The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-12
MEMORIAL DAY OF
 TIE ODD FELLOWS
Dr. Steele Conducted Ser
 vice Yesterday
12 LODGES TAKE PART
Pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presby- terian Church Breaches Fitting Memorial Sermon to His
 Fellow Members

Dr. I. D. Steele. himself an Odd Fellow preached a feeling and eloquent sermon yesterday morning at the Fifth Avenue Prshyterian church on the occasion Of the annual memorial service of the dis trict lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
 1 The church was filled to the doors, the center section being occupied entirely oy brothers of the lodges who came to wor- l ship In honor of the memory of the de- ] parted
 l The entire congregation stood while the l impressive memorial exercise was being conducted. As Dr. Steele called the name of each of the district lodges represented a delegate from each came to the front and read the names of the deceased mem berg of his lodge. AS each representa- tive ceased reading little girl came for ward with a bouquet of flowers, which | was placed on the table near the altar as a token of remembrance for the dead.
 The following lodges were represented at the memorial services: Mineral City
 
 Birmingham lodge No. 112, Magnolia lodge No. 121, F'idelia lodge No. ,125, Triple Link lodge No. 15O, Irondale lodge No. PAP, East Lake lodge No 2S1, Star lodge No. 2SS, Fraternal lodge No. SOS, Osceola lodge No 396, Birmingham encampment No. 21.
 The Good Samaritan 1 Dr. Steele took as text for his ad- dress the scripture passage from Luke relating the parable of the Good Samar- l itsn. The man who was waylaid by | Il Ieves on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho the speaker compared to the un- fortunate man of the world today, while ths Samaritan who came to his suceor l vas like the member of the fraternal order whose doctrine is fellowship and brotherly love.
 'It is not necessary to speak at length upon a topic of this kind" said Dr. Steele. Tt seems futile to attempt in mere words to give expression to the senti- men: that surges In the breast of man when he yearns for the sound of voice that is still, when he is reminded of the tic which bound him in life to his | brother now beyond the grave.
 This, am gratif1ed to say. is the largest representation of lodges we have had at any memorial service since it has | been my lot to be member of the Order l of Odd Fellows I am happy, indeed. to welcome so large a number of my broth ren who come to offer the silent tribute of remembrance.
 Ut is a beautiful and fitting dispensa- :lon that we should gather here on this 1 bright day to revive and refresh the mem- ol es which bind our hearts to the times | that arc past and to the friends of other days who are no more. We cannot but remember that we, too, are of the frail and mortal flesh and ere very long will be no longer be known among men. Well will it be, when our summons comes to l join that innumerable caravan, if we may feel that we were not forgetful of those who preceded us to the bourne of the shadow.
 Odd Fellows and Religion Those men whose names we today revere were worthy of our tribute, even as they were worthy of the forgivenss and blessing of the Father. Every Odd Fellow recognizes the religious duties of lodge member Our lodge is not the place for the unbeliever. Within its por- l tals lies open the book of books, that source of all our ethical strength and spiritual joy. A lodge may indeed have unworthy members, as also may the church; but every lodge and every church and every business of man could be at tackled and torn to pieces, apparently, by | the shafts of criticism directed against it by the unworthy and the envious.
 But the Great Teacher understands that, and the man who takes the vows of our lodge cannot abase himself in the eyes of man or the eyes of the Infinite and still remain a member. We are linked in an insoluble bond of fellowship of brotherly love and faith. We aim to offer helpfulness to one another, to add , fraternity to the blessings of political equality and religious liberty. | No Nobler Deed "What nobler deed lies within the power | of man to commit than to render aid unto the needy, to offer sympathy to the wounded in spirit. to defend the week, to uplft the downtrodden?
 l we are told in the gospel according to St. Luke of the authenticated road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Even to this day that road is a dangerous one, but far more so was it in those days. The Samaritan who came to the succor of tho wounded man ran a risk of danger. Despite this the good man had compass | sion on him. bound up his wounds, pour ing in oil and wine. and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and | took care of him.
 50 many in this life are downtrodden and helpless. Evil men may rob man | and take possession of all he has. Evil habits may rob him of his character and l integrity.
 The Samaritan of Today 1 ''Tt is the province of the lodge mefn- Der of today to play the part of the l Samaritan. It should be the aim of the l odd Felows to try to offer suffering man. | fhy. to sfr Yr1nr