The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
ODD FELLOWS
DIAMOND YEAR
is CELEBRATED
Members Of Lodge No. IS, Unite In
Demonstrations by
Past Grand Masters.

The Odd Fellows Is the largest
fraternal organization in the world
with 2,579,9 61 members, according
60 the sovereign grand lodge, claim
ed Dr. C. A Robbins of Dixon, past
grand master of the grand lodge of
Illinois, in an address made in Odd
Fellows temple last evening on the
occasion OF the diamond anniver-
sary of Rock Island lodge, No. IS.
Dr. Robbins made the further
claim that more homes for orph-
ans and old people were maintained
by the Odd Fellows than by any
other fraternal society. There are
81 institutions conducted in Amer
lea by the order. He declared the
net gain in membership during the
past year in the state of Illinois
was 1881, 1000 in excess of any
previous years record. The net
gain in the entire country last
year was 139 ,331.
DR.. Robbins is an eX-service man,
and during the World war was sta
toned for time at Elizabeth, N. ].
He stated that while there he at
tended the meeting of an Odd Eel
lows lodge, and that the treasurer
of the lodge, who had held the posi-
ton "A years, and who during his
stay at Elizabeth was elected for
the twenty-fifth consecutive term,
was Andrew Mellon, subsequently
made treasurer of the United
States, and a member of President
Harding's cabinet.
Jonas Bear, treasurer of Ucal
lodge, but originally a member of
Rock Island lodge, reviewed the
history of the lodge from its in
ception to the present time.
Lodges History.
Recounting history of the lodge,
Mr.. Bear said:
Rock Island lodge No. IS was
Instituted Aug. 25, 1916, with five
charter members. District Deputy
Grand Master John G. Potts, Ga
lena. organized the lodge.
Then Grand Master Thomas Al
sop and three more past grand
masters granted the charter. OF
the charter members Amos F. Cut
ter, who lived and died at the old
Cutter home on the corner of Four
teenth street and Fourth avenue.
was the only one l had the privi-
1ege of knowing personally, having
sat in open lodge with him many
times.
For me tonight it is like home
coming to your lodge, as No IS
also was my mother lodge.
F1fty-two years ago, June 6,
1870, then yuung man of "a, l
also became member and now the
privilege and pleasure is granted to
me to deliver to you from the grand
secretary. John H. Sykes of Spring,
Held, on your diamond anniversary
: the above message of rs years
s standing.
Former years the grand lodge
OF Illinois was on wheels, moving
from one place to another, and No.
Is entertained Oct. %, 20 and 30.
1878. At that time John c. Smith,
chicago, was our grand master, and
Fred Bross, Cairo, our deputy grand
master.
very well l remember that ses-
SION, and the grand master, John |
e Smith and who some years after |
ward became the grand command |
er OF the q. A r. / also remem- |
Der General Alfred Orendoff, who |
under Governor AltgeId was the /
lieutenant governor and in 1878 be-
came grand master of the state
lodge. Right after the grand lodge
adjourned, II of US had our pic
lures taken in full regaIia. In our
entry room the east wall is dec
GRATED with them, and their names
are as follows: W. l.. Sweeney.
Henry Bourgower, c. B. Knox. S.
b. Stoddard, Ernst KreII. Charles
Engei. Amos F. Cutter, William
Bell. w. T. Norris, Cyrus Church
III, William Kahl, Jacob Wollen-
haupt, Jacob Huber, Jim Dixon.
Louis Weber, w. T. Magill and
myself. But, alas, today only two
or us are living-W. T. Magill. now
over 80 years old and who lives in
jacksonville. Calf, and myself.
Valuable Invitation.
Fifty years ago, when you ceIe-
DRAFTED your 25th anniversary. this
invitation l now hold in my hand
and which was printed by The
Daily Argus, was sent to Frederick
Weyerhaeuser, who belonged to
Coal Valley lodge, Coal Valley.
Ihlrty-seven names are thereon.
members who served on various
committees. Our banquet was held
at the then newly built Harper
house. Only two of US are still
alive and present here tonight
Steve Stader and myself
The invitation was presented 10