The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-12-15
FOR FIFTY YEARS
Order of Odd Fellows in
Hawaiian Islands.
Interesting Meeting OF Excelsior
Lodge-Remeniscent Talks
by Members.
From Fridays Dailv.l


Of Excelsior Lodge, I o. o. F., met in
the lodge room last night 10 commem-
crate the 50th anniversary of the foun-
dalton Of the order in Honolulu. There
were a number of visiting brethren
from the States present, and good
sprinkling OF the oldest members Of the
order in Honolulu.
D. d. c. : l. L. La Pierre occupied
the chair OF Noble Grand in place Of
L. ". Hough, who holds that office in
the lodge. The services opened with
prayer and singing OF the opening ode.
Then followed remarks by various
members OF their experience in the
early days OF Odd Fellowship.
Robert Levers, who was Treasurer
Of Excelsior Lodge, told how in the
beginning kerosene was an unknown
quantity on the Islands, and the only
illumination they could get was from
candles. Then kerosene and lamps
came 10 Honolulu, and the lodge adopt
ed its use Then gas was introduced,
and Excelsior Lodge was prompt in
keeping up with the march Of progress,
and adopted il, but this proving IN
satisfactory it was abandoned and kerr
osene substituted"
Remarks were also made by Brothers
Locker. Rose, Dat, Rowe, Turner and
L W Hough, n. G.
". c. Parke, in response TO general
request, read extracts from Pacific Com
mercial Advertiser OF 1885. They were
from an address delivered by his faith
er. the late Marshal Parke, P. D. D.
G. s. on the occasion of the 26th an
niversary OF Excelsior Lodge. 1t en-
braces the early history of the lodge
and is much too long 10 publish in
full. Mr.. Parke said:
AT the time Excelsior Lodge was in
stituted, Honolulu presented very diff
ferent appearance from what il does
today The town was then composed,
mostly, of grass houses and a few
adobe buildings. Even the stores, where
the merchants transacted a large bust
ness. with but few exceptions were Of
the same material. There were few
coral stone buildings, and also some
wooden ones. Nearly all the fences
were adobe. But the exact figures will
give you better idea of the town at
that time There were l ,345 dwelling
houses, OF which AZ were stone, SO part
stone and part adobe, 40 wood, 345
adobe and SIS grass. There were 40
stores. OF which Is were stone 10 wood
and 10 adobe These, with but few ex-
ceptions, were plain, unpretending
buildings. What q contrast to the city
as it now stands, with its fine blocks
OF stores. and its handsome residences
scattered thiekly from Kapalama to the
Makiki plains. and for a long distance
I'D the Nuuanu Valley. But few land
marks are left OF the old unpretending
town.
The foreign population OF the old
town was $50, including 81 ladies and
IA children. OF the ladies, 40 were
American. 10 English, and ! Danish.
Our first lodge. room was in an adobe
house with q grass roof, in the premises
on Hotel street, known as Adams yard.
1t had q veranda around it, where the
Outside Guardian had TO keep constant
watch on all sides while the lodge was
in session. As the building was but
one story. il would not have been safe
10 have allowed him 10 come inside.
You can readily imagine that on rough
and stormy nights the surroundings OF
the Outside Guardian were not as COM
Portable and cheerful as they are at
present.
In 1S47 we removed 10 another
adobe house, near the corner OF Hotel
and AIakea streets, not far from the
spot where the old Royal Hawaiian
Theater afterwards stood.
In 1S4S news reached Honolulu OF
the discovery of gold in California,
which caused quite an excitement here,
as il did elsewhere Preparations were
al once made for departure, and a
general stampede followed. Every
available little craft was at once fitted
for the voyage, and left here crowded
with passengers, nearly all of whom
were foreigners There was such
general exodus that Honolulu was
nearly depleted of its foreign popula-
rion. OF course, most of our members
were borne along with the crowd, and
We had but very few left. Our meet
ings we're soon confined TO a mere
CorporaTs guard. For many months
there was no quorum, and We could
transact no business; but we still con-
tinued TO meet together on Tuesday
evenings. 10 talk over our prospects,
and 10 ascertain if any brother needed
our aid or sympathy. As our funds
we're low. with no prospect OF an i'm
mediate increase, we found it necessary
TO reduce our expenses and give up
our rooms. At that time Brother H.
\. Crabbe was United States naval
storekeeper, and occupied the two-story
stone building near the corner of Fort
and Merchant streets, and in which
Messrs. Ed Hoffschlaeger & Co. for
long time did an extensive business.
In our difficulty Brother Crabbe came
10 our aid, and at his kind invitation
We removed all our paTaphernalia TO
his premises. This was in the latter
part Of 1S4S. and We remained there
nearly a year, during all which time
We continued our informal Tuesday
evening meetings. The old building,
like most of the brethren who then met
within its walls, have passed away. 1t
was removed about two years ago, to
make rooms for the present Campbell
block
The Excelsior Lodge is a wealthy
organization now, and owns a fine
building and other real estate in Ho-