Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-02-18

inc communications, but as this Is IN
the editorial column, . leading arti-
Gle. we conclude the editor endorses
it, and publishes it as his opinion.
We doubt very much if Father
Quirk viii feel at all complitnented
by the endorsement of PRO Bono
Publico,- or will thank him for drag
cling bis name into his communication,
with which, his has nothing in com
mon.
Father Quirk's is plain, respectful,
precise, and bearing evidence that it
is written by scholar II Is to the
point, and has point.
"Pro Bono's' is mere (to speak vul-
garly,) ''blather." 1t is ''ror It pre-
terea niba.'
"Pro Bono SAWS: mr. Quirk has
truthfully explained the origin OF
knights Templars," upon which
rests the corner stone of all secret as
sociations of this kind
Father Qnirk did no such thing.
On the contrary, he says nothing
about their origin, but that the or
ganization was not secret but militia
~" This is correct The order of
knights TemPlars," Is nor a branch
of Masonry, but Is simply the name
Of the degree and has nothing to do
with the old military organization.
Not one of the secret societies now
extant. was founded on the order Of
knights Templar',"
"Pro Bono SAYS; among many
other sad errors that Mr.. A INDUCED
in. was that Secret societies had al
ways progressed with civilization. So
There is no proof adduced that this
is an error, and any one who has read
history with attention enough To un-
derstand il, cannot help acknowledge
ing that Mr.. Atkinson Is right The
so-called secret societies have pro
gressed more rapidly in this country
than they ever did in any other, and
are still progressing.
Pro Bono asks: is it possible
that there are some things which the
masses of a Republican government
should not knOwl" There certainly
are a great many things that the
masses ought not to know. There
are many things in the government,
that even the members Of Congress
nav not know, and which in many
instances the President refuses TO
communicate to them, but We cannot
see what this has to DO with secret So
cieties.
Again, "Pro Bono" SAYS: "Secret
societies have done more to diScour-
age poor and honest industry-have
made more paupers than all other or
CARNATIONS combined"
This also is mere assertion with
out any proof We meet it with an
assertion just as broad, that secret So
cieties have done more TO induce
economy to solace distress, and pro-
mote charity, than all other secular
societies in the world. We DO not
rest on assertion; take the conStitu-
ton, the by laws, the known work
ings of the order for reference. The
sole object Of the societies, Is charity.
in its broadcast sense and the protec-
ton of the widow and the fatherle>S
is inculcated by the entire system.
Again, PRO Bono" SAYS: There
is no man so foul and polluted, none
60 corrupt aud hear,less, but what can
gain access to these secret workings,
and there with a single black>ball,
can stain forever the good name Of
honest, unaSsuming young men"
There seems to be something of a
solecism here. If the society is com
posed of the foul" and "heartless'
how can a young mans character be
stained by denying him admission?
But does PRO Bono" mean to say
that in this place he hnds evidence
of the truth Of his proposition ? Look
at the material OF our secret societies.
Here are ministers of the gospel, law
yers. mechanics, merchants. doctors
all united in them. Are they foul
and polluted" Is it in ,be walls
of these lodges that the corruption.
lists thrive, and compel the backing
of more honorable people ?"
Are the Masons and Odd Fellows
Of Huntington such men as can be
induced to protect "vil!ainy' or "pur
ger' themselves,