Weekly journal-miner., 1909-04-28

Odd Fellows Lodge. He was the first Noble Grand of an American lodge, the first Grand Master of his states, and the first Grand Sire of all Ameri- can lodges. He died in Baltimore, Md, in his eightieth year and a monument stands to his memory in that city.
 After Wildey arr1ved in this eoun- try, he was desirous of spreading the Order to which he was So ardently at- tached. The requisite number to form a new lodge was five, but as there were but three besides himself (John Cheat ham, John Duncan and John Welch), they advertised in the Baltimore American for the lacking member to meet them at what was then called 'Seven Stars, on Second street, Bal timore. This advertisement brought to the rendezvous Richard Rushworth, who with the others met and eomplet- ed the charmed number. They had all been initiated into the Order in Eng land, and 30 far their qualifications were correct. On that memorable 26th day of April, 1919, they, in accord. anee with the ancient custom, self.in- stituted themselves lodge, which they named Washington Lodge of Odd Fellows.' Thus their fraii bark was launched upon the wide and unknown sea. How would the voyage. end and to what haven they would go, they had no no idea. They presented the Order to the world-God's problem waiting mans solution. The seed that was to grow into a mighty oak was that day planted. -.fs-s
 And so, in the year of 1919, period that stands out foremst in American history as an era of good times, west ward expansion and industrial progres- sion, Odd Fellowship set on foot it's mission under the. auspices of five plain and unpretending citizens; with feeble voice it uttered its proclamation of peace and good will. to men on earth; its banner was flung to the breezes of heaven, with its noble mot to inscribed upon it's fold. Friendship, Love and Truth, the Fatherhood of God over all, and the universal broth erhood of man. -.
 Moving forward from, this noble standpoint, today it has enrolled in it's army a million and half votaries. A single lodge of five. members has grown to l6,33S lodges, scattered over all the wide earth where civilization prevails. There has been dispensed since that period. for the relief Of brothers, widowed families and funer- al benefits, over hundred and twenty millions of dollars, which includes five million and a hundred. and thirteen thousand dispensed during the year 1907. This mighty host has pursued a single idea, continuously, -unremittiDgiy and with inviolable fidelity, turning neither to the right nor to the left, no matter how grave, agitating> or mo- mentous the collateral assue-always ignoring self, and concentrating its massive energies and resources to the cause of humanity. .. .s -.- -.. .-.
 The record, glorious as it is, does not represent all that the Order, has done, or-i doing. To know this, the inner life must be investigated; the nightly ministrntions followed through the thousands of quiet channels; the silent watches beside the sick and the dying, -s.<
 "while stars their sleepless vigils kept"
 Back in the year of 1881 our Rebek- ah degree became a part of Odd Eel lowship; secret societies for women were almost, if not quite, unknown; and it was truly a strong land that those first sisters, like their fair name sake, followed their Isaacs into. But, like her, they listened to the call, took
 
 and, like her, received the blessing. It is often said man reasons his way to given conclusions. while a woman jumps to the same conclusions. While she may not be able to hit the broad side of a barn in a stone-throwing con- test, you will find, my brother, she cannot only reason, but carry out many good projects. These Odd Fellows homes. now numbering forty three, that are springing up all over our blessed land, are evidences. She knows they are needed and attends to the building, and then, woman-like, helps 10 work and pay for them In these homes the Order has something like s3, ,OO0, 900 invested and maintained at an annual expense of about $500, 900.
 OQf OEOef dDEOIu IS III u condition. We have lodges in most everyeivilized country on the globe. Tn Germany they have fund for the education of children in high schools. as well as maintaining an outdoor farm where children are sent for q vacation. The Odd Fcllows of Denmark took the lead and are responsible for the ta- tablislnIent of leprOsy hospital q; St. Ordix. And I could go on naming other countries aiding and assisting suf- fering humanity.
 And the energy and successful re- suits which have characterized our Order throughout the world We can see on a smaller scale represented by ou. own local Lodge. Arizona Lodge No. 1 was the first established in the Territory. It was instituted July 18th, 1S6S-nearly forty-one years ago, with but a few charter members. The first meetings were held on the second floor of an old log cabin about where the Hotel St. Michael now stands. The tha d.