The Anti-Mason Preacher Who Had Been Initiated Himself

Rev. P. B. Williams, of the United Brethren church, who also represents the National Christian Association at Portland, lectured in the Lutheran church at Fourth and Pine streets last evening on 'The Evils of Secret Societies.' The building was fairly well filled with a mixed audience that quietly heard the lecture, which lasted from 8 to 10. The pastor of the church, H. Tollefson, introduced the speaker. Rev. Mr. Nichols, who was recently convicted of criminally libelling Rev. Dr. Ford, and is awaiting the result of an appeal, occupied a front bench and made himself conspicuous by interjecting remarks throughout the lecture, such as 'That's so,' 'I know,' 'Amen,' etc.

The lecture proper was a direct attack on all secret organizations and was more especially directed against Freemasonry, all of which, the speaker alleged, stood in the way of effective Christian church work. Rev. Mr. Williams gave evidence of possessing Masonic knowledge, repeating signs, words and due guards of the blue lodge degrees. When questioned after the lecture as to his Masonic membership, he at first refused to answer, contenting himself with saying 'I wish to be tried.' When pressed for a reply as to his Masonic affiliation, he finally and reluctantly said that he was initiated in a 'clandestine lodge' in Chicago by a man who also practiced Masonry with others. Rev. Mr. Williams said to the reporter that he had for two years been lecturing on this subject of secret societies, including intemperance and infidelity, his field of operation being Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho. He says he has been a preacher in the United Brethren church for twenty years, working in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, and coming to the coast and locating in Portland in August, 1889.

The speaker last evening said he would discuss principles and institutions and not men, namely discuss the evils of secret societies from the standpoint of a Christian minister. The Church of Christ, the family relation, the schools, politics, all were open to the light of investigation, but Freemasonry hid itself behind its closed doors and defied investigation. A secret organization was the touchiest thing in the world and resented all attempts to pry into its affairs. A Christian had no right to join such, for they were incompatible with that openness of life which Christ taught. No society was lawful that imposed unlawful duties and obligations on its members. The Rev. Joseph Cook's advice on the subject of unlawful oaths of secret societies was for all who are out of them to stay out, and for those who are in to come out. No man can join a Masonic lodge unless he violates the laws of Christ who sayeth 'Swear not at all.' The Mason says again and again: 'And furthermore do I swear, etc.' The oath of a Mason conflicted with his obligation to his wife and children.

The evil of the lodge system was that lodges took men away from their homes; in fact, there were men who belonged to so many lodges that they kept them from home every night in the week, even to the extent of taking their meals down town so that they hardly ever saw their families, thus breaking up all home ties. The loss of money paid to lodges was another serious consideration in the way of evils and robbed families and churches of their just dues. There were men so blinded by their secret affiliations that they would pay out from $100 to $175 for uniforms, swords, hats, plumes and other paraphernalia while their wives were left to wear calico dresses. The lodge system of the country was sapping the lifeblood of the churches, and all secret obligations were nothing more than parasites that were destroying the Christian churches. A lodge man who was also a church man would be found to be ten times more of a lodge man than a churchman. He would always find time to attend lodge meeting, but never prayer meeting; a dollar for his lodge, but never a cent for his church.