Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-05-09

| muncation of friend with friend, is a privilege,
too sacred to be yielded or compounded /: and
| for the purpose of its enjoyment, none have a
| right to complain, whether we withdraw from
| their presence or commune by sigus, which they
! do not understand or perceive. But still
| it is urged, that secret associations have been
the hot beds of plots and revolutions, and we are
pointed to the illuminate of Germany and France,
| and to the secret clubs of Paris and Ireland
| Without stopping to show, that Revolutions usu-
ally follow oppression, and plots consequent
| . on BOTH and that these NAV be looked for until
human nature mas asserted the rights TO which it
is entitled by the God of nature-or to show, that
| in this country the great achievement has been
made, and the inducements TO plots, therefore,
do not exst-and that here, far more is to be APP
| pretended from sudden outbreaks of popular ex-
element, than from private and deliberative as
sociations-it is only necessary TO say, that the
chief subjects of human strife political and Sec
tartan differences, are totally excluded from our
'cogniz3nce; and no Lodge in the w. S. is ever
opened for business without The caution of the
presiding officer, that such topics cannot be adj
mttcd under penalty and permit us to say, Just
here, that the highest known TO the Order, is en-
pulsiOn from the society
Recurring to the plan suggested in our open
ing remarks, we proceed to more. important
part of the present duty-the principles of this
Order. Some of these have already been referred
tc, in the previous discussion, with some of the
do not intend, however, TO satisfy ourselves, nor
attempt to satisfy others, with a mere reference
| to the Odd Fellows platform. Our purpose is to
exhibit and explain, leaving the recommended
| ton to It's own merits.
AS the foundation of all moral obligation rests
upon belief in Supreme Being, who made
sustains, and governs all things-who has an I'M
controlled right to give laws to his creatures,
and subject them to It's responsibilities and sane
tons, we make this the basis OF thepattorn IL
self, and the first great moral test of qualifita.
ton for admission into the Order. The Bible,
therefore, holds an honored position in every
Lodge room, and It's sacred lessons become the
best illustrations of the Odd Fellows Duty as it
Is the source OF his principles. If there be a
magic force i'll the system, it is found in tie con-
fdeiice secured by a common Acknowledgement
OF the authority of that Book. This secured the
pledges and covenants solemnly entered into,
have received the highest guarantee for their
tulGment which man can give to man. Thus
we become brethren, associated for COM
mon and agreed purpose, not interfering with
any religious, civil, social, or domestic duty
And now, under the guidance of Friendship,
Love and Truth, the Odd Fellows abiding motto
and memorial, he goes forth TO consult his broth
er's wefare-to guard his reputation as he truly
may, and administer 10 the wants of such as
need assistance. This society, then, is protec-
tive In all Its purposeS-aggreSSve in none
claiming 10 descent from German Illuminatists
Or revolutionary clubs OF any country. Ii is one
OF Friendship, kind Offices mutual relief, and
charity, without regard TO party distinctions in
politics or religion, or TO membership in other
associations Our banner floats alot over the
preludices and animosites of Church or State
while the standard which supports it, is planted
upon common ground of harmony and good
Will The sphere of our charities is necessarily
limited by the resources of the Order; bat not re-
strlcted to lis actual members. While relieving
he If a1yb mfg
distressed attending upon their sick beds with
watchtul cqre--and Should death close the scene.
providing the decencies of Christian burial-be-
sides this, the widows and the children are APP
preached with words of cheering and assurances
of help. And this bright feature is the very sun
of our system, shedding its mildest rays upon
the habitations of sorrow--dispersing the dark
| clouds of adversely, and beaming hope and Joy
upon the widowed heart and downcast orphan
For carrying out these purposes of charity, the
proceeds from imitation and progression in the
Order, together with weekly or monthly contri-
buttons, after an economical allowance for ne
cessary expenses are sacredly set apart. Or
ganized under written constitution, with the
means and will for doing good, we enter upon a
field of benevolence, dark, indeed, by the mise
res OF man, but growing brighter and more
cheerful as we advance by means of the lamp,
and alterations of charity
This Institution, although claiming antiquity
in another country, is but of yesterday in our
own the year 1919 giving date to the first or
ganiZation, which took place i'll the City of Bal
timore. Good and wise and practical men lay
ing hold upon 1t as means OF amelioration in
this most wonderful age-an age marked by Oh
gantic efforts OF the Church to christianiZe the
WORLDLY fearful revolutions in States and
Kingdoms-by an ipordinate energy i'll the intel
lectual and physical efforts of man--marked by
astonishing discoveries in science and the arts
and marked yet further by the progress of vice,
crime and wretchedness Good men, we re-
peat, viewing such All age as propitious for in
vcsting capital in the stocks of benevolence and
mercy, have brought this Institution to It's pres
ent distinguished position among the great char
tiles of the day. Although recent in date, it is
strong in its youth, and confident in its ability
for good.
The following statistics as furnished by Re-
port made to the Grand Lodge of the u. States,
at its session i'll 1913, will illustrate what we
mean by the position, influence and usefulness
OF the Institution in this country
Number OF Lodges, 1907 Initiated during
the year, %, 1885 Suspensions 1852 Expulsions,
ISL Past Grands, 10,046 Past Grand Masters,
5O7 Revenue OF Subordinate Lodges, S74O,627-
50 Contributing members, 102, 09S Number of
Brothers relieved, 1884 Number of Widowed
Families relieved, 1923; Number OF Brothers
buried, 831 Amount paid for the relief of Wild
owed Families, $21, 100 Cd; Amount paid for
relief of Brothers, $171,O50 60; Amount paid
Tor Education OF Orphans, ST $50 80 Paid for
burias, $3l, 500 o6; Total amount paid, 234,-
| 65034.
BY thisi appears that the revenue for the year
| ending July 1S4S, amounts 10 S74O,627 80, and
| that the expenditures have been 1924 $50 81
! But this estimate falls far below the truth. The
revenue rises to nearly million of dollars, and
| the expenditures must rise considerably above
| 100000. This would have appeared, had the
! Grand Lodges of New York, Iowa, Illinois and
| NrkansaS made their returns