National Reform Paper Condemns Secret Law and Order Societies
“Thou Condemnest Thyself.”—A certain National Reform paper, which includes in its reform program a commendable opposition to secret societies, makes an exception in matters pertaining to its own work. One of its associate editors, in giving instruction for introducing the “law and order work” of the “Christian citizenship” movement, seems to forget the anti-secretism doctrine of his journal. Here are a few of his utterances:— “The first step in meeting the perilous immoral conditions in the town is to call together in private a conference at your house or in the home of one thoroughly aroused, as many influential Christian men as can be persuaded to attend. . . . It is often possible at the first conference to organize a secret law and order society, appoint a committee to secure a trusty detective and to supervise his operations. . . . There are really advantages in the secret law and order society in a small town. It terrifies the law breaker, renders it possible to gather evidence by many unsuspected, and prevents destructive boycotting in business, which is greatly feared by good men in our towns. Even if many of the Christian citizens are willing to openly organize, it is an advantage to have an additional roll of those who will secretly do all they can for the good work.”