The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1907-06-06
Loaves, Fishes, OddfeIlowship.

kU0VSS, llSuSos OOSAS'O y" S'P'
Verify, veril,, LAY unto you, ye seek
me not because We saw the miracles but
because ye did eat of the loaves and
were tiled with those words spoken
nearly two thousand years ago bv the
carpenter OF Nazareth on the shores Of
Galilee are still standing rebuke to
mon of low motives in the church and
out OF the church and they may be ap-
piled with full foice to sick benefit ODD
Fellows.
There is no question but what lodge
membership is OF advantage in ousl'
ness way to those who belong to the
order. It brings to the merchant more
trade, to the professional man more pa
irons, to the laborer more employment,
and it may even bring to the politician
more votes, 1t does this because it in.
creases the acquaintance of each per-
son and because it is natur al for men to
deal with acquaintance rather than
strangers.
These mutual advantages growing
out of the associations Ut the lodge
room are perfectly natural and entirely
proper so long as the members regard
them as merely incidental and not the
real purpose Of the order. 1t is not only
our privilege but our duty to point out
each others advantages and interests
and thus render mutual assistance in
business way, but we must not While
eating loaves and fishes forget the real
purposes of Oddfellowship.
We all know that simply becoming in
itiated into our order listening to the
lectures and charges; taking upon one
self the solemn obligations and even at
tending the lodge meetings, or occasion
ally appearing in public professions,
wearing the regalia of the order, does
not constitute an Odd Fellowship IN
spirit and truth, but that we must ex-
empllfy in our lives the principles we
profess. We must bring no rsproach
upon the Order by unworthy conduct.
We must be willing to share the bur
dens as we'll as the benefits OF the order
We must practice self denial; be willing
to sacrifice our own personal ease and
comfort for the good of others; shrink
from no duty however arduous, when
human sorrow can be assuaged or hui
man suffering relieved, but seek in every
way to cultivate the better part OF our
natures by generous acts and kindly
words to those around us.
When we are in the enjoyment OF the
sunshine of life and are prosperous and
happy, we are apt to think but little OF
the 70 CHER ways sailing down the pla-
cid stream with the tide; little heed do
we give to the fact that there are
rougher places in the river of life where
our bark may lodge, and through which
all our energies and thoughts must be
exercised to keep afoat. All men and
women were not born with a golden
spoon in their mouths or silver ones
either. Were this so, much of the en-
ergy of this world would be wasted in
idleness and the vast growth of genius
with which the world is blessed, would
lie dormant and useless. And this is
true of the lodge as of the world in gen.
eral. How little do many members who
have never felt the pangs of want, OF
sickness, of lack of good things of earth,
know the cares and anxieties which fall
to the lot OF many of their brethren.
True it is that all are born free and
equal, but all are not endowed alike
with the faculty Of winning success.
What is one mans meat is often an
other mans poison. The diversities of
nature find their counterpart in the di.
versitiss sound among human beings
while one FORCES ahead undaunted by
difficulties which may beset his path.
Another, though apparently as full of
courage and energy, fall by the wayside,
it is unnecessary to reason Why this is
SO. for there are many causes for it.
Men Of both kinds are found in our
lodges and it is the duty of the strong
to help the weak along, for are we not
brothers of the same great family. Have
we not pledged each Other at the same
affairs. Should we not feel brothers
interest in our less successful brethren,
and do we feel this interest? When
have we taken the hand of our less for
tunate brother; inquired into his condi-
ton; his success or lack OF it, and his
prospects for the future, and if we have
thus inquired, what have we done to as
sist them. Have we done anything to
assist him or to better his condition. 1t
should be the interest of each brother
of our great fraturnity ard Of the order
which should find place in every lodge
room. Our beloved order has shown
time and again its will from a charita-
BILE side. We wander back to the Chi
cago fire in 1870 and also through the
fever smitten districts Of Memphis,
Tenn. in 1872 and see the generous and
b.In;no hand ,o.,h