THE HERALD
i
r
Published evJy Thursday at
IL4TTSMOIJTIl, JVEIJItAJSHLA.
Office On Matin St., Bet. 24th atnd 0th,
Sscond Story.
OFFICIAX PAPER OF CASS
COUNTY.
Terms, In Advance
Ose copy, one year $2.00
One copy, six months 1.00
One copy, three months 50
NE
ill
EIRAJLID)
J. A. MACMURPHY, Editor.
PERSEVERANCE CONQUERS."
TERMS : $2.00 & Yeah
Voliimo 9.
Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Thursday, January 22, 1874.
Number 43.
THE If E It A L 0,
One aquafc. UnM or ! otic fmrMo..tl.tV
Each eoDseqacnt Insertion Wt
rrorOs'srohal cards, not exceed fnc t)x lh)of..io.(
KeoJYi'ron per annum . . . . . . , ........ . . . .icos
Column per annum. .iti.trf
H column do .eoW
One column . do' . .v.'.....'...'....'..'..".'..'.'..
All ndyrrtlsliiK brtu due quarterly.- ,
Transient adWtlsemrhts intat ho j aid fcti?
ad ranee:
ExtAa Comics Sr thb ITtrai for iaIa hy .'
J. Strclght, at the Tost OnVe. and O. F. John
win, eonifr of Main nnd Fifth 8ts.
ATTORNEYS.
ft. H. WHEKLKR. J. W. BTIXCHCOMB.
Wheeler & Stlnchcomb,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW,
49-iy Plattsmouth. Nebraska.
HAM. M. CHAfHAV. R. T. MAXWELL.
Chapman & Maxwell.
ATTORNEYS AT I. AW and Solicitors In
Chancery, omce In Fitgcrald's Elock, Platts
mouth, Nebraska.
KO. B. SMITH, It. H. WINDHAM,
SMITH &. IT I M HAM.
Successors to Marquett, Smith, & Starbird,
Attorneys at Law d- Real Estate Brokers
. HLATT9MOUTH, - NFB.
8peclal attention given to Collections, and all
matters affecting the title to Real Estate.
Offic0 on 2d floor, over the Post Office.
PHYSICIANS.
KR. LIVINGSTON. Phvsn-lan and Surgeon.
Tenders hU professional services to the
citizens of Cass county. Residence southeast
corner of Oak and Sixth street ; olllceon Main
street, one door went of Lyman's Lumber Yard,
Plattsmouth, Nebraska.
INSURANCE.
-7 HEELER & B E N N ETT Real Estate and
' Taxpaylnfc Agents. Notaries Public. Eire
and Lif Insurance Agents. Plattsmouth, Neb.
1JHrr '-i FAINEGeneral Insurance Agent,
T ' "Jents some of the most reliable Coin
pan'. - the Cnlted States. Jan7-wtf
HOTELS.
BROOKS HOUSE,
JOHN FITZGERALD, Proprietor.
Main Street, between Fifth & Sixth.
MISCE LEA N EOUS.
lMattumoutli Mill.
CHEISEL. Proprietor. Have recently been
repaired and placed In thorough running
order. 100.000 Ilushcls of Wheat wanted imme
diately for which the highest market price will
be paid.
Abstracts or Title.
rplIE NUMKRICAL SYSTEM The best In use
For descriptive circulars, address.
ACRES, ULAL'KMAR & CO..
Burlington, Iowa.
GREENHOUSE AND REDDING
PLANTS.
. I ! T
nine ant monev saveo oy nracnn; ! n.-.
have the largest and best collection of Plants
ver offered for sale In the West. Catalouucs
free. Sweet Potato. Cabbage. Tomato, and oth
er Plants for sale in their season.
Address W. J. II ESSE It. Plattsmoutn. Neb.
Accntn Wauled.
FOR A ROOK NEEDED BY ALL
!Ti-SS5 I
The best books published on the norse and
the 'ow. Liberal terms. Money made rapidly
by airtjnU scllins these books, bend for circu
PORTER & COATES.
Publishers. Philadelphia. Pa.
FITiVRT GA1 EERY.
5r-photographs. Arobrotypes and copies
from old pictures, plain or colored, either in ink
water or oil. All work neatly executed and war
ranted to give satisfaction.
V. V. LEONARD. Artist.
10-tf Main St., Flattainouth, Neb.
NEW DRUG STORE-
WEEriXG WATER, NEB.
POTTER & GAFFNEY,
DEALER5 I.. DRCGS. MEDICINES. PAINTS,
OILS. VARNISH. PERFCMERY.
STATIONERY. NOTIONS,
CIGARS. TOBACCO,
AND GLASS.
Prescriptions carefully prepared. ICtf.
li GOLDING,
Dealer in
CLOTHING. FCRNISHTNO GOODS. HATS,
CAPS. HOOTS. SHOES. THI NKS,
VALISES. CARPET BAGS,
c &c.. &c, &c.
One of the oldest and most Reliable Houses
In Plattsmouth. Main street, between Fourth
and Fifth.
IV REMEMBER THE PLACE.
na-tf.
NEW STYLES.
F. L. ELSTER,
I -erchant Tailor
Is la receipt of the finest and
BEST ASSORTMENT
"ASSIMERES. CirTHS. VESTINGS. SCOTCH
GOODS, IRISH FR1ESES. &c.
In fact the largest and best assortment of
Cloths ever brought to this city, which 1 am
prepared to make up in the Latest Styles. Call
and examine Goods. aprilis.
Mrs A. D. Whitcomb,
DRESS AND CLOAK MAKER.
Komi three doors west of Brooks House.
CUTTING AND FITTING MADE
A SPECIALTY.
rr- Patterns of all kinds constantly on hand
38-ly.
' BARNUM'S HOTEL,
Cor Broadway and Twentieth Street,
NEW YORK;
ON BOTH AMERICAN & EUROPEAN PLANS.
Complete with all modern improvements ;
rooms rn mite and single ; private parlors,
baths elevators, &c. location unsurpassed,
beina In the very centre of fasliiou and brilliant
New York life. In proximity to Churches and
places of Amusement, and l-ord & Taylor 9,
Arnold & Constable's and .T. C. Johnstons
Dry Goods palaces. The hotel is under the
management of A. S. Barnum, formerly of Bar
num's Hotel. Baltimore: I.N. Green, of Day
ton. Ohio, and reeeutly of New York, and t ree
man Barnum, of Barn u in 's Hotel, St. Ixnus.
2l-tf.
rvZIIEI3!
Good real milk J delivered Wly at every
body's home In Platmouth, if they want It. by
J. F. Beaumeister.
Send In your orders and I will try and give
you
Pure Elills,
&sd sen e yea regularly.
19-ly.
Official Directory.
CONGRESSIONAL.
T. W. Tipton. Brownvllle V. S. Senator,
P. W. Hitchcock. Omaha U. 8. Senator.
L. Crounsc. t. Calhoun Representative,
EXECUTIVE.
R. W. Fumas BrownviJle.
J. J. Gosper, Lincoln
.1. B. Weston. Beatrice....
II. A. KnniK. Columbus...
.1. R. Webster. Crete
J. M. McKenzie, Lincoln..
Governor.
fiec'y of State,
Auditor.
Treasurer.
Atfy Gen.
sup i ruu. inairuc n
JUDICIARY.
Geo. B. Lake. Omaha Chief" Justice.
Daniel Gantt. NebniKka City, A,K..t. t,,-,.,
Samuel Maxwell, Pkitts'th, f Ai,floC ute JuH
rLATTSMOUTnl
R. K. Livingston Mayor.
Phelps Paine City Clerk.
Win. Wluterstelu City Treasurer.
J. W. Haine Police Judge.
Miles Morgan Marsiiai.
D. N. Johnson Street Commissioner.
ALDERMAN
First Ward. J. Fitzgerald, n. S. Newman.
SKrovi ward. J. avinan, C. Mchols.
Tin 1:0 Ward. R. C. CtishinK.Thos. Pollock
Fourth Wakd.-R. Vivian, L. F.Johnson.
CASS COUNTY.
II. F. Ellison Probate Judge.
Danl McKinnon County Clerk.
W. L. Hobbs Treasurer.
V. w. w ise Sup't Iub. Iustruct'n
jscipi) aiierv, 1
T. Clarke. ' J-..
Lvman .lames. I
J. W. Thomas Coroner.
. . .County Commissioners.
Churches.
1 ITIST On the corner of Main and Ninth.
Rev. T. J. Arnold. Pastor, services every
Sabbath, at 11 a. 111. and 7 p. m. Sabbath School
at s a. in. ITayer meeting every Wednesday
eveuini;.
CHRISTIAN Service In Coneregation Church
at II a. 111. and C : 30 p. m. Corner of Locust
and 8th streets. Cordial invitation extended to
all classes to attend.
iPTISCOPAL Corner Vine and Third streets.
MlnUter. Services everv Snndav at
11 :a. 111. and 8 p. m. Sunday school at 3 p. in.
C'ATIIOLIC North side of Public Square. Rev.
' Father Bobal. First Mass every Sabbath at
8-30 t. in.. Second Mass and sermon at 10-30,
Vesp ts and Benediction at 7 p. m. Mass at
a. m. every week day.
THIRST rKESRYTi:r.IAN-Nortli side of Main
- street, west of 6th, Rev. W. T. Bartle ; Ser
vices every Sabbath at 11 a. m. and 7 p. m.
Sabbath School at 9-.TO a. m. Prayer meeting
every Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL West side of 6th
street south of Main. Rev. C. McKelviey
Pastor. Services every Sabbath, nt 10 :'so a. m.,
and 7 p. m. Praver meeting every Thursday
evening. Class :neetlng every Monday evening,
and Immediately after close of Sabbath morn
ing services. Shbatlt School at 2 :30, M. B.
Reese. Supcrinteniant.
CONTAO den 21 Sejitember hat die Deutsche
0 Kv. Luth. Gcmefnd in ihrem Schulhaus vor
nittags 11111 II thr .oileoiienst. I'eberhaupt
r.ndft derselbe von Jet.t an regelniaessig alle H
Tagestatt. Minister. Rev. L. liannawaid.
Sabbath seined at 1 p. m.. Prof. d'Alleinand.
Snpeiiiitendeiit.
T O. O. F. Regular mctlnps of Platte Lodge
No. 7. I. O. it. K. eyer Tlsui-sdav evening at
Ortrt Fellows' Hall. Trn.-.lcat Brothers are cor
dially invited to visit.
GEO. E. Pr.ONGEB, X. G.
K G. Dovey, Secre t ry.
T O. O. F. Plattsmotjth E.vpampmicxt No.
3. Regular ConvfK t.tui.s the 2d and 4th
Friday's of each niontl' af Odl Fellows' Hall
comer .id and Main sN ee's. Transient Patri
archs cordially invited to visit.
H. J, STREIGnT.C. r.
H. Newmam. Scribe.
MASONIC Plattsmouth Ixtw.r. No. 6, A.
F. & A. M. Regular meeting ar their Hall
on the first and thinl Monday evenings of each
month. Transient brethren invited to visit.
R. R. LIVINGSTON, W. M.
A. d'ALI.EMAND, S- C.
AfACOY LOLGK No. 22. A. F. & A. M. Regu--4,A
lar meetings at Macoy Hall, fli-st and tliird
Frldavs J. N. WISE, W. M.
II ll. Bkovtei.i Secretar ;.
"VEnitASXA CtlAITER No 3. B. A. T.I. Rcg
ular ConvoT.tioiis sM-md anrt foertfi T"es
day eveuinvsof each month at 7li oV!x.' u. m.
II. K. LIVINGSTON. II. P.
II. Newman, Sec.
T O. G. T. OLIVE BRANCH.
BY TELEGRAPH! !
ASTOUNDING NEWS ! !
Information how to get Rich.
MERGES sells all his Women's pegged Shoes.
Men's Stoga Boots, and all lined goods and Arc
tic at cost.
I must have room, for my Spring Stock
Will be Very Large.
Shoes heretofore sold at $2 65 now 32 25
" " " 2 00 " 160
" " 3 60 " 2 00
Boot 4 7 4 35
4 6 M 4 00
Though the above goods are the best made,
with work I warrant, are yet hardly, to be frank
and honeat, what they should be. They will
wear out.
AGAIN, READ 1 JUDGE
For Yourself.
A BARGAIN FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!
All my lined goods must go, at, and below
cost, for we must have room.
INSTALLATION CEREMONIES.
I. 0. 0. F.
Wool lined boots heretofore
shoes
$5 00
400
now
400
300
Read. Calculate, be Wise.
And Come, and Buy, and
GET RICH.
Men's Arctics heretofore $2 SO now 2 00
ALL OTHERS IS PROPORTION.
Thus you notice, that 23 per cent, off on Arc
tics for a half year, or 50 per cent, per annum,
allows everybody to draw usurious Interest,
while you can place your hand upon your inno
cent little heart, with the consciousness of hav
ing done wrong to none.
42m2
Yours d-c
PETER MERGES.
M:trtUr'a!e. W.
See. ; T. Wihryock.
No. 2 D. D.
C. T. ; J. W. Chapin. W.
Iod::e Demttv. meets at
Clark & Pliimmer's Hall every Tuesday eve
ning. Travelling Templars respectfully invited.
'Pl'UN VEREIN. The Turner Society meets at
Tumors' Hall in Guthman's Block, on the
first nnd third Wednesdays of each month.
A. Von Schwanenberg, President ; George
Karcher. Vice President : H. Newman. Treas
urer : W. Breed. Recording Secretary : Paul
Itraidsch, Correspondidg Secretary ; William
Hassler. First Turn Wart , John Bons, Second
Turn Wart ; Oswald Guthmau, Warden.
St. Louis & Southeastern
Railway.
CONSOLIDATED.
"NASHVILLE SHORTEST LINE."
And Direct Route to
Belleville,
Centralia,
Cairo,
Shatcneetown,
Evansrille,
Memphis,
Vicksbunj,
Montgomery,
Mobile,
Neio Orleans,
Galveston,
And
Nasltrille,
Chattanooga,
Atlanta,
Macon,
Charlestoxcn,
Savannah,
Knoxrille,
Bristol,
Lynchburg.
Richmond,
Norfolk,
all Points
South and Southeast.
GOOD REASONS WHY this is the preferred
Route.
IT IS THE ONLY LINE running Pullman
Flace Drawii.g Room Sleeping Cars through
from St. Louis to Nashville without change.
IT IS THE ONLY LINE under one manage
ment between these Cities.
IT IS THE ONLY LINE by which passen
gers can sav from 60 to 200 miles travel, and
from six to tveuty-four hours time.
IT IS P2.43 CHEAPER fnim St. Louis to
Nashville than the circuitous route via. Louis
ville. OUR MOTTO :
QUICK TIME!
GOOD CARE!
CLOSE CONNECTIONS!
New and e!egant dav coaches equipped with
the Westintthouse Air Brake and the Miller
coupler and li iiform are run in all trains.
Through Ti "l ets on sale and Baggage check
ed at all t he principal Ticket Ollices in the West
and North.
Ask for tickets tla the "Southeastern Rail
way "
E. F. WINS LOW,
Oenl Manager, St. Louis.
W. B. DAVENPORT,
C.enl Ticket Agent. Louis.
Farmers Lumber Yard.
Having m.vlc arrangements in Chi
cago, and else There, with extensive
dealers, I am pi feared to furnish on
short notice all kind of
Lumber Doors Sash
Shingles, fec,
at a reasonable rate. I also keep con
stantly on hand a full assortment of
Nails, Hinges,
Locks, Hardware,
of all kinds. Those wishing to build
will incase call and see my stock.
E. NO YES.
LOUISVILLE. neb.
OBSTACLES TO MARRIAGE.
HAPPY Relief for Young Men. from the ef
fects of Errors and Abuses in early life. Man
hood restored. Impediments to marriage re
moved. New method of treatment. New and
remarkable remedies. Books and Circulars sent
free in sealed envelopes.
Address. HOWARD ASSOCIATION. No. 2
South Ninth Street. Philadelphia. Pa. an Insti
tution bavin? a niu'h reuutation for Iwnorabk
conduct and professional skill.
20 cm
Florence
35 IP
Family Friend.
$20 to $30 Nov. 1, 1873.
THE NEW FLORENCE,
As lately improved. Is beyond question
The Lightest Running Machine ever
put on the market.
A belt made of single No. 80 Cotton Thread will
run it as It comes from the factory.
And as now Reduced in.Price is by far
the Cheapest.
The following are some of the many points In
which the Florence excels all other Shuttle
Machines :
In doing more styles of work. Winding end
changing the Bobbin without removing the
goods. Sewing in opiiosite directions.
Accuracy of Tension. Durability
and strength of parts. Quietness
in running. Oioice of Side
or Back Feed. Simplicity
of Shuttle. Ease of
threading. Light
ness in run
ning. Me
chanical prin
cipals employed.
Elasticity of stitch.
In refusing no kind of
goods. Ease of setting nee
dle. Lack of wear on the thread.
Finenes and neatness of Stitch. In
saving of thread. Rapidity and casein
winding bobbins. Absence of cogs, cams,
and springs. Ease and rapidity of regulating
stitch. In quality of heinmer and at
tachments. In variety and styles.
In lack of needle cutting
cloth. In fastening ends
of seams, and slay
ing any part of "
seam, &c.
We challenge all competitors to disprove any
of the above statements.
After a thorough test of over twelve years
not a single Florence has ever been worn out In
family use.
DOLT ON BROTHERS.
Genl Agents for .Missouri, Kansas, and Neb.
ST. LOUIS, MO.
Active Agents Wanted Everyrrhere.
FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE CO.,
35m4 , Florence, Mass.
FARMER'S EXCHANGE.
B. G. HOOVER,
LOUISVILLE, NEBRASKA.
Keeps constantly on band all Staple Articles
such as
COFFEE,
SUGAR,
TOBACCO,
MOLASSES
Dry Goods,
Boots, Shoes, &c.
In fact, everything usually kept In a Variety
Store, which will be sold on small profits foi
CASH. All kinds ot Produce taken In exchange
for goods, and the
Highest Market Prices given in Cash
for Grain. l
FOR
THE HERALD.
The Odd Fellows of "Weeping Water
installed their newly elected officers
last Saturday evening. Grand Master
McElhany, assisted by other Grand
Officers from different parts of the
State, conducted the installation cere
monies, and Dr. Cowperthwaite, of Ne
braska City, made a handsome speech
which we give below in full:
SPEECH.
Secret societies (so-called) are of no
modern origin, but dating back as far
as history records, we find traces, rude
as they may have been, which are evi
dence sufficient that there has existed
long before the Christian era, some
what similar organizations to those of
the present day, and these have every
where accompanied, if they have not
advanced, civilization, and been the
onservators, if not the promoters, of
religion itself.
The earliest record of the formation
of a secret Christian Association for
mutual protection and defence against
physical danger, runs back as far as
the reign of Emperor Nero, in the year
55. When that cruel tyrant ruled at
Rome, the early Christains formed
themselves into an association for mu
tual encouragement. They called
themselves "fellow citizens and it is
said they recognized one another by
putting the open hand upon the mouth.
as a token of secrecy. Twenty-four
years subsequent to this Einperor, Ti
tus changed the name of the order to
"Odd Fellows," at the same time pre
senting the members with a warrant
of the Imperial Protection engraven on
a plate of gold, accompanied by a num
ber of the emblems in use at the pres
ent day. This, then, is considered by
many as the origin of the order we rep
resent here to-night. A love of Mys
tery and blind veneration for antiquity
with some, have been the means of
confounding principles with the insti
tutions embodying them, claiming
equal antiquity for both. True Odd
Fellowship does not idolatrously wor
ship an ideal past ; nor does it boast of
a remote antiquity-renerable only for
its antiquity but iat is of more im
portance, it can boast that the elemen
tary principles upon which it is found
ed have come down to us across the
centuries, and are as old as the ancient
of days God given and eternal. Odd
Fellowship, as an operating individual
compact, may be "ancient;" it may
claim with some certainty to have
originated in the palmy days of old
Rome; but there is positive evidence
thit its principles its rr.a'erial have
existed from time immemorable. It
was the spirit of our system which
upon an acceptable incense from the
altar of righteous Abel; which
warned the ungodly and vile citizens
of Sodom and Gomorrah : which went
with Abraham into the wilderness
among the wretchedly ignorant and
idolatrous heathen, and caused him
there to rear his altar of true patri
archial piety and genuine worship;
which led him to the mountain, where
the wood and the fire were prepared to
sacrifice his only son ; and as he raised
the shining death knife to plunge it
into the heart of his boy his beloved
the angel whose soft tones came from
the throne "forbear," also recorded one
of the features of this order Fidelity.
"What we would contend for is prin
ciple, nota'fiame; truth, rather than
antiquity; original greatness, rather
than ancient identity. If we affirm,
therefore, that Odd Fellowship as a
compact should receive little credit for
antiquity, we are always ready to elu
cidate the fact, that its essence, its
principles and power, are coeval, and
co-existent with the race of Adam.
We can see in the mellow tints of the
rainbow that the Almighty budded in
the heavens, that principle which gives
our institution one of the gems in its
crown Faithfulness to a solemn prom
ise. We can hear in the thunders that
shook Sinai, the voice of truth, as
its glowing fire flashed in the clouds
that lowered about that monument of
the divine presence and power. In the
ephod and the breastplate, and the cu
rious girdle spoken of in the scriptures,
we can see the symbols of that benevo
lence and friendship, which even in a
barbarous and iron age. were delegated
to individuals, that the name and excel
lence of the everlasting God might be
declared and revered, and mankind
might take their degrees in moraVand
intellectual advancement. We can see
in the two tablets of stone that were
carried early in the morning to the
mount, when the Lord descended in
the cloud, and the covenant with Israel
was made, the signs and tokens of a
moral power, before which the altars
and images of paganism crumbled, and
light and reflection shed their healing
influence amid the unhallowed graves
of the unsanctified idolaters. We can
trace in the friendship of David and
Jonathan, an affection that made them
lovely in their lives, and that united
them in death a love that made an
arrow a tongue to speak, when the
murderer whetted his death knife. Do
men inquire how old Odd Fellowship
is? We refer them to the smoking in
cense that rose from the altar of right
eous Abel ; to the dove, as it bore to the
ark, that stood above the ruin of a
world, the olive leaf; to old Xoah.
amid his vine-clad farm, surrounded
by the cattle on a thousand hills; to
Caleb and Joshua, as they stood by the
heap of stones, reared up as an ever
lasting symbol to the generations to
come of F. L. & T ; to Jon than and
D-nrid as they stood by the stone Easel,
where in the touching language of
scripture: "David arose out of a place
toward the south, and fell on his face
to the ground, and bowed himself three
times, and they kissed one another, and
wept one with another till David ex
ceeded."
We assert therefore of Odd Fellow
ship that its material its life-blood
and heat and soul are as old as the
first sabbath morning as old as the
solemn and binding obligation that
united - the beating hearts of the first
pair in the Garden of Eden, when an
gels were the witnesses and God the
priest.
When and where Odd Fellowship
took its rise, then whether it is an
cient or modern, are questions of com
parative little moment. Suffice it to
say that 52 years ago witnessed the
formation of the first. Lodge of Odd
Fellows in the western hemisphere.
Thos. Wildey, and four others, who had
been Odd Fellows, in connection with
the order in England, constituted the
entire number composing this Lodge.
They were men in the humble walks
of life, unlearned. Without prestige,
fame, wealth, or any of those accesso
ries calculated to impart success to the
enterprise in which they had embarked,
and possessing only an earnest purpose
to do good to their fellow man. Al
though the beginning of the order was
unpretentious and unpromising, yet the
hand of Frovidence was in it, and He,
who with the weak things of earth
often confounds the mighty, smiled
upon it, and made it an instrument in
accomplishing His high behests, and in
conferring through it a long train of
inestimable blessings upon mankind,
which will flow on, and flow ever, while
man shall need the aid of his fellow
man in the rugged journey of life.
We live in an era of wonderful de
velopment and expansion in the realm
of thought and action. The pulsations
of mental life have been quickened to
a vitality before unknown. The law
of progress governs the empire of
mind, takes hold of all things within
its range, and even impresses itself
upon the future. Art and science
seem to have culminated to ine very
acme of perfection and grandeur, and
man starts back astonished tit the
events which are transpiring around
him. The unbounded and almost mi
raculous prosperity which Odd Fel
lowship has attained, its rapid growth,
its unp.trallelled success, and the
mighty power it is wielding for good,
furnish a striking illustration of the
energy and force of this influence
which characterizes the age. When
we contrast the feeble infancy of the
order, as seen half a century ago, with
the gigantic proportions it now pre
sents, may we not exclaim "What hath
God wrought." How insignificant was
its inception, yet how grand and sub
lime the results! The spartan band
has become a vast host which is ever
achieving new and glorious victories
in the cause of humanity, and which
will ultimately triumph over passion
and vice, liberating man from their do
minion, establishing a reign of kind
ness and peace on earth, and rendering
it vocal with the songs of gladness,
that shall ascend from millions of its
redeemed inhabitants.
The principles of Odd Fellowship
are founded .on the purest morality,
and the moBt exalted virtues. Its sub
lime precepts are drawn from the bible,
which is an integral part of Odd Fel
lowship, ' and may be seen in every
Lodge room. From its sacred pages
we derive lessons of instruction, de
signed to affect the heart and con
science of its entire membership. The
divine law we recognize as our guide,
and of binding force upon all who are
taught at our altars. Ko one is admit
ted to the privileges of the order, who
does not believe in the existence of a
Great, Supreme Being, the Creator and
Preserver of the Universe. At every
step of his progress he is reminded
that the eye of the Omnipresent is ever
upon him', and that he will be held
amenable to the law which his Creator
has given him as the rule of his con
duct in all the relatious of life.
But, while these are the teachings of
our order, we do not claim that it is, in
the strict sense of the term, a religious
institution. Odd Fellowship is not
Christianity; nor is it a substitute, or
an equivalent for Christianity. We
nevertheless claim that it possesses
many religious attributes; that it is a
handmaid to Christianity; inducing
holier thoughts and affections in the
hearts of those who come within the
range of its influence, leading them by
its ritual, its symbols and its ceremo
nies, to the consecration of their lives
to truth, and the proper discharge of
their duty to God and man. We have
Divine authority for saying that "pure
religion and undefiled" in part at
least "is to visit the widow and the
fatherless in their affliction," and this
Odd Fellowship does. Is not then the
work of our order as shown by its
practices, acceptable service to the
Creator? . Even the giving of a cup of
water "has ita reward; how couch
greater, then, the blessings attending
the ministrations of relief, which Odd
Fellowship daily illustrates. An es
sential characteristic of Odd Fellow
hip is. "Fraternity.' This principle
underlies and supports the entire su
perstructure of its organization, and
constitutes the corner stone upon
which it immutably reposes.
Its very existence as an order its
efficacy and usefulness in the sphere of
its operations, depends mainly, not only
upon the recognition of this principle,
theoretically, but its constant practice.
It is a fundamental axiom of our af
filiation, and is adhered to with rigid
exactness.
With questions of State policy and
sectarian creeds, which agitate and
convulse the world, separate men from
each other, and array them in antago
nistic forces and factions. Odd Fellow
ship has nothing to do, interdicting as
it does, by mild and salutatary re
straints, all iolitical and religious dis
cussions from its counsels. Around
the altars of Odd Fellowship the clam
ors and discords of the earth are
hushed, and its votaries meet as broth
ers, bound together by a common sym
pathy, a bond stronger thau legislative
enactments or hooks of steel. Thus
amid the various conflicting theories
and multiplied denominations in the
world, there is happily one spot "where
men of all opinions may meet and ruin
gle in sacred fellowship. Odd Fellow
ship, sees men divided by party lines.
swayed by passion, and controlled by
selfishness, and it endeavors to bring
them in a relation of amity towards
each other. It seeks to promote a large
humanity, and to unite all men, how
ever diverse m nationality, religious
predilections, or political affinities, un
der the broad Egis of Fraternity.
Charity, in its most comprehensive
signification, or love, is the prom
inent and 1 ervading idea of Odd Fel
lowship; a charity which is diffusive,
and which indicates benevolence and
kindness to the whole race of Adam.
It is this sentiment that imparts vi
tality to its entire organization; it is
the sun of its system, around which
all the principles of the order centre
and revolve in harmony, and from
which they derive their effulgence,
beauty and efficiency. "God is Love,"
full, free and boundless are the exhibi
tions of His love. He who arched the
heavens with the rainbow, spangled
the firmament with glittering gems,
decked the earth with verdure, diver
sified it with hill and dale, and ap
pointed the seed time and harvest, has,
in these displays of His wondrous
power and providence, manifested His
love to all His creatures. It is in the
spirit of this exalted attribute of the
Creator that Odd Fellowship exists,
the atmosphere it breathes, and the
sentiment that animates its great
heart. The law of loye controls its en
tire life and being, and this law Odd
Fellowship regards as the fulfillment
of all moral law, and holds it to be the
grand remedy for all the social evils
that afflict mankind.
But, says one. "I thought Odd Fel
lowship a mere beneficial society, hav
ing for its single purpose the relief of
its members in the struggle incident
to human life." To such, I would say,
be at once undeceived. Tis true, mate
rial relief is a leading office in our affili
ation. "To visit the sick, relieve the
distressed, bury the dead and educate
the orphan," are not only privileges be
queathed by our order to its members.
but are imperative duties which Odd
Fellowship enjoins. The Odd Fellow
at home or abroad, if laid upon the bed
of sickness, not only receives financial
aid. but warm hearts and willing
hands are near, ready to minister to
his wants, and should the fell destroyer
claim his victim, the remains are fol
lowed to "the house appointed for all
living," and the dust is smoot' ed on
his grave by the hand of sorrowing
friendship.
But the duties of Odd Fellowship
end not here. The chain of worthy
fellowship may be broken, but some of
its several links remain, in the persons
of the stricken widow and helpless or
phan. "Odd Fellowship repairs to the
desolate homes; refills the cruse of oil,
and replenishes the empty barrel ; over
the night of desolate widowhood it
watches with sympathizing care, and
comforts the stricken hearted mother
with the assurance that her fatherless
children will be protected and educated.
Having thus dwelt upon the princi
ples and tendencies of our order, let us
pass to notice briefly one or two of the
objections urged against it by outsiders ;
and first, of its secrecy.
Ring what changes you may upon
the suspiciousness of secrecy, the ten
dency of evil to seek darkness and
mystery, and of good to come to the
light that it may be manifest, still you
will hardly contend that secrecy is
in itself and necessarily a proof of evil.
We are secret (as every family is, or
should be) in regard. to the personal
affairs of any member, which are sub
mitted to us for counsel, aid, admoni
tion, rebuke or punishment. They are
his secrets, not ours much less the
world's. Would that there were far
more domestic secret societies, and less
of gossips slanderous tongue.
We are secret (as Christ's followers
are commanded to be) in bestowment
of donations to distressed brethren or
their families. Unfeeling indeed must
be the prying soul, that would insult
the relieved by publishing their poverty
in boasting of his own charity.
We are secret (as every banker and
business man is secret) in our modes
of ascertaining whether a stranger ap
nlicani !s a partner is t?e fur.de. a
- - 1
portion of whieh he is about to with
draw. Each batik or merchant has
secret signs, by which he knows wheth
er the draft presented him is genuine.
We have signs and tokens by which to
know men, whether they are genuine
Odd Fellows, whether they are entitled
to receive what they ask.
We are secret in our forms and cere
monies of initiation, and the use of
our emblems, in the instruction of our
members. This use renders the les
sons more impressive; and to discloso
the mode of teaching, would deprive
the instruction of the charm of novel
ty, and impair its efficienc'. That this
is the utmost extent of our secresv.
honest and truthful men of all denomi
nations among us are ready to testify.
These secrets then belong to no indi
vidual alone, and therefore no one has
a right to disclose them. They are the
ordeis only. They concern not the
world, and belong not to the public.
Why then should the public thus
strenuously oppose us upon the ground
of secresy alone? Xot only oppose,
but endeavor, by unfair moans, to ob
tain possession of those secret signs,
and expose them to others, by which
we guard the treasury of the depend
ent sick and distressed the widow
and the orphan. This disposition to
acquire and expose the secrets of oth
ers, is as wrong as any iniquity it seeks
to uncover. Yet there are persons
honest, high-minded people in all else
who have allowed this spirit so far
to govern them, that they condemn
without evidence, every so-called secret
society and pry into its private affairs,
and encourage others to expose them
to the public. Surely such conduct
must arise from a want of due consid
eration of what is due to their own
character as honest, decent men. Such
anti-secrecy people, to be consistent,
should have no secrets of their own,
and keep none confided to them by
their friends and families; should ex
pose their most private thoughts and
feelings to the public; relate their do
mestic conversations and conjugal en
dearments, expose purse, pocket-books,
and private papers at all times and
places; never vote a folded ticket, seal
a letter, receive secret advice, bestow
private alms, or offer secret prayer, for
if secrecy is wrong or proof of evil, all
these things are evil. We will only
add that strictly speaking Odd Fellow
ship is not a secret society. Our Con
stitution and Bv-Laws, our times and
places of meeting, the names of our of
ficers and members generally, the
amounts and source of our receipts, the
items of our expenditures, principles
and objects, the proceedings generally
of all National and State Grand bodies,
all theso are as public as those of any
Legislature, or other public depart
ment in the country. As well, there
fore, might you call any individual or
family, the United States Senate, or
President's Cabinet, or a grand jury, or
the official boards of our churches alt
of w'hom have secrets a secret society,
merely because we have secrets.
Aside from our secrecy, we have
been branded as "an oath bound asso
ciation, whose memliers are obligated
by bloody penalties, to favor each other
wrongfully, ad to punish violations of
those obligations in some severe and
terrible manner; yet there is not a sin
gle obligation administered among us
inconsistent with any duty we owe to
elf, family, country, mankind, or to
our Creator. All the aid we are to
render each other is, and must be, with
in the limits of strict humanity and
patriotism, of morality and religion.
We invoke no jenalty on life or limb,
person or property; nothing but the
social and moral consequences which
follow the violation of any similar
pledge of honor among the rest of man
kind; consequently no one among us
is bound, in any way to revenge any
revelation which an unworthy mem
ber may make. Oaths are unknown in
our order, and, speaking from experi
ence. I can say that I have passed
every gradation of Odd Fellowship
from the initiatory to the Royal Fur
pie, and have never been called upon
to take a single oath.
It is also urged by many against our
order that it comes in contact with the
claims of the church, and creates con
flicting duties. The order of Odd Fel
lows is composed of christians of all
denominations. They all acknowledge
individually the authority of the
church, and in the most perfect obedi
ence they unite to do precisely what
the teachings of the church command
to be done. Singly they could not ef
fect as much good as when united.
The fact is the church makes no spe
cific provision in any of its branches,
for the performance of the duties in
which Odd Fellowship engages: it
does not, in any of the eects. or de
nominations, make provision for their
discharge. Where has it made provis
ion for the sick member of its com
munion, furnishing watchers by tjeir
bed every night, for months, supplying
them with money to procure the nec
essaries and often the delicacies of life ?
What provision has it made for the
support of the widow the education
of the orphan ? What provision has it
made to take care of the sick stranger,
and in death to give him decent burial ?
Where are the- provisions ? None such
exist; there is no systematic plan in
the church enforced pan its members
by discipline. All the conflict our or
der can have with the chnjech i to re
r-roTe.iti.ara. It my t-Tiis a:;
mstnVnrent to provoke the church to
actiVity, by showing whnt a mere hu-"
man society can do.
Should all our deeds be left lyidone'
because a few will murnrur? Is it
right? is it proper to feed the hungry,
to clothe the naked, to visit the sick?'
is it right to bury the dead, protect tho"
widow and educate tho orphan ? Who
will say it is wrong to do these things?'
What is Odd Fellowship but associated1
action in the performance of theso du"
ties? Associated action is a principle"
of power and might; direct it we may,'
destroy it wo cannot Like steam, if
confined in iron bonds, it will burst its'
fetters, and scatter death and destrue-
tion abroad; and yet like a well brokm1
horse it may be harnessed and driven
in safety. Men will associate. If
their association be not turned to the
amelioration of human woe to plans'
for the moral and social elevation of
mankind it will be seized upon by
the factious and discontented, the li-"
ccntious and the vile, as a potent en-"
gine to overturn tho social and reli
gious institutions which now serve to'
check their excesses. W ill men, under'
the influence of the social principle,
eek the bar-room the gambling hell?'
Give them some other attractive place'
of assembly, where virtuous thoughts,
moral habits, will become chosen
themes ahd preferred practices. Will '
they unite in secret clubs, to agitato'
treason, and seek to unsettle govern-'
ment and society? Unite them by the
charm of secrecy, to works of mercy
and benevolence. God has sanctioned
this principle by association in th 1 n"
stitution of his holy church. Elevated
above the discords of earth, uninilu- '
enced by the changeful policy of time'
is to constitute one vast association
designed to concentrate the actions of
its myriad members into the effective
unitv of one catholic bodv. When thir
perfection is attained minor associ.v
t nrta will rrf 1 ia iiaoJaiI
, w.av ri as itTwUUU
mm vs I tv " VA J f S UVV1VI Of
principles and tendencies of Odd Fel'
lowship. That there will be opposi
tion, is to be expected, for what that is
lovely or of good report, has ever es-'
caped the sneer and the scowl of th'
gloomy Pharisee. Like the still, small'
voice upon the ear of the prophet,
when the wind, and the fire, and the
earfbquake had passed. Odd Fellow
ship, the noiseless spirit of benevolence'
and love, has trained its children to
follow in the path of desolation andf
affliction, whispering peace, and bind-"
ing in the golden bonds of Friendship
Love and Truth the sheaves left stand-'
ing in the fields over which death and
sorrow, and the great reaper has
passed. Look over the field of our ap-'
propriate labor for the evidence of
these works. See yon stricken widow,
bowed down and sorrowful; the hope"
of her heart is quenched. But there
is a change ; an arm of affection is cast
around her; a hand of love has wiped'
away her tears. That arm was our
order; that hand an Odd Fellows. See'
your orphan, with no earthly parent
to watch over him; no mother to ca
ress and wipe away his burning tears, no '
shelter for his defenceless head. Look !
an arm is cast around him; he is shel
tered and cared for; his darkness is
gone ! his mind and heart are cultivated
and his glistening eye tells of grati
tude and love.
The true Odd Fellow is out in tha
field gathering the ready harvest; in'
the workshop, laying his strong hand
to the anvil, tho loom and the forge ;:
in the counting house, employed in the
pursuits of professional labor. lie is
home fulfilling the duties of parent,
husband; gladdening the hearth and
the board by the virtue of the social
spirit. He is by the bed of sickness,
wiping the moist brow and cooling the
parched lips; he is in sorrowful places,
ministering to poverty and comforting
affliction, and relieving distress.
Brethren, let us go on, unfurling the
white banner of our order giving it
proudly to the breeze till its trium
phant folds intertwine and become
blended with the stars and stripes vt
the freeman's hope and home; till op
pression break his sceptre, war be
crushed on his harness; "till man is
bound in brotherhood to man" till
tears are changed to smiles and groans
to benedictions then shall one law
bind all .nations, tongues and creeds,
and that law shall be the law of univer
sal brotherhood.
The word skedaddle, the writer had
always Supposed to be slang of the
worst type. An article, however, upc::
the word says that it may be readily
traced to a Greek origin and that
Thucydides and Herodotus frequently
use the word in speaking of a routed
army.
The Swedes and Danes hive a sfc".tr
word oearing the same signification
An old version of the Irish New Teta
ment 5ontain the passage: "I will
smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall
be sgedad ol (all scattered). This word
was probably used by some, Iriahiuao
at Bull Run, and being very expressive,
was soon taken up by every one.
Griddle cake sociables arr raging in
Iowa.
A Ann at Decatur, I1U m e f 22
milea.of itwila Baakirrg 6,0jaj3C
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the drwTjot.q:,a