The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-27
ODD FELLOWS BIRTHDAY.
SAVANNAH LODGES CELEBRATE
ORDERS SOTH ANNIVERSARY.


Musical aud Literary Features.
Addresses by Capt. Henry McAIpin
and Grand Secretary j. 5. Tyson.
The First Lodge Organized by Five
Englishmen in Baltimore Eighty
Years Ago.
Odd Fellows Hall was filled last night
with large audience gathered to celebrate
the eightieth birthday of the order that
has been so instrumental in sealing closer
the hearts and destinies of its members
Each anniversary sees the order with
larger gains, and with its ambition for
higher and brighter future.
Not only were the odd Fellows them
selves present. but they were favored
by an audience larger than was the ca
pacity OF the hail. The visitors were not
disappointed In what they went to see
however, as the programme was excellent
and was carried out in a skillful and en-
tertaining way. The musical numbers,
speeches and literary features gave va
riety which the audience thoroughly en-
joyed.
Grand Secretary J. S. Tyson was IN
charge of the ceremonies. and later spoke
on the history of ODD Fellowship in Amer
lea, which dealt with the various stages
from the time 1t found its birth in Bal
timore eighty years ago. The proclama-
ton of Grand Sire Alfred S. Pinkerton
was read by Mr. J. A. Van Berschot,
calling on all officers and members of
grand and subordinate lodges TO fittingly
celebrate the day by public thanksgiving
to Almighty God for His manifold mer-
cies to us as individuals and as an order"
\ ferveut prayer was next offered by Rev.
w. c. Schaeffer, chaplain of Golden Rule
Lodge. A vocal solo by Mr. f. H. Upper,
a recitation by Miss Wilensky and gui-
tar and mandolin duet by Messrs Beckett
and Seyden, were features of the pro-
gramme that were well rendered, and were
thoroughly appreciated by the audience.
Capt. Henry McAlpins address was
lofty tribute to Odd Fellowship Being
plainly heard throughout the hall. Capt.
McAlpin's historical references, couched
in inspiring language, were heard 20 the
best of advantage. He referred to the
origin of the order, its effectual work
through four-score years, and the part
II has taken in bringing its members closer
together To be an Odd Fellow, he said,
is to live In friendship, love and truth.
There was time when the lodges were
far apart, but the advancement brought
about by invention has drawn these divid-
ing lines closer, so that now the order in
America is not far from that in England
from which the first lodge in this coun-
try obtained its charter. The address was
rich store of facts, and the pleasing
manner in which they were presented by
Capt. McAlpin made it decidedly one Of
the most interesting features of the exer-
cises.
Next on the programme was a sketch
for
EFT, which was genuinely amusing. As
a rural impersonator Master Preston
Everett probably has few equals of his
age on the professional stage. The part
he took as witness in a country court
while his sister took the part of Judge
was a rare humorous treat. The sketch
was concluded by a duet entitled "The
Bugie Boy" after which the young couple
were roundly applauded Much of the
credit for the success of the entertainment
is due to the committee on arrangements,
and particularly to MIR. Leander Butler
one of the most active members of the
committee.
Grand Secretary Tvson's address gave
an account of the order from the date of
its institution in America. 1.-THE day is
fun of interest to every Odd Fellow" he
said, mo matter where he may be found.
Whether under the broad banner of our
country or in foreign lands, his heart is
with his home lodge. His eyes are turned
toward the city of Baltimore, the birth
place and home of American Odd Fellow
ship. And there Is no wonder ii is so
with an order which seeks to improve and
elevate the character of men, and the
wars against vice in all it's forms. II
teaches under its banner of Fellowship
Love and Truth, that all the nations of
the earth concentrate their energies for
the good OF the common race. 1t secures
a hold upon the affections of its votaries
to always draw them near to its affairs.
Just eighty years ago this evening"
he said, five humble residents of the city
of Baltimore, who were members of the
Manchester Unity odd Fellows of Eng
land. met by appointment in a small
room, over an obscure tavern, and there
organized Washington Lodge, No. l, l. o.
O. F., thereby planting on American soil
the seeds of an order which has grown
IN eighty years into great
army of earnest workers in the cause of
humanity. 1t numbers to-day over a mil
lion members"
"Since It's organization there have been
Initiated 2,lG 1856 men; it has relieved 1884,
1903 widowed families; buried I'll 800 of its
members; received into the subordinate
lodge treasures $201, 067, 1865, and paid out
for relief under its organized system ST.
$50, 500. How much substantial good that
large amount of money has ACCOMPLISHED
no man can tell. There are to-day work.
ing under the jurisdiction of the sovereign
grand lodge 81 grand encampments and
1855 subordinate encampments There are
65 grand lodges, 11,579 subordinate lodges.
with S39,6OS lodge members. There are
4,796 Rebecca lodges, with 1876, 469 members.
They paid for relief during the past year
So, 1854 ,629 which little calculation will
show was 1884 every hour.
Though Washington Lodge was self
constituted, its members sought and OBJ
tanned charter in regular form from the
Grand Lodge of England. For many wears
very close relations existed between them
but, like everything else in this country,
it finally became thoroughly Americanized
and intervisitation has ceased since 1870
In May of that year the Grand Lodge of
the United States sent a special commits
sion in the persons of Rev. Isaac d Will
hanson and Grand Secretary James 7,
Ridgley to England to confer with the
authorities of the order in that country
looking toward a final adjustment Of air,
ticulties growing out of some changes
made by both bodies But the result was
f,fT