Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-05-04

i0cI. Iron t1fS hmbh bco ANnAhbt
The outset the order grew slowly
and in the scar 1879 OldIcilo wship
introduced 10 the Un!led states
aud a lodge established in the city 81
Baltimore. And while in England, The
the order has in some instances applied
to the different bran chea a slight
difference in name, though The pfin.
tie SAME; in our country there is
but ii Lame recognizing one general
head, Aud this also is tile general rule
in England, the minor branches being
comparatively Insignificant and the
Independent Order of DAD Fellows is
the society that is recognized as the
source and head of all. While the
struggle for existence was q weary one
in both countries, yet when our priu.
ciples became better understood, .
firm hold was gained aud our grand
and noble order increat ed With astonnd-
ing rapidity. And here it has o
than kept pace with the marvellous
increase of population in the United
States. To-day the order embraces Il
membership of millions, and is in a
aourishiug condition ia Great Britain,
North and South America, the conti
zen Of Europe, Anstraiih, New zea-
land, West Indies. South Africa and
other countries. Oar membership IA
this country alone IS more than half d
million, and while IL IS one Of the
tene;s Of our order that the left baud
shall not know what the right hand
doeth, yet our history would be incom-
plete ii we did not modestly mentlon
that We annually disburse more than
two million dollars for the relief of the
needy and sui ring ones. And this
being so it is natural aud eommendabie
That ne should be gatheled here in the
eel bration OF TINS, the 10th annivei-
ssary of the establishment of our order
IN America And my kind and fair
hearers, does not this simple and briei
recital Suggest TO you that a society
showing Il condition Of such unex
ampled success must be founded upon
a rock so to speak-in nunght but
truth. Anything Of q trivial nature,
any society founded on ought save
some universal principle resting within
this world of ours, would have lived it's
day and passed away in a breath
But the principles of friendship, love
and truth broadenoing into that greatest
of all charity is-everlastiug. Ages that
huve passed, ages that are yet to be,
will cherish them to the end. Empires,
Kingdoms and Republics have come
and fitted away, and again will rise
and fall, but this grand superstructure
will remain until time snail be NJ
more and to the eud, 10 the credit
Of tho good yet within our laiie,.
nature, example and Ieaeling viii
ever he found eleyating the character
Of man, kind voices will always be
heard to console and cherish the unfor.
innate and distressed. and helpful
hands will be extended to the helpless
and needy. This is aud ever has beer
our aim, and that we have done we'll II
shown up by our life, deeds ant
numbers, and Of this we will be par
doned, for being proud. Aud we
could not be so proud of this, ii within
ourselves we did not feel aud know
tLat "Friendship Love aud Truth ar'
the underlying principles OF Oh,
Fellowship, and u guiding stars
And what a sublime thought il is t.
realize that as long as this world lasts
if we are true to ourselves, aud alive e
the principles Of our order, we vii
grow apace, increase in numbers ant
good deeds. and grow wise tc mor'
clearly See and faithful to bette
improve our opportunities for doinI
good. Pleasant remembrances cluste
around the name Of Odd Fellow, TO
its benign influence has been impressed
upon our moral natures, and we loo
back over the past and into th
present and see che widow and orphan
cheered and aided, and the strickei
brother sustained by counsel and SUP
ported in his helplessness. What a
ennobling picture is this, aud how
lifts us alb the sordid greed and low
of gain of this selfish world. And the
too, it is emmiDently appropriate, tina
on this our natal day, we should thro'
aside the care and sordid thoughts tina
S .rrouud MS IN the bread Winning gun
We are playing, aud give ourselves
pleasure and mirth. 10 the heneV
olent and charitab le, there is much t
enjoy and many happy hours in stor
in this world Of ours. The hand thu
is extended full to its utmost, whe
emptied into the lap of the hungr
returns to the giver n thousand fold q
happiness to the relief bestowed. In
sind word spoken in comfort to til
distressed, leaves in the heart frol
winch Il goes a glow of pleasur,
inmeasurs6ie II is the selfish, tn
: one who lives within himself and TO
himself, that finds notning good o
beautiful-looks in astonishment upo'
the bright smile, tue hearty hugh, tn
, merry goronnd ana The pleasure
inndmerable, that arc given us il
nvnhAn ga Nc II unra for nnr chnlitnhl