The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-01-29

q
tongues
To morrow blamed and hissed him out of
sight.o
He may live for power. But
'stie that a.cends the mountain tops shall
find
The lofiiest peaks most wrapt in clouds
and snow;
He that surpasses, or subdues mankind,
Must look down on the fate ofihese below.
Though high above the sun OF glory glow,
And far beneath The earth and ocean
spread,
Round him are icy rocks and loudly blow
Conte3dting lempssts on his naked head,
| Aud thus reward the tolls which TO those
SUBMITS led.n
! am addressing society whose imposing
motto tells me its highest ambition is good
ness and The object il most highly prizes
The best means of attaining it What more
fitting than declnation OF the noble means
| by which this noble end obtains. This,
then shall be my theme Suggested as il
has been by the - OF your association,
The age it represents and the character il
deserves.
Il will hardly be expected that l should
give minute detail OF the rise and progress
OF Odd Fellowship on the American Conti-
nent. That is a matter that has passed in
TO, and become part of the history OF our
country. /, is sufficient TO say, that on the
26th day of April 1919, the first Lodge OF
Odd Fellows was organized, on the conti-
nent of North America Ii was then in lis
infancy. The first Lodge only contained
members enough for quorum, for The put
pose OK iransacling the necessary business
OF the Lodge. Now the members OF the
Order are counted By thousands. Its pro-
gress has been unparalleled in the history
of this country. The organization as such
has contributed vast sums of money, bor-
dering upon millions towards The relief OF
The widow, and education OF the orphan, in
our own country, while the orphans cries
have been sliIIed aud the widows tears dried
ty corresponding relief bestowed BY the
organization OF the old world Now in the
/, Struggle of our country, we are separated
from thousands of our brethren in the sonth-
ern part of this Union. some of these breth-
rem might be bodily lost from us, bnt in the
principles of Odd Fellowship they will be
united with rs forever, for principles are
imperishabIe. time may change, men may
change, the universe itself may change, but
principles never change. The principles
of Odd Fellowship are as firm as The deity
from which they emanate, it were principles
of sound morality that called Odd Fellow
! ship into an existence. In vain may we
search those imperisnable men who brought
such principles from darkness TO light
/ Where are the founders of our Order! Where
ara the patriots of the Revolution, who
seemed almost immortal on the Field of bat
iIel Go read their destiny upon their tombs.
Their slumbering duet is beneath our feet,
their voices are suppressed in death but |
would hold on high, before you their BEAM
ing example, 10 guide like pillar of FIRE
your iriumphal march TO epinent useful
ness.
But let Us turn from the history of the
past TO The scenes as enjoyed by US. The
nineteenth century has been characterized,
s.the age of associations or 'sthe age of
societies." and yet ont of the hundred and
one societies" that are now putting forth
pretentions TO public favor, there are but
few worthy os the name of ''charity" and en-
titled TO the aid AMI sympathy OF humanity.
Whilst we have our forms and ceremo-
nies-our signs and passwords, whereby
we recognize each other, ours is no fancy
association with gew-gaws to attract and
catch the silly and thoughi.ess; but ii ad-
dresses itself al once TO the nobler and high
er attributes of or nature. 1t is the high if
not The Distinguishing characteristic of ap
Odd Fellow to believe that among the most
acceptable services which man can render
his God, is relief to his fellow man; and
the exercise of this unselfish philanthropy
is emphaticaIly his mission. Yes. Odd I'el-
Iowship is founded upon that eternal 2iin-
cipie, which recognizing man as consti.u-
emf of one universal brotherhood, teaches
him that, as he came from the hands of
common parent, he is bound to cherish and
protect his fellow man. II thus presents
broad platform upon which mankind may
unite, no Offices of hnman benefacIion.-
Based upon certain truths, which are alike
axioms among all nations, TO tongues and
creeds, its sacred tolerance presents nu-
cleus, which by its gentle influence gathers
within its orbit antagonist nature, controls
the elements Of discord, stills the storm
and soothes The spirit Of passion, and di-
rscss in harmony mans united efforts to
fraiernize tfs world.