The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-06-28

On an institution as the Independent Order {
I odd'Felows 10 aid in elevaling huma
t ,charityr In order to answer this eues,io,
a. unders'sndngly,le, US cast our eyes aSroa,
d and see the present condition of our race
IS and 1t matters no, wha, point we drec
J. our view: or how often we may change III,
o horizon, the same melancholy p,cruru U
human wreIChedness presents itself either
in mild or aggravated forms.
Y Fraud still ravages under the mask:
|of friendship duplicily and deceit as
E sumes the garb of frankness and honor
luoidlnate seIfshness starts up on every
5 hand, while truth andjuslice seem by agree.
menls 10 have been banished from the
a haun's of men. The whisperings of the
i|slanderer, dfusing moral leprosy, are
heard by his victim, robbing Of fair fame;
and booming to misery and despair. Who
has not suffered from his assassin blows?
With hyena spirit, no has invaded the
sanctuary o: the dead--like the snail his
path may be traced by the disgusting slime
iha! he leaves behind him. Blu, | stop
The disgussingpic'ure! the world in It's acts,
thoughts and affections is falls se-i,s truth
les, its honors mockery,ilS promises dscep
ion! But let US turn from its moral depravi
w. and looks to lis physical ills. They rise
lnp on every hand like the death lights Of
The church yard, pointing ou, The no mes of
the dead. Squaled pover,y;unreIieved hun
lreds and thousands suffering with wants
that the crumbs Of The rich mans table
would relieve, and ye! they slarve unpi,ied
sickness, with no watchers by lis couch
smooth its pillow, or wipe the damp
from its levered brow, the grave, and no
friend 10 do the riles of sepuchre, the poor
heba, The water spent, and The feeble moans
Of famiShing dying child lugging at he'
hear. strings, no friend near, she turns her
face from tho object Of her solci!ude. and
| in the accents OF broken heart, while the
tears of mothers love bedew her cheek
she cries let me not see The death of th'
chid'--lhe orphan reared in ignorance, ,and
he noble faculties Of The soul laying dor
manl, while passions are all alive 10 the
call Of vice.
Little do we think of the suiferings Of
mankind, and limited our knowledge o.
Human affairs, if such scenes have not OF
len risen up before US to urge 10 moral ac
ZION. There are varily Of events in life,
10 occasion many an honest man TO leave
+, his family and his home in quest OF employ
nen, and after having travelled one Of
1.-Two hundred miles, without sue cess wet,
+ cold, and hungry, stung with the mos'
piercng sensation for The fate OF those who
are most near and dear to him; how olIen
/, has it proved the case that the miserable
man has perished.
Some have exposed themselves 10 the
Iron hand of justice by fraudulent attacks
others contrary 10 their incllnalIons, have
. enlisted !or soldiers or seamen; others have
q been obliged 10 part with their apparel to
supper. The cravings of nature, and looslne
n through continued reverse OF fortune al
o hopes, have put an END TO ,hei existence
/, Should any OF his description be Ode Eel
-, ows, they ale relieved from The severity oI
such trials, and are enabled. by the benev
u loIent assistance of others 10 pursue ,heli
,s way both peaceably and comfortably to an
=, other town, where they may again be re
plenished, should necessity require. lie
ID no one however, imagine that by palnIInt
n the fair form of charity in her llyelesi col
IS ors, by arousing The feelings aud awaken
,oI ing the sympathies Of our nature, that ou
,e moral suscep,lbili,ies are not sharpene'
and kept in tune. Virtue always gain
s in beholding her own loveIiness and neve
aiIloses in the coniemplations and wsrmes
n admiration Of herself. Every noble i'm
nd pulse that she counts, every generous prIn
,es cipe that she patronizes, derive ne'
m strength from the remembrance Of th
of good they afforded. She throws into IN
~ mind such lingering associations of NOR
" beauty and love!ness, that may save
Te" from the storm Of passion and lead il bac
an to the paths Of peace and joy. A pause
&C the career Of iolly,' link broken in Ira