Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-11-04
TRENTON.
A wilmington Odd Fellow Among
Bis Jersey Brethren.

A Wilmington odd Fellow Among
Bais Jersey Brelhren.
Editor Gosetts d. Journal In my former
letter TO you from here took occasion to
speak of sundry things that had attracted
my attention.
This time with your kind permission I
wish 10 give you letter in the interest of
Odd Fellowship, knowing as do that the
members of this great, widespread and
influential fraternity, resident in Will
miDgton, are prominent amongst your
readers. But before proceeding to de-
tails let me say that with 80 years expert
ence in the order, have mover met
more genial, whole-souled, gentlemanly
set of men than have here, and it is but
just to say that to their uniform polite
ness and fraternal attentions I am largely
indebted for the comfort and pleasure Of
| my stay.
On the morning after my arrival Icailed
upon Brother Lewis Parker, the efficient
Grand Secretary and presented my card.
After the merest glance nj it, bis hand
| was stretched forth and graaped mino with
eagerness and delight, A pleasant con-
versation followed closing by his giving
me the name and address OF the Grand
Master of New Jersey and requesting me
10 call upon him. Just here let me say
that Brother Parker has been Grant Sec
retary for many years past and will, no
| doubt, continue to he his own successor.
He is one of Trenton's best known and
| highly respected citizens aud fills with
credit to himself and satisfaction to
others, the highly responsible position of
| treasurer OF the Trenton Savings Find
| Society. He is man Of parts, u natural
orator and rs very popular with the
| brethren.
Grand Master George W. Hanmell, Jr,,
| is the proprietor of large and we'll
stocked grocery and provision store on
| Warren street and is doing am excellent
business. On entering the store per-
| ceived TINT he WAS being bored by
drummer nnd l thought he was slightly
i out OF humor. However, / held my
ground and presently he turned TO me
| with HWall, sir, what can do for your"
1 approached and placed in his hands the
card granted me by Eden Lodge Of Will
mington He looked at it, took in my
name and with genial smile lighting up
| his face he gave my hand a vigorous grasp
at the same time remarking, Brother, there
| is no going back on that. ] have seen
much of him since and have at all times
been shown the greatest consideration. l
/ think without exception, Grand Master
Hammell is the most live, energetic,
thorough-going Odd Fellow, have ever
| met. He is an Odd Fellow every day IN
| the week, and every hour in the day. AL
though large and commanding in stature,
his heart is larger still, and / may
truthfully say he carries it in hand
and is ever ready to do all he can
towards alleviating human suffering.
During his administration the order has
enjoyed unprecedented prosperity, which
is shown by the fact that during the first
six months of this year the number of in
itiations in this state was about 200. He
has 206 lodges in working order to look
after, and is assisted by 40 District Deputy
Grand Masters. The following figures
kindly furnished me will give some idea
of part of what this grand order is
doing in a single state. They are for
year ending December S1st, 1886:
Paid out for sick benefits. ....... S66, ,49S. "A
Paid out for benefit Of widows. 2,5s6.05
Paid out for education of orphans 227.0I
Paid out for burial Of the dead. 17i715.96
Paid out for special relief. ....... 3,3S9.4S
The greatest stronghold of Odd Fellow.
ship is Newark with "a lodges, but during
the past year the greatest proportionate
increase in membership was in Jersey City.
Trenton has seven lodges, two encamp-
ments and one Canton of Patriarchs Mill
tant. This latter nstitution-"C Canton
Capital City,. No. 81 is a very finely
equipped body, consisting at present
of 46 members. They have drill room
on State street between Greene and
Warren, which is the best in point of size
and convenience / have yet seen, it's di-
mensions being about 40x75 feet, besides
anterooms, kitchen, closets, &c. They
have all the necessary dishes, cutlery, &C.,
for seating 100 at banquet. Some time
since they held fair and more recently
had an excursion on the Switchback both
of which were successful and the result is
their Canton pocket book doesn't look as
, if an elephant had stepped on it. On the
front of the building they occupy is a
gilt-lettered sign reading "I. o. o. F.
. Patriarchs Militant Armory." They are
oficered az follows: George N. Mutt,
Captain, Che is also Colonel of Depart
ment of New Jersey Edwin F. Ruppert,
, Lieutenant, and John II. Patterson, En-
sign. Their future prospects are bright
and that they may realize most fully their
fondest anticipations is the writer's sim
cere hope. On the subject of Cantons it
only remains for me to say that Grand
Master is Vice Commander of the De-
partment, and am sure they could not
find worthier one if they searched the
state over.
Thus far l have visited Conoordia
Lodge, No. A; South Trenton, No. 36;
Fred d, Stuart, No. 154, and Mercer, No.
34-the first three, twice. That ] met
with the most cordial reception from all
of them, goes without saying. and when
all tried 80 hard TO make me feel at home
it would be difficult to partioularise.
Ooncordia and South rreuton lodges
have degree staff outfits by Brother
Mutell of Springfield, Mass, which
greatly resemble the outfit he supplied to
Eden Lodge of Wilmington. Fred D.
Stuart Lodge has an outfit by the Nj. O.
Lilly 90. of Columbus, Ohio. The
beauty of all these outfits is only sur
passed by the ability with which they are
worn.
wish to speak briefly of two things
the Odd Fellows of this state have re-
Gently done and shall then close.
John Crawford, very Intelligent and
worthy Sootehman, was initiated into
J Pennsylvania Lodge, No. 1, in Philadel.
phia, when the order was in its very in
fancy. Some time afterwardskhe moved
his membership to Benevolent Lodge, Of
Rockdale, Delaware county, Pa, and
still later to South Trenton Lodge of this
city where, few months since, he peace
fully ended his days, and his lodge to
show their hearty appreciation of him as
, man and an Odd Follow, have erected
} beautiful tombstone on his grave with
this Inscription: His long life was q
/ beautiful ILLUSTRATION of Friendship for
! his brethren, and Love for humanity, with
firm reliance upon eternal Trrth.
The health of Grand Representative
Crane of Newark having become so seri-
ously impaired as to wholly incapacitate
him from labor of all kinds, the Odd Eel
, lows of his state whom he has served SO
long, so faithfully and with such rare
, ability, made up purse OF 81 200 for
, him. On the 11lh inst. Grand Master
! Hammell and Grand Secretary Parker
proceeded to Newark where, in a speech
of great eloquence, feeling and power
i. Brother Parker presented the same tc
him. The occasion was one of mournful
! pleasure and will be remembered by all
j familiar with the case. The prayers oi
! the entire jurisdiction ascend in his behalf
, and hope has resting place in each
brothers heart that he may yet regain d
q fair measure of health. The writer, who
! has had the honor of meeting Brother
Crane in the s. G. Lodge, and who knowt
his ability and devotion, most heartily
unites in these sentiments.
Grand Master Hammell will dedicate {
| 4. - lss.. ~