Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-03

what Odd Fellowship does for its
,dhcrcnts.
The cup Of cool water given to the
thirsty (; the gift Of bread TO the hun
cry; the friendly admonition to tho
nnwary ; the warning Of approaching
danger; the soft words Of sympathytc |
the mourner; the vigils by the bedside
Of the sufferer; the closing ofthe eyes
Of him whose days have been mum
bcred; the eatchful supervision that
guards the orphan from the snares
that beset lis pathway--thcse cannot
be computed IN dollars, nor could the
gold Of California pay their intrinsic
value.
Neither do these statistics include
tho bountcous offerings Of this frnter-
nifty IN times Of great distress. Let
It be the destroying element, such as
transformed the magnificent palaces
Of Chicago into smonlding mass Of
ruins let IL DO some vast food, such
IA inundated the alluvial lands Of
Louisiana; let 1t be mn army Of grass
hoppcrs, such as changed tho prolific
fields Of the West into a barren waste;
or, let II be some strange plague,
casting it's dark shadows over the
earth, sucI, ~ visited our Southern
land few months ago, bowling tho
heads Of the people with sorrow and
lamentation, the great heart Of Odd
Fellowship ever responsive to the
wall Of agony or the cry Of distress,
opens tho treasures Of 5000 lodges
and unclasps the pocket-books Of
A5O, 900 brethren, and refuses to shut
them until the suffering Of the afflicted
is allcviatcd, and the gannt spectre Of
starvation that ever follows IN the
wake Of great calamities is banished
from view.
History has yet to record one single
instance in which the signal Of distress
given by M Odd Fellow has failed to
receive II prompt response; history
has yet to record n single instance In
which fuuds 20 generously donated
have been squandcred or misappro-
priated:
These facts will indicate the char
table intentions Of this order, and
proves how successfully combination
of small means, managed by one
prominent idea, can accomplish great
purposes, in The mitigation Of the
manifold and uncertain struggles to
which the human race Is Mt all times
liable to become victim.
Although our laws arc imperative
that every member, be he rich or poor,
shall he paid those benefits to which
he may be entitled, yet he who looks
simply to the pccuniory aid he may
receive ~ q record for his services IN
the order, Is possessed Of pone Of the
attributes that constitute trnc ODD
Fellow.
Were this the only rccompcnsc the
earnest, faithful, devoted brother coul'
anticipate for the time and labor I''
may devote 10 the work which Ode
Fellowship cnjoins, it would lowe
the standard of the noblcst bcncvo
lent institution Of this century to th'
level of IN ordinary speculative com
pany.
Odd Fellowship stands upon q high
cr plane, and rcpays it's subjects wit
- reward that cannot be computed a
specified value. The faithful OBJ
Fellow finds his rccompcnse in TN
consciousness Of being laborer il
the cause Of humanity, in fulllillln
the requirements of the Golden Rule
in the enjoyment obtained ut tn
weekly lodge meetings whence strit
and dscord are banishcd, whci
4 Friendship and Love bear the sceptr
Ipf dominion, where sentiments AZ
inculcatcd which generate II chccrft
spirit, and create and crystalizc q
interest," in the welfare Of his fellow
men. .
The door Of every lodge room oper
= at his demand, within kindly gree
ings welcome him; fraternal cont
dcncc kindlcs q warm sympathy th'
purilics the heart and expells seItisl
ness and cgotism thcrcfrom; pyotec
ed by the impregnablc armor
Friendship, Love and Truth, again
y which malice, hatred and prelude
= may cast their poisoned arrows
:, vain, and armed in the panoply
Justice and sound morality the tr'
= Odd Fellow fears no evil, and tn
y realizes the recompcnsc due him t
9 his devotion and labor in the fulfil
= mcnt of his obligations voluntari
l. taken in the interest of his race.
@ Tba poet was inspired by the spI'
of Odd Fellowship when he wrote ::
, 'Abon Ben hdhcm (may his tribe
" crcasc)
1t Awoke one night from dream Of pea
10 And saw within the moonlight in
= room
;" Making it rich and like lily in bloom
e An angel writing in book Of gold.
ST Exceeding peace had made Ben Adh'
~ hold