New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-27
SECRET SOCIETIES.
THEIR FAULTS DUE TO THE sINFULNEss OF MAN
-nrR BENEFITS not ATGAlNABLE THROUGH

THEIR FAULTS DUE TO THE sINFULNEss "F Man
-rugfR BENEFITS NOT ATTAINABiE THROUGH
ANY OTIIER AGENCY.
70 me RAZOR Of The TrtbUHe'
SIR: 1t VIII be rather difficult Tor any
member OF a college fraternity TO reply 10 lroi
wdcrs interesting article upon the evils Of secret so'
cites which the SAD death of young Lesgett anofds an
ouportune time Tor presenting. Many a college man
Who remembers the great influence for good LIS ha1Ih
ry cxertea over him. aud the many ways his character
was nodded and strengthened by an intimate ASSOCIATION
With earnest and genial spirits, who iaDoIeu Win nm "
give manly tone aud position TO their society; VINO re-
members. too. the delightful and undying friendships
formed MISUNDERSTANDING that men are wei Aho"h
10 treasure amid all the TRIALS of Lte-many men VINO
remember all these things vain flush Of the old en-
thusasrn will be stirred 70 reply TO Prof. Wilder
II Will be difficult 10 do So for the reason
that the inherent evil IN Man gives the
Professor the strong side Of the argument
In sub.nnce lac says; There is eNh III
these societies Away with them" As
10 one can deny this since the inherent EVIL Whieh
has been so boun;fully bestowed upon all men cannot
he washed away within the walls Of lodge It seems as
If the Professors proposition was true An inabltant
from Jupiter, in whose existence Prof Wilder believes
might gaze upon the earth and say e is full OF eVli
aud il would hard for the Professor TO deny II, al
though he might aFdentIy feel that that was not SUN
Gent reason for It's destruction nce there is some good
init
Ia all places where individuals associated together
eyn exists and the more individuals the more evil
Laws, associations, religion, and the family exercise
restraining influence IN college, where one OF the
strongest OF these good influences VIZ, the family Is
unknown several hundred full-bOoded young men are
gathered together, and with them the evil that
is in them, plus a certain amount engeh-
dered by fhc heat OF association. AbOlshing
secret societies will not recreate these Young men,
and way another certain amount OF evil Will
become apparent in them. There are hundred worse
ways which Young men might pass their leisure hours
than within the walls of "a secret society lodge. Young
men will select companions with whom 70 animate IN
majority of college societies The who are in them
give the and expression 10 the fraternity and one
NAV be dignfed aud scholarly and ann at intellectual
adyancement another may only for social inter
course and pleasant evening once week in chosen
thus associated together they select name which they
desire make prominent ana for the honor ana advance
of which they labor 10 Is the same spirit student
feels toward his alma mater, only warmer, intensified by
actual combats for supremacy aud struggles 10 secure
certain amount Of blood and the wild restless
ness Of mIestruned youth, Is cur0ed aud properly
directed by many well known manly fraernites. They
afford outlets IN proper channels Take away these
clubrOoms from colleges. and w1at does Prof Wilder
propose their steadt Tie dissipation that some OF
conceal would take another form merely and that
might be worse one. Their place cannot be hlled by
open literary societies. Young men must have some
thing moc couseulal and intimate than these, All so
Ciees not addicted to the ridiculous and bOyish
practice Of marching candidates across fields, blind
folded the brink OF prcclplCcs. The writer has heard
more than one grayheaded man say that he owed all he
lie 10 tue manly and ecyatng influences OF his
college fraternity. But few men have been killed
by college societies, while thousands have been
ruined by colleges. Young men meet sin and
temptation every hour o. their lives. They must
he prepared 10 meet Il as they aud especially
meet full share in college. All have heard the
preston "a college makes or Kills man. Shall their
halls for that DC deserted or shall the Of
evil be recognized and the youth guided through IL
srewdy possblei Abolish these societies. and unless
you change mankind, you will nave some different
and perhaps eY to encounter II II Is said that
authorizes cannot imparuay distinguish between good
and Door fraterutes, they remedy the evil
extent by eXIeDg all dSslpated students, aud the
RIninaJiOns viii root cut tue die.
Whatever may De the merits OF Prof. Wilder's
objections 10 Jesuits and Masons, ana however much
they may tend 70 encourage plots and ordinations
against hW' 0idtI and sOciey u Is hardly TO be be
heyed that the influence Of petty secret societies
10 colleges, on Their present basis Is IN that
To many minds from conscientious reasons but this
case, II you removed the wOtskn YOU would ind the
sheep Every one knows that he secrets OF college So
cees are not such as TO cause tyrans 20 trembe the
Oldiasloned manner on their thrones professors
theh chairs, ana mat they are simnIY associations OF
young men who ike each others points" and com
Eany: me srsnment herein Is simply that they are
u SORT Oh necessary Iu1hhhess,' and until Prof.
Wilder can reform mankind. Will exist IN form or
another. Abolish them and college facultrs might nd
acteT.
It's argued they take time. VIII It he guaranteed
that the student VII study II these hours restored
INN IL b said they expensive A fair idea OF the
expense may be gathered before Joining, and
eau thus decide whether not be beari Tue money
600, might be expended IN other ways foolish.
"a Syne4usl0h IS hJudlclous for Prof Wilder to haZ-
ara his position In the other world upon the truth
tat secret societies are unknown IN heaven" IL
"A
pace Which, by the way ls remarkably secret itself
Dy IOug ne OF earnest Christian work TO stake the
tahe upon proposition the truth OF which he really
1oes no. AnOT any ihng about As friend also OF the
downiaien must protect against his unfair assert
that thSy form prominent aud essential feature OF
NE IN the Other locality" As the PrOfessCsis ex
~ selShoe are nOt supposed led him
that REGION ~ can be safely assumed Inc knows notbipg
aDOht rue truth OF TINS assertion either and be nhalt
ants OF that unfortunate country already credited
with enough unpleasant peculiartes Witbonf nnTarIv
charging them with this. A CoRSgII So~,rrx NJ
Mount Norris, y. y, Oct "A. is7S O'Ai' 'AAN'