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


"a assemble alone, either for the purpose
f dissipation or intrigue? Mo-! you cannot
nus assert, nor can you honestly think, Tor
he lesson impaired to the Odd Fellow is
90 serious, too solemn; too mysterious ev-
r to be erased from the tublets of his mem-
~. We stop not here; the ministerial Of
ice of love ends not at the bed side, she
oes not weary. she does not tire; in the
onely watches Of the night she does not
merely make the effort, to comfort. to soothe,
o relieve the pengs Of disease; but with
he generous and true spirit Of friendship
md love, she slowly und sadly closes, the |
eve of the brother. she sadly en-
shrouds him in his last winding sheet, and
then rs the last sad memento, IN the meas,
u7ed tread of sadness, calmly consigns all
that rem aims of him who was born us we
were horn. Of him who lived as we have
lived, to the cold and silent earth. but
here 4 '.smile may be seen through our sad
ness and tears for by rule OF the or
der we place one Of the symbols that is
meant to cheer us in the loss VIC have sus.
tanned. We each aud all have measured
the tread that leads TO the last rest OF the
brother-we lave cast aside the regalia ap-
propriatc to Gu; degree, and mindful that
death levels all sadly, give up the remains
to the silent tomb, dopositing with them the
emblem Of HOPE. Does her ministerial et.
fee cease here? No: Tor like tho last sad
symbol, she springs up as pure, as tresh, as
the evergreen, and hope, the talisman OF
iov. points with love to her who has beer
bereft Of more than friend and brother, to
.hos. dear little ones, who by their mlstor-
tune. heye been thrown friendless, and u
lone upon the cold charity OF an unteel'ng
world With That sincerity, winch ever
Accompanies truth, the etdour a1tendan' up
on love; or the teuf connected WITH 'Tleuu-
ship, Odd Fellowship, at once seeks to eX
tend the helping hand TO the widow and the
orphan. She rct:res slowly and sadly from
the SPOT that covers all that was T. friend,
but turns with Joy, love and hope ia assuage
the grief Of those who have been bereft, and
cndeavors 70 relieve th"r wants, il any
there be- Thus you see that the three links
ure sufficient TO effect the purpose OF the Or
der. She need never 90 forth IN public
places, seeking objects Tor her charity, or
far her love. Those who feel as if they
would like 20 cultivate the finer, and more
noble feelings Of nature con enter our TIRES.
hold, and taste Of our pleasures iet II
they should enter from mere beneficiary
motive, kind Of pecuiiiary Idea of gain,
they will be sadly disappointed, and will
surely find, that the beauties and delights
are entirely different. The last report of
The Grand Lodge Of the United States con-
firms the statement lave made. The
practical good of the order has been fully
SO, forth, and shows to the world, that ours,
is. emphatically, working order. we
there find that lhe amount expended tor the
relief of sick, uad distressed brothers was
Sl54.2A7 CO. The amount paid tor the re-
lief Of widowed families, Sl5,6e6 II. The
amount paid for the education Of orphans,
So, STA 25 Tho amount for burying the
dead S22,7S6 OF. might here go into q
statistical detail, showing the various q.
! mounts that have been expended in tie ear
ier stngcs Of our history for the relief of dis
tressed brothers, widows end orphans, but
shall forbear, as am fully aware that you
are well acquainied with these facts, and
appreciate the efforts we are making to n
meiorate the condition Of man. The spec.
tace is rare one, and l may safely say, its
parallel cannot be found upon the pages Of
history-of 10000 men acting as one, mo-
wing on in tho most harmonious concert, en-
gagged in the one grand effort Of ameliora-
ting the condition of each other, and extend
ing the generous hand of friendship, the
sytnpathising heart of leve, or the sincerity
oft truth.
The student palses while coming over
the pages of history, at the assembled hosts
Of hattie in earlier days; he trembles, he feels
as he contemplates the scene through the
minds eye, when he reflects that these thou.
sands are arraigned against each other for
the purposes Of ambition, Of conquest, Of
power. Contrast the scene; the student
may in c(ter years behold in this land OF the
free, and home of the brave, this immense
army moving on, with all placidlty OF some
gentle stream, to d harbour Of SAFETY. ha-
ven of repose, free from strife, from excite
mens, from ambition, or lust. with one pur-
pose, one min, one hope, and that the high
and holy purpose ofaneliorating the condl-
ton of man. Brethren, the scene is such
as would invite the traveller to some noun
tains height to view the landscape, or, as n
most beautiful writer hath said, astounded
gazes, until all his sight and soul are in the
boundless prospect lost. lfthis fair pros
pect be blasted, these bright scenes Garken-
ed 1T will be the work of our own hands, 0!
some strange madness, of some foul degen.
eracy. No! Lot it not be thus; let us ever
remember to leave disputes and strife to 9th.
era; we in harmony must move. Let us ey.
| er remember that Odd Fellowship is pro-
gressive in it's character, and that as we I'D.
vance in the order, we increase our respon-
sibilities. as seEtinels, as guards, as officers
in the various relations of friendship and
love. To the ladies', would soy, that
would not be SO rude, after painting, or rath.
or depicting the beauties Of our order, and
then not extend Oh invitation to you, to
share IN that, in which, as the Poet hath
said, '.lovely woman shines brightest in the
ministerial office Of love- This we admit,
this we know to be true, but 80 high does
our order place you, in all that is lovely.
delicate and gentle, that We can never think
for moment Of asking you to share our
tolls, our labor or our work; but placing you
as tender flower, she is ever mindful that
you are guarded, protected and loved.
/ Having thus briefly set forth some Of the
principles Of the order, would respect.
fully address myself to these who are no,
members of our order. Ny frienas trust