The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-09-30

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to cur brethren, to the principles of
Odd Fellowship and the teachings
Of Charity, let US. as true meL,
stand by the Association, and when |
the assessment comes, trifling in
amount, let US meet it, and thus
gladden. the heart Of the widow
and orphan, and thus experience
in our own hearts the truth OF that
Divine precept, "It is more blessed
to give than to receive" Who Of
us, standing by the open grave Of
departed brother, and Witnessing
the anguish of the widow and or
phan, and remember that he who
furnished the daily supplies has
been taken away from home. would
we not cheertully, as may be, sup
ply the place OF the departed by.
giving small amount Of money.
This is all our organization asks
it 10 what il is intended to supply.
That no member admitted during
the year, has died is owing in part,
to the fact that more care has been
exercised in admitting members;
the physical condition of those
applying has been more carefully
scrntinized by the medical exami-
ners. This course l consider cor
rect, and it will no doubt be con-
tinued.
During the past yeal the boun-
daries o. our Territory have been
extended So as to embrace the
several lodges in the counties Of
Henry. Randolph md Union. l
have no doubt that when tie oh
jects and aims Of the Association
are properly brought before the
brethren composing the lodges in
this new 'erritory, they will speed.
lily avail themselves Of its advauts.
ges, and give it the encouragement
it merits.
The stability Of the organization
is sometimes questioned. l will
refer briefly to this. Why should
it not remsin stable. and continue
while the Order exists? 1t is true
that one by one we are passing
away, but we remember with graf
itude how rapidly our Order is in
creasing in numbers, and the same
motives that brought us into the
Order are developing aud enlarg-
ing, and and are daily enlightening
the consciences and warming the
hearts Of Odd Fellows; and when
the benefits to themselves and 9th
ers springing out Of this organiza-
ton are brought to their notice,
they will take hold of it, and push
it forward into O career of useful
ness such as We, in our infancy,
can scarcely anticipate. II SO or
ganized that fraud and corruption
could steal in upon US, there nigh,
be danger that the temptation to
dishonesty would be too strong for
some of us, and when discovered
bring our organization TO naught
But we have no large fund on hanC
to tempt fraud and wrong, which
We consider wise provision ii
our laws. Our offices are mana
ged with trifling expense. The Of.
fcels take for their reward not mon
ey, but consciousness that they
are engaged in a good work. Th'
design being good one, no op-
portunity is offered for peculatiol
or injustice. and the results are 81
benefcent that the stability Of th'
organization ought not for mo
ment TO be doubted.
In our laws we have yer,
properly properly provided for tn
admission to its rights. privileges
and duties. the wives of Odd Eel
lows. l regret TO say that during
the past year only six Of the wive
OF Odd Fellows have attache,
themselves to our Association
The present entire membership Q
wives is SO. This is to he won.
dercd a. when We remember tha
the benefits Of the Association ar
more especially designed for tn
! wives and children: and also whe,
We remember how ready our sis
ters are, as q rule, to engage il
every good work, especially sue
as excites sympathy, end is intend
Ell to alleviate human woe 1t
to be hoped that in the future tn
attention Of our sisters will b
: more carefully called to this sub
ject, and ! think we will have n
occasion to regret their want OF in
terest in this charitable work i
the future.
Oar present laws, upon tn
whole, are good, and have eener
ally been ample Tor the sncc. ssf,
working OF the machinery Of ou
r Association since their adoption
? so much SO that after years tris
ahe Board have not felt that ther
vas any pressing demand to re
commend any changes or amend
ments. All human laws are i'm
perfect, and no doubt time and ex
lerience will teach Us that amend
: ments and new laws will be nece
u sary to adopt in the future to al
!, us in a successful career for OF
q Association.
: 1t is urged by some, and tn
n present Board have instructed u
u to recommend that our endowmeI
fund, rom time to time, ia not su
o ficient and that cases may aris
?, when, for want Of it, great incor
y venience may result. While til
a matter should be carefully guarde
q lit is important that q sum
!, money be on hand sufficient 10 pa