Graham guardian., 1910-04-29

vealed to US, no longer mysterious
in their beauty, but strong and per-
feet in their unity.
There is a star on earth
With tender, lovely ray;
That lights the path with gener-
Gus worth
And speaks brighter day.
1t is friendship.
There is tie-a Golden chain
That binds, with stronger hand
Than ron shackles of the cell,
Or all the arts of man.
1t is love.
There is gem-apearl of worth
AS lasting as the skies;
More dazzling than the gems of
earth,
Its splendor never dies.
1t is truth.
Three angel spirits; evermore
They guard our thorny way;
And those who follow where they
lead
Can never go astray.
For God hath given them alike
To childhood and to youth;
And age is mellowed by the touch
Of Friendship, Love and Truth.
And now in conclusion, let me
state, that we do not claim that our
Order is the only manifestation of
the great principles which animate
it, but we do claim that it is one.
The same principles animates other
institutions; and to all such, Odd
Fellows bid God speed.
Our Order, as stated before, does
not claim the province of the Church.
1t has its own mission to perform,
to that it is devoted. Neither do
we assert that it has produced all
the beneficient effect for which it
was intended. Human imperfec-
ton affects its operation as well as
that of other institutions. But we
do assert, that he who has not lost
part of his selfishness since he be-
came an Odd Fellow, is not a true
member of the Order; and the in
structions of the Order have been
thrown away on him. He is a dis
obedient Son; but like the Prodigal
Son, the Order awaits to welcome
his return.
1t has been objected to the Order
that it is founded upon selfshness;
that each helps because he expects
to be helped. This feeling has it's
influence, but he is an unworthy
brother who never rises above it..
The higher ideals that are presented
to his mind ought to cause him to
rise above it. His duty as an Odd
Fellow is to relieve the distressed
wherever they may be found; his
efforts only to be limited by his
means. The love of the member is
not confined to the Order, there it
may and must be stronger, but it
gushes out and beyond the pales of
the lodge room. Mercury and
Venus are nearer the sun, but Sa-
turn and Neptune rejoice in its
beams.
Brothers, if | were disposed to
give an exhortation, could give no
better than the words of king as
he was about to send a young
Knight upon perilous mission,
BE faithful, bold and loyal" So
/ repeat to you, be faithful to your
trust, let no temptation swerve you
from the truth. Let the word of
an Odd Fellow be considered posi-
tive proof on any subject. Be faith
full to all your obligations, and loyal
in your devotion to duty. Confne
not your exertions to the little cir
Gle with which YOU are connected,
but go out into the great world
around you. Be bold for the right
wherever the finger of duty points,
charge without counting the cost.
You may be struck down in the en-
counter and the heel of the oppres-
sor may trample upon you; but let
not your courage forsake you. Be
faithful, bold and loyal"
| AS when the bow of promise spread,
| Ger the broad arch of heaven,
In the bright radiance is shed
A covenant was given,
That the dark tempest cloud which
rained
Destructive fury down
BY Mercy's hand should be restrain
And ne'er again be known. led
So when the soul sad grief has known,
When pain and anguish bow
The stalwart frame OF manhood
down
And lay its vigor low,
Our Orders covenant yet stands,