Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
ODD Fellows Celebration.

Fellowship In America Vermont Lodge, No =
Of this place, being invited to join with the North
field Lodge in the celebration Of the day, accepted
the invitation and the result was day most
pleasantly and proftably passed by all concerned
Vermont Lodge left their rooms about hai-pas1
one O'Clock, led by the Montpelier cornet band
and after marching through our streets for
short time, and onliycnng things generally, took
the 2.ij train for Mortified The lodge presented
very fine appearance in procession, there being
| a little more than fifty Of them in the ranks, and
everything being conducted in the most orderly
manner Tho procession was marshalled under
the direction Of Captain c. I. summers, Who
showed himself capable in this special duty.
Arriving at Mortified, they were met at the de
pot By the Mortified Lodge and the cornet band,
and falling into line, the two lodges marched
through the streets Of the village for about an
hour Coming round to the Odd Fellows Hall,
thcy dsbanded to meet again at half-past seven
for speeches, music, etc
At six O'Clock supper was served by the North
field Iodgo--and such support No pains were
spared 10 make this feature of the celebration
most acceptable to ALL and certainly the mem
bers Of the lodge did themselves honor IN the pro
vision of the ,ands aud the tasty arrangement Of
the tables And not alone in the provision OF
the supper but in everything pertaining to the
days enjoyment, did the Mortified lodge do
themselves credit, and show that they were moth
ing lacking IN hospitality
AZ half-mst seven o'clock a large number Of
persons assembled al Concert Han 10 participate
in the public exercises held there, the hall being
filled to rcpletion. The exercises opened with
prayer by the Row MI Greene, which was fol
lowed by music by the Mortified Cornet Band
Next in order came the address by Rev. H. 4.
Greene, Of Mortified, on the Origin and rrn-
eiples Of odd Fellowship Of which We give the
following abstract lie thought this WAS sub
ject Of interest for everybody whether members
Of the Order or not, because odd Fellowship has
become an Institutional no small Importance. both
in America and in Great Britain As 10 the origin
Of the Order there is information that claims that
it was known in some form among the ancient
nations Of Europe as early as the fourth century
that It WAS established ia Spain n the fifth CEN
tury, in Portugal In the sixth century, and in
France in the twelfth; that it was carried to Eng
land from France by John d. Neville and es-
tablished there as a Loyal Grand Lodge Of
| Honor" which in the eighteenth century was
| changed into the Ordcr Of odd Fellows The
/ speaker then gave an account Of the establish
ment Of the order in London one hundred years
/ ago, and quoted 10 show that the Order was in
troduced in the United States in 1870, when a
lodge was formed in Connecticut. Mr. Greene
spoke at length upon the designs Of the order IL.
benefits, charitable and philanthropic work,
The principles Of the order are Of the purest
and noblest Of the earth and are not in opposi.
IL. a. q. I
himself They are not secret principles, but ar,
open principles Of morality and truth, which hay,
always been the foundation Of the best society
and the highest civilization They are demo
cratic principles in the highest sense Of the word
looking toward . universal brotherhood Of The
whole human ace--lool,ing forward to that tim,
"when the chains Of human bondage shall b,
broken, and the tears and woes Of this world be
submerged by the healing tide that should flow
from the fountain Of beneyolencc and peace
We as odd Fellows lay no claim 10 the discovery
or possession Of any principles that are not open
to the possession Of AN men. The old Color
dalued principles Of Temperance beneyoleuce
charity, friendship, love and truth are grand
enough for Us. We may well love odd Fellow
ship because Of lis broad and liberal platform
While it takes in the noblest and the best, it,
doors are open to the poor the toiling men o
humble means and small ability. Friendship il
one Of the lessons which the Odd Fellow find
mos, impressiyely illustrated as he advances il
the order, and the surest test Of that friendship
is in adversely, when one is called upon TO par
with portion of his goods or even to risk his in
for his friend
The love which our order teaches is that whic1
tells us We should not forget that all men are O.
one family. We do not band ourselves togethe
into brotherhood, n secret organization, becaus
we can thereby make use Of different set q
principles ifm those that all honest men max
use Of but because we can thus put these principle
into better practice We can help one anothe
better by doing. The grand old saying
Together We stand, divided We fall and tina
other, In union there is strength" find thei
application here as much as anywhere And
we choose TO band ourselves in this way, by tn
use Of secret mystic rites and ceremonies, 50 lon
~ these rites and ceremonies are lawful pur
and innocent, it is not worth while to answer IN
arguments Of those who oppose such things
The candidate for odd Fellowship is laugh,
first Of all, one Of the most important lessons u
life-the deadly effects Of sin As he advances il
the order he Is enjoined 10 strictly adhere 10 TEN
pennce, sobriety and chastity. our Order look
upon drunkenness "as the yilest and most per
nicious Of all vices odd Fellowship eaalts char
ity very high among the moral virtues; and It (
well said that the first principle Of our fellowship
is denomlnated iraternity-a universal fmtcrnit.
in the family Of man. God long since gave Us th
models, that We may initiate but not transcend
50 the progress is for the race, and We need hay
no faith in the idea Of dscoumging new principle
Of life and character and human being An W
want is better modes Of applying the old principle
that individuals have more or less illustrate,
since the world began.
The benevolent and charitable work that GU
order does in the world is no small matter Bu
let us remember that when we have helped thu
needy, fed the hungry, clothed the naked yisite,
tile sick, our duty is not done. The spirit Of on
obligations Is never fulfilled till We are mora
men. by that J mean honest men, temperat,
men, chaste men, doing as we would be done by
loving God and man, kind and forgiyng to our enc
mics II we have any Verify, 4" it is more blesse,
to give than to receive" And thon there ar
the great moral and social influences arising from
the teachings Of our Order The man who place
himself in a position to receive all this makes
good investment May we, my brothers. ponde
these things and live as our precepts comman,
us to live, and in this shall the world see that ",
honor our profession in bearing much good fruit
Mr. Gfeene's address was most interesting ant
instructive, and was listened To with the closes
attention by all present.
Following this main address were remark. b,
c. T. Summers and A. n. Persons, Of Vernon
Lodge both OF whom spoke in behalf Of the order