the Patriotic Order to that of
the Union Order of Odd-Fellows. In Manchester, England, in 1813, some
of the lodges seceded from the order, and formed the Independent Order
of Odd-Fellows.
The order's first appearance in America was in 1819. The purposes of
the order were so changed by the founders here, that it is said to be
almost purely an American organization. It was based on the Manchester
Unity, which was really the parent institution. In 1842, this country
severed its connection with that of England.
Lodges connected with either those of England or America are
established in all parts of the world. The real estate held by the
organization exceeds in value $20,000,000, and there is scarcely a town
in the country that has not its Odd-Fellows Building. The total
revenue of the order is nearly $10,000,000 per annum. Yearly relief
amounts to nearly $4,000,000 a year.
THE JERICHO ROAD
"A traveler passed down the Jericho road,
He carried of cash a pretty fair load
(The savings of many a toilsome day),
On his Jericho home a mortgage to pay.
"At a turn of the road, in a lonely place,
Two villainous men met him face to face.
'Hands up!' they cried, and they beat him sore,
Then off to the desert his money they bore.
"Soon a priest came by who had a fold;
He sheared his sheep of silver and gold.
He saw the man lie bruised and bare,
But he passed on by to his place of prayer.
"Then a Levite, temple bound, drew nigh;
He saw the man, but let him lie,
And clad in silk, and filled with pride,
He passed him by on the other side.
"Next on the way a Samaritan came
(To priest and Levite a hated name);
The wounded man he would not pass,
He tenderly placed him on his ass.
"He took him to an inn hard by;
He dressed his wounds and bathed his eye;
He paid the landlord his full score;
If more was needed would pay him more.
"Ah! many travel the Jericho way,
And many are robbed and beaten each day;
And many there be on the way in need,
Whom Priest or Levite never heed;
And who to fate would yield, alas!
If some Samaritan did not pass."
THE OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF ODD-FELLOWSHIP
We are taught that "God hath made of one blood all nations of men to
dwell on the face of the earth," and when we say mutual relief and
assistance is a leading office in our affiliation, and that
Odd-Fellowship is systematically endeavoring to improve
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