The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-11-07
Caa,ay LoIgs No. III O. o. ]

Charity Loage No. T., l. o. OF
The COMMITTEES TO, whom was eferred
the duty Of submitting a suitable tribute
of respect 20 hememory Of our late Bro.
p. G. Sire, ThOs. Wildsy would, in the
performance Of this sad and melancholy
duty respectfully offer tie following:
Bro. Wfldey was known through the
entire length and breadth Of North Amer.
lea, as the Pioneer and founder Of ODD
Fellowship on this Western Continent and
as an active, devoted and intelligent Odd
Fellow. He was born 10 the City Of Lon
don in the year 1895. In 1906, at The
age Of 81 years, he was initiated as mem
Der Of "Independent Lodg4" at Bath,
England, in which he was subsequently
honored, three different times with the
principal Chair. In July 1918 he ein =
barked for America, and on the ID day of
September Of that year arrived al Balti-
more, Nd. On his arrival bis Grst desire
was to visit a Lodge Of Odd Fellows;
great was his astonisbment and surprise
when he was informed BY brother Of fthe
Order, John Welch. also a foreigner, that
there was no Lodge in Baltimore.
Bro. Wildey and his compeer devise d
many schemes to ascertain the number OF
Odd Fellows. if any, that could be found
on this Western Continent After many
vain and unsuccessful efforts they at last
gave public notice in a newspaper, desig
mating the day and place ofa meeting Of
all Odd Fellows in the country. The
long looked for period, when this meeting
was 10 take place. at length arrived, with
faint hearts they directed their steps ia
the place Of meeting. Alas nothing fiat.
teriug presented itself at this meeting;
out Of the vast population of the United
States, only three. besides, Bros. WiIdey
aud Welch were present to make them
selves known as Odd Fellows. This how.
ever lid not intimidate them. The mo.
tive which prompted this meeting ofdVt
Brothers was disinterested brotherly love
the pure spirit Of benevolencs and a de-
sireto advance and improvetbe condition
of man; hence they firmly resolved tc
stand shoulder to shoulder aud by thei,
united efforts surmoupt every obstacle
that might be interposed to the successful
planting of the standard Of Odd Fellow
ship in this land of freedom. They az
cordingly organized Lodge IN B,ltimori
and after much delay and anxiety, througl
the perseverance, Of Brother Wildey, pro
cured charter from Dake Of York Lodg
at Preston, England, authorizing the iusti,
tuition Of Washington Lodge No. l, in tn
city Of Baltimore, on the 1st day Of Feb
ruary, 1920, of which Brother Wilde,
was the FIRST N. G. His zeal for the ad
y yancemen. Of the order continued untire
ing; hence We find him, soon after the es
adjustment of Washington Lodge, goin
to Philadelphia, New York and Boston 70
! the purpose Of insIituting Sub. Lodge
and again visiting these places to organ
ize the State Grand Lodges of Pennsylv'
nia, New York aud Massachusetts,. Hi
next effort in behalf of the Order was
secure the Independence Of the America
branch from that Of England, for the con
summation Of which he visited Europe, AN
on the 10th day of May 1925, secure
the Charter for the Grand Lodge of tn
United States; Of which body he had th
: honor Of being the 6rst Grand Sire.
P. G. Sire Thos. Wildey is dead. o,
0 rejoicing is turned to. the contemplate
# Of our own mottaiiIy-we are aGmonisl
ed Of our frailty and our end. The 0
e der mourns The loss of Bother who, d
Q ring life. was ever active, generous, xii
: hearted and faithful. The trusts con
ded to him have been many, arduous ar
: important; he discharged them with ho
!, Or zeal and dignity.
8 We mourn the departure Of Bro. Wi
t dey as one dead. yet we are admonisht
I "that our Brother is not dead but slee
9 eth" He hsssbeen called TO the ,"Pi
}, grim'a Rest the Eternal home Of Il
: just. He was removed from US in Il
6 enjoyment Of the full measure Of the da,
r! allotted tosman on earth. He has le
N with us a brightichap,er in the history
, our Order'op every page Of which b
p name is honorably and indellibly engra
Of ed. .ba.f ae
If Let US, while we drop tear over t
> mortal dust, honor the departed Spirit
an emulation Of his many noble and e
y alled examples as an Otd Fellow.