The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-27
ODD FELLOWS.
Sixty-Third Anniversary
Last Evening.
An Address by Mr.. {. D.
Sweeney.

SWOOuSY
Last evening the members of the Rock
Island Lodge No. Is and Ucal Lodge No.
COS Independent order of Odd Fellows
celebrated the sixty third anniversary of
their order by appropriate public exercises
at their hall in this city.
The exercises were of an interesting and
varied character and attracted a large mum
Der of persons, both ladies and gentlemen,
In addition to the set programme of
literary efforts. the evening was spent in
dancing and terminated with banquet.
Al soaclock the lodge was called to or
der by the presiding officer, and the follow
ing 80 49,
b o PROGRAMME
carried out: .
Opening Ode, Prayer by Chaplain, Ami
versary Exercises Prayer by Chaplain.
Anniversary Ode, address by & p swee
neys SlcsiEg Oae, Benedietion. =
| mAss4sss THE ADDRESS
of Mr. Il. ID. Sweeney was of q composite
character as'it touched upon the historical
portion Of the order and alse partook of
the memorial character 10 dealing with the
life and work of the late grand secretary
James L. Ridgely whose death recently ec-!
Cured atghe city of Baltimore. The
speaker cemmeneed his address by stating
that the society in the aggregate was In
many respects similar TO the individual or.
ganizatioh, in that both at times needed
sexsraneous help and assistance He then
pointed ont the difference between ancienf
and modern society, and stated that the
former was for the benefit of few who
had power, while no attention was paid TO
the toiling millions that constitute the
foundation Of social organization. In later
days the importance of the sodaing element
was manifested and proper attention was
paid to members of that class. In the an
Client times the crippled. the halt and blind.
and in fact all who were not blessed
with a perfect organization which
fitted them for battle. were allowed to ex-
ist as best they could without exciting pity
or assistance. He compared that state Of
affairs with the present enlightened age
where every preparation was made for the
care and protection of the afflicted mem
sers.. of society He stated that the change
was due 10
Is REIIeIoN
as the tendency of the instruction of the
Nazarine was 10 establish society or the
brotherhood, Gilman. The Christian civ
ilization had eaased the asylum for the in
sane and other charitable institutions to
be erected. But in spite of the great inn
pravement wAieh had bee n made, evil still
existed, and 20 remedy these defects the
benevolent organization for the aneliora
ton of hllTaaa Distress were first staEtad.
The order of Oddfellowship was organized
in 1919, and on account of its utility and
benefits, had grown to be the most popu-
lous of any benevolent organization.
The speaker then spoke of the life and
work of A. .
JAMES L. RIDGELY
W no in the position of Grand Secretary
for forty years had done so much for Odd
fellowship. Ridgeley was born in the city
of Baltimore in May, 1907, and had died
in the city of his birth in November 1884,
In 1929 he had joined the order, and in
1910 became the Grand Secretary of the
Grand Lodge of the United States, which
position he continued to occupy at the
time of his death. At the time Ridgeley
became the Grand Secretary. the order was
confined to four Atlantic states. At the
time of his death lodges and subordinate
lodges existed in every state and territory
in the United states, and the order had
spread to the Sandwich Islands, Australia,
South America and Europe. Its member
ship had increased from $4,000 to 5O0,-
600
The amount expended at the time of his
election in charters could have been count.
ed by the hundreds while during the last
year of his administration 81. 000, 900 had
been paid out to relieve the sick and COM
fort the widows and orphans The total
amount paid out. during the forty years
that Ridgeley occupied the position aggre
gated $4,000, 900.
The order of Odd Fellows was the first
to reinstate the southern lodge after the
late civil war, as Grand Lodge had been
held at Baltimore in October, 1865, when
representatives from every southern state
were in attendance.
The speaker noticed the work accom-
plished at the
CHICAGO FIRE,
and showed that on the first night OF that
dreadful conflagratien, money was sent TO
relieve the distress and suffering, by the
Grand Secretary. and much good had been
done. Over $131 600 had been sent to
Chicago Odd Fellows by other lodges dur
ing the month of October, 1871.
He next touched upon the good work
performed by the order during the yellow
fever epidemic in the south.
At the conclusion OF the exercises
DANCING
was inaugurated. Music was furnished by
Bleuer's band, and the evenings festivities
mara fGA NTH hanxx..a4