of creed or worship; and discord and contention are forgotten in works of humanity and peace.” (Pp. 285, 286.) This declaration has reference, of course, to all the members of the associations—­believers in Christianity, Jews, Mohammedans, Indians, Hindoos, and infidels.  How do they manage to worship so lovingly together in the lodge-room?  Our author asserts that they “leave their prejudices at the door.”  Of course their forms of worship embody no “prejudices.”  The thing is managed in this way:  Whatever is peculiar to Judaism is excluded from the ritual and worship of Odd-fellows; whatever is peculiar to Hindooism is excluded; whatever is peculiar to Mohammedanism is excluded; whatever is peculiar to Christianity is excluded; whatever is peculiar to any form of religion is excluded.  Only so much as is held in common by Jews, Hindoos, Mohammedans, and Christians is allowed a place in the ritual and worship of Odd-fellows.  But how much is held in common by these various classes?  After every thing peculiar to each class has been thrown overboard, how much is left?  Nothing but deism or infidelity.  The only views held in common by the Jew, Mohammedan, Christian, and others are just those held by infidels.  The religion of Odd-fellowship is infidelity, and its prayers are infidel prayers.

Not only such are the prayers and religion of Masonry and Odd-fellowship, but such must be the religion and prayers of all associations organized on their principles.  The only way to welcome all of every creed, Jew, Mohammedan, Hindoo, etc., and make them feel at home in an association, is to exclude every thing offensive to the conscience or prejudices of any one of them.  And when every thing of that sort has been excluded, the residuum, in every case, as every one must see, will be deism or infidelity.  This is a serious matter.  Christians are not free from guilt in countenancing such prayers and services.  The tendency of such religious performances must be very injurious.  Whoever adopts the religious, or rather irreligious, spirit and principles of Masonry, Odd-fellowship, and other similar associations must discard Christianity and the Bible.  No doubt there are some, perhaps there are many Christians in connection with such associations, but they certainly do not and can not approve the Christless prayers of the lodge-room, much less join in them.  Is it right for the disciples of Jesus, or even for believers in Christianity, as the great majority of people in this country are, to sustain any association which puts Christianity on a level with pagan superstition, which treats Jesus Christ with no more regard and veneration than it does Mohammed, Confucius, or Joe Smith, and whose only religion is the religion of infidels?

If secret associations did not pretend to have any religion or any religious services, but would, like bank and railroad companies, conduct their affairs without religious forms, it would be infinitely better.