Pioneer Links: A Narrative Of The Establishment Of The Independent Order Of Odd Fellows On The Pacific Coast And A History Of Odd Fellowship In Washington To 1880, A Souvenir Of Thirty-Two Years In The Grand Lodge Of Washington Ioof. [Excerpts regarding Olympia Lodge No. 1, the Oldest Corporation in Washington still in existence.] By H. E. Holmes, P. G. M. Seattle: Press of the Washington Odd Fellow Times Bldg, 1913 [Transcribed in 2003 by Roger Easton] Chronology --------- March, 1846---Past Grand Gilbert Watson sails from Newberryport with charter for Oregon City Lodge No. 1 Dec. 18, 1846---Excelsior Lodge No. 1, Honolulu, first Lodge on the Pacific, instituted. Sept. 9, 1849---California Lodge No. 1 instituted. Jan. 28, 1851---Sacramento Lodge No. 2 instituted. July 5, 1851---San Francisco Lodge No. 3 instituted. Jan. 7, 1852---Eureka Lodge No. 4 instituted Jan. 7, 1852---Petition signed for a Lodge at Salem, Ore. Dec. 6, 1852---Cemeketa Lodge No. 1, of Salem, Ore., instituted. April 8, 1853---Samaritan Lodge No. 2, Portland, Instituted. Dec. 31, 1853---Oregon City Lodge No. 3, Oregon City, instituted. Mar. 2, 1853---Washington Territory created. Feb. 25, 1853---First meeting of Legislature at Olympia. July 26, 1854---Albany Lodge No. 4, Albany Ore. instituted. July 13, 1855---Olympia Lodge No. 1 Instituted Dec. 1862---Olympia Lodge No. 1 surrenders charter. Feb. 2, 1863---Enterprise Lodge No. 1 instituted. Apr. 17, 1866---Vancouver Lodge No. 3 instituted. 1867---Olympia Lodge No. 1 recall charter. Aug. 23, Olive Branch Lodge No. 4 instituted. Sept. 12, 1871---Touchet Lodge No. 5 instituted Oct. 22, 1872---Western Lodge No. 6 instituted. Apr. 14, 1875---Alpha Encampment No. 1, Olympia instituted. June 12, 1876---Seattle Lodge No. 7 instituted. Feb. 10, 18 77---Newcastle Lodge No. 8 instituted. Feb. 26, 1877---Mt. Baker Lodge No. 9 instituted. Mar. 8, 1877---Patit Lodge No. 10 instituted. Aug. 24, 1877---Unity Encampment No. 2 , Seattle, instituted. Feb. 9, 1878---Rainier Lodge No. 11 instituted. Apr. 23, 1878---Snohomish Lodge No. 12 instituted June 17, 1878---Friendship Lodge No. 13 instituted. Nov. 26, 1878---Grand Lodge of Washington instituted. Olympia Lodge No. 1 Olympia Lodge No. 1 was instituted July 13, 1855, by Past Grand C. C. Hewitt on a commission to him by Grand Sire De Saussure and Grand Secretary James L. Ridgely, with the following charter members: Victor Munroe Samuel Davenport Daniel Kiser R. J. Smith J. L. Head Cyril Ward At the same time George Blankenship and D. C. Beaty were admitted as Ancient Odd Fellows. These brothers have all passed away except Past Grand D. C. Beaty, who is still a resident of Olympia though having severed his connection with the Lodge. Olympia, at that time, was a small village with the deep and uncut woods behind it and flanking it and the Puget Sound in front of it at high tide and long mud flats at low and half tides. The Territory of Washington had been created two years previous by Congress and the year previous the first Territorial Legislature had convened, thus making it the civil, as well as the commercial capital of the Territory. No information is at hand concerning the later history of the Charter members. Past Grand C. C. Hewitt who instituted Olympia Lodge afterward was a charter member of Western Lodge No. 6 and represented that Lodge in the institution of the Grand Lodge of Washington, at which time he was nominated for Grand Master, Past Grand Swan of No. 1 being elected. The first officers were as follows: Victor Munroe, N. G. J. L. Head, V. G. D. C. Beaty, Secretary Cyril Ward, Treasurer Samuel Davenport, Conductor R. J. Smith, Warden Daniel Kiser, O. S. The first meeting place of Olympia Lodge was the upper floor of the old storehouse of Wm. Rutledge. There has been some difficulty to locate this building, but it was probably on what is now Second Street, near corner of Main Street. Shortly after the organization of a room was rented in the "Barnes' Building", which is remembered as a two story wooden structure owned by George Barnes on the east side of Main Street near 1st Street, between Third and Fourth, which is still standing. The first member initiated in Olympia Lodge was Dr. G. R. Willard, on July 27, 1855---which would be the second weekly meeting after the institution. The year following the institution of Olympia Lodge, local conditions in the Sound town and settlements caused by the different attractions that were drawing away the population that was always transient and restless at the best, were discouraging. In 1855 there was an Indian war which involved the whole Territory. Then gold was discovered on Fraser river, causing the historic stampede of 1858. Afterward came the Salmon River gold rush in 1861, which with the Oro Fino stampede put the whole Pacific Coast in a state of excitement and of movement toward the fabled lands of wealth. About that time the farm and grazing lands in Eastern Washington were thrown open to settlement after having been closed by the Government following the Indian war. The wonder is that Olympia was not depopulated. The exodus continued until 1861, when it bacame a matter of serious discussion among the few remeaining members, whether it would be possible to continue the Lodge. The remaining members lived at a distance from the Lodge and attendance could only be made by long trips by wagon or horseback over roads almost impassable at times, or tramp over lonely trails, or long trips by boat. It finally became impossible to secure a quorum and Past Grand Percival was appently the only member left to represent the Lodge. In September, 1861, the Grand Lodge of the United States directed that: "The Subordinate Lodges in Washington Territory be attached to and made Subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Oregon" As there was only one charter in Washington at that time, and that charter was reduced to the care and custody of one member, the resolution of the Grand Lodge of the united States surrendering Washington Territory to the Grand Lodge of Oregon, though the only thing to do "owing to the remote isolated location" is food for reflection in memory of the fact that the Sovereign Grand Lodge with all its world-wide representation, has since held one of its Annual Sessions in the State of Washington and one in the State of Oregon, and at Portland in 1892 and at Seattle in 1909 it was welcomed and entertained by thousands of Northwestern Odd Fellows. So Olympia Lodge came under the Jurisdiction of Oregon Grand Lodge in January, 1862, and Grand Master Hovey entered into a correspondence with Past Grand Percival as to conditions in Olympia and in reply to the Grand Master's inquiries, Past Grand Percival wrote under date of August 22nd, 1862, that "he hoped to report a quorum soon and asking patience with them under their trying circumstances." In reply to Grand Master Hovey's further inquiries, P. G. Percival wrote under date December 9, 1862, "disparingly of the Lodge." On receipt of this information, the Grand Master directed his Deputy "to take entire control of the hall, funds and property until such time as he could convene a quorum and make a detailed report." This action was reported to the Grand Lodge of Oregon at the Session in May, 1863, which body directed the Grand master to take possession of the effects of the Lodge. Thus the matter was referred to the incoming Grand Master of 1863, J. H. Douthit, who continued the correspondence in an effort to revive the Lodge. This failing hopelessly, Past Grand Percival was directed to sell all effects that would not bear shipping and send all other property to the Grand Secretary. The Grand Secretary's reports having received the "Regalia and books of the Lodge and $31.75 in cash." It is impossible from the records to fix the exact date of the surrender of the Charter, but it was undoubtedly in June or July of 1863. If there are any records that indicate that the Charter was surrendered earlier than this date they are obviously incorrect and cannot be confirmed by the records in the office of the Grand Secretary of Oregon. While Olympia Lodge had few regular meetings during the year of 1862, the last record in the minutes being March 8, 1862, yet meetings could have been held any time to June, 1863, that a quorum could have been secured. Therefore the dormant period was four years instead of five years as generally reported. On April 13, 1867, a meeting of former members of Olympia Lodge was held in the Masonic Temple for the purpose of reorganizing the Lodge and recalling the Charter. The meeting effected a temporary organization by electing the following officers: C. C. Hewitt, N. G. I. N. Hawk, Treasurer G. C. Blankenship, V. G. S. W. Percival, Secretary These members with others present whose names are not given by signed a petition at that time and sent it forward to the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Oregon for a restoration of the Charter. The Grand Master of Oregon promptly granted the petition and sent them the necessary documents and authority to resume their fraternal functions and appointed Past Grand Percival as D. D. G. M. to look after the Lodge. Matters must have moved rapidly, for at the meeting of the Grand Lodge in May of that year, about a month after the signing of the petition for recall of the Charter, Olympia Lodge was represented in the Oregon Grand Lodge Session of May, 1867, by Past Grand C. C. Hewitt, and as the first initiation after resuscitation took place May 3, 1867, the first meeting of the Lodge after return of their Charter must have been between April 13 when reorganization was effected, and the date of the foregoing initiation. The candidate at that time was Gustav Rosenthal, who is still living in Olympia, though he has severed his coonnection with the Lodge. Time surely flies when one tries to crowd a decade into a few inches of history. From the resuscitation of the Lodge to the institution of the Grand Lodge of Washington eleven years later in 1878, we may assume it was the usual and uneventful Lodge routine. The chrisis of 1873-4 came when hopes had been raised by the prospective coming of a transcontinental railroad and the "things that come to those who wait" did not include the Northern Pacific Railroad in the list of things coming to the city of Olympia--not then. Undaunted the people of Olympia proceeded to help themselves in the construction of railroad connections and the city maintained its supremacy in the Territory as the political, social and commercial capital for many years. Odd Fellowship was popular , for in 1872 another Lodge was instituted, Western No. 6, and Olympia was as well the center of fraternal matters in the Territory of Washington until long after the organization of our Grand Lodge. In membership the old Lodge did not get very far away from the '55' mark---the reported membership December 31, 1870, being 50---and December 31, 1878, 54 members. The Representatives from the Lodge to the Grand Lodge of Oregon from the rususcitation in 1867 to the organization of the Grand Lodge of Washington were as follows: 1868 --- S. W. Percival 1869-70 --- Not represented 1871 --- S. W. Percival 1872 --- C.. C. Hewitt 1873 --- Frank Henry 1874 --- B. Bettman 1875 --- J. M. Swan and Nathan S. Porter Grand Lodge Degree was conferred at that Session on these two brothers, who later rendered distinguished service in Washington. Brother Swan being the first Grand Master and Brother Porter being the first Grand Patriarch. Let it be noted that H. G. Struve was the Grand Master of Oregon that year and conferred the Grand Lodge Degree on Brothers Swan and Porter. What a splendid combination of ability---Struve, Swan and Porter. It can never be told how much Odd Fellowship in Washington owes that trio. 1876 --- Same as 1875 1877 --- Nathan Pattison, Francis Henry 1878 --- A. A. Philips, G. G. Turner In 1878 the Grand Lodge of Washington was organized and the Lodge was represented at that time by Past Grand N. S. Porter and who took the obligation to protect and preserve the Charter on behalf of Olympia Lodge No. 1. Past Grand John M. Swan was elected Grand Master at that first session and served in that office through the next regular session. That first session of 1878 and the one of 1879 were conventions of bright and able men and one can read between the lines of the Journal that the air was charged with politics and we can guess that at times it was a tempest of oratory and a practice of parliamentary wisdom where the majority made the right, regardless of the rule. Olympia No. 1 was well represented, there being 12 Past Grands from the Lodge of a total of 34 present. They were as follows: Nathan S. Porter Thos. M. Ford John M. Swan S. W. Percival Gustave Rosenthal Samuel Davenport A. A. Phillips G. G. Turner Wm. Billings J. H. Lotz J. Safrud W. J. C. Neat Of all this list of leading Past Grands of that day there is with us but Past Grand Patriarch Porter and Past Grand Rosenthal. On October 22, 1872, a second Lodge of Odd Fellows was organized at Olympia and chartered as "Western Lodge No. 6" by the Grand Lodge of Oregon with the following charter members, who were also elected officers of the Lodge at the time of organization: C. C. Hewitt, N. G. J. S. Dobbins, V. G. Nath. Crosby, Secretary H. R. Hewitt, Treasurer J. L. Cook, I. Guardian. No one seems to be able to answer the question why there was a need for a second Lodge in Olympia in 1872. A distinguished Past Grand Master of Washington, referring to the two Lodges in each of the towns of Olympia and Seattle in the "seventies", says: "It is perhaps better that no inquiry be made into the real causes of such division of energy". As the charter members seem to have been members withdrawing from Olympia Lodge, this fragment of history is introduced here because they all came back "home" again in 1888 and joined in a wise and fraternal way with Olympia Lodge in the building of Odd Fellows Temple that stands to the credit of the Order in Olympia. In 1881 Western Lodge purchased the corner of 5th and Main Street as neither Lodge was in a condition to construct a Temple alone the wiser counsel prevailed and the two Lodges consolidated March 15, 1888. On March 18th a Building Committee was appointed as follows: N. Ostrander A. C. Chambers B. F. Snyder Plans were immediately drawn and construction began, and on May 5, 1888, the corner stone was laid, the oration being delivered by Past Grand Patriarch N. S. Porter. The Temple was completed that year and on April 26, 1889, was dedicated to the purposes and uses of Odd Fellowship by Grand Master O. C. White. This was a gala day for Olympia and was participated in by all surrounding Lodges. Excursion steamers were run from Seattle and Tacoma, bringing crowds of Odd Fellows accompanied with bands of music and banners, and it is safe to say Olympia never saw such a gathering of Odd Fellows and the hospitalities extended that day will be long rmembered by those whose good fortune it was to be the recipients. In the early days of the Grand Lodge of Washington, all through the early "eighties," the Representatives of Olympia Lodge were the controlling personalities in the Grand Lodge. No one Lodge since has sent so many Representatives, one after another, whose experiences and abilities qualified them so completely to be leaders and advisers. Such members as Grand Secretary Ford, Grand Secretary Brown, Grand Secretary Swan, Past Grand Patriarch Porter had always to be reckoned with, one or more, in every proposition, legislative or elective, coming before either Grand body, though it is a pleasure to let it be recorded that their activities did not embrace Grand Lodge politics. In 1881 all four of these rapid-fire brothers were present in the Grand Lodge and add to them a high class representation from No. 6--Past Grands E. T.Young, C. K. Talcott, Otto Ranke, with Past Grand Master Struve's powerful intellect, and they will be found a formidable array of high potentials. In 1882 the representation was much the same, with Past Grand Turner, Robt. Frost, C. C. Hewitt, Robt. Mack. What show would a modest Representative afraid of the sound of his own voice have with them? It can be said without contradiction that they did not always agree with each other, but such differences were local and personal. There is not a resolution on the Journals from 1880 tp 1885 that did not pass the scrutiny of those intellects from Olympia and the Jurisdiction has much to be thankful for in those able representatives of the earlier years. Ruth Rebekah Lodge No. 17 was instituted September 21, 1888, just in time to join with the Lodge in the "house warming" of the new Temple that was constructed that year, and to take part in the dedication on April 26th of the year following. The Lodge was instituted by authority of Grand Master O. C. White, now a member of the Lodge by Dispensation directed to Past Grand N. Ostrander. The Lodge started with thirty-nine charter members, which may be taken as evidence of the popularity of that important branch of the Order, remember that in the "eighties' Lodge membership among even the big ones was not counted by hundreds. Ruth Lodge No. 17 with its approximate membership of 175 at the present is among the "big ones" and occupies a large and expanding field in the fraternal world of Olympia. The first Encampment in Washington was authorized by the Grand Sire M. J. Dunham and Assistant Grand Secretary Theo. A. Ross, and the Encampment named and hailed "Alpha Encampment No. 1", was instituted April 14, 1875, by Past Grand Representative A. Noltner of Oregon, D. D. Grand Sire, with the following charter members: N. S. Porter Gustav Rosenthal G. G. Turner John M. Swan H. G. Struve Robt. Mack N. Crosby George S. Dorr The Encampment was organized by electing the following officers: H. G. Struve, C. P. John M. Swan, J. W. N. S. Porter, H. P. Nat. Crosby, Scribe Robert Mack, S. W. G. G. Turner, Treasurer The Encampment has a membership of nearly 100 at the present time (1913) and will partake of the same prosperity in the future that is promised for the Lodge. Olympia Lodge can be well proud of its membership and of the bright and able Past Grands who have received their fraternal education in that Lodge. The following Grand Officers have been drawn from the membership of the Lodge: One Grand Master, J. M. Swan Three Grand Secretaries, T. N. Ford, J. M. Swan, T. J. Brown Two grand Patriarchs, N. S. Porter, J. M. Swan Two grand Representatives, T. N. Ford, J. M. Swan, and N. Ostrander. Past Grand Patriarch Porter is easily the Dean of the Lodge. he was initiated in Olympia Lodge May 25, 1867, and has been continuously a member for forty-six years. Gustav Rosenthal antedates his initiation by 22 days, having been initiated May 3, 1867, but the distinguished and faithful service of Past Grand Patriarch Porter, his continuous good standing all these years and at the present time, and the fact he has been the Treasurer of the Lodge so long that no one remembers the time he was not the Treasurer, clearly secures to him the right to the title of Dean of Olympia Lodge No. 1. Of these but P. G. Patriarch Porter remains with us and may we have his companionship for many pleasant years. DR. G. R. WILLARD Initiated July 27, 1855 The first member initiated in Olympia Lodge, and thus being the first one to be initiated in Washington, was Dr. G. R. Willard, who became a member of Olympia Lodge No. 1 by initiation July 27, 1855, at the third meeting of the Lodge. Brother Willard was one of the leading citizens of Olympia, a type of the men who have made the West. He was a cultured and thoroughly educated physician and with such a foundation for sustaining himself in an eminent position in the east, we can well imagine that he had a love of adventure to leave what the East had to offer him and identify himself with the primitive opportunities of the West. Doubtless all pioneers have felt that irresistible "call" for the freer, bisgger life promised by the West and the frontier. Brother Willard was born at Rodney, Jefferson County, N.Y. , and received his medical education at Berkshire Medical College, taking his degree from Transylvania University, Kentucky. The restless spirt of the pioneer took him across the plains with his family in 1852. He arrived in Olympia in 1853, where he practiced medicine for thirteen years, passing away in 1866. He was a member of the Territorial Legislature in 1856, and in 1860 was named as one of the commissioners in the Act of the Legislature incorporating the Northern Pacific Railroad Co. He was the father of Dr. Rufus Willard, a well known physician in Seattle in the "nineties", and his granddaughter, Mrs. Annie Willard Hines, is a member of one of the Rebekah Lodges in Seattle. It is a high privilege to be able to honor him here and to secure and preserve his portrait and these memories of the first initiate of our Order in Washington. END