New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-09
CHICAGO RE,IEF.

8. g. cox.
meeting of the Independent Order of Odd.
Fellows Of this city held at Cooper Institute Ia
evening, to raise fund for the benefit Of the widows
and orphans Of Americas Lodge Of this city and also to
extend aid to their suffering brethren Chicago and the
Northwest. The meeting was presided over by Vice
President Schuyler COlfax who was introduced by Past
Grand Master Raphs. Mr. Colfax said:
SPEECH OF SCHUYLER COLFAx.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: come from the National
Capital to my native city, In compliance with in
vtaton with happier heart than ever before To aid
In the noble work Of charity in the relief OF Distress in
the assuaging Of human woe and the soothing Of human
sorrow, hOnos we'll gaddcns all who participate in
It, 1t is Of the heavens heavenly and not OF the earth
earthly II lifts us out Of the miserable mre and quick
SAND OF human sclshness It places our feet on the sure
rock OF broad aud philanthropy. 1t warns
us with the inspiring sunshine Of Gods smile. 1t rcc0g
nzes that second great commandment Thou shat love
thy neighbOr thyself" and 1t illustrates that rule OF
all rules that duty Of all duties. which the world has
called so justly the Golden Rule Whatsoever ye would
that Others should do unto You, unto them
We cannot realize, with the most fervid imagina-
on that great calamity at Chicago whose terrible story
echoed around tho civilized world and filed with sOr-
row aud sympathy. An hundred thousand men
women and Infants who on one day had homes, but on
the next roOss houseess fOodess with the chill
October winds piercing Thorn through and through as
they crowded together the cold and open prairie to
which they had fed for their lves-what aggregation
of misery and suffering Of the keenest anguish and the
darkest despair must hyve been crowded into that fear
full daya When Of wealth had not where to lay
their heads what must have been the trials OF those who
had lost their ALL their little ALL perhaps but still their
ALL with neither home Of the humbles, worldly
OF the pOOrest,Or the smallest OF earthly sail
swept away by the tornado OF fire and flame. But to this
night Of gloom followed morning Of hope aud Of sue
city, the most marvellous in its growth Of which
Ia aA In poi.t tha
startling calamity known. attracted for ts relief
the most extraordinary and gratifying Outpouring OF
charity witnessed during orr lives II not during
all past Of modern or ancient history.
Quick the lightning .shcd the fearful news through
the an flashed back the prompt response OF nations
synrarizng heart. From rich and poor. from friend
and stranger bencfactiOs as unexamped ~ was
@ s.. Mer MI tic Whole oi !c cvc% WORTH NJ
onl in own land. but beyond the Atlantic, from tho
rivers indeed. TO the ends OF the earth the ~ IT.
winged messages vi humanity and charity. Of tho
trm: philanthropy and the pnrest nnsclsinfss From
selves, came heaven prompted charity OF Christian
The rich their tEo,sands but the poor gayo
their dollars. AID tie dear cArcn their pennies. while
the story % the widow mite over and over again
realized IcOicc that your hearts. too, wcc prompted
from that TIonc whence lOw all good impulses to Join
In this NOME labor ~ love.
1t is cas- for o d-Frows to mngc In phi!antropic
demonstration like this. Condemned by those who
know not. for niniscring We q" frat to our raer
presses rcnnpIcsso IN the hearts OF lis initiates
generous bcnevoicnct. wide the world, and limited
to render them regularly thoughtful Of
the 10y resulting unse,n Kindness to the children
OF weeds all pleasures that money can buy and.
in word to render BcDCyOlcnle attractive 10 many
heart ~ which II has been before stranger.
Nor do We fail III ourriiorts exclude from my cacn
aud their widows in the time OF trial and OF need al
amounts pant Tor the education Of our orphans to mt
virt,i". instead Of rearing Them. a. the world
too often tiains ts orphans. for tn" poor
lao Line cii,
tioning The w"ain Of our members to the aggregate
claim that, all the land. whenever The cry OF dis
and the wall Of the miserable appeals for PROMPT
ad liberal srccor til" members Of our Order give dollar
IT,. dollar, with those not bound to the special ohga-
lion. We have. as fraternity. so faithfully fulfilled
inst to condemn it, But it viii moi, for whorsnsr It's
affairs are erected the olcsssdness Hi q.
aud the fruits teachings the highest glorcs Of
o Us and to prosper conqerns and
Non Is lis all Even ut our Srs mas D y, aaGn a
Iiro herilood Of M,n. Ont idle halls. this divine
truth may dnlneL Or ..rksned BY sarnins criticism il.
cxstd it, ritual s always declared tina" there Is but
race and that in every duty OF benefaction. in every
Of mercy, all mankind Is oir neiRhbnr AMI
soften .imge pnng-tls is the nobest monument TO our
Order ASH ihc rrondcst need Of praise We labor TO
] know that many religious preiudced against
al that meet y rerra or 1n. ia
their objections. may he allowed III This presence
,r say t r dce sr "t hay"
heard single instruction OF an entire ritual to Which
a. ali Of them are directly and literally from the
sacred NO.nmc always to be found IN onr im.l-; Our
SINFUL rites our walls echo no sound we would shrink
from having ascend win US US to the Jnagr %d Ir
ship s,il"sly mptr.sv@ line, 81. Of the poet
H. r,lg' no in 6surr' o. a. del: ,,r
W.. s s su os e ,s 5e. ST.. the hest,
! must not longer d,aih You with these rcnark'
inspired and blessed work bensfacton Welcome to
the relief OF human s"hcriag welcome To thc good
ES" W c,no t" the giving Of bread to the hungry
shelter the homeless. warmth to the shvering cloth
Ing. Fol this you shall navc abundant reward lie
that ivcth TO tn" poor endetl to the Lord ana "ho
would not b. happy IL hc creditor OF such loan lts
dividends ca.not fail to BE- precious than the
wealth Oruuz and the Ind, surer than the rockrihed
tan never telxss ,ha, prophetic glimpse Of the
lis He walked on the cIrtlEwhen lie declares lie
shall be heard to say 81 was an hu1Grrrd ana ys cav
ci" " me- SEX and We visited InasmIch did
And %oever on the earth wins the blessing Of Him who
wa, ready to perish and makes the widows heart leap
for ~ s ca s1 iSr is he that
Inc poor The Lord will deliver him in trouble The Lord
T Grs rdI upon nj the i sarih."
Brutheis. and ladies' and friends welcome then; TO
cheerful giyel. Welcome 10 the happy ,hougnts that
shall thrill your hearts a. y"t S nG that So
have made some sOrrOwing one happier by your pres
ence Welcome to the BLESSINGS promised to them
who light up darkened hearthstOnes and warm chilled
hearts by their human benefactons. welcome, again
and gain; blessing others you have doubiy blessed
Yourselves In befriending Gods poor you nave DO
cnIcd yourselves in relieving the wants OF Others You
have most abundantly enriched yourselves Mr. Colfax
ended Lis address by Introducing the Hon s. D. Cox. re-
marking it his pleasant duty to .tand upon the
Cool to unite thought and sentiment on. pr.
H1rs any other question. lLlughter.I
SPEECH or THE HON. s. g. cox.
Mr.. Cox replied: have little trcpidaOn this even
ing In saying Mr.. President and little more III adding
that prenx-that naughty word-"Vice Deiore H.