The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-04-26
ODD FELLOWS DAY IN
LOGAN.
The Anniversary Of the Order
Celebrated and the Hall
Dedicated.
Hooking Valley Lodge and the
People Of Logan give an
Exhibition of their
Hospitality.

! On this day, Thursday, April q
The Independent Order of Odd He
lows is seventy FIVE years old, and
was determined by the brethren q
Hooking Valley Lodge, to set apaI
the day to the Dedication of thei
Hall, and celebration of the Ar
niversary, but because of the prev
Gus engagements of the Gran
Master, the date was changed to tn
"a, instead, that he might be preser
and conduct the ceremonies.
1t may be proper, to here, give
brief account of the Order that ha
had such pbenominal growth ant
such wonderful success in the thre
quarters of the nineteenth century
just now completed, As to challeng
the wonder of thoughtful men o
every civilized nation.
Some time about the close of tn,
last century, some English mechan
les formed an association in Man
chester, which was marked will
such acts of sympathy and concern
for each other a. to mark then
among their fellows and cause them
to be denomiated odd, and when, {
little later, this association began tc
hold weekly meetings at which, over
> bowl of punch or = mug of stout,
they discussed their mutual interests
and plans, the association assumed
the namessOdd Fellows.'
Among them was one of natures
noblemen, one in whose heart the
sentiment of love toward his fellow
man was the ruling passion. Such
was Thomas Wildly who emigrated
to America, sometime previous to
1919 and took up his abode in the
Monumental city of the New World.
Longing for congenial associates
and desirous of finding men who
were native to bis English home, he
advertised in leading newspaper,
for meeting OF Odd Fellows to
take place in the city Of Baltimore
in April 1919, but previous to the
date indicated but two besides him
self were known to be in the country
aud, in his mind, Eve we're necessary.
However when th. day was ushered
in the required number, no more, no
less, appeared. and amid the vernal
beauty IF foliage and flowers, the
first Odd Fellows Lodge was organ
lied on American soil.
Renouncing the convivial features
Of the Manchester organization and
founding the new Lodge on the
broad field of the universal Father.
hood of God and Brotherhood of
nan; its founders resolved to sever
III trammeling bonds and hence the
,ame, "The Independent Order of
Odd Fellows"
From this mortal FIVE the Order,
hey then and there founded has in
he seventy6ve years of its existence
pread over all civilized lands and
within its ranks the good
md true men of every nation, until
low Independent Odd Fellowship
s an acknowledged power for good
n all lands in which God is wor-
hiped and the Bible and its teach.
ngs held in reverence.
Hooking Valley Lodge No. 262, of
he jurisdiction of Ohio, was Insti-
uted February /, 1855, with VIM.
l. Moore, Joseph II. Elder, John
v. Brice, Samuel p. Officer and
). MAYNARD as Charter Members.
J. Hamilton was Grand Master
'hen the charter was granted in
$50 and Alexander E. Glenn Grand
secretary.
As to the cause of the two years
clay between the granting of the
harter and the institution of the
.odge we are not informed /
ut presume it was for the reason
hat suitable room for holding !
'odge meetings could not be pro-
ared.
Seven members were admitted at !
be first meeting, and up to date the
'odge has admitted, by initiation,
hres hundred and 6ftysix members
nd an additional sixty three by card
,aking q total of 4iS, which number !
as been reduced by death, removal
nd other causes until At the present
here are ls4 names on the Lodge
oil.
For few years after institution
locking Valley Lodge held its
leetlngs in the second story of
nall brick building Immediately
lst of the court house.
This building was afterward re-
lodled and became . part of the
ames' Block, in the west end of the
,ird story of which the Lodge hal
8 quarters from the completion of
'e building TO the end of last year.
A few years ago the subject of
recting building which would af-
'rd the Lodge more commodious