The Newtown bee., 1889-12-06
BRIDGEPORT.
LODGE ROOM SECRETS.

While on the New York train bound for Stamford, few days ago, a couple of gentlemen sat directly in front of a BEE writer engaged in conversation, which, after time, turned upon secret societies. Both gentlemen were from Bridgeport and one of them, who was evidently physician, remarked that he must be at home again by the next night as he was an officer in an Odd Fellows lodge which met that evening. His friend, who had the appearance of a well-to-do business man, expressed his surprise that the doctor should waste his valuable time on what was mere foolish boys play. This remark seemed to arouse the doctor somewhat and he ask ed his friend if he knew anything of the kind of work such organizations accom- plished. He said, No; but he supposed they met simply for fun and he had nev CT taken any stock in them or their se- crets.
 ''If you care to listen,' said the doc tor, 'I don't mind telling you few lodge secrets. You remember George Stevens (the waiter changes the name slightly, who died at the Hartford insane asylum, few years ago. We'll, he was mem Der of Bridgeport Odd Fellows lodge. His mind gave out rather suddenly and, having no means, he was sent by the lodge to the asylum and his expenses were defrayed by the lodge. His wife had died about n year before and, when George died, his 16-years-old daughter was left alone. Her only protection was an aunt, who was inclined to be vicious and whose influence over the orphan child was bad. The lodge, seeing the danger, placed the girl, at their expense, in first class boarding school and kept her there, paying her board and clothing bills and other expenses until she was 19 years old, when she left school and earned her own living by teaching. That is one lodge secret that don't believe any one outside the parties directly interested ever heard of."
 "Well, that was pretty good,' said the merchant. But he had been hardwork- ing member and every brother knew him and was interested in his family The lodge wouldn't have done the same by every one"
 "Now that's where you are wrong and, to prove it, will tell you of a case that occurred less than three weeks ago" said the doctor. "A sturdy mechanic named Addison Chase went home from work at p m apparently all right; was taken suddenly i'll in the night and died in the morning. This man was mem Der of Arcanum lodge, I. o. o. F., but, being deeply interested in church work, he devoted the most of his spare time to that and rarely attended his lodge meet ings, so that very few of the members knew him. But did that make any diff ference? Not bit. MT Chase left four motherless children. They had no rela- tives here and were crushed and perfect ly helpless from the blow which had fallen upon them. The noble grand, who is the executive officer of the lodge, appreciating their situation, left his bus mess and devoted his entire time to the family. The wife being buried in Al bany, N. Y., the family wished the fath- CT to rest beside her, so the noble grand went to Albany, the day before the fun eral, made arrangements there and the vice grand was sent from Bridgeport with the body and family and the lodge bore the entire expense"
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 Mir Chase and wondered how the family managed the expense. The lodge cer- tainly deserves credit, but the case was one to excite sympathy. Suppose man should be sick two or three years, would your boasted lodge sympathy hold out so long?"
 ''In answer to that" said the doctor, ''let me call your mind to H. B. Sher- man, who once lived in one of your houses. He was taken sick in June, 1882 and for seven years Pequonnock lodge faithfully and, to my own knowledge, patiently and tenderly cared for him. Not only were the regular stated benefits granted him, but, from time to time as he needed it, additional sums were given him and different kinds of scientific appliances obtained for him in the hope of obtaining relief. On many a lodge night, have seen the members wheel him to the lodge in his rolling chair and carry him up the stairs in their arms. When he became so feeble as to have to be taken to the hospital, the brethren visited him regularly and did all they could to make him comfortable. Last week, the poor fellows sufferings were ended by death and, in compliance with his wishes, they bore his body to the lodge room he loved, where his fun eral was held. The lodge paid MT Sher- man over $2000 and paid it without a murmar. They wished him to have ev- cry comfort obtainable."
 "Did you know William Hocken- smith? think he told me once that you had bought books of him. He belonged to Pequonnock lodge and the lodge sent him to the Hot Springs of Arkansas at their expense in hopes that he could find a cure for his paralyzed leg and I don't believe any one ever told of it before.'
 ''I wondered at the time,' said the merchant, ''how he was able to make the trip. Poor man, I remember him we'll. But these cases you cite were all taken care of by the lodges of which they were members. Now, suppose they belonged to lodge of some other State. Would they have received as good care and at tentionTv
 ''Ah my friend" replied the doctor, Il am, as usual, ready with an illustrat-