Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-16
WILLIMANTTC

rooms, followed by procession, headed by the Willimantic American band, to Willimantic cemetery. where the graves of seventy-two members of the lodge were decorated. There were three deaths during the past year: George A. Bartlett, L. F. Burdick and Everett E. Oatley. Grave sof the fol- lowing members of Violet Rebekah lodge, No. 57, I. O. o. F.. were also decorated: Mrs. Fannie Woodward, Mrs. Annie Woodward, Peter Kramer in the Willimantic cemetery; Mrs. Edna Bigley in St. Joseph's cemetery and Dewitt C., Manning in the cen- etery at Wilmington. The following programme of exercise swas held at the rooms; Welcome by grand, George K Allen; hymn, Nearer. My God. to nation by V. G.. L. C. Clifford. Jr.; opening ode; prayer by P. G., Rev. Samuel Thatcher of East Hampton; quartette. Jesus, Saviour. Pilot Me, Violet Rebekah Lodge: introduction of speaker; address by P. G.. Rev. Sam uel Thatcher; quartet number Rock of Ages; benediction, P. C., Rev. sam uel Thatcher.
 There were many friends of the members at the impressive services. The singing of the quartet, A. l.. Clark Miss Elsie French. Mrs. Grace Winter and Raymond Wright. was especially good. Mrs. c. H. Beebe was the &C., companist. Edmund J. Peckham was flag bearer in the parade in which s5 members of Obwebetuck lodge and 1T /, Sisters of Violet Rebekah lodge marched carving bouquets for deco- rating the graves After the cerefnon- I ies in the cemetery the parade reform ed and marched back to Odd Fellows hall where dismissal took place. Rev. Samuel Thatcher gave very eloquent and forceful address on The Good Samaritan, in which he said
 l remember when it was. my privi- lege two years ago to address you, took a part of our ritual and we went out in the woods with Jonathan and strengthened David's hand in God. It was delightful journey and a pleas ant task.
 But this afternoon we are to go down the Jericho road.
 Now l want you to notice that the character of the story is not the man who fell among the thieves. He is only one of the uncounted millions It is not the Levite. no. The char acter of the story is the Good Samari- tan, Jesus Christ. the Elder Son oi God. They called Him a Samaritan ir derision and He was so pleased with the name that He told this immortal ized story that men might forever know Him as the Good Samaritan All true followers of the Good Sa- maritan are dwelling within the high CT ideals of life. Let me say that no.
 where in this world will you find z grander galaxy of character than you will find in the work of Odd Fellow ship. The world is thrilled over tht League of Nations, but the l. o. o. F has been living and preaching a league of nations for the last one hundred i. years.
 Jesus Christ as the Good Samaritan
 came where humanity was. He was il
 all points tempted like as we are ant
 being tempted he is able to succol
 those who are tempted. You and
 will never help the world until W.
 come where the people are. We vii
 never be able to help the Brother ant
 sisters at Groton until we come wf1er' they are. You may toss a dollar tt
 a beggar but that may not be charity : it may be pride. You can never hell
 the beggar until you come where tn
 beggar is. Now all that followed wa
 perfectly natural, the oil. the wine, tn
 garments, and the midnight vigil. I
 was all the result of his coming wner
 he was. But in the morning when h . was leaving and the innkeeper wa solicitous to know who would com
 pensate him for his trouble you hear,
 the Good Samaritan say as he tool
 out his, wallet, Take this money an,
 spendest more when I come again,
 spendest more when I came again.
 will repay thee." Now we have no
 emphasized this part of the story bu
 to my mind this is the sweetest par
 of the whole story For if this stor only has to do with earth, beautifu ] though it is, it must in the nature c