The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1869-01-07
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ses by which his nature must DC gu10s0, su4
under such influences who will eAineAy =
when We declare our nature must oeco1s
more softened, and our condition i0rsoves.
But / muat hasten on, or | will 6eesrs -
mon the brief time allotted me, md The
closing pleasures Of the evening arc already
reckoning you to their enjoyment.
Like every orgsrizstion in the world, OBJ.
;pcsions are urged against ours. Inotice one
o. two ONLY: Ons-and l think vers D.
eral obiection-but which, am hA. ps %
s,ate, exists only 10 captions minds, Is tlas
our ranks are filed chiefly with persons from
the humber walks Of life. lnansEer TO this
/ can point you to some of our most em1ne ut
divines, who are united With NJ. and Who
have raised aeir voices in our defense.
could mention many in both hemispheres
whose fame is identified with the great inter-
ests Of humanity. might direct your aiten-
ton to Lord Brougham, who stands in law,
in literature, in science and philosophy, like
some aged castle of his country. as an Illus
tration of the ancient Saxon strength, power
and solidity. could point you to thousand
Odd Fellowr. who shine like sts r. in the firm-
ament of wealth, and glitter brightest 10 the
constellation Of fashion. Bnt We admit and
proudly admit, that the mechanic and trades
man compose the majority OF our order. In
the various ranks OF society-in your daily
associations do you discover that virture,
talents and genius are peculiar 10 any class I
would not draw invidious distinctions be-
tween any Of the ranks of life, but it Is an
eternai truth that most of the great men who
have diffused q brilliant and steady light npon
the world, have been blessed with no heritage.
Roll back the curtain that has enveloped the
past spread forth creation before you; I'M
fold the Wondering record Of ages, and you
behold nothing but poverty and misery At
tending the advent OF our Savior. No shouts
Of triumph were heard No spirit stirring
music. No display of wealth and power.
But, ss if Heaven intended to teach mankind
lesson Of humility, the immortal Son Of
God was born in 9 manger. The orators
poets and heroes of antiquity boosted Of no
proud ancestry. Each Was the architect Of
his own fortune, the builder of his owp fame,
aud trusted to the achievements OF hismighty
genius for his glory and renown. Trace
down tradition to our own time, and see how
many OF our revolutionary sres belonged to
the poorer class. Benjamin Franklin, the
wise and good, was the son Of tallow chand
Ter, and himself practical printer, yet we
lave seen him in proud and fashionable Paris
teaching lessons Of wisdom and philosophy
to their greatest scholars. The gallant Put
nam was q follower Of the pillow, and the bold
but wary Greene was an humble blacksmith.
The ortal sage of Monticello, who draft.
ed the Declaration Of Independsnce,-the
boldest defens. Of the rights and liberties of
man now on record-had be lived few days
longer would have witnessed the sale Of his
own beloved home, under the execution Of
an unrelenting creditor. The man of the
| iron will, Andrew jackson, who performed
so many military deeds Of imperishable re-
| nown, sprung from poor man cabin to be
/ the President Of fifteen millions Of people.
Henry Clay, the lion hearted statesman, who
preferred to be at oil times right than to be
| President. who covered himself and his coun
try with the lustre of immortal genius, what
was his origin? He sprung from obscuriiy-
he triumphed over poverty, and now his ex-
ample shines out like the glorious sun, to
light up to fame the pathway Of the pilgrim.
| And last, though not laast, We point to our
| own Schuyler Colfax, the brilliant statesman
/ of our present period He too rose from the
humble walks of life to the lofty
| aud exalted station he is soon to fill-that OF
the second Ruler Of the Nation. And thus
when our Order is tainted with the charge of
/ poverty, We will point to the best, the bra
! vest, the wisest Of the land, and like the no.
BILE matron of Rome tell you ''these are our
/ jewels.
Another objection which is still urged
| against Odd Fellow Lodges, is the secrecy
and mystery that hangs over them. But Sc
crecy belongs not exclusively to our Order.
The Bible is full Of mysteries, and to the
| angels Of heaven are not revealed the mystic
! ries of Jehovah. Those bright orbs Of light,
! that revolve above and around US, are far be-
/ yond our comprehension. All nature is full
of hidden mysteries, and the "wind bloweth
and ye know not whence it cometh or whish-
err it goeth.' Our secrecy is of the same ma
4 ture as the confidence Of the domestic circle
] the privacy of public institutions. the ST.
lence Of government councils, which enters
into the yer life Of the happiness, wealth and
power. tha, attends each in its sphere, and
when these barriers OF protection, thrown
around them by the laws of necessity are bro
, ken down, the secret Of conugal affection, o
domestic peace, Of .ol;a se-.--",a.s. ~f .n-
mony and order, are at once uprooted anC
. DESTROYED The principles of our Order ar.
never concealed, but are boldly proclaimed
from the house tops and speak from the goot
works which every where surround us. Ou
signs, symbols, and secret mysteries are onl,
intended for mutual recognition, and to guart
against fraud and imposition.
:, In this new world-in our own United
States-our Order hourshes most Oul
principles, the most exalttd Of which is toll
Grafton, properly applied, are the sacre,
+ fires that burn on the affairs Of liberty the
are the vestal guardians Of our Republic
, Founded on the eternal principles of diyin
revelation, they are the surest guarantees Q
{ the Constitution. Without them human gov
. eminent leaps into despotism with Their
law stands forth to perform its highest pun
) pose-the protection Of the weak from th
! oppression Of the strong. Virtue and rei
> zion flourish under their shelter, and beaut
j. grows brighter in the sunlight that stream
q from thelI shield they are the great Blu
it warks of freedom. To Liberty has this az
4 dedicated its labors. America has acknow
!. edged her to be its patron. Europe is rims
/. ing with its footsteps. Asia is receiving il
!. lessons amid her mountains and walled d.
\ minons and the world at large gradual
:, becoming its children, will offer up the h,
!; mage of their gratitude, industry and peac,
N My Brothers, from this sacred desk whel
n the principles of the Order have been
:, often enforced by the voices Of those who's
y duty it was to preside here, let mo exho
. you to be true to your solemn pledees Il
n us erect temple sacred to Friendship, Loy
). and Truth let us lay the foundation deep
a justice and compassion let Us nscribe upo
i its columns ''peace and good will to all N en-.
= Let us go forth from here burning with gel
"a erous resolves to refleve the wretched, syn
,r pathize with the distressed, and, so far as O,
70 ability extends, contribute to the happine
Il Of the human race.
- When sculptured monuments and marb
70 tombs shall be no more when honor gauf
~ plume shall wither and decay; when ma
n ni6cent temples and lofty domes shall
N le7eled with the ground, the triumphs Of OF
is principles shall flourish in immortal youth.
= they shall never perish forif human mem
Of ries forget them, they shall shine forever
N the FURNISHED affairs OF Heaven.
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