Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-28
THE ODD FELLOWS.
Celebration OF the Forty ninth Ami
VeTsary of the order.

Though the weather yesterday was pecu-
liarly unpleasant, and the streets more
like expansive mud-holes, than the
thoroughiares Of city, the Odd Fellow
Celebration was really a grand affair.
The four Nashville Lodges, the Edgefeld
Lodge, two Wilson county Lodges, and
Sumner county Lodge, were represented
in the grand procession which formed at
Odd Fellows Hall, on Summer street, and
marched through the principal avenues
and wouad up the wide stairway leading TO
Masonic Hall. Here a large audience, a
great proportion ladies, had assembled, aud
after music, singing and prayer the GRAFTON
was delivered by Deputy Grand Master
NJ. X. Elliott, Of Howard Lodge, No. 13,
Gallatin. IL Was listened to with marked
attention, and was a very able and scholarly
address.
Commencing with an elegant reference
to the fall Of man, he showed with what
persistence the curse then pronounced had
followed the human race. To mitigate,
however, as far ~ possible, its bHghting
effects, and prompted BY philanihTopic
spirit good men had at different periods of
the worlds history formed societies and
organizations Of which the object was to
cultivate the social feelings and the amel
Iteration of our unfortunate condition,
hoping that they might so far fraternize the
world and so unite men in the bonds of
friendship and love, az would enable all to
rise superior to the misfor,unes that crowd
40 thicklyupon the pathway from the cradle
a. ~
carnations was the /. o. o. F., than
which perhaps no brighter star has
arisen upon the worlds horizon, shed more
light, Pladdened more hearts, dried more
tears dssipated more cares. He then pro
ceeded to enter fully upon the origin and
objects OF the order. IL mattered not, how
ever, whether Odd Fellowship had its in
ception ia the garden of Eden, and came
Co us clothed in the majestic habiliments OF
the past, or whether il sprsng into exist
ence under the genial influences of the
nineteenth century-it was enough to know
that Faith, Hope and Charity we're the
main pillars upon hich il rested. Friend
ship, Love and Truth were It's cardinal
principles its great purposes was TO Danish
discord and strife from earth, while its
teachings disregafding all religious or po-
htical creeds, presented platform 30 broad,
70 universal in its adaptation to the wants
OF the human family that All might con-
scientiously unite in their Efforts to fra
ternize mankind.
From the most authentic records it APP
peared that Oddfelowship had its origin
in the city of London, about the middle Of
the last century, having been founded by
snmed the name of Odd Fellows from the
then singularity Of the object which united
them, viz: the relief Ct the wants of their
members From this obscure and humble
origin, il continued TO spread until it en-
veloped the Eastern Hemisphere IN its
folds, and then, as if 'unwearied in It's
flight, with " Excelsior written upon its
banners, it crossed the ocean, and to-day,
its forty moth anniversary upon this con-
tinent, its influence was felt and recognized
throughout the length and breadth of the
whole land, and thousands of true, honest
philanthropic hearts we're doing homage
at its mystic shrine. Having thus sketched
the history of the order, the ora
tor noticed briefly its objects and its |
influence and society, demonstrating that it |
promulgated no theory, advocated no prin- |
Ciple, Endorsed no faith, and performed no |
acts as an organization that were not found |
ed in the law of God, and had not direct |
tendency to promote the good of the human !
race. To exercise a spirit of true and &C
tive charity, was the imperative duty Of |
every Odd Fellow. Beginning with 1861, |
previous to which time only partial re- |
cord was preserved, and coming down 10 |
1867, il was found that the following |
amounts have been paid for the following !
purposes:
Relief Of brothers. 50, SIS, eco 90
Relief Of widowed families............ 494.S0s SO
Education OF orphans ......-... 23f.405 so |
burying the dead 900 500 81 |
1olai ----s...---.. .0so a /
Previous to the years mentioned, there |
had been expended S7,202, 374 81, making |
a grand total of So, 500, go expended for |
charitable purposes. The total income of |
the Order during the same years had been
SIS, 1925, 5S7 sc, showing a reserve OF nearly |
100000, which has been rapidly APP
propristed for similar purposes. he con
cludsd with a touching and forcible appeal |
20 the brotherhood 10 practice the virtues
inculcated in the fundamental principles |
o. the Order. /
After the Grafton, tue Procession again |
formed aud marched back 10 Odd Fellows
Hall, where il was disbanded At night |
there was a grand ball in Edgehsid, which |
wound up the celebration Of the day,