History

History of Mission Peak Lodge # 114

History of Odd Fellows

“The Ancient Order of Odd Fellows” originated in England during the 1700’s. The earliest mention of our order was written in the “Gentleman’s Magazine” in 1745. Working class men originally formed the Lodge for social purpose and to give aid to it’s members who were in need of employment. When a “Brother” could not find work he was given a card and money to carry him to the next Lodge and so on. When he found work then his card was deposited at that Lodge and that is where he settled.

In the early membership there was no ritual or formal business of the meetings. The titles of the Lodge officers were taken from “The Order of Gregorians” which met at St. Albans in May 1736. It was not until 1809 with the formation of the “Manchester Unity” that all individual Lodges became one entity managed under a grand body.

Odd Fellows in America

In the early 1800’s there were a few failed attempts at establishing Odd Fellows in America, but on April 26th, 1819 in Baltimore, Maryland: Washington Lodge #1 was started in “The Seven Star’s” tavern.

In 1818 the city of Baltimore ranked 3 among cities in the United States and boasted a population of 60,000. The war with the British had just ended and Baltimore had been attacked. Being English was an offense of patriotism. Thomas Wildey, a native of England, was initiated into the London Odd Fellows Lodge #17 in 1804. A skilled Blacksmith, he was an active member and helped institute Morning Star Lodge #38 in London. Newly married, he immigrated to the United States in 1817. In Baltimore he befriended John Welch who was also an Odd Fellow from London.

The two friends regretted that their change in residence had deprived them the social pleasure of the Lodge. These two Brothers decided to form an Odd Fellows Lodge, so on February 13, 1819 they placed an ad in “The Baltimore American”. This ad asked “Brethren meet for consultation upon the subject of forming a Lodge”. From this first meeting on March 2, 1819 two men came forward and plans were set in motion. A second ad was again placed in “The Baltimore American” on March 27, 1819. This ad said that a new Lodge would be formed and all in interest should meet “Friday Evening, the 2nd of April at the “Seven Stars”, 2nd st. at the hour of 7 P.M.” On April 2, 1819 Washington Odd Fellows Lodge #1 was opened with Thomas Widley N.G., John Welch V.G. and 3 brothers with other offices. Within 3 weeks the membership increased to 15.

Odd Fellows in California

The history of California Odd Fellows started in Philadelphia, PA. The charter for California Odd Fellows Lodge #1 was issued on January 12, 1849 by Grand Sire Horn R. Knease bearing the names of 6 officers and one new member who, days later, embarked for the California territory in 3 separate ships. Of the seven men only three arrived in California on May 20, 1849. The discovery of gold had Port Yerba Buena in turmoil. Two of the three men left for the gold fields and left James L. Smiley alone with the charter. Smiley made several attempts to start the Lodge but there was little interest. When the two companions and others returned from the gold fields then the interest of the Lodge started to grow. On September 9, 1849, exactly one year to the day that California was a state, California Odd Fellows Lodge #1 held it’s first meeting with Brother Smiley instituting the Lodge. The first meeting had 25 members representing 25 different states.

On November 12, 1849 the Brothers moved to the building owned by Levi Stowell located on Montgomery Street. The Lodge hall in San Francisco at 7th and Market was built in 1884 and the first meeting held was on May 14th. The original hall was destroyed in the 1906 Earth Quake and fire. Thanks to the heroics of one member the charter was saved before the building collapsed. The current building was re-dedicated on June 27th, 1910.

Odd Fellows in Fremont

The Inception of Mission Peak Odd Fellows Lodge #114, as with many Lodges from California, grew from the quick expanse of the membership spreading out through the state. On July 5, 1851, James Smiley instituted San Francisco Odd Fellows Lodge #3. James Smiley transferred to that Lodge by card soon after. On October 22, 1853 Samuel Hale Parker instituted Templar Odd Fellows Lodge #17 in San Francisco. Brother Parker transferred to that Lodge by card soon after.

On November 26, 1859, Crusade Odd Fellows Lodge #93 in Alvarado (Now Union City) was instituted by John L. Van Bokkelen. One man that lived in the area at the time pushed the presence of this Lodge. Charles S. Elgenbrodt joined Charity Odd Fellows Lodge #6 in Stockton. He transferred by card to Templar Lodge. In 1858 he moved to Alvarado and worked months to organize a Lodge. Brother Elgenbrodt was an active member who moved quickly through the ranks but resigned his position as District Deputy Grand Master to recruit a company of volunteers for the California Battalian. He quickly received the rank of Captain and was killed on September 2, 1864 in Shenedoah Valley leading a charge for the Union. He is the only California Odd Fellow to be killed in the Civil War.

In the early 1860’s there were several members of the Crusade Lodge that were traveling to Alvarado from the area known as Washington Corners (Now known as the Irvington district of Fremont). These members felt they had enough support in the area to start a new Lodge and on June 27, 1863 Mission Peak Odd Fellows Lodge #114 held its first meeting with 9 charter members from Alvarado and 1 charter member from San Jose. The first meetings were held in the Union Hotel; soon a 20 x 40 room was rented for the purpose of meetings. Chester Harris, N.G.; Jacob Salz, V.G.; Benjamin Marsten, Rec. Sec.; Edward Niehowe, Treas.; and Orrin Wilson, Fin Sec, held the first offices. Other charter members were Herman C. Crowell, Otho Morgan, John M. Murphy, Robinson Ruckledge and Jared Walker.

History of Rebekahs

On September 20th, 1851 the Rebekah Degree was adopted to encourage women to join in Odd Fellowship. Odd Fellows are the first fraternal organization to incorporate women. The degree of the Rebekah is based on the women of the bible and the teachings of this degree are very beautiful. Schyuler Colfax, Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant 1868 – 1873, wrote the Rebekah Degree. In 1823 Mission Peak Lodge #114 decided that it should have a Rebekah Lodge and asked that all Wives, sisters & daughters attend a meeting. This meeting resulted in the inception of Aqua Pura Rebekah Lodge #193 Instituted on July 19, 1893, a gala ball in the area at that time with 150 present.

Silver Star Rebekah Lodge #336

Aqua Pura Lodge #193 started strong with 47 charter members. A.O. Rix of the Mission Peak Odd Fellows pushed the hardest for this Lodge to get started. Over the years all fraternal organizations started to decline and many Lodges started to close their doors. This consolidation of Lodges hit the Aqua Pura Lodge as well. Alvarado Rebekah Lodge # 274, which met at the Crusade Odd Fellows Hall in Union City, closed and consolidated with Aqua Pura. Niles Rebekah Lodge # 336 and Aqua Pura Rebekah Lodge #193 were barley hanging on; so these 2 Lodges combined the membership and changed the name to Silver Star Rebekah Lodge #336. Since then Pleasanton Rebekah Lodge # 198 & Rolling Hills Rebekah Lodge # 428 of Milpitas have consolidated with Silver Star Rebekah Lodge. At the time of this writing the membership stands at about 65 with 20 members attending regular meetings.

Odd Fellowship Today

On October 8, 1890 the new Lodge hall was dedicated and is still in use today. In the early days of the Lodge the membership was mostly farmers. The Members register lists many names of prominent citizens of the day whom you will recognize by the names of our streets. Mowry, Blacow, Peralta, Eggers, Osgood, Durham. Other names such as Stivers, Shinn, Walters, Horner, Gomes, Overaker and Hirsch are easily recognizable to many in Fremont. The Lodge hall itself has had many transformations. The Original hall had its meetings upstairs with a library and social gatherings held down stairs. Over the years the down stairs area has had many renters and changes were made to the building to accomidate them. In late 1980 the membership was required to meet the current earthquake retrofit standards. We took the original blue prints along with historic photos and rebuilt the Lodge to as much of it’s original structure as possible, still meeting the current codes and adding modern conveinences to allow easier access for our members. On October 8, 1990, our Lodge was re-dedicated for the 100-year anniversary of the hall.

Most recently our Lodge has undertaken the task of making its presence known in the community. We have always had our focus on helping our neighbors. With fraternal organizations slipping away due to the hectic schedules of or busy lives, it is very important to have purpose and be diligent in that which we have chosen. Our Lodge has supported many groups over the years such as Challenger Little League, Music for Minors, Boy Scout Troop #111 and Mission/Irvington High School Thor Throats. We support these organizations by opening our Lodge and it’s memebership one Saturday a year with a benefit breakfast. We are also active in supporting Young Mothers, Eye Bank, Cancer Research, Arthritis Foundation Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Operation MOMS and Heart Funds. These groups are supported by our Lodges making donations by money raised through dues and fund raising events held during the year such as Craft Faire, Spaghetti Dinners and Funding sales.

We are currently accepting members in both the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Lodges. It is important that we continue to keep these organizations alive and support our community with the motto that Odd Fellowship has carried with it from its inception. “Care for the widow and orphan, relieve the distressed, visit the sick, bury the dead.”

In Friendship Love and Truth

Written by Nancy Johnson 9/22/2004
District Deputy President, District #7
Noble Grand, Silver Star Rebekah Lodge #336
Recording Secretary, Mission Peak Odd Fellows Lodge #114