Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-05-12
70 FL. r. Dyer and NJ. G. Reyes

Fraternally yours, ...
HENRY CLARK.
To H. r. Dyer and M. G. Reyes
THE REPUBLIC OF HUMANITY.
In address delqered before K5Hington
Lodge No. 80, I. o. Of o. r., on tie
.ftty,frSt a1a1aj0erSGay Of the order,
Ap7N 26th, By Henry Clark.
Time, with unerring finger, has mark
ed upon the dial-plate of the years more
than a half century since first a small
band of men planted with anxious care
and tender soioitude the little sapling
which, to-day, is goodly tree, its roots
far reaching in the kindly soil, strong and
lusty, with all its exuberance of foliage
and luxuriance of verdure, affords a calm
and cool retreat from the busting turmoil
and contentious strife of the world. And
now, tonight, with Joy and gladness in
our hearts, and with words of mutual
congratulation on our lips, we have assem-
| blep here to celebrate with outward sym
| bols of our inward happiness this ami
versary of our birth as an association.
Our pilgrimage has indeed been checker
ed, and with us the lights and shades of
life have closely intermingled. Not by a
single bound have we lightly sprung to
our present position. Not alone on flow
cry beds of ease has our lot been always
cast, but by earnest, unremitting toll and
laborious, and whilom painful progress,
round by round, have we built the ladder
by which we rose. With the sweet the bit
ter has been mingled, and with frowns as
well as smiles, has the tickle goddess
;xl+ - a
feet our memories run back over the path
way our Order has trodden for one-and-
fifty wears as in thought we retraee its
footsteps, through the long vistas which
remembrance and history hold open, the
many scenes of sorrow and of Joy through
which we have passed again rise before
us as living, actual reality, and stand
forth in bold relief with all the promi-
nence and seeming of real presence. l
need not recall them to you no words of
mine could eoniure forth more vivid pic
lures of the days gone by than now in
quick perception move before you. need
not now rehearse the story of the progress
-os order, for it should be known in
your hearts. 1t has been part and parcel
of every individual Odd Fellows daily
life, stamping itself upon his mind with
indelible distinctness. Yet, my brothers.
l cannot refrain, in passing, from express
ing my deep and heartfelt admiration for
that bright and steadfast faith which has
buoyed and sustained our Order Ia ito
Journey hither. The faith which, when
storms of trial and fierce temptation as
saulted it, and when mighty waves OF
trouble and anxiety followed thick and
fast, never tainted or faltered that faith
whose penetrating vision pierced the veil
of gloomy doubt and direful apprehension,
saw beyond the lowering clouds a smiling
face that faith whose mellow radiance
lighted up the dark horizon with its soft
rays of cheer and hope and that faith
which, when all around, both sea and sky,
was black with peril and with fear, rung
out in clear and hopeful tones, causing
the heart to beat and pulse to thrill with
renewed life and vigor that sentiment
of the Latin poet, ''H0c ohm a2elatntsse
juDGbH"-it is sweet to remember these
things" is recalled. Time, my brothers,
has proved the truth of that prediction
That Virgilian prophecy with us tonight
has budded and blossomed into q rich and
luscious fruitage, for-it is indeed pleasant
for us to remember the dangers through
which we have passed, [ know of moth
ing in all our history so glorious and sub
lime as this our firm and confident reli-
ance upon our certainty of success, which
could wrest from adverse and unwilling |
fate the laurel crown of triumph This !
of itself alone invests our record with a |
rich and lovely halo, and imparts a charm
bewithching in its beauty and enhancing |
in its grace. 1t needs no augurer, learn
ed in occult lore, who from flight of birds |
and slaughtered victims essays to grasp |
the knowledge sealed up in the book of |
fate, to give our order prophetic future |
1t needs no famed astrologer, deeply learn
ed in mystery of stars, to cast our horo-
scope and map out for Oddfellowship its |
destiny. 1t needs no pilgrimage to shrine
of Delphic oracle, where whispering voices,
shivering through the leafy branches, pro-
claim the secrets hid from mortal ken, to
designate the path that lies before our Or
der. The lesson is so plain that all can
read. The experience of the past half
century is a safe and certain guarantee of
your perpetuity and strength. Architects
of our own fortunes, the qualities and
principles which have made Oddfellow-
ship what it is, will neither slumber nor
sleep, but alive and active, will make each
new success stepping-stone to more ex-
allied and grander achievements OddfeI-
lowship occupies position to-day, of
which it may well be proud. A way
mark in our existence has been reached.
The battle has been arduous, and the tug
of war severe; yet up out of the dust and
smoke of conflict, shoulder to shoulder. nv
brothers, our Order has come triumphant
with victory perehed upon its banners. 1t
is fitting, then, that tonight you should
chant your peans of thanksgiving, and
with heart and voice should tune melo-
dy of triumph and of praise.
But through our song there runs mi
nor strain, telling that our Joy with sor-
row is alleged. Not with full ranks, a
never-broken phalanx, have we come up
FROM numberless encounters. Not ali |
who with us fought the fight, share with
us the crown. Of all that little band who {
first with fear and trembling, launched {
our fragile bark on its uncertain wav. {
none remain with us to lend their voices
to swell the chorus of our national re- I
oicing, and to join in celebrating this our ,
harvest home. {,
Full oft have our brethren been called
to join the sad procession, keeping time to ,
lirgeful music that has carried from onr ,
sight our comrade faces known and loved ,
Full oft, with eyes upturned, and arms
have we been called to dron tba !
green acacia on the new-made Grave !
Lovingly we cherish our recollections Of
HEM and their Inemorv ia in or.L.. !