Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-04-30
Odd Fellows Supper Remarks Of Maj
Mcdaniel.

Mcdaniel.
Our report Of the proceedings ofthe Anniver
sary Supper at the Phiiiips House on last Tues
day evening being necessarily gotten up hasti
| ", some inaccuracies occurred IN the excellent
remarkaef our friend. Mai Mcdaniel. Refer
euee having been made by Mai. Walker, In I
subsequent speech, toHome slight errors con
tanned u the address Of Mr.. Med, we give
correct report Of il, which II is claimed will
be subatantiated by the records Of the Order -
The address will be interesting, an giving al
early history Of Odd Fellowship In the United
Stales, and for the valuable statistics contained
ia II,
Mr.. McDaniels was called upon to respond t.
the following toast
THoNAs WmpKr-The First Grand Sire Of
| Odd Fellowship In America. The Order o
which he laid the foundation stone, shall be his
monument, more enduring than brass.
He said; Brethren-- You know that aon mol
in the habit Of public speaking But on occa
siOns Of this kind, when around the festive
board, end listening TO eloquent speeches
sparkling with wit and brilliant senti
ments, we naturally become imbued with the
spirit That surrounds us, and we too thiuk VIC
can make speech. claim no inspiration, 10,
night, save that which flows from the bright
and happy corntenances that surround me.
Why Il is that have been called upon to res,
pond to this sentiment, am at less to know.
Isit because am the oldest member presenti
No. Is It because know more about the Or
der than any one else here2 Certainly not. Is
II because know more Rbo ut the venerable man
named inthe sentiment than some others around
meS This, possibly, may be the case. For sir,
twas my good fortun 20 be native Of the city
which holds the proud distinction of having
given birth to our beloved Order in this Repub.
lie. have known him from my boyh hood up.
In the winterof lsls-l9, few individuals
in the humble purs uits Of life,-five in number
l believe--met in the city Of Baltimore, aud
IN conversation upon the social and political
institutions Of their own native England, Odd
Fellowship happened to become one Of Their
topics Out of the FIVE present, two we're found
to be menbers 10 their own native home. From
this casual meeting, an advertisement found its
way into the public Journals of the city, cal
ling upon all Odd Fellows who might see 1t, tC
meet at given time aud place. Five respon
ded to the call. And by this small. bu, gallant
band Of FIVE, Thomas Wildey was delegated tC
cross the Atlantic, and procure from the high
est authorities Of the Order in England, char
ter for the establishment Of the first Lodge ia
America.
Nobly did he fulfil his glorious mission and
on the 2Oth day of April 1919, the first Lodge
of Independent Order of Odd Fellows in tn,
United States, was instituted in the city O.
Baltimore, under the name and title of Wash
ington Lodge, No. /.
Thomas Wildey was its first presiding off
Ger; and in the year 1896 or 1897 ne was elected
the first Grand Sire of the United States. From
this small beginning, sir, he can tonight count
four thousand Lodges as jewels in the laure
crown that decorates his venerable brow, will
membership of two hundred and twenty fiv,
thousand to assist him in bearing aloft the ban
ner which, by his exertions, was first unfurleC
TO the breeze
During the year 1858, that banner had in
scribed upon its ample folds, Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars, as the amount distributed
in single year, for The relief of the sick, tn,
burial of the dead, the support of the widow
and the education of the orphan.
And, my brethren, may we not truly say tha
these results, although quietly and peacefully
achieved, will stand as bright and enduring
monuments to our Order, and it's illustriour
founder on these Western shores, when those o
brass and stone shall have mouldered anc
crumblod away.
And, now, in conclusion, let me offer:
THOMAS WnDKr--May his descent to tn
grave In old age, be as peaceful and happy, a
his career in the cause Of Odd Fellowship ha
been bright and glorious.