of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 497

DEDICATION OF INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS
HOME FOR ORPHANS AND AGED

October 5, 1941
Frederick

WHILE much of mankind's energies today are being devoted to destruction,
and while the sum total of misery among the orphans and aged of the
world is being increased daily by the brutal acts of militaristic forces, we privi-
leged citizens of free America are gathered here this afternoon to commemorate
peacefully the establishment of an institution whose primary purpose is human
charity.

It might seem a discordant note in the very commendable exercise of this
afternoon to mention the horrors/that are occurring throughout so great a part
of the world today and every day. However, it is only by reminding ourselves
of what is transpiring elsewhere, as opposed to the thousands of occurrences of
•similar nature to this that are taking place regularly throughout these United
States, that we can get a true picture of what America means to everyone of
us, and of how necessary it is that this appreciation of our American freedom
be. in our minds at all times.

Your splendid Order, established for humanitarian purposes, of which this
very fine home is a sterling example, is permitted to exist in this Country
simply because we are free and because there is no self-constituted dictator to
whose every whim we must be subservient. Even though the aims and purposes
of our Order are of such a lofty nature that they add stature to the citizenship
of everyone of your members; even though the achievements of your members
throughout the United States in the field of social endeavor and of charity will
be recorded in gold letters in the book of human charity; even though your every
ceremonial and your established ritual teach the lessons of patriotism and
obedience to authority, and inspire you to a greater love of your fellowman;
even with all this, I say, you still could not continue to exist in any but a free
country such as. this, except at the pleasure of a domineering ruler.

All this is emphasized and should be emphasized, in this gathering and in
every gathering of public-spirited citizens throughout the United States, that
we may keep continually before us the dangers that threaten our Country.....
For there is a very real danger in that spirit of complacency that would tell
us that the things that have happened elsewhere, that have enslaved France and
Poland, that are causing the purges of hundreds of patriotic citizens in conquer-
ed Europe today, could never happen here. We must realize that they could
happen here, they will happen here unless the people of America lay aside their
factionalism and indifference, and achieve that spirit of national unity that is
essential to the successful defense of this grand and glorious Country.

It was the lack of such a spirit of unity that brought once-proud France
to her present unenviable position of serfdom. Two years ago, the people of