at hand, and an instantaneous search speedily revealed the interloper. She fared, however, much better than Peeping T o m , of Coventry, for his prying rascality towards the kindhearted Lady Godiva, for, if history be veracious, Miss St. Leger was not immolated on the spot, but compelled to submit to initiation as a member of the Craft. She subsequently married a Mr. Aldworth, but whether he was a Mason, and did not need a knowledge of " the secret" from his wife, I know not; or if she divulged it to him or any of her lady gossipers, is a point on which I a m equally unadvised.
ODDFELLOWSHIP.
I have frequently asked members of the above Fraternity for a definition of the term, or, in other words, why they were called "Oddfellows," and could never obtain a satisfactory reply. T h e ordinary individual would simply shrug his shoulders, scratch his head, and say he did not k n o w — perhaps it was because w o m e n could not be members ; while a knowing one would glibly remark : " Oh, the Institution is as old as Creation. A d a m was thefirst' Oddfellow,' and we are descended from him." In one sense this was, doubtless, true enough, because, according to the generallyaccepted theory, all human kind are the issue of ourfirstparents ; but in other respects I can find no sufficient reason to believe that A d a m could have been the ovum from which would spring an association so singularly successful in propagating habits of thrift and benevolence, ramifying throughout the civilized globe, and productive of benefits so multifarious. Though A d a m was an " O d d "-fellow, it was not for long, and when he was made even by having Eve as an associate, though he never could be said to be under what is modernly known as " Petticoat Government," his spouse soon acquired such an influence over him as to leave it matter of doubt if he possessed the moral courage of withholding from her that Oddfellows' " secret," which is supposed to have often been the cause of serious connubial differences in the married division of the confraternity. Obliged, therefore, to fall back upon myself, I a m disposed to regard Oddfellowship as an association of m e n who combine in some " odd," or out of the conlmon, unique, unusual, or peculiar manner, though for a c o m m o n purpose of mutual benefit. However this may be, Oddfellowship has become a part and parcel of British civilization, and wherever an English-speaking community is planted, it springs up like religion, racing, or cricket-playing, as one of its primitive institutions. So it was with Australia, and especially in Sydney, where Oddfellowship soon took root and flourished, and it was through a . Dispensation from the Australian Grand Lodge there that the Order was transplanted to Port Phillip, where it found a congenial soil, skilful cultivators, and attached adherents. Thefirstmeeting on the subject was held in the Port Phillip Gazette office, West Collins Street, on the 25th June, 1840, when P.V. Graham presided. Accordingly there was established, on the 1st October, 1840, at the Adelphi Hotel, in Little Flinders Street,
THE AUSTRALIA FELIX LODGE OF THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS,
Having as its primary officers :—Augustus Greeves as N.G.; William Hayes as V.G.; W. J. Sugden as G.M.; Bro. Thomas Strode, Secretary; P.G. Bro. Cooper, Ancient Father; P.G' Bro. Shepperd S.W. ; Bro. J. Massagore, J.W. These seven persons, with P.G. Hill, may be fairly pronounced the pioneers of the Manchester Unity in Victoria. The first Initiation Fee was fixed at £5, irrespective of age, with a weekly contribution of one shilling, and the Clearance Money was £2 10s. T h e Brotherhood attending this meeting subscribed £4 each towards preliminary expenses, of which £x ros. per head was subsequently refunded. A Dispensation from the Australian Grand Lodge at Sydney was received, and the Lodge was formally opened at the Steam Packet Hotel, on the 7th December, 1840. This hostelry was in Flinders Street, a few yards west of the corner of William Street, kept by the N.G. (Greeves) and here meetings were held on every alternate Monday evening.
