GROWTH OF SECRET SOCIETIES 253 



feels the competition of casle, and wenltli, and plaro; in his 

 lodge a mason is a mason, neither l)elter nor worse than an- 

 other. No member could say, "1 am better than you," for 

 the reason that there is no call for such a feeling, to say noth- 

 ing of its expression. 



There are benefits in material ways in memberships in the \ 

 masonic order, but they are benefits so wholly incidental that 

 they fade into insignificance compared with the moral and 

 spiritual benefits. So clearly is this recognized in the order, 

 and so vital is the principle, that any candidate suspected of 

 counting upon these material advantages would be denied ad- 

 mission to the society. Death benefits and relief to the widow- 

 ed and the orphaned grow out of the brotherhood when broth- 

 erly sympathies have been awakened. They are not things 

 to induce brotherhood as a mere means to a selfish end. 



It is recognized that the growth in all secret orders in this 

 country in the main has l)een steady and large. Without 

 taking to masonry too much of the glory possible to the condi- 

 tions, I w^ould say at the least that the influence of masonry 

 has been reflected in every one of these secret orders. Since 

 the eighteenth century the influence of the organization has 

 been felt among men. Attacks of all kinds have been made 

 upon it, but it has grown steadily in spite of all. To-day, if a 

 man would know what masonry is, let him judge by the ma- 

 sons. 



