Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-01-13
Correspondence.
An Explanation.
SOUTHWEST hARBoR, Me /,
Jan. Q. 1904

Jan Q, 1904
To the Editor Of The American;
Mohammed has provided in the Koran
as method Of settling dispute that the
parties should appear before judge and
each In turn should assert under oath
that he is right, and so continue until one
or the other gives up. The case should
then be awarded to the one who holds out
the longest.
do not caragto enter on any such con-
test with the correspondent who reported
in your issue OF Jan. my remarks at the
dedication of our new masonic haIE. But
inasmuoh as the reporter failed to put the
emphasis Of Mr.. Brimmer's remarks Just
where be himself put 1t, and left out al
together Chaplain j. s. Mayo's endorse
ment OF my main argument, would like
to offer some corrections, and leave to
those who were present to Judge which
account is the more accurate.
do this, also, because have found In
conversation with people elsewhere, that
the impression has gone forth that / am
opposed to the lodges, an impression that
Is, to say the least, a one sided view OF
my position. Your correspondents re-
port would tend to deepen this impress
sion on the wrong side, so as to make 1t
wholly erroneous.
In the first place, IT Is not true that
severely criticised the societies in gen
eral", nor that said "that according to
certain passages in that good book 1.-THE
bible) anything done 10 secret was not
right, and IL 1t was not rig bit 1t could not
be OF any benefit to community. On
the contrary, expressly commended aud
rejoiced In the much good work that the
orders are doing, and congratulated the
town that through the enterprise and
public spirit OF the masonic order, we
now have such a commodious hall avail
able for public assemblies.
could not call the Masons my brothers
In the technical sense, not being myself a
member OF the order, but could call
them brothers in the larger sense as men,
bers OF the great human family, and some
OF them were also my brethren in the
church. which 1 believed was a still
higher brotherhood, and l regretted that
more Of then were not members with me
OF this higher order.
While believing that the lodges teach a
high grade OF morality and do much
good, do not favor one feature OF their
organization, namely their secrecy, being
myself . follower OF Him who said: 81
have spoken openly to the world,
and In secret spake. nothing" John
1920 When. ct masonic funerals, hear
mention Of grand lodge sbove", l am
ready to believe there may be such lodge
a. one Of the 'many mansions, but 1t
will be lodge that has left its secrecy
behind, for [ am follower OF Him who
said: "Nothing is bid that shall not
be made manifest; nor anything secret
that shall not be known and come to
light" duke SIT. X. W
IL 1t appears to anyone that In such
remarks 1 severely criticised the soci-
cites in general, others will have the
fairness to see that / cordially endorsed
the good work the societies are doing,
and the severe criticisms, II there were
any, were not in my words, but In the
words OF Jesus.
/ was followed Immediately by Dea.
John HI Brimmer, OF Ellsworth, of whom
your correspondent says: ale had Mr..
Walker at a disadvantage, being a mem
Der OF the church and also a Mason. IL
80, Mr.. Brimmer did not use his advan-
tage, but as those present will remem Der,
declared emphatically that the church
was first aud the lodge second, and Joined
In my appeal that the members OF the
lodge should take their stand In the
higher organization, though wishing also
that might unite with the lower.
A fnai word as to my attitude toward
the lodge, since some have seemed in
terested to know 1t, and 1t is only fair to
my work and to my supporters In the
church that my position should not be
misrepresented by rumor. 1 am not an
enemy of secret societies as such; GER
tsinly not OF those that engage in good
works and teach 80 high a morality as the
masonic order does.
II anyone chooses to light bis candle.
Hnhertis