The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-06

the kind He proves, if ne proves
anything. that he knows nothing OF
the aims and object Of these orders.
and he entirely misjudges them
In the first place let US say that
Mr.. Overn's numerous scriptural ref
ences, while entirely foreign TO the
subject at issue. viii afford the read
ers of the FREE PRESS an opportunity
for research that has been rarely at
forded them in the past, and in this
particular he may have been the
means Of doing good in discussing a
subject which he enormously thinks
prepares men TO reject and depreci-
ate true Christianity
Lest Mr. Overn' g mind may be false
ly impressed. we desire to say that the
FREE PRESS did not state s., 000, 900
had been paid out in one yeat for re-
lief of distressed members by the IS,-
000, 600 men belonging to secret orders.
The sum named was expended by Odd
Fellows alone Probably the sum
total paid out by all orders annually
would exceed three times three million
dollars.
Mr.. Overn' 5 argument is nj because
the promise is false. While we at
firmed that the teachings of these or
ders better prepare men TO receive
and appreciate true Christianity. we
were far from saving any one Of them
or all combined constituted a religion.
They are not, nor do they assume to
be, systems Of religion, nor is their
aim" to admit members belonging TO the
different reI5gonS, to unite them IN U0rship. :"
They exclude Atheists on the gener-
ally accepted principle, that only a
fool viii say in his heart there is no
God" But not being organized as sys-
tens Of worship they require no form
ulation Of religious doctrine. other
than that all men are brothers and re-
sponsible TO their Creator for their ac-
ti0ns.
As to being God-giyen, etc, we have
been taught that al good comes from
our Heavenly Father, and, the basic
principles Of these orders being the
ten commandments. and the precepts
and examples Of the book recognized
as the WORD Of God. :" we thought we
were indebted to Him for them. and
certainly any organization whose pur-
pose is, in d systematic way, TO care
for the unfortunate. clothe the naked,
feed the hungry, and help TO success
ful and useful lives those who are left
orphans in cold world, is not much
out of harmony with the teachings of
the Savior in Matt. 20. 34-45, and may
truly be called 'Christian-Ioving.
We presume that a majority of the
members Of the Masons and Odd Fell
lows believe in One God. who is the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
in the Holy Spirit: that they offer
their prayers to God in Christ's name:
that they expect to get to Heaven
through His merits. and be rewarded
for their good works as an additional
favor, but they are not asked about
these things in their lodges. for such
is not their prer0gatiye, or purpose.
That they are not 'anti-Christian" is
apparent from the fact that there is
no word or teaching to that effect in
their literature. While on the other
hand His teachings and example are
constantly referred to in the work
which they assume TO do.
Mr. Oyern viii pardon the FREE
PRESS for not taking up his scriptural
references and discussing them one by
one. That task viii be left to the in
diyidual. and if in his research he
shall find anything to convince him
that secret orders are a curse TO the
community, or that they prepare men
to reject true Christianity. his mind
is incapable Of grasping the funda-
mental principles OF fraternal societies
and the acts which they are constant
~ best0wing upon suffering humanity.
Tbs FREE PRESS may be mistaken
in its conclusions when it assumes to
assert and repeat that TO live up TO
the teachings of Masonry, Odd Fell
l0Wship. Pythianism, or any Of the
other kindred organizations. make
better men, better fathers. better cit
liens, more loyal subjects. and better
TraT1araS the Md IN racaiua and ac
cept tEue Christianity. But we do
not beAGTe ii. Despite his show Of
eagerness TO prone the contrary, the
reverend gentleman has not done So
At the risk of censure we will take
the liberty TO repeat that no man has
a moral right to denOunce that which
he absolutely knows nothing about
and which has proven great moral
agency in the progress of civilization.
May Thank Her Stars.
The narrow escape of Mrs. B. NJ Searies of
Ind