" Secret " And " Oath-Bound."

" SECRET " AND " OATH-BOUND . "

I HAVE been led to select these two words as the basis of a short article , from the fact that while they have been the subject of much discusssion , that discussion has not , as far as I am aware , led to any investigation of the philosophy of these principles and their actual relation to

the subject of organisation . In the discussions of these principles by those who regard them as evil , and only evil continually , they are , for the most part , construed as mere excrescences and deformities , easily removable by

knife or cautery , but for a silly infatuation upon the part of the patient which prevents their being submitted to tbe skill of the surgeon . As some amount of defect must accompany all 'human productions , it is by no means

a difficult task for almost any one to point out those imperfections and , by endless reiteration , to make them appear to be of great magnitude . Starting with the

assumption that at some time not specified , and in some way not shown , it has been demonstrated that " secret " and " oath-bonnd " are infallible indications of improper and immoral proceedings . " Wi' mair o' horrible and awful which e ' en to name wad

be unlawful , " the opposition have laid the foundation for a vast amount of declamation . Much of this cannot be called argument or reasoning ; for reasoning consists of a process much like the balancing of a book-keeper—finding

the true value of each side of the account , of both pages of the ledger , and thus determining the actual amount of excess or defect . A merchant , confining his attention to the Dr . side of his ledger might readily conclude tbat

he was a bankrupt ; a similar view of only tbe Cr . side might lead to the conclusion that he was a millionaire ; the proper method of investigation usually leads to the conclusion that his status is at neither extreme , but somewhere

intermediate between the two . While it is true that man is Lord of creation , this statement applies to him only in the maturity of his development ; when immature aud untrained , he is the most helpless of creatures , the most

dependent upon the kind offices of his fellows . This seems to have been purposely so designed by his Creator , in order to render organising almost an instinct of his nature . Man as a unit , or individual , accomplishes nothing , except

in the mental domain ; as a society , a cifcy , a nation , an empire , he produces all the grand results of ancient and modern civilisation . Voluntary organisation is tbe cement of the grand structure of modern civilisation , and a

substitute for the enforced co-operation of masses which produced the works of ancient days whose ruins have descended to our own times , awing us by their grandeur and exciting our wonder as to the means employed in their

construction . Their history is in all cases the same—tbat of the compelled co-operation of the serf in the plans of the despot . The pyramids of Egypt , the ruins of Nineveh , the public works of Greece and Rome all relate the same

story of subjugation and slavery . They were designed , not to promote the good of the subject , but to gratify the selfish ambition of the ruler . Modern civilisation , on the contrary , relies almost exclusively npon voluntary

cooperation , and in order to secure this among vast masses of people , dne attention must be paid to three cardinal fundamental principles , as follow : I . The proposed object must be for the general good ,

to t-ecure organisation . II . Tbe organisation must be oath-bound . III . The organisation must be secret , as fche organisation is to be held together , not by pressure from without , but

by the " voluntary consent of the governed ; that consent ; must be manifested by subscribing some oath , pledge , covenant , contract , vow or other obligation of fche same niture as an oath . All our voluntary associations are thus

held together , not those alone which are usually classed aa oa -lonnd . Our governments , courts , societies , churches , partnerships of all kinds , even down to our base ball clubs , are thus oath-bonnd , and the so-called " . secret " and "

oathbound" societies are just like all other societies in fche nature of the tie which binds them together . Even the first human institution designed by the Almighty , the marriage relation , is an oath-bound relationship entered

into with all the solemnities of an oath , with an appeal to the Almighty . Having thus held the philosophy of the oath-bound principle , we have indicated a course of argument that will apply with equal force fco secrecy , and show that secrecy is uot a distinguishing characteristic of two or

" Secret " And " Oath-Bound."

three societies , } but a fundamental principle of all organisations ; found in all , essential to all , aud therefore not evil

in their nature , but means that may be used for promoting the grandest results , as they are being used to-day and have been in all the ages past . —J . G . Corbin , in Masonic Visitor

A meeting of the Committee of the Board of Stewards for the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday afternoon . Bro . Robert Grey P . G . D . presided . The formal announcement was made that H . R . H . the

Prince of Wales M . W . G . M ., President of the Institution , had graciously consented to take the chair at the Festival , and had selected Thursday , the 7 th June nextthe day immediately following tho regular

Communication of United Grand Lodge—for the celebration . The Hall Committee laid their report before the Committee , and it was agreed that the Festival should

be held in the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington . We understand that the distribution of prizes will take place at the Royal Albert Hall , on the Monday preceding the Festival , viz ., the 4 th June .

The Logic Club.

THE LOGIC CLUB .

rpHE sixth annnal dinner of this Club , whioh is composed of L members of various Masonio Lodges , and is formed for the purpose of mutual instrnction in the ritual of Freemasonry , waa held on the 30 th nit ., in fche Victoria Room ; , Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly . The members of fche Club are for the mosfc also members of the musical or dramatic professions . The society has , moreover

done a good deal in fche way of contributing to Masonio Charities , to which it has already giren more than six hundred guineas , in tbe six years of its existence . The brethren present on this occasion numbered about 80 . Bro . J . Maclean , the Preceptor , occupied the chair , and among those present were fche Deputy Preceptor Bro . G . E .

Fairchild , Bros . H . Tinney Treasnrer , J . P . Fitzgerald 'Secretary , James Fornandez , F . J . Lonnen , F . J . Potter , A . Nagle , D Mostyn , R . P . Stephens , W . Thomas , F . Binckes , Glindon , Haycock , Dr . Lloyd , Manuel , W . Tinney , R . D . Cummings Treasurer of the Charity Association attached to the Clnb , and H . Conolly . During the

proceedings , which were pleasantly diversified by the performances of Bros . Tinney , Saunders , Fernandez ( who recited Mr . 6 . R . Sims ' s ' Level Crossing " ) and Lonnen , a presentation was made to Bro . Fairchild , of a iilver claret jug , on the part of the Club , in recognition of his services in connection with the Club and the adtninistra .

tion of its charitable funds . Bro . Fitzgerald , in responding to the toast of the Logic Club , said that it now numbered 146 members , of whom a large number had been elected dnring the present year . Other toasts followed .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BROTHER GEORGE PARRY . ON Thursday , 29 th ult ., the remains of the late Brother George Parry , solicitor , Pembroke Dock , were interred in the New Cemetery . The deceased , wbo was 80 years of age , had been in practice for many years in the town , and

was solicitor to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty . Brother Parry was one of the oldest Freemasons in the Western Division of South Wales , and always manifested a deep interest in all its concerns . He was P . M . of four

Lodges , and had twice held the office of S . G . W . of his Province . Out of respect for the deceased , a number of prevsent and past Masters of fche Lodges in the Province , as well as officers and members of the Loyal Welsh Lodge

( Pembroke Dock ) , met at the Lodge-room , Mey rick-street , and marched in procession to the late residence of the deceased in Princes-street , where the general procession formed and proceeded to the New Cemetery . There the

Church of England service was conducted by the Rev . Heber Thomas ( curate of Pembroke Dock ) , followed by the Rev . D . Bowen P . M . P . P . G . C . ( vicav of Monkton ,

Pembroke ) reading in an impressive manner the Masonic service . The brethren afterwards passed round the grave , into which each threw a sprig of rosemary , which concluded the ceremony .

Ad00604

FUNERALS properly carried out and . personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . Q . A . SUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .