Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1867-07-02


BEFORE BRANDYwINE LoDeE, No. IL,
/. o. OF o. F., OF DELAWARE, APRIL goth,
1867, IN CHRIST CHURCH, CHMsTfANA
HUNDRED, DELAWARE.
Brethren and Friends.
We assemble this day on an
occasion OF thankful remembrance, We
come, like the jew of old, bringing his first
fruits into the temple of the Lord, or as he
did in the final ingathering of the harvest,
laden with his richest gifts, remembering all
the years of trial through which the Lord
had led him, TO lay an offering of praise
and thanksgiving upon the altar.
This is religious service; one in which
We acknowledge aid worship God There
il no room here for the unbelieVer no place
for the unthanllful heart, no s. apathy among
band of brothers, ior those Who refuse to
bow before our cOm.hon Father; but there |
is a cordial welcome to those who are con-
tent TO look with us over the stormy past |
and own the unerring hand of God; to all |
who are willing to enjoy with us the bless
ings OF the peaceful present in bonds of
unity; to all, who, as ellow-citizens, and |
members of the brotherhood of man, can
unite in our song oil p.aise that God has
granted US His blessing.
But, "Who are Y" the observer asks.
And we are glad to answer every calm and
candid inquirer. These are the members OF
an Order long knoy. and respected in this
community, and in all this land, as worthy
citizens, upright men and kindly nelghbors,
though krCNn by the strange title OF "Odd
Fellows"
If they are peculiar, il seems chiefly to be
in their careful performance of those deeds
of love and beneficece which are too much
forgotten by the many, I'd though they be
by some misunderstood, because their Oddity
| extends TO certain cabalistic signs and whis-
pered words and strange regalia, every army
must have its uniform every organization its
principle of conference, and every sentinel
his password.
Our object is to meet these, orr fellow
citizens and brethren, and in the name OF
Christianity, to extend the right hand of iel-
lowship, that we may With them bend IN a
service of suppication and of praise before
the throne of the eternal and merciul Father.
The constant exhortation of the Divine
Word, is, that, as creatures OF Ills hand, as
! children of His everlasting covenant, as in
heritors of the p.om'- ss, we should Ten,em'
Der Coz. And, as special exhortation upon
this point we may note those solemn words
from the first lesson of this day, the book OF
0 Deuteronomy, Sth ch. and 18th "; beware
8 that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not
keeping ais commandments, and HIS judg.
. ments, and His statutes, which | command
thee this day.
' The fundamental principles of this Order
r are based upon revefent acknowledgment
n of His great and Holy name.
This t anksgiying Sc. vice is particularly
appointed by their highest authority as q
8 chosen opportunity in which the members
n of the Order, in all our broad land, froil the
, shining East TO the golden and teem1nG
- West from the prosperous North to the re
claimed and returning South, included il
m oue common brotherhood, should publicly
= express their deep sense OF Gods goodnes
/ to them as individuals, and their gratetu
remembra ace of His mercies to them as al
% organization, during these long sad years o
d, war thi ough which we have just passed.
he Ma pa. Jose is, as a christian minister, al
advocate of Christianity in its high and hol
:, aitis, and as friend OF the right and goo
IL wherever found, (although not a member {
70 the 0rder) my purpose is, to show that ther
ne is and aOa0 there is q gredt ayr ege,tt, a pc;
feet pardllelism, as far as their two lines eN
tend, between that organization which is {
. God, tAe religion of Christ embodied in th
c. rstan church, and this organization whic
is of man, and for the brotherhood OF mar
av and which now comes into this temple, d.
~ voted to pra. er and preise, in no spirit I
:" rivalry, but asking the fostering care of chri
ne tan influences, and the assisting hand of
ta- christian spirit, that it may rightly worslli
he that God wAo is a spirit in spirit end
81 truth. And, while we look at the principle
NV Ad practices of this Order, and note Il
run points of its histo we shall see how
in members have abundant cause ITO rend'
ate thanks to tAe eve" living God for his mar
10 fest favor and protection" Both Christian
80 and Odd Fellowship acknowledge God as Il
rls Creator, the Bountiful Giver, and the So
erelll Ruler.
lot, The Bible paints for us picture whi
.n,. Was hung in the dome of heaven long beto
49, the birth of Art, and which IN many OF
Tue panoramic changes ante-dated the eXisten
tis of all human beholders. That was the p
line ture of Creation, to which the Divine art
ira. gave hues of night, or touches of the NOR
~, ing light, as pleased His lvereign will
'eu We read il as fact in the worlds histol
7 is and not fancy of the imagini ton, that, q
GUS the beginning God created the heaven a
nor the earth"
AZ, The vision changes-the history rolls {
'n' and we see him planting garden eNstwa
'me in Eden, and there surrounding man with
ose things richly to enjoy. But, ere long,
of read of mans sad rebellion and terrible
-. tructon by a flood of waters, We mark
"iO' wandering of the little band saved by Go
and mercy; we follow their Exchanging hist
in and we bow before God the Ruler. g
ilia. doeth His will in the armies of Heaven s
among the inhabitants of earth" W
anu Noah after the deluge, under the bend
reht bow OF promise; with Abraham, Isaac
they Jacob, heirs together of covenant-keep
In God, we own our G0gernor and Guide 4
this starting point of christian faith is fl
o' accepted by the Order as principle with
tern which men cannot safely associate for
ings high and worthy ends. In their stand
rarv work of reference, "TEe Odd Fellows ]
Book, y these emphatic words are used: '
ne' receive with reverence the teachings OF III
gain Holy Word.u And in q solemn form
ative prayer, which is appointed to be used,
,exa. expressions are even fuller and clearer.
~ address is direct to God as believing 9
Wv He is, and that He is rewarder of t
the that diligently seek Him." Almighty
our most rerciful God, we adore thee as
Creator of all aooTlds, and the righteous
vernon of all beings, upon whom we are
sane pendent for life and all its blessings,
9sAVe without whose favor no human enter
nave can permanently prosper"
~ in- In that most admirable call under W
an,n. we are assembled this day, a chief oil
40 devoutly says, we must gather 'in gra
III INV recognition OF the unerring hand of @
'apn' Such recognition, and from such source
you such gathering as see before me TINS
ptain. of such men, fully vindieates this Order
4. all charges of infidelity, from all fears
ns " il can ever be like those Atheistic clubs
three former day and other lands, which
III see fraught with danger to the State, to
ethine Church and to the Fireside.
,;n,as Even religion could not bend lower 0
altar of Deity, or more thankfully kis
oosrd hand of the Bountiful Giver, or moro mi
stran- bow to the sceptre of the Sovereign I
bring But we. may take higher stand. Doe
10 cff' Bible open up tne great anu hoIy Wuln
owed hona NJ al, ond tbro,,Sh ali and in vor,
Does il say with the voice of authority
4l.a pf n