Washington telegraph., 1854-08-23
What is Oiad-FeEEOyvsniD!


from associations of different characters.
there would be but little, If any cause, eli
ther for asking or attempting to answer the
question at the head Of this article.
In considering the question, as we desire
to be fair IN its treatment, we should first
look at what may be the designs and cfccts
of the institution If they are those volun.
tary social arrangements by which men are
drawn together, by mutual sympathy, to
ward off by laudable means the contingent
evils Of poverty, sickness and misfortune,
which fall alike to the lot of the industrious,
prudent and idle-if they are designed to
encourage industry and virtue-if they em-
brace no sentiments or practices repugnant
to religion, Or the just designs of human or
divine government, then certainly, so far
we have no just grounds for suspicion of
their evil designs or effects.
The outside notion, prevailing to some
extent in almost every community, that Sc
cret societies are, in all cases, necessarily
wrong, found its origin, in degree, from
the abuses of these societies, which men
have committed under certain real or sup
posed aggravations. The mere word 'se-
cret' is, therefore, in some communities,
and with some good people, sufficient to
throw them into parozisms Of fear "Mur-
der and treason seem to them the appro-
pirate passwords, and political frauds the ap-
propriate insignia upon their banners.
That there have been abuses practiced
under the name Of secret societies, may be
true but that all such societies should be
held responsible for the doings of few mis-
guided men, is as unreasonable as to hold
religion responsible for all the acts of su-
perstitlon, violence and persecution commit
ted by pretended religitionists. 1t is no
more proper to suppose that the temples of
Christianity are to be turned into bacchana-
Ian halls, because Of the false character of a
few professors Of impure feelings. than that
all that is good IL secret societies should be
identified with iniquity, because some de-
ceived men have abused the principles Of
these fraternities 20 make the innocent
to suffer with the guilty, is as unjust in re-
lation to one fraternity as to another. by
Sc doing, we rob virtue Of her true merit,
to apologize for wrong.
So far as relates to the designs or effects
OF Odd-Felowship, we may venture the as
sertion that in the present state of society.
where the great practical maxim of life is,
every man for himself" and where rcli-
gious and political arrangement are so va
ried, and where no efectual provisions are
made to meet The common Ills of lie by
either, there seems 10 be a just demand for
such an affiliation as is secured by the bonds
of the Order of Odd-Fellowship for the fol-
lowing reasons
1st Because Odd-Fellowship aailiates
men of all political or religious views, with
out respect to either, on a basis Of mutual
fraternity, to elevate and improve all, while
each is assured of fraternal regard upon the
same principle of reciprocal obliga Atom
Such associations would not be needed, it is
true, if the great principles of Christianity
were universally carried cut, in which "ev-
cry man said to his neighbor, be of good
courage" or in which every one helped
his brother But that bright page in the
history Of man is not yet written. 1t is
seen and believed only in the dim picture
of futurity. Now, alas, do we too common
ly find virtue to be in the behests of parsi-
mony, rather than in the works of mutual
sympathy. Denominational distinctions or
party featies are more potent than the sub
lime law of love; and 'good will to man, ir
respective of artificial obligations, is rarely
found in any society.
Odd-Fellowship, however, proposes a sub
lime remedy for this detection in social rela-
tions, by eementing men in mutual inter-
est for mutual Improvement and elevation
Il offers no obstacles to the prosperity Of
others, while it positively encourages Indus
try, morality, and uprightness in its men,
bership. 1t loves others not less, but serves
Its votaTies more when merit prompts to
action.
For practical exemplifcation of the
principles here laid down, we cite a simple
case
A young married couple, in the interior
of sister State purposed emigrating to a
western region, in the hope of improving
their pecuniary circumstances. The day
was fixed, and the goods were all marked
for shipment. But by painful event, the
husband, who was an Odd-Feliow, was sud-
denly taken from the embrace of his wife
and child, to ''that bourne from whence no
traveller returns" leaving her and her son
to mourn in sad disappointment The boat
which was to have carried them over the
blue waters of Lake Erie, carried the news
of death to waiting friends. The Lodge
Of which Anthony Clarke was an honored
member. after properly consigning their
brother to the tomb provided means for
sending the widow and child to their desti-
nation. But, alas. before the boat reached
its destination, the widow was also a corpse
"a victim to cholera
Go with me NOW to a school in this State.