The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-27
Is the Watchword of
Odd Fellows.
ON TO PORTO RICO.
The Views of Grand Sire
Col. A. S. Pinkerton.
On to Porto RicoI

On to Porto Rico!
This was the peaceful cry of the
great order of Odd Fellows of this
country, and Col. \. S. Pinkerton,
grand sire, is now in communication
with prominent American Odd Fellows
in Ponce, and it is hoped that lodges
of this noble order Will be instituted
there as soon as the American govern
ment has finally evolved lis system of
law and order
Whatever be the opinion of the in
dividual members of the order, the
grand lodge is firmly committed to ex-
panslon as regards the extension of the
influence and scope of the Odd Fell
lows organization. The grand officers
are not content with combining their
jurisdiction to the United States, but
are now considering plans for an in
crease in the way of establishing new
branches as outposts in the new life
which the country faces in the redemp-
tion OF Cuba, Porto Rico and lastly the
Philippines.
What is not generally known by the
pubic and by some of the Odd Fellows
IS that for seven years or more there
nave been regular lodges of Odd Eel
lows in the isle of Cuba, and from the
time Of their institution they have been
under the jurisdiction of the grand
lodge or the United States, so that from
an Odd Fellows standpoint Cuba has
long been d possession of ours. As
the American and English population
al the Philippines increases, plans may
be considered for the extension of Odd
Fellowship to the intelligent peoples of
those far away isles, but until the in
tellgent population increases and the
influx Of Americans and people from
Europe becomes more pronounced, the
Odd Fellows will conf1ne their attention
TO the establishment of the order in
Porto Rico and its extension in Cuba.
Expansion is the watchword
Col A. S. Pinkerton, grandsire of the
order, was seen on the street last even
ing, and said that he had been in COM
muntcation with Odd Fellows in Porto
Rico about the institution of lodges
there. Col. Pinkerton states that there
are about six Odd Fellows in the island
with whom he has been in correspond
ence. They have written him in regard
to the feasibility of extending the order
to that new section of the country, and
Cob Pinkerton has written them for
further information anent the people,
the general progress in social and COM
mercial life since the Americans land
ed, and the general condition of the
island politically at the present time
When he receives a reply to his re-
quest for fuller information he will
map out a plan of campaign with a
view to bringing Porto Rico within the
jurisdiction of the grand lodge, and the
permanent establishment of the order
there. Col. Pinkerton will be obliged
to make a personal visit to the field
nd fhar-a unfold a11p6 "a
Establishment of lodges, as the conditions
at the time may demand. This visit,
will probably not be made for two or
three months, according to the devel-
opment of the American life there
As Ponce is the principal city from
which Col Pinkerton has heard, there
being several Odd Fellows already 10
Gated there, this will be one of the
principal places in his official itinerary,
and after an examination of the Porto
Rican field, he will continue his trip
to Cuba, with a view to the extension
of the lodges already existing there.
Col. Pinkerton states that for seven
years the Odd Fellows have had lodges
working in regular form in Havana
and other Cuban cities, and that from
the time of their institution they have
come within the jurisdiction of the
grand lodge of the United States, In
C.
which have been prosperous and in
tluential. The principles of the Odd
Fellows, founded as they are on the
elements of justice and brotherly love,
have appealed strongly to these peo-
pies and have proved as strong and
glorious as in America.
In the letters that Grand Sire Pink
ertOn has received, the accounts of the
life and future of Porto Rico have been
most glowing. All the Odd Fellows who
have been in communication with him
have spoken very enthusiastically of
the prospects of the island, and it is
considered an exceedingly important
acquisition to the United States. AL
ready Americans, appreciating the pos
Gbilities of the islands, are focking
there, and the life in Ponce and other
leading Porto Rican cities begins to
assume an American aspect. The peo-
pie native to the island, are proving
very friendly to the American, and the
quickness and ease with which they
adopt the American manners and Gus
Tins, prove their ready intelligence,
and augurs well for the islands i'm
mediate and future commercial pros
perity
AS field for the introduction of Odd
Fellowship, the Odd Fellows there be-
lieve that it has many advantages, and
that as soon as the American spirit has
become completely absorbed by the peo-
pie it will offer the same scope for Odd
Fellows as is presented in the states
In all respects politically and CONNER
cially, the island is destined to play an
important and brilliant part in the ma
TONS honor.