Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-17
ODD FELLOWS IN WARRINGTON.
How the Order WAS Established In
This City.

THE ANTI-NAsoNIo ExCIrKkENT PRnBENT
CONDITION OF THE LODGES.
As announced in THE STAR, the members of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Of the
District will, on the 26th inst, celebrate the
anniversary Of the order in America. The
establishment of the order in this city dates
back almost To the day of the establishment Of
the first American lodge in Baltimore. In 1927
when the Grand Lodge OF the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows numbered but fourteen
subordinate lodges, q lodge Of the order was
established in the District. Thomas NJ. Albeit,
who had been initiated In q Philadelphia
lodge, was the prime mover. His associates
In appiying for the charter were Robert
been granted govember 1ash h. 1927, on ' No.
Mr. WSsy over
ern, q three-storied double buildingo on ST., be-
tween 18th and 14th streets northwest. The
was was increased by the initiation OF Arthur Nc
George N. Davis. Thcs: Steele John n. aoaIdsr.
Milburn, the host. John Farrar was admitted
by card. Two rooms were rented by this lodge
January. 1928 The first funeral OF an Odd
Fellow In the District took place In October,
1928, the deceased being Mr.. George Walker.
an active membership. This lodge made such
advancement as to have on its roll within the
uIsC year uDOut 40 Oh the leaQlQ2 ClLlZ00S OF
Washington. Early in 1928 . charter was
granted
GEORGETOWN LODGE,
the leading members being Robert Boyd, John
Douglas and James Gettys, who filled the
offices of N. e., v. G. and secretary respectively
Rev. Lorenzo Dow, the eccentric Methodist
preacher, u member OF lodge at Albany, N.
y, visited this lodge frequently, and dying in
tion from Messrs. Albeit, Wells, Gettys, Boyd
preme lodge September fs, 1928, for charter
District was Instituted at the rooms OF Central
lodge, in the court house, November oath, fol.
pr Lodge No
in what was known as Usher's tavern, and for
years after as the Round Tops, ON the north
west side OF the circle at Pennsylvania avenue
and 23d street.
Jonathan Lodge. No: 4, OF Georgetown, Or
ganized December 21st, following Pocahontas
order seemed to suffer q decline, the rapid
growth not having been healthful. Central
up IN 1881, GEORGETOWN S in 1882. and Jonathan
worked two or three years longer. Some of the
members Of Central Lodge, however, deter
new charter, located in the Washington Lib
rary building, 18th street, below Pennsylvania
Avenue. now used by the colored Odd Fellows.
ashlngton Lodge, No. u, was formed in 1888,
the late Harry Sweating, +. Milburn and Rob
ert Waters being the founders.
THE ANTI-MAsONIC EXCITEMENT
Then came the anti-Masonic excitement,
through which the growth of this Orders
as well as that of the Masonic order, was re-
tarded. Both ORDERS however, survived, and,
reaction setting in, the cause has prospered.
Mr.. Gettys, of the Georgetown lodge, having
served several terms represen tAtive, sue
ceeded Mr.. Wildey AS grand sire in 1888.
in 1sas cap W. OF whe
has been in the order now for over half CEN
fury, and the late F. D. stuart, Of this city, also
Iad ft,an of, lSir
Central and Washington lodges, it will be
seen, were the earliest lodges here, having
among their memoers, besides those named
Blake and Capt. Joseph France, i. b. Lord, W.
b. stanford, VIM. Lloyd, Lewis Wright and
F. Hunt and James Towers. From these lodges
Eastern lodge formed in the eastern sec
ton OF the city, in 1889, and subsequently Har-
this lodge. Columbia, No. 10, was formed from
Central and Washington, and then followed
Friendship, No. II, in the west end, in which
Messrs =. h. Douglass and Z. II. Sweet were
prominent. Central and Washington lodges,
after meeting few years at the Library build
ing, moved to the hall over what is now Geyer's
stable, on street, between 41a aud 9Th streets,
and about 1889 moved to the old Circuit Court
room In the Courthouse building.
THE NEW HALL.
Here they remained till the new hall on 7th
street was completed in 1916, and in the mean.
time Covenant Lodge No. 13 had been formed
in West Washington, and Beacon Lodge No. Is
followed i'll 1874. On entering the new hall
quite an impetus was given the order, MetropO-
lis Lodge No. TO- Excelsior No. II and Oriental
No. 10 being formed at the new hall, and Me-
chanics No. Is in West Washington. A few
years ago two other lodges, Federal City No. 20
and Golden Rule No. 81, were formed at the
1th street hall. The last annual report, to June
30, 1885, shows that there were in the District
10 lodges, with a membership Of 1864; that
S7,776.6O was paid during the year To 279
needy members, and 1,7S4.S1 to Al widows,
S2,O26: 80 paid Tor burying A mem bers; total
vested and uninvested funds of $37 $3.50 IS.
There were 1874 limitations during the year.
Inc ball on 9TH street, owned by the or ier, is
va-ued ut S15O,OOO. The upper story contains
the necessary lodge rooms and library room,
which contains q tine selection Of books