Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-04-28
4. 0. 0. r. ANNIVERSARY.

The organization Of Odd Fellowship
was made in the city of Baltimore, Md
eighty-four years ago and the anniver-
sary was celebrated by the local lodge
at L o. O +. hall on Sunday AFTERNOON
commencing at o'clock. The eere-
monies were for the most part in ac-
cordance with a prescribed program If
ritualistic work, though this was devisS
ated from some by speeches being made
by several ia attendance The main
address was made by the Rev b b
Gibbs who was introduced By Louis
MarcSettl The substance of MIR.
Gibbs address is as follows:
A pleasant duty befalls me in accept
ing the Invitation of your committee to
speak upon the occasion of this ami
versary of Odd Fellowship; pleasant
because it is a delight to look into new
faces, clasp new hands and form new
friendships; pleasant also because it
affords thrill of JOY to recognize on
these lodge walls the tokens and en-
blems made familia. in other rooms
thousand miles away, and to thus APP
preciate the far-reaching i1fiuence e
our order No man csn be proud
than am | To wear the lGsignis If
fraternity that seeks to mitigate suffer
ing, palliate sorrow and promote the
spirit of peace and goodwill.
The principle of association is as old
as the race 1t is a sacred law, as bind
ing as that of religion, which compells
man to do homage to the infinite. In
our mutual weaknesses and DEEPEN
dences. amid the atfinities and relation
ships of life, we learn to join hearts,
heads and hands, to shield, support and
counsel together.
In the parable of the good samaritan
Jesus answers the querie, who is my
neighbor ?" BY showing that whoever
utters the kind word and performs the
kind act is neighbor unto the person in
need and we, as Odd Fellows, are care
full lest. by turning the glance inward
or straining it outward or losing it in
vacant reverie, we miss the turn of SER
vice and. like priest and Levite of old,
pass those bye whom we might be per-
mitted to bless and heal.
There is so much in this world TO be
set right, there are so many to be led
and helped and comforted. There are
antagonisms everywhere jealousies of
nations, contentious of parties, sJriv-
ings for preference. divisions of society
differences in belief that tend to des-
troy the Christian unity of peace, holt
ness and love, transform life into an
Arabian desert and men into plumber
ing Ismaelites. Existence is largely a
masquerade. where men seek personal
interest and appear what they are not
We dream of sympathies, slnceritles,
friendships, that will always charm; we
wake and the vision dissolyes, there re-
main but the ugly forms of deceit. In
the very midst of the throng, pressed
hu manila side
alone But he who enters where the
world is shut out, is separated from its
cares and distinctions, its discussions
and vices. Bound within the magic
sphere of brotherhood he realizes that
friendship, truth and love are more
than mere illusions, that they are liv
ing, throbbing, vital realities, pregnant,
with the passionate sympathy Of Christ.
The invisible but helpful arms Of our
order reach out their protection to him
in every country and upon every con-
tinent
Nowhere today can an Odd Fellow
find himself alone or forsaken. There
is no brotherhood so strong in numbers
in all the world. There is no homework
its benevolence will leave undone. A
child is left without the home, perhaps
its home is broken up as many nest is
ueSLFOJ0u-D1 dcCluoBb, ITtSHuS III our
order protect the fedgling. Or, a wife
suddenly loses the support of the strong
arm that has been her protection and
pride. Youth and attractiveness are
forgotten charms, and the road looks
barren ahead, but she receives from the
lodge her due, neat sum of money to
tide over misfortune. The sick are
especially made the objects Of our
thoughtfulnessa and even the graves of
our dead are cared for. Then let us
rejoice in that phenomenal growth of
Odd Fellowship. 1t has made way in
less than a century to the front rank of
useful agencies for lettering the condi-
ton and relieving the aaistresses of man
kind Founded upon the gospel it lifts
its eyes to the hills of Canaan and
catches inspiration from one who lived
for others, the friend and brother of us
all AS handmade of the church it
seeks to make life sweeter and brighter
by teaching and practicing the new
commandment love toward one an
other"
The attendance of both members and
their ladies was quite large, and at the
conclusion of the celebration large
bouquet of cut flowers, standing near
the presiding officers station, was dis
tributed among the ladies.