Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-02-25
The Twenty Second of February.

The Twenty Second OF fe6FuNyh
The ouly public recognition OF this day,
once sacred to the memory, and dear to the
heart of every American, by the people of
this community, was the large and creditable
turn>out in the evening of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, to hear an address
from Rev Il. b. SHEPHERD. In noticing
this address before benevolent association,
whose object is the dissemination of those
principles which are to elevate man and benz
eft his species, it is hardly proper to stop to
inquire why day whose return was once
hailed with unfeigued delight, is now regard
cd with but little more interest than any OF the
other three hundred and sixty four days OF
the year. That such is the case, however,
is a, fact which needs no argument to de-
monstrate.
But to return to the procession, and the
lecture, which the public expect US to notice
as one of the incidents of the times, and one
of the events happening in. our midst. OF
the first, it is Just to say it was a, success.
IPtIdey Lod,Je turned out in full force, and
from neighboring lodges there were credita-
BILE deputations. The services at the church
consisted of singing by an improvlsed choir,
and PRAYER by Rev. j. w. TONGUE. Then
came the lecture, which, as a literary pro-
duction, Astounding in instructive thought
and sparkling with gcms of brightest imagery,
was we'll calculated to excite admiration, II 1t
inspired no higher sentiment Whether as
an address to the order under whose auspices
it was delivered, it served to plant any new
truths or to heighten the devotion of the
members to the principles of their timehon-
ored institution, is not for us to say, but GER
tain it is, it conveyed clear and concise idea
of the duties which Odd Fellowship impose,
and the seed sown. if 1t fell not IN stony
places, should spring up TO an abundant har-
vest of the rich fruits, Friendship, Love and
Truth \ closer analysis OF this lecture
might lead US to question the expediency-as
to time and place-of the expression of
portion of its composition, but there was no
word uttered that did not with us touch
responsive chord. The incubation of pa
triotsm is one of the duties which impera-
lively demands the care Of every man in ev-
nv calling, but in our day so closely allied is
this heaven-born sentiment with political par
tizanship, that we doubt whether the pulpit
can touch it without selling its robes. At
least, we should prefer that the press and the
rostrum, rather than the pulpit of the South,
should echo the anatbenlas of the people
against the ungody prostitution of constItu-
tionaI government. We say this in no spirit
of fault finding. for we have too high a re-
gard for the talented lecturer to indite aught
that. would wound his feolings or detraot
from his real and genuine merit as christian
and gentleman. We hope the lecture was
we'll received, but upon some portions of the
audience we fear that it fell with sounds OF
harshness. The allusion to poor old Virgin
ia, upon whose breast was nurtured the man
whose birth,d brought into the world
champion for the oppressed everywhere, was
a forciblc Indictment Of the monstrous evils
that stamp the present as the age Of oppres-
SION Bowed and bleeding as she is, with
the hoof of tyranny crushing out the liberty
of her children, and bending them to sub
jection'to her servile population, it must have
reused feeling ofindignation at her wrongs
and intensified the love of every Virginian,
who is not recreant to his ancient mother
But we are perhaps wandering, and that too
over field that is too broad to be canvassed
in notice of mere local incident. We are
glad we were present, and We heard the lee
ture with decided qualification.