Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-10-29
hIEssRs
JOSEPH B. COBB.
O. III. GRINNELL.
SAMUEL Is. MALONE.
j. II. TURNER.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FRIENDS AND BRorH-
ERs.-We have assembled tonight to conlmemo-
rate an anniversary, gilmore than ordinary interest
We have convened, as votaries around the altar
OF human improvement, of moral and intellectual
advancement. We have convened as emulous
co-workers, in the great field of active benevoIece
OF efficient and well-drected sympathy. The
world with its distractng cares its agitatng con-
tcts. It's selfish employments, and its low ambition
are for the time forgotten, and we have convened
to testify anew, our zeal in tehalf of the advance
ment ofmdlvldual man, and social Masses in the ca
reer OF all Improvement, and progress toperiecton
/ As the chosen and devoted followers of Mahomet
make yearly, their weary and toiIsome pilgrimage
i to the shrine of Mecca, to obtain individual in
| splTaton, and imbibe fresh draughts atthe foun-
tain of faith, and sanctified ZEAL so have we con-
vened tonight, to receive additional impetus
in our onward and upward struggle for the promo
ton Of the cause we have espoused. That the
success of our cause, finds hearty response and
eXcites the liveiest emotions of interest, in this
community, we have now the most abundant evil
dence. The impressive ceremony, the imposing
presence-the brilliant array and the envening cir
cumstances which surround us, most choeringly
and emphatically attest it. To attempt vindca-
tion and defence of our institution in this age of
freedom of thought, and liberal views would be a
task OF supererogation.
The difficulties which it encountered, and the
trials which were attendant upon the ncipient sta
ges of its existence, have been most eloquently rep
resented to you, on former occasion. Suffice it
TO say it has trumphed over the aspersons Of the
malicious, and satisfied and removed the doubts
and preiudices of the honest. Ours is the pleas
ing task, to contemplate its present prospects and
conditlon-s leading characteristics, It's claims to
public confidence and respect, It's future designs
and expectations.
Perhaps l may be told that prejudices at this
late day, still lnger in the public mind prcjudices
which are founded solely in objections TO all secre
; societies. 1t istoo late This is eminenty an age
of moral, well as political progress. The mid
night Court of the Holy Veheme, may have CARR
ed doubt terror and trembling in the day Of It's
. tendency, and its secret agents have committed
= deeds, at which humanity shudders but the rad
ance and strength of the moral march has relieved
the weakness of society, and dispelledits gloomy
vapors The curtaned horrors of the inquisition
may still haunt the susceptible mind and the i'm
agination may still paint its ghastly horrors
But yielding before the force Of that great mora
current which has swept along with the 18th cen
fury, Its prisons have been opened and the instru
ments of torture now remain only as curious relies
of crushed barbarism. You may even point t.
the abduction of the ill-stared Morgan-his melan
choly and mysterious fate, and all the silly no
nance of the anti-masons. But fltrated and re
:" fined by the lapse of age, masonry stands as
monument of glorious association; the venerable
: survivor of more than thirty centuries. Obiec
tons against us viii not lie, if thus directed Th
sun love and truth beaming from the motto of GU
beloved order, shines too cheering and genial to b
l. eclipsed by caTils or susplsions. Our anti
:, chamber, may be closed to the minated but th
IS mysteries of the inner temple will stand the test
/ law or morals ofregion itself-and are barred on
" to those who are found Uortay. Conscious of on
strength and certain of our triumph in every quar-
ter OF civilization, require sponsors for all VIII
% Join our fraternal band. Fully touched with tn
spirit of the age, the aborers in our cause az
Is boldly pushing forward the work Our numbers in
k crease with rapidity unparalleled; the cor
temned brotherhood linked by Friendship, Love N
Truth is soaring beyond the reach of calumpy an
IL is sweeping on to a bright and hallowed destiny
Though of but few years existence IN this cour
: try the living evidences Of our work may be see
in every town, hamlet, and city ofthe Union. &c
BILE halls, dedicated to the relief OF distress, an
the nurture of SICK are reared on all sides, fro
tn within which peal forth nightly, the solemn straiI
of that sweet anthem, which attunes the hearts
es all Odd Fellows to the sacred work of their orde
Schools and colleges, the nurseries of the heirs
: our name, our fortunes and our character are see
springing up in our footprints, dispensing Il
ty beams of learning to those orphans of departt
Sc brothers, who are unable to purchase. We {
OF not forget as an order, the loved dead, and lit
~ ones Kindred and brothers who have gone befo
~ us, to the spirit land, areentombed in our mids
at and sleep beneath that turf prepared and tende
Sc by their fathers and relatives of the mystic ii
IS We are not inactive or inanimate, useless al
vn these are the fruits of fraternal efforts.
* can say with honest hearts, that while indeed t
ge days of the years of our pilgrimage, may ha
been few--they have not been evil, they have n
been proftless.
Under the odd and unique name which !