The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-06-02

H. la..S.- NUMBER. H.
the beautiful in art ;-as be who sits Sabbath
after Sabbath under the droppings Of the sane
tuary, will feel something of the inspiration Of
the pulpit, so he, who, day after day, in the
sanctuary Of the Lodge, is taught the most
exalted of human sentiments must absorb
something Of the purity Of life and the loftinesS'
Of virtue. The ground must be barren indeed,
where so much good seed can be sown without
taking root and producing some good fruit. Il
But let us proceed to illustrate our subject,
and dwell for moment upon the practical
blessings Of our Order. 4 s,sT.sl ss III,
see, in your city, young man full Of life
and healtl-he is stranger in your midst.
The days of his boyhood were passed, perhaps,
among the mountains and valleys, amidst the
spreading elms and happy school houses Of New
England. His thoughts are bright with the
memories If ,,s ,7fs=,g.49s@si,@
q The schoolboy spot
We ne'er forget, but where We are forgot"
He has been nurtured amidst the refnements
Of cultivated life. He has been crowned with
academic honors--he has walked among his
equals in polished circles and in courtly halls
he has laid up stores Of knowledge in choice
and magnificent libraries, He has drank deep
Of the Pierian spring, and fondly pondered
over the classic page Of antiquity. He has felt
the Inspiration Of art in splendid galleries Of
sculpture and art-he has courted science and
philosophy, and has fitted himself for liberal
profession. He came here in quest of employ
ment, and he dreams Of future fortune and fame.
Months pass away, and he still finds himself q
stranger, with diminishing means Of subsistence,
and without friends to encourage him. His
visions of wealth and fame are fast vanishing
before him. .Fs,g' - 15-9 .,-}7
"Ah few can tell how hard 1t is to climb
The steep whore fhme's proud temple shine aiar;
Hath felt the influence Of q malignant star, S
And waged with fortune perpetual war"
He yields to the first emotions of despair
he invokes in vain the memories of his boyhood,
his father, the high resolves of his YOUTH to in
spire him with fresh courage. His once strong
arm falls paralyzed by his side, and his heart
sickens and shrnks within him, at the cold hand
Of welcome that greets him in the hand Of the
stranger. That young man needs friends
'ympathyzing, active friends, and in his ordi-
nary intercourse with his fellow men, he has
failed to find them. He passes the threshold
Of an Odd Fellows Lodge The fires kinded
OH the affairs of Friendship, Love and Truth,
shed new warmth on his heart. The single
rod is united in the bundle with its fellows, and
has acquired new strength by the union. He
is no longer alone-he feels the grasp Of a thou
sand friendly hands thousand voices whisper
hope in his ear. Encouragement is attended
with success. He is going on in his career Of
advancement. and will become an ornament to
society, and an ardent missionary in the cause
of Fraternity and Charity. Odd Fellowship
has rescued noble spirit from the depths Of
the BATTLE and made him a hero in the strife
You find yourself a stranger in u distant
city--you are stricken down with disease--you
need relief, and no helping hand is near. Stran-
gers pass by you without needing your call.
You utter that cry of distress, which no Odd
Fellow can hear without answering Heaven
gives car to your appeal and the angel Of
Friendship, Love and Truth soon ministers
around your couch of suffering You are no
longer the neglected stranger. Friends and
brothers stand by your bedside, and you pass
through the ordeal Of disease with all the min
istrations Of kindness and fraternity.
But it is needless to consume time in illus
trating the practical benefits of Odd Fellow
ship. The sultrness Of the hour, and the
fatigue which most Of you must necessarily feel,
after the procession of this morning, admonish
me to be brief. pass over much that might
tention to the blessings Of the Order in NewOr-
leans. And residing as do in distant por-
tion of the State can entertain no delicacy
in announcing unreservedly my convictions on
this subject. Go back with me then, to one Of
the most trying periods in the history Of the
Order here. f., I ~,
The spring of 1853 opened as beautifully up
on your City as it did in 1866. Then, MS now,
nature was rcdolent Of the breath Of flowers and
the music of birds. AT morning and evening,
refreshing breezes were waited on joyous wings,
over the throng Of happy life within your gay
metropolis. Little children, full Of youthful
gIee, gamboled upon your public squares men
pursued their avocations with brilliant promises
before them-womans happy smile irladiated
every scene strangers in your midst felt q glow
Of joyouslless under the thrilling influences of
that delightful spring. Mirth and music and
testivity, infused new life into the pageant.
Even the Sun, as ii participating in the general
gladness, went down with his banners Of purple
and gold, all waving over the happy scene.
and stars on the joyful picture Of happiness and
reyelry. t.t g
"A thousand heartsheat happily, and when 3, ~,
| Music arose with its yoluptuols swell, q
Soft eyes looked love toeyes which spake again,
And all went merry ~ . marriage hell" ]
joyful families united in the fond endear-
ments Of domestic bliss assembled in little
groups, to realize the blessing Of the present.
and indulge in the pleasing visions Of the future.
Joyousuess enliyened every social board con-
tentnent smiled in every street, and health and
hope were radiant in every face. .......,54
But wien few months had passed away,
how changed was the scene The music Of
merriment was tarned to the sigh Of despair.
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