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

Oratiom
Delivered before The Independent Order of Odd Eel
!o'cs Of Ne,p Orleans on the 26th Of June, 1865,
being the Ihirty-sirth Annirersary Of
the Order in the United States,
BY BRO. JOHN E. KING, OF ST. LANDRY.
Brothers, and fellow citizens:
This is no unmeaning pageant. The mag
nificent procession which has this morning ell
.ivencd your city with its spirit-stirring music,
its glittering symbols and its bright banners
flashing back the rays of the morning sun, has
indicated an occasion Of great public interest.
The gorgeous emblems, and the splendid
insignia OF Office, visible every where around
us, tell us that we are participating in no ordi-
nary scene. This vast concourse Of citizens
this multitude OF animated laces-this bright |
array Of the beauty and chivalry Of NewUr-
leans, all actuated by one common impulse, u.s.
sembled in this hall dedicated to Friendship,
Love and Truth, too plainly teach us that this
is a day OF no common testiyity.
We have assembled to celebrate the Ami
versary of Odd Fellowship in the United
States-to commemorate its origin, its early
struggles and its noble founders To dwell
upon the memories of its past to contemplate
the grandeur Vi its present; to anticipate the
splendid destiny Of its tuture-:houssnds Of
fair women and brave men," have thronged
this temple, erected by the munifcent benevo-
,ellce Of our Order.
1t would be inappropriate to the occasion not
to say something OF the early history, the lead
ing principles, and the practical blessings of
Odd Fellowship. But my time Of preparation
has been too limited, aud my professional en-
gagelnents too urgent to permit me to do any
thing like adequate justice to the noble theme
these must plead my apology for the desultory
manner in which the subject will be presented.
Ihirty-six years ago in an obscure building
in the City of Baltimore, five men assembled to
take the initiative in founding an association,
whose noble mission should be, to visit The sick,
to relieve the distressed, to bury the dead and
educate the orphan. They were sojourners in
the land of strangers they doubtless felt in
themselves that the pilgrimage of life was dreary
at best, without the sunshine of fraterna alfec
ton chastened by pure and elevated virtue.
They saw around them suffering without the
means of alleviation disease Without the solace
of relief; and death without parting consoa-
ton. 10 provide all adequate remedy to Or
ganize in work OF beneiicence; to relieve the
distress of the sick and the afflicted to aid the
ndgent widow and the helpless orphan to ell
large the affections and exalt the morals of
men they bound themselves together indisso-
ubly in the bonds of fraternal affection. The
Angel Of Charity smiled upon that asscmbage
of noble hearts, and in the midst of darkness
and gloom, pointed them to brighter prospects
in the future. AS Moses was permitted to go
up from the plains of Moab to the top of
Pisgah, to survey the rich Land of Promise,
and the scene of lsrael's future greatness, which
his own tootstep could never tread, SO they were
pointed TO magnificent visions in the distant fu-
Ia,
ceeding generations. Their scheme Of philar-
rance prejudice and bigotry. Its progress was
slow, and its success seemed doubtful for lime.
But, animated by a lofty purpose, they tri-
umphed over persecution and adversely they
established an Order which became the nucleus
OF Il rich cluster OF associations, bound together
i'll one common tie, and recognizing one conf
mon head. Time has rolled on, and after the
lapse OF thirty-siX years, more than two hun
dred thousand philantropic men are bound in one
vast fraternity, engaged in Offices of noble be-
netcence. The revenue of the Order is estima-
ted at 81 $4,000, out of which $53OO0O were
expended during the past year for benevolent
purposes, exclusive Of donations not included
in this estimate. In this State, the average
revenue is about $4,000. almost half of which
was expended during the past year in relieving
the INDECENT and the sick, burying the dead, and
educating the orphan. Such is the condition
Of Odd Fellowship to-day. In its peaceful
march and final success, it has been not unlike
the progress of Christianity, which, originating
among the INDECENT and obscure, triumphed
over trials and persecution and having insin-
uated itself by insensible degrees into the bo-
som of u vast empire, the Gross, which had
been despised symbolized sublime faith, hung
from the neck Of the pious votary, sparkled
from the breast of beauty, ornamented proud
temples and churches, and glittered in the sun
shine from the Capitol Of Rome. So Odd Eel
lowship, from an humble origin, has passed
through its days of trial. extended the sphere
Of its usefulness, and established itself upon sure
foundations and now, the once 'persecuted Sc
cret association commands the respect of the
indifferent, and eAacts the homage Of the gen
erous and the good for its scheme of compre-
hensive benevoience. Under the lofty impulses
Of Friendship, Love aud Truth, it has left
gigantic footprints on the sands of time-foot-
prints which the waves Of after years will never
eface from the shore. 1t is the rod which has
smitten the dry stone of sel6sllness, and living
waters have gushed from the startled rock
Odd Fellowship is to-day, the gorgeous Rain.
bow which spans this glorious heritage Of free
men,-with one wing on the shores Of the