National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-28
NEW ODD-FELLOWS h. H..
DF6TC4FIQT OF THE RENOT TIED
ISD IMPROVED STRUCTURE.

-nE6TT4FIQT OF THE RENOT TIED !
AND IMPROYED STRUCTURE.
INTERESTING EXERCIsES-A SEETCR OF
THE ORDER IN THIS DLsTRICT-A GOOD
sHOwING-ADDREssEs by GRAND MAS
TER THOMAS W. FOWLER, PAST GRAND
SIRE W. W. MOORE AND UTHERS-FUR-
TIER FESTIVITIES TONIGHT.
Yesterday afternoon Odd Fellows hall on
Seventh street was rededicated according to
the ritual Of the Order, For about an hour
and half before the fodicatory services com
menced the membership began to assemble at
their temporary place of meeting At q hall on
Seventh street, between Louisiana avenue and
D streets, and at 4JO O'Clock the procession
began to form, under the direction OF Grand
Marshal Henry Boswell, on seventh street,
the riglf resting at Louisiana avenue facing
south. Forty uniformed members Of the en-
pampHIent, Geo S. King, commander, and
headed by DoRch's band, occupied the right
Of the line. When the procession was formed,
there being about nine hundred members II
line, it InkTched to Pennsylvania avenue, up
the Avenue TO Ninth street, up Ninth TO Z,
down E 10 Seventh TO the hall, where tls
ranks were opened, and the Grand of1cers anu I
Grand Lodge, followed By the EncaInP n en-
and subordinate lodge members, enISTe1 t,ie
hall, taking seats on the SIDES OF tIie naLi' cIe
central seats being reserved for the la9les. 1ne
Grand officers occupied the stage, and the uni,
formed Encampment members oecupieu sea's
on the sides of the saloon:
Over the stage hung the magnificent large
silk flag presented by the State Of California TO
the United States Senate On each Of the pill
lars near the stage hung the banners OF the
Grand Lodge and Encampment. No further
decorations were deemed necessary by the
committee Of arrangements, as they might
tend 10 hide the beauties of the hall.
At 5 D. m. the assemblage was raped 70 Or
der by Grand Master Fowler, when the dedi-
Catory services commenced, and were con
Quoted according to the ritual Of the order
AfteT the dedicatOry services were over Grand
Master Fowler stated to the audience that the
lodge and other rooms up stairs would be
thrown open for the inspection Of the public
and a large number availed themselves of the
opportunity thus presented TO view the hand
sonely furnished rooms on the third floor.
THE EVENING EXERCISES.
A large audience, which filed every seat in
the hall, assembled at s P. N. to continue the
services. The meeting was opened by the
singing Of an ode, after which Grand Master
Thomas Fowler made a short address, stating
that those present would be favored by an ad-
dress from one who was well fitted to speak
on the history Of the hall.
HISTORICAL FACTs.
Past Grand Sire W. W. Moore was then in
PRODUCED aud said he had, by the courtesy Of
the committee, heCn assigned the duty Of pre-
eenting a narrative Of facts IN connection with
the acquisition of the property and the erection
Of the building.
He prefaccd It by rcmarking that in 1927,
just eight years after the introduction Of the
Order into the United States, Central lodge,
No. l, was established. Six years later Wash
ington lodge, No. 6, was instituted, and in the
six following years six moro lodges were cstab-
lished. Subsequently, and up to the present
time, three additional lodges had been Instituted
in the city, two in Georgetown and one In
Alexandria About the year 1867 Central
lodge, which had been moving about, secured
quarters in the Council! chamber, City Hall. In
1884,. fOreseeing the necessity Of some per-
manent place Of meeting, the lodges sought
the cooperation of the grand lodge, which
was heartily accorded, and q committee ap-
pointed to draft plan for the proposed edifce,
TO obtain q site and ascertain the probable
cost Of the venture. The committee, after due
consideration, recommended the present site,
which was adopted, and January IS, 1S45, ar
ticics Of compact, guaranteeing each OF the
subordinate lodges which contributed tothe
enterprise a representation on the board Of
trustees, were adopted.
The fret board Of trustees were elected by
ballot 1t that meeting, IS follows: w, w.
Moore and John G. Robinson, Central lodge;
John Sessforl and Joseph Beardsley, Wash
ingtOn lodge: Vim. LlOyd and VIM. G. Deale,
Columbia lodge; James Z. Clarke and j. W.
Col!ey, Beacon lodge; Samuel Stettinus and
Washington Lewis, Columbian encampment;
VIM. B. MagrudCr, A. g. HerOld and John L.
Pascoe, of the Grand lodge.
The committee decided that the building
should be done by days work, and 1t was COM
mCpced in April, 1915, under the superintend-
~ Ia he
structure was completed in thirteen mouths,
and occupied in May, 1915
lee Within ten years the Order bad been 80 pros
porous that increased accommodations were
necessary, and the trustees, then nearly out Of
debt, concluded to enlarge the building, which
they did, and had it completed within twelve
months. This improvement made the depth
OF the main saloon one hundred and twenty
feet, added the suPpeT-rOOm, and gained two
lodge rooms IN the third story.
The entire amount received from the lodges
and Encampment was less than $1,000, with
power to the trustees 70 issue stock TO the
amount Of $4,000. With these means in
prospect, though but two thirds Of the stock
was subscribed, the trustees purchased the
valuable properly, completed the first struc-
tuIe, afterwards enlarged the building, and by
1865 had faithfully paid The principal and IL
terest Of their indebtedness.
In 1854, after having drawn about g., 900 In
tercst, the lodges found themselves credited
with the sum Of S24, 900, which had accumu-
lated as compound interest, and, better still,
the sole pCssessOTs Of the stock in the building
Subsequent TO 1854, and prior to the beginning
OF the recent improvement, the lodges were
paid in cash dividends S25, GOO.
Mr.. Moore briefly referred to the inception Of
the project to have the hall compare with the
new Washington, and Its successful completion,
and after paying q tribute 10 those engaged in
Tvnrk concluded ar11H ypisk -,
RPostTophe TO the Order.
ADDRESS oP JAMES L. RIDGELEY.
Mr.. Rilgcley, Passed Grand Sire and now
Grand Secretary Of the Order in the United
States, was introduced by DR.. A. J. Borland,
who, In his introduction, said that Mr.. Ridge
ley was the oldest Odd Fellow IN the United
States, and had been officially connected with
every Grand Sire Of Odd Fellowship since the
founding Of the Order. -s-
Mr. Kidgeley then came forward and said he
had great pleasure IN being present at the cere-
monies Of re-dedicatfng 10 the cause Of benevo-
leDce the beautiful temple in which they were
assembled, which would contribute TO the adorn-
meut OF the national capital and great pleas
Ure 10 Odd Fellows everywhere to know that
they bad such a temple here. He spoke Of the
beneficial effects Of the Order on society, and It
was therefore becoming that the temples Of Odd
Fellowship should lift their spires in every tol-
Grant community and especially should this be
the case in the Federal city Of a great people.
He cOuDseled the members Of the Order 70 study
Odd Fellowship as q system Of good moral pTin-
ciples illustrated by influence and example in
the every business Of life. He closed by saying,
''let Us one and all labor to this end and sue
cess viii crown cur work"
Mr.. Hugh Latham, P. G. NJ, Of Virginia,
made short address on the beauties of Odd
Fellowship, and referred to the past history OF
the Order and the good It had done for human
ity. He paid high tribute to the leaders OF
the past and present, and paid quite a complL
ment TO James L. Ridgeley, of Baltimore, and
our worthy citizens, W. W. Moore and Fred.
D. SteuaTt.
Mr. VIM. II. Barnes, P. G. NJ, of New York,
was the next speaker. He made Short and
humorous address and sang twice. Both the
address and the songs created many hearty
laughs from the audience. Mr.. B. took the
place Of Grand Representative T. A. Rose, who
was unSyOidably absent.
During the intervals between the addresses
the Odd-Fellows' choir sang very finely, espe-
cially the Misses Wright, Miss Julia Powell and
the Misses Daniel, Messrs. G. B. R. Coiledge,
Theo. Miller, Seifert, WiIlet, Frazier, Clspp
and Newman. Miss Florence Cook presided at
the piano.
DISTINGUISHED ODD FELLOWS PRESENT.