The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-01-26

Odd Fellows Celebrate.
The members of Pemberton Lodge, No
40, 1. 0. o. F., celebrated their 5Oth OF
golden anniversary, on Tuesday evening
The services were held in the NJ. E.
Church, at Pemberton. The Church was
handsomely decorated with colors and
embiems of the order and presented q
very pretty appearance. The exercises
were opened at 7.30 with music by choir
under the leadership of R. Harry Robbins.
The presiding officer was the Rev. G..
RolIn Smith, pastor of the M. E. Church,
who made the opening prayer. Miss
Anna Wells gave a reading entitled
Good Samaritan" which was followed by
an address to the members by Hon. Peter
w. Stagg, Of the Grand Lodge. The bene-
diction was pronounced by DIR. Buchanan
of the Baptist Church. Rev. John r.
Mason, pastor of the Pointville NJ. E.
Church, delivered the following address !:
Mr.. President, brother Odd Fellows, ladies' and
gentlemen: deem this small honor in having been
invited by Pemberton Lodge, No. 40, Of which am
While deemirg 1t great honor. nevertheless am
little surprised that they should have called upon
50 young in Odd Fellowship. am but an infant,
ly little over two years DID, Therefore have
eral teeth yet to cut If you will keep in mind my
youlhfuness and think you stand the prattle of
child for while, why will proceed If not say no
and will stop right where we are From societies
of mechanics and lsborers which existed in London
in the latter part of the 18Th century, calling them
selves Ancient and Honorable Loyal, Odd Fellows
and holding cornwall meetings, sprang the Union
Order OF ODD Fellows which had its seat Of govern
ment in London and spread rapidly to other English
cities. From attempts TO abolish its convivial char
acter arose schism which eliminated in 1913, when
several receding lodges formed the Manchester Unity
This Manchester Unity still constitutes the main
body of British Odd Fellows. Like a great many
other good things that have from across the
sea Odd Fellowship found its way from the mother
country to this one, Thomas Widely being the chief
promoter and introducer. We with four others or
ganized Washington Lodge No. in Baltimore, Md,
April &c. 1S19 to work according to the usages of the
London or union order lodge was organized in
Boston, Mass, March 26, and one in Philadelphia,
December q, 1921, both of which received grand
charters from Baltimore in June, 1929 Since then
the order has been established in every state and
territory OF the Uaion and to-day her members are
numbered by the thousands. This child OF this great
family who to night celebrates its 50th anniversary
saw the light of day on the 18th Of January l847
The instituting officer was District Deputy Grand
Master, Benjamin Scott, Jr, assisted by G.. P. Sam
uel Read and other past grands of Mount Holly
Lodge No. 10. The first officers of Pemberton
Lodge No. 40, were: Noble Grand Richard wilkins;
Y. g., Nathaniel Nunnely; Secretary, Benjamin
Brown; Treasurer. Jacob Early. To these four men
the charter granted by the Right Worthy Grand
Lodge of New jersey dated February 5th 1S47.
At the first meeting the following additional mems
bers admitted by card: William 4. Cook James
Reamer, William NJ. Sloan, Samuel NJ. Bryan Firman
GaskiD, Charles Lewis. Albert Neisley, Samuel G.
hambo, Charles Gaskll aud Charles O. Shinn. At the
meeting Richard W. Earl and Richard johnson
were proposed eiecteq ana inluaIeo. All OF them are
now deceased except Jacob Early the first treasurer
1ho resides at Wrightstown. During the first year
the lodge initiated 81 members and admitted 10 by
card. On February 10 this lodge initiated that grand
old patriarch, brother Joseph L. Lamb, P G NJ and
for 80 years past the Grand Treasurer of the Grand
Lodge Of New jersey He is still living and although
in his seth year, ia strong In mind to-day. On May
49, 1850, five of the members took their withdrawal
cards tor the purpose of starting Columbus lodge No.
101, which Instituted June 81 1880 by Richard
W. Earl, D G M, of Pemberton lodge No. 40. Since
the institution of No 40 there have been initiated 224
MEMBERS admitted by card 26; total $50. The oldest
in point of membership ia brother George Earl next
brother Lamb. We have rs members who are veter- |
ans having been in the lodge more than % years |
The present membership is II. The record OF the |
amount paid out for sick and death benefits during
the first 20 years not available. During the la t
80 years there has been paid out 70 for sick and
death benefits 10 members of the lodge Who can |
tell of the sufferings aevaied the needs supplied
the wants met and the hearts made happy by the |
distribution of this amount.
They marched direct to the l. O. 0. F. |
hall, where an elegant collation. was
served. The ball was handsomely decor
ated with palms and cut flowers, while
in the centre of the room were three long
banquet tables surrounded by pretty
girls ready to help feed the 300 people
who we're present. While the guests were
lndulging in the good things before them,
music was furnished by the Baptist or
chestra.
James B. Hankins acted as toast maker
and the grand officers made response to
the following toasts: "The Grand Lodge"
Peter W. Stage. of Hackensack 1.-THE
Past of the Order in New jersey" Lewis |
Parker, of Trenton; 1.-THE Future of the !
Order in New Jersey" G. Fleming Stan
ger, of Glassboro; 1.-The Sovereign Grand
Lodge" Dr.WiIliam H. Iszard, of Camden;
1.-THE Degree of Rebekah," August Grass
man, of Hoboken; "The Lodge Room"
Malcolm B. Wood. of Newark.
The lodge was presented with a por-
trait Of Jacob Early, of Hightstown, the
only living charter member of the lodge. |
Mr.. Early is a brother of Aaron Early |
and is So years old and enjoys good
health.
After the exercises in the church the
members and their friends proceeded to I
the I. O. M. hall. A procession was
formed, headed by the officers of the
grand lodge, as follows: g. M, Peter w.
Stage, Hackensack; D. G. NJ, C. Fleming
Stanger, Glassboro; G. w, Malcolm B.
Wood, Newark; G. s, Lewis Parker.
Trenton ; G. T., Joseph L. Lamb, Julius
town; G. R.. August Grassman, Hoboken;
6. G.. Henry Pfoertner, Jersey City; G.
G., E. G. Busslng, Lyndhurst.
The committee in charge is entitled to
great credit for the manner in which the
entertainment was carried to successful
termination, and the members of the
Lodge are to be congratulated upon hav-
ing reached the half century mark in
such prosperous condition.