Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-04-29

are. The individual amounts to bu
little in the face of such infinite ex
istence Men have been compelled
commercial combinations. | believe
that the progressive force of events
is always in the right direction. IT
may work havoc in its line of march
onward; old things give way slowly !:
but the final force always prevails on
the side of right and justice.
Il pass by those great movements
of our age which are colossal beyond
conception in contrast with the petty
feudal wars and outbursts or COM
merce. These fade into insignifl-
canoe in comparison. The undertake
ings and enterprises of our day have
become so great and stupenduous
that vastness now no longer eAcites
wonder. These great movements are
the consequence OF union. Its spirit
pervades governments. society and
commerce. And we are as blind to
the outcome as were the Pilgrims
when they embarked for America.
But the course OF the world is toward
btttVi Dih dDuStn are WlDtU
out by an enlightened people whose
| increasing intelligence no longer en-
dures the evil. The things which last
and survive the test of trial are lad
en- with good. and it matters not how
rudely they shpck the nerves of old TO
gies or shatter false ideals, the final
force of principle Is irresistible and
must prevail.
The outworn rite, the old abuse.
The pious fraud transparent grown.
The good held captive in the use
OF wrong alone.
These wait their doom from that
great law
Which bids the past time serve to
day,
And fresher youth the world shall
From their decay.
o, backwardlpoking son of time.
The new is old. the old is ne@.
The cycle of change sublime
Still moving through.
God works in all things, all obey
His first propulsion from the night:
Wait thou and watch: the world is
gray
With dawning light
But we are here today to promote
me usefulness of Oddfellowship
Our association is designed for that
purpose. / believe il is not import
ant what the order is; they all pos
sess more virtues than the members
practice. But it is highly important
that when We enlist in any cause. that
We strive to be of some good to il
Wy experience is that many join not
'or any good they can do the order.
but from a personal pride of being
counted IN Their main inspiration
IS to be in the push" These mem
bers are not drones; the world has
more need of cobble stones than il
has of fine blocks of parian marble
They pay their dues and swell the
charity fund. Their voice when
heard at all is heard in behalf of
their chosen fraternity and they go
~ ouShSht Vic great mass WuOSc
numbers are indispensable to the
achievement of the great charitable
undertakings. 1t would be a pleas
ure and a blessing if more of them
would actively participate in doing
something for the order.
"One of the manifest benefits OF our
association meetings is the cultivation
of the social side of life and the orea-
ton of new zest in the order. The
Odd Fellows lodge is too large and
good fraternity to slumber or sleep
in this wideawake region of the old
Rockies In America, | am told
it has the largest membsrship among
secret orders. Its principles are ex-
cellent, its influence elevating. in no
order does a stronger bond unite the
brethren. If isolated exceptions ex-
ist where the fraternal chain seems
broken, urge that time will cradi
cate the worthless material which
caused the break. II in the process
If construction. material has been Sc
ected which will not anneal, we are to
blame, but the result is the destruc
ion of the chain of friendship. love
md truth. The remady il not to add
o the blunder. Remove the bad ma
'erial and make fresh start A
paternity in which the bond of frater
lity is strong must be made up of
persons who will naturally assimilate.
Better have twelve true Odd Fellows
han to have one hundred who have
iether conception of the order nor
esteem for 1t.
Here among these mountains the
spirit of Odd Fellowship should take
strong hold. The mountains have
| always been the citidal of independ
ence and liberty. 1t is within their
narrow defiles the resistors o. oppres
| sion have been able to take their
stand They have been the home o:
| freedom. 1t is there the free cities
of the middle ages were found. 1t was
IN a deflle between the classic hills
of Greece the little band of Spartans
| took their final stand. Art poetry