The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-20
DEFENSE OF SECRET ORDERS.

The FREE PRESS closed the discus
sion last week between its editor and
Mr.. Overn, ON "Secret Orde S, but 1T
takes pleasure in giving Rev. Mr..
Woodin, of Usage, Mimi, a little space
in which to express his views from
the standpoint of minister.
Usage, MINI, Feb. IL, 81.
Editor FIRE. Press, lNankato, MINI
DEAR SIR:-As Mr.. Overn has at
tackled the principles of Masonry and
Odd Fellowship, declaring that their
teachings are anti-Christian and that
the true God is not recognized, L feel
it my duty as a Christian minister TO
answer him, and ask you to print the
same. [ am a member of both orders
and know whereof I speak. Mr..
Oyern's statements in the very first
part of his letter show his utter ignor-
ance of the matter. He makes the
statement that he knows those things
TO be true, using his own words he
says. speaking to the editor of the
PRESS I'm the first place you question
my moral right as Christian TO pub
licly proclaim what | know TO be true
in regard to secret orders" And thenas
if the matter was permanently settled,
he takes up the lance and hurts 1t full
and fair in the face Of Masonry and
Odd Fellowship. Ii Mr.. Oyern had
not attacked the fundamental prin-
cipleS of these orders / should have re-
manned silent, but as he has made
statements which [ know are at least
mistaken ones, / deem it my duty TO
undeceiye him and the public in gen.
eral. In the first place | would ask
whether or not Mr.. Overn is MEM
Der of either society. II he is, he
knows these statements to be incOr-
rect; if not, he simply knows nothing
about the matter. 1t surprises me to
know that a minister of Gods word
would make such statement, as that
he knew thus and so about these ord
erS unless he be members, and if he
were member he would know them
to be incorrect. Again using his
words. he says: "Does not the editor
of the FREE PRESS know that it is
possible for man to beStow all his
goods to feed the poor and even give
his body to be burned for seemingly
good cause. and yet not have Christian
charity | desire to refer Mr.. Overn
to the words of the greatest teacher
that ever came among the children Of
men. found in Matt. %. 3l-40. Is not
that Chritian charity? Love to your
fellow men? Again he states that they
are not founded upon the Bible, again
showing his ignorance Of the orders
h attacks. If you my brother minis
ter were a Mason or Odd Fellow
either, / could tell you of men belong
ing to them. whom even you would
not dare say were not Christians any
more than you would dare say Christ
was not the Saviour of men. Now my
brother if you think creed or sect is
going TO take you to Heaven, you are
mistaken. 1t is the blood of Christ
that cleanses US from all sin. You
seem to object TO Sectarian principles
being left at the door of Odd Fellow
ship | would to God that more sec
tarianism would be left at the doors
of our churches and more love to the
Most High. and to our fellow men could
be carried inside. While it is true
Masonry and Odd Fellowship teaches
no particular form of religion. it is al
so true that they teach high and Holy
thoughts, and allow me TO say TO you
dear brother that if you never do any
thing worse than to be a good. con-
scientious Mason or Odd Fellow, you
will not be shut out of paradise. Do
not understand me to say however.
that that is all that is required. Odd
Fellowship. Masonry. church or creed
can not save us. We must each bow
low at the cross. While the church
is help to us. Odd Fellowship and
Masonry is no detriment. for the
teachings of each is of higher moral
nature than some suppose.
PRIV r Wnnnr>-