Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-05-05
NUMBER 9.


adopted; without being forced into the belief
that the support and perpetuity of govern
ment, the progress and refinement Of civiliza-
tion, the reformation and adornment Of the
Christian church, and the general elevation
and establishment of human character, de-
pend, in most important degree, upon the
successful formation Of secular and independ-
ent associations Of relief, fraternity and social
equity.
Hence we saw in behalf Of all associations
Of active human benevOlence; ask not for
guady rank nor patronizing and condescend-
ing recOgntions but demand Of government
and society in general that measure Of graft
tude which an honest and generous heart exj
hales upon the hand Of good heighbWlfood
and brotherly kindness.
Respect, gratitude and support are the Sa-
cred rights Of all such associations, be they
Religious, Dru;dicaI, Masonic, Good Samaritan.
Hebrew Benevolent, Iiibcrnia Benevolent, Odd
Fellowship, Foresters or Sons of Temperance.
Where the aim is to keep renewed the Wild
ow's ntal, TO magically increase the scanty
loaTcS and fishes of the feast, to turn water
into wine, and to substitute garment OF
praise for the spirit of heavincss, there will be
seen the substantial signs Of a Divinity, rccog-
nilcd in Heaven, and worthy Of the gratitude
and admiration Of mankind.
That Odd Fellowship is an order Of this
kind, with most exalted claims and eminent
merits, will not be denied by any one know
ing its true character. Any institution so
constructed as to insure the most. advanta-
geous expenditure of its relief funds, lacks
fttti.i ~ make it the gem-of
Heaven, and the glory Of social life.
I Odd Fellowship does not lack this import
apt IL Enr Co. hoe
steadily increasing its pccuniary capacity Of
bcncvocnce, without the slightest abatement t
of the ardor, the zeal and enthusiasm which
it inherited from the incubation Of charity.
With its immense number of active repre-
sentativcs, diffused throughout the States and
Territories Of our country, sustained in every
movement of fraternity and relief by an ar
nually accrung income Of n million and a-half
dollars, it walks before God and man as one
Of the noblest, grandest and most glorious in
stitutions that ever sprang from the benevo-
lence and ingenuity Of the human mind and
I heart
Its history Is Il beautiful eulogy upon effect
i've fraternity and kindness-its works O glo-
! rious foundation of imperishable fame.
Where poverty tortures, where sickness
racks. where bcreavements PROSTATE, where
widowhood and orphanagc persecute with
gloom and melancholy, there It is that it dis
tls its gracious favors, as quietly as the gath
cring moisture Of night, which settles in pen
dent gems Of beauty and nourishment upon
the leaves and howrets Of the field.
Thy office, gentle almoner of human SYM
pathy, is the elevation of all mankind, not the
enrichment and senseless luxury of the few.
"How few like thee, enquire the wrstched out,
And court the Offices Of soft humanity!
Like thee, reserve their raiment for the naked,
Reach out their bread to feed the crying orphan,
Or mix the plying tear with those that weep :"
iRolce.