The Van Buren press., 1875-09-07

into the Order. being made acquainted with
certain signs and tokens and who are regular
In their attendance upon all Lodge meetings.
keeping their dues promptly paid. and yet Are
not Odd Fellows indeed. Fellowship
consist In far more than this. While these ex.
ternal rites and ceremonies are necessary.
they constitute but mere speck Ia the body
Of Odd Fellowship. True Odd-Fellowship Is
the principle Of universal good iii and chsr-
", 4 Divine inspiration Of Friendship Love
and Truth, and he that has not this principle,
il no Odd. Fellow. however proficient he may
be In all that constitutes the outward forms.
signs and ceremonies efthe institn,ion.
For our satisfaction and improvement, let
us look at our h~arts-eaeh his own and not
others--in order to ascertain how much Of the
spirit of odd Fellowship p dwells In a.. II We
find the seed Of charity and the principles Of
benevolence deeply rooted In our hearts. II to
the calls of distress our ears are ever open and
the hand Of charity Is ever extended to the
afflicted. then indeed IL the glorious principles
OF the Fraternity growing within our hearts.
When through the 'allurements Of vice, or
any other cause. u brother swerves frsn the
path Of rcctitnde and honor, IL Is the duty of
every true Odd-Fellow to use his best endeav-
ors to persuade the errinx brother to return
from his wandeiings and encourage him in
every laudahle way and thus assist and
strengthen him.
Ifsckness will PROSTATE a brother upon
bed of pain, the true Odd Fellow will watch
over him and administer to his wants with as
sdnity and fraternal affection.
And when death claims = brother. 1t is not
only our mournful privilege to follow his re-
mains to the tomb and there according to our
Ritual topay the last sad rites to his memory.
but to allow our hearts to return with the be-
reaved family to their diseonsolate home and II
that home be the abode Of poverty, 1t Is duty
incumbent upon US to relieve their necessities.
The widow will receive such aid as her cir
cunistances may demand and the orphans ill
be watched over and educated.
Such assurances, brother Odd-Fellows.
should cheer cur hearts. that when We shall
have finished our course on earth our loved
ones will be watched over. counseled, protect
ed by our Order. Whenever want 10 seen ap-
proaching loved ones, brother Odd-Fellows
will be sure to come to their relief. And
there IL none on earth to whom We could csm-
nit loved ones more confidently than to the
care Of the mystic Fraternity, whose notices
are 80 pointed and plain.
Such being some OF the principles aud prae
tice Of the Fraternity. Let us who are mem
bers endeavor so to live and dcport ourselves
as not only to remove prejudice fron the
minds Of those unfrisndly to our Order. but
by consistent lives and faithful discharge
OF our duties commend the institution to those
Will WHOM we assoclate' ne true anu the
good We are ready to welcome to our Brother
hood, that you may be a blessing to us and
wea comfort and assistance to you.
And ladies, in conclusion. let me In behalf
OF the Fraternity extend to you the gratitude
of our hearts for the encouragement you have
given US. God grant that you may never be
so situated ~ to need assistance or protection
at our hands. But In the vicisitudes of life we
know that hours Of trouble and sorrow await
tI.~,, L., I...A II.
the sign Of distress and you will soon have
personal demonstration OF the sincerity of
our professions of Friendship. Love and Truth.
And to you brethren. "Let us not grow
weary in well doing" 1t is useless to recount
what has been done In the past and it Is con-
trary to our principles to held out and pub
lish to the world our acts OF charity. Our
watehword 10 and should be "Go on, aye
Go on"
Let every member feel that It Is hi, duty to
live up to our standard OF principles and to
practice the teachings Of the Order and thus
present 10 the world great eXempliacation
Of the law Of human brothe rhood.
The address, occupying half hour In de-
livery, speaks tor itself, and was delivered In
the gentleman's usual easy and forcible style,
WAS well received, and listened to with
marked attention throughout.
The marshal announced that dianer would
be prepared In groups, and that all were In.
vited to partake, and that after dinner dane.
ing and social enjoyment were the order OF
the programme. We were unusually fortu.
Late In our arrangement for dinner. Coming
as usual, empty-handed we received at tn,
hands ofa friend = very welcome invitation
from Miss Bette Byers. youngest daughter
Of Mr.. VIM, Byers, to gather with their friend.
around their generous table. An invitation
from so sweet and intelligent young lady
VIC did not intend let slip and readily accept
ed and followed BY the wistful, longing eye!
Of a number Of younger and better lookin.
men. we gathered with Col. Locke Of Alma
Mr.. Frank Ilinkle and sister and Miss IIa.scl
tine Massey, Mrs. Furcy and other invited
guests on one side Of the table and the Var
Burcn Band on the other, We sat down to
repast that did honor to the skill of the accom-
plished daughters miss Mary and Bettie) o
our esteemed friend Byers. Everything tha
appetite could desire was before us. and tn.
way that vacant places were made, showed
that ample justice was done our young host
ess' skillful and inviting handy work
Dancing and social intercourse follsw ed
dinner, and to the music of the violin all tha
desired trippeJ over the ground to its enliv.
ening strains.
The Order are indebted to T. y. Boiling ant
sons and families for the very eredi.able re
ception and the Preparations OF the ground.
for the pic mic and no pains were spared or
their part to make the occasion happy ano
pleasant one to all.
On the way home We stepped at our ole
friend VIM. Meals Esq, for drink OF water
lie Was awav from home but we were how
ever. opportunely entertained hy Miss Betti,
and her mother. who cut two 1.-THE finest VA
termelons we have tasted this season. Her,
we had the pleasure of taking by the hand AZ
old lady. Mrs. Robinson, the venerable mother
of Mrs. Neal. who. although over IS years old
is As we'll and clear headed apparently as on,
good many years younger. william Nes
Is farmer ~ sverytl,p about his place In.
dicatsa
Thanking Mr.. Chas. G. Scott for seat In
his buggy to and from the picnic, we take
leave Of the Odd Fellow anniversary OF the
first instant.
Col. J. A. Lockhart, who started some
four weeks since for Atoca, G. n, with hil
sheer, arrived home Saturday afternoon. Az
ter getting over Bosten mountain his sheer
did fret rate and his loss amounted to only