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PREFACE. 

This  book  is  the  very  cream  of  years  of  gleaning  and  research;  a 
vast  mine  of  valuable  information;  a  great  store-house  of  over- 
whelming evidences;  a  regular  arsenal  of  astounding  facts;  a  mag- 
azine of  unanswerable  testimony;  a  wonderful  symposium  of  pub- 
lic opinion;  a  tidal  wave  of  expression  of  surprising  magnitude;  a 
whirlwind  of  independent  thought;  a  perfect  cyclone  of  radical 
criticisih;  a  complete  documentary  compilation,  powerful  and  con- 
vincing; an  all-round  exposition  of  an  organized,  aggressive  and 
widespread  movement;  every  item  a  text,  and  every  chapter  the  out- 
line for  a  powerful  sermon,  speech  or  lecture.  The  compiler  sur- 
rounds himself  with  public  opinion  as  with  a  wall  'of  adamant. 
Cumulative  proofs  show  up  the  blackest  and  foulest  conspiracy  ever 
in  America,  to  startle  the  nation  like  a  thunderbolt  from  a  clear 
sky.  It  embraces  the  opinion  of  more  than  100  papers,  as  found 
before  the  public,  and  men  and  women  high  in  cdiurch  and  state  are 
thrown  on  the  witness  stand.  The  attitude  and  expression  alone  of 
Kuch  an  array  of  powerful  newspapers,  eminent  statesmen,  learned 
divines  and  noted  reformers  as  are  introduced  to  the  reader,  would 
herald  any  publication  and  insure  a  wide  hearing  on  any  national 
theme.  Ministers,  editors,  teachers,  lecturers,  writers,  and  students 
of  the  American  system  are  not  posted  until  they  have  studied  thor- 
oughly this  remarkable  book;  they  will  read  its  startling  chapters 
again  and  again.  It  is  especially  by  the  encouragement  and  co-op- 
eration of  that  public  spirited  patriot  and  Christian,  Elder  Rufus 
Smith,  of  Wheaton,  111.,  that  this  timely  volume  is  sent  on  its  mis- 
sion of  enlightenment.  Influential  journals,  whole  churches,  and 
strong  organizations  are  interested  in  its  successful  career  and  ex- 
tended circulation.  Any  chapter  is  worth  many  times  the  price  of 
the  book  and  every  citizen  should  have  a  copy  for  constant  use  and 
ready  reference.  Over  200  pages  of  close  print — more  matter  than 
many  works  of  twice  or  thrice  the  size  with  larger  type,  pictures 
and  broad  margins.  Every  book  sold  will  call  for  a  dozen  for 
friends  and  neighbors;  will  sell  ten  to  one  over  any  costly  dollar 
print.  Live  agents  wanted  in  every  congregation,  public  school, 
college,  town  and  neighborhood.  Enquire  for  the  book  of  your 
local  news  dealer,  at  the  book  stores,  of  any  train  boy,  or  to  receive 
a  copy,  paper  cover,  postpaid,  remit  forty  cents  to 

Manlovb  N.  Butler,  Avalon,  Mo. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1891,  by 

M.  N.  BUTLER, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


~M677 


CHAPTER  i. 

THE    BIBLE    AND    SECRETISM. 


"  And  I  heard  a  voice  from  Heaven  saying  unto 
me  writer     Rev,  xiv,  ij. 

Judgment  must  begin  at  the  house  of  God,  but  it 
don't  end  there.  The  Church  will  carry  a  fearful  re- 
sponsibility to  the  final  judgment.  The  Christian  citi- 
zen and  praying  voter  will  give  a  strict  account  of  his 
stewardship,  and  answer  alike  for  sins  of  omission  and 
commission.  For  the  benefit  of  religious  people  and 
the  edification  of  the  professed  followers  of  Christ  we 
have  arranged  some  Scripture  that  will  bear  reading 
and  re-reading. 

Central  Thought:  "Beware  lest  any  man 
spoil  you  through  philosophy  and  vain  deceit,  after  the 
traditions  of  men,  after  the  rudiments  of  the  world,  and 
not  after  Christ." 

Competent  Testimony:  "Search  the  scriptures; 
for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life:  and  they  are 
they  which  testify  of  me.  All  scripture  is  given  by  in- 
spiration of  God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  re- 
proof, for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness: 
that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  fur- 
nished unto  all  good  works.  Knowing  this  first,  that 
no  prophecy  of  the  scripture  is  of  any  private  interpre- 
tation. If  any  man  speak  let  him  speak  as  the  oracles 
of  God." 

Secrecy  Condemned  :  "The  secret  things  belong 
unto  the  Lord  our  God :  but  those  things  which  are  re- 

3    ^84bVy 


4  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

vealed  belong  unto  us  and  to  our  children  forever,  that 
we  may  do  all  the  words  of  this  law.  This  then  is 
the  message  which  we  have  heard  of  him,  and  declare 
unto  you,  that  God  is  light,  and  in  hnn  is  no  darkness 
at  all.  If  we  say  that  we  have  fellowship  with  him  and 
walk  in  darkness,  we  lie,  and  do  not  the  truth.  Jesus 
answered  him,  I  spake  openly  to  the  world;  I  ever 
taught  in  the  synagogue,  and  in  the  temple,  whither  the 
Jews  always  resort;  and  in  secret  have  I  said  nothing. 
And  this  is  the  condemnation,  that  light  is  come  into  the 
world,  and  men  loved  darkness  rather  than  light,  because 
their  deeds  were  evil.  For  every  one  that  docth  evil 
hateth  the  light,  neither  cometh  to  the  light,  lest  his 
deeds  should  be  reproved.  But  he  that  doeth  truth 
cometh  to  the  light,  that  his  deeds  may  be  made  mani- 
fest, that  they  are  v/rought  in  God.  But  if  our  gospel 
be  hid,  it  is  hid  to  them  that  are  lost.  Wherefore  if  they 
shall  say  unto  you.  Behold,  he  is  in  the  desert;  go  not 
forth:  behold,  he  is  in  the  secret  chambers;  believe  it 
not.  And  have  no  fellowship  with  the  unfruitful  works 
of  darkness,  but  rather  reprove  them.  For  it  is  a  shame 
even  to  speak  of  those  things  which  are  done  of  them 
in  secret.  Neither  do  men  light  a  candle,  and  put  it  un- 
der a  bushel, but  on  a  candlestick;  and  it  giveth  light  to 
all  that  are  in  the  house.  Let  your  light  so  shine  before 
men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  Therefore  seeing  we 
have  this  ministry,  as  we  have  received  mercy,  we  faint 
not;  but  have  renounced  the  hidden  things  of  dishonesty, 
not  walking  in  craftiness,  nor  handling  the  word  of  God 
deceitfully;  but  by  manifestations  of  the  truth  commend- 


THE    BIBLE    AND    SECRETISM.  5 

ing  ourselves  to  every  man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of 
God.  For  there  is  nothing  covered,  that  shall  not  be  re- 
vealed; neither  hid,  that  shall  not  be  knowno  Therefore 
w^hatsoever  ye  have  spoken  in  darkness  shall  be  heard 
in  the  light;  and  that  w^hich  ye  have  spoken  in  the  ear 
in  closets  shall  be  proclaimed  upon  the  house-tops. 
O  my  soul,  come  not  thou  into  their  secret;  unto  their 
assembh%  mine  honour,  be  not  thou  united." 

All  Worldly  Brotherhood  Forbidden:  "He 
that  saith,  I  know  him,  and  keepeth  not  his  command- 
ments, is  a  liar,  and  the  truth  is  not  in  him.  Enter  not 
into  the  path  of  the  wricked,  and  go  not  into 
the  way  of  evil  men.  Avoid  it,  pass  not  by  it,  turn  from 
it  and  pass  away.  For  they  sleep  not,  except  they  have 
done  mischief;  and  their  sleep  is  taken  away,  unless  they 
cause  some  to  fall.  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh 
not  in  the  council  of  the  ungodly,  nor  standeth  in  the 
way  of  sinners,  nor  sitteth  in  the  seat  of  the  scornful. 
Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  together  with  unbelievers: 
for  what  fellowship  hath  righteousness  with  unright- 
eousness? and  what  communion  hath  light  with  dark- 
ness? and  what  concord  hath  Christ  with  Belial?  or  what 
part  hath  he  that  believ^eth  with  an  infidel?  Ye  cannot 
drink  the  cup  of  the  Lord,  and  the  cup  of  devils; 
ye  cannot  be  partaker  of  the  Lord's  table  and  the  table 
of  devils.  Wherefore  come  out  from  among  them,  and 
be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean 
thing;  and  I  will  receive  you,  and  will  be  a  Father  unto 
you,  and  ye  shall  be  my  sons  and  daughters,  saith  the 
Lord  Almighty.  Lay  hands  suddenly  on  no  man,  neither 
be  partaker  of  other  men's  sins:  keep  thyself  pure.    Ab- 


6  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

stain  from  all  appearance  of  evil.  If  there  come  any 
unto  you,  and  bring  not  this  doctrine,  receive  him  not 
into  your  house,  neither  bid  him  God  speed :  for  he  that 
biddeth  him  God  speed  is  partaker  of  his  evil  deeds." 

Lodge  Oaths:  "  But  above  all  things,  my  breth- 
ren, swear  not,  neither  by  heaven,  neither  by  the  earth, 
neither  by  any  other  oath:  but  let  your  yea  be  yea;  and 
your  nay,  nay;  lest  ye  fall  into  condemnation.  Again, 
ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said  by  them  of  old 
time,  Thou  shalt  not  forswear  thyself ,  but  shalt  perform 
unto  the  Lord  thine  oaths:  But  I  say  unto  you,  swear 
not  at  all;  neither  by  heaven; for  it  is  God's  throne:  Nor 
by  the  earth ;  for  it  is  his  footstool :  neither  by  Jerusalem ; 
for  it  is  the  city  of  the  great  King.  Neither  shalt  thou 
swear  by  thy  head,  because  thou  canst  not  make  one 
hair  white  or  black.  But  let  your  communication  be 
Yea,  Yea;  Nay,  Nay:  for  whatsoever  is  more  than  these 
Cometh  of  evil.  And  ye  shall  not  swear  by  my  name 
falsely,  neither  shalt  thou  profane  the  name  of  thy  God  : 
I  am  the  Lord.  And  if  a  soul  sin,  and  hear  the  voice 
of  swearing,  and  is  a  witness,  whether  he  hath  seen  or 
known  of  it;  if  he  do  not  utter  it,  then  he  shall  bear  his 
iniquity.  Or  if  a  soul  swear,  pronouncing  with  his  lips 
to  do  evil,  or  to  do  good,  whatsoever  it  be  that  a  man 
shall  pronounce  with  an  oath,  and  it  be  hid  from  him ; 
when  he  knoweth  of  it,  then  he  shall  be  guilty  in  one  of 
these.  And  it  shall  be,  when  he  shall  be  guilty  in  one 
of  these  things,  that  he  shall  confess  that  he  hath  sinned 
in  that  thing." 

Worshipful  Master:    "No  man  can  serve  two 
masters:   for  he  will  hate  the  one,  and  love  the  other; 


THE    BIBLE    AND    SECRETISM.  *J 

or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one  and  despise  the  other. 
Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  Mammon.  Be  ye  not  called 
Rabbi:  for  one  is  your  Master,  even  Christ;  and  all  ye 
are  brethren.  Neither  be  ye  called  masters:  for  one  is 
your  Master,  even  Christ.  My  brethren,  be  not  many 
masters,  knowing  that  we  shall  receive  the  greater  con- 
demnation." 

True  and  False  Service:  "God's  Word  pro- 
hibits the  believer  from  forming  alliances  with  the  un- 
godly in  society.  Whenever  the  Christian  surrenders 
himself  to  the  society  of  the  unbelieving  world,  his 
heart  will  be  led  away  from  God.  This  is  especially 
true  of  thousands  of  Christian  men  who  have  deliberate- 
ly yoked  themselves  up  with  unbelievers  in  all  manner 
of  secret  societies.  This  course  of  false  alliance  is  doing 
more  mischief  to  individual  Christian  men  by  turning 
their  heart  away  from  God  and  his  service,  and  to  the 
church  by  depleting  and  robbing  her  of  her  male  mem- 
bership, than  any  other  one  enemy  of  Christ,  There 
never  was  a  time  when  the  cry,  'Come  out  from  among 
them  and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,'  was  more 
needed  than  now." — From  Dr.  George  Pentecosfs  Bi- 
ble Studies^  788p,  f,  j8p. 

"As  to  the  question  of  the  attitude  of  Christians  to- 
ward the  secret  orders,  two  or  three  things  seem  to  me 
very  plain.  One  of  them  is  this:  that  the  whole  move- 
ment of  things  on  the  line  of  secrecy  is  thoroughly  an- 
tagonistic to  the  movement  on  the  line  of  Scripture  and 
Christianity." — Rev.  E.  P.  Goodwin^  D,  Z>.,  pastor 
First  Congregational  Churchy  Chicago^  III, 

Relevant  Scriptures:     "  This  know  also,  that 


8  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

in  the  last  clays  perilous  times  shall  come.  For  men  shall 
be  lovers  of  their  own  selves,  covetous,  boasters,  proud, 
blasphemers,  disobedient  to  parents,  unthankful,  unholy, 
without  natural  affection,  trucebreakers,false  accusers,  in- 
continent, fierce,  despisers  of  those  that  are  good,  traitors, 
heady,  highminded,  lovers  of  pleasures  more  than  lovers 
of  God;  having  a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying  the 
powder  thereof;  from  such  turn  away.  Now  the  Spirit 
speaketh  expressly,  that  in  the  latter  times  some  shall 
depart  from  the  faith,  giving  heed  to  seducing  spirits, 
and  doctrines  of  devils;  speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy;  hav- 
ing their  conscience  seared  with  a  hot  iron.  For  among 
my  people  are  found  wicked  men:  they  lay  wait,  as  he 
that  setteth  snares:  they  set  a  trap,  they  catch  men.  A 
naughty  person,  a  wicked  man,  walketh  with  a  froward 
mouth.  He  winketh  with  his  eyes,  he  speaketh  with  his 
feet,  heteacheth  with  his  fingers.  For  the  time  will  come 
when  they  will  not  endure  sound  doctrine;  but  after  their 
own  lusts  shall  they  heap  to  themselves  teachers,  having 
itching  ears;  and  they  shall  turn  away  their  cars  tyom  the 
truth,  and  shall  be  turned  unto  fables.  But  evil  men 
and  seducers  shall  wax  worse  and  worse,  deceiving,  and 
being  deceived.  Beloved,  believe  not  every  spirit,  but 
try  the  spirits  whether  they  are  of  God:  because  many 
false  prophets  are  gone  out  into  the  world.  Hereby 
know  ye  the  Spirit  of  God;  Every  spirit  that  confess- 
eth  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the  flesh  is  of  God;  and 
every  spirit  that  confesseth  not  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come 
in  the  flesh  is  not  of  God:  and  this  is  that  spirit  of  an- 
tichrist, whereof  ye  have  heard  that  it  should  come;  and 
even  now  already  is   it  in   the  world.     For  many   de- 


THE    BIBLE    AND    SECRETlSM.  g 

ceivers  are  entered  into  the  world,  who  confess  not  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the  flesh.  This  is  a  deceiver 
and  an  antichrist.  For  there  are  certain  men  crept  in 
unawares,  who  were  before  of  old  ordained  to  this  con- 
demnation, ungodly  men,  turning  the  grace  of  God  in- 
to lasciviousness,  and  denying  the  only  Lord  God,  and 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  They  profess  that  they  know 
God  but  in  works  they  deny  him,  being  abominable, 
and  disobedient,  and  unto  every  good  work  reprobate. 
Ye  hypocrites,  well  did  Esaias  prophesy  of  you,  saying, 
this  people  draweth  nigh  unto  me  with  their  mouth, 
and  honoreth  me  with  their  lips;  but  their  heart  is  far 
from  me." 

"But  if  the  watchman  see  the  sword  come,  and 
blow  not  the  trumpet,  and  the  people  be  not  warned;  if 
the  sword  come,  and  take  any  person  from  among  them, 
he  is  taken  away  in  his  iniquity;  but  his  blood  will  I  re- 
quire at  the  watchman's  hand.  Woe  be  unto  the  pastors 
that  destroy  and  scatter  the  sheep  of  my  pasture!  saith 
the  Lord." 

"Cry  aloud,  spare  not,  lift  up  thy  voice  like  a  trum- 
pet, and  show  my  people  their  transgressions,  and  the 
house  of  Jacob  their  sins.  A  wonderful  and  horrible 
thing  is  committed  in  the  land;  the  prophets  prophesy 
falsely,  and  the  priests  bear  rule  by  their- means;  and 
my  people  love  to  have  it  so,  and  what  will  ye  do  in  the 
end  thereof?  Because  ye  have  said.  We  have  made  a 
covenant  with  death, and  with  hell  are  we  at  agreement: 
when  the  overflowing  scourge  shall  pass  through,  it 
shall  not  come  unto  us:  for  we  have  made  lies  our  refuge, 
and  under  falsehood  have  we  hid  ourselves.   And  more- 


to  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

over  I  saw  under  the  sun  the  place  of  judgment,  that 
wickedness  was  there;  and  the  place  of  righteousness, 
that  iniquity  was  there.  And  judgment  is  turned  away 
backward,  and  justice  standeth  afar  off:  for  truth  is  fal- 
len in  the  street,  and  equity  cannot  enter.  Yea,  truth 
faileth;  and  he  that  departeth  from  evil  maketh  himself 
a  prey;  and  the  Lord  saw  it,  and  it  displeased  him  that 
there  w^as  no  judgment.  Be  not  deceived;  God  is  not 
mocked:  for  whatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  al- 
so reap.  Behold,  a  whirlwind  of  the  Lord  is  gone  forth 
in  fury,  even  a  grievous  whirlwind:  it  shall  fall  griev- 
ously upon  the  head  of  the  wicked.  Therefore  hell 
hath  enlarged  herself,  and  opened  her  mouth  without 
measure,  and  their  glory,  and  their  multitude,  and  their 
pomp,  and  he  that  rejoiceth,  shall  descend  into  it.  And 
mean  men  shall  be  brought  down,  and  the  mighty  man 
shall  be  humbled,  and  the  eyes  of  the  lofty  shall  be 
humbled.  Stand  now  with  thine  enchantments,  and 
with  the  multitude  of  thy  sorceries,  wherein  thou  hast  la- 
boured from  thy  youth;  if  so  be  thou  shalt  be  able  to 
profit,  if  so  be  thou  mayest  prevail.  Thou  art  wearied 
in  the  multitude  of  thy  counsels.  Let  now  the  astrolo- 
gers, the  stargazers,  the  monthly  prognosticators,  stand 
up,  and  save  thee  from  these  things  that  shall  come  up- 
on thee.  Wherefore,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God; 
surely,  because  thou  hast  defiled  my  sanctuary  with  all 
thy  detestable  things,  and  with  all  thine  abominations, 
therefore  will  I  diminish  thee;  neither  shall  mine  eyes 
spare,  neither  will  I  have  any  pity.  Judgment  also 
will  I  lay  to  the  line,  and  righteousness  to  the  plummet: 
and  the  hail  shall  sweep  away  the  refuge  of  lies,  and 


THE    BIBLE    AND    SECRETISM.  II 

the  waters  shall  overflow  the  hiding  place.  And  your 
covenant  with  death  shall  be  disannulled,  and  your  agree- 
ment with  hell  shall  not  stand;  when  the  overflowing 
scourge  shall  pass  through,  then  ye  shall  be  trodden 
down  by  it.  And  I  heard  another  voice  from  heaven, 
saying,  Come  out  of  her  my  peojole,  that  ye  be  not  par- 
takers of  her  sins,  and  that  ye  receive  not  of  her  plagues. 
For  her  sins  have  reached  unto  heaven,  and  God 
bath  remembered  her  iniquities.  Her  priests  have  vio- 
lated my  law,  and  have  profaned  mine  holy  things: 
they  have  put  no  difference  between  the  holy  and  the 
profane,  neither  have  they  shewed  difference  between 
the  clean  and  the  unclean,  and  have  hid  their  eyes  from 
my  sabbaths,  and  I  am  profaned  among  them.  But 
thus  shall  ye  deal  with  them;  ye  shall  destroy  their  al- 
tars, and  break  down  their  images,  and  cut  down  their 
groves,  and  burn  their  graven  images  with  fire.  At 
that  day  shall  a  man  look  to  his  maker,  and  his  eyes 
shall  have  respect  to  the  Holy  One  of  Israel.  And  he 
shall  not  look  to  the  altars,  the  work  of  his  hands, 
neither  shall  he  respect  that  which  his  fingers  have  made, 
either  the  groves  or  the  images.  Neither  shall  they 
defile  themselves  any  more  with  their  idols,  nor  with 
their  detestable  things,  nor  with  any  of  their  transgress- 
ions: but  I  will  save  them  out  of  all  their  dwelling  places, 
wherein  they  have  sinned,  and  will  cleanse  them:  so 
shall  they  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God. 


CHAPTER  II. 


MASONIC    RELIGION. 


Ill  view  of  the  increasing  discussion  of  secret  socie- 
ties and  especially  of  Freemasonry  it  might  be  interest- 
ing to  enter  into  a  candid,  careful  examination  of  this 
mfluential  order.  And  in  the  beginning  we  hasten  to 
assure  the  reader  that  we  do  not  propose  bring  for- 
ward the  testimony  of  non- Masons  or  of  anti-Masonic 
publications.  We  do  not  propose  to  beg  the  question 
in  any  way,  manner  or  shape,  and  if  the  reader  should 
have  ever  been  made  a  Freemason,  we  ask  and  hope 
that  for  the  time  being  he  will  forget  that  fact,  and  hav- 
ing divested  his  mind,  if  possible  of  prejudice,  will  look 
at  the  subject  from  a  common-sense  standpoint,  neither 
accepting  nor  rejecting  a  point  or  proposition  until  all 
the  bearings  are  duly  weighed.  You  are  not  responsi- 
ble for  the  present  form,character,  religion, and  govern- 
ment of  Freemasonry,  neither  is  the  writer,  because  we 
had  nothing  whatever  to  do  in  originating,  molding  or 
shapi-ng  the  system.  However,  we  do  have  a  right  to 
look  at  the  facts  in  the  case,  intelligently  draw  our  con- 
clusions therefrom,  and  then  to  "mark  and  govern  our- 
selves accordingly,"  no  man  or  set  of  men  daring  to 
lawfully  molest  us  or  make  us  afraid. 

Now  it  is  plain  to  every  one  that  if  anybody  really 
knows  what  Freemasonry  is.  Freemasons  themselves 
certainly  must  know;  and  if  any  Masons  know,  it  is  not 
necessarily  the  embryo,  three-degree,  pinfeather.  Blue 
Lodge  Masons,  who  perhaps  do  not  know  enough  to 
visit  a  strange  lodge  without  a  brother  along  to  vouch 

12 


MASONIC    RELIGION.  13 

for  them,  but  it  is  self-evident  that  if  any  Masons  know 
what  the  principles,  doctrines  and  practice  of  the  order 
are,  it  is  the  men  who  have  gone  from  the  "ground-floor" 
clear  through  the  "pictures,"  who  have  made  Free- 
masonry a  life  study,  who  are  even  now  occupying  the 
highest  positions  of  honor  and  power  in  the  craft,  and^ 
who  have  been  put  forward  by  the  institution  to  write 
its  great  standard  publications,  including  its  rituals,  its 
monitors,  its  manuals,  its  lexicons,  its  dictionaries,  its 
digests  of  Masonic  law,  together  with  its  works  on  Ma- 
sonic jurisprudence,  its  histories,  its  guides,  its  trestle- 
boards,  and  many  other  valuable  works  issued  for  the  sole 
benefit  of  the  "Worshipful  Fraternity."  .  The  great  Ma- 
sonic works  and  documents  herein  quoted  were  written 
by  the  learned  rulers  and  teachers  of  Masonry  and  are 
protected  by  the  seal  of  the  United  States  in  copyright. 
They  were  written  by  high  Masons,  copyrighted  by 
Masons,  published  by  Masons,  sold  by  Masons,  sold  to 
Masons,  and  openly  endorsed  and  used  by  the  Masonic 
Fraternity  all  over  the  land.  Not  only  endorsed  and 
used  by  well-posted  individual  Masons,  but  subordinate 
and  Grand  Lodges  have  officially  fathered  and  are  using 
them.  With  this  understanding,  reader,  we  will  meet 
upon  the  "level"  and  part  upon  the  "square."  Is  there 
not  some  legitimate  method  of  arriving  at  a  correct 
knowledge  without  trespassing  on  forbidden  territory? 
Let  us  see. 

"It  is  a  duty  incumbent  on  every  Master  of  a  Lodge, 
before  the  ceremony  of  initiation  takes  place,  to  inform 
the  candidate  of  the  purpose  and  design  of  the  institu- 
tion;" etc. — See  Webb's  Freemason's  Monitor,  p.  19. 


14  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

Thomas  Smith  Webb  was  the  first  standard  Masonic 
author  in  this  couiitr\':  he  is  the  father  of  American 
Masonry.  Very  well,  we  will  see  what  this  assurance  is. 

"It  is  the  duty  of  the  IVfaster  of  tiie  Lodge,  as  one 
of  the  precautionary  measures  of  initiation,  to  explain 
to  the  candidate  the  nature  and  desii^nof  the  institution; 
and  while  he  informs  him  that  it  is  founded  on  the  pur- 
est principles  of  virtue,  that  it  possesses  great  and  inval- 
uable privileges;  and  that,  in  order  (o  secure  tho>c  priv- 
ileges to  worthy  men,  and  worthy  men  aK>ne,  voluntary 
pledges  of  fidelity  are  required;  he  will  at  the  same 
time  assure  him  that  nothing  will  be  expectetlof  Wnn 
incompatible  with  his  civil,  moral  or  religious  duties." 
— Sickels'  Freemason's  Monitor,  p.  31. 

Dan  Sickels  is  the  great  Masonic  publisher  of  New 
York  City  and  a  Secretary  General  of  the  Supreme 
Council. 

"Masonry  includes  withm  its  circle  almost  every 
branch  of  polite  learning.  Under  tiie  veil  of  its  mvs- 
teries  is  comprehended  a  regular  system  <  f  science. 
Many  of  its  illustrations,  to  the  confined  genius,  may 
appear  unimportant;  but  the  man  of  more  enlarged 
faculties  will  perceive  them  to  be,  in  the  highest  degree, 
useful  and  interesting.  To  please  the  accomplished 
scholar  and  ingenius  artist.  Masonry  is  wisely  planned; 
and,  ill  the  investigation  of  its  latent  doctrines,  the  phi- 
losopher and  the  mathematician  may  experience  equal 
delight  and  satisfaction." — See  Ibid,  p.  62.  Ahiman 
Rezon,  p.  1 16. 


MASONIC     RELIGION.  l5 

Would  it  not  be  difficult  to  frame  a  stronger  in- 
vitation to  join  any  order  than  the  above?  But  the 
question  naturally  uppermost  in  the  mind  of  every 
Christian  student  would  be,  Does  Freemasonary  teach 
religion  and  morality,  or  is  it  an  immoral,  irreligious 
organization? 

"No  Lodge  can  be  regularly  opened  or  closed 
without  religious  services  of  some  sort." — Webb's  Mon- 
itor, by  Morris,  p.  1 3. 

Perhaps  they  simply  sing,  or  chant,  or  take  up  a 
collection. 

"No  Lodge  or  Masonic  assembly  can  be  regular- 
ly opened  or  closed  without  prayer."  — Webb's  Mon- 
itor, p.  284. 

Then  it  must  be  prayer.     Why  do  Masons  pray? 

"All  the  ceremonies  of  our  order  are  prefaced  and 
terminated  with  prayer,  because  Masonry  is  a  religious 
institution,  and  because  we  thereby  show  our  depend- 
ence on,  and  our  faith  and  trust  in  God." — Mackey's 
Lexicon  of  Freemasonry,  p.  369. 

That  is  just  the  reason  every  one  should  pray  if 
they  are  consistent  in  the  prayer.  Albert  G.  Mackey 
is  the  Past  General  Grand  High  Priest  of  the  General 
Grand  Chapter  of  the  Masons  of  the  United  States. 
Agam  we  read: 

"But  the  order  of  Freemasonry  goes  further  than 
did  the  Ancient  Mysteries;  while  it  embodies  all  that  is 
valuable  in  the  institutions  of  the  past,  it  embraces 
within  its  circle  all  that  is  good  and  true  of  the  present, 
and  thus  becomes  a  conservator  as  well  as  a  depository 
of  religion,  science  and  art." — Pierson's  Traditions  of 
Freemasonry,  p.  14. 


l6  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

A.  T.  C.  Pierson  is  Grand  Captain  General  of  the 
Grand  Encampment  of  the  Masons  of  the  United 
States. 

"And,  finally,  we  shall  discover  that  our  Rites 
embrace  all  the  possible  circumstances  of  man—  moral, 
spiritual,  and  social — and  have  a  meaning  high  as  the 
heavens,  broad  as  the  universe,  and  profound  as  eterni- 
ty."— Sickels'  Ahiman  Rezon    or   Freemason's  Guide, 

P-  57- 

This  Masonic  religion,  it  seems,  is  grand  and 
comprehensive.  There  are  many  kinds  of  religion  in 
this  world,  one  true,  and  many  false. 

"The  truth  is,  that  Masonry  is  undoubtedly  a  re- 
ligious institution — its  religion  being  of  that  universal 
kind  in  which  all  men  agree,"  etc, — See  Mackey's 
Jurisprudence  of  Freemasonry,  p.  95. 

Do  all  men  agree  in  the  Christian,  the  Moham- 
medan, or  the  Mormon  religion?  What  are  the  doc- 
trines of  this  religion  in  which  all  men  agree? 

"The  religious  tenets  of  Masonry  are  few  and 
simple  but  fundamental.  The  candidate  must  profess 
a  belief  in  Deity  before  initiation," — Webb's  Monitor, 
p,  284, 

"The  creed  of  a  Mason  is  brief,  unentangled  with 
scholastic  subtleties,  or  with  theological  difficulties.  It 
is  a  creed  which  demands  and  receives  the  universal 
consent  of  all  men,  which  admits  of  no  doubt,  and  de- 
fies schism," — Mackey's  Lexicon,  p.  loo. 

"A  BELIEF  IN  GOD.  This  constitutes  the  sole 
creed  of  a  Mason — at  least,  the  only  creed  that  he  is  re- 
quired to  profess." — Mackey's  Masonic  Ritualist,  p. 
44. 


MASONIC     RELIGION.  17 

"Ye  believe  in  God  ye  do  well;  the  devils  also  be- 
lieve and  tremble."  Is  the  Mason  obliged  to  subscribe 
to  this  lodge  religion  ? 

"Though  in  ancient  times,  Masons  were  charged 
in  every  country  to  be  of  the  religion  of  that  country 
or  nation,  whatever  it  was,  yet  it  is  now  thought  more 
expedient  only  to  oblige  them  to  that  religion  in  which 
all  men  agree,  leaving  their  particular  opinions  to 
themselves." — Mackey's  Jurisprudence,  p.  94. 

Is  there  no  other  test  ever  required.? 

"In  our  opinion,  any  further  religious  test  is  not 
necessary;  and  to  require  that  a  candidate  profess  a  be- 
lief in  the  'divine  authenticity  of  the  Bible,'  or  a  'state 
of  future  rewards  and  punishments,'  is  a  serious  innova- 
tion into  the  very  body  of  Masonry  " 

"It  is  anti-masonic  to  require  any  religious  test, 
other  than  the  candidate  should  believe  in  a  God,  the 
Creator  and  Governor  of  the  universe."— Chase's  Di- 
gest of  Masonic  Law,  p.  206. 

Every  Grand  Lodge  in  America  is  represented  in 
this  great  book  of  decisions.  But  why  this  peculiar 
creed  ? 

"Under   the    shelter   of   this   wise   provision,  the 
Christian   and    the  Jew,  the     Mohammedan    and    the 
Brahmin,  are  permitted  to   unite    around    our  common  ' 
altar,  and  Masonry    becomes,   in  practice    as  well  as  in 
theory,  universal." — Mackey's  Jurisprudence,  p.  95. 

This  religion  is  practical  and  not  mere  theory. 

"So  broad  is  the  religion  of  Masonry,  and  so 
carefully  are  all  sectarian  tenets  excluded  from  the 
system,  that  the  Christian,    the  Jew,   and  the  Moham- 


l8  THE    AMERICAN    HANO-BOOK. 

medan,  in  all  their  numberless  sects  and  divisions,  may 
and  do  harmoniously  combine  in  its  moral  and  intel- 
lectual work  with  the  Buddhist,  the  Parsee,  the 
Confucian,  and  the  worshiper  of  Deity  under  every 
form."— Webb's  Monitor,  p.  2S5. 

We  read  in  the  Bible  of  a  wide  gate  and  a  broad 
way.     What  do  Masons  mean  by  morality? 

"Every  Mason,"  say  the  old  Charges  of  1722, 
"is  obliged  by  his  tenure  to  obey  the  moral  law." 
Now,  this  moral  law  is  not  to  be  considered  as  confined 
to  the  decalogue  of  Moses,  within  which  narrow  limits 
the  ecclesiastical  writers  technically  restrain  it,  but 
rather  as  alluding  to  what  is  called  the/^;<r  naturce^  or  the 
law  of  nature." 

"This  is  the  'moral  law,'  to  which  the  old  Charge 
already  cited  refers,  and  which  it  declares  to  be  the  law 
of  Masonry.  And  this  was  wisely  done,  for  it  is  evi- 
dent that  no  law  less  universal  could  have  been  appro- 
priately selected  for  the  government  of  an  institution 
whose  prominent  characteristic  is  its  universality.  The 
precepts  of  Jesus  could  not  have  been  made  obligatory 
on  a  Jew;  a  Christian  would  have  denied  the  sanctions 
of  the  Koran;  a  Mohammedan  must  have  rejected  the 
law  of  Moses;  and  a  disciple  of  Zoroaster  would  have 
turned  from  all  to  the  teachings  of  his  Zeud  Avesta. 
The  universal  law  of  nature,  which  the  authors  of  the 
old  Charges  have  properly  called  the  moral  law,  because  it 
is,  as  Conybeare  remarks,  'a perfect  collection  of  all  those 
moral  doctrines  and  precepts  which  have  a  foundation 
in  the  nature  and  reason  of  things,'  is  therefore  the 
only  law  suited  'in  every  respect'  to   be  adopted  as  the 


MASONIC    RELIGION. 


19 


Masonic  code." — Mackey's  Masonic  Jurisprudence,  p. 
503  and  503. 

But  hold  on,  says  some  one.  Masonry  is  founded 
on  the  Bible.  Is  it?  Revealed  religion  is  not  natural 
religion. 

"The  Jews,  the  Chinese,  the  Turks,  each  reject 
either  the  New  Testament  or  the  Old,  or  both,  and 
yet  we  see  no  good  reason  why  they  should  not  be 
made  Masons.  In  fact,  Blue  Lodge  Masonry  has 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  Bible.  It  is  not 
founded  on  the  Bible;  if  it  was,  it  would  not  be  Ma- 
sonry, it  would  be  something  else." — Chase's  Digest  of 
Masonic  Law,  p.  207  and  208. 

There  is  nothing  obscure  or  ambiguous  about 
thato  Now  what  is  this  strange  religion?  Past  Gen- 
eral Grand  High  Priest  Mackey  will  tell  us. 

"The  religion,  then,  of  Masonry,  is  pure  theism, 
on  which  its  different  members  engraft  their  own  pecu- 
liar opinions;  but  they  are  not  permitted  to  introduce 
them  into  the  lodge,  or  to  connect  their  truth  or  false- 
hood with  the  truth  of  Masonry," — Mackey's  Lexicon, 
p.  402. 

Of  course  it  is  not  founded  on  the  Bible.  It  would 
be  hard  to  find  a  better  name  for  natural  religion. 
Does  Freemasonry  propose  to  set  natural  religion  up 
against  Christianity?     Is  it  a  saving  religion? 

"Masons  are  called  moral  builders.  In  their  rituals 
they  declare,  emphatically,  that  a  more  noble  and  glo- 
rious purpose  than  squaring  stones  and  hewing  timbers 
is    theirs — fitting    immortal  nature  for  that  spiritual 


20  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

building  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens." — Sickels'  Ahiman  Rezon  or  Freemason's 
Guide,  p.  71. 

"In  the  investigation  of  the  true  meaning  of  every 
Masonic  symbol  and  allegory,  we  must  be  governed 
by  the  single  principle  that  the  whole  design  of  Free- 
masonry as  a  speculative  science  is  the  investigation  of 
divine  truth.  To  this  great  object  everything  is  sub- 
sidiary. The  Mason  is,  from  the  moment  of  his  initi- 
ation as  an  Entered  Apprentice,  to  the  time  at  which  he 
receives  the  full  fruition  of  Masonic  light,  an  investi- 
gator— a  laborer  in  the  quarry  and  the  Temple — whose 
reward  is  to  be  Truth,  and  all  the  ceremonies  and  traditions 
of  the  Order  tend  to  this  ultimate  design." — Mackey's 
Manual  of  the  Lodge,  p.  88. 

Is  not  that  about  the  mission  of  Christianity  and 
the  Church?  Does  Masonry  teach  regeneration  from 
sin? 

"There  he  stands  without  our  portals,  on  the 
threshold  of  this  new  Masonic  life,  in  darkness,  help- 
lessness, and  ignorance.  Having  been  wandering  amid 
the  errors,  and  covered  over  with  the  pollutions  of  the 
outer  and  profane  world,  he  comes  inquiringly  to  our 
doors,  seeking  the  new  birth,  and  asking  a  withdrawal 
of  the  vail  which  conceals  divine  truth  from  his  uniniti- 
ated sight." 

"Tlie  world  is  left  behind — the  chains  of  error  and 
ignorance  which  had  previously  restrained  the  candi- 
date in  moral  and  intellectual  captivity  are  to  be  broken 
— the  portal  of  the  Temple  has  been  thrown  widely 
open,  and  Masonry   stands  before  the  neophyte  in  all 


MASONIC    RELIGION.  21 

the  glory  of  its  form  and  beauty,  to  be  fully  revealed 
to  him,  however,  only  w^hen  the  new  bh'th  has  been 
completely  accomplished." 

"The  shock  of  entrance  is,  then,  the  symbol  of  the 
disruption  of  the  candidate  from  the  ties  of  the  Vi^orld, 
and  his  introduction  into  the  life  of  Masonry,  It  is  the 
symbol  of  the  agonies  of  the  first  death  and  of  the 
throes  of  the  new  birth."-^Mackey's  Masonic  Ritual- 
ist, pp.  22,  23  and  24. 

How  does  Masonry,  natural  religion  or  pure 
theism  propose  to  do  all  this?  Is  it  by  and  through 
the  atonement? 

"The  common  gavel  is  an  instrument  made  use  of 
by  operative  masons  to  break  off  the  corners  of  rough 
stones,  the  better  to  fit  them  for  the  builder's  use;  but 
we,  as  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  are  taught  to  make 
use  of  it  for  the  more  noble  and  glorious  purpose  of  di- 
vesting our  hearts  and  consciences  of  all  the  vices  and 
superfluities  of  life;  thereby  fitting  our  minds,  as  living 
stones,  for  that  spiritual  building — that  house  not  made 
with  hands — eternal  in  the  heavens." — Sickels'  General 
Ahiman  Rezon  or  Freemason's  Guide,  p.  ^o. 

Simply  obey  the  behests  and  teachings  of  Mason- 
ry and  all  is  well. 

"But  in  the  Third  Degree,  the  veil  is  removed ;  we 
are  admitted  to  the  Holy  of  Holies;  we  view  the 
Cherubim  in  all  their  brightness;  and  are  blessed  with 
a  foretaste  of  heaven,  through  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead."^-01iver's  Signs  and  Symbols  of  Freemasonry, 
p.  41. 

Pretty  thorough  work  to  get  a  foretaste  of  heaven. 


22  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

•'We  now  find  man  complete  in  morality  and 
intelligence,  with  the  stay  of  religion  added  to  ensure 
him  of  the  protection  of  the  Deity,  and  guard  him  against 
ever  going  astray.  These  three  degrees  thus  form  a 
perfect  and  harmonious  whole;  nor  can  we  conceive 
that  anythmg  can  be  suggested  more,  which  the  soul 
of  man  requires." — Sickels'  Freemason's  Monitor,  pp. 
97  and  98. 

Once  in  Masonic  grace  always  there.  Complete 
Salvation. 

"Master  Mason. — The  third  degree  in  all  the  dif- 
ferent rites.  In  this,  which  is  the  perfection  of  sym- 
bolic or  ancient  craft  Masonry,  the  purest  of  truths  are 
unveiled  amid  the  most  awful  ceremonies.  None  but 
he  who  has  visited  the  holy  of  holies,  and  traveled 
the  road  of  peril,  can  have  any  conception  of  the  mys- 
teries unfolded  in  this  degree.  Its  solemn  observances 
diffuse  a  sacred  awe,  and  inculcate  a  lesson  of  religious 
truth — and  it  is  not  until  the  neophyte  has  reached  this 
summit  of  our  ritual,  that  he  can  exclaim  with  joyful 
accents,  in  the  language  of  the  sage  of  old,  'Eureka,  Eu- 
reka,' I  have  found  at  last  the  long  sought  treasure. 
In  the  language  of  the  learned  and  zealous  Hutchinson, 
somewhat  enlarged  in  its  allusion,  'the  Master  Mason 
represents  a  man  under  the  doctrine  of  love,  saved 
from  the  grave  of  iniquity^  and  raised  to  the  faith  of 
salvation.'" — Mackey's  Lexicon,  p.  295. 

Wonder  if  Freemasonry  don't  teach  sanctification? 

"Acacian. — A  term  derived  from  akakia,  'inno- 
cence,' and  signifying  a  Mason,  who,  by  living  in  strict 
obedience  to  the  obligations  and  precepts  of  the  frater- 
nity, is  free  from  sin." — Mackey's  Lexicon,  p.  16. 


MASONIC  .RELIGION.  23 

Beat  that  if  you  can.  Here  is  the  strangest  part 
of  all. 

"It  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  but  at  the  same 
time  most  abstruse,  doctrines  of  the  science  of  Masonic 
symbolism,  that  the  Mason  is  ever  to  be  in  search  of  truth, 
but  is  never  to  find  it." — Macke)''s  Manual,  p.  93; 
Ritualist,  p.  106;  Sickels'  General  Ahiman  Rezon,  p. 
169. 

"Ever  learning,  and  never  able  to  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth."     2  Tim.  iii.  7. 

Albert  Pike,  Sovereign  Grand  Commander  of  the 
Supreme  Council  of  the  Sovereign  Grand  Inspectors- 
General  thirty-third  degree  Scottish  Rite,  says  in  his 
b6ok,  "Morals  and  Dogma,"  page  819:  "  The  Blue  de- 
grees  are  but  the  outer  court  of  the  Temple,  Part  oj 
the  symbols  are  displayed  there  to  the  initiate^  but  he 
is  intentionally  misled  by  false  interpretations.  It  is 
not  intended  that  he  shall  understand  them^  but  it  is 
intended  that  he  shall  imagine  that  he  does  under- 
stand them.  Their  true  explanation  is  reserved  for 
the  princes  of  Masonry, ^'^ 

We  come  now  to  the  most  important  fact.  Christ 
REJECTED.  The  words  bracketed  in  the  following 
quotations  are  entirely  omitted  in  the  Masonic  Prints. 
See  2  Thess,  iii.  6  and  12. 

"Now  we  command  you,  brethren,  [in  the  name 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,]  that  ye  withdraw  yourselves 
from  every  brother  that  walketh  disorderly,  and  not 
after  the  tradition  which  he  received  of  us." 

"Now  them  that  are  such,  we  command  and  exhort, 
[by  our  Lord  Jesus    Christ,]  that  with  quietness  they 


24  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

work,  and  eat  their  own  bread." — Webb's  Monitor,  p. 
120:  Macoy's  Monitor,  p.  157;  Sickels'  Monitor,  part 
2nd,  p.  51;  Mackey's  Ritualist,  p.  348.  See  i  Peter 
ii.  5  and   6. 

"Ye  also,  as  lively  stones,  are  built  up  a  spiritual 
house,  an  holy  priesthood,  to  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices 
acceptable  to  God  [by  Jesus  Christ]. 

"Wherefore,  also  it  is  contained  in  the  Scriptures, 
Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion,  [Sion  a  chief  corner  stone,  elect, 
precious:  and  he  that  believeth  on  him  shall  not  be 
confounded]  for  a  foundation,  a  tried  stone,  a  precious 
corner-stone,  a  sure  foundation;  he  that  believeth  shall 
not  make  haste  to  pass  it  over." — Webb's  Monitor,  p. 
73;  Macoy's  Monitor,  p.  S6;  Sickels'  Monitor,  paiit 
2nd,  p.  5;  Mackey's  Ritualist,  p.  271.  See  Rev.  xxii. 
18,  i9;Deut.  iv.  2,alsoxii.  32. 

Thus  briefly  have  we  step  by  step  reviewed  the 
religion  of  Freemasonry.  These  learned  men  do  not 
make  Masonry,  they  simply  state  what  it  is.  We  put 
no  construction  on  the  language.  It  is  plnin,  positive 
and  authoritative.  We  simply  comment  on  it  as  it 
stands.  Masonry  cuts  the  Bible  in  two  to  please  the 
Jew,  and  rejects  it  altogether  to  please  the  Buddhist, 
Parsee,  Turk  and  Confucian.  It  being  pure  theism 
destroys  the  trinity.  Every  section  of  this  book  will 
be  a  startling  chapter  in  modern  history  for  future 
generations.  This  especially  should  open  the  eyes  and 
quicken  the  conscience  of  all  church  people  to  the 
awful  system  of  false  worship  operating  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  our  land.  The  discussion  of 
this  lodge   false  worship   strikes   bed-rock   on  this  the 


MASONIC    RELIGION.  25 

greatest  question  of  the  hour.  Other  phases  may  inter- 
est the  patriot  and  ordinary  student,  but  this  chapter 
should  set  every  sincere  Cinistian  on  fire  with  enthusi- 
asm and  holy  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  American  citizens 
from  lodge  thralldom.  It  proves  beyond  all  cavil  that 
Freemasonry  is  a  religion,  that  it  claims  to  save  men, 
save  them  completely  and  keep  them  saved.  Freema- 
sonry has  its  odes,  chants,  prayers  and  funeral  dirges; 
its  stewards,  deacons,  worshipful  masters,  priests  and 
most  excellent  grand  high  priests;  in  the  higher  de- 
grees, lodges  of  sorrow  are  held  for  the  xlead,  and  in- 
fant baptism  is  practiced.  It  is  an  nwful  state  of  af- 
fairs when  a  religious  organization  in  this  boasted  age 
of  civilization  and  gospel  light,  rejects  the  Bible,  mu- 
tilates Scripture  quotations  by  turning  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  out  of  his  own  blessed  volume,  ignores  the  Medi- 
ator entirely,  and  deliberately  desecrates  and  appropri- 
ates every  sacred  rite  of  Christianity  and  the  Church  to 
false  worship,  with  over  one-half  million  zealous  dev- 
otees bowing  to  its  Worshipful  Masters  and  Most 
Worshipful  Grand  Masters.  Papal  Rome  has  never 
denied  that  Christ  has  come  in  the  flesh;  but  this  Ma- 
sonic religion  ignores  Christ  and  utterly  fails  to  con- 
fess that  there  is  or  ever  was  the  Christ;  and  this  is 
plainly  the  antichrist  so  clearly  described  in  Holy 
Writ.  Sins  ot  omission  are  as  black  and  damning  in 
the  citizen  and  churchman,  as  are  sins  of  commission. 
Failing  to  own  Christ  as  the  only  Saviour  is  to  stamp 
the  religious  pretender  as  an  idolater.  For  he  that 
climbeth  up  any  other  way,  the  same  is  a  "thief  and 
robber."     To  give  aid  and  comfort  to  rebels    against 


2G  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

God  and  righteous  government  is  as  much  an  act  of 
treason  and  disloyalty  as  to  openly  march  under  the 
rebel  flag.  To  all  true  men  and  women,  the  religious 
or  political  "copper-head"  is  more  loathed  and  despised 
than  the  regular  enemy.  Some  reformers  style  the 
simple  Mason  as  the  open  enemy,  and  the  Masonic 
church  members  as  religious  copper-heads,  because,  as 
the  professed  followers  of  Christ,  the  latter  are  actually 
bowing  to  avowed  antichrist.  They  are  the  Judases 
that  cry,  "Hail,  Master,"  and  kiss,  only  to  betray  him. 
And  these  Masonic  church  communicants,  as  a  rule, 
are  harder  to  reach  and  redeem  than  the  non-professor. 
But  let  the  reader  now  study  '-Masonic  Sun  Worship" 
if  he  would  know  the  practical  nature  of  this  abomina- 
tion that  is  making  Zion  desolate. 


CHAPTER  lit. 


MASONIC  SUN  WORSHIP. 


In  the  last  chapter  it  was  seen  that  Freemasonry 
ispure  theism.  It  possibly  might  be  of  further  inter- 
est to  look  a  little  into  this  natural  religion  and  learn  its 
general  character  and  make-up. 

"One  important  question,  which  appears  to  have 
been  almost  wholly  neglected  by  Masonic  writers,  is: 
Whether  Freemasonry  be  a  servile  imitation  of  certain 
ceremonies  in  the  ancient  idolatrous  mysteries,  as  is  as- 
serted by  some  writers;  or  whether  it  be  the  great 
original  from  which  the  mysteries  themselves  were  de- 
rived."— Oliver's  Signs  and  Svmbols  of  Freemasonry, 
p.  2. 

Dr.  Oliver  is  the  greatest  English  authority  on 
Masonry. 

"The  fact  is,  that  the  philosophic  system  of  Free- 
masonry is  exceedingly  comprehensive  in  its  character, 
and  bears  a  close  connection  with  the  general  literature 
of  all  preceding  ages.  The  history  of  the  origin  of 
the  institution,  and  of  its  rites  and  ceremonies,  will 
bring  the  student  into  a  profound  investigation  of  the 
manners  and  customs,  and  the  astronomy,  the  theology, 
and  the  mythology  of  antiquity.  The  ancient  mys- 
teries present  a  fertile  field  for  inquiry,  and  without  a 
very  intimate  acquaintance  with  their  history  and  char- 
acter, it  is  impossible  profitably  to  value  the  legendary 
instructions  of  Freemasonry." — Mackey's  Mystic  Tie 
of  Freemasonry,  p.  43. 

Very  well.     If  the    Past  Grand  High  Priest,  and 

2? 


28  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

these  other  learned  men  will  lead  out,  we  will  be  very 
glad  to  follow. 

"It  is  an  extraordinary  fact,  that  there  is  scarcely 
a  single  ceremony  in  Freemasonry,  but  we  find  its  cor- 
responding rite  in  one  or  other  of  the  idolatrous 
mysteries;  and  the  coincidence  can  only  be  accounted 
for  by  supposing  that  these  mysteries  were  derive  <1 
from  Masonry." — Oliver's  Signs  and  Symbols  of 
Freemasonry,  p.  76. 

So  then  Masonry  is  the  mother  of  these  ancient 
heathen  mysteries. 

"Learned  Masons  have  been,  therefore,  always  dis- 
posed to  go  beyond  the  mere  technicalities  and  sterotyped 
phrases  of  the  lectures,  and  to  look  in  the  history  and 
the  philosophy  of  the  ancient  religions,  and  the  organi- 
zation of  the  ancient  mysteries,  for  a  true  exphmation  of 
most  of  the  symbols  of  Masonry,  and  there  they  have 
always  been  enabled  to  find  this  true  interpretation." — 
Mackey's  Masonic  Rituahst,  pp.  41  and  42.  See  Mack- 
ey's  Manual  of  the  Lodge,  p.  37. 

All  right,  gentleman,  we  are  at  your  feet  ready  to 
learn.     Lead  on. 

"Accepting  the  symbol,  have  we  lost  its  sense?  Our 
Rites  will  be  of  little  value  to  us  if  this  be  the  case.  It 
is  our  duty,  then,  to  make  Freemasonry  the  object  of  a 
profound  study.  We  must  consult  the  past.  We  must 
stand  by  the  sarcophagus  of  the  murdered,  but  restored 
Osiris,  in  Egypt,  enter  the  caverns  of  Phrygia,  and  hold 
communion  with  the  Cabiri;  penetrate  the  'Collegia 
Fabrorum'  of  ancient  Rome,  and  work  in  the  mystic 
circles  of  Sidon." — Sickels'  General  Ahiman  Rezon,  01 
Freemason's  Guide,  p.  56, 


MASONIC  SUN    WORSHIP.  29 

Right  back  to  the  palmiest  days  of  ancient  Idolatry. 

"The  identity  of  the  Masonic  institution  with  the 
Ancient  Mysteries  is  obvious  from  the  striking  coinci- 
dences found  to  exist  between  them." — Pierson's  Tra- 
ditions of  Freemasonry,  pp.  13  and   14. 

"These  Mysteries  were  all  religious  institutions; 
but  they  were  Masonic  also.  Their  members  were 
initiated  by  a  solemn  ceremonial ;  they  had  various 
progressive  degrees,  in  which  the  light  and  truth  were 
gradually  diffused;  and  the  recipients  were  in  posses- 
sion of  certain  modes  of  recognition,  known  only  to 
themselves." — Mackey's  Mystic  Tie,  p.  99. 

"Hours  of  work. — In  this  selection  of  the  hours 
of  night  and  darkness  for  initiation,  the  usual  coinci- 
dence will  be  found  between  the  ceremonies  of  Free- 
masonry and  those  of  the  Ancient  Mysteries,  showing 
their  evident  derivation  from  a  common  origin." 

"The  reason  given  by  the  ancients  for  this  selection 
of  night  as  the  time  for  initiation,  is  equally  applicable 
to  the  system  of  Freemasonry." 

"Death  and  the  resurrection  were  the  doctrines 
taught  in  the  ancient  m}/steries;  and  night  and  darkness 
were  necessary  to  add  to  the  sacred  awe  and  reverence 
which  these  doctrines  ought  always  to  inspire  in  the 
rational  and  contemplative  mind.  The  same  doctrines 
form  the  very  ground-work  of  Freemasonry,  and  as 
the  Master  Mason,  to  use  the  language  of.  Hutchinson, 
'represents  a  man  saved  from  the  grave  of  in- 
iquity and  raised  to  the  faith  of  salvation,' darkness  and 
night  are  the  appropriate  accompaniments  to  the  solemn 
ceremonies  which  demonstrate  this  profession." — Mack- 
ey's Lexicon  of  Freemasonry,  pp.  204  and  205. 


30  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

*'And  hence,  again,  darkness,  like  death,  is  the 
synibol  of  initiation.  It  was  for  this  reason  that  all  the 
ancient  initiations  were  performed  at  night.  The  cele- 
bration of  the  Mysteries  was  always  nocturnal.  The 
same  custom  prevails  in  Freemasonry,  and  the  explana- 
tion is  the  same.  Death  and  the  resurrection  were 
taught  in  the  mysteries  as  they  are  in  Freemasonry. 
The  initiation  was  the  lesson  of  death.  The  full  frui- 
tion, or  autopsy,  the  reception  of  light,  was  the  lesson 
of  regeneration  or  resurrection." — Mackey's  Symbolism 
of  Freemasonry,  pp.  157  and  158. 

Why  meet  upstairs?—  "Lodge  meetings,  at  the 
present  day,  are  usually  held  in  ujjpcr  chambers — prob- 
ably for  the  better  security  which  such  places  afford." — 
Sickels'  Freemason's  Monitor,  p.  40. 

"The  reason  assigned  in  the  lecture  for  this  assem- 
bling on  high  places  is  the  modern,  but  not  the  true 
one.  The  fact  is,  that  mountains  and  other  high  places 
were  almost  always  considered  as  holy,"  etc. —  See  Mack- 
ey's  Manual  of  the  Lodge,  p.  44. 

"Hills  and  mountains  were  always  considered  the 
peculiar  abode  of  Deity;  and  hence  the  Masonic  tra- 
dition, that  our  ancient  brethren  held  their  Lodges  most 
frequently  on  the  highest  of  hills.  The  veneration  for 
hills  or  secret  caverns  induced  the  construction  of  tem- 
ples for  divine  worship  in  such  situations." — Sickels' 
Ahiman  Rezon,  p.  75. 

Why  East  and  West? — "The  orientation  of 
Lodges,  or  their  position  due  east  and  west,  is  derived 
from  the  universal  custom  of  antiquity.  *The  heathen 
temples,'  says  Dudley,  'were  so  constructed  that  their 


MASONIC  SUN    WORSHIP.  3 1 

length  was  directed  toward  the  east,  and  the  entrance 
was  by  a  portico  at  the  western  front  where  the  altar 
stood,  so  that  the  votaries,  approaching  for  the  perform- 
ance of  religious  rites,  directed  their  faces  toward  the 
east  as  the  quarter  of  sunrise.'  The  primitive  reason  of 
this  custom  undoubtedly  is  to  be  found  in  the  early 
prevalence  of  sun  worship,  and  hence  the  spot  where 
that  luminary  first  made  his  appearance  in  the  heavens 
was  consecrated,  in  the  minds  of  his  worshipers,  as  a 
place  entitled  to  peculiar  reverence." — Mackey's  Ritu- 
alist, p.  60. 

Say  some,  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem  was  so  situated. 
Well  hardly. 

"On  the  contrary,  the  very  situation  of  a  lodge  is  the 
exact  reverse  of  that  of  the  Temple.  The  entrance  of 
the  former  is  at  the  west,  that  of  the  latter  was  at  the 
east.  The  most  holy  place  in  a  lodge  is  its  eastern 
end,  and  that  of  the  Temple  was  its  western  ex- 
tremity."— Mackey's  Manual,  p.  26. 

Is  Freemasonry  sun-worship? — "The  number 
twelve  was  celebrated  as  a  mystical  number  in  the  an- 
cient systems  of  sun-worship,  of  which  it  has  already 
been  said  that  Masonry  is  a  philosophical  develops 
ment." — Mackey's  Manual,  p.  100. 

Not  something  like  sun-worship  but  a  development 
of  sun-worship. 

The  same  as  described  in  the  viii.  of  Ezekiel, 
verses  5  to  18  inclusive.     Read  it. 

"It  is  evident  that  the  sun,  either  as  an  object  of 
worship  or  of  symbolization,  has  always  formed  an 
important  part  of  both  the  mysteries  and  the  systeni  of 


32  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

Freemasonry." — Pierson's   Traditions  of  Freemasonry, 

p.  87. 

"The  Worshipful  Master  himself  is  a  represent- 
ative of  the  Sun." — Morris'  Dictionary  of  Freemason- 
ry, p.  296. 

Robert  Morris,  Past  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Kentucky,  a  Grand  Inspectors  General  and 
the  poet  Laureate  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

"The  master  and  wardens  are  symbols  of  the  sun 
— the  Lodge,  of  the  Universe  or  the  World;  the  point 
also  is  the  symbol  of  the  same  sun,  and  the  surrounding 
circle  of  the  universe,  while  the  two  parallel  lines 
really  point,  not  to  two  saints,  but  to  the  two  northern 
and  southern  limits  of  the  sun's  course." — Mackey's 
Ritualist,  p.  63. 

"In  the  ancient  mysteries  these  three  pillars  repre- 
sented the  great  emblematical  Triad  of  Deity  ^  as  with 
us  they  refer  to  the  three  principal  officers  of  the 
lodge." — Pierson's  Traditions,  p.  55. 

"The  three  liglits,  like  the  three  principal  officers, 
and  the  three  principal  supports,  refer  undoubtedly  to  the 
three  stations  of  the  sun — its  rising  in  the  east,  its 
meridian  in  the  south,  and  its  setting  in  the  west — and 
thus  the  symbolism  of  the  Locfge,  as  typical  of  the 
world,  continues  to  be  preserved." — Mackey's  Manual, 

P-  5^- 

The  cabletow. — "In  the  mysteries  of   India,  the 

aspirant  was  invested  with  a  consecrated  sash  or  girdle, 

which  he  was  directed  to  wear  next  his  skin.       It  was 

manufactured   with   many   mysterious   ceremonies,  and 

said  to  possess  the  power  of  preserving  the  wearer  from 


MASONIC  SUN  WORSHIP.  33 

personal  dange7\  It  consisted  of  a  cord  composed  of 
three  times  three  threads  twisted  together  and  fastened 
at  the  end  with  a  knot,  and  was  called  zennar.  Hence 
comes  our  Cabletow." — Pierson's  Traditions,  p.  29. 

Hoodwink. — "He  maintanied  the  same  character  in 
tlie  ancient  mysteries.  Emphatically  a  profane^  en^ 
veloped  in  darkness^  poor  and  destitute  of  spiritual 
knowledge,  and  emblematically  naked.  The  material 
darkness  which  is  2^roduced  by  the  (hoodwink)  is  an 
emblem  of  the  darkness  of  his  soul." -r- Pierson's 
Traditions,  p.  39. 

The  apron. — "All  the  ancient  statues  of  the 
heathen  gods  which  have  been  discovered  in  Egypt, 
Greece,  Persia,  Hindoostan  or  America  are  uniformally 
decorated  with  aprons.  Hence  is  deduced  the  antiquity 
of  this  article  of  apparel." — Pierson's  Traditions,  p.  46. 

Why  KNEfcL  THE  candidate  toward  the  east? 
— "An  oath  taken  with  the  face  toward  the  east  was 
deemed  more  solemn  and  binding  than  when  taken 
with  the  face  toward  any  other  cardinal  point.  Oaths 
were  variously  confirmed:  by  lifting  up  the  hands  to 
heaven,  by  placing  them  on  the  altar,  or  on  a  stone, 
or  in  the  hands  of  the  person  administering  the  oath, 
etc.;  and  a  most  solemn  method  of  confirming  an  oath 
was  by  placing  a  drawn  sword  across  the  throat  of  the 
person  to  whom  it  was  administered,  and  invoking 
heaven,  earth  and  sea  to  witness  the  ratification." — 
Pierson's   Traditions,  pp.   34-5. 

The  illumination. — "The  Rite  of  Illumination 
is  a  very  ancient  ceremony  and  constituted  an  im- 
portant feature  in  all  the  mysteries  of  the  early  ages. 


34  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

In  the  Egyptian,  Cabirian,  Sidonian,  Elusinian,  Scandi- 
navian, and  Druidical  Rituals,  it  held  a  prominent 
place,  and  in  them  all  represented  the  same  ideas.  It 
marked  the  termination  of  the  mystic  pilgrimage 
through  gloom  and  night,  and  was  emblematical  of 
that  moral  and  intellectual  light  which  pours  its  divine 
radiance  on  the  mind  after  it  has  conquered  prejudice, 
and  passion,  and  ignorance,  with  which  it  has  so  long 
been  struggling." 

"Yet  this  Rite  does  not  commemorate  that  event 
simply  as  an  historical,  material  fact,  but  rather  because 
it  symbolizes  the  release  of  the  soul  from  darkness,  and 
ignorance,  and  sin — from  the  chaos  and  confusion  of  a 
sensual  and  selfish  life — and  its  establishment  in  the 
light  and  glory  of  virtue  and  knowledge." — Sickels' 
Ahiman  Rezon,  p.  64. 

The  blazing  star. — "The  Blazing  Star  is  said 
by  Webb  to  be  commemorative  of  the  star  which  ap- 
peared to  guide  the  wise  men  of  the  East  to  the  place 
of  our  Saviour's  nativity.  This,  which  is  one  of  the 
ancient  interpretations  of  the  symbol,  being  considered 
as  too  sectarian  in  its  character,  and  unsuitable  to  the 
universal  religion  of  Masonry,  has  been  omitted  since 
the  meeting  of  the  Gj  and  Lecturers  in  Baltimore,  in 
1842." — Mackey's  Manual,  p.  50. 

Thus  was  eliminated  the  last  remote  reference  to 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Freemasonry  is  asChristless  as  the 
tomb  of  Joseph  after  the  resurrection,  or  the  Mecca  of 
Mohammedism.  So  bitterly  anti-Christian  is  Masonry 
that  it  must  needs  insult  our  Christian  civilization  by 
doubly  dating  its  official  records  and  lodge  documents 


MASONIC    SUN    WORSHIP.  35 

from  the  Christian  Era,  A.  D.,  to  A.  L.,  or  the  "Year 
of  Light."     But  we  hasten  to  examine  two  more  points. 

Hiram  Abif. — "A  very  hmited  know^ledge  of 
the  history  of  primitive  worships  and  mysteries  is  neces- 
sary to  enable  any  person  to  recognize  in  the  Master 
Mason  Hiram,  the  Osiris  of  the  Egyptians,  the  Mithras 
of  the  Persians,  the  Bacchus  of  the  Greeks,  the  Atys 
of  the  Phrygians,  of  which  these  people  celebrated  the 
passion,  death  and  resurrection,  as  Christians  celebrate 
to-day  that  of  Jesus  Christ." — General  History  of  Free- 
masonry, by  Emmanuel  Rebold,  Past  Deputy  of  the 
Masonic  Grand  Orient  of  France,  p.  393. 

"One  thing,  at  least,  is  incapable  of  refutation ;  and 
that  is,  that  we  are  indebted  to  the  Tyrian  Masons  for 
the  introduction  of  the  symbol  of  Hiram  Abif.  The 
idea  of  the  symbol,  although  modified  by  the  Jewish 
Masons,  is  not  Jewish  in  its  inception.  It  was  evidently 
])orrowed  from  the  pagan  mysteries,  where  Bacchus, 
Adonis,  Proserpine,  and  a  host  of  other  apotheosized 
beings  play  the  same  role  that  Hiram  does  in  the 
Masonic  mysteries."— Mackey's  Masonic  Symbolism, 
p.  20. 

"The  legend  of  the  third  degree  has  been  con- 
sidered of  so  much  importance  that  it  has  been  preserved 
in  the  symbolism  of  every  Masonic  rite.  No  matter 
what  modification  or  alterations  the  general  system  may 
have  undergone — no  matter  how  much  the  ingenuity  or 
the  imagination  of  the  founders  of  rites  may  have  per- 
verted or  corrupted  other  symbols,  abolishing  the  old, 
and  substituting  new  ones,  the  legend  of  the  Temple 
Builder  has  ever  been  left  untouched,  to  present  itself 


36  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

m  all  the  integrity  of  its  ancient  mythical  form.  The 
idea  of  the  legend  was  undoubtedly  borrowed  from  the 
Ancient  Mysteries,  where  the  lesson  was  the  same  as 
that  now  conveyed  in  the  third  degree  of  Masonry." — 
Mackey's  Manual,  p.  99. 

"The  ceremonial  of  the  Degree  of  Master  Mason  is 
unquestionably  the  most  important,  impressive,  and 
instructive  portion  of  the  Ritual  of  Ancient  Freema- 
sonry." 

"That  portion  of  the  Rite  which  is  connected  with 
the  legend  of  the  Tyrian  Artist,  is  well  worthy  the  deep 
and  earnest  study  of  thoughtful  men." 

"Against  the  notion  that  it  is  the  representation  of 
a  scene  that  actually  occurred  in  the  Temple,  it  may 
well  be  urged  that,  outside  of  Masonic  tradition,  there 
is  no  proof  that  an  event,  such  as  is  related  in  connection 
with  the  Temple-Builder, ever  transpired;  and,  besides, 
the  ceremony  is  older^  by  more  than  a  thousand  years, 
than  the  age  of  Solomon.  There  are  characters  im- 
pressed upon  it  which  cannot  be  mistaken.  It  is  thor- 
oughly Egyptian,  and  is  closely  allied  to  the  supreme  rite 
of  Isianic  Mysteries." — Sickels'  General  Ahiman  Re- 
zon,  p.  195. 

The  rite  of  circumambulation. — "The  cir- 
cumambulation  among  the  Pagan  nations  was  referred 
to  the  great  doctrine  of  Sabaism,  or  sun-worship.  Free- 
masonry alone  has  preserved  the  primitive  meaning, 
which  was  a  symbolic  allusion  to  the  sun  as  the  source 
of  physical  light,  and  the  most  wonderful  work  of  the 
Grand  Architect  of  the  Universe.  The  reason  assigned 
for  the  ceremony  in  the  modern  lectures  of  Webb  and 


MASONIC  SUN     WORSHIP.  3/ 

Cross  is  absolutely  beneath  criticism.  The  Lodge  rep- 
resents the  world;  the  three  principal  officers  repre- 
sent the  sun  in  his  three  principal  positions — at  rising, 
at  meridian,  and  at  setting.  The  circumambulation, 
therefore,  alludes  to  the  apparent  course  of  the  solar  orb, 
through  those  points,  around  the  world." — Mackey's 
Manual  of  the  Lodge,  p.  24. 

General  Summary. — This  chapter  demonstrates 
that  the  "pure  theism"  or  "natural  religion"  of  Free- 
masonry is  practical  deism,  i.  e., — devilism."  See  1  Cor. 
X.  30.  What  could  be  more  conclusive.  Volumes 
might  be  given  showing  that  ^^^r^M^/^'/;^  is  unadulterated 
sun-worship.  And  such  it  will  go  down  to  all  history. 
A  temple  of  idolatry  within  the  shadow  of  almost 
every  church  and  cathedral;  temples  of  paganism  in 
nightly  session,  and  men  bowing  in  adoration  and  wor- 
ship of  the  Sun,  Moon  and  Stars;  incense  rising  from 
thousands  of  altars  to  Osiris,  not  amid  the  twilight  of 
antiquity  in  Samaria,  or  Ancient  Egypt,  but  in  the 
United  States  and  in  the  Nineteenth  century,  amid  the 
full  blaze  of  Gospel  light,  and  wonderful  popular  evan- 
gelization. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  the  Chau- 
tauqua Movement  and  the  Society  of  Christian  Endeav- 
or are  doing  all  in  their  power  to  popularize  religion 
and  Bible  study,  but  how  long  at  the  present  rate,  with 
their  vast  multitudes  of  workers,  will  it  take  to  convert 
America  from  idolatry,  or  overthrow  any  of  the  giant 
evils  of  the  day?  And  where  are  the  great  religious 
journah,  the  popular  churches  and  learned  doctors  of 
divinity,  amid  all  this  revived  heathenism?     It  will  be  a 


38  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

standing  astonishment  to  all  future  generations  that 
such  false  worship  should  flourish  so  long  in  a  nation 
that  is  raising  vast  sums  to  send  missionaries  to  evangel- 
ize idolaters  in  foreign  lands. 

Tlie  church,  ministry  and  laity,  will  carry  an  awful 
responsibility  to  the  judgment  for  their  criminal  silence 
and  comparative  inactivity,  at  this  late  hour,  amid  this 
mad  carnival  of  pagan  idolatry  and  lodge  heathenism. 

You  need  not  go  to  India,  Africa,  or  China,  or 
some  far  away  isle  of  the  sea  to  find  heathen  to  mission- 
ate  among.  What  America  most  needs  to-day  is  one 
grand  "Home  Missionary  Society"  to  purify  our  own 
nation  and  country  of  the  filthy,  obscene  worship  of  old 
Osiris  and  Isis,  and  all  the  gods  of  benighted  paganism. 
The  man  or  woman  has  little  moral  heroism  who  must 
be  driven  by  sheer  force  of  public  opinion  to  espouse 
and  2)ush  forward  a  grand  cause.  What  could  be  more 
degrading  and  demoralizing  to  true  religion  and  real 
piety  than  this  Sun-worship?  All  Christendom  should 
stand  as  one  man  against  these  God-defying,  Christ-re- 
jecting, man-degrading  and  soul-destroying  orders. 

Washing-ton  (Z>.  C.)  Star:  "While  we  are  send- 
ing missionaries  to  convert  the  heathen  on  the  other 
side  of  the  globe,  would  it  not  be  well  to  look  after  the 
heathen  nearer  home?" 

When  you  have  read  this  chapter  wfith  its  terrible 
indictment  of  the  Masonic  order,  please  remember  that 
this  is  only  the  beginning  of  the  end,  and  that  the  half 
has  not  been  told. 

For  years  these  facts  and  damaging  evidences  have 
been  accumulating  and  are  now  ready   for  the  public. 


MASONIC  SUN    WORSHIP. 


39 


"Tell  ye  your  children  of  it,  and  let  your  children 
tell  their  children,  and  their  children  another  genera- 
tion." 

And  now  a  few  plain  thoughts,  and  we  turn  to 
other  most  important  phases  of  this  question.  Many 
believe  with  Elder  Rufus  Smith,  that  a  house  divided 
against  itself,  not  against  the  outside  world,  cannot 
stand.  That  the  church  of  Christ  should  be  one  in 
fact,  as  well  as  in  theory.  That  sectarianism,  schisms, 
and  divisions  should  and  doubtless  will  dissolve  before 
a  riper  Christianity.  That  the  "orthodox  churches" 
should  lay  aside  their  denominational  differences,  and 
come  together  on  common  Bible  grounds.  Then,  with 
more  Christ,  and  less  creed,  the  gospel  will  become  a 
mighty,  irresistible  power  for  the  salvation  of  the  world. 
All  of  one  spirit  and  of  one  mind,  heart  to  heart  and 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  unity  of  purpose,  harmony  of 
action,  led  by  the  word,  and  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
what  a  splendid  army  all  true  believers  will  form.  Not 
one  for  Paul,  another  for  Apollos,  but  all  for  Jesus. 
No  condoning  of  evil,  no  fellowshiping  with  errOr,  no 
mere  ritualistic  formalism.  A  gospel  that  will  separate, 
and  cleanse,  and  purify.  A  living  faith,  a  working 
devotion,  a  burning  zeal — a  Christianity  that  means 
something — a  religion  that  can  be  recognized,  seen  and 
felt.  Not  in  long  prayers,  broad  phylacteries,  great 
religious  feasts,  and  gaudy  temples  like  that  over  which 
Christ  wept.  But  like  that  which  led  Jesus  to  trial 
before  the  high  priests,  and  to  a  death  on  the  cross; 
that  led  Stephen,  Peter,  Paul,  and  the  early  martyrs; 
that  led  Luther,  Calvin  and  Wesley;  that  is  now  lead- 


40  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

ing  reformers  as  grand  as  the  world  ever  saw.  Reform- 
ers like  Elijah,  Josiah,  and  Hezekiah,  who  are  to  destroy 
the  false  worship,  altars,  images,  abominations  and 
detestable  things  in  these  United  States.  Great  multi- 
tudes in  all  the  denominations  are  ready  to  echo  back 
these  sentiments;  they  have  not  in  their  hearts  bowed 
the  knee  to  Baal,  or  adored  idols,  and  their  constant 
prayer  is  that  the  gospel  may  cover  the  earth  as  the 
waters  do  the  great  deep. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONRY. 

A  little  common  sense  is  not  a  bad  thing  to  have 
around  in  a  discussion  like  this,  and  a  very  little  of  the 
article  goes  a  great  way  in  investigating  Masonry.  We 
will  go  at  this  just  like  we  would  at  any  other  business 
matter,  and  see  how  we  shall  come  out.  Did  we  wish 
to  know  the  religious  tenets  of  the  Methodist,  Baptist, 
Presbyteria-n,  Roman  Catholic,  or  any  other  church, 
would  we  be  likely  to  pass  around  and  interrogate  this 
brother,  that  sister,  the  pious  deacon,  the  learned 
preacher,  or  even  the  aged  bishop,  who  has  grown  grey 
expounding  the  theology  of  his  faith?  You,  as  an 
intelligent  person,  answer  emphatically:  "  No!  because 
they  each  and  all  disagree  as  to  many  of  the  definitions 
of  their  doctrinal  points;  therefore,  the  most  reliable 
mode  of  procedure  is  to  secure  the  authorized  discipline 
or  catechism  of  the  particular  church,  read  it  together, 
and  then  we  will  know  for  ourselves  the  doctrine  and 
creed  as  authoritatively  interpreted  by  the  church  itself." 
Correct.  And  now  suppose  we  wish  to  learn  what  the 
federal  and  tlie  state  laws  are,  shall  we  question  the 
justice  of  the  peace  who  has  just  been  inaugurated  into 
his  important  office,  or  shall  we  interview  those  old 
attorneys  who  have  been  quibbling  over  the  interpreta- 
tion of  law  since  youth?  Shall  we  necessarily  appeal 
to  the  veteran  jurist  who  has  been  for  lo!  these  many 
years  on  the  bench,  rendering  wise  and  just  decisions? 
Not  a  bit  of  it!  That  noted  judge  simply  renders  his 
rulings  by  the  statutes,  and  we  as  honest,  sensible  men 

41 


42  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

can  read  the  general  or  local  statutes,  and  know  defin- 
itely what  are  the  laws  of  the  land.  When  a  man  says 
that  he  is  a  Mormon,  Mohammedan,  or  a  Christian,  we 
as  intelligent  men  simply  test  the  matter  by  placing  the 
person  along  side  the  Mormon  bible,  the  Koran,  or  the 
Christian  Scriptures,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  if  he  meas- 
ure up,  well  and  good ;  if  not,  he  is  pronounced  a  hypo- 
ci'ite.  A  man  who  questions  the  correctness  of  his  own 
creed  is  really  its  worst  enemy,  because  he  is  practically 
playing  the  hypocrite.  So,  too,  in  politics,  the  man 
who  harps  loud  and  long  about  liberty,  democracy  and 
republicanism,  while  doing  homage  to  despotism  and 
imperialism,  is  a  worse  enemy  to  the  American  repub- 
Hc  than  the  foreign  invader,  landing  on  our  shores  with 
musket  and  cannon.  Any  anti-American  institution, 
that  tends  to  the  destruction  of  public  morals  and 
American  principles,  must  be  suppressed,  or  eventually 
bring  about  public  discord,  anarchy  and  ruin.  Free- 
masonry must  stand  or  fall  by  its  own  testimony,  prac- 
tices and  utterances.  It  has  made  that  record,  and  we 
shall  proceed  with  this  investigation  without  fear  or 
favor: 

THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  FRATERNITY. 

"The  mode  of  government  observed  by  the  Fra- 
ternity will  best  explain  the  importance,  and  give  the 
truest  idea  of  the  nature  and  design  of  the  Masonic 
system."— Webb's  Freemason's  Monitor,  p.  3. 

"  The  mode  of  government  observed  by  the  frater- 
nity will  give  the  best  idea  of  the  nature  and  design  of 
the  Masonic  institution," — Sickels'  Freemasons'  Moni- 
tor, p.  10. 


GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONRY.  43 

Very  well;  it  is  the  best  explanation  that  we  are 
after,  so  we  will  examine  into  Masonic  government. 

Synopsis  of  Masonic  Law. — "The  system  of 
Masonic  law  has  little  of  the  republican  or  democratic 
spirit  about  it." — Rob  Morris,  in  Webb's  Freemasons' 
Monitor,  revised  edition,  p.  195. 

Well,  that  is  not  very  encouraging  to  patriotic  men, 
but  perhaps  all  will  be  satisfactorily  explained  as  we 
progress. 

"  We  may  not  call  in  question  the  propriety  of  this 
organization;  if  we  would  be  Masons  we  must  yield 
private  judgment,  '  To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony 
— if  any  man  walk  not  by  this  rule  it  is  because  there 
is  no  light  in  him.' " — Pierson's  Traditions  of  Freema- 
sonry, p.  30. 

That  certainly  is  not  republicanism  or  democracy, 
because  they  are  inclined  to  give  a  man  increased  lib- 
erty and  privileges  instead  of  calling  for  the  surrender 
thereof.  But  let  us  see  how  far  this  surrender  of  per- 
sonal liberty  is  demanded  of  the  Mason. 

"That  this  surrender  of  free-v/ill  to  Masonic  author- 
ity is  absolute^  (within  the  scope  of  the  landmarks  of 
the  order,)  and  ferpetuaL^  may  be  inferred  from  an 
examination  of  the  emblem  (the  shoe  or  sandal)  which 
is  used  to  enforce  this  lesson  of  resignation.  The  eso- 
tery  of  the  Masonic  rituals  gives  the  fullest  assurance 
of  this;  'once  a  Mason  always  a  Mason,'  is  an  apho- 
rism in  our  literature  conveying  an  undeniable  truth.^' 
Morris^  Dictionary,  p.  29. 

Then  the  surrender  of  personal,  private  judgment 
and  free-will  to  Freemasonry  is  complete  and  binding 


44  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

for  all  time.  Well  said,  indeed;  for  surely  that  is  any- 
thing except  Americanism,  as  either  republicanism 
or  democracy. 

"A  Mason  should  know  how  to  obey  those  who  are 
set  over  him,  however  inferior  they  may  be  in  worldly 
rank  or  condition." — Macoy's  Masonic  ^Monitor,  p,  14. 

What  is  this  authority  set  over  the  Freemason  to 
which  he  has  bound  himself, and  what  will  be  the  result 
of  disobedience? 

"Disobedience  and  want  of  respect  to  Masonic  supe- 
riors is  an  offense  for  which  the  transgressor  bubjccts 
himself  to  punishment," — Mackey's  Masonic  Jurispru- 
dence, p.  511. 

Superiors  and  inferiors — queer  government  that — 
Americans  are  all  equals.  How  severely  will  an 
offender  be  punished? 

Disobedience. — "Under  the  head  of  Discipline  is 
given  a  catalogue  of  fifteen  prime  classes  of  un-Ma- 
sonic  acts,  of  which  this  is  one.  It  is  so  subversive  of 
the  groundwork  of  Masonry,  in  which  obedience  is 
most  strongly  inculcated,  that  the  Mason  who  disobeys 
a  due  summons  subjects  himself  to  severe  penalties." — 
Morris'  Dictionary  of  Freemasonry,  pp.  91,  92. 

This  no  doubt  was  the  punishment  meted  out  to  Wil- 
liam Morgan  and  many  others  for  their  disobedience. 
Who  is  the  representative  of  Freemasonry,  wielding 
such  extraordinary  authority? 

"As  a  presiding  officer,  the  Master  is  possessed  of 
extraordinary  powers,  which  belong  to  the  presiding 
officer  of  no  other  association." — Mackey's  Masonic 
Jurisprudence,  p.  344. 


GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONRY.  45 

Indeed!  His  Majesty  must  be  quite  a  privileged 
character,  having  such  wonderful  powers  that  are 
possessed  by  no  other  presiding  officer. 

"The  powers  and  privileges  of  the  Master  of  a 
lodge  are  by  no  means  limited  in  extent." — Chase's 
Digest  of  Masonic  Law,  p.  380. 

Not  limited  means  unlimited,  and  that  is  just  about 
as  much  as  an  ordinary  mortal  can  comprehend. 

"The  power  of  a  Master  in  his  lodge  is  absolute." 
— Mackey's  Lexicon  of  Freemasonry,  p.  296. 

There  it  is,  a  system  of  absolute  masters;  and  an 
absolute  master  cannot  exist  without  abject  slavery; 
one  is  necessary  to  the  other,  so  who  are  the  miserable 
Masonic  slaves?  Let  the  reader  answer  that  all-im- 
portant question. 

"Hence,  we  find  that  the  Master's  authority  in  the 
lodge  is  despotic  as  the  Sun  in  the  firmament,  which 
was  placed  there  by  the  Creator,  never  to  deviate  from 
its  accustomed  course,  till  the  declaration  is  promulgat- 
ed that  time  shall  be  no  more." — Oliver's  Signs  and 
Symbols  of  Freemasonry,  p.  142. 

Where,  in  all  the  annals  of  history,  ancient  or 
modern,  describing  all  the  monarchies,  despotisms  and 
tyrannies  from  the  dawn  of  creation  down  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  will  you  find  a  better  description  of  an  irre- 
sponsible, absolute  despot,  than  the  above  synopsis  of 
the  power  of  the  Master  of  a  subordinate  Masonic 
lodge?  To  whom,  or  to  what,  is  this  Masonic  nabob 
beholden? 

"The  Master  is  responsible  for  his  official  acts  not 
to  his  lodge,  but  to    the    Grand    Lodge,   or    (which  is 


46  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

the  same  thing)  to  the  Grand    Master    for  the  time  be- 
ing."— Webb's  Freemasons'    Monitor,  p.  271. 

Wh^t  is  the  nature  and  power  of  the  Grand 
Lodge?  is  the  next  question  staring  us  in  the  face  for 
adjustment. 

Grand  lodges — jurisdiction  of:  "A  Grand 
Lodge  is  invested  with  power  and  authority  over  all 
the  craft  within  its  jurisdiction.  It  is  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Appeal  in  all  Masonic  cases,  and  to  its  de- 
crees unlimited  obedience  must  be  paid,  by  every  lodge 
and  every  Mason  situated  within  its  control.  The 
government  of  Grand  Lodges  is,  therefore,  completely 
despotic.  While  a  Grand  Lodge  exists,  its  edicts  must 
be  respected  and  obeyed  without  examination  by  its 
subordinate  lodges." — Mackey's  Lexicon  of  Freema- 
^>sonry,  p.  1S3. 

\/'  A  Masonic  case  is  one  in  which  either  a  Mason  or 
'Masonry  is  interested.  The  Grand  Lodge  being  com- 
pletely despotic,  therefore  the  Worshipful  Master 
of  a  subordinate  lodge  is  as  much  a  slave  to  it  as  are 
the  poor  deceived  and  deluded  victims  over  whom  he 
lords  it  with  such  pomposity. 

''It  is  true  that  the  rule  of  the  Grand  Master  is 
\despotic,  and  that  the  Grand  Mastership  is  a  despot- 
ism. It  is  true  that  no  despot  that  ever  swayed  the 
sceptre  of  his  authority  could  be  more  despotic  than 
the  Grand  Master,  but  there  are  circumstances  that 
ameliorate  the  despotism  of  the  Masonic  Grand  Mas- 
ter." 

"The  Grand  Master  is  despotic  in  the  power  he 
possesses.     He  has  no  peer, — there  is  none  that  has  the 


GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONRY.  47 

right  to  question  his  rule.  Once  in  his  seat,  there  is  no 
power  that  can  displace  him, — there  is  no  tongue  that 
can  ask  him.  What  doest  thou?  There  is  n.o  arm  that 
can  reach  him  that  has  the  prerogative  of  doing  him 
harm.  And  the  propriety  of  this  aosolute  rule  of 
the  despot  is  clear." 

"The  Grand  Master  looks  upon  the  members  of 
his  jurisdiction  as  a  father  looks  upon  his  children. 
Over  them  he  exercises  unlimited  control.  The  right 
is  not  reserved  in  the  Masonic  compact  to  question  his 
authority,  nor  to  dispute  his  will." 

"Never  was  there  an  act  contemplated  that  had 
in  it  more  of  the  power  of  the  despot,  or  the  affection 
of  the  fondest  father.  It  was  an  act  that  plunged  the 
knife  of  the  father  into  the  heart  of  the  child." 

"Such  a  patriarchate  as  that  of  the  family  of  Abra- 
ham, is  the  brotherhood  of  Masonry." — Masonic  Grand 
Lodge  Report  of  Iowa. 

But  suppose,  as  is  often  the  case,  that  some  con- 
scientious man  who  has  been  inveigled  into  the  order 
should  object  and  rebel  against  some  mandate  or  edict 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  that  he  is  fully  convinced  and  per- 
suaded is  not  right  and  proper;  will  he  be  coerced  into 
a  compliance  therewith? 

"The  first  duty  of  the  reader  of  this  Synopsis,  is  to 
obey  the  edicts  of  his  Grand  Lodge.  Right  or  wrong, 
his  very  existence  as  a  Mason  hangs  upon  obedience  to 
the  powers  immediately  set  above  him.  Failure  in 
this  must  infallibly  bring  down  exfiilsion^  which,  as  a 
Masonic  death,  ends  all.  The  one  unpardonable  crime 
in  a  Mason  is  contumacy^  or  disobedience." — Webb's 
Freemasons'  Monitor,  p.  196. 


4b'  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

What  is  the  one  unpardonable  crime  in  a  Freema- 
son? Is  it  lying,  stealing,  murder,  or  a  violation  of 
civil  law?  Nay,  verily,  but  it  is  simply  to  disobey  Ma- 
sonic law.  That  law  must  be  obeyed,  right  or 
WRONG.  Does  this  low-down  slaver}^  run  through 
every  department  of  Freemasonry,  or  only  in  the 
"Blue  Lodge"  and  not  m  the  higher  grades? 

"The  principle  of  submission  and  obedience  runs 
through  the  whole  system  and  constitutes  one  of  the 
greatest  safeguards  of  our  institution.  The  Mason  is 
obedient  to  the  Master,  the  Master  and  Lodge  to  the 
Grand  Lodge,  and  this  in  its  turn  to  the  old  landmarks 
and  ancient  regulations  of  the  order.  Thus  is  a  due 
degree  of  subordination  kept  up,  and  the  institution 
preserved  in  its  primitive  purity." — Pierson's  Traditions 
of  Freemasorry,  p.  30. 

This  is  a  most  galling  system  of  human  slavery,  a 
hundred-fold  more  degrading  than  ever  was  African 
bondage,  in  that  both  soul  and  body  are  the  property  of 
Freemasonry,  leaving  the  individual  member  a  mere 
machine  in  the  hands  of  Masonic  superiors.  Do  Masons, 
deep  down  in  their  souls,  endorse  and  revere  such  a  vile 
system  as  Freemasonry?  The  Masonic  lodge  is  held 
together  by  obligations.  Without  the  horrible  oaths, 
backed  by  the  awful  penalties  of  death,  the  authority  of 
the  order  would  be  only  a  rope  of  sand.  Destroy  the 
obligation  and  you  free  the  Masonic  slave.  The  man 
who  does  not  consider  his  lodge  oath  sacred  is  not  a 
Mason.  "  Where  were  you  first  prepared  to  be 
made  a  Mason  ?  "     "  In   my  heart." 

Preparation — Blue  Lodge  Masonry. — <*  If  an 


GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONY. 


49 


applicant  is  not  first  prepared  in  his  heart,  he  will  never 
make  a  Mason,  no  matter  what  dramatic  exercises  he 
may  be  put  through,  or  what  discipline  exerted  upon 
him. — Morris^  Dictio7iary  of  Freemasonry^  fp,  24jy 
244, 

What  is  it  that  binds  a  man  to  this  "Invisible  Em- 
pire "  or  to  this  secret  despotism  ?  We  go  to  the  above 
named  Masonic  dictionary  for  "  more  light." 

Covenant  [blue  lodge  masonry]. — "The obliga- 
tions of  Masonry  are,  in  the  sense  of  the  defiiiition,  cov- 
enants, and  so  are  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws." — 
Ibid,  p.  y6. 

The  complete  covenant,  then,  is  the  oath  that  binds  the 
novitiate  to  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  and  the  consti- 
tution and  by-laws  to  which  he  is  bound,  *'  What  is  it 
makes  you  a  Mason  ?  "     "  My  obligation." 

"It  is  '  the  obligation  which  makes  the  Mason,'  and 
the  difference  between  one  Mason  and  another  consists 
simply  in  the  fact  that  one  keeps  his  obligations  better 
than  another ^"^ — Morris"*  Dictionary  of  Freemasonry^ 
p.  21S. 

Every  patriotic  American  is  interested  to  know  what 
is  the  nature  and  form  of  the  Masonic  obligation.  Is  it 
simply  a  promise  or  affirmation,  or  is  it  construed  to  be 
an  oath  with  all  the  binding  force  of  the  same  ?  Turn- 
ing again  to  our  friendly  dictionary  we  learn  this  : 

"  An  affirmation  is  not  esteemed  equivalent  to  an  oath 
in  Masonry,  however  it  may  be  in  common  law,  and 
is  not  legitimate  in  the  workings  of  the  lodge." — M'or- 
ris^  Dictionary  of  Freemasonry  ^  p.  ij, 

"  Upon  the  question  as  to  whether  a  candidate  who 


50  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

entertains  conscientious  scruples  about  swearing,  but  is 
willing  to  affirm,  is  thereby  stopped  from  taking  the  de- 
grees of  Masonry;  your  committee  are  of  opinion  tha^ 
so  far  as  the  legal  asj^ect  of  the  matter  is  concerned,  that 
an  affirmation  ma.de  under  the  same  solemn  forms  in 
which  an  oath  is  administered,  is  just  as  binding  on  the 
conscience  as  an  oath,  but  the  decision  of  the  Most 
Worshipful  Grand  Master  is  based  upon  the  ground  that 
our  ritual  does  not  permit  the  substitution  of  the  word 
*affirm'  for  the  word  '  swear.'  " —  Texas  Masonic  Grand 
Lodge  Report  for  iSyg,     Also  Alissouri  Report^  1880. 

Now,  does  Freemasonry  consider  and  teach  its  devo- 
tees to  consider  the  so-called  Masonic  oath  equal  or  su- 
perior in  binding  force  to  the  civil  oath  .? 

Covenants,  [see  also  discipline;  obligation.] 
— "  The  Covenant  is  irrevocable.  Even  though  a  Ma- 
son may  be  suspended  or  expelled ,  though  he  may 
withdraw  from  the  Lodge,  journey  into  countries  where 
Masons  cannot  be  found,  or  become  a  subject  of  despotic 
governments  that  persecute,  or  a  communicant  of  big- 
oted churches  that  denounce  Masonry,  he  cannot  cast  off 
or  nullify  his  Masonic  covenant.  No  law  of  the  land 
can  affect  it — no  anathema  of  the  church  weaken  it.  It 
i>  irrevocable." — WchlPs  Freemasons'*  ^lonitor^p,  240, 

This  accounts  for  many  strange  and  mysterious  pro- 
ceedings in  our  would-be  court^  of  justice  and  in  the 
churches,  NO  law  of  the  land  (that  is,  civil  law,)  can 
even  affect  this  lodge  oath  or  covenant.  No  anathema 
of  the  church  (that  is,  divine  law,)  can  so  much  as 
weaken  it.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  criminals  go  scot- 
free  when  the  sheriff  that  empanels  the  jury,  enough  of 


GOVERNMENT  OF  FREEMASONRY.         51 

the  jurors  impaneled  to  bring  in  a  divided  verdict, 
enough  witnesses  drummed  up  to  make  the  evidence 
appear  contradictory,  the  attorneys  of  the  prosecution 
and  of  the  defense,  and  the  judge  on  the  bench,  ar^ 
irrevocably  bound  to  the  prisoner  at  the  bar  as  sworn 
brethren,  by  an  obligation  considered  paramount  to  all 
others, civil  or  divine? 

In  the  Philadelphia  Press  of  Sept.  4,  1891,  appears  a 
despatch,  the  story  of  ex-letter  carrier  O.  A.  Gardner, 
who  was  recently  on  trial  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  for 
abstracting  money  from  mail- matter  entrusted  to  him, 
again  attests  the  truth  of  Anti-masonic  statements  made 
over  and  over  again  and  confirmed  too  frequently  by  the 
records  of  the  courts.  The  evidence  of  Gardner's  guilt 
seems  to  have  been  well  established  before  the  trial  be- 
gan, for  although  he  had  been  acquitted  on  one  charge,, 
he  stood  indicted  on  a  second  one.  The  defense,  by  F. 
F.  Davis,  Gardner's  attorney,  charged  that  he  had  been 
persuaded  to  confess  his  guilt  by  Inspector- General 
Gould,  of  Chicago,  on  the  promise  that  Gould,  as  a  fel" 
low  Mason,  would  see  that  he  should  be  acquitted. 
Gardner  himself,  the  reporter  continues,  was  then  put 
on  the  stand,  and  told  the  story  in  detail.  Gould,  he 
said,  had  made  known  to  him  the  fact  that  both  were 
Freemasons,  and  urged  hnn  to  confess  on  the  promise 
that  his  acquittal  was  assured.  Gould,  he  said,  w^ent 
further,  and  declared  that  had  he  known  Gardner  was  a 
Mason  before  his  arrest,  he  (Gould)would  have  warned 
him.  This  testimony,  continues  the  report,  *'  made  a 
big  sensation,"  as  Davis  (Gardner's  attorney)  is  himself 
a  Freemason.     ''  In  fact,"  says  the  same  authorit}/,  <'the 


52  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

judge,  the  lawyers  on  both  sides,  and  most  of  the  jury 
on  the  first  trial,  were  Masons."  The  Los  Angeles 
(Cal.)  Times  savs:  "The  skilled  practitioner, wlio  has 
a  client  to  defend  before  a  jury,  will  always  ascertain 
whether  the  accused  is  a  member  of  any  secret  organi- 
'  zation.  An  effort  is  then  made  to  secure  one  or  more 
jur3^men  who  are  members  of  the  order,  after  which 
care  is  taken  that  the  accused  prominently  displays  a 
badge  of  the  order  on  his  person,  where  the  jury  can 
see  it.  There  are  lawyers  who  boast  that  they  can  al- 
ways save  a  man  from  conviction  under  such  circum- 
stances, whatever  his  crime." 

We  call  attention  to  the  proper  swearing  of  lodge 
men  in  our  courts  to  make  it  legally  binding  on  them* 
Revised  Statutes  of  Missouri,  Vol.  second.  Chap.  119, 
Sec.  71 15,  page  1662,  reads:  "Officers  shall  adopt  most 
binding  on  conscience  when:  Whenever  the  court  or 
officer  by  whom  any  person  is  about  to  be  sworn,  shall 
be  satisfied  that  such  person  has  any  pecular  mode  of 
swearing  connected  with  or  in  addition  to  the  usual 
form  of  administering  oaths,  which  is  to  him  of  more 
solemn  and  binding  obligation,  the  court  or  officer  shall 
adopt  that  mode  which  shall  appear  to  be  most  binding 
on  the  conscience  of  the  person  sworn." 

Thus,  according  to  law,  no  lodge  man  is  legally 
sworn  unless  "  duly  and  truly  prepared  "  and  sworn  in 
the  peculiar  form  adopted  by  the  lodge.  That  is,  to 
swear  a  Masonic  preacher,  he  should  be  stripped  as  a 
Master  Mason,  kneeled  on  his  naked  knees,  and  pre- 
pared just  as  when  taking  the  Master's  oath,  the  officer 
administering  about  three  words  at  a  time,  and  no  Ma- 


GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONRY.  53 

son  IS  legally  sworn  unless  in  that  way.  The  top  of 
our  ambition  is  to  become  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Then 
we  want  to  swear  a  Masonic  preacher  according  to  that 
statute.  We  will  deputize  constables  enough  to  divest 
him  of  his  coat,  vest,  boots  and  pants;  both  drawer-legs 
will  go  up  above  tlie  knees,  both  sleeves  above  the  el- 
bow, both  breasts  be  made  bare,  a  rope  put  three  times 
around  his  body,  and  a  hoodwink  over  his  eyes,  then  one 
Freemason  will  be  sworn  according  to  law.  And 
friends  in  other  states  will  find  this  statute  allows  lodge 
men  to  slip  out  of  telling  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  and  they  do  it  legally.  Look  it  up.  Is 
there  no  escape  from  Masonic  thralldom  ?  is  the  now  all- 
important  question. 

"No  method  is  provided  for  in  the  Masonic  jurispru- 
dence of  modern  times  by  which  a  member  can  with- 
draw himself  from  the  authority  of  the  society.  He 
may  resign  his  membership  in  the  lodge,  deny  its  gov- 
ernment, even  repudiate  the  ties  by  which  he  is  bound 
to  the  institution,  yet  that  authority  remains  unbroken 
A  *  due  summons' from  the  lodge  or  Grand  Lodge  is 
obligatory  upon  him;  should  he  refuse  obedience  he 
will  be  disgracefully  expelled  from  the  society  with  pub- 
lic marks  of  ignominy  that  can  never  be  erased." — Mor- 
ris* Dictionary  of  Preemasonry^  p,  2g, 

What  arrogant  system  is  this,  that  proposes  to  take  a 
man's  manhood  from  him  by  imposing  upon  him  an  ob- 
ligation that  defies  both  the  civil  as  well  as  the  divine 
law?  It  even  declares  vengeance  on  all  who  dare  to 
think  and  act  as  free  men  without  first  consulting  the 
Masonic  covenant.     No  wonder  seceded   Masons  and 


54  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

out-s])oken  non- Masons  are  abused,  vilified,  slandered 
and  hounded  down  by  Masonic  minions.  ''  Public 
marks  of  ignominy  that  can  never  be  erased."  The 
American  people  will  provide  a  way.  Joseph  Cook,  in 
his  lecture,  goes  straight  to  the  core  of  the  whole  busi- 
ness. vSee  it  in  Our  Day ^  Boston,  Mass.,  for  August, 
1891.  These  obligations  are  illegal,  unlawful,  treason- 
able, and  the  remedy  is  to  punish  all  who  impose  or  in- 
voke them.  Nothing  short  of  this  will  protect  society 
and  government. 

"  The  expulsion  of  a  Mason,  while  it  deprives  him  of 
every  privilege  with  which  his  Masonic  attachment 
endowed  him,  leaves  him  bound  by  every  part  and  point 
of  his  Masonic  covenant.  Of  this  no  act  of  his  own  or 
of  the  lodge  can  ever  divest  him.  The  tie  of  Afasonry 
is  perpetual." —  Wehh'^s  Freemason* s  Monitor^  f,  2^7. 

That  certainly  IS  a  queer  government  if  there  ever 
was  one.  The  mystery  of  the  whole  business  is  to  dis- 
cover how  under  the  sun  a  man  can  be  a  loyal  citizen 
of  any  civil  government  on  earth  and  at  the  same  time 
uphold  this  system  of  secret  despotism  that  boldly  and 
openly  defies  all  governments, 

"  There  is  no  charge  more  frequently  made  against 
Freemasonry  than  that  of  its  tendency  to  revolution  and 
conspiracy,  and  to  political  organizations  which  may 
affect  the  peace  of  society,  or  interfere  with  the  rights 
of  government." — Mackcy^s  Mystic  Tie  of  Frecfnason^ 

Well  does  this  great  Masonic  ruler  and  law -giver 
speak  the  truth  in  the  above,  for  time  and  again  differ- 
ent governments  have  been  compelled  to  suppress  Free- 


GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONRY.  55 

masonry  because  of  its  incompatibility  with  the  peace  of 
society  and  with  the  lav/s  of  the  land  in  that  it  harbored 
criminals  and  perverted  the  equitable  administration  of 
civil  law. 

*^  There  is  no  duty  more  forcibly  enjoined  in  Masonry 
than  that  of  warning  a  brother  of  danger  impending  to 
his  person  or  interests.  To  neglect  this  is  a  positive 
violation  of  obligation,  and  destroys  any  person's  claim 
to  be  entitled  a  Mason." — Morris*  Dictionary  of  Free- 
masonry^ f.  J2^, 

Are  Masons  obliged  to  give  this  warning  to  affiliates 
only,  or  must  they  always  warn  and  aid  one  another  in- 
discriminately.? ■ 

"We  are  to  give  aid  in  imminent  peril  when  Masonic- 
ally  called  upon,  not  lest  injustice  may  be  done  if  we 
pause  to  inquire  into  the  question  of  affiliation,  but  be- 
cause the  obligation  to  give  this  aid,  which  is  reciprocal 
among  all  Masons,  never  has  been,  and  never  can  be, 
canceled." — Mackey^s  Masonic  J urisfrudence^  p.  270. 

Shall  the  Mason  pause  to  inquire  as  to  anything 
when  Masonlcally  appealed  to  for  aid.? 

"  If  a  person  appeals  to  us  as  a  Mason  in  imminent 
peril,  or  such  pressing  need  that  we  have  not  time  to  in- 
quire into  his  worthiness,  then,  lest  we  might  refuse  to 
relieve  and  aid  a  worthy  brother,  we  must  not  stop  to 
inquire  as  to  anything." — Albert  Pike^  in  Masonic 
Grand  Lodge  Report  of  Arkansas :  also  Mackey^s 
Masonic  Jurisprudence^  p,  2J0. 

Ex-Confederate  General  Albert  Pike,  who  led  a 
brigade  of  Indian  Savages  against  the  flag  of  his  coun- 
try  at   the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  Arkansas,  where  the 


56  THE    AMERICAN    HAXD-BOOK. 

dead  and  "svounded  boys  in  blue  were  scalped  and  toma- 
hawked, and  even  mutilated  in  a  manner  too  barbarous 
and  obscene  for  description,  by  his  followers,  and  whose 
rebel  hands  are  dyed  crimson  by  the  blood  of  loyal 
American  citizens,  is  now  the  most  honored  man  in 
Freemasonry.  He  has  since  been  very  appropriately 
placed  at  the  pinnacle  of  the  system,  where  he  sits  su- 
preme ruler;  and  to  him  every  Freemason,  knowingly 
or  unknowingly,  yet  nevertheless  truly,  does  honor  and 
homage  when  he  throws  a  due-guard  or  sign  at  a  Blue 
Lodge  Master;  for  ^' the  principle  of  submission  and 
obedience  runs  through  the  whole  system,"  while  in 
giving  the  sign  he  acknowledges  himself  to  be  under 
death-penalty  to  obey  this  Masonic  superior.  Such  is 
Freemasonry,  a  hot-bed  of  disloyalty  and  treason,  ac- 
cording to  our  deductions  thus  fan 

"  Treason  and  rebellion  also,  because  they  are  alto- 
gether political  offenses,  cannot  be  inquired  into  by  a 
lodge;  and  although  a  Mason  may  be  convicted  of  either 
of  these  acts  in  the  courts  of  his  country,  he  cannot  be 
Masonically  punished;  and  notwithstanding  his  treason 
or  rebellion,  his  relation  to  the  lodge,  to  use  the  language 
of  the  old  Charges,  remains  indefeasible." — Mackey's 
Masonic  Jurisprudence,  p.  510. 

This  makes  plain  why  perhaps  the  blackest-hearted 
rebel  in  the  land  is  very  appropriately  placed  at  the  head 
of  treasonable  Masonry  in  this  country.  Thus  a  saint 
in  Freemasonry  may  be  the  worst  citizen  in  this  gov- 
ernment. 

"  The  Mason  who  is  at  home  and  the  Mason  who 
comes  from  abroad  are  considered  on  an  equal   footing 


GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONRY. 


:)/ 


as  to  all  Masonic  rights;  and  hence  the  brother  made  in 
Europe  is  as  much  a  Mason  when  he  comes  to  America, 
and  is  as  fully  qualified  to  discharge  \n  America  all 
Masonic  functions,  without  an}^  form  of  naturalization, 
as  though  he  had  been  made  in  this  country.  The  con- 
verse is  equally  true." — Mackey's  Masonic  Jurisprudence, 
p.  200. 

What  a  remarkable  array  of  Masonic  testimony !  and 
yet  the  half  has  not  been  told,  as  we  might  go  on  almost 
indefinitely  showing  the  foul,  treasonable  and  anti- 
.  republican  nature,  as  legibly  portrayed  under  the  sys- 
tematically arranged  headings  of  the  great  copyrighted 
standard  Masonic  publications.  The  above  Masonic 
quotations  are  complete  sentences  and  not  garbled.  The 
language  is  so  concise  and  plain  that  a  child  can  easily 
analyze  each  sentence.  The  quotations  are  authoritative ; 
Masonic  superiors  never  argue  Masonry  with  subor- 
dinates. And  now  we  proceed  to  nail  the  above  syn- 
opsis of  Masonic  law  and  government  by  home  testimony. 
We  will  let  every  affiliated  Freemason  in  the  Missouri 
Masonic  Grand  Lodge  jurisdiction  testify  through  their 
Grand  Lodge  Reports,  three  copies  of  which  must  be 
filed  away  year  by  year  in  every  subordinate  lodge 
throughout  the  jurisdiction.  The  members  of  all  sub- 
ordinate lodges  are  fully  represented  in  Grand  Lodge 
by  the  superior  officers  of  the  several  lodges,  as  they  are 
delegates  thereto,  and  no  document  emanates  from  any 
Masonic  Grand  Lodge  without  its  endorsement  and 
approval.  We  will  call  our  neighbors,  and  see  how 
cheerfully  they  accept  or  reject  the  testimony  of  the 
brightest  men  in  the  order: 


58  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

(Part  of  a  report  on  foreign  correspondence  rendered 
by  a  full  committee  consisting  of  Brothers  J.  P.  Little, 
Jno.  Dove,  Wm.  B.  Isaacs,  Wm.  L.  Maule  and  T.  P. 
August:) 

"  The  conclusion  of  the  report  breathes  such  a  pure 
air  of  Masonic  truths  that  we  incorporate  it  herewith. 
It  says:  'Once  a  Mason, always  a  Mason — once  a  Mason, 
everywhere  a  Mason.  However  independent  either  as  in- 
dividuals or  as  lodges,  whether  Grand  or  subordinate — 
and  we  are  each  and  all  truly  free  and  uncontrolled  by 
anything  save  our  ancient  laws  and  constitution — yet  no 
Mason  can  be  a  foreigner  to  another  Mason.  We  are  all 
equal  citizens  of  one  common  government,  having  equal 
rights,  equal  privileges  and  equal  duties;  and  in  which 
government,  thank  God,  the  majority  does  not  govern. 
For  our  order  in  its  very  constitution,  strikes  at  the  root 
of  that  which  is  the  very  basis  of  popular  government.  It 
proclaims  and  practices,  not  that  the  will  of  the  masses  is 
v/ise  and  good,  and  as  such  to  be  obeyed, — not  that  the  ma- 
jority shall  govern — but  that  the  law  [i.  e.,  above  men- 
tioned "ancient  law"]  shall  govern.  Our  tenet  is  not 
only  that  no  single  man,  but  that  no  body  of  men  (how- 
ever wise  oi-  numerous)  can  change  in  any  degree  one 
single  landmark  of  our  ancient  institution.  Our  law  is 
strictly  organic;  it  cannot  be  changed  without  being 
destroyed.  You  may  take  a  man  to  pieces,  and  you 
may  take  a  watch  to  pieces,  but  you  can  not  alter  his 
organs  and  put  hnn  together  again  as  you  do  the  time- 
keeper. Masonry  i&  the  living  man,  and  all  other  forms 
of  government  mere  convenient  machines,  made  by 
clever    mechanics,  for  regulating    the    affairs  of  state. 


GOVERNMENT  OF  FREEMASONRY.        59 

Not  only  do  we  know  no  North,  no  South,  no  East 
and  no  West,  but  we  know  no  government  save  our 
own.  To  every  government  save  that  of  Masonry, 
and  to  each  and  all  alike,  we  are  foreigners;  and  this 
form  of  government  is  neither  pontifical,  autocratic, 
monarchial,  republican,  democratic  nor  despotic;  it  is 
a  government  fer  se^  and  that  government  is  Masonic. 
We  have  nothing  to  do  with  forms  of  government, 
forms  of  religion  or  forms  of  social  life.  We  are 
nation  of  men  only,  bound  to  each  other  by  Masonic 
ties  as  citizens  of  the  world,  and  that  world  the  world  of 
Masonry — brethren  to  each  other  all  the  world  over, 
foreigners  to  all  the  world  beside.' 

"  Tlie  above  is  a  Masonic  address  in  a  nutshell — it  is 
the  compressed  essence  of  Masonic  life." — Grand  Lodge 
Report  for  1867. 
7'  How  does  that  sound   to  a  loyal  American?     Free- 

.masons  therein  positively  affirm  that  they  are   not  con- 
^v  :^^    trolled  by"  ANYTHING  "save  Masonic  law;  they  thank 
>.  i^     God"  that  in  their  government  the  "majority  does 
y^      NOT  govern;" that  Freemasonry  "strikes  at  the  very 
base"   of   free   government;   that   it   "proclaims   and 
PRACTICES  that  the  will  of  the  masses  should  not  be 
obeyed;"  that  the  United  States  is  a  "  mere  conveni- 
ent machine"  only:  together  with  many  other  treas- 
onable  doctrines   that   the    Missouri    Masonic   Grand 
Lodge  emphatically  declares  are  the  "compressed  essence 
of  Masonic  life."     Later  reports  all  breathe  the  spirit  of 
double-dyed  treason.     We  would    gladly  prolong  this 
discussion,  but  we  will  briefly  consult  anotlier  Grand 
Lodge  Report  or  two  and  rest  the  case. 
^3    :/ 


60  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

"  For  ourselves,  we  deny  as  Masons  that  any  civil 
government  on  earth  has  the  right  to  divide  or  curtail 
Masonic  jurisdiction  when  once  established.  It  can 
only  be  done  by  competent  Masonic  authority  and  in 
accordance  with  Masonic  usage." — Grand  Lodge 
Report. 

Rebold's  History  of  Freemasonry,  p.  63,  says:  "  The 
Freemason  receives  not  the  law,  he  gives  it;"  and  a 
late  Grand  Lodge  Report  puts  on  the  cap-sheaf  by 
adding:  "In  all  this  we  must  not  forget  that  '  Masonry 
Is  a  law  unto  itself.'  Its  perpetuity  is  dependent  upon 
the  force  of  its  own  influences.  It  never  demands  affili- 
ation with  any  other  humanizing  agencies." — Grand 
Lodge  Report  of  1880. 

The  above  is  gleaned  from  copyrighted  standard  Ma- 
sonic publications  now  in  our  pos«^ession.  The  higli 
Masonic  standing  and  character  of  the  officers  here 
mentioned  is  fully  sustained  by  Grand  Lodge  docu- 
ments reposing  on  the  table  before  us  as  we  indite 
these  lines.  And  at  this  moment  there  is  a  grave  con- 
spiracy against  civil  liberty  and  popular  government  in 
the  United  States.  It  is  a  powerful  organization  of 
able  bodied  men,  near  five  hundred  thousand  strong, 
banded  together  by  horrible  oaths  and  awful  death  pen- 
alties for  the  perversion,  destruction  and  eventual  over- 
throw of  American  principles,  doctrines  and  institutions. 
Every  member  of  this  great  conspiracy  is  bound  and 
pledged  to  life  itself  to  royalty,  imperialism  and  despot- 
ism. It  is  an  organized  government  in  our  Republic. 
The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  positively  pro- 
hibits titles  of  nobility,  but  this  darnig  conspiracy  con- 


GOVERNMENT    OF    FREEMASONRY.  6l 

fers  almost  every  title  known  to  the  baser  monarchies  of 
the  Old  World  The  fundamental  law  of  our  land  for- 
bids "cruel-  and  unusual  penalties;"  this  organized 
usurper  of  governmental  prerogatives  imposes  the  most 
appalling  and  terrifying  death  penalties.  The  Federal 
Constitution  declares  that  the  rights  of  "free  speech  and 
free  press  shall  not  be  abridged ;"  this  conspiracy  puts  a 
padlock  on  the  .  mouth  and  a  shackle  on  the  hand  of 
every  man  who  has  crossed  its  corporate  threshold,  ob- 
ligating him  to  perpetual  silence  as  to  its  diabolical 
workings  and  recreant  plottings.  The  right  of  trial 
by  impartial  jury  is  made  almost  an  impossibility,  be- 
cause of  the  unauthorized  and  unlawful  oaths  adminis- 
tered by  the  officiary  of  this  self-constituted  absolute 
despotism.  To  show  the  gravity  of  the  situation,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  refer  to  the  vast  standing  army  in  our 
midst,  armed,  officered  and  equipped,  drilling  at  the 
dead  hour  of  night,  under  its  Eminent  Commanders, 
Captain  Generals,  Generalissimos,  and  Most  Puissant 
Sovereign  Grand  Commander,  the  latter  being  the  no 
torious  rebel  general,  Albert  Pike,  who  volunteered  to 
Iciid  yelling  Indians  against  his  race  and  color,  as  well 
as  the  flag  of  his  country  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge, 
Arkansas.  Every  soldier  in  this  foreign  army,  on  Amer- 
ican soil,  has  pledged  and  svvorn  his  life,  character  and 
honor,  that  he  will  draw  his  sword  at  the  call  and  in 
defense  of  this  foreign  government,  with  its  Most  Wor- 
shi^Dful  Grand  Masters,  Sublime  Princes,  Kings,  and 
Grand  Kings.  These  conspirators  are  neither  fools  nor 
children,  but  men  of  mature  age,  who,  in  their  secret 
councils,  call  God  and  their  companions  in  conspiracy  to 


62  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK.      ' 

witness  their  sincerity  and  willingness  to  forward  the 
base  work  in  which  they  are  so  zealously  engaged. 
Men  high  in  church  and  state  are  secret  supporters  and 
abettors.  Sworn  emissaries  are  in  every  state.  The 
treasonable  teachings,  disloyal  character  and  criminal 
make-up,  as  herein  stated,  is  fully  substantiated  by  the 
civil  affidavits  and  testimony  of  a  multitude  of  patriotic  cit- 
izens who  have  gained  a  complete  and  correct  knowledge 
of  it  all,  and  "know  whereof  they  speak."  Where  is  the 
man  who  has  one  drop  of  patriotic  blood  coursing  through 
his  veins  that  does  not  abhor,  loathe  and  hate  Freema- 
sonry as  the  arch  enemy  of  free  government?  And 
is  he  not  ready,  if  he  be  a  slave  to  this  system  of  despot- 
ism, to  declare  his  independence,  and  maintain  his  rights 
through  the  pulpit,  the  press  and  the  polls?  Let  all 
true  Americans  rally  to  the  American  movement  that  is 
so  rapidly  coming  up,  the  object  of  which  is  to  wrest 
church  and  state  from  the  usurpation  of  oath-bound  for- 
eigners who  are  openly  endorsing  and  upholding  a  sys- 
tem that  is  treason  to  the  government.  Let  us,  as  Amer- 
icans, stand  for  civil  and  religious  liberty  before  the 
bristling  bayonet  or  the  cannon's  mouth  ere  we  bow  the 
knee  to  any  despot  or  hail  any  man  as  MASTER. 
God  save  our  country  from  the  further  encroachments 
of  secret  despotism ! 


CHAPTER  V. 

UNWRITTEN    HISTORY. 
ANTIMASONRY    SAVED    THE     REPUBLIC. 


At  one  time  this  nation  was  startled  by  the  astound- 
ing inteUigence  that  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  had 
been  abducted  and  murdered  by  a  secret  society.  The 
Morgan  tragedy,  of  1826,  shook  this  government  from 
center  to  circumference.  PubHc  indignation  meetings 
were  held ;  legislative  enactments  were  passed,  outlaw- 
ing Freemasonry;  governors  and  other  state  officers 
were  elected  by  what  is  known  in  history  as  the  Great 
Anti-Masonic  Party.  John  Quincy  Adams,  President 
of  the  United  States,  at  that  time,  after  observing  that 
dastardly  affair  from  beginning  to  end,  declared:  '^'I  am 
prepared  to  complete  the  demonstration  before  God  and 
man,  that  the  Masonic  oaths,  obligations  and  penalties 
cannot  by  any  possibility  be  reconciled  to  the  laws  of 
morality,  of  Christianity,  or  of  the  land."  President 
Fillmore,  J.  C.  Spencer  and  others,  affirmed:  "The  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  tramples  upon  our  rights,  defeats  the 
administration  of  justice,  and  bids  defiance  to  every  gov- 
ernment which  it  cannot  control."  Daniel  Webster, 
Secretary  of  State  in  the  cabinets  of  Harrison,  Tyler 
and  Fillmore,  avowed:  "All  secret  associations,  the 
members  of  which  take  upon  themselves  extraordinary 
obligations  to  one  another,  and  are  bound  together  by 
secret  oaths,  are  naturally  sources  of  jealousy  and  just 
alarm  to  others;  are  especially  unfavorable  to  harmony 
and  mutual  confidence  among  men  living  together  un- 

63 


64  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOIT, 

der  popular  institutions,  and  aje  dangerous  to  the  gen- 
eral cause  of  civil  liberty  and  just  government.  Under 
the  influence  of  this  conviction  it  is  my  opinion  that  the 
future  administration  of  all  such  oaths  and  the  forma- 
tion of  all  such  obligations  should  be  prohibited  by  law." 
The  lodge  went  down  before  free  discussion  in  the 
north.  An  Iowa  Masonic  Grand  Lodge  report  chroni- 
cles the  fact  that  forty-five  thousand  out  of  fifty  thousand 
Freemasons  in  the  United  States  left  the  lodge  never  to  re- 
turn, and  that  fifteen  hundred  lodges  threw  up  their  char- 
ters and  ceased  to  exist.  Nearly  all  the  old  Abolitionists 
were  bitter  Antimasons.  John  Brown  left  the  lodge,  ex- 
posed its  secrets,  and  Masons  threatened  his  life,  so  that  he 
armed  himself  against  them.  Lewis  Tappan,  private 
journal,  1814: — "Dr.  Dixwell  gave  me  lectures  on  Ma- 
sonry at  his  house."  "In  September  left  the  lodge." 
Letter,  January  21,  1S29: — "I  am  free  to  say  that  I 
henceforth  renounce  Freemasonry,  considering  it  a 
useless  and  profane  institution."  Myron  Holley,  of 
New  York: — "Such  a  rebellion  Freemasonry  has 
raised.  It  has  violated  the  dearest  rights  of  nature,  and 
the  most  sacred  enactments  of  our  laws,  and  this  in 
a  spirit  manifestly  treasonable,  for  it  has  done  this  in 
pursuance  of  solemn,  deliberate  and  voluntary  obliga- 
tions to  a  foreign  government, — I  mean  its  own — a  gov- 
ernment far' more  alien  to  that  which  claims  our  alle- 
giance than  any  which  has  ever  afflicted  mankind." 
Gerritt  Smith  in  an  address,  1870: — "Masonry  murdered 
Morgan.  If  it  could  not  conceal  his  murderers,  it  nev- 
ertheless protected  them.  It  overrode  the  laws  of  the 
land  and  ruled  the  courts  and  the  ballot-boxes.     More- 


UNWRITTEN   HISTORY.  65 

over,  it  is  capable  of  repeating  the  crimes.  Why  then 
should  we  not  dread  secret  societies,  and  do  what  we  can 
to  bring  them  to  an  end?"  James  G.  Birney,  Horace 
Greeley,  the  great  Republican  editor,  and  many  might 
be  cited  as  avowed  Antimasons.  Greeley  said  i  "Many 
persons  were  brought  to  trial  on  account  of  the  murder 
of  Morgan,  but  no  one  was  judicially  found  guilty  of 
murder.  It  was  established  by  seceding  Masons  that 
the  oaths,*  at  least  in  some  of  the  highest  degrees — that 
were  administered,  and  taken  by  those  admitted  to  Ma- 
sonic lodges,  disqualified  them  from  serving  as  jurors  in 
any  case  where  a  brother  Mason  of  like  degree  was  a 
party,  and  his  antagonist  was  not."  Harfer'^s  Maga 
zine  says:  "As  the  larger  portion  of  the  Whig  party 
was  merged  in  the  Republican,  the  dominant  party  of 
to-day  has  a  lineal  descent  from  the  feeling  aroused  by 
the  abduction  of  Morgan  from  the  jail  at  Canandaigua." 
Hon.  S.  C.  Pomeroy,  for  many  years  a  popular  Repub- 
lican Senator,  speaking  of  the  border  troubles,  writes: 
"Then  the  Blue  Lodges  sent  out  their  circulars.  I  copy 
from  one: — 

'We  have  been  heavily  taxed  in  both  money  and  time 
in  fighting  the  battles  of  the  South  in  Kansas.  Lafay- 
ette county  alone  has  expended  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars  in  maintaining  the  rights  of  the  South.  Come 
before  the  cause  is  lost.' 

This  started  Col.  Buford  with  his  regiment  from 
South  Carolina,  and  many  others.  All  entered  Kansas 
in  the  spring  of  1856." 

Freemasonry  went  south  where  free  sjDcech  was 
largely  forbidden,  became  a  southern  institution  and  the 


66  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

sworn  ally  of  negro  slavery.  In  its  very  nature^  with 
its  Worshipful  Masters,  Kings  and  Grand  Kings,  its 
lodge  rooms  became  the  council  chambers  of  treason, 
and  Jefferson  Davis,  a  reputed  Royal  Arch  Mason,  led 
the  armies  of  rebellion,  his  late  declaration  tothecontrary 
notw^ithstanding.  Thurlow^  Weed,  the  president  maker, 
and  for  fifty  years  the  Warv/ick  of  American  politics, 
was  perhaps  the  strongest  Antimason  in  America.  In 
i860  he  went  to  the  Chicago  Convention  to  secure  if 
possible,  the  nomination  of  Seward.  Contrary  to  his 
expectation  Abraham  Lincoln  was  nominated.  One 
delegate  afterwards  explained  their  going  back  on  Sew- 
ard by  saying  that  they  did  not  know  till  they  got  to 
Chicago  that  this  was  the  "Antimason  Bill  Seward." 
The  evening  before  the  convention  Mr.  Philo  Carpen- 
ter heard  two  Freemasons  talking  on  the  sidewalk. 
"Well,"  said  one,  "I  suppose  we  are  to  have  that  Anti- 
mason  Seward  as  our  Republican  candidate  to-morrow 
morning."  "Not  a  bit  of  it,"  replied  the  other.  "The 
lodge  has  seen  to  that.  Seward  will  have  a  large  com- 
plimentary vote,  to  satisfy  his  friends;  but  he  will  not 
receive  the  nomination  and  never  will  be  president." 

The  Masons  of  Cincinnati  threatened  not  to  vote  for 
Lincoln  because  he  would  not  join  the  lodge.  Rumor 
says  that  Lincoln  had  at  one  time  sent  in  his  petition 
for  membership  in  a  Masonic  lodge,  but  before  the 
night  for  initiation  came,  he  changed  his  mind  (sup- 
posed to  have  been  from  reading  a  copy  of  Morgan's 
expose,  loaned  him  by  a  neighbor,  who  heard  of  his 
purpose,)  and  he  was  ever  afterward  the  bitter  and 
avowed  enemy  of  Overseers,  Worshipful  Masters,  and 


UNWRITTEN    HISTORY.  67 

Most  Worshipful  Grand  Masters.  Hence  he  placed  at 
the  head  of  his  Cabinet  that  uncompromising  foe  of 
lodgery,  William  H.  Seward,  who  said,  "Before  I 
would  place  my  hand  between  the  hands  of  other  men 
in  a  secret  lodge,  order,  class  or  council,  and  bending  on 
my  knee  before  them,  enter  into  combination  with  them 
for  any  object,  personal  or  political,  good  or  bad,  I 
would  pray  to  God  that  that  hand  and  that  knee  might 
be  paralyzed,  and  that  I  might  become  an  object  of  pity 
and  even  the  mockery  of  my  fellow  men."  Charles 
Francis  Adams  was  United  States  minister  to  England 
under  President  Lincoln,  and  at  a  time  when  a  true 
patriot  was  needed  there.  He  declared:  ''Every  man 
who  takes  a  Masonic  oath  forbids  himself  from  divulg- 
ing any  criminal  act,  unless  it  might  be  murder  or  trea- 
son, that  may  be  communicated  to  him  under  the  seal 
of  fraternal  bond,  even  though  such  concealment  were 
to  prove  a  burden  upon  his  conscience  and  a  violation 
of  his  bounden  duty  to  society  and  to  his  God."  Bitter 
opposers  of  Masonry  were  directing  the  legislation  of 
the  nation  during  those  perilous  years.  That  eminent 
American  statesman,  Charles  Sumner,  in  1854,  penned 
these  words:  "  I  find  two  powers  here  in  Washington 
in  harmony,  and  both  are  antagonistical  to  our  free  in- 
stitutions, arid  tend  to  centralization  and  anarchy — 
Freemasonry  and  Slavery;  and  they  must  both  be  de- 
stroyed if  our  country  is  to  be  the  home  of  the  free  as 
our  ancestors  designed  it."  Thaddeus  Stevens,  the 
Great  American  Commoner,  held:  "  By  Freemasonry 
trial  by  jury  is  transformed  into  an  engine  of  despotism 
and  Masonic  fraud."   Henry  Wilson,  another  outspoken 


68  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

Antimason,  was  Chairman  of  the  War  Committee,  and 
introduced  bills  abolishing  Slavery  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  for  abolishing  the  black  code,  and  for  enroll- 
ing colored  militia.  There,  too,  was  Samuel  C.  Pome- 
roy,  the  Old  Abolition  Senator  from  Kansas,  the  man 
that  Freemasonry  has  tried  so  hard  to  smirch  and  malign. 
He  was  at  one  time  a  student  under  William  H.  Sew- 
ard, and  hence  his  antipathy  to  the  lodge.  He  was  the 
first  man  who  had  the  grit  to  stand  up  in  Congress  and 
call  the  late  war  "  The  Slaveholders'  Rebellion".  He 
moved  the  first  pension  and  land  bounty  bill.  He  moved 
and  carried  a  bill  for  a  disabled  soldiers'  home,  and  pro- 
cured the  passage  of  a  soldiers'  relief  bill.  Although 
he  is  under  a  cloud,  mayhap  the  scapegoat  of  Colonel 
York  and  other  Royal  Arch  Masons,  yet  he  is  dealing 
telling  blows  at  lodge  despotism.  Wendell  Phillips, 
the  silver-tongued  orator  of  Emancipation,  wrote  to  one 
of  our  popular  American  lecturers:  *' I  wish  you  suc- 
cess most  heartily  in  your  efforts  to  arouse  the  commu- 
nity to  the  danger  of  Secret  societies.  They  are  a  great 
evil;  entirely  out  of  place  in  a  republic,  and  no  patriot 
should  join  or  uphold  them.  Considering  the  great 
forces  which  threaten  the  welfare  of  our  nation  in  the 
next  thirty  years,  and  how  readily  and  efficiently  they 
can  use  any  secret  organizations,  such  should  not  be 
allowed  to  exist."  J.  G.  Whittier,  the  Quaker  poet, 
wrote  the  songs  of  freedom,  and  who  but  one  brought 
up  an  Antimason  could  have  conceived  such  soul  stirr- 
ing measures.  He  says;  "As  regards  secret  societies, 
I  have  always  kept  aloof  from  them,"  And  again:  "  I 
suppose  thee  knows  that  the  society  of  Friends  do  not 


UNWRITTEN    HISTORY.  69 

allow  any  of  their  members  to  join  secret  societies  or 
take  any  oaths.  I  wish  other  sects  would  take  the  same 
ground."  George  W.  Clark,  the  sweet  liberty  singer, 
whose  anti-slavery  songs  so  fired  the  northern  heart,  has 
compiled  an  Antimasonic  song  book  and  is  going 
through  the  land  singing  against  lodge  slavery.  Gen- 
eral Grant,  the  victorious  leader  of  the  Union  forces  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  it  is  said,  belonged  to  no  secret 
society.  In  his  autobiography  he  says:  "All  secret, 
oath-bound  political  parties  are  dangerous  to  any  nation, 
no  matter  how  pure  or  how  patriotic  the  motives  or 
principles  which  first  bring  them  together." 

General  Eli  H.  Murray,  private  secretary  of  the  late 
Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  was  asked,  "Do  you  not  rank 
frankness  as  chief  among  his  virtues?"  Gen.  Murray 
said:  "  Yes,  he  never  had  a  secret  in  his  life.  When 
any  one  wanted  to  make  Sherman  a  confidant,  he  would 
exclaim, '  Don't  tell  me  a  secret;  I'll  give  it  away  to 
the  first  person  I  meet.  I  don't  war^t  any  secrets. 
Devilment  begins  with  secrets.'  The  General's  life  was 
an  open  book." 

Andrew  Johnson  was  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  sworn 
to  the  very  life  to  espouse  the  cause  of  a  companion 
so  far  as  to  extricate  him  from  all  difficulty  whether 
right  or  wrong.  How  essential  then  that  Lincoln 
should  be  removed  prior  to  the  trial  of  Jeff  Davis.  The 
intention  was  to  remove  Seward,  Stanton,  and  others 
obnoxious  to  the  treasonable  fraternity.  The  attack  on 
Johnson  was  only  a  blind.  E.  E.  Flagg,  Wellessly, 
Mass.,  speaking  of  the  supposed  antagonism  of  Roman 
Catholicism  and  Freemasonry,  says:    "  The  papal  ori- 


^O  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK, 

gin  of  the  higher  degrees,  the  use  made  of  them  in  the 
last  century  by  Jesuit  priests,  the  fact  that  John  Wilkes 
Booth,  who  shot  Abraham  Lincoln  was  both  a  Mason 
and  a  Catholic,  besides  a  host  of  other  facts  that  could 
be  adduced;  show  how  false  is  the  claim."  Sergeant 
Boston  Corbett,  the  patriot  soldier  who  shot  John 
Wilkes  Booth,  the  lodge  emissary,  is  an  outspoken 
Antimason,  residing  near  Concordia,  Kansas.  Hon. 
Fred.  Douglass,  the  Gladstone  of  his  race,  said:  "I 
never  would  join  a  secret  society ;  not  even  that  military 
concern."  "I  am  opposed  to  secret  societies."  And 
such  were  the  men  who  stood  for  liberty  and  republican 
government  when  mad  treason  was  plotting  ruin  on 
every  hand  and  loyal  blood  was  flowing  in  rivulets. 
The  Chicago  Daily  Tiincs  avers:  "One  statement 
which  has  been  made  in  praise  of  Freemasonry  is 
really  ar  argument  against  it — namely  that  the  late  war 
of  the  rebellion  did  not  interrupt  for  a  moment  the 
cordial  relation  which  existed  between  northern  and 
southern  Masons,  either  as  a  body  or  as  individuals.  If 
the  ties  of  Freemasonry  are  stronger  than  love  for 
country,  and  lead  men  to  forgive  the  crime  of  rebellion 
while  the  rebel  still  has  arms  in  his  hands  which  he  is 
using  to  attack  the  state.  Freemasonry  is  clearly  per- 
nicious and  opposed  to  public  policy." 

Benedict  Arnold,  the  first  traitor  to  our  government, 
learned  his  patriotism  in  Hiram  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  i, 
New  Haven,  Conn.  Aaron  Burr  was  a  high  Mason 
and  plotted  his  treason  in  Royal  Arch  cipher.  Gen. 
Robert  Toombs,  of  Ga.,  to  the  day  of  his  death  was  a 
zealous  afiiliate  to  the  Supreme  Council   of    Scottish 


UNWRITTEN    HISTORY.  7 1 

Rite  Masonry,  and  the  lodge  journals  and  Masonic 
bodies  are  sounding  the  Masonic  virtues  of  this  rebel 
leader  and  unrepentant  traitor  from  the  rivers  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth.  The  Masonic  order  officially  laid 
the  corner-stone  to  a  monument  in  honor  of  that  brilliant 
rebel,  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  at  Richmond,  Va.,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  fifteen  thousand  ex-confederate  soldiers.  The 
very  air  v^as  heavy  with  Masonry  and  the  old  rebel 
war  spirit  while  doing  homage  to  the  leader  of  the 
rebel  forces.  Stephen  A.  Douglass,  "  Brick  "  Pomeroy, 
Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnson,  and  their  ilk  were  Masons. 


FROM    THE    CHRISTIAN    CYNOSURE  AND    ITS    EDITOR: 

Tom  Corwm  in  the  United  States  Senate  said:  "  Put 
one  slave-holder  with  forty-nine  non-slave  holders,  and 
the  one  will  find  means  to  control  the  forty-nine  in 
nine  cases  out  of  ten."  So  one  Freemason  will  hang  a 
jury  or  corrupt  a  church. 

A  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge,  formerly  a  reputable 
citizen  of  Oak  Park,  111.,  and  a  government  official  in 
this  city,  is  our  authority  for  the  statement  that  a  Free- 
mason, formerly  from  Naperville,  111. ,  was  engaged  in 
forming  Masonic  lodges  in  both  the  Union  and  rebel 
armies.  He  had  passes  which  took  him  within  the  lines 
of  both,  and  passed  back  and  forth  freely  in  his  nefari- 
ous business. 

If  Lincoln,  Chase  and  Seward  in  the  Cabinet,  and 
Stevens  in  Congress,  C.  F.  Adams  and  Thurlow  Weed 
in  England,  and  Grant  in  the  army  had  not  been  Anti- 
masons,  slavery  would  not  have  fallen,  and  the  Union 


y2  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

would  have  fatally  sunk.     Putting  our  war  government 
in  anti-lodge  hands  was  a  marvelous  act  of  God. 

When  sick  once  I  spent  a  day  in  a  pleasant  home  be- 
tween Galesburg  and  Knoxville.  On  the  stand  near 
my  head  lay  Rob  Morris'  Voice  of  Masonry,  I 
opened  ^  number  and  read  an  editorial  denunciation  of 
our  Union  soldiers,  then  fighting  to  save  popular  gov- 
ernment, because  they  obeyed  their  officers  and  dis- 
obeyed the  signs  of  rebel  Masons  who  were  fighting  to 
destroy  it.  The  Voice  of  Masonry  which  thus  gave 
"aid  and  comfort"  to  treason,  is  still,  in  other  hands, 
published  in  Chicago.  I  have  since  conversed  with  the 
Secretary  of  Federal  Lodge  No.  i,  D.  C.  He  told  me 
he  left  the  lodge  at  the  opening  of  the  >var  because  "the 
lodges  all  went  for  secession." 

The  Blue  Lodges  of  Missouri  did  not  even  change 
their  names  or  vary  their  ritual,  but  as  simple  Masons, 
CO  nomine  raised,  enlisted,  and  armed  the  bloody  raids 
on  Kansas,  and  informed  Senator  Pomeroy  that  if  he 
would  join  the  Masons  they  would  protect  him,  but  if 
not,  "if  he  attempted  to  go  up  the  Kaw  river  he  would 
be  killed." 

Pike  initiated  fifty  leaders  of  the  Indians  in  Federal 
lodge  No.  I,  in  Washington  and  swore  and  frightened 
them  into  obedience  before  they  would  fight  against 
the  Union,  and  by  such  means  the  lodges  of  the  South 
became  the  drill-camps  of  the  rebellion. 

,  Mr.  Ferguson  who  was  secretary  of  Federal  lodge 
No.  I ,  and  aided  to  initiate  Pike's  Indians,  informed  the 
writer  that  the  ten    lodg^es  of    the  District  all  went  for 


UNWRITTEN    HISTORY.  73 

secession,  and  Lincoln's  assassination  was  one  of  the 
Masonic  exploits  of  that  District, 

Gen.  Howard  informed  the  writer  that  even  the 
butcherly  night-riding  Ku-klux  kept  their  disguises  in 
the  Masonic  halls. 

Brother  Butler  some  time  since-  sent  to  the  ex-rebel 
Jeff  Davis  a  circular  which  mentioned  the  name  of  the 
latter  as  a  Mason.  Davis  takes  the  pains  to  deny  the 
allegation  through  some  Grand  Lodge  official. 

The  denial  of  his  Masonry  by  the  ex-confederate 
leader  published  last  week  has  refreshed  the  memory  of 
Deacon  O.  M.  Brown,  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of 
Oberlin,  and  among  the  most  reliable  of  men,  who  met 
just  at  the  close  of  the  war,  a  wealthy  slave-holder, 
Master  of  Oglethorp  lodge  near  Andersonville  prison 
pen,  Georgia,  who  told  him  in  good  faith  that  Jeff  Da- 
vis was  a  Freemason,  and  that  he  had  met  him  f re- 
quentl)'^  in  the  lodge,  and  at  Masonic  gatherings. 

We  remember  how  Mr.  Davis  has  repeatedly  and 
emphatically  denied  the  well-proven  incident  of  his  cap- 
ture. If  he  never  was  a  Mason  any  more  than  he  was 
a  rebel,  as  his  own  letter  indicates,  his  denial  goes  for 
nothing,  so  that  the  public  may  reasonably  still  believe 
that  he  was  a  Freemason  with  Toombs  and  others  of 
the  Southern  leaders.  His  own  and  the  denials  of  the 
lodge  aside,  the  evidence  is  in  favor  of  such  a  conclu- 
sion. Of  course  the  lodge  denies  any  association  with 
him  as  they  always  do  with  Arnold. 

In  an  interview  at  Richview,  111.,  W.  E.  Toomis,  for- 
merly   of  Vicksburg,    Miss.,   said:     "I  was  personally 


J74  "THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

acquainted  with  Jeff  Davis,  and  know  him  to  be  a  Ma- 
son. I  was  standing  within  six  feet  of  him  when  he 
sr.id : 

'Fellow  Citizens,  the  North  is  so  hostile  that  we,  in 
order  to  sustain  our  institution  (slavery),  will  in  the 
near  future  (God  hasten  the  time)  have  to  plunge  the 
dagger  up  to  the  hilt  in  blood.' 

This  was  in  1850,  the  crowd  took  off  their  caps  and 
cheered." 


READ    THIS. 

The  mission  of  the  American  movement  is  a  higher, 
nobler,  grander  one  than  the  Republican  ever  had.  The 
negro  had  a  Master,  but  the  poor  white  Masonic 
slaves  have  a  "Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master."  No 
negro  in  the  darkest  days  of  slavery  ever  addressed  his 
owner  as  "Worshipful  Massal"  To  rid  our  Republic 
of  this  deeper,  darker,  deadlier  system  is  well  worthy 
the  persistent,  united  effort  of  the  Christian,  the  patriot 
and  the  philanthropist.  Col,  George  R.  Clark,  foun- 
der of  the  Pacific  Mission,  and  a  Masonic  Sublime 
Prince  of  the  Royal  Secret,  in  a  late  public  address  said: 
"I  was  a  32-degree  Mason  in  Chicago  before  the  fire; 
I  also  belonged  to  the  Blue  Lodg^e  and  other  interven- 
ing  orders."  In  his  speech  he  declared :  "The  third 
point  that  addressed  itself  to  me  was  the  unlawful  oaths 
that  I  was  required  to  take.  I  saw  that  these  oaths  of  them- 
selves W'cre  blasphemous.  These  oaths,  some  of  them, 
bound  people  to  do  unlawfnl  acts; unlawful  so  far  as  the 
laws  of  the  country  are. concerned,  and  unlawful  so  far 
as  the  laws  of  God  are   concerned.     I   saw   that  these 


UNWRITTEN    HISTORY.  y^ 

organizations  were  harmful.  They  placed  these  oaths 
above  the  laws.  These  oaths  bind  people  to  unlawful 
acts  without  regard  to  the  laws  of  the  country." 

Edmond  Ronayne,  a  late  Chicago  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
son, in  a  recently  published  letter  thus  boldly  challenges 
and  arraigns  the  Voice  of  Maso?iry^  and  Freemasons 
of  that  city,  to-wit:  "Dare  the  Voice  answer  these 
simple  questions?  Dare  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas,  or  ex- 
Mayor  Cregier,  or  Henry  G.  Perry,  answer  them? 
How  is  it,  gentlemen?  are  you,  in  this  evening  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  in  these  United  States,  and  in  the 
verv  face  of  our  grand  civilization — are  you  sworn,  and 
do  you  swear  others  when  conferring  your  Masonic  de- 
crees, under  such  horrible  butchery  of  the  body  as 
might  justly  bring  the  blush  of  shame  to  the  cheek  of  a 
savage?  Have  you  got  these  death  penalties  in  the 
oaths  of  your  lodges?  I  say  you  have,  and  that  I  have 
administered  them  myself  in  Keystone  Lodge,  No.  639, 
in  Cashman  Lodge,  in  D.  C.  Cregier  Lodge,  and  in 
other  lodges  in  this  city,  and  you  dare  not  deny  that 
you  are  bound  under  the  most  terrible  and  inhuman 
death-penalties  which  it  is  possible  to  express  in  lan- 
guage. Furthermore,  the  public  are  coming  to  know 
this;  and  were  it  not  for  the  miserable  hypocrisy  of  the 
preachers  you  have  got  among  you,  your  lying  legends 
and  pagan  humbuggery  would  to-day  be  a  by-word 
and  a  stench  in  the  mouth  and  nostrils  of  this  American 
people.  But  the  day  of  Freemasonry  is  certainly 
doomed,  notwithstanding  its  present  apparent  popular- 
ity ;  and  the  time  will  come  when  every  one  who  passes 


76  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

by  shall  laugh  in   patriotic  derision   at  your  empty  pa- 
rades and  your  twenty-story  monstrosity." 

The  National  View^  Washington,  D.  C,  says*. 
"Reform  will  come.  It  may  be  slow;  nevertheless, 
sooner  or  later,  it  will  be  sure  to  do  its  perfect  work. 
More  still,  it  will  come  in  a  voice  that  there  will  be  no 
mistaking  in  the  aroused  conscience  of  an  awakened 
people ;  in  the  unequivocal  manifestation  of  the  public 
will;  in  the  alarmed  sense  of  public  security;  in  the 
stern  conviction  of  the  outraged  moral  sentiment  of  the 
nation;  in  the  spirit  of  that  sense  of  justice  and  patriot- 
ism which  always  inspires  the  American  mind,  and 
dominates  in  the  genius  and  spirit  of  our  free  institu- 
tions. We  may  have  to  wait  a  little,  but  order  will 
Lome  out  of  confusion.  The  ideals  for  which  we  con- 
tend will  take  form,  and  shape  public  opinion  into 
coherent,  intelligent,  demonstrative,  successful  action. 
Bear  in  mind  that  the  age  is  rife  with  originalitv,  curi- 
osity, and  investigation.  The  range  of  ideas  and  plans 
of  amelioration  o'erleaps  all  ordinary  barriers,  and  men 
strike  out  in  every  direction  to  fathom  the  intricate  an  I 
the  abstruse.  The  press  furnishes  immense  facilities  for 
their  easy  communication  with  the  great  public,  and 
through  it  the  world  is  nvarching  on  to  freedom  and  the 
general  illumination  of  the  human  mind.     Let  it  come," 


CHAPTER   VI. 


GRAND    LODGE    MASONRY ! 


EVERY    AFFILIATE    TESTIFIES. 

We  shall  deal  almost  exclusively  v^ith  the  official 
reports  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri,  emanating 
directly  from  that  body  and  fully  endorsed  by  it.  Not 
only  is  the  w^hole  business  backed  by  every  adhering, 
affiliated  member  in  Missouri,  but  all  regular  sister 
Grand  Lodges  endorse  the  Missouri  Grand  Lodge 
through  their  Grand  Lodge  representatives.  These 
reports  contain  none  of  the  so-called  secrets  although 
got  up  for  the  sole  use  and  benefit  of  the  craft,  and  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  non-masons  have  nothing 
whatever  to  do  in  making  these  statements  and  declara- 
tions, and  that  they  are  amenable  to  the  law  for  any- 
thing that  would  injure  the  order  or  the  individual 
members  of  the  same  by  falsification  or  slander. 
We  challenge  any  adhering  Mason  from  the  Most 
Worshipful  Grand  Master  down  to  the  youngest  En- 
tered Apprentice  to  show  a  single  quotation  that  is 
incorrectly  given.  The  individual  members  of  the 
order,  as  well  as  many  of  the  teachers  of  its  would-be 
mysteries,  are  most  deplorably  ignorant  of  its  nature 
and  principles. 

Read  and  study  the  law:  "The  great  trouble, 
however,  is  to  get  the  Craft  to  read  and  study  the  law. 
In  the  language  of  one  of  my  distinguished  predeces- 
sors, '  If  the  Brethren  would  read  more,  and  ask  less 
questions,  all  would  be  well.'  " — Missouri  Masonic 
Grand  Lodge  Report,  1878. 

77 


78  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

"Another  large  share  of  correspondence  is  about 
matters  upon  which  every  Worshipful  Master  of  a 
Lodge  should  be  posted — that  is,  about  things  that  are 
plainly  written.  It  is  wonderful  how  many  questions 
are  asked  about  matters  that  have  not  only  been  settled 
for  years,  but  have  been  affirmed^  and  reaffirmed." 
—Ibid.  1S81. 

We  always  rather  excuse  affiliates  on  the  score  of 
gross  ignorance  than  dishonesty  when  they  extol  the 
virtuous  make-up  of  Freemasonry.  A  tree  is  known 
by  its  fruits.  Let  Freemasonry  stand  or  fall  by  its 
own  record.  Certainly  if  it  is  tried  by  its  own  volun- 
tary testimony  no  member  can  challenge  the  fairness 
or  correctness. 

Practical  masonry:  "The  Social  Mission  of 
Masonry,  however,  is  not  for  the  individual  only:  in 
the  community  and  in  the  State,  the  Craft  has  work  to 
do." — Grand  Lodge  Report,  1878. 

In  reading  the  Address,  we  struck  a  mine  of  thought, 
richer  in  practical  suggestions,  and  fruit-bearing  truths 
than  anything  found  in  print  for  years.  That  this  rich 
deposit  of  rare  gems  may  rot  escape,  notice,  or  be  over- 
looked by  our  readers,  we  give  it  a  large  heading, 
PRACTICAL  MASONRY.  Hear  Grand  Master  Browne, 
and  then  reflect  and  inwardly  digest:  'In  my  adminis- 
tration it  has  been  aimed  to  bring  your  attention  to 
pfactical  Masonry — every-day,  actual  Masonry — that 
which  is  feasibte — rather  than  to  please  your  senses  in 
reciting  the  beauties  and  grandeur  of  theoretical  Ma- 
sonry; for  experience  has  determined  that  there  is  a 
great  interval  between  written  theory  and  real  practice, 


GRAND  LODGE  MASONRY.  79 

and  that  much  of  the  possible  in  theory  is  impossible 
in  practice.  Let  us  ask  this  question:  Of  wiiat  use  is 
Masonry  unless  it  be  made  practical  ?  Why  expend  time, 
labor,  and  money  in  perpetuating  the  impracticable? 
Practical  Masonry  is  the  application  of  its  knowledge 
to  the  experiences  of  life,  to  our  surroundings,  to  our 
social,  business,  and  civic  relations.'" — Ibid.  1880.  Also 
see  California- Report,  1879. 

"Have  you  not  noticed  the  prominence  of  Masons 
in  deliberative  bodies,  in  business  enterprises,  in  social 
and  religious  affairs?  Is  not  this  prominence  largely 
the  result  of  the  discipline  and  training  of  the  Lodge? 
The  qualities  which  fit  men  to  become  leaders  in  all 
tiiese  enterprises  are  developed  here  in  a  marked  de- 
gree. What  higher  tribute  could  be  paid  our  organ- 
.izing  and  conserving  power  than  the  fact  that  all  secret 
organizations  of  high  and  low  degree  have  borrowed 
from  us.  I  was  struck  with  this  fact  even  before  I 
was  made  a  Mason." — Missouri  Report,  1881. 

Let  us  look  into  this  practical  business  a  little.  First 
we  will  examine  its  boasted   benevolence   and  charity. 

"Landmark  eighteenth."  "Certain  qualifications 
of  candidates  for  initiation  are  derived  from  a  Land- 
mark of  the  order.  These  are  that  he  shall  be  a  man — 
shall  be  unmutilated,  free  born,  and  of  mature  age. 
That  is  to  say,  a  woman,  a  cripple,  or  a  slave,  or  one 
born  in  slavery,  is  disqualified  for  initiation  into  the 
rites  of  Masonry." — Mackey's  Masonic  Jurisprudence, 
Great  Law  Book  of  Masonry.^  pages  31  and  32. 

"Whenever  Freemasonry  gets  so  far  down  that  it 
resolves  its  lodges   into  hospitals  for  the  halt,  deaf  and 


8o  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOd^  . 

blind,  and  starts  out  as  a  humanitarian  institution,  to 
throw  its  mantle  of  relief  over  the  profane  world 
and  bring  in  beggars  and  cripples  with  a  drag-net, 
then  it  is  time  for  it  to  throw  aside  Its  standard  as  a 
Royal  Art  and  bury  its  landmarks  out  of  sight." — Mis- 
souri Masonic  Grand  Lodge  Report  for  1867. 

"Are  we,  as  Masons,  what  we  profess  to  be?  We 
opine  the  unknown  thousands  of  money  expended  every 
year  in  displays,  hilarities,  and  convivial  indulgences, 
would  do  more  to  dry  the  tears  of  the  sorrowing  and 
hush  the  cries  of  distress,  than  the  hollow  profession 
of  charity, 'Be  ye  warmed  and  be  ye  fed'" — Missouri 
Report,  1878. 

"The  Masonic  institution  is  not  a  hospital  for  the 
reception  of  persons  however  excellent  their  character, 
who  are  not  hale  and  sound  at  the  time  of  the  making, 
and  I  know  of  no  authority,  not  even  that  of  a  Grand 
Lodge,  which  should  induce  any  Grand  Master  to  vio- 
late one  of  the  most  ancient  and  most  settled  of  all  our 
Landmarks."  —  Missouri  Report,  1878.  Also  New 
Jersey  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1S78. 

"Thousands  of  our  Brethren  have  but  little  to  leave 
the  loved  ones  when  called  hence.  Leaving  them  to 
the  care  of  the  lodges,  in  the  great  majority  of  cases, 
is  to  lean  upon  *a  broken  reed,'  for  many  of  these 
Lodges  never  have  enough  money  to  bury  a  Brother. 
When  a  widow  needs  clothes,  or  orphans  cry  for  bread, 
all  these  Lodges  can  do  is  to  <go  down  into  their  pock- 
ets.' We  have  seen  this  *go  down,' business  that  never 
'brought  up' or  out  anything." — Missouri  Report,  1881. 

"A  grand  Hall    enterprise  was    inaugurated.      To 


GRAND  LODGE  MASONRY.  8l 

carry  it  forward,  money  was  borrowed  and  a  mortgage 
given  on  the  property.  A  second  loan  was  secured 
and  a  second  mortgage  given.  Failing  to  pay  the  first 
mortgage,  the  property  was  sold,  and  the  second  mort- 
gagee was  left  out  in  the  cold  to  the  amount  of  four 
thousand  dollars.  The  worst  feature  of  the  case  was, 
the  second  mortgagee  was  a  woman  and  the  widow  of 
a  Master  Mason.  Five  members  of  the  Lodge  subse- 
quently became  the  owners  of  said  property,  which  is 
worth  $25,000  and  yields  an  annual  rental  of  $1,800. 
Still  the  widow  was  not  paid.  There  seems  to  be  a 
disposition  on  the  part  of  some  in  said  Lodge,  to  evade 
payment,  on  the  ground  that  the  widow,  since  making 
the  loan,  has  married  a  man  not  a  Mason." — Ibid.  1878. 
Also  see  Indiana  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1S77. 

Masonic  gambling:  "From  what  I  have  been  ena- 
bled to  learn  as  regards  existing  evils  in  matters  of 
games  of  chance  indulged  in  by  members  of  our  order, 
I  am  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  this  appeal  comes 
to  you,  my  brethren,  freighted  with  human  sorrows, 
mingled  with  the  widow's  wail  and  the  orphan's  cry,  call- 
ing aloud  for  such  relief  at  your  hands  as  may  be  nec- 
essary to  arrest  the  flood-tide  of  evil  by  which,  it  is  to 
be  feared,  that  some  even  of  our  own  number,  are 
going  down  into  the  depths  of  hopeless  despair  and 
utter  ruin.  We  endeavor  by  precept  at  least,  to  make 
the  impression  that  one  of  the  leading  objects  we  have 
in  view  is  to  inculcate  sound  morality,  as  founded  upon 
the  great  moral  principles  set  forth  in  the  sacred  vol- 
ume, ever  found  upon  our  altar,  which  we  receive  ae 
the  rule  and  guide  of  our  faith  and  practice,  and  with- 


82  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

out  which  no  lodge  can  have  a  legal  existence.  We 
publish  abroad  and  proclaim  to  earth's  remotest  bounds, 
and  call  upon  all  men  to  witness  our  sincerity  in  the 
professions  we  make,  that  our  mission  in  the  world  is 
nothing  less  than  the  inculcation  of  a  better,  purer, 
higher  life  among  men.  But  after  all,  my  brethren, 
profession  alone,  by  whatever  high-sounding  title  dig- 
nified, may  be  nothing  more  than  sounding  brass  or  a 
tinkling  cymbal,  for  the  truth  still  remains  that  the 
uninitiated  will  judge  of  the  institution  by  the  conduct 
of  its  individual  members." — Florida  Masonic  Grand 
Lodge   Report,    1881.     Also  Missouri  Report,  1881. 

Freemasonry  itself  is  a  game  of  chance,  and  buying 
it  is  like  buying  a  pig  in  a  poke.  Behind  its  tyled 
doors  gamblers  and  confidence  men  find  fraternity  and 
congenial  fellowship.  The  thinking,  observing  consci- 
entious men,  roped  into  the  order,  are  astounded  and 
stand  aghast  at  the  widespread  gambling,  immorality 
and  dissipation  fostered  and  practiced  in  lodge  circles 
and  associations.     We  often  hear  of  immense  schemes. 

"A  fraud  was  perpetrated  in  the  name  of  Masonry. 
The  circulars  and  tickets  issued  contained  the  emblems 
of  the  Craft  and  a  seal  bearing  the  inscription  of  the 
'Masonic  Temple  Association,'  by  which  members  of 
the  Fraternity  and  the  public  were  deceived,  many  of 
the  former  supposing  they  were  supporting  a  worthy 
enterprise,  the  latter  accepting  the  symbols  of  our 
ancient  and  honorable  Order  as  a  guarantee  of  good 
faith  in  the  management  of  the  scheme." — Ibid.,  1S79. 
Also  Indiana  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1S79. 

So  much  for  the  Fort  Wayne  lottery  fraud,  and  as  it 


GRAND  LODGE  MASONRY.  83 

is  only  one  of  the  many,  the  public  should  be  warned, 
mark  and  govern  acordingly.  Freemasonry  gets 
caught  frequently  at  low-down  political  sculduggery 
and  POLITICAL  bribery:  "Through  the  public  papers 
we  learned,  that  in  a  recent  investigation  before  a  com- 
mittee of  our  State  Legislature,  the  fair  name  of  Free- 
masonry was  dragged  through  the  dirty,  slimy  pool  of 
political  bribery  and  corruption." — Missouri  Repoit, 
1880.     Also  Pennsylvania  Report,  1879. 

The  "strict  business  principles"  enunciated  below 
plainly  advise  roping  in  outsiders  to  pay  for  legitimate 
Masokic  rascality:  "lam  of  the  opinion  that  the 
practice  of  insisting  upon  bonds  from  our  financial 
agents  should  be  discontinued.  They  are  valueless, 
because  never  enforced.  If  you  think  otherwise,  I 
would  advise  that  sureties  should  not  be  of  the  Craft. 
Have  these  matters  conducted  upon  strict  business  prin- 
ciples, and  then  if  we  meet  with  disaster  we  shall  have 
.the  consolation  remaining  to  us,  that  we  have  not  acted 
like  children." — Missouri  Report,  1880.  Also  Illinois 
Report,  1879. 

Civil  affidavits  and  testimony  that  hangs  Chicago 
anarchists,  Ku-Klux  and  Bald  Knobbers  proves  Free- 
masonry to  be  an  aw^ful  system  of  criminalty  with  its 
horrible  blasphemous  oaths  and  barbarous  mutilating 
death  penalties.  It  is  also  a  school  of  organized  swind- 
ling. A  young  man  takes  three  degrees  in  Masonrj-, 
and  some  one  places  a  sworn  exposition  under  his  nose 
and  will  sell  him  for  forty  cents  all  the  information  the 
lodge  sold  him  for  thirty  dollars,  word  for  word,  as 
near  as  the   human  mind   can  remember,  thereby  in  its 


84  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

organized  capacity  swindling  him  out  of  twenty-nine 
dollars  and  sixty  cents  on  a  square  deal,  and  swearing 
him  to  keep  secrets  when  the  Masonic  order  has  no 
secrets  to  keep.  See  "Freemasonry  Illustrated,"  Na- 
tional Christian  Association,  221  West  Madison  Street, 
Chicago,  Illinois.  No  Freemason  can  make  a  lodge 
dueguard  or  sign,  or  see  one  given,  without  bringing 
to  his  remembrances  a  blasphemous  obligation,  or  a 
murderous  death-penalty.  Can  any  man  living  con- 
stantly familiarize  his  mind  with  murder  and  blasphemy 
and  oranized  swindling,  and  not  come  to  look  upon 
crime  with  complacency?  Wm.  M.  Tweed,  of  New 
York  City,  one  of  the  greatest  rascals  of  modern  times, 
learned  his  honesty  in  Perfect  Ashler  Masonic  Lodge 
of  that  city.  MaGarigle,  the  notorious  Chicago  Bood- 
ler  and  the  sheriff  that  let  him  go  were  both  high  Free- 
masons sworn  to  each  other  to  the  very  life.  The 
leading  Star-Routers  were  Masonic  graduates,  and 
hence  their  acquittal. 

Evading  the  Law:  "I  have  lately  given  this  sub- 
ject some  examination,  and  the  conclusion  to  which  I 
have  arrived  is,  that  the  incorporation  of  Masonic 
bodies  is  subversive  of  the  true  principles  of  Masonic 
government,  and  inimical  to  the  prosperity  and  perpe- 
tuity of  our  Institution.  It  sweeps  away  the  appellate 
jurisdiction  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  Grand  Master, 
and  subordinates  the  Masonic  to  the  civil  authorities 
upon  questions  strictly  Masonic." — Missouri  Report, 
1879.     ^^so  Kentucky  Report,  1878. 

The  lodge  is  pre-eminently  the  National  Sabbath- 
breaker.     We  have  written  W.  F.  Crafts  concerninS 


GRAND  LODGE  MASONRY.  85 

lodge  Sunday  picnics,  parades,  excursions,  funerals, 
lodges  of  instruction  and  other  wholesale  lodge  Sab- 
bath-breaking from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other. 
From  Maine  to  California  the  press  teems  with  the 
continuous  Sabbath  desecrations  of  these  secret  orders. 
Until  they  are  outlawed  the  hallowed  day  of  Christian 
Sabbath  is  an  utter  impossibility.  To  them  Sunday 
is  an  indispensable  holiday  for  gala  display.  These 
pagan  societies  have  as  little  use  for  the  true  Sabbath, 
as  they  have  for  the  blessed  Christ  himself.  How  a 
professed  minister  of  the  gospel  can  cross  the  continent 
five  times,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  Sabbath,  amid  this  mad  carnival  of  lodgery, 
and  not  thunder  a  protest  against  these  high-handed 
Sabbath  breakers  is  a  conundrum  in  moral  philosophy 
past  finding  out.  Col.  Elliott  F.  Shepard,  Hon.  G.  P. 
Lord,  Rev.  J.  H.  Knowles,  and  their  co-workers  are 
not  ignorant  of  the  wide-spread  lodge  Sabbath-break- 
ing. Men  who  read  the  Cynosure^  Free  Press ^  and 
other  literature  in  this  line  betimes  know  these  things. 
Why  don't  they  cut  a  clean  swath  for  the  Christian 
Sabbath? 

Mormon  Masonry:  Utah  Mormonism  is  Free- 
masonry gone  to  seed.  Joseph  Smith  was  a  Free- 
mason, and  died  giving  the  sign  of  distress,  "O  Lord, 
my  God,  is  there  no  help  for  the  Widow's  son?"  Brig- 
ham  Young  was  a  high  Mason,  and  used  the  Masonic 
Hall  in  Nauvoo  as  a  rendezvous.  Fifteen  hundred  of 
his  followers  were  initiated,  passed  and  raised  in  the 
Masonic  lodges  of  Illinois,  and  were  Masons  in  good 
and   regular   standing   in   that  jurisdiction,     Brigham 


86  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

Young  simply  took  his  fifteen  hundred  Illinois  Free- 
masons to  Utah,  and  set  up  a  Grand  Lodge  jurisdiction 
of  his  own.  The  second  year  of  Lincoln's  administra- 
tion, when  Antimasons  were  at  the  helm  of  legislation, 
a  Republican  Congress  decreed  the  destruction  of  Utah 
Mormonism.  The  change  of  administration  from 
Antimasonry  to  Masonry  through  Andy  Johnson  [gave 
Mormonism  a  lease  of  life.  The  continued  existence 
of  Mormonism  under  twenty  years  of  Republican 
supremacy,  will  go  down  to  history  as  a  black  spot  on 
the  grand  old  party  of  moral  ideas.  Antimasonry  is 
again  after  this  scion  of  the  lodge,  and  Mormon  Free- 
masonry trembles,  not  at  oath-bound  legislators,  but  at 
the  rising  public  sentiment  no  longer  to  be  diverted  or 
kept  down  by  lodge  ledgerdemain, 

Washington  a  Seceded  Mason;  George  Wash- 
ington once  joined  the  Masonic  Order,  but  attended  the 
lodge  only  once  or  twice  during  the  last  thirty  years 
of  his  life.  His  Farewell  Address  warns  the  American 
people  against  all  such  associations  and  combinations  in 
language  explicit  and  pointed.  He  sayss  "The  very 
idea  of  the  power  and  right  of  the  people  to  establish 
government  presupposes  the  duty  of  every  individual 
to  obey  the  established  government.  All  obstructions 
to  the  execution  of  the  laws,  all  combinations  and  asso- 
ciations, under  whatever  plausible  character,  with  the 
real  design  to  direct,  control,  counteract,  or  awe  the 
regular  deliberation  and  action  of  the  constituted  author- 
ities, are  destructive  of  this  fundamental  principle  and 
of  fatal  tendency."  Did  Freemasonry  steal  Washing- 
ton's coffin  in  repay  for  his  speech? 


GRAND  LODGE  MASONRY.  87 

Masonic  Grave  Robbers.  "Rev.  and  W.,  Henry 
W.  Rugg,  on  behalf  of  Brother  R.  H.  Tilley,  of  New- 
port, R.  I.,  presents  to  the  Grand  Lodge  a  gavel  made 
of  hard  wood  and  ornamented  with  wood  from  the 
coffin  of  Gen.  George  Washington.  This  gavel  was 
made  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago  by  Brother 
Stewart,  and  given  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  passed 
from  the  hands  of  Past  Grand  Master  Gray  to  Brother 
Tilly,  in  i860,  and  he,  after  due  enquiry,  found  it 
belonged  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  to  whose  care  he  has 
returned  it." — Missouri  Masonic  Grand  Lodge  Report, 
1880.     Also  Rhode  Island  Report,  1879. 

Well  may  the  blood  of  the  loyal  American  boil  with 
righteous  wrath  and  holy  indignation  against  this 
un-American  Order  which  completes  the  cup  of  treason 
unsurpassed  in  thus  stretching  forth  its  crime-stained 
hands  and  daring  to  pillage  and  rob — not  the  grave  of 
that  good  Freemason  Benedict  Arnold,  the  traitor,  but 
the  grave  of  our  beloved  General  George  Washington 
has  been  ransacked,  and  Masonic  Grand  Lodges  appro- 
priated the  wood  stolen  from  the  coffin  holding  the 
sacred  dust  of  the  Father  of  our  country  to  use  for  or- 
namenting little  wooden  malletSo" 

Wholesale  MASONifc  Perjury:  "  But  for  those 
lodges  that  will  not  make  Annual  Reports,  justice  and 
Judgment  ought  to  be  invoked.  No  one  thing  in  all 
the  business  of  Grand  Secretary  is  so  provoking  as  this 
sublime  indifference  to  making  out  and  forwarding  the 
Annual  Returns.  We  do  not  prize  the  moral  worth  of 
such  lodges,  as  thus  commit  perjury,  in  violating  the 
law  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  which  they  have  promised  to 


88  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

support     and     maintain." Missouri    Grand     Lodge 

Report,  1880. 

Bogus  Masonry:  "It  is  known  to  many  of  you 
that  for  something  Hke  twenty-five  years  this  Grand 
Lpdge  has  been  engaged  in  an  effort  to  discover  and 
establish  a  correct  standard  of  work  of  the  several 
degrees  of  Ancient  Craft  Masonry  under  its  charge,  and 
to  promulgate  the  same  to  all  the  lodges  in  its  jurisdic- 
tion."— New  York  Masonic  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1880. 
Also  see  Missouri  Report,  1S80. 

Thus  since  the  revival  of  Masonry  just  before  the 
war  New  York  Masons  have  been  selling  bogus 
Masonry,  Morgan  knocked  their  ritual  into  smithe- 
reens. 

"Brother  Lewis  sa3's:  'We  remember  a  case  in 
point.  An  individual  was  initiated,  passed  and  raised, 
not  many  years  ago,  in  a  lodge  within  a  jurisdiction 
where  we  were  acquainted.  Scarcely  had  he  assumed 
the  perpendicular  when  he  was  discovered  to  be  the 
brightest  Mason  among  them,  which  was  possible  in 
that  lodge  without  his  learning  producing  disease  of  the 
brain.  Inquiries  were  set  on  foot  as  to  where  he  had 
gathered  his  remarkable  lore.  The  general  supposition 
was  that  he  had  consumed  the  midnight  oil  over  the 
literary  labors  of  the  renowned  Morgan,  or  had  held 
ghostly  communion  with  the  shade  of  that  individual." 
— Missouri  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1868,  page  m2. 

Female  Masonry:  "Masonic  Lodges,  as  such, 
should  neither  encourage  nor  discourage  the  organiza- 
tion of  Chapters  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star. 
They  are  doubtless  useful  to    the  families  of  Masons, 


GRAND  LODGE  MASONRY.  89 

and  the  Order  is  a  benevolent  one,  but  it  is  no  part  of 
Masonry,  and  should  not  be  regarded  as  such.  Masons, 
as  individuals,  may  encourage  them  by  becoming 
members  and  active  workers  therein,  as  they  may  in 
any  other  secret  benevolent  order." —  Missouri  Masonic 
Grand  Lodge  Report  1879. 

"  The  ruling  that  Masonic  Lodges,  as  such,  should 
have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  Organization  of 
Chapters  of  the  '  Eastern  Star,'  on  the  ground  that  the 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  is  no  part  of  Masonry,  is 
approved  by  this  Grand  Lodge." — Ibid,  1879. 

"By  the  immutable  laws  of  our  institution,  no  woman 
can  be  made  a  Freemason.  It  follows,  therefore,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  that  lodges  which  admit  females  to 
membership,  can  never  legally  exist  in  the  order." — 
Mackey's  Lexicon  of  Freemasonry,  Article  "Adoptive 
Masonry,"  by  Albert  G.  Mackey,  Past  General  Grand 
High  Priest  of  the  General  Grand  Chapter  of  the 
Masons  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

"  The  only  Masonic  privilege  denied  to  you  is  that  of 
visiting  the  Lodge,  and  this  would  be  of  no  advantage 
to  you,  even  if  it  were  possible  to  grant  it,  but  it  would 
awaken  the  voice  of  scandal  against  you  from  a  censo- 
rious world,  and  thus  produce  far  more  pain  to  your 
kind  and  amiable  hearts  than  it  could  possibly  afford 
you  pleasure.  Females  cannot  be  made  Masons.  This 
is  a  rule  that  has  been  handed  down  with  the  other 
rules  of  Masonry  for  a  thousand  of  years." — Manual  o^ 
the  Eastern  Star,  page  16,  by  Robert  Macoy,  National 
Grand  Secretary. 

The  Morgan  Affair;      "Fifteen  hundred  lodges 


90  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK, 

went  down  in  the  strife!  The  ranks  of  the  craftsmen 
were  reduced  in  numbers  from  rising  fifty  thousand  to 
less  than  five  thousand.  The  songs  of  the  temple 
builders  ceased.  Grass  grew  in  the  quarries." — Iowa 
Masonic  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1S58. 

,  FREEMASONRY    IS    DOOMED: 

"  Who  shall  predict  the  moment  when  this  terrible 
crisis  shall  come  upon  us.  The  darkness  of  the  atmos- 
phere, the  low  murmuring  of  distant  thunder,  and  the 
oppression  with  which  all  nations  seem  troubled,  are  so 
many  indications  of  a  coming  storm  which  the  wise 
man  will  not  disregard.  '  The  crumbling  of  the  walls 
predict  a  speedy  end  to  the  edifice  and  the  wise  man 
hastens  to  vacate  it.  The  gaining  leak,  and  the  settling 
of  the  keel  into  deep  water  threatens  a  speedy  submer- 
sion of  the  gallant  ship  and  the  mariners  hasten  to  their 
boats  and  pull  for  life,  for  dear  life.  But  we,  althoutj:h 
we  may  see  the  impending  danger  cannot  fly  from  it. 
As  Masons  we  are  the  edifice — we  are  the  ship  and  we 
cannot  flyo  The  distant  signals  are  visible.  Mark 
them,  my  intelligent  brethren.  To  the  critical  eye  they 
are  manifest  in  the  withdrawal,  by  demission  of 
thousands  of  Masons,  embracing  much  of  the  intelli- 
gence and  moral  worth  of  the  order;  in  the  carelessness 
with  which  the  institution  is  regarded  by  many  of  its 
votaries;  in  the  lengthy  catalogues  of  suspensions  and 
expulsions,  annouticed  year  by  year  by  all  our  Grand 
Lodges;  and  in  the  springing  up  of  fungus  societies  all 
around  us,  in  which  shame  to  say,  many  Masons  are 
found,  to  the  proportionate  neglect  of  their  proper 
.calling.     These  signs  point  to  the  crisis  which  has  been 


GRAND    LODGE    MASNNRY.  9I 

predicted.  They  are  unerring  indicia  of  a  day  and  an 
hour  when  the  craft  will  be  rent  to  pieces  as  with  the 
*  whirlwind  of  God's  wrath,  unless  measures  speedy  and 
effectual  are  adopted  to  cement  the  institution  together." 
— Iowa  Masonic  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1858. 

The  Rebellion  was  the  measure  planned  and  carried 
out  to  divert  attention  from  Masonry  and  replenish  its 
diminishing  ranks.  It  succeeded  at  fearful  cost  of  blood 
and  treasury,  but  under  God  and  antimasonic  leaders 
the  destruction  of  the  Republic  was  averted.  Although 
foiled  the  lodge  is  still  plotting  conspiracy  and  treason. 
But  the  American  people  are  again  on  track  of  the 
lodge,  and  the  men  who  are  nov/  leading  the  discussion 
of   the   system  will  follow  it  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

The  Masonic  Trowel^  a  zealous  lodge  journal  com- 
paring the  present  organized,  wide-spread  opposition  to 
the  Morgan  excitement  says:  "It  is  a  sign  of  weak- 
ness to  manifest  alarm;  it  is  a  worse  sign  to  disregard 
the  monitions  around  us.  Other  journals  have  sneered 
at  the  manifestations;  some  have  joked,  and  some  have 
put  on  an  air  of  defiance  and  our  pugnacious  brother  at 
St.  Louis  intends  to  fight  them.  We  saw  enough  of 
that  in  our  boyhood  dayso  We  remember  distinctly  the 
entire    antimasonic     fight.  Honest,    hard-working 

mechanics  were  turned  out  of  employment;  suspicion 
dogged  the  steps  of  every  Mason;  adhering  Masons 
were  swept  from  places  of  public  trust;  the  foulest, 
blackest,  and  most  repulsive  charges  were  brought 
against  Masons  collectively  and  individually;  the  boys 
were  taught  to  hoot  at  them  as  they  passed  their  dwel- 
lings; they  were  debarred  from  juries,  and  criticised  in 


92  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOKo 

the  witness  box;  insulted  from  the  bench;  arrayed 
before  legislative  committees,  and  by  sheer  force  and 
abuse  were  driven  from  the  polls.  Wives  left  their 
husbands,  children  denounced  their  fathers,  fathers  dis- 
inherited their  sons,  and  the  silence  of  a  Mason  in  the 
midst  of  such  awful  frenzy,  was  denounced  as  obedience 
to  the  great  dragon  of  Masonr3\  Ministers  were 
hurled  from  their  pulpits,  members  of  ciiurches  were 
expelled."  **Many  zealous  Masons  attempted  to  breast 
the  storm  and  allay  the  tempest.  They  might  have  as 
well  attempted  to  stay  the  eruption  of  Vesuvius  or  the 
simoon  of  the  desert." 

Such  was  the  merited  disgrace  that  settled  down  upoti 
the  criminal  brotherhood,  but  it  is  nothing  to  what  is  in 
store  for  the  throat-cutting  and  tongue-pulling,  breast- 
tearing  and  heart-plucking,  body-severing  and  bowel- 
burning  fraternity  with  its  accumulating  years  of  treason, 
conspiracy,  rebellion  and  crime.  A  storm  of  public 
opinion  will  soon  burst,  that  will  clear  our  land  of  this 
pestilential  brood.  The  Montana  and  Missouri  Masonic 
Grand  Lodges  in  their  reports  for  1S79  and  iSSo,  declare 
"Greater  dangers  threaten  Masonry  to-day  than  ever 
before.  We  occasionally  hear  the  alarm  sounded  by 
some  faithful  'watchman  upon  the  tower'  who  descries 
with  clearer  vision  the  coming  storm,  and  warns  us  to 
be  prepared  for  its  approach." 

Yes,  thank  God,  the  storm  gathers  thick  and  fast. 
The  God  of  Liberty,  Justice  and  Judgment  is  marshal- 
ing His  army  against  the  Anti-American  and  Antichris- 
tian  oath-bound  Lodgery.  The  sword  of  Jehovah's 
justice  is  unsheathed  and  hanging  poised  above  this  vast 


GRAND    LODGE    MASONRY.  93 

System  of  infidelity  and  secret  despotism.  The  agita- 
tion is  telling  heavily  on  the  lodge  of  late  years.  The 
Voice  of  Masonry  af^vm^:  "From  all  jurisdictions 
comes  the  cry  of  non-affiliation,  lack  of  interest,  apathy, 
and  neglect  of  Masonic  duty.  Why?  The  craft  are 
not  edified.  .They  go  to  lodge,  or  chapter,  or  council, 
or  commandery,  only  to  see  and  to  hear  a  formal  open- 
ing, a  formal  attention  to  business,  a  formal  working  of 
a  degree  and  a  formal  closing.  Not  a  word  of  actual 
information  is  gained,  nothing  interesting  or  edifying 
transpires,  and  disappointed  and  unfreshed  they  depart 
No  wonder  is  it  then,  that  quorums  are  hard  to  get  and 
non-affiliation  increases." 

The  fear  and  intimidation  that  has  held  men  so  long 
in  the  loathsome  coils  of  lodgery  is  dissolving  before 
increasing  agitation  and  discussion.  The  better  class  of 
men  who  have  been  drawn  into  these  dark  dens  of 
iniquity  are  coming  out  by  the  multiplied  thousands. 
The  criminal  elements  are  drawn  the  closer  together, 
and  the  courts,  the  militia  and  all  good  people  will  have 
their  hands  full,  to  remove  the  criminal,  midnight  com- 
binations so  long  schooled  in  outlawry,  assassination  and 
despotism. 

When  we  "read  and  study  the  law"  of  Freemasonry 
so  "  plainly  written,"  we  learn  to  a  certainty  that  "prac- 
tical Masonry"  does  affect  the  good  Freemason  in 
"social,  business,  and  civic  relations,"  and  that  it  does 
g\\Q  Freemasons  prominence  "in  deliberative  bodies, 
in  business  enterprises,  in  social  and  religious  affairs." 
Every  outsider  can  see  plain  exemplifications  of  this 
legitimate  Masonic  discrimination  at  all  political  deliber- 


94  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

ations  and  many  church  conferences.  Practical  Free- 
masonry causes  enormous  expenditure  of  "unknown 
thousands  of  money,"  worse  than  squandered  while 
"orphans  cry  for  bread."  Nay,  more!  it  cheats  the 
widows  of  dead  Master  Masons  after  robbing  the 
husband  of  hard  earnings  prior  to  his  decease.  What 
boasted  and  unsurpassed  "benevolence  and  charity!" 
A  school  of  gambling,  bribery,  perjury  and  grave- 
robbery.  And  altogether  perhaps  no  other  institution 
on  this  sin-cursed  earth  has  ever  made  so  diabolical  and 
damning  a  record  as  this  little  volume  proves  for  Free- 
masonry and  oath-bound  lodgery.  Yet  the  unwritten 
criminality  of  the  foul  craft  in  thousands  of  counties 
would  darken  every  page  of  this  book.  The  record in;^ 
angel  alone  has  an  enumeration  of  it  all,  (»nly  to  he 
revealed  in  the  judgment-day,  when  lost  souls  will  call 
for  rocks  and" mountains  to  fall  on  them.  When  all  the 
Herods,  Neroes,  Judas  Iscariots,  Benedict  Arnolds, 
Aaron  Burrs,  Jeff  Davises,  rebels,  assassins  and  traitors 
to  God  and  humanity  will  stand  unmasked  in  their 
naked  deformity,  condemned,  despised  and  abhorred  by 
all  that  is  manly,  noble  and  true  ;  then  Freemasonry, 
and  the  Beast,  and  the  false  prophets,  and  all  the 
children  of  darkness,  will  be  turned  into  hell  with  the 
nations  that  forget  God, 


CHAPTER  VII. 


PUBLIC    OPINION    AND    SIGNS    OF  THE    TIMES, 

This  chapter  shows  conclusively  that  the  agitation 
against  the  heathen,  monarchy-aping  secret  orders,  is 
already  national  and  hourly  becoming  more  extended. 
Able  men  in  every  state,  county  and  neighborhood,  are 
searching  as  with  lighted  candles  for  the  hidden  forces 
of  intrigue  and  conspiracy.  The  newspapers  even  to 
the  great  dailies  are  beginning  to  pulsate  the  movement 
in  earnest.  The  tide  is  fully  setting  in,  "and  the  hail 
shall  sweep  away  the  refuge  of  lies,  and  the  waters  will 
overflow  the  hiding  places," 

THE    AMERICAN    PRESS   ON    SECRET    SOCIETIES. 

North  American  Review: — "Incorporation  is  a  privi- 
lege granted  associations  on  the  ground  of  public  utility. 
It  follows  logically  that  it  is  an  abuse  and  a  fiction  to 
incorporate  a  Secret  Society  of  any  kind."  Washutg- 
ton\D.  C.)  Post: — "Secrecy  is  neither  in  accord  with 
the  spirit  of  the  Constitution,  the  genius  of  our  institu- 
tions, nor  the  methods  of  our  political  system,*'  Rochester 
(iV.  Y,)  Herald: — "A  Secret  society  in  this  land  of 
freedom  should  be  shunned  as  treasonable  to  American 
institutions  and  principles."  New  Torh  Century: — 
"The  Constitutions  of  Secret  Societies  are  generally 
valuable  only  as  illustrations  of  human  cupidity." 
Pittsburg  United  Presbyterian  : —  "  Secret  Societies 
are  not  suited  to  American  society,  nor  indeed  to  any 
society."  Nashville  Christian  Advocate: — "  Secret 
political  societies  in  a  really  free  republic  are  both 
absurd  and   dangerous."       Religious  Herald: —  "We 

95 


96  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

are  always  suspicious  of  any  interest,  be  it  moral,  religious, 
political  or  personal,  that  seeks  by  a  secret  association 
rather  than  by  an  open  advocacy  of  its  aims  to  secure  its 
ends."  New  Orleans  Times  Democrat : — "Darkness 
and  secrecy  are  the  fit  companions  of  fraud,  bribery  and 
corruption."      ^^ Brick''''    Pomeroy^s   (iV.    2^.)    Advance 

Thought: — "Secret  societies  have  for  ages  been  used 
to  advance  the  niterests  of  a  very  few  at  the  expense  of 
the  very  many."  St.  Louis  Times: — "The  history  of 
all  Secret  Societies  is  written  in  the  last  page  in  blood. 
Somehow  or  other  their  action  and  proceedings  sooner 
or  later  culminate  in  crime,"  New  York  Catholic 
Review: — "It  is  becoming  apparent  that  Secret  Oath- 
Bound  Societies  are,  in  principle,  un-American;  are 
contrary  to  the  whole  spirit  and  meaning  of  our  insti- 
tutions, and  are  therefore  dangerous  to  the  Republic." 

Western  Catholic  News  : — "Secret  societies  are  danger- 
ous to  the  common- wealth.  We  are  surprised  to  see  an 
article  over  a  column  long  quoted  from  \\\q,G lobe- Demo- 
crat in  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America  News  portray- 
ing the  benefits  of  secret  societies.  The  writer  of  that 
article  says  those  societies  'do  not  plot  against  the  peace 
and  welfare  of  the  community.'  What  is  the  necessity 
for  a  secret,  then?  Let  the  community  ^^be  the  judge 
whether  they  plot  against  it,  or  any  portion  of  it,  or  not^ 
We  have  the  positive  evidence  that  some,  at  least,  if  not 
all  of  these  star-chamber  concerns  do  plot  against  the 
comm unity .'■'  Philadelphia  Public  Ledger: — »  The 
danger  arising  from  such  conspiracies  is  not  imaginary 
but  real.  If  the  truth  were  known  we  are  suftering 
from  nothing  so  much  as  from  ^d^ix^  eviA.  Ajad  ihe  worts 


PUBLIC    OPINION.  97 

of  all  is  that  good  men  who  have  gone  into  the  various 
secret  lodges  are  being  used  for  ends  of  which  they  little 
dream.^'  North  Chili  (iV  7.^)  Earnest  Christian  :^^ 
"Secret  Societies.  These  are  becoming  so  dangerous 
to  civil  institutions  that  some  nations  of  Europe  suppress 
them  by  law.  In  this  country  their  influence  is  fast  be- 
coming all-controlling  in  both  Church  and  State.^' 
Lutheran  Standard: — "Secret  Societies  of  all  sorts  are 
multiplying  so  rapidly  that  their  name  is  legion.  They 
are  getting  mto  poHtics  and  into  the  management  of 
industrial-concerns,  and  the  newspapers  of  the  day  are 
beginning  to  see  some  of  the  evils,  and  are  speaking  out 
against  some  of  the  evil  although  as  yet  quite  timidly. 
These  societies  are  getting  to  be  public  nuisances  to 
such  a  degree  that  they  are  attracting  the  attention  of 
thoughtful  men,'*  Christian  Instructor: — "Verily  the 
signs  o:^  the  times  are  similar  to  those,  that  preceded  the 
French  Revolution,  when  secret  factions  met  and  blood 
flowed  like  water  as  a  resalto'  Dayton  (  O.)  Religious 
Telescope: — ^'The  volcano  upon  which  the  nation  and 
the  church  are  sleeping  to-day  is  oath-bound  secrecy, 
which  is  in  every  case  both  atheistic  and  revolutionary.'^' 
Chicago  Daily  Times  : — "Secret  Societies  are  danger- 
ous because  young  men  and  others  who  are  not  for  the 
moment  fully  mindful  of  their  public  duties  may  be  led 
by  persuasion  under  the  influence  of  the  peculiar  so- 
lemnity and  impressiveness  of  an  initiation,  which  un- 
seats their  judgment,  to  take  oaths  which  are  inconsistent 
with  their  duties  toward  the  State  and  society,  and 
which  they  may  regret,  in  moments  of  reflection,  that 
they   have  taken."     Toledo   Blade: — "No  man  has  a 


98  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

right  to  place  himself  where  he  has  no  moral  control  of 
his  own  actions;  yet  this  is  what  he  does  when  he  joins 
a  Secret  Society  and  binds  himself  to  blindly  obey  all 
orders  from  headquarters  without  hesitation  or  thought 
of  whether  they  are  right  or  wrong.  Indeed  he  dares 
not  question  the  mandates  of  these  persons  whom  he 
does  not  know.  He  must  simply  do  as  he  is  bidden, 
even  though  it  makes  him  a  partner  in  the  most  atro- 
cious crimes,  when  he  has  no  intention  of  committing  a 
moral  wrong.  The  lesson  these  disclosures  teach  is  to 
become  a  member  of  no  society  whose  purposes  are  not 
openly  declared,  to  take  no  oaths  to  obey  persons  whose 
names  are  unknown."  Chicago  Free  Methodist: — 
"The  supremacy  of  secret  oaths  and  obligations,  of  se- 
cret laws  and  orders  over  all  other  obligations  and 
allegiance,  is  a  prmciple  which  permeates  and  pervades 
the  multiplied  and  multiplying  orders  of  secretism  which 
fill  every  nook  and  corner  of  our  land.  Secret  law  is 
but  secret  treason  agamst  all  other  law,  which  may 
develop  into  open  rebellion  whenever  a  secret  com- 
bination or  combinations  deeiii  themselves  strong  enough 
to  ignore  the  laws  of  the  land  in  the  assertion  of  the 
supremacy  of  their  own  secretly  devised  and  oath-sworn 
codes.  Until  such  a  time  comes,  the  principle  of  treason 
against  all  law  in  the  recognized  supremacy  on  the  part 
of  the  clan  of  secret  oaths  and  enactments,  works  under 
cover  of  night  to  subvert  law  in  carrying  out,  to  as  per- 
fect a  degree  as  possible.,  the  higher  law  of  secret  trai- 
tonsm.''  Syracuse  (A'.  2^  )  H^esleyan  Methodist : — 
"Secret  Societies  are  the  natural  hot-bed  of  'murder  and 
treason  not  excepted.'     No  matter  how  pious  their  pre- 


PUBLIC    OPINION. 


99 


tensions,  keep  clear  of  the  whole  tyled  and  curtained 
clan."  Brighton  (^Mich,)  Wesley  an  Advocate:  — 
"When  will  the  people  arise  and  condemn  to  the  silence 
and  oblivion  of  past  ages  all  Secret  Societies  as  the  mask- 
visaged  foes  of  society  and  good  government."  Har- 
per^s  Weekly : — "In  this  country,  however,  secret  po- 
litical associations  are  unnecessary  and  suspicious.  What 
cannot  be  done  openly  in  such  matters  should  not  be 
done  at  all,  and  the  man  who  proposes  secrecy  pre- 
sumptively means  mischief."  Utica  (iV.  2".)  Daily 
Herald: — "The  excitement  produced  by  the  interfer- 
ence of  Masons  with  politics  is  a  matter  of  history." 
yoiirnal^  Indianapolis^  1880: — "The  Democrats  are 
attempting  to  carry  this  State  by  secret  societies.  They 
hope  to  overcome  a  popular  uprising  by  midnight  meet- 
ings, and  by  grips  and  pass-words."  Hastings  {^Neb,^ 
Weekly  Gazette  Journal: — "The  day  for  cliques  and 
rings  has  gone  by.  Open  and  frank  methods  in  politics 
are  the  only  kind  that  will  win.  Fair  dealing  and  hon- 
est action  will  go  further  than  craft,  cunning,  and  under- 
handed scheming.  Democrats,  republicans,  and  anti- 
monopolists  will  do  well  to  learn  the  fact.  Combinations 
and  cabals  are  resorted  to  only  by  those  who  have  not 
the  public  confidence  necessary  to  successfully  land  them 
in  official  positions."  Chicago  Tribune: — "A  ring  is 
synonymous  with  theft.  If  partisan  purposes  were  hon- 
est there  would  be  no  occasion  for  a  ring.  Any  clique 
or  organization  in  politics  of  which  the  people  are  not 
members,  and  of  whose  operations  they  are  not  cogni- 
zant is  dangerous  to  the  community,  and  doubly  danger- 
ous when  it  has  the  saloon  interest  and  criminal    classes 


TOO  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

at  its  back."  Kansas  City  (Mo.)  journal : — "We 
believe  that  the  recognition  of  the  right  or  power  of 
any  organization  outside  of  the  law  to  regulate  the  af 
fairs  of  this  country  by  a  secret  and  despotic  agency 
would  sound  the  death-knell  of  this  Republic,  and  pave 
the  way  for  anarchy  and  then  despotism."  PhiladeU 
fhia  Press  % — "The  influence  of  Secret  Societies  upon 
the  politics  of  this  country  has  in  every  case  gone  to 
support  the  judgment  of  President  Washington,  who 
in  notable  terms  warned  the  people  against  them." 
N^w  Tork  Witness: — "Men  love  to  be  in  bondage,  pro- 
vided it  be  of  their  own  seeking.  They  submit  volun- 
tarily to  the  bondage  of  trade  unions,  Masonic  societies, 
or  political  parties.  To  leave  the  first  is  to  become  a 
scab;  to  leave  the  second  is  to  be  deserving  of  death; 
to  leave  the  third  is  to  be  a  traitor.  These  are  most 
extraordinary  doctrines,  which  practically  deny  the 
right  of  private  judgment  or  even  submission  to  the 
law  of  God."  New  Tork  Mail  and  Express: — 
"After  the  courts  and  juries  have  done  their  work  there 
should  be  a  general  uprising  and  expression  of  Ameri- 
can sentiment  against  oath-bound  organizations  like  the 
Clan-na-Gael.  It  should  be  made  a  criminal  offense  to 
belong  to  them.  In  their  origin, purposes  and  methods^ 
they  are  hostile  to  Aiiierican  ideas  and  institutions,  and 
they  should  be  held  up  to  American  scorn  and  contempt 
and  righteous  wrath  that  no  like  organization  shall  ever 
again  be  able  to  acquire  any  considerable  power.'' 
Christian  Conservator ^Dayton^  Ohio: — "So of  secrecy. 
It  is  not  the  outbreaks  in  strikes,  the  throwing  of 
bombs  at  the  haymarket,  the  murders,  the  protection  of 


PUBLIC    OPINION.  lOI 

criminals,  but  the  prime  cause  is  back  of  all  this  in 
what  makes  these  possible,  which  is  organized  secrecy, 
Thaddeus  Stevens  penetrated  the  covering  and  laid  bare 
the  evil  to  the  bone.  He  said  that  organized  secrecy  in 
a  voluntary  society  is  the  evidence  of  iniquity.  Long 
before  it  is  applied  to  anything  good  or  bad,  the  simple 
method  is  an  eVil."  Pittsburg  {Pa^)  Evangelical  Re- 
pository: — "The  same  thing  may  be  said  of  all  Secret 
Oath-bound  Societies.  Their  oath-bound  secrecy  itself 
puts  them  out  of  harmony  with  our  American  institu- 
tions, and  also  brings  them  under  the  condemnation  of 
the  law  of  God."  From  the  Boston  Traveler: — "The 
New  York  Mail  and  Express  urges  that  laws  should 
be  enacted  making  it  a  penal  offense  to  make  any  oath, 
promise  or  pled^^e  of  obedience,  loyalty,  submission  or 
co-operation  to  or  with  any  officer  or  authority,  not  rec- 
ognized and  instituted  by  law,  or  any  party  claiming  to 
be  such  officer  or  authority,  whether  of  any  voluntary 
society,  corporation  or  association.  The  amendment 
should  also  abolish  every  such  secret  oath,  promise  or 
pledge  heretofore  made,  and  render  it  null,  void,  and  of 
no  effect."  "It  should  also  render  it  a  penal  offense  for 
any  such  office,  party  or  association,  or  any  person 
whatever,  to  ask  for,  receive,  permit  or  suffer  any  per- 
son or  party  to  make  or  take  such  oaths,  promise  or 
pledge;  and  the  receiving,  permitting,  suffering  or 
making  of  any  such  oaths,  promise  or  pledge,  should  be 
evidence  of  conspiracy  on  the  part  of  both  of  those 
making  and  those  receiving  the  same."  "The  majesty 
of  our  institutions  and  the  allegiance  which  every  citi- 
zen owes  to  our  country  and  her  laws  are  being  trodden 


I02  THE     AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

under  foot  by  the  freedom  and  impunity  with  which 
designing  misleaders  of  classes  of  men  have  heretofore 
been  permitted  to  bind  their  followers  and  dupes  to  the 
bhndest  obedience  to  their  dictates,  with  most  hcMW 
and  outrageous  penalties  for  disobedience."  "All  such 
oaths,  both  on  the  part  of  the  officers  to  whom  they  are 
made  and  of  those  making  them,  are  treason;  and  the 
c  >untry  should  wake  up  and  look  after  its  liberties  by 
passing  the  necessary  laws  for  the  protection  of  the 
body  politic."  Atchison  (^Kan,)  Champion : — "No 
good  cause,  no  true  principle,  no  just  system,  no  honest 
purpose  needs  secret  machinery  and  oath-bound  mid- 
night organizations  to  maintain  it.  Righteous  causes 
and  correct  principles  grow  best  and  prosper  most  in 
the  full  glare  of  the  sunlight  of  publicity.  TheAmer- 
can  citizen  who  does  not  know  this  to  be  true,  has  a  very 
weak  and  improjxr  idea  of  the  American  S3'stem  and 
institutions.  The  fact  that  any  cause  seeks  darkness 
and  secrecy  for  org.  ni/ation  is  the  best  possible  evi- 
dence that  it  is  a  bad  cause."  Omaha  (^Ncb,)  Midland: 
— "There  are  mdlionsof  people  in  this  country  who  pay 
taxes  to  build  court  houses,  custom  houses  and  all  sorts 
of  public  buildings,  as  well  as  the  Washington  Monu- 
ment, who  are  conscientiously  opposed  to  Masonry  on 
the  grounds  of  its  anti-Christian  character."  Catholic 
Examiner: — "There  docs  not  exist,  and  there  never 
has  existed,  any  reason  why  this  organization,  w  ith  its 
ridiculous  trappings,  its  bc-aproned  members,  and  ab- 
surd ceremonies  should  be  singled  out  to  take  charge  of 
the  dedication  of  buildings  which  are  the  property  of 
the    general    public."       Chicago   Interior', — "A     vast 


PUBLIC    OPINION.  103 

number  will  not  inquire  into,  nor  care  about  the  sig- 
nificance of  those  'mystic  rites'  but  a  vast  number  do 
care,  when  they  are  made  parties  to  them ;  ask  them 
what  they  understand  by  the  scattering  of  corn  and 
pouring  libations  upon  the  ground,  and  they  will 
promptly  answer^— 'Devil  worship.'"  Knoxville  (  Tenn,') 
College^  Aurora: — ••'But  our  objections  to  the  lodge  are 
serious.  It  makes  men  false,  blind,  blasphemous,  it 
turns  them  aside  from  the  worship  of  God  to  the  wor- 
ship of  devils.  What  more  wicked  system  can  be 
conceived  than  that  which  dresses  under  the  same  badge 
of  'brotherhood'  the  common  church  member,  the  skep- 
tic, the  preacher  and  the  blackguard?  It  is  no  surprise 
to  us  that  even  in  God's  sanctuary  such  a  company 
should  have  in  its  number  those  whose  breaths  are  hot 
with  liquor."  Saint  Louis  Vanguard: — "Masonry  is  a 
stupendous  sham.  The  wonder  is  such  a  despicable  farce 
could  find  support."  Primitive  Christian: — '*The  in- 
fluence of  secretism,  once  in  the  church,  will  be  hard  to 
eradicate.  Brethren,  beware  of  the  baneful  influence 
of  secretism."  Chicago  Evening  Post — "The  esteemed  ^ 
Congregationalist  is  deeply,  not  to  say  mournfully, 
concerned  with  the  increasing  influence  of  the  'lodge,' 
or  secret  society,  as  a  competitor  with  the  church  for 
the  time,  attention  and  money  of  men."  "How  far 
reaching  this  secular  agency  has  become  may  be  guessed 
from  'recent  figures,  carefully  compiled,  which  show 
that  Boston  has  243  churches  to  599  lodges;  Brooklyn, 
355  churches  to  695  lodges;  Washington,  181  churches 
to  316  lodges;  Chicago,  384  churches  to  1,088  lodges^ 
and  the  same  proportion  obtain  in   other  cities.'  "  New 


I04  THE    AMERICAN      HAND-BOOK. 

York  Christian', — "A  church  in  one  of  the  eastern 
cities  is  gradually  decaying  while  the  minister  seems  to 
be  quite  popular  with  the  general  public.  On  inquiry 
we  find  that  he  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Masons,  of 
the  order  of  Odd -fellows,  of  the  order  of  United  Work- 
men, of  the  order  of  Grangers,  and  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  attends  the  meetings  of  all  of  them, 
and  is  active  among  them.  No  wonder  his  church 
decays.  He  has  a  split-up-mind,  and  probably  it  was 
not  big  enough  for  the  Christian  ministry, to  begin  with* 
Still  there  is  a  colored  minister  of  our  church  in  one  of 
the  Southern  States  who  belongs  to  seven  secret  socie- 
ties." Boston  Transcript*. — "Winsted,  Conn.,  has 
among  its  citizens  a  man  who  belongs  to  twenty-four 
secret  societies."  Boston  Herald', — ''In  communities 
not  divided  up  by  any  secular  or  social  fraternities,  the 
Christian  church  as  one  great,  permanent,  omnipresent 
organization  will  have  a  much  stronger  hold  on  every 
class  than  any  other  attraction.  But  when  Masonry  and 
Odd-fellowship  and  the  Club  and  the  numberless  other 
associations  make  their  ndvent,  the  church  loses  its  grip, 
and  no  wonder,  on  considerable  numbers  of  every 
class."  CincinnatiChristian  World', — ''There is  no  use 
in  denying  that  the  leading  secret  societies  are  in  their 
practical  workings,  essentially  deistic."  Sfringjicld 
(^Mass.)  Republican: — "There  is  not  a  moral,  political 
or  social  purpose  which  secrecy  can  aid  more  than  • 
openness."  Cleveland  {^O,^  Universe, — "When  Ma- 
sonry enters  public  American  life,  we  have  the  right  to 
question  its  origin,  aims,  and  affiliations;  its  record  in 
the  past   and   present,  and  its  outlook  in    the    future." 


PUBLIC    OPINION.  105 

Buffalo  (iV.  2". )  Telegram: — "Is  Freemasonry  the 
established  religion  of  the  United  States?  Or  are  the 
secrets  of  it  the  real  esoteric  and  mysterious  abracada- 
bra of  American  politics?  Who  or  what  do  they  rep- 
resent? Certainly  not  the  whole  people,  for  a  majority 
of  the  people  are  not  Masons,  and  millions  of  people, 
whose  rights  and  opinions  are  as  sacrejd  as  those-  of 
their  fellow  citizens,  look  upon  their  organization  with 
disfavor."  New  Tork  Baptist  Weekly: — "There  is  no 
union  which  men  can  form,  making  an  inner  circle  of 
self-interest  and  tyrannically  dictating  to  those  without 
it,  which  is  not  the  grossest  violation  of  every  true 
principle  of  human  brotherhood."  The  Armory: — 
"Surely  the  presence  of  a  multitude  of  secret  lodges 
bodes  little  good  to  the  church  of  Christ."  The  Amer^ 
lean  Missionary :  ''^y^Q^  unite  with  the  Congrega-  i 
tionalist  and  other  influential  journals  in  deprecating  j 
the  increase  and  dominating  influence  of  secret  socie-^ 
ties."  Brooklyn  (N,  Y.)  National  Monitor: — "Let 
your  light  shine  said  Jesus;  but  how  can  a  man  let  his 
light  shine  when  he  is  so  terribly  oath-bound  that  he 
dare  not,  under  certain  circumstances,  testify  to  the 
truth?  Jesus  did  nothing  in  secret  and  to  all  his  disci- 
ples he  says,  follow  me."  Our  Record^  Utica^  N,  T. : — 
"We  are  confident  that  the  great  objects  of  equality, 
fraternity  and  morality  may  be  attained  without  resort- 
ing to  the  vail  of  secrecy."  Cincinnati  Christian 
Standard: — "We  know  of  no  good  work  for  God  01 
humanity  to  the  success  of  which  secrecy  is  essential; 
and  we  see  danger  m  secret  associations  which  every 
Christian  should  avoid."      Chicago  Evening  Journal: 


I06  tup:    AMERICAN    hand-book. 

— "Assemble  a  party  of  young  men  together  anywhere 
'  with  all  restraint  removed  and  perfect  secrecy  enjoined, 
and  the  result  will  be  pernicious."  Christian  Cyno- 
sure:— "The  average  American  press  which  has  so 
long  been  sealed  to  articles  against  secretism  is  opening. 
The  Ohio  State  J  our  rial  ^ihc  Memphis  ^//£?a/,  and  the 
Washington  National  Republican^  all  large,  influential 
dailies  in  political  centers,  have  published  the  strongest 
possible  utterances  and  articles  against  these  national 
pests.  Joseph  Cook  has  repeatedly  condemned  the 
secret  system  in  his  world-read  lectures." 

Other  strong  words:  "The  Morning  News  is 
opposed  to  oath-bound  societies  in  politics."  "The  old 
vigilance  committee  of  the  West  has  been  superseded, 
in  turn  by  the  Klu-Klux,  the  Molly  Maguires  and  lat- 
terly by  the  White-Caps.  If  these  so-called  'regula- 
tors' have  stopped  short  of  murder  in  many  of  their 
outrages,  it  is  because  there  has  still  been  a  remnant  of 
fear  of  the  law  of  the  land.  The  outrages  upon  per- 
son and  property  which  isuch  outlaws  have  perpetrated 
during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  form  one  of  the 
greatest  blots  upon  American  civilization."  "There  is 
no  room  upon  American  soil  for  any  other  form  of 
'regulators'  than  the  tribunals  of  justice  sanctioned  by 
the  law.  All  other  societies, 'committees,' etc.,  are  un- 
American  and  should  be  stamped  out  without  mercy. 
The  State  or  municipality  that  allows  such  organiza- 
tions of  outlavvr3  to  flourish,  does  not  truly  represent 
American  institutions,  and  should  mend  its  ways  without 
delay." — The  Chicago  Daily  N'ezvs.  "One  good  result 
will  surely  follow  the    Cronin    murder:     Irishmen   of 


PUBLIC    OPINION. 


107 


good  sense  will  see  that  secret  societies  are  out  of  place 
in  America,  and  are  apt  to  affect  men  injuriously  even 
in  a  worldly  way." — The  Boston  Pilot, 

"The  fact  that  so  many  thousands  of  men  should  band 
together  in  this  country  in  secret  societies  which  are 
similar  to  this  one,  is  a  menace  to  our  republican  insti- 
tutions."— Sign"^  of  the  Times,  "All  secret  orders 
where  the  members  are  bound  together  by  extra-judi- 
cial oaths  are  un- republican  and  despotic  in  their  very 
nature,  and  should  be  prohibited  by  law*  No  interest 
of  government,  humanity  or  religion  requires  their 
services." — Christian  Nation,  "That  infamous  opin- 
ion which  justifies  the  most  dastardly  crimes  against 
society,  at  the  behest  of  a  secret,  partisan,  and  irre- 
sponsible tribunal,  will  never  be  tolerated  by  Ameri- 
cans, and  if  executions  of  men  high  in  places  of  influ- 
ence are  necessary  to  stop  such  crimes  the  sooner  they 
come  the  better." — New  York  Tribune,  "The  right 
of  the  State  to  look  into  such  things  can  scarcely  be 
questioned;  or  rather  the  right  of  a  set  of  men  to  or 
ganize  in  such  a  way  and  for  such  a  purpose  that  the 
State  cannot  know  its  principles  and  aims,  is  most  seri- 
ously questioned." — Christian  Advocate, 

Colored  Lodger y:  Daily  Appeal^  Memphis, 
Tenn: — "The  secret  society  business  has  become  a 
craze  with  the  colored  people,  and  one  by  which  they 
often  become  the  victim  of  designing  knaves."  Sandy 
Lake  News : — "We  heard  a  minister  remark  the  other 
day  that  the  colored  people  of  the  South  had  spent 
since  the  war  no  less  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
in  secret  societies."      Chicago  Advance', — <'The   Inde- 


Io8  THG  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK, 

fendent  mourns  over  the  fact  that  the  secret  societies 
are  on  the  increase  among  the  negroes  of  the  South. 
But  if  secret  societies  are  a  good  thing,  why  should  it 
be  a  calamity  that  the  negroes  join  them?  But  per- 
haps the  Independent  will  not  allow  that  they  are 
good."  "It  is  stated  on  good  authority  that  one  of  the 
greatest  hinderances  of  missionary  work  among  the 
colored  people  is  the  prevalence  of  secret  societies. 
The  way  in  which  Ihat  race  turns  to  anything  mysteri- 
ous, and  is  impressed  with  this  foolishness  of  secrecy, 
is  astonishing  and  discouraging.  A  colored  niinister  of 
this  city  informs  us  that  there  is  scarcely  a  negro  family 
in  Chicago  that  is  not  connected  with  from  one  to  four 
or  five  secret  societies.  Into  these  societies  go  their 
money  and  their  time.  It  is  deplorable  to  have  white 
people  tricked  out  of  their  time  and  money  by  such 
devices,  but  their  influence  on  this  ignorant,  emotional 
race  is  yet  more  pernicious."  Chrlsti'afi  Weekly^  Mo- 
bile, Ala.: — "Too  much  money  has  left  the  South  and 
flowed  Into  the  pockets  of  colored  men  in  the  North 
and  West.  Our  wives,  daughters,  sisters  and  mothers 
have  toiled  over  the  wash-tub,  burned  over  the  ironing- 
table  and  cook-stove  to  keep  in  ease  and  luxury  the 
wives  and  daughters  of  Northern  bishops  and  big 
Northern  B.  Y.  High  Cockalorums  of  societies  until 
we  are  tired  of  it.  And  'Aunt  Hagar's  children'  have 
got  curious  and  won't  drive  any  more  worth  a  cent! 
The  Ktiights  of  Wise  Men  swindle  scooped  thousands 
out  of  our  people,  and  they  justly  owe  one  thousand 
dollars  to  a  widow  of  one  of  our  foremost  men  and 
will   not  pay  her  a  cent."     Christian  Voice: — "The 


PUBLIC  OPINION.  109 

colored  people  have  gone  into  organizations  to  an  extra- 
ordinary extent.  One  of  our  colored  ministers  in  Texas 
informed  a  General  Conference  officer  that  he  belonged 
to  seven  different  secret  societies.  They  have  not  been 
content  with  imitating  those  formed  by  their  Caucasian 
fellow  citizens,  but  have  instituted  a  large  number  of 
their  own.  Not  long  ago  a  case  was  tried  in  Baltimore 
which  is  recorded  on  the  docket  as  follows:  William 
H.  Perkins,  Worthy  Ruler  of  St.  Thomas  Lodge,  vs. 
Augustus  Thomas,  Grand  Royal  King  of  the  United 
and  Consolidated  Order  of  Brothers  and  Sisters  and 
Sons  and  Daughters  of  the  Knights  of  Four  Men,  and 
the  members  of  the  Supreme  Grand  Royal  House! 
The  suit  in  this  case  rose  because  the  Grand  Royal 
Knight  became  disgusted  with  the  workings  of  St 
Thomas  Lodge,  placed  it  under  the  ban  of  excommu- 
nication, and  said  he  would  not  take  back  one  word  of 
that  decree,  not  even  if  President  Cleveland,  or  even 
General  Grant  would  come  out  of  his  grave  to  appeal 
to  Him.  St.  Thomas  Lodge  brought  suit  to  make  the 
Grand  Royal  Knight  take  it  back.  Ludicrous  as  this 
may  appear,  it  is  not  much  more  so  than  the  proceed- 
ings and  titles  of  many  societies  that  are  now  formed 
mong  the  Caucasian  race." 
The  fight  is  on:  It  is  said  that  the  American 
Tract  Society  never  issued  a  tract  against  negro  sla- 
very. Northern  churches  censured  their  minister,  for 
praying  at  Abolition  meetings.  Thousands  of  men  in 
the  Federal  army  never  waked  to  the  business  in  hand 
until  the  war  was  all  over,  but  they  have  been  fightiui;- 
desperately    ever   since.       These   hundred   days   men, 


no  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

camp  sutlers  and  general-hanci^ers-on  are  always  harping 
loudest  and  longest  of  how  they  fought  and  bled,  and 
died  for  their  glorious  country.  They  load  themselves 
down  with  badges,  put  all  their  spare  change  into  uni- 
forms and  brass  buttons,  visit  all  the  reunions  and  try, 
oh!  so  hard  to  get  big  pensions  and  post  offices.  To 
the  old  veteran  all  this  is  vanity,  a  travesty  on  war 
valor  and  patriotism.  Christian  patriot,  which  record 
are  you  making  in  the  great  moral  battle?  Better  win 
your  glory  in  the  front  ranks.  Edmond  Ronayne's 
able  arraignment  of  lodgery  some  time  since  in  the 
Chicago  Interior^  D.  C.  Trumbull's  telling  articles  in 
the  Burlington  (la.)  Haivk  Eye^  The  "Congress  of 
Churches"  in  the  First  M.  E.  Church  of  Chicago,  and 
Rev.  Joseph  Cook's  strong  lecture  there  against  Ma- 
sonry and  all  oath-bound  lodgery;  Pres.  C.  A.  Blanch- 
ard's  "Age  of  Lodges"  in  Our  Day^  Boston's  great 
paper,  of  which  Joseph  Cook,  the  noted  lecturer,  and 
Frances  E.  Willlard  are  editors,  and  his  scathing  article 
on  Masonic  treason  and  disloyalty  in  the  influential 
Chicago  Inter  Ocean\  the  entering  wedge  of  this 
lod;^e  discussion  at  the  National  Educational  Cpnven- 
tion  in  St.  Paul  (department  of  higher  education) ;  and 
the  simultaneous  opening  of  the  columns  of  the  Boston 
Cougrcgationalist^  Chicago  Advance  and  San  Fran- 
cisco Pacijic  to  lodge  discussion,  show  the  rapid  growth 
of  American  sentiment.  That  such  papers  will  admit 
column  after  column  of  the  most  radical  articles  against 
oath-bound  lodgery,  is  only  a  reflection  of  an  awaken- 
ing public  opinion  and  an  index  to  what  is  now  going 
on  the  land  over,  are  increasing  monitions  that  the  lodge 


PUBLIC    OPINION.  Ill 

must  go.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  estimate  the  power 
and  influence  of  a  faithful,  fearless  newspaper.  The 
people  must,  have  line  upon  line  and  precept  upon  pre- 
cept, here  a  little  and  there  a  little.  This  is  essentially 
true  in  all  reformatory  effort.  The  work  begins  in 
this  world  and  reaches  to  eternity.  The  press  may  be 
thrown  into  the  river,  a  Lovejoy  shot  down,  the  paper 
suspended,  but  the  seed  sown  in  weakness  is  raised  in 
power.  The  editor,  all  on  fire  with  patriotism,  breathes 
his  very  soul  into  his  writings  and  sends  his  loftier  ideas 
and  better  thoughts  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  land.  His  paper  is  read  in  the  cottage  and  the 
mansion.  The  minister,  merchant,  banker,  teacher  and 
day  laborer,  ever  on  the  alert  for  information,  read, 
think  and  ponder.  Heart  speaks  to  heart,  and  ere  the 
week  goes  by  thousands,  mayhap  tens  of  thousands, 
are  influenced  to  higher,  nobler,  grander  lives.  The 
writer  of  ability  and  tact,  governed  by  principle  and 
honor,  by  perseverance  can  and  will  win  a  hearing. 
How  men  of  integrity  and  brain  are  drawn  to  such  a 
writer.  The  invisible  acquaintance  thus  happily  begun 
ripens  into  good  fellowship.  The  reader  finds  himself 
looking  for  the  name.  His  friend  is  speaking  and  he 
listens.  Confidence  is  established  and  with  all  the  clev- 
erness of  the  experienced  writer,  he  gives  bent  to  a 
thousand  lives,  molding  the  thoughts,  emotions,  opin- 
ions and  principles  over  to  his  own.  Don't  try  to  tell 
the  limit  of  that  one's  power.  God  and  eternity  alone 
will  tell.  With  such  papers  and  such  writers  no  lover 
of  political,  religious  or  social  reform  need  hesitate. 
Do  they    voice   your   sentiments   and   principles,   then 


112  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

back  them  up.  Is  your  time  occupied  with  business  or 
professional  duties,  back  them  up.  Perhaps  you  can- 
not go  out  and  meet  these  great  questions  face  to  face, 
but  that  does  not  lessen  your  bounden  duty  to  your 
God,  your  country  and  your  fellowmen.  With  such 
papers  you  can  send  truth  and  light  to  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  influential  people.  The  papers  and 
.writers  are  doing  all  they  can  — God  will  hold  you 
responsible  for  their  success  or  failure.  Able  men, 
willing  men,  are  giving  their  time,  their  energy,  their 
very  life  force  to  the  reforms  for  which  you  pray  and 
in  which  you  claim  to  believe.  The  liberal  man  de- 
viseth  liberal  things.  We  are  told  that  the  Lord 
loveth  a  cheerful  giver.  Jesus  said,  "It  is  more  blessed 
to  give  than  to  receive.  Freely  ye  have  received, 
freely  give.  The  silver  is  mine,  and  the  gold  is 
mine,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Unto  whomsoever  much 
is  given  of  him  shall  be  much  required.  Every  man 
according  as  he  proposeth  in  his  heart,  so  let  him 
give,  not  grudgingly  or  of  necessity.  Provide  your- 
selves bags  that  wax  not  old,  a  treasure  in  the 
heavens  which  faileth  not,  where  no  thief  approacheth, 
neither  moth  corrupteth.  Lay  not  up  for  yourselves 
treasures  upon  earth,  where  moth  and  rust  doth  corrupt, 
and  where  thieves  break  through  and  steal;  but  lay  up 
for  yourselves  treasures  in  heaven,  where*  neither  moth 
nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where  thieves  do  not  break 
through  !ior  stL\il.  Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into  the 
storehouse,  and  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord 
of  hosts,  if  I  will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven, 
and  pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that  there  shall  not  be  room 


PUBLIC  OPINION.  113 

enough  to  receive  it.  Honour  the  Lord  with  thy  sub- 
stance, and  with  the  first-fruits  of  all  thine  increase: 
So  shall  thy  barns  be  filled  with  plenty,  and  thy  presses 
shall  burst  out  with  new  wine."  You  are  face  to  face 
with  the  responsibility  and  the  recording  angel  is 
making  the  minute  of  the  result.  Shall  it  be,  "Well 
done,  thou  good  and. faithful  servant.  He  that  knoweth 
his  master's  will  and  doeth  it  not  shall  be  beaten  with 
many  stripes." 

Push  ahead:  This  chapter  carries  the  question  to 
the  conservative  classes — educators,  editors,  professional 
and  business  men,  who  should  be  informed  as  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  present  active  organized  widespread 
agitation.  It  shows  to  some  extent  the  mammoth  pro- 
portions of  this  movement  and  the  mighty  uprising 
against  organized  secret  knavery,  proving  that  the 
system  is  on  trial  and  will  be  sifted  to  the  very  dregs. 
The  man  who  imagines  that  all  the  antisecrecy  in  the 
country  is  in  his  own  neighborhood,  if  he  don't  mind 
kicking  a  contemptible  ignoramus,  should  kick  himself 
up  and  down  a  flight  of  stairs,  stand  on  his  head  in  the 
flour  barrel,  and  when  he  stands  behind  the  door  and 
sucks  his  thumbs  should  only  suck  one  at  a  time. 
Lodge  men  are  not  so  numerous  as  many  suppose. 
Count  the  membership  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  you 
have  counted  a  very  large  part  of  all  the  other  orders. 
Masonry  makes  it  a  rule  to  amalgamate  with  and  con- 
trol every  other  secret  society.  When  it  is  remem- 
bered that  many  lodge  men  belong  to  from  three  to  six 
of  these  neighborhood  rings  it  wiU  diminish  lodge 
membership  at  an  astonishing  rate.     Powerful  agencies 


]  14  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

are  moving  in  solid  columns  against  the  secret  empire 
of  conspiracy  and  despotism. 

Regular  headquarters  of  antilodge  agita- 
tion: Aside  from  our  headquarters  and  work  we  take 
pleasure  in  mentioning  some  of  our  many  co-workers 
who  are  conducting  successful  and  aggressive  war  on 
lodgery  at  their  several  centers  of  operations:  The 
National  Christian  Association  with  headquarters  in 
Chicago,  is  directing  and  conducting  a  strong  war  on 
Freemasonry  and  other  kindred  evils.  It  has  some  sev- 
enteen State  auxiliaries,  and  its  official  organ  the  Chris- 
tian Cynosure^  a  large  1 6-page  weekly,  js  ably  edited, 
and  sustained  by  Antisecretists  of  all  religious  persua- 
sions. The  association  owns  substantial  buildings  in 
Chicago  and  Washington,  D.  C.  The  American  Anti- 
secrecy  League  at  221  West  Madison  Street,  Chicago, 
is  warming  up  the  political  candidates  on  the  lod<4C 
question.  It  publishes  the  views  and  secret  society 
relations  of  all  aspirants  for  office,  as  far  as  possible, 
and  how  some  of  the  sons  of  Hiram  do  squirm.  Go 
in,  Brother  Phillips,  with  your  sleeves  rolled  up,  and 
may  the  American  movement  give  us  candidates  worthy 
the  votes  of  all  true  patriots.  Elder  H.  H.  Hinman 
and  S.  F.  Porter  are  doing  a  grand  work  for  Chris- 
tianity and  good  government  in  the  Southern  States. 
They  are  successfully  enlisting  the  southern  schools 
and  churches  in  the  great  crusade  for  the  overthrow^  of 
oath-bound  lodgery.  The  sunny  south  may  yet  lead 
in  the  emancipation  of  white  slaves  from  Masonic 
''Worshipful  Masters,"  and  ''Most  Worshipful  Grand 
Masters."     The  blackman  was  an  unwilhng  slave.     But 


PUBLIC  OPINION.  115 

Masonry  has  so  subdued  these  poor  white  galleys 
that  they  voluntarily  and  willingly  submit  to  mastery 
and  despotism,  more  degrading  than  the  Jeff  Davis 
system.  One  half  million  white  Masonic  slaves,  not 
so  many  as  Lincoln  liberated,  but  enough  to  touch 
every  drop  of  loyal  blood  in  the  nation.  W.  B.  Stod- 
dard, in  the  Admiral  Rowan  Building  within  three 
blocks  of  the  National  Capitol,  and  now  the  property 
of  the  movement,  Washington,  D.  C;  Rev.  J.  P. 
Stoddard,  New  England  headquarters  and  office  of  the 
Ho77ie  Guard^  the  womens'  antisecrecy  paper,  Bos 
ton,  Mass.;  Pacific  Agency,  M.  H.  Nichols,  San- 
Francisco,  Cal.;  Wm.  Fenton  and  his  Liberator^  St. 
Paul,  Minn.;  Students'  Antisecrecy  Bureau,  Pres. 
C.  S.  Bullock,  Evanston,  III;  Sec.  G.  A.  Conrad,  Chi 
cago,    111.;    Treas.   E.    A,    Lovett,   Normal   Park,   IlL 

Workers  and  speakers  not  elsewhere  given — E.  J.. 
C  half  ant,  York,  Pa.;  I.  Bancroft,  Everly,  Iowa;  J.  A. 
Conant,  Willimantic,  Conn.;  George  W.  Needels,  for 
ten  years  editor  and  publisher  of  the  American  Free- 
man^ Albany,  Mo.;  C.  F.  Hawley,  Wheaton,  111.; 
El  wood  Hanson,  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  S.  C.  Kimball, 
New  Market,  N.  H.;  J.  T.  McMichael,  Philadelphia, 
Pa.;  G.  M.  Elliott,  Selma,  Ala.;  J.  K.  Glasford,  Car- 
thage.  Mo.;  D.  A.  Richards,  Brigliton,  Mich.;  H.  H. 
Hinman,  Oberlin,|Ohio;  N.  Callender,  Montdale,  Pa. 
Floating.  Chapel  and  superb  stereoptician  lodge  scenes 
and  initiation  views,  I.  R.  B.  Arnold  and  family. 
OTHER  ANTI  LODGE  ELEMENTS. 

The  following  denominations  are  committed  by  vote 


Il6  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

of  their  legislative  assemblies  or  by  constitution  to  a 
separation  from  secret  lodge  worship: 

Adventists  (  Seventh-day  )  ;  Baptists — Primitive,  Sev- 
enth-day^ and  Scandinavian;  Brethren  (Dunkers  or 
German  Baptists);  Christian  Reformed  Church; 
Church  of  God  (Northern  Indiana  Eldership);  Con- 
gregational— The  State  Associations  of  Illinois  and 
Iowa  have  adopted  resolutions  against  the  lodge;  Dis- 
ciples (in  part);  Friends;  Lutherans,  Norwegian,  Dan- 
ish, Swedish  and  Sy nodical  Conferences;  Mennonites; 
Methodists — Free  and  Wesleyan;  Methodist  Protest- 
ant (Minnesota  Conference);  Moravians^  Plymouth 
Brethren;  Presbyterian  Associate,  Reformed  and 
United;  Reformed  Church  (Holland  Branch);  United 
Brethren  in  Christ.  Individual  churches  in  some  of 
these  denominations  should  be  excepted,  in  part  of  them 
even  a  considerable  portion.  The  following  local 
churches  have,  as  a  pledge  to  disfellowship  and  oppose 
lodge  worship,  given  their  names  to  the   following   list 

as  THE  ASSOCIATED  CHURCHES    OF    CHRIST:    NcW     Ru- 

hama  Congregational, Hamilton,  Miss.;  Pleasant  Ridge 
Congregational,  Sanford  County,  Ala.;  New  Hope 
Methodist,  Lowndes  County,  Miss.;  Congregational, 
College  Springs,  Iowa;  College  Church  of  Christ, 
Wheaton,  111.;  First  Congregational,  Leland,  Mich.; 
Sugar  Grove  Church,  Green  County,  Pa.;  Military 
Chapel,  M.  E.,  Lowndes  county.  Miss.;  Hopewell  Mis- 
sionary Baptist,  Lowndes  County,  Miss.;  Cedar  Grove, 
Miss.  Baptist,  Lowndes  County,  Miss.;  Simon's 
Chapel,  M.  E.,  Lowndes  County,  Miss.;  Pleasant 
Ridge,  Miss.  Baptist,  Lowndes  County,  Miss.;  Brown- 


PUBLIC  OPINION.  117 

lee  Church,  Caledonia,  Miss.;  Salem  Church,  Lowndes 
County,  Miss.;  West  Preston  Baptist  Church,  Wayne 
County, Pa.  Local  churches  adopting  the  same  prin- 
ciples are — Baptist  churches:  N.  Abington,  Pa.;  Men- 
omonee,  Modovi,  Wanbeck  and  Spring  Prame,  Wis.; 
Wheaton,  111.;  Perry  N.  Y.;  Spring  Creek,  near  Bur- 
lington, lovya;  Lima,  Ind;  Constableville,  N.  Y.  The 
'Good  Will  Association"  of  Mobile,  Ala.,  comprising 
^ome  twenty-five  colored  Baptist  churches;  Bridge- 
water  Baptist  Association,  Pa. ;  Old  Tebo  Baptist,  near 
Leesville,  Henry  Co.,  Mo.;  Hoopeston,  111.;  Esmen, 
111.,  Strykersville,  N.  Y.  Congregational  churches:  ist. 
of  Oberlin,  O.;  Tonica,  Crystal  Lake,  Union  and  Big 
Woods,  111-.;  Solsbury,  Ind.;  Congregational  Meth- 
odist, Maplewood,  Mass.  Independent  churches  in  Low- 
ell, Countryman  school-house  near  Linden,  Marengo 
and  Streator,  111.;  Berea  and  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.;  Us- 
tick.  111.;  Clarksburg,  Kansas;  State  Association  of 
Ministers  and  Churches  of  Christ  in  Kentucky.  Then 
vast  multitudes  of  patriots  in  the  Presbyterian,  Congre- 
gational, Baptist,  Methodist  Episcopal,  and  other  pow- 
erful denominations,  are  personally  and  actively  opposed 
to  these  powers  of  darkness  and  spiritual  wickedness 
in  high  places. 

Eminent  Witnesses:  A.  M.  Sullivan,  Irish 
Leader:  "I  had  not  studied  in  vain  the  history  of  secret, 
oath-bound  associations.  I  regard  them  with  horror." 
Charles  Francis  Adams:  "A  more  perfect  agent  for 
the  devising  and  execution  of  conspiracies  against 
church  and  state  could  scarcely  have  been  conceived." 
Disraeli, British  Premier:  "Secret  societies  are  hurrying 


Il8  THE   AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

the  civil  governments  of  the  world  to  the  brink  of  a 
precipice  over  which  law  and  order  will  ultimately  fall 
and  perish  together."  Wendell  Phillips:  "History 
shows  them  perverting  justice,  stopping  at  no  crime  to 
protect  and  conceal  their  mummeries;  controlling  poli- 
tics for  selfish  and  personal  ends,  and  interfering  with 
great  danger  in  national  emergencies.  Every  good 
citizen  should  make  war  on  all  secret  societies,  and  give 
himself  no  rest  until  they  are  forbidden  by  law  and 
rooted  out  of  existence."  Charles  P.  Sumner,  father 
of  the  Senator,  and  a  renouncing  Mason:  "Masonic 
engagements,  whether  they  are  called  oaths,  obliga 
tions,  or  promises,  ought  never  to  be  made.  They  arc 
not  sanctioned  b}^  law  and  are  not  obligatory.  Thc\ 
make  it  a  Masonic  crime  to  divulge  that  which  the  good 
of  the  community  requires  should  not  be  concealed." 
Gov.  John  A.Martin,  of  Kansas:  "Popular  govern- 
ment is  doomed  wherever  secret  political  societies  con- 
trol our  political  system.  It  does  not  matter  what  ob- 
ject such  societies  have  in  view,  nor  what  principles 
they  advocate — they  are  wholly  and  irredeemably  ob- 
noxious to  the  genius  of  American  institutions  and  dan- 
gerous to  a  government  of  the  people  and  by  the  peo- 
ple." Mayor  Abram  S.  Hewitt,  of  New  York  City,  to 
the  Democratic  Club  of  Brooklyn:  "Unless  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  shall  now  and  at  once  absolutely  disown 
and  condemn  all  organizations  which  seek  to  place  the 
individual  under  any  other  control  than  that  of  the 
laws  and  deprive  the  citizen  of  his  rights  of  free  action, 
it  will  perish  as  it  ought  to;  and  I  desire  on  this  occa- 
sion to  emphasize  the  issue  as   one   to   which  you   and 


PUBLIC    OPINION. 


^9 


your  fellow  members  will  direct  your  attention  in  the 
hope  that  the  next  State  convention  and  the  next  na- 
tional convention  will  condemn,  as  Washington  con- 
demned, all  secret  organizations  which  undertake  to 
usurp  the  functions  of  the  law  and  destroy  the  free 
agency  of  the  citizen."  Henry  Dana  Ward  says: 
"The  Masonic  fables  are  told  to  cover  the  meanness  of 
Freemasonry's  origin;  for  it  too  sprung  from  a  con- 
federacy of  lawless  plunderers;  and  it  mortifies  the 
pride  of  the  High  priests,  it  taps  the  vanity  of  the 
Grand  Masters,  and  makes  the  puissant  sovereis^ns  of 
Freemasonry  tremble  for  the  security  of  their  thrones, 
to  be  told  that  their  boasted  order  sprung  from  the 
mire  of  the  Rosicrusians,  and  spread  over  the  face  of 
the  earth  upon  the  licentious  cupidity  of  its-speculative 
fathers — that  it  originated  in  the  i8th  century  among 
men  capable  of  the  most  atrocious  falsehoods,  and  base 
enough  to  sell  their  reputation  for  money,  and  to  bar- 
ter a  good  conscience  for  the  delusion  of  a  lodge-room." 
Antimasonry  in  Canada: — Hon.  Edward  Blake, 
leader  in  Canadian  Parliament,  March,  1884:  "I  am 
not  in  favor  of  State  recognition  of  any  secret  societies. 
I  have  never  joined  one,  though  many  of  my  best 
friends  are  members  of  secret  societies.  But  I  believe 
the  tendency  of  secrecy  itself  to  be  injurious.  I  be- 
lieve that  it  brings  with  it  the  possibility  of  evil.  I  be- 
lieve that  it  involves  a  certain  amount  of  sacrifice  of 
individuality  and  independence,  and  gives  very  great 
facilities  for  the  misleading  of  members  by  designing 
leaders — very  great  and  mischievous  facilities  for  that 
purpose."     "I  believe  that  a  great  deal   of  the  trouble 


I20  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

social  and  political,  that  has  occurred  in  those  countries 
[Europe  and  America]  is  due  to  secret  societies." 

The  above  is  strong  for  a  leading  politician.  There 
is  a  radical  movement  in  the  Dominion  against  oath- 
bound  secretism.  That  popular  paper  the  Toronto 
World  says:  "An  opinion  is  becoming  widely  preva- 
lent that  the  Secret  Society  business  is  considerably 
overdone,  and  there  are  well  informed  persons  in  this 
city  who  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the  influence  of 
these  societies  is  becoming  decidedly  pernicious,  if  not 
absolutely  dangerous  to  the  public  weal.  Such  remarks 
as  these  are  made,  not  by  cranks,  or  by  those  claiming 
to  be  suffering  from  chronic  grievances,  but  by  liberal- 
minded  persons  of  the  highest  intelligence,  who  are 
not  given  to  talking  at  random  or  making  extraordinary 
charges  without  having  facts  to  support  them." 

Noted  Churchmen:  William  Otterbein,  founder 
of  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ: — "A 
Freemason  cannot  be  a  Christian."  Peter  Cartwright: 
— "Masonry  originated  with  the  devil  and  will  end 
with  the  devil."  Howard  Crosby,  Chancellor,  Uni- 
versity of  New  York,  1870: — "We  have  no  hesitation 
in  writing  secret  societies  among  the  quackeries  of  the 
earth."  Richard  S.  Storrs,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Pilgrims,  Brooklyn: — "My  judgment 
and  feeling  are  both  strongly  opposed  to  the  secret 
lodge  system.  I  heartily  agree  with  what  Dr.  Howard 
Crosby  has  so  forcibly  said  about  it."  Dr.  Thomas 
Scott,  the  great  commentator: — "Rash  oaths  are  above 
all  things  to  be  avoided;  but  if  men  are  entangled  by 
them,  they  ought  rather   to  infringe  the  sinful  oaths 


PUBLIC  OPINION.  121 

than  to  add  sin  to  sin  and  ruin  to  their  own  souls.' 
Rev.  B.  T.  Roberts,  General  Superintendent  of  the 
Free  Methodist  Church: — "For  us  to  keep  silent  re- 
specting Masonry,  and  thus  tacitly  endorse  the  idea  that 
a  man  can  both  accept  Christ  and  deny  him —  that  is, 
be  a  good  Mason  and  a  good  Christian  at  the  same 
time,  would  be  treason  to  Christ."  Rev.  Dr.  James  B. 
Walker,  author  of  "Philosophy  of  the  plan  of  Salva- 
tion":— "There  is  probably  not  one  in  a  thousand  who 
enter  the  lodge,  who  know,  when  blindfolded  they 
take  the  terrible  oaths,  that  Masonry  is  an  anti-Christ 
and  one  of  the  most  powerful  enemies  of  Christ  that 
exists.  But  this  is  put  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt 
by  the  highest  Masonic  authorities."  L.  L.  Hamline, 
Bishop  M.E.  church,  in  his  diary,  1848: — "North  Ohio 
Conference  h^s  progressed  very  rapidly  till  this  time, 
but  Masonry  and  Odd-fellowship  have  arrested  us." 
At  another  time:  "I  have  enjoyed  and  suffered  much 
during  its  session.  Masonry  and  Odd-fellowship,  is  a 
bane  in  the  midst  of  us,  have  done  us  much  evil." — 
Life,  pp.  323,  4.  Bishop  Simpson  just  before  his  death 
wrote: — "I  have  never  belonged  to  a  secret  society,  not 
even  a  division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance."  Rev. 
J.  E.  Roy,  D.  D.,  Secretary  American  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation:— "A  man  is  not  fit  to  be  a  juryman  who  has 
taken  these  Masonic  oaths  and  holds  to  them.  Such  a 
man  is  not  competent  to  be  a  constable  or  a  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  has  disqualified  himself  practically  and 
really,  for  he  has  by  these  oaths  perjured  himself  for 
the  one  side  or  the  other,  and  so  is  unable  to  do  justly 
in  his  official  relation  between   man  and  man."    John 


122  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  feOOK. 

Wesley,  June  179S: — "I  went  to  Ballymena  and  read  a 
strange  tract  that  professes  to  'discover  the  inmost  re- 
cesses of  Freemasonry,'  said  to  be  'translated  from  the 
French  original  lately  published  at  Berlin'.  I  incline  to 
think  it  is  a  genuine  account.  Only  if  it  be,  I  wonder 
the  author  is  suffered  to  live.  If  it  be,  what  an  amaz- 
ing banter  upon  all  mankind  is  Freemasonry." — JV.  T. 
Christian  Advocate^  February,  1884.  Alexander 
Campbell: — "I  know  no  Temperance,  Odd-fellow  or 
Freemason  fraternity  that  does  not  recognize  a  broth- 
erhood with  the  world.  'They  are  of  the  world,  they 
speak  of  the  world  and  the  world  heareth  them'.  Chris- 
tians, though  in  the  world  are  not  of  it.  Any  union, 
then,  for  moral  purposes  with  the  world  that  brings  us 
^  to  commune  religiously  with  it,  by  the  laws  and  usages 
of  the  institution  itself,  is  opposed  to  the'law  and  king- 
dom of  Jesus  Christ."  George  F.  Pentecost,  D.  D., 
/  pastor  of  Tompkins  Avenue  Congregational  church, 
I  Brooklyn,  editor  of  "  Words  and  Weapons'*'' : — "I  would 
(fo  almost  anything  in  my  power  to  help  on  the  work 
of  rescuing  Christian  men  from  the  'grip'  of  Masonry 
and  all  other  secret  and  unchristian  societies.  I  believe 
that  Masonry  is  an  incalculable  evil  and  essentially  anti- 
Christ  in  its  principles  and  influence."  Dwight  L. 
Moody: — "Give  them  the  truth  anyway,  and  if  they 
would  rather  leave  their  churches  than  their  lodges  the 
sooner  they  get  out  of  the  churches  the  better.  I 
would  rather  have  ten  members  who  were  separated 
from  the  world  than  a  thousand  such  members.  Come 
out  from  the  lodge.  Better  one  with  God  than  a  thou- 
sand without  him.     We   must  walk  with   God  and  if 


PUBLIC    OPINION.  123 

only  one  or  two  go  with  us  it  is  all  right.  Do  not  let 
down  the  standard  to  suit  men  who  love  their  secret 
lodges  or  have  some  darling  sin  they  will  not  give  up." 
David  R.  Kerr,  D.  D.,  editor  of  the  United  Presbyte- 
rian:— "How  can  any  man  in  good  conscience  swear 
to  keep  secret  what,  for  anything  he  knows,  ought  to 
be  exposed?  How  can  any  man  in  good  conscience 
swear  to  obey  a  code  of  laws  yet  unknown  to  him,  and 
what  for  anythivig  he  knows,  may  be  in  conflict  with 
the  law  of  God  ?  Such  oaths  are  in  their  very  nature 
essentially  immoral."  Rev.  George  T.  Dissette,  him- 
self a  seceded  Master  Mason,  writes  of  this  agitation: 
"The  reform  harp  is  pitched  to  the  symphony  of 
heaven;  struck  with  a  strong  hand, it  will  make  sinners 
quake  on  earth,  devils  tremble  in  the  pit,  and  all  the 
golden  streets  of  the  new  Jerusalem  resound  with  the 
glory  of  our  Christ  and  the  song  of  the  redeemed.  If 
a  believer  has  been  sanctified  or  a  sinner  converted  any- 
where, at  any  time  under  any  other  than  reformatory 
preaching,  we  should  be  glad  to  hear  of  it."  The  pop- 
ular churchology  and  placid  evangelization  that  does 
not  save  men  from  their  lodgery  and  denounce  its  pa- 
gan heathenism  is  a  failure.  "For  they  have  healed 
the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  slightly,  saying 
peace,  peace,  when  there  is  no  peace."  This  is  truly 
the  gospel  harvest  age.  The  tares  and  the  wheat  have 
been  growing  together  but  the  separation  is  going  on. 
The  lodges  are  binding  into  bundles  all  whose  names 
are  not  written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life.  The  more 
advanced  Bible  students  agree  that  oath-bound  lodgery 
is  the  Image  of  the  Beast  so  vividly  portrayed  in   the 


124  THE   AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

thirteenth  of  Revelation.  See  Horton's  "Image  of 
the  Beast,"  Wesleyan  Publishing  House,  Syracuse,  N. 
Y.  Let  all  who  are  of  the  light  see  to  it  that  they 
worship  not  the  Beast,  or  his  image,  neither  receive  his 
mark  nor  the  number  of  his  name. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


LODGE  AND  SALOON. 


SIAMESE    TWINS    AND   AFFILIATED  EVILS. 

Many  were  disappointed  in  the  Prohibition  vote  and 
at  the  remarkable  triumph  of  the  Republican  party. 
Before  the  election  the  Chicago  News  affirmed:  "It 
has  already  ceased  to  be  a  case  of  Prohibition  tail  at- 
tempting to  wag  the  Republican  dog.  It  is  now  a 
question  of  whether  the  Prohibition  party  will  accept 
the  Republicans  or  affiliate  with  them  as  an  organiza- 
tion under  any  circumstances.  Nothing  now  remains 
for  the  Republican  organization  but  unconditional  sur- 
render." Another  Chicago  paper,  the  Herald^  added: 
"All  that  has  been  heretofore  said  concerning  the  straits 
of  the  Republican  party,  the  fears  of  such  leaders  as 
Senator  Palmer,  of  Michigan, and  the  constant  growth 
of  the  prohibition  contingent  gain  force  with  events 
and  become  almost  doctrinal  with  reiteration.  Where 
St.  John  polled  151,000  votes  in  1884,  Fisk  will  count 
on  twice  as  many  in  1888.  His  party  has  swallowed 
the  Republican  organization  in  Kansas,  Iowa  and  other 
Western  States;  it  has  41.000  votes  in  the  pivotal  state 
of  New  York,  where  the  national  contest  of  1884  was 
settled  by  a  plurality  of  only  1,047.  Whosoever  would 
court  such  a  power  must  come  like  the  Greeks,  loaded 
with  gifts'"  The  New  York  ^(?ra/^  declared :  **You 
had  better  be  on  the  lookout  for  those  Prohibitionists. 
They  are  snow  ball  fellows  of  American  politics — that 
is,  they  double  in  size  every  time  they  roll  over,  and 
they  roll  over  every  year.     They  have  the  millennium 

"5 


126  THE   AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

by  the  coat  collar  and  purpose  to  make  it  impossible 
for  a  citizen  of  this  Republic  to  moisten  his  vocal 
chords  with  rock  and  rye  and  sl^ep  in  the  gutter." 
One  week  after  the  Republican  nominating  convention 
the  Union  Signal  ^'a\<\\  "Thursday  June  21st,  1S8S 
the  Republican  party  committed  suicide  by  adopting  a 
platform  utterly  ignoring  the  most  living  issue  of  the 
day." 

And  such  was  the  tenor  of  the  press  during  the  on- 
coming campaign  of  1888.  Prohibitionists  claim  that 
the  burning  of  St.  John  in  effigy,  the  twenty  years 
backset,  the  tardy  enforcement  of  State  and  county 
prohibition,  the  high  license  policy,  the  ''Phnnctl 
Knight's"  perpetual  tax  on  whisky,  and  tobacco  as  a 
necessity — all  paved  the  way  out  of  the  dilemma. 
The  Republican  party  would  go  over  soul  and  body  to 
the  rum  power.  That  the  surrender  was  absolute  iind 
unconditional.  That  a  whisky  platform  with  a  liquor- 
ite  at  the  head  of  the  National  Republican  committee 
and  plenty  of  liquor  campaign  literature  elected  Harri- 
son. The  Christian  Advocate^  publisiied  in  Pittsburg,  of 
affairs  in  the  White  Hou&eat  Washington,  says:  "We 
confess  to  very  great  disappointment  in  the  religious 
features  of  President  Harrison's  administration.  He  is  a 
Christian  man,  an  officer  and  for  years  a  Sabbath- 
school  teacher  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  Much  was 
expected  of  him  in  the  way  of  proper  example  in  his 
high  office,  and  of  respect  for  the  Christian  principles 
and  sentiment  of  the  country.  Hut  in  some  respects 
we  have  not  seen  them.  Intoxicating  liquors  have  been 
served  on  his  table  on  state  occasions,  and  lately  a  'ger- 


LODGE  AND  SALOON. 


127 


man,'  one  of  the  most  offensive  and  disgusting  of  all 
public  dances,  was  given  in  the  White  House.  It  was 
a  full  dress  (rather  undress)  affair,  such  as  few  thought- 
ful persons  would  suffer  their  daughters  to  attend!" 
The  Indiana  Bugle  declares:  "It  is  high  time  for  the 
sober  part  of  American  citizens  to  call  a  speedy  halt, 
when  the  occupant  of  the  second  highest  office  in  the 
gift  of  the  people  opens  a  hell  hole  in  the  capital  city, 
and  the  first  ofiicer  of  the  nation  allows  such  work; 
and  then  again,  the  party  that  controls  the  largest  num- 
ber of  votes  selects  such  men  to  rule  and  ruin  us,  we 
are  made  to  cry  out,  Hov/  long,  O  Lord,  how  long  wilt 
Thou  suffer  these  things  to  be  so?"  M.  M.  Estee,  a 
Masonic  Grand  Orator,  and  a  leading  wine  grower  of 
California,  presided  over  the  National  Republican  Nom- 
inating convention.  Horace  Waters,  of  New  York 
city,  issued  over  a  million  of  a  tract  prior  to  the  elec- 
tion in  which  he  stated  that  the  Republican  party  was 
dead  and  that  in  ''^^  the  Prohibition  party  would  nearly 
sweep  the  land.  He  counted  on  over  a  million,  three 
hundred  thousand  votes,  only  fell  short  a  little  over 
a  million.  So  much  for  a  party  which  promised  so 
fair  and  yet  so  signally  failed.  What  is  the  matter? 
It  begins  to  look  as  if  the  supreme  moment  for  a  na- 
tional reform  party  was  fast  approaching.  That  pow- 
erful magazine,  the  Century^  of  New  York  declares: 
"The  political  need  of  this  country  at  the  present  time 
would  seem  to  be  a  party  of  progress,  a  party  that 
would  pursue  a  policy  of  reform  from  love  of  reform 
itself,  and  not  merely  in  obedience  to  popular  clamor. 
Reforms  of  various  kinds  are  now  urgently  needed,  and 


128  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

they  can  be  properly  dealt  with  only  by  a  party  earn- 
estly devoted  to  the  work." 

However,  the  cause  of  prohibition  has  advanced  in 
-spite  of  opposition  and  duplicity,  and  it  is  with  heartfelt 
gratitude  to  Almighty  God  that  we  have  year  by  year 
beheld  the  rapid  growth  of  public  sentiment  on  the 
great  temperance  question.  The  prosperity  of  the 
cause  has  been  most  sanguinary,  and  the  growing  de- 
mand for  county  and  State  enactment  proves  that  abso- 
lute national  prohibition  will  eventually  prevail.  Al- 
ready in  many  places  the  open  saloon  is  a  thing  of  the 
the  past,  and  may  the  day  speedily  dawn  when  liquor- 
selling  and  drunkenness  will  be  outlawed,  and  the 
strong  arm  of  the  law  protect  the  community  morally, 
socially  and  financially  from  the  blighting  curse  of 
rum.  It  is  a  grand  thing  to  enact  a  righteous  and  ben- 
eficial law:  it  is  a  costly  experiment  to  sustain  and  en- 
force it  without  an  officiary  in  heart  sympathy  with  its 
objects  and  purposes.  Especially  should  all  officials  be 
absolutely  free  from  any  affiliation  with  the  evil  tabe 
t>uppressed.  And  this  brings  us  to  the  question,  can 
the  Prohibition  party,  as  now  brganized,  grapple  with 
the  giant  evil  and  give  us  real  prohibition?  Mary  B. 
Willard,  sister-in-law  to  F.  E.,  and  the  first  editor  of 
the  Union  Si^-na I  said  to  Dr.  Blanchard:  "When  my 
husband  joined  the  Masonic  lodge  I  thought  I  should 
die."  The  C/nton  Signal  oi  Dec.  22,  1SS7,  defend]jPg 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  from  the  charge  of  friendship  for 
secret  societies,  says:  "We  refer  our  brother  [Rev. 
Joel  Martin]  to  Miss  Willard's  Annual  Address  for 
surance  that  the  W.  C.  T.  U.   has   no  intention    of 


LODGE  AND  SALOON.  1 29 

affiliating  with  secret  societies."  Miss  Mary  Allen 
West,  editor  of  the  Union  Signal^  official  organ  of 
the  National  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union, 
declares:  "I  was  brought  up  to  believe  secret  societies 
wrong;  graduated  under  Pres.  J.  Blanchard,  and  have 
never  swerved  from  his  teachings  and  those  of  my 
father,  on  this  subject.  I  never  belonged  to  any  secret 
society  and  never  shall."  Sandy  Lake,  Pa.,  News^  says: 
"The  evidence  is  cumulative  that,  so  far  from  promot- 
ing the  cause  of  real,  permanent  temperance  work, 
secret  temperance  orders  have  done  more  to  hinder  than 
to  help  the  cause."  And  it  rightly  adds:  "The  sooner 
the  Prohibition  party  cuts  loose  from  such  secret  orders, 
and  works  entirely  through  open,  daylight  organiza- 
tions, the  sooner  will  its  reformatory  work  be  success- 
ful." Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  Censor \  "James  Russell 
Lowell  aptly  says:  1 

'Once  to  every  man  and  nation  j 

Comes  the  moment  to  decide,  ( 

In  the  strife  of  Truth  with  Falsehood  / 

For  the  good  or  evil  side.  \ 

Some  great  cause,  God's  New  Messiah, 

Offering  each  the  bloom  or  blight, 
Puts  the  goats  upon  the  left  hand  ^ 

And  the  sheep  upon  the  right; 
And  the  choice  goes  by  forever 

*Twixtthat  darkness  and  that  light.' 
When  the  choice  was  presented  to  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
they  chose  the  light  and  they  live.  The  secret  orders 
have  chosen  the  darkness.  And  if  the  choice  has  not 
gone  by  for  ever,  it  will  soon,  unless  they  obey  forth- 
with the  law  of  progress."  John  B.  Oough  said:  "I 
was  once  persuaded  to  be  initiated  in  a  Good  Templar's 


130  THE     AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

Lodge,  put  on  its  regalia,  and  ride  in  a  procession. 
While  in  that  carriage  I  looked  down  on  my  horse  col- 
lar and  toggery,  and  I  stripped  the  stuff  off  in  disgust 
and  rammed  it  under  the  carriage  seat;  and  I  have 
never  worn  it  from  that  day  to  this."  Rev.  Justin  Ed- 
wards, D.  D.,  author  and  head  of  Andover  Theological 
Seminary,  declared:  "Whenever  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance is  veiled  in  darkness  and  secrecy,  it  must  lose  its 
hold  on  public  confidence  and  sympathy."  General  A. 
W.  Riley,  the  veteran  temperance  orator,  second  only 
to  Gough,  has  been  a  delegate  to  and  addressed  anti- 
secrecy  conventions.  Hon.  Neal  Dow,  in  his  speech 
before  the  National  W.  C.  T.  U  convention  in  N.  Y., 
points  out  the  failure  and  mere  shams  of  the  secret 
Temperance  Orders.  Read  his  address.  D.L.Moody, 
in  Altoona,  Pa.,  said  publicly:  "The  Saviour  says,  'Li 
secret  have  I  said  nothing.'  I  do  not  see  how  a  Chris- 
tian can  join  a  secret  society.  The  command  is,  *Be 
not  equally  yoked  with  unbelievers.'  If  you  join 
hands  with  the  enemies  of  Christ  in  S7ich  associations, 
they  will  outvote  }  ou  and  lead  you  into  sin.  Years 
ago  I  thought  of  joining  a  secret  temperance  society 
and  about  that  time  they  decided  on  having  a  dance. 
That  was  enough  for  me,  1  determined  never  to  have 
anything  to  do  with  such  societies."  Joseph  Cook  at 
Chicago  Conference,  April  23,  1890:  "Two  millions 
of  the  voters  of  the  country  belong  to  secret  societies, 
and  they  are  brothers  of  the  whisky  rings  and  gam- 
blers, who  obtain  help  from  the  lodges  whenever  they 
need  it.  Three-fourths  of  the  public  officials  are  mem- 
bers of  secret  societies  because  it  is  essential   for  office- 


LODGE  AND  SALOON.  I3I 

holders  to  have  the  support  of  these  orders.  The  dan- 
ger from  these  oath-bound  organizations  is  great  and 
growing  into  frightful  proportions." — Chicago  Herald^ 
April  24,  1890.  And  Mr.  Cook  is  surely  correct: 
«A  clergyman  in  Bath,  Me.,  was  urging  the  prosecu- 
tion  of  a  notorious  saloon.  He  applied  to  an  attorney, 
who  said  to  him,  'Are  you  not  a  Mason?'  The  minis- 
ter replied  that  he  was.  'Well,' answered  the  attorney, 
'that  saloon  keeper  is  a  Mason  and  you  had  better  let 
him  alone.'  The  case  was  dropped.  The  clergyman 
was  too  good  a  lodge  man  to  violate  his  'obligation.'" — 
Home  Gua7'd.  Rev.  M.  A.  Gault  writes:  "Dr.  John 
A.  Brooks  says  he  has  gone  back  on  Masonry  and 
never  expects'  to  go  inside  the  lodge  again."  Ex-Gov. 
J.  P.  St.  John,  in  a  published  letter  of  April  ist,  1885, 
virtually  secedes.  He  says:  "I  was  once  a  Mason, 
having  passed  to  the  R03  al  Arch  degree.  I  have  not 
been  in  a  lodge  for  about  sixteen  years;  have  paid  no 
dues,  and  am  in  no  manner  connected  with  the  order, 
and,  never  shall  be  again.  I  have  made  this  statement 
to  at  least  a  bundled  different  persons  and  supposed  my 
position  touching  the  matter  was  thoroughly  under- 
stood." Matilda  J.  Gage,  a  leader  in  the  Woman's 
movement,  declared:  "Masonry  excludes  women,  not 
for  any  great  secrets  it  may  have,  but  because  of  shame 
for  its  indecent  ceremonies." 

The  little  secret  orders  are  to  the  larger  criminal 
organizations  what  wine  and  champagne  are  to  gin, 
beer  and  forty-rod  whisky.  The  professed  anti-secret 
people  who  fondle  the  minor  cliques,  rings  and  cabals 
are  just  about  as  consistent  as  the  temperance  orators 


132  THE    AMERICAN     HAND-BOOK. 

who  are  "as  good  a  temperance  man  as  you  are" — but 
as  Dr.  Howard  Crosbj^,  would  cure  drunkenness  with 
the  "milder  harmless"  drinks.     A  fair  sample: 

"The  Sons  of  Veterans  belong  to  the  families,  many 
of  them  Christian,  of  the  country,  and  have  not  been 
exposed  to  the  temptations,  vices  and  looseness  of  sol- 
dier life;  and  yet  falling  in  company  with  less  than  a 
dozen  of  them  at  Chapin,  as  they  were  returning  to 
their  homes,  we  were  pained,  mortified,  and  disgusted 
with  the  profanity  and  free  talk  of  the  lads  as  to  Jack- 
sonville harlots,  etc.  And  when  mildly  suggesting  the 
discontinuance  of  the  disgraceful  talk,  we  were  given 
to  understand  by  a  fine-looking  young  man  with  shoul- 
der straps  and  bars,  that  our  meddling  was  not  called 
for.  Alas  for  the  progress  of  the  world  purity-ward!" 
Banner  of  Hol/nesSy  J acksony'iUey  111.  We  could  write 
a  chapter  on  the  baseness  and  depravity  of  these  youth- 
ful orders  that  would  make  every  Christian  mother 
blush  scarlet,  and  every  honorable  father  hang  his  head 
for  very  shame. 

Frances  E.  Willard,  President  of  the  Woman's  Chris- 
tian Temperance  Union  of  the  United  States,  en-route 
to  the  Minneapolis  Convention,  said:  "I  do  not  like 
secret  societies,  and  have  no  use  for  them."  And  in 
her  annual  address  at  the  National  Convention  in  Nash- 
ville, she  declared:  "I  have  always  been  opposed  to 
secret  societies,  and  never  more  so  than  to-day."  Then 
she  begins  another  article  on  the  subject,  with  the  pos- 
itive statement:  "My  whole  record  is  against  secret- 
ism."  Yet  the  National  Woman's  Christian  Temper- 
ance   Union,  with    its  forty  departments   and    such   a 


LODGE  AND  SALOON.  I  33 

leader,  has  not  the  courage  to  attack  even  the  major 
orders^  The  college  orders  are  no  better,  the  declara- 
tion of  any  apologist  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 
True  Americans  and  real  patriots  should  keep  their 
sons  and  daughters  out  of  lodge  schools  and  lodge  tem- 
perance deception.  It  is  entirely  too  late  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  for  posing  as  apologist  for  oath-bound 
secret  rings,  large  or  small.  The  Lutheran  Standard^ 
of  Columbus,  O. ,  commenting  on  the  college  secret 
societies  says:  "Those  who  permit  college  secret  socie- 
ties to  flourish  aniong  them,  while  they  claim  to  be 
opposed  to  other  kinds  of  secret  societies,  are  really 
hatching  and  nursing  the  cuckoo  that  will  eventually 
throw  the  lawful  brood  out  of  the  nest  and  master  both 
young  and  old.  Nor  does  it  matter  much  what  name 
the  secret  fraternities  may  bear,  whether  Greek,  Latin, 
Hebrew,  German,  French  or  English.  We  are  op- 
posed to  the  secrecy  of  such  societies  under  whatever 
name  they  may  flourish.  What  is  good  and  useful  in 
college  work  need  not  be  kept  secret,  and  should  be 
open  for  inspection  to  all  concerned.  By  maintaining 
their  secrecy  college  fraternities  are  able  to  gain  great 
strength  in  undermining  discipline,  in  obtaining  unfair 
advantages  for  unworthy  students  and  in  plotting  mis- 
chief against  innocent  parties  in  the  form  of  hazing 
and  other  barbarous  practices."  At  a  Board  meeting 
of  the  National  Christian  Association  at  Chicago,  that 
active  aggressive  organization  representing  the  anti- 
secrecy  churches  of  America  and  thousands  of  temper- 
ance voters,  voiced  the  following:  "In  our  judgment 
the  recent  overwhelming  reverses  met  by  the  prohibi- 


134  THE    AMERICAN      HAND    BOOK. 

tion  cause  in  Pennsylvania  and  Rhode  Island  are  due  to 
its  alliance  with  the  secret  lodges  which  are  not  true  to 
Christ  and  will  fail  every  good  cause  in  the  day  of  trial." 

Many  people  are  ignorant  of  the  widespread  and  in- 
creasing opposition  to  oath-bound  secretism.  Let  all 
such  read  the  words  of  that  strong  journal,  The  Inde- 
pendent^ of  New  York  City:  "It  will  be  a  surprise  to 
many  to  learn  that  about  half  of  all  the  Christian  com- 
municants in  the  United  States,  including  the  Roman 
Catholics  belong  to  denominations  opposed  to  secret 
societies."  Thus  the  growing  expression  is  against 
secret  societies.  Especially  are  the  temperance  people 
coming  to  believe  that  the  Lodge  and  Saloon  are  affil- 
iated evils.  All  true  believers  in  the  anti-secret  churches 
will  welcome  a  party  embodying  their  principles,  as  a 
child  of  Providence,  and  will  hail  a  discussion  of  oath- 
bound  lodgery  as  an  answer  to  prayer. 

Lodge  and  Rum — rule  or  ruin: — We  ask  the 
careful  and  prayerful  perusal  of  this  chapter  by  all 
praying  temperance  people.  It  is  high  time  the  real 
nature  of  the  lodge  was  made  known  to  the  general 
public.  The  Prohibition  party  is  hourly  becoming 
more  and  more  sadly  honey-combed  and  paralyzed  by 
lodgery.  In  fact,  the  lodge  has  determined  to  rule  or 
ruin  its  machineiy.  The  Voice  Is  yielding  more  and 
more  space  to  lodge  mention  and  laudation.  \V.  Jen- 
nings Demorest  and  other  leading  men  in  the  move- 
ment are  said  to  be  high  Freemasons,  and  to  attack 
lodgery  is  to  nip  their  liberal  cash  contributions.  These 
millionaire  Masonic  Prohibitionists  know  but  too  well 
how   to   manipulate  the  temperance    agitation   for   the 


LODGE   AND  SALOON.  I35 

final  benefit  of  the  worshipful  fraternities.  Sonrie  hun- 
dreds of  leading  Prohibitionists  and  W.  C.  T.  U.  work- 
ers have  been  receiving  installments  of  American  liter- 
ature, and  many  are  beginning  to  see  more  clearly. 
But  it  is  a  pity  that  the  splendid  temperance  movement 
is  to  be  palsied  and  hampered  by  the  lodge  barnacles. 
The  labor  and  sacrifice  of  real  reformers  against  the 
saloon  must  be  neutralized  and  turned  aside  by  the 
sworn  minions  of  oath-bound  lodgery.  The  Syracuse 
(N.  Y.)  Bible  Standard*,  "The  outlook  is  not  as 
encouraging  as  we  could  wish,  because  the  inlook  re- 
veals the  stealthy  hand  of  the  lodge  dropping  poison 
into  the  food  of  Prohibitionists.  The  New  York 
Voice  has  given  vastly  more  space  for  two  years  to 
lodge  news  and  applause,  than  to  church  news  and  the 
applause  of  Christ.  Prohibitionists  everywhere  need 
to  arm  themselves  against  all  that  is  anti-Christ."  The 
Lodge  and  Rum  powers  are  kindred  evils.  To  combat 
one  is  to  antagonize  the  other,  and  the  suppression  of 
one  means  the  destruction  of  the  other.  The  lodge 
with  its  mixed  society,  questionable  asssociations,  low 
twelve  suppers,  banquets,  libations,  late  hours,  and  dissi- 
pations generally,  is  a  standing  stepping-stone  and  act- 
ive feeder  for  the  saloon,  gambling  hell  and  brothel. 
The  open  ball-room  and  theatre  are  not  so  corrupt  and 
demoralizing  as  these  gregarious  lodge  orgies,  dances 
and  debaucheries.  Ministers,  blackguards,  class-leaders 
and  scoffers,  temperance  orators  and  whisky  drinkers. 
Good  Templars  and  beer  sellers,  ladies  and  the  demi- 
monde^ what  a  spectacle  for  gods  and  men !  The  riff- 
raff of  all  humanity,  the  scum  and  wrecks  of  society 


136  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

morally,  socially  and  physically,  militate  to  the  encamp- 
ments, conclaves  and  lodge  assemblies,  and  the  news- 
papers publish,  and  every  observing  person  knows  that 
tlie  saloons,  theatres,  dance-houses,  and  other  places  of 
questionable  resort  reap  a  rich  harvest  at  these  lodge 
gatherings.  All  lodgery  tends  to  vice  and  moral  dissi- 
pation, some  in  one  direction,  some  in  another,  and  not 
a  few  in  every  possible  direction  of  selfishness  and  pas- 
sion. The  Masonic  order  is  a  hot-bed  of  intemperance 
and  dissipation.  Freemasonry  was  born  in  a  grogshop, 
Apple  Tree  Tavern,  London,  England,  in  17 17. 

"The  'fearful  vice'  of  intemperance  is  in  the  Lodge." 
Missouri  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1880. 

"That  drunkenness  and  gross  profanity  are  not  un- 
known among  Masons  cannot  be  denied;  nay,  we  may 
truthfully  declare  that  one  or  the  other  of  these  vices  is 
quite  common  in  some  places." — Missouri  Report,  1879. 

"Brethren,  there  is  another  evil  indulged  in  by  some 
of  our  members — the  intemperate  use  of  ardent  spirits. 
It  causes  the  finger  of  reproach  to  be  poin-ted  at  our 
beloved  Institution." — Ibid.  1881.  (Also  Indian  Terri- 
tory Report,  18S0.) 

"The  Grand  Master  characterized  in  strong  terms 
profanity  and  intemperance  as  the  two  great  and  hei- 
.  nous  offenses  commonly  committed  by  Alasons." — Ibid. 
1881. 

Masonry  is  builded  on  oaths  and  blasphemy.  It  takes 
in  every  moral  off-scouring  of  creation  and  the  very 
existence  of  a  lodge  is  moral  contagion. 

"Much  ado  is  made  about  some  slight  physical  de- 
fect, while  many    are  received  into,  and   retained    by 


LODGE  AND  SALOON. 


137 


lodges  who  are  burdened  with  moral  enormities  suf- 
ficient to  sink  character  into  deeper  damnation  than 
Dives,  with  all  except  those  who  are  like  them." — Ibid. 
1881. 

"Our  Grand  Lodge  will  not  permit  a  man  with  one 
eye  to  be  made  a  Mason,  while  there  are  Masons  by 
thousands  in  Missouri,  who  are  as  morally  impotent  as 
the  man  found  at  the  pool  Bethesda.  The  difference 
being  that  our  moral  cripples  seek  not  a  cure,  and  go 
nojt  to  the  pool  of  renovation,  but  revel  in  weakness, 
and  glory  in  their  own  shame.  A  well  dressed  athlete 
in  vice,  festering  with  corruption,  deodorized  by  money, 
can  take  many  degrees,  pay  his  dues,  and  go  on  a  'tri- 
ennial' bum,  while  the  poor  Craftsmen,  hard-handed 
and  toilworn,  must  be  suspended  for  want  of  means  to 
maintain  a  precarious  standing  in  the  Lodge." — Ibid. 
1881. 

"No  Mason  will  question  the  declaration  that  thou- 
sands of  the  Craft  in  these  lands  are  constantly  violat- 
ing the  moral  law.  *A  Mason  is  obliged  by  his  tenure 
to  obey  the  moral  law ;  and  if  he  rightly  understand  the 
ART,  he  will  never  be  a  stupid  atheist  nor  an  irreligious 
libertine.'  To  such  an  extent  is  the  moral  law  disre- 
garded that  there  are  thousands  of  professed  Masons 
who  are  practical  atheists.  The  only  difference  be- 
tween them  and  the 'stupid  atheist'  of  the  'Old  Charges,' 
is  this:  The  'stupid  atheist'  says  'there  is  no  God.' 
The  profane  Mason  says  'there  is  a  God,'  and  professes 
to  put  his  trust  in  Him;  is  obligated  in  his  presence 
and  name,  and  goes  from  the  'place  representing'  the 
dwelling  of  God,  and  acts  as  if  there  is  no  God.     Often 


138  THE  AMKRICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

he  does  not  wait  to  leave  the  'place  representing  the 
Holy  of  Holies,'  where  he  was  made  a  Mason,  before 
belching  out  profanities  that  would  make  the  devil 
blush,  or  cause  the  cheek  of  darkness  to  turn  pale.  We 
have  heard  such  oft  repeated." — Missouri  Grand  Lodge 
Report,  1878. 

"Since  engaged  on  this  Report  we  attended  Lodgej 
and  witnessed  the  work  of  the  Third  Degree.  The 
Lodge  closed,  and  the  Brother  who  conferred  the  de- 
gree— an  old  Master — swore  most  profanely  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  newly  made  Brother,  and  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  holy  altar.  He  then  said,  socially,  'let  us  go 
round  to  the  "Monkeys'  ".  We  did  not  knowwhat  the 
'Monkeys'  meant.  Always  giving  ourselves  the  benefit 
of  a  doubt,  we  thought  home  a  better  place  than 'Mon- 
keys' especially  after  a  long,  laborious  Lodge  session. 
Taking  the  street  car  we  went  a  little  distance,  think- 
ing the  while,  Masonry  leads  men  at  a  late  hour  to 
see  their  ancestors,  the  'Monkeys'.  Soon  all  was  ex- 
plained. There,  over  a  brilliantly  lighted,  gilded  pal- 
ace of  death,  was  a  sign, 'The  Monkeys'.  Within  the 
well-named  place  were  those  who  resembled  men,  and 
once  had  been  men,  ciiattering  and  evidencing  all  the 
silly  affinities  possible  to  our  supposed  ancestry.  The 
saloon  was  making  'monkeys'  out  of  human  beings, 
and  reversing  the  development  theory.  To  that  'mon- 
key'-making  shop  our  Brethren  went,  at  a  very  late 
hour,  when  wife  and  family  were  wondering  why  does 
the 'Lodge  hold  so  long.'"— Ibid.  187S. 

"A  lady  whose  husband  stands  suspended  for  unma- 
sonic  conduct,  said  to  us:     'My  husband  never  drank  a 


LODGE  AND  SALOON.  I  39 

drop  of  liquor  until  he' joined  the  Masons.  They  led 
him  astray  by  their  conviviality,  and  he  fell  into  deep 
dissipation  and  ruin.'  We  know  all  the  circumstances. 
This  is  only  one  of  thousands,  especially  about  the 
cities.  Many  Masons  think  the  Order  v^as  intended  just  to 
afford  its  members  a  'good  time,'and  they  go  in  for  fun. 
Numbers  are  led  off  by  the  influence  and  example  of 
older  and  more  prominent  brethren.  Being  less  used 
to  such  dissipation,  and  less  stable  in  character,  these 
younger  Brethren  take  a  downw^ard  course,  and  soon 
fall  into  utter  disgrace.  Then  some  of  those  w^ho 
w^rought  this  ruin,  w^ill  sit  in  judgment  upon  the  fallen 
one,  belching  w^hlsky  fumes  from  a  drunkard's  stomach, 
while  they  vote  aye,  for  the  condemnation  of  him 
whose  greatest  fault  was  that  he  could  not  carry  as 
much  steam  as  others." — Ibid.     1878. 

"To  those  who  never  attended  a  Grand  Lodge,  and 
never  studied  certain  aspects  of  its  make  up,  the  above 
extract  will  be  strange  and  startling.  But  we  have,  for 
twenty  years,  been  observant  of  such  conduct,  and  cog- 
nizant of  such  conditions  or.  the  part  of  Grand  Lodge 
Representatives  as  to  bring  reproach  upon  the  Craft, 
and  the  blush  of  shame  to  the  cheeks  of  good  men  and 
true.  Some  visit  haunts  of  vice  and  dissipation  during 
the  session,  engaging  in  the  low  sensualities  of  brute 
beasts,  spending  means  and  time  that  should  be  devoted 
to  the  relief  of  distress,  the  service  of  God,  or  in  re- 
freshment and  sleep.  The  next  day  finds  them  stupid 
and  dozing  during  business  hours  in  the  Grand  Lodge* 
Such  Representatives  are  better  patrons  of  saloons  and 
brothels  than  any  other   place,  while    misrepresenting 


140 


THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 


Masoni'y  during  the  sessions  of  Grand  Lodge.  We 
have  seen  such,  in  their  Representative  character,  so 
full  of  w^hisky,  that  a  good  shake  would  cause  a  slosh 
to  be  heard  like  a  barrel.  We  have  heard  prominent 
(?)men  in  Grand  Lodge  deliver  grand  homilies  upon 
morality  and  virtue.  We  have  heard  them  indulge  in 
profanity  before  leaving  the  room,  and  heard  them  pro- 
pose a  visit  to  the  houses  of  vice,  in  thirty  minutes  after 
leaving  the  Lodge.  We  have  seen  them  start  to  the 
very  places  vv^here  virtue  and  purity  never  dwell.  We 
have  known  of  their  return  to  the  hotel  at  the  most 
unseasonable  hours,  and  heard  their  licentious  rehearsals 
of  brothel  scenes.  Yes,  these  Representative  (?)  Ma- 
sons do  some  strange  things  during  the  sessions  of  our 
Grand  Lodge." — Ibid.  1878.  An  earnest  Boston  pas- 
tor, Rev.  J.  M.  Foster,  says:  "On  pain  of  having 
nheir  throats  cut  from  ear  to  ear,'  they  [Freemasons] 
are  sworn  to  'conceal  and  never  reveal'  the  secrets  of 
the  lodge,  good  or  bad.  On  this  account  the  lodge 
rooms,  above  a  certain  degree,  are  made  drinking  sa- 
loons, in  which  men  who  move  in  the  highest  social 
circles  get  beastly  drunk.  On  this  account  they  invade 
widovi^s'  houses,  and  virgins'  too,  and  lead  their  victims 
astray." 

But  let  us  now  notice  a  very  respectable  and  large 
class  of  zealous  Masons  rightly  termed  in  plain  En- 
glish 

Masonic  murderers:  ''Bro.  vStcdman  thinks  tlicre 
is  no  room  in  Masonry  for  'human  vampires  who  f;ittcii 
upon  the  life-blood  of  their  fellow  men.'  We  shDuld 
say  not,  and    yet  we    have  plenty  of  'human  vampires,' 


LODGE  AND  SALOON.  14I 

called  Masons,  who  fatten  upon  our  Brethren,  growing 
rich  by  impoverishing  Masons,  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren. And  after  they  have  widowed  and  orphaned 
helpless  ones,  these  'vampires'  will  vote  for  resolutions 
of  condolence  and  sympathy  tendered  the  families  of 
those  Masons  whom  they  have  robbed  and  murdered; 
yes,  and  they  will  wear  mourning  for  thirty  days,  turn 
out  in  funeral  procession  and  help  bury  those  they  have 
destroyed." — Missouri  Grand  Lodge  Report,  1880. 

Only  think  of  a  pious  classleader  so  full  of  whisky, 
"that  a  good  shake  would  cause  a  slosh  to  be  heard  like 
a  barrel."  Imagine  a  pious  old  Bishop  indulging  in 
"profanity  before  leaving"  the  conference  room.  Pict- 
ure these  learned  divines  going  "to  the  very  places 
where  virtue  and  purity  never  dwell,"  then  hearken  to 
their  "licentious  rehearsals  of  brothel  scenes."  What 
would  be  the  moral  status  of  such  a  church,  and  what 
are  honest,  conscientious,  decent,  temperance  men  and 
women  to  think  of  an  immoral,  anti-American  institu- 
tion whose  "prominent  representatives"  have  been  in- 
dulging in  such  things  for  "more  than  twenty  years?" 
How  every  pure  wife,  mother,  sister,  and  daughter 
should  loathe,  hate,  and  abhor  the  institution  that  will 
put  up  drunkards,  blasphemers,  and  libertines  and  dub 
them  "Worshipful  Master"  and  Most  Worshipful  Mas- 
ter," to  lead  and  decoy  true  husbands,  kind  fathers,  lov- 
ing brothers  and  manly  sons  on  to  "deep  dissipation 
and  ruin,"  Is  it  not  the  DEVIL'S  own  morahty  that 
such  leaders  do  teach?  Think  of  preachers  stooping  to 
compare  Freemasonry  with  the  church  of  the  living 
God.     Tiie  Canada  Craftsman  declnrc^  ih.-it   the   Ma- 


142  THE     AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

sonic  square  and  compass  is  found  in  Canada  "Over 
not  a  few  bar-room  doors."  The  New  York  Voice^ 
organ  of  the  Prohibition  party,  begins  to  see  men  as 
trees  walking.  July  4th  it  declares:  "First,  a  private 
pledge  means  that  somebody  is  to  be  cheated.  If  not, 
why  a  private  pledge.  And  it  is  the  invariable  experi- 
ence as  far  as  our  observation  goes  that  the  somebody 
cheated  in  such  agreements  is  never  the  liquor  men. 
Our  fights  should  all  be  open  and  above  board." 

A  temperance  compact  made  behind  tyled  doors  and 
blinded  windows  will  betray-  any  effort  to  down  the 
liquor  men  and  their  business.  To  be  sure  it  will.  It 
always  does.  The  mother  of  Roderick  Dhu  Gambrell 
assured  Elder  H.  H.  Hinman  that  she  and  her  husband 
were  in  hearty  sympathy  against  the  lodge  evil.  No 
wonder  tlie  man,  the  lodge  minion  who  murdered 
their  son  went  scot  free.  Rev.  M.  A.  Gault,  western 
secretary  of  the  National  Reform  Association  visited 
vSioux  City,  Iowa,  and  conversed  with  the  widow  of 
Rev.  George  C.  Haddock.  He  writes:  "The  mar- 
tyred Haddock  was  a  member  of  no  secret  society,  and 
had  expressed  his  opposition  to  them.  If  he  had  been 
a  member  he  doubtless  would  have  been  living  to-day. 
The  city  is  a  stronghold  of  the  lodge  more  than  any 
city  of  the  State,  and  the  saloons  are  intrenched  in  the 
lodge."  Arensdorff  the  man  tried  for  this  foul  murder 
was  a  zealous  lodgeite  and  the  whole  lodge  machinery 
it  seems  was  brought  to  bear  to  clear  him  and  Hamil- 
ton. Thousands  of  voters  believe  that  the  lodge  rid- 
den Prohibition  party  as  now  organized  is  not  a  safe 
agency  to  supplant  either  old  pnrty.     Had  the  Repub- 


LODGE   AND  SALOON.  1 43 

licans  been  defeated  there  would  have  been  a  land  slide 
to  the  Prohibition  ranks.  As  it  is  Republican  temper- 
ance men  are  intoxicated  with  victory  and  filled  with 
hope,  and  it  w^ill  require  plenty  of  time  to  convince 
them  of  their  error.  The  liquor  men  were  wiser  in 
their  generation  than  the  praying  Republicans.  Dem- 
ocracy was  already  pickled  in  rum  and  beyond  all  re- 
demption. It  will  be  far  more  difficult  now  to  get 
temperance  Republicans  to  bolt  their  party  than  when 
the  party  was  out  of  power  with  such  odds  against  it. 
Take  up  the  cry  for  "American  prohibition,"  and  pass 
it  down  the  line.  May  God  open  the  eyes  of  praying 
men  and  women  to  see  things  as  they  are.  The  fol- 
lowing from  an  influential  paper  will  very  appropri- 
ately close  this  chapter. 

[From  the  Worcester,  Mass.,  Daily  Telegram.] 
"MIGHTY  Lord,  heavenly  king." 


MEN    IN    NIGHT    SHIRTS    AND    SOBER,   PERHAPS,  THUS 
HAIL  HEWETT. 


"Installation  of  George  F.  Hewett,  32nd  degree,  T.  P.  Gr. 
Master. 

* '  'Mighty  Lord !    Heavenly  King. '—Choir. ' ' 

The  above  appeared  in  the  order  of  ceremonies  at 
the  installation  of  the  recently-appointed  officers  of  the 
Masonic  lodge  of  Perfection,  which  occurred  Thurs- 
day night. 

It  makes  funny  reading,  doesn't  it.?  George  F. 
Hewett,  "thrice  potent,  grand  master,"  T.-.  P.-.  Gr.-., 
with    three    fly    specks    in    pyramid     form,    hailed    as 


144  ^^^    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

"Mighty  Lord,  Heavenly  King."  Of  course,  it's  all 
right.  If  the  city  contains  a  "Mighty  Lord  and  Heav- 
enly King,"  he  cannot  be  hailed  any  too  quickly.  It  is 
probably  safe  to  say  that  the  majority  of  people,  if  it 
was  left  to  them  to  hail  a  "Mighty  Lord  and  Heavenly 
King,"  would  not  hail  as  above.  A  good  many  people 
would  demur  if  they  imagined  their  "Mighty  Lord  and 
Heavenly  King"  ran  a  wholesale  liquor  establishment 
at  the  corner  of  Foster  and  Waldo  streets.  This  is  the 
first  instance,  probably,  in  which  a  mighty  Lord  and 
Heavenly  King"  has  been  in  the  rum  business. 

This  "Mighty  Lord"  part  of  the  title  every  one  will 
understand,  for  Mr.  Hewett  to-day  is  by  far  -the  most 
powerful  of  all  rum  lords  in  the  city.  The  "Heavenly 
King"  is  a  trifle  obscure.  The  two  don't  appear  to  dove- 
tail together.  There  may  be  some  potent  influence  in 
three  fly  specks  in  pyramid  form  (T.-.  P.'.Gr.'.  Master) 
between  the  letters  following  Mr.  Hewett's  name, 
which  harmonizes  the  "Mighty  Lord  and  Heavenly 
King." 

In  the  way  of  remarkable  things,  probably  nothing 
has  been  quite  so  striking,  since  Morgan  disappeared, 
as  that  a  gathering  of  gentlemen  clothed  in  their  right 
minds  should  stand  up  in  night  shirts  and  hail  George 
F.  Hewett  as  "Mighty  Lord,  Heavenly  King."  It  is  a 
peculiar  proceeding  for  such  gentlemen  to  choose  for 
their  thrice  potent  grand  master"  and  "Mighty  Lord 
and  Heavenly  King,"  a  man  who  through  the  rum 
traffic  is  squeezing  every  cent  he  can  out  of  the  city, 
and  who  climbs  up  the  ladder  of  Masonry  that  he  may 
get  a  >tlll  more   potent  grip    for    his  business.     When 


LODGE   AND  SALOON. 


H5 


Mr.  Hewett  can  go  Rev.  J.  F.  Lovering  fourteen  de- 
grees better,  and  be  hailed  as  "Mighty  Lord  and  Heav- 
enly King,"  it  looks  a  little  queer  to  people  w^ho  do 
not  understand  the  mysteries  of  Masonry,  and  if  there 
is  any  inference  to  be  drawn  from  it,  it  is  that  Rev. 
Mr.  Lovering,  if  he  vs^ishes  to  advance  in  the  order, 
should  resign  his  pastorate  to-day  and  start  a  wholesale 
liquor  store.  Thu'ty-two  degrees  must,  of  course,  indi- 
cate greater  perfection  than  eighteen  degrees.  Give 
the  Gospel  a  chance!  The  gentleman  who  preaches 
peace  is  apparently  of  little  account,  relatively,  while 
the  man  who  is  the  main  stay  of  the  unlicensed  rum- 
sellers,  and  who  has  reduced  to  a  science  the  study  of 
how  to  get  the  last  possible  cent  out  of  Worcester  in 
exchange  for  rum,  is  hailed  by  men  in  sober  senses, 
perhaps,  by  such  salutations  as  "Mighty  Lord !  Heav- 
enly King!"  If  he  could  fix  it  so  that  he  could  rob 
twice  the  number  of  families  of  comfortable  food  and 
clothing,  would  these  people  who  sang  to  him  the  other 
night  put  a  crown  on  him?  Perhaps  that  is  why  nat- 
ure or  rum  usually  keeps  his  visage  decorated  with 
most  strangely  mottled  colors — royal  purple,  the  bright- 
est yellow  and  heavy  green  being  often  scattered  about 
his  face  in  irregular  spots.  These,  it  seems,  are  kingly 
emblems. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT. 


REAL  PROHIBITION. 

Were  lodgery  a  religious  evil  only  its  righting  could 
be  left  with  the  churches,  but  it  is  as  despotic  and  anti- 
republican  as  it  is  pagan  and  anti-Christian.  Its  teach- 
ings, philosophy  and  practices  are  as  destructive  of  real 
patriotism  as  of  true  piety.  Its  royal  technique,  high 
sounding  titles  of  nobility  and  monarchy  aping  makeup 
stamp  it  as  thoroughly  un-American,  treasonable  and 
dangerous.  Its  mid-night  plotting  and  clandestine  pro- 
ceedings are  a  standing  menace  to  personal  liberty  and 
popular  government,  A  standing  army,  sworn  to  the 
very  life  to  kingcraft  and  priestcraft  omens  the  down- 
fall of  our  beloved  Republic  unless  promptly  met  and 
grappled  with.  Did  all  Christians  and  patriots  realize 
the  plans  now  maturing  in  the  higher  lodge  circles  for 
the  overthrow  of  our  free  institutions  there  would  be 
such  a  popular  uprising  as  would  sweep  the  whole 
lodge  progeny  back  to  the  bottomless  pit,  from  whence 
it  came.  Already  a  mighty  tide  is  rising,  and  the  men 
in  the  lead  simply  mean  civil  and  religious  liberty  is 
worth  contending  for.  We  know  many  of  them  and 
they  have  the  devotion  and  courage  for  the  occasion. 
In  a  temperance  speech  at  Plattsburg,  Mo.,  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Small  said:  "You  Republicans  need  not  build 
yourselves  up  and  say  the  Democratic  party  is  the 
whisky  party.  You  had  absolute  control  of  the  Gov- 
ernment for  twenty-four  years,  and   when   you   left  it 

146 


REAL  PROHIBITION.  I47 

the  country   was  drenched,  and   doomed    and   damned 
with  liquor  from  Maine  to  California." 

The  stealing  of  the  Voice  list  for  campaign  purposes 
and  the  exposure  of  that  rascality  has  widened  the 
breach  between  the  Republicans  and  the  Prohibition- 
ists. The  triumphant  Republicans  will  successfully 
hoodwink  the  temperance  men  in  that  party.  The 
Prohibitionists  can  hope  but  little  from  disgruntled 
Democrats  in  the  next  few  years.  Lodge- ridden  pro- 
hibition for  the  time  being  has  been  weighed  in  the 
balance  and  found  wanting.  Perhaps  the  brainiest 
man  in  the  Republican  party  at  this  moment  (1S91)  Is 
at  the  head  of  Harrison's  cabinet.  We  do  not  by  any 
means  say  the  best  or  most  patriotic  man,  but  the  ablest 
politician.  He  was  "the  power  behind  the  throne"  in 
Garfield's  administration,  and  the  present  one  reflects 
his  presence.  To  Blaine,  more  than  to  any  one  else,  is 
the  Republican  party  indebted  for  its  recent  triumph. 
Especially  was  his  tobacco  and  whisky  policy  the  Hoc 
Signo  Vinces  that  led  to  glorious  victory.  It  was  the 
real  Shibboleth  of  the  campaign.  Under  it  the  Na- 
tional Republican  Committee  and  the  saloonatics 
worked  in  harmony.  Blaine,  it  seems  is  not  a  lodgeite. 
He  has  his  weaknesses,  but  has  he  as  yet  sworn  away 
his  personal  liberty  and  independence  to  any  lodge 
despotism?  The  lodge  did  not  want  the  "plumed 
knight"  for  president,  and  it  had  more  to  do  with  his 
defeat  than  "Rum,  Romanism  and  Rebellion.  "  But 
he  is  once  more  nearest  the  chief  executive  and  again 
the  cynosure  of  all  eyes.  We  do  not  believe  all  this  is 
mere  accident.     Neither  the  lodgeites  nor  the  Prohibi- 


148  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

tionists  are  pleased  at  the  re-ir statement  of  J.  G.  Blaine 
at  the  head  of  civil  affairs.  And  just  now  wild  chaos  is 
visible  in  the  political  heavens.  A  storm  is  gathering 
that  will  ere  long  burst  with  terrific  fury.  Everything 
points  to  a  day  of  reckoning  that  will  call  the  rising 
oppressor  to  account.  Bible  scholars  are  conjuring  up 
a  most  fearful  war  to  which  all  former  commotions  are 
as  nothing.  We  are  not  looking  up  prophecy  on  the 
matter,  but  from  the  signs  of  the  times  we  are  on  the 
eve  of  a  great  political  commotion  that  will  lay  judg- 
ment to  the  line  and  make  millionaires  and  men  in  pal- 
aces tremble  with  fear.  Let  the  poor  people  organize 
openly  and  above  board  for  justice,  law  and  order. 
Listen  to  the  words  of  the  noted  T.  Dewitt  Talmage 
who,  in  an  able  sermon  says:  "The  Republican 
party  was  formed  to  kill  slavery.  Slavery  is  dead 
and  damned.  The  Republican  party  having  achieved 
what  it  started  for  had  better  pass  out  ot  existence. 
The  Democratic  party  was  formed  by  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson to  oppose  the  adoption  of  laws  primogeniture 
by  which  the  eldest  son  got  all  of  the  inheritance, 
to  drive  out  of  the  land  all  foreign  titles,  and  to 
give  equal  rights  to  all  classes  of  people.  Having  ac- 
complished that  work,  its  mission  seems  ended.  We 
are  now  ready  for  a  party  organized  for  new,  particu- 
lar, supreme,  God-given  work."  The  influential  Chi- 
cago Times  remarks:  ''There  is  one  party  in  the 
country  which  has,  or  imagines  it  has  a  reason  to  be, 
that  is  something  different  from  that  of  getting  posses- 
sion of  the  offices  and  enjoying  the  spoik  thereof. 
This  party  with  an  object  in  life  calls  itself  the  Ameri- 


REAT>   PROHIBITION.  I49 

can  party."  The  Sandy  Lake  (Pa.)  News^  asserts: 
"No  other  party  takes  such  broad,  comprehensive, 
statesman -like  position  on  the  living  issues  of  the  times." 
The  J^ree  Methodist^  organ  of  that  denomination  in 
this  country,  volunteers:  "We  see  in  it  substantially 
the  platform  that  must  be  adopted  to  save  this  nation 
from  moral  ruin  and  miserable  overthrow.  It  ought  to 
have  the  hearty  support  of  the  thinking,  independent, 
honest  voters  of  this  Republic."  The  Christian  Worker^ 
Chicago,  speaking  for  the  Quaker  (Friends)  church  of 
America:  "The  party  embraces  some  of  the  strongest, 
purest  and  most  courageous  men  in  the  nation,  and  in 
the  convention  w^hich  met  here  there  vv^as  exhibited 
much  ability,  and  great  sincerity  and  earnestness." 

The  Evangelical  Repository ^oi  Pittsburgh,  appeal- 
ing to  the  Christian  voter,  says:  "Have  they  not  the 
poveer  if  they  will  use  it  to  bring  forward  a  Christian 
statesman  and  elect  him — one  who  will  give  the  whole 
influence  of  the  executive  officer  against  Sabbath  dese- 
cration by  the  several  departments  of  the  government; 
against  Mormonism  or  rather  Mormon  polygamy; 
against  all  those  secret  anti-republican  organizations 
which  are  now  a  potent  factor  in  American  politics;  and 
who  would  stand  fairly  on  such  a  platform  as  has  been 
adopted  by  the  American  party  ?  If  the  Christian  peo- 
ple will  demand  such  a  platform  as  the  above  and  back 
their  demand  by  the  power  they  are  capable  of  wield- 
ing, this  will  be  the  platform  of  the  grandest  political 
organization  that  has  ever  sought  the  control  of  the 
government." 
T    he  Christian  Statesman^  Philadelphia:     "It  must 


150  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK, 

not  be  forgotten  that  the  American  party  which  pro- 
tests against  the  secret  orders,  and  which  in  1884  ^"' 
dorsed  the  Prohibition  candidates  and  voted  for  them, 
has  maintained  for  years  the  following  declarations  in 
its  platform:  i.  That  ours  is  a  Christian  and  not  a 
heathen  nation,  and  that  the  God  of  the  Christian 
Scriptures  is  the  author  of  civil  government,  2.  That 
the  Bible  should  be  associated  with  books  of  science 
and  literature  in  all  our  educational  institutions.  3. 
That  God  requires  and  man  needs  a  Sabbath." 

Every  Christian  should  ponder  well  the  principles 
of  the  American  platform  and  especially  opposition  to 
rings,  cliques,  clans  and  midnight  cabals.  Free  Press^ 
Birmingham,  la.:  "In  our  opinion  the  grandest  plat- 
form ever  brought  forward  for  the  approval  of  the 
American  people  is  that  presented  by  the  American 
party.  It  endorses  all  those  principles  of  righteousness 
and  truth  which  are  the  foundation  of  good  govern- 
ment." Washington  Sword:  "We  congratulate  the 
Anti- Secrecy  Reform  movement  in  its  acquisition  of  a 
valuable  and  substantial  edifice  in  this  city,  to  be  used 
as  the  ^headquarters'  of  this  branch  of  the  work. 
Thus  a  'battery'  is  planted  in  the  national  capital, 
which  we  trust  will  vigorously  open  and  continue  its 
fire  upon  the  *enemy'  until  an  unconditional  surrender 
is  forced  upon  them." 


FROM  THE  CYNOSURE  AND  ITS  EDITOR: 
Why  not  postpone  the  grapple   with   the   lodge  till 
the  saloon  is  disposed  of?     Because  the  lodge  shelters 
the  saloon. 


REAL  PROHIBITION.  I51 

But  some  excellent  men  tell  us  that  the  American 
party  is  dead!  They  are  mistaken.  It  cannot  die, so 
long  as  there  are  ten  men  who  vote  for  its  principles. 

If  the  Prohibition  party  swallowed  up  the  American, 
it  will  come  out  of  its  stomach  as  Jonah  did  out  of  the 
whale's  belly,  alive  and  kicking.  We  think  in  this 
case  Jonah  is  more  likely  to  swallow  the  whale. 

The  Prohibition  party  must  shake  off  its  secret  bar- 
nacles or  God  will  shake  it  off.  A  party  made  up  in 
part  of  secret  temperance  lodges,  pledged  or  sworn  to 
conceal  their  proceedings  from  the  open  temperance 
alliance  is  a  monster,  like  a  calf  with  two  heads,  one 
black  and  the  other  white:  and  the  black  head  will 
suck  all  the  milk  and  starve  the  other. 

"The  American  party"  was  formed  and  its  platform 
adopted  in  1S72.  Prominent  prohibitionists  have  dis- 
liked the  name  of  their  party,  and  desired  a  change. 
The  name  American  is  so  national,  so  appropriate  to  a 
national  party,  and  our  platform  is  so  exactly  a  repro- 
duction of  the  principles  of  the  founders  of  the  United 
States,  against  priestism,  aristocracy,  monarchy,  regalia, 
and  titles  that  everybody  likes  it,  and  two  attempts  have 
been  made  to  filch  it  from  us. 

The  party  has  already  accomplished  much.  Its  plat- 
form was  declared  by  the  late  able,  learned  and  popu- 
lar Professor  Sloane  in  the  Philadelphia  Christian 
Statesman^  "Altogether  the  best  platform  ever  put  be- 
fore the  American  people."  The  Prohibition  party 
paid  us  the  compliment  of  adopting  our  first  article 
almost  ^^ipsissimis  verbis,'^'*  We  hold  that  God  is  the 
Author  of  civil  government,  etc.,  which  is  a  platform 


152  THE     AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

in  itself.     And   that  "God  requires  and   man   needs  a 
Sabbath"  is  now  pressing  its  way  to  the  front. 

The  whole  American  platform  is  already  proved  to 
be  American  by  the  sanction  of  the  American  people. 

We  have  one  great  advantage  over  the  Liberty  party. 
That  was  sectional.  We  are  not.  Our  speakers  can 
now  speak.  Mr.  Hinman  has  spoken  all  through  the 
South,  where  the  first  Liberty  candidates  would  have 
been  lynched  if  they  had  attempted  to  address  the 
voters. 

Will  the.  Prohibition  party  succeed?  We  answer 
"No;  but  its  principles  will."  For  a  national  party  the 
name  is  narrow  and  unpopular.  If  a  vote  were  to  be 
taken  now,  the  name  Prohibition  would  not  be  adopted. 
The  Voice  and  the  Lever  have  received  many  letters, 
desiring  a  change. 

What  now  are  we  to  do?  We  have  Hon.  Halleck 
Floyd,  who  has  been  a  State  Senator  and  skillful  poli- 
tician with  a  fearless  integrity  and  a  pleasing  and  im- 
pressive address.  He  is  now  holding  conventions 
against  the  lodge  minions  and  their  attempts  to  secret- 
ize.  He  is  a  better  speaker  for  a  crowd  than  was  Sen- 
ator Chase.  F.  W.  Capwell  has  in  him  the  elements 
of  an  able  statesman,  and  if  pushed  to  it  can  speak. 
J.  W.  Wood,  of  Wisconsin,  M.  R.  Britten,  of  the  same 
State,  Wm.  Pitt  Norris,  of  Iowa,  not  to  mention  many 
others  whose  names  are  familiar  as  laborers  in  our 
cause,  each  of  whom  is  lit  to  drill  American  voters  and 
enlist  volunteers. 

The  American  party  meets  lodge  swindling  in  its 
own  families  and   households.     The  lodge  ruin  works 


REAL  PROHIBITION.  I53 

as  silent  as  chloroform,  and   is  as  fatal   both   in  church 
and  state. 

The  Morgan  anti-Masons  were  ignorant  of  the  na- 
ture and  power  of  the  lodge.  J.  Q.  Adams  puzzled 
over  it  as  "a  phenomenon."  Webster  censured  it  as 
"wrong  in  the  principle  of  its  formation ;"  Seward,  in 
magnificent  sentences  showed  it  "hostile  to  every  gov- 
ernment it  cannot  control;"  and  Stevens,  though  with 
clearer  understanding  and  bitter  hatred,  had  none  but 
political  opposition  to  give.  So  these  great  men  let 
the  lodge  hide  behind  the  slave-pens  of  the  South;  and 
Satan  hid  his  worship  under  the  smoke  and  blood  of 
the  civil  war  till  slavery  fell;  and  is  now  ready  to  renew 
the  fight  against  God  and  man. 

Nothing  is  more  awful  than  the  stillness  which  pre- 
cedes storms,  unless  it  be  the  storm  itself.  For  a  time 
before  the  volcanic  upheaval  of  our  slavery  war,  which 
filled  eighty-two  Southern  graveyards  with  Northern 
dead,  there  was  a  season  of  tranquility  underneath 
which  churches  prospered,  and  politics  were  compara- 
tively peaceful.  But  the  moral  atmosphere  was  grow- 
ing heavy  with  the  miasms  which  breed  pestilence,  to 
be  dispensed  by  social  storms  and  earthquakes,  as  thun- 
der storms  clear  and  purify  a  murky  atmosphere. 

Death  held  high  carnival.  And  Bull  Run,  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness,  Vicksburg  and  Gettysburg,  looked 
to  the  beholders  as  if  wrath  would  end  the  United 
States  in  ruin.  But,  all  the  while,  amid  the  roar  and 
shrieks  of  battle,  the  herald  angels'  song  was  descend- 
ing, 

"On  earth  peace  and  good  will  to  men." 


154  '^^^^-  AMERICAN  HAND   IJOOK. 

The  Bible  gives  no  place  for  presumption  or  despair. 

The  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States  sold  his  own 
nephews  and  nieces,  born  of  his  brother's  slave  woman, 
on  the  auction  block  with  their  mother,  and  with  mules, 
horses,  hogs  and  cattle.  A  constable  dragged  a  Metho- 
dist preacher  from  his  knees  while  praying  for  slaves, 
and  the  Methodist  General  Conference  voted  to  cen- 
sure the  same  good  man  (George  Storrs)  for  the  same 
act.  Abolitionists  were  in  personal  diinger  while  silent 
in  stage  coaches  or  walking  the  streets. 

Yet,  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  ministers  once 
closed  every  pulpit  door  against  Charles  G.  Finney  from 
Oberliu  to  Boston;  and  in  1836  the  ^Methodist  General 
Conference  met  in  Cincinnati,  censured  two  of  their 
best  men — George  Storrs  and  Orange  vScott — for  pray- 
ing at  an  anti-slavery  meeting  in  that  city.  And  in 
1868,  at  Chicago,  the  same  General  Conference  re- 
scinded that  censure  "for  the  honor  of  the  church," 
after  Storrs  and  Scott  were  dead  and  slavery  had  fallen. 
That  wicked  and  merciless  censure  had  stood  on  their 
records  thirty-two  years.  Popular  opinion  was  now 
changed,  and  that  unpopular  record  was  wiped  out,  but 
no  regrets  expressed  for  their  wicked  treatment  of  two 
Methodist  preachers  who  were  prophets  of  God  and 
goodness. 

When  slavery  fell,  almost  all  the  devils  which  run 
the  slave  system  went  into  the  secret  lodge,  and  the 
orthodox  and  evangelical  clergy  are  repeating  the  blun- 
der of  their  fathers. 

Slavery  lifted  up  its  snake  crest  and  rushed  between 
the  lodge   and  its  assailants.     The   lodge  being    false 


REAL  PROHIBITION. 


'55 


worship,  is  worth  more  to  Satan's  kindom  than  shivery. 
The  devil,  therefore,  threw  slavery  in  as  a  breastwork 
to  defend  the  lodge  from  the  dashing  waves  of~  public 
opinion  and  popular  discussion.  It  was  swept  away, 
and  we  are  now  face  to  face  with  lodgeism,  which  pre- 
sents the  simple  issue,  worship  Christ  or  worship  Satan. 
The  lodge  is  therefore  the  last  hope  of  the  devil. 

The  lodge  difficulty  is  identical  with  that  of  slavery. 
Freemasonry  is  to-day  unpopular  with  the  great  mass 
of  good  men;  and  yet  there  are  Masons  in  all  the 
prominent  Congregational,  Presbyterian,  Methodist, 
Baptist,  and  especially  Episcopalian,  churches. 

The  need  of  educating  the  people  to  vote  against  the 
lodge  is,  if  possible,  greater  than  was  then  the  need  of 
instruction  in  anti- slavery  voting. 

And  as  ex-Senator  Pomeroy  says:  "If  there  had 
been  no  lodges,  there  had  been  no  rebellion." 

Slavery  was  local ;  the  lodge  girdles  the  globe.  And 
the  auction  block,  crying  off  hogs,  horses, men,  mothers 
and  children,  to  the  highest  bidder,  was  not  so  fatal  to 
American  principles  and  free  institutions  as  socialism, 
which  is  the  atheism  of  Masonry  gone  to  seed. 

In  short  the  lodges  are  to-day  everywhere  unpopular 
and  growing  more  so.     Let  us 

•*Pour  in  light  on  Pluto's  drear  abode, 
Abhorred  by  men  and  dreadful  e'en  to  gods." 

Let  us  launch  our  ship  and  man  it,  with  our  platform 
nailed  to  the  mast,  and  the  whole  loathsome  progeny  of 
darkness  will  speedily  disappear  with  the  cobble-chains, 
hand-cuffs,  fetters,  whips  and  auction  blocks  of  slavery. 

The  United  States  of  America  swears  its  president 


156  THE    AMERICAN     HAND-BOOK. 

on  the  Bible;  and  its  courts  swear  by  the  God  of  the 
Bible.  All  parties  countenancing  other  oaths  counten- 
ance treason,  and  are  un-American. 

Now  the  American  party  proposes  to  withdraw  these 
lodge-charters,  and  prohibit  their  oaths  by  the  votes  of 
the  American  people;  and  the  Cynosure  believes  it  can 
and  will  be  done.  God  is  everywhere  "raising  up  a 
standard"  against  these  dreary  abodes  of  darkness  and 
moral  death. 

Prohibitionists  who  are  such  from  conviction,  ten 
to  one  are  opposed  to  secret  societies.  Mrs.  Mary  B. 
VVillard,  Mary  Allen  West,  and  almost  every  woman 
speaker  at  the  Washington  Woman  Suffrage  Conven- 
tion loathe  the  secret  orders  and  make  no  secret  of  their 
loathing.  Why  cannot  steps  be  taken  to  form  one 
great  American  party  under  the  American  nam.e,  and 
speedily? 

The  devil  himself,  by  his  lodge-progeny,  tiie  secret 
temperance  lodges,  has  turned  reformer  and  prohibi- 
tionist! All  know  that  Masons  are  sworn  to  have  their 
throats  cut,  or  stand  by  and  back  their  brother  Masons 
who  are  distillers,  brewers  and  saloonists.  What  is  the 
matter  with  St.  John?  What  with  Frances  E.  Wil- 
lard  and  others?  Neither  of  these  leaders  have  any 
doubt  that  the  lodge  is  an  accursed  thing,  St.  John 
took  enough  Masonry  in  two  or  three  years  to  make 
him  forsake  and  despise  it  for  twenty.  He  knows  that 
secret  societies,  the  litter  of  the  lodge,  sunk  him  some 
fifty  thousand  votes,  and  defeated  him  as  governor, 
while  his  whole  ticket  was  elected  except  himself. 
Why  then  docs  he  not  publicly  thank  us  Americans  for 


REAL  PROHIBITION. 


157 


our  vote  last  fall?  The  reason  is  there  are  enough 
devil  worshipers  among  the  Prohibitionists,  as  there 
were  among  the  Kansas  Republicans,  Prohibitionists 
to  single  him  out  and  wolf  him  down.  We  are  not 
censuring  St.  John.  He  is  brave  and  good;  and  may 
yet  turn  on  the  lodges  as  Lincoln  did  on  slavery,  though 
he  quailed  before  it  for  awhile.  So  Miss  Willard  and 
her  sister- were  taught  by  godly  parents  that  the  lodge 
spoiled  such  great  and  good  men  as  DeWitt  Clinton, 
and  was  red  with  murder  and  black  with  treason.  If 
either  Frances  or  Mary  B.  Willard  were  forced  to  the 
oath  they  would  swear  their  lives  against  the  lodge. 

The  Voice  editor  is  personally  opposed  to  secret 
societies,  but  does  not  put  his  opposition  in  the   Voice, 

The  Western  Good  Templar^  published  in  this  city, 
[Chicago]  has  its  eyes  op.en  at  last  to  the  harm  of  se- 
crecy in  the  temperance  work,  and  has  been  urging  the 
entire  abolition  of  the  "unwritten"  or  secret  work,  and 
large  changes  in  the  ritual.  Of  course  the  old  office- 
holders and  "moss-backs"  in  the  order  hotly  object. 
They  have  everything  by  way  of  perquisites,  titles, 
lodge  dignities  and  juggleries  to  lose  if  the  organiza- 
tion is  made  open  as  the  day,  a  place  for  Americans 
and  Christians  to  work  together  against  the  rum  power. 
But  let  the  good  work  go  on.  "Orders"  should  be  out 
of  date,  secret  obligations  outlawed,  and  bombastic  titles 
made  the  ridicule  of  the  street  in  this  free  country. 

We  would  suggest  now  the  plan  of  putting  a  ticket 
in  the  field  as  soon  as  the  pending  election  is  past  as  a 
means  of  creating  public  sentiment  for  1892. 

Let  us  emulate  the  zeal  of  the   Prohibitionists,  raise 


158  TUG  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

money;  form  clubs;  in  short  ^^push  things.'^'*  And 
long  before  the  next  Federal  election,  we  can  form  a 
sort  of  "Lewis  Tappan  agency,"  which  will  show 
every  man's  standing  to  his  family  and  the  world,  and 
then  every  man  who  skulks  behind  a  tyled  door,  to 
"brother"  with  whatever  he  finds  behind  it,  will  be 
despised  by  the  sensible,  and  pitied  by  the  good.  That 
has  been  done  once.  And  what  has  been  done,  can  be 
done  again. 

Rev  Arthur  Pierson,  D.  D.,  says:  "The  fulness  of 
the  times  has  surely  come  for  the  last  great  crusade 
against  the  powers  of  darkness.  Everything  is  provi- 
dentially ripe  and  ready."  And  he  adds:  "Ail  arountl, 
the  signs  are  appearing  which  indicate  to  him  who 
watches,  that  a  more  momentous  era  is  at  hand  than 
historic  pen  ever  chronicled  or  artistic  pencil  ever  illus- 
trated." 

The  Armageddon:  It  begins  to  look  as  though 
the  last  great  moral  conflict  of  the  mighty  ages  would 
undoubtedly  be  fought  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 
Are  the  combined  evils  of  all  other  lands  here  deploy- 
ing their  sable  forces  for  the  final  struggle  of  the  great 
day  of  God  Almighty?  Are  the  armies  of  tlie  living 
God,  led  by  him  whose  name  is  called  "The  Word  of 
God,"  going  up  against  Gog  and  Magog,  and  will  fire 
from  heaven  devour  the  children  of  Satan  from  off  the 
earth?  Read  and  study  those  startling  scenes  unfolded 
to  mortal  man  in  the  book  of  Revelation,  and  let  him 
that  readeth  understand. 


CHAPTER  X, 


THE  POOR  MAN'S  BIBLE. 
■'  "In  the  sweat  of  thy   face  shalt    thou   eat    bread." 
From  Adam  to  the  jDresentjfrom  now  to  the  judgment, 
from  the  cradle  to  the  grave,  Hfe  has  been  and  will  be 
a  battle  for  bread.     Other  questions  may  claim  our  at- 
tention at  times,  but   every    father  and  mother,  every 
son  and  daughter  of  the  Republic  must  fight  this  battle 
daily,  unless,  perchance,  some  one  else  has  fought   and 
won  for   them  a  competence.     The   man  and   woman 
who  inherits  position  and   wealth   are  fortunate  to  be 
sure,  yet  they  deserve  no  particular  credit  therefor,  and 
often  this  luxury  represents  usurpation   and  misfortune 
for   others.     There    are   many    such    in    all    countries. 
There  are  times  in  all  ages  and  in  every  land  when  the 
struggle  for  bread  is  tremendous,  and  warring  elements, 
socially   and   politically,  yea,   and    religiously,  contend 
for  precedence  and   power.     Upon   the   result   human 
weal  or  woe  depends.     America  is  drifting  to  such  a 
crisis.     Never  before  in  the  history  of  our  country  have 
all  classes  become  so  absorbed  in  adjusting  this  matter. 
Statesmen,  sages,  politicians,  demagogues,  parties,  leg- 
islatures, newspapers  and  organizations  are   swallowed 
up  in  the  agitation.     Labor   and   capital  is  the   watch- 
word  everywhere.     Good,  b  kI   and   indifferent   move- 
ments are  busily  engaged  in  pushing  forward  the  labor 
discussion.     And  if  Christianity  and  the   Bible   are   of 
any  use  to  humanity  it  is  at   such   hours   as  this   when 
national   upheaval   is  visible    on   every   hand.     It  is  at 
such  critical  moments  that   the  Church   should    raise  a 


l6o  THE  AMERICAN  HAND  BOOK. 

standard  and  point  to  the  source  of  all  wisdom  in  de- 
termining the  true  relation  of  man  to  his  fellow-man. 
This  chapter  is  sent  forth  to  Chrfstian  citizens  and 
Bible  believers,  and  especially  to  set  our  American  re- 
formers to  reading  and  studying  the  issue  as  set  forth 
in  God's  revealed  will  to  man.  All  other  plans  will 
prove  misleading,  unsatisfactory  and  disastrous.  To 
the  decalogue,  the  golden  rule,  and  revelation,  then,  let 
the  nation  turn  for  instruction  and  the  knowledge  which 
cometh  from  God  alone. 


God's  Plans  and  Methods. 


BY  RAY  RAND,  THE  COUNTRY  PHILOSOPHER. 
The  rich  are  certainly  welcome  to  all  the  consolation 
they  can  find  in  the  Bible.  Our  Saviour  was  born  in  a 
stable,  cradled  in  a  manger,  and  had  not  where  to  lay 
his  head.  When  a  rich  man  came  to  Jesus,  the  com- 
mand was.  Go  sell  what  thou  hast  and  give  it  to  the 
poor.  The  rich  man  and  Lazarus,  together  with  the 
passages  in  this  reading,  paint  an  awful  looking  for  in 
store  for  the  capitalist  and  money-changer.  A  minis- 
ter to-day  would  hardly  dare  read  some  of  these  Script- 
ures to  a  wealthy  congregation.  The  laboring  man 
has  God,  the  Bible  and  the  Christian  religion  on  his 
side,  and  this  is  of  vast  importance  in  a  discussion  like 
this,  if  rightly  brought  to  bear.  This  great  labor  ques- 
tion has  got  to  be  settled,  and,  if  not  settled  right, 
America  will  pass  through  a  conflict  unparalleled  in 
all  history.  The  professed  Christian  people  of  the 
United  States  carry  a  weighty  responsibility  in  this 
matter.     The   gospel,  the  church,  and  the  ministry,  to 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  l6l 

deserve  the  confidence  of  the  poor,  should  not  hesitate 
or  falter  in  a  struggle  for  the  oppressed  and  down  trod- 
den. Is  the  church  too  narrow,  or  God's  arm  shortened, 
that  His  church  can  not  espouse  the  cause  of  the  hum- 
ble, or  lead  the  struggles  of  the  lowly?  God  help 
every  Bible  believer  to  do  his  whole  duty  in  these  peril- 
ous times.  God's  word  is  truth,  the  declaration  of  any 
skeptic  to  contrary  notwithstanding;  stand  by  the  truth 
and  the  truth  will  make  us  free. 

GOD'S  TRUTH. 

"The  rich  and  the  poor  meet  together:  the  Lord  is 
the  maker  of  them  all." 

The  fundamental  doctrine  of  the  American  Common- 
wealth is — We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident: 
That  all  men  are  created  equal;  that  they  are  endowed 
by  their  Creator  with  inalienable  rights;  that  among 
these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness. 
And  this  brings  us  to  the  great  fatherhood  of  God  and 
the  brotherhood  of  man,  and  every  good  citizen  prac- 
tically recognizes  this  human.equality. 

"The  righteous  considereth  the  cause  of  the  poor: 
but  the  wicked  regardeth  not  to  know  it."  How  many 
in  our  land  ever  think  of  this,  much  less  act  religiously 
and  politically  in  harmony  therewith?  "Blessed  is  he 
that  considereth  the  poor:  the  Lord  will  deliver  him 
in  time  of  trouble.  The  Lord  will  preserve  him  and 
keep  him  alive;  and  he  shall  be  blessed  upon  the  earth, 
and  thou  wilt  not  deliver  him  unto  the  will  of  his  ene- 
mies.^'  Not  only  is  it  a  blessed  privilege  for  the  more 
fortunate  citizens  to  remember  the  less  fortunate,  but  it 
is  their  bounden  duty  as  well.     The  command  is — "De- 


l62  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

fend  the  poor  and  fatherless.  Do  justice  to  the  afflicted 
and  needy.  Deliver  the  poor  and  needy,  rid  them  out 
of  the  hand  of  the  wicked."  But  says  one,  I  am  too 
busy  looking  after  other  questions  to  take  any  hand  in 
this  labor  agitation.  Are  you?  "Whoso  stoppeth  his 
ears  at  the  cry  of  the  poor,  he  also  shall  cry  himself 
and  shall  not  be  heard."  The  Bible  goes  even  still  fur- 
ther. "If  there  be  a  poor  man  of  one  of  thy  brethren 
vs^ithin  thy  gates  in  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
giveth  thee,  thou  slialt  not  harden  thine  heart,  nor  shut 
thine  hand  from  thy  poor  brother.  But  thou  shalt 
open  thine  hand  wide  unto  him,  and  shalt  surely  lend 
him  sufficient  for  his  need  in  that  which  he  wanteth. 
For  the  poor  shall  never  cease  out  of  the  land,  there- 
fore I  command  thee  saying,  Thou  shalt  open  thine 
hand  wide  unto  thy  brother  and  to  thy  poor,  and  to  thy 
needy  in  thy  land."  That  of  course  refers  to  the 
worthy  poor,  the  unfortunate,  the  Lord's  poor.  "He 
that  walketh  righteously  and  speaketh  uprightly,  he 
that  despiseth  the  gain  of  oppression,  that-shaketh  his 
hands  from  holding  of  bribes,  that  stoppeth  his  ears 
from  hearing  of  blood,  that  shutteth  his  eyes  from  see- 
ing evil;  he  shall  dwell  on  high:  his  place  of  defense 
shall  be  the  munitions  of  rocks;  bread  shall  be  given 
him ;  his  waters  shall  be  sure."  Men  who  have  given 
their  lives  to  the  ministry,  to  teaching,  to  science,  to  the 
promulgation  of  patriotism  in  the  state,  to  the  propa- 
gation of  righteous  but  unpopular  principles;  many  such 
have  given  their  whole  mind,  might,  and  energy  to  some 
ennobling,  but  unremunerative  work  for  the  honor  of 
God  and  the  elevation  of  humanity,  have  battled  with 
poverty  and  died  in  penury. 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  163 

"Better  is  the  poor  that  walketh  in  his  righteousness, 
than  he  that  is  perverse  in  his  ways,  though  he  be  rich. 
A  faithful  man  shall  abound  with  blessings;  but  he 
that  maketh  haste  to  be  rich  shall  not  be  innocent.  But 
they  that  will  be  rich  fall  into  temptation  and  a  snare 
and  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  which  drown  men 
in  destruction  and  perdition."  There  is  a  mad  rush 
for  wealth  and  everything  is  swallowed  up  in  money- 
making.  All  the  finer  instincts  are  being  rapidly  ab- 
sorbed by  the  sordid  grasp  for  property.  6ut  consider, 
and  when  you  see  a  man  begin  to  accumulate  wealth 
and  become  miserly  and  heartless  in  his  dealings  with 
his  fellow  men,  do  not  follow  in  his  footsteps.  "Envy 
thou  not  the  oppressor  and  choose  none  of  his  ways. 
He  that  oppresseth  the  poor  to  increase  his  riches  and 
he  that  giveth  to  the  rich  shall  surely  come   to   want." 

For  a  time  the  world  may  frown  on  the  poor  and 
fawn  at  the  rich.  "The  poor  is  hated  even  of  his  own 
neighbors;  but  the  rich  hath  many  friends.  The  poor 
useth  intreaties,  but  the  rich  answcreth  roughly."  The 
rich  and  powerful  rejected  the  lowly  Nazarine,  and  on 
the  day  of  crucifixion  declared  his  life  a  failure;  so 
said  Pope  and  jDriests  when  Luther  was  hidden  in  the 
Wartburg;  so  said  the  persecutors  of  John  Bunyan  as 
he  lay  chained  in  Bedford  jail;  and  so  said  the  proud 
:;nd  wealthy  and  the  First  Families  of  Virginia  when 
old  John  Brown  swung  between  earth  and  sky  at 
Charleston.  But,  redeemed  believer,  was  the  work  of 
the  despised  Nazarine  and  the  gospel  he  gave  the  world 
a  failure?  The  Word  of  God,  the  angels,  and  the 
blood-washed  throng  that  no  man  can  number,  answer: 


164  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

"That  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow  of 
things  in  heaven,  and  things  in  the  earth,  and  things 
under  the  earth;  and  that  every  tongue  should  confess 
that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the 
Father."  Every  protestant  on  his  knees  thanks  God 
for  Luther  and  the  great  Reformation,  while  hundreds 
of  thousands  have  lived  nobler,  grander,  better  lives 
for  having  read  Pilgrim's  Progress.  The  Church  Ad- 
vocate says:  "John  Brown  at  Harper's  Ferry  was  the 
prince  of  fanatics  only  to  be  canonized  afterward. 
William  Lloyd  Garrison,  John  G.  Whittier  and  Wen- 
dell Phillips,  a  half  century  ago,  were  the  crazed  and 
erratic  spokesmen  of  the  dispensation  of  fool-hardiness, 
and  now  their  fanaticism  is  part  of  the  national  Consti- 
tution. Time  has  shown  that  they  were  wise  while  the 
public  was  crazy.**  Governor  Wise,  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion, with  all  his  pomp  and  power,  has  returned  to 
mother  earth  unhonored  and  unsung.  But  the  soul  of 
poor  John  Brown  is  still  marching  on,  and  millions  of 
freedmen  and  multiplied  millions  of  patriots  cherish 
the  memory  of  that  grand  old  man  who  was  hanged  as 
a  malefactor,  an  outcast  and  an  outlaw.  "Be  thou  not 
afraid  when  one  is  made  rich,  when  the  glory  of  his 
house  is  increased,  for  when  he  dieth  he  shall  carry 
nothing  away.  His  glory  shall  not  descend  after  him." 
Rothschild,  f'anderbilt,  and  Jay  Gould,  with  all  their 
ill-gotten  gains,  will  soon  be  forgotten.  They  have 
swayed  courts  and  manipulated  legislatures  here,  but  in 
the  great  hereafter,and  sometimes  in  this  life,  the  tables 
are  turned.  The  recording  angel  can  be  neither  bought 
nor  bribed.     "He  that  oppresseth  the  poor  reproacheth 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  1 65 

his  Maker:  but  he  that  honoureth  Him  hath  mercy  on 
the  poor.  The  Lord  executeth  righteousness  and  judg- 
ment for  all  that  are  oppressed.  The  Lord  will  be 
refuge  for  the  oppressed,  a  refuge  in  times  of  trouble. 
He  shall  judge  the  poor  of  the  people,  he  shall  save 
the  children  of  the  needy  and  shall  break  in  pieces  the 
oppressor.  For  he  shall  deliver  the  needy  when  he 
crieth,  the  poor  also,  and  him  that  hath  no  helper.  I 
know  that  the  Lord  will  maintain  the  cause  of  the 
afflicted  and  the  right  of  the  poor.  Rob  not  the  poor 
because  he  is  poor,  neither  oppress  the  afflicted  in  the 
gate:  for  the  Lord  will  plead  their  cause  and  spoil  the 
soul  of  those  that  spoil  them.  What  mean  ye  that  ye 
beat  my  people  to  pieces  and  grind  the  faces  of  the 
poor?  saitii  the  Lord  of  Hosts."  Nothing  in  this, 
struggle  escapes  the  All-Seeing  Eye.  "If  thou  seest 
the  oppression  of  the  poor  and  the  violent  perverting 
of  judgment  and  justice  in  a  province  marvel  not  at 
the  matter;  for  he  that  is  higher  than  the  highest  re- 
gardeth,  and  there  be  higher  than  they.  There  is  a 
generation  whose  teeth  are  as  swords  and  their  jaw- 
teeth  as  knives,  to  devour  the  poor  from  off  the  earth 
and  the  needy  from  among  men."  And  then  the  spir't 
of  the  prophet  seems  to  have  looked  far  down  the  vista 
of  time  to  our  own  day  and  generation.  "So  I  re- 
turned and  considered  all  the  oppressions  that  are  done 
under  the  sun;  and  behold  the  tears  of  such  as  were 
oppressed,  and  they  had  no  comforter,  and  on  the  side 
of  the  oppressor  there  was  power,  but  they  had  no  com- 
forter. Some  remove  the  landmarks.  They  violently 
take  away  flocks  and  feed  thereof.     They  drive  away 


1 66  THE   AMERICAN    IIAXD-BOOK. 

the  ass  of  the  fatherless,  and  take  the  widow's  ox  for  a 
pledge.  They  turn  the  needy  out  of  the  way.  The 
poor  of  the  earth  hide  themselves  together.  They 
cause  the  naked  to  lodge  without  clothing  and  they 
take  away  the  sheaf  from  the  hungry.  The  people  of 
the  land  have  used  oppression  and  have  exercised  rob- 
bery,  and  have  vexed  the  poor  and  needy.  Yea  they 
have  oppressed  the  stranger  wrongfully."  This  is 
being  literally  fulfilled  on  every  side  at  this  hour.  And 
now  let  the  professed  Christian  listen.  Here  is  a  com- 
mand direct  to  the  church.  "O  house  of  David,  thus 
saith  the  Lord,  Execute  judgment  in  the  morning,  and 
deliver  him  that  is  spoiled  out  of  the  hand  of  the  op- 
pressor, lest  my  fury  go  out  like  fire,  and  burn  that 
none  can  quench  it,  because  of  the  evil  of  your  doings. 
For  the  oppression  of  the  poor,  for  the  sighing  of  the 
needy,  now  will  I  arise,  saith  the  Lord;  I  will  set  him 
in  safety  from  him  that  puffeth  at  him.  For  the  needy 
shall  not  always  be  forgotten,  the  expectation  of  the 
poor  shall  not  perish  forever.  For  thou  hast  been  a 
strength  for  the  poor,  a  strength  for  the  needy  in  dis- 
tress, a  refuge  from  the  storm,  a  shadow  from  the  heat, 
when  the  blast  of  the  terrible  ones  is  a  storm  against 
the  wall."  What  a  grand  leader!  He  that  led  Israel 
out  of  Egyptian  bondage.  A  leader  who  never  lost  a 
battle.  And  the  day  of  reckoning  is  coming.  "Woe 
unto  him  that  buildeth  his  house  by  unrighteousness 
and  his  chambers  by  wrong ;  that  useth  his  neighbor^ 
service  without  wages  and  giveth  him  not  for  his  work, 
that  saith,  I  will  build  me  a  wide  house  and  large  cham- 
bers, and  cutteth  him  out  windows,  and  it  is  ceiled  with 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLB.  1 67 

cedar  and  painted  with  vermilion.  Thou  shalt  not  op- 
press an  hired  servant  that  is  poor  and  needy,  vvrhether 
he  be  of  thy  brethren  or  of  the  strangers  that  are  in 
thy  gates.  At  his  day  thou  shalt  give  him  his  hire, 
neither  shall  the  sun  go  down  upon  it,  lest  he  cry 
against  thee  unto  the  Lord,  and  it  be  sin  unto  thee." 
Let  the  poor  take  courage.  Their  cause  is  in  safe 
keeping.  And  when  the  rich  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  Almighty  they  have  indeed  a  hard  road  to  travel. 
Hearken!  "But  woe  unto  you  that  are  rich!  for  ye 
have  received  your  consolation.  Then  said  Jesus  unto 
his  disciples.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  That  a  rich  man 
shall  hardly  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  And 
again  I  say  unto  you.  It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go 
through  the  eye  of  a  needle  than  for  a  rich  man  to  en- 
ter the  kingdom  of  heaven."  Who  says  this?  Em- 
manuel, the  Shiloh,  the  Blessed  Messiah,  our  Mighty 
Counsellor,  our  Saviour  and  Redeemer,  the  Lion  of 
the  Tribe  of  Judah,  the  Prince  of  the  House  of  David, 
Jesus  Christ  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords;  he 
who  was  born  in  a  stable  and  cradled  in  a  manger,  the 
son  of  the  mechanic  Joseph,  and  who,  as  a  youth, 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  with  his  father,  and 
who,  as  a  man  of  sorrow  and  acquainted  with  grief, 
footsore,  hungry  and  weary,  tramped  the  rocky  roads 
and  heated  sands  of  Palestine,  only  to  die  on  the  cross 
between  two  thieves.  What  a  wonderful  career,  and 
what  tremendous  results!  All  history  pointing  for- 
ward to  his  advent,  all  time  commemorating  his  hum- 
ble birth,  the  salvation  of  every  soul  between  two 
eternities  depending  on  this  sublime  and  august  being. 


l68  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

Every  human  birth  and  death  recorded,  dating  to  the 
Christian  era.  Every  letter  posted,  every  bank  draft, 
dolhir,  dime,  law  enacted,  legal  account  and  document 
acknow^ledging  Him  w^hose  chosen  companions  w^ere 
fishermen,  tanners,  tent  makers  and  sewing  women, 
and  the  proof  of  whose  ministry  was  that  the  poor 
have  the  gospel  preached  unto  them.  Poets,  sages  and 
bards  have  vied  in  doing  him  homage.  His  teachings 
and  precepts  are  in  every  civilized  home  in  Christen- 
dom. The  ministry,  the  laity,  the  multitudes  of  Sab- 
bath-school children,  proclaim  his  divinity,  call  upon 
him  and  sing  his  praises.  All  humanity,  heaven,  earth 
and  hell  are  at  his  command.  *'For  there  is  none  other 
name  given  under  heaven  or  among  men,  whereby  we 
must  be  saved.  He  that  climbeth  up  any  other  way, 
the  same  is  a  thief  and  robber."  He  who  drove  the 
buyers  and  sellers  out  of  the  Temple,  and  overthrew 
the  tables  of  the  money  changers,  has  little  adoration 
from  the  rich,  and  little  chance,  indeed ,  have  they  of 
heaven.  But  what  a  grand  friend  and  leader  for  the 
poor,  the  needy  and  the  oppressed !  Their  help  in  ages 
past,  their  hope  in  years  to  come.  ''This  country  boy 
of  Nazareth,  came  forth  to  atone  for  the  sins  of  the 
world,  and  to  correct  the  follies  of  the  world,  and  to 
stamp  out  the  cruelties  of  the  world,  and  to  illumine 
the  darkness  of  the  world,  and  to  transfigure  the  hem- 
ispheres," spake  Dr.  Talmage  in  a  recent  sermon.  "So 
it  has  been  the  mission  of  the  country  boys  in  all  ages 
to  transform  and  inspire  and  rescue.  They  come  into 
our  merchandise,  and  our  court- rooms,  and  our  healing 
art,  and  our  studios,  and  our  theology.     They  lived  in 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  169 

Nazareth  before  they  entered  Jerusalem.  And  but  for 
that  annual  influx  our  cities  would  have  enervated,  and 
sickened,  and  slain  the  race.  Late  hours,  and  hurtful 
apparel,  and  overtaxed  digestive  organs,  and  crow^ded 
environments  of  city  life,  would  have  halted  the  world, 
but  the  valleys  and  mountains  of  Nazareth  have  given 
a  fresh  supply  of  health  and  moral  invigoration  to  Je- 
rusalem, and  the  country  saves  the  town.  From  the 
hills  of  New  Hampshire,  and  the  hills  of  Virginia,  and 
the  hills  of  Georgia,  come  into  our  national  eloquence 
the  Websters  and  the  Clays  and  the  Henry  W.  Gradys. 
From  the  plain  homes  of  Massachusetts  and  Maryland 
come  our  national  charities,  the  George  Peabodys,  and 
;he  William  Corcorans.  From  the  cabins  of  the  lonely 
country  regions  come  into  our  national  destinies  the 
Andrew  Jacksons  and  the  Abraham  Lincolns.  From 
the  plowboy's  furrow,  and  village  counter,  and  black- 
smith's forge,  come  most  of  our  city  giants." 

The  wealth,  fashion,  and  folly  militates  to  the  towns 
and  cities.  Bankers,  speculators  and  capitalists  gener- 
ally reside  in  the  commercial  marts  of  a  nation,  and 
concoct  schemes  for  swindling  the  rural  population. 
Their  plans  are  skillfully  laid  and  heartlessly  carried 
out.  Let  him  that  readeth  understand.  "Trust  ye  in 
the  Lord  forever,  for  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting 
strength.  For  he  bringeth  down  them  that  dwell  on 
high.  The  lofty  city,  he  layeth  it  low,  even  in  the 
dust.  The  foot  shall  tread  it  down,  even  the  feet  of 
the  poor  and  the  steps  of  the  needy."  Are  we  living  in 
the  last  days?  The  picture  of  Babylon  in  Revelation 
is  but  a  reflection  of  New  York,  New  Orleans,  Boston, 


I70 


THE     AMERICAN    HANB-BOOIC. 


Chicago  and  San  Francisco,  and  other  commercial  marts 
of  America,  and  her  doom  is  theirs.  Turn  to  and  read. 
"The  merchants  of  these  things,  which  were  made 
rich  by  her,  shall  stand  afar  off  for  fear  of  her  torment, 
weeping  and  wailing,  and  saying,  Alas,  alas  that  great 
city,  that  was  clothed  in  fine  linen,  and  purple,  and 
scarlet  and  decked  with  gold,  and  precious  stones,  and 
pearls!  For  in  one  hour  so  great  riches  is  come  to 
naught.  And  every  shipmaster,  and  all  the  company 
in  ships,  and  sailors,  and  as  many  as  traded  by  sea  stood 
afar  off,  and  cried  when  they  saw  the  smoke  of  her 
torment,  saying.  What  city  is  like  unto  this  great  city? 
And  they  cast  dust  on  their  heads,  and  cried,  weeping 
and  wailing,  saying:  Alas,  alas  that  great  city  wherein 
\7ere  made  rich  all  that  had  ships  in  the  sea  by  reason 
of  her  costliness!  for  in  one  hour  is  she  made  desolate. 
Rejoice  over  her,  thou  heaven,  and  ye  holy  apostles 
and  prophets;  for  God  hath  avenged  you  on  her. 
The  wicked  have  drawn  out  the  sword  and  bent  their 
bow,  to  cast  down  the  poor  and  needy  and  shiy  such  as 
be  of  upright  conversation.  Their  sword  shall  enter 
their  own  heart  and  their  bow  shall  be  brokeji."  He 
that  taketh  the  sword  SHALL  perish  by  the  sword,  is 
the  divine  fiat.  ''Forasmuch  therefore  as  your  treading 
is  upon  the  poor,  and  ye  take  from  birr,  burdens  of 
wheat;  ye  have  built  houses  of  hewn  stone,  but  ye 
shall  not  dwell  in  them;  ye  have  planted  pleasant  vine- 
yards, but  ye  shall  not  drink  wine  of  them."  How 
does  that  strike  the  nabobs  in  their  palatial  residences? 
"Go  to  now,  ye  rich  men,  weep  and  howl  for  your  mis- 
eries that  shall  come  upon  you.     Your  riches  are  cor- 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  I^I 

rupted,  and  your  garments,  are  motheaten.  Your  gold 
and  silver  is  cankered,  and  the  rust  of  them  shall  be  a 
witness  against  you,  and  shall  eat  your  flesh  as  it  were 
fire.  Ye  have  heaped  treasures  together  for  the  last 
days.  Behold  the  hire  of  the  laborers  who  have  reaped 
down  your  fields,  which  is  of  you  kept  back  by  fraud, 
crieth:  and  the  cries  of  them  which  have  reaped  are 
entered  into  the  ears  of  the  Lord  of  sabaoth.  Ye  have 
lived  in  pleasure  on  the  earth  and  been  wanton:  ye 
have  nourished  your  hearts  as  in  a  day  of  slaughter. 
Ye  have  condemned  and  killed  the  just,  and  he  doth 
not  resist  you.  Hear  this,  O  ye  that  swallow  up  the 
needy,  even  to  make  the  poor  of  the  land  to  fail,  say- 
ing, when  will  the  new  moon  be  gone  that  we  may 
sell  corn?  and  the  Sabbath  that  we  may  set  forth 
wheat,  making  the  ephah  small  and  the  shekel  great, 
and  falsifying  the  balances  by  deceit?  that  we  may  buy 
the  poor  for  silver  and  the  needy  for  a  pair  of  shoes; 
yea  and  sell  the  refuse  of  the  wheat?  The  Lord  hath 
sworn  by  the  excellency  of  Jacob,  Surely  I  will  never 
forget  any  of  their  works.  Shall  not  the  land  tremble 
for  this,  and  every  one  mourn  that  dwelleth  therein? 
and  it  shall  come  up  wholly  as  a  flood,  even  it  shall  be 
cast  out  and  drowned  as  by  the  flood  of  Egypt.  And 
it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day  saith  the  Lord  God, 
that  I  will  cause  the  sun  to  go  down  at  noon,  and  I  will 
darken  the  earth  in  the  clear  day;  and  I  will  turn  all 
your  feasts  into  mourning,  and  all  your  songs  into  lam- 
entations; and  I  will  bring  sackcloth  upon  all  loins  and 
baldness  upon  every  head;  and  I  will  make  it  as  the 
mourning  of  an  only  son,  and  the  end  thereof  as  a  bit- 


172  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

ter  day."  What  a  terrible  indictment.  Here  is  medi- 
cine for  our  Boards  of  Trade,  with  their  banquets,  the 
Arbuckles  and  the  Spreclvles,  and  the  Congressmen, 
who  make  the  value  of  the  dollar  great  and  the  pound 
and  the  bushel  small.  Old  Hutchinson,  and  Allerton 
might  profit  by  this.  They  have  been  squeezing  but 
they  will  get  squeezed.  "This  is  the  portion  of  a 
wicked  man  with  God,  and  the  heritage  of  oppressors, 
which  they  shall  receive  of  the  Almighty.  If  his  chil- 
dren be  multiplied,  it  is  for  the  sword:  and  his  offspring 
shall  not  be  satisfied  with  bread.  Those  that  remain 
of  him  shall  be  buried  in  death;  and  his  widow  shall 
not  weep.  Though  he  heap  up  silver  as  the  dust  and 
prepare  raiment  as  the  clay,  he  may  prepare  it,  but  the 
just  shall  put  it  on  and  the  innocent  shall  divide  the 
silver."  This  is  not  the  ravings  of  some  socialist,  an- 
archist, professional  labor  agitator  or  walking  delegate. 
It  is  God's  dealing  with  rich  oppressors,  and  justice 
will  be  dealt  to  the  uttermost  farthing.  Every  tear, 
and  sigh,  and  groan,  and  insult  from  oppression  will  be 
amply  atoned  for.  But  let  the  haughty  oppressor  read 
on;  he  must  drink  the  bitter  cup  to  the  very  dregs. 
"Set  thou  a  wicked  man  over  him:  and  let  Satan  stand 
at  his  right  hand.  When  he  shall  be  judged  let  him  be 
condemned,  and  let  his  prayer  become  sin.  Let  his 
da3^s  be  few  and  let  another  take  his  office.  Let  his 
children  be  fatherless  and  his  wife  a  widow.  Let  his 
children  be  continual  vagabonds  and  beg:  let  them  seek 
their  bread  also  out  of  their  desolate  places.  Let  the 
extortioner  catch  all  that  he  hath;  and  let  the  stranger 
spoil  his  labor.     Let  there  be   none    to  extend   mercy 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  1 73 

unto  him ;  neither  let  there  be  any  to  favor  his  father- 
less children.  Let  his  posterity  be  cut  off  and  in  the 
generation  following  let  their  names  be  blotted  out. 
Let  the  iniquities  of  his  father  be  remembered  with 
the  Lord:  let  not  the  sin  of  his  mother  be  blotted  out. 
Let  them  be  before  the  Lord  continually,  that  he  may 
cut  off  the  memory  of  them  from  the  earth.  Because 
that  he  remembered  not  to  show  mercy  but  persecuted 
the  poor  and  needy  man;  that  he  might  even  slay  the 
broken  hearted."  If  that  is  not  total  annihilation,  then 
what  is  it?  Well  may  mortal-man  stand  in  awe  before 
such  tremendous  judgments  soon  to  be  visited  upon 
those  who  are  causing  so  much  poverty,  want  and  suf- 
fering. Father,  you  who  are  on  a  rented  farm,  or  whose 
humble  home  is  hopelessly  mortgaged,  who  find  it  hard 
to  make  ends  meet,  and  whose  wife  and  little  ones  even 
in  health  must  often  go  without  proper  food  and  suf- 
ficient clothing,  God  is  your  book-keeper,  and  he 
makes  no  mistakes.  It  will  all  be  right  by  and  by.  It 
is  difficult  for  sober,  industrious  men  in  the  country, 
with  health  and  fair  property,  to  clothe  and  educate  a 
family  and  live  comfortably;  it  is  far  worse  in  the  cities 
and  towns  for  the  mechanic  and  day  laborer.  And  to 
all  human  appearance  matters  are  rapidly  going  from  bad 
to  worse,  the  rich  are  becoming  richer,  the  poor  poorer. 
The  demagogues,  disgruntled  politicians  and  designing 
agitators  are  in  the  labor  ranks  in  full  force.  Every 
good  citizen  should  be  ready  for  action.  The  church 
should  not  be  idle  at  a  time  like  this.  As  an  educator 
it  should  take  advanced  ground  and  heartily  espouse 
the  cause  of  the  honest  toiler,  not  shunning  to  declare 


174  '^"^    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

the  whole  gospel  on  this  great  issue.  Let  every  pastor 
instruct  his  congregation  and  point  them  to  the  Word 
of  God  as  the  great  standard  and  compass  chart  that  is 
to  lead  onward  and  upward.  If  the  church  stands  by 
the  gospel,  stand  by  it.  Christ  was  a  mechanic  and 
wielded  the  hammer,  the  saw  and  the  plane.  He  was 
poorer  than  the  poorest,  and  possessed  no  earthly  home. 
His  Apostles  had  neither  script  nor  purse,  while  teach- 
ing the  doctrines  of  salvation  and  human  equality. 
They  were  not  tramps,  paupers  or  beggars.  Are  the 
servants  of  to-day  greater  than  the  Master?  He  who 
drove  the  money  changers,  buyers  and  sellers  out  of 
the  Temple  will  never  leave  nor  forsake  the  worthy 
poverty-stricken  and  down-trodden.  And  if  His  church 
shall  live  up  to  its  high  privilege,  it  will  come  out  of 
this  great  battle  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  sun,  and 
terrible  as  an  army  with  banners.  Run  out  the  script- 
ural references,  and  make  the  most  of  them  as  this  is 
only  a  few  of  the  many  on  this  tremendous  theme. 
Above  all  let  no  one,  whether  church  communicant  or 
not,  think  for  a  moment  that  he  can  ignore  God,  dis- 
card the  Bible,  spurn  Christ's  example  and  teachings, 
and  yet  hope  to  succeed. 

Pith  and  point;  "What  is  the  use  of  preaching 
the  Gospel  to  men  whose  whole  attention  is  concen- 
trated upon  a  mad,  desperate  struggle  to  keep  them- 
selves alive?" — General  Booth.  To  harmonize  our 
social  compact  with  the  gospel  means  evolution,  and 
mayhap  revolution.  Let  us  get  onto  gospel  ground  as 
fast  as  possible.  The  Arena  says:  "According  to  a 
leading  New  York  daily,  there  are  40,000  women  and 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  1 75 

girls  in  that  city  whose  wages  are  so  low  that  they 
must  embrace  vice,  accept  charity  or  starve;  while  one 
clergyman  receives  $35,000  a  year  and  others  receive 
$20,000  a  year  for  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  rich." 
New  York  is  no  exception,  and  all  of  our  larger 
cities  show  a  like  lamentable  state,  so  that  we  do  not 
need  to  turn  to  ''Darkest  England"  or  even  Stanley 
and  his  Africa,  but  on  our  own  shores  is  blackest  Egyp- 
tian night  to  dispel.  An  excerpt  from  a  sermon  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Carlos  Martyn  of  the  First  Reformed  Church, 
Newark,  N.  J., is  to  the  point  just  here.  He  said:  <'In 
all  our  larger  cities  there  is  a  class  who  esteem  them- 
selves too  good  for  common  folk.  Having  made  money 
by  packing  pork  or  brewing  beer,  they  now  ape  the  lilies, 
and  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin — save  in  the  dance: 
McAllister  tells  us  how  they  occupy  themselves.  It 
seems  then,  that  they  have  reduced  eating  to  a  fine  art. 
Life  is  elegant  gluttony.  Dressing,  too,  is  another  em- 
ployment of  the  'Four  Hundred.'  The  men  suggest 
Beau  Brummel,  who  threw  his  whole  soul  into  the  tie 
of  his  cravat.  The  women  undress,  and  then  by  a 
strange  abuse  of  language  call  their  nudity  *full  dress.' 
Decollete  is  a  foreign  wa}'  of  spelling  indecency.  Hav- 
ing dressed  and  dined,  the  'Four  Hundred'  proceed  to 
dance.  Their  only  events  are  learning  a  new  waltz 
step,  or  the  changing  fashion.  Augustus  Fltznoodle 
and  Florinda  Ta-ta  are  not  prolific  in  ideas.  He  sucks 
the  head  of  his  cane  for  a  living,  and  she  does  nothing 
more  useful  than  to  ogle  and  flutter  and  cry,  'Oh,  how 
nice!'  Such  are  the  serious  employments  of  beings 
calling  themselves  rational  and  Christian.     There  is  a 


176  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

strife  among  them  in  ostentatious  vulgarity.  Accord- 
ing to  a  recent  critic  such  a  society  should  have  for  its 
coat  of  arms,  a  gilt  shield,  w^ith  an  empty  champagne 
bottle,  couchant,  a  knife  and  fork,  rampant,  quartered 
with  a  greenback  and  a  fiddle,  and  bov^,  w^ith  the  motto, 
'Whose  god  is  their  belly.'  This  is  the  class  who  as- 
sume to  set  the  social  pace,  to  give  or  withhold  the  so- 
cial entree,  and  to  decide  who  shall  be  in  the  'swim.' " 
The  Twentieth  Century  delivers  the  following  mono- 
logue on  "Society's  Two  Extremes,"  the  very  rich  and 
very  poor:  "When  you  read  Ward  McAllister's  book 
you  have  a  picture  of  what  our  civilization  has  done  for 
the  rich.  If  you  will  walk  through  the  Mulberry 
Street  (New  York),  district,  you  will  see  what  it  has 
done  for  the  poor.  Between  the  two  extremes  you 
will  find  people  of  brains,  of  heart,  of  virtue.  But 
among  the  four  hundred  and  in  Mulberry  Street  you 
will  find  two  classes  of  people  who  are  the  counter- 
parts of  each  other.  With  all  their  differences  they 
are  marvelously  alike.  One  is  rich,  the  other  is  poor. 
One  class  is  respectable,  the  other  is  despised.  One 
class  is  pdlished,  the  other  is  boorish.  One  class  is 
clean,  the  other  is  filthy.  But  both  are  brainless,  both 
are  heartless,  both  are  sensual.  One  class  eats  fate  de 
foie  gras^  the  other  garlic,  but  both  live  to  eat.  One 
class  drinks  champagne,  the  other  bad  whisky,  but 
both  live  to  drink.  One  class  dances  at  Delmonico's, 
the  other  in  dives,  but  both  live  to  dance.  One  class  is 
brutalized  by  poverty,  Ihe  other  is  sensualized  by  lux- 
ury. The  elegant  Mr.  McAllister,  filled  to  the  chin 
with  six  kinds  of  wine,  trying  to  get  into  his  carriaj^c; 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  I^y 

and  the  filthy  loafer  soaked  with  stale  beer,  sleeping  on 
a  lumber  pile,  are  brothers.  Both  are  idlers,  both  are 
triflers,  both  are  supported  by  the  labor  of  others,  both 
are  useless,  both  are  barnacles.  One  has  been  lifted  to 
the  top  by  our  social  system,  the  other  has  been  kicked 
to  the  bottom." 

Despotism  and  dictation:  The  lodge  is  throt- 
tling the  labor  forces  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  tem- 
perance element  of  the  nation  is  largely  in  the  rural 
districts,  and  the  lodge  is  swearing  in  the  farmers  and 
working-men,  and  directing  attention  from  the  saloon 
and  prohibition  into  other  channels.  Men  who  are  not 
posted  will  doubt  this,  but  our  best  informed  anti-secret- 
ists  see  but  too  plainly  the  trend  of  political  affairs. 
Powderly  and  his  bodyguard  of  well-kept,  well-fed 
walking  delegates,  with  their  questionable  methods  and 
dark  lantern  fraternity,  are  hourly  sinking  lower  and 
lower  in  the  estimation  of  all  independent  American 
workingmen.  Free  labor,  not  oathbound  minions  of 
plotting  conspiracy,  are  to  receive  the  esteem  and  sym- 
pathy of  the  American  public.  Business  done  in  dark 
garrets  amid  cobwebs  and  suspicious  surroundings,  in 
the  very  nature  of  things,  can  be  productive  of  noth- 
ing but  evil,  and  that  continually.  No  honest  cause 
needs  to  sneak  off  in  the  dark  to  transact  any  respecta- 
ble, legitimate  business.  Shame  to  any  workman  who 
will  kiss  the  hand  of  a  heartless  labor  boss,  and  then 
whine  like  a  whipped  cur  because  the  public  do  not 
sympathize  with  him  in  his  degradation.  The  farmers 
in  some  sections  are  to  learn  a  lesson,  and  a  costly  one, 
in  this  same    line.     The    Chicago   Inter    Ocean  says: 


lyS  THE   AMERICAN   HAND-BOOK. 

"On  the  other  hand,  the  use  of  secret  machinery  by 
any  poHtical  party  to  compel  men  to  vote  this  way  or 
that  is  clearly  illegal.  It  was  tried  in  the  case  of  the 
old  Know  Nothings,  and  failed  because  it  was  out  of 
harmony  with  American  independence  of  character. 
Men  sworn  to  obey  blindly  the  direction  of  a  commit- 
tee, or  to  vote  as  a  committee  orders  are  little  better  than 
slaves.  If  this  is  to  be  a  feature  of  the  new  Labor 
party  it  will  be  opposed  by  a  good  many  men  who  are 
classed  as  laborers." 

The  lodge  idea  is  to  absorb  and  destroy  the  individ- 
uality of  men.  It  invests  the  authority  and  manipula- 
tion of  government  in  the  hands  of  a  favored  few. 
Like  Bellamy,  it  drifts  into  classes  and  concentration  of 
power.  Personal  ownership  and  merit  is  swallowed  up 
in  one  great  corporation.  "Corporations  have  no  souls", 
and  the  labor  lodges  are  ready  to  destroy  property  and 
life  at  a  moment's  notice. 

Trade  union  tyranny:  "The  foreign  nabobs 
who  propose  to  rule  the  country,  are  full  of  curses  and 
denunciations  of  the  titled  nobility  of  Europe,  from 
whose  tyrannical  exactions  they  have  fled.  But  as 
soon  as  they  arrive  here  they  set  up  a  new  style  of 
nobility,  and  with  a  bit  of  ribbon,  a  linen  horse-collar, 
a  cocked  hat  with  a  feather  in  it,  or  some  other  sort  of 
*regalia',  or  royal  dress ^  they  pose  as  knights,  command- 
ers, princes,  and  what  not;  and  when  they  have  thus 
pulled  away  at  their  boot-straps  till  they  have  elevated 
themselves  into  knights,  princes  and  noblemen,  they 
become  as  self-important,  as  impudent,  and  as  tyran- 
nical as  any  of  the  old   European   nobility    which  they 


THE    POOR    MAN  S    BIBLE.  1 79 

SO  hate  and  denounce;  and  they  would  suffer  an  honest 
workingman  to  starve  rather  than  give  him  a  helping 
hand,  and  v^ould  if  possible  prevent  his  getting  work, 
unless  he  was  willing  to  swear  allegiance  to  their  gang, 
pay  tribute  into  their  order,  and  join  hands  with  them 
in  oppressing  and  tyrannizing  over  others." — The 
Safeguard,  "If  there  is  a  more  arrogant,  and,  at  the 
same  time  a  more  un-American  'monopoly'  than  -this, 
[Knights  of  Labor]  we  should  like  to  discover  it.  In 
the  first  place  its  designation  implies  a  title  of  nobility, 
and  for  these  things  we  have  no  use  in  this  country, 
Workingmen  especially  would  do  well  to  beware  of 
them.  They  are  monarchical  and  unrepublican.  Our 
revolutionary  forefathers  were  jealous  of  all  such  imi- 
tations of  royal  technique  and  hence  they  inserted  in 
the  Constitution  a  clause  prohibiting  Congress  from 
conferring  upon  anybody  any  order  of  nobility.  It  is, 
in  addition  to  this  a  Secret  Society,  another  circum- 
stance which  exposes  it  to  suspicion." — New  Tork 
Commercial  Bulletin, 

Not  satisfied  with  demanding  and  dictating  right  and 
left,  they  must  intimidate  all  free  workmen.  A  "scab," 
in  lodge  parlance,  is  an  independent  American  who 
refuses  to  support  a  lot  of  jaw-smiths,  walking  dele- 
gates and  self-constituted  bosses.  Foreigners,  saloon 
loafers  and  shiftless  roustabouts  take  to  lodgery  as  a 
duck  does  to  water.  All  free  labor  must  suffer  because 
of  these  dark,  suspicious,  conspiracies.  What  must  be 
the  patriotism  of  the  man  who  will  bow  the  knee  to 
King  Powderly,  and  own  him  as  Grand  Master?  The 
Farmer's  and  Laborer's  Union  is  following  in  the  same 


l8o  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

wake,  and  the  reaction  will  be  even  worse  for  honest 
toil  than  has  been  that  of  artificial  knighthood.  The 
late  high-handed  political  lodge  operation  is  arousing 
the  nation  and  turning  all  eyes  toward  lodgery.  Dis- 
cussion will  follow,  and  the  damnable  system  from 
Masonry  down  to  its  youngest  child  will  be  sifted  to 
the  dregs.  "An  exchange  says  that  the  Farmer's  Alli- 
ance, which  is  a  secret  order,  has  now  at  its  head,  the 
ex-rebel  Colonel  Polk,  who  captured  a  Pennsylvania 
company  at  the  opening  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 
Being  pushed  by  the  Union  forces  so  that  he  could  not 
get  away  with  the  prisoners,  he  ordered  them  shot. 
A  special  from  Wichita,  Kansas,  states  that  he  was 
governor  of  the  Salisbury  prison  during  the  war,  and 
tliat  the  old  soldiers  are  vowing  vengeance  against  him 
for  his  many  cruelties  to  the  Union  prisoners  there  con- 
fined. The  vice-president  of  the  Alliance  is  B.  F. 
Clover,  an  old  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle,  who  was  arrested  in  1863,  with  Vallandigham. 
Masonry  is  the  mother  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  and 
what  more  natural  than  that  it  should  bear  her  image 
and  superscription  ?" — Boston  Natiotial  Home  Guard. 
All  patriotic  loyal  citizens  will  detect  the  rank  odor 
of  rebel  secesh  in  the  secret  Alliance,  The  color  line 
in  the  order  is  a  quarter  of  a  century  behind  the  age, 
and  is  an  ear  mark  of  the  Jeff  Davis  system.  No  po- 
litical or  religious  reformatory  movement  that  draws 
the  color  line  at  this  time  deserves  the  indorsement  or 
support,  but  rather  the  contempt  of  true  Americans. 
What  a  sweet  state  of  affairs  for  old  soldiers  and  north- 
ern people  to  tolerate. 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  l8l 

Kirivin  i^Kan,)  Chief:  "Senator  Harkness  of  Clay 
county  has  been  instructed  by  the  Alliance  to  vote 
against  Senator  Ingalls,  and  he  replies  as  follows: 
'When  I  surrender  my  citizenship  and  my  manhood 
and  enter  an  oath-bound  society  which  is  to  control  my 
every  thought  and  acknowledge  the  right  of  any  igno- 
rant or  bigoted  supreme  chief  to  dictate  to  me^  then, 
perhaps  I  might  pay  some  attention  to  such  resolutions 
as  were  adopted  in  Dickinson  county.  But  not  until 
that  unfortunate  hour  shall  have  arrived  will  I  submit 
to  such  a  degradation.  I  am  always  willing  to  pay  due 
attention  to  the  wishes  of  my  constituency  as  expressed 
as  the  wishes  of  American  citizens,  but  cowls,  hoods, 
grips,  signs  and  passwords  do  not  enter  into  my  con- 
ception of  the  rights  and  duties  of  an  American  public 
officer,  nor  will  I  give   them  the  slightest   attention.' " 


"Labor  may  be  unreasonable,  brutal,  even  mad  at 
times,  but  it  has  ceased  to  be  afraid.  It  has  attained 
the  dignity  of  self-respect.  Why  does  not  capital  see 
the  handwriting  on  the  wall  and  meet  labor  in  the 
spirit  of  Christ?  Why  this  church-going  if  it  lead  not 
to  the  golden  rule?" — KateField^s  Washington.  That 
is  true,  Katie,  but  there  is  no  "golden  rule"  or  "dignity 
and  self-respect"  in  lodge  labor.  The  great  multitude 
of  workingmen,  however,  do  not  take  kindly  to 
lodgery.  The  salvation  of  America  is  to  withstand  and 
remove  the  saloon  and  the  secret  lodge. 

"Ignorance  may  be  enslaved,  but  one  might  as  well 
undertake  to  bind  a  whirlwind  as  to  enslave  a  thinking, 
intelligent  people." —  Weekly  Arbor  State,     It  is  the 


102  THE  AMERICAN   HAND-BOOK. 

ignorant,  vicious  and  designing  that  compose  the  vast 
lodge  army  in  this  country.  Men  of  independence, 
thought  and  patriotism  w^ill  surrender  their  personal 
liberty  and  individualism  to  no  cabal  or  neighborhood 
ring.  Spread  the  light  and  truth.  Intelligence  and 
serfdom  are  utterly  incompatible.  The  life  of  one  is 
the  death  of  the  other. 

Worse  than  the  saloon:  The  multitude  of 
lodges  w^ith  their  constant  drain  of  fees  and  dues  are 
not  only  beggaring  the  w^orking  people  in  the  cities 
and  lodge-ridden  towns,  but  the  designers  are  roping  in 
the  rural  population,  and  the  farmers  are  now^  to  dance 
to  the  ruinous  music.  An  able  writer  says:  "No 
wonder  that  business  cannot  flourish  in  the  vampire 
clutches  of  the  endowment  orders,  for  so  far  as  sucking 
the  life-blood  out  of  legitimate  trade  is  concerned  they 
are  even  worse  than  the  saloon,  for  unlike  that  they 
take  the  money  of  the  sober  and  industrious  instead  of 
the  vicious  and  improvident  classes."  The  Springfield 
(Mass.)  Republican^  of  such  orders,  says:  "The  effect 
on  the  town  is  very  much  what  the  effect  would  be  of 
a  yearly  investment  of  thousands  of  dollars  by  citizens 
in  the  Louisiana  lottery  wheel  at  New  Orleans." 

And  these  lodges  are  a  vast  octopus  absorbing  the 
hard  earnings  of  thousands  whose  cash  should  go  to 
pay  the  merchant,  miller,  grocer,  gardner,  printer, 
teacher  and  minister.  Store  bills  unpaid,  mortgages 
over  due,  insufticient  food  and  clothing  are  as  nothing 
that  the  head  of  the  household  may  hold  high  carnival 
once  or  a  half  dozen  times  a  week,  with  questionable 
associates  and  boon  companions.     Yet  many  so-called 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  183 

reform  papers  are  patting  these  humbugs  on  the  back 
and  feeding  them  taffy.  Dr.  David  C.  Kelly,  Prohi- 
bition candidate  for  Governor  of  Tennessee,  as  reported 
in  the  Chattanooga  Times:  "I  am  irreconcilably  op- 
posed to  any  oath-bound,  secret,  star-chamber  organi- 
zation, such  as  the  Farmers'  Alliance  acknov^ledges 
itself  to  be,  coming  into  control  of  the  affairs  of  this 
state.  Any  organization  that  excludes  from  member- 
ship, or  from  any  knov^ledge  of  its  internal  affairs,  a 
large  portion  of  the  best  citizens  of  this  state,  has  no 
right  to  demand  that  it  be  intrusted  with  the  govern- 
ment of  those  citizens.  The  affairs  of  government 
and  the  motives  and  principles  that  are  the  mainspring 
behind  them,  should  be  open  and  above  board,  free  to 
the  inspection  of  every  body." 

Follow^ing  close  on  the  heels  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Carra- 
dine's  pow^erful  sermon  against  Christless  Masonry  and 
other  oath-bound  lodgery,  before  an  immense  audience 
in  the  Centenary  M.  E.  church  of  St.  Louis,  comes  an 
open  letter  from  the  Mayor  of  that  great  city  hitting 
political  lodgery  a  heavy  blow  right  between  the  eyes. 
In  it  he  says:  ''I  have  an  absolute  contempt  for  polit- 
ical secret  societies  and  for  the  men  that  join  them.  I 
think  that  the  oaths  that  the  pirates  of  old  took  to  stand 
by  each  other  in  the  scuttling  of  ships,  the  pilfering  of 
property  and  the  taking  of  lives  were  highly  respected 
compared  with  oaths  taken  for  secret  political  pur- 
poses." The  letter  in  full  as  printed  in  the  dailies  is 
one  of  the  hardest  shots  at  political  lodgery  that  has 
appeared  lately,  and  it  is  fired  at  city  lodgery,  and  not 
at  the   unfortunate  handicapped   lodge  Alliance.     The 


184  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

action  of  rural  lodgery  and  its  success  has  emboldened 
the  Masonic  wire-workers  in  the  cities,  and  the  end  is 
not  yet. 

Lodge  and  labor:  If  there  is  any  element  in  the 
United  States  to-day  more  dangerous  than  another  it  is 
oath-bound  lodgery.  The  whole  system  is  intensely 
anti-Christian  and  anti-Republican.  All  such  affilia- 
tions are  absolutely  forbidden  by  the  word  of  God,  and 
are  antagonistic  to  every  principle  of  freedom  and  pop- 
ular government.  Every  Ipdgeman  is  out  of  harmony 
with  American  doctrines  and  institutions,  laws  and  reg- 
ulations. The  unlawful  oaths  and  obligations  of  a 
secret,  dark-lantern  fraternity  destroys  personal  inde- 
pendence and  individual  manhood.  The  latest  and 
most  treacherous  move  originated  and  manipulated  by 
Masonry  and  Odd-fellowship,  is  hoodwinking  and  en- 
slaving many  farmers  and  workingmen.  The  Alli- 
ance and  the  Farmers'  and  Laborers'  Union,  is  only 
the  Masonic  Odd-fellow  cat's  paw  to  rake  the  political 
chestnuts  out  of  the  fire.  At  one  bound  the  lodge 
question  outstrips  all  others  and  stands  unmasked  be- 
fore the  American  people.  Already  the  grip  and  sign 
hold  conventions,  candidates,  parties  and  legislatures 
in  obeyance.  The  farmers  are  only  the  tools,  and  we 
must  go  into  higher  lodgery  to  find  the  plans  and  de- 
signs, and  see  the  end  from  the  beginning.  What  do 
Masons  and  Odd-fellows  care  how  bad  the  innocent 
farmer  is  singed,  or  for  the  dire  reaction  that  must 
inevitably  fall  on  the  head  of  the  misguided  producer 
and  toiler.  If  there  ever  was  a  time  when  every  true 
American  should  throw  his  very  soul  into  the  agitation 


THE    POOR    man's    BIBLE.  185 

it  is  now.  We  are  on  the  threshold  of  a  campaign 
that  may  well  appall  the  stoutest  heart.  The  lodge  is 
massing  its  forces  for  a  gigantic  struggle.  Church  ai)d 
state  were  never  in  greater  need  of  trusty  level-headed 
men  and  women  than  now.  Thousands  of  citizens 
would  flee  from  oath-bound  lodgery,as  from  the  deadly 
pestilence  did  they  know  the  nature  of  the  serpent  they 
are  taking  into  their  bosoms  and  warming  into  life. 

Joseph  Cook,  the  greatest  lecturer  perhaps  of  our 
nation  avers:  "Secret  societies  in  the  field  of  politics 
and  labor,  in  a  Republic  like  ours,  are  unnecessary  and 
perilous."  *'I  do  abhor  the  selfish,  clannish  spirit  of 
secret  societies." 


CHAPTER  XI. 


ALL-ROUND  REFORMERS. 


NOT  ONE  EVIL  BUT  A  COMBINATION. — AWAY  WITH 
THE  COMBINATION. — PUT  YOURSELF  ON  RECORD. — 
FORWARD,  march! 

That  "every  man  has  his  price,"  is  a  favorite  lodge 
axiom.  A  lodge  obligation,  grip  and  sign  makes  it 
possible  and  safe  to  approach  and  bribe  or  intimidate 
its  members  who  are  legislators,  judges,  sheriffs,  jurors 
and  witnesses.  In  joining  any  lodge  the  novitiate  be- 
comes a  damaged  article.  Piety,  patriotism  and  per- 
sonal independence  are  bartered  for  studied  deception, 
double  dealing  and  unmanly  associations.  Once  in  the 
lodge  he  will  bear  watching.  Pity  the  outsider  who 
trusts  him  in  friendship,  in  business  or  in  politics.  If 
you  do  not  want  to  defend  your  property  titles  years 
hence,  don't  employ  lodge  men.  If  you  don't  want  to 
be  fleeced  in  open  court,  don't  trust  lodge  men.  If  you 
don't  want  to  be  sold  out  politically  at  the  last  moment, 
then  don't  follow  lodge  leadership.  That  every  man 
has  his  price,  is  a  slander  on  the  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  non-lodge  men,  honest,  sincere,  incorruptible  men, 
men  of  principle,  and  sterling  integrity.  Some  non- 
lodge  men  might,  perchance,  be  bought  and  sold,  but 
every  lodge  man  stands  before  the  public  in  a  compro- 
mised position,  and  may  well  be  suspected  and  con- 
stantly watched.  If  there  is  a  crime  abhorred  by  all 
civilized,  christianized  people,  next  to  cold-blooded  mur- 
der, that  crime  is  grave  robbery.  Where  do  the 
Knights  Templars,  Freemasons,  Odd-fellows,  and  other 
lodges  that  use  them,  get  their  human  skulls  and  skele- 

186 


ALL-ROUND  REFORMERS.  187 

tons?  How  many  loved  ones  of  families  of  non-lodge- 
men  have  been  torn  from  their  graves  to  serve  as 
ghastly  furniture  for  lodge  buffoonery?  To  suppress 
such  inhuman  ghoulishness  is  work  for  the  strong  arm 
of  the  law.  See  the  Chicago  Legal  News^ — "Some 
societies  even  use  the  skeletons  of  the  dead  to  terrify 
the  living.  The  skeleton  of  one  of  the  sons  of  John 
Brown,  w^ho  lost  his  life  at  Harper's  Ferry,  was  used 
by  the  Knights  of  Pythias  in  Indiana  to  bring  candi- 
dates to  a  realizing  sense  of  their  danger  if  they  re- 
vealed the  secrets  of  the  order.  Several  ribs  of  the 
skeleton  were  broken  in  the  ghastly  encounters  with 
candidates.  The  skeleton  was  rescued  from  the  gallant 
Knights,  and  taken  by  Mrs.  John  Brown,  and  his 
brother,  and  buried  by  the  side  of  his  father. — J.  B.  B." 
If  there  are  honorable  men  in  lodgery,  they  are  such 
in  spite  of  their  training  and  surroundings,  are  untrue 
to  the  lodge  and  should  set  themselves  right  before  the 
people  by  renouncing  and  denouncing  it,  and  that 
speedily.  Every  hour  they  remain  nominal  members 
is  damaging  their  reputation  and  endangering  their 
good  character  in  the  eyes  of  intelligent,  reading  peo- 
ple. It  will  be  little  comfort  to  their  families  and 
friends  to  see  them  driven  from  such  dishonorable 
affiliation  by  popular  sentiment.  It  is  eminently  more 
credible  to  leave  now.  By  so  doing  and  taking  an 
active  stand,  as  many  seceders  are  doing,  they  may,  to 
a  large  extent  at  least,  redeem  their  personal  responsi- 
bility to  their  fellow  men,  their  country  and  their  God. 
Neglect  it  and  the  opportunity  will  soon  be  gone  for- 
ever.    For  the  growth  of  sentiment  against  the  lodge 


l8S  THE   AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

is  phenomenal.  The  nation  needs  their  services  now. 
And  in  seceding  they  place  themselves  where  they  can 
do  effective  work  for  the  great  moral  and  social  reforms 
now  pending.  May  God  give  them  grit  and  grace  for 
the  hour  and  occasion. 

Wise,  indeed,  is  the  American  who  studies  the  trend 
of  public  sentiment  for  better  or  worse,  on  the  great 
questions  of  the  day.  It  tells  the  public  spirited  citi- 
zen where  to  put  his  effort  and  influence  to  accomplish 
most  for  the  present  and  future  good  of  our  great  free 
commonwealth.  The  successful  student  must  go  be- 
neath the  surface  and  examine  underlying  principles 
and  unseen  forces,  often  far-reaching  and  powerful* 
The  emotional  and  casual,  or  superficial  observer,  is 
often  misled.  The  demagogue  sees  only  one  question 
and  one  side  of  the  question  at  a  time.  The  statesman 
sees  all  sides  of  every  question,  and  his  comprehensive 
knowledge  and  broad  views  enable  him  to  determine 
unerringly  the  real  from  the  apparent  issue.  Small 
minds  cannot  grasp  and  weigh  great  questions.  Stu- 
pendous themes  and  tremendous  issues  call  out  the 
giant  intellects  and  best  talent  of  a  nation.  It  was  so 
during  the  slavery  struggle.  The  careless  multitudes 
failed  to  comprehend  the  height  and  depth,  width  and 
breadth  of  that  appalling  evil.  They  saw  only  the 
popular,  superficial  movements  soon  to  be  swallowed 
up  and  lost  in  the  one  great  problem.  As  in  the  slav- 
ery agitation  other  questions  were  persistently  pushed 
to  the  front  to  postpone  the  inevitable,  so  in  this.  But 
no  power  can  stay  the  oncoming  tide.  A  momentary 
check  onlv  swells  the  volume  of  waters    that   override 


ALL-ROUND  REFORMERS.  189 

all  obstacles.  God  and  the  angels  in  heaven,  Satan 
and  his  sable  minions,  good  men  and  bad  men  (the 
whole  moral  universe),  are  intensely  interested  in  this 
last  great  battle  between  light  and  darkness,  liberty 
and  slavery,  right  and  wrong.  And  after  years  of 
acquaintance  and  association  with  all  kinds  of  reformers 
it  must  be  conceded  that  antisecretists,  as  a  rule,  are  a 
well-posted,  thorough-going,  broad-minded  class  of 
people.  They  are  constant  readers,  conscientious  Bible 
students,  close  observers,  deep  thinkers  and  intensely 
patriotic.  They  are  deeply  interested  in  all  moral, 
economic  and  political  themes.  If  you  doubt  it,  glance 
at  the  names  through  this  book.  What  a  grand  array 
of  talent,  ability  and  influence! — statesmen,  jurists, 
journalists,  scholars,  evangelists  and  theologians — first 
and  foremost  in  the  nation.  It  is  not  one  evil  afflicting 
this  Republic,  but  a  combination  of  evils,  and  the 
American  Movement  is  after  the  combination.  None 
of  the  great  questions  occupying  the  attention  of  the 
country  should  be  overlooked.  Space  will  allow  a 
mention  of  only  a  few  in  this  connection. 

It  is  not  less  foreign  protection  that  is  needed,  but 
vastly  more  home  protection.  It  is  little  protection  to 
plead  tariff  year  in  and  year  out  while  foreigners, 
working  at  starvation  wages,  are  crowding  American 
operatives  from  these  long  protected  factories.  The 
money  matter  is  an  important  one.  The  circulating 
medium  is  the  life-blood  of  trade  and  commerce.  The 
currency  should  be  an  pie  and  sound.  Will  the  sub- 
treasury  scheme  cure  the  national  bank  evil?  Are  we 
to  have  a  landed  aristocracy  in  America?     Should   not 


190  THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

the  public  domain  go  to  actual  settlers  rather  than  to 
capitalists  and  corporations?  Are  the  mechanics  and 
corporation  employes  to  have  eight  hours,  while  the 
farm  hand  and  farmers  must  toil  twelve  to  sixteen 
hours  a  day?  Should  not  United  States  Senators  be 
elected  by  a  direct  vote  of  the  people?  Is  our  grand 
and  beneficent  public  school  system  to  be  assailed  and 
destroyed  by  an  arrogant,  dictatorial  hierarchy,  whose 
stock  in  trade  in  all  ages  has  been  ignorance  and  super- 
stition? Should  the  confessed  enemies  of  the  public 
school  be  allowed  to  preside  over  American  children, 
or  draw  public  pay  ?  Will  reformers  gain  power  by 
fighting  one  evil  and  affiHating  another?  Should  they 
go  down  into  Egypt  for  help?  Is  it  not  better  to  take 
the  right  side  of  all  vital  issues? 

Equal  suffrage  is  another  question  that  is  surely  com- 
ing to  the  front.  No  class  of  men  fear  this  matter 
more  than  the  liquor  venders.  The  great  temperance 
crusade  that  comes  rolling  higher  and  higher,  sweeping 
over  the  moral  and  political  ocean,  was  originated  and 
is  largely  promulgated  by  the  noble  women  of  the 
lantl.  As  it  gains  momentum  time-serving  politicians 
quake  and  tremble.  Curses  loud  and  long  go  up  from 
the  bar-rooms  and  grog  shops,  against  the  brave  mothers 
who  would  protect  their  noble  sons  from  the  curse  of 
rum.  Whether  female  suffrage  is  exactly  the  proper 
thing  or  not,  may  be  agitating  the  minds  of  some  old 
time  thinkers,  but  that  the  movement  will  finally  pre- 
vail is  foreshadowed  by  many  points  of  law  and  usages 
of  society  that  will  eventually  solve  the  problem  and 
bring  it  about.     The    times  are    changing:     "Twenty 


ALL-ROUND  REFORMERS.  I9I 

years  ago  women  could  not  vote  anywhere.  To-day 
they  have  full  suffrage  in  Washington  and  Wyo- 
ming; municipal  suffrage  in  Kansas;  municipal  suf- 
frage (single  women  and  widows)  in  England,  Scot- 
land, Ontario  and  Nova  Scotia.  In  Croatia,  Iceland, 
Denmark,  Tasmania,  and  Madras  they  also  have  suf- 
rage.  Women  have  school  suffrage* in  fourteen  of 
the  United  States — New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, New  York,  New  Jersey,  Kansas,  Colo- 
rado, Nebraska,  Minnesota,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Mich- 
igan, Oregon,  and  Wisconsin.  In  Kansas  women 
are  eligible  to  any  municipal  office.  Wha-tever  our 
opinion,  it  is  well  enough  to  keep  informed  as  to  facts." 
The  names  of  Susan  B.  Anthony,  Elizabeth  Boynton 
Harbert,  Julia  Ward  Howe,  and  Mary  A.  Livermore, 
will  stand  out  on  the  pages  of  history  only  to  grow 
brighter  as  the  years  go  by.  Women  are  leading  in 
thought  and  action.  They  have  ruled  on  thrones;  they 
will  help  shape  Republics.  The  Civil  Rights  qnestion 
is  not  yet  settled  in  the  South  and  an  element  that  will 
not  count  my  vote  will  miscount  yours,  as  it  has  done 
in  the  North.  Foreign  pauperism  and  illiteracy  is 
flooding  our  shores.  Can  this  element  be  civilized? 
It  is  bringing  with  it  socialism,  anarchism  and  nihilism. 
Can  schools  be  multiplied  sufficient  to  enlighten  and 
Americanize?  Shall  we  continue  to  send  missionaries 
abroad  while  heathenism,  superstition  and  idolatry  are 
taking  our  own  land  and  country?  Shall  the  govern- 
ment take  hold  of  and  manipulate  the  telegraph  and 
railroads,  giving  us  minimum  rates  as  it  has  with  the 
postal  department,  thereby  increasing  travel  and  facili. 


192  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

tating  trade?  But  over  and  above  all  these  looms  up 
dark  and  black  the  Secret  Empire,  as  the  all-pervading, 
overshadow^ing  question  of  the  hour.  Upon  its  proper 
settlement  depends  the  adjustment  of  the  others.  The 
lodge  makes  the  same  heathen  distinction  against  wom- 
anhood as  does  Mohammedanism  and  Brigham  Young- 
ism.  Freemas(5nry  classes  woman  with  idiots,  cripples, 
atheists  and  negroes,  and  confines  the  licentiousness  of 
the  craft  to  the  non-female  relatives  of  Master  Masons. 
Here  is  a  ripe  field  for  the  social  purity  workers.  The 
Wo7nan*s  Voice^  Womari^s  Tribune^  U?iion  Signal^ 
Wo7nan*s  yournal^  and  other  like  papers  should  not 
overlook  this  serious  matter.  Progressive  thinkers 
hesitate  about  government  ownership  of  telegraph  and 
railroads  until  the  Civil  Service  is  purged  of  lodge 
favoritism  and  discrimination.  In  fact  vastly  more  cen- 
ters in  this  lodge  issue  than  could  be  epitomized  in  sev- 
eral such  volumes  as  this.  In  many  places  it  has  been 
difficult  to  buy  or  sell  without  the  "mark  of  the  beast". 
So  thoroughly  has  this  evil  permeated  the  political  and 
commercial  affairs,  that  intrigue  and  double-dealing 
have  been  at  a  premium.  The  lodge  that  can  cut  the 
Bible  in  two  and  replace  it  with  the  Koran,  would  burn 
that  blessed  volume  in  bonfires,  if  for  the  good  of  the 
order.  An  influence  that  will  threaten  my  life,  will 
take  yours,  if  you  get  in  its  way.  An  organization  that 
will  lock  churches,  halls  and  courthouses  against  all 
discussion  of  its  nefarious  principles  and  workings, 
would  not  hesitate  to  Morganize  its  enemies,  if  it  dared 
to.  A  fraternity  that  ignores  and  denies  a  world's 
Redeemer,  in  the  end  will   write  above  its  Christless 


ALL-ROUND  REFORMERS. 


193 


lodge,  "There  is  no  God,"  as  has  the  Masonic  Grand 
Orient  of  France,  The  picture  is  not  pleasant  to  look 
upon.  It  is  awful  reality;  enough  to  make  cowards 
trenible ;  sufficient  to  turn  men  and  women  of  princi- 
ple into  heroes  and  heroines,  as  the  world  never  saw. 
No  wonder  there  is  roll  call,  and  marshaling  of  right- 
eous forces  against  the  combined  hosts  of  evil.  The 
academies,  colleges  and  universities  unite  with  the  pul- 
pit in  molding  our  civilization,  and  many  of  the  lead- 
ing educators  are  already  on  record,  and  active  in  this 
great  crusade.  Powerful  journals  that  are  not  prepared 
to  enter  into  specific  discussion  of  the  several  secret 
orders  are  nevertheless  ready  to  push  the  sale  and  cir- 
culation of  so  valuable  a  documentary  publication  for 
the  public  good  alone.  For  a  dozen  years,  and  in  many 
states,  the  compiler  of  this  volume  has  fought  the  lodge 
system,  and  much  of  the  time  almost  single-handed 
and  unaided.  He  has  learned  that  the  people  in  the 
humbler  walks  of  life  carry  forward  all  great  reforms. 
They  are  the  light  of  the  world  and  the  salt  of  the 
earth.  As  a  rule  there  is  little  sympathy  for  struggling 
reforms,  or  pioneer  reformers  among  the  rich.  Patri- 
otism and  Christianity  are  ever  green  in  the  hearts  of 
the  toiling  millions,  and  it  is  they  who  are  to  rid  our 
land  of  this  worst  evil.  Some  hundreds  of  the  most 
wealthy,  influential  and  representative  people  in  the 
nation  have  been  written,  pressing  upon  their  notice 
the  claims  and  vast  importance  of  this  discussion. 
Many  of  them  are  patriots,  and  it  is  only  a  matter  of 
time  when  their  efforts  and  influence  will  be  for  the 
overthrow  of  oath-bound  lodgery.     However,  the  bur- 


194  'THE    AMERICAN    HAND-BOOK. 

den  of  all  reform  devolves  upon  the  humbler,  obscure 
citizens,  until  the  cause  is  fought  up  to  public  favor, 
then,  and  not  till  then,  will  any  considerable  help  come 
from  popular  and  wealthy  people.  Men  who  are  giv- 
ing their  thousands  to  carry  the  glad  tidings  to  be- 
nighted heathenism  in  some  far  off  clime,  shut  their 
eyes,  and  their  ears,  and  their  pocket-books  to  the  per- 
ishing human  souls  bowing  to  worshipful  masters, 
stocks,  stones  and  idols  all  about  and  around  them.  So 
it  has  been,  and  so  it  will  be  to  the  end  of  time.  Men 
love  to  have  their  charity  popular. 

The  lodges  are  running  full  blast,  night  and  day  dis- 
pensing their  paganism  and  disloyalty.  Men  give  their 
time  and  money  freely  and  lavishly  to  establish  this 
kingcraft  and  despotism  in  these  United  States.  What 
are  you  doing  to  save  our  holy  Christianity  and  defend 
our  free  government?  The  "American  Hand-book" 
has  an  individuality  of  its  own.  It  is  not  a  literary 
dissertation  or  an  elaborate  opinion.  The  movement 
already  had  an  ample  supply  of  that  character  of  read- 
ing. It  is  simply  a  collection  and  arrangement  of  facts 
and  important  truths  for  the  general  public.  Its  com- 
prehensiveness; its  convenience;  its  vast  value  for  ref- 
erence; and  the  fact  that  the  compiler  has  been  a  co- 
laborer  with  so  many  anti-lodge  speakers  and  writers, 
will  tend  to  make  it  useful  for  all  anti-secretists,  not 
only  to  circulate  on  their  various  fields,  but  to  mail 
direct  to  influential  people.  Its  cheapness,  single  copy 
by  mail  or  in  quantities,  meets  a  long-felt  want.  Lect- 
ures, conferences  and  conventions,  however  desirable, 
important  and  inuispensable,  aie  more  costly  and  reach 


ALI.-ROUND  REFORMERS.  I95 

comparatively  few  at  most,  so  that  the  great  multitudes 
must  necessarily  be  reached  by  the  cheapest  and  best 
possible  literature.  And  arranging  this  volume  es- 
pecially for  his  own  headquarters  and  field  work,  the 
writer  will  push  its  circulation,  believing  that  thereby 
he  can  enlighten  more  people  than  in  any  other  way. 
With  it  the  farmer,  the  mechanic,  the  day  laborer,  the 
business  man,  and  even  the  patriotic  washer-woman 
can  indoctrinate  a  community  or  change  the  views  of  a 
county  by  reaching  the  pastors,  nevrspapers,  educators, 
and  leading  citizens  direct  by  fast  mail  at  only  a  trivial 
cost.  And  once  more,  could  the  thousands  of  patriots 
and  better  citizens  realize  the  schemes  of  plunder  and 
outlawry  evolving  behind  tyled  doors,  there  would  be 
no  need  of  a  second  appeal  in  behalf  of  public  safety. 
If  you  are  not  a  public  speaker  or  a  ready  writer,  you 
can  at  least  write  your  check  to  spread  the  gospel  of 
good  government  and  patriotism  in  your  State  or 
neighborhood;  let  the  names  and  orders  come,  and  let 
them  come.  In  your  orders  do  not  forget  the  young 
people.     The  youth  are  the  hope  of  the  land. 

"No  reform  can  ever  succeed  if  it  does  not  appeal  to 
the  interest  and  enthusiasm  of  the  young.  Push  the 
young  men  up  to  the  front.  Put  them  in  places  of 
responsibility  and  trust.  Young  men  with  warm  blood 
in  their  veins,  and  with  brains  and  hearts  are  plenty. 
They  have  none  of  the  doubt  and  hesitancy  and  mis- 
givings of  age.  They  are  not  afraid  of  the  new. 
They  take  naturally  to  innovations.  It  is  time  for  'the 
boys'  to  be  up  and  doing.  We  want  to  hear  from 
them". — Milton  i^IlL)  Beacon. 


196  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

Wm.  Lloyd  Garrison,  president  of  the  Single  Tax 
League,  Boston,  and  a  son  of  the  noted  Abolitionist, 
has  fired  a  bombshell  into  Harvard  College,  against  the 
secret  college  fraternities,  that  echoes  to  all  the  educa- 
tional centers  in  America,  and  precipitates  the  discus- 
sion of  the  crymg  evil.  Pres.  C.  A.  Blanchard,  of 
Wheaton  (111.)  College,  who  so  ably  discussed  the  evils 
of  secretism  before  the  students  of  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity at  Evanston,  the  leading  M.  E.  school  of  the 
country,  on  the  unanimous  invitation  of  the  faculty  of 
Union  Park  Congregational  Theological  Seminary, 
Chicago,  addressed  the  students  of  that  influential 
institution  on  the  lodge  curse.  The  expulsion  of  twenty- 
nine  students  of  Heidelberg  University  for  joining  a 
college  secret  order,  and  many  current  omens  indicate 
that  higher  American  education  is  to  be  purged  of  this 
unmanly  un  republican  element. 

It  is  very  desirable  to  reach  and  interest  young  men 
and  women  who  have  taken  upon  them  the  vows  of  ^ 
Christian  life  before  the  god  of  this  world  has  blinded 
their  eyes,  and  the  Christless  lodge  blunted  their  dis- 
cernmtiit  and  religious  sensibility.  The  lodge  is  ever 
active  in  ensnaring  and  leading  astray  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  Christian  parents.  The  only  safety  is  to 
enlist  the  young  people  in  active  aggressive  reform 
work.  Armed  with  the  sword  of  the  spirit  and  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  Masonic  system  any  true  dis- 
ciple of  Christianity  may  conduct  an  intelligent  and 
effective  campaign  against  the  powers  of  darkness. 
The  true  church  does  not  recruit  its  ranks  from  the 
saloon    element,  loafers  and    gamblers,  but    from    that 


ALL-ROUND   REFORMERS. 


197 


better  class  of  young  men,  whose  time,  money  and 
attention  the  lodges  are  trying  so  hard  to  absorb  in  lieu 
of  the  older  men  who  are  dropping  out  by  thousands. 
Active  affiliation  with  lodgery  destroys  all  inclination 
for  church  attendance,  is  incompatible  with  true  piety, 
and  totally  unfits  men  for  patriotic  citizenship.  Here 
is  the  enemy  that  is  filling  the  church  pews  and  prayer- 
meetings  with  women  and  grey  beards,  and  here  the 
great  battle  is  to  be  fought  between  Christ  and  the 
world.  Rev.  Wm.  Davis,  Chelsea,  Mass.,  and  H.  L. 
Hastings,  47  Cornhill,  Boston,  editor  of  the  Christian^ 
are  stalwart  Am-ericans,  who  were  jailed,  not  during 
the  days  of  Cotton  Mather,  but  recently,  for  preaching 
against  priestism  and  secret  iniquity  on  Boston  Com- 
mon. Mrs.  H.  L.  Hastings  reports:  "A  young  man 
came  into  our  mission  in  Chelsea  who  w^as  an  Odd-fellow. 
He  neglected  his  lodge  to  attend  our  meetings.  They 
took  him  to  task  about  it,  using  very  severe  language.  Last 
evening  he  told  us  he  was  convinced  it  was  a  sin;  that 
it  was  making  the  work  01:  the  chui'ches  null  and  void." 

Woman's  Voice^  Boston,  Mass.: — "The  anti-secret 
society  meetings  held  Friday  of  each  week  at  218  Co- 
lumbus avenue  are  proving  of  great  interest  and  benefit 
to  all  who  are  aiming  to  remove  hindrances  in  the  way 
of  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom.  Each  week 
a  paper  is  read  on  some  particular  phase  of  the  work." 

Illinois  State  Congregational  Association  convened 
in  Farmington,  Illinois:  "Any  organization  which  re- 
quires an  oath  or  pledge  to  conceal  its  proceedings  as  a 
condition  of  membership,  is  thereby  different  from  and 
opposed  to  a  church  of  Christ  and  a  republican  State." 


igS  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

Some  one  has  said:  "The  day  is  coming  when  the 
friends  and  relatives  of  dead  Masons,  to  protect  the 
departed  from  merited  criticism  and  disgrace,  will  hire 
the  marble  cutter  to  go  through  the  city  cemetery  and 
the  country  graveyard  to  remove  the  pagan  emblems 
of  heathen  idolatry  from  the  tombstones  and  monu- 
ments of  those  who  while  living  bowed  to  vilest  des- 
potism and  sun-worship.  The  cheeks  of  the  children 
and  grandchildren  of  Freemasons  will  yet  tingle  with 
shame  and  deepest  regret  that  he  who  should  have 
been  a  patriot  and  Christian,  should  have  lived  a  cring- 
ing slave  and  died  a  pagan.  How  much  more  manly 
to  secede  now  and  join  the  ranks  of  progress  than  to 
leave  that  heritage  of  dishonor  to  the  gaze  of  civiliza- 
tion. The  three  links  and  other  heathen  emblems  will 
bear  the  same  testimony  of  shame." 

Reader,  this  is  no  time  for  glittering  political  gener- 
alities or  theologiv,«l  hair-splitting.  Even  the  timid 
can  beat  up  volunteers  and  send  them  forward.  Push 
the  new  recruits  to  the  front  and  the  "old  guard"  will 
show  them  how  to  do  battle  for  Christianity  and  popu- 
lar government.  There  is  power  in  co-operation. 
There  is  something  in  human  nature  that  demands 
affiliation  and  association.  Evil  elements  combine  and 
increase  their  power,  and  the  good  must  unite  or  perish 
one  by  one.  When  the  Saviour  sent  out  his  disciples, 
he  sent  them  two  by  two.  The  Bible  for  it,  "One 
shall  chase  a  thousand,  and  two  shall  put  ten  thousand 
to  flight."  Every  new  soldier  for  God  and  righteous- 
ness means  that  nine  thousand  of  the  enemy  are  to  sound 
retreat.     There  is  no  particular  credit   for  able-bodied 


ALL-ROUND  REFORMERS.  I99 

men,  at  the  rear,  in  a  fight  like  this.  And  while  we 
despise  and  loathe  the  strut,  fuss,  feathers  and  gew- 
gaws of  rings,  cabals  and  little  narrow  contracted 
clans,  yet  we  do  believe  in  patriotic  demonstration  and 
display.  There  must  be  no  selfishness  or  local  senti- 
ment about  it.  It  should  appeal  alone  to  the  love  of 
God,  of  our  glorious  country,  and  that  recognizes  every 
son  and  daughter  of  the  republic.  The  man  who  goes 
on  the  plan  of  "O  Lord,  bless  me  and  my  wife,  my 
son  John  and  his  wife,  us  four,  and  no  more,"  may 
wear  a  family  badge  or  sport  the  regalia  of  a  little 
neighborhood  ring  and  parade  his  miserable  selfishness 
before  the  world;  but  we,  as  Americans,  should  step 
out  on  that  broader  platform  that  recognizes  every 
patriot  man  and  woman,  and  that  tolerates  nothing  in 
the  way  of  insignia  the  significance  of  which  is  not 
broad  as  the  nation.  Let  us  speak  to  the  world  by 
wearing  a  miniature  United  States  flag.  There  is 
nothing  but  Americanism  represented  in  that  emblem. 
It  is  an  ensign  of  liberty.  Under  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
Americans  have  fought,  bled  and  died  for  civil  free- 
dom. It  is  necessary  that  every  one  show  his  colors 
and  every  flag  worn  would  show  to  the  public,  there  is 
an  American.  Let  our  trestle-board  be  the  Holy  Bible 
and  the  American  Constitution;  our  motto  "In  God  we 
trust;"  our  watch-word  "fi"  Plurihus  Unum"^^  and  our 
insignia  a  miniature  United  States  flag  made  of  metal 
and  enameled  red,  white  and  blue,  to  be  worn  on  the 
lupel  of  a  gentleman's  coat  or  on  a  lady's  shoulder. 
Truth  is  the  invincible  power  that  goes  forth  to  con- 
quer or  to  die'     Truth  never  dies;  God  is  fighting   the 


200  THE  AMERICAN  HAND-BOOK. 

battle  and  the  tide  of  secret  despotism  hears  the  voice 
that  once  thundered  from  Mount  Sinai — the  voice  of 
Him  w^hom  the  winds,  the  waves,  and  the  storms  obey. 

* 'Behold  the  sea  brine  leaping 

High  in  the  murky  air; 
List  to  the  tempest  sweeping 

In  chainless  fury  there. 

What  moves  the  mighty  torrent, 

And  bids  it  flow  abroad? 
Or  TURNS  the  rapid  current? 

What,  but  the  voice  of  God." 

THE  END. 

INDEX  TO  CHAPTERS. 

i.        Bible  and  Secretism , 1 

II.  Masonic  Religion 12 

III.  Masonic  Sun  Worship 27 

IV.  Masonic  Government 41 

V.  Unwritten  History 6^ 

VI.  Grand  Lodge  Masonry 77 

VII.  Public  Opinion  and  Signs  of  the  Times 95 

VIII.  Lodge  and  Saloon 125 

IX.  The  American  Movement,  Real  Prohibition 146 

X.  Poor  Man 's  Bible 1 59 

XI.  All-Round  Reformers 186 


THE  NATIONAL  UNION  AND  AMERICAN 

FEDERATION  OF  VOLUNTEER 

WORKERS 

Will  lead  an  army  of  willing  workers^  men,  women 
and  children.  Any  person  assisting  in  spreading  the 
light  and  truth  by  contributions,  or  by  ordering  extra 
literature,  will  be  enrolled. 

SUGGESTIVE  AND  ADVISORY. 

Let  us  hold  public  assemblies,  picnics  and  celebra- 
tions; unfurl  the  United  States  flag,  banners  and  mot- 
toes; adopt  an  appropriate  digest  of  principles  and  doc- 
trine, expressing  lofty  sentiment  and  patriotism;  ar- 
range songs,  speeches  and  orations,  embodying  the  gist 
of  the  Federal  Constitution  with  an  emphasis  on  vari- 
ous sections,  and  weaving  in  the  finest  thoughts  of 
men  first  and  foremost  in  American  statesmanship  and 
jurisprudence.  In  a  word,  educate  the  people  to  a 
higher,  nobler,  grander  citizenship;  every  star,  stripe 
and  streamer  to  express  loyalty  and  equality;  every 
word,  line  and  sentence  to  ring  with  freedom  and  lib- 
erty; no  caste,  sectionalism  or  privileged  classes:  but 
equal  rights,  privileges,  duties  and  protection  to  all. 
No  organized  cabals,  neighborhood  rings,  oppressive 
trusts  or  corporate  monopolies.  A  working  platform 
broad  as  the  American  Constitution  and  Christianity 
itself.  Free  thought,  free  speech  and  a  free  press. 
Liberty  under  righteous  laws.  Thorough  investiga- 
tion, examination  and  discussion  of  all  elements,  organ- 
izations and  combinations  operating  socially,  religiously 
and  politically; and  especially  all  concerns  that  shun  the 
public  gaze  and  conspire  behind  tyled  doors  and  blinded 
windows  should  be  subjected  to  the  most  rigid  exami- 
nation and  criticism.  They  breed  jealousy,  distrust  and 
disturbance ;  they  are  the  bulwark  and  support  of  the 
giant  evils  of  the  day;  their  ripest  fruits  are  boycotts, 
riots,  strikes   and    mobs;  the  legitimate   outgrowth   of 

20I 


202  NATIONAL  UNION. 

their  despotic  philosophy,  vicious  jurisprudence  and 
questionable  makeup  is  Clan-na-Gaelism,  Bald  Knob- 
ism,  White  Capism,  Anarchism,  and  Mormonism. 
They  are  un-American,  dangerous  and  entirely  out  of 
place  in  a  Republic.  Their  charters  should  be  revoked, 
their  clandestine  gatherings  forbidden,  and  their  oaths 
and  obligations  prohibited  by  law.  Their  kingcraft 
and  priestcraft,  pagan  ceremonies  and  practical  work- 
ings are  a  continual  menace  to  Christianity  and  popu- 
lar government:  Therefore,  our  first,  last  and  continu- 
ous endeavor  will  be  to  withstand  and  remove  these 
dark  conspiracies.  To  this  end  we  cordially  invite  the 
aid  and  co-operation  of  all  true  Americans  and  Bible 
Christians. 

The  object  of  this  department  is  to  systematize  and 
plan  work  to  accomplish  the  most  in  arousing  public 
opinion,  searching  out  and  listing  friends,  directing  agi- 
tation in  new  channels,  and  in  every  way  possible  push 
forward  the  movement.  It  is  altogether  volunteer,  and 
is  designed  to  bring  all  Americans,  without  regard  to 
age,  sex,  party,  or  church  affiliations,  closer  together  as 
compatriots  for  the  defense  of  our  holy  Christianity 
and  free  government. 

All  can  work  together,  but  each  in  his  or  her  partic- 
ular way.  Some  are  religious  workers;  others  find  it 
to  their  liking  to  meet  the  lodge  in  politics.  All  can 
find  ample  means  and  opportunity  to  grapple  with  this 
most  dangerous  foe.  Governed  by  circumstances  and 
local  relations  they  can  keep  the  question  prominently 
before  the  people.  At  the  same  time  through  the 
Union  they  can  keep  in  touch  with  the  great  company 
of  fellow-American  laborers.  The  volunteer  plan 
covers  every  line  of  this  reform,  and  will  conduct  an 
all-round  continual  campaign.  Much  has  been  done 
through  this  agency,  and  a  ghince  at  the  membership 
list  shows  the  names  of  the  leading  anti-secretists  of 
the  land.     This  happy  plan  of  every  one  working  his 


NATIONAL  UNION.  203 

or  her  own  community,  county  and  state,  is  proving 
eminently  satisfactory  and  effective.  Knowing  the 
parties  to  be  reached  gives  the  most  favorable  hearing, 
and  makes  your  local  efforts  count.  All  patriots  and 
true  Bible  believers  bid  us  a  hearty  God-speed,  and 
thousands  w^ill  count  it  a  duty  as  well  as  pleasure  to 
give  material  aid  to  this  undertaking,  so  auspiciously 
inaugurated.  Many  can  also  contribute  to  the  general 
fund  for  literature  for  free  distribution.  No  man  in 
America  will  print  and  mail  it  cheaper  than  the  general 
supermcendent.  He  has  a  roster  of  thousands  of  well 
selected  names  of  leading  people  everywhere  who 
should  be  reading.  Means  should  be  forthcoming,  and 
at  once,  to  reach  them.  The  amount  sent  out  will  de- 
pend largely  on  the  liberality  and  generosity  of  those 
who  are  able  and  willing.  Pledges  and  orders  are 
wanted,  not  to  pay  some  one  a  big  salary,  but  for  lit- 
erature to  be  mailed  direct  as  ordered,  no  idle  funds, 
but  every  penny  placed  to  the  best  possible  advantage 
by  the  contributor  himself.  It  is  thought  best  to  sys- 
tematize our  effort,  giving  one,  five,  or  ten  dollars,  as 
circumstances  will  allow  or  ability  permit.  It  is  im- 
portant that  we  have  your  order  at  once,  though  you 
can  send  in  the  cash  and  names  for  literature  as  you 
may  desire.  In  every  place  are  ministers  and  Chris- 
tian workers  who  would  gladly  sell  and  circulate  the 
cheapest  and  best  possible  reading  if  they  were  stocked 
up.  Secure  and  superintend  placing  a  supply.  Every 
man  and  woman  should  devote  themselves  to  some 
righteous  and  needed  reform.  If  you  are  a  patriot 
ponder  this  matter,  if  you  are  a  Christian  pray  over  it, 
and  then  commensurate  with  your  patriotism  and  piety 
pledge,  and  govern  accordingly.  This  grand  work 
will  go  on,  and  you  cannot  afford,  as  a  loyal  American, 
to  lie  idle.  We  can  rely  on  the  old  guard,  and  there 
are  thousands  of  splendid  new  recruits  who  should 
move  to  the    front.     If  your   name  is  not  already  en- 


204  NATIONAL  UNION. 

rolled  on  our  list  as  a  volunteer  worker  with  us,  send  in 
an  order  and  it  will  be.  We  very  naturally  turn  first 
to  the  ministry,  and  reform  religious  press  for  co-oper- 
ation and  leadership;  then  to  the  secular  press  and  pub- 
lic spirited  citizens;  appealing  to  their  patriotism  and 
loyalty;  not  forgetting  the  meanwhile  to  keep  a  com- 
plete register  of  all  correspondence  for  reference  a  few 
years  hence  when  these  vile  orders  shall  have  become  a 
hiss  and  by-word  and  a  very  stench  in  the  nostrils  of  all 
good  citizens.  If  you  have  not  done  as  much  in  this 
grand  cause  as  you  should  have  done,  act  without  de- 
lay; or  if  aged  and  infirm,  don't  forget  the  great  work 
in  your  last  will  and  testament.  In  the  words  of  Hor- 
ace Mann:  "Be  ashamed  to  die  until  you  have  won 
some  victory  for  humanity."  Here  is  your  golden  oppor- 
tunity. Any  funds  left  in  trust  for  this  vokniteer  work 
will  be  faithfully  applied  as  you  may  direct,  and  in 
your  own  name. 

Now  is  the  time  to  identify  yourself  with  the  cause, 
and  we  bid  you  welcome,  thrice  welcome,  to  our  ranks. 
Address  all  pledges  and  orders  to  the  general  superin- 
tendent. Also  write  to  us  for  any  information  desired, 
in  our  line  of  investigation,  as  it  always  affords  us  sat- 
isfaction to  give  all  the  light  in  our  power  to  the  earn- 
est inquirer  after  knowledge.  We  want  workers  in 
every  school,  lyceum,  congregation,  and  company,  to 
the  remotest  hamlet,  to  conduct  an  active  campaign. 
And  now  we  leave  the  subject  with  you  trusting  that 
an  allwise,  overruling  Providence  will  lead,  guide  and 
direct  you.     Yours  for  right  and  light, 

M.  N.  Butler,  Gen'l  Sup't,  Avalon,  Mo. 


^     LOAN  DEPT. 

or  '^n^^J'.ltTo  S?,iS,%'eTe^Sf  '^r'^.'^"'-- 

Renewal.  ™ay  J^L^"  ^l"  "^"^  °"''= 

Renewed  "ooks'^  a"Mfbie«  S  "^''^'J?  ''»«  ""e. 

Te  suDject  to  immediate  recall. 


1972  3  4 


KC'DLD    DEC  2 072~:^rAMy¥ 


mzY^ 


LD2lA-50m-2  '7i 
(P2001810)476:1a32 


.  General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


I  D    uool;  / 


51TY  OF  QAtlFdRNlA  LIBRARY 


->^ 


/