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ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. 145
called, who held their session at Talbot court-house, to take into consideration the propriety of establishing a statistical jurisdiction. Among other
proceedings a resolution was passed to form a Grand Lodge for the State
of Maryland, independent of any other jurisdiction. At a grand convention
held at the same place, on the 31st of July, in the same year, the respective
representatives being clothed with full powers, proceeded to the formation
of a Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Maryland continued to hold
their sessions at the town of Talbot, until the year 1794, when Masonry,
having by this time extended its influence throughout the State, a number of
lodges having been established in the town of Baltimore and on the Western
Shore of the State, it became convenient to remove the Grand Lodge to Baltimore. The first session under the new arrangement was held in May, 1794,
and has since continued to meet in that city.
In April, 1819, the first lodge of Odd Fellows in the United States was
instituted in Baltimore. Thomas Wildey, the founder of the order in this
country, was born in London, January 15th, 1783, and after receiving a limited education, learned the trade of coach-spring
maker. On his coming of age he joined Lodge No.
17, of the Order of Odd Fellows, in his native city,
and, in the course of thirteen years, served in every
capacity, from the humblest to the highest office.
He instituted the " Morning Star " Lodge, No. 38, and
was chosen its first presiding officer. In 1817 he
married, and on the 30th of July of the same year
he embarked for America, and arrived in Baltimore
on the 2d of September following, where he immediately secured employment at his trade, and in
1818, having made the acquaintance of John Welch, thomas wildey.
a brother Odd Fellow, he determined to establish the order in Baltimore.
The first difficulty was to find a sufficient number of initiates for the purpose;
but upon advertising for members of the society, John Duncan, John Cheatham and Richard Rushworth, with Messrs. Wildey and Welch, met, on April
26th, 1819, at "The Seven Stars" tavern (on the south side of Second
street, between Frederick street and Market Space), and founded the first Odd
Fellows Lodge on this continent. The five members of the society being foreigners,- as an earnest of their respect for their adopted country, they called
it the " Washington Lodge of Odd Fellows." Thomas Wildey was installed
as Noble Grand, and John Welch as Vice-Grand; the other offices were
distributed among the members. The lodge established in Baltimore soon
received the sanction of the fraternity in England, and on February 1st,
1820, accepted a charter from the Duke of York's Lodge at Preston,
Lancaster. On the 22d of February, 1821, "The Grand Lodge of
Maryland and of the United States" was organized in Baltimore, and
continued its sessions until November 24, 1824, when it adjourned
10—v. iii.
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000172 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. 145 called, who held their session at Talbot court-house, to take into consideration the propriety of establishing a statistical jurisdiction. Among other proceedings a resolution was passed to form a Grand Lodge for the State of Maryland, independent of any other jurisdiction. At a grand convention held at the same place, on the 31st of July, in the same year, the respective representatives being clothed with full powers, proceeded to the formation of a Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Maryland continued to hold their sessions at the town of Talbot, until the year 1794, when Masonry, having by this time extended its influence throughout the State, a number of lodges having been established in the town of Baltimore and on the Western Shore of the State, it became convenient to remove the Grand Lodge to Baltimore. The first session under the new arrangement was held in May, 1794, and has since continued to meet in that city. In April, 1819, the first lodge of Odd Fellows in the United States was instituted in Baltimore. Thomas Wildey, the founder of the order in this country, was born in London, January 15th, 1783, and after receiving a limited education, learned the trade of coach-spring maker. On his coming of age he joined Lodge No. 17, of the Order of Odd Fellows, in his native city, and, in the course of thirteen years, served in every capacity, from the humblest to the highest office. He instituted the " Morning Star " Lodge, No. 38, and was chosen its first presiding officer. In 1817 he married, and on the 30th of July of the same year he embarked for America, and arrived in Baltimore on the 2d of September following, where he immediately secured employment at his trade, and in 1818, having made the acquaintance of John Welch, thomas wildey. a brother Odd Fellow, he determined to establish the order in Baltimore. The first difficulty was to find a sufficient number of initiates for the purpose; but upon advertising for members of the society, John Duncan, John Cheatham and Richard Rushworth, with Messrs. Wildey and Welch, met, on April 26th, 1819, at "The Seven Stars" tavern (on the south side of Second street, between Frederick street and Market Space), and founded the first Odd Fellows Lodge on this continent. The five members of the society being foreigners,- as an earnest of their respect for their adopted country, they called it the " Washington Lodge of Odd Fellows." Thomas Wildey was installed as Noble Grand, and John Welch as Vice-Grand; the other offices were distributed among the members. The lodge established in Baltimore soon received the sanction of the fraternity in England, and on February 1st, 1820, accepted a charter from the Duke of York's Lodge at Preston, Lancaster. On the 22d of February, 1821, "The Grand Lodge of Maryland and of the United States" was organized in Baltimore, and continued its sessions until November 24, 1824, when it adjourned 10—v. iii. |
