The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-15

beautiful piece OF horal work-"Welcome, l.
! o. O. F."
The Stein orchestra was in attendance, and
| rendered the music for the occasion.
| At $3.50 o'clock Governor Mckinney. resting
upon the arm Of Mayor Elys0n, made their
appearance amid loud applause, followed by
| the Grand Sire. the orator Of the evening"
and other dignitaries of the order, Of the
world and State.
Mayor Ellyson opened the meeting by in
| PRODUCING the Rev. Dr. Goodwin, OF Grove
| Avenue Baptist church, who made an elO-
ouent and effective prayer, after which the
orchestra played Nearer My God 10 Thee.
The Grand Sire, IN opening MS address,
said: In these days Of political contention u
! Is delightful 90 turn away even for moment
| from matters that distract and divide, and
direct our thoughts for brief period 10 the
consideration Of benevolent order upon
whose enduring basis Of practical humanity
all of US of whatsoever political or religious
faith, can stand and labor for the good OF
| humanity.
I'm IT'S presence and beneath lis banner we
know no political antagonisms no difference
Of religious faith, no rlyalries in business.
but We should be faithful subjects of great
fraternity. within whose gates those matters
that amid the turmoil of life breed cOntro-
versies and strife are buried and forgotten
Governor Mckinney was then introduced
| by the Mayor, and IN q brief but eloquent
[
Of the State Of Virginia, followed by Mayor
| Ellyson on behalf of the city OF Richmond.
ORIGIN OF THE oRDEn.
referring 70 the origin Of Odd Fellows. he said
the order first came into existence IN England
during Jho last century. and they were then
simply social orgsmlatons comprised or me
/ chanlc,. WHO assembled at thcrtc-pcctie club
rooms for mutual enjoyment ~
Early in the present century an effort which
mot with success. was made 20 BRING thc,e CUPS
together under definite orgsniyauon. Cotan-
hsliug impressive riina.s ctc.' ana proNaihs
system Of fucs and benefits.
~ hc marvellous success Of This effort SAID
the speaker. "wls,l y devised and lnicincenty
pursued, j. now matter OF common hno"l-
In dcyclnpcd i'm England into the Manchester
Unity Odd-l tllOws. numbering on the lst OF
January last h1A0N member. and clnstli uiing
the greatest benevolent institution Id the cni-
dd-Fclowship was introduced into Amer
lea hy Thomas WILDLY who was an English me-
chanic. and who joined The order in England
The first lodge was 9rgahilci ih l'alilm4i',
Md. April 81. 1879. by widely AMI Tour oihtr
English Odd-Fclows.
,Ihc order in This country maintained IT'S
ALLEGIANCE 10 Name chfHr Unity until l-42. when
Do separated itself from that body, AMI a,,um-
ing % separate existence ana independent tuuC-
tlOu. became the independent order OF odd
Fellow. the American order.
" ihe growth OF these two great organiIailous.
although numerically alout the same. mas p-ch
/ iu many respects divergent.
| he IuEllNu OIiNf l' given unjust tN'lh-
-iNrly to Tie development Of 70 sy,tcm of Imam
cial relief
"Ihe American Order has likewise adhered
10 and developed It's relief operations, hui ~
addition II has cultivated the iraicrnai and ed-
ucatlOnal features.
HAMrFREp IL THIS COUNTRY.
"Tor wears the Order in this country. was
] hampcrcd ly thc character OF lts original SUR
roundng- and struggled against adverse Tor
TIM, and thc dangers and dlhcr-ties that ic-
set If- pathway.
"lt contained. however. within its organila-
ton he elements of certain financial success,
and Ifs ultimate outcome could no more have
been Impcdcd than YOU could have stayed tho
cbb and flow of thr tides II The sea-
"lt possessed thc vital principle of life Chat DID,
ndc-iructihlc; Do contained Wltmn ITSELF iNc
constituent principles of popular favor; 70 hi-
prnlcd Go man better nature u taught and en-
forced The resultant duties of the brotherhood
of mantle necessity OF mankind for syula-
thy: and $50 beginning its mission ln the world.
its progress could not bc oh-tructcd-
'Graduallv overcoming oil impcdimenfs.
slowly hut surely freeing itself from ITS early
environments that cloggcd us course, 70 grew
apaco and Aourished gathering strength with
each advancing ycarattracunR TO lis rank, men
of culture of Intellectual force. OF local and
national prominence until II stands today hc-
fore the American people and the world nm the
full, clear light OF prosperity ana peace ana Ill
lit has passed the stage of doubt or criticism.
II is one of the great moral conservative. ira
tcrnal and intellectual forces of thc century IL
D
plain IFS creed.
1T stands serene in lhe CONSEQUENCES of its
ACKNOWLEDGED power, with fraternity BEL the con
trail essence of IT. strength, and practical charity
the outward and daily manifestations oi ITS mis-
SION ,....,... .,......... .,,,....,.
its progress OF stay its onward march. u NUM-
hcrs nearly iOJOD member. it, annual income
is about s7OmOO. and 10 cNpcnls annually
through It's regular channels for the rtnei of
its members nearly s3O0o0.
HUMAN ORGANIZATIONS.
Now What is this Odd-fellowship Of which
speak
1T is a human organization, composed in the
main of thoughtful sincere, honest men. the
bone and ~iueW OF the land ANA IFS objects are
The ALIENATION of human suffering
1t is based upon the need Of man Tor sympa-
thy and aid IN his warfare with the world.
THE mutual dependence of mankind and the
duties that flow from h. These truths constitute
the basis of Odd-ftllowship.
Sir Walter Scott has written that the race Of
mankind would perish dad they cease 10 and
each other
And the declaration Of Terence. of quoted.
vet always clear. would almost serve as the
watchWOrd of the Order. Homo sum 90 nihll
human me cl,num.
The longing desire of man tor sympathy is
as universal as the air; and because Of il. De-
cause man is dtucudcnt upon hls fellow man
for every hing that bring, comfort or happl-
ness 10 This human life. these fraierna. organi-
larons exist and impress themselves upon
social life.
GROWING BEYOND TXPECrATfoN.
In closing his address he said
Il am glad to lc able 10 saw 10 Won that
throughout fho southern states the Order j,
growing beyond all eNpccianon-.
in Wv own Jurisdiction lf- membership ha.
doubled lu TWO years. con ratulatc tou upon
the work done in Virginia during thc past year
aud upon the Frightening outlook
Guard The fires of Odt-FeiloR hlu here. nay
brethren, with the same devoted and tculcIo1s
vigilance that characterized the Persian ire
worshipers. who kept the sacred flame, alive
fI.a mo 4f.rr fl..tf.