Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-05-03
opDFELLOWs WORSHIP.
Eloquent Sermon Preached to
That Order by Rev. f.
A. Sumner.

A. Summer.
At the anniversary services OF the
10. O. F.. at the congregational
church Sunday morning. Rev. F. A.
Sumner took for his theme "Fellow-
ship" He said In part: '"The UNDER
lying principles OF fellowship are
found in the characters of both the
old and new testamenth. Fellow
ship represents in principle the sec-
ond of the great primal teachings OF
God to men. The first and greatest
teaching is "Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God, and Him only shalt
thou serve," which indicates fellow
ship with God. And the second Ia
like unto 1t, "thou shalt love they
neighbor as thyseli," which indicates
fello wship with each other. The
desire for friends is one Of the strong
est tendencies OF the human heart.
But those abiding friendships we 80
much desire are dependent upon the
great principles OF mutual inter-
change Of thought and feeling. and
that mutual sacrifice OF time and
convenience in which there can be
no Onesidedness; no selfishness; no
taking without giving. 1t seems to
be the plan Of God that there should
be fellowship among the sons OF men.
"GOd divided man into men that
they might help each other" 10
word according to Seneca. we
should not forget the words OF DR..
Arnold: beyond all wealth, honor,
and even health is the attachment
we form for noble souls; because to
become one with the good, generous
and true, ia to become in a measure
good, generous and true ourselves.
Emerson says: 1.-The whole human
family is bathed with an element OF
love like Il fine ether" To get this
ensphering love into form and ex-
preston ia the work OF organized
fello wship.
The spirit of true fellowship will
not come and 20 with the change OF
fortune. have no faith in the mis-
ere bic notion that the poor are
friendless because they are poor, and
that friends desert ON the approach
OF poverty and misfortune.
The fine relation Of brotherhood
does not turn upon change OF FORT
une. "A true friend is born for ad-
versity," and is often never known
till needed. Happy is the man who
belongs t." an order where dist'nc-
tons of prosperity and misfortune
are covered from sight. and where
through the avenues OF true friend
ship a man may multiply himself.
Another principle Of fellowship IN
addition to the spirit OF friendliness
! 10 that Of love. "Greater love hath
lno man than this. that a man lay
down bis life for his friends" This
phase of fello wship is tempered with
compassion and mercy toward the
unfortunate and the way ward. We
always find the noblest natures the
m ost compassionate ond tender, be-
cause they are the most GOdlike.
This principle OF love leads us not
only to do many things for others,
but to feel more. We often
shrink from showing sympathy and
love. We may be willing to assist
the troubled aud the unfortunate.
but it is too often done In the spirit
in which charity ia doled out by
many wonldbe philanthropbists,
without thought or sympathy. II
we would show the world mercy we
must carry a kindly and sympathetic
heart through the world.
without this spirit Of love and
friendship no society can live and
prosper. All s"cieties have
died in the past except those that
have been founded upon the great
divine principles Of friendship.
The question is often raised. what
Ia the need of the organization OF Odd
Fellows and kindred associations
That it meets crying need Is EVIL
dent from its marvellous growth In
this country during the seventy
nine years OF it's existence on this
o}~1o 80 Tim A lonfic
It meets a social need among ite
members; but that Is only a part Of
its purpose. 1t does not In
tertere in the realm OF the Christian
|church and school, but is doing q
distinct work along benevolent lines
q work that is much better done by
organized, than by individual effort
And "in union" there Ia strength In
the work OF benevolence. But little
of the work OF the order is known to
the world, as its members have gone
unheralded to tho world, Into the
Ihomea Of tens of thousands among