Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-10

The United Presbyterians" are a
religious denomination but little known
in this section of the country. They
are faction of the great Presbyterian
body and 1t is evident that they are
not to be taken too seriously. At their
recent general assembly. held in Des
Moines, Iowa, they succeeded in at
tracing the attention of the country.
but it cannot be said that they have in
creased the popular respect for their
organization. 1t was all over the mat
ter of secret societies. For some time
the United Presbyterians have frowned
upon such bodies. but. this year. their
hostility reached the acute stage and
radical measures were adopted. 1t is
needless to say that their attitude and
action are regarded as of little conse-
auence by the secret societies. 1t is
only the church that suffers by such
short sighted bigotry. 1t is of interest
to read the report of the debate in the
assembly as CLEANED from the Des
Moines papers.
This year the assembly's judiciary
committee submitted a report on the
subject, declaring anew the churchs
position and teaching. The report
contained these words about the secret
societies: Persons who. with knOwl-
edge Of the truth concerning them.
wilfully adhere to such associations,
shall not be received into church men,
bership.' The chairman of the COM
mittee was asked whether this meant
that Free Masons. Odd Fellows. etc,
now in church membership are to
be expelled. His significant answer
was that any man knowing the truth
and not needing the truth becomes
guilty of sin. Members of the church
of Christ" said the committees report.
Ought not to have fellowship i'll asso-
Citations which bind their members by
oath or affirmation to obey obligations.
and to immoral secrecy. or which eStab-
lish a fraternal fellowship among men
subversive of the unity of the body of
Christ. 1t is especially obligatory upon
Christians to stand aloof from the So
Cieties which by their moral teachings
and religious ritual foster a belief in
the Suitability of men apart from the
mediation of Christ. We condemn
such organizations as most dishonoring
to our Lord and injurious to men,
Even this report was not stiff enough
to suit Elder Il. G.. Campbell of Iowa.
One paragraph made an exception in
favor of good secret societies not
as to matters unknown, nor practicng
Christless ritual The Iowa elder
moved to strike this paragraph out.
The chairman explained that it was
put in to cover the case of the q. a. Il.
and like orGaniZati ons. I'VE are not
indOrsing them" he said. I'VE are only
saying they are not under the ban of
the church." DIR. McClcrken of Penn
sylvania said that the real need of the
United PresbyterianS llalong has been
just that sort of wise discrimination.
Even bank directoratcs have secrets.
The church sessions should use COM
mon sense. DIR. j. NJ. Wallace wanted
the paragraph to stay in, if only for
the sake of organized labor THE
workingmen," he said, have just as
good a right to form union as Morgan
has to form a trust Elder J. +. Ross
wanted the paragraph struck out as
weakening the church's testimony.
While the great secret orders are
rivals to the church because they make
n false religion. the lesser ones" he
said, ''are, many of them. as harmful to
our young men. There are wine parties.
card parties, dancing parties and many
in nrHcrc ~
Commissioner William Robertson of
Pennsylvania avowed his belief in a
judicious discretion. and reminded the
assembly that Christ modified the Sab
bath itself. Rev. r. A. Jamison told
of backsIiding young man in his
own church who. Ito cOnsummate his
destruction. did three things-took to
drink. voted the Democratic ticket. and
Joined the Odd Fellows" Rev. Ma
thaniel Chlids was afraid that even
with the report adopted, the doors
would not be bolted securely against
the Masons. This called out cries of
dissent. DIR. J. T. McCrory said that
in Pittsburg the labor unions hold bust
ness meetings on the Sabbath. The
church must not wink at things like
that. DR.. J. b. McMichael thought the
committees report exactly right. Com
missioner A. +. kirkpatrick thought
the assembly should not act without
first taking the mind of the presbyteries
or the matter. DIR. j. Med. Hervcy
thought so. too. Commissioner NJ. G.
Kitrick feared the assembly was about
to go too far. DR.. Grier said he was
ashamed of the churchs 'shuff1ing.'
The moderator asked the assembly's
clerk to offer prayer. Several amend
ments were voted down. 81 would
rather cut my right hand off than vote
for this report as it now stands" said
Commissioner Kitrick. IF we let thi:
report go through as it u.s." said DIR
McCrory, I'VE are saying that mer
who have been good members of the
United Presbyterian church for year:
must be turned out of doors. l wan
to tell you, fathers and brothers. thai
if we pass this report without amend
ment we are going to make more
trouble than the United Presbyterian
church has ever seem" Then the gen
eral assembly adopted the report, 90 t.
SO.
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