The heart and the hand – The heart in the open hand denotes candor, frankness, sincerity. There is no concealment of feelings and purposes.
There is cordiality in its greetings and pressure. It is “open as day to melting charity,” at the voice of suffering and distress. It giveth with good-will, knowing that “the Lord loveth a cheerful giver.” Hence, “the heart in the hand implies that when the Odd Fellow greets his brothers and sisters, the welcome proceeds from the heart. The Odd-Fellow extends not the right hand of fellowship, while the left hand holds the assassin’s dagger. His situation is not followed by a thrust at the vitals of his kinsman; but his heart is in his hand; and what the one in love dictates, the other in alacrity performs.”
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