Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-02-19
From the New York Commercial.
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Origin, Progress. objects and Pres
ent status OF the Order-Their Pub
IicatiOns---Their Semi--CentenniaI
Anniyprsary. I.t.

Anniversary.
A few months less than fifty years
ago april 20, 1s19), Thomas Wildey
lowship i'm America" brought about
the organization of Washington
Lodge No. /, /. o. O. F., at Balti-
more, Md. Prior TO that time sew
eral lodges of the Order were started
in other localities on the continent.
Shakespeare Grand Lodge having been
founded in this city as early as the
year 1895, and met I'm building To-
Gated where the office of the Com
mercial Advertisement stands; but
the lodges that existed previous to
1919 did not, for various reasons, pros
per for any considerable length of
time, so that it may be confidently
stated that the good seed of Odd Fell
lowship was planted in American
ground by "Father" Wildey, as above
set forth.
The Order possessed q "loeal habita-
ton and namer in the Old World
for many years anterior to the date
of its Introduction upon the Western
hemisphere but 1t was regarded a
century ago as convivial society
(indeed, all societies i'm the "good old
times" were conducted pretty much
on spirit level, although it was
likewise benevolent institution, op-
Grating however, without any def
mite system as to aid or relief In cases
of sickness and distress.
Odd Fellowship is entitled to the
honor of having taken the lead in
temperance reform in this country,
inasmuch as years before the Wash
ingtonian movement was started,
this Order adopted regulations for
bidding the use of stimulating bev-
erages in lodge rooms, and stigma
tizing intemperance as disgraceful
and ruinous habit. The advanced
position thus taken by the Order of
Odd Fellows gave it u favorable pres
tige, and rapidly did it increase i'm
numbers, respectability, and influ-
ence. In 1880 the Order had extend
ed into six States and the District of
Columbia, comprising q total men,
bership of over 5000. In 1910 there
were lodges in twenty-one States
and Territories, with an aggregate
membership of more than ii 1000;
and in 1850 the organization had
augmented to 175,000 members, in
1850 subordinate lodges. The Or
der, under the Jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of the United States,
now numbers about 100000 contrib
uting members, comprised in 5000
lodges, and located in every State
and Territory in the Union, in the
Canadian dominion, in British Col
N n A bn tuta IsI
of the Pacific Ocean. The rapid
world is something remarkable, the
various branches of the franternal
family of Odd Fellows numbering i'm
the aggregate at least 200, 900 men.
The total revenue of the Order in the
New World during the past year APP
proximated S2,500,000, and the dis
bursements in the same time for re-
lieving the wants of sick and needy
brothers, burying the dead, assisting
the widow, and educating the orphan
were not far from SS00,0 900. The re-
sources of the Order are immense,
probably S50,000,000; and many fine
buildings for lodge and encampmentl
purposes are owned by the brother
hood.
One incident, tending to show the
moral influence of the Order, is that
during our late civil war this institu-
ton was the only one which remain
ed intact-masonry and the churches
of all denominations seeded from
each other-and when the Grand
Lodge of the United States met in
Baltimore, every State and Territory
was represented. 1t is the only in
stitution in the country that has stood
the test of time. People would have
thought that in South Carolina all !
the ties that bound the people there |
to the United States We're severed, |
but, to their eternal honor be it
said, they always recognized the
principal source of power, and owned |
the authority of the Grand Lodge of
the United States. When in Balti- |
more the Wildey monument was in
augurated, it was grand spectacle |
to see the men who were so lately |
seeking each others lives, marching
in the procession, and all recognizing |
the one word "Brothor." This prin- |
ciple is really power, and mighty |
power. \ million of men had been |
in arms, and the fraternity survived
the shock.
Now, word about the objects and
operations of this organization. Its
motto is, " Friendship, Love and
TRUTH" and its ministers are "To
visit the sick, relieve the distressed,
bury the dead, and educate the or
phan." That the Order practices
these things is shown by the large
amount expended in afi0rding relief
in n single year; and it should be
borne in mind that this does not COM
prehend the innumerable acts of be-
nevolence and brotherly kindness
performed, which are treasured in the
heart, but do not effect the treasury
of the society. Every member OIL
the afliliation is entitled to benefits |
in time of illness and on his decease
his widow Or he leaves one) receives
n stipulated sum of money. She is
subsequently aided as circumstances
may require, and her children are
guarded with fatherly care. 1t Is es-
timated that 10000 orphans are un-
der the immediate protection Of the
Order.
The actuating principles of Odd
Fellowship are based upon the firm |
foundation of benevolence and char |
ity. The lessons inculcated in all the |
teachings of the Order are in accor-
dance with the belief i'm the father
hood of God, and the universal broth |
erhood of man. Odd Fellowship is /
not, rs some people imagine, Mt va
rance with the christian religion; on
the contrary, IL is potent auxiliary |
thereof for while it fosters the spirit .
of liberation, no man who Is not
believer i'm the Supreme Ruler of the
universe, and does not possess n good
moral character, can gain admission
into the hallOwed precincts of this
Order Nevertheless, the society