The Rice belt journal., 1914-05-01
BROTHERLY LOVE.

pastor of the Methodist church,
preached a special sermon on Brother.
ly Love at the anniversary service OF
the Odd Fellows. The sermon was
genuine treat to all those present and
is held in such esteem that the Odd
Fellows made special request that
Rev. Mr.. Webb allow 1t to be printed
in the Journal. He has kindly con.
sented to do so and the Journal is very
glad to furnish this OBSCURE to our
readers:
Beloved if God 30 loved us we ought also
to love one another."-I John, All.
1t has long since been learned that
man is social being and that within
the human breast there resides the in.
stinct of fraternity. This instinct of
fellowship may be turned quite as we'll
to evil account as it may to good &C.
count. l welcome you as lodge of
Odd Fellows because it is your purpose
to turn this instinct into chambers of
Friendship, Love and Truth. And this
means an effort to minister in the in.
terest of friendship, fraternity, and
fidelity. 1t is your effort to harness
the instinct of fellowship and hitch its
car to the star of noble purpose.
welcome you for the. reason that Odd
Fellowship is the handmaiden of re.
ligion. James has this to say about
religion, Pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father is this: to
visit the fatherleSs and widows IN their
affection, and to keep himself unSpoted
from the world" My Brothers, Odd
Fellowship does not merely use the
parable of the Good Samaritan in a
ritualiStic manner, but it seeks to trans
late this most beautiful story into
actual life. We welcome to this sanct.
uary those who are imitators Of the
Good Samaritan. Odd Fellowship is in
large measure the handmaiden of the
church; hence we bid you God speed in
your work OF Friendship, Love and
Truth; and again we say you are most
cordially welcomed to these courts.
Odd Fellowship cultivates an eye and
an ear for the signal of distress. To
the unlnitiated, it might seem that this
order existed for the sole purpose of a
conveniality. On the other hand, Odd
Fellowship has a sensitive ear and a
far seeing eye for the signal OF dis.
tress. The master said Come unto
me all We that are heavy laden and ]
will give you rest" To a surprising
degree has the spirit of the master be-
come incarnate in the Bosom of order
The first link of the three golden
links of the badge of Odd Fellowship is
emblematic of Friendship. Webster
defines friendship thus: The entertain
| ing for another sentiments of esteem
respect and affection, from personal
prediction. ut is a virtue which can
be only imperfectly defined. 1t is a
virtue which must be felt. Some one
has said that a true friend shows his
friendliness by his sympathy, and sym
pathy making anothers experience his
very own. The true friend reveals the
secrets of his heart to his friend.
The third link in the badge of Ode
Fellowship is emblamatical Of TRUTH
truth taken in the sense of reality, ant
integrity. Truth is to be interpreted
in the sense of fidelity. Friendship
fraternity, and fidelity, are three gold
en- links of love which cannot help bu
anchor the soul Alright in any storm
| tossed sea. The incident of King Sau
and his sons when they were slain ant
the crown of the kingdom is about Il
be placed on David's head furnishes al
illustration. Jonathan with whom
David had formed a covenant of ever
lasting friendship, left a young sol
who in the fight with his nurse wher
the Israelites were defeated at the
hands of the Philistines, fell and be
came cripple for life. And David sale
as for Mephibosheth, he shall eat at my
table. Later David protected him from
the revenge of the Gibonites, because
of the Lords oath that was between
them, between David and Jonathan
David carried the spirit of a true Ode
Fellow in his bosom. The three colder
links Of Odd Fellowship may be said te
be Friendship, Paternity and fidelity
We then are, and should ever be proud
of the three links and especially fol-
that which they stand and let them be
come part of ourselves in the daily
experience Of a practical life.
We are not to speak to you of the
three links but it is our purpose to lay
emphasis upon the central link which
is emblematical of Love" Henry
Drummond described love as the great
| act thin0 in the world. and thic dof1ni