Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-06-20
NUMBER 8.
Such are the sacial elements fanned int

TO live and breathe. And we cannot con-
ceive it possible to mingle in such society
WI hout feeEng stronger resolu ion to be-
come better citizens, better companions,
better men. Who has noe fell the force Q.
these teachings? What Odd Fellow on
visiting the Lolge on an imitation or de-
gree night, has not left with warmer
glow of affection and kindness at his heart.
with more enlarged benevolence, deep
er charity, lofsier aspirations, and finer sen
sibili;ies.
t Some there are. who, startled by the
magnitude of our federation in respect to lis
tendency as dangerous 10 the liberties oi
the people.-Some, who regard our affilia-
ton as suspicious and corrupt on accoun. OF
the secrecy attending our deliberations
But TO such We would say that the ties oi
nationality and of patriotism, bind us not
more firmly to this Republic, than do the
endearing bonis ofoUr Fraternity. Eve
ry Odd ellow, from the Aroostook to the
kio Grande, is pledged not less for the
preservation of the Liberties of his country,
than he is for strict obedience of all her
laws, for any violation of which he is called
TO a strict accountability.
Whenever, therefore, the malignity OF
his nature impels him TO an infraction of a.
ny civil and legal compact, or to a wilful
violation of the obi cations imposed by our
Order, he is severed from our communion,
and like the noted conspirator of Rome,
compelled TO seek and obtain fellowship "a
broad, among the elements of his own cor
rupuon.
No less worthy of refutation is that i'll
founded prejudice, with its charge of cor
rupion, springing from the circumstance
thas the veil OF secrecy is drawn over our
councils. To this it is only necessary TO
say that Odd Fellowship keeps nothing Sc
cret which the world would be profted by
knowing. The principles of our Order and
the objects of our foundation have long
been published, and no secret eorrup ion
has ever been betrayed.
Around the altar of brotherhood meet
In fraternal communion the humble labor
er, the statesman and the holy man of God
and vet the statesman feels his dignity in
no way demeaned, and he minister his pi-
ETY. in no way shocked By such communion.
/ But why charge on Odd Fellowship that
as crime, which in society is deemed a ster-
ling virtue. Is secrecy, the feature o5jec-
tionable in our order, found no where else?
Does it not pervade every human breast;
every domestic circle; every learned pro
i fession; every commercial establishment.
And in each of these is not its existence
deemed essential to Its well being and pros
peri.y Were there no secret cement, NJ
hidden cohesive power to resist the repel-
ling influences which are constantly acting
upon society, and which holds il together,
who would be surety for It's stability and
present order? Lift the secret veil which
conceals from mortal vision the delibera-
tons of every bosom; he transactions oi
every household, and the ten thousand
hidden actions of every community. ani
who would be able to eniure the frightful
disclosure Let him, who would associ-
ate corruption with secrecy, tell Us The Sc
cret of hisown being: Why, al he bidding
of the will, the limbs move; the organs act,
and Inc mouth utters the thrilling language
of the soul? Let him trace the move
mems of his own active spirit, and unfold
to us The secret OF lis flight in its mysteri-
Gus wanderings in pursuit OF the rich treas
ures of thought! Yea, more, let him tell,
if he can, the secret dealings of Him whose
ways are past finding out, and whose dwell
linz place is amid clouds and darkness
And would he suspect his own being, and
its Omnipotent au .hor of corruption, be-
cause, forsooth, they are wrapped in the
folds of secrecy Nay, let him deal char
isably with his fellows, for the God of Ma
ture has cast the mantle of secrecy over all
his works, and its existence is every where
visible 1t slumbers in the humble plant
it nestles in the petale1 .fower-it moves
in the passing breeze-it rides upon the
beams of light glares in the aurora be-
reaIis---it uiters its threatenings in the SUBJ
terraneous bellowings--it displays It's de-
vastating power in the earthquakes march
+ land il sits enthroned in awful majesty in
the courts of the Eternal. And who would
dare impeach the goodness and wisdom OF
/ the Omniscient for thus concealing from
mortal gaze the hidden power, the secret
essence of all created things.
This feature, ,characterising and perva-
ding every department of creation, finds a
willing reception in the hearts of men :
then why should miniature feature in
human institutions be regarded as danger
Gus and corruptings The secrecy of our
Order springs from law of necessity; for
without it neither this nor any similar In
stitution could preserve its distinct charac-
ter, or find prelec ion from the intrusion OF
the unworthy. To the Odd Fellow this Sc
crecy is the magic Key, which admits him
to kindred fellowship---opens to him hid
/ den treasures, and entities him to all the
rights and immunities Of the Order.
Wherever his adventurous spirit may lead
him, he viii lind it an effective passport
and should adversely lay It's affective hand
upon him in land of strangers, he will not
be left 70 the cold charities ola selfish and un-
sympa.hizing world, but may demand and
obtain the services of the brotherhood, not
as common beggar, but as joint prophet
Oh. of an association to which they mutually
belong
We claim no exemption from the frailties
common TO humanity. Nor would We at
temp. to conceal the fact that many an un-
worthy applicant has sought and obtained
admission into our Order. What human
institution, however worthy it may bc..can
tru hfully boast of freedom from the bur
dens of ihe corrupt. The church Of God is
not exempt from the fellowship of the base:
Even the sacred pulpit, surrounded By all
its hsaven-sent sanctions, is often desecra-
ted by the presence of those who have
stolen the Livery Of heaven in which to