The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-23

The strength of odd fellowship in In
diana was demonstrated Wednesday. 1t
is estimated that no less than 10000 peo-
pie visited the city. both from within and
without the state. Louisville, Cincinnati,
Chicago and Danville H., sent large
delegations to the celebration OF the
seventy-fifth anniversary OF odd fellow
ship in Indiana. Other towns and cities
in the adjoining states were also well
represented. A number of special eXcur-
sion trains brought thousands Of people
TO the city from points within the state,
and besides these specials all the regular
trains came in loaded down with visitors.
Up until noon yesterday almost a con-
slant stream Of people emerged from the
Union station. II was said that the
crowd entertained by Iadianap polls yester-
day was the largest ever here except dur
ing the national encampment Of the G.
A. r. last September.
From early morning until late at night
the streets were crowded with men and
women wearing badges and odd fellows
insignia. The crowd was augmented by
other thousands Of people. who took adj
vantage of the low rates to visit the cap
gala attire, the red. white and blue
steamers. coupled with the emblems Of
the order being honored being every
where visible. The weather was most
propitious. The rains of the night before
had settled the dust in the unimproved
streets and had cooled the atmosphere,
which, but for the grateful showers,
would have been most sultry. As it was
the shady side of the street was most
desirable. A cooling breeze blew from
the West and there being no dust it was
withal an admirable day for the celebra-
ton.
Odd fellowship had its beginning dur
ing the last half of the eighteenth CEN
fury, and was in its inception a social
institution, with its origin in London,
England. The oldest lodge of which the
name has been handed down is that Of
the Loyal Aristarchus No. g." which
met in 1745 "au the Oakley Arms, Dor
ough of Southwark. Globe tavern, Hatton
garden or the Bears head, in Southfeld,
as the noble master may direct" The
earliest lodges were supported by each
member and visitor paying a penny to
the secretary on entering the lodge. Spe-
cial sums were voted to any brother in
need. If out Of work, he was supplied
with a card and funds to reach the next
lodge and he went from lodge to lodge
until he found employment At first the
organization was, for the most part, Of
a conViVial character. but in 1913 a radi-
cal change began, and benefits We're sys-
tematiZed. The earlier societies were
composed Of mechanics AMI labOrers in
London calling themselves the Ancient
and Honorable Loyal odd Fellows, and as
time went on they extended 10 other
English cities. 1t was i'm 1913 that a
schism took place resulting in the form
ing of the Manchester Unity. which
proved 10 be the beginning Of better
things for the order
In America.
In the winter Of 1918 i'm the city Of
Baltimore Thomas Widely and John
WEIGH, both natives of England. We're
in the habit Of spending much Of their
time together. Wildey had been ini-
tiated into an odd fellow lodge in Lon
don in 1904. when he was twenty-five
years old. WEIGH had also been mem
Der of a London lodge. These friends
were in the habit Of meeting during
their leisure hours at a tavern I'm Sec
ond-st, which bore the name Of the
Seven Stars, and at this place they were
Joined by John Duncan and John Cheat
ham. both Of whom We're odd fellows.
Later on they were Joined by Richard
Rushworth another initiate of the Lon
don body, and with five members the
magic number was completed with
which to form a lodge At this public
house on Monday, April 16. 1919, they
instituted a lodge which they named
Washington lodge of odd fellows.
Thomas Wildey was installed as noble
grand and John WEIGH as vice grand
Thomas Wildey, the founder Of the
order. was born in London, England,
Jan. Is. 1888 and died in Baltimore, Md.
Oct. 49, 1861. He worked in Baltimore
as a maker OF carriage springs. From
1925 10 1888 he was the grand sire Of the
grand lodge. A monument has been
erected TO his memory in Baltimore by