By Charles Siders, of Covenant Lodge The Odd-Fellows of Boston-they number nearly 3,000 of its legal voters, who, in the language of the fathers of our city, are unknown to the laws. May the day be far distant, when by the promulgation of the principles of our Order, we shall need any better acquaintance with the laws. By A. Guild, D. D. G. S.-Thomas Wildey, the father of American Odd-Fellowship-May the evening of his life be as serene as its meridian was brilliant in the cause of the Order. By M. W. G. Sire Hopkins Massachusetts-her sons were pioneers in the cause of liberty; they struck the first blow to resist oppression. Steady in her habits, she has again put forth her strength, resisted oppression and planted the standard of Odd-Fellowship upon the sure foundation of Friendship, Love and Truth. By Bro. Thomas Greene. The Indians-who destroyed the Tea in Boston Harbor-the first Lodge of Odd-Fellows, who ever met in Fanueil Hall, in full regalia, and kept their secret. By Bro. T. Prince. The Odd-Fellowship Press-The Ark of the Covenant, in which is deposited the Golden Rule, binding every Independent Odd-Fellow to the practice of the virtues of which the rites of the Order are Symbols. By Bro. Perkins. Our illustrious Guests-We are proud to greet you on this glorious occasion; may your declining years be as peaceful to you, as your earlier years have been useful in the glorious Institution of which you were its earliest founders. By T. Prince. Our Host-Wright has done the right thing for us in his dinner rites; may we in return do the right thing for Wright. Å Volunteer. The effect produced on Odd-Fellowship by Mr. Colver's Lectures. A fair specimen of good coming out of evil. A Volunteer. Odd-Fellows-Their oddity consists in their standing several degrees higher than the rest of the world. A Volunteer. The Rev. Mr. Colver's assault upon Odd Fellowship.-He has come off with the same signal success and triumph that a certain old Spanish Knight did in his celebrated assault upon a windmill. By Bro. J. B. Frost. Our Illustrious Guests-May their visit prove as pleasant to them as it has proved profitable to us. By Bro. J. A. Cummings. Odd-Fellowship-Her principles pure, her deeds praiseworthy, her prosperity unparalleled, her name Legion. A number of other meritorious sentiments were offered, and the largest amount of good fellowship was evinced by the large assembly. The Boston Post closes its account of the proceedings by remarking that, "after some three hours spent in the enjoyment of the good things of the earth, and the interchange of cordial congratulations and fraternal sentiments, and the expression of feelings of mutual sympathy and friendship from all parts of the hall, "Auld lang syne" was sung, and the company broke up. From the Yankee Blade, (Me.) ODD-FELLOWS' CELEBRATION. THE glorious anniversary of our national independence was celebrated at Augusta by SABATTIS, CUSHNOC, and NATAHNIS Lodges, with such members from other Lodges in the State as were able to be present, with great spirit and enthusiasm. We presume that we only give expression to the unanimous and decided feeling and opinion of all who united in the exercises, when we pronounce the celebration to have been in all its details one of the most brilliant and agreeable festivals in which they ever participated. We take pride in saying that, while the occasion was celebrated with all the enthusiasm which should hail the jubilee that commemorates a nation's deliverance from the arm of foreign oppression, it was unaccompanied by the exhibition of the customary scenes of drunkenness, riot, and debauch, which have so often in past times converted that anniversary into an instrument of public infamy and disgrace, and rendered the recollection of it humiliating to the pride of a people justly exulting in the privilege of self-government. The day, which had been ushered in by the firing of cannon, the ringing of bells, and other usual demonstrations of joy, was bewitchingly beautiful. The weather, from dawn to sunset, was almost elysian,-the sky being fanned by gentle breezes, and having just clouds enough to quench the rays of a scorching sun. At nine o'clock, the members of the Order met at Odd-Fellows' Hall, on State street, and after interchanging congratulations, and making some preliminary arrangements, formed in procession, with full regalia, under the direction of Br. FRANCIS DAVIS, Grand Marshal of the Day. The procession, escorted by the Augusta Brass Band, which ravished the ear with spirit-stirring strains, marched up State street, through Bridge and Summer streets to Winthrop street, thence through Winthrop, Orchard, and Bridge streets to State street, thence down State street as far as Water street, and thence back through State street to Rev. Dr. Tappan's Church. As soon as the procession had entered the house, a dense crowd of spectators followed after them, and filled the pews and aisles to overflowing. The galleries presented each a gorgeous group of bright and beautiful faces, wreathed in smiles that seemed to have been borrowed from the angels of heaven for the occasion. The exercises were commenced by a voluntary burst of music from the band. A fervent and appropriate prayer was then offered up to the throne of grace by Rev. Br. DREW of Augusta, principal Chaplain of the day. The following song, by JAMES MONTGOMERY, was then sung by the choir When Friendship, Love, &c. [Heretofore published in the Covenant.] This song having been finished, the Declaration of Independence was then read in a very eloquent manner by Br. J. D. Kinsman, P. G. of Ligonia Lodge, Portland, President of the Day. The following beautiful original Ode, by Br. BENJ. A. G. FULLER, N. G. of Sabattis Lodge, was next sung with much feeling and effect, by the choir, the touching pathos of whose tones sent a thrill to the heart of every Odd-Fellow who could appreciate good music: ORIGINAL ODE. CHORUS. Hail to bright Friendship and Truth from above! WIDELY the fame of our Order is spreading, Hail to bright Friendship and Truth from above! No longer the pilgrim, in foreign lands straying, Unheeded and cheerless, a stranger shall roam; For the warm hand of Friendship, a true heart betraying, Hail to bright Friendship and Truth from above! Beside the pale form of the feeble and dying Kind Sympathy watches, unwearied by care; Hail to bright Friendship and Truth from above! Gladly the desolate widow is telling Of comforts which Charity's hand doth bestow; With thanks to the source whence his blessings do flow. Our secrecy aims not to cloak our transgression, While Faith, by our emblem, e'er points the confession, The All-seeing Eye holds us ever in view. Hail to bright Friendship and Truth from above! Then wide let the fame of our Order be spreading, The President of the Day then introduced to the members of the Order Rev. E. H. CHAPIN, M. W. G. M., Mass., who chained the unwearied attention of an intellectual and refined audience for an hour and a quarter, by an oration of surpassing eloquence and power. Much as was expected from the ripe scholarship and vigorous intellect of the author, by all who had previously listened to him on similar occasions, the discourse outstripped in ability even the sanguine anticipations of his hearers. It was indeed a masterly exposition of the principles of Odd-Fellowship-full of striking remark and vivid illustration-and delivered with energy, distinctness, and effect. We have heard but few discourses, which contained more of sound argument, or more strength, point, terseness, and fascination of style. It was throughout liberal in sentiment, and free from political or sectarian bias; and we are confident it has done much to remove the groundless jealousies and prejudices which have existed in the minds of many against the Order, and to convince them that Odd-Fellowship is not on the one hand a mysterious and dangerous institution, nor on the other an idle collection of forms and ceremonies, designed to catch the eye and gratify an ostentatious vanity; but a system of practical benevolence, founded on the noblest impulses of our nature, and admirably adapted to the wants of humanity. Many an eye filled, as the speaker, with touching pathos, described the numerous forms of human wretchedness which the institution is calculated to prevent or relieve; and none in the crowded assembly were more deeply affected by the pictures he drew, than several old men whose locks had been silvered by the frosts of many winters. During the whole oration, the audience listened with the closest and most profound attention, and when he had concluded, the burst of delighted enthusiasm told how the hearts of hundreds leaped up as one to relieve themselves from a pressure of emotion that had become almost painfully intense. Benediction was then pronounced by Rev. Br. J. P. Weston, Chaplain of Natahnis Lodge, and the members of the Order, forming again in procession advanced to the green south of the Court House, where in a spacious and beautiful pavilion, tastefully decorated with evergreens, roses, and flowers, they sat down to a sumptuous repast, prepared by H. Johnson, Esq. of the Cushnoc House. About three hundred Odd-Fellows occupied places at the four long tables running through the tent. The loveliest and noblest of the sex also graced the occasion with their presence. The dinner was conducted on strictly temperance principles, and was got up in the highest style of professional excellence. The tables were covered with an endless profusion of luxuries and delicacies to tempt the fastidious appetite, and the abundant justice which was done to the various dishes spoke well for the taste and discrimination of Odd-Fellows. cloth having been removed, the President of the Day called up Br. D. C. WESTON, W. of Sabattis Lodge, who read the following regular toasts, each of which was received with enthusiastic and reiterated bursts of applause. Patriarch JOHN D. KINSMAN presided at the table, with his usual dignity, urbanity and ease, and felicitously introduced the toasts with a few spirited remarks. REGULAR TOASTS. The 1. The Independence of the U. S.!-By Faith hoped for! By Hope obtained! By Charity cemented. 2. The I. O. of O. F. of the U. S.-The dissemination of its principles is the greatest safeguard to the liberty of the Union whose Independence we this day celebrate. 3. Thomas Wildey-Father of our Order in the U. S.! Friendship, Love and Truth are impressed in every feature of his benign countenance. 4. The Grand Lodge of the State of Maine.-Let "Love" be the "Dirigo" upon its escutcheon. 5. Love.-The best part of our motto-for 'tis to the Ladies we owe it. 6. The Orator of the Day!-He has this day proved himself an OddFellow. May he live long and die a good Fellow. Responding to this sentiment, Rev. Br. CHAPIN said:-"I cannot reply to your sentiment by a speech, being so much fatigued by what I have done, and having still a work before me. Be assured I thank you for the kindness of its expression and for the enthusiasm with which you were pleased to receive it. Permit me to give "Odd-Fellowship in Maine.-On account of the intelligence, virtue and zeal of its members, we hail it as the mainspring of the Order." 7. Truth from Heaven! Friendship from man! Love from woman. 8. Father Adam!-The first Odd-Fellow. 9. The Signers of the Declaration of Independence!-They constituted a Lodge of Odd-Fellows by which George III and other Kings were initiated into the mysteries of civil and political liberty. 10. Odd-Fellows.-May they ever be mindful of the great truth, "Pure religion and undefiled is this, to visit the widow and the fatherless in their affliction, and keep themselves unspotted from the world." 11. The first American Lodge-formed in the city of Baltimore.-The grain of mustard seed has become a mighty tree, thick with leafy honors, and flinging its broad and grateful shadows alike over the hills of the North, and the sunny plains of the South. 12. The Pulpit.-Far be the time when in this State it shall be occupied by men, who shall so far desecrate its hallowed precincts, as to assail therefrom our ancient and honorable Institution-one of the most active and worthy handmaids of our blessed Religion. The President then introduced "the worthy Chaplain of Cushnoc Lodge," Rev. W. A. DREW, who, responding to this sentiment in behalf of the clerical brethren present, acknowledged the propriety of the restraint imposed upon the pulpit by the adoption of this toast, and hoped it might be effectual every where in preventing all assaults from that high bulwark of truth and righteousness against any institutions, under whatever names, that have brotherly love and charity as the objects of their organization Hostility from such a source must be as unnatural as it is unchristian.He rejoiced in the establishment of Odd-Fellowship, because it afforded a sanctuary for Friendship, Love and Truth to exist amongst persons otherwise too much alienated by the strifes of human selfishness; and he would conclude by proposing the following sentiment: The Altar of Odd-Fellowship.-"Odd," because to it are brought for high sacrifice, all personal alienations, political resentments, and sectarian animosities. May such an Oddity soon give universal harmony to the human Brotherhood. 13. Our Secrecy.-An open rebuke to the Pharisee of modern days, who stands crying aloud in the corners of the streets-and whose right hand doeth nothing that his left hand is not made freely acquainted with. 14. American Citizen.-A password to all nations of the earth. In calling for the last toast the President remarked, that the number fourteen was the limit to the regular toasts, as it corresponded to the number of Lodges in Maine. |