Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-05-10

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Members of Magnolia Lodge, No. so. 4
O. o. T., Fairteid, Indiana, on Friday
evening, Aprit z6, 1857.
ifF ny BRO. c. n. CORY.
DR.. z. FERGUSON, N. G.. Magnolia Lodge
No. so, l. o. o. r.:
DEAR SIR-Not feeling at liberty 10
refuse the request Of the Lodge for copy
Of my remarks, for publication, made on
the evening of the 26th inst. at our social
meeting, have prepared the same and
now place it at your disposal.
g. r. CoRy.
Fairfield, April 20, 1867.
BRorHERs, being requested by your
committee to make some remarks tonight
having direct reference to those brothers
who have gone from among us--those who
have left the Subordinate Lodge below, to
enter the Grand Lodge above, | will un-
dertake, in few words, to discharge that
duty.
Bro. Messick was the member of the
Lodge first summoned by the Grand Mas
ter TO his reward. We had not the pleas
ure off personal acquaintance with Bro.
Messick. He had volunteered, served his
time, and received an honorable discharge
before we were known to the Order.
Those who knew him best speak of him
as faithful and consistent Odd Fellow,
prompt and untiri1g in the discharge Of
duty-a christian and gentleman. His
widow was assisted by the order to posi-
ton in which she now and for years past
has been making n competent and honora.
bic livelihood.
Bro. Christopher IT. Masters we knew
from our boyhood. We played, wrestled,
gained and worked together. l knew him
then as | knew my own broiher-I loved
him then as l would love brother.
When maturcd years had placed us above
this boyish plane, | knew him again as a
man of honor and integrity-as brother
in Friendship, Love and Truth Bro. Mas
ters received the degrees and passed all the
chairs of the Subordinate Lodge. When he
had but just entered uponthe more active
duties Of manhood, when in the yigor and
prime Of life, and when the wisest of us
could see or expect nothing but long
aud useful life for him-then it was that
the death knell sounded in our ears and
the sad unwelcomc announcement was
made" Chris. is dead" During his last
sickness he was attended by brothers, was
followed to and deposited in his last rest
ing place by brothers, and TO day he is
held in kindest remembrance by all the
brothers.
Bro. John Miller was for several years
Scarlet member Of this Lodge, and had
also passed the chairs. lie was faithful
in the discharge Of every duty, and stood
high in the estimation Of members. In
the Lodge room, in the social circle, at
home or abroad, he was loved by all. Bro.
Miller was hard. working, industrious and
temperate man. lie combined all the
qualities that 80 to make good citizen
and faithful Odd Fellow. The wife had
gone before, soon to be followed by the
husband and father. They now are en-
joying each others society in that heaven
ly land where sickness and sorrow are un.
known, and where death can never sepa-
rate.
You all have vivid recollection of the
sudden and unexpected death of Bro
VIM. Miller. How that, without warning
either to him or his friends, he was strick.
en- down, in the midst of his usefulness
and in the prime of his life. l will re
late circumstance which happened during
the late civil war, which will go far tC
illustrate the character of the man-his
promptness in undertaking and his ability
..x1 f..ok 70. s-l. L..& l.
taken. had been at the Military Head
quarters of our district for some time
and found out about what it would take in
bounlies to clear the Township Of draft
| reported the fact to Bro. Miller and
others. He was the first to respond, and hi,
language ;Tss ~ss, "the money must be raised,
and in two days aftcrward it was raised
and more by his individual exertion than
by that of any other man. AS an Ode
Fellow he was always at his post and vii
ling to discharge his whole duty. In tht
Lodge room, in the sick chamber, in al
his business relations, he was an Ode
Fellow in fact and practice as well as il
name. The bereaved wife and widow to-
day will bear testimony to the fact that the
professions made by the fraternity O.
friendship for brothers wife and care fol
his orphan children are something more
than mere pretension or hollow mockery
Whenever the maternal hand from any
cause is incapable Of properly caring fol
aud educating these his orphan children
then will the Order give that assistance
which the paternal hand would have given
with life, health and ability to minister to
their wants.
Il Bro. James Wright was we'll known as
a member of the Subordinate Lodge and
also Of the Encampment. He was for years
worthy and influential member of both
| knew him we'll and long. As neighbol
| esteemed him highly, and felt when
heard of his sudden departure that truly
one Of natures noblcmen had been taker
away The large number of brothers that
assembled at his funeral and travelled for
miles through the storm to render the
last Offices which the living may render
to the dead, and the still larger concourst
of citizens and friends on the same occa
sion, went far to show his standing in the
Order and his prominence as citizen
His death was sudden and unexpected
although for some time previous he haC
been in declining health. And when i
was announced, we invountarily cxclaim
ed, "In the midst of life zoe are in death.
Verify, men appear upon and pass from