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


What is the flag of our country but symbol
1t is a symbol with almost intinity OF inean-
ings. Who will sit down and write out in plain
English all the meanings of that flag On the
field of battle does 1t not inspire the heart OF the
soldier with the divine idea of duty and heroic
daring. Is it not the embodiment of our ma
tion's history. All of our nations struggles, all
az It's adversties all of its prosperity, all OF its
pride, all of its glory and all of its hopes lie
blomized in the folds OF that flag. 1t is sy,nbol
whose deep and holy meanings can alone be read
by the heart ot the patriot.
The principles of Odd Fellowship are as old as
time. They were written upon the heart of the
first man, and were the inspiration of that birth
song which wrapped the young creation i'll a
celestial chorus r
And it is the mission of Odd Fellowship to
extend her principles throughout the world by
arousing the spirit of fraternal love, which
rises superior to the Fictitious distinctions and
arrangements Of society, and the pecuniary con-
ditons of life, and by Sowing through the world
the seeds OF broader charity and more active
benevolence.
But, says one, your society has been in active
operation for a long time. What have you ac-
complished? What results have you gained
we answer that 1t is not for us to stop and COM
pute the results. 1t is simply our duty to work.
But ask the questioner to stop and compute
for me the result or effect of one small act of
charity fraternally done to needy or suffering
brother 1t is an exceedingly small thing.
But is there any hand so cunning that
II can compute or measure the result: A
philosopher has said that it is physical law that
when a force is once cxerted, no matter how
small the force may be, it never stops acting.
No matter If 1T be the mere dropping of a key
upon the floor or the touching of lutte string,
it creates series of vibrations which continue
TO travel on through all space and all time.
So iii the moral world, one small act of kind
nesd done TO a brother, warns his heart and in
duces him to dc an act of charity to another
brother; so that, however small the act may be,
its influence vibrates from heart to heart until il
reaches the throne of God
No wise man ever expects 10 reform the world
or even nation. The most any person can do
towards reforming the world is to thoroughly re-
form himself. Reforms are not brought about by
sudden and brilliant efforts Of individuals or
societies.
Many OF those who oppose our order and other
sundTy orders, belong to that class of so called re-
formers who can never see that multitude Of
small agencies constantly and silently acting in
the same direction may in time produce great re-
suits. They never speak of doing any smaller
exploit than that Of reforming whole nation at.
ono and the same time, by some mechanical pa
mistake noise for force, and change for ref rs
Like -Esops fly on the axle Of the chariot n
think that they cause all the noise and hubSTb
which they hear and ace around them, and they
talk of revolutions and reforms as If they were
mere chess men.
Earthquakes and tornados make great noise
aud leave ruin and destruction in their path But
they are merely the results Of disturbing forces,
and they produce no lasting effeets on the phys
ical world. So wars and battles leave famine and
death in their track, but they are merely the re.
suit of disturbing moral forces-the product Of
disunion-and they produce no lasting revolu.
ton in the moral world. They pull down but
they cannot unite and build up. They cannot
change the hearts or minds Of men. saassass
When God desires T. build continent or an.
Island he dos not use earthquakes, he does not
set men or elephants 70 work ut il. He aalecto
~ his agents, from the lowest type of animals,
apparently. the most insignificant insects. Far
down below the waves on the calm floor Of tie
ocean the coral insect lays the foundation OF the
continent Millions upon millions Of little ar.
chitects arc there at work. Each builds its tiny
cell at once its house and its tomb. There they
continue to work far down in the dark, without
any doubling or any questioning through century
after century, through age after age, for thous-
ands aud thousands of years. Meanwhile race
after race OF men and animals have lived on the
earth and passed away. At length the little ar
chitects have raised their columns to the top Of
the highest wave and they behold the light of
heaven AID die. Their mission is ended. BY
agencies equally small and processes equally slow
a soil gradually accumulates upon the rock and
the place where the waves have been becomes the
abodes Of men and tho sites of cities and villages.
Civilizations grow up and blossom into litera-
lures and religions.
80, in the moral world changes and reforms are
brought about slowly and by silent agencies
which seem trivial to u.s. and they take place in
much different way than We expect. We
are apt to place too much Importance on what we
do and are always looking about for great re-
suits ... ..I.
We cannot see very far into futurity, nor is it
perhaps better for US 70 try to do 40; but like
the coral insect work on at what we find to do,
without doubling, without questioning, believing
with firm and strong faith that in the fullness
u time our work too may reach the light Of
heaven, and be blessed with the smile Of God
"..Knowest thou Yesterday 1T, aim And reason a
Then calmly wait the M3rrow's hidden season,
Ana Tear not thou what hap s0'er IL brngs."
Odd-tellwoship is peculiarly adapted to the
wants of young men. Among the variety of
human wants there is not one which makes itself
30 powerfully and keenly felt az the want of
friendship, the want of society. Of this the
young are peculiarly conscious. They have need
Of virtuous associates whose conservative infu-
ence will always surround them. Without them
their virtue has no security" And no ono can
perhaps tell how much his thoughts and actions
are influenced and modified by the outward pres
"sre of the society which surrounds him.
The young man passes the first years Of his
life in the family circle with brothers and sisters
around him. He has NO far enjoyed the benefits
VI parental care and brotherly and sisterly afIec.
tion. These have satisfied his social wants.
But this state Of things will not alHaYs last