The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-02-20
Established 1926.

:. u ~ ~
recently illustrated ia tbe r>.unior
OF the Order, presenting scene O
moral sublimity which GOd AnC
angels might gaze upon with aPpro
val; and demonstrating that lb,
cong nest Of the prejudices and pas
sions which sectional, educational
and party aDlmcsities eDgepdered
isa greater victory than the tri
omph Of ar@s, Reliant upou THU
tirm basis, Odd Fellowship bus pre-.
served lis identity, its integrily
and iIs glorious unity. M s1,.'
Charity then, or love in It's most
comprehensive SignifeatioD, is the
leading and perysdins idea OF Odd
Fellowship Acharity which com
Prehends in its wide sn.brscs all ma
tions,psoples, kindrsds and tongues
This 10 the sentimen. that gives
vitality to cur entire Organization,
the sun Of the system around which
reyolvs all the principles Of the Or.
der, and from which they receive
thsir Life, influence and efulgence
BY Prscspt and example il enfar.
ces lhst charity that " So tferetb
long and 10 kind, seeketh not hsr
own, endureth all thiOgs, and
hoPeth all things" ....-
Another feature of our Order
which should commend it TO vi ia
mutual rslief.
This, though important, is ie.
pardsd as subsidiary 70 its CHIEF
aims and purposos; it is but1ht
ves,ibGis d the spleEdid inner.
court Of the temple. r-5oi
It matters lot however exalted
De mans position 10 society. .ho "
great his rank, or ample bis for
tune, what may be the yigor of bis
physical system, he is nevertheless
liable 10 disappointment, misfor.
tune and disease. To-day, the
glow Of health may be upon bis
eheek-to.morrow he may be pros.
trated by disease. - q.
Job has touchingIy portrayed the
law Uf our common fallen human
ity: "Man that is born Of woman Is
of few days and full Of trouble; be
clmeth forth like flower and is Gu,
down; he feelh also as shadow and
continueth not" Now, one OF the
chief designs Of Odd Folio wship Ii
to provide a ready means to re
lieve the distressed. and tu succor
the needy in the times OF sickness
aud adversely; hence it incolcates
the duty Of bearing one anothsr's s
burdens, and endeavors to quicken
the benevolent faculties and impul
ses OF mans nature; Danish from
his heart the baneful sin ofselfsh
ness; teach him that no is intimate.
ly identified with the welfare Of
the common race, and that he is
bound by every humane consider.
alton, 10 help his brother man in
the trials and vicissitudes which
may befall him. a' ...
Hence the mandate Of the Su.
preme authority Of tho Order to
every Odd Fellow is: i" We com.
mand you to visit the sick, relieve
the distressed, 6cry the dead, and
educate the orphan" THIS impera.
tive injunction, it Is the pride and
boast of Odd Fellowship to obey by
tho practical operations of u well
adjusted, simple, efficient and sys.
tematic plan of reciprocal relief,
which guarantees TO every brother
assistance in the hour uf his need,
care and watching by bis couch Of
pain, and should the ''slver cord be
loosed" and death claim him for his
own, the sad Offices ofsepulturc, and
the protection Of his widow aud or
phans, in their desolation of grief
aud sorrow. Nor does this system
merely contemplate relief 10 u
brother when at home, and access.
ible to his immediate Lodge; but
if he is sojourning in o distant
place, he will there find open hearts
and hands to greet him Ms a brother
OF the "ame mystic family ; and
should afaiction overtake him, SUP.
ply that tender care be would re-
ceive from his own. Lodge, or the
loved ones at home. In this way
/" every Lodge becomes a house Of
mercy, and every Odd Fellow a
Good Samaratin," binding up the
wounds Of his fellow travellers
across the desert of time. ...
Of the advantages and benefits
OF this system which our Order
was the first to inaugurate and
carry into practical effect, every
Odd Fellow can testify. either in
personal experience or observation.
How much subStant,al good it has
accomplished. eternity alone Gun
disclose. Suffice il to say, that
since the Institution Of the Order
in America, not including the first
decade, Of which we have no relia.
BILE data, it has furnished relict TO
about one million ofthe member.
ship Of the Order, who were una.
BILE, by sickness or casualties, TO
pursue thoir usual avooations.
1t has relieved By pecuniary as.
sistance about ffty thousand Wild
owed families, and the aggregate
amount applied to these two classes
OF benefoiaries alone, reach nearly
the sum Of two millions OF dollars.
These arc some OF the trophies of
Odd Fellowship, presenting brief
but ample testimony in its favor,
and are eloquent and conclusive ar
guments in vindication Of it's char:
aeter as an organisation, eminently
worthy of the public esteem, and