Show WORLDWIDE WORLD WIDE fraternity odd fellowship and its principles lib command to visit vi it the anh the distressed but bruiy y tho dead and Foli educate fate the orp orphan keowns no distinction or creed S eighty seven years ago last evening april 26 in a small room in the seven stars tavern in the city of baltimore five men founded the fraternity known as the independent order of odd fellows last night over two million members in various portions of the world but nearly in the united states of america cele ele berated the anniversary by appropriate exercises exorcises odd fellowship is universal in its character it extends over all lands lande and the chain of its principles girdles the globe it now numbers among its membership kings princes and poten tales yet withal it embraces the hum blest and the poorest it has lodges in all the scandinavian countries in germany G amany in switzerland in france and in faraway far away australia the monarch who rules over Swe sweden is an odd fellow and perhaps one of the most democratic of his kind after being initiated with the balance who organized the tha first lodge in his kingdom it was proposed that he accept the chair of noble grand this Thi shede he de cand saying that within the walls of a lodge room was toe the only place he be could escape from being designated as his majesty and that he be hauled no other title than that of brother he accepted tho the position of outside guardian and for a term of six months never misbel a meeting but sacredly guarded the outside portal blues bince that time he has filled every appointive office and was finally prevailed upon to pass the chairs and become a past grand it Is needless to say that he is the typical odd follow fellow because he joined the ranks of the brotherhood not for good he mient receive but toe for the good he might do others this great fraternity disburses in large sums moro more than any other order on earth its benefits sick and funeral aggregate millions mil liona its charity is unostentatious and its ministrations are secret eacret it has baa for its prin ann caples friendship love and truth and for its motto faith hope and charity its first commandment commin dment is we command you to fisit the sick relieve the distressed bury the dead anci ana educate the orphan ophan this great work it is carrying on all over nith great success it knows no distinction of creed I 1 no difference in polities politics and discussions on 01 either have no place ID 1 n the lodge room and are never ted it were wars against vice in all its forms believing that friendship toward mankind prompts the contest that the gentle influence of love will supply the weapons and truth will consecrate the effort and leod led to an ultimate victory it is right and proper that its members should meet and celebrate because the charity they are engaged in in is ie not limited to the an m of the order under auder the direction of the sovereign hoie grand lodge of the world which la is located in this country a und fund of 0 is being raised for I 1 ahe he ban Frion francisco cisco sufferers which will be distributed as soon boon as collected it assists the needy and relieves the dis wherever found although as a matter of course it its a duty is first to its membership aul this is proper however this order is not the only cne there ibero tire are others who are doing their share in the great work of establishing hero here on earth the universal brotherhood of man as all of these require a belief in a supreme supreme a S and being the preserver of tnt tan universe it is fair to assume that all of them are teaching the euthery oct iod of god in addition to the groat great it if this is so 1 hen the work ought to prosper because it it is one ot of tuo beeps in the stairway by which mf is mountcue mount lue to 10 higher and loti er things it is one of the mils mile boits on the roadway by which we are tri to the golden age thatis that is loujene with sure and steady step many maity of us ua will fall asleep ere era fit aitio goal is 13 reached but those who t ID 0 i e after will note the green turf us and will note that the newest made graves are the closest to the ontjo oba i t of the desire of those who want i edue and love on earth and ami t hey will take encourage ment from I 1 alje fit same contrary to is that pro pre availed lem le m th thi i halt a century ago there la Is no ii to the fraternal orders but bin at all is good the lessons taught ar iii i ii 11 obling and uplifting and lie he MIKI ho Ys ya tho the precepts and the f tho the rituals of either can scare beare i alp ilp if being a better roan man it is 19 trum tru I 1 afi i bad men sometimes attain membership in ench but the good who for better things and higher ideale are not to be ba cou colo damned for that utah bbate journal |