THE I. O. 0. F. CELEBRATION.

From the Shelby News of May 15, 1844-by request.

MR. EDITOR:-Festivals and celebrations indicate best the tone of public feeling; and the mode of their reception indicate best the estimate placed by the community on the events, institutions or principles designed to be commemorated. If this maxim be true, we may fairly conclude, that the philanthropic and benevolent institution of Odd-Fellows has been introduced in our community under very favourable auspices, by the very beautiful, interesting and appropriate celebration of the Order, held in our village on Monday, May 6th. We were peculiarly interested by the order and method, with which the procession was conducted; the richness and beauty of the regalia worn by the members; the cordial and fraternal feeling exhibited by the brethren; and, indeed, the spirit which pervaded the whole procedure. And presuming some sketch would not be uninteresting to some of your readers, who had not the pleasure of witnessing it, we will lay before you a brief outline of the proceedings of the day.

And as a preliminary observation, let me congratulate the Order in this place upon the large number of their visiting brethren who attended from Louisville, Frankfort, Danville, &c.-numbering, with the members of Howard Lodge, about seventy members, who joined in procession. Their whole conduct whilst in our village shewed to our citizens that they were men of high standing and great worth-ornaments to society, and valuable members of community.

At eleven in the morning, after having organized at the Hall, (which is tastefully and appropriately fitted up,) the procession, preceded by the enlivening strains of the Amphion Band, proceeded to the eastern limits of the village, and made a most imposing appearance-eliciting ejaculations of interest and admiration from the very numerous assemblage of spectators which crowded our streets. They thence proceeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church, where they were entertained by very pithy, cogent and eloquent addresses by Messrs. Todd and Hill, in which the bearing, design and objects of the institution were ably and satisfactorily set forth, and a most able defence was presented to the objections urged against the Order. And we must not here omit to mention the very animating and enlivening effect produced by the delightful strains of vocal music, appropriately prepared for the occasion, by the Choir in attend

ance.

After the conclusion of the services at the church, the procession again formed, and proceeded to the western limits of the village; thence to the "Redding House," and partook of a sumptuous entertainment, gotten up with the usual liberality and good taste of its host.

After an hour spent in luxuriating on the viands spread before them, and in a mutual interchange of social and fraternal feeling, the procession again formed and proceeded to the hall.

In the evening, the members of the Order, with a very large number

of the citizens, attended the Concert at the College Chapel, by the Amphion Band;-and here, Mr. Editor, I must express my satisfaction at the full attendance, and the disposition manifested by the community to pa tronize and encourage the spirited and energetic exertions of the young gentlemen, who compose the band. Their music was most excellent, and their attainments in the science of music is said to be rapid and laudably progressive; and their existence will contribute much to the pleasures and enjoyments of the community.

The Odd-Fellows closed their celebration of the day by proceeding in form to the "Farmer's House," and partaking of a superb collation served up for them by the proprietor, Mr. H. S. Hastings.

In conclusion, I deem it but a just meed of praise to say, that the Order were happy in the selection of their Marshals; than Messrs C. S. Wolford, J. C. Bull, and W. G. Rogers, no men could have performed better the duties of the responsible and arduous position; nor none have elicited more universal approbation. Indeed, the whole affair was an unusually enlivening scene, and broke in very happily upon the monotony of our village life. The occasional recurrence of such celebrations have a healthful influence on the community.

A CITIZEN.

SHELBYVILLE, May 6, 1844.

To the Officers and Members of Howard Lodge,
No. 15, I. O. O. F., Shelbyville, Ky.

The committee to whom was assigned the duty of making arrangements for the celebration, &c. of the Lodge on the 6th day of this month, beg leave respectfully to report that, pursuant to previous notice, the members of the Order met at "Odd-Fellows' Hall," at half past 10 o'clock, A. M. when the procession was formed, under the direction of P. G. John C. Bull, Chief Marshall, assisted by Wm. G. Rogers, of Howard Lodge, and Grand Marshal Charles S. Wolford, of Louisville, and marched to the Methodist Episcopal Church, where the following exercises were performed, &c., and listened to by a very large and attentive concourse of ladies and gentlemen:

1st. CHORUS by the Choir.

2d. PRAYER by Rev. D. C. Procter.

3d. AN ODE-composed by Bro. J. H. Macmichael, of Natchez.

4th. ADDRESS-by Bro. I. Shelby Todd.

5th.

6th.

SONG-composed by Miss E. C. Hurley, of New York.
ADDRESS-by Bro. Walter F. Hill.

7th. ORPHAN'S HYMN-composed by Rev. Bro. J. N. Maffitt.
8th.

BENEDICTION by Rev. Bro. J. G. Bruce.

After the services at the church had closed, the procession was formed and marched to the "Redding House," where a sumptuous free dinner, upon strictly temperance principles, was served to the members of the Order, the Amphion Band and Choir, who kindly officiated for us at the church and while in procession. After dinner the procession again formed and proceeded to the hall.

In the evening, the members of the Order went in procession to Bro.

Henry S. Hastings', where a very handsome free supper was served to the members of the Order, after which an appropriate address was delivered by Grand Representative Tal. P. Shaffner, Esq., expressive of the pleasure he and his brethren of Louisville had derived from their visit to Shelbyville, and the hospitable manner in which they had been entertained. Dr. Wm. T. Knight, of Howard Lodge, replied briefly and eloquently, and the company dispersed in "Friendship, Love and Truth."

The procession was large-numbering about 70. We were pleased to see all the Lodges of Louisville, and the Lodges of Frankfort, Danville and Lancaster represented. Among the visitors we were rejoiced to see M. W. G. M. Wm. Mathews, D. G. M. John B. Hinkle, G. S. P. M. Jones, G. W. George Blanchard, G. T. E. V. Bunn, and many other distinguished members of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.

After the services of the day were ended, the Lodge unanimously adopted the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the thanks of the members of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows be, and they are hereby tendered to our Bros. HILL and TODD for the appropriate addresses this day delivered by them, and that the N. G. and V. G. be a committee to solicit the brothers to furnish copies for publication.

Resolved, further, That the thanks of the members of the Order be tendered by the N. G. to the members of the Amphion Band for their kindness in furnishing music on this day.

Resolved, further, That the thanks of the members of the Order be tendered by the N. G. to the young Ladies and Gentlemen who kindly volunteered their services to conduct the music in the church on this day.

Resolved, further, That the thanks of the members of the Order be tendered by Bro. P. G. Bull to Mr. Redding for the hospitable manner in which he entertained the brothers on this day.

Resolved, further, That the thanks of the members of Howard Lodge, No. 15, be, and they are hereby most cordially tendered to the brethren who on this occasion have visited us for the purpose of aiding in the celebration of this day; that the brotherly feeling evinced by them for the members of this Lodge finds its suitable response in our hearts.

Resolved, further, That the thanks of the members of this Lodge be, and they are hereby tendered to the Methodist Episcopal Church for the use of their house on the day of our celebration.

Resolved, further, That the thanks of the members of this Lodge be, and they are hereby tendered to Bro. Henry S. Hastings for the handsome collation furnished to the members of this Lodge and their visiting brethren on the evening of this day.

The report and resolutions were unanimously adopted, and, on motion, ordered that the committee request their publication in the Shelby News.

W. F. HILL, S. H. L.

A PERILOUS SITUATION.

CAPTAIN CROW, in his Memoirs, relates the following perilous adventure:-"One afternoon, when we were ten to twelve hundred miles from any land, and were sailing at the rate of seven or eight knots, the alarm was given that the ship was on fire in the after-hold. I was in the cabin at the time, and springing upon deck, the first persons I saw were two young men with their flannel shirts blazing on their backs; at the same time I perceived a dense cloud of smoke issuing from below, and looking round me, I found the people in the act of cutting away the stern and quarter boats, that they might abandon the vessel. At this critical juncture I had the presence of mind to exclaim, in an animated tone, 'Is it possible, my lads, that you can desert me at a moment when it is your bounden duty, as men, to assist me?' And observing them hesitate, I added, 'Follow me, my brave fellows! and we shall soon save the ship.' These few words had the desired effect, for they immediately rallied, and came forward to assist me. To show them a proper example, I was the first man to venture below, for I thought of the poor blacks entrusted to my care, and who could not be saved in the boats, and I was determined, rather than desert them, to extinguish the fire, or perish in the attempt. When we got below, we found the fire blazing with great fury on the starboard side, and as it was known to the crew that there were forty-five barrels of gunpowder in the magazine, within about three feet only of the fire, it required every possible encouragement on my part to lead them on to extinguish the rapidly increasing flames. When I first saw the extent of the conflagration, and thought of its proximity to the powder, a thrill of despair ran through my whole frame; but by a strong mental effort I suppressed my disheartening feelings, and only thought of active exertion, unconnected with the thought of imminent danger. We paused for a moment, struggling, as it were, to determine how to proceed. Very fortunately for us our spare sails were stowed close at hand. These were dragged out, and, by extraordinary activity, we succeeded in throwing them over the flames which they so far checked, that we gained time to obtain a good supply of water down the hatchway, and in the course of ten or fifteen minutes, we extinguished the flames. Had I hesitated only a few minutes on deck, or had I not spoken encouragingly to the people, no exertions whatever could have saved the ship from being blown up, and as the catastrophe would most probably have taken place before the hands could have left the side in the boats, perhaps not a soul would have survived to tell the tale. I hope, therefore, I shall be excused in assuming to myself more credit (if indeed credit be due) for the presence of mind by which I was actuated on this occasion, than for any thing I ever did in the course of my life. The accident I found was occasioned by the ignorance and carelessness of the two young men whose clothes I had seer. burning on their backs; through the want of regular officers they had been entrusted to draw off some rum from a store cask, and who, not knowing the danger to which they exposed themselves and the ship, had taken down a lighted candle, a spark from which had ignited the spirit.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

THE subject of education as an adjunct to the great purposes of OddFellowship is one to which the attention of our brotherhood cannot be too often or too earnestly directed. To relieve the distressed, succour the disconsolate and educate the orphan, what nobler cause could prompt the energies of our beloved Order? Education has been well said to be the "guardian of liberty and the bulwark of morality." The day has come when the light of this inestimable blessing is being shed abroad through. out our happy land illuminating the darkest sections of the country, and dispelling ignorance every where even among the most destitute and friendless of our race. Let not the efforts of a brotherhood whose high moral aim has been so successfully exerted to elevate the character and comfort the need of its votaries be withheld from this beautiful handmaid of thechiefest virtue." Let it be remembered that there can be in the holy office of educating the children of our deceased brethren no sting, no wound to the most delicate or refined sensibility. Such schools are no charity schools-they must be established upon the same principles which characterise our ministrations to our sick and disabled brethren, so that the orphan will occupy the same position as the parent, begging not as a boon the blessing of education at our hands, but demanding as a right a participation in the advantages of that institution to which the parent in his lifetime contributed his subscription, and to the accumulation of which he may have devoted his time, talents and untiring zeal.

Our Order is for the most part composed of the industrial classes of our fellow-citizens, whose life is and has been generally speaking occupied in laborious efforts for the support and maintenance of their families, and whose legacy to their offspring seldom exceeds the good name and example of their parents. Children thus cast upon the world if permitted to pass on into maturing life without the benefit of education, not unfrequently grow up a burthen to themselves and to the country which gave them birth, when if the interposing agency of Odd-Fellowship was at hand, to train them to virtue and wisdom, by the force, influence and teachings of education, they would become ornaments to society at large, useful citizens and bright examples of the redeeming character of our beloved Orde. The life of man is at best but short, and it has been estimated that in every ten or fifteen years the great body of the youth of the country are passing into manhood and taking the place of those of the generation that