, 1889-05-02
THE THREE LINKS.
Speech of f. M. Spain at the
Odd Fellows Gathering.
The Orders History Reviewed
and Its Benefits ExtOlled.
An Order which Tends tn Elevate tho
Condition OF Mankind and smooth
Life's journey.

In Spokane Falls on the occasion OF the
10th anniversary OF the order, Mr.. +. M.
Spain spoke IA follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN: 'Tis nn- |
necessary for me TO inform you OF the
pleasure it gives me TO be- permitted to
stand before this vast assem- blage as rep-
resentative of the membership OF an Or
ganization which 10 everywhere admitted
70 be without peer in the world. 'Tis
rdonable pride which feel. IN being
recognized as one of this vast brotherhood
composed of men representing every hon
orable station in life, from the honest FAR
aer in jeans to the gray haired senator In
hroadclOth. Men whose names are syno.
nyms Of all that is good and true and
pure and noble, and whose lives are
pointed to rs living examples of sobriety,
uprightness Of character, honesty OF pur-
pose and true manhood. Men, whom to
know is to honor and respect. An organi.
cation, the principles Of which, are calcu.
lated to make men social and humane, and
the world better, b cause OF its existence.
The principles of our order have existed
during all time, but seventy years ago to.
day, Odd Fellowship was esta blished in
America. Seventy years, only the allotted
span Of life and yet what vast changes
nave taken pIbCe. . 81.
We show, by carefully kept records, the
nun Der of members taken into all lodges.
and the dollars and cents paid by them.
but of the sorrows that have been relieved
no record has been made. No report is
made when q brothers hand extends aid
10 q brother Of the order. No record Is
kept Of the sorrows that have been driven
| from the walls that shade human hearts.
No record 10 made Of the monuments OF
kscl En~ t.Aa
| erected in human hearts to bear lifting
| epitaphs to the memory of those whose
lives have been blessing to the race.
Nor has there. nor can there be any record
that will correctly report the good counsel
and excellent example given to the young
man just starting in life. Not much 10 ex'
pected in the life OF q young man Who does
not start out right. Nor can we look for
any good to be done, either to the member
or the order, il he does not, at the very
Threshold Of his acauintanceship with
Odd Fellowship, start out with full and
clear understanding, that life may be
I spent in its study and then much remains
to be learned. Get that impressed upon
the mind, and the young member will find
in Odd Fellowship development worthy
of his closest attention, and If, as he
passes from step to step. his views broad.
ening and his opportunities for observa-
each lesson presented for his study and
prepares himself ere he advances to the
new, he will be richly rewarded, for Odd
Fellow ship Is unfolding. gradual and never
ending. 10 appreciate its value and its
beauty, it needs to be watched as day by
day, page after page of glorious work
ADDED TO its history.
Once the time vas when an humble inn
contained all there was of American Odd
4 Enll h nj vii ,aA 10 ta
domain.
Once two men struggled to give il birth
Now 900, 900 men labor in harmony and
in peace to practice its teachings.
Once page of foolscap would contain
its written history-Now thousands upon
thousands of soumes of printed matter
are devoted to its records.
Once feared and hated-now admired
and loved. This noble institution, of
moral influence. destined never to be des
troyed, presents to the young man much
indeed for his most careful consideration !;
for this reason, we say to him, as he
enters the order, let him stand convinced
that ii long years be given him for de-
votion to Odd Fellowship, no morrow will
ever dawn upon him that will not bring
some new revelation OF knowledge respect
ing it.
Friendship. love and truth are the foun-
dation on which his faith and loyalty wi |
rest. but above them are being reared
| daily new structures, presented new les.
sons, developed new truths.
Odd Fellowship is life of study, and
there is no other rule for its accom- plish
ment, than the steady, persistent progress
ot the true student.
If you have just been initiated into the
| order, ponder seriously over the lessons al
ready taught you. Learn them well. Let
no false ambition, no seductive influence,
no undue inducement urge you to seek, or
accept advancement In the order until you
have satisfied yourself that you know every
path over which you have trod, and every
land-marg set for your guidance
Every young man ought TO belong to
some fraternal organization. In no way
can he gain 50 many substantial advsn.
taRes, mentally, morally or 6nancially, at
so small cost Of time or money as by
forming such an alliance. The teachings
he will receive in q lodge room are o
nigh and ennoblinR character. Ii is line
upon line, precept upon precept, and not
only this. but be will see nuniberless in
stances of the practical application of the
lessons taught.
Men naturally love to see noble act
we'll performed, and love TO feel that in
tts performance they have had some share.
'Tis safe to say, four men out Of five, pre-
Ter TO do good act rather than poor
one; but ell men abhor hypocrisy, and
moral lessons supplemented by immoral
practices bear the sure fruit of iniquity.
II there 10 any clsss of organizations
under the sun that practice what they
preach. it Ia the fraternal societies.
lis almost impossible for d young man
TO grow up surrounded by fraternal inAa
ences without becoming u better man be-
| cause of that fact.