The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-06-13
Pythian Knighthood.

Pythlan Knlghthood.
A Lecture delivered by w.
M. RAPsHER, ESQ.,, of Le-
highton, at a number Of
Pythian Hall Dedications
and other occasions in var
ious parts of the State.
[coNo uDED FROM LAST WEEK
The Knights of Pythias have spe-
cial work of the noblcst cnarity and be-
nevolence to perform. They assume
the duty to aid and succOr the Widows
and Orphans of their departed brethprn.
and to assist and ancourag ali their
members in times of danger and distress;
to smooth and beautify the rugged and
deviating paths of life; to make life
} sweet to live, and to be, in the hour of
death, fearless and ready to die. And
remember that all virtues aud moral
| qualities, to be interesting or beautiful,
must grow from within. The poorest
virtue that man develops genuinely
within himself, like flower in cot
tage window, is better than that which
IS impaited and artificial. For each one
| must, after all, live his own life and
work oat his own d stiny. Each has
his owu p-Oblem, and ia its d, tailed
ISOLATION no one can directly aid. No
example rs over preci ely applicable,
and nothing but the spirit of another s
good deed can help yours. Tie daisy,
in developing As daisy, can derive no
direct cou,lspi iron. a rose. The humb-
lest blossom must untUli by its own
laws, and all that 1t has In common with
the rose Is the general law of growth.
Neglect these inward powers, cease to
be yOurse II, cultivate secondary virtues,
and when you most need strength you
will find only habit of dependence in
its place. We have too much Of what
may he termed sentimental goodness.
Oar sentin,entally good people are harrl-
less enuugh, but they are almt,st wholly
lacking in the true virtue. There Is u
good Saxon wMd which represents a
! good Saxon quality, which ought to be
4 imported intO the moral world. That
word is pluck. Public opinion is CO oward-
ly; it lacks pluck. In the stress nf an
emergency, ia the face of danger, it
does not dare to say its soul is its own.
1t will again and again, VIII n it is
teiapted, sell out to Aauiuion, to power
and prestige, and opposition. And
private opinion Is often moe timoruus
even than public opinion. II Is apt
Upo,i the least threat to surrender to
popularity that which Is most precious
aud worth preserving, and which fought
to defend at all hazards. This absence
Uf the chivalrOus and heroic spirit, from
our public and private opiuion, Is the
terrible curse of American civilization
| The true Il, THAN mission is tO bring
about, more robust virtues; we want
justice to fight down Injustice, stern
integrity to put its foot on meannrss
anu hypocrisy, and li0n>heartedne,s to
meet all the host. of evil and wiring and
hive them to utter rout. Sentimental
| goodness will not do 1t; it will never
a.ake true knights. IL has q very ami.
able disposition towards the right. It
says with u sweet smile, "IIUw right
Is right. how good Is good, how true IL
truth" 'Ah; yes, these ought To be
encouraged" But it will not take its
stand by these and defend them when
they are attacked by prejudice and big
Oliy, by uniairness aud injusti, e. 1t
will hot suffer for them, AID sacrifice
Tor tl.em. aud work tor them, and spend
nI,,,iey for them. IL Is the first to flee
when they need its help. 1t would
sell out, as Judas sold hls master, to
those who bid highest Tor them. The
true knightlOOd We hope for will have
force In 1t as we'll as sweetness; 1t will
be plucky a. well as amiabe. 1t will
know the right and, knowing, will dare
maintain it. 1t will take its stindi on
principle and never depart from it; aud
/ should any power or influence pproach
to tempt ii to do SO, 1t will say tO it " ith
hral-set will, sect thee behind me,
satan" 1t will never seek to cOnciliate
anybody by refralning ~ say or do that
which ought to be said and done; and
II viii never be guilty OF compromise
which has to be effected at the least ex-
pense of truth and right. 1t is ignoble
and paltry ia us t0 think Of the price
we are going 10 be paid tor | eiI.g true
and vlrtuOuS, and TO say in effect that
we Will not venture mI the thUrny and
dangerous road of duty, unless we can
have a uaveller's insurance, that we
shall be Unidentified for every mishap.
This is to reduce morality To a mere
mercantile standard, ard to make of
the high transactions between Cunsci-
ence and the Moral Law mere bargain
and consideration of what to give and
take. We have no right, as true
Knights, when duty presents itself to
us aud commands our obedience, to ask.
is 1t safe tn Obey-shall we be likely to
succeed II We do this-shall We please
man by this course, and be sure TO get
our reward somehow sonetime {? The
Only question We lave any business to
entertain is, what is right-what is tru-
ly gOod-wfat dOts duty require OF us
under the circumstances? And when
we have settled these questions, then it
is our OILY and Immediate, aud most
noble concern to go forward in the path
Of right, to do our duty faithfully, " be
loyal unto the Inspiring Voice that calls
on us from withinl 1t would bs we'll
for society aud humanity II these prin-