The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-01-19

our beloved DR.. TrimbIe, who bs.
been au Odd Fellow longer Than an,
citizen OF the State. The third ia our
genial, whOle-souled j.. L. Thomas
and the fourth our energetic. bpstling
progressive D l.. Kimbrough. who {.
also the present Grand Representative
OF D state to the Sovereign Grand
Lodge OF the United States. w. S p
Doty,, the present Grand Secretary,
was elected to this responsible position
while ii member OF Grenada Lodge.
Brother Barnes, who installed The
Officers this evening is our Deputy
District Grand Master. So YOU see
we have some good material in our
Lodge. In the year 1858, after mueh
agitation OF The question, The Order
very wisely concluded to allow the
wives OF the members TO share in some
OF the privileges and benefits of the
Order accordingly the Rebekah
Degree was founded in this year. I
lea no successful contradiction when
| state here this evening that Odd
Fellows were among the first to
recognize In woman her fitness and
capacity for the many responsible
positions s%he-holds to-day. We do not
admire the effeminate man; we do. not
advocate the neD tcomun, but we do.
recognize the great influence for good
u women are exeriing in ever,
walk OF life. The best thing we ever
did for our Order was the f0anding of
the Rebekah Degree. The gentle
touch, and light tread OF woman 10 TIE
sick room has brought it's reward In
prayers and blessings from, those TO
whom they have ministeredl 1 agree
with those OF our Order who predict
that 1t Is only u question Of time be-
fore women will be admitted 20 all of
the privileges OF our society, and be
permitted to learn its mysteries. why
uot2
We recognize in woman. and
especially 10 southern womauhood. all
OF the beauties, and lovely traits of
character which go TO make up the
perfect being. Had I all the eluquenc
OF a DemOstheuese; all OF the " of
a Cicero all OF the sublime beauty Of a
Go'den-Lipped C%hrysostom. l could
never, 10 the name OF Odd Fellowship,
pay to southern womanhood the
tribute 1t merits, and I'll never be
contradicled when | say that were it
in the power OF Odd Fellowship, we
would place a crown Of gold upon the
brow Of southern womauhood, and
amidst its Flashing diamonds we
would write Beautiful Character:
among its cleaning rubies we would
write Heroism, Self Sacrifice; entwined
around its pure pearls. ia letters of
light, we would write Virtue, Love for
COnnfPv Az 1nnn us thA a,nf u---
kiss the earth, just so long win
southern manhood revere Southern
womanhOod. We feel it our duty to
give them an equal Opportunity with
the sterner sex 10 all OF the higher and
refined vacations of life, for who will
dare question their ability and TACT to
meet all requirements.
STRENGTH OF THE ORDER.
1t is rather surprising to those who
are not acquainted with the streagth
of our Order to note some OF the
statistics of our fraternity published 10
1897. =, Our Society has Il larger
membership than any Order 10 the
United States, the Masonic Order
ranking second. The total member
ship from all countries reporting to the
Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United
States Numbered 1871. 71S; the
Manchester Unity Odd Fellows, 900,
.66S; the Encampment branch, 49,
S9S; Rebekah, Lodges, Sisters, Is. 467
Brothers,, 176,sl2; Chevuliors of the
Patriagchs Militant, 1906; the
total teftef paid by the Order for the
year ending Dec. 81, 1896, was SO. $685.
235.63;'tS brothers relieved, So 724:
widowed families relieved, 6.4a5; paid
for relief Of brothers, 50, 27S, $40. 26;
for widowed families, sl45,243. "a;
education Of orphans. $3a, 700 Is;
burying the dead, 1922, 9o' 80.
We do not claim to be a religious
Order, yet Odd Fellowship regards the
Bible as an integral part Of itself,
and no one Is allowed to join the
Order who does not believe in a
Supreme Being. l believe God has
prospered US because we have obeyed
the command: Visit tha sick: Relieve
the distressed"
One OF the most beautiful examples
of the fraternal ties of the Brother
hood was manifest in the dark days
from 81 to IS. During that dreadful
strife several Of the great religious
bodies were rent asunder. Not so with
our society. When the Sovereign
Grand Lodge met in session in those
years no southern State answered the
roll call. Yet their seats were drawn
just as though they were present. In
1855 every southern State answered to
roll call, and l am told that the greet
ing Of some Of the brothers was of a
most affectionate aud touching nature.
The Grand Sire, thus refers to the
reunion in the first paragraph of his
speech:
ut is a source OF the highest
qualification and rejoicing that we are
permitted 10 meet again the represen-
~tatives Of all the Jurisdictions, who
have been precluded from fellowship
and C, mmunion with US during the
last four years. Prompted by the
cherished memories Of the past, and
their undiminished love for a common
cause, they are once more with us
occupying their accustomed seats,
participating In our legislation, and
cooperating with us in our efforts in
behalf Of suffering humanity. Their
absence from our annual councils we
have long deplored and regretted,
ever entertaining for thema an affection
ate regard, which has been heightened
and intensified by their sufferings. Our