The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-02-24

| pllshment OF good and to eradicate
mutual dependence which is so neces-
sary to true happiness. The craving
Of the human heart is sympathy and
man is largely dependent upon his fel-
lows for comfort and happiness in this
life.
This fraternal orgs nization impresses
itself upon our socia life and aids us
in smoothing the rugged points and
edges of life for each other.
Mutual dependence is written upon
the face of nature. The material
world is harmonized by it. The ILL.,
lies, though they spin not and are ar
rayed in glory transcending King
Solomon's, are dependent upon earth,
air and the genial showers. The
great and restless Niagara, though it
moves with majestic power and fills a
gazing world with wonder, borrows its
never failing flood from the evapora-
| ton of waters from the bosom of the
mighty ocean. The very moon, queen
of night, must borrow her silver rays
from the god of day.
So in every phase of existence neu-
trail dependence, the reciprocal idea
of natures economy is clearly inter-
woven with every atom OF life. In
the l. O. 0. F. this truth is clearly de-
veloped. To it man owes his protec-
ton and development of character,
his property, his life, his all. Mu-
tual dependence is union and con-
centration of force, and it is safety as
we'll as strength.
1t is the bed rock Of our govern
ment and its extension into the do
main of daily life and the inculcation
of the duties and benefits growing
therefrom constitute the foundation
and touchstone Of Odd Fellowship.
Growing out of the fundamental
principle is "Friendship," the first Of
the mystic links that bind US, and
which in true fraternity enables us to
sacrifice personal interest for br>th-r.
This deep and abiding principle ele-
Yates man in the "Allseeing Eyes" of
Jehovah and in the sight of his fellow
man and was most beautifully exem-
plifed in the interesting narrative Of
David and Jonathan, one the son of a
king and heir to the throne, the other
an humble yet honest shepherd boy
The Prince incurring the royal dis
pleasure and forfeiting his right to the
kingdom to obey the dictates of friend :
ship to his humble associate and com
panion! Such friendship begat in
David love that gave vent to that
touching eulogy of his dead friend,
"I am distressed for thee, my brother
Jonathan. Thy love to me was won
derful, passing the love of woman"
And the fruit of that love returned
when King David bestowed royal in
heritance on the son of Jonathan.
What a blessed relation in life to
know that we are surrounded by a
phalanx of Jonathans, who plan for
our safety, who rejoice when we re-
joice, and who mourn with us in
trouble; open hands and full hearts
ever ready in the time Of need.
What consolation to know that our
precious wives and children, shall not
fall upon the cold charity Of the world
when we are taken from them, but
have host of friends who will guar d
and keep them. When overtaken by
sickness there are Samaritans all around
who will pour oil and wine in our
bleeding wounds. These consultations
Tighten the burdens of life and robs
the grave of many of its terrors.
Brotherly love is force of friendship
and tender solicitude. We are told
that while we were yet enemies of
God He so loved the world that He
gave His Son to die for US. Moses
was prompted by it to leave the royal
courts of Egypt to deliver perverse
and rebellious people, with patience
and long suffering. At the close of
his ..eventful career, this all pervading
sentiment of his heart, burst forth in
his dying injunction; eff thy brother
be waxen poor and fallen in decay
with thee, then thou shalt relieve him,
yea, though he be a stranger and
sojourner, that he may live with thee. -
The offices of the good Samaritan to
the wounded stranger on the road TO
Jerico, exemplihed the great injunc-
ton of Glove thy neighbor as thyself"
and points out our neighbor. Odd Eel
lowship accepts the divine injunction
"Go thou and do likewise;" and it is a
cardinal principle Of the Order in
brotherly love to relieve the distress
Of fellow men, Tighten the cares of the
widow and educate the orphan.
Friendship and Love being the un.
derlyipg principles that move Odd
Fellows to action, "Truth' becomes a
cardinal virtue with them and they
want it engraven upon the tablets o
their hearts that it may be sIight to
their feet and lamp TO their path
while travelling the rugged journey OF
life in search of reward and rest. The
pages Of "Holy Writ" to an Odd Eel
low shine with living lustre; they tel
him that the "valley of the shadow Of
DEATH has been illumined with the
glories of the resurrection. "In Coo
we trust" is the Odd Fellows shee
anchor, and with faith in the promises
Of God he moves on to help brother
withstand the storms Of life. Thes'
high aims and purposes mus, com
mend themselves to every thoughtful
mind and challenge the sympathy ant
cooperation of every Christian heart
And it behooves every individua
} Odd Fellow to apply his personal yea