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040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aHS
100 1 _aMacdill, David,
_d1826-1903
245 1 0 _aSecret Societies: A Discussion of Their Character and Claims
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c2004
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
500 _aRelease date is 2004-10-15
508 _aE-text prepared by Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders
520 _a"Secret Societies: A Discussion of Their Character and Claims" by Rev. David Macdill, Jonathan Blanchard, D.D., and Edward Beecher, D.D. is a critical examination of the nature and implications of secret societies, likely written in the mid-19th century. The text delves into the historical context, religious objections, and moral concerns surrounding these organizations, arguing that their secrecy, oaths, and exclusionary practices are fundamentally at odds with Christian principles. The opening portion of the work discusses the long-standing existence of secret associations, tracing their roots back to various ancient cultures. The authors express skepticism about their claimed benefits while highlighting the moral and ethical implications of such secrecy. They argue that the origins and historical associations of these groups, often linked with pagan practices, are suspicious and potentially harmful. The text sets the stage for further exploration of specific issues, such as the profanation of oaths and the exclusivity of memberships, suggesting that these practices violate the core teachings of Christianity and contribute to societal harm. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534 _nOriginal publication data not identified
653 _aSecret societies
700 1 _aBeecher, Edward,
_d1803-1895
700 1 _aBlanchard, Jonathan,
_d1811-1892
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13759
999 _c55147
_d55147