Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-20
Views of fSenators Sherman. Dolph and Tur-
pie and Justice Bradley.
BISHOP POTTER FOR THE CHURCH

young man 70 JOINT
Among the answers received were the fol
lowing:
Senator Dolph, Of Oregon, an ACTIVE
worker among secret societies, writes:
Senator Dolph Approves Them.
'T will not undertake to answer as re.
CARDS secret political societies, for the rea-
son that have never been member Of one.
will therefore speak only with regard. to
fraternal and charitable secret orders, to
several of which belong. Many years ago
was a member of some temperance organ
ization, and am now an Odd Fellow and q
Mason, as well as D member of the A. O. Of
O W. From my experience in these or
gsnizations my answer to your first question
must be yes In reply to your second I
must say that have seen nothing in the 80
cieties have named, which I believed to
be inimical to good government and free in
stitutionA They are all. in my judgment,
organized for proper and beneficial pur-
poses, and all have greatly helped to bring
about fraternal feeling between their MEM
bers, and, of course. between members of
different political partieA
|, SIT is natural that as one grows older he
should attach less importance to many of
the things connected with these orders; but
I have been more and more convinced by
my own experience that a. practical organ
ization for relieving the wants of their
members, and as q means Of aiding those
members IN the Affections incident to hu-
man life, both the order of Odd Fellows and
fpe nf 1,%~h la
CARNATIONS In this statement lies my an
swer to your third question. In reply to
your fourth question can only say that it
would be but natural that should feel .
partiality for the societies Of which, as I
have told you, I am member"
What Senator Sherman Has to Say.
Senator John Sherman writes:
s'To your first question must reply that
can see no objection to secret orders which
are merely beneficial organizations for
mutual aid and protection, not in any way
connected with politics or religion, but en-
joying respect for religious worship and
sound morality. In answer to your second
question would say that have never seen
anvthing In such orders as have described
that Was inimicai to the stability and Der.
manence Of oar 0esaramsnte Rep3yinrto
your third question, think that member.
ship in such a secret order tends to bring
a young man into closer social communion
with . class Of men who are generally lead
ers, or, at least, fair representatives. of the
people among whom they live; gives him
place of resort where he may find fespecta-
BILE associates and companions, and tends to
shield him from the danger of the saloon and
other bad associations, and is therefore an
advantage to him. a..
'fTo your fourth question, which of the
existing orders do you deem it most advis-
able for young man to join?' leave YOU
to guess the answer of one whose father and
brother in -law-General Reese - were
Grand Masters of the Masonic order in
their day, and who is himself . member of
the order of Odd Fellows though for many
years have not been very active in that
order"
Bishop Potter u Free Mason.
Rt Rev. Il. Q. Potter, D. D., Protestant
Episcopal Bishop Of New York, IL an active
Free Mason, and writes as follows:
Gas am myself Free Mason, I need
hardly say that most certainly do not re-
gard such an order e. being in any way
hostile to our institutions In this state
ment you will find my answer to your first
and second questions. I have often found
membership in it convenience, and I have
personally known many instances in which
it has done noble work in the cause of
charity and humanity. Al the result of nv
experience, must say in answer to your
third question that I assuredly consider it
an advantage to young man to be q mem
Der of such an order.
'In reply to your fourth and last uue,-
ton, which Of the existing secret orders do
I deem it most advisable for Q young man to
join, can only say, as I have already
stated above, that I am Free Mason
Hon. David Turpie, of Indianapolis, the
junior United States Senator-ln point of
service-from Indiana, contributes q letter
Of approval
Powderiy Has no Objsctions.
Hon. T. V. Pewderly, the head of tha
Knights of Labor, Is q high authority ON
the subject under discussion, and special
consideration is merlted by his view ex-
pressed below:
'In reply to your letter,I would say that
30 far as secret societies are concerned I can
see no harm in men belonging to organiza-
tions which work in secret I must there
fore answer your first question in the affirm
alive. In answer to your second. I NAV
say that I know Of no reason why secret
orders should be inimical to the stability
and permanence of our Government. So
lar dS your CnlfQ question IS concerned,
think that membership in some of the ex-
isting secret orders is often very great ad-
vantage. Your fourth question every man
must determine for himself. and the answer
to it must depend largely upon the indi-
vidual. the circumstances by which he is |
his needs, preferences, etc"
Favorable Report From Euoch Pratt
Enoch Pratt, of Baltimore, Is widely
known as one of the wealthiest American
citizens of our time, and the Lord Bounti- /
.ul Of the Monumental City. He is the |
ounder Of the Enoch Pratt Free Library
here-an institution which is one of the
ioblest of its kind in this country. His
etter on the important topic under discus
ion is appended:
I'm answer to your first question answer
res, and if had my long life to live over
gain l think should Join both the Masons
nd the Odd Fellows Secret orders whose
My object Is to promote fraternal feeling
nd mutual help and kindliness among
heir members, not only cannot be hostile
our Goverement or menace to its STA
ility, but on the contrary are directly fos-
ering the spirit of our free institutions by
nculcating the principles upon which they
re based. 1t can not fail to be an advsn-
age to young man to be . member Of such
order. deem such organizations of
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