Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-04-29
addrcssed br Re-. Mr. FrfEe, d. EGO .lodge,

liz addressed by Rev. Mr.. Fyffc, of Eagle lodge,
| No. 100.
This was followed by an opening chorus in
/ which the entire mass participated, led by the
/ Ssnoert5rln6l and Ieicdertafel Musical Assocta-
4 ton, Of this city, md accompanied by Mentors
American Cornet Band. At that time the payii-
ionpreserited one ofthe most imposing scenes
4 we ever Witnessed At the sound Of the gayel,
the entire mass rose uP, displaying thousands of
gay, brilliant and varying resalias; and then, to
n familiar air, all united their voices in chorus,
filing the immense pavilion with the solemn
chaunt From the stand, the scene was sub
lime.
After the singing. ofthe opening hymn, Rev.
lid. WILLIANsoS, Orator of the Day, was intro
duced to the audience.
THE oRATIoS.
Mr. Williamson commenced by speaking of
/ the associations of thcpast-of great powers COM
bining together for evil TO uphold oppression and
tyranny and spoke of the benefits also, that had
arisen from association. United action, he said,
| had accomplished much in the past, but it was
inow accomplished much more in the present, and
strong and concentrated efforts were now being
made to unite the hosts humankind for God and
/ humanity. For this object the various beneyo-
ilent societies of the present day were Organized
4 and among them was Odd Fellowship, the MEM
! bers of which numbered two hundred th0ls-
and sOuls, with an revenue of million and half
of dollars.
The mission Of Odd Fellowship, Mr.. w. said
was to relieve the sufferings Of the poor, visit,
the sick, and protect the widow and the father
less. They combined together for good, and to
scatter the leagues of despotism. He thought
| there was never an age before which gave prom
/ Use Of such hope for man. The whole family of
man appeared TO be awakening to their true in
ltercsts, and the objects for which they were ere
ated. Thrones were lettering, and all over the
lcivilized world, power wns passing from the few
to the many, and united people was stronger
than any throne.
Tie reverend gentleman then spoke Of the
many improvements Of the age, and thought
/ they all tended to break down the barriers in
lterposing betwcen man and man, and unite them
closer together. This he said, was an geto be
remembercd-an age that would stamp itself
j on all future ages No poet ever dreamed of
such an age as the present He then spoke of
Todd Fellowship, and sail that all that blessed
and shed halo over the earth was combined in
the motto of Friendship, Love and Truth.
1 Armies there were, he said, whose business it
was to fight and make warfare; but other ar
mics there were whose business it was to bind
up and heal and the soldiers of war compared
to the soldiers of beneyolcnce were less than
one TO ter-.he nosts of war were many, but
they were not to DO compared to the legions of
Epeace and benevolence.
Mr.. W. then described the ''go-aheaditive-
ness" of Americans. They would birdie nm
elephant and go OIL hunting expedition for
| eold-:nake fortunes one day and lose them the
next They went by steam, 300 pounds to the
inch; every one took the lightning linc-a col
llision comes-a wounded arm is hound up, and
the dead are left to bury themselves, and the
first Jehu that comes along, off they go again.
They would bestride chain of lightning and
call for whip or spur to go faster.
He then spoke Of tho different sects and par
ties. Each ono has his party, and each one
thinks he is'right; each one has his hobby, and
he rides it with Gipin speed. Hence different
sccts arose.
Now, what was needed was great brother
hood, that would overlook all scctarian dfteren-
ces, and unite on common platform-this con-
| sentative power the speaker thought was in the
benevolent orders of the day, particularly in
Odd Fellowship; it was open to all, no matter of
what creed or politics. Men could meet in the
Hodge in social intercourse, of every denomina-
ton and party. There such things were forgot
ten; themission was to attend the sick, bury the
dead, and minister to the widow and the lambs
of the flock.
The bonds of brotherhood, he said, were
strengthened in the lodge room; the Democrat
could sit down with the Wing, and even a Know
Nothing be esteemed quite respectable sort
of person, and brother The hereto could
sit down with the strongest orthodox, and the
IorthodOx with the veriest heritic. twas a broad
platform, on which all could stand.
Mr.. W. thought the more benevolent institu-
tons there were, the better it would be. Odd
| Fellowship knew no North, no South, no East,
no Wcst-it was for one common humanity, one
God, and one brotherhood of man. There was
nothing ever occurred to mar the good feeling
that prevailed among the members of the Order
they were now two hundred thousand strong,
and indissoluble as the Union ITSELF and he said
that so long as the three links remained unbro-
ken, so long would the Union be united.
He then alluded to the occasion and the day
He said that Odd Fellowship, like better insti-
tuition, was as it were, born in stHbic and cra-
died in Inanger-from a revenue at zero, it has
| gone UP to million and half per annnm. 1t
has followed TO the grave twelve thousand Gifts
meulbers-visited two hundred thousand Of its
sick, and took care of thousands of widows and
orphans He would ask to be Snowman institu-
ton that has done as much.
| The speaker then introduced Father Thos
Wildey, Past Grand Sire, rs the founder of the
Order in America. To him, he said, belonged
the undisputcd title offather and founder ofOdd-
Fellowship in this country. 1t was his voice that
gave the keynote to the anthem that was now
being sung. uew the venerable sire OF anu
merous family, and in the name of Odd Fellow ,
! ship he commended him to the hearts oil Odu-
Fellows, and babe him welcome.
| Odd Fellowship, Mr.. w. said, was not made
lit grew because it was natural for it to grow
1t systcnlatized benevolence, and its success
would depend upon and be in proportion to the
fidelity with which the energies of the Order
were directed to its work. In conclusion, he
commended them to go on in the good work in
which they were engaged. Mr.. W. was frequent
" applsused during his eloquent Grafton
After the conclusion of the Grafton, the entire
mass Joined in singing closing ode, led by the
Saugerbund and Liedertafel Musical Association.
which was followed by Benediction by the Rev
Mr.. Livermorc aud the audience dispersed tothe
music of Mentors Band.
| TScIDESrS OF THE DAY
Tho presence of Thomas Widy, the founder
of the Order in tho Union, appeared to be
source of much pleasure to the members of the
Eorder. In the early part of the day, he was pre-.
sented with number Of beautiful wreaths and
bouonets, Indeed, these kind ofgifts were heap
ed unon him 50 literally, that there was danger