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


say unto him, Depart in peace be ye
warmed and filed, notwithstanding
ye give him not those things which are
needful for the body, what doth 1t
profit1' The answer is obvious. He who
witnesses suffering and docs not hasten
to relieve it is ignorant OF the lesson,
it is more blessed to give than SO re-
ceive. He is an enemy of his race
VINO does not care for its welfare and
is welded to selhshness and greed"
What model of devotion and love
have we in that great and good
man Moses, in denying himself all
the comfort, wealth and magnificence !
of the Egyptian court, to espouse the !
cause of the despised and down trod- !
den people of God ! |
Another noted drama which has re-
ceived the plaudits of the world for
many generations exemplihes this same
truth. On the lovely road from leru-
salem to Jericho, there journeyed
man who suffered the fate of many be-
fore him and since. He was assaulted
by highwaymen who stripped him OF
:! his raiment and wounded him ard left
him for dead. A priest of the temple
! iourneyed that way and saw his con-
dltion. His office required that he
should have pity, but he passed on and
left the wounded man to die by the
wayside. A Levite who swung the
golden censer in the holy place and
served at the consecrated altar, saw the
unfortunate traveller and drew near
and locked on, but he like the robbers
and the priest abandoned the man to
his fate. But a Samaritan also jour
reved that way. Between his people
and the Jews there existed anything
else than brotherly love-yet he came
and looked upon the stranger bleeding
and suffering and although he knew
: that the sufferer was not of his religion,
nor of his people, yet his sympathies
, were enlisted and he ministered to the
: necessities of the sufferer, rendering
the service of a brother.
7 All Odd Fellows SO far as they have
: the ability seek to initiate this memora-
BILE example.
The Mi,x link in Our chain is that
i of Truth. This is the keystone of our
structure. 1t is cardinal virtue and
e all important for an Odd Fellow TO
: possess. 1t is always presumed that
S he who crosses our threshold possesses
o this virtue or he would never be per
e mitted to tread our floors. And in his
d intercourse with us as we'll as in his as
d sociations with man he is expected tc
n practice this virtue. When candidate
\ attains to this position in our order, hi
't is prepared tor the work and labor o
n love which animates us as band o.
Is brothers. The grandeur Of Truth a
l. an imperial virtue is taught and I'M
~ pressed by the color peculiar to thu
IS degree, and robed in the color symbols
Ks of purity, we must understand that ou
Or lips must speak the truth and that w
re must at all times be ready to admin
Ii ister words of affection and sympath
st to brother requiring our consolation
or Such are some of the principle
es which actuate us in the bonds Friend
j. ship. Love and Truth.
IS, But say some, why veil it in sue
tn mysteries? and why maintain sue
e. secrecy concerning it and its affairs
e. There seems to be disposition o
nd the part of some to condemn vii
a severity all secret societies. But sue
lal wholesale denunciations some tlm'
display q zeal not according to know
IN edge. 1t should first he estabishe
re- by such opponents of secret societle
on that a secret is crime against &c
rtS and man. 1t is true, etc, etc.
to 1t is true men have bound themselv
in together under the veil Of secrecy
IDS work mischief and deceit. And Il
tie meetings of their society or organiz
'ns ton are at times characterized by pre-
nd ligacy and bebauch. But must
therefore condemn every order tn
on sees fit to practice secrecy in their
Id tor.s for good? Secret societies, II
ne. men are good and bad, and it Is n
in wise to condemn them until you knt
the for what objects they are striving al
uty what principles actuate them.
ow their fruits ye shall know them, al
:rer by the fruits of Odd Fellowship We
He willing that our order shall stand
lar- fall. The word OF God recognizes
! it secret as legitimate thing. The w
Eel man said s.discover not a secret to
ow- other" Every man entertalns seer
dis and certainly every woman treasu
1m- them tythe wholesale! Every fam
ave possesses secrets, and so too ey'
'uth merchant, trade, enterprise Of State
our- commerce. Divulge these secrets a
lere there will not only he many dis;
ing pointments, but there will inevitaI
gate be strife and discord and gene
that paralysis of peace and progress. l
aid all wise Creator has given every n
ilm- two ears and but one tongue. i
ring teaching us to be slow to speak
inc. swift to hear, it is true, but IS not
no! inference just that We are to speak
en- half we hear and keep the other /
food to ourselves for our own good9
eat not then despise that which IS e.
What because OF prejudice against ser
teful societies.