The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-04-28
ODD FELLows CELEBRATION.


On Tuesday last, according to previous noucc
the Odd Fellows Associations of these Islands
celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the institu-
tion of that Order in the United States. At lO2
A. NJ, Excelsior Lodge formed in procession IN
front of their room on Fort street and marched to
the Fort Street Church. escorting the Masonic
bodies lie Progress de l'Oceanie, and the Honolulu
Royal Arch Chapter, followed by the Mechanic
Benefit Union Society. Arrived at the church,
which was filed with a large audience of the resi-
dents, the Rev. Mr.. Corwin, pastor of the church,
delivered a sermon from the following text
Ecciesiasfes iv, . and lo.-Two are better than one, because
they have a good reward for their labor. For il they fall, the
one win lift up his fellow but woe to him that Is alone when he
faneth, for he hath not another to help him up.
In commencing, Mr.. Corwin said that the So
ciety % Odd Fellows had requested him to deliver
a sermon-not a secular lecture, las he had thought
they would have done-and that he should pro-
coed to give them a sermon. He could not be ex-
pected specially to endorse or support Odd Eel
~lowship, or deliver an apology for it, neither
could he be expected to disparage the order. They
had placed confidence in him as to how he should
speak to-day as a minister of the Gospel. His
subject was-Odd Fellowship; its right uses.
Men of all callings, classes, creeds, and nations
are clasped within the golden links of " Friend
bAARs AOFS anu III Y nAA "
place and rank are lost sight of in this and kim
bred associations. This community was peculi-
arly the proper ground for the operations of such
an association. Here were men of all countries,
from the driving, pushing Yankee, the firm and
persevering Englishman, the steady German, to
the light and volatile Frenchman. All these
could meet as Odd Fellows without distinction of
country. Here were different sects of religious
belief. The order did not interfere with these,
but was calculated to soften what otherwise would
be asperities. Here too were the hard listed me-
chanics and the aristocracy-these must meet on
the same level. God, said the speaker, has made
men social beings-the devil shuts up their fists
against each other. Society improves man-se-
clusion has the contrary effect. The institution
of the family-the relations of father, mother,
brother and sister-stands forth as sufficient proof
of this. But the best phase in which to view
Odd Fellowship was in its benevolent operations.
Mutual relief was its p~rofessed object. Each menu
Der paid in stately IA certain sum to the Lodge
Treasury. This was simply a deposit in a sort of
social savings bank, from which in his necessity
he could draw, without calling upon the charity
of the outside world. He would simply be with
drawing his Deposit 1t was, so to speak, a bust
ness transaction. But there were higher motives
those of covenanted friendship. They were
bound together in indissoluble ties they were
covenanted to watch over the reputation and
morals of each brother. All were alike honored
or dishonored by the good or bad character of one.
AS an instance of the influence of associations of
men, the Jews were mentioned. 1t was ~very.sel-
dom indeed that a Jew was seen in an aims house
or u Jail. Odd Fellowship does not conflict with
either the Church or the State. 1t is not a reli-
gious sect. Jew and Gentle. Protestant and
Roman Catholic, can all unite on this broad plat
form of Friendship, Love and Truth.
The reverend speaker then proceeded to draw
the line between Odd Fellowship and true reli-
gion. The first secured an outer responsibility of
life-the second reached the wants of the soul.
The first ~professed to practice the moralities only
of religion it elevated, but did not renovate;
it was the pale beams of the moon, instead of the
bright effulgcncc of day-sucfr was the compari-
son between true religion and Odd Fellowship.
Which would they choose. One might do to
live by, but would it do to die by?
The speaker, in closing his discourse, gave some
sound advice to the members of the order before
him. Let them strictly and unremittingly guard
the moral precepts OF their order. In this was
to be found the cause of their past and present
prosperity, and in this alone will be found the
guarantee Of their perpetuity down to the latest
generations of men.
Our notes can give only a meagre idea of the
beautiful thoughts and imagery which were scat
tered through the sermon. 1t was a we'll written
and well delivered production, on a subject which
is difficult to treat 50 as satisfactorily to illustrate
the harmony (which should always exist between
these benevolent institutions and the christian re-
ligion, and the relation which they bear to each
other. Among other pleasantries which now
and then crept out, we remember one-in speak
ing of the antiquity claimed for the association, he
said, IT'S true that Adam ,cas an Odd Fellow
but he remained SO no longer than he could make
himself eve1."
After the sermon, the procession reformed and
marched through the principal streets, preceded
by a band of music, to the site of the projected
Odd Fellows Hall on Fort street near King.
Here an awning had been spread and seats
provided for the ladies, who were present in great
numbers. The exercises opened with singing the
following ode, by the choir of the Fort street
Church:
All hail the glorious work Of love
Auspciously begun
The angels from their homes above
vii. gaze with gladness down
And cherub back To seraph call
To leave his shining throne,
And smiling from the crystal wall,
Will bless our cornerstone.
That stone whose mural strength shall bear
A temple broad and high,
Where Love shall wave his banner fair
And Truth and Friendship vie,
To smooth the rugged path Of life,
To fright disease away,
To guard from want, and wrong and strife,
And sorrows pain anay.
Then hail the nobIest work Of Love
Old tyrannies shall fall
The vultufe nestle with the dove,
When DER this earthly ball
The peaceful Temples of the ODD
Shall stand like cedars tall
When man shall live the laws Of God
And Love be all In all
After singing, an address was delivered by B..
F. Durham, Noble Grand of Excelsior Lodge.
As very few of the audience were fortunate enough
to hear it. we give it in full as furnished bv our re-