New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-06-01
OPPOSITION TO SECRET SOCIETIES.

| A SINGULAR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES MN .o
NATION FOR PREsIDENCY-CoLFAx SAID nps ~
BE AN oDD-FELLOw-CHARLES 6' fiNNhi
WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE HONOR. .- ,
TFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THB TklbUNhI
OBERLIN, Ohio, May 21.-As homely ana gro
tesque set Of people one would wish 10 see arc o
delegates TO the National Christian Assoclauoh Wy
posed to Secret Societies." which is now IN scsSio
at this ploce. The intense CLASSY eye lno h"iu
feature and the unyieldng conviction that hterai
Devl "a onnosing them are all here In their purity
They are fully persuaded that tobacco, Democrats Wlne
novels Freemasons, dancing, divorce, ana hnery arc
sent Of the Devil deceive Gods Children and that the
Almighty Will suffer great loss If they fail to sound the
toesin
Imav be Of some interest to inquire what the OBJ
iects of this Association and how many adherents it NUM-
bers BY persistent inquiry have cleaned the following
facts Their immediate object is to induce all orthodox
denominations to elect all members who adhere to secret
oath-bound societies. They have special hostility to
Freemasonry being In sort tho origin OF all forms
Of secrecy, and being moreover religion antagons
tic 10 Christianity. 1t is somewhat difficult to determine
the extent Of this organization. Several lecturers are
kept in the field. Seven small newspapers give this
movement hearty support while many other Journals are
friendly The denomination of United Brethren, num-
bering 10000 have signed in National Assembly their
concurrence in objects OF the Association Tho United
Presbyterians numbering have article in their
creed opposing secret societies; and many individual
churches OF the Baptist and congregational ueIolna
tons act in sympathy with them On the other hand
many churches land larger organizations of various
denominations unite in deploriDg Masonry antagonstic
10 Christianity but do sympathze with the methods
of this organization Probably large majority OF al
churches which oppose societies also opposed
method of dealing with them, and are unwilDgto
regard the fact of Masonic membership as sucent cause
for election from church membership. The association
set of hthearted headed men, whose intel
pence and Intellectual power should be neither feared
by Masons politicians. II the organization Is to be
feared at all IL must be the Of numbers alone
And now comes the most amusing and interesting fact
connected with the Convention viz that OF its taking
solve itself into a Mass Convention tomorrow.
One Of the most prominent members OF the Con,
yention says that the names OF Grant and
Cofax might be proposed but they could not hope
for accordance They had been guilty of heather tricks
aud puerilities" and had dsgraced this great nation
Cofax being an Odd Fellow counted out on that
score and Grant had been guilty OF receiving presents
G. Fmney might be thought Of He had written a book
exposing Masonry, and would carry well but ne was
very old and feeble and besides gentleman had called
upon him with reference to the matter and had received
for reply the statement that he did not like TO accept lest
ID should inure Grants chances for reelection MI
Greeley had been thought Of but there was grand OBJ
t9Gtp9teRg pWhile be entertained welkno!%gn. nos
with Masons at the Cincinnati Convention! PresidentJ
blanchard, however, u man who could be relied on
serve il the brethren thought he ought to- He said no
should 90 in 10 wD and would not let the thing slump
on his account Blanchard therefore Is the captain
VIII lead this nation hEhoI ieNol u 40 iN
xuressed it, to show this nation what -FOUR OF tne goS
pei of Jesus Christ applied TO government VIII do'