The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-26
BROTHERLY LAB0RS.
A Discourse Delivered on the Odd Fell
lows National Thanksgiving, by the
Rev. John Chambers, ut the Spring
Garden Rnptist Church.

Rev. John Chambers, ut the spring
Garden Baptist Church.
Mr.. Chambers, after reading the l03d Psalm,
said:-The Independent Order OF ODD Fellows
have set apart this day throughout our whole
land as day of ThadksgiVing--a thanks
giving to the infinite Ruler of the world for His
benefits to them and to our country.
In order that we may unite with them IN
worship and service, we have gathered together
this morning in this house OF prayer and
assuredy we have great cause for gratitude, as
well as Tor mourning, lamentation, and sorrow!
and this Order of gentlemen ought to be most
thankful to the infinite God. not only that He
has been good to you, but that He has allowed
you to be so good to others. Let us then unite
our hearts in thanksgiving to the Infinite God
for all that He has done for you, and to you,
and byyou
He then offered an impressive prayer, exhort.
ing God to bless the Order and increase its
members and instrumentalitieS of benevo-
lence.
'Behoid ho,o good and ho,O pleasant il is for
brethren to dUett together in u1Hy."
He then spoke as 1OllOwS:-
l find myself this morning, beloved, in a
novel, if not awkward, position. L am in the
presence of a band Of brethren, of whose orga-
nizat1on, and institution, and internal arrange
mentS l know nothing, but with whose opera
tions and unobtrusive operations am long
and tamiltarly acquainted.
1t could not be otherwise with a minister of
the Lord Jesus Christ, in large and popuouS
city like this, intermingiing with my fellow
beings as have done for many years. For forty
years have l lived in your midst; have been
in the houses of the poor and the rich, and in
of the man of beneVolence, and the man OF love,
and the man of truth. The eyes of the widow
and fatherless have often looked me In the
face, and said "We are indebted for these
comforts to the Order to which the huSpand
and the father Belonged" and in innumeraDle
instances, when the question was asked as to
what Order the husband was connected with,
the reply would be, "The Independent Order OF
You have been in existance, to my certain
knowledge, forty years. lemember well, when
q young man in the city of Baltimore, when the
advertisement first appeared in the papers of
that city that an Institution bearing your name
was to be organized. l was struck with aston
ishment, like many others, at the novelty of
the name-"The Independent Order of Odd
There was stirred up in the minds of not a
few q very strong opposition, recollect, as we
are apt to allow feelings TO arise In our minds
without thinking, without inquiry without in
Vestigation, II was entirely new. of course, in
our country. 1t was brought, II l am not mis-
taken, from our fatherland TO this country.
10 originated, l believe, in England. The
prejudice of the people was very strong, It was
not until the course OF conoucG pursued py the
OldeT was seen that that preJHdlee seemed To
give way. Many of the strong feelings OF oppo-
sition to the Order grew out OF the fact OF it's
secrecy-it was a secret organization.
That feeling also existed towards the ancient
and honorable institution to which 1t has been
my honor ana privilege to belong For ifty
wears have been Identified with the Masonic
Order. his feeling existed against That prior
to your existence, and need not say to you
what an amount OF feeling IL produced at one
But il was very soon ascertained that while
YOU had your secrets they were your own-they
were for your own advantage. They were the
guards of your Order to protect you from inn
posters and evil influences Of bad men. SO far
as the religion politics of the country were
concerned, you had no secrets.
You asked no man his political creed, you
asked not his religious faith. 1t was enough
for You to know That he was a true man that
he deserved TO fraternize with you, to share in
your joys and in your sorrows; that he Was
willing TO go with you to the home of sorrow,
TO open his hand to the needy and extend
relief TO the.desutute; that he was willing to
accompany you to the bed of sickness and the
couch OF death, and go with you to lay the NOR
tai remains of your brothers quietly in the
home of the dead. 1t did not permit you to ask
OF him his religious or political creed. Such an
organization would be dreadful IN country like
ours. Any organization that would endeavor
10 interfere either with the religious political
interests of the land would be a curse. can
conceive of no greater curse to this country
than a secret political organization. There is
not man in the land who has heart In his
bosom, that ought not with indignation frown
down such thing If II attempted 10 lift its
head in our country.
Your grand object was that of beneyolenee; it
was "Friendship, Love, and Truth" These
were your guiding stars-the morning, noon,
and evening stars that guided you In the dis.
charge OF your duties, and then, growing
brighter and brighter. and ascending higher