The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-17
CITY INTELLIGEN NOE
For Additional Otu lnteusa.nce see F.th Page.
I. o. Of o. r.

Order of odd Fellows is now the strongest and
in some respects the best, Of all orders tor engen-
dering love oil law and morality in our commu-
Dity. This great institution should therefore
receive the warme>t support from our citizens
Last evening the American Academy OF Music
was densely crowded with members OF the
Order OF Odd Fellows, in fu'l regala, attended,
in many cases. by ladies bearing the regalia of
the beautiful degree OF Rebekah.
Headed by the Liberty Cornet Band, the
Grand Lodge of PENNSYLVANIA, five hundred
strong, marched to the ACademy, in Iegalia, and
took seats upon the stage, and the scene, as this
body entered, was really imposing, added to not
little by the performance of a grand march
by the Germania Orchestra.
The celebration was arranged under the
auspices OF Vigilant Lodge, No. 1856 OF this city,
aud great credit is due 70 the Committee,
Messrs. Wa1k, +. q. Millette, and their asso-
ciaes, Tor the able manner IN which everything
was conducted.
The folio wing Lodges attended the celebration
in Tegalia:-
Pennsylvania, No. ], Covenant, No. 114
Morning Star, No 4, Olive Branch No / 10,
Gen Marion, No. 9, Paradise, No. 127,
Pmlomatbcan, No, 10, YIpi ant, No. 155,
Kensing gton, No IL Enterprise No 201,
philadelphia, No. 13, National, No. 2o3,
Phi anthrOpic, No. 10, Minerva, No. 224,
Anity, No. 10, RADIANT Star No, 232,
Friendship, No. 23 N aaer, No 306
Independence, No. So, Du PROGRESS, Nc 495
Chosen Friends, No 100. West Philadel pma, No.
Oriental NO. ll0, 672.
At 8 o'clock NJ W. Grand Master George
Fling took the Chair, called the vast assemDlage
Dounced that the programme would be pro-
ceeded with at once. The Opening Ode was
sung by the entire audience present, led by the
Germania Orchestra and the Philadelphia Musi-
cal Society, after which Flotow's sublime and
beautiful overture to Martha was given with
excellent effect, followed with this prayer by
the Grand Chaplain, Rev. d. Washburn:-
Lord OF all power in Heaven and EARTH be gra-
couslY and specially present we pray Tnee, in this
gathering together Of brothers and friends-con-
descend with Thy wisdom and love, to preside over
us more and more of hy blessed Spirit Cleanse
from all nquity, and further with Thy continual
help IN whatever as a b rotI erhood we are fndingto
do according to Thy will harvellous are all Tny
works, Coo, in whom we i've, and move, and have
our beng. We praise Thee Tor restored peace,
liberty enlarged, and national prosperity. But
aOove all praise is by word the key to our right
understanding and appreciation of all that is
beneath within, around, and above us. Accept our
grateful acknowledgements, social and individual,
recognize our indebtedness to Thy revelation for
the principles of the great brotherhood here repre-
serted.
To Him who gave himself for human redemption
we owe all that is good in our Denefcent organlza-
tion. Only under the genial sky or Christianity
oou it have orlglna ed. Unto whom but unto the
NaZarene, even the cruciied one, who is now eX-
alted above evtrI name, do we owe the knowledge
that God is our Father, and we are all brethren?
Are the sick to be visited the distressed to be re-
lieved, the widow and The orphan in afflcton; who
taught us This lessonr Lord, make US to love Thee
truly. Continue to bless the Order whose existence
is due to Thy good providence All is in Thy power
VINO taught US wh, we ipray to say, "our Father,
Music-Bright Star OF Hope by Halevyl, Germania
Orchestra.
Welcome Ode (by A. G. shearsl Philadelphia
Musical Society.
MusIc-Ioeale Waltz (by Lannerl, Germania Or
Odd Fellows Glee PHILADELPHIA Musical Society.
Music-Seecdon from II Irovatore (by Verdil,
Germana Orchestra.
At this point Past Grand Sire James B. Nichol-
son, OF Philadelphia, clothed IN the re gala of
his office, proceeded to deliver
THE GRAFTON
on "0dd Fellowship: It's origin, progress, de-
sign, and character" We have only space for a
brief outline of this able and eloquent effort:-
Past Grand Sire Nicholson spoke of the nstru.
mentality of man by combination to elevate tue
masses OF his tellowmen Itwas to attain this object
that the Order of ODD Fellowship had been started,
and had progressed until now embraced the in.
teliect, enteT rlse and energy ogthe country That
orders of mutual assistance among men had existed
in ancient tunes there could be no DOUBT but the
origin of Odd Fellowship might be found in the old
trade guilds OF Saxon Eng and. These were de-
signed TO assist tradesmen mutually-tO secure q
lIvlng for all, At the revocation of the edct OF
Nantes about 1855, large numbers of French refugees
passed INTO Britain and formed themselves into
societies pledged TO mu ual aid in tunes of sick.
ness and distress These LODGES were created about
s alsfeld and Norwich. The members made
laeework. and their clubs were protective and bene-
fcla IN character. In 1893 the English Government
tr,t recognized these assOciat by the passage of
- George Roses act, which allowed them to invest
IL funds IN t!overnment securities. Odd Fellow
p proper TOOK Its rise a N the estabshment OF the
comprises 5000 Lodges, ana has q membership of
over 250,O0O Odd Fellowship IN America owed its
origin TO the late Past Grand Sire Thomas Widey,
who raised the first Lodge IN Baltimore
in 1920, from which has sprung up a
vast brotherhood, reachng from the Atlantic to the
facifc-from Name to IdeNico. Shortly after tins
the first lodge here-Pennsyyania, No Twas Or
ganized at John UptOn's hotel in thus city. The
tme.honored banner OF this lodge hung near the
it was probab Y the fist ODD Fellows banner that
ever was painted (Appause In 1923 the Grand
Lodge OF Pennsy lyaIla was urPauized and Aaron
N chols was the first Grand Master Since this
Eiuna and Ofb Ind IaH rrbn
the length and breadth Of tine land, and had estab-
hshed the Order IN every vi! age of the land. he
progress of the Order dur ng the last twelve years
has no parallel ia the history of the world, At
hTst, people thought II was merely social or con-
ViVial order but men of culture and talent
entered II and raised it to Its present high position
ana purity, NOW 1t has come to deserve the admI-
ration OF all good men and women in the country.
Inc OBJ 2cuons OF the outside world t. Odd Fell
lOwship were alluded to. It was not merely 10 ion
atenefcial soclety that one b comes an Odd Fellow
To be one in spirit and truth man must be honest
"a true frend-a KIND father, brother son or nus
baDd-in TACT, Christian gentlemen. tApplauss.O
In the day OF her trial our beloved Order was
assailed on all sides by preiudced and unIalr peope
but you true men upheld your fraternity
Though oblOquV and contempt declaring that
nothing but death could dissolve the heaven.
wrought bonds : the LINKS of Friendship
Love and Truth a. you have gained the vIctor5s
Iaures. (Applause.) There arc objections to our
Order tha' we do not care 70 concate. These
spring from malice, motives of interest or wicked
ness. We war against vice in all its forms Friend
ship towards man prompts the contest We ale
fighting CRIME, evIi. We have declared war
against u, ana, with the helI Of God, our night
Peace yards us victory, aud eXclaims dwell
done, good and Iaihful servants \" We are
not volunteers, we are drafted for life TO battle
under the white banner OF love and purity, and In
our lexicon there IS no such word as fail Applause
There are good men and women that we desire 10
have with us yet, though, and we ask them to give