Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-04-30

les OF the Grand Lodges OF the several States
assembled at Baltimore for the purpose Of or.
ganizing the Grand Lodge of the United States
and proceeded to the election of officers under
the new constitution. Thomas WIIdey, whom
we have seen as tho first to introduce the
present Order into the Union, was unanimous
ly elected the Most Worthy Grand Master, q
tribute Of respect to which he was well enti.
tied In consideration Of his URtiring zeal and
eminent services in furthcriug the cause Oi
Odd Fellowship. On the 22d of February,
1925, day memorable in the annals Of Odd
Fellowship, the n. w. Grand Lodge Of the
United States held its First Annual Commu-
nication, having at that time in connection only
four Grand Lodges, viz. of Maryland, Massa.
chusetts, N. York and Pennsylvania; and nine
Subordinate Lodges, located three in Balti.
more, two In Boston, one in New York and
three in Philadelphia.
From the time Of tho final adjustment Of the
government Of the Order, the success and pros
pCrity Of Odd Fellowship Was secured. Al.
though in it's days Of obscurity and before its
merits and advantages became generally known
its progress was comparatively slow. Com
mencing, as we have seen. In 1926 with nine
Lodges in four States, the reports to the Grand
Lodge show that in 1880 the number of subor-
dinatc Lodges had increased to fifty-cight and
were located in six different States. In 184O
the number Of Lodges had increased to one
hundred and fifty-five, located in twenty diff
fcrent States In 1850 the number of Lodges
was two thousand three hundred and fifty.
four, located in thirty one States, one Terrific.
~, and one Lodge at the Sandwich Islands,
In 1850 the whole number of contributing
members in good standing as appears by the
report to the United States Grand Lodge was
one hundred and scventy-fOur thousand six
hundred and thirty seven. BY the reports re.
ceivcd by the K. W. Grand Lodge at its an.
nual meeting in 1858, it appears that there was
then in existence under its jurisdiction, three
thousand five hundred and five subordi
nate Lodges, and thirty-nine Grand Lodges.
That the Order has extended into and is now
enjoying prosperous existence in every State
and Territory Of this Confederacy; and that
the whole number of members in good stand
ing is one hundred and lightweight thousand
seven hundred, exclusive of the numbers in
arkansas and Nebraska, which arc not inciud'
cd in tho computation, as those Lodges failed
to make their report. To show further the cx.
traOrdinary growth and prosperity of the Or,
der, and to show also, to some extent, its pur.
poses and objects, repeat the statement Of its
Financial affairs reported at the last meeting
Of the Grand Lodge. The amount of the re-
ccipts for the fiscal year ending june 30th
1858, was 81 ,223, ,0s5 O3. OF this sum @274,
904 Of were paid for the relief poor and dis
trcssed brothers Of the Order. 500, 90
was paid for the relief Of widows and theiI
families. l1,2S7 OG was paid for the educa
tiOn of orphan children, and SCI, 1854 20 fol
the burial of the dead.
We turn for short time to consider the
| Of fhO (lrsln in oil Tho E,.,t
Lodge in this State was California Lodge, No
/, instituted in San Francisco, sometime in
the year 1850; Sacramento Lodge, No. 9, " as
the next, and instituted in the same year
The first Lodges here we're organized under
charters derived from the Grand Lodge Of the
United States, but on the 18th Of May, 1853,
in pursuance Of call made by ID. d. G. Sire
Parker, the Past Grands Of this State met in
San Francisco, and there instituted the Grand
Lodge Of California. In this body only eight
Lodges were represented. At the meeting in
May, 1854. one year thereafter, the delegates
from twenty-five Lodges were in attendance
and thereafter so rapid was the increase in
S>;S State, that at the meeting Of the Grand
Lodge in May, 1858, there were in prosperous
working order over seventy Subordinate
Lodges, with an aggregate membership o.
3l02. But long before the institution here o
any Lodge, Odd Fellows had recognized each
other, and were coming chccrfully to the dis
charge Of those duties, the one to the other
which are enjoincd and required by the les
sons Of bcnevOlcnce taught within our Lodge
rooms. In the carly days Of the State whc n
as many present will remember, there was sC
much Of dcstitntiOn and distress, of sickness
and death, Odd Fellows came cheerfully for
ward to the relief of the suffering. Many
brother in the depths Of misery, at a tint
when no aid was possible from friends or rel
ativcs, when kindness and careful attention
was least OF oil purchaSabIc with money, haC
reason to bless the humane and charitable Or
der through whose means he was again re
stored to health and life. While those wht
relied upon the voluntary assistance of society
were suffered to die neglected and alone, Ode
Fellows known to be such, received at tn,
hands Of the more fortunate portion Of thu
brotherhood, that kindness and attention
which is never looked for from strangers, anC
not always received from friends. The sum-
which were paid, although considerable
formed but q small item of the actual benefits
bestowed. In most cases it was not money
which the sufferer required, but those services
which money alone was unable to recompense
There were thousands Of Odd Fellows II
this State before any Lodges were established
Many, who came at on early day, although
willing to perform the duties imposed by thci
vows were yet deprived Of one Of their chief
est pleasures, viz: Of meeting in weekly con
verse with the brothers Of tho Order, and will
them listening to the beautiful and sublim,
lessons Of the ritual. To many the same al
vantagcs arc still to some extent denied. Their
are doubtless also many in our midst Wit
having once been members Of the Order, arr
yet as ardent admirers of the institution, ant
as cordial we'll wiShers for its prosperity, 81
when first they united themselves with it; bu
who believe that from the great length o
!. time since they were in active membership
J they would be unable to unite with US with
out again passing through the ceremonies O
initiation. To non affiliated brothers, II Their
arc any such within the sound of my voice
4 hAyetO Aay, that no such impedlnent I,
} their IiiniHg with us now exists, for it Is pro
:, vidOd In the Consultations Of the Order tina
"any brothers who arrived on the Pacifi,
Coast prior b the first day Of JanuaEy.A. D
7 1866, and have resided hero or on tho island
, Of the Pacific since that time. who have. q,
u cards Of clearance and arc not connected viii
any Lodge upon this coast or tho Islands 0
the Pacific Ocean, and who have not bceI
. Nlapended or expelled for misconduct, or
declared to be ancient Odd Fellows, and MAJ
be- -a4Dlttea p PembsFship p any Lodge 4
;SiS jUssSac y re sa9a 2cHnsE sea sIO'
The otherwise strict ruIesOf the Order Il
regard to membership was thus relaxed lof th
benefit alone Of khQao upon the hciA coast