The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-04-28
Celebration by Fort Penn lodge, No. 134
independent Order of Odd Fellows.

celebration Dy ort rem rouge, Nu. Ao1
Independent Order Of Odd Fellows.
On Tuesday last the members of the
above lodge, established in this place,
turned out in full regalia, in commemor-
alton of the fortieth anniversary of the
introduction of the society into this coun'
try. At 8 o'clock, the members of the
Lodge issued from their Hall, aud march
I'd in procession, headed by the Strouds,
burg Cornet Band, to the Methodist Epis
copal Church. The exercises of the day
were opened by an eloquent and beauti-
fol prayer, by the Pastor of the Church,
Rev. J. C. THOMAS, after which, the fol-
lowing appropriate Ode was sung.
TUNE-MENDoN. M.
No narrow sphere confines our zeal
Our hearts no fetter'd limits see;
But the sweet influence we feel,
Is universal-boundless
On Friendships base securely stands
Our Order,-and where'er is found
Suffering or sorrow,-there our hands
Pour forth the ta lm to heal the wound.
Love holds the lamp to guide our feet,
On mercy's mission, and lis ray
Illumines every dark retreat
And cheers !ife's rugged toilsome way.
Truth points the weap pons of our war,
'Gainst vice, whate'er The guise it wears,
And still unscath'd by blight or scar,
The laurel wreath of victory bears.
Hail! Friendship, Lore and Truth! the ties
Which bind our wiling hearts in one
Thine is the spirit that we prize,
And thine the power we joy 10 own.
Heavenward we look, high is our aim,
And Lore the rock on which we rest,
Lea Friendship keep our sorls the same,
And Truth illume each brothers. breast.
God our great Master! teach us e'er
Thy Friendship, Love and Truth to trust,
So shall we meet without a fear,
The hour that gives us back to dust.
The audience was then addressed BY
II. B BURNHAM, Esq, of Mauch Chunk
who was listened to With marked atten.
tion throughout. Mr.. BURNHAM, after 9
brief exordium proceeded to give curse
~ view of the rise, progress aud gradual
development of the Order. He said they
we're met to celebrate the fortieth ami
versary of American Odd Fellowship
On the 26th day of April, 1919, Thomas
Wildey, John Duncan, Richard Rush
worth, John Welch and John Cbestem
of Baltimore, being the only members o.
the order in that City. met and formed
themselves into lodge, under the name
of Washington Lodge, No. l. From thi:
small beginning bad originated the Grand
Lodge of the United States, the State
Grand Lodgrs, and the numerous EDcamp
Isests and Subordinate Lodges that are
scattered throughout every part Of The
country. Forty years had now passed
away. and Thomas WiIdey still lives tc
zee the glorious fruits that have sprung
from the institution be originated, or ra.
ther transplanted. He still lives to see
Lodges numbering over two hundred
thousand members, acting together in
Friendship. Love and Truth" minister
ing to the sick, relieving the widow, and
educating the orphan. Mr.. B. then pro.
eeeaed to give an explication of the lead
isg principles of the Order, and the mo
tises By which they we're setuated. He
combatted with earnestness, and, as we
thought, with success, the many objec
tions that have from time to lime been
urged against the Order. Nor did be
wish the Ladies to carry away the i'm
preston that they were excluded from the
good work laid out for the industrious
haod Of Odd Fellowship. The field was
broad enough, the work was good enough.
to employ tie services, and enlist the
synpathies Of the fair orBsWeuts of crea-
ton. Degrees bad already been confer.
ed upon benevolent and charitable sisters,
who now hand 10 hsUd with their hus-
bands might go abroad and carry hope
and JOY aad consolation into many sor-
pow-strckeu home.
After holding the uuabsted interest of
sis bearers for upwards Of ap hour and