The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-17

the union Of States. Here where sleeps
our honored dead his soul clean. shrivel
in heaven-citizen. soldier. statesman ana
President of our great Republic-BenJamin
Harrison
Here where Americas great poet, the
poet OF the people, who. through Green
Fields and Running brooks
.-'e @Wove a dream
All bespangled with the CLEAN
vi the glancins wings of swallows
Dipping ripples in a stream.
That like a tide of wine
Wound through lands of shade and shine
Where purple grapes hung bursting on the
vine.
And where orchard boughs were bent
TIL their tawny fruitage blent
With the golden wake that marked the
way the happy reapers went
Here where. as the shining years
come 10 share with Wldey and Ridgely
the honor of giving 10 the world an order
ana In which are enshried our tenderest
loves. Seer and statesman though he was.
Schuyler ColfaX will be remembered by
lovlng-hearted people as the founder of the
Rebekah Degree in Odd Fellowship years
and years after the magnificent marble
monument erected TO his memory by low
ing hands which stands i'm the beautiful
park hard by. has moldered away. aye.
when all other memories have been for
gotten.
REASON FOR COMING.
Here, then, under autumnal skies, sur
rounded by a delightful historic and lit
erary atmosphere, in the presence of the
great, noble and generous spirits of this
charming State, we come to talk over. to
plan and TO legislate, as a body, for the
welfare of our fellow-men and for the best
interests of Odd Fellowship.
Your Excellency, and Mr. Mayor, let me
again express to you our profound sense
of appreciation for your presence and ask
your kind indulgence while 1 attempt to
speak upon the subject of Odd Fellowship.
Il acknowledge the fascination of my
theme. l confess that | feel its enthrall-
ment; and / am happy to assert the ever
fresh delight with which its study fills my
heart, well as the ever forceful Stimu-
lus which it imparts TO my being, urging
me TO a nobler life, and impelling me to a
holder endeavor after the lofty standard of
greatness embodied in the sublime prin-
ciples to which as Odd Fellows we ten
aciouSly cling
True. we have nought to boast of in
most profound sense its spirit is as old as
eternity, and its ample truths so broad and
divine, jnhere in the very constitution of
Deity; for in all the revelations of the
Supreme Being. that are set forth in nature
and illumined in the sacred secrets of the
Scriptures, none are more pregnant with
power and blessing, than the unfolding of
the foundation principles of this fellow
Ship-the glorious announcement that God
is Friendship-God is Truth-God is Love!
From this viewpoint. our order stands
heaved-not a wild bird sang, not an an
Client hill kissed the heavens; when not a
ray of light had traveled-not a planet
wheeled not a sun burned; when not a
seraph had waved his pinions, or stood
with yelled face before the great 1 Am
even then the very principles which form
stood angels before the throne of God
and when the fiat of creation spoken,
they descended into this world, to be the
SentinelS or humanlty-yeS 10 lead hui
mainly into the flower embroidered paths
of peace and virtue and righteousness!
Our principles then are as old as God :.
Standing beneath them to-day we re-
dedicate ourselves to their dominion, and
through their mystic power are drawn into
a closer fellowship with the heavenly
Father and each other!
odd Fellowship appeals TO us by the ele-
ments OF the mysterious This suscepti-
bility of our nature is necessarily touched,
birth universe in which wonder is ex-
cited, curiosity elected, investigation chal-
lenged-at every step Of our progress from
romping youth to venerable old age. This
mystery hangs like a mystic veil around
us. 1t Is with us through all the stages
OF experience and deft processes of educa-
tion-from kindergarten to university
from the alphabet TO the triangulatiOn of
the universei 1t touches us. speaks TO US
charms US. inspires and thrills us. 1t is the
power that energies the faculties.
the dLHDlllOll, dTOuS6S the dormant
power of the intellect, clarifies the vision
directs the will, steades the Judgment, re-
fines the spirit and dictates destiny, Man
is Natures priest'-and he pursues his
researches, he is lifting fold after fold.
the veil suspended in ma lures temple; and
each parted veil at once admits him with
light of revelation more startling and
enravishing, and enables his burning eye to
look upon another curtain of mystery, be-
hind which Turk secrets yet more subtle
wonders still more entrancingi
light morning Oft
starless night of tempest, while it dis
solves the mystery of the gloom, spreads
before and around me new mysteries: a
mystery in every pebble and plant; in every
insect and bird; in every snowflake and
gem; in every laughing leaping school
boys spirit; and in every venerable po-
pended the vitality Of his brain and being
in self-sacrificing devotion TO his coun-
tryi
MYSTERY EVERYWHERE.
Mystery. Mystery! 1t is everywhere,
and when by dying we shall pass within
the veil,' never as then shall the soul feel
and know the mystery was a part OF the
process of imparting knowledge and that
through its gloom came light and through
its bewiderments came the highest low
Thus Ii is that we through mystery are
bound together, interrelated in a fellowship
which is all the sweeter on account OF its
secrets and even purer because its affinities
are hid from the dust and deception of the
world And be il remembered that ours
are not the mysteries of iniquity. SANDER
GUS libels have been uttered respecting
them. Dread stories have been circulated
concerning them. But these are but the
spiteful fabrications of sanguinary fanatics
or irresponsible fools or a depraVed priest
hood With ignoble deeds of darkness we
have no sympathy. OF what do. of what
we teach, fear no criticism. Here honor
is sacred. reputation is shielded, virtue is
stimulated and every man stands upon a
foundation of faith and fidelity, manhood
and morality, beneath the arch of the
brotherhood of man! Who can object to OIL
oppose such system? Is he a patriot
Then here may he be helped in the culture
of those principles which uphold govern
ment. reverence law and promote that
righteousness which eXalts a nation. Is he
a moralist? Then here may he learn the
purest ethics and practice the most manly
virtues. Is he philanthrOpist? Then We
can assure him that no less profoundly
than he do we believe that pure Odd Eel.
lowship and undefiled before the Father is
this, to visit the widow and the father
less in their affiiction and TO keep our
selves unspotted in the world. Is he q
poet? Then here are symbols for his fancy
and sublimities for his imagination. Is he
a Christian? Then we tell him that relig-
ion shall find us one of her most useful
auxiliares, one of her most fair and gen.