Evening star., 1936-03-29
By John ClageH Proctor.


Of the District of Columbia was laid
under the auspices of the Masonic
order, which also participated in the
laying Of the corner stone Of the
Capitol and probably played large
part in the early construction of the
White House. But the Masonic fra
ternity was in existence many years
before Washington was even thought
of and it is but natural that it should
take leading part in the exercises
and events associated with the be-
ginnings of the Nations Capital.
However, it was not many years
after the Capital was moved here be-
fore an entirely new organization
made its appearance in Baltimore ano
a short while later became firmly
established in Washington. This new
body was the Independent Order OF
Odd Fellows, which was first success
fully started in Baltimore in April
1919, and which had its beginning in
the District of Columbia eight years
later. 1t is still fourishing after
the lapse of more than century.
The beginning of this order In
America, as we know it to be, is just
" attributed to an unlettered black
smith named Thomas Wildey and, as
has been said, ito the matchless force
of his scholarly mentor and coad-
jutor, James L. Ridgely"-the former
the founder, the latter the skillful
mind that elevated and improved 1t
to the great ideal of its institution.
Thomas Wildey. according to an
early account, was born in the City
of London on the 18th of January
1882. After learning the trade OF
blacksmith, he married and emf
grated to America in 1917, arriv-
ing in Baltimore on September 2 OF
that year.
Before he embarked from Liver
pool he had been initiated in the
Order of Odd Fellows of London and
served in every Office of the lodge
from the lowest to the highest. At
that time Baltimore was compare
lively a small city of some $4,000 in
habitants. In 1918 Wildey made the
acquaintance of John WEIGH, who
d
England. Resolving upon plan and
holding to the ancient requirement
for five charter members, they re-
sorted to a notice in the newspapers
on February 13. 1919, requesting a
meeting of all Odd Fellows on March
3, 1919, for consultation upon the
subject of forming a lodge. In an
sver to this, there appeared John
Duncan and John Cheathem, the
former Of whom claimed to have been
initiated into a lodge of the order in
Baltimore in 1902 and upon examina-
ton he was found accurate in the
password, sign and grip. Cheathem
had been a member of the order in
England.
Having failed to secure the fifth
member, a second notice was published
March 27, 1919, requesting meet
ing on April 2, which brought out
Richard Rushworth, who had been
initiated in London This made the
number complete and on April 26,
1919, the five met in an upper room
at the Sign of the Seven Stars, a
tavern kept by William Lupton on the
south side of Second street, between
Frederick street and Marsh Market
space, and then and there organized
the first Odd Fellows lodge on this
continent, at least the lodge which
the order recognizes and accepts as
the original This was called Wash
ington Lodge, No. l.
THE Sign of the Seven Stars" was
not a bar room or saloon, as some
might infer, but rather a typical old
time inn, where travellers generally
stopped over night and were furnished
with meals. Naturally, as was Gus
tomary at the time, liquor was sold
on the premises, just as 1t was for
merly customary, within our recollec-
ton, for nearly all hotels to sell drinks
to customers. It was in these taverns
that all kinds of public meetings were
generally held, and continued to be
so held, until the demand for halls
and special meeting places caused
their erection.
This old tavern is said to have been
In a part of Baltimore mostly occu-
pied by oyster cellars and restaurants,
'many of which were respectable
places. of which Luptons was one" 1t
consisted of three stories and an attic
room. which was occupied by Wash
ington Lodge. It's furnishings con-
sisted Of benches. several ruSh-bottom
chairs and a rude table. The light
ing was by candles, contained in tin
10 fn
further related that secrecy could be
secured only by locked door, and
that the secret work had to be con-
Quoted in whispers.
From here the first lodge moved to
Frederick street, along the water
front, and in 1922 took up its head
quarters in room in private dwell
ing. Finally, in 1880, after meeting
at several other places, it was deter
mined to erect its own hall, which
was completed and dedicated April
26, 1881, with imposing ceremonies.
There was a parade of 600 Odd Fel-
lows. and exercises were held in Trim
tty Episcopal Church in Baltimore,
the only church they were then per-
nitted to enter.
Washington played very impor-
tant part in the furtherance and up
building of this Nationwide order,
and as early as 1927 we find Thomas
M Albeit, Robert Boyd, John Cragg.
Thomas Smith and Samuel Knapp
applying to the Grand Lodge of the
United States, at Baltimore, for a
charter. This petition, according to
the record. was acted upon at a spe-
cial meeting held in the Monumental
City on November IL, 1927, which
was opened in regular form with
Thomas Wildey, grand sire, presiding,
and, "the petition having been duly
considered, on motion. it was
Resolved, that the charter be
granted to the above-named petit
TONERS, and that the said lodge be
opened on the 26th of November,
1927.
ION motion it was ordered that
Grand Sire Wildey be deputed to