Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-04-27
ODD FELLOWS CELEBRATE.
Local Lodge has Very Fine
time Friday Night.

History OF the Order in Il few words.
- Morgantown Odd Fellows Joined in
the general celebration which is TAX
ing place all over the country Of the
S2d anniversary of the founding of the
fraternity in this country. They OBJ
served it on Friday night in their
room in the Odd Fellows building
There was record breaking attend
ance.
The exercises were opened with
prayer by Rev. l. A. Barnes. Prof.
Thos. e. Hodges, Hon. Jos Moreland
and Rev. A. NJ. Buchanan delivered
addresses Of rare excellence. The
speakers were listened to attentively
and they gave their hearers much to
instruct and interest them in connec-
tion with the organization.
Misses Ella UT and Daisy John
fhgave readings. Mr.. Harry A. Garri-
Xson delivered an grafton. All Of these
young people acquitted themselves
very creeitabiy and added much to
the pleasure of the evening.
n The music was exceptionally fine.
Vocal solos were rendered by Miss
i Lucille Gregg and Miss Dana Douthat
in a very pleasing manner. Mrs. L.
L. Friend, Misses Gregg and Hayes
and Messrs. Coombs and Gregg sang
"A Bird from Over the sea" with
their usual signal success.
The Daughters of Rebekah served
delicious refreshments which were
highly enjoyed A bazaar was also
conducted by them. Everything that
they had on sale was disposed of.
Later in the evening the younger
people repaired TO Municipal Hall and
held a dance. This was enjoyed as
much as the rest of the entertain
ment.
The MorgantoWn lodge is one of
the Oldest and largest in the state.
1t owns one Of the finest lodge build
ySngs in the country and it has rec
ord that is very proud one. The
membership is still growing rapidly
and it will continue to occupy as it
has always in the past a most honor
9,ble position among the secret socie-
Flies of town.
HISTORY OF THE ORDER.
IC CuQ Il GIlOWS COLi DOCt a OCCICD
order, having in view objects of a
purely social and benevolent charac-
ter. The sphere of their operations is
confined wholly to their own mem
bers, and secrecy is enjoined in regard
to all such charities. AS in most
other institutions of similar kind, a
claim OF venerable antiquity has been
set up for the order. The most COM
mon accounts ascribes it to the Jew
ish legion under Titus, who it is said
received their first charter from the
emperor inscribed on tablet Of gold
Statements even more improbable and
fantastic have been made but at the
present time Odd Fellows themselves
generally admit that the origin can
not be traced to an earlier period than
the first half of the eighteenth CEN
fury.
The adoption of the name is ex-
planned by the condition of the social
status at that time. The severance
persons aiming at social union and
mutual help were looked upon as ex
ceptions to the more general rule.
The oldest lodge OF which the name
has been handed down is the Loyal
Arisbarcus No. 8, which met in 1745
at Oakley Arms, Burrough of South
work, Globe Tavern at Hatton Gar
den, or at the s'Boar's Head" in
Smithfield, as the noble master direct
ed. The earliest lodges were sustain
ed by each member or visitor paying
no 1oIr ri
special sums were voted to any broth
er in need.
At first each lodge was practically
independent of the other and had its
own special rules and bylaws, but
close bound unity gradually grew up
until finally most were joined under
one great head, and definite com
mon ritual adopted, becoming feder-
ated under the name OF patriotic
order.
Towards the end Of the eighteenth
century many of the lodges were brok-
en- up by state prosecutions on the
suspicion that the purposes were sedi-
tious, but the society changing its
name and location continued to exist
as the Union Order. of Odd Fellows.
In 1909 several members endeayored
to recusitate its dormant energies.
Finding, however, that it was impos-
sible to arouse an interest in anything
higher than convivial meetings in 1913
from the Union order. the Indepen-
dent order of Odd Fellows, Manches-
ter Unity was founded at the Man
chester convention. Under this name
it has increased with enormous rapid
ity and at the present day overshad-
ows all the minor societies in Eng
land.
Odd Fellowship was introduced in
to the United States In 1919 from the
Manchester Unity and the grand lodge
of Maryland and the United States
was constituted on February 22nd