Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-15

| act for the present, not for the past. These men will be honored for carrying out the true principles of the order which now numbers hundreds of thou sands, but it's deeds are countless and be- yond numbers. This session will, hope, be like it's predecessors--of much profit and good results-and Birmingham will be the home of the largest number of Odd Fellows in the state.
 Grand Chaplain Fuckers Reply.
 Grand Master John Barrett and Grand Chaplain G. c. Tucker were then introduced, but Grand Master Barrett yielded the floor to Grand Chaplain Tucker, who, after making a number of good local hits in reply to Mayor Van noose, said
 Several times before this honor. that of replying in the name Of the grand lodge to speeches of welcome, has been con ferred upon me; on what principle l cannot tell, except that perhaps being clergyman I am more accustomed to returning thanks than are my less for tunate brethren. Mind you,I do not state this as a. fact, but only as theory of my own, to account for so undeserved an honor. But it has rarely been the case that 1 have had to reply to three sepa- rate welcomes in one speech and never have had to match my poor expressi9ns of gratitude against such a flow of elo- quence and geniality of manner.
 Yet these words of welcome. touching and eloquent as they have been. have surprised us For we knew that in com ing to Birmingham we should be re- ceived in just such a manner. In all AL abama it is we'll known that the enter prise and energy of the people of Bir- mingham is only surpassed by their courteous hospitality. This is high praise, indeed, sir, for this city's fame has spread throughout the civilized world, and everywhere is she regarded as the typical city-the queen as it were-of the new south The far flashing flames of her furnaces have been reflected from mountain, stream and plain OCT all the continent. Ay, even the waves of the great Pacific have caught their glory and brought wise men from the distant isles of old Japan to inquire into the truth of their wondrous story. AS pillars of fire by night and cloud by day your furnace banners have led the hosts of the new south out of the desert of poverty, igno- rance and despair toward the promised land of liberty and intelligence and wealth.
 It has sometimes been hinted, sir. by narrow minded demagogues, seeking to reap an unholy benefit by stirring up fratricidal strife, that we of south Ala bama are envious and jealous of Bir- mingham and her neighbors. Oh, perish the thought, and palsied be the tongue that spoke it. Jealous of you. Envious of youi AS well might the mother be jealous of her child. When in the early days of the great development of north Alabama the cry went forth for assistance, from no quar- generous response than from Mobile and south Alabama. We sent you men and money, even more than we could spare and much of both remains with you to this day.
 Then when last summer again your cry for help was heard the men of the gulf coast delayed not, counted not the cost, but on the instant sprang to offer their lives. if need were, in your defense Oh, I assure you none watch you with more eager eyes, none rejoice more un- feignedly in every token of your growing prosperity than do your brothers who live by the shore of the sea. We have everything to gain in your successes, and everything to lose should failure over take you.
 But this is not the tme to speak fur ther on this matter, only I am glad to have had the opportunity to say what I have said upon it.
 I stand here in the name of the grand lodge of Odd Fellows of Alabama to thank you for your words of welcome, and I can assure you that they are not unworthily bestowed for this order of which our grand lodge is branch, is the greatest, the most practical organi- zation of fraternity and charity upon the earth, outside the church of God.
 Do you see these three links upon the jewels which we wear? They are only three, and not very large, yet they are the chosen symbols of a mighty and a holy purpose. They typify the great ob- ject of our order, which is to level man to man in one universal brotherhood, fastening the ends of the gavel chain in humble worship to the theme of God. An, if could trace for you the history of our order, could show you how that which at first was low and small and very poor, has been changed by the bless ing of God and the sanctifying workings of His spirit into it's present noble and glorious and far-reaching plan, you would comprehend how confidently I can claim that we are working together for and with our Father in Heaven. Year by year the return of our golden chain grows wider and longer, country after country, nation after nation, has been enclosed in it's glittering meshes. It grows three links at a time, bringing man after man into the brotherhood of frienship, love and truth. Friendship, which is faith in man; love, which is the divine relationship of man to man and man to God; truth, which is the loyalty of man to man and man to God
 It is for the object of helping on this grand work in this state, that we may bring every man in Alabama into this glorious brotherhood, that the grand lodge has met here in Birmingham. In conclusion let me ask as my office as cha plain makes 1t fitting that I should the prayers of your people, that our Heavenly Father may guide us by His grace in the way we have to go, and may give us His blessing to crown our -labors with success.
 The meeting then adjourned to meet