Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-04-27
ODD FELLOWS
LISTENED TO
fine ADDRESS
AT FURLON Lawn LAST NIGHT
kew. R. |. BiVinS Delivered
the Discourse

| Al Cnelf anniversary celebration
held at the Furlow Lawn Baptist
church last evening, the Odd Fellows
of the city had the pleasure of listen
ing to one of the most helpful and
pleasing addresses that has ever been
delivered to the local order on a sim
liar occasion.
The address was delivered to a large
assembly of Odd Fellows and others
by Rev. R. L. BiVins, pastor of the
! church, who was heard at his best in
the discourse for the evening. His
theme was the Parable of the Good
Samaritan" and he handled the SUBJ
Ject in a sympathetic and masterful
way. The following synopsis gives
the gist Of the interesting sermon:
This parable is our Lords teaching
concerning the principle of neighbor-
liness and of brotherhood. The young
lawyer asked, who is my neighbour"
and the Master Teacher said: "a
certain man went down from Jerusa-
lem to Jericho, and he fell among
robbers who both stripped him and
beat him and departed, leaving him
half dead. A priest passing that way
saw him and passed by on the other
side. A Levite also came and looked
upon him and passed by on the other
side. But Samaritan came and saw
him and bound up his wounds and
carried him to an inn and took care
of him. Which of these proved him
self neighbor to the wounded man.
The young lawyer replied: 'He that
showed mercy" Jesus answered: GO
and do thou likewise"
This principle of brotherhood un-
derlies all fraternal orders and is en-
phasized and enforced in remarka-
BILE way in Odd Fellowship. The things
of Importance in such orders are the
principles for which they stand. Not
the secret work, nor the ritualistic
ceremonies, not the outward organi-
zation, not the material benefits, but
the fundamental principles which they
inculcate, and on which they stand
These principles are important as they
affect and ennoble the life Now
Christ is the great teacher, and the
great exemplar of these principles
and the parable of the good Samaritan
is peculiarly appropriate for our dis
cussion tonight
We have emphasized here, first of
all, the need of brother. The Jeri-
cho road was difficult and dangerous.
1t was infested with highwaymen who
were desperate men. Robbery and
murder were not uncommon in the
rocky Businesses of the wilderness
through which it passed. Life may be
likehed to this journey on the road to
Jericho. 'Tis perilous and difficult
still. In times of sickness and of
trouble. and of temptation, and of diff
ficult duty and in the hour of death
we need a brothers symDatNv AMI
comfort aud help. This narahle fur
ther emphasizes the unbrother!y con-
duct of many whose conduct is sur
prising. The priest represents the re-
ligionists of his day, and the Ievita
the law of the Jews. Both passed by
on the other side. The world todav is
too much like this priest and Levite.
"The survival of the fittest." or every
man for himself and the devil take the
hindmost," or "Do the other fellow ae
you think he would do you-and dc
him fist" are too often the notices
of the world. The poet was right who
said, "Mau's inhumanitv to man makes
countless millions mourn" Occas-
ionallv there is an execution like thai
of the heroes of the Titanic, who sac
| rificed life to save others-hut this il
sufficiently exceptional to prove th'
rule.
This parable emphasizes the con
duct of real brother. This man sac
rificed time, effort, care and none
without recompense or hope of re
ward. except the satisfaction of a goo
and noble deed to needy one. H
doesn't stop because the helpless ma,
was Jew, who despised Samaritan!
but readily and gladly, and generous
4 ly. he does all that he can for hin
This good Samaritan represents Chris
who is the great brother to the huma
: race. His brotherhood is proven i
sympathy, in life and in sacrifice
: Greater love hath no man than thi
: that a man lay down his life for hi
} friend" A good motto for life i
Put yourself in the other fellow
: place." which is another way of sta
ing the golden rule, "Do unto other
4 as you would have others do unt
you"
Il Let Christ come first. Let him an
3 his principles be enthroned in ii