The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-11

mighty organization Known as the "Inde
pendent Order of Odd Fellows" which
today is the greatest benevolent instiLu-
ton in the world. There arc now nine
hundred thousand men who are devoted
to its noble and eleyating tenets. In one
year over three million dollars has been
expended for benevolent purposes, and
fifty million dollars has been eX-
pended for the same wise and charitable
purpose
Odd Fellowship celebrated this year,
seventy seven years of a useful existence.
The question might be asked what has Odd
Fellow ship done during all these years
for humanity? 1t cannot be calculated.
The world Will never know. Only the
recording angel VINO registers good deeds
in big book in heaven knows. IL has
cheered the widow, when in poverty,,an
distress she knew not how or where to
bury her dead. 1t has taken care of the
orphans, when their Natural protectors
were helpless in the icy arms of death.
by the sick bed of suffering brethren, the
grave side of those who have been called
to their eternal holue, wherever fam inc,
flood, disease or death has made life u
burden there the Odd Fellow has been
found healing the sick, caring for the
needy, comforting the sorrowing. bury
ing the dead. Thousands of men have
been saved from drunkards graves, thou
sands more have been eased of their bur
dens, and just as the GOOD Samaritan"
helped the deserted and wounded stran-
ger so the ''Odd Fellow in obedience to
the example of our blessed Master makes
the widow and orphan, the sick and
afflicted, the object of this regard and So
licitude. And like the incense that welled
up from the ark of the Covenant, when
the children of Israel dwelt in tents,
making good the city of God, has heen
the charity, benevolence and brotherly
love of our puissant order saying in deeds
not in meaningless words, 81 am your
neighbor"
One objection urged az einst Odd Eel
lowShip g that it usurps the functions
of the church, and thereby destroys its
influ.n nee. This is not the case. Our or
der does not claim to be refornatory. No
man can lie an Odd Fellow who does
not believe in t-od. If a man lives up to
his obligations, it will make Of him a
better husband, father, citizen; but it
will not save his soul. A uan who Is an
Odd Fellow, and is not . Christian, or
does not live up TO his. obligation in the
opinion of his brethren. is sorry sort CO
man. For secret order to antagonize
the church of Christ, would have the
The work of the church is to save souls.
1t is every mans first duty to be Chris
tian, and in everything his duty to his
God should be paramount. The work of
the Odd Fellows is relieving nd comfort
ing the poor and needy. this is founded in
the divine com msnd, "Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself'' Thisis the high
and holy law. From this divine motto
we have the three great links in our mys-
tic chain forming the moral principles of
Friendship, Love and Truth.
"There is friend that sticketh closer
than a brother" Never has this been
friendship of David and Jonathan.
"Greater love hath no man .han this, that
he will lay down his life for his friend"
David was an outlaw, driven from the
presence of Sanl, whom he had supplant-
ed, Jonathan, Saul's son. scion of a royal
househol l. Jonathan prince, David IA
shepherd boy. Jonathan caused David to
swear everlasting feality to him be-
cavse he loved him as his own soul. 1.-The
Lord be between me and thee, and be
tween my seed and thy seed forever"
This is the type of friendship Odd Eel
lows endeavor TO inculcate in their mem
bers, allegiance unto death, and care of
the widow and orphan after their natural
protector has been taken away. iona
than fell with his father on the hills of
Cilboa, overwhelmed with grief. David
sings an eulogy. GLOW art the mighty
fallen in the II idst of the battle: o, Jon
athan, thou vast slain in the high places
L am distressed for thee my brother, Jon
athan: very pleasant hast thou been unto
men; thy love to me has been wonderful
passing the love of woman" Friendship
is tested in adversely. An Odd Fellow is