Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-03-22
said can never be recalled. you may as

salu can never De recalled. you may as
well try to recall sunbeam. or with a
spider web TO STAY the torrent of Mag
ara. A word will live, whether to curse
or bless, and once said, is never heard
again until its echo is repeated
in the great whispering gallery of the
final judgement.
Our society is founded for mutual
help; everything in nature shows the
support of the weak by the strong, and
shall not man help man? Shall not
youth be the almoner OF age? Shall not
my opulence be the help of the needy?
Oddfellowship is system of systematic
benevolence. Let us review the work
and see if the object of the order is being
attained. In 1886 il expended forty
three and a half million dollars for
relief fund, besides great deal that
cannot be estimated in money value,
such as care of the sick and sympathy
in trouble and death. $4,000 was
spent in helping to educate orphans OF
deceased members. This society was
among the first to respond to the call
for aid from Chicago, and the first relief
from this country to starving Ireland
was a ship-load of food from our society.
During the yellow fever epidemic in the
south, prompt and efficient aid was al
so rendered. In view of these facts,
how can one fail to have high regard
for society having for its avowed OBJ
ject, to visit the sick, educate the igno-
rant. and help the poor?
An objection is made that there is a
limited membership, and that the be-
nevolence is confined to comparatively
small number This is not true, for .
great and general benevolence is taught,
and were it true what an ever advanc-
ing education is this giving BY con
tinually practicing this duty, it becomes
one of the greatest pleasures, and those
who do it most are those who enjoy it
most and do it the most cheerfully. Is
it not so in any kind of work? Those
whose hands are never idle are the ones
to whom additional labor is not burden
some; the hearts that are already full
are the ones who are most ready to
help bear the burdens of others. Have
you not noticed this in your church?
We learn the blessing of giving and
it inculcates charity that extends far
and wide. In these works the society
has my entire and heartfelt sympathy
and | have yet te find that it requires
of rue anything contrary to- my duties
to my church, my family, my God or
my life as christian. Regarding the
objections raised againstits social purity
| would call attention to the fact that il
has large aud constantly growing
soc iety of female members, the Rebeccas
made up of our wives and mothers.
Thus the lodge becomes like one social
home. Would we encourage their
coming into an atmosphere Of social
impurityP
There are demands upon US from
every side; there are sorrows to tighten,
the dead to bury, comfort to bring to
the living. Our order has one faith,
one impulse. one God l would the
church could come TO all the needy and
sorrowing with the help and comfort
they need, but she does not, not that
she cannot, for her powers are as far
reaching as the needs of mankind.
But ours is none the less COTS lO0rb
because not done by the church, surely
those who do gooi in His name cannot
be arrayed against the Master. As long
as there exists the work of alleviating
distress, burying the dead, and provid-
ing for the needy, il the church does
not do it others will. By having my
heart touched with sympathy for mem
Der of my order, it is more tender for
those outside. Oddfellowship teaches
that nothing is 50 grand as Symmetrical
manhood. | think now of the feet that
are going out tonight on errands Of
mercy, to watch by the sick, the dying
or the dead, taught by their society to
feel for them; of the words of cheer
and comfort given. and bless
the means by which they learned such
lessons of mercy.