Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-04-30
A Treat To Odd Fellows.

Thursday April .
~ being the 4,h ami
yerSsry of Ziegle
@5s5:..' s.'t5 !: e: 20: s.::::.: :;::::' : !: ::
laid aside and a special program
prepared, aI i invitations extended TO Como
| quenessing and other blother lodges to bt
present TIE hall was filled TO It's tul
seating capacity. although many extra
chairs were provided for the occasion.
The special feature Of the evening being
an address by Rev. C. 5. Tinker b. D. o
Sharon, Pa. one OF the bright lights of0dt
! Fellowship and past Grand Chaplain of the
| State, who by his powerful gift of speech
J and elOqlenee held the audience, who
could scarcely realize that half that time
| had elapsed, spslibound for all hour OF
| more
| He spoke of of the symbolic and frater-
! 1al features of the Organization as we'll as
relating many interesting incidents in con-
nection with his own experience,
and his speech was of such q
naiQre as 70 Oiuspirs every true Odd
Fellow 10 a greater effort IN the IL
ture toward the up building Of Dad Fellow
ship and raising OF tie moral standard by
| the realization OF the obligations already
| er know ledge of the principles of the order
ard that the influence of the fraternity
should be of such q character o. u lift Up
and assist the fallen to become better
brothers, husbands and fathers.
That further influence should not Only
be felt in the home, bat in the community
in whict they live and the society in which
they move, being an Odd Fellow simply
by name and being one tor the principles
which are set forth in the rue sense OF the
word are no more to be compared than q
stunted apple to the healthy grated tIllt.
Many secret orders are branded as 10 good
simply by the way the members conduct
themselves, when the rules which should
govern them are without spot and founded
on a rock that is as immovable as the
heavens, may every Odd Fellow therefore
who has taken the solemn obligation live
such lives that they will at last receive the
well done of Him whose example We
should follow.
Keeping inviolate the obligations means
something more than simply withhold
ing from the outer world the secret pass
word. grip, etc, but 20 ever remember that
the eye of 0mnIpotence is ever upon ia
ana IN At oar daily walk should be US Odd
Fellows indeed, separate from the degrad
ing elements OF the world, with an open
hand ever ready TO relieve those in distress
and to comfort the heart saddened by the
berevements perhaps of fond father,
mother, brother or child vt those in the ad-
verstles of cold unfriendly world. Some
torough prejddice ard many through igno-
rance reject the very author of truth itself
yet stands like ita author, unchanged.
Although perhaps unknown to the outer
world silently moving IN, its mighty ln-
flence has reached from ocean to ocean
and even to the most remote corners of the
earth, through discouragments surmount
iGg difficulty after difficulty yet we stand
on the very top of "Pisga's mo0nt" viewing
with awe, in our minds eye the few noble
men in a secluded room with hearts pulsa-
ding for their iellowmen, making beginn-
ing; we turn and view in our ina gination tue
misty future and we wonder can it be,
bou1dless as mighty sea. chained togeth-
or bv friendship, love and truth. With
one aim in view, marching on with a steady
tread that shakes the very earth this in-
Vulnerable throng with heart in hand cast
ing rays of sunshine into the saddened and
bereaved homes of thousands as they pass
along. Should We not bid God speed TO
such principles7 Should prejudice blind
our eyes OF should we attempt to block the
wheels of progress 70 the God given princi-
pies of man.
Have you ever seen sorrowlng wife
with her bosom companion snatched, as it
were from her side, without one ray Of
hope for the dark future before her with
perhaps a scant store of even the necesss
ries of life. she feels that all earthly friends
have vanished. But. low, while she yet
mourns, she hears the tread Of someone ap
preaching, they enter, and with kind words
to s0othe the broken heart leave many
tokens OF friendship behind. Charity.
Can this ever be erssedf Does it not speak
for ITSELF No other order has higher
aim than This, and may such principles
ever propel US and ever predominate in the
lives of every Odd Fellow.
At the close of Rev. Tinker's remarks,
Brother P. d, Stratton of Sharon, was call
ed upon and responded by giving short
but pointed talk spieed with several anus
ing stories which were heartily applauded.
This was followed by few remarks from
a number of the Brothers of Connoquen es
sing Lrlgo, who expressed Themselves a.
briig grr.tlV benetitt"d by their visit to
Zeigirr .dga, and liAo extcnded an irvi
tation to al preSrnt tn attend IL meeting of
similar character on Monday evening. Al
the close of the meeting the speakers rc-
ceived heartily congratulations which show
ed them that they had gained many friends
bY their visit TO our city.