The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-30
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.

Rev. N. I. Whitaker, pastor Of Chestnut
street Methodist church, delivered an inter
esting address to Odd Fellows yesterday af-
ternoon. Between two and three hundred
members of different lodges were present,
including Past Grand Representatives o. B.
Whitten of Beacon lodge; William H.Smith,
of Maine lodge; Stephen K. Dyer, of Maine
lodge; j. Henry Crockett, of Unity lodge;
Cyrus X. Ladd; Past Grand Master and
Grand Representative f. L. Merrill of Har
mony lodge, and others. Mr.. Whitaker took
his text from Corinthians, xiii, 13. The fol-
lowing is an extract:
The L. o. o. F.was.organized April 6,1S19.
1t was at first mere experiment In con-
vvial direction, from which 1t was redeemed
and made charitable institution by tne en-
ergy and capacity Of In Thomas s.tner Wildly y
American Oddfellowship. Like other secret
organizations in its earlier history, 1t was
looked upon by many with suspicion, and
called to endure unjust prosecutions. Time
has proved the wisdom of its secret rites as
necessity, not in shielding wrong-doing,
but in enforcing discipline so as to insure
order. efficiency and stability. Its earlier
workings were crude and unsatisfactory, un-
til in 1880, ifty,,eight years ago, guided by
James l.. Ridgely, man of rare abilities
and learning the order became purely
charitable institution, founded upon the
fatherhOod of God and the brotherhood of
man; under his superb management, by the
blessing of God, it steadily rose before the
world, and stands today glorious temple OF
human beneficence, peerless in beauty, price,
less in value, and well worthy OF the conf
dence and love OF every true man. Since
1880. up to Dec. 81, 1886, it had relieved more
than 1,2OO, 900 distressed families at cost of
Sal, ,0O0, 900, besides bestoWlng more than
GOO OO0 0OO in general charities; and all in
manner most honorable to all concerned. In
1886 it expended $1,997, ,675, or 1913 every
minute, day and night, throughout the year
for the relief of the distressed, and still
larger sum in 1877. ABOUT $4,000 were
spent to relieve distress by 2,734 Odd Eel
lows in Portland last year, ana S4o,OOO
throughout the State.
The underlying principle of Oddfellowship
is the use of all proper means ior tne alleVla-
ton of human sufferings, the elevation OF hu-
man characters, and the Improvement OF nu-
man lives. In the development OF this prin-
ciple it discards all distinctions between the
rich and poor, the employer and the employe,
the learned and the unlearned. 1t believes
i'm labor. recognizes a brother in the poorest
man, and finds true MANHOOD among the un-
lettered. 1t recognizes the truth tnat
ssNever a morning wore to evening,
But some heart did break"
And il strives to help the suffering with a
brother's heart and hand. Its permanence
denends unon the character of its member
shin and the blessing of God. Who are the
men of YOUR order? | have but to look into
your faces for the answer. Men of energy,
integrity and moral worth; men whose infu-
ence for good is felt in church and state; men
of broadened intelligence and Of warm SYM
patbv. for such is the natural fruitage Of the
nrincinles of your order which are,
Purity, Friendship, Love, Truth, Faith, Hope,
Charity.