Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-11-21
Odd Feilewshfp.

~ WIZ Oiby AoE buo P00t bWO o0yby an
cluding the celebration Of the fiftieth
Grand Lodge, adjourned sine die at
members OF the Grand Lodge and visi.
tors had partaken Of dinner at the
Clayton house, several open barouches
were ordered, and the disting guished
visitors, under the escort of Grand
Master Joseph H. Seal, Past Grand
Masters Benton ". Weldon and 4. r.
James, and Past Grand Representative
Richard H. Ewbanks, the comm ittee
appointed by the Grand Lodge Of Della.
ware, were driven over the city, taking
In the various points of interest along
the route. The visitors were we'll
pleased with the trip, and many COM
ments were passed upon the beautiful
citv.
In the evening, for the purpose of at.
tending the meeting announced to take
place In In the Grand Opera house, the
members of the order assent bled at
Odd Fellows Hall, Third and,K ing
streets, and under command Of Grand
Marshal George r. Gill, marched
along Third street to Market, and
thence to the Opera House, hating at
the Clayton House, en-route, where
they were Joined by the invited guests,
who formed into line in the TO llow ing
order, headed by the the First Regi-
ment Band
Wilmington Degree Camp, No. 1,
with 40 men, under command of Camp
Commander, B. r. Shakespeare, who
acted as an escort to the Grand Lodge
and invited guests.
Next In order came the various su b.
ordinate lodges, nearly 200 strong, with
Delaware Lodge, No. l, at the head and
the remainder following in numerical
order.
Upon arriving at the Opera House
the officers of the Sovereign and Grand
Lodges, with the past officers of the
various lodges, were escorted to seats on
the stage and after becoming seated
Past Grand Master Weldon was called
upon TO preside. After music by the
First ReEin ent Band and singing Of the
opening ode OF the order, the Rev.
Robert Graham, Grand Chaplain, offer
ed prayer, which was followed by some
excellent vocal music by Miss Eva
Crouch and Messrs. Benson, Rhoads
and Braunstein. Grand Sire uarey was
then introduced and delivered an ex.
haustive address, which was listened to
with marked attention.
He was followed by Grand Secretary
Isaac w. Hallam, who gave a very in.
teresting history of the order in this
State, which was highly appreciated by
tile large audience present, but more
especially by the mem bers of the order,
who expressed their praise of the COM
pleteness of the same. Among the
many points expressed, it stated that
|Ojd Fellowship existed as far back AS
the first century Of the Christian era,
but the records were lost, consequently
tue order al now known originated in
the latter parto fthe eighteenth century.
The report then portrayed the history
of the London Unity, together with that
OF its more reputable successor, the
Manc chester Unity.
Continuing, the secretary stated that
on March 2, 1919, folr persons met in
Baltimore, Md, to form lodge. On
April 2 five persons met and decided to
meet April 26 and organize. In conse-
quence of this Washington Lodge, No. /,
was organized at the Seven Stars Hotel
on that date. Tho men who organized
the lodge we're members of the London
Unity. Soon after, Henry NJ. jackson
of the Manchester Unity arrived with
copies of the changes and lectures of the
revised ritual. He visited the new lodge
and gave full instructions in the secret
work a. disseminated by the Manches-
ter Unity.
After touching upon the revisions of
the ritual by the American order, q
graphic description OF the order in Della
ware was given, from which the fol-
lowing Is an extract
Delaware Lodge, No. l, was organ
lied In 1880 and an application was
made for Grand Lodge in Delaware
February 22d, 1881, by Past Grand
McFarlane. 1t was instituted June
Grand Master. In less than three
months, however, the charter was de.
clared forfeited, ON the ground that
there was not quorum present.
Jefferson Lodge, No. 2,was organ lied
September 9th, 1881. On February 14th,
1883, q meeting was held at the Acade-
my, now No. $50 Market street, for the
purpose Of restoring the Grand Lodge
charter. Among those present were
Past Grands Simon Robinson, Robert
w. Gardner, Thomas Hill, Bryan w.
Blest, James Platt, James s. White,
ACOp W. 10IIobtDOu, nAlCA0l DolU6u-
| list, Zenos b. Glazier and Jacob X.
was granted March 4th, 1888, and the
hrst meeting was held May 9th, 1888,
when the coat of arms of Delaware
was adopted as the device of the
Grand Lodge.
The Grand Lodge was instituted by
Grand Sire Widely, June 6, 1888, q,
No. 81, now No. 300 Market street. The
following were the officers
G. NJ, James s. White D. G. M,
Joseph s. Hedges G. s., Jacob X.
Higgins G. T., Thomas Hill G. W.,
Jacob M. Garrettson {; G.. r., Simon
7th the first regular business was trans.
acted. In lS43 the headquarters OF
the Grand Lodge were removed to
Tenn perance Hall, on Fourth street be.
tween Market and King, and in 1849 to
the Odd Fellows Hall, at Third and
King streets, where they still are.
During the first year Of the existence
of the Grand Lodge, three new charters
were granted, but before another
charter was granted it had reached itt
ninth year, and in the interval four oi
the fve lodges had been suspended OF
expelled. After the lapse of ten years
1t only numbered five lodges and 12e
members. During the second decade
the order increased to twenty.th
lodges, 1875 members. with an annual
income of 81, 1876. In the third decade
the number of lodges increased /.
twenty-seven but the membership de.
creased to 1852. At the end OF forty
years there were thirty two lodges
with q membership of 2,676. At the
end of fifty years there are the same mum.
ber of lodges, but the membership ha,
decreased 2,548. Only ak lodges have
ceased to work during the fifty years
The history of kindred societies and tht