Mr.Pond was also a member of the Masonic Order and of other secret associations.

I ought however to say, in justice to the Masonic Fraternity, that I have never been able to see that there was any truth whatever in the charge that the members of that Order deemed it their duty to support each other in politics, or when on juries.

Many a client has told me with great alarm that his opponent was a Mason, and that one or more leading Masons were on the jury that were to try the case.

I always refused to challenge a juryman on that account, and I never found that the man's being a Mason had the least effect in preventing him from rendering a just verdict.

I have many intimate friends both political and personal in that Order, although I never belonged to it and never sympathized with or approved of secret societies in a Republic.
My strength was due to the fact that I had in general the good will of my competitors.