I. Does the institution of Odd-Fellowship possess any intrinsic excellence, and is it aimed at the promotion of human good?

To the initiated this question needs no reply; but to the uninitiated explanation is needed, and I answer in the affirmative. And it will be my purpose to show wherein and how.

1. It is founded on three great principles, which are the only true basis of all virtue, morality and religion in human society-Friendship, Love and Truth. Take these away, and virtue, and morality and religion become a mere name, an empty shadow, without either body or soul. And it is the design of the institution, in all its forms, ceremonies and rites, to impress these principles upon its members, and secure their practical observance in their intercourse with one another and the community. This every brother of the Order knows. Indeed, I may say, that a portion of the business of every Lodge meeting is the practical observance of these principles, not only in their intercourse with each other there, but in inquiring after the health and condition of all brothers. If such is the character of the institution, I ask-Has it not intrinsic excellence? This no body will deny. It is then worthy of our most earnest and persevering efforts to sustain and extend it in the community.

2. Not long since a worthy clergyman, in discoursing upon the characteristics of the present age, named as one of its most prominent features, the tendency to combinations. After naming several, all of which were aimed either at pecuniary gain or the promotion of party interests, he remarked, that such was the character of all combinations that now come into existence. They were low in their aims, and soulless in principle; and that a combination which should have for its object the promotion of honesty and integrity in business transactions, would be the wonder of the age. Now I undertake to say, that the institution of Odd-Fellowship is just such a combination. One of its leading aims is to secure honesty and fair dealing among its members. Any member guilty of dishonesty or trickery in trade is subject, upon complaint, either to reprimand, suspension or expulsion, according to the character and aggravation of the offence, and there is no escape. Beside this, no one thing is more diligently inquired into, when a candidate is proposed for initiation, than his character as a business man-his reputation for honesty and integrity in his dealings with his fellow-men. And for no one thing are candidates more frequently rejected, than the discovery of acts of treachery and dishonesty in their dealings. Many are the individuals that have been rejected, and their names had "immorality" written upon them, for this thing alone, when in every other respect, they would be regarded eminently worthy of being initiated into the Order. Thus it will be seen, that OddFellowship not only aims at making its members honest in their dealings, but is calculated to exert an influence upon the community in favor of honesty. And this is done not only by the example and personal, individual influence of the members of the fraternity, but by the whole might of the influence of the institution as an institution, or organized body.For it says to every man coming upon the stage of active life, if you wish to enjoy the benefits of the Order, and the privileges it confers, you must be a fair and honest man in your dealings with mankind, or you cannot secure them; and if once secured, you cannot retain them except by con

tinuing such a character. The institution therefore is a combination to promote honesty and integrity among men, in their pecuniary dealings.

3. The institution aims at bringing together men of the most discordant opinions, both political and religious, and uniting them in the bonds of charity and brotherly love. And such is the fact. While the institution is based upon the three fundamental principles of Christianity,-Friendship, Love and Truth, it embraces among its members those of all creeds, standing and professions in society, whose conduct entitles them, in the judgment of the world, to the character of honest and true men. Here is the farmer, the mechanic, the day laborer, the artizan, the merchant, the lawyer, the physician, the man of science, and the clergymen of all sects; the most humble private citizen and the most honored statesman, all are brought together in this institution on one common level as brothers, and bound to regard and treat each other as such. Here differences of religion, politics and stations in society are lost in brother, and are unknown to the initiated. No insidious distinctions are here permitted to exist, and no arrangments are made for the bestowment of our charities, which are calculated to remind the poor brother of his poverty. Benefits are guaranteed alike to rich and poor. Such being the nature and arrangements of the institution, all must see, that it is designed, and that its effect must be, to break down all conventional distinctions in society-all distinctions not founded in merit, and to bring men together on the common level of friends and brothers; to foster a broader charity in society, and secure a degree of union and good feeling which might not otherwise exist in the community. The blessings such a state of things is designed to secure to individuals, society, our common and beloved country, and the world, I need not undertake to point out, had I either time or space allowed me.

So much for the benefits the institution is calculated to confer upon society. To these I might add many others it secures to the individual members. But I must forbear, as I am extending this article much beyond my original design. Suffice it to say, that the institution is eminently charitable, so far as relates to its members especially. Its motto is-"Do good to all men, especially to the brotherhood." Here then, I pause and ask-Has not this institution the first requisite for its perpetuity and prosperity, intrinsic excellence, and the aim at the promotion of human good and happiness? This, I think nobody can deny, with the facts stated before them. And it is on this ground, we think it worthy our efforts to sustain and extend it.

II. Do the members of the fraternity of Odd-Fellows in any good degree conform to the principles of the institution, in their conduct and intercourse with one another and the world?

Good and useful as we regard our institution in its principles and designs, its prosperity and perpetuity must depend mainly upon the fidelity of its friends. But a direct answer to the question before us, might seem somewhat egotistical. I shall, therefore, leave each one to answer it for himself, and confine what few remarks I have to offer to the negative view, remarking by the way, that I suppose Odd-Fellows are very much like other men, and are as true to their principles as Christians are to their professions. The reason why I take this view of the subject, is, that it is more for our interests to know our defects, than to congratulate ourselves or one another upon our excellencies. In one of the exposures of the

Order, which its author and his friends anticipated would afford an opportunity, of which they were desirous, for "thousands of the members' to "come out and acknowledge its truth," the worst thing he has made out by alleged facts, is, that "the religious spirit which seems to flow through their degrees is regarded by few, if any, of the members. Religion is often made a cloak to the vilest hypocrisy." That there should be instances of disregard of the principles inculcated by the institution, and of hypocrisy, is not strange. This is no more than exists in the Christian Church; and if this circumstance is a sufficient ground for denouncing the institution of Odd Fellowship, the Christian Church must fall by the same weapon. I know there are inconsistencies enough in the conduct of members of the Order. I know there is much profanity in conversation on the part of too many of its members, a thing strictly forbidden by its laws. But I know there is not that general and reckless disregard of the principles of the institution, its enemies would have the world believe. I would not palliate or excuse a single fault of the members; but truth and justice demand thus much should be said, lest it be inferred that we consent, by our silence, to the truth of what is alleged against the fraternity.

I have mentioned these things for the purpose of calling the attention of brothers to the mischief even the few inconsistencies in their conduct that may be seen, are calculated to do the institution. This is especially the case in regard to profanity. No one reproach is so often thrown in my teeth, as that of the profanity of some of the members of the Order.And I would beg of such brothers to seriously consider the effect such conduct must have upon the prosperity of the institution, in the minds of many, whose good opinion we should not despise. We have seen, that the principles of the institution of Odd-Fellowship, are good, and aimed to benefit and bless mankind, if carried out in practice. This is a firm foundation, and all that is wanting to sustain the institution, and to secure for it the sympathy and aid of all the virtuous and good, is the faithful observance of its principles by the members, in their intercourse with mankind and society. Let every true Odd- Fellow see to this, as he values his own peace and moral good, and the prosperity and success of the institution of Odd-Fellowship.-Symbol.

TO THE ОНІО.

BY CAROLINE M. SAWYER, OF NEW YORK.

FLOW on thou noble river,
Flow on with rapid tide,
The mighty Mississippi waits
To clasp thee as his bride!
Flow on till thou hast mingled
In fond and close embrace,
And ended in his eager arms
Thy lonely maiden race!

Ohio! fair Ohio!

A queen of beauty thou,

And many a living jewel decks
Thy proud and regal brow!
Thy gorgeous bridal garments
With forests wide are fringed,
And wild garlands wreath thy head,
With autumn beauty tinged!

Roll on bright stream forever!

O, who shall say when first Thy waters on the laughing day, In songs of gladness burst? What old forgotten races,

In generations past

Grew up and flourished by thy shores

And vanished all at last?

Oh, tell us, if thou knowest,
What giant hands of yore,
Built up the vast, mysterious mounds

That stud thy blooming shore!
For man their deep recesses
Exploreth still in vain,

And science idly wastes her art
The secret to explain!

We know that in them hidden

Lies many a mouldering bone,

And hyerogliphical device

Carved rudely on the stone!
But what far ages gave them birth,
And what the tale may be,

Veiled by those mystic signs, is known

To only God and thee!

And, say, where is the red-man,
Who, in his bark-canoe,
Launched fearlessly upon thy waves

And o'er them swiftly flew ?
Alas, he comes no longer,

Where strangely, side by side,
The white man's belching fire-boats
Shoot flaming down thy tide!

Lo! as I speak, a shape of gloom
Uprises from thy misty breast,
And, like a spirit from the tomb;

Points sadly to the distant West!
Then slowly turning to the sky,

Thrice lifts its hand with withering frown,

And, with a fixed and threatening eye

Again beneath the wave sinks down!

O, spirit, stern and vengeful,

I know thee who thou art!
The Manitan has seen in wrath
His children all depart!
Before the pale-face driven,
Like leaves before the blast,
From all their old familiar haunts
They have forever passed!

But their names forever with us-
To their conquerors a stain-
On many a mountain, stream and sca;
A memento will remain !
In the mighty mounds they fashioned
In their days of strength and pride,
And in thy broad and sweeping flow,
Will their spirits long abide !

Flow on thou fair Ohio

There's a cadence in thy song,
That wakes a feeling in my heart
I would not now prolong!
I will hie me where thy murmurs
On my ear no more may swell,
Till, to thy bright and hurrying tide,
I breathe my last farewell!

Ohio River, October 25, 1843.

ADDRESS.*

BY BRO. W. C. DERRY.

TWELVE months have rolled away and are now numbered with the past, since our Order first found a foot-hold in the Capital of our beloved State. Its rapid strides here, have not only astonished the good people of our own city, but they have been the wonder and the delight of brethren of the Order belonging to other Lodges and towns and cities. And let us, brethren of Sylvan Lodge No. 4, remember that our onward career here, depends upon our conduct, upon our adherence to those principles by which we profess to be governed.

Like every order, professing to be, at least in some measure, a secret order, novelty is its (Odd-Fellowship's) extrinsic support-the staff upon which it seemingly leans, or rather the wand with which-magician-like -it entices into its folds those who are curious to "find out every new thing," or to dive into the mysteries of that that claims to come laden with the wonders of antiquity. Three hundred and sixty-five days are quite

*Delivered July 20, 1844, at the Anniversary of "Sylvan Lodge No. 4," Milledgeville, Geo.