In the eighty years, last past, who can estimate the benign influence of the lives and actions of men, yea, on their eternal destinies, of the oft-repeated utterances pointing to the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man—­a sermon that has been painted on the bow of God’s eternal promise since Paul stood on the Mars Hill and preached this everlasting, unchangeable doctrine to the heathen world.  When I think that since 1830 there has been expended for the relief of the members of this order and their families millions of dollars, in all right undertakings, and know that many hearts have ceased to ache, many cold feet covered, many a tear dried up, many a naked person clothed and many a hungry mouth fed, it rejoices my heart.  I know also that such love could not spring from the hearts that were kindled by no spark of the Divine, but the lesson comes to you and to me, my brother and my sister, that he who opens not only the granary of earthly substance, but opens also the portals of the heart, and lets the Divine spark kindle into a blaze, will be thrice blessed in that day when the jewels of the eternity are made up.  I do not desire to convey the impression that all our civilization is the outgrowth of Odd-Fellowship.  We are too much inclined on such occasions as these to become mutual admiration societies and think that all the good things that we enjoy could not have been possible if our particular order had not existed.  I do not wish to convey that impression.  I only desire it to be understood that this order has been helpful in all right undertakings, and constantly endeavors to espouse the right and discard the wrong.  It does not take the place of the church or the Sunday school or the prayer-meeting.  It does not invade the pulpit, but only stands as an auxiliary to all these institutions that touch the better side of our natures.  It inveighs against no religion or creed, and has no religious belief other than that we are brothers; nor does it encroach upon the domain of the politician.  If Odd-Fellowship had more in it than the social and restraining influence one meets and is subjected to in the lodge-room, it would be sufficient inducement to organize and perpetuate lodges.  No true Odd-Fellow crosses the threshold of his lodge-room but he feels he is treading on more sacred ground than the busy marts of trade, or in the office or counting house; he feels that he is coming home where dwells the purest principles of humanity—­friendship, love and truth.

But there is more in the workings of this order than the social.  Its object is to touch humanity in all its phases.  To rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those that weep.  It sustains the living with friendship; causes man to stand firm in his integrity by the truth it teaches, and embrace the whole world with charity.  The three links of friendship, love and truth mark the fuller and better development of this life, reaches beyond the grave,