Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-04-30

e lowest.
l.. O. o. F.
in the Court -HOuse-Music-
Splendid supper, Etc.
The members of Austin Lodge, No. 20,
I. O. o. F., celebrated the 65th anniver-
sary of their order Friday afternoon and
evening in royal style.
The day was lovely. At one o'clock,
a procession was formed at their new hall,
corner of Main and Mill streets, and,
headed by the I'd Regimental band,
marched over to the depot.
Here they met about IS delegates from
Albert Lea, Spring Valley and Cresco,
Iowa.
The procession was reformed and
marched back to the hall along Bridge
street.
After the lodge was opened in due form,
an intermission of an hour and half
was declared for refreshment.
At $50 o'clock the brethren re-assem-
bled for work, and passed the time in the
consideration of the interests of the order.
At 7:45, the procession was formed, and
after marching around tho square, headed
by the Austin Cornet Band, entered the
new court house hall, where the public
ovnrnicoc 1uoro n ho hn1I
Prayer was offered by Rev. o. Williams,
of Albert Lea.
A short address of welcome was made
by Noble Grand, Lafayette French, after
which
Rev. W. E. Stanley spoke at some
length on the Rise, Progress and Mission
of Odd Fellowship" The address was
carefully prepared, and delivered extern
pore. We have space to notice only a
few of the main points:
The speaker commenced by saying, the
duty imposed on him had been accepted
willingly on account of the high esteem
in which he held the institution of Odd
Fellowship for its good works sake, land
its helpfulness in other days. He con-
graduated the members of Austin Lodge
on the suspicious circumstances under
which they had been enabled to celebrate
the Goth anniversary of the institution of
their order in America. He referred to
their new hall so elegantly furnished, the
fine weather, and the use of the stately
and beautiful courthouse. Then fol-
lowed in outline, the history of the rise
and progress of the order in modern
times, especially of tits development in
America from handful of members to q
membership of half a million. Organ
lied in Baltimore by Thomas Wildey and
four others, it has spread in the face of
many rival societies, all over the United
States and the Canadian Dominion, even
to Germany and Australia. 1t has mi.
tiated into its membership 1,s50, 900 per-
sons, Has aided during the past so years
49,, 900 widowed families. buried 100, 600
members, and dispensed it's funds to the
amount Of 100000 to over 1000, 900
recipients. The two elements which
have contributed to its phenomenal
growth are the recognition of the inevita-
BILE needs of our common humanity, and
the practical system of benevolent effort
devised to meet such exigencies. A GER
tain percentage of our fellow beings meet
with trouble, and none can tell who the
victims may be. Numerous illustrations
lwere given from the observation and
|experience of the speaker, where
the timely and generous acts Of
Odd Fellows had brought help te
those in sickness and trouble. Thu
beauty of the benevolent work done by
Odd Fellows was in this, that it did no.
humiliate the recipient, as public charity
: often does. The noble spirit. crushed by
reverses, rebels against the idea Of depend
ence upon the mites of others. The in
stitution of Odd Fellowship, obligate
and trains its members to the exercise o
benevolence, so that when an Odd Fellow
falls into want, he can claim help as hi
just due. He receives only what h
merits. The principles of Odd Fellow
. ship were identical with the ethics Q
. religion. It was not religion, but a,
: tempted its work of relief in the Chris
= tian spirit. Its motto was 'Friendshir
Love and Truth" The speaker then pal
q a high compliment to woman as the Cd
n Fellows best friend, and that in tur
) Odd Fellowship held her interests in min
in its mission. 1t made provisions fo
il the family, the widow and the orphan.
). It had allied with 1t woman society
!, known as the society of .Rebecca." wit
membership of 1900. Objection
i against Odd Fellowship were then COZ
! sidered. Some affirmed it should be col
!. demned because twas q secret society
"a others said they had blood curdline oatl
I there others that Odd Fellowship was
= selfish institution and still others that
4 was in competition with the church
! These were well answered by argumsn
illustration and analogy. Odd Fellow
!. ship is only just close enough for its sell
!, protection. All the world knows Il
: business and aims. Ithas not oaths, onl
) solemn pledges. It does net engende
!. seldshness, for Odd Fellows, everywhere
) are large hearted and open-handed. A
for being rival of the church it is of
! cered largely by Christian men,, and ca
ries out literally the work Of church b,
nevolence. Some Of the reasons wei
) then given why men could join the lode
IS with personal advantage, Men can d