, 1889-04-27
915
FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, TRUTH.


The address of the evening was de-
livered by DR.. W. A. Wyman.
After touching on the age of Free
Masonry, the speaker said that a pleasant
story relating to the foundation of Odd
Fellowship was to the effect that the or
ganizers of the first lodge were descend
ants of the priests and scribes of Baby
lonian captivity, who established a lodge
at Rome, A. D. 10 and rendered signal
service in overturning a plot against the
life of Emperor Titus. For this service
they were accorded high honors and from
incidents of the event many of the EN-
bleins are derived.
The first authentic mention of Odd Eel
lows is in l745. English w~orkingmen
formed lodges for social and benevolent
purposes and for the advancement o ftheir
material interests.
Seventy years ago, April &c, 1919, tie
first lodge of the l. o. o. +. to exist in
the United States was formed at Balti-
more, Md, by Thomas Widely and four
other members of the order.
There are now nearly GOO, 900 members
of the order in the United States. In
1887 81, 1853, 766 OF was discussed from
the relief funds for the order. The annual
increase of membership is SSH.
All of the subordinate lodges are in a
fiourishing condition.
In 1917 Brother Henry NJ. Jackson
visited America for the purpose of found
ing the order, but finding it already estab.
lished simply instructed the members in
changes in the ritual. Three years later
Washington lodge, No. /, received its
charter from York lodge of Preston, Eng
land.
The actual growth OF Odd Fellowship
in America commenced in 1923, when
the grand lodge of Maryland issued three
charters.
Sixty three years & the Grand lodge
Of America was chartered by the English
brethren.
The first mention of the Encampment
branch of the order is found in the Grand
lodge records for 1928, although the de-
gree had been previously introduced. En-
campment members now number 1OI ,742.
A fitting tribute was paid the Rebekah
degree. 1t is recorded in Genesis that
1904 b. c., '"The Lord God SAID, it is
not good for man to be alone"
1t was 6, 1855 years later when the Odd
Fellows came to the same conclusion, but
they are now MECHANICALLY convinced on
the subject and the wife, mother, sister
and daughter are received into, the order.
The uniformed degree of Patriarchs
militant was established in 1885, and has
grown steadily.
In closing DIR. Wyman spoke of the
duties of the members, and the desirable
itv of widening the field and increasing
the strength of the order.
TERRITORIAL.
There are fourteen lodges in Wyoming,
including two at Cheyenne, two at Lara
mic, and one in Carbon, Rawlins, Evans
ton, Burnt Fork, Rock Springs, Lander,
Fort Washakie, Rongis. The total mem
bership is COS. The relief expenditure
for was 81, O96. IS. The total assets
are $2S, 697.67. Cheyenne Lodge No. l
is the richest, being worth s22, 500.
Attorney General Councilman presided.
THE PARTY.
Dancing followed the address, and at
1880 an elegant luncheon was served.
Attorney General Councilman made a
happy response to the toast, THE
Ladies'"
The affair was conducted by these com
mittees:
Arrangement-L. Kabis, WA. Wy
man, f. f. Caller.
Hoor-E. f. Caller, VIM. Mcssersmith,
ii. (. Buechncr.
Reception-L. Kabis, j. /. Murray,
Geo. Hansen.