, 1896-07-18
was instituted and which all regard as

That the bright links OF our member
ship may be kept untarnished on the
one hand. and that private pique or
personal prejudice on the other, may
not work to the exclusion of the
worthy. three black balls are required
to reject an applicant.
II the ballot be clear the candidate is
forthwith admitted. No oath is re-
quired of him. no penalties are invok-
ed.
truly affirm that it contains not a SEN
tence. suggests not a thought to COM
promise the dignity of true manhood,
or suffuse the cheek of the gentlest
maiden. 1t is decent. earnest. solemn
and impressive.
At each stated meeting of an Odd
Fellows lodge. wherever or whenever
convened. the question is p~ropounded,
Does anyone know of a sick brother
or a brother in distress?" Is such an
one announced? The committee OF re-
lief Immediately waits upon him; as
certain his wants; provide for him
watchers and attendance, and if he be
entitled thereto. pay him the benefits
from 50 to s. per week-during his en-
tire illness.
We say is entitled, because the bene-
fits, so called, are no a gratuity. They
are in no sense a charity: but are paid
to all, rich and poor, alike.
To be entitled to benefits the individ-
ual brother must be in good standing
with his lodge. He must have pune
tually paid his dues up to the time OF
sickness or disability. and his infirmity
own improper conduct.
Thus, while without degrading him
in his W esteem, Jul order flies to a
brothers relief at the moment of his
disability, and at the m when re-
lief is most welcome, because mos
needed. 1t offers no inducement to ar
irregular and immoral life.
The dues above mentioned are from
81 to $3.50 per veal and in some places
much more. These dues are paid
weekly. monthly or quarterly to the
lodge. II. in a given instance the bene.
fits are sufficient, the lodge may, by
vote. as in case of charity to those
without the order. appropriate from its
funds. or make up by private contribu.
ton, whatever sum is needed to relieve
the distress.
If a brother die the lodge, with the
consent of his family or friends, adj
vances the funeral benefit paid by the
A similar benefit is, in like manner,
paid a brother in the event Of the death
Of his wife.
Nor does this guardian care of the
Odd Fellows lodge cease with the
death of a brother. The widow during
her widowhood, may claim our sym
pathy. our counsel and our assistance
We are Obliged to aid her in distress
to counsel her in difficulty. and to pro.
vide for her e~ver-returning wants. She
is also entitled. as the wife of an Odd
Fellow. to a card, which, duly authen.
ticated. secures her the brotherly pro.
lection of all true Odd Fellows, where.
ever dispersed around the globe.
And the orphan too-when were Ode
Fellows ever unmindful Of the sacred
inheritance committed to them by q
departed brother? 1t is theirs to taxi
the orphans by the hand, to clothe, pro.
tect and cherish-to prepare all such
for the destiny which may await them
and to be to them a guide through the
journey Of life. In a word, to visit the
sick. to relieve the distressed, to bury
the dead, and to educate the orphan i!
the command Of our organization. Ii
l this comprehensive formula is assigned
our peculiar work. Should a lodge sc
: far prove false to its trusts as to fai
in the discharge of the least of thes,
primary duties, its charter Is for
feited-its functions sease. But to tn,
honor of the order be it observed, no
an instance of this description has evel
been known.
Such, then. briefly, are some of tn,
more practical duties which Odd Eel
lowship enjoins-such the more OBJ
vious rights and privileges which i
confers.
But in the language of our ritual, a.
truthful as it is impressive, which ar,
its constant and almost daily ministra,
tons, they are but a 1.-THE Of the in.
trinsic virtues OF our beloved order
Odd Fellowship seeks to improve and
elevate the character OF man; to Undue
him with proper conceptions OF his ca.
pabilities for good: to enlarge the
sphere Of his ~affections-in a word, its
aim is to lead man to the cultivation O.
the true fraternal relation designed b,
the Great Author Of his being.
The social influences Of Odd Fellow.
ship are Of the highest moment. MAI
needs a close acquaintance with mar
the world over. We need to touch each
other at many points of social con.
tact. Shut up in our several pursuits
mingling but little with any but those
who are attached to our individual vo.
cations, the range of our moral vision
contracts; and we become, with hearts
yearning for sympathy, warm with gen.
erous sentiment and glowing with
truthful emotion, we become estranged