Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-29
ODD FELLOwsHIP-FRO WHENCE
THE NAME

From the New Age (San Fraucisco)
The ohscurity which involves the origin
Of Odd-Fellowship, prevents us from ascer-
tanning how it obtained that particular
name. However, it appears very probable
that among the clubs in England in the
last century, one was formed under the
name of "The Club of Odd Fellows"
Whatever may have been the particular
purpose of its original formation, it no
doub: soon embraced the principles of be-
nevolent union for the assistance of each
other, and in process, and with the inn
provements Of time, became a secret order,
and arrived at its present extent and i'm
portance. This seems to be the most ra-
tional and feasible account Of its origin
aud name. Attempts have been made to
trace It's origin far back in the army of Cy-
rus the Great, and the annals of ancient
Rome, but there is nothing reliable on
which TO rest an argument, and it appears
TO be the mere fabrication of those desi-
rous Of giving it an antiquity, unwarranted
by even the semblance or trace of historical
fact prior TO the era above mentioned, when
for the first time the name appears in his
tory, and from which time to the present it
cannot be mistaken. The antiquity of the
principles of Fellowship are unques-
tionable they were first proclaimed on the
morn of creation, when the stars sang to-
gether, and the hosts of heaven shouted for
Joy, and again in Judea, when the angelic
hosts lowering over the place where lay
the infant Messiah, sang the heavenly an
them, peace on earth and good will to
man. These are the principles Of our
fellowship" being none other than the
attributes of the Deity. 1t hardly needs
an argument to prove that the name is adj
mirably adapted TO awake curiosity. The
mere mention of an "Odd-Fellow" or "a
society of Odd-Fellows," can scarcely fail
to prompt a desire of knowing in what the
man or society differs from Others and in
what oddity consists Singularity excites
attention, and when Joined with mystery,
must be a powerful means Of causing
curiosity. May there not have been wis.
dom in the adoption Of such a title, which,
while it proclaims the singularity of the
institution, gives no information as TO what
IL consists in, and this may have been the
means of attracting numbers into the ranks
of Odd-Fellowship, who have found from
it other and greater benefits than the mere
qualification which they sought ia entering
it. The words " fellow" and fellowship
in their pure sense, denote a relation-and
a kind relation to Others. Fellow" has,
by the influence Of an unaccountable GUS
tom, frequently been, and is now, used as a
term Of contempt, but in the true classical
English sense of the word, it implies a re-
ference of equality and kindness to Others.
Thus we say good fellowship" and the
words are thus used in the Bible. In one
passage (which might well be our motto) il
is said If they fall, the one will lift
up his fellow" "They gave 10 me and
Barnabas the right hand of fellowship"
Gal. %. That which we have seen and
heard, declare We unto you, that We always
have fellowship with us"
Other passages might be quoted TO prove
the kind aud friendly Specification of the
words. Are they not then exceedingly APP
propriate when applied to an institution,
the great object of which is TO assist each
other in the diseases and disasters Of life
az one fall, his teliows lift him up" and in
prosperity 10 cultivate mutual, kind "fel-
lowsaip" and benevolence. Our fellow
ship is a sublime institution, having for
its fundamental principles, universal be-
nevolence and brotherly love, stimulating
it's members TO deeds Of charity, and con-
ferring upon them dignity and respect. to
the faithful heart furnishing balm for
every aifliction, tempering and controlling
the passions, certifying the hearts, and pre-
pairing as for fellowship" with the angelic
host, and spirits of the Just made perfect,
in the celestial city not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.