The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-01-03
An EnioyabIe soeial sumner.

it's members and their families at
the Kline House, Monday eyoning,
which was a most enjoyable event.
The spread was prepared by the
Hill Sisters, and the table was laden
with all good things of the land.
A program arranged for the even
ing was carried out in full. The
singing and music was rendered
by Trinity NJ. E. Church Choir, and
was most excellent. The ceremonies
commenced by instrumental music,
Miss Hattie Congrove presiding at
the organ and Mrs. Cranz accom-
panying with violin; followed by
singing by the choir.
Prayer by Rev. w. II. Shaw; sing
ing by choir.
Rev. Correll, Pastor of Trinity M.
E. Church, following with an essay
on Odd Fellowship. Below we give
the essay in full:
I, Brothers in the bonds of F. l.. and
T., deem it a great pleasure to
greet you upon this occasion, on the
evening of the first day of this new
year, 1894, with this short Essay on
Odd Fellowship. Among the innum-
cradle acquisitions of the past three
quarters of century, as the product
of genius, skill or industry. no
greater blessing has been youch-
safed to the moral nature of man
than the mission and work of Odd
Fellowship. This sentiment is
neither idle nor abstract, but like
the tree which is known by it's fruit,
demonstrates it's truth by a record
visible to all who may be incredu
lous. The banding of men together
in secular and voluntary organiza-
ton is modern and eminently in
harmony with the nobler principles
of the age. "In olden times such
Offices as Odd Fellowship admins
ters were chiefly assumed and
claimed by the ch arch, not unffe-
quently exclusively demanded"
And now behold the millions ap-
propriated by it and kindred orders,
|
for the existence of such orders, the
age is distinguished everywhere
and among all people. This strong
arm of support has been realized by
the public and is generally appre-
ciated. Within this period of time,
the arts and sciences have opened
up many new fields of conquest to
man and he has not stopped with
dominion over the beasts of the
fields and the fowls of the air, and
fish of the sea, but earth, air and sea
have been made his servants and
taught to do his bidding as if they
were things of life and intellect
This age is particularly distinguish
ed for the growth of orders design
ed to provide against the wants and
sufferings of humanity, '"teaching
also the sentiment that mans most
perfect happiness is in administer
ing to those around him." and it is
to be said to the glory of Odd Eel
lowship that it stands pre- eminent
among those organizations most eff
ficient in the medication and estab-
lishment of these principles and in
improving society. "Odd Fellow
ship has taken deep root in the
hearts of its people," and goes hand
in hand with the church, in its
offices of love and missions of mercy,
cheering and helping the widow
and orphan, and protecting the
needy and distressed against suffer
ing and want. The widest visions
of our fathers who projected this
institution could not have contem-
plated the magnificent result of
their labors and enterprise, in which
we rejoice to day, and not one of
'seven stars" in Baltimore on the
26th day of April, 1919, could have
forseen that in less than three
fourths of century that Odd Eel.
lowship with its three fold golden
cord of F. l.. and T. would have en-
circled the earth with her hundreds
of thousands of faithful adherents,
teaching the universal fatherhood
of God and the brotherhood of man.
A benifcent Providence has smil-
ed upon our efforts in the years
that are passed. The career of the
order has been onward and upward,
though clouds have sometimes OBJ
scured the sun of prosperity the
check has been only monetary
and it has marched on conquering
and to conquer in fields of peace and
love, scattering with lavish hand
the choicest blessings in its path
way. Standing as we do for moral
lily, Temperance, culture, education
and liberty, the noblest principles
of an enlightened age, and leading
all other fraternal orders in their
efforts to "better acquaint man with
his fellow man" and to make him
wiser better and happier, may we
not hope TO see our beloved order
successful in every civilized land,
and WELD mighty power in bring
ing about the time when one law
shall bind all nations. kindred,
tongues and people and that law
shall be the law of universal love-
Brothers with grateful hearts for all
the blessing of the past let us enter
upon this new year with determi-
nation to hold more sacred our
,ime-honored principles and coven-