Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-20

Attended Services at the Second
Presbyterian Church Yesterday
Morning and Listened to a Fine
Sermon by Rev. Joseph Speers.
An Eloquent Discourse on the
Subject of "Ths Ideal Brother
hood"-Rev. Mr.. Speers' Remarks
The knights of Pythias OF the city
held their annual memorial service at
the Second Presbyterian church. Inc
Couer de Leon, Bernard Stanley ana
James T. MCGEE uniformed divisions
and four subordinate lodges, the ONO
Valley No. 81. Wheeling No. ia, Balti-
more No. and Black Prince NO. ~
met at the castle on Market street ana
marched to the Second church, heaoeo
nv Meisters band. At least five nun
dred men were in line and made very
imposing appearance.
One-half of the pews OF the churen
were reserved for the knights, ana De-
SIDES this the aisles was Nil
ed. The altar and pulpit was appro-
nriately decorated for the occasion, ana
several American flags. carried by the
lodges added to the beauty OF the dis
NAV The services were particularly
;nnressiye. The musical programme
u.as nu;te elaborte. The choir, consist
inc If Mrs. George B. Caldwell, MISS
BESSIE McGranahan, Mr.. Allen Robin
uon Mr. Charles Zulauf, directed by
prof Henriech Hartman, sang num-
ner of snecial pieces. The knights
onening and closing ode, accompanied
nv Meister's band, were sung by the
knights of Pythias and the congrega-
ton. ,;,r
The sermon to the knights was deilv-
rod hv Rev. Joseph Speers, the pastor
of tho church. who delivered fine DIS
course on the subject of The Ideal
brotherhood. The sermon was atten-
tivelv listened 10 and made deep I'M
weston At times the Knights were
disnosed 10 applaud some OF the senu-
VENTS of the minister, but only SUD
dued their desire to express their ap-
nrohation by remembering that dem,
onstration of this kind in church woulo
he unusual and somewhat out OF place.
At the close of Rev. Mr.. Speer
carmon he read list of the deceased
members of the Baltimore. BACK
pr;nca Ohio Valley and Wheeling
LODGES The sermon was as follows:
"The Ideal Brotherhood. Matt. zo.o'
,And all We are brethren.
These words were spoken TO great
company Of men and women wno hau
gathered to hear the words OF NE anu
light as they fell from the lips OF HIN u
"who spake as never man spahe'
They are appropriate for TINS tl1ne,
when 'all ye who are brethren haVe
assembled yourselves IN the mouse Vi
God. if nothing more might pc salo
and done. to indicate the high ldeal OF
tho society of the Knights OF Pythlas,
which is founded upon the great ana
living principles of Friendship, Charlty
and Benevolence. We learn that your
order inculcates in its teachings the
fairest gem Of virtue. emblazoned upon
the shield OF sacred honor, and the
brightest jewel that bedecks the dla,
dem of its mandates is Charity, ana
when we turn to the sacred Dook'
where the great law OF Coo is III
scribed. we learn the true meaning OF
the word charity, and well may we
ponder long and earnestly over the
words of the great apostle Paul, where
he saws: Love suffereth long and IS
kind love envieth not, love vauntetn
not itself. is not pulled up. Love never
faileth.' for love is Of God, and GOD
is love-
Nowhere in literature outside Of the
Bible. do we find a better Illustration
If character
than that displayed in the story OF
Damon and Pythias, who, in an age,
and among a people Jealous only for
self ACKNOWLEDGMENT and self-preserVa-
ton. could display brotherhood
which forced even the cruel and coVet-
GUS Donysius TO admire the eXtraor-
binary fidelity of these two friends and
seek to be admitted into the sacred
circle. And well may | ask you. What
power could have enabled Pythias to
resist the temptations to betray and
distrust his friend and companion, and
risk his own life, than love? For such
/ take this word charity" to be. All,
it was love which in the supreme
moment of trial could turn away from
the sweetest and uenderest ties OF
nature. that of a man to his promised
bride, and which brought forth those
memorable words, "Tis sweet to die for
those We love
There are emotions which thrill the
very depth of the soul; or such is the
consciousness Of human brotherhood,
and for power over all the springs or
human tenderness it comes next to the
consciousness OF God There comes a
time in the lives of all of us when we
feel that there is closer and more
enduring tie between men than is IN
dicated by the outward relationship or
birth and social position, a spiritual
bond that grows out of the sympathies
OF the immortal mind. The greatest
minds are most alive to this solemn
consciousness, for there is common
heart in humanity which is touched by
ahe veal or woe of its brethren, and.
~All We are brethren bound together
BY the ties of Friendship, Love and
Beneyolence.
1t is often said that secret orders
are an evil 10 society and source of
unhappiness in the homes of their
members. This would be true when
the secret order comes between man
and his religious duties. or between a
man and his home. But the knights
OF Pythias' urge these most sacred
duties TO be performed by its MEM
bers, and that is why the society stands
to-day a tower of strength and a bull
Of nrotantjnT country