The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-28

of the raised seats while others occu-
pied the spacious galleries. The stage was
occupied by the speakers and the Off
GERS of the grand lodge, encampment de-
partment council, and staff
When the exercises began, about
O'clock the immense building was well
filled, the only vacant seats being in
the rearmost portion of the upper bal
cony After a musical selection by the
band, Rev. A 3. Medium opened the
inson, d. G. NJ, delivered a brief intro
ductory address, in which he stated the
purpose of gathering, and in some meas
ure reviewed the history Of Odd Fellow
ship.
Another selection by the band was fol-
lowed by a song: THE Sabbath Day."
by the Odd Fellows quartette.
The principal speaker Of the day was
Hon. Hiram F. Stevens, whose subject
was "A New Commandment" His ad-
dress was as follows:
II. F. stevens Speech.
We celebrate today the eighty-third an
nlVersary of the founding of the order
of Odd Fellowship in America. Those
who follow will definitely set forth the
manner in which the munificent sum Of
$l0O, 100000 has been applied to the relief
Of deserving distress, stating the facts
briefly, for no one can trace the countless
streams of its benefiCenCe which have
flowed as quietly and secretly as summer
brooks through forest SolitudeS.
Struggling at first against prejudice and
bigotry, the order has survived all OPP
position; and not long since the most
powerful hierarchy of Christendom has
found it eXpedient to withdraw the ban
it had pronounced against it's member
ship; and it has become a prominent
factor in every benevolent and civilizing
effort. 1t is not the policy of the order
tc publish its achievements; but no one
who has observed its benefcence needs
should we overlook its social aspect
which since the order of Rebecca has
been instituted. distinguishes it from all
other fraternal societies, and aWakenS
among its members a strong and lively
interest in each others welfare and sue
cess. The mental training gained at it's
business sessions is highly useful and in
structive.
We have reason to be proud of its
achievements and to look forward with
hope and confidence to its future career
1t is not the purpose of l4IS address,
however to dwell upon its statistics or
eulogiZe its membership, but to join with
you in learning-that we may observe the
lesson which the occasion suggests, the
part that fra ternal organizations have
taken in the work of civilization and
their mission in that respect. The mem
berShip of such societies throughout the
country is estimated at not less than g.
O00,00O According to the methods by
which population is estimated, it is fair
10 suppose that those composing the
families of these members number more
than S0,000.000. or more than one-third of
the entire population of the United
States. That such an aggregation of or
ganiZed activity can exert a powerful in
f1uence upon the destiny of the nation
cannot be denied. Their benevolent char
acter, in general. justiies the belief that,
when their privilege and duty is fully I'M
derstood, they will accept and faithfully
discharge them.
1t is not my purpose or function to
teach moral or religious truths, except in