Year: 1867

Friday of last week was set apart by
the " Independent Order of Odd Fellows"
as day of thanksgiving and prayer in
commemoration of the success which had
attended the working of the order in this
country. All over the land, prominent
speakers were engaged to address both
the order and such of the community as
might feel interested in its operations and
anumber of addresses which for eloquence
and grace were not easily surpassed were
given to the public. In Bridgeton, the
Lodge assembled, clothed in the regalia
of the Order in Grosscup's Hall, to listen
to an address from Rev. J. H. Stockton,
of this city, who in addition to a natural
adaptation to addresses of this character,
possessed the additional advantage of be-
ing number of the body. A large num-
ber of fine, hearty, intelligent looking
men represented the occasion and impress
ed the community favorable with thoir ap
pearance, which favorable appreciation
was increased by the unassuming, yet
clear deliniations of the lecturer. Mr..
Stockton represented the society as one of
recent origin and repudiated all the at-
tempts of enthusiastic men to give it
high antiquity, insisting that it was the
outgrowth of the humanitarian sentiment
engendered by the Christian progress of
the nineteenth century, deeming it
higher glory to have SO noble an institu-
ton the product Of the age in which we live
than to have it surrounded with the misty
halo of fabulous antiquity. According
to the lecturer its chief power lay in its de-
velopment Of the spirit Of Christian NOR
ais. While it was not Christianity-while
it was far inferior to Christianity, yet, still
as an adjunct to that Christianity it was
most valuable and in its tendencies was
especially adapted to foster an apprecia-
tion of the religion of Jesus. By its
workings the brotherhood of man was
made matter Of daily practice, and the
kindly relief of suffering demanded by the
principles of the order compelled re-
spect for the sentiments of the founder of
our Christian faith Mr.. Stockton was
most happy in his illustrations and incl
dents and it is fair to say that his address
undoubtedly left deep impression upon
the audience Of the value of the organiza-
ton.


Rev. Mr.. Ballard followed in short
address in which he favored the order
because it combined the principles of re-
lief in suffering, with independence, so
that while man received relief just at
the time he most needed it, yet he was
not made to feel that he was a recipient,
of charitu H. ;naietad that IL moe for.
more in accordance with the spirit of the
American people to pay for anything that
was received than to obtain it from be-
nevolence, and SO he favored the principle
Of oddfellowship, which, by its plans of
insurance gave to every man when sick
ness came upon him, only what was
right for which, he had previously paid
Rev. Mr.. Morris followed in few chaste
and beautiful remarks, in which the ten
der brothers care of each other was graph
ically depicted. He commended the in
stitution as one grand and noble both in
its conception and its working, and urged
upon the order to take still higher and
nobler step into the experiences of the
noblest order in the world the religion
of the Saviour of mankind.


The exercises were conducted under
the supervision Of Mr.. Dayton B. White
car, who presided on the occasion, and
enlivened by appropriate and well exc
cuted music votes of thanks were passed.
Rev. Mr. Stewart dismissed the audience
with the benediction and the people re.
tired well pleased with the festal day of
the Order of the Odd Fellows in Bridge