The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1909-04-24

Masons, they have always been
under the ban OF the Catholic
church, and have been subject in
the ages to all sorts OF ianatical
opposition. This growth does not
inlude the negro odd Fellyws, who
oddly enough are OF English origin,
and are "Clandestine" that is not
admitted to fellowship, though rec
ogniZed in a way as Odd Fellows,
Just as the negro Masons and
Pythians are.
While the ritual and government
OF the order has been IN steady
process OF evolution, during which
the EnCampinent and the women's
Lodge OF Rebekahs we're added
and made distinct features, there
has been no change whatever in
the cardinal principles OF odd Eel.
lowship, which are the same today
as in the time OF Nautilus, a
thousand years ago. Steadily re-
lusing the element Of life insurance,
It has led IN the matter oil benefits,
which are maintained as a right
and not as a donation, this being
a distinguishing trait OF the Ameri.
an odd Fellow, who cherlshes the
idmonitlon: We command YOU
to visit the sick, relieve the dis.
tressed, bury the dead and rducat,
the orphan, an impulse that has
led them to spend over one hundred
millions OF dollars in benefits since
the establishment OF the sovereign
grand lodge in 1890. Since that
time the fraternity has invested
almost as great a treasure in
various secure lines, but that is
merely an incident to future use
fitness. They have established
children and widows bones all
over the land there is
no line OF human b]enchccnce that
they have not entered upon. No
odd Fellow, and no odd Fellows
widow or orphan suffers IN this
wonderful land OF ours.
In history perhaps the most
striking office OF the Odd Fellows
vas their part IN healing the
wounds OF the great internecIne
a 1901 TO 1865, the roll OF the
southern Jurisdictions was regular
ly called during the annaul sessions
OF the Sovereign Grand Lodge.
At the close OF hostilities. officers
and members IN the south we're
welcomed to the chairs and seats
which had been held Tor them dur.
ing the three years OF strife and
separation. The roll call at Bait
more On the 18th OF September,
1865, by the venerable Grand
Secretary Ridgcly, was notable
even in iraternal circles. Every
survivor answered to his name, and
appointments had been made to
I'LL vacancies, so that the respre.
sentation was complete. Attempts
had been made throughout the
states composing the Southern
Contederacy, with varying success,
to keep up the organization OF the
order; but at this reunion measures
were unanimously adopted where
10y iraternal hands and hearts as
sisted in rebuilding the waste
places. This was the first irater.
nlZation OF the Blue and Gray,
and IN OF the greatest benehcen.
ces OF history.
Odd Fellowship is OF long stand.
ing in New Mexico, and It is TODAY
in a more prosperous condition
than ever before, both as TO mem
bership and property, and it &C.
cupies "A very high position in the
respect and regard OF the people,
who have observed many things in
the practice OF the fraternity that
are peculiar to itself. Among them
is the tact that the fraternity pro.
tects no scalawag, but is the first
to yet after one who develops IN
its membership, and in this discip.
line the arm OF the brotherhood is
long. Other i%ratornities have been
accused OF shielding its members
who have done wrong, but you
never hear that OF the Odd Fellow,
because they are never gully OF il.
A dishonest man lasts a mighty
short time IN its zone. Once there
rs a suspicion oil his wrongdoing,
he is kicked out body and brooches.
On the other hand, the brotherhood
is all in a class by itself in its
dealings with the fellow who is up
against it, and he seldom has to
draw attention to his right, it is
anticipated and satisfied. With a
close connection in history with
Masonry, Just how close can not he
said, it is broader in its attitude
toward postulants, who are not
barred because one man may oh.
ject, and its ritual, while il nov
has no trace OF authoritative Ma
sonry, is in nc way whatever an
tagonistic to it, which is taken by
Mystics generally as the best proof
OF It's Masonic origin, as well as its
religious tracing, which is very
positive, the Bible being the cor
ner stone oil the entire principle.