The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-24
FIRST EDITION
THE ODD FELLOWS.
Some Interesting Historical Facts Relating TO

u
on Monday by the well-known and enterprislng
clothing house OF Rockhil Wilson, Nos COB and 6O5
Chestnut street.
The Independent order OF Odd Fellows, the
hftieth anniversary of the establishment OF which in
the united states VIII De celeDateu on Monuuy, was
founded in England during the latter part OF the last
century. On the 26th OF April 1919, Thomas Widely
an Englishman then residing in baltimore, who had
been member OF the Order in the old country or
ganzed in that city the first Lodge in the United
States. II was fittingy styled ''Washington Lodge
No. l. and six members of foreign Lodges alto
gether were present at the time OF its organization
From that time but little progress was made in the
order until the organization OF pennsylvania
Lodge, No. L. in Philadelphia, on December 26, 1921
on June 81, ts23 the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
was organized, with Aaron Nichols as Grand Master
and held its first session February, 1924 at which
time Pennsylvania Lodge, No. /, was chartered.
The Grand Lodge OF the United States was organ
ized in Baltimore on the 18th of January, 1926 and
was composed OF the only Grand Lodges then exist
ing-in the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New
York and Massachusetts. Thomas Wildey was
unanimously elected Most Worthy Grand Sire, al
1926 The first Encampment was created July s,
1927, in Baltimore, the first Encampment in Penn
sylyania dating from August 49, 1929, and being
During the half century just about closing, 6O6,327
members were initiated into the Order in the United
pended by the Order in the relief Of the SICK in
ssting widows and orphans, in burying the dead,
and in educating the orphan-an enormous sum, but
nevertheless true. The number of members re-
eyed from this fund was 1885, in addition to IS 1ss
widowed families.
On the 8Oth of June, 1865 there were 8195 Grand
and Subordinate Lodges in the United States, and
245,036 members. VI tnlS large NUMBER, PennSYl-
yana had 526 Lodges, and 66,235 members, or more
than double the membership of any other State
The limitations for the year ending June 3Oth; 1885,
families relieved, 1911. The total amount paid for
relief during the same period was $Ss1, ,11s26; of
which Pennsylvania contributed $20I, 1882,
nearly one-fourth OF the whole sum. The number of
Grand and Subordinate Encampments was 795, with
49, ,47s members The total amount paid for relief
was $40 431 '95 of which Pennsylvania contributed
sec, ,43sO1 making the entire relief granted by the
Lodges and Encampments of the United States, for
The semi-centennal anniversary OF the Order is to
be celebrated in this city on Monday next by the
direction of the Grand Lodge of the United States at
its meeting in September, 1865. At this meeting
committee was appointed to make the necessary ar
rangements for the celebration consisting of the
following prominent members of the order:-P. c.
Sire Kennedy of New York, P; G. Sire Nicholson of
Sire Perkins of Pennsylvania, Grand Sire f. d.
Ford of Massachusetts, Carey of Maryland, Read of
New Jersey, and Maris of Delaware
The Order in Phia adelpha.
Although the Order in the United States first
established in Baltimore, Philadelphia appro-
priately selected as the place for celebrating the
semi-centennal anniversary, by reason OF the re-
markable which it has achieved in this city
and State As stated above, the first Lodge in this
State was established in Philadelphia on december
26 1921. Since that day the Order has steadily pro-
gressed in midst until at the present time it
numbers 119 Lodges with membership of about
about 4OOOa total of 146 distinct organizations, with
an aggregate membership of about $4,000. AS stated
above the present membership of the PENNSYLVANIA
lodges reaches 1885, that nearly one-half of the
Order in this State reside in Philadelphia. With the
immense home force of the order, monster demon
stration could be made, and when our own Odd
Fellows reinforced as they Will be, by thousands
from abroad, the grand celebration which is to
transpire on Monday will certainly surpass in size
and splendor anything of the kin which has ever
before been witnessed in the United States.
The Exercises at "ra;a the Academy OF Music /" the
will commence at o'clock, elis early hour having
been selected in order that they may be eompeted in
Order and the audience to join in the procession.
After an opening piece of music by the orchestra,
an ode composed by B. 7. Shaber, OF Boston, better
known as "Mrs Partington,' will be sung to the air
of "America," by the entire audience assisted by
Past Grand Master John W. Stokes will then de-
liver an address OF welcome in behalf OF the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania, which will be responded to
by Grand Sire E. d. Farnsworth, of the Grand Lodge
of the United States. Past Grand Master James L.
Ridgey the Grand Secretary the personal friend OF
the late Thomas Widey the founder of the Order in
the United States, will then deliver oration on the
history, mission, ana purposes OF Odd Fellowship,
and the exercises will be brought to close by the
singing by the entire audience OF an ode written by
PIG. e. r. Newell, editor of the Ante,icon odd Feio,c,
set to the tune of 'Old Hundred
The musical portion of the celebration will consist
of forty instrumental and one hundred vocal per-
formers, under the direction OF Professors Enselke
and Bishop.
The Grand Procession
is intended to be the most prominent feature OF the
celebration, and the arrangements already made in
dicate that 1t will be a most imposing affair,
The line will be formed at II O'Clock A. NJ, and the
procession will move punctually at l2 O'Clock, and it
Is expected that at least thirty thousand will
participate in II. The orders of the Grand Marshal
for the formation OF the procession are printed in full
ON one of inside pages Strict orders have been
issued by Mayor Fox for clearing the streets over
which the procession will move OF all manner OF
vehicles and especially not to permit any nuisances
in the shape OF advertising wagons to mar the affair
by preceding or following the, procession To
insure the enforcement OF these orders
large force OF police, under the immediate super
vision OF Chief Mulholland, viii be detailed Twelve
mounted lieutenants will precede the head OF the
procession at the distance OF about half square, and
Immediately al the head OF the line will come
lieutenant with about thirty patrolmen, all mounted.
The following is the route selected by the commit
tee having the matter in CHARGE
Countermarch on Broad street, down Broad TO
Christian, down Christian to Third up Third to Wal
nut, up Walnut to Fifth up Fifth to Girard avenue.
up Girard avenue TO Twelfth, down Twelfth 10 Ches-
nut, down Chestnut to sixth, up sixth TO Franklin
| Square, and there dismiss
II is requested 10y the committee that all members
and friends of the Order will display their bunting
along the line of march II is TO be hoped that this
request will he generally complied with in order that
the streets may present as imposing aud attractive
an appearance as possible.
The Evening Exercises
will be divided between the Academy OF Music, the
| new Horticultural Hall, and the Mammoth skating
| Rink at Twenty-first and Race streets.
At the Academy OF Music the programme viii be
| as fOllows:-
| Introductory hymn written by j. Martin McFar-
| land; prayer by the Grand Chaplain; overture 10y
| the orchestra address quarette and chorus, air
| 'Mignon's song; address; quartette and chorus
''Montgomerys ode !" address orchestral symphony
address closing ode: benedictiOn.
| At Horticultural Hall a festival OF welcome will be
| extended by the members OF the German Lodges Of
/ the city TO the German visiting brethren.
| The grand regaia and dress ball ia connection
with the celebration, which comes on in the evening
/ at the Mammoth Skating Rink, Twenty-iirst and
/ Race streets, will probably be the most magnificent
affair OF the Kind that has ever occurred In this city,
1 The idea was happy one which prompted the
selection of the Rink since no other nall IN the city
| can afford ample dancing lacnltles-nof Is
1 os roomv ary and well ventilated. BeckS