# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1875_S27
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 27 —

That the secret societies are contrary to God's Word, about that there is no doubt among us. But for a considerable time it was debated whether the secret societies are religious or not. Those who affirmed it argued: Although the secret societies (such as the Freemasons and Odd Fellows) let each one keep his faith and in return expect toleration of the faith of others, they are nevertheless agreed in this, that they want to take the place of the Christian religion, and they regard the religious confession that there is one God and that all men must be regarded as brothers as the extract of all religions. The doctrine of the Savior the lodge gives up, and assumes a certain doctrine of law as the way to salvation. These societies also have, by their own declaration, the purpose of leading their members into heaven, to the "Grand Lodge above." They seek, by their own admission, not merely the earthly but also the eternal welfare of their members, namely to prepare them for the life beyond. The lodges also have their religious ceremonies and customs, burial order, chaplain, ritual, prayers, and so on. A society, now, that has a religious confession and a religious cultus, is a religious community. This proof should not be held superfluous, but if this proof could be furnished, we would have a powerful weapon with the people in the struggle against the secret societies.

That the secret societies are religious societies was contested from another side, and only conceded that they are societies with religious ceremonies and tendencies. One must make a distinction between religious societies and religiously minded people. By practicing religion they do not yet become religious societies, otherwise our legislatures and our Congress would also be religious societies. The guilds in Germany, when they undertook something in common, also had religious acts, readings, insignia, and so on. The state could not avoid demanding the confession "there is a God." But they all are, for that reason, still not religious societies. The statements of members of the lodges about their purpose are to be received with caution. Books with the announcement "published by the Grand Lodge" on their forehead are, after all, no obligation for the lower lodges; they are indeed of weight for them, but not officially binding for acceptance. The founders and leaders may well have had, and still have, the purpose of creating a world religion, but their purposes, of which most members of the society know nothing, do not decide the character of the society. The purpose that determines the character of the society must be clearly expressed, recognized by all and made a condition of membership. Confessions and books do not suffice as proof here. The true purpose of these societies is general brotherhood, which stands higher with them than all religion.