liili

 
 UCSB LIBRARY
 
 EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 €)5()-iell0iu0!]ip. 
 
 ' Odd-Fellows, when together met, 
 Are not, perhaps, so odd a set 
 
 As many people say ; 
 Unless, indeed, it odd may be, 
 That they should meet for charity, 
 
 And conscience take for pay.' 
 
 GEM. 
 
 BY DARIUS FORBES. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 B. B. MUSSEY, 29 COHNHILL 
 
 LOWELL: 
 POWERS & BAGLEV, 23 CENTRAL ST. 
 
 18 4 5.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 
 
 1845, 
 
 Bv Darius Forbes, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 J. N. BANG, Pr., 40 Cornhill.
 
 MECHANICS AND OBERLIN 
 
 Cobges of 5. ©. of ©. if. in Cotuell, 
 
 THIS LITTLE VOLUME 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED AS 
 
 A TOKEN OF THE 
 
 GRATITUDE THE AUTHOR CHERISHES, 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 NUMEROUS MANIFESTATIONS 
 
 OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND CONFIDENCE, 
 
 WHICH THEY HAVE 
 
 SO GENEROUSLY AND KINDLY 
 
 BESTOWED UPON HIM. 
 
 D. F.
 
 Pnface. 
 
 This little work was undertaken, in 
 consequence of the deep and fervent in- 
 terest the author feels, in the institution 
 of Odd-Fellowship, and from a sincere 
 and earnest desire to have its true char- 
 acter understood, and its objects and pur- 
 poses duly appreciated, both by those 
 who may be disposed to become mem- 
 bers, and the community at large. 
 
 It has been the aim, in the preparation 
 of this book, to study both unity and bre- 
 vity, in as great a degree, as the nature 
 of the subject will admit, and as is con- 
 sistent with its aims and objects. No la- 
 bor or pains have been spared, to make 
 it of practical utility to the brotherhood. 
 It has been the design to present a clear 
 and distinct view of the character of the 
 institution, in its several relations and 
 bearings, for the instruction of brothers, 
 and to afford them the means of present- 
 ing those around them, with distinct con-
 
 ceptions of our institution, against which 
 there exists much prejudice, in many 
 minds, much of which, it is believed, may 
 be removed, by a simple exposition of its 
 character and methods of operation. 
 
 If this little w^ork shall contribute any 
 thing to the instruction or edification of 
 the members of our fraternity ; toward 
 giving the unitiated, as well as the initia- 
 tiated, more just and distinct conceptions 
 of the nature, character, aims and pur- 
 poses of our beloved Order, or do any 
 thing toward allaying the prejudices of 
 any mind against it, it M^ill afford the au- 
 thor the most sincere gratification. 
 
 D. F. 
 
 Lowell, April 1845. 
 
 Note. This little book is inscribed to the Me- 
 chanics and Oberlin Lodges, while there are two 
 sister Lodges in the same city. This is not done 
 on account of any want of respect for the other 
 Lodges ; but because the author feels under peculiar 
 obligations to these Lodges for personal and espe- 
 cial favors received from them as Lodges.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PREFACE, ----- 5 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Introduction, - - _ _ 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Institution of Odd-Fellowship 
 considered in its pecuniary charac- 
 ter, ----- 18 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Institution of Odd-Fellowship 
 considered in its social character, 29 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Institution of Odd-Fellowship 
 considered in its moral and religious 
 character, - - _ _ - 39 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Objections to the Institution of Odd- 
 Fellowship considered, - - 48 
 
 1. Secret Institution— 2. Selfish in its char- 
 acter— 3. Dangerous to the community — 
 4. Little regard is paid to the rules of the 
 Order bv its members.
 
 VIU CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Conclusion, - - - - - 67 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 List of Lodges, etc., - - - 75
 
 (!J^^-^M^l^,A 
 
 i\y b \v V IV 
 
 OlIjQptcr 3.- 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ' Wkex nature first sprang into life, 
 And all was fresh with youth, 
 The first instruction man received, 
 Was " Friendship, Love and Truth." ' 
 
 OEM. 
 
 Odd-Fellowship is an institution 
 which has attracted little attention, un- 
 til within a few years. This is especi- 
 ally true with reference to the United 
 States. In Europe, it has been longer 
 known. Recently, however, it has se- 
 cured the attention of the whole coun- 
 try, and all classes of our citizens are 
 watching its operations with intense 
 interest, to determine whether its in- 
 fluence upon society is to be for good or 
 for evil, for the weal or for the woe of
 
 10 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 mankind. But amid all the conflictin*;^ 
 opinions which prevail in relation to il, 
 the institution has prospered, and is 
 now prosperintr in a decree almost 
 without a parallel, in the history of in- 
 stitutions reputed as secret. 
 
 Whatever may be the cause of the 
 present prosperity of this institution, 
 one thing is certain, and that is, that 
 no good and true man can become ac- 
 quainted with its character and opera- 
 tions, Avithout forming a strong attach- 
 ment for it. So noble and excellent 
 are its principles, and so beneficent 
 and kind are its objects and purposes, 
 that it must secure the affections of 
 every generous and elevated mind, 
 that forms an acquaintance with it. 
 
 But however pure and exalted, noble 
 and excellent the principles, or kind, 
 beneficent and generous the objects of 
 an institution, reputed to be secret in 
 its operations, it is apt to be regarded 
 in a false light, both by the community 
 and many of its members even — such as 
 are not accustomed to look into the 
 nature and character of things, or have 
 been drawn into the institution, by 
 the consideration of one of its features, 
 as too many, undoubtedly, have been.
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. II 
 
 Prejudice, on the one hand, prevents- 
 many persons from examining into the 
 claims of any institution, regarded as 
 secret in its operations ; or if such per- 
 sons pretend to enter into an examina- 
 tion of the character and operations of 
 such an institution, all its principles 
 and acts are viewed through a mist,, 
 and are, of course, distorted and dis- 
 iigured, so that nothing is presented in 
 its true position or viewed in its true 
 character, relations and bearings. 
 
 So, on the other hand, too many per- 
 sons, from a mere desire to look behind 
 the veil of secrecy which is drawn 
 around our meetings and their doingSy 
 are induced to seek admittance, with- 
 out one thought of securing any realy 
 essential and substantial benefits, from 
 the institution, except so far as they 
 may receive aid, in a pecuniary way^ 
 in case of sickness and distress. 
 
 It is on this account, that we so often 
 hear the institution spoken of, both in 
 and out of the Order, as a sort of mu- 
 tual insurance company. 'I'his, certain- 
 ly, is a very low view of its character 
 and objects, and utterly unworthy of 
 all the arrangements, and guards, and 
 work connected with the operations of
 
 11 AN EXrOSITlON AMD DEFExVCE 
 
 the institution. If no other or higher 
 objects were to be attained by the in- 
 stitution, than merely its pecuniary 
 benefits, all might be secured in the 
 usual methods resorted to by insurance 
 companies, and the necessity for all our 
 secrets be superseded, and rendered 
 entirely useless. 
 
 So if pecuniary benefits Avere the on- 
 ly object to be attained by the institu- 
 tion, or its only purpose to bestow pe- 
 cuniary relief upon the needy, suffer- 
 ing and distressed, among our members, 
 it would accomplish no more than may 
 be secured by the Alms-house, or any 
 other pauper establi!«hment. This I 
 know Avould be good in its kind, and 
 as far as it might go ; but would it be 
 a very noble, generous or desireable 
 charity to the destitute and suffering ? 
 It seems to me it would not ; for some- 
 thing more is needed by the destitute 
 and suffering, beside pecuniary relief — 
 w^hat the Alms-house or any other pub- 
 lic charity never can supply — kindness 
 and sympathy, accompanying the gift. 
 Without this, the gilt only chills, be- 
 numbs and sickens the heart, and sinks 
 and crushes the man. There is very 
 much in the way, manner and associa-
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 13 
 
 liojis connected with the bestowment of 
 charity, to a sensitive mind. 
 
 The pecuniary arrancjements of our 
 institution, for the relief of the sick and 
 distressed among us, and the Avidows 
 and orphans of brothers, is not a mat- 
 ter to be thought lightly of, I confess. 
 But the true, the real and substantial 
 value of our institution consists in its 
 arrangements to exert good influences 
 upon the hearts and lives of all the 
 brothers, and to bestow upon the suf- 
 fering and distressed brother, what the 
 heart needs, as well as what the back 
 and stomach may require — the minis- 
 tration of hind hands and sympathizing 
 hearts. This he is sure to have with 
 the rest, from true Odd-Fellows. 
 
 It is with a view to the correction 
 of the misapprehensions to which al- 
 lusion has been made, with others not 
 alluded to, by presenting a definite 
 view of the nature, character and opera- 
 tions of our institution, that the compo- 
 sition of this book was engaged in. It 
 will be the object so to describe its 
 manner and objects, as to enable every 
 intelligent mind to attain clear and 
 distinct conceptions of the character, 
 aims and purposes of the institution.
 
 14 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 and the way in Avhieh it operates, in 
 securing these ends, in its varied bear- 
 ings and relations. 
 
 This is believed to be needful in the 
 present condition of our Order. It is 
 enjoying a singular degree of prosperi- 
 ty. The number of its members is 
 rapidly increasing, and it is accumula- 
 ting funds to a very large amount. 
 There is now a perfect rush into our 
 Lodges. Under these circumstances, 
 men are not likely to look very closely 
 into the nature and character of an in- 
 stitution, nor are they in the most fa- 
 vorable situation to judge accurately 
 of these things. In consequence, we 
 shall, most likely, receive many into 
 our fraternity, who will know little of 
 its character, neither will they feel in- 
 terest enough in it, to inform them- 
 selves, if we do not get some, who are 
 actuated by improper motives and sus- 
 tain unworthy characters. 
 
 When the present excitement is past, 
 the institution will be thrown back 
 upon its own intrinsic character for 
 support. It is upon this it must rely 
 for its permanency, whatever ciicum- 
 stances may do for it, at times. It is 
 this alone, that can secure for it, the
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 15 
 
 warm, permanent and enduring affec- 
 tions, either of its members or of so- 
 ciety at large. 
 
 But neither the members of the Or- 
 der, nor the community can have any 
 attachment for the institution, unless 
 they duly apprehend its true charac- 
 ter no matter how excellent its princi- 
 ples or successful its operations. It is 
 impossible to secure the affections of any 
 rational man, for any institution, while 
 it is a vague and indistinct thing in 
 his mind. To secure this point, the 
 institution must be, not only good and 
 valuable in itself, but he must have 
 clear and distinct conceptions of these 
 things, if this is not secured among 
 our members, when the present interest 
 subsides, as it surely will, many of 
 them will fall off with this excitement. 
 
 With these views and feelings, the 
 work before us is entered upon. Every 
 one, acquainted with the matter, will 
 perceive, that the objects and purposes 
 of the institution, naturally arrange 
 themselves under three divisions ; its 
 pecuniary, social, and moral and re- 
 gions characters. These points cover 
 the entire ground of the institution, 
 and present the subject, in its different
 
 16 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 aspects, in a distinct and tangible form. 
 A separate chapter is devoted to each 
 of them, for the purpose of giving dis- 
 tinctness and unit}^ to the subject 
 matter, and securing as great brevity 
 as may be consistent with perspicuity. 
 A separate chapter is given to the con- 
 sideration of objections, for the purpose 
 of securing an opportunity for a more 
 full consideration of them, and to make 
 it more convenient for reference. 
 
 In the discussion of the several points 
 which will claim the attention of the 
 reader, the author hopes to be able to 
 show, to the satisfaction of all candid 
 minds, that the several assumptions 
 made in the remarks already offered, 
 whether directly affirmed or implied, 
 relative to the character, objects and 
 purposes of the Order, and the method 
 of doing things, are just and true ; and 
 that the institution is all that is claimed 
 for it by its sober and serious friends. 
 In doing this, he hopes to avoid all ex- 
 aggeration — a thing to which the most 
 candid are greatly exposed, in making 
 an exposition of a favorite subject. 
 Such a subject is very likely to be ex- 
 aggerated to the mind of a person thus 
 circumstanced ; and of course, he is
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 17 
 
 exceedingly liable to present it with 
 the same coloring to the minds of 
 others. To avoid this the author has 
 confined himself mostly to a simple 
 statement of facts, in regard to the 
 character and operations of the insti- 
 tution, leaving every one to infer, for 
 the most part, its excellencies and 
 beauties, without any display of them. 
 The facts are a sufficient commenda- 
 tion of the institution, in his judgment.
 
 Cljapter 33, 
 
 THE INSTITUTION OF ODD FELLOWSHIP 
 
 CONSIDERED IN ITS PECUNIARY 
 
 CHARACTER. 
 
 'Odd-Fellows !— surely odd they are ! 
 The sick, the naked, have their care 5 
 
 The hungry too, are fed ; 
 So odd, that they, without reproof, 
 The houseless stranger give a roof, 
 
 And where to lay his head.' 
 
 GEM. 
 
 Poverty, sickness and death, are in 
 our world ; and to tiieir miseries and 
 ravages we are all exposed. No man 
 is above their reach. If men are rich 
 to-day, their riches may take unto 
 themselves wings to-morroAv, and fly 
 away, no matter how great their 
 amount. The wealthiest man may be 
 reduced to the most abject and distres- 
 sing poverty, and become dependant 
 upon public charity for his means of 
 subsistence, as well as that for his fam- 
 ily. Such has been the fate of many of
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 19 
 
 the most wealthy and eminent men in 
 our countr}', and some of them have 
 died inmates of the Alms-house— and 
 been buried at the public charge. 
 
 Health, no matter how firm, or with 
 how much care it may be cherished, is 
 liable to be taken from us. And when 
 health goes, with a very large propor- 
 tion of mankind, the very means of sup- 
 port for their families are cut off, and 
 they must, if sickness is long-continued, 
 beg or resort to the Alms-house for re- 
 lief, a remedy almost as bad as the dis- 
 ease. 
 
 Men who are engaged in active bu- 
 siness and those who travel much, are 
 liable to be thrown amiong entire stran- 
 gers, and there find themselves penny- 
 less. This may be in a great City — a 
 wilderness of human beings, more drea- 
 ry and desolate to such a man, than 
 the wildest solitude. There he may be 
 taken down Avith sickness, and he will 
 be thrown into the Hospital or the 
 Alms-house, where no countenance 
 beams with the kind look of friendship, 
 or is lighted up with interest in him ; 
 but all faces are clothed in the stern in- 
 flexibility, coldness and indifference of 
 menials, toiling at their daily task — a
 
 20 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 condition worse than that of the beo-orar 
 at the rich man's gate ; for there he had 
 the sympathies of the dogs, which is 
 better than the hard and cold faces of 
 men. 
 
 Families are liable to have their only- 
 stay and support taken away by death. 
 While the husband and father lives, he 
 may be able to maintain his family re- 
 spectably, and make some little saving 
 from his earnings. But with a little 
 family coming up around him, death 
 snatches him away, and leaves his fam- 
 il}^ with little or nothing wherewith to 
 help themselves, in securing the means 
 of subsistence. The mother has as 
 much as she ought, if not as much as 
 she can do, to take care of her children, 
 without doing any labor to procure the 
 means for their maintenance. In con- 
 sequence, they must either resort to 
 begging, or the Alms-house. 
 
 Now it is the object of the Institu- 
 tion of Odd-Fellowship, to guard its 
 members against what is most to be 
 dreaded in these unavoidable ills of 
 life ; or rather to prevent their coming 
 to such a condition, by affording timely 
 relief. It is not poverty, sickness and 
 death which are so much to be dreaded ;
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 21 
 
 but the consequences to which they 
 lead, either in our own case or that of 
 our families, or both together. 
 
 How is it that this institution guards 
 men against these most to be dreaded 
 evils in life's journey ? I answer, by its 
 pecuniary arrangements, which I will 
 now proceed to explain, in as simple 
 and direct a manner as 1 am able, 
 though most of it may be learned from 
 the Constitutions and By-Laws of any 
 Lodge. 
 
 The first point to be gained by the 
 institution, to enable it to do its work 
 and answer its purposes, is to accumu- 
 late funds adequate to all its exigencies. 
 This is done, by each member contri- 
 buting a certain sum of money as a fee, 
 on initiation, and on receiving his de- 
 grees ; and also the payment of regular 
 and established quarterly dues, partly 
 for the general fund, and partly for the 
 Widows and Orphans fund — a fund sa- 
 cred to the relief of the widows and 
 orphans of the members of the Lodge, 
 whenever they may have such. To 
 this is added prescribed assessments 
 upon the death of a member or his wife, 
 to meet the expenses of such an event. 
 
 With funds thus accumulating and
 
 2'2 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 sustained, each Lodge pays regular 
 benefits to every sick brother, so long 
 as he is unable to attend to his usual 
 avocations, no matter whether he is 
 rich or poor. This course is adopted, 
 to avoid the disagreeable and offensive 
 task, and the evil effects which must 
 attend and follow an arrangement 
 which provides benefits for the poor 
 only — that of examining into the pecu- 
 niar}'- circumstances of every brother 
 who may be sick, and reporting upon 
 them to the society. I need not name 
 the bad effects of such a procedure, 
 especially upon the mind and feelings 
 of the sick member, if he is really des- 
 titute. 
 
 Herein it is, that Odd-Fellowship 
 differs with all other associated ar- 
 rangements for the relief of the suffer- 
 ing. It makes no distinction between 
 the rich and the poor ; but extends its 
 hand equally to all, so that when a poor 
 man receives a benefit, the heart is not 
 made sick and the feelings crushed and 
 degraded by the thought, that it is be- 
 stowed because he is poor. It comes to 
 every man as a man, and bestows its 
 benefits upon him because he is a uian, 
 not because he is poor and needy. In
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 2S 
 
 this Avay, it seeks to preserve the feel- 
 ing* of equality, and the dignity of a 
 man, where the brother is really desti- 
 tute and needy. If a brother's circum- 
 stances are such, that he does not need 
 the sick benefits he receives, he can 
 make a donation of them to the Widows' 
 and Orphans' fund. 
 
 Such is its method of operation in 
 regard to its local arrangements. In 
 case of sickness and death, benefits are 
 conferred upon all alike. There are no 
 sick, no poor, no high, no low ; but all 
 are equal in the eye of the institution. 
 
 I knoAv indeed, that in its more ex- 
 tended charities, this arrangement can- 
 not be followed. When a Lodge goes 
 out from among its members, to confer 
 benefits upon a brother belonging else- 
 Avhere, this course cannot be pursued ; 
 but benefits must be conferred only 
 upon such as are needy and suffering. 
 But the individual is saved from all 
 feeling of degradation in such cases, by 
 the fact, that misfortune has brought 
 him to such a condition, and that in 
 such cases, he has claims upon the insti- 
 tution for relief, just as much as if he 
 had lunds deposited in a bank, for 
 which he need only give his check.
 
 24 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 In its benefits, the institution of Odd- 
 Fellowship has regard to the families 
 of its members, as well as themselves. 
 These are equally taken under the fos- 
 tering care of the Order. On the death 
 of a brother, the widow receives a fun- 
 eral benefit, and if poor, both she and 
 her children are provided for, and taken 
 care of by his Lodge. Such are its 
 local arrangement and operations, in 
 the way of benefits. 
 
 But the institution is no mere local 
 affair. It extends over this wide conti- 
 nent, and crosses the mighty waters, 
 and spreads over Europe, and reaches 
 out its protecting and helping hand to 
 its members wherever civilized man is 
 found. The benefits to which I have 
 adverted, are sure for every brother, 
 when in distress, upon making himself 
 known to any Lodge, or brother, who 
 is able to afford relief, no matter in how 
 remote a country he may be, or of how 
 strange a language the people. The 
 language of Odd-Fellowship is the same 
 everywhere, and is intelligible to every 
 true Odd-Fellow. In this we cannot 
 be deceived. 
 
 For example. If a member of any 
 Lodge in New England should go to
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 25 
 
 Quebec, New Orleans, Texas, Mexico, 
 or into any country in Europe, with 
 Ivis family, and should be taken sick, 
 and become destitute and in distress, if 
 he makes himself known to a brother, 
 that brother is bound to report his case 
 to the nearest Lodge, if possible, and 
 they must see them provided for ; but 
 if he cannot do this, he is bound to see 
 that they are taken proper care of, if in 
 his power so to do. And if he dies, this 
 brother is bound to see that his widow 
 and orphans are not permitted to suffer, 
 if he can, and the institution defrays 
 the expense. Is not this a good and 
 most valuable feature of our institu- 
 tion .' 
 
 But this is not all. The sick brother 
 and his distressed family are not only 
 furnished with pecuniary aid, but there 
 comes with it, what is of more value to 
 the heart — friendly sympathy and broth- 
 erly attention. He is daily visited by 
 the officers of the Lodge to which he 
 belongs, and his case is reported at 
 every meeting ; and if in a strange 
 land and among strangers, the same 
 will be done for him, by any Lodge to 
 which he may be made known. All 
 this is the bounden duty of every Lodge,
 
 26 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 and it must do it, or forfeit its existence 
 and its funds ; and I am happy to say, 
 an instance has never yet been known, 
 in which these duties have been neg- 
 lected or refused, to a needy and deserv- 
 ing brother, or his family. 
 
 If the reader has ever been confined 
 to a bed of sickness, far away from 
 friends and kindred, among strangers, 
 with none but strange faces to greet, or 
 strange and cold hands to minister to 
 his necessities ; if he has ever been shut 
 up in a sick room, where no one came 
 near him, but such as were hired, and 
 from whom he knew not a favor would 
 be obtained beyond what his money 
 purchased ; if he has been thus shut 
 up, where he felt in his inmost soul, 
 that should his money become exhaus- 
 ted, that moment he should be aban- 
 doned by his mercenary attendants, 
 turned into the street, or sent to the 
 Hospital or Alms-house, he can realize 
 something of the desolation the heart 
 feels, under such circumstances. What 
 would you not have given in that hour, 
 to have seen one face even that recog- 
 nized some higher obligation to you, 
 than that purchased by your money .'' 
 
 Now an Odd-Fellow is sure of this.
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 27 
 
 if there are any brothers in the place 
 Avhere he is, to whom his case can be 
 made known, no matter how humble 
 his condition, or strang-e their lang-uage 
 to each other. They have a language 
 that will make tlieni known to each 
 other, as brothers, beyond the possibili- 
 ty of mistake, and that will secure for 
 him what money cannot buy — friendly 
 attention and sympathy. And this is 
 worth more to the heart, than all the 
 pecuniary aid that could be bestowed 
 without it, however much it might be 
 needed. Is not this a beautiful feature 
 of our institution .'* Even among the 
 most perfect strangers, it provides the 
 ready hands and the warm and sym- 
 pathetic hearts of true friends and 
 brothers, to cheer us in our solitude. 
 
 Such is the operation of the institu- 
 tion of Odd-Fellowship, in its pecuni- 
 ary aspect, and does it look much like 
 the workings of an insurance compa- 
 ny, where all is cold and selfish calcu- 
 lation ? Light and darkness are not 
 more unlike. While I admit, that in 
 one point of view, it has afeatwe of a 
 mutual insurance company, I scorn and 
 repel the idea, that as an institution, it 
 has an}' thing of this character about it.
 
 28 AN EXPOSITION, ETC. 
 
 I say, in the language of another ; 
 'For me, I confess, that when I look 
 upon the little family with v»hich 
 heaven has hlessed me, for their sakes, 
 I cleave yet more closely to this Or- 
 der ; for I know, that should it please 
 God to call me hence, and leave my 
 home desolate and drear, here should 
 my loved ones find a shelter from the 
 storm ; for the strong arm of this in- 
 stitution would be a protecting shield, 
 around them, to relieve the weeping 
 partner of my joys, and take up my 
 tender babes and bless them. Ask me 
 not to leave it. For their sakes, I will 
 plead its cause.'* 
 
 * Williamson's Address.
 
 dlljaptcr 333. 
 
 THE INSTITUTION OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP 
 
 CONSIDERED IN ITS SOCIAL 
 
 CHARACTER. 
 
 ' Friendly be, friendly be, O brothers kind, 
 
 For your motlo calls to mind, 
 Friendship to each other; 
 Where can flourish friendship sweet, 
 
 But where friends and brothers meet ? 
 Frieadship, friendship, bond of brothers, 
 
 Friendly be, O brothers kind.' 
 
 SYMBOL. 
 
 Man is a social being;. He seeks 
 the society of iiis kind, and his heart 
 yearns for the sympathy of some kin- 
 dred heart. It is through the social 
 element in human nature, that a very 
 large proportion of the real improve- 
 ments, in the hearts and lives of men, 
 are effected. And so too, it is through 
 the same medium, they are depraved 
 and society corrupted. Association is 
 a powerful means of good or of evil, 
 accordino; as it is used.
 
 30 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 In human society, there is much cold- 
 ness and indifference existing between 
 man and man, if not down-right en- 
 mity and ill-will. Much, if not most 
 of this, undoubtedly, is to be attributed 
 to their want of acquaintance with, 
 and a proper understanding of each 
 others real motives and feelings. This 
 is especially the case in relation to 
 honest and true men. Separated from 
 one another in their social relations, 
 and often-times viewing each other 
 through the mists of party prejudice, 
 or the world's scandal, the eye becomes 
 fixed almost entirely upon the defects 
 there may appear to be in the indi- 
 vidual's manners, habits and princi- 
 ples. The offensive in the man alone 
 attract our attention. In consequence, 
 they become magnified and exaggera- 
 ted, so that a mole-hill appears a moun- 
 tain, while all the better, more amiable 
 and agreeable points in the individu- 
 al's character, are entirely overlooked 
 and forgotten. In some instances, the 
 very virtues and excellences of men, 
 are distorted into vices, in the eyes of 
 those viewing them through such a 
 false and deceptive medium. 
 
 Prejudice and party feeling may well
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. SI 
 
 be compared to green spectacles, which 
 make every thing, seen through them, 
 appear green ; or to a glass which 
 makes every thing seen through it, 
 seem bottom side up. To bring men 
 together of different parties and sects, 
 and make them acquainted with each 
 others principles and feelings, if good 
 and true men, operates like the re- 
 moval of the green spectales, or like 
 adding another lens to such a glass 
 as shows its objects in an inverted po- 
 sition — it brings every thing to its true 
 position, and presents it to the eye in 
 its true color. 
 
 That such is the effect of association 
 among good and true men, no one, I 
 think, can doubt. It is only needful, 
 that such men should become acquaint- 
 ed with each other, to make them prize 
 and love one another. No matter how 
 opposite the parties to which they may 
 belong, or how wide their differences 
 of opinion, they cannot help feeling 
 for, and an interest in, and an attach- 
 ment to each other as men. Their 
 hearts will be much nearer each other 
 than their heads. 
 
 Now it is the object of the institu- 
 tion of Odd-Fellowship, to secure this
 
 32 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 result. It aims to bring together the 
 good and true men of all sects and par- 
 ties, trades and professions, conditions 
 and positions in society, on a common 
 level, and make them acquainted with 
 each other as men. It brings together 
 the rich and the poor, the merchant 
 and mechanic, the day-laborer and the 
 professional man, the agriculturalist 
 and the gentleman of Ibrtune, and 
 makes them mingle together on terms 
 of perfect equality, as men and broth- 
 ers, and so to treat one another where- 
 ever they may meet. 
 
 The necessity for such an institution 
 as Odd-Fellowship, and its elfects in 
 removing prejudice and enlarging and 
 liberalizing men's m.inds, in the pre- 
 sent condition of society-, is so much 
 better done, than I can do it, by an- 
 other, that I shall adopt his language. 
 
 ^ I hold it to be one of the defects 
 of our social sj^stem, that we are too 
 much engaged in a desperate rush for 
 the "loaves and fishes," and too little 
 inclined to cultivate our social facul- 
 ties. We do indeed mingle with our 
 fellow-men, but it is in the bustle and 
 confusion of business. Intent upon our 
 object, we hurry past each other, witbci
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 33 
 
 word of recognition, or meet each other 
 in the sharp contest for gain. And 
 when the labor of the day is over, we 
 sit down to count over our " cent per 
 cent," and form plans for the morrow. 
 Possibly we may spend an hour with a 
 feAV select friends ; but they are men 
 of similar pursuits; or similar political 
 or religious opinions, and all the world 
 besides, are to us, as heathens and 
 barbarians. The consequence is, that 
 we become unsocial in our feelings, 
 and bigots to a creed, or slaves to a 
 party. 
 
 ' Who is the sour-hearted bigot and 
 partizan, but the man who knows 
 nothing of the world, but what he has 
 learned from communion with his own 
 sect or his own party ? Who the 
 Ishmaelite, whose hand is against every 
 man, but he that, in the midst of the 
 thronged world, dwells in a desert 
 alone ? To me, at least, it appears 
 evident, that there is need of an in- 
 stitution, that will bring together men 
 of various pursuits, and different par- 
 ties and sects, and give them a fellow- 
 feeling, by uniting them in one work, 
 thus laying the foundation of a broader
 
 34 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 feeling of charity, a more extended 
 chain of social union. 
 
 ' Such IS the institution of which 
 we are speaking. It brings together 
 men of every sect and party ; and as 
 they mingle from week to week, the 
 rough corners of prejudice are sure to 
 be battered off, and the sharp features 
 of hard-faced bigotry to be smoothed 
 and softened. Men thus learn, that 
 there is virtue in every sect, and in 
 every party, and begin to indulge more 
 far-reaching and expanded feelings of 
 kindness and charity. The golden 
 chain of friendship is lengthened and 
 brightened, the social faculties im- 
 
 f)roved, their sphere of operation en- 
 arged, and the partition walls that di- 
 vide sect from sect, and party from 
 party, are broken down, 
 
 ' The reason is obvious. There 
 grows up naturally, between men who 
 commune frequently with each other, 
 in free and familiar, but yet dignified 
 association, a feeling of brotherhood — 
 a firmer friendship than can exist be- 
 tween men who merely jostle each 
 other in the crowd, or in the confusion 
 of business.
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. S5 
 
 ' If charity of feeling, and broad 
 principles of good-will to man, are 
 worth possessing, it should always be 
 remembered, that they will not grow 
 up spontaneously in the cloister of the 
 monk, or the cell of the recluse. They 
 must proceed from, or rather be drawn 
 out by the social principle of human 
 nature, in a wide sense. Furious and 
 vindictive party-feeling exists alone in 
 the man Avho associates with kindred 
 spirits of his own party. Narrow- 
 minded and dark-browed religious 
 bigotry scowls most furiously, in the 
 face of the man, who associates only 
 with those of his own creed. Let the 
 one and the other come out from the 
 enclosure, and mingle with the votaries 
 of other parties, and they will soon 
 learn, that virtue is not confined to 
 names ; and their bigotry and acrimony 
 will wear away. They will be better 
 men and better christians ; for they will 
 imbibe more of that first and greatest 
 of all graces. Charity, that " thinketh 
 no evil." 
 
 ' Thus it is in our Lodges. There 
 men of all parties and various creeds 
 meet, not as partizans, but as friends 
 and brothers, engaged in one work, 
 bound in one common bond, and they
 
 36 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 learn to cherish toward one another^ 
 more kindly feelings of good-wilL 
 Friendships are formed between men 
 of most discordant opinions, and many 
 are brought together, who would other- 
 wise have been "most distant from 
 each other." '* 
 
 Such is the operation of our institu- 
 tion, in a social way. But these ef- 
 fects are not merely local in their 
 character. They extend as wide and 
 as far as the institution spreads itself, 
 and its members go — to the ends of 
 the earth. Odd-Fellowship forms a 
 bond, which connects each brother 
 with every other brother, the world 
 over ; so that an utter stranger, no 
 matter how obscure, is at once greeted, 
 received and cherished as a brother, 
 with all the confidence we would re- 
 ceive and cherish our most intimate 
 and well-tried friends. We have no 
 distrust, no fears of imposition from the 
 man who proves himself a brother, af- 
 ter a suitable examination. 
 
 Is not this wonderful, in a world so 
 full of treachery, deceit and fraud, as 
 ours is .'' This may Avell appear strange 
 
 * Williamson's Address.
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 37 
 
 to the uninitiated. It mdLj well sur- 
 prise them, that we should dare to re- 
 ceive and confide in a stranger of 
 whom we know nothing personally, 
 and whose name even we never heard. 
 But it is nothing strange to us. We 
 have ' certain well-known signs and 
 tokens,' known only to true Odd- 
 Fellows, by which we can determine 
 whether a man is what he professes to 
 be, beyond the possibility of mistake. 
 And the simple fact of his being in the 
 possession of these, is a sufficient 
 guaranty, that he is worthy of our con- 
 tidence. In communicating these to 
 him, his Lodge becomes responsible for 
 the integrity of his character, and 
 through this the Order. So that we 
 have evidence which cannot be forged, 
 and a pledge of the worthiness of an 
 entire stranger, which those out of the 
 Order, can have of no one, except 
 those with whom they are the most in- 
 timate. In fact, we are better inform- 
 ed in regard to the most perfect stran- 
 ger's character, by the simple fact of 
 his coming to us as a duly accredited 
 Odd-Fellow, than we should be, by a 
 limited acquaintance with him. 
 
 Such is the broad social arrano:e-
 
 38 AN EXPOSITION, ETC. 
 
 merits made by the institution of Odd- 
 Fellowship. It only needs that the ar- 
 rangements of the Order be faithfully 
 adhered to and duly observed, to se- 
 cure all these social benefits to every 
 brother wherever he may go. 
 
 ' May every social virtue bind 
 Each sympathetic heart, 
 So firmly, in the bonds of love, 
 That death alone can part 
 The tie, that now each Brother feels ; 
 The chain that binds our bands 
 Cannot be severed -, Faith's cement 
 Has link'd cur hearts and hands.' 
 
 SYMBOL.
 
 Cljapter 3\), 
 
 THE INSTITUTION OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP 
 
 CONSIDERED IN ITS MORAL AND 
 
 RELIGIOUS CHARACTER. 
 
 ' Beware ! who says he loves his God, 
 And dares to do his neighbor wrong ! 
 
 ' Tis all a foolish, vain pretence, 
 A lie is dwelling on his tongue.' 
 
 OEM. 
 
 Religion is the g:reat conservator 
 of public morals and private virtue. 
 Without religion, no man's virtue is 
 established upon a firm and enduring 
 basis. It is at the mercy of every wind 
 that blows, and every current that 
 crosses his path may sweep it away. 
 It is religion alone, that can give to 
 goodness and virtue, the self-denying 
 and resolute character, which will make 
 the individual prefer to die, rather than 
 yield to temptation, or sacrifice his in- 
 tegrity and virtue ; which makes the 
 soul firm and strong to do battle with
 
 40 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 all that is at war with its highest goor! 
 and happiness. 
 
 So no institution, which has any 
 higher aims, than the gratification of 
 the most superlative selfishness, can be 
 permanently useful to its members or 
 any body else, or have any uniform and 
 enduring character, unless it is founded 
 upon religion and good morals, which 
 are but the exponents of religion in the 
 heart. A religious influence and spirit 
 must be interwoven with and pervade 
 its character and operations, or there 
 will be no stability or soul to it. With- 
 out this, it will be a cold, forbidding, 
 lifeless, and soulless concern, destitute 
 of that noble, generous, kind and ele- 
 vated spirit, which constitutes all the 
 beauty and attractions of an associa- 
 tion. The result of this, must be, that 
 it will be abandoned by all men who 
 have any life in their souls or feeling in 
 their hearts. 
 
 The reason of this is, that man is 
 naturally a religious beino;. He must 
 have some object to reverence, some 
 high power to look too for protection 
 and blessings, to awaken his better feel- 
 ings and sentiments, and call forth all 
 the tender and generous emotions of his
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 41 
 
 soul. Where this is wanting, the soul 
 is utterly dead, and the individual is 
 given up to an all-eno-ulfing selfish- 
 ness, a cold and degrading stoicism, a 
 low, vulgar and debased state of thought 
 and feeling, an ungenerous, malicious, 
 hating and revengeful spirit, and he 
 will be destitute of all in character, 
 that can make man interesting and at- 
 tractive to his fellow man. 
 
 The institution of Odd-Fellowship 
 recognizes these great truths, and is 
 organized with reference to them. It 
 begins with requiring men to believe 
 ' in a Supreme Being, Creator, Pre- 
 server and Governor of all things ;' 
 and that they be men of good moral 
 characters, ' and industrious hab- 
 its, having some respectable known 
 means of support,' in order to obtain 
 admittance to its privileges and bene- 
 fits. All its lectures and charges are 
 drawn from the Scriptures, and they 
 presuppose, that the individual believes 
 in the o-reat truths they inculcate. In- 
 deed, no man can enter the institution 
 without tacitly admitting the truth and 
 divine authority of the teachings of 
 the Scriptures, and their accountability 
 to God ; and this has to be tacitly re- 
 4
 
 42 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 affirmed every step they take, so far as 
 the author is acquainted. Any man 
 who does not believe in these things, 
 in entering the institution, has to prac- 
 tice the grossest deception and hypo- 
 cricy, and to repeat it every step he 
 advances. And I would advise every 
 man, who has no regard for religion, to 
 keep out of the institution, for his own 
 sake ; for if he comes in, he must add 
 to the sin of despising religion, the hy- 
 pocricy of assenting To its truth and im- 
 portance. All our forms and services, 
 in our Lodge meetings, are of a decid- 
 edly religious character, and the Lodge 
 is always opened and closed with prayer 
 by the Chaplain, or some other mem- 
 ber in his absence. 
 
 At everj^ meeting, a part of the reg- 
 ular business is, to inquire after and 
 receive reports concerning the sick and 
 distressed among the brothers. The 
 inquiry is always made at every meet- 
 ing, — 'Does any brother know of a sick 
 brother, or a brother in distress .^' And 
 in reply, a statement is made of the 
 condition and prospects of every sick 
 brother, and all cases of distress are re- 
 ported and provided for, so far as is in 
 our power. If nothing else can be
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 43 
 
 done, the sufferer has our personal at- 
 tentions and sympathies. 
 
 Now I suhmit it to every candid per- 
 son to say, if the institution of Odd- 
 Fellowship, thus arranged, and the 
 meetings of which are conducted in 
 such a manner, must not exert a health- 
 ful moral and religious influence upon 
 its members ? How can any man's at- 
 tention be constantly called to the sick- 
 ness and distress of his fellows, without 
 thinking and feeling more for the suf- 
 ferings of mankind, and beino; made 
 more willing to contribute for their re- 
 lief .'' Must it not tend most strongly 
 to make the members less selfish in their 
 aims and feelings, and more compre- 
 hensive in their views, and more kind 
 and charitable f Are not these neces- 
 sary elements in a truly religious char- 
 acter, especially if tried by the stand- 
 ard erected by Christianity .^ 
 
 And then, its requiring every person 
 Avho is proposed for membership, to be 
 a man Avho sustains such a character as 
 before described, joined with the fact, 
 that many are rejected for the Avant of 
 these qualifications, cannot be without 
 their effect upon the public mind, and 
 especially the youno;, who may wish to
 
 44 AN EXPOSITION ANij l^EFENCE 
 
 become members at some future time, 
 to restrain IVom vice, and to stimulate 
 to virtue. It says to every young man, 
 If you wish to secure the privileges 
 and benefits conferred by being a mem- 
 ber of the Order, you must form a char- 
 acter of integrity and virtue ; you 
 must be an honest and true man. 
 
 There is still another way in which 
 an influence is exerted by the institu- 
 tion, in favor of morality and religion, 
 and that is, by checking selfishness, and 
 promoting a charitable and benevolent 
 spirit. This is done, by the associa- 
 tions of our meetings, and the habit of 
 giving for the benefit of the sick and 
 distressed. Every member pays his 
 regular fee into the general fund, to 
 provide the means of relief for such as 
 may be sick or in Avant, whether it be 
 himself or others. In this way every 
 one is taught to take into the account, 
 in paying away his money, not himself 
 alone, but his brother equally with 
 himself He also pays his regular fee 
 into the AVidows' and Orphans' fund, 
 which serves to remind him, that his 
 companion may become a Avidow, and 
 his children orphans, as well as those 
 of his brothers- Is not this calculated
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 45 
 
 to make each one think more and feel 
 more for this unfortunate class of our 
 fellow-creatures, than thev would under 
 other circumstanees ? Will it not serve 
 to kindle anew the feeling of frailty 
 and dependence, and thus bind us more 
 strongly to our felloAvs, make us feel a 
 nearer relation to them, and to look up 
 to a higher power to protect and bless 
 us ? It surely must be so, upon every 
 reflecting mind, and feeling heart. 
 
 Such feelings constitute an essential 
 part of all true religion in the soul. 
 No man can be a truly religious per- 
 son, and be destitute of these ; for they 
 are the evidence, when embodied in 
 action, of a man's love for God, which 
 is the essence of all true religion. And 
 I submit it to any candid man to say, 
 whether such arrangements are not 
 peculiarly calculated to nourish and 
 cherish such feelings. 
 
 So decided and strong are the moral 
 and religious influences, in our institu- 
 tion and its meetings, that if a bad man 
 crets in, and attends its meetingsmuch, 
 it will either reform him, or else it will 
 so annoy and harass his feelings, that 
 he will abandon the meetings ; or it 
 will make him more desperate and
 
 46 AN EXPOSITIOiN AND DEFENCE 
 
 reckless, as a determination to resist 
 the light always does, when it cannot 
 be avoided, so that he exposes his real 
 principles and character, and thus loses 
 the confidence of the members and his 
 influence, and is thus shamed out of his 
 Lodge ; or commits some act which se- 
 cures his expulsion. 
 
 The moral and religious elements 
 which are incorporated into the institu- 
 tion of Odd-Fellowship, have ever ex- 
 erted a renovating influence upon it, as 
 its whole history shows. They have 
 been gradually and sloAvly expelling 
 the practices which were allowed in its 
 infancy, that were inconsistent with its 
 principles, as an institution. And these 
 elements possess an expulsive power so 
 energetic, that they will not only reform 
 wdiatever there is in the institution, 
 that is not in harmony with themselves, 
 but what may be in the practices of its 
 members at war therewith, or they will 
 drive them out. 
 
 If all this be true, is not this institu- 
 tion worthy of the countenance and 
 support of every friend of religion and 
 morality .'' Its arrangements are such, 
 that it exerts an influence for good, 
 both amonir the members and in the
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 47 
 
 community at large. And it not only 
 excites feelings of benevolence and 
 charity toward the members, who may 
 be in distress, hut toward the suffering 
 generally. I think facts will warrant 
 me in affirming, that such is the gen- 
 eral effect, and also, that it has reform- 
 ed very many persons of more or less of 
 their wrong habits, particularly of pro- 
 fanity, of Avhich, I am free to confess, 
 there is still too much, either for our 
 credit or the good of the brother. 
 
 But with Ihe present strong and 
 growing moral and religious tone of 
 feeling that prevails among the great 
 majority of the members, and the reso- 
 lute determination to keep the institu- 
 tion as pure, as any thing human can 
 be, and all the hallowing influences it 
 may exert, the work of reform Avill go 
 on, until the last vestige of wrong is re- 
 moved, and we are all prepared to en- 
 ter the Grand Lode-e above.
 
 Orijapter I). 
 
 OBJECTIONS TO THE INSTITUTION OF 
 ODD-FELLOWSHIP CONSIDERED. 
 
 ' Our secrecy aims not to cloak our transgressions, 
 But make us more faithful, united and true ; 
 
 While Faith, by our emblem, e'er points the con- 
 fession. 
 The All-seeing Eye holds us ever in view.' 
 
 SYMBOL. 
 
 After what has already been said 
 upon the nature, character and opera- 
 tions of the institution of Odd-Fellow- 
 ship, it seems almost a work of supere- 
 rogation, to spend time and labor to 
 answer objections. All the objections 
 that the author has ever heard urged 
 against the institution, are met and 
 answered indirectly in the previous 
 chapters. Indeed, it seems to my mind, 
 that with the exposition which has been 
 made of its character and operations 
 before him, no candid, intelligent, re- 
 flecting and fair man can seriously ob- 
 ject to the institution.
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 49 
 
 Stillj we know there are objections 
 in the minds of many persons, against 
 the institution. And they are enter- 
 tained by persons too, concerning 
 whose opinions w^e cannot be indiffer- 
 ent. We fain would have their appro- 
 bation of our Order These objections 
 have been made the occasion of very 
 serious difficulties, even in the families 
 of some brothers. After all that has 
 been said, these objections may still 
 retain their hold upon some minds. 
 To remove them, should they exist, I 
 shall take up a few of the more promi- 
 nent objections, and give them as 
 thorough a consideration as my limits 
 will permit. 
 
 1. It is objected to the institution of 
 Odd-Fellowship, that it is a secret associ- 
 ation. 
 
 This is one of the most common ob- 
 jections that is urged against our Order ; 
 but it is one founded upon a total mis- 
 apprehension of the characterof the in- 
 stitution. In point of fact, it is no more 
 a secret society, than a manufacturing 
 company^ or a banking institution, if it 
 is so much so. The Constitutions and 
 By-Laws of our Lodges, which embody
 
 50 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 the principles of our Order, and contain 
 the rules and regulations \vhich govern 
 our meetinus and all our operations, 
 are before the public, and its principles 
 and doings are the subject of public 
 discussion. So far there is no secret 
 about the institution. 
 
 I knoAV indeed, that we have secrets 
 in connexion Avith our operations, and 
 ■what association of individuals, worth 
 any thing, does not have them ? The 
 mercantile tirm, the manufacturing and 
 banking corporation, the rail-road com- 
 pany, the literary society, and even so 
 small a corporation as husband and 
 wife, have or ought to have secrets. 
 Why not object to all these associations 
 as secret societies ? They are just as 
 much, and some of them have more of 
 the character of a secret society, than 
 the institution of Odd-Fellowship. 
 
 When any of these associations meet 
 to transact their own private business, 
 none but members are admitted ; and 
 the reason is, that the matters which 
 are to claim their attention are of con- 
 cern to no body else. The same is the 
 case in regard to Odd-Fellowship. 
 And all our secrets are what concerns
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 51 
 
 no one but ourselves, and can be of no 
 service to any other persons. 
 
 Would it not be a truly odd affair, if 
 the directors of a banking institution, 
 a manufacturing; company, a rail-road 
 corporation, or the members of a mer- 
 cantile firm should hold their meetings, 
 and have all their discussions, concern- 
 ing its affairs, and their plans and ope- 
 rations, in public ? vSuch a proceeding 
 would be most absurd, and could do no 
 good. So it is with our institution. 
 AH our secrets are of the same charac- 
 ter as those of the institutions named. 
 They concern no one but ourselves ; 
 and if made known, they would be of 
 no advantage to the public. 
 
 The only difference between the pri- 
 vacy of our Lodge-meetings and that 
 of the corporations named, is that ours 
 are more strictly guarded from intru- 
 sion, than theirs are. The reason of 
 this is, that our secrets are of more vital 
 concern to us, than those of such com- 
 panies are to them ; and from the great 
 number of our members and the con- 
 nexion of the Lodo-es with each other, 
 it is impossible for all to be personally 
 known to the otiicers. 
 
 This general explanation is enough
 
 5'i AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 to meet the objection before us ; but 
 lest it should not be satisfactory to all, 
 I will explain the nature and use of our 
 secrets, and more particularly explain 
 the importance of all persons being ex- 
 cluded from our meetings except mem- 
 bers of the fraternity. 
 
 It will be borne in mind, that one of 
 the objects of our institution, is the be- 
 stowment of relief upon needy and suf- 
 fering members and their families. It 
 will also be borne in mind, that it is a 
 widely extended institution ; that all 
 the Lodges in the world are so connect- 
 ed, that a member of a Lodge in one 
 part of the world, has a claim both 
 upon a Lodge in any other part of the 
 globe where he may be, and upon any 
 brother or brothers with Avhom he may 
 meet, for relief, both for himself and 
 family, when in distress, if in their 
 power to bestow it, and they may draw 
 upon the Lodge of which he is a mem- 
 ber for the sum disbursed. 
 
 Now we all know, in the varied ap- 
 plications for our individual charity, 
 out in the great world, how constantly 
 we are exposed to imposition. And 
 charitable associations, without the 
 guards which ours have, are equally, if
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP, 53 
 
 not more exposed in this way, as expe- 
 rience abundantly proves. 
 
 Men present themselves at our doors 
 with certificateSj setting forth their mis- 
 fortunes and their necessities. These 
 may be genuine or they may be forged ; 
 the story may be true, and it may be 
 false. It might have been true of the 
 individual Avhose name the certificate 
 bears ; but how shall we be assured 
 that the individual before us, is the one 
 whose name is written there .'' It is 
 impossible for us to tell. It may be the 
 same, and it may be another. There 
 is no way for us to be assured of this 
 matter. We can only guei>s from the 
 appearance of the man and other cir- 
 cumstances ; and we may guess aright, 
 and we may guess wrong, and do an 
 honest and true man great injustice, 
 and dishearten, and discourage, and 
 make desperate one who should be en- 
 couraged and helped. 
 
 As Odd-FelloAvs, Ave are perfectly 
 safe from all imposition of this kind, 
 and the liability of doing injustice or 
 injury in this way. If a man comes to 
 us and presents his card as an Odd- 
 Fellow, we have the means of going be- 
 hind that paper, and determining, to
 
 54 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFEiNCK 
 
 an absolute certainty, whether he ob- 
 tained it in a lavvl'ul manner, and 
 whether he is a true and lawful broth- 
 er, and it is not in his po\ver to deceive 
 us. In this, we are eftectually protect- 
 ed against all imposition, in the be- 
 stowment of our favors. And this is, 
 and can be done, only by what are 
 termed our secrets. 
 
 Such is the use, the value and im- 
 portance of our secrets, and their o)ihj 
 use. They serve to protect us from 
 imposition, from being deceived. No 
 matter what they are. ' If they were 
 no more than taking off the hat with 
 the left hand, instead of the right, as is 
 usual, you see at once, if that were an 
 inviolable secret, and known only to an 
 Odd-FelloAV, no impostor could deceive 
 us. And here let me say, that the only 
 earthly use of all our signs is, to pre- 
 serve us from imposition. I would not 
 give a fraction for the Avhole of them, 
 so far as the ihins^s themselves are con- 
 cerned. Their utility consists alone in 
 the fact that they are secrets.' 
 
 In regard to our meetings, it is often 
 asked, Why do you so carefully guard 
 them, to prevent every one, not of your 
 number, from learnino" anv thin"" of
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 55 
 
 your doings ? Are you ashamed of 
 your proceedings, or are they of such a 
 character that you are afraid to have 
 them known ? I answer, emphatically, 
 no. So far as any thing of this sort is 
 concerned, we are perfectly willing all 
 the Avorld should see and know all our 
 proceedings. The only reasons why 
 our meetings are strictly confined to 
 members, duly initiated, are, that it is 
 in them that the brothers are instruct- 
 ed in those signs, etc., so important to 
 the existence and utility of our institu- 
 tion. If our meetings Avere open to 
 every body, this instruction must be 
 dispensed with, or those things cease to 
 be secrets. In either case, the influ- 
 ence of the institution is not only gone, 
 but the institution is prostrate. Beside 
 this, our business transactions, are what 
 the public have no more concern with, 
 than they have with that of any other 
 private association of individuals. And 
 all our meetings are strictly business 
 meetings ; and all the moral and reli- 
 gious arrangements are connected with 
 them, as they ought to be with all bu- 
 siness, whether as individual or associ- 
 ated, to exalt and purifv the heart and 
 life.
 
 56 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 In conclusion, I remark, that al- 
 though our institution is called a secret 
 institution, I assure every one, that all 
 the secrets there are about it, except 
 private Lodge bushiess, are our signs, 
 etc. by which we recognize each 
 other, and protect ourselves from impo- 
 sition. Of the importance of these, I 
 need not tell any one, possessed of the 
 ordinary perceptions of our race, after 
 what has already been said. Nor need 
 I say that if we should divulge these, 
 they would cease to be of any utility 
 to any one. The moment they are 
 known out of the Order, that moment 
 they lose their value to us, because 
 we could not be certain, that they 
 were lawfully obtained ; and not being 
 sure of this, they could give us no as- 
 surance, that the man exhibiting them, 
 was a true and good man. 
 
 Nor is it important to Odd-Fellows 
 alone that our signs, etc. should be 
 kept profound secrets. The public is 
 concerned in this. Possessing the pe- 
 cuniary means Ave do, with the ar- 
 rangements for the relief of needy and 
 distressed brothers, there are very 
 strong inducements, in a pecuniary 
 wav, for bad men to wish to hail as
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 57 
 
 Odd-Fellows. So too, from the gene- 
 ral respectability of the members of 
 the Order, such men wish to bear the 
 name, to give them respectability 
 among strangers. Divulge our secrets, 
 and all the unprincipled and vile men 
 in the land, and especially such as 
 lead a vagrant life, would assume our 
 name, to answer their vile purposes. 
 In this way, instead of our institution 
 being a promoter of virtue and good- 
 ness, it would become the patron of 
 vice and iniquity ; and instead of be- 
 ing a public blessing, as it was de- 
 signed to be, it would become a pub- 
 lic nuisance, but for our secrets. 
 
 Our visiting cards, our cards of 
 clearance, and all other writings we 
 could invent, might be forged, and 
 thus we become imposed upon and the 
 benevolent intentions of the Order 
 abused. But with the numerous secret 
 signs, etc. which every well-instructed 
 Odd-Fellow possesses, he may bid de- 
 fiance to the most arch villain the 
 world ever saw, to deceive him, or to 
 impose himself upon him as a brother, 
 if he has not been duly initiated. In 
 an attempt of this kind, he could not 
 possibly fail of detection, if any toler- 
 5
 
 58 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 able decree of attention is given to his 
 examination. 
 
 2. It is objected to the institution of 
 Odd-Fellowship^ that it is selfish in its 
 character and operations. 
 
 This charge is predicated upon the 
 circumstance, that in its pecuniary ar- 
 rangements, the institution of Odd- 
 Fellowship makes provision for the re- 
 lief of none who are in distress, but its 
 members. If this is selfish in any had 
 sense of the word, so is the common 
 practice of men, in making provision 
 for the wants of their families, in 
 preference to all other persons. If it 
 be a matter of reproach for a man to 
 make provision for his wife and child- 
 ren first of all, and in preference even 
 to all other persons — the necessities of 
 the world at large — then our institu- 
 tion is obnoxious in the same way. It 
 makes provision for its members first, 
 and in preference to all other persons. 
 And the reason of this is, that every 
 Lodge is a family of which each indi- 
 vidual composing it is a member, and 
 as such has peculiar claims upon it for 
 relief and protection, when in want, 
 or in danger, from whatever cause.
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 59 
 
 But in making such provision for its 
 members, the institution of Odd-Fel- 
 loAVship does no wrong to others, more 
 than such an arrangement in the fami- 
 ly does. It only makes the wants of 
 others subordinate in our arrangements, 
 to those of such as have especial claims 
 upon us, from our peculiar relations 
 to them. But these especial obliga- 
 tions to individuals, do not interfere 
 with nor forbid our exercising a gen- 
 eral charity and benevolence, or pre- 
 vent our doing all we are able, for 
 the relief of the suffering and the pro- 
 motion of the good and happiness of 
 those out of the Order. 
 
 Indeed, so far is the institution from 
 interfering with the exercise of gene- 
 ral charity and benevolence, or en- 
 couraging a narrow, selfish and mere 
 party spirit, that it inculcates the di- 
 rectly opposite. It demands that we 
 be men of charity — that we do all the 
 good we can to mankind, but especially 
 to the members of our Order, the same 
 as the apostle exhorts to do good to all 
 men, but especially to the household of 
 faith. The meaning of this exhorta- 
 tion obviously is, that the apostle 
 would have Christians exercise a be-
 
 60 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 nevolent regard for all men, and labor 
 for their good, and strive to benefit 
 them all in their power. But at the 
 same time, he would have them mani- 
 fest an especial regard for those to 
 \vhom they were bound by the ties of 
 a common faith, and fraternal sympa- 
 thy and communion. Just so it is 
 with Odd-Fellowship. It would have 
 us do all we can for suffering humanity, 
 every Avhere : but at the same time, it 
 would have us exercise an especial 
 regard for the distressed and suffering 
 members of our Order. So that, if 
 Odd- Fellowship is to be charged with 
 selfishness and to be rejected on this 
 account, Christianity must share the 
 same fate. 
 
 In becoming Odd-Fellows men are 
 not relieved of any of their obligations 
 to their families, to society, or to the 
 individuals of our race. All the duties 
 and obligations due to these, are just 
 as binding upon us aftei- becoming 
 members of the Order, as before. In- 
 deed these are enforced upon us by 
 the principles and obligations of the 
 institution. No man can be a true 
 Odd-Fellow', w ho will see any one of 
 his race suffering, and yet neglect or
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 61 
 
 refuse to grant him relief, if in his 
 power so to do. 
 
 The general claims upon us, grow- 
 ing out of our relations to humanity, 
 toward an individual, are not so great, 
 as those to an individual with Avhom 
 we are connected by a direct and im- 
 mediate relationship of blood or friend- 
 ship. It is so, because they have the 
 same claims upon us, growing out of 
 our relation to them as human beings, 
 as all other men, and at the same time, 
 there are superadded to these, the 
 claims of kindred, friendship and per- 
 sonal or contracted obligations. Still, 
 we may not neglect or refuse to render 
 aid, when within our power, to suffer- 
 ing humanity, wherever found, under 
 the plea of discharging peculiar obli- 
 gations. While Ave faithfully perform 
 the last, we should not leave the former 
 undone. 
 
 I am aware that the institution of 
 Odd-Fellowship does not provide for the 
 relief of sufferers out of the Order, in 
 the same way it does for those who 
 are members. It does not admit of 
 its funds being appropriated for the 
 relief of those out of the Order. These 
 are reserved for the especial use of the
 
 62 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 members — of those who helped create 
 it. And the reason of this is, that the 
 fund is established, not for general, 
 but for speciiic charity. Nor is it de- 
 sireable that it should be so ; for, ex- 
 tended as it is, the institution would de- 
 feat some of its own objects, in such a 
 case. It would cease to be a charita- 
 ble and benevolent institution, and 
 become a mere patron of vagrants, 
 paupers and vajrabonds. What there 
 is selfish about this, or wrong, I. cannot 
 see. 
 
 3. The institution of Odd-Fellowship 
 is dangerous to the political and religious 
 rights of the community. 
 
 This objection is predicated upon 
 the circumstance of our meetings being 
 strictly confined to the members of the 
 institution. It is supposed, that meet- 
 ings thus constituted and guarded, may 
 be used for the purpose of concocting 
 schemes, and maturing plans to o-ive 
 success to some political or religious 
 party, Avhile the rest of the community 
 are kept in ignorance of what is going 
 on, until the scheme is consummated. 
 In such meetings any plan may be 
 matured and carried into execution.
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 63 
 
 before the people mistrust what is go- 
 ing on. And even then, the}^ can only 
 infer it from the results which are at- 
 tained, unless some one turns traitor. 
 
 It is difficult to conceiv^e, how any 
 person, acquainted with the actual 
 state of things, in regard to the mem- 
 bers, can entertain such an objection 
 for one moment, or even imagine how 
 any such a combination could be ef- 
 fected. What are the facts ? The 
 members are from all the different po- 
 litical and religious parties into which 
 the people of our country are divided. 
 Under these circumstances, how is it 
 possible, that a society thus constituted, 
 should be brought to combine in favor 
 of any one political or religious party ? 
 The idea is utterly preposterous. 
 
 I know indeed, it may be said, and 
 has been said, that if no combination 
 can be made in favor of any one politi- 
 cal or religious party now existing, the 
 institution may become itself, a politi- 
 cal or religious combination. 
 
 In reply, I remark, that this is chang- 
 ing the objection to entirely new 
 grounds, and placing it in precisely 
 the same relation to society, as all 
 other associations of individuals. Nor
 
 64 AN EXPOSITION AISD DEFENCE 
 
 is the objection any more forcible when 
 placed upon this basis. To enable it 
 to accomplish any thing in this way, 
 there must be a vmty of principle and 
 feeling among the members, in refer- 
 ence to the matter for the interests of 
 which they are to combine. If this is 
 not the case, the members will at once 
 split up into parties, the same as so- 
 ciety is at large. 
 
 Now the institution of Odd-Fellow- 
 ship is not formed with reference to 
 any party political or religious opin- 
 ions whatever. Nor are members re- 
 ceived on account of agreement in 
 these particulars. Men are brought 
 together in our Lodges, of the most 
 discordant opinions upon all the sub- 
 jects which agitate the public mind. 
 By what magical operation are we to 
 so harmonize these conflicting elements, 
 as to bring them to act together in 
 reference to any one ? It is utterly 
 impossible in the very nature of things, 
 as every one acquainted with human 
 nature, well knows.
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 65 
 
 4. It is objected to the institution of 
 Odd-Fellowship, that its members pay 
 little regard to their laws in the manage- 
 ment of its affairs. 
 
 It is admitted on all hands, that our 
 Constitutions and By-Laws, as well as 
 the principles we profess, are all good. 
 But it is objected, that in despite of 
 this, they are not carried out in prac- 
 tice. While our Constitutions require 
 men to be believers in the existence of 
 God, to maintain good moral charac- 
 ters, and to be men of industrious 
 habits, having some known and lauda- 
 ble means of support, it is alledged, 
 that men destitute of all these qualifi- 
 cations are admitted and retain their 
 membership, and even hold high offices. 
 
 If this be a fact, it is nothing against 
 the imtilution. A Judas was among 
 the twelve ; but that is nothing against 
 Christianit}'. The most that can be 
 made out of it is, that the members are 
 unfaithful to their trust. 
 
 But I deny that there is any de- 
 signed disregard of our laws in the 
 admission of members, or the transac- 
 tion of any other business. If there 
 are any such men among us, they ob- 
 tained admittance without their true
 
 66 AN EXPOSITION, ETC. 
 
 characters being discovered. I solemn- 
 ly declare, that I never was connected 
 with an institution, where so strict a 
 regard to its laws was observed, and 
 the fearlessness displayed in their en- 
 forcement, as in that of Odd-Fellow- 
 ship. 
 
 Such are the principal objections that 
 have been urged against the institu- 
 tion of Odd-Fellowship. From what 
 has been said, it appears to one at 
 least, that every mind of ordinary in- 
 telligence, must see how utterly futile 
 they are.
 
 Cljaptcr 1)1 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 'I love the friends who laugh with me 
 
 When pleasure decks my brow, 
 But dearer far that friend must be, 
 Who with me weeps in sympathy, 
 When grief has laid me low.' 
 
 From what has been said, it will be 
 seen, that the institution of Odd-Fel- 
 lowship is of a mixed character. In 
 its pecuniary character, while it gua- 
 rantees certain benefits to its mem- 
 bers in sickness and distress, in which 
 it has something of the mutual insur- 
 ance company about it, there are other 
 features in it, which mark and distin- 
 guish it from the insurance company-, 
 and give it the distinct and promi- 
 nent features of a social, moral, re- 
 ligious and benevolent institution. Its 
 benevolent character is developed in 
 its methods of operation, and the man- 
 ner of bestowing; its benefits, and in its
 
 68 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 provisions for the personal attentions 
 needed by the sick and distressed 
 brother. The sick brother must not 
 be given up to the care of those who 
 are under no other obligations to him, 
 than such as are purchased with mo- 
 ney ; but he must have the personal 
 attention of brothers, except in cases 
 of contagious diseases. 
 
 The character, objects, purposes and 
 method of doing things, 1 think has 
 been sufficiently disclosed, in the pre- 
 ceding chapters ; and it seems that 
 every candid and reflecting mind must 
 perceive, that the institution of Odd- 
 Fellowship has a peculiar and impor- 
 tant mission to perform in our world. 
 It is manifestly calculated and destined 
 to exert important and beneficial in- 
 fluences upon the individual characters 
 of its members, upon the great inter- 
 ests of society, and the character and 
 condition of the human race. It oc- 
 cupies a position and meets a want 
 which no other existing institution 
 does. 
 
 As has been shown, it has so arran- 
 ged the bestowment of its pecuniary 
 benefits, that the feelings of the re- 
 cipient may not be injured, or be made
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 69 
 
 to think and feel that he is an object 
 of charity, by bestowing them upon 
 all alike. Thus it cherishes equality 
 of feeling. 
 
 It promotes social feeling and union 
 among good and true men of the most 
 discordant opinions, by brino-ing them 
 together in a free and friendly com- 
 munion, where all their differences 
 must be laid aside, if not forgotten, 
 and presenting them to each other as 
 men. And if bad men get in among 
 us — men of unworthy characters, li- 
 centious principles and vicious habits 
 — it will only serve the more thoroughly 
 to expose them, and the more Vvidely 
 to extend their unenviable notoriety. 
 So too, it is exerting a refining and 
 elevating influence, by the dignity and 
 decorum maintained in its meetings ; 
 by requiring and strictly enforcing 
 kindness and courtesy in the language 
 used in debate ; and prohibiting all 
 personal allusions and sarcastic lan- 
 guage. In this way it aims to give 
 dignity to men's minds and manners, 
 and cause them to have a more tender 
 regard for one another's feelings in 
 their remarks. 
 
 It aims, by all its arrangements, to
 
 70 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 elevate and purify the moral and re- 
 ligious principles and characters of its 
 members ; to make them more exact 
 in their moral conduct ; and to lead 
 them to take a more deep and fervent 
 interest in the welfare and happiness 
 of mankind. 
 
 Jt is its purpose too, to contribute 
 something to the increase of a spirit of 
 benevolence and charity in the minds 
 and hearts of its members, by making 
 individuals better acquainted with 
 each other, and constantly calling their 
 minds to the necessities and sufferings 
 of the sick and distressed. 
 
 Here it may be asked, if such are 
 the tendencies and effects of the in- 
 stitution of Odd-Fellowship, why ex- 
 clude any one from participating in 
 these benefits ? 
 
 I answer, we exclude no man who 
 is, in our opinion, in an intellectual 
 and moral condition, to be benefited 
 in these ways. We aim to prevent 
 had men from entering into the institu- 
 tion, 1 know ; but it is only because 
 their intellectual and moral condition 
 is such, that they will derive no bene- 
 fits from it in these respects, while 
 thev will make themselves the source
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 71 
 
 of constant trouble and vexation to the 
 fraternity. 
 
 There is the same opportunity for 
 every respectable and virtuous man 
 in society, to secure all these benefits 
 and the good influences of our institu- 
 tion and its meetings, that those who 
 are now members have had. There is 
 a prescribed method of obtaining these 
 things, which is well known, and to 
 which all members have submitted. 
 If they will not submit to the same 
 method, to obtain admittance as the 
 rest of us have, they can blame no one 
 but themselves ; neither should any 
 one else be blamed by society. 
 
 But it may be asked, why we do not 
 admit ladies as members ! I reply, it 
 is on account of our gallantry. Were 
 we any less gallant in our feelings and 
 principles, they would be admitted as 
 members. I will explain. In the first 
 place there is considerable expense at- 
 tending becoming and continuing a 
 member of our institution — an expense 
 perhaps too, which few ladies could 
 well afford. In the second place, we 
 conceive, that every lady is, is to be, 
 or ought to be, married; that every Odd- 
 Fellow should be even as well as odd.
 
 72 AN EXPOSITION AND DEFENCE 
 
 Acting upon these principles, we have 
 secured to every brother's wife, all the 
 benefits he enjoys, in a pecuniary way 
 at least, without requiring- her to con- 
 tribute any thing ; and this, not only 
 while he lives, but so long as she may 
 remain his widow, if such should be 
 her misfortune. In this way, all la- 
 dies who obtain such husbands as they 
 ought to have, may become honorary 
 members of our institution, and en- 
 titled to its benefits, without assuming 
 any of its responsibilities. 
 
 The institution of Odd-Fellowship 
 has lived through many and dark days. 
 It has been supposed to be dead since 
 its introduction into this country ; but 
 it has revived and flourished again. 
 There is an immortal energy in it, and 
 this lies in the principles upon which 
 it is based. These have sustained its 
 vitality in the day of desolation and ap- 
 parent ruin, and caused it again to 
 revive and flourish. 
 
 It is onl}^ needful that the members 
 of this institution be faithful to their 
 trust, like honest and true men, that 
 it may continue to prosper and grow, 
 until it has accomplished its mission 
 upon the earth. Then it must perish
 
 OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP, 73 
 
 like all other human institutions. But 
 its principles will remain as long as 
 the throne of the Eternal shall stand. 
 It is only the forms which principles 
 take^ that perish, or undergo a change. 
 Thd principle remains immortal and 
 unchanged- 
 Let the members of the brotherhood 
 remain faithful and true to the princi- 
 ples of the institution, both in our as- 
 sociated action and individual con- 
 duct. Let the watchward be. Onward ! 
 both in our efforts in doing good to 
 one another and the world, and in at- 
 taining a full realization of the great 
 ends at which our institution aims — 
 the bringing of men together as broth- 
 ers, and the universal diffusion of a 
 broader charity and more generous and 
 liberal principles and conduct among 
 mankind. 
 
 'Onward ! — through scenes of weal and woe, 
 
 Thus firmly have ye stood, 
 Linked hand in hand, a glorious band, 
 
 A noble brotherhood ! 
 Who though ye meet on foreign stand, 
 Clasp yet a stranger's, brother^s hand.' 
 
 SYMBOL.
 
 ;3l|3pcnLik, 
 
 DIRECTORY. 
 
 The following List of Lodges in the 
 United States, with the times of their 
 meetings, is made as complete and per- 
 fect as the means within the reach of the 
 author would admit. 
 
 STATE OF MAINE. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Portland quarterly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Maine 
 
 Portland 
 
 Monday 
 
 2 Saco 
 
 do 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 3 Georgian 
 
 Thoniaston 
 
 Monday 
 
 4 Ancient Brothers 
 
 Portland 
 
 Thursday- 
 
 5 Lisronia 
 
 do 
 
 Saturday 
 
 6 Sabbatis 
 
 Augusta 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 7 Penobscot 
 
 Bangor 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 8 Relief 
 
 East Thomaston Friday 
 
 9 Natahnis 
 
 Gardiner 
 
 Friday 
 
 10 Lincoln 
 
 Bath 
 
 Monday 
 
 11 Sacarappa 
 
 Sacarappa 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 12 Kenduskeag 
 
 Bangor 
 
 Monday 
 
 13 Pejepscot 
 
 Brunswick 
 
 Thursday 
 
 14 Cushnoc 
 
 Augusta 
 
 Friday 
 
 15 Passagassawakeag 
 
 Beftast 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 16 Hobomok 
 
 Bath 
 
 Friday
 
 76 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 17 Washington Hallowell Monday 
 
 18 Orono Orono Saturday 
 
 19 Passamaquoddy Eastport 
 
 20 Harrison Harrison Friday 
 
 21 Somerset and FranklinMercer 
 
 22 Androscoggin Lewiston Falls Friday 
 
 DEGREE LODGE. 
 
 1 Union 
 
 Bangor 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Machigonne 
 
 2 Eastern Star 
 8 Sagamore 
 
 4 Katadhu 
 
 5 Oberlin 
 
 6 Sagadahock 
 
 Portland 
 
 do 
 Augusta 
 Bangor 
 Saco 
 
 1 3 Tuesday 
 
 2 4 Friday 
 1 3 Tuesday 
 
 2 4 Tuesday 
 
 STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Covenant Hall, Boston, quarterly on 1st 
 Thursday in Feb., &c. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Massachusetts 
 
 2 Siloam 
 
 4 New England 
 
 7 Merrimack 
 
 8 Suffolk 
 
 9 Crystal Fount 
 
 10 Oriental 
 
 11 Mechanics' 
 
 12 Bethel 
 
 13 Nazarene 
 
 14 Bunker Hill 
 
 15 Tremont 
 
 16 Covenant 
 
 17 Middlesex 
 
 18 Warren 
 
 Boston Monday 
 
 do Thursday 
 
 East Cambridge Friday 
 Lowell Monday 
 
 Boston Tuesday 
 
 Woburn Monday 
 
 Boston Wednesday 
 
 Lowell Friday 
 
 West Cambridge Tuesday 
 Ware Village Monday 
 Charlestown Monday 
 Boston Wednesday 
 
 do Monday 
 
 Maiden Wednesday 
 
 Roxbury Tuesday
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 77 
 
 19 Monument 
 
 20 Friendship 
 
 21 Fidelity 
 
 22 Howard 
 
 23 Franklin 
 
 24 Winnisinimet 
 
 25 Boston 
 
 26 Essex 
 
 27 Hampden 
 
 28 Oberlin 
 
 29 Columbian 
 
 30 Bethesda 
 
 31 Lafayette 
 
 32 Ancient Landmark 
 3-3 Montezuma 
 
 34 Hope 
 
 35 Prospect 
 
 36 Maverick 
 
 37 Shawmut 
 
 38 Souhegan 
 
 39 Quascacunquen 
 
 40 Bay State 
 
 41 Acushnet 
 
 42 Pacific 
 
 43 Quinsigamond 
 
 44 King Philip 
 
 45 Framingham 
 
 46 Tisquantum 
 
 47 Macedonian 
 
 48 Norfolk 
 
 49 Veritas 
 
 50 Concord 
 
 51 Mystic 
 
 52 Agawam 
 
 53 Hobah 
 
 54 May Flower 
 
 55 Atlantic 
 
 56 Worcester 
 
 57 Berkshire 
 
 58 Elliot 
 
 59 Takawambait 
 
 60 Harvard 
 
 East Lexington Thursday 
 Cambridgeport Monday 
 Andover' Thursday 
 
 Charlesiown Friday 
 
 Boston Friday 
 
 Chelsea Tuesday 
 
 Boston Friday 
 
 Salem Monday 
 
 Springfield Thursday 
 
 Lowell Tuesday 
 
 Stoneham Tuesday 
 
 South Boston Monday 
 Watertown Thursday 
 Boston Monday 
 
 do Wednesday 
 
 Methuen Wednesday 
 
 Waltham Thursday 
 
 East Boston Monday 
 Boston Tuesday 
 
 South Reading Monday 
 Newburyport Tuesday 
 Lynn Thursday 
 
 New Bedford Wednesday 
 Boston Thursday 
 
 Worcester Monday 
 
 Taunton Tuesday 
 
 Saxonville Wednesday 
 Milford Monday 
 
 Bedford Wednesday 
 
 Dorchester 
 
 Lowell Monday 
 
 Concord Tuesday 
 
 Chelsea Monday 
 
 Ipswich 
 
 South Boston Friday 
 
 Plymouth Tuesday 
 
 Marblehead 
 
 Worcester Friday 
 
 Pittsfield 
 
 Newton Upper Falls 
 Natick Tuesday 
 
 Harvard Monda/
 
 78 
 
 APPE^DIX. 
 
 61 Nonotuck 
 
 63 Mount Hope 
 
 64 Shawsheene 
 
 65 Golden Rule 
 
 Northampton 
 Fall River 
 Billerica 
 Wilmington 
 
 Monday 
 Thursday 
 
 DEGREE LODGES. 
 
 Boston 
 
 Union Boston Saturday 
 
 2 Maverick East Boston Thursday 
 
 3 Warren Roxbury 2 4 Friday 
 
 4 United Brothers South Boston 
 
 2 Monday and 4 Friday 
 
 5 Union Lowell 1 3 Thursday 
 
 GRAND ENCAMPMENT. 
 
 Meets at Boston semi-annually, on Wednesdays 
 next preceding Jst Thursday in August and Sep- 
 tember. 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Massasoit 
 
 2 Tri Mouiit 
 
 3 Menotomy 
 
 4 Monomake 
 
 5 Bunker Hill 
 
 6 Mount Washington 
 
 7 Merrimack 
 
 Boston 1 3 Friday 
 
 do 2 4 Friday 
 
 W. Cambridge 2 4 Friday 
 Lowell 2 4 Thursday 
 Charlestown 13Wednes. 
 South Boston 2 4 Thurs. 
 Newburyport 
 
 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 GRAND LODGE. 
 
 Meets quarterly at Concord. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Granite Nashua 
 
 2 Hillsboro' Manchester 
 
 3 Wecohamot 
 
 4 Washington 
 
 5 White Moimtain 
 
 6 Piscataqua 
 
 7 Winniyissiogee 
 
 Dover 
 
 Somerworlh 
 Concord 
 rortsmouth 
 
 Tuesday 
 Monday 
 Tuesday 
 Tuesday 
 Friday 
 Monday 
 
 Meredith Bridge Tuesday
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 79 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Naslioonon 
 
 2 Wouolanset 
 
 3 Penacook 
 
 4 duocheco 
 
 5 Strawberry Bank 
 
 1 3 Friday 
 
 2 4 Friday 
 
 Nashua 
 
 Manchester 
 
 Concord 
 
 Dover 2 4 Monday 
 
 Portsmouth 2 4 Friday 
 
 VERMONT. 
 
 1 Green Mountain Burlington Tuesday 
 
 STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at New Haven semi-annually ; on the 2d 
 Wednesday cf July and 2d Wednesday of January, 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Q,ninnipiac 
 
 New Haven 
 
 2 Charter Oak 
 
 Hartford 
 
 3 Middlesex 
 
 EastHaddam 
 
 4 Pequennock 
 
 Bridgeport 
 
 5 Harmony 
 
 New" Haven 
 
 6 Ousatonic 
 
 Derby 
 
 7 Samaritan 
 
 Danburv 
 
 8 Mercantile 
 
 Hartford 
 
 9 Thames 
 
 New London 
 
 ■lO Our Brothers 
 
 Norwaik 
 
 U Uncas 
 
 Norwich 
 
 12 Central 
 
 Middletown 
 
 13 Charity 
 
 Lower Mystic 
 
 14 W^opowage 
 
 Milford 
 
 15 Montawese 
 
 New Haven 
 
 16 Washington 
 
 AVillimantic V 
 
 17 Trumbull 
 
 New Loudon 
 
 18 Nathan Hale 
 
 Tolland 
 
 Alonday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 W^ednesday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 il. Saturday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Wednesday
 
 80 
 
 APPENDIX- 
 
 GRAND ENCAMPMENT, 
 
 Meets at New Haven semi-annually. 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Sassacas New Haven 1 3 Friday 
 
 2 Oriental East Haddam 2 4 Friday 
 
 8 Palmyra 
 
 4 Unity 
 
 5 Souheag 
 
 6 Devotion 
 
 7 Midian 
 
 Norwich 1 3 Friday 
 
 New London 2 4 Thurs. 
 Middleton 1 3 Tuesday 
 Danbury 1 3 Friday 
 
 Hartford 
 
 STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Providence quarterly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Friendly Union 
 
 Providence 
 
 Thursday 
 
 2 Eagle 
 
 do 
 
 W^ednesdaV 
 
 3 Roger Williams 
 
 do 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 4 Hope 
 
 do 
 
 Monday 
 
 5 Ocean 
 
 Newport 
 
 Friday 
 
 6 Amity 
 
 Warren 
 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENT. 
 
 1 Narraganset Providence 2 4 Friday 
 
 STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets in the City of New York quarterly, at 
 National Hall. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Columbia New York Thursday 
 
 5 Hope Albany Tuesday
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 81 
 
 5 Philanthropic 
 
 8 Union 
 
 9 Tompkins 
 
 10 New York 
 
 11 Geltys 
 
 12 Washington 
 
 13 Germania 
 
 14 Teutonia 
 
 16 German Colonial 
 
 18 LaFayetie 
 
 19 Firemen's 
 
 20 Manhattan 
 
 21 Poughkeepsie 
 
 22 Knickerbocker 
 
 23 Mariner's 
 
 24 Franklin 
 
 25 Niagara 
 
 26 Brooklyn 
 
 27 Trojan 
 
 28 Ark 
 
 29 Star 
 
 30 National 
 
 31 Olive Branch 
 
 32 American 
 
 33 Metropolitan 
 
 34 Marion 
 
 35 Covenant 
 
 36 Enterprize 
 
 37 Buffalo 
 
 38 Watervliet 
 
 39 Nassau 
 
 40 Greenwich 
 
 41 Phcenix 
 
 42 Meridian 
 
 43 Concorde 
 
 44 Harmony 
 
 45 Kings County 
 
 46 Jefferson 
 
 47 Mercantile 
 
 48 Tehoseroron 
 
 49 Hancock 
 60 Atlantic 
 
 Albany Friday- 
 Albany Thursday- 
 New York Tuesday 
 do Wednesday 
 do Tuesday 
 do Tuesday- 
 New York Friday 
 do Monday 
 Albany Monday 
 Chaningville Thursday- 
 Albany Thursday 
 New York Monday 
 Poughkeepsie Monday 
 New York Thursday 
 do Monday 
 Trov Wednesday- 
 Buffalo Monday 
 Brooklyn Tuesday- 
 Troy Monday 
 New York Wednesday 
 Lansingburgh Tuesday 
 New York Monday 
 do Wednesday 
 Albany Wednesday 
 New York Thursday 
 do Thursday 
 do Thursday 
 do Thursday 
 Buffalo Tuesday 
 West Trey Monday 
 Brooklvn Thursday 
 New York Monday 
 Albany Wednesday 
 New York Wednesday 
 do Tuesday 
 do Monday 
 Williamsburgh Wednes. 
 New York Tuesday 
 do Tuesday 
 Buffalo Thursday 
 New York Wednesday 
 Brooklyn Monday
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 51 Genesee 
 
 52 United Brothers 
 
 53 Rensselaer 
 
 54 Whitehall 
 
 55 Coiirtlandt 
 
 56 Halcyon 
 
 57 Mutual 
 
 58 Grove 
 
 59 Dutchess 
 
 60 Howard 
 
 61 Williamsburgh 
 
 62 Spartan 
 
 63 Long Island 
 
 64 Empire 
 
 65 Highland 
 
 66 Fulton 
 
 67 Commercial 
 
 68 Oriental 
 
 69 Teoronto 
 
 70 Oneida 
 
 71 Ithaca 
 
 72 Mohawk Valley 
 
 73 Mount Vernon 
 
 74 Orange County 
 
 75 Cryptic 
 
 76 Rockland County 
 
 77 Westchester 
 
 78 Croton 
 
 79 Onondaga 
 
 80 Cayuga 
 
 81 Jamaica 
 
 82 German Oak 
 
 83 Piermont 
 
 84 Chelsea 
 
 85 Pacific 
 
 86 Kosciusco 
 
 87 Fidelity 
 
 88 Richmond Co., 
 
 89 Putnam 
 
 90 Suffolk 
 
 91 Fishkill 
 82 Allen 
 
 Rochester 
 
 New York 
 
 Troy 
 
 Whitehall 
 
 Peekskill 
 
 Troy 
 
 New York 
 
 do 
 Poughkeepsie 
 New York 
 Williamsburi 
 Cohoes 
 Wallabout 
 New York 
 Newburgh 
 Brooklyn 
 New York 
 
 do 
 Rochester 
 Utica 
 Ithaca 
 Schenectady 
 New York 
 Newbursh 
 Peekskill 
 Ilaverstraw 
 Tarry I own 
 New York 
 Syracuse 
 Auburn 
 Jamaica 
 New York 
 Piermont 
 New York 
 Flushing 
 Kingston 
 New York 
 Factoryville 
 West Farms 
 Sag Harbor 
 Fishkill 
 Hudson 
 
 Friday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Wednes. 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 :h Tuesday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 W^ednesday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Saturday
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 93 Samariiaa 
 
 94 Eagle 
 
 95 Skenandoah 
 
 96 Rising Sim 
 
 97 Ossinsiu 
 93 Saratoga 
 99 St. Paul's 
 
 100 Wyoming 
 
 101 CinciiiUtitus 
 
 102 Ka\ aderossaros 
 
 103 Otsego 
 
 104 Slanwix 
 
 105 Washington Co., 
 
 106 Silver Lake 
 
 107 Hinman 
 
 108 Hughsonville 
 
 109 Syracuse 
 
 110 Waverly 
 
 111 Owasco 
 
 112 Midclletown 
 
 113 Mechanics' 
 
 114 Chenango 
 
 115 Rome 
 
 116 Ontario 
 
 117 Continental 
 
 118 Genesee Valley 
 
 119 LeRoy 
 
 120 Cold Spring 
 
 121 Cataract 
 
 122 Union Village 
 
 123 Canaseraga 
 
 124 Black River 
 
 125 Van Fpps 
 
 126 Excelsior 
 
 127 Chemung 
 
 128 Morning Star 
 
 129 Schiller 
 
 130 Chantauque 
 
 131 Evergreen 
 
 132 Tiickahannock 
 
 133 Stubeu 
 
 134 Amsterdam 
 
 Albany Monday 
 
 Brooklyn Monday 
 
 TJtica Friday 
 
 Lansingburgh Wednesday 
 Sing Sing Friday 
 
 Saratoga Springs Tuesday 
 Schenectady Tuesday 
 Attica Friday 
 
 Batavia 
 
 Ballston Spa Friday 
 
 Cooperstown, 
 Andover, Onei. Wednes. 
 Hartford Wednesday 
 
 Perry Saturday 
 
 New York Monday 
 
 Hughsonville 
 Syracuse 
 
 Waterford Tuesday 
 
 Port Byron 
 Middletown 
 
 New York Friday 
 
 Oxford 
 
 Rome Tuesday 
 
 Canandaigua Wednesday 
 New York Wednesday 
 Mount Morris Thursday 
 Le Roy 
 Cold Spring 
 Lockport 
 
 Union Village Monday 
 Dausville, Liv. 
 Watertown Thursday 
 Vernon, Onei. Monday 
 New York Friday 
 
 Elmina 
 
 Chatham F. C, Wednes, 
 New York 
 Fredonia 
 Fish kill Landing 
 Trumansburg 
 Brookl\ n 
 Amsterdam
 
 84 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 136 
 
 135 Adiroudack 
 
 137 Valatic 
 
 13S Chester 
 
 139 
 
 140 Dimona 
 
 141 Hempstead 
 
 142 Madison 
 
 143 Seneca 
 
 144 Protection 
 
 145 Towanda 
 
 146 Brutus 
 
 147 Schyler 
 
 148 Wayne 
 
 149 Keuka 
 
 150 Merchants 
 
 Vienna 
 
 Keesville 
 
 Valatic 
 
 Chester 
 
 Medina 
 
 New York 
 
 Hempstead 
 
 Oneda Depot 
 
 Geneva 
 
 Roslyn 
 
 Alexander 
 
 Weeds Port 
 
 Utica 
 
 Palmyra 
 
 Pen Yan 
 
 New York 
 
 DEGREE LODGES. 
 
 1 New York 
 
 2 Bowery 
 
 3 Erie 
 
 4 Hudson 
 
 5 United Brothers 
 
 6 Clinton 
 
 7 Rensselaer 
 
 8 Ridgeley 
 
 9 Dutchess 
 
 10 Selby 
 
 11 Albany City 
 
 12 Monroe 
 
 13 Franklin 
 
 14 Washington 
 
 15 Excelsior 
 
 16 Harmony 
 
 17 Kennedy 
 
 18 Utica 
 
 19 Treadwell 
 
 New York Wednesday 
 do Friday 
 
 Buffalo Wednesday 
 
 New York Saturday 
 
 do Wednesday 
 
 do Saturday 
 
 Troy Wednesday 
 
 Troy Friday 
 
 Channingville Saturday 
 Poughkeepsie Friday 
 Albany Saturday 
 
 Rochester Tuesday 
 
 Brooklyn Friday 
 
 Williaragburgh Thursday 
 Albany 1 and 3 Friday 
 Lansingburgh Tuesday 
 Ithaca Friday 
 
 Utica 2 4 Tuesday 
 
 Syracuse 
 
 GRAND ENCAMPMENT, 
 
 Meets semi-annually, in the City of New York, 
 on the Mondays following the first Wednesdays in 
 August and February.
 
 APPENDIX. 85 
 
 SUBORDINATE 
 
 ; ENCAMPMENTS, 
 
 2 Mt. Hebron 
 
 New York 2 4 Friday 
 
 3 Mount Sinai 
 
 do 1 3 Friday 
 
 4 Troy 
 
 Troy 1 3 Friday 
 
 5 En-hakkore 
 
 Albany 2 4 Friday 
 
 6 Mosaic 
 
 New York 1 3 Friday 
 
 7 Salem 
 
 Brooklyn 2 4 Friday 
 
 8 Mount Vernon 
 
 Buffalo 1 3 Friday 
 
 9 Palestine 
 
 New York 2 4 Thursday 
 
 10 Mount Olive 
 
 Williamsburgh 1 3 Thurs. 
 
 11 Mount Hope 
 
 Rochester 1 3 Thursday 
 
 12 Mount Horeb 
 
 New York 2 4 Monday 
 
 13 Mohawk 
 
 Schenectady 2 4 Friday 
 
 14 Mount Nebo 
 
 Syracuse 1 3 Monday 
 
 15 Olive Branch 
 
 Lansingburgh 2 4 Friday 
 
 16 Mount Arrarat 
 
 Peekskill 2 4 Tuesday 
 
 17 Union 
 
 Hudson 2 4 Tuesday 
 
 STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 GRAND LODGE. 
 
 Meets at Philadelphi 
 
 a bi-monthly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Pennsylvania 
 
 Philadelphia Wednesday 
 
 2 Washington 
 
 do Tuesday 
 
 3 Wayne 
 
 do Monday 
 
 4 Morning Star 
 
 do Friday 
 
 5 Franklin 
 
 do Thursday 
 
 6 General Marion 
 
 do Friday 
 
 7 Herman 
 
 North Liberties Tuesday 
 
 8 Rising Sun 
 
 9 Mech&nics' 
 
 Frankford Saturday 
 
 Pittsburgh Thursday 
 
 10 Philomatheon 
 
 Germantown Saturday 
 
 11 Kensington 
 
 N, Liberties Wednesday 
 
 13 Philadelphia 
 
 Philadelphia Wednesday 
 
 14 Wildey 
 
 Frankford Saturday 
 
 15 Philanthropic 
 
 Philadelphia Saturday 
 
 18 LaFayette 
 
 do Thursday
 
 y(3 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 19 Amity 
 
 20 Miners' 
 
 21 Teutonia 
 
 23 Friendship 
 
 24 Western (star 
 
 26 Penn 
 
 27 Schuylkill 
 
 28 HeneosisAdelphian 
 
 29 Robert Morris 
 31 Manayunk 
 
 33 Decatur 
 40 Benevolent 
 
 43 Hancock 
 
 44 Hayden 
 
 45 WiUiam Tell 
 53 Girard 
 
 55 Independence 
 
 56 Social 
 
 57 Montgomery 
 
 58 Cambria 
 
 59 Montgomery 
 
 60 Concordia 
 
 61 Adam 
 
 62 Beaver Meadow 
 
 63 Hand-in-Hand 
 
 64 Gomer 
 
 65 Hazleton 
 
 66 Roxborough 
 
 67 Lancaster 
 
 68 Harrisburgh 
 
 69 Peace and Plenty 
 
 70 State Capitol 
 
 71 Allen 
 
 72 Evening Star 
 
 73 Delaware 
 
 74 Mount Ziou 
 
 75 Columbus 
 
 76 Mauch Chunk 
 
 77 Brotherly Love 
 
 78 Keystone 
 
 79 Howard 
 
 80 Susquehanna 
 
 do Thursday 
 
 Pottsville Saturday 
 
 Philadelphia Monday 
 
 do Tuesday 
 
 Pittsburgh Monday 
 
 N. Liberties Monday 
 
 Port Carbon Tuesday 
 N. Liberties Thursday 
 Philadelphia Wednesday 
 Manayunk Saturday 
 
 Philadelphia Wednesday 
 Vil. Green i:«fe3 Saturday 
 Philadelphia Friday 
 
 Pottsville Thursday 
 
 Pittsburg Saturday 
 
 Pottsville Friday 
 
 Philadelphia Thursday 
 Minersville Saturday 
 
 Norristown Saturday 
 
 Carbondale Saturday 
 
 Reading Thursday 
 
 Catawissa 1&3 Saturday 
 Philadelphia Monday 
 
 Beaver Meadow Saturday 
 Philadelphia Tuesday 
 Birmingham Saturday 
 Hazleton Saturday 
 
 Roxborough Saturday 
 Lancaster Thursday 
 
 Harrisburgh Wednesday 
 Easton Wednesday 
 
 Harrisburgh Tuesday 
 Allentown Saturday 
 
 Milestown Saturday 
 
 Easton Tuesday 
 
 York Wednesday 
 
 Chambersburgh Thursday 
 Mauch Chunk Tuesday 
 Kurtztown Saturday 
 
 Bethlehem Thursday 
 
 Honesdale Wednesday 
 Columbia Saturday
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 87 
 
 81 National 
 
 82 Charity 
 
 83 Lehigh 
 
 84 Friendly 
 
 85 Mutual 
 
 86 Harmony Lodge 
 37 Hopkins 
 
 88 Freedom 
 
 89 Good Samaritan 
 
 90 Cumberland 
 
 91 Carlisle 
 
 92 Chester 
 
 93 Hope 
 
 94 Doylestown 
 
 95 Schiller 
 
 96 Levvisburg 
 
 97 Lewis town 
 
 98 Clinton 
 
 99 Spring Garden 
 
 100 Chosen Friends 
 
 101 Jersey Shore 
 
 102 Newport 
 
 103 Symmetry 
 
 Washington 
 
 Halifax 
 
 Allentown 
 
 Mi Her town 
 
 Milton 
 
 Tamaqua 
 
 Bristol 
 
 Prompton 
 
 Southwark 
 
 Shippensburg 
 
 Carlisle 
 
 Chester 
 
 Southwark 
 
 Hovlestown 
 
 N. Liberties 
 
 Lewisburg 
 
 Lewistown 
 
 Lockhaven 
 
 Thursday 
 Saturday 
 Saturday 
 Wednesday 
 Wednesday- 
 Monday 
 Wednesday 
 Thursday 
 Wednesday 
 Tuesday 
 Monday 
 Saturday 
 Friday 
 Monday 
 Wednesday 
 Wednesday 
 Thursday 
 Thursday 
 
 Spring Garden Thursday 
 N. Liberties Wednesday 
 Jersey Shore Wednesday 
 Newport 
 Hamburg 
 
 GRAND ENCAMPMENT, 
 
 Meets at Philadelphia bi-monthly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Philadelphia 
 
 2 Pittsburgh 
 
 3 Morning Star 
 
 4 Franklin 
 
 5 LaFayette 
 
 6 Mount Olive 
 ? Walhala 
 
 8 Hebron 
 
 9 Andrew Jackson 
 10 Dauphin 
 
 Philadelphia 
 Pittsburgh 1 
 Frankford 1 3 
 Pottsville 1 
 Philadelphia 
 Kensington 
 Kensington 
 Reading 1 
 Manyunk 1 
 Harrisburgh 
 
 1 & 3 Tues. 
 3 Saturday 
 Wednesday 
 3 Saturday 
 1 3 Fridav 
 
 1 3 Friday 
 
 2 4 Friday 
 
 3 Saturday 
 3 Saturday 
 1 3 Friday
 
 88 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 STATE OF NEW JERSEY. 
 
 GRAND LODGE. 
 
 Meets at Trenton quarterly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Trenton 
 4 Concordia 
 
 6 New Brunswick 
 
 7 Howard 
 
 8 Newark 
 
 9 Franklin 
 
 10 Nassau 
 
 11 Friendship 
 
 12 LayFayette 
 
 13 Covenant 
 
 14 Hudson 
 
 15 Leni Lenape 
 
 16 Bordentown 
 
 17 Madison 
 
 18 Clinton 
 
 19 Mount Holly 
 
 20 Monmouth 
 
 21 Washington 
 
 Trenton Tuesday 
 
 do Wednesday 
 
 N. Brunswick Tuesday 
 
 Newark 
 do 
 
 Elizabethtown 
 
 Princeton 
 
 Newark 
 
 Orange 
 
 Belvidere 
 
 .Jersev Citv 
 
 Lambertville 
 
 Bordentown 
 
 A lien town 
 
 Clinton 
 
 Mount Holly Wednesday 
 
 Freehold Wednesday 
 
 Salem Wednesday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Monday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Monday 
 
 GRAND ENCAMPMENT. 
 
 Meets at Newark semi-annually. 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 2 Trenton Trenton 1 3 Thursday 
 
 3 Mount Arrarat Newark 1 3 Wednesday 
 
 4 Olive Branch Trenton 1 3 Friday 
 
 5 Mount Sinai Jersey City 1 3 Monday 
 8 Raritan New Brunswick 
 
 STATE OF MARYLAND. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Washington Baltimore Monday 
 
 2 Franklin do Thursday 
 
 3 Columbia do Wednesday
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 89 
 
 4 William Tell 
 
 do 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 5 Gratitude 
 
 do 
 
 Monday 
 
 6 Harmony 
 
 do Wednesday 
 
 7 Friendship 
 
 do 
 
 Thursday 
 
 8 Marion 
 
 do 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 9 Jefferson 
 
 do 
 
 Thursday 
 
 16 Union 
 
 do 
 
 Thursday 
 
 18 Miller 
 
 Easton 
 
 Saturday 
 
 20 Morning Star 
 
 Havre-de-Grace Saturday 
 
 24 Mount Pisgah 
 
 Port Deposite 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 26 Mt. Vernon 
 
 Abingdon 
 
 Saturday 
 
 29 Philip Read 
 
 Chestertown 
 
 Monday 
 
 31 Potomac 
 
 Hagerstown 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 32 Mt. Moriah 
 
 Clear Spring 
 
 Thursday 
 
 33 Aaron 
 
 Williamsport 
 
 Friday 
 
 34 Chosen Friends 
 
 Cumberland 
 
 Friday 
 
 35 Adam 
 
 Frederick 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 36 La Grange 
 
 Sharpburgh 
 
 Saturday 
 
 37 Covenant 
 
 Hancock 
 
 Thursday 
 
 3S Benevolent 
 
 Middletown 
 
 Saturday 
 
 39 Neilson 
 
 Hillsborough 
 
 Saturday 
 
 40 Centre 
 
 Ellicott's Mills 
 
 Saturday 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 
 1 Jerusalem 
 
 Baltimore 
 
 Friday 
 
 2 Salem 
 
 do 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 3 Zion 
 
 Cambridge 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 4 Jacob 
 
 Easton 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 5 Bethlehem 
 
 Chestertown 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 6 Galena 
 
 Hagerstown 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 7 Mt. C arm el 
 
 Cumberland 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 8 Evening Star 
 
 Havre-de-Grace Tuesday 
 
 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 
 Meets at Washington quarterly. 
 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 
 1 Central 
 
 7 
 
 Washington 
 
 Friday
 
 90 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 6 Washington 
 
 do 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 7 Eastern 
 
 do 
 
 Friday 
 
 8 Potomac 
 
 Alexandria 
 
 Monday 
 
 9 Harmony 
 
 Washington 
 
 Monday 
 
 10 Columbia 
 
 do 
 
 Thursday 
 
 11 Union 
 
 do 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 12 Friendship 
 
 do 
 
 Thursday 
 
 13 Covenant 
 
 do 
 
 Monday 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Columbia Washington lastjWednes, 
 
 2 Marley Alexandria 2 4 Monday 
 
 STATE 
 
 OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 
 Meets at Richmond semi-annually. 
 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 
 1 Virginia Lodge 
 
 Harper's Ferry 
 
 Monday 
 
 2 Washington 
 
 Norfolk 
 
 Monday 
 
 3 Virginius 
 
 Wheeling 
 
 Monday 
 
 4 Jefferson 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Monday. 
 
 5 Old Dominiou 
 
 Portsmouth 
 
 Friday 
 
 6 Madison 
 
 Winchester Wednesday 
 
 7 Union 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Friday 
 
 8 Monroe 
 
 Petersburgh 
 
 Monday 
 
 9 La Fayette 
 
 Norfolk 
 
 Monday 
 
 10 Friendship 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Friday 
 
 11 Wildey 
 
 Charlestown 
 
 Saturday 
 
 12 Powhatan 
 
 Richmond Wednesday 
 
 13 Franklin 
 
 Wheeling 
 
 Monday 
 
 14 Rappahannock 
 
 Fredericksburgh Monday 
 
 15 Patrick Henry 
 
 Hampton 
 
 Saturday 
 
 16 Appomattox . 
 
 Petersburg 
 
 Friday 
 
 17 Lynchburg 
 
 Lynchburg 
 
 Thursday 
 
 18 St. Paul's 
 
 Princess Anne( 
 
 c.H. Thur 
 
 19 Harmony 
 
 Norfolk 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 20 Smithfield 
 
 Smithfield 
 
 Monday 
 
 21 Maffit 
 
 Martinsburg 
 
 Saturday
 
 APPENDIX. 91 
 
 22 Pythagoras Lynchburg Friday 
 
 23 Caledonia Shepherdstown Saturday 
 
 24 Gratitude Hedgesville Thursday 
 
 GRAND ENCAMPMENT, 
 
 Meets at Portsmouth annually. 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Abrams Wheeling 
 
 2 Neilson Richmond 
 
 3 Wildey Portsmouth 2 4 Thursday 
 
 4 Jerusalem Norfolk 
 
 5 Widow's Friend Winchester 
 
 7 Glazier Petersburg 
 
 8 Virginia Lynchburg 
 10 Salem Hampden 
 
 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Wilmington, quarterly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Weldon Weldon Tuesday 
 
 2 Cape Fear Wilmington Tuesday 
 
 3 Washington Murfreesboro' Friday 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Campbell Wilmington 
 
 2 Bain Murfreesboro' 
 
 3 Pine FayetteviUe 
 
 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Charleston, quarterly. 
 
 GRAND ENCAMPMENT, 
 
 Meets at Charleston.
 
 92 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 
 1 South Carolina Charleston Wednesday 
 
 2 Marion do Friday 
 
 3 Howard do Thursday 
 
 4 Jefferson do Tuesday 
 
 5 Palmetto, Columbia Friday 
 
 6 De Kalb Winsboro' Monday 
 
 7 Aiken Aiken Wednesday 
 
 8 La Fajelte Chesterville Monday 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 
 1 Palmetto Charleston 
 
 2 Eutaw Columbia 
 
 3 Ashley Charleston 
 
 
 STATE OF GEORGIA. 
 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 
 Meets at Savannah. 
 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 
 1 Oglethorpe Savannah 
 
 2 Franklin Macon 
 
 3 Live Oak Savannah 
 
 4 Sylvan Milledgeville 
 
 5 United Brothers Macon 
 
 6 Muscogee Columbus 
 
 7 Washington Augusta 
 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 
 1 Magnolia Savannah 
 
 2 Ockmulgee Milledgeville 
 
 3 Franklin Macon 
 
 4 Chattahooche Columbus 
 
 
 STATE OF ALABAMA. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Mobile, quarterly.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 9S 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Alabama Mobile 
 
 2 Mobile do 
 
 3 Chosen Friends do 
 
 4 Samaritan 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENT. 
 
 1 Mount Arrarat Mobile 
 
 Tuesday 
 Wednesday 
 Thursday 
 
 Friday 
 
 STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Natchez, 
 
 quarterly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Mississippi 
 
 
 Natchez 
 
 2 Washington 
 
 
 do 
 
 .3 Warren 
 
 
 Vicksburgh 
 
 6 Grenada 
 
 
 Grenada 
 
 8 Macon 
 
 
 Vicksburgh 
 
 9 William Dale 
 
 
 Liberty 
 
 10 Wilkinson 
 
 
 Woodville 
 
 n Capitol 
 
 
 Jackson 
 
 12 Concordia 
 
 
 Natchez 
 
 13 Belmont 
 
 
 Belmont 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 Friday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Thursday 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Wildey Natchez 
 
 2 Vicksburgh Vicksburgh 
 
 STATE OF MISSOURI. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at St. Louis, quarterly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Traveller's Rest St. Louis 
 
 2 Wildey do 
 
 Monday 
 Tuesday
 
 94 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 3 Germania 
 
 do 
 
 Thursday 
 
 4 Far West 
 
 Boonville 
 
 Mondav 
 
 5 St. Louis 
 
 St. Louis 
 
 Saturday 
 
 6 Western Lighl 
 
 t Weston 
 
 Saturday 
 
 7 Covenant 
 
 Warsaw 
 
 
 8 Harrison 
 
 Lexington 
 
 
 9 Marion 
 
 Hanibal 
 
 
 10 Howard 
 
 Fayette 
 
 ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 
 1 Wildey 
 
 St. Louis 
 
 Friday 
 
 2 Frontier 
 
 Weston 
 
 
 STATE OF TENNESSEE. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Nashville, quarterly. 
 
 1 Tennessee Nashville Tuesday 
 
 2 Nashville Nashville Thursday 
 
 3 Columbia Columbia Wednesday 
 
 4 Spring Hill Spring Hill Thursday 
 
 5 Washington Dresden Saturday 
 
 6 Memphis Memphis Thursday 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Ridgely Ridgely 2 & 4 Saturday 
 
 2 Washington Columbia 2 & 4 Saturday 
 
 3 Gayoso Memphis 
 
 STATE OF KENTUCKY. 
 
 GRAND LODGE, 
 
 Meets at Louisville quarterly. 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 1 Boone Louisville Monday 
 
 2 Chosen Friends do Tuesday 
 
 3 Washington Covington Wednesday
 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 95 
 
 4 Loraine 
 
 Louisville 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 5 Friendship 
 
 Lexington 
 
 Friday 
 
 6 Capital 
 
 Frankfort 
 
 Monday 
 
 7 Franklin 
 
 Lancaster 
 
 Saturday 
 
 8 Central 
 
 Danville 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 9 Social 
 
 Stanford 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 10 Union 
 
 Nicholasville 
 
 Saturday 
 
 11 Lavfavette 
 
 Georgetown 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 12 De" Kalb 
 
 Maysville 
 
 Monday 
 
 13 Stranger's Rest 
 
 Henderson 
 
 Saturday 
 
 14 Madison 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 15 Howard 
 
 Shelbvville 
 
 
 16 Morning Star 
 
 Petersburg 
 
 
 17 Herman 
 
 Louisville 
 
 Saturday 
 
 GRAND ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 Meets at Louisville quarterly. 
 
 SOBOEDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Mount Horeb Louisville 1 and 3 Monday 
 
 2 Olive Branch 
 
 Covington 1 & 4 Monday 
 
 3 Moreah 
 
 Lexington 1 A: 3 Thursday 
 
 4 Filgrim 
 
 Frankfort 1 & 3 Thursday 
 
 STATE 
 
 OF OHIO. 
 
 
 GRAND LODGE. 
 
 
 Meets at Cincinnati 
 
 rnnnth 
 
 on the 3d Saturday in every 
 
 LUUiltli* , 
 
 SUBORDINATE LODGES. 
 
 
 1 Ohio 
 
 Cincinnati 
 
 Monday 
 
 2 Washington 
 
 do 
 
 _ Tuesday 
 
 3 Cincinnati 
 
 do 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 4 Franklin 
 
 do 
 
 Thursday 
 
 5 Montgomery 
 
 Dayton 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 6 Jefferson 
 
 Steubenville 
 
 Thursday 
 
 7 Charity 
 
 Lancaster 
 
 Monday 
 
 8 Piqua 
 
 Piqua 
 
 Thursday 
 
 9 Columbus 
 
 Columbus 
 
 Monday
 
 96 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 10 Wayne 
 
 11 Warren 
 
 12 Union 
 
 13 Cleveland 
 
 14 Harmony 
 
 15 Lebanon 
 
 16 Hope 
 
 17 Hamilton 
 
 18 Marion 
 
 19 Mansfield 
 
 20 Mount Vernon 
 
 21 Friendship 
 
 22 Cuyahoga 
 
 23 Central 
 
 24 Chillicothe 
 
 25 LaFayette 
 
 26 Morning Star 
 
 27 Erie 
 
 28 Muskingum 
 
 29 Mahoning 
 
 30 Eaton 
 
 31 Scioto 
 
 32 Columbia 
 
 33 Springfield 
 
 34 Olive Branch 
 
 35 Seneca 
 
 Dayton Tuesday 
 
 Franklin Monday 
 
 Wanenton Saturday 
 
 Cleveland Monday 
 
 Rossville Tuesday 
 Lebanon Wednesday 
 
 Middletown Thursday 
 
 Hamilton Thursday 
 
 Miamisburg Tuesday 
 
 Mansfield Friday 
 
 Mount Vernon Wednes. 
 
 Germantown Friday 
 Cleveland Wednesday 
 
 Columbus Thursday 
 
 Chillicothe Tuesday 
 
 Hillsborough Monday 
 
 Medina 
 
 Ohio Citv 
 
 Zanesville 
 
 Warren 
 
 Eaton 
 
 Portsmouth 
 
 Circleville 
 
 Springfield 
 
 New^ark 
 
 Tiffin 
 
 Monday 
 Tuesday 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Mondav' 
 
 Monday 
 
 Fridav 
 
 Wednesday 
 
 Tliursday 
 
 SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS. 
 
 1 Wildey 
 
 2 Dayton 
 
 3 Nimrod 
 
 4 Cleveland 
 
 5 Piqua 
 
 6 Capitol 
 
 7 Butler 
 
 Cincinnati 
 
 Dayton 
 
 Steubenville 
 
 Cleveland 
 
 Piqua 
 
 Columbus 
 
 Hamilton 
 
 1 3 Friday 
 
 1 3 Eriday 
 
 2 4 Friday 
 2 4 Friday 
 2 4 Friday 
 
 1 3 Friday 
 
 2 4 Friday
 
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