The Jericho Road | Page 9

position the order has attained. Just think of it a
moment: when you clasp hands with an Odd-Fellow here in your own
home, you are really clasping hands with one million men who have
obligated themselves to stay with you through every trial and
misfortune. Wonder no longer, then, at the growth and stability of this
great fraternity, or that its votaries cling to it with such unshaken and
unswerving fidelity. Ah! it is no light matter, no small privilege, to be
admitted to membership in such an organization--so freeing one's self
from the surgings of self-seeking and selfish considerations--free from
the trammels of prevailing prejudice and passion--free from the false
educational influences that warp the mind and drive charity from the
heart.
Our order's emblem is the three links,
FRIENDSHIP, LOVE AND TRUTH.
Friendship, love, truth--golden links these, that not only bind together
their obligated votaries, but that recognize and embrace, because of
worthiness and plighted faith, that behind the back as well as face to
face, have a defensive, kindly word and a brother's generous deed; that,
amid the upheavals of communities and the crumbling of nations,
systems and governments, swerve not from their course, and are

corralled by no arbitrary bounds, and that, whatever the dialect, the
nationality or the religion of men, read upon humanity's brow the
inscription written by the finger of infinite love--a man and a brother, a
woman and a sister.
A faithful and true friend is a living treasure, estimable in possession
and deeply to be lamented when gone. Nothing is more common than
to talk of a friend; nothing more difficult than to find one; nothing more
rare than to improve by one as we ought.
The only reward of virtue is virtue. The only way to have a friend is to
be one. Such is friendship. Next in our golden chain is Love. Love is
the stepping stone to heaven. This principle teaches man his
capabilities for good, enlightens his mind, enlarges the sphere of his
affections and leads him to that true fraternal relation which was
designed by the Great Author of his existence. Love teaches us to be
self-sacrificing. For a bright instance of this we point you to Moses, the
great law-giver of the Jews. He turned his back on the splendors of
Pharaoh's court and chose rather to share the wretchedness of his lowly
people than serve as a king for their oppressors, finally dying in sight of
that inheritance, which, though denied to him, was given to his
ungrateful countrymen. How very bright on the pages of history shine
such acts of love and sacrifice. This principle belongs to no one
organization, party or sect. It can be made to bud and bloom as well
under the fierce rays of the torrid zone, midst the icebergs of Greenland,
or the everlasting snows of Caucasus. It always carries the same smile,
whether in the cabin or in the palace. Following in its footsteps there is
such a halo of glory, such a gentle influence, that it gathers within its
sacred realm antagonistic natures, controls the elements of discord,
stills the storm, soothes the spirit of passion, and directs in harmony all
of man's efforts to fraternize the world. In this strangely selfish and
uncertain world none are so affluent or favorably circumstanced as not
at some time and in some way to become dependent. Oh! there are
emphasized essentialities that are not embraced among the
commodities of the market, and in order to the realization of which
money possesses no purchasing power. To relieve the pungent
pinchings of penury with raiment, food and shelter, and so send the
sunshine of gladness to the poor and needy, is something--indeed is
much. But, ah! the delicate and intricate mechanism of mind is out of

gear, a secret sorrow swells and sways the heart, and unitedly they cry:
"Who will show us any good? Who remove this rankling sorrow? What
good Samaritan competent to the task of affording relief to this dazed
brain?" Oh! it is here that the trained votaries of the triple brotherhood
bring to bear their wondrous power. If it be true "that one touch of
nature makes the whole world kin," it is equally true that the ties of
brotherhood here would wield their most potent influence, and of the
true Odd-Fellow well may it be said, "He hath a tear for pity, and a
hand open as day for melting charity."
TRUTH! crown jewel of the radiant sisterhood of queenly graces! She
can not be crushed to earth. The eternal years of God being hers, she,
no more than her author, can go down. Error may fling widely open his
arsenal gates of defilement and deceit, and seek so earnestly and
tirelessly the usurpation of her