p. 193The So-called Secret Work

In each oath mentioned in the foregoing description of the different secret societies the words “secret work” or the equivalent thereof occur. What is this secret work? To whom is it known? In each local lodge and in each Grand, or State Lodge, and in the so-called National Lodge of each of the three hundred or more secret societies, there are the “Select Few” and the “Inner Circle.” What does this mean?

When a new lodge of any secret society is established, the organizer has his eye on the more intelligent and prominent applicants. In his application for the Charter, he states the local standing of his candidates, and makes particular reference to the character, etc., of a few, whom he calls No. 1. These few are watched for a year or so, and a correspondence is kept up between them and headquarters about apparently indifferent subjects; and, by the time they have been “sounded” on topics of the day, and this and that, one of the leading men at “headquarters” under some pretext or other finds a reason to visit the local lodge and come in contact with the “select few” who have been the object of special observation. There may be a banquet, or a reception, or a something, according to local circumstances, to bring the members and their friends together. The “expert” from headquarters, after some speeches or conversation, has made his pick, has his “selected few” spotted. He approaches them in a most pleasant manner, is glad to find so much intelligence in a place where he had expected less, and surely all the superior qualities the community enjoys were due to such men as they, and he thinks so much of them that he desires to be their particular friend, and would like to establish a mutual friendship. During the course of the conversation following, our agent from headquarters has his men “all attention.” He explains to them why “all must not be told to all,” but they, having superior education and talents, might be told the “secret work.” As they are leaders in local affairs, a great advantage will accrue to them by being promoted in their respective lodge: it will be to increase their standing with their local people, it means better trade and more money, or greater honor and a higher office and more money, etc. Gradually it comes to a point that there are two or three in each local lodge who have gained the confidence of the higher officials. An annual State conference is arranged to which these “select few” will be sent as “Delegates.” The “State Picker” will repeat the process of the local organizer, will spot his men, sound them and have again a “select few” who will be sent to the National Conventions as State Delegates. The “Supremes” at the National Convention will again pick out their “Select Few.” Out of these “State and National Select Few” an “Inner Circle” is formed which rules the whole organization at the dictates of “a few” of a circle within the “Inner Circle.” These final “selected few” direct the “secret work.”

In every secret society of “good financial standing” these “select few” are Freemasons. From the timber, they find most suitable for their purpose, they recruit the ranks and file of Freemasonry. Thus Freemasonry is the mother in fact as well as in name of all secret societies; they emanate from it and in their end-object, return to it, making possible the great strength of this enemy of the Catholic Church. Thus an edict from the head of Freemasonry reaches all those members of any secret society who have shown the necessary qualification and in this way united action is assured. No Catholic will ever be allowed to belong to the “select few” because he is not trusted. “If he is a traitor to the church of his mother, we cannot trust him; when death is near he will, generally, prefer the Pope and his Priest to our friendship, and he may tell all he knows; therefore ‘not all must be told to all’ and we Masons prefer to know our own.” Such and similar remarks were made to me by friends who belong to Freemasonry. In other words, Catholics who join the Masonic Orders, or any secret society, are considered fit for swelling the ranks and the coffer, and the votes at election day, and are despised by their very so-called Masonic or lodge brethren.

Now what is the “secret work?” What else but political wire-pulling and practical work against the Church of Jesus Christ. I have been asked time and again, in my twenty years of priesthood, at the time of election, to use my sacerdotal influence for some or other candidate. Keeping my political views pretty well to myself, as far as party lines are concerned, but at the same time not idle in using my privilege as an American citizen, I often heard these words: “Well, Father Rosen, you know that So, and So, and So, are prominent members in our lodge; we all are in for him, he must get there; he is a good man, and though you may not like his principles as a Mason or a lodge member, it is well for you to stand in, be with us this time; we want your friendship; we helped you in building churches; why! the other Sunday before the election, I went to hear you preach; it was I who put that five in the collection box, and if there is anything we can do for you call on us, etc.”

Some Catholics have been foolish enough to be “caught” by such talk. Account for the many bills before State and National Legislation interfering with the rights of parents in regard to the religious education of their children, whether they are Indians or whites; whether they live in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, or the Dakotas, or any other State in the Union. When there is a question of electing a Freemason to an office, or having a bill passed which tends to annihilate Christianity, an edict from the head of Masonry is sufficient to set the whole machinery of Masonry and all secret societies in motion to obtain the desired end.