Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-29

have been hurled at these vices iegisla-
lion has been had and resolutions passed,
yet they exist, and may diffdse their .bane-
full Influences more widely through the
ranks of the Order. More efficient legis-
lalion must be had, and officers and men,
bers more certainly enforce the law, or the
end Of these evils is not yet.
.tiista ELEcTIoNEERINa.
Great minds and great hearts have taken
hold of our Order, have given 1t an i'm
pulse difficult TO resist, hence our march to
influence and power has been very rapid;
and while daily accessions swell our ranks
like the fishers net we have caught some
Indifferent, while we have many good and
true men-this is illustrated by the fact
that personal electioneering for office has
been resorted TO in the Qrder-this is an
evil which ought to be at once and forever
ersdicated-if indulged in, it will seriously
disturb the harmony Of the Lodges-prO-
duce dissensions-anger and hearLburDings.
Odd-fellowship teaches higher and nobler
lesson. An Office is duty, which may not
be declined but performed. To receive
the honors Of the Order is worthy the
ambition of any man, but if achieved by
electioneering -button-holeing, he is more
selfish than fraternal, and brings into the
purer presincts of the Lodge the supreme
selfishnes and sordidness of the outer world
while we should according to the teachings
of our highly cherished institution, turn
with infinite satisfaction and delight 10 the
harmonious unselfish operation of the
principles of our Order from the cleo
tioneerer's canvass.
WIDOWS AND oRPHANs-EDUCATIoN.
This Order is a husband to the widow,
and a father to the orphan-lhe command
is Educate the Orphan" Funds and
percentages of incomes, are ordered to be
set apart ard sacredly devoted to this pur
pose. Yet, in many of the subordinate
Lodges, these funds are comminglea with
the other means of the Lodge, so that it is
impossible TO separate them and they are
used as the common funds of the Lodge.
This should not be permitted. The sacred
ness of these funds should be recogniz ed
| Our Lodges are alternately draped in
mourning-lhe lis of widows of Odd
Fellows is augmentipg, and the number of
| orphan children increasing. We have one
| father and are one Observation-Disclosures
orphans are the children of the Order. We
| hold these funds in trust for their benefit.
! They are members of our common family.
! To use, absorb CT squander a fund thus
! hallowed, isa crime against the high moral
| ityofthe Order and should be corrected and
! guarded against in the future. If the laws
when executed are inadequate to the
proper protection and application Of these
funds, l recommend such legislation as
1 may be right.
In this connection take pleasure in re-
calling YOU to the Widow and Orphan
Home and recommending its location,
erection and endowment and also in COM
mending TO your most favorable considera-
ton Howard Female College at Gallatin,
I Mount Vernon Female Institute at Corn
ersville, aud Odd Fellows Female Institute
at Trenton. These are institutions of the
! Order, presided over by men tried and
true, where the orphans of the order
can be literally educated and made use
ful and happy members Of gociety.
! Here the brotherhood can exhibit those
lofty charities which are the fruits of a
generous benevoleuce, springing from the
! puresl feelings Of the human heart -
MORTALITY.
Since We last met in annual communi.
cation, death has fallen upon two of the
herhood-member5 Of this Grand
| Body-P. G. Representative J. NJ. Little
field, of Chickasaw Lodge No s, and p. g.
! G.. WsTalley, Of Dyersbu.g Lodge No. 65.
We stand uncovered at their graveF, their
names engraven on our hearts, and bow in
humble submission 10 the mandate of the
Muster, by which these brothers have had
conferred on them higher degree in the
Grand Lodge above, and learned the last
true grip of an Odd Fellow. The respect
i've Lodges to which these brothers were
attached have paid betiLting eulogiums TO
the worth and virtues of the departed
brothers. may repeat, however, 4 part
of what Chickasaw Lodge said of brother
LitlleGeld: ... ..
ia all the various positions that he was
called upon to ell lie discharged them with
zeal, integrity and honor. As a citizen,
his quiet and retired disposition never
brought him prominently before the pub
lie; but among his acquaintance he was
known for his integrity and honor. In his
social and family relations, he was known
for his genial, kind, generous and humane
feelings. Temperance, benevOlence and
Justice marked his every act, thereby rem
dering him among US at least the most
worthy and deserving
GRAND SECRETARY AND D. C. MASTER
| am under many and lasting obligations
to the f. ". Grand Secretary for the aid
which he has rendered me and the in
creased facilities which his large eXpe-
rience has enabled him TO give in the per-
Torrance Of my duties; and the Deputy
] Grand Master has also laid me under tTib.
ute for his kindness and labor in repre-
senting me in Lodges which it was impos.
sibe Tor me 10 visit, and | make this ac-
acknowledgement Of my obligations TO him
d. D. G. MASTER.
The system of D. d. G. Masters provided
10y cur laws should be amended. In its
! present organization it is defective. Forms
! of reports should be printed and furnished
each of these officers, that they may thus
furnish the statistics Of the Order. There
ia now little information for want of these
! forms, and as consequence the statistics
are very incomplete and could not be COM
! piled from theae reports. Many of the
| d. d. G. Masters were faithful and efficient,
for which | thank them. They are entitled
10 all praise "a.
| CONCLUSION.
Aud now, brothers, my acts are before
you. Ny work Is drawing to a close; i'm
| perfect on my part, yet conscious OF my
| desire and love for the Order, let me in
| duIge the hope that you exercise towards
my acts that charity which is characteris-
tic Of our Order; and that We all shall be
guided by wisdom, act with prudence, zeal
and brotherly love, in dischargiDg the du-
ties of the present session, and thus secure
the perpetujty and promote the honor Of
cur Order. HERYEY Brown,
Grand Master.
Which report was referred TO commit
tee consisting of G. w. Day, W. H. Nc
Cornell ana NJ. c. Gotten, after which the
Grand Lodge took a recess until two
o'clock. .TH.... ..
AFTERNOO SESSION.
The Grand Lodge re-assembled at , P
NJ, all the Grand Officers present.
The reports of the Grand Secretary and
Grand Treasurer were, received and refer
red to the Finance Committee.
f. 7, Smiley and W. H. Mcconnell,
Representatives to the Grand Lodge of The
United States submitted their report, which
vas received, and referred to special COM
mittce consisting of Representatives Todd,