The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1883-05-19
I. o. o. r.
Graud Lodge Of CALIFORNIA;. It's HIS.
tory and Progress.
trrom the San Francisco oall.l

trrunl thc San fuucirco Shh,3
The strongest and wcalthiest fraternal
society on the Pacific Coast is American
Odd Fellowship, the Grand Lodge OF
which convenes at the California Theater
in San Jose to-day. This order was
brought here by the earliest pioneers, and
California Lodge, No. l, was instituted
january IL, lS49, and four years later
the Grand Lodge of California was
formed, coming into existance May IL.
1853, with twenty-five lodges and 9S5
members. Since then thirty years have
elapsed, and it will not be uninteresting
to present few facts and figures, from
which may be answered the question,
"Are fraternal societies beneficial and Of
advantage to a community, State and
nation?"
In early days in this State the Odd
Fellows Lodge was church, university,
home, everything, to many, and acted as
a safeguard and protection to its members
from temptation and evil. Here prin.
eiples were inculcated, and men taught
to war against vice in all its forms--to
be temperate, just and loving. Here
were taught the rules Of parliamentary
practice and debate, the great doctrine
of federation, as well as charity, and from
these lodges emanated the men who took
high rank among their associates; in fact,
a glance at the names Of those whom
California has honored with office and
position in State and national assemblies
will show that, as rule, they have all
been members of this order, and princi.
pally so from the fact that the education
of the fraternity especially fitted them
for places of trust. parliamentary require
ment, etc.
Especially was this true of the earliel
days Of our State, and although not t.
such a complete extent now, still, as :
rule, it is yet correct. Therefore, as a
educator, as means of overcoming evi
with good, as restrainer, and teacher
it has been beneficial. IS u a.s51 i
In 1854, 50 brothers were relieved; tn
moneys paid to them and their familie
as relief amounted to $5,499. In 1864
$50 brothers and their families receives
a relief to the amount of $685. In 1874
1888 members and their families wer
| paid sl27, $50, and the official report 70
, 1881 shows 2,74O brothers and 2Sl vic
owed families relieved, at an expenditur
of sl74,702. From 1854 to 1881, inclr
!. sive, % years, this order grew from 2
lodges, $50 members and a revenue I
q so, 100, to 274 lodges, q, 1858 member
j. and revenue of 1868, 500 annually, an
a footing of its relief record shows So, 3;
Il brothers relieved, 1926 widowed fam
lies cared for. 1859 brothers buried, ar
the following amounts expended for the
N worthy objects: Relief Of brothers, 81
}. 7l3,25l; relief of widowed familie
W s245, 1886; burial of dead, 1921, 1858; ed
IN cation of orphans. $lS,S74. Total reli
ct and charity, s2,239.l24. go o.
If these figures do not carry their ov
lie arguments with them it would be was
We Of time and space to attempt to prsse
a Others. 1t may be truthfully said tn
a no organization has been of greater val
to this State and its citizens than Anne
can Odd Fellowship, and in no State
ed this republic does Odd Fellowship sta
er higher than here, and the world rect
ay nizes the perfection that has been
he tanned here in the written and unwritt
of works of the order. ,'.a VI t6 g.s
As early as 1857 the lodges throught
ce the jurisdiction were urged to establ
tn libraries, as the great necessity for e
if cation was realized, and in 1850 reso
ill ton was adopted by the Grand Lodge
claring it to be duty for lodges .
in. members to contribute to the support
to libraries. The great library Of the or
ne in San Francisco is too well known to
quire more than passing notice.
Oh stands to-day, with its 10000 volumes
~, IN monument of faithful labor. Its adv
tages have been felt in thousands Of ia
. lies, and many man and woman are
~ debted to it for knowledge and inforl
X. ton. Since its inception other libral
have been formed, private and pub
ZEN but none will ever be able to take
mr.. place it has held or be Of the advant
on. it has been in the years gone by,
., whatever may be its future its name
ever be honored and beloved. rs.