Evening journal., 1908-01-11
WORKMEN OWN
FINE new HOME
announcement Made That
Bicycle Club Property Be-
longs TO A. 0. U. W.
HEADQUARTERS TO
BE THERE IN FUTURE

urday for $s,5OO.OO. and who until to-
day. has refused TO give the names
of the parties for whom he purchased
the propert, made the following state
ment today to a reporter for THE
EVENING JOURNAL:
Il purchased tho Wilmington Bicycle
Club property under instructions from
a committee representing Wilmington
Lodge No. /. A. o. u. w. The par
chase Of this property is the realiza-
tion Of the hopes Of members OF VIII
mington Lodge for the past fifteen
yoars-that the lodge might have a
home of its own. Three years ago per-
sons representing this lodge made an
effort to purchase this property, but
from the best information which they
could at that time secure, the lodge
was informed that it would be wise to
wait for a time at least. In the mean
time prominent members of the lodge
have kept a close watch for a favor
able opportunity 20 purchase. Some
time ego the committee was instructed
to use every honorable means possible
to secure a suitable horne for the lodge.
This committee was given very full
authority, and il was no secret among
the usual attending membership of
the lodge that the Bicycle Club prom
erty was the main property under cen
siderltion. TIE committee. from the
FIRST, had good reasons TO believe that
clesi title TO the property could not
be secured, except through a public
sale, ard the members Of the cnn-
mittee we're. therefore. not surprised
when they read I'm the newspapers of
his city. some two weeks or more
ago, that the Wilmington Bicycle Club
property was to be sold at sherfrs
sale on January 4. when anybody and
everybody would have the same rights
and privileges as TO bidding and buy
ing
'As attorney for this committee.
Representing Wilmington Iodge No.
A. o. u. w, 1 attended this punlic
eale and. beins the highest and best
bidder and having complied with all
Of the conditions Of the sale as read
ut .he sale. I secured the property for
the people whom I was there to rep
resent. I make this statement by rea-
son TO this sheriff sale, which, to my
mind, differed I'm no respect, what
estate
by the sheriff. do not see that can
say any more. The fact is, there is
nothing else to be said"
When asked as to n report that
Grace Church is endeavoring to pro
vail upon members Of the A. o. u. w.
TO turn the property over to the church
Mr. Walker said: 'Tn regard TO this.
I have no authority TO speak. This
IS a matter which will have TO be de-
termined by the lodge"
History of Wilmington Lodge.
A prominent member of Wilmington
Lodge made the following statement
concerning the lodge:
Wilmington Lodge No. 1. Ancient
Order Of United Worlunen, was organ
lied in this city in August 1881, by a
number of young men. many of whom
are yet members in good standing. At
the institution Of this lodge. il was
affiliated with the Grand Lodge Juris-
diction of Maryland and so remained
until 1898, when a sufficient number Of
lodges and the required number of
members were secured and the Grand
Lodge Jurisdiction of Delaware was
established. The Grand Lodge OF the
Ancient Order OF United Workmen Of
Delaware was organized with a men,
Der of Wilmington Lodge No. /, as a
Grand Master Workman of the juris-
@fction. The new jurisdiction pros
/ pered from the beginning, especially
Wilmington Lodge, until there are en-
rolled upon its books the names OF
| hundreds of American citizens, repre-
senting all walks of life: the laborer,
the artisan. the business man, and the
! professional man. Many Of them are
we'll and favorably known in city
and State aairs. as well as in religious.
political and social life The power of
this pioneer lodge for good in this
community has been truly wonderful.
Always headed by able, efficient, and
/ self-sacrihcing officers and backed up
by honest. sincere "Workmen." its m-
/ nuence has been felt especially where
aid to the suffering and assistance 10
the worthy was called for In this
respect. its record is a most enviable
one. Since it sorganization, Whining
ton Lodge. No. :, has paid from its own
treasury TO the BENEFICIARY fund of the
order thes um Of s390,000. This fund
is used only for the purpose Of pay
ing the benificiaries of the deceased
members From the general fund OF
the lodge there has gone out. for aid
and assistance to the. living members,
upwards Of $4,000. No appeal for aid
from within or without the order was
ever made to Wilmington Lodge No
1, and considered worthy, without a
generous response. 1t is gratifying
indeed, to the members. as we'll as 70
the many friends of the lodge, and
their name is legion, to know that al
last this grand old lodge has secured
a home of its own and win be better
equipped than ever to carry on its good
work"
The present officers Of the lodge are
as follows:
Master Workman, Robert r. Gill
more; Past Master Workman. Thomas
| J. Donahoe: Foreman. Harry J. Elli-
son; Overseer. Harry I. Maler: Re
corder. William c. Fields; Receiver
Julian c. Walker; Financier. Edwin c
/ Clark; Guide. Louis w. Hutton. Inside
Watchman. Harry L. 1mler: Outside
Watchman. Albert r. Boulden; Librar.
ian. Joseph X. Adams; Trustees, Ed
ward F. Kane. Clifford Mccall and
Henry Eisler.