By G. N. Shears, P.G..

From the Norman Transcript, Saturday, December 20, 1890.

We will now turn our attention to Odd fellowship at the time of its starting point in America. Odd fellowship first made its appearance in Baltimore Maryland April 26th, 1819, instituted by one Thomas Wildley, an Englishman. Thomas Widely was a member of Lodge No. 17 of London. A biographical sketch of the opening of the first Lodge in Baltimore may be of interest. Before the above date, several attempts were made to start a Lodge in this country but for some cause failed. Thomas Wildley arrived in Baltimore Sept 2[n]d, 1817 and he made some attempt to start a lodge soon after his arrival but as I said before, failed. He made a call for a meeting but there was not enough members in the country to constitute a quorum and obtain a charter, and he therefore failed. His first call was March 2[n]d, 1819, which continues for a month but he only drew two members. The call was renewed for April 13th of the same year and it drew two more members making five in all and constituting a quorum. April 26th. they met together at Wildley’s residence and organizations Washington Lodge No. 1, by self-institution. I will not go into details or attempt to follow its history for the first year years as it would require many pages to explain in detail, suffice to say that the feeble glimmering spark momentarily threatened with extinction for the want of proper elements on which to feed its fire,; has increased to a glorious flame, abundantly able to support its own combustion and give warmth and life to all around. That band of five Brethren in Baltimore in 1819 has grown into a mighty army, has spread all over the land with Lodges and Encampments, has grappled with destitution and suffering and driven back the waves of ignorance, vice and selfishness everywhere, has molded into a kindred likeness of benevolence not a few institutions nearly as powerful for good as itself.

Surely when we view the difficulties besetting Odd Fellowship everywhere the humble lives and scanty means of its early members, and then look at its past progress and present condition, we may say it is the Lord’s doing and it marvelous in our eyes.
Odd Fellowship was organized in 1819 amd during the first ten years of it’s decade it mad but little progress. From 1819 to 1879, it gatherned within its folds by initiation 2,714,805 members.
The Grand corresponding and recording secretary in his report presents the following statement of the entire work of the order from 1829 to date: Total relief given for sickness and to widows of deceased members the sum of [$]73/202,835[.]56, total receipts $77,984.169[.]72, total deceased members 120,645, widowed families relieved, 86,351.
The first Odd Fellows hall erected and dedicated for the exclusive use of the order was in Baltimore Maryland, in the year of 1831, for the systemized constitution, for the relief of the sick and distressed, the burial of the dead and the education of the orphan. Here let me say that Maryland alone so much cherishes the order, that the first ten years of her crusade, she placed within the charge of her committee on education 2,744 children. Tell me what church in this land will take the poor orphan children of their denomination place them in school and defray they expenses out of the church. Do you know of any? No, you do not. Of the 2,744 before mentioned, at the end of the ten years 1,119 were still in charge of the committee and over 500 had been placed at trades or some other industrial pursuits, and let me here say to the tax payers of the land did you know or did you ever thing that these secret organizations are every day, week or year, saving you money? No, I dare say such a thought has never entered your mind. Well we are and to convince you of the fact I will give you some examples.