Ardath - north of New Hope
ARDATH
(McKinney) Daily Courier Gazette, December 29, 1901
J. R. Gough, Ed Bomar, Leland Franklin, Scottie Forsythe, W. D. Goostree, Greenberry Adams, Robt. Ray, R. N. Adams, R. F. Dowell, J. C. Moore, Dr. Pearson and G. R. Hughes of Empire Lodge No. 68 of McKinney, recently came out and organized a lodge of Odd Fellows at this place. We have a good hall and start off propitiously. The charter members are Dr. S. C. Smith, Dr. T. G. Boorman, Alma Wilson, W. A. Straughan, D. W. Bagwell, John K. Wilson, George Straughan and Wallace C. Wilson. Officers elected are: Dr. S. E. Smith, Noble Grand; Alma Wilson, Vice Grand; George Straughan, secretary and D. W. Bagwill, treasurer. We have since initiated several new members and many more applicants are knocking for admission.
Ardath
(north of New Hope, in the area of Dunn Memorial today, also known at High Point)
(McKinney) Daily Courier Gazette, November 28, 1912
TWO ODD FELLOWS LODGES MERGED
The members of Empire Lodge No. 68 I. O. O. F. held a very enthusiastic meeting Thursday night. A good per cent of the membership was present, and several visitors from neighboring lodges.
The Initiatory degree was conferred upon one of Empire's candidates, and the team is to be congratulated upon having done the work so well.
One of the features of this meeting was the consolidation of Ardath Lodge No. 508, with Empire Lodge. This consolidation had been in contemplation by the Ardath lodge for the past month or two. At a recent meeting of Empire lodge a committee was appointed to visit the Ardath lodge and look into the matter. This committee was present at the meeting of Ardath lodge last Tuesday night, and after closely investigating the matter, they reported to their home lodge favorably, and recommended that the two lodges be merged into one. The Ardath lodge had a membership of 30, all of whom are now members of Empire Lodge No. 68. They also owned their hall at that place and had a little money on hand and regalia, the Ardath lodge turned over to Empire Lodge between $850.00 and $1,000, in cash and collateral.
The Ardath lodge was organized in 1900. Following is a list of its charter members: Alma Wilson and son, John K., of Princeton; W. A. Straughan and son, George, of Ardath; Mr. Straughan now a resident of this city, the latter having died several years ago. D. W. Bagwill of Ardath, now of Cottage Hill; Dr. T. G. Boorman, now of Celina.
No lodge prospered as did the Ardath lodge during the twelve years of its existence. Its membership was composed of the most highly respected and esteemed citizens of that section of Collin county. The lodge has met many obstacles and reversals, which if they had not united with Empire Lodge, would sooner or later have swamped them. For instance, about two years after Ardath was organized, Melissa organized, taking at that time seven of Ardath's most worthy members. Only a year or two had passed when Princeton organized, they also taking from Ardath seven of its members. Ardath rocked along, and had soon forgotten the loss of her fourteen members, and still continued to increase in membership until about three years ago, when Altoga lodge was organized, they taking from Ardath twenty-one members, this number being transferred from Ardath at a regular meeting. Hence it is not overdrawing it to say that Ardath was the mother of the three above mentioned lodges. After the three lodges were organized, each taking members from Ardath, and cutting Ardath's jurisdiction down, practically to nothing, leaving them with no territory in which to secure new members, it was deemed expedient that Ardath lodge No. 508, ask admission into Empire lodge No. 68.
Ardath Lodge was always particular in securing its members, and they never initiated a candidate into their ranks unless they knew he would make a true and faithful member, and at all times practice brotherly love.
(McKinney) Daily Courier Gazette, December 29, 1901
J. R. Gough, Ed Bomar, Leland Franklin, Scottie Forsythe, W. D. Goostree, Greenberry Adams, Robt. Ray, R. N. Adams, R. F. Dowell, J. C. Moore, Dr. Pearson and G. R. Hughes of Empire Lodge No. 68 of McKinney, recently came out and organized a lodge of Odd Fellows at this place. We have a good hall and start off propitiously. The charter members are Dr. S. C. Smith, Dr. T. G. Boorman, Alma Wilson, W. A. Straughan, D. W. Bagwell, John K. Wilson, George Straughan and Wallace C. Wilson. Officers elected are: Dr. S. E. Smith, Noble Grand; Alma Wilson, Vice Grand; George Straughan, secretary and D. W. Bagwill, treasurer. We have since initiated several new members and many more applicants are knocking for admission.
Ardath
(north of New Hope, in the area of Dunn Memorial today, also known at High Point)
(McKinney) Daily Courier Gazette, November 28, 1912
TWO ODD FELLOWS LODGES MERGED
The members of Empire Lodge No. 68 I. O. O. F. held a very enthusiastic meeting Thursday night. A good per cent of the membership was present, and several visitors from neighboring lodges.
The Initiatory degree was conferred upon one of Empire's candidates, and the team is to be congratulated upon having done the work so well.
One of the features of this meeting was the consolidation of Ardath Lodge No. 508, with Empire Lodge. This consolidation had been in contemplation by the Ardath lodge for the past month or two. At a recent meeting of Empire lodge a committee was appointed to visit the Ardath lodge and look into the matter. This committee was present at the meeting of Ardath lodge last Tuesday night, and after closely investigating the matter, they reported to their home lodge favorably, and recommended that the two lodges be merged into one. The Ardath lodge had a membership of 30, all of whom are now members of Empire Lodge No. 68. They also owned their hall at that place and had a little money on hand and regalia, the Ardath lodge turned over to Empire Lodge between $850.00 and $1,000, in cash and collateral.
The Ardath lodge was organized in 1900. Following is a list of its charter members: Alma Wilson and son, John K., of Princeton; W. A. Straughan and son, George, of Ardath; Mr. Straughan now a resident of this city, the latter having died several years ago. D. W. Bagwill of Ardath, now of Cottage Hill; Dr. T. G. Boorman, now of Celina.
No lodge prospered as did the Ardath lodge during the twelve years of its existence. Its membership was composed of the most highly respected and esteemed citizens of that section of Collin county. The lodge has met many obstacles and reversals, which if they had not united with Empire Lodge, would sooner or later have swamped them. For instance, about two years after Ardath was organized, Melissa organized, taking at that time seven of Ardath's most worthy members. Only a year or two had passed when Princeton organized, they also taking from Ardath seven of its members. Ardath rocked along, and had soon forgotten the loss of her fourteen members, and still continued to increase in membership until about three years ago, when Altoga lodge was organized, they taking from Ardath twenty-one members, this number being transferred from Ardath at a regular meeting. Hence it is not overdrawing it to say that Ardath was the mother of the three above mentioned lodges. After the three lodges were organized, each taking members from Ardath, and cutting Ardath's jurisdiction down, practically to nothing, leaving them with no territory in which to secure new members, it was deemed expedient that Ardath lodge No. 508, ask admission into Empire lodge No. 68.
Ardath Lodge was always particular in securing its members, and they never initiated a candidate into their ranks unless they knew he would make a true and faithful member, and at all times practice brotherly love.