The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-06-18
ohiector DISPLAYS The universal charity he

of tue earth. giving 10 each ono mill, or to
endow permanent institution for the edu-
cation ofthe poor, extending its circle OF
labor as its means increased? Any sane
man would say the Latter is far better. This
is the plan of Odd Fellowship. 1t begins at
home of course and must Of right remain
there until lis strength enables it 10 so forth
and battle with the world Of want. The
operation Of the Order is circum>cribed only
| by its capacity. It's principles and exalted
aims src universal but its means prevent
their universal exercise n1j immediate ac-
complishment. Ii is battling With want and
poverty, but until the good ant. industrious
in all climes unite in this nigh y effort. the
enemy, though OFT defeated, will still remain
unconquered.
The last objection to which | shall direct
your attention is this: "What your Society
claims to be bcreyolencc is no bentyulrncc at
| all. You give benefits, bus the person who re-
cciyes them is entitled to them, aud has a
right to claim them. II is nothing more than
business transaction, like fire or life in-
surance." If the objector means that the
| giving Of benefits is not alms-givivinS, he is
cminenty correct. We do not claim to be
| strictly charitable Institution, and wherein
we claim to be charitable is not based on the
giving Of benefits, for we deem it one OF the
most admirable traits Of our Order, to give
assistance to its members as matter Of right
and not as charity. II the objector means
that there is no benevolcnce in the Order. in
the proper sense Of the word, then he is
wong Is it no. benevolent to give to thous-
ands Of suffering humanity millions of
dollars, at q time when assistance is most
needed even though the money is distributed
| as a debt and not as charity? Is there no
bencyolence in obligatiug oneself to render
| brother aid when net ded? If the whole
world entered into compact to relieve each
other when in want, would there be NO
benevolence in the agreement?
But benevolence does not consist entirely
in giving money. Coming from bene and
vo!o, and meaning "to wish we'll, )" it may be
exercised in thousand ways. Words, looks,
attentions, all evidence it, and fall upon the
| wounded heart-likc healing balm. The Odd
Fellows benevolencc does not stop with mon
ey. He is to watch over his brother in life,
warn and protect in danger, succor when in
want, relieve when in distress, comfort when
downcast, counsel when erring. When dis
ease lays its whitening hand on his brother
he is 1t the bedside nursing with traternal
affection. If death come, and it will to all,
the brother is laid in his last resting place by
friendly hands, and with mournful tears
Bencrolence does not stop here, the destitute
survivors of departed brothers family are
provided for and protected. If this is a
selfish business transaction, then it is great
pity we have not more selfish business men
in the world. But the benevolence Of the
Order is not confined 10 its membership
Whenever its means permit, its charity goes
outside, and many stranger has blessed the
Order for its lifc-SavinG charity.
These are the main objections to this insti-
tuition, and though briefly and hastily an
swercd as was necessary in the short space Of
our address, vet trust that to the liberal
aud thoughtful their fallacy is clearly evident.
Wherein the answers are deficient, it is
attributable to the speaker and not to the
cause he represents. After all, object;ng TO
anything that has proven itself good is un-
christian. The world is wide enough for the
united effort of all, and needs that effort
bad enough without wasting time, strength
and unity, in useless, and worse than useless,
pickering.
What then is this Society. and what arc its
objects?
Its humane and social institution for
mutual improvement and relief Its central
idea is fraternity. Its teachings and mo'toes
.are Friendship, Love, Truth, Beneyoence
and Charity. Its duties are few, but noble
and comprehensive. to visit the sick, relieve
the distressed, to bury the dead, to educate
the orphan, to aid the widow, and to exer-
else over each other fra:erual care and
moral discipline.
This is IT'S present status and as civilization
advances, its field is widencd, its usefulness
increased and its moral character refined and
elevated. Odd Fellowship is the offspring of
an enlightened age. 1t is no child OF barba-
rism, and needs not age to give it dignity,
for its principles are everlasting. Enthusiasm
and q mistaken notion that the mystery of
musty age is necessary to enhance its value,
have led to many far-fetched and unfounded
stories OF its great antiquity. Some would
have you believe that the Institution dates
from the days of Adam and Eve. Some that
it had its origin among the Jewish prizes thood.
Some among the Roman soldiers. The Huns,
Goths, Hungarians aud Moors, each have it
ascribed to them. But all this is baseleSs
conjecture to say the least OF it. 1t is true
secret societies have existed from the earliest
ages down to the present time. Tie Persian
Magi, founded by Zoroaster 1t least 1000
years Z. c., existed for centuries with its
rites, ceremonies and peculiar modes of in
itiation. The Eleasinian mysteries introduced
by EumoipuS at Eieusls, 1870, Is. u, haQ lts
gorgeous temples, its dazzling and awe-in-
spring scenes, and profound secrets for 1900
years, when they were abolished by Theodo-
sius the Great. The States of ancient Greece,
the Druids Of Briton, all had secret associa-
tions, doing great deal Of good and great
deal of harm. But Odd Fellowship claims
none OF these as ancestry, confident that it
would confer norc honor than it would re-
ceive.
This Order originated in England. it is very
probable, in the first part Of the 18th Centu-
ry, for the earliest date on record concerning
the Order is 17I5, at which time it was said
in Magazine that it WAS pleasant to attend
the meetings. In the year 1913, the ,1nde-
pendent Order Of Odd Fellows WAS formed by
d saoessior of Il frW In6neS from the Union