You may now own your own private collection of the works of the men who planted the seeds of Odd Fellowship in a fertile soil, those who nurtured it through its infancy and those who by their determination wrought gloriously one of the greatest fraternities the world has ever known. Follow in the footsteps beginning at the Seven Stars Tavern and on through the ever-changing scenes of over a hundred years and witness the emergence of a fraternal Order that touched the lives of millions of people.

We the Trustees of the Thomas Wildey Shrine and Museum urge all our members to avail themselves to this wonderful opportunity to acquire a set of these fabulous books for your reading pleasure and to pass them on down to those who follow us.

All money derived from the sale of these books will be used exclusively to promote the expansion of the THOMAS WILDEY SHRINE AND MUSEUM.

Look into the earnest faces of our Grand Sires and see a look of determination that comes to one when he is the master of his command. Read of the Grand Sire who was grievously wounded while quelling a riot while serving as Chief of Police in New York City and suffered from these wounds while serving as Grand Sire.

Read of the men who served on the battlefields of war as gallant commanders and suffered from those wounds while Grand Sire. Read of the Youngest Grand Sire who formed an alliance with another young Odd Fellow named Schuyler Colfax who gave us the Rebekah Degree. Read of the Grand Sire who was the youngest of 11 children and served as the first comptroller of the U.S. Treasury under President Grover Cleveland. Read of the Grand Sire who was injured on horse back while joining a parade and the Deputy Grand Sire had to preside the next day. Read of a small lad who lost his father and mother in death and worked himself through college and became a renowned Judge. Read of the Grand Sire that never served as a Grand Lodge or Grand Encampment officer and the Grand Sire, whom, upon completing his term, served as Sovereign Grand Secretary following the renowned James Ridgely.

Thomas Wildey is recognized as the founder of American Odd Fellowship but the actual builders worked in obscurity. Thomas Wildey stood in the spot light and seemingly, he gently pushed his associates into the shadows. Wildey took great effort to make sure it remained that way. It is quite apparent that Odd Fellowship would never have attained its greatness without these men who worked behind the scenes. Wildey was a shrewd man and was gifted in reading the innate hearts of men. He had an uncanny ability to enlist men with far greater ability and use them to further his dream. Many outstanding men were firmly removed to the rear if he was unable to control them or if they had aspirations to share his spot light. It is indeed a mystery how so many of these founding fathers could manifest such loyalty and devotion to Wildey when it was so apparent that Wildey gathered to himself all the glory and honor and rather firmly pushed his worthy associates a little deeper into the shadows and never ever gave them credit for which they were so richly deserved. There is a need to tell the entire story. Now is the time to bring out of the shadows of obscurity the men who developed the ideas of Wildey, polished his speeches and addresses and made him look great in the eyes of his peers.

There has been a great need for a long time to bring to life many of the 'Golden Moments' found hidden within the pages of volumes published long ago. I feel so much like the prospector who finds a golden nugget and suddenly have an overwhelming desire to share it with my brothers. The many volumes that have been written about our glorious past seem to be a depository of their hopes, fears and love for an institution for which they labored for and for so long. There is a need to tell the story of their fulfilling mission of love and how their deeds seem to knit the heart closer to the heart and thus make it more compelling to tell. In searching through its many accomplishments for good, the intent is to relate to the cream of its history. It becomes exciting to catch a glimpse of the motives which activated the 'Founding Fathers' and thus molded the legislation of former days. It is interesting indeed to trace the steps that led to the adoption of the various distinguishing features of the Order. These magnificent examples and glorious illustrations should become the common property of us all. It should appeal to the individual pride and the scenes and incidents should capture the spirit of a country that inspired them.

CSB2004