The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1870-03-08
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tseAH@ ei htkN0At, IA tNE 0aAf
meeting of tho members u fhuniz
Lodge. So q 10 ofo i q Enc.
tory Point oa Hoaday evening, Feb
2lst lsT0
06 4 briser q PLHt Lo8ge
ana happy 70 meet with you on this
occasion, ia this your grest retreat giv-
iag son tbs right hand q fellowship,
aud haiIing you a Brothers of LLeIn-
dependent order 81 e Old Fellows
and trust 40 have not come together
IN tho spirit q tbo oid Egyptian TO bow
down to Idols, cor set lie the Roman
whose heaven it was to worship the
scepiro Of the C.esars, bat We have
come, ia tie spirit q love, TO work FOR
The common Brolherhoed and give ad-
ditional strength and vitality to an in
stituGon that las accomplished for
man more true glory than was ever re-
fcstod from Egyptian altar-fres, orthe
halo that shono from the costly jewels
oi Cnar's crown.
Il is pleasant to think that from our
c0nucils are forever excluded hostile
par,izanship and political animosity,
aud in their place are installed hatmo-
ny and love, are not these essential ell
ements Of success, and has not our Or
der long since taken It's place among
the mighty agents ot the Garth, whose
duty it is to soften the asperities Of
life, and lead hope to look forward to
eternal summer We sec from the
general coldness and want Of sympathy
which exists in society, that Institu-
tions like ours are necessary to reach
mans better nature, to touch with
gentle hand the strings Of the human
heart and awaken it to diyiner life,
though all institutions fail to reach all
men yet there are thousands and tens
OF thousands who have had cause for
blessing our great and glorious Frater-
nifty. trust we may never loose sight
Of one thing, that there is no one 50
rich and independent or that occupies
so high position in society, tEat he
may not some time need assistance,
and none SO free from the tolls and
troubles OF this life that be may not al
some time feel the need Of Brothers
sympathy and all who have been made
acquainted with the mysteries Of our
Order, and are in good standing, have
q right to demand Brothers care and
assistance and what. let mo ooh, has
led some of you more recently, to seek
admission within the retreat Of Odd
Fellows. Was it not the principles O
Friep dship, aud the practice Of broth.
erly love +?
Brothers, although you have mel
with strong opposition on the right
hand and on the left, and have beer
driven from piller to post, and suffered
strong prosecutions by church ant
State, have for long time appeared
almost hidden from the public eye, ye
You have come of more than conquer
ers, through the indwelIing principles
OF beneyolencc and charity, and we fine
in this quiet and yet romantic town o
Manchester, friendship, Love and Trutl
are living elements Of society, and from
the mountain tops, and in these pleas
ant yallies, we hear the echo, as VI
would that men should do unto you, d,
ye even 50 to them. We look arount
our lodge room, and see men q differ
ent religious persuations, political par
ties, and of different nations, all as
senbled as one iaiaily, having for theii
| ground work, the principle Of brother
N oyo and charity to all and it i
here We may learn those lessons, tha
win leave us to virtue and to God, I'll
here we are taught 10 love our fellow
men, ia relieve the wants Of the dis
tressed, to bury the dead, to visit th
widows in their ailljction and show t,
them a brothers love, and interest, b,
supplying their wants and educating
their children and to you who hag
more recently connected yourselye
with our Order, let me say, that as yor
progress in the degrees and genera
work you viii learn more and more G
| its sublime principles.
Go forward thea with courage bo
and fear not your opposersthe way wi
brighten before you, and the 4 m ligh
viii shine forth, until you behold lh
day star in ali its splendor. The beau
ties Of oddfelowship are known "a
and vide, its Lodges arc scattered d
through tho and, from NOVA Scotia
to Meaico, from Maine to Oregon it
truths stand prominent
But ie years aso, our Order wa
little known, and commanded but htt
respect is first Introduction ii Amer
lea was in 1921 BY a few vbo were in
itated into is mysteries 10 England,
gradually increased IN members a
though meeting aith much opposition
4 especially from popular theological ol