Arizona republican., 1916-01-02
LODGE LORE
Odd Fellows

OGI FGlONsS
 Last Tuesday was the last meeting in the old year. Next session will wind up the old term, when the re- tirins noble grand will make his last bow before Phoenix Lodge No. ?, and ascend to the past grands chair and the new officers will he installed by District Deputy Grand Master Gilbert of Glendale. A cordial invitation is extended to all odd Fellows in the valley to attend the ceremony.
 J c. PyeHtt of Boise Lodge No. -, Boise, Idaho. and J. T. Burton of Me Pherson Lodge 376, McPherson, Kan sas were among the visitors.
 While this will be the last appear ance of the noble grand writeups be- fore the readers of the Lodge Lore, first he wishes to thank the editor for the valuable space in this department from time to time, and tc those odd Fellows and Rebekahs who so kindly assisted supported and gave me their sympathy during my term ot office, 1 wish to extend my sincere appreciation and to the many visitors l can only say God only knows how hard I've tried to make your stay among us most pleasant one and eternity alone will reveal the good have accom- plished.
 And now as we stand on the portal of another year different regrets will arise what you have done amiss. your days and nights are full of them, and many times remorse is added to the bitterness of your recollections, and it all comes from a longing for a chance to let one who was working near to you know how sorry you are that you were not more tender and apprcCiatiEe when you were going along the journey of fife together.
 You will see again how many times you might or could have elid kind words or reached out and clasped d hand that had worked for your inter est from daylight many a time till late at night
 If you had only been mere thought full and frightened his pr her burdens and if you had said: You uon't know how appreciate your service rem dered to me" you could bear the be- reaved shortcoming better.
 And the departed one" could have borne the trials of the day with d lighter heart if only there had been l reiterated tNHll illttS bA DtOllltl4A al lection. Bu; there were none and you call in vain to ears beyond terrestrial sound the cheering word you should have spoken before it was too late You say. "Oh these sins of omission Yes. this mistaken way of taking lodge service for granted and withholding words of commendation is d habit" in many lodges and the members even as you-cry out for a chance to right the wrong of the past year when it is too late.
 Have you, through the sorrow past learned your duty to the living, while mourning over the irreparable short coming of the past2 Are you keeping l up the same querulous and reserved attitude toward the living members of your lodge.
 Are you taking kindly note of this and that about the council room and saying things that fit in and spread sunshine among it's members that the lost ones would have enjoyed? Are you trying to make up to the living for your rcmisSncSs to the dead? In short. has experience of the past years helped you to a knowledge of your duty to your lodge and fellowmau. and are you applying it, not to save your self from a recurrence of regrets, but because expressions of kindness and words of love are due each member of the lodge from every other mem Der. This little poem by Russell Lowell is added for the benefit of those who have vet time to learn wisdom:
 What silcnces we keep year after year
 With those who are most near to us and dear;
 We live beside each other day by day And speak of myriad things, but sell
 dom say
 The full sweet word that lies within our reacn
 Beneath the common ground of com
 mon speech.
 And now as we enter another year may the fire of odd Fellow friendship alwals, burn as brightly as the Ari zona sunshine.
 C. R. BERNETZKE.
 Phoenix Chapter No. 5. O. E. s.
 on Thursday evening. December 2, ------------