Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-04-30

many might not be obliged to remain On
their feet.
one of the features of the service was
the music by 4 double quartet under the
leadership Of A. "A. Narncy. The sermon
by ROY. +. S Crosby the pastor Of the
church. was delivered in a very forciblc
manner. his enunciation being So fault
less that he could be easily heard in every
part Of the church. llh;tead Of preaching
i sermon he spoke directly to the OLA
Fellows ana showed by his words how
| thoroughly he believes in the good the or
der has done. He said in part:
Members Of the Asylum Lodge. No. ID.
I. .. o. Fl. Of Augusta: In compliance
with your request. | appear before you on
this occasion. not rs one aspiring fame
BY eloquence. but in obedience to an in
vitation from YOU to deliver the S0th an
niverslry address Of the founding Of your
order.
"Gentlemen If your motto, Friendship.
Love and Truth were extended more il
the churches. and among all mankind. ii
would make this world a comparative
paradise. For friendship. truth and love.
when allowed fun scope to purify human
motives ami regulate human conduct. in
terfuse throughout society an atmoSphera
of benefiCenCe ana love. Your motto
makes up the heraldic ensign which
stands cmblazoned on the entablature Of
all moral excellence They are the words.
too which are written in characters ~
immortal light upon the gates Of tnn
eternal world. When united they are AL
most Omnipotent in the cause OF truth
and virtue. humanity under their infiu-
enCe becomes one vast organic harp.
which trcmblcs into harmonirs of sweet
ness. as over it sweeps the steady breeze
Of an intellectual life. Ana this motto j.
taken from the Book Of Books. from
which we draw all our instruction. And
/ yet we find some. today. who denounCc
all secular societies.
Il know of churches and ministers who
complain that secular OCivties are
stronger than the church, ANA say than
they are seriously interfering with
church work. More church members are
found in lodges on prayer meeting even
ings than are at the prayer service. They
say the ties of secular fraternity are
stronger anu count for more in practical
life than the communion of saints. i
think they had better stop murmurinE
ana listen like that rcVcrent crowd AZ
! The PharasicS dinner. for the moral
teaching that comes from this fact Of
secular life.
ut is no slander to SAY that these vari-
Gus societies arise solely ~, Of humani-
TARTAN ANA business principles, Nor is Y
! slandcr to say that the church needs tc
| learn some lessons which these secular
| ORGANIZATIONS teach.
"How much better il would be if every
| body would come 4 little nearer to Clrl
| other. ana ~ Gnd. Ict any man try I"
| follow the pTeccpts nf the Bible. ana OBJ
serve the Golden Rule, ana in my judE-
mont hc V.!l come pretty near being pre-
! pared 10 enter Heaven. whether he be
| longs to the OdI Fellows or whether ho
| does not fur | tell YOU. friends. 4 man
| comes pretty near being Christian il
| he lives up to the principles Of odd Eel
| lowshin
| Il do not belong to any secret order.
| ana yet | have only words Of praise for
| those associations, which have for their
| object the brttcrmcnt Of mankind. am
| ignorant uf their workings behind doors,
| ana SO must judge entirely from tn"
| outside "By their fruits ye shall know
| them There is no need that we who
plan for the conquest Of right over wrona
| should publish t. all the world our in
| trntions The Odd Fellows have been de-
nouncrd in their influence hy few
| smaII-soulcd bigOtS. But ! have personal
! friends who are consecratcd to God, eN-
ampcs Of virtue and pirty, and had a
| great deal rather take their word or note
| than some know who profess to De holy.
| "One-han Of the trouble Of the world
| comes from the fact that 50 many people
| don't know enough To keep secret |
am glad to know the Order of odd Eel
| Iowship takes the premium off of mere
manners and puts it on manhood.
Brotherhood should hc the law q man
| kind. whatever their differences in polity
and creed. Yrt the manner in which W"
defend our creeds ana glority our indi-
! viduaI sects stirs secret animosity IN
! stead of hegetting mutual respect ana
| trust The secular societies have very
nractical aims ana methods, because they
| have been taught by actual contact.
! There is no doubt that in the administra-
lion of helpfulness their charity is wiser
Than the charity of churches, and of the
| knowledge gained through them some OF
thr most beneficial laws nave been passed
| Mcmbers Of the Augusta Lodge, some
ZINES the road through which you ar,
| inurneying may be rough. But turn not
| 20 the right or the left. make no false
| sten i'm your career. soon your years viii
ba gone. fer they are rapidly travelling
me Iignt Of life with some Of you is al
Taa1v waning but if faithful to the end
Van will wear the crown. May YOU live
many wears ana each succeeding ami
nersarv find you happier than before and
still leave You entering upon the thresh'
oid of new joys, is the wish of YOU
frtand And as the poet says:
.. speed on. ye faithful brothers, speed
Aid blessings with you go,
ctiIl aid the widow in her need
"And soothe the orphans Woe.
cttIi by the heartsick strangers side
With words of kindness stay,
>nd hid the deep and troubled tide
of sorrow pass away,
ya generous band long may you stan,
The graybeard and the youth,
Cbnrifer to shoulder, hand in hand,
0iu Friendship. Love and Truth