The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-12-25

~.AFFVASilt Will nave Accotnp li3nGQ EnelE
mission. But we have not yet reached
the age when they are no longer useful.
The church must first permeate the
world with the spirit Of Jesus Christ,
and divest mankind Of the spirit of q
/ dominant self love. She must do more.
She must also assume to large extent
the care and protection of the body, rs
well as the nurture and training Of the
soul. When we shall have reached that
age-the oasis Of spiritual fervor, Of
brotherly concern, Of religious victory
when there shall be but one master pur-
pose in the human heart, and common
sentiments and a common hope and q
common cause shall make once more Of
one blood all men-the human family
will then have reached its apex and its
temporal glory. But until then, other
agencies and Institutions will have their
place in the moral world, and help our
race to a higher plane Now among
such moral and helpful agencies stands
the Order Of Odd Fellows And / am
glad Of the privilege TO bear to your or
der, through you its representatives,
my warmest feeling. and my wish that
the Order of Odd Fellows may reach
out to the bounds Of the world. As you
know your order can not claim antiquity
Of origin, nor do you claim for il a re-
mote past There are other fraternal
and benevolent orders which date far
ther back ia history than yours, and to-
day boast Of a vast membership. But
from the time of your first efforts to
express your feelings and sentiments in
an organized capacity you have enjoyed
the distinction of phenomenal growth.
So that today you represent the largest
ganization of men in Christendom,
resting upon purely fraternal and be-
nevolent basis. The growth Of your
order was one of the wonders Of the
past century. And yet the principles
Of the Order OF Odd Fellows are the re-
lentless foe Of one of our most cher
ished sins -self-love.
Explore the dark recesses of the
mind,
In the SOULS honest volume read man
kind.
And own, in wise and simple, great and
small,
The same grand leading principle in
ell
and by whatever name we call
The ruling tyrant. self is all in all.
An important mission of your order Il
the overthrow Of this tyrant -ths ban
iRhment Of the Cainish idea Of life.
Nov there uro dOabtssss many things
connected with the Order Of Odd FeI-
lows about which we on the outside
know nothing. We do not know how
many millions you contribute annually 70
charitable purposes, yet you contribute
several-perhaps about six millions. |
Nor do We know the number Of widows
and orphans who receive Of your liber- |
atty, yet the number exceeds hundred |
thousand. Neither are we acquainted |
with the signs and secrets, sgrip and |
password Of the Order Of Odd Fellows, |
and yet we are sure you have such. |
However there Is something about you |
we know. We know the purpose of
your order We know also the cardinal
principles Of your order. The motto Of |
the Order Of Odd Fellows. Here we
find the purpose and principles Of your
order defined and expressed. Three |
words Friendship, Love, Truth. The |
three corner stOneg-a tripod Of marked |
strength and matchless beauty-Friend- |
ship, Love, Truth. Three keys that
viii unlock the heart and the home.
Friendship, Love. Truth. The virtues
which make service q JOY and life q
blessing. Friendship, Love, Truth.
Three graces which establish, adOFn
and perfect moral character. The cor
ner stone on which rests the massive
structure Of Odd Fellowship, whose
benign wings reach out from ocean. TO
ocean and from continent 10 continent
to bless and protect and help those in !
need. The keys which unlock the hu- |
man heart when nothing else will, and |
then upon the door yOnder or whenever |
there is human suffering and want, and |
bring sunshine and relief. The virtues /
whose charities cause the widows head /
to rest easier on her lonely pillow, and
the orphan 70 hush his cries in the
midst Of plenty. The graees which, IL
cultivated by you, will shine with an
ever Increasing light. upon a selfish
world about you. With these as your
motto, Friendship, Love, Truth, you
may rightly, as well az proudly, march
10 the four corners Of the world, know
ing that behind you there are those
who bless you, and before you there
are those who are ready TO welcome
you. Stand by and for the principles
Of your order. Let Friendship, Love
and Truth mark your way, and through
their exercise recommend your order
Be a friend 10 others and others win be
q friend 20 you Love others and Otn-
ers will love you. Be true 10 othersl
and you win not have lived In vain. Go
forth, and better the world by right.
eous living. Go forth, and lei these
virtues be YOUR mautel hv dav and hs