New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-16
THIRD TERM DEVELOPMENTS

FOSTERS SECRET ANTI-CATH0LIC ORDER
AN OFFICER OF TnE UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS
DENIES MR. FOSTERS ALLEGAToNs-GEN. GRANT
NOT A MEMBER-PRoBABLE REFERENCE TO TiiK
SONS OF AMERICA.
The letter Of John Y. Foster to The TRIBUNE OF
Tuesday containing statements as to thecharsc'ero o
Order of UnedAmeFicsn Mechanics has caused oohsuer
able INQUIRY the true naureof the organization oo
ert Brown Secretary Of the State Council stated IN
conversation with TRIBUNE reporter. that the
f,rder WAS neither seetaan political but is obecv
were to assist members in obtaining employment 10 en-
COURAGE business to establish sick and funerai
fund 10 establish fund for the relief OF widows ana
orphans deceased members and TO aid members VINO
may have become incapscitated from following ther
usual ayocaous in obtaining situations suitable 10 ne
condition. Those only eligible for meinoerSnp "no
over 81 years OF age and have been born ia ''o oi
States or Territories under the protection OIL s as
The Order numbers at the present time ABOUT Io'o"
members Originally none but mechanics were cisioi
for membership but rule has been abrogated' ana
the Order has enrolled individuals rom every ploe'
sion The Society was formed by about 800 men VINO
had been suddenly thrown out OF employment employees
of Philadelphia frm in lS45. II increased rapiuy ID
numbers until 1852. when attempt was mace Dy b. e.
C hudson " Ned Buntlno Erastus Brooks and 9TH
era 70 ipcorpoate it with the Patriotic Sons OF America
and United Americans for political pnrposes' Ahey
failed In this but the effect TO kill the order IN Ne"
York TO nearly destroy 1t In NewJersey, and to uVuoH
in Pennsylvania. The Order lay dormant uhth 1870
Since 1860 has increased rapidly, aud low Is repre-
scented in about 20 States
Mr. Foster in his letter. speaks OF this Order as fol-
lows: did and do not personally know that there
Is any secret political antCathohc order' here vi
else where but every man Of ordinary intelligence III
NewIesey ia aware from published reports of tie eX-
steuee OF an order-the United American Mechanics
which while rigidy excluding partisan politics from s
councils cardinal principle hostility 10 all sec
tartan interference in political affairs, ana especially 10
oil attempts to disintegTate our public school system
MIR. Browns attention especially called To THESE
statements and after reading them he stated that the
allegations were radically incorrect The Order had not
as its cardinal principle, hostility 10 all sec
tartan interference in political affairs; neither ulu
express any opinion hold any tenets concerning
attempts to disintegrate the public school system
Neither Of these matters could be made subject OF us
cusson in lodge of the United American Meohanies-
Any effort breach topics german to politics or re-
lgion onense which made IT'S author lap o, 10
severe discipline The only political bearing the Ouer
had rem the fact that brother Mechanic womd
vote for fellow of the society IA preference 10 one MOI
so connected but all official recognition Of this fact was
Mr.. Brown further stated that the language used ey
M Poster might in his opinion be proefy appie1 no
the Patriotic Order OF sons OF Ae1 iiG IN "in s
son shall be entitled to membership III the Oruer except
Selieyer I'M tie existence Of Supreme Being the
Creator and Peseryer of the Universe born Oh Ihe sou
Of free education, opposed to any Union OF Chui S
directly or indirectly, in the affairs OF this Govern
meDt He also added that he was convinced that there
so SisS ai Sad for it's nam object the cng Of
the Bible in the public schools When asked II Gen,
Mechanics. Mr.. Brown replied that be was not, ana
added that no political men Of promlne nee AZ ~ st iE
organization was especially strong in Jersey, mum
befing over 900 and tina; its strongest societies were III
Pennsy lyana. where it numbers 25,549
The ORDER OF AMERICAN MECHANICS NOT A Pc
LITcAL ORGANIZATION.
70 the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Mr.. John Y. Foster, III his letter OF
this morning. says: Z" / did and do not personally
know that any secret political anti Catholic order
here elsewhere; but every mar OF ordinary m'eih-
genee IN Jersey is from published reports OF
the existence of an ordethe United Order of American
Mechanic which, while rigdly excluding partisan poll
tics from councils has as its cardinal principles nos
tty to sectarian interference in political affairs and
especially 20 all attempts to dsintegrate our puDhe
school system"
In reply To this first statement simply say 1t was not
wise to attempt explanation Of that Of which he has
no personal knowledge His second statement Is correct
every intelligent man in NewJeTsey is aware
OF the existence Of the Order OF United AInerl-
can Mechanics, and many thousand OF New
Jerseys sons are honored members But that It's
cardinal principle hostility TO Catholicism svery wide
Ofthe truth The principles oi the Ofdcr are tuoc Anu
Mr. Post cannot produce any documents either public
or pvato substantate his position IN relation to The
these principles, but this Order never has allowed III us
subordinate state or national sessions any discussion Oh
seciariau political questions. There enrolled
among It's members men of every religious belief ana
en Of e2eS Posa P@ sy from al personal snsa
knowledge. it rs as free IRON sheh ueaaSQn as ;nc
might we'll been shifted on them on this Order
Tnere are who with Mr. Foster IN his political
views and there those directly opposed IL VIII De
time enough TO lay the charge of political interference at
door ater we baye taken stand as an orlhizaton
in favor Of either party. Unt thon let us work Oh ID
our legitimate course OF beneyclence.
New York, Dec 10, 1873. hhPRRSENFAH'E'
is THIS TIE SECRET ANII-cArHoHc ORDER" RE-
FERRED TOT
About the middle of November last The
Caieago published tho following circular in its
Washington correspondence. together with statement
To the ehct that Col Mosby the original third man.
Is at The lead OF an organic iOn in the South formed for
the secret purpose OF advocating the Presidents roelcc
ton and that also secret society known rs tho
Anti-Caihoic Organization. pledged to the President
which is sending circulars to The leading men
throughout the country:
ENATIo.ALTTY No BAR TO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
-iear So. In view OF the nolernt, persistent, dnd ag
gressiye efforts Of Romansts IN Their ayoWeo ena
Ton TO snbyer Government Of the United States and
20 destroy civil aud religious liberty desire 10 SUD-
i. Arc YOU Protestant from principle and from
choices ,..,,, 80,
ststes ST' 'D''''''''-' '-'' 49, 49,.
Is it not in your opinion unwise and unsafe to
point to civil political or military olce II thS country,
men who allegiance 10 the Pope OF Rome, ana VINO
have sworn 10 obey hint
3. Arc you favor OF maintaining the principles OF
one general unsectarian, free-schOol organiZaio1f
G. you opposed TO all attempts to use the public
funds for any scctarian purpose whateVeII ,.,
Are you in favor Of putting mo 2 n nonesi ana
g Are YOU willing to be governed by these principles
y Arc You willing to unite with Others who hold these
principles and henccforh devote yourself your fortune
ton Of civil aud reg liberty and this great American
Unioni ..,, ,.ouo. ,,,,,o,, oo,,,o-