Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-04-27
I. o. Q. r.
ANNIVERSARY SUPPER,
AT THE PHILLIPS HOUSE,
TUESDAY EVENING, April 90, 1859,


was 30 unpleasant as TO greatly interfere with
the ceremonies Of the Fortieth Anniversary Of
the institution Of Odd Fellowship 10 the United
Ststes, were extended into the evening. A
more disagreeable night at this season Of the
year could not well be imagined. But in spite
Of the storm, a very large number Of the Order,
accompanying the Daughters Of Rebecca and
their lady guests--together seventy twOin num-
ber--assemble at the Phillips House, in Honor
Of The Day on which Odd Fellowship was
introduced into this counlry-4O years ago.
AT about half past o'clock, the large party
sat down to one Of the most sumptuous, elegant
and recherche table entertainments ever given
in this city. II Is impossible for us TO dojus
tice TO the subject in any description we may
make of the Table and its freight Of luxuries.
II is enough 10 say that Mr.. HuBBrLL and his
assistants exceled any previous effort in theine;
and that is, as the public knows, a very high
eulOgy. The remark Of admiration was gen
ersl, and hearty After the ''saying Of Grace"
by Rev. Mr.. Bailo, the company did ample jus
tce to the bounty spread out lavishly before
then.
Capt. d. M. Ayres presided At the banquet
with ease and dignity. We do not know who
supported him. not learning the names Of the
vice presidents, IL any thee were. (And right
here permit us, parenthelically, to say that we
propose only TO give meagre outline of the pro-
ceedinga had at the Supper We are compell
ed, for want of time and space to either give an
epitome, or make mere mention of the occa
sion. We prefer the former, and hope it will,
under the circumstances, prove satisfactory to
our Teaders)
The exercises Of the evening were commenced
by reading the first Of the Irregular tosts =;
]. Thomas Wildey-The first Grand Sire Of
Odd Fellowship In America. The Order of
which he laid the Foundation Stone, shall be
ais monument, more enduring than brass.
This was responded TO by Jas. Mcdaniel,
Esq. He said he could not tell why he was
called upon TO respond 10 the toast, unless it
was because he was born and reared in the city
in which Odd Fellowship was instituted in the
United States. He had known Mr.. Wildey
when boy, and had known and admired him
ever since, In 1919, Mr. W., when in converse
tion with some companions who had been mem
befs Of the Order In England, conceived the
purpose Of getting up the institution In this
country, and had notice inserted in news
paper, calling upon the brethren to Ii. Get at a
place appointed, on certain night. The result
Of this was that himself and four others met,
and among other things determined to send to
England and procured q charter aud authority
to act, and returning organized in Baltimore
Washington Lodge, No. |, the parent lodge of
the United States. Wildey then set himself to
work in iustituting lodges throughout the
eastern cities, and in 1921, had the Grand
Lodge OF the U. 8. instituted, Mr. W. then
went into Statistics Of the order. comparing
the past with the present and winding up with
a beautiful eulogy upon the founder of the
institution.
2. Washington Lodge, No. /, of Baltimore
The grain OF Mustard Seed planted forty years
ago, has become great tree, under whose
spreading branches thousands more find CRATE
ful repose.
Lieut. Dawson was set down to respond TO
this toast, but not being present, the order was
proceeded with.
3. The Independent Order OF Odd Fellows
in England and America-Mother and DauRh.
ter, may they labor together in the princiTl
OF our Order Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Major Walker was called upon to respond
He said It was asking rather too much OF him
that he should be expected to take charge Of
both mother and daughter; he protested, as he
did not desire to be brought in guilty Of mur.
der on both continental He could not ex pect
to do justice to such an important subject in the
limits of Supper speech. Odd Fellowship
was Of very ancient origin; Moses and Aaron
were certainly Odd Fellows. In later years the
hardy sons Of toll in Old England nurtured
and sustained the institution; they held their
meetings in Club rooms, and when gathered
together in the spirit Of brotherhood, they be
came generous, discussed questions of interest,
drank aud sang songs these were times when
Bin>toddy, porter, beer and other genial liquids
were not excluded from good society. Since
thosejo days, however, the scales have fall
en- from the eyes Of the brotherhood and since
then Odd Fellowship has taken lead in all
great moral reforms. But he need not eulogize
the Order their eulogy was engrayen on the
hearts OF many thousands whom IL had relieved
aud many thousands more whom II had ele-
vated in the moral scale Of brother aud sister.
hood. Major W. then went into a history Of
the institution from first accounts Of it in Old
England. wherein he differed slightly from his
Bro. Mcdaniel, and endeavored to show thai
Washington Lodge, No. l., Of Baltimore was
working some year or two before a charter was
obtained from the old country; the Odd Eel
lOwship in this country was rather independent
Of European origin or institution; that W,
were not indebted to her. The lodges In Eng
land did not work together. In New York il
1906, Shakespeare Lodge No /. was established
but soon went down; was revived in 1911, and
again in 1873. Prince Regent Lodge was or
ganiEed in N. Y. In 1916. but died out The
speaker then went into suecinct history Of Mr.
Wildey's operations; after establishment o.
Washington Lodge, he organized lodges il
various places east; quite number were inst
tuted in the years I9, go aud 81, Mr.. Will
dey travelled on a mission Of brotherhood, es
tablishing lodges. and bringing them all into q
harmonious working condition; institutiug
common standard Of signs, emblems, &c.-
Faith, Hope and Charity 10 the motto, and b,
II the order has accomplished much good. Th
Major closed with an interesting anecdote il
regard to signs; exemplifYing how they ar
interpreted by different miRds-cultiyated an,
ignorant We regret that we are unable to d,
Justice 10 his excellent speech, as it was replet
with interest throughout.
A. The Grand Lodge of the ITnitad S,.t.s