The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-07
ODD FELLOWS
The Sentiment of Odd Fellowship.

Motherhood. that mutual principle
which should prompt us to lay aside
all personal differences and sacrifce
all party considerations for the beneht
of the general welfare of our noble
order. The effect of this dangerous
spirit, personal and party differences,
may be read upon the past pages of
the worlds history. Institutions laid
upon foundations more solid and en-
during perhaps than that of our own
have felt it's shivering force and gone
down to oblivion. and live only upon
their worthless and time-worn rec
ords. Nations standing high, reJoic-
ing in an industrious and prosperous
population, with all the means ana
appliances of endurance. have peen
struck down from their high and eA-
allied eminence and become the
"schoolboy's dream, the wonder OF inc
hour" This baneful spirit can never
be productive of aught but EVIL, ana
every true Odd Fellow Is called upon
by the most emphatic and forcible
considerations, to frown upon the APP
proach of this insidious and destroy
ing hydra. Where fellowship Is the
great sinew, and harmony and sooa
will the aim. peace and plenty Will
sit like household gods upon our altar.
Odd Fellowship, when considered
from a moral point of view, may be
pronounced one OF the most splendid
and stupendous undertakings ever set
on foot by man.
The very nature OF our fraternity
by its formation is emlnently calcu-
lated to inculcate the true feelings
of liberality. to soothe all feelings OF
btgotry and prejudice. Within our
ranks may lee found members Of the
most hostile sects and parties. forget
ting, for the time, their peculiar tenets
and predictions miugiing together
In friendship and love
As Odd Fellows. we number In our
fraternity many OF the eminent men
of the eminent for their intel
lectual abilities, for apac'ty--eminent
for the purity and probity OF their ac-
tons. men who have given hostages
to the world for the fun performance
OF their duties: and none can suppose
that they. with fun knowledge of its
nature would remain connected with
ii IL & were different from what II
processes to bs--an institution. the
great object ~ which Is 20 better
mankind
The infatuated sectary ends within
the sacred borders Of. odd Fellowship
no responsible converts TO his faith
the violent politician finds neither
place nor tif}e within the lodge room
TO pronuleAfe his peculiar views aud
opinions here men must lay aside
their predictions and, un.fedly, en-
gage ir he noble work OF fraternizing
the world
odd e#lowship is no religious instl-
tuition tet Do nnto others as you
would they should De unto you is the
funda 81 "a basis on which the entire
fabric ~ our fraternity rcposes. II
assumes no b CHER authority than th@
racrYtst tfat9 ~ "a moral Il fnTs OF ia
members. While IT Confdes an eInci-
dEt3on ~ The Sublime requisites OF the
sacred Scriptures 10 the ministers or
the gospel II demands TO ohliga-
tions which would. IN the slightest
degree violate man s duty to his
Cod. his family. his country, or his
friends II eNaffs no perlt0us VOWS
which would if'plicate his feaity to
his spiritual persuasion. for II com
prehends and embraces men of va
ri"ua crceds, tenets. and religious de
nominations IT repudistes infdelitE.
hut II assumes not that prerosafiYe
which The great ssarcEer OF hearts
las reserved to Himself alone. Judge
not, that Sc be not judged is the
rule of action for every member or
our vast brotherhood The depraNitE
Of man renders it eNpedient for means
10 he employed 10 lead him from the
this can only be done hy incu!catlrg
the divine precepts of ODD Fellowship
This Is what, as odd Fellows We do,
But while we teach those precepts in
manner peculiar to ourselves. we
do not war with the principles of any
sect.
Nor is Odd Fellowship political
organization. We are taught, as ODD
Fellows, to be subservient 10 the pow
ers that be, and to obey the laws
strictly: yet We give no political .plcdg
es We are not united by any political
bond OF union, nor do we aspire To
any political authority. We are bound.
by obligations. To perform all the du
ties which can he required of good
citizens; and any violation Of those
laws. II proven against brother. VIII
subject him TO expulsion from tho
order The test necessary fer adnis-
sion into our fraternity is high one.
that OF good reputation and charac-
ter for morality and honor, and IL
hceds not whether man be jew
or GENTLE, rich or poor; at his APP
proach our portals open; he enters,
and becomes one of our vast army.
The tendency OF odd Fellowship
upon the minds and characters OF its
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