National Republican., 1873-09-20
THE ODD FELLOWS.
PROCEEDINGS on THE GRAND LODGE

Position orthc Order In Reference TO scc-
tariauIsm-D on the sunday
Luw-Rcport of 'hc Legislative COM
mittcc Adopted.
BALTIMORE, Sept. i1.-Thc morning session OF
the Grand Lodge was opened with prayer by
Grand Chaplain renablc, and was mainly occu-
pied In considering the statute Of the Order
that lodges be not allowed to meet on the CHRIS.
tlan Sabbath, except for funeral purposes.
Tho Grand Lodge adopted tho report OF the
committee on the GTanl slres report Ia refer
ence 10 the distribution OF the subjects therein
set forth to appropriate committees for consld.
cralion.
~ TuS susnAY Law.
For the Information OF the public, II is proper
TO state that the Order Of Odd Fellows does not
claim u ba religious or acctdFidn society.
Whife 10 teaches veneranon for religion, respect
for the pubiic s,ntiment Of the community In
which it cxists, aud a due consideration OF the
| causes which InOuli the peculiar chamcter Of
religions feeling In this or that section OF conn
try, itnevcrtheltss Keeps constantly ip view the
fundamental principle Of liberation Of religious
or partisan bias, the organization not assuming
to Itself the right or authority TO determine and
demand what shall bc the peculiar faith or belief
OF its ndhercuts, only that they reyerenily be-
llcye In d0d, the Creator and l'rescrycr, the all
Father and entcrnal Friend. No atheist or In
ldel can he admitted into the organization Of
While all the foregoing Il absolutely true, II
has been the established principle OF the Order
10 show proper respect for and difference TO the
| religious views OF tho people among whom II
EXISTS. Consequently, IN this country, II being
| the general custom to observe sunday as the
day OF rest from labor, the Grand Lodge of the
/ United states has enacted u law In conformity
TO this prevalent sentiment and feeling, making
| V unlawful to hold meetings on the Christian
| Sabbath for other than funeral purposes. This
decision has, from year to year, been anirIned by
| The lppiglttiye head pf American nh EaitOW-
ship, and to-day the Grand Lodge has discussed
tho given question OF c1pedlency, :" as 70
statute book or he virtually repealed, by cpniii.
Ing 1t TO the discretion and determination OF
local grand bodies Of the onler.
The discussion was OF most Interesting and
spirited character occupying most OF the morn
ing session, aud was participated In by Repre-
sentatlves Ester. Porter and Harmon, Of Cali
tornla; Representative Giyen, OF the District o.
Columbia; Representative Hamilton, OF New
York; Representatives, Hickok and Simpson. o.
Pennsylvania Grand slres Nicholson and sand
ers, and others. ... L.E.
amendment that the matter be left to the COO
nideration and legislation OF subordinate grand
bodies was finally decided In the negative, the
vote standing ~ yeas to 81 nays. "a.
The motion that the mijority report Of th'
committee ec adopted was then carried. Tn
report Is as herewith: 80.
ferrcd Tho resolution Of Representative E'tee
OF California, asking for a repeal OF the rcsolu
= tion passed by this body at the session OF 1871
kn Jwn as 'thc sunday law" have fully consid
cred the subject matter submitted to them.
, The legislation referred to provided that an
lodge or encamrmcnt or degree lodge SHAH hol
any meeting for work or business upon sunday
except for funeral purposes" Whatever ma
he the views OF this committee as to the pole
OF this enactment, assuming, as II does, To con
I trol the meetings OF the subortllnates OF tn
, various grand bodies which have them In charge
and however much they may deplorc the Intro
duction here OF matters that might lie left I
local regulation, yet they are not wlllngto dis
! turb the conclusions already reached and sever
times iteratcdb by this body, 10 the effect that tn
enactment should remain, and are Of the opinlO
J that so exciting cause OF discussion aud disseI
/, sion should br p"rniltted to repose where sue
: repeated action has left II. They report the TO
u lowing for your adoption:
RcsO'rei, That no further legislation on N
subject OF the resolution Of 1870 Is necessary O
proper ct this time. u. .r
, The Grand Loige, at it:a0 o'clock, decided I
go Into secret session for the purpose Of resuT
: ing the consideration OF the revision OF the X
tual, AMI continued thus up TO the hour Of a,
, Journrnenf, 1890 O'Clock. - &.