The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-27

the treasury has been obliged to borrow from the
banks, and leave to his successor an unburthened,
if not plethoric treasury.
The Odd Fellows Celebration.
Our streets presented yesterday spectacle as
novel as it was imposing. About ten thousand
Odd Fellows, q third of whom were visiters from
different parts of the Union, turned out In pro-
cession to celebrate the fortieth anniversary Of
the institution of their Order in this country.
Although the insignia and banners Of this asso-
citation are not unfamiliar to our citizens, this ia
the first time that its members have assembled
here in such strength, or with so much pomp and
display. The scene was an exceedingly interest
ing one, and attracted an immense concourse Of
spectators The benevolent objects and extern
sive charities of the Order are so widely felt aud
appreciated, that as might have been expected,
the celebration embraced in its range a larger
class Of sympathies than is usually manifested
towards secret organizations of this character.
The origin and spread Of this association in the
United States are SO remarkable that we may be
excused for briefly reyerting to them. 1t had its
beginnings in small public house in Baltimore,
called the Seven Stars, and kept by man named
Will. Lupton. Here, on the 26th Of April, 18l9
the present patriarch of the American branch of
the Order, Thomas Wildey, with the only four
other members who could be found in the city,
met and formed themselves into lodge under
the name Of Washington Lodge No. l. Requir-
ing, however, some authority to work under in
order to guard against the evils likely to result
from the system of selfinsttution, they sought
and obtained a charter from the Duke of York
Lodge, of Preston, England, under which they
were legally constituted and duly authorized as
the head of the Order, to grant charters and ex-
ercise supreme authority in the United States.
In this commencement, humble as it was, origi-
mated the Grand Lodge Of the United States,
with its numerous ramiications of subordinate
lodges now spread in every direction throughout
the Union.
The growth of the Order was slow, until the alb
duction of Morgan and the decline of Masonry
gave 1t its first great impetus. Our readers can
not have forgotten the excitement that pervaded
the country in consequence of the disappearance
of this man, or the political use that was made of
it. The results to the Masonic utilization were dis
astrous. 1t lost within the two following years
about two hundred thousand members, and in
New York alone, out Of three hundred lodges,
only seventy, and these merely skeletons re-
NAMED. The Odd Fellows, of course, gained
largely by these Objections, and we accordingly
find them rapidly increasing in numbers until
they have reached their present aggregate Of
over two hundred thousand. The Masonic order,
which has recovered from the odium cast upon it
by the Morgan affair, numbers about third
more. Like the Masons, the Odd Fellows have
long since renowned all allegiance to the Grand
Lodge of England. In 1s43, we are told that
1.-The Grand Lodge Of the United States formally
and unanimously severed the connection, and
declared itself the only fountain and depository
of Independent Odd Fellowship on the globe"
We have alluded to the works of charity and
benevolence which constitute the main objects
and the daily duties of Odd Fellowship. No esti-
mate can be formed of the immense amount of
good which is done by its members. But for
their exertions the eleemosynary aid which is
doled ont by State and corporate institutions
would have to be increased to perhaps double
its present amount But there are offices of
kindness and of charity which public institutions
cannot easily discharge, and which it is the espe
cial duty of the Odd Fellows to perform. They
not only relieve the necessitous, but they visit
the sick and desolate, administering words Of
hope and comfort to those who might otherwise
think themselves deserted by their friends and
society. In thus playing the part Of the Good
Samaritan, the Odd Fellow performs one of the
noblest and hottest duties which it can fall to the
lot of humanity to fulfil. 1t is the more ad-
mirable in his case from the fact that
as the members of this society are ia
general Woodworking and busily occupied men,
they have but little time left for the rest
and recreation which are indispensable to recruit
their exhausted energies.
OF the influence which is welded by secret
organization, composed of so large q number
Of substantial and respectable men, having afllia-
tons throughout the Union, Of course no accu-
rate idea can be formed We must remain con-
tent with the belief that it is exercised for useful
and benevolent purposes and will not be diverted
to objects which might prove injurious to the
public interests. 1t is obvious that we're the &C.
cult force which it possesses brought to bear on
political schemes it would become power in the
commonwealth dangerous in proportion to it's
irrceponsibility.
Flush TIMES AHEAD.-From urmistakeable in
dcations about US in the commercial centre of
the Union, there can be no reasonable doubt that
we are close upon q repetition of the flush times
that Immediately preceded the crash of 1857.
That We went through that crisis 80 well, all
things considered, and have recovered from it,
effects so soon, is striking proof Of the recupc-
rative energies and elastic vigor Of our country
and the enterprise and pluck OF our traders
They are ruined one day, but jump up and try it
over again the next With ali the sang yrod in the
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