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Odd Fellowship Messages and Poems
by Earl G. Whipple
Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Encampment of California
THIS HALL
Tonight we have met in this Hall-
It should be filled with members from wall to wall.
We should all do our part to strengthen this great Order.
We should extend a hand of Friendship
To our friends and relatives
That we might have our Halls filled
with members from Wall to Wall.
We should be proud of our membership
In the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Let us extend a helping hand in -
Friendship, Love & Truth,
Faith, Hope & Charity,
And for the Principles of Universal Justice.
We all have an Obligation for each other and this great Order.
Let us not sit back and criticize,
Let us get out and socialize,
Let us all live up to that Obligation
And Be Proud.
THE TRUE ODD FELLOW
Odd Fellowship means much more than to wear the pin,
Or to carry a paid up dues receipt, so the lodge will let you in.
You may wear an emblem on your coat, from your finger flash a ring,
But if you're not sincere within your heart, this doesn't mean a thing.
It merely is an outward sign to show the world that you belong.
To a great fraternal brotherhood that teaches right from wrong.
What really counts lies deeply hidden within the human breast,
'Till our Order's teachings brings it out, and puts it to the test.
If you would practice out of lodge the things you learn within,
Be just and upright to yourself, and to your fellow-men.
Console a member when he's sick, assist him when in need,
Without a thought of personal gain for any act or deed.
Walk and act in such a way, that the world without can see
That none but the best can meet the test of our Fraternity.
Always live up to the Golden Rule, and do the best you can,
Then you can truly tell the world, you're an ODD FELLOW and a MAN.
A WORLD OF DREAMS
God made A World out of His dreams -
Mountains, streams and mighty oceans,
Prairies plains and wooded valleys.
Then paused and thought -
"I need someone to stand on top of the mountain,
To sail the oceans, explore the plains and cross the prairies;
Someone to start out small and grow big, sturdy and strong."
So He Created you and me -
Full of spirit and fun,
To romp and roam,
To explore and conquer
With courageous hearts and sheepish grins,
Sometimes with dirty faces and bandaged shins.
When He had completed the task He started
He surely said "That's a Job Well Done."
Because He created the World and you and me.
A TRUE REBEKAH
One who believes in the Principles of Rebekah Odd Fellowship;
One who is Proud of the Friendships she has made;
One who Works for the Good of the Order
Without a thought of personal gain;
One who says, I am ready at all times to extend a helping hand to those in need;
One who will practice out of Lodge the things she learns within;
Walk and act in such a way that the world without can see
That none but the best can meet the
Test of our Fraternity.
Be just and upright to herself, and to her Brothers and Sisters.
She may wear an emblem on her dress,
From her finger flash a ring,
But if she is not sincere within her heart, this doesn't mean a thing.
Always live up to the Golden Rule and do the best you can,
Then you can truly tell the World,
I am proud to be a Rebekah.
A KIND WORD
If you hear a kind word spoken of some worthy soul you know
It may fill his heart with sunshine
If you only tell him so.
My Brothers and my Sisters
As over life's rough path you go -
If God's love has saved and kept you
Do not fail to tell Him so.
ODD FELLOWSHIP
Odd Fellowship is a non-political and a non-sectarian Organization - but its
principles are based on religion. Our teachings are all taken from the Bible. To
become an Odd Fellow, you must believe in a "Supreme Being" which is a belief of
all religious groups. "We war against vice in all its forms; Friendship toward
man prompts the contest; the Gentle influences of Love supply the weapons; Truth
consecrates the effort and Leads to Victory." These are just a few of the basic
guides to be a true Odd Fellow.
OVER 50 YEARS
I joined the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows over 50 years ago -
The miles I have traveled,
The Friends I have made,
The receipts I hold, are all more precious than gold.
I have received many honors, but
Odd Fellowship means much more to me
than to wear a pin or carry a paid up
dues receipt so the members will let
me in - it means I belong to a Great
Organization - The Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
ONE DAY
One day I will sit in an Old Folks Home;
Old and weary and gray - yet filled with the spirit to work and play;
Oh, that will be the day -
If I can only stay happy and gay
And be a friend among friends each day.
OUR TASK
To be a little kinder with the passing of each day,
To try to leave happy memories as we go along our way.
To use possessions that are ours, in service full and free,
To sacrifice the trivial things for larger good to be.
To give of labor in a lavish way that Friendship true may live,
To be less quick to criticize, more ready to forgive.
To use such talents that we own, that happiness may grow,
To take the bitter with the sweet, with assurance "Tis better so."
To keep our faith in God and right no matter how things run,
To work and play, to trust and pray, until this journey's run.
God grant us the strength of heart, of motive, and of will,
To do our part and falter not, His purpose to fulfill.
WHILE I LIVE
I don't know how long I will live
But while I live let me give
Some comfort to someone in need,
Whether it be by a smile,
Kind word or deed
Then I will not care how long I live.
A FRIEND
If he gives you recognition
When your clothes are patched and torn,
If he comes to see and cheer you
When you're lying sick and worn.
If he takes you by the hand and lifts you up
When you're on the downward track,
If he says the same thing to your face
That he says behind your back.
If when the odds are strong against you
He fights for you to the end
Bind him closer than a brother
For that man is your Friend.
OUR LIVES
A thought for today and tomorrow -
We cannot live with hate
We cannot live with shame
We cannot live with fear.
We must wear a smile
We must have pride
We must have dignity.
Then we can live today and tomorrow
Filled with Joy
Filled with Happiness
Filled with Love for each other;
Then we will not have lived
Today and tomorrow in vain.
A LITTLE MESSAGE
No matter how rough the road
No matter how high the mountain
No matter how deep the ocean
There will always be a place for all of us
Because We Believe in the Fatherhood of
God and the Brotherhood of Man.
We are Odd Fellows and Rebekahs.
THE LATCHSTRING OF LOVE
'Tho the Odd Fellows' Temple may stand on a spot remote,
'Tho its roof may need some patches new,
'Tho its rooms may be small and filled with things that present an unsightly
view,
'Tho you enter the Temple and find therein Odd Fellows and Rebekahs galore,
There's a Joy and Warmth that reveals to you
There's a Latchstring of Love at the door.
'Tho an Odd Fellow or Rebekah may wear the simplest garb,
Their manner and speech be plain,
'Tho they be not learned or rich in bonds and wholly unknown to fame,
Yet take them and test them along by the side of some whom fate favors more,
You will find their hearts ring truest and best
For the Latchstring of Love is at the door.
It's the Latchstring of Love that is most worth while,
Far better than keys of gold, or strings of trophies or medals for power
For it unlocks the human soul,-
It brightens the world and brings to earth a bit of Heaven from above,-
Grand is the Temple and great is the Heart
That hangs out the Latchstring of Love.
AN ODD FELLOW POEM
An old man sat in an Oddfellow Home
Old and feeble and gray
With trembling limbs and wrinkled brow
Just at the close of day.
Out there by a row of evergreen trees
An Angel from Heaven came down
And Looked the old man straight in the face
An Angel with flowing gown.
As the old man gazed on the heavenly form
He asked, "Are you looking for me?"
"For you my Brother" the Angel replied
"It's time for your last Degree.
You have passed through the wilderness of life
You have travelled its treacherous way
I've come to conduct you to the Grand Lodge above
The grandest of all the Degrees."
The old man said, "My teeth are gone,
My eyes are growing dim
This wrinkled old hand is feeble now
But still it's open wide.
The march of time is on my brow
My hearing is almost gone
This weary old head is bowed with years
Life's race is almost run.
I've seen the rose in its beauty
Spreading its leaves to the morning sun
Its leaves were scattered to the ground
When the light of the day was gone.
I've seen man in the pride of his strength
With his head held proudly high
Yet like the rose he withered away
For all that is born must die.
I have the longing to meet again
My Brothers up there with the blest
This weary old head is bowed with years
And I long to go to my rest.
Conductor, I'm ready this journey to take
And I hope they won't blackball me
Just whisper the word to the great Noble Grand
And conduct me to my last Degree.
LET US WORK TOGETHER
Let us not say - No, I won't
Let us not say - No, I can't
Let us not say - I don't have time for that.
Do it yourself - if you want it done.
Let us all think positive,
Let us all work together with an open mind.
We are a part of a Great Organization.
Let us be friends and keep it that way.
A Beautiful World and You and
Me
God Created the World and you and me;
He created the mountains and the streams,
The mighty ocean and the pleasant land,
The beautiful wooded hills and valleys,
The desert and the wide open plains.
Yes, that is why he created you and me.
We have tilled the soil, we have sown the seeds,
We have seen the beautiful flowers bloom,
We have walked thru the gardens and roamed the woods,
We have seen their leaves fall and lie thick upon the ground.
We have seen man in the pride of his strength,
His limbs were full of activity,
He ran, he leaped, he rejoiced,
He was more excellent than the rose.
We have stood in the valleys and dreamed of tomorrow,
We gazed into the sky wondering what might be on top of the mountain, or on the
other side.
Many climbed those mountains and crossed the plains;
This was the time when we were taught -
to visit the sick, to relieve the distressed, the strong to help the weak,
The young to reverence the old and to love thy neighbor as thy self.
It is my hope everyone can understand what this means to millions of friends and
families
Because God Created a Beautiful World for you and me.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ODD
FELLOWSHIP?
Are we proud of an organization we were asked to join 50 years ago?
Or are we tired of the work we have put into this great organization.
Why can't we reach out and tap our friends on the shoulder and talk about Odd
Fellowship?
Why should we listen to the critics - the ones who feel there is nothing left;
the ones that do not want to do anything for the good of the Order; the ones who
want to make it just a social function.
Should we who are proud of this great Organization, sit back and let it die?
Let's all think before we speak. Let's all remember the teachings of this great
Order and WORK to build - not tear down.
I am proud of what I have received from Odd Fellowship - Are you?
TAKE TIME
As we go about from day to day
Whether it be work or play, Let us -
Take time to smile,
Take time to shake hands,
Take time to share a little love,
Take time to show you care for those near and dear to you.
Take time to be proud you are an Odd Fellow,
Take time to be proud you are a Rebekah.
Take time to be proud you belong to a Great Organization -
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Take time to be Happy with the Friendships you have made.
Take time to share the things we have in life -
Friendship - Love - Truth Faith - Hope - Charity
Kindness and the Joy of being together.
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