The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-28
session in 1919 which did no, amount

lpeyOnQ comparison IN EnRlRnU, having
more than three-quarters of all tae men,
bers OF the to-day twenty-six Odd Fell
lows societies in the United Kingdom,
and & sick, funeral and other benefit
fund of s35.000,000.
Early in this century among other emf
grants to the United States there were
naturally some who had been made Odd
Eel In England. Among them. in
1877 at the age OF thirty-five, was Thos
Wdldey, who is and ever will be re-
garded with veneration by all members
of the order, as the founder of American
Odd Fellowship. He got what educa-
tion he had at parish school and be-
came skilled blacksmith. He Joined
the United States (mother) Order of Odd
Fellows In London and took an active
Interest In the society. Shortly after his
arrival in Baltimore he. with John
WEIGH, brother Odd Fellow. published
a call for a meeting Of such members
of the order as the notice might reach,
and, ON April the 10th, 1919. John Dun
can, John Cheatham. and Richard Rush
worth responded. On April Goth follow
Ing, at the Seven Stars Tavern, Second
street, Baltimore, the five English Odd
teilows met again and according to IAN
cient usage" organized and constituted
Washington Ledge, No. l, of Odd Eel
lows, Thomas Wildey taking the obliga-
tion In the presence of the others, after
them" Independent Order was then
only six years old. 1t appealed to the
FOUNDERS of American Odd Fellowship
more strongly than the mother society.
the United Order, for the new American
Lodge was Chartered by the Duke of
York Lodge. Preston. Eng subordinate
| lodge of the Manchester Unity. a grand
p9dge was formed here by English au-
| thority In 1921 and Thomas Wildey be-
came the frs grand master" Little
| progress was made for several years
| BY 1925 there We're only four Grand
Lodges. those of Maryland. Pennsyuva-
1 MIA, New York. and Massachusetts and
only nine subordinate lodges with a
/ grand total membership of only about
800. The growth of the order was natu-
rally delayed between 1927 and 1885 by
| the antagonism excited against all secret
| societies consequent on the Anti Masonic
agitation, yet 1t remains to be added that
the first Odd Fellows Hall erected and
dedicated to the exclusive use Of the
| order was In Baltimore in 1891
II uoes NOT require an OVer-stimulated
imagination to read between the lines
In the statement that at the height OF
the antFMasonic excitement educated
men from every honorab Bile profession
ana business" sought admission into the
order, nor Is one surprised to learn that
al mat time convivality was practical
W eliminated from meetings and that
the moral and beneficial features were
strengthened. When II Is added that In
1880 the ritual was revised and. I'm fact
altered particularly that OF the Encamp
nent degrees. the significance of the
foregoing is increased to those I'm posi-
ton to understand
J In 1872 the break came between the
American branch (until that date) of the
English Independent Order. the Grand
Lodge of the United States declaring all
intercourse at an end and proclaiming
the Grand Lodge of the United States
the sole authority. Since 1S43 the Am
erican organization has been actually as
well as nominally independent. The
cause or the rupture has been subject
OF dispute. One version Is that the Eng
ilsh body abandoned the ancient work
and landmark recalls the Eng
iish Masonic schlsm in the middle of the
last century-and another Is that the
American society wished to be relieved
| from granting assistance to numerous
needy English Odd Fellow Immigrants
third alleged motive. perhaps as good
as any. was an eXcusa BILE desire to be
ihdepehdent In fact as well as in name.
Inc progress of the order during the
4o's was rapid. and though hindered and
impeded In Its noble and glorious growth
curing the war period. DEVELOPMENT
since that time has been phenomenal
In ls43 American Odd Fellowship In
Naueu canada, In 1916 the Sandwich
Islands. and In 1868 Australia English
men nave apparently preferred some
one or the numerous English Orders of
odd Fellowship for while the American
organization planted few lodges in
the United Kingdom. they did not sur
Vive long. In 1870 the Sovereign Grand
Lodge OF the United States Gormerlv
the Grand LODGE. carried its banners
INTO Germany. in 1872 into Belgium and
Peru. In 1874 into Chill, and in 1876 into
denmark Within the past fifteen yearH
Odd Fellows lodges chartered by the
sovereign Grand Lodges of the United
states nave been established abroad as
iollows; In Mexico in 1882, Cuba in
1888. Japan in 1891, France In 1892 and
IN New Foundland. Holland and italy in
1874. The society abroad has progressed
favorably. but the total foreign me:u Der
snip Is not more than three per com. of
the total.
The society owns more Xan $500 halls
used by 1t for lodge meetings and other
| purposes. their total value being more
than sl6.O0O.000. Ii also owns twenty
| FOUR MONIES. asylums and ordinances
which, with the land. are valued al 81
| OO0.O00. 1t publishes tortv-nine papers
and periodicals (forty-three in the United
States in half dozen languages and
there are more thai. Il dozen mutual
| aid, insurance and accident societies in
the country TO which Odd Fellows
| only are eligible. Total revenues of
the Independent Order OF Odd Fellows
| United States of America were IS. i27 0oo
in 1885 and S3.323.000 was paid on; IN