Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-05-05
WARES SPEECH
Continued from first page

fraternalism since the days Of
Christ. And yet, while this
order does not bring into the
world new doctrines or princi-
pies for human conduct, it does
bring a new and better applica-
ton of the old principles, for it
is that love and friendship for
each other taught by Christ, or
ganized for efficient service and
applied to human needs.
1t brings together, develops
and trains into an efficient
working force all the good ele-
ments in it's membership, bind
ing them together by ties OF
fraternal love into a great army,
having in view a definite pur-
pose,- the application to human
needs of that rule of Divine orl-
gin which requires that we
Glove our neighbor as our
selves.
Penetrate the hills and valleys
for. many thousands of miles,
and you will find here and there
tiny streamlets insignificant
forces within themselves, but
ever flowing onward, giving
hope, comfort and life, as they
onward go, gathering force and
power here and there, from time
to time uniting, forming larger
streams but never crossing each
other, moving ever toward a
great union, alawsy joining
forces and becoming more pow
erful, until by and by they have
become great rivers, draining,
watering and fertilizing thous-
ands of miles of territory, with
out which the world be barren
desert untitled for mans habit
ton. And so it is with this or
der. Each member has his par
ticular corner of life to brighten,
always working in harmony with
his brehtern and with other
forces for good, the order grow
ing more powerful in numbers
and influence, ever looking to-
ward the universal brotherhood
of man. until the great spirit OF
fraternalism and love has broug-
hit the world to a realization OF
the real and true purposes OF
life.
We have come to know as
never before the power OF organ
ization. We find the necessity
for it in all the financial andbus-
mess affairs of life, and the de-
mand for and practical benefits
or organization in the business
world are no greater that IN the
social and fraternal world. 1t
has been said on good authority
that in the moral and religious
life that one good man shall
chase a thousand and two shall
nut ten thousand to flight; and
SO it is when goodness and moral
principles are organized and
| have become an efficient work
ing force.
It has been urged that sectar-
ian orders are at variance with
and a determinent to the church;
but this is not in any sense true.
| It is the duty and office as we'll
as the high prerogative OF the
church to teach men their duty
to God and to one another; to
lift the thoughts of men to heav-
emily things and to direct the
paths their feet should tread.
On the contrary Odd Fellow
ship does not seek primarily to
govern mans spiritual life, but
to see direct his earthly one as
to render him more fit for the
spiritual and holy ministrations
of the churchill has never been
contended by this order that the
heart such as is taught by the
Holy Bible; but while the order
is non-sectarian and holds to no
particular creed, it's teachings
are based upon the WORD ana
promise of God, and while a man
may be good christian without
being an Odd Fellow, yet he can
surely be better Odd Fellow by
being a Christian, add probably
would be better Christian were
he to follow all the teachings OF
the order.
This order was born to minis
ire to human necessities. 1t
cares not of what race the suffer
is nor what his views Of redemp-
ton are. 1t is enough for Odd
Fellowship that suffering exists,
enough that men of all religious
faiths can say of it:
I