The Dickinson press., 1908-05-02
.oDDF:ELLoWs
Attend Church In Body.
Scholarly Anniversary
Sermon BY Rev. w. j.
Brown.

4. Sermon BY Rev. w. j.
Brown.
Owing to the cold stormy night Sun.
day, the Odd Fellows of Frontier Lodge
did not turn out in very large numbers
and the Rebekahs appeared to mind the
inclemency even more than their broth.
ers. However, those who did attend di.
vine worship at the Congregational
church listened to a good anniversary
sermon, extracts from which are given
below:
Rev. w. ]. Brown took these words
for his text: "Fear not:
Sam. 23:I7; "Fear not: for the hand
of Saul my father shall not find thee:
and thou shalt be king over Israel, and
shall be next unto thee"
Then followed the story of Saul's at
tempt to slay David and the. latter's
agreement with Jonathan. Continuing
the minister said:
"You will observe now, that this COM
pact was secret one. There are people
who find great cause for complaint with
this and Kindred orders, whose benevo-
lence has gladdened the hearts of tens of
thousands of widows and orphans all
over the world because their members
are bound together by secret word. In
the case OF David and Jonathan, a secret
saved a precious life. There is no re-
lation in life. no service, no art, no philos-
ho~
their secrets. The principle of secrecy
progress of the world. 1t is part of the
gion of mystery is enchanted ground.
leads the human family to every achieve
ment. There is sense, however, in
which secrecy becomes an evil 1t is a
good thing that may be put to a bad ser
vice. But, when associated with that
which is helpful and tangible, it never is
other than good thing"
"Our Divine Lord applied an unerring
test to all 1things, when He said, The
tree is known by its fruits The great
secret, the essential existence OF the or
der, in its purpose, is open to the world.
1t may be read, not only in our laws, our
literature, but in the practice of our
principles. Oddfellowship has no secrets
that it is not willing to exemplify before
the world"
An Archbishop of one of the great
Christian nation was recently reported
as saying: ..,~ss s.,.4-
"sThe ordinary American who has been
Joiner at some time or other in his
life, is pretty certain that the secret
society, as a rule, is quite harmless. 1t
has no particular connection with relig-
ion, and its "secrets" are of such a
tenuous order, that if they were suddenly
exploded to the world, society would not
be in the least shaken, nor would it be
greatly instructed"
"The mission of Oddfellowship is to
bring mankind into brotherhood such
as there is felt to be the need of"
ut is true that Oddfellowship has an
unwritten and unspoken language, in
telligible only to her members. The ar
row that nies from the mouth may be
the signal that there is danger ahead, ana
it may be the means of saving precious
life, or preventing brother from being
swindled out of his rights by the unscru-
pulous schemer."
"Let me in the second place particu-
larize some of the elements which enter
ed into covenant. They are the three
links of our order"
"F'irst of all was the covenant of friend
ship. Cicero has said, Friendship is the
only thing in the world concerning the
usefulness of which all mankind are
agreed @
"A second element in this covenant is
Love. Love is the greatest thing in the
world. This is the greatest test Of the
bond of fellowship"
"Brotherly love is second only to the
love of God for his children. Love is
] the balm of life; it sweetens every sor-
4 row, turning sadness into joy.
"There is a legend, that ,one Androcles,
Danish slave in Rome, escaped from
his bondage and took refuge in a cave
on the mountain side. In the evening
the mouth of the cave was darkened by
!, a alimpinE lion, whose den the fugative had
unwittingly invaded. But the mighty
beast, instead of rushing upon the tremb-
ling man, .crawled whining toward him
and held out his paw. The intruder,
looking, noticed 4 thorn had pierced the
lions paw. Tho quaking With fear, he
reached forth his hand, and gently drew
Il out the thorn. From that hour the lion
was his friend and protector. He shared
his booty with him and brought him food
FOR three years. The lion was trapped
by. hunters. Soon after the fugitive was
captured, and for punishment,w was. con-
demned to fight lion. But when cast into
the arena, in the presence Of the crowds
In the ampitheater, instead of springing
upon his victim and tearing him to
pieces, the lion came gently toward him,
and licked his hands and face: The
people shouted, "A miracle, a miracle
But the man was his friend OF the noun.
4 tain cave. The slave was liberated and
the lion was given to him. He led his
tanned beast about the streets Of Rome,
and the people cried: There is the man.
the doctor Of the lion; and there is the
lion the host of the man. The moral Is,
that little acts Of kindness and love, are
sure in the end to bring their reward. II
lit be true that the dumb brute is so sus-
ceptable to Kindness why not man. the
lord Of creation7"
'sThe third element entering into the
covenant Of peace, between Jonathan