origin more su6stan-
tial than that of myth and mystery. Few
claim for it anything more than human
origin, originating in human want, in
which common labor and common inter
est suggested united action, in order to
afford common protection. And this is
the noblest origin that can be claimed for
it, and the one which gives it its strongest
claim upon society, Men banded them
selves together, and offered allegiance to
a monarch, or ruler, if certain privileges
were granted to them, and protection af-
forded, they promising in turn, tc. support
and defend the monarch, or ruler, with
their craft and strength, should such help
be needed. The most natural association
of this kind was among those of the same
craft, or who worked at the same business.
The first association was among builders,
those engaged in rearing those massive