The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-11-25
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coldly measure the reaches Of feeling, or
precisely calculate the degrees OF benevo-
lence. 1t is enough for us Odd Follows
that We 6ad this obligation enstau,ped by
nature herzelf.on the hearts Cfmen-enough
that this natural law has received the
sanction Of the revealed law, which CON-
mnnds mutual love and mutual assistance :
sOt this obligation remember beautiful
Illustration Of one who was at once D shi-
ming light of faith and q great apostle Of
the intellect. /" Give, says he. "and give
within the full measure Of your power.
Give little or give much; but give to the
needy of the Lord! II not penny, give
bread-if not bread, give cup of water
if not water give sympathy. at least to tho
wretchedness Of the poorl" n
This, ladies and gentlemen. may sound
like an exaggeration of charity. Yet am
sure that can safely affirm that our Maker
has placed the necessities of The needy in
the hands of the more favored of the hu-
man family. But not placed them there to
remain unheeded; but placed them TO DO
relieved, by all Of US as proetors Of his ben
efcence on earth. This is the special aim
Of the Order, whose Dedication of q, new
building, consecrated to benevolel &c, you
have kindly honored US by your presence
to day. Conscious Of the higher motives,
which give life and activity TO our purpe-
ses, we ask you to show US the man whose
heart is dead to the piteous call Of want
whose feelings are blunt to the appeal OF
widow and of orphan-the man, wrapped
up in the impervious folds Of metallic
life; and we will show you, whatever his
other claims may be, man stamped with
the seal OF moral reprobation, and senten-
ced to the ignominies of merely barren
wealth. The men---the best md most
thinking men of our Order--maintain and
justly maintain that, il poverty be q fearful
ordeal for the life here, wealth, unless il be-
auxiliary of poverty, is q no less fearful re-
sponsibility for the life to come Hence
we find that the victim of want and the
possessor of wealth are drawn together by
q mystic attraetion--the attraction Of holy
charity. The former applies to the heart
Of friend. Of a brother. whom God has
vonchsafed to him. He receives, and for tho
very reason that he does receive o cheerful
help he rises up 10 that feeling Of gratitude
which, in the purity If its emotion, is not
without its character of dignity. Tho lat
ter is walked up from slethargy which might
ultimately hive proved sleep Of moral
death, and heaven born pity reveals to him
in his means, an unknowd treasure, which
gives him to delight in the sublime rejeic-
ings Of active, fruitful benetolence. The
rich and the poor--both the image in soul
Of the self same God--meet in the bonds of
common humanity, and charity teaches
both salutary lesson OF practical life.
This is the imposing duty Of benevo-
lence traced out and measured, according
to the means and power Of every man, in
all the connections of Che social chain-a
mysterious, golden chain. dropping from
the golden throne Of Deity itself to the low
est of human conditions binding the cred
Fture to the Creator, the learned to the ig-
norant, the proud to the humble, the strong
to the weak, the rich to the poor, and as
cendiug again from the lowest to tue high
est link, which, in this admirable harmony
of action, is lost and COMPOUNDED 10 tho
heavenly sources of all charity and loving
kindness Ie5t,a sttH
OF that golden chain we claim three
links-three precious links-Frendship.
Love and Truth-to bind in the dearest
and MODEST relations Of creations scheme.
We call on oil to acknowledge their moral
izing power and to practice the high vir.
tues which they emblem. We appeal TO
her, to woman, who in no vain trickery Of
language, is truly tho last, best gift to man.
To you, ladies. who have honored us
with your presence, we appeal to strength
en- our hands, to purify our motives. to
consecrate them by your approval and give
them the great reward Of your smiles of en-
enlargement. Realizing the device which.
in the one word ,,esuryaa, I shall rise
again, antiquity had attached to its flbled
Phoenix; the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, from .he ashes Of onco stately
pile to which so many and loving memo
ries revert, has, in its zeal and patriotism;
recalled another equally elegant structure,
dedicated to all the purposes, that can bu-
man;ze and ennoble our. nature. Again
within these walls. mirth and pleasure will
meet Sin linked sweetness long drawn
out )" again will music and song lend their
harmonies to smoothe the rulings Of every
day life again will science and learning
invite us TO the contemplation Of the area
ma of nature. or lead US to rich festivals of
intellect; again will the voice Of the tri-
bune Of the people vindicate the principles
Of liberty or scourge the infamies of its
violators /; again. especially, will the mem
bers Of the Order, in their renewed sanctu-
airy; cit id council and consult how they
may enlarge :heir sphere Of usefulness, aud
how promote the welfare Of society.