Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-06-20

by the golden chain of Friendship, Love and
Truth.-Friendship as its endearing base.
Love as its cemensing link. and Truth as
It's crowning spiral cap, pointing TO Defy,
It's fountain head. And indeed, it is a
pleasing reflection that there is one spot in
the worlds wilderness, where the angel of
brotherhood can rest her weary wings
Ten thousand alsars are consecrated 10 her
service, and myriads of human beings offer
their nightly vows to love and serve each
other, to be friends in storm and shine, to
be brothers in veal and woe
While sects abound and fanatics rail,
Odd Fellowship is brotherhood. While
broiIs and contentious and selfishness pre-
vaiIin the world without, tits. a blessed re
Election that in our lodge-room the spirit Of
brotherhood is cultivated, lessons of good
are there learned, which benefit the world
by practice.
The great lessons taught and inculcated
by our Order, are such as commend them
selves to the heart of the patriot, the phi
lanthropist and the christian. Among them
is enforced that mighty principle which is
beginning soeffectuslly to dim the lus5re OF
diamond erowns-that great principle OF
equality taught by Him, who spake as new
er man spake, that ''God has created of one
blood all nations of men" the sublime
truth, that, though man may be down trod-
den beneath the foot of civil power, he will
sooner or later rouse himself from the dust
of degradation, and arise in the majesty of
his nature, and in the strength of his reso-
lutte arm, to vindicate his insulted rights.
Odd Fellowship knows no geographical
boundaries. Its sphere is co-ex.ensive with
the widely extended family of man. 1t
seeks to level all distinctions, which human
pride and selhshness have erected, and to
bring all men together upon the broad lev
el of brotherly love. 1t does not pause to
ascertain the orthodoxy of an individuals
creed, before it reaches out to him the hand
of benevolence. 1t teaches that our sym
pathies should be with man; not because
he wears the livery of our own sect, or
worships at the same altar with ourselves,
but because he is man. Whether we find
him in the frost bound regions of the Arc
tic, or on the burning sands of Sahara
whether seated on the throne of empire, or
toiling at the anvil il;-whether rolling in his
gilded chariot, or pining amid the gloom
and damps of dungeon, we say to him,
he is our brother; and as such eni,led to
our services, whether of affection or hu-
manity, which it may be in our power to
besiow.
Odd Fellowship then, as it marches over
the world scattering every where healing
influence, and proelaiming a broader char
ity and more active benevolence, finds nc
sphere which is not its preroga:ive to enter
1t descends into the humblest places of hu-
man society, among artizens and laborers,
and comforts and soothes and encourages
them. 1t ascends also into the highest pla-
ces of the earth, and steps with authority in
the executive hall and senatorial chamber,
and breaches to the rich and great the duty
of fraternity, equality and humanity. Un-
der Its influence, social inequalities disap-
pear, prejudice is disarmed, evil passions
are subdued, and Friendship, Love and
Truth are installed among our objects of
reverence and worship.
Our order also teaches the duty of broth
erly love. He who looks upon this Institu-
ton merely as mutual insurance society,
will not see a 1.-THE of It's real beauties.
True, mutual insurance is one of its distin-
gushing features, and one which is highly
priced; but Brotherly Love is the great idea
the emphatic touchstone--the primal
principle which gives our order its vitality
and force. tits this which imparts charm
to our Lodge meetings, which makes the
members diligent and prompt in their fra
ternal offices, and renders them willing to
bear one anothers burihens. The sentiment
IT,, t.x. =.
among them, is that of charity; the "chari-
ty that suffere.h long and is kin that do h
not behave isself funseemly, seeke h no. her
own, is not easily provoked-beareth all
things, believe h all .hings hopeih all things.
endureth all things--the charity that never
faileth." Yea, the charity that pursueth
wi, h affection and entreaty the footsteps OF
an erring brother, that stayeth the hand of
severance, until all efforts to reclaim and
save him have proved unavailing;-the
charity that droppeth the tear of sympathy,
and administered the balm of consolation
to the afflicted; the charity that remem-
bereth the mourning widow in her loneli-
ness, and careth for her helpless babes in
their orphanage;-the charity that beareth
relief to the dwellings, of hungry poverty,
and asketh not for legal claims 10 such min
istralions;-the charity that can not look
unmoved upon human suffering in any
quar.er.
Such are some of the great and impress
i've teachings of Odd Fellowship; and to
those who are truly susceptible OF the i'm
press of these great truths, who can doubt
the mighty salutary influence they must
impart. Indeed, we can conceive of no
influence better calculated to restrain the
wayward spirit, and TO inspire the noblest
purposes in the breasts of all, than that
which arises from frequent attendance
upon the weekly meetings of our Lodge.
Here around the sacred altar of Brother
hood, where Friendship, Love and Truth
have spread their green memorials, have
met band of brothers, knit together in a
common cause of mutual interest, fellow
ship and love. Here the moral feelings are
brought directly under the teachings OF
our order. The casts which society has
arbitrarily assigned, are here forgotten
the rich and poor, the high and low NEE,
upon the same broad platform. Here, man
stripped of the disguise which circumstan-
ces of pleasure, or business often throw
around him, reveals the native dignity oi
his soul, and the long imprisoned man un-
shackeled, comes forth, utsering his own
true language of love for his fellows. and
! compassion for the distressed.