The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-09-27

BIZ DIR. A. wMsxAHN.

ing YOU on the celebration of this day has
devolved upon me. | have only few
words to Say and win not detain you
long.
Friends and Brethern: / bid You vel.
come, my friends, from far and near.
As our forefathers Of hoary antiquity
did not assemble themselves in castles,
palaces or saloons, bat in the dark groves,
Of the forests, where old oaks, the SYM
bols of strength, courage and fidelity,
spread out their branches, where the gran
deur of nature in her most beautiful
charms makes us feel SO much more the
greatness of God, SO We too have assem-
bled to-day in this grove to celebrate
brotherly aud united feast. 1t We look |
back again to those ancient times Of yore,
we find, that the founders of the Druids |
10 those days, when superstition and ig-
norance hand in hand denounced every
higher effort of intellect as sin and crime,
were wont also to hold such festivities.
However, in those days it was not allow
ed TO the Druids, who tried to bring in
civilization and knowledge, to hold their
celebrations undisturbed, but were often
driven away by the ruthless hand Ut war.
and were subject to all imaginable perse-
cutions. As we look around us to-day,
how entirely different are we situated;
what excellent fruits have those princi-H
pies, set up by the old Druids. brought
forth. We see here the franklin Grove,
union of fifty honorable men, who hand
in hand are at all times ready not only to
seek to extend our principles, but are al
so willing, to execute the same as far as
possible, and We find more than tens Of
thousands just as honorable men in the
United States, who stand with US in a
league animated with the same purpose.
Every one of those are ready to help his
fellow brother iu prosperity and adversely
and to stand helping at the eide OF the
widows and orphans, and through this
D equal exertion do we form family, who
united with one another In Union, Peace
and Harmony, can look frankly every one
in the face OF the other and without fear
: into the future.
Should not such considerations, my
friends, fill your hearts with pleasure aud
sweet anticipaIions. Should not the eel
ebration Of this day awake new ardor in
J. your bosoms to further the welfare and
the order of the Druds aud 10 epur you
to spread blessings and salvation among
your feIlowmen2 Should not all presen,
here rejoice over our prosperity? Often
is the question put to US, ..Why do you
r hold your union then, in secret? if you
. wish to establish good, why don't you dc
, it opeuly!' Those friends are infatuated
my brethren; for we will not boast with
our works: aud does it not even SO stand
!. in the Bible, the guide of all Christians,
G with which such infatuated persons be
lieve they are able to show the sin of our
doinys-"Let not thy left baud know
what Thy right hand doe,h." Again, our
order could not last, If we would bold our
t meetings openly aud admit every one,
then only too soon would unworthy ones,
who would enter out OF avarice, envy or
curiosity, saf3cate the good seed and
destroy our work. That notwithstanding
all watchfulness sometimes an unworthy
/ one steals in, which can not very well be
: Kindred; nevertheless such will very soon
4 be, if they do not better themselves shu,
out of the meetings. The name Of Druid
may already have been carried by many
an unworthy one. But true Druid, my
a friends. is only be, who loves truth and
: practices virtue. Ii is not the stars upon
n the breast or the nice regalia, that makes
the Druid, but the truth in the heart t.
love ell humanity equally, of whatever
b faith they may be, to be free from hatred
or egoiism-lhis is what consider to be
good Druid
Just as this oak tree, the symbol OF
: strength and fidelity. notwithstanding all
d the storms, that may have passed over it,
stands firm in the bosom of tie dark
earth, SO will the name of the Druids
I stand also firm in persecution, then the
doctrines of the Druids are not a blind
delusion but teach the pure love of hu-
mauity, TO assist the widows and orphans
/, ia their need, aud to practice all virtues.
Every one is welcome to our league, who
is willing to work for the good and the
beautiful, he may belong to any church
or political party, that he chooses, as he
will not be required to lay aside or abb
jure any creed he processes. An ire
proachable character, an earnest endcay-
, or after truth and wisdom, loee of human
! i'y and bene6csnce, connected with fdel-
r Itg and honesty, are our touchstones of
5 the true man and also Of the true Druid.
Upon these foundation pillars in the ear
her age the structure was began by the
, wlsest Of our foreiathers and time and age
have contributed to the progression and
perfec,ing of the same, whereas other build.
ings have been destroyed or disturbed. 1t
Is system, moral as we'll as religious.
which by no other can be surpassed and
contains in itself the foundation stone of
all morals and religion.
Nature alone plants the scion Of wis.
dom, but the order of the rruids
teaches US to work the ground, wherein
the seed has been sown, that it may bring
forth proper fruits. And how beautiful
is it, my brethren, if such plant brings
forth under the watchfnlness of faithful
brethren goodly and useful fruits.
| My brother Druids, think for ever on