Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-05-08

I
this time, to call to mind for the ben
eft of the Order, and of those who
have not been introduced within our
sacred temple, the history and char
acter of Odd Fellowship, the purposes
for which it was organized, and the
principles by which it is governed.
will attempt then, to give you q
brief historical sketch of the institu
ton; first promising that to the world
at large we are but little known. The
good offices of Odd Fellowship have
been performed without the sound oi
trumpet, for it vaunteth not itself
abroad, and its charities have fallen
upon the poor and disconsolate, the
widow and orphan, the crushed and
broken hearted, quietly and unobtru.
sively like the gentle dews of heaven
upon the earth beneath.
Like the nations of antiquity, Odd
Fellowship has its fabulous period. II
IS said to have been know among the
Goths and Huns and other northern
nations, about the middle of .he fourth
century. During the fifth and sixth
centuries it was known in Spain and
Portugal, possessing most of the char
acterictics of the present day. We dc
not hear of the Order in France until
the 18th century, and it is said that
during the reign of King Richard l, 6
Frenchman introduced it into England
Some claim that it existed among the
Romans and was named by the EN-
peror Titus, who is said to have called
them Odd Fellows from their curious
emblems and singular customs. An
emblem now in the possession of the
Grand Lodge of the United States, pro.
cured from an English lodge in 1896,
represents the father of mankind in
the act of laying the foundation of q
lodge, thus typifying the great an,
tiquity of the Order; but we believe
such accounts to be unfounded; as our
historian would say, the extravagani
| inventions of the bards or the wild i'm
aginings of the marvellous. That soci-
cites have existed through all ages
which may have had some resemb-
ancel to our Order, there can be nc
doubt. But the institution of Odd
Fellowship as now understood. laying
aside all fable, we have full authority
to believe, had its immediate descent
from the Order called Ancient and
Honorable Loyal Odd Fellows" which
may have grown out of these older so
cieties before referred to. At precisely
what time this society was found,
have not the information but this we
do know that a song was composed for
it by James Montgomery, SIS early as
1888, with which many of you are IA
miliar, beginning,
where friendship, love and truth abound
Amid band Of brothers"
In 1909 London was the seat of gov
ernment of all the Lodges in the Realm,
being united under the title of the
Union Order of Odd Fellows" This
Association needed reform, but the
majority opposed any innovation. Not
wIthstanding a convention was called
in 1913, at Manchester, and the socie-
ty took its present name, 'IndepGndsnt
Order of Odd FsLLoVS," this new society
intending to stand independent of the
imperfections and impurities of the old
one.
To Thomas Widely, is due the hon
or of its introduction into the United
States. He with four others instituted at
Baltimore, April Goth, 1919, Washing
ton Lodge No. l. which soon after pro-
cured a charter from the Manchester
Unity" as the Grand Lodge of Mary
land and the United States.
A word as 70 Thomas Widely, the
founder of the Order in this Country
This man was of noble and philan-
thropiC nature. BY his unbounded at
tachment to the principles of the Or
der, he became the idol of the frater-
nifty, and its highest dignities were
freely bestowed upon him. His life
and conduct should be cherished by US
all, for they commend themselves for
the approval of every well wisher of
the human family.
In September, 1865, the ceremony of
q beautiful monument which
had been erected to his memory, on a
finely selected locality, in the city of
took place. But longer than
granite or marble shall endure, will
the memory of the man be cherished !
who raised by his influence so many |
of strong arms to support,
not one, but many living goddesses of
and assisted them in shielding |
and protecting the orphan, as typihed |
by the marble figure upon the monu-
ment erected to the memory of Thos.
Over this monument will ever rest a
halo of unsullied glory. 1t will be a
more enduring honor to the age in
which we live, than any other monu-
ment, that has yet been erected upon
American soil. 1t is q lasting evidence
hat in this period of our country's his
,ory, not alone from the blood of the
Tarchief who leads to the field of slaugh-
er his fellow man, shall spring the
granite and marble column: but the
zero who goes forth into the cold, self
sh and corrupt world to advocate the
claims of Charity, and promote the prin-
;iples of Friendship, Love and Truth,
hall have erected over his peaceful
Ishes as proud a shaft as arises to the
memory of warrior or statesman.
Having thus given you a brief his
,orical sketch of the Order, with some
,emarks as to its worthy founder in
he United States, let me next speak
If its nature and character.
Il is, then, a Secret Society. That there
8 great prejudice existing in the minds
If some persons against such societies,
s well understood, but we think they
nave a mistaken view of the subject.
1t is not unfrequently the case that
he most efficient agencies for good are
;urned into engines of the greatest evil.
Che religion of the gospel itself, has
,een used as a cloak to perpetrate the (
most cruel wrongs from which man
zind have ever suffered. Now if Sc
.recy may be used for right and proper
,biects, benefcially, must We discard (
{ for such objects because it may be
lsed far unwsrranted and vile pur-
,oses?
This question is answered in the neg
tive by the habits and conduct of eV-
ry one. Secret Societies are much
more common than at first imagined.
Every family is secret society in which
re frankly discussed important ques-
ions, affecting the prosperity and
haracter of its members. Slight, in [
Iced would be the usefulness of the /
amily circle upon its members, and {
he world if the corrections and pre- {
epts which are daily given therein, /
hould be revealed to outsiders. 6
Even social society Is to some extent
be same, for nothing can be more de-
arvino of contaunL than for one to (