Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-11
Woodbury. Lodge, No, "a, | 0. 0. F.,
Celebrates its 50tl Anniversary.

fSuIudAy 4, 1871, WVOuUuty AOuSc, IN
81, l. o. o. F., was instituted in this city
hence its half century of existence was full,
rounded out, on the fourth of the presen
month. The event was celebrated Oh
Thursday evening last, the 4th inst, il
Prehl's Hall, the regular lodge room beinI
insufficient to accommodate the audience
The program opened with an ode by tn
members, and prayer by Rev. Edward
Dillon of the Presbyterian church. A strini
orchestra rendered music. and George w
Venting, of Camden, recited humorous
selections. These were interspersed by tn,
reading of the history of the lodge by w
Harrison Livermore, and addresses by
Grand Secretary Lewis Parker OF Trenton
and Grand Master Peter w. Stagg. 1t wal
10 o'clock when their program was com
pleted, and adjournment was taken t.
Rachor's Hotel, where $50 guests were
baHquetted
A beautiful engraved menu bearing this
inscription was placed on each plate -
Thrice welcome, brothers, we have gathered
here
To celebrate our Golden Jubilee;
The bond of brotherhood, which ali revere
10 hours of sorrow, aud times OF glee."
Toasts were responded to as follows
Nelson w. Sparks, : Our Guests; Fleming
Stanger, Deputy Grand Master, Progress
of Odd Fellowship; George E. Pierson,
!" Our Golden Wedding; Augustus Grass.
man, Grand Representative, Universal
Odd Fellowship" Jacob H. Bibo. "Our
Visitors; William H. Iszard, Grand Rep
resentative, The Sovereign Grand Lodge
The hour was late when the banquet and
celebration came to an end, and the closing
ode was sung standing.
Among the prominent Odd Fellows
present were the following Grand Chap
lain Rev. D. w. c. McIntire, of Gloucester
City; Grand Marshal David A. Sleight,
haywood; Grand Conductor Henry R.
Fortiner, Jersey City Grand Guardian E
0. Bussing, Hyndhurst; Grand Herald
Chester Thomson, Clinton; Grand Master
Peter W. Stagg, Hackansack; Grand Treas
urer Joseph L. Lamb, Juluistown; Grand
Warden NJ. Wood, Newark Past Grand
James W. Trenchard, Bridgeton, and Frank
Tussey, Camden.
HISTORY OF THE LODGE
The following History of the Lodge"
prepared by Geo. E. Pierson, P. G., and
Jos. B Best, P. g., was read in his usual
happy manner by w. H. Livermore, P. G.
On February A, 1847, application was
made at a session of the Grand Lodge of
New Jersey for a charter for lodge to be
located at Woodbury. and to be known as
Woodbury. Lodge, No. 81. The above APP
plication was granted and Woodbury.
Lodge, No. 54, was instituted at Woodbury.,
N. j., by D. D. G. M. Thomas V. F. Rus
ling, assisted by p. G. M. Samuel Reed and
others, on the afternoon of the Sd OF March,
1847, in room in the third story of the
building now owned by James D. CaFpen-
ter, and where they continued to hold their
meetings until their present hall was
erected and furnished. There were seven
charter members present at the organiza-
lion, viz: Bowman Sailer, Charles Sterling,
Edwin Carson, John G. Garwood, Joseph
Fisher, John Eyles and Joseph Frank
lin, and nine others, viz: Samuel H. Laid,
Paul Brown, Allen L. Hillerman, Helmes
V. Heritage, George D. Schofeld, Alfred
Carson, Benz I. Gibbs, Lewis M. Green,
and John Farley, were initiated at meet
ng held in the evening of the same day.
The first officers were as follows:-
Noble Grand Charles Sterling.
Vice Grand-John G. Garwood.
Secretary-Jos eph Franklin.
Assistant Secretary Joseph R. Fisher.
Treasurer John Eyles.
From the date of its institution lively
interest was taken in its proceedings and
and the lodge continued to in
,rease in numbers and usefulness until
July, 1S49, when the membership on the
,oil in good standing reached 104. For
several Years from that date the roll
gradually shortened, though the meetings
we're held with regularity, and business
was transacted with decorum and dispatch;
but, commencing in 1855, the interest in its
sessions seemed to decline, the meetings
were held irregularly at different intervals
Of weeks and months with barely enough
present to form quorum, until
the lowest point In it's history was reached
in July, 1865, when only "a members re-
NAMED upon the roll in good standing.
There were probably several reasons for
this decline, chief among which are the
The members had had long
struggle with the debt incurred in the
erection of the hall, and becoming dis
faltered and dropped out of line,
leaving faithful few to bear the oneEous
burden. High political excitement also
then prevailed and engrossed the thoughts
and time of men to the exclusion of other
subjects, and at last eliminated in a
gigantic Civil War, which disturbed every
peaceful pursuit and relation of life. This
great struggle having closed with the
triumph of the right, the attention of the
people was again turned to the more con-
genial pursuits of peaceful times and oper-
atoms of its benevolent agents. The few
remaining members resolved to endeayor
to improve the suspicious opportunity to
build the lodge up again. Success soon re-
warded their efforts, and large number of
young, active and intelligent members were
added to the roll P. G. Adon w. Cattell
is deserving OF conspicuous notice for his
in this work. Renewed interest
was speedily awakened, and the lodge now
equals in rumbers the palmiest days of its
history, having 142 members of as good
as any lodge in the land. Its
financial condition is stronger than ever,
and prudent management gives the sure
guarantee that it will 80 continue in the
future.
Charles Sterling, Bowman Sailer, John
Eyles, Jacob r. Medara and A. S. Barber
were elected Building Committee on
November %, 1S47, under whose super
vision and direction the hall was bulls
and on the Sd of March, 1913, it was
dedicated with appropriate ceremonies,
and has since been known as "Odd Fell
lows Hall.p The cost of its erection was
over $4,000, and as before noticed,
it taxed the energies and labors of the early
members pretty severely to raise the
necessary funds to liquidate the indebted
ness thus created. By the uDfaging per-
severance and diligent efforts, however, OF
several members, the debt has long since
been paid, and the lodge now owns hall
with two dwelling houses under it, valued
at $4,000 in all, free from any incumbrance
whatever, besides about $1,000 in personal
property and money invested. Until the
OF the year 1868, the hall was
used exclusively by the Odd Fellows. At
that time new policy was inaugurated
and other orders we're leased the privilege
of occupying it, and the Masons, Knights
of Pythias. Odd Fellows Encampment,
Improved Order Heptasophs, Ancient Order
of United Workmen and the Glassblowers'
Toacua nnvv meaf there from the rn,kats of