The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-03-07

band Of brothers, bound by every tie of
sociabiIity and obligation Of honor, to
support, protect, defend, and warn each
other. Is it proper to speak to the pub
lie of brothers slight shortcomings,
or even of his vices? Verify not; and
the Odd Fellow who does it has either
forgotten his duty, or wilfully violates
it. IF the brother needs correction take
the proper steps in the lodge, and let
outsiders know nothing of the matter
Tolerate the principles and the belief
Of all. If one chooses to hold different
opinions from myself upon the subject |
of religion, politics, or any other mat
ter, should therefore discard him rs a |
friend? Remember that this world |
is one great brotherhood Of men, under !
the supervision Of one common Father |
hood, and that each brother has a right !
to his own peculiar tenents, as much so
as we have a right TO ours Then tole-
rate his principles; give him the credit
of being honest in his professions until
/ the contrary be proven. As Odd Eel
/ lows, we all Ineel at a common altar,
and recognize that great, Incompetent
sibIe Being who manages the machinery
| of the universe, and counts the hairs of
| our heads. Has he u distinguishing
mark between the jew, the Christian.
or the Musselman? If that alI-power-
ful mind IOls no distinction why should
we weak, though vain and bigoted crea-
lures, attempt to beget strife among
ourselves?
Charity is another word for love; and
in the text from I Peter, chap. IL. s,
which says, ''And above all things have
fervent charity among yourselves for
charity shall cover the multitude of
sins" The word charity might have
been translated love. Affords Greek
Testament says, when translated into
English, 'Above all things having your
love towards one another intense"
Paul says: That of the three things
faith, hope, and charity-wbich re-
main, which hold in the most perfect
fullhlment Of the kingdom of God, the
/
So we have the highest authority for
saying that charity is love. Those
whom we love we invariably treat with
the utmost charity. Consider your
wife, your mother, or your child and
just so should Odd Fellows be charita-
bic toward each other; and not only to-
ward each other, but toward the world
at large. It is a part of our teaching,
the object of the order being to make
men better. Odd Fellowship does not
confine its doctrine to the members of
its organization, but goes outside into
the bitches and waste places and ex-
tends hand to help all who are in
favor OF virtue and morality.
= An Odd Fellow may ask, How can /
! love disagreeable people? It is hard to
1 tolerate them, impossible to like them.
4 In answer to that question, we say we
/ are not in favor Of sycophantism or of ny
! pOcrisy; but at the same time we should
/ put up with our disagreeabIe neighbors
as good humOredly as possible in ou1
! power so to do. We can all show a
| good nature, and none ever loses by its
t practice. There is no saying how good
t humorediy man may act until he tries;
I and his good humor may possibly thaw
much of the ice that is frozen up in mis-
a neighbor.
I Charity is like an ignited match
, among combustible sticks. It not only
{ burns itself, but it ignites them. 1t is
contagious, it is catching, and those
{ who catch its flames are made happier,
, and render us thanks, which though
r they may be silent and mute, can not
[ fail to have bearing upon the conduct
{ of our lives.
"True charity, plant dtvinely nursd,
Fed by the love from which it rose at first,
Thrives INST hope, and in the rudest scene
{ Storms but enliyen its unfading green.
G Exuberant is the shadow it supplies:
It's fruit on earth, its growth above the shies.r
As we look with kindness on the faults
of those we love, with tears it may be
but at least with heart full of compass
sion and tender mercy, so we feel, i
L may be, in ourselves some eohoe of thai
great love which seeks to save the world
aud best fulflIs its purpose in that mar
into whose heart some Of itself is shed
Odd Fellows, be ye charitable one t.
Z another; be charitable III everything
in your judgment, your feelings, anC
. your actions.