The Van Buren press., 1875-09-07
Odd Fellows Anniversary and Pic.
Nic..-.tddress by Rev. j. &.
Kennedy.

perhaps AS any day this season. But never
theIcssa goo'i assenblsge Of Odd Fellows an,
others embraced this opportunity for da,
of recreation and social intercourse. Arrv
ing on the grounds about II o'clock. We foupt
the Marshal Of the day. Brs. II. c. Iayman. a
the head of the Van buren, brass Rand, ar
ranging the members Of the Order around th,
stand erected for the speaker. preparatory tt
listening to the address of Bro J. C. Kennedy
The Rev. Father McCurdy WAS invited te
open the ceremonies with prayer, which h,
did In impressive and suitable language to th,
OCCASION At the close the marshal OF the day
introduced the Rev. J. c. Kennedy ofvar
Buren,. who addressed the Order and other.
present as follows:
BROTHER ODD-FELLows, LADIES AND GEN.
TLEMEN:
must be allowed the privilege of apologize
Ing. for the first time In life. for the want OF
time to make better preparation for the occa-
sion--having been notified less than = week
OF what was expected of me. 1t 10 true you
may imagine that, as l am accustomed to pub
lie speaking, that the time 10 sufficient. but
you must remember that there IL great diff
ference In an occasional address and that oi
scrnonizing. And besides. SO much has been
said during the last fifty years In connection
with Odd-Fellow ship. that 1t Is almost impos-
,ihle to present any new thoughts At differ.
-nt times and places thy subject has been ex.
hsnstrd. yet not weakened, and 50 many pre-.
sentations have been made that trust may
be pardoned II ut this time attempt to re-
produce some of the beautiful thoughts 0rigi-
mated BY Others, ~hs have had time and op-
portunity to bestoW upon 1t.
.nt~ n.lI III
style the principle aud teachings thereof, Is
grand and inexhaustiblc. and has existed in
reality since the ersstioH OF man. and has
been yenerated by the great and good In all
ages of the world. The Order Of Odd Fellow
however is Of comparative r. cent date. For
instead of claiming for 1t, AZ it now exits In
our land. great antiquity. l feel disposed to
call 1t a modern institution. and would call
upon those who are familiar with its charger
and lectures to bear me out, when say that
they with all their teachings are peculiarly
adapted to the wants and conditions Of men
VI the present day. fully endorse the remark
often made, "Odd-Fellowship IL progressive
in Its character, Yea from its progressive.
meas 1t is susceptible Of changes and improve.
mchts. and will be easily adapted to the hab-
Its and customs Of succeeding generations
We need not look. brethren. with fearful mis-.
givngs to the future, because of the innova.
DcESSn|
work Of the Order.
The cardinal principles OF the institution
are ~ inmutsble a. the Word Of Truth, and
will never be lost sight OF. and whatever
changes 1t may undergo, Odd -Fellowshi will
.till have the sam" object In view the ameli-
GRAFTON Of the condition of mankind.
Expand 1t must. For within the past cen
tury changes have been made, which ilav,
materially improved the work OF the initiate
st.a. - a
have been instituted. new degrees have beer
Invented, and old ones changed or abolished
And not many years since. the Degree of Re
becca has been established. by which wive,
and widows OF members of the Order are ad
mitted into Lodges, and we welcome them t
our midst.
And here indulge the remark. that 1t Is =
matter of surprise that comparatively so few
Of the wives Of the members OF this Lodg,
have ayailed themselves OF the privilege o
membership; and that those who have re-
ceived the degree. manifest no mere interes
in 1t than they do.
Ladies. In consequence Of their afection
and gentle nature. are peculiarly qualified fol
the discharge Of the duties which devolve up
on them In the new field Of labor. and whci
they heartily cooperate In our labor OF be
nevolence and love, 1t gives to cur Order
fresh impetus and attraction which can neve
ness may be made. We are sdd fellows In
deed and on this account acknowledge tina
we are selfish. rs TO our wish to retain tin
sympathy and sffection of the ladies as vel
as their cooperation In all good works. |
We could be assured In hours of pain and sick
ness that ladies would ever be present t,
smooth our pillows. to administer the nause
ous pstions. sweetening them by their pres
ence, sympathy and smiles. the thoughts O
ipt afrn of trpha NJ
We have said that ours WAS a progre.siv
institution. 1t was organized In a progressiv
age and progress Is still the order of the day
The whole world Is in u csmmotion. Loci
around In whatever direction you will an,
you see evidences Of the truth Of this remark
that We are not only progressing rapidly, bu
we are a nation of travellers. H. you are boun,
foi the Atlantic. you will have the compauy
ofthou.ands. IL for the Pacific slope, yo,
will find the trains crowded with mortal
whose hopes are centerstl in this tcsming re
gion.
OF startling discoveries there seems to be NJ
end Explorers of the Fast are unearthinj
long buried cities and relics Of the past. b,
the aid Of the telescope new planets ar
brought to light. Not many years hav,
passed since the first iron-horsc was intro
ducsd to the world, by the aid of which
heavily freighted train of cars can be move,
at the rate OF mile a minute. And sine
which time Morse has given to the wsrl,
the power of transmitting thought from plac
to place, from continent to continent will
lightning speed. by means ofthose slight elcc
tric wires, which are made the conductors o
Jeve's thunder bolts, tanned down and har
messed for the use OF man, they nsve tn
commercial world And within few month
past = man comes to the front and claims al
invention that supercedes the use of steam
doing away with the expense and DANCE
thereof. Thus the world moves on. and. judg
INK the future BY the past, not many genera
sions will pass away till these great inven
tions and inventors will be eclipsed BY greater
lfthen, this age Of ours becomes imbeci
and tame and Is to be classed among "old 70
gies" as men Of this day class our ancestry
is there not demand that our institution
should also advance and keep pace with sci
ence and literature? The time was. but tina
time Is long since passed. when young mef
were satisfied To live as their fathers III ed, :.
do as their fathers did. and were contcntcd I,
settle down around their birth place. In man,
instances living at home and never going dur
ing long life many miles therefrom. Nov
the propensity to roam Is growing universal
1t is rare that son dies in the land Of hi
father. I.nng men. II not before, as soon
released from parental authority, prodiga
like. take their portion and 20 into far coun
tries seeking their fortune. And when thcy
have roam+d the world DER. feel craMped be
cause they can't devise some plan whersb!
they may explore the fixed stars. Thu
throu. .hout the world We find wherever ",
20. young men who have biJden atlieu I,
their home, family aud friends and plunget
into world Of colnmotion. temptations beset
ting them on every side. 1t is then, our Or
der offers i:s protecting shield. Il is by means