The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-08-20
DisceiiaQeous.
Hl.iorieaI sksioh Of odd Fellnr.hin

Historical Sketch of Odd Fellowship.
Extract from an address delivered at Oro-
vile, Cal, Apr. 2eth, 1859, by p. G. M,
s. H. Parker
Anciently the very name of our institu-
ton was secret known only to the init.
ated now we publish books. Anciently
the candidate before the smoking altar
swore to keep the very existence of the
society secret; now even the old and
quaint titles Of many of our officers are
known to those who read the newspapers
Our institution, from the very first, has
been one of change, adapting itself, in
many cases, to the times and the spirit oil
the age in which it existed at one time
concealins itself in the most secret re-
cesses known to man; again, by public
displays, and with the sound of the trum-
pet, and by heralds at the four points OF
the compass, proclaiming to the world its
onward and triumphant march. To-day
the most successful institution of the age;
hundred years ago little better than a
bacchaualian feast. To-day the truesi
and most progressive society of the age
two thousand years ago, outside Of relig-
ious faith, the only institution that &C.
knOwledged the great principle of human
brotherhood. To-day confederation Of
more than three millions of our race.
whose leading object is to elevate the
character of man and endeavor to Undue
him with a knowledge of his capability
for good. An institution that has under
gone so many changes as has Odd Fellow
ship must be one whose history cannot
fail to interest the searcher after truth and
gladden. the heart Of the true Odd Fellow,
who seeks light in his search after that
higher and holier sentiment of the hu-
man heart, which acts as cement to unite
men as brethren Of one common family.
In an ancient ritual of our Order, which
remember to have seen many years ago.
1t is said "The corner stems of Odd Eel
towship was laid by our forefather Adam"
Not claiming, however, a coeval existence
with man for our institution, we do claim
that so long as the great principle of hu-
man brotherhood has operated on the
hearts and lives Of men, so long have
some of the principles Of Odd fellowship
been practiced in the world.
The great secret principle of mutual re-
lief has in ell ages attracted the attention
Of tho benevolent and humane. How
beautifully is this illustrated in the teach
ings of Holy Writ-how brightly illumi-
mated in the story of the love of Jonath han
and David, the foundation of one of our
beautiful degrees. But while not claim
ing any great antiquity for the Order un-
der its present form of government, we
find many of our brethren tracing it to
Rome in the days of the Caesars, and claim
ing that two Greek words that signify
friends travelling together are the iden-
tical words Odd Fellows, or rather Ode
Fellows and do confess that in Greek
they do look somewhat odd but it is
contended that this was an organization
ofOdd Fellows in the Roman army fol
the purpose of mutual relief in the hour
Of distress and adversely.
In communication made to the Grand
Lodge of the United States some twenty
years ago, BY the Manchester Unity, it is
stated that the Order was first established
during the reign of Nero, the tyrannical
Roman Emperor, and was a combination
to protect honest citizens against his op.
pressive acts. This was A. d. 45, and
they acted under the title of Fellow Citi.
Eens. The title of Odd Fellows was Civ.
en- to the Order in the year 79, by Titus
who presented them with a charter en-
graved on gold, accompanied with nun
Der OF emblems, nearly all of which are
worn BY the officers at the present day
This Order was introduced into Spain il
the fifth century; in the sixth into Port
osal and into France and England il
the twelfth. Some of these Lodges form
ed themselves into union, and a few o
them remain to the present day under thu
style OF the "Ancient Order of Odd Eel
lows" The embodiment of the secre
principle in still later times was NANTES
10 the history of the Druids, and in mos
OF those old secret societies many of thu
leading characteristics are alike for wher
they entered the portals of the Lodge
known as priests or laymen, they entered
IN sorrow and gloom, and ended in ligh
and JOY. The initiatory ceremonies wer'
calculated to remind men of their weak
ness-their ignorance Of the punishment
OF guilt and the reward of virtue and il
all, the mode of initiation was calculate,
70 make lasting impression on the heart
About century ago we find Odd Eel
lows Lodges, or, rather, Odd Fellows
Cluos, assembling in London, as the oil
books tell US, "for mirth and harmony !
out they were self-instituted and indie
pendent bodies, having no common BON
or nnlon with each other aud it is no
until 1882 that we find them organizin
INTO regular Lodges in London and Liver
pool; and even at this period we canno
form very exalted opinion of their pro
gress' ii We judge of them BY some of thei
lSws-such, for instance, as a fine of on
smiling for refusing to sing a song or tel
a story when called upon by the presid
ing ofhcer, when the Lodge was Gale
from work to partake of refreshment!
lwhat the nature of thuse refreshmeni
was we are not informed); but when W
see II the duty of brothers to lay asid
.nelr pipes during work, we conclude th
ume mdst have been after the introdut
ton Of tobacco into England by Sir Wa
ter Raleigh.