The Portland daily press., 1888-02-09
Unity Lodge Entertainment.

A delightful entertainment was given by
Unity Lodge, to celebrate their eleventh an
nversary, at Odd Fellows Hall, last even
ing. The Aedena Quartette, composed of
Mrs. Young and Miss Florence Campbell,
soprani, Misses Hamilton, Rice and Harriet
Whitney, contralt, who were lately heard to
such advantage in City Hall, repeated the
success of that occasion, and Miss Whitney
sang solo charmingly, while Shaw's Quar-
tette rendered several selections in their
usual fine style. Both quartettes were en-
cored. Miss Ida M. Brown gave several
readings with good taste and Judgment, and
was heartily encored. Mr.. Farnsworth pre-
sided most acceptably at the organ.
Past Grand Master j. Ii. Crockett delivered
an address on Wildey and Odd Fellowship
that was marked by elegance of expression,
interesting facts and beauty of style.
Mr.. Crockett's opening referred to the
death of Thomas Wildey, the founder of
Odd Fellowship, at Baltimore, Oct. 10th,
1861, and from that opening he sketched,
with a mastery hand, the life of Wildey
prior to 1919. the institution of Washington
Lodge, the meetings in early days, the tenn
perance reform, the National and State
Grand Lodges, the representative system,
the visit Of Wildey to England, his last years,
the work and standing of the order in the
world generally, and in Portland in particu-
lar.
Speaking of the work in Portland, the
speaker said the city of Portland contains
more Odd Fellows in proportion to its popu-
lation than any other city in the world
There are 1854 members in the SIX lodges,
which is ten members in every thirty-f0ur
voters, or ten in every one hundred and for
ty-fiye of the total population; that is, every
third or fourth man residing here is an Odd
Fellow. The order has been established
here 1fty-four and half years: During
that time its payments for relief have been
over $785,00o. For the year 1887 alone the
relief payments were over. $4,000, and for
the eleven years, during which it has occu-
pied Harrington Block, the payments have
averaged over $53, $50 per year. In these
eleven years the funds of the order in Port
land have increased from about S120,000 to
SIT 600, which assures the continuance of
this work of relief in the years to come.
Unity Lodge was installed eleven years
ago tomorrow with 81 charter members and
| a fund of 1922. As, or $27.57 for each men,
ber 1t now has 1893 members and a fund of
| $33, 720, or $3.50 per member, which Is SIS
| per member larger than the funds of any
| other lodge in the city or State. During
| these eleven years its members have paid in
10 Tile treasury lOT duuilSSlOnS, ueBTteS anu
| dues, over $4,000, and these funds have
| been so well invested as to earn, in interest
over ST., 900 more, making the total receipts
over $4,000. 1t has paid for the relief OF
| the sick and the burial of the dead S9427. 1t
| is composed largely of young men, the. aver
| age age of the present members being 3S
| years, which is only three and one-half
| years more than that of the charter menu
bers eleven years ago. Of 400 applicants for
membership only 404 have been accepted,
showing that care has been exercised in the
admission of members.
The members of Unity Lodge are proud of
It's position, as the strongest lodge in the
leading Odd Fellow city in the world, and
that it has been able to gain such a place
among older lodges whose record and pres
ent standing is such that every Portland Odd
Fellow should be proud of them.
The speaker closed with what was referred
| to in the opening, the death of Widely, so ell
| oquently pictured by the lamented Grand
| Secretary Ridgeley, who was with him in
| his last hours.