Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-26
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, April 26 1885,
THE MYSTIC TIE.
sixty-sixth Anniversary Of the Order Of
odd Fellows in the United States.

I HlXty~s1Nth Anniversary OF the OrueF "a
odd Fellows in the United States.
In an obscure corner Of the city of Bal
timore. on April 20, 1e19--sixty-six years
ago to-day-Thomas Wildey and four
others who had been MATED into the mys-
teries Of Odd Fellowship, gathered and
organized Washington Lodge No. 1, under
the jurisdiction Of the Manchester Unity,
and to work under the auspices Of the
London o. Union order. Messrs. Cheat
ham, Welsh, Ellsworth and Duncan were
the names Of the four men who, with
Thomas Widely, formed the first lodge on
American soil.
The Manchester Unity was a union of
lodges in England. From societies OF la
borer5 and mechanics which existed in
London in the latter part Of the eighteenth
century, calling themselves ''Anclent and
Honorable Loyal Odd Fellows holding
cornwall m etings, sprang the Union Or
der of odd Fellows. which had its seat of
government in London, and spread rapid
ly 70 other cities. Attempts were made
to abolish the conviyial character Of the
meetings, from which arose a
schism, eliminating in 1913.
when several seeding lodges formed
themselves into the Manchester Unity.
In 1928 a committee was appointed to
govern the order, and the unity still con-
stitutes the main body Of British Odd
Fellows. Under this unity the American
order was organized. Since 1913, how
ever, the American order has had no con-
nection with that in Great Britain. The
institution has spread rapidly since its
organization, and there are now lodges
working under charters from the Ameri-
can order in Canada, Germany, Switzer-
land, Australia, South America, Den
mark, the Netherlands, Mexico, and the
West Indies and Hawaiin Islands.
The anniversary falling on Sunday this
wear, tomorrow will be observed in cele
bratng the event which it commentaries.
Some time ago a committee Of fifteen,
three from each of the five lodges in the
city, was appointed TO arrange for the
observance of the day.
DeKaIb Lodge will open its regular
meeting tomorrow night, and after the
opening ceremonies Will close, and the
following Past Grand officers selected by
the committee Will assume control:
John Reilly, n. g., of DeKalb Lodge.
Charles Gross, V. g., Of OglethOrpe
Lodge.
7. II. Laird, P. g., of Haupt Lodge.
j. 5. Tyson, Secretary of Golden Rule
Lodge.
i. Parsons, Chaplain of Live Oak Lodge.
The ceremonies commemorative of the
founding of the order will then take place.
The anniversary address will be delivered
by p. 6. Thomas A. Askew. OF Oglethorpe
Lodge, after which the Chatham Uniform
Degree Camp will give an exhibition
drill. The celebration will be of a con-
vivial character and a programme of
music will be rendered.
In the afternoon, at $50 O'Clock, the
Degree Camp will parade in honor of the
day. The line of march will be from the
hall down Bay street to DraytOn, through
Drayton to BrOughton, thence to Whita-
ker and out Whitaker to the Park extern
sion, across to DraytOn street and
return to the hall through Bay street.
The camp will reassemble at s O'clock to
participate in the celebration with the
other lodges.