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 ii.
means. A man is not an Odd Fellow mere
ly because he becomes familiar with the
rites and ceremonies of the Order,--he
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. JUDGED 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 10 his Creator,
faithful to his country, and fraternaf 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 toll
lies of life, and this want we claim is fully
supplied in our honorable association, for
which accordingly 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-
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, would
be the effect up sn an army to take fom
them then uniform, deprive them of their
standard, and silence their martial music
Would tho 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 sees 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 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
l reveal to an assembled world, the stu
pendous pile of sublimity and beauty
which symbolic Odd Fellowship has reared
aloft.
l have thus, imperfectly, demonstrated
the fact that necessity exists for the in
undertake to show its design. When at
light, and there was light" it was to the
intent that 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," He 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 heart
of beholders, than fair light and excellent
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 their
light around them, and at a distance en-
tighten other bodies, so in moral and
religious sense, good example is light
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-
piles practical demonstration, advance
the proposition that she Odd Fellows are
a band of brothers, who profess to be con-
nected with -""Nh other, by the firmest en-
most affectionate ties
should be, with the most
apply. Iney profess To sci
Just spoken of, for the
& their endeavors in the
OF assisting the perfec-
racter, as well as the
piness of society. To
blessings OF which we
attribute to the success
knowledge, virtue, and
o living, active sympa.
tributes of Friendship,
d whatever cultivates
fe-these are, and ever
objects of our Order.
fesses to constitute the
which unites man in
imam. In its solemn
different nationalities
2 laltar with benignant
4 sentiments Ofunfcign-
leavOrs to cast abroad
1, and bind together
Truth the whole hui
)r .ligion, whose sub
le OF Increase, whnSe
,e mot improve, and
IN 9 not judge with
Ices not interfere.
'ei be the voluntary
Irse of man with
.tters the institu-
and claims no juris-
OF With teaching all
md sr that He it is un.
the open, all desires
"a osecrets are hid
W.. nd that they must
all Tim who is invisi-
go! their souls raised
ery, LICENCES of vice,
hen by the energies
,os be alive to all
ey ,novolence. and
igiy' men by all those
face ylove and char
low hich will hold
ess," anent captivity
dby the unin'