The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-05-17


Alex. Sprunt, Chaplain.
rThe following address was delivered
before Henderson Lodge, No. IS, In
depcndent Order of Odd Fellows, by
Rev. Alex. Sprunt. Chaplain, Mon
DIV evening, April 16. By spec'a'
r.nucst of the members of said Lodge
at a subsequent meeting, Mr.. oprunt
has consented to its publication. 1t
will be found good and interesting
reading even to those who are not
members of this noble order. The
Introductory remarks have been pur-
posely omitted here by the author
FD. GOLD LEAF.
Mile Grant anI Brothers o.
Hfnarrsou LoH$e, No. IS, Of tile
G,and L0dge gN C. Of the Mde-
btnAtm Orasr Of Old ErIl05os
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN odd
fellowship lays no claims to very great
antiquity. 1t is true that some IN
their enthusiastic admiration OF the
principles that make up the links OF our
Golden chain, claim to see evidences
/ of a recognition of these fundamental
PRINCIPLES in the Laws Of Moses IN the
establishment of the Jewish Priesthood.
Indeed a careful perusal of the history
of this most wonderful people, Gods
/ chosen Israel, impresses many with
the conviction that these principles OF
our order had already assumed definite
shane and were of common observ-
ance. And not only in the days OF
Israel's glory are these evidences OF
our fraternity seen, by some, but IN
the succeeding stages of History down
to our own times. 1t is claimed that
the order was established on the shores
of Great Britain, by the Roman SOL
diers soon after fhc beginning OF the
christian era. But these are aCknOwl-
edged suppositions. No such claim OF
antiquity is made by the Sovereign
Grand Lodge. 1t is freely acknowl-
edged that tie beginning of our His
tory as an order is uncertain. There
are undoubtedly evidences OF the eX-
istence of Odd Fellowship in England
as far back as 1745, a. d. In the
early part OF the 18Th century an EN-
incnt writer mentions q society exist
ing and called Odd Fellows and ont
: of the literary magazines OF EnglanC
about the middle of the 18th Centur,
makes mention of Lodges of Ode
Fellows then existing and the mem
lers of the order meeting together t
pass pleasant evenings. Soon after thl
we find the poet Montgomery in tn
first Odd Fellows song ever know
to have been printed, eXpreSsln
+ himself in spirit and feeling with tn
: order. Hesays:
When Friendship. Love and Truth abounc
Among a ha I'd OF brothers,
The cup OF i1y goes gaily round,
: Each shares the bliss of others.
d, Sweet roses grace the th0rnY way
. Along the vale of sorrow,
= The flowers that shed their leaves to-day
u Shall bloom again tomorrow.
n How grand in age, how fair in YOutl
ii Are holy Friendship, Love and Trutl
"a On halcyon wings our moments pass,
Life's cruel cares beguiling,
" Old Time lays down his scythe and glas
Ii gay good humor smiling.
With ernlne beard and forel0ckS gray
His reverend front adOrning
l. He looks like Winter turned to May,
,e Night softened into morning.
x How grand IN age, how fair in yOut
Arn HOT, DI~lT I ii
From these delightful fountains flow,
VI AmDrosial rillS OF pleasure,
IS Can man desire, can heaven bestOw,
nv y more reSplendent treasure.
n Adorned with gems so richly bright
We'd form Il COnSte llatiOn,
Where every star with modest light
Shall gild his proper station.
r. How grand in age, how falr i'll you
ed Are holy Friendship, Love and Irut
OF However, the record which has COZ
u, a. down to us concerning these cal
~ meetings of the order is not an env
cc bic one They seem to have be
principally convivial gatherings a
- were not seldom given to riotlng a
,r vice. Because of this a convention
" Odd Fellows was held in Manchester
ny 1873, which repudiated such praCti
'Sg "f by the Lodges and adopted the ma
its Of tie independent Order of Odd +
les lows. This association exalted
ees noble principles upon which the
der was established and discoun
nanced the practice OF festive me
P. ings, and rapidiy grew to conside
bic proportions. But soon the PR
ing knife was again demanded a
applied; but such was the spirit of {
, cord and alienation that there arose
diversified assortment of distinct
. CARNATIONS with no head but &C
mon banner, on which were insCriI
~ the words Friendship, love and trut
N, The order as it exists in Amel
has no connection with the order
,rs England. The two are separate ;
viii distinct. The history of Odd
rods lowship in america begins with
beginning of this century. As c;
as 1902 attempts were made to eS1
NIA lish the order in this country,
oS. these attempts were futile F.
~ time TO time, till 1910, efforts '
VI. renewed by members of the order