, 1908-01-15

bekah Lodges may prosper and add un-
told members to its list, also remem-
beriug that to be a true Cd Fellow and
Rebekah o should be a lady or a
gentleman at all times"
On that solemn occasion on which
we were initiated into the mysteries
of the Rebekah degree our duties were
pointed out to us, but | fear too many
Of us heard them only as we would
listen to an address, We are too prone
to think that the duties prescribed to
us as members of this great Order
of Rebekahs are confined within the
four walls of the lodge room, and hat
ii we attend lodge once in two or three
months we have done our duty. Far
from it are the true ideals of Rebekahs.
Best in the World.
Odd Fellowship Is the best fraternal
order in the world. 1t is the most
numerous in membership, the Oldest
except one in time, and the most
beneficial. It's lodges and encamp-
ments are to be found in many Islands
and are covered by the flags of twenty.
five nations. Its motto is, Friend,
ship, Love and Truth" These words
have come down to. us out of the date,
less past. The golden links OF Friend
ship, Love and Truth are kept for
ever bright through the constant min,
istry to human needs. ITO visit the
sick, relieve the distressed, bury the
dead and educate the orphan, to i'm,
prove and elevate the character Of
man, enlighten his mind, enlarge the
sphere of his affections and lead him
to a cultivation of the true f%raternal
relation designed by the great Author
of this being, are sacred objects of en-
deavor that constantly appeal to the
sympathy, tenderness, self-dignity and
d%ivineness of our human nature"
Friendship Grounded in Love.
Friendship is one of the choicest
gifts of God to men or women. 1t IS
unseen yet most felt in the walks Of
life. Every true friendship is ground
ed in love. in other words, friendship
is unselfsh. The friends that we cher.
ish the most, not because of advant-
ages that may come to us, but out of
the love of our hearts. If others are
true friends to us they will care for
us, not because we may be able 20
benefit them, but because they love lis
with a strong brotherly or sisterly
love. These are the true and noble
sentiments that are taught by the
workings of our noble order, and that
bind together so many noble men ana
women, who have stood by the bed
side of the sick and afflicted, who have
cherished the dropping spirits of the
needy, who have wiped away the tears
of the widow, Gained the orphan when
%tnrning away from the lonely grave Of
some loved one.
Bound With strong Cord.
A three-fold cord, Friendship, Love
and Truth,--a tie bound together by
the noble work Of our Order. OF these
Friendship is the true foundation,
Founded upon esteem, sympathy and
true love which cannot be easily brok-
en-. These are the many elements
that enter into every true friendship.
But none are of more Importance
than Truth, which must be the ruling
principle in all our acts m relations
to each other. And there must be
tenderness toward all u brothers
and sisters, a kind word, a smile, a ten
der pressure of the hand. To know
that our friends are in sympathy with
us while we are afflicted does much
to tighten the tedious hours and what
little does it cost us to visit the sick,
The covenant of Jonathan and Day-
id is still working out a great princi-
pie that teaches us when we take on
ourselves the obligations of u Order
that it is not for a day but for life, ana
to be true to our obligations it II
reach beyond the grave. Such are the
true principles of our Order.
Should Be Banner Year.
In conclusion, l will say Odd Fellow
ship is progressing in this state. We
have added two new subordinate AMI
four Rebekah lodges during the past
year Our membership has increased
to $500 in the subordinate lodges
and to 1,2OO in the Rebekah lodges.
The jurisdiction is doing quite well,
but not well enough. While we gain
hundreds others are gaining thousands.
Let us make this a banner year. Let
each and every lodge resolve to exceed
last years record, and having resolved
let every member work. Do this and
great results are possible.
nat ,nJ paIia+ Germs