American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-09-22

institution established by God himself.
They regard our Institution as a form OF
worldly religion, embraced and recommended
| purely upon worldly views, to the utter repud-
alton Of those high and commanding TRUTHS,
the maintenance of which is essential to the
integrity Of our holy religion. That this OBJ
lection is invalid, and resulted from misconcep-
ton, will strikingy appear when we look
at the constitution the Order. 1t has no re-
ligious creed. 1t does not profess to teach orr
gjnal truth, but it simply unites men to prac-
ice those duties which are universally admit
ted to be right and proper. A large number oil
our members are members Of the Christian
Church, and doubtless act from the highest
motives.
If invaded the functions of the Church, by
daring to teach a religious system, or Offering
itself as a substitute in any degree, for that in
stitution, it would long since have been dis
covered by thousands who delight to do it ho
nor, and in place of defending, they would
have been found fighting shoulder to shoulder
with the foremost OF our opposers.
At the present day, the multiplicity of reli-
gous sects into which Christendom is divided,
ustfes the establishment of some common
ground, where the divided parties may forget
their feuds and unite their efforts in discharg-
ing the reciprocal duties of this life. 1t is,
/
tuition of the Church, for the members of the
various sects to unite with wise and benevolent
men, to practice duties, the imperitve obliga-
! ton of which all admit. While at the same
time, they individually maintain the peculiar
faith by which their religious communion is
dstingushed-(t this association, far from work
ing evil, will, in the nature OF things, produce
mutual respect and esteem,) and unity OF benc-
VIOLENT action, pave the way to unity Jtaihh.-l
fit is admitted that familiarity with suffering
and distress opens the heart to the value Of re-
Iigious consolation, then the practice of the du-
ties we incucate tends to strengthen the claims
of religion, and magnify the Office of the
church. The tendencies of Odd Fellowship, in
a political point OF view, may be estimated by
the humanlzng influence it eXerts over the an
CRY passions and discordant dispositions of our
nature, and the wide dissemination OF that mo-
raj virtue which is the true cement ofour civil
, institutions. That feature in our institution
which secures to the orphan the blessings OF an
education, fit had no other merit, should en-
dear it TO the heart of the patriot and the phi
lanthropist. Education is one ofthe chefagents
q in the maintenance of both religious and poti-
. cal liberty-it is the sworn foe of both the ia
;, natic and the emagogue-without it no peo-
fI pie can properly estimate rational liberty, or
i long remain a free people. In the very nature
o of things, the influence of Odd Fellowship as Il
= dispenser of education will be felt by those
ri classes of society which are most generally de-
9 prIved of its advantages, and who can estimate
q the moral force and stability it will thus impart
y to the government by exalting the majesty of
= the laws, and surrounding the chair ofthe Chief
: Magistrate with pure and enlightened consti-
4 ruency. The mind Of a nation is its noblest
q treasure-and in proportion as it CLOVIS and gilt
tiers with the iustre Of such jewels, will be the
8 permanency of its institutions, and purity Of its
II administration.
e know that it is the cant cry of the dema-
! gogue, that such societies as ours are danger
Gus to the government. This objection might
be urged with some show Of reason in an arbi-
= trary government, known only to the people
u by its exactions and oppression; but in coun-
g try like ours, where every citizen is sovereign,
u and the magistrate only reflects the will of the
i people, by whose free suffrages he has been
~ raised to office, and to whose ranks he must re-
y turn by the operation Of a republican rotation
ii the objection saVors of distrust in the Capaci-
i ty of a virtuous citizenship, to uphold and
maintain the government they have created
l. The records OF history show that the most OBJ
A. iectionable forms of secret association in the old
Or world, have ever been leagues formed against
or oppression, and in all their political nterferen-
ID ces, they have invariably done battle in behalf
n of popular rights,-much more must an Order
I'd the constitution of which precludes the intro
So duction of political or religious discussions ir
its Lodges, and which, while it cherishes the
st most exalted sentiments of patriotism, ncul
le Gates the most elevated moral duties, be regard
~ ed as conservative in its tendency We hest
I'd tate not to say, that the heart which feels deep
s. est for human wo, is most susceptible of patr.
N otto devotion-the hand that has oftenest wip.
Is ed away tear from the eye Of sorrow, will
e. strike the hardest blows in defence of its eoun
ct try's honor-no blood that stains the battle
to field of the Rio Grande shines more brightly
1t or flowed more freely, than the Odd Fellows
n Among the gallant spirits who flew to the
lie country's banner, in the hour Of danger, o.
lie who wait the first signal TO join their brothers
" in the field, there are hundreds and thousand
rs of Odd Fellows; indeed, it would be difficult t.
t. raise a regiment in any State of the Union il
10 which there would not be many found WHIT
~ could tell their number.
lis Such, my brethren, is brief, and confess
~ imperfect view Of the character and tendencie
I'd of the institution, TO the uses OF which thi
re Temple is to be set apaIt-its courts are to b.
ct the abode of universal friendship-at its altar
I'D meek eyed charity will preside-and from it
ed portals will its sons 90 forth upon their errand
es of mercy and of love. The history of the pas
he is pledge for the action of the future and al
es augury of final triumph.
If Go to the couch Of sickness, when the demon
NJ of disease has shaken pestilence from its wings
tn and even consanguinity shrunk from the con
n tagion-whose hand is that which wipes tn
Id death damps from the brow, and presents tn
ne fever draught to the parched and thirsty lips O
sd the sufferer? An Odd Fellows!
oil Who alone in the silence of the death cham
a. Der, when stricken affection has sunk beneat
en- the blow, has received the parting breath an
Ii closed the dying eyesi An Odd Fellow! Who
c. when the widowed heart has had no hope bu