The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-27

LowsHIsIS S'ANsElCA.-The various lodges of
Odd.FelloWs of Richmond and Manchester
assembled at Trinity church last night to eel.
ebrate the fifty anniversary Of Odd
Fellowship In America. The church was,
densely crowded with q largeand intelligent
audience, and the exercises were very inter.
esting. Past Grand Deputy G, Sire Judge
+. FL. F'tZhugh presided, insisted by Z. G !.
j. A. Collins, p. G. Rev. &C. Nanderslice,
and 2. G. A. 7. Burr. 'H. / a#.a>"3a,*I n
The exercises were opened with beauti--
full authenl by Trinity. Church choir, prayer
by the Grand Chaplain, and proclamation by
the GranGSecretary. q q 1s4-..' @i >t F. E.
Rev. DR.. Iaedsoe delivered the.anniyersary
Grafton and welcomed the Order to these
sacred walks, because said he, the work is d
| noble one. 1t seeks TO help the needy and
ameliorate the condition of saFering man
kind. While we are here the brothers of the
mystic tie are tonight gathered over this
entire land> The banner under which we
meet is kissed by the grateful hearts of thou.
| sands. Only little over Il balf-eentury ago
| four or five true and noble men met in Balti.
more and instituted this glorious Order
| No doubt shey were called Jdd Fe!lo,rS
| indeed, but true to the great principles that
| bound them together they went forward, and
| in 4 short while the Grand Lodge Of Mary
| land was organized. 1t grew and grew, and
tue little cloud has spread over nearly all the
| land, and from five men they now number
| five thousand. Now the mystic chain OF
Friendship, Love, aud Truth binds together
the best and noblest of the land. Surely
such an Order must have something in it
that peculiarly adapts itself to- the wants OF
our race. This Order seems to be a providen-
tial arrangement for the accomplishment OF
VOL that could not be donehy the Church.
Rg organic ltion this Order wild reach those
who would otherwise be left un1Ssisted. 1t
works hand in hand with the Church; and
recognizing.no creed, no politics, it goes be-
yond ecclesiastical opportunity, and does its
work silently but surely. From the earliest
dawn of time men have avoided an answer 10
the great question:, "Art not thou thy
brothers keeper?" Selishness runs free all
over our land, but it~remains for Odd-Fel-
lowship to grapple with this monster ana
throttle it. Never in the history of our
country has there been sucha vast field for
usefulness. Widows andorPhans are thicE;n
our land, but our noble Ordar is fully ableto
meet the demand. When the storm Of war had
passed, Odd-Fello owship, was the first to meet
and call upon its members from all parts OF
our Union and shake hands over the bloody
chasm of civil strife. We knew no North.
no South, no East, no Hes,. We heard no
cry but the cry for help, and this was enough
TO bind us together. Who Was it that iirst
went to the rescue OF ruined Chicago with
sympathy, friendship, and love as we'll as
substantial aid. She stood high among the
noble Orders that were yying With each
other as TO which shohld do most IN the
good cause.
Odd.Fellowship is a grand family. and her
secrets are no more tsan the SECRETS OF {.
family. What would she world be- withous
Friendship, Love, ana Truth. Nan woula
he alone, with no hand to help, nc heart ho
sympathize. We meet to-night.to make a
new epoch in our Order, and the ladies' grace
the OCCASION. The ladies are deeply inter.
ested in this good york, for our Order de-
signs to wipe away the Widows tears and
hush the orphans cry. These. noble trpttss
must live sld grow until they shall be Dst
in the millenitm. Its triumpskwill bt: ended
when she shall see the worlL redeemed and
disenthraIied frous sin. ~. T.. -.
A. r. Courtney, Grand Master Of Odd
Fellows 10 Kirginia, also addressed tfie nudi
ence, He congratulated tina Order on the
enthusiastic meeting, anL said that while
odd. Fellowship teaches CHARITY she alst
practices It,. The benefaeliSns 0t 'sbe Order
nave reached lis millions, Our noble Order
assists and ce0perates with the Church o
God. Odd 5ello wship,teaches beneyolenc'
and all the other nobleprincph s, and is thu
helping tho. good carss. His emarks were
Illustrated. with Interesting inc dents.
Judge Kilzhugh, being called upon, s1it
his heart was so fu,sof Odd-F ellowship tha
| he could not refuse to say word in behai
| of this aoble Or1az. He tfen gave an in
| terestirs account Of the meeting OF th
Grand Lodge of she Unite d States, in Balti
mere, just after the war; 1t was the frs
assembly that WAS national in character Lila
convened in lh7 United tates after the war
National aid vas given 10 the southern roi
| ton of our Order, and now she Order
fiaurishing asd triup phans in its career.
The enti6 exercises we're intersperse'
with appropriate Singing by the choir Q
Trinity charch. y.-.
/ Past Grsud Wiiiar3 s. Gilnnan delivered
happy closing address; after which the at
/ dience vess Dismissal with benedHtlon ..
the Rev. Brother TaHdersliee.