Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-01-26
OR A'NE0N.

OR A'aEeeN.
Brothers Of the Independent O''derV oda
Fello,ys, and Ladies and Gcnt!erren:--
We have laid aside, for the moment the
mystic rights Of the Lodge Room, and from
the secrecy of our abode, have ~e goncforth !
to the world to proclaim The principles OF
Friendship, Love, and Tru,h-to declare in
the presence sof this intelligent audience,
that we visit tbs sick, we bury the dead,
and educate the orphan. no longer does
the scene around US tel thatw are shut ont
from the world, from its cares lis discen'
tions, or it's vices. No. we have gone to'tn
from this happy spot, to show to others, that
we are one in heart and hand; that the 1Gys-
ferrous Link has bound us together by ties
that time can never weaken, and that death |
alone cnn sever. To show TO that world
which is daily har7assed by the contentious
and strife of party, or agitated by the storm
of confusion, attendant upon the selfshncss
Of man; that amid all this. thero is sect
whose principles are bnsed so firmly upon
the eternal ,ruthcs Of Faith, Hope uud
Charity. or upon the like axioms, Of Friend
ship, Love and Truth, that we are ever
calm, ever ready to extend the helping hand,
in the hour of adversely, or speak the COM
forting word in aorrows lone!iest hour. En-
shrned as we seem 10 ihe world, let us this
evening speud & few moments in cndeavor-
ing to establish clearly, the principles we
profess and cause them to stand out in such
relief that if any there be present who have
entertained ideas hostile to US, that this
hostility may be removed, and that they
Iva l,i,r .,,b
lofty principles npon which we act.
Odd Fellowship, shrinks with herroc ut
the mystic rights of the socratic or pultonlc
schools, and retire within her OWN sacred
borders at the mere idea, Of adopting. the
more refined and polished-yet equally alb
horring system af the npostete Julian. Nor
does it in the least, agree with the schools
of later day. The sensual and impas-
stoned syslems ef the various schools OF the
French Revolution, have no resting place
within her borders. The subtety, the
finess, ard the ingenuity Of aether Vol
taire, nor DesCartes, nor the logic, and
power of an Hume, or on Bolingr"ke, Gun
ever FIND votary or an advocate. among the
members Of our order. And why! Because
while seeking by the gentle influence, of her
PRINCIPLES to bring oil within her sacred
border, she studiously avoids confounding
morality WITH religion. While she is sock
ing to elevate man uron the platform Of u
nivcrsal brotherhood, she at the same time
points to that puerer, and more holy union,
the result Of q life spent in fear of the great
AM. Unlike the ancient schools, she
will not, cannot, and dare not arrogate to
herself, Il system, SO pure US to designate it
as Religion. This she can never do, for
her doctrines are so clear and distinct, and
her objects 60 marked, that each and oil may
know, may learn, that 1t is only the amel-
Grafton OF the human family she seeks, and
thus too only so far as the things CT time may
90. Her cardinal truthes, or principles, are
as have said, Friendship Love, and Truth.
| 7 ,et ma examine these for moment and see
how far :hey are cupacltated to amoliorate
tbs condition eff man, and elevate him to
That station of universal brotherhood, which
is the design of the order. (Frlendshlp,) 1t
! is by this we seek first to extend the hand,
that shall ever sustain him in the difficulties
of life, by this we invite him 10 leave those
who surround him as the woul tie friends OF
the world, by this we take him from the
sordid and selfish condition of }ite,N ans ele-
yate him to that condition. which enables
| him to share the pleasures Of society. 1t is
this that ever, no matter in wha. land or
cline he may be, will bring him, as it were,
| in the bosom ofhis family. 1t is this that
places him among the universal brotherhood
of the order. (LoveD Smile not Ladies',
we seek not to deprive You of your share OF
the affections of man. but seek to consecrate
the enlrts Of friendship, by the gentle in.
fuepce Of love, for by this we are enabled
to meet the brother IN pleasure and IN pain,
by this we assume the prerogative OF con-
trolling his evil acts, and by this we are en-.
abled to keep before him the covenant OF
Him who loved as brother. (Truth.)-l
need scarcely dwell upon this, for at glance
you perceive, that the others were vain
withcutit. Truth may, in Odd Fellowship,
be defined to be sincerity. Away with the
profession, j, be al low.hoartedness, .
mere tinkling symbol. It is by this, and
this alone, as in all things else. can we test
the true Odd Fellow. 3
Let US examine the second branch of the
order, the practical effect Of Friendship,j
Love, and Truth. We visit the sick, we
bury the decd and educate the Orphan.
The universal question Of an Odd Fellow,
does brother know Of sick brother, or
brother in distress! This is the first, and
great duty Of an Odd Fellow. TO GO forth as
the messenger Of love, to sustain. to snp-
port, to comfort the brother in distress, be it
Of the mind or body. Can you, who have
smiled in derision upon the order. behold
the kindness ofa brother, Watching with 2
mothers care, sisters love; with fathers
anxiety, and brothers attention. the sick
bed -side Of one, who 10 writing in the ag-s
onies Of disense?-Can you see. him, the
generous Odd Fellow, for time forgetting
the cares Of life, and every sympathy Of his
nature aroused in behalf Of him who is suf-
feriug?--Can you sec him cool the parched
lin, Or battle the fcvered brow, with all the
rentlcness Of love, ard then proclaim to the