The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-04-27

brother and SlSter-StandS
forth as sufficient proof of this.
But the best phase in which to view
Odd Fellowship was in its benevo->>
lent operations Mutual relief was
its professed object. Each member
paid in stately a certain sum to the
lodge treasury This was simply
deposit in a sort of social savings
bank, from which in his necessity he
could draw, without calling upon the
charity of the outside world. He.
simply would be Withdrawing his del
post. 1t was, so to speak, business.
But there were higher!
of covenanted friend;
ship. They were bound together in.
|indissoluble ties; they were cove-s
Inanted TO watch over the reputation!
land morals of each brother. ALI
were alike honored by the good or,
bad character of one. AS an instancet
of the association of men, Jews were
mentioned. 1t was very seldom in.
deed that a Jew was seen in an aims
house or a Jail. Odd Fellowship does,
not conflict either with the Church or
the State. 1t is not religious sect
Jew and Gentle, Protestant and Ro-i
man Catholic, can all unite on this.
broad platform of Friendship, Love
land Truth.
The reverend preacher then pro-,
ceeded to draw the line between Odd
Fellowship and true religion. The
first secured an outer responsibility Of
life; the second reached the wants of
+ the soul. It was the duty of Odd
Fellows to strictly and unremittingly
guard the moral precepts of their or
der. In this was to be found the
cause of their past and present pros
perity, and in this alone would be
found the guarantee of their perpe-
tuity down to the latest generations
of men.
AFTER THE SERMON,
SThe procession reformed and marched
Through the principal streets, pre-
aceded by band of music, to the site
Aof the projected Odd Fellows Hall,
lon Fort street near King. Here an
@awning had been spread and seats
provided for the ladies, who were
3 present in great numbers. The eX-
sercises began by the singing of an
s ode by the choir of the FOrt-street
aChurch, after which a very able ad-
ssdress was delivered by B. F. Durham
Noble Grand of Excelsior Lodge, III
s which he gave a succinct history OF
the order in the United States and i'll
Athese islands. AS this historical
3 sketch is of permanent value, we
transcribe it from the p. c. ADvER'
5 User, April IS, 1859, quoted above
HISTORY OF THE ORDER.
s. "Forty years ago this day (AIr. Dur
sham said) five Odd Fellows of the
8English Order, residing at the city o.
s baltimore, feeling a desire to renew
Gin the land of their adoption, scenes
land associations which had been dear
ssto them at home, constituted them
sseives into a lodge under the style OF
q Washington No. l, which in the fol.
Flowing year was formally recognized
land chartered by the Duke of YOrk's
Hodge in England, as the Grand
aLodge of Maryland and the United
Estates.
'Tn the year 1926 another charter
s was issued by the highest authorities
ssof the Manchester Unity, giving to
sthe infant Grand Lodge full power
sand authority to conduct the business
Sof Odd Fellowship in America with
aout the interference of any other
country. This charter was duly ac-
#cepted, and is the one under which
Sthe Grand Lodge OF the United States
anow exists, but since that time cir
gcumstances have led to total sepa-
Grafton between the English and
american orders.
9 although few lodges OF Odd
sFellows had existed in America prior
Ito the organization of Washington
q No. l, yet as that lodge was the first
: which successfully maintained its
seXistence and carried out the objects
: Of its founders, it is fairly entitled to
3the honorable distinction of being re-
8 garded as the fountain head of Ameri-
can Odd Fellowship. The anniversary
Of its formation is therefore a day ever
to be remembered by those who have
experienced the benefits of the Order,
or are acquainted with its excel
9 lencies.H
Noble Grand next alluded to the diff
fculties that had been surmOunted by
the Order. Ignorance of its objects,
fanaticism, and stubborn hatred of
Everything bearing even the appear
ance of secrecy, have at times assailed
u.s." he said, "but through all oppO-
sition the order has steadily adj
vanced, until a membership at this
day (Aril, 1850 .of nearly 100000 per-
sons has rewarded the constancy of
those noble hearts who remained
steadfast in the days of trial.
HISTORY OF THE ORDER IN THESE
ISLANDS.
THE history of the order in these
islands Noble Grand continued)
shows nearly the same general fea-
L, s.l.G 49,.