The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-20
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Humble beginning of This Strong
Secret Order.

Hmlauelpnld Ielcgrapn.
the largest secret organization in the coun-
try, and Pennsylvania leads all the other
grand jurisdictions etc s 1t is termed the ban
Der of subordinate lodges and members
In view of the near completion of the new
temple at Broad and Cherry streets which
will be dedicated on May q, and which is
to be made the occasion of great rejoicing,
to give some idea Of the origin and growth
of the great beneficial order in Pennsyl-
yania.
Odd Fellowship was planted in this coun-
try in the city of Baltimore on April 20, 1919,
by Thomas Wildey, an Englishman, who,
city his home discovered that some of his
countrymen who had sought these shores
A meeting was called by him. and on the
date above mentioned, under the name of
fha oas no With t Mr 81 Whdeg
was and has continued ever since in all
subordinate lodges as noble grand. 1t was
able to petition to the authorities in Eng
land for warrant or dlspensation from
Feb a. 1890 a warrant was obtained grant
ing to Washington Lodge, No. l. the title OF
ntsd s hs o ef With and OF the
grant warrants or dispensations for lodges
in any State in America. Under it the
Grand Lodge of MARYLAND was thus consti-
tuted, with Thomas Wildey as the first NJ
w. grand master.
The first charter granted. by the Grand
Lodge of Maryland was on Aug. Fl, 1921, for
the institution of Franklin Lodge, No. 2,
at Fell's Point, Nd Then followed in 1922,
in New York Early in 1905 efforts were
made for the formation of lodges in that
meeting ast with a partial success It may ' be-
said then that though 1t was not until 1922
that the projectors had their fondest dreams
gratiied, yet the credit of being the second
State in line. must be given to the, com
monwealth of New York. foothold was
next obtained in Massachusetts, where. on
Massachusetts Lodge. 1
was organized at Boston.
On. Dec. p. 1921, five. EngIfshmen as
sembled in the house of John Upton, on
Dock street. this city, and formed Pennsyl-
vania Lodge. 1t was self-instituted. as 1t
ing to it many Others than Engiishmen. In
three States lodges had been established
without warrant or dispensation- Massa-
make application to the Grand Lodge OF
Maryland and the United States for a
charter authorizing it to work as legal
addition, the power and authority of the
Grand Lodge in Massachusetts, was con-
grand master, passed through New York
and Philadelphia, on his way to Boston, he
visited the lodges in the first two named
tiers by the Grand Lodge Of Maryland and
the United states for grand lodges in New
York and Philadelphia. That of the latter
bore date of June 10, 1922 Then followed
the formation of the Grand Lodge of the
had become the supreme head of the order
in England, confirming and ratifying by
charter, on May Is. 1926, the warrant for
merly granted by the Duke of York Lodge
by which authority was given over Odd
Fellowship in the United States without in
reference from any body in any other
country.
The order. as it existed in England. was
found TO possess features Objectionable in
this country, and 1t became necessary TO
get rid Of them. The convlvial practices
were. in particular, disliked. and very early
1t was determined that thew should be re-
xad 10 Oh a hanaVnlanf A p
ures OF the order only being retained. The
change was a good one inasmuch Odd
Fellowship grew rapidly in favor. and COM
uaended itself to all the best citizens of the