The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-05-15

ycr~Hry Of The Order at
Clinton, april 26Gh, Is7s.
J.ass ami @saHemen.
n is with exceeding reluctance that /
6 come before this gtthering-iu a communi-
nv like this, where every thought and
every view is associated with culture and
B refined intelligence; where every false note
s. that I utter viii he known and will CRATE
8 Eqr.lIr on attuuaI minds. That | consent
q nevertheless to appear in response to an in
81 CITATION To submit some rem Irks, is the re-
d .urt HI one of the first less / learned
from our Or!cr--to seek no place, but to
shun no duty imposed.
But while my trained Willingness will
lead me TO DO what [ may, l must confess
u rhstthere comes before me such view of my
Il own poverty in such matters, such a sense
of untrjed power and skill, that l al
most shrink, even now, not only for my
q SELF but for you. l have girded myself or
q this Toll. however, feeling that | NAV ask
4 from each one to whom my words will go
to-day, that they will Judge me as a friend
OF will hear me as a brother; and take on
the habit. which / will short time wear in
j full hope that you will feel with me, "who
dees Jle best his circumstances allow does
weII-angcls could no more" The occa-
sion tblr gathers US together is one Of
touching and impressive Importance. 1t is
touching in this, that we are to-day stand
ingon tine threshold Of another year in Odd
Fellowship standing on the threshold where
we NAV pause and let reflection pin back
the curtain OF our memory and reveal to Us
the many varied and broken changes which
have accumulated in the last more than half
"a century since oar Order began its career.
Itis ever touching to think of the wonder
fuI and often sad changes of time. Not one
of as here to-day but may take the relec-
fioH 90 himself ana even at this moment, a t
memory touch, bring up how much that
i grave or gay-how much of sadness and
.of juy, Sunshine ana shade, strength and
decay How often can we remember when
our hearts were as bright as the morning
how often when our hopes were as black as
the midnight The joys of childhood, the
care, OF maturity, the prattling tongue, the
skilled voice. our season in life in its bios
SONS Of spring, and our season in Ii fe in the
erre and yellow leaf of Autumn-all these
tlooght- come before rs as noiselesS as
picture touching US with its tender rev
collation..
A. with Us, So with Odd fellowship. How
many and how great have been the muta-
tion> of time, since it began its long life of
usefulness, How much that was in its in
fancy bas it seen grow to grand maturity;
how much that was majestic in its strength,
erum1le into ruins and vanish like the
-base.ess fabric OF q vision Strong and
Jealous la5orers in its cause, lay down the
emb'ems 60 sleep the last sleep, 1t has
seen the trjumphaI march in progress Of
His our own laud-the development of its
art, the Advancement of its science. How
it has seen the chjsel of its Sculptor, the
pencil of It's Painter and the discoveries of
its GENIUS. each present their labors to a
Wondering world; and il has seen the sweet
blessings of peace, and the grim horrors OF
war 10 has seen generation come and go
like caravan moving deathward All
these changes mas it witnessed while
the larger portion of the century was
gliding into the irrevocable past. Ana
while Time has been busy leaving its inn
print on all else Odd-Fellowship too, has
been revolving with the world. How great
Is the change in its history; how marked
the contrast between the little gathering
htty-nine years ago, at the Seven Stars Iav-
ern in Baltimore, but five in number, with
limited means, holding the first Odd-Fel-
lows meeting in America-a single lodge
oil i've members. Compare this with the
order to-day, with its 5000 Lodges, the en-
roltment OF more than million members
aud an income, and relief expenditure OF
millions Of dollars. This fact all les itself
with the Importance of the meeting TO-
day-the celebration of the Anniversary,
and a return of thanks for the prosperity
which kind Providence has measured to
Us The celebration of Anniversaries, esps-
peelally Of the character we have to-day,
Is peculiarly wise and appropriate. 1t gives
Us an opportunity of rendering the recipro-
cation with which friendships and affection
olndsin goldenlinks, individuals and looges
IL allows us retros peetion OF those count
less blessings of every name which have
Howed in unbroken streams through our
Order; it suspends for time all thought
IoF the cares, tolls and nerplexities OF laoori-
Gus and busy life; and gives'us the pleasure
OF limited festivity and social intercourse.
10 the thoughtful it is an occasion full OF
peasant memories, when the form OF those
VINO have proudly walked in Odd-Fellow-
snip can be gathered around in near COM
muniou. IL will lead back the thoughts
through the dusky shadows of nine and
nifty years to that time when those simple
aLd unpretending, but grand old men, laid
the cornerstone of that wondrous temple
We now inhabit
from whom we have the first idea of Odd
rehoWship cannot say, but its founda-
'ioh' Its majestic columns, its general ar
chltecture is most substantial and grand,
a.lu worthy of the highest administration
mere are some, who yielding to that nat
ural love of mystery and veneration for an
.iqulty' which we nearly all possess, claim
4of odd Fellowship an affinity with the
secret Institutions which had their estab-
AShment away back in the early years; and
uaultion tells US of the existence of such an
Oloer among the Jews while captive In
Daoylon, which was kept up until after
.Her subjugation by the Romans. After
suas event the members were again or
s@nized under the name of FelIow-citizens
anu odd Fellows, and were so recognized
I y uenominated by the Emperor. BY the
@Omans this order was carried with their