Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-07-06

table, than those of the second less to do
with our relations to God than with our re-
lations to each other. 1T comes not in
competition with the churches, nor in op-
position to them. The best Odd Fellow
makes the best Christian, and the best
Christian the best Odd Fellow. As far as
Odd Fellowship goes, tits in harmony with
the Misunderstanding what they teach
enforcing what they enforce-pract'clng
what they commend; but while it is able
to reach those whom no church reaches, it
confesses there are some most important
truths which it does not pretend to teach
for instruction in them it points to the
churches. ai5 ta '.'ii.a ist'i aH -f.
That some make it a substitute for the
higher walks of religion, cannot be denied;
but they misrepresent its teachings. The
lodge is no church. Odd Fellowship is no
religion. 1t has no creed no sacraments; !;
no ministry. 1t Intentionally omits to
teach any but the simplest and most elemen-
tary forms of religious faith; looking, not
directly at the good of the spiritual man,
but at the good of the natural man--not
directly at eternal, but at temporal things;
assured that it shall find the best interest
of the body allied to the best interests OF
the soul, and the highest earthly good at
tainable only in ways consistent Win the
highest eternal good. iw ssSl lirez zqJVr., fsa.,
Odd Fellowship, then, is the friend and
ally of religion, and of the church.. IL
does not pretend to as great purity and
sanctity as it accOrds them; nor claim to
be more necessary than they. 1t does not
go as lar as they in the destruction of sin:
but. though it may not always send its fleets
acith theirs to destroy the common enemy
from off the sea of life, it suffers none of its
vessels to coal and water in its ports; and,
in its Olon sphere. and aoGy, ever wars against
vice in all its forms. Friendship prompt
ing the contest, Loves gentle influence
1lr,s. IL
ing the effort and leading to victory. ..
It's Relations to State-On this natal day
of liberty, when the fires of patriotism are
replenished, when vows are uttered and
oaths of fidelity recorded, when the love of
the nation is drawn toward the institutions
that shelter us, no demonstration has a
right to divert public interest to affairs
without laying its tribute upon the altar
ofour country. For this, as well as for the
reasons before given, il is proper to speak
of Odd Fellowship i'll its relations to the
State. -g Z siF-t4 p i.ol sE.5 5Sl1 ,let 81
Odd Fellowship is loyalty proud of Amer
lea; proud of its history; proud of its ex-
tent; proud of its wars; proud of its insti-
tutions; proud of its people. 1t is proud
that the nation, born less than century
ago, is already peer to those whose birth
was " in the morning of the times;" proud
that this child among the nations Is hon.
ored above them all, in being chosen by the
land of Confucins to bridge over the chasm
that has hitherto separated China from
friendly intercourse with the nations of the
earth. 1t is proud of the unsurpassed hero
ism of our soldiery, victorious over every
enemy; proud of our gallant navy, whose
brave deeds have conquered in war, and in
peace have carried the flag OF their triumph
to receive the greetings of the world.
Odd Fellows love our country. In its
free institutions they find circumstances,
Of hn .rkI, farlS
for, the cultivation OF the principles of
their Order. Here, more than any place
else, they find the vain distinctions of earth
leveled. Here they find less influence of
caste. Here, more than any place else,
they find vice punished and virtue reward
ed. Here they behold the dawning of that
golden year st 3laF s
when all mems good shall ,s.-
Be eaih man. le, and universal Peace
Lie like a shaft OF light across tn land,
And like lane of beams athwart the sea-
The assurance given the initiate that, in
all the vows and services required of him
by Odd Fellowship, he will find none in
consistent with his duties to himself, his
fellow men, his maker, and his country, is
verified i'll the lowest and in the highest
degrees, as well in the .encampment as in
the subordinate lodges 1t is no political
organization. All discussion looking in
that direction is rigidly excluded. 1t is
taught to bury the resentment of party
strife In fraternal love. Recognizing its
Indebtedness to the country it seeks to dis
charge the same By softening the asperities
of political differences. If that difference,
in the excess and abuse OF party prejudice
and devotion, the sagest statesmen have
placed our greatest danger. 1t has been SO
regarded from the beginning of our his
tory; Washington himself declaring that,
through this, parties ''are likely, in the
courseof time and things, to become potent
engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and
unprincipled men will be enabled to sub
vert the power of the people, and to usurp
for themselves the reins of government;
destroying afterwards the very engines
which have lifted them to unjust domin-
ion.o
And, If | am not greatly mistaken, 1t is
organizations like this, where men, though
differing in political views, find bond of
union and brotherhood laid deep in their ma
lures along which continually flows from
one to the other greetings of noblest, pur-
est friendship which must forever over rule
party preferences for the general good and
underwrite for the prosperity and perman-
ency of our free institutions.
Such being its aims and such its rela-
tions, Odd Fellowship justifies our most
enlarged desires for its further extension
and continual prosperity. If it is not a
WOTGuy pTlue lO us NY DTOJTeTS, IL Is DS-
cause we have been unfaithful to its prin-
ciples. % - q e.
If there are those enrolled in its member
ship whose lives reproach its teachings, it
is because we have Sighted the Instructions
so oft and impressively given" Scoffers,
bigots, gamblers, drunkards, liars, sensual
lists, mi.ers, swindlers, men who abandon
wives and children, men who grind the
faces of the poor.' should no more be
admitted into an Odd-Fellows' lodge than
the thief or the murderer" If it is not do
ing the actual good we think it should do,
it is because we have allowed the spirit of
sloth to stif1e the clarion voice that con-
stantly cries in the ears of the true Odd
Fellow" Clothe the naked, relieve the dis
tressed. pr0uide for the aoido,o and educate the
orphan" In fine, II we would have it real
ize our just expectations and fulfill its high
destiny, -fe .s r-e ~. .-.t -.
think, and in all things ..--
Keep selves loyal to TRUTH and the sacred profess
sions OF friendship .. ...-... .-r Y e
Icannot conclude without again express
ing to you, Odd Fellows of Columbus, from
the promptings of my own heart, and in
here to rejoice with you to-day, our admi-
ration for the spirit you have manifested
in the conception and Inauguration of this
great undertaking. May you have only
prosperity in the prosecution of the work !;
and when the Fourth of July, 1869, shall
come, may the flag of our country float
over the dome of your completed temple as
proudly as to-day it floats over the corner
stone; and may the temple itself be a lasting
monument OF the energy, liberality, pa
tience and united strength of those ,ohO be-
IeUe in the links of Friendship, lOUe and truth,
the Lolcest aohereof, friendship, Is in the heart
OF man, and the highest, truth, in the hand Of
Godi al
After the band had played, there was an
eloquent address in German delivered by
Rev. Bro. c. Heddaeus.
At the close there was music by Hem
mersbach's Band, when the Grand Master
said-Brethren of Columbus, the solemn
ceremonies of the occasion are concluded