Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-06-17

the Knights of Pythias-I gladly well
come you this afternoon to the earthly
Temple OF the Great Architect of the
universe. "to worship Him in the beauty
OF holiness" and to show forth to the
world your dependence upon Him for
life and health and all the good thing
which you so richly and fully enjoy i'm
this highly favored land / would
like TO hope. concerning all you whom
now see before me wearing your
badges that you constantly improve
the privilege afforded you Of meeting
regularly on the Lords Day in the
House of God We can hardly over-rate
tile Importance Of regular and stated
attendance in the House OF God on an
the public means of grace. This
church was erected for the admins
tration Of the ordinances Of religion.
that by the Divine blessing. the people
among whom it is placed. may be
trained up and fitted for heavenly
glory and that their Cody example
may produce moral influence on all
around God grant that we may each
contribute our share for the realiza-
ton of these ends.
l select for enforcement today one
Of the important principles which our
order manifests TO the outside world
viz: the universal brotherhood of man,"
Sirs. we are brethren" then LET
brotherly love continue"
All right thinking people must admit
the great beauty and utility of broth
erly love and union among men and
their tendency to promote peace and
happiness in our blighted world.
A large number Of people object to
the order because the bond Of its
union is q secret Most assuredly there
is nothing wrong i'm secrecy, if there
be nothing wrong i'm the things TO be
kept secret ! presume that every one
here has secrets which he does not
communicate TO others. Families have
their secrets ~ all ranks and conditions
Of men have their secrets, which are
not blazonod abroad. The conditions
of society require that some things be
kept as secrets. The great families OF
nations have their secrets. Even the
Divine Being has not seen ut to reveal
everything TO us. Secrecy then. ought
not in any respect TO authorize those
who are ignorant of the secrets Of our
order to defame it, When / look over
tHt ioiS iiSl VI iiuSlIlOuS men III InlS
and former ages who belong to our
order our honorable order - men of
different nations. languages. disposi-
tions. views, stations and interests.
united in one indivisible chain Of
friendship and brotherhood, cannot
entertain the idea that the teachings
of the Knights of Pythias are incon-
sistent with mans duty to God or his
fellow man. III is objected to our or
der that IL is wrong to exact an oath
of secrecy before the things required
10 be kept secret are revealed This
objection rs refuted by the common
practice OF the world. In the most ex-
allied civil positions i'm this country, I'm
the honorable Offices Of the Cabinet.
their occupants were required to take
the oath OF office and solemnly promise
to keep the secrets OF the state. before
these secrets were made known 10
them. II there be nothing in the secret
inconsistent with the religion, the lib
critics and the happiness OF mankind.
surely there cannot be anything wrong
in the secret.
with this brief introduction. let me
turn TO the words Of my text and adj
dress myself to you who are members
of the ordeA embracing this favorable
opportunity OF admonishing you to
give your most scrupulous attention TO