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

main. The Master and Second Officer o.
/ the Henry were also Odd Fellows.
! Brother Watson had with him a dispense
! ton to form lodge of Odd Fellows. if ht
could find sufficient brothers to do so. On
making proper inquiries, he found two
brothers residing here, viz: Anthony Ten
Eyck, then United States Commissioner
and Charles Brewer, I'd; besides Brother
Kennedy, at that time Master of the ship
VIM. H. Harrison. After consulting with tbs
above named brothers, he called a meeting
on the 9Th of December, when it was de-
cided to form a lodge, and two days after
wards December 10TH, A. D., 1886 he insti-
tuted Excelsior Lodge, No. l, the name
being proposed by Brother G. D. Gilman,
and adopted unanimously. The following
officers were elected and installed, viz An
thony Ten Eyck, Noble Grand; Marsha
Johnson, Yiee-Grand; G. D. Gilman, Secre-
tary; Chas Brewer, I'd, Treasurer.
From that small beginning, after passing
through many struggles and difficulties, the
Order here has grown and prospered so
that we now have two lodges and an encamp-
ment that will compare favorably with
those elsewhere. As another result of that
first effort, see this substantial and con-
Venient hall in which we are mbled, and
in which some of US have been accustomed
to assemble for a quarter of a century.
What q contrast it offers to the building in
which the first lodge was formed That had
adobe walls and a grass roof, but I shall
refer to it more fully farther on.
Of the band of brothers who met on that
memorable 10th of December all but one
have passed away to the Silent Land. The
one still living is Brother q. D. Gilman, P.
g., our first Secretary, who now lives in
Boston, Massachusetts,. He is still mem
Der of the Order in good standing, and has
always retained warm interest in this old
lodge, and the Order generally in these far
off isles.
AS soon as the lodge was organized, Com
naittees were appointed to draft bylaws and
procure regalia and seal, to put the newly
instituted body in proper working cOndi-
ton. These were rather difficult tasks, at
least so far as regards regalia and seal. At
that time Honolulu had but few stores, with
very limited assortment of goods, nor were
there nearly as many skilled mechanics as
at the present day. But where there is
will a way will be found. The committees
set to work with determination not to
fail. They did the best they could under
the circumstances, and in due time their
work was accomplished. The bylaws were
compiled, adopted and prin ted; very re-
spectacle regalia and paraphernalia were
prepared; and seal was designed and en-
NH oh, 0F Ebo
the one used by Excelsior Lodge to the
present day.
The first meeting held by Excelsior Lodge
after its organization was on the 18th of the
same month, at which time propositions for
membership were received from the first
two candidates, J. B. McClurg and Julius
Anthem, who were initiated on the following
Tuesday December 22d). One week later
propositions were received from A. P. Brins-
made, z. G. Webster and our late Brother
G. S. Barlow, and they were initiated the
same evening, so that the lodge, by its in
crease in membership, might enter upon the
new year in good working order.
About this time, or shortly after, Brother
Kennedy, who had rendered good service in
assisting to organize and carry on the lodge,
left in his ship, the VIM. II. Harrison, for
Boston, where he held membership in one of
the lodges. Through him Brother Watson
forwarded his report to the Grand Lodge of
the United States, giving full account of
the institution of the lodge, its condition
at that time, and a complete list of it's
officers.
In those days we had no steamers, nor
was there an overland railroad. All mail
matter had to come and go by the way of
Cape Horn, and at times we had to wait
over year for answers to our correspond |
ence. In due course of time reply came
from the Grand Lodge, approving the action |
of Brother Watson, and the lodge continued
to work under the dispensation brought by |
him until the arrival Of Brother Alexander |
Frazer, in the United States revenue cutter |
Lawrence, of which vessel he was COM
mander. He brought with him the charter
under which Excelsior Lodge has worked |
from that time to the present, having been
delegated by the Grand Lodge of the United |
States to perform that duty. That charter
now hangs behind me, and of all the names
there enrolled there are but two now living,
viz: Brother ]. B. Spaulding and the one
who now addresses you. And of all the
brothers who Joined the lodge during its
first year of existence, so far as 1 know,
there are but three who still survive.
Among others, who afterwards connected
themselves with the Order, were J. II. Wood
and G. r. Bishop, who had come here as
fellow passengers with Brother Watson in
the brig Henry. They both rendered good
services to the Order, and both attained
the rank of P. G., Brother Wood becoming
also P. c. P. The form of initiation, as
well as the degree work, used in those days,
were quite different from what we use al the
present time; but of that there is no need to
speak further on this occasion.
The first OF our little band to be stricken
down with sickness was Brother Gilbert
Watson, to whom we we're indebted for our
existence as lodge. His illness dated from
the 90th of March, 1847, and prevented him
from again visiting our lodge; but he was
not forgotten or neglected. In the follow
ing September, there being then no hope of
his recovery, he expressed wish to return
home TO die. He was without means to
crafty his desire; nsr was the lodge, as
body, able to do much toward that end. It's