The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-04-19
THn onn FELLOWS, CENTENNIAL Cr1rnnA.

TIE Opp FELLOWS CENTENNIAL CELEBRA-
T1os.-On the 18th inst fifty years will have
elapsed since Thomas Wildey. the Gather and
founder of Odd Fellowship in America"
brought about the organization of Washington
Lodge, No. 1, I. o. of o. F., at Baltimore, Md.
Prior to that time several lodges of the Order
were started in other localities on the CONT
nent; some as early as 1905; but the lodges that
existed prior to 1919 did not for various reas-
ons prosper for any considerable length of
time, so that it may be confidently stated that
the good seed of Odd Fellowship was planted
in good American ground by Father Will
dey, as set forth above.
Tee semi-centennary anniversary of the in
PRODUCTION of the Order into America is to be
magnifcently commemorated on the 26ih inst.
The memorable occasion will be observed in
every place where Odd Fellowship is estab-
lshed, and grand National celebration, I'M
der the auspices of the Grand Lodge Of the
United States, will take place in Philadelphia,
in which affair it is estimated that from 40 900
to $4,000 members of the Order will participate.
The Grand Lodge of Maine, as is already
known to our readers, will do its part towards
the general observance of the day; and we
learn that the committees in this city have
completed their arrangements for the celebra-
ton here. They are as follows:
There will be procession of the Order in
regalia, and an Grafton by P. G. M. Kingsbury,
Jr., at Congress Square Universalist Church,
Dinner at City Hall, and Promenade Con-
cert in the evening. The procession will be
under tine direction of Gen. Geo. r. Shepley,
P. g., and will form on the south side of Con-
gress street, with the right resting on Ex-
change street; the column to move at II 80.
and take up the following route of march:
Down Exchange street to Odd Fellows Hall,
where new regulation flag of the Order will
| be raised and an appropriate address delivered
| by Bro. Josiah 81. Drummond; thence down
Exchange and Middle streets to Franklin
| through Franklin to Cumberland; through
through Congress to State; down State to
Danforth; through Danforth to High; up High
street to the Church
The exercises at the Church are to be as fol-
lows:
Organ Voluntary, by Prof. E. +. johnson.
Reading the Proclamation, by g. s. o. b,
| Written.
Beading of the Opening Ode, by Rev. Bro.
e. Q. Bodies; to be sung by the choir.
Prayer, by Bro e. 6. Bodies, and response
| by the choir.
Anniversary Ode, by the choir
Address. by P. G. M. Benz. Kingsbnry, Jr.
Selection, by the choir.
Benedietion, by Bro. e. g. Bolles.
The line will reform on High street in the
original order; with the right resting on Con-
gress street, and move down Congress and
Middle to Exchange street, up Exchange to
City Hall, where dinner will be served, after
an invocation Of Divine blessing by R. w. G.
O., j. A. Henderson.
In the evening there will be grand Prone
made Concert, with dancing; to begin at s
o'clock; music by Chandler.
The several Lodges and Encampments will
be received on their arrival by the Lodges OF
this city, and escorted to their proper positions
| in the line of procession