Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-24

10 practice charity, the greatest of all
virtues. The platform on which our
order stands Is at eNacting, yet liberal
and broad one. One requiring no reIi-
~ious or political test. 1t is plat
form OH which the devotees of all
creeds, scots or beliefs or party affilia-
tons may meet and unite for their
common good. 1t exemplifies and
demonstrates in a practical way many
OF the injunctions of holy writ among
which are the virtues already mentions
ed, to practice charity, to do unto your
neighbors as you would have him do
unto you, to love your neighbor as
--onrself, to do any and everything to
make mankind and the world better
by their having lived in it. thus full
filling the highest mission of man
kind on this earth.
The teachings of woodcraft is to
make men better, to make its members
better husbands and fathers. better
neighhors and better citizens. The
rapid and phenomenal growth of this
order, in the last few years from Il
small membership and n few camps, to
membership at the present time of
nearly 500, 900 members, confined to thc
northwestern portion of the United
States. seems of itself to be argument
enough to convince any fair unbiased
mind, of its genuine merit. Just
pause moment and think of one half
million of good. true, loyal men de-
voted to the principles of this noble
order, exemplifying its tenets in
their lives. What vast army of ex-
ponents of the principals of frater-
nifty, what a powerful host for the
promotion of good and when we add
to this great body of men, all the
other members of their families we
have number aggregating an
amount, but few thousand less than
the entire population of the original
colonies when orr fore-fathers pro-
claimed their independence. and de-
clared war against the mother country,
then one of the most powerful nations
on the face of the globe. Today the
Modern Woodmen OF America can
raise nm army from among its own
members, of sufficient magnitude to
have fought the Spanish-American
war and TO subdue thefrebellion in the
Philippine Islands.
We come today with warm hearts
and glad hands to met you and to ex-
tend to you, one and ALL the Wood
mans honor and greeting. and bid you
all welcome, thrice welcome. The
latch strings of our city, our camps,
and our homes hang out to you and
yours. We meet you iupon the thresh-
hold of this days festivities and assure
you that we are all anxious and ready
to do all in our power to make this one
OF the most pleasant social occasions of
our lives. These grounds and all there
in are yours, come into our pleasant
grove and enjoy the cool shade of the
branching aaiss partalle of our fruits
and hospi. .:-,r We have laid aside
the busy busting and perpleAing
cares of our daily ayocations. and
hithertwe have come from the farm,
from the shop. from the factory, from
behind the counter. from the office and
from all the varied avocations of life,
and single out and make this holt
day unto ourselves in which and by
which, TO extend and broaden our ac-
quaintances, to make new, to refresh
and renew our friendships. Now for
fear of wearying you with speech let
me say in conclusion, this day these
grounds and all the surroundings are
yours, unto all of which we bid you
all welcome, thrice welcome.
a number of short responses were
made by prominent members Of the
order, after which the following pro-
gram was rendered.:
Selection-Wapell Chief band
Song-Quartette.
Gun contest.
Address. "Woodcraft''- A. Atkin-
son, Rock Island.
Selection Wapello Chief band.
Song Quartette.
Address. Royal Neighbors' Mrs.
IS. \. HendryN. Oskaloosa.
Song-Quartette.
Selection Wapello Chief band.
Drill contest by Foresters' and Royal
Neighhors' degree teams.
One hundred yard foot race.
Potato race.
Sack race.
Three-legged race.