The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-09
Sermon TO ODD FELLOWS
Rev. Foster L. Gift Addresses Them
in !. n. {. A. Auditorium.
AN | ny BROTHERS. KEEPER?
Gains Unbrothcrly Answer Made the
Theme of Very Appropriate Ser
mon by the Eloquent Young Pas
tor of Grace Luthe ran Church


Rev. Foster Y. Gift, pastor of Grace
Lutheran church, delivered an eloquent
and very appropriate sermon TO the
independent Order of Odd Fellows last
evening in the auditorium of Young
Mems Christian association hall. He
took for his text Genesis, iv; >: Ana
the Lord said unto Cain, Where Is
Abel. thy brother?' and he said: u
know not; am l my brothers Keeper!
If apprehend Alright the high and holy
purpose of our assembling here tonisht,
II is 10 rebuke this unbrotheriy ana ueclu-
edly human reply 10 this divine question.
We are on Gods side in this matter ana,
To us, brotherhood is no open question, as
it was to Cain, but reality. We desire
then, tonight, to rummage and reNel IN
the courts of brotherhood, TO baSk III
its luxuries. and TO drink at its inNiSorat-
ing fountain.
But first of all it is necessary to know
the foundation of true brotherhoou.
Upon what does il stand? What is It's
corner stone? Where do It's roots pehc-
trate? Brother, I'll tell you upon Whal
mine is founded; upon the Fatherhood OF
God, membership in the family OF saints,
and this family is entered by birth. but
slave-born, shackle-bound sin conceNen.
the door of entrance to the Royal FANNY
of God was barred. Then comes the voice
and says ''Ye must be born again Ipon
that build, upon that l stand, upon that
| stake my odd Fellowship.
THE all-seeiny eye" how about that :
l worship at the shrine of Friendship,
Love and Truth becanse am Christian.
True brotherhood built on God. OH the
new. birth. which registers our names
upon the great family record above, never
forgetS, forsakeS, despises. the "all-see-
ing eye" as the corner stone, the key
stone of our SCul life
BEHOLD TRUE L1C NTROODs.
Now behold true rothcrhuoh--common
aim, kindred ties, equality of hearts-i
fraternity where king and peasant. mas
ter and slave. rich and poor, capital and
labor where inequality of eXternals are
submerged into spirit of heart-oneness,
where all dwell together in unity.
Then behold feStooned over our hearts
the three NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of divine
mcaning-f'riondship Love and Truth.
Hear them speak to us.
Friendship first ciamors for speech.
"'rhcrr Is Il friend that sticketh closer
than II brother Let Jonathan tell us the
meaning of this emblem which has 50
fastened itself on our hearts.
Behold Saul fun of envy and hate. DO
his thousands, (buD David his tens OF
thousands Saul seeks the life of this
innocent son of Jesse. Jonathan becomes
the friend of David. Hear the covenant
of friendship. The Lord be between me
and thee and between my seed and thy
seed forever" David is in danger now
from the sword of Saul, so Jonathan sends
Il message of warning. As messenger
he chooses the arrow-swift and sure
Away speeds the arrow! Listen! "Thf
arrow is beyond thee" David must flee
Now, | like this arrow-friendship. 1t
is so emhlematic and significant. teaching
what true friendship should be. The ar
row is swift, obedient, straight. 1t never
stops along he way to peer into tht
haunts of pride, seliishncss, gossip. crti
ciSm. 1t never compromises upon it,
journey with temptation, scorners AM
mockers. 1t never pays heed 10 threats al
public opinion. Then II speeds away st
uncncuinberrd, unbur'lened, unfreightei
down that nothing hiuderS its swiftness
No Se!iishncss, personal popularity. feai
OF oosin% reputation weigh il down. II
goes straight, free IS II bird, above th'
storm Of the rabhlc. II goes in time o
need. "A friend in need is Il friend in
deed" 1t sleeps in lis cosy qtivtr Whri
no need or danger is ngh. And abov,
all il seeks to Kill ami destroy the enemy
rather than to destroy and sacrifice H.
friend
THOSE WHO SEEK OrR GOOD.
Erothers. We love those friends who seel
our good in the hour of need and danger
who seek to save our life We love thos,
who, directly, cOuraSeously, quickly, un
seltishly warn us of danger.
But We abhor those friends who deser
| us in the hour of need. or who seek to rn
tice and allure MS into haunts of evil. int,
the abodes OF vice, lust. passion. dissipa
tion. We shun that friendship whici
| leads us to il drunkard's grave, to th'
gambling den. or anywhere where We arr
| in danger OF iosin. character.
brothers, are wc true TO this emblem
| Are We trying TO save our brothers char
actcr and life, endcavOiing to lead hin
| away from evil' "Arc we shooting th
| arrow Where is Abel, thy brother"
DO We always have Il CULVER fun of arrows
| of Christian friendship? Love, the secon'
emblem. now clamors for speech. "Lov,
thy neighbor as thy self" God is love.
DO you know the language OF brothcrl,
love? Does any one know of a sicl
brother or brother in distress"
Behold man journeyinS to Jericho Ill
| is waylaid by hiShwaymen who leave hin
half dead. The priest and later the Levitt
come along-men of God tD-but "the!
pass by Oh the other side" The humble
| Samaritan comes that way. Does he pas
| by" He stops. goes 10 the sufferer bend
| over him. ,pours oil into his wounds an'
| cares for him. He didn't ask Am ! III!
brothers keeper or "whO Is my neigh
| bor?" This Is Samaritan love. 1t visit
| the sick. the helpless. the poor. 1t care
for the orphans the widow, the friendless
| 1t comforts, cheers gladdens the need,
and weary. The belated Traveller upol
| life's pathway, meeting the robber wan
| or need or affiiction shivering in tn
| storms of sorrow, feels the gentle hand -
| love ministering to him. II raises up
| Clara Barton, that angel of mercy. VIII
| never passes by on your side--a Florenc
| Nightingale who bends over human suf
| fering upon the worlds hattleilelds. Ar
| We true to this emblem. brot hers: are W
ready TO alleviate suffering? Let us nevc
| pass by on the other side with the prizes
| and Levite. but let us be on the frOntie
| of woe and suffering.
| THE NpICE, nI' TpJ-TIJ
Hear now the voice of Truth. Chris
| says 81 am the Truth" Honor here as
| serts her sway" In the courts of trutl
| dishonesty falsehood and unfairnesS ar
| strangers. The demagogue, the tyrant
| the trickster, the hypocrite dare not EN-
| ter. Shakespeare lago cannot play hi
| game of treachery here. Judas is barre
| out as well. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
| double me,I-cannot deceive this higl
Judge. In short, it is no place for the devi
| TO play his artful games of treachery an,
| wickedness. Truth would purify on
| government. put to shame bribery am
| political chicanery. 1t would make trI
| citizens. Ii would stop accursed gossip
| neighborly strife. home disputes Man
| hood would be lifted above scandal mon
| gers, above the communicating atmos
| phere of social ana political rottenness
| Let MS be true to this emblem and keel
| unsulied this pearl of virtues. Brother
| are we acting and living the truth 4
| one another. holding aloft its great an,
| holy banner?
| brotherhood. What Il grand structure
| What will not brotherhood do? 1t lift
| the olive branch of peace. harmony, holi
| ness II would relegata into The ren Inns N