The herald., 1896-06-22
The Twenty-Second Birthday of
the Order
THE EVENT CELEBRATED
By Interesting Exercises at Simpson M,
e. Tabernacle
An Eloquent Address by Rev. Dr.. n:Lean, the
Pastor of the church-Beneiits of.
the Order Set Forth

IHe lHuepefuent OFQer OF rOreSterS
yesterday celebrated the twenty-second
anniversary of the organization of the
order with appropriate exercises at
Simpson NJ Z. tabernacle, on South
Hope street. Owing to the funeral of one
of the members of Court Los Angeles.
the attendance was not so large as was
expected, still a most creditable show
ing was made.
The members of the several courts met
in their hall on South Spring street, and
preceded by the uniformed military rank
marched in body to the church, where
they arrived promptly at the hour ad-
vertised, 2:3O o'clock.
After an organ prelude by F. b. Colby,
the church organist the exercises open
ed with brief Introductory address
by G. A. McElfresh, high chief ranger
of California, who briefly announced the
objects of the gathering. and outlined
in a few words the growth of the order
since its organization, twenty-five years
ago.
Prayer by High Chaplain Charles L..
Wilde followed, after which the ami
versary ode of the order was sung by
the members and the congregation, led
by the quartet choir of the church.
At the call of the high chief ranger,
High Vice-Chief Ranger H. S. Eberle
read the principles of the order from
the ritual, after which Past High Chief
Of the order. Then followed charges
from the ritual by the high chaplain
and the high chief ranger.
The Heavens Are Declaring was given
by the church choir, after which the
Grafton of the day was delivered by Rev.
c. C. Mclean, D. D., pastor of the Tab
ernacle. DR.. Mclean has recently be-
come a member of the order, and deliv-
cred an eloquent and forceful address
on the advantages and benefits growing
out Of such membership. The reverend
gentleman took as the base of his re-
marks the eighth verse of the fifth chap
ter of First Timothy But if any provide
not for his own, and especially for those
of his own house, he hath denied the
faith, and is worse than an infidel."
The speaker congratulated the order
upon the marvellous success attained
during the short period of twenty two
years, during which it has been in ex-
iStence. The membership, he said, is
now over $4,000, and possibly in month
will reach the 100000 mark. This re :
suit, lie Sdlu, is IL cause IOS InuCH con-
graduation, and speaks volumes in COM
mendation of the business management; |;
better than good business management,
however, is the solid rock upon which
the order is built, the rock of God, and
his teachings of right doing.
The speaker referred to the first fav-
orable impression made upon him at the
funeral of a member of the order, and
quoted freely from the beautiful ritual.
The next favorable impression was the
| fact the order threw around it's men,
bers the protection of good moral in
f1uences While not an order instituted
for the promotion of temperance, it
nevertheless promoted sobriety and tenn
perance by excluding from it's meeting
and feasts all liquors, the Introduction
of which would forfeit the charter of
any court of the order. Again, where
the order is not a church, and has not
been organized for the protection or
defense of the same. nor for the promul-
cation of the teachings of any denom-
ination or sect, yet it upholds the teach
ings of God as given in his word, aud
teaches the Importance of sustaining all
godly and Christian institutions calling
upon the members to give heed to the
ten commandments, and by beautiful
precepts encourages all who become
members of the order to look to God for
strength to walk Alright before him and
their fellow men.
The speaker referred at length to the
beneficiary features Of the order, and
after quoting from the ritual, said that
he did not wonder that the Foresters is
known as a truly benevolent order.
More than that, the members are lovers
of home and of all that is included In
that endearing name. The sick benefit
and insurance features connected with
the order and the contributions to the
same substantially prove this to be true
DR.. Mclean said that he regarded it
as a religious duty for all to provide for
their own, and now, with the low rates
of life insurance offered by the Forest
ers, this was possible for every man.
So teaches the word of God, as was
shown by the text He believed in a
religion that makes us tremendously
practical, and any religion that does not
so make us is not the religion of our
God and Savior. The speaker continued
for some length further, and closed by
emphasizing the Importance of provid-
ing for the dependent ones left behind
in case of death.
A collection was taken up to defray
the expenses, after which the Foresters'
anthem was sung by the members of the
order and the congregation, led by the
choir, the exercises closing with the
benediction by the high chaplain.