Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-27
ORDERS ANNIVERSARY
THE FOUNDING OF ODD FELLOW
SHIP CELEBRATED.
Members Of the Fraternity Listen to
Special Sermon by Rev. Forrest
w. Prettyman.

In pursuance of the proclamation of the
Grand Lodge. I. o. O. F.. last night cele-
brated the eighty-fourth anniversary of
the founding of American Odd Fellowship.
The ceremonies took place at Mount YER
non Place Methodist Episcopal Church.
There was large attendance Of the men,
bers and friends of the order. including
many of the Rebekah lodges. Grand Mas
ter George q. COLLISION, the three grand rep
resentatives and many of the officers of
subordinate lodges were present. and there
were also representatives from the Grand
Encampment and from each subordinate
lodge and encampment.
The members of the fraternity assembled
at Odd Fellows Hall on 7th street north
west, and were escorted to the church by
Canton Washington, No. l. Patriarchs
Militant. At the church Rev. Forrest +.
Prettyman, the pastor, delivered the ami
versary address. He chose as his text
Matthey xvii, 8. Jesus only" He traced
the history of the American organization,
formed by five men in Baltimore in 1919.
from that date until the present day. and
spoke of it's great growth and the power
for good which it has accomplished In the
world. He called attention to the ethical
teachings of the order, as set forth In the
words friendship love and truth. and said
it was exemplified in the life Of Jesus
Real and Supreme Sense.
"In a real supreme sense Jesus was odd,
he said, mot in eccentricity. but in per-
lection and character. What you seek as
an order Is to emphasize individuality. and
there is no greater need today than this.
In the shops, as members Of organized
labor, men are apt to become merely parts
of the great machinery of life. The touch
of Jesus brings out the personality and per-
fects the individual manhood. Matthew
49, = oh
Rome for collecting taxes, but the call of
Jesus made him a distinct personality IN
the world of letters. Saul OF Tarsus couid
be spoken of as a certain young man VINO
stood by the clothes of those who stoned
Stephen to death. but Paul. the apostle of
Christ. stands out clear and distinct, tower
ing far above all of his Jewish contempt
raries. In seeking this individuality you
have made an analysis Of the social order.
and you have expressed 1t in that beautiful
ascending scale of relationships which Is
indicated by the words friendship, love-
truth Jesus said. 'Henceforth I call you
not servants. for the servant knoweth not
what his Lord doeth. but have called you
friends. for all things that I have heard
of my Father I have made known unto
you" Jesus manifested His friendship by
committing to His disciples the secret coun-
sells Of the divine mind.
Principle of Love.
Love is that principle which leads one
mortal Delng TO desire anu ueH6Ll III
another, and reaches the highest form in
that personal fellowship In which each lives
in the life of the order. This element Of the
social order is embodied only in Jesus. His
love showed itself in the gift of His life
to His followers. Love in its highest sense
is only realized when we can say with Paul.
TO me to live Is Christ. But whence
comes the third and highest degree, truth?
PLATE, standing amid the wreck of systems.
the highest product Of the human intellect,
asks, with scorn. What is truth? 1t Is
natural that he should have thought of 1t as
beyond all human achievement. 1t Is the
final adjustment of relationship. In its last
analysis 1t is righteousness. So you have
rifice. I declare to you its end. 1t Is found
only in the unity of the thought and life
of Jesus. He is the truth. Friendship with
Jesus, ripening into that love which Is one
ness Of life with Him. adjusts all relation
ships. both human and divine. In that d.
vine order which Is truth.