The New York herald., 1869-04-27
/. O. OF Q. z.
FRIENDSHIP, LOVE AND TRUTH.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
brand Parade of the Fraternity
in Philadelphia.
The Celebration i'm New York and
Throughout the Country.
TEE ANNIVERSARY IN PHILADELPHIA.
The Reception, the Procession and the Ball
Over Twenty Thousand Odd Fellows In
Line-Grand Display of the Order.

Over Twenty Thousand Odd Fellows In
Line-Grand Display of the Order.
PHILADELPHIA, April 20, 1859.
The grand national commemoration In this city
TO-DAY of the hteth anniversary OF the establish
ment OF the Order of Odd Fellowship in the United
States has closed, and has been one OF the most
imposing displays as wen In point OF the
numerical sssemolsge as in the arrangements
and details q tae pageant, and the influence and
standing il the comm anlty OF the personnel, OF the
various ORGANIZATIONS which participated in the
ubuee As early s. P-idss o. last week delegations
from the grand o3ges ana lodges OF various States
and Jurisdictions be-az 20 arrive in large numbers,
and during the wnole of Saturday and Sunday, as
well as by the early trains this morning from the
less remote sections or the country, fresh acquis-
tons 10 the general concourse were pouring In. 1t
is estimated that not less than 900 members OF the
Order took part In the professional demonstrations
in the streets to-day.
This semtcentennial celebration was held under
the direction OF the Grand Lodge Of the United
States, at its meeting in September, 1865 and Past
Grand Sire Kennedy, OF New York; Past Grand Sire
Nicholson, OF Pennsylvania; Past Grand Sire Veitch
OF Missouri Past Grana Sire Perkins, OF Pennsylva-
MIA: Grand Sire Z. D. Farnsworth, Of Tennessee, and
representatives Ford, OF Massachusetts,; Carey, OF
haryland; Read OF New Jersey, and Maris, OF Della
ware, were appointed a committee, with authority
to make the requisite arrangements to ensure q
successful consummatlon Of the comrnemoration
On Saturday evening last every preliminary had
been completed and positions assigned to the
various organizations. The celebration, it was
ordered. should embrace inatinal reception at
the Academy OF Music, grand parade OF all
the delegations at noon, an evening entertainment
also at the Academy OF Music, and a grand ball at
the Philadelphia skating Rink, Twenty first and Race
streets AS early as seven O'Clock this morning the
streets were thronged by members OF the Order
making preparations for the festivities OF the day,
The hour nxed lor the commencement Of the exer-
cises at the Academy of Music mine o'clock requr-
ing that the delegations to be present thereat should
than was advisable for a full attendance and it was
nearly ten O'Clock before the various bodies had
not more than half filed The stage was occupied
by the Grand Lodge of the United states the officers
OF the Grand Lo1ge OF Pennsylvania the officers Of
the Grand Encampment OF Pennsylvania, and q
chorus OF 100 male singers; Mayor Fox, OF Philadel
yanla, aud E. D. Farnsworth, Most Worthy Grand
Sire. In the front centre OF the par
and ads Snd at the i5a rear centre centre the Grand Grand
Lodge Of Pennsylvania. The Grand Lodge OF New
Grand Godae Of the the psret OF ' ne
The remainder OF this space was devoted TO visiting
Grand EncsmpmeHt Of Penasyvania was located in
the parquet circle on the LETT. All these bodies
were atIed IN Iuli regalia ala. OF the ne richest chest
ratloas' IN crimson violet & purple; ana blue
silver and bullion fringes the slaves OF oi1ice and
the jewels and decorations OF the officers presenting
brilliant and imposing coup dGa. The parque
circle. the galleries and portions OF the parque
occupied by large ana highly decorous audi
ence. though the attendance was by no means nu
merous until nearly hour after the opening OF the
exercises, probably on account or the rather
early hour named. selected orchestra
OF about forty excellent performers opened
the exercises with the overture from Tampa, after
which the combined chorus and orchestra rendered
the Anniversary Hymn written by H. 7. Snllaber
i"ilrs Parrngton'l, OF Sloan Lodge, Boston, Mass,
and adapted to the air america"
Rev. j. W. Nenabe, X. W. Grand Chaplain. then
offered up appropriate prayer, the entire audi
ence rising and remaining In that position TIL Its
close.
past Grand Master Stokes then delivered an ad-
dress OF welcome to the Grahd Lodge OF the United
States In the course OF which he expressed the plea
Lodge OF the United states having resolved upon a
national observance OF the day under their auspices
number Of the brotherhood had assembled 10 Did
them cordial welcome. The brethren OF this
jurisdiction fully appreciated the compliment
pad TO them by the selection OF this city as the
place OF observance Of the festival. soon after the
order was founded IN the United states 10 became
successfully established IN this city and state, and
although not unopposed by prejudice It's progress
had been remarkable, ana he hoped they had at
tanned position enttlinL mem 70 rank a., perhaps
the peer OF any benevolent Institution OF the
time. Referring 10 tue means aud revenue al
their command he said there were In this city alone
1lglOdges, having an aggregate membership OF over
26,0J0. besides two encampnents, with member
sup OF 1000. There we're in the state tofa o
529 lodges, aggregating nearly lOcOJ mem
bers, aud LBS encampments, with a mem
bershIp OF 10000. the total revenue ior
tue past year was S594,G)i 09 ami the
distributions for relief s-2i.s-g Il for the same
period, while the prospects for the present year
exhibited a better appreciation OF tae order than
In any other locality, arising he believed,
from the close Resemblance OF ITS principles
whose great treaty with the indians enun.
ciated the present PRINCIPLES OF Friendship
Love ana Trutn-a treaty not Tor land but to settle
friendships aud renew covenants OF peace and amiiy
constituting Brotherhood never to De broken;" and
10 this day II not been broken. After euOglZns
the numerous and magnificent charities with Whici
the ''Cty OF BrOtherly Love" aDOunded and hoping
for raternal and united c0unsels IN the future u
the past. ne welcomed the Grand Lodge on behal
OF the brethren Of this jurisdiction and vi the goO'
people of this great metropolis
Most Worthy Grand sire farnsworth then, on be
saes sa q ans I S SM2 VP ss SSss 1
especially those Of Philadelphia, said that Pennsyl
wanna and Philadelphia IN TINS magnificent dlspla
had enhanced the interest whch every odd Fellow
Grand Lodge OF tue United States upol
Their selection OF 50 appropriate a scene 70
that all that had Just been sad OF Pennsylvania Cd
Fellowship Its influence Its members and lls powe
had not been exaggerated. The cycle OF Gity wear
since ,the foundation OF the order was now CON
plete and its patrarchs had now gone TO their res
Within that time wonderful development nId bee
made. From the handful that gathered under Thoma
wIdey half a million we're now enlisted under IN
standard which they set US; other continents an
the islands of the sea owned their fraterny and
knowledged their laws and principles as the guide
Amid all the retrogressiye or advancing nuctuatlon
OF that period Udd Fellowship mad preserved II
unity and maintained the steadfaslness OF sing
purpose. To those strckenby providential caam
Ties, to the widow In her grief and need aud TO TN
orphan In It's hepessness II had, with inviolabl
fidelity, performed It's lofty task. The schlsms an
dssensons about II had not marred ifs proportions
and discord had not moved H. from the even teno
OF its way. Commencing all who heard hlm TO tn
work, aud that they should yield profound gratitud
TO the Almighty Dsposer OF events for His hitherto
signal approval OF their labors, he concluded by In
Producing TO the audience
James l.. Ridgely, Past Grand Master OF Maryland
ana secretary OF the Right Worthy Grand Lodge o
The United states, who had been designated as tn
orator oil the day. After eulogzlng IN highly appro
pirate and eloquent language tue occasion whicl
nau called them together here to-day, and dwell
ing az considerable length upon the magni
tnde OF the order It's oblects and iniinence he nrn