Daily Republican., 1879-04-28
FIRST EDITION.
THE ODD FELLOWS.

IhE VUn hAh~"Ds
they Turn Oat I'm RegaliR 10 At
lend Divine Service-SerInOn by
Rev. Mr.. Duvai
Yesterday afternoon, Fairfax Lodge,
with representatives from the diff
fsrent lodges Of Odd Fellows. to the
humber of 127, headed by Co. A. Will
minyton Battalion of Patriarchs and
hinder the marshalship of DR.. J. R.
Simms, marched from Their, hall to the
First Presbyterian church, where they
were benefited by sermon from Rev.
Mr.. DuVal. The pastor preached from
the words: "Only let your conversation
/ be as it b4com-th theGospel of Christ"
Hound in St. Piul's letter to the Philli-
plans, lst chapter and 9th verse. He
defined the term conversation in the
amended form, and pressed it before his
auditors: "Only let your citizenship
be as it becomsth the Gospel OF Christ"
In his predatory remarks he said;
Brethren, in the discipline of your Or
der you have moral regulation, where
| by you measure the lives and charac-
ters of your mem mbers, andin that code
taken nearly all from the word of God,
you find truths that will challenge the
criticism of the world; and you desire
that every member shall live in exact
accordance with these rules laid down.
/ You also state that you give individ-
/ uals the freedom of their own opinions
in matters that are distinctly religious;
and that you leave all calculations OF
sublime to min stsrs of religion.
|, view of all this | feel that | could
cad you into no better thought this
morning than that of the divine citi.
zsnship of this earth; that citizenship
to which the apostle alludes in the
quotation preventd for your considera-
/ ton.
The speaker then stated that the com
munity of God was the divine common
wealth, real practical thing, to become
| a member OF which it required strict
conformance with the laws Of God lead
on by thorough conversion from the
allurements and sin of the world.
When man becometh citizen of this
commonwealth he layeth all individu
al devises aside. He becomes imbued
with a love that worketh no evil to his
neighbor. The responsibilities are so,
ciai and national. In the excellent code
of morals which the Order has formed
every brother is responsible to each
other for the circumstances that each
are surrounded and above all this is
the fact of responsibility to higher
power.
Daniel Webster once said that ths
greatest thought he ever uttered was in
recognition of his responsibility to God
This should be the thought ever up
perInost in each members mind. Az
members of the order you must trace
back with pleasure the spirit of your
principles as it rises from the incense
on the altar of Abel; your eyes glisten
with pleasure as you see it evinced il
the friendship of David and Jonathan
But in pointing to them as examples o
the spirit which you inculcate in the
minds of your brethern you must no
lose sight OF the fact that they recog
nized divine responsibility and re
clined upon a faith that found 1T
strength in the bosom of God. There
are some good bretkern that are moi
sons of God, men who care for anc
administer to the desires Of others anc
help to alleviate the pain and suffering
1 of fellow mortais who recognize no re
sponsibility and hold no communion
A with those in the divine commonwealth
To accept superior responsibility Is tt
secure admission into the citizenship 0
k the divine institution described in th'
i text.
God teaches in the most imperative
manner that every man becomes
neighbor to him who falls amonl
/ thieves and is in trouble. He als'
teaches US in an imperative name
4 that those in His commonwealth mus
uot only suffer themselves but mus
\ suffer with these in distress. He teach
es us whosever giveth simple cup o
q cold water shall in no wise lose his re
ward. This commonwealth he didn'
form, SO that of it could be said "it i
good enough for women and children
E All are included among its citizens
{ The spirit dwelling in it must CONF
from God. 1t must permeate ever.
n member and radiatiDg from thence un
+ til it envelops whole countries unit
all creation is worked by the sam
principles which govern this common
wealth of God.
The speaker then dwelt upon tn
/ necessity of all becoming citizens 9
H this divine community, and charge
upon the order before him to accept
higher guidance in the dispensation
its charities than that of social necess
ty, the well regulated rules an eartf
n ly discipline imposed. He dspicte
n the reward which an existence with
the divine institution brought upo
Il its members, and plead with all to a
cept the invitation and take citizel
n ship under its sovereignty.