Evening journal., 1896-04-27

Yesterday was the teventy seventh
anniversary Of the founding OF the Inde-
pendent Order Of Odd Fellows In the
nited States, ana the event was csle
brated by the Wilmington Lodges In
appropriate manner. There are very
nearly million members of the order In
this country, making It the Oldest aud
largest secret mutual aid society In the
United States whose members are sys
tematically assessed for the creation OF q
fund from which to relieve the sick or
distressed, and protect their widows and
orphans
In England there are 100 600 Odd
Fellows ard there are also 100000
colored Old Fellows In this country, who
are second cousins Of the Independent
order, and direct descendants Of the
Grand United order
A Brief History OF the Order.
The frst recorded Odd Fellows lodge
WAS instituted la London 10 1745 and was
known as Avlstarcus No Five ye9s
later thu Ancient and Honorable Loyal
Lodge of Old Fellows was formed Then
some detached lcdyes united under the
title of the Patriotic Order of Odd
Fellows, and In the latter part Of the
eighteenth century, the twJ orgsniza
tions caue together under the title OF
Union or United Order la 1918 came
split the seceders taking the name Of
the lndspendet Osder, Manchester Unity.
odd Fellowship In the United States.
Ia this country, Thomas Wlldey, who
came 20 Baltimore In 1917, from Londor,
and John Weloh. a brother Old Fellow,
began the raising OF the o,der. and on
April 26 1919. with John Duncan, John
Chatham aud Richard Rushworth. met
aud organized Washington Lodge. No.
This lodge was chartered by Duke Of
York Lodge, PuestoD, England, q sub
ordinate lodge OF the Manchester Unity.
grand lodge WAS formed bers by
English authority In 1921 and Thomas
Wildey became the hrst grand master
Little progress was made for several
years By 1925 there were only four
Grand Lodges, those of Maryland,
Pennsylvania, New York and Mas.
sAchusetts, and only nine subordinate
lodges. with a grand total membership Of
only about 500. The growth OF the order
was naturally delayed between 1897 and
1885 by the antsgonism excited against
all secret societies consequent on the
anti Masonic agitation. yet It remains to
% huucu luhg ino nfdl OIu rcilOW6
Hall erected aud dedicsted TO the exclu
sive use Of the order was In Baltimore In
1881
The Declaration OF Independence.
Ia 1912 the break came between the
American branch (until that date) Of the
English Iudepandent Order, the Grand
Lodge of the United States declaring all
intercourse at an end aud procleiming
the Grand Lodge Of ths United States
the sole authority Since thsn the order
has grown and prospsred uetll now tue
three links are wora By nearly a million
men end the letters l. o 0 f. are
known all over the land.
How Observed I'm Wilmington.
Last evening the members of the order
in Wilmington observed the anniversary
by attending Grace NJ e Church. and
fully 500 we're present The church was
elabOrately decorated for the occasion,
the platform being covered with hand
some palms aud potted plants The
lodges occupied the entire centre OF the
auditorium and overlooked into the side
aisles special musical program was
rendered by Gr1cs choir, assisted by the
orchestra
AS the lodges marched into the church
the orchestra played PROFESSIONAL. and
after they were seated the choir sang q
selection. the invocation followed, and
the Anniversary ode was sung by the con
grsgation standing. This was followed
by responsive reading aud singing OF a
hymn, after which Rev Merritt bull
burd made b.isf and interesting sd
dress.
Rev. Merritt Hulbnrd's Address
The text taken By Rev. Merritt Hal
burd, S. I. d, as the basis for his re
marks wss from II King. K Is: rs thine
heart right. ss my heart Is with thy
heart Z Aud Jehonadsb answered, 10 Is
II it be give me thine hand, and he gave
him his hand
DR.. Hubbard explsined thot although q
layman, so far as Old Fellowship was
concerned, and not a plrticpator In the
secrets OF the order, be had taken as the
groundwork Of the text one of the SYN
bols Of O5d Fellowship, the opsn hand,
bearing In its palm heart he drew an
eloquent picture Of the meeting Of Jehu
ana Jehonidab. aud The beginning OF
friendship and frsternal feeling which
was the outgrowth OF the determination
of Jehu to break up the worship Of idols
among the people. The form OF saluta
tion was characteristic OF the times aud
conditions.
The Meaning OF HAnd-srasp.
DR. Hulburd explained that there we're
various and varied meanings in the hand
shake. Originally II was designed to
detkin the striking hand and thus pre-
vent the use OF a deadly weapon until It
could be ascertained whether the advauca
was made in friendly feeling Ia this
text the joining OF hands meant the
binding OF compact; the union OF two
hearts for a common purpose and the
expression Of friendship and love
There is no real friendship where there
is not truth. Il is the foundation. There
may be compscts or combines, but these
last until one man or a few get all there
is. and then they crumble aud fall away.
II the spoils are taken away the com mbines
will fall, and the city and state will bs
richer aud far better. Truth is real
friendship It must be OF the kind that
tells friend his faults. no matter what
the cost may be, even il 1t would sacrifice
a friendship. 1t would be better to do
this than have a friend wrecked by his
faults.
still Higher Frfendahfp