The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-03

and nobler. attributes. It inspires In
man a greater desire for the enjoy-
nent Of that life to come, by teaching
HIM how to enjoy and truly appreciate
the grandeurs of this one. n
As have already stated. our order
e bullded upon Fidelity Charity, jus
tlce and Brotherly Love. b
Fidelity-is the bond Of faithfulness
With which We adhere to the rIght;Fou
lasting and courageous devotion to the
principles and purposes OF our order:
the tie that makes secure the merits
ana Joys OF friendship between our fra
tsrral brothers. ~ NJ 81
And what thing Is friendshIp-thar
attachment which binds one person Ia
another from Intimate acquaintance:
from a;farorable opinion OF the amlable
and respectable qualities OF the mind.
That which makes man recIproclte
the kindly offices OF his fellowmau. That
feeling OF man towards man which Is
born OF confidence based on integrity.
Mans trust in man, and mans WORTH
ness OF that trust. That something
which makes Of life one grand flrma-
ment. lighted by the myriads OF gentle
words spoken and kindly deeds done, as
Is the clear sky In the darkness of nigh.
Hiunfned BY the millions of starry plan.
cts. Without It, all worldly attain .
ments OF business and financial
achievements would but prescribe the
circumference OF hollow sphere.
Mans very soul would starve from
want Of Il. Take man away from
home and friends. and even though
you surround him with the active.
hustling life OF the great city. with lts'
swarms OF busy human beings. he will
cry out In his loneliness. To look upon
the face of q friend. to hear the. sound
Of familiar voice would bring him
more relief and JOY than could great,
riches or honored titles. Without
lose their majesty: the forests their
melody: the social intercourse OF man
It's Joys: the sea would be without Its
grandeur. the human character with
out Its sweetness: and the voices Of
mankind would be but one constant dis
cord. The very home would be robbed
Of Its Joys by the spirit Of loneline5a
that would envelop Il.
Yet with II, how different. The plain,
and the mountain are as living SER
mon to the human soul. The music OF
the forests, ard the sounds OF the sea,
are like unto one grand chorus from
the depths OF high heaven: the charac-
ter OF man IS made the evidence OF
life divine: aye. all things righteous
may he attained.
"Oh, friend, my bosom said.
Through thee alone the sky Is arched:,
Through thee the rose Is red, d:
All things through thee take nobler.
form.
And look beyond the earth. -
The mlll-round OF our fate appears
a. sun-path IN thy worth.
Ne too thy nobteness has taught
To master my despair: -
Tho fountains OF my hidden lie
Are through thy friendship fair"
Fidelity. a
The chief bond OF our order then is
Fidelity. It's mission Is Charity. Eiks
are taught to know and to practice
charity. And, oh. what 10y. what hap
piness. is lost to people In this life
through lack of it How prone we are
10 see the faults liz another. How prone
we are not to see the good traits OF an
other. Especially so Il We know q fault
In him.
We are al! fallib!e. We are all i'm
perfect. We all err. Then why make
self-c0nstituted judges OF ourselves TO
pass upon the ftal,tlts OF othe 2. Is Il
not better that We admit the f~aiItirs
and weaknesses OF all man, and with the
hand OF charity. draw the veil Of for
giveress over them?
Better hide the faults entire. and
magnify the good q. thOuFand times. To
dwell upon faults OF men or the evil
they do. de:ers man In his mental and
spiritual progress. Thoughts OF things
good and noble encourage him to great
er efforts and loftier aims. ..Fs
Now, when l say Eiks practice char
!ty. l do not mean that 1t Is practiced
only within their own order The pooc
and humble who are IN no-wise cor-
nected with the order are often made
the recipients OF their charitable gifts.
don't know what annual custom
your lodge here may follow In d!spen-
sing charity. but the lorge to which
belong has for years made 1t custom
to give to the poor on Christmas OF each
year. The plan upon which we oper-
ate Is substantially this: A general
committee Is appointed by the Exalted
Ruler OF the lodge. This committee
appoints members 10 canvass each
ward Of the city and procure this
names and place OF residence OF those
In need, and who are unable to provide
against their own wants. The number
OF families to be aided Is thus LEARNED.
Provision 's then made 10 furnish each
family with an amount OF meat. flour.
beans, tomatoes, bread butter. sugar.
coffee and other good things OF like
kind. \ card Is then sent 20 the head
OF the family, saying that II on GER
tain day, at n certain hour, they will
call nj n place designated therein. they
will receive Christmas gift. They
come. or send some one In their stead.
They are given two or more baskets OF
provisions. such as have described.
And Q. the 10y. the surprise they mani
fest. All the clouds Of gloom and sor-
row ct having nothing good In store for
that holiday, when others are feastinS
and so happy In their plenty. are sud-
denly dispelled and driven away.
The thought OF table laden WITH
such rich supply OF the substantials
OF life overwhelms them. That sick
parent or child that has been suffering
from want OF proper and sufficient
Rourishment Is now TO be relieved, and
started on the road to recovery. Chill
dreu clap their hands and laugh and
chatter in their glee. while old and fee
BILE fathers and mothers look up In
wonderment and surprise. They wan;
to laugh. but they can only cry. They |
want to speak. but something seems %
no choking thnr Through their teur-