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The Odd Fellows

Today they are known as The Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  On the left is the coat of arms of the I.O.O.F Manchester Unity Friendly Society.1 The earliest known Lodge, of which records have been kept, is the Loyal Aristarcus Lodge No 9 in London. Documentation exists of this Lodge, from 1745. Odd Fellows lodges are spread throughout England and Wales, and are believed to have been around since the middle ages, when increased trade led to the formation of trade guilds.2 The guilds were set up by the various trades, exclusively for members of those trades.  They performed such a good service for their members, many people from lesser known trades, also wanted to have the same benefits.  This, some believe, to have been the origin of the name “odd fellows”.  They were an assortment of lesser and poorer trades. They were the “odd fellows”.

The Jacobite Uprising in the mid 18th century caused a split amongst the Odd fellows.  The Patriotic Order of Odd fellows, in the South of England, were supporters of William of Orange.  The Ancient Order of Odd fellows, in the North of England, supported James II and the House of Stuart.  With the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his failed uprising, the two fellowships decided to re-amalgamate.  They became The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.

Around about 1810 the Manchester based Odd Fellows were not happy with the way the Grand Order was being run, so they formed the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Manchester Unity.  It is this Order that became established in South Australia and indeed in many other colonies.3 It is not strange therefore, that some of the early pioneers had been members in England, and where eager to start a Lodge here in Adelaide.  It is stated that on the 23rd of November 1840, four persons, including Mr. Charles George Germain and Mr. Thomas Jones met in Adelaide with the idea of forming the I.O.O.F in this colony. Three of the four, it was stated, were members in England.  It was agreed they would start an Adelaide Chapter. They canvassed among other like minds, and raised the £10 required for dispensation to proceed.  The first Lodge in South Australia was called Adelaide Lodge.  In 1843, when they celebrated their anniversary, it was stated in the press, that the dispensation had still not yet arrived.4

The I.O.O.F Manchester Unity was always known as a secret Society. This caused some concern for non members.  Some of the members themselves were concerned, because the majority of meetings of the order were held in licensed premises. They felt this did not give a favourable impression.  The printed media of the day often reported individual Lodge meetings, and certainly Regional, and Grand Lodge meetings were covered by them in detail.  Members of the order who spoke, or proposed toasts, or responded to toasts were all named in those reports.  So it was not the membership, but the procedures that were kept secret from non members.  We know from those press reports the names of some of the lodge members.  Some anonymity was gained, as the initials used in the report, were their rank in the order, and not their Christian names. (i.e.  N.G. Smith. (Noble Grand). D.G.M. Smith (Deputy Grand Master)

In 1855 a new lodge, named the Loyal Newton Lodge, was founded. They originally met at Norwood, but as most of the members were from Payneham, Glynde or Paradise, they elected to hold their meetings at the Glynde Inn.  A new lodge was opened on 16th November 1855, at a school-room, the property of P.P.G.M Eli Cate, in Farmer Street, Newton (probably the former Thorndon Park Inn).  The meeting of this lodge, like all others, was freely reported in the press of the day.  So we can see local identities that were members of the fraternity, and named in those reports.  Among the members named, were:

Henry Alford, owner of the Glynde Inn, and former Police Inspector. The City of Adelaide practically came to a complete stop, as the funeral cortege of this most respected gentleman made its way to the West terrace cemetery.5

William Bakewell M.P. for Gawler.  He arrived in South Australia on the Fairfield in 1839.  He was elected to the seat of Gawler in the House of Assembly, (1857-1860) when it was discovered that the sitting member, Dr Horace Dean was an American citizen, and was using a false name.  In 1862 he became the member for East Adelaide.  He was responsible for passing a piece of legislation that became known as the “Bakewell Act.”  When a dispute arose concerning the ownership of the Moonta Mine, he represented the Company, who lost their case in the Supreme Court in South Australia.  Mr Bakewell was successful in an appeal to the Privy Council in England.  He resigned his seat in Parliament and travelled to London, as senior council, to head the appeal.  In 1867, he was selected by the Government to fill the post of Crown Solicitor.  Born near Shirleywich in Staffordshire his family home in Payneham was called “Shirley”.6

Hedley Edward Laver came to South Australia in 1864 on the Trevelyan.  He was 16 years of age and he travelled unaccompanied.  He was met by his brother Henry who employed him as a blacksmith. IN 1881 he started his own Blacksmith and Coach Building business on Montacute Road.  It later moved to the Lower North East Road.  He was an Auditor of the Payneham and Campbelltown Councils, and the President of the Payneham Institute.  He was also a long time supporter of the Torrens Valley Show Committee.7

Mr Henry Mildred MP arrived in South Australia in 1836 as an employee of the South Australian Company.  His intended position was Superintendent of Ship Building, a position which never eventuated.  With him, he brought out from England, Fletcher’s Patent Slip.  The slip no longer required by the Company found its way to the Chief Justice’s Sawmill.  He served in both the House of Assembly and The Legislative Council for East Torrens.  He selected land on Fourth Creek which was to serve him well.8

Local History Article: George Frederick IndPortrait of George Frederick Ind (1883-1906), painted by G.A. Tiarks.
(http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+11662)

George Frederick Ind was a fruit grower and wine maker who lived on a property at Paradise.  His father was Joseph Ind who built the Paradise Bridge Hotel in front of his family home Lyndhurst.  George Ind was a J.P. and also vehemently anti protectionist.  He was well aware that South Australia grew far more produce than it could use.  Because of the tariffs, placed on fresh produce from the other colonies, he could not sell the surplus to them at a profit.  On his property, which some referred to as Paradise on the Torrens, he grew, wine grapes, table grapes, pears, apricots, apples, plums, damsons, oranges and potatoes.  When the Waterworks diverted the Torrens away from part of his property, he first employed a one horse operated pump, to pump water to his crops. It pumped 2,000 gallons per hour but at a cost of 10 shillings a day to run, so was replaced by two windmills.  These windmills only pumped 200-300 gallons per hour but operated at night and avoided evaporation.9

James Nurse along with his brother Robert Nurse bought the Glynde Inn from Henry Alford. They had no experience as publicans, and notwithstanding the Loyal Newton Lodge of which James was a member, still held their meeting at the Inn, they became insolvent.  The money they used to purchase the Inn was loaned from their father and their uncle.10

Eli Cate was also a member of Loyal Newton Lodge and was the landlord of the Reservoir Hotel at Thorndon Park.  Joe Mole of the Plough and Harrow Hotel Rundle Street, near where the Richmond Hotel stands today was also a member.

The Motto of the brotherhood is “AMICITIA AMOR VERITAS”.  This translates to Friendship, Love, Truth.  This highly respected brotherhood is still active to this day.  The name “Odd Fellows” has remained as strong as the Brotherhood itself.  To the non initiated, their name may be odd, their dress may be odd, their ceremonies may be odd, but there is nothing odd about their beliefs and their impact on the state of South Australia.

Researched and written by Jim Nelson, volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au.

References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Unity_of_Odd_Fellows#Manchester_Unity_of_Oddfellows
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows
  4. Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844) Tuesday 7 March 1843, p 3
  5. Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912) Tuesday 23 February 1892, p 3
  6. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Tuesday 1 February 1870, p 8
  7. News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954) Wednesday 12 December 1928, p 6
  8. South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1868 - 1881) Saturday 31 March 1877, p 5
  9. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Monday 19 April 1875, p 6
  10. The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889) Thursday 17 May 1860, p 3
  11. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900)Tuesday 20 June 1893, p 4
  12. Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904) Saturday 24 November 1855, p 8