Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-07-05
FOURTH OF JULY ADDRESS.
Del vered in Hastings July 4th, 1871,
by the Rev. II. stone Richardson, of
Hudson. Wis.

may say. however, that no intelligent Odd
Fellow claims for this order great antiqui-
ty of origin The foundation principles
of this order are as old as the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, but for the organic ed insti-
tuition itself we make no claim of this
character. Odd Fellowship in America is
but ffty-one years old. We consider it
quite as honorable to have been born of
the necessity and light of the nineteenth
century as of the ignorance and super
stition of the first Antiquity is not al
ways either honorable or virtuous. Sin is
an, institution venerable with the fight of
sixty centuries. True it is thought very
much of by very many people. but not on
account of its age. The good old days of
Adam and Eve were doubtless we'll enough
for people who were not at all particular
about their dress, or whether they slept un-
der q tree or out in the open field. 1t is,
| believe, generally conceded that these
things in some form are of some slight i'm
portance While it is a patent truth TO
! every observer of things about him that
I there is in existence one institution which
| had its origin far back among the types
and symbols of the Old Disrensation,
whose fl st charter was deposited in the
corner stone of that world renowned tenn
pie, and whose key stone has held secure
the grand arch of its power for now near
ly five hundred years. This order,vener-
able by the might of three hundred gem
erations and by the grand memories of
grander deeds, stands, grey with ED, but
yet young with the life of immortal youth.
monument, venerable, colossal, sub
blime. Odd Fellowship cannot claim this
antiquity. Our order stood a feeble but
beautiful child in the rosy dawn of the
nineteenth century, a child of the light
of this age. To- day she stands, beau
tiful angel of charity and power, her face
shining and cleaning with the apocalyptlc
blaze of the full orbed sun.
l may truthfully say that the history of
Odd Fellowship cannot be written with
pen nor fifty spoken by the silver tongued or
golden mouthed orator. Her sublimest eu-
logy, her grandest panegyric, is the sim
pie record of her deeds, craven on your
hearts by the pen of divine charity, shin
ing in the glad tears of woman and pro-
claimed by the thankful voices of orphan
children who, lifted from suffering by its
hand, are TO day sheltered in its BOSOM
This. then, is MI am at liberty to say
of our origin ana history. IT may be we'll,
| however, present some or the popular
objections with the briefest possible an
swers to them.
|. Il may ne used for political purposes.
We answer, politics are prohibited by the
organic law of the order.
2 Yours is secret society. We an
swer, all the objects, all the principles, all
the teachings of Odd Fellowship are just
as open as the sun. They are spoken by
the members, and printed in books for
general circulation. Onr secrets, like the
secrets of friends, of families, of govern
ment, are only and solely for our protec-
ton against imposition.
3. Compels the association of the be-
lever and unbeliever. We answer, Jesus
set US the example. He ate bread with
sinners. Let him who is with out sin cast
the fret stone. Weare brothers.
4. Turns the Bible out of doors. This
is untrue.
5. An Odd Fellow is bound to cover up
and HELD from punishment his guilty
brother This is untrue.
8. You administer unlawful oaths.
This is false in whole and in part.
There is but one more common objection,
namely: Women are not admitted to its
membership. We might meet this Objec
ton by simple denial, but we will say
that, in this order, woman is in the high
est sense just as intimately associated and
more deeply interested than men. In the
early history of the lodge it is true thai
her name is not found upon the roll of
members, but from the beginning her hap
piness, her protection, constitute one Of
the chief corner stones of this order. But
to-day her interests, her protection, hel
!, happiness is not only intimately and vi
tally concerned in this order, but tn,
doors of this institution are flung wid'
open for her coming. She is to-day no
only simply an honorary member of thii
: order if she chooses, but real, practical
and active member, with full opportunit,
for the display of her talent, and for tn,
unlimited possibilities of her being in tn
direction of virtue and honor and love.
Not many years ago mothers besough
> their sons, and wives their husbands, 4
keep away from this order. They fel
D that son or husband or father once within
} the mysterious circle of this institution
like a ship within the influence of whir
pool, they were lost; that, once inside III
, potent chamber, there was no hope 70
. them. Marriage vows nor ties of bloc
. nor parental love could save them iron
l. the yawning vortex of ruin. This preju
y dice is long since dead.
2 To-day this order counts among II
q membership many of the educated and re
n nowned ladies of this country and Er
rope. We say frankly that were it NJ
for our wives, mothers, daughters, and si'
q tiers this association would lose half il
n power to exist. 1t even may be doubte
O whether it would exist at all. In shor