Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-27
MR, WATTS ADDRESS.

dress you, come before you with mingled
feelings of gratitude, humility, and Of pride.
am proud of the order so largely re-
presented and SO creditably paraded-
l look upon these men SO far advanced in
degree and in proficiency, compared with
which, am q mese novice, with somewhat
of reverence and much humility, yet my
heart rejoices in the honor you confer upon
me, entrusting me, as you do. with the re-
sponsible position Of speaker of the hour.
As visit this city OF Wichita, my old
home, am amazed a. its marvellous de-
yelopn'ents. its rapid and substantial growth
its evident continued prosperity, yet this is
not SO strange. 1t is blu. the result of
universal law to which We may hsye occa-
sion to refer further on. II is but the pro-
duct Of association, association of ideas, of
means, Of influence, accomplished by push
and enterprise. May you evea flourish.
And now rs look about me upon the
large numbers in procession and here as
sembled, as l see the extensive preparation
to make this anniversary An event long to
DO remembered by our order in this part of
this great state. As 1 see these encamp-
ments, these subordinate lodges, this fine
company of Pntriarchs Militant, these
clothed with the proper RECALLS and insignia
OF order and Office, l should shrink from the
duty assigned me were it not for the tsppy
thought which impresses itself upon my
mind, ave are brothers"
said, ''the happy thought" il is more
than that, it is most agreeable fact.
With all the proficiency of these bodies,
both in advancement in degrees and in u
knowledge of the grand ard noble princi-
piles and work of this great Order. We meet
to-day as brothers, bound together by ties
that cannot be severed by rank or position
by wealth or its opposite, by creed or by
party. As brothers. am happy to address
you on this 9th anniversary of American
Odd Fellowship.
The number of our anniversary clearly in
dictates the fact that Odd Fellowship in
America is of comparatively recent origin,
and, indeed, this is true of Odd Fellowship
in the world. We do not, as on order, lay
claim to great antiquity. The peculiar
claim which clusters about things ancient,
is not ours to enjoy. The strange fascins-
ton which attaches to things covered by the
dust of ages and almost obscured by the
dim distant past belongs not to our order ms
such. Had we naught TO recommend us to
the world but our age, / fear our Boosting
would be in vain.
| Some over jealous members have en-
deavored TO place the date OF our birth at a
much earlier period than the facts will ad-
nit, doubtless thinking this might give us
greater prestiege.
Different dates have been mentioned,
| founded chiefly on tradition. Some of these
| have reached back TO our hoIored Father
| in the Garden of Eden. Perhaps reverence
for the Scriptures hss prevented an earlier
| date being given.
No one will presume to question the fact
that Adam was, at one time, an Odd Fellow;
yet, as filling the highest chair in the Lodge,
we have no record of his ever meeting with
a quorum present.
We are, rs an organization. sixty-seven
years old to-day; young, healthy, vigorous,
with an exceedingly bright future before
us.
1t must be remembered, however, that
while we are young in years, We are organ
lied under, and guided by, principles as old
| as the world itself. Aye, my brothers, the
principles which govern our noble order
have their origin in, and are coeyal with, the |
infinite One. whose universal Fstherhood |
we most reverently and gladly scknowl- |
edge. |
| may also state, more especially for the |
benefit of our uninitiated friends: Odd |
fellowship does not claim to be religious |
order. The severe criticism. 1t has received |
warrant me in this statement. Some people |
would seemingly exact from US ali that |
could reasonably BE- reasonably required Of
An association strictly religious.
This order is not substitute FOR religion |
or for the church. Recognizing both f4vora-
bly,, it distinctly declares as it, settled pur-
pose, non-interfereuce with ones dutie. 10
Ii I'LL I'll
family, or IL himself.
We are proud cf the presence Of the la
dies here to-day. To our sisters al The Re
bekah Degree we may ssy it wil hardly b.
necessary TO inform YOU H. wives, sister,
mothers or daughters 1T Odd Fellows, that
there is no demand OF this order which need
deprive You of the company of your hus-
bands, brothers or soils. When thcif presence
is required nj home.
Now, nv brothers, if thi, bit cf iniorma-
ton for the ladies' shall -ui; ia grestcr or
less number of curtain lectures in the hear
future, you will pardon me, for | think it
but fair that the gentler, and rs n rule, the
better sex, should know that We. Us an order,
hold them in profound respect.
You. fellow citizens, CAN see by what has
been said, that We are, in no sense of word, n
political organization. In no way do we
interfere with the rights of others in this re-
spect. We know no differences among Va
on account of political adherence.
We recognize, as has been indicated, no
rank because of wealth, social position, or
natural or acquired ability.
Having thus briefly mentioned a few neg
atives, L am pleased now to call attention to
some of our cams-to the more positive
side. This can be largely summed up in
very simple. yet wonderfully comprehensive
words, 1--WE are brothers, These are, in
deed, plain words, yet they are strangely
significant
Minds, which have solved many of the
great questions of the past and Of tho pres
ent. have seemingly overlooked the sublime
height and profound depth of this trite say
ing.
We feel warranted in saying that if these
words were better understood and more
carefully needed, many of the evils which
now curse our fair land, would be avoided;
harmony would reign where dissention and
strife now threaten confusion and disaster.
The great question of capital and labor
can only be properly adjusted by due re-
gard for these words so familiar to every
member Of this order, 1--WE are brothers"
The study OF this saying leads us, very
soon, up to the great source of sill truth.
The bible held sacred by our order, land
without which no lodge room is completely
furnished) reveals To us the fstherhood of
God; it also clearly teaches the fact that all
men are members of q common brother
hood.
know of nothing more fitting at this
hour, than that We emphasize one af the
and cherished principals of our
order. viz: fraternity, based rs it must be on
the fundamental law of human brother
hood.
This subject is coming to be more gener- I
ally understood. Mankind are making rapid
strides in this direction, are gaining a better
of each other and of the obliga-
lions placed upon us by the very laws of
our being, as well as by the revealed viii of .
he infinite Father
As far short AS We msy come of fulfilling Z,
The law of Christ in this matter of fraternity.
when We read the history Of nations and in q
lividuals for centuries prior 20 the advent {
IF the Son Of God, We wisely conclude the '
golden age OF fraternity is not in the dim.
Instant past.
With the worlds ReGeemer was usbe,ed
n the dawn of new era. not only in mat {
ers strictly religious, but also In this most =,
closely allied sutiect-irue fraternity.
II Was Christ who assumed position CAL
,ulaied te check the pride. the arrogance II
md selfshncss of the human heart and to n
Encourage feelings Of sympathy, of tender /.
hess and of charity toward all.
twas Chris; who gave us the parable Of