The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24
FOR A GREAT PARADE
Arrangements for Odd Fellows
Celebration Next Tuesday.
MANY VISITORS EXPECTED
The Celebration Of the Seventy-Ninth
Anniversary Of the Founding of the
Order Will Be More Brilliant
Than Ever-Programme.

Arrangements have been completed for
the great parade of the Odd Fellows to
take place here next Tuesday in celebra-
ton of the 18th anniversary of the foun-
dation of Odd Fellowship in America. The
Odd Fellows are one of the strongest
organizations i'm this country. and they
are 10 celebrate this year with greater
brilliancy than ever. A number of lodges
from other cities have been invited to
join with the Butte d Fellows I'm the
parade. which will take place Tuesday
morning. After the parade there will be
nm address on Odd Fellowship by Rev.
John H~osking. followed by an excellent
literary and musical programme. The
Boston * Montana and the Alice bands
have been engaged for this occasion. I'm
the evening there will be a grand hall at
Renshaw hall.
The order. which was instituted i'm this
country 70 years ago. now numbers more
than $4,000 members. Its beginning was
i'm England in the early part OF the 18th
century. 1t Is said that at the beginning
the lodges were supported ana their
needy members relieved by the payment
of n penny by each member as he enterci
the lodge. The lodges were originally
formed by w~orkingmen for social pur-
poses. and for giving their brethren aid
and assisting them to obtain employment
when out of work. When a brother could
not obtain employment he was given "a
card and funds enough to carry him TO the
next lodge. and IL he was unsuccessful
there that lodge gave him assistance to
reach another lodge. When he found en-
ployment he deposited his card and be-
cam "A member of that lodge. There was
little or M ritual at that time. In time
changes were made and the ritual work
of the order took form. But even yet
some of the characteristic features of the
ceremonies of two centuries ago are re-
tanned.
In the early days of the institution, af-
ter the formal business was transacted
conviviality and good fellowship became
the order of the night. The original or
der recognized the doctrine of self-institu-
tion and each lodge was for a long tim
practically supreme.
Thomas Wildey Is credited with having
founded the order in America. The origi-
nal lodge was organized in Baltimore in
March, 1919. with five members. Mr..
Wildey's associates were John WEIGH.
Richard Rushworth. John Duncan and
John Cheatham. They had all been initia-
ted into the order in England. and on
April 20. 1919, they instituted the Wash
ington Lodge of Odd Fellows. The grand
lodge of Maryland and the United States
was the outgrowth Of the authority given
the first lodge. and soon afterward the
Franklin Lodge. also of Baltimore. re-
ceived "A charter under date of Aug. p.
1921. The lodge is still i'm existence. Grad
ually the order extended to other states.
Montana Lodge was instituted at Hell
ena July .. 1861. by II. $. Norcross. The
first grand lodge was instituted I'm Helena
I'm July. 1874. There are now lodges In ev-
cry state i'm the union and I'm many other
countries. including Chill. New Zealand,
South Australia. Switzerland. Canada
Tasmania. Denmark. Wales, Hawaii.
Peru. the Netherlands. Cuba, Sweden and
France. The main objects of the order are
To afford mutual protection and relief To
it's member i'm times of want. distress or
danger. to cultivate social relations. etc.
The lodges I'm Silver Bow county are CO.
iusa Lodge. No. IS. OF Meaderville; Enter
prise Lodge, No. 10. of South Butte: FL
deity Lodge, No. 8. of Butte; Olive
Branch Lodge, No. %, of Walkerville.
and Ridgeley Lodge, No. Il, of Butte, and
Svea Lodge. No. 50. of Butte. There are
also lodges of the Daughters OF Rebekah
associated with the Odd Fellows in Wal
kerville. Butte. South Butte and Meader-
vile.