The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-01
IT NOT FORGOTTEN
NATAL DAY OF TIE FOUNDING OF
AMERICAN ODD FELL0WIsM.

Queen City Lodge Celebrates the Seventy
Seventh Anniversary of the Order In
This Country-First Lodge Organized
April 26, 1919, at Baltimore and its
Anniversary Is Being CesebEat ted
Throughout the COMMUNICATING
Program Prepared and Carried Out
Refreshments and Dancing.
Queen City Lodge No. 2s6, I. o. o. F.,
room at the corner of Topeka and Doug
las avenues. was a paradise of beauty
and good cheer last night. No class of
people in the world know how to come
together to have a better time than Odd
Fellows the world over. The three
links Of their order is the keystone to
all successful societie-Friendship
Love and Truth. q
The occasion Of the meeting last
night, which was not only the members
Of Queen City, but members of the 9TH
er five lodges in the city were there.
was the seventy-seventh anniversary of
the establishment of Odd Fellowship
in the United States. The birthday OF
the organization in America occurred
this year on Sunday and the hall was
occupied until last night the celebra-
ton was deferred until that time, but
1t was none the less royal or enjoyable
by being deferred.
April 20, 1919, Thomas Wildey and four
others Instituted the first lodge organ
lied on a legal basis-that is. legal ac-
cording to the status of the Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows. Thomas
Wildey, whose name is revered and
whose memory is keep green in every
lodge in America, was young English
mechanic. His associates in institut-
ing Washington Lodge No. l, at Balti-
more, the long three-quarters of a CEN
fury ago were also young men like him.
self, They were John Welch, John Dun
can, John Cheatham and Richard Rush
worth.
From this small beginning the order
has fourished until there are now in
the United States thousands of lodges,
with membership of 900 900 men. In
the sister, or Rebekah lodges, the wo-
men number 10000
The present value of real property
held by the order is SIG, 500 900 and rep
resents an investment of nearly $4,000
900. The aggregate rents received are
100000, and its benefits and aid to
members and their dependents uhe Odd
Fellows expend S1.000,000 annually.
When 1T is considered that the growth
OF the organization for the first twenty
years was slow, the present scope of it's
influence cannot be regarded as other
wise than remarkable.
In Kansas the order of Odd Fellows is
and there is but one other order
THAT has larger mebership. 1t is grow
ing rapidly in the state and new lodges
are being organized every week.
In Wichita there are some six differ
emit lodges, to say nothing of the en-
cantons, Rebekah Degree |
lodges, and many of the best citizens |
of the city are found among its MEM
bers.
s. l. Smiths orchestra was present |
and discoursed fine music to the delight |
of all present
Miss Verna Springate, the charming |
young elocutionist, who has captivated |
so many audiences where ever she has
spoken, was then introduced and gave
one of her recitstions as only she can
do. She captivated her audience com
pletely.
After another selection by the orChes-
ira E. b. Walden gave one of his finest
and best songs. Mr.. Walden is too well
known to need any words of comment
here upon his singing It was one of
MS best and. of course, all were delight
I'd, as every audience Is thai hears his
rich baritone voice
After another selection by the orches-
ira Rev. n. E Harmon was indroduced.
vino spoke upon the objects and aims of
the order. His talk was one that came
from the heart and reached the heart
He took the three links and followed
hem out, speaking first OF the link of
and then of Truth. symet-
'fcal sealing them together in a beauti-
'ul word picture with the great link OF
Love. He claimed that the order had dts
,rigin with tine Word OF God and cited
% the acts of several of the old pro
,hets, declaring that they were Odd FED
ows. The lesson of Odd Fellowship
vas taught by the Savior while on
,arth, was practiced by Paul and the
'arly disciples and 1t was the greatest
outside of the church Of
he living God 10 make men better,
.appier and more prosperous here. Its
does not stop with health,
'ut II is found in the sick chamber and
t sees that the body is laid 10 rest. No
rue Odd Fellow is allowed TO suffer
VI Tic HSOSSSIllcS VI HE ne CI.Seu
With a beautiful picture of how a lady
rad found a true friend in a stranger
when in great distress.
After another song c. +. Nessly was
Introduced and spoke for fifteen min
ties upon what benefits had been ar
ived from Odd Fellowship at home; he
eferred TO the history Of the organize
ion and pointed With pride to the re-
ord that had followed in the footsteps
Z Thomas WiIdey, who organized