Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-12-09
Champions of the Red Cross.

AS the above Is o comparatively
1ew Order, lately instituted on this
coast, and there being quite a large
Encampment located in this city,
the objects of which are but little un-
aerstood by the public at large, we
will occasionally publish extracts from
the Manual of Championship for the
instruction of the general reader re-
garding the aims and principles OF
the Order, embracing the prinei-
pal changes that have taken place
during the past year, &C.: !
OBJECTS.
No better statement of the objects
of Championship can be given than
in language of one of our own forms:
We are bound together by mutual
laws and obi cations, to protect ehch
other against intemperance and vice,
and to exercise among ourselves the
principles OF charity and brotherly
love" And here is another of sNni-
lar import; ."To shield the iDao-
cent; to give: relief to the suffering;
to bury the dead, and more fully to
strengthen the fraternal bonds WI Itch
should unite all true men and won hen
in their mission of mercy and love, %
To strengthen each other in every
virtuous resolve and action, to Yare
for the Orphans and Widows, knd
do all this or conditions of each bne
being an abstainer from all intbxi-
eating beverages. These are the
grand objects of the Champions OF
the Red Cross. We ask any candid
person, is there anything in all ihis
that does not commend itself to eiery
virtuous and intelligent mind?
RELIGION AND POLITICS.
No subject of a sectarian character
can be discussed in an Encampment.
This is true also of politics. Those
questions about which good men differ
are forever ruled out of meetings OF
the Order. No test of q religious or
political character is applied to per-
sons joining. Yet members must
believe in the existence ola Supreme
Being, to whom they owe personal
accountability. Such a belief. we
think essential to the validity Of our
solemn and binding obligations;
DEPARTMENTS. OF CHAMPIONSHIP, OR. THE
DEGREES.
In forming friendships of safe
and enduring character, it is not
wise to 60 too far at the first intro.
duction. Ii is necessary that people
should find each others excellelicies
and thus cement each stone togethe,
with its fellow in the social edifice
they build. Those do not make
friends who become friends too coon
The same character that makes then
hasty in receiving a friend, will make
them rash in breaking with him.; II
is Gods order that the harvest
| should be sometime after the seedtime
and we ought not to expect the har.
vest of mutual confidence in friend.
ship, until after a period passed. in
sowing tho seada of aoauainthnoo
The degrees of Championship are
based upon this conception. They
are departments of the Order. One
of them is Just rs essential to tho idea
of the Order as is the other. sThey
are all parts of one complete ccAcep'
ton, and that conception is a 4trons
lifelong friendship. A friendship
based upol. mutual tastes in socia
life, in moral principle and in socie
tary objects. To take every one WI
may think worthy, but of whom We
know but little, into so binding ana
important q relationship, must appear
absurd to all. So the various ele
ments that enter into the colAbina
tons, are separated, those of a. NOR,
general character going first, until al
are brought out and perfected.
THE INlTIAToRY OR RED CROSS DEG REE.
This is the first degree of thu
Champions of the Red Cross Th.
elementary principles of the ;whol'
institution, are bound up in its TIL
candidate is impressed with tie fac
that this is no merely temperance SO
ciety. Close and careful scrutiny i
exercised ever all who join. she ut
most honor is maintained toward tn
candidate. We take no advantage
of him, and propose that he shall tax
none of us. Mutual confidence be
gins in the ante-room, and the Orde
designed that these relations Ct trus
shall be perpetual until death,