The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-05-01
SERMON TO ODD FELLOWS.
Interesting Discourse to the Three
link Fraternity by Rev. j. S.
Williams

link Fraternity by Rev. j. S.
Williams.
At the Methodist Protestant church
Sunday morning Rev. J. S. Williams.
chaplain, preached a special sermon
to the Odd Fellows. There was a
very good turnout of the mem Der. of
tie Lodge and clothed with the
regalia of their rank they made an
impressive appearance.
The church had been tastefullv
decorated for the occasion, red and
white, pink and: blue bunting being
hung above the altar with appro-
pirate inscriptions. In the centre in
gilt letters-"Care for Widows and
Orphans" then extending from left
to right = ''Friendship. Love and
Truth"
Mr.. Williams preached an excellent
sermon, sdifying and informing, NOR
ally and spiritually uplifting. The
congregation, an unusually large one,
gave strict attention throughout and
enjoyed the discourse. Before an
nouncing the text and beginning his
sermon proper Mr.. Williams gave a
brief account of the origin and growth
Of Odd Fellowship, speaking in SUBJ
stance as follows:
/. Eighty-three years ago yesterday.
April the Goth. 1919. live Odd Fellows
held a meeting in Baltimore.
In the winter preceding, two Eng
lishmen happened to learn that each
was an Odd Fellow. They advertised
in the american for all others of the
same fraternity to meet them m the
above date. There were only ,hree
to respond.
beginning in this meeting. They
were granted an open charter and de-
clared themselves to be the Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows Of America.
There is Grand Lodge in Canada.
Australia. Denmark, Germany, Great
Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan,
and the Isles Of the Sea.
The first societies were composed Of
young men unmarried and without
relations. They met in the old
taverns of London town and passed
the evenings in drink and song. Soon
the members covenanted with each
other to care for the sick, who, odd
single and alone-must suffer with
out such attention. The movement
is known in England as the Union Of
Odd Fellows.
The Independent Order Of Odd
Fellows numbers more than million
members, the largest secret fraternal
organization in the world.
In our own State the first Lodge
was organized April goth, 1871, in
Weldon. At the close of tho Civil
War there were only twenty societies.
Now there are 1876 Lodges and 5000
member
The members are "seeking a coun-
try, where every hand may clasp a
brother, and the loneliest find a
friend.n
One of the happiest successes of
our Order in the State is our Orphan
Home in Goldsboro. The plan was
suggested in 1888. The Home was
thrown open in May, 1892. In 1897
the main building was completed.
We have there twenty acres Of land,
convenient and comforta BILE buildings
$50, 900 worth of property. No in
cum brances. A nice balance in the
hands of the Trustees. 80 children
in the Home. They attend the Graded
Schools of the city and worship in
their churches.
ii. The text for this occasion is ohm
1913: .'Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends.%
1t should not be considered absurd
to exhort body of strong men to
exercise affection. Love is the source
of power.
The greatest thing in the world is
love. The best way to show that
love is to lay down ones life for loves
object-place your love at the dis
posal of the friend or the cause you
love.
The love that Jesus spoke Of was
the greatest on record. Yet he sur
passed even this in giving his life for
his enemies.
|. There was a time when you felt