10. Brother! while we have been thus pursuing this journey, which has brought us at length to the goal we set out to reach, the sands of our life have been falling, and we are nearer the "bourne whence no traveller returns." Old Time, with his unerring scythe, is on our track-we cannot escape him. Let us now impress this truth-let us ENGRAVE it on our hearts, that there is not a moment to waste; that, in the brief probation allotted to us here on earth, the good or ill we accomplish is all of us that shall live among

Part Second.

EXPLICATION OF THE SYSTEM AND DUTIES OF ODDFELLOWSHIP.

THE SUBORDINATE LODGE.

LODGE must be constituted by at least five members, including one qualified to preside at its meetings; the qualification ne cessary being that such presiding officer must have been instructed in the five degrees. The Vice-Grand, Secretary. Treasurer, and GuarIdian should also have received the five degrees. Any number of brothers not less than five, holding clearance or withdrawal cards from the Lodge or Lodges to which they were previously attached, may apply to the Grand Lodge of a State (or in case there is no Grand Lodge in the State, District, or Territory in which they reside, to the Grand Lodge of the United States) for a charter to open a Lodge, in the following words:

:

"The petition of the undersigned, holding withdrawal cards from Lodges legally recognised by your Right Worthy Body, respectfully represents, that it would be consistent with the advantage of the Order to establish a Lodge, to be located at blank. Wherefore, your petitioners pray, that a charter (or warrant) may duly issue in pursuance of the laws of your R. W. Body."

This, accompanied by the charter fee, (usually thirty dollars,) must be sent to the Grand Secretary, who will lay it before the Grand Lodge, which will authorize a charter in the following form:

66 INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLows.

"TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:-The Grand Lodge of the State of blank, by authority of a Grand Charter, granted to them from the Grand Lodge of the United States, held in the City of Baltimore, State of Maryland, doth hereby grant this Warrant or Dispensation to a number of brothers of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, residing in the State of blank, to establish a Lodge at the city of blank, to be hailed by the title of blank, for the encouragement and support of brothers of the said Order, when on travel or otherwise. And the said Lodge, being duly formed, is hereby authorized and empowered to initiate into the mysteries of the said Order any person or persons duly proposed and approved, according to the laws of Odd-Fellowship, and to administer to true brothers all the privileges and benefits arising therefrom; and to enact By-Laws for the government of their Lodge: Provided always, that said Lodge do act according to the Order, and in conjunction with, and obedience to, the Grand Lodge, adhering to and supporting the articles and charges delivered with this Dispensation; in default whereof, this warrant or Dispensation may be sus pended, or taken away, at the decision of the Grand Lodge.

"AND FURTHER, the Grand Lodge (in consideration of the due performance of the above) do bind themselves to repair all damages or destruction of the Dispensation, or charges, whether by fire or other accident: Provided sufficient proof be given that there is no illegal concealment or wilful destruction of the same. And the Grand Lodge will support this said Lodge in the exercise of their duty, and in the privileges and honors of the Order.

"In witness whereof, we have displayed the colors of our Order, and subscribed our names, and affixed the seal of the Grand [L. S.] Lodge of blank, this seventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and blank."

(Signed by the Grand-Master and all officers of the Grand Lodge, together with the names of such past officers of Lodges as may choose to sign.)

This document will be forwarded to the brothers ing for the charter, and the Lodge will be

organized by the Grand-Master or his Deputy, or a brother authorized by the Grand Lodge to perform such duty.

The first business of a Lodge is, of course, to increase its membership. We have elsewhere in this Manual expressed our opinion in reference to the caution which should guide Odd-Fellows in introducing individuals for membership. We are aware that it is extremely desirable to every Lodge, especially in its commencement, to enlarge its numbers; bnt we are sure that a Lodge never loses by exercising the utmost surveillance over its good name. One improper person admitted will often restrain a dozen worthy men from connecting themselves with a society, wherein an individual may have been received with whom a gentleman of correct moral senBibilities would not be willing to associate.

The name of a person desiring membership must be proposed by a member in writing, stating the age, residence, and business of the candidate; which must be referred to three brothers for investigation, who will report at the succeeding regular meeting, when the candidate must be balloted for with ballballots, three black balls (in some States two) being sufficient to reject him. A brother desiring admission by card, will be received in a similar manner to the above.

An Ancient Odd Fellow, whose card is out of

*An "Ancient Odd-Fellow" is a person who, having been regularly initiated into a legal Lodge of the Independent Order of OddFellows, has honorably withdrawn. by card, from the Lodge of which he was last a member; and, retaining his card. the same is out of date, by reason of more than twelve months having tran spired since it was granted; or, having lost his card, satisfactory evidence is presented of his honorable withdrawal from the Lodg in which he was last in membership.-Digest.

date, or which may have been lost, can be admitted by referring his application to a committee, and disposing of it in other respects as explained above. He must be admitted through the process above described.

It is usual, when a candidate is rejected, to send notice thereof to all the Lodges in the same and adjoining counties in and near which the rejection occurred. No rejected person can be lawfully balloted for in any Lodge, under six months from the time of his rejection. And no rejection can be reconsidered.

Any brother who is in good standing in his Lodge -that is, who is not in arrears, and against whom there is no charge "for conduct unbecoming an OddFellow" is entitled to receive from his Lodge, in case he should be sick or disabled, a sum of money weekly. The amount varies in extent-some of the Lodges giving twenty dollars per week, and others four or five. The usual allowance, however, is five dollars per week. Those Lodges which give large benefits charge large initiation fees and dues. Every worthy brother has a positive right to his weekly allowance. Neither is its payment to him a matter of charity. It belongs to him as really and unqualifiedly as would insurance money, due from the insurer of property against loss by fire. It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of Odd-Fellows, that there is no humiliation in receiving the Lodge benefits.

In case of the death of a worthy brother, there is allowed, usually, a sum not less than thirty dollars, to defray the expenses of burial. which is to be paid over, without delay, to the deceased brother's nearest of kin. The N. G., in the absence of competent re