The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-05-02

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country. which had only social and
convirial purposes in view. and
that iwas> only occasionally that
charitable assistance was extended
to members. You will agree with
me, ! On Am sure, when / say that it is
hardlyto be wondered at that an
institution which simply existed
for the prom otion of social hilarity
amongst its members, for the in
dulgence of appetite, and tie or
ganization of fun, failed to estab-
]ish itself permanently as. one Of
the worlds great needs. No !insfi
tuition, indeed, can long live in the
esteem and reverence of the world
whichsis not founded upon some
great,and Fundamental need of the
human race.
Thefathers of your Order who in
the year 1912 met in Manchester,
and later in Baltimore, for the pur.
pose lof organization, were pro-
foundly apprehensive of the fact
that the "Fel1owship" they pro-
posed#to establish were to endure,
if it we're to perpetuate itself beyond
short summers day and become
1ink#binding succeeding genera
tions together, they must be ex-
ceedingly careful in regard to the
selection of the principles that
should form the basal pillars of the
new organization. And so they
said: aWe will establish a brother
hood ;<we will come together as the
children of common Father: as
brothers we will make ourselves
necessary to each other in wealth
and inPoverty, at home and abroad,
in sickness and in health, in life
and ii death.
TheSthreefold bond of love, friend.
ship and truth shall preserve the
integrity of our Order inviolate
through all the varying contingen-
cies Ct prosperity and adversely.
Wander where we will over Gods
greatffree world we will still be
brethren. Unbounded by cline or
county, unfettered by class or by
creedsshall the evidence of BROTH
er's Necessity or danger demand
and SECURE brothers sympathy, a
brotl1ers aid and a brothers pro.
tectidn. Not selfishness, but sacri-
flee. dot Indulgence but manly re-
strairltsnot the scowl of cynicism
but tbe5smile and touch of charity:
ia tn asthings, said the wise and
syao1 a Nl Name el1ester,ande eBalti.
more, aM to be found the elements
of >perma1ence, and the essential
qualities Of: fraternity, and upon
these things shall the structure of
our Fellowship be reared"
But, said the fathers of Odd Eel.
lowship, we will have our own ap-
propriate signs and symbols. As a
brotherhood, pledged to preserve
and protect the interests of our
own household, we will institute
our own safeguards, we will pledge
ourselves to the secrecy of sign.
Not, however, the secrecy of shame,
a::secrecy which shuns the criticism
of reasonable and just men, but the
secrecy Of guarded friendship, the
secrecy which protects a sacred in
terest against the abuses of unprin-
cipled men, the principle which, in
lesser or greater degree, is essen
tlal to the integrity and preserva-
ton of every institution of civiliza-
ton, which groups men together in
and in social or religious
organizations.
And in such secrecy as this there
is no peril, nothing which violates
the principles. moral or religious,
of any truly enlightened man. In
moral and we'll organized secrecy
we recognize wise, natural and
just provision for the protection
and Perpetuation of the truest
But there has been only
one man, and He more than man.
who has fulfilled in all beautiful
and perfect expression, friendships
sublime, ideal. And of Him it is
said that He is "the friend that
sticketh closer than a brother"
Whenever think of Jesus Christ in
this connection beautiful epilogue
comes into my mind, one which I
have often related, and one which I
will now venture to repeat. It is
said that Jesus and His disciples
entered late one day into a certain
town, and having dismissed His
disciples. that they might prepare
the evening meal, He himself wan
dered into the market-place. Stand
ing in one corner of the market
place was group of men who were
intently gazing upon an object ly-
ing upon the ground. Jesus drew
near to see what the object might