Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-12-23
Visit the Sick.

ed by Odd Fellowship, and binding upon
every Odd Fellow, who should strictly
and punctually attend to this highly i'm
portant matter. We should not only be
ever ready to take our turn, in rotation
to sit up with him through the dark and
silent hours of midnight, and render him
all the assistance in our power; but as it
is our right and our privilege to visit a
brother in sickness or distress, we should
never wait for an invitation to do so.--
And when we make these visits Of mercy,
we should not make them merely busi
ness matter, because we are bound to
their performance by our laws; but we
should do so from cheerful disposition
to do good-from sympathetic feeling
to mitigate the sorrows and woes of others,
to bind up the broken hearted; well know
ing that it will not only be gratifying to
the brother, but equally so to his friends
and relatives. When a brother is laid
low with tormenting pains, oh! how pleas
ant and agreeable to receive the visit of
some true and faithful brother-with what
a thrill of delight does he receive the
friendly, how consoling are these kind
acts to his troubled spirit.
When the cold and icy sweat drops of
death are standing upon the pale and vast
ed counteance of a worthy brother, who
is about to sleep in the long and silent
sleep of death-when he is about to bid
a last and long farewell to all he holds
near and dear on earth, oh. then above
all other times we should be there, that
his last look may be turned upon US, in
feeling of gratitude and friendship, for
this last kind and ilial act of goodness
All. when my time comes to "shuf1e off
this mortal coil''-when about to launch
my frail bark upon the dark and mys-
terious ocean of eternity, may have the
inexpressible delight of seeing clustered
around my dying couch the well known
and familiar faces of my beloved breth-
eren, that they may wipe my pallid brow,
cheer my weak spirit and bid me "trust
in God" And when they have perform
ed the last duty of depositing my cold.
rigid remains in the house appointed for
all, laid them low in the cold damp grave
may they there shed over me the tear
drop of affection; and after casting upon
my coffin the evergreen, the emblem of
immortality, may they, under its chastiDg
influence, sacredly renew to each other
the warm pledge of Friendship, Love and
Truth.
When God in the plentitude Of his wis
dom and goodness takes away from his
mundane world worthy brother of the
mystic tie, who leaves widow and young
orphans, see to it, brothers, that they re-
ceive your labors Of love and mercy. Re-
member there is no cessation from labor
SO long as there is any of his family left,
who may be in need Of your charity and
kind acts of benevolence. Call often to
see bis bereaved widow, and tender her
those consultations which you may be a.
bic TO offer; and make all needful inquiry
concerning her prospects and her situa-
ton; and if she is in want, make it known
to the Lodge, that it may make proper
provisions to supply her need. Never let
it be said, that Odd Fellows neglect those
placed under their charge; but be always
ready to wipe the falling tear from the
weeping eyes of the disco nsolate widow,
and hush the cries Of the mourning or
phans. Let that heavenly grace, pure
charity, predominant in all your proceed
ings, both public and private. Never let
it be said in truth that the sorrowing child
of humanity-the true Odd Fellew, has
applied in vain at your doors for needed
assistance. Never let it be said that a
worthy Odd Fellow has taken up his a.
bode in the poor house, or is dependent
on the cold charity of the world for sup
port.