Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-27
THE FINE EXHIBITION DRILL.

In the evening an exhibition drill was
given BY Pittsburg Canton, under the
command of Colonel Jeffries. The snowy
uniforms of the marchers and the measured
movements of the men won them thunders
of applause. After the drill the grand march
took place. 1t was headed by the members
of the Pittsburg Canton and their wives,
and under the direction of Colonel Samuel
McMichael the $50 couples marched and
counter marched through the hall, After
the march ex-Past Master John A. Myler,
of Allegheny, and an ex-Grand Master of
the organization, delivered short address on
the history of the order. He made several
remarks about Judge White, which elected
hearty applause. Mr.. Myler said:
1t certainly is pleasant duty to be assigned
on behalf of Pittsburg Canton of the Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows to extend to you
cordial and fraternal welcome. 1t is our hope
that you may spend joyous evening-an even
ing to be remembered in the lives of each one
of you. We hope and trust that this evening
burg Canton to have these celebrations each
year, and whether you are members Of the
order or not we want you to enjoy yourselves:
Odd Fellowship in this country has reached
the age of three score and ten or the time
allotted to man, but the order is only in its in
fancy.
SOME OF THE PIONEERS.
In the procession to-day noticed two or
three men who have been in the organization
almost since the time it was introduced in this
country. The history of the order is slightly in
doubt. We have records extending back al
most 200 years, but prior to that time we do not
know anything definite about it. The first
lodges were founded upon principles not un-
like those governing trades unions The rules
were very loose Whenever five men got to-
gether they could organize lodge among
themselves, but owed no allegiance to any
mother lodge. There were 100000 Of these
men in England, but they always failed to
get united under one head until 1872, when
Manchester Unity was formed. From the Unity
sprang Odd Fellowship in this country A short
In every tavern, and there were plenty of them
as in those days there were no Judge Whites or
high license laws, a lodge of Odd Fellows was
formed. The first of them was organized in
Baltimore, and from that sprang organizations
in New York and Boston, but they afterward
died. The names of the founders Of the first
Baltimore lodge were John Welsh, Thomas
Wiley. John Duncan. John Cheatham and
Richard Rushworth. These men were unedu-
Gated and unknown, but they felt the bond of
brotherly love between themselves and their
fellow man. They thought each of others sor-
rows, woes and troubles and reached out their
hands to give assistance to those in distress.
THE SPREADING PROCESS.
The organization began to spread until it was
known as the Grand Lodge of Maryland On
December g. 1921, the first lodge was organized
in Pennsylvania by John Pierce, James Day,
John B. Robinson, John Upton and Samuel
Croucher. This lodge was also organized in an
ale house as was the case with everyone that
came after it. There was so much money
spent by the Odd Fellows in those days that
number of the lodges started drink
ing places of their own. From 1880
until 1857 there were 1,5l7.420 men in
itiated, l,328lS9 cases relieved, 169768
widowed families relieved and I30, 265 members
buried by the order. The total relief bills were
$46 200 $50 20 the total relief paid out by the en-
campments nearly $50. 600 600. The total receipts
amounted to over $l2l, ,00e, 900, and there is now
SO 600, 600 in the treasury. There are 81 grand
lodges, A grand encampments, S3Sl subordi-
nate lodges and Lass Rebekah degree lodges.
Last year there were initiated So. 83l men in the
lodges and 1882 in the encampments The to-
tai membership of the order is 555, 722.
After the address dancing and banquet
were indulged in. The Original ROYAL ftal-
ian Orchestra furnished the music for the
former.