14 January 1924 International Order of Odd Fellows

 

14 January 1924 Seneca Lodge No 694 International Order of Odd Fellows

“ODD FELLOWS INSTALL” was the headline of the article in the Interlaken Review Friday, January 18, 1924. “On Monday evening last [January 14, 1924] District Deputy Grand Master Clyde Stewart and staff installed the following officers of Seneca Lodge No. 194, International Order of Odd Fellows.” The list of names and their titles followed. Most of the men are well known within the community and its history. For ease of reading, I’ve only listed the names. Rev. R. D. Van Wagenen, Joseph Dickerson, Adin C. Manning, John B. Moore, Charles F. Teed, Floyd Drake, Henry G. Wikoff, Clyde Stewart, Owen Young, Duane Hiltbrand, John Stewart, Wm. Starrett, Bert Slaght, Homer Ball, Howard S. Miller, Omer Doolittle, W. S. Burr.

       The article noted, “After the installation refreshments were served and a general good time enjoyed, music being furnished by Messrs. Miller, Harmon, Manning, Burr and Wilcox. A number were present from the Lodi lodge.” This installation would have been held in the meeting room on the second floor of the Case Block. Today the Case Block is home to GunBlack and Alarmtech Systems.
[I H S photo #2065]

 

       This story actually begins in 1894. The March 17, 1894, issue of the Farmer Review noted, “Last Wednesday F.J. Philips of Geneva instituted an IOOF Lodge at Farmer. It will be known as Seneca Lodge, No. 694, and starts off with a membership of thirty.”

       Commenting on the membership the paper noted, “The membership is composed of the best citizens, a majority of whom are young men under thirty years of age. A large number of visiting brothers from Trumansburg, Geneva and other places were present and assisted in working the initiatory degree upon eleven candidates.” Many of the men, were members in other Lodges and moved their membership to Seneca Lodge to be part of the charter group.

       The list of charter officers were: “W.C. Smith, A.C. Manning, Geo. P. Butler, Chas. Starrett, Geo. VanKirk, M.T. McCarthy, W.C. Demun, Alfred Slocum, Chas. Teed, Fred Peterson, Fred Taylor, Wm. Cully, Hiram Bloomer, Bert Mundy and W.H. Good.”

       Over the years other items were noted concerning installation of officers, meetings and events. “1895 Charles Teed is Noble Grand [presiding officer] of Seneca Lodge No 694 IOOF.”

       Interlaken Review April 13, 1934: “At the annual Past Grands District meeting held at Waterloo last Wednesday evening, April 11, Joseph M. Dickerson, of Seneca Lodge No 694 IOOF, was recommended for District Deputy Grand Master” [presiding officer of the district].

       Interlaken Review June 15, 1934: “Seneca Lodge No 694 and Bernice Rebekah Lodge No 333, IOOF will observe memorial exercises Sunday, June 17. Members will meet at the hall at 2:30 and go to the cemetery, which exercises will be held at 3:00 o’clock. Members please bring flowers.” The local women’s group for the IOOF were known as Rebekah Lodges.

       Interlaken Review December 6, 1935: “The burial service [for Bert Slaght] was in charge of Seneca Lodge No 694 IOOF, of which he was a member.”

       The reason for the decline of Seneca Lodge is not known. But in June 1938 Seneca Lodge and Banner Lodge of Lodi were consolidated. Interlaken Review June 10, 1938: “Seneca Lodge No 694 IOOF, of Interlaken, has been merged with Banner Lodge at Lodi, the final consolidation taking place on Thursday evening of this week at Lodi, where all meetings will be held in the future.”

       Later that year a Fair was planned and the Interlaken Review on December 9, 1938, noted “Several local men are members of the different committees, as when Seneca Lodge surrendered its charter, quite a number of memberships were transferred to the neighboring lodge at Lodi.”

    The member badges with ribbons are in the Interlaken Historical Society collections. The ribbons are especially interesting as one is pre-1904 and therefore Seneca Lodge Farmer, and the other is Seneca Lodge Interlaken.  

 

Dewitt’s Diary Monday January 14, 1924 Sold my yellow eye beans to Bradley. Drew two loads down to Van Lews elevator this morning. Roads are rough, Cold northwest wind today.