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

our fellows. We are boundp as Stewards OF
God, to use wisely the things which have
been committed to our trust for the advance
ment of the general good"
q We arrive at but one conclusion: we are
bound by no; only tae law Of nature, but
the law of God, not to see any brother have
need and shut up our bowels Of compassion
from him."
"In word, universal love to all mankind |
and sympathy for the wants of our brethren,
are the two great pillars that support odd
Fellowship"
The ample field of active virtues is thus
before our view, and while our Heavenly |
Father says to each soul, sSon, go work to. |
day IN my vineyard"--a little band oi
brothers gathers togetl er, and Joining hand
| in hand in friendly grasp with mystic mean
ing, and pledging heart TO heart that they
will be true in veal or woe, they go ana
work in the rugged paths Of human life
upon its sunny slopes and In its shaded wales
| of sorrow. Can we hesitate to bid them
"God speed?" Go, do all the good you can.
The church is not jealous of you, but Will
gladly assist your every worthy effort The
world needs you, and more than all you can
do, for the misery is great, and the angels
of mercy are few. God will be with you,
for the cup of cold wster receives blessing,
aud a miracle of love performed, an act OF
kindness to a suffering brother, will forbid
/ YOU lIOln liBully bpc1hlhB GNlA VI OhN W NAS
went about doing good
But do the members of this Order really
live up to their high approval of deeds OF
mercy? Of the organization its advocates
say, ut has gone forth among the homes OF
men like some missioned spirit of good,
with its words of kindness and It's deeds of
comfort; wherever it has moved, il was for
the healing OF disease and the alienation OF
pain; the tear of sorrow has been wiped
| und tho faap 0f nnpliab illuminated
with smile"
And who of us christians, in our rounds
OF mercy, has not met the visiting committee,
or the watchers by the bedside Of the suf-
ferer? They come not for hasty moment,
but they spend the long night there. They
bring added comforts to the poor mans cot
! tage, and the cordial of sympathy to the de-
spending heart. They close the eyes of the
dying, relieve the mourner from the anxiety
r OF arranging the funeral rites, cheerfully
meet the necessary expenses OF that sad
hour, wi en- the earth AM its petty cares ought
y 10 he shut out from the stricken one, who ls
commr ling with eternity; and in every
: possible way they 'weep with those that
= weep.n AS full reply to the question
whether these duties have been in good
/ measure performed, we may state that with,
y in the past year, In the United States, the
y Order has paid for the relief of sick members
y $405, FOG; for the relief of widows and theii
y families, $95, $50; burying of the dead, $9l,
. 1876; and Tor the education Of orphans, $11.
y 5OG. Total, $685. 1897. Showing that worl
ssi of practical good has been accomplished
" which is by no means small.
But we may advance one step higher il
u pressing up those ascending paths in whicl
II christianity and 0dd Fellowship walk sid
by side. As grand summary Of christian
y principle, St. Paul lays down for us thi
"Trinity of graces" which seems to includ
Is the leading features that our divine religion
ie would impress upon the heart. Nov abidet
y Faith, Hope, Charity (or Love- these three.
g These are the words emblazoned upon tn
~ CHRISTIANS banner, whether as ii waves fTor
" the battlements OF heaven, or as 1t appear
ss and disappears upon the battlefield Of life
vi And we turn to the other band, who al
fighting in another part of tne field against th
Oh flesh, the world, and the deyil,-we behol
upon their banner "a three-fold co-d whic
an is not quickly broken, " three welded lini
ny of truth, which have been Joined togeth'
ou by holy han4s, if not by divine appointment
Oh and the inscription reads "Friendship, Low
ire and Truth" If these are the principles Il
e. scrihed upon their altars there is no stranl
*, fire there. If these holy words are open
OIL expressed. on banners and from the hous
ne tops, to the world, fear nothing that ci
ch be locked up in their unuttsred secrets.
IN, these feelings can be transcribed from u
ae. lettered page and the silken folds of the
OF ensign, to the living tablet of the heart al
Us the enduring record of the life of its mel
n bers then do hail Odd Fellowship as c
up worker with christianity in the inculcatl
III of eternal truth, and the amelioration OF Z
,ies wretched condition Of fallen man.
the But we can go no further. These lines ha
lls run on side by side in the truest paralelisl
aer from the first idea OF God and that beginni
mi when He formed the creative work OF T
Al. .,wl Abs ~vkatn cd all
the worlds history, and as far as the hrotherho
oV- of man is scattered. From faith in Coz
love, these messengers OF mercy come doN
lch to the prodigal sons Of God, both of the
ore ding their hands.in blessing. The o
It's profIers the kindly offers Of brother's sy
nee pathy, comforts for the body, burial for
pic dead, and education for the orphan. I
'tlst other tenders us the consultations OF the gos
lrh- of Christ. The one remembers God as
loving Father. The other remembers 9
Dry, as 'the Father OF our Lord Jesus Chris
I'm and in Him our God and Father.
ana The agreement fails, yet it is not by
position, but by limitation. Odd Fellows
on, has clearly marked out, and fairly sta
1ard its field of activity. 1t only meets the
all a,orat wants of man, christianity salts
we his spiritual longings. The former enJc
des- upon him, moral duties, and watches narrt
( the " the course of his life; the latter PREF
od's upon his deep convictions, religious prl
tory ples, and inquiries concerning the condii
"He Of his heart toward God. The one So
and him by happy social surroundings, and
With the constant pressure of public opinion, +
ding a life of vice; the other saves him by
and deemers blood, from the penalty of
ping even eternal death, and by the cons
And presence and assistance of the Holy Oh
fully renews him from death of sin unto a
'noul of holiness.
any There ought to be no conflict here.
dald all fairness, the distinct marks of that b.
Text darv line should be noted and granted.
we plainly the survey is mapped out in e
3od's terms. "This Order" says its author
m OF Standard = sis no religious association.
!, the 1t assumes no higher authority than
The regulation of the moral action Of its meml
that while il confdes an elucidatlon of the
them lime requisites Of the sacred scripture
and the ministers of religion"
IS the In public address delivered in this s
IS 60 by high officer, this view is earnestly III
re de- He SAYS, ''Some there are who think
J, and that the doctrines Of Odd Fellowship,
rprise founded on the Bible, are therefore suth
to carry those who profess them, straig
when heaven. A more pernicious error coult
olncer well enter into the mind of man, in rel
ateful tothe aims and objects of odd FelIowsh
God | must confess that your speaker has
,es, or somewhat suspicious Of this Order. Nc
is day cause its principles were misapprehei
IRON but because by some they have been n
's tnat piled. Some men seem to think, and
IS OF a tically say, ''If am good member o
were Order, it is of but little moment whether
o the member OF the christian church or mol
will answer instead OF that, 1t shall b.
az M the religion
ss the But fearlessly assert, and am sal
neekly that every good and intelligent Odd +