SECRET SOCIETIES by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 19, 1860

SECRET SOCIETIES.

By Editor

BRO. SMITH: Being in something of a quandary, and thinking perhaps it may be a question troublesome to some of the brethren scattered abroad, as well as myself, I thought it well, in order to come to the unity of the faith, to address you, and ask you, or some other brother, qualified to decide, through the Review, and learn what is duty in relation to it.

The case is this: I am a firm friend of the temperance reform movement, which I think every child of God should be, keenly feeling for the woes of his fellow-man, who is the victim of the withering curse of intemperance, and strive to stop by all fair and lawful means the works of those who labor under the curse of God, as recorded in Hab. ii, 15. "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that putteth the bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on his nakedness!"

During the winter past the friends started an organization of the Washingtonians, to which I felt it duty to give my name and influence. It has done a great deal of good; and a thrilling course of lectures recently given by Mr. Chance, the temperance lecturer, has thoroughly awakened the people on the subject, which they needed bad enough; but the difficulty is here: outside of their open organization, they have established an order of Good Templars, making it a test of temperance principle to join it.

Now, believing secret societies wrong in general, and contrary to the spirit of the gospel, which requires us to love, and seek the good of the universal brotherhood of man; let him be of whatever color, name or nation; not obliging the priest and Levite to return and take care of their fallen kinsman, because he is their kinsman, but because he is human, and needs their assistance—believing, I say, secret societies thus wrong in general, can a desirable end justify them in particular? They have strong arguments on the side of humanity, which would call forth one's aid and sympathy; but being a secret society, can it be duty to extend them the hand of fellowship? I sincerely believe they could do as well, if not better, by throwing open their doors, retaining their ritual and regalia, and working like good soldiers in the midst and very presence of the enemy; but so long as they will not do thus, what is one to do to "love God with all the heart, might, mind and strength, and his neighbor as himself," in this particular?

Yours in the love of God. H. F. BAKER.

Wauseon, Ohio.

We placed the above in the hands of Bro. Waggoner, upon which he has favored us with the following remarks:

As far as the question of principle is concerned, we think you have correctly answered the question you propose to us. We deny the right of any secret society to prescribe tests of temperance principle, or any other. On the contrary, the Christian is bound by principles of the highest order, to reject* their fellowship. Their basis of brotherhood is unscriptural. Matt. xii, 48-50. They do not give the evidence presented in scripture that they are doing works of truth. John iii, 19-21. Their titles, regalia (ensigns of royalty—Webster), &c., are foolish, unchristian, and anti-republican. That which is wrong in general cannot be justified in particular, for the supposed accomplishment of a desirable end. Rom. iii, 8 gives the doom of those who "do evil that good may come." Here is the Christian's test. "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet he is not crowned except he strive lawfully." 2 Tim. ii, 5.

Secret temperance societies, we verily believe, have been a detriment to the cause of temperance. He who labors on principle does not value them, while he who values such tinsel and vain ornaments with high-sounding titles will not long rest content with these societies, but will pass on to the Odd-fellows and Masons.

J. H. W.