Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-08-12
OFFICERS GRAND LODGE GUESTS OF LOCAL L0DGEN IS
COLFAX BUILDED BETTER
THAN HE KNEW

Rebekah it added the fairest pillar
which adorns and supports the Tenn
ple of Odd Fellowship. Woman's
valuable cooperation in our work OF
benevolence had long been recog-
nized and at last to her was cheer
fully assigned a place in our history,
thereby attesting her claims to no.
bility of character, to faithfulness In
friendship, to self-sacrificing love and
an undertaking perseverance IN all
that is good and true. That she has
nobly indicated that claim is the
universal testimony of the Order
everywhere, and Odd Fellows are not
only proud but thankful that her
sympathy has been enlisted and her
womanly influences added to our
strength.
When Schuyler Colfax compiled
the ritual of the beautiful Rebekah
Degree he "builded better than he
knew" He never dreamed that it
would extend the sphere of our ac-
tivities until, if removed, the super
structure of Odd Fellowship would
| tremble to it's foundations. The name
of Colfax has become a household
word in Odd Fellows families, and
there is no official act of his life that
reflects greater credit to his head and
heart than the sentiments embodles
in this beautiful Degree.
Rebekah was a pastoral maiden, full
of simplicity and virtue. The tired
servant of Abraham arrives at the
environs of the city of Major. The
gentle maid is drawing water from
the well-''the diamond of the des-
ert.'' In that age and country water
was more precious than gold and the
possession of its source frequently
the cause of dissension and warfare.
Benevolence takes no fairer form
than that of Rebekah running with
her pitcher to serve the weary trav-
eller and his thirsty camels, repaid
by destiny and fame the wonder of
posterity. Isaac "took her and loved
her and made her his wife," and she
inherited the promise that in his seed
should all the nations of the wo:A
be blest. What more glorious char
acter could have been selected as the
prototype, the patron saint, of the
Order of Rebekah! For we verify be-
lieve that in the sweet influence and
active philanthropy of the sisters of
Rebekah, in all time to come, will the
nations of the world be blest.
Woman is naturally an Odd Eel
low, in our acceptance of the term.
Did ever the cry of the suffering or
the moan of the disconsolate fall I'M
needed upon her ear? Did ever dis
tress or want call for active ministra-
ton of woman in vain? Never. The
natural promptings of her heart
kindness, love, tenderness-forbid
the thought.
The full measure of woman's in
fluence in the work of Odd Fellow
ship has never been properly esti-
mated, and only time will enable US
to establish its true value, and then
glancing backward upon its glorious
achievements and outward and on
ward toward its dawning possibilities
and contemplating the symmetry, and
beauty of its perfected proportions,
we will be impelled to exclaim, with
the Queen of Sheba when she wit
messed the glory of Solomon, "The
half has not been told"
Man, in his pride and vigor, when
health, like strong arm circles him
about, enabling him to battle alone
with the storms of life, may refuse
to acknowledge and recognize the |
true worth of woman; but when sick
ness lays it's prostrating hand upon
him and strength departs, leaving the |
boated giant helpless; when ADVERSE
ty, like a cloud of darkness, encom-
passes him about; when friends, who
once sang his praises and fattened
upon his plenty, turn coldly away and
desert him in his hour of need; when
the light of life is fading out and
none are faithful but the wife of his
BOSOM then will he realize the full
meaning of the words of the poet:
"Oh, ever when the happy laugh is |
dumb.
All the joy gone and all the anguish
come;
When strong adversely and subtle |
pain
Wiring the sad soul and rack the
throbbing brain;
When friends once faithful, hearts
once all our own,
Leave US to weep, to bleed, to die
alone;
When fears and cares the lonely
thoughts employ,
And clouds of sorrow hide the sun
of joy;
When weary life, breathing reluctant
breath,
Hath no hope sweeter than the hope
of death;
Then the best counsel and the last
relief,
To cheer the spirit or to cheat the |
IS |