The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-10
From the Providence Sentinel.
ODD FELLOWS.

we like the Odd Fellows on many accounts
though not OF their number, ourself If there ia
chldishness IN their ceremonies as some alIepe,
there is dignity, too, in the manner of performing
them and something even more beautiful than
mere dignity in their moral bearing and influence
AS an association. Odd Fellows accomplish some
thing and something. frequently. worthy of men
something tending to raise up humanity and
make 1t respect itself and have confidence in it's
strength, as well to do as to resist-as we'll to
move upward as onward.
They understand, or appear to understand,
human 'idtWe-a thing not any too generally I'M
derstood, we fancy, by those who would give
direction TO human thought. Thus they mix poe
Try with their prose-recreaton with their labor
and blend the beautiful with the substantial ia
their creations They bury their dead--not as
inc Town buries IFS pauper-not as the king
onr'es his subject-not as puffed-up wealth bnres
crushed down poverty,--but as brother buries
oTother-as humanity commits humanity tn the
dost and to lis God. They minister to the affiict-
edo The sick and poor. Some say they do it,,
not In charity mot in the spirit of gift from
fortunate TO an unfortunate man-but as an insn-
rance company pays over TO the insured the value
OF his lost property. So much the better; for now
the recipient feels that he is only getting his due
his right. Charity. as it has got to be understood
In this selfish world of ours, might ensIave him,
or make him blush for his poverty; it might be
turned to base uses by the dispenser of il, and
make tyrant of him. While the payment of an
honest debt enslaves no one, shames no one, makes
tyrant of no one
The regalia of Odd Fellowship-the sashes,
collars, aprons, crooks and banners-are deemed
objectionable by soDe because they are useless to
dli appearances. 80 the rings and pins and
bracelets of the fashionable lady, useless. in the
sane sense So is very much of the ornamental
ID our churches and parlors. &c. in this restrict
ca sense, is half we pay our money for-half we
i've Tor. The surplice of the priest the uniform
OF Inc soldier, the crown of the kng-sll these
might be dispensed with, if we chose to become
qoakers or anchortes but we should find il hard
while human nature remains as il s to dispense
wholly with ornaments, or with distinguishing
marks, quite as useless as those employed hy Odd
Fellows. Human nature is not made Up of rough
rocks and unhewn stones
Odd Fellows may have their little differences
Their chickering's. for aught we know--but they
Keep them TO themselves, and settle them amongst
themselves. The community has never been ex
GI,ed and divided with any quarrel of theirs
They never attack any one, or any Sect or any
party, that we know Of They do not. that we
Know OF violate the laws Of the land or the rules
,oir'ght, or the ordinary prophecies of life. They
ouild halls, and decorate them tastefully-hold
frequent neutrality-suspicious. in the streets, 90 on
excursions, and have celebrations, --jsst as any
association of the kind must do, or die. For one.
oft