The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-04-27

OQQ FELLOWS, 1GDehdflS
Ladies and Gentlemen:
A few days ago I was informed by
to deliver an address to you upon
this occasion; I was given no choice in
the matter, but simply given orders,
and understand that I must obey
Now, should you be disappointed in
the speaker, do not blame me, but
charge it to the committee for making
poor selection. I am not going to
take the usual course of public speak
ers and tell you that you will hear a
good speech because have prepared
it myself; nor, to tell you that I will
not talk more than three hours on this
occasion.
April 26th, 1919, small assemblage
of men met in the city of Baltimore, in
the State of Maryland, and organized
that grand fraternal order since known
as the Independent Order of Odd Fell
lows, whose eighty-ninth anniversary
we have this night met to celebrate.
Starting without wealth or funds. with
just small handful of earnest men,
the Order has grown until the begin
ming of the year just passed it num-
bered 1857 subordinate lodges, 1875
subordinate encampments, and 1870
Rebekah lodges. 1t had Heretofore
initiated into membership in it's subor-
dinate lodges more than three millions,
had extended financial aid to three and
three-quarter millions or people, and
lion of dollars in relieving distress.
Notwithstanding the defamation of its
ranks by death during these SO years,
it's total membership on the first day
of January, 1907, amounted to 1,709, 1913.
1t paid out for relief OF it's members,
their widows and orphans during the
year of 1906, the sum of 5,005, 1887, and
had invested funds approximating for
ty-five millions of dollars. The in
crease in it's membership during the
year 1906 amounted to 108,821. So it is
safe to say that its membership today
approximates in round numbers two
millions of earnest men and women,
imbued with the purest principles of
humanity.
We rejoice in the fact that our order
is prospecting and growing; and, IN
celebrating this anniversary of its
birth, we rejoice in the knowledge that
the order is founded upon the highest
plane of citizenship; upon broad hu-
manitarian lines; and. upon the no.
blest and purest principles that ac-
tuate individuals in the highest pos
sible field of human endeavor. Are
you glad that you belong to this great
Order? I feel proud tonight that 1
am an Odd Fellow.
Odd Fellowship stands for some
thing. 1t stands for the purity of the
home. 1t stands for the cardinal vir-
tues; for honesty. integrity, sobriety,
truth, justice. mercy and charity. 1t
is opposed TO vice in all its forms.
While marching abreast with the adj
vance agents of civilization, it incul-
Gates the virtues of the ancient Patri-
their lives. 1t is the foe of oppres-
sion, and the champion of tolerance.
The study of looking after the welfare
of our brother is enjoined upon each
Odd Fellow, and we are taught that
we are, to some extent, out brothers
keeper The laws of our Order pro-
hibit its member from engaging in the
sale of Intoxicating liquors at retail;
from being habitues of saloons; and,
from intoxication; and a violation of
these laws subjects the erring member
to expulsion from the Order. 1t is not
as popularity supposed by those who
are out of the Order, and who have
not investigated it's rules and laws. a
mere beneficial society. having for its
principal object the relief of it's MEM
bers in distress; and is, in no sense,
an insurance association. It is chari-
table and benevolent in it's character
and objects; and, while it pays sick (
benefits, and burial benefits, clothes |
and educates the orphan and cares for
the widows of deceased members, and /
it's INDECENT members in old age, nurses
the sick and relieves the distressed,
these things are done in pure benev-
olence.
Odd Fellowship teaches its members
o obey the laws and institutions under
which they live; TO be grateful to their
Creator; faithful to their country, and
to their fellow man. No OBJ
igation of an Odd Fellow conflicts
With any of his duties to the State:
but, on the other hand. it teaches him
% be faithful and loyal to his country,
Tigilant in the discharge of every duty
If good citizenship, and Furnishes vio-
atoms of the law of the land with ex-
oulsion from the Order. The fear that
Exists in the minds of many people
hat they cannot become Odd Fellows
without taking upon themselves vows
Ind obligations that conflict with their
luties to their country is absolutely
without foundation. Membership in
,ur Order is conducive to the highest
ypes of loyalty and good citizenship.
Odd Fellowship favors no particular
'eligious sect, has no religious creed,
ret tolerates all sects and creeds. It
recognizes and teaches the existence of
he Great Author of our being, accepts
Ind adopts the Bible as an integral
BART of Odd Fellowship, and no lodge
an be legally held without the pres