Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-30
ODD FELLOWSHIP.

4
OBSERVER.
ODD FELLOWSHIP. s4
Report OF the Grand Patriarch OF the
Grand EneampmenG.
To THE r. w. GRAND EScAMPMEET,
STATE or TENNESSEE; The recurrence Of
the annual communication Of the exalted
branch of the Order of Odd Fellows in
Tennessee becomes a most fitting occasion
to review, briefly, the progress of the Fra
ternity during the official year which has
Just closed, as well as its prospects and
hopes for the future. Like good mariners
after the close of the storm, which has
strained the vessels staunchest timbers, or
broken the stoutest masts with its fury,
periling the lives of all aboard, cast about
TO learn the full measure Of their damages
and their bearings on the great ocean, so
We, in imitation of their pnldence, must
make our reckOnings, and see where the
great craft is which bore our fortunes
through the civil strife that swept over the
land, crimsoning it with blood and car
mage, and lighting up the land with the
blaze of war. We surely have reason to
ielicitate ourselves upon the preservation
of our Order in its original purity and
grandeur. Individually, many of US may
have cause to deplore its ravages, the
loss of friends and relatives, the destruc-
tion Of our household goods" and mate-
rial possessions, but through all, above all,
was borne, high above the tide of strife,
the Ark of the Covenant, and it reposes
this day in the Tabernacle, unharmed and
80 bad in, tho r,lorxr of
not even the smell of battle upon the gar
ments of its attendants Under the Provi~
denee of God, it was guarded and pre-
served, and though no mortal eve saw
cloud by day, or fire by night, we do
know that we now rest in our Tents and
abide in their shades, and that the Ark il
under the broad cover. We had no temple
to orebuild, nor scattered priesthood togather
together from every quarter of the world.
Their work had merely been suspended for
a season, and scarcely had the roar of the
last gun ceased TO vibrate upon the air, be-
fore hands which had not met for years
were again clasped in the grip of Friend
ship, and willing knees bent before the
Altar, eonsecrated TO the cultivation of
the virtues taught in our sublime Rit-
ual. The storm of human passion
was stilied, and once more an unbroken
family met. More than two years have
elapsed, and this day witnesses more per-
feet union than eyer-a union of hearts
and hands-with the foundation of the
Order broader and wider-mere powerful
for good, and with capabilities which in
crease as we train our hearts to listen to
the calls Of melting charity" and heed
the demands of benevolence. We truly
can thank Him who holds the winds in
the hollow of his hand for HE merck and
-esss as ID eS With efAit general aiad
brfef relerencs to the almost miraculous
preservation of our Order ia the United
States, 1 am happy in being able to state
that, throughout our jurisdiction, we are
greatly encouraged by an increase of mem
bership, aud that a majority of the En-
campments are in good working order. 1t
/ is to be regretted that there are few
| which have not resumed work, but great
! allowances must be made on account Of the
pscuniary condition of the country, which
has delayed an earlier reorganization.
And in this connection 1 feel it my duty
to urge upon every good Odd Fellow, who
has not yet connected himself with the
Encampment branch Of the Order, the pro-
priety of doing so. While the subordinate
lodges move in their allotted spheres as
beneficiary organizations, and perform
their appropriate functions with great sue
cess, there are yet still higher lessons OF
human duty which can only be taught and
learned through the degrees of the En-
campment. The Odd Fellow who has
failed 20 take advantage of his privilege to
advance in knowledge TO the sublime
| truths inculcated in our ritual has deprived
himself of pleasure and benefit which he
should lose no time in endeavoring TO ae.
/ quire.
| Since our last annual communication
the following new Encampments have been
charted and organized: On the 9th Of
| April, 1867, issued charter to Sahars
Encampment, No 25, at Chattanooga, which
was duly opened by r. w. Grand Scribe
r. H. Barry. The following officers wers
installed: Here follows list of officers.
On the - day of August, 1867, a charter
was issued to La Guardo Encampment, al
La Guardo, Wilson county, which was
opened By our distinguished brother, f. d
Farnsworth, Deputy Grand Sire of the
Order in the United States, assisted by F.
| G.. High Priest, C. B. Hall, and r. w
Grand Scribe, r. II. Barry. The follow
ing Patriarchs were installed as officers
| Here follows list of officers.
| A charter was issued to Cagewell En-
campment, No. 26, West Tennessee. L
was organized by ID. ID. G. p. Sangster
from whom have not received report
regret to have to mention the following
Encampments in our Jurisdiction as not il
1 o-lar. iTnfnu 10 af Eouaffa
| Vile: Buena Vista, No. s, at Pulaski
Knoxville, No. IL, at Knoxville; Corne
Illus. No. II, at Denmark; Perkins, No
l9, at Lawreneeburg, and Golden Rule, No
%, at Clifton.
Not being in possession Of any informa
ton in reference to the circumstances whicl
surround the Encampments mentione,
above, omit any recommendation in re
gard TO them for the present, in the hop'
that the reports of the District Deputie
will furnish reliable data which will enabl
MS 10 act understandingly in Opposing o
them.
The report Of the Grand Scribe am
Grand Treasurer make satisfactory exhi
bits of the increase in membership and tn
condition of our finances. The accession
to the Encampments during the past yea
are over three hundred. l had indulge
the hope that We might have attained Al
entire membership of one thousand in thi
jurisdiction, which would have entitled u
10 an additional representative in tn
Grand Lodge of the United States, and ye
trust that before the next annual meetln
this result may be accomplished. Tn
high position which our State has main
tained in the Grand Council of the Order
through the excellent and devoted repre-
sentatives who have in past years repre-
seuted the Fraternity in that exalted body
demandsihat we should spare no exerho
to acquire numerical strength commer
surate with the reputation which hs
been accorded our State. Let rs striv
manfully to attain that result before on
next meeting.
, Among the matters to be disposed oi Z
our present Communication, 4 desire to az
| oc.>,o;oI o4taptiOr n 10 Cuall flcatlOr