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


more ancient secret societies, is not connected
with either governments religions. But at
the same time it teaches man to obey the laws of
God and OF his country, asserts the universal
brotherhood of man, End seeks by the silent and
steady dissemination of its principles to rot out
prejudice and selfishness from the hearts of men.
and to bind them together in a closer fraternity.
Later we find Odd Fellowship under different
names extending itself through England and
central Europe, and as zealously engaged as her
oioef sister Masonry in asserting the universal
brotherhood of man and disseminating the prin-
cipies OF friendship, love and truth through the
hearts of men,
besides the societies we have mentioned, there
are now probably hundreds of other secret socie-
sie s a. one KIND or another existing in Europe
ana the United States. 1t is said that to-day
more than two-thirds of the working men of
England belong to secret societies. In the Uni
TED states the different secret orders and associa
tons are very numerous, and it might be safely
said that, exclusive of political societies. moro
than one-half OF the people of the United States
belong to secret associations of some kind or
other.
The question Immediately arises. what ia the
cause and groundwork of all these secret asso.
ciatiOns3 They are not the result of merc
whims or theories.
There must be some wants of our social And
moral nature, universally felt, to which the or.
CARNATIONS of society do not respond or supply
some elements of our common nature not repre-.
sented in our social institutions.
Many OF these secret societies have perhaps
for their object the accomplishment Of q single
purpose-the suppression of a single vice. This
is not the case with Odd Fellowship. This order
Is founded on broader principles, which assert
the universal brotherhood of man. 1t seeks To
arouse and cherish the spirit of fraternal love in
the hearts of its members. and enforces her les
sons of fraternity and charity by the performance
of deeds Of benevolence.
The origin Of Odd Fellowship is not known.
Under different names it reaches back into the
realms of tradition.
But the manner Of its origin matters little To
u.s. Our association was not created by single
man or set of men. 1t is mn institution that ha.
grown up and gradually adapted itself to the
wants of men, Her principles are such as have
been revered by the true and good Of all ages.
and are expressed by the most beautiful and i'm
pressive symbols, emblems and allegories. With
these principles our order marches forth in the
midst of selfish world, in the midst of social
imperfection, scattering everywhere healing
influence, and procaims broader charity and
more active benevolence
But, Notwithstanding the principles Of our
order are unassalable and command the respect
Of every one, yet there are many very good men
who oppose all secret organizations simply be-
cause they are secret. They frequently ask IL.
why We limit our charities % members OF our
order. They point 10 the aims houses, asylums
and other charitable institutions which the lib
erality of our people have scattered over the
land. and ask US why do not let our charitie.
run through the public channels TO these nstitu.
tons! We answer, that ii is not true that Odd
Fellowship limits her charities 10 the members
Of the order. Odd Fellows, actuated by the
sublime teachings of charity they have received
in the lodge, contribute as individuals literally
to all public charities.
But it must be remembered that as much good
may be done by the spirit and manner in which
q charity is done as there is by the act itself
Although these public charitable institution.
are good in their place and reflect the highest
honor upon the liberality of the public. vet very
few persons can receive the benefits Of these pub
lie charities without first divesting themselves of
their manhood The moment person enters tn.
poor house. and there receives from the cold hand
Of some official the slender pttance which serve.
to keep soul and body together, he is completely
ostracised and effec.ually shut out from society
This mode of dispensing charity, if indeed
that can be called . charity which is received a.
a right, III no manner teaches the man to helm
himself; but, ON the contrary. takes from him
the natural stimulus to do so, and thereby tends
to increase the number of paupsrs, rather than
10 decrease them.
Odd Fellowship will never permit a worthy
brother or his family to 20 to ths poor house or
work honse, simply because he il unfor.u innate.
On the contrary, IT is her missi,a to prepare and
enable all worthy members of the order to meet
adversely in all its forms. and 10 take care of
brother and his family when in distress, and
soothe and sustain him until he can again pro-
vide for himself And all this Is done in such
manner rs not TO wound the feelings of the most
sensitive heart.
If the principles Of Odd Fellowship were car
yied out all over the world. there would be small
need Of aims houses and like public institutions
We read Of the magnificent and prnoely do
nations made to public charitable institutions BY
our Girards, Abbott Lawrences and Peabodys
While these donations are generous and noble
and worthy of all praise, vet as matter of fact
these princely donations do scarcely anything
towards softening the lot of the unfortunate and
distressed, scarcely anything towards ameliora.
ting the condition Of the poor, and nothing to-
wards removing the imperfections Of society.
The real comfort and happiness of life and of
society does not arise from princely donations.
They come from the thousand little amenities.
the thousand little kindnesses and acts of chari-
ty done by one to the other in kindly and fra
ternal spirit, as taaght by the principles of our
order. And it belongs peculiarly 70 Odd Fellow
ship to show to the world how charity may be
so organized and dispensed that 1t shall go direct
to its object, with a sure benediction
Our age is by no means destitute of the senti-
ment of charity, but is, perhaps, sometimes
unwise in the exercise of it, 1t is the habit of
many persons to deeply sympathise over suffer-
ings that are altar off, and send money to carry
forward cause of very questionable utility or
the other side Of the world, while they scorn the
beggar from their doors and pass by without note
or pity the real misery that meets them at every