The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-01-05
RURAL SECRET SOCIETIES.

metropolis of my childhood experiences
there was a lodge of Free Masons.
This lodge held It's meetings in gar
ret over Il public hall, and appeared
in public only on great occasions, such
as funerals of departed members. At
these funerals the display and ceremon-
les seemed grand, and, to my childish
| terious, wonderful, and exalted body
of men. In the city | lost track of the
order. because | took no active inter-
est in it. noticed that the newspa-
pers gave ever increasing space to lodge
news and accounts of secret societies,
but the fact made no impression upon
me, and | gave the matter no thought
whatsoever. | did not even read the
names Of the societies, any more than
the ordinary individual reads the names
upon the cars as irei ght train passes
by.
a few years ago moved into a New
England town, ambitiously called a
city, although in reality only q large
village. Here my friends induced me
to join secret society or order. After
living through the terrors of initiation
and becoming familiar with the ritual
| began to enjoy the social advantages
in society and to take considerable in
terest in our lodge. As result l be-
came interested in other lodges, and
then in other societies and orders. |
began to collect information on the
subject, and was struck 10y the number
and popularity of such organizations.
Our Very Admirable Junior Mar
shal having died, the Mighty High
Lord Basileus Of the Loyal and Elect
Sons Of Jupiter came down to the fl-
neral, and qaIte entranced our women
and small boys by the gorgeousness of
| his uniform and the awfulness of his
| title. At home he was an overscer in
4 mill, and was known by the name OF
John Brown, sometimes with the title
of MI" added. Observation has led
me to conclude that the officers in our
village lodges carry more yards of
titles than the presidents the smaller
western universities, while it is safe to
say that their insignia of rank would
far outshine the shah's most brilliant
orders.
| suppose most Of these societies
have sort of mutual benefit or insur-
ance system as the primary object Of
| their existence. Such an aim is worthy
and the results must be beneficial. The
members help each other and each 9th.
er's families, without countenancing the
schemes of socialism. One of the men,
bers of our lodge is noted for the ;.bili
ty and frequency of his attacks on Soc
ialstic schemes for tue improvement
| Of society. He is now convalescent
after a long and severe illness, during
whicn his family has been supported
by the lodge. l think that in his case
as in many others, illness has sharp, H.
ed the wits, for l have never heard him
when he was more eloquent and cogent
on ,,i~ .:,voritc theme than when call
ell on him the other night.
Mercenary and prudent reasons are
probably not the least inhential in de-
termining men to enter lodge. \
storekeeper of my acquaintance is a
member of several. and he says he is
convinced the thing helps him in his
trade Every manly American is bound
to succeed or die in the attempt, and
competition is so fierce that success is
rarely won without complete devotion
to ones chosen pursuit. My friend
the storekeeper has no time for lectures
or concerts, books CT magazines, and
only few stolen minutes for his news
paper. When not actively engaged in
business, he is attracting customers by
making friends in the lodges. What
more agreeable or human way. of en-
larging the fields of ones own opera
tions.
These orders make it possible for
many to satisfy their natural desires
for titles and honors. Americans hav-
ing been deprived constitutionally of
the privilege of being "noblemen" and
having orders Of knighthood, create
both without violating the laws or be-
ing disrespectful to republican institu-
tions. In this sort of creation, us is
consistent with their natural character
they do things on a large scale. | be-
and lords, more grand officers and
mi9htiness, in a medium sized Eastern
city, than it Is possible to find in
weeks search through England and
Turkey. We are less aristocratic and
exclusive, as well rs more generous,
than foreign nations are understood to
be in the bestowal Of such high honors.
Moreover, we show an independence OF
old world institutions 10y possessing
many titles which are not in high stand
ing abroad. Such titles are convenient
for those of us who dctcst the very
name of lord, count, or duke, and.
while many Of them are much longer
and more awc-inspiring than the stand
ard European titles, they possess The
additional merit of newness. Last