Daily national Democrat., 1860-07-28
Daily 9atlonaI Democrat.
ADDRESS,
Delivered by VIM. III. Rhodes.
on THE OCCASION OF
LAYING THE CORNER STONE.
OF THE
Odd Fellows Hall at MarysvilIe,
JULY 9TH, 1860
brethren OF THE ORDER,
LADIES, AND FELLOW -C1rlzESs


BRETHREN OF THE ORDER,
LADIES, AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
1t is no unusual circumstance amidst pomn
and pageantry, to lay the Corner Stone of n
monument 1t is nothing uncommon on n
public day like this, to behold the waving of
banners, to listen to the strains of natriotic
music, and hear the heavy tramp of thousands
Other generations, in other lands. have re-
Jolced as we now rejoice, to see laid in i'm
perishable cement, the foundation stone of
some monumental structure, whose solid walls
should survive for centuries, and carry far
down the stream of time, the memory Of
great man, good deed, or a glorious cause
1T Is not difficult for the student of history
TO recolect these grand gala-days of ma
lon's glory. l remember one distinctly now
More than half a century has elapsed since it
occurred but it belongs to an era, and u
name, that can never be forgotten. The
hand that laid the corner stone, had, since the
event it was intended to commemorate, grasp
ed crown and built up an empire. lie had
founded a dynasty, and persuaded himself
that it was erected upon an everlasting basis
Five years after he had gained the menora-
bic battle of Marengo, whilst on peaceful
Journey to Milan. the capital of Lombardv.
with her "Iron Crown" the Emperor Ma
poleon turned aside from his path, and visited
once more that terrific scene of carnage and
disaster, where the Sun of Austria had gone
down in gore, and his own star, risen from
the horizon bright with the halo of victory.
and baptized 10 the blood of Desaix The
bones of his brave comrades still whitened.
che plain, and the plough-share had turned
mp many a fragment of corroding steel, which
spoke in tones no less distinct than the thup-
ders of Melas of the terrors of that battle
morn. The historian of his life informs us
that the Emperor, amidst the plaudits of ad-
mring thousands laid with his own hands
unon that blood-dyed plain the cornerstone
of a monument to the illustrious dead.
We too, fellow citizens, have assembled this
day, TO lay the foundation of monument.
But how different the circumstances under
which we meet! how much nobler the pur-
poses cur structure is destined to subserye
IL is monument for the living, not mauso
leum to the dead. True its foundation is laid
upon battle field but the combat has been
fought against the wilderness, and the VIC
tory gained by civilization, over barbarism.
The foes that have been met and vandnished
are the SORROWS the ills, and the msfortunes
of our race. The great soldier under whose
banners we have fought and conquered.
boasts name more truly glorious than that
of Napoleon, before which, the lustres of his
battle fileds "pale their Intellectual Gres." and
the gems Of his dadems grow invisible a
name whose resplendency shall increase with
the lapse of years, till distant posteritv en-
fghtcned by the principles which his life was
spent to uphold, shall greet the memory of
Thomas Wildey, the humble blacksmith of
with louder acclaim than re
sounded in the ears of the hero of Marengo,
as he led his hosts to victory.
We have met, this day, to lay the corner
stone of a new Hall, dedicated to that noble
Order whose principles We so greatly revere.
whose mysteries are so dear to the heart of
every Brother, and whose onward career we
regard with so much interest and pride. 1t
Is time for rejoicing and mutual congratu-
lations Happy is the brother who this day
beholds the first stone laid in that Temple
whose walls shall always echo with the triple
accents of Friendship, Love, ana Truth; but
happier he, who not many months hence,
shall witness its completion. May no disas-
ter interrupt its progress. or mar it its growth
of beauty from the plain. Let it ascend to-
yards the heavens, fit memorial of those
principles which never fail to conduct thither
the spirit Of every loyal brother; and since
language can be no more eloquent, let me re-
peat the werds Of the greatest orator of
modern times, "Let it rise till it meet the Sun
in his coming: let the earliest light Of the
morning gild it, ard parting day linger and
l,lav on its summit"
Fellow citizens of Marysaiie: although the
occasion of these ceremonies appertains more
to the Order Of Odd Fellows, vet it
is some what of q geaaral public character
and though any further remarks might be
useless as matter of information to the Breth
ren of the Order, still a concise history oft the
origin, principles. progress and present con-
didon of Odd Fellowship may not he map
propriatc at this time nor unweicome TO you.
Convinced that upon theme so interesting
YOU will give me your attention, shall pro-
ceed without further prefcee to address you
on that subject.
The wisest and most variously endowed
an that England ever produced, has left as
a legacy to posterity a small volume Of essays,
in one of which, this beautiful sentiment
occurs "Surely it is heaven upon earth to
have mans mind move in charity, rest in
providence, and turn upon the poles oftruth.
In this one axiom is treasured up all the wis
dom of all the ages of the world. In it may
be found equally the lesson taught by the
priest, the philosopher and the philanthrop-
list; it lies at the foundation of christianity,
civil government. and social order; and had
Francis Bacon left no other memorial Of the
wide sweep of his intellect, and the uniyer-
salty of his genius, this little gem would
alone haverendered his name immortal. 1t
has embodied in more expressive language
than | can command, the great principles of
our fraternity and in single phrase teaches
mans duty to God, to himself and to the
. word around him. 1t deduces too, the Ger
tain effects of the performance of those duties
upon the human soul, and likens its state, to
the simlitude of heaven. Odd Fellowship,
then, teaches us our duties in the several re-
lations OF life, and going one step further,
exacts their performance
And as that all? methinks hear some dis
appointed queiist exclaim. Is that the en-
tire burthen of your song; the sole result Of
all this parade, this waving of banners, this
public ceremonial? Why disturb the repose
of the community on your public anniversa-
ry, why hold secret and protracted midnight
sessions? Why impose penalties, monthly
assessments, and fees for initiation why erect
magnificent ed6ces and furnish them with
costly conveniences, splendid regalia, and
"iihooD iolhi hNtOihliOHSi IOis
Life is but simple art
Of duties to be done,
a game where each must take part,
race that all must run"
Why therefore create all this hubbub to
teach the world what it already knows. and
what the conscience of the least enlightened
man amoEg us tells him he ought to perform?
Alasl such is the perversity of human nature,
such the corruption of the times in which we
live, such the emnipotenee of self, that nei-
ther the voice Of the Lord God in the Garden