CHRISTIANITY AND SECRET SOCIETIES.
By Editor
LET us say at the outset that we are not condemning the men, the persons, who belong to secret societies, not even the members of the Ku Klux Klan, or the Mafia. The case of each one rests with God. To the great Jehovah each one will have to give an account of himself, and no society or fraternal organization will be of any help in any way. The Judge will know, and He will render just sentence. What we wish to discuss is the principles of these societies and of Christianity. At the basis of these societies will be found one or more of these motives:— 1. They are organized for mutual protection. This doubtless was the origin of them in the ancient tribal days. 2. They were organized, not only for protection of members, but also for aggressive conflict. Better to secure this and to keep the secret plans for attack and defense, members were sworn to secrecy and known to each other only by certain signs. 3. They were organized for educational purposes in various heathen mysteries, known only to certain members of certain cults. 4. They are in later days organized for mutual helpfulness in the enlargement of the circle of friendship and acquaintance. 5. They are organized for somewhat the same purposes as insurance societies, to help members in time of accident and sickness, and their families in case of death. In all these it will be seen (1) that the motive is selfish, or (2) that it depends on lack of faith in God. 1. It is selfish, for each one joins his society, not that he may help others, but that he may himself get help. It is himself he wishes protected; it is his enemies he wants defeated; it is himself that he wishes benefited. The thought is wholly selfish and worldly. 2. Some will contend, however, that they do this for the sake of wife or children. But in this case they are trusting in men, not God. They are making flesh their arm. And, after all, if industry, economy, and wisdom were used throughout life, in the great majority of cases, one would save more than he would ever get from a secret society. Many men spend a competence in their societies with no more benefit, no more help, than the non-society man. Christianity is founded on no such principles. Consider the following:— 1. The Basic Motive.—Jesus Himself thus lays down the foundation motive of Christian character: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” And He emphasizes the thought by continuing: “For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake shall find it.” Matt. 16: 24, 25. This truth is often repeated. The self-denial of Christianity is the very opposite of the self-seeking of secret societies. 2. The Good of All.—Christianity seeks the good of all men. “As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men,” exhorts an apostle. Jesus declares that this spirit should be manifest even toward our enemies: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” You are not to do this for policy’s sake, hoping to receive profit on your investment, but “lend, hoping for nothing.” 3. Faith in God.—The Christian’s case is not hopeless. To serve God rightly is not unwise nor imprudent. Godliness has the promise of the life which now is and of that also which is to come. Let the Gentiles seek after and make their first thought the wealth, the clothing, the food of the world; Jesus says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The Bank of Heaven is a good place to invest. The counsel of Heaven is good advice to follow. Man may know that God will care for him and his if he is doing God’s work. This does not mean that man may throw away prudence, economy, thrift, diligence, or good common sense; but that he should use all these in the better service of God. From all of the blessings of faith secret societies almost invariably hide the soul. Worldly advantages promised by men hide from the immeasurably superior, vaster, eternal advantages promised of God, and which He wishes to build into an eternal character. Secret societies blind by leading the soul to believe that their codes of morals are equal to that of Christianity; and yet, these society “standards” are nearly always for the actions of members with respect to each other. For instance, the standard of virtue in one noted society demands that the members shall swear not to violate the chastity of a fellow member’s wife or daughter, knowing her to be such. Christianity demands and will give inherent virtue which will not violate the chastity of the wife and daughter of the veriest stranger or the bitterest enemy. 4. Christianity has no secrets which she withholds from a single soul. She has her secrets, her mysteries, so deep that the keenest scientist or profoundest philosopher can not discover by his own wisdom, yet so simple are they that a little child may know them. Harmony with God by faith in Jesus Christ opens their profoundest depths, and gives us blessed fellowship with God and His Son Jesus Christ. While a volume might be said, we wish to remark in conclusion that in Christianity is found every good thing in precept and promise and power that is found in any organization on earth. The glories of all worldly organizations are but imitations, or at best but borrowed, and sullied in the borrowing. We regret that the Master’s professed people have not been better witnesses of Christ. All this comes because they have not known Christ, in self-denial, in power. Measuring Christianity by a backslidden church, men have turned to societies of men, have hewed them out cisterns that never satisfy. God longs that they shall look beyond men to Christ Jesus, who offers all, who spake openly, and in secret said nothing; who had naught to hide, naught to cover, but who revealed all the fullness of good in Himself for every soul who would receive Him.