The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-24
WORKS AGAINST
SECRET SOCIETIES.


One of the quaintest characters in the
CITY of st. Paul, If not in the whole state
OF Minnesota, is Rev William Fenton, IA
South Robert street, who has dedicated
his life to a ceaseless warfare against
secret societies. Mr. Fenton, who is past
seventy years of age, has made a pro-
tracted study of the problem and has
conceived some ideas in regard to the
secret society that are startling to say
the least He was educated for the
Baptist ministry and spent several years
of his early life in the state of New York,
where he had charge of a Baptist church.
Nearly thirty years ago he came to Wis
consin to take a field there and it was
while engaged in that pastorate that he
imbfbed his enmity against the secret So
clety and determined to fight 1t from the
pulpit.
A little over ten years ago he came to
st. Paul and began his work here. In his
little house at "a South Robert STREET he
has a printing press and font of type
which he uses in printing pamphlets for
distribution and for publishing occasional
issues of the Christian Liberator, d
journal devoted to the interests of the
anti-secret society work. Here he lives
alone and devotes the most of his time
that is not spent in travelling to and fro
cause to which he has dedicated himself.
Mr.. Fenton says that for many years
he was simply passive upon the question
of secret societies, resting content to feel
that while personally he did not care 70
Join them, he would not raise his hand to
protest against those who desired to be-
come members. He passed several years
in this state of mind, but in 1872 he was
awakened to the real situation and from
hot h. hos JCn rlx mo az N G
them as much as he has been able. Just
what it was that caused Mr.. Fenton to
make this sudden and decisive turn he
does not state, but says that his eyes
were opened, and now he knows what he
is about.
Grounds of His Opposition.
When Mr. Fenton was asked why he
opposed secret societies, he said that he
had two reasons, either of which were
sufficient to cause him to take the posi-
ton that he occupies. The first reason is
because they are opposed to the best
interests of the government. He at
tempts to make a strong point upon this
position, but is not always successful in
making his ideas clear. He takes the po-
Siton that If the government is for the
benefit of those governed, then any or
ganiaztion that is formed to advance the
personal interests of any group of people
is a menace to the government and the
organizers are conspiratorS against the
commonwealth.
The second reason that Mr.. Fenton
gives for opposing the secret societies is
that it is opposed to the church and the
best interests of Christianity. He brings
forth number of reasons for this posi-
ton, some of which follow.
He says that the work of the secret
inf Wi K.
ing time, money and attention that
should by all rights belong to it. To
illustrate he says that If there is a con
flict in time between the prayer meeting
and the lodge, that the lodge is sure to
get the largest crowd and the prayer
meeting is neglected This point alone
he thinks, is enough to condemn the
society in the eyes Of any impartial per-
son.
The next reason for the position is
that it tends to lead men away from
the church and to interest them in mat
tiers of far less Importance. He claims
that lodge rooms are filled with temp
tations that are apt to lead men away
from the paths of virtue and morality.
These temptations, that are constantly
upheld by the lodges. are the very things
that the church is laboring to overcome.
For this reason he maintains that no
Christian can conscientiously uphold the
lodge in the work that it is doing.
Believes They Are Anti-Christ.
The greatest reason that Mr.. Fenton
finds for opposing. secret societies is that
he believes that they are the anti-Christ
spoken of in the Bible. He turns to
the Book of Revelations and reads the
prophecies about the beasts He says
that the beast that came up out OF the
land is the secret society, and that II
gets its great power from Satan MT.
Fenton is very eloquent in defining this
position, and claims that there can be
no way of refuting the claim.
Mr.. Fenton has the appearance OF q
man who is well educated and in his
little home he has quite an extensive IL
brary A great many of his books are
upon the subject that is occupying his
attention. He claims to have a copy
of the ritual of every secret society OF
Importance in the country, and from
these rituals he CLEANS the information
that he needs to carry on the warfare
against the lodges. Among the books
TO which he most frequently refers is a
copy Of the report of the anti-Masonic
convention that was called shortly after
the murder OF Morgan In 1923 This book
he takes as gospel, and upon he bases
nearly all the objections that he holds
TO masonry.
While he Is devoted to work that
scarcely appeals to the average individ-
ual, or commands the support of any
large number of people, yet Mr. Fentor
is a pleasant man to meet with. He Is
able to talk upon any subject that Is
preached. and to talk upon It intelligent
". One thing about him in regard to the
stand that he takes upon the question
of secret societies that Is commendabl'
is the fact that he sincerely believes thai
he is right, and is contented in the con
scious knowledge that he is being true
to his best judgment.
Mr.. Fenton spends a great deal of hi.
time in travelling about the country. lee