New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-08
SECRET SOCIETIES.


20 ths gdstor Of re Trttuns.
SIR: It was not my intention to add woro
70 the letter in THs TRrpcss for Oct a. for although
written IN haste upon the belief that correction OF the
erroneous accounts OF the Legeett aecdent woud nave
more weight II made by opponent OF secret soceee'
vet the statements and opinions therein advanced were
based upon Ave years careful observation OF the society
system Of Cornell, including memoranda respecting al
Gases of college discipline have therefore nothing to
rctract or qualify IN regard TO the general question
would ike, however, to say that DR., Crosbys article
on secret Societies in Colleges has been reprinted " The
ithaca Journa. for Oct 16; also that Lee and wason
twho fell with Leggett) sophomores, although the
former had only recently Joined the fraternity
a. In The TRIBUNE for 0at 70, "owP asserts that
"Prof, Wilder 10 member OF the Delta Upsilon'-a
reeklettef society With ircekletter pin, members OF
which are free admit that they have grip and pass
word and oil the gus and machinery common to otner
college secret societies. but profess TO be antisecre
The argumentam ad homi.en Is 80 strong with some
that Il ought to De met At the time OF writing my pre-
yous letter. tho fact Of my honorary membership wac
wholly out Of mind; and had 1t occurred to me,
should no more mentioned t than my similar con-
nectou with the Natural History Society," OF any other
open although private organization. Tie members nave
grip password secret sign ~naterer and they well
know that object TO the pin and do not wear IT, 70 the
Greek letters, significance of which never asked;
Of membership to rs sufficiently evident from
that the only meetings attended are those
which my wife and other ladies were invited At one
of these the entire Of Initiation was per-
formed Tic meetings are private, but outsiders are
almost always present ty invitation. Members are ad
mtted by unanimous only. and their high caarac
and scholarship are SO freely admitted Dy all that
will make no damaging comparisons.
append the Preamble aud Pledge" and trust they
will appear satisfactory:
Believing college secret societies tend TO evil
rather tnan good and that the great objects OF eoege
society morality, equality, fraternity and justice,
an that these may DO better Obtained wltnoue resulting
~ the vail Of secrecy"
"You affirm that the principles OF this fraternity as
expressed preamble and Constitution accord en-
tirrly with your that as nemDer OF tls frt
teruty you will faithfully adhere 10 those pncipes and
abide by all and regulations that you VIII ever
that YOU will uphold and encourage your Fellow mem
beers all that is honorable and right; ana tnit 81 a..
yate those feelings, should ever exist between
brothers Engaged ia q common cause all this you
soIemly promise on your sasred Ionor'
al Allow me to offer q possible explanation OF the
mysteuous preliminary walks J." which led, although
Indirectly to Leggetts DEATH and which have been de-
nounced as senseless" and "unmeaning." II Il
probable that at the time OF their adoption all secret
society rites had deep Significance; the organizations
we're formed for mutual protection OF life or property
absolute secrecy and perfect confidence In each other
the Two essentldS, hiuco tHc h"o va ehO ~
sence Of law afforded no security. Tnis mutual con
tdence was best represented by the Willingness OF the
candidate to yield himself wholly to the guidance OF
Others and he was conducted, blindold, by devious
passages, and rough ground, to an unknown aud
small spot where, II his courage had not ailed hiD
his pledge Of desire TO enter the organization was re-
newed.
In retaining these and other perhaps even more per-
ous ordeals at the present time when absolute protec
10 of, ab nv lava
which every citizen may help to amend, our societies
have kept an empty husk which having no use Is apt
TO become worse useless upon the principle that
Satan always hads some harm for Idle hands Cd do III
tho above explanation Is incorrect wll De easy 70
show t but my total antasonism to secret orgAniza-
tons does not blind " the good they may have Tor
merly accomplished to the higher correspondence Oh
some OF their apparently childish ceremonies
49, There Is one matter OF such grave character that
would not mention it but for remarks which have
heard during the last fortnight IL Is said that the
nature ofseeret society obligations such as to require
not only but denial OF facts before the Ia"
on account real ncied need OF secrecy MY Tor
mer letter alluded to the preyartcatoa 80 evident 10
some Of the testimony before the Coroners Jury Some
students now say that they do not believe what was
finally elected and that any society-naa would feel
himself justified not indeed bound, TO peure himself
before the law rather than reveal the secrets OF his Or
der Now do not credit this frightful idea; aud am
In so far wewisher toward the members OF secret ira
terntes hope tnat some one VINO knows wll take
TO that there Is no feature whatever IN the
principles or recognized practice Of any Greeketter
society," or Masonic, other extricoliegiats organz
ton which could be or generally Is interpreted 10 justify
any form OF perjury for tue accomplishment OF any
object In other words. lot 1t DO fairly denied that
secret obligations under any circumstances para
mount to tue law OF the and Tue denial can do NO
harm, aud may do some good
m wish 10 call attention TO the present state OF the dis
custom. My letter published ten days ago, aud
copies have been sent to all whom supposed interested
in the subject among them. OF among the regular
readers OF THE TRIBUNE, must be number OF those
Secret Society Alumni" led to by President White
"a Doctors OF Divinity, who presidents of the most
noted institutions learning foremost Judges eminent
cergyme and others constitute the real source OF
the strength OF the secret societies" Yet aside from
souibs about the nonexsence OF seer organizations In
Heaven and the note OF "0Sl" above referred to- L
have seen but two to the letter. both written by
our own recent graduates and one OF them consisting
mainly in denial OF my statements respecting the
,naence NJ secret societies in Cornell University,
The small number of answers admits OF two expana-
tons the considerations presented oy me are 80
sel,eyldently unsound 20 merit reply at ALL or 1t
Is not easy to refute them
That the former the case, am led to think not
only from subsequent reconsideration, but from the I'M
qualified appreciation expressed In letters aud messages
which have reached almost daily since the article
appeared the writer's in all cases men OF high char
acter and generally occupy public positions OF greater
or less Importance among others Is letter OF thanks
from Cornell alunnus. Until, therefore. detailed
refutaton of my arguments. which with some additions
arr, those OF DrCrosDy appears over the signature of
some secret society grdutte who's axe rad puoc posi-
ton en.Ie hun general respect, 'It continue to
believe that the large majority OF t0. who no longer
retain an active connection with secret societies. and
Sho look upon them aud not IA boys do acknow
edge the force Of the argumonts agiusS 'hem and as
sent 20 the general proposition thai III their good ends
eould be equally well accomplished without the secrecy;
and that secrecy under any circumstances, and even
when apparently necessary, at best necessary evil
o. As TO the remedies. To those sted In the pre-