Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-24
AUGUSTA ODD FEL-,
Lows OBSERVE ANN
VERSARY OF ORDER
Asylum Lodge, No. 70, Holds
Exercises Concentrating 9th
Anniversary of Establishment
of Odd Fellowship in America

Asylum Louge, NO. 40, |. y. y. r, OD-
served the 9th anniversary of the es-
tablishment Of Odd Fellowship in
America by holding appropriate eXer-
cises at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon in
| its hall in the Purinton building at
which there was a large gathering of
the members Of the several Odd Eel
low bodies in Augusta and also Of tho
auxiliary, r. B. Capen Rebekah Lodge.
Grand Master John E. Bunker Of the
Grand Lodge of Maine, I. o. o. F., was
the principal speaker of the afternoon
and a number of musical numbers
| were beautifully rendered by the Mac
Nichol quartet. Prayer was rendered
by Rev. C. G. Mosher. pastor of the
Penney Memorial church.
Grand Master Bunker. in opening his
remarks pointed out that the gathering
was for two-fold purpose. the COM
memoration of the anniversary Of the
founding of the orde- upon American
soil and the giving to those not mem
hers of the order a better understand
ing Of its origin, purposes and accom-
plishments and the nature of its ties.
The anniversary this year IS coinci-
dent with the resurrection, signf-
cant occurrence. The opportunity to
properly inform the public Of the his
tory. motives and object of the order
should be remembered on an occasion
like this, the speaker said.
He sketched briefly the history Of the
growth of the order in America from
its founding in the lounging room of
a humble tavern in the little city OF
Baltimore. April %, 1919.
From its humble beginnings" said
the grand master. the order has grown
and expanded until today we have one
Sovereign Grand Lodge, six quasi-in-
dependent Grand Lodges in foreign
lands, 6s Grand Lodges and 81 Grand
Encampments. 1t numbers 100000
members has, an annual income of
nearly $19,Oo0.00O and it's invested
funds exceed 100000. In the last Is
years it has expended through it's reg
ular channels for relief more than
$3.50, 900 900. aiding more than four and
quarter millions of members
1.-The order was introduced into
Maine Aug. 25, 1843. when Maine Lodge.
No /. was instituted at Portland. To-
day there are in this grand jurisdic-
ton besides the grand bodies 1853 sub
ordinate lodges, 62 subordinate en-
campments, 1873 Rebekah lodges and %
cantons. The membership of the sub
ordinate lodges numbers 26.300 and the
Rebekah branch of our order $500, of
which nearly $4,000 are women"
The speaker placed the annual in
come of the several subordinate lodges
in the Maine jurisdiction in recent
years at $4,000 with an expenditure
of 100000 each fiscal year for relief
the widow an orphan. Since the or
ganization of the order in Maine there
has been expended for relief more than
$5,000,0 900.
The Importance of standing at the
head of such an order in the State was
greatly appreciated by the speaker,
who urged his hearers to join with him
in the hope that all his official acts
might be guided by prudence and har-
mony and by honest and mature judg-
ment.
He related how the order in the
country had been foremost in relief in
all the great catastrophes that had be-
fallen our American cities and pointed
out that while Odd Fellowship sought
to improve and elevate character it
was neither substitute nor an equiva-
lent for religion but really the hand
maid Of pure religion.
The address was thoroughly enjoy
ed by those present and Mr.. Bunker
was warmly congratulated at the close
of the service for the eloquence and
ability displayed in the effort