Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-28
The New Odd Fellows Hail.


AS stated in yesterdays STAR, Odd Fellows
Hall, which has recently undergone extensive
Improvements, was rededicsted yesterday after
noon with appropriate services. A large num-
Der Of distinguished members Of the order were
present, and the dedicatory programme as
printed in TIE STAR WAS carried out. The only
decorations OF the hall were a large national
Tag, gift of the state Of California TO the
United States Senate, at the rear Of the stage,
Grand Lodge and the Grand Encsmpment. At
the conclusion OF the ceremonies the Grand
Master announced that the entire building
would be thrown open for public inspection
until 2. n, and thousands awaited themselves
of the opportunity offered. In the evening an
immense audience filed every part of the hall.
The exercises consisted of addresses By Thomas
W. Fowler, grand master; VIM. W. Moore, past
grand sire; James L. Eidgeiy, historiOg rapher;
Barnes, PAST grand master; and Staging by the
odd Fellows choir, Professor Joseph n. Daniel
conductor. Nj. Moore gave an interesting
HISTORY or THE HALL,
from which We give the following extracts:
In 1884 the lodges became seriously i'm
pressed with the necessity OF procuring hall
Of their own, and, resolving TO devote their
means and energies to this end, they sought the
cooperation Of the Grand Lodge. The m m
bers Of the Grand Lodge, without regard to
their pGTuc 1lar localities, generously sustained
the enterprise by pledge OF the means, re-
lion of cooperation by the Grand Lodge was
passed IN August, 1874, and q committee was
then appointed TO dIaught plan of the pro-
posed building, TO obtain site, and to ascer-
tain the probable cost Of suitable structure.
That committee subsequently reported that
they could not, pursusnt to their Instructions,
obtain At a reasonable price a site on Pennsyl-
ysnia avenue, and recommended the site now
occupied by this building. Their recommenda-
ton was adopted, and on the 18th of January,
1s45, resolutions OF compact were introduced
into and passed by the Grand Lodge, rocog-
MIXING and protecting the subordinate lodges
and eDcamp meDt which had at that time ex-
pressed a purpose Of contributing TO the enter
prise, by guaranteeing to each a representation
IN a board Of trustees TO manage the property,
AT frar
other lodge should come into the prescribed
compact II should have a like representation.
IL was determined, with a view 10 securing
fsithfulness and substantiabil1ty in CONSTRUCT
ton, that the building should not be submitted
to contract, but erected and enclosed by days
Work. 1t vas commenced IN April, 1Sl5, under
the supeTintendence OF VIM. q. Desle, carpen-
ter ard builder, and OF jerome Digs, we'll
known as an experienced brlcklayer and ma
con. who, with trOwel in hand, worked at the
head OF his employees, and put up foundation
and walls which are regarded as among the most
substantial IN this or any other city. The build
ing having been enclosed with a substantial
root ana all other appointments, the interior
was completed under contract by j. T. Walker.
The whole structure was completed in the course
of thirteen months, and was occupied by the
order in Nav, 1916. This was the or ginal struc-
tnTe, composed Of the wings and stsirways as
OF about twenty eight feet,) and also of the
western hall and two lodge-roC in the upper
story. 1t was regarded at that day as a spacious,
and very respectable building, and elected for
the Order very general and fistteriDg common
dstion, for the Irugalty and energy which had
placed II in possession OF such a handsome and
valuable property. But scarcely a decade Of
years had passed from the time Of dedication
when the Brotherhood meeting in this section
of the city desired further Accommodations es-
Pecially for the use OF the PatrisTchal branch of
OF the Order. Fortunately the trustees found II
practicable promptly 70 crafty their wish. The
debtincurred by the first undertaking had been
virtually extiI gUished, and, encouraged by
former success, they Immediately proceeded to
extend the building eastward, to cover all ofths
ground they had purchased, and greatly TO the
qualification Of the order, accomplished
the work in less than a twelve month
Tie entire amount received from the Lodges
and Encampnsnt was less than $1,000, with
power 10 the trustees 10 issue stock TO the
amount OF SIP eco. With these means in pros
pect, though only tTO-tEirds OF the stock wa
realized, the trustees purchased this valuable
ground, completed the first structure, after
wardS enlarged the building, and in the mean
time, IS fast az moneys came into their hands
discharged outside Indebtedness, all Of which
including principal and interest, had been
faithfully paid prior 10 lSC5. These Lodges
had, in the interval between their subscriptioDs
and the discharge OF outside Indebtedness, re
corded fIom time TO time on accoun. Of interest,
and repayment of principal, ne 4riy one half OF
their original subscriptions, having a. the re-
msinder OF their investments only about -, 600.
On these incOnsideTable OUTLAWS, or rather by
abstinence from the use Of their money, they
found themselves credited in 1s64, by the &C
emulation of interest at compound rates, with
81 eco in stock five fold the amount which had
been drawn and withheld from their treasures:
and. what l. of more consequence TO the Order,
been redeemed, made them the possessOrs OF
the entire property, the value of which every
intelligent brother can estimate for himself.
And yet, in addition TO this immense gain, the
Lodges, subsequently to the discharge OF the
outside debt in 1854, and prior to the com
mencement of the present Improvement have
been paid in cash dividends SOS 90, which i'm. |
dependently OF their augmentation OF stock and
acquisition OF the property, Is fve-fold the |
amount OF their contributions left in the hands |
OF the trustees No one OF the trustees, as such-
nor any officer or the board, has ever |
received compensation OF any kind for |
any service he may have performed |
It was upon this board of trustees that was de
VOWED, some fifteen months ago, the duE OF |
conducting the present improvements. Advice, |
plans, and suggestions were obtained from sew
eral architects, and also from joint committee |
OF mechanics and builders attached to our |
lodges. The result was the adoption of a plan |
which II was supposed would be acceptable and |
creditable to the Order. We proceeded 20 carry |
out that plan by commencing the work in May |
OF last year, and, after encountering some vexa-
tous yet unavoidable delays, we have now com |
pletedt, and present for your approval and sc- |
cePtanee the renovated building. Samuel Wise, |
carpenter and builder, has been the general |
superintendent, and with select employees has |
faithfully performed all the work in his line |
WIN. z. Gebhardt & Co. galvanized iron wO-k- |
ers, have handsomely carried out, with sppro- |
pirate enumeration, the design OF the front |
FoOs x Martin have done the bricklaying, |
Anthou Eberly * Co. the roofing, Andrew Jack
son the plasteriuE, \. ". Cutshaw the stairway
IN the southern wing, Geo. K. CrOsshsld the |
painting and gliding; James John Tally, sue
plumbing; Wm. r. Moore * Co, OF baltimore,
the improved heating apparatus; hahlert *
FOsbeTg the beautiful frescOing; ". h. Moses
the tasteful uphOlstering; Douglass Moore the |
carpetngi VIM. IL Dunn ssttees, desks, chairs,
Se-; VIM. b. Moses the patent seat settees in
ledge rooms Samuel Gardiner the suspended /
renectors which grace the saloon and the lodge
rooms The faithfulnesS in execution of every
branch OF art and mechanism brought into re. |
QUESTION may be ascertained by critical scru-
tiny, and the closer the examination the more
manifest Wilt appear that no mistake has been
made In the selection Of agents"
TO-DAY.
As stated in TEE STAR Yesterday, Mr.. VIM
d. Barnes, editor OF the Hart and Haad will
entertain the friends OF the order with a must
cal, recitative, and initiative HelGHgs this eve
ming After which cat 10 o'clock the floor will
be cleared and an Odd Fellows levee held, for
which Donch's cotllIOn band has been engaged,
and every arrangement made for the comfort
and pleasure Of al who may attend.
The WASHINGTON MONUMKNr-The follow
ing additional subscriptions have been reported