families.  We are not now blaming them for excluding from their associations and from “the benefits” disbursed by them, the blind, the lame, the diseased, and the very poor who have no means of support, though this feature of such associations does seem very repulsive.  We are not now condemning them for casting off all those who do not pay their “dues,” those who become very poor and can not as well as the rich who will not, and for cutting off all such persons from all “benefits of whatsoever kind,” though such treatment does seem to us selfish, cruel, and mean; we do not now arraign them for any of these things, however ungenerous, exclusive, and selfish they appear to us, but we do say that any association which thus practices, and professes, and calls itself a charitable one is a cheat and a sham.  Those secret societies which glorify themselves on account of their charities and universal brotherhood and benevolence, can be acquitted of willful deceit and falsehood only on the ground that they are blinded by prejudice or ignorance, or both.

The pretentious character of secret associations appears, also, in their claims to be the possessors and disseminators of knowledge and morality.  Their members seem to think a man can scarcely be good and intelligent without being “initiated.”  Webb delares [sic] “Masonry is a progressive science. * * Masonry includes within its circle almost every branch of polite learning.” (Monitor, p. 53.) “Masonry is not only the most ancient, but the most moral institution that ever subsisted.” (Monitor, p. 39.) Grosch, in his Manual, speaking of the shining sun as an emblem, says:  “So Odd-fellowship is dispersing the mists from the advancing member’s mind, and revealing things as they are; so, also, it is enlightening the world,” etc. (Manual, p. 120.) The extravagance find absurdity of these claims must be evident to every prejudicial mind.  It may be said, indeed, the above declarations express the opinions only of individuals, and that associations can not justly be charged with the errors of their members.  We maintain, however, that secret societies are responsible for the vain boasting of their members.  They claim that their members are a chosen board, a select few, who, by virtue of their association, are superior to the rest of mankind.  Their processions and parades, their regalia and emblems, and their high-sounding titles are evidently designed to impress the minds of their own members and of outsiders with ideas of their excellence and grandeur.  Their high-sounding titles have already been adverted to as involving the sin of profaneness; but they serve equally well to illustrate the pretentious character of the associations which employ them.  Almost every officer among the Masons has some great title.  There is the Grand Tyler, Grand Steward, Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary, Grand Chaplain, and Grand Master.  The Lodge itself is grand, and, of course, every thing and every body connected with it are grand.  The treasurer, though his duty be merely to count and hold a little vile trash called money, is grand; almost every officer is a grand man.