, 1896-07-18


reciprocal esteem. Kindly feelings are
engeniered. the affections are enlist
ed. and We learn to love where we were
wholly Indifferent or had thought alone
to hate. Within the comprehensive in
fuence of Odd Fellowship all the ma
tons Of the earth may concentrate
their energies for the good of our hu-
manity.
And yet we are charged with selfish
ness. Why s%elfshness? Because we
povide first for our own. Because we
do not in the spirit of pharasaic mo-
nopoly, assert for ourselves the sole
and exclusive right of administering to
the wants and welfare of others.
Its aim is auxiliary. Its purpose is
to aid. Wherein others fall short Of
the good to be accomplished, our Or
ganization claims a humble place. Its
members. meanwhile. are increasingly
encouraged to cheerful compliance
with every requisition. come whence it
may, that looks to the glory of God"
and to the promotion of peace on
earth and good will among men,"
There is a sense in which we are
selfish, if selfishness it be, to claim
some humble part in fastening the
contamination of that period when
man shall hail his fellow-men with
fraternal greetings when wickedness
and %falsehood shall be driven from the
earth, and the race of Adam form a
universal family acknowledging the
God of the Universe as their Father,
and every child of man as their brother
when. in short, one law shall bind the
nations. the continents and the islands
of the earth. and that law be the law of
love.
In connection with what | have al
ready said with regard to the objects
and aims of Odd Fellowship it may not
be embarrassing to say something
about what we have done. and are now
doing for our membership and for the
world at large. | will give you an
approximate idea of the strength and
wealth of our order, in that greatest
element of stability and assurance of
permanency. We are owners Of over
5000 pieces OF real estate, of the valua-
ton of ST, 900, 900, and have invested in
homes not less than a million with a
landed possession of not less thai 1000
acres. many Of them even palatial for
the unfortunate and helpless.
AS regards to membership during the
last 40 years the number admitted to
membership have been over $500. 900,
and the members relieved 1000, 900
widowed families relieved 300. 900, and
the whole amount expended by lodges
for all kinds of reliefs is in round num-
beers $685. 900, 900.
There are in the whole world 10000
subordinate lodges, with a membership
of 900, 900. We have in addition to these
Rebekah lodges numbering 300 with a
membership Of $50. 200.
In the State of wyoming we have
IS lodges. with LOO members. and the
total amount paid for reliefs during
the last year was $3.50.
Such is Odd Fellowship briefly out
lined. It assuredly has high claims
upon the good of the present age. and
is in every way adapted to the citi-
zenship of this great nation Of our II
offers more inducements to the upright
American citizen than all other human
institutions. 1t has succeeded in the
past, and its future is radiant with
hope.
HISTORICAL.
The history of Odd Fellowship in
Laramie dates back to 1868, % years
ago, when the Gem City was but a vii
lage of tents. In that year a few pio'
neers who had Joined the order in the
east and who had left the place of theil
birth to seek fortune in the then al
most unknown great west met as Otter
as the turbulent times would allow ant
finally decided to make an attempt t.
organize a lodge of their order. 1t wa:
uOl uhlll btCthlDCl, lcOC, ludt Silo
gained sufficient strength to make ap'
plication for a charter, although at tina
time but five Odd Fellows in goot
standing were all that were needed t.
gain the coveted papers. Just before
Christmas in the year mentioned, how
ever, a petition was forwarded by thu
few members here to the grand lodg'
of Colorado. This was granted and a
a result Laramie Lodge No. 2, l. o. o
F., was instituted on January 8, 1869
by C. P. Elder Of Denver, then depart
ment grand master of the district un
der the Jurisdiction of Colorado. Thus
the pioneer order Of this city wa!
brought into existence and hailed a!
as Laramie Lodge No. 8, Of the juris
diction Of Colorado.
The charter members Of the lodge
were: H. N. Lenard, T. D. Abbott. ]
J.. Clark, Louis Miller and George Tenn
pie.
The first meeting was held in a loe
cabin corner A (now known al Thorn
burgh) and Second streets.
On the same evening in January
1869. the following officers were duly
elected and installed:
N. Oh. N. Lenard.
v. CT. J.. Clark.
Secretary-T. D. Abbott.
Treasurer-Louis Miller.
Warden-H. H. Elliott.