The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-13
THE SOCIAL SIDE.
Enthusiastic Public Meetings-Ora-
tors Talk of the Order.

tors laik or the Order.
In the evening four public meeting
were held. which no doubt will do more
for 'the coed of the order" than even the
grave deliberations of the Supreme Lodge
in their own secrecy. The meetings were
held. one in Metropolitan Temple, one in
Odd Fellows Hall, one in Native Sons
fall and the fourth in the First Congrega.
ti0nal Church. Oakland.
The meetings were essentially social and
entertaining, but evolved so much en-
thusiasm among the mem bers for the order
as to be wholly contagious, quicken ing
interest in the non-members and a desire
for information, much of which was sifted
in diluted form through the songs and
speeches.
Metropolitan Hall was crowded in the
auditorium anG the gallery fairly filed.
Past Grand Master Workman William
II. Barnes OF this city did the honors of
chairman, and had charge. indeed, of the
programme in the three San Francisco
meetings. BE madea short. comforta bic
Introductory address, welcoming those
necessary to say how welcome were the
members of the Supreme Lodge, who
came from all over the country for the
first time. many of them. to this coast to
seek proofs of what had been told to them
through long succession of years by the
members of the Supreme Lodge from this
State, who had gone East year after year
He introduced the supreme master work
man, DR.. ID. II. Shields, as man whose
hnspitalty-of rare qua,ity-he had par
taken of in his home In Missouri
DR.. A. ID. Shields, after paying a pretty
compliment to the State OF California, its
people and their hospitality. told in brief
fashion the story of the A. o. u. w.
"In 1865" he said. "a humble man of
Meadville. John Jordan Upchurch by
name. realized the need of some organiza-
ton to take care of the widows and or
phans when, perchance, they were left
without the breadwiuner. The first meet
ing of what was to become the greatest of
secret orders comprised just dozen per-
sons.
There was difference of opinion al
that meeting that left but eight mem bers
at the next meeting a week atterWard,
Yet the man who sat at the head of that
party of eight lived 10 see the order then
originated become the greatest of benev-
olent orders. In 1869 there were so members
in the order; In 1870 It grew to 100, in 1871
il numbered $50 In 1872. 450. You see. it
about doubled every year so far. In 1873
it grew TO 1900, year later it mum bered
$3.50, and from that time its pace quick ened
remarkably. That year OF 1873 the order
was for tbs first time enabled to pay the
full amount of the beneficiary certificate
of $1,000.
''Iu 1885, continued the speaker. ssa
year that contained fifty-two black Fri
days; year that crushed industries, cre-
ated and spread pow rty broadcast; that
knew such suffering as will require MANY
years to repair; in that year the order
added over $4,000 TO its membership. In
1894 the membership of the order numbers
32S, 775. The total nun Der of lodges in the
supreme Jurisdiction are 1881.
During this year OF financial distress
1883 The beneficiary assessments were
So, 423. 706. The death losses in that year
were S6,479175. What great good that
sum has accomplished not any one of us
can tell. The death losses since the begin
ming OF the order amount to S51, $50, I24.
The world has never known an organiza-
tion that las done SO much good. We
know OF an order OF helpfuIness and hui
man fellowship that dates its beginning
with the time of Tubal Cain and Nimrod,
he mighty hunter. that follows
lis history through the time of
the building of the temple. and
through all subsequent periods to the
present day. that extends the hand of fell
lowship and aid and protection to its