Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-07-05

This is the impulse or love. n MVeiOh
standing on the forward part OF burn
ing ship kissed her boy and handed MIN
over into the life boat, and was happy even
in her mantle of fire, knowing that by her
death she had saved the life of her child.
And this is love. This is what this word
means in Odd Fellowship. II means, II
need be, labor for other, tears for Others
suffering for others, sacrifice for others.
Labor and tears and suffering and sacri-
fee, not simply for wife, child, husband
brother, or relative, but for man, Tor
brother in need. Love in Odd Fellowship
is substantial quality of the nina ana
an abiding principle of the soul, manifest
ed in noble deeds and ripe, abundant IrnH.
The truth of Odd Fellowship is not SIM.
ply a form of correct words, a faltniui
statement of an honest creed. and wen
worded theory. The word signihes IN TINS
order integrity within, an embodied
principle of truthfulness in the tnougnt
of an Odd Fellow, in his words, IN ms
real purpose, and in every act Of his LIE.
My friends, upon this kind OF friend
ship, love, and truth as upon an lmmeV-
able foundation, Odd Fellowship lifts its
head modestly but boldly into the light and
culture, into the darkness and sin of these
times, and trusting In God goes about Its
work. What are its advantages! What
does it profit man to become an active
member of this order? We can do little
more than call the mere list Of its sdvan-
tages; little more than merely name Its
benefits to its members.
1. Odd Fellowship cultivates the social
nature. In the fashionable drawing room
we can form no true opinion of a mans
- a4rk h 20
ture, he wears a cloak, he is showing
his best side, wearing his sweetest smile.
He is there to please others and be pleased
himself. Neither can we learn the real
man by meeting him in his place of bust
ness. There his brow is clouded with care,
the anxieties of business hide his inner
self from all eyes. Within the retreat of the
lodge the cloak of fashion is laid aside,
his brow is cleared Of care, and the real
character of the man is revealed. Here
there are no critical or cynical eyes upon
him. Here all aristocratic fences are
pulled down, all merely arbitrary lines OF
caste, of fashion, of wealth, of education
are ignored. And in the great level of q
common Father and a universal brother
hood he begins to look upon men, lot as
rich or poor, but men who are acting upon
whose hearts beat responsive to the same
calls as his own. Here his higher nature
is brought out. The better feelings of his
soul will soon gain the mastery, and the
long imprisoned man will be unlocked and
come forth uttering to his wife and chill
dren and all whom he may meet purer
and wiser language. This is the social
advantage of our order.
m IL 10 ha afo
of its members Relaxation from business
is needed by all men. The ever-strung
bow must soon lose its elasticity, the ever
swinging arm must have rest, the ever
toiling brain must find rest, repose, leisure,
amusement In the lodge room this de-
mand is fully and safely met. The moral
atmosphere in lodge of Odd Fellows IS
elevating and refining. All those agencies
that corrupt, excite, and intoxicate are ex-
oludod- Ho who spends an evening hero
may feel satisfied with himself. He goes
to his home with a heart more cheerful
and mind more tranquil. His moral ma
ture will be developed, his moral obhga-
lions enlarged In short, he ought TO be
better man.
8. We believe that the practice of the
principles of this order is grand prepar-
atory work toward The enforcement of the
higher and sublimer truths OF the Gospel.
We have known men who received their
first impression In relation to their Obliga-
tions 10 live christian life from the grand
teachings of this institution.
II must be so. This order holds the heart
of every true member under strong moral
obligation. Man cannot be engaged In the
loving, tender, charitable work of this or
der, and remain utterly thoughtless Of his
duty to God. We do not wish to be I'M
derstood as saying that such work liz all
there is of the christian religion, but we do
say that it is one of the grandest, most
valuable fruits of religion, and that he
who practices il manifests state of moral
feeling which brings him nearer TO what
he must be if he would be all that this di-
vine Gospel demands.
We notice again one of Its prominent
and peculiar advantages, namely: 1t at
fords to families in the time of their
direst need timely and sufficient relief
What all other instrumentalities Of chart
ty fail to do, this order unostentatiously
accomplishes. Enter that sick room.
There, perhaps alone in her unmeasured
grief, sits q mother, wife, or daughter.
Out of the darkness which hangs around
her like curtain of night glide forms
unasked-the forms of those she knows,
the forms of friends. They come to lift and
bear the load under which she was fast
sinking. They take the night taper from
the trembling hand and bid her rest, while
they bend in sleepless vigils the livelong
night over him who battles with mortal
pain as with his destiny. The sick man
asks no questions. His hammer has ceas-
ed to fall upon the ringing anvil, his plane
no longer cleaves the yielding wood, his
ready pen no longer stirs the mind Of
man. his tongue grows silent with the
paralysis of the grave. He has no care.
There are anvils that will ring, planes tn at
will glide, pens that will move, and tongues
that will speak. Let such 80 cannot ap-
preciate these advantages reserve their
harsh judgment of this order until the
trial we have been contemplating shall
throw its dark mantle of sorrow around
their own tortured forms. Then we think
their censure will be turned to praise.
This sense of safety which this dying man
felt is enc of the marked and peculiar ad-
vantages which this order gives its mem
bers. To-day, were you called to die, wife
| or child would not be left houseless, max
| ed, or hungry. We live in an age Of change.
Tomorrow even your death may bring to
your dear ones hunger, nakedness, and all
the cold charity of the world. We thank
God our institution has, under his smile,
reached this mountain of strength. No
| true Odd Fellow in the world, in America,
need die friendless and alone. Lost as he
may be on the troubled wave of human
life, let it bear him whittier it may, he
has no apprehension of suffering for the
want of human sympathy and aid: He
carries in his hand a wand, on his lips Q
word, in his heart secret which Will