Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-05-05

ms lodge, the incorporated body OF
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
, in Brattleboro, has been from the time
of institution to the present time one
of the strongest and largest bodies of
the order in the state.
During the decline Of secret orders
in the period from 1857 to 1866 Wan.
tastiquet lodge stood firm and won the
title by which it is called even now,
The Never Surrender LODGE For
many years the lodge has had the
largest membership of any in this iu-
risdiction, and it now has a member
ship of 5S4, of whom A are past no.
bic grands.
The officers of the lodge and of af
filiated organizations, Oasis encamp.
ment, No. 5, Dennis Rebekah lodge,
No l, the first in the state, and Can
ton Palestine, No. 3, p. NJ, have been
notable for their faithfulness to their
trusts and their willingness to contin-
ne long in Office when the duties were
exacting and painstaking.
Long Time Officers.
Abram j. Currier is still the cores
ponding secretary of Wantastiquet
lodge, an office he has held continuously
y
tary, has been attending to the duties
of that exacting position 81 years, and
d. w. Tenney financial scribe of Ca
sis encampment, has been continuous
| ly in that office 80 years.
Oasis encampment, No. 5, was insti-
tuted April 8, 1868, by J. P. Sanders,
grand sire. 1t has now membership
of 259.
1t was not long after that before in
terests identified with Brattleboro Odd
Fellowship brought about the institu-
tuition of the first Rebekah lodge in the
state by having Dennis Rebekah lodge
instituted Feb. g. 1869 This lodge now
ham membership of over 800.
Canton Palestine, No. ;, Z. NJ, the
military department of the order, was
organized more recently but like the
other local organizations of Odd Eel.
lowship, has always been strong.
John Henkel, who was initiated in.
to Wantastiquct lodge, Jan. so, 1865
is the Oldest in membership of the
members of the lodge, having been
over 81 years Il member of the order
| From the History of Odd Fellowship
/ published in 1887 by authority of the
/ grand lodge of Vermont by commit.
B
nington was member and the com
/ piler of the history, the following con.
corning Wantastiquct lodge is taken
from that portion of the book under
/ the caption Early History of the
Lodges Instituted Prior to Grano
Lodge of Nermont'':
"The application for q warrant ,
for Wantastiquet lodge, No. 5, is dated
July 3, 1916, and is signed by six
brothers, certified as holding proper
cards, as follows: John II. Willis, Hen
ry Durham, John b. Miner, II, d.
Bracket, Thomas C. Lord, Frederick
/ Franks The lodge was instituted
August 3, 1916 Original charter
dated july IL, 1870, by Albert Chase,
deputy grand sire, who says he was
assisted by d. d. Grand Master w.
| Y. Davis, of Greenfield, Mass. He
further writes in his report: There
were present about 80 brothers from
Greenfield and CoIrain, Mass, and Win
chester, n. II. After the organization
Of the lodge the hall was publicly con
seerated: and in the evening there
were 10 gentlemen initiated. They ali
received the degrees. Starting under
such favorable auspices and the merits
OF the new Ofuef set IOrln by as aDic
representative as (Rev.) Bro. Case,
no wonder that No. 5 possesses the
proud history of the past 40 years. The
first officers were: John II, Willis, n.
c.; Thomas c. Lord, V. G.; Horace d.
Brackctt. secretary; Frederick Franks,
treasurer. In the decline of the l. o.
O. +. in Vermont during the decade
following 1857, Wantastiquet lodge
stood firm. The old ledger contains
an item, not often found on the pages
of early lodges, showing that this lodge
renewed their charge books marked
= Second Hand) Aug. Goth. 1863, price
one dollar each. This might indicate
an early memorizing of the work. This
lodge has the honor of furnishing the
first historian of the order in the
state, Timothy Vinton, P. G.. M. and
+. G.. r. -
The Different Headquarters.
The organization of the lodge took
place in room either in the old Re-
, we're House building or in the building
next adjoining it, The lodge contin-
, ued to meet there for several years