The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-06-18
"a thousand ril!S they leap and shine,
Strained Though :heir messy nDo!s,
iii claSncI III macy :: @''!hcriny t"Ii;',
Thcv swell a huuLrrd blocks.

SIlslESN i.l!SE ~ !!lSll lll''>St lLpo..S'
ii claSncI III macy Z %"!hcrilIy t"Iii",
Thcv Swe! a Luu,!rrd blocks.
"A hundfCl brooks and sill! they run
With ripple, shade sn! gIcam,
Till clustering all their braldS III one
They swell mighty stream"
So with Odd Fellowship. During the first
decade it was bcset with many difficulties.
Objections and prejudices opposed its pro-
grcss, and its work was accomplished slowly.
But its mission was OF divine origin, and
gathering strength aid influence rs it ssruG-
glcd, it to-day cmpties into the broad bosom
OF society stream of influences second to
none save the Church and Government
Strong in resources, great in numbers, noble
in principles, its Lodges and Encampmcnts
are in almost every State and Territory with
in the borders Of this great Republic. Amid
the tecming population Of the North, where
the hammer Of manutac. ire S trikcs loudcSt,
the banners of this Order wave proudly over
the heads Of a mighty host. In the sunny
South, where the pulse OF patriotism beats
strongest, the regaia arc worn and honored
by an army Of firm and spirited advocates.
On the plains OF the Vest thousands Of zeal
GUS and gallant bands are bearing its STAN
dards with shouts OF victory and triumph.
Even on the shore OF California, whose golden
mines enrich the world, the Order is she'd
ding an influence that id the end will far ex-
eel its mineral wealth. Its progress is in ad-
vance of the westward march OF civilization.
The woodlands axe Sc.rcely lays the forest
low before band of brothers unite 10 carry
on the cause Of fraternity.
say nothing of its constantly widening in
f1uence beyond the waters. There it is equal
ly great 1t is pushing IFS forces in:o every
country, and humanizing its people with the
liberal teachings OF bencyolence and fralernl-
ty. It takes no philosopher to believe, no
prophet to foretell, that the day is coming
when there will be no land where the tread
of human footsteps is heard, that does not
sec, feel, and know the merits of this institu-
ton.
Such is its success in @ little more than
half q century. What Sood has it done?
Go ask the recipients of its millions Of bene-
fits. Visit the cemeteries OF its dead. Listen
to the glad voices of widows and orphans
left desolate. Go ask the oppressed people
of the Emerald Isle if the hand of the Odd
Fellow was empty when it stretched across
the Atlantic TO rescue them from famine. Go
ask the relieved inhabitants of the Sandwich
Islands if the bencvoencc Of the Order is a
farce. The sick have been rescued from IN
timely graves. 1ntemperatc men have been
reformed, while thousands Of children
throughout the land have been educated and
placed in lucrative trades and professions -
When the surging flames Of fire laid the
devoted city of Chicago low in ashes, and
the wall of suffering people rent the air
with the cry for help, was the ear Of this
organization deaf, and its hand empty? No.
in that trial she proved to the world her
sincerity. Various societies responded with
becoming bencfcence. The MaSonS, Ameri-
can Association, Sons of Temperance, Knights
of Pythias, and Knights Templar, AL to-
gethcr sent the sum of S126, ,7l2 90 for the
relief of the sufferers, bat Odd Fellowship
lowered above all, and sent the sum Of $780,
1900, making neary four thousand dollars
more than all the rest. I say this in no spirit
of disparagemcnt. The Chicago Times in
speaking of this said "Socictics have crisis
in their history in which to fail is TO become
dcspiscd. ODD Fellowship in this crisis was on
trial, and not only did it meet the general
expectation, but surpassed the hopes OF its
most sanguine friends"
These arc but the direct and sell-cyident
accomplishments Of the Order | have said
nothing OF the indirect, moral and preventive
effects. They arc silent and invisible forces
whose power is constantly cXer!ed, but
whose presence is not perceived until the
work is done. Mans attention is arrested
when the clouds pour their torrents of rain
on the earth, but be does not observe the
pist or refreshing dew. When the Lightning
slliyers the sturdy oak he is amazed and awe
stricken at the wonderful exhibition of its
might, but he forgets that the same fluid
permcatcs all matter; giving life to the body
and beauty to vegetation.
What then, in conclusion, is the secret Of
the great success of this Institution? l an
swer: It lies in the business of the cause and
the sincerity of the membership, for
Trnth is mighty and will prevail
The eternal years of God arc hers.