Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-29

many years past there have been Odd
Fellows lodges in existence in The princi-
pal towns and cities Of what is rcv West
Virginia; but the Grand Lodge Of the
s ate was not regularly organized until
December 5, 1865. The division Of the
State Of Virginia during the late war seri-
ously disorganized the craft throughout the
whole State and entirely cut of the lodges
in the ffty-tour counties embraced in the
new State, from all affiliations with the
mother Grand Lodge. Past Grand Mas
ter Thomas G Steele, then, and indeed up
10 the time Of his death, the most devoted
as well as the most distinguished Odd Eel.
low in Virginia west Of the Alleghenies, re-
sliEing the suffering condition Of
the Order, and desiring to rem.
edy the evil called q convention
OF Past Grsnds at Fsirmont, May 5. 1868.
to take the necessary preliminary steps to
organize State Grand Lodge for West
Virginia. A committee WAS appointed to
correspond with the Supreme Grand Lodge
of the United States on the subject Of the
proposed Grand Lodge, and the Coaven.
tion adjourned to meet at Wheeling, July
81, 1863. At the Wheeling meeting lot
ter was read from the Grand Sire stating
that an application for the establishment |
Of new Grand Lodge must be signed by
not fewer than ten subordinate lodges, and |
as this application was only signed by
seven, an organization could not then be
effected. The matter wsa allowed to pass
on until December 5, 1865, when another
convention was held, which was presided
over by Past Grand Master Steele and
at which the present Grand Lodge OF West
Virginia Was permanently organized BY
the election OF the following officers
Jacob N. Bickell, Grand Master
Isaac II. Duvsl Deputy Grand Master.
William Taylor, Grand Warden.
Thomas G. Steele, Secretary.
R 7. Roberts, Treasurer.
n. Fl Van Cleve, Chaplain,
w. r. Kelley, Conductor.
Jacob koonce, Marshal.
Henry A. Uthmau, Guardian.
Brother James l.. Ridgeley Grand Sec,
retary Of the Supreme Grand Lodge Of the
United States, was present ard inst tuted
the Lodge and installed its officers TweL-
ry-iwo lodges formerly chartered under tn.
Grand Lodge Of Virginia surrendered Their
charters and accepted new charters under
the new Grand Lodge. These lodges had
q membership OF perhaps seven TO eigt,
hundred. To-day we have in the State
eighty working lodges and about forty,avs
hundred members While opr grow h in
West Virginia has not been extraordinary,
it bss, OF the same time, been healthy and
steady, and has been fully up to the stand
ord OF the increase OF population
in the State. We are beyond
doubt abreast Of the times, and
are more than holding our own, when com
pared With other similar organizations that
have unfnrled their banners in our Switzer.
land Of America,
The seoond session Of the Grand Lodge
WAS held in Wheeling, April u, 1856.
Jacob NJ BckelI, Grand Master, presiding
Twenty delegates were present, and
a net increase OF 3O2 members was report
el. Brother Stesia was reelected Grand
Secretary, which position he continued to
Gil until the day OF his death, which oc.
Cured ct Grafton, April 10, 1888.
The next session was hsd q, Clsrks
burg, April 1867, J. NJ. BIcke!l, Grand
Maste,i "a delegates present.
The next session was held at Parkers-
burg. William l. Hyland, Grand Master,
in the chair; 2s delegates were present; Az
lodges we're reported in the State; gain
If 533 members durug the year. The
aggregated membership al this time is 2.
j9I.
The session OF 1869 was held OF
William WiIlen, Grand Mas.
ter; AZ delegates present; AZ lodges in the
State; total membership 3,OS9-an 10
crease over preceding year Of 49j.
The next meeting was at Charleston,
James p Davis, Grand Master; A. lodges
we're reported as working, api all Of them
we're represented, aggregated membership
}.3g7, an Increase over preceding year oi
l79.
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