The Van Buren press., 1872-01-30
81.

qualification, Hoaesty, covers the entire
ground of all mans relations aud cor.
nectiohs in life. No man can be coed
Odd Fellow who neglects his business,
suffers his affairs to become embarrass-
ed, provides not well and truly for his
family, or leaves his duties rest with add
ed care on his wife and children, TO st-
tend to Odd. Fellowship-astssd to Odd
Fellowship! Mistaken man,--in that very
neglect, he is negecting our Order. He
is providing trouble for his brethren IN
the accumulation Of troubles for himself
and family; he is bringing rsproach on
himself and US.
There are special occasions enough
when duty to our Order, or TO its sick
and distressed members and families.
calls our members from their domestic
affairs, without making ordinary occa-
sions an excuse for wasting whole days,
and half nights in mere talking, lettering
and idleness, under pretencc Of attend
| ing to the duties Of Odd Fellowship"
One, or. at most, two evenings week,
are usually suilicient--and If these b.
rightly improved, our families will will
ingly submit to our absence, on the few
special calls, that occur in the course OF
each year--es especially will this be the
case, wheu they rightly understand. the
objects Of our afliliation, and become &C.
quainted with our principles and teach.
ings. When they see the pleasant and
cosy places,in which we meet, the entire
absence Of all conviyial practices, and
the moral restraints which are thrown
around us And it is indeed, source
Of qualification to me, and feel assured
to all the brethren, to see amongst 10,
on this occasion, so many ladies, and
who perhaps have husbands or brothers.
who are members of our Order; ann
glad that an opportunity has presented
ITSELF OF having them with US, and Of de-
monstrating to them, that Odd.Fellow
ship, rightly and honestly adhered to, iu-
stead of being an encroachmcrk upon
their rights and privileges, in insisting
that one evening week shall be devoted
! by our brothers to their duties ~ Odd
Fellows, (and which they perhaps think,
should be spent with their families 10 on
the contrary, but one evening spent, ~
learning their duties to their families,
and is designed to make them more faith
ful in the discharge Of those duties. Aud
feel warranted IN making tho assertion,
that il We will only be faithful and alton :.
tive to our home duties. We will heN1n$
difficulty in gaining their hsagt17 I
to our attending to our LodG6 q
have thus my .blUehH lNfzT(q
what concsiyet 1stl
objsets Of ars our aliss,
and vhat should've eur dsportrpSnt, .as
sMenibessfbf thc Ortlpr And certainly,
the nearer ~sapprosck to govcrniprss
llvss anu cSnanc. ".s n XII, hen ws ista become
sux KS xssssssasil sssitr Es' 6dd FsIaws, ws win -
AaglllI Y Institslisp " ihsdalss
which wshelong, deserves, and 10 enti'
tied tn our lave, respect and admiration,
it is indeed, grand ana gierious Fva4
ternity aud onward, ever onward. 10 it
moving in its grent work Of benevolencs
and charity; it is advancing everywhere,
with that increasing volume Of power
which is ever Characteristic ofsolid pros
perity scattering broad castits blssslnes
among the children OF men sdueatinR
and training all embraced within its vide
scope, to honor and to usefulness In 90
ciety; strengthening the bonds which
mite the people under our happy politi.
cal system softcning the asperitiss In.
evitable among the masses; subduing the
antagonsms insspa' able from the strug.
gles Of lifc--stilling the voice Of discord,
uplifting the fallen, and assuring to oil
men, OF all classes, peace, love and good
will. May God spce,l so noble mission,
and vouchsafe to its gallant votsries, the
heart to love and honor it, the firm nerve
to vindicate it, at oil times, and under all
circumstances, and q zeal in its advoca-
cy and promotion, which shall falter not.
until Fellowship shall cover the
earth.
Ard permit me, my Brothers, to close
with the earnest admonition, that 1t may
never be said by the uninitiated, that ws
are deficient in those practical character
stics Of our beloved Order, which, when
truly and system atica)ly adhered to, can.
not fail to distinguish us above thoss
who refuse to knock at the door OF our
Temple, and gain knowledge Of its mys.
teries. Let US not forget, that while ws
cultivate the perfection OF our fraternal
duties, we shall improve in the knowl-
edge of Deity, Of our duty to Him, to
our neighbor, and to ourselves. Friend
ship will bind US together; Truth will
direct US, and Love will make our labors
easy; so that, at the last, when We are
summoned fromlthe Terrestrial Lodgeto
the Grand Lodge celestial, we may leave
form and ceremony behind, find our
work approved; and as the mysteries Of
Heaven are unveiled to our admiring vie.
ion, we may arrive at its perfection, and
enjoy its benefits throughout ages sternal.
~
MopEuA DnlSKlxG.-J b. Cough,