The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1883-05-17

chosen for this purpose.
Never has meeting of our Order
been held here, but the praises and
encomiums of those who came were
Of the most laudatory character of
your historic little city.
1t has been my good fortune to
visit this community on one occasion
previous to this time, allude to the
time of the meeting of the Grand
Lodge of the Knights of Honor, (which
held their session here in 1881. And
so enchanted and delighted were we
of that Grand Lodge, that we have
never since ceased to sound the
praises and proclaim the virtues of its
people: And | am informed that the
Grand Lodge of the Knights of Hon
or have again accepted an invitation
to- meet here in July, of the present
year. Actions speak louder than
words.
We have felt that no formal address
of welcome was necessary to assure
us of the truth of all contained in the
eloquent and hattering remarks of
your distinguished spokesman. This
large assembly of lovely women whose
bright and sparkling eyes, and rosy
cheeks reflect back with redoubled
splendor the dazzling rays of these
brilliant lights. This gathering of
the honored and gifted of the sons of
your city; the presence of the vener-
able old gentlemen and, above al, the
appearance here Of those of your fair
sex who are now surrounded by their
sons and daughters; the mothers, those
mothers SO loved, so honored, so
cherished by you, all proclaim and
betoken your hospitable natures, your
kindly feelings and generous impul-
ses toward us more potent y and more
forcibly than language could express.
We appreciate and thank you for
these acts Of kindness and marks OF
esteem more than | can tell you. To
visit Aberdeen and meet with its cul-
tivated, refined and elegant people is
reall y and truly Il pleasure. Many
and long may b. the happy days OF
the lovely, the brave and the good
people of Aberdeen.
1t would perhaps not be amiss on
this occasion, for me to speak some
words concerning the Order of the
Knights of Pythias.
1t is at this time comparatively in
its infancy, yet its principles and
foundations are such that centuries
must be but units in computing Its
age in the course Of its future. 1t is
an Order which has for its object the
adoption and application of the prin-
ciples of Friendship, Charity and Be
nevolcnce. With such a purpose for
its foundation and corner stone, il
must stand like the Rock of Ages
and when time shall have closed his
eyes and have been swallowed up in
eternity, these principles must remain
and endure, lasting and beautiful.
Apart from the attractive sociaI
features of the Order, but prominent
among its OBJ biects, is the ''Protection,
as it is called, which it affords the
helpless widow and the dependent
orphan, and permit me to sugges
that these benefits cannot be over
estimated
We are well and hearty to-day and
in the strength of our manhood, fee
that we have before us long lives il
which to accumulate this world,
goods; with which to make ourselves
happy and contented, and with whicI
to provide for those who are depen
dent on us, when Time with his scytht
Shall have gathered us to His garner
1t has been said by one wiser thar
we, that Gin the midst OF life, we ar,
in death" The expression may no
have been employed to convey its
literal significance, yet the truth O
this parodoxical aphorism is verified
in our almost every days observa
ton.
| will not weary you by entering
into recitals of statistics showing the
growth and progress of our Order
suffice it to say that this, like some
other Orders having the same gene
raj purposes and objects in view, has
grown with wonderful rapidity in the
numbers of its membership and in the
confidence of the people. Its mem
bership in 1880 was about 10000 il
the United States; i'll 1882, it hac
upon its rolls the names of abou
10000, and doubtless at this time
there are about 10000 members o
the Order. 1t has paid out many
millions of dollars, and pays annually
millions of dollars to the widows anl
children of deceased members. thu.
saving them, in many instances, from
poverty and want.
Allow me briefly to speak of the
Order from practical and business
point of view, and to answer the ar
guments Of those who thought, OF
pretended to think, that the Co-opera
tive Insurance feature of the Ordt
would not succeed in practice. 1t
the first place it has already succeed
ed, and its success has been abundant
ly demonstrated; Of this the voices o
of thousands of widows and childrel
throughout the land bear ample
testimony. Then it is said that tn,
success is but temporary, and that i
cannot last. There is no reason WIN
it should ever prove a failure, if an,
given number of membership SHOULD
be. maintained, or so long as its mem
bership approximates what it is a
present.
Since the organization of the Order
its membership has been rapidly in
creasing, as have shown, and ther
is no reasonable ground to apprehen
that for years to come, this will con
tinue in about the same ratio.
7 The Order has existence co-eyter