ORIGIN OF ODD-FELLOWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 577, 6 November 1869, Page 3

ORIGIN OF ODD-FELLOWS.

The origin of the Order of OddFellows is of an ancient date; it was established by the Eoman soldiers in camp after the Order of Israelites, during the reign of Nero, the Eoman Emperor, who commenced his reign A.D. 55, at which time they were called Fellow-Citizens. The name of Odd-Fellows was given to this order of men (A.D. 79) by Titus Csesar, emperor of Eome, from the singularity of notions, and from their knowing each other by night as well as day, and for their fidelity to him and their country. He not only gave them the name of Odd-Fellows, but, at the same time, as a pledge of friendship presented them with a Dispensation engraved on the Ark of Titus Csesar, ithe Ark of the Covenant, the Golden Candlesticks, the G olden Table (weighing one great talent), the Sun for N.G., the Moon and Star for V.G., a Lamp for Secretary, the Lion for the Guardian, the Dove for Warden, and the Emblems ef Mortality for the &M. It is very probable that the first Odd-Fellows made their appearance in North Wales about that time, as an invasion was made by one of Titus Caesar's generals (Agricola) on North Wales, and shortly afterwards on the island of Mono, now called Anglesea. The first account we have of the Order spreading into other ) countries, is in the fifth century, when it was established in the Spanish dominions, under the Eoman dispensation; and in the sixth century, by King Henry in Portugal; and in the twelfth century it was established in France, and afterwards in England by John D'Neville, attended by five knights from France, who formed a Loyal Grand Lodge of Honor in London, which Order remained until the reign of George 111, when a party of them began to form themselves into a Union, and a portion of them remain nnto this day; on this account the lodges which remain, and are very numerous throughout the world, call themselves Loyal Ancient Independent Odd-Fellows, being a portion of the | original body.