Graham guardian., 1910-04-29
Celebrates the Ninety-first
Anniversary of the Order
OF Odd Fellows
ADDRESS OF REV. GARDNER
Over 100000 Odd Fellows
and Rebekahs--$6,0 ,000,0
Spent in Relief Last Year

Sunday, April 24th, Mt. Graham
Lodge, No. "a, |. 0. o. F., and
Morning Star Lodge No. 20, Daught-
ers of Rebekah, marched in full re-
gala to the nj. E. Church, where
the annual anniversary services were
held.
Rev. P. d. Gardner, chaplain of
the lodge, delivered the following
address on "Odd Fellowship"
Officers and members of Mt. Gra-
ham Lodge, No. "a, |. o. o. F.,
sisters of Rebekah. and friends.
Having been chosen by the COM
mittee to make this address on Odd
Fellowship on this anniversary oc-
casion, hope you will bear with me
as | go into details as to our Orders
phenomenal growth.
The Order of Odd Fellows traces
its beginning to the first half of the
eighteen century. There are some,
however, who claim much earlier
date than that, which may probably
be true, but the oldest record that
we are able to find is of the name
of the oldest lodge, namely, Loyal
Aristarchus, No. 8. which met in
1745, at the Oakley Arms, Borough
of Southwork; Globe Tavern, Hat
ton Garden; or, the Boar's Head in
Smithfeld, as the Noble Grand may
direct"
These early lodges were supported
by each member and visitor paying
the secretary penny upon entering
the lodge. Special sums were ap-
propriated to relieve the sick and
bury the dead. If a member was
in search of employment, he was
given card from lodge to lodge,
until he found it.
These were called the Manchester
Unity Odd Fellows, and the Order
still exists in England, or rather
Great Britain.
The independent branch of the
Order, which we represent, was in
instituted in Baltimore, Md, April
26, 1919, by Thomas Wildey, and
four other Unity Odd Fellows, and
the Grand Lodge of Maryland and
of the United States was instituted
February %. 1921.
The growth of the Order was
slow at first, but the principles for
which it stood could not die, they
gradually took root in the mind and
thought of the world, so that it's in
fiuence rapidly spread until finally
it outgrew the Manchester Unity
branch of the Order, both in point
of membership and influence. 1t
severed its connection from that
Order altogether in 1912.
The Independent Order of Odd
Fellows is now ninety-one years old
apparently to the individual life 9
ripe old age, but in the life of the
Order comparatively young. Our
enthusiasm never abates. Starting
from the original five, the Order
has grown until now it numbers, all
told, one sovereign lodge, seventy
three grand lodges counting the
independent jurisdictions), fifty-five
grand encampments, forty-eight
grand councils of patriarch militants,
forty-four Rebekah assemblies, TO-
600 subordinate lodges, 5000 subor.
dinate encampments, and 800 can
tons of patriarch militants. There
are in round numbers about ,800,-
600 subordinate lodge members, and
100000 Daughters of Rebekah, max.
ing total of 100000 members,
This estimate is rather under than
over the correct number.
Take this with the 100000 Man
chester Unity Odd Fellows and Odd
Fellowship exceeds in point of mum,
bers by thirty-three per cent. any
other secret society in the world
The most marvellous part of this
growth dates from 1868. At that
time it numbered but 26S,6OS. The
total revenue in that year was
$2,347, ,073.86, last year it was over
$15,000,000. In that year it expend.
ed for relief $760, 1884. Last year
the sum for this purpose exceeded
$4,000, 900. The Order has, since
its birth, distributed for relief of its
sick and distressed members, the
enormous sum of over $106, 900, 900
and it had at last reports invested
funds to the amount of nearly $40.
100000. There are, in the different
jurisdictions of our Order, about
forty-five homes for the care of the
widows and orphans of deceased
Odd Fellows. The estimated value
of these homes is about $500, 900
In these places of refuge there are
at present about $3.50 souls being
cared for, not as paupers or objects
of charity; for Odd Fellows do moi
build poor houses to care for theil
needy ones, but homes, and all that
the word implies.
And this, while laudable work,
is but tithe of the work the Order
is doing, that cold facts or figures
cannot record or compute. Indiyid.
ual member and individual lodge
effort is constantly being exercised
in the relief Of the needy, in which