ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 225, 25 November 1874, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

The following extract from an article in a home paper, the Brighton Gazette— in which town the A.M.C. held its annual sitting this year —will be interesting to the members of the Order. The article is from the pen of Bro. Burns, a Glasgow P.P.G.M., and member of the Board of Directors :—

“The Order of Oddfellowship is both historically and socially of great interest; it is historically interesting from the fact of nearly half a million of men, living under a monarchical form of Government, and managing their ownaffairsupon purely democratic principles, and yet while this is so there are no more loyal subjects io be found in her Majesty’s dominion. Moreover, the management of such a gigantic institution, with its extended ramifications both at home and abroad, furnishes good proof of both administrative talent and sound business habits of the men who conduct its affairs. The 19th century stands alone in the history of civilisation for the number of societies, clubs, and associations of men it has given birth to ; indeed it may be said that there is really no matter of human interest that is not watched over by some associated body of men who form a part of our wonderfully diversified social system. It may be said without fear of contradiction, that among all the institutions in the country, of a provident character, the Order of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows s ands at the head. As a social iesti utioa it presents an harmonious union of nearly half a million of men, whose diversified opinions embrace the compass of every shade of creed within the religious, social, scientific, and political circle of the age. The humanising feature of the society is one the members may well be proud of; and it should claim for them the respect and kindly consideration of the public at large. The institution not only protects its members from the moral and physical evils consequent upon poverty, resulting from long continued sickness, but it affords them a pleasant relaxation from the cares of life by the kindly social intercourse the lodge meetings are so well calculated to give ; and when any of the members are obliged to leave home, they are furnished with recommendations to the good offices and kindly attention of their brother Oddfellows, in whatever country or clime they may be found. “ The success of Oddfellowship, with its little mysteries, signs, passwords, its paraphernalia and democratic form of government, has been the means, unintentionally, of calling into existence a number of other societies, which are all constructed upon the same model, the only real difference being the titles of their officers and the forms of their emblems. A good deal of fault has been found with lhe members of th'se institutions for their love of tinsel, official decorations, and regalia ; but the cynical’gentlemen who do this forget that grown-up people, as well as babies, are liable to be pleased with a feather—tickled with a straw.