The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-03-07
CARRY AGE WELL.
Diamond Jubilee Of the OddfellOws Of
America.

America.
The Baltimore american says:
The oddfellows of this country,
Cuba, France, Germany and in
other countries will celebrate with
great pomp and cermony on April
26 next the seventy-fifth anniver-
sary of the birth of the order in the
United States. Historic Baltimore
was its cradle, as she has been the
cradle of many organizations, both
civic and religious, which were first
instituted in the countries of Europe.
Therefore, the main celebration in
this country will be in this city,
where Thomas Wildcy, who insti-
tuted the first lodge in America,
lived and died.
The details of the celebration
have not been completed. The
officers of the Sovereign grand
lodge have now under considera-
ton program for the day, which
will include grand parade, visits
to the monuments to Thomas Wild
ey, on North Broadway, and James
Lot Ridgely, in Harlem square, and
addressesb before each by two promi-
nent invited guests, and an enter
tainment at the oddfellows' new
temple at Saratoga and Cathedral
streets. Further than this the
lodge has not determined, and the
names of the two special orators
have not been decided opon. Upon
the same day similar services will
be held in every state in the union
and on every island adjacent to this
country to which the order has been
carried by American Oddfellows.
The following synopsis of the
history of the founding of the order
in this country is taken from that
written many years ago for The
American by Mr.. Thomas Wildey
himself, and is of peculiar interest
to the nembers of the order here.
Mr.. Wildey was born in London, on
January Is, 1888. In 1903 he be-
came member of the Independent
Order of oddfellows, and passed
through all the grades until he be-
came past grand. He came to this
country in 1917, landing in Balti-
more on September 2. Early in
1919 he inserted an advertisement
in The American, inviting all Odd
fellows to meet for the purpose OF
organizing lodge. They met on
March 2, and on April &c, 1919, the
first lodge was formed under the
name of Washington Lodge, No. 1.
During the year about seventy
members were initiated, Mr.. Wild
ey holding the Office ofnoble grand.
On September Is, 1921, Franklin
lodge, No. 2, was formed. Prior to
this, at meeting of past grands, it
was decided to form grand lodge,
and Mr.. Wildey Unsupported most
worthy grand master. In 1924 the
grand lodge of the o IS. was es-
tabllshed, with headquarters in this
city, and in 1928 it elected Mr..
WiIdey grand sire of the United
States, the highest office in the or
der. Rapidly lodges were formed
in all states and territories in this
country, and in Canada, Chill, Cuba,
France, Japan, Mexico, Neither
lands, Oklahoma, Peru, Sandwich
islands and Sweden, all subordinate
to the Sovereign grand lodge of the
United States. Shortly after the
death of Mr.. WiIdey a monument 10.
Gated on North Broadway, was
dedicated to his memory. This
took place on September 20, 1865
Many years later a monument
was erected to Mr.. Jas. Lot Ridge.
ly, who was for forty-one years
grand secretary of the Sovereign
grand lodge. 1t was located il
Harlem park, and the unyeiling
took place in September, 1885. Mr.
Ridgely died in 1891. On April 26,
1892, the old hall OF the Odd Eel
lows, on Gay street above Fayette
was abandoned, and the new hall, a
Saratoga and Cathedral streets, wa
dedicated and occupied. The occa
sion was one of great display ant
ceremony, and thousands of Ode
Fellows gathered to fttingly mari
the event.
The celebration on April 26 viii