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


principles our signs, tokens, words and
grips are not an end-they are only a
means. A man is not an Odd Fellow mere
ly because he becomes familiar with the
rites ana ceremonies of the Order Inc
may be perfect In these he may be most
active on all public occasions he may at.
tain the highest rank in the Order, and
yet, alas, be as the sounding brass and
tinkling cymbal. The seat OF Odd Fei
lowship is in the heart. Indeed the true
Odd Fellow must not only possess the
moral virtues of the soul, but he must keep
them in active exercise In short, man
cannot be an Odd Fellow in spirit anu in
truth, unless he is grateful TO his Creator,
faithful TO his country, and fraternal to his
fellow man But to be all this, he must be
surrounded by kindred spirits. to urge him
on in his narrow path through the fol
lies OF life, and this want we claim Is fully
supplied in our honorable association, for
which accordingly a necessity does exist.
But some one may ask: Cannot all this
be done without secrets, parade and pomp.
Cannot man administer to the wants of his
neighbor without regalia, passwords, and
grips? Yes, my friends, he could, but
alas how few do it. Therefore let it suf-
llCc you VI hnOWy bhht odu
does it, and that it is the result of separate
organization, of these foolish trappings, as
they are called by some By our regalia,
symbols and signs, we draw men together,
and urge them to the performance ofthose
duties that will lead to the glorious results
we have spoken OF. What, ask, wopld
be the effect up pa an army to take fsom
them them uniform, deprive them of their
standard, and silence their martial music !?
would the came high deeds of gallant dar-
ing be performed Would the Same vic
tories crown their efforts ? All, no. The
true soldier feels when he puts on his uni
form, that il is the emblem of his cOuntry's
greatness. He secs the standard floating
in the breeze, and feels that when that
falls, his country's honor is lost; while the
strains of martial music strike upon his
ear, and nerve his heart for victory or
DEATH So with US in a milder form those
| Jewels which you behold in our regalia, re-
minds us of some virtue we should cherish
each token of some duty we should per-
FORM / wish l had the power to impress
upon your minds the sublime pictures of
moral Odd Fellowship. o, that l might
sketch them; that might thrill the un-
initiated with our symbolic lectures that
/ might throw aside the veil and open be-
fore your wondering vision the glories OF
the Patriarchal Temple. But never, no,
never, until my tongue shall glow with the
fire of the upper Shekina, and the Grand
Sire of the Grand Lodge of Eternity shall
take the finger of silence from my lips, may
reveal to an assembled world, the stu
pendous pile of sublimity and beauty
which symbolic Odd Fellowship has reared
aloft.
have thus, imperfectly, demonstrated
the fact that necessity exists for the in
stitution of Odd Fellowship. l shall now
| undertake to show its design When at
the first creation, God said, "Let there be
| light, and there was light" it was to the
intent thai the darkness might be dispers-
ed and His works become visible. When
at the second creation, our Redeemer says,
Let your light shine before men," lie in
tends that those whom He had called the
| light of the world, should endeaVor to DIS
sipate the moral darkness of mankind, by
instructing them in the doctrines of His
gospel, and by displaying the happy effects
of His religion in the purity of their lives
and lustre of their virtues. The metaphor
here used by our Lord is fraught with
great beauty. Nothing, certainly, is more
| apt to attract the eye and enliven the coun'
tenance than light; especially that which
| shines in dark place. In like manner
nothing can more excite the observation
engage the attention or gladden. the hear
of behOlders, than a fair light and excellen
character appearing in the midst of a dis
solute and corrupt generation. And as
all luminous bodies, in proportion to the
degree of their own brightness, diffuse theil
light around them, and at distance en-
tighten other bodies, so in moral ant
religious sense, good example is a ligh
shining in darkness, spreading its inf1u
ence every way; diffusing instruction and
knowledge as well as motives to retorma
ton, and encouragement Of virtue. Now
my friends, in order to give these princi
plies a practical demonstration, advanc
the proposition that The Odd Fellows ar
band of brothers, who profess to be con
nected with each other, by the firmest en-
; gagements and most affectionate ties
Warmed, as they should be, with the mos
I general pnIiantnrnPhy. they profess tn 90
IorTu the example just spoken of, for tn
purpose of uniting their endeavors in tn
benevolent design of assisting the perfec
ton OF human character, rs well as tn
harmony and happiness of society. It,
communicate the blessings OF which w
are partakers, to contribute to the success
full propagation of knowledge, virtue, ant
peace to bring into living, active sympa
thy, the God like attributes of Friendship
Love and Truth, and whatever cultivate
and adorns social life-these are, and eve
have been, the great objects of our Order
Odd Fellowship processes to constitute tn
affectionate alliance which unites man i
warm cordiality with man. In its solemn
assembly, men of different nationalitie
meet around its social altar with benignan
looks of esteem, and sentiments Ofunfeign
ed friendship. 1t endeavors to cast abroa
Loves connecting yoke, and bind togethe
in the strong cords of Truth the whole hu
man family. With religion, whose sui
lime doctrines it cannot increase, who's
noble precepts it cannot improve, an
whose sanctions it dare not judge wit
this, Odd Fellowship does not interfere
The duty of piety must be the yoluntar
and spiritual intercourse of man wit
heaven. Over these matters the institr
ton usurps no control, and claims no juri.
diction. 1t is satisfied with teaching a
the brethren to remember that He iS is I'm
to whom all hearts are open, all desire
known and from whom no secrets are hid
observes their conduct, and that they mus
therefore live as seeing Him who is invis
BILE that they must have their souls raise
superior to the gross indulgences of vic,
} and their affections refined by the energie
, of virtue; that they must be alive to a
i the engaging duties of benovolence. an
be attached to their fellow men by all thos
tender ties which brotherly love and cha
J ity alone can beget, and which will hol
, the heart in the most permanent captivit,
3 But will here anticipate the questio
3 which is so frequently asked by the unil
itiated christian man, who is by associ
ton or inherent prejudice opposed to oil
institution Does not all you claim fl
! Odd Fellowship, of right, belong to til
religion and Church of God AS chri
tian minister say most emphatically ths
{ it does, and there was time when in tn
respect she did her whole duty. For nea
: ly 1900 years the Church of God had o
s things in common, all christians we
? equal, as to the things of this world, b.
: since the seamless robe of Christ has bee
e divided, and sub divided, we have as
/ whole, departed from this noble, self-sacr
, ficing principle. In that branch OF IL
CRDaEuGib If aGda s ii Observation-Disclosures. affairs
on lege full and competent corps OF instrr
ers. Its scheme of study embraces Q u
steal and Scientific course; Ladies
nts Commercial Normal; and Bible cou
Very superior facilities for private clu
= or self boarding are afforded Board
private lamiiles from pow W So'oV
week. Club boarding from 5 1.50 to 81
and self board at still lower rates II
ige student so elect.
ka- TUITION.
ou Thirty dollars per session OF ten NOR
the the session being divided into three t.
mt of 16, ~, 10 weeks respectively, beginr
as follows:
First term (16 weeks) Sept. 4, 1877
Secod term. (12 weeks) Jan. 9, 1877
). Third term, ia weeks) April Q, lS7
The usual extra charges will be n
ID nrox vtnn and q