The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-01-29
WORK OF THE JR. o. U. A. M.

A Correspondent Writes Interesting
iy to the M smbsrs of this Order.
To the Editor OF The Republican.
find there Is a certain amount
of work before US that will require
the united efforts and energy of all
the members of our order and l
sincerely hope that the brothers will
endeavor- to carry this out. Ittakes
work night and day to keep this
vast organization Of ours IN opera
ton. 1t is not the question what
we have done in the past but what
we will do in the future and l do
hope to see the time when the grand
and noble flag of our country will
be flying over every school house in
the land. Our order in this State
has been growing randy within
the past year and the excellent prin-
ciples advocated by us have drawn
into OUT ranks the best element of
all professions. trades and callings.
The order has been grossly mis-.
represented not only in its aims and
objects but also in many other re-
spects, but | am glad to say that
these Misrepresentation have had
but very little effect as the order is
growing beyond ell expectation.
The order excludes no man who is
an American and believes in and
will support American institutions.
The organization is American
through and through. have been
asked the question when insisting
upon members to be more punctual
in their attendance, "what il the
use of attending every meeting;
the time is lost, anyway, isn't 1t p
/ would answer no. The next
question would be, IF not, what
are the advantages derived thereby?
Let US see; more for the benefit of
the members Of our own council
Victor, No. 24) than for outsiders
and better educated members of the
order. Within the four mystic
walls are nightly gathered men of
all professions and classes Of bust
ness, young and old; men from the
counting room and work shops,
from the Office and the pillow, all
meet there on q common level. The
minds aud the habits Of the young
men are imperfectly developed and,
perchance, are tending in the wrong
direction. Their moral natures are
still in an embryotic state and their
characters are vet uniformed while
their principles are thus more or
less IN chaotic state. The moral
lessons which are 90 imperatively
taught and illustrated each night
cannot fail to be Of good effect in
their proper development. The
Young members are restrained BY
the older ones and also profit by
their accumulation Of wisdom which
years of experience have taught.
Again, the lodge is . school Of ora
tory. class of parliamentary law,a
commercial college-in fact, it rep
resents in miniature the whole
structure Of society. Freedom of
discussion is enjoved and debate
encouraged, which, as preparatory
course for public speaking, no bet
ter schooling can be employed.
Parliamentary laws are strictly ad-
hered to and enforced, and, there
fore, it Is but q question Of time
when everv member becomes, al.
most without effort, an excellent
parliamentarian and learns what
everv man should know-how to
preside at a meeting. As secre-
tary or treasurer of a lodge brother
will learn much in the art Of book
keeping if he follows the methods
of good accountants. Then, too,
the lodge member, If he lives up to
his obligations, will wage battle
against vice in all its forms; he will
possess q greater veneration for
holy things and stronger desire to
obey the laws of God whose bless
ing 10 nightly called down upon all
that is done IN the lodge room.
Not only is proper regard of the
laws of God and of the order taught
but the duty which every good citi-
zen owes to society in tie due oh
servance and enforcement of the
laws of the country. While such
teachings may fail in the complete
object sought, yet lodge member
who is continually brought under
their influence cannot fail to be
better Christian and more honor
able citizen. There are many in
fuences for good which lodge
room possesses other than those
enumerated above, anyone of which
should be sufficient to disarm all
prejudice against, and opposition
to, the secret society.