The herald., 1896-01-26
Secret Orders Defended


EDITOR HERALD:-Will you permit me
to reply to the silly and untruthful utter
ances of set of men calling themselves
ministers, who met together in the United
Presbyterian church on Thursday, Janu-
ary 16; not that expect to change their
views, for it is said ''wise men change
their minds; fools never do" but for the
benefit of the uniformed, l here assert
and challenge contradiction, that there
is not a secret order in the city of Los An
geles whose constitution, bylaws or ritual
contains one word or sentence that is an
tagonistic to the teachings of Christi also
there is not a ritual of any order whose
rites and ceremonies are degrading or mis-
leading in any way, shape, manner or
form whatever. Take the order of Odd
Fellows, against whom this man Williams
had so much to say. He uttered a base
falsehood when he said "that if man had
been a member for thirty years and sick
ness overtakes him so that he is unable to
keep his dues paid up, then he is denied
all benefits This is absolutely false,
which anybody can ascertain by reading
the bylaws of any Odd Fellows lodge in
the world. Does anybody suppose that
such men as Will Knighten. the great and
good Be Harald of the NJ. f. church, and
many others whom l could name, would
be active members of the Masonic and Odd
Fellows orders, if the teachings of their
orders were antagonistic to those of
Christ? 1t is nonsense to entertain such a
thought for a moment.
l would like to ask Mr.. Williams if
Christ did not believe in secret teachings,
why did he assemble with his apostles at
secret meeting? See St. John, chapter 20
and 10Th verse: "Then the same day at
evening, being the first day of the week,
pies were assembled for fear of the Jews,
came Jesus and stood in the midst and
sayeth unto them, Peace be unto you."
Also Mark 16. and 18th verse; also Acts,
10th chapter and 41st verse. My advice
to Mr.. Williams would be to get more
acquainted with his Bible and not bother
with secret orders.
When a man joins the Odd Fellows, if he
has manly principle, it will have ten
dency to bless his mind with peace and
soften his heart with sympathy. so that his
sympathies will GO out to suffering man.
kind wherever he fl pds them.
A few words in regard to statistical
have the accurate figures, and can produce
them with the late Chas. E. Gault's and
Los Angeles late post master, H. V. Van
Dusen's name signed to them. Up to Janu.
ary LIST. 1888, the total assets of the
1. o. o. F. lodges in California were ST.
123,S2O.13; total amount paid for relief
$2,572,1 2,174.37. The above figures are ac-
curate, and can produce the proof any
time when Mr.. Williams or anybody else
requests it. Does this look as though any
money went for balls, dances, etc.. as Mr..
Williams hts said. Mr.. Williams family,
If he has one, is just as much of secret
order as any lodge of Odd Fellows, for as
one able poet said,
We have no secrets,
But we meet to plan a course Of action
Against the mighty ignorant faction;
To aid and strengthen one another,
Each knowing each friend and brother.
Like soldiers have countersgn
That all must give who pass the line;
whispered word, silent grip,
That proves the right to fellowship.
This constitutes the secret dread,
Der which you sigh and shake your head.
hope that all uniformed, before they
adopt such silly, lying resolutions as did
the anti-secret convention on that Thurs
day, will inform themselves and hear the
evidence before they pass sentence.
Mr.. Williams asks 'Why do they not
extend their orders into foreign lands? No,
they wait until the missionaries go and
civilize these people and produce the
wealth, and then they extend their orders"
l should like to ask Mr.. Williams how
much better off is Armenia today, fnan-
cially, than before the missionaries, of
whom Mr.. Williams and his ilk blow so
much about, went there?
In conclusion, will say that challenge
Mr.. Williams or anybody else to produce
ritual, constitution or bylaws of any secret
order containing one sentence that conflicts
with any of the exalted duties man owes to
God, his country, his family, good
society or to himself. Now, if
this be true, no good man
need be afraid to be initiated into any of
our many secret orders. To a certain ex-
tent. Mr.. Williams is right when he says
secret orders are sort of insurance So
ciety, for the civil courts of this state have
decided that member who is not in ar
rears shall receive sick benefits, and
poor man will get them just as quick as a
rich one.
Yours, in favor of churches, schools, Sec
ret societies and everything that tends to
elevate mankind. A. PARKER,
20Ol Michigan ave.. Boyle Heights.