The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-09
GREAT CROWD PRESENT
SECOND ANNUAL FRATERNAL MEMO
RIAL DAY AT UNION CITY.
VIII Cumback's Address on Fraternity
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Pro-
gramme of Exercises.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


joint fraternal memorial services were held
interesting occasion. There were fully
5000 strangers present The parade started
for the cemetery at 1 o'clock and included
the following: Dunkirk Band, flower girls,
city officials. speakers carriages. marshal
with aids, Marion Qnd) National Military
Home Band, ladies' auxiliary societies. fra
ternal organizations and citizens in car
riages. o. G. Gist was marshal. At the
cemetery the programme included band
music and selections by a vocal octet.
The invocation was by the Rev. George I.
Gunter. In introducing the speaker. ex-
Lieutenant Governor Will Cumback, S. NJ.
Harlan pointed out the fact that the G. A.
r. would soon be no more and he hoped
that these joint fraternal memorial serv
ices might then be instrumental In per-
petuating the soldiers memorial. At the
close of Mr.. Cumback's address the entire
concourse, numbering about twelve thou
sand. led by the Marion Band, sang
America" The Rev. Mr.. Hill, of the
Christian Church, pronounced the benedic-
ton.
Mr.. Cumbacks subject was Fraternity
as a Civilizing Force" He spoke in part as
follows:
Fraternity makes it's effective appeal to
that noble aspiration of the soul to be
worthy the confidence and love of the best
and truest of the race. A man without that
ambition and indifferent to the commenda-
ton of his fellows cannot be a useful men,
Der of society 1t is the social condition of
any people that furnishes the surest gauge
by which We may more definitely determine
the quality of their civilization If men be
bound together by the high purpose of ele-
waiting human character and promotong the
general good then real reforms can have
a hearing and strong state is the legiti-
mate result, strong not only In political
power, but in mental and in spiritual Gull
ture and in all things that magnify and
adorn human character. Assuming that
the premises are correct, the conclusion is
irresistible that these fraternal orders not
only contribute largely to the happiness
of the individual membership, but they are
important factors in elevating and purify
ing the race. To the doubter of this state
ment let me call his attention to the tenets
of some Of these orders as | now recall
them. "Friendship, love and truth" is the
motto of one of the largest of these fra
ternities. These the three golden links
that bind this brotherhood together. and
are the symbols of their high purposes and
beneficent practices. Take another fra
ternity not so old, yet rapidly growing into
popular favor, which has inscribed on it's
banner Friendship, charity and benevo-
lence." These gallant knights are true to
their profession. Another whose members
take the obligation to promote fire edom,
friendship and charity" whose history dis
closes that ii is not a mere empty profess
sion We must not overlook the one whose
origin dates far back in the distant CEN
turtles, whose lodges may be found in every
land and whose members are of every tribe
and tongue. The doctrines impressed on the
initiate are "brotherly love. relief and
truth" The four cardinal virtues are
temperance. fortitude, prudence and JUS
tice."
Another marches under a banner on which
is inscribed fidelity, benevolence and hon
or" Another declares its purpose to be the
promotion of liberty, benevolence and con-
cordance." For the lives of others has
the fraternal ring of another. To the men
who Give. move and have their being on
the low plains of covetousness and avarice
these sentiments are almost meaningless.
They have no connection with the sordid
ends and selfish aims that control their
narrow sphere of thought and action There
is nothing within them TO respond to such
appeal that can only reach the higher
nature-"the divinity that stirS within u.s."
Carlyle says: 1T is not TO taste sweet
things but to do noble and true things and
vindicate himself under Gods heaven as a
God-made man that the poor son of Adam
dimly longs. Show him the way of doing
that, the dullest day drudge kindles into a
hero. They wrong man greatly who say he
is to be seduced by ease. Difficulty alb
negation, martyrdom, death are the allure
ments that act on the heart of man. Kin
die the inner genial life of him you have
a flame that burns up all lower consdera-
tons" 1t is the adoption of the principles
and the practice of the virtues proclaimed
by these fraternal orders that kindes the
ternity. The best soldier on the field of bat
tie is the one who has the most friends
and is the best loved at home The same
is true of all rational minds who, compre-
hending the significance, are battling with
the temptations and trials of everyday life
We cannot fail TO note in all these
declarations the prominence given to char
ity. The great apostle said: Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of
angels and have not charity / am become
as a sounding brass and tinklng cymbal"
And after giving clear and eloquent def
milton of this virtue he concludes: and
now abideth faith, hope and charity. but
the greatest of these is charity" Greater
than hope. which Springs eternal in the
human breast" and urges us on when doubt
darkens our way, enabling to bid def
ance to grim despair-hope which the holy
writ teaches is the anchor to the soul
sure and steadfast;' greater than faith
which is the very basis of all human
thought and action, which brings in her re-
serve forces when hope weakens, and is de-
clared to be the very substance of things
hoped for and the evidence of things not
seen" Such is the charity that 'reioiceth not
in iniquity. but rejOceth in the truth" This
is the foundation principle of fraternity.
And the results on the social. moral, in
tellectual and spiritual development of the
race are beyond estimate. The very pres
ence of this great assemblage is conclusive
that charity, which is but a synonym of
love- is doing it's perfect work We have
come with the brightest and sweetest flow
ers of this beautiful month of June and as
a token of our remembrance and love have
tenderly placed them on the graves of our
departed brethren.
We must not allow the rapid increase of
our numbers, our acceptance into popular
favor, our splendid lodge rooms our COR
geous regala our great State and National
convocation and grand parades to lead us to
forget the simplicity OF our aims and pur-
poses. This is a practical age in which we
live. We are judged By what do, and
not by what profess There never has
been a period in the history of the race
where the sounding brass and tinkling
cymbal' of mere profession made so little
impression as now, If not supported by
works. a half century ago the opposition
to these fraternities was very bitter. But
with the advancement of knowledge and a
clearer apprehension of their purposes and
good works, this opposition is so feeble now
that il is scarcely worth consideration. One
of the false charges made and still re-
peated Is that these organizations claim to
be religious bodies. and assume TO take the
place of the church. No such claim Is or
ever has been made by them. That our
precepts and practices are in accord with
practical Christianity and the divine word
| we concede. Love for your felow-man is
enioined and emphasized all through the
sacred book II is brought to the forefront
| of Christian duty by the Great Teacher
/ himself When one OF the Pharisees asked
! Him what is the great commandment in
| the law?' the Christ said, Thou shalt love
| the Lord. thy God, with all thy heart, and
/ with all thy soul and with all thy mind
| This is the first and great commandment
/ love thy neighbor as myself on these
! two commandments hang all the law and
/ the prophets.