The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-06-15
ADDRESS TO THE MACCABEES.

The following is an outline of the adj
dress delivered by Elder ID. Mccall at
the Maccabee service last Sunday. For
want of space we can only give it in
part, regretting the necessity for the
condensation because of the excellent
and fitting character of the discourse:
The beneficiary orders are the prod
uct of our advancing civilization, as the
sewing machine, telegraph, telephone
and electric lights are the results of q
highter education and increase of gener-
al knowledge. The beneficiary society
is the fruit of the experience of the ages
which beginning with the bud of an
cient times, has ripened into the pres
ent organizations.
The ancient Maccabees were family
of Israelites who flourished two thou
sand years ago. The Syrian king COM
manded the Jews to renounce their re-
| ligion and worship Jupiter. This caus-
ed thirty years war. Judas Maccabee
led an army 5000 Jews and defeated
| 10000 Syrians. AT the battle of Beth
sea he beat back $4,000 with only 10000.
Later he conquered the city of Jerusa-
lem, purified the temple, and set up the
religion of their fathers. All that army
acted like brothers to better the state
of their families. They robbed none
and always regarded the rights of men.
After this army of heroes the Macca-
bees take their name; their object be-
| ing the protection of home, helping the
oppressed, and the support of orphans.
| In the city of London, Canada, the
Maccabees were born in 1873. \ few
at first; but now $4,000 strong, having
gained over 10000 this year.
The lodge does not take the place of
the church, yet 1t teaches many high
and exalting truths. The lodge believes
and teaches that God made Of one
blood all nations of men," To sit in a
lodge room among men who earn their
daily bread, and hear a report of some
unfortunate brother, and note the SYM
pathetic feelings moving hearts and
hands, carries the conviction to our
hearts that the tie which binds the
brotherhood is not rope of sand.
The order teaches that human bur-
dens must be born by humanity. 1t ac-
cepts the divine principles, "Bear We
one-anothers' burdens" This is no lazy
mans society, for it accepts and insists
on that other divine truth that Every
man must bear his own burdens" We
pay the death assessment of fallen
brother. When the time comes that a
member must lay his burdens down,
the brotherhood take them up, thus full
filling the divine command
| The Maccabees teach that "Home is
every mans castle and must be pro-
tected, and he that provides not for his
own household is worse than an infidel."
| The order believes this, hence it pro-
tects its homes from poverty and its
children from want. Many fatherless
are to-day sheltered within this frater-
nal fold, and guarded by the sleepless
eye of this beneficiary society.
The lodge teaches that fraternalism
is part of the life of man. 1t is the
| living spark which kindles the social
elements and lights up new life and Joy.
| They touch hands, stand shoulder to
shoulder and heart to heart, one in in.
terest and one in destiny.
It teaches the art ofsympathy. Tears
never fall in vain, but cause to flourish
in the heart the flowers of gratitude
and loye, refreshing the soul of the re-
ceiver and identifying the giver's. A
little girl knocked at a lady's door, and
with pure white lily in her hand said,
zone year ago your little girl died. |
loved her and she loved me. / brought
you this lily thinking you would be
! lonely" Tears rolled down the lady's
cheeks, and clasping the little tot to
her bosom she loved her as her own.
What caused those tears, those hugs
1t was human sympathy, Gods angel,
in the little girl sent to cheer the sore
and bleeding heart.
1t teaches self sacrifice. 1t is the task
of religion to Danish selfishness from
the human heart. Jesus says, 1t is bet
ter to give than receive, and whosoever
shall lose his life shall save it. Five
cents a day, (the price of cigar, leaves
a $1,000 policy for the family. Is this
too much sacrifice? Without salt the
sea would become impure, so without
sacrifice society would be corrupt.
CuckoOs build no nests, but appro-
pirate the nests of other birds. Macca-
bees are not cuckoos. They build their
houses, rear their children, and leave
them both dependent and independent