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

ol kindred virtues, and the easy terms
ht which the privileges Of the Order are ofe
III leg TO all respectable men, canno, be preser
ng I'd in any light as good causes of deuaclo
ly But the objection most frequently at
urged against our institution
T. that IT lsa secret society. That any al
is SociaIion should in this enlightened age b
5 thought worthy ofutter condemnation, mere
J. ly because il processes 10 have secrets whic
is are not impaired 10 the world al large, on
shows that communities are like indiyi
G duaIs in this, that they do not ougrow tn
5 childish superslitions of the nursery, and a
= The mature man will sometimes slarie at hi
o shadow SO civilized community viii
= brlslle with honor a, The mention Of
4 catch word which recalls the memory o
some imaginary chimera that brooded owe
is infancy. The instances SO often so read
lily addnced from history, Of secret asso
Citations whose influences were inmica
to liberty and knowledge, are of those whose
purposes were not only unhallowed, bu
which mingled the bane Of excl usiveress in
their very origin and aims, and it was lol
This reason rather than because ,hey were
secret, that they were formidable TO sociel, :,
On the other hand. all history is full ol
instances OF secret associations, open TO all
kindred spirits, whose aim has been The
advancement and liberation of manknd,and
whose success has been equal 10 their noble
purposes. BY far the greatest portion o.
The pas! ages Of The world have been those Of
darkness and oppression. In such ages the
individual man can do nothing, and even =
multitude of men united in good purpose
lcould accomplish nothing agans! the power
Ic"eIr 40 an" "ora no, the very existence al
cess,or expire with them on the scaftold,ln
such associations have originated the mos
glorious social impulses which are now
advancing the deslinies of mankind, anc
such has been the birth of moral force,
whose increasing momentum wllconsrue tt
rush onward, producing accumulaIng results
If good as lasting as eternity. VI Sucl
Instances the moral, religious, and poIltics
Ihis,ory of the word is so full .thatit would BIT
almost nyidous 10 seec. illustrations from
my particular age or nation. We have on
secrets too, but they are such as concerI
ourselves only. They have no possible
Iconnexion with the interests Of any olhe
! association than our own. Their primary
= object Is 10 shield us from imposition. Th
,obiecls Of our Institution, and the principle
rby which those objects are 10 be altained,aI
e no mystery We are from the very ma
lure of our pursuits, retiring anu sci
ii enwrapped:l We seek no. collision with
d lhe world our objects are few, and ihel
II pursuit is necessarily quiet and secret, an
), we have,as Odd. Fellows naught in common
Is with the mass humankind. We aim at nangh
,i in poliIicks, Eor al The acquisition Of gam
r nor ihe extension of creed by proseIyIIs
We seek only 10 promote broiherly IoV
lie and true social virtue among ourselves,
,r benefit each other, and indirectly 10 benei
lie the world by our improvement. Why the
le should we expose our proceedings to II
ir gaze of an inquisiIise prying worldi
Is has been customary on occasions like thl
rs TO apologize TO the other sect for their e.
of clusion from our Order. Thou gh exclude
nd from our Lodges, every Odd-Fellow cove
id The appreciation and enIiVong smiles
he ,voman. She participates in all our JOY
IS. soo,hs aud sustains US in our adversely, al
m what we're fame without tho wreath e
all ,wined by besuty's hand! Her gentlenei
to her meekDess and sympathy require
be combination or artificial means 10 practl
as deeds Of Love and Charity.
1ur Ii is not our purpose TO present an
md semblage of imaginary duties, or de'
ds, of requirements TOO exalted for the alta
nd menl of fallen humanity, or to surrou
des the teachings of ame1gre ritual with lroE
sss and figures TO allure and deceive, but s.
re ply to endeayor to present the character
the Odd Fellowship as a moral INSTITUTE
IN, and 10 show that the present dsorde
lde! condition of The world requires such
licb instrument 10 effect change in human