The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-05-05
ODD FELLOWBHIP.

"a ulhe Celebrates 0fGhe O7Gh
AmnIVerSary Of American
odd Fellowship, EmP0ria,
April 20GEa, H6z6.
Noble Grand, Brothers, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
am pleased to meet on this fes-
tive occasion. those with whom IT
has been my privilege and good
fortune, 80 often to meet in regular
council for the more earnest affairs
of every day life. 1t is especially
gratifying to me to see from abroad,
these "brothers of the mystic tie."
It is always pleasant to pronounce
words of welcome; not cold, for
NAL, measured utterances, but earn
est, heartfelt words of cordial greet
ing. We welcome you to-day,
brethren, as the representatives of q
mighty benevolent order; mighty
in numbers, but mightier far in the
grand moral force of your animal
ing principles.
The world has need of our order
with its great heart to pity and its
strong hand to help. Its lessons
are beautiful, its principles sublime.
But it comes not alone as teacher.
1t recognizes the grand truth that
faith without works is dead. It ap-
plies itself to tlie actual condition
of mankind, Visiting the sick and
the destitute, the widow and the
fatherIess. We welcome you as
you come hithGr from the battle
fields of humanity, laden not with
spoils, but the trophies of well
discharged duty. Victors over an
guish and want; victors at
the bedside OF the dying;
victors at the grave, where
for the humblest equally with the
highest, the evergreen upon the cof-
fin betOkens our undying remem-
brance and regard; victors over
vice, poverty, Loneliness and temp
tation that so often visit and so fire.
quently overcome the bereaved one.
Welcome in the sacred names of
Friendship, Love and Truth. On
behalf of Union Lodge, No. 15, I.
o. o. F.. bid you q cordial, frater
nal welcome, and sincerely hope
that you may long remember with
pleasure, this day and occasion.
Our own inclination, q venerated
custom and the behest of the Grand
Sire, call US together to celebrate
the 57th anniversary of American
Odd Fellowship
The birthdays Of great and good
men, the happening Of great events
are by common consent deemed
worthy q place in the calendar, and
an honorable commemOratiOn at its
annual return. Hence, with signal
propriety, we celebrate the birth of
an order which, we believe is des-
tined to occupy for its field of la
Dor, the habitable globe, and shed
abroad the benign influence of its
tenets, until time shall he no more.
From its little attic gathering in
Baltimore, the order has pushed on
ward and spread outward, until its
council fires illume both hemis-
pheres. Half a century since Amer
lean Odd Fellowship was a little
candle feebly throwing its beams
into the surrounding darkness; to-
day it is q beacon light waying itself
above the seas of the world, and
flashing its promises of hope, safety
aud good cheer over the turbulent
waters. Then Q germ; now har-
vest for milf ons. Fifty years ago,
uncertain of surviving the voices of
tits pioneer advocatss; to-day it
gives indubitAble evidence that in
its electric sp read all nations of men
are to come under its influence,
while they enshrine its essence
upon every household altar.
| AS l understand it, Odd Fellow
ship is entirely destitute of any re.
ligious, sectarian or political features
serving only to draw man into clos.
er association with his fellow men,
and binding together for the best
and noblest purposes those whom
1.-THE distinctions aud castles of the
world tend 10 keep apart; though
laIl Of its oracles and instructions in
this regard, find their ample warrant
aud authority ia the divine law,
under the inspiration of which il
proclaims the Golden Rule as the
sublimest illustration of the law OF
love. Neither is it, strictly speak
ing, q secret society, although foE
the purpose of Identification and
recognition, it has secrets known
. only to the craft. Sill its good
deeds and large philanthropy are
known and read of all men.
1t has made, is making and will
continue to make q history fol-
itself, grand and sublimely beauti.
full. This history shall be written
whha pen of iron and the point OF
a diamond, Deep, deep, shall bt
: the characters be Impressed as with
, the eugraver's chisel, aud hoary
: headed time shall in vain sttemp
; to blot them out, for the table,
shall be made of human hearts.
The prominent niche In history &C
. corded to the Caesars and Napoleon
will cause their names to be retain
1 ] ed in the vocabulary of scholars
: But who remembers them like vi
4 ! recall the tale of the good Samari
: tan, go sWeetly told by our Savior
: That lesson OF mans duty has CONF
\ to us adown the centuries in all IL
sweet pathOs, and could we'll be re
tanned in tradition unchanged
E through the coming ages. Tha
q story will be repeated over and owe
e again when the raven hair Of oil,
Il night has grown gray, when heaV
q ems starry eyes are closed in death
e and the universe is laid in its might
a coffin.
= ODD Fellowship neither sustain
nor attacks religious views as suet
, 1t claims to be and 10, . moral soci
y ETY.. II deals with the immediat
Ie present, for the sake Of the preseu
s. and as preparation for the futur,
in 1t venerates nothing for its antiqu
D. lty, assaiIs nothing becauI
Ia Of its youth. Il do,
~ not 20 back to the mediavt
- ages for its inspiration or its moe
~ els. It para6ies no long list of sain
As or mythical martyrs. No on
OF simply because he lived selfiI
AGaa =. ~