Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-25

provide tlefmeans to meet the claims
Its sick and distressed members to car
for them properly during their niness {
bury the dead ; 20 succor the widow, an
to educate the orphan. In the faithfn
discharge Of these duties It is ever watch
ful that no imposition il practicpd by IN
worthy members, and that exact obsdi
enee is yielded to the laws. 1t is ais
9 5dulous In requiring and enforcing
high toned mora lily and an upright wall
in life. Eye-y Llogs enacts t. own by
10 vs., which regulate the mutual obliga
{ o1s between IL and its membership, AM
possesses exclusive control over its owl
fands within their legitimate ip2iieation
WHAT IS IT.
This question has doubtless presented
ITSELF TO many who know nothing OF Ok
Fellowship, except per chance from etm
mon report, or the vague suggestions 0
a morbid prejudice; hence it is offer
condemned as an idle Organization, char
acterizsd, az its name would seem to i'm
port, rather for levity than for fidelity
to the noble object ct which ft processes
so earnestly and exclusively TO aim. To
correct 90 common IN error, to remove
such unjust prejudiees, and to ecure fol
Odd-Fellowship the approving sentiment
it so well deserves, are the offsets Of gnis
brief paper. In the ~eonfdeuee OF con-
scIous merit, it courts a scrutiny into its
principles and practices, with the asgu-
rance that an enlightened public opinion
will render an impartial judgment on
the standard Of excellence which per-
vades the one, and the practical benefits
that flow from the other.
ITS NAME.
The name often confuses and perplexes
intelligent and libersI-minded people.
Why, it is asked, assume a designation
so singular, II the object be excellent,
and such az all good men would ccm-
mend? The candid inquiry should be,
what is the object, what the fuit Of the
tree elsiAed to be prolific OF good? II
tbs suggestion sdould be made why Free
Masonry is 40 called, practical masonry
fJrming at this day no part Of It's work,
the reply would doubtless be, that, al
though such ia the fact, iE dOts not fol-
low that the name is idle OF iuapproori-
ate, since there may be q fitness ia its
application Of an entirely Independent
character. The name Of Free Masonry
may, and actually does import, associa-
tons significant OF and indispensable nom
the origin OF the order. Having had its
beginning centuries ago with the artisans
OF the masonic craft for their mutual pro
lection and recognition, and the advance
msnt of their noble art, the history of its
early struggles to maintain its universal
ity, and q tho1ssnd other hSlloWed
memories connected with iss progress
amid the fsl Of empires and the conflicts
Of nations, have justly inspired 8 vanera-
ten for its name, nots outstanding it's
practical app0siteness may have ceased
to exist is name is a~ffectionately cher
ished ty its votarles, because 1t has lived
and moved, ard had q prolonged and
useful being through thu vast past still
lives 10 the leemiDg and novel present,
snd gives promise that 1t viii survive
through tbs distant and pregnant failure.
So with ODD Fellowship il also had its
With the sOn Of toll, and OF the
same craft, viz the marble mssons of
London, at the close of the last century.
A wiss Providence led men, whose daily
bread depended upon their daily tell, by
association to firm 3 common fuud, aud
thus 10 sse0ce in health the means Of
support when Frustrated by disease. IN
its experimental outget, like Free Mason.
10 encountered q corresponding
ordeal; it had no prestige to sm0oth its
u7svea and gbstTuoted pathway reliant
u12I uPuA 10 4ASlAAIGtJ HOANAf ~ aAoo HAS
survived obl0quy and prejudice Tor more
than half 3 century, anu has lived to
attain its present meridian hight. Can
il exeits wonder that these msmories,
clusfer around the name Of Odd
Fellow, should secure for it q love and
y~e1eration that ovs-eoms and suojus
the merely fastlGious taste which would
discard OF shun it? No one can affirm
at&esnsme, though the cause Of much
prejudice, bas not bsen, in a proportion
ate degree, an element of success. Con-
in humility, il has achieved and
become ideatifsd Nnh sn honorable dis
rs coed deeds have made It
familiar to the public ear and popular
Mid. Wherefore, then, tbs wisdom or
The propriety OF cdsnging il? Such q
would net nov be posaib;s. 1t
,annOt be made.
ITS OBJECT.
The idea Of Old Fellowship at the be4
instructive ola wise Providence,
Was, as has been already stated, mutual
and p~rotectica. IL vas, it is true,
! cru5ely digested system, il system II
be called. This idea, embodied
alto substantial form, and disciplined by
experience aud observation, continues to
Do a vital, although by 10 msana the pre-
ioninsnt elemsnt u ito organ cation.
It assumes, also, 8 eaEdinRl Office, az
and uaremittibg care for the
moral heslth OF its membership. Man
las q morsl as well as . physical nature,
sud tbs wants OF each being reciprocal,
keep equal pace aud move in par
sIlel lines. There is a mutual depend
sncs which controls both. In truth,
is no appetite OF tha human body
more craving and inexorAble, than is the
.nsatiste hunger Of the human heart for
moral support. Iufrmity Of body, as
we'll as thai Of mind, is common to hui
mainly; a1d thsse exis.s necessarily, as
nseparsb,e from this condition, 3 corr s
1onding natural dssire for sympathy.
TO supply this v g recurring want, Odd
addresses itself, by a conb.-
Of Efforts, ia aid OF the moral a
veil as Of the physical man. These two
happily blended, Comprehend its
ever power against penury and vice, by
which it lsbo-s to mitigate as well " tie
lis to which flesh Is her," as 10 elevate
and e1nobls our nature.
IT'S sECRESY.
The term secresy denotes something
or concealed from the eommoa
eye. So advice and immortality Instinc-
lively shun the light and shrink from lis
yszs!nto the darkest recess; mankind
accustomed to associate evil with
5very private or sscrst organ;zation ;
hence, the too general condemnation OF
Did Fellowship and other kindred benev-
llsnt societies. Under the prompting Of
his ordinary prtiadg@ent, it Is often
with an air CT conscious triumph,
Why q hide your light under q bushei ?"
rhis argument. If such Il my be called,
addresses itself indiseriminately against
The merit of everything whi5h the vul-
gar eye cannot discern. IL is q general,
1r rather universal ansthema against
,scresy in the abstract. To follow where
ts conclusions lead would be to involve
in inexsricable confusion, since
lecresy or mystery, in 80 far IS human
intellect can reach, is rather the rule
han the exception. There Is no relation
Of life or sphere Of nature, without its
ana Inevitable seeEet-po science,
10 art, no philosophy, nothing beneath
me sun which
"fhe mind OF imam
Can fully sean.n
BENEFITS.