Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-05-03

race and for the uplifting Of their toi.
/ low men and for the erection OF q hlgh
standard ct morals aud intelligence as
well as for mutual protection and re.
lief Aud though they, and these that
came amer them, met with opposition,
the opposition OF ignorance ana super
/ stilinu of the years Of the past, TO day
We can proudly point not only To great
statesmen and legislator and men Of
every business and calling among our
ranks. but with deep gratitude in cur
hearts 10 God as we'll TO the fact. that
rurc principles of our beloved Order,
! stringently enforced always, have sue
| ceedcd in convincing the world, that
! Odd Fellowship is not only intended
to. but in fact makes its members bet
ter citizens, better ncighbOrs, IN short
better men. because of its sure and
clevating principles, which IN every
| convocation are again and again m
pressed npon their hearts, until the,
whole man is permeated by these
teachings.
For fear some may think, that the
only aim and benefit of this order arc
physical relief aud protection, let me
add, that the physical relief aud pro.
lection afforded is by no means the
principal design OF our Order. lntirm'
ilv of mind as well. as of the body, is
common to humanity, and there exists
necessarily, a corresponding natural
desire Tor sympathy even IN The seem.
ingly most dcpraved human heart.
TO supply this yer recurring want,
Odd Fellowship addresses itself by a
combination of efforts, in aid OF the
moral ms well, as OF the physical man.
These two aims, happily blended, COM
prehend its lever.power against pen
ury and vice. by which it laboist to mi:-
| igate as well ''lhe ills to which AL hc.h
is heir" as TO elevate and enoble our
nature. ut.4.
You all, no doubt. have seen and
known the cmblcms of Odd Fellow.
ship, comprised in three chain links,
a chain, which, though not forged Of
iron bands around the nccks Of Odd
Fellows, the insignia of slavery, is new.
ertheless so strong, so binding, yea, so
adamant, that no possible effort has or
can avail against them, because the
links of the chain are formed of prin.
ciples and purposes, SO pure, 30 holy,
and so elcvating, that when once hav.
ing taken possession Of tho heart, oil
the powers OF darkness and Of sin arc
impoten! TO break them.
Ladies and Gentlemen, that we may
understand fully the importance of
this, and that you may realize why
make this assertion, let me tell you
that the three chain links of the Odd
Fellows insignia stands for the three
lofticst, highest, sublimcd virtues OF
mankind of all ages 'Fricndship"
"Love" aud Truth" which, being with
us not only names, but ANS, not only
a shadowy thing Of beauty, but the
highest principle of excellence, has
made DAD Fellowship what IL is to day
at its list anniversary, Il blessing to
mankind at large In. succoring the dis
tresscd and needy. educating the or.
phans. giving help TO the widows and
rlcvating its members into n higher
plane of usefulness and insiilllng Into
their hearts aims aud purposes. to
which God Himself will ever give His
sanction aud His blessing.
And so Ladies and Gentlemen, this
is the reason, why we have assembled
to night. and, rs | hear our friends
have provided for the necessities OF
tho inner man, as well as the outer
one, and as. no doubt. before Tho
minds of some. even now, visions o.
strawberries and stacks Of cakes anu
delicious icc-crcam are rising M anc
drawing them into their enchanting
domain, will no longer dctain you
with such a prosaic thing as a speech
only. again most heartily. thanking
YOU for your Attendance and attention
ronly wish YOU will pay rs close at
t~eniion to the supper. asy0u have paid
to your humble servant. who promises
to do his share in the supper TO slow
his appreciation of the %cndcavors o.
our friends, the committee, TO whom
after our dismissal here, will respect
fully turn you over.