Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-06-06
Explanatory and Critical.

The JOURNAL understands that the
touchy element of the Junior Order of
United American Mechanics does not
regard the notice OF their parade last
week as adequate-that there were
four lines of baseball to one of flag
parade.
This is true. but the JOURNAL had
four days to dilate on baseball and
only one on flag parade-and other I'M
portant matters that, like the parade,
did not happen early in the week.
But baseball reading is more pop
ular than parade recitals. In base
ball there is combination of strength,
speed and skill; in the Junior Order
only the glory of being "a jiner." To
baseball many are called, few chosen !;
to the Junior Order all seem to be
chosen who feel themselves called.
Baseball is an open book the Junior
Order belongs to that class of I'M
republican societies secretly pledged
to carry out q public purpose.
The JOURNAL would be glad to let
its report stand as it is. 1t would be
saved the duty of suggesting that
patriots on patriotism only bent would
not in the ranks smoke the fragrant
Havana, the deadly cigarette, nor the
unsightly pipe. Nor could 1t speak of
Liberty, the glorious goddess of civil
and religious enlightenment, inspiring
her daughters with the notion that
freedoms beauties look most sparkling
in procession when indulging the
peptonic delights of chewing gum.
A further provocation of this notice
comes from reference to the JOUR-
NAL by Rev. R. E. L. Wright, of
Eckhart. His complaint was that the
JOURNAL once spoke of the Junior
Order as "striplings." Perhaps it did.
But that must have been incidental.
The JOURNALS chief objection to all
such orders has been alluded to. Ever
since the days of Know Nothingism it
has believed implicitly in the demo-
cratic dictum that all purposes and
measures of public interest and con-
Germ should be known and read of all
men.
But Mr.. Wright, if the JOURNAL
mistakes not, is still young, and, lack
ing age, is also short of experience.
He has not found that his task as a
minister of the Meek and Lowly One
would fill an angels hands. He has
not discovered that when the ambassa-
dor steps aside from the duties en-
joined by his commission to indulge
in side issues of subordinate i'm
portance, that he has by so much i'm
peached both the teachings and
example of the Master. Think of Jesus,
who would not usurp the slightest
civil prerogative-who would not even
condemn the confessedly guilty-think
of Him dealing out prescription and
COuStI uCtlN Z I'd III udilOu " Ill WHO uelu
on to tkeir allegiance to Caesar, or
even to their faith in the rotten old
hulk of Jewish churchism
1t is probable the Junior Order and
Mr.. Wright mean well. 1t is possible
the occasion justlfies the purpose of
their crusade. Of these things the
JOURNAL has nothing to say. But it is
to be gravely doubted whether the
secret methods of the one ought to be
especially glorified by a self-appointed
monopoly of the national ensign of both
civil and religious liberty, or whether
the exigencies of the times demand the
abdication for even a moment by any
evangelist of his heaven born mission
and heaven bound destiny.
SEMI-LOCAL NEWS.