The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-19
FoRTIHTH ANN1vERs AIRY.
Ancient Srothers Lodge Observes the
Occasion in g Pleasant and Appropriate
Manner.


Odd Fellows Hall last evening to celebrate
the forteth anniversary Of Ancient Brothers
Lodge, /. o. o.. F.
1t was most enjoyable affair, the music
being OF high order and the other exercises
very interesting. The programme, which we
published Monday, was an admirable one, and
as rendered by the Free street church quar-
tette chor-Misses Bartlett and Long, and
Messrs Chaae and Smth-gave great pleasure
to the appreciative audience present. Mr..
Homer A. Norris officiated az accom- PIANIST
most acceptably. Nearly every piece was
accorded an enoore.' The pieces received with
especial favor we're the Spring song, sSee the
River Gently Flowing" and "When Little
Baby Bye-5ye Goes" by the qnartette, and OF
the solos, Angus Mcdonald BY Miss Long, The
Miller and the Maid by Miss Bartlett aud the
Moss Trooper and Cradle Soug hy Mr.. Smith
and Mr.. Chase respectively, gave perhaps the
highest satisfaction, though every selection
WAS loudly applauded The choir was in ex-
celient voice aud the selections were happily
made.
Past Master Benz. Kingsbury's address as
he premisel, was sandwiched between the
musical parts. It justified tho high auticipa-
lions Of his auditors and was replete with
statistical Illustrations of the uninterrupted
progress o: he Order in general, and of An
cient Brothers Lodge in particular, in material
prosperity ard in tho service OF humanity.
fhe address, which was most enthusiastically
received. was as follows:
JUDGE KINGsBURY's ADDRESS.
ODD Fellowship is a unique institution 1t dis
tributes more money among the sick, the poverty
stricken the Widows and orphans, than any other
organization in the world. Yet 1t does not claim to
be great charity. Its results are largely phlan-
thropc; yet it does not profess philanthropy 1t is
basel upon the Bible teachings-a book indispens-
able in every lodge roomyet it is not in any theo-
logical sense religious body for men of all creeds
and no creeds bow at its altar.
1t has, since 1880. admitted 1 ,273, 363 members
relieved 10 A. lSo sick and needy members. and
1855 widows; and Tor these purposes it has ex
pended $500 ,988.23, and has as present mem
bership, 510,414, and 903 subordinate lodges.
This is the record Of american Odd Fellowship. In
England exists another branch of the order
known as the Manchester Unity, whose record com.
pares favorably with our own
Odd Fellowship was introduced into this State
August 25, lS43, by the organization of Maine
i%ouSe, Nv. bhC membership 10 Hltcl increased
very ,pidly. The public mind was interested in
the novelty of the movement. The oddity of
the name, as we'll as various rumors exaggerated
more or less concerning the initiatory ceremonies
heightened the popu ar interest. The festive goat
and fabulous gridron had their usual place ia the
rumo of the day. The ubiquitous reporters of The
Portland American. Argus and Advertiser with
that never seemed to know the sweet repose of
Sleep ard ears ever open the faintest vibration of
airheped the thing along Thirty-fve were admitted
on the first day, of whom only five or six remain
The white and black ba lot did lively work in those
times.
So rapid was the growth of Maine Lodge that
within shors time, it was deemed expedient to or
ganize another. Accordingly Edwar p Banks,
Benjamin Kingsbury, ,ir., Thomas o. Goold An
drew P. Osborne and George W. Dam, having AIKEN
clearance cards from Maine Lodge, on their petit
ton received from the r. W. Grand Ledge of the
United states (now known as the Sovereign Grand
Log dispensation to organize Ancient Broth
ers LODGE No. 4, which was done October II, lS43.
OF these five members but two remain, Edward P.
Banks and BENZ. Kingsbury, Jr. In 1874, the r.
W. Grand Lodge of Maine was formed and this
Lodge then surrendered its dispensation, and re-
ceived from that body charter under which it has
ever since worked. Eight strangers were initiated
.
elected the first Noble Grand, Thomas O. Goold. y.
g.; Andrew P. Osborne, Recording Secretary: j. d.
True, Permanent Secretary BENZ. Kingsbury, Jr.,
Treasurer.
1t is not to be expected that in this necessarily
brief address, detailed history of this lodge for
forty years should be given. 1t took Just that
number of years for the wandering Israelites to
fnd their painless way through the wilderness and
it would take about as many days to tell the story
of the ups and downs of Ancient Brothers Lodge
during its pilgrimage of forty years. whose annver-
sary We joyfully celebrate this evening Suffice it
that like those Ancient Brothers of Egypt we have
had our wilderness ourneypg our days of gloom and
sunshine, our pillars of cloud by day and fire BY
night, our encouragements and discouragements,
until at last on this fortieth birthday, we can
see before us the promised land.
The following statistics will SHOW in brief. what
Ancient Brothers Lodge has done since it was or.
ganized:
1t has initiated 1908 members. OF this number it
has buried lao, and dismissed to form new lodges
lab, leaving present membership of 656. being
the second largest in membership in the world
1t has expended for sick or needy brothers. and
for the relief of widows orphans burying the dead
and other similar purposes $S4,16O.
1t has, we'll invested, permanent fund of s27.-
1882.
Thus much concerning Ancient Brothers Lodge,
No. 4. Il Yves the second lodge organized in Port
land, and he fourth in Mai g. There are now in
Portland six lodges with total membership of
1885, and invested funds amounting to SI3S.-
496.o7.
In the State there are 1o4 lodges, with member
ship of Il, 438, and invested funds amounting tn
$685. 117.26.
Forty years 10 the dim vista of the future looks as
though it had no end We lift the curtain of the
past, and forty years are but the tale briefly told
which soon vanished away. This great Institution,
which had but the humbest beginnings, now belts
the Globe, and is known and read of all men, in all
civilized nations, by its works of benefcence
Mr.. Homer A. Norris, in the interim follow
ing the conclusion of the programme and the
banquet, favored the audience with fine
piano solo.
About 10 o'clock all repaired to the dining
hall, where full justice was done 10 the yiapds
amid the merry din of social converse.