Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-02-03
Q orrfsponornes.
A Plea for Secret Societies.

Sc Southwest Barbor, as given by him IN
your issue OF the 18th inst., ard icing
pr,sen st the opening, and slso be ng 4
member OF number 81 the more prom
neat secret societies, 50 called, l feel
called upon to say word Ia their tehali.
And tel me say at tie inception ttat the
word 'secrets, as applied to these orders,
is often mlsunderstooa. The secrets
he orders are simply methods by which
| Its members recognize one another. and
by which their lodges keep out impos FRS;
methods whereby they can recognize one
another even though il strange lands.
Their aims and purposes are no secie 70
| the wor d.
Nogood Mason or Odd Fellow or knight
attempts to hide his light under hushel,
nor is 1t fair o impute such to him. Man
is created a social beieg, end naturally
active. He is drone who docs not strive
to improve bis socisl and moral condition.
Every order that have Identified myself
with is help to man in the exercise of
these noble qualities; they teach him to be
active in such good works as the improving
and broadening of his intellect.
1t Is no secret that these orders teach
their members to practice morality; to be
charitable, and to minister unto the widow
and orphan; to care for the sick; and, II
"preferring one another, they have the
authority of the apostle OF old for so
doing. 1t Is no secret to the world that
we have for our tenets the lettering OF
mankind, and that our orders teach the
highest virtue.
/ must take sides against Bro. Walkers
views that there are too many means OF
doing good In the average country town;
nor am ready to admit that our country
different means OF doing good. Where is
the community that gives more than one
tenth its income for such good purposesf
The Good Book you refer to teaches we
should ct least do 90 much.
It is fair to claim hat the secret scciei les,
so-called, tend to make men broader, Inn
prove them intellectually, socially and
and industrious; they lift them up to a
higher plane Of usefulness; they do much
In breaking down the issues Of the creecs
and in recognizing the good In every
church, and thus In drawing together
every element for good, bringing the
churches nearer one another and thereby
making them a stronger factor for good;
they strive to be coworkers with the
churches in allevisting the suffering OF
their fellow men.
They furnish social and moral enter
tainment; they unite bodies OF men which,
by tact of the pastors can collectively be
invited into the church where they can
learn more Of the higher life that lie taught
in the Good Book.
These fraternal brotherhoods are part OF
Gods means to help usher In the milien-
mum. By their national and international
ties. they will do much IN the future TO
make wars and strifes impossible. The
universally of the brotherhood of
masonry is strong factor 10 preventing
international strife.
As the society Of the Red Cross can visit
the battlefield OF the victor and van
pushed alike, and alleviate pain and min
lister TO the dying, 50 universal masonic
fraternity softens the hearts OF the oppos-
ing forces and makes international arbi-
tration possible.
While admitting the pre- eminence of
the church, yet churches are often local in
their extent. In one town we find our
Congregational and Methodist; few hum
dred miles away we lind our Memnonites
aud Dunkards; again we come In contact
with our good Baptists and Episcopa-
lians-all good and each doing nonle work,
but more local than masonry in their
infiusnce, or more local than other OF the
| secret orders.
You, brother, say you are misunder-
| stood; that II your quotations reflect on
secret societies. "they are not your Words.
We must take exceptions to You here; for
il you try to emphasize your position by
using a quotation. you thereby make the
| language your language, even II its origi-
mai application is perverted. Therefore.
are we not right in drawing fair inter-
probation Eom the language you use,
though you try to shield yourself by using
borrowed phrasesa
Is 1t too much to claim for masonry that
1t has been a strong factor in healing the
breach bet ween the north and south,
caused by the Rebellion? Is 1t not fact,
that While the church bodies were divided
by the conflict, the masonic bodies re.
manned intact7
Personally, / have visited several OF the
fraternal brotherhood In the south since
the conflict, and the cordial greetings
there received make 1t easy for me to be-
lieve these orders played no small part in
reuniting the two factions of our country.
No, Brother Walker, do not try to lessen
our influence for good, but rather join
forces with us, and while we may strive to
entertain you when making you one of
US, yet when you are one you will better
understand us, and hen we can s.secretiy''
feel you are one of us in hand and heart,
we can better pull together in promoting
our good works. B. T. SowLE.
WEST FRANKLIN. Feb. 1, 1904. I