San Pablo Odd Fellows Lodge No. 43
By Marlin O. Forthun, PG
San Pablo Odd Fellows Lodge No. 43 was instituted in Vallejo, California on Saturday evening, the 18th of August 1855. The Lodge was instituted one and a half centuries ago by Deputy District Grand Master Paul Shirley, who had been commissioned by Grand Master Edwin W. Colt, himself a member of the Odd Fellows of Stockton. Shirley, a charter member of Solano Odd Fellows Lodge No. 22 in Benicia, and at the time the Sheriff of Solano County, uttered the words calling San Pablo Lodge No. 43 into existence.
The charter members who were there that night were J.W. Hilsee, D.N. Darlington, Ezra Dix, Pendleton Colston and James Brownlee. Members from Benicia came by horseback and teams to support their Deputy District Grand Master and welcome the new lodge and its members into the ranks of this great fraternity. Institution ceremonies took place in Aspenall Hall on the corner of Santa Clara and Virginia Streets. The quaint, small hall had sawdust floors, low ceilings, small benches, and lighting by tallow candles.
It was only one year prior, on September 16, 1854, that the afterwards great Naval commander David G. Farragut of the United States Navy, then commander of the sloop of war Warren, had been towed in that ship up through San Pablo Bay (after which the lodge was named) to take charge of Mare Island and establish a navy yard.
In 1868 the Lodge purchased the “Phillips” lot on Virginia Street for the purpose of building a lodge hall, but instead opted for a lot on the corner of Georgia and Marin Streets where the current Odd Fellows Temple was built and dedicated on April 26, 1872. An annex on the back along the alley was constructed in 1902, and the complete fourth floor was added in 1922. The building still serves today as the meeting place each Monday night for our 7 p.m. meetings. Complete earthquake retrofit of the building was completed in August of 1994.
In 1912 the lot on Virginia Street was utilized to build the Empress Theatre, which opened with much fanfare on February 14th. The officers of the lodge presented a floral piece to the theatre operators, Herman and Cohn on that Valentines night.
WHAT IS ODD FELLOWSHIP?
A simple explanation would be: Odd Fellowship is a world wide fraternal organization based on the belief in the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Through its teachings and ceremonies, it seeks to elevate the character of man and woman, thereby making this world a better place in which to live.
The origins of the Odd Fellows date back to 17th century England, where it was considered odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need, and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind with the command of the order to “visit the sick”, “relieve the distressed”, “bury the dead” and “educate the orphan”. Those who belonged to such an organization were called “Odd Fellows”.
The Odd Fellows motto is Friendship, Love and Truth, and the emblem is the three links with the lettering F., L. and T. The three links symbolizes the chain that binds our members together and illustrates that a fraternity is strongest when joined together.
The “F” in the first link represents Friendship, the strongest bond of fraternity that teaches good will and harmony. The “L” represents Love, the basis of all life’s ambitions, service to others and family. The “T” represents Truth, the standard by which we value people and the foundation of our society.
Membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows is open to men and women of good character. Ours is truly a family oriented fraternity. Adults become members of Odd Fellow and Rebekah lodges; and Junior Lodges and Theta Rho Clubs welcome boys and girls between ten and twenty one years of age. Members have the opportunity to learn new skills and enrich their lives through the many lodge activities and projects. For more information, please contact us at 707-642-1391.
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