Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-26
YEARS OLD.
THE HISTORY OF ODD FELLOW
SHIP IN SAVANNAH.

Ihe new Odd Fellows Hail TO rake
Place To-Day-The Sixty-Seventh
Anniversary of the Order.
To-day the sixty-seventh anniversary
Of Odd Fellowship in America, the odd
Fellows OF Savannah will lay the corner
stone OF their new hall. The walls are
raised to the second story and erection is
being pushed rapidly.
The lot upon which it stands at the
northwest corner OF Barnard and State
streets was purchased in March, 1885, and
ground was broken for the new hall Feb.
%, 1886.
On the site Of the new hall formerly
stood what was known as the "Washing-
ton House," Gen. Washington having
once stopped there over night. The old
dwelling was torn down just before
ground was broken for the new building.
The cost of the lot and hall will be
about $4,000.
Below is sketch of the history Of Odd
Fellowship in Savannah. The sketch is
condensation OF paper prepared by MIR.
Thomas A. Askew. Mr.. Askew's paper
VIII be read this afternoon, and will then
be placed In the box in the corner stone
along with the other papers.
THE FIRST LODGE IN GEORGIA.
In 1888 one hundred lodges were
at work in the United States,
and 5000 members had been initiated.
Not until 1872, however, was the order
introduced in Georgia. On March 3 of
that year, after due application to the
then Grand Sire Kennedy. a lodge was
instituted in Savannah, d, ID. Grand Sire
Albert Case. Of South Carolina, officiating.
The lodge was named OgIetaOrpe Lodge,
No. l, and had but five charter members
William Sewell, Jr., Alvin n. Miller,
Samuel Courtney, William Fl. keckely
and James Reed. Alvin y. Miller was the
first Noble Grand and James Reed the first
Vice Graud. Tne lodge received its char
ter Dec. 6, 1872. By Jan. 81. 1913, the
lodge had 20 members. THe second lodge
in the State was instituted at Macon Jan.
y. 1913, and it took the name Franklin
Lodge No. >. Live Oak Lodge No. was
the second one organized in savannah
and the third in Georgia. 1t was lnsti-
tuted Feb. 4, 1913. with the following
charter members: DR.. L. Parsons, George
W. Miller, Edward j. Jones, Edward j.
Purse, George Leeds, Paul ThOmassOn,
John W. Evans. Elisha Parsons was
elected Noble Grand and g. W, Miller
Vice Grand. Sylvan Lodge No. 4, which
was instituted at Milledgeville July %,
1913, was the next lodge in the State. 1t
that is dead.
THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT.
Magnolia Encampment No. l, was con-
stituted Aug. 16, 1913, and Alvin n. Mil
Ter was elected {. =. Application had
already been made Aug. by Oglethorpe
Lodge, No. l, Franklin No. ,, Live Oak No.
3, Sylvan No. 4, and United Brothers No.
> for a Grand Lodge Of the State Of GeOr-
gia, to be located at Savannah. The
Grand Lodge was accordingly instituted
with ALVIN n. Miller VI. W. Grand Mas
ter. Guy L. Warner K. W. Deputy Grand
Master, Elisha Parsons X. W. Grand
Warden.
The first celebration of the order in
Savannah took place Jan. -, 1914. At the
session Of the Grand Lodge Aug. s, 1874,
Elisha Parsons was unanimously elected
the first Grand Representative to the
r w. Grand Lodge of the United States.
Feb. 6, 1915. the second celebration Of
the order in this city was held. At this
time there were eight subordinate
lodges in Georgia. with a member
ship of 932. Dekalb Lodge No. Q
was instituted in Savannah in Feb. 1915,
with John w. Anderson n. q. About a
month later Washington hall occupied
by OglethOrpe Lodge and Magnolia En-.
campment was burned and the most of
their records, regalia and furniture was
destroyed.
A LEGEND OF THE GOAT.
There is a'legend to the effect that the
spectators at the fire believed that the
historic goat was burned.
The three lodges and the Encampment
prOspered and. when in 1854 Savannah
was visited by the yellow fever the order
showed its principles and its work. The
sick were cared tor and the dead were
attended to their last resting place by
some brother. The widow and the or
phan were protected and provided for,
and none will forget while they live the
deYotion OF the members to one another
! during that terrible epidemic. r
Nothing interfered with the growth of
the order until the breaking out OF the
civil war. Four years of strife though
| crippled it. Very few were left at home
| to look after lodge business. Many never
returned and when the struggle was
! ended the roll was greatly reduced. Dur
! ing the war the relations between the
/ Grand Lodge Of the United States and the
| Grand Lodge of this State and Of other
| Southern States were broken of, but In
/ 1865 they were resumed. Early in 1868
! Wildey Degree Lodge No. was instituted.
! The subOrdln nate lodges did not take much
! interest IN the Degree Lodge, and after an
! existence Of six years its charter was
/ surrendered.
| THE PRESENT ODD FELLOWS HALL.
In 1868 an Odd Fellows Life Associa.
| tion was formed and located in Savannah,
/ but il did not prove a success aud was
wound up in 1876. July "a, 1867. the hall
| now occupied by the order was dedicated
/ as an odd Fellows Hall by Grand Master
| James l.. Haupt.
Ga Feb. Il, 1863, Haupt Lodge No. 81
! was Instituted, taking its name from p. q
| VI. James l.. Haupt In 1879 a charter
was given for Rebecca Degree Lodge in
Savannah, and IT was instituted Marcn
| %, 1863, by Deputy Grand Master David
| Bailey. II was named Mission Lodge No
/. Some time later the lodge ceased tC
work. Aug. Il, 1874, the x. W. Grand
Lodge OF the State held its session in Sa
vAuuah. Golden Rule Lodge No. II was
instituted by Grand Master simmons Nov
/ TO- 1915, and George y. Nichols was
elected n. G..
sOME LATER HISTORY.
! During the epidemic OF 1876 the lodges
founded a relief association which die
much good work in relieving the sick. AS
sistance was also rendered to other cities
whenever they were IN need, as Chicago
after the great fire, Memphis during the
! plague, Pensacola aud Shreveport wheI
! their citizens were suffering. Ii
August, 1891, the Grand Lodge AGAR