The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-10-29
Odd-Feilowsl,ip and Religion.

| 1t has been remarked by tbs enemies
Of Odd Fellowship, that we are boast
| fill Of our virtues and works Of piety,
and that our Order furnishes no lid Lii
\ the cause of morality and religion.
/ Now there Is one thing that Odd Eel
lowship does not do, and that Is to
boast to those outside Of tile Lodge
room, The good work it Is performing!
We believe that Odd Fellowship Is the
stepping stonetothe Christian Church (;
that If its members live faithfully 70
its teachings, they are doing that
which God has commanded them to
do. Do not the Commandments teach
us to "loye one another ?'' Does not
the Holy Bible teach us to care for the
sick, bury the dead, to provide for the
widow and fAtherless children, angl 10
educate the orphan? Can any sensi-
bic man oppose sucha Il Brotherhood as
thisf DOestlle Christian Church carry
out these teachings us they are com
manded biz GodT We shall not at-
tempt 10 answer this question, but
viii leave II for 4 Higher Power To tle-
| eide.
The Odd FelIoRis first duty Il rev
erenCc % GOd, To trust him iii all
things and strive to do His will. The
sec0Lid Is to man, and the third to him
| self.
The Odd Fellow in his daily inter-
| course with the world is often subject
to reprOaCll from those who are igno-
rant Of the teachings of the Order.
They will point ont the bad aud good
qualities Of its members. This may
be truly Slid Of the Christian Church
and of all organizations. Go where
you will, Ill any quarter Of the globe
where institutions, secret, or other
wise, exist, you will find that "black
Sheep" and itseems almost ilnpossi-
bic to keep him cut. He will ggt into
the fold, and alter he has done what
mischief lie can, viii be expelled, OIL
the .shand Of fellowslIip'i withdrawn
from him. We believe Tint as tile
Order grows 1t helps to increase the
Christian Church. How many young
men have III their experience related
that 1t was their initiation Tito tile
Order Of Odd Fellows 0r other secret
organizations, that led them to con-
meet themselves with the Christian
Church. Some have opposed secret So
cleties on account OF their holding
their meetings with closed doors.
Now, we can see no need Of such an
opposition, and ftIlis Is all the excuse
they have, it is a very weak ole.
Does not the Christian Church hold
their church business meetings, month
ly or oitener, and do they permit any
one present at these gatherings except
their own members or those Of like
faith? We answer, No! The busiless
ofthe church IL al secret to It's meri.]
bers Tor ii Is supposed to bel AS tlie
business Of alt secret organizations,
and those not connected with it are
llot supposed to know what has been
done at iCs sittlnes.
Odd Fellowship knows no Clee.l.
All have the right apply tor mem
bcrship, and all hive 10 pass the same |
inspection as regarls character and
habits, The same may be said Of the |
Christian Church; its candidates for
membership, have, HI most cases to |
pass 4 rigid examination before they
are admitted to membership. il
We Eloilot wish to be understood in |
oar remarks that Odd tNellowship Is |
perfect but while both are eudeavor-
Ing TO help tlleif fellow man; We BE-.
lieve they slIoHld 90 hand ID hand to- |
gethef, and work faithfully f0r the |
elevation Of the human race. The |
Christian GhurchInust tmke precedence
over on other organizations, and oil
the other hand woaId Il not BE- Chris
tim like II fitlent b helping hand to
th0ae who SlN striving to add not only /
N The iIemhershin 0f the church, but
also IA llt men kO become useful and |
Christian men llS0eIAtY. lgeYRe llls L
both church ana secret organizations /
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