Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-05-05
CLEARFIELD, Pa. WEDNESDAY, MAY s. 1862

| @OsVOOt DtrNutn NNO W III
membership of 1000. There were
in the State total of 526 lodges
aggregating noarly 10000 members
and 1873 cncampmcnts, with mem
bership Of 10000. The total revenue
for the past year was sb94 ,604 06, and
the distributions for relief were S227 :,
029 Il for the same period, while the
prospects for the present year were
still more cheering. Tho people here
had exhibited a better appreciation Of
the order than in any other locality,
arising, he believed, from the close
resemblance Of its principles and aims
with those of William Penn, whose
great treaty with the Indians enunci-
ated the present principles Of Friend
ship, Love and Truth--a treaty moi
for land but TO settle friendships and
renew covenants Of peace and amlty
constituting a brotherhood never u
be broken !" and to this day II had
not been broken. After eulogiziDe
the numerous and magnificent chari-
ties with which the "City Of Brotherly
Love" abounded, and hoping for fra.
ternal and united counsols in The future
as in the past, he welcomed the Grand
Lodge on behalf fthe brethren of this
Jurisdiction aud of the good people Of
this great metropolis.
Most Worthy Grand Sire Farms
worth then, on behalf of the Right
Worthy Grand Lodge of the United
States and of the brethren OF the other
jurisdictions, especially those of Phil
adelphia, said that Pennsylvania and
Philadelphia in this magnificent dis
play had enhanced the interest which
every Odd Fellow felt in the occasion.
He congratulated the Grand Lodge
Of the United States upon their selec-
tion of SO appropriate scene for the
commcmoration Of this event, and felt
assured that all that had just been
said of Pennsylvania Odd Fellowship,
its influence, its members and its pow
er had not been exaggerated. The
cycle of fifty years since the fOunda.
tion of the order was now complete
and its patriarchs had now gone to
their rest. Within that time wonder
inl developments had been made.
From the handful that gathered under
Thomas Wildey, half a million were
now enlisted under the standard they
set us; other continents and the
islands Of the sea owned their frater-
nifty and acknowledged their laws and
principles as the guide. Amid all the
rotrogressivo or advancing fluctuations
Of that period, Odd Fellow ship had
preserved its unity and maintained
the steadfastness Of a single purpose.
To those stricken by providential Ca.
lamities, to the widow in her grief
and need, and to the orphan in its
helplessness it had, with inviolable
fidelity, performed its lofty task. The
schisms and dissensions about it had
not marred It's proportions, and discord
had not moved it from the even tenor
Of its way. Commenting all who
heard him to tho work, and that they
should yield profound gratitude TO
the Almighty Disposer of events for
His hitherto signal approval of their
labors, he concluded by introducing
to the audience
James l. Ridgely, Past Grand
Master of Maryland and Secretary Of
the Right Worthy Grand Lodge OF the
United States, who had been designa-
ted as the orator Of the day. After
euIogizing in highly appropriate and
eloquent language the occasion which
bad called them together hero to-day,
and dwelling at considerable length
upon the magnitude OF the order, its
objects and influence, he proceeded TO
narratc the history of the organiza-
ton of the brotherhood. 1t had, he
said, been ascribed to the time of Nero
aud the Roman Camp, A. ID. 55,
spreading thence TO Spain, France and
England. To locate its origin, how.
ever, he said, TO the licentious follow
ers of Nero and tho Roman soldiery,
would be fact which, ii well support
cd even, il would be better TO conceal
than to promulgate, but the theory
was, in any event, a fabulous one.
lie next proceeded by historical de.
duction, TO trace the origin Of Odd
Fellowship 20 the establishment OF
"guilds' among the ancient Saxons, a
sort of trades union or cooperative
society, dating as far back as the tenth
century Hallum recognizes their
antiquity as far back as the Norman
conquest BY abuse these degcncra-
ted into "free and easy clubs;" and
out Of these came workingmen's bene-
fetal societies, and among Others the
Order of Odd Fellows A permanent
institution was created from one Of
these in the early part Of the present
century, and subsequently, found its
way TO tho United States with the
tide Of emigration that followed the
peace of Ghent lie then reviewed at
great length the foundation and early
history OF the Order in this country,
giving a minute and graphic account
OF its rise aud progress from the time
when Widey, Weloh, Duncan, Cheat.
ham A,d Rpshworth formed Washing.
ton Lodge No. ! in an upper room OF
the tavern eSeven Stars" at Baltimore,
TO the present day In 1884 il was
INTRODUCED TO Missouri; in 1886 to
Mississippi and Illinois; in 1887 to
Alabama and Texas, then 40 indcpen.
dent republic; in 1889 to Arkansas
and Connecticut; In 1910 to Tennnes-
sec and South Carolina in ls4l 10
North Carolina and Florida; In 1872
TO Georgia in ls4S TO Maine, New
Hampshire aud British North Amori.
ca in 1874 to Vermont, South Wales,
Great Britain, Michigan and Iowa ;
in 1886 TO the Sandwich Islands in
lsI9 TO Minnesota and California ;
in 1851 il was established in New
Mexico; in 1852 in Oregon in 1855
in Nebraska aud Washington Terri
tory In 1857 in Kansas aud Nevada I;
in 1894 III Colorado; in 1865 in Utah ;