Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-25
ON SECRET SOCIETIES
United Presbyterian Assembly
Discusses Doctrine Against
Secret Orders.
Question Of Changing the Church
Testimony on That Point
Debated.
DR.. Moifat Declares Good Chris.
tians Can Not Be Good
Masons.


developed that work on the fifteenth ar
ucle of the testimony was commenced
rome too soon, if the difficulty Is to be
solved by the present general assembly.
Henry Wallace, of pes Moines. in a
speech at the morning session. said 1t
had been twenty years since he had at
tended general assembly. and the same
nlteenth article was then under Discus
sion. 1t is still under discussion, with
no great hope of near settlement Sew
eral hours debate yesterday resulted In
nothing but the disclosure of wide
difference of opinion
lnthe afternoon the woman's mission
airy meeting was special order. and
this. with the regular docket of bust
ness. left no time for continuing the dis
cussion of the article The report will
All yesterday afternoon and evening
members We're busy preparing resolu-
tions. substitutes and amendments
Yesterdays discussion, however,
brought out one thing very clearly-dis-
report of the committee. wherein it is
stated that the fifteenth article defines
in a manner Sufficiently explicit" the
position of the church regarding secret
orders Various interpretations have
been placed upon the article. Some
churches have held the rule to he man.
Gatory others to be simply advisory
The brethren who many years ago
caused to be inserted in the article the
words ought not" instead of shall not
probably little dreamed of the trouble
they We're laying up for the generations
Of United Presbyterians. The trouble
some article az found in the Confession
of Faith reads as follows:
We declare that all associations,
whether formed for political or benevo-
lent purposes which impose. upon their
members an oath of secrecy. or an obi.
cation to obey code of unknown laws
are Inconsistent with the genius and
spirit of Christianity, and church mem
bers OUGHT not 10 have fellowship
with such associations.
The resolution submitted in the re-
port of the revision committee reads as
follows:
Resolved, That while the fifteenth
article of our testimony defines in a
manner sufficiently explicit the genera.
.ow of our church on the subject of Sec
Ictism, sessions possess and are expect
ed TO exercise wise discretion in the
administration of the law dealing With
such cases as may arise upon their mer-
1t and in such a way az may best pro-
mote Gods glory and the peace and
prosperity Of the church.
Objections are made TO the resolution
of the committee on various grounds.
Beside the one that it does not define
in a manner sufficiently explicit an
other is that the article does not cover
what is now the real cause of hostility
10 secret orders-;heir alleged anti
Christian character. DR.. Mcmillan of
Allegheny, proposed as chairman of a
committee TO which the report should
be referred. met With a round of hearty
amens when he said it was not 40 much
the oath of secrecy to which objection
was made az TO the fact that many se-
cret societies ignore the atonement of
Christ. and are therefore anti Chris-
tian. Several speakers said they would
be willing to have the prohibition
against secret orders refer only to those
that do not accept the doctrine OF the
atonement. Others. notably the aged
DIR. Grove of Philadelphia, believed in
obeying the spirit as we'll az the lette.
of the law, refusing membership to all
men in secret orders of whatever ma
ture. Still others. DR. Moffat for exam
pie. are clear in their minds only as to
the Masons. No man can be a good
Mason and at the same time a good
| Christian" said DIR. Moffat, and he
IL ~ n.
| the assembly.
The eastern men. especially, would
not see the article made mandatory, 10.
fear their churches would be depopuat-
ed. II take them in. said DR. Sankey,
the retired moderator, when questioned
as to the attitude of his church toward
| old school in views. Dr. Sankey gays the
churches in the east do receive and must
| receive members of secret orders
The discussion yesterday brought out
all these views and many others The
Rev. e. *. Smith, a colored delegate
| from Tennessee, was loudly applauded
orders to be that he objected 10 any
thing which he could not tell his wife.
He said: When anybody comes to me
1 If / won't repeat it. ] say, 81 don't wan.
| to know anything l can't tell my wife"
The few women in the audience nodded
approvingly at this
Aside from the discussion OF the re-
port of the revision committee, the fea-
/ lures of yesterdays sessions We're the
women's missionary meeting and adj
| dresses from representatives. of the
Holland Christian Reformed church
Rev. Gerret Westenburg and Rev. John
Keller The Dutch Christian Reformed
| church has its congregation principally
in Michigan. in the general region of
Grand Rapids. Some years ago firta-
ton. as 1t We're, was begun between the
Christion Reformed church and the
United Presbyterans. For while /.
loked as il marriage was imminent
But this was several years ago, and
the bans have not yet been published
| altho it is believed the courtship Is pro-
| ceeding deliberately. However. the
speakers yesterday-and their Words
were confirmed by Moderator Tnomp-
son-expressed the opinion that i,
| would not be we'll for the churches to
unite until they know each other bet
ter. The Rev. Westenbsrg read his
paper, explaining that he did 30 because
OF his inadequate knowledge Of English
A laugh was therefore started when
4 Rev Keller said he did not prepare q