The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-04-27

(COntlnred from rage OpS.l
happiness. But the American cont
nent and especially that embraced in
the United States, the birth place and
cradle of real human liberty, seemed
to be the especial fertile field of Odd
Fellowship. 1t was in 1917 that Thorn
as Wildey, the real father of American
Odd Fellowship landed on the shores
of our America with the spirit and
love of this order In his breast, and
during the epidemic that afflicted the
Inhabitants OF Baltimore in the winter
of 1853. this great man and asso-
ciates of like love and charity did real
service to suffering humanity.
1.-THE first American Odd Fellow
,dge was organized in Baltimore On
rril 26. 1919. This order. since. has
cad and increased in magnitude I'm.
it's members are numbered by the
illions, and it's charities have reach
ed about $12S,000,o00, and last year
about $6,O00,oOo was so expended.
Was Pioneer.
1.-The spirit of this order went with
the stalwart pioneers who went forth
to claim and make happy cities, farms
and homes from Maryland to the Ever
glades of Florida, through and in the
forest of Mississippi, across the
mighty Father of Waters and into the
vast fertile plains Of the West and
the Northwest, and then across the
almost paradise of the beautiful land
of the setting sun in far away Califor-
MIA. 1t has gone hand in hand, and
with every development and progress
of our nation, and has ever soothed
and Quilted discord among our people.
It has ever taught liberation of honest
and patriotic ideas and has blended
the ideas of the most extreme radi-
Gals, and in large measure has as
sisted the American people to enjoy
one of the most perfect democratic
forms of life the world has ever
known
Within the walls of its lodges, side
by side sit the rich and the poor, the
banker and the carpenter, the lawyer
and the mechanic, the merchant and
the farmer, and to them its tenets
taught and known these men have re-
turned to their avocations understand.
ing and loving eoch other. Repetition as
we all know, Is the memorable Law Of
skill, learning, efficiency, in all phases
of Industrial life; but we forget too oft
en-, ! fear, that repetition as assuring
ease. accuracy and familiarity, is Just as
applicable to the human soul as 1t Is to
the trained hands and eyes of artists,
musician or sculptor Hence, every
moment spent in the exercise of the
soul in the field of benevolence, kind
ness, charity and good viii, imparts to
that soul readiness, pleasure, and
an inclination to repeat these whole
some experiences.
To Dethrone Malice.
"Fraternal orders. after all, are
simply an effort on the concerted part
OF man to forever dethrone hatred,
malice, sorrow, doubt and fear from
their despotic reign over our lives, and |
to crown as our sovereigns, the glor.
ious and imperishable and just and |
merciful powers of friendship. love
and truth as the beacon lights Of our
earthly pilgrimage.
"This Is in brief, my conception OF
the cause, purpose and final achieve
ment of the noble order of Odd Eel
lows to win happiness, and hope and
faith, and assurance of really earning |
them in the way, and only way that
the God of Heaven tells US these price
less and eternal possessions can be
attained