The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-29

he happens to be there. but 1 am expected
10 help him because there is something
in him related TO me. There is something
in his unfortunate condition which bears
d resemblance 10 what is in me. We are
related TO the Chinese and TO every ma
ton on the earth by blood. II is the same
in all OF us. The scientist has been un-
able TO discover any difference. We are
seeking TO help them because of this re-
ld~tionship. III We shun these responsible
ties of relationship we are sure to suffer
the consequences. We are Sinking a duty.
The lodge exists because of this relation
ship, which we cannot create. The WORST
man in the world is related 10 me, and L
am related to him by the act of God in
creating us i'm His own image and likeness.
lie Is unfortunate by a chain OF circum-
stances Tor which he is not altogether re-
sponsible and had but little or no control.
But the fact of the relationship remains
and we cannot blot it out. BY helping him
we help ourselves. Again we are related
10 each other by reason OF the fact We all
Rave common needs. That which one per-
son needs to help and elevate him every
other person needs. And again, we have
proof of this relationship by reason of
a common language. Some may deny this.
but if the various tongues of the earth
are traced back far enough 1t will be found
that all have, a common origin.
1t is claimed by some that there is Il
conflict between the church and the lodge;
that the lodge detracts from the church,;
that they are antagonistic. We have had
more than 5000 years in which to try this
and the world has discovered that the
CnurCn cannot 90 tndl WnlCn the lOQS6S
are doing and are seeking 10 do. For in
stance, the church cannot be a charitable
institution. As such ii may help to some
extent its W poor, but II cannot help the
poor outside. Suppose one of the churches
started out to help the poor and needy,
just at that moment would the church
be imposed upon and IT would soon have TO
he carried on except on the principles as
laid down by the Savior: Let not one hand
know what the other hand does God
90 We 1lkn Won nrlG nFlN i'm SaHrnr N
Clvidual prayer, secret prayer is the prayer
that lifts the soul up to God. Churches
nave tried in many instances TO be char
liable institutions and have failed. The
secret order, surrounded by safeguards, is
an absolute necessity growing out of the
situation of things and the stronger we
become as an organization, feeding the
the distressed, the better it will be for the
world. The churches have their prayer
meetings every week. praying that distress
may be relieved. That is the burden of the
prayers of Christendom tonight. How Is
II going to be done. | say these prayers
cannot be answered unless it is put into the
hearts of some persons 10 become instru-
nsents for their answering. At the same
time the prayers are being offered these
lodges are in their halls voting money
cut of their treasures for the relief of
those same needs. Where there are TO
churches there are no lodges. When the
churches spring up the secret orders spring
w and in response TO the church Itself.
| belong to the lodge because / am re-
lated TO those in the lodge by the common
tie of brotherhood. and second because I
can put my little mite where il, with
those of others, will help those who need
help. | am not in the order simply TO de-
rive the benefits which may come. True
| know that should | become distressed |
will have brothers TO help me in my neces-
sity.
Friendship, love and truth. the three
golden links of our order, can only be-
come realities when we become acquainted
with ourselves and humanity around us.
Acquaintance produces friendship. Friend
ship produces love and out of love springs
that divine force we call truth. When in
possession of truth man is strong, greater
than all other things; he can master the
universe and bring the forces of nature
to be his servant and he can glorify his
God and love his fellow-man."