Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-04-27

81 Salu Ble6tluS tnfSc huhNiSN "A~
eighty-one shares Of stock, the par
value of share being twenty-five dollars
Amounting to nine Thousand five hum
dred and twenty-five dollars; there
were subscribed one hundred and
sixteen shares that were not rep
resented in this meeting, making
total of four hundred and nintey-
seven shares subscribed at that time.
At this meeting the Odd-Fellows hall
and library association was organized
by electing a board Of directors consist
| ing of five-A. b. Shaw, w. X. Poston,
| M M. Temple, +. 81. Clark and II. 5. Leaf.
| This board Immediately organized by
eIecting w. X. Posten, president, and
II. s. Leaf. secretary. After making
suitable rules and bylaws to govern said
directors. an advertisement was ordered
to be made for suitable plans for Odd-Fel-
lows hall. On the twenty-ninth of April
thew had plans presented by William
Crane. II. Roland, w. Crider and Mr..
Ordeman. William Cranes plan was
unanimously selected, and the building
was ordered to be Immediately com
menced. and the contract for the brick
work given to Charles Jones, at seven
dollars and seventy-five cents per thou
sand, stone work to c. G. Maydwell, car
penter's to William Cowley, and the
painting to Morgan d Jones.
The building was commenced at once
and went on prosperously for short
time, but soon it was found that many
had taken stock who were not able to pay
the call on the stock they had taken,
and the directors were sorely troubled
to meet the payments for work and Ia
Dor done. Ii was hoped to have had the
hall completed by December, l84S, but
the directors were disappointed on all
sides, and the work came nearly to a
stand. Every eXertion was made to get
the stockholders to pay up, but with lit
tie success.
In April, I649, the whole number Of
shares taken was 732; of which there
were paid up in full, SIS; paid up in part
439; whole amount of cash received tC
date, S9567; whole amount still due Oh
shares, SS733. On an examination, il
was found that there were two hundred
and seventy Odd Fellows in Memphis
and only one hundred and twenty of then
had subscribed to the stock of the hall
The president was untiring in trying tC
increase the stock and induce stOckhold
ers to pay up, and deserves the lasting
gratitude of the orderfor his noble work
| The directors weIe at last driven to tht
necessity of borrowing money, and OF
May 9Th they issued the notes of th'
hall for six thousand dollars. And 81
the work on the hall was continued BY
using borrowed capital, and would hav,
been a failure if it had not been for :
few noble and generous spirits that be
longed to the order, who stepped fer
ward and indOrsed the notes of the ssso
citation. The directors had no child
play to build this hall. They were bese
from the beginning with difficulties the
would have made many faint-hearted
but they continued steadfast in the gOOC
work, and we tonight enjoy their la
bOrs. The building was not finished til
the fall of 1850, and was then largely il
debt and required the best management
to keep it out of the hands o
the sheriff. 1 cannot close this shor
history without referring to some Of it
earliest and nOblest friends who are nov
no more on this earth. w. X. Poston
its first president-his voice and pen wa
ever ready to defend it, and to hin
more than any other brother, are we in
debted for our success. He knew no sucl
word as fail. J. H. Updegraff, w. II
Chaplain, a. B. Shaw, and F. II. Clarl
were ever ready TO sustain it with theI
name and influence, and it was sucl
men as these who gave US Odd-FellOw
hall. There are many noble and gener
Gus Odd-Fellows now living who ar
entitled to our gratitude and thanks
many are here tonight to rejoice in ou
success. The hall is now the property 0
the lodges, they now owning the entir
stock, valued at seventy-five thousand
dollars. During the time of building on
hall we have not been idle in regard to ou
duties as Odd-Fellows, and have paiC
for the relief of widows and orphans
S21, 900; for waiting on and ministerins
to the sick, 6,445 for burying tht
dead, 1885; for general charity, S4l60
making total of S46, 500. We hav,
also bought and paid for a large 10
in ElmwOod cemetery at q cost o
four thousand dollars, where nov
rest the remains of forty-three brethren
Our progress has been steady and sure
and tonight we stand in the front, anC
conducted on the principles of friend
ship, love and truth, we are sure to pros
per till time shall be no more. Applause.
ADDRESS BY REV. f. G. M'LEAN.
Rev. Z. G. Mclean was then intro
duced by the president, and delivered
the following address in an elOquen
manner:
Brevity has been called the soul O
wit No less is it the soul of discretion
when one stands as | do tonight, wheI
my extended theme spreads like al
ocean of thought all round me; to meas
ure which in length and breadth anC
depth no man is able. a passing glanc
at the principles of Odd-Fellowship i
all that is in our power; for they are a
old as creation, as wide extended as tn
wants of man, and rs everlasting as hi
immortality.
| stand by his forge while the artisan
lights his fires. A union is taking plac
between the fuel and the air, eliminat
ing sufficient heat to soften his iron, ant
to his work he goes, unmindful of tn
great lesson the whir of the fir
be now neglects is able to i'm
part. This union is In conformity
with principle existing lonJ
before the fabled Vulcan worked on the
armor of the gOds-long before the car,
bon or the oxygen ever had being
This principle, then, is Independent, 70
its existence, of the physical materia
now eliminating it, and, instead of be
ing the ruled, is the ruler, and dictate
line of conduct to the elements thu
brought in contact. Born away bach
yonder in the morning of eternity, thes
principles are the laws of God, and ar
such, as much before, as after they hav
material TO manifest themselves. Ems
mating from the bosom of Deity, the,
. are the avenues through which OmnipO
tence works his wonders, and are a
much prevalent in his moral as in hi:
physical government.
Man, a creature of his hand 2 subjec
| of his government, is by no necessity re
lated to him by every bond that cal
bind g creature to its creator. These re
Iations are Independent of mans will
beyond his power to alter, and prOduc
} necessarily obligations. These Obliga
| tions are the embodiment of the princi
pies of the order represented here to
night-gratitude TO God, fraternity +
, man, eXemplified in the practice c
| friendship, love and truth.
If you think, then, you are here Oh
: this occasion to celebrate the anniver
sary of our principles birth, allow you
; minds to be abused at once of the error
The principles of Odd-Fellowship ar
not new, but as old as relations them
, selves, where they have their residence
and constitute the divine origin Of ou
| brotherhood. Existing as integral part
of essential right, they were, before th
world was, and implanted in the bosom
of Adam by the and of God, they es
tablish mankind fraternity, and ou
ordc simply claims to recogniz
5 them as they are, and in our OF
panization only afford an Opportunit,
for their manifestation, and a safeguar
about them, lest they be lost in th
: abyss of human selfishness and mora
: depmvity.