The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-10-31
Secret Benevolent Societies
BY. GEORGE W. GIFT.
FROM the Evening LsdEsr.)

FROM the Evening Lsdgsr)
n fair, gentle weather, when the south
wind wOos, we wonder why it is that she
gallant ship is numbered with those mas
sy iron-bound spars, why such ponder
GUS cordage and those stiff, gnyIelding
sails; why the hull is held together by
bolts and riVets, beams and knees. We
ask this when zephyrs fan, and the vane
scarcely tells rs from n hence the breezes
come. But let the wind pipe high, and
the pillows grow fierce and threatening,
and then We begin to receive answers to
our queries. See the gallant masts strain
aud the shrOuds aud backstays grow taut
as the lutte string, and the bellying sails
seem swel!ed to their utmost tension,
and the gallant bark grOans as it feels the
strokes of thE mighty and pondercuS
WAVES, and We know why strength and
beauty have been combined. So IL is
| with secret societies. In ordinary times,
| when there is no cpl lemic, no extraor-
! binary amount Of sickness, no suffering
| indulgence, no new made, helpless w!d~
! ows, no crying orphans, We ask our
| selves why do these people meet and
! practice mummeries by gaslight, away
| up in the fourth stories of building?
| " hY should valuable time be wasted in
| meetings of men tOge, her with no further
! object than to meet? The previous
metaphor answers the query or, if it does
! not the experiences of the past six weeks
do. We know now how brother may
stand 10 brother, though no drop Of kim
dred blood flows in their veins; how the
s OK are nursed, hos he widow is cared
for the orphan given q home, the dead
| buried, the misery, pain aud suffering
. | al1n,ri,ra1 ErD,Ry ftaF khn L
ings were hut to permit new members to
assume the vows of brotherhood, and old
ones to renew the cenvenant Quietly
and secretly they are building the strong
ship which is to weather fierce gales like
that which rOars about US, and ride
securely over turbulent and towering
waves like those which lash ia. They
were not working in vain, but were PERI
fsGting and adding to organizations which
in time Of need are to. make them one
family. Let us see practically how these
secret organizations have performed their
work. At the first outbreak of the fever
they rallied about their leaders and pre-
pared for the onslaught No volunteers
were asked to perform this or that duty
but veterans were told off to their work
like trained soldiers. A member, or his
wife or children, are reported i'll, and
straightway the brotherhood 60 to their
surcnr. 1t matters not how deep they
are IN the gulf orthe postiIence, or drea
full the attack Of the infection, the broth
ers Of the mystic band fly TO The relief
and remain until all Is over, and then
perform the last sad rites which the liV-
ing owe to the dead. 1t matters not i
some of these shall fall who go cut to
battle, othe.s will promptly close up the
gap and take their places in front of the
dread enemy. Nc toll, no danger, IL
fatigue detcTs them What member o.
secret society has been left to suffer
What one has been compelled to apPea
to the public fol- charity Where arc
their houseless widows and starving
orphans? When did you zee these so,
cieties asking for assistance from Others
than the brotherhood Not here, recent
) Iy; but you have heard Of such nnblemeI
as William :. Bruce, who said to tht
odd Fellows, Draw on me for an un
limited amount" Where did he learn
that sentiment of brotheriy love RnC
affection? Possibly where be was laugh
that all flesh is grass, and must soon pasr
l away; that man owes u duty 70 man, ant
, that when that duty is performed he ma,
live from youth 60 age and yet not SCI
the righteous forsaken, nor his seed beg
ging bread. During the prese mt epidem
ic many of the brothers Of the mystic ii
have been called from labor to refresh.
ment have been commanded to appea
r before the Great Grandmaster above
with specimens of their workmanship
May they be found to have walked b
( the plumb, worked by the square, an
acted on the level in all their dealing
with their fellowmen, and so, Is Twin
;; stones, prove acceptable in the grea
Il temple above-that house not made will
hands, but eternal in the heaven
y Though the dead brothers succumbed NJ
amid the dread carnage OF battle, hear
net the strains Of martial music, OF tn
eXultant cheer Of victory as they fell y
e they died gloriously, and their brigt
example will be held up to generate
after generation TO come, as worthy to /
e followed by the heroes who are to ador
n the future pages of our history. TIL
~. ranks have been thinued by death, b.
- the rolls will soon be filled up sgai
= Hundreds Of new recruits will come fo
2 ward 10 enlist under the bsnueE Of loI
and charity.