The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-06-14
WHAT ORDER MEANS

is Suggested by Pastor in
| His Sermon to Lodge
Members.
Members Of the Odd Fellows lodges
land OF the Rebekahs attended Memoir
ial services at the First Congregations
|al church last evening. DR.. Frank G.
Beardsley spoke on the meaning of
the three links OF Odd Fellowship. His
uel. chapter Is, THE soul of Jonathan
Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
DR.. Beardsleys address follows:
We are met tonight to honor the de-
ceased Odd Fellows and Rebeccas of
our city. If l have been correctly in
formed, in the Keokuk cemetery about
$50 Odd Fellows and Rebeccas lie
sleeping 1t would be impossible in
the time at my disposal to mention
the individual traits and Characters
tics of so great a company of men
and women. There are, however, 9TH
er ways in which we may honor their
memory. Their memory may be hon.
ored by emphasizing the principles
which were common to them ALL Prin-
ciples are immortal, they cannot die.
Over our dead we rear monuments of
marble and granite, but the corroding
hand of time levels them all. Men
may die, their monuments may perish,
but principles survive. So on this oc-
casion, it seems to me, We may best
honor these deceased members of our
order by dwelling upon the principles
which they cherished while living.
For that reason, I have selected for
our theme this evening, The Mystic
Chain of Odd Fellowship"
In that chain there are three links.
the first of which is friendship Some
one has called friendship the master
passion and such it is for it binds
men together in spite of party, race.
or creed. Friendships originate in
various ways. Often it is the result
of common interests. Not infrequent-
ly it happens that men who are inter-
ested in the same great questions,
who have the same pursuits and pur-
poses in life become mutually attach
ed to one another and are bound to-
getfer by the ties of friendship, al
though rivalries sometimes result
from the very forces which seem to
draw men tbgether. and enmity rather
than friendship follows.
From Common Experience.
Frequently friendships arise from a
common experience. 1t is notice
able fact that remarkable spirit of
comradeship prevails among the mem
bers of the Grand Army of the Repub-
Of tha lot riv
war has a friendly ise1ing for every
other man who wears the little bronze
button in the left lapel of his coat.
Why is this? They have passed
through common experience. To-
gether they followed our country's
flag Together upon the battle field
they faced the fire of shot and shell in
defense of our national union. AL
though full half century has come
and gone since those thrilling days.
the memory of which shall be handed
down to posterity for all coming time,
the common dangers which they faced
and the common experiences through
which they passed have cemented to-
gether the hearts of all the men who
wore the blue.
Sometimes friendships originate in
WIDELY unaccountable ways. Men who
seem to have no community of inter-
est, who are utterly unlike in tastes
and temperament, who occupy entire
ly different planes in life, neverthe-
less are bound together by the mystic
ties of friendship.
However friendship may originate,
it invariably possesses certain charac-
teristics. True friendship is unselfish
and disinterested- This was true Of
the friendship of Jonathan and David.
One was shepherd lad. the son Of
poverty and toll, while the other was
a prince, the son of a great and pow
erful king. The meeting of these two
youths is story of romantic interest.
A war had arisen between the Israe-
lites and their ancient enemies, the
Philistines. The latter were cham
pioned by Goliath, a giant nine feet
In height who defied the armies OF
Israel With no one to meet this
doughty and boastful foe, the Israe-
lites had become panic-stricken. One
day, David who was just stripping,
brought provisions to his brothers
who were soldiers in King Saul's
army. Learning of the situation he
offered his services as a volunteer
against the giant of the Philistines.
Unable to bear the kings sword or
wear the kings armor, he was obliged
to fight in his own way and with his
own weapons. Taking his shepherds
sling and five smooth stones from the
| brook. he went forts to meet Goliath.
God gave him the victory, the giant
was slain, and his countrymen We're
! delivered from their enemies. Return
ing from this victory David was first
met by Jonathan who was charmed
| by the personality of the shepherd lad
| The kings son had nothing to gain by
| this friendship and yet we are told
| that "the soul of Jonathan was knit
with the soul of David, and Jonathan
| loved him as his own soul"
True Friendship UnfaiIino.
True friapdship is not unly unset