The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-27
ANNIVERSARY SERMON.
Rev. Rollins, of the Methodist Epis-
oopal Church, to the Odd
Fellows.
Tho Order Doing It's Work Like q
Sunbeam Carrying Life and
Light
Thc Large. Unseifisb, Benevolent Man Who
Keeps in Touch With tho ~TlarObbIng
Heart of Humanity.

At the Broadway M. L. church yesterday
morning, Rev. Mr.. Rollins delivered the
anniversary sermon of the l. O. o. F. to a
large audience composed of members of the
order and others. The text was Isaiah II:
II and IL, 1.-The burden of Dumah. He
calleth to one out of SER. Waterman, what
of the night? Waterman, what of the
night? The Waterman said, the morning
cometh. also tho night; if ye will inquire,
inquire ye: return, come The century
which is now drawing towards its close.
MIR. Rollins said, has been characterized by
n mental activity unknown to the annals of
time and will make an impression on his
toy that will compel the attention of all
future generations and elicit their wonder
and profound respect and gratitude.
While we believe that all history is impor-
tant and all knowledge useful, We hold that
Il knowledge of the present is moro lmpor-
tant than that of the past, and n knowledge
OF the institutions and countries, a knowl-
edge of those arts and sciences which enter
into our own civilization is more important
than the knowledge Of the history OF
those civilizations of the dim past.
l he masses were content to do as did their
fathers, to be as their fathers. But mind
has been aroused from its somnolence of
ages: it has thrown OF its Bervlle allegiance
Y pAC pbStS olkA " III 10 w
simply because it bears the stamp of an
tiquity. Men think and act for themselves,
and they now find that much of what men
reyered in the past has been the mistakes
of morbid, childish minds. Everything
must be run through the crucible of rigid
investigation, into the incandescent beams
of the scholarship of the present localized
upon it. To Luther and professionalism we
are indebted for our freedom from the ig-
norance. the superstition. the slavery to
tradltionalism of the past. 1t is deplorable
that man has not advanced more rapidly,
that his night of ignorance has been SO
long-so dark; that his possibilities were
not manifested to him sooner: that sense
has SO long dominated spirit. and thus his
manhood has been stultitied, crushed,
stained in the polluting quagmire of sens
uality, when he should be strong in will
moral conviction, enjoying the gifts of his
benevolent Creator, and leaving a legacy to
his posterlty whose price cannot be esti-
mated by the standard of time.
Look at some of the blessings showered
upon us by the emancipation of mind
First, Our advancement in general intel
ligence. The nineteenth century has wit
messed a wonderful achievement in the edu-
cation of all classes of society. When this
century opened but comparatively few were
educated. There was q great chasm divid-
ing of society into the educated and uned-
ueotCOi phc n LII ItlItSIdbS. !
Education has opened up to our gaze the /
earth beneath our feet, the glorles of the
stars and the planetery system. Not long
since astronomy and astrology were identi-
cal. Men believed the heavenly bodies ex-
erted a moral influence upon the jewellers
upon the earth. But in the sixteenth cent
ury (l543) Copernicus prepared the way for
the complete overthrowal of the pernicious
error. Followed by such men as Kepler,
and Isaac Newton this nightmare
of ignorance was dispelled and the fear of
the occurrence of certain meteorological
phenomena vanished.
Geology takes the student and leads him
back through countless milleniums opening
to him the great changes through which
globe has gone, exalting his conception
Of the Creator and revealing to HIM a
world for delightful study and oontempla-
Chemistry is a source of important in
and its findings are enricnin2
life.
Medical science has made amazing
since DR.. Bartol WAS sisized by the
inquisition of Rome.
Thinkof the revolutions that have been
by the application of steam and
electricity and mechanical art to the in
of our civilization.
Philanthropy. Brave men and women
believing in the nobility of man. believing
a properly poised human being, a be-
with a we'll stored mind, a we'll dis
ciplined intellect. a clear Judgment, a pure,
heart, passions restrained by a
conscience and powerful will, brave
men and women, believing this sort of man
to be the noblest object beneath the stars
are dedicating their life and property to
the building up OF exalted ideals of charac-
ter.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
silently, unostentatiously as a sunbeam,
has been doing it's work, end as the sun
beam carries with it light, and life, and
JOY, SO this order. It's mission is to bless,
never to curse. No man can step out be-
meath the stars and say this organization
has rendered any life less nobls than it
would be. Odd Fellowship has
out of a legitimate desire of the
soul, viz. mutual assistance. No soul car
develop it's powers by isolation. The ex-
clnsionist is cold, narrow. prejudiced. He
who keeps his heart in touch with the
throbbing heart of humanity is the large,
benevolent man.
Only a few more baby carriages at The Bee
Hjva opethirI nff