Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-05-02
gath ANNIVERSARY BARTGISS ACQUITTED

Principles OF order Extolled In Glow
ing Terms BY Prominent Members
Its History and Accomplishments
Told--Has Enjoyed Remarkable
orowth-Soeial Session Followed
Exercises.
In their lodge room Friday night
the Odd Fellows of the city celebrated
the oath anniversary of the order.
The exercises were held under the
auspices of Berkeley Lodge No. 202.
were very entertaining and instruc-
tive and not concluded until almost
the midnight hour.
Mr.. A. T. Russler OF Tuscarora
lodge, No 40, presided and gave a
brief history of the lodge. 1t was or
ganized in 1880 with only few mem.
bers In the early forties the present
lodge room was built and 1t has been
used by the Odd Fellows of the city
since that time. Berkeley lodge was
organized in 1900 with so members
The first speaker of the evening
was Mr. J f. Plummer, grand treas
urei Of Maryland, who briefly review
ed the history of the order, told what
is being done in his state and express
ed his qualification of being able to
attend the exercises.
M GAocuo IIarcb,,rr MoioY nf bo
Patriarch Militant, of Baltimore,
made happy address in response to
call. He declared that the Odd Eel
lows organization was the best in the
country; that it was doing the most
wonderful work of any, and that ii
was wrong that Martinsburg did not
have Rebekah, an encampment and
canton. He related many anecdotes
and kept the audience in laughter
throughout his address
Mr.. William A. Jones, grand secre-
tary of Maryland, made the principal
address of the evening. "Ninetyfour
years ago." he said, Thomas Wildly
.
of Baltimore and founded the organ
ization, the object of which was to
unite men in stronger bonds of friend
ship and assist them in leading better
lives. Washington lodge was the first
one Then came Franklin. Columbia,
William Tell and Gratitude Today
all have large memberships and the
young men are as well represented
as the old. 4
I'VE now have 10000 lodges with a
membership of 100000. In every
state in the Union we find the Odd
Fellows, and in every civilized coun.
try the order has foothold."
In speaking of what the order has
done he said it had aided very mate,
rally in the building up of the govern.
ment that its influence is far reach.
ing, and that it makes man better
creature There are now 1851 Re-
bekah organizations with member
ship of over 100000 members. During
ed in membership so per cent, and
that the prospects for this year were
equally as good
He appealed to the local Odd Eel
lows to secure more young men. to or
game Robe kah, an encampment ana
a canton and show to the world that
No &c oil xrn nd n In
He also spoke of what the Maryland
members of the order had contribut-
ed to the flood sufferers. So far they
have sent $1,400 to the flood districts,
and the indications are that at least
$500 more will be forwarded before the
call for help has ceased. ,s.i. o.,
Mr.. s B. Aver, of Grafton, Central
Lodge, made brief talk in which he
extolled the principles of the order.
DIR. w. f. Langford, F. A. Chambers,
d. II, Dodd and others also made brief
remarks.
Following the addresses a social
session was held. at which refresh
ments were served
The exercises were attended by a
large number of the members of the
orders, their wives and lady friends.
The meeting being public many city
people took advantage of the opportun-
ity to learn something of the princi-
pies of this old and established order,
and doubtless the local lodges will
derive great benefit from this event
in the way of membership.