Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-25
NINETY.FIRsT ANNIVERSARY
of Odd Fellowship Observed by Asy-
Ium Lodge at Penney Memorial Church

r. Members of Asylum Lodge, Jephtha
| Encampment Canton Augusta and r. g.
Capen Pebekah Lodge to the number
of about 200 concentrated the 91st
| ami versdry of Odd Fellowship in Amer
| lea by attending church services in re-
| gala Sunday morning at the Penney
| Memorial church. Seats in the body of
| the auditorium had been reserved for
| the visiting members. The choir sang
| appropriate selections which were much
| appreciated. Rev. Charles G. Mosher,
| the pastor of the church, himself an
! Odd Fellow, preached to the order, tax
| ing his text from Romans XII, "Breth-
| en-, my hearts desire and prayer of God
| for Israel is. that they might be saved"
| The following is an outline of his re-
| m1rks:
| Paul addresses here his own brethren
| to whom he bound by the ties of
a noble fraternity. Judaism was al
| splendid system with an elaborate rit-
| ual, an impressive ceremony. and Il
| gorgeous temple. Paul was Schooled in
| all its literature and learned in all it
| lore; he was devoted to its lofty ideals
| and had warm place i'll his heart for
| all his brothers beloved. Speaking to
| them one day from a heart that sincere
| ly and earnestly desired for them the
| best things he said: Brethren, my
hearts desire and prayer to God for
you is that We may be saved" Beyond
the wonderful degree and ritual work of
| Judaism he had received a mighty vi
| sion and was the one man of his age
| who without fear Of misunderstanding
| could tel, tue Israclite of the glories of
| christianity.
| IN most respects | can hope to i'm
| itate this wonderful man but the occa-
| sion this morning gives me an oppor-
| tunity, but unlike his, to speak to you,
my own brethren of loved fraternity.
| of the great desire of my heart con
| corning YOU and to express the largest
message I have for you as Odd Fellows
| 1t is this: that you may come to know
| Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour
| There are reasons for being Il Christian,
| good reasons. strong reasons, many OF
! them. cite five this morning which Will
| appeal to you as men who have looked
| ut,on degree work staged in the most
| magnificent manner and teaching the
| uoblc3t truths.
| a. No life is complete till it is lived
| in union with Jesus Christ, There are
| many aids and accessories. odd Eel
| loWship is one and one of the mightieSt
among human influences that are help
full. but no life is complete till it has
| been something loftier than our ritual
| portrays, till it has stood before Cal
vary and learned the mighty lesson there
| forever taught
| so No mission in life can be fully
| lived apart from the guidance and d.
| rection of Jesus Christ. We are pill
| grims on life'S uneven highway, with
| staff and scrip and sandals worn are
| Fastening on our way. but we have not
| been this way heretofore, need
| guide there are dark defiles in ~"
| mountain passes, lonely wastes of des
| ert wide. and for all the trials and hard
| SHIPS of the journey we need a guide.
| Jesus Christ will be that guide and
without him no life can fulfill it's high
est mission and with Him no life can
| go far aStray.
| y. No man can do his best for hut
manitN without the spirit of Christ
| RltualiStc phrases and solemn ccre
| monies cannot teach the lesson of
brotherhood. I" carry out the principles
| of our order and hasten that glad day
| to which hope looks forward with ar
| dent Joy when ono law Shall bind all
| nations. klndreds and tribes and that
| law the law of universal brotherhood
we need the spirit of the Christ.
=. We need Jesus Christ to exalt
ard beautify the life AS YOU have
beautified the ritual work, as you have
recently beauthed Your lodge room fur
nishings We need inward beauty of
heart. Every heart is lodge room i'll
miniature a place of secrets deeply veil
ed. here friendship and love assert their
mild dominion, here motives meet in
secret conciave. over it all and into it
all let there come the sunlight of
Christ's presence and the halo of his
blessing.
", Association with Jesus Christ
here means triumph with him there
Those who followed David during his
years of exile when he was p"rsued W.
savage hatred by Saul. the King, we're
honorcd and rewarded by him when he
came to the throne Jesus Christ
coming 10 his own, a royal sway is MS.
when that day dawns he will richly re-
ward those who have denied themselves
| for him.
| Brethren. the secret of the Lord Is
| with them that fear him. When you
| have yielded yourself to Jesus Chris
! he will breathe into the ear Of your