The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-05-14
startling Developments of the coming time

startling developments of the coming time
| We claim not for Odd Fellowship per
fection-for nothing is perfect, save what
Is Divine Yet we do claim that there is
no mere human Institution in this world
equal to it in power to lift man to his true
destiny. And while / make this assertion
In all meekness, as one Of its humblest
members, as one Of the poorest ensamples
OF Its living principles; for the mere sake OF
argument, ! would not add one word, but
would place before you, without comment,
fearless Of rcfutation, the simple PROPOSE
| tion-that as a lever to raise man moral,
mental and physical powers up to the true
| standard of his birthright, Odd Fellow
ship Is pre-eninent.
| As there may be some here who have
not had the time or opportunity TO exam
! inc the subject, allow me, to the best of
my ability, to present for your considera-
ton, few Of its leading features
Odd Fellowship has platform. 1t is
not a Philadelphia, Baltimore or Cincin-
natl plattorm-it was not built by or for
any party, sect, denomination or school .
but built for the Race. 1t spans the desti-
ny OF man, and bridges the misfortunes
and Ills of life, from the cradle 10 the
grave, broad enough for all the living -
No political earthquake can uphcave it, no
tornado OF fanaticism shake. no waves OF
sin subInerge, for it rests on pillars hewn
out of eternity, and based deep a, the p.--
cesslties Of man by the tather-hand of God !
Its political creed is All mankind are
Brothers, all men have one common life
all have one common death.
Its religious creed i, Belief in Su-
preme Being, Creator, Ruler and Preserycr
OF the Universe It's moral creed is, As
We would have Others do tOyou do We even
so TO them" Its social creed Is, Visit the
sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead
succor the widow and orphan. What do
you think OF TINS platform? What do you
think Of this creed! Are they not com
pletc?
With your permission we Will give some
OF the details OF its government and prin-
ciplrs. 1t, organization consists OF Subor-
dinate Lodges and Encainpment-, State
Grand Lodges and Encampinents, and "A
|. ) Grand LOdge and Encauipmcnt. The
Encalnpmcnt is an advanced step oi the
order. \ member OF the Subordinate
Lodge may be complete odd Fellow with
out advancing TO the Camp, but cannot
belong 10 the Camp without being efficient
IN the Subordinate. Both spring from the
same source, and haEc the same general
laws though the forms and ceremonies are
different.
Its government is Representative Re
publican. Each Loi-- and EncaInpln.nt
III each State elect a Representative 10 form
the State Grand Lodge and Encampment
Each State Grand Body elect Representa-,
tives to the L ) Grand Eody From TIN,
congress, which meets once a Year. comes
all authority, and although every subor-
dindte has lts own local constitution and
bylaws, they must conform 10 those emf
mating from the Grand Bodies. Copies of
the constitutions and bylaws are furn-
ished 10 all who desire them. 50 that all
who seek It's sacred Inyst-Gie, and glorious
affiliations may have. a fail huOwcdse Of
what duties are enjolned, and whether They
can or cannot I've up II tAe.. L. :, IL re-. u.re-
Incnts.
The question why j. it Secrct2 has
been asked thousand times. and ha, A.
often been satisfactorily answered If any
one should ask the question tonight, iny
only answer Is this, - protect the Dricr
from imposition, and thlt We may Ih. bet
ter take care Of our own household and
cherish our own family. for, though ~e &C
knowledge thar a. Gpi Is our Father so
all men Are our Brothers. We claim that
the Brother who by his money and eker-
ton, helps TO Sustain tie Household.
should fir-t receive IL, care and attention
W hen odd Fellow ship OPENS III. heart to
the claim ot Il Brother it enlarge, that
heart and cnablc, II the more easily 10
comprehend and own the claims OF man
in his universal Brotherhood Ny exr.ri-
euce aud observation have TAUGHT me. that
the better the Odd Fellow the better the
Phiianthropi>t and the man. The truth
ot this VIII be more readily seen d, We pro
gre-- with the subject
Odd Fellowship urges no man to enter
its sacred precincts; the matter l. present
ed 10 his mind. and If he comes at ali !Ie
comes AS free will Offering Of body aud of
mind 10 aid III the. cause of humanity -
Beior. he can be admitted he must he.
sound of body, so as not 10 become all i'm
mediate burden: he must be free. from
outward immortality that he may no; bring .
contempt he must profess q belief in God
the Father that he may acknowledge and
feel the claims of his brother man When
he enters he L. TAUGHT that he cannot be-
come o good odd Fellow, unless he is
faithful 10 his Creator. just to hs fellow
Men, truthful, honest, temperate and
chaste. and obedicnt 10 the laws Of his
country. Some have supposed, that odd
Fellowship would screen its members from
the penalties OF broken laws-,his Is a
mistake, for while il uses all its powerful
influence, even TO the death, that free and
impartial justice may be extended under
all circumstances to Brother, it never
holds its protecting shield over the really
criminal
While every Brother man and in duty
should claim all his rights and dues as an
Odd Fellow, he must yield TO all others
their rights and dues As he would desire
others to sacrifice their selii>hness upon
the altar of Brotherly Love for him and
his when in need, so he must be ready to
sacrifice his own seliishnes for the good of
others. Here let me say, the selfish man,
he whose world is circumScribed to Il
and mine" had better avoid Odd Fellow
ship, unless he comes under its influence
to be purified, for he will find, that as
much money and effort will be required Of
him as will be received by him Time
must be spent in attending the Lodge and
nothing but higher duties should keep q
Brother from the weekly meetings of his
| Lodge to assist in its business-after all he
gets more for his time than he can possibly
! give He who will lay hold of Odd Eel
\ lowship As a man should lay hold of any
| thing, will have his business talent called
into action, his heart warmed, his moral
| nature trained, his intellect expanded, his
purposes strengthened, and all the powers
and energies of true manhood enlarged
| Again money must be spent to deiray ex-
| penses, and prepare for the hour Of misfor-
/ tune, from which hour none are secure
/ and TO which all are liable Again, per
sonal and untiring effort must he given
Relieve the distressed, visit the sick. bury
the dead and educate the orphan, are
the great commands of our attiliation.-
But oh! who would not break through
this narrow shell of cold and .joyless self to
take up this glorious mission Heaven in
spiaed, self dedicated, to the changing OF
earth from its accursed seltishness, and this
earth is full of it, 70 the rottenness OF
heart and sickness of soul Seltishness il