The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-06-18

veal the c0nQQeOllal NIsS So>u'es VI H'S ''Sn'
Shall the doctor publish 10 the community
the condition of bis patients? Has the mrr'
chant no secret ma-ks? Must tie minister
he a congregational ta!tler and make knowu
the contidcuceS Of his people? Must every
member of family turn traitor and 5lab the
secrets of his home? Must christian when
he prays or gives aims, get mp on the Cour'
House steps aud introduce his business with
O srcntorian @. YeSI Must men walk the
streets with cards stuck on their backs Civ
ing the contents Of their wardrobe and the
number of their unpaid bills; or must they
turn their pockets inside ont 70 show all in
ouisi,i.e world that they have got no money
If that be the case young ladies will have h
send their love letters unsealed, and directed
"ro all whom it may concern" so that the
interested parties may be appriSed Of the
manoeuverings of Venus. DcliveruS from
such q Pundemonium! Yet such is the re
sult-if secrecy be wrong. Consistency thou
art jewel!
The truth is, chat secrecy as principle il
as necessary Us its opposite. Oac is the day
the other is the nigh: The latter has itE
genia! sunshine and gildcl clouds, but tht
former has its nooa and stars and gentle
zephyrs, and is just as essential in the econ
omy Of nature.
The objec;or now shifts his ground ant
says: 81 admit that the organization is no
wrong because it is secret, but being secret i
may be subseryient to evil purposes. Fol
instance, it may be used for political pur
pose." Let Us examine this. Bear in m!nC
that those who mect, the time and place o.
meeting, the laws and principles, are in the
knowledge of all In addition to this vii
state that nothing binds the membership bu
moral ties, and furthermore, that the very
moment they engage in political or sectariar
combination they forfeit the very charter
under which they exist. shall say nothing
of the fact that such practice is diametrica!
ly opposed to each and every principle Of tht
institution. Now, in the name Of common
sense, how can this order be made sub
servient to political purposes, if these things
are so?
Moreover, in Lodge every class and par
ty is represented, therefore it would be
matter of impossibility to succeed in any
such attempt. The adverse political element:
in every Lodge would frustrase in self
defence any such practice. More than this
how does 1t happen that Odd Fellowship ha:
increased so amazingly in the United States
the greatest Of all countries for poli.ica
aninosisies, and yet remained mistaken and
undisturbcd by the defeats and triumphs
the deaths and rejuvena:ions Of sects and
parties? The answer is, that it is totally
distinct. The storms Of political strife never
disturb its pyramidal serenity. But the ob'
lection so far as it stands is theory and con
lecture. If the position is tenablc, surely the
objector cal point to facts. and if there are
no facts to sustain his position then the
argument is like "the baseless fabric of
vision" Now, defy any man to point to o
single instance in the history Of American
Odd Fellowship in which the slightest evi'
dence of such state Of corruption can be
found. It is true history furnishes example
of such practice in some societies, but not in
this Order. One, for instance, may point 10
the Jacobins of France during the Revolution.
Blu: this is no parallel case. That society
was composed Of one party and that was
designedly political party.
The truth is that there is not . true Odd
Fellow who does not think it base and
t-ai.orous to entertain the thought Of such
corruption.
pass by the foolish objection to the name
Odd Fellow. II is true the name might have
been more cuphonius (and we regret il is not
so), still the character of its members would
be no better off. You could not make a
watermelon pumpkin by calling it So
Gold is gold still even though you call it
brass, and presume our friends, the Sons of
Temperance and Good Templars would not
exonerate O man because he called the
exhilarating articles btters or spiked soda.
II one supposes that the term implies that
Odd Fellows are participants in Bacchanalian
revelry he is egregiously mistaken. Nothing
is more foreign and adverse to the spirit of
genuine Odd Fellowship. Indeed the Order,
is ahead Of most Institutions in this respect,
for a few years ago the Grand Lodge Of the
United States passed law prohibiting the
use Of Intoxicating drinks on any occasion
when the regalia are worn, regarding it as
dishonor. While am on this subject hope
you will pardon q slight depression. Many
are curious to know the origin Of this name.
While it is not known certainly whence it
came, yet there are several speculations on
this subject that are are quite plausible. -
Some say it is corruption Of Ode Fellows,
which name was derived from the practice of
singing odes. Others say it is corruption
Of Hod Fellows, which name was given 10
them because they were helpers of the older
craft of Masonry. But the most probable
origin is in the convivial practices Of those
days in which the Order engaged, the name
being chosen as the most attractive to the
people, as indeed it was. Gwen the clergy
in those days were conyiEial. Be it said to
their honor, however, that they never los!
sight of the true object of the association,
mutual protection. The name is retained,
but such couTiyiality as is incompatible with
deccncy and propriety is emphs:ically for,
b;dden by the laws OF the Order as it now is.
Odd Fellowship like every other Institution
OF intrinsic worth, keeps apace with the
advancing civilization Of the world.
Experience reveals the mistakes and de-
6ciencicS its ea:ly days, and with sur
prising candor, i. acknowledges tae former
and remedies the latter.
Another objection is this, "Your Society
will not admit the cripple, the unsound, and
and the poor, who most need your benevo-