Friendship is a theme often upon the lips, but often, like the fabled apple, it is ashes to the taste. But in purity it tends to elevate and refine man's nature, to make him more benevolent, charitable and God-like.

Love, though a much abused term, is the brightest attribute of Jehovah. We allude to that love which is indestructible, and whose holy flame burneth forever. That love which never forsakes us in the dark hour of misfortune, however we may be slandered or hated by those who make lies their refuge. That love which is from above, a bright and glorious spark from that pure flame, which burns upon that holy altar, in that holy temple not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; that deep and earnest love which is ever ready to hear the tale of sorrow; which seeks to relieve the sufferings of humanity, and is never backward in wiping the scalding tear from the weeping eyes of the widow and the orphan.

Truth is another of the cardinal virtues; that truth which is eternal and unchangeable; which teaches plain dealing and sincerity; which is free from guile and hypocrisy; that truth which comprehends everything good and proper, and gives vitality and spirit to society and to every association which is built upon a sure foundation.

The great end of being, the object of existence, the light of natural and the glory of revealed religion, the heavens, the firmament, the fulfillment of prophecies, the Bible and the church, all proclaim one great Truth. Our design is the same, and our Order leads men through the gloom. and captivity, and outward manifestations of earthly things, to behold the truth in simplicity and apply it to a proper purpose.

We do not profess to teach men the way to heaven, neither do we pretend that the full exercise of the rules of conduct which Odd Fellowship enjoins, would be sufficient of themselves to insure the salvation of souls. But we do assert that no

man can be a good Odd Fellow unless he be a good man, and no man can be good unless he carries out the principles which our Order enjoins. St. James says: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

We are not disposed to convert isolated passages of scripture to our use; but permit us to say that we are commanded by our laws, to visit the sick, to relieve the distressed, to bury the dead and educate the orphan." Could purer commands be given, next to that wherein we are instructed to love the Lord our God? And even this love is premised in an Odd Fellow, for he must entertain a firm belief in God; otherwise he is not permitted to hear our commands.

The performance of our duties is sacred and pleasant. When health and vigor are with us we naturally feel an indifference to friends, and an independence of attendants; a kind of negative vacuity which we cannot describe. But this soon passes away when the proud heart beats slower or faster than it was wont to do. When the nervous system whispers to the brain that an enemy is in the physical camp; then this negativeness vanishes and we fall helpless upon our fellows. There may not be a mother there to wipe away the tear of pain; there may not be a sister there pointing up to God; oh, there may not be a dear bosom companion there to anticipate the wants you cannot utter! You may be a stranger, thrown upon the cold inhospitable caprice of avaricious men, and far from those you love. Oh! then how keenly do you feel the blessedness of Friendship, Love and Truth! Your exhausted coffers are refilled; there are nightly vigils by your side, and guardian spirits hover around you. The parched tongue is moistened, the fevered brow is cooled, and the voice of consolation is breathed into your ear in

accents sweeter than were ever murmured by the Athenian bee.

are

Who are your ministering angels? Who they who leave their quiet homes; their happy wives and sleeping children to give you comfort? I need not answer, for alas there are few hearts which bear such sympathy, unless you find them among the orders such as ours. And why do they thus act? It is because they are prompted by Love and are pledged in Truth to do so.

But again. You may be surrounded by all that makes your home a happiness; numerous relatives and nominal friends; but your disease is contagious, and you are shunned as a pest. Do we then desert you? Are the unflinching wife, the devoted mother, the affectionate sister left alone in their arduous tasks? No, no! We furnish other assistance, or we still go ourselves and smooth the infected pillow! Our trust is sacred, and we will prove it so.

But it may be that our efforts are all in vain; and if they are, and you go to your Father above, do we leave your body to the dogs, or to a careless burial? No. You were our brother here, and we will meet you at the bar of God. Death does not sever the bands which bind us to thee. We will shroud thee in thy linen; we will place thee in thy narrow house, and weep upon thy sepulchre; thy dust shall not be desecrated by idle wanderers or strolling brutes.

We will aid thy widow too. Oh, yes! She is a holy trust. Her name is woman. That were enough. Woman was the earthly mother of our blessed Lord. She was at the cross of Christ; she was first to seek his sepulchre; she was first to hear his voice after the resurrection; she it was who washed his feet; who poured the ointment on his head; who touched his garment in a living faith.

Fear not. We will protect thy widow. Our mother's voice speaks, perhaps, from the tomb;

our sister's soft cadence sweeps through space, and echoes, protect the widow."

Oh, woman! dear to us by all the recollections of our early home--we lisped upon thy knee the little prayer which is yet upon our lips. and heard thy warning voice: Beware of evil." We saw thee at the throne of grace and heard thy supplications; and yet thy prayers go on and on; still do they rise to God. Can we forget the widow? Forbid it gracious Heaven! By all that raises man above the beasts that perish, forbid it. By the sacred ties of Friendship, Love and Truth, forbid it. No, my brother, die in peace; we will protect thy widow.

And thy little children, too; we will care for them, and will instruct them in the ways of peace. We will fondle them upon the lap of friendship, and cradle them in love, that they may reach the goal of truth. They will be around us as the buds and blossoms on the rod of Aaron; they shall be the brilliants in our diadem. We will hand thy name down to them, that in after life they may do honor to thy memory. We will do to them as fathers; they shall be to us as children. The bleak storms of adversity may howl; the cold wind of selfishness may blow; the tide of fortune may ebb, and leave them on a barren shore; but they shall not be friendless. We will instill in their minds the virtues of hope and confidence. Yes, brother; fear not for your little ones. Their cherub smiles and sparkling eyes will light the world with happiness and angels' hearts with joy; and when the harvest comes they will be gathered together in peace, with the just made perfect through grace.

In connection with the foregoing address by Mr. Hildreth, upon this subject of Odd Fellowship, the editor deems it proper to append the following:

DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTER'S COMMISSION.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.

FRIENDSHIP, LOVE AND TRUTH.

GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

To Holyoke Lodge, No. 134. Comprising District No. Nineteen, Greeting:

KNOW YE. That I, Sam'l B. Krogman. Grand Master. reposing especial confidence in the ability and fidelity of our worthy Brother, A. B. F. Hildreth, do hereby appoint and constitute him District Deputy Grand Master, for District No. 19. for the term of one year, or until his successor is appointed. from the date hereof, unless previously revoked; and you are hereby directed to receive and respect him in his official capacity as the Representative of the Grand Lodge and head of the Order in said District, in the absence of the Grand Master.

IT IS HIS DUTY, To visit officially every Subordinate Lodge under his juristiction at least once in each Semi-Annual term; to examine the Work. and exact a compliance to the established Constitution. Laws and Ceremonies of the Grand Lodge of the United States, and of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and report any irregularity, fully. fairly, and promptly to the Grand Master under whose direction he shall act. and through whom he shall present all official communications to the Grand Lodge.

In addition to the above, the D. D. Grand Master shall visit each Lodge under his jurisdiction at the first regular meeting in each Semi-annual Term, for the purpose of Installing the Officers:provided, in all cases, that the Returns have been made out. He is empowered to appoint Past Grands to assist him in the Installation. After the Installation he shall present the N. G. the Semi-annual and Traveling Passwords in cypher. In case of sickness or other unavoidable circum