Rock Island Argus., 1896-07-07
FOR FIFTY YEARS.
Odd Fellows Celebrate a Proud
Anniversary.
BOOK ISLAND LODGE HISTORY

| N ssSoo0t secret Of8on1zot1On0 Remark
able Record-Ths Address of Tho Even.
Ing By Z. d: swesnsy-Othsr Exsr.
eises.
Last evening Rock Island lodge 1S,
l. u. u. F. celebrated the half CEN
tury of its existence. 1t had been
originally planned, as the annivers-
ary properly fell on July 4th. to have
the demonstration on Independence
day, but this was afterward aband
oned in favor of the commemoratory
exercises in the lodge rooms last
evening. The ordinary work of
the lodge was dispatched early in the
evening. and the guests of the occas-
ion made at home, in the lodges
newly appointed and handsome
apartments in Skinner block at the
corner Of Second avenue and Eigh-
teenth street. A large number re-
sponded to the opportunity to par
take OF the hospitalities of the occas-
ion.
Henry Krell presided as master of
ceremonies. the opening number be-
ing a trombone solo by Prof. Will
iiams, with piano accompaniment by
Miss Coyne. Then followed a vocal
selection by the Dinner Bucket QUAR-.
tet, after which Z. D. Sweeney was
introduced rs the orator of the even.
ing. Mr.. Sweeney's address was
historical as well as eloquent and
interesting.
"Rock Island lodge 49," said the
speaker. "was organized on the 4th
day of July, 1876, so that this is its
golden anniversary. The charter
members of our lodge were: Will
liam Young, Ebenezer T. Morev,
Amos F. Cutter. G. d. Stewart and
John H. Morton. This event was
when the life of our city
was young. the pioneer was still in
the land and primitive simplicity
prevailed in the homes of our peo-
pie. These men did better than thew
knew, for they.laid the foundations Of
our lodge which for SO years has been
q perennial spring of friend ship. love
and truth. The three links of these
cardinal virtues which bound them
together have bound the lives of
these men to the lives of over 2, 200
brothers who have been members of
this lodge, during this long sweep of
time. Rock Island lodge, No. 1S,
has now $50 mem mbers who are tied
by the golden cord of Odd Fellowship
through this long line to these five
brothers. We pause a moment to
mention the name of Amos +. Cut
ter, the only one of these five charter
members OF whom we have any knowl-
edge. Brother Cutter was a good Dad
Fellow, he was friendly. q kind
neighbor and an active and zeal
Gus citizen, always seeking AID
maintaining the highest good of the
state. He believed in the golden
rule OF doing unto others as you
would have others do unto you and
lived it in his life. His hand was like
his heart. always open to an Odd
Fellow in distress. Brother Cutter
passed away about fifteen years ago
to join the lodge immortal, of which
he is a charter member forever, but
the fragrance of his sweet life still
fingers around this lodge room where
he so much loved to come and par
ticipate in the business work of the
lodge. He furnished the highest ex-
ample of fidelity, OF honor, Of prob
ity and OF industry to all who were
so fortunate as to come within the
circle in which he moved and of
which he was always the controlling
spirit. As Odd Fellows we spread
garlands to his memory and burn in
cense to his exalted and lovable char
acter."
Prominent in the Lodge.
Mr.. Sweeney went on to refer to
those who had been prominently
identified with the lodge. mentioning
Cyrus W. Churchill, C. b. Knox, S.
b. Stoddard. paying a glowing trib-
ute TO each in turn, and speaking of |
the worthy fathers Of the lodge as |
due the highest tribute Of praise to |
be held in fond memory as thev
wear the regalia of eternal life. Rock |
Island lodge was dwelt upon as the |
pioneer lodge of odd fellowship in
Rock Island. Black Hawk and
Hecker lodges were taken up and |
the past each had play ed in the local |
history Of the order dwelt upon.
Then the speaker made reference 10
the different meeting places, COM
mencing in the second story of a
building at the corner of Second ay-
enue and Sixteenth street and re-
naming there 10 years when they
went into . hall over Thomas drug
store, and along in 1860 going to
hall in the old building which stood
where Bengston's block is now stu
ated. In 1875 it removed to its pres
ent quarters
Much Of general history was re-
lated by Mr.. Sweeney as closely in
terwoven with Odd Fellowship and
that OF our existence as q people in
the Mississippi valley.
Record Of the Past and Futurs Hope.
Said he: when this lodge was
organized the centre Of the popula-
tion OF the United States was east of
the Blue Ridge. now it's within our
own state and fact travelling vest
ward. The time and place of the or
ganizatiOn were both nronit;on. |