Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-15

these all bow in turn to the behests {
the Sovereign Grand Lodge Its fel
OF labor Is the world. In the frigid rt
gions of he North, it tlourishes wit
as much tenacity as the hardy shrul
The equatorial sun is also conductiv
to its onward march. Its signs an
mystic symbols are as readily recoe
rized and understood by the Swcde Il
the American, by the Turk as th
Englishnan. The area of its presen
dominion is only circumscribed by tn
limit of civilization.
There was time when to the be
hests OF imperial Rome all knees mus
needs bend. In Roman, there wa
nought of supplication or fear. Ii
his defense a thousand swords leapet
from their scabbards-a thousant
lances bristled in the sunlight Thes,
We're times of martial daring, wher
claims were made valid or void by the
arbitration of the sword-an umpire
from whose decision the weak OF
timid might not venture to take an
appeal. Supreme in its mandates ol
sanctions, it acknowledged fealty OIL
vassalage to none but itself Such
was human society, untempered by
gentler influences. But the world
moved on-there came a softer color
ing over the then rude picture of hui
man life. "a new commandment |
give unto you, that ye love one an
other" is precept of divine sanction
and comes with soothing sweetness
over the troubled waters of human
passions and the heart, sympathetic
with its divine original, reveres the
great command. To-day it is greater
to be an Odd Fellow, cherishing the
principles of the order, than it was
two thousand years.ago to be Ro-
man or king Instead of coming
amid the tumults OF war and steady
strife, it comes in the milder form, the
march of civilization, the soothing ac-
cents of Friendship, Love and Truth,
recognizing the wants and necessities
Of society, founded upon immortal
| ~ L x.l,A l.
| through the far future.
1t is claimed by our opponents, that
ours is a secret society and that any
thing secret is necessarily wicked /;
| that there is no use of holding any
thing good from the eyes of the world
IA proposition as absurd as it is false
In that cherished sermon on the
mount, which carries with it the divine
influence that sheds light in dark
places, we are admonished thus "Take
heed that We do not your aims before
men to be seen of them;
that thine aims may be in secret"
"When thou prayest, enter into thy
closet-shut the door-pray to thy
Father in secret; He will reward thee
openly" Those sweeping denuncia-
tions of our opposers are but evidences
of ignorance or intolerant bigotry,
either Of which, in this enlightened
day of free schools is ten-fold more
dangerous 20 the well-being of COM
munities than all the secret societies
which are founded upon the principles
of Friendship, Love and Truth.
Among all the pictures in the do
main of humanity and fraternity,
traced by man on the canvas Of the
nineteenth century, none stands out
more prominently, or is vested with
more imposing features than the one
which embraces the rise, progress,
works and achievements of the In
!, dependent Order of Odd Fellows. The
order stands in front of all human in
stitutions as an agency in the offices
of human benefaction and as IL factor
in the elevation of man in the social
and moral world Ever and constantly
illustrating it's principles in carrying
out its injunctions of benevolence and
charity in combating evil, in cultivat-
ing a'spirit of fraternity and federation
among men, in raising humanity in
the scale of moral and intellectual be-
ing, the order has conquered opposi-
ton, scattered prejudice to the winds
and now it commands the respect and
receives the support of the wise and
good. And here, ladies, let me say to
you: In every benevolent enterprise
your aid is powerfully felt. In all that
gives tone to progressive opinion
you are deeply interested. Whatever
will soften the feelings ahd refine the
affections, will, to that extent, secure
the rights you ask as members Of a
social compact. If Odd Fellowship
makes better husbands, better brothers
and better sons--and we believe it does
then it is your interest as well as
duty to give it your aid and counte'
nance. Many a careless husband has
had his slumbering sensibilities awak
ened by the impressive lessons he ha.
received in the lodge room. Many
a truant boy, who was disposed to
slight the admonitions of that best ant
truest counselor, his mother, has hat
his conscience aroused to a sense o
duty in the same secluded chambers
The tendency of our instructions is tt
harmonize the affections, regulate ou
duties, enlarge our sympathies, ant
make us better in all our relations t.
society. The opposition of ladies to 1
cause like this need not be violent Il
he felt The artful sneer, the unkint
: remark, the caustic retort may retar,
our progress. 1t is said of Napoleon
that he feared the lashing wit O
Madame De Stael more than any arm,
or cabinet in Europe. Ii he, unde
whose management "crowns crumbled
, beggars reigned and systems vanished
r would thus tremble at the cadence @