Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-24

to impress and implant in their hearts that
holy precept that God was the Great Au-
thor OF orr being and that In His light we
should ever walk.
Patriarchs and Brothers, the future rests
with you. On you depends the future
usefulness of the Order in this city. You
are now the dispensers of those noble
charities and trusts that have been handed
down to you with so much care and re-
sponsisility. Need we ever fear that this
high trust will be held otherwise than sa-
cred. win the holy duty of breaking the
bread to the hungry, giving the cup OF
cold water to the thirsty, burying the
dead, educating the orphan and fraternal
care of the widow, ever be held in light
esteem by you? e
, Did / ely Patriarchs and Brolhersp Yes,
but not to you alone. Among you are the
ready hands and willing hearts of those,
though shut 0utby our laws from the inner
most circle OF our Order, yet there are those
here to might like Rebekah of old, that are
always ready in every good work OF
beneVolefce and loVe-I mean our faithful
and devoted allies, the Daughters of Re-
bekah. May you all be animated by the
pure principle Of Odd Fellowship, and may
your life and conduct afford no repr0ach To
the character of true Odd Fellow. .l.
The address of President Slater was list
ened to with marked attention, and greeted
at its close with general applause. As soon
as the cheering had subsidized and order
was restored, the President called upon
Rev.7A. w. Bruce, Of this city, to whom had
been assigned the task of delivering the
address of welcome Mr.. Bruce rose in
response to the call, and spoke substantial
ly as follows:
THE WELCOME ADDRESS OF REV. A. W.
BRUCE.
BRoTHERs AND SISTERS: In a certain
locality of the Empire State, may be seen
a sturdy Oak, encircled by a clinging Pine.
They doubtless began life early, and while
slender twigs just starting up in the world,
formed each others acquaintance. Thus
they grew, each entwining around the 9th
er, sending out their mutual arms, and
growing stronger in each others embrace.
For many years they have been the admi-
ration of the passers-by, who pause to take
lesson of union amid incompatibillties
and of loving thrift in a wedlock of oppo-
site natures. They seem to be victims Of
some strange infatuation. The Oak ap-
pears as pliable as his more feminine COM
panion, and encircles his consort with evil
dent satisfaction, anil.
On this occasion the Oak seems pliable.
The Pine has got her arms around him, and
he who Is so crusty, stiff and technical at
other times, seems to have forgotten his or
binary exclusiveness, and In fact, pines lit
tie. And we need not wonder, for "a Jelto,o
feeling makes us wondrous kind" This
element prevents the oaken
nature from growing bushy, gnarly and
ill-shapen. ,....... ,-.
Our Order would be stronger and more
useful, did it take under its comprehensive
care and culture, more largely, this inter-
esting element. Its oaken membership
should often encircle its symmetric pines,
growing up with them, and in fact seeking
their embrace; for when Rvbekah's fair
daughters are the genial assistants OF their
chosen Isaacs, You will discover q marked
advancement in the social advantages OF
Odd Fellowship.
This occasion is brimfull of enjoymentto
us all. 1t seems to lift each OF US ..... ,.
-Into the blessed mood, ....
Wherein the heavy and the weary Wefght
OF all this unintelligible world
Is lightened
To thus meet each other In "family re-
lation," helps us to grow old gracefully.
We like eachother the better for participate
ing in a common feeling of good nature,
aud we find that the social comfort we in
diyiduaIly enjoy, is very common prop
erty. You do not find person planting
onI one tree in his pleasure grounds. He
will have a number of them, if lie have
room, and they will be of different kinds.
He wants variety.
The real lover of flowers will not be con-
tent with one lowerpOt. She would dis
play her taste in variety; and her selec-
lions and arrangements will eyinee
her love of social and intellectual life.
Men, too, are like trees. You always OBJ
serve the best speeimens-the most useful,
| mean, grow In clusters. If you desired
fine specimen, you would go where they
grew thick. straight, tall; where there are
the fewest branches growing from
their sides, and in which the grain
is fine, straight and compact. Sym
metry, perfection and finish, are
found only where trees grow in social rela-
tions to each other. On the outside and in
open spaces, the foliage is thick, the limbs
are bushy. gnarly and irregular, and their
wood knotty aud crooked. No one, in
search of good specimen, would accept of
these: he would seek one from among the
better class, more socially refined, and
leave the burly, bushy, stunted, forsaken
bachelor, in mid pasture, to his associates OF
briers and thistles. The cluster Of human
trees here, with their social relations and
their twiniDg branches, show them to be
of the true stock and straight grain, meet
for valuable purposes.
Brothers, standing here tonight, the
past obtrudes itself upon my notice. Al
most quarter Of century ago, was
made acquainted with our Ritual, and was
charmed with its lessons, and its power for
good. An affilistion Of years may have
lessened my fondness for display. but it has
not abated the ardor of my first love, |
have watched, with eager anxiety, the pro-
gress of our Order, but have never seen it
more steady and promising than now. The
Angel of its presence is lowering again
over those portions Of our country lately
at estrangement, and the Brotherhood are
being united in a war against the ills and
vices of life. The Angel of Peace will still
the storm, and soOthe the spirit of passion.
The handmade Of Friendship, she can
breathe upon the discordant strings Of the
heart and make them sound in sweetest
unison. The embodiment OF Love, she
will win by her gentle Influences, wayward
natures TO her embrace. The oracle of
Truth, she will Withstand the advances Of
error, and will aid the right and the holy,
until lone law shall bind her subjects in
one grand fraternal embrace
Most Worthy and Honored Grand Mas
ter;-Your presence here to participate,in
these festivities, we hail with sincere pleas
ure. Here you meet the sturdy Oak in
loving connection with the symmetrical
Pine while the trees in this human cluster
are those matured In conditions favorable
tn a manly and t0Onsanly growth. AS the
Head of the Order in our State, and a