The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-02-20
ODD FELLosvsusP As rrls.

insurance society, from whose fund anv
member may receive under certain con.
siderations, IN proportion to tho amount
OF his semi annual assessments and
whose officers, from the highest to the
lowest, fill their places Of trust without
compensation, merely for the honor and
opportunities of advancing the cause.
So far as concerns the higher or Grand
Lodge officers, their salaries in most eases
are quite liberal.
The great fabric of Odd Fellowship.
which is rapidly becoming so gigantic in
It's proportions, whose stately temples and
princely halls are to be seen in almost
every village Of any consequence in this
broad land, from Atlantic's storm beaten
coast to the gentle slopes Of the grand
Pacific, and whose membership, number-
ing hundreds of thousands and composed
OF almost all classes OF men, now stands
monumens of such imposing greatness,
that even Its great founder in his widest.
dreams never could have anticipated, nor
could he now recognize in the bearded,
clustering manhood of Odd Fellowship.
the modest youth with whom he parted
years ago., so great has been the change
The open hearted, sympathetic and be-
| nevolent earncstness Of youth is succeed
ed by the pride and selishness Of maturcr
years.
1t is an old saying that money makes
the man and it is saying that holds
good in almost every organization known
to man, and especially will it hold good
in Odd Fellowship. Money is the sure
foundation of its superstructure, and the
laws requiring its payment are as iEexcr-
able as fate. That brother whose only
sin is poverty, and whose inability to
pay the required sum annually assessed
against him. is cut off from the privileges
OF his lodge and the companionship of
his fellows, although he may, in more
prosperous days have contributed hund-
reds of dollars to the building up Of the
order and the acquisition of property to
his lodge.
Benevolence and Charity, how sadly
and numerically are you belied how
o.ten are your benefactions directed from
the high aud noble mission of relieving
the unfortunate and distressed, and pour
ed into Golfers already full to oyerfowing
Many lodges, while very strict in re-
quiring the payment of dues, even from
a brother in reduced circumstances, will
not hesitate to give some grand present
to rich officer who by his wealth has
attained to high position in the order.
Thus it is the very object of the associa-
ton is lost sight of. TO relieve the dis
tressed, visit the sick, bury the dead, and
educate the orphan, was the grand mis-
sion of Odd Fellowship instituted
Lodges in their character take form
from the characters of the men who rule
them. Many lodges are ruled by whole
souled men whose sympathyies when
aroused, by being brought face to face
with the needy and destitute, do not hes
itate to relieve, with alacrity, the wants
Of their brother, whilst other lodges are
ruled by entirely different characters.
Men whose sole aim seems to be the
financial success of the lodge and their
own aggrandizement who make it rule
to collect to the utmost farthing, and
never to vote benefits to a sick brother if
the brother can possibly get along with
out. Many good men are driven from
the order by the grasping and illiberal
disposition of their respective lodges,
who reserve to themselves the right to
give or withhold that which rightfully
belongs to sick or distressed brother,
ignoring all claims he may chance to pre-
sent by reason of the fraternal ties which
bind him to the order.
The character Of the order Cor its prin-
ciples of benevolence is such that very
many, through pride, never present their
claims for benefits in person, trusting
wholly to the action of their lodge and
and the justice of their claims upon it
And the consequence is that the money
which ought to have been paid out in its
proper place, is retained in the lodge
fund, thereby working grievous injus
have contributed hundreds of dollars te
that fund, but in sickness or adversit5
have never received to the amount of one
dime as an acknowledgment even of thei,
. membership in the order, to say nothing
of those rights for which they have paie
so dearly,
Every Odd Fellow should remembe,
the solemn admonition contained in tht
, teachings of true Odd Fellowship, anc
, that Charity, which is said to cover !:
muItltude OF SINS, snOuId peg1n at nome
, in your own lodges. You need no far
fetched objects on whom to bestow you
benefactions. Search your own circles
and you will no doubt find ample oppor
tunity for bcneftting each other an,
thereby forwarding the great work o
reformation in the practical workings o
the principles of Odd Fellowship. x
Albany, Feb. 9Th, 1869.