Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-05-11


oppression would be broken-how soon
the clangor OF arms and The din OF war
would cease-the hand OF blood and
death would be upli(led no more, and
throughout this land and the world, eve
~ man would find in his fellow man a
brother and friend. In short if this So
cie,y were 10 become universal, II would
in great measure, demoIsh almshouses,
prisons and peniIenlIarles or al leas'' so
bind mankind together by the bonds oI
friendship, love and truth, as TO render
such asyluns almost uncslled for; because
every brother OF lhe Order is taught TO
practice upon the principle, "Do 10 9th.
ers as YOU would have Them do TO you"
Is then this Order useless thing ! Is II
not Just sucn an Order, as the present
state Of society and the world loudly calls
for q! And were just such causes Produ'
cling just like effects put into active opera:
ton every where. would not the state oi
affairs soon be greatly changed for The
better! This large assembly may an
swer this question.
But perhaps il may be replied you
would superceds the necessity oi religion
and substitute the Lodge for the Church.
reply unhesitalngly. no. The Lodge
though il has no immediate connections
with the Church, has tendancy howeV'
er, rather to help hel forward, than either
10 subvert or cripple her efforts, much
less lake her place. Every benevolent
institution of Tie day certainly tends very
materially to soften and lessen the suiier'
ings and sorrows of life and 10 open the
eyes Of fallen and aposIate man TO Tie
paramount advantages Of the ChHsiIan
| Religion, and thus the Lodge becomes
grand auxiliary 10 the Church. We admit
ha, The work done by this society, IS The
Legitimate work of the Church, but when
The church fails, is it not well that some
other institutions come forward and help
for the sake Of suffering humanity Bn'
after all we may expect 10 meet with oP'
position from some sections Of the church
as well as The world. They may op'
pose either from jealousy, or ignorsne',
or both. UnaCquanieG with the princl
pies, and shutting their eyes to the Prac'l'
ces Oft Order. they may ard will judge
and condemn without hearing. Nor are
you to stop for a single momentro argue
the subject with any man, or order OF
men YOU are by strict attention TO your
sacred principles, and by faithful dis
charge of the duies enjoined upon YOU as
: Odd Fellows, TO answer every ohlcIlon
and silence every objecIor.
by your fruits shall you be known
and by these shall you be judged, rather
than by the $50 say" OF few. As long
as This Order, planted in the genial soil
of Friendship, Love and truth continues
to weld lhe generous fruits Of benevolence
and charity, Is hch being plenIlfulIy dis
rbued by the hand of brotherly kind
ness amongst The suffering objects OF
commlsseration, which every wheSe I'm.
plores protection and relief. She has
nothing TO fear from all tie combined IN.
nuences whlch may be brought TO bear
against her. And a. All Order may you
ever be able TO sJoh The language OF JOB,
chapter 20, "When the ear heard ne
ihtn it blessed me, when the eye saw me
then il gave witness 10 me, because de.
lyercd the poor that cried, and !he lsther'
less, and him that had none 10 help. The
blessing OF him that vas ready TO perish
came upon me aud caused The widows
heart 10 sing for joy" If | cay you are
characterized by such acts OF benevoIence
as these, your practice will put 10 silence
every raIer, calumuiaIor and objecor, and
in this way only can you overcome sue
cesslully.
And now brethren, discover we are
honored this morning with the presence,
ond cheered by The smiles OF not Jew
! OF our fair sisters, without which this
world would be wilderness, society .
blank, and human life stripped OF no small
share Of It's sweetest enJDymeni--wIIl
bosoms GLOW ing with ardent sympathy
for suffering humanlty-"Iih heart"
h ch bleed al the slightest huch OF hH.
man misery-and bands ever ready TO adj
minister benelacilons 10 the afflicted.
lhey viii Prove under all eireums!ances
helps meet for YOU 10 the discharge oi
yolr duties as Odd Fellows. SHch gen.
erous hearts and sympa'hi5ing souls as
lhe ladies ,Iway- possess qualify them ~ /.
a high degree f0r Ing Odd Fellows. aud
know no obs slscle IN tIe way ol hrr
Imitation but one, anil perhaps that might
bs overcome-LadIes CEN you keep &C.
cret.
And now in conclusion. B[eihren. let
your Lodge ever present miniature ike
ness Of the Grand Lodge above. Lci
harmony. good order. fidelity and brother
Iv loyp cbar.cterize al ynuT inIerG curse