Beginning of the Odd Fellows Grand Lodge of Maine Sprague's Journal of Maine History. Vol. VIII Special Number, June 1920 No. 1 page 29 Beginning of the Odd Fellows Grand Lodge of Maine (From the Journal of Proceedings of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the State of Maine.) Maine Lodge -- the first in this State -- was instituted in the city of Portland on the 25th day of August, A. D. 1843. The first session of the Grand Lodge was in 1844. The first page of its record is as follows: Ancient Brothers Hall, Portland, March 18, 1844. Agreeably to a call duly made by the District Deputy Sire Churchill, the following Past Grands appeared as representatives from their respective lodges for the purpose of organizing a Grand Lodge for the State of Maine, viz.: Maine Lodge, No. 1, David Robinson, Jr. Maine Lodge, No. 1, James N. Winslow Saco Lodge, No. 2, George W. Churchill Saco Lodge, No. 2, George W. Warren Saco Lodge, No. 2, James Smith Georgian Lodge, No. 3, Lucius H. Chandler Ancient Brother's Lodge, No. 4, Edward P. Banks Ligonia Lodge, No. 5, John D. Kinsman The meeting was called to order by District Deputy Grand Sire Churchill, who, after stating the object, authorized Brother Albert Guild, District Deputy Grand Sire of Massachusetts, New Hamp- shire and Rhode Island, to officiate at the organization. The petitioners for the Dispensation then answered to their names. The Dispensation having been read, the petitioners pro- ceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year; and the following brethren were accordingly chosen: Past Grand, George W. Churchill, M. W. Grand Master Past Grand, Lucius H. Chandler, R. W. Deputy Grand Marshall Past Grand, James Smith, R. W. Grand Warden Past Grand David Robinson, Jr., R. W. Grand Secretary Past Grand, J. N. Winslow, R. W. Grand Treasurer The lodge then adjourned until 4 o'clock P. M. for the purpose of installing the officers elect. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.