The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-04-19
Odd Fellowship, dear hearer docs all this;
rs many in our land can testify.
9Th Odd ErHoagship benrfks {1s fdai-

OOd FetOWsDtp, urI uoaIcs uooS MI tu's
as many in our land can testify.
5tb. Odd Fellowship benefits t1s fapsi-
ly efa brother, after he hns passed from
earth. His family are then carol for, and
their wants supplied. In September 1882
your unworthy speaker received an appoint
ment from the Bishop to the town OF
S., in Southern Michigan. | arrived
on Thursday and was called on Saturday
to attend funeral Of widows ch Id Who
lived some 2A or miles out Of town. The
time arrived for the fneral. 1t was
very busy season Of the year, and on
week day afternoon. You can well i'm
aginc my surprise when / saw one Of the
largest professions approaching the church,
that ever saw on such an occas!on.-
Turning to friend ! asked, "do your
people always turn out in this way 70 fu.
neralss" "Oh no" said he; "but this fam.
lily is the family of a deceased Odd Fel-
low" The mystery was at once solved
Now We checrfully admit that, that was
no more than we owe TO all families. But
when you shall have spent half as much
time in the ministry, as the speaker has,
you will have learned that generally when
the poor die it is difflcalt to get people e.
nough together to give the dead decent
burial. But it is not so with an Odd Eel
lows family. During my twoyeaIs stay in
S., the family above mentioned were
cared for BY the Lodge and their wants sup
piled. There are thousands in our land to-
day in comfortable circumstances, that would
have been in the aims house was it not for
Odd Fellowship. Thousands Of Orphans
are now we'll cared for, and being educe'ed,
that would ere This havo been thrown up
on the rold charity Of tho world, had it
not been for our nable Order. And what
is to me y pleasing thought, is that these
widows and orphans receive al! this "mate-
rial aid'' no' as charity; it is their right
Tho husband and father fulfilled his en-
gagNmcnts with the Lodge aud nov the
Lodge ia fulfil ing hers.
But tho crowning grace OF the Institu-
ton is the degree Of the Daughters Of
Rahrcca."
Here. woman il a'mit'cd to our sacred
sh"l,cr. H"ie she hecomcs ono Of our
great com, act, whose object is tho relief
Of the suffering, and, tho cultivation OF the
moral and social virtues. Ladies. We heartily
welcome you among us. We recognte
you IA co latoiers with lis in our high
calling. And we extend to you the benc-
fits Of tho institution in that you are put
in possession Of those prerequisites which
secure to you the kind Offices Of your Sis
ters and Brothers, in sickness and in Ills
trcss. The O,der did just and great
thing for woman. when il admitted her to
:he Lodge, and to the benefits and ltbors
Of love peculiar to it. And il ii be true as
Dr.. Clark "a, g, that "one woman is eq ,al
TO seven men and half" these brothers
must admit that the Order conferred a great
benefit on the institution when /, opened
its door to woman.
To The ORDER. Sisters and Brothers: !:
To tho principles of our noh" ns itu-
ton, arc published to the world. We
make high professions rs an Order
The world is looking TO us; and exercising
the right given by the great teacher from
God they "judgo trco by its fruit" As
they sec goodness or evil in Us, they
will jndga the Order to be good or evil.
The beauty Of any institution is seen not
so much in its professions as in lis work
ings and influence. Let us then, so live,
and carry out in our lives the great and
holy principles Of the Order, rs to ever pre-
serve ursu.lied its reputation.
To the mcmbors of Rural Lodge No. ~,
I would say: So administer the affair, Of
your fourishing Lodge, and so carry out
the principles Of the Order: that this com
munity may be made far the better for
your l,ving in it; and that many in days
ant. years to como may have occasion to
say; thanks to kind Providence for Odd
Fellowship.
To the public: We have endeavorcd to
give you plain statement Of the objects
and bcrehts Of Odd Fellowship. And We
know the thin !s whereof we spesk. Ifyou
see anything in this institution that is
pleasing; If you desire it; and are worthy;
We shall be glad to welcom you, as Sisters
and Brothers among us. But, if you do
no. sec fit to take this important step; we
pray you don't war against us. But while
we arc trying to improve the morals Of
men and to relieve suffering humanity of
its many woes; rs christians and philan-
thropists, bid US god speed, and allow us
to DO all the good we can.