Smyrna times., 1866-02-14

Read By j. B. Cooper, at the Odd Fello,cs'
R'r'e'o, hetd an the Lodge Room, Smyrna,
Foiacs''ay Evening, Jan Slst, 1866.
Mr. CHAIRMAN: N:~r'--.-~~---'- --,.--.r-----.>. .
am asked to explain the re-
lationship which Odd Fellowship holds to Re-
llgiOn, and, without apology or further intro
ductiOn. | proceed at once to say that Odd
Fellowship is the servant of Religion. With
Religion as a system of Faith we have nothing
to DO but only with Religion as principle IN
the human heart, moving us to deeds of good
hess ani benevolenee. And, taking it IN this
sense, | would define it as motive power in
the SouI, which, springing from feeling OF
mutual Love between ourselves and our Crea-
tor, and increased in proportion as that feeling
of Love is increased, prompts US to whatever of
good is shown forth in our lives. Odd Fellow
ship, true Odd Fellowship, that Odd Fellowship
to which We are all pledged by our connection
with this Order, is the outcropping of those
desires. OF promptingS, which Religion creates
Religion is lore. or rather, it is the principle
whirA yes in the heart that love for all man
klnl which suffers no opportunity to pass un-
Improved, Of doing good to our fellow men
and Old Fellowship is dctire Benerolence, the
hd".} with which Religion performs its kind
acts. Religion rreScribes, Odd Fellowship ad-
ministers. Religion suggests duties, Odd Eel
lowShin Perf;rms them. Religion makes us
charitable, Odd Fellowship goes out into the
world in search Of objects of charity, and, in
carrying out the suggestions of Religion, it
visits the sick, buries the dead, wipes the tear
from the eye of the widow, takes care of the
orphan, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked,
comforts the afflicted, and bestows charities un-
told on the suffering and distressed Of which
the outside world can never know. Religion
c,a>tranS US to love our neighbor; Odd Eel
low>hip holds out its arms Of welcome to all
alike, knowing no nationality, no language, no
set. no condition, inside its sacred precincts
blt oif.rng shelter as well to the stranger from
the remotest quarter Of the globe as to the best
known member within his own Lodge Room
and requiring but one qualification of Faith,
and that from intimate acquaintance as we'll as
from entire stranger, that he shall believe in
the existence of God, who is the Author and
bEo;herly sympathy and affection outside the
Order it does not even ask this question, but
often warns into life by it's genial hand, the
adder which only stings it in return for its kind
hess. Religion enjoins Temperance; Odd Eel
lowShip has done as much TO promote the prac-
t'o. OF temperance as any other organization cf
elnal numbers that has ever existed It's in
fuence in that direction may not have been SO
manifest to the eye Of the world as that of some
other societies, from the fact that Odd Fellow
snip suffers not one hand to know what the
other han doeth, but its operations are steady,
sure. and lasting, and thousands are to-day
thanking the influence of Odd Fellowship for
their salvation, whom nothing else could ever
have reached. Religion includes in iys cata-
l1gue of affections, love for our families, love
for our country, love for our Creator. Odd
Fellowship c0mpcls kindliness in our home in
tercourse, fidelity to the Government that pro
tccts us, and faithfulness in our duties to GU
Maker No one who is not true to these du
ties is reckoned as one Of US, and if it be SAT-
that all Odd Fellows do not sustain the charac
ter have here presented, that there are bat
men connected with our Order as we'll as will
other societies having the same good objects il
view, answer that with these exceptions "
have nothing 70 do. The moment a membs
deviates from the path above laid down h
ceases TO be an Odd Fellow. We recOgniz
none as true Odd Fellows who do not adhere
the three great cardinal principles OF our ol
ganizAtiOn, FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, and Truth
aud now repeat the proposition laid down
the commencement of this paper, that I'd
Fellowship is the servant of Religion; the IN;
chinery quietly and steadily doing the wor
which Religion, its great motive power, SUI
gests for its accomplishment
And, as Odd Fellowship is the servant {
Religion, so, as faithful worker in the serviC
Of kind master, it does its work in ntdnn'
consistent with the purest philanthropy H
lgion is unobtrusive, Odd Fellowship perform
its charities silently and quietly; Religion
meek and lOwly in its character, Odd Fellow
snip seeks not the gaze of the world, but got
ABOUT On Its mission Of mercy with sealed lip
leaving only the gladdened hearts and brigh
ened eountenances Of the bereaved and suffe
ing, TO tell OF It's deeds Of beneyolence. Rel
gion that boasts OF its goodness is not Reh0io,
and the Odd Fellow who dares 10 parade b
fore the world the workings and operations
our Order in its mission Of Love and Chart
deserves, and soU ever receive, the just conder
nation of all true Odd Fellows everywhere
Our work is our own. What we do for h
manity, we do because it is right, and we knc
it is right because Religion tells us so. Wit
out Religion, Odd Fellowship would be Q nj
hty; without feeling of Philanthropy in O
hearts it were useless 10 organize socie
like our own. With, Religion as our maj
spring Of action wese1peet 70 go on in our I
9eerof usefulness as long asitherei is despor
= ing heart to cheer, suffering child Of huma
ny p relieve, or q stricken and sorroring
paAA 70 cherish and protect. o1S ,lsGs s4s'e.