Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1886-01-21
Lecture Delivered by Z. G. ID. Conway a
Public Installation I o. o. L.
january 8, 1856.


1t will naturally be expected that l
speak of the object, purposes and works
of our order. 1t might be inferred that
l would do SO both for the information
of our honored guests. and for the beIe-
fit of our members, most of whom are.
young young mean in the fraternity
and inexperienced in the usages and
results of Odd Fellowship when prac-
tically carried out. And yetno remarks
of mine should be needed in this direc-
ton. Ones purposes and intentions are
generally determined from his deeds.
The works of this grand order, in my
opinion one of the grandest In existence,
are before the world. Never since the
institution of the order, have any of its
works been hidden or concealed they
are all open for inspection and challenge
the criticism of the world. True there
are some who look upon us with sus-
picion and cast upon us the stigma of
being a secret society; and we grant
that there is much force in the objection
raised against secret institution, for it
is undeniable that anything whose
works are in darkness is an evil. We
grant that any society hiding or con-
ceallng its works and purposes is only
evil and dangerous to the community,
the state and the general welfare. Such
societies have existed at different times,
and our noble order is too frequently
judged from the fruits of these wicked
institutions. We have no plea to offer
in behalf OF such organizations as the
Inquisition, the secret tribunal OF the
commune in France, and others that
| might be mentioned, but we disclaim
all fellowship with such What does
| the enquirer discover when he looks at
| our purposes and works? lie finds
nothing concealed but our passwords
signs, tokens and few ceremonies
which are calculated to impart lesson:
of pure morality; he finds that the fun
damental law of the order, the constitu
tion and bylaws of the grand lodge
and the subordinate lodges, are printed
and subject to the inspection of ALL h,
will learn that the journals of the pro
ceedings OF our highest tribunal i
given to the journalist for the express
purpose Of publication, also that w
profess and desire to act only for tn
greatest good of suffering humanity
He sees lis assisting our brethren il
sickness or distress, or bearing to tn
grave and burying their earthly re
mains, or standing by aiding and SUP
porting the dear ones they have left be
hind. He finds that we never do a
act in violation OF law and good consc
ence. and his testimony is. "Thei
works prove what they are" The
prove that the fountain from whic
they emln;tte is pure: and their concll
sion is, that a society which does thes
things must be valuable and desirabl
to the community, and they give a mos
emphatic condemnation to the fossi
: lied charge of of improper secrecy.
Conscious of the rectitude Of our me
tives, then my brethren, let lis continu
our good work, adhering to secrecy S
far as is imperativly demanded for sc
preservation, but never attempt to COZ
ceal a wrong or unholy act under II
dark garb of secrecy. Let us stand b
fore the world as all good Odd Fellow
mast stand, robed in our garments {
spotless white, while friendship wrcatl
es her golden chain Of love and trut
to bind us more closley to the trl
principles of our order and to the i
terest of the suffering and needy of OF
race. May no act of ours lessen the i
spect now felt for us by all good al
honorable citizens who understand OF
. motives and our work.