The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1882-05-05

anu eXcellencles OF Character, nnd VIII
ever keep sacred the record on memory's
tablet, his great distinguished and good
actions.
Iu our jurisdiction death has been
busy, yet but Que Lodge in this county
during the past year hns been called
upon to perform the sad rites to bro
ther. They are gone aud their bodies
are mingling with their mother dust
their memories forming sacred record
ON our memorial page.
My attention has Leen called by d
venerable Brother, among other things,
that is charged against our order, that
he is frequently irterrogated with she
question, and to which many attach so
much Importance aud use them as argus
ments against Odd Fellows, Free
Masons, and all kindred orders. II you
have done SO much good, and still con-
time to do good, why is it you baud
together and do your work in secret? /
can ouly give my views respecting this
matter aud let my audience arrive at
their own conclusions.
We are condemned for keeping the
essentials Of our institution from the
knowledge of those whoare not members
of it, which il is said muet sufficiently
prove them to be of very bad nature aud
tendency, else why are they not made
public for the satisfaction Of mapkind7
l need not controvert these false IDEAS
before you to day my brethren, for yonr
presence here admits its necessity; but
that l may by doing so assist you il nec-
essary to combat the prejudices aud
ignorance of the world respecting this
among the many charges preferred
against rs by those who are alike ignor-
ant and preiudiced.
Ii secrecy be a virtue Ga thing yet new.
er denied), can that be imputed to us aa
a crime which has always been consider.
ed as an excellence in all ages9 Does MOI
Solomon the wisest man tells us ''He
that discovers secrets rs traitor, but a
man Of faithful spirit concealeth the
matter"
In conducting all worldly affairs
secrecy is not only est ential, but abso-
lutely necessary. aud was ever esteemed
a quality OF the greatest worth. II we
turn our attention TO antiquity we fnd
the Egyptians set up their God iIarpoc-
rates which signified "That Of many
things to be seen and heard few are to
be published.
/ Among the Greek nations the Atheui.
aus had statute OF brass which they
carefully revered. This figure was with
I out tongue by which secrecy was intl-
| mated.
The Romans had goddess Of Silence
E named Angerona. represented with her
r forefnger on her lips as symbol Of
e prudence and secrecy. Annaarchus, who
a was apprehended in order TO eStort
his secrets from him, bit his tongue of
in the midst,an afterwards spit it in the
!, tyrant's face, rather choosing to lose that
J organ, than to discover those things
which he had promised to conceal.
Therefore since it evidently appears
: from the foregoing instances (among
! many others), that there ever were
secrets among mankind as we'll respec.
: ting societies as individuals, aud that
the keeping them inviolsble, was al
ways repnted an indispensable duty
and attended with an honorable estima.
2 ton.
z AS in society in general. we are unit
" al hxrs .l,,t.l
: vast variety Of circumstances contribu.
ting to our mutual and necessary de.
peEdence on each other. They all are
y enioined by sort Of cement. Conse
queutly, the iniunctions TO secrecy
9. among Odd Fellows can be no more IN.
: warrantable than in societies and case,
i already pointed out; and to report and
& even to insinuate that they are. must
= argue want Of candor, want Of res.
is son and want OF charity.
Al Then let the silent tongue be one o
Z the cardinal virtues Of oui Order, MOI
!, only to the world, but to those who ar.
q not entitled to our confidence and esteem
b. Let the foibles and faults. If there b.
e any within the precincts or courts d
our Lodge-room remain veiled where
!, : they originated. Let the tracks or ira
"a ccs Of our proceedings be obliteratet
to outside the threshold Of the portals o.
it entrance, and he who is entitled to them
as let him present himself at the propel
place to make his acquaintance Will
!. = the facts.
Trifiiing as some matters may appeal
to here. yet il was never intended by the
II founders and patrons Of the order thai