Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-19
]FRATERNAL LEADER
DECLARES HUMANITY
ISVAST BRO O1THlERH[OOD
Writer Shows Great Good Done by Binding Men
together with Ties of Love for Fellow Men,
Points Out Valuable Instances of Help
fuIneSS in Time of Suffering
BY JAMES A. FosHAY

W HEMl ed about forty years ago and
W has gone on steadily ad-
A yancing until the member
ship of the societies TO-DAY is
more than six millions, car
rylng a protection of more than seven
billion dollars. Since the organization
these societies have disbursed InoPe
than $1,050. 100000 and are now ols- us
bursting annually about $io,OOo,oou.
They have already paid out nearly
one-third as much as our government
has paid In pensions since the pension
system came into existence
At no period in our nations history
has the brotherhood of humanity been
SO prominently before the world as II
ia today, protecting as 1t does the nome
and the fireside from want and she'd
ding an influence that is upbuilding IN
its character and patriotic in its ma
ture. ia
People are seseing a deeper signih-
canoe in the real meaning OF the woru
"Fraternity" and beginning to reallZe
that all humanity is but one vast
brotherhood more or less dependent
upon one another, and that anything
detrimental to single person affects
all to a greater or less degree. NO
longer do we feel that we have a rlght
10 stand aloof and say, as was said
Of old. II am holier than thou" No
longer do we ask with the guilty Cain,
"Am l my brothers keeper? IN
bounded love and charity for all man.
kind is the watchword OF the day. ana
no one can say II believe in the BROTH
erhood of any organization" who does
not say: Il believe In the protherhoou
of man.
Great Moral Educator
VIZ are convinced that the genuine
fraternal spirit universally exercised Is
the remedy for the present lack Oh
harmony between capitalist and EN-.
ploye, that 1t is the solution or all
social problems that 1t will conduce
to a nobler and grander philosophy OF
government than most of us nave ever
dreamed.
Man is a dependent being, who relies
for his success and happiness upon his
own efforts, combined with those OF
his fellows; and when all men labor
. together In the spirit of true fraternity
the right of every man to the fruits
Z of his labors will be granted.
Organized fraternitieS nave grown 10
be vital to the hearts and homes In
the different states of our own country
as we'll as in those of other countries
There is nothing that could take their
places. If taken from US the warmth
would be taken from the hearthstone
and many of the most wholesome vir-
tues taken from the heart.
The true fraternal spirit assists In
lifting men into a higher moral atmos-
phere and instructs them in lessons OF
honor and generous character. 1t keeps
them from the saloon and gambling
table, No one can regularly attend
the meetings of these fraternal organi-
cations, wherein the true spirit OF
morality Ia taught, and hear the noble
lessons rehearsed without becoming
better man or woman, better parent
and better citizen.
Arouses Feeling Of kinship
Fraternity is a principle as old as
humanity, but the duty of caring for
the welfare of one another received its
first impetus when the Man of Naza-
reth emphasized it in such remark
able degree. And in the centuries that
have followed the truths of Chrlsts
teachings have so permeated the minds
and hearts of men that true fraternity
has become manifested in the relations
OF individuals, of organizations, and of
.ations. The large number of charita-
BILE institutions throughout the civilized
world is an index of its great growth.
One of our leading magazines recently
contained the thought that the success
of the church is not to be measured by
the numbers that are added to it, nor
by the amount of money contributed,
but by the extent to which it is able
to instill In the minds of it's hearers
the true spirit of brotherly love.
From the beginning the word frater-
nifty has been applied to a society, or an
association of people working together
for their common interest business or
pleasure We find this thought evil
denced in such societies as the Frater-
nal Brotherhood of this city and in
others of earlier origin. We find 1t ap-
piled to members of the same profess
sion, as law and medicine, also to as
sociations of students in colleges and
preparatory schools. In the fraterni-
ties we are made to know and to feel
tie link of kinship.
Extends Helping Hand
Organization comes with order. This
is true with mankind as well as in ma
ture and the more perfect the organi
zation the greater the harmony. There
may be discordant elements in a So
ciety, but If 1t be perfect in It's or
ganization and management, harmony
exists. People of different religious and
political opinions meet together, but
peace abounds in the lodge rooms and
there is a reciprocity and fellowship
which have the true spirit of
fraternity.
we all agree that there is a rule of
the universe as to the foundation stone
of every perfect principle. Upon this
rests right liberty upon that, and above
all is the capstone of unity. "In union
there is strength" This caused the
Puritan of Massachusetts,, the Quaker
of Pennsylvania and the aristocrat of
the south, each to lay aside his preju-
diees and join together in forming the
co-tinental congress and in laying the
foundation for the greatest government
the world has ever known. 1t is in this
thought today that there is intellectual
and moral strength.
In these fraternities the hand of char
ity is ever distributing. 1t is soothing
the aching heart and wiping the tears
from the cheeks of widow and orphan.
1t Is clothing and feeding the dependent
ones. How many peor'e would die
alone and be lowered into the potter's
field were it not for the kind minis
trations of true fraternity!
Our most solemn obligations to be