Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-10-16
Odd Fellows Celebration.

Lodges. who participated in the interesting and i'm
posing ceremonies The procession was the largest
Of the kind that appeared in our streets, and
the elegant becoming and rich regalia Of the Order
was admired by every one.
According to the published programme the pro-
ccSsion formed ut / o'clock the Plaza under the
direction Of L. b. Hopkins, Chief Marshal, und pre-
ceded by the Placervile Brass Band, marched to
Upper Placrrville; returning. passed through our
principal streets, and halted at the Presbyterian
church on Coloma street. The day was cloudy, cold
and dSagreeablc, threatening rain, and at intervals
it fell in light Showers which prevented many from
joining the procession and kept the ladies' ut home
The church was crowded with spectators, and the
exercises passed of to the qualification Of all pres
ent. After music by the Band and prayer by the
Grand Chaplain, Rev. ID. +. Macdonald, Of COloma,
Col. s. J. X. Handy, who had been selected TO de
liver the OrAtiun, rose and in clear and distinct
voice delivered the following beautiful and appro'
prutc
ADDRESS.
e! LADIES ANp FELLOW CITIZENS; NOBfE GRAND AM
OpD Fellows We meet to celebrate the OrganiZa-
ton at Frankng Ledge No. "a, /. o. o. F.Of PA
cervlle, coUniIed from Morning Star Lodge No ~,
of this City, and installed the 9TH Of March, lSjS.
1t is among the best affections OF the heart to rccnr
frequently, Ia the day Of our Nativity, whether
viewed rs individuals, societies or nations. II is n
feeling common to the human family, be they He
brcws. Christians or ldolntOrs.
We are led away by the laws Of our being to look
from the present, and connect ourselves with the
past, in order To strengthen our hopes and enjoy
menIs Of the future. The happy blending Of the
White Rose with the Red, after the long snnguinary
wars at the rival Houses ut York aud Lancaster,
that hud Shroudcd the land in mourning tinginG the
green swnrd Of England with purple gore, is ever
held in grateful remembrance by the people Of Great
Britain. And the Revolution that placed the House
Of Orange the throne Of that seag,rt Island, is
ever aud anon looked to with exulant joy, by the
friends Of civil and religious liberty Throughout
Christcndom.
We, also, rs grateful people, keep wildly in view
the natal day Of WashingtOn-a name cnshTincd in
the hearts Ut this nation, and Of patriots the world
whichever bearing about him patriotism 50 pure
that his eye, even turned ON empty Epucr, benmed
keen with honor" We tread lightly when approach
ing his grave, rs though we wcTp on cOnSecrated
ground Hnd iOndly treasure spire Of grass, or a
flower, gently plucked from that hallOwed place, as
II mcnlcntO Of departed Esther. In like manner we
celebrate the dav Of our Nations birth with cherish
cd feelings Of affection, amounting almost 10 vener-
atiOn at the remembrance Of its authors Scarcely
q domestic or national festival among the Jewish
people, was uncOnnccted with the past Their ieasts
had reference to the special mercirs Of Heaven TO
them. hepcculinr and the highly favored children
Of the covenant made bv God with Abraham. The
passover commentaries the sparing kindness mud
love Of the Almighty towards the male issue and
first born Of the tribes in Egypt and the Purm keeps
bright the remembrance ot their signuI rescue from
the extcrmnating decree Of the Assyrian King,
through the HASTINGS and prayers, intcrccssOns and
the sclESacricing devotion to her nation, by royal
Esther. daughter Of the tribe If Benjamin
And we, as Odd Fellows, delight 10 dwell on the
rise, progress, and the hOuriShng condition Of Odd
Fellowship which. though small At first, has expand
ed in numbers, wealth aud influence, 50 that the
blind, the lame, and the dCcrcpid Of ull nations,
iaN.. Bal
from the sorrows and the ills of life being sustained
refreshed and invigorated by the blessings Of the
Order, rs is the tcEdcr grass of the fields by the
gentle dcws Of the morning.
Odd Fellow ship il is claimed by some enthusiasts,
derived its origin during the imperial reign OF Titus,
utter he had destroyed Jerusalem, by throwing down
her walls and palaces, and by fire, and sword, and
famine, produced such horrors never before nor
since recorded ur any people, aud celebrating.
even. the beautiful and gorgeous Temple whittier
the tribes repaired for the YEARLY sacrifice, Others
claim that the Order is rs old as the Pyramids ot
Egypt Whether these claims for the antiquity Of
our Order be true, or DC fabulous ancient history
does not inform II il tonk its rise in the dark
ages, the evidence has been destroyed by the lapse
OF centuries. Its beginning in Great Britain, even,
cannot be arrived ut With any degree Of certainty,
tho subject still mining there. in very great OBJ
security. As early however, us the vcur l1Ss Mont.
gomcry composed Sung for II London Society II
men, supposed to have been ancient Odd Fellows,
COMMENCING
when Friendship, Love, and Truth abound
i Among band Of brothers,
The cup otJoy goes galy round,
Each shares the bliss Of others;
Sweet roses grace the thorny way,
Along tbs vale of snrrow,
- The flowers that shed their leaves to-day
Shall bloom again Tomorrow;
How grand In age, how fair In youth,
Are holy Friendship Love, and Truth"
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was in.
Stiuted in England in the year 1918, being seceders
from the Union Lodges; and under stricier man.
ngenlent, and with higher aims, and uster views Of
the object and design If the brotherhood, it very
soon Outgrcw the parent Lodges.
The most interesting and profitable inquiry for us
is its establishment in the United States. 1t has
been claimed that, in the year 1902, Lodge Of |. D.
Of .. +. was in operation in Baltimore, and one in
the city of New York, in the year 1906. II such
Lodges did exist, it but feeble aud abortivc
effort at that time, To transplant the Order from
Grvat Britain, and cause it TO lay hold ON the mind
and the affections at tue American people. The
first successful impulse given to the Order, was du-
ring the year 1919, when Washington Lodge was
instituted in the city If Baltimore, by beloved
brother, Thomas Widely, Scotchman, and by
choice citizen ii Mary land.
II then soon took firm root, having q genial eli
mate and rich soil for its growth, nurSed by the
care, and the love Of its founder. Since them the
progress Of the Order has been rapid scattering its
blessings like "the early and the latter ruin, falling
on the pHrchcd earth.
We. AS u brotherhood, now have Lodges in each
State. the Territories, and the District OF Columbia,
besides our Encampmcnts; and extending to the
Sandwich Islands, and other parts Of the Ocean, 80
that at present and prospectvcly, We may j0yOusly
adopt the language Of poetry
"On halcyon wings, moments pass,
LIES cruel cares hcEuiling;
Old Time lays down his scythe and glass,
In gay R0Nd humor smiling;
| With crmine beard, and fnrclock gray
His reverend front Adorning
lie looks like winter tut ned to May,
Night S0ftcned into Morning;
From these delightful fountains How
AmbrOEial riS " pleasure;
Can man DESIRE eau Heaven best0W
| A more Respondent treasurer
| Adorned with gems richly bright
We form . Constellation,
| Where every star with modest light
Shall gild HE proper station,
How grand In Age, how fair In Youth.
| Arc holy Friendship, Love, and Truth"
We number in this Union, including California,
upwards If three thousand five hundred Lodges,
with an aggregate membership far exceeding two
| hundred thousand. In this State we number about
eighty Lodges, and fourteen Encampments, with
four thousand three hundred contributing members.
In the year 1881 there collected in dues from
members in California, $l03,0OU.
| From this sum the following dsburse-
ments we're made;
| For tho relief of brothers, $4,000.
For the relief Of widows and Orphans SOOu.
| For the education Of the orphan, 5000.
| For the burial Of the dead, l,60O
The aggregate property Of the Order, in.
Guiding real estate Lodge HALLS Libraries &C, is