Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-06-12
From lho oad Frllnw. semi Monthly M.ss,in.
Claims Of 0dd.FcllOwShi

"fs

N "Mans ic"i,io ,ace what Ills await
II Labor aLd p,nnry, the racks of pam,
II Disrasc, aud sorrows w"rplng tram,
\ AMI death sad relug"irom ihoslorm ol lale
\, ! haze shown IN previous number,
/ that ihrie are rens'ms Tor ihc Grg ani@a,iop
! aud action Of "1be Odd Fellows Socie-
I.iy" in the physical condition OF our race;
/ in thru liability To sickness and distress
~ their mullifarious forms. ] design IN
| this article 10 ndduce additional motives
or "whys and whcrelores" for The es.
tGhllshment oI the Order.
FWsiiy. A reason IS found in The IN
efficiency ofpresent measures and means,
/ To reach the cases Of "sickness aud dis.
t!ess" by which we are cors,antly sur
! rounded. do nGt mean 10 say that
there is a lack Of "Beneyoient Socieiies"
or that they do not perform their dn'ies
| would not inslDuate that our "poor
laws" lack humanity, nor would at
raign "ihe powers that be" Tor beng re-
galdless OF The wants and iniseries Of
their irllow-nen but let n man, IN i.jrse
prrii"rs times and sweeping fluctuations
of trade and speculation be stripped Of al.
his "elIccts, (no uncornnoo oec,lIrcEce1
let sickness aud disappointmen and pros-
4, Ia s,, ala Ia
q dependant and helpless family IS look
ing 10 him for bread, and what must bo
done according TO the ordinary "modes
aud cuslo,as' OF The age lie must ho
pcnnlless, almost naked aod starving,
before he can ask for the legal chsf,ies
in "such cases provided lie musi az
ir:a before earth ahd heaven that his
dosiilul,on 70 AZ bald and haggard AS The
commoncst bogga., b6iose the slmoncrs
Of The public bouniies will feel justified
in giving his children the bread which
they crave Who is sufficient for these
things Who OF US, having cDscreG or
the worlds theatre with competence,
with joyous pros4'ecla, or sltDply with
good naUie GUd come ayocaii6n by which
10 gain a livelihood, who Of us would feel
at ease while feeding on the best gifts
of the public beneicence Who would
not prefer incurring n debt, hoping at
somc future day to pay II, q. Burden the
shoulders OF .riGEdS 10 tie utmost tension,
to the humiliation and rcpugnani concc&-
sion OF beng a common pauper There
is crushing of the spirits, "Ilv,ng
death" ProE''ail oi The soul, IA feel
ny Of .LlecI dapdndancc necessarily at
iGndant on the provided benclacllcDs 10,
The poor which such a man receives.
II we tnro to the voluntary conlubu-
lions Of tie world around us, ii - Ii,e
unanimous voice Of those who have pass
and poverty that they are s'inled enough
coCld the Threshold of ihe poor man
hearts around his s,ck bed, We should
hear of passing travellers, aud unheeded
steps, and cold ncgloc,s Juslilying them.
selves on the ground Of 'press Of busl-
ness" 81 have family Of my owu," 81
too am poor" or some other sooth,ul,
uuciion laid or Tic conscience for with
holding the balm tha, would hea., IN.
the means that might bless and save
"Ilard, indeed, is tho la.o of the mGrm
and poor" who daCarJ on the ordinary,
voluntary charities Ct This hard-hearted
aud selfish world.
! Such reflections came home 10 our
bosom with an impressive power, wh,lo
rEgagcd recently in our oinciai ca3aCiy
as treasurer of our Lodge. \ brother
had been sick several weeks, receiving
the "bcucfls" and sympahics OF he
brethren. One day wo called TO gee
him his "ueckly dues" and casually
made the remark before leavlng--"l sup.
pose we have rendered you some assist
Iance." "Oh," SAID he, and the tear oi
gratitude started in his eye, IL canro'
calculate the suffering mud wrichcd
uoss myself and lile family must have
endured, # had not received my io,t
dollars week" Ii will be observed
that this SUN, although comparative
mite 10 sornc families, ~ not received ~
a chmiiy merely this brother had ra'u.
cd this money he had placed II IN trust
N his Lodge, aud there was no feeling
Of the mcnd,cau', no stub lng of the soul
undcl the idea oI paupctlsm. .bg iom
dollars /" There ,s meaning ~ this lac
had laid !, up ~ the time OF sunshine and
II was now 'thricc welcome" ~ the
II