Year: 1869

shNtlNf kAan nuts ~ hiiA OF fAAtANH
water, mOns charming even lhan
ehildhOod's lisping prallle, and
more thrilling than the eloqnenea
OF a Jeremiah, a Paul or a Peter
was always heard when addressing
hls fellow mem except, Il may ber
when Representing and uhvell'ns
hypocrisy, or popular evil ani
n,a the glance OF his eye MAS like
tho burning sun or eleclrie fash
and HE words though strangely
musical, slill they were searching
and piercing, even 10 tho marrow,
Attaining his majority he manifest
ed another distinctive feature he
sought not marriage with any fair
girl of earth. Ills heart filled with
a friendship and love for hls fellow
man far exceeding that 0i Jonathan
aud David, ~ that Of God exceeds
the love Of man, could iind no rest
for "human love" within its large
shelter. lie found no harbor for
that mixed passion Of earth, and
Heaven which stamps the love oiall
mankind. Filled with bu; the one
pure emotion, an abiding love for
man, CO extensive with the race, lac
devoted his life 10 il, aud IL alone,
In this he deepened his oddily or
strangeness, and still further bcwii'
dercd the world by his numerous,
yes. numberless acts of bcnevolonco
and miracle. Without education in
the usual acceptation Of the term
without diploma, rs doctor Of
medicine; without any chronological
tuition or experience, or even hav'
ing written thesis; without any
examination and license TO practice
law, he yet showed himself the mas
ter of all these, on all occasions,
lie restored the blind TO sight with
out the use o. spcctacles or oint'
ment. He made whole the manned
without tho use of splint or ban
dngc. lie cured all manner OF dis
ease among all ages and classes of
people without the use of drug or
even water. lie expelled lunacy
and insanity without tho use of
diet, hospital, straight jacket or
whip and shain, He clcansed the
lcaper, and called back even the dead
from the deep slumbor Of the grave.
All this he did by the word of his
mouth, or the touch of his person,
and thus intensified his "strange-
ness" complicated in the minds Of
men his "cccentricity," and deepen
cd more and more the conviction of
his being an ODD FELLOW. But
not only indeed was he deemed
strange and wonderful, but he enun,
ciated and taught us one having
authority-a doctrine strange in.
deed for that or any other age of the
world a part Of this doctrine is
found in the following propositions: :


"Whosocver shall smte thee on
the right cheek, turn to him the
other also"


"If any man will sue thee at law,
and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak also. And whose
ever shall compel thee to go mile,
go with him twain. Give to him
that asketh thee, and from him that
would borrow of thee turn not thou
away"


Love thy enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them
that despitcfully use you and per
secute you" And whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you,
do We even so unto them"


This was indeed strange counsel,
and yet, strange as it was, this poor
carpenter was consistent and lived
as he taught What he told others
to do, that he did himself. But so
different from the Worlds beloved
code of morals was his teaching
although moment b reflection, even
now. shows that if the world would
practice his advice, there would be
endless peace and good will among
mcn-that opposition soon arose;
SANDER rained its slime upon him;
persecution pursued him with the
serpcnt's poisonous fang, and final
ly the World, for which he toiled,
for which he prayed, and on which
he was continually comforting some
benefaction, crucifed him! And yet,
with his last words. in the midst of
the agony of that awful death, when
the very air was huslcd and the
heavens were draped in mourning
at the stupenduous injustice; with
his last words the serenity of his
soul shone forth, and the sweetness
of his life rove dover his coral lip
reefs, 'Fathcr forgive them; they
know not what they do"


| need not say to you, brothers,
that tho name of this poor carpen-
ter was and is JESUS CHRIST! And it
is from his doctrine that our own
beloved Order owes its purity of
principle and its strength for good.
1t is the truth enunciated by HIM
that shines through all our work
and strengthens us in all our min
is tratious to the distressed, the
sick, the dying the widow and the
orphan. If we will remember the
principles that we have solemnly
promised shall gnide our lives, and
if we practice them with each other
and in our intercourse with the
world, we shall indeed realize, each
one for himself, in the secresy of
of his own heart, that


"The quality Of mercy is not strained;


II droppefh a the gentle rain from heaven


Up1n the place beneth il is twice blessed


II blessefh him that & and hint hat takes;


lis mghfiest in the mighiiesf: II becomes.


The fhruned monarch better than his crown;


And is attribute Of God himself"


Thus. from christianity are our
principles drawn entirely; for how
ever much of our teaching is taken