A faithful and true friend is a living treasure, estimable in possession and deeply to be lamented when gone.  Nothing is more common than to talk of a friend; nothing more difficult than to find one; nothing more rare than to improve by one as we ought.

The only reward of virtue is virtue.  The only way to have a friend is to be one.  Such is friendship.  Next in our golden chain is Love.  Love is the stepping stone to heaven.  This principle teaches man his capabilities for good, enlightens his mind, enlarges the sphere of his affections and leads him to that true fraternal relation which was designed by the Great Author of his existence.  Love teaches us to be self-sacrificing.  For a bright instance of this we point you to Moses, the great law-giver of the Jews.  He turned his back on the splendors of Pharaoh’s court and chose rather to share the wretchedness of his lowly people than serve as a king for their oppressors, finally dying in sight of that inheritance, which, though denied to him, was given to his ungrateful countrymen.  How very bright on the pages of history shine such acts of love and sacrifice.  This principle belongs to no one organization, party or sect.  It can be made to bud and bloom as well under the fierce rays of the torrid zone, midst the icebergs of Greenland, or the everlasting snows of Caucasus.  It always carries the same smile, whether in the cabin or in the palace.  Following in its footsteps there is such a halo of glory, such a gentle influence, that it gathers within its sacred realm antagonistic natures, controls the elements of discord, stills the storm, soothes the spirit of passion, and directs in harmony all of man’s efforts to fraternize the world.  In this strangely selfish and uncertain world none are so affluent or favorably circumstanced as not at some time and in some way to become dependent.  Oh! there are emphasized essentialities that are not embraced among the commodities of the market, and in order to the realization of which money possesses no purchasing power.  To relieve the pungent pinchings of penury with raiment, food and shelter, and so send the sunshine of gladness to the poor and needy, is something—­indeed is much.  But, ah! the delicate and intricate mechanism of mind is out of gear, a secret sorrow swells and sways the heart, and unitedly they cry:  “Who will show us any good?  Who remove this rankling sorrow?  What good Samaritan competent to the task of affording relief to this dazed brain?” Oh! it is here that the trained votaries of the triple brotherhood bring to bear their wondrous power.  If it be true “that one touch of nature makes the whole world kin,” it is equally true that the ties of brotherhood here would wield their most potent influence, and of the true Odd-Fellow well may it be said, “He hath a tear for pity, and a hand open as day for melting charity.”

Truth! crown jewel of the radiant sisterhood of queenly graces!  She can not be crushed to earth.  The eternal years of God being hers, she, no more than her author, can go down.  Error may fling widely open his arsenal gates of defilement and deceit, and seek so earnestly and tirelessly the usurpation of her throne; but there she sits, as firmly and gracefully as when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy.  Such is truth, the rarest of all human virtues.