Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-23
A Lady,s Defense of Odd Fellowship.

An amusing incident was sent US by
our reporter few days since connected
with two speakers, well known in Mime
sota Strangers to each other they hap
pened to be seated opposite in the cars
near Austin, Minnesota, the day after the
commandry celebration at OwatOnna.
Behind the gentleman, sat young Luth-
eran minister, who seeing so many "Sir
Knights with their swords, etc, SAID,
leaning forward toward the person in the
seat before him, stranger, it's pity, it
seems to me, that that order should steal
so many from the church OF Christ, and
l think all christians should take de-
cided stand against it." "No, no, my
friend,' said the gentleman in the front
seat, (who proved to be none other than
the lecturer and divine, Rev. Cops,
of Rochester, Minn.,) you are
wrong, it makes people more
fit for the church, am minister Of the
gospel, have preached for great many
years, and I've been connected with Ma
sonry for many years too, and my argu-
ment is, that Masonry lived up to, fits
it's members for the church and kin gdom
of Christ"
There followed an animated discussion
until the Lutheran minister, modified con-
siderably, said, "Well, am not as OPP
posed to Masonry as am to OddFellow-
ship, that believe in direct opposition to
the teachings of the gospel, and in every
way at variance with the laws of God"
Then the lady, who occupied the oppo-
site seat, and whose face had been cover
ed Matte A. Bridge, lifting her veil,
turned toward the last speak
er and said in calm,
wonderfully magnetic way, II cannot
be silent in an atmosphere that holds such
a sentence as you cast, sir, and as the
widow and daughter of an Odd Fellow,
a recipient of its boundless charity and
infinite tenderness, must speak in
protest. That order, sir, is founded on
the word of God and its entire teachings
are those of Jesus Christ: it upholds vir-
tue and was organized in the Roman
army first, to s'relieve the distressed, pro-
tect the unfortunate, and bear aloft the
standard of purer life,'' and most eff
fciently, to promote morality, benevo-
lence and fraternity, and to-day IN its
charities stands unequaled by any Chris
tian organization in the known world.
Can an order be said to be dangerous to
the Christian world that has in sixty
three years on this continent lifted one
million persons from despair, into the
sunlight of hope, and not only filled them
with the incentive to action, but the
means for action?"
'Imust be pardoned if cannot be silent
when l hear reproaches upon an order
that has taken the place of kinsfolk and
friends and churches, and given my son
and myself its protection and future as
boundless as space"
Our reporter said by the time the lady
had ceased speaking every man had risen
from his seat, (save the two opposite her)
filling up the aisle, so that the conductor
could not get through, and that some
way he didn't seem to want to, and that
there was scarce dry eye in the crowd.
The eloquence of truth is mighty, and
all were silent, while ladies and gentle
men grasped Mrs. Bridges hand in mute
acknowledgment Of her convincing APP
peal.
Later pleasant friendly conversation
carried on between one or two Sir Knights
(who were also divines) and the bystand-
ers, ladys joining, the pros and cons were
well and kindly put, conflicting ideas be-
cause harmonious and the whole car
seemed permeated with the most frater-
nal spirit.