The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-23
AMERICAN ODD FELLOWSHIP.
TIL YOUNG GIANT OF THE 18TH
CENTURY.
CHANCES ATITs HISTORY.


From Tine ioot-race of the boys to the con-
ouerirg of a nation, from the single seull
comp. tition to the far ocean yacht race, from
a base ball match to battle, the world ng-
urasively throws up its cap" aud Justify
cheers the winner. When the SUCCESS SC
chisved is for the benefit Of humanity,
monuments are erected and grateful peo-
ple enbalm in its eountry's historic heart
the name and deeds Of it's benefsctor.
A.~eCiatioas of naturally beneficial chsrsc-
ter 10 their members have long been pOpuiar
in our own as we'll as other countries, aud
some O. them have developed the fact thai
they arc not only elevating to and protec
tive - their own, but are positive good
to communities and nations.
All ages have shown the desire upon The
part 0. men to associate or 'club" together
in societies, iraternities, clans, associations
etc Some OF these socisties haVs been az
tagoaistic to church, state and the good OF
men: others have builded their claims to
success upon social, literary or military fea-
ture5; others again upon fraterual and be-
nev0lent characteristics. tits to this latter
class that our attention turns at this time,
or rather toa single organization.
Looking over the fraternal field on our
continent, one can not but notice the numb ?
Of secret so-called) organizations. We hsvs
the Knights of Pythias, Changers, Sons Of
America, HeptAsophs, Druids, Red Men
American Mechanics, Wise Men, Good
Templars, Sons of Temperance, Temple OF
Honor, Masons, Odd Fellows, and scores OF
others.
Some are young and scarcely any (savt
One) very old. While recognizing the
worth and good works performed by several
O. those above enumerated, it is nos iuyid
iOus TO assert that the two great fraternal
organizations OF the day are the Mssons and
the ODD Fellows.
The first % these comes down to us from
the days of antiquity, its head covered With
the honoTed silver locks of time, and num-
beTing on its pass and present rolls many of
the eminent men OF our land, its mission
recognized, and its works an enduring mon.
Ument of its worth.
But il is not oft but its younger COM
paulon, American ODD Fellowship, whose
representatives assemble in our city to-day
Of whom We must speak.
Whence is it? Aud how is il that an or
der which, sixty years ago, had not an OK
istence, sends this day body of mon from
every portion OF our land-a body whioh, in
point of ability, elOquence and digni6sd
bearing, compares tavOrably with sny de-
Lucrative or legislative sssemblsgS in our
republic?
And these representatives are bus the
cabinet for half million constiIusncy-half
q million earnest, practical workers, with
mighty revenue and liberal, open hand
IL calls upon the reflective mind TO ex-
anime and see what magic spell las OOniured
mp this host which now IS marching
through our land with bright banners, upon
which are inscribed, "Friendshlp. Love
and Truth Visit the Sick" "Rslieve
the Distressed Bury the Dead" PRO
tect the Widow" Educate the Orpbsp -
We hear that Odd Fellowship originally
came from England, and Investigation
proves that while the precise origin OF the
name "Odd Fellow" can not DO found. that
clubs or associations with this title are men
toned in the London publications ia i745,
1873, etc.
Bat these were largely conviVial associ-
atoms, and the ''lOdges,' as the olabs were
called, we're self-instituted, independent
affairs, with no general mead or system.
We fiBd them principally in London and
Liverpool. However, in 1909, one Thomas
Bolton, of a London lodge, goes TO Man
chester and institutes "lOdge" there. In
this city some thinking, Intelligent men
Joined the order, and seeing that by system
snd reforming some of the practices, the
association could be turned to practical
good, change was proposed, locking to
the adjustment OF some of the c0nvivial
elements. This appears not to have baen
raOly received by the London and LIv
eIpool re.hren, Cor, as they called them
selves, the Union Order of Odd Fellows"
and find that in 1913 the Manchester
bretnreu seeded from the "UniOR" order
aud Instituted an independent order OF their
own. which Is now known far and wide as
the Manchester Unity" And We viii here
state thai this unity to-day Is very strong
aud pop~lsr, working upon q Systematic
principle Of dues and benefits, with q revenue
Of a5Ou i've million dollars annually, an
expenditure Tor relief of 81. 5000 annually,
and a membership of about Ave hundred
thousand.
Bot returning: In 1878 an English Odd
Fellow, Thomas Wildey, arrived in Baiti-
more, Nd, and by personal effort, adv9rtis-
ing, exc, was enabled to find tour other
members, John WEIGH. John Dancau, Rich
ard RashwOrth and John Cheathem) and
these five instituted Washington Lodge No.
l on April 26, 1919. This lodge was regu
larry chartered afterward as tie Grand
Lodge of Maryland and OF the United
States by the general committee
of the Manchester Unity, and Thomas
Wildey was chosen as first noble grand
and also as first grand master.
Previous to 1919, efforts had been made in
New York City, Boston, and other points to
establish lodges, and some had been institu-
ted, but they were short lived. The first
permanent lodge was Washington No. as
above given.
In 1922. the various lodges that had been
formed united under one government, and
on January 15 1925, the Grand Lodge OF the
United States held its first communication,
Thomas Wildey, the first grand sire, presi-
ding.
used, but differences occurring, a commit
tee consisting of The present Grand Score
tarv James l.. Ridgely, and the then Grand
Chaplain, the Rev. Iaaac ID. Williamson, were
commissioned TO visit England, aud adjust
them, propose certain reforms, etc. They
failed in harmonizing said differences, re-
turned, reported to the supreme body at it's
session OF 1912, and the Grand Lodge OF the
United Stated and its constituency seeded
from the Manchester Unity" and declared
itself s'iDdepsndenf."
In 1915, new ''work, the one nov usedl
uriftou ~ the Raw