Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-07
ODD FELLOWS, REUNION.
business Meeting and Election of OF
nccrs.


the Odd Fellows reunion was unpleasant,
that of the second day was, for the most
part, at least, infinitely worse. 1t seemed
as If the ilood-gates of Heaven had opened
and on the arrival of trains in the morning
and first part of the afternoon, there was a
go-as you-please race for the tents and
pavilion, and the majority - passengers
would have left O'Leary decidedly in the
shade. There was a scant attendance in the
forenoon, and good many who came short
ly after were completely satisfied with what
was visible of the reunion from the cars and
returned to the CITY,
The exercises of the day were to have COM
menced at o'clock p. M, but owing to the
non-arrival of Grand Master Woodhouse be-
cause of the rain, nothing was done until four
O'Clock, the asscmblage, which was between
three and four hundred strong of Odd Eel
lows and their families, Willing away the
time by listening to the music dscoursed by
the Sherman Military Band, which, as al
ways, was of high order, occasional
glimpses of the sun varying the monot-
ony. AT four o'clock, 1t being con-
cluded that Mr.. Woodhouse was not
coming, Gen. WV Henry President of the
Association, introduced Mr.. Frank Plumlcy
of Mortified, whose excellent address, de-
livered in his usual happy manner, went far
to recompense the gathering whose hearts
were weary waiting waiting for the
exercises. The address was as follows.
MIR. PIumley's Address.
l come to you, to-day not thinking as an
orator to charm with well-rounded sentence
nor to please with elegant phrase, but as an
advocate of special line of work for Odd
Fellows, to place before you facts and
figures, which must by their high signfi-
canoe be potent instruments to win you TO
the cause of my cspousal.
am no salaried officer, seeking to perpet-
uatc my lease of power and days of ease, nor
do represent such but am an Odd Eel
low, proud of the order, glorying IN its COM
radeship, and rejoicing in its valuable frater-
nal associations. l am a member, also,
without title, Office, OF fee, of 'The Odd
Fellows Mutual Relief ABSORPTION of Yer.
mont, and it is to plead for more hearty
recognition by you all of the virtues OF this
society, the lawful child of Vermont Odd
Fellowship. that / appear before you.
On the occasion of the annual meeting of
the Grand Lodge, l. o. o. F., of Vermont,
| ISOLATION was organized.
During the first year of its existence
members were received from eight lodges in
Vermont and one lodge in New Hampshire
making in all %.
During the six years succeeding as shown
by the annual reports of the Secretary to the
Association, the membership has been gradu-
ally increased, until at the last annual meet
ing there was reported 800. 1t is gratifying to
note that the eight Lodges who gave first their
adhesion to the enterprise are still foremost
! in its support. These eight Lodges now furn-
ish about two hundred and fifty of the three
hundred and twenty members. 1t is assuring
to observe that Mortified Lodge, so situated
as TO note the efficiency, security and wis
dom OF the management of this Association,
gives hearty guaranty and approval by head
| ing the list with n membership of sixty. or
nearly one-ffth of the total number st.
Johnsbury counts up fifty. Brattleboro forty,
and Port Mills, Thetford, over thirty. No
Lodge has fairly allied itself to this enter
prise and looked back with regret
Admitting that fraternal Association for
mutual benefit and relief is wise idea, and
few they be at this day who doubt it, and
you have only to seek the channel where
charitable endeavor shall find its safest,
quickest and cheapest outlet. The history
of this Association shows commendable
promptncss and celebrity in the immediate
transmission TO the distressed families the
sum due. Thus is the dependent widow in
the hour of her deepest sorrow aud most
poignant grief relieved of anxious care con-
corning pecuniary necessities by the wise
providence OF her dead husband and the
faithful response of this Association.
good active, energetic member in each
lodge, keeping the matter persistently be-
fore them, will overcome this apathy and
break down this indifference. To quote
from the reports of your President, looked
at simply as insurance, 1t is cheaper than any
stock company. AS charitable organiza-
ton there is no place where one dollar will
do so much good or be so cheaply borne to
its place OF destination; no channel where
brothers of the Order, independent them
selves of such assistance, can cause their
charities so chcaply and so quickly to flow 10
others There is another view quite as i'm
portant to Odd Fellows. Since brother
must retain his standing in the lodge to re-
tain his membership in the association, it
valuably assists in keeping full the ranks of
our Order and since, through the lodge, is |
the open door to such associations, it brings
large accesslons to our numbers.
1t appeals to your candid judgment as indi
vduals, TO your pride as Odd Fellows and
to your loyalty as Vermonters to build It, |
It places itself advsedly and firmly by your
side as the natural supplement of your ex-
lstence as Odd Fellows. 1t fills an essential
place, meets an actual want, and is q valuable
co-worker with you and of you in the ad- |
vancement and maintenance of the order it. |
sell, the amelioratlon of the sorrows and suf- |
ierlng OF our people.
How better than in such associations can
we exemplify one of the chief excelences of
our order than finding man arrayed against
his fellow in business, politics and religion,
we ann to unite these warning diverse ele- |
ments into warm utilization for mutual
protection. advantage, advancement and de- |
fence! How better illustrate its highest, |
hottest, mission TO practically relieve humen
SUFFERING and woe, than through the broad
channels OF this, such mutually charitable |
ana benciicent association How it may
cheer us when the hardy, honest toiler is
stricken down by accident or disease to know
That his widow and orphaned ones are not
LETT to the frigid charity of the world, but
their tears are stayed and the blessed sun
light oil faith and hope is made once again to
stream about their pathway, not alone by
the gentle grasp of brother hand
nor the warm fratcrnal word of con.
ISOLATION, but by the practical pecuniary
demonstration OF watchful, faithful asso.
cation, whereby widowhood is shorn of its
deepest distress and orphanagc relieved of its
most dreaded consequences. Such charity
Or prudent foresight never harms but always
helps, and TO relieve such necessities on such
occasions no penny ever can be unwisely ex-
pended. Is 1t not compliment to our or
der? Are not its aims high, its purposes
wise, its designs noble, its accomplishments
grand?
When appeal to your love of self and to
your desire to make wise investments of your
money, say join this association. When
appeal to your love of charity, say Join this
association and when l appeal to you as
Vermont Odd Fellows, say join and hearth
ly support and endorse this home association.