The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-04-19
HILLSDALE, MICH, TUESDAY, APRIL 49, 1859.
ADDRESS.

ADDRESS.
Delivered before Rural Lodge, 4. o. o. f.
No. ~, on their Fourth Annivsrsary
held at North adams, March lsM 1859
pY Rev. >. BoYHroS.
Opp FrLIowshIP.--Tho institution Of
the "Independent Order Of Odd Fellows"
has arisen out Of the force Of circumstances.
In all ages of the world, and in all coun'
tries there has been reverses Of fortune,
poverty, oppression and carelssness on
the part of those in easy or affluent circum-
stances in attending 70 the wants Of the
needy, and the absence Of those social feel
ings which are 70 essential to tho harmony
and comfort Of the great whole.
Under such circumstances notning Ia
more natural than that those who are thus
exposed to what all iustinctieHy dread,
should resort to some means to avoid the
unhappy fate that has overtaken SO many
thousands. TO do this men seek for
wealth as their surest protection. In seek
ing for this, thousands fall into the whin-
pool they were trying TO avoid; while some
who are so fortunate as to arrive at the goal
Of their sondest wishes, arrive there with
scared or callaced sensibilities hearts
10 hard annd cold to be touched with the
iufruities aad Affections Of the unfortu
nate.
That such is the state Of affairs, under
all the advantages Of the age will not be
questioned.
1t is this spirit, not the want Of means,
but a fear and interest for self, for sclf
alone, that has allowed want to glut itself
and gil tho annals Of. the dav with the
awfal details of misery, suffering and
crime, which exists in our midsts where
there is al abundance, m where we have
Wholesome laws for the relief Of the needy.
Impressed with these facts men have en-
dcavored to devise means BY which they
might avoid this catastrophy so mach to
be dreaded, and at the same time 10 rene.
dy those other social evils which exist in
society. They have seen one and another Of
these means fails Of accomplishing tho ob.
ject they had in view. The bonds Of un.
ion in these social organizations were such
feeLlc cords that they have soon parted as
sundcr, have fallen aid are no more.
This lf.s suggested the necessity Of closer
bond Of eni6n--a more firm compact-a
moro sol body. As the result Of these
things, so have tho prcse,.t organization Of
Odd Fellowship, which has thus far gen.
orally accomplished the otject we had in
view, aad we trust always will until more
powerful Influences shall exert their proper
dominion over tho world mt large. Yes,
thousands in our land have been saved
from paupcrism and crime, by Odd Fol-
lowsbip anl this We bore she will continue
TO du.
The euc,;.on Is oftta askeA, "Wha. are
the Objects of Odd Fellowship"
This is asked, to, by those who call the
institution "a secret society," Il is unfor-
tunate for our beloved Order that this has
ever been sid OF US. Because many no
doubt honest have supposed that az we are
"a s,eret society,"" If they should attempt
it, it would DO impossible to ascertain
what Our objects are, and that the qu"s.
,ion ,hey have 50 frequently asked would
never be sa,sssctorally answered.
These persons viii no doalt be aston.
i'hed. whea say all the objects Of Odd
Fcllow-hip we're published to the world.
many years ago! II is true uiat there are
some things in tho institution that are kept
in the Order, but they are such things only
as are essential to the interests Of its mem
bers and the Order as a whole, and at the
same time do others no injustice whatever.
Now there is nothing wrong in the prin
ciplc of secrecy. But on the contrary it is
essential TO the existence and welfare Of
every organization. 1t is necessary in the
Executive, Legislative, Judicial and Militia
~ departments, Of tho federal and State
governments. Il is SO esscrtial that NO
Church can exist without this principle
IL is essential to tho pcxcc and prosperity
Of every family. Our secrets are as the pri-
vatc affairs Of every well governed family,
injurious TO no one, and beneficial to the
family only. You may think il strange, but
if the secrets Of Odd Fellowship were to be
published they would co you, who are not
members no good whatever, and at the
same time they would be perfectly harmless
They would not injurc you in your person,
family, property or reputation. In short,
men have as much reason to complain be-
cause each family in their neighborhood
have their private affairs, as they have to
object TO this organization. because it has
its private affairs.
In answer TO the above question, we re-.
mark--tbe first object Of Odd Fellowship
is TO make men "social and humane"
Who has not again and again mourncd
over the social distinctions in society p
Distinction not founded in iutellectcal or
moral worth, but In the moro circums,an-
ccs Of property or relations! Who is not
aware that men Of the greatest moral and
intellectual worth arc often thrown out Of
the positions they arc entitled to in soc.e,
ty, because, forsootb, they are not the TO-
,ored sons Of fortune, a. 1t regarde wealth
and earthly relatiobsa Odd Fellowship
seeks to remedy this social evil In our
sacred retreat" these distinctions founded
10 wealth and relations arc utterly dis
cardel. Odd Fellowship holds TO tho doc.
triuo that "worth," moral and intellectual
worth, mako the man, and the want OF
:. II n