Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1876-03-17
The Mendotas.

of whom were members of all the promi>
nent social and temperance orders Of this
State conceived the idea of forming soci-
ETY. that should combine, in condensed
form, all the principles inculcaued in these
societies, and yet in nowise infringe upon
the rituals or secret work Of any of them.
Ono Of the greatest objectionslurged against
MANY of our secret societies of a modern
date is that, either their rituals are but a
remodeled form of that of the Odd Fellows,
or else their ceremonies are fiimSy imita
ton of Masonic usages; as consequence
they are held in slight esteem by members
of these orders. Recognizing this the
originators of the Order of Mendotas de-
temined to give to it, at least the claims
OF originality in ceremonies and rituals.
The perusa of a work on Ancient Amer
| lea suggested the idea of a society founded
on our knowledge Of the ancient civilized
tribes of America, and a reference to the
"Popul-Nuh," an abbreviated reproduction
of an ancient Quiche volume, furnished
the material upon which is founded the
ceremonies of the Ancient Order of Men
dotas. Herein should be represented the
history, traditions, cosmogony and re.ig-
ious notions of the Ancients; what they
most admired in character, as virtue, he
rosn, nobleness and beauty; their concep-
tons of Supreme Being and his relation
to the earth; their traditions relative to
the creation of mantle many unsuccess-
full attempts, the final success, and the
mystery surrounding it; the time of the
creation, before the dawn, and the dismay
and fright of the divine beings, who were
| fa hu fbo
Of Heaven, at their success; and the sub
sequen. fall of man. ''And the Dark
Spirits wing shut out the light of heav :
en-"
Thus should be united with the princ
Piles of progression, temperance and fra
ternity a stimulus to historic research.
1t should be a temperance society, teach
ing the necessity of breaking the tyrant's
letters as the first step in the march of in
teIIectutl and moral progress. A frater
nal order, intoxicating that "atrue brother
hood of humanity is the earth type Of
heaven" and historical society, impell-
ing the intelligent student to original IN
vestigation of "sad memorials of our me-
ridian glory The "wrecks of cities more
ancient than Babylon. the Wondering
ruins of Yucatan, the shapely column.
! the elaborate sculpture of freize, arch and
moulding: the glorious imagery and deli
cate tracery rising to light out of the clus-
tering vegetation of the tropics carry US
back in Imagination to that remarkable
people W hose history "ls replete with high,
heroic act: brilliant in national glory, and
rich in its garniture Of art and science"
AS a temperance society it enjoins total
abst nee, without which there can be
no true sociality) as cardinal virtue. By
it's influence it endeavors to rescue from
'.the CHASTITY horrors of living hell the
saddest wrecks of humanity" and to re-
strain those who would go down to battle
with "the greatest and deadliest foe of the
human race" and preserve them from the
almost inevitable consequences, "shame,
agony and self-murder." 1t comes as a
comforter to ''wves weeping tears of
blood over the PROSTATE, loathsome wrecks
of those who promised before God 10 love,
cherish aud protect them" Ii stands as
shield and protector to helpless babes,
from the maniacal attacks of drunken, in
furiated fathers. 1t brings the feeling Of
happiness and content to the hearts OF
those innocent, sensitive children, VIII ose
cheeks were wont to Jingle at the jeering
taunt. "children Of a drunkard."
| To lift humanity from the foul malaria
of sin aud crime up into the pure atmos-
phere of virtue and temperance, 20 Danish
seishness by intoxicating love and charity,
to unite IN Offices Of mutual benefaction
the human family, in short, "to hasten
the progressive development of mankind"
is the mission of the Mendotas.
TO be misunderstood is, generlly, to be
misrepresented, and experience teaches US
that human nature is prone to place bad
construction upon our acts when the motive
| that prompts US is not manifest, rather
than a GOOD one. Recognizing this as a
common failure, the Mendotas harbor no
malice forsthe untavorable criticism the
order has received because of the broad
charity that they place upon the acts of an
erring brother. Asking others to be as
magnanimous and cast aside prejudces,
we are confident that the better .jud gment
of all will sanction our leniency. Turning
to Matthew XVIII we find the principle
that governs our intercourse as brothers,
an the foundation upon which we, as a
society. expect to WELD an influence that
shall always be potent for good:
thee go and tell him of his fault, between thee and
him alone; if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy
! brother
| But if he will not hear thee take with thee
| two more, that in the mouths of two three Wit
nesses every word may be establ she'd.
IF he shall neglect to hear Them, tell it unto the
church, but if he neglect to hear the church. let him
be unto thee a heather man and publican.
Then came Peter to him and aid, Lord, how oft
shall my brother sin against me, and l forgive himg
! till seven times
Jesus said unto him; say not unto thee unsi
seven times, but, until enty times seven"
Surely, then, to throw the mantle of
charity over the acts Of an erring brother
and thus cover his frailties from the cold,
selfish gaze of the outer world, is not a
weakness. Evil minded persons may take
advantage of our lenency, as they do that
of the church, but not upon US then, but
upon them should fall the cepsure.
| It will be noticed that in the quotations
above given We find no sanctian toa public
| exposure of the faults of the fallen as a
means of reclamation; no committee of in
| vestigaton until all other means for re-
claiming have failed,no humiliating re-obli-
CATION or the other alternative disgrace, no
| Difference to wealth or position
We believe that a public exposure Of
ones faults drives him further from one Of
| the objects to be obtained by temperance
or social society-namely,t the reformation
of the offender.
F.! We believe that committees of investlga-
ton, appointed in the manner required by
some socities, as their duties generally are
to convict, with no mercy to the victim,
and lifelong feuds are the result of such
impartial jures.
We believe that re obligation is farce