Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-04-27
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sung 70 the tune OF 'OId Hundred y
with orchestral accompaniment:
ather OF love! whose tender care
Hast kept US through another year
with tuneful veices, now We raise,
Our hearts TO Thee IL grateful praise.
For mercles past, Tor Joys 10 come,
For health, and happiness, ana home,
For friendship pure, for love and truth
That crown our age and cheer our youth.
Accept our thanks, our labors bless,
And to our efforts grant success,
And to Thine honor we VIII raise
Unceasing hymns of prayer and praise,
Noble Grand Carroll then introduced
Mr.. B. P. Duncan as the orator of the
day. This gentleman then delivered
an interesting and highly instructive
address, which was listened to quite
attentively and most appreciately en-
joyed by most OF the sssemblage. We
herewith present
MR.. DUNCAN'S ADDRESS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND
BROTHERS OF THE INDEPENDENT
ORDER OF ODD D-FELLOws-Ghese elab-
crate ceremonies indicate the celebTa-
ton OF an event impressed with no Or
binary character. This gorgeous pa
geant, these decorated banners, these
glittering jewels and this vast assem-
blage, remind US that another cycle is
past in the history of Odd-Fellowship,
and that we are summoned to celebrate
her fifty.sixth anniversary in the
American States. How grand the
thought How sublime the theme, if
commensurate with the sentiments
which the occasion inspires! You will
pardon me, then, my brothers, if, under
the magnitude Of the duty assigned
me in the imposing ceremonies Of the
dsy, 1 approach its performance with
that degree of unaffected diffideDce and
embarrassment its importance COM
mands. shall invite you to nc iinger-
ing walk along the margin Of "Pierian
streams;n through banquet halls, or
fields of literature, decorated with gar
lands of genius and poesy; l shall not
invite you 10 read with me the beauty
of the "stars, which are the poetry Of
heaven, in whose bright leaves We seek
to read the fate OF men and empires"
We shall discuss no hot guea-
tiOns Of modern political strife, state
craft, diplomacy, finance or laws;
nor shall we descend to exhume the
buried relics of nature, that we may in
terpret the philosophy OF her hidden
beauties. The sublime thesis which
claims our attention to-day Overtops and
Overshadgws mere questions o. science
and art, statecraft or diplomacy, finance
or law. It's infinite conception staggers
the intellect which seeks to interpret its
symbols or unfold its mysteries. lis di-
mensiOns are incOm mpTehersible, whether
we consider the source whence it sprung
or the object to which it aspiTes. AS
when the TTsveier approaches IN the dis
v-sTa frrr
ering grandeur Of whose form multiplies
as it is neared, SO does the contempla-
tian Of this great theme to-day Ti-e in
grandeur before Us, its summit reaching
the throne OF the Deity, while the cor
neT-stOne OF its sublime philosophy is
the fItberhOOd Of God and the brother
hood OF man. In the exposition Of that
grand unity, in connection with the
ceremonies Of the day, 1 obey the sum-
mons. am not al liberty to decline,
and make my example in the
line Of duty but the apOtheOsis
of my pTecepts. Each and all of
Us have duties to perform, my
brothers, and the harmony and good
Of society, as well as the elevation and
perpetuity of our order, requires that
each in the sphere assigned him should
heed its commands. Otd Fellows must
! therefore discharge their
DUTY To THE ORDER,
whether in the humble exegesis of its
| principles or in the ministratiOn ana
practice Of its universal charities. Oui
noble old chieftain, now resting from
his labOTs in the Grand Lodge above
peace to his memOry-tha immortal
Lee, whose genius, vslOr, and patriotic
devotion shed undying luster upon Con
federate arms, and whose fame a0d
| deeds-Tich Iegacies to mankind-are
embalmed in the literature OF the civil
! lied world to-day, once said that, "lI
| the lexicon Of life the sublimest word i:
| duty It was England's great captain
| of the seas. ne who disputed with Nep
| tune the trident of the deep, Lord Mel
| son, by whose intrepid daring and skill
! the English navy was made the pride
| Of the world, who, on the eve OF the
| bloody battle Of Trafalgar, exclaimed to
! his squadrODs: England expects every
man to do his duty" Duty, my broth
ers, is the bright talisman whose magic
wand blesses and sWeetens every re-
Iation in life, and will be on
anchor in the great sea Of the future
Every act of heroic valOr and endurance
whether in peace or war, derives it
| chief glory from duty performed. i
! gilds the reDOwn Of the soldier ana in
! spires the patriotic devotion Of the citi
zen. 1t smOOthes the pillow of the dy
ing, brightens his passage t. the tomb
builds mausOleums for the bones Of tht
| dead, and erects monuments for TIT
/ commemOratiOn Of their virtues. 81
| Odd Fellowship "eXhOTts every man Il
do his duty,n in which, my brothers,
we fail, IchabOd! Tchabod will be writ
ten uDOn the walls Of our deserted tenn
pies, and the glory Of our achievement
will be eclipsed IL the lassitude Of Ou
own degeneraCy. She, too, has trials {
endure and to overcome, dangers TO con
front, victories to achieve, and conquest
to direct, brighter and more endurin
thsn was ever won from an eDsanguine
field or wrung from the serriedTanks {
advancing battaliops. But her Victorie
are not OF tho sword; her cCnquests an
her fame are not wrung from bleedln
ranks driven to slaughter 10y the re
hand Of TaT; nor are the nor
uments eTecied TO COmmemOTal
her deeds and to perpetual
her glory reared upon the bones OF tn
dead or cemented by the blood OF th
slain. Her march is not traced by th
ruin and devastation OF war drunk wit
the intoxicatiOn of its Own,excesses, N
Z are her altars lit up with the glare {
. burning houses or flaming cities. \
spOils of a
"HOLY ALLIANCE
for purposes CT bloody prosecutions /
, church or state, signaliae her victOri,
; CT elaborate the glory Of her conquest
. Hers, brothers, is a grand crusade
peace ON earth and good will TO man.
, her mission Is the cultivation and pra
: lice OF universal b5neVoleDce and cha
. ity, while upon her banners are en-
: . blaz1ned the sdibCOleth Of Friendshi
] I Love AID Truth, with every yiTsI
( which cRn embellish and adOIn huns
= character. The anniversary Of tn
2 proud event in the American States
s the birthday OF American Odd-FellO'
3 ship-inspires the sentiments We feel
e I common to-day, as We come to lay I
!, offerings Of our homage upon her hi
I lowed shrine; to reEindle the embers
our devotion upon her sacred affairs, a.
swear TO perpetuste her Hnesge, unt.
j nished to future generations.
. THE ORIGIN OF THE ORDER OF OD
= FELLOWS
4 Is involved In much oDscurity and dou
S The grand principles upon which
Il foundation rests are coeval with