St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-10

ing a grand work in 5000 lodges spread
around the globe. Our work is first charity
in the noblest Interpretation Of the term,
charity not alone dispensed in the substan-
tial shape of millions-our annual revenue
exceeding five million dollars-spent in
HELPING THE NEEDY,
ministering to the sick. supporting the
widow and educating the orphan, but in
stretching out a brothers hand to the lowly,
friendless and detected, thus realizing the
principal Of mans equality so dear to the
heart OF the humble, discouraged and for
saken. That an institution of such ma
ture must needs become a school of tOler-
ance and an undoer of baneful prejudice it is
needless to add. The constitution of the
United States is generous and tolerant in
deed. But can the like be said of the bulk
OF our countrymen? Permit me to doubt
it. 1t is true we have no aristocracy like
the one they have In the old world. but our
monopoliZing plutOcracy is as oppressive,
exclusive and as naughty a gentry as ever
upheld feudalism in the DARK ages past
They, the capitalists and mUnopolizers,
deem themselves the cream of society and
look on the workingman as an inferior be-
ing, born to drag out an existence OF hard
labor, creature too low for their social in
tercOurse. On the sectarian. bigOted ostra-
as there are sects In the city, it Is useless TO
descant. Enter one of their circles and you
are a stranger, an intruder, you are unwel-
come. They stand so high above you. are
in theiT conceit so much nearer God and
paradise than you are, that they believe
you too mean TO breathe the same atmOs-
phere with them, unless you torego the d.
vine right TO rely on your conscience and
reason, and renounce the faith bequeathed
to you by the loving lips of endeared par
ents. For less than this they would not call
! you brother, nor rank you among the faithful
But know Of $50, 900 men, good and true
who, recognizing the divine distinction Of
! heavens similitude borne by every good
man. stand by one another as loyal brothers,
and they are odd Fellowsl And is not our
order an educational machinery, training
hundreds Of thousands TO use their speech,
observe a strict decorum, learn subOrdina-
! ton, self-cOntrol and order? Our superors
are Internationally obeyed. not out Of fear,
/ but out of love, respect and reverence.
! For Odd Fellowship is not an army, not
mercenary organization, but voluntarily
united brotherhood, an immense galaxy of
virtuOus men working for one another, and
all for the great cause of philanthropy, Tor
! Friendship. Love and Truth. The spectacle
of s. 900 lodges opening weekly with prayers,
intoxicating the loftiest morals and char
table principles, and doing philanthropic
work on
THE broadcast BASIS
of an unsectarian, world-embracing hu-
manity is verify one of the triumphs of
modern civilization. Who can say Whit
salvation may not spring from the ideal and
practical endeavors of a gigantic organiza-
ton like our orderi We have reason TO re-
joice at our living in an age which is beyond
all doubt unique in history for its general
enlightenment. But can we justly main
tain that mans righteousness is keeping
pace with his mental advancement? The
nature Of our culture and refinement re-
minds one of the great German poets re-
mark, 'Where there is fullness of light there
| is plainly of shade" Indeed, our civilized
life has temptations and vices in its train
! by which this generation is alarmingly af-
| fected. Against these our order is bravely
and successfully working, since none yield
| ing to any degrading temptation ever hold
rank among its proud votaries. In this
way myriads Of families are benefited By
! the teachings and proceedings of our lodge
rooms, and none initiated into our sanctum
sanctorum can say anything but well
dOnep and God bless you, my brothersl"
| Thus onward friends and brothers of
Ridgely lodge. Show yourselves worthyof
! the glorious father by whose name this our
! lodge is distinguished. Our struggle is
| earnest; it is against the vices and evils,
! the ills and the woes flesh is heir to. Our
goal is lofty; it is the redemption Of our
fellow-men from low selfshness. ignorance.
prejudice, intolerance, conceit and error.
And in FURNISHED gold, emblazoned by an
angels wand, stands plainly written on our
| banner Victory The powers of light will
smte and shatter the powers Of darkness,
when, as the heaven-inspired prophet fore
told, there shall be but one faith, one God
for all mankind, and one great charitable
and loving brotherhood. after the pattern of
! true, ideal Odd Fellowship,