The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-12-19
Uhk Uribunf.
ODD FELLOWSH
Its Origin, Progress and Success.


When the initials I. O. O. e., AZ
seen In print. on banner or hall in thes
days, the majority of those who read ar
aware that they behold the monogram
of q fraternal organization known as Cd,
Fellows, but very few, save the initiated
are familiar with the great progress
has made since its introduction Into thi
country or the extent of its operations
10 glance briefly at these will be found
fraught with interest to the reader.
Societies bearing the tide Odd Fel
lows" existed In the Old World. and
were spoken of as early as 1745. These
were of the nature OF convivIal clubs
with perhaps crude system of relief at.
tached, and were of different work" OF
ceremonies ana regulations. In 1890,
one or more had assumed quite large
proportions, with something of a presi-
ding government, or general head, from
which lodges were authorized TO be in
stituted or formed. Yet it was an IN
systematic state. In 1909 member OF
London England lodge, on his own
Manchester, which increased and multi
piled and induced the formation Of other
lodges, until large number Of "Odd
Among those joining in Manchester
were some men of enlarged ideas, who
thought that they discovered within this
Order the germ of something better, and
introduced and proposed reforms which
cid no. seem to be favorably received by
the majority. After years trying the
Manchester withdrew or seeded from
the old organization and in 1913 for med
what was and Is still known as the "Man-
chester Unity"
From this organization American Odd
Fellowship is descendant. Although
Lodges of "Odd Fellows of some kind
were instituted as early as 1906 in New
York city, yet permanent organization
dates from April 26, 1919, when Thomas
Widely, John Duncan, Richard Rush
worth and John Cheathem organized
Washington Lodge, No. l, at the Seven
Inn, Baltimore, Maryland.
From 1919 to 1912 the order in Ameri-
ca used the Manchester work or ritu-
al. Some changes. alterations, ect., hav-
ing taken place In England, delegation,
consisting of james l.. Ridley and Rsv
}. ID. Williamson, made a trip over to
reconcile differences, without effect, re
turned, reported, and the same year
\
from the Manchester Unity and declared
itself an independent Order. A new
work and ritual were adopted in IS45,
the one now in use.
Prominent ia the American Order is
the exclusion Of refreshments" OF any
kind from the lodge room, the estab-
lishment of stipulated weekly sick bene-
fits, funeral benefits. certain sums to be
paid on the death Of wife, system of
visitation among the sick, care for the
widow and orphan, &c. As the practice
OF these principles became known, atten-
ton was arrested, the name odd Eel
low which had been somewhat of a
by-word and reproach, assumed differ
ent character, and rejecting minds were
led to investigate. The result was large
accessions and revival" as it we're,
in this fraternity. Like all Jurors, many
Joined for personal aggrandizement, to
further individual ends of political, sec
tartan or other character, but finding an
lmmutable law to be that no political,
sectarlan or other improper debate
would be allowed, and also discovering
that Odd Fellowship meant work outside
OF, IS well as in the lodge room; hun
dreds dropped off and were suspended.
A fixed law of association is, that if
any brother fails to pay his weekly dues
for thirteen weeks he is not entitled to
benefits, and if he neglects to do so for
year he is dropped from membership.
So it will be seen that when speaking of
members live men" are meant-those
who are contributors to Lodges and in
full fellowship. Once a member al
ways member" is not the rule, but "a
member only when regular contributor.
The peculiar system of relief, &c., re-
quires this strict discipline, and it is rig
idly enforced Hence the number of sus-
pensions have been large.