ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10317, 28 January 1927, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

ORIGIN OF THE ORDER. ADDRESS BY BRO. WILLIAMSON. (Special to the Times.) opotiki, jan. 25. Brother A. J) Williamson I'M. of Auckland gave a very instruc f e and interesting lecture on Tuesday evening to the Sisters of Princess Mary Lodge Opotiki and the Brethren of Opotiki Lodge No. .58. The N.G. Bro. AV. J, Canes was in the chair and in a brief speech introduced Bro. Williamson.

In comencing his. lecture the speaker paid a tribute to the late Grand ,Secretary Bro. Williamson Read to whom lie owed a debt ol gratitude for much valuable advice and assistance.

The lecturer then went on to liken the order to a pyramid, the base being the subordinate male lodge, the second section the Rebekah branch, the third section the Encampment or Partriarchal Branch, and the apex, the Patriarchs Militant. “We cannot claim for our order," said Bro. Williamson “a venerable antiquity. Our Society is over a century old having celebrated its centenary on the March 2d, 1919. it was formed in the year 1819 and had the humblest beginning in Washington Lodge No. 1 opened at Seven Stars Tavern Baltimore, U.S;A., by Tlcomas Wildev and four other Englishmen, who had brought with them from the land of their birth the spirt t of thrift and independence which is characteristic of the Anglo Saxons. Little did they think that the small grain of' mustard seed then planted was to grow into a mighty tree whose branches would cover the earth. Lt was at first a .branch of the N.Z.U. 1.0.0. F. of England and for a number of years had a hard struggle against the prejudice which attached to secret societies, a prejudice which was caused by secret societies having been formed not for “peace and goodwill but solely against Jaw and order.”

“In 1826, the American Order was granted a dispensation empowering the members to conduct the business of Oddfellowship without the interference of any other country. Mutual relations between the two Societies continued until 1813, when a complete severance took place. What would have been the destiny of the 1.0.0. F. had there been no severance it is needless to discuss. As a social and fraternal institution we may assume that it would not have had the normal influence its beautiful ritual and teachings now confer on it. Various endeavours have been made from time to time to bring the two Societies into closer union but all such attempts have failed. It is possibly better that each should work out its own destiny in friendly rivalry. “In the early days the ritual was crude and ungrammatical in its constitution. Bro. J. L. Ridgley for over'4o years Grand Secretary of Sovereign Lodge was the first to initiate improvements and the present beautiful P.G. charge, unsurpassed in any ritual was the work of his pen.” The lecturer then proceeded to exi# plain the context of the Initiatory Ritual which in 1869 consisted of five degrees. Very little attempt was ever made in those days at memorising the ritual; the task would have been stupendous. In 1813 a charter was granted for a lodge at Hamburg, Germany and the flag of Oddfellowship was for the first time planted outside of me American Continent, and among an alien people. It has since waved triumphantly over 14 countries and its ritual and teachings are exemplified in nine languages. in 1869 the 1.0.0. F. was planted in Australia and New Zealand, superceding the* A. 1.0. OF., a Br.tish branch of Odd fellowship which has now entire! v disappeared. At that time there were 69 lodges in Australia and New Zealand with 4,208 members, at the 'present time there are 425 lodges with 40623^ members and funds totalling £511,267. Since 1569 there have been three changes in the name of the ruling power of Oddfellowship viz. ‘Jhc. Grand Lodge of the United States” “The Supieme Grand Lodge.” and finally “The Sovereign Grand Lodge.’' Throughout the lodges of the different countries' there are now close on three million members. The total_ relief paid last year was £1,457,570. In the period 1830 to 1913 4,288,523 members have been relieved and 341,247, orphaned families have received assistance. Bro. Williamson then gave exhaustive figures relating to the formation of Rebekah Lodges which received their first charter in 1868. In Australasia there arc now 98 lodges with 5423 members. The Rebekah Emblems with their meanings were then fnllv explained. The rest of the Pyramid was then gone into fully by Bro. Williamson, who kept his hearers interested up to the last moment by his lucid explanations of The Encampment,' Patriarchal and Patriarchs Militant Degrees. Much of the lecture was entirely new to most present, and it is safe to say that all considered it an intellectual treat which it is hoped Bro. Williamson will allow other lodges the privilege of hearing. At the close a hearty vote or thanks was passed, on the motion ot Bro. W. J. Caves, seconded by Sister Quirk, and carried with acclamation.