Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-01

4
Jesus went about doing good. Through
; Him the suffering ones of earth found re.
lief, the bereaved hearts Comfort and
hope, the tried, tempted and fallen
, helper, the oppressed liberator.
] and mankind IN general sympathizer
and friend. To such life, according to
our measure of strength are we called.
We shall lead true christian life in pro-
portion as seifishness dies and we live for
others. Self sacrifice for the good of
Others, and conservation to the unfolding OF
Gods kingdom on earth. are The duties to
which the New Testament calls us. Such
/ in brief is the gospel of the Bible /; its
spirit love for God and man its work
visiting the fatherlessand widows in their
affliction and keeping himself unspotted
from the world. From this picture of the
gospel, who at all familiar with Odd Fell
lfowship, does not see where rests the
foundation of our order. Our duties and
the spirit Of our order, are in perfect har-
mony with our christianity. Odd Fellow
ship is good and practical organization,
recognizing and pledging to the enforce
ment of this same christian and human
itarian work. People will not always
discharge known duty unless pledged to
do SO, at least mutual covenants are great
helpers. It is on this principle that
churches are formed, and ordinances adj
ministered, to make men better, and to
remind Thorn of their duty. The spirit of
Odd Fellowship is founded upon the first
great commandment ; and its work en-
forced through the second upon these
two commandments hang all there is of
Odd Fellowship. While it does not supplant
christianity, ii recognizes her claims and
is one of her most potential auxiliaries.
God is the embodiment of all that is good
pure and virtuous. We cannot dis-associ-
ate Him from His moral attributes, and
| perfect character. 1t ia through these
that he relates Himself to US. Wherever
! these exist we are reminded of Gods pre-
sence. Odd Fellowship is based upon these
moral virtues. hence upon love for good
ness, virtue, righteousness or, upon love
for God. The practical works of our Or
der are those adapting it to the wants of
mankind, perfeoting human character i'll
already on tho road tn virtue. and if not go-
ing ont with it's hand of charity to rescue
the fallen, enlighten the Ignorant and
smooth the pathway of lifes unfortunate
ones. 1t is to visit the sick, care for the
widows, protect the orphans, and by its
sympathy obeying the apostolic injune-
ton, Bear ye one auothers burdens" It'll
is TO work such as this we are called |
to perform, duty harmonizing with
jesus lie, with the spirit of his gospel, |
and last but not least, hsrmonizing with |
the great necessities of our nature. As
Odd Fellows we must understand what
the world needs. and what duties we owe
it, in order to derive the greatest good, |
and promote the greatest good of all. !
Jesus taught in parallels. and in the most
simple events of life, found treasured
some of its most valuable lessons. Out
ward things and law, are the manifest
ations of the spiritual, where they touch
the utmost boundary Of mans limited
vision
The invisible things are clearly made
known from those things that are made,
or revealed to our natural sense. As we
have already seen, nature and the gospel
conveys its lessons by outward symbols.
So our Order has it's symbols, in them
selves to the outward beholder, of trivial
importance, but to one taught
their mystic story, convey some
of LIES grandest lessons and contain q
deep spiritual meaning. If our hearts are
open to the virtues our colors represent.
that envelopes our reason and religious
nature; and the chain that binds as to the
things of sense, bringing us into subiec-
ton to human passions, has been broken.
and We are restored to that liberty which
alone the redeemed soul can feel. we are
then prepared to accept Odd Fellowship.
and entering within its mystic folds, pre-.
pared and commissioned to oarry that :
charity and sympathy the suffering world
20 much need
Nor Is 1t dead and formal institution, t
but one full of young life and ever pro-
gressiVe. It's work is as exhaustless as
human need, the perfection it enjoins can ,
never cease until the last virtue and truth
has been realized.
A life devoted to its study will find
with each step, new thought upon which
to feed the mind, and an ever increasing
round of benehoent duties appealing to F
the heart and human energies As we re-
inquish all selhshness engendered by our
partial and limited view, and
grasp the spirit, and rise to a conception
If the genius of christianity, we are pre-
pared to lay the foundation of Odd Fell =
owship, which rests upon the universal :
of man. It teaches, that as =
We have a common parent, we are under h,
obligation to care for, protect, and love SO
ach other. 1t recognizes no nationality, ID
ace, party, sect or clique; but presents q
,latform broad rs universal man, upon d,
which all nations, races, parties and sects, m
aay stand and unite their efforts in a COM sa
non cause. Based upon these unive, sal in
ruths taught by all mems intuitions, I'M
erlying all sects and creeds, and is the ees
ssential truth of all religion, it gathers in
nto it's folds differing Municipalities, and A
reets their mutual efforts in harmony, su
We have said our Order knows no nation -
lity, party or sect We do inouloate low "a
lty to the powers that be. and profound ar
enaration for religion, but the wrangling IA
{ party, the strife of contending sects
hese must be dropped and their habili-
lents of war laid aside az they cross the &
hreshold to enter the sacred retreat of X
'dd Fellowship. Based upon this found ID
ton our Order has been securely built, !.
nd cannot be moved, for It is founded tri
pea rock. As we look up to com
ION parent whose work we are, eyincing al
is wisdom, and in whose image we are sa
)rmed; we cannot be insansihle TO the Is
laims Of our fellowmen for mutual eup- 20
ort, sympathy and relief. Here we meet be
,om time to time to confer together for ia
or mutual benefit, to alleviate suffering, nt
nd to wage our unceasing war against da
vii in all its iusinuating and seductive
,rms. No one can do his duty as
hristian, without he possesses the spirit :
Odd Fellowship, and base all his Of. \
,rts upon the same foundation of univer- l
Il brotherhood. Nor can we we'll see y,
ouU opa ean he true Odd Fello1p with. | ~
ut he lives to the spirit of christianity at
We are covenanted together to give en-
basis to this principle. and pledge our
elves to the enforcement of this work. 1t r
no. a mutual admiration society, nor I
g charities confined to few of its own by
affects merely. We inoulcate doing B.
God to ell men as we have opportunity. an an
nd especially to those of the household of Fl
,ith. In this we are not pnsoriptUral. no
Putting ourselves upon the broad plat ~ ~
IS