Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois - University Library

26 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS Tuesday
,L,
Not I 18. 1013.
ance to minister to their bodily ailments, the best the market affords
is provided and placed within their reach, that those who are not
actually sick may enjoy the bountiful blessings of a greatly prospered
fraternity.
ODD FELLOWSHIP IS WORLD WIDE.
Odd Fellowship is not confined to any one location or even state,
but its members, Lodges and institutions are spread far and near
throughout this broad land and everywhere in North America and beyond
the seas. Wherever men enjoy liberty of thought and action
there may be found the three links of Friendship, Love and Truth.
With more than two million men and women banded together for
unselfish reasons, this mighty army triumphs over the forces of adversity
and brings light and happiness into thousands of homes which
would otherwise be dark and dreary, indeed.
THE LARGEST FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION.
This is the largest fraternal organization in point of numbers in
the world. From the rocky coast of Maine to the Golden Gate and
from the land of "nine months winter" to perpetual summer, members
of this Order are found, and the traveler receives a hearty welcome
because he is an Odd Fellow.
OUR CREED.
The teachings of Odd Fellowship are broad and liberal in the ex-
treme. What an Odd Fellow is bound to do for a fellow member he is
taught that he ought to do for those who are not members. No man
can enter into the practice and teachings of Odd Fellowship without
becoming more liberal in his thought and action towards his fellow
men, a better citizen, a better father, husband or brother and enlarging
the sphere of his usefulness. To the young man it is an inspiration;
to the middle aged man, a support, and to the aged, comfort.
This Order wars against vice in all its forms. No true Odd Fellow
will give aid or comfort to the enemies of society. The laws of the
land are paramount and to break the laws is to forfeit membership in
the Order. Odd Fellowship stands upon high moral ground and fights
for the home and humanity.
Many men who are now taking their places among the most suc-
cessful business men, or are leaders in public affairs, received their
early training in an Odd Fellows' Lodge room. Participation in the
Lodge room has had the effect of bringing out and developing latent
abilities that would otherwise have remained obscure, to the loss, not
only of the individual, but. to our state and country.