The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-05-04
COnles TO j0il



The novitiate is early instructed not to Judge
men by appearances only, for men are not always
what they seem. The rough, unseemly garb,
may,eov good, true and noble heart, while he
who has the dress and appearance of a gentleman,
may be destitute of every virtue, and entirely
unworthy of confidence.
We endeavor to Judge men by ther conduct
and weigh them in the balance of truemeri We
ask not where he was born, or to what church or
party he belongs; if he possess those qualities
which go to make up real manhood, he is worthy
to be one of us, he is our brother. We consider
him as the constituent of our universal brother
hood, coming from the hand of a common parent,
and as such we receive from him assistance, fra
ternal greeting and support, we extend to him
the same in greater or less degree, as his necessi
ties require, and our ability permits.
Pursuing his investigations, our new brother
soon learns that we constantly strive to reanmate
those purely benevolent faculties, which it has
pleased an all-wise God to confer upon man, and
the practice of which, contributes so eminently
to the elevation and happiness of all. HI. is re-
minded of what is, alas, but too apparent, that
the bost and hottest feelings of man, which we
cannot doubt were originally designed to be
constantly exercised in our intercourse with our
fellow men, usually blunted by time, dis
placed by selfish objects and pursuits, or so COM
pletely hidden never to be visible, except upon
very rare occasions. We are not so unwise rs to
expect greatly to influence mankind ut large,
but what we do hope for, nay, what We actually
accomplish, is to cause the members of our own
circle to be more useful to their kind, more help
full to the distressed, more regularly thoughtful
OF the happiness of those around them. If our
brother has, like most men, been somewhat for
getful of these high Duties we do not expect that
he will at once perform them we'll, but he must
nSS W. ,riy md hnnp ami for
with the principles of the order.
He must meet with us frequently in the lodge
reom aid in relieving want and administering
consolation to the afflicted.
He thus cultivates the principles of friendship
and love. He considers the lodge as one great
family of which he is a member, he feels an in
terest!in the welfare of all his brothers; their
prosperity to which he is at all times ready to
contribute, gives him pleasure-thcir adversely
pain.
With impressive and appropriate ceremonies,
and eloquent language, we strive to inculcate
many other precepts which have for their design
the moral improvement of the ncophytc, the
drawing out and development of his inner and
better life, thus rendering him by agrees more
! fit associate for those who have spent years of
their lives endcavoring to practice those virtues
better man, more useful citizen. Drunken
ness is considered as the vilcst and most perni-
cious of all vices and he who is guilty of it, sinks
himself below the level of the brute. He renders
himself unfit for business, contracts ruinous en-
gagements, wastes his substance, neglects and
abuses his family, alienates his friends and
sinks into premature grave, despised by all
men, honored by none. No better or more COM
prehensive temperance lecture, or exposition of
our teachings this point, was ever written,
than the following from Holy writ: "Wine is
a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is
deceived thereby is not wise. He that loveth
wine and oil shall not be rich BE not among wine
bibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh, for the
drunkard and gutton shall come TO poverty and
drowsincss shall clothe man with rags. Who
hath wocY who hath sorrow Z who hath conten-
lions T? who hath wounds without cause? who
hath redness ofeyes They that tarry long at the
wine they that seek mixed drinks"
Those who meet for purposes Of bencvolencc,
should be actuated by a feeling of charity. Not
the charity Of the world which consists in cold
almsgiving, and in which the heart takes no part,
but that heavenly virtue which softens the affec-
tions, and which causes its possessor TO dispense
aid with kind actions and loving words. That
which causes Us to palliate a brothers actions