Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-12

boys, their father by law. Forty-seven
OF these children, he stated, have been
educated by him and 10 are married.
lie is the grandfather of many Odd
Fellow children.
In saying Odd Fellowship is good
enough church for them, he declared,
many Odd Fellows make a mistake. It
is not church. 1t is based on good
morals, II does not preach religion
although it breaches tenets and princi-
pies OF morals. II should not be claimed
to be church, but the best auxiliary.
lie does not hold that women should be
Daughters CT Rebekah to be good Odd
Fellows. Women are naturally good
and men are not. There are few bad
women. They are not bad unless men
arc at the bottom OF it, They are the
best advertising mediums in tho land
and the quickest of perception. The
ladies' form very great adjunct of the
order.
The military branch, he said, became
a necessity. As modern society the
order was obliged to keep pace with the
times. 1t organized an adjunct called
the Patriarchs Militant. Members Of the
military branch are required to take GER
tain obligations much stronger than
those of the lay members as it were. The
church advertses. Why then should not
Odd Fellows have a military branch and
keep up with the pomp and splendor of
other organizations? A Patriarch Mill
tant is not made n chevalier or knighted
until he pledges himself to do no wrong
under penalty of being an apostate
without principle and a soldier without
honor. He obligates himself to defend
a woman in her just rights. Can church
or state have better adjuncts? The mill
tary branch catches the boy with its
pomp and splendor. When we get him
in the fold we teach him principles by
which he should live. The lecturer con-
cluded by paying q beautiful tribute to
woman. He too was heartily applauded.
The evenings exercises closed with
the song "Good Night" which was sung
by the quartet. Subsequently General
Underwood held an informal reception,
during which, assisted by Noble Grand
Harlan, he received the assembled
friends of Eden Lodge.
SKETCH OF EDEN LODGE.
In 1867 few of the members of JEFF
ferson, Asylum, Hope and Delaware
lodges, becoming convinced that there
was room in this jurisdiction for another
lodge, none having been organized for
several years, and the order showing a
steady growth, met for the purpose OF
exchanging views upon the subject.
After a discussion it was found all
present were of one opinion in regard
to the matter and it was resolved to
make application to the Grand Lodge
of Delaware for charter. This was
done and the charter was granted at
once. Thus was Eden Lodge created.
The charter members were H. Fl,
Ewbanks, A. G. Robinson and ]. G.
Morrow of Jefferson Lodge, w. r.
4 Massey, j. @. Pickels, w. II. Corn
brooks and G. w. Gregg of Asylum
Lodge; A. b. Gillespie, w. II. Cloward
and j. E. Booth Of Hope Lodge, N. X
! Garhardt and w. A. Woodrow of Della.
ware Lodge and A. G. Stowcll Of New
Jersey The first officers elected were
N. c., Richard III. Ewbanks; v. G., Viii.
liam II. Cloward; Recording Secretary
A. b. Gillespie; Permanent Secretary
William II. Cornbrooks; Treasurer, A. G
| Robinson.
The lodge grew for awhile and
hourished, as o green bay tree; new
members wers added rapidly, and the
attendance was prompt and good
| Everything seemed bright and auspi
cious, and the brothers congratulated
each other upon the outlook for Eden
| Lodge But, alas like too many Other
ventures launched forth upon the stormy
sea of life, disappointment was in store
for those brave hearts. A sudden de
velopment of sickness and death among
some of the new members who had beer
admitted made sad inroads upon the mo-
too pethoric treasury.
Many of the brothers had become wei
nigh discouraged, the attendance at meet
ings had dwindled to mere handful, ant
il was hard to get quorum present
Besides this obligations had been made
and the lodge was in debt. Through
the kindness of some of the brothers {
loan was negotiated, pressing obliga
tions were paid and Eden Lodge wa
relieved. The turning point seemed
now to have been reached. Interest il
the lodge was rcawalScned, the attend
ance increased, back dues were paid UP
new members were proposed and init
ated and money began to flow into TIM
treasury. Sickness among the brother
almost ceased, and for many month
very little funds were paid out fo
weekly benefits. The next years ren
for rooms was promptly met at ever,
quarter, and Eden stood on her fee
again.
Since that time her progress has eve
been onward without one single back
ward step. Her membership has in
creased, and her pride is in her youn!
men, her intelligent men and her meme
energy and ambition. Her aim ha
always been to elevate the character ant
tone OF Odd Fellowship in the state, AMI
a glance at herlist of members will shoy
how well she has succeeded in this. Ii
1881 The work of the order underwear
an entire change. Old fashioned idea
and cumbersome methods wer
abandoned and more modern one
introduced. The new work, as shown
was beautiful beyond description. |
offered an almost exhaustless field 70
the display and for the exercise of tn
talent of the brothers. Many lodge
throughout the country took hold OF tn
work and exempliiied it as it was in
tended to be shown. Not to be outdon
or left behind, Eden, as the pionee
lodge in this jurisdiction, after discus
sion on the subject, voted without on
dissenting voice, to go into the ney
work, thus opened, and an outfit costing
$500 was ordered. A degree staff wa
formed, and when the paraphernalia ar
rived the brothers were ready for il
But it must not be supposed that thi
was an easy undertaking; on the con
trary, the most diligent application, tn
hardest study and the closest attention
with much self-denial. was necessar