The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-07-02

The most common, though really tht
most trivial, of these is directed agains
the secrecy of the Order. Those who
urge this objection ignore the fact that
secrecy enters into the most ordinary
and tie most intimate relations of social
political and business life; that it is the
very keystone of the arch Of human
confidence; and that cases are constantly
occurring in the happiest domestic cir.
cles, where it forms an essential bond OF
peace and union. The Governors of the
American States; the Chief Magistrate
of our country; and the rulers of almost
all nations, hold frequent consultations
with their respective cabinets under the
seal of the strictest secrecy; while the
legislatures of all states often deliberate
in secret session. The proceedings of
Grand Juries are everywhere conducted
under an oath of secrecy; because, 9TH
erwise, the most daring crimes would be
committed with impunity by rufians
who would overawe timid witnesses, and
deter them from appearing to testify. Or
who would evade arrest by knowledge
of the fact that the Grand Jnry had Ia
ken cognizance of their misdeeds So
highly did the ancients value secrecy,
that, in some of their scho Is of philoso-
ply, they required of their candidates
for initiation probation Of three Tears
of absolute silence; considering it impru-
dent to impart their teachings to any
man who had not obtained complete con-
troll over his tongue; and aware that that
control necessarily implied the subjuga-
cation of almost all human passions.
Two or three quotations, taken at ram
dom, from the Holy Scriptures, will serve
to show in what estimation secrecy was
held by some of the inspired writer's.
{" He that goeth about as a tale-bearer
revealeth secrets therefore meddle not
with man who fattereth with his lips"
Prov: 20, 49, "Debate thy cause with
thy neighbor himself, and discover not a
secret to another" Ps. 25, 9. 1.-The
talebearer revealeth secrets but he that
is of a faithful spirit concealeth the mat
ter" Prov. II, 13. [ will only remark
in addition, that when it can be demon
strated that secrecy is useless, or even
unimportant, in the affairs of everyday
life, it will be time enough to object to
this feature of Masonry.
The second objection to our Order is
based on the misconduct of some of its
members. In making this objection our
opponents overlook two undeniabie facts:
first, that mems theories are always in
advance of their practice; and secondly,
that there is as much difference between
the principles of any society and the So
ciety itself as there is between day and
night, or truth and falsehood. Yet, if
this objection were restricted to particu-
lar Masons or to particular lodges, in.
stead of being applied to Masonry in,
general, admit that it would have
much weight. When man, by tenn.
porary and feigned observance of moral
ity, obtains admission into our Order,
the lodge in which he is initiated should
not be censured if he subsequently re-
lapses into vicions habits; but when
man is admitted to our fraternity. whose
best recommendation is that, though he
possesses no positive virtues he is gull
ty Of no serious vices, the lod ge which
initiated him cannot be blamed too Sc
verely. In both these instances the par
:icular lodge would be highly censura-
ble if it failed to admonish, and: if nec-
essary, to expel, the offending brother
but in neither Of them would Masonry
be answerable Unfortunately, in Amer
lea at least, the mental and moral quail
fications OF candidates for Masonry are
far below the ancient, and the only safe,
standard. In this respect let our lodges
return to the letter and spirit of our an
cient landmarks; let them beware of the
common and most fatal error of consid-
ering large membership and full
treasury as the best evidence of masonic
prosperity; let them employ their work
ing tools upon none but perfectly sound
material, and we shall hear no more of
this, the only plausible, objection, to
Freemasonry.
1t is objected, in the third place, that
the Order may conceal party danger
Gus to civil government. The examples
of such men as Washington, jackson,
Chief Justice Marshall, De Witt G.
Clinton, and a host of other eminent
Americans, and many Of the most illus
trious kings, princes and mobiles of Eu-
rope, who were no less distinguished as
Masons than as patriots and statesmen,
furnish sufficient refutation of this OBJ
lection; but its futility is rendered doub-
ly apparent by reference to certain pub
lie Masonic teachings. Every Mason,
at his initiation, is solemnly charged to
be in the State quiet and peaceable
citizen; true to his government, and
just to his country that he is not to
countenance disloyalty nor rebellion, but
to submit patiently to legal authority, |
and to conform with cheerfulness to the |
government Of the country in which he
lives and every Master Of lodge is
required, at his installation, to give his
assent to these among
other charges: ''You agree to be a
peaceable citizen, and cheerfully to con-
form to the laws OF the country in which |
you reside. You promise not to be con-
cerned in plots and conspiracies against
government, but patiently to submit to
The decisions of the supreme legislature"
The objection deserves no further CON-
ment.
The last prominent objection TO Ma
,onry is applied to its exclusion Of fe-
males from the Order. While the fulfil
ty of this objection can be easily demon
,trated, regret. my fair hearers, the
existence of even seeming Injustice in |