The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-04-27
The Odd Fellows
Entertainment

Ine anniversary meeting Of Beaver
Lodge, No. IS, yesterday afternoon. wa.
tairly well attended, and judging from
the audience the odd Fellows hav
numerous friends among the gentlel
sex in this city. The exercises com,
menced with prayer by the chaplain
followed by the opening ode, sung b,
the members of the lodge, Mr.. ]. w
Thompson acting as organist. The pro.
gram as previously published was sue.
cessfully carried out.
The address was delivered by Pass
Grand E. c. Holden. He spoke without
notes or manuscript, and we give only q
synopsis of his remarks, as follows:
Noble Grand and Ladies and Gen.
tlemen;-In listening to the statistics
presented by Permanent Secretary
Brother Bowlby, wherein it was stated
that since the introduction of Odd Eel.
lowship in the United States Qess thar
a quarter Of a century ago. more thar
$57, 900, 900 have been disbursed by The
order for purely benevolent purposes
comprising benefits to sick brethren,
aid extended to widows and orphans,
and burial of deceased members.
My thoughts revert to the day oil
which this is the 74th anniversary, and
the old couplet comes forcibly to my
mind:
Large streams from little fountains
flow;
Tall oaks from little acorns grow"
who would have imagined such re-
suits from SO humble a beginning, and
that within almost an ordinary life
time; for, Noble Grand and brethren,
1t was only five years before the birth
of your speaker that good old Thomas
Wildey, John WEIGH, John Duncan,
John Cheatham, and Richard Rush
worth succeeded in organizing the first
lodge of the Independent Oder Of Odd
Fellows, Washington, No. 1, in Balti-
more, Maryland. These now honured
brethren were then men in humble life,
all mechanics dependent on their daily
labor for their daily bread, and, fur
thermore, labored under the ~disadvan-
tage of being foreign born. These Wor-
thy men had. been members Of the
Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, and
were consequently well acquainted with
the beneficent principles Of the order.
On the Goth of April, 1919, after having
proved to each other that they had
duly received the degrees, they organ
lied Washington Lodge No. 1, they be-
ing the only members, and elected
themselves to the offices, Thomas Will
dey being honored by being elected the
Noble Grand. They met With
many hindrances and obstacles. Strong
prejudice against the order was man
Tested and continued for several years,
but through the fidelity of the found
ers, was finally overcome, so that we
ind on record in a circular issued by
Wildey IN April, 1924, the following:
"As 1 presume the information will
gratifying, I acquaint you that our
from a small and weak beginning
las been increased by the unremitting
of the faithful, and has
overcome every difficulty which ignor-
Lnce, prejudice and unworthy member
hip have thrown in u path; the hy-
of discord has been bruised,
Ind according to present appearance,
Of animation"
''Since that time the progress OF the
rider has been onward and upward,
nd if not now, it will soon become as
Universal as the ancient order of Free
1asonry." The speaker then stated that
he last report of the Sovereign Grand
L. o. o. F., of the United States,
a total disbursement of SO, OO0,-
for benevolent purposes above
he year 1891.
He attributed it's strength and sue
ess to the fact that the teachings Of
he order r founded on the cardinal
rinciples Of friendship, love and faith,
nd emphasized the fact that 1t will
Maintain its pre-eminence as a secret
.enevolent order as long as 1t maiu-
Inns it's integrity. The motto encircl-
lg the Grand Lodge seal explains in
wv words the duties Of odd Follow.
nip: 1--WE command you to visit III
relieve the distressed. bury the
cad and educate the orphan"
Mr.. Holden closed his address with
fitting words: Friendship, Love
nd Tr1,th - ie tho motto ne n,,r fro
Truth ought therefore to reign
n the lips, love in the affections, and
dendship in the heart of every Odd \
The speaker was listened to through
ut with undivided attention, and was
ARMY applauded at the conclusion.
At the close Of the exercises Mr..
thompson rendered a selection on the
gan, which was much appreciated by
j. The Odd Fellows organ Is a large
ouble-banked reed instrument, very
UGH resembling a pipe organ m tone
nd volume and requiring the skill of
pipe organist to manipulate, but the !.
aver seemed quite at home with 1t, Il
though the selection given was an "
1provised one.
The dance in the evening at Fishers
all was successful in every respect,
Id all who participated spent a few
Try pleasant hours. l.
Ryan e. Co. 537, Third street, have
sf ranefvad a fulI line Of 1909 uatferna