Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-09


That brother was sick, and could not wait
For fear the morning would be too late.
Twenty long miles afoOt and alone
/ have come to care for one of our own.
First let me ask you. have you bread?
And after that | VIII bury our dead.
And when the sad rites are faithfully done
My poor weeping sister
Must go with me home,
For affection has opened the fountain so deep;
But God will comfort my sister
While she her bitter tears weep.
Like crystals they Will glitter with beauty so
And sparkle with gladness like the stars of the
night
0 God in the heavens, can this be true?
Yes, those three golden links
And collar of blue-ths is my
Answer, deny it who can
An Odd Fellow in spirit
Is naught but Gods man."
Here you have the true spirit of odd Fell
lOwship carried out, brother performing
faithfully his duty, and given to that swee!
tender sympathy so much priced. Words OF
sympathy to the afflicted and respondent are
like "apples of gold in pictures of silver"
mo radiant pearl, which crested fortune
No gem that twinkling hangs from beauty's
ears.
Not the bright stars, which nIght-blue arch
adOrn,
Nor rising sun. that gilds the vernal morn;
Shine with such lustre the tear that flows
Down virtues manly cheek for others woes"
Brothers, let us go from this place with re-
newed courage and vigor, to visit more regular
the sick. the widow and the orphan-to give
fresh consolation and aid to the unfortunate,
to arouse the Indifferent, to labor more ear
nestly to extend these noble virtues, whose
names are the motto and watchW0rd of our
order" Our earthly pilgrimage, at the long
est, is but short. We VIII crowd into it all
the kind words, noble deeds and influences for
good that we possibly can; we VIII
''sow loye and taste its fruitage pnre:
Sow peace and reap It's harvest grand;
Sow sunbe2ms on the rock and moor;
Make earth itself-the happy land.
Address of p. q. Thomas A. Askew on
the Delivery of the Portrait of Charles
Gross, Secretary of the Lodge, which
Had Been Ordered by the Lodge.
Noble Grand and BROTHERS Of OgEett0rDe
thorpe Lodge No. I, l. o. o. f.: A few months
ago, during the absence from your regular
meeting of an old and beloved officer of your
| lodge, you embraced the opportunity thus Of
feIed to pass by an unanimous vote, and with
an enthusiasm rarely witnessed, the appoint
ment of q special committee of one, to request
that absent brother to sit for a portrait,
which you desire to have adOrn the
wall of your lodge room. Hav-
ing had the honor of being appointed
that committee, am ready tonight to place
in your keeping the portrait ordered. Ogle-
thorpe Lodge, Noble Grand, has hOnOred her
self in thus remembering a faithful officer, s
true Odd FellOw-One who has been identified
with you and the order almost from your very
existence and its existence here. Initiated in
your lodge on January II, lS43, less than
year after you were instituted as lodge, he
has served almost under every Noble Grand.
a young man then, he has grown old in your
service; yet he is as enthusiastic in the
work now as he was then. He has
passed all the chairs and has faithfully served
you many times IN the Grand Lodge of your
state. Elected to fill the Office of both Re-
cordlng and Permanent Secretary In 1857, he
has held that Office ever since, and still faith
fully serves you in that capacity. But few of
his comrades Of the early days of the order in
this city are left. He has followed most OF
them to their last resting place and dropped
the tear OF friendship and br0therly love on
their graves. He has listened to the
Noble Grand's charge from the learned
Lloyd, the Past Grand charge from
the eloquent Griffin, heard the Warden charge
as given by the inimitable Tufts, has heard
the brotherly cOunsels Of Anderson, and the
reasoning and debate of Wayne, Millar, Law
renee, POseY, Purse, Read, Scott, and host of
other brothers, who were the shining lights
in odd Fellowship during Its early DAYS in
this city, and now he can well eXclaim-
81 feel like one who treads alone,
Some banquet hall deserted;
Whose lights are fed, whose garlands dead.
And all but departed"
He is, as it were, the middle link Of the
chain that binds us to the past. In the Office
You most.
He has carefully guarded the funds Of your
lodge, always ready to do justice to those whOa
rightly claimed, ever firm in resisting every
4
fully has he stood at his post through war,
through pestilence, when prosperity smiles on
you and when adversely casts its shadow over
you, never missing a meeting during his
term OF service unless caused by sickness Of
himself or family, ever at the bedside of the
sick brother, ever looking after the wants of
the widow and the orphan, and when at every
meeting the question is asked, "If any were
sick or in distressf" his familiar voice would
be heard, "Many in distress" He has been
no lodge room Odd Fellow, but has carried
the principles OF the order in his everyday
life, and during his long years Of membership
he has ever retained and justly earned the
name of being true Odd Fellow, an affec-
tomato husband and father, firm friend.
good citizen, kind neighbOr, an honest Chris
tian man. 1t can well be sand of him,
THAT man is great, and he alone
Who serves greatness not his own
For neither praise nor pef;
Content to know and be unknown,
Whole in himself"
Such, Noble Grand, is the services and. char
acter of the old veteran you night desire to
hOnOri therefore to your keeping l now place
the portrait of your beloved Secretary, P. @.
Charles Gross. Knowing by the brOtherly
love you bear him that it will eyer be cher
ished by you long after our brother has ceased
from his labOrs here, and when generations
to come shall gaze upon that face they will
have learned OF his virtues. his long services,
and his devotion to the order and to Ogle-
thorpe Lodge May our beloved brother long
be spared to I'LL his place in the lodge. IN his
family, and in the hearts of the brotherhood.