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

ne take the most favorable view of 8 brothers
fault-that which like mercy,
"-------Isns net stained,
It aroppe,h as the gentle dew from heaven.
/! blesseth him thai gives and him that tstes,
The thronea monarch better than his crown.
1t is an attribute of God himself"
Men are by nature dependent upon each other
God never made an independent men,,
'Twould mar the harmony Of His PLAN" sie
And hence, we have system of mutual relief
and assistance, we form covenants with our
brothers, we consider them as true and faithful
friends, whom we would aid and support in
affection and persecution whom we would
rescue from impending peril, the evil designs Of
enemies or mere accident; whose advantage and in.
terest we wouldpoint out, and should we see him
straying into paths of error and sin, we would by
brotherly counsel and advice strive faithfully to
to win him back to wisdom's way, where all is
blessedness and peace. -
Our covenant binds us to defend brothers
character and reputation from the cowardly
attacks OF slanderous tongues,
sSe s 81 N sSo wnSs
e eoT 9n 1se Pa f Winds and doth belle
Should his property, person or life be in peril,
we are bound by our covenant to risk either to
save his, and not to him alone does our watchful
vigilance extend. His family is also entitled to
aid and sympathy; it has high claims upon US
which we have no right which we are not dis
posed to ignore. Our assistance when needed is
freely given in its behalf and when relentless
death is approaching, our brother well knows
that band Of brothers, tried and true, will, 50
far as in their power, guard and shield his loved
ones-now dear to him beyond power of utter
ance-from every i'll, from want, from adversely,
and scatter sweet, fragrant flowers of prosperity
in their pathway.
And for all this we have abundant warrant in
history, both sacred and profane, for covenants
are ancient as the first inhabitants of theearth.
God himself did not disdan to make covenants
with His people on earth; the token of one Of
which is seen in the bow which His hand set in
the heavens.
Readers of the Holy Bible are familiar with
the covenant between David, then but an hum
BILE shepherd and Jonathan, the Hebrew Prince,
and none have read but to admire the devoted
fathfulness of these two to each other. David,
although he could not doubt the fidelity of his
friend, yet feared that Johathan's power would
be insufficient to aid him in the hour Of his great
est peril, and when despair almost overwhelmed
him, expressed his fears to his friend in language
beautiful, as touching, as full of sublime
pathos as ever fell from human lips.
Notwithstanding Jonathan could not protect
his friend "whom he loved 81 he loved his own
SOUL" and whom Saul was determined to destroy,
he succeed in assisting David to escape to
mountain in the wilderness of Ziph, comforting
him and furnishing him with food in spite of the
opposition, taunts and reproaches of his angry
father, until David was finally enabled to reach
place of safety in the strongholds of Engedi
Time will not permit me to dwell further upon
this most interesting history, this instance Of
firm and undertaking oovenanted friendship
You are familiar with the noble magnanimity
of David in sparing the life of Saul, his bitter
and most implacable enemy. You have read his
lament over the untimely death of Jonathan,
lone Of the sweetest, tenderest elegiac bursts Of
poetry ever uttered by the living to the dead,'
he was not forgetful of his covenant, but shower
ed wealth and honors upon the MANNED son Of
his deceased friend.
1t is such o covenant of friendship and love to
which We would bind our brothers; pledging the
kindest of offices sealed alone in honor and
affection. Ny subject is leading US far beyond
the limits of time had get for myself, and yet
have scarcely begun the calculation Of the theory,
principles and practice of Odd Fellowship. It
was my design to refer to that mutual disinter-
rested friendship which ignores all adventitious
circumstances, and is most fully developed in
times of adversely, to that enobling virtue, Of
which rare examples have been seen in men Of
every station in life ut every period of the worlds
history. wished to tell you how We regard the
great principle of universal love, that underlies
the distinctive ties of nations parties or sects,
that teaches US to recognize all men fas brethren,
and bids US do unto others as we would that they
should do unto U.s."
Having spoken of friendship and love,
would have directed your attention to our inter-
probation of truth, which we consider as an tm-
peraat virtue that deals plainly and honestly in
all actions, without disguise without hypocrisy,
ind hoo ~ tO hoov< ffsoAo
would have told you Of the attempt We have
made in organizing the Daughters Of Rebecca,
to enlist women in our warfare against vice, sor-
row and suffering; how that she, naturally and
always gentler, more constant, more earnest than
man, when associated with us in this great work,
becomes still more womanly, still more ready to
exercise her inherent devotion her self sacrificing
love and earnest affection and her undertaking
perseverance in all that is good and noble.
Although when rejecting upon these and
many other topics connected with our order,
find that .s E.st tar
Rush chasing countless thoughts along
the fear of taxing your patience beyond endu-
rance, bids me stop and say more. Nor have
time, and if the truth must be told, very little
inclination to refer to the senseless, because gno-
rant objections to our Brotherhood. l have per-
formed my task poorly indeed, If have not
shown you that which we teach and endeavor to
practice, is worthy the appreciation and high
COMMUNICATION Of all good men of every nation
and of every creed Certain it is, I shall attempt
no defense of our Nv:1siples or tenets As well
apologize for all that is good and noble and holy
in man-as we'll and revercntly be it spoken
apologize for and defend those comprehensive
and transccndently excellent laws, which Jeho-
yah Numbered from Sinai's mount; for if you
take those away from Odd Fellowship, nothing
is left worthy the name.