The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-19
AN EVENING OF "REMINISCENCES
JOHN l.. NOLEN, OF TENNESSEE
HEARD TO ADVANTAGE.
4 Reception at the Occidental Hotel
Various Entcrtain ments for
Odd Fellows.

of past grand representatives, to which the
public was invited There were but two
changes in the programme as at first pub
lished. The place of Past Grand Sire Al
fred S. Pinkerton, Of Massachusetts,, was
taken by DR.. g. L. Campbell. past grand
representative. Of London, Ont and George
+. Goodwin. the grand sire-elect. delivered
an address in the absence of Grand Repre-
sentative John +. Farewell. There was
orchestral music, and the two vocal soloists
of the evening-Mr. Charles +. Mendell and
Mrs. f. Foster Reynolds-were enthusiast
tically encored.
The first address was by Grand Repre-
sentative A. ]. Cushing. of Rhode Island.
Mr.. Cushing spoke of the good work &C
complished by the order since the last
Grand Lodge meeting. He also dwelt at
some length on the untimely death of
President Mckinley. He said:
1T is time not only Odd Fellows, but
every one interested in law and order.
whether members of the Legislature or not,
should bring about legislation which will
seek to enforce the principles of good citi-
zenship and to forever stamp out anarchy.
that awful curse on the magnificent free
institutions of mankind"
Dr. Campbell, who presided, introduced
ing Future Grand Sire Goodwin he said:
while 1t as difficult for Canadians to
appreciate fully the true worth of President
Mckinley and the irreparable loss sus-
tanned by this country through his death,
it is nevertheless true that the martyred
President was dearer to the subjects of
the British empire than any of his pre-
decessors, and that. while President Nc
Kinley was friend to all classes and con-
ditions of people, as well as to all the for
eign powers, he did more to engender a
friendly feeling among the peoples of the
British empire than did any former ex-
ecutive of your country"
GEORGE f. GOODWIN HEARD.
Future Grand Sire George F. Goodwin,
of Georgia, spoke only for short time but
he told Of many instances in which in his
opinion it was demonstrated that the Or
der of Odd Fellows was one of the greatest
factors Of the world. He said that the mis-
sion of the order is to promote fraternity,
benevolence and good fellowship among
mankind.
The most enthusiastically received ad-
dress of the evening was that of Grand
Representative John l.. Nolen of Ten
nessee. Mr.. NOlen has to his advantage
the genuine Southern accent, a good voice
and a pleasing appearance. He began by
saying that he was there to speak because
the committee couldn't find anyone else.
So he continued. Il am here not know
ing what l am going to say next, which
have been brought to believe by a story L
recently heard Is a good thing. An old
methodical Presbyterian minister who WAS
fortunate enough to nave the only congre-
cation of any denomination in small
tennessee town enc year found himself
hard pushed by rival young minister who
mad rented a storeroom and was preaching
the gospel according TO the Christian
sometimes called the Campbell,te-Church
The young minister had enthused nearly
everyone in the town and had drawn many
members away from the old Presbyterian
church. The Old minister was soon preach
ing to emtpy pews while his young rival
couldn't find room enough for the crowds
that came to hear him. So the old man
sought his younger's advice on how the
latter succeeded in drawing the crowds.
minister. You see you begin to find text
for your sermon on Monday. on Tuesday
s.nu - euI4vsuay you LOOK up references. on
Thursday you write 1t. On Friday and
Saturday you memorize it and ell this time
the devil is seeing what you are doing and
Is preparing to meet you in everything you
do. In short. the devil knows everything
you are going to say. And while you are
preparing your sermon I'm around shaking
iii with the boys, tipping my hat to the
speak the devil himself don't know what
m going to say
But | am glad TO be able to attend an
Fellows is to-day the greatest of the or
ders. 1t is an order fighting selhshness.
When the devil gets you to being selfish
he's got YOU where no religion ever can
get you. Seltishness will eat up your soul
and end your existence in misery With the
selfish man odd Fellowship comes into
contact and tells him what to do to make
the journey through life bright and pleas
ant: Are you not glad to be a member of
such an organization? Ridgey said No
man can be an Odd Fellow unless he is
talthful to his Creator, to his country and
TO his fellow-men.' Did you ever stop to
think that II the principles of Odd Fellow
ship were universally practiced there would
De no need OF police; no need of jails nor
prisons; no President would be rudely
stricken down in the broad daylight and
thus mar the happiness of a great and fair
country. It is those who are opposed to the
principles of Odd Fellowship that are COM
hitting the crimes against civilization In
this country to-day.
WIPING AWAY TEARS.
at is the order of Odd Fellows that has
been wiping away the tears of sorrow; re-
lieving the distressed; burying the dead
and caring for the orphan While Odd
Fellowship is helping everyone it does not
propose to take the place of the church,
but to assist the church in all of its grand
work. Some time ago there was great op-
position 10 the order OF Odd Fellows: now
most OF these men who opposed us are
among our most enthusiastic members
With the exception OF the Holy Writ there
never has been set of ideals promulgated
as high as those Of Odd Fellowship.
1t Is not secret organization. either
To those present who happen not 10 be
members OF this order / would say that We
meet much as YOU do in your family cir
Gle and talk about MS. We talk about
YOU. True, We have grips and passwords
and Signs that YOU know nothing about
but its a fact that half of those on the
inside don know any more about them
than you do. We find out what YOU are
Why, I'm the father of a family OF grown
girls. and the boys don't come TO see
are, where they come from and where they
are going.
so much for the secrecy OF the order
The Holy Writ teaches the resurrection
of the body. Odd Fellowship I'm addition
teaches the resurrection OF life before death
and ushers those who believe i'm its prnci-
pies into the world of beauty and iOy"
Speaking OF the Daughters OF Rebekab
Mr.. NOleu said that nc would bring the
attention Of this order To fact that prob
ably none OF them ever knew before
He said While the Daughters OF Re
fax. honor also II due n member of the
order from Tennessee who advocated the
admission OF women to the order before
the plan was carried into execution. lie
laughed at at the time. the brothers
saying that II women were admitted the
the country before morning. But thanks
be 10 the persistency OF far-seeing breth-
rem. women have been admitted. and they