Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-26
Secret Societies.


individuals is apt to terminate in contemp-
and disgust. The most commonplace otsel-
vations will be received with respect and at
tc,tion, when coming from persons who pre-
serve that dignity which neither violates nor
permits any violation of the forms Of polite
ness and courtesy. Social position depends
in great measure upon the observance OF
certain forms which have become customary
in social circles. The more refined the So
ciety, the more minute and arbitrary arc its
formalitics. Many of the requirements OF ct
iquette may seem trivial and foolish, yet it is
generally allowed by the wisest men that our
greatest happiness depends upon their strict
maintenance, and that there could be no such
thing as refined society without them. No
one will deny that our success as individ-
uals depends more upon our powers of
pleasing others, than upon our superiority in
any other particular respect. The same OBJ
servotions will apply to the success of true
principles, our appreciation of which will
largely depend upon the manner in which
they are first presented to the mind. Tho
most palpable truths are undoubtedly those
of the utmost importance to mankind. and yet
those that are the most impalpable and shroud-
ed in the greatest obscurity and mystery, are
generally the ones that occupy his largest at
tention, as his natural curiosity leads him on
in the attempt to discover something more
novel than the common place aphorisms which
are in the mouths of every one. For example,
the fact that "all men are created free and
equal" is received by every American citi-
zen as n selfcvident truth. 1t is so trite, aud
carries conviction with it so directly, we have
been so long accustomed to hear and receive
it as matter of course, that we hear and even
repeat it without reflection. Strange as it
may seem, principles of this self-evidrnt char
actrr, are always the most difficult to impress
upon the mind in a manner commensurate
with their Importance. They come to lis like
the too familiar acquaintance with whom we
meet every hour of the day. We recognize
but from our constant habits of familiarity we
never fully appreciate their worth until they
arc gone.
The parallel which we wish to draw is
this: TO give the every day matter Of fact
intercourse of friendship the zest of freshness
and novelty, it is necessary to observe the
ceremonies and formaliirs of politcncss and
etiquette. TO keep alive in the mind a
proper interest in principles that are splf-evi-
dent, it is necessary to surround them with
solemn forms and ceremonies, the mysteries OF
which are calculated to prepare the mind to
contemplate and weigh them seriously. 1t is
for this purpose that secret societies have been
organized and maintained. Those that have
been the most popular and lasting, have been
founded upon principles the most palpablc
and sclt-evilcnt. 1t is unnecessary to allude
directly 10 those orders Which have been
prominent for many ages in enforcing the
duties of charity and bencvolence, duties
which arc admitted by all men both civilized
and savage, and yet which arc exercised and
observed by but small proportion of those
who have not united themselves with some as
ISOLATION for carrying them out. We
think that those societies which have invol-
we'd these objects in the deepest mysteries have
been the most successful. If this is true, it
can not be questioned but that secret societies
based upon the fundamental principles of lib
crty may awaken deeper interest in self-cvi-
dent political truths and accomplish moro good
than could be effected by organizations Which
promulgate the same principles publicly and
without any Of the adjuncts Of formality and
mystery.
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