Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-01-31

long as there exists charitable societies, there
will spring up a class of men, who, knowing
with what ease they can obtain aid from these
institutions, will indulge in idlencss, drunken.
ness and debauchery, bringing want and misery
upon themselves men who are lost to every
sense of honor or decency who 90 about to
feed upon that charity which was intended for
the deserving alone. To protect us against the
intrusion of this class of men, we have our signs
of recognition which are known TO none but the
Order-whlch are all the secrets we have and
which forms an insurmountable barrier to all
imposters. in this regard it is essential to our
existence as society.
Our Order lranscends the limits of State and
National boundaries. 1t processes TO recognize,
to welcome and 10 relieve every brother ofwhat.
ever tongue or cline, who briags with him the
accredited proof OF membership. That proof
consists IN the possession OF certain words,
signs and tokens, which form universal Ian.
guage among It's members, and which, to give
them efficacy, must be strictly confined to the
initiated How else than by some such test
could we distinguish the true IRON the counter
!et 1T " else guard our Lodges against the
intrusion OF unsympa'hIzng strangers and
protect from the cupidliy OF Ilnpos"rs That fund
Wh!ch has been raised DV our mutual resources,
and which is dedicated To our mutual relief! 1t
may delract something from the charm OF Odd
telIo"sHp with the lovers OF inc marvellous,
nut II Is due to candor and our sell respect 10
declare this the extent of our secrecy. 1t in
voIves no common rlght-n Is the cohesive
prhcple OF our union-our legitimate and me-
cessarv means OF selt-preservation.
by some it is said that Odd Fellowship is
nothing but :" low order OF Masonry" and all
the prejudice which ignorance, malice aud SLAM
der have hurled against that time honored nsli-
iuIion, are brought to bear upon us. Whether
this is the case or not, am not prepared to say,
o ,n o o9a not 81 u he,ao p BY s" ne, %
sonrv inculcates more noble principles, or is
calculated TO do more good to society, as a phi
anhropist, bid it God speed in its noble un-
deraking.
This opposition. VIC are persuaded, is the re-
suit OF depraved public sentiment, and he who
in this day, with so many results OF the benign
influence of our Order before his eyes, aud
without acqIalutjng himself with its principles
and designs, would raise mp and proclaim 1t al
Evil, exhibits A character fit only for the asso
citation OF bosoms from whence every generous
impulse has been removed, and where a wild
and furious anatcsm regns alone.
We are bold to assert, that there is not &
principle of our Order which does not tend IL
the spread of moral, political and social virtue
In the practice of these principles we make NJ
sacrifice OF cur duty to our God, to our country
or to ourselves We are fulfilling Divine in
junction, when we visit the sick, cpihe the ma
kcd, feed the hungry, and administer to gu
ne ghbor in Distress We are increasing III,
strength Of our political union, when we tea i
obedience to her laws, when we unite her CHI
znns in the strong bonds of Friendship. Low,
and Truth; ever ready. ehoHld ciyl dlsaension
.Alg .'l;, cur tpou. 10 he4l 20 doi"1d, and Il
save.
/ !cdar--coy,ta N1trpsA o. g, well as "
/ pFI hcIOalD-, roqn r"H Snii der3"
portion oi iny address 10 "a ..It utc9es
and dearest interests are combined with Tn
/ prosperity Of your husbands, fathers and broth
crS N5recabiy 10 the tene's Of the lndepend
eut Order o. Odd Fellows, you are exclude
/ from a-sor.aJiug w.tl Us in our mystic proes
son; not because You are un"cr'hy OF the Sc
rrsi, nor because the tools Of the craft are to
punIerous for you to WELD, but because th
principles OF mercy and chauty are Inherent !
your AZURE: your tears OF sympathy How with
ont bidding. You need not those strong an
stubborn ties which are necessary 10 smooth tn
rouTltr attributes Of man: YOU need not Ia
sgn u! Odd Fei,owsn p TO summon you 10 tn
bed ol aiiiclon nor the use Of symbols to lea
y1l 10 virtue. Your own hearts are the Lodgt
~ which virtue presldcs, and the dictates {
your VIII is the only needed incentive to actor
Frown not, then, upon Our Oder, but be As
surei that TO lie correct Odd Fellows we mas
Improve in all the social relations 81 life.
With reference to the antiquity uf our Orde
need say but little, as We have access to tn
piees Of Holy Wri. In reading the history
Jonathan and David, and other ancient worhIe
we can trace the principles OF Odd FELLOWSHIP
l. has survived the downfall Of empires, and III
destruction of dyuastles; the monumental ma
be hls crrmb ed to decay: the pyramids al
grown gray WIZ years The WhrIwlnds ol ";
have passed over the earth, spreading desoatlt
ana death; The sceplre mas lai'en IRON me pa
sea arm Oh t'e monarch ana lol'y 'ilrohes al
c"PF'S nave passed. ava! III '',e sP'e'u uc VI
W o' ues' 'uc,'oh' SINCE me suo'''ie e"'i'ce
cd' feunWShlp hrst dipPeu us sp're III u
c'"uuH' ana shea us prlI'a'cy !" 'he oe"g"''
! bosom Oh lhe World
mus nave The Independent order OF W
Fe"'"' great reasons 10 reJo'ce ~ 'he rise al
progress OIL theF institution ana MAT 'neir pri
ciPIes have been Kept sacred and handed do"
, nHs"''ed through me generations o' Tue w"r
!" '9p p'esI"t Nnu u .ne e'"'o t','es,''y sue
0' ~ rii n ~ ="
: d", 49,, n W. a "a ',,o, 40 .o;a' w :,
"po" ,''' ",'us e " a.'u ,,l'.u w.
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. 'sHVv' aa n n'D w 'i,t,u, og,. u.
,t', '".'''O, .'o'o "','rue ''
t''uu.o 81 .GSpeft =" o', n"s"nN ,L'e"I,
, 'S, you "s o,e'''cno y. ''ie '',ys',u ne. i's'n
y, ',p iIaS,' W you u "as ooen s'eI w. w. we
,ro ""p,'eS your ',oer ,'s'"g !" we r'1 h I"