The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-27

DFOtnerS you nave met, OF our people, Oh
their homes and of our city, and that the
impressions you have of these Will never
be quite forgotten, but remembered ID
future years with pleasure.
1t Is not my province to discuss the
grand truths of Odd Fellowship. They
are of and for all time. They were not in
stltuted by men; they came OF inspiration.
1t inculcates no doctrine, teaches no les
sons in conflict with the Book Its estab-
lishment in the world has made the world
better. It tends to eliminate selfishness
from the human heart, and selhshness
driven out of the world brine. about the
universal brotherhood of man
1t teaches that friendship love and
truth should be the guiding and control
ling motives with man IN his intercourse
with man, and, while not all of Us have
learned these truths, we recognize the man
who In his actions is influenced by them,
and we crown him as the nobiest of men.
Therefore | tender you our sincere re-
CARDS. Lay aside all care. Give TO your
minds rest from the thoughts of strife for
wealth and fame, from the eternal grind,
grind Enter into the spirit Of the coca
slon-woTship at the shrines OF pleasure, OF
friendship, love and truth.
Give the right hand of fellowship to
your brothers, TO out people. Iassure you
that the salutation Will be returned, and
that peace and good viii TO man, the grand
objects of our order will prevail IN our
city while you are present, and that the
lessons taught shall not be forgotten.
The above address was followed by
further selections from Prof Beaps Man
dolin club, the same being requested by
the president and in response to the
encores OF the audience.
The next number on the program was
an address by Mrs. Margaret r. Wilkins
of Sabetha, state president of the Rebekah
assembly and national senior vice presi-
dent OF the Woman's Relief corps. Mrs.
Wickins made very happy speech and in
an exceedingly bright and spicy manner.
1t created various ripples of merriment to
run through the entire audience, and is as
follows:
ADDRESS OF MRS. NJ. R WICKINS.
NJ. Chairman, Brothers and Sisters Of the Odd
Fellowe's and kebekah Lodge.
1t gives me great pleasure to be present
with you upon this seventy-third ami
versary of Odd Fellowship, and first, per-
NIT me in response to the hearty welcome
eXtepded TO US from the mayor, in repre-
sentIng citizens, ana the Brother, for the
Odd Fellows and Rebekahs of Wichita to
say in behalf of the visiting Rebekahs.
that we appreciate your cordial greeting
extended to US, and feel assured that our
stay in your midst will be delightful. l
have not come from the extreme north of
the state to be present on this occasion,
because there were no celebrations of this
great event nearer, for the observance Of
this day in our order has been more
general this year in this juris-
dlction than ever before. Bat from the
many invitations extended to me
none was more cordial and earnest than
from Wichita and ljIyincr in he rth
part of the state and having given much
of any efforts aud time so far in the year
TO the the north, | felt anxious to avail
myself Of the opportunity Of meeting and
mingling with the representatives OF your
part of the state, so am with you today
and | am most agreeably surprised at the
large attendance of our Rebekahs. It is
strange to see an organization banded to-
gether for the humane purposes Of Odd
Fellowship and still more strange to see
our sisters hand in hand with the broth
ers in the lodge work of today. We are
indebted to that great statesman brother
of our order Schuyler ColfaX through
whose eloquence and fertile brain was
conceived the idea and secured the adop-
tion by the sovereign grand lodge in 1852
OF the Rebekah degree. With all his his
tory and noble deeds, the work done in es-
tabllshing the Rebekah degree, and the
good that has followed in its train rending
out its radient lights all over the world
permeating Odd Fellowship with womens
hallowed influences and charitable deeds,
stands as his greatest and most lasting
monuments, and his name will be handed
down to generations yet unborn III the
pages of history of our loved order, and if
permitted to look down from the lodge
room above and witness all the advance
ment in the Rebekah work, and as over
and over in our initiatory service and obi
cations are given the original work that
eminate1 from his brains, and thought,
aud pen, with all the embellishments and
environments that our beautified work gives
surely great satisfaction must be his at
the good results attained and lasting and
satisfactory results from his efforts in this
direction and it is fitting that as Rebekabs,
to be annually observed in appropriate
services, we establish an anniversary as a
monument to his work. | am very glad to
be able to report to you the very
fourishing condition Of our order
IN this state, we now number nearly
seven thousand members, and two hum
dred and two lodges, standing next in size
to the subordinate lodge, and while il has
been my privilege In my visits to the vari-
Gus lodges (having visited some fifty so
far this year, TO enjoy the receptions and
banquets, and you see | do not show from
my avoirdupois that have failed to ap-
Il
go among the membership and enter the
hearts and homes l COME to know the far
deeper meaning of the order; of the strong
right arm of support and sUccOr that
enclrcieS the membership, and when
sadness and sorrow. bereavement and
death. makes sick the heart, then in its
mission of love snd mercy and sympathy
IL binds up the broken hearted aud stands
a tower OF strength, as sister said to me
wien ny husband died suddenly away
from home. | felt | could not 20
alone, among strangers upon so sad mis-
sion. but when l stepped from the train
band of brothers met me as they would
have done an own sister, gave TO me she
last message OF love from my husband,
cared for every need, and / was made to
realize what Odd Fellowship was In time
OF trial.
But still another line of work is ours,
it is indeed an age of organization and the
dear brothers many of them have lodge
tor every night III the week and in the
uast some OF the dear sisters have not al
ways been as patient In waiting the return
OF the husbands from the from the lodge
room as was expected of them. but the
sisters are fast becoming educated TO the
privileges of mem bership in the different
orders, and ii is hoped If the wife Is out
even late, that the brother will keep the
lights brightly burning, tie fires burning
upon the hearthstone, care for tie
little ones, patiently, and know it Is all
right when reminded that IL : lodge
night and there was a special degree TO Dc
conferred.
But casting the testing aside, let Us As
faithful mem bers OF our beloved order do
what we may 10 strengthen aud build up
our organization and lay deep the fOUnda-
iion for good, and when we STALL give the
alarm at the inner door Of the lodge room
above may we be found with the pass
words correct that shall admit US 10 the
Brotherhood above, where no closing cere-
mony comes and 10 parting words are
said.