Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-23
AN ADDRESS TO ODD FELLOWS.
The Anniversary Sermon Preached by
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.


Rev. Hugh It. Stevenson.
Representatives from. the Grand Lodge.
encampInent and subordinate lodges of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows met at
Masonic Hall. Anacostia, at o'clock last
evening. and in company with Salem Lodge,
No. %. repaired to the Anacostia Baptist
Church. where the organization was ad-
dressed by Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson. The
address was commemorative Of the seven
ty-fifth anniversary of the order. After
sketching the organization Of the first lodge
in America, in Baltimore, April "a, 1919,
the speaker said: TT was q workin gman's
club organized to improve their social life
and condition. 1t was" he said. organized
In a tavern by poor, humble sons Of toll
Mr.. Stevenson dwelt eloquently on the
principles of the order and the lessons
drawn from its history. But" he said.
the greatest work you have ever perform
ed for the brotherhood of man, YOU. coun-
try and your Father Is before you-yea, Is
near our door. We live at q time which in
many respects resembles that which pre-
ceded the fall of the Roman empire The
causes OF nations downfall are within.
not without. 1t is the sin Of the nation
that leads to destruction. When we look at
our beloved land, in the haste of her citi-
zens to be rich. We see 1t Is greed and dis
Constitution and society. Wealth has been
neaped up as never before In the worlds
history. There has been a general rise of
tne condition OF the masses, 1t Is true with
this increased wealth, but today, as never
before, We see the deepening distress of
poverty at one door and a fearful waste of
food and money at the next While hon.
esty always gets its reward, men cry, We
can't succeed and be honest in business
The dishonesty of the knave is checked on
~ by fear OF the law; but, who with a DO
utlcal pull fears the enforcement Of It's lax
provisions? Tax lodging Is now a fine art
and with income tax threatens to b.. finer
Gambling Is rife. Speculation in the very
necessaries Of life Is not discountenanced,
but encouraged by law. Are not these
things threatening our life2 Have they not,
prosperity? The signs Of destruction are
seen written on our walls. The end may
not come In subjugation by a foreign foe.
The end can be averted. God showed Pha-
raoh how to escape the misery Of the fam
Inc. He has shown us how to escape the
rocks of national destruction. Shall we do
II! Shall the history of America be u repe-
luton OF that OF France century ago when
her social fabric was rent and overturned
and the wrongs Of the ages visited on the
men and women of that dayT We, too,
may see revolution-not anarchy-sweeping
away vast fortunes, leveling men and dis
tirctions. deluging the nation with disorder
and destruction. God grant that we may
not, and that our land may never see such
an end; but may honesty, virtue, friend
ship,love and truth prevail May our states
men see the quntessence of craftsmanship
In the golden rule, and thus save our social
er with age. To this work for humanity 1
call you. Let no vice escape. Rum. gam
bling and corruption Of every sort bury for
ever"