The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-07
AMONG ODD'FELLOWS.
VISIT OF MR.. AUSTIN SMITH. OF THE
GRAND LODGE, TO MEMPHIS.
He Makes a Stirring Speech-State Of
the Order in the United States-lts
Progress in Tennessee-A Good Time
at Columbia.

Like '4amb for innocence, a dove for
tameness. fox for cunning lion for
bodness, bee for industry, and sheep
for docility," is the way an Odd Fellow is
described. 1t is meet TO relate that this
secret order continues TO render assistance
TO its distressed brethren who remain true
to their comrades and to their order. Here
in Memphis we have four lodges OF Odd
Fellows, numbering little over 800 MEM
beers, and besides. there is an encampment,
the members being also attached to the
one of the four original lodges. The order
was established in the city nearly forty
eight years ago, the Memphis lodge,
No. 6, being the first, and the
Chickasaw, No. 8, followed in ls45, and
this lodge for long term OF years
paid Out TO widows and orphans OF de.
ceased members scattered from Massachu,
sets to Oregon, and Wisconsin TO Texas
nearly s., 800 per annum. Within the
past two years the Chickasaw lodge has
cut off the payment OF benefits TO widows,
except those who may be needy, and these
are assisted the same as in former times.
At the meeting OF the Schiller lodge in
Odd Fellows hall in this city last We'd
! nesday evening, visitor in the persoS'
Ct Mr.. Austin Smith, OF Columbia, Tenn,
| attended, and he made stirring talk to
those in attendance. Mr.. Smith is an
officer OF the Grand lodge Of the State Of
Tennessee, and he had been up to Cow
ington, Upton county, TO organize
new lodge OF sixteen members,
with more awaiting a chance for intia-
| tons. During his talk Mr. Smith related
| that he had visited during the past year
nearly every lodge OF Odd Fellows in the
State, and he had Travelled, ut his own ex-
pense, by rail, steamer, coach, horse and
mulc-back, and also on foot-in some
| places climbing up mountain sides, where
| II would be difficult for even the tradi-
| tional goat TO make any Roadway. Tho
order, according 10 Mr.. Smith, il prosper
| ing throughout the State. Heretofore it
has been holding about even in Tennessee,
! while not much spirit was manifested in
| tine southern States. I'm the north and
west, however, Odd Fellowship has been
| llourishing, and when the Sovereign Grand
| Lodge met at Los Angeles Cal, recently
| a report was made which showed very
| large increase, while the order mum.
! bers upward OF hall n million in
| the United States. In foreign lands IL
also has much strength, especially in Eng
land and in Germany, while in Australia
and elsewhere it is doing well. A lodge
was organized in Constantinoplc about
! twenty-five years ago.
The lodge OF Odd Fellows 10 which Mr..
| Austin Smith belongs at Columbia,
| Tenn. had q novel celebration last Tues
day night, and the gentleman FASTENED
through here 10 reach home in time 10
! participate The lodge was instituted
| ioriy-scven years ago, and two members
attended who were with II Mt the start
! One rode seventeen miles on horseback
| to be on hand. The program included
solos on more than n dozen instruments,
all by members OF the lodge or their ianrr-
lies. Letters werc read as 10 the good OF
the order in French, Spanish. German and
several other languages all written by
members OF the lodge. A couple were
properly attired as gladiators for the festive
ring, one big stout fellow like Downing
in "Spartacus," the other very small, and
really the smallest member OF tho lodge,
aud the pair had n number Of bouts IN
the Marquis OF Qucensbury rules. A
banquet was given at the best restaurant
In the place, and there were other things
Of most cxhiaraiing description. All in
all the reunion Of Columbia lodge Of Odd
Fellows was one Of those entertainments
We sometimes read about but seldom look
| upon.