The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-04-29

- 49,
uf& a lincoln TO devote his life to
th2 4oble work of liberating slaves.
SEM a John Howard, the philanthro-
pl@t, 20 the relief of prisoners: and in
H.. .ced q Mary Carpenter to enter
the i4Grrid Sums OF Bristol to teach
neg cted boys and girls.
GA John Howard S grave in Russia,
is e. graved this motto: He lived for
others Live for others" is the mot
TO OF benevolence and it should be the
motto of every true Oddfellow.
ina how satisfactory it would be
to as to know that after we We're dead
the living would gratefully decorate
our graves with sweet forget-me-nots
and testify of us that we had lived for
others. No grander eulogy could be
uttered on the life of any human be-
ing for the true philanthropist stands
higher than The AleXanaers. and the
Caesars and the Napoleons, who, to
secure fame, brought untold oppres-
sion upon their follow men, destroyed
thousands of happy homes, broke the
hearts of women and children. and
trod relentlessly over a long causeway
of the dead.
Wherever we roam in the civilized
word, we see the monuments of ben
evidence, but it is an idea
TO invariably associate benevolence
with riches, as though there could be
no Denevolence shown without money.
BeneVolence means good will-char-
itableness toward others. And hence
the poorest man can be benevolent,
for a disposition to do good is a quail
it, OF the heart.
Benevolence under the name OF
Oddfellowship, has accomplished
much for the alienation OF human
suffering. How many tears it has
wiped away! How many OF the home
less it has sheltered! How many of
The ~ill-treated it has defended! How
many OF the sick it has kept vigil
over! How many of the hungry it
has fed! How many of the dying it
has cheered in their closing mo-
ments! We find that literature is
adorned with the sentiment OF ben
evidence. Countless books have been
written in the interests of humanity
The rights and happiness of MAJ
have been advocated i'll some of the
finest poetry. Thus Cowper wrote in
favor OF the emancipation of Eng
lands slaves. Thus in the spirit OF
%benevolence did Thomas Hood write
The Bridge of Sighs." Thus Whit.
tier penned his poems against Ameri.
can slavery.
Society has been benefited beyond
measure by those literary produc-
tions which have denounced social
oppression and laid emphasis upon
questions touching the rights, liber-
ties and happiness of men. But il
has been long ago discovered that
benevolent work can be best accom-.
pllshed by united and thoroughly or
ganized effort The correct theory
is that man must be closely and fra
ternally associated with man for pro.
lection and happiness.
God did not place us in this world
that VIC might live to ourselves. The
lower order Of animals are obedient
to this law of interdependency.
Each class of beasts or of birds, or
of insects, or of fishes, is held to-
getler by the law of association and
mutlal dependence. The same law
obtains in human society. God has
Civ us the power of speech, too
tlat u social intercourse may af-
ioil US II of the highest enjoy
msnts of life. So it is natural for
us 10 court society, to seek compan
ionship with our fellows, and in
duige in a free interchange OF
thought.
Christ Himself preached a gospel
affirming the brotherhood of men.
Therefore it is right that this spirit
OF l)rotherly love should take pos
session of all IL hearts, melting us
to perform deeds of kindness in the
naaaa of the Christ. If this senti-
ment of benevolence thus controls
us, the world will be better for oul
having lived in it: society will be
better for our having moved in it;
and we shall be honored with the
blessings of man and the smile of
5GC'.
1iuman institutions are but instru-
meets. They should not be wor-
sh:1Nad. The three links, represent
il. friendship, love and truth, are
~ o be worshipped; but God, who
is truth and love, demands our will
5lis tonnage and loyal devotion.
et us therefore not he blinded by
t3 e outward things which. while i'm
p%or-ant and beautiful in themselves,
are nevertheless insignificant COM
pared with the great truths and priI-
ciples which they represent. Let us
take home and faithfully practice
in our every day lives the important
lessons symbolized. Let us be earn
est enough and philosophic enough
to build on something more firm
than form, more lasting than en-
blems, more satisfying than mere
human friendship. Let lis bring on,
good intentions into practical opera
ton, remembering that true hero
ism and noble manhood consist in
God-like action.
The world Of want and woe needs
our consecrated efforts. Upon many
a brow of care may be laid the sooth-
ing hand of sympathy. From many
an aching heart the heavy burden
may be removed by simply speaking
a word in season to him that is
weary. Into many a darkened home
we may bring the sunshine Of love
unfeigned. To many a voyager
beaten by the relentless waves and
tossed about by cruel winds, we may
impart such encouragement as will
keep his SOU from fainting. II
is in the hour of their awful strug-
' giles and jeOpardies that men and