The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-10-18
THE ODD-FELLOWS
ASSEMBLING OF THE GRAND
LODGE AT SPRING.
FIELD.
ADDRESS or WELCOME ny GOV.
BEVERIDGE.

The Grand Lodge of Odd-Fellows Of the
state of Illinois met at Springfield on the
| nth inst.
On arriving at the hall of the house Of
representatives., whore nearly or quite six
hundred delegates were assembled, Gov.
Beverage delivered the following
| ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
| Grand M"ster and the Members of the
| Cr.nd Lodge Of 'hs ~ a. y Of tho
state of Illinois GESTLEMEN-l You
come here us the representatives of your
order from all parts of tho state. 1t be.
comes my pleasant duty and my honored
privilege to welcome you to the capita
city, aud in the name OF the executive OF
the great state of Illinois / do heartily
welcome this honorable body of good and
true men to the cheerful homes, generous
inequalities, and warm hearts of the peo-
Pile OF Springfield.
Your mission is one Of friendship, love,
and truth. You seek no honors; you ask
no emoluments you labor Tor no place or
person. Political prefer ment has no en-
Elements the coronet of gold and dia-
monds has no temptation. You mar ,
not upon the mountains whore tho pine
and oak do grow you walk
| down in tho valley where the
violet and primrose do bloom,
and walking there among tho meek and
lowly, among the bereaved and stricken
ones of earth among the down'cast and
down -trodden, among bleeiiny hearts and
| blighted hopes among tho suiicrings and
woes, the disappointments and desolstions
Of humanity, you show the rich blessings
of your order with lavish hand. II Is
| YOURS 60 promote and foster fraternal feel
ing; it is yours 10 encourage Temperance
| and virtue, TO incuca,o and practice char
itv; it IL yours to r,l eve the suffering ;
to visit the sick. to help the needy, and TO
| tenderly care for Gods precious ones, the
widow and the orphan.
Some censure your order because OF its
secrecy. The lodge Is secret. Did you
plot against your country. against virtue,
against morals, against religion, your or
der should be censured by all good men.
How you work into and out Of the minor
| temple what you do within, We know not,
but :his We all knew, we know your fruits,
and BY your fruits We shall be judged.
| Your hearts and hands ever respond to the
| cry of suffering AMI the wall of sorrow 4;
| your ears ever open to the prayer Of the
| widowed mother; your heart is ever touch
ed by the wall of orphaned infancy; your
ministrations OF love are ever ready for
the afflicted, and lastly the neighboriny
city of Memphis, scourged with the deald
fever, in whose streets tho Pestilence walk
eth ut MONDAY, in whose houses dealt
stalks like spirit of destruction, the hear
OF whose people Is pierced with unuters'
| bile anguish is the recipient OF your bless
ings.
Again | welcome you TO the city OF
| Springfield. not only welcome you, but
| cheer YOU on in your mission Of charity.
bid you God speed in your labor OF
love.
Nav your deliberations be marked with
wisdom, harmony, and good will one to.
ward another. May you devise liberia
things for the promotion of your ordr
and for the cultivation of all graces and
virtues Of humanity; May you go home
pleased with our city, and strengthened
with the purpose Of extending and perpet-
aating the benevolence of the lndepen-
dent Order of Odd-Fellows.
l thank you for your kind attention, and
bid you kind adieu at the vestibule o.
! your sacred vestibule. Go in go in, anc
be baptised in spirit. Come out cont
out, full of power to do, to labor, and t.
love
THE RESPONSE.
At the confusion, Grand Master Bros
esponded in fitting address, after whic
the hall was cleared Of spectators, and tn
lodge proceeded to bushes.