Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-03-18

lngs! Such Is the design OF Odd Fellowship. 1t
teaches Friendship, Love- Truth Benerotence, and
Charity toward all men; honesty, virtue, peace and
temperance in all things, watching over depart
ment not only in the Lodge, but in our intercourse
with the world. Between the brethren of the Order
there is a solemn covenant of enduring friendship
and idelity-a mystic link of tender union, as close
and abiding as the love of Jonathan and David
and ''as touching the matter of which we have
spoken, behold the Lord is between us forever"
When our bark dances gaily upon the smooth sea
of prosperity; when hope swells her sails; when
health and ambition control her helm, and brace her
stays friends surround us and the world seems bright
before us! But when misfortunes lower, and the
gloom of disappointed hopes settle around the heart.
when affections come, and grippe with the burning
hand of pain the vitals of their victim; when
and want brood over the shade, and the busy world
without cares not. then it is the province of Odd
Fellowship to relieve and comfort.
You will find it the same in the abode of poverty,
or the mansions of wealth, keeping with untiring
vigilance, the silent watches of the night around the
couch of pain, and mnistering with angel benevo-
lence to the burning lips of suffering humanity,
smoothing the pillow ofdeatha performing the last
sad solemn obsequies to the departed brother.
The duties and obligations of the Order stop hot
here. The window and the orphan have aklegacy in
the funds of the institution, and the broad mantle of
benevolent protection and guardianship is thrown a.
round them. This leads us to consider the benefi-
cial feature of institution whereby we stand
mutually pledged to protect or indemnify each other
against the vcissitudes of misfortune or affection =
For this purpose funds created, by the weekly
tributions of all its members from which liberal
weekly allowance is made to the sick or needy broth
er: the funeral expenses of the dead are paid: the
widow receives gratuity; and the orphan children
if necessary, are supported and educated. This is
accomplished with all that quiet system, and secrecy
if you please, which charcterizes that institution in
the performance of all its duties; which relieves the
recipients of its benevoence from the humiliation at
tending the ostenatious display of public charities
nd is founded in laudabe desire to cherish the del
icate sensibIlites of crushed ambition and wounded
pride. His secret society! 1t sends forth no her
aid to that it is about to perform benev-
client deed! 1t bestows not its charities in public
places, that notoriety and applause may follow 1t
seeks higher and purer reward. 1t dispenses its
soothing sympathy and its benevolent aid as silently
5v-..-y v-....------r ---eu-.--.
the wants of vegetation.
Does the world know any thing of the extent of
human suffering this institution has been relieving in
own countrywide it is comparatively in its infancyl
A few years since and the Odd Fellow, was stran-
ger in the United States. Now, he meets broth
in almost every courtyard Lodges in every State
md Territory in the Union. Last year we had 457
Lodges,with 4O,23S members; with a revenue of$2S3,
80, and expended S72,l13, for the relief of human
voc. And this year, over 100000 will be quietly
md secretly dispensed for the glorious and
Heavenly purpose! The money can be told! but who
estimate the ponderous weight of sorrow it has
emoved: the briny tears it has wiped away; the
widowed hearts it has comforted the desolations OF
orphan grief and the helpless restitution of orphan
want, it has soothed and supplied And yet there
S record kept; and, when that book is opened and
he seals thereof broken the secrets of Odd Eel
owship will be revealed; we humby trust then to
lave an. interest in these rich words of promise.
"For was hungered,and We gave me meat; was
hirsty and we gave drink; was stranger and
re took me in naked and we clothed me; sick and ye
listed me; in prison and We came unto me. Verify
say unto you inasmuch as We have done this unto
me, even the least of these my brethren; We have
one it unto me; enter We, therefore, into the JOY of
our Lord"
The remaining prominent feature of the principles
# our Order, in the high toned morality most at
ractively incalculated with every lesson we
axe in the knowledge of the institution Every
Odd Fellow, who hears me, will remember his first
Impressive and eloquent charge, furnishing most
eautful synopsis of the duties of man to his God,
lis neighbor and himself.
No peculiar doctrines are taught or nterdicted, or
ermitted to be discussed within the Lodge. Our +.
liar of worshipreared upon the precspts of the book
# books, is humble, simple, and broad enough to adj
nit of different doctrines to minge their pray
RS and praises to the most High! These are very
refy but truly the principles and characteristics OF
ur institutions. To the candid and worthy enqur-
we say, come learn the beautiful mysteries of time
IGNORED Order, and test the truth of is practical viz
ues. The mystic chain which untes us, has no d
trengta to bind the Disconnected ye its links of
massive Iron to him who comprehendsand appreciates
he light it sheds around the pathway of man; none
uch have ever s'ooked back or tuned away from
'ur Lodges disappointed.
To the christian community, appeal for encour
cement and favor. We venerate the sentiment
which accords to your opinions the high respect of
IL intelligent communities, and lodl to you there
ore, with much solictude and anxiety on behalf of
'ur beloved Institution. Many of cur own faithful =
aembers, will join us in bearing tstimony to its
urlty ana the high objects it aim. to accomplish. II
Ilx-0tr r l..