The Republican journal., 1902-06-26
ODD FELLOWS MEMORIAL SERVICE.

seating capacity. The decorations were
novel and appropriate. The wall at the back
of the arch behind the pulpit was nearly
covered with bank of green boughs ar
ranged to produce a wavy effect. The three
links enclosing the letters ''F. L. IT, in
gilt were suspended near the top, and
| three green and white wreathS were near the
emblem. The pulpit was draped with
white, dotted with delicate green sprigs,
and bore the three links in green ON the
front A row of green foliage and white
blossoms extended along the front of the
platform. The pews to be occupied by the
members of the order were designated by
wreathS of field daisies.
Waldo Lodge met at the lodge room and
marched to the church in regalia. Forty
nine members were present. The order of
service was as follows:
| Voluntary.
Invocation.
| Chant, The Lords Prayer, Choir
Hymn,
Chime earthly Sabbaths Lord we love-
Choir and congregation
| Psalm 90. Pastor and congregation
Anthem,
| Mr.. and Mrs. E. S. Pitcher, Mr.. c. E.
Davis, Mrs. 4. p. Frost, with Mrs. W.
b. Fletcher, accOmpanlSt.
Notices and offering.
Hymn, GLOW bleSt the sacred tie
Choir and congregation
Deut. 6 Ills Luke 10: 25-;;''7
Prayer, Rev. f. S. Philbrook
Response, ''Singing in Gods acre"
Mrs. f. S. Pitcher
Memorial sermon, 1.-The Binding Link,
Rev. +. 5. Philbrook
Trio, ''Peace be unto you Trowbridge
Mr. Davis, Mrs. Frost, Mrs. Pitcher.
Benediction.
Mr.. Philbrook took for his text the odd
chapter of Matthew, 37th to 10th verses, in
elusive He said in part: Every society has
its emblem: the Christian church has adopt
ed the cross, the Christian Endeavor So
ciety has its monogram; but that of the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the three
links, is one of the most beautiful and eX-
pressve. They represent friendship, love
and truth. The centre link, representing
fraternal love, is the binding link that
unites the others. Without love any struct-
ure must fall. Moses laid down the law of
love; it was prominent in the Jewish dis
pensatlon, and was reiterated by Jesus
Christ The Children of Israel We're as one
family: hence the command to them was "a
command to love ones own people. Jesus
broadened it to include all mankind. Even
the heather love their own. In the chain
of Jesus Christ the link of brotherly love
binds all it recognizes the fatherhood of
| God and brotherhood of man. The He
! breWs thought they We're the only heirs of
salvation, but Jesus Christ changed all
: this He showed that God is the God of all
| mankind.
| Mr.. Philbrook then gave vivid descrip-
| ton of the event recorded by Luke, of the
man going from Jerusalem to Jericho and
| falling among thieves The journey, the
attack of the robbers, the wounded man on
the lonely highway, the passing of the
priest and Levite, and the kind act of the
| good Samaritan, were eloQuently portrayed.
! This story, he said, is a beautiful illustra
| ton of brotherly love. You should make
/ this link large enough to include the whole
world AS the arrow which goes farthest
moves most swiftly when it leaves the
/
| farthest is most powerful at its source, so
/ love that takes in the whole world is
/ strongest in its home applications The
greater includes the less. The Saviour had
| peculiar love for his own people, but this
| emphasized his love for all men. His little
band of followers was the prototype of
! your order and Of all similar societies.
The speaker then gave brief history of
! the origin of Odd Fellowship in England
and America and spoke of the marvellous
j growth of the order during the past cen
/ fury. You may look, he said, with pride
upon the record of the past To-day, when
you decorate the graves of your deceased
, brethren, do it as representing the immortal
/ ity of the soul Let there be no flaw in the
| link representing the Godward side of your
love. God has called upon us to love Him
! IN the person of His Son Jesus Christ. You
| look back with gratitude to Widely, the
| founder of your order, but poi mt you tC
One greater than he, who esta blished the
| principles Oh which your order is founded,
Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our
faith. We should love the Lord our God
with all our hearts and our neighbor as
| ourselves.
From the church the lodge marched to
Grove cemetery, where committees decorat-
ed the graves of Odd Fellows and Re-
bekahs. hollow square was formed and
| the ritual memorial service was read by the
officers of the lodge Following is the Roll
| of Honor:
WALDO LODGE.