The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-11-09

ing apparent q tangibig q which there
can Is any reasonable objection, e.ther
'1r the CHRISTIAN, ne ph.laashropis, o
tie patriot
evident therefore, p 50 IA As
W. are secret organization. d IS not
ia respec, to those principles and pre-.
espls, adbeung p which, ip any Just
sense. embarrasses oar relations p tie
Christian church, to pure phiianthrophy
or good government but in respect
rather, to those Internal rules and reg-
ulaiious, laws aud Mays, which II some
measure distinguish Us from the gener-
al public. The full extent oi our obli-
cations, our Signs Of recognition, grips
aud passwords, embrace al regard
ed as secrets 10 ourselves irom the
world without, and this for the best o.
reasons. which ~ fully appreciate, il
the initiated DO and can not one oi
the principal benefits of secresy in re-
spect to our obligation Is, that the very
fact Of limited possession Of secret
Of this kind strengthens the fraternd
bond, aud intensihes the conscious
sense Of the import 81 the obligation to
fidelity and love, aud, Just u the pro
portion that il excludes tie outer world,
it binds US together in the same bun-
die Of life, as brethren and friends,
our sigus Of recognition. grips and
passwords, arc necessary to guard
against imposition and hypocrisy the
curse OF tbs world and the church aud
for the relief Of those who have espec-
ial claims upon our help and support,
when they are endangered or distress
cd, and also for the better maintain
ance of that strict discipline essential
to the real efficiency of any organiza-
tion Of kindred character. And we
believe that we have right to these se-
crets without let or hindrance from
any authority whether Of church or
state And we have reason for oar
faith IN the matter, as we propose to
discuss further in the essay. II the
Governor of the marriage feast was JUS
titled in extending the guest that came
without the wedding garment we may
close our doors against any who DO not
comply with our custom, 50 long as we
have Alright ourselves to those customs.
/ If men have the right to social organiz-
alton, for the passage Of laws and reg
ulation Of the morals Of community,
and for the laaintainance OF the gov
erument OF thor choice, what iorbids
that they should feorganize into anoth-
er society for their common good, no;
hostile to the higher law Of he public
at large? II the Senate ofthe United
States can put closed doors against all
not belonging to their body, while they
are transacting busidess known only to
themselves in all its details, and yet vi.
olate no laws Of the land, why may not
another body of men meet in secret To
transact any business not against pub
| lie INTEREST," Is Good Templar' d
Lodge any more secret than the Sen
ate Chamber, or the Jury room, to
neither Of which strangers are admit
ed at all times? fla family can meet
together in their own house for the
consideration and adjustment Of their
domestic relations, in their own words
and ways, unknown to all against whom
/ thev may choose to close their doors,
yny may not any member or any NUM-
Der Of members Of other families do the
snme thing wherever they choose TO
meet ? and il to transact this business
! why rot other? How does it differ
/ whether they meet in their own homes
or elsewhere? II two are allowed to
keep a secret why not a dozen, why moi
thousand. or any other number2 Ii
their right determined by mere ques.
ton in common arithmetic, rather than
simply by the real question Of what is
right, and what is disallowed? ? No
a hundred times no
Very much OF the common talk about
this matter Of so-calied secresy, is va
porous as thin air, and affords as littlt
light to truth as moonshine to midday.
One common sense view of facts in The
light of reason az things really are, is
worth thousand Of the most elaborate
arguments Or sophistry and blind pref.
udice. II there is no more potent weap
On 10 WELD against US than the charge
I df secresy, il shonl1 weigh in the scaiet
Of justice to our cause, as light as /
BIRDS feather in the balance. and th'
voice that lifts up is doleful cry ii
needless alarm, should be heard onl,
IL the begtling chorus q the pei liean i,
tie wilderness unc4red for ard alone,
f
I RIasr E0B-8.