The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-11-29

tried to get up an argument OF slavery
but his companions seemed adverse t
bringing up topic of that description
where each knew nought concernin!
the others opinion on the subject; an,
that, too, in section of country through
which we were travelling.
| Finding that topic unsaleable, h
next proposed that each in turn shoul'
sing a song or relate a story. Thi
proposition was quickly responded to
and the proposer led off with a fint
song, sung in no mean style. Blythe
way, | found, upon arriving in Mont
gomery, that the little gent was, BY
profession, a singing-master. One afteI
another, both of song and story, follow
ed, until all of us had performed oul
parts, with the exception of the gentle
man next 10 me, and in whom had
taken so great an interest Upon being
requested to contribute his part towards
the entertainment Of the company, he
said:
Gentlemen, I am no singer, and
fear me much, but poorly qualified to
interest you in any story, either of the
marvellous or mirthful; but with your
permission, will relate truthful
scene in my own life, by which you
may perhaps think more favorably of
that Order denominated Oid-Fellow-
ship, and concerning which you have
all expressed an opinion.n
No objections being offered, the mar
-, 4or oa1 b,r,c,lf - s. III -
situation as circumstances admitted
of, and in deep, clear tone, and Ian
guage which fear will lose much of
its richness in being transcribed by my
pen, related the following incident
"a little more than year ago. he
commenced, ~ was crossing the ferry
from Jersey City to New York A COM
pany of Odd-Fellows were on board, re-
turning from the burial of one of their
members. Each wore on his left arm
the usual badge of mourning, whilst a
rosette of black, with white or red
centre, according to the grade of the
wearer, was fastened on the coat direct
ly over the heart. | had heard much of
Odd-Fellowship, of their good and char
liable deeds, kindness to the sick and
distressed, assisting, munifciently, the
widows and orphans of deceased bro
theirs, and Of countless humane but not
oft-witnessed acts of goodness between
man and man, all of which, however,
attributed to their own ingenious
method of gaining notoriety and honor
for deeds performed only on paper, or
merely in the abstract, without afford |
ng substantial benefit except in the
small and not very benevolent manner
If paying some sick member Of their
,sOn particular Lodge, his weekly bene-
its, or, in other words, refunding him,
n part, the money which perhaps for
vears he had been paying into the
Order. In fact, was strong opponent |
o all secret societies, deeming them
detrimental TO the stability and safe
less of our glorious confederacy, with
n whose secret precincts, shut out
rom the prying eyes Of the world, they
ould concoct measures and organize
,odies which, at some future day, would
'ecome powerful enough to wrest the
ems of our government from the hands
f the political factions which now hold
hem, and by their strength and num-
ers annihilate our Constitution and
avs, and establish in their stead those
uited to their own tastes and views.
GAS many think to-day, I then
nought-looking with bitter reflection
pom the evils they might do, and not
pom the good they were doing. But it
not my intention nor inclination to
trive to convince you that former un-
1st views were as fallible as vapor.-
ct | will ask: How can any body of
len, however secret injure the state of
,ciety. when they ever stand with
pen portals, ready and glad to admit
ny man whose character is moral and
ntainted by any contaminating vices
here the ungodly and evil can find no
biding place?
with such an opinion as then fos-
red towards Odd-Fellows, you will
ot deem it singular that it was with
0 small degree of curiosity, | might
~ anxiety, that I watched this band ;
brothers, in hopes of discovering
me levity or unbecoming conduct at
ariance with their professed codes. !
as however doomed to disappoint-
ent. Everything with them was
derly and quiet, almost sad. In truth !
ey appeared more like loving fam i
= returning to their home, after con- b
gning to the grave one of the loved g
rcle, which death with ruthless hand
I'd torn away.
9I had witnessed military and other /
lblic funerals, and with pain had no. p
led the moment the body was return d
to its kindred dust they turned n
ray and with enlivening music and :
checked mirth, seemed to leave all 3
ice of sorrow in the narrow confines
their companion's last resting-place. Il
expected the same scene here, but
ss disappointed; and with better :
cling towards the Order | saw them
I'VE the boat and march up the street, :
o and two, with arms interlocked, j
ierty and decorous. ~ bl
. The next day arrived at my place N
residence, in city situated on the y
nks of the Hudson. That evening u u
counted to friend of mine, whom N =,
ew to be an Odd Fellow, the scene :
4 Ill 6