, 1876-09-17

the G.. L. U. s., Gen. James L. Rdge1v; wa
admitted q Representative to the Grand Lotlg
in 1881. In 1888 Father Wildey, who had fo
eight ysass most aeee1tably and faithfully alle
that office By James Gettys, Of the District 0
| Columbia. In 1885 the Order had gained
toothold in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania
the District OF Columbia, Delaware, Ohio, Lou
| comprising 96 lodges, nearly one-half OF whicl
were located in Pennsylvania, jurisdiction
which still takes the lead in point OF wealtl
and membership, having now over 500 Lodge
and membership exceeding 100000
| GRAND SECRETARY R1DoEL1.
In 1S40 James L. Ridgely, P, G. NJ, was elect
ed to the office OF Grand Corresponding and Re
cording Secretary, which honorable and exalted
position he has since held, covering period ol
81 years; and in all candor it must be conceded
indefatigable labors OF Grand Secretary Ndgcly
1or its present prestige, power, and prosperity
FOR several years he has had valuable assistant
| u the person OF Theodore A. Ross, formerly
Grand Representative from New Jersey. Mr..
Ross Is genial gentleman, and one OF the best
informed Udd-Feliows III the country.
THE ORDER SINCE 1910.
;, udd-feiiowsiiip may be said to have received
rs hrst grand Impetus about the year 1870 At
tnat time there were Lodges in u States and
ter territories having an asgfegate Of L, ,1G6 mem
hers In l53 Lodges. The number Of Encanp-
bers. Receipts, ST., 100; relief, about S., 900.
:, we now look forward decade, when. in 1850,
there we're reported under the jurisdiction OF
| the G. L. u. S. 81 State Grand Lodges. 235{
| Subordinate LODGES. and ia 967 mcmhereN
showing the extraordinary increase in 10 years
/ OF about 1,600 per cent The ORDERS revenue
| augmented in the same time from SG3,CO0 to
sl,3l0 600: In 1855 there were IS Grand and g.
5aa 81 ,ssa sgbeEanate orc Lodges With 10000 members.
! S,547, but the aggregate hal fallen Oh to 173.-
SIS. This result was brought ahout nv the cen.
s':1 sEal "weeaing out " Of those members Who
Gn1er ,s ,-.' ~ 49, "osn ~ se
hars1,;. =; ~ a1.us.ny .st ~ hUIu Inen
bership diminished, the strength, reputation,
,"t5 nu se5eoc' VI tne 1osI'tut'on haa materially
4"I, r. e1sxE- 1cst 49, rs.:, Ill.,. .,.-.x
~ aooo' OWING 70 tne Cgll war, sne n1moer OF
9gossl9ut.nS ~ Eat memoeis h1o Qlnmshed TO
f'e}'sa' oJ}'rs1' r ano taefe were only al wornng
n;s.:s. lepo1seu. -, Il Is noteno!sny ana s1S-
thn n1, aai. enae sne otuei ol was
enc only insttut1oh-sooal. pollttcal, or secta-
thna,,ahn'.4 lsn piesclvGu rs uh1tY unoroken
- anak te'los anu o1oou} stfue, re-
na1 - laes tuat has oeen recorded IN tbe a-
'1aa anoae " oue na''.,hs " 4's history. 4na. .,
y. ~ sule W. Is t.e iG!io"1ns tesIi
11aa. ndony ~ 1ne ulAnu master OF dexas, VINO, IN
ssassa ~ tne an'lius o. tne L. U. ., re.
c aeatS @ ut:G o. Itie scerets OF tnts harmony and
H. m, hro4hs Tnea - 9aye M ever sunslstea between
IN this assemblaEe OF the Representatives OF our
urcer tn 1the &. L. U. - no unSind word was ut
Ssre es su.u1. - 1nu tseno} gseetngs
the drst time whose hocs arc thnusands o es
separated. but RECOGNIZING the houds ~ hrnther.
most sacred, they met together as one faml1y-as
If they had been friends from childhood What
= contrast is presented between our Order and the
Eo.aaea! oIsanlzations that rule our country!
a;' rs4!a me former todd- feliowsmp, we have re.
iag qp our wuste places md reconstrnctn" nnr
dges It Is thus that Odd Fe1lowehip is cneaeed
n cementing the sundcred bonds OF union. 8.
when will the nations learn to practicc those great
prsssepts Of en5 5s Divine Master upon which our
ofdes Is founded!
Since 1865, Odd-F fellowship has gained ground
with surprising rapidity, having to.v contrib
utng membership of about 500, Goo members in
Upward Of 5000 lodges. which are distributed
through every State, district, and Territory IN
North America, the Provinces Of Quebec and
Ontario, British Columbia, the Sandwich ISL
ands. Australia and New Zealand, the German
Empire, Switzerland, and South America In
1916, 1l,Do Odd~Fellows on the Continent, and
now 5006oo. Such progress is unexampled in
the history Of secret societies. The number Of
0dd-Fclows in the world is over 1,000, COO. The
Order is now receiving accessious to its n1en.-
bership at the rate Of $4,000 year, and two
new lodges are Instituted on an average every
Order last year was over s. 000 coo, and the dis
bursements for relieving the sick and dis
tressed, burying the dead, assisting the widow,
and educating the orphan, exceeded S2,00O,0 600. !
Verify, these are facts and figures IS astonish-
ing as they are gratifying, and they are we'll !
to remind us Of the inspired prophets !
words: 'tThere shall be a handful Of corn in !
the earth, upon tue top OF the mountains; but !
the seed thereof shall shake like Lebanon and |
they of the city shall flourish as the grass Of the
earth" The good seed planted by tie hand of |
Father Wildey sprung up, survived the scorching |
heat and cutting winds Of prejudice and opposf- |
lion. and, by tie blessing of Heaven, has be- /
,ome majestic tree, whose branches shadow
lie land as the waters cover the sec.
PRINCIPLES OF oDD-FEL1owsur.
We will now proceed to consider the urinci-
>les of the Order. They are coeval with Deity.
Before the hills were formed, or the earth called
orth from chaos, they lived with Jehovah
Vhcn God said, Let there be light" then
'calned forth from heaven, raaiating from tins
cry throne OF the Most High, Que Of the prom-
1cnt features Of the sacred system, Truth
m1poten:, immaculate, eternal Truth. Friend
hip, Love, and Truth arc the cardinal princi-
&c rf In n1S !