Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-04-27

plate the celeOratlOn or her birth, what
sublime emotions shOnld thrill our bo-
SONS a. we behold her sons in this vast
assemblage, met to commemorate her
name and virtues? The day we cele-
brate! All over this broad land to-day;
across the sea into Europe; on the
islands of the sea, the admiring gaze of
half million OF wOrshipers is directed
TO the same grand event-the birth Of
American Odd-FellOwship. Shade OF
the departed Wildey! We invoke to-
day the inspiration Of thy spirit, which
spoke into existence American Odd Fell
lOwship; whose devotion nurtured it iuS
its infancy and its heiplessness; whose
genius reared it to its present grand pro-
portions. The day We celebrate! No
less dear to US as an order is the ami.
veTSaTy of
AMERICAN ODD FELLOWSHIP,
than is the birthday Of American liberty
to the American people, when the yoke
Of British tyranny was broken, the in-
dependence OF American colonies pro-
claimed, and subsequently maintained,
by the sword. Both mark proud epCcbs
in the history Of American institutions,
But Odd-Fellowship, my brothers, is
not only an organization for distribut-
ing charities and iOr mutual Telief-it Is
likewise great moral instructor. Her
history is founded on the word Of God,
and "inculcates the observance OF every
christian duty" 1t lifts the mind "frOm
nature up to natures God" while
around the solemn circle of her sacred
shTines, she draws the curtains OF a
united brotherhood, and leaves behind
the strife and treachery and selfishness
Tuh
She teaches by symbol and allegOry,
drawn from holy writ, and enfOrces her
lessons by the solemn sanction of its
holy precepts. The Significance Of her
degrees as we ascend the scale Of her
sublime mysteries, excites the admira-
ton and Cultivstes the heart. In the
vestibules OF her temple we are taught
the lessons of an unselfish humanity,
the grand brotherhood of man. In
the first degree We are taught
the lOveliness Of charity and warm
and expansive benevOlence and sympa-
thy for the race Of man. From the sec
Ond we learn the beauty OF fraternal al
fection. From the third, self-ssCrificing
friendship and devotion. From the
fourth, universal love, expanding be-
yOnd the confines OF the order, ami
reaching out into the great sea OF bu-
manity. While ascending still the
grades of its progressive beauties, We
reach the fifth and last degree, the les
son of which is truth eternal truth,
that sublime principle repOsing III the
bosom of Deity, and which is the key
stone of the arch of all his wonderful
creation. 1t was my purpose here, my
brothers, to trace the beautiful lessons
to be learned from each Of our express
i've symbols, images which speak to us
in the ALPHABET of nature herself; but
my time will not permit. You will par
don me, however, while | detain you
with few thoughts drawn from one Of
the mCst beautiful and expressive, yet
most familiar, symbols of the order, and
direct your attention i'll the channel Of
its philosophy. l allude to the beehive,
whose emblem is associated industry,
labor, order, system, good govern
ment; and in the faithful application
Of which mainly depend the glory
and perpetuily of 0dd-FellOwship,
This familiar symbol likewise reminds
us, my brothers, of that terrible curse
pronounced by God upon our first pa
rents, when driven from Paradise in the
morning Of their creation: 'ln the
sweat OF thy face shalt thou eat bTead.O
EIOlu JldG Uu5J bIiUCg WuOSb iaNBy tJi5-
toms and habits have afforded lessons
OF wisdom to all ages, We, too, derive
most wholesome instruction. They eX-
tract from the beautiful flower its sweet
est properties, and distiI from its OPEN
ing petals nectar-fit libatiOn for the
gods. So, my brothers, we should eX-
tract from life's history its ennOblinE
virtues, and labor in the cultivation Of
its brightest and hOliest aims. Ignore,
my brothers, the lesson drawn from this
familiar symbol, and the "Independent
Order Of Odd-FellOws" will become de.
generate, and like the proud temple of
kaTnak, its ruins will remain sad relics
of departed grandeur. To its benefcent
results we are greatly indebted for her
present glory, and upon them must rely
for it's future influence and power. 1t
blesses and ameliorates the fallen condi-
ton of man, and is the chief factor in
all individual and national develop
ment. 1t puTifies the atmosphere Of all
social, civil, moral and religious insti-
tutiOus; ennObles the individual and en-
riches the State in all the elements of
mental and material greatness. There is
NO EXCELLENCE WITHOUT ORDER.
system, industy, in every department Of
life. The minister of God, expOLnding
the doctrines Of salvation to dying men;
the poet reveling in the regions OF fancy
and creative power, beautifying and
adOrning our literature; the sculptor,
with the plastic touch of the "Grecian
chisel;" the philosopher, with his theo-
ries of nature and her laws; the lawyer,
with his volumes and his briefs; the
banker, with his stocks and his bonds;
the merchant, with his gains and his
losses, and the mechanic, sweltering at
his heated forge, as he beats the flying
sparks like diamond cdtdTactS from hls
pOnderous anvil, all emphasize the uni
versatility and power Of this inexOrable
law, without which achievements in the
mental and material universe are
CONCLUDED ON FOURTH PAGE.