The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-27

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style by the choir. The grand master, Mr.. A.
J. Minis, then announced that they had assem-
bled, In obedience to orders from the Grand
Lodge OF the United States, to celebrate, SIM
ultaneously with the celebrations By the breth-
rem of the order throughout the land, the fifty.
third anniversary Of the introduction of the
order into America, and he introduced, az the
first orator OF the evening, General W. G.
Desaussure, past grand sire.
General Desaussure made a finished and
graceful address, alludiDg to the significance
of the occasion as Illustrating the fraternal
spirit of the age. The world, he said. had
witnessed the ages Of iron, OF brass, of silver
and of gold, but this century was eminently
the age of brotherhood. The gigantic wars
of the nineteenth century had necessitated and
given rise to many fraternal associations des-
tined to accomplish illimitable good In alleviat-
ing human suffering and avertipg human mis-.
cry. he alluded eloquently to the mission of
Odd Fellowship in carrying out that peace on
earth and good will to men, heralded by angel
voices nineteen hundred years ago when the
Star of the East shone bright on Beth
lehem, and the Saviour of mankind came into
| the world. He closed with an earnest charge
to the grand master and to his brethren In
the Grand Lodge and in the order to pursue
steadtastly their work Of practical charity,
morality and virtue, so that when called to
give an account of their stewardship in the
| celestial encampment which they all hoped to
reach. they could say they had exerted their
best endeavers for the promotion Of ''peace
on earth, good will to men,"
Th's'was followed by the singing Of the ode,
'In friendship tried is found a precious trea.
sure" after which Dr.. J. somers Buist, P. c.,
| was introduced as the next orator.
DR.. Buist read an eloquent review Of the
purposes and objects of Odd Fellowship;
which he illustrated by Unhappy aud beautiful
allegory. He related that TWO beautiful chill
dren walking abroad one morning in the hot
rays of the sun, were met by a zephyr, whose
grateful breath and fragrance kissed and fan
ned their cheeks, and one Of the children
asked the summer breeze whittier 1t was
bound and why 1t was so happy? The zephyr
answered that 1t was going to do good to all the
world, and therefore it was happy. The
| other child inquired where 1t had been, and
the breeze replied that since early dawn 1t
had been cheering those 1t had met, and re.
lated how It had cooled the brow Of the
weary traveller, blown aside the cur.
tains of the sick mans chamber and
famed him into sleep, visited the widow.and
the fatherless at their ceaseless toll, and whis-
pered words of hope, until 1t saw the weary
look fade from their faces and bright smiles
Of happiness take their place. Such, he said,
were the mission and the practice Of Odd
Fellowship which silently but certainly nour.
ished Its v~otariee, asking no favors, fearing
no rebuff, seeking M reward, but pointing
with conscious pride to living monuments of
success.
An original ode, composed for the occasion
by a lady Of this city, and commencing 20!
who that bears In him q warm heart and true"
was then sung by the choir, and Mr.. A. G.
Magrath, J. R., P. c., was introduced and
made an admirable address, briefly reviewing
the history Of Odd Fellowship, adyerting to
Its trials and sufferings during the long strug-
gle for Southern independence, and earnestly
defending Its forms Of practice, Its necessary
secrecy, and It's noble accomplishments.
This was followed by the ode, Esprit Of
of Friendship, Truth and Love" and the au-
dience was dismissed with O benediction by
the Rev. Mr.. Gregory.