The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-05-11

Samaritan, man who was so-called
unbeliever, but he had compassion
for the wounded man, and cared
for him, binding up his wounds, and
providing for his needs. He loved
his fellows. Odd Fellowship is striv-
ing to make good Samaritans of us
all.
Truth is gem of priceless value.
A love for truth is the principle which
makes a man desire above all other
things to be right, which is simply
conformity to truth.
Truth is light like the sun, which
dispels all darkness and brings
warmth and cheer into the life. Such
light is the Word-the Book of
Books. ga lamp to our feet and
light to our path" "Study it, my
brother,'' is the admonition of that
illustrious Odd Fellow, Paschal
Donaldson.
These, Friendship, Love, and Truth,
be the foundation principles pf our
beloved Order, and built upon them
we have practical Odd Fellowship.
For these graces are self-revealing.
Friendship reveals itself in fraternity.
Love is ministry, and Truth is charity.
Hence, we find in this order:
l Mutual relief. Relief from you
to me when l need. All, that is good.
But more. Also, from me to you
when you need. That is better.
What opportunity there is to extend
relief.
Life and health are so uncertain,
| the delicate mechanism of our bodies
SO liable to play off on us, that we feel
the need of some provision against
those times when these hands cannot
labor, when this body cannot toll.
In Odd Fellowship, we find ample pro-
vision for relief. And this relief comes
to the needy one as his by right.
There is no humbling of pride, no
begging of inferior from superior, of
unfortunate from lucky. But render
| ing of assistance to a brother by a
brother. In the early days of the
Christian religion this work of reliev-
ing distress was done by the
church. distribution was made to
every man according as he had need"
But the practice was dropped from the
activities of the church for some rea-
sons, and now we recognize the place
of Fraternal Societies in our civiliza-
ton as the inheritors of this heritage
of apostolic times. They are thus the
landmarks of the church, and useful
! in their spheres. as is the church in
hers. Each needs and is help to the
! other.
2 Beneficence, too, is fruit of our
Order. Even in our benevolences,
there is need of system and rule that
they may be effective. Otherwise,
our benevolence will not attain to
benefence. which is doing the kindly
act, while benevolence is only willing
it. Odd Fellowship is not satisfied
with mere feeling of kindness toward
those in distress an empty wish for
their relief, but insists that the kindly
act be performed. Our Order has ex-
pended in its short history the mag
nificent sum of two hun bred millions
of dollars to relieve the sick and the
suffering. Could we have march be-
fore you this morning every man,
woman and child to whom the help
ing hand OF Odd Fellowship has been
extended in his need, what a vast
army of grateful folks would appear
to our view. And everyone of these
becomes voice eloquent with praise
of the great system which has made
such benefcence possible. The busy
little bees lay up their stores against
the time of need, and we have been
taught to emulate their example.
Charity. In the spirit of charity
which we exercise do we see the fru it
OF the broad Truth which our Order
teaches. A difference of opinion in
religion or politics is no bar to brother
hood. He who loves truth, and is
sincere in his desire, to know and do
the right, is always welcome with us.
Odd Fellowship demands nothing OF
a man that will interfere with his
duty to his God, his country, or his
family. Here meet, in spirit of
brotherly good will, the Jew and the
GENTLE, Protestant and Catholic, men
OF every creed, united in their love OF
Truth, aud yet measuring men by
their conduct, not by their opinions,
"He who shows compassion to the
needy is true man, however hum
ble.'
AS we thus behold it's fruits we say,
it is goodly tree. Then we inquire,
whence hath it these fruits?
A favorable soil for the growth of
such an Order, is this great Republic
of ours, where the spirit of liberty has
encouraged every good and worthy
organization. We have inhaled the
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