The Portland daily press., 1893-08-25
POrtland's Veteran Odd Fellow Recalls
Old Times.
THE PIONEERS OF THE ORDER
FIFTY YEARS AGO.

| Society Men.
Mr.. Samuel Rolfe will today have
rounded out full so years of life as an
Odd Fellow. He was one of the very first
men who joined the order here, and has
retained his deep interest in Odd Fellow
ship to the present time.
| Mr.. Rolfe is ready and interesting
talker. Few men who have seen 80 years
of active life can boast of his remarkable
physical vigor. His interest in things of
today is as deep and thorough as his re-
collection of past events is clear. Mr..
Rolfe was seen last evening and spoke
freely of the early days of Odd Fellow
ship.
Mr.. Rolfe said that 80 years ago there
was no feeling against the new order of
Odd Fellows in Maine. There was, as
all who are familiar with the history of
this country will recall, strong feeling
against the Free Masons, and to some de-
gree that ancient order bent before the
storm aroused by the anti masonic cru
SADIE led by Thurlow Weed. The Masonic
lodge was kept up by few loyal mem
bers who, Mr.. Rolfe thinks, may have
met in secret The success of the new
order of Odd Fellows served to revive
the Masonic order here.
From the very first. Odd Fellowship
took we'll here, and in fact there was al
most rush of applications. The first
lodge, the old Maine Lodge, was organ
lied on Union street, and between 8 and
o'clock in the afternoon about 35 joined
the order, nearly, if not quite, as many
more following their example in the eve
ming. Of the first IS, but two, Mr..
Rolfe and Mr.. Daniel F. Gerts of Chica-
go are still members of the order. Three
or four others are still living, but have
not retained their membership. Mr..
Gerts is in poor health, and is of course
advanced in years.
All the original members were men of
good standing in the community, sober
and industrious citizens, and everyone
was in business of some sort. Some were
merchants, others clerks or mechanics,
but all men who were calculated to make
any order to which they might belong,
locally, at least. a success.
Mr.. Rolfe had his attention directed to
Odd Fellowship by friend who lived in
the same house. Mr.. John II. Williams,
who, having closely examined the ground
work of the order, made up his mind to
join He called on Mr.. Rolfe and pre-
sented the claims of the new order. Mr..
Rolfe asked what it sought to do, and
Mr.. Williams made free explanation.
''But suppose we don't succeed, and
there isn't money enough to pay the
benefits what then?' asked Mr.. Rolfe.
"We'll fall back on the Grand LODGE"
replied Mr.. Williams. That was enough,
and Mr.. Rolfe promptly handed in his
name.
"And the joke of it was,'' said Mr..
Rolfe,'' ''that then and afterwards the
Grand Lodge was as poor as a church
mousse
It will be of interest to all Maine Odd
Fellows to know that this pioneer of
their order has not lost his love for or his
keen interest in his lodge. Of late years,
for he is now past so, he has attended
but few meetings, seldom leaving his
house in the evening, but for Is years he
never missed single meeting of his
lodge. He was for many years mem.
Der of some of the more important COM
mittees, and was good, earnest work
ing member, carrying into the lodge
room the same business habits and
ability that have made him success in
the business world.
1t should be perhaps added that in so
years of his connection with the order
Mr.. Rolfe has received just $40 in sick
benefits. There are few men who can
say that in so years they have had but
two weeks of what could be called sick
ness, and it is doubtful if there is an
other man of his age in Portland who
has his high degree of present physical
strength.
The Days Celebration.
The committee on celebration held
meeting last evening and reported every
thing progressing satisfactorily, and with
pleasant weather there will be no doubt
that the 50th anniversary of the intro
duction of Odd Fellowship in Maine will
be fittingly observed. Owing to the mud
dy condition of High and Cumberland
streets the formation and route of pro-
cession has been changed as follows:
First division will form on Congress
street, right resting on Temple.
Second division will form on Congress
street, right resting on Centre street.
Third division will form on Temple
street, right resting on Congress street
Carriages will form on Chestnut street
and take position in line at the rear of
the third division. The procession will
move over the following route: Con-
gress to Exchange, to Middle, to Free, to
Congress, to Pearl, to Custom House
wharf, where steamers will be taken for
Peaks Island