The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-26

nlty years ago S-uay, III Nue year lolo, luOHds
Wndey, or, as &c was popuarly termed, "Fathcr
Wildey," planted the acorn from which has sprung
the mighty oak OF "Odd Fellowship lie made the
beginning at Baltimore, Out only the beginning. In
very few years the Order spread gathered strength,
and ramined 1t now probably is the most extensive
and nourishng organization in this country. Ger
tainly Of the most numerous and prosper
GUS on the earth. so far as its
progress Is concerned, In no age
country has any association yet been originated
by man that has attained in so brief a period such
strength in numbers aud power, in usefulness aud
benevolence Since the day Of its founding it has
been steadily growing, until now it claims to have on
its rolls over three hundred thousand members
Nearly thrtyeigbt hundred lodges are In prosperous
working condition throughout the country.
To many odd Fellowship is a strange mystery;
but it should not be, since the order has been pro-
ductive OF such amounts of good That the great
grand, and humane objects OF the order are under
Stood however, and appreciated, is well attested by
the Semi Centennial Celebration, and the presence
OF the many thousand strangers in Philadelphia to-
day.
The Scene at the ACADEMY.
OF course, Broad street. and especially the Aca-
DENY OF Music, formed the focus OF excitement.
There, up and down that noble thoroughfare farther
than the eye could reach, crowds OF people on the
sidewalks, and hundreds OF horsemen in the street,
ebbed and flowed. The brilliant insignia OF the
members of the order were everywhere
vsible-ther scarlet ecarfs reddening
with an added tone and their silver
or golden medals and stars shining in the sun
beams. The celebration at the Academy did not
commence until some time after the hour specified;
but long before the arrival OF o'clock crowds OF
people commenced pouring in the doorways. No
compression, wrangling, or jostling, however, oc-
Cured. They who entered all had checks alOtting
them seats, and consequently no disorder obtained.
Contrary to expectation not single decoration OF any
description had been placed upon the interior OF the
,li,nnr rIIx
used on such occasions and literally supplied with
seats, benches, and settees Numerous music stands
were likewise placed in the orchestra, to serve the
purposes OF the unusually large band which Professor
Engelke had obtained. Seats were also provided on
the stage for the chorus. Bordering on 10 O'Clock
the orators Of the occasion entered and soon
afterwards the ceremonies began. Surrounding the
Hon. Daniel M. Fox-who occupied the seat OF honor
were the members Of the Grand Lodge of the
United States. Above their heads toated q beauti-
ful silken ag, embazoned with the letters 81 o. o. F.,
G. L. u. s." The officers OF the Grand Lodge Of
Pennsylvania and the Grand Encampment Of Penn
syvania were likewise the stage. In the left Of
the parquette circle seated the members of the
Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania, and in the
centre OF the parquette circle itself the members of
the Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania Also directly
back Of the orchestra the members Of the Grand
Lodge Of Maryland, the Grand Lodge OF New Jersey,
| the Grand Lodge of the District Of Columbia, and
other visiting Grand Lodges.
The Opening Exercises.
Shortly before ten O'Clock, the exercises at the
Academy Of Music were opened by the performance
forty insrumentaiss under the leadership of Profess
sOr L. Engelke. This was followed by the singing of
The Anniversary Hymn,
written especially for the occasion by Brother B. r.
Shllaber, well known as the author Of ''Mrs. Par
tingtons" genial sayings, member of the SLOAN
Lodge Of Boston, Mass The hymn read fol-
lows:-
itheS H. sne bEisSt sisS .afaS% SIfsrnss SSs Sgoe
Day Of our Order pride,
pfS First sten on i.s Hsr mission assSa SSs %sde,
Took its blest way.
seebly it's course began.
Earnest but slow;
Angels its errand knew,
Smiled en- it's purpose trae,
Made it oerflow
Now with an increase grand,
oqtspread Ger all the land
Potent for good,
Friendship admits its sway,
TTnths beacon points it's way
On. meath our flag sGroDed,
Jealous and strong
fssr Wsero w %ans %st and nc sag sSSsenne rsse,
And fight the Wrong.
10 Thee the tribute just
Thou vast our early Triend,
tn TsqT gndn didss sSs1, our SS sOSta ind defend
Our Guide and Stay.
The second and fourth stanZas were sung as a
quartette by Messrs. j. Graf O. Meissner j. Jacob,
and A. r. Taylor, and the alternate stanzas by a
chorus OF one hundred voices under the leadership
OF Professor Bishop with accompaniment by the
grand orchestra Then came the
Prayer by the Rev. w; yenabIe, II. w. Grand
whose invocation was as follows:-
Almighty God, the King eternal, immortal and In
| visible! We, Thy dependent creatures, approach
Thee in reverence and humility, acknowledging our
| unworthiness and mploring Thy divine favor and
forgiveness. Without Thee nothing is strong, nothing
is holy. We feel that all human efforts for the ac-
| ~
blessing. We desire to thank Thee, Heavenly
Father for the prosperity and success which have at
tended our efforts in the work Of benevoence and
charity.
| We assemble together this day TO commemorate
| the wonderful providence which has guided our
Order in its mission of mercy for fifty years, making
| "the little one strong nation" and the feeble band
| TO increase TO q great brotherhood, spreading
throughout the length and breadth of the land Let
Thy blessing attend the brother who is now to set
| forth our principles and aims. May his words OF
rpencd wisdom and experience have due impression
upon all who hear them.
We commend TO Thy fatherly goodness o Lord
the widow and the orphan and all who are afflicted
or distressed in mind, body estate May IL please
Thee TO comfort and relieve them according their
several necessities, giving them patience under their
sunerngs and happy issue out of all their a1iic-
| tiOns
We now commend ourselves and our brethren
| everywhere TO Thy protection. Make us faithful in
the discharge of duty towards Thee and towards
| our fellOw-men. May we realize the blessedness
arising from the practice OF the golden rule of loving
our nelghbor as ourselves. BE with u.s. especially
this day, ana preserve us from all evil of soul and
body Direct us in all our doings with Thy most
gracious favor and further us with Thy continual
help, that in all our works begun, continued, and
ended in Thee, Thy holy name may be magnided
now and forever. Amen.
The Address of Welcome by T.. g.. Master
John w. Stokes.
As soon as the preliminary exercises were con.
cluded John w. Stokes, Esq, Past Grand Master OF
tI.u n IAIa