The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-04-29

| street 10 what Is now known As FONleE
yard, but shortly after we left it, it wa
moved short distance to its present site or
Hotel street, where it is now occupied by
Mr.. Ramsey and others. 1t has quite d
record the ting place Of secret benev
! olent societies, none Of which had been in
troduced here at the time we occupied it.
| The Knights Of Pythias occupied it over ten
! years, and, during that time, it was also
used for longer or shorter periods by the
| Red Men, Foresters, Good TemPlArs and
Legion of Honor; aud, for a short time, by
! Harmony Lodge, No. 3, of our own Order.
| We left it in July, 1855.
At the date just mentioned, we removed TO
the upper or second story of the stone
building, nearly opposite where we are now
| assembled, and which is now occupied as
the store of Henry May Co., and there we
remained until this hall was ready for US.
Its fittings and decorations were paid for by
subscription, as the lodge funds We s'"i
very low. During the time we $50.
that hall, there were but two events to
which think should particularly refer.
Other N alters went on as usual.
On the 3Oth of April, 1856, lodge of Odd
Fellows, under the name of Pacific Lodge,
No. 2, was instituted at Lahaina, island of
Maui. 1t was composed mostly, if not en-
tirely, of brothers who withdrew from Ex-
cel<ior Ledge for that purpose. They felt
the want of association, and had but few OPP
portunities to visit the lodge in this place.
Brother G. S. Barlow had removed to La
hafn kba boy 4ha
appointments of Collector, Postmaster and
HarbOrmaster for that port. He, more
than any of the others, would chafe at not
having lodge meetings to attend. There
can be no doubt that it was mainly through
his efforts that the lodge was started. He
was it's first Noble Grand and Brother
Peter II. sTreadway the first Vice Grand.
Both have passed away, and so has their
lodge. l have no record of who were its
officers, what was it's greatest membership,
nor why or when its charter was surren-
dered. This do know, that the years of it's
existence were not many. The foreign
population of Lahaina was too small to
support a lodge. The effort was a worthy
one, but the material was too scant.
have already stated that our little hall
fund of $1,000 had been judiciously in
vested and reached the sum of 81 900. With
that fund we purchased the lot on which
this hall now stands; and, having obtained
a charter from the Government, it was de-
ternined that we should buil6 at once. All
the other available funds of the lodge were
loaned for the purpose. The deficiency was
also raised by loan without difficulty. The
indebtedness was afterwards paid off by the
rents received from the stores below, and
from the lodge itself.
The corner stone of this hall was laid on
the 26th of April, 1859, and for an account
of the ceremonies on that occasion, 1 cannot
do better than quote from the POLynssian,
of April 30th, as follows:
Zone of the greatest pageants, in many
respects, ever witnessed on these islands
was undoubtedly the celebration of the 10th
anniversary of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows in the United States of Amer |
lea, by the united action of Excelsior Lodge, |
No. 1, and Polynesia Encampment, No. /. |
Also, the ceremony of laying the corner |
stone of new hall for the use of the order; |
both of which occurrences took place on the
same day, the 26th instant.
cat haf-past 10 in the morning, Excelsior |
Lodge, of Honolulu, Joined by the rethren |
resident in Lahaina, and other visitors, and !
by Polynesia Encampment, No. 1, formed |
in procession below their lodge room, on |
Fort street, preceded by band of musicians, |
and escorted by the lie Progress de POceanic |
Lodge of Masons, and the Royal Arch |
Chapter, followed by the Mechanics Benefit
Union Society, marched to the Fort-street !
church, which was soon filled with large
and attentive audience, among whom we
noticed His Majesty the King, the Chief
Justice of the Kingdom, the Commissioners
Of France and the United States, and many
other gentlemen of note.
1.-The Rev. Z. COrwin, pastor of the
church, by special request of Excelsior
Lodge, preached a sermon from Ecclesiastes,
the Rev. s. G. Damon kindly officiating at
the prayer and benediction.
The day was generally observed through
out the town as a holiday, nearly every store
being closed. In the evening, Polynesia
and Excelsior Lodge gave a
ball at the Bungalow, where enc of the
largest and most harmonious gatherings
took place that we have witnessed for some
years.
The box which WAS deposited in the cor
ner stone, contained the following:
"a written statement of the circumstances
under which the building was erected, show
ing from what sources the funds we're re-
ceived, signed by the n. e. of Excelsior
Lodge.
''The Holy Bible.
"Copies of the different newspapers pub
lished in Honolulu.
Commercial statistics Of the Hawaiian
Islands, from 1S43 to 1859, inclusive
List Of officers of Excelsior Lodge, No.
/, and of Polynesia Encampment, No. 1, at
the date of their respective forma tions, and
at the present date.
Statistics of the Order.
Copy of the charter by authority :of
which Excelsior Lodge, No. l, is working.
Copy of the address delivered at the
ceremony, by the N. G. of Excelsior Lodge.
commercial Calendar for 1859.
Copy of the historical sketches of vol
canoes on Hawaii"
With this account Of the ceremonies and
festivities of the memorable 26th of April,
1888 I should hiring these raroioisoarcas 70 |