The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-05-10
= ER M ON
= L II M ON
Preached In the NJ. u. Church, BIooms-
burg. on the Annual Thanksgiving Day
of the !. D. Of o. r., April 26th, 1907.
BY REV. j. r. DIMM.
PUBLISHED ny REQUEST OF THE ORDER.

| "CIfiRITr NEVER FIILE2JK"
First Corinthians, 18Th chapt. Sth vor
This is the first annual Thanksgiving
! day appointed by the Independent Or
der of Odd-Fellows. You have met to-
day to express to Almighty God your
gratitude for the preservation by Him,
of your Order.
First, since its organization in the
world; Second, during the late war
which convulsed our Union; Third,
through the past auspicious year.
individuals have their hereafter
Governments, institutions and associa-
tions exist, as such, only in this world.
The reward or punishment of the indi-
vidual il reserved for eternity. That of
a government, institution or organiza-
tion may be administered in time, by
its continuation or overthrow. If God,
therefore, permit any organization to
continue through ages, it must be be-
cause he sees in it some feature that he
approves, and desires to use for the bet
tering of the condition of man. An
organization so widespread as that of
the Odd-Fellows, especially in England
and America, cannot have escaped His
notice. For good or for evil, it must
exert a mighty influence in both coun-
tries. If God had not seen in it some
feature to approve, or else, some power
which he might use to scourgc the sins
of rebellious creatures, He would have
caused it to crumble long ere this; and
now it would be numbered among the
things that have passed into history.
That you exist to-day as an organiZa-
tion 81 widely extended therefore, is
evidence that you possess some feature
in theory or practice, which God designs
to use for the elevation of the human
race. That feature we think is the en-
brace, as Il fundamental principle, of
christian charity, the subject of ourteXt.
Hence we invite your attention to chris
tidH charity as the chicf corner stone Of
true Odd- EphoWShip. "Charity never
faileth.n l. What isthis christian chari-
ty? The whole chapter, from which
the text is taken, is devoted to the de-
finition and eXaltation of this christian
virtue. 1t is held up, in this chapter,
as being far preferable to the gift of
tongues, the power of speaking various
languages, even though they be the
tongues of angels. 1t is represented as
being superior to the gift of prophecy,
the ability to foresee future events and
foretell them. 1t is held as more i'm
pOrtant than active beneticence, the be-
stowal of aims upon the deserving poor.
1t is said to be more influential for
good than martyrdom itself, for thetrue
cause of Christ.
Charity is represented as eternal in
duration. 1t never faileth. Prophecies
shall fail-yea even now the gift has
been withdrawn from men. And when
all has been fulfilled that has been
foretold which shall beat the end oftime,
even the memory ofthe gift will fade from
) the mind, and man almost forget in
realization what had been foretold in
prophecy. Like the Queen of Sheba,
he will reflect that not the half had
,, been told him. Tongues shall cease.
The multiplication of languages was
the penalty of sin and folly at the
tower of Babel. Without sin in the
world, that penalty shall cease, All
the land shall speak the language of
, heaven. Other language will cease to
7 be spoken. Or, perchance, no language
will be needed. We may then have
power to receive ideas by intuition. AS
God communicates His will to angels,
, so angels may communicate with each
! other. AT all events tongues shall cease.
; knowledge shall vanish away. Our
present knowledge is but little. 1t is
: but comparative. 1t comprehends n
few ideas. When all is revealed, then
, this little will vanish into insigniiicance.
When the sun rises, the stars recede
; from view. When heaven bursts upon
the view the lesser light shall be absorb
, ed by the greater, and thus our little
:. knowledge shall fade away rs nothing.
But charity never tailcth. Faith and
hope shall live with it when "the ever
= lasting hills" have been removed, when
the earth has been changed-and when
= the universe itself has been wrapped up
!. as an old garment. But, while iMth,
q hope and charity abide in the eternity to
: come charity will be the greatest. ram,
- the confidence we have IN GOd-though
> we have entered upon realizaton-Wlll
+ still exist. Nay, 1t Will even grow
: stronger, since II has grown, IN part, 10
+, be knowledge. H0pe-the desire ana
:, expectation ofgaining ahigher degree OF
= perfection, will still live. FOR we snail
!. be butncophyteS even ON entering heaV-
n en-. We shall have bcgm a scale OF more
+ speedy eXaltatlon., But 1t VIII only be
begun. NOT hNe degrees alolle, are III
: this scale, nor thlrty-three nor II nun
+ dred. But step by step, the clilllaN
4 reaches ON through all eternity, IherG,
fore Faith ana Hope 000e' lhGy VII.
q exist rs attributes Oh the soul Wlllle II
. continues. But ch0'"Y-tllelr sWeetea
., sister-Wlll be the 9'edte@.
l. RdIy Is I0re, grown OUT III action
\, 1t Is the practical result toward ouI
n fellow man, oil hli our reilSloi.-,
i 1t is the characteristic OF God Whici
- wrought us salvation. that by Whlcl
"a lie Is inclined TO pardon SIN. IL !
~ that which animates the angels il
~ their errandS of mercy to mankind
+ 1t is that which constitutes the hon'
+. of union between the sons Oh Ho
= in glory. 1t is charity alone that VII