Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-27

I
thoughtful public. The name uf,dd
Fellows" was formerly adopted bv mem.
beers Of certain social institutions whose
object appears 10 have been copviylalitv
and benevoence, and the meetiprs were
conducted with initiatory rites aud cere-
monies.
With that spirit ever clamorina for
the golden deserts Of antiquity very
lremote origin Is claimed for the
order OF 0ddfellowship. 1t Is
said that the Emperor Titus con-
ierred upon the Jewish legions under
MN the first charter engraved upon a
golden tablet Various have been the
| speculationsof historians as to the date
OF us origin, but the most respectable
authority, after assiduous research. can
make no satisfactory or authentic discov-
cries beyond the earlier part OF the eigh.
teehin century, aud the name Is explained
as selected at period when the exclu
sNeness OF the age was so universal that
those wno sought mutual assistance and
social immunities were exceptions.
Daniel Defoe, who flourished In the
year 1908. makes mention OF an assocIa.
ton OF Odd Fellows, but the Oldest lodge.
according 10 che best authority, the name
OF which has descended to us, is the
Loyal Aristarcus, No. 90 which, IL is
thought. convened In the year l745, sat
/ the Oakly Arms, borough OF Southwork;
Globe Tavern, Hatton Garden, or the
Bears Head, In Smithaeld, as the noble
master may dlreot.n
The most ancient lodges received their
support by regulation requiring OF each
member and visitor to deposit a
penny on entering the lodge,
and in case a brother re-
| quired assistance IL was voted him as his
necessities demanded. If brother sought
employment he was supplied with
card and sufficient means to reach
the next lodge, and in this manner
ne visited from lodge to lodge until he
found employment. AT this day there is
an established system of dues and collec-
tons, and stated fees are required accord.
Ing to The magnitude and dignity Of the
degree conferred. In the early incipiency
OF the organization, each lodge was indie.
| pendent OF all other lodges, and exercised
independent authority to establish its
own system OF rules and regulations for
It's government; but in course Of time
there sprang up closer relation between
them, until finally all rejoiced in the
adoption of common ritual, and assum-
came one confederation.
About the close of the century the sus-
picions of state were aroused against
them upon the allegation that their pur-
poses were seditious, but a change of
name and location averted danger. As
the Union Order of Odd Fellows with
its seat of government in London, 1t ex-
listed until the year 1863, when persistent
memters made an attempt 10 revive 1t
Becoming convinced that all effort was
futile to create an interest loftier than
conyiviality, in 1878 a convention was
held In Manchester, and 81 cessiou from
the union order was concluded. when
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
was formed, the growth of which was
the admiration OF the hour; and to-day
It's members and influence extend over
minor societies in England.
THE MEMBERSHIP,
according to the generally accepted sta
tistcs, 1884, was 32 $685. in 1887, SO, 500,
and in January, 1883, its membership had
reached 500 $685. and the active lodges
were 1881. In 1881 the receipts were
E76i ,695, the disbursements Cool 1926,
and the capital f5 POI, SOL, or approx
mating the stupendous aggregate of
| e26, 1884, 400. In 1850 the society re-
ceived legalzation and recognition by
the state In corporate capacity. In
England there now exists | rye numbers
OF lesser lodges, which are thought to
have seeded from the Manchester Unity,
or entitled to an Independent origin
Among them may be mentioned the Ancient
Independent Order or Kent Unity, Wool
witch, 1905, revived 1861; the Noting
ham Ancient Imperial Order, 1872; the
London Unity, 1920; the Boston Unity
1882; the Kingston Unity, 1910; the
Norfolk and Norwich Unity, lS49, and the
Derby Midland United Order, 1856.
In the good year 1919, on the Goth day
of April, Odd Fellowship was introduced
into the United States, Thos Wildey and
four assistants organizing Washington
lodge No. l, just sixty-seven years ago
to-day, in Baltimore, ana the grand lodge
of Maryland and the United States was
constituted on the pod day of February,
1921. The beginning was marked by a
sluggish growth, but the zeal, energy and
progressiyeness of the American soon
caused 1t to spread with extraordinary
rapidly, and to-day 1t overshadows the
Manchester Unity, from which In 1912 1t
seeded. In ls43 a dispensation was
issued TO open in Montreal the Prince OF
Wales lodge No. /.
Baltimore is the chief center OF the
society, including the United States and
the Dominion of Canada. The member
ship in 1882 had reached 100000, With re-
ceipts estimated at $G,000,000, and
the sum discussed for relief OF
its members aggregated 81 100000
Organizations connected either with those
of Englanl or our country have been
planted in Germany, Switzerland, Gibral-
tar and Malta, Australia, New Zealand, the
Fiji Islands, the Hawaiian Islands, South
Africa, South America, the West lndi,s,
and Birbadoes--iu fact, in all the British
possessions, and in 1862 lodge was
formed in Constantinoplo. But every eye
will naturally turn to-day to our own
GKRAT COMMONWEALTH OF TEXAS,
and the summary given would be incom
plete without a survey OF Odd Fellowship
in our own country, and among our own
people. According to the most recent re-
port, that Of the grand lodge Of Texas,
held in the city of Austin on the 22nd day
of February, 1885, we find that December
81, 1884, there were l64 lodges, and the
membership numbered 5l9G. Weekly
| h......a., ..;d GrIoE Annunt naid fnr