The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-07-19

great brotherhood, the sphere of our
affections will be enlarged and we will
recognize but one country, the earth,
and but one race, the whole human
family. We seek to educate men up
to this STANFORD, and we confidently
look for the time when Jews and Gen.
tiles, Mohammedans, Christians and
Pagans, people of every race, tongue
and persuasion will be friends and not
enemies, when charity will be indigo
nous to all countries, and when truth
shall obtain universal dominion. 1t is
to this end that we "visit the sick, re-
lieye the distressed, bury the dead and
educate the orphan" We believe that
as these practices become more gener-
al, Intolerance and hate aud bigotry
will melt away, and peace and mercy
and kindness take their place. There
are many partition walls to break
down, many deep chasms to bridge
over, before there will be universal
peace. The spirit of selfishness is rife
in the world, and war desolates its
fairest provinces. but there is grow
ing sentiment opposed to war, among
the people Of the most enlightened
countries.
We are all proud Of the unusual at
tentions being paid in Europe to our
illustrious ex-President, on account of
his achievements in war. Inasmuch
as war is sometimes necessity, and
perhaps results in good, this is all very
we'll so long as it is understood that
our great general fought in defense of
his country, and not for personal glory.
But | would rather see him honored
for his great services as chief magis-
trate of the nation shown in his meas
ures to avert war and bloodshed.
want to see the time when there shall
be such sentiment against this argu-
ment of kings, called war, that the
world shall have 10 use for SOL
diers, and when it will give q man
as much prestige to be called great
house-burner, az a great general
| want TO see the time when all inter
national questions will be settled bv
arbitration, and when Russia and Tur-
key and Germany and France shall sit
together in some Grand Lodge with
England the United States as the arbi-
ter of their disputes. Let US then
eliminate all ideas of conquest or pros
elytisnl, and cultivate the principles of
Friendship, Love and Truth, remem-
bering that great results come from a
multitude of small agencies constantly
and silently acting in the same direc-
ton.
Many years ago distinguished
brother, in public address, alluded
to the fact that our lodges were to be
found all along the Atlantic coast and
throughout the north and east, and he
predicted that before the close of the
century the Order would find its way
to the Pacific. Twenty years after
wards the Grand Lodge of the United
States held its session in magnificent
Odd Fellows temple in the city of San
Francisco, with representatives from
every State aud Territory in the
Union. Fifty years ago Thomas Will
day, the venerated father of Oddfel-
lowship in the United State, congrat-
ulated his brethren upon the growth
and prosperity of the Order. 1t then,
Tin 1929 numbered forty lodges and
5000 members. This is the exact
strength of the Order to-day in the
little State of Rhode Island, while in
the old Keystone State there are nine
hundred lodges and one hundred thou
sand members. Since the DAYS of
Wilday nearly million of men have
become Odd Fellows in this country.
one hundred thousand widowed fami-
lies of Odd Fellows have been relieved
by our lodges and twenty-five millions
of lodge funds have been expended in
the relief of distress, as shown by Off
cial reports, besides innumerable ben
efactious of which 10 record was made,
aud the name of Wilday is honorcd
and his birthday celebrated in the far
off islands of the ocean.