Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-05-03
ODD FELLOWS ANNIVERSARY.

ODD FELLOWS ANNIVERSARY.
Irvington Lodge, No. 2O5, 1. o. o. F.,
of Irvington, celebrated the SSth ami
versary of the existence of the order on
Friday night, April 26th, at the Odd
Fellows Hall in an appropriate manner.
A crowd too large for easy accommoda-
tion in the hall was present, consisting
of the Odd Fellows themselves, their
wives, sisters, sweethearts, children
and guests, and very merry assembly
celebrated the foundation of the Order.
DR.. George H. Oliver, Noble Grand of
the Lodge, presided and the members
were in large attendance, although the
jamestown celebration took away some
who were missed. DR.. Oliver read an
extract from some of the literature of
the Order, pronouncing its merits and
its usefulness, and extolling its benefits
and benificences. He was followed by
DIR. James B. Hodgkin, a visiting
brother, and Chaplain of a Lodge in
Manassas, Va, who read an essay or
paper on the same subject. Lack of
space forbids the insertion Of the ad-
dress of the doctor, but we insert a
small part of the paper, which was well
received by the audience. OF the ladies
he said something fine, stating that
what we have always with us we seldom
appreciate, but that they were "the
most bewitching, enchanting, provok-
ing, aggravating and altogether fasci-
mating creatures on EARTH" adding that
were he to make toast about them he
would say very heartily that they were
1.-THE sweetest, best, most charming,
useful, faithful, patient beasts of burden
that man has subjugated, that is, if
he has really accomplished this feat, of
which there seems some slight doubt,
for, while we have Scripture for the
statement that the tongue cannot be
tanned by man, possibly man can have
his tanned by a woman.
Organization" he said, ''was the
keynote of success. Without it the
efforts of charity, of brotherly helpful
ness, of kindness and good deeds to-
ward the helpless are in part failures,
hence the organization of secret socie-
ties, and among the many now existing
that of the Odd Fellows does, we sin
cerely believe, more practical good than
any other in existence. The Lodge is
the poor mans club, and poor as well
as rich must have some creation. no
matter how pleasant home may be and
no matter if the wife and children are
the best in the wide world. The plain,
everyday man, when night comes wants
to meet his fellows, and we have high
authority for the statement that one of
the attractions of the saloon is Just this
it furnishes place where the laborer
and the artisan can recreate. The
Lodge is the ideal place for this, and
for good reasons. And when a man
meets his fellows in an Order that has
FORTS motto the mystic words, Friend
ship, Love, Truth, and is taught
there the secret, hidden meaning of
these talismanic words, and sees in the
beautiful ritual the exemplifcation of
them, he should go home better man.
Then, too-and to some who do not
know, this feature seems selfish one
the fact that the Lodge, or membership
IN it, is sort of life assurance society,
guaranteeing to the faithful member
help in sickness, brotherly kindness in
adversely, decent burial if he dies,
and substantial help to his widow and
orphans, is it strange if man likes
his lodge, and is it wonder that his
wife is willing to spare his company
one night in the week for the lodge
meeting?
Those who have the genius to make
money and secure an ample fund for
the rainy day are comparatively few.
The vast crowd of toilers must, no mat
ter how meretorious, remain poor, and
sickness has no mercy. Is it not
noble order that provides for that en-
ergency and guarantees the poor but
honest man help when his own help
fails? Let us glorify and laud all at
tempt to mitigate the condition of the
worthy destitute, the man who, through
no fault of his own, falls into a pit,
and praise the noble orders that are his
friends in such adversely. And chief
among these-we Odd Fellows believe
the chiefs ours, the anniversary of
the founding of which we here cele-
brate.'
At the close of the addresses the gen.
tlemen waited on the ladies, these and
the visitors being the guests of the
Lodge, and ice cream, cake. coffee,
fruit, etc., were freely dealt out to the
crowd which, if signs mean anything,
appreciated the good things by rapidly
placing them where they no doubt did
the most good. At late hour the as
sembly dispersed, and will long remem-
ber the anniversary feast.