Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-05-04
Of Hen. b. 9. liramIett.

~ oO1teNS Wtf'
on April goth, 1889, upon the
celebration Of the anniversary Of
i. o. o. f., by Wilkinson Lodge
No. 10.
Ladies and Geniientsn and Brother Odd
FeHors:
1t is not at all strange Tint we should
be assembled here to celebrate the
anniversary of our order. for such is
the universal customin all civilized
countries. The annual recurring birth
day of the pratlling child is looked
forward to and enjoyed with pleasure,
and as u years increase We never fail
to remember the day, and yearn and
hope to he remembered. And SO it is
with societies, states and nations, for
they with pride and pleasure turned TO
the day that inaugurated their exist
encs as its anniversary comes abound,
aud demonstrate their pride in and
y~eueration for it by a celebration
And in line with this custom, we are
here to celebrate the anniversary of
tie establishment of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows iu America.
st the outsit we hazard nothing in
asserting that the aims Of our society
are not generally we'll known. nor
its principles thoroughly understood.
By many, and we might say at one
tiue and for a long period OF tune by
all outsiders, it was believed to be a
congregation of men with an appointed
place, where convivial meetings were
held, and all manner of boyish pranks
and wild antics INDUCED in. Aud at
best. nothing more than a pretense for
in excuse to enable men TO get away
from their families OF an evening, and
have a Jolly good time. Realizing this.
we think it dRe to our audience, OF
more properly speaking, to our guests
that they be told what Odd F. liowship
il, its history, aims and principles
A claim Of venerable antiquity has
been set up FOR the order, and there is
a mystical tradition that it existed IL
the palmy days of Greece and Rome,
and quite a common account fixes the
dase of it's origin IL the first century
of the Christian era, during the reigr
Of the Roman Emperor. Titus. HI
reconquefed Jerusalem, destroyed tn
greater part of the city including thC
Temple, and enlis, ed a Jewish Legion
in his army, aud the story is, that he
soldiers Of this legion instituted th'
order of Odd Fellows, and received
from Titus q charter writtel on
golden tablet. It is quite probabl,
that a society with aims and principle
akin to those Of our order existed u
that time, for man III al ages, from h.
nature and surroundings, has re slize.
his utter helplessness AMI dependsnte
aud felt the necessity If the coun G
aid aid of his fellows. THIS IS appre
ciated by tie savage, the civilized an.
the enlightened, for mans inner sci
teaches him that he vas not created Il
live to himself and for himself alone
That q responsibility attaches to him
that there is something due from br
to his fellow man, and to himself AN,
to his creator. OF this society, how
ever, estab lished in the army Of Titus
there is strictly speaking, no authenti
account, and it is only something NOR
than a century ago, the first Lodge c
Odd Fellows, whose name and prir
ciple have been handed down directl
to us, was established, and this
England. A number of stone cutter
Flom their individual ~helpIessness an
wants, moral as we'll us physical
formed an association for mutual re
lief and protection. They were humbl
artisans. who by daily toll earned
scant supply of daily bread, and thei
wages were so low, aud the commonei
necessaries of life so pressing. that n
single individual could lay up anythin
to provide for himself or family whe
sickness came, or death called hi
away. Real comforts they al non,
aud luxuries we're never dreamed o
They saw their fellow. laborers stricke
by disease, with nothing to suhsi
upon; they saw them die and dnmpe
into the potters field, and from the
small earnings no n could extend
helping hand. They looked upon th
hollow eyed widow, the starvir
children, and saw them become be
CARS, the inmates Of poor houses {
} apprentieed away into virtual SLAYER
: aud not u OF them was hDte 10 aver
} their inexorable ftde. And with
themselves each felt that his mind wi
, in darkness, and his moral nature in
mist, from which they must be lifte'
This aroused the divinity of the
natures intustively they came tog the
and earnestly laid the foundation q
the society whose benefcence "
enjoy TO day. Their object was socl
, and benevolent, the elevation OF Il
/ moral man, and for mutual relief an
protection. And their special aim wi
E to relieve the distressed, cheer tt
/ troubled, nurse the sick, bury Il