Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-06-19
THE NEW FRATERNALISM
Address by Rev. G. J. staples mt odd
Fellows Memorial Service

FeiOws Memorial Service
THE New Fraternalism" was the SUBJ
ject of the address given by the Rev. c.
j. Staples of the Unitarian Church at that
church Sunday evening before the Odd
Fellow and Rebekah lodges of this city.
the occasion being the annual memorial
services of the orders. Preceding the serv-
ice. about 50 members of the lodges, In
Guiding Hamilton Lodge, No IA, l. 0.
o. F., Green Mountain Lodge. NO. L.
I. o. o. F., and Beatrice and Antonio
lodges of Rebekahs marched from their
lodge rooms to the church. headed by the
uniform rank Of Odd Fellows.
. During the early part of the service,
the Rev. Mr.. Staples announced the
names of those from the lodges who had
died during the past year, and for whom
the services were held. The list is as fol-
lows: Hamilton Lodge, No IA, Harvey F..
Atwood. Herbert w. Chase. owen Evans,
Allen H. Lumbra, John Fl. Reeve and
Harley Sherman: Green Mountain Lodge,
No. I, L. j. Wetherell, j. H. Trail, f..
D. Ashley, Carl L. Csntebar. Grant Com
stock and Robert Bullock.
! In this list, one star of gold is placed
after the name Of Robert Bullock. who
died in the service. A poem in honor of
| this one gold star of the orders was read
by the Rev Mr.. Staples.
The text taken by Mr.. Staples for HE
| address was from John I, 1-20, "He WHO
loveth not his brother whom he hath
seen, how can he love God whom he hath
not seen?'
| Paying tribute to those members of the
lodges who have died during the last
year. Mr. Staples said:
| But this is a service not OF memorial
alone. Those who have died yet speak
to us-that we may cherish the institu-
ton which they loved"
The speaker then took up the future OF
the fraternal organizations of the coun.
try. He declared that the great war has
| brought changes in our attitude toward
life which will mean necessary broad.
enng of the work of fraternal organiza-
lions everywhere. The war has done
much that humanity might be sweeter
purer and better, but unless the work is
carried on, the fraternal organizations
! and the churches will have failed in their
task.
The new and the higher fraternalism
growing out of the old. is something
which grips and challenges" said the
speaker.
The Rev. Mr.. Staples declared that the
fraternities of the country have done
much to bring in tolerance and good will
among men, but he maintained that even
more can be done He said that there
is a universal religion which Is above
creeds and theology.
THE new fraternalism must be broader
than the DID," he declared. It must forse,
the lines of sect and creed must be
founded upon the living principle OF
brotherhood 1t must not be matter OF
ceremony, but matter of good will. II
must be more constructive and less
| formal 1t should minister to the wants
of youth dealing with the problem OF
| loneliness in large cities. helping mer
to know and accomplish their best.
In closing, the Rev. Mr. Staples main
tanned that the new fraternalism should
help in the Characterization of America, ;
seeking 10 aid the foreigners who come
to this country in better understanding
the customs and ideals of the country
and in becoming useful citizens.
The service closed with the singing OF
| America"