USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 3 > Part 59
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and Salem Royal Areh Chapter No. 6, Newport. Templar Masonry is represented by Simon's Commandery No. 1 of Providenee, Golgotha Commandery No. 2 of Providence, St. Paul's Commandery No. 3 of Providenee, and B. F. Gardner Commandery No. 6 of Newport.
The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar and Appendant Orders of Rhode Island and Massachusetts hold their Annual Grand Conelave the third Wednesday in September. In addition to these bodies there are located at Newport, Stone Mill Lodge and Boyer Lodge No. 8 and Mount Calvary Consistory.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
This old and benefieent Order numbers nearly 7,000 members in Rhode Island, where fifty-one lodges have been organized and passed through their respective periods of life of greater or less prosperity. The Order of Odd Fellows originated in England in the eighteenth eentury, but between 1790 and 1796 measures were enaeted by the English Parliament for the suppression of all seditious gatherings, and to interdiet the unlawful administering of oaths by seeret societies. The Odd Fellows Lodges, to avoid having their purposes and teachings miseonstrued by the government, decided to suspend all publie opera- tions. This condition of affairs existed until 1803, when the society of London Union Odd Fellows was organized by eertain lodges in London ; in 1813, however, there was formed an organization of lodges, under the title of "The Manchester Unity of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows", from which the American Order of Odd Fellows sprang.
The first Odd Fellows lodge in America was Washington No. 1, of Baltimore, which was organized April 26, 1819, through the efforts of Thomas Wildey, the father of the Order in this country. There are traditions, but no substantial evidenee, that Odd Fellows lodges were in existenee in Rhode Island before the formation of the Baltimore lodge. On the minutes of Massachusetts Lodge No. 1, of Boston, for the year 1822, is a record of a resolution of that body, congratulating the Odd Fellows of Providence upon their opening of a new lodge. The history of this organization, if it lived to make any, is not aeees- sible. It must have been very short-lived, for in 1826 the Grand Lodge of the United States received a letter from Benjamin Downing, P. G., of New York, requesting a warrant or dispensation for a lodge in Providenee. Even then there were not enough members and en- thusiasm in the said eity to effeet the purpose sought, and it was not until June, 1829, at a special meeting of the Grand Lodge, held in Baltimore, that the charter was granted to Friendly Union Lodge No. 1, to be located in Providence, R. I. There is some doubt as to the exact date when this lodge was instituted. The charter is dated June 13, and it is generally believed the lodge was instituted on the
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20th, the ceremonies being directed by Thomas Wildey, assisted by Representative Thomas Small, of Pennsylvania. The charter members were Henry Hobson, Watkin McFarlane, John Devan, Francis Chad- burn, James Bury, and John Bowcock. James Wood, who subse- quently acquired the title of "The Father of Rhode Island Odd Fellowship", was highly complimented for an able specch on this occasion on the purposes and benefits of the Order. The carly mect- ings of this first lodge in the State were commonly held in a public house, the Manufacturers' Hotel being a favorite place; but in 1833 the meetings were held at the Union House, No. 24 Weybosset street, the landlord being secretary of the lodge at that time. Notwithstand- ing the efforts of Mr. Wood and other enthusiastic members, the lodge declined, a result due to a great extent to the anti-Masonic movement, which affected all secret organizations. From August, 1834, until August 19, 1843, no meetings were held, although a petition signed by Mr. Wood and seven others was presented to the Grand Lodge of the United States in September, 1841, for a renewal of the charter, which request was granted on September 27, 1841. In December of that year, Grand Sire John A. Kennedy came to Providence, but a mistake as to the date of his arrival was made and the members were unpre- pared, delaying action until August 19, 1843, at which time five of the former petitioners assembled in Mechanics' Hall, and the lodge was formally reopened by Daniel Hersey, District Deputy Grand Sire, assisted by Bro. Albert Guild, of Boston. William E. Rutter was elected Noble Grand; Thomas Charnley, Vice-Grand; James Wood, Recording Secretary ; Joseph G. Charnley, Treasurer. A fair measure of prosperity was enjoyed by the lodge until April 27, 1865, when it was formally suspended from the Order and its charter annulled by Grand Master Charles G. Cole. On April 7, 1870, a reorganization was effected and the lodge has enjoyed prosperity ever since.
The year 1843, when Friendly Union Lodge was formally reopened, was a turning point in the history of Rhode Island Odd Fellowship. Previous to that date the prospects of the Order were discouraging, but during the five years succceding the revival the Order reached its highest point. There were, in 1848, 1,566 members of the several lodges, a number which declined to 595 members, belonging to only eleven lodges in 1865. Since that year, however, conditions have greatly improved, as will be seen.
In the same year that witnessed the reopening of Friendly Union Lodge, a second one was formed in Providence. Eagle Lodge No. 2 was instituted April 29, 1843, and its membership rapidly increased until, in 1847, it numbered 349. The meetings were held in Friend- ship Hall, No. 3 Exchange street. In the following ycar Roger Williams Lodge No. 3, Providence, was formed, and held its meetings in Roger Williams Hall, Canal Market; it was instituted on the 4th of
35-3
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April of the year named, and was reorganized January 24, 1868. As a part of the rapid advancement of the Order in this State during the five or six years before mentioned, Hope Lodge No. 4, of Providence, was instituted July 29, 1844, and held its meetings in Friendship Hall ; it had a membership of 199 in 1847, and is still in active existence. This was closely followed by Harmony Lodge No. 5, East Greenwich, which was instituted in Newport as Ocean Lodge on September 28, 1844, and reorganized as Harmony Lodge on June 3, 1869. It had a membership of 64 in 1847. The lodge erected a building in 1877-8, costing about $6,000.
The next lodge formed in the State was Amity No. 6, of Warren, which dates from November 13, 1844. The number of petitioners for this lodge was twelve, and William P. Eddy was chosen the first Noble Grand. The lodge purchased a building in 1870 in which a hall was fitted up; it had 99 members in 1878, and still maintains a prosperous existence. Its property is now valued at $9,000, with a debt of $1,912.
Narragansett Lodge No. 7, Westerly, was organized March 25, 1845, with five charter members. Horace Babcock was the first Noble Grand. The lodge surrendered its charter January 26, 1864, and re- organized December 28, 1871.
Good Samaritan Lodge No. 8, Pawtucket, was instituted April 4, 1845, with N. S. Alexander, Noble Grand. It soon gained a large membership. It now owns property valued at $41,050, with an in- debtedness of only $2,300.
The next addition to the organization of the Order was Canonicus Lodge No. 9, Providence, which was instituted April 8, 1845, with twenty-three charter members; Mark Graves was the first Noble Grand. This lodge is still in existence and is prosperous. In the same year Woonsocket had its first Odd Fellows organization in Woonsocket Lodge No. 10, which was instituted on August 1, 1845, with nine members, and Maxey B. Newell, Noble Grand. The lodge flourished and in 1878, some years after the close of the period of decadence, had about 220 members. The present membership is 207, and the lodge is in possession of property having a valuation of $31,007.62, upon which there is indebtedness of $21,150.
Washington Lodge No. 11, located at River Point, was instituted March 5, 1846, and has enjoyed a high degree of prosperity, consider- ing its circumstances. The lodge owns property valued at $6,450, on which there is an indebtedness of $700, and the members are zealous in promoting the interests of the Order.
Rhode Island Lodge No. 12, located at Newport, was instituted on December 16, 1845. The lodge enjoyed fair prosperity and later pur- chased a site for a building on Washington Square. This property in its present condition is valued at $24,000, with a debt of $6,500.
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The preceding few pages show a remarkable state. of activity in Rhode Island Odd Fellowship in the years between 1842 and 1846. The beneficent purposes of the Order, its beautiful ceremonies and its promotion of brotherly relations among men, called into its ranks a very large number of excellent citizens. It was at this time, when the prospects of Odd Fellowship were so encouraging, that the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the State of Rhode Island was instituted. The important event took place on the 15th of June, 1844. From that time forward for twenty years its meetings were held in a hall in the Exchange Building, Providence; during several following years they were held in Weeden's Hall, until September, 1869. In 1870 Odd Fellows Hall, at 97 Weybosset street, was ready for occupation, and there the Grand Lodge continued to meet in annual session until the year 1900. In the ceremonies of instituting and opening the Grand Lodge, D. D. G. Sire Albert Guild took part and was assisted by a number of officers of the Grand Lodge of Massachusets. The following officers were elected : James Wood, Most Worthy Grand Master; Joseph G. Charn- ley, R. W. D. G. M. ; John Hully, R. W.G.W .; John Harper, R.W.G.S .; Matthew Taylor, R. W. G. T .; Roger Eatough, R. W. G. Guardian. A committee of three persons, consisting of William E. Rutter, James Wood, and John Hully, was appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws for the Grand Lodge, which were adopted on July 20, 1844. 'T'he Grand Lodge membership was small for a number of years, but when the time came that saw renewed vigor infused into the Order, the Grand Lodge shared in it and has since been prosperous. Its membership is 1,139.
The next lodge in the State in numerical order was what is now United Brothers' Lodge No. 13, of Bristol. This lodge was instituted in Pawtucket village, on the Rhode Island side of the river, April 1, 1846; it was removed to Valley Falls in January, 1850, and on the 21st of January, 1854, its charter was surrendered. The first measure adopted to revive the charter, with a view of locating it in Bristol, was the sending in of a petition on February 21, 1870, signed by several of the old members, asking the restoration of the charter, books, and other property ; this was duly granted, and Grand Master Henry A. Chace issued a dispensation to Israel B. Purrington to open and re- organize the lodge, which duty was performed on the 4th of the follow- ing May. William J. Miller was elected N. G. on the 5th, and the first regular meeting was held on the 6th of May. This lodge has since been prosperous and now owns property free of debt valued at $5,513.84.
Mechanics' Lodge No. 14, of Hope Valley, was instituted on July 12, 1849, with forty-four charter members, and Jedediah G. Witter, N. G. The lodge was located in the town of Richmond until 1859, when it
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was removed into Hopkinton, where it has continued an active exist- ence and owns property valued at $8,000.
Manufacturers' Lodge No. 15 was instituted at Potter's Hill on the 19th of February, 1857, and in 1860 its charter was surrendered. The lodge was reorganized in Olneyville (now Providence), April 13, 1870, since which time it has achieved an enviable reeord.
Friendship Lodge No. 16, Carolina, was instituted Mareh 28, 1851, and Brightman Tucker was elected the first N. G. Previous to that date the members of the Order in that seetion had attended the lodge at Hope Valley. The lodge has flourished and has property valued at $2,771, with indebtedness of $1,200.
From this time forward during about one deeade Odd Fellowship in Rhode Island was in a depressed and deelining condition. The number of lodges was probably too great in proportion to population ; many had been instituted with very limited membership and they beeame straitened in their finanees; there was a quite general loss of membership and for a time the prospeets of the Order were diseourag- ing. Recovery began about 1860, but there was only a fair degree of prosperity, and no new lodges were formed until after 1870. Four were organized, however, in 1871, and eight in 1872, and from that time to the present there has been no laek of zeal or progress.
Seaside Lodge No. 17, of Portsmouth, was instituted January 25, 1871, and chartered in January, 1872, with seven members. Benjamin Tallman was the first N. G. On June 30, 1900, the lodge was eon- solidated with Oakland, No. 32, which was organized at South Ports- mouth on January 1, 1874, with twenty members, who had withdrawn from Seaside Lodge. This lodge now has property valued at $3,900, with a debt of $2,300.
The next three lodges instituted were all located in Providenee. Swarts Lodge No. 18 was instituted Mareh 22, 1871, and is still in existenee, with a membership of 199. Pilgrim Lodge No. 19 was in- stituted on December 4, 1871, and John Henry Bongarts was elected the first N. G. The lodge is still in aetive existenee. Unity Lodge No. 20, Providenee, was instituted December 16, 1871, and James K. Trask was chosen N. G. The lodge is in aetive existenee.
Of the eight lodges instituted in the year 1872, four were loeated in Providenee, as follows: Franklin No. 23, instituted July 13, 1872, with Thomas W. Hart, N. G. Creseent Lodge No. 24, instituted July 19, 1872, with sixteen members, and John L. Sprague, N. G. North Star Lodge No. 25, instituted July 6, 1872, with six eharter members, and Dr. C. T. Gardner, N. G. This lodge has assets of $7,490. West- minster Lodge No. 27 was instituted September 12, 1872, with eight eharter members, Franeis M. Taft, N. G.
Anthony Lodge No. 21, of Anthony, in the town of Coventry, instituted January 16, 1872, was the first and only lodge in that plaee.
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There were twelve charter members and John J. Kelton was chosen the first N. G. This lodge has flourished and owns a hall and property valued at $5,600, free from debt.
Pawtucket received an accession to its lodges in 1872, when, on June 11, Enterprise Lodge No. 22 was instituted. William H. Dodge was elected the first N. G. The lodge is still in existence.
Neptune Lodge No. 26, at Block Island, was instituted August 23, 1872, by a few former members of Rhode Island Lodge No. 12, who withdrew for that purpose; there were ten charter members. The lodge has enjoyed fair prosperity and owns property valued at $2,300, clear of debt.
Woonsocket was favored with a second lodge in 1872, when Eureka Lodge No. 28 was instituted on October 29, with ten members. John H. Sherman was elected the first N. G.
Only three lodges were organized in the year 1873. Perseverance Lodge No. 29, of Apponaug, in the town of Warwick, was instituted February 26, 1873, and James Wood Lodge No. 30, Providence, was instituted April 3, 1873, with only five members. Dr. William Von Gottschalk was elected N. G. Mayflower Lodge No. 31, Providence, was instituted May 28, 1873, with eleven charter members. The first N. G. and John King.
The number of lodges in the State was increased by five during the year 1874, and the Order was making rapid and substantial advance- ment. Granite Lodge No. 33, of Pascoag, town of Burrillville, was instituted January 8, 1874, with fifteen charter members. William Nugent was elected N. G., and meetings were held in the old hotel hall. In 1875 a fine building was erected by the Order, and the property of this lodge at the present time is valued at $9,900.
The first movement towards forming an Odd Fellows lodge in East Providence was made at a meeting held in the town hall, March 19, 1874. A meeting was held on the 14th of April of the same year, when officers were nominated and preparations made for petitioning for a charter. The charter was granted in due time and Reliance Lodge No. 34 was instituted April 28, 1874. Edward S. Luther was installed as the first N. G. At that meeting propositions to become members were received from twenty-six persons, and the lodge rapidly increased in numbers and resources. It now owns property valued at $13,200, on which is a debt of $6,500.
Superior Lodge No. 35, at Central Falls, was instituted June 23, 1874, with Albert P. Carpenter, N. G. It has had a prosperous ex- istence. Columbia Lodge No. 36, of Wakefield, was instituted July 2, 1874, and H. F. Brayman elected N. G. Beacon Lodge No. 38, of Wickford, was instituted December 25, 1874, with Albert W. Fiske, N. G. Its property is valued at $4,000, with $1,400 indebtedness.
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These several lodges organized in that year have maintained their existenee to the present time.
Only two lodges were added to the increasing number in 1875, one of which was located in Providence. This was Olive Branch Lodge No. 37, which was instituted on New Year's day, and Clarence B. Smith was elected the first N. G. The other lodge was Seaeonnet No. 39, at Little Compton, which was instituted on the 2d of April, 1875. Henry T. Sisson was elected the first N. G.
One lodge only was formed in 1876. This was Covenant No. 40, at Ashland, which was instituted on September 13, 1876. The first N. G. was S. H. Angell.
Two more lodges were organized in 1877. Eleetra Lodge No. 41, at Adamsville, town of Tiverton, was instituted Mareh 1, 1877, and is still in existenee. La Fayette Lodge No. 42, of Clayville, was in- stituted June 11, 1877; it has kept up a vigorous existenee and acquired property valued at a little over $2,000.
Sinee the year last named there have been nine lodges added to the number in Rhode Island, of which these necessarily brief notes are added. Exeter Lodge No. 43, at Exeter, was instituted October 15, 1881. It has had a prosperous life and has acquired property valued at about $1,000. Park Hill Lodge No. 44, at Auburn, was instituted March 23, 1886. This lodge has grown rapidly and now has a large membership. It is in possession of property valued at more than $15,000, but is in debt to the extent of $13,083. Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 45, Providenee, was instituted July 9, 1886. Its property has a Anehor Lodge No. 46,
value of $9,000, but it has a debt of $6,400. was instituted December 10, 1887, and is located in Providenee. Gib- son Lodge No. 47, at Peacedale, was instituted Mareh 8, 1889, and on the 21st of the same month, What Cheer Lodge No. 48, of Providence, was instituted. The last lodge formed in Newport was Excelsior No. 49, which was instituted June 30, 1891. Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 50, Pawtuxet, was instituted March 2, 1892. The last lodge to be or- ganized in the State was Washington Park Lodge No. 51, of Provi- denee, which was instituted August 17, 1894.
Besides the property mentioned in this record of Odd Fellows as being owned by them, it should be stated that Unity Lodge, in Provi- denee, has property valued at a little more than $10,000, which is nearly free from debt, and that in what is known as the Annex Distriet of Providence, Manufacturers' Lodge No. 15 owns a building valued at $18,675, which is nearly paid for.
In addition to the foregoing deseribed lodges of Odd Fellows in this State, there are eighteen Encampments, with a membership of 1,284, and a Grand Encampment. The degrees in the patriarchal branch of the Order in this jurisdiction were first conferred on April 3, 1844, upon eleven brethren, members of Friendly Union Lodge No. 1,
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Providence. The first person to receive these degrees on that oeeasion was Samuel H. Thomas, who is looked upon as the pioneer in this branch of the Fraternity. A petition was immediately signed and forwarded for an Encampment in this State. On the 9th of April following, Grand Sire Albert Guild instituted Narragansett Encamp- ment No. 1, and installed the following offieers: William E. Rutter, C. P .; James Wood, H. P .; Stephen Phillips, S. W .; H. L. Webster, J. W .; Oliver F. Dutcher, S .; Samuel H. Thomas, Treasurer.
The organization of this first Encampment in the State was soon followed by another in Providenee. Moshassuck Eneampment No. 2 was instituted on the 13th of May, 1845, and both of these are still maintaining a prosperous existenee. The next encampment was or- ganized in Newport; this was Palestine No. 3, which was instituted October 16, 1845. After a few years of active life a difficulty arose between it and Oeean Lodge No. 5, and the membership deelined in number to ten. This condition eaused the Grand Lodge of the United States to eonsent to the removal of the eneampment to Woonsocket on September 18, 1848, and the eneampment has continued its existenee to the present time. On February 2, 1857, the Grand Scribe was directed to forward to each of the subordinate eneampments a charter, signed by all the Grand officers, to take the place of dispensations or charters previously issued.
Manchester Eneampment No. 4, of Pawtucket, was instituted April 6, 1848, and entered upon a life of prosperity which has eon- tinued to the present time.
The brethren in Westerly organized the next encampment under the title of Massatuxet No. 5, on September 25, 1851; it remained there with a small membership until May 21, 1860, when eonsent was ob- tained for its removal to Newport and the ehanging of its name to Aquidneck Encampment No. 5, which it still bears.
Howard Encampment No. 6, was instituted September 14, 1852. This was the last one organized for a period of nearly fifteen years. This branch of the Order sympathized with and felt the influences that caused serious deeadenee in the Order between 1860 and 1870, and there was little or no progress during those years. Niantie En- campment No. 7, in Hopkinton, was instituted on March 22, 1869, and Massasoit Eneampment No. 8, on June 23, 1871. These were followed by Wampanoag Eneampment No. 9, Bristol, which was instituted January 18, 1872, and Woonasquatneket Eneampment No. 10, Olneyville (annexed to Providenee, June 1, 1898), July 28, 1873.
Plymouth Eneampment No. 11, Providenee, was instituted April 10, 1872, with Daniel C. Taylor, C. P .; surrendered its eharter June 14, 1873 ; reorganized June 16, 1873. Two months later, on September 1, Mazeppa Encampment No. 12, Providenee, was instituted, with James K. Trask, C. P. In the same year, on Dceember 9, Anawan Encamp-
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ment No. 13, Providenee, was instituted, with John E. Ogden, C. P .; surrendered its charter December 30, 1881. On October 28, 1885, Awashonks Encampment No. 13 (the number originally used by Anawan) was instituted in Little Compton. Uncas Encampment No. 14 was instituted in Providence, January 3, 1873, with William H. Young, C. P .; Mareh 5, 1884, permission was given the encampment to loeate at Wickford; surrendered its charter February 6, 1900. Blackstone Eneampment No. 15 was instituted in Pawtucket, April 15, 1873. Minnehaha Encampment was instituted in Providenee, July 6, 1873. Fraternity Eneampment No. 17 was instituted in East Provi- dence, April 3, 1875. Weetamoe Eneampment No. 18, Adamsville, was instituted April 15, 1878. Massatuxet Encampment No. 19, Westerly, was instituted April 27, 1891.
On the 11th day of June, 1849, the Past Chief Patriarehs of Rhode Island assembled in Providenee for the purpose of formning the Grand Eneampment of Patriarehs of I. O. O. F. of the State. A dispensa- tion, dated Baltimore, May 26, 1849, had been obtained in response to a petition from the several subordinate eneampments. Following are the names of the first offieers of the Grand Encampment: G. P., James Wood; G. H. P., William B. Hubbard; G. S. W., Israel B. Purington; G. J. W., Hiram Thayer; G. S., Horaee A. Manchester; G. T., George W. Ham; G. Sen., John H. Watson. The Grand En- eampment, as well as the Grand Lodge in this jurisdietion, has on many important oceasions participated in proeessions and ceremonies, giving thereto added impressiveness and solemnity. The benefits arising from membership in the fraternity are unquestioned, and many honored citizens of the State have joined the Order whose motto is "Friendship, Love, and Truth".
In close relation with this Fraternity are the Rebekah Lodges, I. O. O. F., composed of Odd Fellows in good standing, and their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers. The Rebekah braneh eame into exist- enee in 1851, its distinguished author and founder being the Hon. Schuyler Colfax, LL. D. There are are thirty lodges in the State at the present time, the first one, Naomi No. 1, having been organized December 10, 1868.
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