The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-12-14
communicated
The Odd Fellows Hall.

MR.. EWING Understanding that there
exists III the minds Of some portion Of the
community, and especially among the ladies
who have kindly promised their aid in the
proposed Fair and Festival, some anxiety in
regard to the purpose for which a part OF
the building is likely to be occupied;
deem 1t due to them, to the Lodge and to
The Board Of Trustees, to say in this public
manner, that no part of the building will be
rented as a restaurant.
1t would be improper and untrue to say.
That no such intention was ever entertained
But the difficulties which presented them.
selves 70 the minds of the trustees while
considering the matter, were such, that for
weeks past no such purpose has been seri.
ously entertained by them; and with view
to sustain the trustees whose duty it will be
to rent the different parts of the building to
the best advantage for the parties Interested,
the Lodge at its meeting on Tuesday night
last, by resolution unanimously adopted.
requested the trustees TO decline any appli.
cation to rent any part of the basement for
the purpose referred to.
l have also learned that there are some
who hesitate because the building being the
property OF the Lodge, the whole thing is
ultimately to inure to private benefit. Now
while TINS is true to certain extent, we
feel warranted In saying that for all the gra.
tuitous assistance we have received or are
likely to receive, from others, not members
of the Order, we shall make some. At least i
not ample return, in supplying to the Town
its great want--a commodious Public Hall:
which everybody has for years been desiring.
but for, securing which no practicable plan
seemed TO present itself.
The members of the Lodge, at an expense
wholly, within their own control, could have
erected on their lot building, which would
have afforded them ample accommodation
while the rents received from the room OF
rooms on the ground floor for business pur
poses, would have paid them good interes,
on the investment. But experiencing with
their fellow citizens at large, the great want
of convenient public hall, they have with
commendabe public spirit, and at very
heavy expense, projected and very nearly
completed the present building: which every
one will admit is not only an ornament to
the town, but the means of enhancing the
value of all the property in It's vicinity, and
great public benefit.
1t is proper however to say here. tba, ii.
though the building when tho Ioo, ' !. ' "a
off will become The pronertv of the I,odaa
like all Lodge property. it mnst fora,.or,
remain devoted to tlis benevolent and ch.r.
table purposes of the Order; and can never
become the property of the members of ,ba
Lodge in their individual capacity. Not
only is such individual appropriation Of
Lodge property forbidden by The solemn oh.
legation we all take at our initiation I'M,
there is in the constitution of the Grand
Lodge of the State a coutrollinp mower ~
prevent it. SO that in srictnass ,I,e hn;ld.
lng can never become pri,ate pronertv. bnt
must ever remain monument If ond J
means of supporting, a ouasi nublin char;t~
in our midst, Tor the benefit of sick and disa.
bled members, (our AVN n;.;n,na ~. a." ui:"
of the widowed families of nu ,Ao h ,.,1'
rem; the burial of the dead and H. a nIean
ton of the children Of doce,sed mem uhar'.
together with such other Iencvnian, nni
charitable purposes ms come within tho sc "ne
and spirit of odd Fellowship. wIich i; ,,o opr
ritual at least we claim to be das;anod s 49,
elevQte the character of man: TO inhne him
with lust conventions of his canah;l;t;es A fnn
l' - ,,Et,o, L.; I'll ~