The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-02-06


few days ago, much to the regret of all
who knew her, and especially of the
young men, by whom she was much ad-
mired.
Odd Fellows.
The following address was delivered by
DR.. VIM. A. Smith, D. D. 9. p, at the install
lation OF officers in Washington Encamp-
ment, No. 2, I. Q. o. F., Columbia, Tenn, Jan.
2lst 1874 and is published by request OF the
Encampment:
of this Encampment for the ensuing term,
it becomes my duty to deliver an address
suitable to the occasion; though were TO
consult my own wishes in the matter. l
would retire in eloquent silence. My office,
however, requiring me to give instructions
in the work of the Order that will promote
uniformity, and to see that no alterations
or omissions of any part of the charges or
ceremonies are made, / would not reason
ably hope for success in these matters, II
were to set the example of diSobedience,
1t may not be necessary for me to enlarge
upon what is expected of you as members
of this Fraternity, and the duties of your
structed in these things, but the leading
principles of tbs Institution are of such inn
portance that they are not likely TO be re-
hected upon too often.
The earliest records of human history
furnish proofs of the existence of secret as
the earth. They have everywhere accompa-
MED, il they have not advanced civiliZa-
ton, and been the conservators, if not the
VI AelAB1OllS' oS1SntIA1S1 dhu pO-
litical truth.
Picture-writing, and afterwards hireogly-
phics or abbreviated symbols, were at first
the only means that men possessed of re-
cording doctrines, or. discoveries in scien-
ceS and the arts Hence, in nearly every
nation-in Egypt, Assyria, Greece, Rome,
mysteries were the foundation-doctrines
and the priests were the founders of secret
societies.
The Albigenses, Waldenses, Cathari and
other early reformers, during the long perse-
cutiOnS before the Reformation, also found
in secret association, remote from the eye OF
the prosecutor, safety in worshiping God.
And all through the dark night of feudaI
ages, the various mechanic crafts, guilds,
BILE light of knowledge, virtue and freedom
glimmering amid the surrounding gloom
until the world at large, awakening from Its
leaden Sleep lit its thousand torches at the
hardly preserved tapers, and threw the
blaze of revived letters, religion arts and sci
ences once more over benighted humanity.
A love of mystery and blind veneration,
for antiquity have induced most aSsocia-
tions to claim an origin traceable to the re-
hottest ages OF the world. Confounding
principles with the institution embodying
them, they have claimed equal antiquity
for both. While similarities which can east
ly be found between the modes of Initiation
tions and those of our own order, have been
triumphantly appealed to, in proof of the
unwarranted assumption.
The origin of Odd-Fellowship as an insti-
tuition is involved in obscurlty. When the
small stream first issues into the light of
history, it is very humble also. The Nile,
though known ever since the days of JO-
Seph, has not till recently, had its resources
discovered by Europeans.
Several attempts were early made to
tablish our order on this continent, but
from various causes all successfully failed.
Shakespeare Lodge, No. l, was instituted in
New York, in December, 1906, and there is
evidence of lodge having existed in Balti-
more in 1902, but the Grand Lodge of the
United States was not organized until 1875.
En- m HntS then unknown. The
PatriarChal and Royal Purple degrees were
received about the period of this organiza-
ton. They were conferred in grand Lodges
and on Past Grands only. In 1910, Grand
Encampments were admitted to a repres sem
tation in the Grand Lodge of the United
States.
The feebly glimmering spark, obscured
by surrounding ashes, and momentarily
threatened with extinction by want of prop
er elements on which to feed its fire, has in
creased to a glowing, generous flame, album
dainty able to support it's own combustion,
and give Swarmth and life to all around.
half q century ago, has overSpread the land
with its Lodges and Encampments, has
nightly grappied with forlorn restitution,
vice and selfishness everywhere, and has
moulded into q kindred likeness Of beRev-
Olence, not few institutions nearly as pow
erful fer good as itself.
Simplicity of life and the purity of faith
by which the PatriarchS were guided, form
a beautiful picture in contemplating an
tiuuity. The world has advanced i'll civil
iization and knowledge, but still the soul
looks back with regret at Its departure
from those simpler, though ruder habits of
early virtue and goodness. In our lives we
may copy that cOnfiding faith and guileless
simplicity; by practising universal fratern1- |
ty, we may extend further and further |
around us, the golden links which chain |
heart to heart in q stronger sympathy, till |
at last they bind the earth in concord of
peace and virtue. You are familiar with a |
legend that has frequently been published |
in connection with the Golden Rule degree; |
it once appeared as n. Franknns anu II |
Taylor's Liberty of Prophesying. But as 1t |
is not found in the authentic edition of DR., |
FrankIins works where did he and even |
Jeremy Taylor get it? d., Priestly gives it, |
quoted in Latin from Shebeth Jehudah. |
fhe Tribe of Judah, the Virgin Daughter of |
ties. Martrydoms and Dtspersions of the |
Jews Translated from Hebrew into Latin, |
by George Gentius, Hamburg, 1880 The |
dus is said to be Arabic. To arrive at the |
Royal Purple degree, the progress so tedious |
at the time, how rapid! The discipline how |
the result of toll; all perfection acquired, |
the fruit of suffering. How blinded are we
not only to dangeT, put TO go9di ana M oeatn
necessary is IT then to realize these facts, |
that we may sedulously practice those prin- |
ciples which alone can convert his con- |
quests into our triumph. Men appear upon |
and disappear from the stage of life, as wave |
meets wave and parts upon the troubled |
WATERS WuGu lOOh UPON TIC CndEbeT Oh
this Encampment, l am reminded thar |
most, if not all Of the L4eIn beers whose names |
are written there, and most of our earlier |
are numbered among the silent |
dead. Let us contemplate with reverence,
all that is good, and copy all that is laudable |
in the characters and lives of those and |
other ancient worthless who were faithful, |
confiding in the veracity of Him who prom
ised; who showed their faith by works, and
not by profession only. In the language of
another, lid you not only as body but
each one:
80 live, that when thy summons comes to
The innumerabIe caravan, that moves,
To that mysterious realm, where each shall
take -
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and
soothed,
By an unfa1tering trust, approach thy grave,
couch
About him, ana lies down to pleasant
Remember ever, brethren, that as the fra
GRANGE of the opening blossom restores Wig
or TO the exhausted body, SO do the gentle
ministrations of love recall life to the faint
ING spirit, We have thus, my brethren,
campment into your hands So far as we
could, we have solemnly initiated your coed
work. Carry it on with the spirit in which
you have commenced and may the Father
of mercies prosper you In 1T, and bless 1t
with happy completion.
DEATHS.
In HAYWOOD countV Tenn in AOyap,bor