The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-05-14
ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
An Organization Which is Spending
Annually $3,5OO, 900 in Relieving
Its Distressed Members.
Left Over From last Issue. |


The following interesting article in
which the tenets Of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows are briefly but
succinctly set forth, is taken from the
Germantown Pa.) independents Gazette,
OF last week. i is a portion of an ad-
dress delivered by Rev. Frank l.. Bar
dens on the seventyseventh anniver-
sary of the founding ofthe Order, which
was celebrated by the various lodges
of that city in appropriate style.
AS interest is being revived in Odd
Fellowship in Henderson just at this
time we publish the article for the ben
eft Of those concerned. We quote:
"We need not go into an elaborate
discussion to prove that Odd Fellows are
bound to love one another. st. PauIs
language i'll | Thess., 4th chapter and
9th verse, is explicit. Though this is
spoken emphatically in Christ, every Odd
Fellow will recognize its authority as
teaching duty incumbent on him, even
ii he be not u confessed Christian. How
often we are asked what Odd Fellowship
can do to benefit mankind. No one sees
its silent work and no one heraids its
benefactiOns to the world. But it does
an untold influence for good.
"U) 1t gathers together a group of
men, from the several grades aud classes
of respectable society, and instructs
them in the fundamental principles of
social duty, and enjOins them to go out
into the world and practice according to
their instructions.
"(2) Under the influence of these in
structions they do mingle i'll the crowd
of human beings, and as a necessary
consequence impart something OF their
own principles and feelings to them they
all ieel to be brothers, and as such to
be entitled to consideration and respect
"(O Seeking to rule the world by kind
ness and love, rather than by harshness
and force, it gradually assimlates the
character of its members to its principles,
so that they more and more feel that it
is good and pleasant for brethren to
dwell together in unity.
"(4) BY the influence n nOw exerted upon
society in almost every village and ham
let of our country community is brought
| to feel it's common bond of union, and
the well tempered current of brotherly
love unites the different stones that con-
stitute the living temple into one COM
mon mas.
"This is what our Order is doing. This
| is what it can do. This is what it will
and must do. With no flourish of trum-
pets does it go on it's mission, but still
| as the small voice of truth, but mighty
| and powerful as that of truth in it's most
| potent phase, it Overturns error, subdues
| position and cOnquers all foes, and he
who opposes it's progress must also op-
| pose that march of truth which is even
49, qno ,npS,I
tears to dry, the countenance OF despair
| to Tighten up with the smile of hope, and
| hope herself t, anticipate better day
than has yet dawned on earth
The permanency of Odd Fellowship IS
dependent upon the active influence its
disciples. A Judas may betray, a Peter
may deny, but let Others remain stead
fast and the gates of hell cannot prevail
against it. The genius of Odd Fellow
ship is developed when a brothers hand
| is extended to cool the fevered brow and
administer ease to the suffering body OF
IL brother Odd Fellow, and as the last
sands drop the hour glass OF life, wiping
away the cold dews that settle i'll the
valley OF death, and to the bereaved
widow affording consolation which her
wounded spirit requireth, and taking the
orphan by the hand, directing and per-
suading him to walk only in those paths
which lead to eminence and happiness.
| "'NO other hand can e'er cement,
| Naught else SO close can bind
| AS these three simple magic words,
Love. Friendship, Truth, combined
"The mission of Odd Fellowship, there
fore, is extensive. Q) 1t reaches over all
of life. (2) 1t aims to establish friend
ship among men. (O Love manifested
in all life relations, (4 And truth in
| everything'