Ohio, acted as the Master of Ceremonies. Other brethren were present from Cincinnati and assisted. Among them was William B. Melish, 33°, later Grand Commander of Ohio. The charter of Enoch Grand Lodge was issued March 19, 1877. The following were the charter members: William M. Cunningham, W. A. Hershiser, David Jones, William E. Moore, B. F. Rees, C. S. Ammel, H. O'Kane, George F. Wheeler, J. M. Stuart, Sidney Moore, Frank Pitman, L. S. Dungan, B. F. Martin, T. B. Ashbury, H. W. Wright, J. B. Potter.

The presiding officers in Enoch Lodge have been: William M. Cunningham, 33 B. F. Reese, 33°; H. O'Kane, 32°; D. N. Kinsman, 33°.

On May twentieth, 1878, charters were issued by the Supreme Council of the Northern Jurisdiction A. and A. S. Rite for the United States of America, to Franklin Council Princes of Jerusalem, and Columbus Chapter Rose Croix. The following is a list of charter members for both bodies: W. A. Hershiser, Henry O'Kane, J. M. Stuart, R. R. Rickly, A. G. Patton, A. B. Coit, O. A. B. Senter, Edward West, T. B. Ashbury, M. D.; S. E. Brown, Sidney Moore, Delaware, Ohio; William E. Moore, Delaware, Ohio; Horace W. Wright, Worthington, Ohio; G. A. Frambes, C. H Lindenberg, Charles Huston, George F. Wheeler, Frank C. Pittman, B. F. Rees.

G. A. Frambes, R. R Rickly and J. C. Fenimore have presided in Franklin Council W. A. Hershiser, C. H. Ostrander, O. A. B. Senter, Theodore P. Gordon and John E. Sater have presided in the chapter. The membership numbers about 360.

ANCIENT ACCEPTED RITE, FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THEIR

TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES.

BY J. J. STODDART, ESQUIRE.

Foreign History.--In the year 1761, there existed in France an order styling itself "the Grand and Sovereign of St. John, established at the Grand East of Paris." On August 27, 1761, this " Sovereign Lodge" granted a patent to a Brother Stephen Morin, with the rank and title of a "Grand Master Inspector," authorizing him to " establish Perfect Masonary in every part of the world." Clothed with these powers Morin sailed for America. At Jamaica, West Indies, he conferred the grades in his possession upon many brethren, giving a number of them patents and the title of Deputy Grand Inspectors-General, with power to confer the degrees and establish bodies. Morin deputized Henry A. Franken, who, in turn, authorized brethren at Albany, New York, in December, 1767, to organize a lodge and confer the degrees "from Secret Master to the twentyninth degree." In 1768. Morin verified an official signed by De Joinville, Count de Choiseul, Prince de Rohan and others as members of the thirtythird degree.

United States History.-In 1801, John Mitchell, Frederick Dalcho, Isaac Auld and Emmanuel de la Motta attempted the organization of a supreme governing body at Charleston, South Carolina. The movement failed, and the organization

was practically dormant for fiftyeight years thereafter. On October 28, 1807, a successful effort to organize a supreme body was made in New York City by Illustrious Joseph Cerneau, assisted by Governor De Witt Clinton, Hon. John W. Mulligan, the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge and Unites States Minister to Greece Hon. Martin Hoffman, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge; C. D. Colden, Mayor of the city, and many other dignitaries and illustrious brethren. Subsequently, General, the Marquis de Lafayette, became Grand Commander of the order. Its title was, "The Ancient Accepted Rite, for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies," taking Jurisdiction over all the States and Territories of the Union, as it was the only active body then in existence. Under this authority subordinate bodies were organized in Ohio.

-

Ohio History. On August 27 and 28, 1884, a delegation from the East of the Order, among whom was the venerable Doctor R. B. Folger, thirtythird degree, the Masonic historian, and the oldest thirtythird Mason living, arrived in Columbus upon invitation and proceeded to organize under dispensation four new bodies of the rite with the assistance of fifty of the local brethren. Before the close of the year the new bodies so prospered that the Supreme Council granted charters to all of them. The four bodies - Lodge, Council, Chapter and Kadosh — controlled and conferred upon candidates all the grades from the 4° to the 30°, inclusive. The following year similar bodies were organized in different parts of the State. Each place where two or more bodies were organized was designated as a valley; the whole State was known as the Orient of Ohio.

On September 4, 1885, the Sovereign Grand Consistory of Ohio, S... P... R ..S... 32, was organized and instituted in Columbus by delegations from the different valleys in the State. The ceremonies were held jointly in the City Hall and in the rooms of the rite in the Johnson Building on South High Street. The Grand Consistory controls and confers the 31 and 32, and is the governing body of the rite in the State, being clothed with executive and legislative powers. It is a representative body, all 32 degree members holding membership therein.

On June 24, 1886, the Grand Consistory and local bodies dedicated with imposing ceremonies, for their joint use, the Masonic Cathedral," located at 186 South Third Street. It had been purchased and erected for their benefit by a joint stock company. The building, especially in its interior arrangement for conferring the grades and its decoration, is one of the finest of the kind in the world. The occasion was a notable one in the history of the city, the building being crowded to its utmost capacity by the members of the rite, their ladies and invited guests. The press at the time paid a glowing tribute to the order and its work. The officers of the Grand Consistory for the present year are:

J. J. Stoddart, 33°, Ill.Commander in Chief; A. B. Čoit, 33°, Ill. · .Dep. · · Commander in Chief; S. H. Nicholas, 33°, Ill. First Lieut..Commander; F. M. Chandler, 33°, Ill. .Second Lieut..Commander; E. B. Finley, 33°, Ill... Minister of State and G..Orator; W. Taft, 33°, Ill. Grand Chancellor; J. A. Sarber, 33°, Ill. Grand Treasurer; Jas. C. Kroesen, 33°, Ill. Grand Secretary and K..of S. & A.·. ; C. H. Lander, 33°, Ill..Grand Prior; W. C. Gear, 33°, III. • . Grand Master of Ceremonies; E. J. Brown, 33°, Ill. · .Grand Engineer and Architect; C. C. Wiles, 33°, Ill. Grand Marshal; J. D. Mitchell, 32°, Ill. Grand Standard-Bearer; A. B. Broes, 32°, Ill. Grand Captain of Guards; Rev. Willis Palmer, 32°, Ill. Grand Sentinel; A. L. Vogt 32°, Ill. Gr..Hospitaller.

The bodies subordinate to the Grand Consistory of Ohio, Headquarters at Masonic Cathedral of Ohio, South Third Street, Columbus, are as follows:

Valley of Columbus -Columbus Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Columbus Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°; Columbus Chapter Rose Croix, 15°; Columbus Council Knights Kadosh, 30.

Valley of Bucyrus - Bucyrus Grand Lodge of Perfection, 13°; Bucyrus Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°; Bucyrus Chapter Rose Croix, 18°; Bucyrus Council Knights Kadosh, 30°. Valley of Cincinnati -Cincinnati Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Cincinnati Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°; Cincinnati Chapter Rose Croix, 15°; Cincinnati Council Knights Kadosh, 30°.

Valley of Zanesville - Zanesville Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Zanesville Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°; Zanesville Chapter Rose Croix, 15°; Zanesville Council Knights Kadosh, 30°.

Valley of Cleveland-Cleveland Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Cleveland Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°; Cleveland Chapter Rose Croix, 15°; Cleveland Council Knights of Kadosh, 30°.

Valley of McConnellsville – McConnellsville Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; McConnellsville Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°.

Valley of Newark Newark Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Newark Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°.

Valley of Felicity -Felicity Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Felicity Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°.

Valley of Coshocton -Coshocton Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Coshocton Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°.

Valley of Upper Sandusky-Upper Sandusky Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Upper Sandusky Council Princes of Jersualem, 16°.

Valley of Delaware - Delaware Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°; Delaware Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°.

Since its establishment in Ohio, the Order has been steadily growing in numbers and influence Among its members are to be found congressmen, judges and officials of the civil courts, ministers of the Gospel and respected and influential members of all the professions and trades. It trains man to respect and practice the duties he owes to his God, his country, his neighbor, his family and himself. Its teachings and practices are moral and elevating to mankind, pointing the human mind to a more noble and sublime state of human happiness and existence.

CHAPTER XLIX

ASSOCIATIVE ORGANIZATIONS -II.

ODD FELLOWSHIP.

BY CHARLES L. YOUNG, P. G. M. AND G. R.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a secret, charitable organization. Its secrecy consists in the possession of an unwritten and unspoken language, intelligible only to members, which serves simply for mutual recognition.

In the early years of the last century one of the English organizations held for awhile to the tradition that the name of Odd Fellow was given to this order by Titus Cæsar in the year 79 of the Christian era; but, regardless of Old World traditions it may truthfully be stated that the Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a comparatively modern institution, though it has gained a prominent ascendency in numerical strength and farreaching influence. Without seeking to establish for it a veiled origin in the misty shades of the past, it may suffice to say in this connection that among the earliest reliable reminiscences of the order dating back to the year 1700, or earlier, were unions of various trades or crafts, subsequently known as Odd Fellow Craftsmen, and still later as the Ancient and Honorable Loyal Odd Fellows, from whom, early in the present century, there came several orders or kindred associations, all prompted by considerations of social and fra ternal interest. Chief among these was the Manchester Unity, organized in England in 1812, and having a membership today of nearly 700,000. From this last named institution came American Odd Fellowship.

A Grand

Odd Fellowship in America.-Attempts were made as early as 1804 to establish a lodge in New York; but the first successful lodge, the first with strength enough to keep alive, was founded April 26, 1819, at the Seven Stars Inn, Baltimore, Maryland. Thomas Wildey, John Duncan, John Welch, John Cheatham and Richard Rushworth united in Washington Lodge, Number One. The beginning and the success of the movement came from Wildey's zeal and energy. Lodge was formed February 22, 1821; the "Grand Lodge of the United States was formed January 15, 1825, with Thomas Wildey as Grand Sire. To Augustus Mathiot the order is indebted for its emancipation from the convivial character; to Father Wildey for its early extension and its union in one harmonious body, to accomplish which he traveled thousands of miles and gave time and labor; and to

James Lot Ridgely (born in 1807, died 1881), who entered the order in 1829 and became Grand Secretary in 1841, for much of its organization and growth, for its rise in character and influence. Space fails us to tell of Kennedy, Griffin, Colfax, Chapin, Nicholson, Ross, White, Underwood, and others who have helped to make the order what it boasts itself today.

Since 1843 the order in America has had no connection with that in Great Britain, and no previous year in its history has witnessed such large increase in membership, receipts and relief disbursements as the last. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows extends over the United States and Canada, and to the following foreign countries: Australia, New Zealand, Sandwich Islands, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Cuba, Mexico, Chili and Peru. There are over 9,000 subordinate lodges, having upwards of 650,000 members within its home jurisdiction, and an associate membership of 60,000 Daughters of Rebekah, thus making its numerical representation about 710,000 in this country -the 56,000 brothers constituting the remaining membership of the 2,016 Rebekah Degree lodges (their whole membership being now over 100,000), and the 108,000 belonging to the 2.133 encampments, with about 25,000 Patriarchs Militant, being, of course, included in the membership of subordinate lodges. The disbursements for relief purposes during the year 1890 were over $3,000,000, and the amount disbursed by the order since its institution in America reaches the immense sum of over $50,000,000.

Odd Fellowship in Ohio.-- The first meeting to consider petitions for a lodge was held in June, 1830, in a chamber over the barroom of the Porter House on the corner of Third and Walnut streets in Cincinnati. The petition was signed by Nathaniel Estling, C. Haskin, J. Brice, J. W. Holt, Thomas L. Bedford and J. Gill. At a special session of the Grand Lodge of the United States held October 31, 1830, the petition for a charter for Ohio Lodge Number One was granted and representative James Paul, of Pittsburgh, was commissioned to institute the lodge, which he did on December 23, 1830, in a room located in the second story of Johnson's Row on Fifth Street, between Walnut and Vine. The first Noble Grand in Ohio was Jacob W. Holt; the Secretary was Samuel Cobb. The first social gathering was held December 24, 1830, at the Hole-in-the-Wall restaurant, on the southwest corner of Walnut and Fifth streets, in honor of James Paul, who instituted the lodge. The first sick benefits paid in Ohio were awarded to Charles F. Hastings, January 31, 1831, amount, $3. The first parade in Ohio took place in June, 1831, on which occasion an oration was delivered by Brother Joseph Barclay. The Grand Lodge of Ohio was organized under dispensation of January 2, 1832. Brother Richard G. Cheavens was the first Grand Master, and Samuel Cobb the first Grand Secretary. The first Odd Fellows' funeral was that of Brother Ezekial Carpenter, of Ohio Lodge Number One, which took place on April 30, 1832, and the Masonic burial service was used. Grand Sire Thomas Wildey visited for the first time an Odd Fellows' Lodge in Ohio on December 3, 1832, and was welcomed in an able manner by Samuel Yorke Atlee, N. G. of Ohio Lodge Number One. The first Encampment in Ohio was instituted some time in December, 1832, at Cincinnati, by Grand Sire Thomas Wildey, and was named Wildey Encampment Number One. The first Chief Patriarch was Jacob W. Holt and the first Scribe was A. A. Pruden. The Grand Encampment of Ohio was organized September 24, 1839, by Patriarch James Read. The first Grand Patriarch was R. R. Andrews and the first Grand Scribe was Jacob Keller. The first Canton, Patriarchs Militant, was mustered in January, 1887. General Henry M. Inuis was the first Commandant. The first Rebekah Degree Lodge was instituted at Cincinnati, October 29, 1869, and named "Ivy." John W. Car er was Noble Grand, Julia A. Bird Secretary. The first State Assembly of the Daughters of Rebekah was organized at Columbus April 13, 1887. Mrs. Lida Leaman,