The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-06-13
BEFORE THE X. OF p. LODGE.
An Abstract of Rev. Il. b. Merril's
Able Sermon.

DEFERRED FROM LAST WEEK.
Text: Psalm 1873.
The amounting oil was very sacred
to the Jews. 1t reminded of the time
when Aaron was set apart to be the
head of the perpetual priesthood, and
David to be the father of the kingly
line.
1t symbolized the highest honor and
joy
The dew upon dry mountains where
little rain fell was fine picture of
happy brotherhood. What sweeter
memory can any Of us cherish than
that of the old home and the brothers
who were our happy companions,
This is a rare June day. and hap
by day for brotherly remembrance.
Six hundred years before Christ,
lived Pythagoras, the father of Greek
philosophy. One OF his teachings was
that "A friend should be selected with
great care, for a friend was half of
ones life"
Damon and Pytheas We're two disci-
plies of Pythagoras VINO, two hundred
years later, in the times of Socrates
and Plato, believed and practiced this
philosophy. Pytheas was imprisoned
and condemned to die by Donysius
the Tyrant of Syracuse. Damon Of
fered to remain in prison as a host
age, and die in his friends place, if
he might be permitted to return for
last visit to his home. Pytheas re-
the tryant, in admiration of their
spirit, pardoned them both, and asked
to be taught their noble philosophy.
The knights of Pytheas take their
name from this incident, and aim to
promote, not creed, but spirit. No
king has laid his naked sword upon
you, and named you his trusted
knights but the spirit of chivalrous
brotherhood has called you to it's
service You are banded together TO
realize one of manhood's greatest
aims, to fight, not with carnal
weapons, but with unselfish friend
ship against seltishness and cruelty.
You are united to do what you can
not do alone.
/. To show the ideal of life among
men. Long before Philosophy was
born in Greece, David and Jonathan,
who by the circumstances seemed
born to be rivals to a throne revealed
the most unselfish friendship for each
other.
The Knights of King Arthur's
Round Table began with high deeds
of chiyalry, in rescuing the oppressed
and defending the weak, and ended in
the search for the Holy Grail, that
symbol of the sacrifice of Christ
Sir Galahad expressed it best when
he said IF | lose myself, | find my
self" This was the spirit of your
leader, long before.
In the Christian crusades for the
recovery of sacred places, many
noble deeds were done. Yours is
conflict for the restoration of forgot
ten ideals of brotherhood. 1t is to
show men anew that they are made
for friendship. happiness and service.
>. 1t is to reveal some features OF
your ideal practically applied. You
are like a man who has received the
gift of an intricate machine, an en-
CINE. perhaps. all in parts to be put
together.
You combine them, one by one, and
If when they are all together it works
according to the plan you know it
is right
Your members are the parts of
such a great machine.
Others like it have worked before
and it is your part to make this work
as it was designed. There have been
many fraternal companies that have
succeeded Thc ancient Thebans had
a band of 300 100 pairs of brothers
bound by a sacred vow to stand by
each other in the battle for their ma
tons life against Philip of Mace
donia.
When Philip walked over that
bloody field aftsr the battle. and saw
that heroic band. piled in heaps,
where not on had failed, he wept
and said, Let no man despse one of
these"
Caesar tells of six hundred men in
Acquitania, who bound themselves by
sacred vow to stand by each other
and their chosen leader to the last,
and Caesar admired them although
they were his enemies.
They never JAILED, and never dis
honored their country.
The world is dlled with heroism in
the name of friendship, and it is your
privilege, not only to make your fra
ternity honored, but to lift the stand
ard of all brothorhoods.
A young col ge girl went among
the poor rs an gent of a charitable
society. She took a poor man who