Rev. J.E. Stuart, pastor of the Christian church, delivered a very able and eloquent sermon yesterday morning. He was inspired by the presence of the Odd Fellows of Wilson and the singing class from the orphanage at Goldsboro that filled the chairs of the regular choir and conducted the music of the service in a very efficient and impressive manner.
There was also the regular communion and the service was most satisfactory and one of those in which it seemed the heart of God and man met as we looked over the little ones bereft of parents, cared for by the sturdy Christian men of the world.
Mr. Stuart paid his respects to the Old fellows who have under their care the orphanage at Goldsboro, where the children left alone in the world have been placed by Heaven in good hands to rear and educate, that they may become useful men and women, the very best work and the very best service to which any man or organization can devote their time and attention.
Mr. Stuart began his sermon by saying that he personally, and every member of the church were delighted to have the Odd Fellows with them and also the class from the orphanage, and that the class would have charge of the song service. The music was very fine under the direction of Mrs. Taylor, accompanist from the orphanage.
Mr. Stuart spoke generally from the 11th chapter of Hebrews, a wonderful chapter of faith. He describes the way that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, David and others had faith in God and received his blessings.
He used this to illustrate the faith that the Odd Fellows had in God and in their institution, which enabled them with an eye of faith to see the result of their effort, and in their vision to see these splendid boys and girls making useful men and women, an honor to God, the church and the state. This is an immortal monument, which will last through all eternity, he said.
Dr. Stuart said that his opinion with reference to organizations had greatly changed in the past few years. At one time the thought the church should cover the work of service, and helpfulness, but since he had noted the splendid effort put forth by such organizations as the Odd Fellows and others, and filled places that the church could not possibly fill, and said he wanted to give them the praise to which they are justly due.
He then went into the meaning of the symbols, the “All Seeing Eye” and the three lings, “Friendship, Love and Truth.”
The All seeing eye of God, which lets nothing escape Him. He makes up His estimate of men and of groups of men, their designs and purposes, and rewards according to the way in which their hearts are moved to noble deeds. The basic commandment, “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all they heart and soul and strength and thy neighbor as thyself” is taken care of in the splendid work of this great organization.
The symbol of the three links that bind our hearts together, with the central link, “love which olds them together and makes men of one common brotherhood, was very interestingly and eloquently stressed.
He gave a number of illustrations to prove the value of such an organization. He recalled an incident in the life of a man who had a wife and three children. The man lost his wife, and then became ill, and lost his position and the home was mortgaged, and later he died, and the children were thrown on the resources of a cold and cruel world, but not so. He was a member of an organization like this and the members stayed around his house, waited on him during his illness, comforted him and ministered to his wants, and when he was uneasy about the children, the members said, “Don’t worry about them, we have an institution in which they will be cared for. Could any thing be finer than this? Could there be a finer spirit than this? Is there anything that will appeal at the thrown of grace more than this, he asked. He proved it by quoting from the scriptures.
He that giveth a cup of cold water in my name, who visits the widow and the orphan, will he not receive his reward? The scriptures accentuate this in no little degree. Take the work of the good Samaritan, to which the Savior himself referred.
No man can live by himself alone. The people and the nations of the world are so intimately associated in every way that we must be interested. We cannot draw ourselves into a shell and say we will have nothing to do with others. We must help them and comfort them, and place the orphan children on a level with those more fortunate, otherwise we are not doing our duty to them, and this is what these God blessed Odd Fellows are doing.
From the front page of The Wilson Times, Tuesday, May 8, 1923
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