Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-11-01
Masonic Reputation Of the" Oath. ,

ment of "The American Freenason"
upon the alleged Knights of Columbus
oath now being circulated to the pref
udice of certain Democratic candidates
for Office. Rebukjng the certain
periodical capitalizing Isectarian big
otry for its own enrichment for at
tempting ito hitch itself to the Masonic
fraternity" the Freemason unquali-
fiedly condemns the ''oath" as an: old
lie revamped and deplores and censures
severely the use now being made:of it.
We quote:
I'm this state of Iowa there is GER
tain candidate for high Office, who is a
superior officer of the knights of
Columbus. Personally and politically
l am opposed to this gentleman, and,
as it is the way of one who dips into
politics, would do anything legiti-
mate to aid in his defeat. But imag-
inc my surprise and disgust to find
that in advance of the appearance of
this gentleman-and he is gentle
man-at various points in the state.
copies of this vile and lying oath were
being industriously circulated, and
that, at least in some cases, they were
being put out by energetic but very
ignorant Masons. These are not things
to be kept under cover, nor spoken of
by the few with head-shakings and
whispers of reprobation. 1t is not
that these printed lies will influence
sensible men; it is that sensible men
will be apt to attach blame for such
,actics to the Masonic fra
ternity. The enormity of the offense
is apparent; it needs no comment from
me, and have the conclusive evidenc
for my statement.
Nor am going to lend my
voice to the igno BILE purpose of those
who are willing to lie and commit
forgery and to make appeal to ignor-
ant prejudice, so that they may gain a
sor did and immediate advantage. l
am going to give my Catholic friends
and neighbors credit f,r the possession
of common sense. And it may we'll be
that with the grace of God, and with
the continuing advantages of American
institutions and American influences,
we will all live together in some sort
of harmony, and not have occasion to
grid on our armour for religious
war"
That there are misguided and bigot-
ed members of the Masonic order who
lend themselves to the circulation of
this slanderous oath, as the Free
mason notes, is not reflection upon
that order. For every such ignorant
zealot there would be another in the
Knights of Columbus who would circu
late libel of the Masonic order. These
are the benighted Of civilization upon
whose character the influence of
institutions has not yet made
impression. AS it is the duty and
pleasure of broad and tolerant mem
bers of the Masonic order to fight ex-
preston of bigotry, so it is the duty of
broad and tolerant Knights of Colum-
bus to do the same thing. For of what
ever faith, we are first of all of com
mon heritage and all loyal Americans.
As the Rev. Hugh D. Atchison, pastor
of the Methodist Episcopal church, so
admirably said: ''The one thing we
can't tolerate in this country is intol-
erance. dubuque Telegraph Herald.
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