The Owosso times., 1919-03-21
Odd Fellows Celebrate One Fuadredth
\ Anniversary. (,

Anniversary. a
The Tooth anniversary of' the found
ing Of Odd Fellowship in the United
States, and the 53rd anniversary of
the organization of Owosso lodge No.
SO, was fittingly observed by Odd Eel
lows and Rebekahs from all parts of
Shiawassee county March 13. Several
hundred members of the two orders
attended the two meetings held at the
armory, afternoon and evening, while
two grand officers, George Harland of
Detroit, grand master, and Fred A.
Rogers, of Lansing, grand secretary,
were present, and delivered addresses.
At the evening meeting the armory
was we'll filled. E. G. Osborne of this
city, presided over this gathering in
the absence of H. H. Pulver of Laings-
burg, who was unable to be present.
Rev. B. G. Mattson pronounced the iE-
vocation and Mayor Wright made a
few brief remarks. Orrin I. Jennings
rendered a vocal solo that was greaGs
enjoyed after which Grand Secretary
Rogers spoke. He urged the Odd
Fellows to get acquainted with their
fellow men and to make the brother
hood of man real on earth instead of
just a theory. Rev. B. G. Mattson,
in brief way, lauded the Odd Fellow
order, declaring that while he was not
a member of the organiy alton, he could
not help but be convinced from what
he had been able to observe that it
was an excellent one and was doing
vast good.
Grand Master Harland talked on the
past, present and future of Odd Fell
lowship, going into the history of the
order and following its growth and
accomplishment from the time that
John Wilder founded it back in 1919,
in Baltimore, Md, down to the pies
ent. Looking into the future, he pre-
dicted great things for the order, and
declared that the first 100 years of its
existence was only preparatory to
what was to come and said that the
future would see Odd Fellowship at its
best.
While the afternoon session was not
as largely attended as that of the
evening, the auditorium of the armory
was we'll filled, most of those present
being from about the county, while the
Owosso Odd Fellows turned out in
large numbers at the evening meeting.
Rev. Dunning Idle presided over the
afternoon meeting. Rev. Adams, of
Durand, pronounced invocation and
the Bancroft Odd Fellows band rend-
cred selection. Rev. Idle spoke brief
ly on the meaning of the day. and
harked back to March 13, 1919 when
John Wilder, an Englishman just over
from England, founded the Odd Fellow
lodge in this country. Soon after he
came to America, he began looking
around for Odd Fellows, but to find
one it was necessary for him to ad-
vertise and then he got five Of them
together. This was the beginning and
growth and wonderful progress for
Odd Fellowship in this country.
Mayor A. T. Wright extended
hearty welcome to the visitors, and
praised Odd Fellowship for it's many
good qualities. Fred A. Rogers, grand
secretary, of Lansing, responded in
behalf of the visitors.
Rev. Gadd of Durand talked briefly
on Odd Fellowship as he had seen it
during his membership. He declared
that while all Odd Fellows are not
better than other men, they are better
than they would have been had they
not been Odd Fellows.
Rev. H. A. Waite declared that Odd
Fellowship, like anything else in the
present period of reconstruction in
every line, had the most wonderful OPP
portunity of its history. He talked on
world conditions and rejoiced over the
downfall of two hated kings, Kaiser
Bill and King Alcohol had been de-
throned, never to come back. He rap
ped the beer and wine amendment as
vicious.
George Harland, of Detroit, grand
master, cut his address very short be-
cause of the lateness of the hour. He
went into the history of Odd Fellow
ship briefly and told of its works and