The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1871-05-18


prejudice and superstition, and confound :
ed with witchcraft and satanic influence ?
and is it at all wondrous then, that the
Lodges formed previous to Washington
Lodge should have failed and given up in
despairl
Place yourself in Imagination in that
upper room in the tavern of Baltimore, of
over half century ago. Do you see
large concourse OF the rich, and influential
OF Baltimore city, listening to an appeal
presented by a fashionable and leading
member OF their circle, in behalf of the
great human family, pleading for the alle-
Walton OF suffering mankind, to watch by
the bedside OF poor sick Brother, or to
succor the widow and the orphan3 No!
You see five mcn-with no grand Regalias
or other Paraphornalia which distinguish
rightly, Lodges of to-day-no fine and cost
ly Library from which they Gull the prln-
ciples OF an Order they are about to estab-
lish, their only Book, the greatest of VOL
umcs-the Bible, aud with that guide, they
determine to spr cad the good work, setting
aside all difficulties, never tircing, or mind
iul of the foe who ignorantly assails them,
battling against oil opposition with un-
daunted perseverance, succeed with tho
good cause, where others before them
have failed, and lay tho cornerstone of
Odd Fellowship in thus country. The
very name they gave to their Lodge had
talIsmanic effect to nerve them to accom-
plish work, the grandeur Of which we
have come together this evening tc CON-
memorate, and to give thanks to the Great
Benevolent Beiug for His Blessing upon
that little band of obscure Immigrants
From that Lodge formed in 1919, up to
lS7L,a period of fifly-two years, nearly
1000 Lodges, in active working order,
have been established, with about 900, 900
members, extending over the Western
Continent. and in part Of Australia, all un.
der the jurisdiction Of the Grand Lodge of,
the u. S.
What other Society can boast of proud
or or better Record and how we'll is the
assertion illustrated that one Law shall
bind all Nations, and that Law, the Law
OF universal brotherhood. Is it not won
dertul that from such small beginning,
and in such short space of time, mighty
giant should spring up, whose influence
and teachings bear fruit aud prevail over
all the country.
From the Grand Sccrctary's report we
gain the following information The num-
ber of Brothers relieved in the year 1870,
were twenty five thousand and nineteen,
widowed families three thousand and sew
cnty-six. The amount paid for the relief
OF Brothers S579, ,O43 81 for widowed fam
lilies $l22 .043.65. Amount paid ior cd
ucatingorphuus, $40 ,444.l6. Total amount
SSo9, SOC SO. Besides these figures there is
no doubt that there are hundreds of cases
Of Banevolcnce aud Charity OF private
character by Brothers of tins Order. ...
From these statistics VIC submit orr
principles to the utmost scrutiny. aud hold
them up to the light Of day to dissipate the
idle notions which the foes of Odd Fellow.
ship entertain, and they must admit that
its report is good and learn to respect the
Order.
1t behooves US then this evening to re-
member gratefully that little Baltimore
Band, anu most dcscrvingly amongst them,
Father Thos WiIdcy. He was born in
the city Of London on the 18th day of
January 1888, in the reign of George Ill
and at tte close of the Revolutionary War.
At five years of age he was placed at
School, which he attended, until, he was
fourteen years old, but received very
limited education In the year 1904, he
was initiated into Lodge No. II OF the
Order Of Odd Fellows, in the city ofLcn-
don, in which, he served in every capaci-
ty, from the humblcst to the highest Of
fee, aud was distinguished for his zeal and
energy. On the Sd day of July 1917 he
embarked for America, and reached Bal
timore city, on tho I'd day Of September
following. .- .' -....., E.
Hemade theacquiantancc off ohm Welch,
fellow counrryman, who also was an Odd
Fellow. They discussed the plan OF intro
ducing the Order into this eountry--aftcr
various unsuccessful efforts to increase
their members to the required flee. Finally
by repeated advertising they reached the
desired result, and on the Goth day of
April 1919, Washington Lodge. No. l
was formed with Thos. Wildcy as N. G.
How he was justly honcred by the
Brotherhood in after years, as we'll as the
erection of Monument over his grave af-
ter his death, are matters familiar TO every
Odd Fellow. In the year 1910, Odd Eel.