RED
Often we read in the newspapers of what "The Reds" are doing in far off
Russia. Or we turn the page and find an item telling how they helped, or tried
to help in the English general strike. At that we prick up our ears, but soon
lay the paper aside with a feeling of relief that it is all remote from our
country, and that we are safe from any such evil.
Down in our hearts we may feel that in old, decaying societies we may expect
to find maggots working, but nothing of the kind can infest the strong, healthy
body of a new, growing nation. Our America is so vast, so prosperous, so sound
that it is immune from such an insane infection. So in the main, it is, thank
God. But are we so sure that none of the virus's of anarchy, communism or other
distemper's are not at work in America?
The facts are amazing, and The Masonic Service Association proposes to give
them to the Craft - just plain facts without any coloring other than their own.
They will tell their own story; no rhetoric is needed. Alas, they cannot be told
in a brief space, but a few facts may be recited to show what is going on and
how artfully the poison is being injected into our nation. Others will come
later.
Of course the "Reds" do not often work openly in America; it is not safe or
good for their health. They do sometimes, as will soon appear, prefer to do
their job secretly and by stealth, and one is bound to admire their cleverness.
It is uncanny at times, and makes good folk of altruistic spirit its unconscious
dupes. as the Bible puts it, their cunning deceives "The Very Elect."
For example, every sane man hates war. Especially every Christian man hates
it, because it is the crucifixion of his faith and all of his ideals. The
horrors of the great world conflict made this hatred of war vivid and burning in
the hearts of all men. The Reds know how to make use of this feeling for their
own ends. Every Red is an ardent advocate of disarmament- for others. They are
all innocent pacifists - on the surface. They are members, if not the leaders,
in all the pacifists societies, of which we have many. Why? They want the world
disarmed - so they can do their work and make a clean job of it.
So, naturally, the man of God in the pulpit is often an unconscious helper of
his Red enemies. He is sincere, they are not. They use his noble sentiment to
serve their purposes. If he is a fiery pacifist it is more to their liking. Next
to the Church they invade the schools. They are back of the movement to
"Denature" our school books, and belittle or besmirch the heroes of our history.
They call it "debunking the fathers," and the phrase makes a hit.
All this time this boring from within goes on, secretly, cleverly; using
every art and device of propaganda, now so highly developed. They make fine
phrases and put them in the mouths of thoughtless speakers, who keep them going
automatically, They know the value of a crisp, striking epigram which cuts both
ways.
Take a single instance. A notorious Red, speaking on the Fourth of July - of
all days - cracking the clever epigram, in referring to the Fathers of our
Nation; "The anarchists of yesterday are the patriots of today." The crowd
swallowed it - failing to see that he meant that Washington, Jefferson and
Franklin were anarchists. So it goes, unscrupulous men making a toy of our
thoughtlessness.
But enough generalities; now for some plain facts. In the hearings before the
Committee on Immigration and Naturalization of Congress, during the present
year, one witness was asked by the Chairman": "You think that an alien has a
perfect right to come here and get into a labor strike, preach communism all he
wants to, and advocate the overthrow of government?" Reply: - "Yes!"
"Did I understand you to say that an alien has the right to preach the
overthrow of government, and anarchy?" asked the chairman. Reply: - "Yes!"
"Do you believe a citizen has that right?"
Reply: - "Yes!"
Along with this let us recall the meeting of the "Young Pioneer's League,"
held in Philadelphia, under the shadow of Independence Hall. Delegates from six
states attended, and the headquarters from which literature was sent forth was
the "Young Worker's - Friends of Soviet Russia." For two days young foreigners -
most of them - trained in our schools, denounced the Republic, derided the
President, hissed the Flag, and laid plans to propagate their ideas "In Our
Schools!" Indeed, the Flag of the United States of America was not allowed in
the room! In its place hung the red Flag of the "International" and under it
pictures of Lenin and Trotsky. Fiery speeches were made, denouncing the Army,
Navy, the Constitution and Law, Exhibiting an astonishing familiarity with the
writings of Marx - in the year of the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence! One speaker, incidentally, spoke of Deity; using the phrase:
"The Goodness of God." "Yes, He's Good For Nothing," the audience shouted
with roars of laughter, and the speaker apologized for his mistake.
Each member call the others "Comrade," and all advocated what they called
"The Bolshevization of America." The public schools were held up to scorn. Even
grammar came in for stern criticism as "A System of Rules Designed to Drug The
Mind and Keep It From Thinking." The question before the house was whether they
should carry on their campaign in the schools. Some thought it sneaking to do
so, but it was finally agreed that the end justifies the means:
"The only Education worth while is the education of Marx and Lenin." "Get
your education from the literature of the Workers." "No, we've got to learn
about the capitalist system from the capitalists themselves."
"If we stay in the schools we can do more for the cause." "It is the school
principal and the teachers who are sneaks."
These and similar bits were caught from the debate, and all were reported in
the public press - we give only what is of record. The women wore red dresses,
the men and boys red ties. They sang "The Scarlet Banner" and "The Red Flag" and
made a parody on "The Star Spangled Banner." Glibly they rolled off their
tongues, in good, unaccented English, words like "Soviet," "Strikers,"
"Communism," "The Dictatorship of the Proletariat," and others of a sort.
Hardly a single delegate to the meeting was over twenty years of age. Nearly
all wore foreign names. They were often hilarious in their glee, singing other
songs than the ones already named - these being the sacred songs of the League,
sung with earnestness and solemnity. Among such songs was one having the
following chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! We're going to paint her Read! Hurrah! Hurrah! the way is
clear ahead - We're gaining shop democracy and liberty and bread/ With one big
Industrial Union!
So much for the meeting. If it be said that it was only an assembly of
foolish youths, "Blowing Off Steam" - so be it. But such steam is hardly the
kind with which to run a Republic. As a fact it is only one of many such
meetings that go on all the time in our great cities. The present writer has
attended a number of equally wild ones in New York, at which ribald words were
sung to Church Hymns, ridiculing God, Home, Church and the Republic.
Again it may be contended that the Communists in America are but few in
number, not enough to endanger the nation. Besides, it may be argued, they would
like the publicity of Martyrdom, and are actually itching to get in the spot
light. No doubt; but all the same the facts ought to be well known in every
Masonic Lodge in the land, that the Craft may Govern itself accordingly. Our
business is to find the facts and report them to the Fraternity for its
information, not as alarmists but in the coolest spirit and the plainest words.
In the old days the Masonic forefathers were alert and vigilant in watching
the nooks and corners for secret foes of the nation. We must not be less so in
our day, when more dangers than we realize are afoot. The Soviets of Russia
regard America as their greatest enemy, and, thank God, it is. With Europe
slowly sinking into despair and ruin, as it seems to be doing now, America may
be the only bulwark left to defend Liberty under Law.
Any man who can see straight knows that we live in terrible times, when any
thing may happen. If America fails in her faith - fails to train men to rule
themselves and the serve their fellow men - so far as we can see civilization is
doomed. Every Lodge must be an Altar of light, kept brightly burning to show the
path. Too much is a stake - we cannot take a chance or trust to luck, much less
be idle when evil is busy.
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