The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-02-20
LADlEs AsD osSrEEEES. AKD l'.s f.'
.utv. BRRraaRx or 7sr Dana

LADtg1 AID 0nSfLEEEE. AhD
! .agIas BEfrnaES or 7sr ohppsi
We are convened this day to
commemorate The Both anniversary
Of Charity Lodge No. Z, of the ID.
dependent Order Of Odd Fellows
in tbisplace, which was instituted
on the 9th day Of February 1899,
under the auspices OF P. G. J. W,
Bolt, who was also the 1st charter
imemberofObio Lodge No. /, and
Washington Lodge No. 2 in Gin
cklnati, instituted respectively in
tic year Of our Lord 1880 and
1882. and who was also d charter
member Of the Grand Lodge Of
Ohio. .ig-1g5 .ey,@p3tf
The six members associated with
Bro. Holt in iDstitutipg Charity
Lodge have passed from labor to
reward, but a kind Providence has
continued him among us, TO cheer
his brethren with his presence, aid
them by the wisdom OF his expert.
ence and counsel, in their work Oi
labor and love, and to rejoice with
them this day over the victories
already achieved. ! 1aass.q -aI
1t is therefore appropriate that
this testal OCCASION. is also, in part
an ovation to him, to whom this
Lodge owes not only its origin but
also SO much Of its present pros
perity.
9 The first ten years Of its exist.
euce Charity Lodge in its progress
was slow, having but few in nun
bers and small means to contend
with severe trials, but since the
above named time it has had u
steady advancement. in all it's de.
partments, and to-day stands in
The front rank OF it's sister Lodges
in this country, both as 10 inAu
ence and numbers.
Having had the honor of an in.
vitation BY your committee 20 ad-
dress you on the present occasion,
l have thoughtit it proper to take u
somewhat general view OF tho Or.
der. l thrcfcre begin with its in {.
PRODUCTION upon this Continent.
The first successful Lodge ofOdd
Fellows in this country, "lhe foun.
tain OF our pres nj organlzation-
was instituted April 26th, 1919,
by Thomas Wildey, a blacksmith
by trade, and a resident Of Balli.
more, and four associates, Jno.
Duncan, Jno, Welsh, J no. Cheat.
ham,. and Richard Rushforth.
Though these were men in the
humble walks of life, without
learning or rank, or fortune, their
benevolent hearts burned with n
sincere desire TO promote the good
and alleviate the suffering of their
fellow men: .I.r.n 1lf s.g..
Although this beginning of the
Order was obscure and unpromis-
ing, yet He who tempers the wind
TO the shorn lamb" who inspires
every good thought and prompts
to every good act, and who "huth
chosen%ho foolish things of this
world to contound the wise, and
the weak things of the world 10
coniound the things which arc
mighty, watched over it, and shed
upon it his benediction, making it
II channel through which his faith.
eriy benelactlons should flow to his
needy children. t.-
When we contrast the feeble be.
ginning OF tho Order us seen less
than half IL century ago, with the
colossal proportions which it pre-.
sents TO- day, We may well eSclaim
-"What hath God wrought" Its
progress has far outs!ripped the
hopes otit most sangulne friends.
From five, its membership has in.
creased 10 hundreds OF thousands
whose hearts actuated by tho same
noOlc principles Of its illustrious
founder, arc enlisted in tho good
work, of burying the dead, com.
forting the distressed, feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked and
educating the orphan, while daily
acccssions swell our ranks, and
new temples are being consecrated
to the hallowed principles offriend.
ship, love aod truth. Verify "a
little one has bcco thousand
and small one u strong nation"
Nor need we wonder that our
progress TO power and influence bas
been so rapid, for in it's ranks arc
men of tho greatest minds, the
profoundest learning, the most ex.
alted picty, and above all, it has
been cheered on by the sympathy.
and adorned with the beauty OF
woman. '
1t would indeed be anomalous
had II cause--cmbodying as our
does, principles 80 lofty. and credi-
table to the best feelings of our
nature-failed to have found its
supporters among tho wisest and
purest of earth. And sustained as
it is, by the prayers and labors, and
offerings of myriads of hearts, act,
uated By tho most elevated philan.
thropy, who would wish TO invoke
for our highly cherished institution
any other, than career of bril-.
liau. and uninterrupted success ?
We have, my brethren, on this
day special cause Of rejoicing, and
thanksgiving TO our heavenlyfath.
err that amid civil strife, which
desolated so large a portion of tho
extensive domain Of our order, IL
incorruptibIy maintained its noble
principles, and preserved amid fac.
ton and strife an 1nimpSirod and
unbroken unity. Aud when the
dark war. cloud which overshsdowI
ndl;l.a n nalI nur hAlhvad nhunft2s