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292 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO


CHAPTER VIII.


WARREN LODGES..


OLD ERIE LODGE NUMBER THREE, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.


Alexander Sutherland, secretary of this lodge in A. L. 5821 and 5822, in his prefatory to the abstract made by him of the first records of the lodge says:


It is a matter of no small importance that the records and proceedings of every important and valuable institution be kept entire, and it is equally important that they be kept in such form that the readiest access may be had to the most essential particulars. The frequent meetings of our honorable institution and the multiplicity of business therein transacted necessarily renders our records extremely voluminous, while the scattered and informal manner in which they are usually kept renders them no less obscure. To remedy this inconvenience and to place important particulars in a conspicuous situation is the object of this abstract.


To this abstract made by Brother Sutherland we are indebted for very many of the facts in this sketch, while some have been obtained from other worthy and trusty sources, while some have been winnowed out of the legends and traditions of these olden times, together with the remembrance of the very few still living, who were contemporary with them.


In the year 1803, Anno Lucis 5803, a number of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons residing in Trumbull county, within the Connecti¬


* By R. A. Baldwin, past master, and Charles S. Field.


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cut Western Reserve, in the State of Ohio, met at Warren (the seat of justice for Trumbull county, then comprehending the entire Western Reserve), and mutually agreed to organize and establish a lodge of the order, to be located at Warren, to-wit : Samuel Tylee, Martin Smith, Tryal Tanner, Camden Cleveland, Solomon Griswold, Aaron Wheeler, John Walworth, Charles Dutton, Arad Way, Gideon Hoadley, Ezekiel Hover, Turhand Kirtland, John Leavitt, William Rayen, George Phelps, James B. Root, James Dunscomb, Samuel Spencer, Joseph De- Wolf, Daniel Bushnell, Calvin Austin, and Asahel Adams, joined in a petition to the Grand lodge of Connecticut, from which State and from the lodges thereof the most of these brothers had emigrated, praying for authority to "congregate as Free and Accepted York Masons, and form a lodge as such under their jurisdiction and protection. At this meeting Samuel Tylee, one of the brothers present, was duly appointed their representative ; and clothed with the necessary authority And recommendations, entrusted with the petition, he proceeded to the city of New Haven and presented it to the Grand lodge of Connecticut, then holding its annual session there, having thirty-nine of its subordinates therein represented. After due deliberation they concluded to grant the prayer of these brothers. A charter was granted to the brothers above named, bearing date October 19, 1803, and Brother Samuel Tylee was, by the Grand lodge, appointed and installed as deputy grand master fo1 the purpose of proceeding to Warren to dedicate the new lodge and install its officers. The charter was delivered to him, and shortly after his arrival home in Warren, on the 16th of March, A. L. 5804, at 2 P. M., he, with the pro tem. officers or the Grand lodge, appointed from the brethren present, went in procession to the room provided, and then, as deputy grand master, proceeded to and opened the lodge in the first three degrees of Masonry in proper form, and after due examination of the brothers, who were proposed by the petitioners as officers of the new lodge, to-wit : Right Worshipful Turhand Kirtland, master ; Right Worshipful John Leavitt, senior warden ; Right Worshipful William Rayen, junior warden ; Calvin Austin, treasurer; Camden Cleveland, secretary ; Aaron Wheeler, senior deacon; John Walworth, junior deacon ; Charles Dutton and Arad Way, stewards ; Ezekiel Hover, tyler ; and being fully satisfied with their character, skill, and qualifications for the government of the lodge, they having also received the entire and unconditional consent of the members thereof, did, by the apthority given him by the Grand lodge of Connecticut, with the assistance of the grand officers pro tem., constitute, consecrate, and solemnly install the said petitioners and their said officers by the name of Erie Lodge No. 47, Ancient Free and Accepted York Masons, agreeable to the ancient it usages, customs, and laws of the craft, under the protection and jurisdiction of the Grand lodge of Connecticut. And now, having solemnly erected the lodge to God, and dedicated it to the holy Saints John, and being legally empowered as a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, to work and act as such, in strict conformity to the ancient charges and laws of the fraternity, the usual rites and ceremonies performed, and the honors paid the Grand lodge, it, at 3:3o P. M., closed in form, with great harmony.


The members forming this lodge resided in various parts of the Reserve, brothers Walworth and Hoadley being residents of Cleveland, Rayen and Dutton of Youngstown, Tryal Tanner of Canfield, Turhand Kirtland of Poland, Samuel Tylee of Hubbard, and others from the lake shore towns.


At 5 o'clock P. M. of this day Erie Lodge No. 47, for the first time since their organization, as above set forth, convened at its lodge room in Warren, and, opening in due form, proceeded to business, and from that time continued work under the authority so granted, until considering that greater benefits would arise to the craft by the formation of a Grand lodge for the State of Ohio, they, on the 11th of March, A. L. 5807, at their annual meeting, by a solemn vote of the lodge, appointed George Tod, John Leavitt, and William Ray en (three members thereof) a committee to correspond with the other lodges in the State on the subject. This committee, faithful to their trust, carried out the object of their appointment, and, at a meeting of the lodge held November 11, A. L. 5807, reported that they had received communications in answer to theirs from lodges at Marietta, Cincinnati, Zanesville, and Chillicothe, relative to the formation of a gravid lodge. When this report had been de-


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liberately considered, the encouragement thereby afforded induced the lodge to pass a resolution appointing brothers George Tod and John W. Seeley delegates from Erie Lodge No. 47 to meet delegates from other lodges within the State in convention to be held at Chillicothe on the first Monday in January, A. L. 5808, and "confiding these our delegates full power in conjunction with the delegates from other lodges to institute a grand lodge and form a constitution and bylaws agreeable to the ancient landmarks, constitution, charges and usages. Thus to Erie lodge belongs the honor of being the first to suggest and first to take the initiative towards establishing the Grand lodge of Ohio, a distinction of which it may well be proud. The result of this move upon its part was that on the 4th day of January, A. L. 5808, a preliminary meeting of delegates from all the lodges in the State was convened at Chillicothe to deliberate on the propriety of forming a grand lodge to take Masonic cognizance of the craft within the State, and, if found expedient, to inaugurate measures for its organization. Six lodges were represented, located respectively in Marietta, Cincinnati, Warren, Zanesville, Chillicothe, and Worthington. Robert Oliver was made chairman and George Tod secretary. The convention deliberated for some days, and its labors resulted in the unanimous adoption of the following resolution proposed by brother Lewis Cass and seconded by brother John W. Seeley, of Erie lodge.


Resolved, That it is expedient to f0rm a Grand lodge in this State.


On the next day they went into an election of officers, which resulted in the choice of Rufus Putman, of Union lodge No. 1, Marietta, Rt. W. Gr. M.; Thomas Henderson, Cincinnati lodge No. 13, Rt. W. D. G. M.; George Tod, of Erie lodge No. 47, Rt. W. S. G. W.; Isaac Van Horn, of Amity lodge No. 105, Zanesville, Rt. W. J. G. W., and the other grand officers. The lodges then in the State were chartered by the various Grand lodges of the States whence their members had emigrated to Ohio, and took their numbers therefrom. The proceedings of this convention was, by the delegates from Erie lodge, reported to its regular annual meeting held on the 9th of March, A. L. 5808, and unanimously approved, and at a meeting held December 5th following, George Tod, Samuel Huntington, and John H. Adgate were, by a unanimous vote of the lodge and by warrant of the right worshipful master and warden, appointed and empowered to represent the lodge in the Grand lodge at their grand communication to be held in January thereafter. It was also resolved by the lodge, in compliance with a resolution adopted by the Grand lodge, that the charter granted them by the Grand lodge of Connecticut and the by-laws of the lodge be submitted to the care of the said representatives, to be surrendered to the Grand lodge of Ohio under the regulation adopted by it, and receive in its stead a warrant of dispensation. All of which being done, and the same granted by the Grand lodge, and presented to Erie lodge at its meeting March 23, A. L. 5809, and by the lodge read, considered, and approved, it was resolved to adopt under this warrant of dispensation the same by-laws that were in force under the charter granted by the Grand lodge of Connecticut, now surrendered.


The lodge thus continued to exercise the powers vested in it as well under and by authority of the charter And the warrant of dispensation by the title of Erie lodge No. 47, from the period of its first institution until at a certain regular meeting held at its lodge-room in Warren on the 2d of February, A. L. 5814, when the presiding secretary in open lodge reported that he had received from the grand secretary of the Grand lodge of Ohio a charter of constitution signed by the M. W. Henry Brush, G. M.; Rt. W. Jacob Burnett, D. G. M. pro ton.; Rt. W. Edward Tupper, S. G. W.; Rt. W. Levin Belt, J. G. W.; Rt. W. David Kincaid, Grand Treasurer; and attested by Rt. W. Robert Kercheval, Grand Secretary; and with the seal of the Grand lodge attached thereto, dated at Chillicothe on the 5th of January, in the year of redemption 1814, and of Masonry 5814, constituting and appointing Samuel Tylee, Francis Freeman, Elisha Whittlesey, Seth Tracy, William W. Cotgreave, John Leavitt, and Calvin Austin, and their successors forever, a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, to be hailed by the name and title of Erie lodge No. 3. Granting them concurred precedence with the other five original lodges convened at Chillicothe, A. L. 5808, under which charter, name, and numbe1 the lodge continued to exercise the power granted


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thereby. Atthe stated communication held June 13th, John S. Edwards and George Tod were initiated as entered apprentices. Brother Tod was passed November 13, A. L. 5804, and raised November 14, A. L. 58o5. He was elected master of the lodge March 2o, 1811. He was prominent in the effort made by the lodge to establish the Grand lodge; was the secretary of the convention at Chillicothe at which the Grand lodge was organized; was its first grand senior warden, to which office he was re-elected for number of years. He served the lodge in every capacity and in all its offices. He died April 11, 1841. He was faithful in the discharge of his duties, public and private, and a true, devoted Mason to the last. (See biographical sketch).


In 1805 Joseph Coit was initiated, and in 1806 William Andrews, Eperntus Rogers, James Hillman, and George Hardman; in 1807, Alexander Campbell, John H. Adgate, and Edward Scoville; in 1808, Jonathan Church, Titus Brockway, and Elderkin Potter; in 1809, Hezekiah Knapp, and Rufus Edwards; in 1810, Elisha Whittlesey, Rev. Adamson Bentley, and Archibald Tanner. Of Elisha Whittlesey perhaps more than the brief notice of his initiation into our fraternity is due. A man who lived to ripe old age, honored and beloved; honored as being an honest public man, as a member of the National house of Representatives from the Nineteenth Congressional district of Ohio for many years. He always took an active part in the affairs of the lodge, filling most of its offices, and in them, as in all other matters, he was a just and upright man and Mason, continuing as such until at the call of the gavel of the supreme grand master of the Universe he was raised to the celestial lodge above (see biographical sketch).


In 1811 Otis Guild, Thomas McMillen, and Steven Oviatt were initiated; in 1812, Robert Bentley and Alexander Sutherland; in 1813, Solomon Oviatt, Fisher A. Blocksom; in 1814, Seymour Austin, John Brown Harmon (for a biographical sketch see another page, written by his son, Dr. Julian Harmon), Samuel Wheeler, and Robert Harper; in 1815, Lyman Potter; in 1816, James Guild and William W. Morseman; in 1817, Levi Hoadley, Wheeler Lewis, Seth Oviatt, Samuel North, Richard Iddings, and Isaac Ladd; in 1819, Israel Procter, Asa Howe, John Chambers, Charles Green, and Solomon Sweatland; in 1821, Cyrus Bosworth, Ebenezer Thompson, Charles Olcutt, Rufus Payne Spalding, Roswell Stone, and John M. Goodman; in 1822, Jacob H. Baldwin, Isaac Heaton, Alfred L. Norton, James C. Marshall, Jeremiah Brooks (2d), and Alfred Allen; in 1823, Enoch W. Heaton, Reece Heaton, Calvin Austin, Edward Spear, Benjamin Towne, John R. Barr es, W. B. Washington; in 1824, George W. Tallmadge, William McFarland, Henry Stiles; in 1826, Cornelius Ferris and James Wickersham. The records being so incomplete but a partial list of those initiated can be given, as there are gaps of more than a year that nothing but fancy can fill. Many joined the lodge from other lodges, among whom were John Harrington and the two brothers, Benjamin and Horace Stevens.


Benjamin Stevens was made a Mason in Vergennes, Vermont, in 1810, removed to Warren in 1816, was admitted to membership in Erie lodge March 19, 1817, served in all the offices of the lodge, was elected and presided in the Oriental chair in 182o, and again in 1821. He became one of the charter members of the present Old Erie lodge in 1854. He was born in Canaan, Litchfield county, Connecticut, July 20, 1788, and now at the age of nearly ninety-four resides at his home on Mahoning avenue, Warren, an exemplary man and Mason as he has ever been through life.


Horace Stevens, Sr., was born February 2, 1794, in Huntingdon, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, removed to Warren in 1816, to Newton Falls in 1828, and back to Warren in 1867. He was made a Mason in Dorchester lodge No. 3, Vergennes, Vermont, December 3, 1815 (his diploma from that lodge now graces the reception room of Old Erie), he was admitted to old Erie August 2, 1817. He filled nearly all the offices, was diligent and zealous, ever attentive to the business on hand. He now lives with his widowed daughter, Mrs. Ira L. Fuller, on Market street, and occasionally meets with the lodge.


Of the charter members of Erie lodge No. 47 much ran not now be ascertained. Some oft hem were members of the Connecticut Land company, who were owners of the Western Reserve, but the details obtainable are so meagre that injustice might be done in this hasty sketch


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should even brief mention be made, so we refrain only in justice to them and those who afterwards became members of the lodge. It should be said that it numbered among its members the best men of the day and the time—many of them becoming famous in the history of the State as judges, congressmen, legislators, counselors, in all the professions, arts, trades, and commerce. Biographical sketches of some of them will be found on other pages of this and Mahoning county history.


Where the room was located in which the lodge was instituted, and from that time (A. L. 5804) held, its meetings cannot, from the limited data at the command of the compilers of this sketch, be ascertained, Tradition, having a foundation, no doubt, in fact, says that they met somewhere in 1810 in the gambrel-roofed, red frame building, in which the Western Reserve bank was first organized, that stood on the east side of Main street, just north of the Freeman property, and on ground now occupied by the Biggers grocery store. Afterwards and during the war with Great Britain (1812-15) they met at the Hadly tavern, built by John Leavitt, then standing on the west side and just back from Main: street, in the rear of, and on the ground now occupied by the King frame block, immediately south of the old King brick block, now (April, 1882), being torn down. From this room they marched in procession, on the celebration of St. John's day, in June of one of those years, to a log building then used as a school-house, standing on the northwest coiner of the park, west of Main street, and north of the present city building. Soon after this, probably in 1816, they removed to "Castle William," afterwards known as the Pavillion hotel, located on ground now occupied by VanGorder's brick block on Market street.


The room which they occupied in this hotel was used in common for the Masonic hall, courtroom, public meetings, shows, exhibitions, singing-schools, balls, etc., and the log part of the house as a jail. The lodge continued to occupy this room until about 1829, when the first chapter of its prosperity comes to a close and one of darker aspect opens. Seizing on an unfortunate circumstance which occurred in a neighboring State, aspiring political demagogues took up the cry, and then, as now, pandering to the preju dices of the ignorant and uninformed for the purpose of gaining the honors and emoluments of office, raised an anti-Masonic tempest that, aided and encouraged by false brethren, who could readily make merchandise of their honor, swept over the whole country. It is not, however, our intention to repeat the story of those times, when to be an avowed Mason was sufficient of itself to brand the man with infamy, and yet an allusion must be made to those days in reference to their effect on the subject of which we are writing. Such exterminating zeal and wild fanaticism prevailed that in some towns where the lodges continued to meet, their rooms were broken into and their property publicly destroyed, and such the defection of members who before were considered "good and true," that even the really worthy could not maintain their Masonic position in an organized form without incurring the enmity of the public and social ostracism by the community in which they lived. In 1831 a national anti-Masonic convention was held in Philadelphia, and William Wirt was nominated for President of the United States and polled a considerable vote, receiving a majority in one or two States in consequence, and in obedience to public opinion, then so inflamed, and concluding to let time, reason and calm judgment determine the right, a majority of the lodges in Ohio and in most of the States ceased to work as such. Some of them voluntarily surrendered their charter, some gave them up on the call of the Grand lodge, while others, with colors still unfurled died charter in hand. The charter of Erie Lodge No. 3, was consumed in 1833, when the house of Brother Edward Spear (standing on the grounds now occupied by the First Methodist church building) on High street, was burned, and from this time forward the transactions of the lodge ceased. But it is a very dark night that is not followed by another day. After mentioning the last recorded meeting and giving a list of the officers of the lodge from its organization to this time, as far as possible, we will take advantage of the dawning light of the brighter day that again illumined the onward pathway of the fraternity.


On Wednesday evening, December 3, 1827, a regular communication was held at which were present Edward Spear, Rt. W. M.; Roswell Stone, Rt. W. S. W. pro tem; Rufus P. Spald-


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ing, Rt. W. J. W. pro tem; Henry Stiles, treasurer; Isaac Ladd, secretary pro tern; Horace Stevens, S. D. pro tem; Francis Freeman, J. D: and T. pro tern; visiting brother Isaac N. Gilson. A committee consisting of Francis Freeman and Roswell Stone was appointed to settle with the treasurer and secretary and to report at a special meeting held the next evening. They made their report, showing the assets of the, lodge to be $75.83, and all due from members either for dues un paid o1 money loaned. This is the last recorded meeting of the lodge, yet it continued to meet and was represented in 1828 in the Grand lodge by Brothers Francis Freeman, R. P. Spalding, and Edward Spear, and in 1830 it is in the list of existing lodges under the Grand lodge.


Worshipful Masters-1804, Turhand Kirtland; 1805, Edward Payne; 1806, Martin Smith; 1809, George Tod; 1812, John Leavitt; 1813, Samuel Tylee; 1814, Francis Freeman; 1816, George Tod; 1818, Adamson Bently; 1820, Benjamin Stevens; 1822,* Edward Flint; 1824, R. P. Spalding; 1825, Edward Spear.


Senior Wardens-1804, John Leavitt; 1805, Martin Smith; 1806, Samuel Tylee; 1808, John Leavitt; 1810, John S. Edwards; 1811, Martin Smith; 1812, Francis Freeman; 1814, Seth Tracy; 1818, Horace Stevens; 1820, Francis Freeman; 1821, Horace Stevens; 1822, Rufus Payne Spalding; 1824, Edward Spear; 1825, Jacob H. Baldwin.


Junior Wardens-1804, William Rayen; 1805, Samuel Tylee; 1806, Solomon Griswold; 1809, Samuel Tylee; 1810, Francis Freeman; 1812, Calvin Austin; 1813, Elisha Whittlesey; 1814, Adamson Bently; 1818, John. Gordon; 1820, Edward Flint; 1821, John Gordon; 1822, Cyrus Bosworth; 1823, Isaac Ladd; 1824, Jacob H. Baldwin; 1825, James C. Marshall; 1826, Cyrus Bosworth.


Treasurers-1804, Calvin Austin; 1806, Turhand Kirtland; 1807, John Leavitt; 1808, Calvin Austin; 1810, Asahel Adams; 1812, John W. Seeley; 1813, Seth Tracy; 1814, Otis Guild; 1815, John B. Harmon; 1816, Lyman Potter; 1818, Benjamin Stevens; 1820, Richard Iddings; 1825, Henry Stiles.


Secretaries-1804, Camden Cleveland; 1806, George Tod; 1808, William Rayen; 1809, John


* New by-laws changing time 0f electi0n went into effect.


S. Edwards; 1870, Calvin Austin ; 1812, Elisha Whittlesey; 1813, William H. Cotgreave; 1814, John W. Seeley; 1815, Seymour Austin ; 1817, Edward Flint; 1820, Horace Stevens; 1821, Alexander Sutherland; 1822; Jacob H. Baldwin; 1824, James C. Marshall; 1825, R. P. Spalding; 1826, William McFarland.


Senior Deacons-1804, Aaron Wheeler ; 1806, Seth Tracy; 1809, Richard Hayes; 1810, Tryal Tanner ; 1812, Seth Tracy ; 1813, John Leavitt ; 1814, Robert Bently; 1815, George Tod ; 1816, William W. Cotgreave ; 1817, Alexanc er Sutherland; 1818, John B. Harmon; 1819, Richard Iddings; 1820, Alexander Sutherland ; 1821, Francis Freeman; 1822, Roswell Stone; 1823, Edward Spear ; 1824, William B. Washington ; 1825, Francis Freeman; 1826, Horace Stevens.


Junior Deacons-1804, John Walworth ; 1806 James Danscombe ; 1808, John W. Seeley ; 1809, Francis Freeman ; 1810, Arad Way ; 1811, Elisha Whittlesey ; 1812, Edward Scofield ; 1813, Calvin Austin ; 1814, Eli Barnum ; 1815, William W. Cotgreave ; 1816, Francis Freeman; 1818, Lewis Hoadley ; 1820, John Gorden ; 1821, Edward Flint ; 1822, Reuben Case ; 1822, *Francis Freeman ; 1823, Calvin Austin ; 1824, William McF'arland ; 1826, Francis Freeman.


Stewards-1804, Charles Dutton and Arad Way ; 1805, George Phelps and Edward Payne ; 1806, Edward Wadsworth and Tryal Tanner ; 1807, S. G. Bushnell; 1808, Richard Hayes and William Andrews ; 1809, James Hillman and William W. Cotgreave ; 1810, James Hillman and Camden Cleveland ; 1811, William Andrews and Hezekiah Knapp ; 1812, James Hillman ; 1813, Hezekiah Knapp and Asahel Adams ; 1814, Steven Oviatt ; 1815, James Hillman and Hezekiah Knapp; 1816, Alexander Sutherland; 1817, Benjamin Stevens and Stephen Oviatt ; 1818, Richard Iddings and Wheeler Lewis; 1819, Alexander Sutherland and John Shook ; 1820, John Shook and Levi Hoadly; 1821, Samuel Phillips ; 1822, Isaac Ladd and Charles Olcutt ; 1823, Benjamin Towne; 1826, Isaac Ladd.


Tylers-1804, Ezekiel Hover ; 1805, Elijah Wadsworth ; 1806, Josiah W. Brown ; 1807, Arad Way ; 1808, Jonathan Church ; 1809, William Andrews ; 1810, Jonathan Church ; 1812, Hezekiah Knapp; 1813, Alexander Suth-


* New by-laws went into effect, changing time of election.



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erland; 1816, John Shook ; 1819, Isaac Ladd ; 1822, Francis Freeman ; 1822, Charles Olcutt ; 1824, Isaac Ladd ; 1825, Edward Flint ; 1826, Benjamin Towne.


Early in A. L. 5854 a number of the members of Erie Lodge No. 3, who were still living and still holding on to, and cherishing, and honoring the principles of Masonry, and having during all the years of darkness aided and counseled each other, met at the home of one 0f them, as they had continued to do, and agreed to petition the grand master for a dispensation to commence work. The grand master, William B. Dodds, was pleased to grant their prayer by issing a warrant of dispensation dated June 2, 1854, to Richard Iddings, Jacob H. Baldwin, J. B. Buttles, W. H. Holloway, Henry Stiles, J. Rodgers, H. Benham, Gary C. Reed, J. Veon, Benjamin Stevens, Edward Spear, John B. Harmon, Alexander McConnell, and H. McManus, under the title of Western Reserve lodge. The committee on charters and dispensations, at the session of the Grand lodge held in Chillicothe October 17, A. L. 5854, report that they "have examined the dispensation, by-laws, etc., of Western Reserve lodge at Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, and take pleasure in stating that but one error, and that an unimportant one, was discovered"; they recommended that a charter be issoed to them. The report was adopted by the Grand lodge. The name Western Reserve lodge was adopted because during the lapse 0f Erie lodge another lodge of that name had been established, and under the regulations of the Grand lodge two lodges of the same name were not allowed.


On Wednesday P. M., October 18th, at the communication of the Grand lodge, Brother A. L. Holcombe, of Vinton lodge No. 131, offered the following resolution, which on his own motion was laid on the table:


Resolved, That the name of Western Reserve lodge, to which a charter has been granted at this communicati0n, be changed to Erie, and that it take the number "three" from an old lodge of that name formerly located at the same place.


This resolution was referred to the committee on charter and dispensation, who on the afternoon of the 19th reported this resolution:


Resolved, That the name of Western Reserve lodge be changed to Old Erie, and that it be numbered three.


And so the lodge had restored to it the name, number, and precedence to which of right they belong. This charter was issued to the same brothers as named above in the dispensation.


Since the time of its re organization its progress has been rapid and permanent, and in every way successful, paying more dues to the Grand lodge for the year A. L. 5866 than any other lodge except one in the State. It was constituted and its first officers installed in the lodge room of Mahoning lodge No. 29, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in Iddings' brick block, on Market street, January 30, 1855, by special deputy Brother John M. Webb. The officers were the same as under the dispensation, to wit; Brother Gary C. Reed had served during that time as worshipful master, but not having taken his demit from Jerusalem lodge, he was held by Special Deputy Brother Webb as ineligible to be installed ; Brothers John Veon, S. W.; H. A. Benham, J. W.; Henry Stiles, treasurer; H. W. Holloway, secretary; William Green, S. D.; Morgan Gaskill, J. D; John A. Woods, tyler. They removed from the Odd Fellows' hall to their new rooms in the Gaskill house, now the Austin house, southeast corner of Main and South street, about the month of March, A. L. 5855. The first officers elected under its charter November 20, 1855, were: Edward Spear, W. M.; Charles R. Hunt, S. W.; Jacob H. Baldwin, J. W.; Henry Stiles, treasurer; John M. Stiles, secretary; William Green, S. D.; Edward Spear, Jr., J. D.; Ebenezer H. Goodale, tyler. March 25, 1862, they removed from the Gaskill house to and held their first meeting in the hall built for them on the southeast corner of Main and Market streets, from thence in 1869 to the elegant hall and rooms over the First National bank, southeast corner of Park avenue and Market street, which rooms they have since occupied.


The following is a list of the officers of the lodge since its reorganization in 1854:


Worshipful Masters -1855, Edward Spear; 1865, R. A. Baldwin; 1866, C. R. Hunt; 1871, T. Ackley; 1875, E. C. Cady; 1877, H. B. Weir; 1879, S. F. Bartlett; 1881, W. A. Reeves.


Senior Wardens-1855, C. R. Hunt; 1860, R. A. Baldwin; 1865, Julius King; 1866, I. N. Dawson; 1867, P. Chase; 1868, L. Dray; 1869, F. P. Reed; 1870, T. Ackley; 1871, John Kceh. ler; 1873, F. Kinsman, Jr.; 1874, E. C. Cady; 1875, H. B. Weir; 1876, J. A. Thayer; 1877,


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G. B. Kennedy; 1878, S. F. Bartlett; 1879, W. A. Reeves; 188i, J. Vautrot, Jr.


Junior Wardens-1855, J. H. Baldwin; 1856, W. C. Hathaway ; 1857, R. A. Baldwin; 1860, Julius King; 1861, J. N. Green; 1862, Julius King; 1863, H. A, Seabrook; 1864, S. N, Kemble 1865, W. N. Lane ; 1866, E. H. Ensign; 1867, H. P. Bassett; 1868, J. G. Gilmer; 1869, T. Ackley; 1870, F. E. Hutchins; 1871, Matthew Rankin; 1873, W. T. Spear; 1874, H. B. Weir; 1875, J. L. Kennedy; 1876, J. J. Jones; 1877, C. H. Angstadt ; 1878, W. A. Reeves; 1879, J. Vautrot, Jr.; 1881, G. H. Tayler.


Treasurers-1855, Henry Stiles ; 1869, P. Chase ; 1871, T. A. Brierly ; 1874, John Koehler.

Secretaries-1855, John M. Stull ; 1856, E. H. Goodale; 1857, H. W. Holloway; 1861, W. Adams; 1863, W. M. Lane; 1864, W. B. Gorton; 1865, L. Dray; 1866, H. H. Townsend; 1867, W. T. Spear; 1868, R. A. Baldwin; 187o, F. Kinsman ; 1871, J. G. Baldwin; 1877, J. L. Kennedy.


Senior Deacons-1855, William Green; 1856, Edward Spear, Jr. ; 1857, Julius King ; 186o, J. N. Green ; 1861, J. W. Tyler; 1864, L. A. Bentley; 1865, T. Van Antwerp; 1866, R. A. Baldwin; 1867, F. P. Reed; 1869, T. Van Antwerp ; 187o, E. G. McOmber ; 1871, C. E. Strong; 1872, R. A. Baldwin; 1873, M. Rankin; ,1874, G. L. Jameson; 1875, J. J. Jones; 1876, H. B. Weir; 1877, Thad. Ackley; 1878, R. A. Baldwin; 1879, F. D. McLain.


Junior Deacons -1855, Edward Spear, Jr.; 1856, James McKnight ; 1857, J. N. Green ; 1859, H. Ewalt ; 1860, Calvin Reeves ; 1861, H. Stevens; 1863, D. D. Dunn; 1864, T. Van Antwerp; 1865, John W. Roberts; 1866, T. Van Antwerp; 1867, T. Ackley; 1869, E. G. McOmber; 1870, John Koehler; 1871, M. W. Spear; 1872, C. H. Augstadt; 1874, J. D. Kennedy; 1876, W. B. Payne; 1877, J. N. Green ; 1878, John Wilkins; 1879, C. W. Field; 1880, A. B. Camp; 1881, G. K. Ross.


Tylers-1855, E. H. Goodale; 1856, Thomas Douglass ;. 1857, E. H. Goodale ; 1858, L. Burton; 187o, G. B. Hucke; 1872, J. D. Kennedy ; 1874, John Wilkins; 1875, L. Burton, 1876, E. H. Goodale.


Delegates to the Grand lodge.-1855-56-57, Edward Spear; 1858-59-60, Edward Spear and

R. A. Baldwin; 1862, Edward Spear and W. C. Hathaway; 1863-64, R. A. Baldwin; 1865, Edward Spear ; 1866, R. A. Baldwin and Edward Spear; 1867, C. R. Hunt and Edward Spear; 1868, C. k. Hunt; 1869, .John G. Gilmer; 1870-71,T. Ackley; 1872, John Koehler; 1873-74, T. Ackley; 1875-76, E. C. Cady; 1877, 1878, R. A. Baldwin; 1879, S. F. Bartlett and J. Vautrot, Jr.; 1880-81, S. F. Bartlett.


MAHONING CHAPTER ROYAL ARCH MASONS NO. 66.


A dispensation dated March 31, 1855, was granted by Most Excellent High Priest H. M. Stokes, upon the petition of Francis Freeman, Richard Iddings, Jacob H. Baldwin, Chester Bidwell, Edward Spear, Gary E. Reed, Cyrus Bosworth, Benjamin Stevens, and Alexander McConnell. At the first meeting held under it, April 20, 1855, the petitions of Charles R. Hunt, William Green, R. W. Ratliff, and L. C. Jones were received. Its first officers under dispensation were Edward Spear, M. E. H. P.; Chester Bidwell, E. King; Richard Iddings, E. Scribe. A charter was granted to it October, 1855, and the first election held under it December 19, 1855. The following officers were elected : Edward Spear, M. E. H. P.; Chester Bidwell, E. K.; J. H. Baldwin, E. S.; Richard Iddings, treasurer; R. W. Ratliff, secretary; William Green, C. H.; C. R. Hunt, P. S.; Edward Spear, Jr., R. A. C.; R. A. Baldwin, M. 1st V.; L. C. Jones, M. 2d V.; Morgan Gaskill, M. 3d V.; E. H. Goodale, guard. It now, April, 1882, has over one hundred members.


WARREN COUNCIL NO. 58, ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS,


organized under dispensation dated March 21, A. L., 5871, and held its first stated meeting April 7th, thereafter. It was chartered September z6, A. L. 5871, and the first officers elected were Edward Spear, T. I. M.; R. W. Ratliff, D. I. M.; William M. Lane, P. C. W.; George M. Stiles, treasurer; Frederick Kinsman, Jr., recorder; E. G. McOmber, C. of G.; J. C. McLain, sentinel. It now, April, 1882, has something over thirty members.


MAHONING LODGE NO. 29 INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.*


The Independent Order of Odd Fellows originated in London, England, in 1788. Claims


* By Past Grand Charles S. Field.


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are made by zealous members dating its origin as far back as 1726, but its earliest written records date back only to 1788. In that year a club calling themselves the Union Order of Odd Fellows met in that city every week for convivial and social practices. Other clubs formed on its model, and taking its rules to govern them, were established, by its consent, in various places throughout England, and the same convivial practices, often carried to excess, continued, until, in 1809, when after "Victory club" (or lodge, as they were then designated) was instituted at Manchester, some of its more intelligent members, perceiving the necessity of a reform in these practices of the brotherhood, and making mutual relief and charity instead the main objects of their meetings, sought to make such a change, but finding, after several years of effort, that such a result could not be accomplished without a radical change of the order, they therefore, in 1813, called a convention of all members of the order everywhere, who were in favor of the reform sought, to meet at Mancheste1 for counsel, advice, and action. At this meeting several lodges, including the one at Manchester, seceded from the old union order and formed the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mancheste1 Unity, and under its improved practices advanced rapidly, and soon overshadowed the rival from whence it sprang forth.


Members of this new order emigrating to the United States formed self established or unchartered lodges here, and then issued charters or authority for the establishing of other ones. But the successful institution of Oddfellowship, the fountain of the present wide-spread organization in this country, dates back only to 1819.


Thomas Wildey, a blacksmith by trade, an Englishman by birth, an American by adoption, and a citizen of Baltimore, Maryland, inserted in the papers a call for a meeting of Odd Fellows. It was responded to by John Duncan, John Welch, John Cheatham, and Richard Rush-worth, who, together with Wildey, organized and self instituted Washington lodge Number 1, of Baltimore, April 26, 1819, and afterwards, February 1820, received a charter from the Manchester

unity, with power to grant charters to other lodges, thus becoming both a grand and working lodge. This mixed or double power was soon found to be extremely Inconvenient, and on February 22, 1821, its power as a grand body was voluntarily surrendered to the past grands of that and Franklin lodge, then also existing in Baltimore, and thus the grand lodge was organized, receiving a charter as such from the Manchester unity, May 15, 1826, and proceeded to grant charters as subordinate lodges to those who had so organized it. This system continued until 1847, when the present representative form was adopted. It is now composed of two representatives from the subordinate lodges, and two from the encampment branch of the 0rder from each jurisdiction governed by a State or Territorial grand lodge, and has power to grant charters to these National, State, or Territorial grand bodies, or to subordinate lodges in counties or districts where no grand lodges have been established by it, the several grand lodges chartering subordinates within their own jurisdiction. In 1878, owing to the establishing of lodges of the order in foreign countries, and for the purpose of having uniformity in the laws and in the unwritten work of the order, representatives from those countries were admitted and it is now styled the Sovereign Grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and it only furnished the general laws and unwritten work to all the grand lodges of the world, local legislation being left to the several grand bodies, the form of its government being similar to that of the United States, and the several States. It separated or seceded from the Mancheste1 unity in 1842.

The Sovereign Grand lodge had, in 1880, under its jurisdiction 50 grand lodges, 40 encampments, 7,172 subordinate lodges, 1,857 subordinate encampments, located in the States and Territories of this country, South and Central America, Mexico, Europe, Dominion of Canada, Sandwich Islands, Australia, New Zealand, etc. The total relief granted to members during 1880 was $1,695,979; the total revenue for 1880 was $4,618,846.42; total number of members in 1880

was 456,942.


ODD FELLOWS IN TRUMBULL COUNTY.


Odd Fellowship was first established in Trumbull county by the institution of Mahoning lodge No. 29, at Warren, May 21, 1844, since which time there have been organized and instituted nine other lodges, eight of which still exist, and are progressing rapidly in members and


TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 301


finances. The lodge established in Gustavus was unable; for some reason, to sustain itself, and its charter was surrendered. when following table shows the name, number, when instituted, location, and night of meeting of the nine lodges now in Trumbull county, together with the amount of their capital or invested fund, annual income, amount paid for relief of members during the year 188o, and the number of past grands then holding membership in each :


ODD FELLOWS IN OHIO.


Odd Fellowship was established in Ohio by the organization and institution, December 23, 183o, of Ohio Lodge No. r, at Cincinnati. The first officers were: Jacob W. Holt, N. G.; James Brice, V. G.; Samuel Cobb, secretary; Nathaniel


Estling, treasurer. The Grand lodge of Ohio, consisting of the past grands of Ohio Lodge No. r, was organized and went into operation Janu ary 2, 1832, and has now under its jurisdiction seven hundred and eight subordinate lodges, With a membership of nearly fifty thousand. These subordinate lodges have an invested fund of $1,510,760.82, an annual income of $323,435.59, and have paid out for the relief of its members and for charitable purposes $113,708.43. These figures are for the year 1880, except the membership, which is the estimate for the present year of 1882.


MAHONING CHAPTER NO. 29, INDEPENDENT


ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.


A charter was issued to Mahoning Age No. 29, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, bearing date May 21, 1844, the following being charter members: Charles Pease, John Benson, Josiah F. Brown, L. P. Lott, and E. W. Weir. It was signed by Samuel W. Corwin, M. W. G. M.; H. N. Clark, R. W. D. G. M.; Joseph Roth, R. W. G. W.; David T. Shelbacker, R. W. G. Secretary; and the other officers of the Grind lodge, countersigned by Albert G. Day, G. C. Secretary. The lodge was instituted in the afternoon of May 21, 1844, in the hall in Daniel Gilbert's two-story brick block, corner of Market and Liberty (now Park avenue) streets, on ground now known as the Stiles block, being situated over that part of it now occupied by A. Wentz's dry-goods store, it being the second story in that block east from Park avenue, by D. D. G. M. Gideon E. Tindall, assisted by P. G. Bro. E. T. Nichols, both of Cleveland. The following were its first officers, elected that afternoon: Lewis P. Lott, N. G.; Josiah F. Brown, V. G.; Charles Pease, secretary; E. W. Weir, treasurer. A meeting was held on that evening, and on the next forenoon, afternoon, and evening, and on the 24th following, Sullivan D. Harris, William H. Newhard, Arthur Pritchard, Adoniram F. Hunt, William L. Knight, Charles R. Hunt, 0. P. Tabor, Asahel E. Adams, Levi M. Barnes, and A. W. Bliss were initiated, and at the end of the first year the membership was fifty-four.


On the night of June 1, 1846, occurred a very disastrous fire that swept away a large portion of the business part of the city, including the block in which the hall was located, and most of the furniture, regalia, emblems, ward-


302 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.


robe, and effects were lost. A special meeting was called by the noble grand, at the request of Brothers F. K. Hulbard, E. W. Weir, and eleven others, at the ball-room of William H. Newhard, in the American House, now Dana's Musical institute, northwest corner of Park avenue and High street. At this meeting the hall committee were instructed to get together the scattered property of the lodge, and a special committee consisting of Brothers William Williams, Alanson Camp, and F. K. Hubbard were ap pointed to ascertain the amount of loss sustained by each individual member as soon as practicable. No report of this committee, if any was made, is upon record.


At the next meeting Brother William Williams, from a committee that had been appointed to confer with sundry individuals in regard to the purchase of a lot whereon to build an Odd Fellows building, reported nothing definite had been ascertained, but that a room could be procured in A. Adams' brick block on Main street, now (1882) known as the King block, and being torn down, for $30 per year. Brothers L. P. Lott, A. W. Bliss, and Alexander McConnell were appointed a committee with instructions to procure the rooms of Mr. Adams, and to have the same fitted up and in proper condition for the lodge to meet in at its next regular meeting, and it was done. The lodge continued in occupancy of these rooms until July 12, 1847, at which date it removed to Iddings' new brick block on Market street, where it has since been located, nearly thirty-five years.


On June 30, 1846, a circular, issued by the authority of the lodge, was sent out to the " lodges of this and adjacent States," asking assistance for the sufferers by the late calamitous fire. They were responded to quite generally and with very liberal donations, their timely help materially assisted in forwarding the re-establishment of business. Bros. T. J. McLain, M. B. Tayler, and Z. Fitch, were a committee to distribute this fund ,in a uniform and just manner.


The lodge has uniformly advanced in numbers and finances, except during, and a few years preceding and succeeding the late war of the Rebellion. During this period its membership fell from over one hundred and twenty to about fifty ; its capital or invested fund was materially diminished by losses on individual loans, and by parties with whom it had been deposited, but it recovered from the reverse, and now (1882) has a membership of over one hundred and fifty, with an invested fund (Government bonds), amply sufficient to guarantee the fulfillment of all its contracts with its members.


A number of lodges have grown out of this one, located in and out of the county, composed wholly or in part of its members, they taking withdrawal cards from this to become charter members of the new one. The following list names a few of them: Ralph A. Ingersoll, March 1, 1845, for new lodge at Canton, Ohio; Wilmot Bartlett, Charles A. Hosmer, Asa Forsythe, Monroe Atkinson, April 7, 1845, new lodge at Meadville, Pennsylvania ; F. L. Smith, T. Garlick, R. G. Garlick, D. J. Wick, George W. Seaton, J. 0. Osborn, September 29, 1845, Hebron No. 55, Youngstown, Ohio ; F. W. Hulbard, November 17, 1845, new lodge at Racine, Wisconsin; James D. Watson, March 23, 1846, lodge at Ravenna, Ohio ; Joseph Hartman, June 14, 1847, lodge at New Lisbon, Ohio; Royal Dow, A. E. Ensign, Wanton Hathaway, J. S. Cleveland, July 1, Geauga, No. 171, East Claridon, Ohio. And many others since, at the institution of other lodges in this and adjacent counties, and others in various Western States, the lodge having initiated over four hundred members, and among them many who have become very prominent, if not famous, not only in the order, but in all the departments of the professions, commerce, trades, and mechanics.

The following named members have been elected and served as N. G.'s, and for such service received the rank and title of P. G.: Levi P. Lott, Josiah F. Brown, Charles Pease, in 1844; John Benson, E. W. Weir, L. P. Lott (second term), 1845; William H. Newhard, Charles R. Hunt, 1846: Charles Pease (second term), A. W. Bliss, 1847; Alexander McConnell, D. Hitchcock, 1848; Thomas J. McLain, F. K. Hurlburt, 1849; J. D. Watson, R. W. Ratliff, 1850; S. D. Harris, Joel F. Asper, 1851; C. M. Patch, M. D. Leggett, 1852; Peter Gaskill, D. B. Gilmore, 1853; James Hoyt, M. McManus, 1854; E. H. Allison, Benjamin Cranage, 1855; Warren Packard, John M. Stull, 1856; Joel F. Asper (second term), E. H. Goodale, 1857;


TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 303


Jacob Goldstein, J. C. Johnson, /858; Biven P. Jameson, Leonard Burton, 1859; Rufus Thompson, William R. Stiles, 1860; Joel F. Asper (third term), L. Burton (second term), 1861; Thomas McCormick, James G. Brooks, 1862; Josiah Soule, Daniel Bishop, 1863; L. Burton (third term), J. G. Brooks (second term), 1864; C. C. McNutt, H. D. Niles, 1865; B. Goehring, C. M. Patch (second term), 1866; W. Y. Reeves, M. C. Woodworth, 1867; Alonzo Truesdall, J. G. Brooks (third term), 1868; J. W. Hoftse, D. M. Lazarus, 1869; J. W. Hoftse (second term), E. A. Burnett, 187o; J. B. Hardy, Michael Parker, 1871; R. S. Elliott, E. W. Moore, 1872; M. B. Deane, John L. Smith, 1873; J. D. Hoon, Wilson Downs, 1874; George B. Kennedy, John Buckstein, 1875;

D. S. Jackson, Robert S. Wilkins, 1876; William Dennis, J. L. Smith (second term),* 1877; Charles N. Van Wormer, J. W. Masters, 1878; F. J. Mackey, J. W. McMurray, [879; A. R. Hunt, James McCormick, 1880; Charles Holman, S. W. Park, 1881; Horace P. Bassett, 1882.

The following have been admitted to membership on cards as past grands from other lodges: Charles S. Field from Geauga lodge, 1867; Milo Clapp from Orwell lodge; Charles E. Kistler, Newton Falls lodge, 1870; Thomas Chase, Chardon lodge, 1866; A. E. Lyman, Newton Falls lodge; S. J. Encliott, Orwell, April 1, 1879.


CHARTER MEMBERS.


Lewis P. Lott was initiated in Cleveland lodge No. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, took a withdrawal card from that lodge, and became the first noble grand of Mahoning lodge. He was one of the most active, zealous, and efficient workers, was re-elected noble grand in 1845, and took a withdrawal card from that lodge November 9, 1846, for the purpose of joining one in Racine, Wisconsin, where he, about that time, removed. He was a merchant, and very much respected.


Charles Pease was also initiated in Cleveland lodge- No. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, withdrew from -there, and was one of the charter members of this lodge; was elected its third noble grand, was re-elected in 1846 ; was district deputy grand master in 1845, and as such, instituted Hebron lodge No. 55, in Youngstown,


* To fill vacancy caused by the resignation of J. W. Hillman.


and others in other localities; served two terms as representative to the Grand lodge of Ohio; was one of the charter members of Pymatuning encampment No. 4, at Warren, now (1882) residing in Cleveland, Ohio ; is still a member of this lodge, never having severed his membership therewith ; a genial, social, open, -frank-hearted, and much respected gentleman of some seventy years of age. He quite often visits the lodge, and is always greeted with hearty hand-shakes and expressions of respect, esteem, and love.


E. W. Weir was initiated in some lodge in the city of Cincinnati, taking the third, fourth, and fifth degrees here; he was elected noble grand in 1845. He was a tailor by trade, and was expelled from the order November 28, 1859, for non-payment of dues.


John Benson.—No data can be found as to when Brother Benson was made an Odd Fellow, but the records show that he became a charter member of this lodge "on deposit of card;" he was elected noble grand in 1845. A plasterer by trade, he took a withdrawal card May 3, 1874, and removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


Josiah F. Brown.—The records do not show when Brother Brown was made an Odd Fellow. He became a charter member by deposit of card; was second noble grand of the lodge; a tailor by occupation; he was expelled from the order July 23, 1860, for non-payment of dues.


The following members of Mahoning lodge have served in the Grand lodge of Ohio in the offices named:


P. G. Thomas J. McLain, most worthy grand master in 1855, and grand representative to the Grand lodge of the United States from the encampment branch of the order in 1850, and again in 1853 and 1854. In 1852 he was elected most worthy grand patriarch of Grand encampment.

P. G. David M. Lazarus, most worthy grand patriarch of the Grand encampment in [878; grand warden of the Grand lodge in 1874, and grand conductor in 1877.


P. G. Charles R. Hunt, grand conductor in 1853.


P. G. Benjamin Cranage, grand guardian in 1855.


October 4, 1878, Mahoning lodge No. 29 gave a reception to the most worthy grand sire of the Sovereign Grand lodge, John B. Harmon, and


304 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.


to the order generally throughout the State. The writer of this sketch can do no better than to copy a few words from the report of this reception, given to the Grand lodge at its next session thereafter, by the then grand master, William S. Capellar, who was present at this reception visit of the most worthy grand sire of the Grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows:


On the 1st of October, 1878, I was notified of the visit of this distinguished brother to the home of his childhood, and invited by the officers and members of Mahoning lodge No. 29, to unite in a general demonstration of welcoming the most worthy grand sire to the hearts and homes of the brethren of this jurisdiction, Accordingly, in company with our nght worthy grand warden, Brother W. H. Pearce, we arrived on the morning of the 4th of October in the city of Warren, Trumbull county, and had the pleasure of meeting the largest and most enthusiastic gathering of Odd Fellows I had seen for a long time, gathered from all points of that section of the State. The city was literally alive with gay banners and music, all in honor of one who was born and educated in their midst, and after an absence of many years was visiting them as the honored head of an institution composed of a half million of men, whose motto is "friendship, love, and truth." Here we met and were greeted by the most worthy grand patriarch, D. M. Lazarus, and Past Grand Masters T. J. McLain, C. H. Babcock, Belden Seymour, and our Right Worthy Deputy Grand Master E. K. Wilcox, and a host of P. G's., and other worthy members. Here we, for the first time, grasped the hand of the most worthy grand sire and extended to him a hearty welcome among the Odd Fellows of Ohio. The ceremonies of the reception were grand and imposing, and reflected great credit on the brethren of Mahoning lodge, and will long be remembered by the friends of the order in Warren and vicinity. The response of Brother Harmon to the address of welcome from Brother P. G. M. McLain was very interesting and characteristic of the worthy brother.



Mahoning lodge has paid out since it was instituted, for the relief of the members and beneficiaries, and for charitable purposes, over $15,000.


Past Grand James Hoyt was initiated June 9, 1845; was elected noble grand in 1854; has served the lodge as one of its trustees for a majority of the years of its existence, and in the matters pertaining to the welfare of the lodge, as to all those of public interest or policy (and he has had much to do in shaping the affairs of our city and country), he has shown zeal, energy, and ability. He now (1882). lives at the age of about sixty-eight in Warren, west side, and has been all his life an active energetic worker in the cause of right.


Past Grand Master Thomas J. McLain, initiated March to, 1845; elected noble grand in 1849; grand maste1 of the State of Ohio in 1855; grand patriarch in 1854; has been elected representative to Grand lodge of the United States from the encampment branch, of the order in 1850, and again in 1853 ; also representative to Grand lodge of the State a number of times, Has been an able and efficient help in the business, legislative and executive departments of the order, and now, at the age of eighty, holds membership in the order, and is present at most of our lodge meetings.


INDEPENDENT ORDER ODD FELLOWS, ENCAMPMENT

BRANCH, TRUMBULL COUNTY.


Pymatuning encampment No. 14 was instituted at Warren, May 12, 1846, but not proving very successful was removed to Youngstown, where it is now very prosperous.


Trumbull encampment No. 147 was instituted at Warren, July 21, 1871. The charter members were Charles R. Hunt, Leonard Burton, James G. Brooks, Daniel Bishop, Phineas Chase, Robert S. Elliott, John W. Masters, M. B. Dean, and D. M. Lazarus. It was instituted by C. L. Russell, most worthy grand patriarch, and Joseph Dowdall, right worthy grand scribe. It has now (1882) about fifty members and is making rapid progress in membership and finance.


An encampment was established in Niles, but for want of support and other reasons its charter was surrendered.


OTHER LODGES.


Independence lodge No. 9, Knights of Pythias, was instituted July 27, 1875. The ceremony on that occasion was conducted by Hon. John G. Thompson, of Columbus, grand chancellor of Ohio. There were twenty-four members, which number he increased to fifty. The first officers were L. M. Lazarus, past chancellor; G. B. Kennedy, C. C.; E. A. Cobleigh, V. C.; H. A. Potter, prelate; George H. Taylor, M. of F.; T. McQuiston, Jr., M. of E.; C. L Hoyt, K. of R. and S.; F. M. Ritezel, M. of A.


There are also in Warren recently established lodges of the Royal Arcanum and Hibernians.