Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-05-01
Onn EELLOMS.
Their Numbers and wealth In the United
States.
Facts and Figures Concc-nins the Great
Brotherhood.

and was largely represented from this city.
The anniversary address was delivered by ED.
Farnsworth, Past Grand Sire, which was ex-
haustive and repetc with facts and figures,
evincing study of details and familiarity
with the workings of Odd Fellowship surpris-
ing and gratifying to all.
On Friday occurred the ffty-third anniversary
of the founding on permanent basis of the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows in the United
States, and in view of the interest that is felt in
this great brotherhood, not only by members
of the Order, but the public at large, we give
some facts and figures on the subject from the
organization to the present time:
ORIGIN OF ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Odd Fellowship made its first appearance in
America in 1906. a Lodge was opened in New
York on the I'D of December 1906, at what is
now No. 135 Fulton street.
This Lodge soon disbanded, and the Order
was unknown in America till 1916, when
prince Regent Lodge was organized in New
York. This also soon disbanded, and it was not
till 1919 that permanent organization was eff
iected in America, by the efforts of Thomas
Wildey, who, with four Others, established
Washington Lodge, No. |, in Baltimore on the
26th of April, 1919, having obtained charter
for that purpose from England.
From this small beginning the Order has in
creased and spread with unparalleled rapidity,
until it has found its way into every State and
Territory of the United States, to the Sandwich
Islands, and during the last two years into vari-
cities i'll Germany
STATISTICS.
The following statistics will show the strength
OF the Order, its rapid growth and wealth
The number of Lodges in the various States
and Territories under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of the United States, was, on the
lst day of October 1871 4, 297 being an increase
over the preceding year Of 430.
The mem ership at the same date was 32G3ll,
being nm increase of 2L674 and the amount eX-
pended for the relief Of sick brothers and desti-
tute widows and orphans for the year ending
Oct. lst 1871, $1,000, 05L57.
No of limitations in lS1O....... 600
" 1871 ........ soc. .......46O OD
Amount of money expended by the Order in
giving relief in 1871, III round numbers ST.
We also give these additional figures, collat-
ed from the records of the Order frcm the time
of its organization until July 1st, 1871;
Number of brothers initiated, 157 ,9I1 num-
Der of brothers buried, 47Ol9. Total receipts
$40, 253, 4lZ2 Amount paid for. relief of
Brothers, SPOT, 7l9; amount paid for the re-
lief of widows and orphans, 81, l26,346; amount
for relief $i65l3, 247. Amount of funds on
hand and invested in halls, furniture, etc, S23,-
600, 10.
There are now in course of erection through
out the country two hundred lodge rooms, of
various styles of architecture, one of the most
magnificent of which is in Boston, the estimated
cost of which is between $500 600 or $4,000.
A Savings Bank instituted in San Francisco
by the Order in California, has been in opera
ton about six years and now possesses a capital
of 100000 in gold.
The Grand Lodge of Michigan is now build
ing Home for the widows and orphan chill
dren of deceased members which will cost
We might give similar illustrations of the
prosperity of the Order in many other States
but enough has been given to show that the
march of the organization has been onward and
upward, and in but little over half a century
has been power for good in the land, and has
extended its borders beyond the ocean.
The introduction of the Order into Prussia
and the German Empire has been attended with
marked success, and although attempted DIR
ing the war between Prussia and France, still
it has met with marked favor from the Empe-
ror and other high officials, so that lodges are
now being formed in all the principal cities of
Germany.
THE ORDER IN TENNESSEE.
There were 10S Subordinate Lodges in this
State on the lst of July, 1871, and number of
Lodges have since been instituted. The follow
ing shows the workings of the Order for the
year commencing July l,lS7O, and ending July
l, 1871
Number of persons initiated, S33 Number
of contributing members, 1902. Revenue,
SAP 70. Number of brothers relieved, 2G6.
Amount paid for the relief of brothers. S4,-
1858. 49, Amount paid for buryng the dead,
$l,3S7.35. Amount paid widowed families,
The Order is in u very flouishng con liti IN
in Knoxville, numbering two Lodges and the
Encampment.
EAST TENNESSEE LODGE. NO. "a,
was Instituted March 20, 1913, the following
gentlemen being the charter members NJ.
McClung DIR. James Rodgers, VIM NJ Church.
we'll, n X Crozier and AFRO A Barnes of whom
Mr. Barnes and Dr. Rodgers have since filled
the position of Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of the State. At present the member
ship is about one hundred and fifty.
The Lodge has constantly increased in num-
bers and influence, though having the mistor-
tune to lose all its effects on two oecasion-dur-
ing the war by the military and at the disas-
trous fire in the latter part of 1867, when the
Hall was burned with all its contents-until it
has grown SO large that on the 10Th of Novem-
Der, 1869,
KNOXVILLE LODGE, No. l3s,
was instituted, charter having been issued to
the following gentlemen ) T Akin, ] NJ Nc
Affrey, j @ Risthe, l. q Shepard, q Taylor,
VIM Lewis, 7 NJ Williams, L N Parham, p ID
Ramage, Hoekett, j w Gaut, ID Lewis,
w II Parker and Joseph b Wright.
This Lodge is also in fourishing condition
| and numbers upwards of one hundred members,
has procured complete outfit and is in SPLEEN
did working order.
THE ENCAMPMENr, NO. II,
has been in operation nearly five years, a char
ter having been issued on the 29.h of Noyem-
Der, 1867, 20 James A Deery, AFRO 4 Barnes,
VIM NJ Churchwell, VIM Hunt, Daniel Lyons,
VIM Lyons, Jr., and Nj ID. Bearden.
The total strength of the order in this city is
about two hundred and fifty, with ample funds
in the Lodge treasures 10 supply any reason
able demand for aid. The charities of the
brotherhood are literally though unobtrusively