Year: 1879

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BENEFITS OF ODD FELLOWSHIP.


In what manner is man benefited by being,
an Odd Fellow? How is the community
large bsnefttrd by the institution OF Odd Fell
lowshlp?


These ase two questions OF the highest i'm
lportance, questions which every member Of our
fraternity should be able TO answer in salts
factory manner; for il neither the individual
nor the world ls benefited by our organza-
ton, then are our words VAIN, aye, worse than
vain, for we are wasting both our time and our
substance IN the pursuit OF mere shadow. 1t
is my purpose this evening to devote short
time IN attempting to give few satisfactory
reasons for beng an Odd Fellow, for, like the
rest OF my brethren, no doubt, L firmly bsheye
that our order is not only beneficial to each OF
its members, who are Odd Fellows in spirit and
in truth, but also an incalcuable blessing to
society IN general.


! We should not look at this matter from
purely selfish point of view, and be Ocd Fell
lows simply for the benefit to be derived by
ourselves, but we should the rather view from
a standpoint OF broad philanthropy, and love
and cherish our order for the benefit it is 70 the
world.


or course it is right that we love our order
for the personal advantage il Is to ourselves al
individual members, but what mean to say is
that this alone, would be but a narrow and
contracted view, that we should not stop here.
but in addition to this, We should havo higher
and broader understanding of our nights and
duties as members OF this great fraternity, and
OF the blessings and benefits that have ever
followed our organization since the day OF its
humble origin In the city OF Baltimore more
than sixty years ago.


Odd Fellowship is a benei; to every member
of the order, by reason Of the ample oppor-
tunity which 1t gives US all, in our weekly
meetings, to cultivate and expand our social
nature, by free and unrestraned intercourse
with our brethren, enabling us as it does, to lay
aside all the tribuations and cares that may
beset and harass us during our life outside the
lodge room, and to spend an evening each week
in the society OF those whom we know to be
our. true and tried friends. Man is essentially
a social being, and such an opportunity tor the
enjoyment or the pleasures and benefits to be
derived from the cultivation and training Of
his social faculties In an upright and moral
direction, is not to be passed lightly by.


How many men there have been, bow many
men there now are, who are impelled by this
very desire Of social intercourse with their
kind, to frequent saloons, gambling halls, and
other places Of like character, and who, had
they been members of our fraternity, might
have found in the Lodge meetings ample means
for the qualification OF their social instincts,
and have bsen preserved to live useful and up
right lives, and have been honored and re-
spected members OF society.


Perhaps, my brothers. there may be some OF
US. who, had 1t not Deen for our membership III
our noble order might even now be travelling
the came downward road. | have no doubt but
when the time shall come, when all things shall
be made known, ODD Fellowship will find placed
to its credit thousands upon thousands OF
names OF good men, whose salvation from ut
ter Generalization will be justly due to their
connection with this order aud the influence
which the high aud eleyahng principles incul
Gated by the teachings or Odd Fellowship have
had open their lives. How many such cases
there may be, OF course we know not nor can
know, but an organization capable OF such de-
slrable results Ii surely one which we NAV we'll
love and cherish with pardonable prize.


When we reflect that the two great founda-
tion principles OF our order are the universal
Brotherhood OF man and the Fatherhood Of the
great Author or all things, 1t is utterly impos-
sbeUfor US to realize the benefits and bless
lpgs which may flow from the thousands Of
lodges of the order, like thousand little ris
uniting at last In grand, irresistible, mighty
river, which shall carry on Its broad bosom
blessing and honor TO all the world


When we remember. as we should, that it is
our duty as Odd Fellows to combat vice and
wickedness In whatever form it may appear
and TO carry out in our daily lives the princi-
Piles OF our beautiful motto Friendship, Love
aud Truth" It sounds indeed like folly to ask
what good does Odd Fellowship do IN the
world.


: But tbeee things are not all we have right
to consider, and should remember that we are
benefited individually by our membership in
the order, not only by being better men, as we
all are, for none can belong tosour institution
and mingle with the brothers of the order, and
listen to the beautiful and sublime teachings Of
our various lectures, without becoming better
men, but we are aso benefited IN what may
perhaps be considered more selfish direction.
BY means OF our membership in the order we
enlarge our circle of intimate friends, on whom
we can confidently rely for help and assistance,
should we need it, and we all DO need 1t in q
greater or less degree.


We all know that should any of US be sick
: and suffering, we shall be cared for, and our
wants relieved by friends VINO will feel it a
pleasure to render US the needed assistance.
We also know that if among strangers, we may
easily find friends, and true friends upon we
may confidently rely. visit to lodge-roo
while away from ones native place 10 almost
like visit at home. We realize whenever and
(: wherever we grasp the hand OF brother Ode
Fellow that we have met friend and not
stranger, althoueh we may never have met be.