Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-26
I. 0. 0. F.
Semi Centenary of the ABtro-
ducIiOn of the Order into
the United States.
A Brief History of its Career.
ITS Nance Origin, Object, Gov
erEment, Religious
Aspect, Etc,

GElA4Cnts EACAf5AOGs
Aspect, Etc.
Monday the 26th instant, morrow
I will be the occasion of one OF the grand
est displays in the way Of s celebration
/ that hiss ever taken place in the United
/ States, or, indeed, in America, being the
/ semi centennial celebration By the
Order, Of the introduction OF Odd-F. ell
I lOwshjp into America. To properly ap-
/ preciste this statement and to form some
/ idea of the magnitude Of the jubilee the
reader will glance st the following
STATISTICS.
The number Of Odd-Fellows in the
I United States, in round numbers, is
/ three hundred thousand The largest
number in any one State is in Pennsyl-
/ vsnfa, where the Order numbers 81, 600
[ In New York there are Is 600, in
I OdiO the same number, in
California about 10 900. The fact Cf
their immense preDOndeTauce in Penn
I syivsnia is probably owing almost solely
/ to the exeStioBs OF one maa-the late
1 Grand Secretary Ridgely, who was a
! most active Oid-FellOw, devoted heart
/ anG soul to the principles Of the Order,
aud who spared neither time, mOHey nor
exerti0Ds to advance it ia every possible
way. The pTOpinquity, too, Of the resi-
! deDce Of Wildey, the founder of Odd
! Fellowship, who lived for many years
IN Baltimore and vas much in Philadsl-
phia, may have had something 10 do
with It. Maryland numbers some y OOO
Odd-Fell0Es. In Tennessee there sre
eighty five l0dges, and about $500 mem
bers, Of whom over tenth are IN Mem
phis.
In ordeShst our readers may the bet
ter understand the objects, motives, laws,
etc, Of this society, We have prepared
the following accurate resume OF Odd
Fellowship:
WHAT Is IT2
This question has doubtless presented
itself to many who know nothing Of o i'd
Fellowship, except per chance from com
mon report, CT the vsgue suggestions Of
q morbid prejudice; hence it is often
epndemDed as an idle organization, ehsr-
sNeriZsd, as its name would seem to i'm
pN, rather for leyity than for fidelity
to the noble object at which il processes
so earnestly and exclusively to aim. To
correct go common an error, to remove
such unjust prejudicss, and to secure for
Fellowship the approving sentiment
it so well deserves, are the Obi sets Of this
brief paper. In the confidence OF con-
sciOus merit, it courts q scrutiny into its
principles and practices, with the sEsu-
rance that an enlightened public opinion
will render an impartial Judgment on
the standard OF exesllencs which per-
vsdss the one, and the practical benefits
that fiow froA the other.
GTs NAME.
The name often confuses and perpleXes
intelligent and liberal minded people.
Why, it is asked, assume g desigBstion
so singular, il the Cojzct be excellent,
and such as all good men would COM
mend ? The candid inquiry should be,
what is the object, what the fruit or the
tree clsimsd to be prolific Of coed? II
tbs suggestion shoCld be u ade Why Free
Masonry is so called, practical masonry
forming at this day no paE. OF lis work,
the reply TCuld doubtless be, that, a.
though such is the fact, is d0s5 not fol-
low that Jhs nsme is Idle or iosppropFi-
ate, since there may be q fitness in its
application Of au eutirsiy independent
character. The name OF Free Masonry
may, and actually DOES i'm p0rt, sss0cia-
tiOns significant OF and insspsrable from
tue oriEin of the order. Having had lie
beginning centuries ago with the artisans
Of tine masonic craft for their mutual pro-
lection and recognition, and the advance !
nent OF their noble srt, the history Of its |
early gtTUEgles to maintain its universal /
iiy, and 3 thOgsand other ballOwed !
memories connected with its progress /
amid tbs fall Of empires s1d the c0EH cts |
Of nations, have justly Inspired = veners- !
tiun for its name, notwithstanding its 4
practical ePp0sl5eness may have ceased |
to exist Us DSEGe / 3 stfecLiCD2tely cher |
ished II its v0tsTies, because it has lived /
and moved and hsd prolonged and /
usefal beiOg through tbs vast psst; still 1
lives 10 the teeming and novel present, /
and gives promise that it will survive 4
through the distant snC pregnant future. /
So with Odd Fellowship; il also had its /
origin with TIE sons CT toll, and of the /
same craft, viz; ths marble mssons Of /
London, at the close OF the lRst century. /
A wise Providence led men, whose daily /
bread depended upon their daily toll, by 4
to form common fund, aud /
thus 70 SECURE IN health the means % /
support when pr8stlstaG by disease. Ip /
its experimental outset, Ike Free Mason /
~. it encountered corresponding 4
ordeal; il hsd 30 prestige to smooth its
uneven and Ubstructed pathway relisnt 1
only upon its iBstrUslc worth, Il also hiss
survived Obl0quy and prejudice for Gl0re I
than half q century, and has lived 10
attain lis present meridian hight. Can
it excite wonder that these msM0ries,
which cluster around the name of Odd
Fellow should secure for IL love and 4
that overcome snd subdue
the merely fsBtiGiOus tsste which would
discard or shun it2 No one csn affirm
that the D8me, though the cause Of mGeh
has not been, 10 proportion
ate degree, an elems3t Of success. Con-
eesve0 in humility, it hGs achieved and
become identified with an honorable dis
.inetion. lis good deeds have msde IL
amilisr to the public ear and popular
mind. Wherefore, then, the wisdom or
.he propriety OF changing it? Such g
change would not now be possible. II
cannot be made.
ITS OBJECT.
The idea Of id-FelloTship at the be-
ginning, instructive OF wise Providence,
was, as has been already stated, mutual
-elief and protection. IL was, it is true, (
! cruGely digested system, II system Il
,Ould be cslled. This idea, embodied
nto substantial form, and disciplined by
experience and observation, continues TO
be a vital, although by no means the pre-
iominsnt element Of its organization.
~ 6cc UuiSSI 6LeO, ChiulAAl O4ACCf Eu l
earnest and uuremitting care for the
moral health OF its membership. Man
las a moral as We'll IS physical nature,
,nd the wants OF each being reciprocal,
hey keep equal pace and move in par
sllel lines. There is mutual depend
.nce which controls both. In truth,
here is 10 appetite OF ths human body
more craving and inexorsble, Than is the
nsstiate hunger Of the human heart fer
moral support. In6rmity of body, as
yell as that Of mind, is common to hu-
nanity; and there exists necessarily, as
from this condition, cores
)OnGing natural desire for sympathy.
10 supply this ever recurring want, Odd
Fellowship addresses itself, by a con6i-
nation Of efforts, in aid OF the moral as
veil as Of the physical man. These two
aims happily blended, comprehend It's
ever power against penury and vice, by
which it lsbOrs to mitigate as well " the
lls to which flesh is heir" as to elevate
md ennoble our nature.
ITS SECRESY.