The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-12-13

lection to secret socities; more
especially to the Most Ancient and
Honorable Fraternity of Free and
Accepted Masons. We had sup
posed that the vituperations which
had been cast upon it, some forty
five years ago, when traders IN
politics too lazy to earn an honest
living otherwise) endeavored to
ride upon what they presumed they
had made skeleton, into offices of
honor and emolument, had been
exploded. Nevertheless, there are
some who-evidently from ignor.
ance OF its tenets-object to it
Firstly, on account of its secrecy;
secondly, on account of it's oaths;
thirdly, in consequence las they
say) of its being regarded as
substitute for religion, and, conse.
quently, antagonistic thereto; and
lastly, for its exclusion of females.
| Now, its secrecy we regard as
one of the great elements OF the
success of the Society; for, since
its first organization, this secrecy
so often vaunted, so often denied,
SO often sought for--has been in
culcated and practiced.
''It is," said one of our best Ma
sonic writer's, "a secrecy which has
never been exposed by letter
Though numerous efforts have
been made to expose it, } and never
can be. The enlightened of our
institution smile in derison at the
idea of its destruction by publica.
tion; for they know it can neither
be published nor destroyed. The
jealous Mason never wearies in the
investigation of the science of Free.
masonry, for it reveals treasures at
every step. It is the nucleus of
a system broad as the mind, ex
alted as the soul, profound as wis.,
dom itself, and as indestructible as
the divine principle of truth"
1t is true that some of it's secrets
might be revealed, but we choose
to hide them. For instance, should
a Brother in dist. ess seek relief, it
is a secret, for "Charity vaunteth
not itself" Has Brother erred
and gone astray, and been admon-
ished, it is secret, for CHARITY is
kind If, possibly, little feuds, or
animosities should invade us, they
are still kept secret, for Charity
sufereth> long. is not easily pro-
voked, thinketh no evil And
should the distresses of Mason's
widow be relieved, and the tears of
the orphan wiped away, it is an in
violable secret, for Charity is not
pulled up
But we shall not pursue this sub
ject further; and will only say, that
we are known to be o Secret Socie.
ty.
It is fixed Masonic principle
that no one enters our Institution
save "by his own free will and &C.
cord;' and all who thus become at
tached are voluntarily pledged to
preserve this secrecy inviolate.
But many object to the use of an
oath. and a great deal of time has
been wasted in speaking and writ
ing about what are called extra
judicial oaths. Now. let us ask
our readers, what is an oath9 We
assert, and do so without fear of
contradiction, that it comprehends
a solemn invocation of the name of
God, the Supreme Omniscent Be-
ing, not only as a witness of what
is promised, but likewise as the
judge and certain avenger of de.
ceit, falsehood and perjury. Who,
we will ask, will be hardy enough
to assert that the performance of
the oath does not, as matter of
course, come within the cognizance
of His omniscience, and that His
justice and power will not fail to
pour out the vial of His threatened
vengeance upon the execrated head
of him who has dared to invoke His
name in vain? Or, we would ask,
why were these solemn adiurations
introduced into civil society," We
would answer, simply because the
natural obligations of justice and
equity, even when assisted by the
fear of civil punishment, are found
sufficient to correct the depravity of
the human mind, and prevent a bias
to self-interest in the performance
of human contracts. It was neces
sary, therefore, to call in the aid of
religion, and upon the faith of an
oath exhibit mutual trust.
It will hardly be denied that
every sane man, especially if he be
q Freemason, believes in q future
state of rewards and punishments,
and that most men would shrink
appalled, from the dreadful conse
quences of a violated oath. We
therefore ask, can the Masonic So
ciety be blamed for taking advan-
tage of an obligation SO potent to
defend and preserve from the pru-
rient gaze of the idle it's mysteriesa
We therefore boldly and fearlessly
assert, the innocence of such oaths.
and for such purpose, cannot be
doubted; and their very necessity
sanctions and justiIies their use.
But third objection has
been, as we have stated, urged
against our Institution; and that is.
its alleged antagonism to religion,
because it is regarded by it's vota-
riesas substitute therefor. Whilst
we know this assertion is often
made, we do not think it can ever
be seriously entertained by any one
possessing The rndimento of Mo