The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-09
SECRET
SOCIETIES.

PROFESSOR uluSlIdlcu ~
magic lantern with fine views of the
subject under discussion. The lecturer
was at his best, and greatly interested
his hearers. The audience was large
one, many ladies being present.
Tonight the degree of friendship
will be conferred by the degree staff,
under the leadership of Brother Fred
A. Rowe and enlarged orchestra. Mem
berS and visiting brothers are cordl-
ally invited to be present, as they Will
witness some of the best degree work
ever done in this section The degree
staff keeps uD it's record for superior
floor work, and the enthusiasm shown
by the members is a great incentive TO
extra eXertion on the part of the Of
ficerS to do all they can to increase the
effectiveness of the lodge for doing
good in the name of fraternity
Tuesday night witnessed a good at
tendance at Oquirrh encampment. The
session was made interesting by talks
on the legislation enacted at Dallas for
the strengthening Of the encampment
branch. Many members favor the new
legislation as the reducing of dues and
rates for admission and cutting off of
benefits will raise the standard of
efficacy and be the means of adding
very many subordinate members to
the patriarchial degree. The lessons
lnCulcdl6u the GDCdlnDIn6HI are lOO
e7evating to be lost sight of and all
who join it are satisfied with the step
taken.
Odd Fellowship never takes a back
ward step, and the Dallas session will
do more to increase the membership in
every branch of the order than any
legislation that has been enacted for
many years.
Ester Rebekah lodge on Tuesday
night had a large gathering of those
who love the Rebekah degree and it's
principles. The members were early on
hand. Two applications were ballotted
on and the applicants elected to become
members. Other matters of moment
were disposed of and some interesting
speeches were made by brothers and
sisters present from other lodges.
Woman's very presence in a lodge is
an inspiration; her sympathies are
quick and ardent; she does her work
promptly and cheerfully.
Miriam lodge No. 10 met as usual on
Saturday, and had a good time indeed.
All present enjoyed the occasion of
brotherly and sisterly good feeling and
the work of the lodge is done without
friction. The sublime teachings of the
Rebekah degree are a great advantage
to women.
The Utah Odd Fellow to hand is
bright, newsy and interesting number
which should be read by every member
of the order. 1t is the official organ of
the order in this jurisdiction and every
member who wishes to keep posted
cannot get along without it.
The figures for 1895, as reported by
Grand Secretary Ross, afford food for
thought. They show a gain in sub
ordinate members of only about 5000,
while the Rebekah branch gained a.
000, and the encampment lost 1,600.
is cut down chiefly by loss of members
dropped for nonpayment of dues. 1 be-
lieve this could be avoided to some ex-
tent if lodges would consider more
carefully the value and Importance of
a good, attentive permanent secretary,
one who will exert himself to collect
delinquent dues promptly, and not al
low members to get so far behind that
it is impossible to catch up.
The requirements of a secretary are
not usually canvassed sufficiently nv
the lodges at the time Of election. If
a man is a good bookkeeper, that fact
usually suffices. He should be more
than that.
The wonderful gain in the Rebekah
branch is surprising. What viii it be
when they are given an improved
ritual? Its growth also refutes the
charges sometimes made that the at
traction in Odd Fellowship is its benefit
system. This branch pays no benefits
worth mentioning, yet it shows great
est gain.
The loss in the encampment branch
is not surprising. The trouble there is
that it endeaVorS to pay almost as
much benefits as the subordinate with
half the amount of dues. 1t cannot be
done, and a depleted treasury makes
a discouraged encampment, ending in
total loss.
1 believe the time is coming when
the encampment and the militant will
be merged. Then it may prosper
No man in the world has a greater
opportunity to display his noble nature,
his kline and generous heart, his high
aspirations, or his true manhood than
a faithful, devoted, conscientious and
loyal Odd Fellow. While some of our
Jealous Christian friends are bitter in
opposing the work of our benevolent
and fraternal society, yet the true Odd
Fellow realizes his duty to God, fellow
men and his lodge.
The first duty of an Odd Fellow is
obedience to the laws of the land and
loyalty to the government and institu-
tons. While there are some who may
object to the ceremonies that take
place in the hall of the order, yet no
man can say that they are out of
place. When the hand of sickness has
laid a man low, and nothing has been
earned for months. is it an un-Chris-
tan act to bring food and raiment to
Gods Door? No. The writer believes
in Christianity that will minister to a
mans temporal wants, as we'll as
spiritual wants. and the true Odd Eel
low that discharges this duty would
receive the appreciation of him. who
said: Visit the sick, care for the dying.
help the widow and orphan, and love
one another" An Odd Fellow has
many duties to perform that makes
him a noble man, and brings him into
closer relationship to his master.
Friendship, love and truth are the |
principles upon which the order is
and the noble way the mem
bers of the order have acted in re- /
lieving the wants of suffering hu- !
manity, and caring for, their sick and
dead, the devotion they have shown to /
the widow and the orphan, and the /
many thousands of dollars they have /
spent is evidence enough to any intel /
ligent man that the object of fraternal |
that they have protection in time of |
need. If ingratitude and selfishness I
did not fill the whole nature of so /
many men and women, and the educa- /
ton of self was not the whole aim Of I
man. the true mission of fraternaI |
orders of our land would be better
understood and more appreciated. Too /
many are so ignorant that they will |
never see but one side of a question, !
yet in this free land the fraternal |
orders have and viii distribute many
thousands of dollars to relieve the |
q ~ = = Of