On April 26, 1869, occurred the semi-centennial anniversary of the I.O.O.F., in the United States. That event was duly celebrated by Bates Lodge, No. 180, at Butler, when A. M. Christian, V.G., delivered the following interesting address:

BROTHERS: In pursuance of an invitation by the brotherhood, we are here to-day to contribute in our feeble way, our appreciation of the golden chain, the mystic tie, that binds in one great brotherhood, an order whose principles underlie and form the superstructure of the Christianized world. There are moments in the progress of time which are the counters of whole ages; there are events, the monuments of which, surviving every other memorial of human existence, eternize the subject to whose history they belong, after all other vestiges of its glory have disappeared from the globe. At such a moment was our order formed, and upon its foundation such a monument was erected; garlanded with Friendship, Love and Truth, founded upon Faith, Hope and Charity. And though the storms of angry passion and local prejudices, have warred against it and sought to overthrow and engulf it, yet like some proud old headland, jutting far into the ocean's bosom, tossing high in worthless spray the dark mountain billows, which in wrath, beat upon it, it has stood the mutations of time, a proud memorial of man's handiwork. And though the minds that fashioned it, have long since moldered back to their original dust, and the tongues that spake it into life, lie traceless in the grave, yet on this day, hallowed by the dearly cherished memories of a scene so impressive in itself and consecrated to the highest and holiest feelings of our nature, we have assembled to offer anew each ample oblation and unite to our ardent wishes, fervent prayers, to that Infinite and Awful Being, who holds in his hands, the destinies of nations, and without whose favor, all human power is but vanity -- that He will crown our labors with his blessings and our work with his immortality. For we are but shadows, floating for a moment over time, soon to be dissipated by the light of eternity. We are passing away -- on each brow is stamped the seal of mortality.

Man cometh forth like a flower and is cut down; he fleeth as a shadow and continueth not. The haughty form is fallen, and the flashing eye is dim; he sleeps the last long, dreamless sleep, and the places that once knew him, know him no more forever, departing

Then let us to-day -- the anniversary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the United States -- unite in praises, and let anthems of thanks, like the chorus of the spheres, swell up from the great concourse of the brotherhood, to the ears of the Grand Master above, for the preservation of this great and God-like institution -- an institution conceived in consummate wisdom, nerved by Hope, Faith and Charity, and baptized in Friendship, Love and Truth.

The exact time and place when our order was instituted in the Old World is not fully recorded, and it is to be deeply regretted that the early history of an order, which has wielded in the social world so much power and influence in promoting peace on earth, and good will to all men, should have been so largely confined to oral traditions; yet antiquarian speculation traces it far back of the time when literary monuments were framed, and finds in it a semblance of the secret societies of the present age. The Bible gives us evidences of its existence -- we find in the twelfth chapter of Isaiah, an historical sketch of its workings, wherein it tells us, "They helped everyone his neighbor, and every one said to his brother, 'be of good courage,' so the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smoothed with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, 'it is ready for the soldering,' and he fastened it with nails that it should not be moved." This language Shows the influence of sympathy, the power and need of co-operation in encouraging the hearts and strengthening the hands of our fellow men -- of the necessity of giving to our neighbor our assistance in the hour of need -- of encouraging him in the struggle of life's intricate pathway. It teaches us the value of a well organized sympathy and co-operation for the mutual benefit of the human family. It speaks to us in unmistakable language the utility of an unbroken unity. Probably full as illustrative an example of the principles of the order was given by our Lord and Savior, in reply to the interesting and suggestive question put to Him in the days when He was in the flesh, in order to overthrow those holy precepts which he then taught, and to which the world is wholly indebted for its enlightened civilization, "Who is my neighbor?" A question at the present day, which would be taken in a very limited sense, one which would excite little or no interest, one that would scarcely receive a response, but nevertheless a question of deep moment and great solemnity, and the answer of which has been fraught with so many blessings to mankind, in teaching them to be governed by broad and extensive views of benevolence and charity, and that our Savior thus viewed it, is evident from His answer, when in reply to the question he related the parable of the good Samaritan, when he found by the wayside wounded and left to perish, one who had been been set upon by thieves, though a stranger, with all the enmity and prejudices which existed towards the Jews at that time by other nations and creeds. Yet it was sufficient for the Samaritan that he saw a fellow mortal in distress. Prompted by the finer feelings of his nature, welling up from the human breast, he forgot that he was a stranger, forgot sections, nations and creeds, only saw suffering humanity calling for aid and comfort, he ministered to his wants, bound up his wounds, gave him to eat and drink, and furnished him raiment and shelter. The language of the parable teaches us that our neighbor is the poor, the sorrowing, the afflicted and the distressed, of whatever clime, irrespective of the mandates of ecclesiastical or secular organizations and prejudices, and we are neighbors to them, only, when by any means we contribute to their comfort; and in the light of the parable, humanity, the world over, is but one vast field of suffering, calling for our mightiest efforts in the assistance of suffering humanity, and no where in this broad land, will be found hearts more willing to give aid and comfort than those who have emblazoned upon their banner the beautiful sentiment and magical motto, "Friendship, Love and Truth." In this parable a direct appeal is made to those higher and holier feelings of the heart, and in speaking the parable, our Savior has implanted a sentiment in our nature which always engages us to take part in and as far as lies in our power to prevent, the miseries of others. To minister to their wants, and mitigate their sufferings. To do good to all mankind and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is Odd Fellowship. It is the spirit of universal fraternity, of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and it pervades all our rituals. It is recognized in our emblems, colors and regalia, and is made manifest in all our operations. It speaks to the eye and ear and is immediately recognized to the touch, in each grip and pressure of the hand. It's corner stone is benevolence, the three great columns of the temple, are faith, love and truth, and were erected by friendship, hope and charity. As an organized body it may not be dusty with age. Yet has its principles existed since the formation of man. They are co-equal with time and co-extensive with the universe. Their creed is as comprehensive as the arch of heaven, and is bounded but by the circle of creation. They glowed in the stars when first they sang together, and blossomed in the trees whose beautiful foliage waved in grateful acknowledgment to the zephyrs that kissed the pearly dew drops from the flowers on the morn of creation. Though its principles have thus permeated the universe, spreading the beauty and bloom of paradise over earth's unconquered form, yet as an organization it is undoubtedly of recent date. Though in Roman camps and through the oracles of Egyptian and Grecian philosophy, we may trace its gradations and discover therein a semblance in their initiations, rites, ceremonies and the order of degrees between those institutions and Odd Fellowship of the present day, we are at a loss to discover the same fraternal feelings and principles, which so eminently distinguish our affiliation. The order on the European continent may and undoubtedly has, though with but little concert of action, existed from time immemorial. Yet upon this continent we cannot trace its origin further back than about the year 1780; and even in those early times we find each lodge made its own rules and regulations, and were self-instituted, with no acknowledged head center, and consequently were visited with but little, if any success, though they formed a nucleus, from which has radiated its present power and glory in the land. The earliest successful institution of Odd Fellowship in this country, and the time at which we date the commencement of our order was upon the 26th day of April, A.D. 1819, and hence we are hereto-day, under authority of the proclamation of the grand sire to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the day, memorable as the foundation of the order in this country, and while thus assembled, are cheered by the inspiring thought that our friends in every other lodge throughout the New World are to-day uniting with us in fraternal brotherhood towards each other, and benevolence towards mankind, and with prayerful gratitude to the God of the universe. The order was instituted by Brother Thomas Wildey, who for the purpose of instituting the grand lodge with sovereign power, crossed the ocean, labored long and hard, and by his indomitable energy and perseverance, succeeded in beating down monarchical prejudices, and obtained from the Manchester Unity, of England, a charter fully recognizing the independent sovereignty of the grand lodge of United States, bearing date the 15th day of May, 1829, and he is recognized and greeted both here and by the European brotherhood as the father and founder of American Odd Fellowship, and though the eminent brother has long since passed to his reward -- gone to help people the paradise of God -- -his memory is embalmed in the hearts of a grateful brotherhood and will grow greener with years and the lapse of time.

Though the order has had many reverses it has successfully combatted the prejudices incident to secret societies and has gradually increased in power, numbers and usefulness and since its foundation on this continent over five hundred thousand members by initiation, have assumed the duties and endeavor to cherish the principles peculiar to the order; and it has expended over fifteen millions of dollars for the benefit of widowed families, the relief of the sick, the burial of the dead and the education of orphaned children belonging to the order, and that the order may continue to grow in strength and usefulness until all nations, tongues and creeds of the earth shall be governed by one law; that law, the law of universal brotherhood, is the great work and heartfelt prayer of every good Odd Fellow. Then, and not till then, will its mission have been fully accomplished. It is urged by many that we are a secret organization, and for that reason nothing good can come out of Nazareth. True, we are a secret organization in one sense of the term; so also is every family in this broad land a secret body, centered around a domestic hearthstone, and from the hallowed precincts of the family altar ascend to the most High petitioning prayers to the great Jehovah that the world knows nothing of We are secret in the bestowment of our donations to distressed brethren and their families, and divine truth reveals to us that even so are Christ's followers commanded to be.

Every business man has his secret signs and tokens by which he knows the genuineness of a note or draft when presented to him, or the value of merchandise which he may wish to purchase. Thus far we have also our secret signs and tokens by which we know men and whether they are genuine Odd Fellows and entitled to what they ask. We are secret in our forms and ceremonies, so also is the church in matters pertaining to church business; and even in many of them the Lord's supper is partaken of in secret. This is the extent of our secrecy -- this and nothing more, our constitution and by-laws, the time and place of meeting, the officers and members of our lodge are known. True, our portals are not open to the world at large, and in this we find a precedent in holy writ. The Bible informs us that when the Maker of the universe and the Ruler thereof determined to institute among men a pure and undefiled religion and worship of himself as the God of the whole earth. He called Abram of Ur, in Chaldea, to his aid and constituted him the grand patriarch of His chosen people to whom He gave a singular form of government -- a peculiar code of laws and a ritual of worship and confided to them the depository of Divine truths until the world should be prepared to receive and practice the mysteries of human redemption. They were enjoined from mingling with other nations and adopting their idolatries, the decoration of their temples, the regalia of their priesthood, even to form, color and material, were all prescribed. Even the mode of initiating proselytes from other nations was clearly defined, and certain physical defects and conditions of health were deemed of sufficient cause for perpetual exclusion from the congregation of Israel. The scriptures inform us that step by step, Jesus advanced His apostles in the knowledge which they were afterwards to teach the world by precept and example and when the proper time came, in obedience to the mandates of the Divine Master, they went forth and proclaimed openly what they learned in secret. And the earlier teachers of Christianity in the formation of the churches of the faithful observed the same method; and even down to the present day, their peculiar discipline and their system of mutual aid and relief has been closely followed by all of the religious denominations in obedience to these ancient precepts and illustrious examples. On this same general basis of necessity and utility and by virtue of the same high authority. Odd Fellowship stands in its selections and exclusions. It has its own high missions to perform, its special principles to learn, and their application to teach, and its own peculiar method of culture and training. In order that its operations may be in fraternal harmony and conducted in fraternal brotherhood, it requires this same selected exclusiveness, that its members may be qualified in preparing each other for the proper discharge of their special and general duties to themselves and their families, to the order, to mankind, to their country and to their God.

Our works consist not in deeds of benevolence and brotherly love only. Our duty is to visit the sick, to relieve the distressed, and to bury the dead, to aid the widow and to educate the orphan children of deceased brothers. Our principles enjoin us to do unto others as we would have others do unto us, and if in well doing a brother should become discouraged and falter by the wayside, he has only to cast his eye backward along the bright track which has marked the upward and onward tendency of Odd Fellowship, and through the gloaming he will still see our banner floating in the breeze, and engraved upon our ensign our motto, "In God we Trust," to still know and proudly feel that the Order stands higher to-day in all the elements of glory, of moral worth and grandeur, and the skies above us are growing brighter. The rainbow of promise still arches the heavens, cheering us on in our benevolent efforts to fraternize the world; that around him are rallying brave hearts and willing hands, who to him and to each other have pledged a love,

and if, in his wanderings far from home and kindred, among strangers, he fall down by the wayside penniless, faint and weary, he has but through the proper channels, by means ever at his command, to make known his wants, and kindred spirits and loving hearts are around him; kind hands minister the cooling drink to his parched lips; watchers are around his bedside to uphold his drooping head and to smooth his dying pillow; and should he leave a family when his spirit leaves its earthly tenement, on its journey through the dark valley of the shadow of death he is comforted with the assurance that he belongs to an order whose covenanted vows will uphold, cherish and protect them as their own from the cold and bitter blasts of an unfeeling and selfish world. Then to each faltering brother we may say, be of good courage, push onward with renewed energy until your work shall rise upward a beautiful temple of charity in the land, lifting its proud dome to the sun and illuminating the darkness of human love, while its portals shall be filled with the widows whose tears it has dried, and the orphans it has protected and blessed. Brothers, to accomplish the great work before you, it is necessary to be vigilant, unceasing in your labors, attend regularly your lodge meetings, for each evening we listen for your coming and expect your aid and counsel. When the watch fires are kindled in the camp, rally round them, and from the sentinel walking along the outposts will come the cry, "All is well."

To the brothers I give a few words of advice, and it is given with the utmost freedom, believing you will take it in the spirit of brotherly love, as coming from one of the order. Odd Fellows should be high-minded, honorable men. This is strictly enjoined upon them by the lessons therein taught us. Honesty is one of our principal creeds. Again, Odd Fellows should be moral. The principles of the order inculcate in our minds morality, industry and sobriety. Odd Fellows should not get inebriated. Indulgences in the intoxicating bowl and midnight bacchanalian revelries are in direct conflict with the great teachings of the order. An erring brother should not be dealt harshly by, though too often indulging in these besetting vices. He should be dealt with in the spirit of brotherly love, and should he thus err, do not visit upon him disgraceful punishments, but throw your strong arms around him, raise him up and at once point him to the temple of truth, and entreat him to take refuge in its starlit chambers. Be faithful and fearless defenders of truth throughout the broad field of your usefulness. So live that when the sun of your life, at the close of the long day, sinks beneath the horizon its brilliancy will be unobscured by a spot, undimmed by a cloud.

I cannot, aye, need not, say but little more. Brothers, be your lives thus and tongue cannot portray, mind cannot conceive, imagination cannot paint the power and influence of Odd Fellowship in the future. The inspired prophet of old, standing on Mount Pisgah's cloud-capped summit, fringed with eternal snows, gazing far off with enrapt vision on a land diversified with vine clad hills and perennial flowers, on limpid waters dancing in joyous gladness to the music of their own melody, gushing from their native rocks and leaping onward, instinct with life, to join their kindred streams in their never ceasing journey to yon distant blue -- the sea girt boundary of the promised land, pure and limpid as the waters which flow through the midst of heaven, o'er Elysian flowers, their amber streams -- gazed not upon a prospect more lovely than can be made the future of Odd Fellowship by energy and fidelity. Then rear aloft your banner, with the magic motto "In God We Trust" emblazoned with Friendship, Faith and Hope, sparkling with the gems love and truth, consecrated to benevolence and charity, fight on and ever. Friendship will prompt your efforts, the gentle influence of Love will supply the weapons, Truth will consecrate your work and lead you on to victory. Then will the whole world be submissive to our cause, all nations, tongues and creeds of earth will rally around our standard.

Brothers, having, in my imperfect way, discharged a duty imposed by your kind partiality, for the honor you have conferred upon and the kind attention you have thus given me, in the simple language of my heart allow me to thank you and wish you a long, happy and virtuous life, whose ending may be like a long, lingering twilight melting into the softest ray, and finally a triumphant entrance into the grand lodge above where, around the throne of the Grand Master on high, you may strike hands with brothers and know there, as here, the true grip of an Odd Fellow.

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