The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-12-21

neymen. The journeymen kept secret the
dates assigned to them, and marked out
the work for the apprentices. The aPPrcn-
tices had certain secrets assigned to them,
which were kept from their families or per-
sons outside of the work. Thus for seven
years they worked in harmony and com
pleted the
TEMPLE.
From this organization has grown the
strongest secret body ever knowH to the
world, and it now stands a. an everlasting
monument in honor reared, and crown
ed with glog. From the most ancient Of
days up 20 the present err Of the world, its
altar fires have brightly burned at every
moulsnt of time, a. the earth in its orbit
presents its surface 10 the sun, and causes
opposite darkness.
THE DRUIDs, ODD FELLOWS, RRDMRN.
knights Of Pythiaa, and other secret
societies are also bright initiative examples
of the wisdom and foresight 0f their pre-
decessor. 1t would be folly 10 offer more
argument in favor Of the principles Of se-
crecy as the best means of organization. 1t
il not the number Of names upon the roll
that can accomplish most for the general
good, but it in the representative ability
of q class, that gives direction to the opin-
ions Of the people, concentrates their
power and consumates their wishes. Ten
men in moderate discussion, In better than
hundred expressing diversity Of opinion,
in angry debate and unreasonable talk
Just conclusions can only be reached by
compromise of representative power.
THE MASSES
cannot come together and properly cOnsid-
or what il best for them, they must leave
it to representatives who reflect their will
erned by less than 500 men, our State il gov
erned by . legislature and governor, our
city by supervisors, and our families by
father and mother. The question Of rep
resentative power being settled, how
shall they be chosen TO affect the most
good They should be the most indus
trious, wise and energetic men whose
hearts are in the work, and those who are
recognized by their fellows as such. Again
we must look back upon the past, TO judge
of the future, though yesterday is gone
forever. Yet the records of wise men live
after them, and we may be profted by their
example.
| MAsONs
| from time immemOriAl have made masters
and past masters their representatives in a
grand lodge, their examples having been fol
lowed by all other successful secret OrgAni-
cations, and it has worked well for thous-
ands Of years, and bears test i'm the cruci
BILE of public opinion, IL it not wise to fol
low it still Secret societies shut out from
the world all their defects, and insure "a
/ the members free exercise Of opinion wIth-
out fear Of unjust public criticism, while
uniformity and united action can only BE-
secured through body Of representative
THE PRIMARY ASSOCIATIONS
usually select their best men to preside
over them, and knowing they were to 10
come their delegates they would still bs
more particular, thus securing the wisdom
the energy, Prudence and activity Of saci
organizations in their representative b. ly
Single trade org anizations have done much
good for their own craft, but they fail u
enlist the sympathy and action Of Othel
mechanics, and the more stringent tn,
rules o. the trade the more alienated theN
become, until ut last they are designated
a separate class, When in fact their inter
ests are identical. And yet the local rule'
of one trade will not always serve the pur
poses Of another, but there are general law
that would apply to all. without interior
ing with any one trade. Let us take fol
example the
| ORDER OF UNITED MECHANICS,
though made ecumenic, or universal in it
character, we will only speak Of it as sp
plicable to one nation. In its organization
the terms most familiar to our mechanic
are preserved even its name il not narreC
by any sectional II single trade designa
ton. Its primary associations are called
SHOPS, and may be composed Of those O
one trLde or any number of trades. If o.
one, they have their own bylaws for thea
own trade if of more than one trade
each may have their own executive com
mittee to govern that branch of business
yet they would work together in harmony
one master presiding over all.
THE MASTERS AND PAST MASTERS
who sustain a good reputation constitute q
Grand, or State council This bo1y legis-
lates for the order in the State according t.
its local necessities, without in the slightest
degree disturbing the local wants. Of it
shops. A grand architect presides over the
State council; they and the past grand arch
itects constitute the National Supreme
Council This is body to whom il en-
trusted the private work and all laws that
will apply to the order in a nation. For
the sake of uniformity among mechanics
in the several nations, the past and present
supreme architects constitute the EcumeniC
Congress. This body meets but seldom,
and then only for the purpose of preserv-
ing national status in the work, ID that
| 49, 1. L..
brothers in every land and country.
EACH BODY
is distinct az the waves, and all are one as
the ocean, and as the sun imparts light and
heat to all, so does the Supreme Council
impart knowledge and harmony t. oil its
branches. Nothing can be more beautiful
in its operation in the first degree the ap-
prentice takes part in the second the jour
neymen la the third, the masters, and an
the fourth, the architects. There is no
surplus or unnecessary work it ID all need
ed to harmonic the system and elicit in
terest in the organization. II il applicable
to every place and all conditions.
SEVEN WORTHY MECHANICS
IN any village town or city may constitute
shop, and be represented in State or
territory, or thousands may belong to one
The suspension of shop will not discon-
meet the order or prevent it's members from
uniting with another. Through the coun-
ellis the Legislative wants Of the laboring
men can be made known to Congress, and
other representative bodies, who in their
representative capacity viii command re-
spect In the third degree there are insti-
buttons called
SENATBS,
where all who wish to belong TO benefit
society may fully enjoy that privilege by
retaining their membership in shop, and
paying their benefit dues. The shops and
senates, are chartered by State councils,
and State councils exist by charter from
the Supreme Council. And an its name
indicates, is the head of the order, and ex-
lists without charter. 1t In this system Of
ovoa ration, ura rx.rornu.anI - A.