The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-09
Anniversary of Franklin Lodge
M Z

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lodge The entertainment was under the
management Of the following committee;
J A. Taylor, J. NJ. Todd, John h.
Chsrnock, B. B. Dillon, Chsrles b. Reed
and ). +. Fairs.
The exercises consisted Of music and
slight Of hand performances, all OF which
were highly pleasing 10 the audience.
Refreshments were furnished by Mrs.
ZiegentelLcr The following Interesting
history OF the birth and growth OF the
lodge was read by j. Nj. Todd:
LADIES AND BROTHER: TO me has
been assigned the duty OF giving you the
history OF this lodge, from It's iormstIou
up 10 this date. l shall give /. IN Is
condensed form as possible
The charter was granted by the Right
Worthy Grand Lodge oi Virginia, ami
bears date Richmond, Va, Apr. :.
1883, constituted by William Stew
art, Jesse Bu,lacd, Brigham Forow,
Hiram Powell and Louis BOiIlan IS the
charter members, only one o! which IS 4
member now. Brothers Billiard and
Powell have gone to that bourne from
which no traveller returns. William
Stevens Is still living in the city but has
not been member for thlrty-three
wears. Brigham Farlow left the city
shout thrty-iour years ago and severed
his connection with the lodge. Brother
Louis Roilian is still living and holds his
membership Heresides At Harrisburg, Ia,
These five brothers and their successors
constituted Franklin Lodge No. H. l. "
q. +.
On Monday August 20 1888, the
Lodge was duly instituted by Z. q. +.
\. Wander, OF Virginius Lodge No. 3,
who had been authorized by the Grand
Lodge TO doso. The first business was the
election OF officers. The officers being
elected. the next business Was the install
lstion. the charter and books were then
delivered 10 the \. g., the officers took
their respective stations and the Lodge
was duly opened.
The bretheren then, in conjunction
with Nirginlus Lodge No. 3 and Jetier-
son Lodge OF SteubenviIle, Ohio, formed
q procession, aud headed by tsnd OF
music paraded through the principal
streets to the First Presbyterian Church,
where al address was delivered W the
Rev. Mr.. Croker, of Mouzds' i'll Va.
From the Church the procession mar he'd
to the hall Of the Lodge on the asst side
of Main street, the first ace OF
meeting beng IN the third story Of tn
building now occupied by VIM. GIaha II
as 3 furniture store, and then knO,
Robb's chair factory. Alter seven mo. tbs,
negotiations were opened with YIrginus
Lodge No. 3, and an agreement made TO
meet in the hall OF Virgldius Lodge, and
and on the lst Of April, 1899, the lodge
met there the 1st time. This hall was
on the third story of the build
ing on the southwest corner
of Twelfth and Market streets above
what is now McLain's drug store. On
the first of April, 1912, the Lodge deter
mined to rent hail for its own use, and
committee was appointed June 18th, TO
lease a room, and another committee TO
collect funds 10 furnish Il. At special
meeting of the Lodge June 10Th, the
committee was authorized to rent hall
from W. +. Seily. On the 18th ofJuly,
1912. the Lodge met in the their new
hall for the first time. 1t was
situated on the Northeast cor
per of Main and Tenth streets
in the building now occupied by j. II.
Diehl Il Co. On March 8, 1S47, con-
tract OF Joint occupancy was made be.
tween Virginius Lodge No. 3, Franklin
Lodge No. 10 and William Tell Lodge
No. 80, whereby these lodges agreed TO
occupy the same hall, and IN the words
of the article they met in the new hall in
the third story Of the building on Market
street then occupied by K. Crauglo
81 Co. This building is the first
house south of McLsIn's drug store,
over the store occupied BY G. 2. Brown
for the last two years. On Monday
evening, May 3, 1917, Franklin Lodge
met in this hall the first time. In De
cember, 1857, negotiations were insJi-
tuted between Franklin Lodge No. -
and the other four lodges in the city,
to meet in the hall then occupied by
Wheeling and Pamela lodges. An
agreement was entered ento that the
i've lodges should meet in the
same hall, and on Monday even
ing, March 8, 1858, the lodge
meet in the hall on the northeast corner
of Market and Fourteenth street., over
the store now occupied by r. J. 'myth'
for the first time. In the spring Of 1850
the new ODD Fellows Hs was COM
pleted, and the lodges all moved to it,
and have remained here ever since, and
unless removed by fire or some other
unavoidable occurrence, will continue to
meet here. When the Grand Lodge
of West Virginia WAS instituted
IN 1865, the lodges in that part of Viz
gina composing West Virginia gave up
their charters, and received new ones
from the Grand Lodge Of West Virgin
ia. IL was then that Franklin Lodge
No. IL became Franklin Lodge No. 3 OF
the jurisdiction OF West Virginia, and
has been known by that name ever since
This is the tortIeth anniversary OF the
lodge, and but one Of original
members is lett l am sorry he
cannot be with Us tonight.
The lodge has received by card and mi
tistion GIG members from Its orgsniza-
ton up - the present time. O4L o. LlhL
number there are now left 10. About
80 have been removed by death; a large
number hsvo removed from the city aud
severed their connection with the lodge
and quite q large number have drawn
their cards to organize new lodges, while
others have been expelled for conduct
unbecoming an Odd Fellow, sDd
others dropped for ron-Payment Of dues.
The Lodge has psid to its members as
sick benefits $12,l23.75; for funeral
benefits to the families Of members and
to brothers who have lost their wives,
SAFEST, and TO the widows Of deceased
members S1,5lOS2, making the total
amount expended for the relief of its
members from the organization OF the
Lodge up to the lst OF January, 1878,
SlS.35744. ana in addition TO this they
have paid out over 81 1000 to distressed
brothers and Lodges from abroad, making
almost $4,000 expended by this Lodge
to relieve the distressed. This large
amount Of money has been Paid by the
members IN such small amount At a
time that few, If any, ever missed the