The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-26
THR FlFrY:sEcoNp ANNIEEasARE
ORDER OF ODD FE'1,a,W,l5
A SKETCH OF ITS 4ARLY HISTORY
0rder-Its Rules, RsgulA.
Gtisns, AID Government.

Sa1oea A6B nA1s |
Gttsns, AID Government.
A half century has come and gone since
that old EuglishmAu, Thomas Wildey, called
together in the OiIy of Baltimore the first
Lodge Of Odd Fellows that ever assembled
in the United States; and we have to-day
reached the second milestone in the, as vet,
unwritten experience of another half century
-ApAth unsrod, q book unread; q wond-
rous fountain yet unsealed, 3 cssket with its
gifts oonceSled,-A mystery that for all
Brothers wait, beyond the futures mystic
gates. We trust the importance of this
day to so many Of our citizens and 10 the
many visitors in the city will be suf6oien,
excuse to the general reader for devoting so
much Of our space TO theme of such i'm
portAnce. The numerous benevolent socie-
ties existing in the United States, which are
spread broadcast over the land from ocean
TO ocean, gives an impOrsancestO this 50 bjec,
well worthy of attention, especially as they
play such an important part in the fOrms-
ton OF our national character.
The vast multiplication and rapid growth of
these associations in our ooaAtry cannot fail
most oursory observer of passing events
They present, indeed, newly developed
state of society. For the masses appear
actually to have become cTyStaHized, as it
- Il r.. 80 cd
By many that this is the result of newly
developed power, by which the existing
evils Of sooisty are to be reformed, il not
wholly oblitersted. Without attempting to
meet these ultra views OF the associative
movements now in progress, We may, with
advantage, glance at some OF the probable
causes which have led to the formation Of
societies, expressly designed to counterAct
the evils of our present social organization.
We take as our starting point the indisputa-
BILE fact that these associated movements
originate, and are most successful in their
operation, under free governments The
freedom Of opinion, and the consequent
feeling of individual rights, engendered in
the masses under government of liberal
instructions, expenditures desire in the
less privileged classes to better their condi
ton, and to coalesce for the further
Ance of this object. If to these causes we
add the irresistible struggle towards the
attainment of wealth now SO mAdly FREEDOM
inAnt among Us, the actual existing state
of olassi6cAtionS in society, entirely based
upon what may be termed "a monied aristo
crazy" we arrive at true solution of tn,
causes why the operative and middle por
tions OF community seek TO incorporate
themselves into asso Citations for the i'm prove
ment of their social condition.
The advocates of these associated move
meuts of the age boldly assert that the &C
ton has been forced upon the people by th'
existing state of society. They argue tina
the rights of the masses are in danger from
the vast accumulation of wealth in the hand
of the (so-caIled) privileged classes. Cap
italists, they say, grind laborers into tbs
dust. This feeling has induced grsdus
development of individual selfshness il
many, unparalleled in any former period O
the world history. A species of antagonist
social struggling has grown out of this stat
of things, argue the associAtionists, whiol
can only be subdusd in its ultimate disas
tr1us consequences by equalizing to SOM
extent, the condition of the antagonistit
Glasses. The ultra social reformers declare
that the only panacea for the extinction o
our existing social evils rests in communion
and association. The more sober advocate
of GmeliorAtion look to the establishment @
benevolent societies as q specific sufficient
powerful to mitigate the evils under whic
society at present labors. Acting upon thi
last consideration, societies of every con
ceivAble form and character have sprun
into existence within these last thirty years
ell protesting to have in view the ameliora
ton and improvement of the social oondi
ton of our race.
THE MAIN DESIGN
of all these associations is to affiliate togeth
er the masses in one common brotherhood
for mutual help and support, in Gases o
need, Sickness or any other distress.
common fund is raised for this purpose, ant
species Of individual, and yet aggregated
interest is generated in each separate fra
ternity.
Foremost among these associations, ant
indeed the pioneer of them All, on this Con
tinent, may be classed the Order of 0d
Fellowship. The institution of Masonry "
leave out of the category of benevolent soc
cites, because it assumes . more mysticA
if not q more elevated character, than the
of being simply organized for benevOlen
purposes.
ODD FELLOWSHIP
dates it's origin in England, where it cannC
be traced back, with any reliable foundarOr
further than the middle of the last csntur.
Ii appears TO have been originally convl'
ial association Of mechanics, who met per
odically to enjoy themselves and By Ii
payment of q small weekly contribution
they secured O fund from which member
were assisted in sickness. Certain grotesqu
forms of institution were adopted to Civ
piquAnoy to their hebdomadAl gatherings
and to insure security in their operations
obligations of secrecy were epjoined upo
their members. The whole affair in its il
cipient state appears to have been jovis
free and-easy concern, where good fellow
ship and conviviality prevailed, unres.ricte
by any definite organization. In the process
Of time, these associations were adopted /
in most of the large cities in Great Britain
under more systemized form.
THE FRATERNITY,