The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-05-10


silence. 1t is true, however, that in the
latter half of the eighteenth century,
Lodges, or Societies of mechanics and
laborers existed in London, calling
themselves "Ancient and Honorable
Loyal Odd-FelloWs.o These met al
most solely for cOnvivial purposes. But
certain friends of reform opposed to
this feature of the society's character,
called II convention in 1913, and formed
the Independent Order of Odd-Fel-
lows" This new form of the associa-
tion had rs its object the aid of the
poor, the support and care of the sick,
the betrayal of burial expenses, and the
relief of the widows and orphans of its
members. Here they incorporatcdinto
the system the principle which was dCs-
tined to give them perpctuity. Be-
neflCence or truc Christian charity
was recommendation to all men
and from this point onward they
began especially to flourish. In 1919
they were transferred to the United States
by the organization of fWashingtonLodge
No. |, in Baltimore, Md. Aud though
not yet fifty years old on this continent
in 1860 there were according to official
returns in the United States 3,jiS lodges,
and l73,SlS members. ThCamount paid
for relief in that year was S54S, 1865,
and for other charitable purposes $72,-
4jO.0j and thetotalamount paid to these
purpOsesin thirty years VASES ,l7S, ,52S.4l.
Now it takes mind butsiightly induc-
tive to infer from this history that iustas
your association has practiccd christian
charity, it has flourished. Forsince the
embrace of that principle rs the main
characteristic, your numbers have in
creased farmOre rapidly than in any pre-
ceding period of your history. And
we might also conclude that just in pro-
portion as you practice charity in the
future, in that ratio will you increase
and flourish.
Butasa part ofthe division under which
we are speaking we are prompted to no.
tice that-as you lose christian charity,
you will as any association decay. Look
at the church in its numerous branches; !;
When any branch loses the Apostolic
charity and simplicity, that moment
picty begins to decay and then the whole
organization. OF this we see examples
every year. Thus it is that whole con-
gregations are diSbanded and die out
entirely. Thus It's that tsOmeassociations
have passed away. But to the historian,
the most forcible illustration of an as
sociation practically ignoring the princi-
pie Of christian charity, is found in the
| lamism started out with as fair prospects
of success as any organization, religious
or otherwise, that has ever figured on
the page of history. Islam means full
submission to God. What fairer profes-
! sion could have been made in that day?
| The system was eclectic. "Mohammcd
| designated himself as the restorcr of the
| pure religion revealed by God to Abra-
ham. As the messenger of God he re-
quired his pagan countrymen to leave
their idols and adopt the worship of the
one true God of the Jews to exchange
the law OF Moses, intended for only a
limited period, for the new and finalreve-
lations given to him; of the christians, to
cease worshipping Christ rs God, as
Inconsistent with Monotheism and with
the true doctrine of Christ himself. To
say the least of it this was Il fair presen-
tatiOn to the world as it then stood. On
their first PRONUNCIATION, the doctrines
of Iohammed spread with amazing
rapidity. But, though every Moslcm
was compelled to givethe fortieth part of
his incOmeto support the pOOryet charity
was not one of the. main plankS in their
religious platform. And no sooner had
they gained, by moral SuasiOn and the
merit OfthGir doctrines, sufficient power
to levy an army, than they gave the lie
toall profession of charity by the forciblc
prOpagation Of their rclfri0n i'm numcr-
Gus battles 1t is indeed true that bv
the power Of the sword their religion
was forced upon many nations Of the
world. But as soon as that power ceased
to be cXertCd, their influence began to
Wane even among those nations where
thatreligiOnhad prevailed. And gliding
a little at first, il soon began to precipi-
t,tn 4 /.
influence which once claimed the supre-
macy of the world, embraces but few
insignificant provinces. 4 few tribes in
south Alrlca haYeindeed, been convert
ed toM oMohamlaedanism during lateyears.
two causes which coincide with the very
idea we desire to convey. First. The
natives embrace TINS religion because
they are Ignorant otany other. Second
because lhe MosiehlS themselves nave
: Deeh touched by the charity OF the chris
tlah religion ana make that character
lstlc more prominent than ever before
Efforts have been made of late years
to rouse the spirit Of the Saraccn amon9
the Mohainmeuansan renew thcblood,
onset against christianity but the mou
intelligent and wealthy have become >
. much imbucd with the charity Of tn
christian church, that they have seei
that the sword Is not the most successlu
[ instrument in the propagation of an
religion. Thus It may be seen that her
is an institution, that once claimed tn
r empire of the world, and yet it is dCClh
- ing toward decay. AS praCtisCd CHART
, toward men, it succeeded. Allit gainc
4 by the power of the sword it lost /
: fast as it gained it and the prOgreSsit
l. inpr IL =. l,s