The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-26
L. o. o. f.
Celebration OF the Sixty-Fourth Anni-
yersary of Odd Fellowship.
A Fair Day and Good Turnout Make
Things Lively.

10 day, all over this broad land,
being celebrated by Odd Fellows, til
sixty-fonrth anniversary of their order
America. The 26th day of April is al
ways dear to Odd Fellows, for on tha
day was founded the first lodge in TIL
country. The order has grown wonder
fully since then, and the amount of goo
1t has accomplished can never be told
In every city and nearly every hamlet ca
be found their lodges, which is synonym
of friendship, love and truth An orde
that has been in existence for so long
period, must be productive of some good
or else it would not grow and prosper a
Odd Fellowship does. If it was corrup
or wrong it would not be so long lived
and its death would be only m after q
time. But instead of diminishing il
feryor and strength, the order of Ode
Fellows continues to grow, until tp-da,
it ranks as one of the most prominent
| secret societies in existence. Odd Eel
lows are quite numerous in Rock Island
there being in the vicinity of four hun
| dred members in the several lodges
Several members in this city have held
important positions in the highest lodges
of the order. There are three lodges
here; Rock Island lodge, No 10, Zeal
lodge, No. COS, and Hecker lodge.
For fear those outside the order NAV
| not appreciate the real worth that lies at
the heart of the celebration, it may be as
well to give n brief sketch of the history
OF the order which has grown to great
proportions in Illinois, as well as in
almost every state in the country: 1t
came to pass In this wise. as far as Amer
lea is concerned
About four years after the burning of
the government buildings in Washington
by the British army in 1914, there assem-
bled together, in Baltimore, some forty
miles away, few aliens born under the
British flag. who con cocted small So
cial conspiracy, that had no dynamite, nor
any other sort of mite at the bottom of
it, save a few widows mites. that in the
aggregate amounted to some American
dollars. As matter of course, there did
not exist among the poor aliens very
much enthusiasm for the newly-born stars
and stripes banner (Which has since be-
come the eighth wonder OF the world) nor
was there very keen appreciation of the
1fofs e IL. IL
here. Hence the Baltimorean English
became despised and rejected of native
men. But. being men of great
spirit and enterprise-one would say,
not very odd fellows in those days-and |
besides, excellent citizens, they felt the |
sting of contumely. and semi ost-acism
very keenly; and so five of them banded |
having knowledge of the an
,ient Older in England, and concluded to
lorm lodge for mutual assistance and
The organization was at
irst one of a conviviaI and social charac-
er They hired lodge; they smoked
hey drank ale out of mugs; they gossiped
bout their neighbors, just as people do
ow: and by and by they increased in
membership, until in ten years they grew
ITO the necessity of a grand lodge
When the first grand was formed fbv
leans of a resolution it was decided to I
anish from the lodge room all kinds of !
sfreshments, except water. Thus they
ere the precursors of the temperance !
lovemcnt- Some went into abolition 1
m, some remained s.alwart democrats. Y
'me widened the horizon of their relip-
MS faith and longings, and some chung :
st to old fashioned Calvinism-but they +
he and all remained true to the temper d
ice principle. Thus began the new era d
the order, and from that day it has :
AIDE vast strides in every department of f
cial, intellectual and commercial prog u
IS At the present day the Order of 0
id Fellows numbers one and a half mil y
IN of people in the world There are O
200 members of the order in the state "
Illinois alone t
Again we say the day is a glorious one -
r the Odd Fellow fraternity, and one
at viii be long remembered by those
40 participate in the festivities. The | Of
Imber of visiting brethren is very large. l
d 1t will be joyful day for all The =,
casion has brought together friends who
We not seen each other for long space
time. and whose meeting will he al
E more cordial and warm.
1t is the largest gathering that has as lie
Ebled in Rock Island for some time. 81
it will do the city good to have the lei
nefit of gala day. We have travelled ye
the same old rut 50 long that bright ca
ing up viii be beneficial In behalf of ie'
citizens of Rock Island. the ARGUS 10
ends the hand of welcome to all visit 1u
brethren and strangers in the city, and co
SITS that their stay in the city will be .ue
'eeable and pleasant, and that when II
y return home they can tell their lu
ghtors they were well treated in our CIT
?. fie
The delegations began to arrive about -
N, and at o'clock the different lodges
entitled at Odd Fellows Hall, although
procession did not start until $50. Pa
? line of march was as follows: South