The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-04-28

on the cold charity of the world. The home
mortgaged, the wife helpless, the children
small, and all the economy of years gone by
foreclosure.
Not long since we were introduced to
member Of our order, and during brief in
terview the lodge paper became the subject
when our brother ventured the remark that
the paper was good thing for those who
are interested In the order. We separated
soon, but his remark gave rise to train of
thought somewhat like this: Here is a
brother who claims all the privileges and
benefits of our ORDER whether of social or
business nature, and yet he has never done
anything except pay his dues and assess
ments; he does not care to come to our stated
meetings and aid us in our labors; he does
not care to see his personal friends and pre-
sent to them, as was done to him, the adj
vantage of membership in these respective
associations, nor does he care to read any
thing relating to the welfare of his lodge.
Why? Because he is not interested. He is
willing, however, that others should go every
meeting night, rain or shine, attend to the
business of the lodge, bring in new material
and perpetuate the order, bear all burdens,
do all the work, meet and assume all the re-
spOnsibilities, in fact, do anything and every
thing, while our brother feels no obligations
resting on him to do anything whatever, so
long as he sends his dues and assessments to
the lodge, feeling sure that the fnancier will
be there. We ask, il all should do this
where would the two millions and more
members in these grand fraternities be?
We claim that it is the brotherhood of man,
and that only that can 20 through all these
experiences and still feel that he is his
brothers keeper. We rejoice that while there
| are many many drones among us, there are
also many workers; the evidence of their en-
ergy and activity may be seen all around us
here to-day.
Experience and observation teach us that
men, anxious to crafty their desires for am
btion, are often willing to use doubtful
means for the accomplishment of their pur-
pose, provided they can hide not only their
true characters but their motive, and thus,
to some extent avoid personal responsibility.
This they accomplish. i'm a measure, by as
simiating themselves with some association
of men protesting to teach and practice the
principles Of charity and benevolence.
The evils growing out of this state of things
can never be estimated until the great day
of final accounts. We see enough, however,
to convince us that great wrongs are being
perpetrated every day in the name of char
ity. The widow and the orphan robbed of
their all under the guise of the law; the man
of genius crushed to the earth by his more
ambitious brother, or the industrious and en-
ergetic young man, just commencing life,
overreached, betrayed and ruined by his
more experienced and powerful rival, all for
selfish ends, and all producing frightful
harvest of misery and wretchedness and woe;
indeed, we may see all along the shores of
| time the wrecks of blasted hopes, betrayed
virtue, scared hearts and blighted lives as
the result of refusal upon the part of our
fellows to recognize the great brotherhood
of man. AS Burns truthfully says, "Man's
inhumanity to man makes countlessSthous-
| ands MOURN"
| Nor is there any hope of purer or more
perfect state of things so long as men are
wrapped in self and pursue only selfish ends;
so long will they continue to pull down and
destroy the hopes and aspirations of those
who are often the superior of their Oppressors
in all that constitutes an honest man-the
noblest work of God.
A true man is recognized by his regard
| for the rights and feelings of others, even in
matters the most trivial. He respects the
| individuality of others, just as he wishes
others to respect his own. He never looks
down upon Others because they have not
titles, hOnors or social position equal to his
own. He never boasts of his achievements
or angles for compliments by affecting to
under-rate what he has done. He prefers
to act rather than talk; to be rather than to
seem, and above all things, is distinguished
| by his deep insight and sympathy, his quick
perception of and prompt attendance to
those little, insignificant things that NAV
| cause pleasure or pain to others. In giving
his opinion he does not dogmatize. He
listens patiently to other men, and If COM
PEELED to dissent from their opinions he ac-
knowledges his fallibility and asserts his
own views in such manner as to command
the respect of all who hear him. Frankness
and cordiality mark all his intercourses with
his fellows, and however high his station the
humblest man feels instantly at ease i'm his
presence.
| We believe in these organizations repre-
sented In this great Fraternal Congress.
There are thousands OF true men, and for
every home where a single certificate has
been paid monument has been raised i'm
honor of their work, and the millions of such
monuments that to these grand fraternities
have been raised give expression to the fact
that 1--WE are our brothers keeper"
| While man lives and suffers, while dis
ease and death continue to do their work, so
long will our principles and our aims COM
mand the respect of humanity wherever
they are known.
| When we consider how for long ages sell
| fish considerations have been the rule of
mems lives, and the only motive of their
deeds, is it not a cheering sign to see the
Il