we make it our duty, and this duty a privilege that all are willing to regard. That this institution would be cherished by every person, is not to be expected; and it is not every individual that is qualified to be an Odd Fellow. It can find no sympathy in the heart of a selfish man, because its principles are not congenial to his mind. It will neither answer for the proud and haughty, because such feelings are not compatible with genuine benevolence; but to those only who recognize the scriptural injunction, "to do unto others as we wish they should, under like circumstances, do unto us,"—to look upon mankind as brothers, and act upon that golden maxim. Again it is said that it unites men of the most discordant opinions, and is immoral in its tendency, destroying religious feelings. We cannot claim our institution to be more perfect than any other charitable society that some persons should become members who are unworthy is not to be wondered at, and there never was a society but had some members whom they would wish were out of it. Because there should be one backslider in any christian denomination, is that any reason why the whole society should be condemned? I say that we are all liable to be deceived, and I am not aware that our society is any worse than other kindred associations. The order never stood in a more commanding position; it numbers some of the best men in the community; it not only spreads among the lower and middle classes of society, but pervades our higher circles. The Hon. Willie P. Mangum, although occupying the seat of President of the Senate of the United States, thought it not derogatory to his dignity to be considered an Odd Fellow, and no person ever felt himself lowered in dignity by being a member of our society. In the lodge, nothing is permitted that is calculated to give offence. to any member; religious debates are not tolerated, and we number members of all the different religious denominations of christians; and we are not aware of any member having seen any thing done calculated to affect their religious views and opinions. There is also another objection to the order, which is often made,—and that is, it is a secret society. Our principles we publish to the world, and the world knoweth them. The idea that any society of persons should recognize their own members by certain signs is allowed by every community. It exists in the camp and in all society, and therein consists the great mystery. We know our own members, although we may never have been personally acquainted with them. We are perfectly willing that we should be known, and that all our actions, as regards the objects of the institution, should be universally disseminated. We have our peculiar forms of doing business, and these, as they concern no other persons, we keep to ourselves. There is nothing in them calculated to offend the most fastidious, and our object is to impress on the minds of our members, deep respect for the institution; and there is nothing, as far as I am able to judge, in Odd Fellowship, detrimental to law, religion, and sound morality. In conclusion, we wish every one who has prejudice against us to give us a fair and faithful investigation. Do not hastily condemn us, but by our fruits ye shall judge us. And to those that love peace, and wish us well in our laudable undertaking, we say unite with us, and we are willing to say, without prejudice, you will love and appreciate our beloved order. Albany, April 12, 1845. SAMARITAN. (Original.] THE RETURN OF SPRING. BY FLORA DE Despotic winter now his sway resigns, And bright-robed spring ascends her flowing throne." THE return of spring is to every person a season of pleasure. The untaught child of nature, as well as him that is endowed with her richest ornaments and genius, looks forward with joyful anticipations to the time when nature appears robed in all her loveliness. It is now that the earth, which once appeared melancholy, is lovely, presenting a thousand objects to him that loves to admire the works of God. The fields are covered with green, and the trees that were once leafless are now clothed in nature's own garb. The air resounds with the sweet-toned notes of the merry songsters of the grove. Every tiny leaf, even a blade of grass, appears more beautiful to a person in Spring, than the choicest flowers at any other time of the year. While in the fields, contemplating the goodness of God, we mark the "superiority of the works of nature to those of art." The sun setting in its peerless majesty, the countless orbs that surround the blue vault of heaven, arranged in infinite order ;-could the Deist, while gazing on these, with thrilling delight and admiration, doubt the existence of a God? Could he believe that these came by mere chance? No! Unless he possesses a heart harder than adamant, he could not avoid being "led from nature up to nature's God." There are many useful lessons to be learned from Spring. It teaches us the perishable nature of all things earthly. How calm and beautiful are most of our mornings in spring. The modest violet rears its lovely head, comes forth to charm us for a while, when, perhaps, some thoughtless child plucks it for its own amusement, and it droops and dies. Thus it is with us in the gay morning of life. We set forward, full of hopes and anticipations; but often before we pass over half of that period, we meet with trials, and shed the tear of sorrow, or perchance some unforseen accident may launch us into an untimely grave. Know, then, ye gay votaries of the world, that "your days are numbered," even as the grass, which to day is, and to-morrow is "cast into the oven." Then be prepared, and learn to bear the chastening rod with christian fortitude, and seek a happier home, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Spring is a striking emblem of the resurrection of the body. The flowers on which we now love to gaze, were once coarse and shapeless roots, without beauty, but now, in bloom, they have traced themselves in indelible characters on our hearts. So it is with man; while in the grave, the body is an object of horror,—but how different at the resurrection! Then he will be clothed in garments of celestial splendor. In the Spring, all that has been buried in the earth comes forth, and its inhabitants, the feathered tribes, and man, the noblest work of God, joins in praising their Creator. So at the resurrection, the new-born infant, and the aged fathers and mothers of Israel, will tune anew their golden harps in one triumphant song to the Lamb that sitteth upon the throne. If then we hail the earthly spring as the blest harbinger of peace and happiness, who will not join in endeavoring to be one among that happy number that will greet in the beauties and treasures of the spring in the blissful seats of Paradise. Albany, March 24, 1845. MY RIVULET. Translated from the French of M. Pauffin, for the Gavel. Little streamlet, sweetly flow On thy rills with silvery sound; Winding and prolonged thy course, 'Mid these ruins, through these bowers; Little streamlet, on thou movest, Watering thorn and bathing flowers. Rivulet, the day thou'It see When a mightier stream will flow Through these fields, o'erwhelming thee: Thus my songs and life will go! TRANSLATIONS FROM GEORGE SANDS. THE FUTURE. THE future is enveloped in clouds; sometimes rosy and brilliant as those which ascend the horizon at the rising of the sun: sometimes red and sombre, like those which precede the storm and hide the thunderbolt. 66 THE GAMBLER. 'Every day the gambler sacrifices his honor to support his life. The gambler is morose, he is a stoic, he triumphs coldly, he yields coldly: he passes in a few hours from the lowest ranks of society to the highest,-in a few hours he re-descends to the point from which he set out, and this without a change of attitude or countenance. In a few hours, without quitting the place where his demon enchains him, he passes through all the vicissitudes of life, and by all the chances of fortune which represented the different social conditions. Turn by turn, king and beggar, he climbs at a single bound the immense ladder, always calm, always master of himself, always sustained by his strong ambition, always excited by the corrosive thirst that devours. him. What will he be in an hour? Prince or slave? How will he come out of that den? Naked, or bent under the weight of gold? He will return there to-morrow to rebuild his fortune; to lose or to triple it. That which is impossible for him, is repose; he is as the bird of the tempest, who cannot live without agitated waves and furious winds. He is accused of loving gold! He loves it so little that he throws it away by handsful. These gifts of hell can neither profit nor satiate him. Hardly rich, he awaits being ruined, that he may again taste that strong and terrible emotion, without which life is to him insipid. What then is gold in his eyes? Less, in his own estimation, than are the sands of the sea in yours. But gold is to him an emblem of felicities and evils which he seeks and braves. Gold is his plaything, his enemy, his God, his dream, his demon, his mistress, his poetry. It is the shadow which pursues, attacks, and holds him, but which permits him to escape that he may have the pleasure of recommencing the struggle, and running once more side by side with his destiny. This is beautiful? It is absurd; it is necessary to condemn him, because his energy, thus employed, is without profit to society; because the man who directs his abilities towards a similar end, steals from his fellow men all the good that he might be able to do them with less of egotism." THE MASQUERADE. "I have ta "I had a very different idea all this time," said she. ken you all for the dead, and I, living, passed you before me in review; I said to myself, there is something strangely mournful in the invention of these masquerades. Is it not sad, indeed, thus to resuscitate the ages which are no more, and force them to divert the present? These costumes of times past, which represent to us extinct generations, are they not, in the midst of the intoxication of a fete, a frightful warning for us to recall the brevity of the days of man? From whence are the high thoughts which burn under these bonnets and turbans? From whence the young and vivacious hearts which palpitate under these doublets of silk; these bodies beautified with gold and with pearls? From whence these fond women and belles, who clothe themselves in heavy stuffs, and who cover their rich headdresses with gothic jewels? Alas, from whence are these kings of a day, who have shone like us? They have passed without dreaming of the generations which have preceded them; without dreaming of those which must follow them; without dreaming of themselves,-they who cover their persons with gold and perfumery, who surround themselves with pomp and melodies, awaiting the coldness of the grave and the forgetfulness of the tomb!" * * CORRESPONDENCE. Albany, April 11, 1845. TO THE EDITOR OF THE GAVEL-SIR: It has been a matter of surprise to many of the members of Excelsior Degree Lodge to have the name of the said Lodge omitted from the record of the order for this district since last December. In compliance with the request in your last number, of transmitting inform ation in relation to subordinate Lodges, I would inform you that Excelsior Degree Lodge meets every Tuesday evening at Commercial Buildings, corner of South Market and Hudson streets; that it numbers over ninety members, and is in a very prosperous condition. There seems to have been a new spirit infused into the members for the last three months. The present officers are punctual in attendance, and that "lukewarmness," and "unwillingness to serve in office" represented by the late D. D. G. M., in his report to the Grand Lodge, has entirely disappeared, and a disposition to sustain the Degree Lodge seems now to actuate all the working members. The following is a list of the officers elected and installed for the present term:-Andrew Halnon, N. G.; Wm. Rennie, A. N. G.; Cornelius Glen, D. A. N. G.; Thomas W. I. Groves, P. G.; Eugene Kissam, v. G.; Matthew Bray, Secretary; S. S. Barnes, Treasurer. EXCELSIOR. Glad are we that the "EXCELSIOR" is so prosperous, and that the officers attend to their duty. We trust there will be no more cause for so just a complaint as has been made against it heretofore. As to the list of officers being omitted, we can assure the Brother the fault was not ours, but rests entirely with the officers of Excelsior Degree Lodge, as we never received it for publication. Had "Excelsior" attended to his duty, as he should have done, he would have had no reason to complain at this late day. One word, in connection with this subject, as to anonymous correspondents. Hereafter, we shall exclude every thing of the above character, unless accompanied by a responsible name-the name to be used or not, as the author may deem proper.-PUBLisher of Gavel. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: Quebec, April 8, 1845. The officers elected and installed in Albion Lodge, No. 4, are—Joseph Trampleasure, N. G.; John Wilson, V. G.; E. L. Montizambert, Secretary; George Hall, Treasurer. Yours, in bonds of F. L. and T., |