Year: 1867

NJ President Ladies and Gentlemen, and Brefh-


rsn Of fhe Igdcpendsrt Order Odd f6llctcs:


In compliance with the proclamations of the Most
Worthy Grand Sire OF the Grand Lodge of the Uni
ted States. and of the Most Worthy 6 rand Master
,f this State we are here assembled. in a house
set apart and dedicated 10 the worship of Aim ghty
God for the purpose of returning cur sincere and
heartfelt thanks and gratitude 10 God. Father,
for the MANY blessings and protection He has Vouch-
>afed TO our beloved Order in time that is passed
and especially in 'rescuiGg the genius Of Odd Eel
lowship from the ruin which has dcSolated 50 many
OF the benevolent and charitable institutions OF our
common country, the Indispensable effects OF
civil war'-and 10 join in united and earnest pray
or, invoking continuance Of His love and guild
ance over Us.


In doing this we must approach the door of that
celestial and everlasting lodge, mot made with
hands-eterual in the beavenS' How necessary is
it, then that We should come to such duties with
clean hands and pure hearts; that hands should
lie washed clean from the sin of selnShnesS and COW
etauSne>s and our hearts entirely purified from
malice hatred. and all uukindness Of whatsoever
nature. that eur offerings may be acceptable and
prayers granted.


The custom or rather duty of returning thanks
TO God, the creator and benefactor OF mankind. Is
existent with Creation ii>elf:-and history both
sacred and proflue records the fact of The oh>efN
ance Of this duty in some form from the first born
ot earth down TO the present time, by all nations
tongues and kindred Of mankind. 1t has not been
confined to the Christian world-the Heathen, and
all the various savage tribes which inhabit the earth
in the utter darkness of their moral natures-all.
all can see in the beautiful works Of nature, and It's
hountiful provision for all their wants the unmIS-
taxable evidence Of a superior and supreme ruling
spirit. and in some form acAnoN ledge their great
dependence on it


God. in His infinite wisdom. has created man
Kind of an entirely dependent nature; and while
we are all dependent on Him in n immortal sease
fer every good and perfect gilt as mortais we
are equally dependent each other IN all the phys
ical moral and social ofiees which makes man a
social being. This inevitable dependence on each
other is the foundation. and underes all the prin
Siples Of our irstornity;-aS dependence must OF
necessity heget gratitude gratitude oegeis friend
shp-snd friendship beCetS love-whsn truth. the
nahlest Of ali the virtues. in her >potle>S gAih Of
white comes 70 crown the edihce. and man be
comes social and fraternal being.


While as citizens OF one common country, we
have from our earliest infancy. annualiy Joined IN
shree sacred services. we have never before per
formed them in cur capacity As Odd Fellows. but
the preservation Of our Order from destruction or
dissolution amid the rain and devastation OF civil
war the most desperate and bloody the world ever
witnessed. and which has 50 lately deSoated a
portion of our beloved country. aud destroyed 80
many of its benevolent sud charitable lu>tstatiens
is not the work of human wisdom Or human tore
sicht-but as we believe. direct interposltlon OF
Almighty God. And in grateful recognition ei
such Providence and countless other blessings the
Grand Ledge OF the United States At It's last annual
communication unanimously directed the Most
Worthy Grand Sire 10 Sppoint day ot fhanASS3v'
ing and prsyer: and in the wisdom of the Most
Worthy Grand Sire he appointed this the ami
versa " of the Institution ct oar Order, for that
purpose No day in the whole calender could be
more appropriate tor the discharge Of such duties
than that which gave birth 10 our fraternity i Is
a day Of JOY and happiness to every good oda Eel
low and 50 long tine shall last. taey WI! honor
and celebrate it by such ceremonies As shall be an
exempli6cation of the principles and duties oy
which We profess 10 he actuated. The hr>t OF these
and indeed the foundation of all, is the duty VT
owe To Almighty God-who IS the very emoodi
ment of the two eternal principles of our Order
LOVE and Truth. And it is only by proper dis
charge Of this duty that orr hearts and minds car
be prepared for those Of a fraternal nature whel
we have voluntarily assumed, and Is the positive
injunction Of cur lawsto visit the sick, relieve th'
distressed, bury the dead and educate and protec
the orphan.


Let us for few moments take Retrospective
view of the history of Odd Fellowship, and thereh,
recount and more fully realize some Of the count
les blessings which God in his boantfal merry hs