The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-12-25
"A SdmOa On
Odd Fellowship.
Rev. ]. B. PFuitt commendS tie Noble
Principles Of the Order at.Anni-
YerSarY Celebration.

verStTY Celebration.
Rev. ]. B. Pruitt, pastor Of the Bap.
list church, preached the anniversary
.esrmon 70 tie Independent Order Of
Odd Fellows.
He said:
''Whers b Abel, thy brotherl Am ]
my brother 3 keeper" Gen. 40.
A question. And the answer The
question implies certain human rela-
ton. The answer suggests no recogni-
ton Of any such relation. The question
presents the two ideas Of interdepend-
ence and personal responsibility, The
answer recognizes no human lnterde-
pendence and denies all personal re-
spOnsibility. And the two suggest a
CONTRAST contrast between the man
who lives for himself and the ideal man
-Christ-whOgives himself away. The
one is selfish, the other Is humanitarian.
Cain seems utterly insensible of any re-
latiAn existing between himself and q
brother, or between himself and man
kind. He seems TO recognize no con-
nection with the rest of the race, and
cares not what becomes Of the fortunes
Of his fellow creatures. Humanity is a
world with which he is not acquainted.
Cain and Jesus Christ are moral anti
podes Cain sees mankind from the
one viewpoint of selhshness, and is in
different touching the interests and
welfare Of others. There the person
iication of selfshness. The embOdi-
fnent Of all that goes TO make life large
and rich and full and free. There a rep
.resentative of one idea, but it is an idea
Of character which means no character.
There another idea-it Is Gods idea
Gods idea Of what human life may be-
come under the operation of certain
moulding and restraining influences.
And both of these ideas are supported
by agencies and lOng-standing institu-
tons, many Of which are deeply in
trenched in the human mind and con-
fendinR for their several cherished
rights. But whether this or that insti-
tuition, If its tendency is to lower a
mans ideals of truth and virtue, or ex-
pell moralhOpe, il Is Cainish, and mer-
Its the reputstioP for evil wherever it's
influence isfelt.
But while this Is tree, that there are
many agencies and ingtitutiQns here and
eVervwbere seelri5o 10 - IS fIIkfe the
Cainish idea Of life, there are other
destruction of that idea. In other
words, the liberation Of man from self
love and low ideal Of moral rectitude,
and advance him to the grand heights
Of faith and service, friendship, and the
freedom Of truth. Now among these
stands the Church Of Christ. Every
other agency and institution productive
Of good Is but the handmade. The
Church is pre-eminent as q power for
good. And this is so by virtue Of two
faets-her special divine appointment,
and her mission to preach the gospel
and bring the world to Jesus Christ.
The Church was established for q
worldwide purpose offer the world
8 Saviour and inculcate spiritual truth,
70 build up Christian character and
make righteousness the cherished am
bitiOn Of every human life Aid SO the
Church Of Christ stands alone and en-
joys the unique mission delegated to her
by God 10 offer every man q Saviour.
No other institution claims such q right
or Is delegated with any such authority
So, then, whatever allegiance you and
may give to this or that institution, or
however much we may prize the eardi-
nal principles Of this or that order, let
US ever remember that the first duty Of
man is to seek the kingdom Of God and
His righteousness, and the first claim
upon US is that of Jesus Christ Seek
first the kingdom of God and His right
Give the Church Of Christ
your most loyal support and prize her
above all other institutions. because she |
offers you what no characterization can
Onar-a SaViour The Man Chri A. Who
left the throne Of God because He loved |
as, and came down TO this dark, sin. |
cursed earth to roll back the cloud Of
earth's hopeless night, 20 speak peace
10 the troubled waters OK life, 10 inspire
hope in the heart Of universal man, and |
bring all into conscious enjoyment of |
spiritual light and everlasting life.
This ia Gods offer 20 us through the |
Church-a Saviour. So, then, let the
Church have our largest sympathy. To
his let us give united support. To this
ct us look as the repository of the wis
ION that Is divine, andsthe one institu-
ion established By divine authority TO
prepare as for citizenship in heaven;
md while giving the Church of Christ
ne pre-eminenee IN things 20 vital to
is ALI we may not overlook certain
esaer agencies and institutions that
Ierve IN the moral sphere aeencies and
whose work is humanitarian
nd moral; whose aim Il not spiritual
Enlightenment, bat rather the study and
lractice Of certain distinct moral Vir-
ues; and the order ~ which every such
'gency or Institution comes is deter
mined b. it4 work and character Of its