The Holly chieftain., 1904-04-29
HOLLY, COLORADO FRIDAY APRIL 49, 1904

niche. and there n peak, and a few
other features, which we think Of most
interest: but leaving the great mass
| OF facts alone.
How often it Is remarked by persons
who were born and bred in the plain
| country. that the idea they had Of
| mountains was altogether different
from that entertained from actual nb-
servation. Likewise We may say that
the idea We formed OF Oddfellowship
| was much different from that gotten
| by real acquaintance with the institu-
tlon itself.
The uninitiated think only Of some
mysterious cdpers: (for the Latin word
caper meant nothing but goat: and
/ 80 .mysterions goat--rding andlother
unseemly .orgies are associated with
the common idea of the order with
those who have not travelled this way.
But those who have looked within
the veil know the manly voice, the
kindly hand, the open purse, the help
ful sympathy, and many deeds OF ac-
tive benevolence.
But. practically. We might say that
Oddfeilowship is kind of IA composite
man. A large, manly fellow.
tl. In the first place he has u his
tory. There were efforts to bring him
forth in the centuries past. at sundry
Z nf hn hn In
pendent Oddfellowship. was born
about one hundred years ago. In q
brief period OF a century he has grown
to be extremely large. Ne more does
he have to lift his voice, as the infant
does. to let the world know OF his ex-
istence; but he is seen in evidence
everywhere, in Congress, in the state
Legislatures, on the platform, in the
pulpit, everywhere. 4 glorious histo-
rY OF = hundred years. He once
reached his maturity and took unto
, himself helpmeet. the beautiful Re-
becca, 80 aid him in his toll and to
share his honor; and together. hand In
hand, thev go forward to ill the world
with their renown.
~. In the second place. The compo-
site man has stomach. This one Of
the most useful members OF the body
humanux whereby we take the differ
ent kinds Of food and prepare them for
assimilation into the human flesh. So
Oddfellowship has the power OF assinl
ilation: he can take the Johnny Bull,
the brawny Scot, the Paddy from the
ould sod, the German, and the French
man; he devours them all, assimilates
them all ma kes them into the tissue OF
the order, SO that all these parts work
together for the benefit OF mankind.
Because he has this member, he Is
fond OF banquets He is not given to
asceticism, to fasting very mach: that
is not any more than he has to! The
ascetic has had his day. He was need
ed once much more than he is to-day.
/! The devils, SO common among men In
the Dark Ages, OF baseSt crime and
superstition, could not be driven out
but by prayer and fasting Their work
is done. Light now shines everywhere,
The whole world can say that it is
morning. And the present need is Of
brain. and heart. and muscle. And so
Nature spreads her feast bids us
partake OF her banquet SO that we NAV
be able to do our part of the worlds
work The Oddfellnw is that kind OF
a man.
wish | had the time to say some
thing OF his work as rcrormer. He
has great power In this respect. He
has done some good along this line.
With our added numbers, with our
power OF suaSion, we musti gradually
insist on higher standards for admis.-
sion into and retention OF member
ship: and thus We may help to make
indecency crime and to make de.
cency Il popular thing.
REV. A. j. MORTON.