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

after known by Odd Fellows through the globe as
men void of the principles of honor: and when
Mis il gone what else remains Z:
We give thanks for the great benefits we have
received and for the great benefits we have been
enabled to.bestow. We are commanded to visit
the sick relieve the distressed, bury the dead and
educate the orphan, and no higher or holier
commissions are given U.S. 1t Is contrary to our
principles tn boast of our good deeds, for like
another command emanating from Il far higher
source. we are not to let 'the right hand know
what the left hand doeth," but on this particular
occasion, may be permitted to state that our ex-
penditures last year, in obeying these commands
amounted to over %6OO,O0O.
Could you my friends, have gone with us while
we were engaged in this labor of love- to the
thousands of homes where sickness, grief and
suffering prevailed; could you have witnessed the
rapid exchange of tears of sorrow, for tears of
JOY and thankfulness: could You have heard the
earnest, heartfelt blessing from the feeble, trem-
bling lips of our stricken brothers: could you
have seen how poverty, care and anxiety flee at
our approach, you too would with us to-day, feel
your heart swelling with joy and thankfulness,
to the Giver of all good, that you have been per-
mitted to participate in this exalted work, in
which he who gives, and he who receives are
alike blessed.
But this is a theme upon which must not dwell
although the whole time allotted me would suffice
but for very faint outline of our works in this
direction and the poorest of speakers like myself
might grow eloquent in their enumeration, for
eloquent deeds will stimulate to eloquent words.
There are, however, certain other topics not
forbidden, and l will attempt some further
elucidation of the Objects advantages and prin-
ciples of Odd Fellowship.
Should any man inquire of me- what are the
requisites for admission to membership in our
order would tell him, that the candidate must
believe in the existence off Supreme, Intelligent
Being, the Creator and Preserver of the universe
that he must be sober, honest, industrious, sound
of body, and OF mind, and of good repute gener-
ally. Possessing these qualifications he may
send in his petition for membership by a brother,
when his character and standing will undergo a
strict and searching investigation If this results
in his favor, he is admitted, passing through an
initiatory ceremony, peculiar and impressive,
and one which he can never forget, any more
than he can the lessons it is designed to convey.
He is bound by no oaths or obligations which
can conflict in any manner with the duties he
owes to his God, his country. his family or HIM
self On the contrary, he is taught that he can
not be true Old Fellow, unless he is grateful to
his Creator, faithful to his country, and fraternal
to his fellow men.
He is informed that we do not tolerate party
or sect of any sort, and yet he at once sees that
We inculcatc Il cheerful obedience to law and a
veneration for religion and sound morality
The lodge room, he finds, is sort of neutral
ground, where men of every nation, of every
creed may meet and kindly unite in offices Of
human benefaction.
The tendency of our rites and ceremonies, he
finds are to elevate character to draw out and
develop all that is highest, best and noblest in
man, to cultivate and refine his sensibilties, to
make him in all things better man, and let rs
hope. greatly to aid in fitting him to dwell with
the Grand Sire above when he