The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-15
LIrE WITHOUT rRArERNIrY.

Extract this great principal from our
natures to-day and we would soon be
compelled to interview the records OF
the past to find that charity, with her
sister graces, ever belonged to or adorn-
ed human kind. 1t becomes the duty
of every man who loves his race to do
all in his power for the fuller develope-
ment Of that fraternity which interests
itself in the general welfare OF human
ity. With heart all aflame with love
for mankind and with view to the bet
torment OF his race, Justus H. Rath-
bone, in the year 1854, started wave
let OF moral influence out from the city
OF Baltimore which has been widening
in its circumference, each corruscation
growing stronger rather than weaker.
until to-day more than two bundled
and fifty thousand men are joined, heart
and hand, inmystic unity for the eleva-
ton OF mankind.
This organization has for its sole OBJ
iect the improvement and betterment
of its members and the welfare Of man
kindin general. From that small begin
ming a great and good order has grown.
Its members are to be found in all tho
walks Of life and in every state and ter
ritory in the union. A man who has
entered within the mystic circle, need
never fear that he willfind himself with
out friends, no matter where in all this
broad land his wanderings or inclina-
tions may lead him. A silent pressure
OF the hand. an apt word timelyspoken,
and ofttimes the glance Of an eye, will
All I.s,,, ~ tha Trouappo of a friend in
whose confidence he may feel as secure
as though he were brother by blood.
Friendship, charity ana.benevolence are
as much d part Of the natures OF these
men rs though they had been born in
them instead of instilled by the potent
influence OF fraternity.
LIKE SPIRITUAL BROTHERHOOD.
While the brotherhood taught in the
word OF God may have particular refer
ence to those who dwell together in
spiritual unity, yet it seems that the
Bible teaches the universal brother
hood OF man, and it will not be n mis-
application OF that word to say that
wherever the true spirit OF brotherhood
exists it has Gods sanction. Rev. Mr.
Moore then dwelt at length upon the
benefits arising from fratcrnal unity,
and diiated upon the ends sought by
legitimate secret societies.
The object OF a secret order is the
moral elevation OF man, and to do this
certain tenets are adopted and are made
the method of operation, The order OF
knights OF Pythias recognized three
great principles, upon the merits Of
which it is introduced to the world.
These principles are friendship, charity
and henevolence, which, you must agree
with me, arc mighty forces in the moral
world
Some men arc opposed to secret or
ders and regard such opposition as a
failure to recognize the claims OF these
great and enduring virtues. No secret
order presumes to do the work which
the church is doing in the world. It
does not undertake to do that. That
man who would SO far forget himself as
TO claim for the lodge that which is the
worl; OF the church misconstrues tho
purpose OF tho ono and lowers the
standard and value Of the other.
While David celebrates this unity
with holy psalmody and describes It as
precious ointment on the head, may We