The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-05-10
F rate RNITY
DAY

Sunday evening, May 5th, will live
long in the history of Havre, as, on
that day the Rev Leonard J. Christ
Ter held his first Fraternity Day"
AS has been noted frequently in the
columns of the Herald, Mr.. Christler
was desirous of getting acquainted
with the men of Havre through the
medium of thier fraternal associations
and took this means of bringing about
the desired end. The men of the city
responded nobly to his invitation and
many lodges attended the service in
body. Among them We're the Mas
ons, Odd Fellows, knights Of Pythias,
Eagles, Modern Woodmen and Sons of
Hermann.
1t was an inspiring sight to see
the various bodies Of men walking in
shoulder to shoulder to attend church.
AS one entered the door, he was pres
ented with neat souvenir programs,
and the first thing to catch the eye
was the note of dedication as follows:
Brethren: In issuing this token
with the service Of certain fitness
for our Fraternity Day, which day and
service have inaugurated for my
companions and brothers of the fra
ternities, I ask you who are assembled
in this presence for the good of each
and the JOY of all, to share the privi-
leges and to unite in the rendition of
the service. With a deep sense Of
personal friendship and affection for
all you men who have earned that
which today bears witness to the
world of the whatsoever things are
lovely, the whatsoever things are true,
the whatsoever things are of good re-
port, 7 convey to you my congratula-
tions and my best wishes.
Fraternally yours,
LEONARD J. CHRISTLER."
The Herald regrets its inability
to reproduce Rev. Christler's lecture in
full, but space and lack of time pre-
vents We give below part which
we commend to our readers.
''The average persons outside the
pale of fraternal orders, knowing
nothing of the sterling cardinal prin-
ciples upon which they rest, are in
credulous that they ever mean very
much, except to possess a mass of
curious mythic and meaningless SYM
bols, and so they tread the buring
sands in search of novel sensation
or a new joke. On the other hand
there is large and increasing numb
er of people who are satisfied that
there are other and profounder mean
ings behind the ritual and ceremonies,
and so they take the hint and journey
where the Mason, the Pythian the
Odd Fellow, the Elk, the Eagle and
all the others-as noble and magnani-
mous-love to roam and gaze in the
green pastures of knowledge, and be-
side the still waters of peace strewing
the pathway of duty with deeds of
more exalted usefulness.
ON WIDELY DISTANT SHORES.
In retracing the steps by which fra
ternal orders have come down to us
in our own time, in applying ourselves
with earnestness of thought and care
to their ceremonalis, yelled in allie
CORY and illustrated by symbols, COM
bining the virtues that elevate man
to higher plains and grander views,
our attention is arrested by their an
tiquity
On widely distant shores and in
many strange tongue the voice of
fraternalism has been uplifted, point
ing out the way, the truth, the life, |
in the journey of the human soul to
its immortal destiny. No one with
the slightest knowledge of the SUBJ
,ject can dispute it, for their symbols
clothed in the habiliments of their
teachings are found ON the Oldest
monuments and inscribed in the old
est records known to man.
The earliest days of Egypt beheld
fraternity and rejoiced in it. Classic
Greece felt its benign influence and
was glad. Warlike Rome was helped
by it's softening touch. The Crusad
ers are emblazoned with the deeds
born of fraternalism. The bleak Alps
We're kindled by the fraternal love and
heroism of the friars. Sunny France
was lifted to higher plains by it's
touch. Romantic Spain, when knight
hood was in flower, yielded to its
amiable Influence. Rugged Scotland
saw it, felt it and was glad. Finally 1t
crosses the trackless Atlantic and dis
covers its noblest expression in the
garden OF the virtues-Free America
Thus the Mason, the Pythian, the
Odd Fellow, the Elk, the Eagle and