into Gaul. We cannot doubt but that there were many secret societies in Egypt; as her innumerable pyramids, her subterraneous galleries, her hieroglyphics, her mystic rites and sublime ceremonies, testify. There are other proofs, which might be adduced, to establish the antiquity of our Order, were it important. But, since we cannot hold to the principle, that the long existence of an institution is positive proof of its intrinsic value, or that no institution should be sustained, because it has not stood the test of ages, we pass on, to notice the improvement of our Order, as time rolled on in its mighty course, developing the signal revolutions which have taken place in science, morals, religion and the explosion of antiquated prejudice. Odd-Fellowship, which appeared so imperfect in olden times, like the rude marble from the quarry, is now fashioned into shape and beauty; and, aided by the lights of knowledge, and the powerful and heavenly influences of the Christian Religion, its votaries are enabled to present it, so purified, and refined, that it cannot fail to win the admiration, and command the respect, of every intelligent community. It has progressed most extensively in Europe. Its blessed influences have been felt in the mitigation of the miseries of men in England, France, Russia, Prussia, and Austria; and the Order occupies the most exalted station in the judgment of the most enlightened men of those countries. The Grand Lodge of Great Britain includes in its jurisdiction upwards of 4,000 Lodges, containing 250,000 regular members, appropriating, annually, to the cause of Charity, more than one million of dollars. Here is a strong proof, of the sympathy of those good men for the needy and distressed; as also, a practical exemplification of the benevolence of the Order. Its progress in this country is even more astonishing than in any other. Twenty-five years since, there were but five Odd-Fellows to be found in the United States! Now, they number over fifty thousand!— Like the small spark of Liberty, which, at one time, glowed only in the breasts of a few individuals, hut quickly caught into a flame that cemented the whole American people, Odd-Fellowship need only be planted here, until in a few years, its wide spread branches stretch themselves over this whole continent, whose fruit giveth nourishment and comfort to thousands in want and distress. There is something in our soil, in our political and religious institutions, peculiarly adapted to an association such as ours. The government of our Order is not unlike that of our country.-Organized with a view to moral cultivation, and the relief of physical evil, it proceeds upon the great principle of Equality,-disregarding all the artificial distinctions of society, and placing all its members upon one and the same level. It is only by means of social communion and equality, that we can hope to bring into healthful exercise sympathy, friendship, and all the finer feelings and affections of the soul. The uninitiated and uninformed may think, that the rites and ceremony, together with the symbols, emblems and tokens, are all for vain pomp and show; but there is nothing superfluous; nothing that does not teach a val uable moral; and all shadowing forth, so beautifully and clearly, the principles of the Order that they are indelibly fixed upon the mind. Although much has been written and spoken, concerning the principles and designs of Odd-Fellowship, and, notwithstanding the vast amount of good it is daily dispensing, all over the country, there are those who would have it put down, because some of its proceedings are secret! We answer this objection, by saying, that there are examples of secrecy to be found in every relation of society. Taking the religion of the Bible first, we might instance many passages which inculcates secrecy, and judge thereby it is right. Solomon says: "He that is of a faithful spirit concealeth secrets." In another place, we find this saying: "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?" "Great is the mystery of Godliness!" saith Paul. Here are secrets in the Bible; and, yet, what Christian would refuse the consolations of Religion, because he cannot see the workings of that Holy Spirit, whose blessed influences comfort his soul, in the season of affliction, and cheer his mind in the hour of death? The church has its secrets.-How often do we find the doors of the Assembly, the Conference, and the Association closed, and none can enter but a member? Our Federal Government acts upon this principle. In the first article of the U. S. Constitution, it is provided, that each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings; and from time to time publish the same, except such parts, as in their judgment, may require secrecy." It is one of the charms of the domestic circle-and how much are the pleasures of the fire-side heightened by it?-here, where the best affections are brought into full exercise; here, where all is confidence and love;-but, let the eye of the world fix its rude gaze here, and how soon is it stripped of its sweetest pleasures. The principle is virtuous, when considered in these relations; it is equally so when applied to Odd-Fellowship. It is an established fact, that the applicants for charity will increase, as the means for obtaining that charity are rendered more easy: and, so long as there exists charitable societies, there will spring up a class of men, who, knowing the ease with which they can obtain aid from these institutions, will indulge in idleness, drunkenness and debauchery, bringing want and misery upon themselves; men who are lost to every sense of honor or decency; who go about to feed upon that charity which was intended for the deserving alone. To protect us against the intrusions of this class of men, we have our signs of recognition, which are known to none but the Order-which are all the secrets we have, and which forms an insurmountable barrier to all impostors. Behind this bulwark, like a well disciplined army, have we entrenched ourselves, and none can enter our threshold, but he that hath the watchword. Thus we can go forth, in our labour of love, in security; dispensing our charity to the deserving brother, first; then, to his family, and to the community at large. Here is necessity for secrecy; and we will be fully justified, if the subject is rightfully considered. Believe me, that we do not enjoin secrecy as a cloak, to hide our sins, or any sinister designs upon society, or government, which the world may charge us with. We do it to render ourselves the more secure in the practice of those virtues, which adorn the character of every good Odd-Fellow. Our Order is said to be a relict of feudalism; that it answered the purposes for which it was instituted, in olden times, and may have been the means of doing much good; but that in this day of light and knowledge, in this land of liberty and plenty, there is no necessity for such an association. A learned writer has laid it down, as an incontrovertable fact, "that civilization is the true destiny of man, inasmuch as it is the means of de veloping the highest capacities of his nature; and that we cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that one of its necessary, and most striking results, is a great inequality in condition; and in proportion as it advances the more gross and glaring does this inequality become." The wants of the savage Indian are but few and simple; and his reliance for their satisfaction is chiefly upon his own efforts. His food is the flesh of wild animals, taken in the chase; his raiment their skins; he slakes his thirst in the nearest running stream, and constructs, with his own hand, the rude shelter which protects him from the storm. Not so in civil society. Where men are congregated together in large masses, artificial wants are created and multiplied. Look at your large and populous cities, where civilization and wealth most abound? See there, the pomp, the refinement, the luxury, the ease, all the comforts which wealth can bring, all the pleasures which knowledge can bestow! See there, also, the poverty, the privation, the suffering, the squalid, wasting want! What inequality exists! an inequality which the Government, nor the laws, cannot correct. Wants which can only be satisfied by charitable societies. Our Order seeks to correct the evils which flow from such a state of things, founded, as we have before stated, upon the broad platform of Equality. The publication of our Constitution and Laws, the beneficial results to society of our benevolence, and the many good and pious men who are our most prominent members, all testify, that the institution is designed to promote the happiness of mankind. In becoming an Odd-Fellow we become better men, better citizens, better christians. Carry out the principles of our Order-let them be extended throughout all society, and who can tell the results?-The whole community, formed together in one brotherhood for mutual protection against casualties incident to mortality, -administering to each other in time of sickness and distress-assisting the widow and the orphan!-To bring to pass such a state of things as this, we may well invoke the prayers of Christians, the efforts of the Philanthropist, the songs of the Virgins. How striking is the contrast of such benevolent associations as oursfeeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and teaching obedience to the laws of God and man,-when compared with such societies as the "Illuminati" of Germany and France, the "Carbonari" of Naples and the "Rosa Crusians," or "Brothers of Exalted Dew," who directed their efforts and vast resources, not to the promulgation of moral virtue, but to teaching licentiousness, unsheathing the dagger, and subverting Governments? And yet, strange to tell, these societies received the sanctionnay, the support of the Nobility of Europe, whilst our closely allied sister Masonry, by a statute enacted in the reign of Henry 7th, in England, was made felony, persecuted century after century in Spain, France, Germany, Russia and Italy and as late as the year 1825, it was punished by death in Spain!—and, stranger still is the fact, that in our own beloved land, emphatically, "the home of the oppressed,"--secret orders have been considered a national evil; and, as a consequence, many good and great men have been sacrificed upon her political altars. We have been pained to observe, a few weeks back, in the Boston papers, that a certain Rev. Mr. Colver, of the Baptist Denomination of Christians, has engaged in a pseudo crusade against Odd-Fellowship. His prominent objection, seems to be, that Odd-Fellowship is not as comprehen sive as it might be; or, in other words, because it does not make all its members good Christians, and does not do as much good as it might. All this, we admit. It is not as comprehensive as it might be.-Nothing that man can do is perfect. It does not make all its members Christians,-it does not claim to do this; but we claim that every act of charity it performs is a Christian duty; and every object it has in view is calculated to advance Christianity: and the man of God, who has the spread of moral principles and the good of his fellow-man at heart, should be the last to persecute Odd-Fellowship. This opposition, we are persuaded, is the result of a depraved public sentiment; and he who, in this day, with so many results of the benign influences of our Order before his eyes, and without acquainting himself with its principles and designs, would rise up and proclaim it an evil, exhibits a character fit only for the association of bosoms from whence every generous impulse has been removed, and where a wild and furious fanaticism reign alone. We are bold to assert, that there is not a principle of our Order, which does not tend to the spread of moral, political and social virtue. In the practice of these principles we make no sacrifice of our duty to our God, to our country, or to ourselves. We are fulfilling a Divine injunction, when we visit the sick, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and administer to our neighbor in distress. We are increasing the strength of our political union, when we teach obedience to her laws, when we unite her citizens in the strong bonds of Friendship, Love, and Truth,-ever ready, should civil dissensions threaten our union, to heal, to defend, and to save. We should like to speak, separately, of the beauties of each of the fundamental principles of our Order; but we give way to the worthy brother who has also been selected to address you. Permit us, however, to allude to the practice of educating the orphan children. It is truly one of the most beautiful features in our whole system of charity. When we visit the sick brother, administer to his wants, smooth his dying pillow, and conduct his remains to their last resting place, we turn not away, and shew to the world that our affection for him has been buried with his remains; but, if he has left children, the parting with whom increased the pang of death, we turn to take them by the hand, lead them to the temple of education, store their minds with useful knowledge, and bid them go forth to honor and distinction. There is a fund set apart specially for this purpose; and the Order can now boast of their Orphan Schools in most of the large cities of the East; and hundreds are thus taken from obscurity, to whom the lights of knowledge had shined in vain, but for the broad charities of our Order. LADIES: We cannot close without expressing to you the gratification we feel in having your presence to-day. The prominent part you have taken, in all the benevolent operations of the day, induce us to believe, you have not come hither for idle curiosity; but to learn of the principles of our Order, and wish us a "God speed." It cannot be otherwise, since the main pillar in our temple is woman's attribute-Charity! Charity!And, although we have provided no place for you in our inner temple, it is not for the want of respect or gallantry. You have your peculiar field of duty assigned you.-The honors of our Order, the richness of our regalia, nor, even our charity, can add one single charm to your loveliness. This institution is dedicated to the orphan and widow. You have an interest here a lasting interest; and we are encouraged by your approbation. Brethren: A word to you, and we have done; you have a wide field for operation. The rapid increase in your numbers has attracted the attention of the whole community. The cause in which you are engaged is a noble one-worthy your every effort. Worthy the age and nation in which you live. Go on, then, in the good work, which you have begun. The monuments you shall rear, in the grateful recollection of the recipients of your charity, will far outlast any which have been erected to the Monarch or the Conqueror. Live up to the principles of the Order,— your power will be irresistible,-your triumph complete. ODD-FELLOWS' CELEBRATION-GREAT TURN OUT OF THE LADIES-BOQUETS-WREATHS, &c. THE celebration of the 5th anniversary of Odd-Fellowship in Connecticut, by Uncas Lodge, No. 11, of this city, took place on Tuesday of last week. The day was pleasant-not a cloud obscured the horizon-and the rain, which fell during the preceding night, settled the dust so that no inconvenience was experienced while on the line of march. At an early hour, the steamer Angelina arrived from New London, with about one hundred members of the Order belonging to Thames Lodge, No. 9, of that city, and Unity Encampment, No. 4, accompanied by a large number of ladies and citizens generally. A brass band of music also accompanied the members of the Order from New London. The fine appearance of the members of Thames Lodge was a subject of general remark. Dressed in full regalia, which was of the nicest material and finish, the procession, as it passed over the Rail Road bridge from the boat, attracted much attention and admiration. It being the first public exhibition of Odd-Fellows in regalia, ever made in this city, a large concourse of people assembled about the landing place, to catch a first view of the insignial banners, &c. of the Order The members of Thames Lodge were escorted by the brass band to their quarters, the Franklin House. At 9 o'clock, the members of Uncas Lodge met at their Hall in Shetucket street, from whence they proceeded, in full regalia, escorted by the Boston Brass Band, to Main street, down Main to the junction of Water street, where the members of Palmyra Encampment joined the procession which then proceeded up Main street to Franklin square, and was joined by the members of Thames Lodge, Unity Encampment, and such members of the Order as were present from various Lodges in and out of the State. The procession then advanced in the following order :-P. M. Judson, P. G., Marshal. Boston Brass Band. |