The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 18, 1904, Page 2

GENEJS1S D DE ODD FELLO\ JAMES G MAGUIRE BY ent Order of 0Odd (Lu\l! lhe gr:nle'( of American d easily rank- fraternal aternal orders, an nd among the orders ¢f the world, had its origin in the city of Baltimore on the 26th day of April, 1819, and at that time con- sisted of just five members, Thomas Wildey, John Welch, John Duncan, John Cheatham and Robert Rush- worth, whose names, with ever in- creasing veneration, are everywhere honored by members of our frater- ¥. They founded the order upon and dedicated it to the principles of 'rx'rds?’i[, love and truth ual lief in distress and sickne care of the sick, burial of the elief of the widows and education of the or- phans of dec thren, as very important but incide dutigs and purposes. The great ultimate purpose eing to fraterr brotherly the world; to make universal bhasjs of and the universal- tie , ereeds and nations of nake 2ll men feel an in- atrolling sense of duty: ked in t o Throughcut the eighty-five years of its existence no substantial change has findamental prin- but their téac and practical application have. during 1at period, brought to the order mill- ns of earnest and faithfu! men and, n later years, hundreds of thousands of devoted women, all eagerly wi to devote their lives to the pr f the principies and purposes order, satisfied that this world more certain way which surely follows a Most of this work ffords to the well as been nct in the glare of day nor be- the gaze of applauding multitudes, no better or reward n the s w-burdened homes of the poor and the sorrowful cham- bers of sickness and death, These duties bring exquisite pieasures as well as trying sorrows to their devotees, because those who minister to the vic- tims of sick suffering and helplesspeos ciously share every feeling of relief which' their de- votlon brings to those whom t nd, and thorot ur.r) expression a which their servic sires soon come to enjoy such service, and going beyond the fraternal eagerly minister to strange tress Birth of the Order in California. When, upon the discovery of gold in California _the mad rush for wealth can the civilize ed one of tt the worl mists call for existence nd of the the atter ant of that stru he surviva he fittest.” er the n Save hir who human lif on the Pac succession « sti utiora stricke- h d iing afft r ads who d ealth iventurcus jou themrelves be this enviror est the purpose of trainir of among tself rs of th army f the g y placed their du lightly put the mad that higher race for wealt duty and t its systematic performance by the es and others ugh the familiar machinery of the ubordinate Lodge. The Pioneer Lodzes. Premipted by these motives and for thess purposes. Califorria Lodge No, 1 of the Indcpendent Order of Odd Fel- wag organized in San Franc the Sth day of September, 1849. method of its organizaticn and means adonted for extraordipary, not to say tragic, in the earpestness of the brethren inter- ested. Members of the order repeatedly went through the streets ringing bells and calling upon Odd Fellcws to meet with them and organize a lodge. These efforts were made in May and re- peated in August, 1849, succeeding at last on the 9th of September of that year, when Brother James Smiley, un- der dispensation from Grand Sire Horn R. Kneass, organized California Lodge No, 1 with the following named charter members; Robert H. Taylor, noble grand: H. W. Herley, vice-grand; C. E. Franklin, secretary; John M. Coughlin, treasurer, and Brothers Julius Rose. William Burling, J. L. Dali, David Jobson and Loujs Tremble. Theee men. of whom R. H. Tayior (ex- Distriet Judge) is the scle survivor, with a number of brethren holding vis- iting cards from Jodges in the Atlantic States, Who readily and earnestly worked with them but would not sur- render membership in their home lodges to join the new lodge, nobly carried on the work and advanced the e of Odd Fellowship in Califcrnia. Unfortunately for the history of the order in California, the récords of the parent Jodge were destroyed by fire and its work in the most interesting 2nd trying of be early days is only a tradition. g¢ sums of money are known to e been contributed by The the that purpose were Fellows and others,ar itnfully uxrwnded by the lodge in the care and relief of the sick and- destitute who came within the sccpe of their bene- ficence. It is estimated that fully $100,000 was ralsed and expended in California in this benewolent work of 0dd Fellowship during the period be-' tween September 9, 1849, and May 17, 1858. On January 28, 1851, Sacramento Lodge No. 2 was instituted=by James Smiley, whe in the meantinie had been appointed special deputy grand sire of the order for California, with the fol- lowing nam chaster members: Lu- cius A. Boofh, William Childs, Martin C. Coliins, N. C, Cunningham, Samuel Deal, M. Kalisher, G. Horatio E. Roberts, Robert Robinson and George W. Wright. The early work of this lodge was made famous through the extfaordinary and inde- pendent industry of the late Dr. John F. Mors he second grand master of who was afterward hon- th a. special commission as grand sire to introduce and in- the order in Germany in 1870, as in San Francisco, brethran vieiting cards from Eastern cdevoted themselves with hero- self-sacrifice to the cause of the order and the general service of suffering humanity in' that section of our new State. On Ju 1851, San Francisco Lodge No. 3 was ituted by Deputy Grand Bire Smiley, in San Francisco, with Brothers Jesse Boring, Philo White, 1. Joseph, Edwin Hudson, R. O. Sturdi- vant, M. 8. Buckelew, T. Rodgers Johnson and J. W. Young as the char- ter members. It turred out that the whole proceeding for the institution of this lodge was irregular, but that did not interfere with the earnestness of its members in the beneficent work of 0Odd Fellowship nor with the splendid position which that work secured for it in the history of the order on the Pacific Coast. It, of course, received the necessary legal sanction as soon as possible after the irregularity of its organization was discovered. Eureka Lodge No. 4 of Sacramento was illegally but effectively instituted by Brothers W. J. Tilley, W, H. Wat- son, A. J. Lucas, T. M. Davis, George 1. N. Mcnell, A. P. Andrews, R. Porter, Thomas Bunderland, John Turper and David Hall, on January 7, 1852, under a dispensation irregularly issued to them directly for the purpose of insti- H. ‘Peterson, ™ THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. g stil ut;:.-umgl apn honored -place and holds its number and position nnonl the lodges of the State. Yulba Lodge No. 5 was next imzl- tuted at Marysville by Brothers L. B. Farrish, J. 8. Benton, Samuel McHays, I Totman, J. H. Scates, Thomas A. Stombs, Mark Brumagin, C. N. Gray, DeWitt Rice, Lewis Bodelet, J. G. B. /#poro by Backus Studio. PAST GRAND REPR.EJ‘ENTATIVE - the order, it hgd difficulty fn securing recogniion, finally ‘given to it by charter of the Grand Lodge cf California, afterward organized. Charity Lodge No. 6 was instituted in the city of Stockton on February 14, 1852, under a dispensation issued by’ |District Deputy Grand Sire John M. “which, = i however, was l JAMES G. MAGUIRE, PAST GRAND REPRESENTATIVE. l yet been recognized as a regular Knapp, Arthur Polock, R. Rush, R. T. Gilmore, J. Kaplar, -J. W. Winter, John C. Fall and L. Hite. The insti- tution of this lodge was also irregular, Coughlin, Ly Brothers E. G, Greenfield, H. O. Matthews, C. J. 1 Bixler. K. Samuel M. McLean. W The accredited circum- 3 Chambeérlain, Garvin and h\use of>a stranger, made a reque that an Odd Fellow ‘should be fonm\ and breught to him. No other member ~of the‘erder was then known to the * people in the ho but inquiry ng industriously made, a brother of the order was found, who cared for the glek brother during his lifetime, and upon his death, advertised for Odd Fel- lows to asgemble to attend the funeral. Enough of 0dd Fellows assembled In l’EipOns«. to thl| call to form Charity Lodge, which bas ever since devoted itself most nobly to thé cawse of Odd Fellowship. Auburn Lodge No. 7 was instituted at Auburn, Placeér -County, on October 7, 1862, under a dispensation issued to Past’ Grand George I. N. Monell, the charter members being James B. Squire, John F. Scott' James Bowen, James E. Miller and Hensen Hagzell. and the last of the lodges gen- spoken of as’ the “Pioneer of California,” was El Dorado No. 8; instituted at Sur;@:nm )n September 4, 1852, under a en- sation issued for that purpose to Past Grand John M. Morse. The charter meémbers of the lodge were: Alex. Arm- strong, George W. Chedie, J. F. Clout- man, L. D, Kelley, John S.” Kohn, ames T, Scott, Lewis Korn, E. Joseph Thomas B. Morse, L. J. Polhemus Next, and Walter Prosser. The charter membership of. these ploneer lodges constitute a roll of honor, justly prized by their descend- ants and by-the great body of Odd Fellows who have succeeded to their labors and their honors. Organization of the Grand Lodge in California. . On May 17, 1853, the Grand Lodge of California of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized in San Francisco, with representatives of all of the above mentioned lodges present 5 and participating, with the exception of Yuba Lodge No. 5, which had net lodge order. amuel H. Pavker of San e No. and master: Franeisco warden: tuting the lodge. Its institution was and, although fits men:lber!hip was stance giving birth to this lodge was todger likewise validated afterward and it faithful to the spirit and purpose of pathctic. An Odd Fellew, dyving in 1cisco Lodge No. 3 @® 2500055 R D A s A SO A S BN RE RO & PAST GRAND MASTERS AND DATE OF SERVICE | SAMUEL H. PARKER...........1853.54 .,. Decensed GEORGE A. CASE...... L1870-80 .. cancd 2 JOHN F. MORSE... . +..1854-55 Deceased EZRA FE \"‘J()\ e 18N0-81 .Penryn & B. W. COLT... cesieds hasmai s+ MEOB-BS DAVIS LOUDERBACH + San Francisco & H. M. HEUSTON. 1856-57 LEON D. PFREER....... & W. H. WATSON. ‘1 1857-58 W. W. MORROW. . b2 J. L. VAN BOKKELEN. . L. L. ALEXANDER. WILLIAM M. ALLEN T. R. KIBBE . Jd. A. J. BOHEN. . DAVID KENDALL.. J. A, McCLELLAND C. O. BURTON. ..... I. N. RANDOLPH CHARLES N. VOX.. C. S. HASWELL. -l()H\' B. HARMON. . W, DANNALS. . RF\‘ WILLIAM H. HIDL A. C. BRADFORD. RANDALL CHARLES H. 187213 ... 1838-59 1859-60 1860-61. . 1861-62 . 1862-63 . 1863-G4 1864-05 ... 1863-60 ;.. 1806-67 .. 1807-G8 ... 1865-60 ... 1869-70 ... 1870-74 1871-72 1873-74 +00v e 187475 1875-36 1876-77 187718 1878:79 P. SMITI. R, H. LLOYD C. N. JENKIN JOHN bLAhS()\L Sive J. N. E. WILSON GEORGE W. STOCKW J. F. THOMPSON, W. A. BONYNGE M. G. GILL. A!H ANIEL COOK. . MCEACHRAN FIWAOD BRU NER KARL €. BRUECK. . W. V. WATSON. ... WILLIAM NICHOLLS JR. . 1886-87 JU1801.02 ©. 1896-07 .. 1900-1: lbl‘.l~ 85 1845-86 Deceased Helenn i 1887-85 188880 $89-90 §60-01 1802-03 1803-94 1891-95 1863-96 189708 .. 1808:99 . 1800160 ... roeno Lton uu Angrics “San Francisen Dmuh Flag % 2‘) : g v:«.uu 2 Rosa .wm-mh: 5 962- 1905 .. 1003-1904 .. .1904-1903 .. -Red Blal Erncramento - better condition than it is in California, loughnn of California. Lodge No. was efected grand treasurer; Zac of Charity Lodge D grand marshal: L. California Lodge No. 1 was grand conductor, and A. J Eureka Lodge No. 4 was elected grand guardian. elected Lucas of Rapid Growth. The great growth of the Caljfornia dates from the oygar of its Grand Lodge, since which time its work In every direction has been systematically directed and controlled, and those intrusted with the control of its organizatlon and its work have been and are among the best and most honored citizens. of the Pacific Coast. I ‘cAn perhaps best illustrate the steady growth of the order in Califor- nia ard the immensity of its benefi- cencé by quoting the following state- megpt fgom a brief f Odd Fel- lowship-In Californ ently written order in tion A re by the late past grand master, Charles N. Fox, in which he says “For fully forty years after the or- ganization of our Grand Lodge the order moved constantly forward, never making a .backW¥ard ster is tosday the largest fraterrfal orga ization in the Stfte and best equipped for the great work in which it is en- gaged. From 1853 to 1894 each succeed- ing year showed a steady increase in membership. Following the flnancial crash in 1893 which affected not only our State, but our whole country, there were four years-of ‘hard times,’ as we had never experienced before, duving each of ‘which there was a small decrease in membership, but the total decrease for the four years was but nd in the year 1898 the mem- bership again began to increase, and it Is now mounting upward in and promises soon to’reach a number high- er than ever befor it has not sady done so. the ince the g our period Gragd ), f veting populat of »ne out of every nine and forty-f -hundredths vote . Stat 3 ubt, if Jur o ¢ v tter pro rata of m ceipts from E e perfod ‘were the elose ‘of bordinate loc pos to the amo lug that tt purpeses hav e have n to no Prescnt Volune of Sipee t outline rder ther Fox's 3 T nd th-~ $200,00¢ per annum. dor at large h hty proporti t ges with a tot harity moic | member- 7.324 members, the net gain far the last year b 1,885, gains having been made in in avhieh the except very State ine Republic the total decreas and, useful- ns, is -In ness where. In addition to the sabordinate lodges, are to be added to the gireng of the order 6135 Rebekah lodges th a total membership of 44,721 f the order The subordinate lodg large expended du the last fiseal year for relief and charity $3,- 1 Lodge, soon to is e supreme legis- ! the Independent Order of Odd Fel 8 of the world and is de up of representatives of all ex- ve bedy Grand Lodges. (3 there represented vas: cxce ml our Golden State in thefr mem- bership rolis, rotably Pegnsylvania with 117,474 members, New York with 0,251, Tiincls with 63,716,_Indiana with 62,200, Massgchusetts and Ifowa with ‘mote than 5,000 each, but in no juris diction is the order more aclve ror i there any othef Jurisdicticn i which the number of } Odd Feilows Lears:a greeter proportion to the en- tire poptilation of the State. such ;