The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-07-18


when He says in words which are capable
of no two meanings LET not thy left
hand know what thy right hand doeth."
Ii to This be added the fact that the objec-
tion to these institutions is based, not upon
what the objector knows of the organiza.
tions, but upon what he does not know,
you have an appropriate illustration of the
proverb, that where Ignorance is bliss, It's
folly to be wise. If there is sin attached to
these Institutions in greater degree than
other human organizations, ! regret to
say it, (hut the cause OF truth demands
that | shall do SOY the SIN must fall at the
threshold of tho Church of God. What
then is TO be dones | have frankly an
swered the ohiector's question, and the
bE,me falls ut the threshold of the citadel
where in this particular n duty and one of
the most important OF all important duties
has been neglected, viz : the duty OF min
lsterlng to the necessities OF Gods saints.
But the objector may ask what remedy do
you propose | answer that in my opin-
ion the only help for that branch or those
branches of the universal church of God,
which in this particular have left their first
love, is to work, and pray that we may all
get back to the good old primitive paths
in which our fathers trod, when they had
all things in common. God hasten the
time. But until that day comes with its
glorious beams, reflected from the Sun of
when it may be said that
we are all one in Christ Jesus. Let us
however, humiliatlng the ordeal, confess
that in this instance land would it were
the ot.iy one)w have lett undone the
things which we ought to have done, and
done those things which We ought not to
have done and let US show our contrition
by doing all in our power, both by influ-
ence and example, 10 help these assOcia-
tons, which it must be admitted however
unwillingly) are doing nobly, work in
which we (the Church OF Cody have sig.
nally failed. Does Odd Fellowship, so
far as its influence is felt, fill this place
We think ii does. 1t gives good men,
though regret to say many of them do
not think themselves spiritually qualified
for the church, which is sad mistake
the means of doing good and dispensing
blessings which but for its existence,
would for ever lay dormant. nor even once
bloom into the bright genial flower that
the benevolent lighted rays of Odd Fellow
ship has developed. And another fact is
brought to view the majority of our best
members are also church members, and In
good standing, and indeed we do not be-
lieve any man can be near perfect Odd
Fellow without at the same time being
Jealous adhereht of that religion which his
intellect or his feeling urges him, as in the
sight of God to follow. If be is worthless
in the church. the probabilities are against
him of ever becoming of much account in
the other. True we have some members
who sometimes go estray but this is COM
mon to all human institutions, land it is
of too frequent occurrence even in the
Church of God,) and we do not claim or
pretend to be perfect. We do claim place
which we have won and now enjoy among
the good and sublime institutions of men.
Then
Let us aid II all we can
Every brother, every man
Smallest helps If rightly given,
Make the impulse stronger;
Twill be strong enough one day,
Wait q little longer. :
And as all institutions of whatever kind
or structure must be known and estimated
by the results which they produce, l will
give you the statistical accounts given in
the last report ending 30th June, 1870, of
the r. W. Grand Lodge of the United
States, held in the city of Baltimore in
September of that year. find the num-
Der of Lodges to be 1867 No. of initia-
tions during the year, DC, 300; No. of re-
iections 6022; No. admitted by card 9442 ;
No. of deaths, 1851 No. of members, 298s-
637 No. of Brothers relieved, 25,019; No.
of widowed families relieved, 1916; amount
paid for the relief of widowed families,
1925, O43.65 amount paid for the educa-
ton of orphans, $19,444.16; amount paid
for burying the dead, 1882, 659.21. Total
relief, 1855, 9O6 Sc. Amount of the annual
receipts, $2,724.419.46, and the reports
from the Grand Encampments and Subor-
llinate Lodges are equally encouraging.
Since writing the above, | have received
Through the kindness of Brother, a copy
oi Grand Secretary Ridgeley's report
which shows an increase in the number oil
lsfr.ares during the year ending June, 1871
of 43O, limitations of 324S, in the revenue
of Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment
of $412, S02 SO increase in relief, $137
491. 80; in members, 81 674. Thus we see
that nearly thirty thousand members have
Deeu a1ued % our fuIu, ard nIorU than a
million of dollars have been applied in aid
of suffering humanity. In our own State
the number Of Lodges at work is 191 num-
Der of members last reported, 5000 /; initia-
ted during the year, 1,451 admitted by
card, 513; reinstated, 1873 total, 10,723
expelled 30 withdrawn by card, 573
suspended and dropped, 543; deaths, SO
total 1923 now in membership, $500
Brothers relieved, 362 widowed families
80 reflections, 204 ; amount paid for the
relief of Brothers. $4,S22 amount paid
for the relief of widowed families $460.5e
amount paid for the education of orphans
1926 so amount paid for burying the
dead, 81, 953 Total relief, 1891 ami
of annual receipts, $56,G75 and the in
crease in the number of encampments is
still more encouraging, but [ will not
weary You with further statistics in this
connection. If to this array of figures be
added $500 for the suffering Brethren
of Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, We
have a grand exhibit. Thus do we go on
my brethren and friends, from year to year
in our noble Office of benefaction adding
lustre and glory and renown to our be
loved institution, and vindicating by oul
works, our fealty to that great and good
| law, which commands us to visit the sick
relieve the distressed, bury the dead, ant
educate the orphan. May we not, then, al
christians, and as members of this noble
institution sincerely say:
Our thankful hearts to God we raise,
In songs of gratitude and praise.
For all his blessings great and free,
For lie, and health and liberty. H.
For all the ties that bind the heart
And social sympathies impart,
For Friendship, Love and Truth, divine.
| The chain that all our hearts entwine.
| There are now In the State of Iowa -
Lodges, Degree of the Daughters of Re
beka at work this is as it should be. W.
have long had our Rebekahs, but only
about three years have elapsed since dis
pensation was granted to organize TIT
Lodge of Rebekah. This degree of Ode
Fellowship is very beautiful, as well a
very useful. The Ritual is unsurpassed b.
any other ofthe degrees of Odd Fellow
ship, and cannot fail to be appreciated b.
every lady honored to take it. 1t compre
bends almost everything involved in tn,
fraternity of Odd Fellows, as to principles
| and teachings. 1t is in q word, our fellow
ship in a. nut shell and the lady who re
1 ceives it cannot fail to know what it is
i and To feel its great i'm Dortance as human