New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-28
Annive, sary of Odd Fellowship

| Anniver sary of Odd Fellowship.
| The fifty-ffth anniversary of the Inde
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in tn,
United States, was celebrated in q mos
becoming manner in this city, last night
by public meeting of the members of tn,
order, and their friends, at Odd Fellows
Hall. The hall was deneely crowded, ant
all passages and doorways leading to th'
main room were occupied by those unable
to find seats. An unusually large numbe
of finely dressed ladies were in attendance
which suggested that all of the sterner Be,
who wore the regalia, were not odd fellows
at least in a domestic sense.
The first Odd Fellows and the dates O
their appearance in this country it seems
are not precisely known. The frat organi
zation of the order into body, which ha.
existed to the present time, was effected il
Baltimore. Maryland, April 25, 1919, whe1
Thomas WIldey, with four other brothers o.
the order, hailiug from England, estab
iished Washington Lodge No. l, Of Mary
land. Thomas Wildey afterwards became
and for many years held the Office of Grand
Master Of the Grand Lodge Of the United
States, and in the order his memory is re-
veced as the father OF American Odd Eel
lOwship.
The order of exercises observed last night
commenced with music by Yeager's cornet
band, following which Brother Silas T.
GrisamOre, most worthy grand master OF
the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, made few
well chosen Introductory remarks, referring
to the order to which he belonged as fact
nj <hor I, A.
at which they were present as one OF
Thanksgiving that it was so.
The opening ode used in lodges was then
sung, led by Brother Philip Werlein, who
presided at the organ. ,...- ,.......
Prayer was offered by Brother j. G. Dun
lap, right worthy grand chaplain.
Following the prayer, an able address
was delivered by Brother w. C.. Wilson,
grand representative to the Grand Lodge of
the history of Odd Fellowship, from it's
humble beginning in Baltimore until the
present day; q day on which many thou
sand hearts throughout our land were in
unison rejoicing in it's establishment. All
institutions and efforts for good or evil re-
quired organized efforts of mind and pur-
pose. 1t was SO with agriculture, commerce
and the developments of arts and sciences
1t was particularly the case with charity,
OAAO Ao"uAAs AC0suAO VI CuAS AOUlc OIOcT.
BY its perfect organization for the pro.
motion of this great virtue. and
the developments Of the moral character
and the nObler attributes of mankind, Odd
Fellowship had obtained and kept it's firm
fOOthOld as recognized instrument for
good. The little light kindled at Baltimore
hickered and was unsteady until its second
decade. From that time it grew strong,
holding steadily to its purpose, until it en-
YQ ha of nf ot1 -,
our land and became wide spread. 1t held
to it's design Of discarding all political and
purely religious questions. 1t practiced
hospitality and federation. If man was a
good man and true one, he could become
an Odd Fellow. The principles of the order
were derived from Holy Writ.
The order was a national one; its govern
ment was similar to the government Of the
United States. In the year 1881 the order
Lodge in this State was organized in 1882,
and reOrganized in l841. The war found it
strong and fiOurishing. Its close found it
much weakened, with members scattered,
treasures depleted, and its principal hall
in the possession of troops. NOtwishstand-
ing all Of these drawbacks, it has received
new life, and is now a source of pride to its
members. Still better things are hoped for
it. 1t should serve to more closely unite q
ooAAuOA pOUpAOs hS al OAdupc, bu0 Ouu
Fellows of Massachusetts, had but this day,
with no motives but for blessed charity,
asked the Odd Fellows of Louisiana what
they should do for us in our present dis
tress; and their donations are most liberal
Following Brother Wilson's address came
music by the band and remarks in the Ger
man language by Past Grand Master j. E.
RengstOrff.
An eloquent oration was then delivered
Rvot1 T<l~ I
sentative to the Grand Lodge of the United
States from Alabama. He stated that
nothing but his love for the order would
have induced him to be present as
speaker. AS rule, public celebrations had
been productive Of but little good in their
work, yet it was we'll occasionally to halt
BY the dusty wayside and by cool fountains
and reflect upon what had been and what
could be done. Anniversaries were mile !
stones along the path of life.
In elegant language the speaker reviewed |
,he rise and progress of the order, and |
stated its objects as being to relieve suffer |
ng, the distressed, the widow and the |
orphan; being at once q protection to virtue |
Ind school of social refinement, and pro- |
nOter of that chief cardinal virtue, which |
,ore on its brow the seal of God, and on its |
,heek the kiss of the Saviour. For many |
ears the order had been confined to men
lone. Now women were admitted to some
# it's degrees, and side by side with their
'rOthers, the daughters of Rebecca worked
or good.
In this State the order has thirty lodges,
nd nearly 1900 members. During the past
ear it has paid for the relief of brothers
nd widows, and the education of orphans
nd burying of the dead, more than $4,000.
uch is Odd Fellowship at home, one Of the
lost unpretending, best organized and
ffective societies for good in existence.
Dancing was INDUCED in last night after
ne regular exercises of the evening, and q
ay which will long be pleasantly remem-
cred was brought to happy close.