The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-12-18
"Outside Societies"

A correspondent of the Southern Pfesbyte-
,i;an. who has been for several months writing
Wauside Letters for that paper thus speaks OF
these societies, and their influence upon church
members
"M opened his heart to me on another SUBJ
iect which I have several times heard spoken
of by other pastors in the same way. serl-
ousy believe and think | see, he said, that
one of the most serious hindrances to the pros
perity of my church, is the fact that number
of the principal men in it are Jealous mem
bers of the Masonic and Odd Fellows frater-
mites. In the first place these associations
make considerable demand on their pockets,
and in these times when we are all so poor ana
the necessities of religiG land charitable oo-
dues to to those those 1 s5ty Issncsc latter
claims also. There al rs OF the church
who give more to their fU3ges than they do to
the church. There are some who pay up
punctually their lodge dues, who do not keep
their promises to the church. Often when
they are called on to hel p in some church OBJ
iect. to contribute to benevolence, to pay
subscription, to take religious paper, they
cannot, 'havnt the money. The reason Is
the lodge requires it.
"And then these associations take up good
deal of their time which is subtracted from
what is due to the Church, or might be devo-
ted to its service know men who seldom or
never miss their lodge meeting, but seldom or
never attend prayer meeting, or 60 to preach
ing at night They have some difficulty or OBJ
lection in the way of going out at night; but
when the lodge meets, they are here-some-
times till midnight.
Livery individual has only certain amount
of money, time, energy, and activity, as a sur
plus over what his worldly business and neces'
sities require. Just so much OF this surplus
in these general respects, is SO much Withdrawn
from the Church and cause OF Christ.
'.Besides. the members of these societies SC
elorify them and extol their usefulness and be-
1evolence, that they become in the eyes OF
many substitute for religion and the Church
and not few think that to be good Mason
or Odd Fellow, is enough for any man. 1t l.
to be hoped that no Christian entertains such
an idea. But by becoming a member OF these
bodies. he encourages and promotes this tata
deluson in others.
"There is not one object of benevolent anc
useful character which is not contemplated
and included in the purposes tor which tht
Lord organised and established his Church II
the earth. And to seek human, maroon
trived organisation for the ends for which
the divinely appointed organization, OF th'
Church is ordained, is to cast reproach on the
latter, and to accuse it Of failure and imper
lection. If it be said the Church has faile.!
to do its duty and made these human contrl
vances necessary, the obvious answer is tina
the duty of Christians is to seek to bring tn
Church up to what it ought to be, and not Il
resort to substitute for 1t.
Besides, the benevoepce practised by thes
associations is not Christian benevolence. =
First, in fact it is not benevoence at all. The.
are in truth nothing more nor less than nlutal
Insurance companies, in which you pay tor a.
you receive, Seeondly. their Senehts- are re
stricted to their members. For example,,
tSlasou Is bouusf- 20 render certain services 10
brother Mason, but not to others. The COS
pei requires us to exercise this benevoence t
all men. The pattern of it we have in tn
parable of the Good Samaritan. Whoeve
may need help, Jew or Samaritan, Mason o
not a Mason, Christian or infdel. whateve
that need may be, if we can render it, the
we must. That is the benevolence require
by the Lord and by the Church. "