2.  Associations or combinations involving secrecy.  Are they of
  necessity right or wrong?  If not, what are the decisive criteria?

  3.  Religious rites and worship in societies or organizations, open
  or secret.  Are any kind allowable? and, if so, what?

I. Secrecy, Its character.

A presumption against secrecy arises from the known fact that evil-doers of all kinds resort to secrecy.  This is for two reasons:  (1.) To avoid opposition and retribution; and, (2,) to avoid exposure to disgrace.  The adulterer seeks secrecy; so do the thief and the counterfeiter; so do conspirators for evil ends.

Secrecy, whenever resorted to for evil ends, is wrong.  But may it not be resorted to for good ends? and is it not recognized as often wise and right in the Word of God?  We answer in the affirmative.  There is a certain degree of reserve, or secrecy, that should invest every individual.  Our whole range of thought and feeling ought not to be promiscuously made known.  There is a degree of secrecy necessary in the order, social intercourse, and discipline of the family.  There is secrecy needed in dealing with faults and sins.  Christ adopts this principle in his discipline.  He says, “Tell him his fault between him and thee alone.  If he repents, conceal it.”  There are confidential communications for important ends, or for council.

Concealment may be used as a defense against enemies, as in the case of the spies of Joshua, or the messengers of David, or when Elisha hid himself by the brook Oherith, by God’s order.  So God hides the good in his secret place and under his wings.

Secrecy is opposed to ostentation and love of human applause.  Hence, alms and prayer are to be in secret.  God also resorts to secrecy in an eminent degree.  He hides himself.  He dwells in thick darkness.  It is his glory to conceal his designs.  In part, this is inevitable by reason of his greatness; in part, he resorts to it of set purpose.

It is a special honor and blessing of the good that he discloses his secrets to them.

Secrecy, then, is not of necessity wrong.  Its character depends upon the ends for which it is used, and the circumstances and spirit in which it is used.  There is a secrecy of wisdom, love, and justice, as well as a secrecy of selfish, malevolent, and evil deeds.

II.  Secret societies.

Of these there may be two degrees.

1.  Where not only the proceedings of the society are secret, but even the existence of such a society is concealed.

2.  Where the existence is avowed, and the signs and proceedings only are secret.

In associations, secrecy may be resorted to in both these ways for evil ends.  Men may combine in associated societies to prey on the community, and the existence of such societies be hidden.  Counterfeiters, horse-thieves, burglars, may thus associate for wrong, in the deepest secrecy.