The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-03-06

tnal ere long Will unite us win CnOSe OF the
South, but feebly represent the ties Of friend
ship and interest that engage us to them
Offspring Of the same mother, nurtured by
the same civilization, we know of No bound
ary OF City or State that shall confine our
sympathies. Inihese troubled times, when
faction and discord disturb the peace, and
the common welfare is sacrificed to local
prejudice, it will be well five can rise to the
level Of the emergency, and with compre-
hensive patriotism unite with loyal men,
whoever and wherever they may be, who
maintain our country's laws and the honor
of her glory.
| 8. THE MEMORY OF WAsH!sGros:-The Hero, the
Statesman, and the Citizen-it is impossible to dis.
tinguish the position in which he exceled, which
| he most adorned.
During the reading of this sentiment the
entire audience were standing and in silence,
and to which Rev. D. Worthington made
the following response:
Ladies and Gentlemen Il hesitate to
respond to the sentiments just read. because
of the illustrious prestige of the nam, pre-
sented. And feel that any humble citizen
like myself might well shrink from attempt
ing to speak in praise of one so far above all
praise. He was emphatiealy raised up for
the times in which he lived. and lived to full.
fill the high destination of his Creator. En-
dowed with the noblest attributes of his race,
he cultivated from childhood the best prin-
ciples of his nature, and rose to dignity his
calling. Hence his heroism was bravery
without boasting. courage without reckless
ness, vaar without cruelty, ga1Iantry without
ostentaton, a combination of fearless intre-
pidity and noble magnanimity. As a States.
man, his sentiments were the essence of
patriotism; his policy far seeing and practi-
cable his administration characteristic of
mi'dness and firmness, il justly commanded
the respect and admiration of mankind.
And when retiring from the excitement of
public life, t, the dignity Of free labor, ex.
changing the sword for the plow, and the
pen of the profound Statesman for the i'm
plements of husbandry, halo of glory
gathers around his domestic abode which
shall embalm his memory in the heart of
nations yet unborn
GEORGE WAsHINGToN-the model Gener-
al, the model President the model Citizen
would to God that our country had one
such non!
happy as We desire them to be on this occasion.
Response by Rev. j. NJ. McEhoy.
M. Chdirmdn:-I think I can say on
the part of those in whose behalf am called
to respond, that the generous sentiment Just
uttered is cordially reciprocatcd. think,
too, that we can, to some extent at least, en-
ter into the spirit of the occasion. In our
relations to yonr Order we ave been hitherto
outsiders. This evening, however, we are
Insiders set of odd ones introduced to
your festivities and your hospitalitics But
to me the oldest thing Of all is, that an indi-
vidual so unpoetic, and devoid Of wit as I
am, should be called out to respond to one
of your tOasts. --.... ..... - s..
Permit me to refer to my early impress
sons of Odd Fellowship. A score of years
or more ago first heard of The odd Felloms
"a secret order-strange, mysterious, dark.
My youthful fancy arrayed them in fantastic
if not ghostly drnpery. Odd Fellows! A
queer set of men, surely; of awry gate, and
fantastic garb, and unearthly mien, wearing
horns, perhaps-such was the picture which
rose to my view. Tonight am allowed,
for the first time, to take something like
near view of the Order and would express
my S'"tii''toh oi iiiiuiiiS ltIdt my yOulu-
ful impressions are not correct. | am like
the laa who had long desired to see the
President, anu who, On beholding him, learn
ed that he was only man. | find that the
ODD Fellors are men-very strongly resem-
bling the human family generally. Let me
say, in conclusion, that whatever differences
of opinion may exist AS to the merits of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, YOU
have attacked as who are your guests TO-
night in very vulnerable point. The
pratical exemplilication of Friendship, Love
and Truth is an inestimable argument.
After the toasts and responses, Mr.. Gay
lord, with the heart of true Odd Fellow,
and speaking for the Order, announced that
the provisions not consumed, of which
there were bushels, would, OH the follow
ing morning, be disposed of as gratuity,
to the poor.
This Festival was one long to be re
membered, and gained to Odd Fellows and
Odd Fellowship many warm trends and
admirers. Iowa.
OrTuMwA, Iowa, Feb. %, 1861.