National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-07-09
ODD FELI.OSysHIP.
Installation OF the Officers Of the Eastern
Lodge No. I-Address or Grand Master

Installation OF the Officers of the Eastern
Lodge No. 1-Addres. or Grand Master
J. W. Thompson.
A large audience assembled at the Seventh
street Presbyterian church last evening to wit
ness the OF installation the newly elected Officers
OF Eastern Lodge No. !. The ceremonies began
by the singing OF the opening ode, Brethren OF
our Friendly Order" by the Old Fellows' choir,
under the direction Of Prof.. J. II. Daniel. Prayer
was then offered by Grand Secretary Stewart
invoking the blessings Of God upon the Order
throughout the earth.
The usual ceremonies OF receiving the Grand
Lodge were then gone through with; after which
the choir sang the installation ode, and the
newiy-elected ofilcers, each clad In regaliA APP
propriate to their stations, marched In process
sion three times before the Grand Lodge, aud
took their seats on the right OF the Worthy
Grand Master. The following Officers were then
duly installed: n. a., James ". Gessford; V. a.,
James 7: LaIkins; II. s., James \. Petty; Treas.
more; Warden, j. W. Rye; X. \. s., A. J. Ash
hurne; L. =. s., }. s. r. Green; X. s. N. G., j. b.
Espey; L. 5. N. g., p; s. shultz; r. 8. v. a., J.
samuel E. Boyce: o. G., q. W. Donaldson. Each
oricer was Invested with the en- blems OF his
authority, and thew were declared Installed by
Grand Master ]. W. Thompson.
Grand Master J. W. Thompson then delivered
the following address to the audience:
Ladies' and Gentlemen: IL IL customary upon
such occasions to deliver an address to the ladies'
present on this occasion, but when tell you
that, instead OF being here, were to consult
my bodily feelings, should be at home and In
bed, ! AIN suffering acutely from sickness, and
yet have never foregone the pleasure Of at
tending meeting OF Odd Fellows. would say
70 the ladies present that, for time at least,
they have all become Odd Fellows, and intrusted
with the secrets which are such a bugbear TO
their imaginations. lLaughter.l l am persuaded
that no Idle curiosity has brought you hither to
witness these ceremonies. You now have an
opportunity OF seeing how untruthful are the
dark imaginings that some people have concern
ing the workings OF confesse dly secret society.
The purposes aud aims OF Odd Fellowship are to
protect each other, to relieve the widow and the
orphan. This was the secresy, this was the
bugbear, that frightened so many conndlng
wives and weak-hearted men.
We daily witness the imposition that Is prac-
ticed upon the unsuspecting by impostors, We
do not claim for our Order q superiority TO the
Church. Like II We have bad men In our asso-
but that IL no argument against our
society, II one OF Its members proves recreant
70 MS trust, That inc whole society is corrupt.
While hypocrites are found In the Church, there
are noble spirits who have forsaken father,
mother home and oil that Is dear TO them TO
teach benighted heathens the doctrines OF Jesus.
The aim OF Odd Fellowship was TO ally men In
the bonds OF communion and fellowship, Let
me say TO the young men that becoming an Odd
Fellow gives hun standing In society, as well As
hope for the future. Well do remember when
In strange land, without friend, without oc-
cupation, Joined the Odd Fellows, and from
that time QsI9) TO this have never faltered Till
have attained my present position OF honor In
this society.
Ladies' and gentlemen, ! thank you for your
attention, and II anything has been done or said
to create favorable impression In your minds
this evening" am more than repaid for what
have said.
The choir then sang my native country, its
Of thee" ana the meeting was dismissed.