Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-24
Anniversary Service
Of Odd Fellows Sunday
At Universalist Church

The 103rd anniversary OF Odd
Fellowship in America was OBJ
served in very interesting and in
spring order of service Sunday
morning at the Winthrop Street
Cniversalist church. The service
was attended by the Members of
Canton Augusta, No. 9, p. NJ. I. 0.
O. F.; Jeptha Encampment, No. 3:
Asylum Lodge. No. 20. i. O. Q. f.;
and the r. B. Capen Rebekah Lodge.
and the church was well filled upon
the occasion.
Headed by Dennis Band and led
by John C. Howes as marshal. the
members of the order marched to
the church. the long line making an
impressive spectacle. The front pews
in the church auditorium were re-
served for the visiting brothers and
sisters. The Easter program of
music was repeated by the choir and
was greatly appreciated and enjoyed
by all.
THE Ethics OF Fraternity" was
the subject OF tie anniversary SER
mon which was given by Rev. A.
Francis Walch, y member of the Or
der and pastor Of the church, and
was filled with respiration and help
for the members of the order.
Rev. Mr.. Walch welcomed the
brothers and sisters to the service,
saying that three years ago they had
attended Il service at the same church
in celebration of the Tooth anniver-
sary of odd Fellowship. He took for
his text Matthew 22:47-31: Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God. with all they heart
and with all thy soul and with all
they mind. This is the first and
great commandment And the sec
ond is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy nejghbor as thyself. On these
| two commandments hang all the law
! and the prophets"
He stated that 103 years ago in a
| popular hotel named "The Seven
Stars" in Baltimore, Nd, Odd hel-
! lowship in America was founded. Odd
Fellowship had been known and
practiced in England previous to
| that time, but the year 1919 marked
the founding Of the order in Amer
lea. Thomas Wildey was the first
noble grand OF Washington Lodge.
No. J.. OF Baltimore. The lodge to
which Rev. Mr.. Walch is a member
was named for Mr.. Wildey.
| The Odd Fellows Is not a political
! organization. 1t stands squarely on
the great fundamental foundation of
life. religion, and that all life at last
is founded on religion. There can be
no lasting life without religion.
| There can be no life. no positive
| growth and development without it.
Religion is never a virtue man pos
sesses apart from the world, but is
something that demands from him,
service. Odd Fellowship Is based on
the fundamental principle that man
is the offspring of God. 1t is thus
! founded on the great thought of the
| J'atherhood of God and the Brother
! hood of man. It insists on a certain
| line Of conduct. It does not protect
! its members in unmanly conduct. but
| the members do protect one another
in time Of sickness. sorrow and
death.
The principle OF Odd Fellowship is
! awe NtIttiSO VA u onS Ol Tie
finest things in the order is the as
ISOLATION and fellowship whereby the
members stand side by side for
mutual protection.
| In the course OF his address, Rev.
Mr.. Walch referred to the beloved
Brother Weston who since the last
anniversary service. has Jared forth
to the great life unknown. The pas
tor spoke Of Mr.. Weston's helpful
manner and warm handclaps long to
be remembered.
1t is a wonderful life we live and
1t is wonderful world in which we
live. said Rev. Mr.. Walch. To feel
our lives linked up in chains Of af-
lection which even death cannot
break. is the finest and most splen-
did thing OF all. Let US cleave to. it
though all else should go to one side.