The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-12-13

DAY evening lthl wheeling 4+0ube w. v.
/. D. o. f., celebrated the 18th anniver-
sary Of their institutiou, at their Lodge
rooms, Odd Fellows Hall. The Lodge
room was tastefully decorated with ever.
greens. The stand at the upper end OF
the room was occupied by the chairman
and several old members OF the Lodge.
Above the stand was placed on shield
the inscription wheeling Lodge No. 9,
ls47," and at the opposite end Of the
room were placed the present officers OF
the Lodge, who happen to be young men,
and over their stand the inscription
"Wheeling Lodge No. 8, 1870"
The anniversary exercises were opened
with the anthem @Exalt Him all ye Peo-
ple," sung by the choir. Prayer by Rev.
Jos. Willets, and few interesting and
affecting Introductory remarks by the
venerable chairman, F. A. Brentliuger,
Esq, who is the last remaining charter
member Of the Lodge,
The Secretary's report was then read,
from which we give brief extract:
TIE sEcRETARY's REPORT.
The Lodge was instituted December
llth, 1877, by James s, Wheat, District
Deputy Grand Master, under charter
from the Grand Lodge Of Virginia, sign
ed by Edward c. Robinson, Grand Master,
David Reed, Grand Secretary; dated No.
yember ODD, lS47, and to be known and
bailed by the title OF Wheeling Lodge No.
50; l. o. o. r., OF Virginia, The charter
was delivered to the following Brothers;
L. II, Fituhugh, +. A. Brentlingcr, A. o.
FairChiId, Josiah Powell, Alfred Caldwell
and their successors in office.
These are the FIVE original charter
members, only one OF whom is now a
member = Brother Past Grand +, A.
Brentlinger. Three are dead, and the
surviving member-E. II, Fitzhugh, Of
Richmond, Va, is still prominent and
active member Of the Order, at present
being representative from the Grand
Lodge Of Virginia to the Grand Lodge Of
the United States.
The first elected officers Of our Lodge
were L, II. Fitzhugh, N, G.; +. A. Brent.
linger, V. G.; Alfred Caldwell, Secretary;
Josiah Powell, Treasurer, and p, b. Tay-
lor, Chaplain. .
On the 2OIh OF January, 1913, seven
weeks after the organization and institu.
ton, the Lodge numbered nineteen, four.
teen having been admitted by card and
payment Of the charter fee, Only two are
members Of the Lodge at the present time
II. A. Brentlinger and WIN. Busby-
Brother Geo, Mendel, one Of the nineteen,
died on the 28th Of January last, having
retained his membership In the Lodge
until his death.
On the formation Of the Grand Lodge |
OF West Virginia, our Lodge was re.
chartered. The warrant was dated De.
cember 8, 1866, and the Lodge was named
Wheeling Lodge No. D. Up to this
time eighteen years. there had been adj
mitted 10 membership by initiation 25S,
and by card 50; a total Of POI members,
Since that time to the present, there has
been further additions to the membership |
Of 100 by initiation, and II by card, max.
ing a total Of 462 members, During the
existence Of the Lodge there has been but
80 deaths; the first being that Of Brother
James A, PAUL., on February "a, 1851,
and the last that OF Brother Mendel, else
where mentioned.
After deducting the deaths and the
present membership we find that 242
brothers out Of the grand total admitted
in the twenty-eight years have ceased
membership Let 1t not be understood,
however, that all these have been lost to
the order. In the varied changes Of hu.
man life, a great portion Of this number
have withdrawn by card; others became
charter members for forming new lodges,
while still others have withdrawn from
our city and joined Lodges at their new
homes, where by their zeal, and fidelity
to the principles Of Friendship, Love and
Truth, they haye become burning and
shining lights in the order and blessing
to humanity"
1t seems from the financial report that
the Lodge since It's existence has received
into ia treasury the large sum Of $23,.
1888 40. 1t has disbursed for the relief Of
the sick and distressed, and burying the
dead, and educating orphans $ll 100 50;
for other expenses S0,S76 80 and has as.
sets on hand Of s2,327 n. Tho Lodge
has relieved 397 Brothers and Al dGstl.
tute families,
Then followed tie singing oil n beauti-
full Duet called 1.-TWO Forest Nymphs,"
by Misses Aggie and Ada Murine.
Rev. J. Mex. Reilly then delivered a
short address Of rather humorous turn.
His remark that a part OF his occupation
was to net as High Priest to make Odd
Fellows even, and that he was ever will.
ing to perform that duty Il. c. the mar.
riage ceremony was we'll received, and
was evidently not considered prejudiCial
TO the growth Of the Order.
After the singing OF solo by Miss
Ida Day, followed an excellent reading
by Miss Sallie J. Meholin. Mr.. s. NJ.
Eiamilton's comic songs were good and
very amusing. L. q. Cracraft, Esq, then
delivered an able and well prepared ora
ton on the general principles Of the
Order. Following this was q solo sung
by Miss Ella Dillon, after which the ex.
ercises Of the evening were closed with
good night song and the beneli6tion.
The entertainment was exceedingly in.
tcresting throughout, and the fine
audience which crowded the spacious
hall gaveevidence OF being highly pleased.
The Committee OF Arrangements Ger.
lainly deserve great credit for the excel
lent programme which was 80 well car.
ried out.
Entertainments OF this sort are strictly
In keeping with the we'll known princi.
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