The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-08-20
LAWRENCE, KANSAS. AUGUST 20 1859.


Other Lodges soon sprung up, and in less
than four years Lodges were established
in many of the principal places on this
side of the mountains. In those early
days Of the existence Of our State, Odd
Fellowship was working, and with liber-
ality almost prodigal was distributing its
charities upon the right hand and upon
the left, healing the sick, burying the
dead, and finding employment for the
destitute; and, for the first three years, so
great was the call upon the Lodges for
relief that the ordinary funds, though
large, were exhausted, and constant calls
were made upon the pockets of the mem
bers by collections and subscriptions, all
of which were promptly responded to;
and we have yet to learn of the first in
stapce in which the deserving brother was
sent empty away. The expenses Of
meeting were also so great that we wonder
how the early Lodges stood the heavy
pressure upon their finances. We know
of instances where sum as high as $500
was paid for room to meet in for single
night. Now we have between eighty and
ninety Lodges, with membership of
nearly five thousand, and every depart
ment Of the Order is in most flourish
ing state.
In briefly tracing Odd Fellowship from
its early history to the present time, it
will be observed that one of its leading
characteristics is that it is progressive in
its nature. Fifty years ago, in some re-
spects, it was little better than Baccha-
nalian society, meeting, as l have said
before, for mirth and harmony; this very
Objectionable feature passed away, and the
Order received new life and new energy
A step more, and the Order takes care
of and assists the widow of a departed
brother; once more it moves, and it be-
comes part of the duty of every Lodge to
educate the orphan. l know that it is too
much the impression, even among Old
Fellows, that ours "is mere beneficial
society, having for its single purpose the
relief of its members in the struggles in
cident to human ife." There could
hardly be a greater error than this; for it
has been we'll said by the highest author
ity in Odd-Fellowship, that we seek to
elevate and improve the character of man,
to Undue him with proper conception of
his capability for good. The intellectual,
as we'll as the Otter man, should be cult
waited.
Forty years experience has demon
strated the beneficial influence of Odd
Fellowship upon our race. And to-day
the welkin rings with peans of Joy from
the snowy hills of the Upper Cansdas to
the green everglades of sunny Florida,
and comes booming over land and water
to the cities of our own California coast.
But, bark methinks 1 hear the distant
boom of cannon, or the faint notes of dis
tant loud huzzas of rejoicing, coming up
to us from the cities of the pains below
where our brethren are gathering, as we
are gathered, to celebrate this gloriou:
anniversary. Whether spiritual or real
we receive the greeting, and send it north.
ward and onward, through the gorges o.
the mountains, to Nevada, Shasta, anG
Yreka, where our brethren are also as.
sembled to celebrate this glorious day
Let them pass it to our brothers Of Oregon
and Washington, and let the winds waf
it to the islands where our brothers ar,
gathered under the shade of the cocoanu
tree, celebrating by appropriate ceremonie
the Fortieth Anniversary of our beloved
Order. To-day we do more than celebrate
this glorious Anniversary of American
Odd Fellowship; we assemble around GU
affairs and consecrate the 26th of April il
all coming time, and for all future gene
rations, as day ever to be remembers
and celebrsted-but without intemperanc
or excess-by every Odd Fellow the worl
over. To-day we add another holiday t
the Calendar of the Saints; anothe
Fourth of July, to be ever remembers
by all who have embraced our gloriou
principles. This is well. All the othe
working days of the live long year W
! devote Our time to labor, and to perform
!, ing many of the serious duties REQUIRE
by the laws of Oid-Fellowship. Let u
then, one day in the three hundred an
sixty-five, with our wives and children
. aye! and our cousinsj too devote to JOY
, Gus and social gatherings, in rememb brand
of our Order; and while gathered in tn
public hall, or at the festive board, let I
not forget the afflicted on his bed of pai
the widow, or the orphan; but on this da
let the choicest viands from the table, Il
. kindest sympathies of our hearts, quiet
, and unseen, find their way to them; an
, so far as is consistent with propriety, c
this day let the habiliments Of sorrow
) changed for joy, and let all the poop
) rejoice and be glad ----