The union Democrat., 1869-05-29

I TeAitLS, III tuSlT FtucA uhttuetCc uFou HtS oWh
hears, a rich reward and while it is to he regret
ted that tie moral character Of Odd-Fellowsis
not al.cays what it should be, and what her
most ardent admirers. and her best friends
would like 10 see il. yet. to de Justice to our
selves as an order, we must claim the credi,
of faithfully performing the duties to which
have just alluded.
| ADVANTAGES.
| During nv connection with the Order, |
have seen the true 0id-Fellow Fastening like
an angel of mercv on the wings cf love, TO the
bedside of his suffering brother. and though
he may have presented rough exterior. he
carried within his bosom heart. tender as
the heart of woman, while he performed those
kindly Offices, that rob affiiction of its Keen
est stings, aud which repay a thousand fold,
in the consciousness of having done his duty,
these generous acts of true and living
| friendship. have seen brother Odd-Fel-
low. away from home. sick destitute. and
thrown upon the cold charities of selfish
world, when. to all appearance not friend
was near.-I have seen him draw around
him. by those secret signs Of recognition
which are given to every brother. as If by
some magnetic power, true sympathizing
hearts. from them to receive, not the gifts of
q cold and heartless charity. but that aid to
which he was justly entitled by virtue of his
connection with our order.
| have seen him watched and nursed and
carefully attended during sickness. and when
restored to health the open hands of Odd
Fellows have furnished him with means to reach
his distan: home and friends. | have seen
the widow comforted in her hour of affection
when berett of him with whom she fondly
hoped to accomplish the pilgrimage of life,
and when death had again visited the house
hold and snatched from her embrace the re-
naming idol of heart. Time, labor, money.
all cheerfullY placed upon the altar of friend
ship-a generous emulation marking the con-
duet of the hrethern which when accompanied
with the comforting influence of our holy re-
| ligion goes far towards lessening the sorrows
of the stricken heart, and drying the mourn
ers' tears.
You, nv friends have doubtless seen them
perform the last sad offices Of friendship to-
ward a;ieceased brother-You have seen them
convey 20 the silent resting place Of the dead.
and with their simple. yet impressive cere-
monv. commit the bo'iv to its mother dust,
there to await the coming Of the resurrection
morn.
| RETROSPECT.
Could those few men who fifty years ago,
| l'lSlIiuitu tHt L. w. W. III TUE CITY vi DhILl
more have looked out upon the future and
behed her spreading influence for good; could
they have seen with prophetic eve her hun
dreds If lodges dotting the land, and her
membership counted hv hundreds of thou
sands, all bound together by the sacred ties
of Friendship, Love and Truth her printing
presses, her periodicals and her extensive
libraries. how greatly would thev have heen
cheered and encouraged in the glorious work
HER RECORD.
The noble record which Old-Fellowship
has made for herself on the page Of history
and the still deeper impress of her silent and
kindly offices, written on the hearts and en-
graved in the memories of The widow and the
orphan should awaken an honest pride in
every trne Old-Fellow' heart. and with nm
earnest nraver of thankfnlness to Almighty
God. for the prosperity hitherto enioved. and
firm trust in the same Divine source for mid
in the future. we should renew our rpsolu-
'ions and purposes for still greater achieve
ments.
THE NECESSITY FOR LABOR.
So long as noverty. sickness and death pre-
vail. there will he a necessity f,r snch labors
as are now performed by Old-Fellows. and
blessings beyond our presenr powers Of con-
cepton shall result from the faithful perform
anre of duty and the constant endeavor to
propag gate the principles of benevGlence and
charitv-"haritv tho browning virtue of re-
deemed humanity. OF which some one has
sung in these words:
| '.Hail Charity celestial maid
| From Eden's SUNNY bowers above
| Desce"d and Mess us with thy aid.
| To cheer the hearts of thoee we love.
Friendship and Truth in union Joined.
| May we forever cnltvate
| May social virtues rule our mind
| And, Oh bless thou our mourning state
Calm and serene shall be breasts.
| When thy bright spark within us gows;
| Teach MS to feel thy kind hehests,
| When fortune low RS or sorrow flows.
III those bright realms beyond the sky
| Where sorrow. care. nor strife ne er come
| May each Of us in bliss arise
| and dwell with thee in Heaven our home"
Now it is evident that, an attempt to con-
fine the practice of these virtues, to the lodge
room. or the influence of these principles
within the limits Of the brotherhood, would
nro7e an utter failure. and no intelligent
Odd-Fellow can entertain an idea so antagt-
nlstic to the genius Of our order, ana so Obvi-
onaly at variance with history and common
experience.
1t is true, our ability to render material
aid is circumscribed by our means, and those
only who contribute to the common fund are
justly entitled to such ail, but the influence
we may exert in a moral point of view is alb
solutely Iimitless. We cannot con6ne that
influence II lodge-room. town, city, nor
even nation. but it will spread with the
spread of civilization and its Enal results can
be known only in eternity. We leave an i'm
preston behind US that may never be etfaced.
And now. with so extensive Held for OPP
Grafton as opens up before us:-with our
capabilities and consequent responsibilities
in view of the future, what, we ask. should
he the character of the true Oid-Fellow
Intimations as to what he ought to be. are
scattered through our preceding remarks, and
it only remains for us. briefly to notice some
Of the leading characteristics of true Odd
Fellow.
lst. lie must be a believer in the existence
of Supreme Being, the creator and preserv-
or of the Universe, nor can he enter her
courts until he has given us this assurance.
Then the moment this assurance is given he
is impressed both by lecture and emblem that
the al-seeing Eye is upon him: it follows