The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-05-30

b LsdUs1Aad no charter, official authority
or recognition. iaa
Brother Wildey's Lodge obtained a
dispensation from England, October 2sd,
1870, and therefore to brother Thomas
Wiidey, the venerated and beloved pa
triarch and Grand Sire Is ascribed the
honor Of being the founder of legitimate
and authorized Odd Fellowship in this
country. 81 J 9sa, s..
Bro. Thomas Wildey was poor man,
| blacksmith Ivy trade, unostentatious
and ,unassuming. He did not covet
popularity or public fame, he did not
seek position or place, yet despite all
this-despite his lonely sphere of life his
name has become known throughout a
large portion of the globe, his picture
adorns the walls of thousands of lodge
rooms, and no one can look upon his
benevolent, genial, loving features with
out feeling new reverence has his name
and additional love for the great order
he was mainly Instrumental in intro
4 uuCfuS lutO tHlS country.
I February 2od, 1921, the G. l.. of Mary
land and the United States was organiz-
ed, and Thomas Wildey elected q. NJ.
January 18TH, 1925, the Grand Lodge OF
the United States was organized separate
and distinct from the G.aL. Of Mary.
land, and May 18th, 1926, 1t procured a
dispensation or charter from the head
Of the Order in England.
| After that our brethren "over the wa
ters' persisted in altering the work of
the Order, despite the reiterated renon-
strances of our Grand Lodge, and there
fore ut last, in lS42 the Grand Lodge OF
the United States determined to sever all
legal connection with the English Or.
der. Disunited in form we are to-day,
but in spirit we are still the same The
Odd Fellow Of America and the Odd
Fellow of England can meet in the same
fraternal bond of Friendship, Love and
Truth, that unites two of the one coun-
try together.
1 need not go on to detail to you the
history of the Order in this country. 1t
has fiourished in every part of the Union.
In nearly every State it is protected by
special laws, and nourished by special
franchises. In 1865 the Order In the
United States had 3,64s lodges and 16s,-
Sl8 members. To-day there are proba-
bly, over 5000 lodges and over $4,000
members.
The amount paid out by the Lodges in
the United States, for the relief Of the
distressed and objects of charity during
tho year 1860 was 62l 1876, and the total
amount for that and the preceding 80
years paid out in relief by this great and
chivalrous Order was Sc, AIS, ,52S and the
amount In 1866 alone was over one mill
ion dollars.
Can any one read these figures and
not be amazed at the extent aud power
of Odd Fellowship? When we think
Of the good accomplished, the distress
relieved, and the widows and orphans
succored and supported; when we think
of the sick rooms made bright, aud the
faint hearts made glad by the ministra-
ttons of this great army of men profess
ing to be actuated in everything by the
purest, noblest and phiianthropic princi-
Piles, we cannot help but turn our
thoughts back to this day forty-eight
years ago, to that little room in Baltimore
and bless the humble men of lowly lives
but loving hearts, who founded strong
and deep on American soil the magnifi-
cent temple Of Odd Fellowship.
CAUSES FOR CELEBRATING THIS DAY.
The special cause which to-day calls
for Thanksgiving and rejoicing is one
which from its teaching Is of no little
Importance to US rs Odd Fellows. The
simple fact which we commemorate, the
/ fact that Fraternal Brotherhood has sur.
vived political strife, that the great
Brotherhood of Odd Fellows has moi
been parted, though States have warred
against each other and Political Broth
erhood proved but silken thread to bt
snapped asunder by the prejudices anC
strife of men,-is = fact which shoult
cause the heart of every true Odd Eel
low to throb with pleasure.
Not alone as good citizens should W,
| TCJOlCe CnaJ our great naLlOn remains
united, stronger and grander than ever
but our hearts should be full of thanks
giving to god that he mas preserved oul
noble Order from dissension and sepa
ration.
The hand Of a merciful providence ha
indeed been merciful in this: that Will,
men North and South have differed $,
greatly in their political opinions as t
come to war and strife, yet that the mos
misguided reason, the blindest prejudic,
has not been able to take away from
brothers North or South their love fo
our common Order.
Churches in both sections have beer
i rent in twain, the great NJ. +. Churcl
has been divided into one NJ +. Churcl
north, and one NJ. +. Church, South
and others in like manner, by reason o
their differences in political opinion
Political parties have been severed ant
broken up-but the great Order of Ode
Fellow, which allows of no political
sectarian or other improper debate with
in its lodge rooms, and allows no mem.
ber to be ostracised and cast out, sus
pended or expelled because of his politi
; cal or religious opinions, has remained
one and entire, undivided and unafiect
ed, and the Odd Fellows of the Nortt
and the Odd Fellows of the South NEE
to day on the footing of Friendship
! Love and Truth as friends and brOt hers