Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-22
The Embers Of BIgOtry.

The days OF bigotry aud religious
intolerance are not over, even in this
free and enlightened country, and even
in the centers Of education and cul-
ture. At the SO called Christian
Convention held in Philadelphia on
the 18th inst. to form an anti-secret
society league, a delegate prayed that
the people be delivered from a bonds
age greater than human slavery; asked
that the spirit Of God might open the
eyes and enlighten Christians to the
great danger attending secret socie-
ties. Officers were chosen and adj
dresses made by Rev. j. P. Stoddard
and President Blanchard, Of Lincoln
College, Illinois. Resolutions were
adopted denouncing all secret socie-
ties, declaring that "the Masonic lodge
fills our Offices, secular and divine
with its partisans, shapes our political
destinies, teaches a corrupting moral
ity, and is subversive to both the
Christian religion and free institu-
tons" A resolution adopted also de.
clares the Grand Army Of the Repub'
lilo dangerous and useless form o.
secret organization. All this is utterly
inconsistent with the free thought SnG
intelligent convictions Of the day. Il
smacks Of the old blue laws Of Con.
necticut and the days of witch burn,
ing at Salem There is nothing il
theScriptures forbidding secret socie.
ties; and nothing in the history Of thi,
country to justify the assertion thai
Masonry has any political bent or pur.
pose. MasOns, like 0dd,Fellows
Knights of Honor and the members Of
either benevolent organisations, rec.
cgnize each other as brothers within q
certain prescribed relationship, which
does not inter ere with their religion:
or political convictions or actions as
citizens Of any country. During the
war Masons fought each other to the
death. and it was only the prisoner Of
war or the wounded man on the battle
field, able to make himself known as a
Mason, that received any attention
different from the rest. This is in 40.
cordance with the law Of our nature
Methodists, Baptists, Catholics OF
Presbyterians would do as much fol
each other under the same circum-
stances. The Grad Army Of the Re
public may have some political trend
or purposes, for aught we know, but
the country is in no danger from that
source. No member can have more
thau one vote, aud every citizen is en-.
titled to that. We have had secret
societies from the earliest history oil
our government, and will have to the
end. George Washington, the Father
Of his Country, was a Free Mason, and
many Of our noblest and most usefuI
public citizens have belonged to the
order. Those who have any religious
or conscientious seruples about be.
longing to such an order, have the in,
alienable right to keep out, even as
they have to keep out OF any sect OF
church. II does not follow that they
have to make war upoa that which
they do not understand and cannot
appreciate. Masonry teaches the pur,
est morality. aud all its books and even
the rituals are said to be in harmony
with the Bible and the cardinal doc.
triaes Of pure religion. Its rather
late in the day in this country of spell.
ing books and Bibles, free presses and
Independent citizenship, for any little
set Of men to undertake a social OF
religious revolution. People think
and act for themselves. The world is
moving forward, not backward. This
is the nineteenth century, not the
fourteenth.