The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-05-07
From. the Csvons
ODD,FELLO wSHIP AND RELI.


ODDst ELLO w ShlF AMI NELt-
.GICN.
We are oTten in,errogaied upon the sub.
ject Of relation between Old Fellowship
and the institutions Of religion, We have
been asked, and we doubt in perfect SINGER
i,y whether our Order is religious society
Our reply tothese queries s,,hat our arswcr
must deperd entirely on the sense in which
4he terms rel:siot' is employed: We are
4eugh,-cn the threshold Of our Institution TO
royerence God, and never TO mention his
holy name but with each feelings as are
due from The creature TO the Creator-'te be
industrious, Gober and temperate--to act
nc. upon the golden rule which rebures
sithsy do under others as We would wish that
= crea,should do unto us---to love our fellow.
: neyeures, do them justice in all things, and
us 10 be contaned while they are in dis
-tressr aud il is in our power to relieve them
These teaching are illustrated and enforced
upon our mind n every step of our pro,
!. gress; through the different degrees of our
Order, 'rhus rnuch for the theoretical
teachings of the Order In practice It's
funds are devoted 10 the relief Of human
suffering in various forms; Its proper
ogioers arc, from week {, week, and from
day 10 dav engaged IN visiting the sick, and
>minstering 10 the comfort, closing The eyes
tft the dying. burying The dead relieving
abe widow, and protecting and educating
the fathcsless Children. If This is religion,
or any part Of II. ,hea so far as these thing
go, ours is religious institution. Blu, if
the inquirer includes in his idea Of 'reiigi-
tt.,, e iayatal f., Mo III
BeMinafion oi certain doctrines, ,einbodies ana
land carried on in detall,sc as TO form says
stem cf e.hics, OF complete body Of divni-
-ty. thea evidently 10 his mind cur insitu'
sion lacks soaie Of tire elements OF religion,
~and can.io. he called afeligious teachings
and practice; but these are merely 1he greaf
truths and duties which forms the basis of
ALI religion and morality rather than CON
pleie system OF religion. Our grea: objec,
is 10 anle men in the performance of these
great duties aud the recognidan of these
grea. principles. leaving them, wilaout
melestatcn; 10 beheve, propagate and prac
4ice, wha.sver more tlieir understandings
and consciences may approve. For lhis
reason, al religious disputes and seciayian
discussions and sentiments are strictly pro
hibited in our Lodges. In the world, man
may attac;, himself to whatever church he
chooses, and believe what pecuiiar doc
trinas may appear TO lim just aud true. but
in our Lodges he must be an Odd Fellow
nnd brc.ael, and nothing more or less.
The conclusion al which we arrive, then,
is this. In The ordinary and strict sense of
the term, our Order ie no, "a religions socie
ty.A The same iime, il would be grossly .a
proper to cal! j: an irreiiglous institution.
because ii recognizes the first principles of
religion morality, practices rome impor
tant duties. and !orhids all that is opposed
10 the duties we awe To God, our neighbors,
-os ourselves. So far. ;lien, ss it goes in
these matters. il may be called reiigious,b
it stops short OF what is necessary TO make
it. strictly speaking, religions society. In
'facts il never was designed TO swpply the
place npw eceapied by the religious insiia
iions OF The day. They nave their missions
and we ours, and though soae Of our oh
jecis are Identical, vet there should be no
uaien or strife between them, syocp, it be
1he union of mutual charity and the strife
upon the question which shall do most 10
relieve the wants ofihe poor and distressed |