The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-01-04
lpf the Democrat Star.
Secret Orders Misiudged.

Ignorance aud predjndice have filled
the whole being Of many selfish aud mar
row-minded people IN regard TO fipiernnl
aud beneficial societies. Many people
cannot mind their own business. aud yet
they delight in mcddling with affairs
that do not concern them.
For hundreds Of years there have X.
istcd societies whose object was to pro-
tcct aud defend the rights Of their men,
bers. In this country there are many So
%cicties called secret because they protect
their members from imposition by those
whI are not entitled to benefits and
honors.
No family exists without secrets, yet
whoever claimed that the family was an
enemy to our government aud its ~institn.
tiOns.
No thoughtful man or woman who has
studied the true objects, aims aud princi-
pies OF the Knights Of Pythias, eau truth.
fully say that one VOID OF lesson taught
can be Justly construed Us intending to
violate the laws of our country, or draw
a mans veneratiou from allegiance t.
his God or This family.
We are pledged to guard the good name
of q brother, protect his honor and to
provide for the necessities Of his loved
ones, If misfortune or death Overtakes
him. Can il be that the administering t.
4 the wants of suffering humanity, aud
giving words of comfort aud cheer !
wrongi Does the Master forbid visiting
the sick and dying, and making their las
hours on earth comfortablei Is it II sit
to pay II man s. or $40 per week when h
is sick and nothing to eat in his house
Is it u crime to provide for the wido,
aud the orphan when death has robbie
them of husband and father! Is it.
conspiracy againt God Or any religion
belief, when an order teaches its member
to be friendly, exercise charity aud per
! form acts Of bent~ yOlenc,f Will the Mas
} ten shut the door of Paradise in Onr fac
it our life has been filed with kind an
generous deeds to relieve the suffering q
our fellowmer No order is secret whe,
/ all the world can see the good ii does an
!: know the men or women who are men
5eis.
Too many in this world want to rnl
f OF ruin, and if anything does not sul
S them they call it wrong and dangerous.
How often have ministers of the goS
pei slnryd the fIaternal orders. yet wi
+ have the nerve 70 call on members q
! these orders for helpf The members {
fraternal orders do not ask any church
, recognize or endorse them. All the
, want is to be let alone, and do the bt
: nevolent work they have been taught
do. There is less selishness and quar-
! reliug to-day in or flaternal orders tla
in many Of our great churches.
The writer Is firm believer in Chris
t%iality, yet his idea Of Christianity is t
provide for the temporal wants OF man
as well as the spiritual.
A hungry man IL a poor subject to tai
religion TO-. When the outside worl,
Fbetter understands the true objects an,
aims OF fraternity, and fully comprehend
the responsibility that rests npon enc
membcr-when the many kind and "
ncvolent acts dOnc-the time and npAne,
spent to relieve the wants of sya,riu
men by the lodge man, is only Xne of tb
evidences that fiaternal OILERS hay
come to stay. When will tNe orders qui
business you ask "hey time shall Il
"or'. When the Est man is laid ,
sro"'ld. ald his wido'
lied tor, when I'll
Masters ks,
- cvva.