The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-07

lodge men how they selected their
lodge from the similarly numerous
fraternal organizations-or whether
to be sure they were right they
Joined all
Asks Fair Deal For Churches.
He pleaded for e square deal for
the churches, for religion, for
Christianity, urging men who had
taken upon themselves the vows
which members OF such organiza-
cations as the Masons, the Odd Fell
lows, and the Knights of Pythias
have taken, to join hands with the
church for the betterment Of the
world.
A patriotic demonstration followed
an eloquent statement by DIR. Erwin,
who is a southerner, that today the
whole country must be behind the
boys in France. He said when Joe
Wheeler and Teddy Roosevelt
marched shoulder to shoulder up
San Juan hill there was a new vision
of our common brotherhood, no
north, no south, no east, no west
but a country united in defense of
humanity. That is the spirit which
should actuate the lodges toward the
work of the church. There should
be no division between men and wo-
men with a common aim. l plead
with you men and women of the
lodges to stand squarely behind the
churches Of your community. Give
them you support. They are doing
a work which your fraternities be-
lieve in and some things which you
cannot do. Stand with the church
for Righteousness"
Charity and ,BeneVoIence Defined.
Comparing the charitable work of
the church and the lodge DIR. Erwin
said that there is a popular misoon-
ception of what is charity and what
is benevolence.
You pay to your lodge a certain
sum Of money for a certain. number
of benefits. When you receive those
benefits it Is not charity but
benevolence, something you have paid
for and have a right to expect. The
work of the church on the other hand
is not merely confined to its mem
bership but is constantly to seek out
those who are not members and to
assist those who need its assistance.
That is charity"
Soup, soap and Salvation were the.
three cardinal principles Of mission
work in the slums as depicted by
DIR. Erwin. Landing the work being
done by the great fraternal societies,
consider at the same time the won
derful work which is being done for
the reclamation of men and women
who are down and out, recittng incl
dents which have given to the church
such men as Mel Trotter, John G.
WOoley and others; men who were
brought up from the depths to be-
come master men in service, shining
examples of the efficiency of soup,
soap and Salvation.
You get more out of the lodge
possibly" said DR.. Erwin, than you
do out of the church because you put
more in
Defining the conditions of member
ship in lodge or church he asked IL
a manned man may become
Mason; a blind man, an Odd Fellow,
and a cOnsumptive a Woodman.
Mission Is To Save Lost.
You know that they cannot, yet
the Christian church makes no such
distinction. Its mission is to save
the lost, no matter what the mental,
moral or physical condition Of the
man or woman. When John sent his
disciples to Jesus to ask if He was
the promised Messiah the Savior
made no answer but gave an ocular
by healing the sick,
making the deaf to hear, the blind
to see, the lame to walk and the
leper to be clean. Go back and tell
John what you see that he may know
that the scripture is fulfilled in these |
things and that the poor have the |
Gospel preached unto them"