Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-01-14

messengers Of our relief with generous
hearts and ready hands, have gladly borne
their angel mission to multitudss Of those on
whom the rough hand Of misfortune has laid
the burdens of sickness and of want; and
though no trumpet of public ostentation may
have heralded their acts, ye, tho dark shades
of the midnight hour has not concealed their
wearisome watches from the AL Seeing Eye.
or rendered less greatfnl to the suffering re-
cipients. the services thus rendered them.
II tits unnecessary TO proclaim the numer-
Y GUS acts of kindness and of charity that our
Q order sas dispursed It is sufficient ,hs,
s their remembrance viii be cherished 80 long
g as sorrow shall demand our minstering hand
{ to wipe awy tear, or the frail tenements OF
the human soul need the last sad Offices Of
the grave
, The qualification that we may justly feel.
} in view ofits successful! workings, and the
/ consciousness that We have boyne some hum
bic part therein, is a sufficient recompense
, for the difficulties that may have been expe-
rienced in our efforts for its advancement
have considered that at this day, when
our Order has 81 thoroughly exemplifed its
capa city and disporition to promote the Heav-
en- born principles on which its professions
are founded, and its claims to public conf
dence are based, that it may be esteemed
work Of supererogation TO endeavor to vndi-
ea'e its chirector from tho aspersions that
In past times have been heaped upon IT, or
II again reply TO the often answered OBJ
Jections that have been raised against it.
All human institutions are imperfect. aud
while the Cynic eye of janndiced bigotry
or heartless selishness may seek to find
weakness in our fabric, through which to
| huri The poisoned shafts of malice or of es
ror; the candid and intelligent mind needs
but tho knowledge of our principles, and the
true history of our institution and its work.
lngs, to appreciate its virtues, aud to award
the proper need of admiration it deserves.
II is the lot of all mankind TO err, anu
therefore while we cannot expect perfection
in any institution of human origin, the histo.
ry OF Odd Fellowship has fully proved that
we may confidently hope, through it's harmo-
Nous and wide spread agency, yet to behold
the time when the blessings it has sought to
provote shall be fully realized aad the evils il
has aimed to remedy shall be known CON-
paratively as among tho things that were.---
While would not claim that its members
are iniallible, and am free to acknowledge
that its sublime teachings and moral pre-
cepts may have failed to accomplish in some
instances all that may have been desired TO
purify ind elevate the character, yet ths ev-
idences are numerous that il has exhibited
OF mans triumph over degraded passions and
evil intentions. The exceptions that we may
find TO the moral influences ofour Order, can.
not with justice be made the ground of su
objection TO it1 utility Or power. m ..,
AS well may we rail against the procepts
ofreligion, because in every instance those
who have yielded assent to its divine doc
irines have not in all their conduct exhibited
their fathfulness to the requirements of their
creed.
As well may it be made against the efforts
'f those self sacrificing plillnthropists, who
rave erdeavored to rescue their fellow men
rom the dread bondage CT intemperancs. and
o wipo out the dark stains of wretchedness
nd woe that follow in tho train of inebrity,
ecauso some wretched victim has wander
d from the watchful fold, and sirayed again
lto the desQlate fields of former habits.
1t has been objected to our institution,
lore commonly indeed in past times, thana
he present day, when its designs are better
aud its workings arc more gen
rally seen, that ours is secret order, and
lerefore may prove dangerous TO tho vol.
ire of society.
10 answer this objection, we need but To
emand the proof that tire secrecy of our or
nnization has ever been used as cloak for
VII, or the instances whore as an order We
ave departed from our avowed designs.
We need but to display to such objoctor
70 multiplied acts of kindness ana ofoharitv
spersed throughout tho whole oxtcnt of
IT vast country through our organization,
G realities of which arc now engraved upon
g inmost hearts of greatful thousands and
9 memory of which will live so long as
endship shall be esteemed visitor among
o children of men, or love and truth are
ershed with the reverence that is due
DIR Heavenly paternity. To quiet the pat
tic jealousies Of those who can apprehond
our society some fearful OWL TO our com
IN country, it is but necessary for US TO
int to the long array of llustrious names
oughout our broad republic who are a
ng our members. OF heroes who have
ght our country's battles upon the tented
ID, Of statesmen who have welded the
hest honors in our country's CHOICE
ssengers ofthe holy gospel of our fai4