The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-27
SERMON SEE'''.'G'! TO TIE
KN|GHTS OF PYTH|As
Delivered Sunday Morning in the NJ. E.
Church by Rev. W. D. Reed, DID,.

Knights of Pythias, that organization
attended the service in a body and
occupying the centre tier of seats in the
auditorium.
In addition to the excellent sermon
delivered by the Oakland divine. which
is published below, special music, suit
able to the occasion, was rendered by
the excellent choir attached to the
church, the music beng directed by
Mrs. Riker, wife of the pastor in charge.
DR.. Reeds sermon follows:
find myself this morning somewhat
IN the position of the young divinity
student who, on preaching his trial
sermon, and wishing for a call at its
close silently turned and took both hands
| and made stroke in the air. then to TIE
| right and repeated the same, and when
asked bV the ever watchful deacOns OF
the church what it meant he said: "Why
those were the quotation marks. MY
| address this morning is rather a compila-
\ ton than composition, and | wish to
acknowledge my Indebtedness especially
to Carnahan, the accredited Historian
of the knights of Pythlas.
In order that we may not be misunder-
stood, and that many who oppose and
| denounce secret societies. or those who
| cannot by their social life and standing
enter within the portals, or be enlighten-
ed on the subject we propose a true
| definition for secret societies. They
may be divided into two classes:
ID The first class are those societies
whose secrecy consists in nothing more
than methods by which the members
may be able to recognize each other
| aud thGs be enabled to contribute to The
comfort of those who may need assist
ance and aid the truly worthy who might
otherwise be left to suffering and want
and at the same time to protect those
| whose hearts may be sympathetic from
lmposltors and mercinary persons, who
may fear the law too much to steal and
yet are not TOO proud to beg" In
| this class Of secret societies are taught
| certain lessons, doctrines and symbols.
which can only be learned or obtained
after process of initiation and under
the promise or binding obligation that
these mysteries shall not be made
known to any one who has not passed
through the same ordeal and instruc-
tons and in the same manner as those
who have been initiated. This class of
| secret societies has no further private
or secret matter from the public. Their
membership is published to the world in
the professions and parades that are
seen on the public streets every day and
in their public acts and declarations
throughout the civilized world.
In these societies are found all OF
that great body OF those moral and re-
ligious and benevolent secret socites
| that have come down to us from the
early morning of civilization and culture
of mankind, or have found their birth
through the patriotism or philanthropy
that finds is highest JOY in ministering
to the wants of others.
These societies seek to enlist the
noblest of humanity in their ranks. To
this end their places and times of meet
ing are advertised by magnificent struc-
lures. Brick and stone and marble are
gathered, and the brightest architectural
talent is employed in their arrangement
and combination until the building
stands completed in its perfect and
pleasing shape to attract the attention
and thought and desire of men to learn
the inner mysteries of an organization
that proclaims only ''peace on earth and
good will to men"
Such are the secret societies that have
guarded their portals by secret signs
and signals. only that their social enjoy
ment, which is one of the divine gifts
to man, may be more fully developed in
to purer and more perfect system,
without the intrusion into their midst
of those who may be so gross in their
nature and disposition that they would
cast cloud over the otherwise bright
ness Of social gathering or mar the
pleasure of those whose sYmpathies are
in accord with each other.
These societies have ever taught and
proclaimed loyalty to the Government
under which its votaries have found a
home; have found their chiefest Joy,
their greatest strength in relieving
suffering and want, in tightening the
burdens Of the oppressed, in prolonging
life instead Of shortening it, in lifting
men up and not pulling them down, and
thus each member one with the other
finding his greatest ambition and pleas
ure in striving which shall best work and
best serve; and SO working aud striving
they have made the world brighter.
mankind all the happier, and they them
selves better by their acts and living.
These too, look well to that system of
benevolence, which is so farreaching in
its aims and purposes that it stretches
out it's arms to carry the trembling
orphan, dries the tears of the widow,
supports the tottering steps of the aged
nurses the sick, smoothes the way of the
dying. buries the dead and keeps alive
only the good words and deeds of those
who have passed beyond the river and
rest on the other side.
~ What shall we sav,of the second
class of secret societies? They are
those societies which in addition to the
secret limitations, and their private
manner of recognition, also a secret
doctrine, and an entire secrecy as to the
object and aim of their association.
The membership is concealed, the
time and places of meeting are kept
from the knowledge of all who have not
entered into these dark and mysterious
bodies. They are for unlawful purposes
against the rights of men and not for
their protection but formed for the over
throw of thrones, nations and peoples.
We have tried to see what secret
society really is; and now we propose
to find the test for their claims. ''By
their fruits We shall know them
had cociptIJ m hos ho1 MON. n o,ooJ